US Affairs 11
Diaspora 20
Health 25
Spiritual Awareness 30
The South Asian Times Excellence In Journalism
NEW YORK EDITION Vol. 4 | No. 28 | October 29 - November 4, 2011 | 60 Cents
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Master Chef India 2 on Star Plus with host Vikas Khanna
Jindal wins 2nd term in a landslide in Louisiana
A ‘common man’ from Bihar first to win Rs 5 crore on KBC
Tristate Community, Page 6
National Community, Page 8
Bollywood, Page 27
For the larger benefit and strengthening of the South Asian American community, we request our readers to go out and cast their vote on November 8.
Indian Americans celebrate India opposes rights moves against Colombo Diwali with full fervor Perth: The biennial Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) kicked off here Friday with the Indian delegation keeping a wary eye on efforts to set up a human rights monitor and prevent Sri Lanka from hosting the next meeting. Leaders of over 50 countries gathered for the event that was expected to focus on development issues, the global economic crisis and a host of other
concerns that affect members of the 54-nation grouping. The Indian delegation, headed by Vice President Hamid Ansari, was expected to voice its opposition to a voluminous report by an Eminent Persons Group which has, among other things, recommended the setting up of a Commissioner for Democracy, Rule of Law and Human Rights. CHOGM story Continued on page 4
How India celebrates Diwali, pages 18-19. Fireworks on Diwali evening at Journal Square, Jersey City, NJ rooftops or at the house entrances, only fireworks tried to compete with the lights. Many schools in South Brunswick, NJ, observed a holiday on Diwali, serving as a perfect testimony that it is now accepted as an important event on Tristate’s multicultural calendar. Diwali story Continued on page 4
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II (overhead screen) delivering the inaugural address at the CHOGM 2011 in Perth, Australia Oct 28. India’s Vice President Mohd. Hamid Ansari is in the first row extreme left.
A joyous moment at RANA Diwali Gala
Lady Gaga storms Delhi
By Jinal Shah | SATimes
New York: Indians across the Tristate area celebrated Diwali with full fervor this week. Even the lingering economic uncertainty could not dim the festival of lights. The five day festival - that starts with Dhanteras and ends with Bhai Dhuj - served as a perfect setting to plan family get-togethers.
Diwali itself fell right in the middle of the week, but the festivities continued with gusto. Wednesday was like any other working day, but as the day progressed, celebrations picked up at homes, temples, restaurants and even clubs. And as the auspicious night got bejeweled with shimmering earthen lamps on the
Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano was the Guest of Honor and recipient of Lifetime Achievement Award at RANA’s 12th Diwali gala last Sunday at a hotel in Uniondale, NY. It being his father John Mangano’s birthday, the family was joined in by other guests at the cake cutting ceremony. RANA President Haridas Kotahwala then honored BC ilan_ing Mangano, Sr with10x2inch.pdf a shawl.
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‘Namaste’, the American pop sensation Lady Gaga tweeted on reaching India. The colorful diva is set to perform at India’s inaugural Formula One race in Greater Noida, at the concluding ceremony Oct 30. She spoke to the Indian media in Delhi on Friday.
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Diwali celebrated at 10 Downing Street London: No. 10 Downing Street, the residence of the British Prime Minister David Cameron lit up with Diwali celebrations on October 20 when he invited prominent members of the Hindu, Sikh and Jain communities along with Parliamentarians. The Acting High Commissioner of India Rajesh Prasad also graced the occasion. Given the décor, 10 Downing Street could easily have been in Rajasthan. Candles were placed along the corridors and the stairs to give a Diwali touch. The Rajasthani decorations lit up every
window and magnificent Indian dolls which were placed in strategic places made the place look like a maharaja’s palace. The guests were treated to a variety of canapés of Indian food and exotic drinks. The celebration started with an enchanting bhajan which transported the guests to some ancient Hindu temple. Lord Popat escorted the Prime Minister and the Acting High Commissioner to light the traditional lamp to commence the auspicious event. The Prime Minister praised the contribution of Hindu, Sikh and
Trinidad PM to be chief guest at PBD in Jaipur
Trinidad & Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar
Port-of-Spain: Trinidad & Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar will be the chief guest at India's next annual diaspora conclave that will see the participation of over 1,500 delegates from across the globe. The 10th edition of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) will be held in Jaipur Jan 7-9, 2012. During an address at an annual exposition, called Diwali Nagar, here, Indian High Commissioner Malay Mishra said that it was "a great honor to host Trinidad and
Tobago's Prime Minister, more so as she is the only woman leader in the Indian diaspora". The theme of PBD 2012 will be "Global Indian-Inclusive Growth". Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is scheduled to inaugurate the event Jan 8 and President Pratibha atil will deliver the valedictory address and confer Pravasi Bhartiya Samman awards Jan 9. The Indian diaspora is the second largest expatriate community in the world after the Chinese.
Jain communities in enriching Britain. He acknowledged their contribution in business, sports and in the Armed Forces. He met a few sportsmen and women as well as defense personnel who served in Iraq and Afghanistan upholding world freedom. Cameron expressed happiness as on that day the Libyan people had deposed their dictator like Lord Rama deposed Ravana in the legend. He also said Diwali represented light and knowledge which conquers darkness as well as ignorance.
UK Prime Minister David Cameron and India’s Acting High Commissioner in London, Rajesh Prasad (right) at the 10 Downing Street Diwali event.
Share and Care raises $1M at annual gala Newark, NJ: More than 1,500 supporters were in attendance for the 29th Annual Gala event on 23rd October of Share and Care Foundation (SCF) at NJPAC in Newark. SCF, a New Jersey based, not for profit Foundation, counts among its members more than 800 business leaders, young entrepreneurs, professionals and high net-worth individuals. Through their generosity and community support the foundation has raised over a million dollars during this campaign. The silent auction, which featured an original autographed cricket bat among other items, also contributed over $20K to assist Educate to Graduate (E2G) program. This year's event was focused on creative ways to address promoting sustainable growth through higher quality education and empowering women and girls. On the eve of three decades of consistent service to the needs of rural India, chairman Sharadkumar Shah announced commitments valued at a million dollars in 2012. The commitments are expected to benefit more than 700,000 people when fully funded. SCF has desired to address the various broad range of areas, including women education, health and human services, Educate to Graduate (E2G) and special needs programs. "Now more than ever, it is essential that, businesses, society, and the media work together to take action
Share & Care Foundation members Ketki & Sharad Shah (SCF Chairman), with Drs. Leena & Nitin Doshi, Dr & Mrs Navin Mehta, and Sandeep Nath to generate more sustainable and eq- famed lyricist and writer, Sandeep uitable growth." said Chairman Nath wrote and presented a special Shah. "For three decades, SCF poem for Share and care at the members have done just that im- event. It was heart warming and proving the lives of more than 3 served as a tribute to SCF’s three million people around India in sub- decades of dedicated service to hustantive, measurable ways that has manity. The Gala also honored those reversed the cycles of poverty and who have made a positive impact in economic upheavals." the nonprofit community, either Launched in September 2007, through their philanthropic efforts “E2G - Signature program cam- or their dedication to Share and paign” reached its target of support- Care’s mission. Distinguished honing 500 brilliant but needy students orees were Drs. Leena and Nitin in August 2011. At that time, the Doshi, Drs. Rohini and Arvind campaign committee recommended Dhruv, Kalpana and Amit Doshi, increasing the goal to 1000 students Jayshree and Mahendra Patel, Drs. that will require funding of $1 mil- Sudha and Sudhir Parikh, Damini & lion dollars a year for four years. Girish Soni, and Swati and Sudhir Special guest and Bollywood Vaishnav.
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October 2011 October22-28, 29 - November 4, 2011
IndiaBig beat England name sweet makers like multi-loca-by withfive some seen wearing traditional Indian attire like Chaniya choli and dhoti kurta. Many tion Rajbhog and shops like Surya Sweets wickets, ODI series and Snacks inclinch Bellerose, NY witnessed preferred to buy confections and give restauAs more proof of it, alternate side park-
Diwali Continued from page 1
a miss, there were others trickling snaking lines ofseven last minuteThe buyers, withcomerant ing was suspended in NYC for the sixth In the end, India needed win will as afood moraleinto restaurants customers picking up large number of year in a row. off the last six balls. Skipper booster for Dhoni’s boys who suf- till late in the night. sweets and dry fruit packs. “Despite pre- at the“Constant Throughout the day, Hindus thronged the Mahendra Singh Dhoni wrapped it fered a drubbing hands of rush forced us to shut our food counter to attend to customers at the sweets paring almost double the mithai compared temples for puja and prasad. Many temples up with two consecutive boundEngland in England earlier this to last year, all our sweets were sold out counter;” said Tilak Arora, manager at arranged Diwali pujan late in the evening to aries. year. Mithaas, adding that this Diwali their sales by four in the evening, said Geeta Kumar accommodate working professionals. of Bengali Sweet Shop in Hicksville. “We were 25 percent more than last year’s. Expectedly, sweet shops and restaurants Diwali also found its way into the work had people waiting for over half an hour made brisk sales with patrons visiting as place. Dressed in traditional Indian attire, in line to grab their favorites--mostly late as midnight, especially in New Jersey. Richa Doshi (26), a physiotherapist at a premium Bengali mithai like Sandesh, Indian restaurants prepared special menus. city clinic, with a box of mixed mithai in chamcham, and even Kaju Katli. People “We had 80-90 reservations on Wednesday. splurged on mithai despite the recession.” tow, celebrated Diwali with her colleagues We have changed our entire a la carte menu Journal Square, also known as little Inat work. Trying to explain the significance especially for Diwali week and also decoof Diwali, she narrated, “Diwali is the celdia, in Jersey City, even saw fireworks asrated the restaurant,” said Meenakshi Malebration of the returning of lord Rama darkness descended. The area was a buzz hotra, owner of Akbar restaurant in Edison. Mohali: India beat England by five wickets with four balls remaining in the third ODI match on Thursday to take an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the five match series. So his art director used maroon colorbe permitted in a location other than KuldReplying to England’s 298 for four oil to paint the original yellow stone and hara after a fresh pleais made. over 50 overs (J. Trott not out at 98 India’s Minister of State Affairs Mrs. a visitmore and more film units to also filled mudforinExternal the stone layers ofPreneet the Kaur, “Weonwant and S. Patel not out at 70), India to New York, met a group of Punjabi NRIs at a reception hosted by old walls of the ancient city’s houses, thus come to Rajasthan, but they cannot vandalscored 300 for five in 49.2 overs Phuman defacing Singh (left), President ofstructure Punjab Chapter of the Indian National the historical and permaize the old architecture and deface monu(A. Rahane 91, and Gautam Overseasnently Congress (INOC)the andheritage organized under the leadership Shudh damaging property. mentsofand structures,” added Kak. Gambhir 58.) Parkash Singh (second from left), National Vice President of INOC, USA. The Jaisalmer police booked three crew members of the Saif- Kareena Kapoor starlateral ground offensive in theagainst country's Hillary tells Pak Story rer. “No case has been made SaiftribAli Yes. We can cooperate more and achieve Continued from front page alKhan regions. but two crew members and their local better results," she added. Foreign have Minister saidbyPakistan and manager beenKhar booked the police. Rana to honor ManganoStory discussed issues of mutual interest. She said eliminating the terror group from the NoUS arrest has been made. We have seized She said Pakistan Afghan led Continued from front page "one side is not going to work". the camera, lightingsupported and otheran equipment of Those expected to grace the RANA gala process. Clinton added that the two countries were reconciliation the production company,” said District Colinclude Consul General Prabhu Dayal and "working to establish concrete steps". The peace and reconciliation process in lector MP Swami. NYC Comptroller Joh Liu. "Militants should be targeted on both sides Afghanistan, deadlocked after the assassinaSwami said the film unit had applied to RANA President Haridas Kotahwala said tion last month of Afghan peace envoy of the border," she said bluntly. the state’s home department seeking perRabbani, came up for Clinton said Pakistan was critical for Burhanuddin mission to shoot at Kuldhara. Butdiscuseven that his community’s dream of getting their sion. Afghanistan had suspended regional security. before the permission could reachthe thepeace film own Rajasthan Bhawan will be realized SaifWashington Ali Khan respected the process with Pakistan and also trilateral soon—that is their focus. He quotes Swami She added that unit, they violated rules and norms by startcountry's sovereignty, an apparent attempt to efforts involving Afghanistan, and Vivekananda’s words in support, ‘When an ing preparations for shooting Pakistan the climax By Prakash Bhandari/SATimes idea exclusively occupies the mind, it is assuage Pakistanis who have come out the US. involving Saif AliKhan. The King of Bhutan, Hisphysical Majestystate’. Jigme into an actual strongly against US drone attacks in the trib"We take the terror threat seriously. We Jaipur: The Rajasthan government has reRajasthan tourism minister Bina Kak transformed Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and and Queen RANA was established in 1999 has theapproached threat. There no al regions and aretojittery over the massing of have fused permission Saif Ali Khan’s home prosaid, acted “Saif against Ali Khan meisand up Pema to its mission and organized of any Pakistani institution's heavily-armed US and NATOshooting troops at the question Jetsun Wangchuck he recentlyseveral wed, duction ‘Agent Vinod’ to resume at the profuse lyregretted that his production crew lived promote Rajasthani Afghanistan-Pakistan border. historic Kuldhara village near Jaisalmer. The (involvement)...let defaced the ancientme site.beI completely told him thatclear the functions callingtoon President Pratibhaculture, Patil atvalues and heritage, not only in USA on that," she said. Pakistan Army chief Ashfaq Parvez director Sriram Raghavan wanted to show Kulfilm unit will have to face penal action and Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhibut Octalso 24 the world over. They held three international Kayani had earlier this week warned the US "Do safe havens exist? Yes, they do exist dahara as a Pakistani village across the border. pay a fine.” Shooting of the film will now to think "10 times" before it launches a uni- on both sides. Do we need to cooperate? Rajasthan conventions in New York where
from 14 years of exile in forest….” For Doshi, Diwali away from home meant decorating her clinic and sharing Indian food for lunch.“It was heartening to see my colleagues dressed in Kurtis and relishing Indian food in Indian style (seated on the floor),” she added. However, work kept some others from celebrating. Prakash Panchal, a 28-yearold engineer, said, “Every year I celebrate Diwali with my family, but this year I had to give it a miss as I worked overtime.”
Saif barred from shooting at Rajasthan site
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Devotees at Shree Sidhi Dham Mandir in Journal Square, Jersey City, during Laxmi aarti. CHOGM Continued from page 1 funds were raised for RANA’s charity projbelieves such a Women’s commisectsNew such Delhi as Rainwater Harvesting, sioner will undermine the role both the Education, Mid-Day Meals forofchildren secretary-general and the Commonwealth (Akshay Patra). Ministerial Action Group, and would only end up duplicating India’s Index Story what the UN already does throughfrom its Rapporteurs. Continued front page The move to Sri Lanka improvement in prevent HDI in some of the from poor hosting next than meeting owing toaverage, its hustates wasthe higher the national manreport rightssaid, record and the alleged the citing caseswar of crimes Bihar, is also likely to be opposed. Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Ansari, in fact, was quite blunt when Pradesh, Orissa and Assam. asked about improvement the protest. “As far index as wewas are The overall in the concerned, the decision have per the cent next largely attributed to theto28.5 CHOGM Sri Lanka was taken Port increase in in education index across theatcounof Spain. That is 0.92 a decision and that is the try. It ranges from for Kerala to 0.41 in end of the matter,” he told reporters. Bihar. India is the largest the ComThe improvement in member educationofindex was monwealth, nearly 60 per'greatest' in accounting states likefor Uttar Pradesh, cent of itsand totalMadhya population. Rajasthan Pradesh to name a few, the report said. Art and Design: Vladimir Tomovski Bhagwati Multimedia, Rahul Sahota, Web Editor: B.B.Chopra News Service: HT Media Ltd., India IANS Newswire Services Printing: Five Star Printing, NY Richner Publications Emails: editor@TheSouthAsianTimes.info subscribe@TheSouthAsianTimes.info advertise@TheSouthAsianTimes.info Advertisement: 516-390-7847 76 N Broadway, Suite 2004, Hicksville, NY 11801 F: 516-390-7847
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Aneesh Shah finalist in Siemens Beware of deportation scams – A community alert Competition regional round New York: Indian American Aneesh Shah has done the community proud by making it to the finals of the prestigious Siemens Competition regional. A student of Half Hollow Hills East HighSchool and son of Sunil and Sarita Shah, Aneesh was awarded Regional Finalist title for writing full length research report, entitled Spectroscopic Characterization of the Reactivity of Substrate Water Molecules in Bio-inspired Catalysts for Water Oxidation. The Siemens Competition in Math, Science & Technology recognizes remarkable talent early on, fostering individual growth for high school students who are willing to challenge themselves through science research. It is administered by The College Board and funded by the Siemens Foundation. It awards college scholarships ranging from $1,000 to
Vikas Khanna has replaced actor Akshay Kumar as the host-judge of Master Chef India season 2.
Aneesh Shah, student of Half Hollow Hills East HighSchool $100,000 in individual and team catAt school he is founder of egories. An all-time record of 2,436 Recycling for Charity, a program in students registered to enter the 2011- which kids were asked to recycle 12 Siemens Competition for an their cans and bottles. 20 kids are unprecedented 1,541 projects sub- involved in the program, and they mitted. Regional finalists will go placed boxes in every single school head-to-head presenting their room and also in the school cafeteresearch with peers across the nation. rias. Schedules for students were creRegional Finals begin on November ated to pick up all the cans and bot4, 2011. At Science Olympiads tles. Students picked up cans and botAneesh has earlier won first place in tles with disabled kids as to create mousetrap vehicle event, first place interactions with fellow high school in mission possible event, second students. All cans and bottles were place in magnetic levitation event, sorted out and over 20,000 cans and and seventh place in helicopter event bottles were collected and over a at ELIRC; second place in magnetic thousand dollars was raised. Program levitation event at NYSC. At the was introduced into Half Hollow Huntington Township’s The Young Hills High School West, and they Professionals Chamber of Commerce have similar suc(FBLA), he won first place in cess. Hospitality Services event. Fifty Cans and botteams had to create a business plan tles were picked for a healthy quick serve restaurant. up by local comHe has won Student of the Month pany and all Award in the school as well as the money received University of Rochester George is donated to the Eastman Young Leaders Award, charity, The given to a junior who displays lead- N a t u r e ership potential. Conservancy.
