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PM to address Pakistan turns Pakistan turns UNGA on Saturday ‘newfront front line’ ‘new line’ ofwar waron onterror terror of

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Insurgency paves Deadlock over Deadlock over way for tourism separate Telangana, separate Telangana, in Kashmir protests protests hothot up up

Moody’s cuts Parsi community Parsi community ratings of top created modern created modern three USGhosh banks India: Amitav Ghosh India: Amitav

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Cricketers pay rich another tributes 2Gscam scamclaims claims another 2G to TigerMaran Pataudiquits minister: minister: Maran quits

$ #&$% # $( * !# $ % ! "& $ #&$% # $( * !# $ % ! "& % % # % # % $ % % $ % % % % ing a car accident permanently damaged vision in his right The former Nawab of Pataudi eye when he was only 20. He was a cricketing icon: was bestowed Arjuna Award See Tribute page 15. in 1964, India’s highest in sports, and Padma Shri in ’67. Said his compatriot Abbas Ali Baig: “It is a terrible moment indeed... He had the talent not only to play for the country but also to lead it to perfection.â€? Mohinder Amarnath said, “I Dr. Manmohan Singh arrives Sept 21 at the Frankfurt airport en route played my first Test under him. to New York to address the UN . He was a great cricketer and a Frankfurt: Prime Minister Man- nesday from Delhi, is accompanied real person to look up to. He mohan Singh has flown to New on the trip by his wife Gursharan Kaur used to show a lot of aggression York after a night halt here, to ad- and a high-level delegation. Dr Singh on the field.â€? dress the United Nations General spelt out his agenda, saying the UN Rahul Dravid remembered him New Delhi: Present and retired Sharmila Tagore, and three chillAssembly Saturday, where he will must be seen as an impartial, credible cricketers paid rich tributes to dren –Saif and Soha, Pataudi thus: “We never saw him playing seek reform and expansion of the and effective body. “I will stress the former Indian captain Mansur Ali played 46 Test matches for In- but heard so many stories about Union Textiles Minister Dayanidhi Maran is second DMK minister to exit Union Textiles Minister Dayanidhi Maran is second DMK minister to exit UN Security Council and raise need for early reform of this unique Khan Pataudi, who passed away him from the likes of Prasanna, Manmohan government inand the spectrum scam. dia between 1961 1975.scam. Manmohan government in the spectrum organization, particularly an expan- here Thursday after battling a concerns about theterror global eco53 percent of plots worldwide since 2004 involved jihadists, 53 percent of terror plots worldwide since 2004 involved jihadists, He became captain at age 21, Vishwanath and Chandrashekhar. like Tehrik-e-Taliban cadres, trained in Pakistan. Tehrik-e-Taliban andand LeTLeT cadres, trained in Pakistan. sion of the Security Council,â€? he said. lung infection nomic like slowdown and terrorism. He showed madecomplicity thecomplicity game popular with his While government in the scam. NewDelhi/Chennai: Delhi/Chennai: Unionand at age 70. He Union is surremained at the helm fortheshowed While the the government andand the in the scam. New Manmohan Continued on page 4 vived Dr Singh, who arrived here Wedpersonality and leadership skills. Congress party not comment Thursday’s events Textiles Dayanidhi byMinister hisMinister wife,Dayanidhi veteran actress 8 years. Quite consider party didadid notfeat comment on on Thursday’s turnturn of of events is is Textiles Ma-Ma-Congress #&$% # $( * !# $ % ! "& % ! % & # # ( % ) &% ' ( % # # $ #&$% # $( * !# $ % ! "& % ! % & # # ( % ) &% ' ( % # # $ resistance to the country’s govern-ranran to the country’s governToronto: Pakistan Toronto: Pakistan is is nownow the theresistance big political development, anlikely likely to impact both the shape of resigned Thursday followingthe the big political development, an to impact both the shape of resigned Thursday following # + # % ' % $% # ! & ( % $%& %$ # + # % ' % $% # ! & ( % $%& %$ ment, draconian imposition ment, the the draconian imposition of ofallegations new front in the war terror India’s new front in the war on on terror as itas itwants emboldened opposition describedimpending impending cabinet shufe allegations of Sensex involvement in theemboldened 2G scam: Opposition Chidambaram opposition described cabinet shufe andand deli-deliof involvement in the Sharia waging of war2G lawlaw andand the the waging of war become a new haven hashas become a new safesafe haven for for al- al-Sharia as “too lateâ€? soughtcately cately poised relations between 2G spectrum scam, becoming littlelittle too too lateâ€? andand sought poised relations between the the spectrum scam, becoming the theit asit “too crashes 704 points, out, Congress backs him against NATO forces in Afghanistan.second NATO forces in Afghanistan. Qaeda, Canadian media Qaeda, sayssays the the Canadian media a aagainst resignation of Home Minister P. Congress and the DMK. second DMK minister after A. resignation of Home Minister P. Congress and the DMK. DMK minister after A. worst in 2 years Delhi: 2Gmilitant scam has Raja Because ofThe these outďŹ ts Because of these militant outďŹ ts after country blacklisted dayday after the the country blacklisted the the New Chidambaram, who alleged scam continued on page Raja to exit cabinet. Chidambaram, who theythey alleged 2G 2G scam continued on page 4 4 to exit the the cabinet. New York: A senior Palestinian thehas Indian government again, Pakistan has become main Mumbai: A sell-off in stock marPakistan become “the“the main Pakistani Taliban started with-rocked Pakistani Taliban andand started withPalestine official says President Mahmoud time over a six-month-old note of staging terrorist plotskets around the world Thursday afstaging areaarea for forterrorist plots drawal from Afghanistan Tuesday. this drawal from Afghanistan Tuesday. President Abbas will formally ask the UN Sefected Indian equities as well with a finance that short around the world and - just despite around theministry world and -fell despite the the “The terror shifted,the “The warwar on on terror hashas shifted, Mahmoud curity Council to recognize Palesindicting Home Minister of P. OsaChiUnited States’ assassination of Osa-benchmark index plummeting 704 Abbas has United States’ assassination Pakistan is new its new front line,â€?of andand Pakistan is its front line,â€? tine as a full member of the UN on dambaram, sparking a war of words India’s Laden in Abbotabad - a newpoints - its worst fall in over two ma ma binbin Laden in Abbotabad - a new daily National Post. saidsaid thethe daily National Post. Friday, despite President Obama’s support years and broader markets under between the Congress and the opposisafe-haven for al-Qaeda.â€? “These events (blacklistingsafe-haven for al-Qaeda.â€? “These twotwo events (blacklisting threat to veto the move. that demanded his by ouster. Quoting a study by Newa firm bearish grip. US Federal ReQuoting a study the the New Pakistani Taliban of of thethe Pakistani Taliban andand the thetion Abbas believes the bid for UN Even asFoundation, theFoundation, BJP seized the opAmerica paperserve’s comments that there were the the paper start of withdrawal from Afghani-America start of withdrawal from Afghanimembership will not prevent serisignificant risks to the economic and sought immediate P.encapsulate Chidambaram as finance percent of terror plots New saidsaid 53 53 percent of the terror plots stan) encapsulate a shift, onlyportunity stan) a shift, notnot only billion), believes former chief believes chief sec-sec-with Israel. New Delhi: Delhi: TheThebillion), ousformer peace negotiations growth triggered off panic selling minister could have enforced resignation of Chidambaram, Prime worldwide since 2004 involvedvaluables since 2004 involved Canada, other for for Canada, butbut for for all all other na-na-worldwide retary of Kerala CP Nair. retary of Kerala CP Nair. valuables found found in in US officials say Obama told two leaders met Wednesday on the auction of the 2G spectrum had across the world. Manmohan Singh reassured jihadists trained in Pakistan, com-in equities jihadists trained in Pakistan, comtions front lines of the tions on on thethe front lines of the warwarMinister a report, Thursday, per per a report, Thursday, the the the secret cellars secret cellars of of As As he “stuck to his standâ€? according his home minister of his trust and theThe Abbas that Washington will sidelines of the General Assembly sensitive index (Sensex) ofbureaucrat thebureaucrat pared to six percent in Yemen andKerala’s pared to six percent in Yemen and terror. For a number of years, on on terror. For a number of years, former claims that former claims that the the bid if it session in New York. Kerala’s famous Sree famous Sree to an inter-ministerial note. veto the Palestinian Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE),... with Finance Pranab three percent in Minister Iraq. Pakistani three percent in Iraq. Pakistani ji- ji-Padmanabhaswamy those lines have been shiftingspoke those lines have been shifting estimated market value of the treamarket value treaPadmanabhaswamyestimated Abbas Continued on page 4 toofathe vote in UNSC. The 2G Scam Continued on page 4 Mukherjee, India’s Sensex Continued on page 4 comes also in the US. hadi groups have directed 44 perhadi groups have directed 44 persoutheast, from Afghanistan to southeast, from Afghanistan to sures unearthed from temple unearthed from the the temple Templein inThiruThiru-sures Temple Only ďŹ ve of the six secret cellars of Padmanabcellars of Padmanabof the terror plots since then,v a nv a n tahnat ph ua pr aum centcent of the terror plots since then, Pakistan,â€? paper said. Pakistan,â€? thethe paper said. makes it the richest temple in theOnly ďŹ ve of the six secret it the richest temple in the r a mmakes haswamy Temple have been opened, yielding haswamy Temple have been opened, yielding Look out for our Special Edition to be published in Media Partnership with Association of Indians in America, according to the paper. # & # &#% * # ! $! #&$% to the paper. # & # &#% * # ! $! #&$% It #&$% # $( * !# $ % ! "& % said Tehrik-e-Taliban It #&$% # $( * !# $ % ! "& % said the the Tehrik-e-Taliban is isaccording The South Asian Times world. could worth could be be worth Rs Rsworld. Gold idols, ornaments and other valuables. Gold idols, ornaments and other valuables. & % % ' % & % % ' % Excellence In Journalism AIA-NY, the 24th Annual Diwali Festival South Street Seaport in Kerala Manhattan oncontinued Oct on 2, page 2011. War on terror continued on page War on * terror continued on page 4 at45 ' # $ ' $% # $ % ! %&# very dangerous as“stated itscelebrating “stated goalâ€? is # * $ % ! %&# very dangerous as ' $% # its goalâ€? is # treasure on page Kerala treasure continued 4 4 5 ' # $ lakh crore ($100 lakh crore ($100

Rebuffing Obama, Palestine to seek UN membership

Keralatemple temple Kerala treasurecould couldbe be treasure worth$100 $100billion billion worth

- The South Asian Times

Tristate Community TheSouthAsianTimes.info

September 24-30, 2011

AIA’s sparkling Diwali festival on Oct 2 New York: Spectacular fireworks will light up the Manhattan skyline Oct 2 as the 24th Annual Deepavali Festival is organized by The Association of Indians in America (AIA) at South Street Seaport in Manhattan. Thousands of people are expected to descend there to enjoy, besides the fireworks sponsored by Air India, live performances-Classical and Bollywood— shopping extravaganza, children’s fun filled activities, free health fair, corporate fair and mehndi and bridal makeup, according to Ranju Batra, President of AIA-NY chapter. Mouthwatering dishes at the multiple Indian cuisine stalls will be as usual a must grab. Many lawmakers and dignitaries as well as Indian community leaders are expected to grace the occasion. Pulse-diagnosis legend Vaida Pankaj Naram is confirmed to attend. Ramayan will be presented by Swami Satya Narayan Charakji. Giving live entertainment performances will be Samar Sidhu and 3 Mix. The AIA Deepavali festival showcases the colors, tastes, arts and culture of India for the community at large not just Indian Americans. It has become a key calendar event in New York City besides the India Day Parade, also in Manhattan, around India’s Independence Day.

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Ranju Batra, President of Association of Indians in America-NY, organizer of the annual Deepavali Festival at South Street Seaport in Manhattan. Diwali is a festival shared by all of the South Asian communities. Diwali this year falls on October 26, but AIA Diwali mela is scheduled earlier when the weather is still good for an outdoor event of this scale.

NYC plans to open 50 new middle schools New York: In his first policy address since becoming schools chancellor in April, Dennis M. Walcott announced on Tuesday that New York would open 50 new middle schools in the next two years, many in the city’s poorest neighborhoods. The city will also apply for about $30 million in federal money to replace teachers and leadership, while keeping students in place, at five struggling schools for each of the next two years, the chancellor said. While the plan, outlined in a speech at the Kimmell Center of New York University, got a warm welcome from educators in the audience, it drew a more guarded response from others, including the president of the teachers’ union, Michael Mulgrew, who said Walcott was not going far enough. “We need a strategy that focuses on instruction and lowering class size,” Mulgrew said. “Rearranging the deck chairs isn’t going to do it.” In his speech, Walcott said he planned to follow the federal “turnaround” model to transform some troubled schools, meaning at least half of a school’s staff members would be reassigned. That approach “will foster new possibilities in teacher compensation,” he

NYC Schools Chancellor Dennis M. Walcott with Mayor Bloomberg in the background. said, hinting at possible bonus pay for teachers who accept more difficult assignments. It was unclear how many of the 50 new schools would be charter schools, which are publicly financed but independently operated, and how many would be traditional schools. But while the chancellor praised some district-run schools, his plan to improve middle school performance called largely for using techniques borrowed from the city’s successful charters, including emphases on discipline and routines and on preparing all students for college. There are about 400 schools in the city serving grades 6 through 8; 59 of those are charters.

Multi-faith prayers for peace in post-9/11 world

Kamlesh Mehta, Chairman & Publisher of The South Asian Times, was recognized by Hicksville Chamber of Commerce for his contributions to Hicksville business community. Seen in the photo: Kamlesh Mehta receiving President’s Choice Award 2011 from Lionel Chitty, President, Hicksville Chambers of Commerce at annual gala event in Westbury, Long Island.

Hindu, Jain and Sikh representatives joined their brethren from Christian, Jew, Muslim and other faith groups at the ‘Inter-religious Service for Peace in a Post-9/11 World’ on Sept 21, the UN International Day of Peace, at Westbury Friends Meeting House, on Long Island. The graceful, uplifting service was coordinated by Arvind Vora, chairman of Long Island Multi-Faith Forum, which co-organized it with Long Island Council of Churches and Westbury Friends Meeting, a Quakers group. (Photo: Parveen Chopra)

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Community TheSouthAsianTimes.info TheS outhAsianTimes.in nfo

September 24 4-3 30, 0, 2 2011 011

V Visited isited b by yH Headley, eadley, C Chabad habad H House ouse causes concern Pushkar ca auses co oncern in n Pu shka ar

By Prakash Bhandar SAT mes

Chabad House in Pushkar operates from a hotel.

Push hkar (Rajasthan): The Ch habad Pushkar Chabad House,, set up by the Israelis in the holy o Pushkar near Ajmer town of Ajmer,, is causingg con con-mong local people who feel it could c cern am among get of the terrorists like the Cha becomee a tar target Cha-Hoouse did in Mumbai. bad House as come to light that David Hea adley, It ha has Headley, kistan born US citizen who wa as in the Pak Pakistan was in-me to volvedd in the Mumbai attacks, had com come Pushkaar in Sept 2008 and stayed at Hotel H Pushkar abad. Oasis, bang opposite the Pushkar Ch Chabad. survveyed the town and studied the aactivictiviHe surveyed ged in i the ties at Chabad. Headley is char charged targets for Lashkar -e-T Taiba, US forr scouting targets Lashkar-e-Taiba, th terror tterrror group behind b hi d India’s IIndia’ di ’s 26-1 26 11. 1 the 26-11. Intellligence reports confirm that HedHedIntelligence ley’s visit vis it was w as aimed aimed to to plan plan an an attack attack ley’s on thee Chabad on a Friday when a few hundreed Jews on a visit to Pushkar would w hundred as s emble for for Sabath. S abath. Killing K illing of of so s o many many assemble J ew s would w ould have have attracted attracted international international Jews attenti on. attention. ³+HDDGOH\ FDPH ZLWK D VSHFL¿F SXUSRRVH WR ³+HDGOH\ FDPH ZLWK D VSHFL¿F SXUSRVH WR

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While noting that Ind dia has been a non-per rIndia non-perm anent m ember ooff tthe he U NS ecurity C ouncil manent member UN Security Council ssince ince JJanuary anuary tthis his yyear ear aafter fter a ggap ap ooff 119 9 yyears, ears, hhee ppointed ointed oout ut tthat hat tthe he ccountry’s ountry’s eefforts fforts hhad ad enriched the council’ council’ss deliberations and en en-hhanced anced iits ts eeffectiveness. ffectiveness. P ushing ffor or eeffective ffective Pushing m easures ffor or gglobal lobal eeconomic conomic rrecovery ecovery aand nd measures adoption of a comprehe ensive anti-terror con comprehensive con-vention are also high onn his agenda. agenda The PM is also sch heduled to meet Japa scheduled Japa-nese Prime Minister Y ooshihiko Noda, Ira Yoshihiko Ira-nian President Mahmo oud Ahmadinejad and Mahmoud Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapkasa. His high-level delegati ion include delegation includess External Af ffairs f Minister S M Krishna K Affairs and National hankar Menon. Security Adviser Shivs Shivshankar

C ongress president president S onia G andhi w as aalso lso Congress Sonia Gandhi was bbriefed riefed oonn tthe he m atter aand nd w as eexpected xpected tto o ttake ake matter was iitt uupp w hen tthe he pprime rime m inister rreturns eturns hhere ere when minister Monda ay, after attending the UN Genera al As Monday, General As-sembly y. In a fresh twist to the second ge enerasembly. generation (2G G) spectrum case, a note to the Prime P (2G) 0 LQLVWHUœV 2 I¿FH IIURP URP WWKH KH ¿ QDQFH P LQLVWU\ 0LQLVWHUœV 2I¿FH ¿QDQFH PLQLVWU\ iinn M arch ssaid aid tthe he aairwaves irwaves ccould ould hhave ave bbeen een March aauctioned uctioned iin n 22008 008 iiff C hidambaram, tthen hen tthe he Chidambaram, ¿QDQFH H PLQLVWHU KDG ³VWXFN WR KLV VWDQG´´ ¿QDQFH PLQLVWHU KDG ³VWXFN WR KLV VWDQG´ ,Q WKKH QRWH WKH ¿QDQFH PLQLVWU\ VD\V &KL,Q WKH QRWH WKH ¿QDQFH PLQLVWU\ VD\V &KLdambarram, one of the government’ dambaram, government’ss most KLJK SUUR¿OH PLQLVWHUV FRXOG KDYH SUHYHHQWHG KLJK SUR¿OH PLQLVWHUV FRXOG KDYH SUHYHQWHG spectruum from being given away at th hrowspectrum throwp by insisting on its auc tioon — away prices auction w implyinng that presumptive losses worth implying

see hhow see ow tthe he C Chabad habad aatt P Pushkar ushkar ccould ould bbee ttargeted argeted aass tthere here iiss aalways lways a llarge arge ppresence resence ooff the the JJews ews here,� here,� ssaid aid C Chandra handra S Shekhar, hekhar, oowner wner of of Bhagwati Bhagwati G uest H ouse tthat hat hhas as Guest House been rented to Chab bad. The The ddisclosure isclosure Chabad. aabout bout H Headley’s eadley’s vvisit isit hhas as sseen een P Pushkar ushkar hotel owners take alll precautions before rrenting enting oout ut rrooms ooms ttoo ttourists. ourists. C Chabad habad H ouse is is where where JJews ews assemble assemble aand nd sstay tay House aand nd ooffer ffer pprayers. rayers. T hese ccenters enters aare re rrun un aatt These international level by the Jews to propa propa-ggate ate JJudaism. udaism. A llarge arge nnumber umber ooff IIsraeli sraeli tourists come to Push Pushkar hkar and on any giv giv-eenn dday ay m ore tthan han 3300-400 00-400 ccould ould bbee sseen een more rroaming oaming iinn tthe he bbylanes ylanes ooff P ushkar. Pushkar. More than 40 percent percennt of the tourists that come to Pushkar are Israeli I Jews and they come round the year an nd stay here for a few and days to a few months. The lar ge number of large Israeli tourists help thee local economy but they are not big spende ers and stay in cheap spenders hotels or private accom mmodations that cost accommodations as low as Rs 300 per day. daay.

thousands ooff ccrores thousands rores ccould ould hhave ave tthus hus bbeen een avoided.The avoided. The nnote, ote, w which hich w was as aapparently pparently sshown hown to to Mukherjee Mukherjee aand nd aaccessed ccessed bby y aan n aapplication pplication uunder nder tthe he R ight tto o IInformation nformation Right Act, was A ct, w as pprepared repared bbyy a ddeputy eputy ssecretary ecretary iin n WWKH KH ¿ ¿QDQFH QDQFH P PLQLVWU\ LQLVWU\ DDQG QG VVHQW HQW WWR R WWKH KH 3 3ULPH ULPH 0LQLVWHUœV 0 LQLVWHU œV 2 2I¿FH I¿FH 0 0DUFK DUFK ³³7KLV 7KLV FFOHDUO\ OHDUO\ P.. C Chidambaram pproves roves tthe he rrole ole ooff P hidambaram iin n tthe he 22G G Hee iiss rresponsible,� BJP Murli sscam. cam. H esponsible,� B JP lleader eader M urli 0DQRKDU -RVKL VDLG ³+H VKRXOG UHVLJQ KLP0DQRKDU -RVKL VDLG ³+ +H VKRXOG UHVLJQ J KLPsself elf oorr hhee sshould hould bbee ddismissed. ismissed. I ddemand emand iitt Hee ssought Central sstrongly.� trongly.� H ought a pprobe robe bbyy tthe he C entral Investigation.. Bureau of Investigation Tamil Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M J. Jayalalithaa echoed the demand andd said in Chennai that the prime ministe ministerr shou should uld axe Chidambaram if he did not resign on his h own.

