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60 killed in Quetta police college attack Details on page 5

Pak freezes 5,100 terror suspect accounts

VOL 22, No. 1152

October 28, 2016

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Periodical Postage

'TERRORISM BOUNCING BACK ON PAKISTAN'

NEW DELHI: Citing the example of 'Bhasmasur', Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar has expressed regret over the loss of lives in the deadly attack on a police training academy in Pakistan's Quetta that left 60 cadets dead, saying such incidents show why one should not create "uncontrollable violence".

He also rejected Pakistan's allegations of India's involvement in the attack, saying India does not believe in violence, lest such kind of violence.

Parrikar clarified that he was not likening any country to any 'sur' (demon in Hindu mythology) when asked about the Quetta attack and said there is a saying in India about Bhasmasur.

According to the Hindu mythology, 'Bhasmasur' was a demon who was burned to ashes through his own power that he used to terrorize others with.

Don't vote as part of a tribe: Sadhguru Details on page 19

Most Indian Americans prefer Hillary Details on page 17

Details on page 5

Details on page 5

Pak says will attend India conference Details on page 6

Hate crime charge for throwing drink

See on page 38-47

CONTENTS

Details on page 6

Bollywood -------------------------- 27 Classifieds ------------------------- 52

INDIA POST SURVEY

Community Post -------------- 16-23 Date Book -------------------------- 50

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Edit Page --------------------------- 54

This week’s question

HealthScience Post --------- 32-34

Should we sympathize with Pakistan over Quetta attack?

Horoscope ------------------------- 35 Immigration Post ------------- 48-49 Life Style ----------------------- 24-26

Last week’s result

Philosophy ------------------------- 53 Have Indian Americans switched over to Trump?

YES 17%

NO 83%

DIWALI AT TIMES SQUARE: Diya Lighting Ceremony at Times Square on Oct 16: (L-R) Chuck Schumer, Ravi Batra, Mrs.

Publisher’s Diary ------------------ 4

Neeta Bhasin, Carolyn B. Maloney, Mrs. Brijbala Suri, Mrs. Ranju Batra, Syed Akbaruddin, Mrs. Reva Ganguly Das, Hardeep Singh Puri, Sudeep Parikh and Harish Bhasin. (Details on page 10)

Real Estate -------------------- 36-37 TechBiz Post ------------------- 12-14 Travel & Hospitality Post ---- 28-31

Certified by “CIRCULATION VERIFICATION COUNCIL Readership 117,765”

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hey are calling it election anxiety, or trauma or whatever. Yes, it is true, this election cycle is sending an unprecedented number of Americans into therapy. And well, it was bound to happen what with the media overkill of everything elections and increasingly, their entire slant being to tell voters why they should not vote for a particular candidate rather than help people decide on who to vote for.

For all practical purposes "2016" has been a topic of discussion right from the day Obama's second term began. The names of the candidates reverberate off of my living room walls long after I shut the television and if it's not Hillary's stern voice that's ringing in my ears as I struggle to fall asleep, it's the jabbing fingers and a goldfish mouth spouting explosive ultimatums in nightmares that leave me drenched in sweat when I wake up dreading the impending decision I have to make of who I should vote for on Election Day. Now, I am the type that believes it is my innate duty as a citizen of a democracy - however dysfunctional it may be - to vote; and naïve as it may sound, believe that my vote counts as a statement in the final tally irrespective of whether my candidate wins or not. Of course, over the years there have been times I haven't voted for one or the other reason; but it was without any real concern over who might win - after all this was America, and not only was every American's place under the sun assured but so was America's leadership in the world. But now I'm afraid, afraid wondering what if my vote is counted towards an undesirable outcome, one that will change America forever, or worse, not at all?

Never have I felt the weight of a citizen's duty towards preserving a democracy resting so heavily on my shoulders as I do now. The news channels, so woefully biased and agenda-driven, make it worst because while one labels me as an undereducated bigot, the other calls me elite and hypocritical. I am neither.

Can someone please define 'American' to me?

Romesh K Japra rkjapra@indiapost.com

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Cover Story: Bouncing back on Pak India's Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar says supporting non-state actors like terrorists can sometimes bounce back

Community: Telangana MoU Telengana and Illinois have signed an MOU for collaboration and interaction in various fields by sharing expertise.

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Immigration: Syrians arrivals State Deptt says nearly 80 percent of the more than 11,000 Syrian arrivals over the past year were children

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Expanding aviation PM Modi says his government is working in a "mission mode" for expansion of the aviation sector

Dungarpur A small city located in the western Indian state of Rajasthan, it is famous for its temples and palaces.

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'Terrorism bouncing back on Pak' NEW DELHI: Citing the example of 'Bhasmasur', Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar has expressed regret over the loss of lives in the deadly attack on a police training academy in

Pakistan's Quetta that left 60 cadets dead, saying such incidents show why one should not create "uncontrollable violence".

He also rejected Pakistan's allegations of India's involvement

Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar

in the attack, saying India does not believe in violence, lest such kind of violence.

Parrikar clarified that he was not likening any country to any 'sur' (demon in Hindu mythology) when asked about the Quetta attack and said there is a saying in India about Bhasmasur.

According to the Hindu mythology, 'Bhasmasur' was a demon who was burned to ashes through his own power that he used to terrorize others with.

"I express grief for any loss of life. We don't believe in violence and this kind of violence. My sympathies are with people who lost their lives. Terrorism anywhere and in any form cannot be justified," he said while speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the

naval commanders conference.

The defense minister said the attack shows the importance of not creating uncontrollable violence. "You need to control anything that the state does.

rorism, should be curtailed.

Sometimes it can bounce on you also. I think this is one of such event," Parrikar said.

In a brazen attack, 60 police cadets were killed and 118 others

"I express grief for any loss of life. We don't believe in violence and this kind of violence.

My sympathies are with people who lost their lives. Terrorism anywhere and in any form cannot be justified," Non-state actors should not be supported by any country.

That is crux of our security doctrine. We have said that non-state actors, who are involved in ter-

injured when three militants wearing suicide vests stormed a police training academy in Quetta city in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province. -PTI

Pak freezes 5,100 terror 60 killed in Quetta police college attack suspect accounts ISLAMABAD: Authorities in Pakistan have frozen bank accounts with more than Rs 400 million of over 5,100 terror suspects, including JeM chief Masood Azhar who is under "protective custody" after the terror attack on the Pathankot air base, officials said.

"Following a request of the Ministry of Interior, we have frozen accounts of all top suspected terrorists, including Masood Azhar, son of Allah Bux," said a senior official of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) who is part of a team monitoring the progress pertaining to this matter.

The interior ministry sent three different lists of thousands of suspects, including kingpins of some proscribed organizations, The News quoted the official as saying.

Around 1,200 suspects whose accounts were frozen by SBP were listed in category 'A' of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, a term used for terrorists put on exceptional risk or high risk, the paper reported.

Azhar has been included in the list's top suspects whose accounts were frozen by the SBP, said officials of the Ministry of Interior and SBP. "Azhar's name was listed in category 'A' of the 4th Schedule," the paper quoted officials as saying.

"It happened since the government put the JeM chief under 'protective custody' of security

agencies after terrorists attacked the Pathankot Airbase," the officials said.

After the attack on the airbase in Pathankot in January, India had in February written to the UN calling for immediate action to list Azhar under the UN Sanctions Committee.

The National Counterterrorism Authority

"More than 3,078 accounts of suspects whose accounts were frozen belonged to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Fata, 1,443 from Punjab, 226 from Sindh, 193 from Balochistan, 106 from GilgitBaltistan and 27 from the Islamabad Capital Territory," the paper said, adding that 26 suspects belonged to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

JeM chief Masood Azhar

(Nacta) sent around 5,500 names to the SBP earlier this month, they said.

National Coordinator Nacta Ihsan Ghani confirmed that over 5,000 accounts of suspects have been frozen by the SBP. "These accounts hold net amount worth Rs 400 million," he said. About Azhar's accounts, Ghani said he would revert with latest updates later.

Accounts of other suspects such as cleric of Islamabad s Lal Masjid Maulana Aziz, Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat leaders Maulvi Ahmed Ludhianvi and Aurangzeb Faroogi, Matiur Rehman of al-Qaeda, Mansoor alias Ibrahim of Tehreek-e-Taliban and Qari Ehsan alias Ustad Huzaifa and Ramzan Mengal of Lashkar-e- Jhangvi were also frozen, the paper added. -PTI

KARACHI: The overnight attack on a police training academy in Pakistan's restive Quetta city has left over 60 cadets besides three militants dead, with 118 injured, making it one of the deadliest strikes in the country this year.

The attack on the Police Training College on Saryab Road in the Balochistan province capital, triggered an operation by Pakistani security forces who rescued hundreds of cadets from the academy.

"More than 60 police cadets

While two of the militants had blown themselves up after being cornered, one was killed in an exchange of fire with security forces. All three were wearing suicide vests, Frontier Corps IG, Major General Sher Afghan said.

The three terrorists were believed to be from the Al-Alimi faction of the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi militant group affiliated with the Pakistani Taliban, he added.

He told reporters that the militants were communicating with

were killed in the attack while about 115 were injured," a security source said.

Sarfaraz Bugti, home minister of Balochistan province tweeted that 118 people were injured.

Bugti had earlier told reporters that the attack had been carried out by three terrorists, cycling back on an earlier estimate by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) of "five to six terrorists".

Bugti said there were around 700 police cadets and recruits in the college hostel when the attack took place.

handlers in Afghanistan and taking instructions from them.

Security forces had "cleared the college in four hours", he said.

Police, meanwhile, said the compound had been cleared but search operations were still on. Local media footage showed some security vehicles leaving the college.

Militants have conducted several attacks against security forces and national installations in Balochistan, which has been plagued by insurgency and growing sectarian killings for more than a decade.-PTI

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India tells Pak to set its own house in order GENEVA: Describing Pakistan as the "epicenter" of global terrorism, India has asked Pakistan to "set its own house in order" and take action against terror groups instead of "ritually" raking up human rights violations elsewhere.

India, exercising the right of reply after Pakistan raised the Kashmir issue during the general

Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and will remain so for eternity. The people of Jammu and Kashmir have been active participants in the democratic processes at both the central and state levels," he said.

He said the "fundamental reason" for the situation in Kashmir is the cross-border terrorism sponsored by Pakistan.

Pakistan will be well-advised to focus its energies on setting its own house in order and acting against the perpetrators of terrorist attacks on its neighbors instead of ritually raking up alleged human rights violations elsewhere," debate at the 135th Assembly Session of IPU, asserted that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and will remain so for "eternity".

"We deeply regret the misuse of this august body by Pakistan to make tendentious references about internal matters pertaining to the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir," Lok Sabha MP R K Singh said.

"Let me make it very clear to Pakistan that the entire state of

"Terrorism remains the grossest violation of human rights and Pakistan has the distinction of being the epicenter of global terrorism. In fact, it is the mothership of global terror.

"Internationally proscribed terrorists and terror groups are freely roaming in Pakistan with impunity while the deep State in Pakistan is busy in diverting billions of dollars received as international aid for spreading terrorism globally," he said.

Underlining that the human rights violations in entire Pakistan "cry for the world's attention", he said, "The people of Pakistan, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, Baluchistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have become victims of sectarian conflict, terrorism and extreme economic hardship due to Pakistan's authoritarian and discriminatory policies in complete disregard of human rights."

"Given this state of affairs, Pakistan will be well-advised to focus its energies on setting its own house in order and acting against the perpetrators of terrorist attacks on its neighbors instead of ritually raking up alleged human rights violations elsewhere," Singh said.

"Pakistan has raised the issue of UN Security Council resolutions. We would suggest Pakistan to first fulfill its primary obligation under the resolutions to vacate illegal occupation of Pakistan occupied Kashmir," he said.

"We call upon Pakistan to stop inciting and supporting violence and terrorism in any part of India and refrain from meddling in our internal affairs in any matter," Singh said. -PTI

Hate crime charge for throwing drink on Sikh LOS ANGELES: Hate Crime charges have been filed against a 40-year-old man who racially abused a Sikh and threw a drink at him, mistaking him for a Muslim.

The Kern County District Attorney's Office filed misdemeanor charges against David Scott Hook from Bakersfield for allegedly accosting Balmeet Singh outside a California Avenue restaurant last month, cursing him, threatening him and drenching him with a drink.

Singh, while narrating the incident, had said that he and his friends were out to dinner at the Habit Burger in Bakersfield, California. He decided to step outside of the restaurant to make a phone call and that is when the incident unfolded.

Singh said in the middle of his conversation, a man walked out of Blaze Pizza and headed straight toward him.

"He says you're trying to blow up this country, I should kill you.

I'm going to kill you right now. And

he used a lot of curse words and he seemed very angry," Singh was quoted as saying by KERO-TV. Singh said he yelled back at the man that he was a racist and he was the problem. Singh said the man continued to yell and then

Balmeet Singh

threw a drink at him.

According to a statement from the District Attorney's office, Hook was charged with one count of interference with the exercise of a civil right and one count of

battery.

Kern County District Attorney Lisa Green was quoted by The Bakersfield Californian as saying that the civil rights charge falls under the legal category of a hate crime.

"It is alleged defendant David Hook threw liquid on another individual because he appeared to be of a different religion or race," the statement said.

The alleged attacker "said I was a threat to the country I grew up in, the country I was born in," Singh had told hundreds who gathered last week at a gurdwara in southwest Bakersfield. The event, which included several guest speakers, was called a "dialogue against hate."

In a conversation with a Bakersfield Police Department investigator, Singh said he was told the man was identified and questioned.

The man told police he thought Singh was a Muslim. -PTI

Pak says will attend conference in India ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has wards peace and stability in Afsaid it will take part in the Heart of ghanistan," he said.

Asia conference on Afghanistan The official said Pakistan's parto be held in India despite tension ticipation in the meeting "would and periodic exchange of fire convey a 'loud and clear' message across the Line of Control (LoC). to the world that unlike India, it Adviser on Foreign Affairs was in favor of reaching out to its Sartaj Aziz confirmed that Pakistan neighbors for bringing peace and will participate in the Heart of Asia stability in Afghanistan". conference.

Foreign ministers from 14-mem"Pakistan will attend the Heart ber countries, including Russia, of Asia conference," he told me- China and Turkey, are expected to dia. However, it was not clear the attend the day-long conference level of participation by Pakistan. meant to discuss the current AfThe key ministerial meeting of ghan situation and possible inithe conference - also called the tiatives the immediate and exIstanbul process - is scheduled to tended neighbors of Afghanistan take place in Amritsar on Decem- could undertake to restore longber 4. term peace and stability in the warLast year in December the meet- torn country. ing of the Istanbul process was Officials from 17 other nations, hosted by Pakistan. External Affairs Minister Foreign ministers from Sushma Swaraj had at14-member countries, intended the meeting.

It is also not known cluding Russia, China and if there would be any formal interaction be- Turkey, are expected to tween Pakistani and In- attend the day-long conferdian officials. ence meant to discuss the Officials familiar with the development have current Afghan situation said that Pakistan has no intention of following the foot- including the US, will also attend steps of India by staying away the meet to be jointly presided from the Heart of Asia conference. over by Afghan President Ashraf "There is a growing sense Ghani and Prime Minister among the stakeholders that Pa- Narendra Modi. kistan should attend the Heart of The Heart of Asia-Istanbul Asia-Istanbul conference," said a Process was established in 2011 senior government official, add- at the initiative of Afghanistan and ing there was no point in boycott- Turkey. Its main objective is to fosing the conference since it was ter efforts for regional cooperation about Afghanistan. and connectivity with a view to "As we have stated repeatedly promoting long-term peace and that Pakistan will support every stability as well as progress and Endeavour that contributes to- development in Afghanistan. -PTI

You can't isolate Pakistan, says envoy NEW DELHI: Amid simmering tension in Indo-Pak ties, Pakistan slammed India for trying to isolate it on terrorism, saying the country has been the worst victim of the menace even as it called for sustained diplomacy to forge an "effective cooperative paradigm" to improve relations.

Pakistani High Commissioner Abdul Basit said the issue of Jammu and Kashmir was the "root cause" of all problems between the two countries and that Pakistan does not need "misplaced jingoism and hypernationalism" to pursue its foreign policy objectives.

"How on earth it is possible to isolate a country on terrorism when that country itself is the worst victim of terrorism," he said.

He was speaking at the Indian Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies here.

It is only through sustained diplomacy that Pakistan and India can address their issues and forge an effective cooperative paradigm to their mutual benefit, he said.

Talking about his country's ties with India, he said Kashmir issue "has made us mutually antagonistic. Let its just resolution unite us in peace and prosperity." -PTI

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Indian-American hopes to win in Michigan DETROIT: An Indian-American doctor has expressed hope that Democratic party's presidential nominee Hillary Clinton's surging popularity will help him enter the US House of Representatives by winning a traditionally Republican seat in the suburb of Detroit.

Mumbai-born 65-year-old urologist Anil Kumar, who specializes in robotic surgery, is trying his luck to enter the US Congress for the second time after he was eliminated in the primaries in his first attempt in 2014.

Armed with the popular support from the entire South Asian base and the growing popularity of Clinton, Kumar said the latest internal polls showed that he was within the margin of error with his Republican incumbent David Trott.

"No integration (of the immigrants) is complete, unless we are integrated politically," Kumar told PTI here in the most populous city of the US state of Michigan.

In addition to the policy of healthcare, employment and education that he is advocating for his constituents, Kumar said one of the reasons for him deciding to run for the Congress was to pave

the way for the next generation of Indian Americans to be part and parcel of the political mainstream.

"It is important that we do more in the political arena," he said.

The 11th Congressional District of Michigan has some 400,000 voters. Indian Americans account for some 20,000 and then there are 4,000 Pakistani Americans who

Anil Kumar

have thrown their weight for him.

Kumar is running an effective campaign with a big team of 250 volunteers, 60 interns, several paid staff working from five offices spread over his sprawling constituency located in the northwest of Detroit.

Kumar made Detroit his home after he landed in the US in 1984 following his departure from

Mumbai. He earned his medical degree from Mumbai.

"It's a tight race. And with Clinton's popularity gaining ground, my chances have become better," Kumar said.

Another Indian-American Syed Taj, who lost the election by 22,000 votes in 2012, is also campaigning for Kumar this time. "He has a chance as the poll dynamics and demographics have changed," Taj said.

However, mainstream media and political pundits consider it a safe seat for the Republicans. "This could potentially be a race to keep an eye on if Trump's numbers continue to fall," Detroit Free Press said.

Kumar said if elected, he would work towards improving relationship between India and the US. "A larger and better representation of Indian Americans in the Congress would help strengthening the bond of India-US relationship," he said.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi is doing a tremendous job. We (in the Congress) can further enhance it," said Kumar, who so far has been endorsed by several top Democratic leaders, including Senator Carl Levin. -PTI

Modi denounces triple talaq practice MAHOBA, UP: Breaking his silence on the hugely contentious issue of triple talaq, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has denounced the practice among Muslims and deprecated attempts to politicize the issue.

"Now the issue of talaq has come up. Just like if any Hindu commits female feticide he will have to go to jail, similarly what is the crime of my

that in its submission to the Supreme Court, the Central government had clearly stated that there should not be any atrocity on women and there should be no discrimination on the basis of religion.

"In democracy, there should be discussion. The government has put forward its position. Those who want to digress from triple talaq are instigating people...in the

Asking the media to not turn the issue of triple talaq as a matter between the government and the opposition, Modi said, "The debate should be between knowledgeable persons from Muslim community knowing 'Quran' Muslim sisters that someone says talaq over phone and her life is destroyed," he said addressing a "Maha Parivartan Rally" here in the Bundelkhand region in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh.

Urging TV news channels to not turn triple talaq into an issue of Hindu versus Muslim or BJP versus other parties, Modi said

country, lives of Muslim women cannot be allowed to be ruined by triple talaq," he said.

In his speech, the Prime Minister asked the audience whether the rights of Muslim women should be protected or not and whether they should get equal rights or not?

"I am surprised that some po-

litical parties of the country in their lust for vote banks are hell-bent upon committing injustice to women in the 21st century. What kind of justice is this?

"Politics and elections have their own place but getting Muslim women their rights as per the Constitution is the responsibility of the government and the people of the country," he said.

Asking the media to not turn the issue of triple talaq as a matter between the government and the opposition, Modi said, "The debate should be between knowledgeable persons from Muslim community knowing 'Quran'. In Muslim community, knowledgeable and progressive people are there. There are educated Muslim women who can put their views forth."

"When you do TV debate do not turn it into Hindu-Muslim issues. Debate should be between those who want change in Muslim society and those who do not want 125 crore Indians to know what is the issue," the Prime Minister said. -PTI

We stood by India in darkest hours: Russia NEW DELHI: With deals of in the Indian defense market. over USD 12 billion in kitty this Not only did Russia lease out month, including leasing of a sec- a nuclear powered submarine, it ond nuclear submarine, Russia actively helped in the building hopes to bag more projects as it India's first indigenous nuclear termed itself as not just a busi- weapon carrying capable submaness partner but an "ally" who rine INS Arihant which has been stood by India in its "darkest inducted into the Indian Navy. hours". A top Russian defense Chemezov said "it is a very official has claimed the US and special year for us and will be Europeans can never give what marked by major projects and Moscow can and has offered. things are starting already."

Russia is eying the multi-billion He, however, admitted that dollar deal for P75-I project of In- from a third person's point of view, dia under which six conventional there might have been some desubmarines are to be built with Air cline in some areas of defense Independent Propulsion systems between the two countries. US and the next aircraft carrier project and some European countries besides the deal to jointly develop have managed to strike mega deals a fifth generation fighter aircraft.

S e r g e i C h e m e z o v, CEO of Rostec State Corporation, an umbrella organization of 700 hitech civilian and military firms, told PTI there is no limit to what India and Russia can do together.

Sergei Chemezov, CEO of Rostec State Corporation "We are ready not just to deliver most serious weapons, most important with India which the Russians weapons but continue to give our were also competing for. state of art technology," he said.

"It is not a linear sort of rela"Russia is a friend, an ally and tionship. We feel that ties are definot a business partner. nitely developing and increasing," Russia stood by India during he said. its darkest hours. Next year will Giving example of the deadly mark 70 years of our relationship. BrahMos missile, Chemezov said It is a long time," he said and noted that not only has Russia delivered that Russia had stood by India high value equipment but has also when it faced sanctions after the collaborated with India on devel1998 nuclear tests. oping strategic assets.

"Not so in the recent past, when He pointed out that in late India was under sanctions, we 1990s, Russia had transferred were pretty much the only part- technology for Su30 MKI, India's ner for India. frontline fighter aircraft.

"Russia has been a partner not "At that point of time, it was only in every day military supplies our most modern equipment, our but also most sensitive and most most modern plane. When we had important supplies including a actually signed that agreement, nuclear submarine which was Russia did not even equip its army rented to India for you to use," with this. said Chemezov who is also a close "This was basically our newaide of Russian President Vladmir est highest technology. That Putin. shows and speaks about our rela"Come to think about it, I would tionship with India," he said. not imagine any other country to He also gave the example of do that, he said. Not in the past or T90 tanks, saying they are "not in in the future. anyway less but in many way, I cannot imagine US or Europe modern than any advanced US or giving India such a strategic as- European technologies". set," he said when asked about He said there is scope for cothe tough competition that US operation in the P75-I and the airand Europe are giving to Russia craft carrier project.-PTI

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Jyoti Gharod to get rare recognition RAMESH SOPARAWALA India Post News Service

CHICAGO: It is rarely in this world of self trumpeting leaders that any Muk Sevak (silent worker) would get to be publically recognized and honored for his or her work. The odds are still great if that recognition comes from a well established American medical institution.

The odd could get multiplied if that MukSevak or silent worker happened to be an Asian American and that too a woman. The

obviously they could not forget what good things she had done for them. It is in this context that the Hospital has decided to host an event this month October 31 at the hospital facility to recognize her contribution and work ethics.

In a communication to Gharod, Dr Mohammed Naficy, Dr Uchhena Nwaneri and Dr Tera Hillard said that it could be "our honor to recognize you for going above and beyond your regular duties during the five years of service with the hospital." The letter says that Gharod was a "pio-

for PRP machine and disposable kits and following up the improvement of the knee surgery patients

PM launches Rs 5,000 cr schemes in Varanasi VARANASI: With an aim of boosting development in his Lok Sabha constituency Varanasi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched seven schemes at the total cost of Rs 5000 crore amid his assertion that his gov-

least seven major cities - Varanasi, Patna, Jamshedpur, Kolkata, Ranchi, Bhubaneswar and Cuttack".

"The project, which is likely to be completed by 2020, will also help revival of a number of mori-

Jyoti Gharod

Jyoti Gharod with Maryland Hospital staff doctors

honor goes to Jyoti Gharod, a perfusionist, who worked in a managerial capacity for five years at Prince George Hospital Center in Maryland before going to another front ranking medical facility - Ochsner Medical Center in Baton Rough LA. The Prince George Hospital Center management center had held Gharod in high esteem and

Jyot Gharod’s earlier PRP recognition

neer, forever seeking to improve ECMO (Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygeneation) protocol, conducting ECMO presentations to doctors, residents and nurses in grand round, ICU OR, PeriOP Nursing Staff.

The hospital also recognizes her contributing in the area of PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma), applying for research grant, arranging

who received the innovative PRP injections formulated thru trial and error with the patient showing remarkable improvement with the significantly less pain and early recovery.

In a talk to this paper, Gharod said that she was never seeking any honor or recognition as her Guru all the time insisted for selfless service. The PRP innovative injection system may be a long time before FDA and concerned authorizes formally give their approval. But results are outstanding and even the doctors at the Maryland Hospital have witnessed its efficacy Gharod came to this country in 2002 after getting a degree in pathology from a recognized medical institution in Mumbai. She had her further training and education at Quinnipiac University Connecticut, Clinical at Hartford hospital, St Francis hospital and Yale University. She is planning a couple of medical camps in India in 2017.