Diwali Mela NJ 2011
Jayesh Mehta with "Toasty" of Saas Bina Sasural fame at the event
Actress Aishwarya Sakhuja addressing the audience
The crowd at the Aum Events’ Diwali Mela NJ 2011
New York: On August 18, 2011, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that, together with the U.S. Department of Justice, DHS is creating an interagency working group to review all pending deportation cases to ensure that persons facing deportation are among DHS’s highest priorities for removal. This group will conduct a case-by-case review of all individuals currently in deportation proceedings. DHS indicated that individuals determined to be low priorities will have their cases administratively closed and will be eligible to apply for work permits with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). There will be no categorical relief for any class or group of individuals (e.g., DREAM-eligible students, military veterans and domestic violence victims). Each individual must still go through the review process to determine if he/she is a low enforcement priority. Those with administratively closed cases will not face immediate deportation, but will still be considered to be in removal proceedings in the eyes of the law. Moreover, there is no guarantee that eligible individu-
als will be granted a work permit. According to a community alert issued by Asian Pacific American Legal Center, Asian American Institute, Asian American Justice Center and Asian Law Caucus the new policy does not grant legal status and one should not: Believe anyone who tells you they can sign you up for a work permit (Employment Authorization Document or “EAD”) or get you legal status; Turn yourself in to immigration authorities. There is no guarantee that your case will be considered “low priority.”Any person who comes into contact with immigration authorities may be arrested, detained or even removed. The new policy is preliminary and one should: Consult a qualified immigration lawyer, who can evaluate your case and inform you about your rights; Refer to this consumer advisory for more information on what this announcement means and how you should proceed. Eventually, as the government decides how to proceed, more information should be available from official government websites, such as USCIS.gov and USICE.gov.
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Shomik Chaudhuri: World needs a visionary leadership
The guest speakers: (from left) Shomik Chaudhuri, UN Main Representative, IISD; Virginia Swain, Director of the Institute for Global Leadership; and Sharon Hamilton-Getz, Chair CSVGC- NY and Spirituality, Values, Business and Peace Working Group.
New York: The NGO Committee on Spirituality, Values and Global Concerns (CSVGC-NY) at the United Nations, New York, hosted the annual Week of Spirituality, Vales and Global Concerns at the United Nations from October 20 28 at the Salvation Army premises in Midtown Manhattan in New York City. Among the week-long events and programs, was a conference organized by the Spirituality, Values, Business and Peace Working Group of the CSVGC NY entitled 'Successful Visionary Business Leadership Drawing on Ageless Wisdom to Meet the Needs of Today' organized on Oct. 24.
Among the speakers were Shomik Chaudhuri, UN Main Representative, Institute of International Social Development and Vice Chair, Spirituality, Values, Business and Peace Working Group; Virginia Swain, Director of the Institute for Global Leadership; and Corinne McLaughlin, Executive Director of the Center for Visionary Leadership. Sharon HamiltonGetz, Chair, CSVGC - NY and Spirituality, Values, Business and Peace Working Group moderated the session. Chaudhuri spoke about the imperative necessity of having visionary 'holistic' leadership in today's world to counter the gross
Master Chef India 2 premieres with a new host from New York City Chef Vikas Khanna to take over the kitchen on Star India Plus New York, NY:Following the success of the popular and widely-watched first season of Master Chef India, Star India Plus will now debut the second season this coming weekend. Master Chef India 2 will premiere this Saturday October 22 and Sunday October 23 at 9 PM ET/ 6 PM PT., and will air every Saturday and Sunday at the same time. This new sea-
son of Master Chef India will also include New Yorker Vikas Khanna as the host and celebrity Chef Judge. World-renowned Chef Vikas Khanna had humble beginnings in Amritsar, and has grown into a successful and wellknown chef in New York City. This past year has earned him many awards and accolades, and he has recently had the
Wells Fargo waives fees for remittances to India this Diwali New York: Wells Fargo & Company announced that it will waive all fees for ExpressSend® remittance service transfers linked to a checking or savings account to any ICICI Bank account in India, through Nov. 4, 2011, (through Jan. 15, 2012 in the San Francisco Bay Area and the Northeast, including NY, NJ, and CT) as a Diwali gift for customers. “Wells Fargo respects the important contributions from members of the
many diverse communities where we live and do business,” said Mick Randhawa, president of the East Bay Market in California for Wells Fargo. "The South Asian community is a thriving one in the Northeast, and it makes me proud that Wells Fargo is able to celebrate Diwali by providing free global remittance services as a gift," said Brenda Ross-Dulan, Wells Fargo's Southern New Jersey regional president.
opportunity to cook at the White House. He has authored numerous books and continues to captivate audiences with his innovative take on cooking. Chef Vikas Khanna will also be joined by Chef Ajay Chopra and Chef Kunal Kapur, both of whom appeared in the first season of Master Chef India as celebrity judges.
Bollywood stars to light up Diwali in the US New York: This festive season in the USA will see temperatures rising as zoOm, India’s no. 1 Bollywood channel brings a special International season of hot and exciting shows, filled with the juiciest Bollywood news, interviews and entertainment. ZoOm brings Bollywood’s biggest stars to your home from India to celebrate this festive season. The fresh wrap around programing with the Stars will see big exclusive shows -Stardum, SuperstarSuperlives – and the no holds barred interview show The Encounter with Omar Qureshi dedicated to the stars and aired over the next 8 weeks. This exciting theme based bonanza began from October 8 and will continue every weekend with the best known superstars in
Bollywood being showcased on zoOm, with one star every day. Stardum aired at 6.30PM EST/ 3:30 PM PST every Saturday and Sunday will showcase any 10 very interesting things about the star; be it movie releases, follies or family. Superstar Superlives aired at 8PM EST / 5pm PSTevery weekend will take the viewers through the journey of the star from the start to the present, tracing their biggest achievements, their failures and their comebacks. The season begins with Kajol, followed by Salman Khan, Ajay Devgan,Katrina Kaif, Deepika Padukone, Kangana Ranaut, Shahid Kapoor, Rani Mukherjee, Sonam Kapoor, Sonakshi Sinha and many other stars in rapid succession.
forces of negative energy flowing in many parts of the world. He drew upon the wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita to exemplify the characteristics of a visionary leader and how a person can become a visionary leader with a holistic approach. Swain spoke on the programs and projects that she has been working on for many decades to bring about change and transformation in people. McLaughlin, who could not make it to the event, had her speech played in a video for people to see. She stressed upon the importance of visionary leadership and its necessity in today's world.
Dharun Ravi prefers trial in webcam spy case New York: A former Indian American student accused of using a webcam to spy on his roommate's encounter with another man is set to go on trial after rejecting a plea deal. A New Jersey Superior Court judge Thursday set Feb 21 as the trial date for Dharun Ravi after he turned down a plea bargain that could have shaved his prison time to five years or less. Ravi, a former student of New Jersey State University, Rutgers faces 15 counts that include bias intimidation, invasion of privacy and tampering with evidence. A conviction could mean 10 years or more in prison, local daily targum.com reported. Ravi's roommate Tyler Clementi committed suicide days after the alleged web-spying incident. 'You are presumed innocent of every one of these charges. But if you
are found guilty, the exposure is significant,' Judge Glenn Berman said to Ravi when warning him about the risks of rejecting the deal. After reviewing Clementi's personal writings and computer documents, he also ruled that the defence could not have access to them for investigation a response to a discover motion that the defence filed during a Sep 9 hearing. The prosecution asked Berman to reconsider his previous decision regarding the man with whom Clementi had an intimate encounter, identified in court as 'M.B.' But the judge upheld his previous decision that the defence was entitled to M.B.'s name and date of birth since his knowledge was relevant to the bias charge against Ravi. But under a protective order, they were not allowed to share it with anyone else.
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Rajat Gupta's trial set for April 9 New York: A New York court has set April 9 as the tentative date for the trial of Rajat Gupta, former Indian American director of Goldman Sachs after he pleaded not guilty to insider-trading charges. India-born Gupta, 62, who had surrendered to the FBI Wednesday morning, was freed after posting $10 million bond, secured by his home in Westport, Connecticut. But he was ordered to surrender his passport and not to travel outside the United States. As Gupta appeared before Magistrate Kevin Fox wearing a navy blue suit and red tie, he remained silent except when asked if he understood his rights. 'Yes I do, your honor,' he replied. Gupta, who also served as a board member at Proctor & Gamble, faces one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud and five counts of securities fraud, according to the indictment filed in the court. The criminal charges could land him in prison for 105 years. Gupta has previously been accused of tipping convicted hedge fund manager Raj Rajaratnam with inside information about the quarterly earnings of both Goldman Sachs and Proctor & Gamble. Additionally, when Warren Buffett readied his $5 billion investment in Goldman Sachs in 2008, the SEC said Gupta called Rajaratnam before it was publicly announced. Gupta's lawyer Gary Naftalis, of the firm Kramer Levin, called the government's criminal case 'flawed' and based on 'unreliable evidence being used in an attempt to bring down a man of sterling reputation.' 'The facts demonstrate that Gupta is an innocent man and that he has always acted
'His eagerness to pass along inside information to Rajaratnam is nowhere more starkly evident than in the two instances where a total of 39 seconds elapsed between his learning of crucial Goldman Sachs information and lavishing it on his good friend. That information
(captured by the FBI) was conveyed by phone so quickly it could be termed instant messaging.' On Wednesday, the Securities and Exchange Commission also filed a civil complaint against Gupta and Rajaratnam, alleging an 'extensive insider trading scheme.'
Fall from grace: A fact file One time poster boy of Wall Street, Rajat Gupta leaving federal court in Manhattan Wednesday after being charged with insider trading. He surrendered on Diwali believing 'Gods will protect him', said Wall Street Journal quoting a friend of his. with honesty and integrity,' Naftalis said in a statement Wednesday. Laying out the accusations against Gupta, Manhattan US Attorney Preet Bharara said: 'Rajat Gupta was entrusted by some of the premier institutions of American business to sit inside their boardrooms, among their executives and directors and receive their confidential information so that he could give advice and counsel for the benefit of their shareholders.' 'As alleged, he broke that trust and instead became the illegal eyes and ears in the boardroom for his friend and business associate, Raj Rajaratnam, who reaped enormous profits from Gupta's breach of duty.' 'The conduct alleged is not an inadvertent slip of the tongue by Gupta,' FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Janice Fedarcyk said in a statement.
Orphaned at 18, Rajat Gupta, a native of Kolkata, received an engineering degree from the elite Indian Institute of Technology. He earned a scholarship to Harvard Business School, graduating at the top of his class and securing a prized posting at McKinsey & Company. He rose rapidly at the consulting firm, making his mark running its Scandinavian office, once considered a backwater at the firm. He expanded McKinsey’s presence in that region and became known for his lowkey, dignified manner. Gupta became a McKinsey lifer, taking on more and more responsibility until 1994, when, at the age of 45, his partners elected him to run the firm. He was the first nonAmerican-born executive to run McKinsey. The firm suffered, and in the wake of the technology and telecom bust during the early part of the last decade, McKinsey found itself with too many employees and not enough business. When he stepped down from McKinsey in 2003, Mr. Gupta used the reputation — and peerless Rolodex — that he had built at the firm. Kofi A. Annan, the former secretary general of the United Nations, appointed
him to advise the international organization on management reform. The Rockefeller Foundation named him a trustee. Some of America’s top companies recruited him for their boards, including Procter & Gamble, the consumer products giant; AMR, the parent of American Airlines; and Goldman Sachs. In 2007, he started a private equity firm, New Silk Route, that focused on Indian investments. One of his original partners on the New Silk Route deal was Mr. Rajaratnam. A Sri Lankan native, Rajaratnam met Mr. Gupta through their philanthropic work. The two men, both pillars of New York’s South Asian immigrant business community, became fast friends. Gupta had a number of hedge fund and private equity investments, including several with Rajaratnam’s Galleon firm. His foray into Wall Street could not have been more ill-timed. The first cracks in the global economy surfaced just as he started New Silk Route, and his Galleon investments struggled as the stock market swooned. He ultimately lost his entire $10 million investment in a special Galleon-related vehicle set up for Gupta and a third partner.
Prosecutors pressed Raj Rajaratnam to ‘wear a wire’ to trap Rajat Gupta Washington, DC: Convicted hedge fund tycoon Raj Rajaratnam claims prosecutors pressed him to “wear a wire” and record conversations with his Indian-American friend Rajat Gupta, Goldman Sachs Group Inc director. In his first interview about his case, Sri Lanka born Rajaratnam told Newsweek Daily Beast that he was initially asked on the day of his Oct 16, 2009 arrest to tape his conversations with Gupta, the former CEO of elite consultancy McKinsey & Co McKinsey. As late as two weeks before Rajaratnam was sentenced to 11 years in prison for insider trading, he was still being asked by the government to turn on Gupta. But he wouldn’t wear a wire, he says, so he could sleep at night. “They wanted me to plea-bargain. They want to get Rajat. I am not going to do what people did to me. Rajat has four daughters,” he said referring to Gupta as a “firstclass guy.” A spokesman for Gupta’s lawyer, Gary Naftalis, referred to previous statements that his client had done nothing wrong and that a civil case brought by the US Securities and Exchange Commission was baseless. But Rajaratnam felt betrayed by his two Indian American Wharton classmates, Anil Kumar and Rajiv Goel, on whose testimony the prosecution case mainly rests.
Raj Rajaratnam Kumar, the McKinsey executive, was hired by Galleon as a consultant. Goel, worked at Intel for eight years. Both of them pleaded not guilty first, Rajaratnam notes, before they switched to guilty under prosecutorial pressure. Asked if he regretted anything, he said clearly referring to the duo: “I’d probably not be so trusting of people.” In his conversations with Kumar, Rajaratnam had trusted him to decide what was and was not insider information. “I did not think a senior partner of McKinsey would violate the confidentiality of McKinsey. “I assumed he was kosher, that he would not cross the line.” Rajaratnam does not speak well of Kumar. He calls him a “ch-t”-Hindi for “c-t.” “I’m not Indian, but that word fits him,” he says.
Kumar had introduced him to Rajat Gupta. The two of them wanted to start an Indian School of Business in Hyderabad. “I gave them [the school] a million dollars. I later found out they never contributed any of their money and are listed as the school’s founders. And I’m not even a fucking Indian,” Rajaratnam is quoted as saying. Rajaratnam’s South Asian connection makes less sinister some of the allegations in the trial, the interviewer says. For example, the prosecution noted that Rajaratnam would visit Goel’s house in Silicon Valley, presumably to talk about Intel. But the real explanation is more human. “His wife makes really good chaat [a savory snack]!” Rajaratnam and Goel were very good friends, so his betrayal hurts him personally. “There are two types of plea bargains. One is, you cooperate with the government. You finger 10 other people. The other is a plea bargain without cooperation.” The white defendants all pleaded without cooperating; they did not wear a wire. “The South Asians all did the plea bargain with fingering,” he notes sourly. “The Americans stood their ground. Every bloody Indian cooperated - Goel, Khan, Kumar.” He puts it down to “the insecurity of being an immigrant, lawyers bullying them into that position.” “Anil Kumar’s son worked at Galleon
one summer. I used to vacation with Rajiv Goel’s family. Their families knew my family. You don’t think this is going to haunt these guys?”
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National Community
October 29-November 4, 2011
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Barack Obama wishes Happy Diwali and Saal Mubarak Washington, DC: President Barack Obama wished Happy Diwali to millions of Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists celebrating the festival of lights across the globe, particularly in India and the US. "Diwali is a time for gathering with family and friends and as we experienced in India, celebrating with good food and dancing," Obama said in a statement referring to his Diwali celebration in Mumbai last year when he made his maiden trip to India. "It is also a time for contemplation and prayer that serves as a reminder of our obligations to our fellow human beings, especially the less fortunate," said Obama, who became the first US president to celebrate Diwali at the White House in 2009. He was also the first American president to celebrate Diwali in India last
The Obamas joined in Diwali celebrations during their visit to India last year year. "Today, here in America and around the world, Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and some Buddhists will celebrate the holiday of Diwali — the festival of lights," Obama said. "Many who observe this holiday do so by lighting the diya, or lamp, which symbolizes the victory of light over darkness and knowledge over igno-
rance," he said. "I was proud to be the first President the mark Diwali and light the Diya at the White House, and last year Michelle and I were honored to join in Diwali celebrations during our visit to India," Obama said. "To all who are observing this sacred holiday here and around the world, Happy Diwali and Saal Mubarak," Obama said.
Jindal wins 2nd term in landslide Baton Rouge: Louisiana's Indian American Governor Bobby Jindal has been re-elected to a second term, winning in a landslide with little opposition from nine other candidates in a bi-partisan primary. 'You've chosen me to be your governor,' Jindal, who at age 36, was the youngest US governor when first elected in 2007, and the first Indian American governor, said at his campaign headquarters in Baton Rouge after his reelection Saturday. 'I'm truly humbled and honored by the trust and privilege you've bestowed upon me.' Pledging to 'never coast' as long as he remains the state's chief executive, Jindal added: 'I will give you my all.' Jindal, who was widely favored to win, had 66 percent of the vote with 98 percent precincts reporting, according to unofficial results from Louisiana's Secretary of State cited by CNN. His next closest competitor, Democrat Tara Hollis, got about 18 percent
Governor Bobby Jindal of the vote. The eight other candidates pulled in low single digits. The state holds a nonpartisan blanket primary, meaning both political parties run in the same contest and if a candidate wins 50 percent or more of the vote, then he or she wins the race. If Jindal had failed to get a majority, he would have gone head-to-head with the second place candidate Nov 19.
US Senate greets Indian diaspora on Diwali Washington, DC: Recognizing the religious and historical significance of Diwali, the US Senate has greeted Indian diaspora across the world by expressing its 'deepest respect for Indian Americans and South Asian Americans.' A resolution adopted by the Senate said 'in observance of Diwali, the festival of lights, (Senate) expresses its deepest respect for Indian Americans and South Asian Americans, as well as fellow
countrymen and diaspora throughout the world on this significant occasion.' The resolution introduced in the Senate by Senators Robert Menendez, John Cornyn and Mark Warner noted 'Diwali, a festival of great significance to Indian Americans and South Asian Americans, is celebrated annually by Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains throughout India, the United States, and the world.' 'The lights symbolize the
light of knowledge within the individual that overwhelms the darkness of ignorance, empowering each celebrant to do good deeds and show compassion to others.' In a separate message Menendez said Diwali 'is also an opportunity to celebrate India's great history, culture, and people and the enduring bonds and shared democratic values that have allowed the US and India to work together to reach common goals.'
Neera Tanden to head a Washington think-tank Washington, DC: Neera Tanden, said. an Indian-American veteran of the ‘We have to recognize that we Obama and Clinton administraas progressives have not provided tions, will be taking over as presiall the answers the public is lookdent of the Center for American ing for on economic growth and Progress, a major Washingtonthe future of the American based think-tank next week. Dream,’ Tanden told Politico, an Tanden, 41, a former senior influential US news site focusing Obama administration official who on politics. worked as a close aide of Secretary ‘I want us to focus on the bigger of State Hillary Clinton when she and longer-term challenges that was the First Lady, US senator and Neera Tanden will the country faces,’ she said adding join Center for then during her presidential camher thinking on policy is also American Progress informed by difficult aspects of paign, will be the first Indian as president American to take up the position. her childhood. Currently the Chief Operating Officer of Born outside Boston to Indian immigrants CAP, Tanden will succeed John Podesta, who who had met in an arranged marriage, she ran President Barack Obama’s transition and her mother sunk into poverty after her team and served as White House chief of father left them when she was 5, she said. staff to President Bill Clinton. The family survived on welfare and Tanden Podesta will remain at the organization as only managed to remain in the public schools non-executive chairman of the board. ‘A of prosperous Bedford, Massachusetts, graduate of Yale Law School, Neera has through a program that offered faster permits proven expertise in areas like health care to developers who included low-income reform, economic growth, and justice, and housing units in their buildings. Her mother crafting foreign policies that reflect our later found a career and when Tanden was in nation’s values and strengths,’ a CAP release 6th grade, was able to buy a house.
