Issuu

Friday, January 01 2016 | Vol. 35, No. 01

Indo ndo American Am erican News

www.indoamerican-news.com Published weekly from Houston, TX

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January 01, 2016

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JANUARY 01, 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

COMMUNITY

January 01, 2016

Voice of Sanatan Hinduism

HOUSTON:

“Voice of Sanatan Hinduism” will be On Air from January 3, 2016 and broadcast every Sunday on Radio Dial 1110 AM KTEK from 12 Noon to 2pm. The first of its kind Hinduism radio program will now be presented with New Energy and New Voices. This will bring to the Greater Houston Community a New Experience in the New Year. Sanatan Hindu Center sponsored Radio

program will be Co-Sponsored by Sri Meenakshi Temple Society and Hindus of Greater Houston. Listeners can tune in every Sunday to Voice of Sanatan Hinduism that will now broadcast at the same station as Music Masala Radio. Starting this New Year, every Sunday this Radio Show will feature interesting quizzes, interactive and enlightening segments to celebrate the beauty of

Hinduism. The highlights include Young-Quest, Festive Time, Music Melody, Dhruv Tara Quizzes, Bhagwad Githa, Temple News, Yoga, Ayurveda, Homeopathy, Sri Meenakshi Temple segment, InQuest of Hinduism, Local Events, and Hindus of Greater Houston’s World Hindu News. Nearly 20 years ago Padmakant Khambhati started the radio program to showcase the doctrines of Hinduism by sharing Vedic knowl-

edge and share it on public media. Thara Narasimhan and Geetha Ravula will host the radio program. Additionally guest hosts Vishwesh Shukla and Sri Ravula will join in to present the program periodically. Rakesh Parikh will provide the technical support for the radio show, website and 24/7 online radio @ www.sanatanhinducenter.org. Listeners can tune in 24 hrs. The Radio show will feature special guest interviews, talk show on matter of importance to Hindu Community as well as interviews of heads of all Hindu temples in the Greater Houston Area. The Radio Show will create an opportunity for Hindu Temples and Organizations in the Greater Houston Area to connect with community at large. The Young-Quest segment will be an interactive platform for various heritage schools in Houston to showcase their program and share their heritage experience. Unique talents like Sloka recitation and Sloka-thon will be presented in this segment. Thara Narasimhan, Secretary to Hindus of Greater Houston and one of the hosts serving Voice of Sanatan Hinduism for more than 10 years stated that “Sanathan Dharma relevance to Music begins from the origins of music that can be traced to “ Sama Veda” , the oldest ancient core of Hindu scriptures. Tune into Voice of Sanatan Hinduism as we bring both the sacred recitation of Vedas and divine music.” Sanatan Hindu Center’s president Kanti Patel said "I am extremely happy to see the Voice of Sanatan Hinduism is moving forward with positive energy and enthusiasm". Geetha Ravula, founder of Ashirwad iLifestyle class and Vedic Fair, who will be joining as new host said “I am excited to join the team to share and celebrate

the beauty of Sanatan Dharma with Greater Houston listeners.” She said “Let’s together enjoy soul soothing melodious songs, learn the significance and science behind heritage practices and get inspired by sharing the stories of phenomenal people who walked the path of Dharma and paved us the way. Let us together walk towards Light in the Light of Sanatan Dharma. “ Kalpavalli Patel, daughter of Late Padmakant Khambhati and Secretary to Sanatan Hindu Center gave a statement that “Voice of Sanatan Hinduism Radio Program, the only program since 1993 has endeavored to present Vedic Dharma in Houston. This was Padmakant Khambhati's passion and vision to present Sanatan Hinduism. His courage and convictions made it possible to have this type of program available to the people and youth of our current times. We are continuing his lifelong passion and dream.” The radio show is supported by sponsors, donors and heritage lovers. Donations are tax deductible and can be made online on website. Sanatan Hindu Center endeavors to improve the program with your suggestions, participation and serve to the interest of all age groups. Please contact via email: hinduismradio@gmail.com. Donations can also be sent to Sanatan Hindu Center, 603 Doscher Lane, Sugarland, Texas 77479. The Sanatan Hindu Center also provides Funeral services in Hindu Traditions. Currently Sanatan Hindu Center President is Kanti Patel, its Secretary is Kalpavalli Patel and Rakesh Parikh is the Treasurer. “Dharmo Rakshathi Rakshithah.” “When we protect Dharma, Dharma will protect us". For further details see ad on Page 28

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JANUARY 01, 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

January 01, 2016

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JANUARY 01, 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

COMMUNITY

January 01, 2016

TCC Taped Ball Tournament Fall 2015

Chief Guest Pramod Kulkarni felicitated by TCC

Fall 2015 Winners Cougars with Chief Guest Pramod Kulkarni

Fall 2015 Runners up RCC with Chief Guest Pramod Kulkarni

HOUSTON:

Cougars Cricket Club won the TCC Taped Ball Fall 2015 tournament defeating Rockers Cricket Club (RCC) by 38 runs. It was a well-deserved win for Cougars who are now winners of three of the last seven tournaments. They came back strongly with 8 wins in the last 9 matches after a quiet start in the tournament. RCC had a great tournament reaching finals for the first time since winning the trophy in 2010. The tournament was a highly competitive one featuring 22 participating teams and stretched to nearly 6 months with knockouts rescheduled 3-4 times due to regular rains. On a beautiful Saturday morning with overcast conditions, Cougars won the toss and opted to bat first. Conditions favored the bowlers but Cougars top order batted sensibly scoring consistently at over 5 runs per over and keeping wickets in hand. RCC got the first breakthrough with key wicket of Ashwin who scored 20 runs at a quick

pace. The next batsmen Swaroop kept the momentum going scoring a well-made run a ball 25 as RCC bowlers led by Manju bowled tight lines ensuring Cougars did not take the game away and had to work hard for their runs. Cougars scored 53-1 in first 10 overs and with help of important contributions from Shailesh (23), Chaitanya (20) and a six ball 12 from Rajesh made 123 7 in 20 overs. Praveen was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets along with Manju who continued his good form with spell of 4-013-2. Cougars had the momentum at the break as they scored 14 runs of the 20th over Against a very strong bowling lineup, RCC got off to a poor start losing both the openers within first 4 overs with Abhishek and Saravana each taking one wicket restricting them to 11-2 in 4 overs which soon became 19-3 in 6 overs when Subbu took a one handed caught and bowled. RCC scored 42-3 at the end of 10 overs. In the second half, Cougars bowlers kept taking

regular wickets to ensure RCC didn’t get any chance to fight back with Rajesh and Rahil controlling the overs with 3 and 2 wickets respectively. Sreejayan fought a lone battle scoring 42 runs as RCC reached 90-9 in 18 overs when heavy rain stopped the

match and Cougars were declared the winners to start wild celebrations amongst the team. The game had high quality umpiring from Jagadish from TCC and Myron. The game was followed by a well-organized prize distribution ceremony arranged by TCC with Pramod Kulkarni from Indo American News gracing the occasion as chief guest. He was felicitated by TCC President Nanda Kumar with a plaque from TCC for his contribution and support to cricket in Houston. Jagadish Biradar, organizer for TCC Taped Ball tournament coordinated the presentation ceremony. Ashwin Tandon, the captain of Cougars Cricket Club was presented with the championship trophy and Keyur Shah, the captain of RCC was presented with

the runners up trophy. The players of the winners and runners up received individual trophies. Man of the match for the finals was Rajesh Pant from Cougars for his all-round performance taking 3 wickets, 2 catches and scoring a crucial 12 runs of 6 balls in 20th over. Aditya from Rattlers won the Best Batsman trophy with 301 runs as well as best all-rounder trophy for 301 runs and 14 wickets. Abhishek Mundada from Cougars won the Best Bowler trophy with 22 wickets. Trophies were also given to the man of the match for Semi Finals. Abhishek from Cougars and Keyur from RCC were the recipients of the man of the match for Semi Finals. Kiran from ECC and Vinay Padala from MBCC were given special awards for taking hattrick during the league games.

