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Diaspora 14

Spiritual Awareness 30

Tristate Community TheSouthAsianTimes.info

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September 17-23, 2011

Kamlesh Mehta promoted as Director of Nirupama Rao presents Business and Economic Development credentials to President Washington: Describing of Nassau County India-US global strategic

Mineola: Kamlesh C. Mehta, an Indian American with interests in media and diamond business has been promoted as Director of Business and Economic Development of Nassau County in New York State, one of America’s wealthiest counties.

The first Indian American to hold the top business job at the County, Kamlesh Mehta said his primary role is to provide support to existing businesses which are suffering in tough economic times and create opportunities to attract new growth opportunities for diverse businesses in the County.

Mehta joined the county administration as deputy Director in the office of Economic Development in January 2010 when newly elected county executive Edward Mangano took charge in Long island after a surprising victory over the two-term incumbent.

Born and brought up in Beawar, Rajasthan, he started his diamond business in Mumbai before moving to New York in 1986 to expand.

Mehta has interests in media and precious stones trade and is on the board of various businesses including Xavier Medical University and Indus American Bank. He is the Chairman of Forsythe Media Group which has grown exponentially as an integrated media, marketing and advertising enterprise. Mehta has led the publication,

Kamlesh C. Mehta has been appointed Director of Business & Economic Development, Nassau County,

by County Executive Edward P. Mangano (right).

The South Asian Times, to make it one of the most read US-based Indian newspapers via its print and online editions. Acknowledging his leadership role and extensive penetration in the community, the Business Resources Group honored Mehta with a Life Time Achievement Award and the National Federation of Indian American Associations felicitated him with its Excellence of Service award.

Weprin loses Congressional race in blue New York

David Weprin (left) was defeated by Rob Turner in Queens-Brooklyn Congressional district.

New York: Assemblyman David Weprin conceded the race Wednesday for the congressional seat Democrats had held for almost a century. Republican Bob Turner replaces the disgraced former Rep. Anthony Weiner in New York's 9th Congressional District comprising Brooklyn and Queens.Turner's victory was seen as a rebuke of President Obama's policies in a district that is main-

ly Democratic. Turner had campaigned in the overwhelmingly Jewish district against Obama's policies on Israel and the economy.However, White House press secretary Jay Carney said Weprin's loss is no barometer of Obama's re-election chances in 2012.Weiner, a Democrat, resigned in June after acknowledging he sent lewd photos and text messages to women he met online.

partnership as a defining and indispensible collaboration for the 21st Century, President Obama has said their dynamic friendship advances peace and prosperity in Asia and the world.

Obama conveyed these sentiments to India's new Ambassador Nirupama Rao India’s ambassador to the US, Nirupama Rao, with President Obama as she presented her credentials to the president in the him and the first lady Michelle White House last Friday.

Obama.

Warmly welcoming Rao, who has An IFS officer of 1973 batch, Rao visited here as foreign secretary, is an advisor to the Prime Minister, Obama wished her every success in has served in world capitals includher high responsibilities as envoy to ing Washington and Moscow. She the US. Rao said India was greatly enjoys extensive experience in Indoencouraged by the president's strong China ties. From 1998-1999, she personal commitment to take the In- was Deputy Chief of Mission at the dia-US strategic partnership forward. Indian Embassy in Moscow. She was She also conveyed warm greetings High Commissioner to Sri Lanka from President Pratibha Patil and (2004-2006) and Ambassador to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to China (2006-2009).

Bank of India celebrates completion of 105 years New York: Bank of India celebrated completing 105 years on Sept 7, 2011 with festivities all over India and overseas. To commemorate, the bank opened 106 new branches all over India, flagged off by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

In New York the bank celebrated the landmark starting with the traditional lighting of the lamp in its Manhattan office by Dr. P. Jayaraman, former Chairman of the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, USA. A customers’ meet was held on Sept. 12 at Bombay Palace restaurant. Speaking on the occasion Mr Narendra Prasad, General Manager of the bank and its Chief Executive for US Operations, spoke about the history of the bank and its future plans.

Bank of India was founded in 1906 by a group of eminent businessmen from Mumbai. In July 1969, it was nationalized along with 13 other banks. The Bank came out with its maiden public issue in 1997 and followed with Qualified Institutional Placement in February 2008. Currently the bank has a strong Government holding of 64.47%. With consistent growth, Bank of India is one of the leading PSU banks in India. It boasts a business mix of over Rs 5000 billion and world class technology in all its branches. It was adjudged the Best Public Sector Bank by ‘Dun & Bradstreet’ in 2010 and given the National Award for excellence in Lending to Micro & Small Enterprises. Bank of India was the first bank to open a branch outside the country (at London in 1946), and the first to open a branch in Tokyo and Paris. Today the Bank has a network of 29 branches (including five representative offices) at key banking and financial centers and plans to expand its international presence by entering

New Zealand, Canada, Brazil and emerging Africa. The international business accounts for around 18% of the Bank's total business. Since 1978, the Bank’s New York branch has been “One stop shop” for NRI customers for their banking and financial needs, said Mr. Prasad. The bank has been providing Investments/Portfolio Management/Insurance/Master/Visa Card/Net Banking /online and real time transaction processing and a host of customized products to suit comprehensive needs of niche clientele across all demographic cross-sections.

Conservative approach and prudent policies have lifted Bank of India to top five banks in India. Conscious of its social objectives such as poverty alleviation, the bank has always fulfilled its priority sector lending obligations.

Customer loyalty is a strong point with the bank and many of its clients are fourth generation customers. The bank’s slogan “Relationship beyond banking” reflects this philosophy.

US is India’s principal trade partner and the bank has contributed its mite in facilitating business between the two countries. The Center has an asset size of over $3 billion and offers a range of services like remittance facilities to India, CDs, acquisition finance, trade credit, confirmation/advising of LCs, and external commercial borrowings at competitive rates. Besides the full-fledged branch at New York, the bank has an agency in San Francisco and plans to expand its footprint in the country.

With its strong presence of over 3700 branches in India, offices in 12 countries and a trained and experienced staff in the US the bank is ideally placed to further augment Indo-US business ties.

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Community

September 17-23, 2011

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

NFIA meets Congressmen, gets White House Briefing Washington, DC: The National Federation of Indian American Associations (NFIA), the apex Indian community organization, organized a Congressional Luncheon and a White House Briefing in the capital Thursday before being addressed by the new Indian Ambassador Nirupama Rao. The scores of delegates from the Tristate and states as far as California converged Thursday morning on Capitol Hill. Two Congressmen who addressed them were Edward R. Royce (R-CA) and Jim Himes (D-CT). Among others who spoke at the luncheon were NFIA President Lal Motwani, who brought the New Yorkers; Past President Thomas Abraham, who brought the Connecticut delegation; and Chandu Patel, Chair of NFIA Foundation who came with the California delegates.

At the White House Briefing, Aneesh Chopra, Chief Technology Officer, and two other Obama Administration members addressed the NFIA delegation.

The busy day concluded with a dinner reception by the Indian Embassy.

A seminar “Empowering Women’ was held on Friday with speakers including many high profile Indian American women from various walks of life.

Rahul-Modi continued from page 1 As for Rahul Gandhi, his field of influence in Congress party is growing by the day. He was made part of the four member-committee set up by party president Sonia Gandhi to look after party affairs when she came to the US for surgery. Now formally Rahul has been inducted in the Central Election Committee of the party. He was present at the meeting of the Committee Thursday presided over by Sonia Gandhi in her first interaction with party leaders after her return from US. The controversial report about Rahul-

Congressman Ed Royce (R-CA) with Lal Motwani, NFIA President

Jim Himes (D-CT) with Thomas Abraham, Past President Modi battle in 2004 comes from Congressional Research Service (CRS), an independent research arm of the US Congress. Its coordinator Dr. K. Alan Kronstadt said the report is a "scholarly compendium of information from various sources that does not in any way reflect the judgment of the US Congress or government of any kind". There are only brief and separate references made to Gandhi and Modi in the 98-page report titled "India: Domestic Issues, Strategic Dynamics, and U.S. Relations". have been used by sections of the Indian

BoB’s Chairman, Mallya, visiting NY New York: M.D. Mallya, Chairman and Managing Director of Bank of Baroda (BoB), a premier public sector Indian bank, will be visiting New York Sept 2223 to review the bank’s US operations, meet customers as well as different authorities in New York.

Under the dynamic leadership of Mallya, the Bank’s business has doubled in 3 years and profits tripled in the same period, much beyond the industry performance. He relentlessly pursues a policy of quality, consistency and transparency in driving growth.

BoB has a wide network of over 3,400 branches, recording continuous profits and serving over 39 million customers.

The bank was established in 1908 in the princely state of Baroda. It made its overseas foray in 1953 in Mombasa (Kenya) and over the years, it has emerged as an International Bank of repute, expanding its footprint across 26 countries with a network of 85 overseas offices.

Bank of Baroda set up domestic subsidiaries mainly dealing with Credit cards, capital markets / mutual funds management and JV in Life Insurance sponsored several Regional Rural banks

media to suggest as if some elements of the US official establishment expect the 2014 elections in the country to be a direct battle between the two politicians.

Some Congressmen ridiculed Modi supporters for tomtommig the report from America, which does not allow the Guajrat Chief Minister to step on its soil—he has been denied US visa over his alleged complicity in anti-Muslim rioting in his state in 2002. The references to Rahul Gandhi are not always complimentary. The report says “this heir-apparent remains dogged by questions about his abilities to lead the party,

now merged into 5.

Born in 1952, Mallya has a Bachelor of Engineering degree and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Management from Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. He joined Corporation Bank as an officer in 1976, rising to the rank of General Manager before becoming Executive Director of Oriental Bank of Commerce.

He then moved as CMD of Bank of Maharashtra. Mallya took over as CMD of Bank of Baroda in May 2008.

Recognizing his leadership eminence and proven contribution, he has been adjudged ‘Banker of the Year 2009-10’

by Business Standard. Under his leadership, BoB has won several awards and accolades, notably ‘Bank of the Year – 2010’ by Business India and ‘Bank of the Year – 2010 (India)’ by Banker Magazine, London, UK. During the current year, the Bank has also won ‘Best Public Sector Bank Award’ and Mallya has been adjudged as ‘Outstanding Finance Professional for the year 2010’ by CNBC TV 18 and MCX under India’s Best Banks & Financial Institutions Awards (IBFA). He ranks one amongst the top 100 CEOs of the Country (adjudged by Economics Times).

given a mixed record as an election strategist, uneasy style in public appearances, and reputation for gaffes."

Mujahideen continued from page 1 The designation recognized Indian Mujahideen's links with Pakistan-based Lashkar e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JEM) and Harkat ul-Jihad-i-Islami (HuJI), and noted that the outfit was responsible for dozens of bomb attacks throughout India since 2005 including playing a facilitative role in the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attack carried out by LeT.

Tristate Community TheSouthAsianTimes.info

September 17-23, 2011

‘Sanskar 2011’ to raise funds for Jain Center of America New York: For the first time ever, Jain Center of America, New York presents SANSKAR 2011, “A Breathtaking Display of Spectacular Performances” on October 2 at Queensboro Performing Arts Center, Bayside, NY. It is a presentation of religious-themed performances made possible by members of the community with an emphasis on the exceptional aspects of the Jain religion.

Jainism is an ascetic faith that preaches the principles

of non-violence, non-possessiveness, and compassion towards all living beings.

Sanskar 2011 will feature a variety of performances.

There will be melodious bhajans to begin the evening.

The devotional songs will be followed by a classical Indian Kathak dance that will portray Jainism’s emphasis on peace and harmony. The night will include an artistic dance interpretation of Jainism’s

To focus on growing business ties with the Asian community An active leader in the Asian community, Mui’s established relationships with various business organizations and key civic leaders will play a key role in supporting her efforts. In her new position, Mui will have responsibility to grow market share across diverse segments in the San Francisco Bay Area, and she will work cross-functionally to develop strategies and identify opportunities that address specific needs.

Mui is a well-regarded civic leader and recognized among friends and colleagues for her contributions in the community.

She currently sits on the Board of Directors at the San Francisco General Hospital Foundation, the Asian Business League of San Francisco and the Chinese Culture Foundation.

Free prostate cancer screenings New York: Integrated Medical Foundation, (IMFcares.com) in a collaborative effort with Senator Kemp Hannon, invites the community to a free screening for prostate cancer- the second leading cause of cancer death in American men - on Monday September 26 from 3:00pm to 5:00pm.

Dr. Brett Mellinger and Dr. Robert D’Esposito from Advance Urology Centers of New York, will provide both Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) blood tests and digital rectal examinations in a private setting at Uniondale Public Library (400 Uniondale

Avenue/Uniondale, NY 11557). Dr. Mellinger was the past Chairman of the Department of Urology at WinthropUniversity Hospital. He has extensive experience in the field of urology, has published articles and book chapters, and has been listed in New York Magazine’s “The Best Doctors in New York” on numerous occasions. Dr. D’Esposito is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and is currently a Clinical Associate Professor at Stony Brook Medical School.

Other than skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men.

The American Cancer

Vedic Heritage brings Ustad Shujaat Husain Khan on Sept 23

most basic and unique philosophies that challenge modern scientific theories on the universe and a Hindi and Sanskrit musical depiction of one of Jainism’s most revered and sacred texts, Bhaktamar Stotra, a gem of devotional literature.

In the Bhaktamar Stotra, Acharya Shri Mantung extols the perfect qualities of Shri Adinath Bhagwan, the first Jain Tirthankar. The proceeds from the event will go to the Jain Center of America.

Wells Fargo names Maggie Mui head of SFO Diverse Segment San Francisco: Wells Fargo & Company has announced the promotion of Magdalen “Maggie” Mui to the position of Regional Director of Diverse Segments.

In this newly created position, Mui will be responsible for developing strategies to grow the region’s footprint with diverse segments, with a focus on the Asian community. Mui is a 22-year-veteran of Wells Fargo, having most recently served as Senior Vice President of the Community Bank for the San Francisco market.

“Wells Fargo is deeply committed to building business practices that address the needs of diverse segments like the Asian community, which has such a vibrant presence in San Francisco,” said Michael Billeci, Executive Vice President of Wells Fargo’s San Francisco Bay Region.

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Society estimates that nearly a quarter-million cases will be diagnosed in the United States this year, and that nearly 34,000 men will die of the disease. If detected early, prostate cancer is treatable.

People at the free screening will receive educational materials related to prostate cancer, preventative care, early detection, and treatment options.

Advance registration is required. To schedule an appointment, please call Senator Hannon’s Community Office at: 516-739-1700.

For more information about Integrated Medical Foundation, call: 631-247-0100.

Ustad Shujaat Husain Khan New York: Vedic Heritage Inc., Long Island NY in keeping up with their tradition of bringing the best of the best Indian classical music and dance artists to America, presents on Sept 23 Ustad Shujaat Husain Khan accompanied by Pandit Samir Chatterjee on the tabla for this year's annual concert which starts at 7:00 PM and ends with dinner. For the first time to encourage College and High

School students, their admission is free along with senior citizens above sixty five years of age.

Usatd Shujaat Husain Khan is a noted Indian musician and sitar player belonging to the Imdadkhani gharana who has over 60 albums to his credit besides a Grammy nomination. Son of legendary Sitarist Ustad Vilayat Khan he has a musical pedigree that goes back seven generations all of whom have been leading artists and torch bearers of the Imdadkhani gharana with its roots in Bangladesh.

Pandit Samir Chatterjee for New YorkNew Jersey area has become a catalyst in the fusion of Indian and Western music, performing with numerous, classical and avant guard musicians and ensembles. He is member of jazz trio SYNC, he collaborates with Sufi-Rock and much more.

PanditSamir Chatterjee has been teaching for the last 30 years and many of his students are established performers. He is the Founder-Director of CHHANDAYAN and author of the books entitled 'A Study of Tabla' and 'Music of India'. He is on the faculty at Yale University, Manhattan School of Music, University of Pittsburgh, New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music and University of Bridgeport in CT.

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Tristate Community

September 17-23, 2011

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Mirror of the Buddha: Narrative paintings on display at Rubin New York: The primary subjects of Tibetan Buddhist paintings are images of the founding teachers of various schools and lineages.

Beginning in the thirteenth century Tibetans began to exalt these lineage masters in portraits, using symbols of Indian Buddhist iconography to elevate their earthly forms and evoke the highest spiritual status, buddhahood. A new exhibition at the Rubin Museum, Mirror of the Buddha: Early Portraits from Tibet introduces the early painted portraits and some sculptures of Tibetan gurus in all their magnificence and variety. It opens Friday, October 21, and remains on view through March 5, 2012.

The exhibition is the third in a series of eight exhibitions and catalogs by the foremost scholar of Tibetan Buddhist painting, David Jackson. Jackson’s current research focuses on the history of Tibetan painting as it can be reconstructed through inscriptions and representations of religious lineages from Tibetan primary sources. Treating paintings as historical documents, Jackson offers an unprecedented methodological approach to studying Tibetan art. He has examined and contextualized these objects and woven them into a rich historical narrative that provides many

One of the exhibits: Kagyu Lama with Lineage Gurus; Bengal, India, commissioned for a Tibetan patron; late 12th or early 13th century insights into the culture and art of Tibet and, in this exhibition, identifies the major players in the development of the Tibetan Buddhist religious traditions -- teachers, monks, students, and patrons of historical teaching lineages.

The exhibition can be seen concurrently with Once Upon Many Times: Legends and Myths in Himalayan Art until January 30, an exhibition that presents the variety of forms that tell stories of the Buddha, great teachers, legendary masters and their spiritual quests, and adventures of heroes painted in thangkas, murals, and told in front of portable shrines.

Court refuses to dismiss charges against Dharun Ravi New York: A US court on Friday refused to dismiss criminal charges against Indian-American Dharun Ravi, a former Rutgers University student, accused of secretly filming and posting online a sexual encounter between his male roommate and another man.

Ravi, 19, stands accused of using a webcam to stream coverage of his Rutgers roommate Tyler Clementi with another man last September.

Clementi, 18, committed suicide last fall following the incident. If

convicted of the most serious bias charge, Ravi could face five to 10 years in prison.

"I'm finding there is testimony to support these charges," Middlesex County Superior Court Judge Glenn Berman was quoted as saying by local media reports.