National Community TheSouthAsianTimes.info
October 29-November 4, 2011
India seeks fair treatment of Tri-valley students Washington, DC: Indian ambassador Nirupama Rao has asked US authorities to view the cases of hundreds of Indian students affected by the closure of "sham" TriValley University in a "fair and reasonable manner." The Indian students of Tri-Valley University have undergone hardship since the closure of the university and their cases must be viewed in their totality with understanding and in a fair and reasonable manner, she told US authorities, according to a note put out by the Indian embassy. As part of the embassy's
continuing efforts with US authorities for addressing the concerns of TVU students, Rao made the plea when she spoke to deputy secretary of the department of homeland security Jane Holl Lute on Monday and in a letter to secretary of state Hillary Clinton. Her initiative was a follow up of a meeting on Friday between officials of Indian embassy, the state and homeland security departments as also United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and its investigative arm
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), according to an Indian embassy press note. US authorities have approved the transfer of 435 Indian students of the California-based Tri-Valley University to other institutions, the embassy was informed Friday. While 145 Indian students were denied transfers and about an equal number were issued with Notices of Intention to Deny (NOIDs), the remaining cases of transfer are still under examination.
Dr. Jeereddi Prasad to receive a prestigious award Los Angeles: Inland Valley Chaparral Medical Group, a 60physician, business leader and physician group. philanthropist Jeereddi Prasad “The Jane Wyman will receive the prestigious Jane Humanitarian Award is the highWyman Humanitarian Award on est honor given by the Arthritis Nov. 2 at the Arthritis Foundation Pacific Region,” Foundation’s 24th annual said Dr. E. Robert Harris, chair“Commitment to a Cure” man of the board. Awards Gala at the Beverly “It is presented to individuals Wilshire Hotel. who exemplify the leadership, Dr. Prasad is an accomplished commitment and dedication to endocrinologist and business Dr. Jeereddi Prasad is a humanitarian causes that Ms. leader in the health care indusphysician, business Wyman herself demonstrated in try. For over three decades, he leader and philanthropist the fight to find a cure for has helped the community arthritis and related diseases.” through provision of vital patient and health He added. “Dr. Prasad supports significant care services as well as charitable support. domestic and international philanthropic He is the founder and president of organizations on many levels.”
UT Dallas Business School renamed Naveen Jindal School of Management Texas: In a special ceremony on October 7, University of Texas, Dallas (UTD) honored Naveen Jindal, Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha), an alumnus of UTD’s School of Management, by naming the school as “Naveen Jindal School of Management.” “I have always been proud of my association with The University of Texas at Dallas and I am proud of the education I received here,” said Naveen Jindal MBA’92. “It is my hope that this gift will continue to benefit the University, school, students and faculty for years to come.” Jindal’s contribution, which includes a $5 million match from the UT System Board of Regents’ Research Incentive Program and the Texas Research Incentive Program, or TRIP, will be used to create new endowed chairs and support students through the creation of endowed scholarships and graduate fellowships. The gift will also establish the Naveen Jindal Institute for Indo-American Business Studies. Jindal is chairman and managing director of Jindal Steel and Power Limited in India. He is an elected member of Parliament of India, where he represents the state of Haryana. Sanjiv Arora, Consul General of India
Industrialist, politician and UTD alumnus Naveen Jindal (Houston), who also spoke at the ceremony, said: “The naming of UTD’s Management School as the Naveen Jindal School of Management is a matter of pride for all Indian nationals and persons of Indian origin, and the school will make an important contribution to further expanding collaborations between the two countries in education and other fields.”
RE-ELECT
Four US-based Telugus die in Detroit road accident Detroit: Four Indians, all hailing from Andhra Pradesh, were killed in a car collision near Detroit in the United States early Sunday. A pall of gloom has descended on their houses in the state, officials said Monday. While three of them were software professionals, the fourth one was the father-inlaw of one of the techies. Three of the victims were from West Godavari district and one from Visakhapatnam district.
They have been identified as Satyendra Akula (30), Sumant Rajan (32), Venkatachalam Pasala (28) and his father-in-law Rajendra Prasad Jonnala (50). According to information reaching the families, the accident took place at 4.15 a.m Sunday (local time) on the Lodge Freeway in Southfield City near Detroit. The sports utility vehicle, in which the four were traveling, was hit by a car coming in the wrong direction. Both the vehicles
burst into flames. Southfield police are investigating to find out if alcohol was a cause of the accident. The families of the victims were shocked to learn about the mishap. Former state minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader Bandaru Satyanarayana Murthy, a relative of one of the victims, said they were in touch with the Telugu Association of North America (TANA) to bring home the bodies of all victims.
Himesh Gandhi in race for Sugar Land City Council seat Sugar Land, TX: Local attorney Himesh Gandhi has announced his candidacy for the Sugar Land City Council at large position in the May 2012 local election. As the next At-Large Councilman, Gandhi will focus on strategically moving Sugar Land forward through financial accountability, quality development and an emphasis on city services and public safety. As a partner in
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a Sugar Land law firm, Gandhi has a solid legal background and extensive business experience in Sugar Land and Fort Bend County. He has been an active participant in Sugar Land government, serving as a member of many committees. Currently, Gandhi serves on the Sugar Land Planning and Zoning Commission and was a member of the recent Redistricting Committee.
8 RE-ELECT
Attorney Himesh Gandhi
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Op Ed
October 29 - November 4, 2011
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
What is ailing our IITs By Anil K. Rajvanshi recently gave a lecture to undergraduate students at my alma mater, Indian Institute of Technology-Kanpur. Most of the students complained that after passing the toughest exam in the world, called Joint Entrance Exam or JEE, they felt let down since they were not challenged or inspired by IIT teachers. The teachers said the students do not read or attend classes and are just not interested in studies any more. I think the truth lies somewhere in between. A spate of news items have come up about how the IITs are slipping and that IIT students are not up to the mark. A deeper analysis will reveal that it is not the students' fault since they are not being guided properly.
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In the last couple of years, I have interacted with students not only at the IITs, NITs, management institutes, etc, but also in schools and colleges in rural towns. And everywhere I have found bright kids who want to do something worthwhile. An entry into the IIT is a passport to success. This is based on the past history of IITians getting plum jobs in IT, banking and other fields. The JEE is a great filtering mechanism. Passing it is no mean achievement because even the faculty of IITs cannot do it in the time allotted. Thus saying that most of the students who nowadays get into the IITs are zombies is not correct. The reason why the IITs were set up was to create excellent engineers and technologists for India. That basis has failed since the majority of IIT graduates go for non- engineering
jobs such as management, banking and civil services. The teaching in IITs has been deteriorating for the last 20-30 years and is quite mediocre, with most of the faculty not upto- date in engineering research. Almost in every IIT, around 50 percent of faculty positions are vacant. The government in its wisdom thinks giving higher pay will help attract good faculty. This is a myth because great teachers are not attracted only by pay but by the scholarship environment of doing good research and teaching. Thus this is an egg and chicken story. Also some of the problems with IIT education have been created by IT companies. In the past, these companies have heavily recruited from IIT campuses. In fact, not long ago there used to be a saying "anything that moves in IIT gets a job in Infosys"! This resulted in
An entry into the IIT is a passport to success. This is based on the past history of IITians getting plum jobs in IT, banking and other fields.
making most students complacent and bunk classes since they knew they would be taken by IT companies, irrespective of their grades. With this attitude it becomes very difficult for students to learn anything. It is not that all the existing teachers are bad. Quite a few have inspired students to do great things. A recent example is of micro satellite, Jugnu,
designed and fabricated by undergraduate students at IIT Kanpur that was recently launched successfully by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). (The author is director of the Pune-based Nimbkar Agricultural Research Institute (NARI. The views expressed are his own).
Not just idle worship in Mayaland By Rajdeep Sardesai t a time when Mayawati's Dalit memorials have sparked off a raging debate, it might be instructive to consider what the original Dalit icon Babasaheb Ambedkar would have done in a similar situation. What is almost certain is that, unlike the Uttar Pradesh chief minister, he would not have ordered the construction of his own statues. A fierce rationalist, Ambedkar disliked all forms of political idol worship. "In politics, hero worship is a sure road to degradation and eventual dictatorship," he said in a seminal speech before the Constituent Assembly in 1949. Sixty-two years later, there is little doubt that Mayawati has emerged as the great dictator of Uttar Pradesh, someone who controls India's most populous state with an iron fist. Which is why she can insist on having her own life-size statue alongside an Ambedkar, Phule, Shahu and Kanshi
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Ram. Which is also why she can brazenly claim that the Rs 675 crore spent on the Dalit Prerna Sthal has come through party donations when the fact is the UP government has budgeted a whopping Rs 3,000 crore on Dalit memorials and parks across the state. This, in a state where 38% Dalits have never attended schools, where 70% is still the estimated school dropout rate among Dalits, and where hundreds of children die of encephalitis every year because of a lack of healthcare facilities. Surely, Ambedkar, for whom education was the biggest weapon of empowerment, would have chided Mayawati for her misplaced priorities. Not that Ambedkar lived a frugal lifestyle. His wealth was acquired through legal and scholastic prowess, not through treating the political system as a vehicle for selfaggrandizement. To those who are critical of the manner in which Mayawati celebrates her birthdays, it needs to be stressed that Ambedkar's birthdays too were occasions for public celebration with his followers taking out processions with his pictures in palanquins. In a sense, the need for such public ceremonies stems from a conviction that it is necessary to show that if caste Hindus can have their own gods and ceremonies, then so must Dalits. Ambedkar may not have been comfortable with idolatry, but he did not entirely reject its symbolic value either on such occasions. Which is why the personality cult that Mayawati has built around herself cannot be entirely scoffed at. The Indian super-elite - many of whom will not think twice before spending crores on weddings - may be contemptuous of Mayawati's millions, but there is a distinct method in the seeming madness of the Bahujan Samaj Party leader. Seen from that competitive political perspective, it is possible that Ambedkar may even have grudgingly approved of Mayawati's grand projects. Ambedkar's great dream always was to acquire political dominance for the Dalits even while seeking an end to caste discrimination.
There is little doubt that Mayawati has emerged as the great dictator of Uttar Pradesh, someone who controls India's most populous state with an iron fist.
But the keys to the gates of power remained firmly locked during his lifetime. A Mayawati statue next to the architect of the Constitution may seem incongruous today. But many years later, it may well become a place of pilgrimage and inspiration for millions of Dalits. (The views expressed by the author are his own)
US Affairs TheSouthAsianTimes.info
October 29-November 4, 2011
Supercommittee flirts with failure as deficit deadline looms Washington DC: The congressional supercommittee seeking a long-term debt-reduction deal remains at an impasse with a deadline near, and the prospect of failure is prompting concern about further downgrades of the nation's credit rating. With the committee heading into what may be a make-or-break week for striking a deal over a package of at least $1.2 trillion in deficit cuts, members are deadlocked over Democrats' insistence on tax increases, according to committee aides. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus proposed a deficit-reduction plan worth almost
The bipartisan Congressional committee on debt reduction. $3 trillion with about half comprised of tax increases, according to a congressional aide. The remainder would be spending cuts, including
Economy shows modest uptick he economy is modestly picking up steam, and appears not to be currently in danger of slipping back into recession--but it's still a long way from where it needs to be, according to new government numbers. The Commerce Department said Thursday that the economy grew at a rate of 2.5 percent July-Sept.
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That's almost double the 1.3 percentage rate at which it grew in the three months before that. But it's not enough to make a major dent in unemployment, which is at 9.1 percent. The increase was fueled mostly by gains in consumer spending-especially on durable goods such as large appliances--as well as by business investments in construction, equipment and software.
in Medicare and Medicaid, as well as fee increases, the aide said. Republicans rejected the plan, which Senate Democrats wanted to pair with extensions of a payroll tax break and jobless benefits scheduled to expire at the end of this year, the aide said. "They're gridlocked," Greg Valliere, chief political strategist at the Potomac Research Group, said in a Bloomberg Television interview. "The level of partisanship is really about to ratchet up." Valliere added that "if the supercommittee fails or just does half a loaf, then I think it's not just S&P, the other agencies as well could take us down a notch."
Perry to skip some GOP debates more than to tear down the candiWashington: A spokesman for Rick Perry, the governor of Texas, raised dates,” Perry told Bill O’Reilly on Fox News. “It’s pretty hard to be able the possibility on Wednesday that the presidential hopeful might not particto sit and lay out your ideas and your ipate in all of the contest’s upcoming concepts with a one minute response. Mr. Perry’s campaign has struggled debates. Mark Miner, the spokesman for Perry, said, “We would do in the wake of several debate perRick Perry formances that were widely criticized. Michigan but the primaries are around the corner and you have to But whether Mr. Perry could get away use your time accordingly.” Earlier Perry him- with skipping a debate is an open question. So far, there have been eight Republican self expressed regret for participating in the debates — many of which did not go well for presidential debates, and there are 11 more him. “These debates are set up for nothing scheduled through the end of January.
US dismantles strongest N-bomb Amarillo, Texas: The last of the US' most powerful nuclear bombs - a weapon hundreds of times stronger than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima - is being disassembled decades after it was put into service at the height of the Cold War. The final components of the B53 bomb will be broken down Tuesday at the Pantex Plant near Amarillo, Texas, the nation's only nuclear weapons assembly and disassembly facility. The completion of the dismantling program is a year ahead of schedule, according to the US Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration, and aligns with President
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Obama's goal of reducing the number of nuclear weapons. First put into service in 1962, when Cold War tensions peaked during the Cuban Missile Crisis, the B53 weighed 10,000 pounds and was the size of a minivan. According to the American Federation of Scientists, it was 600 times more powerful than the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima, Japan, at the end of World War II.
Relief for ‘underwater’ homeowners Washington: President Barack Obama on Monday responded to growing concerns about the nation’s battered housing market by unveiling a plan to help reduce the monthly mortgage payments of homeowners who owe more than their properties are worth. As he met with distressed homeowners in Las Vegas, the foreclosure capital of the nation, Obama announced steps to allow “underwater” borrowers to refinance their mortgages at ultra-low rates near 4%. The move comes amid a growing consensus that the nation’s moribund housing market is holding back the economic recovery.
Cities begin crackdown on ‘Occupy’ protests Oakland, Calif.: After weeks of cautiously accepting the teeming round-the-clock protests spawned by Occupy Wall Street, several cities have come to the end of their patience. In Oakland, the police filled downtown streets with tear gas late Tuesday to stop throngs of protesters from re-entering a City Hall plaza that had been cleared of their encampment earlier in the day. And those protests, which resulted in more than 100 arrests and at least one life-threatening injury, appeared ready to ignite again on Wednesday night as supporters of the Occupy movement promised to retake the square. Across the bay, meanwhile, in the usually liberal environs of San Francisco, city officials there had also seemingly hit their breaking point, warning several hundred protesters that they were in violation of the law by camping at a downtown site after voicing concerns about unhealthy and often squalid conditions in the camp, including garbage, vermin and human waste.
Early on Thursday, a crowd of hundreds continued to chant, wave flags and beat drums. Rumors circulated suggesting that police officers were massing but few were visible. Dozens of tents remained in the plaza. In Atlanta, Mayor Kasim Reed ordered the police to arrest more than 50 protesters early Wednesday and remove their tents from a downtown park after deciding that the situation had become unsafe, despite originally issuing executive orders to let them camp there overnight. Similar confrontations could soon come to pass in other cities, including Providence, R.I., where Mayor Angel Taveras has vowed to seek a court order to remove protesters from Burnside Park, which they have occupied since Oct. 15. And while other, bigger cities, including New York, Boston and Philadelphia, have taken a more tolerant view of the protests — for now — officials are still grappling with growing concerns about crime, sanitation and homelessness at the encampments.
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India Newswire
October 29-November 4, 2011
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Amid bomb scare, Advani talks corruption Madurai (Tamil Nadu): Even as he escaped a possible bomb attack, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L.K. Advani kept on with his antigraft yatra and said the court's decision on death sentences should not be meddled with, emphasizing that his party does not support politically motivated clemency petitions. The former deputy prime minister, who arrived here, around 450 km from Chennai, spoke to reporters prior to commencing the second leg of his anti-corruption yatra. "Whether it is Rajiv Gandhi killers or the parliament attackers, decisions taken by the courts should not be meddled with on political grounds," Advani said. When queried about the revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act in Jammu and Kashmir, Advani said: "The approach to terrorism should be consistent and not hesitant and wavering."
L.K. Advani during the Rath Yatra at Kamareddy in Andhra Pradesh. Earlier in the day, a tense situation prevailed with the detection of a pipe bomb under a small bridge in Alampatti near here which Advani's yatra was scheduled to pass. Based on information given by locals, the police cordoned off the area and seized the bomb that had a 25 metre wire connected to it.
'Chidambaram, Antony need to concur on AFSPA'
Law Minister Salman Khurshid. New Delhi: Differences in the central government over withdrawing the special powers for the armed forces in Jammu and Kashmir came out in the open, with Law Minister Salman Khurshid saying Home Minister P. Chidambaram and Defense Minister A.K. Antony needed to concur on the issue. He also said the Indian Army has to be taken on board before any decision can be taken on the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), which gives the defence forces unfettered powers to deal with terrorism and which critics say results in rights violations. "The home minister and the defence minister should first concur on the issue and the army should be taken on board before a final decision can be taken (on AFSPA withdrawal)," Khurshid told reporters here. His comments come in the wake
of Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's comments last week that "with gradual improvement in the security situation and return of peace, some laws like AFSPA are being removed from some areas within the next few days". Khurshid said the chief minister may have "compelling reasons" to address the aspirations of the people of the state for pushing for the withdrawal of the special law, which has been in force in the state for more than 21 years. Abdullah's remarks, some quarters feel, came after his discussions with Chidambaram last week. Meanwhile, Minister of State for Defense M.M. Pallam Raju said the government was examining the demand for withdrawal of AFSPA at the highest level. However, Raju said he thought the special law was "needed for the forces to function in some very, very difficult times."
Senior police officials rushed to the spot to carry out investigations and even detained one person for questioning. Advani's Jan Chetna Yatra, aimed at fighting black money and corruption, started Oct 11 and will end Nov 20. Accusing the central government of selectively targeting people involved in scams, Advani
said his party was not soft on corruption. Refused to comment on the links between BJP and Team Anna, Advani said while ministers of allies were being probed for scams, the ruling Congress has protected its own members and has rejected any probe demands against its own ministers. He said the aim of his yatra was only to demand bringing back of monies stashed away in foreign countries and not to promote himself or his party with an eye on the elections. He said the government was punishing those who brought out the cash-for-vote scam instead of the perpetrators. Queried about the possibility of an electoral tie-up with the AIADMK for the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, he said this will be decided only at election time. He said any party that aspires to rule the country should take into account the
reality of coalition governments. "For quite sometime to come, it is going to be a coalition government at the national level," he predicted. Commenting about nuclear power plants in the wake of protests at Kudankulam in Tirunelveli district, Advani said the country needed to review its atomic power installations near the ocean and safety of the people should be the priority. Saying that commercial and contractual obligations were least important, Advani said "safety of the people" was the most important. On the issue of attacks on Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu by the Sri Lankan Navy, Advani urged the centre to take up the issue with the island nation. He said the government should look at the attacks as a part of national strategy and evolve measures to deal with such incidents.