Kerrala temple’s vau Kerala vault ult B not n to be opened d now now: w: Supreme Cou Court urt rala’s New Delhi: Opening vault B of Ker Kerala’s Sree Padmanabhaswamy Paadmanabhaswamy temple will be con con-sideredd only after the around Rs.1 lakh crore c worth of o treasure unearthed from the other o ¿YH FKDDPEHUV LV G WKH ¿YH FKDPEHUV LV SURSHUO\ SURSHUO\ GRFXPHQWHG GRFXPHQWHG WKH Suprem me Court said Thursday Supreme Thursday.. 7KH WLRQ FDWHJRULVDW LRQQ VH 7KH ³GRFXPHQWD ³GRFXPHQWDWLRQ FDWHJRULVDWLRQ VH-curity ppreservation n and conservat ion� of o the curity,, preservatio conservation� WUHDVXUH H IRXQG V PX XVW EH WUHDVXUH IRXQG IURP IURP ¿YH ¿YH FKDPEHU FKDPEHUV PXVW EH substan ntially completed, said the apex court c substantially bench of o Justice R.V V. Raveendran and Jus R.V. Jus-tice A.K K. Patnaik. A.K. The security of the temple will be pro pro-vided by b the Kerala government, whichh will also bea ar its cost, cost the court said. said The cou urt di bear court di-rectionss were based on its examina tion of o the examination interim m report of the expert commi ttee which w committee it constituted consttituted in July and other additiona al in additional in-formati ion submitted this month. formation The court c also examined a report furni ished furnished by the Kerala K government and its assur rance assurance to put in i place a multi-layered securityy sys sys-mannner. tem forr the temple in a time-bound manner.

India’s from India’’s Sensex fr om page 1 The Bombay The ssensitive ensitive iindex ndex ((Sensex) Sensex) ooff tthe he B ombay Stock Exchange which Stock E xchange ((BSE), BSE), w hich oopened pened iin n tthe he rred ed DW DW SSRLQWV RLQWV IIHOO HOO SSHUFHQW HUFHQW WWR R FFORVH ORVH DW WR WKH WKH SUHY SUHYLRXV DW SRLQWV FRPSDUHG WR YLRXV FORVH DW DW W SRLQWV 7KH VFULS VFULS 6 3 6 3 CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exch Exchange N hange also also ffell ell ssharply harply aand nd cclosed losed 2209.6 09.6 ppoints oints oorr 44.08 .08 SHUFHQW GRZQ DW SRLQWV 6HOOLQJ SUHVSHUFHQW GRZQ DW SRLQWV 6HOOLQJ SUHVsure was broader waas across the board as all the bro oader markets well markets aass w ell aass ssectoral ectoral iindices ndices cclosed losed ddeep eep in the red. Realty, capital r Realty y, metals, oil and gas, ca apital goods BSE goods aand nd bbanking anking iindices ndices ooff tthe he B SE cclosed losed betweenn 4-6 percent. Along with falling mar marrket, rup rupee ex-pee weakening to two-year lows is i ex SHFWHG WR DGG XS WR WKH LQÀDWLRQDU\ ¿JXUHV SXWSHFWHG WR W DGG XS WR WKH LQÀDWLRQDU\ ¿JXUHVV SXWting fur further economy. rther pressure on the Indian econ nomy.

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Tristate Community TheSouthAsianTimes.info

September 24-30, 2011

Indian-Americans played key role in shaping Indo-US ties: Nirupama Rao Washington, DC: Indian Ambassador to the US Nirupama Rao has lauded Indian-Americans, saying they played a key role in shaping the strategic partnership between the world's two leading democracies. "You have contributed and played a significant role in crafting US-India partnership; strategic partnership between the world's two leading democracies; this defining relationship that has the capability to impact the destiny of the 21st century," she said. Rao was addressing the Indian-American community of Washington DC Metropolitan who had organized a welcome reception for her. "I particularly recall your role in the successful realization of India-US civil nuclear agreement and the

Ambassador Nirupama Rao speaking at welcome function organized by the Indian American Community, Washington DC, September 18, 2011 zeal and the enthusiasm with which you supported it - the passage of the deal in the United States Congress," Rao said. "Your accomplishments and achievements as a community has caught the imagination of this country... this is because of the reputation

you have established, discipline, diligence and determination to succeed," she said, urging the community to work towards even bigger and better ties between the two countries. "You can play a crucial role in interpreting India's priorities to your American brethren. You can be that bridge of understating and friendship between India and the United States," Rao said. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Alyssa Ayres applauded the role played by the IndianAmerican community in strengthening the relationship between the two countries. The State Department is working on initiatives to realize the full potential of the Indian-American community.

Embassy of India in Washington, DC hosted Hindi Diwas celebrations on September 14. Seen here poetry recitation and songs by children.

South Asian Americans seek return to diversity ideals Washington, DC: Documenting the experiences of South Asian Americans in the decade after the 9/11 terror attacks, a community organization has suggested steps to ensure American ideals of diversity, inclusion and equality. Looking back at the past decade, South Asian Americans Leading Together ( SAALT), in a report entitled, Community Resilience recounts the experiences of South Asians who suffered loss as a result of the Sep 11, 2001 tragedy as well as examples of best practices around community collaborations. The report, complemented with pictures and stories, takes note of backlash suffered by South Asian communities living in the US; bias-based bullying at schools; workplace discrimination; racial and religious profiling; and, Islamophobia and attacks on faith. In the face of these challenges, the report also presents the stories of success, resistance and resilience of individuals, organizations and communities. "Over the past decade, South Asian,

5

Muslim, Sikh and Arab, Muslim, Sikh and Arab American organizations have been instrumental in developing resources, creating safe spaces for those affected by post 9/11 backlash, shifting the public conversation, and advocating with government agencies and policymakers," said SAALT's Executive Director, Deepa Iyer. "As we look ahead, we must continue to build strong partnerships to create an America that belongs to all of us," she said noting the impact of the post 9/11 backlash continues today. Many South Asian, especially those of Sikh and Muslim faiths, endured bigotry and harassment at workplaces, schools, and at airports after 9/11, according to the report. Still others became ensnared in neverending government investigations that scrutinized their personal and professional lives for any traces of terrorist activity or affiliations. Several were detained and deported in connection to immigration and national security investigations, it said.

24 years of prison term for Rajaratnam? New York: Federal prosecutors want to send the convicted hedge fund chief Raj Rajaratnam to prison for as long as 24 years, which would be the longest insider trading sentence in history. How a judge rules next week on Rajaratnam’s punishment is being seen in legal circles as a litmus test of whether the crime of insider trading justifies such a long prison term says a Bloomberg News report. In May, a jury convicted Rajaratnam, the head of the hedge fund the Galleon Group, of 14 counts of securities fraud and conspiracy. Prosecutors, calling him “the modern face of illegal insider trading,” placed him at the center of a vast insider trading ring, accusing him of using a global network of tipsters to gain about $64 million from illegal stock trading. For Rajaratnam, the government has requested a sentence from 19 years and seven months to 24 years and five months, based on federal sentencing guidelines. The

Jury convicted Raj Rajaratnam of 14 counts of securities fraud and conspiracy government said he did not deserve leniency because he was a “fundamentally deceptive and dishonest person” who had lied under oath in a deposition and had tried to cover up his crimes. If Judge Richard J. Holwell of the Federal District Court in Manhattan issues such a sentence on Sept. 27, it will be the longest prison term ever for an insider trading crime. Rajaratnam’s lawyers call the proposed sentence

“grotesquely severe” and argue that “the advisory guidelines severely overstate the seriousness of the instant offenses, and would expose Rajaratnam to a sentence grossly out of proportion to the sentences imposed on other insider trading defendants.” They point out that the sentence is not only disproportionate to the sentences imposed in other insider trading cases, but also greater than the average federal sentence for murder (23 years), kidnapping (14 years) or sexual abuse (9 years), according to the United States Sentencing Commission. His lawyers also criticize prosecutors for comparing Rajaratnam’s crimes to the accounting fraud committed by Ebbers of WorldCom and the Ponzi scheme run by Bernard L. Madoff. Those crimes “ruined the lives and livelihoods of scores of victims,” while Rajaratnam’s insider trading offenses victimized no one, his lawyers said.

6

Tristate Community

September 24-30, 2011

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Prachi Makkar selected by National Honor Society New York: Prachi Makkar, 15, has been selected for National Honor Society (NHS) for her outstanding academic performance. In addition to scholastic achievements NHS requires candidates to demonstrate three additional criteria: service, leadership and character. NHS is a prestigious organization recognized by colleges and universities throughout USA. US born Prachi plays harmonium and violin and can sing in four languages; Sanskrit, Hindi, Punjabi and English. In March 2007 Prachi was selected to attend Junior National Youth Leadership Conference in Washington D.C. for outstanding 6th & 7th Graders organized by Congressional Youth Leadership Council. Prachi along with her younger brother Surya is first to recite a Hindu Sanskrit prayer, Indian national song Vande Matram, Sikh Shabad Kirtan recital Vahe Guru and US national anthem while playing harmonium & tabla on American TV NJN12 in Aug 2007. Both are winner of various Hindi poetry competitions, devotional singing competitions, essay, posters, educational competi-

Prachi Makkar, a multi-talented youngster tions organized by their school and various organizations in Tri State area. In 2008 both received "True Ambassador of India" award

from The Indian Panorama News Paper for their tremendous love for music and adherence to the pristine culture of India. Prachi’s video with her request to President to “Fight Poverty & Hunger” was shown to 2,800 students during President Obama’s swearing ceremony in Jan. 2009. Prachi has been an exceptionally outstanding meritorious student at Springfield Schools in New Jersey with High Honor Rolls in every subject. In June 2009 she got President Obama’s Outstanding Academic Excellence Award. This award is given to students for achieving more than 95 GPA in 6th, 7th & 8th grade. In 2009 she was selected for admission in Academy of Performing Arts of Union County in New Jersey for the academic year 2009-2013 by competing against more than 2,000 students for 50 seats. She is doing the 4 year course in Acting, Dancing & Stage Management while pursuing her regular high school studies in the Academy. In Jan 2010 Prachi and Surya again became the first in America to recite bhajans for two hours non stop while playing harmonium and tabla at Shirdi Sai Cultural and

Children's Hope to host Royal India Gala on October 9 Falu and the Dancers of Mystic India to perform New York: Children's Hope India will be hosting "The Royal Gala" on Sunday, October 9, 2011, at Pier Sixty in Manhattan. Pier Sixty, the fabulous space on the water in Chelsea, will be transformed into a royal palace for entertainment; bidding will be invited on luxury trips and palace stays in India. People will get to savor a feast of regional dishes made for the maharajas of India. Over 500 guests are expected at this fun-filled evening including Ambassador Prabhu Dayal, the Consul General of India and Mrs. Chandini Dayal. The emcee for

Urmi Basu will receive The Making a Difference Award

the evening is popular television personality Tinku Jain. Guests will be treated to a live performance by noted singer Falu, and a magical dance presentation of 'Mystic India'. Royal Gala CHI recognizes top leaders for their exemplary leadership, philanthropy and support of social causes with the Lotus Award. This year's honorees are Dr. Melvin and Daryl Rand, and Dr. Samin K. Sharma. Dr. Melvin Rand is a distinguished forensic and clinical psychologist who has practiced in the State of New Jersey since 1968.Daryl Rand is the founder and president of HarrisonRand Advertising and incorporates three decades of active volunteerism on boards of several non-profits, including CHI. Dr. Samin K. Sharma is Director of Interventional Cardiology and Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at Mount Sinai Hospital. He is Co-Director of the Zena and Michael A. Wiener Cardiovascular Institute and a Professor of Medicine. The Making a Difference Award is being presented to Urmi Basu,

Cardiologist Dr Samin Sharma will receive Lotus Award Founder of New Light Foundation for her ground-breaking work with the children of sex workers in Kolkata. The proceeds from the event will benefit Children's Hope India's health and educational programs. Children's Hope India is a volunteer organization of Indian women professionals in New York that has been raising funds for children's health and education since 1992. They support over 20 projects across several major cities in India reaching out to over 20,000 children per year.

Shining Stars Community Center in Iselin, New Jersey. Since 2009 both are performing Maa Durga Chowki independently in New Jersey and adjoining areas in private homes. Both of them received Excellence in Gurmat Sangeet Award and First Prize for Shabad Kirtan in May 2010 from Guru Nanak Foundation of America. In Sep 2010 Prachi received 3rd prize in an Adult Singing Competition organized by JusPunjabi TV. In Jan. 2011 Prachi & Surya won the first prize in Republic Day Video contest held for all 50 states of America organized by Indian American Muslim Council for their video Sare Jahan Se Accha Hindustan Hamara. On top of this Prachi & Surya's bhajan "Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram" became No. 4 on You Tube chart in Aug. 2011 with over 165,000 views. Prachi is planning to join an ivy league college for her Masters in Law and Business Administration in the future while perusing her singing and acting also.

Modern and contemporary South Asian Art totals $2.3 million at Sotheby’s New York: Sotheby’s week of Asian Art sales concluded with Modern and Contemporary South Asian Art which brought $2,262,000 (est. $2.6/3.8 million). This brings the combined total for the weeks three sales to $31,447,375. The auction was led by the cover lot Eglise by SH Raza. The painting comes from an important period in the artist’s work and met expectations when it sold for $362,500 (est. $300/500,000). This was one of a number of strong prices for modern paintings with works by Jehangir Sabavala, Jagdish Swaminathan, and M.F. Husain all selling well. A further highlight was Untitled (Himalayan Beauty) by Raja Ravi Varma which had passed though the family collection of the artist’s German printing technician. The magnificent painting sold well above the estimate for $266,500 (est. $100/150,000). Priyanka Mathew, Head of the Modern and Contemporary South Asian Art sale commented: “We are pleased with a number of the prices in the sale. Our cover lot by SH Raza met expectations and paintings with

strong provenance performed well. Untitled (Himalayan Beauty) by Raja Ravi Varma comfortably exceeded the high estimate to sell for $266,500 and Jehangir Sabavala’s The Cobweb Cloud also fetched $266,500. Of the MF Husain works that found buyers, many exceeded the high estimate, particularly works that have not appeared on the market recently. Overall, our total of $2.3 million was a solid result in a market that remains price sensitive.” Anu Ghosh-Mazumdar, Head of the Indian Art Department at Sotheby’s New York continued: “We were also pleased with the performance of the Indian Miniatures which included a wide range of works from a variety of Rajput and Pahari schools. Here too, works with distinguished provenance and in good condition were actively sought after by collectors from around the world. The highlight of this part of the sale was Krishna and the Cow from the Sirmur School circa 1810 which sold for $56,250 to an anonymous buyer after it was pursued by a number of bidders.”

National Community TheSouthAsianTimes.info

7

September 24-30, 2011

Will relocate to India by October: Madhuri Dixit New York: Bollywood diva Madhuri Dixit Nene, who recently announced that she is relocating to India says she will return to Mumbai by October. After living in the US for more than a decade, the 44-year-old actress is looking forward to returning India. "Excited! Should be back in Mumbai by middle of October," she wrote on Twitter. Madhuri, who spent two decades in the Hindi film industry establishing herself as one of the leading actresses and most accomplished dancers, shifted to the US after tying the knot with Denverbased cardiovascular surgeon Shriram Madhav Nene in 1999. They have two sons Arin and

The Bollywood diva is returning to India with husband Dr.Sriram Nene and children, Arin and Ryaan

GOPIO seeks relief on US penalties on foreign accounts Washington, DC: A leading organization of people of Indian origin has sought help from a leading lawmaker in getting relief on penalties under US tax rules on non disclosure of foreign accounts. Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) Chairman Inder Singh met with Howard Berman, top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, seeking his help for relief on penalties under Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR) and Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Initiative (OVDI) schemes. Singh told Berman that the letters sent to President Barack Obama and US tax authorities did not receive any positive response from the Internal Revenue Service Commissioner. Berman, according to a GOPIO release, assured that he would have his staff look into various situations and extend help where possible and practical.

Singh suggested to Berman that the current limit to report about someone having a foreign bank account be raised from $10,000 to $25,000 taking into account the current cost of living index. He also suggested that the penalties be waived if less than $25,000 has been sent abroad for supporting parents or members of the extended family or money in foreign banks was from inheritance received before migrating to the United States. Singh also sought exemption for the temporary workers, such as H1B and L1 visa holders as they were never told about compliance with such laws while taking up jobs in the US. Even if a penalty were to be imposed, it should be on the income rather than the highest balance from 2003 to 2010, he said. "After all, it was not money laundering but genuine transfer of money for buying property, for investment or children's education."

Reserve Bank of India relaxes rules for NRI remittances By Ashok Motwani New Delhi: After the Reserve Bank Of India (RBI) amended requisite law discussed at Pravasi Bharatiya Divas event for purchasing immovable assets / properties in India, here is further good news. RBI has doubled the amount a resident in India can transfer to a person resident outside India as gift, to $50,000 during a financial year. Also it has decided that individuals resident in India may be permitted to include non-resident close relative(s) as a joint holder(s) in their resident bank accounts on ‘former or survivor’ basis. However, such non- resident Indian close relatives

shall not be eligible to operate the account during the life time of the resident account holder. NRIs may be permitted to open NRE / FCNR(B) account with their resident close relative on ‘former or survivor’ basis. The resident close relative shall be eligible to operate the account as a Power of Attorney holder in accordance with extant instructions during the life time of the NRI/ PIO account holder. Indians will be able to lend up to $2 lakh in rupee in a fiscal to NRIs and PIOs, who are their close relatives, for personal purpose or business activities other than agriculture, real estate or relending business.

Ryaan. Madhuri made her acting comeback with the 2007 film Aaja Nachle. The actress is currently working with chef Sanjeev Kapoor for the Food Food channel. She also appeared as one of the judges in reality dance show Jhalak Dikhla Ja this year. In a media interview Madhuri said her husband has a few options in Mumbai that he wants to explore. "I think this was going to happen one day anyway...it's preordained. We are all very excited, the kids especially," she said. Madhuri quit Bollywood when she was at the top of her game, a shockingly unconventional move

in an industry where stars hang around much after their time is up. One of her biggest hits, Dil To Pagal Hai released in 1997. The same year, her performance in Mrityudand won her critical acclaim. Yet, just a year-and-ahalf later, she gave it all up for a quiet married life. Madhuri said she has begun looking for a school for Arin, a grade III student and Ryan, who is in grade 1. Dr Nene is also in touch with his friends in the medical field and some top-notch hospitals in the city. "Everything is changing rapidly in India. It's a land of opportunities. There is so much to do there. So we thought this is the right time."