The judge also ruled that evidence about Clementi's September 22 suicide, specifically the full name and birthdate of "MB," the man with whom Clementi had his intimate encounter – be given to the defence, saying it is relevant to

the criminal charges against Ravi.

Ravi is charged with 15 offences, including bias and intimidation. Ravi's defence attorney, Steven Altman, requested access to evidence about the suicide, but the prosecution said Ravi was not charged with actually causing Clementi's suicide, so the information was deemed irrelevant.

"I recognize "MB" has limited knowledge about this case," the judge said. "I'm balancing his right to privacy with Ravi's right to defend himself."

Akanksha Foundation invited to Clinton Global Initiative in NYC New York : Akanksha Foundation, recognized as ‘NGO of the Year’ for 2010 by The Resource Alliance and The Rockefeller Foundation, has now been invited to attend its first-ever Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) conference, scheduled for Sept. 20 to 22 at the Sheraton Hotel in New York City.

Akanksha Foundation is a Mumbai-based not-forprofit organization providing a high-quality education to children from low-income communities in urban India, enabling them to maximize their potential and transform their lives. Akanksha serves approximately 4,000 children, and growing, through its after school centers and schools in Mumbai and Pune each year.

Twenty years ago, Akanksha centers were formed with the vision to supplement serious gaps in the formal school system and the intent to make learning fun. Having seen success with its model for the centers, The Akanksha Foundation and its

partners now run nine full-time schools in Mumbai and Pune and expect to have fifteen operational by 2015 through its School Project initiative, in addition to its centers.

To share the commitment to open 15 schools by the year 2015, The Akanksha Foundation, along with Soigne K, will host a celebratory event on Monday, September 19 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at 717 Madison Avenue.

By ensuring the model is delivering the highest quality education to the poor while being scalable and replicable, these schools have the potential to serve as catalysts for education reform across the country,” says Vandana Goyal, CEO. “Using evidence from the schools, the extensive training process, and the public-private partnership model to advocate for policy changes, Akanksha is pioneering the charter school system in India, one child at a time.”

Shehnaai Couture hosts fashion Chivukula distributes 100 backpacks Piscataway, NJ: Assemblyman Upendra the basement of the municipal building at 710 Chivukula (D-17) distributed a total of 100 Hermann Road. event for Indian designers backpacks in North Brunswick and The following day, Assemblyman

New York : As the City's fashion followers hopped from party to party and store to store during the 2011 Fashion's Night Out, South Asian fashionistas, for the first time, were treated to a fashion show and party celebrating Indian Couture Collections at Shehnaai Couture's new Fifth Avenue showroom.

About two hundred people including red carpet celebrities attended the fashion show featuring the designs of Geetanjali Singh and Sabah Arenja of Saa.n.shé. Actress Deepti Gupta, comedian Vidur Kapur and actors Samrat Chakraberti and Sanjiv Jhaveri were part of the show. Other celebrity guests included Shetal Shah, Purva Bedi and Alysia Reiner.

Samrat Chakrabarti in Geetanjali Singh / Saran Kohli, Finale

Actress Deepti Gupta in Saa.n.shé Finale

Piscataway. Each bag was filled with school supplies and important tools to help students tackle a new school year.

On September 8, the Assemblyman delivered 40 backpacks and boxes of notebooks and pencils to Parsons Elementary School in North Brunswick. Superintendent Dr. Brian Zychowski, Principal Bruce Rothenberg, and Board of Education Member Rich Liguori, received the bags and supplies on behalf of the students. “It’s really special having an Assemblyman who cares for the children of North Brunswick. We are grateful for his efforts to work with us to ensure all children are prepared for the start of the school year,” Superintendent Zychowski stated.

Assemblyman Chivukula also visited the North Brunswick Food Bank to deliver an additional 20 backpacks for some families in North Brunswick. The food bank is located in

Chivukula delivered over 40 backpacks and supplies to Grandview Elementary School in Piscataway. Assistant Superintendent Teresa Rafferty, Principal William Baskerville and two student representatives accepted the bags.

Chivukula stated, “It is wonderful to be able to provide students with the necessary tools to be successful in school. It’s even better to know that members of the community that I represent contributed to this great cause.”

The drive, which began four years ago, received supplies from local businesses, individuals, community organizations, and churches.This year both the Piscataway and North Brunswick Public Libraries assisted in collecting supplies. In addition, the drive received donations from organizations such as Enterprise Rent a Car, St. Peters University Hospital, Piscataway Senior Center, and Piscataway Medical Group.

National Community TheSouthAsianTimes.info

September 17-23, 2011

A sister’s lament: the call that never came Washington, DC: He loved livRajesh bhaiya waited for me and ing in the clouds, gazing down at then he left very disappointed the panoramic view of New York that I did not have time for him.’ down there from his office on the So she left a message for him 97th floor of the World Trade on Yahoo Messenger asking him Centre. Little did he know that the to call her next morning. ‘But view from his window that fateful that call never came,’ said day of Sep 11, 2001 would be his Kanoongo and to her eternal last glance at the city he had come regret she realized that ‘we to love. shouldn’t wait to do or say any‘He always had a wish to work thing to anyone because we in World Trade Centre and when don’t know if there is a tomorhe got this job at Marsh & row for us.’

McLennan he was on cloud nine,’ Khandelwal was just 33 when recalled Rekha Kanoongo speakdeath snatched him from his ing about her cousin brother, perch in the clouds with a child Nagpur born Rajesh who doesn’t know who his Rajesh Khandelwal’s office was Khandelwal, who trained as an father was. His spouse has maron 97th floor of WTC aeronautical engineer but ried again and moved on and switched to computers when he came to the US. would not talk about those days.

‘He loved working on the 97th floor. He would call me But Kanoongo cannot forget and like every year this and say don’t take this bridge, too much traffic,’ year too she went to the World Trade Centre despite pleas Kanoongo said a day after the tenth anniversary of the from everyone at home and friends and family in India as 9/11 terror attacks. ‘terrorism was in the air and I shouldn’t but I wanted to ‘I can see the clouds today. I love to be in between the go so I did.’ clouds…he loved the whole scenic view from there as he While returning she asked a New York policeman about was an artist himself.’ directions. He in turn asked from where she was and what A day before 9/11, Rajesh had come to their house after she was doing at WTC. When she told him she was from work ‘to spend some time with me talking over tea,’ India and ‘mentioned about losing bhaiya,’ he took out a recalled Kanoongo, who runs a restaurant and a video small badge with WTC written on it and gave it to her. store in New Jersey.

‘I cannot tell you how it felt at that moment; it was like But ‘when he came I was busy talking to my friend. a blessing sent to me from up there.’

Ten years after 9/11, Indian Americans have come a long way Washington, DC: Ten years after terrorists struck US unleashing a backlash against the South Asians given their close resemblance to the hijackers from the Middle East, the community has come a long way.

"Looking back, the country has changed substantially. Just after 9/11, people at large looked at South Asians with some suspicion.

Things have completely changed now," says Thomas Abraham, founder president and chairman emeritus of the Global

Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO).

"Indian American community has become very active politically," he noted. "We have two governors and over a dozen legislatives in the state, county and city levels.

We have several people in the administration. That is a lot of accomplishments for the Indian American community."

Abraham recalled that after 9/11 GOPIO had asked "our community members to be alert and cautious since the terrorists were from the Middle East

and close resemblance to South Asians."

Deepa Iyer, executive director, South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT) also recalled how the organization transformed and expanded its mission after 9/11.

"When we saw the impact of backlash and discrimination on our community, we realized that there was a void, especially at the national level, of a voice dedicated to raising the perspective of South Asians in the US," she says.

Haley regrets 'little girl' comment aimed at reporter Washington, DC: Gov. Nikki Haley said Friday that she regretted calling a Charleston newspaper reporter a “little girl” during a syndicated radio talk show - a comment that critics say was sexist.

In a statement, Haley, the state’s first female governor, again criticized a Charleston Post and Courier reporter’s story, which questioned the results of an economic development trip that Haley and

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two dozen other state officials took to Paris and Munich in June. The trip cost S.C. taxpayers more than $127,000.

“The story painted a grossly inaccurate picture and was unprofessionally done,” Haley said in a statement. “But my ‘little girl’ comment was inappropriate and I regret that. Everyone can have a bad day.

I’ll forgive her bad story, if she’ll forgive my poor choice of words.”

Sikh Coalition turns 10 on 9/11 New York: As the Sikh Coalition and America solemnly remembered the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, the Sikh Coalition also marked its ten year anniversary.

The Coalition was born on 9/11 as a response to the backlash violence experienced by Sikhs around the country. It began as a volunteer effort that very night, when an elderly Sikh and two teenagers were violently attacked in Queens, New York in “reprisal” attacks by fellow Americans. The group that became the Sikh Coalition issued a press release the next day under the organizational title “Coalition of Sikh Organizations of New York," condemning the terror attacks and calling on police to better protect the community.

Anticipating more bias attacks, the emerging Sikh Coalition began creating press kits the next day to enable Sikhs across America

to organize at a grass roots level. With the aid of activists in Chicago, a website was set-up by September 12th to record the occurrence of hatecrimes and report them to police and the federal government. Other activists from various cities across North America joined the initiative, and the Sikh Coalition emerged within a month.

In ten years, the Coalition achieved notable victories against the United States Army, Transportation Security Administration, and NYPD, breaking barriers for full Sikh participation in American life. It also persuaded the state Boards of Education in Texas and New Jersey to incorporate information on Sikhs into the mandatory school curriculum.

This apart from working to change laws on workplace discrimination and school bullying that positively impact millions of people, Sikh and non-Sikh alike.

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National Community

September 17-23, 2011

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

JAINA Teachers' meet 2012 on Memorial Day weekend in LA New York: The "JAINA Teachers' National Conference 2012 Los Angeles" will be held during the Memorial Day weekend, May 26, 27, 28, 2012.

The conference is hosted by Jain Center of Southern California (Los Angeles JCSC). All the participants will be staying with the host family of JCSC in homes with Pathshala teachers and volunteers for the duration of the conference and meals will be provided by the Jain Center. This arrangement will give each participants opportunity to share their experience and ideas with their peers.

Registration will open in January 2012.

Details of registration and programs will be provided at that time.

The primary objective of the conference

is to have group discussions on Pathshala Education material, teaching methodology, and tracking system. Participants will be divided into groups based on their interest and expertise.

Following is preliminary outline of the agenda and program: Pathashala Curriculum by Age Group (5-9) (10-12) (13-15) (16 and older); Current status of Education Material and progress report; Teaching method presentations (2 or 3); JAINA syllabus books review to create an intermediate level book (Between "First Step in Jainism" and "Book 302 Level3"); Sutra, Stavan, and Vidhi Books; Language Curriculum; National Exam; Pathshala Coordinators' Group Discussion; Review of Resources (web, books etc).

First annual Sevathon to benefit four charities Chicago: First annual Sevathon was held here Aug. 21 at the Harm’s Wood Forest Preserve in Skokie, Ill. The inaugural event took 40 walkers and runners on a five-kilometer course and raised funds and awareness for four organizations, including India Development Coalition of America, India Development Service, Pratham and Ekya.

Ekya is a non-profit organization dedicated to eradication of poverty and promotion of literacy. The organization funds projects locally in Chicago and in South Asia in the areas of economic development, literacy, public health and women's rights.

IDCA provides a forum for networking and cooperation between non-profit organizations and individuals who are interested in alleviating poverty and mitigating climate change pri-

Jay Sean teams up with Joe Jonas for a 19 city tour New York: Pop music superstars and multi-platinum-selling recording artists, Jay Sean and Joe Jonas, will co-headline a 19-city tour this Fall. The tour, bringing both artists’ dance and R&B infused music, kicks off in Boston, MA on September 6 and will visit major cities across North America including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Toronto and San Francisco.

“I'm super excited to be on the road with Joe and I think it's going to be a great experience for me,” says Jay Sean. “This is going to be a killer tour and who better to hit the road with than Jay Sean,”

says Joe Jonas.

Jay Sean topped charts worldwide with songs such as “Down," featuring Lil’ Wayne, and “Do You Remember,” from his U.S. debut album All or Nothing, which helped catapult him into a league reserved for just a few.

Now, he is gearing up for the release of his fourth album, the highly anticipated Cash Money/Universal Republic follow-up Freeze Time, including the smashes “2012” with Nicki Minaj and “Hit the Lights” guest starring Lil’ Wayne.

Pop superstar Jay Sean

‘The Prophet and the Poet’ to be staged in Houston Houston: In celebration of Rabindranath Tagore’s 150th birthday and Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday, Shunya Theatre supported by the Tagore Society of Houston, IIT Bombay Alumni, and other organizations will present the play “The Prophet and the Poet.” The play is based on the exchange of letters and articles between Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore over a period of 25 years, with the Indian freedom struggle as the backdrop.

The play is written by Vijay Padaki and has been developed at the Academy of Theatre Arts, a program division of

Bangalore Little Theatre Foundation.

It is produced by arrangement with Bangalore Little Theatre Foundation. The play premiered by invitation at Gandhi’s Sabarmati Ashram on January 30, 2009, subsequently at Visva Bharati University at Santiniketan then at the courtyard stage of Tagore’s home in Jora Sanko, now a heritage site. The play script is developed from a draft manuscript compiled by Shailesh Parekh and shared with Bangalore Little Theatre, now published as Gandhi Vs. Tagore by Viswa Bharati, Kolkata, 2010. The compilation was based on the archival research by Sabyasachi Bhattacharya, former Vice Chancellor of Visva Bharati University. The dates of the production have been set: September 30 – October 9, on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 3 pm at Barnevelder Movement Arts, 2201 Preston Street, Houston, TX.

marily in India. The organization holds monthly forums and seminars.

IDS supports small grass roots development projects under various categories like income generation, education, health care, environment and disaster management across India.

Pratham has emerged as one of the world's largest non-profit organizations in the field of primary education. Pratham's direct urban programs, including pre-schools, community libraries and remedial learning programs, reach hundreds of thousands of children every year. Sevathon started in the San Francisco Bay Area 2009 with 100 participants and 10 partner organizations, but has quickly grown to 2,000 participants and 50 partner organizations. The Bay Area run was held July 17 in Sunnyvale, Calif.

USIBC welcomes Ambassador Nirupama Rao to Washington Washington, DC: In a press statement, the U.S.-India Business Council (USIBC) has warmly welcomed Indian Ambassador Nirupama Rao back to Washington in her new role as Ambassador to the United States.

In her previous foreign service assignment as India's Foreign Secretary, Ambassador Rao was instrumental in advancing the U.S.-India strategic partnership.

Office bearers of the USIBC, including members of the Board of Directors and Chairs of USIBC's twelve Executive Committees, assembled in Washington to pledge support to expanding on already strong bilateral business ties.

USIBC President Ron Somers noted that "ties between U.S. and Indian business has never been stronger" and that USIBC member-companies are constantly perfecting new business models with Indian counterparts to bolster investment and technology ties." Somers further added, "The private sector has always led the way in bringing the U.S. and India closer together.

Under Ambassador Rao's leadership, USIBC looks forward to accelerating this exciting partnership."

USIBC's business interaction with Ambassador Rao, chaired by USIBC Board Member Secretary

William S. Cohen, provided Ambassador Rao with its "Way Forward" advocacy agenda for the year ahead. In a discussion led by Secretary Cohen, USIBC office bearers highlighted key goals for the business community for the year ahead, including deepening strategic trade in defense and security, "growing" agriculture and developing models to improve global food security, collaborating more deeply in education at all levels, and expanding trade and investment ties by working towards a Bilateral Investment Treaty and an Economic Cooperation Arrangement between the world's two largest free-market democracies.

Following the interaction, TE Connectivity, a global company that connects and protects the flow of power and data worldwide, graciously sponsored the USIBC Welcome Reception featuring Ambassador Rao, at which USIBC's nearly 400 member-companies felicitated Ambassador Rao's return to Washington.

Ambassador Rao indicated her enthusiasm for the progress that bilateral relations have already made and committed to working with USIBC member-companies to accelerate and enhance trade and investment opportunities across all business sectors.

National Community TheSouthAsianTimes.info

September 17-23, 2011

Jindal endorses Rick Perry as US President Washington, DC: Louisiana's Indian American Governor Bobby Jindal has come out in support of Texas Governor Rick Perry for his Republican party's nomination to challenge President Barack Obama in the 2012 election.

Announcing the endorsement Monday night, Jindal praised Perry for his record on job creation, which he presented as a "stark contrast" from President Obama's record in the area.

"Rick Perry is the candidate who can lead our party to victory in 2012," Jindal said in the statement. "His record on job creation simply cannot be beaten and the one million jobs he's helped create as governor is a stark contrast to the 2.4 million jobs lost on President Obama's watch."

"President Obama promised hope but he simply hasn't delivered. Rick Perry will bring our country more than hope - he'll get America working again," he said.

Expressing his appreciation for Jindal's endorsement, Perry said: "I truly appreciate Governor Jindal's endorsement because he is a leader who knows what it takes to rebuild an economy and restore people's confidence."

Texas Governor Rick Perry with Louisiana Gov Bobby Jindal

Jindal not to be Perry’s running mate in 2012 hile he has offered his support to the candidacy of Rick Perry, Louisiana’s Indian American Governor Bobby Jindal has no plans to join the Republican as his running mate in the 2012 presidential election. Jindal, who is seeking a re-election as governor believes he has the best job in the world. “I don’t want a job from Governor Perry.... I want Governor Perry to create millions of jobs for my fellow Americans,” Jindal said on FOX News.

W

Indian American caricaturist releases book on Hollywood Gitterati Maryland: A project evaluation specialist at the World Bank headquarters in Washington, DC, Sati Achath is known more to the world as a ventriloquist, caricaturist and hand shadow puppeteer.

The Bowie, Maryland, resident, a quarterfinalist on NBC’s America’s Got Talent show in 2008, is now making his mark in the publishing world with a book on the Hollywood glitterati reports International Business Times Achath's "Hollywood Celebrities: Basic Things You've Always Wanted to Know," Vol. 1, released earlier this summer, provides biographical snapshots and handdrawn caricatures of 55 popular Hollywood idols of this generation.