Indo American News (ISSN 887-5936) is published weekly every Friday (for a subscription of $40 per year) by IndoAmerican News Inc., 7457 Harwin Dr., Suite 262, Houston, TX 77036., tel: 713-789-6397, fax:713-789-6399, email: indoamericannews@yahoo.com. Periodical postage paid at Houston, Texas. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to Indo American News,7457 Harwin Dr., Suite 262, Houston, TX 77036 INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JANUARY 01, 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

January 01, 2016

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January 01, 2016

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COMMUNITY

January 01, 2016

ICC and India House Houston Partnership: A Vision and a Hope BY LACHHMAN DAS ICC TRUSTEE AND INDIA HOUSE BOARD MEMBER

HOUSTON: India Culture Center (ICC)

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and India House (IH) are two of the most unique Indo-American community organizations in the Metropolitan Houston Area that represent all of India. As most Houstonians know, establishing an Indo-American Community Center had been one of the major goals of ICC, enshrined in its constitution since 1973. After many years of ups and downs, the land on which the current India House stands was purchased in 2000. But, due to ICC’s several other activities and due to practical/economic reasons, an independent organization, had to be formed in July 2002 for the express goal of building the India House Building. Once this was done, ICC transferred the land title to IHI in July 2003and the two organizations started working together on the new Project. On January 26, 2005, a joint function of India House groundbreaking and 55th anniversary of India’s Republic Day was held. However, to continue this coordination consistently, certain transition issues still needed to be worked out. All these issues were eventually resolved amicably and a final Agreement was signed between the two organizations in 2011. Since then, the two have been working hard to forge a solid partnership, resulting in the following outcomes: •ICC now has an office and holds its meetings at India House. •The Annual Diwali functions are now being held jointly, most recently on November 1, 2015. •IHI is now one of the Partnering Organizations of ICC. •IHI leaders actively support ICC’s major functions. Likewise, ICC leaders also actively support the IHI events such as Annual Gala, Flag Hoisting Ceremony on India’s Independence Day, Hosting the visits of dignitaries, etc... •ICC always provides a free booth to IHI during its signature events. •Several of the IHI leaders have received ICC’s Community Service Awards. •Space permitting, almost all of the ICC functions are now held at India House. •For the present, ICC’s two annual signature events—cannot be held at India House

due to the unavailability of large indoor area. However, as India House’s future expansion plans materialize, these two functions will also shift to India House. The eventual goals of the two organizations should be as follows: •ICC should hold all its functions and conduct all its activities at India House. •ICC and IHI leadership should actively support each other’s functions, both physically and financially... •All the Board and Council Members of India House, Inc. should also become paying members of ICC. Likewise, all the ICC Board Members and Trustees should aim to become IHI’s Council Members, and Board Members, if possible. •Both organizations should cosponsor as many community events as possible... •Both the organizations should be in the forefront in coordinating responses to major disasters locally and internationally. The money collected by individual organization should not be advertised as individual contributions, but collective community contributions. •Although it appears far-fetched at this time, it is not hard to imagine and accept that ICC’s soul lives in the body of the India House Building. Perhaps, due to the realization of this concept of the spirit of cooperation and understanding, some of the leaders in both the organizations have privately expressed their wishful desires that the two organizations should ultimately merge.

WRITERS ... TAKE NOTICE Writers are requested to limit their words to 500. The deadline for advertising and articles is 5 pm on Tuesday of each week. For more information, Call 713-789- NEWS (6397) or email

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INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JANUARY 01, 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

COMMUNITY

January 01, 2016

The Principles of Leadership

BY VISWAJITH KUMAR

HOUSTON: Leadership is a qual-

ity that is an essential part of our society. From all corners of the globe, leadership is the main driver behind the next innovative ideas and solutions to today’s problems. While leadership is important, in order to cultivate better leaders for the coming generations, we must ask ourselves: what determines good leadership? What does one need in order to be a successful and proficient leader

rather than just a mediocre one? These questions were some of the many brought up during the thought-provoking discussion the students of YLDP had with Dr. Latha Ramchand, Dean and Professor of Finance at the C. T. Bauer College of Business at the University of Houston. On December 12, the students of YLDP were honored to have Dr. Ramchand speak to us about her views on leadership and the qualities that shape individuals

into robust leaders for the future. Dr. Ramchand elucidated the students with fascinating stories and examples of unique forms of leadership. She recounted the experiences of her grandmother’s hardships growing up in India surrounded by abject poverty and the qualities her grandmother possessed to lead her family out of poverty into a life of successes. Furthermore, Dr. Ramchand discussed her own struggles as a leader in America and the adversi-

ty she had to overcome to obtain the success she has achieved. From the many inspiring accounts of leadership Dr. Ramchand shared with us, one message was clear: people are not born as leaders rather they are made into leaders. Leadership is not an inherent trait that humans possess. The experiences of individuals and adversity they overcome are a few of the many things that mold people into

strong leaders. Good leadership is a quality that everyone can inhibit but only through hard work, determination, and perseverance can we achieve this trait. Moreover, it is one’s job as a leader to extend a sense of empathy to others no matter what attitude others extend back. Attributes like this are what distinguish individuals like Dr. Ramchand and her grandmother as outstanding leaders and role models for the future generations of leaders.

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COMMUNITY

January 01, 2016

Interfaith Ministers Visit JVB Preksha Meditation Center

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For Any Ceremony Contact Pradip Pandya 832 466 9868 Email: pradippandya2000@yahoo.com

Interfaith Ministers attending Samani Parimal Pragyaji Pravachan

Conversing with Senior class of JVB Gyanshala.

Interfaith Ministers at JVB Preksha Center

BY SEEMA JAIN

HOUSTON: Under the auspi-

cious presence of Samani Parimal Pragyaji and Samani Maryada Pragyaji, Interfaith Ministers visited JVB Preksha Meditation Center on Sunday, December 13. This was the first such visit of Director Rev. Gregory Han along with his executive committee members Matt Kahn, Carey Reagan and Alison Smith to JVB Center. Their mission is to bring people of diverse faith traditions together for dialogue, collaboration and service, as a demonstration of shared beliefs which blends effectively with JVB's vision of service to the community irrespective of their religious beliefs. The Chairman, Swatantra jain

along with the President, Seema Jain welcomed them inside the building. After exchanging pleasantries, they started their tour of the center by visiting the Temple located inside the building. They admired the statue of Lord Mahavir & carvings around the statue which is all made of white marble. In reply to their quest, the significance of the idol of Lord Mahavir and his teachings was beautifully explained to them by the Chairman. They interacted with four different groups of JVB Gyanshala program from ages 4-14 yrs in their classrooms. All the kids greeted them by saying "Jai Jinendera" which is the jain way of greeting each other. They were impressed by the enthusiasm of the teachers and the kids alike and the calm and well kept surroundings.

All the ministers attended and participated briefly in Samani Parimal Pragya Ji’s Sunday discourse on 11th Paap “Raag”, as a part of a series describing and characterizing 18 sins and their impact on our daily lives inside the Pyramid Hall which is a hallmark of Preksha Center's building. Reverend Gregory Han informally addressed the gathering with his short speech and acknowledged the warm hospitality of JVB Community. Youth Initiatives Manager, Carey Reagan showed the keen interest to bring their House of Worship Tour to the JVB Center which was a gracious compliment in pursuit of introducing many more Houstonians to the peaceful and kind Jains and their mission. The JVB Preksha Meditation Center envisions a blissful and peaceful society through Yoga, Preksha Meditation and Education of Non-violence. It conducts weekly Mediation, Yoga and Swadhyay sessions and runs special events and programs like iChoose & Meditation Camps. Its open to all and every session or event is free of charge to its attendees.

