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US Affairs 10

Bollywood 16

Travel 18

Spiritual Awareness 30

NEW YORK EDITION Vol.4 No.1 April 23-29, 2011 60 Cent Hinuds find a Holy Ganges in Queens, NY! Community, Page 4

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Bhawani Singh's adopted son to be crowned Jaipur Maharaja Tribute, Page 15

US blinks, to give Pakistan 85 mini-drones Islamabad: Only a few days ago, Pakistan had demanded an end to American drone strikes—rejected by President Obama - and scale back its intelligence presence within Pakistan, hinting at a widening rift between the two tense partners in the ‘war on terror’.

The US perhaps finds Islamabad a critical ally in its fight against Al Qaida and Taliban in Af-Pak region and has since taken a step to placate it—though not stopping sniping.

The US will provide Pakistan with 85 small ‘Raven’ non-lethal, short-range drone aircraft, a military official said, a key step to addressing Islamabad's calls for access to US drone technology. The Raven is used by US allies including Italy, Spain and Norway and is one of the most widely utilized unmanned aircraft in the world. non-lethal, short-range The disclosure is another sign of growing U.S. military assistance to Pakistan, which India has been alleging will be used against it.

Raven is non-lethal, short range drone Pakistan is expected to receive roughly $3 billion in U.S. military aid in the upcoming fiscal year.

As for sniping, Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the U.S. military's Joint Chiefs of Staff, Wednesday accused Pakistan’s ISI of a having a longstanding relationship with Haqqani militants targeting US forces in Afghanistan.

The White House said in a report to Congress released this month Pakistan Continued on page 4.....

Sai Baba critical, succession war hots up Hyderabad: Even as devotees continue to be on edge about the health situation of Sathya Sai Baba, his nephew R J Ratnakar and caregiver, Satyajit, may emerge to have a bigger say in the Satya Sai Baba Central Trust.

Sai Baba is the chairman of the trust that controls various activities being carried out in his name.

Ratnakar (39) controls the cable TV transmission in Puttaparthi and also is a dealer of a Hindustan Petroleum petrol pump in Puttaparthi. Satyajit (33) who did his MBA from the Satya Sai Institute of Higher Learning

offered to serve the Baba for his entire life and rose to become his personal caregiver.

Even as doctors were attending Continued on page 4.....

Fake pilots create trust deficit in Indian carriers

Questions about Obama’s birth never cease

Aviation, Page 24

Humor, Page 28

Graft shadow over Lokpal panel; Civil society backs Bhushans New Delhi: As corruption allegations cast a shadow over the Lokpal Bill drafting panel within days of its victorious formation, with demands that panel members Shanti Bhushan and his son Prashant quit, social activists Thursday came out in support of the duo and urged them not to resign even as another member, Justice N. Santosh Hegde said he would consider leaving the committee.

The developments came as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said he hoped to bring the Lokpal bill, ensuring stringent anti-graft measures, in the monsoon session of parliament in July.

RTI activist Arvind Kejriwal, a member of the drafting committee, address-

Presaging the difficulty over Lokpal bill contents, the selection of the drafting panel is itself mired in controversy. ing a press conference in the capital said: “No one is going to resign.” He was referring to allegations against the joint committee co-chair Shanti Bhushan and his lawyer son and panel member, Prashant Bhushan, of wrong-doing in land deals in Noida and Allahabad, which they have vigorously denied.

However, former Supreme Court judge N. Santosh Hegde, who is also a panel member, and is Karnataka ombudsman, said he was hurt by the remarks of Congress leader Digvijay Singh that he had not been able to curb corruption in the state.

Continued on page 4.....

South Asian Times Gold breaks $1,500 barrier completes 3 successful years London: The price of gold topped $1,500 an ounce for the first time on Wednesday as a weakened dollar plus fears over high inflation and countries' debt attracted investors to the safe haven precious metal. Silver meanwhile reached a 31-year high of $44.5 an ounce.

"Gold remains comfortably underpinned with short-term inflation pressures and economic woes triggering some fresh safe haven inflows," said a commodities analyst at Russian financial group VTB Capital.

Continued on page 4.....

Hicksville: Launched in April 2008, The South Asian Times has continued to grow by leaps and bounds. The community has taken it into their hearts and homes, making it one of the most read and admired weekly newspapers for Indian Americans in a short span of three years.

Moreover, due to its trendsetting clean concept, concise coverage of news and events of interest to the community, journalistic objectivity, value-driven content and advertising, the SATimes has earned Front page of the inaugural issue of immaculate reputation of coffee Continued on page 4..... the paper dated April 18-25, 2008.

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April 23-29, 2011

NY based Mukherjee bags Pulitzer for cancer book Washington/New Delhi: Delhi-born cancer specialist Siddhartha Mukherjee has bagged a Pulitzer prize for his book “The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer” in the general non-fiction category.

The book has been described as “an elegant inquiry, at once clinical and personal, into the long history of an insidious disease that, despite treatment breakthroughs, still bedevils medical science”.

Mukherjee is an assistant professor of medicine at Columbia University and a staff cancer physician at Columbia University Medical Center.

Less than a month after it appeared, Mukherjee’s book, published in the US by Scribner, featured among “The 10 Best Books of 2010″ in the New York Times Book Reviews, a rare feat for a work of non-fiction.

Mukherjee, 40, says he “came into oncology in a sort of reverse, in the sense that I first trained as a cellular biologist when I was in Oxford as a Rhodes scholar”.

For Mukherjee’s Indian publisher HarperCollins, it was yet another feather in their cap.

“He has produced a real tour de force with the ‘Emperor of Maladies’. It is a warm, erudite and engaging book. The book is a panoramic history of the disease of cancer and its treatment that is infused with meticu-

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Siddhartha Mukherjee, author of ‘The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer’ lous details. It is a heartfelt book - but not sentimental,” P.M. Sukumar, head of HarperCollins India, said.

Mukherjee’s wife Sarah Sze is a sculptor.

The couple has two young daughters.

A Rhodes Scholar, Mukherjee graduated from Stanford University, University of Oxford and from Harvard Medical School.

Three eminent personalities of Indian origin have previously won a Pulitzer.

They include Gobind Behari Lal for journalism in 1937, Jhumpa Lahiri for fiction (”Interpreters of Maladies”) in 2000 and Geeta Anand in 2003 for her work on Pompe disease.

The Pulitzers are administered by Columbia University.

Sri Lankan mission to host event at UN marking 2600 years of Buddhism New York: The 2600th anniversary of the Lord Buddha’s attainment of enlightenment (Sambuddhathva Jayanthi) falls on the full moon day of May 2011. Although the annual commemoration of Vesak, the most sacred day in the Buddhist calendar commemorating the three-fold coincidence of the birth, enlightenment and the Parinirvãna (passing away) of Gautama Buddha falls on this day, this year it is uniquely significant as it is also the 2600th year of the Buddha’s enlightenment.

Especially in an era where the world is confronted with many conflicts and natural and manmade calamities, the Buddhist Doctrine of non-violence, understanding, compassion and peace holds hope for mankind.

A UN General Assembly resolution of 2000 officially recognized the International Day of Vesak. The day is commemorated annually at the UN Headquarters and its worldwide offices, the unique fea-

ture being that each year a different Permanent Mission (PR) to the UN hosts the event, complete with religious and cultural events, with the cooperation of other Member States.

This year, the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the UN in New York is hosting the commemorative events for the Sambuddhathva Jayanthi and Vesak Day. On May 16, the commemoration starts in the morning with alms offering to 150 Buddhist monks from all over the world at the Dag Hammarskjold Park, opposite the UN headquarters. The UN General Assembly will have a session on the significance of the event, followed by an in-

terfaith dialogue. Dignitaries invited include the Secretary General, President of the General Assembly and all PRs of Member States. Buddhist monks and scholars of various nationalities are expected to attend, as well as other religious dignitaries.

Traditional Buddhist arts and artifacts from different countries and museums will be exhibited at the entrance Lobby to the General Assembly from May 21-27. The exhibition will display Buddhist artistic and cultural objects along with photographs of monuments reflecting the rich Buddhist heritage of Asia.

On May 21, a Buddhist procession depicting Buddhist and cultural dance items etc., will take place from 57th to 47th Street along 2nd Avenue and end at the Dag Hammarskjold Park, where cultural items will be staged by Buddhist communities. This will be followed by a traditional food festival.

South Asian nights in Eisenhower Park packed in June

Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano announcing the concert series.

‘Charanams’ group will perform Carnatic Jazz at the Arbor Festival on May 1 in the afternoon at Queens Botanical Gardens in Flushing.

‘Charanams’ is a young, world music, cross-genre band that performs a blend of Carnatic South Indian classical & jazz style.

Mineola: Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano and Canon U.S.A. announced Tuesday that the International Music Nights concert series in Eisenhower Park will take place in June instead of being spread over the summer.

“The International Music Nights series is a great Nassau County tradition, but this year we’re changing it around a little by establishing a dedicated month of music and culture to honor the range of ethnic groups that help make our County so dynamic,” said Mangano.

The free concert series, this year renamed “International Music Nights Month,” is presented by the Nas-

sau County Department of Parks, Recreation and Museums, with support from Lake Success-based Canon U.S.A., Inc. This year’s series will feature 21 concerts at the Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, with starting times of approximately 7 p.m.

Eisenhower Park is located in East Meadow. Here is the schedule of South Asian nights. * Friday, June 3 South Asian American Night * Saturday, June 4 Bangladeshi American Night * Saturday, June 11 Pakistani American Night * Monday, June 13 Punjabi American Night * Sunday, June 19 Indian American Night

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Community

April 23-29, 2011 US blinks story from page 1 lacked a robust plan to defeat Taliban militants, and noted its security forces are struggling to hold areas cleared of the Al Qaidalinked fighters at great cost.

Still, U.S. military officials also praise increased efforts by Pakistan's military over the past several years in tackling some insurgents and say cooperation at a tactical level on both sides of the Pakistan-Afghanistan border is greatly improved.

Graft shadow story from page 1 The corruption allegations against the Bhushans continued with former Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh reiterating that the two should resign from the committee.

The Bhushans have also figured in a controversial audio CD which has purported conversations between Shanti Bhushan, Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh and Amar Singh trying to fix a dubious legal deal. While a Delhi Police source Thursday said the CD was not tampered with, the civil activists claimed the CD was fake.

The panel to draft the bill was set up April 9 after a fast-unto-death by reformer Anna Hazare.

Sai Baba story from page 1 the Baba — his weight has dropped to a mere 32 kg on his 25th day of hospitalization — the family members of the spiritual leader engaged with trust members about who will lead the organization in the postSai scenario. On Thursday, at a meeting among trust officials, fam-

TheSouthAsianTimes.info ily members and Andhra Pradesh government representatives Geeta Reddy and L V Subramanyam (principal secretary, finance), the trust and family members agreed to and maintain public decorum.

Gold story from page 1 Gold began its surge towards $1,500 on Monday after ratings agency Standard & Poor's revised its outlook on US sovereign debt to "negative" from "stable."

Metals consultancy GFMS had forecast last week that the gold price would soar past $1,600 this year, driven primarily by fears over high inflation.

South Asian Times story from page 1 table newspaper of upscale households in the affluent Indian community of the New York tristate area.

Special issues and exclusive coverage over the past three years such as of Harvard India Conference, Wharton India Economic Forum, Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, India’s Independence Day and Republic Day, Holi and Diwali have been highly appreciated by the readers.

The e-edition of the SATimes has taken its reach to four corners of the world. It also became perhaps the first Indian American publication to have a website updated daily, taking it to the top in terms of unique visitors and page-views. It is also the only paper available in over 400 public libraries in the tristate area. The SATimes is owned by Forsythe Media Group, which is gradually diversifying into public relations and media marketing. It was founded by Kamlesh Mehta and Saroosh Gull.

Hindus find Ganges in Queens!

New York: The Hindus living in Queens have started using the Jamaica Bay beach as a kind of holy Ganges river. They have been dropping religious offerings into the water there. As the Hindu population has grown in the borough over the last decade, so too have the piles of ritual debris — clothing, statues, even cremation ashes — lining the banks of the bay in Gateway National Recreation Area. “We call it the Ganges,” one pilgrim, Madan Padarat, told the New York Times, as he finished his prayers. “She takes away your sickness, your pain, your suffering.”

But this belief and practice has created a stand-off between the park rangers who patrol the beach and the Hindu community. The park rangers argue that, unlike the Ganges, the enclosed bay does not sweep the refuse away.

“I can’t stop the people and say, ‘You can’t come to the water and make offerings,’ ” said Pandit Chunelall Narine, the priest at a thriving Ozone Park temple, Shri Trimurti Bhavan, who sometimes performs services by the bay. “We are at a dead end right now.”

Most Hindus who visit the beach are immigrants

from the Caribbean islands and Guyana who have settled in the Richmond Hill area.

On Friday, Earth Day, prominent Hindu leaders plan to join park rangers in a cleanup of the beach, close by Kennedy International Airport. Park officials, wary of dictating matters of faith, have reached out to Hindu temples, gently encouraging members to pray at the waters — but to leave nothing there for the gods. And many Hindus have obliged.

Guyanese presidential candidate coming to NYC New York: Coming right after his successful nomination as the P.P.P presidential candidate, Mr. Donald Ramotar and President Bharrat Jagdeo will be in New York at Club Tobago -- 147-02 Liberty Avenue on April 29 to “meet the people”.

ACG-USA Chairman, Raj Singh is confident that the event will bring together supporters of the P.P.P and those associated with other parties who are eager to join the ranks of the P.P.P in New York.

Mr. Ramotar is an economist by training. He joined the PPP in 1967 and became the General Secretary in March 1997 when Dr. Cheddi Jagan passed away, a position he holds today.

Donald Ramotar Mr Ramotar has had extensive experience within the party and has represented the party on numerous occasions overseas. He has pub-

lished a number of articles and is a regular columnist for the Mirror Newspaper. He was also a member of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly and a Bureau member of that organization and a serving member of Guyana’s National Assembly since 1992.

Sunny Thakkar and Sangeetsabha present an Indian classical vocal concert by Shri Shounak Abhisheki accompanied by Harshad Kanetkar on tabla and Uday Kulkarni on harmonium at Yoga Works studio, 138 5th Avenue, between 18th and 19th street, Manhattan, on April 30th at 8 pm. For tickets call: Sunny Thakkar 516-817-4601, email : sneh198@hotmail.com or sangeetsabhanyc@gmail.com.

Tristate Community TheSouthAsianTimes.info

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April 23-29, 2011

US files suit against Alabama company for 'abusing' Indian workers

Meeting hosted by Ambassador Meera Shankar with the Asian American Hotel Owners Association “AAHOA” on April 13, 2011 at the Embassy of India, Washington, DC

Washington: US federal authorities have filed a lawsuit against a marine services company based in Alabama for alleged demeaning treatment of 500 Indian employees, who were forced to live in "substandard" accommodations and given "unwholesome" food.

The lawsuit filed by the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) against Signal International said that

these Indian workers, brought into the country by a separate entity which is not part of the case, were forced to live in substandard, unsanitary accommodations.

For this, they were charged an inordinate amount, given unwholesome food, demeaned by being referred to by numbers instead of their names, and at least two of them were retaliated against for complaining

about the substandard conditions and discrimination, the EEOC said.

The Southern Poverty Law Centre (SPLC), American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Asian American Legal Defence and Education Fund, Louisiana Justice Institute and the law firm Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP have a class action lawsuit pending against the same company on behalf of the same former guest workers.

DJ Rekha to join White House Easter Egg Roll Washington, DC: Popular Indian-American 'Bhangra Queen' Rekha Malhotra is among the celebrities participating in this year's White House Easter Egg Roll April 25 with the theme 'Get Up and Go!' Other celebrities at the event include Colbie Caillat, Greyson Chance, Willow Smith, Mindless Behavior, puppets from 'Sesame Street,' Little Beats and DJ Willy Wow. Local DJ Tommy McFly will serve as emcee.

'DJ Rekha and DJ WillyWow will perform on the ellipse,' said

the White House listing her among the invited celebrities. The invitation is seen as recognition of years of hard work during which Rekha has helped popularise 'bhangra' in the United States.

Along with the traditional egg roll, now in its 133rd year, there will also be a Storytime Stage where Kelly Ripa and family, John Lithgow, Elmo, Maria and Gordon of 'Sesame Street,' John Bemelmans Marciano, Kristi Yamaguchi and Geena Davis will be reading.

Kids can go wild in the

Text messages as evidence okay in Sinha murder trial New Jersey: Teenagers charged in the beating death of Divyendu Sinha in Old Bridge, N.J., allegedly texted each other expressing satisfaction over their actions.

According to The Star-Ledger, Superior Court Judge Bradley Ferencz said 25 messages exchanged among the suspects can be used to prove that they conspired to hide their alleged roles in the attack.

The judge said he would decide next month on whether another nine messages as well as Facebook entries could also be used.

Christopher Conway, 17, Julian Daley, 16, Cash Johnson, 17, Steven Contreras, 17, and Christian Tinli, 18, are being tried in the fatal beating that took place June 25 last year. Sinha, 49, was taking a walk with his wife and two sons near their home on Fela Drive, when he was attacked. He died of his injuries four days later. Christopher Kuberiet, the Middlesex County assistant prosecutor, had asked for the text messages exchanged among Conway, Daley and

Johnson, as well as Facebook entries from Daley, to be considered as evidence that the accused conspired to hide their actions.

The Star-Ledger reported that Kuberiet said in court that many of the messages were sent with- in 10 minutes of the beating, and allegedly discuss how the youth enjoyed beating Sinha and what they would say to the police if questioned.

Daley is also alleged to have told the others to delete the text messages. Lawyers for Daley and Conway say the messages were merely teenagers bragging.

Charles Uliano, Conway's attorney, and Mitchell Ansell, Daley's attorney, argued that at least the first 10 messages are no more than teenagers bragging.

"It's boasting by teenagers about an event that had already taken place," Uliano is quoted as saying in the report.

According to the prosecutors, the juveniles had been drinking and had decided to go "wilding" looking for people to attack.

Raje’ Shwari to perform at Phillies Vs Mets game New York, NY: Singer Rajé Shwari is set to perform Friday, April 29, 2011 at the Philadelphia Phillies versus New York Mets baseball game in Philadelphia courtesy of Bollywood Dreams Entertainment.“It's so inspiring to have all of my worlds collide!

Having grown up in Philly and get-

ting Phillies game tickets for good grades in school, never did I imagine that I'd have the privilege of bringing my Desi flavor to my home team.” Rajé says. “This is just another example of how all the borders and walls are being broken down in every arena.

I'm really excited to represent as

a Desi and as your homegirl from Philly, it doesn't get much better than that for a girl like me!”Also joining Rajé for the Asian-Pacific Night will be Jay Sean, who will be throwing the first pitch, TINA, who is performing, and local dance troupes Broadstreet Baadshahz and AATMA.

Eggtivity Zone with Olympians Tyson Gay and Bryan Clay, Redskin Lorenzo Alexander, tennis player Chris Evert and Wizards stars. Exercise will also be encouraged at jump rope stations and inside the Yoga Garden.

There will also be 14,500 hardboiled and dyed eggs for the egg roll and the egg hunt and 83,000 souvenir wooden eggs complete with the president and first lady's signatures. Chirping eggs will be provided for visually impaired children.

White House Easter Egg Roll, a

tradition in its 133rd year.

This year's theme is 'Get Up and Go!' The theme focuses on promoting health and wellness and encouraging children to lead healthy and active lives. This is a central part of the First Lady's Let's Move! initiative, which is a national effort to combat childhood obesity.

Some 30,000 people from all 50 states and the District of Columbia have received tickets via online lottery to the largest annual public event at the White House.

Children’s Hope India to host Moroccan Magic luncheon Tracey Jackson to receive Woman of Distinction Award New York: With spring around the corner, Children’s Hope India will present its annual women’s luncheon on May 4, 2011 at 12 noon at the Swan Club, Long Island. An afternoon of Moroccan magic with a sumptuous menu with Middle Eastern touches, fun cocktails and lively belly dancing with the talented dancers of Roni Yaari’s Inner Spirit Dance Company will be some of the event highlights. These fun and friendly dancers, who bring a touch of Bollywood to their performance, will interact with guests, giving them impromptu lessons.

