US Affairs 10
Op Ed 14
Diaspora 19
Spiritual Awareness 30
NEW YORK EDITION Vol.4 No.31 November 19-25, 2011 60 Cents New reality TV series focuses on American Muslims National Community, Page 6
Eboo Patel awarded Hofstra's Guru Nanak Interfaith Prize
'Occupy' protesters clash with police in New York New York: Hundreds of Occupy Wall Street protesters thronged the city on Thursday, a show of strength in the movement's original home that was echoed nationwide as part of a "mass day of action." Scores were arrested in New York, and at least seven policemen were reported injured, as protesters moved toward Foley Square in Lower Manhattan and the Brooklyn Bridge. By early Thursday evening, many had crossed the bridge -- the same place where more than 700 had been arrested last month .
Scuffles and arrests on Thursday marked two months of the movement. This time, they marched in the pedestrian walkway, not blocking the roadway.
Kindred activists also took to the streets across the Continued on page 4...
Mullen confirms Zardari feared military coup Washington: Mike Mullen, former chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, has confirmed the existence of a secret memo said to have been sent by Pakistan President Asif Zardari about a feared military takeover. Pakistani businessman Mansoor Ijaz alleged in a column in the Financial Times last month that a senior Pakistani diplomat asked for assistance in getting a message from Zardari to Mullen. Ijaz said Zardari feared a military coup following the US commando raid that killed Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden in Pakistan in May and brought unprecedented public scrutiny on Pakistani leaders.
Pakistan President Asif Zardari The Cable feature of Foreign Policy magazine Thursday reported that Captain John Kirby, who was Mullen's spokesman until the admiral stepped down earlier this year, told it that Mullen acknowledges that the Continued on page 4...
TheSouthAsianTimes.info It’s a baby girl for the Bachchans
Failures secret to Shekhar Kapur success
Bollywood, Page 16
Cinema, Page 24
Manmohan to meet Obama amid N-liability row Bali: A day before Prime Minister Manmohan Singh meets US President Barack Obama here, India Thursday indicated it will work within its civil nuclear liability law, a key issue in its talks with Washington, and hoped for positive talks with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao. Manmohan Singh began a three-day visit to Indonesia to take part in the India-ASEAN summit and the 18-nation East Asia summit that are expected to boost India's Look East policy. However, the spotlight will be on two key
PM Manmohan Singh and President Obama have so far enjoyed good rapport bilateral meetings he will the margins of the two have with Obama and the summits Friday. Continued on page 4... Chinese premier in Bali on
CM saves Congress govt. in Rajasthan By Prakash Bhandari/SATimes Jaipur: Facing unprecedented controversies and political uncertainties, Rajasthan’s Congress government headed by Ashok Gehlot has managed to survive thanks to the deft handling of the situation by a resolute chief minister. Gehlot has now reshuffled his cabinet by dropping six tainted ministers and inducting six new ministers and appointing seven new parliamentary secretaries. The Gehlot government got mired in controversies over the involvement of minister Mahipal Maderna in a sex scandal and of another minister Ram Lal Jat in hastening the post mortem of a woman who died in mysterious
Deft handling of the crises by a resolute Ashok Gehlot saved the day circumstances. Both these ministers, belonging to the powerful Jat community, caused embarrassment to the Gehlot government. Maderna, facing a CBI inquiry, was dismissed. He was allegedly seen in a sleazy CD
with a nurse named Bhanwari Devi who is missing. Ram Pal Jat resigned when media reports questioned the circumstances in which a woman named Paras Devi died at Bhilwara. This woman had intimate relationship with him. Gehlot, who enjoys party chief Sonia Gandhi’s confidence, could not have managed to avert the fall of his government but for the exemplary unity of his 27 junior and senior ministers who resigned en masse to repose faith in his leadership. Regrouping his team, Gehlot showed the door to six ministers, picked five new ones, promoted one to cabinet rank and reinducted another. While Manju Meghawal, Continued on page 4...
Tristate Community TheSouthAsianTimes.info
November 19-25, 2011
SAIFF showcased best of South Asian cinema
John Liu’s fundraiser arrested in fraud probe
By Jinal Shah/SATimes
New York: The 8th annual South Asian International Film Festival (SAIFF) that concluded this week left audiences with a transformational experience. The festival celebrated cinema beyond the usual Bollywood and showcased some of the finest works of film-makers from India and its neighbors - Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh. Founded on the lines of film festivals like Cannes and Sundance, SAIFF prides itself on its competitions - documentary, dramatic and HBO short films. The festival that opened Nov 9 in New York screened 12 feature films, five shorts, one documentary and one surprise screening - all competing for the jury and audience awards in their respective categories. On the closing night, winners were announced. While ‘The Temple’ was honored with grand jury award and also the audience choice award for best narrative feature, ‘Grater Elephant’ had to settle for runner up jury award. In short films, both ‘Noise’ and ‘Good Morning’ won the jury award and ‘Kharoch’ the audience award. Karan Gour, director of the film ‘Corrode’, walked away with jury award. The weeklong festival saw some brilliant works including India’s selection for this year’s Academy Awards, ‘Abu, Son of Adam’ (Adaminte Makan Abu). “SAIFF is North America’s premier showcase for the best in new cin-
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Shilen Amin, president, SAIFF (standing extreme left) with other organizers and cast and crew of films showcased in the weeklong film festival at NYIT auditorium ema from South Asia including India. The festival stays away from the usual Bollywood films to familiarize a global audience with other facets on Indian cinema and showcase emerging talent,” said Shilen Amin, president, SAIFF. The movies that were screened at the New York Institute of Technology auditorium dealt with bold issues and cultural taboos such as sexuality, corruption, and just obsession. The film that won highest accolades was The Temple (Deool), directed by Umesh Vinayak Kulkarni. This Marathi film is a humorous take on a small, forgotten village called Mangrool that lies in a neglected part of Maharashtra. Bad weather and drought has taken a toll on the spirit of the people there. Nuanced with local village politics, hopes and aspirations of the youth, the film essentially depicts the irony of Indian villages. Greater Elephant is about people who
haven’t found what they are looking for. For the audience award, the viewers were given a feedback form after each film to rate the movie. The festival also managed to bring on board internationally acclaimed film-maker Shekhar Kapur (Masoom, Bandit Queen, Elizabeth and The Four Feathers) who was also a guest at the first ever conversation series held by SAIFF on Saturday. Kapur discussed his journey to becoming a film director and from Bollywood to Hollywood. “Big marketing invades people’s senses and makes them believe that there is nothing worthwhile beyond the films that they market. Hence films with low or no marketing budget fall out of the league,” said Kapur at the conversation highlighting the role of film festivals like SAIFF for creating unprecedented exposure for filmmakers and unparalleled experiences for its audience.
New York: The feds Wednesday arrested a New Jersey man for allegedly steering illegal contributions to NYC Comptroller John Liu, whose campaign finances are under investigation. Liu has been considered a candidate for city Mayor in 2013 and has enjoyed strong support of the Indian American community. Unfortunately, community leaders say, he has not done much for the community – for example, not inducted Indian Americans into his administration and so on. Meanwhile, the arrested fundrais-
New York City Comptroller John Liu er Xing Wu Pan is accused of using phantom or “straw” donors to conceal illegal contributions that exceeded limits for citywide office, according to the complaint filed by Manhattan US Attorney Preet Bharara and New York FBI Director Janice Fedarcyk. Pan is charged with attempted wire fraud and conspiracy. The alleged scam worked in two ways: it allowed for money to be directly funneled into Liu’s campaign and it also entitled Liu to qualify for taxpayer matching funds to fatten his
campaign kitty, the complaint said. The federal complaint said Pan and co-conspirators used 20 straw donors to funnel $16,000 to Liu’s campaign – or four times the $4,950 individual limit allowed for citywide campaigns. The man Pan received $16,000 from was an undercover FBI agent, who spoke to him in English and Mandarin during recorded conversations. Pan promised the agent a personal meeting with the candidate, believed to be Liu, who is described as a candidate for citywide office in 2013. The feds have conducted a sweeping probe of Liu’s questionable fundraising practices. In a statement, Liu said, "I am saddened by what I read today. If it is true then the conduct was clearly wrong and my campaign was not told the truth." Mr. Liu, in a statement released after news broke of Mr. Pan’s arrest, said: “I am saddened by what I read today. If it is true, then the conduct was clearly wrong and my campaign was not told the truth.” Liu’s lawyer, Paul Shechtman, said that Pan was operating without Liu’s approval. Liu himself has refused to discuss his relationship with Pan. The comptroller, who has in the past said he personally maintained strict controls on his fund-raising operation, has been struggling to address questions after a report last month in The New York Times found that some people listed as his donors in campaign documents said they had never given money to Mr. Liu.
Shakira sang at KP Singh’s bash in Udaipur By Prakash Bhandari/ SATimes Udaipur: Latino pop singer Shakira entertained the hijinks 80th birthday bash of India's real estate tycoon KP Singh in the lake city of Udaipur on Tuesday. Though some other invitees like the Beckhams, Ricky Martin, Bono, Shahrukh Khan, Priyanka Gandhi were a noshow, the party was one of the biggest assembly of big names, mainly corporate honchos from Delhi and Mumbai. “What is heartening to see that Udaipur has figured now as a
KP Singh, chairman of DLF, which has a market capitalization of Rs 35,363.57 crore destination for big bashes apart from a wedding and honeymoon destination,” said Komal
Kothari, a travel agent, welcoming the trend. Jagmandir, the island on lake Pichhola hosted over 400 guests who included Sant Chhatwal, tennis legend Martina Navratilova and her friend Julia Lemigova. The guests came in commercial and 30 chartered flights. The party's anchor was Kabir Bedi who introduced KP Singh. Adnan Sami crooned "Kabhi To Nazar Milao" and other numbers. He was followed by Shakira who dazzled in her gold top and gave a sizzling performance singing her popular numbers. 'Hips Don't Lie' star Shakira
was the talk of the town and many youngsters were loitering around Jagmandir trying to gate crash. But Jagmandir was like an Alcatraz where one could reach on a boat only. The organizers had also planned a fireworks show worth Rs 2 crore, disallowed by the district administration for fear of noise pollution. The Colombian singer Shakira met 13 girls drawn from various schools of Udaipur on Tuesday at the State Institute of Education & Training and was surprised to know that five school going tribal girls were already married.
Shakira performed at the real estate tycoon's 80th birthday bash
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Community
November 19-25, 2011
US Marines base Down Under rankles China
President Obama and Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard at a reception in his honor in Canberra. Canberra: The US States will deploy up to 2,500 Marines in Darwin as the two nations expand their 60-year-old military alliance, President Obama said Wednesday in a move that rankled China. Stressing the rising economic influence of the Asia-Pacific, Obama told reporters in Canberra he was stepping up Washington's commitment to the region, undaunted by China, which he said America did not fear. "The notion that we fear China is a mistake. The notion that we are looking to exclude China is a mistake," Obama said. The self-declared "Pacific President" told reporters at a joint press conference with Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard that when it came to the fast-growing region: "We are here to stay." "This is a region of huge strategic importance to us," he said. "And we are going to make sure that we are able to fulfil our leadership goal in the Asia-Pacific region." The deployment of US Marines to Australia's tropical north came as the allies adapted their military posture to face a new security era marked by the rise of China, which sparked an immediate negative response from Beijing.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info Manmohan Obama Story Continued from page 1 New Delhi has quietly notified the implementation rules for the civil nuclear liability law that has come under fire for alleged dilution in suppliers' liability. Indian officials clarified that India has to work within framework of its own law on issues relating to civil nuclear liability, especially in a post-Fukushima world that has brought to the fore the dangers of nuclear radiation and the need to protect citizens. “This is a reality we have to recognize... We can't say Indian laws won't apply," a source said when asked whether the issue would be an irritant in the Manmohan-Obama talks in Bali. The rules relating to Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act provides the nuclear plant operator the right to recourse for the period for which the supplier of equipment has taken liability for patent or latent defects or sub-standard services under a contract. The rules effectively cap the amount and limits the duration (five years from the date of the accident) for which claims can be made against a supplier of nuclear power plant equipment. It could allay the concerns of companies such as GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy and Westinghouse Electric Co wishing to enter the lucrative Indian market. The US has said many a time that Indian civil nuclear liability law would have to be brought in conformity with international conventions and the current regime imposes a heavy burden on nuclear plant operators in India. But the sources were keen to stress that the liability issue, an important step for fast-tracking the landmark India-US civil nuclear deal, will not overshadow the talks.