Kashmir core issue, says PM Sharif ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said Kashmir is the "core issue" between India and Pakistan and its resolution would ensure durable peace in the region.

"Kashmir issue must be resolved according to the UN resolutions as per the commitments made by the Indian Government," Sharif told British National Security Adviser Sir Mark Lyall Grant, who called on him at PM House here.

Sharif said Kashmir is the "core issue" between India and Pakistan and its resolution would ensure durable peace in the region as he

urged the world to take note of alleged human rights violations there, officials said.

"The world community must take a note of the grave human

Nawaz Sharif

rights violations and atrocities" in Kashmir, he said and claimed that over hundred people have been brutally killed, hundreds have been blinded by the use of pellet guns while thousands have been injured in the last few months alone.

Sharif said that Pakistan is peace loving country and pursues the policy of maintaining friendly relationships with all its neighbors, they said.

Grant appreciated his policy of reaching out to the neighbors for establishing cordial relationships with them.-PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivering the address after laying the foundation stone of the Gas Pipeline Project, at Varanasi, in Uttar Pradesh on October 24

ernment believes in timely bund fertilizer manufacturing completion of projects. units.

The schemes launched in"Besides bringing piped natucluded "Urja Ganga", an ambi- ral gas to millions of households, tious gas pipeline project which the project will also enable at least will bring piped cooking fuel to half a million vehicles to switch residents of this ancient temple over to CNG mode, which will go town besides catering to millions a long way in development of of consumers in neighboring smart cities", the Ministry said. states.

Modi also laid the foundation Other programs launched were stone for doubling and electrifiexpansion of Diesel Locomotive cation of 120-km-long VaranasiWorks, dedication of 765/400 KV Madhosingh-Allahabad railway GIS Varanasi Power Sub-station line involving an expenditure of and inauguration of Varanasi Rs 750.66 crore.

Postal Region.

Modi also laid foundation stone for second "Besides bringing piped line and electrification natural gas to millions of of Allahabad-Varanasi rail line and unveiled households, the project will setting up of perishable also enable at least half a cargo centre at Rajatalab Railway Sta- million vehicles to switch tion. over to CNG mode Speaking on the occasion, he said his government has focused on timely He also dedicated to the nation completion of projects and has an expansion project of the Dieworked towards ensuring that not sel Locomotive Works, which had only are foundations laid, but commenced in 2014, months after projects are also inaugurated on he became the Prime Minister. time.

He felicitated select beneficiaHe said the real aim of govern- ries of Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana, ment initiatives is proper execu- and handed over LPG connection and touching people's lives. tions to select Ujjwala beneficia"In a way, projects worth Rs ries. He also released a commemo5,000 crore are being dedicated to rative postage stamp on Varanasi Kashi," the Prime Minister said.

City.

According to information made Modi spoke about environment available by the Ministry of Pe- friendly initiatives and the troleum and Natural Gas, "Urja government's new vision for the Ganga is a 2540-km-long gas pipe- Indian Railways, which can line which will ensure supply of emerge as a growth engine for the clean and eco-friendly fuel to at economy. -PTI

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Times Square reverberates with unique Diwali

Morning Diya Lighting Ceremony (L-R) Veda Murthy Sarvothaman, Stephanie Judal from WU, Michele Rinn from Prudential, Sharmila Fowler from McDonalds, Elizabeth Riemersma, Dimple Malhotra from Sling Int, Neeta Bhasin, CEO Event Guru, Mrs. Brijbala Suri, Gajendra Suri, Esha Raja, Akhilesh from &TV, Vandana Sharma, Maharaja, John Massey from Air India.

India Post News Service

NEW YORK: Diwali at Times Square 2016 is over but the memory of it will last a lifetime for many. Creating history third time in a row, it is a celebration unlike any other. It showcased the rich and diverse elegance of Indian culture with credibility, creativity

and celebrity.

It honored the tradition of this happy holiday, which symbolizes the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, good over evil, and hope over despair.

The event had performances by young artists, differently abled kids, well-known celebrities, regional cultural dance perfor-

mances from various states of India, a spectacular digital Diya lighting on one of the biggest Times Square screens followed by a special message from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the launch of the U. S. Postal Service commemorative Diwali Stamp.

Dignitaries from India and US

like US Senator Chuck Schumer, their energy to the stage, and US Congresswoman Carolyn B. heartthrob Karan Tacker stole the Maloney, Indian Ambassador to affections of many. the UN Syed Akbaruddin, Consul General Ambassador Riva Ganguly Das and former Indian representative to the UN, Hardeep Singh Puri, graced the event with their presence and conveyed their Diwali greetings.

International voice sensation Arjun rocked the stage. Television celebrities like Kumkum Bhagya fame Shabir who plays Abhi and Sriti who plays Pragya greeted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's message for fans. Saregamapa Diwali at Times Square Oct 16 2016 winner Kushal Paul and People from all ethnicities were soulful singer Jyotica Tangri mesmerized with their music. So You seen shaking their legs on Indian Think You Can Dance fame Bhangra tunes.

Kanchi Shah and Dance India Cont’d on page 11 Dance fame Siddhesh Pai gave all

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Tata disbands Council set up by Mistry MUMBAI: On a day Cyrus Mistry was ousted as the Chairman of Tata Sons, the Group Executive Council (GEC) set up by him has been disbanded.

The GEC, headed by Mistry, was set up in April 2013 with the objective of providing strategic and operational support to him. It included N S Rajan from Ernst & Young, Tata brand custodian Mukund Rajan, ex-BSE chief

Madhu Kannan, strategist Nirmalya Kumar and Tata veteran Harish Bhat.

Mukund Rajan and Harish Bhat will be offered new roles within the group, sources in the know of the development said.

However, it is unclear what fate awaits for the rest of the members in the group.

Soon after making public the departure of Mistry, Tata Group's

Times Square reverberates with unique Diwali Cont’d from page 10

Selected audience members even enjoyed the opportunity to dance on stage with their favorite celebrities, but the stand out act came from Sparsh Shah, a young singing sensation who performed "Jai Ho" to everyone's delight.

The event, hosted by the handsome Karan Tacker and local host Monty, showcased the rich traditions of Indian culture. It was showered with love and blessings from across the world.

Event Guru's CEO, Mrs. Neeta

Bhasin, said, "Diwali at Times Square is not just a grand celebration of the festival of lights but also a beautiful display of our community and its roots. Our main focus this year was to give a platform to young Indian talent, both from India and US, as they represent our future and will carry forward our culture for years to come."

New York's largest South Asian ethnic event, Diwali at Times Square 2016, was presented by &TV and was powered by Air India and Sling International.

Attendees from all over the world at Diwali at Times Square

AT&T's hiring events are taking place in Pleasanton, San Jose, Emeryville and South SF from Oct. 24-27, as follows: Oct. 24- Four Points by Sheraton, 5115 Hopyard Rd., Pleasanton, CA 94588 Oct. 25 - Four Points by Sheraton, 1471 N. 4th St., San Jose, CA 95112 Oct. 26 - Hyatt House, 5800 Shellmound St., Emeryville, CA 94608 Oct. 27 - Embassy Suites, 250 Gateway Blvd., South San Francisco, CA 94080 This is a full-time position with great benefits + $3,000 signing bonus (select locations) + opportunity to earn up to $57K*.*Current full-time Retail Sales Consultants earn an average of $50,636 in total compensation in the first year when successfully meeting or exceeding sales goals. Top sellers earn an average of $57,511 per year. Diversity is the AT&T way of standing apart. Equal Opportunity Employer.

Interested in learning more? Text "ATTJobs" to 73303 or visit att.jobs/GetHired.

website removed all the details related to the GEC, including profile of the members.

"The page you are looking for has been moved or removed," said a message on the web page of GEC on Tata group's official website.

The GEC had replaced the roles earlier which were performed by the group corporate centre (GCC) and the group executive office (GEO) before Mistry took over as

Chairman.

Meanwhile in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Ratan Tata informed that the Board of Directors of Tata Sons has in its meeting decided to replace Cyrus P Mistry as Chairman with immediate effect.

"A new management structure is being put in place and a selection committee has been constituted to identify the next chairman," he said in the letter.

Subsequent to the day's development, Tata group's listed firm Tata Motors and Tata Power informed the bourses about Mistry's departure.

"Ratan N Tata shall be the Interim Chairman of Tata Sons Limited until the new Chairman is appointed in accordance with the procedure prescribed in the Companies Act, 2013 and the Articles of Association of Tata Sons Ltd," Tata Motors informed the BSE.-PTI

India, Bahrain denounce terrorism MANAMA: India and Bahrain have denounced terrorism calling it a "hazard" to all countries and said terrorist in one country cannot be glorified as a freedom fighter by another, an apparent reference to Pakistan's praise for Hizbul Mujahideen militant

Burhan Wani.

A joint statement, issued after Home Minister Rajnath Singh held talks with and Bahrain Interior Minister Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa here, said both the countries agreed on their strong stances against all

forms of terrorism, saying "terrorism is a hazard to all countries and communities".

Rashid said Bahrain is looking forward to working with India in the fight against terrorism and in strengthening the mutual and regional security.-PTI

Tech News GST can be paid by debit, credit cards INDORE: Individuals and entities can pay taxes online using debit or credit cards once the Goods and Services Tax (GST) is rolled out, Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia has said.

The government proposes to roll out the new indirect tax regime from April 1 next year and has made registration, refunds, returns filing and payment processes online.

"With regard to payments, the best thing that will happen is all payments will have to be made online. You can use any mode of payment, electronic, NEFT, RTGS. You can do it through debit cards or credit cards of any bank.

"You need not open account in banks of government. Even if you have account in a private bank you can transfer money and it will reach the government," Adhia said while addressing the Global Investors Summit here.

He said GST will make it easier for traders and industry to access Input Tax Credit and also ease compliance burden as the entire country will become a single market.

"I would ask the states to focus on the services sector because industry will come on its own once demand increases," Adhia said.

He said India is now taking several reform measures and GST is the biggest tax reform since Independence. Adhia added that GST will also ensure that the taxes deducted by sellers reach the government. -PTI

Patanjali to enter textile sector: Ramdev INDORE: Patanjali is entering the textile manufacturing sector, its founder Yoga guru Ramdev has said and expressed hope that the group's growth rate will swell to 200 per cent in the next fiscal.

Patanjali group will make a big venture in textile manufacturing sector and apart of traditional kurta-pajama, it will come out with foreign wears like jeans, Ramdev said at the inaugural function of the two-day Global Investors' Summit here.

"Our growth rate is 100 per cent in the current fiscal, which is going to climb to 200 per cent in the next financial year," he said.

He said Patanjali group wants to throw up Rs 10,000 crore income avenues to farmers in farming, milk production and other sectors in the next 2-3 years.

Ramdev said that big economies globally were facing a slowdown but our economy stands strong. -PTI

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New media future as AT&T buys Time Warner NEW YORK: AT&T has unveiled a mega-deal for Time Warner that would transform the telecom giant into a media-entertainment powerhouse positioned for a sector facing major technology changes.

The stock-and-cash deal is valued at USD 108.7 billion including debt, and gives a value of USD 84.5 billion to Time Warner - a major name in the sector that includes the Warner Bros. studios in Hollywood and an array of TV assets such as HBO and CNN. It would give the big US telecom firm "the world's best premium content with the networks to deliver it to every screen, however customers want it," a statement from the companies said. -AFP

Modi govt working in 'mission mode' to expand aviation sector VADODARA: Accusing previous governments of having "no vision" for aviation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said his government is working in a "mission mode" for expansion of the sector and has put in place the country's first integrated policy to tap the potential of small cities.

He was speaking after dedicat-

lies aspiring to travel by air.

The Prime Minister said the country is very huge and "if you think only 80 to 100 airports are enough, then we are trying to create hurdles in the country's growth".

He said the country's development can take new dimensions if the tier-2 and tier-3 cities are

airfares of only Rs 2,500 for up to 500 kms distance," he said.

Attacking the previous governments, he said, "Earlier airports were set up, planes would fly but the country did not have an aviation policy.

"How to take the sector forward in next five or ten years and take care of its and passengers' needs,

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visiting the exhibition after inaugurating the integrated terminal building at Harni airport, in Vadodara, Gujarat on October 22

ing the new integrated terminal building of the airport here, which is now the second green airport of the country after Kochi.

Modi noted that India in the near future would probably become the third country in the world in terms of airport activity benchmarks with more middle-class fami-

bought on the aviation map and noted that government was making efforts to revive the large number of non-functional airstrips and airports in the country.

"That is why to promote this, the government brought out a new regional connectivity scheme under which people can travel with

what should be done for common people, there was no vision in place earlier. It was just moving," he said.

"After the new NDA government came to power, for the first time since independence it formulated a new aviation policy for the country... we are working in a mis-

sion mode for expansion," he said.

The PM said the new aviation policy will take care of the consumers' needs and the growth of the sector.

"It is estimated that within five years, the situation in India would be such that the airports in the country would have as much footfall in a year as America's total population.

"You can well imagine how this sector is growing. India in the near future would probably become the third country in the world in terms of airport activity benchmarks.

This will help increase employment opportunities and would spur economic activity," he said.

According to International Airport Transport Association, India will add 322 million new passengers out of the total 442 million passengers by 2035. It has also forecast that the country will become the third largest aviation market in the world displacing the UK by 2026.

Last fiscal, the country registered a growth of 21.6 per cent in the number of air travelers.

Spread in an area of 17,500 sq mt, the new integrated terminal has been built at a cost of Rs 160 crore.

It has been designed to handle 700 passengers, including international fliers, per hour with 18 check-in counters, which would help in a seamless boarding process.

Cont’d on page 14

Foreign group's bid to stop Adani project MELBOURNE: Adani's 21.7 billion dollar coal mine project in Australia was being targeted by a "foreign funded, highly orchestrated" group which influenced the traditional land owners and legal environmental challenges' to stop it, a new set of emails released by WikiLeaks has said.

In a series of emails, it has been disclosed that the US-based Sandler Foundation funded Australia-based environmentalist group, the Sunrise Project, which offered "Wangan and Jagalingou

people" financial support and scholarships if they opposed Adani's mine project and also boasted of its attempts to hide its funding sources from Australian parliament, according to 'The Australian' newspaper.

According to report, the previ-

ously secret briefings as part of Hillary Clinton's campaign chairman John Podesta s emails, said Sunrise tailored its advice to indigenous communities in northern Queensland, and that the "whole Galilee Basin fossil fuel industrial complex is in its death throes".

Human Rights Watch chief executive Ken Roth further disclosed that his group received "charitable status by special parliamentary bill" in the "waning days of the Labor government".

It was also disclosed that an associated group, Human Rights Watch, offered to help Sunrise Project by keep its tax-exempt charity status because "the mining companies seem to own the Liberals (in Australia) and they play very dirty".

Human Rights Watch chief executive Ken Roth further disclosed that his group received "charitable status by special parliamentary bill" in the "waning days of the Labor government".

Cont’d on page 14

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Jaitley tells private sector it's time to invest INDORE: With private investment playing catch-up, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has asked the private sector to loosen its purse strings to make the most of the demand uptick following a good monsoon and softer rates due to controlled inflation.

India became the world's largest fastest-growing major economy on the back of a spurt in public spending, and private sector joining the bandwagon will cre-

"And therefore, public investment pace has picked up, we are waiting for your (private sector) pace to pick up. If that pace were to pick up, probably you will have more engines in order to spur growth in India," he said.

Speaking at the summit, Hinduja said with a "good and dynamic" Prime Minister, the time is right for India to attract funds for development.

"Prime Minister has full fire in

Countering comments by Hinduja Group coChairman Gopichand Hinduja that the pace of growth is slow, he said he wants to "remind him that normally, the industry is ahead of the government, but we are at the moment of history where at the moment the private sector is a little behind the government". ate more engines to spur growth, he said at the Madhya Pradesh Global Investor Summit here.

Countering comments by Hinduja Group co-Chairman Gopichand Hinduja that the pace of growth is slow, he said he wants to "remind him that normally, the industry is ahead of the government, but we are at the moment of history where at the moment the private sector is a little behind the government".

Environment clearance time to be halved INDORE: Government is looking to reduce the time by half to 50-60 days for granting forest and environment clearances to industrial projects, Union Environment and Forest Minister Anil Madhav Dave has said.

"Earlier, it used to take 300 days to pass a file related with these clearances and people used to talk about imposing different taxes. Now, it is taking 120 days and I would like to reduce it to 50-60 days. Two months' time should be there for forest and environment clearances," he said at the Global Investors Summit here.

Assuring investors of faster clearances, the minister said, "No tax will be imposed, no file will take 300 days. Within 120 days, you will get your file (done) and if you face any (problem), call me directly. I don't have PA (personal aide), I pick my phone myself." -PTI

his belly, he has changed the face of India. But I would also like to admit that his team has to catch up with speed. Unfortunately, the speed is not going in the same pace what he likes to see."

Hinduja added: "Otherwise, his vision and dream could have been achieved much faster... We should agree that the culture cannot be changed overnight, it takes time.

But overall, we are on right track."

Jaitley said the slowdown in

several parts of the world has created a situation that a lot of foreign capital is coming into the country.

"This year, fortunately as a result of goods monsoon, we have a very surplus foodgrain production which will improve domestic demand and inflation is in check.

And a controlled inflation means moderation of interest rates also.

The cost of capital reduces. With these advantages, we have an opportunity ahead of us," he said.

Jaitley said India has been able to maintain respectable level of growth even when the world is facing important and very significant economic challenges.

"As far as India is concerned, there are obviously a few advantages that have come our way. The political change in the country has created a decisive environment that's an advantage," he said further.

The finance minister cited the global oil and commodity prices as an advantage for India since the country is a buyer.

"Additionally, the resources which we have saved, we are able to invest in a large manner both in infrastructure and rural economy.

That's an advantage."

But there are challenges too.

"The global slowdown hurts us, particularly in matters of international trade," he noted. States, he

MP gets Rs 5.63 lakh cr worth commitments INDORE: Madhya Pradesh has received investment commitments worth Rs 5.63 lakh crore across sectors during the two-day Global Investors Summit here, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said.

Promising to make the state world's best business destination, the Chief Minister said his government will provide all kinds support to investors.

During the two-day summit, there has been a huge response and the state has received over 2,600 investment proposals across sectors, Chouhan said, adding that his officials discussed all the issues raised by potential investors.

He further said that a portal would soon be launched to provide all the relevant information besides helping in according approvals on time.

The Chief Minister said that about 30 proposals have come online and his government will devise a mechanism to "allot land online" to investors for setting up businesses.

"For about 50 crore worth of investment, we have decided to appoint a relation manager," he said.

On ease in norms for doing businesses, Chouhan said his government will work on amending rules with regards to change in the land use and charge minimal fee for that.

Besides, the state will come up with a new policy to promote ready-made garments industry in the state, he added.

The CM also assured that the government will simplify the procedures to get all clearances from pollution control board on time.

On concerns raised by the industry in terms of GST roll-out and its impact on state tax incentives, he said, "A committee has been formed to ensure that all facilities continue" even after the GST implementation.

The Chief Minister also urged External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to help the state come up with international airports in Bhopal and Indore. -PTI

said, are competing with each other. Jaitley also made the point that a decisive government at the Centre has made decision-making easier.

With a decisive Prime Minister

from a BIMARU state just 13 years ago to an industrial hub, which reflects aspirational desire.

"Once the GST rolls out and India becomes one market and facilitates seamless transfer of

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley

in Narendra Modi, "there is clarity as far as direction is concerned and therefore, India is trying with its renewed confidence to fight adversity and gain an advantage which has so far eluded us. Various industrial revolutions bypassed us," he said.

Stating that he is clear that India at this historical junction has advantages, Jaitley said the instinct and desire to grow has now flowed to the states and it has been decentralized.

Backing up, he referred to the transformation of Madhya Pradesh

goods and services, Madhya Pradesh will become the supply hub," Jaitley hoped.

Electronics and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the government is involved in path-breaking reforms and is promoting digital connectivity and Make in India.

In the past one year, as many as 40 mobile manufacturing facilities have been set up in the state, one new mobile manufacturing factory will soon come up, and two electronic clusters have been approved, Prasad said.-PTI

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GST to boost demand, create jobs: PM NEW DELHI: The Goods and Services Tax law will boost domestic demand, create more opportunities for domestic business and drive job creation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said while addressing the valedictory function of an international conference on arbitration here.

He said so far the domestic market has been fragmented and different taxes across different states have made goods and services more expensive.

"This has hampered growth in inter-state commerce. We are enacting a Goods and Services Tax law, to create an integrated national market. This will further boost domestic demand, create more opportunities for Indian business and drive job creation," he said.

India today, Modi said, is the fastest growing major economy, and one of the most attractive destinations for FDI. "Indeed, we stand out as a bright spot in the global economy. This is the result of India's fundamental strengths - democracy, demographic dividend and demand. We need to fully harness these strengths. This can happen only if businesses make long-term investments that create jobs and sustain economic growth," he said.

The Prime Minister said India is experiencing a digital revolution which is bridging the digital and economic divide in the society in general and rural society in particular. "A boost to the rural economy through this revolution will make the Indian economy even more robust," he said.-PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the valedictory session of National Initiative towards Strengthening Arbitration and Enforcement, in New Delhi

CJI differs with Jaitley on arbitration NEW DELHI: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has sought minimal judicial intervention in arbitrations for early dispute resolution, a view that Chief Justice of India T S Thakur countered saying such interferences no longer exist.

At a conference on strengthening arbitration and enforcement in India, President Pranab Mukherjee said courts should devise a mechanism to handle arbitration matters separately and avoid delays arising from its intervention.

Speaking before Mukherjee, the Finance Minister said contracts should be respected and

judicial interference in adjudicating them should be minimal or non-existent.

Chief Justice of India, however, sought to counter perception of judicial interference in arbitration matters.

"There is, in some quarters, a perception that courts in this country interfere with arbitral awards more than courts in other jurisdictions do. I take this opportunity to point out that this perception should no longer persist in view of some path-breaking pronouncements towards making India an arbitration friendly destination," Thakur said. -PTI

Foreign group's bid to stop Adani project Cont’d from page 12

In an email to Sandler Foundation last August after a decision against the Adani mine, Sunrise Project director John Hepburn, who is said to be the author of the strategy to block the mine, thanked the Foundation for its support and

Australian Youth Climate Coalition, Mackay Conservation Group, Market Forces and the brilliant and tireless Sunrise team".

Hepburn's email to the Foundation also mocked the coal industry for the claim "there is some kind of foreign-funded and tightly orchestrated conspiracy to systemi-

Reacting to the latest disclosure, Adani Australia chief executive Jeyakumar Janakaraj said the leaked emails were "evidence that these are broader well-funded activist campaigns wrote 'without your support none of this would have happened".

He wrote that he was going to buy a "few bottles of bubbly" for a celebration with "our colleagues at GetUp!!!!, Greenpeace, 350.org,

cally destroy the Australian coal industry".

Reacting to the latest disclosure, Adani Australia chief executive Jeyakumar Janakaraj said the leaked emails were "evidence that

these are broader well-funded activist campaigns as part of a wider anti-coal campaign that is being financially backed and influenced a long way from workers in Australia and those suffering energy poverty in India".

"The leaks show, however, that the anti-coal campaign is not about the merits of the approval process at all; it s about activists motivated to stop jobs and investment, "he said. The latest disclosure came days after the Queensland development minister Anthony Lynham announced that the state government had invoked special powers to ensure the controversial Carmichael coal and rail project starts next year.

The project is now in its seventh year of the environmental approval process. -PTI

PM working to make India arbitration hub NEW DELHI: Asserting that his work backed by a vibrant arbitragovernment has initiated far-reach- tion culture is essential," he said. ing legal reforms, Prime Minister Modi said towards this end, the Narendra Modi has said it wants government has initiated far-reachto create a vibrant arbitration ing legal reforms. mechanism as investors need to "Over a thousand archaic laws be assured that the rules of the have been scrapped. We have engame will not be changed arbi- acted a comprehensive Insolvency trarily and commercial disputes and Bankruptcy Code, 2016, implecan be resolved efficiently. mented the National Company Law He was addressing the valedic- Tribunals, established a statutory tory function of 'National Initiative Monetary Policy Committee and towards Strengthening Arbitration and EnThey need to be assured forcement in India.'

An enabling alterna- that the rules of the game tive dispute resolution will not change overnight, in ecosystem is a national priority as it will not an arbitrary fashion. And that only add to investors' commercial disputes will be comfort level but also resolved efficiently. ease the burden on courts, he said, adding there is a need to promote India effected a merger of the commodiglobally as an arbitration hub. ties and securities market," he told "Businesses seek assurance of the gathering which included Chief the prevalence of rule of law in the Justice of India T S Thakur and Indian market. They need to be members of the judiciary from sevassured that the rules of the game eral countries. The Prime Minister will not change overnight, in an said creation of a vibrant ecosysarbitrary fashion. And that com- tem for institutional arbitration, is mercial disputes will be resolved one of the foremost priorities of efficiently. A robust legal frame- his government. -PTI

Modi govt working in 'mission mode' to expand aviation sector Cont’d from page 12

It took about seven years to complete the project as the then Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel had laid the foundation stone in 2009.

The 8,100-meter-long runway of the Vadodra airport can handle small and narrow body aircraft such as Airbus 320 and Boeing 737s. Besides national carrier Air India, private airlines likes IndiGo and Jet airways are operating from This airport will be zero discharge, waste to wealth, energy saving and environment friendly, the PM said.

Claiming that his government had taken a number of steps to promote the aviation sector, Modi said, "I am happy that after the formation of the new NDA government, two airports in the country have become a part of the green movement."

He said when such iconic buildings come up, the common people get encouraged to use economically viable and environmentfriendly technology.

"Connectivity plays an important role in the world today, both physical and digital connectivity

is required and if we need highways, we also need I-ways (Information ways).

"Similarly, air traffic is also needed. Air services are required in a big way for growth of tourism in the country.

Better air connectivity means more tourists and this means better economic growth. There are immense possibilities for tourism growth in India. Keeping that in view, this government has decided to promote the aviation sector," he said.