A highlight of the spring luncheon is the Woman of Distinction Award, given to a woman who has managed to balance the challenges of the workplace, home and social responsibility. This year’s honoree is Tracey Jackson, the noted filmmaker, screenwriter and author. Previous honorees are TV personality Tinku Jain and restaurateur Rohini Dey.

Roni Yaari’s Inner Spirit Dance Co to perform at the event Guests get to indulge in a delightful souk full of gifts to buy, from beautiful jewelry by Dagmar to accessories for Spring. Over 200 women are expected to attend this annual event which spotlights the girl child. Proceeds will benefit the children of sex workers in the Kalighat area in Kolkata.

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Tristate Community

April 23-29, 2011

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

NJLA Library Champion award for Chivukula New Jersey: The New Jersey Library Association (NJLA) announced that they are honoring Assemblyman Upendra J. Chivukula (D-Somerset) with the NJLA Library Champion Award in recognition of his legislative leadership in the passage of the Municipal Library Tax Levy Law. A2679, the legislation which was recently signed into law, calls for a dedicated line item in a municipal budget for municipal free public libraries.

It also calls for the library funding not to be counted in the 2% spending cap for municipalities. This change protects library funding from the impact of the cap.

“Our libraries have traditionally played an important role in our communities.

They have become the equivalent of our town centers, allowing for the exchange of ideas; use of their rooms for community groups; computers with internet access for those with out; providing workshops to educate and train; being a place in our community that we all can come to, to improve ourselves, its importance can not be understated,” stated Assemblyman Chivukula.

He added, “I am deeply honored by this award, I want to thank the NJLA for their consideration.”

Patricia Tumulty, Executive Director of the New Jersey Library Association said, “The municipal library appropriation is now represented on a property tax bill in

Aseemblyman Upendra J Chivukula the same manner as the appropriation for a county library.

This legislation does not result in any increased taxes, but changes the way the minimum library appropriation is displayed to the public.

It is a very positive piece of legislation.”

Tumulty added, “the Library Champion Award is our way of saying “thank you” for supporting New Jersey’s public libraries.”

Rajaratnam used Indian-American ‘corporate spies’: Prosecution New York, NY: Hedge fund tycoon Raj Rajaratnam set out ‘to conquer the stock market at the expense of the law’ using what they called his ‘corporate spies’ including at least three Indian Americans, prosecutors alleged.

Presenting concluding arguments in the biggest insider trading trial in the US here Wednesday, US Attorney Reed Brodsky said the Galleon hedge fund co-founder was at the centre of a network of friends and ‘corporate spies’, who passed on secret share tips. Brodsky recalled evidence that Sri Lankan-born Rajaratnam engaged in five insider-trading conspiracies, citing leaks he allegedly got from among others two IndianAmericans, former McKinsey & Co partner Anil Kumar and ex- Intel executive Rajiv Goel.

Other tips came from former Galleon portfolio manager Adam Smith, New Castle Funds LLC analyst Danielle Chiesi and former trader Roomy Khan, he said reminding the jury of the 45 secretly wiretapped record-

ings played during the seven-week trial.

Kumar, Goel and Smith have pleaded guilty in the case and testified for the prosecution.

Brodsky alleged that Kumar had proposed that Galleon hire McKinsey for consulting work. Instead, Brodsky said, Rajaratnam lured Kumar into an illegal scheme by paying him $500,000 through a secret offshore account. ‘Your common sense tells you he corrupted Kumar.’

The prosecutor reviewed Kumar’s alleged tips to Rajaratnam about a transaction involving McKinsey client Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) and ATI Technologies and showed how Rajaratnam’s trades corresponded with leaks.

Brodsky alleged Rajaratnam lured Goel, his friend from graduate school, into providing tips about Intel after loaning Goel $100,000 and giving him $500,000.

‘That money and their friendship gave Mr Goel more than enough incentive’ to become Rajaratnam’s ‘corporate spy,’ he said.

Dharun Ravi indicted in roommate’s suicide New York: An IndianAmerican student has been indicted for secretly viewing a same-sex encounter involving his roommate, who later jumped to his death from the George Washington Bridge into the Hudson River.

Dharun Ravi, 19, a former student of Rutgers University, could face up to five years in prison if convicted of the top charges in the 15-count indictment announced by Middlesex County prosecutor Bruce Kaplan Wednesday.

Ravi, of Plainsboro, New Jersey, was charged by a grand jury with bias intimidation, invasion of privacy and witness and evidence tampering for using a webcam to spy on Tyler Clementi’s dorm room date with another man,

Dharun Ravi New York Daily News reported.

Once Clementi’s Sep 22, 2010, suicide became public, Ravi asked witnesses not to implicate him and gave misleading information to investigators, Kaplan said.

According to the indict-

ment, Ravi also knew the target of his webcam would be intimidated because of his sexual orientation.

The 18-year-old Clementi, a freshman in his first weeks at Rutgers, plunged into the Hudson River after Ravi and a second student surreptitiously watched his liaison Sep 19, prosecutors said.

Ravi then tried to broadcast a second meeting between Clementi and his friend two days later, they said.

The indictment said charges against Ravi’s friend, Molly Wei, were not presented ‘at this time’.

Wei, 19, is already facing a charge of invasion of privacy.

Kaplan did not explain why she was not included in the indictment.

Sindhis celebrate Cheti Chand at Berlin Hindu Temple Berlin, NJ: Sindhis from the South Jersey Tri State area celebrated the Cheti Chand, The Sindhi New Year, at the Berlin Hindu Temple, Berlin, New Jersey, on April 16, 2011. The Sindhi community celebrates the festival of Cheti Chand in honor of the birth of Ishtadeva Uderolal, popularly known as Jhulelal, the Patron Saint of the Sindhis. This day is considered to be very auspicious and is celebrated with pomp and gaiety. On this day, people worship water – the elixir of life. Sheela Alwani, Deepa Pahlajani, Anju Varandani and Nalini Bhavnani, togeth-

Nalini Bhavnani and Dr. Hiroo Pahlajani singing at the Cheti Chand celebration in South Jersey er, with Sindhis from local ber of AAPI (Asian American area organized the event. Dr Physicians of India) plays a Sunder Mansukhani, past prominent role in promoting President and founding mem- the Sindhi culture and events.

National Community TheSouthAsianTimes.info

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April 23-29, 2011

Boss, our IT is 'horrible', Vivek Kundra to Obama Washington, DC: President Barack Obama's Indian-American IT guy is in full agreement with his boss that the White House is 'like 30 years' behind the times when it comes to technology.

'Federal IT is horrible - that's why we've made it a priority to aggressively crack down on wasteful IT spending and turn around poorly performing projects,' says Vivek Kundra, the federal chief information officer.

Obama had rightly 'pointed out how tough the problem really is,' he told Politico, a Washington newspaper focusing on presidential

Vivek Kundra, Federal Chief Information Officer

The 15th Wharton India Economic Forum presents ‘India: Gaining Momentum’ C.P. Gurnani, Robert O. Blake, Jr., Vinod Dham and Varun Gandhi to address students and professionals at WIEF Philadelphia, PA: The student leadership committee of the Wharton India Economic Forum (WIEF) announced that the 15th WIEF will be held at the Park Hyatt at the Bellevue Hotel in Philadelphia on April 22, 2011.

The Wharton India Economic Forum is among the oldest and largest student run conferences focusing on Indian business and economy.

The committee invites the public to gain insights from some of the world's top business leaders including prominent speakers: Robert O. Blake, Jr. (Assistant Secretary, South and Central Asia Bureau, U.S Department of State), Varun Gandhi (Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha), Vinod Dham (coinventor of the Pentium chip) Bunty Bohra (CEO Goldman Sachs India), Anoop Prakash (Managing Director, HarleyDavidson India), and C. P. Gurnani (CEO of Mahindra Satyam).

Registration is available at http://www.whartonindia.com.T he theme for the conference is: “India: Gaining Momentum.”

The conference will bring together leaders from around the world to highlight India's key strengths - from innovation and business to arts and culture, while opening up for debate the issues India must overcome to continue its upward trajectory and remain competitive in today's global environment.

Panelists will participate in numerous panels, a few of which are Finance, Infrastructure, Energy, and Luxury Retail. At the previous year ’s conference, over 800 attendees dissected the theme: “India: Breaking Boundaries”, gaining an appreciation for the strides the Indian economy has made recently.

Keynote speakers included dignitaries such as Praful Patel (Minister of Heavy Industry) and Sachin Pilot (Minister of State, Ministry of Communications and IT, Government of India), businessmen such as Aditya Puri (MD, HDFC Bank) and Atul Punj (Chairman, Punj Lloyd), and entertainers such as Anil Kapoor, and Vidya Balan.

and congressional politics.

The government now spends about $80 billion a year on technology systems - up from $46 billion in 2001.

Kundra said the government wastes billions of dollars on ineffective technology systems.

He said he found $3 billion in savings by using the IT Dashboard, a tool he introduced in 2009 that tracks how much the government spends on information technology investments.

Other progress has been made, he said. When the Obama administration came into office, 'We had giant

boxes on our desks instead of the laptops and docking stations we have now.'

Kundra has pushed consumerfocused companies like Google, Microsoft and Amazon to get into the government game.

They are now selling 'cloud computing' services, which store information for multiple agencies on large corporate-run servers, instead of each federal agency having to run its own equipment.

Consolidating such data centres will save money and help the government run more efficiently, Kundra told Politico.

The administration will soon issue a $2.5 billion cloud-computing procurement for federal and state agencies.

One of Kundra's first priorities is revamping the government's email system. Instead of each agency having its own email scheme, Kundra has been working on creating a governmentwide, cloudbased email network.

The administration expects to save $42 million from moving two agencies' email systems to the cloud, and the move will eliminate 800 data centres over the next five years.

Hillary Clinton's top Indian American aide quits Washington, DC: A key aide of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Rahul 'Richard' Verma, has become the second high-ranking IndianAmerican official in the Obama administration to return to the private sector.

As assistant secretary of state for legislative affairs, Verma was Clinton's principal advisor on Congressional affairs for nearly two-and-a-half years and played a lead role in a wide range of critical international initiatives and legislative actions.

These included securing ratification of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Talks treaty with Russia negotiating comprehensive sanctions against Iran and obtaining passage of the United Kingdom and Australian defence cooperation treaties.

At a farewell reception for Verma

Rahul ‘Richard’ Verma at the State Department, Clinton said: 'Richard has just been our superb point person on the Hill. He hasn't just been an absolutely, exemplary deal-closer and problemsolver, he has been a counselor and friend in the truest sense of the

word.'

In a personal letter of appreciation, President Barack Obama too extended 'my sincere thanks for your valuable service to my administration.'

'You played a key role in our efforts to ratify the New START treaty, to manage the response to the tragedy of the Haiti earthquake and to negotiate a powerful Iran sanctions bill,' he wrote thanking him 'for your contribution to the country.' Verma, who at the time of his confirmation was the highest- ranking Indian American to serve in the State Department, will return to the international law firm of Steptoe & Johnson LLP as a partner in its Washington office. He will practice in the firm's international, national and homeland security, and government affairs and public policy groups.

Reward offered in killing of two Sikhs in US Washington, DC: Police in California and IndianAmerican groups have offered a reward in the case of an attack on two elderly Sikh men as the second victim of the possible hate crime also succumbed to his injuries.

Gurmej Atwal, 78, and Surinder Singh, 65, were on their usual afternoon walk in the Sacramento suburb of Elk Grove last month when they were shot near a bus shelter overlooking a highway where they often stopped to rest.

Singh died at the scene and Atwal succumbed to his injuries Friday afternoon, his son Kamaljit Singh said. Born and raised in Punjab, Atwal moved to the US after retirement.

‘He was shot in the upper right chest, one bullet went straight to his lungs and the other to his pancreas, liver and intestines,’ he was quoted as saying

by The Modesto Bee, a local newspaper.

‘My dad was going to be a key witness’, in the

shooting. But ‘from day one, he could not speak a word,’ Kamaljit said.

‘We all hoped that he would recover and thus give us the clue but it is very unfortunate that he died,’ said Gurjatinder Singh Randhawa, from the NRI Front USA. The Sikh community and a number of community organiZations have come together to offer a reward of over $42,000 for information leading to the arrest of those responsible for the shooting.

Crime Alert Sacramento is offering an additional $10,000 reward if it is determined to be a hate crime.

Police say they are treating it as a possible hate crime, citing similar instances that have occurred since the Sep 11, 2001, terror attack in which Sikhs have been mistaken for Muslims and randomly attacked. The FBI is assisting in the investigation, and Elk Grove has increased patrol where Sikh elders often stroll.

8

National Community

April 23-29, 2011

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

New York, Washington, 44 other US cities not white any more Asians grew 43% to 14.7 million in last decade, now make 5% of nation’s population Washington, DC: New York, Washington and 44 other of America’s 366 metro areas have flipped from majority white to majority populations of minorities during the last decade, according to new census data.

That number is up from 32 in 2000, 10 in 1990 and nine in 1980, according to William Frey, a demographer at the Brookings Institution with San Diego, Las Vegas and Memphis among others joining cities where white people are now in the minority.

The changes are a result of relatively slow growth among the white population, white people

moving outside metropolitan areas, and huge increases in minority populations, especially Hispanic and Asian, including Indians.

Recent analysis also showed white children are in the minority in 10 states.

The 2010 Census figures ‘show we’re becoming a more diverse nation, especially in our metropolitan areas, and it’s filtering out from there,’ Frey was quoted as saying by CNN. Meanwhile, the growing Hispanic population in the United States has reached a new milestone, topping 50 million, or 16.3

percent of the nation, officially solidifying its position as the country’s second-largest group, US Census Bureau officials said Thursday.

The Asian population grew 43 percent, increasing from 10.2 million in 2000 to 14.7 million in 2010, officials said. Asians now account for about 5 percent of the nation’s population.

‘Overall, we’ve learned that our nation’s population has become more racially and ethnically diverse over the past 10 years,’ said Nicholas A. Jones, chief of the bureau’s racial statistics branch.

Another Indian American pleads guilty to tax evasion New York: Another Indian American banking with HSBC India has pleaded guilty to tax evasion days after a New Jersey businessman admitted to conspiring with five HSBC bankers to hide offshore accounts in India.

Josephine Bhasin with an HSBC account worth as much as $8.3 million, according to the prosecution,

entered the guilty plea before a magistrate judge in US District Court in New York Wednesday.

Bhasin is the second taxpayer charged in a crackdown focusing on whether HSBC helped clients with Indian accounts hide assets from the IRS as part of a wider US investigation of banks that attract tax dodgers.

American Sikh Day celebrated at California Capitol Sacramento,CA: The Sikh American community celebrated the first ever American Sikh Day in California on the steps of the California State Capitol with dozens of California elected officials.

The event Wednesday highlighted the history The event was organized by Sacramento Sikh and contributions of Temple and Senate President pro Tempore Sikh Americans in Darrell Steinberg California and the challenges the community faces, Steinberg said. 'No one should be according to the Sikh American the victim of a hate crime, no one Legal Defence and Education Fund should be the victim of differential (SALDEF), a community civil treatment, no one should assume something negative about someone rights group.

At the event, organized by because they follow their religion.'

'Today, we come here partly Sacramento Sikh Temple and Senate President pro Tempore because of tragedy but leave here Darrell Steinberg, officials and with unity. It's important we learn interfaith and advocacy groups about each other and that's why I expressed their solidarity with the wore the turban to support you all Sikh American community follow- today,' said California State ing recent attacks against them in Senator Doug LaMalfa.

'We all have common bonds as California.

'One thing we can all agree on is part of the American fabric and that prejudice and discrimination having that common love is what have no place in California,' America is about,' he said.

Employees win $8500 settlement from Rajbhog Foods New York, NY: The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF)’s New JerseyAsian American Legal Project announced a major victory for two Indian Gujarati food factory workers in a federal lawsuit against Rajbhog Foods (NJ), Inc. and its owners. The workers recovered $8,500 for unpaid minimum wage and overtime pay from their former employers.

The workers regularly labored between fifty to sixty hours per week, often for ten or more hours each day, frying snacks and packing orders for shipping at a non-stop pace. Despite repeated requests for their earnings, Rajbhog Foods deliberately failed to pay its former employees their lawful wages. After leaving their jobs, the workers sought assistance from AALDEF NJ-AALP at one

of their community legal clinics.

AALDEF Staff Attorney and Equal Justice Works Fellow Aparna Garg said: “These women worked long days in difficult conditions, never knowing when and how much they would be getting paid” Garg continued, “State and federal laws exist to protect all workers, regardless of their immigration status, from exploitation and abuse.”

Britney Spears goes Bollywood New York, NY: Britney Spears, the queen of pop released a Bollywood inspired remix of her hit new single, “Till the World Ends,” produced by Culture Shock, in conjunction with fusion media company Desi Hits.“We wanted to build an even greater connection between the world’s biggest pop star and one of the world’s largest audiences,” said Mark Flaherty Senior Vice President of Jive Label Group. “Britney has been engaged with South Asian culture for many years. From the ground-breaking Bollywood-inspired remix of “Me Against the Music” to her recent collaboration with Indian fashion designers Falguni and Shane Peacock on the “Hold it Against Me” video, she has embraced the incredible sights and sounds of this vibrant community throughout her career. ” The Bollywoodinspired remix of “Till the World Ends” incorporates manipulated dholki, dhol and a subtle tumbi beats to give a hint of Indian flavor without throwing off the energy and balance

A Bollywood inspired remix of her hit new single is available now of the song. The climax of the track features a Punjabi breakdown, with vocals by Lomaticc and Sunny Brown. Culture Shock, the producers of this remix, have produced Desi/Bollywood remixes for a laundry list of artists, such as Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Sean Paul, Jay Sean and Alesha Dixon.

National Community TheSouthAsianTimes.info

9

April 23-29, 2011

BAPS Charities hosts health lecture on nutritional considerations for vegetarians Supports First Lady Michelle Obama’s initiative “Let's Move" Edison, NJ: Community members at over 50 locations across North America attended a local Health Awareness Lecture on the topic of Nutritional Considerations for Vegetarians.

The lecture was organized by BAPS Charities in support of First Lady Michelle Obama’s initiative, “Let's Move."

Facing the current reality that one in three kids is overweight and is part of the first generation expected to be outlived by their parents, Mrs. Obama's 'Let's Move' initiative, now in its second year, is diligently working to end childhood obesity. Attempting to tackle the problem head on, the BAPS Charities Health Awareness Lecture focused on educating parents on the healthy vegetarian changes they could make in children’s lives.

Both the American Dietetic Association and Dietitians of Canada have stated that at all stages of life, a properly planned vegetarian diet is "healthful, nutritionally adequate, and provides health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases." However, of the many millions of Americans who follow a vegetarian-based diet, certain populations still tend to have some level of nutritional deficiency due to improper dietary planning.

“I turned to vegetarianism when I was 16, in the middle of varsity basketball season,”

The lecture focused on educating parents on the healthy vegetarian changes they could make in children’s lives. said Dr. Yogi Mehta, a general practitioner and volunteer in Ohio. “I wanted to live a more spiritually centered life as a Hindu, and my diet had to change. To keep up my stamina and muscle mass I needed to make sure my diet was rich with protein and iron to compensate for the absence of meat.”

Vegetarians commonly face a B-12 deficiency because, unless fortified, plants are not rich in this necessary vitamin. It is most important for vegetarians to maintain regular habits of drinking milk, an adequate source of B-12. Another common pitfall is that even though people may eat FDA recommended

Satish Tripathi appointed President of University at Buffalo Washington,DC: Indian American Satish Tripathi, an internationally recognized computer scientist, has been appointed as President of the prestigious University at Buffalo (UB) in New York.

State University of New York (SUNY) Board of Trustees announced Tripathi's appointment to this top post following seven-month international research. During which the search committee considered nearly 70 candidates. With his appointment, Tripathi, 60, has become the first non-American president in UB's history.