Hazare, Hegde not to attend IAC meet New Delhi: Several prominent members of India Against Corruption (IAC), including N. Santosh Hegde, Medha Patkar and Anna Hazare himself, are expected to be absent from the o rg a n i z a t i o n ' s c r u c i a l c o r e committee meet. The meeting comes in the wake of allegations of financial impropriety against IAC members Arvind Kejriwal and Kiran Bedi and the attack on another member Prashant Bhushan by rightwing activists over his comments suggesting a plebiscite on the Kashmir issue. Patkar told TV channels that she would not be attending the meeting, but hoped the committee would hold "free and frank" deliberations on all
The meeting comes in the wake of allegations of financial impropriety against IAC members Arvind Kejriwal and Kiran Bedi. issues. Hedge, a former Supreme Court judge, told reporters in Bangalore Friday he would not
Dismantle Team Anna, says member New Delhi: Amid speculation of divisions in Team Anna, its core committee member Kumar Vishwas asked Anna Hazare to dismantle the committee and create a new structure. In a letter, Vishwas urged Hazare to create a new structure, stating that more time was being lost in fighting allegations against the core committee. "I request you to adjourn the present core committee and create a new structure so that we can fulfill the dream of a corruption-
free India," Vishwas wrote. The letter comes a day before a meeting at Ralegan Siddhi which is to focus on handling the present crisis, after several of the main members of the team came under personal attacks. He also suggested that the core committee should be expanded and made into a 'highcore committee' which includes all Indians. "Transform it into a 'high-core committee' with 121 crore members," Vishwas said.
be attending the meet as he had some personal engagements in Mumbai. "I don't think Anna's strength lies in the core committee or people's honesty in the core committee. Anna's strength lies in the common man's fight against corruption...That's his strength, it's not a few people in the core committee." "I am not out of Team Anna, with a rider that my commitment to Team Anna is in regard to a strong Lokpal bill and fight against corruption. Beyond that, I am not with anybody," Hegde was quoted as saying. Hazare, who has undertaken a vow of silence in his village Ralegan Siddhi since Oct 16, will also not be attending, an aide had told the media in his native village Ralegan Siddhi.
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Diggi targets Sri Sri, advised to join Art of Living New Delhi: Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh renewed his attack on the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) saying the RSS was using spiritual gurus to divert attention from its terror activities. Singh said as part of the overall plan, the RSS first used yoga guru Baba Ramdev, then Anna Hazare and was now planning to utilise spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, who would soon start a campaign against corruption. "I have been saying from day one, that all this is a part of the overall plan of the BJP-RSS combine. Plan A: Baba Ramdev, plan B: Anna, plan C: Sri Sri Ravishankar Maharaj," said Singh. "They want to divert the attention of people of this country from the issue of involvement of Sangh activists in terror," he said.He advised the spiritual guru to stay away from the RSS. "I request Sri Sri Ravi Shankarji not to get involved in this." The spiritual guru downplayed the comment and instead asked Singh to join his Art of Living course. "People write a lot of things about everyone, I cannot respond to all of them," Ravi Shankar said adding: "I will continue to work against cor-
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Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh. ruption. I am not afraid of anyone." He further said that while legislation was needed to combat corruption, "a law alone cannot bring down corruption. A moral and spiritual wave has to be created". Digvijay Singh said while the Congress has taken steps to check corruption, the BJP has not done much. "UPA (United Progressive Alliance) government has taken all possible steps," he said, referring to the Right to Information Act and the jailing of allegedly corrupt politicians, officials and company executives. "Why did BJP not register a case against Bangaru Laxman when he was caught taking money on tape? Why a case was not registered against Jaya Jaitley when she was caught on tape striking a deal with an arms dealer in the defence minister's house," he asked.
The BJP hit back. "Digvijay Singh may make any plan he likes, he will only destroy the reputation of the Congress in the country," BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said. "The country is angry over black money and corruption. Whoever speaks against it, whether Baba Ramdev or Annaji or civil society, he (Digvijay) goes ... against all of them and says all kinds of things," he said. Digvijay Singh had earlier targeted the RSS for supporting Anna and had even questioned the credentials of the activist. Hazare too had recently hit out against a "gang of four" in the UPA government, which, he said was
opposed to the Jan Lokpal bill and was carrying out a systematic "char-
acter assassination" of his team members.
Bhushan attacker warns Anna of 'traitors' New Delhi: The man who had assaulted Team Anna member Prashant Bhushan earlier this month wrote to Anna Hazare asking him to be cautious of "traitors" in his team. "I request you to beware of the traitor members of your team... Don't let them use you for their motives," Inder Verma, Delhi president of Sri Ram Sene,
wrote in his letter, copies of which were sent to the media. "Was Prashant Bhushan unaware of the constitutional status of Kashmir which is the integral part of India? Did he become a lawyer with his father's help and by unfair means? There is a personal motive behind his statement on Kashmir," he added.
Cabinet reviews situation in Kashmir New Delhi: Against the backdrop of a raging debate over a proposal to withdraw the contentious Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from certain areas in Jammu and Kashmir, the Cabinet Committee on Security met at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's residence. The over 90-minute-long meeting, chaired by Manmohan Singh, was attended by Defence Minister A.K. Antony, Finance Minister Pranab
Mukherjee and Home Minister P. Chidambaram. External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna was away to Australia to attend a meeting of foreign ministers of the 54-nation Commonwealth. The meeting discussed the surprise announcement by Abdullah on a proposal to revoke AFPSA in some areas which is being opposed by the Army as well as the ruling Congress party, said well-placed
sources. There was, however, no official word on the outcome of the meeting. Congress leader Saif-ud-din Soz has slammed Abdullah for what he called a unilateral announcement and said all stakeholders, including the Army, should have been consulted before such an important step. The Army has been backing the continuation of the AFSPA on the grounds that tough laws are needed to deal with militancy in the state.
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Pak inching closer to China: US report Washington: With deepening of India-US relationship and deterioration in the ties between Washington and Islamabad, Pakistan is moving closer to China, a Congressional report has said. "As US-India ties deepen and US-Pakistan ties appear to deteriorate, many observers see Islamabad becoming more reliant than ever on its friendship with Beijing," said the latest report on Pakistan by the independent Congressional Research Service. "US-Pakistan acrimony in the wake of OBL's death appears to have increased Pakistan's reliance on China as a key international ally. "Pakistani leaders have become notably more and perhaps overly effusive in their expressions of closeness with China in 2011," it said. Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani's visit to China in May elicited no major new embrace from Beijing, but the Chinese government did insist that the West "must respect" Pakistan's sovereignty, the report said. China also agreed to expedite delivery to Pakistan of 50 JF-17 fighter jets equipped with upgraded avionics (Islamabad is also negotiating with Beijing for the purchase of six new submarines for as much as $3 billion in what would be the largest-ever bilateral defense purchase. "The Islamabad government suffered some embarrassment when its defense minister, upon returning from the same trip, claimed that the Chinese would assume control of the deep-water port at Gwadar that it had helped to build and, further, that Beijing would convert the port for military use," the CRS said adding that the Chinese foreign ministry expressed having no knowledge of the purported plans. According to the CRS there were concerns among some in Congress and independent analysts that wreckage from a previously unseen "stealth" helicopter used by US Special Forces in the Osama bin Laden raid would be examined by Chinese officials, potentially providing them with valuable intelligence on secret US military technology. "Beijing apparently did express interest in examining the wreckage and, despite Pakistani assurances
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao. that no Chinese officials had been given access to it, US intelligence sources reportedly believe that Chinese military engineers were, in fact, given access to the wreckage before it was returned to US custody," it said. Pakistan appeared to react quickly and with purpose in August when Beijing publicly blamed Islamist militants trained in Pakistan for terrorist activities in China's western Xinjiang province, the report said. "ISI director Pasha was dispatched to Beijing with the apparent aim of assuaging China. Yet Beijing's willingness to take Islamabad more fully under its wings appears limited. "The hesitation is rooted at least partly in China's concerns about the rise of Islamist extremism in Pakistan and some disappointment with progress in developing the Gwadar port, which suffers from a poor road network and geographical isolation," it said. The Chinese government is unlikely to place itself in the middle of any US-Pakistani rift, nor has it shown any desire to replace Washington as Islamabad's primary foreign benefactor, the report said.
Mayawati complains to PM against Jairam Lucknow: Chief Minister Mayawati shot off a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, complaining against union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh who has alleged large scale irregularities in the execution of the rural jobs scheme in Uttar Pradesh. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati. Saying that Ramesh lacked understanding of fiscal development officers (CDOs), federalism, she sought to draw seven project directors, 28 block Singh's attention to the minister's development officers (BDO) and bid to generalize information on more than 40 field level offiprojects inplemented under the cials." Singh said: "These include 27 Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme Class I officers, 38 Class II offi(MGNREGS) that he had gath- cers and 69 Class III employees ered from a Chitrakoot-based together with 236 field level smaller functionaries. NGO. As many as 71 FIRs have been "It was strange that the union minister chose to draw his con- lodged with the police in all cases clusions on the basis of feedback of financial irregularities and a limited to just seven districts in a sum of Rs.54 lakh has been state which has as many as 75 recovered from the culprits while districts," state cabinet secretary proceedings for further recovery Shashank Shekhar Singh said of Rs.1.31 crore are under way." Ramesh had sent a letter to reading out the letter at a press conference here on behalf of Mayawati regarding the implementation of MGNREGS. Mayawati. "Even with reference to the Reacting sharply to Ramesh's seven districts mentioned in the threat to stop funds to Uttar union minister's letter, the chief Pradesh, Mayawati stated in her minister has clarified that depart- letter: "It only highlights his lack mental proceedings have already of understanding of fiscal federalbeen initiated against six chief ism inherent in our constitution."
Lady Gaga influenced by Indian music New Delhi: The singing sensation Lady Gaga - with shades, blonde buns, graceful dress and jewelry - addressed media where she talked about how India influences her music and her clothes. The quintessential style icon said: "I never would have imagined years ago that I would be able to come to India and perform and meet my new amazing fans that are here. So I would like to say thank you to all of you ..my deepest gratitude and also I am most excited to meet all of you. The sites here in India are beautiful but the most beautiful site is the people." One has to shell out Rs 40,000 for a ticket to attend international pop star Lady Gaga's performance at the F1 after-party in Greater Noida on Sunday and the show is a total sell out, says actor-businessman Arjun Rampal, who is organising the event.
US pop star Lady Gaga during a press conference in New Delhi on October 28.
"The maximum capacity for the party is 1,000, and Gaga's show is completely sold out," said Arjun Rampal. The F1 after-parties, to be held as part of the Airtel Grand Prix of India, will take place at a special, 20,000 sq ft construction at the Jaypee Greens Golf and Spa Resort in Greater Noida. International DJ Roger Sanchez will perform on day one Friday, Edward Maya on the second day Saturday and Tom Navy on day three Sunday. Gaga will stage the finale. Gaga, known for numbers like "Poker face" and "Born this way", is already in town, and excited about her performance. "I think Lady Gaga is uber cool. Look at her flamboyant style, carefree attitude, she is so popular...I was so keen to watch her show, but the ticket rate is so high," said 17-yearold Devyanshi Mehra.
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RANA honors Mangano with Lifetime Achievement Award he Rajasthan Association of North America (RANA) held its 12th Diwali Gala 2011 on October 23 at Long Island Marriott Hotel, in Uniondale, NY. Their Guest of Honor was Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano, who was also bestowed Lifetime Achievement Award for Leadership, handed over by RANA President Haridas Kotahwala. RANA Vice President Dr Narendra Hadpawat read out the citation: “Hon Mangano is a tireless leader who has dedicated his life to advancing real reforms in Nassau County including smaller government, less spending and no new taxes. He has held the line on property taxes and put money back into residents’ pockets by repealing the onerous home energy tax.” After receiving the award, Hon. Mangano addressed the august gathering and joined Haridas Kotahwala in handing out awards to other three RANA honorees. And since it was the birthday of County Executive’s father, John
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John Mangano, County Executive’s father, celebrated his birthday at RANA’s Diwali gala, joined in by his wife, Rachel, Ed Mangano, his wife Linda, and their sons Salvatore and Alexander.
County Executive Ed Mangano was honored with Lifetime Achievement Award for Leadership. Pictured with him are (from left) RANA President Haridas Kotahwala, Vice President Dr Hadpawat, and Kamlesh Mehta, County’s Director for Business and Economic Development as well as a RANA founder. Mangano, the family joined in the See pages 16-17 for more picjoyful cake cutting by Mangano, tures and report on RANA’s Diwali Sr at the gala. gala and how RANA project of Kotawhala then presented a Rajasthan Bhawan is taking shawl to Mangano, Sr. shape.
Haridas Kotahwala honored Mangano, Sr, presenting him a shawl.
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RANA celebrates Diwali and readies for Rajasthan Bhawan
County Executive Ed Mangano in his address praised the community’s contributions.
By Parveen Chopra t its 12th annual Diwali Gala on Oct 23 at Long Island Marriott Hotel in Uniondale, the Rajasthan Association of North America (RANA) honored four eminent people with Lifetime Achievement Awards. The Guest of Honor, Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano, was given the award for Leadership. Hon. Mangano and RANA President Haridas Kotahwala then presented awards to the other three honorees: Naveen Shah, well-known CPA and President & CEO of Navika Group of Companies, Dr Subhash Jain, renowned physician and expert in management of chronic and cancer pain, and Hemchand Bardia, reputed jeweler and philanthropist. RANA Vice President Dr Narendra Hadpawat introduced Hon Mangano as a tireless leader who has dedicated his life to advancing real reforms in Nassau County including smaller government, less spending and no new taxes. Addressing the gathering, Hon. Mangano said his endeavor is to make Nassau County “a better place to live, work and raise a family”. In that mission, he appreciated the community’s continued support and said “together we will fight wrongdoing, that which does not represent the truth, and we all know collectively that truth always triumphs and good triumphs over evil, and that is what we are here to celebrate Diwali for.” Mangano went on to present a citation to RANA “on behalf of 1.3 million residents of Nassau County”. It was received by RANA President Kotahwala. Among the audience were Indian Consul General Prabhu Dayal, who had to leave early for another engagement, eminent attorney Ravi Batra, Harendra Singh, chief of Singh Hospitality, and county executive’s father, John
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RANA President Haridas Kotahwala addressing the audience
Mangano, who celebrated his birthday by cutting a cake at the event. Hemchand Bardia, in his acceptance speech, said that he was initially reluctant to accept the honor because he was not doing philanthropy to get name and fame, but was prevailed upon by Kotahwala. In his acceptance speech, Dr Subhash Jain advised the younger generation to be proud of their Rajstahani culture and heritage, even being vegetarian. He was introduced by Dr Shashi Shah, who said Dr Jain became an expert in pain management at a time when nobody paid attention to pain. Kotahwala in his presidential address said that Rajasthan Bhawan was about to become a reality from being a dream of the community. He introduced RANA which was established in 1999 by six dedicated and loving members. He went on to say that “We have also organized three successful international Rajasthan conventions in New York. They were inaugurated by the Chief Ministers of Rajasthan: Shri Ashok Gehlot in 2003 & 2010, and Smt. Vasundhara Raje Scindia in 2006. The conventions were also effective in raising funds for RANA’s charity projects such as Rainwater Harvesting (Akash Ganga), Women’s Education (Janani Vikas), Mid-Day Meals for children (Akshay Patra) and many others.” Kotahwala thanked the sponsors including Dr Samin Sharma. At the gala, the report of the Ad Hoc Committee of the Rajasthan Bhawan RANA Project was read out by Dr Narendra Hadpawat, Vice President of RANA who is a member of the committee. He also read out the goals and objectives of the project. The award ceremony was preceded and followed by entertainment program—lilting songs and Bollywood and Rajasthani dances. The evening concluded with a sumptuous dinner of authentic Rajasthani cuisine.
Hemchand Bardia, reputed jeweler and philanthropist, received the RANA award from Nassau County Executive and RANA President Haridas Kotahwala. Kamlesh Mehta gave out a citation to him on behalf of the county.
Naveen Shah, President & CEO of Navika Group of Companies, posing with Hon Mangano, and Kotahwala after receiving his award.
Dr Subhash Jain, renowned physician and pain expert, holding the diamond top trophy awarded to him by RANA. He was introduced by Dr Shashi Shah.
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Jaya Bhooplapur, Nimmi Mehta, Amljit Kaur (foreground) enjoying the show.
RANA honors 4 at Diwali Gala
Hon Mangano, Ravi Batra and Kamlesh Mehta at the RANA Diwali do.
Rajasthan Bhawan taking shape he dream of the Rajasthan community, to have its own Rajasthan Bhawan, is set to take concrete shape soon. At the RANA’s annual Diwali gala last Sunday, the report of the Ad Hoc Committee of the Rajasthan Bhawan RANA Project was read out. The committee has even identified a synagogue building in Massapequa, Long Island for purchase and started doing spade work for the same. The proposed name for the Bhawan is Rajasthan Center for Culture and Heritage. Dr Narendra Hadpawat, Vice President of RANA who is a member of the committee headed by Haridas Kotahwala, RANA President, read out the goals and objectives of the Bhavan project.
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Chandmal Kumawat, chief of Maneesh Media Agency, which is producing a coffee table book on Rajasthanis abroad, presenting a painting to the Mangano family
Songs and Bollywood style dances kept the audience entertained.
Lord Ganesh sporting a Rajasthani turban
They include: * To provide a permanent place to meet and greet out community especially Rajathanis who either live in or are visiting North America. * A place for Rajasthani community’s social events: parties, festivals, meetings, marriages, etc * To provide a platform to promote networking among us an especially
our future generation * To have a permanent office for RANA for future working and growth of the the community. * To promote Rajasthani culture and heritage, festivals, languages, art, music, dance and tourism * To promote yoga, meditation and other Indian lifestyle and life sciences. * To create a senior citizen center. * To have a prayer facility –temple. * To enable cooperation with other organizations with similar goals and objhectives including the promotion of education, healthcare and general well-being. Besides Kotahwala and Dr Hadpawat, other members of the ad hoc committee are: KK Mehta, Animesh Goenka, Naveen Shah, Kamlesh Mehta, Dr Ajay Lodha, Sushil Goyal, Dr Shashi Shah and Dr Samin Sharma. The committee identified the following facilities needed to accomplish the Bhawan goals and objectives: * A hall with table seating for 500 plus people as
well as an ara for prayer serives with chairs and floor seating. * A library and exhibition facility for the history and cutlrue of Rajasthan. * 2-3 large rooms for education, dance and music classes. * RANA meeting rooms for 30-50 people. * 4-5 offices: One office for RANA and the rest available for rent by other associations Financial projections pitch the initial acquisition cost at $2.75 million. Fundraising for the project has started in right earnest. Rules and laws for proper control, management and running of the Rajasthan Bhawan are also being worked on. In his Presidential address at the RANA Diwali gala, Haridas Kotahwala quoted Swami Vivekananda: ‘When an idea exclusively occupies the mind, it is transformed into an actual physical state’. He expressed his confidence that “our coming functions will be held at our own Bhawan.” He also requested all people of the Rajasthani community to contribute in any way they can toward making the Bhawan a reality.