Referring to the first Railway University to be set up here, Modi said it will impact the next century.

"The government has taken a very important decision whose impact will be felt for nearly 100 years. And the decision is that country's first railway university will be constructed in Vadodara," Modi said addressing the public after inaugurating the terminal.

The PM said the varsity will help in carrying out innovation and modernization for Indian Railways.

Earlier, Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajpathi Raju said since the NDA government came to power, air passengers traffic has "grown by over 20 per cent".-PTI

October 28, 2016

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India Post 15

Desi News Dhar weaves fascinating story of Netaji GEETHA PATIL

CANTON, MA: Journalist turned researcher Anuj Dhar held an inspirational and enlightening talk in Canton, MA on Tuesday October 11 attended by a good number of Indians interested to know about the findings of his research into the death of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.

Kanchan Banerjee, one of the organizers, welcomed and also thanked all for coming with so much enthusiasm and interest. He introduced in brief the author Anuj Dhar. He said that Dhar, a former journalist who wrote several books on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, had started researching into the disappearance of Netaji around 2001 and discovered some startling facts. He runs an NGO called Mission Netaji and has proposed several theories about Subhas Chandra Bose.

COMMUNITY ACROSS AMERICA

16 India Post

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October 28, 2016

RAMESH SOPARAWALA India Post News Service

CHICAGO: It was in a way history in the making when for the first time a State in Indian Union the newly formed Telengana - and a front runner State of Illinois in

The Telangana Minister for Industries and IT K. Taraka Rama Rao and Consul General of India Dr. Ausaf Sayeed were present at the event. The MoU was signed as part of Mr. Rama Rao's second leg of business visit to the USA to promote Telangana and attract in-

Don't vote as part of a tribe: Sadhguru ASHOK EASWARAN

share best practices, tools and processes for disaster/emergency management, data management, data analytics, open data and Intelligent Transportation Systems.

As part of cooperation in egovernance, the two States would strive to transform the State agencies by incorporating communications and information technologies into their operations. The two governments would share information and insights on the e-services implemented in Illinois and Telangana, evaluate them for their effectiveness and impact on citizens, the officials explained.

Further, the MoU would also aim at promoting entrepreneurship in both the States by facilitating interaction between entrepreneurs

accelerator, in Telangana and to replicate innovation labs in Telangana back in Illinois.

The MoU would also help establishment of joint business incubators to support development of high technology solutions and foster the start-up culture. The two States would also work for identifying job creation initiatives and share best practices and experience related to policies and regulations, financial models and standards.

CG in his welcome address also hinted that the Consulate is hosting a meet of scientists besides taking measures to promote economic cooperation between India and Midwest Region.

Hardik Bhatt in a small talk with this paper indicated that this was

MoU signatories L to R Arvind Kumar, Hardik Bhatt with Minister KT Rama Rao and CG Dr Ausaf Sayeed

USA signed a Memorandum of Understanding ( MoU) for collaboration and interaction between the two in various fields in the form of sharing expertise.

The agreement was signed by Principal Secretary (Industries and Commerce) Arvind Kumar on behalf of Telangana and Secretary of Innovation & Technology and Chief Information Officer Hardik Bhatt on behalf of Illinois at Chicago on Monday, October 17.

vestments to the State.

According to officials, the agreement would facilitate cooperation in the areas of Smart State Solutions, e-governance, entrepreneurship, innovation, business incubators, job creation and best practices between the two States.

Under the Smart State solutions, Illinois State would introduce "Array of Things" sensors for air pollution monitoring in Telangana.

The two States would also

Dr Deepak Kant Vyas (second from right) with St Louis Team - Karen Ellis, Denise, Minister KT Rama Rao and James Alexander

and holding hackathons for high citizen impact applications.

The two States would work to establish UI Labs, an innovation

Details on page 19

Peace Ambassador MA Najeeb welcomed A.Q. SIDDIQUI India Post News Service

CHICAGO: Golden Telangana Welfare Association of Chicago (GTWA) hosted a dinner reception for Telangana's first International Peace Ambassador to UN, MA Njaeeb in Chicago at Nan O Devon new Restaurant on Devon Ave this week Details on page 30

Details on page 22

Telangana inks historic MoU with Illinois on Smart State Cooperation

Details on page 18

CHICAGO: It could have been a loaded question for a mystic had it come from a journalist. But the impossibly earnest questioner was a spiritual aspirant who sought Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev's answer as to what Americans could do to navigate the racially divisive and hate-filled politics of one of the most contentious presidential elections in American history.

Sadhguru demurred saying that the question would lead him into a political morass. But then he got straight to the heart of the matter as he saw it. "The problem is that today (in the USA) you have a committed vote, not a considered vote," he said, referring to a Tamil proverb which spoke of the dilemma of choosing between a good man or a capable one as a king.

Andhra Assn celebrates Samskrutika Dinotsavam

MoU signers with other members of Illinois government, Minister KT Rama Rao and CG Dr Ausaf Sayeed

the first step and that Illinois is considering to have similar tie ups with other States and regions in India. Gujarat State is one in the line, he mentioned.

Dr Deepak Kant Vyas, a businessman from St Louis specially flew for this event to Chicago along with a team of St. Louis regional Chambers of Commerce. Dr Vyas has been active in the field of promoting economic co-operation between St. Louis and India along with James Alexander, senior Vice president of Economic Development and Karen Ellis, Director Economic Development, St. Louis Regional Chamber. The two officials were accompanied by Dennise Pruitt of Missori Parners.

James Alexander indicated that their organization planned to take a business delegation to India in early 2017 for closer business links.

Community Across America

October 28, 2016

India Post 17

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Most Indo-Americans Moon Khan wins endorsement from Jesse & others prefer Hillary Clinton KK RAJDA

F

KHANDERAO KAND

oundation of India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS-USA.org) surveyed Indo American citizens on their opinions on US presidential candidates on issues important to Indo-Americans.

Most of the respondent preferred Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump on immigration, religion freedom, and outsourcing. Donald

Trump fared little better against Clinton over terrorism and India specific strategic alliances with respect to countries like Pakistan, China, Russia etc. Here are the results.

Most of the respondents were male and naturalized citizens.

Both candidates got less than 50% on trust, economic policies, terrorism and In-

dia related issues.

Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS) is a US based think tank working on dialogues and research related to socio, economic and geo political issues and policy matters related to India and Indian Diaspora.

For information contact khanderao@fiids-usa.org

Festival of Lights lights up City of Lights ASHOK EASWARAN & MADHU PATEL

AURORA: Over 5,500 people attended the 3rd Diwali celebrations organized by the City of Aurora's Indian American Outreach Advisory Board (IACOAB) at Waubonsie Valley High School on Saturday Oct 22.

Among the dignitaries who attended the event were US Congressman Bill Foster, Acting Indian Consul General O P

Meena, outgoing Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner, Illinois State Rep Stephanie Kifowit, Democratic Congressional candidate for the 8th district, Illinois Raja Krishnamoorthi, Lt Commander Keith Cross of the Aurora Police, Rick Guzman, Assistant Chief of Staff to the Aurora Mayor, Dr. Gopal Lalmalani, President of the Village of Oak Brook, Dr. Siva Sivananthan CEO of Sivananthan Laboratories and Aurora Aldermen Rick Mervine.

As the members of the audience started trickling in, they were greeted with a scintillating video presentation of India's diverse cultures and faiths, prepared by Jassi Parmar of Desi Junction, who was the EMIndian Consul O P Meena lighting the lamp when the CEE for the evening.

Gayatri Mantra was recited.

Cont’d on page 20

CHICAGO: Moon Khan, a Democratic Party candidate for DuPage County Recorder, spiked up his chances of winning the November elections against Republican incumbent Recorder Fred Bucholz.

Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White led the huge endorsement list, followed by Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerich, Con-

gressman Bill Foster, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, State Senator Tom Cullerton, State Representative Stephanie Kifowit, State Representative Deb Conroy, Congressional candidate Raja Krishnamoorthi, City of Chicago Clerk and a candidate of Illinois Comptroller, City of Chicago Alderman Ameya Pawar.

Cont’d on page 19

Moon Khan with Jesse White

18 India Post

Community Across America

October 28, 2016

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Dhar weaves fascinating story of Netaji GEETHA PATIL

CANTON, MA: Journalist turned researcher Anuj Dhar held an inspirational and enlightening talk in Canton, MA on Tuesday October 11 attended by a good number of Indians interested to know about the findings of his research into the death of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.

Kanchan Banerjee, one of the organizers, welcomed and also thanked all for coming with so much enthusiasm and interest. He introduced in brief the author Anuj Dhar. He said that Dhar, a former journalist who wrote several books on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, had started researching into the disappearance of Netaji around 2001 and discovered some startling facts. He runs an NGO called Mission Netaji and has proposed several theories about Subhas

Chandra Bose.

Dhar, who is very passionate about the topic, said that Netaji's death is still covered with mystery.

But the various conspiracy theories about it make it even more mysterious. He mentioned about

Author Anuj Dhar

some of the most thought-provoking conspiracy theories with some declassified documents and pictures: Netaji died in the plane crash. If that is true then why is there no dead body?

In the outcome, an exciting, and

Kanchan Banerjee

perhaps critical fact emerged: Netaji's other lieutenants, who were to follow him on another flight, never saw his body. No one took photographs of Bose's injuries or his body, nor was a death certificate issued. As news reached India, senior INA officer JR Bhonsle rejected the news. Mahatma Gandhi said, "Subhas is not dead.

He is still alive and biding his time somewhere."

Soon, rumors began doing the rounds that Bose was either in Soviet-held Manchuria, as a prisoner of the Soviet Army, or had gone into hiding in Russia.

Lakshmi Swaminathan, of the INA's Jhansi Regiment, said in 1946 she thought Bose was in China. Another story prevailed for some time that his bones and ashes are stored but DNA test was not yet done to confirm the fact and even most family members also did not show interest in the story.

In the 1950s, there emerged stories that Netaji had become a sadhu. And elaborative facts of this story took shape a decade later. Some of Netaji's old associates formed the 'Subhasbadi Janata', and claimed Bose was now the chief sadhu in an ashram in Shoulmari in North Bengal. According to the 'Subhasbadis', Bose returned to India after the war, became a sadhu, attended Gandhi's funeral unseen in 1948, lived in a temple in Bareilly in the late 1950s, before finally settling in Shoulmari as Srimat Saradanandaji in 1959.

Cont’d on page 23

October 28, 2016

Community Across America

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Don't vote as part of a tribe: Sadhguru ASHOK EASWARAN

CHICAGO: It could have been a loaded question for a mystic had it come from a journalist. But the impossibly earnest questioner was a spiritual aspirant who sought Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev's answer as to what Americans could do to navigate the racially divisive and hate-filled politics of one of the most contentious presidential elections in American history.

Sadhguru demurred saying that the question would lead him into a political morass. But then he got straight to the heart of the matter as he saw it. "The problem is that today (in the USA) you have a committed vote, not a considered vote," he said, referring to a Tamil proverb which spoke of the dilemma of choosing between a good man or a capable one as a king.

This committed voter who sticks to a political party no matter what, has led, Sadhguru said, to the creation of two tribes (Democrats and Republicans) "Many vote for a party because their fathers and grandfathers did so. You have to remember that you are electing not a leader, but your representative who you expect to fulfill your aspirations."

He told the audience to recognize the potential of the democratic process. "In the past, if power had to shift, blood had to flow," he said, "but if democracy is to func-

tion as it should, it needs the considered vote."

"All these years," Sadhguru said, "Indians have watched the American elections with great interest. Now we watch with great amusement."

Urging Americans to set the

what the government is spending on war. And the world will be yours anyway."

"The time has come," Sadhguru said, "for us to realize that the days of conquest are over. This is the time to change the language from war to well-being. You (the voters) must demand that this is what you want."

There was a brief moment of silence before the packed hall erupted in a standing ovation.

Sadhguru spoke at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Center in Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev downtown Chiagenda for the government, cago to a diverse, and very recepSadhguru said, "Through social tive, audience. Caucasians apmedia you can inform the candi- peared impressed by Sadhguru's dates before the next (presidential) simplicity and directness, while debate to invest in well-being, not many South Asians said they could in opening a new theater of war. not but help recall Swami This is the time. We are not fight- Vivekananda, who had spoken at ing with sticks and swords. With the site of the Art Institute of Chithe weapons at our disposal to- cago, barely a stone's throw away, day, nobody can win." in September, 1893.

"Instead of sending 150,000 Chicago's reception to the two soldiers or spending a trillion dol- mystics has been dramatically diflars, you can send doctors and ferent. Swami Vivekananda spent engineers to these countries. The a night shivering in an empty investment will be one-tenth of wagon in a city rail yard before a

good Samaritan took him in. He was also the butt of ridicule with some local residents pulling at his turban as he walked on the city streets.

In contrast, an affectionate, even reverential, welcome awaited Sadhguru. His photographs, complete with turban, were put up all over the prestigious Chicago Symphony Orchestra Center. United States Congressman Danny K Davis was on hand to welcome him, alongwith the Indian American president of Oak Brook, an affluent Chicago suburb.

Sadhguru was on a month long tour of the USA with speaking assignments in Boston, New York, Florida, Washington, Texas, California, Seattle, Harvard and Yale, besides Chicago. His latest book, "Inner Engineering: A Yogi's Guide To Joy" has been on the Wash-

be seen standing up and doing 'pranam' as he entered the auditorium. The fact that the next day was a workday did not seem to deter others who stood in line at 10 pm to get Sadhguru's book signed by him.

The audience heard the Sadhguru with rapt attention as he spoke of the need to liberate one's internal happiness from external stimuli.

"Our generation has the comforts which our ancestors could not even have dreamed of," he said, "But are we any happier - that is a debatable question. Today in the USA, over 70 percent of the population is on prescription medication. Another 30 percent gets it off the back street. It is no way to live."

One needs to transcend the five physical senses which are fo-

"The time has come," Sadhguru said, "for us to realize that the days of conquest are over.

This is the time to change the language from war to well-being. You (the voters) must demand that this is what you want." ington Post and New York Times best seller list.

In the United States, he has rapidly become the best known face of Indian mysticism and in the estimation of many, the rock star of eastern mystics. At the Chicago event, many in the audience could

cused outward, and turn inwards, he said. "No one, neither your parents, nor your spouse, nor your children nor your colleagues will behave exactly the way you want them to. So instead, focus on controlling what you can - your inner self," he said.

Moon Khan wins endorsement from Jesse & others Overwhelming response at Cont’d from page 17

Indo-American Democratic Organization (IADO) and American Muslims Taskforce (AMT-PAC) have also endorsed Moon for his history making journey.

Moon, a former York Township Trustee, is the first Asian American candidate to run for any countywide position in Illinois. He wants to eliminate the DuPage Recorder's office as it has happened in six counties and it has been proposed for a referendum in Cook County. League of Women Voters of Cook County is supporting the elimination.

"Our records are kept at four agencies for no reasons. It is simply wastage of taxpayers' money," said Moon who is challenging a Republican incumbent who has been holding this office for the last 16 years. Before his reign, his fist cousin ruled the agency and the incumbent worked under his relative. In other words, one agency

has been kept in one family for forty years. "Is it an elected democracy or elected monarchy? The DuPage Recorder's office has become a citadel of nepotism," Moon stated.

Moon favors repealing any pension to part time elected officials and enforcing term limits.

DuPage County is a "one race and one faith administration," according to Moon. "It does not have any representation of Latinos, African Americans, and Asian Americans. It's frozen in 1950s. We need to demolish the Berlin War of monopoly," Moon added.

Moon Khan with Raja Krishnamoorthi

ICN Open Mosque Day ASHFAQ SYED

CHICAGO: The Islamic Center of Naperville opened the doors of its mosque on Sunday, Oct 18 in Naperville, a south side suburb of Chicago, during the Open Mosque Day celebrations. It welcomed people of all faiths in an effort to dispel misconceptions and provide a better understanding of the Islamic faith, Muslims, and their culture.

"Although we welcome visitors to visit our center throughout the year, we started this concept of Open Mosque Day about a year ago when we designated a day to make it extra special for our guests. It is now a regular event that we plan to host once or twice a year," said Shoaib Khadri, President of the Islamic Center of Naperville (ICN).

"The primary purpose of the event was to give people of differ-

ent faiths an opportunity to learn more about their Muslim neighbors and the faith that they practice. With so much negative publicity about Islam in the news, we felt it was important for people to learn what the true teachings of Islam were, learn about some common beliefs and traditions as well as give them an opportunity to ask questions that they may have."

Visitors - young and old, Christians of different denominations, representatives from local Jewish, Hindu and Sikh faiths, diverse racial backgrounds - streamed through the doors during the entire five hour period. The local law enforcement, students from local colleges and schools and political candidates had also come in. Over 1000 people had come to be part of this all inclusive gathering. .

Cont’d on page 22

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Peace Ambassador MA Najeeb welcomed A.Q. SIDDIQUI India Post News Service

CHICAGO: Golden Telangana Welfare Association of Chicago (GTWA) hosted a dinner reception for Telangana's first International Peace Ambassador to UN, MA Njaeeb in Chicago at Nan O Devon new Restaurant on Devon Ave this week The event was attended by many prominent Hyderabadi community members including GTWA members and activists. Well known community leader Iftekhar Shareef was the chief guest for the event. Mohammed Mukkaram emceed the event and introduced visiting dignitary, MA Najeeb to Hyderabadi community. He also

briefed on the activities of GTWA and its members in Chicago.

On behalf of GTWA, a shawl and flower bouquet was presented to Peace Ambassador MA Najeeb.

Iftekhar Shareef spoke about his acquaintance with him and his achievements. M.A. Najeeb is Telangana State's 1st International Ambassador for Peace, and he is associated with UPF International which has embassy relations office at United Nations Plaza in New York.

M.A. Najeeb has been appointed International Director for Asia & Africa for the International Conference on Peace & Development held recently at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. "It is an honor to have

Najeeb among us in Chicago," Shareef said and added at a time when Muslims are linked with

terrorism, Najeeb emerges harbinger of peace and love. He got the status of peace Ambassador for all

MA Najeeb meets Hyderabadi community in Chicago

his previous efforts and working for humanity welfare projects.

Iftekhar Shareef also requested IPA Najeeb to share his thoughts with Hyderabadi community members.

MA Najeeb thanked GTWA members and Iftekhar Shareef for the honor extended to him and said it was real pleasure meeting old friends from Hyderabad in Chicago. He said he indulged in social activities since childhood and had a long span of twenty years working in social and humanity projects. Before coming to this status, he was working for a UN peace project in South Africa.

Najeeb said he felt it a great responsibility to be a peace Ambassador and working on peace projects.

Festival of Lights lights up City of Lights Cont’d from page 17

Jassi held the event together with his wit, interactive sessions with the audience, and sheer joie de vivre.

The event kicked off with lighting of the traditional lamp while Prasad Garkhedar recited the

by Gautam Bhatia & Sharon Garcia and honored with shawls (scarfs) as a traditional Indian mark of respect by IACOAB board members. Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner and his wife were given gifts as a gesture of gratitude for the mayor's service to the city's growth.

Gautam Bhatia, Chairman of

a brief history of the board and its agenda. Gautam thanked all volunteers and the Board members for making the event a resounding success. Roopa said that the board had incorporated improvements in the celebrationas a result of feedback received from past events.

lighted cheers of the audience.

The presence of several stalls of Indian cuisine, apparel, craft and jewelry ensured that the visitors had ample opportunity to engage in the festive mood of eating and shopping.

The evening concluded with a colorful display of fireworks which brought a tinge of nostalgia to Indian Americans who recalled the robust Diwali celebrations they enjoyed growing up in India.

The IACOAB is a volunteer group of the City of Aurora which acts as a liaison between the city

and the community. Past events have included public awareness and civic education featuring the Aurora police chief and civic and library officials to make the public aware of the working of the city, police and library.

The IACOAB members are Gautam Bhatia (Chairman), Shabbir Shikora (Vice Chairman), Deepak Mehta (Secretary), Kunal Majmundar (Treasurer), Anupama Setty, Ashok Easwaran, Girish Kapoor, Niveditta Ahuja, Prasad Garkhedkar, Roopa Anajanappa, Sanjeev Pandey and Sharon Garcia.

Gandhi Samaj to host Diwali on grand scale SURESH SHAH IACOAB members honoring Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner.

Gayatri Mantra from the Rig Veda.

This was followed by the American national anthem sung by Avni Limdi (student at Neuqua Valley High School) and the Indian na-

IACOAB, said that the board owed a debt of gratitude to Mayor Weisner, Rick Guzman and Ald. Rick Mervine for their support in the formation and growth of the

Indian American Community Outreach Advisory Board

tional anthem rendered by Ajai Kumar, as the respective flags were projected on the screen.

Half-way through the performances, all elected officials and dignitaries were invited on stage

board. Others dignitaries were honored with a memento and a shawl.

Gautam Bhatia and Roopa Anjanappa (Cultural Committee Chair) welcomed the guests with

Kunal Majmundar (Treasurer), Deepak Mehta (Secretary) and Girish Kapoor (Media and Public Relations), thanked the sponsors & media partners without whose support the event would not have been possible on such a large scale. Shabbir Shikora (Vice Chairman) and Anupama Setty (Cultural Committee) introduced "Varkatunda" which is an invocation to Lord Ganesha performed

by Odissi dance center.

Other performances including those from the groups Bolly Mix and Bollywood Medley and a vigorous 'Bhangra' got an enthusiastic response from the packed hall.

At Jassi's invitation, all the dignitaries including Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner, his assistant Rick Guzman and Alderman Rick Mervine did an impromptu Bhangra on the stage to the de-

CHICAGO: With over three decades of existence in Chicagoland, Gandhi Samaj of Chicago is gearing itself to celebrate Diwali festival on grandest possible scale this year under the stewardship of

Hitesh Gandhi, VP Gandhi Samaj

Hitesh Gandhi.

In a talk to this paper Hitesh Gandhi said that his Board mem-

bers have decided to have celebrations this time at a really auspicious place and the choice fell on Hanuman Mandir in Glen Ellyn, a north side suburb of Chicago. The event is slated to take place on Saturday November 5 at 6 pm. It is expected to last till around mid night since it will be studded with awe inspiring cultural presentations, Diwali Garba and culminating with serving of dinner that will have mouth watering dishes.

The Diwali celebration comes close on the heels of Gandhi Samaj successfully hosting Navratri Garba festival that was attended by hundreds of members and guests. The Diwali fete will also attract close to 800 guests and invitees. "We have a good number of sponsors and we are confident that this will be one of the top most Diwali events in our land here," said a beaming Hitesh Gandhi.

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Andhra Assn celebrates Samskrutika Dinotsavam KEERTHI RAVOORI

CHICAGO: Andhra Association (CAA) celebrated "Andhra Pradesh Samskrutika Dinotsavam" on October 16 at the HTGC temple.

The auditorium was packed to capacity with more than 800 people attending. The event was focused on the grassroots culture of Andhra and Rayalaseema regions.

Little kids were dressed up in traditional attire. CAA's team added color to the function with men wearing dhotis and women in enchanting sarees. Skillfully decorated stage had a start with 'Deepaprajwalana' amidst of vedamantralu.

Sahithi Kotha, Sireesha Kola of Cultural Committee with the help of Neelima Boddu welcomed the audience and initiated the programs with Ganesha Pancharatna Kruthi "Mudakarartha Modakam" followed by a patriotic item choreographed by Lakshminag Suribhotla. The audience was welcomed in Kuchipudi classical style with "Swagatham" choreographed

by Pavani Koduri.

Andhra Janapadam was depicted on the stage thru anrutyam choreographed by Srivani Vokkarane. "Telugammai" is another one not to be missed.

Whole auditorium including the chief guest US Congressman Bill Foster was emotionally touched

and made to rise for a standing ovation to "Amaravathi Geetam", the epitome of Andhra Pradesh state, depicting its rich cultural heritage.

Choreographer Jyothi Vangara helped Board Director Vani

tillating items including "Jaya Jaya Swamin" by Janaki Anandavalli Nair, "Natesha Kowtwam" by Asha Acharya Adiga, captured undivided attention from audience.

Youth Director Sandhya

Katiki saw the overall execution of the programs.

Sundar Dittakavi, President of the organization, explained the objectives, with diversified Board structure and leadership.The Andhra Pradesh Development

Colorful CAA gathering - members, guests and artists

Dittakavi in bringing this concept to reality with a large number of young dancers along with CAA team members playing roles of renowned Andhra personalities.

"Mohinibasmasura, a semi classical dance drama by Kousalya Velagapudi and Eswari Jagarapu, titillated crowd to the core.

"Sajeevanadulu", a mesmerizing item about the linkage of the holy rivers with our lives was portrayed in a rich classical way. Other scin-

Appalaneni presented "Endaro Mahanubhavulu" as a series of items throughout the program introducing several eminent personalities from Andhra region by young boys and girls. "NRI Paatlu" was a hilarious comedy play enjoyed by all. Other riveting performances such as "Rama Rama" song, Kids Keys, medleys were well received. Sujatha Appalaneni Cultural Chair and Events committee chair Dr. Uma

Forum of North America (APDFNA) Executive Director Padma Rao Appalaneni explained the various flagship programs undertaken by CAA in AP. Bhanu Swargam, Assistant Executive director explained how 25% of membership contributions are leveraged for the developmental activities and appreciated their key team members Karthik Desai and Srihari Jasti for initiating great projects at their hometowns.

Founders Committee Chairman Srinivas Pedamallu explained the CAA's identifier having board with equal participation of men and women supplemented with youth and senior citizen directors.

President Sundar Dittakavi introduced Board Directors and Executive Committee followed by Vice President Dr.Uma Katiki introducing Committee chairs and cochairs.

Treasurer Raghav Jatla, Board directors, Hema Tatineni, Tanvi Sri Jatla with help from Srikrishna Matukumalli, Shailesh Maddi, Karthik Desai, Bhuvana explained the benefits of CAA membership while overseeing the Membership desk.

Masters of the ceremony were Youth Director Sandhya Appalaneni and Bhanu Chander.