He is the 15th president of UB, the largest and most comprehensive university in the SUNY system and one of two SUNY institutions to be a member of the prestigious Association of American

Satish Tripathi, is first non-American president in UB’s history Universities (AAU).

"Dr Tripathi has excelled as provost and executive vice president at the University at Buffalo, aiding in the development of its strategic plan and enhancing the university's academic and research portfolios.

The Board is most confident that he will prove an extraordinary leader for UB as its 15th

president," said SUNY Board Chairman, Carl T Hayden.

"Major public research universities like UB engage in research that helps build vibrant communities at home and across the globe, and they require leadership of exceptional caliber. As a transformative leader with an international reputation for excellence, Dr Tripathi will provide outstanding leadership for UB and the Western New York community," University Chancellor Nancy L Zimpher said.

Tripathi said he is privileged and humbled by the opportunity to lead this remarkable university. Tripathi, 60, joined UB as provost, the university's chief academic officer - on July 1, 2004, after serving as dean of the Bourns College of Engineering at the University of California , Riverside .

BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandirs in North America celebrate Swaminarayan Jayanti and Ram Navmi Edison,NJ: Sages, poets, and devotees have hailed Bhagwan as a hitakāri, a moral and spiritual benefactor, as impartial as the sun shining upon all within its perimeter. This quality of Bhagwan, to ensure well-being of all baring distinction, was brought to the fore in this year’s annual celebration of Swaminarayan Jayanti and Ram Navmi.

The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir across North America, celebrated the 230th birth

anniversary of Bhagwan Swaminarayan on Sunday, April 17, 2011. Falling on Chaitra Sud 9, which also marks the birth anniversary of Shri Ram, this day is one of the most celebratory events of the Swaminarayan Sampraday.

Excitement and devotion abounds on this occasion as children, youth, and adults engage in various spiritual endeavors including chanting the Swaminarayan mantra, observing a stringent fast, and preparing for a grand celebration.

amounts of grains, fruits, and vegetables, some often negate the nutritional intake with excess amounts of hydrogenated and saturated fat – butter, oil, heavy cream, and cheese.

Vijay Desai of Dallas, Texas talked to an audience of visitors about his triple bypass surgery. “Too many years of eating meats, full of fats and cholesterol, had my arteries fully blocked. The thought of allowing food to cause this much stress and potentially take my life was enough to change my lifestyle.”

Desai said that his experiences have led to a change at home, now he enjoys exploring vegetarian cuisine with his wife and kids as

they cook together as a family.

BAPS Charities invited dieticians to offer healthy alternatives for families practicing vegetarianism. A similar health awareness forum has also been implemented for the youth wing of BAPS. Following First Lady Michelle Obama's "Let’s Move" campaign, the youth are encouraged to understand the importance of eating fruits and vegetables, prepare healthy vegetarian meals, and embrace a daily exercise routine.

“Fruits and vegetables are an excellent source of vitamins and nutrition, but more importantly, they are easy on the human digestive tract,” said Dr. Neha Shah, a dietician in Washington, D.C. “The human intestine is longer than that of a carnivore and digesting meat or poultry prevents the intestine from functioning at its optimal level.”

BAPS Charities structured the seminars around educating attendees on preventative medicine, eating healthy to avoid future diseases, and illnesses.

In addition to nutrition, working with the American Cancer Society, BAPS Charities stressed the importance for both men and women over the age of 50 to begin regular colon screenings for early detection of issues and even earlier for those who have a family history of colorectal cancer.

10

USA Affairs

April 23-29, 2011

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Arizona Guv vetoes birther bill

S&P drops rating for US on debt New York: Standard & Poor ’s Ratings Services announced Monday that it downgraded the long-term outlook for US sovereign debt from stable to negative.

At the same time, S&P continues to give Washington’s long-term and short-term debt the highest ratings, AAA and A-1+, respectively. “Our negative outlook on our rating on the US sovereign signals that we believe there is at least a one-inthree likelihood that we could lower our long-term rating on the US within two years,” S&P; credit analyst Nikola G. Swann said in a statement.

Phoenix: Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer has vetoed a bill to require President Barack Obama and other presidential candidates to prove their US citizenship before their names can appear on the state's ballot. The bill vetoed by Brewer on Monday would have made Arizona the first state to pass such a requirement. The governor said the measure "is a bridge too far."

The Arizona proposal would have required political parties and presidential candidates to hand in affidavits stating a candidate's citizenship and age and to provide the candidate's birth certificate and a sworn

statement saying where the candidate has lived for 14 years.

"I never imagined being presented with a bill that could require candidates for president of the greatest and most powerful nation on earth to submit their 'early baptismal or circumcision certificates'," said Brewer in light of vetoing the bill. "This measure creates significant new problems while failing to do anything constructive for Arizona."

Hawaii officials have certified Obama was born in that state, but so-called "birthers" have demanded more proof.

The US remains a “high-income, highly diversified, and flexible economy” with “a strong track record of prudent and credible monetary policy”.

“Although we believe these strengths currently outweigh what we consider to be the US’s meaningful economic and fiscal risks and large external debtor position, we now believe that they might not fully offset the credit risks over the next two years at the ‘AAA’ level,” Swann said. He cited what he called “a significant risk that Congressional negotiations could

result in no agreement on a mediumterm fiscal strategy until after the fall 2012 Congressional and presidential elections”.

“More than two years after the beginning of the recent crisis, US policymakers have still not agreed on how to reverse recent fiscal deterioration or address longer-term fiscal pressures,” Swann said.

Under S&P’s “optimistic scenario”, which posits average annual growth of nearly 4 percent, the US “fiscal profile would be less robust than those of other AAA rated sovereigns by 2013″, the analyst said.

Hillary to visit India in July for strategic talks New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna Tuesday said he will meet US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the Indian capital in July when the two sides are to hold their strategic dialogue on security, trade and other issues.

“I visited Washington last year and I expect Secretary Clinton to come to Delhi in July of this year,” Krishna said at an event to release the National Security Index 2010 here. The strategic talks will not include defense, which is a separate dialogue.

“We have a very structured security relationship with the US. We have entered into a civil nuclear accord and we have our annual meeting of the commission…. So I think our mutual interests are being well taken care of,”

he said in response to questions from senior diplomacy and security experts present at the event. The “strategic dialogue” was established in July 2009 during Clinton’s visit to India with the objective of strengthening bilateral cooperation in five areas, including strategic cooperation on non-proliferation, counter-terrorism; energy and climate change; education and development on education and women’s empowerment; economics, trade and agriculture on business, trade and food security; and science and technology, health and innovation on major technologies and global health challenges.

The first round of the dialogue was held in Washington in June 2010 when Krishna led the Indian delegation.

Heat on ‘Three Cups of Tea’ book to impact educating girls in Af-Pak New York: Greg Mortenson, the co-author of the best-selling “Three Cups of Tea,” a book popular with the Pentagon because it said schools not bombs will bring peace to Afghanistan and Pakistan, has forcefully countered a CBS News report on Sunday that questioned the facts of his book and the management of his charitable organization based in Montana.

Nonetheless, Montana Attorney General Steve Bullock will probe Mortenson’s Central Asia Institute, which has built schools in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and claim to provide education to over 64,000 children, including 54,000 girls, in areas where few education opportunities existed before.

The television report had alleged that the Institute spends more money domestically promoting the importance of constructing schools in Afghanistan and Pakistan than it spends to build them, and thus pushing sales of Mortenson’s books.

The report has also revived a chronic concern in the publishing industry over the accuracy of nonfic-

Mortenson poses with schoolchildren in northeastern Afghanistan: his message has been that schools not bombs will bring peace to Af-Pak region. tion memoirs, which are typically only lightly factchecked by publishers, if at all.

Viking, the imprint of Penguin Group USA that published Moertenson’s book, declined to comment on the book or answer questions about how it was vetted.

The CBS News report questioned, in particular, a central anecdote of the book that was as dramatic as it was inspirational: in 1993, Mortenson was retreating after failing to reach the summit of K2, the world’s second highest mountain, when, lost and dehydrated, he stumbled across the small village of

Korphe in northeast Pakistan. After the villagers there nursed him back to health, he vowed to return and build a school.

The CBS report, broadcast on “60 Minutes” Sunday night and citing sources, said that Mr. Mortenson had actually visited Korphe nearly one year after his K2 attempt.

Mortenson said on Sunday that he did reach Korphe after his climb in 1993, and that he visited again in 1994.

If the allegations are proven, more than Mortenson it would negatively impact the cause of educating girls in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

India Newswire TheSouthAsianTimes.info

11

April 23-29, 2011

'I depend on father's vote bank' Kolkata: He has shed his corporate image to look the part.

Congress candidate Abhijit Mukherjee admits he is depending on the vote bank of Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee and of course his father and union minister Pranab Mukherjee - to pass his first political test.

Abhijit is a candidate from the Nalhati assembly constituency in West Bengal's Birbhum district where polling will be held Saturday.

"My father being the union finance minister is a very popular name in Indian politics. I have to depend on his vote bank to win this election. Similarly, I need to depend on Mamata Banerjee's vote bank. She is very popular and the winds of change blowing across the state are largely due to her," 51year-old Abhijit Mukherjee was quoted as saying.

Admitting that Mamata Banerjee has a strong anti-establishment and anti-Left vote bank, Mukherjee Jr said his father's legacy has helped him a lot. "His dedication and urge to carry out development for people's benefit have inspired me."

"I am telling people about his success story in my election cam-

"I have chosen the constituency myself. I am the son of this district.

I also have houses in Kolkata and Delhi... then what is the reason for raising such a question?"

The mainly rural constituency, bordering Jharkhand, has an electorate of 176,536 out of which

Record 84.11 pc turnout in Bengal

Congress candidate Abhijit Mukherjee (right) with his father and union minister Pranab Mukherjee. paign and they are showing faith in me," he said, adding he wants to establish his own identity and carry forward his father's legacy.

When asked whether it was an advantage or hindrance to contest an election as the son of Pranab Mukherjee, Abhijit shot back: "Don't ask me such questions. You all ask me the same question over and over again.

"I have worked as general manager in an organization like Steel

Authority of India Limited (SAIL).

I am a mechanical engineer who has passed out of the reputed Jadavpur University."

"Now, I am a Congress candidate for the Nalhati seat and the voters of this area know me personally.

And after all of this, I am the son of Pranab Mukherjee."

On why he chose to contest from Nalhati when his ancestral house in Meeriti village is located in adjacent Labpur constituency, he said:

US behind Congress-Trinamool Alliance: Bose Kolkata: Left Front chairman and Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) West Bengal secretary Biman Bose alleged that the Congress-Trinamool Congress alliance for the assembly elections was formed due to US pressure. "Recently the WikiLeaks website and rediff.com leaked that the alliance was formed due to pressure from the US," Bose said at a press conference here.

"Not only the grand alliance between the Trinamool and Congress was formed due to the intervention of the US, but several ministers at the centre, including Natwar Singh and Mani Shankar Aiyar, were changed because of US pressure," alleged Bose.

He recalled that 61 Left front MPs, including 35 from West Bengal, had opposed the first United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government's nuclear policy, "in which US interests were involved". The Left had withdrawn its support to the government over the India-

US civil nuclear deal, prompting it to seek a confidence vote in parliament in July 2008.

"WikiLeaks leaks also revealed that huge money was spent to influence voters during the confidence vote in parliament July 2008," Bose said. According to Bose, the US "decided to take revenge against the Left Front in Bengal and the alliance between the Congress and the Trinamool Congress was formed".

"When any US national will write a book admitting that they had intervened in Bengal elections and invested money in the polls during 2009-10 and 2010-2011, then the people will believe," said Bose. However, he denied the news report of a leaked diplomatic cable that claimed Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, in a purported conversation with US financial secretary Henry Paulson, had favoured economic liberalization. Bose said: "It was not true. Bhattacharjee has sent a rejoinder to the media house."

Election Commission eases restrictions Chennai: With voting in the assembly elections over in Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala and Puducherry, the Election Commission has eased some of the restrictions laid down in the model code of conduct.

In a letter to the chief electoral officers of Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala and Puducherry, which was released to the media by CEO of Tamil Nadu Praveen Kumar, the commission has said tenders for approved

92,351 are males and 84,185 are females.

Demographically, 60 percent of the people are land owners and small marginal farmers, 20 percent are businessmen and service holders. The rest 20 percent are wage laborers and farm laborers.

works could be floated, but awarding the same will need its approval.

The commission also permitted the commencement of works for which work orders were issued earlier but not started due to the operation of the model code of conduct.

The official tours of ministers - state and central - and secretaries have been permitted. The commission, however, has barred review of work of police or revenue

or any other election official without its prior approval.

The commission has also permitted the use of government guest houses by ministers on official duty except between May 11-15 when the rooms are reserved for the poll observers.

As a measure of providing security to the voting machines now kept under lock and key the commission has barred processions within one kilometre radius of the strong room.

Kolkata/Siliguri: There was record 84.11 percent turnout in the first phase of the West Bengal assembly elections, officials said.

Polling was held in 54 constituencies in six districts Monday. The turnout surpassed the previous best of 82.77 percent polling in the 2006 assembly poll.

Chief Electoral Officer Sunil Kumar Gupta had said the polling percentage was 74.22 percent after the elections ended Monday. "The turnout figure is provisional and it is likely to go up," he had added.

The final figure after late night counting took the figure up to

84.11 percent. South Dinajpur tops the list recording 89.35 percent votes, followed by Jalpaiguri with 86.72 percent.

Besides, Cooch Behar recorded 85.72 percent, Malda 82.50 percent, North Dinajpur 81.10 percent and Darjeeling 78.90 percent.

Enthusiasm was high as first time voters and old timers voted in strength to choose their representatives from among 364 candidates in the six districts that has over 97 lakh eligible voters.

The next polling dates are April 23 (50 constituencies), April 27 (75), May 3 (63), May 7 (38) and May 10 (14). The votes will be counted May 13.

12

India Newswire

April 23-29, 2011

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Lokpal Bill: Bhushans in trouble New Delhi: The controversies dogging the civil society representatives in the Lokpal Bill joint drafting committee continued to rage with fresh allegations of graft surfacing against committee co-chair Shanti Bhushan. But Bhushan fought back, demanding a public apology from Congress leader Digvijaya Singh and dismissing as "malicious" a report that he and his son Jayant had got land from Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati's discretionary quota.

The former law minister and his family have been in the proverbial eye of the storm since he was appointed to the 10-member committee to draft a more stringent Lokpal (ombudsman) Bill to fight corruption. His lawyer son Prashant is also member of the panel. On Wednesday, Shanti Bhushan's other son Jayant also found himself in the headlines.

Meanwhile, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi said in a letter to Anna Hazare, whose five-day fastunto-death resulted in the joint drafting committee being set up,

Lawyers Prashant and Shanti Bhushan. that she doesn't "support nor encourage the politics of smear campaign" launched against civil rights activists who are part of the joint panel.

Hazare had written to Sonia complaining against party general secretary Digvijay Singh without mentioning his name. L'affaire Bhushan also saw expelled Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Amar Singh as well as Digvijay Singh take on the family.

In another development, Shanti Bhushan served a legal notice on Digvijay Singh demanding a public apology for alleging that he had undervalued a property in Allahabad and not paid adequate

Sai Baba's condition very critical

Spiritual leader Sathya Sai Baba.

Hyderabad: Spiritual leader Sathya Sai Baba's health has turned very critical, doctors attending on him said. According to the medical bulletin issued by Sathya Sai Super Specialty Hospital at Puttaparthi in Anantapur district, all the organs are showing very poor response to the treatment.

"Non-functioning of the liver and persistent episodes of low blood pressure are causing great worry to the doctors," said the statement by hospital director A.N. Safaya.

However, most of the parameters have still been kept at nearly normal levels by the use of appropriate medicines. The breathing is still

ventilator dependent. And the process of slow haemodialysis has been started in the morning to assist the kidneys, added the statement.

The 85-year-old spiritual leader, seen as the incarnation of god by his devotees in India and abroad, was admitted to the hospital March 28 with breathing problem. The doctors later said he was suffering from multi-organ dysfunction.

With the deterioration in the health condition of Baba, the Andhra Pradesh government has gone on an alert. Additional police forces were rushed to the town from other parts of Anantapur and neighbouring districts.

stamp duty on it. But the Congress leader remained unmoved.

Reacting to a newspaper report that he and his son Jayant had taken two plots in Noida at belowmarket rates, Shanti Bhushan said: "To suggest that the allotment has been obtained from any discretionary quota is totally false and misleading."

Giving procedural details of the allotment, Bhushan said: "So far, possession has not been delivered, nor the lease deal executed. It is only after the plot has been made approachable by construction of roads that possession would be delivered and lease executed."

Bhushan said if there had been

any arbitrariness, the allotments should be canceled. Refuting the allegation of favors from Mayawati, Bhushan said: "Both myself and my son Jayant have been fighting cases against Mayawati in courts and the question of obtaining favors from her or her government does not arise at all.

Shanti Bhushan has been in the news for the circulation of a CD, which has a man purportedly meant to be the veteran lawyer

telling SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and Amar Singh that a judge could be "fixed" for Rs.4 crore.

Meanwhile, Amar Singh addressed the press to rebut Shanti Bhushan's comment that he (lawyer) had not been in touch with him. "Shanti Bhushan does not remember many things because of his age."

He said the SP had chartered an aircraft for the Supreme Court counsel to plead a case for the party in Lucknow.

'Bhushan CD not tampered with' New Delhi: The Delhi Police said that the CD containing the voices of Shanti Bhushan and Mulayam Singh Yadav has not been tampered with according to reports received by them. TV reports quoting sources said that the police have said that they had received CFSL report on the CDs

according to which, the voices recorded in them are that of Shanti Bhushan and Mulayam Singh. The CD of 1.59 seconds is continuous and has no patch work, the report said. The Bhushans have earlier said that the CD was not original and was spliced.

Air India operates 'illegal' flight to Tokyo?

Mumbai: If Air India is to believed, then civil aviation minister Vayalar Ravi and not the director general of civil aviation is now deciding whether pilots have had their mandatory rest to safely operate passenger flights beyond legally permissible duty hours.

The matter relates to the March 19 Delhi-Tokyo-Delhi flight AI-306. A day before, top Air India officials briefed the minister about operating flights to Tokyo. "There were concerns about radiation exposure.

They sent me a brief about it," said Ravi. Little did he know it was more than a regular briefing.

Next day, Air India called four of its overworked Boeing 747-400 pilots — two commanders and two co-pilots — to operate the 19-hour, quick turnaround return flight to Tokyo. It left from Delhi at 6pm and returned at 1pm the next day.

"These pilots should not have been called for this flight as they had exceeded the maximum limit of extra duty a pilot is legally allowed.

But they were told the minister had given the airline a waiver to circumvent the rule," said an airline source.

The Air Information Circular 28 of 1992 for Flight Duty and Time Limitation (FDTL), which defines work/rest rules for pilots in India, states a pilot can only perform a total eight hours of extra flight duty for 30 consecutive days. Flight duty time is calculated from the minute a pilot reports at the airport up to 15 minutes after the flight`s comple-

tion. At any given time, the duty of a pilot can be extended by a maximum of four hours to prevent the onset of extreme cumulative fatigue, a major cause of air accidents.

"The rule meant they could not do even a minute of extra flight duty as they had done more than total eight hours of extra duty in the preceding 30 days. Two sets of crew, that is four pilots, can do only 15 hours of flight duty at a time. So operating the 19-hour Tokyo return flights meant four hours of extra flight

duty," he said.

The airline could only circumvent this by getting a nod from the DGCA. "The director-general would not have given the dispensation as the airline had many other Boeing 747 pilots who had hardly done any flights. So, they should have been rostered for the Tokyo flight," said the source. But flights to Tokyo were not really popular in those days for fear of radiation and earthquakes.

India Newswire TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Baba Ramdev to launch satyagraha

Baba Ramdev.

New Delhi: Yoga guru and spiritual leader Baba Ramdev will launch a nationwide people's movement 'Satyagraha against corruption' from June 4, his spokesperson said.

"The movement will begin after he completes his 'Bharat Swabhiman Yatra', a journey of one lakh km which began from Dwarka on September 2 last year and will end at Ujjain (in Madhya Pradesh) on June 1," Baba Ramdev's spokesperson S.K. Tijarawala said.