On the talks agenda will be terrorist safe havens in Afghanistan, trade with Pakistan and maritime security. Another important interaction to watch out for will be the one between Manmohan and Wen, their first meeting since they last met in New Delhi in December 2010. Despite differences over a host of issues, official sources in New Delhi struck an upbeat note saying the two countries enjoyed a “full spectrum” relationship. But they admitted that the relationship was "one of the most complex relationships in the world and the hardest to predict". Bilateral trade has shown a steady upswing and is touching $60 billion. Ahead of the 15th round of boundary talks November-end, Indian sources said the second stage of firming up a framework for delineating the border was proving to be the hardest part of the three-stage process. Wall street protest Story Continued from page 1 nation -- from Miami to Los Angeles to Portland, Oregon, to Boston -- marking two months since the activist effort aimed at the nation's wealthiest 1% began in Manhattan. The group twice squared off against riot police in Zuccotti Park, where they'd been evicted two days earlier. They'd also engaged in several confrontations with police, leading to scores of arrests. Police said that a total of 245 people had been arrested around the city. Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said that at least seven police officers were hurt Thursday during exchanges with protesters. Five of those officers were injured when a unidentified liquid (thought to be vineagar) was thrown on their faces, Kelly said. It is not clear how many demonstrators have been injured during the
clashes. CNN broadcast images of the exchanges, including video of one man -- whose face appeared to be covered in blood -- sitting near police who wielded shields and batons. Authorities constructed barricades at Zuccotti Park, in front of the New York Stock Exchange and along Fifth Avenue in an attempt to keep demonstrators off the roads and on pedestrian walkways. Mayor Bloomberg said the day's protests had "caused minimal disruptions to our city," he asserted that some demonstrators had "deliberately pursued violence." Zardari feared military coup Story Continued from page 1 Ijaz memo does exist. Kirby added that Mullen “did not find the memo at all credible and took no note of it then or later. Therefore, he addressed it with no one." In Islamabad, the secret memo came up for discussion at a meeting between the Pakistani president, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and Gen Kayani, a media report said Thursday. The News International said the three met Wednesday at the presidency. Pakistan's ambassador to the US, Husain Haqqani, has been summoned to Islamabad for a briefing on the issue, Gilani told the National Assembly. Information and Broadcasting Minister Firdous Ashiq Awan has denied that there were differences between civil and military leaderships. "There is complete harmony, and civil and military leaderships are on the same page on all national issues," the Associated Press of Pakistan quoted Awan as saying. Congress govt. in Rajasthan Story Continued from page 1 Naseem Akhtar, Vinod
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Chaudhary, Virendra Beniwal and Dayaram Parmar are the new faces, Amin Khan has been retained and Ashok Bharwa elevated from minister of state to cabinet rank. “It’s no secret that I am heading a sort of coalition government with the support of the independents and six BSP MLAs who crossed over and joined the Congress. Such reshuffle is not uncommon and there would still be some more changes in future,” admitted Gehlot. Vijay Bhandari, veteran journalist and former editor of Rajasthan’s leading Hindi daily, said, “Gehlot has emerged stronger after his ministers showed solidarity and resigned collectively to enable him to reshuffle the Cabinet. This also showed the command and respect Gehlot enjoyed. No other chief ministers in the past, not even late Bhairon Singh Shekhawat or Mohan Lal Sukhadia, enjoyed such a support and confidence of his ministers. I am sure he would lead the government to complete its five year tenure.” Dhariwal, who as Home minister was blamed for the firing in Gopalgarh in Bharatpur district in September this year resulting in the killing of 10 Muslims, was retained as a minister in the reshuffle but stripped of the Home portfolio. The chief minister has kept the Home department with him and changed the portfolios of several other ministers, including Babu Lal Nagar against whom there are corruption charges. Nagar was allotted the low-key Khadi & Gramodyog and dairy. Cabinet ministers AA Khan Durumiyan (Medical and health), Beena Kak (Tourism and Women and child development), Harji Ram Burdak (Agriculture) and Rajendra Pareek (Industries) retained their portfolios.
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November 19-25, 2011
Indian American appointed CIO of Washington Washington: IIT Mumbai alumni and Microsoft veteran Bharat Shyam has been appointed the new chief information officer (CIO) of Washington state. Shyam's appointment was announced by Washington Governor Chris Gregoire on Monday. "I am incredibly impressed with Bharat," Gregoire said in a statement. "With nearly 20 years of experience at Microsoft, he brings a deep understanding of software and technology. And his level of enthusiasm for the position is unmatched. I welcome him to this role, and know the citizens of Washington State will benefit from his service," Gregoire said. Shyam said he was honored to serve the people of Washington State as part of Governor Gregoire's team. "I adopted Washington as my home two decades ago and my family has benefited enormously from working and living in
this state. That's why I'm thrilled to give back by ensuring we spend money wisely on information technology," he added. "Home to some of the most vibrant IT companies, combined with rapid change in IT and a dedicated state workforce Washington State has the potential to be the best government in the world when it comes to information technology. I intend to use our state assets - and make our state nimble while delivering the best services to citizens at the lowest costs," Shyam said. While at Microsoft, Shyam successfully reduced costs of software publishing and servicing, while delivering higher quality and a more agile system, an official release said. Shyam earned a degree in computer science and engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology in Bombay, before attending Stanford University, where he graduated with a master's of science in computer science in 1993.
Dr. Eboo Patel awarded Hofstra's Guru Nanak Interfaith Prize for 2012 Hempstead, NY: Dr. Eboo Patel, the president and founder of a global grassroots, interfaith network of college students that has reached more than 200 campuses and worked on five continents, has been awarded Hofstra’s 2012 Guru Nanak Interfaith Prize, President Stuart Rabinowitz announced today. Patel, a Rhodes Scholar who was named one of “America’s Best Leaders” by U.S. News and World Report, received four separate nominations for the Guru Nanak Prize out of the multiple nominations made for the 2012 award. The selection committee’s decision was unanimous, said Bernard Firestone, dean of the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. “Dr. Patel is a dynamic young leader who is fiercely committed to the principles the Guru Nanak award was created to honor – cooperation, understanding, service and peaceful dialogue,” Firestone said. “That he has focused his efforts on engaging young people, and promoted these values on college and university campuses, only serves to highlight the role such institutions can and should play in fostering a better understanding among people of different faiths and beliefs.” “This is the third time we are awarding the prize,” Firestone said, “and the nomi-
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Dr. Eboo Patel nations have gotten stronger and stronger with each successive cycle.” The $50,000 prize is bestowed every two years to recognize significant work to increase interfaith understanding. A formal award presentation is planned for Spring 2012. The first Guru Nanak Interfaith Prize was awarded in 2008 to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso. In 2010, co-recipients of the prize were the organization Religions for Peace and Rabbi Arthur Schneier. “What an overwhelming honor to be named the recipient of the Guru Nanak Interfaith Prize,” Patel said. “I am proud to be part of an organization, the Interfaith Youth Core, and a broader interfaith movement dedicated to the idea that faith is a bridge of cooperation, not a barrier of division.” A Muslim born in India and raised in Chicago, Dr. Patel’s
interest in peaceful advocacy for tolerance and change was sparked by his childhood experiences with prejudice, and later cemented by his study of leaders such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Mahatma Ghandi and Nelson Mandela. He founded the Interfaith Youth Core in 1998 after attending an interfaith conference at Stanford University where he was inspired to see young people take interfaith action. The organization, which was incorporated in 2002, trains students through interfaith leadership institutes across the country to build interfaith cooperation on their campuses and organize service projects that have an impact on their campus and community. IFYC also provides customized training and consulting services to faculty and staff on various colleges and universities to help make interfaith cooperation a priority issue in higher education.
3000 candles lit to celebrate Diwali, honor 9/11 victims
HASC founder Anju Bhargava at the event New York: The Hindu American Seva Charities (HASC) and Hindu Temple Society of North America lit 3,000 candles to celebrate Diwali and honor 9/11 victims on the 10th anniversary of the attacks. The public event was held Nov.6 at Castle Clinton, a historic immigrant entry point, in Battery Park, New York. HASC also collected nonperishable canned and packaged food to replenish food banks in New York, organizers said in a press release. Distinguished guests included Seson Adams, special assistant to New York City Comptroller John Liu; Mirna Velasquez, director of immigration affairs from the office of Rep. Joseph Crowley, D- N.Y.; Larry Levy from the 9/11 Commission;
Ashok Ramsaran, executive vice president of Global Organization of People of Indian Origin; Dr. Gattam D. Reddy, chairman of Hindu Temple Society of North America; representatives from BAPS temples and other Hindu leaders. According to the release, the candles were part of a large display decorated in the colors of the Indian flag. "Many months in the making, HASC's pioneering effort to connect Diwali, a universal holiday with the 10th anniversary of 9/11 is a way to celebrate the meaning –victory of goodness and light of knowledge – and augment nationbuilding as we move forward in healing and strengthening our country and the world," said Anju Bhargava, HASC founder.
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November 19-25, 2011
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New Jersey to address healthcare disparities among South Asians By Ashok Ojha/SATimes New Brunswick, NJ: Robert Wood Johnson Medical School’s Department of Pediatrics is spearheading a program called ‘The South Asian Total Healthcare Initiative (SATHI)’ to reach out to South Asian communities to address their unique health issues. At a recent SATHI event here, leading healthcare professionals discussed health issues faced by the community. The discussion was led by six-time Assemblyman Upendra Chivukula, prime mover behind SATHI. “Our goal is to improve delivery of culturally competent healthcare and information about total health for our people,” said Chivukula emphasizing the need to engage, educate and empower the community about precautionary measures and treatment for diseases more common in the community.
NJ Assemblyman Upendra Chivukula (second from right) with SATHI team. Also seen (from right) Dr. Naveen Mehrotra, Dr. Aparna Kalbag, Dr. Sunanda Gaur, Dr. Robert Like. (Photo by Ashok Ojha). Stephen Jones, President & CEO of RWJ University Hospital, said that his institution was fully aware of the ‘changing needs of families whom we serve.’ “RWJ hospital encourages wellness to everyone
and makes sure that multicultural population received information and healthcare services to meet their needs.” Expressing his confidence in SATHI’s projects, Dr. Peter
SEC wants to quiz Rajaratnam in Gupta case New York: US regulator Securities and Exchange Commission wants to question convicted hedge fund founder Raj Rajaratnam, his brothers as well as Goldman Sachs board members in the insider trading lawsuit it has filed against former Indian-American McKinsey head Rajat Gupta. SEC lawyer Kevin McGrath has told US District Judge Jed Rakoff the regulator wants to call as witnesses Rajaratnam, "one or both" of his brothers as well as "current and former employees" of Goldman Sachs and Proctor and Gamble at Gupta's civil trial, which is scheduled to begin on October 1, 2012. "We have a long list of witnesses including the defendant and one or both of Rajaratnam's brothers," McGrath said. Rajaratnam's brother Rengan was listed by federal prosecutors as an unindicted co-conspirator during Rajaratnam's criminal trial. His other brother has been identified as Ragakanthan Rajaratnam. Neither of the broth-
ers has been charged with criminal wrongdoing. McGrath told the Manhattan district court last week that the SEC would also seek to call as witnesses and question under oath Goldman Sachs and Procter & Gamble board members. Rakoff has asked Gupta's lawyers and SEC attorneys to submit a list of their "top 10" witnesses whom they would want to question under oath. The judge said he would take a decision by the end of the year on whether to allow the interviews to be conducted before Gupta’s criminal trial in the insider trading case slated to begin in April next year. McGrath has argued in court that depositions in the civil case should be delayed until after Gupta's criminal trial as there may not be a need to conduct depositions of some individuals if they testify at Gupta's criminal trial. Gupta's lawyer Gary Naftalis has said that depositions should proceed now, saying the SEC had made prior "tactical" decisions about when and where to bring a case against Gupta.