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Prayers, lights, crackers mark festival of lights New Delhi: Millions of Indians celebrated Diwali, the colourful festival of lights, with joy all over the country despite rising prices of sweets, dry fruits and firecrackers. Major cities saw traffic jams as shoppers thronged markets and called on friends and relatives to exchange greetings on Diwali, which Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said was a harbinger of happiness and prosperity. As the sun went down, almost every home lit up with candles, the more traditional earthen lamps as well as flashing colourful electric lights. Despite environmental concerns, hundreds of thousands burst firecrackers of all sizes and shapes.
Summarizing the nation's mood, Delhi Mayor Rajni Abbi said: "This is a festival that brings people of all faiths together and unites them. It's relished by people of all ages." Bollywood agreed. Actor Bipasha Basu tweeted: "Today, it's family and friends time for all! (This is the) time to eat, dance and be merry, and thank god for the lives we live!" Added lyricist Javed Akhtar: "May the lights of Diwali lead us to the path of prosperity and progress, peace and love." The day began with homes and shops getting decked up and people offering prayers -- in their residences and in temples. Keeping alive a tradition, many wore new clothes.
The BSF personnel light firecrackers at the Fulbari Border outpost on the outskirts of Siliguri.
Major temples drew large crowds, with special prayers offered to Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha. Colourful rangolis and marigold flowers embellished homes. Friends and neighbours exchanged sweets. There was plenty of last minute shopping, and that led to traffic jams everywhere, from Bangalore to Mumbai to Delhi. In Tamil Nadu, lamps were lit and crackers burst early in the morning. Markets in all major towns were abuzz with activity as shops sold sweets, dry fruits, packaged fruits, chocolates, cookies and gifts to suit various pockets. "The business has been good this year. I opened at 8 in the morning and cleared my stock within hours," said Vijay Yadav, selling marigold flowers in south Delhi's Green Park crowded market. Some residents in Mumbai complained of exorbitant prices of fire crackers. But still the streets were crowded, and sweet shops saw long queues. Others headed to Mumbai's beaches or opted to see the much talked about Shah Rukh Khan starrer "Ra.One". In Amritsar, lakhs thronged the Golden Temple, the holiest Sikh shrine. Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Patiala and Chandigarh cities bustled with activity, and the inevitable traffic jams. In Kolkata, thousands thronged the Dakshineswar Temple in North 24 Parganas district and Kalighat in south Kolkata to pray to Goddess Kali. Diwali, celebrated on Amavasya, is believed to mark the return of Lord Ram to Ayodhya after vanquishing Ravana. In his message, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said of Diwali: "It celebrates the victory of good over evil and the spreading of the light of learning. "It is a national festival in which all communities rejoice in amity and friendship and celebrate the solidarity of the nation."
Devotees watch a fireworks display at the Golden Temple in Amritsar.
Pakistani Hindu children celebrate Diwali in Karachi.
A Kashmiri Pandit girl lights candles in Srinagar.
Hindus, Muslims celebrate Jamghat - with kites Lucknow: Hundreds of kites resembling butterflies, dragons, fish and birds fluttered in the Lucknow sky, particularly in the old city where Hindus, Muslims and others came together to celebrate the festival of Jamghat. The festival falls a day after Diwali. "For those of us in Old Lucknow, Jamghat is a festival that helps maintain social relationships," Assad Ahmad,
64, a kite enthusiast and retired government employee in Aminabad locality, said. "The festival in a true sense reflects communal harmony as Hindus and Muslims come together to fly kites and exchange sweets," he added. In several localities, including Hussainganj, Batasheywali-gali, Chaupatiya, Chowk, Daliganj and the banks of Gomti, kite enthusiasts
formed teams and challenged each other to showcase their prowess and supremacy in the battle of the skies. Besides the traditional kites, people opted for Chinese kites because of their attraction quotient. However, professionals preferred the "desi" ones. "Chinese kites are mainly made of plastic sheets whereas Indian ones are made of
paper. Chinese kites require windy conditions. The desi ones can be manoeuvred in almost all conditions," said Mohd Usman, the owner of a kite shop in Hussainganj. According to popular belief, Jamghat started off as a hobby when Lucknow was ruled by nawabs almost a century ago. It has become a tradition that has a large number of followers of different age groups.
India, Pak border guards exchange sweets Amritsar: Indian and Pakistani border guards exchanged sweets at the Attari-Wagah border post near here to mark Diwali, which is also celebrated by Hindus in Pakistan. Border Security Force (BSF) officials presented sweets to their counterparts of Sutlej Rangers at
the zero line at the border post, about 30 km from here. The Pakistanis offered sweets in return. "We shared sweets with our Pakistani counterparts on the occasion of Diwali. They also greeted us," BSF Commandant Sushil Negi told reporters at the border post.
Festival TheSouthAsianTimes.info
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Where Diwali is celebrated a month later! Shimla: The country celebrated Diwali but there are some pockets in Himachal Pradesh where the festival of lights is celebrated almost a month later. Reason? Locals believe the news of Lord Ram's return to Ayodhya reached late in these parts. Diwali traditionally celebrates the triumph of good over evil and is widely believed to mark the return of Lord Ram to Ayodhya after vanquishing the demon king Ravana. However, in some pockets of Himachal Pradesh, the festival is locally known as Buddhi Diwali (or dark Diwali). Even the village of popular World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) wrestler The Great Khali will celebrate the festival a fortnight later. Prem Parshad Pandit, membersecretary of the Himachal Predesh temples committee, said: "There are certain pockets in Sirmaur, Shimla and Kullu districts where Diwali celebrations start later. This time the
celebrations will start Nov 25 ('amavasya', new moon day or the dark fortnight of a lunar month)." Buddhi Diwali is mainly celebrated in Ani and Nirmand in Kullu district, Shillai in Sirmaur district and Chopal in Shimla district. It's considered a festival of animal sacrifice.During the three-day festival, locals dance and sing folklores related to the epic Mahabharata. It's also associated with the battle of the Mahabharata as it is said to have started on the first day of Buddhi Diwali.In Kullu district, the festival is celebrated to commemorate the killings of demons Dano and Asur who resided there in the form of snakes. Hundreds of goats, sheep and buffaloes are sacrificed. As per the tradition, villagers take animals to a nearby temple where the sacrificial ceremony is performed on 'amavasya'. The severed heads are offered to the gods and deities and each animal's body is
taken home for cooking. The feast is shared among villagers. Sheela Devi, an octogenarian residing in the Shillai area, said: "We never celebrate Diwali when people in other parts of the country are celebrating. During the festivity, we buy new bangles, sweets, clothes and decorate our houses." "But animal sacrifice is an important ritual. The sacrifice of reared livestock ensures round-the-year prosperity and protection from natural calamities," she added. Khali, who also reached his ancestral village Dhirayna in Sirmaur district last week from the US, said he would celebrate Buddhi Diwali. "This time, I will participate in the Buddhi Diwali celebrations after seven years. Though we are not celebrating Diwali, some of my fans invited me to attend the Diwali celebrations in Nahan (district headquarters) and I would participate," Khali said.
Quiet Diwali for Tihar Jail's VIP inmates New Delhi: DMK MP Kanimozhi, former minister A. Raja and other VIPs in the Tihar Jail here celebrated Diwali on a low key, greeting fellow prisoners and accepting sweets from jail officials. "Raja and (Congress leader Suresh) Kalmadi greeted the other inmates in their own wards and relished the delicacies given by jail authorities," a prison official. who requested anonymity, said. Special food was also served on Diwali day. Prisoners got a
vegetable curry with paneer and tandoori roti for lunch as well as ladoo, burfi and jalebi in the evening, the official said. The inmates were also allowed to buy candles and diyas and snacks from the jail canteen. These were lit up in the periphery of their wards. But not many were keen on this. "Only Raja bought some candles and lighted them," the official said. According to him, the highprofile inmates -- which includes corporate executives charged
Nihangs displaying Sikh martial art gataka, on Diwali eve.
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with the 2G scam -- were upset because they could not meet their relatives or lawyers on Diwali since the day was a gazetted holiday. "A special prayer was conducted but the VIP prisoners were not allowed to participate due to security concern," the official said. In the evening, Raja was seen in the library reading books. Kanimozhi, who is also a poet, remained in her cell reading. Most of the others were glued to TV.
For children, by children... diyas that shine brighter
Children learnt how to make diyas from volunteers of Rhythm of Life New Delhi: Lit up by decorative diyas made by children, the congested bylanes of the Bapu Dham slum in south Delhi glow with an added shine this Diwali. In an effort that has given an added creative edge as well as provided a skill to bring in some extra money, a group of 42 college students from the voluntary organization Rhythm Of Life (ROL) have taken on the initiative to train these children. "We train children in making creative crafts like designer diyas, paper bags and kites. The organization was started by a group of four college students in 2010 with the aim of teaching music, but later we found that these children are interested in other creative things," Shrey Chohan, president of ROL, said. Starting with a team of four, ROL now comprises 42 students who share their knowledge of art, dance and music with the children of Bapu Dham, a slum in south Delhi's Chanakyapuri. Besides diyas, paper bags, stoles and other decorative items made by the children were sold at Diwali melas in various parts of the city, like Jesus and Mary College and
Greater Kailash II. Priced at a modest Rs.20 to Rs.130, the items were picked up fast. The children are happy and so are their parents. "The makeshift classes are conducted twice in a week and the children are taught in an informal and friendly manner. This keeps the children occupied constructively," said Bapu Lal, a parent. Red, blue and yellow colours dripping from her hands, eight-year-old Harshita added happily: "This Diwali is special for me. I have created my own diyas, paper bags and have decorated my house." Jatin Sharma, 14, said he is already teaching other children in school the crafts he has picked up. "We train children in the age group of four to 16 years to make designer diyas. We give them all the raw material for the crafts. We have also started training them in spoken English," said Devika, a student of Jamia Milia University who is also the treasurer of ROL. The students, she said, were pooling their pocket money to get raw material. They were also planning to recruit another crafts teacher to help train more children.
Chief Minister Narendra Modi with priests celebrating Maha Annakut Festival, the second day of Diwali, in Ahmedabad.
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Guinness won’t recognize Fauja Singh as oldest marathoner Toronto: Guinness World Records has said that it would not recognize 100-year-old Briton of Indian-origin Fauja Singh as the world’s oldest marathoner because he can’t show a birth certificate. “We’d love to say this is a true Guinness World Record, but the problem is there is just no evidence. We can only accept official birth documents created in the year of the birth,” the editor-inchief of Guinness World Records, Craig Glenday, was quoted as saying by BBC. According to the report, Singh’s British passport, showing his date of birth as being 1 April 1911, as well as a letter from the Queen congratulating him on his 100th birthday, have been shown to the organization. The organization has also been given a letter from Indian government officials stating that no birth records were kept in 1911, and a statement from a
Fauja Singh former neighbor in India. But Guinness says these are not considered sufficient proof of age. It took Singh over eight hours to cross the finish line, more than six hours after Kenya’s Kenneth Mungara won the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon on October 16.
11th National Diwali celebration hosted in Ottawa Ottawa: Deepak Obhrai, M.P. and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, hosted the 11th National Diwali Celebration on Thursday, October 20th at the Canadian Museum of Civilization across from Parliament Hill. Prime Minister Stephen Harper joined Deepak and an overflowing crowd of more than 600 people at a glittering ceremony that included Cabinet Ministers, Members of Parliament, Senators, diplomats and Indo Canadians from Ottawa, Toronto and Montreal. More than 20 Hindu temples and community organizations sent representatives to the event. Prime Minister Stephen Harper, attending the celebration for the fifth time as Prime Minister, praised Obhrai’s vision and effort that has seen the event grow into a truly national event. “First off, I’d like to thank the man who had the vision for the first ever Parliament Hill Diwali celebration. And now, after a lot of hard work, 11 years later, it’s bigger and better than ever, thanks to Deepak Obhrai,” the Prime Minster said. He also thanked the Prime Minister’s support over the years. “I am most thankful to Prime Minister Harper for his unwavering support of this national celebration. His support has kept this dream alive.” Among the dignitaries present were Foreign Minister John Baird; Defence Minister Peter MacKay; Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney; Ministers of
Indian-origin Meera Syal named Cameron Mackintosh Visiting Professor London: Indian-origin British actress Meera Syal has been named as the next Cameron Mackintosh Visiting Professor of Contemporary Theatre based at St Catherine’s College at the University of Oxford. She succeeds the director Sir Trevor Nunn. Professor Syal is a playwright, actress and writer who rose to prominence as one of the team that created Goodness Gracious Me and became one of the UK’s bestknown Indian personalities in The
Kumars at No. 42, having appeared on radio, television, film and on stage. She is the author of two novels, Life Isn’t All Ha Ha Hee Hee and Anita and Me which won the Betty Trask Award and was shortlisted for the Guardian Fiction Award. She has adapted both these novels for the screen. She also wrote the screenplay for the acclaimed film Bhaji on the Beach. Actress Meera Syal
Light a Diwali diya at home from miles away! New Delhi: A new web-application which allows people to light a virtual diya at the homes of their loved ones has become a popular way of wishing happy Diwali, especially among non-resident Indians (NRIs). "This is a new - and fastgrowing concept wherein you light an online diya (lamp) through Google Maps and then also send greetings through email or Facebook," Cania Dey, editor of nrimatters.com, the website which has developed the application, told reporters. The application is called Festival of Lights. Diwali falls Oct 26 this year. "You can simply type the address of a recipient`s location in the search bar to reach the destination where you want to place
the diya. You zoom into the exact location to place the virtual diya. You can also send a personal message thereafter," Dey said. Dey attributes the fast growing popularity of the application with NRIs to not just the unique concept of lighting an online diya at the exact location but also the joy of greeting, the nostalgia factor and homesickness among people away from home. The application also features a greetings section through which the users can send wishes through e-mail or Facebook. Over 2,200 diyas have already been lit and Dey expects this number to go up.
Deepak Obhrai, MP, presents a plaque bearing the Canada Post Diwali stamps to Prime Minister Stephen Harper at the 11th National Diwali Celebration in Ottawa on October 20. Deepak also presented to the Prime Minister a set of stamps specially published by Canada Post to commemorate Diwali. State Tim Uppal, Ted Menzies and Bal Gosal; Leader of the Opposition Nycole Turmel and Leader of the Liberal Party Bob Rae. This year’s National Diwali Celebration was organized jointly with the High Commission of India to mark the Year of India in Canada 2011, the India Canada Association of the National Capital Region and the Indo Canada Ottawa Business Chamber.
100,000 visit T&T Diwali exposition Port of Spain: More than 100,000 people thronged an annual exposition over 10 days to celebrate Diwali in this Trinidad and Tobago capital. The exposition, called Diwali Nagar, was organized by the National Council of Indian Culture (NCIC). Deokienanan Sharma, NCIC president, estimated that despite the state of emergency in the country, in excess of 100,000 patrons visited Diwali Nagar Oct 16-25. Emergency was declared in the country Aug 21 to curb a string of violent crimes. Of this Caribbean island nation's population of 1.3 million, around 44 percent are of Indian descent. Their forefathers were brought here between 1845 and 1917 to work on sugar plantations. Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar visited the exposition before she left
Wednesday to attend the Commonwealth Prime Minister's Conference in Australia. The theme this year was 'Lord Rama-His Life and Times.' 'This is the 25th year of Diwali Nagar which ...attracts patrons from all parts of the Caribbean, US, Europe and India,' said Sharma. Sharma said that over 100 booths reflected the many facets of the Indian diaspora items like clothing, jewelry, cuisine and home furnishings. There were plays depicting the life and times of Lord Rama. 'Diwali Nagar continues to be the Indian diaspora's premier socio-religious and cultural presentation annually,' said Sharma. Surujattan Rambachan, the minister of foreign affairs and communications, called for the establishment of an authentic Indian heritage village.
Subcontinent TheSouthAsianTimes.info
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October 29-November 4, 2011
‘ISI to act if India creates anti-Pak Afghanistan’ Washington: Accusing India of trying to create an anti-Pakistan Afghanistan, former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf warned of "counter-measures" by Islamabad if Kabul moved too close to New Delhi. Fuming that Afghanistan enjoyed too close a relationship with New Delhi for Islamabad's liking, Musharraf also called for a rapprochement between the intelligence agencies ISI of Pakistan and RAW of India. "Since our independence (in 1947), Afghanistan always has been anti-Pakistan because the Soviet Union and India have very good relations in Afghanistan," he told the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a Washington think tank.
Accusing India of working to turn Afghanistan against Pakistan, former Pakistan president said: "We must not allow this to continue."
Scrap trade pact with India: Maoists Kathmandu: The new trade pact inked by Nepal's Maoist Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai during his just-concluded visit to India has come under fire with the hawks in his own party demanding that it be scrapped or approved by parliament. Bhattarai, who said he took a calculated risk by wrapping up a Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (BIPPA) during his maiden official visit to New Delhi last week, faces fireworks in parliament Monday when the opposition as well as the hawks from his own party will grill him on the pact. The first rumblings came when Bhattarai, returning to Kathmandu on the conclusion of the four-day visit, was greeted with black flags at the airport
by cadres loyal to a deputy chief of the Maoist party, Mohan Baidya, who slammed it as "anti-national" and a "sell-out" to India. Maoist MP and former minister Dev Gurung, who belongs to the Baidya faction, Monday called for the pact to be scrapped, amended or endorsed by parliament. Gurung said the agreement had been signed in defiance of the party's advice to Bhattarai before he left for New Delhi. "The standing committee of the party had asked the PM not to sign any agreement of prolonged national importance," he said. The hawks also allege the agreement would give undue advantage to Indian investors and impact domestic traders negatively.
New Delhi: After India unveiled a $250 million line of credit for Kathmandu and signed a crucial investment pact, Nepal's Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai said his talks here have "opened a new chapter" in bilateral ties and succeeded in "building trust" between the two neighbors. Allaying India's concerns, Bhattarai also said that a mechanism will be developed to check the flow of fake currency notes and assured that the Nepali territory will not be allowed for anti-India activities. Nepal has also proposed the formation of an Eminent Persons Group to review the entire gamut of bilateral relations, including a review of past treaties. A nonpaper has been given to New Delhi to take the proposal forward. "My visit was a successful one. Whatever misunderstandings were there have been dispelled," Bhattarai told reporters here. "A new chapter has been opened up in Indo-Nepal relationship," he said, signaling a visible warming of ties between New Delhi and the Maoist-led dispensation in Kathmandu. The talks between Bhattarai and Manmohan Singh Friday has been widely seen as signaling a back-to-business approach between New Delhi and Kathmandu.