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12 January 01, 2016

Major Events of 2015

BY VIJI ATHREYE

Political:

1. NITI Aayog: The Union Government of India announced formation of NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India Aayog) on 1 January 2015 to replace Planning Commission. 2. Aam Aadmi Party Rules Delhi: In February polling for New Delhi state elections were held which saw Aam Aadmi Party wiining with 67 seats out of 70. 3. Nitish, New CM of Bihar : The Legislative Assembly election was held over five-phases in

Bihar through October–November 2015. This election saw highest voter turnout in Bihar assembly polls and the choice of the people was evident with RJD emerging as the single largest party with 80 seats. 4. Amravati, the New Capital of Andhra Pradesh: The Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation of Amravathi, a worldclass riverfront capital city on the 23nd October. Governors E S L Narashiman and K Rosaiah, CMs N Chandrababu Naidu and K Chandrasekhara Rao accompanied the PM.

5. Hardik Patel Agitation: Hardik Patel, an Indian political activist, campaigned for the inclusion of the Patidar caste in the Other Backward Class category in order to qualify for reserved quotas in education and government jobs.

Economic:

1. Budget 2015: This time the budget included plans for schemes like Safe India with 100 crores into the Nirbhaya Fund, Skill India to increase the employability of the youth especially in the rural areas and Green India where the Govern-

ment is aiming at increasing the usage of renewable energy and to regulate and streamline the various sectors of infrastructure. 2. Give it Up Campaign: Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan, urged the rich people to give up the LPG subsidy in this campaign. 3. Prime Minister’s Schemes: Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched 3 large-scale social security schemes, Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana, and Atal Pension Yojana which will be beneficial to the lower middle class and the population falling under BPL. The Prime Minister also launched the Digital India programme in May this year to allow transparency to the common man. 4. AIIB: The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is a proposed international financial institution which is focused on supporting infrastructure construction in the Asia-Pacific region. India signed the legal framework of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and pledged US$8.3 billion towards it. 5. Mudra Bank Launched: Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Mudra (Micro Unit Development and Refinance Agency) Bank on 9th April, 2015. The bank aims to provide employment opportunities as well as financing with the help of loans to small and vulnerable sections of the businesses.

INDIA

6. Bandhan: Indian microfinance company Bandhan Financial Services launched banking operations in India on 28th August. The bank aims at making banking more accessible to its rural population. Bandhan will have 500-600 bank branches and 10 million customers in the initial phase. Bandhan will make a initial public offering by 2018. 7. IDFC Bank: Infrastructure financier IDFC, received a universal banking licence from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in 2014 and started the banking operations in India from October 1st.

Health and Environment:

1. Swine Flu: In February, India saw the re-emergence of swine flu which took a toll of 585, with Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra being the worstaffected. 2. Dengue: The number of dengue cases in Delhi has mounted to a staggering 10,683, making it the worst outbreak of the vector-borne disease in the national capital since 1996. Till now dengue has claimed 41 lives in India. 3. Earthquake: A massive earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Ritcher Scale hit Nepal in April, and parts of North India was also affected by the same. 4. Killer Landslide buries Village: Incessant rainfall in Manipur saw a devastating landslide on the 1st of August which buried an en-

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JANUARY 01, 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

CONTINUED ON PAGE

INDIA

January 01, 2016

Major Events of 2015 CONTINUED FROM PAGE

tire village, killing 20 people. 3. Green Highway: The government has launched the Green Highways policy that includes a roadway design integrating the functionalities of transport and ecological sustainability.

Science and Technology:

1. Digital India: Prime Minister Modi has launched the Digital India programme in July, which will ensure transparency as also the fact that Government services are made available to citizens electronically by improving online infrastructure and by increasing Internet connectivity. 2. Launches: India took a step forward into the future with the launching and test firing of Agni V, Beyond visual range (BVR) air-to-air missile, Astra, GSAT-6 using the GSLV D-6 launch vehicle, and placed Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) 1-D satellite in orbit by a PSLV C-27 launch vehicle. National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) unveiled Polar Remotely Operated Vehicle (PROVe), which would be used to study the monsoon. 3. The RuPay pre-paid card service: The rail ministry launched a new debit card service for ticket bookings by passengers on the 24th of March. The RuPay card service has been developed by Indian Railways Tourism and Catering (IRCTC) in collaboration with the Union Bank of India (UBI) and the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and will initially be used to buy tickets. Later the card can also be used for facilities like shopping and bill payment. 4. The 10th edition of Aero India took place at Yelahanka Air Force Station near Bangalore.

deal. The most watched moment of the Modi-Obama relationship came at tea-time on the second day, as Modi poured tea for the US president with a smile playing on both the world leaders’ face. 2. The Yemen Crisis: In March this year India began evacuating Indian citizens from Yemen after a civil war broke out in the nation. By April 4,640 Indians and 960 nationals from 41 other countries were evacuated. 3. The Third India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS-III): The IAFS-III was held in New Delhi, India from 26–30 October 2015. The five-day summit was attended by the head of states/governments. This summit was India’s biggest diplomatic outreach involving delegates from a large number of African nations.

Awards

1. Bharat Ratna: This year the most prestigious civilian award was bestowed upon the erstwhile Prime Minister Atal Bi-

hari Vajpayee and the freedom fighter Late Madan Mohan Malaviya. 2: The Padma awards: This yearamong the 50 recepients of the award were actor Amitabh Bachchan, actor Dilip Kumar, nuclear scientist M.R. Srinivasan, mathematician Manjul Bhargava, computer scientist Vijay P. Bhatkar, Hindu spiritual guru Swami Satyamitranand and Aga Khan. 3: Returning Awards: Many famous and not so famous literary personalities and artists started returning their awards in protest of the murder of literary personalities including M.M. Kalburgi, Govind Pansare and Narendra Dhabholkar who voiced their opinions against the superstitions in India. Later this protest in the form of returning awards also included the lynching of a man in Dadri on the assumption of eating beef.

The End of an Era

APJ Abdul Kalam Dies: India’s 11th President APJ Abdul Kalam died on 27th

July at a hospital in Meghalaya, where he had gone to deliver a lecture at the age of 83. He was delivering a lecture at the Indian Institute of Management in Shillong when he collapsed and suffered cardiac arrest. They Gave Their Today for Our Tomorrow The year 2015 saw many jawans and officers laying their life for the country. Maj Dhruv, Col Mahadik, Capt Ashwani Kumar, Nk Tariq Ahmad Lone, Nk Waseem Ahmad Lone, Lance Naik Govind Singh, are just a few of the names who have made the supreme sacrifice this year, leaving behind families for the sake of their nation. We at MyIndia salute these bravehearts. 2015 is well on its way out, but things look bright for India and we hope that 2016 will bring an overall success, development, and advancement of the nation -mapsofindia.com

Sports

1. Saina Nehawal Numero Uno in the World: Saina Nehwal created history on 28th March as she became the first Indian woman badminton player to attain the world number one ranking . She won the spot after she beat her closest challenger, Spain’s Carolina Marin, in the India Open Super Series semi-final in New Delhi. 2. IPL 2015: The eight edition of the Indian Premier League was inaugurated on 7th April, 2015 at the the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata. With the Kolkata Knight Riders were the defending champions having won the title in the 2014 season, there were 8 teams participating in the tournament. The IPL 8 saw Mumbai Indians as the winners on 24th May, defeating Chennai Super Kings in the finals at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. 3. ICC World Cup: This year the 11th Cricket World Cup was jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand. 4. First International Yoga Day: The UN declared 21st June as the International Yoga Day this year. The first International Yoga Day was celebrated the world over on the 21st of June, 2015. Prime Minister Narendra Modi specifically selected this date as it is the day of Summer Solstice (the beginning of the transitional phase to Dakshinayana), the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.