The stars featured include George Clooney, Michael Douglas, Harrison Ford, Mel Gibson, Demi Moore, Julia Roberts and Meryl Streep.

"These are the cream of Hollywood - all living and active stars," says Achath about the subjects of the book.

The author says the mini-encyclopedia is the result of a realization on his part that there is a demography of people in every country that follows Hollywood. "There is always an intense curiosity about knowing personal information, professional awards and general factoids on a celebrity," he told International Business Times.

Achath points out that he himself has always been interested in factoids and "knowing the background information" about the stars, whether it's Hollywood, or Bollywood. Whatever he reads, he says, "they stay with me."

"I found not even one book that provides basic information about the current crop of top Hollywood celebrities, so I thought it would be fun to write such a book," the author writes in the intro.

The book includes many interesting facts about the stars, such as: Julianne Moore lived in more than two-dozen locations

9

Cover page of Sati Achath’s new book around the world because of her dad's military postings; Brad Pitt worked as chauffeur before he became a star, while Sharon Stone worked part-time at McDonald's; Denzel Washington played on Fordham University basketball team, and Robin Williams, who owns more than 50 bicycles, occasionally trains with cycling great Lance Armstrong.

Achath says his primary inspiration for "Hollywood Celebrities" was a 1995 book on American presidents, titled "Wooden Teeth & Jelly Bean: Tupperman Files," which contains caricatures and factoids.

The writer is now planning two more volumes of the book, covering 150 stars, in all.

He is also working on a book on Bollywood actors.

Achath, 58, who is from Thrissur in Kerala, is a former Indian Revenue Service officer. After leaving the IRS, he came to the United States in 1988 to do an MBA. He has been with the World Bank since 1992.

Sri Srinivasan appointed Principal Deputy Solicitor General Washington, DC: U.S. Solicitor General Donald B. Verrilli Jr. Aug. 27 announced the appointment of Sri Srinivasan as principal deputy solicitor general.

He replaces Neal Kumar Katyal, who left the position in August to join the law firm of Hogan Lowelis.

The principal deputy handles some of the United States’ most important cases before the Supreme Court and serves as a key adviser to the Solicitor General.

“I am very pleased Sri will be returning to the Solicitor General’s office in this important role, Verrilli said in a statement.

“He is one of the country’s leading advocates before the Supreme Court, and will bring to his new position both a deep knowledge of the Supreme Court and of the office and its responsibilities and traditions. He will be an invaluable asset to the Department of Justice and to the work we do to protect and defend the interests of the

Sri Srinivasan American people.”

Since 2007, Srinivasan has been a partner in O’Melveny and Myers LLP in Washington, D.C., and chairs the firm’s appellate and Supreme Court practice.

From 2002 to 2007, Srinivasan was assistant to the U.S. Solicitor General at the U.S. Justice Department. From 1998 to 2002, the Indian American worked at O’Melveny and Myers.

Before that, Srinivasan served as a U.S. Supreme Court law clerk for Justice Sandra Day O’Connor and for Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III of the U.S.

Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

He is also a lecturer at Harvard Law School, where he co-teaches a course on Supreme Court and appellate advocacy. Srinivasan was named among The National Law Journal’s 50 Most Influential Minority Lawyers in America in 2008.

He has a J.D. from Stanford Law School, an MBA from Stanford Business School and an A.B. from Stanford University.

Srinivasan was a Bristow Fellow at the Solicitor General’s office under former acting solicitor general Walter Dellinger. When Dellinger joined O’Melveny as head of the appellate practice, Srinivasan was his first hire.

Born in India, Srinivasan grew up in what he told The Legal Times is the “basketball-crazy” town of Lawrence, Kansas. Both of his parents worked at the University of Kansas.

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India Newswire

September 17-23, 2011

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Modi, Rahul likely for PM post: US report Washington,/New Delhi: A new US Congressional report has suggested that Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi could be the opposition BJP's prime ministerial candidate in 2014 elections to take on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

The report takes note of Modi's "impressive development successes in his state" and also of "heir-apparent" Rahul's "reputation for gaffes".

While the BJP said it has not taken any decision on its prime ministerial nominee, the Congress party refused to comment on Rahul's candidature.

The Congressional Research Service (CRS) report, providing background information to US lawmakers, does not directly suggest a contest between the two leaders, but does discuss the possibility of Modi and Gandhi emerging as the candidates of their respective parties.

Taking note of Modi's "impressive development successes in his state", the as-yet unpublished report made public by the Federation of American Scientists think-tank, says that while BJP president Nitin Gadkari has made changes in the party "to be a formidable challenger" yet "among the party's likely candidates for the prime ministership in future elections is" Modi.

In New Delhi, the BJP said it has not decided on its prime ministerial candidate as yet. Party spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman told reporters: "Who becomes the prime

he is a safe bet to win a third term in 2012 state elections, his aspirations to be the BJP's prime ministerial candidate face significant obstacles".

Discussing the prospects of Rahul Gandhi, the report notes that Congress president Sonia Gandhi "is suffering from an unknown illness, and in early August virtually

disappeared from India's political stage".

"Moreover, as key Congress figures express support for the future leadership role of Sonia Gandhi's youthful son, parliamentarian Rahul Gandhi, (Prime Minister) Manmohan Singh's political authority is correspondingly undermined," it says.

Vaghela to counter Modi fast

The US Congressional Research Service (CRS) report does discuss the possibility of Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi emerging as the candidates of their respective parties. ministerial candidate, or the party will project as a prime ministerial candidate, all these things will be known as and when the time comes." From the Congress party, spokesperson Manish Tewari declined to comment on the report or Rahul's candidature.

"I have not perused any such report. Even if such report was ostensibly to exist, I don't think it is necessary to dignify it with a response," Tewari said.

He said India had several think tanks of international repute which come out with reports. "I do not think it is essential for political party to comment on every report supposed to have been published,"

‘SC order no reason to celebrate’ Ahmedabad: Suspended IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt has written an open letter to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, saying that he has "completely misconstrued" the Supreme Court order on the complaint of Zakia Jafri and there was nothing in the order to give him reason to celebrate.

Zakia is the widow of former MP Ehsan Jafri killed in the Gulberg Housing Society carnage in 2002. "It seems you have completely misconstrued the judgement and the order passed by the Honourable Supreme Court Suspended IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt. of India in Criminal Appeal "The order of the Honorable No 1765 of 2011 arising out of SLP (CRL) No 1088 of 2008 that Supreme Court is, in fact, a very is Jakia Nasim Ahesan Versus major leap in the direction of State of Gujarat," Bhatt wrote in a delivering justice to the hapless victims of the Gujarat pogrom." letter to Modi.

"The order over which some are "Let me clarify that even by a long shot, the order of the gloating in feigned glee is, in fact, Supreme Court has nowhere, even a very cleverly worded order that remotely, suggested that the alle- takes the perpetrators and facilitagations contained in the complaint tors of the 2002 carnage a few filed by Mrs Jakia Jafri were leaps closer to their day of reckoning," Bhatt said. unfounded or false," he said.

he said.

Tewari said if Modi and his supporters were "taking pleasure in tomtomming the report, it was the same US which still does not give him visa to step on their land."

The report said that "Modi, who has overseen impressive development successes in his state, is also dogged by controversy over his alleged complicity in lethal antiMuslim rioting there in 2002."

Modi, it notes has in the past been denied a US visa under an American law barring entry for foreign government officials found to be complicit in severe violations of religious freedom and cites Indian media reports to say that "although

Gandhinagar: Congress leader and former union minister Shankersinh Vaghela is to go on a three-day fast from Sep 17 to counter Chief Minister Narendra Modi's fast beginning on the same date, Congress sources said.

According to the sources, Vaghela will go on fast at the Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad. He will be joined by Gujarat Congress chief Arjun Modvadia for the three days and the leader of opposition Shaktisinh Gohil symbolically for some time.

Vaghela has decided to undertake the fast to "expose the duplicitious nature" of the Gujarat chief minister and the "pious platitudes he is mouthing after a propaganda mission that seeks to falsely make out that he has been given a clean chit by the Supreme Court in connection with the 2002 riots", the Congress

Shankersinh Vaghela. source said.

"Modi has a habit of launching five-star fasts without any rhyme or reason to perpetrate lies as he has done earlier," Vaghela said, reacting to Modi's announcement of the three-day fast. Modi has announced the launching of a 'Sadbhavana mission' to strengthen social harmony and brotherhood and resolved to fast for three days in Ahmedabad from Sept 17.

Government unveils anti-graft steps New Delhi: Weeks after activist Anna Hazare's fast for a stronger anti-graft law grabbed national attention, the government has unveiled a host of steps to curb corruption that included setting up of 71 fast-track special CBI courts, fixing a limit of three months to grant sanction for prosecution and abolishing discretionary powers enjoyed by ministers.

Announcing that the government has accepted the recommendations of a Group of Ministers on corruption, Union Law Minister Salman Khurshid and Minister of State for Personnel V. Narayanasamy said ministers will no longer have discretionary powers in the allotment of land, telephone and petrol pumps. "These powers have been removed", barring in cases of compensation to victims of Maoist violence by the home ministry and to war widows by the defence ministry, said Narayanasamy.

The GoM also decided to bring a new policy and a bill on public procurement in the winter session of Parliament to tackle corruption and make the procedure more transparent.

Minister of State for Personnel V. Narayanasamy.

"The first report of the GoM has been submitted to the government and the prime minister has approved many of the recommendations," Narayanasamy said.

The Group of Ministers (GoM), set up by the government to curb corruption and improve transparency in governance, was headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee. Among the proposed measures are: Mere retirement would not be a ground for dropping

proceedings against corrupt government servants who will now face a 10 percent cut in pension in case of minor penalty, for a period not exceeding five years.

The major penalty of compulsory retirement with full benefits would be changed hereafter with a cut of 20 percent in pension.

Narayanasamy also announced that 71 fast-track CBI courts will try corruption cases, out of which 44 are already in place.

India Newswire TheSouthAsianTimes.info

11

September 17-23, 2011

PDP moves bill to split J&K from India Nizam-ud-din Bhat claims that the motive behind such a move is to get the constitutional powers to solve the Kashmir tangle

New Delhi: A new political storm is brewing in Jammu & Kashmir after People’s Democratic Party (PDP) legislator Nizam-uddin Bhat moved a bill seeking changes in the state’s constitution, which if approved can make the state an alienable part of India.

As per a report, Bhatt submitted a private member bill in the state Assembly seeking “substitution of Section 147, proviso 2 of J&K constitution by a new clause that by implication would remove the restriction on the members not to amend Section 3, which describes the Jammu and Kashmir as integral part of India”. Under Section 147 proviso 2, no bill can be moved to amend Section 3 of the Constitution, according to which J&K is an integral part of India.

“Existing proviso is violation of basics of the constitutional guarantees and runs against

the spirit of changing democracy in J&K which is facing the problem of alienation.

Also, debarring of the legislature from bringing a piece of legislation is an undesirable restriction which needs to be removed”, Bhat was quoted as saying.

Bhat, a former journalist-turned politician, had won the 2008 Assembly election on PDP ticket from Bandipora constituency of north Kashmir. In support of his bill, Bhatt claims that the motive behind such a move is to get the constitutional powers to solve the Kashmir tangle. PDP MLA’s ambitious plan, however, may not click since his bill seeks constitutional amendment and hence requires two-thirds majority to pass. Moreover, as the bill is a private member bill, it would not be passed in the Assembly even if it is put for discussion and vote.

Mrs.Shammi Singh Mr. Sher Madra Mr. Gurdip S. Narula Mr. Inder Bindra

917-862-1313 917-653-7007 516-455-3253 516-353-9353

Cash-for-vote scam: Amar granted bail New Delhi: Rajya Sabha MP Amar Singh was granted interim bail till September 19 on health grounds by a Delhi court in the 2008 cash-forvote scam.

The 55-year-old former Samajwadi Party leader was granted interim bail by Special Judge Sangita Dhingra Sehgal. Singh was in judicial custody for nine days. He was arrested on September 6, after he appeared in the court in response to its summons for his alleged role in the scam.

Rajya Sabha MP Amar Singh was arrested on September 6.

Mr. Singh, who had undergone a kidney transplant, was subsequently sent to AIIMS

on September 12, following complaints of vomiting and diarrhoea.

The Court granted him bail on furnishing a personal bond of Rs. 2 lakh and a surety of the same amount.

“Amar Singh granted interim bail till September 19,” the judge said while directing Mr. Singh to submit his passport to the Court and not to leave Delhi without its permission.

The Court is slated to hear Singh’s regular bail plea on September 19.

Congress takes a dig at Advani's rath yatra New Delhi: Congress chided BJP veteran L K Advani's proposed rath yatra against corruption by saying the choice of convener in Ananth Kumar should be complemented by picking deposed Karnataka chief minister B S Yeddyurappa as charioteer.

Congress said Advani's rath should be guided by Yeddyurappa while Bangaru Laxman and Dilip Singh Judeo should be the rath's poster boys and Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank

Mr. Zinda Singh Dr. Inderpal S Chhabra Mr. Andy Mansukhani Dr. Jagdish Gupta

917-883-9867 718-755-3577 917-865-7470 917-941-2886

its foot soldier. It added that choice of Ananth Kumar as convenor was also apt.

AICC spokesman Abhishek Singhvi's hurling of "tainted" saffron names at the BJP patriarch appeared to make light of his yatra's stated objective.

Yeddyurappa was recently removed as Karnataka chief minister over corruption charges while Nishank was dislodged as Uttarakhand CM over similar reports of corruption in his regime.

Mr. Hussain Baqueri Dr. Shakir Mukhi Dr. Tarun Wasil Mr.Shudh P. Singh

Congress said Advani's rath should be guided by Yeddyurappa while Bangaru Laxman and Dilip Singh Judeo should be the rath's poster boys.

Ananth Kumar, an Advani confidant, was mired in controversies during his stint as Union minister like HUDCO allotment and patronage to lobbyist Niira Radia and his alleged political nexus with the Reddy brothers of Bellary.

201-294-2985 Mrs. Ashi Chhabra 718-479-5983 516-644-7227 Mr.Vidya B.Sharma 516-612-2625 516-354-2200 Mr. Rahul D Singh 347-681-5881 516-852-2000

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India Newswire

September 17-23, 2011

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Blasts blot on security agencies: Chidambaram New Delhi: Terming Pakistan and Afghanistan the epicenter of terror, Home Minister P. Chidambaram said the Delhi and Mumbai blasts were a blot on the security and intelligence agencies and admitted that India needed a comprehensive counter-terrorism strategy.

"Two terrorist attacks in the space of two months are indeed a blot on our records. The central government and security forces have been severely criticized. While we accept the responsibility for the incidents and legitimate criticism, it is our duty to set out the context in which such terrorist attacks take place," he said.

Speaking at the All India Directors General and Inspectors General Conference here, the home minister said Pakistan and Afghanistan are the epicenter of terror and since the November 2008 Mumbai terror attack, several steps have been taken to build capacity to deal with terror attacks.

"No country in the world appears to be entirely immune to the threat of terror, the US included. In 2011, up to August there have been 279 major terrorist incidents in 22 coun-

modules that have the capacity to attract radicalized groups to their fold. "Some modules are loosely knit under an organization called Indian Mujaheedin (IM). Many old cadres of the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) are morphed into IM cadres," he said.

The home minister said the challenge of terrorism is a formidable one and requires a comprehensive counter-terrorism strategy.

"Following the September 2001 attack, the US identified Al Qaeda as its pre-eminent security threat

HuJI operative detained Terror struck Delhi when a deadly bomb went off at a busy gate of the Delhi high court killing 14 people. tries. The worst affected are Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan," he said.

"The epicenter of terror is Afghanistan and Pakistan. Four out of five major terrorist groups are based in Pakistan and three of them continue to target India. There is no letup in efforts to infiltrate from

'Unknown' Anna is influential now: US report New Delhi: Social activist Anna Hazare, "a previously unknown figure", has assumed "far more influence" in India, said a US Congressional report, adding that "huge majorities (80-90 percent) of Indians" were in favor of Team Anna's Jan Lokpal Bill.

According to the Congressional Research Service (CRS) report, "Hazare, an uneducated 72-year-old from an indigent Maharashtrian family, had vowed to fast unto death" unless the central government moved to toughen its anti-corruption laws, in particular by establishing a new Lokpal (ombudsman) post to review corruption complaints reaching to the highest levels of government.

and declared war on it and its affiliates. Over a period of 10 years, it created the Department of Homeland Security and brought 22 agencies under it that fought two wars and sent troops to other countries," he said.

"We do not have just one pre-eminent threat but several and we must build capacity to deal with these multiple threats. Capacity building is work in progress, it requires time, money, human resources, technology and harnessing capacity of every organisation in the country," he added.

Social activist Anna Hazare.

The report said "less than a week later, after many thousands in cities across India had taken up his cause, Hazare ended his strike and declared victory upon the government's announcement that it would form a committee to draft Lokpal legislation".

across the line of control in Jammu and Kashmir."

He said there are infiltration attempts via Nepal and Bangladesh as well as attempts to find a safe transit route via Sri Lanka to Tamil Nadu.

Chidambaram referred to Indian

Amin, who has been detained in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district, is alleged to be an operative of terror outfit Harkat-ulJehadi-al-Islami (HuJI).

Security agencies are interrogating him, they said. Meanwhile, a 34-year-old victim of the Delhi high court blast succumbed to injuries at a hospital in New Delhi, taking the toll in the terror attack to 14.

Mining case: CBI to quiz Reddys Bangalore: Over a week after arresting mining baron G. Janardhana Reddy for illegal mining, the Central Bureau of Investigation will interrogate two of his brothers G. Karunakara and G. Somashekara, agency sources said.

"Karunakara Reddy and Somashekara Reddy have been summoned to appear before CBI in Hyderabad on Sep 16," the sources said. The interrogation of the two brothers would come 11 days after the arrest of Janardhana, former Bharatiya Janata Party minister in Karnataka, for illegal mining in Andhra Pradesh by his Obulapuram Mining Company.

Karunakara, who was also minister in the B.S. Yeddyurappa government, was a director of OMC but has said he quit the post in 2004.