Shwetak Patel recipient of 2011 MacArthur Fellows Chicago: The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation named 22 new MacArthur Fellows for 2011, including 29-year-old Indian American Shwetak Patel. The recipients will each receive $500,000 in no-strings-attached “genius grant” over the next five years. MacArthur Fellowships come without stipulations or reporting requirements and offer Fellows unprecedented freedom and opportunity to reflect, create, and explore. Patel is a computer scientist who has invented a series of sensor technology systems for home environments with the goal of saving energy and improving daily life through a broad range of applications. Much of his work to date has focused on the development of low-cost and easy-to-deploy devices that can detect and measure household energy consumption without an elaborate network of expensive instruments. To allow residents to track their energy usage down to the level of individual appliances and fixtures, Patel’s distinctive approach leverages existing infrastructure — such as gas lines, electrical wiring, plumbing, and ventilation ducts —

and requires only a minimal number of small, wirelessly connected sensors attached to the central hookup of each of these utility sources. When coupled with a machine learning algorithm that analyzes patterns of activity and the signature noise produced by each appliance, the sensors enable users to measure and disaggregate their energy and water consumption and to detect inefficiencies more effectively. In addition to the resource conservation applications of his sensor systems, Patel is also exploring their potential for home security or elder care, as they serve the related function of sensing human activity and monitoring movement throughout a building’s rooms. While envisioning cutting-edge new tools to address pressing social challenges and to make the buildings we live in more responsive to our needs, Patel devises elegant, simple solutions that dramatically reduce the cost of implementation. Patel received a B.S. (2003) and a Ph.D. (2008) from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Since 2008, he has been an assistant professor in the Departments of Computer

Businessman arrested for $2.4 Million investment fraud scheme Fresno, CA: Janamjot Singh Sodhi, aka Jimmy Singh, 35, was arrested on an outstanding warrant issued on Sept. 13, 2011, for an investment fraud scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner. According to the complaint, beginning in April 2010 and continuing until his arrest, Sodhi, former owner of Elite Financial Inc., enticed investors into giving him money for investment opportunities but used the monies to pay off previous investors and for his own personal use. Since 2005, Sodhi’s license to sell investments had been revoked, and in January 2009, the state of California issued a cease and desist order against him and Elite Financial from selling securities to investors. It is alleged that Sodhi defrauded investors of $2.4 million.

Computer scientist Shwetak Patel’s work focuses on making low-cost, easy to deploy devices to measure household energy consumption Science and Engineering and Electrical Engineering at the University of Washington. The unusual level of independence afforded to Fellows underscores the spirit of freedom intrinsic to creative endeavors. The work of MacArthur Fellows knows neither boundaries nor the constraints of age, place, and endeavor. “This has been a year of great change and extraordinary challenge, and we are once again reminded of the potential individuals have to make a difference in the world and shape our future,” said Robert Gallucci, President of the MacArthur Foundation. “The MacArthur Fellows exemplify how individual creativity and talent can spark new insights and ideas in every imaginable field of human endeavor.”

JOB OPPORTUNITY Company: Lotus Exim International, Inc. Industry: Leading distributors of Natural Stone, Marble and Granite Position Offered: Inside and Outside Sales Profile: Build Sales and Distribution network, create market base and service existing clients. Requirements: Service oriented people with proven track record and strong communication and people skills. Industry experience a plus. Travel: Intensive traveling in Tri-state area Rewards: Competitive salary, Performance Bonus and benefits package Right opportunity for fresh graduates: Willing to sponsor OPT Email resumes to hrdept@lotusexim.com or FAX to 201-475-2817. Visit us at www.lotusexim.com

8

National Community

September 24-30, 2011

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Dr Gopinathan Nair receives "Dharma Award" from AAPNA New York: Dr. Gopinathan Nair, Founding Chairman and Managing Director of Santhigram Group of Companies and President of Santhigram USA was presented "Dharma Award" by Association of Ayurvedic Professionals of North America (AAPNA) during its 3rd international conference held at Hilton Hotel, Boston, MA on August 14, 2011. The award was conferred by the guest of honor, Yogi Shri Amritji, of Amrit Yoga Institute in the presence of over 350 Ayurvedic professionals from 35 countries. The prestigious international award was given to Dr. Gopinathan Nair, in recognition for his excellence in promoting awareness of Ayurveda across the globe. AAPNA is an international organization of repute, which is tirelessly working to spread knowledge of Ayurveda worldwide, the ageold system of medicine. AAPNA is currently

Santhigram Group's Dr. Gopinathan Nair, being conferred ”Dharma Award” from AAPNA by the guest of honor, Yogi Shri Amritji, of Amrit Yoga Institute

headed by the renowned Ayurvedic physician Dr. Shekhar Annambhotla. Dr. Gopinathan is already the recipient of many prestigious awards for his outstanding contribution in propagating worldwide, the age-old, side-effect-free Kerala Ayurvedic and Panchakarma treatments. Over the years, his efforts have helped hundreds of people suffering from various chronic ailments worldwide. Dr Gopinathan was instrumental in establishing three Ayurvedic Hospitals in Delhi, India, "Santhigram Kerala Ayurvedic Hospital" ( Safdarjung Enclave in South Delhi, Paschim Vihar in West Delhi and Dwarka in South-West Delhi). These established facilities provide state of the art Ayurvedic Treatments to local and international patients, suffering from various chronic ailments since the past 15 years. Under his leadership these centers have consistently

Memorial for first 9/11 backlash murder victim held Washington, DC: Ten years ago, on September 15,2001, Balbir Singh Sodhi was shot and killed outside of his Mesa, Arizona, gas station in a misguided attempt at retaliation for the attacks on September 11. He was murdered because he had a turban and beard in accordance with his Sikh faith. He was the first murder victim due to post-9/11 backlash. Frank Roque wanted to “kill a Muslim” in retaliation for the attacks on September 11. He selected Sodhi simply because he had a beard and wore a turban in accordance with his Sikh faith. Roque shot at Mr. Sodhi three times, then shot at another service station owned by a Lebanese American and finally shot at a home of a family of Afghan descent. Fortunately, no one else was injured. He was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison for the

Photo of Balbir Singh Sodhi at his Mesa, Arizona residence hate crime. Balbir Singh Sodhi was the oldest of five brothers. He immigrated to the United States from India in 1988 to realize the American dream. He joined his brother Harjit Sodhi in Los Angeles, CA, where he worked at a 7-Eleven for several years until he moved to Walnut Creek, CA to become a cab driver. He had moved to Mesa a year prior to his death, bought a house, and the gas sta-

tion across the street. “He worked 12, 14 hours a day,” said his brother Harjit, “and he saved his pennies.” He regularly sent money to his family still in India. Jagjit Sodhi, his older brother, stated, “We depended on the money he sent us from time to time.” Just a few months before the tenth anniversary of his death and the attack on America, the Arizona legislature decided to remove Sodhi’s name from the state 9/11 memorial because he was not deemed “a victim of 9/11″. After advocacy by community groups, Governor Jan Brewer would veto the bill and continue to honor the memory of Mr. Sodhi. On September 15, 2011, individuals from across Arizona and the country participated in a memorial service at 7955 E. University Drive, Mesa, Arizona, to commemorate the victims of 9/11 and to remember Balbir Singh Sodhi.

Man of South Asian origin sentenced for insider trading New York: An accounts manager for a Taiwanese firm who pleaded guilty to insider trading in May, was sentenced Sept. 15 to 1 ½ years in prison, $35,000 in restitution, and two years of supervised release. The information he provided led to $1 million in gains for his "clients." Manosha Karunatilaka was convicted

of conspiring with others in an insider-trading scheme in which he defrauded a public company to obtain material, nonpublic information and provide that information to members of the investment community so that they could execute securities transactions. Karunatilaka participated in the insider-trading conspiracy while working as an account manager for Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud and wire fraud May 11. U.S. District Judge Jed S.Rakoff pronounced the sentence, according to a release from the office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. Between 2008 and 2010, Karunatilaka and his co-conspirators obtained inside information, including product sales and shipping information for Taiwan Semiconductor. They used an "expert networking" firm to facilitate so-called "con sultation calls," during which Karunatilaka provided the inside information, prosecutors said.On Oct. 8, 2009, for example, he had a telephone conversation with a technology analyst at a financial institution in New York City during which he provided nonpublic information about Taiwan Semiconductor and its customers, the release said.Between January 2008 and June 2010, he was paid more than $35,000 for his consultation calls, according to the release. In his plea agreement, Karunatilaka admitted that, based on his participation in the conspiracy, the inside information he provided to others resulted in trading gains of more than $1 million.

provided quality services to its clients and they are the first Ayurvedic service provider to be awarded ISO 9001:2000 quality certification in India. Dr. Gopinathan's special efforts have created history for Ayurveda in United States. Since the last five years, his efforts have come a long way in establishing authentic Ayurvedic Panchakarma Centers in US, providing authentic Kerala specific Ayurvedic therapies. These therapies are famous for alleviating various chronic ailments like Spondylitis, Slip Disc / Back Ache, Arthritis, Joint Pains, Muscle pains, Sprains, Frozen Shoulder, Obesity, Migraine, Sinusitis, psychosomatic disorders due to stress & strain, depression, insomnia, skin diseases like Psoriasis, Eczema etc . These natural therapies are free of side-effects.

Gate crasher Salahi deserts husband for a rock band guitarist

Michael Salahi with husband Tareq Washington, DC: Celebrity White House gate crasher Michael Salahi is reported to have left her husband Tareq’s home to be with another man, the lead guitarist for the rock band Journey. Tareq Salahi had reported his wife missing Tuesday night, telling authorities in Virginia he feared she had been kidnapped. Authorities, however, said ex-reality TV personality Michaele Salahi told them she was fine and didn't want to return home. Then celebrity website TMZ reported that a representative for Journey said she was safe and with guitarist Neal Schon. "Tareq is devastated but he is relieved to know that Michaele is safe," Salahi attorney David Silek told ABC's "Good Morning America. "That was his first concern." Silek said it's premature to say if the couple would get a divorce. "He's so devastated there's not a goal other than trying to figure out what is

going on at this time," Silek said of Tareq. "If there's an opportunity for reconciliation, that's something they can and ought to explore." Diane Dimond, who wrote the book "Cirque du Salahi" about the couple, told the morning show that Michaele had been frustrated with her husband and that she had a previous relationship with Schon. "She told me, in effect, that he was one of the loves of her life," Dimond told the show. The Salahis burst onto the scene in 2009 when they crashed a White House state dinner. Michaele Salahi was a cast member of the reality show "Real Housewives of D.C." last year, but the show was canceled after one season. The couple posted a picture of Twitter of themselves with Schon and other band members last week. TMZ posted video of the couple partying with Schon at their embattled winery last year.

National Community TheSouthAsianTimes.info

September 24-30, 2011

Anand Sharma: India will return to 'double digit growth’ Guv Rick Perry welcomes as ‘honored guest of Texas’ Texas: Addressing a 650 Indian-American business leaders at the annal gala of the Greater Dallar IndoAmerican Chamber of Commerce, India’s Commerce, Industry and Textiles Minister, Anand Sharma, promised India’s return to “double digit growth” after the wobbles of the global economic downturn and the shaky ongoing recovery. In his speech the Minister asked the US companies “to do more than they are doing,” to revitalize a bilateral trade relationship that was “well below potential.” Sharma sought to allay concerns surrounding the controversy on outsourcing of U.S. jobs to India, arguing that for every job outsourced to India, two skilled and well-paid jobs were created on U.S. soil. In building this case he also made a plea to end a host of restrictive rules that made it difficult for Indian professionals in areas such as

India's Commerce, Industry and Textiles minister, Anand Sharma information technology to work in the US. At the event Sharma was bestowed with the keys to Dallas city and also was felicitated by Ashok Mago, GDIACC founder and a prominent Dallas businessman who facilitated the movement of the India-U.S. civilian nuclear agreement bill through the U.S. Congress in 2008. While Texas Governor and presidential

hopeful Rick Perry could not attend the event owing to his campaign activities, his colleague read out a note on Perry’s behalf in which the Governor welcomed Sharma as an honored guest to Texas. Sharma also attended the India-U.S. CEO Forum on September 22, along with Indian Finance Minister Pranabh Mukherkjee and their US counterparts.

Comedian Ansari named ‘Funniest Man Under 30' New York: Comedian Aziz Ansari, who starred in the recent film C"30 Minutes or Less," was featured on the back cover of the September issue of Rolling Stone magazine that dubbed him "The Funniest Man Under 30." The 28-year-old has appeared in films like "Funny People," "Get Him to the Greek" and stars in "Parks and Recreation" on NBC. Ansari, whose parents migrated to the United States from Tamil Nadu, grew up in South Carolina. He began his career as a stand-up comedian in 2004 and landed his first movie, "School For Scoundrels," in 2006. On "Parks and Recreation," centered on a dysfunctional city hall in Pawnee, Ind., Ansari plays Tom Haverford, a wannabe big fish in a small pond, Rolling Stone said. "He wants to be Russell Simmons, but he's too scared to go to a big city," Ansari told the magazine about his character. "He's doing stuff he sees rappers doing, and it's not impressing anyone but himself, but he's doing it. That's really sweet and funny to me." Like Tom, Ansari, 28, grew up in a small town –Bennettsville, S.C., where he was the only Indian kid in his school. Unlike Tom, Ansari leapt out of his small pond the first chance he got, enrolling at New York University as a marketing major. His heart wasn't in it, and after people kept telling him he was funny, he tried stand-up, the mag- azine said about Ansari's early years. He hustled his way up from five-minute slots to hosting entire evenings. On the

9

Aziz Ansari strength of his stand-up buzz, Ansari was able to co- write and co-star on a daffy, unhinged MTV sketch show, "Human Giant," which ran for two seasons; MTV offered a third, but Ansari was already planning to move to Los Angeles where he was hired on to "Parks and Recreation." In "30 Minutes or Less," Ansari plays a school teacher, whose best friend, played by Jesse Eisenberg, is forced by some goons to rob a bank. The film is directed by "Zombieland" helmer Ruben Fleischer. He is also featuring in the next "Ice Age" film lending voice to a prehistoric rabbit, which is part of a pirate gang.

Karan Singh to keynote Satyajit Ray Lecture at UC-Santa Cruz California: Diplomat and statesman Karan Singh will deliver the 2011 Satyajit Ray Lecture at the University of California at Santa Cruz Sept. 24. His topic is: “Nava Vedanta: Ancient Indian Philosophy of Non-Dualism and its Modern Transformation.” The lecture will be preceded by a screening of Indian director Satyajit Ray’s last movie “Agantuk” (The Stranger) at 3 p.m. in the UCSC Media Theater. The lecture will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the Music Recital Hall on campus. President of the Indian Council of Cultural Relations in New Delhi, Singh is the last Maharaja of Kashmir and served as its governor for 18 years. He was a member of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s cabinet and has served as Indian ambassador to the U.S. The lecture and film screening are presented by The Satyajit Ray Film and Study Center, a research center dedicated to Ray’s work at UC-Santa Cruz. Under the direction of founding director Dilip Basu, the Ray FASC has a collection of 32 of Ray’s 36 films, including 22 fully restored prints. The New York Times has called Ray’s last film “a gentle, exquisitely realized comedy, beautifully observed, sweet, and

Indian diplomat and statesman Karan Singh enriching.” “During the past year, we have curated complete retrospectives at film museums in Munich, Zurich, Basel, London, Paris, Singapore and at the Lincoln Center in New York,” said Basu, an Indian American professor at UCSC. “We expect to continue to have similar global reach in the foreseeable future.” A professor of history at UC-Santa Cruz, Basu also teaches an annual upper division class, “Cinema and History: Film Author Satyajit Ray.”

10

US Affairs

September 24-30, 2011

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Fed moves on long-term rates to spur growth Washington, DC: The Federal Reserve announced a new plan Wednesday to stimulate growth by purchasing $400 billion in long-term Treasury securities with proceeds from the sale of short-term government debt, defying Republican demands to refrain from new stimulus actions. In extending its campaign of novel efforts to shake the economy from its torpor, the Fed said that it was responding to evidence that there is a clear need for help. “Growth remains slow. Recent indicators point to continuing weakness in overall labor market conditions and the unemployment rate remains elevated,” the Fed argued. “Household spending has been increasing at only a modest pace in recent months.” The central bank said in a statement that the program was aimed at reducing the cost

Ben Bernanke, the chairman of Federal Reserve: defying Republican demands to refrain from new stimulus actions.

Ban over, Marines seek recruits at gay center Tulsa, OK: Master Sgt. Anthony Henry, a top Marine recruiting trainer for the southwestern United States, visited Tulsa’s biggest gay community center on Tuesday. He had been invited to set up a recruiting booth on the first day of the end of “don’t ask, don’t tell” at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center in downtown Tulsa. He spent the day talking to a trickle of gay women interesting in joining the Marines. “It’s your business and you don’t have to share it,” Sergeant Henry told Ariel Pratt, 20, who asked whether she would face discrimination in the military as a lesbian serving openly. “But you’re also free to be at the mall with your girlfriend.” The Marines were the service most opposed to ending the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, but they were the only one of five invited branches of the military to turn up with their recruiting

table and chin-up bar at the center Tuesday morning. Although Marines pride themselves on being the most testosterone-fueled of the services, they also ferociously promote their view of themselves as the best. With the law now changed, the Marines appear determined to prove that they will be better than the Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard in recruiting gay, lesbian and bisexual service members. Still, judging by the traffic at the gay rights center on Tuesday, there will not be an immediate flood of gay and lesbian Marine applicants. By 3 p.m., more than four hours after the Marines had set up their booth opposite the center’s AIDS quilt, only three women had wandered in, none ideal recruits. Repeal of a 1993 law that allowed gays to serve only so long as they kept their sexual orientation private took effect on Tuesday.

of borrowing for businesses and consumers, including the cost of mortgage loans. It hopes that the lower rates will encourage companies to build new factories and hire more workers, and consumers to start spending again on homes and cars and clothes and vacations. Specifically, the Fed said that by June 2012 it will sell $400 billion in Treasury securities with remaining maturities of less than three years and purchase roughly the same amount of securities with maturities longer than six years. It said the result would move the average maturity of the bonds it holds to about 100 months from 75 months. The Fed added it would resume direct efforts to help the mortgage market by reinvesting the proceeds of its existing invest-

ments in mortgage-backed securities into new mortgage-backed securities, rather than putting the money in Treasuries. Three members of the Fed’s 10-member policy-making committee, however, dissented from the decision—they had earlier objected to hold short-term interest rates near zero until at least 2013. Economists project that the effort could reduce interest rates by a few tenths of a percentage point, a significant increment when multiplied by the vast extent of borrowing. The forecasting firm Macroeconomic Advisers estimated in advance of the Fed’s announcement – based on its best guess about the details of such a program – that the Fed’s efforts could add about 0.4 percentage points to economic output and create about 350,000 jobs.

To GOP ire, Obama seeks taxes on wealthy to cut debt Washington: Striking a confrontationist posture, President Barack Obama has proposed $1.5 trillion in new taxes for the wealthy to cut the national debt by $3.2 trillion over the next decade. In a White House address Monday he also threatened to veto any debt reduction legislation that cuts benefits like Medicare and Medicaid, government provided healthcare for the elderly, and doesn’t include higher taxes on the wealthy. “I will not support any plan that puts all the burden on ordinary Americans,”

President Obama in his Oval Office

he said abandoning earlier attempts at compromise with the GOP. “Rather than trying to identify common ground, the president is taking the same kind of tough stance that Republicans adopted in the debt-ceiling debate,” said the influential New York Times. The proposal drew an angry response from key Republicans, underscoring the considerable opposition to his plan on Capitol Hill as a special bipartisan committee on deficit reduction ramps up its work in coming weeks.

US assembling secret drone bases in Africa, Arabian Peninsula Washington: America is assembling a constellation of secret drone bases for counterterrorism operations in the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula as part of a newly aggressive campaign to attack al-Qaeda affiliates in Somalia and Yemen, US officials say. One of the installations is being established in Ethiopia, a US ally in the fight against al-Shabab, the Somali militant group that controls much of that country. Another base is in the Seychelles, an archipelago in the Indian Ocean,

where a small fleet of “hunter-killer” drones resumed operations this month after an experimental mission demonstrated that the unmanned aircraft could effectively patrol Somalia from there. The US military also has flown drones over Somalia and Yemen from bases in Djibouti, a tiny African nation at the junction of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. In addition, the CIA is building a secret airstrip in the Arabian Peninsula so it can deploy armed drones over Yemen.