He added that the spiritual leaedr will announce the launch and details of the anti-graft movement April 27 Baba Ramdev will also write a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on three issues -creating an independent, impartial Lokpal (ombudsman), getting back black money worth over Rs.400 lakh crore stashed in tax havens abroad and replacing the British system of governance, taxation, education, law and order with a 'swadeshi' model.

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April 23-29, 2011

Violent protests rock Ratnagiri Jaitapur (Maharashtra): Hundreds of activists protesting the Jaitapur nuclear power project blocked traffic and torched trucks and buses in different parts of Ratnagiri to protest the police firing a day ago in which one person was killed.

The state government said it will probe the police firing but would go ahead with setting up of the 9,900 MW plant.

Meanwhile, the situation in different parts of Ratnagiri limped back to normalcy in the evening.

The police clamped prohibitory orders under Sec. 144 of the Bombay Police Act that bans the assembly of more than five people.

The Shiv Sena-called shutdown witnessed several violent incidents in different parts of the district.

Police kept enhanced vigil all over the district, including the headquarters, Ratnagiri, and sensitive villages like Madhban, Jaitapur and Sakre-Nate.

In a related development, Shirin, the widow of the the killed activist Tabrez Pehekar wrote to Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan alleging that her husband was 'murdered' by the police.

"Shirin has said that Tabrez had sustained only a single bullet injury and was dumped in a police jeep to be taken to hospital. In the cramped jeep, four policemen sat, keeping their feet on him. Today's autopsy report on Tabrez shows three bullet injuries.

Shirin has alleged that he was shot two more times while being taken to hospital. It is murder by the police," Jan Hit Seva Samiti president Pravin Gawankar said.

The victim's family, all engaged in the fishing trade, has also decided not to take possession of the body for the last rites till the state government sus-

Police personnel guard the proposed site of the Nuclear Power Project near Jaitapur on April 20. pends a sub-divisional officer Ajit Pawar, who ordered the police firing, and the Jaitapur project is canceled, Gawankar said.

Terming the situation in Ratnagiri as "sensitive", Gawankar claimed that anything can happen as the people were angry with the state government and the police.

Earlier in the day, some protesters pelted stones and ransacked the Ratnagiri Civil Hospital where Tabrez's body was taken for autopsy. Tabrez's shocked and grieving family members and scores of activists had gathered outside the hospital amidst tight police security.

More than two thousand people took part in the demonstrations against the proposed 9,900-MW JNPP coming up in Jaitapur, around 375 km south of Mumbai. With a cluster of six nuclear reactors, each with a capacity of 1,650-MW, the JNPP would be listed among the largest nuclear power projects in the world.

14

Op Ed

April 23-29, 2011

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Free the bribe giver

By Gautam Chikermane et the briber giver go scot free, punish the bribe taker. Could this simple model from India’s chief economic adviser and brilliant economist Kaushik Basu end one sort of corruption — harassment bribery? I tend to agree. The simplicity of this solution goes under the skin of its creation, under laws that were created to encourage petty corruption and protect incumbent bureaucrats, officials and politicians.

At a moral level, there is no denying that a person who pays a bribe is as guilty of the crime as one who receives it. But does the person entitled to a tax refund, for instance, really have a choice in not bribing the official there?

In ‘We the extorted’, a story I wrote in December 2010, I learnt that 85% of all reports on ipaidabribe.com said they had to bribe to get a routine job done.

Its program coordinator TR Raghunandan said “10% were asked to pay a bribe but didn’t, and only 5% faced honest government officials.”

Lawmakers have invented all kinds of weapons with which to harass honest citizens. So complex have these missiles become

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Veteran social activist Anna Hazare at the Finance Ministry in New Delhi on April 16. Following the Anna Hazare phenomenon, I hope the government has got the message: democratic or not, corruption must end.

that I often wonder whether I’ve broken some law, by-law, rule, sub-rule, regulation, sub-clause,

in the simplest act of thinking, writing, breathing. With harassment power concentrated in the

hands of the few, how can a single citizen even think of fighting the system?

The incentive system encourages corruption. A powerful official can demand a bribe and get away with it only because once the bribe is given the giver of the bribe is guilty of the same crime.

The interests of the two get aligned. The citizen gets his entitlement with a small bribery tax — better to get 75% of the entitlement rather than nothing at all.

The official gets a commission to ensure the job gets done on time — it will have to be done in any case, why not speed up the process and buy that flat screen TV the family has been asking for? Win-win.

By changing the incentive system, offer the briber giver legal legitimacy and transfer the weight of the crime to the bribe taker — the more powerful party in the case — Basu is attacking the root of India’s corrupted incentive system. “The central message of this paper is that we should declare the act of giving a bribe in all such cases as legitimate activity,” Basu proposes in his recent paper, Why, for a Class of Bribes, the Act of Giving a Bribe should be Treated as Legal. “In other words the giver of

a harassment bribe should have full immunity from any punitive action by the state.”

Under this model, the interests of the two become orthogonal: “If caught, the bribe giver will go scot free and will be able to collect his bribe money back,” Basu writes. “The bribe taker, on the other hand, loses the booty of bribe and faces a hefty punishment. Hence, in the post-bribe situation…it will be in the interest of the bribe giver to have the taker get caught, since that way the bribe giver can get back the money she gave as bribe. Since the bribe taker knows this, he will be much less inclined to take the bribe in the first place.” The total fine on the transaction will remain the same, Basu says, but the burden of payment will double on the bribe taker, rather than be equally distributed between the two.

Following the Anna Hazare phenomenon, I hope the government has got the message: democratic or not, corruption must end. And while the Lokpal Bill will attempt to create an institution for corruption in high places, we are not going to wait another half century for it to trickle down. We want to end it now.

In T20 age, World Cup broke all records

By Pradeep Magazine fter the World Cup storm, one was expecting a lull, a period of pause, time for celebrating and savouring a famous win. Instead, we are being bombarded from all sides by the IPL, which is once again being marketed as a glitzy product designed to rake in new audiences for the game, which is already the most popular sport in the country.

Not a great fan of this most abbreviated version of the game, I would till last year still watch a game or two, but am finding it too difficult now to assume the role of a sadist and relish batsmen butchering bowlers.

I am not the only one to feel this way, especially after the World Cup once again established the primacy of the 50-50 game. Despite its shortcomings — too short for the purist and too long for T20 followers — the one-day format remains the best compromise between the skills of the game and the need to provide instant gratification to the spectators.

The argument that the days of one-day cricket are numbered and T20 is going to swamp it, are over. The 100-over game

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Whatever you may say of IPL, you have to “appreciate” it for the way it has spread the money pool available to players, both former as well as present, including those aspirants who have their brush with stardom once a year.

has the capacity to give enough space and time for genuine talent to express itself, unlike a 40-over game, where luck and chance play a far more pivotal role in the performance of a player.

The audiences — both at the ground and

on the idiot box — have given their verdict by making the 2011 World Cup the most successful cricketing event in the history of the game.

Now that the IPL is upon us, it will be a wonder of wonders if it matches its best

TRP ratings of the past. The World Cup kept the entire country glued to TV sets for more than a month, with the end result fulfilling a million dreams.

For people now to still watch cricket with intensity and passion would be nothing less than an amazing testimony to either their ravenous appetite for cricket or lack of any other alternative form of entertainment to keep their evenings occupied. If one has to judge from the media coverage — both print and TV — then IPL-4 is once again a super-hit. Experts are analyzing the subtle skills of the players, the strategic moves of the captains and the discovery of new talent, making one wonder, is there much more to this slambang version than one gives credit to it?

One thing is sure, whatever you may say of IPL, you have to “appreciate” it for the way it has spread the money pool available to players, both former as well as present, including those aspirants who have their brush with stardom once a year.

There is no dearth of “incentives” here, so one would be better off praising the product, even if it is an overkill of cricket and of those Indian players who have a long, challenging season ahead of them.

The views expressed in Op Eds are not necessarily those of The South Asian Times.

Tribute TheSouthAsianTimes.info

15

April 23-29, 2011

A Maharaja in Age of Democracy Sawai Bhawani Singh Bahadur served in the Indian army, received the Mahavir Chakra for valor in war, dabbled in poll politics, and let his only daughter marry a commoner. The Maharaja of Jaipur, popular with his people, was a model royal who molded himself for modern times.

By Prakash Bhandari/SATimes Jaipur: Sawai Bhawani Singh Bahadur, the last titular Maharaja of Jaipur, died April 16 at the age of 79 in a hospital in Gurgaon where he was admitted for high blood pressure and a lung infection. Thousands of people thronged the City Palace here to pay their tributes and the lined up on the road when his body was being taken for cremation.

The funeral with full state honors on Monday was attended by many members of the erstwhile royal families including former Jodhpur Maharaja Gaj Singh. Rajasthan Governor Shivraj Patil, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Union Ministers Dr. CP Joshi, Namonarayan Meena, Rajasthan Minister Duru Miyan, and Rajasthan Assembly Speaker DS Shekhawat were among dignitaries who paid floral tributes.

Bhawani Singh is survived by his wife Padmini Devi, daughter Diya Kumari and adopted son Padmanabh Singh.

Bhawani Singh was awarded the second highest gallantry medal the Mahavir Chakra for showing valor as commander of the para regiment and

capturing the Chhhachro town in Sindh, Pakistan, in the 1971 war.Although, royal entitlements were abolished along with privy purses in 1971, Brigadier Bhawani Singh was

Loved by his former subjects, the Maharaja’s funeral procession witnessed thousands of people come to pay their tributes. still considered a cultural and reli- Highness the Maharaja of Jaipur. If he gious icon in modern Rajasthan, and was still called a maharaja, it was the media often referred to him as His because of the rapport he had built with his people. His father Maharaja Sawai Man Singh ruled Jaipur when India became independent and the princely states were merged with it.

Man Singh married Marudhar Jaipur rulers and when Bhawani Kunwar of Jodhpur and begat Singh was born to Sawai San Singh Bhawani Singh, the first male heir to and Marudhar Kunwar on October be born to a ruling Maharaja of Jaipur 22, 1931, the whole city celebrated in two generations. Sawai Man Singh his birth as he would become the and the previous Maharaja Sawai natural successor.

Madho Singh were adopted sons Young Padmanabh Singh was before they ascended the throne. The handed over by his mother and birth of Bhawani Singh was an occafather to Brig. Bhawani Singh after sion for celebrations and so much an hour-long ritual conducted by champagne flowed that the prince was the head priest of royal family. The nicknamed “Bubbles” by his English Crown Prince sat on the lap of nurse. Among friends and close famiBrig. Bhawani Singh. ly members he continued to be called However, young Padmanabh Bubbles.Bhawani Singh had a fruswould wear a crown of thorns too trated childhood as his mother passed as a huge chunk of the properties away when he was only 13. It was his he has inherited is mired in legal step-mother Gayatri Devi who condisputes pending in courts. Many soled him during the mourning periimportant regal buildings have od. Bhawani Singh perhaps remembeen given on lease to the State bered all this and when the Rajmata, Government on a token amount. as Gayatri Devi was called, died in In India, the principality vanished 2009, he brought her body to the City in two phases.

Palace and performed the last rites After the Independence all the himself as her only son Jagat had died princely states were merged with a few years earlier.Prince Bhawani the Indian Union and later in 1971 Singh studied at Doon School, the then Prime Minister Mrs Dehradun and then at Harrow’s in Gandhi, propagating socialism, England. abolished the annual privy purses After completing his Senior and stripped all the rajas and Cambridge, he joined the army at the maharajas of their titles. Yet, some age of 20.In the ‘60s when Gayatri of the Maharajas because of their Devi floated the Swatantra Party, she iconic status and the love they and his step brothers Prithviraj and Jai received from their former subjects Singh contested elections, but continue to be called “Maharaja” in Bhawani Singh kept himself aloof and sheer respect. felt pride in wearing the military uni-

The Heir Apparent n April 27, Prince Padmanabh Singh, 13, would become the Maharaja of Jaipur. As the adopted son of the late Maharaja Bhawani Singh, he would be anointed so after the end of 12 days of mourning. Padmanabh Singh is the son of Princess Diya Kumari and Narendra Singh. The late maharaja had only one child- Diya Kumari.

The heir apparent of the Jaipur royal family is a fifth standard student of Ajmer’s Mayo College. He lit the pyre of Brig Bhawani Singh Prince Padmanabh Singh (in amidst chanting of shlokas at the foreground), 13, is adopted son of royal cremation ground at Gaitore the deceased Jaipur maharaja and Ki Chhatri in the walled city. He will be crowned next week. would now be next s in the lineage (Photo by Rohit Jain Paras ) of Jaipur’s Kachhawa rulers and inherit immense wealth running Rajputana and other princely states into several thousand crores. as well as political leaders. The The unassuming Padmanabh adoption rituals were carried out Singh was summoned from Mayo amid chanting of Vedic hymns in College which he joined only this the Pritam Niwas of City Palace. year by the family members to join The City Palace witnessed the in the mourning. Later there will be magnificent adoption ceremony a crowning ceremony. after a gap of 81 years. Brig.

Bhawani Singh, who had no son Bhawani Singh's father, Sawai Man chose to adopt his daughter’s elder Singh II - originally hailing from son Padmanabh on November 22, Isarda county - was adopted at the 2002 at a function in City Palace same venue by the then ruler, when the boy was five years old. Madho Singh II, in September The adoption ceremony was attend- 1921. He was enthroned as king of ed by a galaxy of scions of the the then Amber State in 1922. Even royal families of the erstwhile Madho Singh was adopted by the

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form. In 1967 he married Padmini Devi, the princess of Sirmur, a small state in Himachal Pradesh. Diya Kumari is the only child from this marriageBhawani Singh was a sad man when he lost his father Sawai Man Singh, who died with his boots on while umpiring a polo match in London in 1970. He was crowned the Maharaja, but he opted to remain in army, only to quit after becoming Lt Colonel and returning to Jaipur.As head of the Jaipur royal family he was involved in the revival of the defunct 36 Karkhanas (Hazuri) of the state of Jaipur. After 30th March, 1949 when the induction of the states took place to form Rajasthan, many of the Karkhanas had to be closed due to lack of finances and other reasons. He took up the challenge to revive some of them through his two Trusts -Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Museum Trust and Jaigarh Public Charitable Trust, which have since expanded and become two of the key museums of the country .

Like his father he played and patronized polo and twice the British royals Prince Phillip and Prince Charles played polo at Jaipur.

He had his first taste of a democratic India on February 11, 1975 when he and Gayatri Devi were arrested in Delhi on charges of then Conservation of Foreign Exchange & Prevention of Smuggling Act (COFEPOSA) and his houses were raided by the income tax officials. Both were sent to Tihar jail for a while at the behest of Indira Gandhi. By 1980 he started supporting Mrs Gandhi and in 1989 he contested the Jaipur Lok Sabha election against popular BJP leader Girdhari Lal Bhargava and lost.

It was his second taste of democracy in the country.

His relationship with Gayatri Devi and his step brothers prithvi Raj, jai Singh and late Jagat Singh worsened and they got involved in legal battles over property rights. The cases drag on till date.

For his loyalty to the Nehru-Gandhi family, Bhawani Singh was made the ambassador to Brunei. While he was away, his home life was upset. In 1997, his daughter Diya Kumari opted to marry Narendra Singh, once a staff of the City Palace. The Rajput Sabha vehemently opposed the union stating the two belonged to the same clan.

There were others who believed that marrying an accountant was not befitting a princess’s stature, However, Bhawani Singh, who had all along chosen to live life on his own terms, was not influenced. In a masterstroke, a sonless Maharaja on his 73rd birthday adopted Diya and Narednra’s elder son Padmanabh Singh, thus making him the heir apparent of the vast wealth of the royal family.

16

Ultimate Bollywood

April 23-29, 2011

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

'Dum...' has universal appeal: Sippy ilm director Rohan Sippy says Fox Star Studios likes the "original art" of Bollywood without tweaking it for foreign audiences. And he is confident that his new suspense thriller "Dum Maaro Dum" will have "universal appeal" beyond Indians abroad.

"I do think they would enjoy it," he said. "Obviously, the first audience is always the Indian audience for whom we make our films. But I think it's a film that's pretty comfortable in its own skin."

Goa, where the film is set, is also a destination known around the world. "And if people do find it to be a well-told story - that becomes more universal in its appeal," Sippy said. This is his third film as a director after "Bluffmaster" and "Kuch Naa Kaho".

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A still from 'Dum Maaro Dum.'

Barbara back in Bollywood exican actress Barbara Mori has signed her second Bollywood movie and reportedly she is being paid $300,000 (over Rs.1.3 crore) for her role in "Fever", which also stars Rajeev Khandelwal.

The Hindi film will be directed by Rajeev Jhaveri and Ravi Agrawal is producing it. A source said that the actress is being paid $300,000 for the film, in which she will play a linguist who is a second generation Briton. "Barbara decided to do this film because she fell in love with the story. When the script was narrated to her, she loved the material and is quite excited to do the film because of the character. The tone of the film is completely different from 'Kites'," said the source.

"Fever" is to be shot in Cornwall

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Barbara Mori. in England in June-July and will feature another Indian actress whose name is yet to be announced.

multiple stories in what's primarily a suspense thriller.

"Also, doing a thriller for the first time was something I was very keen to take on," said Sippy.

"A thriller is a very seductive genre for a director with lots of potential for great visuals and great music and larger than life characters - it's really something you get to indulge in more than in any other genres."

And if "something is terrifying it's probably the right thing to do," he said.

Asked about the film's USP, he said: "It's a good suspense thriller and in the Hindi film tradition the music is also an integral part of it.

And along with it there are three very interesting stories woven into it. I think these are the two things that hopefully the audience would really like."

SRK to show abs if KKR reaches final ollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan says he will take off his shirt, a'la Sourav Ganguly, to show off his six-pack abs if his Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) team reaches the Indian Premier League (IPL) final this year.

"If we reach the final at Chennai, I will take off my shirt, fluff it in the air, and show my six pack abs... or may be eight pack abs," Shah Rukh said at the Eden Gardens Sunday, after KKR won their third match on the trot with an eight-wicket decimation of Rajasthan Royals.

The final is slated to be played at the Chepauk Ground in Chennai.

In 2002, after winning the Natwest Trophy final against England, then Indian skipper Ganguly had celebrated by taking off his shirt and waving it in the air from the Lords balcony.

Ganguly was criticized by the English, but he retorted saying he was only returning the same act performed by English all-rounder Andrew Flintoff during a series in India.

Ganguly, who has featured in the KKR side in all the past three editions of IPL, was not considered for the team this year.

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Poonam strips for media f you thought Poonam Pandey won't stand by her 'strip promise,' you are in for a big surprise.

Poonam recently stripped for media. She unzipped her jacket revealing her black bikini top beneath.

Poonam shot to fame after she vouched to strip for team India if they win the World Cup. She used all the publicity to her advantage and bagged an entry into Khatron Ke Khiladi 4 to be hosted by Akshay Kumar.

At a recent event, when the wannabe stripper was introduced as the KKK 4 contestant, media fired her with questions regarding her no show after the Indian victory.

What happened after that was totally unpredictable.

She unzipped her jacket to reveal a black bikini top much to the surprise of the media. Photographers went mad clicking her.

Poonam surely knows all the tricks to fame. As a contender for Khatron Ke Khiladi 4, she stands a chance to win a whopping sum of Rs 50 lakh.

Fox Star Studios, "our partners from the very beginning", told him that "normally they don't like to tailor or tweak it too much" for different audiences, said Sippy, the son of veteran filmmaker Ramesh Sippy.

"They like to see the original art and they'd rather see it as it was intended for Indian audiences as opposed to something an American or European audience might like," he said. "It was very much a partnership which we have enjoyed," said Sippy.

The film is releasing on April 22 with 1,100 prints nationally and 260 prints internationally and stars Abhishek Bachchan, Bipasha Basu, Prateik Babbar and Rana Daggubati in important roles. He himself "really loved the script", said Sippy. For him, "it was a very exciting challenge" managing the

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Poonam Pandey.

Shah Rukh Khan.