2G case: Maran brothers quizzed by CBI Chennai: The CBI recently grilled former communications minister Dayanidhi Maran and his brother and media mogul Kalanithi Maran in connection with 2G spectrum allocation case and the Aircel-Maxis deal, an official said. "Both the brothers have been examined," a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) official said, but refused to divulge the dates.

Dayanidhi Maran, who was the communications minister 2004-07 in the first United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, is accused of blocking for two years Aircel's application for license and spectrum.

He quit as textiles minister in July over his alleged role in the 2G spectrum scam. Aircel promoter C. Sivasankaran had complained to the CBI that he was coerced into selling his

New Delhi: Security agencies have detained a suspected HuJI operative Hilal Amin for allegedly sending a terror email in the aftermath of the September 7 blast outside the Delhi High Court.

Amin is understood to have told the investigators that an email claiming responsibility on behalf of the HuJI was sent on his directions, sources said.

Former communications minister Dayanidhi Maran (R) and his brother and media mogul Kalanithi Maran. firm to Malaysia-based Maxis, considered close to the Marans.The CBI said that any "coercion" could not be established, but allegations of quid pro quo are being investigated.

Janardhana Reddy and his brother Karunakara Reddy.

Somashekara is an assembly member and heads Karnataka Milk

Federation, the largest cooperative of milk producers in the state.

2G: Swamy wants Chidambaram named co-accused New Delhi: Janata Party chief Subramanian Swamy moved a fresh application before a special trial court seeking directions to make Home Minister P. Chidambaram a co-accused in the second generation (2G) spectrum allocation case.

The petition before the special court of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), presided over by Judge O.P. Saini, also wanted Chidambaram's testimony to be recorded afresh. Swamy said subsequent to a statement by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in parliament it was a known fact that former telecom minister A. Raja alone was not responsible for allocating spectrum.

It was a cabinet decision and

Chidambaram, as finance minister then, was part of it. "Hence, as of now, I moved a fresh plea for summoning witnesses including myself and to make Chidambaram coaccused in the scam," Swamy said in an application before the court.

The application was moved under the provision for summoning or recalling of a witness.

Swamy had earlier told the court that the chargesheets field by the CBI did not cover the role of Chidambaram who "jointly took important decisions" on allocation of radio waves.

He had also urged the court that he be appointed Special Public Prosecutor to conduct his case himself.

Op Ed TheSouthAsianTimes.info

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September 17-23, 2011

Reverse globalization: The new buzzword

By Frank-Jurgen Richter lobalization has entered a critical phase, as the ongoing economic disruptions have prompted many of us to reexamine its promises. The world today is characterized by pronounced fragility and heightened uncertainty, fed by external shocks and multiple crises that are dangerously self-reinforcing.

Against the backdrop of these unprecedented challenges we are witnessing an economic and geopolitical power shift from the developed to the emerging world. By 2030, most of the world’s largest economies will be non-Western and more than half of the world’s largest corporations will have their origins in emerging countries. This will directly impact the way globalization works.

Last month, the world’s power elite gathered at the Horasis Global India Business Meeting to debate the current state of the Indian economy and the world at large. Participants coined a new buzzword: reverse globalization. As India and other emerging economies grow in prominence and rewrite the rules of globalization, some among the initial protagonists of globalization — the

G

As emerging economies rewrite the rules of globalization, the West is overtly advocating more protectionism, nationalism and anti-globalization industrialized countries of the West — are overtly advocating more protectionism, nationalism and antiglobalization. The Global India Business Meeting reminded the international community of the dangers and sufferings that such attitudes have generated in the past.

One of the main criticisms made of globalization by its detractors has been that it was western-driven and western-centric — in other words, that the West calls the shots and that most benefits go to the western players. Yet, as globalization was gathering momentum, it assumed new and striking features, which run contrary to that western-focused characterization.

First, non-western national players started to emerge as vital sources of energy and initiative in globalization. India is clearly one of the new engines of globalization, with her companies expanding globally at an unprecedented pace. And the country is increasingly turning to Africa and other newly emerging

economies, often filling the void left

by Western countries. In more than one respect, the world is benefiting from India’s economic growth.

Other large countries like China, Brazil and Russia are among the new globalizers, while smaller players (for example, Singapore, Finland and Estonia) contribute to maintaining globalization’s vitality through niche positioning and technological innovation.

Second, globalization has moved from being chiefly characterized by a rapid increase in trade and international investment to combining a set of more complex mechanisms and modes of cross-border exchanges.

The world is flat, as Tom Friedman holds, and Western multinationals and Asia’s new outsourcing champions combine their talents and comparative advantages to co-produce their services.

Third, some immaterial dimensions of globalization have started to emerge, in which culture, history and spiritual values are playing an increasingly important role. In 2012, Abu Dhabi will to open a satellite of the famed Louvre museum in the United Arab Emirates — a project that led many French to believe that Europe is selling its soul. This initiative yet remains one of the most

Frank-Jurgen Richter, founder and Chairman, Horasis exciting examples of what true globalization could be.

Fourth, globalization has ceased to be the exclusive business of nation states and big business. A new group of players, which one could call global local players, is assuming increasingly important roles in shaping globalization: cities are competing with cities, regions with regions, to attract investment and create value at the global level.

Those four trends are not contradicting the first wave of globalization. Nor are they canceling it.

Reverse globalization is not a reversal of globalization — the process of globalization is irreversible.

Actually, those four trends are reinforcing globalization by giving it the respectability — and hence the sustainability — that it once lacked.

Half of mankind still lives on less than two dollars a day: if globalization does not benefit those people, it is not only doomed to fail: it will also be remembered as a tragedy.

The fact that a country like India, with its almost two-digit growth but also with its 300 million poor people, is emerging today as both a major beneficiary of globalization and a major driver in its future should be regarded as an opportunity.

(The author is founder and Chairman, Horasis)

14

Diaspora

September 17-23, 2011

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

17 Indians on death row to be freed Dubai: Seventeen Indian nationals, originally sentenced to death by a Sharjah court for the murder of a Pakistani man, are expected to be released from jail within a few days after a ruling Monday by a court of appeal.

Misri Nazir Khan was beaten to death in Sharjah in January 2009, in a fight over bootlegged liquor. The Indian men were found guilty in March 2010 by a court in Sharjah, The National newspaper reported.

Later, an Indian philanthropist S.P. Singh and other donors paid blood

money amounting to almost 3.4 million dirhams (around $925,000) to the family of the victim in July.

In accordance with the law, the court reduced their sentences from death penalty to two years in prison followed by deportation.

Because the Indians have already spent almost three years in jail, they are likely to be released within 10 days, their lawyer Abdullah Salman said.

The prisoners greeted the news with delight, waving to friends and family members who had gathered in the courtroom.

Canada’s national sport gets NRI lift Toronto: At one level, it can be described as on ice.

Replace football with ice hockey sticks and a puck and a feisty daughter with a rebel son who wants fulfillment in Canada’s national sport and the principal ingredients of the Canadian film, Breakaway are in place.

The film, which premiered at the ongoing Toronto International Film Festival or TIFF, refreshes the comingof-age formula for the IndoCanadian community.

Anupam Kher plays a stern Sikh father unhappy over his child's choice of a sport over more traditional pursuits, just as he did in Beckham. Kher accepted the similarity: "It's different, but, yes, in terms of look and being a father of a sportsperson, there is a simi-

A still from ‘Breakaway’ That's the Sikh community larity."

The larger difference he and the team it fields in an ice pointed to was that this also hockey tournament, the reflected the aspirations of the Speedy Singhs. Amid an large Indo-Canadian popula- undercurrent of racism, the tion in Canada to assimilate Singhs want to prove they while keeping their values belong, while marking their intact. Kher said, "The canvas differences, like wearing their is bigger. Over there was one turbans on to the rink. The girl who wanted to play foot- team is led by the film's lead ball on a team. Over here, character, Rajveer Singh, the you're talking about an entire renegade son. That role is played by debutant actor community."

NRI launches scheme for free heart surgeries

Gandhi Center to be launched in Holland Brussels: A Gandhi Center will be inaugurated at The Hague on Mahatma Gandhi's Oct 2 birth anniversary, the Indian embassy in the Netherlands said in a statement.

The Gandhi Center will be inaugurated by Karan Singh, president of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), EuAsiaNews reported.

It will be the 36th such center established by the ICCR in various parts of the world.

"The center would act as an important platform for developing and maintaining contacts with our Dutch friends, including

students, teachers, academicians, cultural personalities and artists to project the rich and diverse cultures of India and the Netherlands," the embassy said.

The Indo-Dutch bilateral relationship, "historically warm and friendly", has been going through a period of rapid expansion. Cultural interaction which goes back 400 years, "would acquire a new dynamism and momentum" with the establishment of the Gandhi Center, it added.

The center's launch has been a long anticipated event by the Indian embassy and the govern-

Mahatma Gandhi ment, as well as by over 200,000 people of Indian origin in the Netherlands, the statement said.

Sari competition at Cape Town Diwali festival Cape Town: “Cape Town Diwali Festival” on October 15 in South Africa will include sari modeling competition, according to reports.

“We will engulf you in the elements of earth, wind, fire and water,” Diwali Festival organizers said.

“Earth, get in touch with your roots, your culture.

Wind, be enveloped and swept away by the entertainment on offer. Fire, set your soul alight with the spirit of Diwali and Water, allow the light of Diwali to flow in your blood and dance in your veins bringing all

Vinay Virmani.

Virmani said, "From a hockey standpoint, it breaks down racial barriers within the game. I think it shows that in Canada we celebrate our multiculturalism, our diversity. On the other hand, it will help break down the opposition that parents have to their kids choosing unconventional careers."

The film's already received a major thumbs-up, having been featured at TIFF 2011.

Festival’s co-director Cameron Bailey said, "It's a very entertaining film, it's funny, it's light, it's romantic.

But again, it has a message, it has something to say, particularly about the importance of traditional values." The film is actor Akshay Kumar’s debut as a producer.

streams to one ocean,” they add and claim that Festival will “blow into your hearts and wash away all of your worries.”

It will be held at Ratanga Junction and shall also reportedly include Bhangra Bash, fireworks display, dance, music, foods, exotic fashions, traditional goods, lifestyle fair, and children rides; and thousands of people are expected to participate.

Thev Pather is Festival Director while Shivani Naidoo is Co-Director of the non-profit organization.

Doha, Qatar: A prominent nonresident Indian (NRI) philanthropist has launched a free cardiac surgery scheme covering 100 economically backward patients in Kerala and the Gulf countries within a year.

Addressing a news conference here, Dubai-based K Jalaludheen said the scheme is being implemented by the Kerala Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), a leading tertiary care hospital here promoted by NRIs. “A screening committee headed

by Dr G Vijayaraghavan, chief of cardiology at KIMS, will select the deserving patients considering their age, the gravity of the disease and socioeconomic profile,” said Jalaludheen, chairman of Merlyn Foundation, who is also a director of the corporate hospital.

The foundation is named after his daughter who died in Dubai aged 13 in 1997, after a road accident.

Jalaludheen launched the foundation in 2003 in memory of his daughter and has since been involved in several philanthropic activities. Last year, he sponsored the treatment of a child who needed a special artificial pacemaker.

The surgery was done at KIMS at a cost of Rs750,000.

“Kerala has the highest number

The scheme to cover 100 patients in Kerala, Gulf countries in a year of heart patients in India. During the past 50 years while working as a cardiac surgeon, I have seen thousands of patients dying without being able to afford expensive treatment,” said Vijayaraghavan.

“This will prove to be a great relief for the poor patients and preference will be given to the youngsters. They don’t need to spend any money.” Reports indicate that 60% of heart patients are poor and cannot afford heart surgeries which are generally expensive, costing more than Rs100,000.

KIMS and Merlyn Foundation will bear all expenses, including travel, food and hospital care.

Beauty Pageant TheSouthAsianTimes.info

15

September 17-23, 2011

Mac Duggal dresses up Miss Universe contestants

Miss India Vasuki Sunkavalli sporting Mac Duggal creation at the evening gown round Chicago: Mac Duggal’s original designs were worn by Miss India Vasuki Sunkavalli, and Miss Sweden Ronnia Fornstedt, during the evening gown competition of the Miss Universe Pageant held Monday in Sao Palo, Brazil, watched by millions of people around the world.

Mac Duggal designs have become a staple on the pageant circuit, including Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss America, Miss World and more. Recently, the Miss Costa Rica pageant featured the entire top 10 finalists wearing Mac Duggal. He recently scored major reviews for impressive gowns that took the stage at Donald Trump’s Miss USA pageant on NBC, including the highest

Miss Sweden Ronnia Fornstedt wearing Mac Duggal gown at the Miss Universe pageant evening gown winner. The gown was worn

by Miss Colorado USA and second runnerup to the title.

Delhi-born fashion designer always wanted to become a successful entrepreneur. As a young man he developed a passion for fashion often spending countless days and nights sketching and drawing women’s evening wear. Being proud of his cultural heritage, he expressed this through fabrics and colors that are hot and spicy like the food of his homeland.

Arriving in the US at age 23, Mac’s first design was an A-line ballgown with tulle on the outside and hand painted subtle stars in the lining. He called it the "wish upon a star

Angola girl is Miss Universe

In a first for her country, Miss Angola Leila Lopes won the Miss Universe 2011 crown Monday in Sao Paolo, Brazil. Two runners up were Olesia Stefanko of Ukraine and Priscila Machado of Brazil.

“I look at myself through inner beauty rather than appearance,” said Lopes.

“Not everything is about beauty.” She plans to use her celebrity status to help the people of her country--assist the poor kids and support the fight against HIV.

Delhi-born Chicago-based fashion designer Mac Duggal gown" and luckily, instantly, it was a huge celebrities and socialites on television, in success and the silhouette is still a best- movies, pageants and the music industry. selling classic today.

Today Mac Duggal collection is being showHis success has continued over the past 25 cased in leading specialty and bridal stores years. Mac’s designs have been worn by all over the world.

16

10th Anniversary of 9-11

September 17-23, 2011

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Moving memorials, solemn ceremonies soothe pain from the past

By Parveen Chopra

SATimes Special

Memories refreshed by television images of an apocalyptic event ten years ago. More facets, more stories, more details, more insights on more channels. Interspersed with dedication of memorials and other ceremonies in New York, at Pentagon and in Pennsylvania. Remembering to forget, to move over, to forget the pain. Mourning is catharsis.

Honoring the fallen, remembering the heroes. The firefighters and policemen who laid down their lives so others could live. Security officer Rick Rescorla, now immortalized in the opera ‘Heart of a Soldier’, who ushered out 2,700 employees of Morgan Stanley from World Trade Tower 2. The ordinary folks aboard Flight 93 who summoned courage to valiantly fight the armed hijackers and prevented the plane from hitting Washington DC. Hundreds of boat people who rushed to Manhattan shores to rescue thousands trapped on the island that day. The poignant story of Howard Lutnick, Chairman of Cantor Fitzgerald, whose 658 workers perished in one fell swoop. He would have shuttered the company but carried on to make money to help the surviving families.

It was like Pearl Harbour—retaliation had to be. Afghanistan, of course. Even Iraq was not wrong then -- fear of WMDs in the light of anthrax attacks.

The new 1 World Trade Center skyscraper (also called Freedom Tower) is lit up in red, white and blue colors of the American flag as the Tribute in Light is turned on Sept 10 to remember the victims of the 9/11 attacks.

Not to overlook the negatives. Some vociferous victims’ families claimed, better cooperation between intelligence arms of the government may have prevented the attacks. Airport security was lax. Not to forget the continuing suffering of some survivors. Many first responders, rescue workers and residents around WTC inhaled toxic cocktail of gases and still suffer from the resulting ailments. Many still clamor for help in paying their medical bills.

The biggest positive, of course, is the fact that 9-11 woke up America to guard itself against a non-territorial enemy named terrorism.

For many family members of the dear departed whose bodies were never found in the rubble of the twin towers after the 9/11 terror attack, World Trade Center site is the final resting place of the deceased.

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, along with former President George W. Bush and Laura Bush, pause at the North Memorial Pool of the National September 11 Memorial at World Trade Center site in New York on the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks against the US

Barely able to hold back their tears, family members of some victims of 9-11 attacks watch the commemoration ceremony at the WTC Memorial on Sept 11, 2011.

The 9/11 Memorial occupies approximately half of the 16-acre site and features two enormous waterfalls and reflecting pools, each about an acre in size, set within the footprints of the fallene twin towers of World Trade Center in New York.

10th Anniversary of 9-11 TheSouthAsianTimes.info

17

September 17-23, 2011

Cho Sok Wells, accompanied by his wife Cathy, kisses their 10-month-old son Cristian while visiting his sister’s memorial bench after the 10th anniversary 9/11 ceremony at the Pentagon in Arlington, VA., on Sunday.

To take home memories, many guests were seen making tracings of the names of their near and dear ones from inscriptions on the wall of the reflecting pools of the 9-11 memorial at the WTC site.

A New York policeman seems to have tucked a picture of his son lost on the day of 9-11 attacks. 23 NYPD officers and 37 officers of Port Authority fell in line of duty.

Evan Marcy, a wounded veteran of the war in Afghanistan, and members of the FDNY riding 343 miles to honor the 343 firefighters who laid their lives trying to save others on September 11, 2001. The group started in Montauk on Long Island and ended their journey at the Pentagon in Washington on Sunday, the 10th anniversary of the terror attacks.

Bereaved family members mourn at the Wall of Names near the crash site of Flight 93 in Shanksville, PA. Passengers and crew on this flight are credited with fighting down the hijackers who wanted to hit the Capitol building or White House in Washington.

President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama visit Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA, Sept 10, 2011. Section 60 is reserved for military personnel who have lost their lives while fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano and World War II Marine Veteran Pat Cassetta salute the flag as Marine Corps Honor Guard present the colors and Legislator Fran Becker sings the National Anthem at the Nassau County 9/11 Memorial Service held at Eisenhower Park.

The Kiefer Family of Franklin Square holding photos of their son Michael Kiefer who was lost on 9/11 in line of duty as a city firefighter. From left are Father Bud, Mother Pat, Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano and sister Lauren.

18

10th Anniversary of 9-11

September 17-23, 2011

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Show of solidarity across America and the world over

SATimes Special

The monstrous attacks in 2001 on USA which claimed 3,000 lives struck a chord in many countries then. Ten years later, the tentacles of terrorism have spread the world over. To show their solidarity with America, many countries held memorials. People, of course, found imaginative ways to display their anguish at the 9-11 atrocity and empathy for the victims and survivors.