Amenta, Dean of UMDNJ-RWJ Medical School said that he was hopeful that its findings will help shape healthcare policies in the state. Sudha Sharma, who represented the Office of Minority and Multicultural Health in NJ Department of Health and Senior Services, said that cancer and diabetes were top health challenges for the South Asians. “NJ Department of Health will favorably consider SATHI’s recommendations.” Speakers at the event agreed on the need to increase healthcare providers’ understanding of medical pluralism and the use of integrative healing modalities in the South Asian community. They also agreed that health providers should improve professional and consumer knowledge about the risks, benefits, effectiveness, and outcomes of complementary and alternative medicine and negotiating acceptable treatment plans,
SATHI insists that health care providers should provide training for medical and nursing staff about cultural competency, health disparities and health literacy. Dr. Sunanda Gaur, Director of SATHI and Dr. Naveen Mehrotra, its former co-director provided an overview of community outreach activities led by the organization. Dr. Aparna Kalbag, Office of Global Health, RWJ Medical School, stressed three pronged strategy to address health issues among the community. “We need to work with policymakers, researchers and the families to create momentum for fighting common diseases in the community.” She said adding that health professionals should find ways to integrate complementary and alternative medicine with modern medicine to facilitate culturally competent health services to the South Asians.
Singer Saavitri Ramanand honored New York: The Indian Center inducted renowned singer Guru Saavitri Ramanand into its hall of fame at its Fifth Annual Saraswati Classical Arts Festival on November 12 at the Baruch Performing Arts Center. Chief Guest Ashok Vyas spoke of Saavitriji's immense contribution to Indian culture and her continuing efforts to promote Indian classical dance and music. A child prodigy Saavitri started learning Carnatic music and the tender age of three and went on to win the All India Radio Light Music Competition and was given an award by the late President
The highlight of the evening was an hour long ballet ‘Om Krishnay Namah’ choreographed by Guru Mala Desai and performed by her youngest students. Radhakrishnan. A singer and dance choreographer Saavitri has performed in India, UAE, UK and the US. Students from various schools in the tri state area presented Carnatic music, instrumental music,
Kathak, Odissi and Bharat Natyam items at the daylong festival. The highlight of the evening was a one hour ballet on Krishna choreographed by Guru Mala Desai and performed by her youngest students.
New reality TV show to focus on Muslim Americans Washington: “All-American Muslim,” which premieres Sunday on the TLC cable channel, lifts the veil on five Arab American families in a suburb of Detroit, Michigan and finds their lives are, in many ways, not so un-American at all. In the Amen family, there is this outspoken tattooed daughter Shadia is engaged to an Irish American from Chicago who accepts her family’s request to convert to Islam on the eve of their wedding – and upsets his Catholic mother. Newlywed Nader and Nawal Aoude embrace teamwork like a new-age couple as they prepare for the birth of their first child, even as
The entire cast of All-American Muslim they adhere to a devout Islamic lifestyle. Nina Bazzy is a glamorous blond party planner on a collision course
with both her traditional-minded parents and the wider community over her bold plan to open her own trendy nightclub.
Mike Jaafar upholds the law as Dearborn’s deputy chief sheriff, while his wife Angela tries to keep their four high-strung children in line in one of those big suburban houses that signifies the American dream. And the patriarch of the Zaban family, Fouad “Haj Walker” Zaban, is as passionate about his religious obligations as he is about leading the high school football team he coaches to the Michigan state championship. All five families live in Dearborn, an industrial city of 100,000 that may be better known for North America’s biggest mosque than for being the home of the Ford Motor Company.
Earlier this year, a Public Religion Research Institute survey indicated that nearly one in two Americans felt uncomfortable at the sight of women in burqas or a group of men praying to Allah in an airport. Sixty-eight per cent said they seldom or never interacted with Muslims, and 47 per cent thought Islamic values don’t jibe with American ones. On the other hand, a concurrent Pew Research Center poll revealed that 48 percent of Muslim Americans think other Americans are generally friendly to them. Muslims were also more satisfied with the way the United States is going.
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November 19-25, 2011
Indians in US grow to 3.2 mn, top in income
Washington, DC: Some 3.2 million Indian Americans, including Asian Indians of mixed race, lived in the United States in 2010 as South Asians led all Asian groups in population growth in the last decade. They led all Asian American households with highest median household income. At 3,183,063, Indian American made up 18 percent of the Asian American population in 2010, up from 16 percent in 2000, according to a new compilation of 2010 census data. According to 2007 to 2009 data, Indian Americans led all Asian American groups in the country in median household income at $86,660. The next highest total was $77,596 for Taiwanese households. Taiwanese and Indians also led in per capita income among Asian American groups, with $38,312 and $36,533, respectively, followed by Malaysians ($33,264) and Sri Lankans ($32,480). Bangladeshi Americans had the
Among South Asians, Pakistanis had the highest rate of naturalization at 57 percent, while just 50 percent of Bangladeshi Americans, 47 percent of Indian Americans and 43 percent of Sri Lankan Americans were naturalized. biggest percentage increase over The Pakistani population had the the decade, skyrocketing 157 per- second highest population bump cent, according to the study, “A with a 100 percent rise. The Sri Community of Contrasts: Asian Lankan and Indian American popuAmericans in the United States, lations increased 85 percent and 68 2011,” by the Asian Pacific percent, respectively. American Legal Centre and the Among the South Asian groups, Asian American Justice Centre. Pakistanis had the highest rate of
visa processing for foreign students to ensure qualified students are able to begin their academic program on time. Worldwide, the maximum wait for a student visa appointment is fewer than 15 days. Foreign students can apply for their visas up to 120 days before their academic programs begin. We always encourage all visa applicants to apply early." At home and abroad, students continue to seek international education to gain the skills, the contacts and the experience necessary to succeed in the global marketplace. The consistent growth in international
enrollments in the United States attests to the universally recognized preeminence of the country’s higher education system. International education grew by nearly 9 percent during the 2010/11 academic year and foreign students studying in the United States brought $21.3 billion into the domestic economy.
READ Global receives $4.7M grant from Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation San Francisco: READ (Rural Education and Development) Global has announced a major grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to strengthen the organization’s capacity for future growth. This grant combines the foundation’s unwavering commitment to public library systems with READ Global’s unique approach to sustainable development and empowerment in rural Asia through Community Library and Resource Centers (READ Centers). “The READ Global model demonstrates the positive impact that libraries are having on people’s lives in the developing world. Community owned and managed
South Asian languages were: Urdu, 326,310; Gujarati, 304,102; Punjabi, 209,835; Bengali, 188,452; Telugu, 171,015; Tamil, 132,573; Malayalam, 116,486; Marathi, 53,436; Kannada, 37,377; Nepali, 37,240; and Sinhalese, 22,336. Only 22 percent of Indian Americans five years of age and older from 2007-09 were limited English proficient, compared to 46 percent for Bangladeshis and 28 percent for Pakistanis. Taiwanese and Indian Americans led all Asian groups in higher educational attainment, with 73 percent to 68 percent, respectively, having a bachelor ’s degree or higher. The percentage of Indian Americans living in poverty was 8 percent in the 2007-09 time period. Both Indians and Pakistanis in the US had 9 percent of the seniors ages 64 or above living in poverty. In the Bangladeshi community that figure was 16 percent.
US apologizes for frisking Dr. Abdul Kalam in NY
Department of State expedites student visa processing Washington DC: During International Education Week, the U.S. Department of State highlights existing efforts to attract future leaders from abroad to take advantage of the exceptional educational opportunities in the United States. U.S. Department of State said, "We recognize that foreign students bring with them tremendous intellectual, social, and economic benefits. As part of these efforts, the Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs gives student visa appointments special priority. All U.S. embassies and consulates expedite
naturalization at 57 percent, while just 50 percent of Bangladeshi Americans, 47 percent of Indian Americans and 43 percent of Sri Lankan Americans were naturalized. About 200,000 Indian legal permanent residents were eligible to become citizens in 2008. The leading six Asian countries for immigrant visas issued from 2001-2010 were: Philippines, 350,694; China, 286,008; India, 267,403; Vietnam, 193,049; Bangladesh, 84,643; Pakistan, 69,202. The report estimated that in 2010 there were about one million undocumented immigrants from Asia in the US About 280,000 were from the Philippines, 200,000 from India, 170,000 from Korea and 130,000 from China. India’s total was down from an estimate of over 275,000 in 2005. From 2005-09, Hindi speakers in the US were estimated at 527,481. Numbers of speakers of other
READ Centers are allowing rural villagers to gain literacy skills, access important health information and improve their livelihoods,” said Deborah Jacobs, Director of the Bill & Melinda Gates foundation’s Global Libraries initiative. “We are thrilled to partner with an organization that is changing lives and transforming entire communities through libraries.” The grant will be disbursed over three years during which READ’s operations in India, Nepal and Bhutan will initiate comprehensive projects designed to broaden and deepen the organization’s impact in rural communities.
New Delhi: Former Indian president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was frisked by the John F. Kennedy airport authorities in New York Sep 29, resulting in a strong Indian protest and a subsequent US apology for the breach of protocol. Eighty-year-old Kalam, who was in the US to attend a series of events, was returning home by an Air India flight when the airport authorities boarded the aircraft to frisk the former Indian president, who had already occupied his seat. The Air India crew immediately protested the US Transportation Security Administration's action. However, Kalam did not object and subjected himself to the security check, officials said. External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna later asked Indian Ambassador Nirupama Rao to raise the issue at the highest level in the US administration, saying it was "unacceptable" to India and that New Delhi may reciprocate the treatment to American dignitaries. Following the protest, the US government "deeply" regretted
the incident and conveyed its "utmost respect" for Kalam. "The United States government has the utmost respect for former Indian president Abdul Kalam. We deeply regret the inconvenience that resulted for him as a result of a Sep 29 incident involving the security screening at John F. Kennedy airport in New York," the Obama administration said in its apology. Subsequently, charge d'affaires of the US Mission in India Ambassador Peter Burleigh personally hand-delivered a letter from the US Transportation Security Administration to former president Kalam, and a similar letter was delivered to the Indian government. This is the second incident of frisking of Kalam by American authorities. On April 21, 2009, the former president was boarding a Continental Airways plane at the Delhi airport when the airline authorities frisked him, clearly breaching diplomatic protocol. A protest from India and its parliament led to the airlines and the US government apologizing to Kalam later.