Now, is it Sree-Riya? ricketers are flying off the 'available' shelf faster than the hottest cakes! Now, we hear that Indian pacer Sreesanth has bowled over Riya Sen. Though the two have been spotted together often enough, a source says that it is part of the job for Riya. As in, Riya is the brand ambassador of the Kochi Tuskers, the IPL team Sreesanth plays for!

She has been actively cheering him on during the matches. Well let's see what unfolds through the series.

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Sreesanth and Riya Sen at a promotional event.

Ultimate Bollywood Thesouthasiantimes.info

17

April 23-29, 2011

Rani's an item girl! ani Mukerji is certainly having fun. On the one hand, she has delivered a hard-hitting performance in her last film and on the other, she is gearing up for some matkas and jhatkas in the Housefull sequel.

Yes, for the first time in her career, the actress will be seen in an item song.

Even though she is a fantastic dancer, for some reason, she has stayed away from item songs so far in her career. However, she isn't ready to talk about it.

A trained Odissi dancer, Rani says, "As of now, this is hearsay and I'd like to leave it at that.

I have really not done an item number in my career, but I'm open to it. Doing it totally depends on how the song is being presented and if it excites me.

I love dancing and I think

such special songs have a lot of energy. It's fun to see and shoot."

So will this number be choreographed by Vaibhavi

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Merchant, who is a close friend of Rani and has directed her dance moves in Bunty Aur Babli and Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic.

Dadasaheb Phalke award fter collecting every other award in the country for her performance in No One Killed Jessica, Rani will soon add the Dada Saheb Phalke Academy Award to her collection.

She confirms, "I'm happy that people have loved my film and my work.

I have always let my work do the talking and I guess I have proved to my critics that

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Rani Mukerji in No One Killed Jessica.

I'm not over. It's a great feeling to be back winning awards.”

“The past three years had been challenging because I didn't have box office success behind me.

People forget the body of work, and the amount of blood and sweat that you put in for years and write you off, so I'm very happy to get this prestigious award,” she adds.

Rolls Royce turns down Mallika ou own a car and then you own a Rolls Royce. One of the most expensive cars in the world, Rolls Royce symbolizes class, royalty, pride, status, elegance thus making its owner unique.

Mostly owned by businessmen and industrialists, Rolls Royce's international celeb clientele includes legendary names like the late Michael Jackson, Elvis Presley, John Lennon, David Beckham to name a few.

In India, barring few maharajas, the notable celebs who own Rolls Royce are Sanjay Dutt who gifted his wife Manyata a 'Rolls Royce Ghost' and Vidhu Vinod Chopra who gifted Amitabh Bachchan with 'Rolls Royce Phantom' . One of the most expensive gifts one could think

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Mallika Sherawat. of. Mallika Sherawat we are told too aspired to join the elite list, however was turned down!

Our source recently revealed how

India's oomph queen Mallika Sherawat showed interest on buying a Rolls Royce but was surprised when her request was turned down.

"Mallika Sherawat wanted to buy Rolls Royce but was refused. The car is not sold just to those who wish to buy it.

There is a process where it is decided if the person wishing to buy it is fit enough to be its owner or not and money is not just the criteria.

The person's entire profile, social standing for the past few years is put under scanner and then decided.

Even test drives are given to selected people. Mallika apparently tried to convince the brand by saying she is a Hollywood actor et al, but things didn't work out in her favor" revealed our source.

Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan have completed four years of togetherness.

Abhi shares marital tips on anniversary

Deepika not beautiful enough for Rajini ollywood might swear by Deepika Padukone's ethereal beauty, but Rajinikanth is certainly not impressed with Deepika's current look for his upcoming movie Rana. The south star wants Dips to look more beautiful.

The actor would only go ahead with the shooting of his movie, once Deepika's look is finalized.

A source told Mid Day, "The first schedule was to begin in Chennai. However, Rajni told director K.S. Ravikumar that he felt Dippy needed Deepika to look simple, yet traditionally beautiful, and that wasn't coming across."

The source adds, "It's a very different film that spans three different time periods. Rajni plays a multi-generational triple role and Deepika is paired opposite him in his youth. Rajni has now asked the

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bhishek Bachchan and wife Aishwarya Rai Bachchan have certainly taken cues from their respective parents on how to keep marriage intact and of course beautiful!

The couple, who got married amidst a lot of media frenzy four years ago, has completed a solid phase of togetherness. Abhishek, a strong family man himself, talks about evolving as a couple with his pretty wife Ash in the last four years. "Are we meant to change after marriage?", he wonders aloud when asked about the changes that marriage brought about in their life.

Yes they have happily settled into domesticity, are moving along with the changing times but

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Deepika Padukone in Dum Maaro Dum. make-up team to go back to the drawing board and devise a new

look, sending the entire schedule into a tizzy."

there hasn't been any specific change in either of them, he informs. In fact Abhi feels your spouse shouldn't expect any dramatic change in you if the marriage has to be wholesome. "I personally feel a good and a healthy marriage is one where your spouse doesn't except you to change. I haven't changed as such nor has Ash. I still feel as if I was married yesterday," he explains.

The fresh approach towards their marriage has kept the romance pretty much alive in the couple's life. "I have a lot of fun with my wife. She's great fun.

And she's very special for me", admits Jr. Bachchan who is ready to hit the theatre with `Dum Maaro Dum'.

18

Travel

April 23-29, 2011

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Borobudur temple: a spiritual experience This soaring stepped pyramid in Central java, Indonesia, is the world's largest Buddhist stupa. It is amazingly intact having survived a millennium of neglect and torment.

By Sandip Hor t's early in the morning. The land, silent for hours has begun coming to life with the screeching of birds. As the spearing orange light from the rising sun slowly takes away the white mist shrouding the verdant surrounding, a soaring stepped pyramid, said to be the world's largest Buddhist shrine, majestically unveils in front of me.

It's the Borobudur Temple in Indonesia whose architectural grandeur and picturesque setting never fail to instill a great sense of admiration in the first time visitor.

This monumental human achievement is thronged everyday with thousands of visitors, who like me, would seem to believe that no matter how much one has read or heard about a place, nothing beats seeing the real thing for oneself. So, early morning start is a good option to avoid the crowd and heat as well, the location being a tropical one.

Situated in Central Java, it was built around eighth century and like Cambodia's Angkor Wat, this architectural marvel after a short lived period of glory, sank into oblivion under layers of volcanic ash and jungle growth, for almost a thousand years. Finally, it was

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The intricate architecture and picturesque setting of the thousand year old temple are overwhelming. discovered in the 19th century, by Sir Stamford Raffles, then the Governor General of the British administration in Indonesia.

When viewed from a distance the huge grey structure (amazingly intact having survived a millennium of torment), strikes as a large single edifice, but actually the 45 metre high colossus, with a square base measuring 120 metres on each side. It comprises ten superimposed terraces, six square shaped at the bottom followed by three circular ones, each getting

progressively smaller with a large single dome adorning the apex, much like a multilayer wedding cake with a flower on the crest.

Built atop a natural hill, the monument was purposely designed that way for students of Buddhism to understand the spiritual philosophy behind their religion, by gradually ascending from one layer to the other, as if moving from the world of desire and lust to the ultimate state of absolute nothingness.

The odyssey begins at the base

An aerial view gives an idea of the magnitude of this magnificent monument. of the temple, requiring a long walk from the main gate. There are flights of stairs on all four sides to take you up straight to the top, but the traditional way is to go round the pyramid in clockwise direction, while stepping up from one stratum to the other.

Following this path, you are required to walk over four kilometres. It can be tiring, but the rewards are high as you go through enclosed galleries which are entrenched with ornately carved bas relief panels depicting tales of Buddha's life, earthly and spiritual and a fascinating panorama of the ninth century Javanese life. All carefully preserved to show the modern generation, the customs and traditions of a race whose culture achieved peak and then collapsed. A breathtaking vista unfolds the moment you step into

the open circular terraces, dotted with several Buddha statues, some without heads because of pillaging and 72 small bell shaped structures called stupas, inside each of which nests a Buddha bust that you touch with your small index finger through the diamond shape openings as an ancient pious tradition of Mahayana Buddhists.

The temple holds over 500 Buddhas, including the ones inside the stupas. Each of them sculpted out of single block of stone, is slightly different, yet all a display of remarkable serenity.

The voyage finally ends when you reach the top and lay a hand on a giant stone piece, blissfully pointing towards heaven. At that fine moment, a warm feeling of accomplishment grips you as if you have reached a significant milestone in life.

Borobudur is 45 km by road from the city of Yogyakarta, an hour by plane from Denpasar (Bali) or Jakarta (Indonesian capital), both destinations conveniently reachable from other countries. There are no shortages of hotels in Yogyakarta to suit budget, Melia Purosani Hotel (www.meliajogia.com) in the heart of Yogyakarta being a convenient option. The temple is open from dawn till dusk and entry fee is $12.00.

Time: A Swiss obsession he Swiss look at their watches often. Being on time is a national obsession. Every third shop sells watches. Every town has a watchtower, and the bell tolls for five minutes to mark the hour. In a conversation between two Swiss, there’s a ninety per cent chance that at some point there’s going to be a huddle over wristwatch.

If you really want to rattle a Swiss, toss them terms like “noonish” and “three-thirtyish”.

Those don’t have a place in their vocabulary. “Do you mean three thirty two?” they ask. “Or three twenty eight.” Don’t think of replying with an, “about then”.

Before I’d even left India, I’d received multiple warnings about

T

being on time. The first thing I did when I landed was to change the time my wristwatch on my phone.

On our way from Zurich to Lugano, we were to take four trains and a boat, a route that would highlight the most-excellent Swiss transport system.

It really is a most excellent transport system. The trains are clean and so are the stations.

There are so few people in the country that you never have to hustle to get in. Changing platforms to make a connection even with just a five-minute gap and your luggage in tow is immensely doable. You can travel hundreds of kilometers in a matter of hours without feeling the strain.

Only once in a rare while, two or three times a year, is a Swiss train ever late. Sadly, for the soon-to-be-mortified Swiss accompanying us, one of those very-rare occurrences took place on our first day in Switzerland.

Our third train was late, and we missed our connection.

Obviously, not a single one of the journalists present let pass this excellent opportunity to rib our escort.

But in the 10 days I was there, this was the only time a train was late. People weren’t kidding. It’s freaky. In Switzerland, you really can tell time by the trains. And you can tell trains by the time.

While I was still getting familiarized, each time I couldn’t tell if a

train was the one I was supposed to take, I’d hop on anyway if it’s pulled into the platform at the time mentioned on my timetable.

It would turn out to be the right train – each time.

All that comes at a cost. But for tourists, there’s the super-economical Swiss Travel Pass that can be bought before you get there.

Because of the ease of travel I could travel pretty much the length of the country and see all the major cities – Bern, Geneva, Lucerne, Lausanne and Zurich. I also managed to pack in a trek on the Jura and a trip to the top of Mt Titlus. And I saw a lot more from the huge train windows as I traversed that picture perfect country

Watch Tower in the city wall in Lucerne, the prettiest city in Switzerland

Diaspora TheSouthAsianTimes.info

April 23-29, 2011

Canadian PM joins oldest Vaisakhi Parade in North America Vancouver: Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper joined thousands of Sikhs here Saturday for the weekend Vaisakhi celebrations. Called the Vaisakhi Parade, it is one of the oldest and biggest Sikh celebrations in North America.Welcoming the over 10,000 participants in the Vaisakhi parade, the Canadian prime minister shouted the Sikh religious slogan of 'Waheguruji Ka Khalsa, Waheguruji Ki Fateh' amid applause.

British Columbia provincial premier Christy Clark, former Canadian health minister Ujjal Dosanjh, Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson and many other leaders also joined the Vaisakhi parade which carried the Sikh scripture from the city's 100-year-old Ross Street Gurdwara through main thoroughfares.

In fact, the mayor became the centre of attraction as he came dressed in a jersey of the city's national ice hockey team called the Canucks.

Along the long procession, people dressed in colorful clothes danced to drum beats as loudspeakers blared music in the city's Little India area.

Diane Watts, mayor of the neighboring Sikh-dominated city of Surrey, walked in the procession wearing colorful salwar-kameez.

"Vaisakhi is an event that is all about inclusion, it is all about pride, it is all about families, it is all about those things that we want for British Columbia (province)," said Watts who went on an 11-day business mission to India in February.

UAE human trafficking hotline now also in Bengali Abu Dhabi: A hotline in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) created to receive complaints or queries related to human trafficking will be available in six languages, including Bengali.

The hotline 8007283 will be available in six languages – Arabic, English, Urdu, Russian, Filipino and Bengali – and will be operational round-the-clock seven days a week, said Sarah Suhail, executive director of the Shelter Centre.

The multi-language hotline will serve all the emirates.

Suhail said it was important to make the hotline operate in many languages to encourage victims to report cases of exploitation and abuse, according to Gulf News.

The present strength of Indian community in UAE is estimated to be around 1.4 million. About one million live in Dubai and the other emirates and the remaining 400,000 live in Abu Dhabi, according to the Indian embassy in Abu Dhabi.

The majority of the Indian population have become an integral part of the UAE business community.

19

PM Stephen Harper shouted ‘Waheguruji Ka Khalsa, Waheguruji Ki Fateh’ amid applause Thousands of non-Sikhs also joined the procession to have fun with the community and feast on free food and delicacies. People had set up free food stalls along the route of the Vaisakhi Parade.

Similar weekend Vaisakhi processions will also be taken out in Surrey and Toronto last this month.

Though their exact numbers are not known, Canada is home to about 400,000 Sikhs. They were the first Indian community to land in this country in the Vancouver area in the 1890s.

Honeymoon murder: Accused husband collapses in court London: Indian-origin British businessman Shrien Dewani, accused of plotting the murder of his wife on their honeymoon in South Africa, collapsed in court as he appeared for a bail hearing.

Dewani, 31, was earlier heard mumbling to himself during the hearing at the Westminster magistrates' court, according to The Sun. His relatives helped him into a car after the court heard how he had threatened to punch a woman nurse at a psychiatric clinic. Dewani, accused of ordering the killing of wife Anni, 28, in Cape Town, was arrested for terrorising staff at the clinic and damaging a door frame.

The court was told he threw around the contents of his room after being caught leaving the clinic to call his family.

Hugo Keith, representing the South African government which is seeking his extradition in the murder case, said Dewani shouted at a nurse who said he was "unmanageable".

He demanded an employee should be sacked before "shouting and crying alternately". Keith said Dewani "threatened to punch a female member of staff and instead hit a door".

Dewani got bail for a few days to stay at a secure hospital.

Tamilians, Punjabis celebrate festivals in Malaysia Kuala Lumpur: Tamils and Punjabis settled in Malaysia Thursday celebrated the Tamil New Year and Vaisakhi Thursday.

The Punjabi community, estimated at over 100,000, have begun the customary three days of non-stop recital of scriptures from the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy text of the Sikhs at gurdwaras nationwide.

At the Gurdwara Sahib in Sentul, some 3,000 people attended the prayers that began Tuesday.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz, Tuesday shared in the festivities. He was welcomed by gurdwara president Gurdiall Singh, New Straits Times reported.

The temple committee cooked and fed the devotees, and also organized games such as eating competitions and a turban tying race. It also held a fashion show.

Of the 12 gurdwaras here and in Selangor state, four celebrate on a grand scale Thursday.

"We will be cooking at least 15

dishes for devotees as well as visitors, including tourists," said Jalan Raja Alang Gurdwara president Inder Singh.

Besides Sikhs celebrating Vaisakhi, the New Year festival is observed on a large scale by the Tamils, who form a bulk of Malaysia's 2.1 million ethnic Indian community that is eight percent of the multi-racial 28 million population. Cleaning of their homes was followed by elaborate offerings of fruits and flowers to the deities at temples in the national capital's Lebuh Apang, Brickfields and Masjid India areas.

Astrologers, palmists and numerologists in temples also received a steady stream of clients.

The twin festivals also saw a shopping spree.

The hottest-selling items were gold coins and coins engraved with the likeness of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, which are placed on altars at home to usher in prosperity, the newspaper said.

Indian community growing in New Zealand Hamilton, NZ: The number of migrants coming to New Zealand from India has continued to increase rapidly in the last three years, despite the global economic downturn that saw significant reduction in the flow of foreign workers to many countries.

Some 73,400 international students were approved for studies in New Zealand in 2009-10 contributing over $2.3 billion annually to the economy.

India has now become the largest source country of international students to New Zealand, according to statistics released by the department of labor.

In addition to being a safe and a family-oriented country, there were a number of opportunities in New Zealand in business and hospitality management, said Gurpreet Singh, a business management student.

‘Since the past few years,

NZ capital Auckland skyline large number of students from Punjab and Gujarat are coming to New Zealand for higher studies,’ he said.

‘There are many reasons why New Zealand continues to be an attractive destination for Indian students and migrants,’ said Richard Howard, former chairman of the New Zealand Association for Migration and Investment.

‘These include our British Commonwealth heritage, a

safe and welcoming society, the high standard of education and the fact that New Zealand is well perceived internationally as a clean, green and forward-thinking country.’

‘New Zealand’s immigration policies can also provide graduating students with a structured and transparent pathway to work and possible residence which are important considerations for Indian students,’ he said.

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Subcontinent

April 23-29, 2011

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Keep away from Pak, No new cantonments in Balochistan: Kayani Musharraf told Islamabad: A Pakistani newspaper has urged former president and army chief Pervez Musharraf not to return home from London, saying "threats to his life are real".

Daily Times said that Musharraf "will also have to consider the risk of being arrested on arrival" for the 2007 assassination of Benazir Bhutto ahead of parliamentary elections -- soon after she returned to Pakistan.

In a "sincere advice" to Musharraf, the editorial said: "You have had your innings, do not put yourself in the line of fire once again." The threats to Musharraf, who is keen to return to Pakistan, "are real", it warned.

It noted that Musharraf, who now lives in London, has expressed his willingness to return to Pakistan and has called upon Pakistanis "to gear up for a change".

In a recent video address to his supporters in Lahore, Musharraf trashed the threats to his life from the Taliban and other extremist groups, claiming that he was only afraid of god.

Musharraf ruled Pakistan for nine years after seizing power in a bloodless coup in 1999. He stepped down in 2008 and left Pakistan.

The editorial said that Musharraf "made his 'debut' in electoral politics with the launching of his All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) last year in London. His

Pervez Musharraf. support base is limited to a few beneficiaries of his rule and his Facebook fans.

"For a party looking for a sizeable share in the 2013 elections, a few thousand supporters in the rally was a poor show.

And it is unlikely his support base will increase any time in the near future considering his unpopularity in large sections of society and the tough competition to be offered by rival parties."

Islamabad: A proposal to set up four new military cantonments in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province has been dropped as "people don't want" it, said army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani.

General Kayani announced on April 18 that the responsibility of providing security to the restive town of Sui in Dera Bugti district was being given to Frontier Corps, reported the Dawn.

He said the army in Sui would return to the Quetta cantonment and there would be no more army presence in the province outside of the cantonments.

Speaking at a ceremony to mark the the new military college in Sui, the general said: "We have converted the Sui cantonment to a military college and dropped the idea of establishing four new military cantonments in Balochistan because people don't want these. New cantonments will be built only when the people of the province wish for (them)."

He said the decision was aimed at making people

Gen Kayani at the inaugural ceremony of Pakistan's third military college at Sui in Dera Bugti district. realise that the army respected their opinion as it was a national institution.

He said a separate wing of the Frontier Corps would replace the army in Sui. A statement quoted Kayani as emphasizing "the vital requirement of unified national support to the armed forces, without which

no force can fulfil the mission of defending a state/nation".

He said the army would establish an Army Medical College, an Institute of Mineralogy and a Cardiac Treatment Centre in Quetta to equip Baloch youths with higher education in relevant fields.

UN warns Sri Lanka to protect staff

Sri Lanka braces for a UN war crimes report the fight against Tamil rebels.

Colombo: The United Nations on April 18 warned the Sri Lankan government that it must protect UN staff, after the country's president called for protests against a UN war crimes report.

President Mahinda Rajapakse has called for this year's May Day rally to be turned into a "show of our strength" against inter-

national calls for a war crimes investigation.