Children hold candles with a flower rangoli to mark the 10th anniversary of 9-11 at a rangoli competition in Chikmaglur, Karnataka.

First responders hold the National September 11 flag during a ceremony in Joplin, MO, Sept. 11, 2011 marking the end of the 50 state restoration tour. The final stitches are being placed in Joplin and then the flag will go to the National 9/11 Memorial Museum in New York.

Models of the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York are displayed temporarily at the Trocadero plaza near Eiffel tower in Paris as a commemoration to mark the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks and to express France’s solidarity with the US.

Amritsar based artist Harwinder Singh Gill displays a model of attack on the World Trade Towers on the eve of the 10th anniversary of the attack. He made the model to pay a tribute to the people who lost their lives in 2001.

Bobby Senn, a retired NYC firefighter who nearly died in the rubble of collapsed twin towers, organized a memorial to mark the 10th anniversary of the attack in Hicksville, NY. He helped build 12-foot replicas of the Twin Towers on his front lawn.

Area firefighters huddle for a prayer before the Dallas 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011, at Renaissance Tower in downtown Dallas. Hundreds of firefighters from four different states took part in the event to honor the New York City firefighters who died during the attacks a decade ago.

A man walks Sunday in St Louis, MO, among nearly 3,000 American flags set up as part of a remembrance of the 10th anniversary of the Sept 11 terrorist attacks.

American Airlines pilot Paul Gregory Gosnell watches the sun rise over the 9/11 Flight Crew Memorial Plaza as flight attendants, pilots, firefighters, police and their families gather to remember the lives lost, at a commemoration on Sept. 11, 2011, in Grapevine, Texas. The flight crew memorial opened in 2008. Two of the hijacked planes used by terrorists were American Airlines’ and two were United Airlines’.

10th Anniversary of 9-11 TheSouthAsianTimes.info

19

September 17-23, 2011

South Asians pay homage to 9/11 victims From panel on “God”, attending rallies and organizing vigils, the community stood as one on the 10th anniversary of WTC attacks. A round up….

Freedom Rally in NYC SATimes Special

Thousands of New Yorkers took part in the 9/11 Freedom Rally organized by American Freedom Defense Initiative (AFDI) led by Pamela Geller, and Stop Islamization of America (ISOA) led by

Robert Spencer, in New York at West Broadway and Park Place – one block from the Ground Zero.

The Clergy spoke first. Along with other dignitaries and priests, Professor M.G.

Community meet in New Jersey

Hindu Students Council urge interfaith dialogue n a press statement, the Hindu Students Council (HSC) expressed its condolences to all the individuals and families that were affected by the attacks. “We believe in Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, the world is one family, and all people regardless of country, race or religion are children of a supreme being. Students can serve an important role in finding

I

M

indu statesman Rajan Zed,who is also Director Interfaith Relations of Nevada Clergy Association, organized a panel discussion on “God” on September 10 at Truckee Meadows Community College in Reno, Nevada.

It included Christian Pastor Josh Whelchel, Muslim leaders Abdelwahed Ali Awad and Sherif A. Elfass, Buddhist Priest Jikai’ Phil Bryan, Jewish Rabbi ElizaBeth W. Beyer, Religion Professor William Tell Gifford, Atheist thinker Jon Eric Johnson, and Zed himself, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism. They explained and discussed “God” and answered related questions.

Centering around “how the different religions define and view God”, discussion revolved around images of God, experiencing God, God and values, God in scriptures, myth, love of God, way to God, gods, creator and destroyer, human search for the eternal truth, etc. and even rejecting and criticizing God.

H

to commemorate 9/11 tragedy included New Jersey Assemblyman Sam Thompson, VicePresident of Edison Township Municipal Council, Edison Councilman Dr. Sudhanshu Prasad and Alvaro Gomez, New Jersey Assembly aspirant Joe Sinagra and New Jersey Senate hopeful Gloria Dittman. Hotelier Gulshan Chaabra, entrepreneur Hardeep Singh, community organizer Jagdish Sadana, media person Ilayas Quraishi, Thakur Balsara, Dev Makkar and others represented the Indian Community of Edison and neighboring townships. Peter Kothari, Dr Sudhir Parikh and Atma Singh too attended the event.

solutions and building a future of peace, justice and understanding.

HSC encourages students to reflect on and continue making advancements in interfaith dialogue and inter-religious understanding to reduce violence and wars in the world.”

Additionally, HSC invite students across the country to take part in events organized by local and

state governments, federal agencies and NGOs. “By taking part in these events, students will be able pay their regards to the victims of these attacks, gain a deeper appreciation for the brave souls who have protected and continue to risk their lives for our safety and promote a safe community of love and respect,” – the press release read.

Hearings on Post-9/11 backlash

Photo: Gunjesh Desai/Masalajunction embers of Edison fire department and rescue squad along with elected representatives of New Jersey Assembly and local councils joined the Indian American community at a somber ceremony held at Edison Hotel to pay homage to those who lost their lives on the fateful day. With burning candles in their hands assembled gathering observed moments of silence that was followed by prayer recitals by religious leaders belonging to various faiths. The meeting was organized by Sam Khan, a Republican hopeful for Edison Township Municipal Council.

Elected representative who attended the event

Prasad who is well versed in Hindu scriptures and Bhupinder Singh Bhurji ji, Chairman and CEO of Namdhari Sikh Foundation represented Hindu and Sikh community at the Rally.

ver 200 community members from the Sikh, Arab, Muslim, and South Asian American communities—as well as government officials, advocates, and scholars— came together for two hearings last month to reflect on the realities of post9/11 bias.

Spearheaded by the Sikh Coalition, and billed as the Unheard Voices of 9/11, the hearings in New York City and Mountain View, California fea-

O

tured testimony from individuals impacted by backlash discrimination, including targets of school bullying, job discrimination, and profiling. Apart from being live-streamed online throughout the world, the hearings and the associated UnheardVoicesof9-11 website generated news reports in widely. Over 40 national and local organizations and government agency officials participated in the hearings in both New York and the Bay Area.

Interfaith panel on “God” in Nevada

At panel discussion on God in Nevada, from left to right are—William Tell Gifford, Abdelwahed Ali Awad, Rajan Zed, ElizaBeth W. Beyer, Josh Whelchel, Sherif A. Elfass, Jon Eric Johnson, and Jikai’ Phil Bryan.

20

Subcontinent

September 17-23, 2011

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

'Al Qaeda may flee Afghanistan, S. Asia' Washington: America's new intelligence chief David Petraeus has predicted that Al Qaeda leaders may flee Afghanistan and the entire south Asia as they were being pressed hard by American forces.

In his first week on the new job as CIA Chief Petraeus said that within 18-24 months, the core of the al-Qaeda could be degraded to the point that the group would fragment and exist mostly as a propaganda arm.

Making his first Congressional appearance as a civilian at the rare joint hearing by the Joint Intelligence Committee of the House and Senate, the former American military commander in Afghanistan said, "Heavy losses to al-Qaeda's senior leadership

The new CIA chief said that eight of the al-Qaeda's top 20 leaders were killed this year alone, chief among them been their supremo Osama bin Laden. appears to have created an important window of vulnerability for

the core of the grouping in Pakistan and Afghanistan," CNN

reported.

He told the Congressional Committee that US would need a "sustained, focused effort" to exploit the opportunity.

The CIA chief said that eight of the al-Qaeda's top 20 leaders were killed this year alone, chief among them been their supremo Osama bin Laden.

Al-Qaeda leaders may even flee Afghanistan or leave south Asia altogether to escape the CIA, which has quadrupled the covert drone strikes against militant groups based in Pakistan's restive tribal region bordering Afghanistan.

Petraeus called bin Laden's long time deputy and successor Ayman al Zawahiri a "less compelling" leader who will have more diffi-

culty than bin Laden in "maintaining the group's cohesion and its collective motivation in the face of continued pressure."

He called al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, a Yemenbased affiliate, the most dangerous of al-Qaeda's various "nodes," citing the group's two nearly successful attacks on the United States: the December 2009 attempt to blow up a Northwest airliner as it approached Detroit and the cargo bomb plot of 2010.

Petraeus labeled Somalia "one of the world's most significant havens for terrorists," saying AlShabaab, the al-Qaeda affiliate there, was large and well-financed and was training hundreds of foreign fighters, including some Americans.

Amid dengue panic, Pak Kabul siege ends, terrorists killed Kabul: A brazen terror attack in Kabul targetturns to India ing the US embassy and the headquarters of the Islamabad: Pakistan is hurriedly ordering medicines from India to battle a dengue outbreak that has killed at least 13 people, affected thousands and caused panic in Punjab, news reports said.

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Pakistan struggles to curb dengue fever.

Sharif ordered that He also directed officials to condengue medicines be immediately imported from India, reported The tact the Sri Lankan high commisNation newspaper. Sharif asked the sioner for staff, equipment, technical Punjab health secretary to promptly assistance and medicines.

Punjab Health Secretary get in touch with the Indian high commissioner in Islamabad to Jahanzaib Khan said 2,994 dengue import the WHO-approved medi- virus cases have been reported in the cines from New Delhi. The chief province.

Hospitals are finding it difficult to minister told an emergency meeting cope with the large number of of Punjab officials that medicines and equipment needed to be import- dengue cases, the reports. ed urgently, and Indian drugs were Emergency has been declared in all Lahore hospitals. the easiest available.

NATO-led security force ended after an assault that lasted over 20 hours and left 14 people dead. Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqi said: "Fourteen people - six terrorists, four police personnel and four civilians - had been killed." "All the terrorists have been killed and normalcy has returned," Xinhua quoted Sediqi as saying. The rebels mounted the well-coordinated attack in Kabul, with multiple blasts rocking the Afghan capital. The militants, wearing suicide vests, targeted the US embassy and triggered a fierce gunfight.

The overnight siege saw security forces surrounding the militants' positions in the underconstruction building and trying to eliminate The Taliban were driven from power in 2001 and have since carried out a string of terror strikes across the country. them. The gunmen had resumed firing next "The enemy does everything they can to affect the morning.The tall building that was occupied by the rebels is in the Char Rahi Abdul Haq area, close to the process of transition of security responsibilities of the US embassy and NATO-led International Security Afghan government. The attack cannot stop the process of transition but rather embolden our people's determiAssistance Force (ISAF) headquarters.

Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid told CNN nation in taking over the security responsibility of their that they targeted "the US embassy, governmental country," President Karzai said.

The Taliban were driven from power in 2001 and have organizations and other foreign organizations".

President Hamid Karzai has termed the multiple since carried out a string of terror strikes across the country. attacks as a cowardly act and strongly condemned it.

Row over Indian court sentencing Nepal's Maoists Kathmandu: The reported ruling by an Indian court slapping 11 Nepali Maoist leaders with prison and other punishments has created ripples in Nepal.

The Patna High Court in Bihar last week sentenced a former Nepali Maoist minister, at least six sitting MPs and other senior party officials to two to six years' jail in absentia and fined them between Indian Rs.375,000 and Rs.700,000.

This week, one of the sentenced, Maoist member of parliament Tara Gharti Magar, raised the issue in parliament and demanded an explanation from the prime minister, who is also the deputy chief of her party.

The affected Maoist leaders have questioned the diplomatic

efficacy of the new Maoist-led government, saying it failed to react to the Indian court gesture even five days later.

During the 10-year "People's War" fought by the Maoists in Nepal, many of their leaders lived in hiding in border cities of India, taking advantage of the porous border between India and Nepal.

Seven years ago, Bihar police raided five hotels in state capital Patna and arrested the 11 Maoist leaders, imprisoning them in Beur Jail for over two years.

In 2006, after the Maoists agreed to give up violence in Nepal and joined the parliamentary parties to stage a pro-democracy movement that ousted King Gyanendra's army-backed regime, Nepal's new government request-

Baburam Bhattarai, the new Maoist Prime Minister of Nepal. ed India to release the Nepali Maoist leaders held in various

Indian prisons.

Though Bihar released the 11 on bail, last week it resumed the cases against them, charging them with being involved in activities that threatened India's sovereignty.

The sentenced-in-absentia Nepali Maoist leaders include politburo member Lokendra Bahadur Bista Magar, who was health and population minister for a brief while in a coalition government, Tara Gharti Magar and at least four other sitting Maoist MPs. Tara Gharti Magar told the State Affairs Committee of Parliament that Bihar police were harassing the locals who had stood bail guarantor for the 11 jailed leaders.

Gharti Magar herself was sen-

tenced to two years' imprisonment

by Patna high court and a fine of Rs.375,000 while Bista was handed down three years and a fine of Rs.700,000.

Two other top leaders from the ruling Maoist party, Mohan Vaidya and C.P. Gajurel, were also imprisoned in India's West Bengal and Tamil Nadu states, respectively.

Some of the released prisoners eventually became ministers and MPs. At least one was nominated as Nepal's ambassador to India but the proposal was rejected by New Delhi.

Two Maoist leaders were also arrested in China and sentenced to death for trying to smuggle out arms through the Tibet-Nepal border.

International TheSouthAsianTimes.info

21

September 17-23, 2011

Palestinians seek UN seat, Israel warns Jerusalem: Hardline Israeli foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman warned there will be "harsh and grave consequences" if the Palestinians persist with their plan to seek UN membership as a state.

Palestinians will take their long march for statehood to the gates of the United Nations next week in a bid to have their state accepted as a full member in the world body.

Speaking shortly before a scheduled meeting with EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, Lieberman did not elaborate on the possible consequences. "The moment has not

In the past, foreign minister Lieberman has called for Israel to sever all relations with the administration of Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas should it press on with its UN bid.

Libyan rebels involved in war crimes: Amnesty Tripoli: Troops loyal to Muammar Gaddafi and the rebels who successfully fought to oust the Libyan leader both share responsibility for war crimes committed during the uprising, according to human rights group Amnesty International.

A 107-page report titled "The Battle for Libya: Killings, Disappearances and Torture" said that while Gaddafi forces committed widespread crimes under international law, forces loyal to the rebel National Transitional Council (NTC) also committed abuses that in some cases amounted to war crimes.

"The new authorities must make a complete break with the abuses of the past four decades and set new standards by putting human rights at the centre of their agenda," said Claudio Cordone, senior director at Amnesty International.

"The onus now is on the NTC to do things differently, end abuses and initiate the human rights reforms that are urgently needed," he said.

The London-based group said it found evidence of what may be "crimes and abuses" committed by Gaddafi's forces "including indiscriminate attacks, mass killing of prisoners, torture, enforced disappearances, and arbitrary arrests. In most cases it was civilians who bore the brunt of these violations".

But it also found "a settling of score"

Ousted Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi committed by rebels led by the NTC when Gaddafi's military retreated from eastern Libya "including lynchings of Gaddafi soldiers after capture," the report said.

"The NTC is facing a difficult task of reining in opposition fighters and vigilante groups responsible for serious human rights abuses, including possible war crimes, but has shown unwillingness to hold them accountable," the report said.

yet come to give details of what will happen," he said.

In the past he has called for Israel to sever all relations with the administration of Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas should it press on with its UN bid.

"What I can say with the greatest confidence is that from the moment they pass a unilateral decision there will be harsh and grave consequences," Lieberman told an agricultural conference in southern Israel.

"I hope that we shall not come to those harsh and grave consequences, and that common sense will prevail in all decisions taken in order to allow co-existence and

progress with negotiations," he added.

Lieberman has in the past accused the Palestinians of planning an "unprecedented bloodbath" after the UN move although they say they will hold purely peaceful rallies.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and defence minister Ehud Barak earlier on Wednesday met Ashton in Jerusalem.

Netanyahu's office did not immediately comment on the talks while a short statement from the defence ministry said only that Ashton and Barak had discussed "relations with the Palestinians and the situation in the region."

Venezuelan election race starts Caracas: Venezuela's 2012 presidential election campaign was unofficially underway on Wednesday, with President Hugo Chavez and his foes both rallying supporters and forecasting victory.

Election authorities set the vote for October 7 -day of the patron saint of Chavez's birthplace Sabaneta, and also the birthday of a leading opposition leader -- meaning the South American OPEC member is in for a noisy year's politicking.

"I give the order to prepare for the battle and the great victory on October 7," Chavez said, after again reassuring supporters he would soon be fit from cancer treatment.

The 57-year-old Chavez's cancer diagnostic and ongoing chemotherapy treatment have given him a small sympathy bounce in opinion polls, where his approval remains above 50 percent. Yet ill health has

The 57-year-old Chavez's cancer diagnostic and ongoing chemotherapy treatment have given him a small sympathy bounce in opinion polls. also hurt his aura of invincibility.

The voluble socialist leader has led Venezuela since 1999, remolding the economy along statistic lines and turning himself into one of the world's most vocal U.S. critics. But he faces an opposition movement more united than ever and set to rally round a unity candidate after a primary election in February.

Analysts say that while

Chavez has vastly more resources to sway voters, it is an open race given how divided the nation is and the ongoing uncertainty surrounding his health.

The president is due to start a fourth session of chemotherapy in coming days. He said that it should be the last, but few details are known about his precise condition after surgery in Cuba to remove a tumor in the pelvic area.

EU sanctions on Syria oil, gas industry Washington: The European Union, which buys 90 percent of Syria's oil exports, has slapped sanctions on the nation's oil and gas industry, but loopholes allow European energy companies to pull back only gradually from buying heavy crude or doing lucrative work in Syrian oil fields.

Syria's other key trading partners, including Turkey, Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon, have maintained economic ties with Damascus even as Syrian troops and tanks have killed thousands of people since a popular uprising began in March.

As a result, ongoing efforts to marshal international economic pressure against Syrian President Bashar Assad and his

bloody crackdown on demonstrators continue to move slowly, or not at all.

President Obama last month imposed a series of U.S. economic and travel sanctions on Syria and demanded that Assad step down. America's economic and political ties to Syria are minimal, but White House aides said at the time that America's allies in Europe would apply more powerful pressure by cutting Syrian oil imports.

That hasn't happened and Susan Rice, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, this week urged America's allies to tighten the squeeze on Syria. She told reporters in Washington that the Obama administration intends to add more sanctions "and we

expect others to do the same."