A Step towards Peace

1. Obama Visits India: The year started well for India in the global front with Barrack Obama visiting India during the 66th Republic Day celebrations on 26th January. India and the U.S. achieved a breakthrough on operationalisation of the civil nuclear INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JANUARY 01, 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

14 January 01, 2016

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REWIND 2015

January 01, 2016

These are Bollywood’s 16 Highest Paid Actors in 2015 Anushka Sharma:

BY SNEHA MAHADEVAN

NEW DELHI: With 2015 coming to an end,

Actor Anushka Sharma ended 2014 with the blockbuster PK and followed it up with the hard-hitting NH-10 in March 2015. Rs 6-8 cr per ﬁlm

the only word that can best describe the year gone by, in terms of box office business, is ‘unpredictable’. While some of the most anticipated, big-budget films haven’t managed to live up to expectations, there have been surprises in terms of small, content driven films faring very well at the box-office.These are Bollywood’s 16 highest paid actors in 2015

Priyanka Chopra:

Priyanka Chopra changed the face of the game when she announced that she had inked a deal with American Studio ABC for her new show, Quantico. Rs 7 cr per ﬁlm

Ranbir Kapoor:

Akshay Kumar:

After the disastrous Roy, all eyes were on Ranbir Kapoor to pack a punch with Bombay Velvet, but it also ﬂopped He’s ranked 30th on the Forbes list with Rs 99 crore. Rs 20-25 cr per ﬁlm

He ranks 9th on the list with approx Rs 2,152 crore in annual earnings as per Forbes list of the World’s Highest Paid Actors. Rs 35-40 cr per ﬁlm

Deepika Padukone:

Deepika Padukone’s golden phase continues with the audience lapping up her latest release, Bajirao Mastani. Rs 8 cr per ﬁlm

Ranveer Singh:

Ranveer Singh played two diametrically different characters in 2015. Rs 10 cr per ﬁlm

Varun Dhawan:

The actor took everyone by surprise with a dark and different version of himself in Badlapur this year. The serious image got him great feedback. Rs 3-5 cr per ﬁlm

Shah Rukh Khan:

Describing Shah Rukh Khan as “India’s

Amitabh Bachahan:

Leonardo DiCaprio”, Forbes ranked him 18th on the list with earnings of approx Rs 1,720 crore. Rs 40-45 cr per ﬁlm

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan:

The fact that former beauty queen Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was making her comeback to ﬁlms with Jazbaa was enough to send fans into a tizzy. Rs 5-7 cr per ﬁlm

Salman Khan:

The actor reportedly made approx Rs 2,217 crore as per The Forbes’s ranking of the ‘World’s Highest-Paid Actors’. Rs 40-50 cr per ﬁlm

Kangana Ranaut:

Reportedly, she got a staggering Rs 11 crore as remuneration for one of her upcoming films. Though her last release Katti Batti flopped, she continues to rule the box office. Rs 10-12 cr per film

Ajay Devgn:

Ajay Devgn has had just one release this year in Drishyam, but with just that one ﬁlm, he managed to rake in the moolah. Rs 35-40 cr per ﬁlm

Kareena Kapoor Khan:

Like her husband Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor Khan, too, had just one release in 2015, Bajrangi Bhaijaan, opposite Salman Khan. Rs 8 cr per ﬁlm

At 73, the actor’s portrayal of a Bengali character in Piku won a lot of hearts along with accolades. He shared the spot with Salman Khan on the Forbes list with Rs 2,217 crore. Rs 20 cr per ﬁlm

Aamir Khan:

The revenues from PK and brand endorsements helped the actor rake in the moolah this year. Despite having no release in 2015. Rs 40-45 cr per ﬁlm

Sonam Kapoor:

Sonam Kapoor played a con artist in Dolly Ki Doli that released towards the beginning of this year. Rs 5 cr per ﬁlm -HindustanTimes

INDO AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, JANUARY 01, 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM

18 January 01, 2016 Better to be Realistic

The Paris terrorist attacks, which killed at least 129 people,

have raised the global threat perception of the Islamic State (Isis) or Daesh, which has claimed responsibility for the attacks, and apprehensions of similar acts on Indian soil. Such fears have been around for over a year and a half, particularly since this group captured the Islamist extremist imagination and world attention by the seizure of Mosul in June 2014, and with atrocities that its own publicity cell documented in detail, slickly packaged, and projected globally through the Internet. It is a remarkably complacent remark from Union home minister Rajnath Singh. He has said that India has no threat from the terror organisation Islamic State (IS) and that Indian values will prevent people, particularly young Muslims, from drifting towards it. This is in direct variance with the National Intelligence Agency chief’s statement that the IS is a major threat and the youth are being radicalized, especially in the south. Mr Singh should take a look at the profiles and geographical locations of young people who have either joined or tried to join the IS. In the West, young men and women from seemingly secure backgrounds have proved easy pickings for the terror outfit, which has aggressively used social media to attract jihadists. In recent times, the IS spokesmen have talked about how India is a target and to incorporate it into the caliphate. The threat of radicalisation needs to be taken seriously. Recently a top police officer spoke of how Muslim youth have been targeted unfairly by security and law enforcement agencies. This has led to alienation and in some cases radicalisation. Recently, three young people were apprehended, two of them for the second time, while trying to go to join the IS. With a large young and poor population, India is a fertile recruiting ground for terror groups like the IS. Many youth may not even subscribe to the IS ideology but will see this in purely mercenary terms in a situation where jobs are hard to come by at home. The first thing that must be done is to accept that this is a threat and one that will grow. The State must intervene and address grievances, especially that of jobs and education, instead of burying its head in the sand. Mr Singh does not take into account the power of social media and the propaganda machine of the IS. For someone with no hope for the future, both the prospect of easy money and that of rewards in the hereafter are attractive. Concerted efforts should be made to identify vulnerable sections of the population and ensure that they are made to realise the perils of joining such organisations. For most young people who have joined the IS from across the world, there have been no happy endings. Some have been killed either in air strikes or by the IS itself, others have simply disappeared. The home minister must lead the way in the battle against the IS and for the hearts and minds of young Muslims and others who may be misled by the pernicious IS propaganda. HT

EDITORIAL/COMMENTARY

2016 Resolutions for Our Netas BY RAJDEEP DESAI

It’s that time of the year: The bells

are ringing and carols are being sung. Since this is my last column of 2015, maybe it’s time to look ahead to a New Year with our netas’ resolutions for 2016, without malice but with a bit of fun Narendra Modi: I promise in 2016 to travel to all the agrarian distress districts of this country instead of being an overseas frequent flier. This doesn’t mean I won’t meet Barack, Angela, Vladimir or David, just that I have realized my votes lie in the heat and dust of India and not with NRIs who feverishly chant ‘Modi, Modi’. Maybe one day the kisan will relish taking selfies with me, and we could have a farmer’s sammelan where I can share my ‘Mann ki baat’, not just on AIR, but on every available media platform, including Facebook and Twitter (I am sure Mark, I mean Mr Zuckerburg, would like to know more about rural India). Rahul Gandhi: I promise in 2016 not to sneak off on long holidays without informing even my party leaders. I will, of course, inform my mother and sister and brother-in law, but then family does come first always for us Gandhis. I will find out the dates of the budget session in advance this time so that my meditation break doesn’t coincide with Parliament. And yes, I intend to solve my identity crisis: Should I be clean shaven, or keep the beard. Sonia Gandhi: In 2016, I intend to ensure that Rahul takes over as Congress president: I am already the longest-serving Congress president and it’s time for my son to become a man at last. And if he doesn’t agree, I will turn to my inner voice and just step aside. And yes, if that pesky Subramanian Swamy continues to harass us in courts, I will just have to remind him once again: I am the bahu of Indira and no judge can take that special status away from me. Arun Jaitley: In 2016, I have decided to give up all other posts, and focus on what is my core func-