"We have made it very, very clear to the government of Sri Lanka that we take it very seriously that they ensure the security and safety of UN staff in Sri Lanka," UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said.

"We have underscored that again and we want to

make sure that regardless of what their positions are on the report that they abide by their obligations to the security of our staff," Haq told a press briefing.

The report by UN experts into alleged war crimes committed during the fight against Tamil Tiger rebels, which ended in 2009, is to be officially released by the United Nations this week.

International TheSouthAsianTimes.info

21

April 23-29, 2011

Italy, France sending troops to Libya Japan may ban entry Tripoli, Libya: France and Italy announced that they will send military officers to advise rebels fighting for the ouster of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi's regime.

Following a similar announcement by the British government, French government spokesman Francois Baroin said a "small number" of French troops were being sent to advise the rebels' Transitional National Council.

French Defense Minister GĂŠrard Longuet again ruled out sending ground troops to fight alongside the rebels. "This is a real issue that deserves an international debate," he said, adding, "We are working within the framework of the 1973 resolution," a reference to the U.N. resolution that authorized action in Libya. "You cannot please everyone all the time," he said.

Italy will send military advisers to train the rebels in self-defense tactics, Italian Foreign Ministry spokesman Maurizio Massari announced.

Britain said it is sending a contingent of experienced military officers to the rebel stronghold of Benghazi in an advisory role. The team will work with the Transitional National Council on how the opposition can improve military organizational structures, communications and logistics, the British Foreign Office said. It will also assist in the delivery of critically needed aid.

to evacuation zone

An unidentified target burns in the background as Libyan rebels gather outside Brega.

"This deployment is fully within the terms of UNSCR 1973 both in respect of civilian protection and its provision expressly ruling out a foreign occupation force on Libyan soil," Foreign Secretary William Hague said. The efforts to bolster the rebellion come as Libya's main opposition body pleaded for an international military intervention.

Libyans are "being slaughtered every day by the Gadhafi forces," rebel spokesman Shamsiddin Abdulmolah said.

Aid agencies are afraid of going to areas such as Misrata, which is being targeted by Gadhafi troops daily, opposition activist Mohamed Ibrahim said. "Some of them, they come. But most of them, they come near ... they hear the shelling and everything and they go back," he

British royal wedding live on YouTube

said. At least 27 people have been killed and 142 have been injured this week, according to an opposition spokesman who wanted to be identified only as "Mohammed" for safety reasons.

Aid groups have been attempting to pluck desperate people from Misrata, which is hemmed in by Gadhafi's forces on three sides.

The only escape route is by the city's port -- an area witnesses said has also been shelled by Gadhafi's forces. For those left behind, witnesses say, the dire situation continues to deteriorate. The city is still without water, electricity, and telecommunications, Mohammed said Tuesday. "Shelling has moved out of the industrial areas to the residential areas, and it is still going on."

High school students stand before tsunami devastation in Miyako, Iwate prefecture.

Tokyo: Japan may for the first time designate as "off-limits" the 20-km evacuation zone around the tsunami-damaged Fukushima nuclear plant, amid concerns over radiation risks to residents who have been returning temporarily to collect their belongings.

Premier Naoto Kan, who is to visit Fukushima prefecture where the crippled plant is located as early as Thursday, is expected to announce that his government would soon impose an order to prohibit people from entering the exclusion zone around the facility, government sources were quoted

as saying by Kyodo news agency.

The government is considering designating the 20-km area around the plant, which has already been covered by an evacuation directive after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, as offlimits within a week, the sources said.

The measure is aimed at enhancing government control of the area, where evacuees have been temporarily returning home on their own to collect belongings despite fears of radiation, which continues to leak from the crisishit Fukushima Daiichi plant.

Russia to double ballistic missiles production Moscow: Russia will double the production of ballistic missiles from 2013, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said in his annual address to Parliament.

"The armed forces will receive new strategic and tactical missile systems, such as RS-24 Yars,

Bulava and Iskander M," Putin said.

Speaking to defense sector officials in Siberia in March, Putin said Russia would invest 77 billion rubles ($2.6 billion) in the production of ballistic missiles in line with a state program on the defense sector modernization until 2020.

Missile manufacturers, including a missile production plant in Votkinsk, will receive 15 billion rubles in the next three years for the development of production capacity, the prime minister said in March.

"The financing will gradually increase in the future," Putin added.

Syria's Assad to lift emergency

Kate Middleton and Prince William.

New York: Video-sharing website YouTube has announced that the British royal wedding of Kate Middleton and Prince William will be shown live on the website's live streaming channel.

The live stream will focus on the April 29 wedding procession and the marriage ceremony at Westminster Abbey as well as the balcony kiss, Xinhua reported.

The official channel w w w. y o u t u b e . c o m / t h e r o y -

alchannel - will have live blog commentary of the event, and users can also upload video wishes for the couple on the site.

"This one is already heralded as the first of the internet age, where for the first time in thousands of years of royal history, the moment will be captured online and preserved forever," YouTube said in its blog.

YouTube will provide the technical support for the broadcast and the footage will be provided

by BBC.

Damascus: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was set to lift the emergency law in place since 1963, reported the Al-Watan newspaper, which is close to the regime.

"The presidency of the republic will today enact three decrees on the lifting of the emergency law, the abolition of the State Security Court and the regulation of peaceful demonstrations," the daily quoted an unnamed senior official as saying.

"This package is part of a strategic program of political reforms aimed at strengthening the democratic process, broadening citizen participation (in politics), consolidating national unity and the security of the homeland and its citizens," Al-Watan added.

The government announced on Tuesday a series of measures intended to secure its grip on Syria in an attempt to calm a protest movement that has been growing across the country over the past month.

The cabinet approved a bill to rescind the state of emergency, but Assad can use presidential decrees to by-pass parliament, which had only been due to convene and vote on the bill after May 2.

Repeal of the emergency law has been a central demand of reformists since protests began on March

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

15. Around 220 people have been killed by security forces or plain-clothes police since the start of the protest movement, the rights watchdog Amnesty International says.

At least 10 people were reported killed on Tuesday in clashes in the central city of Homs, where some 20,000 people staged an overnight sit-in protest demanding Assad's ouster.

22

Business

April 23-29, 2011

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

PSLV-C16 launch successful Sriharikota (Andhra Pradesh): In a major boost to India's remote sensing capability, the PSLV C-16 rocket launched Resourcesat2 and two other satellites from the spaceport here.

The Indian Space Research Organization's Rs.90 crore rocket - the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) C-16 - soared towards the heavens to place in orbit Resourcesat-2 and two other satellites, together weighing 1,404 kg.

Apart from its main cargo - advanced earth observation satellite Resourcesat-2 - the rocket also carried two mini satellites - the 92 kg joint India-Russian Youthsat satellite for stellar and atmospheric studies and the 106 kg X-sat for imaging applications built by the Singapore-based Nanyang Technological University.

Just over 18 minutes after the blast-off, the rocket ejected Resourcesat-2 and followed it up with the other two. Sriharikota is 80 km north of Tamil Nadu capital Chennai.

India's PSLV-C16 rocket blasts off at the Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh on April 20.

Immediately after the ejections, ISRO with its network of ground stations monitored the health of the three satellites. "I am extremely happy to announce the Resourcesat mission is a success. We are extremely grateful to the prime minister (Manmohan Singh) for all his encouragement," ISRO Chairman K. Radhakrishnan said.

V. Narayansamy, minister of state in the prime minister's office, said: "Heartiest congratulations to the entire department of space. The scientists have proved their expertise in launching the PSLV rocket."

He also thanked the prime minister and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi for their encouragement to the scientific community.

Built to last for five years, the Rs.140 crore Resourcesat-2 will augment ISRO's remote sensing data services. It will replace Resourcesat-1 sent up in 2003.

Resourcesat-2 was originally scheduled for a January launch but got postponed to February and then to April. Apart from car-

rying three sophisticated cameras, the satellite also carries additional equipment called AIS (Automatic Information System) from COMDEV, Canada, for the surveillance of ships in the VHF band to derive their position and speed, among others.

"With the launch of Resourcesat-2, ISRO will have 10 remote sensing satellites in orbit- Resourcesat 1, TES, Cartosat 1, 2, 2A and 2B, IMS-1, RISAT-2, Oceansat-2," S. Satish, ISRO's director (Publications and Public Relations), was quotaed as saying.

With the largest civilian remote sensing satellite constellation in the world, India is a global leader earning a sizeable amount vending imageries in a variety of spatial resolutions, spectral bands and swaths.

The data is used for several applications covering agriculture, water resources, urban development, mineral prospecting, environment, forestry, drought and flood forecasting, ocean resource management and disaster management.

Vedanta finally owns Toyota cuts in US to hit buyers part of Cairn

Vedanta has bought 10.5 percent in Cairn for $1.5 billion.

Mumbai: The four-year-old association between Malaysian state oil company Petronas and Cairn India came to an end with the former selling its 14.94% stake in India's largest onshore field for $2.1 billion (Rs 9,400 crore).

London-based Vedanta Resources, through its group company Sesa Goa, bought a bulk 10.4% of that pie, finally marking its entry into Cairn India even as it was waiting since last August for the government's nod for its $9.6 billion buyout.

The remaining 4.54% stake was bought by a clutch of domestic and foreign institutional investors.

The Southeast Asian energy giant sold 28.34 crore Cairn shares at an average price of Rs 331 a piece, which was at about a 4% discount to the scrip's Tuesday close of Rs 344 on BSE. In the process, it made a cool profit of $1.16 billion.

For Vedanta Group, controlled by billionaire Anil Agarwal, the

deal was attractively priced when compared to the Rs 405 a share it has offered to Cairn's British parent, Cairn Energy Plc, and the Rs 355 open offer price made to the minority shareholders. The open offer, which started on April 11, closes on April 30. Vedanta is paying Rs 50 per share extra to Cairn Energy Plc as a non-compete fee. If the group is successful in acquiring the entire 20% through the open offer, its holding in Cairn India will go up to 30%.

In that case, it will only acquire a 45% stake from the parent of Cairn India to comply with the listing norms.

Experts said that with its 10.4% stake in Cairn India, and what it will get from the open offer, Vedanta can hustle its way into the company board, even if it does not get a government approval.

However, people in the know said, Vedanta does not have any intensions of running Cairn India till it completes the takeover.

Toronto/New York: Toyota is further cutting its production in North America plants because of shortage of parts caused by the March 11 disaster in Japan. The auto major also said for the first time that there could be short supply of its vehicles this summer.

The shortage of small Toyota cars in North America could come at a time when vehicle production in Canada and the US has risen 17 percent in the first quarter of this year compared to the output last year.

Worse still, the shortage comes amid rising gas prices in North America when people will be looking for small cars like Toyota's Corolla. The Corolla and Honda's Civic are the two most sold small cars in North America.

In addition to its previous April 15-25 production cuts announced in he first week of this this month,

Toyota said that its Canadian production will be suspended the week of May 23 and US production will be suspended the week of May 30.

On other days when the plants open, they will operate at 50 percent of their capacity, Toyota said.

In Canada, Toyota is stopping production of Corolla, Matrix and

Lexus RX350 vehicles at its plant, as well as the assembly of RAV4 crossover utility vehicles at its Woodstock plant.

In the US, Toyota's head of sales Bob Carter said in New York Tuesday that the car giant faced the prospects of lowering its sales target because of supply disruptions.

India's export up 37.5 pc to $246 bn

In March 2011, exports jumped 43.9 percent to $29.1 billion.

New Delhi: India's exports surged 37.5 percent to $245.9 billion in 2010-11, substantially surpassing the official target of $200 billion,

on the back of nearly 85 percent jump in engineering exports, Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma said.

"It is indeed heartening to see that our exports for the year ending March 31, 2011 touched $245.9 billion," Sharma told reporters here. The government had set a target of $200 billion of export for 2010-11, which was 15 percent higher than the previous fiscal's figure.

"Exports have indeed exceeded our expectations. This is the first time exports have crossed $200 billion mark. In fact, beating our target, it crossed $200 billion mark in February itself," the minister said.

India's total imports in 2010-11 were $350.3 billion, resulting in a trade deficit of $104.4 billion. In March, exports jumped 43.9 percent to $29.1 billion.

Sports TheSouthAsianTimes.info

23

April 23-29, 2011

IPL: Kochi beat Knights over. Kallis holed out to deep square leg while Gambhir saw his middle stump uprooted by R P Singh (2-25). With the duo falling in consecutive overs, KKR were 27/2.

Ravindra Jadeja (2-25) then got rid of Manvinder Bisla (16) before Manoj Tiwary and Eoin Morgan tried to steady the ship with a 36-run stand off 38 balls.

Morgan (10) was run out, courtesy a great throw from Man of the Match Mahela Jayawardene, who showed great reflexes.

Shakib Al Hasan (2) and Yusuf Pathan (8) then departed early, reducing the Knights to 97/6. Tiwary tried to step up the run rate but found it difficult to belt the ball away on a tricky wicket and finally perished when he tried to dance down the wicket to Jadeja, missed, and Parthiv Patel brought off a fine stumping.

Kolkata: Debutants Kochi Tuskers Kerala moved up among the top pack in the Indian Premier League with a six-run win over Kolkata Knight Riders in a close game on a slow and low track at the Eden Gardens here on April 20.

With their spin duo of Yusuf Pathan (320) and Shakib al Hasan (3-28) coming up good, the hosts restricted Kochi Tuskers to 132/7, but then surrendered wickets at regular intervals to manage only 126/9.

Manoj Tiwary's 51-ball 46, studded with two sixes and two fours, went in vain as the visitors continued to surprise in their maiden season by pulling off another magnificent win in a nervy match.

After five games, both teams are on six points alongside Mumbai Indians to occupy the top slots in the leaderboard.

Set a soft asking rate of 6.65, the Knights got the early jitters with their star batsmen Jacques Kallis (6) and skipper Gautam Gambhir (3) back in the dugout by the fifth

Daredevils go down to Chargers

RP Singh celebrates the wicket of Gautam Gambhir.

BCCI slams Lanka's recall decision NEW DELHI: The BCCI described Sri Lanka Cricket's decision to recall its players early from the ongoing IPL as "inappropriate" and said it is in talks with the SLC to sort out the crisis.

"According to us, the Sri Lankan players are here to stay till May 21 as they have promised and the franchises are also under the same impression. But now they want to go early and it is not appropriate," BCCI vice-president Rajiv Shukla told reporters.

"Nothing has been decided as yet. The BCCI president is in touch with the Sri Lankan board and some kind of a dialogue is

Some 11 Sri Lankans, including Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene, are playing for different franchises in the IPL.

going on between the two boards," he said.

The crisis started after the Sri Lankan government asked the SLC to direct all its cricketers playing in the IPL to return home

by May 5 in order to prepare for the tour of England which starts on May 10.

The controversy surrounding the Lankan players' early return got murkier after the government and the SLC rejected the BCCI's request to allow its star cricketers to play in the lucrative Twenty20 tournament till May 15, a move which could strain the relation between the two Boards.

Bangladesh eye Dada as batting coach

Shikhar Dhawan is delighted after getting the big wicket of David Warner.

New Delhi: Delhi Daredevils' first win at home in season four of the Indian Premier League (IPL) remained elusive as they went down to Deccan Chargers by 16 runs at the Ferozeshah Kotla here on April 19.

It was an all-round performance

by Deccan Chargers, who climbed to the fourth spot in the IPL after their second win from five matches. Daredevils failed to move out of the ninth spot as they crashed to their third loss in four matches.

For the Chargers, skipper Kumar Sangakkara showed the way with a classical, yet fiery, 49 and along with Man of the Match Sunny Sohal (62) added a valuable 92 runs for the second wicket that took the 2009 champions to a competitive 168 for four from 20 overs.

None of the Daredevils' batsmen, barring opener David Warner (51), could get a big score and were restricted to 152 for seven from 20 overs.

The Chargers were disciplined in their bowling, picking up wickets at regular intervals and made sure that Daredevils skipper Virender Sehwag (12) departed early.

Pacers Daniel Christian and Harmeet Singh picked up two wickets each while fast bowling spearhead Dale Steyn went wicketless but conceded just 24 runs from his full quota to show that he is the vital cog in the Chargers' bowling.

Daredevils' most consistent performer Venugopal Rao (21) failed to come good and Yogesh Nagar struck an 11-ball 23 but it was not enough.

New Delhi: The Bangladesh Cricket Board is apparently keen on recruiting Sourav Ganguly as their national team’s batting coach.

After a substandard show in the recently concluded 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup, Bangladesh Cricket Board is report-

edly planning to approach the former India skipper Sourav Ganguly for the job of their national team’s batting coach.

According to reports, BCB has confirmed its wish to hire Ganguly but is yet to make an official request to the Indian bat-

ting legend.

“We want Sourav's assistance. He is hugely respected here and his skills and tactical nous will greatly help our batsmen,” BCB chairman Mohammed Jalal Yunus said.

Sourav Ganguly.

Badminton's new 'skirt' rule he game’s no more about the right shots — it’s about keeping the outfit glam, frilly and short. The new dress code issued by the Badminton World Federation requires all female players to wear skirts or dresses in Grand Prix tournaments and above from May 1, “to ensure attractive presentation of badminton”.

Sportspersons aren’t pleased: most think the rule commodifies the sport and its players.

“Though it is a good thing that they are working towards glam-

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Dictating hemlines is not acceptable, feel Indian women shuttlers.

orizing badminton, this is not the right way to do it. What you wear at the game should be a personal choice … you really can’t pressure anybody to wear anything,” says 27-year-old shuttler Jwala Gutta, a Commonwealth Games gold medalist.

Former champion Aparna Popat says, “This is a bizarre move.

Players should be allowed to choose what they want to wear; comfort is of utmost importance.” Like Gutta, she believes funking up the uniforms is a good idea, but not dictating hemlines.

24

Aviation

April 23-29, 2011

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Fake pilots create trust deficit in Indian carriers

By Prakash Bhandari/SATimes Jaipur: It’s the centenary year of civil aviation in India. The people of Allahabad rejoiced when they saw their first “Cheel gari”, as the aeroplane was then called, taking a flight to nearby Naini a hundred years ago. Civil aviation, however, grew at snail’s pace since then. But the Indian government’s policy of open skies had taken aviation to soar high.

Aviation giants like Boeing and Airbus and minnows like Emrarer, Gulfstream and Bombardier are all keen to manufacture aircraft in India.

The low cost carriers spurred the growth and the domestic traffic suddenly got a boost in the past 10 years. Also, as the private airlines entered the fray, demand for pilots increased and this resulted in corruption as some unscrupulous aspiring pilots faked their papers to get the commercial pilot license (CPL). Fourteen pilots and a senior official of India’s apex aviation agency, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), were arrested during the crackdown on fake pilots.

The scam in the flying schools

Fake pilots and DGCA official arrested by the Crime Branch of Delhi Police in New Delhi last month. surfaced with the arrest of Parminder Kaur Gulati, a pilot of IndiGo, owned by American Indians Rakesh Gangwal and Rahul Bhatia. She had obtained her Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL) by submitting fake documents. More arrests were made last month and it was found that Jaipur, Hisar and Delhi were the centers that issued fake mark sheets which formed the basis for obtaining CPLs. There are 40 flying schools in the coun-

try, but they are not only poorly managed, but are also illequipped.

The arrest of Pradip Kumar, an assistant director in DGCA, and another pilot Pradeep Tyagi and two touts Pankaj Jain and Lalit Jain opened the Pandora’s box.

They ran a racket by helping the aspiring pilots obtain forged mark sheets that eventually enabled them to get a CPL. The DGCA has reviewed the CPLs of around thousands of

pilots and holders of ATPL and private pilot license after the scam was exposed. The airlines in India have started scrutinizing the licenses of their pilots and those found to be “fake pilots” are being sacked.

It is learnt that aspiring pilots coughed up Rs 12 lakh to Rs 15 lakh each for the forged marksheets.

At airport lounges and on departure lounge of Indian airports fear is writ large on the faces of the passengers who are not sure whether a genuinely trained pilot or a fake one would fly their aircraft. Each day another fake pilot is arrested, passengers start talking about the risk in flying.