European and Middle Eastern officials, however, appear reluctant to damage their own domestic industries. Some officials also argue that trade embargoes and other punishments hurt ordinary Syrians more than government leaders, and warn that if their companies pull out of Syria, other countries will eagerly snap up the business.

They note that China and Russia, which have energy and other business interests in the region, continue to block Western efforts to craft United Nations sanctions on Syria.

The 27 governments in the European

Union are divided on Syria, and made several compromises to get sanctions approved. As a result, when the European Union agreed this month to bar purchases of Syrian oil, it added a provision allowing member states to continue importing the oil until mid-November, a grace period that will give Damascus time to find replacement customers.

The International Energy Agency, an autonomous intergovernmental group based in Paris, said Tuesday that with Syria scouting new customers in China and other Asian markets, "these [oil] volumes should find other customers elsewhere."

22

Business

September 17-23, 2011

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

US poverty: Asians buck the trend

In the case of Asians poverty levels remained at 12.1 percent. Poverty among Hispanics increased to 26.6 percent; among blacks it rose to 27.4 percent; among whites it climbed to 9.9 percent.

Washington: Asians, including Indian Americans, were the lone exception as the number of poor in US rose for the fourth consecutive year across all racial and ethnic groups last year.

According to a Census Bureau report issued Tuesday, 46.2 million Americans, nearly one in six, were living in poverty in 2010, up from 43.6 million in 2009, representing the largest number of Americans in poverty in the 52 years.

In the case of Asians poverty levels remained at 12.1 percent.

Poverty among Hispanics increased to 26.6 percent; among blacks it rose to 27.4 percent; among whites it climbed to 9.9 percent. Asians again bucked the trend as median household income in the US also

fell to $49,445, the lowest level since 1996 after adjusting for inflation, with a 2.3 percent drop in 2010. Asians with a median income of $64,308 were the top earners with non-Hispanic whites following with $54,620. Hispanics with $37,759 came next while Blacks earned the least at $32,068.

The trends reflected the struggling US economy, which has seen unemployment hover at around 9 percent for two years, and which will be a key campaign issue heading into the 2012 election season.

The nation's official poverty rate increased to 15.1 percent in 2010, up from 14.3 percent in 2009. In the last three years, the poverty rate has risen faster than any other three-year period since the early 1980s.

US, Eurozone crisis worrisome: Pranab New Delhi: Financial markets are getting "nervous" due to high inflation, slowdown in economic growth and aggravating sovereign debt problems in the US and European economies, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has said.

"Advanced economies, the Eurozone and the US, are seized with sovereign debt problems. This is making financial markets nervous," Mukherjee said at a conference organised by the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) here.

He said growth in most advanced economies had declined in the second quarter of 2011 and emerging markets were "witnessing a combination of moderation in growth and rising inflation".

"Even the tepid global economic recovery that we have seen so far is stalling," he said. India's GDP growth declined to 7.7 percent in April-June 2011 period, slowest in six quarters. India's industrial output slumped to 3.3 percent in July, the slowest

growth in two years.

Growth has declined across the world leading to slump in the global stock markets. Mukherjee emphasized on the need for a collective effort to overcome the economic crisis situation.

India to invest $1 tn in infrastructure New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said good road infrastructure was crucial to achieving nine percent growth, targeted for the next Five Year Plan (2012-13 to 2016-17), and adequate investment would be made towards that.

At the same time, he insisted that the awards on private sector were placed in a fair and transparent manner so as to dispel any fear or charges that the government was resorting to any form of favoritism or arbitrary

'Suzuki to pick Gujarat for new plant' Tokyo: Suzuki Motor will likely locate a planned $1.3 billion passenger car factory in Gujarat as the automaker looks to expand capacity in its key market .

The report came two days after the company said it wanted to end its alliance with Volkswagen, a tie-up that had been expected to help Europe's biggest car maker expand on the Indian subcontinent.

"We haven't come to a decision yet. We plan to announce the location of the plant by the end of October," Suzuki spokesman Ei Mochizuki said. He added, however, that the automaker's chairman and CEO, Osamu Suzuki, visited Gujarat last week.

Suzuki controls about half the Indian car market through a 54.2 per cent stake in the

Growth has declined across the world leading to slump in the global stock markets.

Suzuki CEO Osamu Suzuki in Gujarat. country's top car maker , Maruti Suzuki . If it adds capacity in Gujarat, the automaker will join rivals who are building plants in the business-friendly state, turning it into an upcoming auto hub.

decisions.

"Infrastructure will play a key role in achieving our growth target of of nine percent. Our effort is to double the investment of $500 billion in the 11th Five Year plan to around $1 trillion in the 12th plan," the prime minister said.

"It is also necessary to ensure projects are awarded in a fair and transparent manner to avoid suspicion of favoritism," he told a conference on 'challenges and opportunities in public-private partnership in national high-

ways'.

According to Road Transport and Highways Minister C.P. Joshi, the government will award contracts under publicprivate partnership to lay around 7,800 km of national highways worth an estimated Rs.50,000 crore ($11.1 billion) by the end of this year.

"Contracts worth Rs.21,000 crore have already been awarded in the first four months," he said, hoping that the target of 20 km of national highways every day would be met.

France backs banks after Moody's downgrade Paris: France brushed off concerns about its biggest banks, insisting that it had no plans to nationalize any of them despite a credit rating downgrade linked to their exposure to the limping Greek economy.

The reassurance, which helped lift European markets, came as the leaders of France and Germany prepared to speak with their Greek counterpart amid worries that Athens may default on its heavy debt load.

European stocks and the euro also got a lift after the head of the European Commission said he would present options soon for the introduction of euro area bonds — the latest effort by European leaders to show they are trying to strengthen the foundations of their monetary union.

Moody’s Investors Service downgraded two of France’s biggest banks Wednesday, Société Générale, Crédit Agricole, citing their exposure to the Greek economy and the fragile state of bank financing markets. It kept a third, BNP Paribas, under review.

Sports TheSouthAsianTimes.info

23

September 17-23, 2011

Cash flows in for miffed hockey players New Delhi: Sports Minister Ajay Maken announced Rs.1.5 lakh to each member of the Indian hockey team after they rejected a paltry Rs.25,000 reward from cashstrapped Hockey India (HI) for winning the inaugural Asian Champions Trophy in China.

Maken justified the players' decision to dump the HI cash offer, and chided the hockey body for handing out a pittance to the players returning home after beating Pakistan 4-2 in the final.

Maken told a hurriedly called press conference: "The players have done the right thing. The federation should have consulted me before announcing the award. The players are eligible for Rs.1.5 lakh each under the government scheme."

Asked why didn't say this when

Hockey team captain Rajpal Singh with teammates during a function in New Delhi, after defeating Pakistan in the Asian Men's Hockey Championship final in China. he felicitated the team, he said: "The scheme was in public

domain, and I thought it was not required to make it public again."

The minister added: "I spoke to HI secretary general Narendra Batra and told him that if he wanted to reward the players, we could have done it together so that the players would have got Rs.1.75 lakh each." Maken said the support staff and the coach would get Rs.75,000 each.

He added that the players were suffering because of problems between HI and the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF).

The players' fury over the 25,000-rupee reward led to more cash awards -- and condemnation from current and former players.

The Punjab government announced Rs.25 lakh for the team.

The Maharashtra government promised Rs.10 lakh in cash and a job to Yuvraj Walmiki, a key player from that state. Skipper Rajpal

Singh did not hide his disgust. He said hockey would not attract youngsters if players were not rewarded adequately. Rejecting the HI reward, he said his team was disappointed by the "hollow claims" of Maken of reviving the sport. "This is not the way to treat national players," Rajpal said. "Our self-respect was wounded. It (25,000 rupees) was far below our expectations. It is not acceptable." “This is an insult to Indian hockey," fumed Ranjan Negi, a former coach.

HI's Batra said the federation could afford only Rs.25,000. "We have spent Rs.7.81 crore on the preparation of the team for various events. Of this, Rs.5.97 crore was spent on coaching camps, Rs.1.75 crore on foreign exposure and Rs.8.5 lakh on foreign experts.�

After US Open, Champions Trophy: Djokovic, Nadal IOA president criticizes FIH ready for Davis Cup New Delhi: Indian Olympic Association (IOA) acting president Vijay Kumar Malhotra told International Hockey Federation (FIH) president Leonardo Negre that the world body was wrong to withdraw the Champions Trophy from India.

"I told FIH president Leonardo Negre that both IOA and FIH recognize only Hockey India as the official body for the game in the country. Then what was the need of moving the Champions Trophy out of India," said Malhotra.

The FIH has expressed its displeasure over the

'settlement' reached between HI and IHF with the help of the sports ministry and withdrew the Champions Trophy, which will be held from December 3-11, allotted to India.

The FIH also took everybody by surprise as they announced Auckland as the replacement for Delhi, four hours before the meeting with Indian officials.

The IOA president said that both HI and IHF had to be blamed themselves for losing the hosting rights.

Dhoni bags ICC Spirit of Cricket award US Open winner Novak Djokovic of Serbia with his trophy in New York.

London: With precious little time to rest after their brutal U.S. Open final, world number one Novak Djokovic and Rafa Nadal will be energized by national pride this weekend as they lead their countries into battle in the Davis Cup semi-finals.

Djokovic, winner of three of the year's four majors in a stupendous season that has gone off the scale, will enjoy a deafening reception in the cavernous Belgrade Arena where Serbia host Argentina.

In a Cordoba bull ring, Nadal will have the perfect stage to vent the frustration of his defeat by Djokovic in New York, as Spain host last year's runners-up France seeking to banish the memory of a 5-0 thrashing last year.

Neutrals and probably the International Tennis Federation (ITF) will already be eagerly

anticipating a potential Djokovic v Nadal showdown in the final but the wily Argentines and flamboyant French will be no pushovers.

"We are all very optimistic ahead of the tie, we know that we will be up against a very strong team but we'll do our best and the support of our 20,000 fans in the arena can make a big difference," Serbia captain Bogdan Obradovic said this week, when confirming Djokovic will play.

Twelve months ago after losing to Nadal in the U.S. Open final Djokovic could hardly have imagined what was going to happen to him in 2011.

Playing like a man possessed he has amassed a 64-2 record, surging clear at the top of the rankings and on current form, looks almost unbeatable.

London: Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the Spirit of Cricket Award at the International Cricket Council (ICC) Awards while England batsman Jonathan Trott was named the Cricketer of the Year. England oneday captain Alastair Cook bagged the Test Cricketer of the Year for a prolific season with the bat. Former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara was chosen the ODI player of the year. Dhoni was picked ahead of the competition for allowing Ian Bell to continue batting after he was run out in controversial circumstances during the Trent Bridge Test in July.

"While the initial appeal and umpire's decision were correct to the letter of the law, the decision by Mahendra and his team to withdraw the appeal shows great maturity. To see players and officials uphold the Great Spirit of cricket, which has underpinned the game for more than a century, is very special," said ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat.

The award is voted by the members of the Elite Panels of ICC Match Referees and Umpires. Dhoni's gesture was voted as the winner ahead of that of South Africa's Jacques Kallis, who twice demonstrated such spirit during the 2011 World Cup by walking once he had clarified with opposition fielders directly that they had caught the ball cleanly rather than waiting for the umpires to decide.

Trott was honored after an extraordinary 12 months with the bat. In 12 Tests, he compiled 1,042 runs at an average of 65.12, including four centuries and three half-centuries. In addition, he played 24 ODIs, hitting

MS Dhoni was picked ahead of the competition for allowing Ian Bell to continue batting after he was run out in controversial circumstances during the Trent Bridge Test in July.

1,064 runs at an average of 48.36 with two centuries and nine 50s.

The independent voting academy of 25 highly credentialed cricket experts picked Trott ahead of Cook, India's Sachin Tendulkar and South Africa's Hashim Amla.

Pakistani Umpire Aleem Dar won the David Shepherd Trophy for third time after being named ICC Umpire of the Year. Dar was voted to this award by the 10 Full Member captains as well as the eight-man Elite Panel of Match Referees, based on his decision statistics and officiating skills over the past 12 months.

24

Health

September 17-23, 2011

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Exercise more to help brain hat exercise helps maintain good health is well known but it also improves your brain's wellness, say researchers.

New research conducted at University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign suggests exercise plays a vital role in maintaining the brain and cognitive health throughout life.

Exercise appears to change brain structure, prompting the growth of new nerve cells and blood vessels. It also increases the production of neurochemicals that promote growth, differentiation, survival, and repair of brain cells.

Michelle W. Voss and her colleagues reviewed 111 recent human and animal studies.

They showcased the effects of aerobic exercise and strength training on humans, from children to elderly adults, the Journal of Applied Physiology reports.

For example, physical inactivity is linked with poorer academic performance, while exercise programs appear to improve memory, attention, and decision-making.

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These effects also extend to young and elderly adults, with solid evidence for aerobic training benefiting executive functions, including multi-tasking, planning, and inhibition, and increasing the volume of brain structures important for memory.

Although few studies have evaluated the results of strength training on brain health in children, studies in elderly adults suggest that high-intensity and high-load training can improve memory.

This study also highlights gaps in scientific literature.

For example, the authors note that more research is needed on how a particular type of exercise might promote different consequences on brain health and cognition.

Sex hormone protects men from allergies en can better fight inflammatory diseases as compared to women, thanks to their sex hormones that are known as testosterones, claims a German research.

Inflammation is the initial response of our body to harmful stimuli, which could include pathogens, bacteria and other microorganisms.

"It is mostly women who are affected by diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis or asthma," explains Oliver Werz, professor of pharmacy and medical chemistry at Friedrich Schiller Jena University, Germany.

"Although this is a fact known for some time, the

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Man taken for dead wakes up in morgue man who was thought to have died woke up in a morgue fridge, giving a fright to the mortuary staff, it was reported in London.

The 50-year-old man had suffered a severe asthma attack and

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Scientists hint at why laughter feels so good aughter is regularly promoted as a source of health and well being, but it has been hard to pin down exactly why laughing until it hurts feels so good.

The answer, reports Robin Dunbar, an evolutionary psychologist at Oxford, is not the intellectual pleasure of cerebral humor, but the physical act of laughing. The simple muscular exertions involved in producing the familiar ha, ha, ha, he said, trigger an increase in endorphins, the brain chemicals known for their feel-good effect.

His results build on a long history of scientific attempts to understand a deceptively simple and universal behavior. “Laughter is very weird stuff, actually,” Dr. Dunbar said. “That’s why we got interested in it.” And the findings fit well with a growing sense that laughter contributes to group bonding and may have been important in the evolution of highly social humans.

Social laughter, Dr. Dunbar suggests, relaxed and contagious, is “grooming at a distance,” an activity that fosters closeness in a group the way one-onone grooming, patting and delousing promote and maintain bonds between individual primates of all sorts.

In five sets of studies in the laboratory and one field study at comedy performances, Dr. Dunbar and colleagues tested resistance to pain both before and after bouts of social laughter. The

reasons for these differences are largely unknown," adds Werz.

"In a series of analyses we have shown that cells from men and women react in a different manner to inflammatory stimuli," says Carlo Pergola from the Institute of Pharmacy, Jena University.

The male sex hormones, or testosterones, play a key role in the modulation of the immune response, the researchers said in the FASEB Journal.

In the analyses, certain immune cells of women produced nearly twice as many pro-inflammatory substances than those of men, according to a Jena statement.

he then spent 21 hours on a corpse trolley. The Sun reported that the man woke up and began to scream, causing the mortuary staff in Libode, South Africa, to flee as they thought he was a ghost.

"At first the men ran for their

lives."

"We need to get the message across to all South Africans that it is very wrong for them to conclude on their own that a person has died," an official was quoted as saying.

Addicts cut down on junk food after calorie labeling sixth of fast food addicts cut down on junk food with higher calories after the US introduced a calorie-labeling system in 2008.

Researchers from the New York School of Public Health and other centers found there has been a small but positive impact.

Analysis showed that 15 percent of customers using calorie information purchased food items with significantly lower calories than customers who did not see or use the calorie information.

Obesity rates in the US are at an all time high in both adults and children and currently a third of adults and 17 percent of children and teenagers are obese.

Several studies support an association between fast food consumption and excessive energy intake, but customers often underestimate the number of calories in restaurant meals, the journal bmj.com reports.

Surveys were carried out during lunchtime hours in spring 2007 (one year before the regulation) and in spring 2009 (nine months after its implementation) at 168 randomly selected locations of the top 11 fast food chains in the city, according to a New York School statement.

Adult customers provided register receipts and answered survey questions.

Data from 7,309 customers in 2007 and 8,489 customers in 2009 were analyzed.

Overall, there was no decline in calories purchased across the full sample.

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Laughter clubs have sprouted in India, teaching what they call laughter yoga. findings, published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, eliminated the possibility that the pain resistance measured was the result of a general sense of well being rather than actual laughter. And, Dr. Dunbar said, they also provided a partial answer to the ageless conundrum of whether we laugh because we feel giddy or feel giddy because we laugh.

“The causal sequence is laughter triggers endorphin activation,” he said.

What triggers laughter is a question that leads into a different labyrinth.

Robert R. Provine, a neuroscientist at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and the author of “Laughter: A Scientific Investigation,” found the study “a significant contribution” to the field of study.

However, three major chains saw significant reductions.

For example, at McDonalds, average energy per purchase fell by 5.3 percent, at Au Bon Pain, it fell by 14.4 percent and at KFC, it dropped by 6.4 percent.

Together, these three chains represented 42 percent of all customers in the study.

High street chains in England are about to embark on a similar, though voluntary scheme, as part of the government’s Public Health Responsibility Deal.

Susan Jebb from the MRC Human Nutrition Research Centre in Cambridge, Britain believes that labeling is a step forward, but changes in food supply must follow.

She writes: ‘Calorie labeling will help consumers make an informed choice about what they eat, but sustained improvements in the nation’s diet will require a transformation of the food supply too.’

Lifestyle TheSouthAsianTimes.info

25

September 17-23, 2011

Early risers are slim, Young women prefer career, healthy and happy lifestyle to family life London: People who get up early in the morning are likely to be happier, healthier and slimmer than those who do not, says a study.