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari. that we need to help those in need of help." "We partake in Diwali celebrations also for promoting interfaith
Pakistan and, may I say, over the years ... Afghanistan always has been anti-Pakistan because (the) Soviet Union and India have very close relation in Afghanistan. "And the intelligence agency, KGB, RAW and KHAD of Afghanistan have always been in cooperation and talking since 1950s," Musharraff said. "So I think this needs a rapprochement certainly between India and Pakistan and rapprochement also between the two intelligence organizations: the RAW of India and the ISI of Pakistan," he said. Former army chief Musharraf, who seized power in 1999, was the president when the US invaded Afghanistan to topple the proPakistan Taliban regime following the 2001 terror attack.
A new chapter opens in Indo-Nepal relations
Zardari greets Hindus on Diwali Islamabad: Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari greeted the Hindus in the country on the occasion of Diwali and called for strengthening interfaith harmony and protecting rights of minorities. "I wish to extend on my behalf, on behalf of the Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) and on behalf of the people of Pakistan heartiest greetings to the Hindu and scheduled castes community on the occasion of Diwali," he said in a message. "It is a time for celebration, but it is also a time for reflection. Let us rededicate ourselves to continually striving in the path of good and noble," the official APP news agency quoted Zardari as saying. Referring to the devastating floods in Sindh, Zardari said: "The celebrations should serve to remind
Accusing India of working to turn Afghanistan against Pakistan, he said: "We must not allow this to continue." "We must not begrudge if Pakistan orders ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence) to take counter-measures to protect its own interests," he said. "Now, India is trying to create anti-Pakistan Afghanistan. This is most unfortunate, and I am not saying this because I have some (Indocentric) - and I'm anti-India. "I know this through intelligence, I know this to be a fact," he said. "Today, and just to give you one proof, today, in Afghanistan, Afghan diplomats, the intelligence people, the security people, the army men, all go to India for training," he said, echoing an old Pakistani complaint. "Now they go there, they come back, they get indoctrinated against
harmony as a means to fight religious apartheid and those who seek to impose their ideological agenda on the people," the president said.
Nepal's Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai with his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh. Earlier, New Delhi has been wary of the Maoist leadership, but has been building bridges in a bid to stabilize the situation in the Himalayan country. Bhattarai met Home Minister P. Chidambaram and Defence Minister A.K. Antony and discussed with them issues related to expanding security cooperation. The ongoing political transition in Nepal figured prominently in the talks.
Kidnapped Swiss couple pleads for freedom Islamabad: Pakistani Taliban has released two videos of a kidnapped Swiss couple who have been held hostage in North Waziristan tribal region, a media report said. David Olivier, 31, and Widmar Daniela, 29, were abducted by gunmen in the Loralai area of southwestern Balochistan province in July. They had entered Balochistan as tourists but officials said that they had not informed the authorities of their arrival. The Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has released the videos which were shown by Dawn television. Three armed men are standing behind the couple in the
video, reported Xinhua. Dawn TV said that the couple are being held hostage by the TTP in North Waziristan tribal region. The videos show the couple calling upon the governments of Switzerland, the US and Pakistan to meet the captors' demands. The TTP said they would release the couple if the US freed Aafia Siddiqui, a female neuroscientist sentenced in 2010 for attack on US soldiers in Afghanistan. "We call upon the Western world to put pressure on America for the release of Aafia Siddiqui," TTP deputy chief Waliur Rehman said.
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Europe crafts debt deal as banks take losses Brussels: European leaders clinched a deal they hope will mark a turning point in their twoyear debt crisis, agreeing after a night of tense negotiations to have banks take bigger losses on Greece's debts and to boost the region's weapons against the market turmoil. After months of dawdling and half-baked solutions, the leaders had been under immense pressure to finalize their plan to prevent the crisis from pushing Europe and much of the developed world back into recession and to protect their currency union from unraveling. The euro surged on the news of
the full plan, an early sign that investors may welcome it. “We have reached an agreement, which I believe lets us give a credible and ambitious and overall response to the Greek crisis,'' French President Nicolas Sarkozy told reporters. “Because of the complexity of the issues at stake, it took us a full night. But the results will be a source of huge relief worldwide.” The strategy unveiled after 10 hours of negotiations hit upon the three points expected for weeks. These include a significant reduction of Greece's debts, a shoring up of the continent's banks, partially so they could sustain losses
Europe has resources to tackle crisis: US official Washington: The financial crisis in Europe presents the most serious risk to global recovery, but the European nations have the resources to cope with it, a senior US Treasury official said. "It is clear that the Europeans have the resources and capacity to deal with the challenges they face," US Assistant Treasury Secretary Charles Collyns said in a testimony before the House of Representatives, reported Xinhua. "At the country level, over the last 18 months, much of the region has embarked on accelerated fiscal consolidation, growth-oriented structural reform, and banking
sector repair," said Collyns, adding that the completion of the reforms will require continued and determined efforts to push forward ongoing efforts combined with continued financial support over a sustained period of time. Europe accounts for more than 20 percent of US goods exports and more than 35 percent of US service exports, and Europe is the most significant "foreign source" of investment and jobs in the US, with the total stock of European foreign direct investment (FDI) standing at $1.6 trillion and accounting for 70 percent of all FDI in the US.
on Greek bonds, and a reinforcement of a bailout fund so it can serve as a firewall to prevent larger economies like Italy and Spain from being dragged into the crisis. The most difficult piece of the puzzle proved to be Greece, whose debts, the leaders vowed, would fall to 120 percent of its GDP by 2020. Under current conditions, they would have ballooned to 180 percent. The most difficult piece of the puzzle proved to be Greece, whose debts would fall to 120 percent of its GDP by 2020.
RIM faces possible class action suit Toronto: Research In Motion faces a possible class action lawsuit over recent outages in its BlackBerry services earlier this month, and a trademark infringement complaint for its use of the BBX name for its upcoming platform for its tablets and smartphones. Consumer Law Group (CLG), a Canadian law firm, said it has filed in the Quebec Superior Court a proposed national class action lawsuit against RIM on behalf of individuals who have BlackBerry smartphones and pay for a monthly data plan, but were unable to access their email, BlackBerry Messenger service, or Internet from Oct. 11 to Oct. 14. The lawsuit was filed by CLG on behalf of the lead plaintiff, M. Blackette, a BlackBerry customer with a data plan from a local operator. "The lawsuit is only dealing with the refund of people's data plan charges during the outage. No punitive damages, nor inconvenience is being claimed," said Jeff Orenstein, a CLG attorney, in an email. "Plain and simple: if you pay for a service you should receive it. And if you don't, you should be entitled to get your money back." In a separate action in the U.S., a software company said it filed
Research In Motion faces a possible class action lawsuit over recent outages in its BlackBerry services. a complaint in the United States District Court, District of New Mexico, alleging that RIM's use of the BBX name infringes its trademark for its software. Basis International of Albuquerque, New Mexico said it had written on Oct. 19 through its counsel to RIM, a day after RIM announced the new platform, asking it to cease all use of the BBX mark. RIM was not immediately available for comment.
'Rate hikes playing havoc with SMEs' New Delhi: An increase in 375 basis points in the repo rate over the last 20 months or so and the consequent sharp increase in the cost of credit is playing havoc with micro, small and medium enterprises, an industry lobby said after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) revised key interest rates by 25 basis points. "The indecisiveness of the central government on supply side reforms coupled with its fiscal profligacy has rendered the RBI's interest-rate hikes more or less ineffective in containing inflation," V.K. Agarwal, president of the Federation of Indian Micro and Small & Medium Enterprises (FISME), said in a statement. "We would like to bring to the RBI's notice that out of the top 200 items produced by MSMEs, the demand for nearly 60 percent is critically dependent on the healthy growth of three sectors - buildings and construction, transportation and the white goods sector," the statement said.
While the rate hikes have adversely impacted investment decisions in all three areas and thereby the top line growth of MSMEs producing items meant for final consumption in these sectors, the increased cost of credit has
become quite unbearable for many MSMEs as this is also eroding their margins and rapidly pushing them towards insolvency, the statement said. "In view of this situation, and the fact that interest rate hikes have adversely impacted investment in housing, automobiles and white goods due to a sharp weakening of demand as higher financing costs are forcing consumers to defer their purchase decisions, FISME would like the RBI to consider an interest subvention scheme for the MSME sector so that they can survive even as RBI continues to maintain its anti-inflationary stance," the statement added. The federation also noted that for MSMEs, it is not just a matter of slower growth "but of survival itself as most of them do not have the financial cushion to survive a sharp decline in sales together with an equally sharp erosion of profitability".
International TheSouthAsianTimes.info
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UN ends mandate for NATO ops in Libya United Nations: The U.N. Security Council has canceled its authorization for a seven-monthold NATO military operation in Libya that led to the ouster and death of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. The mandate was terminated despite a request from Libya's interim government for the Security Council to wait until the National Transitional Council made a decision on whether it wants NATO to help it secure its borders. The 15-nation council unanimously approved a resolution terminating the U.N. mandate, which set the no-fly zone over Libya and permitted foreign military forces, including NATO, to use "all necessary measures" to protect Libyan civilians.The resolution said the U.N. authorization for foreign mili-
The resolution said the U.N. authorization for foreign military operations in Libya will lapse on October 31. tary operations in Libya will lapse at 11:59 p.m. local Libyan time on October 31. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice welcomed the decision of the council, which U.N.
India opposes rights monitor, moves against Colombo Perth: The b i e n n i a l Commonwealth Heads of Government M e e t i n g (CHOGM) kicked off here with the Indian delegation keeping a wary eye on efforts to set up a human rights monitor and prevent Sri Vice President Hamid Ansari. Lanka from hosting the next majority of its members". meeting. Leaders of over 50 coun"So, while we support the tries gathered for the event that important values of democracy, was expected to focus on develop- rule of law and human rights, we ment issues, the global economic believe the Commonwealth should crisis and a host of other concerns focus on strengthening the existthat affect members of the 54- ing institutions rather than trying nation grouping. to create new ones," he said earliThe Indian delegation, headed er. The move to prevent Sri Lanka by Vice President Hamid Ansari, from hosting the next meeting was expected to voice its opposi- owing to its human rights record tion to a voluminous report by an and alleged war crimes is also Eminent Persons Group which likely to be opposed. has, among other things, recomAnsari, in fact, was quite blunt mended the setting up of a when asked about the protest. "As Commissioner for Democracy, far as we are concerned, the deciRule of Law and Human Rights. sion to have the next CHOGM in New Delhi believes such a com- Sri Lanka was taken at Port of missioner will undermine the role Spain. That is a decision and that of both the secretary-general and is the end of the matter," he told the Commonwealth Ministerial reporters. Action Group, and would only end Ansari will also hold bilateral up duplicating what the United talks with Australian Prime Nations already does through its Minister Julia Gillard. India is Rapporteurs. expected to press the issue of Foreign Secretary Ranjan access to uranium, which is curMathai, who is accompanying rently barred under Australian law Ansari, has said that the grouping to those countries which have not does not have the budget for such signed the Nuclear Nonactivity, and suggested that "the Proliferation Treaty (NPT). real focus of the Commonwealth India is the largest member of should be once again on the devel- the Commonwealth, accounting opment challenges which are for nearly 60 percent of its total uppermost in the minds of the vast population.
diplomats say became sharply divided over NATO intervention in a civil war that went on much longer than Western nations had expected or wanted. "This closes what I think history
will judge to be a proud chapter in the Security Council's history and experience, where it acted promptly and effectively to prevent mass slaughter in Benghazi and other parts of the east to effectively protect civilians," Rice told reporters. British Foreign Secretary William Hague said in a statement that the council move "is another significant milestone toward a peaceful, democratic future for Libya." NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said that the alliance will end its combat mission on Monday, adding that he did not expect NATO to play a major role in post-war Libya. "If requested we can assist the new Libyan government in the transformation to democracy, for instance with defense and security sector reform, but I wouldn't
expect new tasks beyond that," he said. Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin, who had repeatedly accused NATO of overstepping its U.N. mandate to protect civilians, also welcomed the move to end foreign military intervention in Libya. Moscow co-sponsored the resolution. Rice urged Libya's transitional government to "make the maximum effort to swiftly form an inclusive government that incorporates all aspects of Libyan society in which the rights of all Libyan people are fully and thoroughly respected." While the resolution does not specifically refer to NATO, the alliance's legal mandate to carry out the air strikes that enabled rebel forces to defeat Gaddafi's troops was supplied by Security Council resolution 1973, adopted in March.
World population to be 7 billion Hanoi: The world population is about to reach seven billion in the next few days, a UN agency's report has revealed. The UN Population Fund (UNFPA), whose work involves promotion of the right of every man, woman and child to enjoy a life of health and equal opportunity, has made this revelation through a report on the world population in 2011 titled "Human beings and opportunities in the world of seven billion people", according to Xinhua.At a press briefing, UNFPA representative in Vietnam Bruce Campbell said the world's population will reach seven billion on October 31. "The number is a challenge to us. While we have achieved solid foundations for human development, there are still differences and big gap between the rich and the poor. Never before have so many people got hurt by such issues as the loss of food security, lack
According to the UN, the population record is considered a success, because it means that people throughout the world can live longer.
of water, and occurrence of natural calamities," said Campbell. According to the report, the population record is considered a success, because it means that people throughout the world can live longer. However, it is a challenge to all. With the current growth, the world will have 78 million more people each year, leading to
increasing demands on natural resources and big pressure on the planet. The report says the responsibility should be taken for the development of the 1.8 billion youths and juveniles at the age of 10-24 years who account for over onefourth of the world's population. Of them 90 percent are living in developing countries.
Turkey quake toll rises to 523 Ankara: The toll from the powerful earthquake in Turkey has risen to 523 while 1,650 injured people are still being attended to, said Turkey's Disaster and Emergency Administration (AFAD). On October 23, a 7.2-magnitude quake led to the collapse of about 80 multi-storey buildings in Ercis, a town of 75,000 people close to the Iranian border, Xinhua reported. Rescuers pulled out a 19year-old alive from the rubble of a collapsed building four
days after the earthquake, local NTV news channel reported. He is the first to be pulled out alive since rescuers evacuated a university student and two teachers. So far, 816 search and rescue members, 886 health personnel, 18 sniffer dogs, 145 ambulances including seven ambulance planes, 11 mobile hospitals, over 18,000 tents, 95 mobile toilets, 60 pre-fabricated huts, over 84,000 blankets, 1,130 quilts and 36 mobile kitchens have been dispatched
to the quake-hit zone, the AFAD stated Wednesday evening. Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan acknowledged that his government had exhibited some failures in response to the earthquake on the first day. "I admit that we failed in the beginning within the first 24 hours. But this is normal. This happens all around the world," Erdogan said, adding that the situation now is almost completely under control.
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Every Vote Counts! Tuesday, November 8
Difference of ONE vote can make a difference!
Re-elect Rose Marie Walker Nassau County Legislator (District 17)
Judge Tom Adams for Supreme Court
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India take revenge, whitewash England 5-0 Kolkata: World champions India completed a 5-0 whitewash, mauling a hapless England by 95 runs in the final One-dayer to avenge a similar humiliation in the land of the Thames only a month back. Having already sealed the series with an unassailable 4-0 lead ahead of the Eden Gardens game, the hosts rode on a blazing unconquered 71 from skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and posted a challenging 271/8 and then cast a spin web to skittle out the visitors for 176 to usher in festivities on Diwali-eve night. Thirteen overs were still left in the innings. England collapsed in a heap after a solid start. Openers Craig Kieswetter (63 off 64 balls) and skipper Alastair Cook (60 of 61 balls) had thrown the gauntlet to the Indians with a 129-
Team India with the trophy after sweeping England ODI series 5-0. run rollicking stand by scoring at a brisk six plus rate when Varun Aaron got the breakthrough. The medium pacer got rid of Cook, who played well to get his second half-century of the series, with an angled and low delivery that went past the batsman's inside edge and unsettled the offstump. The script suddenly was
India third in ICC ODI rankings Dubai: World champions India climbed to the third position in the International Cricket Council (ICC) ODI rankings with a 5-0 win over England. South Africa can
leapfrog Sri Lanka and India into second position if it beats Australia in Durban Friday. Zimbabwe earned three ratings points for a historic victory against New Zealand in third ODI.
turned upside down as England lost their way as the Indian spinners excelled on a helpful track and the remaining nine batsmen fell for the addition of only 47 runs. Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja (4-33) was the pick of the Indian bowlers in the match to finish as the leading wicket taker of the series with 11 victims. Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin (3-28) took his series haul to 10. Tiwary and Raina got one apiece. The England batsmen seemed in utter discomfort as the runs choked up and their agony finally ended in the 37th over with Ashwin ending the tourists' agony with a carrom ball that took Steven Finn's top edge and ballooned to Dhoni behind the stumps.
Sahara invests $100m in Force India Judge Anthony Paradiso for District Court
Judge Angelo Delligatti for County Court
The Indian American Voters Forum has endorsed the above candidates for their election on November 8. We urge every Indian American to vote on the Election Day and support the above candidates. All candidates for judgeships have been found "well qualified" by the Nassau County Bar Association
Varinder K Bhalla, Chairman Indian American Voters Forum
Supported by Animesh Goenka Dr. Sunil Mehra Dr. Gulshan Malhotra Usha Kamath Gurmit Singh Anupam Nagpal Mukul Garg
Dr. Surinder Malhotra Dr. Urmilesh Arya Ratna Bhalla Rakesh Bhargava Nuaman Tyyeb Sridhar Kamath Pratichi Kothari
Dr. Yash Pal Arya Roger Chugh Anupam Goenka Sharanjit Thind Sunny Chopra Rajat Mittal Surbhi Gupta
New Delhi: Force India's team principal and managing director Vijay Mallya said the inaugural Formula One race in India is a major step for Indian sports. "I have been involved in motor racing for over 30 years, and it?s one of my greatest passions. I brought the first Formula 1 car over to India in the 1980s and it was always a dream of mine to one day see this great nation host a Grand Prix," Mallya said. "This weekend is a very significant moment and I’m extremely proud," he added. "It?s a major step forward for Indian motorsport, and for sports in general in our country. We are all looking forward to it."
Force India F1 team driver. Mallya said being the first home race for Force India, the Silverstonebased team was determined to put up its best showing at the Buddh International Circuit here. "This is a very important weekend for Sahara Force India and we are all determined to be as competitive
as possible. I want to savor every moment of what will surely be one of the most spectacular events of the season and the start of a great Formula 1 tradition in India," he said. Mallya said the race will increase the popularity of Formula One in India.
Health TheSouthAsianTimes.info
October 29-November 4, 2011
Pregnancy in kidney disease By Dr. Bhavani Mahankali
hen a woman with underlying kidney disease becomes pregnant there are several issues that need
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to be addressed. There are several types of underlying kidney disease like diabetic nephropathy, lupus nephritis, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and reflux nephropathy that may complicate
pregnancy. Pregnancy in a patient with pre-existing renal disease not only increases the risk for permanent worsening of renal disease, but also increases the incidence of a variety of pregnancy complications.