tion: Managing the finances of the country. So, no more blogging, no amateur psephology, no being party spokesperson in a crisis, no legal advice, no media management: In effect, I will cease to be the Kapil Dev of national politics. And yes, I will ensure my love for cricket doesn’t extend to the Ferozeshah Kotla: The wicket there can no longer be trusted. Arvind Kejriwal: In 2016, I will finally get down to doing what I was elected for a year ago: Governing the national capital. I will stop picking a fight with everyone from the Prime Minister to the L-G to the Delhi police chief to the CBI and the media. Yes, I will fight pollution even if it means creating complete chaos in the city with my odd-even car scheme. My motto is the same: “A headline a day keeps the AAP at play!” LK Advani: I am at an age where it is considered wise not to make too many resolutions, but I resolve to stay in public life. Retirement is for those who have given up on personal ambitions. I don’t know what a “margdarshak mandal” is; I am, after all, the eternal yatri. And don’t forget, the next presidential election is in 2017, just in time for my 90th birthday. Now, wouldn’t a home in Rashtrapati Bhavan be a nice present? Mamata Banerjee: In 2016, I vow to come back to power in Bengal. If the Left could ruin Bengal over 30 years, surely I deserve a chance to do my best in 10 years? If Kejriwal thinks he is the Aam Aadmi, I am the Aam Aurat, which is why I am the only chief minister who joins street protests against my own government. We Bengalis love our bandhs, you

see! Jayalalithaa: I have also resolved to return to power in Tamil Nadu in 2016. No, I will not step out of Poes Garden to meet the flood-affected because you can’t expect me to jump over the potholes and puddles. But I will campaign from a specially designed luxury bus: One wave from Amma will be enough for the people to forget all their water woes. Uddhav Thackeray: In 2016, I am making it very clear that no Pakistani will be allowed to visit Mumbai. We are planning to have a Shiv Sainik in every passport office in the country to check foreign visas. If anyone attempts to aid a Pakistani in getting a visa, they are being put on notice: We have a black ink factory in Dadar with a special spray (of course, we will ensure the TV cameras arrive in time to witness the blackening!). Lalu Prasad: In 2016, I hope to complete my family album by sending Rabri Devi to the Rajya Sabha and my daughter Misa Bharti to the Vidhan Parishad. My sons will stay as ministers but they will report to me every evening. The law may have stopped me from contesting elections, but is there any law in this country that prohibits remote control? Mulayam Singh: In 2016, I have decided that I will finally let Akhilesh run the UP government. Did you see what a grand party he had for my birthday in Saifai? I don’t think even his one-time ‘uncle’ Amar Singh could have managed to get so many stars to come to a remote UP village. He has proven that he has what it takes to be a true Samajwadi. Mohan Bhagwat: In 2016, I hope to realise the RSS dream of a Hindu Rashtra. And if the pseudosecular types don’t like it, they can always return their awards. Not to me, but to Anupam Kher. Since New Year resolutions are made to be broken, let’s be ready for another exciting, unpredictable year in Indian politics. HT Rajdeep Sardesai is an author and a senior journalist . The views expressed are personal.

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HEALTH

January 01, 2016

Have You Heard of Reiki Treated Foods?

BY KALPANA SHARMA

It is a scientiﬁcally proven fact that

our food choices affect our health. And if we take a good look at our food choices today, we will realize that what we are eating today is devoid of nutrients and ﬁlled with empty calories. Think of adulterated food items, chemically infested foods and more. TOI Health spoke to Vinay Garg, Reiki food expert, Director of Neelvow Corporation Pvt Ltd to know how Reiki can cleanse the food we eat! What is wrong with the food we are eating? There have been proven research which shows, type of food we eat does affect our mood; For example, quince, dates and elderberries are mood enhancers, lettuce and chicory as tranquilizers, and apples, pomegranates, beef and eggs as erotic stimulants etc. As modern lifestyles create new health challenges, maintaining or improving health and wellness has become a well established priority in many people's lives. The old saying, we are what we eat, is true. Every cell in our body was created from

the food we eat, the water we drink and the air we breathe. In addition to nourishing our bodies, food also affects the quality of our lives, our appearance, moods, weight, energy, the aging process and our overall health and well-being. Usually we ignore the importance of food in our life. Neelvow has for the ﬁrst time in India introduced Environmental Energy Food products for positive life performance enhancing the vital force of our body resulting in positive state of mind, rejuvenation, vigor and health of the mankind in the society. Neelvow's sugar and salt are prepared with Reiki Food Therapy. It is a Japanese technique to promote healing. It is different than electricity or chemical energy or other kinds of physical energy. What are the foods that can help us balance and harmonize emotions and how? Food is essential for a human body to survive and I have mentioned earlier too that food we eat does affect our mood. But you must have heard when a mother cooks food with love and care for her children it is reﬂected in the food and the child remains healthy eating this food. In the same way, the food that we eat can be energized

through various energies. It is proven that most of the chronic diseases today can be drastically reduced with better nutrition and lifestyle changes. But what we are eating today is actually taking away from our heath. Neelvow has come up with the concept of Energised food, which can help a person to balance and harmonize their emotions by aligning 7 chakras in a row and be increasing optimism in a person. The food products, like salt and sugar are charged with four environmental energies namely- Reiki, Pyramid, Music and Quartz Crystals. These products energize human body by ﬂowing through energy pathways, soothing the nerves and calming the mind. It is the outcome of extensive research in the ﬁeld of health and innovation in alternative sciences. Here Music and Quartz Crystal synchronizes with the seven chakras for self healing and brings about balance and wellness in a person making them more joyful, social and aligns one to his creative self. Any eating practice that people can incorporate in their lifestyle? There are few practices people can opt for to avoid anger, anxiety etc; like as: - One should not eat heavy food at night and eat at least 3 hour before bedtime - Skipping breakfast can lead to high anxiety and keep you irritated whole day - Chewing slowly helps you digest food easily and keep your immune system strong, which helps in increasing optimism in your thinking - It is said the person who is making the food should be happy and should be calm. It is believed that the cook's good mood and positivity is transferred to the food you eat. What keeps the heart happy? Living life with positivity, seeing every situation with optimism will surely help you to lead a positive and happy life. And this will surely keep your heart strong. -TimesofIndia

Advantages of Deep Breathing Exercises BY TRINA REMEDIOS

Deep breathing exercises can improve your health and this simple exercise is must in especially when you boggled down with stressful factors. When you feel the burden of life's problems on your shoulder, simple deep breathing can provide relief. So next time you are irritated at work, take a deep breath. Let's take a look at the various other advantages of deep breathing.

Reduce stress: Deep breathing exercises can reduce stress levels, reduce panic and fear and helps you think clearly. Deep breath stimulates parasympathetic nervous

system which slows down the heart rate. Apparently breathing can lower high blood pressure too.

Detoxiﬁes the body: Deep breathing cleanses the blood, pumps the blood to all parts of the body, and

flushes the toxins from your body. Builds lung muscles: Deep breathing exercises strengthens the lung muscles and improves the supply of oxygen to your body. Due to our lifestyle we generally inhale less oxygen, hence deep breathing assures you get sufficient oxygen. Lack of oxygen is also responsible for tiredness and lack of alertness. How to do a simple deep breathing exercise? Sit crossed legged on the chair or the floor and place your hands on the knees. Tighten your stomach and exhale slowly. Inhale slowly filling your chest and stomach. -TimesofIndia

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SOUTH ASIA

Modi’s Detour to Lahore May Well Redeﬁne Future India-Pakistan Engagement

BY INDRANI BAGCHI

NEW DELHI :When Prime Minis-

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ter Narendra Modi landed in Lahore to wish Nawaz Sharif on his birthday, in effect, he restored a process started in May 2014 but derailed in August when his government cancelled the foreign secretary-level talks with Pakistan over its high commissioner's meeting with the Hurriyat. After a year when mis-steps characterized his Pakistan policy, the PM appears to be ﬁnally taking control of his neighbourhood initiatives. But for many who have followed the twists and turns of the past year, a legitimate question is, what is Modi government's Pakistan policy? Honestly, it's not very different from the policy followed by his predecessors -- engagement with Pakistan, while trying to stop terrorism emanating from there, sponsored or supported by elements of the Pakistani establishment. A difference is a determined

effort to increase options with some active diplomacy with Gulf states and tougher responses to cross-border firing. With Modi, the original vision was of building a regional policy with Pakistan as one of the elements. For almost a decade before, former PM Manmohan Singh, despite holding a similar vision could barely proceed with neighbours, let alone Pakistan. This was a decade when Pakistansponsored terrorists conducted some of their most horrific attacks in Indian cities. The official dialogue stopped and started and stopped again - it was only by 2012-2013 that India began to gather some of the tools to deter Pakistan. After the initial gesture of inviting his neighbours to his swearing-in, Modi moved quickly on Bangladesh, which remains the most successful bilateral relationship in this region. With Sri Lanka too, Modi's visit and a new government there helped to turn around a deteriorating relationship with a crucial island neighbour.