The rapid expansion of the undeclared drone wars is a reflection of the growing alarm with which US officials view the activities of alQaeda affiliates in Yemen and Somalia, even as al-Qaeda’s core leadership in Pakistan has been weakened by US counterterrorism operations. The U.S. government is known to have used drones to carry out lethal attacks in at least six countries: Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Pakistan, Somalia and Yemen.

Children of illegal immigrants face hampered growth Boston: Children whose parents are illegal immigrants or who lack legal status themselves face “uniformly negative” effects on their social development from early childhood until they become adults, according to a study by four researchers published Wednesday in the Harvard Educational Review. The study concluded that more than five million children in the US are “at risk of lower educational performance, economic stagnation, blocked mobility and ambiguous belonging” because they are growing up in immigrant families affected by illegal status. The study is the first to pull together field research by social sci-

entists nationwide to track the effects of a family’s illegal immigration status on children from birth until they graduate from college and start to navigate the job market. It covers immigrants from a variety of origins, including Latinos and Asians. About 5.5 million children in this country have at least one parent who is an illegal immigrant, according to an estimate by the Pew Hispanic Center. Among them, about one million children were brought here illegally by their parents, while about 4.5 million are US citizens because they were born here. In all, about 9.5 million people live in “mixed status” families that

include American citizen children and unauthorized immigrants, Jeffrey S. Passel, senior demographer at the Pew center, said on Tuesday. “Unauthorized status casts a big shadow that really extends to citizen as well as undocumented children,” Marcelo Suárez-Orozco, a professor of education at New York University who is an author of the study, said on Tuesday. “It affects their cognitive development, engagement in school and their ability to be emerging citizens.” The Harvard study reports that “fear and vigilance” guide the home lives of young children whose parents are illegal immigrants, making the parents significantly less likely

to engage with teachers or be active in schools. Parents’ fears of deportation led to lower levels of enrollment of their American children in public programs for which the children were legally eligible, including child care subsidies, public preschool and food stamps, the study found. Many illegal immigrant parents work long hours in low-wage jobs, sometimes more than one job. New research on very young children cited in the Harvard study showed that the undocumented parents’ difficult work conditions “contribute substantially to the lower cognitive skills of children in their families.” This was true even though the chil-

dren were more likely to be in twoparent families than American children as a whole. As teenagers, children without legal status face a hard awakening when they apply for jobs, driver’s licenses or financial aid for college and discover they are not legally qualified for any of them. Their paths diverge from siblings who are American citizens by birthright. Academic achievement does little to lift the prospects of illegal immigrants who have grown up here. Out of 150 immigrants studied, 31 had completed college or advanced degrees, but none were in a career that matched their educational training.

12

India Newswire

September 24-30, 2011

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Chidambaram dragged into 2G net New Delhi: The Supreme Court is expected to decide whether a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe is needed into what Subramanian Swamy alleges to be the role of P Chidambaram in deciding the price of 2G spectrum allocations. Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy had indicated that Home Minister P Chidambaram, as the then finance minister, was along with jailed former communications minister A Raja involved in deciding the 2G spectrum price. The documents filed by Swamy included a communication of Jan 30, 2008, by the department of economic affairs of the finance ministry recording the gist of the meeting between the then finance

The Janata Party wants Home Minister P Chidambaram to be made co-accused in the 2G case. minister Chidambaram and Raja. the then finance secretary D The communication signed by Subbarao said: "The FM (finance

minister) said that for now we are not seeking to revisit the current regimes for entry fee or revenue sharing." Swamy told the court that all along, on the question of 2G spectrum pricing, the then finance minister and his ministry's officials were kept in the loop. He pointed to various letters and internal communications and said that April 21, 2008, the then finance minister sent a "nonpaper" to the communications minister, conveying that an "in principle" decision may be taken to price the spectrum beyond 4.4 MHz as has been suggested by the department of telecommunications (DoT). The government and the CBI have opposed a CBI probe into

Chidambaramâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s role. They are of the view that, as a special trial court is besieged of the matter, the SC should not order a CBI probe at this juncture. Meanwhile, in a new twist to the second generation (2G) spectrum case, a note to the Prime Minister's Office from the finance ministry says this resource could have auctioned in 2008 if Home Minister P Chidambaram, then the finance minister, had "stuck to his stand". In the note, the finance ministry says Chidambaram could have prevented spectrum from being given away at throwaway prices by insisting on its auction -- alluding that presumptive losses worth thousands of crores could have thus been avoided.

Delhi blast suspects to PM to focus on terror, be produced in court reforms at UN New Delhi: Three people arrested in Jammu and Kashmir for the Sep 7 Delhi High Court blast were brought to New Delhi by a National Investigation Agency (NIA) team, police said. Shariq Ahmed, Abid Hussain and Amir Abbas Dev were brought here on transit remand by the NIA team led by Deputy Inspector General Mukesh Singh. The accused are expected to be presented in the Patiala House district courts, where the NIA is likely to seek their remand for further probe. Jammu and Kashmir Police personnel also accompanied the three accused. At least 15 people were killed in the blast. Dev, arrested by NIA Sep 16, was remanded in police custody for seven days, while Ahmed and Hussain were arrested Sep 13 and were sent to police custody for 10 days. The accused have been booked under Sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race or language and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) and 134-A (attack on government servant on duty) of the Indian Penal Code.

The National Investigation Agency has announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh for anybody giving information about the perpetrators of the blast. The NIA has announced a reward of Rs.10 lakh for anybody giving information about the perpetrators of the blast.

United Nations: Indian security and bringing to Prime Minister Manmohan bear a developing country Singh came to the United perspective have, I Nations focused on global believe, enriched the challenges such as terrorCouncil's deliberations ism, economic slowdown, and enhanced its effecterrorism and unrest in tiveness." West Asia and North "The UN must be seen Africa. as an impartial, credible External Affairs Minister and effective body. I will S.M. Krishna, his stress the need for early Principal Secretary T.K.A. reform of this unique Nair, National Security organization, particularly Advisor Shiv Shankar an expansion of its Menon and Foreign Security Council." Secretary Ranjan Mathai "The UN General are part of the high-level Assembly is meeting this team accompanying year at a time when the Manmohan Singh is set to address the world is faced with mulManmohan Set to address the UN United Nations General Assembly on tiple challenges. The September 24. General Assembly on global economy is in the September 24, Manmohan Singh will also midst of an economic slowdown coupled with dilate on the issue of UN reforms as he speaks all its attendant problems, including inflationabout the role played by India since being ary pressures," the prime minister said. elected as a non-permanent member of the He also said terrorism and non-traditional Security Council after a gap of 19 years. threats to international security, such as piraAs he said in a statement in New Delhi cy, were threatening states and the internationembarking on the five day UN trip, "Our al political and social order and called for colefforts at promoting international peace and lective action to address all these issues.

Advani not in PM race, ready for yatra Nagpur: Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L.K. Advani indicated for the first time he may not be the candidate for prime minister's job in the next general election, provoking the Congress to say there was a war within the main opposition party. Already 83, the former deputy prime minister made the comments after meeting Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat "to seek blessings" for his (Advani's) proposed nationwide rath yatra on "clean politics and good governance". Advani, who was widely seen as

the BJP's unstated prime ministerial nominee in the 2009 Lok Sabha battle, did not give a categorical "yes" or "no" when he was asked if he was eyeing the top executive post. Instead, he gave a philosophical answer, saying he had got more from the BJP than anything he could have got from the post of prime minister. Pressed if the RSS wanted him to make it absolutely clear that he was not in the running for the post of prime minister, Advani said: "There are reports." That statement did not amuse

the Congress, which said there was "upheaval in BJP" and that there were five to seven prime ministerial candidates in that party.In contrast, "there is no vacancy for the prime minister's post" in the Congress, spokesman Abhishek Manu Singhvi said. Advani, one of the most experienced leaders in Indian politics, flew to Nagpur amid reports that a section of the BJP was miffed at him for announcing the rath yatra next month. Some BJP leaders complained privately that he had not taken the party into confidence and that it

was an attempt by him to portray himself as the prime ministerial candidate. The RSS, however, clarified that it had no role to play in shaping the BJP's choice of who a prime minister should be. "These are issues the BJP decides," RSS spokesperson Ram Madhav said in Nagpur, where the RSS has its headquarters. The senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader says he has got more from the BJP than anything he could have got from the post of prime minister.

India Newswire TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Swiss ready to share black money details New Delhi: Switzerland Ambassador Philippe Welti said his country would share details of the secret bank accounts held by Indians, provided everything is within the framework of the revised double taxation treaty between the two nations. To a question in an interview to a private news channel that whether Switzerland Ambassador Philippe Welti. Switzerland would share ed to tax evasion also. details of Swiss bank accounts held Going by statistics from the by Indians, the Ambassador said, Swiss National Bank, the total "Yes, provided it is in the frame- deposits of Indian individuals and work of the treaty." companies with all the Swiss banks Switzerland's Parliament on June was collectively about $2.5 billion 17 approved the revised Double at the end of 2010. Taxation Avoidance Agreement Amid raging debate over the (DTAA) with India that would issue of black money, the governallow access to details of its citi- ment is looking at various ways, zens having unaccounted money in including renegotiation of existing Swiss banks.After ratification by bilateral treaties to bring back Parliament, the treaty is open to unaccounted money stashed by its scrutiny by Swiss people for 100 citizens in overseas accounts. days. That period ends on When asked whether the Indian October 6. government has submitted any India had inked an agreement request regarding accounts held by with Switzerland to revise the its citizens in Swiss banks, Welti DTAA in August 2010. Once in said, "I have not seen the request force, the treaty would allow India going through me but I am not the to seek information for cases relat- only channel.”

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September 24-30, 2011

Ajmer set to host first global Sufi festival Mumbai : Qawwali, ghazals, discussions and Sufi music will be offered at the first edition of the International Sufi Festival Oct 21-27 in Ajmer, Rajasthan. The week-long event will bring together Sufi artists from countries like Britain, Pakistan, Egypt and France with an aim to capture and project the spirit of Sufism. ‘I want to bring about the true message of Sufism globally where the core belief and practice is nothing but the acceptance of each other without

the barrier of religion,’ festival director Gulshaa Begum told IANS. ‘The core intention is to awaken the spirit of brotherhood, togetherness, thoughtfulness, selflessness and oneness which alone can make life in the world successful. It will revive the message Sufi saint Hazrath Khwaja Moinuddin Chishty,’ she added. The event is organised by Divine Abode in collaboration with the Interfaith Foundation, the India and Kashmir Society, the

International center for Kashmir Sufism and the International Sufi Festival India. ‘International artists from Britain, Pakistan, Egypt and France will perform at the festival.’ Why Ajmer? ‘Ajmer is the centre for Sufism, spirituality, art and culture. It is the fortunate city, chosen by Hazrath Khwaja Moinuddin Chishty to spread the message of love, peace and oneness globally,’ said Gulshaa.

Why Big B playing a stereotypical Jewish gangster? Mumbai: Superstar Amitabh Bachchan will make his Hollywood debut with 2012 Warner Bros. remake of 'The Great Gatsby.' What is rather interesting in this new sis why Big B has agreed to play the role of a crooked Jewish associate of the novel's Jay Gatsby. The F. Scott Fitzgerald-created character named Meyer Wolfsheim was modeled after a real-life Jewish mobster of the period -- and his portrayal in the novel was far from friendly. In fact, it was downright anti-Semitic, some scholars claim. Bachchan has agreed to play the one-scene role of the stereotyped Jewish gangster -- and for free. Here's Bachchan's take on his own personal blog: "Baz ... called

last month and wondered if I would do [a] small role in his ['Gatsby'] film and I agreed. It is a gesture. I have refused any remuneration on this, too." "As to why Baz chose to ask me, is something that perhaps he would be better placed to answer," Bachman added. "I have gone down to Sydney and had a preliminary reading of the script with the entire cast and done hair makeup costume rehearsals. It has been a wonderful experience to be a part of [the Hollywood] system and to observe with what detail and diligence they work." But playing the crooked Jewish Gatsby associate Meyer Wolfsheim, a Fitzgerald stereotype? Fitzgerald used the real-life

Amitabh Bachchan has agreed to play the one-scene role of the stereotyped Jewish gangster -- and for free, in 'The Great Gatsby.' Jewish gangster Arnold Rothstein as the inspiration for Jay Gatsby's crooked associate Wolfsheim. At one point, Gatsby says to narrator Nick Carraway, "He's the man who fixed the 1919 World Series."

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India Newswire

September 24-30, 2011

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Deaths, destruction as strong quake hits India Gangtok: Days after a devastating earthquake measuring a forceful 6.8 on Richter scale struck large parts of North East India, rescue and relief teams are still trying to reach thousands of people trapped in remote areas. Across India, buildings shook triggering panic almost all over northern and eastern India, including Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal, Assam and Mizoram. While the death toll rose to 78 in Sikkim, West Bengal reported 15 deaths and Bihar nine. Sikkim passed through one of its darkest hours, with landslides snapping its only road link with the rest of the world and preventing disaster response teams from reaching affected sites - a problem compounded by incessant rain.

The toll in Sikkim alone mounted to 78 even as landslides in several places cut off road links between the state and the rest of the country. The toll in Sikkim mounted to 78 and the rest of the country. The toll even as landslides in several places may further increase as rescue cut off road links between the state workers were unable to reach some

India lacks quake preparedness: Experts New Delhi: Pointing to an increase in tectonic activities that escalate the chances of more earthquakes in India, experts say the country's preparedness to deal with the disasters seems to be missing. "Nearly 60 percent of India is prone to earthquake," India Meteorological Department's seismology department director B.R. Vaidya said. The quake that has killed over 100 people and injured several others in the northeast and east was caused by a collision between the Indian plate and the Eurasian plate. The boundary between the plates is broadly along the Himalayas. The Indian plate usually has a north and northeastward movement. But scientists say the present quake indicates a westward movement. "Over the last 100 years, there has been an increase in global tectonic activities," R.K. Chadha of Hyderabad's National Geophysical Research Institute said. "Particularly from 2000, there has been an increase in earthquake activities. The 2004 Sumatra quake in Indonesia, which registered 9.3 magnitude, has triggered stress in many areas. The stress is accumulated wherever the earth is weak," he said. Chadha said the movement in the Indian plate was around 1 to 2 mm after the earthquake that rattled large parts of India, from Sikkim to Bihar. It also shook Nepal, Tibet and Bangladesh. It had its epicenter in Sikkim. "With the effect visible on the surface and the registered 6.9 magnitude, we can estimate that it can be 1 to 2 mm," he said. Even as most parts of India lie in a high risk

The Indian plate usually has a north and northeastward movement. But scientists say the present quake indicates a westward movement. zone for earthquakes, the country has little preparedness for dealing with the impact. Jamia Millia Islamia civil engineering department professor Gauhar Mahmood said the tremors take place due to the movement in the plates but the damage is caused by wrong planning. The northern plains of India along with the Himalayas lie on the border of the Eurasian and Indian plates. "The Himalayas are 65 million years old and the youngest mountain chain. Their uplifting is still going on, making the area highly unstable," Mahmood said.He said planning and precautions are the only possible guard against major damage. "The only precaution is best city planning with wider roads and earthquake-proof structures." According to the expert, until 1995 Delhi was under Zone 3, which is a moderate risk zone. But later it was updated to Zone 4 - a high damage risk zone.

interior north Sikkim areas because of landslides, a government official said. An Army aerial survey showed that at least five villages in north Sikkim have been obliterated. More disturbingly, the survey failed to detect any people in or around the area, raising fears of the quake toll going up significantly. Authorities also said that 11 bodies were retrieved from the rubble at the hydel project near here where rescue teams fear that 40 workers are trapped in a flooded tunnel. With more bodies being found as the rescue teams are reaching areas that were cut off, fears of the toll going up are rising by the hour. There was no news of the 40 workers trapped in the tunnel of the Teesta Urja hydel project between

Theng village and Mangan with authorities now fearing the worst. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has sanctioned Rs.2 lakh each for the next of kin of those killed in India. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the epicenter of the quake was on the SikkimNepal border. The quake also damaged some Indian Army bunkers in eastern Sikkim near Nathu-La pass along the India-China border and left many soldiers injured, said sources. This is the fourth earthquake to hit India this month. An earthquake measuring 4.2 on the Richter Scale had shaken north India Sep 7 at around with its epicenter near Sonepat in Haryana, 65 km from New Delhi.

Rahul Gandhi visits quake-hit Sikkim Gangtok: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi made an aerial survey of quake-hit North Sikkim, besides visiting an affected village and a hospital here. Accompanied by Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling, the Congress General Secretary made the aerial survey of the north district which had suffered the maximum number of casualties -- 37, officials said here. After reaching Bagdogra Airport near Siliguri two hours behind schedule due to inclement weather, Gandhi took a chopper and landed at the army helipad in Libing near here. The Congress leader then visited Lumsey, a residential pocket near here, which was also visited by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Gandhi also visited the Central Referral Hospital, Manipal, here and interacted with the injured. After the aerial survey, he left for Meghalaya.

Sikkim CM Pawan Chamling and Rahul Gandhi visit the earthquake-affected area of Lumsay in Gangtok.

Rahul Gandhi meets quake hit victims in Sikkim.

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15

September 24-30, 2011

Tiger Pataudi's legacy lives on

New Delhi: As the cricketing world grieves the loss of one its finest captains in Mansur Ali Khan, erstwhile Nawab of Pataudi, little is said of a man who was a constant presence in the lives of his family of actors with quiet empathy towards a profession alien to his own. The embodiment of grace and royalty with his clipped accent and unassuming charm, Pataudi has achieved towering respect within the film fraternity as in cricket. Pataudi met actor Sharmila Tagore on the sets of 'An Evening In Paris' in 1966, sealing a love affair that spanned four decades. It took the tall and strapping lad four years to woo Tagore who came from the illustrious family of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore. Despite their respective famous backgrounds, both families were against a marriage between a aspiring cricketer, not considered a career proper for a man in the 60s, and a Bollywood star, considered a sex symbol at the peak of her career. The fact that theirs was an inter-religious marriage also sparked off objections. But despite dissimilar family backgrounds, they married in December 1969 and Tagore converted to Islam adopting the name

Wedding picture with film star Sharmila Tagore

Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi’s royal family Begum Ayesha Sultana. Despite her top billing and stunning good looks, Tagore decided to take a hiatus from acting. Many in the industry pointed an accusatory finger at the man who swept Tagore off her feet and took her away from films at the prime of her career. There were still many films left in the dimpled Bengali star people loved, they said. But Pataudi's contribution to the career of his wife, whose immortal role as the ill-fated child bride in Satyajit Ray's 'Apur Sansar' catapulted her to fame, is often left

Tiger Pataudi with actor-son Saif Ali Khan

unsung. Pataudi came from an old family of Muslim royals with a legacy that transcended many generations to imbibe a strict sense of discipline and grace in the members. Tagore, at the time of her marriage has burst in to the scene with a provocative photo shoot in a twopiece bikini that made her a pin-up star overnight. Throughout the 70s Tagore's work in both Bengali films and Hindi made her a household name with 'Aranyer Din Ratri', 'Daag', 'Amar Prem' and 'Seemabodhho'.

But she was also then the mother to Saif Ali Khan, the firstborn of Sharmila and Tiger Pataudi, as Mansoor Ali was known amongst his cricketing peer. Call it the quirk of fate or genetic ties but Saif's decision was to follow his famous mother’s profession and not his father's. Later their third child, a daughter, Soha also entered tinsel town, with the critical and commercial hit 'Rang De Basanti'. Her stunning looks and understated acting has often been compared to her mother's style, but the children (Saba Ali

Sharmila Tagore with actress-daughter Soha Ali Khan.

Khan included) have their father’s reclusive nature and polite civility. Tagore returned to acting after a serious hiatus with Meera Nair's 'Mississippi Masala'. She has led the Indian Film Censor Board from October 2004 till March 2011. But Pataudi's counsel in matters of family and profession was often sought. He was to be seen clapping enthusiastically at his daughters' events even though he was initially reluctant to let Soha join the film industry. The 'Nawab' earned tremendous respect among the film fraternity who reacted with grief and disbelief to the news of his demise. The 70year-old cricketer breathed his last after battling a lung infection. "Sad news...Tiger Pataudi passes away," said Amitabh Bachchan who starred with the cricketer's actresswife in films like 'Chupke Chupke' and 'Viruddh'. Filmmaker Shekhar Kapur called Pataudi one of the most "courageous cricketers" in the world. "Tiger has left us. One of the most courageous cricketers the world has known, who took on the fastest bowlers in the world after losing one eye."