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National Community
November 19-25, 2011
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Exhibition on three centuries of Indian Maharajas premieres in US The Asian Art Museum in San Francisco has nearly 200 artworks on display San Francisco: The Asian Art Museum opened its doors to the dazzling world of India's legendary maharajas with the U.S. premiere of Maharaja: The Splendor of India's Royal Courts. The exhibition, organized by the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, presents nearly 200 important artworks pertaining to the intriguing world of India's rulers over three centuries. Maharaja is the first exhibition to comprehensively explore the world of the maharajas and their unique culture of artistic patronage. Maharaja is accompanied by an extensive schedule of public programming, including a film series featuring a guest appearance by esteemed producer James Ivory, live music and dance performances, artist demonstrations, multimedia and docent led tours, and more. The exhibition is on view from October 21, 2011 through April 8, 2012, at the Asian Art Museum here. From the pomp and circumstance of a royal procession to the inner sanctum of a courtly palace, Maharaja investigates the splendor and magnificence of India's kings from the 1700s to the mid-20th century, taking visitors on a tour of Indian kingdoms during eras of shifting political powers. Set against a backdrop of the tumultuous changes of the early 18th century through the 1940s, the exhibition brings to life the rich world of
Silver Carriage made for the Maharaja of Bhavnagar. Fort Coach Factory. 1915. Silver, enamel. Private Collection, Courtesy of Sinai and Sons Ltd, London. India's maharajas, through elaborate jewelry, ornate weaponry, royal costumes and stunning artworks. "Maharaja reveals the extraordinary culture of India's kings. It showcases different aspects of royal life through rich and varied objects from India and the West," said Jay Xu, Director of the Asian Art Museum. "With lavish artistry and exquisite craftsmanship, each object in the exhibition tells a story within a broader historical context of royal life and ideals, patronage, alliances, and court culture." Key artworks in the exhibition include the famed throne once belonging to the Sikh ruler Maharaja Ranjit Singh; elaborately detailed paintings of regal processions; costumes and traditional dress worn by great kings and queens; ceremonial daggers, swords and
matchlock guns; and prized photographs by Man Ray, Cecil Beaton, and others. Visitors will discover the Patiala necklace—Cartier's largest single commission in history—and a horse drawn carriage decorated entirely in silver made for the Maharaja of Bhavnagar in 1915, among other stunning highlights. The exhibition offers a rare opportunity to view royal treasures gathered from the collections of the Victoria and Albert Museum, British Museum, Qatar Museums Authority, National Gallery of Canada, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Cartier, the National Portrait Gallery, London, and numerous private lenders, in addition to works from the Asian Art Museum collections. Qamar Adamjee, the Asian's organizing curator for San Francisco's presentation of
2011 UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize announced The award is given for promotion of tolerance and non-violence Paris: Afghan women’s rights campaigner Anarkali Honaryar and Palestinian peace activist Khaled Abu Awwad are the winners of the 2011 UNESCOMadanjeet Singh Prize for the Promotion of Tolerance and NonViolence. The US$ 100,000 award will be divided equally between the two laureates, who were selected by an international jury. The award ceremony will be held at UNESCO in Paris on 9 December 2011 (room XI). Anarkali Honaryar is rewarded for her commitment and tireless work to improve the conditions of women and minority groups in Afghanistan and to promote the ideals of human dignity, human rights, mutual respect and tolerance. Anarkali Honaryar received public recognition for helping women who suffer from domestic abuse, forced marriages and gender discrimination. She is also
known for advocating the rights of Afghanistan’s minorities. After the parliamentary elections of 2010, Honaryar became the first non-Muslim woman member of Afghanistan's Wolesi Jirga, the lower house of parliament. Khaled Abu Awwad is cited for his efforts to promote tolerance, peace and non-violence through his work as a peace activist and leader in the reconciliation process between Palestinians and Israelis. Active on both sides of the Israeli Palestinian divide, Abu Awwad is the General Manager of the Palestinian Branch of the Parents Circle Families Forum (PCFF), an organization of Palestinians and Israelis who have lost immediate family members in the conflict. In 2006, he - along with other leaders and prominent members of the Palestinian peace movement – founded AI-Tariq
(The Way), the Palestinian Institution for Development and Democracy, of which he has been the manager and Executive Director since 2006. During the award ceremony, a special tribute will be paid to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi (Myanmar), Nobel Peace Prize laureate and laureate of the 2002 UNESCOMadanjeet Singh Prize for the Promotion of Tolerance and NonViolence. Video messages by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and by the founder of the Prize, Madanjeet Singh, a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and Founder of the South Asia Foundation, will be presented during the event. The Prize was created in 1995 on the occasion of the 125th anniversary of the birth of the Mahatma Gandhi, thanks to the generosity of the Indian writer and diplomat Madanjeet Singh.
Poshak (costume for a woman). About 1900. Silk brocade with gold thread, base metal and sequins. Private Collection. Maharaja, explains that the exhibition follows two principal narrative arcs: the first explores the secular and religious responsibilities of India's kings. The second traces the changing worlds of maharajas as their status transformed from independent rulers to "native princes" under British colonial rule. Indian concepts of kingship, derived from ancient texts, evolved over time in response to political, religious, and social changes. By the 18th century, a shared expression of kingship had emerged across India, regardless of whether rulers were Hindu, Muslim or Sikh. Though rarely used formally until the 19th century, the title "Maharaja" was adopted by rulers of kingdoms large and small across the Indian continent; after India became a British colony in 1858, it came to be used
Spice Box. 1800-1850. Silver, gilded silver. Victoria and Albert Museum, London. as a generic term to describe all of India's kings. The exhibition also exposes the contribution of some legendary Indian princesses, who are shown to be cultured, educated, and sometimes fierce warriors. Among the Maharanis represented in the exhibition is Chand Bibi of Bijapur, the 16th century queen whose courage in battle made her a legendary figure in popular imagination. In the 20th century, Maharani Chimnabai, wife of the enlightened Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III of Baroda, spent her life fighting for education and rights for women. Others such as Molly of Pudokkattai, Indira Devi of Cooch Behar, Sita Devi of Kapurthala and Sanyogita of Indore—a legendary beauty photographed by Man Ray—were leading fashionable figures of their day.
Obama greets Sikhs, says all can draw inspiration from Guru Nanak Washington, DC: Greeting Sikhs on the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, President Barack Obama has said 'all of us can draw inspiration from his message of equality, honesty, and helping those who are in need.' 'I send my best wishes to all those observing the anniversary of the birth of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the first Sikh Guru,' he said in a statement issued Thursday by the White House. 'On this occasion, we are reminded of the fundamental principles of Sikhism, including the equality of all people,
the sanctity of living an honest life, and the importance of service to our neighbors.'I'm proud that during my presidency the White House hosted the first celebration of the birth of Guru Nanak, and our country is grateful for the extraordinary contributions that Sikh Americans have made to our nation.''As Sikhs across America and around the world celebrate the life of Guru Nanak, all of us can draw inspiration from his message of equality, honesty, and helping those who are in need,' he said.
Overseas Friends of BJP to hold training camp in US New Delhi: The Overseas Friends of Bharatiya Janata Party (OFBJP) will hold a workers’ training camp Sunday in New Jersey in the US which will focus on the party’s political journey as well as the current political situation in India. According to a statement issued by OFBJP convener Vijay Jolly, the camp will be inaugurated by Vinay Sahasrabudhe, political advisor to BJP president Nitin Gadkari. Jolly said “first of its kind” work-
ers training camp abroad will be followed by another such event at Houston Nov 20. Adapa Prasad, OFBJP’s US president, will preside over the programs. Jolly said the camps will have talks on the progressive journey of BJP from days of the Jan Sangh, its ideological moorings, contribution of leaders, responsibilities of workers and the current political situation in India.
National Community TheSouthAsianTimes.info
November 19-25, 2011
Nobel winner biochemist Har Gobind Khorana passes away Concord, Mass: Indian-American Biochemist Har Gobind Khorana, who received the Nobel Prize for research he conducted while at the University of WisconsinMadison, died Wednesday, Nov. 9 in Concord, Mass. at age 89. "He revolutionized biotechnology with his pioneering work in DNA chemistry," says Aseem Ansari, UW-Madison professor of biochemistry. "The work that he did in Wisconsin from 1960 to 1970 continues to propel new scientific discoveries and major advances." Khorana came to Madison in 1960 to serve as co-director of the UW Institute for Enzyme Research and a member of the Department of Biochemistry. It was at Wisconsin that he and colleagues discovered the mechanisms by which RNA codes for the synthesis of proteins. This work led to the Nobel Prize for physiology or medicine in 1968, which he shared with Robert Holley of Cornell University and Marshall Nirenberg of the National Institutes of Health. In 1970, shortly after he left Madison to join the faculty of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Khorana and colleagues announced that they had synthesized two genes crucial to protein building-work also accomplished at UW-Madison. In 1976, they completed the synthesis of the first fully functional manmade gene in a living cell. The technique they pioneered laid the groundwork for subsequent research on how the structure of a gene influences its function. Khorana returned to Wisconsin for the last time in 2009 for a symposium held in his honor. Speakers included three Nobel laureates in addition to Khorana, recipients of the Lasker Award (often called the "American Nobel") and the National Medal of Science and many other world-renowned scientists. "It was an unbelievable gathering of scientific intelligentsia, and they all came to pay tribute to him," recalls Ansari, who helped organize the event. "They described how his
Biochemist Har Gobind Khorana work had influenced their thinking and the current advances being made in exciting world of synthetic biology." Khorana's impressive career had humble beginnings. He was born in India in 1922, in a small village in the region of Punjab that is now part of Pakistan. Inspired by Khorana's story, in 2007, UWMadison faculty members Ansari and Ken Shapiro established the Khorana Scholars Program to enable the exchange of top students between select Indian research institutions and the UW-Madison. The program has recently expanded to include students from other midwestern universities as well as MIT, Harvard and some West Coast schools. The program also sends Wisconsin agricultural scientists to India to assist in entrepreneurial efforts to improve economic stability and food security in poor rural areas. Ansari says there's no more appropriate way to honor Khorana. "He served as an icon for why international programs are so important," Ansari says. "He personified the Wisconsin Idea, the idea of knowledge without boundaries. Here was a man who came from a poor rural Indian family, working in Wisconsin, making a contribution that changed the course of science."
Tarsem Singh’s 3D epic tops box office in North America New York: Indian director Tarsem Singh's new 3D adventure epic Immortals, starring Henry Cavill, Freida Pinto and Mickey Rourke, has opened at number one at the North American box office with an estimated $15 million in ticket sales. Singh has become part of a very short list of Indian-born filmmakers to top the US box office multiple times. His fantasy thriller "The Cell" also opened at number one in August 2000. For Pinto, "Immortals" marks her second top spot debut of the year following her scifi pic "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" from August which has grossed more than $450 million worldwide to date. Singh's stylish Greek mythology-inspired epic "Immortals" beat out the combined grosses for the two other new films on Friday including Adam Sandler's latest comedy "Jack and Jill" that grossed $10 million as well as director Clint Eastwood's new biopic "J. Edgar" starring Leonardo DiCaprio which earned $4.3 million.
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Tarsem Singh on the sets of Immortals "Immortals" also generated the third biggest opening day of the year for any Rrated film, and the best among non-sequels. A stylish and visually spectacular 3D action adventure, "Immortals" relates the story of a power-hungry king who razes ancient Greece in search of a legendary weapon and a heroic young villager who rises up against him in a thrilling quest as timeless as it is powerful. "Immortals" is produced by Gianni Nunnari (300), Mark Canton (300) and Ryan Kavanaugh (The Fighter).
Kumar Sharma receives $5.9 million grant for diabetes research San Diego: Indian-American Kumar Sharma, MD, FAHA, professor of medicine at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and director of the Center for Renal Translational Medicine, has received a $5.9 million grant to study kidney complications related to type 1 and type 2 diabetes. The grant was awarded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) part of the National Institutes of Health. Renal complications of diabetes represent one of the major public health problems facing industrialized nations. In patients with type 1 diabetes, diabetic kidney disease is the leading cause of excess mortality. “Each year in the United States, more than 100,000 people are diagnosed with kidney failure, a serious condition in which the kidneys fail to rid the body of toxins,” said Sharma. “Diabetes is the most common cause of kidney failure, accounting for nearly 44 percent of new cases, so it is critical that we gain a better understanding of kidney complications associated with the disease. Even with early kidney disease there is a major impact on the cardiovascular system and there is a great need to understand the kidney-cardiovascular connections.” The NIDDK grant awards “groundbreaking original research addressing fundamental
Dr Kumar Sharma questions or major obstacles in type 1 diabetes research, including studies that challenge current dogma.” Scientists have long believed that that excess calories are processed via hyper-functioning mitochondria, the so-called “energy factories” of the cell, resulting in accumulation of reactive oxygen species. Sharma’s studies, in collaboration with UCSD researchers Laura Dugan, MD, and Robert Naviaux, MD, PhD, will directly examine this hypothesis using live animal imaging and mitochondrial measurements.