The researchers from London’s Roehampton University have found those who watch more TV are more likely to skip breakfast. It could be since they snack in the evening when watching TV, making them less hungry when they wake up in the morning, the Daily Express reported.

In the study, experts quizzed 1,068 adults to see if they were morning or evening people. They found that morning people tend to be happier, thinner and more conscientious than evening people. They are also more likely to eat breakfast.

Joerg Huber, the researcher, said: “These findings bear out the consensus that there are morning peo-

ple and evening people, and that morning people tend to be healthier and happier, as well as having lower body mass indices.”

London: Many British young women are puting off the idea of starting a family, believing it can spoil their lifestyle, career and looks, a survey has found.

A poll of 2,000 women in Britain found that one in three childless women says she doesn't ever want to become a mother while increasing numbers of 30somethings in stable relationships and with good jobs have different priorities, Daily Mail reported.

Almost half of the surveyed said that they would rather get on the property ladder than have a baby while 28 percent would prefer a 100,000-pound salary, the survey found.

The Grazia magazine report was commissioned to coincide with the release of Sarah Jessica Parker's latest film 'I Don't Know How She Does It'.

Childless women just weren't willing to make the sacrifices they now see were necessary for motherhood, with 44 percent feeling

Gossipers lose trust, respect of all London: Those who can’t resist the temptation to gossip about others risk their careers and friendships. A study has suggested that though people enjoy gossip, they do not trust gossipers.

Researchers at the University of Baltimore in the US asked women to think of people they knew who did and did not indulge in “informal communication” and rate them.

It was found that gossipers are seen as weak people who are not

to be trusted or respected and who have no influence over others, the Daily Express reported.

According to psychologists, persistent gossips are unpopular and unlikely to have any social influence at work. Those who indulge in negative gossip are the least popular of all.

While people do listen to gossip, they do not necessarily trust those who constantly indulge in it, said psychologist Sally Farley, who led the research.

Farley added: “Perhaps high gossipers are individuals who we welcome into our social networks for fear of losing the opportunity to learn information, but we tend to keep them at arm’s length.”

Scientists at the University of Michigan, US, however, have found that women are happier and healthier if they gossip a lot with their friends as it boosts levels of progesterone, a hormone shown to reduce levels of anxiety and stress.

Happiness? It’s all in your genes London: Scientists believe they have identified the happy gene that makes us look on the bright side of life.

The researchers have found evidence that part of our DNA makes us either naturally positive or negative, reports express.co.uk.

The Essex University study looked at DNA samples of 100 volunteers and tested their responses to highly emotive images, using revolutionary computer therapy.

Scientists then measured how the volunteers’ genes transported the mood chemical serotonin around the body. People with short versions of the gene had stronger reactions, both positive and negative. But those volunteers with the long gene type expressed less reaction.

Elaine Fox, who led the study,

said: “Those with the long version often fare best in fairly benign conditions. But they might not gain so much from a good experience.”

“When times are really bad or

really good, those with the highly reactive short genotype either go under or really benefit,” she added.

It is hoped that identifying the gene will help treatment of depression and trauma.

sorry for working mums struggling to have it all, the survey found.

Half of childless women over 30 look at stay-at-home mothers and think it will be difficult for them to get back on the career ladder and a fifth believe they've lost their identity.

Body issues are also a factor with three in ten worried about the

effect pregnancy would have on their appearance.

Four in ten childless women say they're not ready to give up their lifestyle - and a quarter still feel too young for a child.

Grazia editor-in-chief Jane Bruton said: 'We were really surprised a third of childless women admitted they didn't want to start a family.'

Christie’s to auction impressions of colonial India New Delhi: The heritage of colonial India will be one of the major attractions at Christie’s upcoming Travel, Science and Natural History auction in London Sep 29.

Thirty-three works on paper, including aquatints, mezzotints, lithographs and water colors, as well as four paintings and two albums comprising nearly 70 photographs each of India and the country’s outstanding buildings and vistas will be on sale at the auction.

The works will be offered as 37 lots (segments), a statement issued by the auction house said Wednesday.

One of the highlights of the Christie’s – the world’s oldest fine collection is a print edition of art auctioneer “A Picturesque Voyage to India by the Way of China” by 1910, have also been described as Thomas and William Daniell, two significant by the auction house.

British traveling artists and The collection will depict and engravers, who came to India in the documenting life in India during the 18th century to seek their fortunes 18th, 19th and the 20th centuries. as artists.

The built-scapes were documentThe Daniells’ great pictorial series ed by a variety of artists and photogon India, “Oriental Scenery,” was raphers during their travels in India published in six parts over the peri- and along the Indian Ocean. od 1795-1808.

The Indian section of the sale is A blueprint of the Osmania estimated to exceed 125,600 General Hospital by British artist pounds.

Vincent J. Esch in watercolor on A spokesperson for Christie’s said paper dated 1910 and an impression several Indian private collectors had of Bulund Darwaza at Fatehpur shown interest and institutions had Sikri built by Mughal emperor enquired about the works, which Akbar by artist F.D. Fowler, signed will be exhibited in London Sep 24.

26

Ultimate Bollywood

September 17-23, 2011

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

‘Mere Brother…’ flounders right through omewhere in the vast spaces of mainstream Hindi cinema, the North Indian shaadi with its band baaja and, yes, baarati, seems to have made a permanent place in our cinema.

"Mere Brother Ki Dulhan" (MBKD) is the third film in the last eight months after the delightful "Band Baaja Baarat" and the surprising "Tanu Weds Manu" to weave a rom-com around the sights, sounds, scents, stress, chaos and satire of a big fat Hindu wedding.

Must say, the other two films got it right dead-on. MBKD flounders in its frisky fusion of a love triangle and plea for an arranged marriage. Debutant director Ali Abbas Zafar knows the subtexts in his script well enough to conceal the rather glar-

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‘Mere Brother Ki Dulhan’ flounders in its frisky fusion of a love triangle and plea for an arranged marriage.

ing discrepancies in the storytelling. The narration quite frequently relies on jump cuts, retro music and other external ploys to make the goings-on appear more involving than they really are. The recurrent use of R.D. Burman's "Piya to ab to aaja" has no relevance after a point. It just becomes a tiresome inclusion.

The three main characters, played by three watchable stars one of them from across the border, manage to take the plot's improbabilities into the province of the palatable. But the situational humor doesn't quite have the delightfully disarming naturalness of "Band Baaja Baraat".

But the characters exude contagious warmth, more in their individual capacity than in combinations. For a film about love

warmth togetherness and family bonding during the time of a wedding, the interactive warmth between characters is strangely missing.

Zafar who delighted in the satirical mode of "Tere Bin Laden", returns with yet another performance that knows how over-the-top to go without toppling over. Yup, Zafar gets it pitch-perfect all the way. The same cannot be said of the film which occasionally slips into becoming a stretch.

What really redeems the film's blind spots is Katrina Kaif who brings a very special transparency and dazzle to her role of a wild child who wants to have all the fun that she can before she settles into a comfortably arranged marriage with the rakish NRI Ali Zafar.

‘Vidya is classic voluptuous Ace photographer Rajadhyaksha dead ndian film industry's renowned cousin of popular columnist and Indian beauty’ photographer Gautam writer Shobhaa De, will be held

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Rajadhyaksha passed away on early Tuesday morning due to a massive heart attack. He was 61.

Deeply loved and respected by the film industry, the photographer had photographed all the famous celebrities ranging from Shabana Azmi to Aishwarya Rai. He was most known for shooting iconic movie stills for Bollywood blockbusters like Hum Aapke Hain Koun(1994), Dil To Pagal Hai (1997), Ishq (1997), Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), Hum Saath Saath Hain (1999), Kabhi Khushi Kabhie

‘The Dirty Picture', which also stars Emraan Hashmi, Naseeruddin Shah, alongside Vidya Balan will hit the theatres on December 2. irector Milan Luthria says Vidya Balan's classic Indian look made her the perfect choice to portray the role of southern siren, Silk Smitha in the upcoming biopic 'The Dirty Picture'.

Balan's aesthetic body display in the first trailer of the movie has gone down well with the audience and Luthria says she has given a new soul to the character of Silk.

“We were looking for a strong performer and not someone who could merely look sexy and Vidya is a great actor. Also, she has the body of a classic voluptuous Indian beauty, something not many Bollywood actresses can boast of. Silk was never pencil thin,” said Luthria.

The director of films like 'Kachche Dhaage', 'Taxi Number 9211' and 'Once Upon a Time in Mumbai', Luthria says a lot has gone into transforming Vidya into Silk Smitha. “A lot of work has gone into her transformation. It requires a great deal of effort to present a lady in a manner that looks sensuous but not vulgar. I am sure that people are standing up and noticing her and the film for that

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very reason. The fact that she can hold that innocent expression despite being a part of a bold scene is a facet of only great actors. The kind of character that she is playing, someone who has a harsh exterior but a soft inner, isn't easy, but Vidya does it effortlessly,” said Luthria.

The director, however, admits that Vidya had certain inhibitions when she first started shooting the film.

“It wasn't easy for Vidya on the first day. She was an absolute professional in front of the camera but behind the scenes there was much mental conditioning she had to engage in, before stepping out on the sets in those shocking costumes.

She went through hundreds of costume trials before we zeroed down on what was finally required for the screen. There was a lot of talking that happened with Vidya before she reached a comfort level.

Fortunately, she was quite open about sharing her inhibitions at the very outset,” he said.

The Dirty Picture', which also stars Emraan Hashmi, Naseeruddin Shah, alongside Vidya will hit the theatres on December 2.

this evening. "Gautam's soft-focus photography style was unique and his artistic personality was unmatched," Shobhaa De said, adding, "It was a privilege for people to get photographed by him."

"He mentored several budding photographers. There will be only one Gautam," she said.

Gham (2001).

The funeral of Rajadhyaksha,

Deeply loved by the film fraternity, the photographer had clicked all the famous celebrities ranging from Shabana Azmi to Aishwarya Rai.

‘Kangna knows how to use, abuse and throw’ oon after actor Adhyayan Suman revealed that he indeed was the one to introduce his former girlfriend, actor Kangna Ranaut to international fashionista Paris Hilton, he now has more to say. He claims that Kangna abused him on the phone.

“Kangna only knows how to use, abuse and throw.

She has flooded me with abusive calls ever since the truth on her fake claims came out,” says he says in an emailed statement, adding she has been abusing him for a long time. “I have remained silent for so many years, but she is crossing all limits now.”

When contacted to get Kangna’s side of the story, her representative dismissed the allegations saying that there’s no truth in them. Her publicist even wanted to furnish the itemized bill details of the actor’s personal mobile phone to prove that she didn’t make a single call to her former boyfriend.

“Kangna’s most amused by this news. A look at her phone records will easily prove that this is untrue just as (Adhyayan’s) earlier claims,” said Kangna’s publicist. Sources say that calls were made to Adhyayan and his mother, there’s nothing to prove that the calls emerged from Kangna’s cellphone. “The caller on the other line was pleading with Adhyayan to ‘stop doing this to her.’ There was a huge fight. The call was not made from Kangna’s mobile. Now efforts are on to settle with Adhyayan (even by paying money) so that he clams up. They have also threatened to issue a legal notice,” says a source close to Adhyayan’s family.

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Actors Kangna Ranaut and Adhyayan Suman

Ultimate Bollywood Thesouthasiantimes.info

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September 17-23, 2011

Aamir vetoes Deepika for ‘Dhoom 3’ eepika Padukone had great expectations from Dhoom 3. She was hoping to land the lead role in the film, a coveted spot, considering the cult status the franchise enjoys and Aamir Khan’s presence in the film.

But at the last minute, Aamir rejected her claims, as he is apprehensive about his pairing with Deepika.

“Deepika’s last film with Aamir’s nephew Imran Break Ke

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Baad, failed at the box office, and Aamir feels this would still be fresh in the mind of the audience.

Being a perfectionist, Aamir has an eye for these things. And the producers too agree with his logic,” says our source.

With Deepika out of the reckoning, however, the race gets trickier. Apart from Hollywood celebrities, Katrina Kaif was also in the running.

“Katrina is already doing two films with the Chopras: ‘Ek Tha

Tiger’ and one more opposite SRK. These two would keep her busy, something that can work against her, as the makers want the actors’ undivided attention.

All of which means ‘Dhoom 3’ is still without a lead heroine.

Deepika was hoping to land the lead role in ‘Dhoom 3’, a coveted spot, considering the cult status the franchise enjoys and Aamir Khan’s presence in the film

Ranbir goes to red light My son feels I'm not cool enough: SRK hah Rukh Khan enjoys huge fan following at area for 'Rockstar' home and abroad and is seen as a very cool actor,

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but his 14-year-old son Aryan feels that the superstar is not cool enough.

"My film 'RA.One' talks about the relationship between every father and son. So the film has a bit of my relationship with my son. Like he feels that I'm not cool enough and he feels that I don't have great abs and I'm not a stud enough. The child in this film also feels similar things," SRK told reporters here at an event to launch the music of the film.

The 45-year-old also feels that "RA.One" will get sons closer to their fathers.

"I think it's a film that will appeal to all sons and fathers and I think it will teach them to love their fathers because I think fathers are very nice. They are good, if not better than mothers," he said.

Ranbir Kapoor's upcoming film 'Rockstar' features a scene depicting Kapoor playing guitar and singing to an audience of sex workers. t couldn't have been anything better for the workers at Mumbai's biggest red light area in Grant Road than having Ranbir Kapoor sing for them.

Ranbir Kapoor's upcoming film 'Rockstar' features a scene depicting Kapoor playing guitar and singing to an audience of sex workers. ‘Jab We Met’ director Imtiaz Ali was keen on shooting at an actual brothel instead of creating set and using junior artists.

On the day of the shoot, the women were excited about meeting the star but were also nervous about the shoot. They welcomed the crew and also served the local breakfast of 'chai and pav'. After a short introduction session and some light hearted conversation, they commenced shooting where Ranbir, sur-

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rounded by a big group of sex workers, was playing the guitar and singing for them. The actor, who had taken extensive guitar lessons to prepare for his role in the film, actually played it live and even sang the verses himself, leaving his audience captivated.

“They (the sex workers) were very shy initially. They were reluctant about coming in front of the camera....but Imtiaz and Ranbir spent some time talking to them and created a comfortable environment after which we commenced shooting.

Once the shoot was over, some of them even took pictures with Ranbir and requested for autographs and Ranbir happily obliged. They wished Ranbir and Imtiaz good luck for the film's success,” said a crew member.

The 45-year-old actor feels that his recent flick "RA.One" will get sons closer to their fathers.

"RA.One", a sci fi film, has been directed by Anubhav Sinha and stars Shah Rukh as a superhero.

Salman wants Katrina as Bodyguard alman Khan spoke about his ongoing recovery from surgery and future films at a press conference in London recently. Of his surgery, he said, "They were looking for something else, but found an aneurysm.

There was a problem from the spine. Everything is okay, but right now I'm tired because of the flight and the surgery." On Bodyguard's success at the B-O, he quipped, "All our (Kareena and Salman's) films together have been a disaster 'Kyon Ki', 'Main Aurr Mrs Khanna' so we took it as a challenge to make this film a hit.

The reason it's a hit? Because you guys watched it." When asked who he'd like as a bodyguard in real life, he replied, tongue firmly in cheek: "Katrina Kaif." He also revealed that he'd start shooting

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Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif. for ‘Dabangg 2’ only next Diwali.

Coincidentally, he was in London

the night of the premiere of ex-girlfriend Katrina's latest film.

28

Humor

September 17-23, 2011

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Humor with Melvin Durai

Bringing out the veggie-lover in me recent Time magazine cover story says that more Americans are becoming vegetarians. Forgive me, but I hadn't noticed. Grocery stores are still selling tons of meat, restaurants are still serving steaks and burgers, and animal activists are still bringing home the bacon. Well, some of them anyway.

If Americans are eating less beef, somebody forgot to pass the good news to all the cows. They're still walking around with long faces. A few look downright miserable, almost as depressed as WorldCom investors.

The only trend I've noticed is the one in my home, where vegetarianism seems to have gained a foothold. No, I haven't given up meat. Are you crazy? I'd sooner give up oxygen.

But I've allowed the vegetables on my plate to grow -- far beyond their usual quota. It's part of my new affirmative action plan. I'm giving all foods an equal opportunity to be eaten.

Some days, the veggies get aggressive, demanding that I eat them exclusively. "You neglected us all those years," they say. "You owe

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us. Besides, think of the poor cows.

They have a right to live!"

The meats always fight back. "We made you who you are," they say.

"You owe us. Besides, think of the poor cattle farmers. They have a right to live!"

How did this happen? How did the veggies get so powerful, jostling with the meats, threatening the entire landscape of my plate?

The answer is simple: There's a vegetarian in my house! A real living and breathing vegetarian!

My mother-in-law is visiting from India, a land where vegetarians are common and cows dance in the streets. "Hurray! Hurray! They're eating veggies again today!"

For the first time in my life, I'm living with someone who'd rather eat a leaf than beef, rather chew cork than pork.

My mother-in-law is taking care

of her first grandchild and doing most of the cooking. The menu includes just about anything that doesn't have legs: beans, cabbage, eggplant, spinach, petunia, begonia Thankfully, my mother-in-law is an excellent cook, producing Indian dishes that make my mouth water, enticing me to eat vegetables such as okra and bitter gourd, which are usually as appetizing as ear wax.

"This is delicious," I find myself saying. "Are you sure you didn't add a little meat?"

I never knew veggies could be so tasty. I never knew I could go several days without meat -- without dreaming about beef curry and chicken wings, without having nightmares about broccoli and Brussels sprouts. "Coming soon to a theater near you: M. Night Shyamalan's Sixth Serving of Sprouts."

Am I healthier? Probably. Less meat means less fat to expand my waistline, less cholesterol to clog my arteries. Studies show that consuming more plant-based foods reduces the risk of heart disease, obesity, diabetes and cancer, not to mention the risk of offending one's mother-in-law.

But before you turn into a vegetarian, remember that meat delivers loads of protein. To make up for it, you'd have to do a good job of balancing your fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes and nuts. That may be somewhat tricky, especially if you think a legume is a type of

women's hosiery.

As for me, I enjoy meat too much to give it up completely. But the next time I shop for groceries, I may spend a little more time touching the legumes and a little less time admiring the breasts.