Always played with straight bat, on and off field New Delhi: Former India captain Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi always played the game with a straight bat and was equally forthright off the field. He will be remembered as the Tiger who preyed with one eye. Born in 1941 in Bhopal, to former India captain and the eighth Nawab of Pataudi, Iftikhar Ali Khan, who also played for England, and Sajida Sultan, second daughter of the last ruling nawab of Bhopal, cricket was always in Pataudi's blood. He was one of the best educated Indian cricketers. He spent his formative years at Welham Boys' School in Dehradun and then went to England like his father to study at Lockers Park Prep School in Hertfordshire, Winchester College and Balliol College, Oxford. He lost his father on his 11th birthday while Iftikhar was playing polo. But Iftikar, who captained India in 1946, was a constant source of inspiration in Tiger's life. Pataudi suffered another setback 10 years

Tiger Patudi captained the Indian cricket team from 1962-70 later, when he lost the vision of his right eye after a car crash in England. But a steely resolve saw him making his international debut a few month later against the formidable Ted Dexter's England in Delhi, in

December, 1961. Once asked by a journalist, how he played with one eye, Pataudi said: "In I fact see two balls. I hit the one on the inside." Like his father, Pataudi couldn't get a century on debut but achieved his maiden ton, a classy 103, in his third Test against England to set-up a 128-run win in Chennai. He never looked in discomfort playing with one eye, and swotted the fast bowlers with ease. The innings earned him a berth for the Caribbean tour. The presence of Polly Umrigar, Nari Contractor and Vijay Manjrekar made it difficult for Pataudi to find a place in the final eleven in the West Indies and he had to miss the first two Tests, in which India suffered humiliating defeats. But a nasty injury to Contractor, who had to undergo a brain operation after being hit by a Charlie Griffith bouncer, changed Pataudi's fortunes. There was bickering in the team and none of the seniors were will-

ing to take up the responsibility of leading the side. They found a leader in Pataudi, who on March 23, 1962, at the age of 21 years and 79 days, became the youngest cricketer to captain any country in a Test match. The next 13 years were known as the Pataudi era during which he went on to rewrite India's cricketing history by captaining the side to its first ever overseas series win, when they defeated New Zealand 3-1 in 1967-68, at a time when a draw was considered as a win. Under him, India played some good cricket and got the confidence of beating big teams overseas. The spin quartet of Bishan Singh Bedi, Bhagwat Chandrasekhar, S. Venkatraghavan and Erapalli Prasanna also flourished under his captaincy. His spotless career was scarred after he was arrested for killing a blackbuck in Jhajjar in 2005. He spent few days in jail before being released on bail.

16

Ultimate Bollywood

September 24-30, 2011

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

'Not A Love Story' leaves you open-mouthed hich demons could possibly provoke two normal healthy ambitious young people to kill a man, cut his limbs into several pieces and attempt to dispose of his body in the thick jungles? "Not A Love Story" attempts to unravel the abiding mystery of human nature and the extreme measures it resorts to, when pushed to the brink. This is the frightening, sobering and life-changing story of Anusha Chawla (Mahie Gill), a smalltown girl with big Bollywood dreams, who ends up being an accomplice in a gruesome crime. We certainly are left open-

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‘Not a Love Story’ is not an easy film to watch. Crime has never looked more unglamorous on screen. mouthed. Indeed it is the normal- cy of Anusha's dreams and how

Priyanka pretty but snobbish: Malay PM alaysian prime minister Najib Razak seems to be an admirer of Bollywood films and finds actress Priyanka Chopra very pretty. Razak said he has watched a few Hindi films, in spite of their length. "I have seen some films, I find them quiet interesting but too long," he told visiting Indian journalists. Razak said he had liked Shah Rukh Khan starrer ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’. And among the bevy of Bollywood beauties, former Miss World Priyanka seems to have caught his fancy. Razak, who has met Priyanka earlier, said that he found the 29year-old "very pretty but a little snobbish. I didn't find her friendly," he quipped in a lighter vein".

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ally uses to punctuate crime dramas. All the craziness of the camera angles becomes one with the insanity of the crime committed by two people who, before butchering their victim, had probably only committed minor offences. "Not a Love Story" is not an easy film to watch. Crime has never looked more unglamorous on screen. Varma just sucks you into the ghastly deed and doesn't allow you a moment of respite from the savagely probing camera which seems to penetrate the mind and soul of the protagonists.

Madhuri approached for Bigg Boss 5! igg Boss makers have invited actor Madhuri Dixit her to be a part of season 5 being hosted by Salman Khan and Sanjay Dutt. Madhuri has apparently been approached by Endemol and Colors for the show and is reportedly being offered a huge amount for a special appearance in the House.Other celebrity guests on the show include boxer Mike Tyson and actor Babara Mori. Charles Shobhraj's wife Nihita Biswas, 22, has also confirmed her presence on Colors' controversial reality show. "Madhuri will be paid equivalent to international boxer Mike Tyson while actor Babara Mori's remuneration is still being worked out," a

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Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said he didn’t find Priyanka Chopra friendly.

Dhobi Ghat wows Toronto film festival Toronto: Kiran Rao's 'Dhobi Ghat,' which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in the presence of the whole cast at the city's Elgin Garden Theatres, wowed the audiences with its artistry and fluidity. The film is Kiran Rao's directorial debut, with her husband Aamir Khan playing the lead role of a painter (Arun living in Bhendi Bazaar). Set in the Mumbai monsoon season, the plot revolves around Shai's feelings for Arun and Zohaib in the teeming metropolis. A beaming Kiran Rao introduced the cast to the audience before the start of the film. She said she was immensely pleased with her directorial debut and expected 'Dhobi Ghat' to do well. For his selection for the lead

drastically they get subverted within the time-frame of a few decisive days, that forms the core of the compelling, often repugnant but always riveting, crime drama. Ramu's camera is frequently more frenziedly crazy than the deeds of the protagonists. The frames are used as a wildly wicked playground to signify the unsettled mindspace of the lead couple. Gill and Dobriyal's journey from desperate love to unthinkable crime is charted with a kind of subverted dismay that is the opposite of the dramatic sighs and gasps that Hindi cinema usu-

Dhobi Ghat is Kiran Rao's directorial debut, with her husband Aamir Khan playing the lead role of a painter. role, Aamir said initially the couple's idea was not to cast him because they thought that his presence will "overpower'' oth-

ers. But after a few weeks, he said, they had second thoughts. And Kiran put him through usual tests before casting him, he said.

The actress is reportedly being offered a huge amount for a special appearance in the Big Boss House. source said. The show is set to go

on air in October.

France focus at Mumbai film fest Mumbai: The 13th Mumbai Film Festival, starting Oct 13, will focus on French films this year. "This year the country focus will be France, so you will have a large selection of French films... and we expect a large delegation of artists and filmmakers from France to attend the festival," Amit Khanna, one of the trustees of the festival, told reporters. The festival, a Reliance entertainment initiative, which is being organised by the Mumbai Academy of Moving Image (MAMI) will host a special section "4me Rendez-Vous", in collaboration with Unifrance, Embassy of France in India and Consulate General of France in Mumbai. In the section, best of New French Cinema like "The Snows of Kilimanjaro", "The Conquest" and "Declaration of War" will be screened. The festival will also offer a

The festival will also offer a special presentation by Lee Yong Kwan, director Busan International Film. special presentation by Lee Yong Kwan, director Busan International Film Festival. He will present a selection of latest Asian films from Busan.

Ultimate Bollywood Thesouthasiantimes.info

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September 24-30, 2011

'Mausam' - a tale of timeless love ankaj Kapoor's directorial debut "Mausam" is described as a true romantic film in which he has teamed up with his actor son Shahid and Sonam Kapoor to recreate a bygone era through the movie, releasing September 23. Co-produced by Sunil Lulla and Sheetal Vinod, the film is about two lovers: Punjabi boy Harry (Shahid), who goes on to become an Indian Air Force (IAF) officer and Kashmiri refuge Ayaat (Sonam). But they are forced to separate due to political hostilities

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and religious conflicts. After being separated for a decade, they meet again and through their journey, the director shows how love transcends from one season to another. In the first season, the film is about the adolescent attraction that brings teenagers Harry and Ayaat together in a small village in Punjab. The next phase is about young love as both of them are grownups and their love realises its depth but at the same time destiny separates them.

In the third and fourth phases, both Harry, who is now a fighter pilot, and Ayaat meet again and their love culminates into togetherness, although they had to sacrifice a lot and it helps them in learning the truth about universal love. Shot in Edinburgh, London, Mumbai, Gwalior and Agra, the film, as Sonam says, is an attempt to bring back the pure romance that is lost somewhere in Indian cinema. This is the first time Sonam and Shahid have been cast together.

Manisha Koirala's looking for roles anisha Koirala is back in Mumbai and is said to be on the lookout for roles in Hindi films. The actress had shifted to Nepal post her marriage with Nepalese businessman Samrat Dahal last year. But now, with reports of the marriage falling apart, Manisha is back in Mumbai and looking for work. Says a source, "Manisha's manager has supposedly sent an SMS to Bollywood producers that goes like this, 'Sir is there a role suitable for Manisha in your production?'."

Shot in Edinburgh, London, Mumbai, Gwalior and Agra, the film is an attempt to bring back the pure romance that is lost somewhere in Indian cinema.

Prachi Desai not sexy enough? ust a fortnight before ‘Jannat 2’ goes on floors, producer Mahesh Bhatt and director Kunal Deshmukh have parted ways with actress Prachi Desai, who was earlier announced as the female lead in the film. The decision was taken after the actress refused to get intimate on screen, and as a result, the producerdirector duo is now casting a Delhi girl in the part. After ‘Murder 2’, it was decided that the sexuality of the movie should be upped, but Prachi seemed uncomfortable with that. Bhatt confirmed the development and said, "We realized that a sex-

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With reports of her marriage falling apart, Manisha is back in Mumbai and looking for work.

The decision to drop Prachi Desai from ‘Jannat 2’ was taken after the actress refused to get intimate on screen. ual component that was parting, which is rare in missing from the movie. But Bollywood." Prachi was clear from the Prachi's publicist said, beginning that she wouldn't "Prachi's association with cross certain boundaries. them has been great. It has She can't be faulted and been a very amicable decithere was a dignity in our sion."

Madhur Bhandarkar faces trial for rape hree times national award winning filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar may have to face the trial in a rape case lodged against him by small time actress Pretti Jaiin seven years back. A metropolitan magistrate's court in Andheri, ruling against Bhandarkar, observed that a case was made against him and that he can take a defense against the case at an appropriate stage. The court has issued summons to Bhandarkar for October 18. Metropolitan magistrate B B Pantawane observed that before lodging the FIR, Jain had sent a legal notice to Bhandarkar in July 2004. The filmmaker however, chose not to reply, thus showing that he did not refute the allegations at the first available opportunity. Jain, needless to say, was visibly happy after the order. The aspiring actress who was present in court

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Small time actress Pretti Jaiin had filed a case of rape and criminal intimidation against director Madhur Bhandarkar at the Versova Police station over 7 years back - in July 2004.

said that she had full faith in God and the judiciary. Jain had filed a case of rape and criminal intimidation against Bhandarkar at the Versova Police station over 7 years back - in July 2004. She had alleged that Bhandarkar had intercourse with her 17 times between 2000 and 2003, making false promises of marriage and a big role in a good film. In November 2009, the police had filed a report in the Andheri court stating that the relationship between Bhandarkar and Jain was by mutual consent. The report also stated that Jain had filed the complaint "only to teach him a lesson as he didn't give her a role of the leading actress in his film". This report was strongly contested by Jain through her advocate Sushan Kunjuraman. They had argued that there were enough precedents from the Supreme

Court about testimony of the victim being enough to convict an accused in a rape case. Based on his submissions, the Magistrate rejected the report and ordered an inquiry in November 2009. Bhandarkar said that after going through the order in detail he would challenge it in higher courts. "As the lower court has issued a process against me for a case which has been going on for 7 years, I would like to say that after reading the judgment, we will challenge this order in higher courts to seek justice," stated the filmmaker. Talking about the case, Madhur revealed, "Initially, on 12th July 2004, Pretti Jaiin had sent a legal notice to me stating that if I do not cast her in my film as the leading lady within the next 48 hours, she would adopt necessary criminal and civil legal proceedings against me. There was no mention of rape charges in that notice.

18

Religion

September 24-30, 2011

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Hundreds gather to honor two spiritual masters Birth anniversaries of Sant Darshan Singh Ji Maharaj and Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj celebrated Sunday on Long Island combining fun activities for whole families and inspirational presentations about mysticism and spirituality.

Children enjoyed games, clowns, rides and face painting. Amityville, NY: Over 400 people came from throughout the Tri-State area to the Science of Spirituality (SoS) Meditation Center in Amityville here to celebrate the birth anniversaries of two great spiritual luminaries, Sant Darshan Singh Ji Maharaj and Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj. SoS sponsors an annual festival on this special occasion combining fun activities for the whole family, along with inspirational presentations to nourish the spirit. SoS is a nonprofit, multi-faith organization that provides a forum for people to learn meditation, experience personal transformation, and bring about inner and outer peace and human unity. It is currently under the direction of Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj, who is internationally recognized for his work toward inner and outer peace through spirituality. The festival has become a much-anticipated yearly event at the Amityville SoS center, which recently celebrated its 7th anniversary. Hundreds of people from diverse cultures and

backgrounds attended this year’s program. Upon arriving, one strolled under a festive blue and white balloon archway and viewed the Center grounds dotted with large white tents. Booths that housed different activities were gaily decorated in whites and bright blues. The day began with the Center’s weekly Yoga for Beginners class, taught by Mrs. Anup Bawa. And the weekly spiritual program was presented on the theme of Human Unity and Respect for All Life, followed by a Jyoti meditation session. At 1:00 pm the outdoor festivities began with a range of fun activities. A free luncheon was served consisting of a wide variety of vegetarian food stalls offering delicious Indian, Caribbean, and Italian selections. Ice cream, fruit smoothies, an array of fresh fruits and salads, cakes and delightful Indian sweets added to the festive atmosphere for children and adults alike. A spiritual bookstall and photo exhibition

were on display, including multi-media of spiritual talks given by the Spiritual Masters of Sant Mat, along with music and gift items. During the day there were a variety of games, kids’ entertainment, clowns, rides and colorful face painting for the children. For the grownups there were workshops including Embrace the Light Within: Meditation for Health & Well-Being, presented by Jim Rose, and a seminar entitled Vegetarian Quick-Start: 7 Easy Steps to a Healthy Diet, offered by Susan Rose. Beautiful gift baskets were raffled off throughout the afternoon, free of charge. Many benefited from the free medical checkups and advice provided by Dr Suresh Hemrajani. Moving inside the hall, poetry, music and special videos were presented celebrating the lives of Sant Darshan Singh Ji Maharaj and Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj. The former (1921-1989) was a Master of Surat Shabd Yoga and the founder of Science of Spirituality. He was known to be a spiritual leader of the greatest compassion and kindness - an ocean of divine grace and love. In addition, he was acclaimed as India’s greatest mystic poet writing in the Urdu language. He won four Urdu Academy Awards for poetry. His many books, articles and tapes spread a message of love, unity and peace the world

over. Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj is one of the world’s most highly regarded and distinguished masters of meditation. As the current spiritual leader of Science of Spirituality he tours the world year round presenting his powerful, yet simple meditation technique to millions of people. His many books include the critically acclaimed Spiritual Pearls for Enlightened Living, and Empowering Your Soul through Meditation, and Inner and Outer Peace through Meditation, both Barnes & Noble #1 bestsellers in their genre. His latest work, entitled Spark of the Divine, provides an easy blueprint for those searching for a way to create a life of greater peace, health and inner well-being. The SoS Amityville center holds spiritual programs weekly in multiple languages including English, Hindi and Spanish. It also offers special presentations including meditation retreats, public talks and workshops on meditation, stress-reduction and healthy living by distinguished guest speakers and professionals in their field. All programs sponsored by the Science of Spirituality are free of charge and all are welcome. To learn more call: 631-822-7979; email: NYinfo@sos.org, or visit www.sostristate.org.; www.sos.org.

Free vegetarian food stalls served Indian, Caribbean, and Italian dishes.

Ice cream, smoothies, fruits and salads, cakes and Indian sweets added to the festive atmosphere.

Op Ed TheSouthAsianTimes.info

19

September 24-30, 2011

BJP's PM wannabes more enthusiastic than party By Amulya Ganguli t is understandable that the Congress' present condition of disarray will encourage its opponents to take it on in an electoral battle. But curiously, the enthusiasm is noticeable more among individuals than parties. As the Congress' principal adversary, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) might have been expected to be more assertive in challenging the former to a frontal confrontation before the scheduled year of 2014. Instead, it is two of the BJP's major leaders, L.K. Advani and Narendra Modi, who have signaled, without mentioning elections, their intentions to be front-runners in the ensuing battle as prime ministerial candidates. Advani's gambit is typical of him - a rath yatra even if it will be his sixth since his riotscarred debut in 1990. He obviously expects that, like his first journey, the latest one will again be a memorable success in terms of surging crowds and the whipping up of fervor about his avowed objective, which is corruption this time and not a pledge to build a temple at the site of a mosque, as two decades ago. In contrast, Modi's ploy is a new and uncharacteristic one. He intends to go on a three-day fast, albeit in an air-conditioned

I

It is two of the BJP's major leaders, L.K. Advani and Narendra Modi, who have signaled, without mentioning elections, their intentions to be front-runners in the ensuing battle as prime ministerial candidates. venue, to advance the cause of "peace, unity and social harmony". The move can be regarded as a continuation of his efforts at an image makeover - from being a fire-breathing minority-baiter to a man of goodwill. Earlier, his emphasis was on development, which had earned him the plaudits of the corporate sector. But he seems to have real-

ized the inadequacy of that praise as long as he is seen as a Hindutva hawk, an unsavory reputation which made his National Democratic Alliance (NDA) colleague, Bihar Chief minister Nitish Kumar, keep him out of the election campaign in the state lest he scare away the Muslims. It is to erase that image that he has recently referred to the need for expanding the educational facilities for Muslims and stressed that his plans envisage progress without "discrimination". But what was most noteworthy was his observation in his blog that he sought "forgiveness for any hurt" that he "may have caused". For a "modern-day Nero", to quote the Supreme Court's description of Modi who had dismissed the 2002 riots, which claimed more than 1,000 lives, as "stray incidents" in a letter to the president of India, to seek forgiveness is astounding. If anything underlines his intention to move from Gujarat to the national stage, this is it. For the BJP, however, the sudden emergence of two PM wannabes can be problematic. For a start, the party is wary of Advani's ambition. In fact, it had tried to sideline him by making him the leader of the parliamentary party, a post created for him, when he insisted after the BJP's 2009 defeat on continuing to be the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha till 2014.

The subsequent selections of Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley as leaders of the opposition in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, respectively, were a sign that the BJP wanted to usher in GenNext. Now, Advani's sudden decision to try to be in the limelight will put the party as well as the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in a quandary, especially considering that the saffron patriarchs had eased Advani out of the party chief's post because of his praise for Jinnah in Pakistan in 2005. It is difficult to say which of the two, Advani or Modi, the BJP and, more importantly, the RSS will choose to be the person to succeed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. In any event, the process of selection will not be easy, for it will mean marginalizing two others, Sushma Swaraj and Jaitley. Besides, it has to be remembered that the RSS will not be too pleased with Modi's new, liberal, even pro-Muslim stance, for it will frustrate its game plan of turning India into a theocratic Hindu rashtra, which has long been a saffron dream. Irrespective of who beats whom in the race, the fact that no one in the BJP is talking about building the temple any more means the party has realized that the pseudo-religious card it played during and after Advani's first rath yatra has no place in what will probably be his last.