Sumptuous Andhra food including delicacies such as Andhra laddu, Guttivankayakura, punugulu and dosavakai were served to the guests under the supervision of Board Director Anu Gampala and food committee lead Suresh Sanakkayala.

Dinkar Karumuri, Secretary thanked members, sponsors and all who helped the event in its grand success. The day ended with group singing of "Jana Gana Mana."

Overwhelming response at ICN Open Mosque Day Cont’d from page 19

The activities were spread in the entire facility with the main booths and food in the gym, the congregational prayers in the prayer halls, and presentations in separate rooms. The first section by the entrance called "Meet the Imams" enabled people to meet with religious scholars.

The guests browsed through booths depicting different aspects

holy scripture of Islam that Muslims believe was the divine revelation from God. Another booth that attracted a lot of attention was dedicated to the topic of "Islam and Extremism" considering all the media publicity that alludes to a nexus between extremism, violence and the Islamic faith. The booth was stocked with material that clearly explained that aggression and killing of innocent people were clearly forbid-

Naperville Community at the ICN Open Mosque Day.

of the Islamic faith. The booth on Prophet Muhammad provided information about the life and the teachings of the last messenger of Islam where volunteers discussed various aspects of the prophet's exemplary character and its impact on the Muslims. A second booth was dedicated to the Quran; the

den in Islam and how most violence that is politically motivated had no religious basis.

Mahfooz Khan, an active member of the Islamic Center's interfaith group, displayed his talent for Arabic Calligraphy as he created cards with guests' names written in beautiful calligraphy as a

keepsake for their office desks. An "Artifacts and Culture" booth highlighted different aspects of Islamic culture, architecture with displays of different artifacts.

An "Islam & Science" booth illustrated the harmony between Islam and science by highlighting various scientific facts with references to the Quran and the numerous contributions of Muslims to the field of science.

The "Women in Islam" booth was buzzing with activity with people curious to learn about women's rights in Islam and questions about why women cover their hair. Various women volunteers at the booth were happy to answer their questions while giving the female guests a unique opportunity to try on a hijab (head scarf) that the guests were allowed to take home. Volunteers also drew beautiful designs of henna on guests' hands.

T h e guests enjoyed a wide array of food ranging from Mediterranean

cuisine to South Asian snacks to delicious desserts with tea and coffee. There were booths with free literature on Islam and copies of the Quran for people to take home, including a separate booth with literature in Spanish.

The ICN Girl Scout troop drew interesting parallels to components of the Girl Scout law with Islamic values. The most fascinating feature of the program was the screening of a multimedia presentation titled "Journey through Time" which was produced by Yousuf Siddiqui, Chairman of ICN's Outreach Committee. It is a beautifully articulated message highlighting six of the greatest messengers of Islam - Adam, Noah, Moses, Abraham, Jesus and Muhammad with direct references in the Quran to each of them.

An Islam 101 presentation at the top of every hour was a popu-

lar attraction as the crowds filled the room where Shahab Sayeedi presented the basics of Islam and answered guests' questions.

The opinion of guests was overwhelmingly positive with almost everybody praising ICN's warm hospitality. Sally Joshi, CoChair of the Parent Diversity Advisory Council of the 204 School District said "Events like ICN's Open Mosque are essential in dispelling the Islamophobia that exists in society today."

Chief David Anderson of the Lisle Police Department, aid, "The Open Mosque Day allows more people to get to know each other."

Although the event was scheduled from 11 am to 4 pm, the visitors lingered on being part of communal harmony at its best with people of different backgrounds mingling in a warm and amicable atmosphere.

ICN members interacting with guests at ICN.

Community Across America

October 28, 2016

India Post 23

www.indiapost.com

Dhar weaves fascinating story of Netaji Cont’d from page 18

Other versions, too, began gathering credence. Bose remained either in Maoist China or the Soviet Union. He attended Jawaharlal Nehru's cremation in 1964, of which there appeared to be even photographic evidence.

According to the Soviet connection and a conspiracy theory, after independence, Nehru took the Foreign Affairs portfolio himself and appointed Vijaylakshmi Pandit as the ambassador to Russia. After her term, Dr. S. Radhakrishnan took her place.

There are reports that Dr. Saroj Das, of Calcutta University, told his friend Dr. RC Muzumdar that Dr. Radhakrishnan had told him that Bose was in Russia.

In another report, former Indian ambassador Dr. Satyanarayana Sinha met CPI founder Abani

ter Pranab Mukherjee put it under wraps, on grounds that it would spoil the Indo-Russian relationship," claims Dhar.

Anuj Dhar asserts that the death of Subhas Chandra Bose was the biggest cover up in the history of India. He did not die in the plane crash in Taiwan. In fact, no such plane crash ever took place. He was not either captured or killed by Stalin. He also talked about The Figgess Report of 1946, and The Shah Nawaz Committee of 1956.

Mr. Dhar raised several pertinent questions and examined the roles of several top leaders. He also examined Subramaniam Swamy's claim that Netaji was done away with in the Soviet Union on the orders of Jawaharlal Nehru. He comes down to the present times and examined why the current Modi government is

What Bhagwanji left behind after his death seems to confirm that the sadhu and Bose were one and the same: Gold-rimmed spectacles identical to what Netaji was always pictured wearing, powerful German binoculars Mukherjee's son Georgey, who said his father and Netaji were imprisoned in adjacent cells in Siberia. In 1995, a team from Calcutta's Asiatic Society found a bunch of declassified files that hinted at Bose having been in the USSR after 1945.

Dr. Purobi Roy, a member of the team of scholars, said she found a document stamped "most secret", dated 1946, in the military archives of Paddolosk, near Moscow, which mentioned Stalin and Molotov discussing Bose's plans - whether he would remain in the USSR or leave. Dr. Roy also said she found a KGB report in Bombay from 1946, which said, "it is not possible to work with Nehru or Gandhi, we have to use Subhas Bose". This implies Bose was still alive in 1946.

Later in time, three enquiry commissions have been set up to inquire into the Bose mystery so far.

Justice Mukherjee ruled out the possibility of Bose dying in the air crash in his 2005 report. Pranab Mukherjee and his UPA government trashed Justice Mukherjee's report and did not accept it. "Even in 1996, when a joint secretary level officer in the ministry of external affairs recommended that India should seek evidences on Bose's presence in Russia from the KGB archives, the then external minis-

not able to take concrete steps on the Netaji files.

He says, of all this, the legend of a sadhu in Azizabad who was called Gumnami Baba, who went by the name Bhagwanji is more

convincing but the truth has come out from the government declassified files. He lived in Uttar Pradesh - Lucknow, Faizabad, Sitapur, Basti and Ayodhya - for more than 30 years till his death on September 16, 1985. He maintained contact with Dr. Pavitra Mohan Roy, the former top Secret Service agent of the INA. However, more than his life, what Bhagwanji left behind after his death seems to confirm that the sadhu and Bose were one and the same: Gold-rimmed spectacles identical to what Netaji was always pictured wearing, powerful German binoculars, a color photograph of Swami Vivekananda, Bengali books, the original copy of the summons issued to Suresh Chandra Bose to appear before the Khosla Commission, a map of undivided India, an album containing family photographs of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. Dhar confidently says that Bhagwanji's handwriting samples had matched with the ones of Bose.

Dhar's talk was very interesting and he supported his arguments with convincing documents and pictures. He spoke more than two hours and held the audience spellbound.

The talk was followed by Q&A session.

Dhar has written the wellknown books concerning the controversy surrounding the fate of Subhas Chandra Bose: India's Big-

Vemuri S. Murthy honored SURESH BODIWALA

D

r. Vemuri S. Murthy, an alum nus of Guntur Medical College and the President of Global Resuscitation Consulting, is a well-recognized resuscitation expert and advocate of global health

projects in USA, and internationally.

A veteran volunteer of the American Heart Association (AHA), Dr Murthy was presented

with Life Time Achievement award during the Annual Gala Banquet of the organization on October 15 at Meadows Club in Rolling Meadows, a Chicago suburb.

As an AHA representative, Dr. Murthy contributed to initiating AHA's pilot project of "Saving Children's Lives" in Gujarat, India and is currently working with governmental and nongovernmental organizations to roll out various AHA-India projects.

Dr. Murthy, the current Chairman of the Chicago Medical Society (CMS) Council, is the founder of the public health project of Chicago Medical Society and Illinois State Medical Society, "Saving More Illinois Lives through Education" (SMILE), offering community CPR presentations.

Sewa International joins Clean Ganga project India Post News Service

HOUSTON: "Namami Gange", an ambitious project launched by Government of India, is expanding internationally by giving overseas Indians an opportunity to participate in cleaning India's holiest river and restoring the mighty river to her epic glory.

Sewa International (www.sewausa.org), a Hindu faithbased US nonprofit with 40 Chapters in the US, is teaming up with an Indian Government nonprofit trust, India Development Foundation of Overseas Indians (IDF-OI), to bring Ganga rejuvenation project to American shores.

Announcing the joint effort in a Press Release, Sewa's president Professor Sree Sreenath said the $3 billion Namami Gange project's focus was on preventing river's pollution by treating the waste water, encouraging sustainable riverfront management and preserving the rich bio-diversity in river's 2500 km path.

Connect with Mother India "Overseas Indians interested in helping revive Ganga can send their contributions to Sewa International. River Ganga is very polluted and over 500 million people live on her shores. By funding this project, donors can spiritually connect with Mother India. It is a

clear mind, body and spirit thing."

"Contributions to Sewa will go to project's general pool and the National Mission for Clean Ganga Commission supervises various specific time-bound efforts. Alternately, donors can contribute to a specific project such as sanitation, cleaning of ghats, community education, livelihood project etc. The commission provides periodic high-quality reports and Sewa ensures reports reach donors," Professor Sreenath said.

Millions benefited "Sewa USA is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit and contributions to Sewa are tax deductible in the US. Sewa will facilitate any visit by the donor to the project site. IDF-OI is setup to facilitate overseas Indians' involvement in India's social development and does not charge any administrative costs, "said Guru Prasad, San Francisco Bay Area Chapter, Project leader of Sewa Namami Gange Team.

"Your money spent on cleaning river Ganga helps millions of farmers who till 580,000 km of agriculture land in Ganga basin and residents of 33 percent of the Indian towns. Project's positive ecological impacts are huge and emotional benefits are immeasurable" Sewa's President emphasized.

"Rise up and be a part of history," he ended.

Top artists for South Asian concert MADHU PATEL

CHICAGO: The South Asian Classical Music Society (SACMS) has scheduled its annual fall concert featuring top local and visiting artists on November 6 at 2pm.

Saraswati Ranganathan

Joita Bose Mandal, vocalist now residing in the LA area, and

formerly of Naperville, has charmed audiences with renditions of both classical and semi-classical melodies. Top local tabla artist, Subhasis Mukherjee, accompanies her. Chicago area resident Veena artist Saraswati Ranganathan has gained recognition in concerts across US, in Chennai and elsewhere in India.

She is accompanied by visiting mrdangamist, Patri Satish Kumar, one of the most sought after and highly rated accompanists in Carnatic music today.

The program takes place at the Indian Boundary Park Cultural Center, a beautiful indoor space located at 2500 W. Lunt (7000 north) in Chicago's West Rogers Park neighborhood, quite near Devon Avenue. Ample free parking is available on streets adjacent to the park. Admission is free.

Donations will be gratefully accepted. The program begins at 2 pm sharp and concludes at 4:30pm.

24 India Post

www.indiapost.com

October 28, 2016

Beyond the old tradition of a used bookstore or antique shop having a resident cat, some urban delicatessens and bodegas have cats to mitigate any rodent problems.

NEW YORK: When a conference call turns tedious, Brent Robertson can still count on getting a smile from watching Gus rolling around on the floor.

The golden retriever is a regular visitor to Fathom, Robertson's management consulting business in West Hartford, Connecticut. So are Pookie and Ari, dogs owned by two of Robertson's co-workers.

Beyond the old tradition of a used bookstore or antique shop having a resident cat, some urban delicatessens and bodegas have cats to mitigate any rodent problems. And at some smaller professional businesses with a relaxed culture, it's becoming more acceptable for employees bring in their pets. Robertson is among business owners who think having animals around boosts morale, improves the work atmosphere and raises productivity. ``Everyone seems to smile and immediately become a little bit happier,'' says Barbara Goldberg, CEO of O'Connell & Goldberg, a public relations company based in Hollywood, Florida. Her bulldog, Rosie, is a frequent visitor.

A survey by the Society for Human Resources Management found that 7 percent of organizations allow pets in the workplace, though that may not reflect the practices of very small businesses that don't have HR officers.

At Badger Maps, owner Steve Benson's

Pomeranian mix, Foxy, seems to know when employees of the San Francisco app developer need some comfort. ``They're very intuitive,'' Benson says of dogs. ``They have the ability to recognize when someone's stressed out.''

But not everyone, including employees,

customers and visitors, thinks animals belong in an office or a store. For as many customers that may be charmed, some people are allergic or afraid _ and might take their business elsewhere. So besides paying attention to permission from landlords and laws about having animals where food is being prepared, people need to consider how to accommodate uncomfortable staffers or clients.

Rodney Alvarez, a human resources executive at Celtra, a video advertising company, says legal issues to consider include making sure the company's insurance covers any incidents like biting, and keeping animals well-behaved so they won't frighten visitors. Some owners say when they interview job candidates, they let them know there are pets around.

Staffers at Celtra's San Francisco office asked to bring in their pooches. Managers decided that was OK at its four offices, but only if every staffer agreed, Alvarez says.

One Boston employee said no, and so there are no dogs in that office.

One regular deliveryman to Fathom is petrified of dogs. Since Gus ``is a full contact dog,'' Robertson says, ``we collect the dogs and put them away in a room so (the deliveryman) can do his thing.''

Cont'd on Page 26

October 28, 2016

India Post 25

MIT role in rise of technological India GEETHA PATIL

A

t the present time, when a huge debate is going on in the academic communities of the world over the contributions of ancient Indians to science and technology and when Indians are also excelling among the world's leaders in these fields, an American science historian, Ross Bassett analyses the careers of 850 Indians who earned engineering degrees from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) between 1880 and 2000, and looks at their rise to the peak of high-tech professions and their

The Book cover

enormous contributions to the modern India's technological world.

The world should remember that in the late 1800s and 1900s, Indians were left behind by the Industrial Revolution and were not part of mechanical race due to many foreign invaders and rulers who pushed Indians into dark history. But, in fact, India had attracted once the whole world towards it on account of its magnificence, brilliance, renowned university education, medicine, philosophy, spices, silk, precious metals and stones.

In the 20th century, when the very idea of a hi-tech India seemed unbelievable, the groundwork was actually laid to make the dream a reality by the Indian scientists who recently sent an indigenously built space probe to orbit Mars and Indian engineers are leading the top global technology firms, educational institutions, and space research organizations in the world.

Prof. Ross Bassett's, 'The Technological Indian' is a timely book, which illuminates with facts India's current image with technology and start-ups like Tata Consulting Services (TCS), Datamatics, Patni Computer Systems, Infosys that not only do business with foreign countries but also have even caught the attention of the world.

Prof. Bassett is an associate professor of history at North Carolina State University and is also the director of the Benjamin Franklin Scholars Program which allows engineering students to simultaneously pursue a degree in humanities or social sciences. Even though he specializes in technological history, in this book he does not delve into the history of ancient India and the discoveries made by Indians in science and math, medical technology and aviation. Instead, his book mentions the rise of India in the technological sphere in modern times and offers fresh and interesting perspective to the readers. This book is a description of a history of Indians who went to MIT. Prof. Bassett's thesis is that the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) are modelled after the MIT and that led to the rise of the current class of technological Indians and the seeds of it were sown during the freedom struggle. In the chapter, "The Indian Discovery of America," he finds out some writings about MIT in Mahratta, a Pune-based newspaper published by nationalist Bal Gangadhar Tilak, in 1884 that encouraged young Indians to learn technology opposed to just studying liberal arts and law, and preferred higher studies at UK's Cambridge and Oxford. Prof.

Bassett mentions some quotes from Mahratta and Kesari to show how Indians realized to grow and expand enterprise was required in India and learning technicalities was a must.

The Mahratta stood behind the fundamental necessity of Indian engagement with the industrialized world and passionate about the need for India's industrialization.In his introduction Prof. Bassett

mentioned that Shri. M. M. Kunte, the headmaster of the Poona High school, addressed a group of middle-class Hindus for "the art BOOK REVIEW The Technological Indian, Ross Bassett, Harvard Business Publishing: 2016. Pp 386.

of mechanization." Thus deliberately began the determination of some Indians who came to US for studying engineering at MIT. Some stayed back in the US, some went back to India. Enterprises were started in Indiaby the early MIT graduates; among themsome succeeded and some failed, but their journey towards engineering, technology and enterprise continued with ups and downs. Technological development was happening as the freedom struggle was continuing with leaders with law degrees dominating it. Despite, Gandhi's proposition for developing ruralindustry, many of his associated either went to MIT themselves or sent family members to MIT. The chapter on "Americanmade Swadeshi" points out that in the early 1900s, Indians went to a variety of counties for technical study: Japan, Britain, Germany and the United States. Prof. Bassett says, it seemed, in the first part of the twentieth century, the United States and India were unlikely partners for technical interactions as the mass movement seeking Swaraj for India was on upswing.

A group of Gandhi's young followers were one step on the road to MIT as Shri. Devchand Parekh's

In India too, the engineering institutes and the IT industries are contributing to largescale employment. dream of sending Indians to MIT was not dead and wanted to move toward the types of institutions that were compatible with a global, large-scale industrial society.

Slowly, asIndustries were set up in India, families started sending their sons to MIT for further studies and the bond between the two got strengthened.

The author profiles major Indian business houses, how they started, their rise and their relationship with MIT while captur-

ing important information about business history. He has also profiled some enterprise failures, especially in the early days. Though prof. Bassett has tried to place events and individuals in historical context, at times the profile and individual histories tend to be in depth and uninteresting to the reader.

The book is a perfect read for someone who has interest in today's technological world and tries to understand it in historical perspective in general and the role of technological education that made today's Indians to stand among the world's leaders in engineering and technology in particular. Indians, who were once perceived as not mechanical oriented but philosophical in nature, have come a long way of 150 years to be titled as "the technological Indian" in the today's world.

At present, Indian students are

approaches to find out appropriate solutions to the problems.

This book is not ideological in nature but very descriptive in approach of historical facts and has not followed a particular type of method in explaining its central thesis. The book consists of 10 chapters that describe the different aspects of technological journey of Indians without an introductory or concluding paragraph that connects to previous chapter with the following chapter.

Every chapter starts as a standalone segment of the journey without connections. This book is first of its kind that provides a detailed account of how a group of Indians sought a way forward for their country and saw a future in technology. Although the MIT-educated Indian engineer became an integral part of a global technology and capitalism

Author Rose Bassett

part of every global technological enterprise. In India too, the engineering institutes and the IT industries are contributing to largescale employment. As India and Indians are progressing technologically, the disintegration of joint/extended families and disappearance of rural industries are taking place enormously and the Indian society is facing new socio-economic and familial challenges. The call today is that we need more of social and behavioral sciences and liberal arts universities and research centers with excellent and cutting-edge

but failed to focus on India and its problems.

It seems a technological Indian is created at the expense of a technological India. I personally recommend that it is a mustread especially by today's Indian youngsters not only to know the rise of technological India from modern times but also to know the need to build its infrastructures in every aspects of life.

The South Asian price of this book is 1,250 rupees. Online Kindle Edition is available at 745.75 rupees and hard cover for 785 rupees.

26 India Post

October 28, 2016 www.indiapost.com

Chetan Bhagat battling 'elitist bullying' NEW DELHI: Popular writer Chetan Bhagat, who is credited with introducing the genre of 'campus novels', says he is battling with "elitist bullying" when it comes to literature.

According to him, his books, which have "democratized" the act of reading with their wide reach, have often been dismissed as "non-serious" literature.

He says that it is for society and not "a privileged few" to decide what qualifies as good literature.

"Our country runs on elitism. It was colonized and when they left, the privileged people want to control the dialogue and narrative on issues ... on what is good taste and culture.

"They don't want somebody from a small town to come and say 'I will decide what I like'. Whatever the masses want, they will look down on it just to keep their position. They say 'Oh! That's not literature.' Who are they to decide?

The society will decide what is literature," he says.

For the 42-year-old author, literature is anything that mirrors a

society that comprises not just the elites but also the common man, and his fight against this "bullying" involves "breaking their hold on culture and society."

"Literature's job is to hold the

to break their hold on culture, society, and many other issues. But all they have is a better command of English. That is all. Their bullying stems from privilege. It's the elitist bullying," he says.

watching 'The Kapil Sharma Show' and saying 'why it is not BBC!'" he says.

The writer also asserts that he remains unaffected by the "bullying", because his wide readership works as his security blanket.

"I am not bothered about this bullying. I am here to fight it. I have written seven books and they have sold, I have done mov-

Hrithik Roshan is proud of Deepika Padukone

B mirror to society. Which society?

Our Indian society and not just the elitist. That is the battle I fight.

"It is a battle I cannot avoid. I am here to break that Ivory Tower,

However, Bhagat maintains his books are "popular literature" and are not meant to be "intellectual kind of books".

"Why even compare? It is like

ollywood star Hrithik Roshan, who fronts a new c a m p a i g n #EverydayHeroes, which celebrates real life people who have bravely spoken up, overcome prejudices and biases against mental illnesses and sought help, says he is proud of Deepika Padukone who opened up about her struggle with depression despite her celebrity status.

Pets at work bring cheer Cont'd from Page 24

And at Sterling Public Relations, seven of the 20 staffers want to bring their dogs into the Los Gatos, California-based office. CEO Marianne O'Connor, who has a German shepherd named Kaya, worked out a schedule that allows two dogs each day. Upholstered furniture may be off limits. ``We push them off gently, and they learn, that's not for them,'' O'Connor says.

When visitors arrive, pups may be placed in a closed office with a water bowl and toy.

At Crescent City Books in New Orleans, the majority of customers are glad to see Isabel, a Maine coon mix cat, and some let her curl up on their laps as they sit reading. ``Most with any issues just keep their distance,'' manager Michael Zell says.

Most often, a business becomes pet-friendly when it's the owner who brings an animal in.

Anne Buchanan adopted a dog about 12 years ago who turned out to be emotionally needy and much happier when Buchanan was around. So she began taking him to work at her eponymous PR firm in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania.

As her company grew, staff-

ies and I'm loved by my readers.

Lakhs of books have been preordered and it shows the trust the readers have in me. Why should I be bothered with this nonsense?" he says.

Bhagat who has already penned six fictions, recently came out with a new book, "One Indian Girl" which he has written from a female perspective. -PTI

ers asked if they could bring pets in, too. There are generally two dogs in the office, and sometimes as many as four, including Buchanan's two rescues, Katie and Lacey.

Behavioral issues can crop up, but many owners said they can be dealt with. If Rosie the bulldog at O'Connell & Goldberg starts barking during a phone call, the office

manager quickly lures her away from Goldberg's side. When Buchanan's dog and a staffer's couldn't get along, the boss paid for a trainer to work with both pups and their owners. Peace was restored.

Sterling staffer Rosie Brown recalls when Hazel, a co-worker's Swedish Vallhund, couldn't wait for her owner to get out of a meeting and left a present behind

Brown's chair. The next day, Hazel's owner brought a cake for the office that said, ``Sorry I pooped. Love, Hazel.'' ``We all laughed it off,'' Brown says.

Many people without pets are happy to have co-workers' animals nearby. ``The dogs just wander around from office to office, say hi to everyone and nobody minds,'' says Mike Dunklee, co-owner of Blvd Suites, a corporate housing company based in Oak Park, Michigan.

Some staffers without pets keep treats in their desks.

Cats also sometimes make themselves at home in workplaces with dogs.

When Brandon Scivolette, president of Elite Moving Labor, goes on vacation, his cat boards at the Tampa, Florida-based company, where there is often at least one dog about. ``A cat is a great thing for an office. It goes from office to office to hang out with people,'' Scivolette says. -AP

Why didn't you speak about your depression before?

I have never suffered clinical depression. But we all know what depression feels like, we all have been there or will experience it at some point in our life. There is no escaping the dark side of life.

So you haven't experienced depression first hand?

But I have seen it from extremely close quarters and it pains me to see that people will suffer in silence when there are simple ways to treat it. And help is around. They just need to reach out. It is not their fault.

Does your own vulnerability empower you to help others?

Being vulnerable makes us humane. It's our vulnerabilities that make us human. I am proud of Deepika Padukone, who so courageously came forth.

You are now associated with the campaign to celebrate Everyday Heroes?

This is a topic where I would invite more people to get involved since it is relevant to each one of

Hrithik also recently spoke about a phase when he dealt with depression.

Excerpts from Hrithik's interview: You recently spoke about your struggle with depression?

Mental health is important. We all know that, but when it comes down to talking about matters like depression or OCD or anxiety, I feel people find it difficult to seek help even if it is from a close friend, because of a wrong presumption that it is weakness or the person's fault or that it makes them less in some form. This stigma needs to be destroyed.

us. If by my presence, the message reaches out to a few more people, I will be happy.

TOP TEN HINDI FILM SONGS

1 Ae Dil Hai Mushkil: Ae Dil Hai Mushkil 2 Besabriyaan: M.S. Dhoni 3 Channa Mereya: Ae Dil Hai Mushkil 27

India Post

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October 28, 2016

4 Tere Sang Yaara: Rustom 5 Bulleya: Ae Dil Hai Mushkil 6 Kaun Tujhe : M.S. Dhoni 7 Toota Jo Kabhi Tara: A Flying Jatt 8 Bolo Har Har : Shivaay 9 Jab Tak : M.S. Dhoni 10 Jaago : Rock On 2

S

alman Khan's ladylove Iulia Vantur is returning to India by this month end and speculation is high that wedding date will be announced anytime soon.

It is also learnt that Salman and Iulia will be involved in some pre-wedding parties and ceremonies once she returns.