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Another island neighbour, Maldives, remains a problem, while in Nepal, India is part of a very messy situation. Pakistan was a clear negative. After the foreign secretary-level talks' fiasco, India tried again in March and then in Ufa which ended up an unmitigated disaster. The personal initiative taken by Modi in Paris, Bangkok and now Lahore is very much a part of his style of diplomacy - Modi is his own best diplomat and problem-solver. Just like Vajpayee over a decade ago, Modi has maneuvered himself into a sweet spot. His "chai at Raiwind" was also intended to do something else - make such interactions between Indian and Pakistani leaders ordinary and de-mystified, not massive mediadriven events where governments lose control of the plot. As one official observed, "We want to move out of Page 1 to Page 21." On the optics, his Lahore initiative cannot be faulted, despite the Congress party's protestations. Internationally, India is back in the peacemaking saddle. If things go well from here on, Modi can take the credit for breaking the logjam created by his aides. If they go south, Modi will have given himself the space, politically and internationally, to take tough steps against Pakistan. Most important, India has begun to talk to the party that matters in Pakistan - the Army, after the NSA talks between Ajit Doval and Nasir Janjua took off in December. This will serve as back and front channel to Pakistan in the Modi years, dealing exclusively with terrorism and its manifestations, including confidence-building. -TimesofIndia

ABUL: Pakistan’s powerful army chief General Raheel Sharif on Sunday arrived in Kabul to hold talks with the Afghan leadership on security issues, including reviving stalled peace talks with the Taliban. General Sharif will meet Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and other civil as well as military leaders during day-long trip.

Army spokesman Lt Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa said Gen Sharif had gone to Kabul “with all the sincerity and optimism for better border management and peace process in Afghanistan.” His visit takes place after Ghani visited Islamabad this month for Heart of Asia conference and met senior leaders, leading to thaw in tense

bilateral ties. Afghanistan is apparently not happy with Pakistan due to violent attacks by the Taliban hiding across the border. Kabul wants Islamabad to exercise its influence on militants to shun violence and join the mainstream political system by accepting the constitution of the country. Gen Sharif last time visited Kabul with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in May and that led to first round of talks between Afghan government and Taliban in July. Sources said that already efforts are on way to arrange another meeting between militants and Afghan officials next month and this visit would be instrumental in this regard. Besides peace talks with the Taliban, Islamabad is pushing Kabul to take action against Pakistani militants allegedly hiding in Afghanistan and carrying out attacks. -HindustanTimes

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22 January 01, 2016

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Place a Number in the empty boxes in such a way that each row across, each column down and each 9-box square contains all of the numbers from one to nine. Send us the correct answer before January 06, 2016. Email us at indoamericannews@yahoo.com or mail to 7457 Harwin Drive, Suite 262, Houston, TX 77036. Send us your picture and we will publish it if you are a winner (for ﬁrst three entrees only & 1 submission per month).

Solution Next Week

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Mama’s Punjabi Recipes Mathura Pede (Sweetened Milk Patties) Across many parts of North India,

many worshippers ask for blessings at mandirs (temples) to give thanks for the old and rejoice for the new and it is customary to offer some sweets to the Gods for their blessings. Outside each mandir, there is at least one shop that sells Indian sweets of the type that are suitable for such offerings: burﬁ (milk squares), boondi (sweet chickpea drops), laddu (chickpea or ﬂour balls) and pede (sweetened milk patties) are the usual items that they sell. There are several varieties of pede but the ones that are used for offerings are the small brown ones that have become popular in the holy town of Mathura, the birthplace of Lord Krishna, located in the state of Uttar Pradesh, about 31 miles north of Agra and 90 miles southeast of New Delhi. They Mathura pede are usually small, about 1 inch round, and are so delicious that if you eat one, you’ll eat three more! If you take the Rajdhani Express or other train from Delhi to Bombay, there is a 5 minute stop in Mathura and the hawkers will rush through the train selling boxes of Mathura pede! Traditionally, pede are made with whole cow’s milk, dry milk and sugar, are very simple to make, and not very time consuming. As a young woman, when we would make them in India, it was customary to use a small chitani weight (one-sixteenth of a kilo piece used for weighing food) to stamp onto the top of the pede for presentation and good luck. You could do the same now using a coin or a bottle cap for the edge design. The old-fashioned way to make pede is to start with boiling whole cream milk till it becomes khoya (thickened and condensed). This recipe cuts a lot of that time out and is quick and easy to make - in about 30 minutes – and those who eat it will never know the difference. Ingredients :

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325gm cup non-fat milk powder Medium size whipping cream 1/2 cup bariq chinni (ﬁne sugar) 4 tbsp doodh (milk) – whole or nonfat per your choice 1 tspn chotti illachi (small cardamom) powder Pinch of kesar (saffron) - to taste

Directions: 1. Pour in the milk in a small saucepan and warm it up over medium heat 2. Add the saffron, mix thoroughly to get a good color and set aside. 3. In a wide kadai (wok) pour in the cream and stir continuously over low heat. 4. Add in the sugar and then add the milk powder and mix thoroughly. Slowly pour in the saffron milk and stir continuously till it is browned and thickened. Be careful that it does not stick to the bottom and burns. 5. Let the mixture cool to the touch. Then take small amounts and knead into a 1 inch ball. Coat your hands with some vegetable oil so that the ball will not stick.

6. Stamp the top of the ball with a bottom cap or any other ornamentation piece and fatten the peda into a thick squat disk. 7. Place on a tray and serve. Shakuntla Malhotra is a skilled cook of Punjabi dishes made in the old-fashioned style that she learnt as a young woman in her ancestral home in Lyallpur, India before it became part of Pakistan after the Partition in 1947. People have often admired her cooking for its simplicity and taste that comes with each mouthful. Even in her mid-eighties, she continues to cook daily and agreed to share some of her delectable Punjabi recipes.

MAMA’S TIP OF THE WEEK WHEN COOKING FROZEN CHAPPATIS, CAREFUL THEY DON’T STICK! So many people are turning to frozen paranthas and chappatis, at least outside of India, that there are many manufacturers that offer them in the freezer sections of grocery stores. Some of these are precooked, so that all you have to do is take them out and heat them in the oven, over a tava (flatplate) or in the microwave. I have found that generally they taste best if cooked over a tava. But there are many frozen chappatis that are just flattened out uncooked dough packed between plastic sheets. If you take them out and leave them while you are cooking them, you’ll find that they quickly thaw out and stick, making it impossible to cook. In this case, use the method that most tandoorwalas use: take the dough out of the plastic sheets and place them on a cloth. This makes it easier to pick them up and place on the tava.

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January 01, 2016

ENTERTAINMENT:REVIEWS/NEWS ENTERTAINMENT:REVIEWS/NEWS

‘Bajirao Mastani’ Role a Milestone in My Career: Priyanka Chopra

MUMBAI:

Actress Priyanka Chopra counts her role of Peshwa Bajirao’s first wife Kashibai in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s “Bajirao Mastani” as one of her career-defining outings. Though a supporting character in the love story of Bajirao and Mastani, Kashibai has got the 33-year-old actress praise from fans, critics and her colleagues. “I did not expect this kind of response for my role of Kashibai. It has become like milestone. (My) roles in ‘Aitraaz’,’Fashion’, ‘Mary Kom’, ‘Barfi’ and now Kashibai in ‘Bajirao Mastani’ will be remembered by people,” Priyanka said. Megastar Amitabh Bachchan sent her a hand-written note, praising her performance in the period drama, which stars Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone in lead roles.