Effect of pregnancy on renal function * Renal function may decline during pregnancy in patients with kidney disease. Hypertension and elevated plasma creatinine concentration (above 1.5 mg/dl) are major risk factors for this decline. * In patients with mildly reduced kidney function, pregnancy may cause transient decline in renal function during pregnancy. Less than 10% of patients may experience permanent decline in renal function. * In patients with moderate renal insufficiency, plasma creatinine between 1.5 -2.9, the risk of decline in kidney function increases to about 40% and more women experience irreversible decline in kidney function * Women with advanced CKD with creatinine lev-
els higher than 3 mg/dl frequently develop amenorrhea or anovulatory menstrual cycles which decrease the chances of conception. However, contraception is advised because of poor outcomes with pregnancy in advanced CKD. Kidney biopsy during pregnancy Kidney biopsy may be performed during pregnancy before 32 weeks of gestation for sudden unexplained deterioration of kidney function or markedly symptomatic nephrotic syndrome. Patients undergoing biopsy must have well controlled blood pressure and normal coagulation indices. Biopsy after week 32 is not recommended.
What is the effect of kidney disease on pregnancy? * There is increased risk for preeclampsia during pregnancy in women with kidney disease. This in turn may increase fetal and maternal morbidity. * There is increased rate of preterm delivery in patients with plasma creatinine level above 1.4 mg/dl. * In patients with uncontrolled hypertension during pregnancy, the fetal survival is low. * In patients with end-stage renal disease, the diagnosis of pregnancy may be difficult due to elevated levels of beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-
hCG) at baseline. In these patients ultrasonography should be performed to confirm pregnancy and to obtain the approximate gestational age. * Some medications like angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers, and some immunosuppressive drugs like cyclophosphamide should be discontinued at the earliest indication of pregnancy. Women of childbearing age should be warned about the potential consequences of these agents so that they can use appropriate contraception.
Proteinuria in pregnancy Abnormal total protein excretion in nonpregnant individuals is urine protein greater than 150 mg/24 hrs. Urinary protein excretion increases substantially, in normal pregnancy because of increased glomerular filtration rate and increased permeability of glomerular basement membrane. Total protein excretion in the urine is considered abnormal during pregnancy if it is more than 300mg/24hrs. * Preeclampsia is the most common cause of proteinuria in pregnancy and must be excluded in all women with proteinuria first identified after 20 weeks of gestation.
* Once preeclampsia is excluded, then the presence of renal disease should be evaluated. * The gestational age at which proteinuria is first documented is important in establishing the likelihood of preeclampsia versus other renal disease. Proteinuria documented prior to pregnancy or in early pregnancy, before 20 weeks of gestation, suggests preexisting renal disease. The presence of hypertension, other signs/symptoms of severe preeclampsia like thrombocytopenia, elevated liver enzymes, also helps to differentiate preeclampsia from underlying renal disease.
Pregnancy in diabetic nephropathy Diabetic nephropathy is characterized by proteinuria, hypertension, reduced glomerular filtration rate, and worsening renal function. It is associated with increased morbidity and mortality due to an excess of cardiovascular deaths and end-stage renal failure. * In pregnancy, a diagnosis of diabetic nephropathy is made if there is persistent proteinuria or albuminuria of greater than 300 mg/day in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy in the absence of urinary tract infection. * Women with diabetic nephropathy are at increased risk of renal failure during or after pregnancy. Worsening of renal function depends upon the initial degree of renal impairment. Women with moderate to severe renal dysfunction prior to pregnancy and women with poorly controlled hypertension, have higher chances of deterioration in renal function that may persist postpartum. * Diabetic nephropathy is associated with a variety
of pregnancy complications, such as fetal growth restriction, non reassuring fetal status, and preeclampsia which may lead to preterm delivery and cesarean birth. * Women with diabetes mellitus should be evaluated for renal function, stage of nephropathy, receive counseling and achieve good glycemic control prior to pregnancy. Evaluation for heart disease and retinopathy should also be undertaken before conception. * Interventions like lowering blood pressure, reducing microalbuminuria, and improving glycemic control have protective effect on the glomeruli and decrease the rate of decline of glomerular filtration rate over the long term. * Strict blood pressure control is recommended in women with diabetic nephropathy. Treatment of hypertension is associated with improved fetal outcome and a decrease in maternal end organ damage
Pregnancy in the dialysis patient The reported frequency of conception among women of childbearing age on dialysis ranges from 0.3 to 1.5% per year. Aggressive management of the uremic state has increased the number of live births. Other supportive measures include:
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* Intensive dialysis to keep BUN less than 50 mg/dl, increase frequency of dialysis 4-6 sessions/week * Correcting metabolic acidosis and hypocalcemia * Higher doses of erythropoietin to maintain target
Pregnancy in a patient with pre-existing renal disease not only increases the risk for permanent worsening of renal disease, but also increases the incidence of a variety of pregnancy complications hemoglobin of 10 to 11g/dl * Careful uterine and fetal monitoring during hemodialysis * Preventing dialysis-induced hypotension
* Attention to nutrition and proper weight gain, weekly physical examination to detect the presence of excess fluid unrelated to pregnancy.
Pregnancy in the renal transplant recipient Fertility returns after renal transplantation, with a pregnancy success rate of more than 90% after first trimester. * There is slight increase in spontaneous abortion. Premature delivery and intrauterine growth restriction can occur in one-half to two-thirds of cases. * Pregnancy does not have long-term adverse effects on survival of either the allograft or patient. * The recommendation for the timing of pregnancy after transplantation is to wait at least one
year after living related donor transplantation and two years after deceased transplantation to avoid complications from immunotherapy and rejection. Also, the renal allograft should be functioning well, with a serum creatinine level of less than 1.5 mg/dl and urinary protein excretion less than 500mg/day. * Immunosuppressive medications may need to be adjusted prior to attempting to conceive. Mycophenolate mofetil and sirolimus are contraindicated in pregnancy.
Obstetrical management of women with underlying renal disease: Patients with renal disease and pregnancy should be monitored jointly by a nephrologist and by an obstetrician familiar with the effects of renal disease on pregnancy. General principles of management include the following: * Increased frequency of prenatal visits; at least every two weeks until the third trimester and then weekly. * Early detection and treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria. * Aggressive treatment of
maternal hypertension. * Close monitoring for the development of preeclampsia 路 Serial monitoring (at least monthly) of maternal renal function. * Fetal surveillance with ultrasound and fetal heart rate monitoring to assess fetal growth and wellbeing. * Preterm intervention in the presence of deteriorating renal function, severe preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction or fetal distress.
References: National Kidney FoundationAmerican Association of Kidney Patients National Kidney Disease Education Program UpToDate.com
The author of this article, Dr. Bhavani Mahankali, MD is certified by the American Boards of Internal Medicine and Nephrology. She is Medical Director of Newtown Dialysis Center in Astoria, Queens. She has offices in Queens and holds consulting privileges in various hospitals in the borough of Queens and Brooklyn.
Atlantic Dialysis Management Services, LLC (ADMS) provides new dialysis site development, day to day administration and management of dialysis services and related business development activities. Its business strategy is to produce economies of scale and maximize individual site results through consolidated activities. Central to the ADMS approach is the long term control of clinical services by nephrologists. In 2010, ADMS affiliates provided over 225,000 dialysis treatments to over 2,500 patients in New York City and Long Island. Information provided in this article is only for educational purposes. Please consult your personal physician for specific advice on these and any other health related matters.
26
Ultimate Bollywood
October 29-November 4, 2011
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
'Ra.One' raises the bar for Hindi films ere's a movie the Hindi film industry can be proud of. "Ra.One" can be touted as the first Hindi film that blends the elegance of Hollywood with Indian sensibilities. From the very onset, this classy sci-fi film sets the viewers' adrenalin soaring. It also educates, entertains and eulogises our culture. And, very predictably, from the very beginning you know that the crux of the film is about how good triumphs over evil. "Ra.One" dwells into the virtual world of today's youngsters who are hooked on to technology and video games. Prateik (Armaan Verma) is one of them. For him the villain is
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Shah Rukh has roped in Oscar winner Resul Pookutty for the special sound effects. the hero simply because he does not play by the rules. It's winning, by hook or by crook, that matters to him.
Shekhar Subramanium (Shah Rukh Khan), the clumsy, nerdy game developer father of Prateik, lovingly tries convinc-
Stress building up in 'Bigg Boss' house Chahal, Juhi Parmar and Shonali ickering and clashes are increasing in "Bigg Boss" Nagrani were also nominated with and actress-singer her. Tension notwithstanding, she had a wonderful time in the house. Raageshwari Loomba, who is the "These few weeks in the house latest to be evicted, says stress have been a wonderful experilevel is increasing with each day as a result tempers are flaring in the ence. Everyone has been so loving house. in the house. They become quite emotional when I was nominated. "Stress is building up in the I am happy that I got evicted house as everyone is trying hard to because it was always heartbreakstay as a result many contestants have started losing their temper ing to see your fellow contestants going out," she said Raageshwari over small things like cleanliness or food," Raageshwari said. who feels Juhi, Vida Samadzai and Pooja Bedi are the strong con"The format of the show is such tenders in the house. that the people are likely to get Actor-singer Raageshwari Loomba. "The entire stint has been a stressed," added the actress who learning experience...I learned doing household chores, was evicted Saturday night. Raageshwari was nominated by "Bigg Boss" after she whether its cleaning or cooking. We always take our failed to complete her secret task where she had to spy maids and helpers for granted. After doing all this on her inmates. Pooja Missra, Amar Upadhyay, Mahek myself, I have realised what all they have to go through.
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Aamir to launch new star kid? ollywood actor former showed his interJackie Shroff's est to launch the newest son Tiger, is in Bollywood star kid. high demand these When Mumbai Mirror days. Initially, the legcontacted Jackie Shroff, endary director he said, "Tiger has Subhash Ghai had turned out...decent. shown interest in Hasn't he? Yes, he has launching Tiger but, met Aamir Khan. To be now the scene has launched by Aamir changed completely would be a big privisince Bollywood's Mr Jackie Shroff's son Tiger. lege for Tiger. Aamir is Perfectionist Aamir Khan wants Tiger a very good producer, actor and as well. Few sources informed human being. My boy would be in Mumbai Mirror that Tiger's star par- great hands.” ents Jackie and Ayesha had almost “Subhashji (Ghai) is also keen on decided on launching Tiger in launching Tiger. He had done the Subhash Ghai's film since the Shroffs kanyaadan in my wedding. Toh unka are closely associated with the Ghais. toh haq banta hai,” added the elder But, Aamir Khan's entry in the story Shroff. If we look back, Jackie Shroff have induced a twist that made the himself had made it big in the indusShroffs to give it a second thought. try wih Subhash Ghai's movie Hero. After Aamir Khan met Tiger, the Jackie earned fame with Hero.
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ing his son with, "Allow me to quote...." and quotes Mahatma Gandhi and such like. The youngster is unimpressed, thereby revealing the generation and cultural gap between the two of them. Disheartened by the strain in the father-son relationship, Shekhar develops the invincible Random Access One (Ra.One), who can take any form, to please his son. Still not fully convinced with his own creation, as a standby he also develops Good One (G- One), who could exterminate Ra.One if need be. Excited with his father's creation, Prateik plays Ra.One with a screen name, Lucifer. He manages to cross level two of the
video game, thereby antagonising "Ra.One". Unknown to Shekhar and his team, Ra.One steps out of the game into their real world to eliminate Lucifer, thereby threatening Prateik's life. This concept of the characters sliding from the virtual world into the real world seems to have been inspired from the Hollywood film, "The Purple Rose of Cairo". "Ra.One" is an outright Shah Rukh Khan film. The way Shah Rukh gracefully slips into the roles of Shekhar, Ra.One and GOne, leaving no room for confusion, is remarkable. He is the superhero of the film. That's because the script was skillfully and convincingly put together by.
Shiney slaps notice on Micromax
Actor Shiney Ahuja. ctor Shiney Ahuja, accused of raping his domestic help, has sought legal action against Micromax Mobile for its recent commercial on maid servants that allegedly pokes fun at him, an
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aide said Monday. Currently out on bail, Shiney has taken umbrage at the new ad by Micromax Mobile released this week in which two 'bais' (maids) allegedly poke fun at him. According to his publicist, the advertisement -- said to have been made especially for the Diwali season -- has infuriated Shiney. "Shiney has sent a legal notice to the mobile company as the advertisement amounts to willful character assassination," his publicist Dale Bhagwagar said. Shiney was arrested June 2009 following charges of rape, wrongful confinement and criminal intimidation leveled by his maid servant, and spent nearly five months in jail.
Aishwarya to quit acting after delivery? ishwarya Rai Bachchan is always in the news. The latest speculation is about her impending pregnancy. The gossip mill is churning out stories stating that it is 'the end' as far as Aishwarya's Bollywood career is concerned. Aishwarya Rai's acting career has always been a topic for debate. When she married Abhishek Bachchan in the year 2007, it was rumoured that Ash will stop acting. Now that she is pregnant, rumours state that Aishwarya will give up her filmi career post delivery. However, this seems quite unlikely. If sources are to be believed, director Sanjay Leela Bhansali recently paid a visit to Aishwarya Rai. The director apparently went to meet Ash to discuss about a film. Meanwhile, filmmaker Raj Kumar Santoshi is also patiently waiting for Aishwarya Rai to deliver since he wants to cast her and husband Abhishek Bachchan in his forthcoming film Ladies and Gentlemen. The filmmaker has reportedly kept his project on hold since he is waiting for Aishwarya Rai's confirmation.
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Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.
Ultimate Bollywood TheSouthAsianTimes.info
27
October 29-November 4, 2011
REVIEW
'Mujhse Fraaandship...' for social networking addicts ujhse Fraaandship Karoge" is a sweet teen romance in the times of broadband connection, social networking sites and fake IDs! It explores the pros and cons of the proposed 'fraaandship' networking in our lives. It offers food for thought with - "SACH is the key word and face to face connection is the best connection." A new era love story, the film revolves around four characters Vishal Bhatt (Saqib Saleem), Rahul Sareen (Nishant Dahiya), Preity Sen (Saba Azad) and Malvika Kelkar (Tara Dsouza). Set in a college campus, Vishal
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with pal Hacky (Prabal Panjabi) are up to pranks with fellow classmates. These initial scenes are a direct rip-off from the Hollywood film "The Social Network". After a few complicated moments one realises that prankster Vishal is a good writer who pens lyrics for rockstar pal Rahul. Girls are crazy about Rahul, but Rahul seems indifferent towards them. Also on campus is an odd, boorish and unladylike Preity Sen who is good at photography. She happens to be friends with the hot and happening Malvika Kelkar. It so happens that Malvika's id pops up on Rahul's profile page and
since he is disinterested in adding friends on his Facebook, Vishal takes the initiative. But unknown to him Malvika's id is being operated by friend Preity. And that's where the complication in the love story begins. Vishal chats with Preity thinking it is Malvika. And Preity chats with Vishal thinking it is Rahul. They are head over heels in love in their virtual world. "Mujhse Fraaandship Karoge" is a hackneyed love story but excitingly brewed with fresh faces. With an expressive visage, the film belongs to Saqib Saleem and Saba Azad. They are faces to watch out for in the long run.
The publicity poster of Mujhse Fraaandship Karoge.
Lindsay to bare all Motihari man first to win for Playboy Rs 5 crore on KBC
Lindsay Lohan. London: Actor Lindsay Lohan The shoot will reportedly start will reportedly earn $1 million for over the weekend, with Lindsay, posing naked for Playboy maga- who could face up to 18 months in zine. According to TMZ.com, the prison if she is found guilty of vio25-year-old star originally turned lating the terms of her probation down a $750,000 offer from for a 2007 driving under the influPlayboy boss Hugh Hefner to pose ence conviction, having to fit it in nude, demanding that the figure around her court-ordered morgue should be closer to $1 million. duties.
New Delhi: Amitabh Bachchan is happy that Sushil Kumar of Bihar won the mega prize of Rs.5 crore on "Kaun Banega Crorepati 5 (KBC)". Big B says the victory proves the strength of the common man. "What a sensational day in the studios of KBC! A young man from the interiors of Bihar, earning a meagre salary of just Rs.6,500 per month, coming from the most humblest of backgrounds, reaches the hot seat and cracks the ultimate prize - 5 cr rupees! An incredible feat!" Amitabh posted on his blog bigb.bigadda.com. "This is what the common man is all about. This is what KBC is all about - given an opportunity, the common man has the strength the ability and the accumen to prove to the world that he is the best and second to none," added the 69-year-old Bachchan, who hosts KBC. Kumar is a computer operator and tutor. His victory led to celebrations on the sets of the show. In the past, the first season of "Kaun Banega Crorepati" saw
Sushil Kumar, a computer operator and tutor from Bihar, became the first person to win Rs 5 crore on the popular show hosted by Amitabh Bachchan. Harshvardhan Nawathe from Mumbai walking away with Rs.1 crore. In 2004, Rahat Taslim from
Jharkand won Rs.1 crore but quit before the jackpot question for Rs.5 crore.
Esha Deol is engaged! sha Deol's comeback vehicle Tell Me O Khuda is up for release next week and it seems that the actress has one more reason to celebrate. Bollywood is buzzing with rumours of Esha's engagement to Bandra businessman Bharat Takhtani. A mutual friend of Bharat and Esha revealed, "Esha and Bharat are engaged. They have
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Esha Deol.
been in a serious relationship for a very long time. They will talk about it only after Esha's film Tell Me O Khuda releases." "They are very much in love. They were seen painting the town red. They looked cozy and very comfortable in each other's company," added the mutual friend. Earlier, Esha was reportedly
seen having a good time with Bharat and a bunch of friends at a suburban nightclub. However, at that time, Esha had denied knowing Bharat. Interestingly, during an interview with Mumbai Mirror, not so long back, when Esha was asked about a special someone in her life, she quipped, "I have to be diplomatic and use the perfect statement that all
actresses use - No Comment!" Things seem to have changed since then. When asked about Bharat, this time around, Esha used the much abused Bollywood a n s w e r - ' We a r e j u s t g o o d friends'. "Bharat and I have known each other since forever. He is also friends with Ahana. We hang out every other day," added the actress.
28
Humor
October 29-November 4, 2011
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Humor with Melvin Durai
Memo to staff: Get some work done To: All staff From: Company president Subject: Low productivity t has come to my attention that productivity has dropped drastically since Friday, June 11th. I'm not sure what's going on, but please be assured that I'm monitoring the situation closely and will suspend or terminate employees who aren't pulling their own weight. For the company to be successful, it's important for all of us to work hard. We need to learn from the examples set by the following managers, whom I'm pleased to recognize. John Tembo, Human Resources Manager: I was walking past John's office and heard him and several employees shouting "Goal! Goal! Goal!" When I knocked on the door, John told me they were watching a training video to help them achieve company goals. I have nominated each of them for our Employee of the Month Award. It's important for all of us to focus on goals. As John said, "Without goals, our team will lose." Carlos Mendez, Sales and Distribution Manager: Carlos called me on Friday morning to say
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he was ill and couldn't come to work. His doctor had diagnosed him with a rare illness called socceritis. The illness affects patients for at least a month and there's a chance of relapse every four years. As you can imagine, I was rather shocked and saddened. I wondered how we could manage without Carlos for so long. Perhaps Carlos read my mind, for he immediately put me at ease. "I'll come to work, boss," he said. "The illness isn't contagious. I just need to return home to get 90 minutes of rest a few times a day." What an example Carlos is setting for all of us. I am nominating him for our Courage and Inspiration Award.