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US Affairs
November 19-25, 2011
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Crackdown likely to help, not hinder, Occupy movement New York: The Occupy Wall Street protests, which are being driven out from their current v venues across the nation, now face the existential challenge: Will their movement wither? In New York, where the police temporarily evicted Occupy Wall Street protesters from Zuccotti Park early Tuesday, and in other cities, dozens of organizers maintained that the movement had already reshaped the public debate. They said it no longer needed to rely solely on seizing parks, demonstrating in front of the homes of billionaires or performing other acts of street theater. They said they were already trying to broaden their influence, for instance by deepening their involvement in community groups and spearheading more of what they described as direct actions, like withdrawing money from banks, and were considering supporting like-minded political candidates. Still, some acknowledged that the crackdowns by the authorities in New York and other cities might ultimately benefit the movement, which may have become too fixated on retaining the territorial footholds, they said. “We poured a tremendous amount of resources into defending a park that was nearly symbolic,” said a Occupy Wall Street activist in New York. “I think the movement has shown it transcends geography.” Even before the police descended on Zuccotti Park
overnight, some early proponents of Occupy Wall Street had begun suggesting that it was time to move on. On Monday, Adbusters, the Canadian anti-corporate magazine that conceived of the movement, indicated that the protesters should “declare victory” and head indoors to strategize. Marina Sitrin, a postdoctoral fellow at the City University of New York who is involved in the movement, said its influence would continue to ripple out. People are already assembling to address local issues in Harlem and Brooklyn, she said. “There’s so much more than Zuccotti Park,” she said. Indeed, with winter looming, it seemed possible that Occupy Wall Street’s encampment would end on its own as the cold drove people away. Maurice Isserman, a history professor at Hamilton College in Clinton, N.Y., said New York City officials might have done Occupy Wall Street a favor “by providing a dramatic ending.” In New York and around the country, the news media had begun highlighting less savory aspects of the occupations, including drug use, crime and influxes of homeless people who were not motivated by ideology, which could change the message from “we are the 99 percent” to “we are urban pathology,” Professor Isserman said. “And suddenly, with a stroke, that’s no longer the problem or the issue,” he said, referring to the evictions.
Obamacare in Supreme Court Washington: President Obama's historic health care overhaul divided the nation vertically (with Republicans disparagingly dubbing it Obamacare), and that may not change no matter how the Supreme Court rules on its constitutionality. "Either way it rules, the Supreme Court decision will not end the debate on health care," said former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, an influential Democratic adviser. "It is, and will largely remain, a debate on the role of government." The Supreme Court's announcement on Monday that it will take up the constitutional challenge to Obamacare, sets
the stage for a decision next summer in the heat of the presidential election campaign. But even if the court upholds the law, Republican leaders say "repeal and replace" remains their slogan. "Job-killing tax hikes on families and small businesses may well be constitutional — that doesn't mean we would support them," said Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio remains committed to repealing the overhaul and replacing it with a Republican plan regardless of the Supreme Court ruling, his spokesman said. "We will continue to work to
repeal it," said Michael Steel. The administration is also clear on its response. Publicly, officials express confidence that Obama's plan for covering the uninsured will be upheld. But they have a Plan B: If the court strikes down the law's unpopular linchpin — the so-called individual mandate requiring most Americans to carry health insurance — the administration would take whatever's left and try to put that in place. That includes a major expansion of Medicaid for low income people, a host of new rules for insurance companies, and cuts for hospitals, drug companies and other providers serving Medicare recipients.
Gingrich under fire after surge in polls Washington: Newt Gingrich, Gingrich argued for Freddie Mac whose campaign was left for dead to expand lending to more risky after his staff resigned en masse in borrowers. Freddie Mac later June, has risen to second place had to be bailed out with its sisbehind Mitt Romney in a handful ter agency Fannie Mae for $170 of national surveys, after support billion following the US housing for Rick Perry and Herman Cain market collapse. declined. Michele Bachmann, Gingrich But he now faces allegations rival for the party nomination, that he was paid up to $1.8 milTuesday accused him of being lion for advising Freddie Mac, the paid to “influence Republicans government-backed mortgage Former Speaker of the to support Fannie and Freddie, lender at the centre of the 2008 House Newt Gingrich which was the epicenter of the financial meltdown. financial meltdown”. Speaking on the camMeanwhile a leaflet detailing his infidelity paign trail, Gingrich said “I did no lobbying and two divorces — which came as his wives of any kind. I don’t know the amounts. We’re were suffering from cancer and multiple scle- going back to check”. He said his consulting rosis respectively — was circulating in Iowa, firm, Gingrich Group, provided Freddie Mac a crucial early-voting state. with “strategic advice’’, but declined to Bloomberg news agency reported that explain what that entailed.
White House shooting suspect nabbed Washington: Secret Service officials said they have arrested a 21-year-old Idaho man in connection to a shooting at the White House on Friday evening. Using information provided by the Secret Service, Pennsylvania State Police arrested Oscar Ortega at on Wednesday. Law enforcement said Ortega moved into the D.C. area several weeks ago. His family in Idaho Falls, Idaho, had reported him missing on October 31
Secret Service disclosed Wednesday that investigators have recovered two bullet rounds that struck the White House — one a window and the other the building's exterior. The rounds may have been fired during a shooting on Friday night near the White House, but the two incidents have not been conclusively connected. Police are intensifying their search for a suspect in the first incident.
Chelsea to do gig as correspondent on NBC New York: Chelsea Clinton will be working on-air for NBC News, the network announced on Monday. The former first daughter will be a Former first "special corredaughter Chelsea spondent" for NBC "Nightly Clinton News" and its new primetime newsmagazine, "Rock Center With Brian Williams"--essentially working on stories that fit within NBC's "Making a Difference" franchise, the network said. NBC News president Steve Capus called Chelsea a "great addition" to the network. "Given her vast experiences, it's as though Chelsea has been preparing for this opportunity her entire life," Capus said. Williams said Clinton "possesses an uncommon understanding of humanity--on city streets, across this country and around the globe." Chelsea herself said, "people who imagine and implement solutions to challenges in their own lives, in their communities, in our country and in our world have always inspired me."
Review of cases seeking deportations Washington: The Department of Homeland Security will begin a review on Thursday of all deportation cases before the immigration courts and start a nationwide training program for enforcement agents and prosecuting lawyers, with the goal of speeding deportations of convicted criminals and halting those of many illegal immigrants with no criminal record. The accelerated triage of the court docket — about 300,000 cases — is intended to allow severely overburdened immigration judges to focus on deporting foreigners who committed serious crimes or pose national security risks, Homeland Security officials
said. Taken together, the review and the training, which will instruct immigration agents on closing deportations that fall outside the department’s priorities, are designed to bring sweeping changes to the immigration courts and to enforcement strategies of field agents nationwide. The New York Times reported that Homeland Security officials will issue guidelines on Thursday to begin the training program and the first stages of the court caseload review. Both are efforts to put into practice a policy senior officials had announced in June, to encourage immigration agents to use prosecutorial discretion when
deciding whether to pursue a deportation. The policy, described in a June 17 memorandum by John Morton, the director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, suggested that the Obama administration would scale back deportations of illegal immigrants who were young students, military service members, elderly people or close family of American citizens, among others. While the announcement raised excited expectations in Latino and other immigrant communities, until now the policy has been applied spottily, deepening disillusionment with President Obama in those communities.
The Obama administration has removed high numbers of illegal immigrants, nearly 400,000 in each of the last three years. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Mr. Morton said those numbers would not decrease, but they wanted agents and courts to focus on deporting the worst offenders, including national security risks, criminal convicts and those who repeatedly violate immigration laws. Many immigration offenses, including being present in the United States without legal status, are civil violations; they are not crimes. Administration officials have
flexibility to transform immigration court procedures because those courts are part of the Justice Department in the executive branch, not part of the federal judiciary. Central to the plan is giving more power to immigration agency lawyers — the equivalent of prosecutors in the federal court system — to decide which deportation cases to press. “We are empowering the attorneys nationally to make them more like federal prosecutors, who decide what cases to bring,” said a senior Homeland Security official, who asked not to be named because the policy has not been formally announced
India Newswire TheSouthAsianTimes.info
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November 19-25, 2011
Mayawati decides to divide UP, Congress stumped New Delhi: Faced with Mayawati's poll-eve googly to break up Uttar Pradesh into four smaller states, Congress seems to be banking on the plans of the Samajwadi Party and BJP to bring a no-confidence motion against the BSP government to wriggle out of the politically untenable situation. Congress has been reticent in spelling out its stand on UP's proposed division lest it create more trouble in Telangana and opens up a Pandora's box of demands for smaller states in other parts of the country. Even as Mayawati prepares to bring a resolution in the UP assembly on the issue, Congress is in no mood to take a definite stand on what it dismisses as "a political gimmick of BSP with an eye on the polls".
The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet has passed a resolution to carve out four new states - Poorvanchal, Pashchimanchal, Awadh and Bundelkhand. Congress, which insists that it does not indulge in politics on issues that have a bearing on the entire nation, has decided to
question the timing of the Mayawati Cabinet's move to initiate the division of UP. "Will somebody ask why
Thackeray slams Rahul for 'migrant' comment Mumbai: Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray has lashed out at Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi for his comments on migrants from Uttar Pradesh, saying though the migrant population has "destroyed" Mumbai, his party never called them beggars. "The huge influx of UP migrants in Mumbai and the rest of Maharashtra has virtually paralyzed the state and the migrants have destroyed the city. But we have never called them beggars. Hunger has no caste or region," Thackeray said in Wednesday’s editorial of his party mouthpiece "Saamana". Noting that migrant laborers from UP were there in Delhi and other states as well, the Sena patriarch
said, "But Rahul mentioned only about Maharashtra and Punjab where the people are self-respecting and have fighting spirit. These states have never surrendered themselves to the Nehru Gandhi family." Accusing Mayawati government of being corrupt and insensitive to the poor, Gandhi had told a public meeting at Phulpur on Monday that "people of Uttar Pradesh are appreciated for their hard work, wherever they go in search of job....How long will you beg in Maharashtra (for work)? How long will you work as laborer in Punjab?...." While targeting the Congress leader for his remark, Thackeray asked the migrant population to stay "within limits".
Mayawati, after four years of unveiling monuments and statues, has suddenly remembered the issue of creating four new states Poorvanchal, Pashchimanchal, Awadh and Bundelkhand? It seems she is apprehensive of the great success of Rahul's campaign in the state," Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said. The itch to dismiss Mayawati's move is not surprising as it has added to its discomfiture in Uttar Pradesh. With its potential ally RLD backing the proposal and announcing its plans to vote for it in the assembly, an abstention by Congress could come in the way of Ajit Singh's Harit Pradesh plank. Even though BSP has a majority in the state assembly, Congress
is pinning its hopes on the resolution taking a backseat in the wake of Samajwadi Party and BJP's move to bring a no-confidence motion against Mayawati. In such an event, the no-confidence motion will take precedence in assembly business. The fact that many BSP MLAs are disgruntled over denial of renomination may stack the odds against Mayawati. The chief minister on Wednesday slammed SP and BJP for opposing the reorganization of UP for "narrow political gains" and dubbed them as anti-development. She also questioned Digvijaya Singh's suggestion for referring the issue to the States Reorganization Commission, saying that there was no such compulsion under the Constitution.