Mom Salma Khan is quite excited about her son's shaadi as she and the family members always wanted Salman to settle down in life.

The Romanain beauty's latest Karwa Chauth post indicates that she has indeed kept the fast for her beau.

Iulia had posted this on the day of Karva Chauth, "God has given each one of us 2 eyes, 2 ears, 2 hands, 2 legs. To be complete we need THE matching heart. Celebrate love, it's the most beautiful gift we have. Happy Karva Choth!"

F

ilmmaker Rohit Shetty has a new venture on his hands, and this one is actually rather close to his heart.

Shetty has purchased a building (yes, an entire building) and is turning it into his private residence. The building is in Juhu, right next to Shatrughan Sinha's home.

Shetty has bought off all the previous tenants and plans on moving here with his family in another couple of weeks.

The restoration and rebuilding of the premises has taken ample time - the building has two or three floors for parking and an entire floor for entertaining. Curiously, just as soon as Shetty finished with the construction of the building complex, the one who heaved a sigh of relief was Sonakshi Inhabit seems a cement slab had fallen on one of her cars when the construction was in progress.

K

alki Koechlin, who has been busy shooting for her films, has kept mum all this while about the sidelining of Pakistani actors in Bollywood and says she doesn't want to add fuel to the fire.

"I don't want to add fuel to the fire because this thing has been going on for a long time. I personally think that we live in an international world and we have Indians living all over the world. If we asked all those NRIs to come back to India, then we would have nowhere to put them," Kalki said.

"So, similarly, if there are guests from other countries living in our country, myself included, who is of French origin but born and bought up in India, where do I belong? If I don't belong in this country, then I don't know where I belong to. So, I think it's very important to understand that," she added.

28 India Post

D

ungarpur is a small city located in the western Indian state of Rajasthan and is famous for its temples and palaces. The district of Dungarpur extends from latitude 23°50' in the north to longitude 73°50' in the east.

There is a good road network that connects Dungarpur to other cities in Rajasthan.

Like most other places in north India, the climate of Dungarpur is tropical with not much rain during the monsoon. Average temperature during the summer hovers around 40°C and during winters, it remains close to 10°C. Best time to visit October to February.

www.indiapost.com

History: The district is named after the capital of the former princely state of Dungarpur. Dungar means a hill or a mountain and pur means a town, thus Dungarpur means a 'hill-town'.

Rawal Veer Singh Dev took over this part of the state from the Bhil Chieftain Dungaria and laid the foundation of the city as well as of the Old Palace on October 14, 1282 AD. Dungarpur is famous for its unique style of architecture. The palaces of the Dungarpur princes and the residences of the noblemen are adorned by a new style of jharokhas, which were developed during Maha Rawal Shiv Singh's reign (AD 17301785). The gold and silversmiths of Dungarpur

October 28, 2016

and Banswara are well known for their lacquer painted toys and picture framing.

Tourist attractions: Nestled in the foothills of the Aravalis, Dungarpur has an interesting topography, ranging from wild and rugged terrain in the northeast to fertile plains of alluvial soil in the southwest. Two magnificent rivers the Mahi and the Som flow through the area. While the former separates the district from Banswara, the latter

draws a natural boundary between the district and Udaipur.

The area is rich in teak, mahua, mango and khajur trees. Dungarpur is also noted for its wildlife variety - jackal, jungle cat, Indian fox, hyena, black-faced monkey, porcupine, common mongoose are the common inhabitants.

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India to fly 442 mn Putin visit to boost Russian tourism in Goa passengers by 2035 NEW DELHI: Global airlines body IATA has said it expects India's air passenger traffic to grow to 442 million by 2035 with 322 million new air travelers, amid the domestic aviation market growing by over 20 per cent for more than a year now.

The Geneva-based International Air Transport Association (IATA) in its latest 20-Year Air Passenger Forecast has also projected India to be the third largest aviation market by 2026, replacing the UK.

Globally, the demand for air travel will nearly double up to 7.2 billion passengers from 3.8 billion air travelers in the next two decades at an annual compound average growth rate (CAGR) of 3.7 per cent, it predicted.

According to IATA, the five fastestgrowing markets in terms of additional passengers per year over the forecast period would be China, the US, India, Indonesia and Vietnam.

India will be among the five fastest-increasing markets, after China and the US, in terms of additional passengers per year over the forecast period with 322 million new passengers among the total of 442 million flyers during the period (2035), it said.

IATA had last year said that the air passenger traffic was likely to grow to 378 million passengers by 2034 with 275 million new travelers among them.

India posted a record growth in domestic air passenger traffic in August this year with the number of passengers flown by local carriers rising to 83.51 million, thereby logging a growth of 24 per cent, the highest across the major aviation markets.

The number of passengers flown by the Indian airlines stood at 81.09 million in the January-December period last year, a jump of 20.34 per cent from 67.38 million they had flown in 2014 on the back of lower fuel prices and heavily discounted airfares offered by the domestic carriers during the period.

The forecast for passenger growth confirms that the biggest driver of demand will be the AsiaPacific region, IATA said, adding that it is expected to be the source of more than half the new passengers over the next 20 years.

"China will displace the US as the world's largest aviation market (defined by traffic to, from and within the country) around 2029. India will displace the UK for the third place in 2026, while Indonesia enters the top ten at the expense of Italy," IATA said in its forecast.

"Growth will also increasingly be driven within developing markets.

"Over the past decade the developing world's share of total passenger traffic has risen from 24 per cent to nearly 40 per cent, and this trend is set to continue," IATA said.-PTI

Rs 234 cr project for ferry services in Gujarat NEW DELHI: To promote coastal shipping under its Sagarmala project, the government has approved a Rs 234-crore dredging project for ferry services between Gogha and Dahej in Gulf of Cambey, Gujarat.

"As part of promoting coastal shipping in the country under Sagarmala program, the Ministry of Shipping has sanctioned the Capital Dredging Project for Ro Pax Ferry Services between Gogha and Dahej in Gulf of Cambay in Gujarat," Ministry of Shipping said in a statement.

The Ministry has released Rs 58.50 crore as first installment of grant-in-aid to Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB).

"The total project cost is estimated to be Rs 234 crore and of which 50 per cent will be funded by central government under the Sagarmala program," it said.

The project would result in reduction in motorable distance of 231 km between Gogha & Dahej to mere 31 kms and reduce

the travel time from 7 hours to 1 hour only by crossing the Gulf in Cambay in 17 nautical miles.

The initiative would not only reduce the travel time but also result in savings in fuel, reduction in CO2 emission and reduction in road congestion.

The project is first of its kinds in India as it will be executed in the area of world's 2nd highest tidal range, the statement said adding, the project would open up new avenues in coastal shipping and tourism and help in socio-economic development of proximate areas.

It would also help in utilization of inland waterways through river Narmada for shipping goods from industries located upstream.

It is one of the flagship projects under Sagarmala which aims to increase share of waterways transportation in modal mix to 10 per cent from present level of 7 per cent by year 2025.-PTI

PANAJI: "We can expect more Russian tourists this time, but economic situation in Russia should improve," said Travel and Tourism Association of Goa president Savio Messias.

Recent visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to Goa for BRICS summit may put the coastal state back on list of favorite destinations of Russian tourists whose falling numbers have worried local tourism industry. The tourism stake-holders feel that Goa would regain favor among Russians in the wake of Putin's visit.

"Definitely, Goa would be on top of the mind of Russians as their President Putin was in Panaji and the event was widely covered internationally," Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) president Savio Messias told PTI. The 8the BRICS summit was held between October 15-16, which was attended by the heads of the five-nation grouping, including Putin.

"We can expect more Russian tourists this time, but economic situation in Russia should improve," Messias said.

He said post BRICS, Goa would be in the focus of various countries besides Russia, which would open up opportunities of good footfall for the tourist season that has just begun.

The first chartered flight from Russia had arrived in Goa on October 2.

Around 15 million Russians travel overseas for their holidays every year. Of them, nearly 6 million travel to Egypt and Turkey while around 1 million travel to South East Asia and India.

Russian President Vladimir Putin

"According to figures from the Russian Federal State Statistics Service, the total number of Russians who visited India in the 2013-14 season stood at 1,12,695," said Vikram Varma, Legal Advisor to Russian Consulate in Mumbai.

He said this number dropped to 51,076 in the 2014-15 season.

"90 per cent of Russian tourists who arrive in India, come to Goa. With the visit of the Russian president in Goa for BRICS summit, every newspaper and television station in Russia has provided information and coverage on various aspects of Goa to the millions of Russians enjoying international tourism," Varma said.-PTI

Jet brings Airbus on Mumbai-Kolkata route NEW DELHI: Private carrier Jet Airways has said it would nearly double the capacity on its two key destinations - Mumbai and Kolkata - from here, with the introduction of wide-body Airbus A330 aircraft from October 30.

At present, the Mumbai-based airline flies a Boeing 737, which has around 160 seats.

Besides, the airline would also have a direct flight to Kochi from New Delhi, a release said.

Jet Airways would also roll out two additional frequencies on its Delhi-Kolkata and Bengaluru-Kolkata routes, it said.

The introduction of wide-body aircraft services on the busiest domestic routes would significantly enhance both connectivity and capacity, Jet Airways said.

Introducing the A330 will nearly double Jet Airways' capacity on the fast growing Delhi Kolkata, and Delhi - Mumbai routes, it said.

Deploying A330s on domestic flights will allow Jet Airways to offer its passengers a

considerably luxurious and comfortable flying experience equivalent to international standards, including its 'bed-in-the-sky' lieflat beds in business class, it said.

According to the release, complementing connectivity between Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata, will be a completely new nonstop flight 9W 911/912, that will connect Kochi with Delhi, aside from additional frequencies that will connect Bengaluru and Delhi with Kolkata.

Commenting on the roll of higher seating capacity planes on the two routes and launching of new flights, Jayaraj Shanmugam, Chief Commercial Officer, Jet Airways, said, "The Indian domestic sector is witnessing breakneck growth in demand ... The new flights and additional frequencies in our Winter Schedule further strengthen our robust domestic network, and offer our guests additional choice and flexibility to plan their travel.

"Deployment of wide body in domestic sectors provides us additional capacity on these key routes." -PTI

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The commonly seen bird variety includes partridges, peafowls, quails, cuckoos, eagles and vultures. Various migratory birds also visit the area during the winters.

The Udai Bilas Palace was the

exquisitely built temples with one main temple.

The Vijay Raj Rajeshwar Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva is an architectural splendor and a fine example of craftsmanship of the shilpis of Dungarpur.

Govt. Archaeological Museum

Tirthankaras.

Bhuvaneshwar, 9 km, has a famous temple of Lord Shiva and the place is the venue for a colorful fair held on the fifth day after Holi.

Poonjpur is situated around 37 km from Dungarpur and has a beautiful temple dedicated to Mavji.

The temple preserves the manuscript of three books or 'Chopra', written by Mavji and an idol of Nishkalank riding a horse.

Fairs & festivals: During Holi, Gair dances by tribals wearing colorful dresses and carrying swords, arrows and sticks are the major attraction. Bar Bij Fair is held a month after Diwali on the occasion of Bar Bij and is an important celebration of the district. The Bhils in their traditional finery, dance, sing and make merry on this day.

Where to stay: Accommodation is not a problem in Dungarpur and options suiting all categories of tourists are available. Heritage hotels are the best options to stay if one really wants to explore the heritage of this state.

How to reach

royal residence named after Maha Rawal Udai Singh II, a patron of art and architecture. The palace is an example of the Rajput architecture characterized by intricately sculptured pillars and panels, impressive balconies, bracketed windows, and marvelous arches.

The Juna Mahal is a 13th century seven storied structure resembling a fortress with walls, turrets, narrow entrances and corridors to slow down the enemy. The splendid interiors embellished with beautiful frescoes, miniature paintings and glass and mirror work make it an impressive creation.

A famous shrine of Shri Nathji lies along the Gaib Sagar Lake. The shrine is a collection of several

houses a fine collection of ancient statues.

Places around: Deo Somnath at a distance of 24 km has a splendid 12th century temple of Lord Shiva built in white stone. The temple has imposing turrets. The brilliant juxtaposition of huge stone slabs to create this impressive edifice epitomizes the craftsmanship of the ancient time.

Baroda village is situated around 41 km and is the erstwhile capital of Vagad. It has some beautiful temples. Of particular interest are the old Shiva temple in white stone and an ancient Jain temple whose black wall has exquisitely carved image of the 24

Air - Udaipur (120 km) is the nearest airport, connected to Jodh-

pur, Delhi, Ahmedabad, and Mumbai.

Rail - Dungarpur is connected to Udaipur and Ahmedabad by regular trains. The Railway station is three km from the city.

Road - National Highway No. 8, which runs between Delhi and Bombay, passes through the district for a total distance of 31 km.

The Sirohi-Ratlam State Highway passes through the district too.

There are regular buses for almost all the major cities in India.

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Halloween treat - a night at Dracula's castle BRAN CASTLE, Romania: Dracula's castle will have overnight guests on Halloween, marking the first time since 1948 that anyone has slept in the Transylvanian fortress.

The site's actual name is Bran Castle, and two people will get to sleep there Oct. 31 thanks to a promotion by Airbnb. The guests will be wined and dined, then left alone to lie down in red velvet-trimmed coffins just as Dracula did in the Bram Stoker horror novel that popularized the legend.

The castle is famous for its connection to Vlad the Impaler, a reallife prince who stayed there in the 15th century and had a cruel habit of using stakes to impale his victims. Vlad inspired Stoker's story of Count Dracula.

In the Airbnb contest to find guests for the night, applicants were asked to use their ``vampiric wit'' to imagine what they'd say to Count Dracula if they met him.

Winners will be flown to Romania and then taken to the castle set

dramatically in the Carpathian Mountains. If they're too spooked to sleep in the coffins, beds are on hand.

The castle is one of Romania's top tourist attractions, with more than 630,000 visitors a year. Hosting the one-off Airbnb event is a descendant of Bram Stoker, Dacre Stoker. ``I want to make it both realistic and show the legend in the wonderful country that birthed the whole thing,'' Stoker said in a telephone interview. He'll play the role of Jonathan Harker, a character from the novel who encounters Dracula at the castle. When the winners arrive in a horse-drawn carriage, he plans to greet them using the same words Dracula used in his ancestor's story: ``Welcome to my house! Enter freely. Go safely, and leave something of the happiness you bring!''

Stoker added that staging ``Halloween night in Dracula castle'' was a way of ``re-creating the book, and giving people a good

experience and a good scare.''

The winning pair will tour the castle, then be treated to a candlelight dinner of chicken paprikash, the same meal described in the novel. Airbnb's rules for the night

Bran Castle lies on top of cliffs in Bran, Romania. Airbnb has launched a contest to find two people to stay overnight in the castle on Halloween, popularly known as Dracula’s castle because of its connection to the cruel real-life prince Vlad the Impaler, who inspired the legend of Dracula.

are simple: no garlic or silver jewelry - both believed to ward off vampires - and this reminder: ``The count is not a fan of mirror selfies.''

96 per cent Indian travelers tip at hotel MUMBAI: Around 96 per cent Indian travelers give tips at a hotel, more so because of the room service and good housekeeping, a recent survey has found.

"About 96 per cent Indians usually tip at a hotel, 79 per cent tip because of the room service and 51 per cent tip after being impressed by the housekeeping,"

women, who have stayed overnight in a hotel in the past two years.

When it comes to facilities, 75 per cent Indians want in-room features like Jacuzzi, tub or balcony, it said.

Location and price are the most critical for 96 per cent Indians and for 95 per cent family friends, food, beverages, room size is a major

According to the survey, the most preferred medium of booking a hotel amongst 35 per cent is a desktop or laptop followed by mobile app on smart phone while 14 per cent travelers book through mobile web using smart phone. according to '2016 Hotel Etiquette Report' by full service online travel company Expedia.

About 39 per cent Indians tip the porter at the hotel whereas 24 per cent tip the valet, it found.

The survey, which is an analysis of behavior and preferences of Indians while booking hotels, was conducted online in August by GFK Custom Research, North America, among 1,014 randomly selected adults, both men and

consideration, it said.

Things like complimentary WiFi (93 per cent), reviews (89 per cent) and hotel brands (86 per cent) are also major attracting factors for Indians, it added.

"The survey highlights some interesting facts about preferences of Indian travelers while booking a hotel. According to the survey, the most preferred medium of booking a hotel amongst 35 per cent is a desktop or laptop fol-

(According to legend, a vampire's image cannot be seen in mirrors.)

Bran Castle was originally a military fortress, strategically set on a highway that links Transylvania to southern Romania. Vlad the

lowed by mobile app on smart phone while 14 per cent travelers book through mobile web using smart phone," Expedia Marketing Head, in India, Manmeet Ahluwalia said.

"It is interesting to note that 89 per cent Indians consider hotel reviews as very important while choosing a hotel," Ahluwalia added.

He said as Indian travelers are evolving, 77 per cent consider the ability to earn and redeem reward points on their bookings as important.

Indians prefer switching their rooms at hotels if the washrooms are unclean (51 per cent), displeasing smell (48 per cent), dirty beds (48 per cent) and uncomfortable beds (41 per cent), the survey found.

Noisy neighbors (30 per cent) and close to elevators (19 per cent) also makes Indians switch their rooms, it added.

As per the survey, most India travelers are annoyed by loud noisemakers nearby (50 per cent), the hallway hell noisemakers (48 per cent), inattentive parents those who let their children misbehave (47 per cent) and complainers (47 per cent).-PTI

Impaler did not own the castle, but is believed to have used it briefly during his incursions in Transylvania. He is also believed to have been imprisoned in the castle for two months in 1462 when he was captured by a rival Hungarian king.

Vlad impaled his victims as punishment for wrongdoing. His victims reputedly included all the elderly residents of one community to avenge the deaths of his father and brother.

Following World War I, the castle was given to Queen Marie in gratitude for her role in unifying Transylvania with the rest of Romania. She bequeathed it to her youngest daughter Princess Ileana. In 1948, the Communists seized it from Ileana.

In 2006, years after communism ended, the castle was returned to Ileana's son Dominic Hapsburg, a retired New York architect. His sisters spent their childhood there. A Romanian company manages the castle which is rented for weddings, soirees and corporate events.

Hapsburg plays an active role in the site, but nobody has stayed overnight there since Hapsburg and his family were exiled from Romania.

The castle is very popular with tourists. ``We just love Halloween, so what drew us to Romania was Transylvania,'' said Gina Ricciardi of Boca Raton, Florida, visiting with her husband and friends. ``We wanted to see Dracula's castle and just experience the whole Dracula.''

Might Count Dracula himself show up on Oct. 31? ``Did he really die at end of the novel when he was stabbed with knife? Bram leaves the question ambiguous,'' Stoker said. ``But if he's still floating around, he would make an appearance.''-AP

Singapore Airlines' 30yrs operation from Kolkata KOLKATA: Singapore Airlines has offered a special all-inclusive return fares for business and economy class passengers from Kolkata to mark its 30 years of operation from the city.

"On this important milestone, Singapore Airlines has offered up to 30 per cent discount on Business Class and Economy Class fares from Kolkata with all-inclusive return fares," a release from

October 14 to November 30 for the travel period of October 14 to December 15," the release said.

"On October 29, Singapore Airlines will complete its 30 years of operation from Kolkata. It launched two weekly services to Kolkata with the Airbus A310 on October 29, 1986.

Today, Singapore Airlines operates four weekly services to Kolkata on the Airbus A330," it

the Singapore Airlines said.

"The fares to Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, China, Japan, Indonesia, the US, New Zealand, South Africa, Taiwan, Vietnam and Korea are available on sale from

said.

Combined with its regional wing SilkAir, Singapore Airlines offers seven weekly services to Singapore from Kolkata, the release added.-PTI

Health

Line

NDMC to set up waste-to-energy plant NEW DELHI: North Delhi will soon get another waste-to-energy plant in Bhalaswa site that will ramp up the rate of processing of solid waste tremendously, the area's civic body has said.

In a press conference held at the Civic Centre here, North Delhi Mayor Sanjeev Nayyar said the project is under the Swachh Bharat Mission and the plant would be established with technical assistance from Austria.

"The plant would be able to process/incinerate the waste up to 94 per cent and remaining 6 per cent would be utilized in making bricks. Trial run for the same is being done and it would be made fully operational in November," he said.

He said there is also a plan to start a small-scale waste-processing plant.

Standing Committee Chairman of the North Delhi Municipal Corporation Pravesh Wahi, talking about sanitation issues, said, the NDMC would procure equipment for cleaning of city areas.

"This would include trucks, tippers, loaders and other allied equipment which would be utilized to lift the garbage which is not cleared by the private concessionaire." -PTI

UN report hails India's efforts on girl child

LONDON: India has seen "dramatic" improvements in the opportunities available to the girl child, a United Nations report has said while showcasing the country as an example to be replicated worldwide for bettering the condition of their youthful populations.

However, 'The State of World Population 2016' report by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) warned that practices that harm girls and violate their human rights, starting at age 10, prevent them from realizing their full potential as adults and more needs to be done the world over.

"Both India and China, which together are home to roughly one in three 10-year-olds alive today, are among the world's fastest growing economies and have seen dramatic improvements in the opportunities available to youth," the report said.

It quoted the International Centre for Research on Women to estimate that India loses nearly USD 56 billion a year in potential earnings because of adolescent pregnancy, high secondary school dropout rates and joblessness among young women. -PTI

Health Science

Delhi govt orders fire-safety audit at hospitals

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October 28, 2016

Details on Page 34

Health agency says it erred in requiring husband's OK for abortion COLUMBIA, S.C.: A South Carolina agency has said it erred in suggesting married women get their husband's permission to get an abortion.

That is among proposed changes to abortion clinic regulations that the state's health agency put out last month for public comment, following a unanimous vote by the agency's board. Abortion rights advocates called them extreme and politically driven. ``Many of these proposed changes are medically unnecessary, unconstitutional and clearly designed to further impede a woman's ability to make the deeply personal decision to seek safe, legal abortion,'' Planned Parenthood regional spokeswoman Vicki Ringer said in a statement. ``Simply put, the regulations are based in politics, not medicine.''

The agency then issued an oops.

It was a mistake to suggest a married woman, if living with her husband, get his signed consent to have an abortion at a clinic.

State law requires a husband's consent in the third trimester, but such abortions can occur only in hospitals, the state Department

of Health and Environmental Control said in a statement.

By law, clinics can perform abortions up to 18 weeks gestation.

The agency is also dropping a proposal to require, instead of offer, certain tests including a pap

being corrected and will be reviewed again. ``As a result of comments received during the current public comment period, we realized there were two errors in the language of the existing draft revision,'' she said in an email. ``We apologize

Dr. Bhavik Kumar, 31, of Austin, Texas, listens to a question from a patient considering abortion during her ultrasound at the Whole Woman's Health clinic in Fort Worth, Texas

smear and tests for sexually transmitted diseases.

Ringer said mandatory tests for syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia would be a barrier ``intended to shame a woman.''

Agency spokeswoman Jennifer Read said the current draft is

for any confusion or concern these errors may have caused.''

The agency is accepting public comments on the proposals.

A public hearing will likely be held in December. The agency's recommendations must then go to the Legislature for review.

Other suggested changes opposed by abortion-rights advocates include removing a juvenile's ability to bypass parental consent and get permission from a judge, requiring physicians that perform abortions to be board-certified in obstetrics and gynecology, and requiring clinics to meet higher surgical standards.

South Carolina's Republicancontrolled Legislature has repeatedly tightened the rules on abortions.

Last spring, Gov. Nikki Haley signed a law banning most abortions at 20 weeks beyond fertilization.

The ban's only exceptions are if the mother's life is in jeopardy or a doctor determines the fetus cannot survive outside the womb. Its definition of ``fetal anomaly'' makes it illegal to abort a fetus with a severe disability if the child could live. Such anomalies are generally detected around 20 weeks.

Supporters cite the disputed claim that a fetus can feel pain at 20 weeks. Opponents say laterterm abortions usually happen with wanted pregnancies in which complex medical situations arise.AP

Progress in 'moonshot' for cancer cure BOSTON: Vice President Joe Biden has said that the White House's ``moonshot'' to find a cure for cancer has been making real progress in the past year, but more needs to be done as the nation prepares to elect a new president.

Speaking to a crowd of hundreds of health care professionals and researchers gathered in Boston, the 73-year-old Democrat touched on a range of initiatives the ``Cancer Moonshot'' task force he chairs has been working on since President Barack Obama announced the effort in his final State of the Union in January.

Biden, who lost his son, Beau, a former Delaware attorney general, to cancer last year, said the

administration is trying to speed up the federal drug approval process and make it easier for cancer

patients to take part in clinical trials.

He also said the administration

Vice President Joe Biden speaks at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate, in Boston, about the White House’s cancer “moonshot” initiative — a push to throw everything at finding a cure within five years.

is encouraging cancer researchers to share more information among themselves; something that he says doesn't happen as much as it should. ``We're just getting started,'' Biden said. ``We're on the cusp of enormous, enormous progress.''

He said more work also needs to be done to enhance cancer prevention and detection efforts, particularly among disadvantaged populations. ``This country has the capacity to do anything it sets its mind to,'' Biden said. ``We're on the verge of some astounding breakthroughs, I promise you. Stuff that will absolutely take your breath away.''

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NICPR, Ayush join hands for cancer prevention NEW DELHI: A premier national cancer institute under the ICMR and All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) have joined hands to set up a 'Center of Integrative Oncology' for collaborating in areas of cancer prevention, research and care.

An MoU in this regard was signed by the National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research (NICPR), Noida and AIIA, an autonomous institute under the Ministry of AYUSH in the presence of Soumya Swaminathan, Secretary, Department of Health Research, Union Health Ministry & Director General, Indian Council for Medi-

cal Research and other top officials.

"The association will allow validation of claims made in the Ayurveda and other domains of Ayush, both at laboratory and clinical levels, as to the efficacy of this traditional school of medicine," Swaminathan said.

The ICMR Director General also said the main aim of this tie-up should be to reduce the incidence of cancer, for which preventive aspects with the strengths of AYUSH systems should be explored.