Planning a trip? Get Trippy Hong Kong: A new mobile app enables travelers to plan trips with a little help from their friends. The app, called Trippy, links the users with friends in their social networks who have information on a particular city, either through living, studying, or traveling there, who can offer recommendations. "We're in a less is more time now. If you want information on Tokyo, there are a thousand different sites, each with a thousand different ideas, reviews and comments that you're forced to sift through," said JR Johnson, founder and CEO of Trippy.
"You need your friends who know you best to narrow the field and tell you where you should be spending your time." The app is based on the idea that friends have an understanding of the likes and dislikes and the personal circumstances of the person planning the trip. It also allows users to access their itinerary while traveling, along with their friends' tips for each venue. Each venue is plotted on a map, complete with its address and phone number. Users can also create a trip album and share photos directly from the venues that their friends recommended.
Ravi Narayanan, Product Design Manager: As of Friday, Ravi is testing an innovative program he developed called WHFH (Work Hard From Home). He believes it will not only increase productivity in his department but also lower costs considerably, particularly the cost of buying coffee and doughnuts. Ravi came to work briefly on Tuesday and I overheard him saying to another manager, "Brazil 2, North Korea 1." I asked him about it and he said, "That's the number of customers we have in each country." I was extremely pleased. I didn't realize we had a customer in North Korea. I am nominating Ravi for our Innovative Spirit Award. Hans Mueller, Advertising Manager: Hans, as you know, is always looking for new ways to advertise, new ways to reach potential customers. Since Friday, he has been personally manning an information booth at the ESPN Sports Bar. I paid a surprise visit to the bar and heard Hans talking to an employee about something called "World Cup." He told me it's an acronym he's using to motivate employees: WORLDCUP (Working Overtime Results in Less Disappointment and Creates an
Upsurge in Productivity.) I am nominating Hans for the High Motivation Award. Ming Yu, Technology Manager: I found Ming coming out of a bathroom stall with a small batteryoperated TV. He said he's testing a video conferencing system that will enable employees to continue to work while doing their business.
A few minutes later, I heard Ming telling his assistant how many customers we have in certain countries. I was proud to hear all the numbers, but disappointed to realize we have no customers in France. That's a huge market that we're missing out on. In any case, I am nominating Ming for the Bathroom Productivity Award.
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 News popular on tablets but few want to pay: Study Washington, DC: Catching up on news is among the most popular activities for tablet computer owners but most are not willing to pay for it, according to a study published. The joint study by the Pew Research Centre's Project for Excellence in Journalism and The Economist Group brings unwelcome news for media outlets hoping to bolster flagging print revenue with paid digital news content. Eleven per cent of US adults now own a tablet computer such as Apple's iPad or some other device, according to the study. Seventy-seven percent of 1,159 US tablet owners surveyed said they use their tablet every day, spending an average of about 90 minutes on the device. Sixty-seven per cent said they use their tablet daily to surf the Web, 54 per cent said they use it to send and receive email and 53 per cent said they use it to get news. Thirty-nine per cent said they use their tablet daily for social networking, 30 per cent for gaming, 17 per cent for reading books and 13 per cent for watching movies and videos. But while more than half of tablet owners were using the
devices daily to get news, just 14 per cent said they have paid directly for content, the study found. Another 23 per cent have a subscription to a print newspaper or magazine that includes digital access. Twenty-one per cent of the tablet news consumers who haven't paid directly for news said they would be willing to spend USD 5 a month if that were the only way to access their favorite news source on the tablet. "When it was launched, many observers believed that the tablet might help change the experience of news consumers and the economic ground rules of digital news consumption," the study's authors said. "That belief was based on the sense that people would consume information on tablets largely through special applications or apps... which news organizations might be able to charge for," they said. Forty per cent said they get their news mainly through a Web browser, 31 per cent said they use news applications and the Web browser equally, and 21 per cent said they get their news mainly through apps.
Astrology TheSouthAsianTimes.info
October 29-November 4, 2011
By Dr Prem Kumar Sharma Stars Foretell: October 29-November 4, 2011 Aries: You would accomplish double the usual output at work this week. There would be few interruptions and problems, but your sincerity and determination would help you move quickly towards your goals. Recognition and rewards are certainly yours. A minor difference of opinion with your beloved might erupt which would bother your mind, but otherwise it will be a happy and result oriented week ahead for you. Taurus: This week your creativity would not be at its best because of added domestic and professional pressures. You would carry immense responsibilities on your shoulders and implementing your plans would be rather tough. Seek help from people who are experienced and skillful. New romantic alliances seem likely this period, as someone you work with might be interested in you emotionally. Speculation and new ventures should be avoided. Gemini: You would do extremely well if you work alone on important projects. People around you would create more confusion than extending any support. Distant relatives or old friends would call on you later in the week bringing you fabulous gifts and presents. Financial position would improve through speculation and unexpected gains. Romantic ties would strengthen if you let your beloved know exactly how you feel. New job opportunities for some through new contacts. Cancer: Travelling and other activities would keep you extremely busy this week. You would interact with interesting people who would provide you with valuable advice. The new ideas you get would help you formulate some new plans and boost your growth prospects as well. Your health might suffer if you have been somewhat complacent during the past few days. If you are going to be working long hours then you need to take regular breaks and relax as much as possible. Leo: Not a very beneficial period. You should not believe everything that you hear, verify your own facts and then act accordingly. People around you would also not be extremely helpful. They are likely to say things, which are going to make you upset and bring your morale down. Religious and spiritual functions will be performed at home. New investments, residential changes, expensive purchases can be made during this period. Virgo: Stay brief and to the point when interacting with influential people. Matters relating to work would prove beneficial for you. Your recent work would win you appreciation and rewards, and chances of a promotion or at least some monetary benefits would be strong. Your self-confidence and dynamic personality would attract members of the opposite sex. Children would look forward to the new academic session with enthusiasm and confidence. Libra: Problems with relatives are likely to arise if you try to dominate them. Do not be erratic in your behaviour, especially with family members; otherwise it would ruin the peaceful atmosphere at home. You would find
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solutions to many of your problems if you were willing to communicate. At work your determination would help you achieve your goals. You will come up with better results, as your imagination will be at its peak. Minor health problem will hamper your work performance. Scorpio: Don’t get involved in other people’s problems. You would make changes to things around you, but not everyone would be pleased with your efforts. It would be better if you seek their approval before you implement your plans. Health would need extra attention and do not avoid preventive medication if necessary. Traveling would be pleasurable and highly educating. Charity and social work would bring mental peace. Sagittarius: New job opportunities would come your way, but career changes should not be done in haste. Differences over certain beliefs might bring some tension with people around you. Healthy conversation without bringing emotion in-between would be a good way to settle conflicting views. Don’t overspend on luxury items or entertainment. Try to put maximum efforts into learning new skills and completing creative hobbies. Capricorn: You would benefit if you listen to older individuals who have more experience. Your spouse would be supportive and provide you with love and care. New romantic attachment for those unattached seems likely through social gatherings and entertainment. The phase seems to be difficult on the financial front, especially if you have not been saving money on the side. Unforeseen events could disrupt your travel plans. Aquarius: This week social activity would bring you in touch with people who can help you excel in your career. Certain changes in your work environment are evident later this week. You would be attracted to member of the opposite sex, but chances of a long lasting relationship do not seem strong. You can easily earn some extra money if you put your creative ideas to proper use. Pisces: Misunderstandings might erupt between you and your partner, if you do not sit and talk about sensitive issues. You would find people around you very demanding. Do not promise more than you can deliver. Financial benefits are certain if you invest in secure investment schemes. Change of residence or workplace will prove auspicious for some. Avoid overeating and keep a check on your weight.
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Chandigarh, India: +91-172- 256 2832, 257 2874 Delhi, India: +91-11- 2644 9898, 2648 9899 psharma@premastrologer.com; www.premastrologer.com
Annual Predictions: For those born in this week October 29: Ruled by number 2 and the moon, you are a simple, responsible, trustworthy, creative, intelligent and a talented person. You have a sharp mind, which is constantly searching for new ideas, but you need to control your tendency to behave restless and stubborn at times. You'll start few new venture, and your income would be from several sources. The people you would meet through your work would inspire you to do your best. Good flow of finances would improve your living comforts and savings. An infatuation with the opposite sex would come as a surprise, but would add spice to your life. The health of your parents will cause some concern, but there is nothing to be worried about. The months of October, December, February and October will be highly important. October 30: Dominated by number 3 and the Planet Jupiter, you are charming, ambitious, talented, helpful, dignified and a highly methodical person. You are efficient in your work and others have difficulties in keeping with your pace, but you need to curb your tendencies to behave extravagant, jealous and hypocrite at times. This year you would form many beneficial business partnerships and alliances. You would improve your financial gains through investments and new ventures. Your loved one will give you his or her time, services, and even financial support, if needed. Family responsibilities will escalate and people at home will be more demanding. Real-estate transaction towards the yearend should bring excellent monetary gains. The months of August, September, December and February will be result oriented. October 31: Influenced by number 4 and the planet Uranus, you are trustworthy, energetic, systematic, reliable and noble person. You are physically very active, and enjoy participating in sports and social get-togethers, but you need to control your tendency to behave stubborn and jealous at times. This year you would travel excessively or do business with people who live far from your home. You are soon likely to enter a very positive period of financial and professional growth. It's also a good period to reassess your investments. Renovation of the house or construction related activities would also be high on your agenda. Chronic patients definitely need to be more careful about their health. Preventive medicines should not be avoided at any cost. The months of October, January, October and June will prove to be highly significant. Nov: 1 You are dominated by the number 1 and the Sun. The planet Moon, also has a strong influence on you. Success and prosperity will be yours, in the year ahead of you. You will handle challenging projects, with determination and sincerity. This will bring you fame and recognition, in your professional front. You will be able to save money for the future, which will give you a sense of security and satisfaction. Religious by nature, you will not bend down to tradition or superstitions. Anything beautiful, appeals to you. You will be attracted towards art and will purchase artifacts for your home, which will bring beauty and a sense of well being around you. New ideas, which you put into action, will draw the attention of your seniors. Your work will be appreciated by your colleagues and your loved ones. Happiness, a great social life and pleasures of life will be for you, in the
coming year. July, October and January will prove to be highly eventful. Nov: 2 You are dominated by the planet Moon. You are also governed by the number 2. Soaring high, is your nature. You are ambitious and always look upwards towards progress and prosperity. In the coming year, you will be able to complete any project that you undertake, to complete satisfaction. You will be able to create opportunities for yourself, which you will be able to fulfill and earn recognition and fame for yourself. But in trying to do so, you may become a little dictatorial at times. You need to control your dominating nature, to keep those around you happy. You are a born leader, and expect your colleagues and friends to follow whatever you order them to. This sometimes, leads to misunderstandings and heart burning. Nature and natural surroundings will draw your attention in the coming year. You will be able to enjoy the seas, flowers and on the whole, nature, which will give you a sense of satisfaction. June, September and December will be eventful. Nov: 3 You are governed by the number 3 and by the planet Jupiter. You are also influenced by the Moon. Independent by nature, you do not like others interfering in your personal life. Your ability to express your views and ideas, will take you to the top of hierarchy, in the year ahead of you. Your superiors will notice your sincerity and loyalty,, and they will entrust a lot of responsibility on your shoulders. You will be able to fulfill these duties to the utmost. Your jovial nature and your ability to be sympathetic towards those who need your help, will make you popular in your friends’ circle. Sports and outdoor activities will keep you in good health. Travel will form an important part of your life this year. You will travel far and near. Overseas travel is also foreseen. But you are patriotic by nature, and will not like to stay away from your country for too long. The months of June, November, February and Nov will be highly important. Nov: 4 You are governed by the number 4 and the planet Uranus. You are also influenced by the Moon. Your life is marked by unexpected happenings. The coming year, will bring changes, which will be beneficial to you. A change in job is likely, and this will bring you success and recognition. Freedom for those in bondage, will be your aim for the year. You hate anything which is linked with hypocrisy and will not tolerate anything achieved through cheating and mistrust. A word of advice for the coming year – try to take all precautions while signing any legal documents. If you are planning to sign a partnership, you will have to weigh all the pros and cons, before getting into any legal matters. Your methodical approach to life, will help you to overcome obstacles which you may face. But try to keep away from speculation and gambling. May, October , December and March will be eventful.
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Spiritual Awareness
October 29-November 4, 2011
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Lead by example for others to follow Part two of three part series of Maharaji’s discourse ‘Sharing the Divine Honey’
By Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj ow can we share the divine honey within? How can we be like the princess who shared the secrets so the whole world can benefit? The best way we can share the gift of what we receive with others is to be a model to inspire others to want to partake of this divine honey. How can we be a model to others? Mahatma Gandhi once said, “Be the change that you want to see in others.” This profound statement holds the key to how we can inspire others to taste of the divine Nectar that has transformed our lives. Rather than telling other people what they should and should not do, we can become an example of what we want others to try. When they see us living up to that example, they, on their own, will be inspired to undergo the same transformation. There are several ways in which we can be the change we want others to undergo. It is a process of three steps: step one is meditation; step two is ethical living; and step three is leading a life of intoxication, joy, and bliss. If we can stop telling others how to live, but start leading a life of ethical living, meditation, and bliss ourselves, then others, on their own, will want to follow our lead. There are many people who preach leading an ethical life. But on closer examination, many of them are hypocrites who profess one way of living but do not follow it themselves. The end result is that when others see the mismatch between what the hypocrites say and what they do, others feel the hypocrites are not honest. Others see through them. This gives a bad name to leading an ethical life because others see such people teaching it but not living it. If we want to inspire others to lead an ethical life then we need to first do so ourselves. What is the value of an ethical
life? Although ethical life alone does not lead to drinking the divine Nectar of God, it is a stepping-stone. Ethical life includes nonviolence, truthfulness, chastity, humility, and selfless service. It means living on a vegetarian diet in which we do not eat fish, fowl, meat, or eggs. It means raising our consciousness and not lowering our consciousness by using hallucinogenic or intoxicating drugs or alcohol. In each religion, the saints, Masters, prophets, and enlightened beings who have found God laid out the prerequisites for entry into God’s kingdom. Not one of them said we can find
passion and understanding, our action makes a statement to others. People will say, “Look how kind they are, even when people are unkind to them.” When they see that we act with love and kindness to all people, others take notice of that. They see there is something special in the way we are behaving. When most people succumb to their baser nature and want to retaliate, violence becomes the norm. But when someone is responding nonviolently, it is so unusual that others notice it. They see that we remain calm, cool, and collected in the face of the day-to-
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from their boss or company at work, borrowing money from their friends or family on the pretense of paying it back but never paying it back, telling a small lie, or being deceitful. It is rare in this day and age to find someone who is truthful and honest. When people see someone being honest, it is so rare that others take notice of it. They say, “Wow, look at that person who admitted to making a mistake, or who returned money they found that was not rightfully theirs. That person has guts! That person has strong morals and convictions!” The result is that others
Many are egotistical. They think too much of themselves. They boost themselves up at the expense of others. They brag about how great they are. They present themselves as being better than others. It is noticeable when someone is humble. When we see others who are realistic about themselves, accepting their talents as well as their faults in an honest way, it is noticeable. When we find that someone treats others with equality and respect, it is noticeable. In a world where there is so much bigotry and prejudice, it is refreshing to find someone who loves all people as equals.
We are all human. We are bound to make mistakes. The key is that having made a mistake and acknowledging it, we make amends so that we do not repeat that mistake. God by being violent. Not one of them said we could find God by being thieves, liars, and hypocrites. Not one of them said we could find God by being egotistic. Not one of them said we could find God by being selfish. It is true that saints came for the sinners and said that everyone has an equal opportunity to find God, but they would need to change their lives and develop ethical virtues. Sant Kirpal Singh Ji Maharaj has said, “Every saint has a past and every sinner a future.” He explained that the kingdom of God is open to saints and sinners alike. Whatever we did in the past, we still have a chance to alter our ways by developing ethical virtues so we can enter the kingdom of God. The saints shared their spiritual wealth no matter what someone’s past was, but then they expected them to develop the ethical virtues if they truly wanted admittance to the home of the Lord. When people see we are nonviolent, they are inspired to also develop that virtue. For example, if in the workplace a co-worker calls us insulting names or even hits us, but instead of retaliating with violence we show them com-
day quarrels in which people are engaged and realize we have some special quality. This often leads them to ask us how we can be so calm in the face of other people’s violence. We can then take the opportunity to tell them that we are leading a life of meditation and ethical living which is resulting in inner spiritual experiences. We are able to explain to them the benefits of a nonviolent way of life in keeping our mind and emotions calm and explain how it has a beneficial effect on our health. We can talk about how we experience less tension resulting in less stressrelated ailments. We can talk about how such a way of life helps us get along better with people in our family, in our neighborhood, and at our jobs. We can explain that when we do not take revenge, the person who attacked us eventually comes around and befriends us. Such an example is powerful. One by one, others will see the benefit of leading a nonviolent way of life. Similarly, we can be a model of truthfulness. It has become all too common for people to be dishonest. Dishonesty takes many forms. Some people think their dishonesty is harmless, such as stealing
respect the honest person and say, “I wish I could have such bravery to own up to my mistakes.” This alone may make others ask us how we have such moral fortitude. At that point we can explain what is giving us the strength to be honest. We can explain how we meditate and see the Light of God within. We can explain how we realize that God within knows whatever we do. If God sees everything, there is nowhere we can hide from God. Thus, how can we fear the judgment of other people, when God, the Source of all, knows what we have done and has forgiven us and requested us to do no more? Hazur Baba Sawan Singh Ji Maharaj used to tell people that they are forgiven if they “do no more.” We are all human. We are bound to make mistakes. The key is that having made a mistake and acknowledging it, we make amends so that we do not repeat that mistake. If we are honest, we will earn the respect of others. Then, when we talk about the value of a spiritual life, others will see that we are leading such a life and they will be more inclined to want to do the same.
When we see someone who gets along with many people, we, in turn, have great regard for such a person, and we want to find out his or her secret. We ask how is it that that person is accepted by people of all nationalities, religions, countries, or walks of life in such a positive way. When that person explains that through meditation he or she sees the Light of God shining in all people and sees all as one family of God, others are impressed. Others see that we have a life with less turmoil and more friends. They see that we are even-keeled and calm wherever we go and are not afraid to be with people who are different from us. They, too, want to lead a life with a wider range of tolerance and friendship, and they are inspired to be like us. Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj is an internationally recognized spiritual leader and Master of Jyoti Meditation who affirms the transcendent oneness at the heart of all religions and mystic traditions, emphasizing ethical living and meditation as building blocks for achieving inner and outer peace. www.sos.org. (To be continued next week)