Politics over Rahul's 'begging' comment: Congress
Ajit Singh hints tie-up with Congress New Delhi: Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Ajit Singh slammed Mayawati's proposal for four-way split of Uttar Pradesh as "opportunistic" which would not alter the voters' perception of misgovernance and corruption about BSP. The RLD chief's statement was construed as a strong hint that the party was up for alliance with Congress, as it was felt that his own demand of statehood for western UP would soften it to BSP after Mayawati's announcement. Singh said his party would support the proposal in the state assembly but was unsparing on the BSP chief. "Mayawati is not sincere. She had made the demand before last elections but did not bring the proposal during the fourand-a-half years of her majority in assembly," he said, adding she has
“People of Uttar Pradesh are appreciated for their hard work, wherever they go in search of job....How long will you beg in Maharashtra (for work)? How long will you work as laborer in Punjab?� said Rahul Gandhi in a rally.
Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Ajit Singh. been making random demands like Jat reservation, upper caste quota and division of UP to mislead voters.
"But people of UP have already made up their mind about her and she will not become CM again," he said.
New Delhi: Congress slammed the criticism of Rahul Gandhi's "begging" comment about migrant laborers, saying the remark was torn out of context to give a meaning which was contrary to his intent. Amid continuing criticism from BJP and SP, AICC spokesman Abhishek Singhvi said, "It is regrettable that a metaphorical flourish has been torn out of context and distorted. The whole statement by Rahul means the opposite of what has been attributed to him. His intent was to praise the talent of people of UP and to convey that misgovernance of state was driving them out to seek work elsewhere." Singhvi's clarification on Rahul's words at the Phulpur rally came in the wake of Congress rivals latching on to the statement as insulting to the poor of UP. While Congressmen are happy with the speech which they felt had enthused workers with its combative tone, the opposition
wants to make an issue of it. The spokesman clarified that Rahul had no intention of insulting the people of either UP or Maharashtra. The aftermath of the rally has left drama to deal with. The FIR filed against Union ministers RPN Singh and Jitin Prasada for thrashing the youth who gatecrashed into the rally venue with black flags when Rahul stepped out of his helicopter has created a complication the Congress would be eager to sort out. Singhvi said it was a provocative act in a high security zone which led to some problems and proper defense would be set up to contest the case. However, a senior Congress leader said the fact that SP sympathizers managed to sneak into the sanitised zone showed a BSP-SP nexus to oppose Rahul. "It only proves the success of Rahul in rattling the opposition," he said.
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India Newswire
November 19-25, 2011
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Cash-for-votes: Bail for Kulkarni, five others New Delhi: The Delhi High Court granted bail to Sudheendra Kulkarni, ex-advisor to former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and five other accused in the 2008 cash-for-votes scam that had rocked parliament ahead of a trust vote. "All the petitioners are admitted on bail on furnishing of personal and surety bond of Rs.2 lakh each," Justice M.L. Mehta said. The court granted bail to Kulkarni, former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MPs Faggan Singh Kulaste and Mahabir Singh Bhagora, Rajya Sabha MP Amar Singh's former aide Sanjeev Saxena and alleged political activist Suhail Hindustani. It directed all the petitioners to cooperate in investigation, if
Sudheendra Kulkarni, ex-advisor to former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. required by Delhi Police. The court also granted anticipatory bail to accused and sitting BJP
MP Ashok Argal and directed him to appear before the court concerned. Police have received Lok
Times Now case: Katju says SC order 'incorrect' New Delhi: Press Council Chairman Justice Markandey Katju termed as “incorrect” orders of both the Supreme Court and the Bombay High Court in the Times Now channel case and urged for their reconsideration. “I have a statement to make regarding the orders of the Bombay High Court and the Supreme Court in the case of the Times Now channel. With great respect to these orders, I am of the view that they are incorrect and require to be reconsidered,” he said in his address at a seminar on the occasion of the National Press Day. The Supreme Court had refused to interfere with the Bombay High Court order in the case. Under the Bombay High Court's recent order, Times Now news channel has been asked to deposit Rs 20 crore in cash and bank guarantee of Rs 80 crore before its appeal against a trial court award of damages of Rs 100 crore to former apex court Judge P B Sawant could
be heard. Calling the channel's mistake an “inadvertent human error”, he said it does not seem that there was any malicious intent, and the unintentional mistake was due to a technical mix-up. “We are all human beings and we all make mistakes. In my opinion, the appropriate order would have been to give a severe warning to the TV channel to be careful in future,” he said. Imposition of Rs 100 crore fine, Katju said, was in his “respectful” opinion “grossly disproportionate” to the offence and the principle of proportionality was now well settled in jurisprudence. He urged the judges to reconsider their order in the Times Now case. He said the channel made a mistake of showing the photograph of Justice P B Sawant instead of Justice P K Samanta in connection with the Ghaziabad Provident Fund scam.
CAG Rai, Joshi deny 2G audit was influenced New Delhi: India's top auditor Vinod Rai firmly dismissed allegations that the controversial audit report on the allocation of 2G telecom spectrum was influenced by Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Murli Manohar Joshi. Joshi, who heads parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) that oversees government spending, also denied he had tried to put pressure on the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India to expedite the 2G report that created a storm by pegging the loss due to spectrum allocation at Rs.1.76 lakh crore. Rai said in a statement that nobody had put pressure on his department with regard to the audit of allocation of 2G spectrum. "The CAG has always taken a stern view of any attempts of pressure or interference in the discharge of his constitutional duties
Public Accounts Committee head Murli Manohar Joshi. and functions," said Rai, who heads India's premier auditing institution. Rai's comments come a day after Joshi, as PAC chief, was alleged to have pushed the CAG to speed up finalisation of the 2G
report before it was tabled in parliament's winter session last year. In an internal note dated July 13, 2010, R.B. Sinha, director general, report central (RC) in the CAG office, had written that he had got a call from Joshi.
Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar's nod to proceed against Argal. The BJP immediately rejoiced on the release of its leaders and said that it was unfortunate that whistle blowers were put behind bars. In a tweet, BJP leader Sushma Swaraj said: "I am happy that Shri Faggan Singh Kulaste, Mahavir Bhagora and Sudheendra Kulkarni have been directed to be released on bail." "They have done no wrong. They only exposed corruption. We will not rest only with this. We will fight till they are honorably exonerated by the court," the BJP leader added. At a press conference, BJP leader Rajiv Pratap Rudy said it was a "relief to these leaders". "It is unfortunate that whistle
blowers in this case were put in jail and culpability of beneficiaries of the cash-for-vote scam is yet to be established. Who benefited from this - UPA (United Progressive Alliance) government or PM (Prime Minister Manmohan Singh) - it should become clear," he told reporters. On July 22, 2008, Argal, Kulaste and Bhagora waved wads of currency notes in the Lok Sabha just hours ahead of a trust vote, alleging they were given the money to vote in favour of the Manmohan Singh government. Saxena was accused of delivering Rs.1 crore to Kulaste, Bhagora and Argal under an alleged conspiracy to buy their votes for the Congress-led UPA government in the trust motion.
Can Abdullah emerge unscathed from AFSPA logjam?
Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah. Srinagar: Is it the end of the road for Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's proposal to partially revoke the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA)? Most Kashmiris believe so. Having announced last month that the AFSPA would be withdrawn from some areas of the state to begin with, Abdullah is today a lone ranger campaigning for something he willingly or unwillingly staked his credibility on. "How does he move forward on his assurance from here? It is a pretty unenviable situation. With the centre almost refusing to grant his request for an immediate partial revocation, Abdullah is in a political dilemma," said Muzaffar Ahmad, a college teacher here. "Would he scale down his earlier commitment? Would he stick to his commitment and thereby take the centre head on? Both these options are unlikely." The man on the street, however, believes Abdullah will have to go along with what he is told by New Delhi. Abdullah's visit to Delhi where he met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Home Minister P.
Chidambaram, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Defence Minister A.K. Antony and the army chief, General V.K. Singh proved inconclusive. Abdullah has evidently been given no concrete assurance regarding a timeframe for partial revocation of the act, so it is now highly unlikely the state cabinet would take a final call on the issue. The knives are also out as the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti has blamed Abdullah for "enacting a drama over the sensitive issue of the AFSPA". Mehraj-ud-Din, a fruitseller in the Residency Road area of Srinagar city, said: "It has always been the same story for Kashmiri politicians in power. "Delhi did not come to the rescue of Omar's grandfather, Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah, even when he only wanted to change the nomenclature for the governor and the chief minister's post to 'Sadr-e-Riyasat' and 'Wazir-e-Azam'. "They humbled his father Farooq Abdullah more than once when he was in power and now Omar Abdullah learns his lesson the hard way."
India Newswire TheSouthAsianTimes.info
November 19-25, 2011
Lokpal set to be tabled this winter session: govt New Delhi: The government said it is determined to pass the Lokpal bill as it unveiled its agenda for the winter session of parliament that includes a slew of anti-corruption legislations apart from the ambitious food security bill. Apart from Lokpal, other anti-corruption bills slated for consideration and passing in the winter session include whistle blower protection bill and judicial standards and accountability bill. Talking to mediapersons, Parliamentary Affairs Minister
Pawan Kumar Bansal said the session, starting Nov 22, will have 21 sittings. He said the government was keen to pass the Lokpal bill. "Government is determined to pass the (Lokpal) Bill... Government stands committed to root out corruption. It may not be done through one law," Bansal said. He hoped the parliamentary standing committee examining the bill will be able to submit its report by Dec 1. Anna Hazare has threatened to go on a hunger strike again if the government does not pass the bill in
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Core team to have clean members: Hazare
Apart from Lokpal, other anti-corruption bills slated include whistleblower protection bill and judicial accountability bill. the winter session. Hazare's hunger strike for a strong Lokpal in April and August this year made the government agree to his demands. The winter session is scheduled to end Dec 21.
Hegde, Team Anna member in a row Bangalore: Former Karnataka Lokayukta remained silent is false," Hegde, a retired (ombudsman) N. Santosh Hegde, a Team Supreme Court judge, asserted. Shetty, now on a sabbatical in the United Anna member, was fighting off charges that he did nothing to curb corruption in States, had recently told a leading Kannada daily that the Lokayukta was steeped in the Lokayukta setup he headed till August. The charges were leveled by senior corruption and he was relieved to get out police official, K. Madhukar Shetty, who of it. He went to the US in July, a month ahead of end of Hegde's term as Lokayukta worked under Hegde in the Lokayukta for Team Anna member ended. over two years till July this year. Hegde's N. Santosh Hedge. Shetty has been quoted as saying, withfive year term as Lokayukta ended on August 2. out naming anyone, that "officers in the Lokayukta had The charges by Shetty, an Indian Police Service (IPS) formed a cartel to extract protection money from a parofficer of the 1999 batch, are "ill-timed and mischie- ticular department in return for a free run." He did not name the department also. Hegde said he was "pained" vous", Hegde told reporters here Wednesday. "It is true that there were corrupt officers in the by Shetty's charges. He dismissed Shetty's claim that no Lokayukta. But we took serious action against them, action was taken though he had submitted a report on including transferring them. The allegation that I ridding the Lokayukta set up of corruption.
Ralegan Siddhi (Maharashtra): Announcing that his core team will be revamped, Anna Hazare said the committee will be expanded to 50 but would only include members with a "clean background". "The core team will be revamped and shall have 50 members from all walks of life," he told reporters here after a meeting of the core team. Hazare said a code of conduct will be framed for the new core committee and a background check conducted before any new members are inducted. Also the activities of the new members will be strictly monitored after their inclusion. Meanwhile, the anti-corruption activist demanded that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) be made an independent body, saying that it is necessary that the agency is free of government control. He also said that he will work towards empowering and strengthening of Gram Sabhas which is also his aim alongside a corruption-free nation. Reiterating that he was not antiCongress, Hazare said his team will support the ruling party if
Anna Hazare had said there is no harm in talking to Agnivesh and that he will think about it. they bring in the Jan Lokpal Bill. He, however, criticized the partyled United Progressive Alliance government for trying to weaken the Lokpal Bill by proposing to introduce five different bills aimed at tackling corruption. Asked about Swami Agnivesh, who has expressed his desire to apologize to him and rejoin the team, Hazare said the decision over the matter will be taken later. Hazare had said there is no harm in talking to Agnivesh and that he will think about it.