"The collaborative research should aim at developing traditional medicine as adju-

Zika test urged for pregnant women NEW YORK: The government has recommended Zika testing for all pregnant women who recently spent time anywhere in Florida's Miami-Dade County.

The county is the only area in the continental U.S. where mosquitoes have been spreading the virus since the summer. Testing is recommended for pregnant women who lived in - or visited - Miami-Dade since August 1, whether or not they have symptoms.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had previously urged testing for pregnant women who had been in one of the county's Zika ``hot zones.'' Recently, it extended the advice to the entire county.

New cases continue to come in from the

The new testing advice also extends to pregnant women who weren't in MiamiDade themselves, but had unprotected sex with someone who had been in the county recently.

The advice for travel to Miami-Dade has not changed: Pregnant women should postpone travel to the county if possible and stay out of the two remaining ``red zones'' Miami Beach and an area just north of the Little Haiti neighborhood.

Until this summer, the only cases of Zika in the continental U.S. were connected to travel to areas with Zika epidemics, mostly the Caribbean and Latin America. Of the more than 3,900 cases to date, nearly 900 were pregnant women.

Nurse practitioner Juliana Duque, right, gives a patient who is in her first trimester of pregnancy insecticide and information about mosquito protection at the Borinquen Medical Center in Miami.

The government has recommended Zika testing for all pregnant women who recently spent time anywhere in Florida's Miami-Dade County.

Miami area ``and we want to be cautious,'' said the CDC's Dr. Denise Jamieson. There have been more than 150 Zika cases in the county blamed on local mosquitoes.

Zika is mainly spread by mosquitoes, but can be spread through sex. Most infected people don't get sick. It can cause a mild illness, with fever, rash and joint pain. But infection during pregnancy can lead to severe brain-related birth defects.

Dr. Neil Silverman, a UCLA professor of obstetrics, said doctors are probably already taking precautions with their patients who traveled to the Florida County.

Beginning in July, ``I started treating Miami-Dade County like Brazil,'' said Silverman, who's been advising California health officials on Zika issues. ``If a patient had been anywhere in the Miami area, I offered testing.''-AP

vant therapy to reduce the side effects of chemotherapy.

Adjuvant therapy for cancer usually refers to surgery followed by chemotherapy or radiotherapy to help decrease the risk of the cancer recurring.

She also emphasized on collaborative studies, both short-term and long-term, in-

Secretary, Ministry of AYUSH, Ajit M Sharan assured that funding would not be a constraint in carrying out the activities under the MoU. volving institutions of repute at national and international levels.

Secretary, Ministry of AYUSH, Ajit M Sharan assured that funding would not be a constraint in carrying out the activities under the MoU. He also outlined the major action points of the ministry, saying, "10 new research fellowships would be awarded every year.

The process for the first batch will be com-

pleted by March, 2017."

"Minimum of five collaborative research projects will be supported in the financial year 2016-2017. The Ayush Ministry would also develop few centers of excellence for cancer research and has identified the AIIA and the Rajaram Deo Anadilal Poddar Ayurveda Cancer Research Institute, Mumbai, a unit of Centre Council for Research in Ayurveda Sciences (CCRAS).

This would be done by March, 2017," he said.

A steering committee and scientific advisory committee would be jointly constituted by the Ministry of AYUSH and the Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare by December, he said.

International conferences would also be organized annually, he added.

The centre is an outcome of the deliberations held in Indo-US Workshop (in March) and, the MoU would pave the way to carry forward the ongoing bilateral dialogue and facilitate collaboration with National Cancer Institute in the US, officials said.

A portal on 'Network for AYUSH Cancer Care (NFACC)' developed by the AIIA was also launched.-PTI

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Slavery-era ruling cited Delhi govt orders firein abortion case safety audit at hospitals WICHITA, KAN.: Kansas' attorney general withdrew a court brief that cites the slavery-era Dred Scott decision to support the state's position that the Kansas Constitution does not guarantee a right to an abortion.

The reference made in a filing submitted to the Kansas Supreme Court a day earlier does not accurately reflect the state's position, is not necessary for its legal argument and should not have been made, Attorney General Derek Schmidt said in a statement. ``Neither the State nor its attorneys believe or were arguing that Dred Scott was correctly decided,'' he said. ``Nonetheless, the reference to that case was obviously inappropriate, and as soon as I became aware of it today, I ordered the State's brief withdrawn.''

In the infamous Dred Scott decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled a black person whose ancestors were sold as slaves could not be a U.S. citizen and therefore had no right to sue. It also ruled in the decision that the federal government could not prohibit slavery in its territories. ``It is a very odd thing, an unusual thing to have people relying on Dred Scott in support of a legal position that was espoused in Dred Scott,'' said Richard Levy, a law professor at the University of Kansas.

The state cited the 1857 decision as the

Kansas Supreme Court considers whether the state's constitution guarantees the right to an abortion. The appeal stems from the refusal of the Kansas Court of Appeals to implement the state's first-in-the-nation ban on a common second-trimester abortion method.

In a split decision, the Court of Appeals said the Kansas Constitution protects abortion rights independently from the U.S. Constitution. If upheld, the ruling would allow state courts to protect a woman's right to end her pregnancy beyond federal court rulings. ``The unfortunate use of this citation should not distract from the important question the Kansas Supreme Court faces in this case: Whether the Kansas Constitution establishes a state-level right to abortion,'' Schmidt said. ``The State will continue to argue vigorously that it does not.''

The state used the Dred Scott case to bolster its argument that the Declaration of Independence had no legally binding effect.

Kansas cited the decision in response to an amicus brief filed by the American Civil Liberties Union in support of abortion rights.

Doug Bonney, chief counsel for the ACLU's Kansas chapter, told The Wichita Eagle that the state's decision to cite the Dred Scott decision was unusual. ``When I saw the table of cases, when I just started scrolling through it, I thought, `What? Really?'' Bonney said.-AP

NEW DELHI: In the wake of the fire trag- contaminated waste. edy at a Bhubaneswar hospital, Delhi govDuring the meeting, it was also decided ernment has ordered a fire safety audit at that dedicated teams would inspect all hosall its hospitals and sought a report on it to pitals within seven days to ensure that all ensure no such mishap occurs in the na- staircases, corridors, roofs and open spaces tional capital. are kept free of any encroachment.

Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain The minister said all efforts will be made held a meeting with senior government and to make Delhi hospitals fire-safe and that medical officials to review the fire safety the government will set up fire-safety promeasures in place at various city hospitals. tocols on the basis of the report of the comAt least 21 persons died and more than 100 others were injured in a blaze that broke out at the SUM Hospital and Medical College.

The hospital in the Odisha capital was functioning without any fire safety clearance.

"We reviewed the fire safety procedures at various Delhi government hospitals. Director of Delhi Fire Service and other senior officials Delhi Health minister Satyendar Jain were present. We were told that most of them are fine. But, we decided that a fresh in- mittee. spection be done. A copy of the report "Within a month the government would would be sent to me," Jain said. finish inspection of all hospitals. The in"It was decided that a committee includ- spection would include key government ing Secretary Health, Secretary PWD, Re- hospitals such as GTB Hospital, G B Pant gional Director Health Services and other Hospital and LNJP Hospital," he said. officers/departments of Delhi government The Health Minister said deficiencies in will be constituted to handle the same. the hospitals would be checked and listed.

PWD Secretary Ashwani Kumar will be the "The team has also been directed to visit nodal officer for this exercise," Jain said. private hospitals so that all arrangements It will be the responsibility of the com- can be made in case of any deficiency," he mittee to suggest guidelines for disposing added.-PTI

Progress in 'moonshot' for cancer cure Cont'd from Page 32

Biden chairs a task force comprised of the heads of at least a dozen federal departments and agencies, including the National Cancer Institute, the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Health and Human Services.

The task force aims to double the rate of progress in cancer research and treatment, accomplishing what could be achieved in ten years in five.

Among the dozens of public and private sector initiatives highlighted in the ``moonshot'' report is a collaboration between Microsoft, Amazon and the National Cancer Institute to build an online repository for cancer genomic data.

The report also mentions commitments from Uber and Lyft to expand free or reduced ride programs to help cancer patients get to medical appointments, and a new study by the Department of Defense to investigate the ``biological basis of cancer.''

The report was meant, in part, to serve as a blueprint for future administrations.

But Congress has so far yet to approve hundreds of millions of dollars in funding the outgoing Obama administration has sought for the effort.

Biden has promised he'd devote the

The report was meant, in part, to serve as a blueprint for future administrations. But Congress has so far yet to approve hundreds of millions of dollars in funding rest of his life to finding a cure for cancer, though he's publicly dismissed the notion of working as a member of the next presidential administration on the effort.AP

Horoscope

October 28, 2016

India Post

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www.indiapost.com

Oct 28th - Nov 3 rd 2016 Please send your birthday, place of birth and time, so I can give you your zodiac sign, according to Vedic astrology. Send to Jaysastrology@gmail.com

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he professional matters look better. Some of you may be promoted or recognized at work or socially.

Some additional expenses are likely. Those who are appearing in selections may get good results. Stay away from manipulations.It is better to keep new ventures pending.

The child may also bring some happy news. Week is good for students. Some journey may be in the planning.

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rofessional matters look better. Those of you who have strong birth planets are likely to get promotion.

Property matters need care to avert losses. Some sudden obstructions and stress are seen. Better to avoid unnecessary driving. Work with patience. Take care of relationship matters. This is due to the transit of Rahu/Ketu affecting houses and planets.

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he professional matters may find some sudden stress in the beginning of the week. The week carries obstructions and concerns. Do not plan journey during this week. The students need better efforts. The health of father needs continued care. It is better to avoid haste and conflicts. Avoid unnecessary driving and take care of your health. Patience is the Mantra for you.

he professional matters face some stress, keep calm and stay focused on your work. The business income is likely to be delayed, customer payment. Social interaction and communications increases with friends and family. Avoid conflicts and disputes. Take care of your health. The child brings some concerns. Avoid conflicting situations during 2016, and take due care of your health.

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he professional matters look comparatively better.

The time is specially good for those who are in the field of communications, teaching, politics and international trading. Students and those who are appearing in selections have better chances of success. Some of you may be rewarded if the planets are strong natally. Some new rewarding opportunities are likely can take advantage of that.

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he professional matters face problems. The mental peace and patience help in managing professional matters. Stay away from manipulations or people trying to take advantage of you. Some additional expenses are likely. Avoid aggressive behaviour and haste. Silence is golden for you. Better to avoid conflicts. Patience is the remedy, as transit can bring sudden setback.

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he professional matters are generally ok but may develop some conflicts/concerns. Some obstructions and conflicts, in general, are also seen. Take care of your health. Financial position is ok. Take care and better to avoid unnecessary driving.

The prolonged transit planetary influences caused by Rahu/ Ketu are difficult for those whose ascending degree is around 17 or some planet .

rofessional matters face some challenges. With your understanding and patience you are likely to be able to manage things. Keep new ventures pending. Avoid manipulations. Handle relationship matters with patience. Child may need help.

Avoid haste, conflicts, speculation, aggressive behaviour and unnecessary driving.

Conflicts and financial concerns are likely to continue.

he professional matters look better, but some concerns are seen. Work with patience and things remain manageable. Keep new ventures pending, until better planetary period. Health of family needs attention be vigiliant and see doctor if required. Week may involve some additional expenses. Avoid haste, aggressive behaviour, conflicts, unnecessary expenses and driving/ travel.

he professional matters look better at work.

Some additional expenses are likely. Stay calm and focused. Some stress on income is seen. Child may bring happiness. The new business opportunities should be put on hold up to January, 2017. The week is good for students. Avoid speculation. Always invest in safe assets. Patience is the best medicine up to January, 2017.

he professional matters look better. Fortune helps. The new opportunities should be avoided. Delays and obstructions are likely in the sources of income. Manage obstructions with patience. It is better to avoid manipulations or getting in a situation with partners who might take advanatage of situation. Handle relationship matters with care.

Avoid disputes and conflicts just walk away to be safe.

ome concerns are seen in professional matters.

The incidence of conflicts continues.Take care of your and spouse's health. It is better to avoid driving. Manage things with patience. The prolonged transit planetary influences caused by Rahu/Ketu are difficult for those whose ascending degree is around 16 or some planet is around 16 degree in odd signs up to 30th November, 2016.

This weekly horoscope is more focused and accurate as these are based on ascending signs. The ascending sign is worked out on the basis of your date, time and place of birth. You will find the predictions at other places based on your Sun sign or Moon sign. The Sun remains in one sign of zodiac for one month whereas the Moon remains in one sign for about 54 hours. It is the ascending sign, which changes every couple of hours." That is how this site offers you more focused predictions.

JATIN P - ACHARYA MIHIR • JAYSASTROLOGY@GMAIL.COM • 630-675-7148

Realty Tidbits

US homebuilders' confidence eases slightly U.S. homebuilders' confidence eased this month after surging to the highest level in nearly a year in September.

Even so, builders remain optimistic overall about sales growth in months ahead, a reflection of how steady job gains are leading more Americans to buy newly built homes. The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo builder sentiment index fell two points this month to 63 following a reading of 65 in September.

Readings above 50 indicate more builders view sales conditions as good rather than poor.

The index has held above 60 the past two months after hovering at 58 earlier this year.

The pullback in the latest builder sentiment index is in line with what analysts polled by FactSet were expecting.

Builders' view of current sales and a gauge of traffic by prospective buyers declined. Their outlook for sales over the next six months increased.

A strengthening job market and mortgage rates hovering near alltime lows have helped stoke demand for homeownership, pushing up sales of new and previously occupied homes. That, in turn, has been good news for homebuilders. ``The October reading represents a mild pullback from a jump in September, and indicates that the housing market continues to make slow and steady gains,'' said Robert Dietz, the NAHB's chief economist.

Despite declining in August, sales of new U.S. homes were running 20.1 percent higher through the first eight months of this year than in the same stretch of 2015. -AP

SC tells Parsvnath to give flat to minister

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court of India has directed Parsvnath developers to hand over possession of a flat in its Gurgaon project to Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore in two days.

A bench comprising Justice Dipak Misra and Amitava Roy said "the possession of flat shall be handed over to the respondent in two days" and said Rathore should not pay any more amount to the developer.

The apex court said the issue of compensation to be paid by the realty firm to Rathore for the delayed possession would be dealt with at a later stage of the hearing.

Details on Page 15

Real Estate 36 India Post

www.indiapost.com

October 28, 2016

Are new Mount Pleasant homes too tall?

MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C.: A builder in Mount Pleasant has been ordered to stop work on five houses that town officials say are too tall.

The Post and Courier of Charleston reported that the order came even though town officials had approved the plans and building permits for Ashton Charleston Residential. The 21 homes on 1.3 acres of land at Sullivan's Point have upset residents of a neighboring subdivision and an environmental group. The order applies to just five of the homes. -AP

New homes now selling at Wallis Ranch in Dublin India Post News Service

DUBLIN, CA: It's time to see what everyone is talking about at Wallis Ranch in Dublin. According to a press release by Trumark Homes, this new gated masterplanned community by Trumark Communities is offering great 2016 move-in opportunities, and, with 16 new model homes to tour, a stunning clubhouseas well as eight distinctive neighborhoods that are perfectly suited for family-friendly living, you don't want to miss out.

Plus, walking and hiking trails, resort-style amenities, a pool and fitness center and a great school district ensure Wallis Ranch is a place to grow your legacy. Seven neighborhoods, which include Barnwell, Bridgecroft, Citron, Driftsong, Fielding, Ivy Oak and Riverton, are currently selling, so visit today to discover this place for yourself, says the press release.

It says, "Wallis Ranch is a secluded world with eight neighborhoods that create a unique opportunity. Where trees line the streets and community means family, 806 new homes will reflect old dreams and new ideas, spanning from 1,514 to 4,300 square feet with two

to six bedrooms and two to fiveand-one-half baths. From attached townhome-style condominium and courtyard-style homes to single-family residences, each col-

brings out the beauty in nature and parks and trails will make room to spread out, connecting you to the community's core. At the heart of the community, Kindred House

lection is connected to the land and the people who live on it, priced from the high $700,000s.

"Winding down the road at Wallis Ranch is like finding your place at home and in the world.

Antone Pavilion draws you in to fresh experiences, Tassajara Creek

brings resort-style amenities from a pool, spa and gourmet kitchen to a fitness room, terrace and playground, so you can follow hello wherever it takes you. At Wallis Ranch, each day tells the story of creating a place to be as grand as your dreams.

"In the heart of Dublin, this new community is a making its mark. Wallis Ranch is one of the first master-planned communities to use recycled water to irrigate all front yards and open spaces, saving approximately 4.8 million gallons of water a year and showing just how far green living can go. In addition, this environmentally conscious community also houses preserved trees, protected streams and 35 acres of open space.

"Plus, a sought-after Bay Area location means exceptional conveniences, excellent schools and a short commute to jobs, businesses and recreation."

Wallis Ranch is located at 4201 Wallis Ranch Drive, Dublin, California 94568. From 580, exit Santa Rita/Tassajara and go north approximately two miles to Wallis Ranch Drive. To learn more, please visit WallisRanch.com.

Unitech to refund Rs 15 cr to home buyers NEW DELHI: Unitech Resorts Ltd has been directed by the Supreme Court to refund Rs 15 crore to 39 home buyers in its Gurgaon project, saying a property developer must respect the contractual commitment and live up to the terms of the contract.

The apex court while directing Unitech Resorts Ltd to deposit Rs 2 crore in four weeks with Supreme Court registry said the firm by "delaying or procrastinating" the completion of the flats cannot base its stand on "excuses or any subterfuge" to advance the

stand that constructions take time.

"It needs no special emphasis to state that the property developer has to respect the contrac-

in him. Not for nothing, it has been said, 'the foundation of any economy is faith and if faith is lost, everything is lost'.

"True it is, there is a saying,

tual commitment. It has to live up to the terms of the contract and gain trust so that the people who dream of houses can repose faith

'Rome was not built in a day' but it is in the realm of metaphor," a bench of Justices Dipak Misra, Amitava Roy and A M

Khanwilkar said.

The bench noted that Rs 16.55 crore was deposited by the 39 home buyers who had booked flats in Unitech Vista project in sector-70, Gurgaon and are before the court.

It also noted that the company has deposited Rs 15 crore with apex court registry in compliance with an earlier order.

"As Rs 15 crore has been invested and some interest has accrued, let the same be given to the respondents (home buyers) on pro rata basis on proper identification by the counsel.

Cont’d on page 37

Real Estate Post

October 28, 2016

India Post 37

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US home construction fell 9% in September WASHINGTON: Homebuilders pulled back on construction for a second straight month in September, with a plunge in apartments offsetting gains in single-family homes. Building activity was weak in all parts of the country except the Midwest.

Construction tumbled 9 percent in September to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.05 million units, the Commerce Department reported. It was the slowest pace in 18 months. Construction had fallen 5.6 percent in August.

The weakness last month reflected a 38 percent drop in construction of apartments, which overshadowed an 8.1 percent rise in single-family construction.

Despite the two months of declines, home construction has been one of the bright spots in the economy this year. Builders have

been scrambling to keep up with rising demand amid continued strong job gains and low mortgage rates.

The September performance

was weaker than expected. Analysts had been forecasting a rebound. But they noted that the smaller apartment segment of construction is often volatile from month to month. ``Given the volatility of the

multifamily sector, there is not enough in this report to suggest the steady uptrend in housing starts is changing yet,'' economists at Contingent Macro Research said in a research note.

Applications for building permits, a good sign of future activity, posted an increase of 6.3 percent in September. It was the biggest one-month gain since last November, pushing activity to an annual rate of 1.22 million units.

By region of the country, construction starts rose 6.6 percent in the Midwest, the only region showing a gain. Construction fell 31.5 percent in the Northwest, 15.6 percent in the South and 4.4 percent in the West.-AP

Unitech to refund Rs 15 cr to home buyers Cont’d from page 36

"The appellant company is directed to deposit a further sum of Rs 2 crore within four weeks hence," the bench said and posted the matter for further hearing on January 11, 2017.

The apex court said, "the appellant (Unitech) by delaying or procrastinating the completion of the flats cannot base its stand on excuses or any subterfuge to advance the stand that the constructions take time".

The apex court clarified that the aspect of interest and compensation payable to the home buyers for the delay in giving the flats on part of the company will be deliberated at a later stage.

Taking the real estate company to task for saying construction takes time, the apex court said "the submission ... rests upon the metaphor that 'Rome was not built in a day' but serves no purpose. It is flat or money. And nothing else."

"The respondents (home buyers) collectively make a demand for refund of money because they have fought the litigation with ceaseless vigor and enormous hope," it said.

The bench, which heard the grievances of some of the home buyers who were present during the hearing, recorded their anguish and said, "The voice of anguish is echoed in the court room as they say their dreams have been

shattered and they have been constrained to pave the path of impecuniosity".

The home buyers, through advocate Brajesh Kumar, refused to accept the proposal given by senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Unitech, that three towers will be completed by end of April 2017 and some of them will be given flats along with some amount as directed by the court.

He said that Rs 5 crore deposited by the company with the apex

The apex court had earlier asked the company to deposit an interim penalty of Rs 5 crore with the court registry after the firm challenged the order of the consumer forum court be distributed among the purchasers towards principal amount and flats be handed over

by April 2017.

Singhvi said the remaining Rs 10 crore deposited with the apex court should be given back to the company for facilitating the construction.

The flat-buyers who were present in the court room and through lawyers outrightly re-

jected the proposal and demanded refund, along with interest and compensation.

The apex court had on August 17, directed the embattled real estate firm to deposit Rs 15 crore principal amount by Septemberend to pay back investors and home buyers who were not given possession of the flats on time.

Investors have told the court that they had paid money to the firm on time and the company was scheduled to hand over the possession of flats in 2012 but has not done till date.

Over two dozen home buyers of Unitech's housing projects in Noida and Gurgaon had approached the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) after the builder had failed to give them possession of the flats as per schedule.

The consumer forum had asked Unitech to refund the money to the home buyers with interest.

The apex court had earlier asked the company to deposit an interim penalty of Rs 5 crore with the court registry after the firm challenged the order of the consumer forum which had asked the developer to pay Rs 5 crore penalty to three buyers of its Burgundy project.

The court had said the penalty deposited with the court will be awarded to the buyers or returned to Unitech, depending on the outcome of the case. -PTI

Hindujas plan hotel at iconic London building LONDON: The Hinduja Group has unveiled its plans for a new luxury hotel complete with a swimming pool, spa and roof top bar to be built here on the site of the historic Old War Office building, once occupied by Britain's war-time Prime Minister Winston Churchill.

The hotel-cum-residential complex will come up on the site of Churchill's 1,100-room Old War Office building on Whitehall, central London, which the Hindujas, Britain's wealthiest people, officially acquired in partnership with Spanish industrial company Obrascon Huarte Lain Desarrollos.

"With our Spanish partners, we have a unique vision for the Old War Office our ambitious plans will give it a new lease of life and add a glittering new jewel to London's crown," G P Hinduja, global cochairman of the Hinduja Group, had said at that time.

According to a planning application filed with the Westminster Council, the heritage building's new look will include a ballroom for 600 guests, a 25-metre swimming pool, spa, wine cellars and roof top bar as well as 125 bedrooms and 88 flats.

The 580,000 square feet development has been designed by London architects EPR. "Our vision is to convert this

historically important building in one of the most important conservation areas in the country, into an international landmark, mixed use luxury hotel and residential development of exceptional quality, with corresponding amenity,

public access and heritage benefits," reads the planning application seen by the Evening Standard.

The building, which was sold by the UK's Ministry of Defense for 350 million pounds (USD 427 million), has also been used as the MI6 headquarters in a number of James Bond films: "Octopussy", "A View to a Kill", "License to Kill" and "Skyfall".

One of the four entrances to the building is still known as "The Spies Entrance" as it was used by members of MI5 and MI6 security services to enter the Old War Office discreetly.-PTI

SC tells Parsvnath to give flat to minister NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court of India has directed Parsvnath developers to hand over possession of a flat in its Gurgaon project to Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore in two days.

A bench comprising Justice Dipak Misra and Amitava Roy said "the possession of flat shall be handed over to the respondent in two days" and said Rathore should not pay any more amount to the developer.

The apex court said the issue of compensation to be paid by the realty firm to Rathore for the delayed possession would be dealt with at a later stage of the hearing.

During the hearing, counsel appearing for the builder said the flat was ready and they could handover possession.

Rathore had booked a flat in Parsvnath's Exotica project in Gurgaon in 2006 and paid around Rs 70 lakh for it.

The firm was to deliver the flat in 2008-09. In January this year, the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) had directed the builder to refund the principal amount with interest and compensation to Rathore.

Earlier, the apex court had rapped real-estate firms for making tall claims to purchasers which remained unfulfilled due to inordinate delay in completing the housing projects.

The court had on October 18 directed the SC registry to disburse Rs 12 crore, deposited by real estate firm Parsvnath Buildwell Pvt Ltd, to 70 home buyers on pro-rata basis after proper identification.

It had also directed the firm to deposit Rs 10 crore by December 10 with Supreme Court registry.

The apex court's observation had come after Parsvnath Buildwell Pvt Ltd had said it would give the flats to 70 home buyers, who are before the court,

by December 17. -PTI

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Community stresses health & education SURENDRA ULLAL

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rue to its years long tradition, India Post approached its readers for their obser vations on the happenings year round and also take a peep into the future especially the coming year.

This time for a change, IP decided to chart a little different course - not putting specific questions but seeking in general the views of the readers as to what project or activity they need worth picking up either collectively or individually in the coming year

for the benefit of society at large IP Editorial staff thanks the readers who responded offering varied suggestions.

There was no common ground or a consensus about any particular project but many did emphasize spread of education and improving health care. Without much ado, we are reproducing their views here under:

Special Survey

Dump all corrupt elements in Let's help Modi accomplish society & govt more for India MAFAT PATEL, a front ranking Indian businessman often described as uncrowned King of Mini India Town on Devon Avenue Chicago, said that he was one for dumping all corrupt elements from the society and the government as well. Dumping short sighted politicians who encourage sectarian rifts to serve their own ends is the prime need for lifting India from its present morass and making it a world power.