“We all have got compliments from Mr Bachchan. Whenever he sees best performances he sends hand written note. My mother collects them as she is a huge fan of Mr Bachchan. She can’t talk when she stands in front of him,” the actress said. “She judges my performances over Mr Bachchan’s notes. Over the years it has become a tradition. I told him, ‘If you don’t send me a letter every time my mother will think I have performed badly’.” The “Quantico” actress, however, added that she did not want to “harp” on the praise she received from Bachchan. “I don’t like taking names. I don’t want to harp up on it. It’s a personal thing. Besides him, there are lot of people including those who haven’t been in touch for long time have praised my work. It’s been wonderful to see the unanimous kind of love and adulation that I have got for ‘Bajirao Mastani’.” Priyanka’s ex-boyfriend Shahid Kapoor was also among the people, who expressed their admiration for the actress’ portrayal of Kashibai. Shahid had tweeted, saying, “Priyanka is in top form,” to which the actress had replied, “Thank you @ shahidkapoor glad you liked the ﬁlm.” -IndianExpress

I am Turning 27: Salman Khan on 50th Birthday

Kyaa Kool Hain Hum 3 Trailer Crosses 10 Million Views

MUMBAI: Salman Khan may

be turning 50 today, but the Bollywood superstar says he still feels 27 is the perfect age for him. “I am turning 27. I think 27-yearold is the right age. I have always like that age. I am not scared about ageing. It is always going to be 27. So what is there to be scared off. It is a part of my journey,” Salman, the son of noted writer Salim Khan, made his debut with a supporting role in “Biwi Ho To Aisi”. His next release “Maine Pyar Kiya” directed by Sooraj Barjatya, gave his Bollywood career a much needed push. The actor addressed as “Bhaijaan” of Bollywood is also involved in humanitarian work and tries to help the underprivileged through his charity organization “Being Human”. His life has been marred by many controversies and legal troubles over his tumultuous relationships, hunting of the endangered Chinkara deer, and the 2002 hit-and-run case. -IndianExpress

he trailer of the upcoming porncom “Kyaa Kool Hain Hum 3” has recorded over 10 million views on YouTube and its actor Aftab Shivdasani has thanked fans for “showing this love”. “10MILLION views!! Thank you to all for showing this love!! Get ready for Jan 22,2016. #kyakoolhainhum3 @TusshKapoor @balajimotionpic,” Aftab tweeted on Saturday (December 26) night. Tusshar Kapoor, who has two backto-back releases “Kyaa Kool Hain Hum 3” and “Mastizaade” which are both sex comedies also tweeted:

“Happy Sunday people, two upcoming sex com ﬁlms of mine, both rocking in their own style, give them as much love, this genre is long awaited!” Happy Sunday people, 2 upcoming sex com ﬁlms of mine, both rocking in their own style, give them as much love, this genre is long awaited! Tusshar (@TusshKapoor) December 27, 2015 Produced by Ekta Kapoor, “Kyaa Kool Hain Hum 3” is directed by Umesh Ghadge and will release on January 22 next year. -IndianExpress

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India’s Overseas Record Takes the Sheen Off Their Home Performances BY SANJAY MANJREKAR

MUMBAI

(ESPN Cricinfo): The fans of today have got used to India winning at home; they want to see them beat the world’s best abroad - which they hardly ever get to see The heavy defeats in England and Australia in 2011 and 2012, and the other overseas losses since then still hurt © Getty Images I can completely understand why Virat Kohli is unhappy with the media and with former cricketers in media. In fact, most players through their careers have generally felt the same; they have just not been as expressive as Kohli has been recently. Players are sensitive creatures and loathe criticism, especially from former cricketers. They devise different methods to handle it through their careers, and Kohli seems to have chosen this particular way. As a player, I was once very upset with what Dilip Vengsarkar had written about me in one of his columns, and confronted him privately on it. But this is not me defending Kohli but rather attempting to explain why he and his team have not quite got the kind of applause they wanted after beating a topranked team 3-0. Kohli as captain obviously expected accolades to come from all directions, but as it turned out, it wasn’t quite like that - barring, to some extent, the last Test, where I think no one grudged India their win. Virat Kohli, now that he is India’s Test captain, must not forget that he is captaining in the year 2015. This same performance in the pre-’90s era, would have got him the response he wanted plenty of fanfare, celebration and adulation from the fans and media. Such wins were a big deal then. But in 2015, Indian cricket has moved on, so also people in the media, who now see India’s win on turning pitches to beat a strong overseas team as nothing more than an old trick - one they have seen many times before. It’s a case of been there, done that: an old

The heavy defeats in England and Australia in 2011 and 2012, and the other overseas losses since then still hurt © Getty Images.

trick performed by a new person. In 1996, when South Africa were in India for a three-Test match series, they came back from being 1-0 down to beat India in Kolkata on a good Indian pitch. India were desperate to win the final Test, in Kanpur, so out came the rank turner and they won the game, and the series, comfortably. Indian cricketers mirror the qualities of the youth of India they are not intimidated by a foreign territory anymore Before this series, when South Africa have lost to India in India, it has been on turners - in 2008 in Kanpur and in Kolkata in 2010. So it’s an act that has been performed on stage many times before and it does not impress the audience as much today as it once did. Perhaps the extreme turning nature of the pitches in Mohali and Nagpur just added to this feeling. This is a bit hard on the Indian team, though. We must not forget, this is a very young Test team, where Ishant Sharma is the most experienced player. And Kohli, you can see, is genuinely trying to make a difference as captain. So they are thinking: the pitch is the same for both teams and one still has to play well to win 3-0; If South Africa were a great Test side, they should have found a way to beat India on such pitches too, like some great visiting teams in the past have done. It’s a sentiment you can understand. There is one main underlying

reason why Kohli and his boys have not quite got the credit they feel they deserve, and that is to do with how India play overseas after their home wins. That is the root cause of why Indian fans and media are not over the moon when India beat a team like South Africa 3-0 in India. And really, Kohli should not take all this personally at all. It is Indian cricket that the fans and the media have an issue with. It is India’s abysmal overseas record that dampens the fans’ enthusiasm when India win at home these days. Every time India beat a visiting team soundly at home, they then go overseas and lose badly. Now if India had an impressive overseas record, and they then prepared pitches to suit themselves at home, to improve their home record too, the media and the fans would actually enjoy that joyride with the Indian team. In the ‘90s and earlier, fans didn’t expect as much of the Indian team overseas as they do now © AFP Today, with India growing economically and getting more attention in the world, the self-confidence of the Indian in the world is growing too. He does not think of himself as being inferior to anyone. This was not the case until my time. I would watch with slight amusement, how players’ selfesteem would visibly drop when we set foot in a foreign country. Cricketers who behaved like kings

at home turned into common subjects overseas. It was right there that we lost the contest - what happened on the field eventually was just a reiteration. Overseas wins have been sporadic and infrequent for India, and it would not be wrong to say they have mostly been aberrations in a generally poor overseas record. As India changed, Indian cricket started to change too. The body language of the players when they are in a foreign country now is not as it used to be in my day, and that is a big plus. They now walk out at Lord’s like they would at Green Park in Kanpur. Indian cricketers mirror the qualities of the youth of India - they are not intimidated by a foreign territory anymore. Still, they lack skills as a team in those conditions. There was a time in Indian cricket, in the 1940s, when an Indian captain said that he wished Don Bradman would get his 100th hundred against India, and that it would be a great privilege. Indian teams in those times were just happy to be in a foreign land, I suppose. After that, as Indian cricket evolved, and started producing some truly world-class players, Indian fans and media went to matches mainly to watch these players perform, to see an Indian stand up to the mighty West Indians or the Australians or English. If an Indian win came along on the way, it was a big bonus. Expectations from the team were low. After 2000, as the self-confidence of Indians grew on the world stage, their expectations from their national team in their favourite sport swelled too. They now want their team to make them proud there, not here. On the big stage, winning at home is great, but it is not such a big deal for the fans, especially because the hurt from the overseas losses runs deep and home wins don’t seem to quite erase the bad memories. The 4-0 losses in England and Australia in 2011 and 2012 and the following series losses in South Africa, New Zealand, and England and Australia