SAT NOV 05 SUN NOV 06 SUN NOV 20 SAT T DEC NOV V 04 05 SUN
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Dhaliwal Banquet Hall, 230 8166 128th St Surrey, Surrey, BC,Canada V3W1R1
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Op Ed
November 19-25, 2011
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
The hope that India will remain unaffected by the global economic crisis is, alas, proving to be a mirage. The slumping industrial growth, lowering export numbers and rising inflation need to be controlled now, or be ready to ride the sinking boat.
Shelter from the global economic storm By Sitaram Yechury t gives little satisfaction to feel vindicated by this column’s prognosis that capitalism’s prescription to overcome the economic crisis set in motion by the 2008 financial meltdown would lay the seeds of a deeper crisis leading to a double dip recession. Millions of people the world over have become victims of this strategy to convert corporate debt into sovereign debt. The staggering amounts of bailout packages to those very financial corporations who, in the first place, generated the crisis resulted in huge governmental debts. While corporate balancesheets today look handsome and their executives are receiving hefty bonuses, the governments are implementing severe austerity measures to meet the debt burdens.
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This has severely crippled the livelihood status of billions the world over. A snowballing political fallout has begun. Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou resigned last week after having threatened to go for a referendum on whether Greece should continue with the European Union and, hence, break from the Euro. This would have set in motion a crisis for the EU itself, consuming other European economies including Germany and France and hurtling the global economy into a vicious recessionary spin. Italy’s Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has resigned after dominating the country’s politics for 17 years. Italy has accumulated a debt of 120% of its GDP. Interest rate on government bonds touched 7%. The new government that follows is forced to implement a severe aus-
terity package for saving, to begin with, 60 billion euros. This includes a freeze in salaries, increase in the retirement age and an increase in value added tax (VAT). All measures that will mount further miseries on the people. These severe austerity measures will further sharply reduce the purchasing power in the hands of the vast majority of the world’s population compounded by mounting unemployment. This, in turn, would further depress manufacturing output and the consequent fall in the levels of aggregate demand would also adversely affect trade and commerce that will have a ripple effect on the global economy. The hope that India will remain unaffected by these shocks is, alas, proving to be a mirage. The confidence exuded by our prime minister at the recent G20 summit in Cannes notwithstanding, all indicators
The index of industrial production (IIP) declined for the third consecutive month in September to 1.9%, down from 6.1%. show that the Indian economy is not only slowing down, but it also appears already to be in its grip. Manufacturing output has fallen to its lowest levels in two years. The index of industrial production (IIP) declined for the third consecutive month in September to 1.9%, down from 6.1%. In the first half of this year, industrial growth dipped to 5% as against 8.2% a year ago. This comes on top of a sharp decline in the growth of exports that has been plummeting continuously since July when it hit 81.79%. It has now come down to 10.8%. Even with imports remaining volatile, the trade deficit has
burgeoned to $92 billion and is expected to breach $150 billion this fiscal. The slowdown in global trade has already impacted our textiles and apparel sectors creating a serious unemployment situation as, after agriculture, this sector is India’s largest employer. Under these circumstances, the cries by India Inc. for further financial liberalization to facilitate the flow of international finance capital will only spell further ruin for the people of India. (Sitaram Yechury is CPI(M) Politburo member and Rajya Sabha MP. The views expressed by the author are personal.)
Populism is Mamata's Achilles heel By Amulya Ganguli visitor to Kolkata cannot but notice how the city has become livable again, as it was nearly throughout its 300-plus years of history except for the recent period of communist rule. While the traditionally affluent areas of Ballygunge, Alipore, New Alipore and others have improved further with the new highrises confirming their prosperity along with the shopping malls - the latest sign of wellness - it is the large numbers of multistoreyed buildings which make emerging localities like Rajarhat look like Gurgaon of the late 1990s. Notwithstanding the all-round improvements in living conditions - no prolonged load shedding, better traffic management and, above all, the absence of the pervasive fear of falling foul of the Marxist militia the future remains uncertain because Mamata Banerjee is apparently still some distance away from getting a grip on the situ-
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ation even if her six months in office is too short a time to make an assessment. For her, there has been only one positive achievement so far, which is to defuse the Darjeeling issue although it has by no means been resolved and the government is appar-
Unless Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee stresses professionalism in administration and seeks expert advice on economic matters, her government in West Bengal will not have an easy run.. ently yet to find its feet. Although Mamata has toned down her earlier threats of withdrawing her ministers from the centre unless the diesel and cooking oil prices are also raised, her populism was evident when she turned down for the seventh time an appeal by the electricity suppliers to raise tariffs although the denial means
that these companies will incur a loss of Rs 1,600 crore by the end of the current financial year. A blinkered economic outlook is not Mamata's only drawback. Her heavy-handed political style is evident from the fact that while, on one hand, she is seeking a gargantuan Rs.20,000 crore economic package from the centre, on the other hand she treats the Congress in West Bengal with barely disguised contempt. While Mamata's uncertain course is evident from all this, her inexplicable blunder over a local issue has shown her in very poor light. This was when she stormed into a police station after several Trinamool activists were arrested for indulging in violence. For most people, the incident is bound to arouse a sense of dejà vu, for it was precisely this kind of manipulation of the police for partisan purposes that was the hallmark of the Left's rule. It is clear that unless she stresses professionalism in administration and seeks expert
advice on economic matters, her government will not have an easy run. (The views expressed by the author are his own).
The views expressed in Op Eds are not necessarily those of The South Asian Times.
Religion TheSouthAsianTimes.info
15
November 19-25, 2011
The Mahabharat fame capital of ancient Indian kingdom now has a namesake in far away Buenos Aires. SATimes presents a glimpse of the retreat, also called the 'City of Wisdom'
A Hastinapur in Argentina
astinapur was the capital of an ancient Indian kingdom. The throne of this kingdom was the prize over which the Kurukshetra war was fought between the Kauravas and their cousins, the Pandavas. Spread across 12 acres near the Argentine capital of Buenos Aires, Hastinapur houses about a dozen temples of Indian gods. Lord Ganesh, Krishna, Surya, Narayana and Shiva have their own temples and the Pandavas too have one. “Many Argentines visit Hastinapur as a retreat from the hectic life of Buenos Aires, which is about 31 miles away,” says R. Viswanathan, Indian ambassador to Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay. They meditate and read books on philosophy in the quiet natural environment of Hastinapur. Argentinians go there for wisdom. They learn philosophy, practice yoga, meditate and sing bhajans. That is why it is called ‘ciudad de la sabiduria’, or the city of wisdom. The Hastinapura Foundation,
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which runs the place, was founded by Argentinian author Ada Albrecht in 1981. Albrecht introduced Indian philosophy in the country and became a guru for Argentinians seeking wisdom. She also wrote a number of books such as “The Saints and Teachings of India” and “The Teachings of the Monks from Himalayas.” The temple caretakers cook vegetarian food and share it with the children from poor families in the neighborhood. The only sound here comes from the nesting of birds in trees and the humming of bhajan songs by devotees. The place, surrounded by a serene greenery of rosewood trees, witnesses over a hundred visitors during weekends. The founders and directors of the foundation who work as managers, engineers or professors, volunteer their time. “Hastinapur does not have any godmen seeking fame and fortune and flaunting wealthy followers. It is an institution to pursue pure wisdom, peace and divinity,” says
Viswanathan. The place also has a Buddha temple, one for Virgin Mary, one for Greek god Demeter and another one called the temple of all faiths. Yoga, meditation, philosophy, devotional singing, sacred drama, workshops and seminars, among other activities, are organized. Festivals such as Ganesh Chaturthi and Baisakhi are also held. It offers a three-year post graduate course in yoga. The classes are held on weekends only. Currently, there are 2,500 yoga and philosophy students. The foundation has published a number of books on Indian philosophy and translated the Bhagwad Gita, Bhakti Sutras, Upanishads, Srimad Bhagwatam and Yoga Sutras. The foundation also has other centers in Argentina, Uruguay, Bolivia and Colombia in Latin America. For more info visit http://en.hastinapura.org.ar/index. html
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Ultimate Bollywood
November 19-25, 2011
Thesouthasiantimes.info
It's baby girl for Abhi-Ash! girl was born to star couple Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan at a private hospital here. The baby, their first child, was born at the Seven Hills Hospital. Mother and daughter were both doing fine. "IT'S A GIRL!!," Abhishek, 35, posted on micro-blogging site Twitter.com. He had recently said he wanted a daughter who looked like Aishwarya.Proud grandfather Amitabh Bachchan too couldn't control his happiness and tweeted: "I AM DADA to the cutest baby girl, A dada ji ... Ecstatic." Hospital sources said the delivery was normal and came a few minutes before 10 a.m. The Bachchan and Rai families were present for the momentous occasion. Aishwarya, 38, developed labour pains around 4 a.m. and was taken to the labour room where the delivery took place after nearly six hours. The actress is on the fifth floor of the luxury private hospital in Andheri east. The hospital had booked three rooms on the floor -- one for Aishwarya, the other for the
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The baby, their first child, was born at the Seven Hills Hospital in Mumbai. The girl is Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan's third grandchild, after Agastya and Navya Naveli.
Shiney Ahuja is set for second innings hiney Ahuja is set to begin his second innings in the film industry with the horror film "Ghost" and he thanks producer Bharat Shah for having faith in him. "First of all, I am thankful to Bharat Shah for keeping faith in me and that itself is a big thing for me. I would be grateful to him for giving me a new life after such a difficult time. He kept advising me like a father and told me to be strong. He used to say, 'Bad times are part and parcel of life and you should forget everything and move on'," said Shiney. Known for his performances in "Hazaaron Khwaishein
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Shiney's movie career hit a rough patch when he was convicted by a Mumbai fast track court for raping his domestic help. Aisi" and "Gangster - A Love The actor has challenged the Story", Shiney's movie career sentence in the Bombay High hit a rough patch when he Court and is currently out on was convicted by a Mumbai bail. Shiney was last seen in fast track court for raping his 2008 film " Hijack" with domestic help two years ago. Esha Deol, which was a dud.
Bachchan family and the third for the Rai family. The entire floor was kept out of bounds for all except the two families. The hospital has been under tight security for the past three days in expectation of the youngest member of the Bachchan family. Aishwarya was admitted to the hospital Monday night, according to her spokesperson. The Bachchan family had been waiting for the baby's arrival for a few days and preparing for the child's welcome. The girl is Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan's third grandchild, after Agastya and Navya Naveli -- children of his daughter Shweta and son-in-law Nikhil Nanda. Aishwarya tied the knot with Abhishek in April 2007 and rumours about her pregnancy had been doing the rounds ever since. In June this year, when Amitabh announced her pregnancy through Twitter, it grabbed the headlines. A 10point advisory by the Broadcast Editor's Association (BEA) reportedly asked TV channel heads to curtail media coverage regarding the high-profile delivery.
Laloo may promote film on flatulence
ebutant director Ajay Moga, who is gearing up for the release of his film Padduram next month wants a politician to promote it. And the one man he has in mind is Laloo Prasad Yadav. Moga wants Laloo to launch the music for his debut film. A source informed us, "The film Padduram revolves around a kid who has a flatulence problem. The film tries to tell the world that there is nothing to feel shy about the very problem. And that's why the creative team wants Laloo Yadav to promote the film."