Congratulates and Commends

Dr. Ganesh Bhat

Dr. Dev Ratnam

Mr. Mohinder Taneja

And All Other Honorees of

Nargis Dutt Memorial Foundation & Mr. Inder Bindra, Chairman Mr. Gurdeep Narula, Treasurer For Excellence in Community Leadership

Accepting Applications for MD

20

Travel

September 24-30, 2011

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Insurgency paves way for tourism in Kashmir

People enjoying their Sunday at Harvan Garden in Srinagar.

A boy riding Shikara on Dal Lake. By Meenakshi Iyer

Kashmir is witnessing perhaps the best tourism season in years. Boat houses are full to their capacities, hotel industry is seeing a surge in tourists arrival and locals are praying for the peaceful atmosphere to stay in the Valley, devastated by insurgency in last two decades.

The famous Gondola ride at Gulmarg.

Schoolchildren taking rest at Mughal Garden

Srinagar: A picnic basket, children playing cricket while elders watch indulgently and, in the backdrop, rolling hills and a gurgling stream. The idyllic scene may seem an anachronism and at odds with Jammu and Kashmir's bruising two-decade insurgency, but bonding the old-fashioned way is still a way of life in the Valley. Far from the madding crowds and the world of mall footfalls, Kashmiris still get together for simple picnics and walks in the park. Living up to the description of 'paradise on earth', Kashmir surprises you every moment with its serene beauty that unfolds in the backdrop of its volatile history -- insurgency claiming the lives of 40,000 people, including civilians, security forces and terrorists. Unofficial estimates put the figure at 80,000. A walk in the gardens of Srinagar transports you to a different world. Families sitting on mats under the shades of chinar trees, carrying their Sunday brunch and 'nun chai' or 'namkeen chai', discussing everything under the sun - events of daily life, inflation, movies, kids... Scenes that are confined to just a few pockets in metropolitan cities of India, with weekend outings for so many limited to mall hopping, pubbing and watching movies.

Not so in the case of the people in Kashmir Valley. "This is all we have got, isn't it?" asked lawyer Narjees Nawab, referring to the values rooted in the Kashmiri culture. "Today you don't know what will happen tomorrow. So, why not live life today? We have accepted this and we live with this fact," Nawab added. So, people here are happy to derive joy from simple pleasures, shorn of glitz. It's a lifestyle which is quite old school, yet something that one yearns for in the concrete jungles of big cities. "In a way, we feel blessed for not having swanky malls, because they don't go with the old world charm that the valley still has," said Nawab. One must thank the Mughals for not building tombs and forts in the city but banking on natural beauty and building several gardens, popularly known as Mughal gardens, that the city is so proud of. Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, boasts of gardens like Harwan, a much loved picnic spot, Shalimar Garden, Chashme Shahi, Nishat Garden and Pari Mahal -- all meticulously maintained. The trimmed decorative trees, roses in different hues, a variety of flowers, chinar leaves on the side-

walks and the 'chashma' -- a small water canal -- are sight for tired eyes. Beyond Srinagar, 90 km away, is the quick getaway of Pahalgam. It is where people enjoy their brunches amid majestic mountains and the crystal-clear Liddar river flowing nearby. "If we are looking for a more interesting picnic, where we can cook, make fresh tea, we head towards Pahalgam with our stove, food items and other necessary things," said Samina Habib, a homemaker. "Kids get their cricket bats and we are joined by some friends or relatives and it is a day well spent," she added. In the flowing water of the Liddar, women and children clean up the utensils. In the small waterfalls of the Mughal gardens, couples unabashedly throw water at each other, children plead for some more leisure time and grandmothers discuss their old lives. They make for a picture-perfect scene, all too rare in these busy days. As the day nears an end, the sky changes color. The illuminated Hari Parbat Fort here merges with the sky and darkness slowly takes over. And people return to their bases after a weekend well-spent, a succor for their not-so-easy lives.

Boat Houses on Dal Lake

Diaspora TheSouthAsianTimes.info

21

September 24-30, 2011

Ganesh vs Hitler play in Melbourne Festival worries Hindus Nevada: Hindus are concerned at the play " Ganesh Versus the Third Reich", which is having a world premiere at Melbourne Festival in Australia on September 29. Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement, said that Lord Ganesh was meant to be worshiped in temples and home shrines and not to be made a laughing stock on theater stages. Zed, who is president of Universal Society of Hinduism, argued that Lord Ganesh was divine and theater/film/art were welcome to create projects about/around him showing his true depiction as mentioned in the scriptures. Creating irrelevant imaginary imagery, like reportedly

The play will premiere on Sept 29 depicting him being tortured and interrogated by Nazi SS, hurt the devotees. Its creator, international-

ly acclaimed "Back to Back Theater", itself calls it a "strange" fable, "rambunctious." Describing

Indian-origin British MP faces electoral probe the former foreign secretary, and London: Britain's Electoral Commission is looking into a case Lord Paul, the Labor donor, was involving an Indian-origin British held May 23 last year at Monsoon Banqueting Suites in Southall, parliamentarian following allegaSharma's constituency in west tions that the Indian tourism office London. donated 5,000 pounds for a party hosted to celebrate his general An invoice of 5,000 pounds was election victory, a media report allegedly sent to the tourist office, Incredible India. said. Sharma says: "I welcome the Virendra Sharma is a Labor MP opportunity to have the facts for Ealing Southall, a borough properly examined and will fully constituency represented in the House of Commons. co-operate with the Electoral Virendra Sharma According to the spokesman of Commission so that this matter can the Electoral Commission, it has begun an "assess- be resolved without delay." When Sharma's attention was earlier drawn to the ment" of what, if any, involvement the India-born Sharma had with the donation, Daily Telegraph matter by Phil Taylor, a councilor in Ealing, he said: reported. "I vehemently deny the false allegations that have Accepting donations from foreign sources is illegal appeared in various media. "I have never received a under the Political Parties, Elections and donation from India tourism and have, therefore, never been liable to make a declaration in the Referendums Act 2000. The party, which was attended by David Miliband, Parliamentary register of members' interests."

UK NRI millionaire may face jail for dangerous driving London: Tarlochan Singh, 34, was found guilty of running over 50-year-old Nasreen Khan and her son, Shaffad Khan, aged 30, while driving a red Ferrari Spider through the car park at Gallagher Retail Park. Singh has been disqualified from driving. Tarlochan Singh was on trial this week at Coventry

Crown Court for one charge of dangerous driving. A jury of 10 people took less than two hours to return a unanimous guilty verdict. Sentencing is yet to take place but, following the verdict on Wednesday afternoon, Judge John Maxwell instantly banned Singh from the roads. According to Coventry Telegraph, the incident

happened on May 23 last year. Singh was then seen to hit the Mrs. Khan, throwing her into the air “like a ragdoll” and “bouncing on the bonnet”. During cross-examination, Singh, who said he worked as a taxi driver in the city, said witnesses had “fabricated” the whole story.

the play, media release of co-presenter Malthouse Theater says that Ganesh "seeks to go one-on-one with Hitler." It is also described by some as "wildly inventive ride through history, where sacred icons and rituals become weapons" and "brimming with humor." Rajan Zed argued that taxpayer funded organizations like Australia Council for the Arts, Arts Victoria, and City of Melbourne; which supported this play; should be more vigilant in their selections. Zed further pointed out that we needed to be more sensitive about the feelings of "others."Recently, depiction of Hindu Goddess

Lakshmi on swimwear at a fashion event held in Sydney (Australia) resulted in worldwide protests. Popular radio host Kyle Sandilands recently made derogatory remarks, ridiculing Hindus' holy river Ganga, on Sydney's hit music station. Australian swimwear company, Sandilands and his radio station later apologized after the protests. Founded in 1987, Back to Back Theatre claims to be "one of Australia's leading creative voices, focusing on moral, philosophical and political questions about the value of individual lives." It states on its website: "The stories they create explore 'the cold, dark side' of our times...."

These French nationals yearn for Indian recognition New Delhi: Their ancestors were taken to the French territories of Guadeloupe and Reunion Island over a hundred years ago. But these French nationals of Indian descent still value their Indian ancestry and are pained at noninclusion in the Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) category. "We are not rejecting our French identity but we want to be officially recognized by India as People of Indian Origin. We are third and fourth generation descendants but we value our links with India," French banking professional Christelle Gourdine said. "It is an intensely emotional link and many people long to have their connection with the ancestral land formalized with a PIO card," she said. While Guadeloupe is in the Caribbean, Reunion Island is in the Indian Ocean. "The PIO card has become an emotional issue. Many of the older people believe it would establish their connection with India which was lost because of French colonial policies," she added. Gourdine's parents were part of the 55,000-strong Indian commu-

nity in Guadeloupe - just over 10 percent of the population - till they moved to mainland France. However, the Indian government has not accepted French documents as evidence of ethnic Indian ancestry that would make them eligible for PIO cards. The Indian government gives the card to any person of Indian descent whose parent, grandparent or great grandparent was born in India. The card allows a visit to India without a visa and certain investment facilities on the same lines as are available to non-resident Indians (NRIs). People of Indian descent living in France and in French overseas territories like Guadeloupe have petitioned the Indian government to recognize them as PIO and grant them cards. "You cannot imagine the kind of feeling it generates. My mother lives in Paris. She went door-todoor to get the petition signed. She collected over 200 signatures," said Gourdine. The petition was handed over to Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi during a visit to Trinidad earlier this year.

22

Subcontinent

September 24-30, 2011

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Biggest quake in 80 years in Nepal Kathmandu: After initial panic and chaos, prayers began to be offered in Nepal with the realization that the earthquake that hit its eastern region and capital city Kathmandu along with India Sunday could have wreaked far greater devastation, being the biggest in almost eight decades. Nine people were killed. As the resilient Himalayan state began to limp back to normal following a trembler measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale, the toll had risen to at least nine with the news of another unconfirmed casualty, while over 100 people had received injuries with hundreds of houses and buildings collapsing. The cramped capital, full of

Officials said Nepal was spared greater havoc this time since the epicenter of the quake was farther away in Sikkim in northeastern India. decrepit houses and little adherence to building regulations, suffered with three people dying in a

Over 600 held in Bangladesh Islamist crackdown

At least 70 people -- including some 50 police officers -- were injured in the worst political violence in recent months, police said. Dhaka: Bangladeshi police arrested over 600 members of the country's largest Islamist party after protests demanding the release from jail of its top leaders erupted into violence. Three top Jamaat-e-Islami officials were among those held, said senior police officer Mahfuzur Rahman, after thousands of party activists went on the rampage in major cities across Bangladesh. "We have arrested more than 600 people. They have been accused of vandalism, violence, torching vehicles, obstructing duty of police and breaking law and order," Rahman said. Some 260 of the arrests were made in the capital, according to Dhaka police spokesman Masud Ahmed, where Jamaat activists fought street battles with batonwielding riot police and set fire to dozens of vehicles. The party's acting deputy head and official spokesman were among those arrested after the

violence, Ahmed said. The editor of a pro-Jamaat Bengali daily was also arrested by the country's elite Rapid Action Battalion on charges of inciting violence and obstructing police, he added. At least 70 people -- including some 50 police officers -- were injured in the worst political violence in recent months, police said, adding that tear gas and rubber bullets had been used to break up the protests. Jamaat called the protests to demand the release of five senior party officials, who have been detained by a new tribunal set up to prosecute atrocities carried out during the country's liberation struggle in 1971. Two officials from the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party have also been detained by the tribunal. Both parties have denounced the tribunal as a show trial and say charges against their officials are politically motivated.

wall collapse while over 50 were injured trying to jump down from windows and balconies in the

panic. Police said that the nine ft wall fencing the compound of the British Embassy in the Lainchaur area of the capital, close to the Indian Embassy, collapsed soon after the jolt, smashing down on a two-wheeler, a car and a pedestrian. Army and armed police personnel assisted by locals dug out the three from under the debris and rushed them to the Manmohan Memorial Hospital where all three succumbed to their injuries. The National Seismological Centre said it was the biggest tremor to hit Nepal since 1934 when a quake measuring 8.4 had killed over 8,500 people in the Himalayan state alone besides

causing damage in India's Bihar state. Officials said Nepal was spared greater havoc this time since the epicenter of the quake was farther away in Sikkim in northeastern India and not in Bihar, the Indian state adjoining Nepal's boundary. Hundreds of people rushed out on the streets in the capital with little open space, crying and taking the names of gods as the tremors started. Nepal's parliament was in session when the quake struck, causing alarmed lawmakers to scream and run out for safety. Chairman Subash Nembang said he was adjourning the house for some time.

Taliban kills former Afghan president Rabbani Kabul: Former Afghan president Burhanuddin Rabbani was killed in a suicide blast at his house here, media reports said. He was meeting with a group of Taliban insurgents when the explosion was triggered, Xinhua reported quoting an unnamed source from Rabbani's office. "The suicide bomb went off at 18.10 outside the house. There are casualties, but details will be released later," said Hashmat Stanikzai, the provincial police spokesperson. The Taliban insurgents had come to the capital to meet the officials of the Afghan High Peace Council that is headed by Rabbani.

Burhanuddin Rabbani was selected by President Hamid Karzai in October 2010 as chairman of the 70-member High Peace Council to broker peace with the Taliban. It was not immediately clear if the visitors were involved in the attack, which also left five others dead and

several injured, the local Tolo TV channel said. A witness said that it was a suicide bombing. Security was beefed up after the attack. Rabbani was selected by President Hamid Karzai in October 2010 as chairman of the 70-member High Peace Council to broker peace with the Taliban. Many members of the council are former warlords who spent years fighting the Taliban and their inclusion led to doubts as to whether it could succeed in its mission, the BBC said. The Taliban rejected the council and called for the withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan.

Pak team takes anti-graft tips from Anna Ahmednagar (Maharashtra): A three-member Pakistani delegation met social activist Anna Hazare at his village to seek his opinion on starting an anti-graft drive in their country. Former Pakistan law minister Iqbal Haider, Pakistan Supreme Court's former judge Nazir Aslam Zahid, and trade unionist Karamat Ali also invited the 74-year-old activist to visit Pakistan to initiate a movement similar to the one he launched in India. The meeting was held at Hazare's hometown in Ralegan-Siddhi. "Hazare's movement has become a topic of great significance in Pakistan and other countries in the world. On behalf of the people of Pakistan, we congratulated him. We have invited him to Pakistan and he has accepted it," Justice Zahid told reporters after the meeting. The meeting was organized by NGO Sarhad. "The delegation had an over three-hour long discussion with Annaji about starting a similar movement in their country because both have similar problems of corruption and terrorism," Sarhad head Sanjay Nahar said. Hazare went on a 12-day fast in the capital last month to press his demand for a strong anti-graft bill, attracting the support of a large section of people. The visiting delegation also apprised Hazare of Pakistani social activist Raja Jehangir Akhtar, who has been on hunger strike in Islamabad since Sep 12, seek-

The visiting delegation told Hazare of Pakistani social activist Raja Jehangir Akhtar, who has been on hunger strike in Islamabad since September 12, seeking an anti-corruption legislation in the country. ing an anti-corruption legislation in the country. The delegation urged Hazare not to limit his anti-corruption crusade to India, but extend it to all over South Asia. While agreeing that there was a need for similar movements in neighbouring countries, Hazare said the success in India was mainly due to the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi. The delegation arrived in India September 16 to take up the cause of Indian fishermen languishing in Pakistani jails for years.

International TheSouthAsianTimes.info

23

September 24-30, 2011

Obama rejects Palestinian UN statehood bid United Nations: President Barack Obama, trying to avert a showdown on Palestinian statehood, told the United Nations that there was no substitute for Israeli-Palestinian negotiations or a short cut to peace. With US credibility and influence in the Middle East at stake, Obama wants to dissuade the Palestinians from asking the UN Security Council for statehood in defiance of Israeli objections and a US veto threat. But they have shown no sign of renouncing their plan to stake their claim. Flag-waving Palestinians filled the squares of West Bank cities to rally behind the statehood initiative. A year after telling the UN General Assembly he hoped to see a Palestinian state born by now, the

Although Obama said he had set out a new basis for negotiations in May, chances of reviving peace talks look bleak. US president said creating such a state alongside Israel remained his goal.

Iran frees two US hikers

Joshua Fattal and Shane Bauer were sentenced to eight years in prison last month on charges of espionage. Tehran: Two US hikers jailed for President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad allegedly spying in Iran were said in an interview last week released on bail, the state media with the NBC News that Fattal reported. and Bauer would be released in a Joshua Fattal and Shane Bauer couple of days. were sentenced to eight years in One more US national, Sarah prison last month on charges of Shourd, who was held along with them in July 2009, was freed in espionage. The Tehran Province Appeals September last year on health Court agreed to change their grounds. She had since returned prison terms to five-billion-rial to the US. The three were arrested for ille(over $400,000) bail each, the official IRNA news agency gally entering the country and reported. then charged with carrying out The development comes after espionage activities.

"But the question isn't the goal we seek -- the question is how to reach it. And I am convinced that

there is no short cut to the end of a conflict that has endured for decades," Obama said. "Peace will not come through statements and resolutions at the UN -- if it were that easy, it would have been accomplished by now," he said. "Ultimately, it is Israelis and Palestinians who must live side by side. Ultimately, it is Israelis and Palestinians -- not us -- who must reach agreement on the issues that divide them: on borders and security; on refugees and Jerusalem," he added. However, it is the failure of 20 years of US-brokered negotiations that has driven Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to take his quest for statehood to the United Nations -- a move that

threatens to embarrass the United States by forcing it to protect its Israeli ally against the tide of world opinion. And although Obama said he had set out a new basis for negotiations in May, chances of reviving peace talks look bleak. The two sides are far apart. The Palestinians are divided internally and Obama will not want to risk alienating Israel's powerful US support base by pressing for Israeli concessions as he enters a tough reelection battle next year. The United States gives the Palestinian Authority financial support worth $500 million a year. Some US politicians have said they will try to cut American aid to the Palestinians if they do not give way.

NATO extends Libya mission Brussels: NATO allies decided to extend their air campaign in Libya by another 90 days, as forces loyal to ousted strongman Muammar Gaddafi maintain resistance. NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said warplanes would stay in the air as long as Libyan civilians are under threat but the mission will be under constant review and could be called off "at any time." "We are determined to continue our mission for as long as necessary, but ready to terminate the operation as soon as possible," Rasmussen said, calling the extension a "technical rollover" of a mission that has lasted six months. Any decision to end the air strikes will be taken in coordination with the United Nations and "in line with the will of the Libyan authorities," he said. "This decision sends a clear message to the Libyan people. We will be there for as long as necessary, but not a day longer, while you take your future in your hands to ensure a safe transition to the new Libya." The new mandate was accepted

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said warplanes would stay in the air as long as Libyan civilians are under threat. "without any disagreements," a being threatened, the NATO-led NATO diplomat said, adding that mission to protect them will continNATO military authorities would ue," US President Barack Obama provide an update on the situation said Tuesday at a United Nations on the ground every month. meeting on Libya welcoming the The current 90-day mandate was country's new leadership. due to expire on September 27. The Libya's National Transitional UN Security Council unanimously Council took control of Tripoli last agreed last week to maintain the no- month, but Gaddafi forces still confly zone which has been used to jus- trol some towns, putting up a fierce tify NATO air strikes against resistance in the deposed despot's Gaddafi targets. hometown of Sirte after seven "So long as the Libyan people are months of fighting.

Powerful Typhoon Roke hits Japan Tokyo: A powerful typhoon has buffeted Tokyo with strong winds and rain, halting trains and stranding tens of thousands of commuters as it barrelled toward the tsunamiravaged northeastern coast with its crippled nuclear plant. Police and local media reported that six people were dead or missing after being swept away by rivers swollen with rains from Typhoon Roke. Nearly 260,000 households in central Japan were without electricity, and authorities called for more than a million people to be evacuatPolice and local media reported that six people were dead or missing ed in central and eastern Japan. The storm, packing sustained after being swept away by rivers swollen with rains from Typhoon Roke.

winds of up to 144km/h, made landfall in the afternoon near the city of Hamamatsu, about 200km west of Tokyo. Fire department officials reported three people were injured in Tokyo. In the trendy shopping district of Shibuya, winds knocked over a tree onto a footpath but no one was hurt. Television footage showed pedestrians struggling to walk straight in powerful winds that made umbrellas useless. Typhoon Roke's projected course was to take it near the damaged Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant, where a small amount of radiation is still leaking after three

of its reactors melted down when the tsunami cut off power to the plant and its back-up generators. Takeo Iwamoto, spokesman for Tokyo Electric Power Co, the utility that operates the plant, said the cooling system for the reactors, crucial to keeping them under control, will not be endangered by the typhoon. Heavy rains caused floods and road damage in dozens of locations in Nagoya and several other cities, the Aichi prefectural (state) government said. More than 200 domestic flights were cancelled and some bullet train services were suspended.