Nobody knows how many fake pilots are flying. All pilots have not yet been screened.

According to Ajit Singh Shekhawat, additional director general of police at Jaipur, after the scam found in Jaipur’s flying school the Rajasthan anti-corruption bureau suggested to the CBI to look beyond Jaipur. Sources in the CBI and the police of various states who are on the trail of more suspected fake pilots say there may be hundreds of such pilots, some of whom have been flying

Jaipur epicenter of cockpit fraud Jaipur: The open skies policy of the Union government changed the aviation scenario in the country, but the escalating demand for pilots led to cockpit frauds that has shocked the country. The Rajasthan government’s flying school at Jaipur was the epicenter of the frauds as a large number of aspiring pilots managed to get their logbooks manipulated. The chief flying instructor here illegally issued them flying hours experience even when they had not completed flying. These inexperienced pilots are now working in various airlines as first officers risking the lives of the passengers.

The crackdown by the Rajasthan police Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) led to the disclosure that flying hours of the pilots were manipulated in the register to help them secure licenses.

The logbook of the flying school, which is not functioning since 2008, blew the lid off the fake pilot license scam. Nine pilots have been arrested in this case so far and there is one common link between all of them--the logbook.

“What is most surprising is that the flying instructor Mohinder Singh Choudhry issued flying hours certificates to the aspiring pilots even when the flying school stopped functioning. The flying hours entry was made after accepting bribe even as the training Cesna

Rajasthan Flying School in Jaipur. aircraft was grounded,” said Umesh Mishra, inspector general of ACB. Rajasthan Flying School, started in 1949 by the Maharaja Sawai Man Singh originally as a flying club, became a flying school after the state government took over the club. A Cesna, a Pushpak apart from gliders, are all that the club possesses.

Air India pilot Rahul Yadav was the first person arrested in this case.

Interrogation revealed that he had made cross-country flying entries while the aircraft was grounded.

"There were several entries made for cross-country flying from Jaipur to Hisar in Yadav's flying license.

We matched the entries in the flying school with the entries of Jaipur airport’s Air Traffic Control logbook only to find that Yadav was faking his flying hours as the trainer flight was grounded that day," said Mishra.

The scam has also pointed a finger at the functioning of the DGCA

as two of the accused pilots, Rahul Yadav from Air India and Garima Passi from Spicejet, have their fathers working with the DGCA. Passi's father is Director, Air Safety.

“A pilot needs to have completed a minimum 200 hours of flying to get a license. Several of the pilots from there had only completed 5060 hours, but they were given certificates of completion of 200 hours of flying,” said Mishra.

Police built a case against the school and its graduates by checking the logbooks of the instructors responsible for certifying that trainees have completed supervised hours at the controls of a plane.

“We checked those records against the records kept by the air traffic control authorities in Rajasthan and found that some of these flights never took place,” Mishra said.

Flying schools are meant to be monitored by the DGCA. What is

the DGCA doing? “They are themselves so corrupt,” added Mishra.

The Rajasthan Flying School trained 46 pilots between 20042008, who later obtained their licenses.

Nidhi Vashist became a 'pilot' by allegedly paying Rs 11 lakh. Her logbook displays 169 flying hours from the Jaipur flying school and the remaining from Karnal, Hisar and Patiala. Once she got her CPL, Vashist got a twin-engine flying completion certificate from the Philippines and applied for a license from the DGCA. The DGCA got suspicious when it found a solo flying entry when it should have been with another pilot. Vashist alleged that Mahendra Choudhry, chief flying instructor at the Jaipur school, had got her the twin-engine certificate for money.

A cross-check with air maintenance garage, air traffic control (ATC), fuel records and logbook entries revealed that she actually flew for just 22 hours.

Choudhry has been identified as the brain behind the fake certification racket in Jaipur with the roles of executive and supervisory officers also being examined. He has been arrested twice and bailed out quickly but faces more cases. There have been instances when the ATC recorded 36 flights taking off but the flying instructor showed 178 for the same period.

commercial planes for two decades. That is a huge chunk of the total 4,500 pilots in India--a story of systemic rot.

The recent arrest of two more DGCA staffers showed as many as 60 people were issued licenses on fake mark sheets. DGCA is illequipped and is not geared to cater to the needs of the changing aviation scenario in the country.

There are different sets of rules for different people and the flying schools in the country are run by relatives of powerful leaders like Sharad Pawar and Prafulla Patel.

The flying school run by Pawar’s relative in Maharashtra issued 25 forged certificates to aspiring pilots. Yet the academy has not been shut down. The children of some DGCA officials are among those who obtained the fake certificates.

Now the airlines in India have gone into damage control mode trying to assure the passengers of safety norms. After auditing flying schools, the DGCA has started the scrutiny of certificates issued by international flying schools where Indian students learnt flying before applying for the CPL in India.

DGCA sources said that documents relating mainly to flying hours of students, who applied for CPL during the last four years, are being checked. The international flying schools have come under the scanner after the DGCA detected some flying records that appeared dubious. In such cases, DGCA is now cross-checking the records of international flying schools before issuing CPL to pilots in India, said a senior official.

Paying hefty fees, every year thousands of Indian students flock to the US, the Philippines, Australia, New Zealand and Canada to learn flying. For the last three months, DGCA has been sending letters to international flying schools seeking authentication of the certificates submitted by the trainee pilots.

Sources refused to divulge the international schools where DGCA has sent letters seeking help in establishing authenticity of certificates and documents. In the discreet exercise, DGCA is trying to find out the veracity of the documents submitted by the trainee pilots to it. “There are three teams of officials which will visit the flying schools to check the records of students, flying log book and marks in aviation subjects.

These details will be matched with the records submitted by the pilots to the DGCA while applying for CPL,” said a DGCA official.

Safe landing in fake pilots case will take time.

Lifestyle TheSouthAsianTimes.info

25

April 23-29, 2011

Gardening for Health esearch from a University in Texas, shows that gardening is an ideal form of exercise because, in addition to its physical exertion values, it also has many merits. Gardening is moderate and sometimes strenuous, exercise that incorporates many important elements of accepted exercise regimes including stretching, stance, repetition and movement as well as resistance principles similar to weight training. Regular garden chores can burn anywhere from 120 to 100 calories each half hour. Of course this depends on the intensity of the activity. With gardening, you even get the amazing bonus of beauty as you have helped your garden to bloom... Tending your garden can also make you feel younger and happier, say experts. Gardeners are more likely to be organized and optimistic than non-gardeners as well.

But ,the experts also advise,” If you have not been exercising regularly, then you will need to begin stretching at least two or three weeks before beginning outdoor chores or go to your physician and get a medical clearance for exercise, your goals and any precautions your doctor may advise.’’

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Gardening can give you a toned body Regular stretching of legs, arms, back and even hands and feet are essential to prevent aches and pains. You will also want to begin crunches, leg and arm lifts, squats and even

push-ups so that your unused muscles will not make you miserable after your first attempt at gardening. With gardening the adage "no pain, no gain" is not true. More

Care for your suitcases

Puppy shower ute little adorable puppies love new experiences. This is the time to get your pup used to bathing. If you wait too long to introduce him to soap and water, you may end up bathing an unwilling and uncooperative dog – and end up all wet.

Here are a few tips by “Pet Place Veterinarians” to make the ritual of the bath more enjoyable, or at least tolerable, for the both of you. With some patience and practice, your dog, rather than you, will get the lion's share of the bath. As time goes on, your pup will eventually tolerate, and may even enjoy, a periodic dip in the tub.

1) To bathe or not to bathe The first step is to consult your veterinarian about your particular pooch. Different breeds and lifestyles will dictate when it is safe to begin bathing your pup and what sort of pet shampoos work best. Never wash your dog outside if the weather is cold. This is particularly true for puppies, which have trouble regulating their body temperatures. Puppies should be at least four weeks old before they receive their first bath.

2) Be Prepared Before you tackle your dog, you'll want to go through a pre-bath checklist. Prepare the bathing area out of your dog's presence. There's no point in warning him ahead of time; he'll only get anxious. Here are some items you'll want to have on hand: · A veterinarian-approved dog shampoo (people products can cause allergic reactions) · Mineral oil and/or cotton balls · Washcloth or sponge · Towels (the bigger the dog, the more towels you'll need) · a warm, draft-free area · a bathing tether if you're bathing him in a tub. (If you're bathing him outside, a tether to a fixed point will do.) · Brush and comb for his coat · a soft brush for between his toes and on his nails · a rubber tub mat Before bathing, comb and brush out all mats.

Otherwise, the water will turn the mats into solid masses, which will require clippers to remove. If your dog's hair is matted with paint, tar or some other sticky material, trim with clippers or soak the area with vegetable or mineral oil for 24 hours. (You may want to speak with a professional groomer if the tangles are difficult.

often than not, the stiffness and pain indicate inadequate or improper stretching and warmup, or over use of muscles. After gardening you should feel tired or dirty and tired, but not achy. Take time to stretch and avoid marathon sessions of anything. Hours of turning compost, raking or shoveling is above and beyond what you will want to do.

Above all, don't forget why you garden. Be aware of the amount of time you are spending outdoors and intensity of the activity you are doing.

Calories burned while you garden: * These are for 30 minute time frames for a 180 pound man. If you weigh less, you'll burn fewer calories.

Sitting quietly-40 Water a lawn or garden -61 Riding mower-101 Trimming shrubs-142 Raking-162 Bagging leaves-162 Planting seedlings-162 Mowing with gas mower-182 Weeding-182 Gardening with heavy power tools-243 Mowing lawn with a push mower-243

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f you are a regular traveler and a busy person living out of the “suitcase” types or just enjoy vacationing, your suitcases go everywhere with you. It could have been with you on treks through Turkey, dragged along the beaches of Costa Rica, and handled by airport security. Your suitcase deserves a little bit of pampering too. These few tips can come in handy, when you want to clean the suitcases.

1) Empty the suitcase. Take out all the odd socks, old travel itineraries, and leftover tissues.

Also remove any prior luggage tags. You wouldn't want your suitcase traveling to wherever you went last month, anyway.

2) Remove the dust. Brush the surfaces, especially the fabric ones, with a dry brush or broom to loosen dust. Then, use the dusting or upholstery attachment on a vacuum cleaner to extract anything that is loose. Remember to vacuum inside all the little pockets on the interior and exterior of the suitcase.

This is a great way to remove the small debris and trash that is left behind in the pockets. Remember to feel around first so you don't suck up any missing earrings or cuff links.

3) Hand wash in a mild detergent. If you have a fully soft-sided bag, such as a duffel bag, or you are certain that water won't damage any cardboard stiffeners or metal zippers or snaps, try submerging your bag in cold water with a bit of mild laundry soap (such as Woolite) or even a bit of shampoo.

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Train your puppy for a bath If you're using a tub, fill the water to the level of your dog's knees. The water should be about his temperature; around 102 degrees Fahrenheit.

3) The Bath Bring your dog into the tub. If you have a bathing tether, attach one end to his collar and the suction cup to the bathtub. Ladle the warm water over him. If you use a spray, use it on low and hold it gently against his coat so the spraying action doesn't scare him. When he's thoroughly wet, apply the shampoo on his back and work it gently through the coat for about 10 minutes. Be careful not to get soap in his face or mouth.

Use the washcloth or sponge to clean and rinse his face, and the soft brush to clean the paws, between toes and on nails.

When you're ready to rinse, don't forget to drain the tub first. The rinsing cycle, by the way, is very important. You want to do it twice to make sure all the soap is rinsed off. Leaving soap on the dog can cause an allergic reaction.

If necessary, drain the tub again so your dog isn't standing in water while he dries. Now, you'd better back up; your dog has been waiting to shake off the excess water since you began.

Gently squeeze out excess water (don't forget to remove the cotton from his ears) and finish drying him with the towels. If you use a hair dryer, keep the heat and blow force on low. Remember to dry the ears with cotton balls to prevent infection.

Keep your dog away from any drafts until his coat is completely dry.

Handle your suitcase properly Swish it around in a dishpan, sink, or (if necessary) bathtub full of this solution. Then, rinse and dry the bag thoroughly 4) Let the suitcase dry thoroughly before putting it away.

5) Clean the inside. If the inside of the suitcase is lined with plastic, wipe it down with a clean, damp cloth (not the one you used on the outsides) and, if necessary, a mild cleaner. For fabric, simply vacuum it or wipe it with a dry cloth.

6) Spray with an odor-reducer - such as Febreze. If you prefer less fragrance, try Smells Begone.

7) Store your suitcase properly. Chances are it lives in a closet or attic or under the bed when not in use. a.

Wherever you store it, cover it loosely to keep off the dust, and try to let it breathe. b.

If you like, put in a dryer sheet or an unused bar of soap for a bit of fragrance.

26

Lifestyle

April 23-29, 2011

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

The tale of a kiss! en like to push to make kisses sloppier, while women want to keep them long, suggest a new study. Also, a kiss shared between a man and a woman seems more like a clash of spirits than a meeting of souls.

Women tend to use kissing to create a bond with their partners, and to assess them as potential mates. Meanwhile, men use kissing as a means to an end,” said Susan Hughes, a psychologist at Albright College in Pennsylvania, told Life's Little Mysteries.

And that end is sex. “Males are kissing primarily to increase arousal for their partner," she said.

Hughes and her colleagues researchers probed the kissing preferences and opinions of more than 1,000 males and females in their sexual prime — college undergraduates — who were asked to mark their answers to a series of detailed kissing questions on a 5-point scale.

The results showed that both men and women consider kissing an important and highly intimate interaction. Both sexes use

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Men feel much more strongly that kissing should lead to sex than women do, says a new study kissing to gauge the relationship compatibility of themselves and their partners.

Furthermore, both may become more or less attracted to their partners based solely

Spectacles go chic! earing specs is not geeky anymore, for the much-despised 'plain glass' spectacles have now become a 'must have' fashion accessory.

Also, the new groups of wearers are being dubbed "suspecs".

A study by YouGov for Vision Express found that almost one in ten 18-24 year-olds had admitted buying them. The celebs responsible for the revolution are Julia Roberts, Scarlett Johanssen, Nicole Kidman and Daniel Radcliffe's portrayal of Harry Potter, the bespectacled boy wizard. Some 64 per cent of respondents to the YouGov poll said that they felt glasses created a more positive impression today than they did a decade ago.

The study showed that 53 per cent of glasses-wearing women aged 18 to 44 had received amorous approaches from men.

Here's how to match frames with different face shapes:

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on their experience kissing them, a result that lends support to the theory that pheromones and other important biochemical signals get exchanged when people kiss.

But the similarities end there. While women usually consider a bad kiss to be a deal-breaker, men reported that they would more than likely still have sex with a woman even if she were a bad kisser.

In fact, the data showed that males feel much more strongly that kissing should lead to sex than females do.

"Whereas females felt there was a greater likelihood that kissing should lead to sex with a long-term partner than a short-term partner, males felt that in either instance, kissing should lead to sex," wrote the researchers.

Men also like significantly wetter kisses.

The gender divide becomes drastic when the kissing involves short-term partners, who presumably hold primarily sexual rather than romantic appeal. In the shortterm, men like kisses to be wet, while women do not.

Secret of healthy, lustrous hair dermatologist has offered tips on how you should take care of your hair. Dermatologist Zoe D. Draelos, MD, FAAD, consulting professor at Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, N.C., discussed the most common sources of hair damage and tips to reverse damage and maintain healthy, lustrous hair.

“One of the most common misconceptions about hair is that it is alive, when in fact hair is nonliving and does not heal itself once it is injured,” Dr. Draelos said.

“For this reason, once the hair is damaged it cannot heal itself except through new hair growth at the scalp.

“Women need to understand that the very things that they do to hair to make it appear beautiful, such as using hair dyes, perms and products that straighten the hair, will eventually end up damaging the hair’s structure and ultimately affect its appearance,” she stated.

To keep healthy hair looking its best, Dr. Draelos provided the following tips: 1. The less you do to your hair, the better. Avoid over-styling or processing hair.

2. Be sure to wash the scalp, which is where the oil is, and then let shampoo run through the hair.

Shampoo is meant to clean the scalp primarily and can damage the hair if overused.

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The bespectacled look has become a rage amongst youngsters today.

Oval : The oval face is considered the ideal shape because of its balanced proportions and because it's the standard of beauty. Therefore it is perhaps the easiest to choose frames for.

To keep the oval's natural balance, look for spectacle frames / glasses that are as wide as the broadest part of the face or wal-

nut-shaped spectacle frames that are not too deep or too narrow.

Round : A round face has curvilinear lines with the width and length in the same proportions and no angles. To make the face appear thinner and longer, try angular narrow spectacle frames / glasses to lengthen the face.

Square : A square face has a strong jawline and a broad forehead. The width and length are in the same proportions. To make the square face look longer and soften the angles, try narrow, soft round or large ovals spectacle frames.

Long face : A long face is characterized by high cheekbones, a deep forehead and a strongly defined sharp chin line.

This shape can benefit from enhancing the width of the face so try wide, large framed glasses in oval or round styles.

Avoid over-styling, drying or processing hair to get those lustrous locks.

3. Let how oily your scalp is, determine how often you wash your hair. If your scalp is oily, wash hair more frequently than if the scalp was drier.

4. Conditioner should be used on the ends of the hair, not on the scalp, for best results.

5. Pick a shampoo and conditioner based on your hair shape, such as curly or straight, and your hair condition, such as damaged, fine, or frizzy. These products don’t need to be expensive to work well for your hair.

6. Wear a hat to protect hair from ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

Health TheSouthAsianTimes.info

27

April 23-29, 2011

Perils of turning size zero annabe stripper-turnedwuss Poonam Pandey’s kidney stones, infrequent actor-turned-covergirl Sonam Kapoor’s stomach distress and former size-zero postergirl Kareena Kapoor’s frequent fainting spells are likely to have the same cause: ‘infrequent and irregular meals’, the kinder term for dieting.

Chronic dieting and frequent fasting — which gives some the religious sanction to starve — can cause several health disorders. A Johns Hopkins University study reported in 2009 that people who lose weight suddenly or undergo gastric-bypass surgery are at risk of kidney stones. “Kidney stones is a common side effect in dieters who lose weight suddenly, as are dehydration and dizziness,” says nutritionist Ishi Kholsa, director, WholeFoods.

It’s not just young girls choosing near-starvation diet plans. Ranjana Chaturvedi, 52, started dieting when she was nine. “I was a fat child and I’ve been dieting ever since I can remember. I’ve never had a full

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chocolate in my life and once survived on milk, cornflakes and cucumber for six whole months to lose weight quickly,” says she.

She was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, an auto-immune disorder at the age of 28, which her doctor said could have been triggered by her dieting. Some of the other common health problems of dieting are: Dizziness Sudden dizziness and ringing in the ear are among the common side effects of low blood pressure and nutritional imbalance. It’s common among people who are on a sustained low-calorie diet over several weeks.

Dehydration / edema Vitamin, mineral and electrolyte imbalances skew the water balance in the body, causing dehydration.

“Dieters should have at least 12 glasses of fluids a day,” says Khosla.

Then, there’s water retention caused by protein lost. “A week to 10 days before periods, there is some water retention anyway due to the premenstrual hormones spike. In

such cases, cutting back on salt helps, but for crash-dieters, also eating some bit of protein every day is imperative,” says Rekha Sharma, president, Indian Dietetic Association.

Digestive issues Irregular or skipped meals confuse the stomach, which secretes digestive juices at meal times. The first sign of trouble is a stomach burn.

“Over time, irregular meals can cause stomach inflammation, ulcers and gall bladder stones, all of which are being reported in women in their mid-twenties, many of who have been dieting since adolescence,” says Khosla.

Osteoporosis Increasingly, bone health experts are focusing on ensuring that teenagers — especially girls — eat right to build healthy bones for a lifetime. “Maximum bone development takes place during 11 to 25 years and if teenagers invest in their bones by eating calcium-rich food and getting a lot of exercise, they can reduce the risk of brittle bones and fractures after menopause,” says

It’s a matter of the heart efore finding ways to unclog your arteries, it is important to know how they become clogged in the first place. Arteries get clogged when plaque builds up along the artery walls. Plaque is made of cholesterol, fat, calcium, inflammatory cells, waste material, protein and fibrin, which float around the body.