again, still linger, like a dull ache in the body. India have been playing Test cricket for 83 years, and their board is the richest cricket body in the world. The modern Indian cricket fan and media want more from their team. They have become ambitious; they won’t settle for good, they want the best. They want their team to whip Australia, South Africa and England in their backyards. It’s a steep expectation, some might think a bit unfair too, and it’s one that Indian captains of the ‘70s, ‘80s or ‘90s didn’t have to carry, but the Indian captain of 2015 will have to. Former India batsman Sanjay Manjrekar is a cricket commentator and presenter on TV.

Indian Hockey Endure Roller Coaster in 2015

NEW DELHI: On-field achieve-

ments often jostled for space with off-field drama as Indian hockey endured a rollercoaster year during which the players scripted historical feats but coach Paul van Ass’ acrimonious ouster and Gurbaj Singh’s suspension created its share of storm. While the women team’s return to Olympics after a hiatus of 36 years and men team’s 33-year-old medal jinx in a major international tournament -- Hockey World League (HWL) Final to be precise -- were the high points, Van Ass’ bitter sacking and experienced midfielder Gurbaj’s nine-month suspension summed up a mixed year gone by for Indian hockey. Just like the past two years, 2015 started with the high-profile sixteam franchise-based Hockey India League which witnessed a new champion in debutants Ranchi Rays, partly owned by cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Soon after India travelled to Ipoh, Malaysia for the six-nation Azlan Shah Cup, where they finished third after defeating South Korea 4-1 on penalties following a 2-2 draw. New Zealand claimed the title beating Australia 3-1 on penalties.

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Rosneft, Indian Firms to Focus on Exploring Oil Fields in East Siberia BY GIREESH CHANDRA PRASAD

EW DELHI: Russian oil firm Rosneft OAO on Friday said its deal with explorer Oil India Ltd and refiner Indian Oil Corp. Ltd will initially focus on exploring fields in East Siberia, operated by Taas-Yuryakh Neftegazodobycha LLC. The agreement signed between the three firms during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Moscow on Christmas eve will give “additional impulse to the development of one of the largest greenfields of East Siberia”, the Russian firm said, adding that the pact laid the foundation for a long-term partnership. Indian Oil, although primarily a refiner and a downstream petro-

chemicals producer, has in the past diversiﬁed into upstream oil and gas exploration to source adequate crude input for its business and to mitigate the risks in crude price volatility. The agreement focuses on cooperation for onshore geological survey, exploration and production of hydrocarbons in the Russian Federation, said Rosneft. “We appreciate the pragmatic approach of our Indian partners, demonstrated with...this high-scale deal, which will bring the cooperation between Russia and India, both in the corporate and intergovernmental sectors, to a whole new level,” Rosneft chairman Igor Sechin said in a statement. Besides, Rosneft and ONGC Videsh Ltd (OVL), the overseas arm

of state-run explorer Oil and Natural Gas Corp. Ltd (ONGC), on Thursday signed an agreement concluding the ﬁrst stage of the 15% sale of stake in Vankorneft to OVL in September. Vankorneft, a Rosneft subsidiary, produced 22 million tonnes (mt) of oil in 2014, 3% more than what it produced a year ago. The transaction will be concluded after regulatory

approvals. Both ﬁrms also signed a deal for joint survey, exploration and production of hydrocarbons onshore and on the continental shelf of the Russian Federation, Rosneft said. Joint exploration would also cover future projects of Rosneft in East Siberia. Indian oil and gas explorers are seeking stakes in overseas energy assets, the valuation of which has moderated on account of the sharp decline in the oil prices, as the country depends on crude imports for 70-80% of its requirements. India, which seeks to increase the share of manufacturing in gross domestic product to 25% from the current 17%, needs energy security to fuel the expansion. The expected lifting of trade sanctions on Iraq next

year and the US decision to allow crude oil exports are likely to keep crude prices weak in the near future, making many oil assets attractive for acquirers. Local companies will have to take a call on whether to bring back the output from any overseas oilfield, depending on factors such as price difference, distance and freight. “Indian energy firms are in the process of becoming fully integrated international hydrocarbon companies,” said Kalpana Jain, senior director at Deloitte India, a consultancy firm. “Output yielded from their overseas assets helps them balance their portfolio and cash flow. It could also be used for trading,” she added. -Livemint.com

Gold Loses Sheen; Government Schemes Fail to Attract Investors BY LISA PALLAVI BARBORA

Gold had a washout year in 2015

as investor interest shifted towards riskier assets. Gold prices had witnessed an uninterrupted 12-year rally till the second half of 2011, but have been on a downward trend since. From its peak of $1,900 per ounce in September 2011, it has corrected to $1,050-1,100 per ounce. This was accompanied by slowing consumption demand. In 2015, all factors worked against gold and a revival in its price. In fact, experts aren’t expecting things to change in a hurry. Here is why. Dollar gaining strength Gold prices shifted further down in 2015 as expectation of the US Federal Reserve increasing its benchmark interest rate gained strength. An increase in interest rates in the US will

make its currency, the US dollar, more attractive, drawing more buyers. Since gold is priced in dollars, any gain in the currency will lead to a decline in the metal’s value. Naveen Mathur, head commodities, Angel Broking Ltd, said, “The US dollar has already gained thanks to the rate hike announcement by the US Fed, which has led to exchange-trade funds and investment funds selling gold. In turn, international prices are still bearish.” To be fair, there was some respite as the rate hike expectations in the US shifted to December 2015 as a result of which, gold prices witnessed some reversal. The World Gold Council, in its Gold Demand Trends Third Quarter 2015 report, pointed out that after reaching a low of $1,080 per ounce in July, the price of gold stopped falling and looked upwards again. Western institutional investors, such as hedge funds and asset managers, were the

driving force behind the rebound, the report said. Due to some uncertainty, both on the ﬁnancial markets front (think China) and geopolitical issues, global investors bought gold in the third quarter. Monetising gold In the Union budget in February 2015, the government announced two schemes aimed at converting the demand and stock of physical gold into paper gold. These were the gold monetisation scheme and the sovereign gold bonds scheme. These schemes became effective in November 2015. Although the response has been low, experts are hopeful that as the hurdles get smoothened out, the two schemes will do well and will help in lowering the consumption (and, hence, import) of physical gold. The gold bond issue opened for subscription on 5 November. Essentially, this is a bond issue by the

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on behalf of the Government of India. Hence, there is safety and assurance of payment. The government will use these bonds to borrow funds from resident Indians. The objective is to develop these bonds as an alternative to buying physical gold by linking the face value of the bond to the price of gold. These are long-term 8-year bonds, and carry a coupon of 2.75% per annum to be paid every half year. The issue close date was extended to 30 November. Till the ﬁrst week of December, the bond issue had collected deposits of Rs.246 crore. The gold monetisation scheme is for those who have unused physical

gold and would like to create value out of it by lending it to banks. Interest and principal payments on gold deposits under the scheme will be denominated in gold. The minimum deposit is 30 gm (995 purity). Interest on the deposit is 2.25-2.50%. While appreciating the contours of both the schemes and the intention behind them, experts aren’t yet convinced that households will be willing to give up physical gold. But for institutional investors and institutions who own large amounts of gold, these could be beneﬁcial. -Livemint.com

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