24

Business

September 24-30, 2011

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Moody’s cuts ratings on three US banks

The ratings agency cut Bank of America’s long-term senior debt to to Baa1 from A2 and lowered short-term debt to Prime-2 from Prime-1. New York: Moody’s Investors Service cut its credit ratings on Bank of America, Citigroup and Wells Fargo, saying that Washington was now less likely to bail out the banks if needed. “The downgrades result from a decrease in the probability that the U.S. government would support the bank, if needed,” Moody’s said. The ratings agency said that it did think the government would provide some support to systemically important financial institutions. But the huge bailouts that rescued Bank of America and Citigroup and others during the financial crisis might not happen

again, Moody’s said. “It is also more likely now than during the financial crisis to allow a large bank to fail should it become financially troubled, as the risks of contagion become less acute.” the ratings agency said. It added that the moves “do not reflect a weakening of the intrinsic credit quality” of the bank. The ratings agency cut Bank of America’s long-term senior debt to to Baa1 from A2 and lowered short-term debt to Prime-2 from Prime-1. Moody’s also cut its ratings on Citigroup’s short-term debt to Prime 2 from Prime 1, while affirming its A3 long-term rating.

Labor unrest to hurt profitability: Maruti New Delhi: Maruti Suzuki's profitability will be hit due to the ongoing labor stir at the Manesar plant, said chairman RC Bhargava, ruling out any leniency towards agitators who engaged in violence against senior staff and sabotaged production. "We should not make losses, but profitability will be reduced," Bhargava said. The slowdown in the economy was also impacting margins, he added. The latest labor trouble, which started on August 29, has impacted the production of Swift, one of the company's most profitable model, creating a huge backlog. While the company has started makeshift production plans using senior staff and temporary workers, the waiting list (believed to be around 80,000 units) is too huge to be cleared just by alternative arrangements. The labor trouble started after the company asked workers to sign a 'good conduct bond' before going to work. A little over 100 workers out of the 950-odd

regular staff at the factory have signed the bond, while others are still not ready to accept it. "Everybody is suffering - the company, our vendors and the customers," Bhargava said.

Retailers divided over 51% FDI in industry Mumbai: The $28-billion organized retail trade in India is awaiting the cabinet nod on 51% foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail, based on recommendations made by the committee of secretaries (CoS), but domestic retailers and trade associations are still divided on the issue.

At the India Retail Forum (IRF) 2011 in Mumbai, industry leaders like Future Group, Bharti Walmart, Reliance Retail and Aditya Birla Retail stressed on the importance of FDI in multibrand retail in order to build scale, reduce supply chain costs and improve efficiency in production.

40.74 crore Indians below poverty line: Govt New Delhi: The Planning Commission told the Supreme Court that the below poverty line (BPL) population in the country is 40.74 crore and the poverty line for the urban and rural areas could be provisionally placed at Rs.965 per capita per month (around Rs.32 per day) and Rs.781 per capita per month (around Rs.26 per day), respectively. The Planning Commission in an affidavit said that the BPL population at present touched by the public distribution services (PDS) was 35.98 crore. "If the Tendulkar (committee) poverty ratio for 2004/05 is applied to the projected population of the Registrar General of India as on March 1, 2005, the total BPL population would be 40.74 crore," the affidavit said. The Planning Commission told the Supreme Court anyone spending more than Rs 965 per month in urban India and Rs 781 in rural India will be deemed not to be poor. Updating the poverty line cut-off fig-

Maruti’s Manesar plant in Haryana.

ures, the commission said those spending in excess of Rs 32 a day in urban areas or Rs 26 a day in villages will no longer be eligible to draw benefits of central and state government welfare schemes meant for those living below the poverty line. The poverty estimates for year 200910 were being worked out and the "provisional estimates suggest that the total BPL population as per 2009-10 estimation may be lower than that which would have emerged (on the basis) of Tendulkar ratio on 2004-05 projection", it said. The Planning Commission filed the affidavit in pursuance of the May 14 order of the apex court bench of Justice Dalveer Bhandari and Justice Deepak Verma, which said that according to the expert group headed by Suresh Tendulkar at the price level of 2011, it was impossible for an individual in urban and rural area to consume 2,100 calories in Rs.20 and Rs.15, respectively. The bench's order asked the Planning

Commission to "revise norms of per capita amount looking at the price index of May 2011 or any subsequent dates". The affidavit said that on applying price increase using the consumer price index for industrial workers in urban areas and the consumer price index for agricultural labourers for rural areas, "the poverty line at June 2011 price level can be placed provisionally at Rs.965 per capita per month in urban areas and Rs.781 per capita per month in rural areas." "At June 2011 price level, for a family of five, this provisional poverty line would amount to Rs.4,824 per month in urban areas and Rs.3,905 per month in rural areas," the affidavit said. The affidavit said that the final poverty line following the Tendulkar Committee ratio would only be available after completion of the 2011-12 National Sample Survey (NSS) and this would vary from state to state because of price differential.

“Modern retail has created a great base and there are multiple brands in every format,” said Kishore Biyani, founder and group CEO, Future Group. “Now, we need an impetus which can be provided by foreign capital, that looks at a horizon of 1520 years. No Indian retailer would look beyond five years.”

‘India-US investment treaty pact soon’ Chicago: India and the United States will soon have a bilateral agreement to facilitate two-way investments. Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma said that negotiations on the India-US Bilateral Investment Treaty were almost complete. Addressing the US-India Economic Opportunities and Synergies Summit here organized by the FICCI in association with The Executive Club of Chicago, Sharma said he would meet US Trade Representative Ron Kirk to discuss the issues related to trade and investments. The commerce and indus-

try minister urged US entrepreneurs to increase investments in India's infrastructure sector, saying his country was one of the safest places for investments and offered attractive returns. He said India would be seeking investment in infrastructure of over $1 trillion in the next five years and the "United States could be major beneficiary being a leading nation in the world in terms of innovation and technology, which could help India's growth". "India provides a stable framework and rule-based law that provides an impetus to investors," Sharma said.

Sports TheSouthAsianTimes.info

25

September 24-30, 2011

Don't force seniors into retirement: Sourav New Delhi: Former India captain Sourav Ganguly says it is not right for the selectors to force the senior players into retirement. Ganguly said that seniors like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and V.V.S. Laxman should decide on their own when it comes to taking a call on quitting the game. "The day their performance drops, they will leave on their own. Dravid and Laxman have already phased out from ODI cricket. Sachin also plays very less. It is good to see youngsters perform so well in the shorter format but I am more worried about Tests. We haven't seen anyone who can challenge these seniors. Definitely, the time hasn't come to phase out seniors in Tests," Ganguly was quoted as saying by

Kapil Dev disagreed with Ganguly and said that selectors should take a call on the retirement of the senior players.

BCCI gets new chief, Kochi out of IPL

New Delhi: Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) newly appointed president N.Srinivasan said that there is no conflict of interest in his heading the board and being the managing director of India Cements, which owns the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise of Chennai Super Kings. "I have no personal conflict of interest and will excuse myself on key matters. It's India Cements that holds the ownership rights of the franchise and not me," said Srinivasan. Srinivasan said the matter is sub judice and it would not be appropriate for him to comment on the issue. Srinivasan took over as the BCCI president after the Supreme Court refused to restrain him from taking over. But while allowing him to take over as BCCI chief, a bench of Justice Aftab Alam and Justice R.M. Lodha made it clear that his appointment would be subject to the final outcome of a petition by former BCCI president A.C. Muthiah, who had questioned his eligibility for holding any board post while owning an IPL team.

"The conflict of interest matter is sub judice and it wouldn't be appropriate for me to go on further on this subject," Srinivasan was quoted as saying by CNN-IBN. The BCCI president also made it clear that in no way terminated IPL franchise Kochi Tuskers would be allowed to take part in next year's league. He said the IPL Governing Council will decide whether the league will continue as a nine-team affair or fresh bids would be invited to replace the Kerala franchise. "Kochi cannot return to the IPL and now it's up to the Governing Council to see the future prospect of filling in the vacant slot by a new side. It's the IPL Governing Council which will decide what to do after Kochi's termination," Srinivasan said. Srinivasan said the players affected due to the termination of the Kochi franchise will be taken care of by the board. "Interests of players affected by Kochi's axing will be protected," said Srinivasan. The BCCI president also rubbished suggestions that "non-stop" cricket was taking a toll on Indian cricketers.

talented youngster without taking too much risk and making too many changes all of a sudden," Kapil said. Kapil said it is not going to be easy to find replacements for the likes of Tendulkar, Dravid and Laxman. "It is going to be extremely difficult. But, youngsters, even though they might have failed in whatever chances they've got till now, have to be given another go. Actually, the problem is not with their (youngsters') talent. It is their poor fitness level which is letting them down. Coach and selectors will have to play a big role in coming times. Youngsters should also learn to take pride in their cricket," said Kapil.

Somerset, Knight Riders qualify for CLT20 Hyderabad: Kolkata Knight Riders lost to Somerset by 11 runs in their last qualifying match pool A match here at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium here Wednesday but both teams qualified for the final round of Champions League Twenty20. Chasing a target of 167, Knight Riders made 155 for eight in 20 overs after a brilliant 31-balls 46 by Dutch star Ryan ten Doeschate and qualified for the main round on the basis of better net run rate. Opting to bat first, Somerset put on a competitive 166 for six in 20 overs thanks to a crucial 72-run

BCCIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s newly-appointed president N. Srinivasan.

a TV channel. Kapil Dev, captain of the 1983 World Cup winning team, disagreed with Ganguly and said that selectors should take a call on the retirement of the senior players. "It is the selectors who will have to take a call on their retirement. A player never likes to retire. Selectors should see the bigger picture and take a tough decision. But, they (selectors) should this while giving full respect to these seniors," Kapil said. Kapil also proposed that the three seniors - Tendulkar, Dravid and Laxman - should not play together in a single Test. "Two of them can play and one can be rested so that a youngster can be tested in his place. In this manner, we can give a chance to a

stand between Peter Trego (70) and the county's South African import Roelof van der Merwe (40). Besides Knight Riders and Somerset, who have qualified for the third time, Trinidad and Tobago is the third team that qualified while for the next stage, while Leicestershire Foxes, Auckland Aces and Ruhunu Rhinos went back home. Trego, Man of the Match, said: "I have been playing for Somerset for some time and this one of the proudest nights of my career with them. When Roelof bats the way he did, it takes the pressure. All

other batsmen batted at more than run a ball. We had nothing to lose as outsiders, so we can give it our all." Knight Riders captain Jacques Kallis said he was happy that his team has qualified but termed it as a poor performance. "To be honest, we are happy to qualify. It was tight in the end. To be brutally honest, it was a poor performance. We fielded poorly, didn't bat well. Ryan played an exceptional innings to get us through. When we lost a couple of wickets up front, we realized we didn't need to be heroes," he said.

Sachinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ODI proposal not accepted by ICC Colombo: International Cricket Council (ICC) said that the world cricket body has no plans to tinker with the format of the One-Day Internationals as suggested by batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar. ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said that he had a discussion with Tendulkar on the future of the 50-over cricket. "I was engaged with Sachin a long time back on his thinking on the 50-over format. I met with him during the World Cup. He gave me a written proposal which we took to the Cricket Committee in May. The Cricket Committee considered that proposal," said Lorgat, who was here for the launch of the ICC's Twenty20 World Cup that will be held here next year. The South African said that the Cricket Committee felt that there was no need to alter the format of 50-over cricket because it is in good health. "But the view of the committee, which was supported by the board, was that the 50-over format was in sound health and there was no need for dramatic changes to it at this stage. You are well aware of the two new innovations introduced. And that is what was felt was sufficient at this stage," he said. Tendulkar, in a letter to the ICC, said that ODIs should be changed to four 25-over innings. He said that it was the best way to balance the advantages gained by the team that won the toss. Tendulkar had also proposed voluntary Powerplays.

Sachin Tendulkar, in a letter to the ICC, said ODIs should be changed to four 25-over innings.

26

Art & Books

September 24-30, 2011

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

E-commerce changing India's art mart: Saffronart CEO -commerce sites are changing the way people buy art in the country, says Dinesh Vazirani, CEO of India's biggest online art auction house Saffronart. The e-buyers are aggressive, confident and wide in demography. "The e-commerce sites and the penetration of internet have thrown up a new segment of art buyers who are savvy with technology and confident. E-commerce is a budding platform in the country through which one can access buyers all over the world. It is very nascent in India but important because people are looking at the Indian art market," said Vazirani. "The buyers, mostly upwardly mobile, bid very aggressively on the mobile phones because it affords them anonymity and flexibility. The physical auction room has limitations," he said. The bids get more layered on the digital platform. "You get a crosssection of demographic mix on the online platform," Vazirani said. Studies cite tha the Indian art

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Dinesh and Minal Vazirani started Saffronart – India’s first online art auction house market is estimated at over Vazirani said buyers will be bidRs.2,000 crore (Rs.20 billion). ding online and on their cell Saffronart is offering a niche phones. collection of modern and contem"There has been convergence porary art for its autumn online within technology. Hand-held auction Sep 21-22. The collection instruments like mobile and i-pads featuring 70 lots by 32 contempo- are integrating with the internet on rary artists is estimated at about one platform, the mobile phone, to Rs.35.2 crore. help more and more people conThe selection includes works by duct their lives through technolomasters like Jehangir Sabavala, gy, organize them. One can see all Tyeb Mehta, M.F. Husain, S.H. kinds of transactions on the interRaza and Arpita Singh. net, including art," Vazirani said.

India has more than 500 million mobile users, estimates by telecom regulatory authority TRAI say. Auction bids on the mobile phone and the internet are more confident, Vazirani said. The online art buyers are younger, he said. "Younger people are so comfortable with the technology all around. It has changed their behavioral pattern," Vazirani said. Vazirani said "the dynamics of the art auction market have changed since the meltdown". "During boom time, investors had become speculators. But the meltdown has changed the buying outlook. The market is drawing serious collectors who are a lot more aware and educated. They look for provenance (history and authenticity) of the art they are buying," Vazirani said. Vazirani predicts that the consolidation of the collectors' market and e-commerce in art will lead to a "next phase of infrastructure building". "Many new private museums and archives modeled on the Kiran

Nader Museum and the Devi Art Foundation will come up in the country. It is a very positive way to go," Vazirani said. Buying during the phase of infrastructure building will evolve further, he said. The astute nature of transactions by the art collectors, who are opting for quality and branding post-meltdown, will become more research-based, Vazirani predicts. Private museum owners will demand better provenance of the art works they acquire, longevity, exclusivity and value of money, Vazirani said. The culture of auctions will become proactive, he said. Saffronart has introduced small 24X7 auctions and small themebased auctions every month to create a new segment of buyers and promote awareness about quality in purchase, he said. Vazirani said, "The three major trends that will guide the Indian art market in the next decade are a new emphasis of art infrastructure, globalization of Indian art and emergence of serious collectors."

Book Review

Anita Desai’s new characters search for wholeness Her three novellas in ‘The Artist of Disappearance’ make you want to savor the narratives t the age of 74, Anita Desai’s prose and storytelling seem to have arrived at a level that only 50 years of writing can give. So her three novellas in ‘The Artist of Disappearance’ make you want to savor the narratives and plots which few writers in English can today attempt to write. In an interview after the book`s publication, Desai said the three stories were based on memory and past experience. This is evident in the first novella, ‘The Museum of Final Journeys’ -- about an elderly civil servant narrating an incident from the 1970s, during his first posting as a sub-divisional officer in a small town in north Bengal. The narrator, who carries the burden of his IAS father’s hope, is shamelessly prejudiced against the people he has been hired to serve. One day, an uninvited stimulation knocks on his circuit house’s door. An old caretaker from a nearby tea estate (Siliguri probably) has come to him with a long-winding story (for which the babu has no patience) and at the end of it comes an invitation to visit a bizarre museum filled with things the estate owner’s expat son used to send from across the world. Some days later, as the stuff and a creature (kept secret till now) are unveiled room by room to the agape narrator in the dilapidated bungalow, he is trapped in this

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`real-life dream’, unable ever to escape. The next story, "Translator, Translated", is about two former schoolmates. Prema is shy, middle-aged, unmarried and of mixed parentage (like the writer) and unwillingly teaches the works of George Elliot and Jane Austen at a girls college in Delhi (like Miranda House where Desai studied). Tara on the contrary is now a famous publisher and has a young lover. Prema wants to reclaim her departed mother’s bucolic Orissa through an obscure Oriya writer she had stumbled upon -- Suvarna Devi. Tara agrees to publish her translation of Devi’s book into English. Therein comes the trepidation and rapture of working on the work of a writer who had been

the axis of her life and the reclusive writer too emerges, her character partly resembling Mahasweta Devi (living with adivasis, writing about them). But the spell starts to break as Prema begins to translate Devi’s next story. She sees flaws -- and begins to rewrite the novel and in the end is shamed, publicly. "When she got home on the bus and climbed the stairs...the day was sinking into its murky nicotine-tinged haze of dust with home-going traffic pouring through it like blue-black oil from a leak in the street below. The crows that spent the day swinging on the electric and telephone wires and squabbling were dropping into the scraggly branches of the lopped tree below with exhausted squawks. Would she allow herself

Author Anita Desai to be dragged into the gloom by it all once again?" The third novella, the title story, again shows Desai’s mastery over evoking nature with words, the flora and fauna of the hills above Mussoorie (where Desai was born). There is Ravi, the boy who feels closer to plants and animals than he is to his Anglicized foster parents. Later, Ravi, orphaned, after many years in Bombay, blooms again in that old hill bungalow. Then the house burns but Ravi stays put, spending his days deep in the forest creating a secret miniature garden, only for himself (much like Nek Chand, who created the secret `rock garden` in Chandigarh). Then one day a trio

from Delhi come to make a film of ecological degradation and in the process `desecrate’ Ravi’s garden, who as a result retreats deeper into himself, like a scared child. At first reading, the stories seem unalterable, as if they could not have been written in any other way, given the forces of circumstances acting on the characters. But as the spell breaks, questions arise. Why was the IAS officer shown to be so worthless? Or why did Desai not give readers a peek into Suvarna Devi’s special prose (except for a few lines) when Desai had made her works the story’s foundation? May be she wanted us to feel as disappointed as her characters.

Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (MLIC), New York, NY 10166. Securities products and investment advisory services offered by MetLife Securities, Inc. (MSI) (member FINRA/SIPC) a registered investment adviser. MLIC and MSI are MetLife Companies. L0811203601[exp0812][NJ,NY]

28

Humor

September 23-30, 2011

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Humor with Melvin Durai

Taking a shot at Bollywood veryone has dreams and mine was to become a Bollywood star. I know it sounds crazy but please don't laugh. I'll be the first to admit that it was a long shot that I had a better chance of becoming a Sports Illustrated swimsuit model. But I've listened to enough motivational tapes to realize the importance of "going for it." What did I have to lose? So after much deliberation, after consulting my friends ("You're nuts!"), my mother ("You're crazy!") and my wife ("You're delusional!"), I decided to audition for a Bollywood agent, giving him a quick look at my acting, dancing and singing skills. Following my performance, he asked me to have a seat, scratched his chin and looked directly into my eyes. Agent: "Thank you for auditioning, Mr. Durai. Since you're so determined to work in Bollywood, I might be able to find you a job. The directors are always looking for someone to fetch them coffee." Me: "But I want to be an actor." Agent: "I'm sorry, Mr. Durai. We have four major criteria for Bollywood actors and I'm afraid

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you fail all of them." Me: "I realize I don't speak Hindi but I'm willing to learn." Agent: "Speaking Hindi is not a requirement anymore. The producers are very good at dubbing. They can even make George Bush speak Hindi." Me: "Is it my singing then? I realize I don't sing very well." Agent: "Well, your singing isn't bad, Mr. Durai -- it's terrible. I've heard better singing from a donkey. But singing isn't an issue. The producers can easily dub the voice of a professional singer, so moviegoers don't have to stuff popcorn into their ears." Me: "Is it my looks then? Am I not handsome enough?" Agent: "Well, let's just say you're no Salman Khan. Come to think of it, you're no Salman Rushdie either. What's more, Mr. Durai, you're not exactly fair-

skinned. You'd have to be a villain." Me: "But I'm willing to do anything: wear a mask, cover my face with talcum powder, or see Michael Jackson's plastic surgeon." Agent: "Really? While you're at it, you might as well see Michael Jackson's dance instructor. You dance like a cow. I hope you're not offended by that. I really don't mean to insult cows. Dancing is very important in Bollywood, Mr. Durai, more important than acting. But of even greater importance is your name. Yours, unfortunately, does not end with 'han.'" Me: "What do you mean?" Agent: "All the top Bollywood actors, in case you didn't notice, have surnames ending with 'han.' For example: Amitabh Bachchan, Shahrukh Khan, and Hrithik Roshan. This formula has even worked for another top Asian star: Jackie Chan." Me: "What's the significance of 'han.'?" Agent: "We're not sure. 'Han' means 'yes,' but it might also be a short form of 'handsome.' It makes these actors more appealing on

screen." Me: "Well, in that case, I'm willing to change my name to Melvin Roshan. In fact, I'm even willing to change to Mohan Roshan. That way, you'd get twice the 'han.'"