For this country - or adopted land Mafat Patel said that overhauling the tax system to encourage small and medium sized business and manufacturing units should be given top most priority. This will help job creation and give a sustained push for economic growth.

DR BHARAT BARAI, a front ranking community leader and noted oncologist in Midwest, said that "Diwali is the time when people in general take stock of the things happened during the year and I take this opportunity to take stock of the situation for the past three years to help me and the community to move in the direction based on experience."

He observed that India after decades has got a non corrupt and a highly committed person as its leader in Narendra Modi. He is trying his best to steer the nation in the right direction and has met with success too. However, he could do more and we should be doing our part in helping him to do more. One of the ways is to stand united behind him and see that in democratic India the party or the coalition that he leads gets a good number of seats in both the houses of Parliament. He has absolute majority in Lok Sabha but is handicapped because of lack of enough seats in Rajya Sabha. Besides, faring well in elections in different States in India also could strengthen his hands. Whatever best that can be done in this regard needs to be accomplished in the coming years.

Cont’d on page 39

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Community should help homeless, veterans & animals JATIN PATEL says that "In our Indian community we have been blessed with parents and grandparents who left our country to find a better life for them and their children. It is imperative that as a community we give back to the country that opened its arms to us and has provided us the wonderful opportunities we currently are able to take advantage of. We have the opportunity to develop businesses that allow us to send our children to good schools, to live in nice homes and to drive a car. In my humble and thoughtful opinion I believe the following areas of our community need immediate attention" "I would recommend developing programs to assist the homeless population which includes many veterans, and the homeless animals that serve the communities until the animals are sent to shelters to be killed. It is a sin to kill anyone or anything. Feeding the homeless people and animals helps create a community of caring for others. It is our belief that humans as well as animals all have souls. This is why it is so important to ensure that humans and animals are never denied

food and that all are taken care of.

"On a daily basis while sitting in traffic on our way to our businesses we come into contact with many different people asking for help. It is important we assist them with our spare change, offer them a meal or offer to help find them employment. The animal shelters are full of animals that have been abandoned on the streets with no food and the shelters are often run on limited funding with limited food supplies. A community effort along with individual efforts to help the homeless, veterans and animals in need sets a good example for others.

"Many of us 'talk the talk'. But very few actually make the time and effort to 'walk the walk'. By offering assistance to the homeless and veterans or taking a bag of food to an animal shelter you inspire others to get involved and make a positive change in the community. It also sets a good example for children.

"Doing the right thing, because it's the right thing to do is very important.

Cont’d on page 41

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Inspire children to become community leaders If the community as a whole desires to gain the prominence and respect that it deserves, we must show that we can, as a united force, effect change through our hard work, community service, and civic engagement

Community should help homeless, veterans & animals Cont’d from page 39

Every day we are bombarded with disheartening news stories and depending on the cause, it is possible you will come face to face with some pretty heart-wrenching situations. Community involvement presents a proactive way of doing something to make the world a better place. Even the smallest gestures make a difference. And if we all band together, those small gestures can add up to a big change!

"Assisting others creates empowerment.

Maybe someone offered you a helping hand when you were down and out and by helping others it gives you the opportunity to pay that favor forward. Often times, a little assistance to those in need can help them get back on their feet. And when they

do, they'll be more inclined to do the same for others. And the cycle continues.

"Helping others can give one a greater perception and can help create self-awareness. Dealing with different situations can make you question your own viewpoint on the world and the choices you make in your personal life. Though this can a bit overwhelming at first, developing a keener sense of self-awareness is an amazing transformation that many experience. By helping others in need, you take the focus off of your own problems, putting into perspective how precious having a healthy and fulfilled life really is. Many of us realize that, while not perfect, our life is a blessing to be celebrated every day. In my opinion, this is priceless."

VINESH VIRANI said, "I strongly believe that the Indian community must work together to become one.

Often times, we have seen that the Chicago Indian community becomes stratified, and it is hard to find middle ground between conflicts and disputes. If the community as a whole desires to gain the prominence and respect that it deserves, we must show that we can, as a united force, effect change through our hard work, community service, and civic engagement.

"This can only be done if we begin sponsoring programs and initiatives so that our youth can realize the value of being engaged in the Indian community and in our local communities as well. Too often do we hope our children to achieve professions in medicine, engineering, law, etc. while all of these careers are noble and rewarding, rarely do we inspire our children to be community leaders or representatives and voices of action, initiative, and reform.

"I propose we begin a Chicago-based program that inspires our kids to engage in community service and create an entity or initiative that drives our young adults to

become civic leaders. However, this all can only be possible if we work together. Only by taking on the mutual responsibility of engendering values of service and leadership in our youth will we be able to bring our voice to prominence."

Cont’d on page 42

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Projects should be based on needs of community DAYAL MESHRI said "There are numerous opportunities for every individual or individuals collectively, to start or get involved in the existing projects as well in new projects. In Vinoba Bhave's words, each human being has something to share with or donate to society; it may be money, land, advice, knowledge, education, sympathy, respect or a helping hand for that purpose.

New or current projects should be based upon the challenging needs of the community such as harmony, health, education, hunger, discrimination, inequality, etc.

"The basic needs of community projects are health, education, employment, 3 meals per day, clothes, shelters, quality drinking water, elimination of child marriage, etc. In summary, "Rozi", "Roti", "Kapda" aur "Makan". All

four of these basic needs: job, food, clothes and housing can be obtained with proper education.

As an individual, I have been involved in primary, secondary, graduate and post graduate education in India, as well as in many

"The basic needs of community projects are health, education, employment, 3 meals per day, clothes, shelters, quality drinking water, elimination of child marriage, etc. In summary, "Rozi", "Roti", "Kapda" aur "Makan"

other parts of the world.

"To see firsthand use of education, I have started manufacturing factories in the USA, Mexico and India, which provide Rozi, Roti, clothes, housing and education also. So the cycle keeps repeating for the betterment of community services.

"With personal and family's participation, we work with local institutes such as hospitals, schools, welfare, charitable organizations, reform institutes and interact with bureaucrats, government officials, elected members of Congress, Senate, community leaders to get undertaken projects done. Have formed non-profitable foundations to support the needs of academic, social, religious, health and welfare organizations.

As a result, some basic needs of the less fortunate and needy are

being met.

"One of the striking examples is my bathroom/toilet project in Ulhasnagar, Mumbai, India for the 300 needy families. In short, bright students, sick people, hand to mouth needy, old and incapable people, hygiene and health, cleanliness, community harmony and new technologies for the betterment of our human race; a number of projects are being tackled."

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Give best training to children Let's have unified & grandchildren platform for celebrations ANIL SHAH, President World Money Exchange, said that he would be really happy to see that Indian Americans here and in the USA as a whole present a unified platform in celebrating our religious or national festivals. "We have plethora of Garbas and Raas during Navratri, huge number of Diwali functions and a number of India Day parades. This to me leads to a big waste of time and resources. If the community stalwarts sink their personal ego or beliefs and find out a common ground to have minimum number of programs that could work logistically for the community, we can save on the time, money and energy of the participating community members," he said. The upshot of the argument is that there is a need to bring down sectarian or ego centric celebrations.

Diwali will be happy if India, Pak work for peace THAKAR S BASATI wished Happy Diwali to all and felt it would be really "Happy" if both neighboring countries India and Pakistan start working for Peace.

Loud noise of firecrackers should be of Happiness not of bombs and nuclear missiles. Both countries have plenty of internal issues to focus on. Both have plenty of hungry people, people without shelter, yet both spend large amounts for ammunition to kill each other. Both have suffered big time in partition of 1947 and then in wars of 1965 and 1971. What did they achieve? Ask the families of people who lost everything during those times.

Some are still struggling to cope with it.

Both countries should be ashamed of their past dealing with each other.

There are plenty of good examples of good neighbors - look at America and Canada. They don't agree on everything but people enjoy peace, very little to worry about neighbors coming in and hurting you. Look at the people at the border of India and Pakistan who spend their life worrying about if they will be alive next

day, wondering if they will see the face of their children in the morning. There is so much common in their culture that they can have fun in each day of their life. Both countries have produced great singers, musicians who enthralled both sides of border.

People who come to exhibit their clothes do so much business.

Both countries will benefit so much by doing business with each other; they don't need to borrow from rich nations.

Now they owe so much for buying destructive ammunition that it will be debt for many generations to come. People on both sides want to travel across border. Just because of few criminal minded people, both nations suffer.

They need to rise above petty differences and make life livable with peace and dignity. Movie makers need to show respect for each country rather than displaying them as destroyer of each other. Media can play peacemaker role. So many people are crying peace on border of both nations. They have so much common history to share. So let us all Pray, Peace Prevails. Let us hope this Diwali is really, "Happy Diwali."

BHIMASHANKAR DHAKE, President of Dhake Industries , Plymouth, MI said that the finest thing that one can do at the minuscule level is to take care of our children and grandchildren in the right way offering them the best possible education and training while ensuring that they remember our roots and core values.

The second generation and third generation Indian Americans by and large are doing great education wise and we should feel proud of it, but we have to keep up our emphasis on good education and right type of education. We have great family values

and great family institutions. This has been a great help in imbibing sense of purpose and motivation in our children. We can do this by spending a good amount of our time interacting with our children and grand kids.

I would not be surprised if in the near future one of our kids goes to White House holding the highest position. I hope this happens in my lifetime but we should really aim at this and that could be the biggest thing that we individually or collectively could do for our society and for the benefit of the society at large, Dhake said.

Provide professional training to youth DR KIRAN PATEL, a community activist in Florida and a former president of AAPI, said that India is destined to be the Human Capital of the world in the coming years in the wake of a huge surge in the youth population. It is important that this capital should be put to an optimal use for the common good of global society as a whole as otherwise this capital will go waste.

India and Indians should take this as an opportunity and challenge imparting right type of education to the

bubbling youth population. It need not necessarily be University degrees and may involve professional training or special job oriented trading. The youth could be a good electrician, mason, plumber or any such business/trade related training. At the same time, we should not lose sight of IT, Medicine or Accounting and Business related fields. They are very important too. Collectively we can do a good service to the nation and to the world if we accept this challenge in right earnest and do our part.

Stress on right type of education DR. DEEPAK KANT VYAS, a Missouri based community leader and chairman of Redberri Corporation, said that he would lay special emphasis on the spread of right type of education here and back home in India to make our society and future gen-

Trying to connect generations BINA PATEL, President Association of Indians in America, offering her Diwali greetings to the community said she would actively try connecting generations by inviting students to our events and MAFS centers so they can teach our Seniors how to use their iPhones or iPads. The seniors would feel connected to the world! This may look a small step but at least trying would make a huge difference. This observation is based on my experience working for MAFS/UMAS.

eration capable of facing any problems.

The huge emphasis should be on science and technology as only with its spread we widen our mental horizons.

He said in his own way he was helping individual students get higher education offering scholarships and educational aids. The book bank is an important project as many aspiring students cannot afford to buy costly books. "I am in my own modest way contributing my mite in this direction but a collective effort would be more paying," he observed.

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India heading to be capital of Heart Disease JYOTI GHARDO, an India-born Perfusionist working with front ranking US hospitals, fears that India may well become the capital of Heart Disease victims by 2020/ 2022 if adequate measures to create awareness about this lurking danger are not taken in time. She said besides genetic drag, a large number of Indians are pretty ignorant or careless about what they eat- and do not understand the importance of regular physical activity or exercise.

A good number of people suffer heart

attacks in their fifties and sixties and the trend is alarming. "My sister who had suffered heartattack did survive and now has been devoting her time to creating awareness in India about this problem with a degree of success. My desire is to do the same after I retire. Go to India and live in a rural area and work with the local team to address this problem," she said. She is being honored by Prince George Hospital Center in Maryland for her devotion to the work and in helping patients.

Caring for underfed and under-nourished kids NEAL PATEL, President MedStar Laboratories, said that his prime concern for the New Year is the huge care for kids and chil-

dren who are under-nourished and underfed or hungry. "They are our asset and one of our top most priorities should be to take care of them," he said.

"This problem is not only necessarily in underdeveloped or Third World countries like India but it is universal and global. Third World countries or hugely backward countries have the problem in acute and aggravated form. But to say that developed nations like America have no such problem would be an understatement. Here the problem may not be of hunger but undernourishment. And that is also the issue to be addressed.

"The problem facing the children could get aggravated with the huge influx of displaced persons from Middle East and some of the African countries. Natural calamities and disasters too add fuel to the fire. If we unitedly address this issue, we can make some difference," he said.

Let us assist projects good for community SOHAN JOSHI, the former president of National Federation of Indian Associations said that the prime need for the NRI community in general and Indian Americans in particular is to forge unity for any project that any one section of the community feels good for all.

Be this a health care project, education spread movement, women empowerment, celebrating national events of festivals, or even joining mainstream politics and running for elective offices in this country, we should work unitedly to successfully achieve our goals and objectives. This is my message to our community for the New Year, Joshi said

India Post October 28, 2016

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Let's us strive for global peace & harmony KISHOR MEHTA, a community activist, said that the most important thing that we can think or strive for in the coming year is to seek Global Peace, Harmony and Prosperity. All of us individually and collectively should be working in our own

modest way to achieve this.

Another related question could be, whether, we can offer this to our kids or grand kids? Every day newspapers, TV or radio give us news about violence, crime in the world. I wonder if our ancestors had to face similar issues! Viewing this state of human affairs, we should wonder if we have really achieved any real progress.

Global peace is a pristine state of liberty and contentment among all nations and people. Do we feel safe? What is needed to achieve this global solidity across all societies of the world? How to eliminate the hurdles and form definitive links between

various religions of the world? All I can conclude is that we need to address this issue in time as otherwise there could be catastrophic penalties for the future of humanity.

The answer is not easy but doable. Global peace and harmony is possible through spiritual or cultivated organizations who can teach about human rights, education, technologies and respecting each other's religions.

In 21st century, moving towards electronic age, the world has become a tiny place where with a touch of button you can be anywhere mentally or learn anything about any part of the world. We can provide a platform for individual to learn the truth about their and other religions to offer peace and nurture harmony. We need to bring together people of all walks of life hoping for a change for better thru interreligious dialogue and communication to avoid conflicts.

I would really like like minded people to join in my appeal to all humanitarians and religious organizations and even the governments to make visible efforts to make our societies more harmonious devoid of conflicts.

Global peace is a pristine state of liberty and contentment among all nations and people. Do we feel safe?

Conquest of good over evil by personal example SUNIL SHAH, founding president of the Federation of Indian Associations, said "Ek Dua Mangte Hain Hum Apne Bhagwan Se, Chahte Hain Aapki Khushi Pure Imaan Se, Sab Hasratein Puri Ho Aapki, Aur Aap Muskarayan Dil-o-Jaan Se. "It is with extreme delight and happiness that I extend Diwali greetings to you all more especially to our Hindu community for whom this festival has a special place in the heart.

"Diwali signifies the victory of good over evil; of life over death and light over darkness. It is not just celebration.

There is also a personal element that requires all of us to bring light to those areas of our lives and of the lives of those in society which are in darkness; to eradicate greed and ignorance, to reject violence and hatred and to banish ill thoughts and deeds.

"May the modesty of simple ' Diya ' that is lit at this time remind us all that no matter how limited our means are, we can all contribute to making our country and our world

a brighter place by generously illuminating the lives of others through doing good and through being good. United we do well and be good.

"Charity begins at home, may our personal example come to signify the conquest of good over evil. Serve first, Give first."

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India Post October 28, 2016

45

BCIBN marks grand Diwali celebration VANCOUVER, British Columbia: BCIndia Business Network's (BCIBN) inaugural First Annual Grand Diwali Gala was a sold out event with BC Ministers Mike de Jong, Amrik Virk, Consul General Rajiv Kumar Chander; YVR Airport President & CEO Craig Richmond and Senior Vice President of Air Canada Kevin Howlett as guests of honor.

The gala held at Fairmont Waterfront Hotel was sponsored by Patron Members Air Canada, Vancouver International Airport; Platinum Sponsor Langara College, Silver Sponsors Maritime Services and Sprott Shaw College.

The event was hosted by well known media personality Sharad Khare.

Readers Write... www.indiapost.com

Buy Diwali Stamp in large numbers

W

ith the beautiful Diwali stamp released by the US Postal Service, I'd like to recommend folks buying it in as many numbers as they can reasonably justify. Among the reasons for it, Post Office folks tell me that their customers are taking a lot of interest in this colorful stamp and asking what Diwali is.

As you and I send our communications with this stamp, it can be a small but pleasing way of introducing a cultural aspect of India to people here who mostly meet us in professional settings.

I also understand that if the stamp sells in sufficient quantity, USPS would be encouraged to issue Diwali stamps in the future.

I assume, philatelist - or stamp collectors - of all ages, would like to save this

landmark stamp, "mint," especially in the US and India.

Finally, there is a trivia related reason.

When I first came from India, the US postal rate for letters was 4 cents. It has since gone up over 20 times except for six months ago when, for the first time ever, the rate went down from 49 cents to 47 cents. USPS is under pressure to try to increase the rate again (and again). This is a Forever stamp.

In a lighter vein, let me take a side tour related with this trivia a further. While, the rate was 4 cents for a oneounce letter back in 1962, one hundred years before that it was 3 cents. For half an ounce! It is not known what the price was before that. There is no record of it but we can get a clue from the term philately which was coined the same year.

Philately is a combination of a Greek prefix phil (o), meaning affinity, and ateleia, meaning exempt from duties. From that one can infer it was free of charge, possibly, going back 90 years, July 1775 to be precise, when Benjamin Franklin was named the first postmaster general of the U.S. postal System.

Happy Diwali 2016!

Bharat Bhargava Great Falls, VA (Metropolitan Washington, DC)

Disclaimer :- India Post does not endorse opinions expressed in the letters.

Speaking on the occasion, Finance Minister Mike de Jong said Air Canada's direct flight to New Delhi from Vancouver will only make BC-India economic, social and cultural ties stronger.

"BC already engages greatly with India as far as business and cultural exchanges are concerned but considering the huge potential that exists, we can only forge stronger ties and steps such as this direct

flight is one of them," he said.

Vivek Savkur, Chairman Emeritus of BCIBN, Catherine A. Sas President and Douglas Nazareth Finance Director, BCIBN, welcomed the guests and talked about BCIBN's significant role in ensuring that Air Canada establish a non stop flight route to New Delhi from Vancouver.

They thanked all the young volunteers and sponsors who made the evening a great success.

The guests also enjoyed a delicious buffet prepared for the occasion by Indian chefs, Karan Suri and Mridul Bhat. A great line up of entertainment especially the vibrant Bhangra dancers from Langara College and Lana, a young Bollywood dancer, kept the guests entertained through the evening.

BCIBN is dedicated to building and maintaining economic and cultural ties between British Columbia and India through trade. With one of the largest, most successfully multicultural communities in the world, BC's connection to India is longestablished. BCIBN's goal is to build on those vibrant connections and create lasting trade relationships.

-Courtesy South Asian Post

India Post October 28, 2016

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Special Diwali recipes Malpua

Soan Papdi Ingredients: 1 1/4 cup Gram flour 1 1/4 cup Maida 250 gms Ghee 2 1/2 cups Sugar 1 1/2 cup Water 2 tbsp Milk 1/2 tsp Cardamom seeds crushed coarsely 4" squares cut from a thin polythene sheet Preparation:

Ingredients: 1/2 kg maida.

750 gm sugar.

1/2 ltr.milk.

1 cup grated coconut.

6 bananas.

25gm dry fruits.

5-6 ilaichi.

1 ltr. Refined oil.

Process 1 Boil the milk and stir it till it becomes thick. Then cool it.

2 In the milk add maida, sugar, dry fruits , coconut and ilaichi powder .Stir it till it becomes a paste.

3 Make banana paste and add it into the maida paste.

4 Hot oil in a pan. Make round shaped balls of the paste.

5 Fry these till they turn red.

Wheat Laddu

1. Sift both flours together.

2. Heat ghee in a heavy saucepan. Add flour mixture and roast on low till light golden. Keep aside to cool a little, stirring occasionally.

3. Prepare syrup simultaneously. Make syrup out of sugar, water and milk. Bring syrup to 2 1/2 thread consistency.

4. Pour at once into the flour mixture. Beat well with a large fork till the mixture forms threadlike flakes.

5. Pour onto a greased surface or thali and roll to 1" thickness lightly. Sprinkle the elaichi and gently press down with palm.

6. Cool, cut into 1" squares, wrap individually into square pieces of thin plastic sheet. Store in an airtight container.

Besan ki Barfi

Ingredients: 1 cup Wheat Flour 1/4 cup Gram Flour 11/2 cup Sugar Powder 1/4 cup Grated Coconut 1/4 cup Dry Fruit almonds, raisins, kaju etc 1 cup Ghee Preparation: 1. Heat the ghee.

2. Put both the flours in the heated ghee. 3. When nearly roasted put coconut and sliced dry fruit in the mixture.

4. Now put the ground sugar in the mixture and stir thoroughly.

5. Take off from the heat quickly and make laddus. You may also put the mixture in an oil based thali & make small pieces.

Ingredients: Besan 1 kg Sugar 1 kg Water 1/2 liter Ghee 1 kg For garnishing: Pistas, Almonds Preparation: 1. Fry besan in ghee on low flame for about 30 mins till it becomes pink and ghee separates.

2. Mix sugar and water into a syrup.

3. Add this syrup to the besan and mix well.

4. Pour this mixture into a greased tray.

5. When it cools cut into cubes and garnish with pistas and almonds.

Mushrooms in Onion Gravy Ingredients: 200 gm Mushrooms 3 Onions 2 Tomatoes, finely chopped or pureed 3 Green chillies, finely chopped Coriander leaves Salt as per taste Red chili powder as per taste A pinch of garam masala powder A pinch of cardamom powder Oil

Preparation: 1. Slice mushrooms, boil them and keep aside.

2. Make a paste of the onions.

3. Heat oil in a wok and add the onion paste; cook till the paste turns golden brown.

4. Add the tomatoes, green chilies, salt and red chilli powder.

5. Cook the tomatoes till the gravy leaves the sides of the wok.

6. Add water if required.

7. Add the mushrooms and cook for a while.

8. Season with garam masala powder, cardamom powder and coriander leaves.

Besan Vada Ingredients 1 cup besan.

3 green chillies (finely chopped).

Salt.

3 tbsps corriander leaves.

1 onion finely chopped.

Oil deep frying. ½ tsp Enos (fruit powder) ½ tbsp dhania (whole) Directions Enos fruit powder is available everywhere for digestion relief. This has a side benefit of using as a quick leavening agent.

Take besan in dish, add salt, chillies, coriander leaves, dhania, and onions.

Add water to make thick batter.

Add Enos and mix properly.

Take about 1 tbsp of this batter and put in hot oil ,(the batter will puff up, if it doesn't then add more enos) that way put about 6 tbsps of batter to make small dumplings, fry on medium heat (if you put more oil then you can fry more dumplings at a time)till golden brown.

Serve hot with coconut chutney.

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The significance of Diwali Rangoli

O

n the day of Diwali, you may have seen your mother or sister making Diwali Rangoli on the floor. Diwali Rangoli has its own significance on the day of Deepawali and made artistically and with much excitement in Indian homes. We Indians love colors and it's perfectly reflected in various ways. Rangoli is one such example that is a unique art work that is practiced by people all across India.

Basically Rangoli is an art work that is done floors to adorn houses. The use of bright color powders with amazing Rangoli designs and patterns make its beautiful thing for decorating homes on special fes-

tivals like Diwali and occasions like marriage.

There are few common patterns and designs of Rangoli, however the range of designs and Rangoli patterns is simply endless. It is such a popular art work that various Rangoli competitions are held at schools, offices, organizations which an effort to make Rangoli much popular among the younger generations.

Thus for the ones in the search of best Rangoli designs or easy Rangoli designs, here are some beautiful Rangoli design suggestions to create a magically beautiful Rangoli on this Diwali.

It is a fabulous array of Diwali Rangoli designs! Get inspired from these traditional yet extremely artistic Rangoli designs for Diwali and decorate your courtyard on this auspicious Diwali Festival.

Beautiful & Simple Rangoli designs The art of Rangoli making is skillful and requires a lot of patience as well. However, it is not an impossible task! All that you need are some beautiful yet easy to make Rangoli designs that won't take lot of time and effort of yours to create a beautiful and colorful piece of art on the floors of your home on this Diwali.

India Post October 28, 2016

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In Brief 500 fake passports impounded in Tamil Nadu MADURAI: Passport officials here have 'impounded' 500 passports which were obtained using fake documents from the passport seva kendras here and in Tirunelveli.

Cases under the Passport Act had been registered against the holders of the 500 passports, all of which were under the Emigration Check Not Required category, an official release said here.

It said the concerned police stations where the applicants (holders) resided also had been informed for further action.

The release said the passports had been obtained in improper manner with the applicants providing fake documents, including PAN cards and boosting their income among others in order to obtain the ECNR status.

Several applicants had also paid hefty amounts for getting the documents required for obtaining ECNR passports.

The applicants had spent enormous amount to get passports and documents. But they should know that the immigration officials would find all the facts and inform the concerned passport offices, the release said.

As per the Emigration Act, 1983, Emigration Check Required (ECR) categories of Indian passport holders, are required to obtain "Emigration Clearance" from the office of Protector of Emigrants (POE), Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, for going to certain countries. -PTI

„ Three indicted for immigrant attack plan TOPEKA, Kan.: A federal grand jury has indicted three Kansas men who are suspected of plotting to attack Somali immigrants in Garden City.

Acting U.S. Attorney Tom Beall says the grand jury indictment is based on the same facts presented in U.S. District Court in Wichita.

Forty-nine-year-old Curtis Allen and 51-year-old Gavin Wright, both of Liberal, and 47-year-old Patrick Eugene Stein of Wright, are each charged with one count of conspiring to use a weapon of mass destruction.