These plaques restrict blood flow and cause arteries to rupture and lead to blood clots, which then blocks blood flow and leads to heart attack and stroke.

Symptons of clogged arteries are quite mild and unnoticeable. You may experience lack of energy, pain in legs or arms and some memory problems. The food we eat daily is a major factor in the health of our heart and arteries. Too much saturated fat, hydrogenated fats, processed foods, sugar and minimum intake of antioxidants, coupled with poor stress management, late nights and no exercise lead to the development of heart disease and clogged arteries. Keeping arteries clean is important for heart and overall health.

Food to keep arteries clean and unclogged Garlic: Eating garlic regularly reduces harmful cholesterol by 10 per

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cent and prevents formation of blood clots. Eating one to four cloves a day provides 4,000 mcg of allicin, which reduces cholesterol. It can be eaten raw or cooked.

Walnuts: They are rich in clotbursting omega 3 fats and help decrease inflammation in arteries caused by eating high fat foods.

Walnuts help to maintain the elasticity of arteries, thereby allowing them to expand, contract, reduce clog and improve circulation. Eat three to four walnuts every day to lower bad cholesterol (LDL) and to raise good cholesterol (HDL) levels.

Pomegranate: It cleans the arteries, improves blood circulation and digestion. Eat one pomegranate and you will get 40 per cent of the recommended daily allowance of vitamin C. Olive Oil: It’s the richest source of MUFA which are heart-friendly oils.

They prevent oxidation of bad cholesterol (LDL which is responsible for clogging your arteries).

Spinach: It is full of vitamins A and C, (which helps prevent oxidation of bad cholesterol). It checks the clogging of arteries and helps to release plaque lining the arteries.

Onion: It improves blood circulation, remove blockages from clogged

arteries and dissolves blood clots.

How to unclog arteries: Crush garlic and cook it lightly with tomatoes in a teaspoon of olive or groundnut oil. Spread the paste on a slice of whole wheat bread or a whole wheat khakra (oil-free) and have it for breakfast along with a glass of vegetable juice made from half a raw onion, two carrots and two tomatoes.

Eat half an onion with each meal.

This helps to keep the blood thin.

Garam masala used in Indian cooking, discourages blood platelet clumping. Cloves and cumin seed powder used in it promote anti-clotting activity.

Increase dietary fibre by eating more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, oatmeal. Avoid junk, non-vegetarian food and highly processed foods. Foods with plant sterols like brown rice, whole wheat, nuts, pumpkin seeds, vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower and tomato are very beneficial.

Increased stress affects hormone levels and leads to clogged arteries.

Yoga and meditation reduce stress.

Regular exercise helps to reduce bad cholesterol and raise good cholesterol, which decreases plaque formation inside the arteries

Poonam Pandey: promised to strip if India won World Cup, is now hospitalized with kidney stones.

Sonam Kapoor has had stomach distress and fainted on the movie sets.

Sharma.

According to WHO, one in two Indian women and one in three men over the age of 50 years have low bone mass, which can lead to debilitating fractures in later life.

Constipation The sharp fall in food intake makes the digestive organs, including the intestines, sluggish. The decline in intestinal function causes constipation. Having fibre and laxatives can shake intestines from slumber, but a normal diet high in fibre is the only long-term solution.

Irregular periods and infertility “Hormonal imbalances make peri-

ods irregular and, in some cases, lead to infertility. If a normal diet does not restore normal menstrual cycle, visit a gynecologist as you are likely to need medical treatment,” says Sharma.

Dry, blotchy skin “Deficiencies of minerals such as zinc, magnesium and fat-soluble vitamins such as B-complex and vitamins A and E, make the skin appear shriveled and rough.

Drinking plenty of water while dieting lowers the dryness, as does increasing the fat intake by having a moderate amount of dried seeds and nuts,” says Khosla.

No superbug, Delhi's water safe, says govt. he Delhi government Monday asserted that the city's drinking water is safe and debunked the study in the British journal Lancet that claimed presence of a superbug in New Delhi water. The government also rejected the author's claims that truth was being suppressed.

"Please don't spread panic when there is no panic. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has been saying, and I think Delhi Jal Board has said that this is not so and water is safe for drinking," Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit told reporters.

The study, published in Lancet last week, said the New Delhi metallobeta-lactamase (NDM-1) gene, which makes bacteria resistant to an array of antibiotics, including the most powerful ones, has been found in open water pools, water from overflowing sewage and even a couple of drinking water samples in the Indian capital.

Ramesh Negi, the CEO of Delhi Jal Board that supplies water to much of the city, said: "We are testing the water as per the Bureau of India Standard (BIS) standards. Delhi's water is safe for drinking, and quoting the same (Lancet) study, it says

T

chances of this bacteria growing in this water is very less." The study, published last week in the prestigious medical journal, was promptly rejected by the government and medical experts in India. The article's coauthor Mark Toleman accused the government of "suppressing the truth". "We have rejected it and we still reject it," India's Director General Health Service R.K. Srivastava said.

Toleman alleged that the Indian government was "threatening" and "abusing" its own scientists, and Indian experts have pitched against the comments.

Renowned cardiologist and member of the board of Medical Council of India Devi Shetty said: "If there is any country which doesn't interfere with the scientific community it is the Indian government."

"I have worked closely with the health ministry and it is a very open kind of environment which does not involve itself with any scientific community. I am surprised that they have accused our government of intimidating our scientists," he said.

Shetty said the methodology of the study should be probed.

28

Humor

April 23-29, 2011

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Humor with Melvin Durai

Questions about Obama never cease resident Barack Obama has been in office for more than two years but some questions about him have still, amazingly, not been put to rest. The most common question concerns his birth: Was he really born in Hawaii?

It's a question that has been asked continually by a certain segment of the population. These people are known as "birthers," a term that was coined to describe Republicans and others who are seeking to prove, through a growing body of evidence that they're nutcases.

Not all of them are nuts, of course. Some are fruitcakes.

Talk to them and you'll get statements like these: --- "Obama wuz not born in Hawaii, so as far as I'm concerned, he's inedible to be president."

--- "If he wuz born in Hawaii, how come he don't speak Hawaiian?"

--- "I don't believe he was born in Hawaii, but even if he was, should Hawaii really be considered part of America?"

Many of these people suspect that Obama was actually born in the land of his father, Kenya. It may seem like a far-fetched belief,

P

but if you go to Kenya, you will find a similar group of people, also called "birthers," who suspect that their president, Mwai Kibaki, was actually born in Hawaii.

I spoke to a "birther" in Kenya named George Mbacho.

Me: "Is the beer in Kenya really that strong?"

Mbacho: "What do you mean?"

Me: "I mean, do you really believe that President Kibaki was born in Hawaii?"

Mbacho: "Yes, we believe that Obama got Kibaki's birth certificate and Kibaki got Obama's."

Me: "But Kibaki was born in 1931 and Obama was born in 1961."

Mbacho: "You noticed that too?

They are only one digit apart."

Me: "What do you hope to achieve through your accusations?

Do you want Kibaki to step down?"

Mbacho: "No, we are hoping for a trade. We'll take Obama, let the Americans have Kibaki."

Me: "What if Americans don't want Kibaki?"

Mbacho: "They have to take him. He was born in Hawaii!!!"

It's important to note that in 2008 Obama's staff released an official 'Certification of Live Birth' from the State of Hawaii, which clearly states that Barack Hussein Obama II was born on Aug. 4, 1961, at 7:24 p.m. in the city of Honolulu, weighing 60 lbs, 8 oz.

Actually it doesn't provide his weight or any of the other details that "birthers" are seeking. That's what I gathered from a conversation with an outspoken "birther," who has the apt name of Bertha.

Me: "Let me get this straight: you don't believe the 'Certification of Live Birth' proves anything?"

Bertha: "Well, it proves that he didn't come from an egg. That's what it proves."

Me: "So you agree that he's a mammal?"

Bertha: "Well, I never suspected he was a reptile. My friend Gertrude did, but not me."

Me: "What does the president need to do to prove once and for all that he was born in Hawaii?"

Bertha: "Well, if he wants us to believe him, he needs to release his long-form birth certificate, the one from the hospital, as well as signed statements from the doctor and nurse who delivered him, and also a photo of him wearing a Hawaiian print diaper."

Me: "And if he provides all that, would you and others stop asking the question about his birth?"

Bertha: "Yes, we would stop asking that question. But then, there's still the other question."

Me: "What question is that?"

Bertha: "Is he a Muslim?"

Laughter is the Best Medicine

by Mahendra Shah Mahendra Shah is an architect by education, entrepreneur by profession, artist and humorist, cartoonist and writer by hobby. He has been recording the plight of the immigrant Indians for the past many years in his cartoons.

Hailing from Gujarat, he lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Tech Life Switching between emails, SMSes bad for health LONDON: Being technology-savvy may be a necessity in today's world, but a new study says multi-tasking our way through life, as we switch between SMSes, emails and tweets daily, could take a toll on our mental health. Researchers at California University have claimed that latest gadgets could be damaging people's minds by bombarding them with too much information from multiple sources, and also weakening ability to screen out irrelevant data and prioritise what is important, the 'San Fransico Chronicle' reported.

The study has found that multitasking can also hamper short-term

memory performance, especially among older adults.

Moreover, there are concerns of possible technology addiction -- with frequent users unable to stop checking their messages or sending out updates at every opportunity, say the researchers.

In their study, they found that multi-taskers performed worse in tests where they had to jump from one task to another -- suggesting that they were easily distracted by irrelevant information. The researchers quoted other researches that show people are spending more time connected to a keyboard.

Youngsters addicted to cellphones, computers: Study LONDON: Youngsters are inseparably hooked to gadgets like mobile phones and computers, with some so addicted that they seem to have lost a limb when they are without them, a global survey said.

Some respondents reported feeling so deprived without their iPhones or BlackBerrys that it was similar to the "phantom limb" syndrome suffered by amputees.

The findings, by the University of Maryland in the US, show the growing reliance that the younger generation has on technology and how it has become central to their lives, according to the International

Centre for Media and the Public Agenda. While phones were the most essential device, others such as computers, MP3 players and TV were also considered essential to get people through their day, the Telegraph reports.

Many young people reported mental and physical symptoms of distress and "employed the rhetoric of

addiction, dependency and depression" when reporting their experiences of trying to go unplugged for a full day. "Students talked about how scary it was, how addicted they were," study leader Professor Susan Moeller said.

'The World Unplugged' project asked more than 1,000 students from 10 countries, including Britain, to go without their gadgets for 24 hours and monitored their feelings.

Moeller said that more than 50 percent of students failed to go the full 24 hours and everyone claimed to suffer some kind of withdrawal symptom.

Astrology TheSouthAsianTimes.info

April 23-29, 2011

By Dr Prem Kumar Sharma

Chandigarh, India: +91-172- 256 2832, 257 2874; Delhi, India: +91-11- 2644 9898, 2648 9899; psharma@premastrologer.com; www.premastrologer.com

Stars Foretell: April 23-29, 2011 Aries: This week you should make plans that include sufficient time for entertainment along with usual business meetings.

Recreation will result in to a newfound love.

Home environment will be peaceful and pleasant, and family members will extend full support. Your reputation may be at stake if you become intimate with someone you work with. Avoid trusting subordinates for important information. Expenses are likely to rise on luxuries.

Taurus: Don’t make promises to clients that you might find difficult to keep.

Although your confidence and imagination runs high this week but taking important decisions might not be too easy for you. Older members of the family will pose some problems and financial position will not be very comfortable. Travel undertaken for work purpose will bring moderate returns. Your ability to come up with new ideas will bring appreciation from superiors.

Gemini: This week you are likely to be involved in some work, which is of highly creative nature. You might even sign up for a new course or even visit a seminar to help you toward your goal. Although your financial position will improve, but the outflow of money will leave you with little money to save. Relationship with your spouse will be cordial and healthy. Health will show sign of improvement despite a busy and hectic week. A distant trip is on the cards for some of you.

Cancer: Avoid making any type of financial commitment without seeking the advice of experts. Hasty decisions will only leave you regretting. Money gains through investment are quite likely later in the week. Students should seek advice from successful people on career related issues. Budding romance for those unattached will bring new excitement and happiness in life.

Your mental state seems fine as you go out and spend good moments with close friends.

Leo: Focus and concentrate on your goals, but you should try not to get yourself so wrapped up in work, that you neglect your household duties. Arguments and confrontations should be strictly avoided, as emotional outburst will cause disharmony at home. Few important purchases are likely to be made for the house towards the weekend. A Sudden romantic development with someone you have known for long, might come as a surprise. Do not let children take advantage of your generous behaviour.

Virgo: This week you seem to take a more active role in social groups and liven up the atmosphere around you. Although new money making ventures and investment opportunities will keep you occupied, instant gains do not seem likely. End of the week sees you take blessing from a spiritual person. Other religious activities will also take some of your time. Children will seek your advice and guidance. Fitness program will be important to keep in perfect shape.

Libra: Do not loose your cool if things do not work your way. Investors will see past investments gaining new heights. New Investment in property is also recommended. Relationship with some relative might suffer due to minor misunderstanding. Mid-week will be highly crucial for artists, writers and those involved in creative line as they can expect a major boost in their

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career. Spouse will be highly supportive and shower you with love and affection.

Scorpio: This week you are likely to loose an excellent financial opportunity if you do not act swiftly. Your cash liquidity improves as you benefit from past investments but pending bills and old debts will makes it impossible for you to save. Journey overseas or foreign transactions will prove to be highly beneficial. Job opportunities for people still unemployed. Health of your spouse will cause some concern or relationship with her might get tensed over small issues.

Children will be supportive.

Sagittarius: Take a good look at your personal financial situation and stick to your budget. Emotional frustration will make it difficult for you to concentrate on productive issues. Your relationship with your partner may get tensed or your colleagues might say something disappointing, which might leave you highly demoralized. A small vacation and other recreational activities will make you feel relaxed. Small ritual or a ceremony might be performed at home.

Capricorn: This week, be careful as someone might try to undermine you.

Keep your ideas to yourself and learn to behave in a more responsible and realistic manner. You should do some self-introspection, list your priorities, and try to work towards your career goals. At work your are likely to face some criticism for not being helpful and adjustable. Certain changes to improve your physical appearance will be highly appreciated by your beloved and friends.

Aquarius: Your family will have an expensive plan for home improvement, and you will be the only person who will contribute the most. This is a good week to plan out a budget and take care of your bills and debts.

Professional advancements for some. In the latter half of the week you will build up new associations and important contacts, which will be long lasting and highly fruitful. Yoga and meditation will bring in physical as well as spiritual gains.

Pisces: This week you find yourself suppressing under extreme work pressures.

Someone you work with will be unhappy with your performance, which will make you feel highly frustrated. Health needs special care as you try to cope up with this stressful and tensed period.

An increase in income through part-time jobs or assignment most likely.

Family members might demand some extra time and attention. Be very cautious of casual acquaintances who demand temporary financial assistance. Spouse behaves cooperative despite your erratic behaviour.

Before you consult... i) Accurate Data: Please make sure Date, Time and Place of birth is accurate. ii) Careful: Did you check background of the astrologer before disclosing your secrets. iii) Fee: Discuss the charges before, don’t feel shy. It’s his business. iv) Expectation: Expect the best, if the outcome is not as desired, never give up. v) Consult: Take second opinion before spending thousands on cure/remedies.

Annual Predictions: For those born in this week April: 23 You are governed by the number 5 and by the planet Mercury. Ambitious by nature, you go all out to achieve what you desire to. You will be able to study the subject of your choice and will be able to go deep into its study. This will bring you success in your educational field. Following the law and order, is an obsession with you. You do not tolerate anything, which is not correct, and what is not abiding by the law. Religion and customs attract you, but you do not overdo them. You maintain a perfect balance between religion and practicality. Travel will form an important part of your life in the coming year. Music and literature will fascinate you, and you will be able to get peace through music. You get a sense of satisfaction in helping the oppressed. In the coming year, you will get many opportunities, to work for the needy. The months of May, July and September will be very important.

April: 24 Dominated by the planet Venus, you are also influenced by Mercury and the number 6.

You are independent and full of self-confidence. You will move in an intellectual crowd, in the year ahead of you. This will be beneficial to you in all ways.

Your personality and positive attitude to life, will allow you to have a vast circle of friends around you.

In the coming year, proximity to a water body will bring you prosperity. You should try to get a position in a city or town, near a riverside or a seaside. Those of you, who are single, can expect to tie the nuptial knot. You will prosper and achieve success after your marriage. New schemes and projects are waiting to be undertaken. All you need to do is push yourself ahead and make the best of opportunities that are waiting for you. The months of July, September and December will be very significant.

April: 25 You are dominated by the planet Neptune and governed by the planet Mercury. The number 7 also dominates you. You are honest faithful and good-natured. You have the ability of taking charge over a difficult situation. Those of you in the field of writing and oratory can expect to achieve success, in their professional field, in the year ahead of you. You have the ability to control your emotions. You can hide your thoughts and feelings no matter how upset you are. The coming year will see you travel a lot.

Visits to foreign countries is also possible. You should use your extensive memory, to your advantage. But a word of caution – give up your fickle minded attitude to life. You tend to get inconsistent and thus create problems for yourself. In love matters, you will be careful, and will not take the first step, if you are not sure of a positive response. The months of June and September will be very eventful.

April: 26 You are governed by the number 8 and the planet Saturn. You are also dominated by the planet Mercury. The coming year will see you executing big projects into action. This will not only bring you success, but will also give you a sense of satisfaction, but you are advised to control your restless nature. You expect things to happen in double quick time. Learn to relax and let time take its own course. This will relieve you from unnecessary stress. You will also be lucky in financial matters, in the year ahead of you.

Neatness is a passion for you. The opposite sex will be attracted to your neat and perfect sense of dressing. But you are advised, to be careful in love matters. Take a step forward, only when you are sure of

a positive response. Most of you will travel a lot in the coming year. Pleasure trips with friends is foreseen. The months of May, October and November will be very important.

April: 27 You are governed by the number 9 and dominated by the planet Mars. You are also influenced by the planet Mercury. Sacrifice and care for the needy, is what gives you ultimate satisfaction. You will be involved in voluntary work, which will help the handicapped and you will be appreciated for your good deeds, in the year ahead of you. But you tend to become a little dogmatic in your views and ideas. You will have to learn to control this trait. Trivial matters may disturb you. Learn to relax and let small matters sort themselves out on their own. This will keep you away from stress and strain. Your personality will attract the opposite sex. You do not like many people around you. But you will be able to make few but good friends, in the coming year. You will be prepared to do your best for your friends and loved ones.

The months of July, September and November will be very eventful.

April: 28 Governed by the number 1 and the Sun, you are also dominated by the planet Mercury.

Serious by nature, you like a certain degree of privacy in your life. You enjoy being alone and like to keep busy, in your own work. You cannot tolerate to see the miseries of those who are physically handicapped. In the coming year, you will be spending a lot of your time in doing social work for hospitals and charitable institutions. This will not only, give you a sense of satisfaction, but also bring you fame and recognition. You can expect to see, changes both professionally and at the domestic front, in the year ahead of you. Some of you might lose money through speculation. You are advised, to lend money, only when you are sure of getting it back. Your independent nature, will allow you to take your own decisions in the year ahead of you. The month of June, October, February will be eventful months.

April: 29 Governed by the number 2, you are also governed by the planet Moon and Mercury. You are studious by nature, and you are happiest, when you are amongst books. Teaching comes naturally to you. You not only like to pursue it as a profession, but also find satisfaction in doing it. In the coming year, you are advised, not to take hasty decisions. In matters of love, you will be ready to break away from traditions and customs, and take decisions, which you think are best. For those who are to be married this year, you can expect to achieve prosperity and happiness, after marriage. Your bosses will notice your hard work and dedication, and you are likely to be rewarded for your efforts.

The coming year, will be an eventful one for you, but you are advised not to take trivial matters to the extreme. Your lucky colors are cream, blue, purple and white. The month of May, August and January will be highly eventful.

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Spiritual Awareness

April 23-29, 2011

TheSouthAsianTimes.info