Agent: "Your determination is inspiring, Mr. Durai. But if you're not born with such a name then I am sorry to say, the gods have not smiled on you. Are you sure you don't want to fetch coffee?"

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

Google adds Visa, Amex, Discover cards to Wallet New York: Google's Wallet is getting thicker, with the addition of Visa, American Express and Discover to the search company's payment system, which aims to make cellphones the credit cards of tomorrow. MasterCard, the other major payment processor, is already part of the project. And Google released the Wallet application on Monday for one Sprint smartphone for users with MasterCards. People with that phone will be able to "load" a Citibank MasterCard into the Wallet application on the phone, and pay by tapping the phone to wirelesscapable payment terminals in stores instead of swiping a credit

card. Visa, American Express and Discover cards are set to appear later. Visa plans to bring out its own, competing wallet application as well.

Mobile addiction linked to anxiety disorder Washington, DC: Are you addicted to your phone while driving? Well, it could be due to an anxiety disorder, says a new study. Researchers at the University of Arkansas have suggested that people who engage in the risky practice of using their cell phones while behind the wheel, may be suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder rather than addiction. The findings have significant policy implications because most legislation prohibiting mobile phone usage while driving - which generally has failed - has relied on research that links dangerous and excessive usage to addictive traits. "Despite evidence that addiction

might drive some excessive and dangerous mobile phone usage, that model explains only part of the phenomenon," said Moez Limayem, professor and associate dean for research and graduate programs in the Sam M. Walton College of Business. "Our study shows that another potential driver of such behaviors may relate more closely to obsessive-compulsive disorders than addictions. "This is important because behavioral interventions to treat OCD and addictions differ fundamentally, and the possibility that mobile phone usage is a compulsion rather than an addiction may suggest more effec-

tive legislative interventions and prevention tactics," he stated. Limayem and a doctoral student, Zach Steelman, came to the conclusion after they collected data from 451 men and women of various age groups and locations through an online survey website. "Evidence of compulsive behavior brings to light the notion that the underlying motivation to use a mobile phone is not pleasure, as predicted by addictions studies, but rather a response to heightened stress and anxiety," Limayem added.

Astrology TheSouthAsianTimes.info

September 24-30, 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 24-30, 2011 Aries: This week your personality would attract lot of attention. Use your intelligence to extract favours from others. New project would be alluring, but govt. rules and regulations would pose hindrances. Your spouse would love you and take care of you a lot. Try not to overspend on visitors and guests, although gifts and presents during this period would be plenty. Your ability to stand out in a group will bring you popularity and recognition. Taurus: This week you would make extra money through your own creative efforts. You would have some good ideas and your ability to discuss those with people who can provide assistance would help you in your situation. Your energy would be high and competitive games and outdoor activities would attract you. Your love life would blossom as you receive gifts and presents. Great period to go out for shopping of expensive jewelry and items. Residential moves would be beneficial. Gemini: This week you would accomplish a lot through joint efforts. You would take a position of a leader and guide others to success. Your co-workers, colleagues and seniors would notice your ability, which would work to your advantage. Spouse would be caring and provide you with love and affection. Go for social events that would improve your social circle. Added knowledge that you acquire during this week, will give you advantage in your career. Cancer: Unexpected changes regarding financial and legal matters would be favourable. As your energy would be high, you would be able to achieve more than what you expect. Although office pressures would increase during this period, you still would be in a glorious and energetic mood. Little time for meditation and yoga would be important for mental as well as physical gains. Do not neglect your beloved no matter how hectic may be your work schedule. Leo: Good period to sign new business deals and alliances. Businessmen and investors would see past investments reaping profits. Good week to call important people over to your place, as you would gain valuable information and knowledge. You would also have little free time to yourself, which you should spend in helping those who are incapable of taking care of their personal affairs. Opportunities to travel to a distant place for some. Virgo: A highly result oriented week, where efforts bring desired goals. Your career would get a boost, as you would be able to gather small part-time projects to increase your earning ability. Problems in your personal life would enlarge much beyond your expectations, if you were not open about how you feel. Use your intelligence and charms to attract attention at social get-together. Libra: Good period for Libra’s, as excellent surprises would keep you in a delightful mood. Your career and your earning ability would also take an upward climb and your position would strengthen amongst your peers. Your original ideas would win acceptance from others, and people would seek your advice. However, you would be overly tired and need extra rest towards the weekend. Do not trust people with

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important information. Scorpio: This week you would have influential and experienced people around you who would constantly be a source of inspiration and support. You need to do things that would improve your health since your body would be highly receptive to change. Sudden good news later in the week brings happiness and cheers for the entire family. Traveling will not be as beneficial as expected. Children and spouse will be demanding. Sagittarius: This is not the good period to enter financial agreements. Disagreements with partners would make it difficult for you to carry out your plans. Although you would get substantial time with your beloved but your relationship would suffer due to arguments and silly contradictions. This temporary phase would soon be over until then you need to spend maximum time with friends, go out for a vacation or do things that will keep you relaxed. It would also be wise to meet experienced people who will broaden your awareness concerning your career goals. Capricorn: Any renovation or decoration that you carry out this week should be done with the approval of others. You would also improve your reputation if you help those who are under extreme mental pressure. Your convincing power would have a deep impact and people would praise you for your efforts. Your moneymaking ideas would be highly lucrative. Deals related to land, home, and property would bring gains. Recognition and rewards for creative Capricornians during this period are certain. Aquarius: Opportunities to travel outstation for business cannot be ruled out. Your hectic work schedule would put you under stress therefore it would be essential for you to seek help from others. You might even feel depressed and irritated but it would only be a temporary phase. Participate in activities that would provide you with entertainment, little adventure and knowledge. Losses are likely if you invest on the advice of dubious individuals. Pisces: This week some arguments could ruin your mood. Take your time before making any crucial decision. Do not make hasty decisions or you could blow situation out of proportion and ruin a long lasting relationship. Be careful not to get involved in easy money making schemes. Gambling certainly is not on your cards. You should try to put some extra time and energy into learning additional knowledge and skills that will help you in your career.

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 24: Ruled by number 6 and the planet Venus. You have a pleasant personality, sharp memory and you are very fond of worldly pleasures. You are very methodical, emotional and helpful person. You make your plans and stick to it, but you need to control your tendency to behave moody, timid and spendthrift at times. This year businessmen would expand their ventures into new and more profitable avenues. You would do extremely well if you deal in real estate, but expect some opposition to arise from partners. New romance for some, so make the best of it. Meditation and Yoga should be practiced for spiritual as well as physical gains. Some exhilarating news from your children will bring happiness later in the year. The months of August, January and May will be highly eventful. Sep 25: Dominated by number 7 and the planet Neptune, you are highly creative, affectionate, trustworthy, original, energetic and emotional person. You never run away from difficult task. What might appear impossible to others would look like a challenge to you. You have great talents, but you need to control your tendency to behave arrogant and dominating at times. This coming period is good for starting new ventures. Projects that have been slow till now would gain momentum. Disputes if any would get sorted out and bring a sense of relief to your mind. Romantic encounters with colleagues might develop, though it would be very short lived. Your competitive nature would make you stay ahead of others and also make you popular amongst your peers. Friends will be helpful but demanding. The months of September, December, March and July will prove to be significant. Sep 26: Influenced by number 8 and the planet Saturn. You are ambitious, authoritative, systematic, sober and simple person. You have great potential to influence large group of people. You possess modern, revolutionary views which keep you in the limelight, but you need to control your tendency to behave stubborn and jealous at times. This year you would have abundance of energy, which if properly used would bring you overwhelming results. Financially it seems to be a good period to invest in stocks and property, but all investments should be made for a long-term basis. A distant journey seems likely later in the year, most probably for attending some auspicious occasion. Friends and relatives will not be very helpful and should not be depended upon. The months of August, February and Sep will prove to be beneficial. Sep 27: Ruled by number 9 and the planet Mars. You are active, energetic, trustworthy, systematic and quick in taking decisions. You always welcome new ideas and are fond of reading to increase your knowledge and discover new and unknown things, but you need to control your tendency to behave shy, arrogant and moody at times. This year you would make new contacts, which would help you in your line of work. You would also receive unexpected advancements in your career. You would do extremely well socially if you travel and get involved in clubs and other social events. Your income would be much better than the past few years. Your beloved though possessive at time would be helpful and supportive. Minor health ailments such as backache, stiff neck

or body pains will pose frequent problems. The month of September, December and March will bring in the desired result. Sep. 28: Influenced by number 1 and the Sun, you are active, energetic, determined, responsible and original. You are creative and highly result oriented person, but you need to curb your tendency to behave reckless, spendthrift and stubborn at times. The coming year improves financial status of many and some even inherit ancestral property. Business will flourish and financial gains will lift your confidence. Legal matters that have been haunting your mind will settle to your satisfaction. Promotions and increments are likely for some. Romance however will not be pleasant as frequent arguments and disagreements will keep on bothering your mind. Students will perform remarkably well in academics and sports. Those suffering from blood pressure and piles need to take extra care of their health. The months of August, February and May will be highly significant. Sep 29: Ruled by number 2 and the Moon, you are highly creative, practical, emotional, friendly, simple and generous person. You enjoy enormous respect at your workplace, but at the same time you need to check your tendency to behave introvert, selfish and jealous at times. New jobs and assignments will be the highlight of the coming year. Promotions and transfers for some employees. Investment in property will yield good returns in the long run. Frequent and fruitful journeys will be undertaken bringing monetary gains and help you build up long lasting relationships. Relations with someone of the opposite sex will strengthen giving a refreshing and interesting twist to your life. Some exciting news from children will lift your spirits. Rise in your medical bills as health of your parents could cause tension and anxiety. The months of October, December, January and April seem to be highly eventful. Sep 30: Governed by number 3 and the planet Jupiter, you are bold, ambitious, dignified, courageous and intelligent. You are hard working and always appreciated for your commitment and efforts, but you need to control your tendency to behave erratic, stubborn and lazy at times. This year will be highly beneficial for those who are willing to take investment and business risks. Speculation in property and stocks will bring in handsome results. This year will be highly significant for working and professional women, as they will prosper in their respective fields. New romance will be exciting but short-lived. Journey or pilgrimage will provide comfort and peace. Be extra careful of your jewelry and expensive items. Chances of overseas education for few students who are looking for a better career. The months of September, November, February and Sep will be important.

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30

Spiritual Awareness

September 24-30, 2011

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Meditation to know what lies Beyond Concluding part of three part series 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 he saints tell us that what dies is the physical body, which is made of matter. Being made of matter, the physical body deteriorates, decays and is finally destroyed. But our true self, which is our spirit or soul, is eternal. It lives on and on. By connecting with our soul, we will have access to the answers of what awaits us beyond death’s door and how we can take a peep into the beyond while still alive. Is there any evidence to prove the soul’s immortality? We have two pieces of evidence to examine. One is the statements and accounts given by saints, prophets and mystics who claimed to pass through the gates of the Beyond in their mystic travels. The second is current statements made by doctors and scientists who, through modern medicine, have brought back to life people who had been declared clinically dead. Millions of people in the past three decades have had near-death experiences and their reports are all similar. A doctor discovered that those patients who had clinically died but were brought back to life through the wonders of modern medicine all had a similar experience. Many reported having separated from their body. They were able to watch from above their own body as the medical practitioners tried to revive them. Many were able to see relatives in other rooms or other cities and hear what they were saying while their body was on the operating table. Later, the accounts of what they saw and heard were borne out by the relatives. Many of them found themselves going through a tunnel and emerging in a world of Light. There they met a Being of Light who was radiant but whose light was not scorching. They were embraced by the Being of Light who poured out more love than any of them had experienced on earth. They also underwent a life review in which they experienced all the good they had done to others and all the pain they had caused others. This was a life-changing experience, for those undergoing the NDE realized that what matters most in this

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world is the love we give others. They came back transformed and vowed to lead their lives giving love and doing good as their main focus. They also lost their fear of death. They gained newfound fearlessness because they realized their soul was immortal. They realized there is no death but just a change of vesture. Thus, they could live the rest of their lives without fearing death because they had already experienced what lies beyond this life. Those who have a near-death experience are just visiting the borders between this physical realm and higher spiritual regions. Through meditation we can transcend to higher, more blissful realms. Saints have given detailed accounts of the various regions of existence to which a soul goes after death. There are three lower regions: a physical, an astral, and a causal region made of mixtures of matter and consciousness and which are subject to dissolution; and the higher spiritual regions which are eternal: the supracausal plane and a spiritual plane known as Sach Khand or True Realm from where God emanates. If we can rise above the three lower worlds, the soul enters the purely spiritual regions where it merges back in the Lord and lives eternally in bliss and love. We can experience the soul’s immortal nature when we go within. We need not experience the trauma of a near-death experience, nor would we want to, in order to find out what lies Beyond. Rather, we can learn how the saints and mystics from all different religions had their inner experiences. We can learn the techniques they used and begin to practice them ourselves. This technique is meditation. In this form of meditation, we sit in a comfortable position, one in which we can sit the longest without moving. We close our eyes, very gently as if we were going to sleep. With our attention, we focus into the middle of whatever lies in front of us. At first we may see darkness, or gray, or Lights of various colors. As we gaze into the middle of whatever we see, our soul will begin to concentrate at a point known as the third or single eye, located between and behind the two eyebrows. As it concentrates there, and we continue to gaze, we will begin to see inner vistas. We may see flashes of Light, Lights of any color, an inner sky, moon, or sun. We may see our inner guide who will take us on an inner journey. At the time of initiation, the Masters impart some of their spiritual attention to us to give us a spiritual boost within so we can see and hear the inner Light and Sound of God. To keep our mind still, they give us five Charged Words to repeat. These have several benefits. They keep our mind occupied so that no thoughts can distract us. We have

seen that even yogis who meditate for many years and do physical poses and breathing exercises, still have to grapple with distractions from their mind. Stillness of mind is needed to be able to see the inner Light and hear the beautiful inner Music. These are always shining and reverberating within us, but we do not see or hear them because our mind is occupied with external thoughts. The moment we can stop these thoughts and enter the stillness within, we can see and hear the inner Light and Sound. These words are also charged to help our attention withdraw from awareness of the body to become aware of the inner Light within us. As we become more absorbed into the inner Light and Sound, we can transcend physical body-consciousness and cross into spiritual realms beyond. As we gaze into the inner Light we may find Lights of various colors, inner vistas, and ultimately we transcend physical consciousness and become conscious of the inner spiritual realms. Our soul soars into these inner states of consciousness, and experiences those places to which we will go when we leave this world for our final time. We find that we exist without our body as soul. Each inner region is alive with beautiful colors, celestial Music more enticing than any in this world, and divine love. All our suffering ends. We are embraced by the love of God that puts us into states of eternal bliss and happiness. We become fearless as we realize that our body is not our true self, but that our soul is our real essence and exists beyond this physical world. This experience fills us with tremendous joy and peace. We are thrilled to know that we can be fully conscious in another realm of existence. We experience a state of all love, all joy, and all consciousness. This inner journey takes us through different levels of inner realms; each higher one has more and more consciousness and less matter. There is an astral realm filled with more Light than this realm and beautiful Music. There we travel in a lighter body known as an astral body. There are beautiful sights and colors in this region unseen on earth. Even more ethereal is the causal region, which is more subtle, more blissful, and more loving. It contains equal parts matter and consciousness. From there, there is the supracausal plane, which is predominantly

consciousness with a small amount of illusion. Finally, there is the region of all spirit, with no trace of matter. It is here that our soul merges into God, and becomes one with God. Here we realize that our soul is the same essence of God and is a part of God. This state is one in which we gain immortality, permanent peace, and divine love that knows no end. We can attain each of these states through meditation on the inner Light and Sound, or Shabd Meditation, as taught by Masters of Sant Mat. To reach these heavenly realms, we need to meditate daily. By sitting still and keeping our mind still through mental repetition of the Charged Words given by a saint or Master, we can begin to witness the inner Light and Sound and learn to rise into spiritual consciousness of the Beyond. The benefits of doing so are that we will lose our fear of death. We will be able to journey at any time of day or night, from the comfort of our own homes, into the spiritual realms that await us Beyond. We will not fear death because we will have seen in life what is awaiting us Beyond. People who have had spiritual experiences of the Beyond do not fear death any longer because they know that there is a house waiting for them within. Another benefit is that we will not fear the death of our loved ones. It is true that we will grieve for them and miss them terribly, but we will be comforted in knowing for certain that they are safe, happy, free of pain, and in ecstasy in the realms Beyond. We will know that they have taken up residence in a far more beautiful and blissful place than where we live on earth. We will know that they are free of suffering and are in a peaceful place. While we still miss them, we are not fearful of what has happened to them. Finally, another benefit of meditation and finding God within is that we see that we are all one. We see the same Light of God that is in us is in everyone else. Then, we love all and serve all. We are able to forgive others because we realize their mistakes were caused by ignorance of our oneness. When we forgive others, we can contribute to a nonviolent world. In this connection, I would like to relate an anecdote about forgiveness. Once there was a warrior who went to a wise monk and asked him, "What is the difference between heaven and hell?" The monk looked at this warrior who was very large and muscular and had a savage look about him. The monk then replied, "You ignorant brute. You are nothing but a savage. Why would I waste time with you teaching you about heaven and hell?" When the monk said that, the warrior’s blood began to boil and he was filled with anger and hatred.

We can experience the soul’s immortal nature when we go within. We need not experience the trauma of a near-death experience, nor would we want to, in order to find out what lies Beyond. Rather, we can learn how the saints and mystics from all different religions had their inner experiences. We can learn the techniques they used and begin to practice them ourselves. This technique is meditation. Suddenly, he could not control his temper and he started beating up the monk. After a few moments, the warrior realized what a heinous act he was committing and stopped. The monk smiled, and said, "That fit of anger is hell." The warrior was so ashamed for his violent act and begged the monk to forgive him. The monk again smiled and said, "Your asking for forgiveness is heaven." This story describes in a nutshell the answer to the question about dealing with all the violence, injustice, and evil in the world. We can choose to respond in kind, which creates more of a hell, or we can respond with forgiveness, which creates heaven in our own lives on earth. Meditation can uplift our soul to realms in which we can find the answers to all our spiritual questions. We can journey to the regions that await us when we leave our physical body at the time of death. The burning question of where we go after we die will be answered, because we will have already journeyed there through meditation. Death no longer fills us with fear for we see for ourselves that it holds more bliss, joy, and love than we can ever imagine. Ultimately, we reach the stage of merger with God and become allconscious. It is at that stage that our spiritual thirst is quenched. If we can spend some time daily in meditation we will gain the fearlessness to overcome all life’s challenges and lose our fear of death. We will contribute to a world of nonviolence and attain lasting happiness, bliss and joy. 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.

Heartiest Congratulations

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Nargis Dutt Memorial Foundation At 30th Annual Gala Dinner Ashok Varshney, Harendra Singh, Jerry Kohli

Jagadeesan Poola, Kamlesh Mehta, Raja Amar

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