The chicken breasts, that is.

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

This phone app makes ‘time machine’ a reality Bangkok: For people who have stood at a monument or scanned a landscape - the Great Wall of China, for instance, or the US Grand Canyon - and wondered how it looked 100 or more years ago, there is now an app for you.

Historypin, on iOS and Android platforms, strives to create a collection of memories about locations by counting on people to dig up and digitize old photographs and other media of the places, along with personal recollections of the past.

Combined with modern pictures and memories, the app creates a story of a place for people to enjoy - a sort of "time machine in your pocket," its backers say.

"It's about people coming together to create a web of human history," said Nick Stanhope, chief executive of We Are What We Do, a United Kingdom-based non-profit organization responsible for the Historypin project.

The app uses GPS to find content that has been added within a certain vicinity. Users can also

browse content that has been uploaded at any location on the map. The results can be filtered by date, ranging from the 1840s (the time of the earliest photographs ) leading up to the present day.

The app also includes an augmented-reality camera that overlays historic images in the database on top of the current landscape. Over 55,000 photos and stories have been pinned to the map since the website and app were introduced.

One photo from 1938 shows a car being tugged across Newfoundland, Canada's Placentia Gut by two small wooden boats, a method that was retired as soon as a bridge was built to provide a more efficient route.

Another from the late 1920s shows a mother and daughter in Minnesota enjoying a laugh in front of a local school and its now defunct bell and tower.

Users can create or upload content using the app.

Comments can be added to existing media, helping build what the organization hopes will become a tapestry of historic data.

Video games risk kids to identity theft Washington, DC: With the gaining popularity of online video gaming, chances are that your child is putting his or her own identity, as well as yours, at risk, according to an expert.

Adam Levin, chairman and founder of IDTheft911, said that parents have become more attuned to the dangers their children face when gaming online due to the massive Sony data breach earlier this year.

Children and teens are almost always using their parents' credit card information when gaming online, so if your child is impacted, you will be too.

"Kids have a tendency to be more open and they don't understand the dangers of identity theft--one wouldn't expect them to," Fox News quoted Levin as saying.

"It all goes to the heart of the issue of financial literacy," added Levin.

When gaming online, kids do not often read the fine print of the terms of the company they are gaming with, Levin said.

"Identity theft is not 100 per cent preventable," he said.

"But you can restrict the amount of information you give to people who don't have your best interests at heart," he added.

Astrology TheSouthAsianTimes.info

September 17-23, 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: September 17-23, 2011 Aries: This week fresh gains enhance your confidence and enthusiasm. Expressing yourself in a new manner with an open mind would open new avenues for your career growth.

Overseas travel is on the cards for some of you.

Unexpected good news will cheer you up and keep you in high spirits. Social get-togethers will be better than expected. Health should be normal, but avoid overloading your plate and be very religious towards your exercise.

Taurus: This week you would make new friends, who would help, you establish important connections. New plans will conceive and new projects will be executed. Emotionally it would be a very sensitive week, which might have an adverse effect on your mind. Yoga and meditation would have tremendous positive effect on your physical as well as mental health.

Concentrate your efforts into career building activities.

Gemini: This is the perfect week to spend some extra hours developing those creative ideas that have been on your mind.

Enroll others in your plans and avoid unnecessary exertion and excitement, as it would affect your health. You would be in the limelight wherever you go. Voluntary contribution that you make for the welfare of people would bring you appreciation. Children would be a source of happiness.

Cancer: This week few problems with seniors are apparent. It is also not the best time to socialize with clients or colleagues.

Improving your skills and knowledge should be on your list of priorities. Friends are likely to disappoint you if you expect too much from them. Property related disputes would settle amicably. Complete your pending job and spend time with family members, as their love and affection would raise your moral.

Leo: Your creative talents would easily be recognized at work. You would make good financial gains, which would give you reason to be jubilant and extravagant. Sudden good news brings happiness and lifts your morale.

Some problems could cause worry on the home front, but don’t let this show on your health. A new romantic alliance is certain for some of you.

Virgo: A busy week ahead as pending issues would require immediate solutions. Your intuition is likely to help you make important decisions. However, being overworked and stressed, you would find no time for recreation and entertainment, which would lead to lack of concentration and bring restlessness.

Avoid travel unless absolutely necessary.

Religious feelings would arise later in the week making you spend more time on religious and spiritual activities.

Libra: Inharmonious situations at home would be the reason for your tension and mental stress. You need to spend enough time with yourself and workout ways to diffuse the tension. You should also go out with friends or read a novel in order to relax. Relatives would play a crucial role in your personal life, and your beloved would be a major source of pleasure

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during this phase. Spiritual gains will provide mental peace and happiness.

Scorpio: Few changes which are beyond your control are likely to take place, but do not worry as not all would have a bad effect on your life. Someone you work with may try to jeopardize your plans. Period of immense gains and losses therefore you need to invest with care.

Home would be a healthy, cheerful place but children would demand extra attention. Body pains, cold, throat or eye infection could bother you during this period.

Sagittarius: Pending projects and jobs in hand would require urgent attention.

Romantic encounters would be pleasurable, but short-lived. Friends seem to look after you well and provide you with necessary support.

Overspending on luxury items and entertainment may lead to some financial crunch. Work quietly on small but important projects for long-term gains. Joint venture entered during this period will not work to your advantage.

Capricorn: Your creative talents would enable you to make additional money while sitting at home. You would also receive praise from your boss or people around you for your ability to be practical and straightforward in your approach. Dismay and resentment in the family over minor problems ultimately seem to get reconciled. Travelling would be expensive but highly educating. You need to invest with care.

Aquarius: You have a remarkable week ahead provided you take advantage of the given opportunities. Your flair to convince others will pay rich dividends. Difficulty with your spouse is likely to surface if you are not discreet in your behavior. Avoid speculative deals and concentrate on consolidating your resources.

Socializing would be helpful in building new friendships and gathering important information.

Superiors would be highly impressed by your energetic and ambitious nature.

Pisces: Your positive attitude would attract people of an intelligent nature.

Growth opportunities would develop through interaction with influential people. Good period for investment in property and selected stocks.

Health problems due to overexertion and stress likely. Avoid overeating and undertake regular exercise. Blessing of a spiritual person provides you with solace and comfort. You will receive appreciation and rewards for your past good deeds.

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 Sep 17: Ruled by number 8 and the planet Saturn. You are energetic, hardworking, courageous, trustworthy and friendly. You are a great admirer of literature and good music and you like to associate with like-minded people, but you need to control your tendency to behave impatient, erratic and destructive at times.

This year your confidence will grow. You would benefit from remarkable business entrepreneur skills.

New projects and assignments would be plenty enhancing your prosperity. Govt. and judicial favours for some. Some misunderstanding with your spouse might bring uneasy moments at home. Later in the year some exhilarating news from overseas will boost up the spirits of the entire family. Travelling would be beneficial for building new alliances. New romances for some. Health of an infant in the family might cause some concern. The months of August, November, January and April will be highly significant.

Sep 18: Governed by number 9 and the planet Mars. You are adventurous, sensitive, courageous, systematic and dashing. You are full of enthusiasm and very helpful, but you need to control your tendency to behave impatient, short tempered and shy at times.

This year you should expect new assignments and would hold position of important responsibilities.

Your financial position stabilizes as past investments start raking profits. Improved finances bring in prosperity and happiness at domestic level. Good year for girls and women as far as romance is concerned.

Some gains through inheritance or expensive gifts from relatives cannot be ruled out. Frequent travel would be undertaken bringing good monetary rewards. Distant journey maybe overseas for some later in the year. Avoid lending or borrowing money. August, November, February and July will be highly significant.

Sep 19: Ruled by number one and the Sun. You are active, confident, intelligent, original and helpful person.

You possess a strong willpower and you always strive to stay ahead of others, but you need to control your tendencies towards behaving introvert, fickle-minded and careless at times. The coming year would bring you financial gains and happiness. You shall leave no stone unturned to achieve your goals. Businessmen will venture into new and more profitable avenues.

Investment in stocks and real estate would be highly beneficial. Property disputes if any would get settled to your satisfaction. Health of your spouse would be a matter of concern. Increase in your medical expenses seems likely. Time spent with friends would be worthwhile, as they would be supportive to your concerns. Meditation and Yoga will prove to highly rewarding especially for spiritual as well as physical gains. Renovation or new construction towards the yearend. Expecting mothers need to take care of their health. August, November, March and April will be eventful.

Sep 20: Influenced by number 2 and the Moon. You are confident, emotional, imaginative, simple and warm hearted. You enjoy enormous respect amongst your friends, but you need to check your tendency to behave stubborn, vindictive and lazy at times. Although there would be improvement in your financial position, saving would not be as expected. Sudden unforeseen expenses would always keep you in a financial crunch. Increase in responsibility or a change in job for some. New foreign contact or a financial transaction will bring handsome results. A sudden in-

fluence of a spiritual person will have a deep impact on your personality. Spouse will be understanding and provide you with love and affection. Ancestral gains for some. Watch out from acquaintances who behave extra friendly. Friends will be supportive and helpful. New romance for those unattached adds a zing to their dull life. The months of October, February and Sep will prove to be significant.

Sep 21: Ruled by number 3 and the planet Jupiter. You are energetic, ambitious, dignified, and kindhearted person.

You are a good listener and an able administrator and you have an ability to handle things perfectly even under pressure, but you need to control your tendency to dominate and behave stubborn at times. This year your employer would appreciate your confidence and enthusiasm. You would be able to accomplish many tasks that you earlier thought as impossible. Monetary benefits would accrue from new contacts. Pleasure trips or friendly get-togethers will be exciting and intellectually stimulating. Family members will be supportive and friends will be helpful.

Minor domestic tensions and stress will bother you.

Health needs extra care therefore be careful of what you consume. The months of October, January and April will bring desired results.

Sep 22: Influenced by number 4 and the planet Uranus. You are active, practical, enthusiastic, courageous and highly philosophical person. You are very proud of your traditions, culture and rituals. You are highly religious and possess a very sharp mind, but you need to check your tendency to behave impatient and stubborn at times. Your communication skills and charms would impress those around you. Your income would improve, but your expenses would be erratic which would make it extremely difficult for you to save.

New romance for those unattached, but your work is likely to suffer if you keep fantasizing about this special person. You should not let anything interfere with your career objectives if you desire to achieve your goals. Elders and children in the family will demand lot of your attention. Doctors and lawyers can look forward to a remarkable year. The months of September, December, February and Sep will be significant.

Sep 23: Governed by number 5 and the planet Mercury. You are intelligent, sharp, sensible, business oriented, dignified, original and dashing person. People perceive you as a very warm and friendly person, but you need to check your tendency to behave restless and impatient at times. Financially a very favorable period starts this year, but you should avoid getting involved in conflict with loved ones. You would make financial gains through sale of property, accrual of rent, dividends or interests. This is also a good time to invest in long-term investments and speculations. Children would be a source of immense happiness and win laurels in their fields. Pilgrimage or a distant journey will be high on your cards. The months of November, March and July will be highly significant.

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Spiritual Awareness

September 17-23, 2011

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

A Master shares everyone’s pain Part two of Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj’s keynote address at the 26th International Human Unity Conference held in Mexico City, Mexico, in November 2008.

By Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj f we live in a world used to violence, how can we learn to be nonviolent? There is a beautiful tale from Latin America that gives us clues on how to attain peace, nonviolence, and happiness.

Thousands of years ago, there was a Mayan king who had a daughter.

His daughter was a princess who had everything in life. She was beautiful and had all the wealth of her father ’s kingdom. Having everything that any person would dream of, she was still not happy.

As she looked around her, she saw that although she had everything in life, all the other people in the kingdom were suffering. Whenever she made friends with anyone they would tell her about this person who was sick in the family and that person who had died. She would see people and even animals suffering and dying and it made her sad.

She, too, became haunted by the fear that she, too, could also become sick and could die.

The king did not understand why his daughter was so sad. He tried many ways to cheer her up. He bought her the most beautiful diamond, gold, and silver jewelry to cheer her up. He had expensive clothes made for her. He had entertainers come to try to make her laugh. But nothing could make her smile. He thought maybe she was unhappy because she had not yet found a husband. Being of marriageable age, he ordered all the available young men of the kingdom to try for her hand in marriage.

The king announced, "The one who can make my daughter happy can marry her." The king wanted to see which one would make his daughter happy enough to be a fit husband for her. One by one, each young man came to show his strength, his intelligence, his good looks, or his wealth. None of them could make her smile.

Finally, one young man came from a humble family. When he came before her, she liked his kind face, his humility, and his simple

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clothes. He asked her if he could sing for her and she agreed. He then sang a song with the most beautiful voice she had ever heard. The voice was enchanting and lifted her spirits. She smiled for the first time.

The princess asked her father, the king, if she could have the young man stay for dinner. During the feast, the young man asked her to marry him. The princess said, "You have a beautiful voice, but the sweetest sound I ever heard was the singing birds. If you can sing like the birds, I will marry you."

So the young man set off to stay among the birds and learn the secrets of their song. He tried and tried for four months, but could not quite sing like them. He became discouraged and was about to give up. Tears fell from his eyes as he thought his chances of marrying the princess were fading. The tears attracted the heart of the spirit of the forest. The spirit asked him why he was crying. He told him that he wanted to learn to sing like the birds so he could keep the princess happy. The spirit of the forest said, "Here is the secret to singing like the birds and making not only the princess happy, but everyone happy." He then instructed him to take a branch from a tree, cut out the inside to make it hollow, and make holes on one of the sides. He told him to blow into one end and place his fingers over the different holes in different combinations of movements so that different sweet sounds would come out. The young man did, and beautiful sounds came out of this piece of wood. He had made the first wind instrument, like a flute or oboe. When the young man played the instrument, all the birds and animals were attracted to him. They were enchanted by its sound. The young man returned to play the wind instrument for the princess. The sound was so enchanting that it lifted her spirits high. Her soul was lifted high into an inner realm from where she could see that all the people who had been suffering and dying in this world were alive and joyous in the land beyond. The sound had made her soul soar within to see that this life was temporary. Even though people have a physical end in this life, she saw that their soul lived on in beautiful realms beyond this world. This knowledge that the suffering of this world is temporary and that we live beyond this life made her smile and filled her with joy. This tale holds the secret to overcoming violence and suffering.

The princess represents the soul that is living in ignorance and fear.

It believes that this world is its true home. It thinks that its true existence is the body and fears the end

No matter how comfortable we can make the physical body and how comfortable we can make our mind, we cannot find peace until we attain comfort of the soul.

of the physical body. The young man is the saint or Master who comes to make the soul happy. The Master knows the secrets of life and the enchanting Sound that can lift the soul above the violence, pain, and sorrow of this world to experience immortality and eternal happiness in the Beyond. The wind instrument represents the current of Light and Sound that comes from beyond to lift us from this world of pain and violence to experience nonviolence, peace, and love in the spiritual realms beyond. There we find regions of love, joy, and happiness, free from all pain.

One of the greatest threats to our peace and happiness is fear. We may fear financial problems, relationship problems, and emotional problems. Yet, the greatest fears people face are fear of illness, fear of death, and fear of the unknown, such as what happens to us after this life ends. We are afraid of the deterioration of our body and the emotional and physical struggles that come with serious or terminal illness and our ultimate end of life.

We wonder how we can find calm and joy when faced with these great challenges of life.

Personal challenges face us at the level of our body, our mind, and our soul. Saints and Masters have been coming to this world to show us a way of living in which we can find calm and joy—physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

No matter how comfortable we can make the physical body and how comfortable we can make our mind, we cannot find peace until we attain comfort of the soul.

Within each of us there is a deepseated fear that cannot be soothed by physical and mental comfort. In the back of our mind, there is always the lingering fear that one day we will die. Each time this thought surfaces, we feel fear within our soul. As long as we experience that fear we cannot find peace of the soul.

We worry about when we are going to die, what happens to us at the time of death, and where we will go after death? Scriptures tell us that we have a soul that does not die, but we wonder whether it is actually true. In this scientific age, we have doubt unless we can see for ourselves the truths we read in the various scriptures.

Greater than comfort of the body and mind is the comfort we gain from having peace within the soul.

This can only come when we get some experience that proves to us that there is something beyond this world, and that there is no death.

Masters and saints come with a technique that provides a way to experience that proof for ourselves.

When we have proof that there is something beyond this world, our fear subsides. Since death causes us the greatest fear, saints give us a way to conquer fear of death by proving to us that this life is not the end of our existence.

Masters of Sant Mat or Science of Spirituality feel compassion for the suffering humanity. They see people living in fear due to ignorance of the immortality of the soul that awaits each in the Beyond. In this connection, there is a verse by the great saint and mystic poet, Sant

Darshan Singh Ji Maharaj, which says: In this world, each is consumed with his own afflictions, Only Darshan shares the sorrows of his fellow man.

Sant Darshan Singh Ji Maharaj is expressing the heart of a spiritual Master. Most people are in turmoil due to their own sorrows. A Master is one who shares these sorrows of all humanity, but they do more than just share in everyone’s pain.

Masters want to solve that pain.

They do so by putting people in touch with a heavenly current of Light and Sound within so each soul can enter inner spiritual realms and find God. Masters teach a method of meditation on inner Light and Sound that brings peace to the soul by putting us in touch with the enchanting Music of God and the divine Light of God to help us soar into spiritual realms beyond and reunite our soul with God. The main purpose of meditation on the inner Light and Sound is to help people go within themselves to find inner spiritual regions. Its purpose is to give each person firsthand proof that there is a Beyond, that we are soul, and we will live beyond the demise of our body. Its goal is to give a firsthand experience of the Beyond to each person.

It is a nondenominational technique that has been practiced by people of all religions and faiths, cultures, and backgrounds, as a science.

One need not convert to any special religion to learn and practice it.

It is open to one and all, and has been offered as a free gift by the spiritual Masters who have come throughout the ages. It is up to us whether we wish to merely read about the realms Beyond, or experience them.

Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj is an internationally recognized spiritual leader and Master of Jyoti Meditation who affirms the transcendent oneness at the heart of all religions and mystic traditions, emphasizing ethical living and meditation as building blocks for achieving inner and outer peace. www.sos.org.

(To be concluded next week)