Prosecutors say the men were part of a small militia group called the Crusaders. They allege the three planned to detonate truck bombs around a small Garden City apartment complex where about 120 Somali immigrants live. They also allegedly had discussed attacking churches that helped the refugees. -AP

Immigration

Maryland Burmese refugee arrivals shrinking

48 India Post

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October 28, 2016

Details on page 49

Most US Syrian arrivals are kids, now enrolling in school EL CAJON, CA: Seated at his desk at a suburban San Diego middle school, 12-year-old Abdulhamid Ashehneh tries not to let his mind wander to the painful memories of his life in civil wartorn Syria.

His father disappeared suddenly four years ago and, the family believes, was killed. Months later, Abdulhamid's mother boarded a bus with her six children, the youngest 2, and fled to Jordan, the sound of bombs ringing in the distance. ``I think about my Dad a lot,'' Abdulhamid said recently after practicing English at Cajon Valley Middle School, which has received an influx of Syrian children. ``I wish he would come back.''

Abdulhamid is like many of the Syrian refugees arriving in the U.S.: According to the U.S. State Department, nearly 80 percent of the

more than 11,000 Syrian arrivals over the past year were children.

That's a larger percentage than most refugee groups, in part be-

Abdulhamid Ashehneh, 12, warks on English language exercises with fellow students in a class filled with refugee children at Cajon Valley Middle in El cajon, Calif

cause Syrians tend to have larger families and many have managed to stay together despite displacement, according to resettlement agencies helping the families acclimate to the U.S. Many of those children are enrolling in public schools around the country, including Chicago; Austin, Texas; New Haven, Connecticut; and El Cajon, which received 76 new Syrian students the first week of school.

Syrian children face many of the same challenges as other young refugees - limited English, an interrupted education - but they are somewhat distinct in the level of trauma they have experienced, school leaders and resettlement workers said. Cont'd on Page 49

Wyoming asks citizenship proof from voters JACKSON, Wyo.: The Wyoming Secretary of State's Office alerted county clerks to require an undetermined number of people to provide proof of citizenship before allowing them to vote, stirring anger from some who say it has deterred people from casting ballots.

State Election Director Kai Schon said some noncitizens can apply for driver's licenses and that information did not make it into the voter registration system until recently, making it necessary to ask some people to show they are qualified to vote, the Jackson Hole News & Guide reported. ``Prior to this year, there was no means of validating whether or not individuals registering to vote with a Wyoming driver's license were citizens or not,'' Schon wrote in a letter to a critic.

The state alerted the Teton County Clerk's Office to check 59 people early this year. The office has notified them to provide citizenship confirmation before they can vote in next month's general election.

Schon did not say how many voters statewide were told to verify their status.

Isabel Zumel, an advocate for

Teton County's Latino community, has written to Secretary of State Ed Murray saying the move prevented some voting in the August primary election. She told Murray she knows of three people who received notice requiring them to

The state used driver's license information from the state Department of Transportation to identify people who were originally registered as non-residents, temporary aliens or resident aliens, Schon said.

Poll workers assist at the Central Wyoming Fairgrounds in Casper

provide proof of citizenship. ``One of the people got very upset,'' Zumel told the newspaper. ``I think it just made her so upset that she decided not to go forward and show the proof.''

The effort did not target a specific ethnicity, Teton County Clerk Sherry Daigle said, but she has received some angry calls from people who had received citizenship and had to go register to vote. ``It wasn't singling any specific people out at all,'' she said. ``It wasn't malicious in any means.''

The election director said some of the people on the lists may have subsequently become naturalized citizens. He said the state undertook the project to satisfy concerns of county clerks around the state that no non-citizens be allowed to vote, although he said he's not aware that any has.

Carbon County Clerk Gwen Bartlett, president of the Wyoming County Clerk's Association, said the verification effort was a joint project between the association and the state. She said a person

who may be in the state for six months on a work visa can get a driver's license. ``It's really no different than a felon, if somebody had registered that was a felon, and our system does those checks to make sure that we don't have felons on the roles, and then we notify them and say, `Hey, there's a potential that you may be a match to a felon,''' Bartlett said.

She said she believes her office notified about five people in Carbon County and hasn't received any complaints.

Schon said the verification effort wasn't intended to hurt or benefit any political party.

The secretary of state is a Republican, as are the other four statewide elected officials. Registered Republicans outnumber Democrats by roughly 154,000 to 44,000, according to the latest figures. ``In a state with a small population, and with outcomes of local elections having margins as slim as 10 or fewer votes, anything that impedes qualified voters from registering and voting is significant and can ultimately affect the outcome of local elections,'' Zumel said in her letter to Murray. -AP

Immigration Post

October 28, 2016

India Post 49

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Maryland Burmese refugee arrivals shrinking ANNAPOLIS, Md.: Enamullah Hashim has spent most of his life afraid.

Afraid of the Burmese soldiers in his home village of Kyaukkyi, where he grew up with his parents and siblings. Afraid of the Malaysian police in Sungai Buloh, where he moved with his wife in 2008.

And afraid, after applying for refugee status with the United Nations in 2009, that the process which would span almost six years - could eventually prove futile.

But after arriving in Frederick, Maryland, on Aug. 5, 2015, those feelings of fear were finally lifted.

Hashim, who now lives in Halethorpe, Maryland, with his wife and daughter, says life in America makes him ``feel full'' for the first time in his life. ``I feel like a human being here,'' Hashim, 38, said through an interpreter. ``If I'm not doing anything wrong, there's nothing to be afraid of.''

Hashim is Muslim, making him a persecuted minority in predominantly Buddhist Myanmar (formerly known as Burma).

From 2009 to this week, 71 percent of Burmese refugees entering the United States were Christian, 15 percent were Buddhist, 10

percent were Muslim and 4 percent were some other religion, no religion or it was unknown, according to data from the U.S. State Department's Refugee Processing Center.

Like many of the 531 Burmese refugees who arrived in the state during the last calendar year, he chose Maryland as his safe haven because he had friends already living here - a community waiting to welcome him.

However, that network is poised to shrink in the coming years.

Once Maryland's largest incoming refugee population, the Bur-

Most US Syrian arrivals are kids, now enrolling in school Cont'd from Page 48

``The truth is, a lot of them have seen some pretty nasty stuff,'' said Eyal Bergman, a family and community engagement officer for the Cajon Valley Union School District. ``But I also see incredible resilience.''

In response to the influx, school districts are beefing up English instruction and making extra efforts to reach out to parents unfamiliar with the U.S. school system.

In El Cajon, one-on-one orientations introduce families to the school's teachers and staff and show them basics like how to read the district's academic-year calendar.

Some refugee students are enrolled in ``newcomer'' classes where they are provided intense English instruction before being placed in mainstream classrooms.

Others go directly into classes with English-fluent peers but are assigned to smaller groups for individual instruction. Teachers are trained in identifying trauma, and on-site counselors help students who need extra attention. ``I've had students tell me that maybe some of their family members passed away,'' said Juanita Chavez, a second-grade teacher. ``But I think a lot of them just want to focus on here, on learning. A lot of them don't focus on the negative things that have happened to them.''

At night, Arabic-speaking staff and teachers hold a ``parent academy'' where newly arrived moms and dads are given bilingual children's books in English and Arabic and guided on how to help improve literacy at home.

The rising number of Syrian refugee students comes amid a

heated presidential campaign.

During the second debate, Donald Trump called Hillary Clinton's plan to expand the Obama administration's refugee program and accept 65,000 Syrian refugees the ``great Trojan horse of all time.''

Last November, in response to the deadly Paris attack believed carried out by operatives who fought and trained in Syria, nearly 30 states vowed to deny entry to Syrian refugees.

Resettlement agencies and

``Most of them tell us the only reason they accepted the whole immigration process is really for their kids,'' said Anas Kayal, who emigrated to the U.S. from Syria in 2001 and is a physician in San Diego. school staff worry inflamed rhetoric about Muslims and Syrian refugees will trickle into the classroom.

A report last year by the California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations found 50 percent of Muslim students surveyed were subjected to mean comments or rumors because of their religion. ``This is a concern of ours, to be watching that they do not feel shunned or stigmatized because of their national origin,'' said Ellen Beattie, a senior director with the International Rescue Committee.

El Cajon, a city of roughly 104,000 people 15 miles east of San Diego, has become a melting pot

of refugees from Uganda to Afghanistan. The first Middle Eastern immigrants were Chaldean Christians fleeing persecution in Iraq in the 1970s. Those earlier, now established waves of migrants are playing a role in helping settle the new arrivals from Syria. ``Most of them tell us the only reason they accepted the whole immigration process is really for their kids,'' said Anas Kayal, who emigrated to the U.S. from Syria in 2001 and is a physician in San Diego. ``They are OK with their own lives being disrupted by the war and crisis, but they are hoping their kids can have a better life.''

Watching her children learn English and adapt to U.S. schools has been redeeming for Abdulhamid's mother after two years in Jordan, where she often struggled to feed them and at one point lived in a feeble tent that would blow apart in the wind. ``We're still trying to cope with this emotionally,'' Amena Alshehneh, 37, said. ``But it's the reality. We have to face the reality and get on our feet.''

As Abdulhamid assimilates, he still pines for his homeland and the life he left behind.

He remembers the Damascus home where he wrestled and practiced reading with his father. He remembers playing soccer and hide-and-seek with his best friend, and wonders what happened to him.

He also thinks about his computer and a remote-control car cherished toys his father gave him and that he had to abandon. ``I feel so sad I left Syria,'' said Abdulhamid, whose expression quickly shifts from joy to grief. ``Because it's my country. My home.'' -AP

mese are arriving in smaller and smaller numbers; a trend likely to continue given President Barack Obama's lifting of sanctions against Myanmar last month. ``Quite frankly, if you look at it over the last seven years, the Burmese have steadily been the largest nationality we've resettled,'' said Ruben Chandrasekar, executive director of refugee resettlement agency International Rescue Committee Baltimore, which helped aid Hashim and his family. ``This year is the first time they

Baltimore boasts the largest Burmese refugee population in the state, with 1,258 arrivals since Jan. 1, 2009. Close behind are Silver Spring, with 351, and Frederick, with 207.

When Hashim was resettled in Frederick, he was over an hour's drive from the nearest International Rescue Center office in Baltimore. Thus, many of the services he needed - English lessons, job searches, medical assistance - were originally provided by members of the refugee commu-

If you look at it over the last seven years, the Burmese have steadily been the largest nationality we've resettled,'' said Ruben Chandrasekar, executive director of refugee resettlement agency International Rescue Committee Baltimore, which helped aid Hashim and his family. are not in the No. 1 spot,'' Chandrasekar told Capital News Service.

For most of the past decade, the Burmese have been the largest group of refugees resettled across Maryland. Of the 9,915 refugees the state has welcomed since Jan. 1, 2009, 2,676 - about 27 percent, the biggest share of arrivals - have been from Myanmar, according to the Refugee Processing Center.

Since January 2009, 126,163 Burmese refugees have come to the United States, according to the Refugee Processing Center.

The state's attractiveness to Burmese newcomers likely stems from its well-established refugee community, Chandrasekar said.

Not only is Maryland politically welcoming and economically prosperous, but it boasts a supportive and robust population of refugees - Burmese and otherwise - that's welcoming to new arrivals. ``They're coming into existing communities,'' Chandrasekar said. ``They have churches that support them, they're networked, they help each other.''

nity, he said. ``The community was very, very helpful to me,'' Hashim said.

However, this network may soon stop growing.

The stream of incoming Burmese is poised to trickle out; as of Sept. 20, the state had seen just 178 new arrivals so far this year, a mere fraction of last year's 531.

The decrease is so significant that it likely precludes a complete halt in arrivals, Chandrasekar said. ``I anticipate in the next couple of years, the Burmese will stop arriving,'' Chandrasekar said.

The slowing is due to the fact that most Burmese living in Malaysian and Thai refugee camps have already been resettled, Chandrasekar said.

In Myanmar, decades of conflict between various armed ethnic groups have resulted in the deprival of human rights for millions of its citizens. However, the nation's recent transformation from a military government into a primarily Democratic one has meant relative peace and thus, a less pressing need to flee. -AP

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wami Ramatirtha had a discussion with Muslims in Lucknow in the year 1905.

When the Muslims entered the room and offered Swami Rama the traditional salutation (Adab 'Arz), he responded by saying 'OM' in serene and peaceful tones.

To this the Muslims took exception. They wanted to know why Rama had not returned their greeting in the same way and why was he saying OM in reply to their greeting.

Swami Rama answered them with great love and told them that he had no mysteries to hide and no mental reservations. The truth was (he said) that a person can give to others only what he possesses and that Rama himself only possessed OM and that alone.

That OM, which was Rama's sole possession, represented the nonduality of Vedanta.

Pressed to explain what he meant, Swami Rama replied that God is really nameless, although people call him by various names such as Ishvara or Allah. Men of different faiths and persuasions feel their oneness with God by establishing some sort of relationship with him.

It can be any relationship, but the truth or reality is only one. He is what he is, one without a second, indescribable and far beyond being circumscribed in words. But the ancient Rishis and Saints have called him and known him through

the significant symbol OM. Swami Rama went on to expound the special place of OM as a universal name of God, but the Muslims objected that they had never seen any mention of OM in their own holy scriptures and asked if he could quote any reference to OM in their Koran.

Rama replied gently: 'Please listen to what is now being said. In the very beginning of your Koran, at the top, are three letters, alif (A), lam (L) and mim (M). Can any of you or any learned Mulawi of Islam explain what these three letters mean?' The Muslims replied

DEEPAK CHOPRA

F

or most people, the two words "timeless" and "eter nal" seem roughly the same.

They spell the end of clock time, and for many religious believers, Heaven is eternal, a place where time goes on forever.

Whatever you think about it, time coming to an end isn't a pleasant prospect, because the clock stops, so to speak, when we die.

But there are problems with all of these concepts, and if we really go deeply into the subject, time is very different from what we casually accept.

Each of us normally experiences three states of time: time ticking off the clock when we are awake, time as part of the illusion of having a dream, and the absence of time when we're asleep but not dreaming. This tells us that time is tied to our state of consciousness.

We take it for granted that one species of time - the one measured by clocks - is real time, but that's not true. All three relationships with time -waking, dreaming, and sleeping - are knowable only as personal experiences. Time in fact doesn't exist outside human awareness. There is no absolute clock time "out there" in the universe. If you go to the finest level of Na-

that he has kept its very heading a secret. No. It is not so. If you, the Muslims who put full faith in the Koran do not know the secret of the letters A, L, M, Rama will tell you what they signify. Alif, lam and mim are nothing but alif (A), wao (O) and mim (M), that is, AOM or OM.' The Muslims objected that the letter L is not the same as the letter O, but Swami Rama pointed out to them that in Arabic grammar L is pronounced O when it falls between a vowel and a consonant, as in the names Shamsuddin, which is written Shamsaldin, or

heretical or a sin, to blame God for keeping it a secret.

The Muslims asked him to explain the meaning of Kufra and the related word 'Kafir', which to a Muslim means an infidel.

Rama said: Dear ones, the meaning of Kufra is to hide. What? To hide the truth or reality is Kufra, and he who hides the truth is Kafir [infidel]. But how does a Kafir hide the truth? He hides it behind the curtain of his Khudi or ego, which has its roots in selfishness. In other words the person who asserts his ego or selfishness as against truth is a Kafir.

Ramatirtha explains how 'Om' occurs in Koran Swami Rama laughed heartily at this remark and said: 'When God has revealed the entire Koran for the benefit of mankind, as the Muslims claim, it is very strange that he has kept its Swami Ramatirtha

very heading a secret.”

that this was a secret which Allah had kept to himself.

Swami Rama laughed heartily at this remark and said: 'When God has revealed the entire Koran for the benefit of mankind, as the Muslims claim, it is very strange

Nizamuddin, which is written Nizamaldin. The letter lam (L) becomes silent and gives the sound of the Arabic letter pesh (O or U).

Therefore ALM is no secret; it is clearly and unambiguously OM and nothing but OM. It is Kufra,

Excerpted from an article which first appeared in the Winter 2002 edition of Self-Knowledge Journal. The 143rd birth anniversary of Swami Ramatirtha will be observed on October 22.

ture, to the vacuum state from which the quantum field emerged, the qualities of everyday existence, such as sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell, no longer exist, and there is also a vanishing point where three-dimensionality vanishes, along with time itself.

What lies beyond the quantum horizon is purely a matter of mathematical conjecture, yet one thing is certain. The origin of everything real is beyond the reach of

open. So it must be accepted that time came out of the timeless and not just at the big bang. Everything in the physical universe winks in and out of existence at a rapid rate of excitation here and now. The timeless is with us at every second of our lives.

Because the timeless can't be measured using a clock, so it makes no sense to say that the timeless is with us "at every second." Instead, the timeless is with

The timeless is an absolute, and since it can't be measured by clocks, it has no relative existence.

How strange. The timeless is with us, yet we can't relate to it.

Clock time has no privileged position in reality. There is no reason why it should be elevated above dream time or the absence of time in dreamless sleep. Clock time is just a quality of being awake, like other qualities we know as colors, tastes, smells, etc.

Time doesn't exist outside human awareness - the one measured by clocks - is real time, but that's not true. All three relationships with time -waking, dreaming, and sleeping - are

time and space. The realm that is the pre-created state of the universe can be modeled mathematically as being multi-dimensional, infinitely dimensional, or non-dimensional. Once the everyday four dimensions vanish, any kind of mathematical explanation is

us, period. This world is timeless.

There is no need to wait for death or Heaven to prove that eternity is real. Once you grant that the timeless is with us, a question naturally arises: How is the timeless related to clock time? The answer is that the two aren't related.

The only thing that is ultimately real about your journey is the step that you are taking at this moment.

That's all there ever is.

-Eckhart Tolle I'm here to tell you that the path to peace is right there, when you want to get away.

-Pema Chödrön If you miss the present moment, you miss your appointment with life. That is very serious!

- Thich Nhat Hanh Practice is this life, and realization is this life, and this life is revealed right here and now.

-Maezumi Roshi If you want to change the world, start with the next person who comes to you in need.

-B. D. Schiers

We take it for granted that one species of time

knowable only as personal experiences.

This is the real secret of life - to be completely engaged with what you are doing in the here and now.

And instead of calling it work, realize it is play.

-Alan Watts

Deepak Chopra

Without human beings to experience these qualities, they don't exist.

Excerpted from Deepakchopra.com. The 70th birth anniversary of Deepak Chopra will be observed on October 22

My experience is that the teachers we need most are the people we're living with right now.

-Byron Katie Throughout this life, you can never be certain of living long enough to take another breath.

-Huang Po

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Common public as ally in countering terrorism

India Post

N MANOHARAN & ANUMEHA SINGH

T

hanks to Harinder Bains, Ahmad Rahami, the suspect in the New York and New Jersey blasts was recently apprehended by the police. Bains is neither an intelligence agent nor a security official but a common man, who spotted Rahami sleeping in the doorway of his bar in Linden, New Jersey.

He could have moved on ignoring the threat bearer, but took the risk to do his duty as a citizen.

There was a similar incident in India as well recently, when some school children managed to alert the security forces on sighting 56 persons in Pathan suits carrying weapons and backpacks near the Uran Naval Base.

This brings to the fore the important aspect of the common public as an ally in countering terrorism. It is not possible for the state forces to be present everywhere. If 'eternal vigilance' is iden-

abundant - public areas and modes of transport, commercial centers, and people or centers of symbolic and strategic importance such as government buildings and officials, corporate heavyweights, and foreign nationals and embassies - ensuring a more widespread impact of a destructive act.

Overall, an urban landscape facilitates terrorists in realizing their goals: surprise, maximum damage with minimum risk, hyper media attention and subsequent disappearance. The "eyes and ears" scheme followed by police in some Indian metros like New Delhi, Bengaluru, and Mumbai could be made mandatory for all urban areas.

Apart from members of residents' welfare associations, such schemes should include street vendors, rickshaw-pullers, barbers, parking lot attendants, security guards, drivers, cyber cafe owners, property dealers, used car

something."

Similar periodic announcements are made at all Indian airports and railway stations. Citizens could organize themselves into 'neighborhood watch committees' through community consensus mechanisms, based on a genuine concern to prevent future terrorist attacks.

All communities could be coopted in counter-terrorism measures instead of perceiving members of some communities as the "other." On coastal security, the community of Indian fishermen could be made as 'working partners' to keep a constant tab on coastal waters.

For this, the local police should consciously develop 'social assets' by establishing professional and moral superiority over the terrorists, while, at the same time, honoring the rights and liberties of the people even in difficult situations. Most importantly, witness protection laws have to be strengthened; informers have to be safeguarded.

Aw a r e ness creation among people should also i n c l u d e Ahmad Khan Rahami is taken into custody after a shootout with police in Linden, N.J. (Left) 'golden rules' and Harinder Bains (right) to be followed by people in tified as a crucial component of dealers, guesthouse owners and case of a terrorist attack. Training any counter-terrorism strategy, porters. of people in civil defense is imporinvolvement of the civil society is Common public also need to be tant in post-attack scenarios. It has crucial. sensitized on the gravity of the so far not been taken seriously. As Without the eyes, ears and in- threat from terrorism, and on suit- suggested by the 'National Policy tuition of the general public, it is able responses.

Approach Paper on Revamping of difficult to identify terrorists who Strong security consciousness Civil Defense in the Country', civil are anonymous and blend and a sense of situational aware- defense infrastructure should be seamlessly into the environment ness need to be created. Situ- made available in all the districts in which they live and operate, ational awareness in fact should in the country. especially in the urban landscape. be a habit in the interest of perThis demands close coordinaThe need for a vigilant public sonal security of all citizens. tion with the Panchayati Raj Instihas become even more critical in People could contribute as inform- tutions, urban local bodies and India as the phenomenon of ur- ers, witnesses, and rescuers. All pertinent civil society groups. ban terrorism, characterized by its these could, in fact, be made a fun- Making best use of ex-service and diabolical, constant, deadly, un- damental duty under the Indian other retired security personnel predictable and transnational na- Constitution. could be considered in this regard. ture, has taken firm roots. Urban The people have to keep a Every citizen should know the baareas, with a large and densely steady eye on tentative, errant sic tenets of first aid, which in fact populated terrain hold significant behavior, or suspicious move- should be part of school curricuadvantages for terrorists. Unlike ments in their neighborhood or in lum. Such familiarization will not in rural areas, inhabitants in cities public places, and share the infor- only minimize the lethality of terand towns are more heteroge- mation with point persons in the rorist attacks, but also reduce the neous, giving them more space for police and intelligence agencies. consequent panic. anonymity.

For instance, on every New York The authors belong to the DeCities and towns are the nerve City subway train, the message to partment of International Studies centers of a country, and it is here passengers since 9/11 has been and History, Christ University, that targets are most varied and clear: "If you see something, say Bengaluru

Supping with devil

I

t was inevitable that the culture of violence that Pakistani establishments have nurtured ever since Independence would come home to roost. The latest consequence of supping with devil was rammed home this week when three home-grown terrorists attacked a police training centre in Quetta, Pakistan, killing 60 cadets and injuring 118. While sympathies with the suffering families are in order, those outside Pakistan are not surprised with this attack. If there is increasing resistance worldwide to export of terrorism from Pakistan, those thwarted will try out their skills closer home.

Every time there is an attack on Indian territory by Pakistani terrorists, Islamabad disowns them and demands evidence. When evidence is given, it prevaricates and after some time says the evidence has no merit.

All the evidence given for the Mumbai attack and the Pathankot attack has failed to move the Pakistani government. It should now be asked, does it require evidence for the fresh Quetta attack? Reports say the attack was carried out by the banned Lashker-eJhangvi Al-Almi group, an Islamic militant group affiliated with alQaida. But it won't be surprising if Pakistan starts blaming India and its intelligence agency RAW for the attacks. Pakistan lives in this denial mode and lies will ultimately prove very costly for Pakistan.

A civil-military tussle has been growing in Pakistan and matters came to a head after India's surgical strikes on terrorist launching pads in Pakistan occupied Kashmir. According to an expose in Dawn newspaper, the civil leadership complained the military was preventing action being taken against terrorist groups like the Lashkar e Taiba and Jaishe-e- Mohammad who generally target India.

The ISI chief present at the meeting offered to take action against these groups but suggested the present was not the right time to take action against them as it would be construed as bowing under Indian pressure. So that much becomes clear that the Pakistani Army is arming and protecting these terrorists and makes use of them for attacks for which Pakistan can easily issue denials.

That the surgical strikes by India, though denied by Pakistan, have made an impact becomes clear from reports that over 5100 bank accounts of several terror suspects, including Jaish-eMohammad chief Masood Azhar, have been frozen. Another major factor behind this move has been a public warning by the US that it would not hesitate to act alone to "disrupt and destroy terror networks" and their "financing operations" if Islamabad failed to act.

The Quetta terror attack was happening even as Pakistan envoy in India was claiming all holy glory for his country for being peaceful and seeking good relations with its neighbors.

He claimed no one can isolate a proud country of 200 million people. Soon enough there was a report from Pakistan that it will send a top representative to take part in the Heart of Asia conference on Afghanistan to be held in India in December. This was being done to prove to its own citizens that Pakistan was not being isolated.

After the Uri attack by Pakistani terrorists, Pakistan Prime Minister went to town proclaiming that there was no proof that the Uri attackers came from Pakistan. Some in the media suggested that it was a staged attack by Indians themselves to draw attention away from the turmoil in Kashmir.

Now posters circulating in Gujranwala in Punjab province of Pakistan are announcing funeral prayers in absentia for one of the Uri attackers. A special address by JuD chief Hafiz Saeed was also scheduled, a poster said.

When the poster was noticed on social media, it was hastily withdrawn and the prayer meet was postponed. However, not before security expert Ayesha Siddiqa asked for reporters to be sent to the Namaz. A former editor of Dawn commented that though the Namaz had been postponed, the very fact that it was slated proves that Lashkar masterminded the Uri attack.

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