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The filmmakers have already sent a mail to the politician's office in Delhi and are now waiting for a confirmation on the same. According to the source, the filmmakers have already sent a mail to the
politician's office in Delhi and are now waiting for a confirmation on the same.
Bollywood bombshells ditch size zero norexia’s out, jiggly wiggly’s in. Vidya Balan shows it, Bebo throws it and Veena Malik’s also going that way. Bollywood’s divas are fast ditching the size-zero diktat for generous amounts of flab, and no, they aren’t shying away from showing it off. While Balan has gorged on to portray Southern sex siren Silk Smitha in The Dirty Picture, Kapoor has let her popular 'sizezero' figure go for good. "Today, I am curvier and I think my fans like
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Vidya Balan: Bollywood’s new flab queen.
me that way ... I think I am looking like a Hindi film heroine now," Bebo had said. Trade analyst Atul Mohan says it is 'deliberate' on their end to add on. "Being lean and size zero is over and heroines are now deliberately putting on a little weight because that is what appeals to their male fans. Look at Silk Smitha, she was a little plump herself and to get into the character, Vidya had to look fleshy and achieve a fuller figure which has undoubtedly drawn a lot of eye balls," says Mohan.
Ultimate Bollywood TheSouthAsianTimes.info
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November 19-25, 2011
Review
'Rockstar' fails, but Ranbir wows
ere is a film made on the life of a rockstar whose tryst with destiny does not touch your heart. In a grey dull European city, we aren't sure if the frizzy haired, IndoPersian dressed Rockstar (Ranbir Kapoor) is detained or mugged while he fight backs his detractors to reach the venue to deliver an electrifying performance. In fact, Imtiaz Ali's "Rockstar" is a love story of Janardhan Jakhar (Ranbir Kapoor) and Heer (Nargis Fakhri). Janardhan is a naĂŻve Haryanvi college going buffoon. He is rustic with no confidence in his own talent, but cherishes the dream of becoming a rockstar. With
a hairdo and clothes that resemble the fashion of the early 1970s, Janardhan, or JJ as he calls himself, is constantly trying to ape rockstar Jim Morrison and is constantly seeking a formula to become one. His confidants, college mates and college canteen owner Kattara Bhai tell him that to be a rockstar one needs to experience life altering love, heartbreak and self discovery. And his mind ticks till he spots Heer (Nargis Fakhri). Heer is the diva of the college, poised and polished very lady like. Their union seems unfeasible. After a few scenes, we learn that she is to be married off within 20 days and wants to experience all that is for-
Brad Pitt inspired by fatherhood rad Pitt says fatherhood has made him more "passionate" about life. The actor who raises six children, Maddox, 10, Pax, seven, Zahara, six, Shiloh, five, and three-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne, with partner Angelina Jolie - wants to create films that will have a lasting impact on his kids since becoming a dad, because movies played such a big part of his life when he was younger. He said: "I am more passionate now that I am a father. It has focused my mind on the kind of work I want to do. "I think of how movies affected me when I was younger, and how they've stayed with me ever since. "Now I want to make films the kids can see and that might stay with them. I want to make films they can be proud of." The 47-year-old star admits his
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The 47-year-old star admits his "shelf life" as an actor is coming to an end, but he still wants to play a "grumpy old dude" in a movie one day. "shelf life" as an actor is coming to an end, but he still wants to play a "grumpy old dude" in a movie one day.
bidden. The duo makes a list and experience life without emotions for each other. In due course, JJ is christened Jordan, which seems to be an apt name for a rockstar. As the mystery unfolds over layers of flashbacks, it takes the story to a designated plateau and halts. At stages, you feel you are watching a documentary, full of montages of memories lined up over good music. Be it Sufi music or the shehnai-guitar jugalbandi, A.R. Rahman's music touches your heart. Performances are superb. Nargis is a sure threat to Katrina Kaif. Shammi Kapoor sharing screen space with Ranbir touches a raw nerve. Over all, Ranbir carries
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John Abraham wishes to keep his personal life private, and isn't going hammer and tongs giving away information about the special lady in his life.
Coming from a director who has given wonderful hits like Jab We Met and Love Aaj Kal, Rockstar is a disappointment. away accolades for his histrionics. "Rockstar" is a disappointment. It's Coming from a director who has evident that there is something given wonderful hits like "Jab We amiss with the characterization of Met" and "Love Aaj Kal", this love story.
'Pooja Misrra might win Bigg Boss' ransgender activist Laxmi Narayan Tripathi, who was evicted from `Bigg Boss 5` says she is glad to have left with her "dignity and self-respect" intact. She predicts troublemaker VJ Pooja Misrra will end up being one of the top three contenders on the reality show. "My journey in the show was fantastic. When I was nominated this time, I knew it 110 percent that I will be evicted. So I am fine with the public`s decision. I am only happy that I have managed to come out without losing my dignity and self respect," Tripathi told reporters over phone from Mumbai, after leaving the `Bigg Boss 5` house. Of all her co-participants, Tripathi feels Pooja has a definite chance to reach the finals. "Juhi Parmar and Amar Upadhyay stand a chance to reach the finals, but Pooja Missra seems to be the most likely to reach the final three because she is the biggest footage queen ever," said Tripathi. Pooja has been the centre of attention this season thanks to her catfights and over-the-top attitude. She has received a lot of flak from her co-participants, but the audience seems to be in love with her melodrama. "Pooja Misrra has been nominated for eviction five times‌but I guess the viewers are enjoying watching her. She is such an opportunist, and making the best use of the platform by grabbing so much footage," added
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John Abraham to marry in 2012 t's been months enough for John Abraham to have moved on - seriously - after his breakup with Bipasha Basu. The guy, who has been active on the date scene for quite some time now, seems to be slowing down! After having made his first public appearance with alleged investment-banker-girlfriend Priya Marwah, all hell has broken lose, and some of his close friends have been compelled to talk to us. "John has always been hot and happening. However, he hasn't been an irresponsible Casanova. He has been serious in his relationships. His current relationship seems to make him happy, and he seems to be serious about this too,
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so much so that he may also be considering marriage." If sources are to be believed, John Abraham will is seriously contemplating on making us hear the wedding tolls sooner than we thought. We are informed that the wedding is to take place in 2012. "John finds himself in a good and secure place now. It would be a good time to settle down," we are told. John Abraham, on the other hand, wishes to keep his personal life private, and isn't going hammer and tongs giving away information about the special lady in his life, although he confirms that there is one that means the world to him!
Pooja has been the center of attention this season thanks to her catfights and over-the-top attitude. Tripathi, who feels actor Akashdeep Saigal`s behavior in the `Bigg Boss 5` house is "gross and crass".
Gaga planning to adopt Indian kids? op star Lady Gaga, who recently visited India, is reportedly planning to adopt three kids from an Indian orphanage and one from America. Gaga has set up the not-for-profit group Born This Way Foundation to help people worldwide develop a new standard of care towards one another. "...She's already set up her Born This Way Foundation in India and visited two orphanages while she was there last time. The plan is to adopt three Indian orphans before adopting more from around the world. She wants at least one American child, too," dailystar.co.uk quoted a source as saying. "She's always wanted to adopt, ever since she was a little girl. She tells friends she feels she was put on this planet for a reason
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The pop star has also set up the not-for-profit group, Born This Way Foundation, to help people worldwide develop a new standard of care towards one another. and since achieving fame she sees it as a sign that she has to give back the good fortune she's received," the source added.
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Travel
November 19-25, 2011
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Fiery chinar leaves lend magic to Kashmir s autumn, the golden yellow season of Kashmir, draws to a close, the majestic chinar trees are at their fiery best. Their crimson colored leaves - so rightly dubbed 'flames of the chinar' - lend a fairytale glow to the scenic valley. From green to yellow through crimson before they fall to the ground, the leaves of the chinar trees have fired many an imagination for prose and verse. 'Che Nar (What fire)?' - these words of a Persian poet who visited the valley in the past are still resounding in the majestic chinar gardens of Naseem Bagh in the Kashmir University campus on the banks of the Dal Lake in Srinagar and other places. Native to Persia, Italy, Belgium, America and Greece, chinar trees were planted on a large scale across the length and breadth of the valley by Mughal emperor Jahangir during his reign from 1605 to 1627 though the origin of the plant in Kashmir is believed to be much earlier than the Mughal period. Later rulers declared it a protected tree as it became a symbol of Kashmir's heritage and beauty. Felling of the chinar or even lopping off its branches is forbidden by law. A 627-year-old chinar tree planted by Sufi saint Syed Abul Qasim Shah Hamdani in 1374 in central Kashmir's Badgam district is believed to be the oldest of the specie in the world. 'The magic created by the
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Majestic chinar trees at their fiery best as autumn comes to a close in Kashmir.
'fires of the Chinar' because of its crimson leaves towards the end of the autumn season is something one has to see to believe,' Bashir Ahmad War, said a retired veterinarian. 'As dozens of the mighty chinar trees surround the visitor with each one of them radiating its fiery brilliance, the spectacle is simply breathtaking. Anybody looking at them from a distance thinks the entire tree is on fire,' he added. The valley has some of the finest chinar gardens in Srinagar, Ganderbal, Anantnag and other places where locals and visitors throng these days to take pictures. Sunil Kumar, a tourist from Punjab, said: 'It is a treat to be among the fiery chinars. I am lucky to have chosen this time of the year to visit Kashmir.' The leaves will finally fall to the ground and become the chief source of charcoal for the locals who collect it from half burnt chinar leaves and fill their 'kangris' (earthen firepots woven in willow wicker). The kangris serve as mobile heaters during the harsh winter months. It is carried by the locals under their 'pherans' (tweed overgarments) and its soothing heat enables Kashmiris to brave even the most bitter winter. 'Despite central heating, electric heaters and electric blankets, the kangri still remains our best insurance against the biting cold,' said Muzaffar Ahmad, a college principal here.
Summers for making money, winters for making merry in Lahaul & Spiti hen bone-chilling winds sweep through its vast expanse and snow blocks it off for five months, the mountain district of Lahaul and Spiti comes to life with its people gathering together to celebrate, eat and drink. 'Summers are for making money and winters for making merry. It's the time when nothing germinates, but social culture blooms,' Geeta Devi, an octogenarian in Keylong (altitude: 3,156 metres), about 350 km from Shimla, said. Most important local festivals and rituals fall when the villagers are marooned in the snow. The climatic conditions of the area are harsh as much of the land falls under a cold desert where the mercury drops below minus 20 degrees Celsius during winter. The district, mainly the Lahaul Valley, remains out of bounds from November-end onwards as heavy snow snaps road connec-
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tivity. The road links restore only by midMay when the snows melt. Helicopter is the only mode of transportation for the locals in these months. But there is no stopping the celebrations. A wedding, solemnized in summer, is celebrated in winter. The entire village gathers and celebrates for days together. The consumption of 'arah', a local liquor extracted from barley, and 'challo', or gambling, are part of every occasion. The staple food is buckwheat. Barley, wheat and rice are also consumed as well as lots of 'chhang' (local extracted beer) and salted tea mixed with butter. 'We normally hold community kitchens. The entire womenfolk are huddled together at one place, and stitch clothes and knit woolens for the next season. This is the best period for socializing when snow and bonechilling winds bring life to a grinding halt,' says Bhrigu Devi of Tandi village.
A hamlet marooned in snow in Himachal Pradesh's Lahaul and Spiti district, which remains cut off from the rest of the country during the winter months.
Diaspora TheSouthAsianTimes.info
November 19-25, 2011
Two Indians gunned down in Philippines Davao City (Philippines): Two Indian moneylenders were fatally shot in southern Philippines as they were about to leave a trading firm, police said. Manjeet Singh, 27, and Sukhinder Singh, 26, who were residents of Compostela Valley province, died from gunshot wounds after being attacked at Poblacion village in Agusan del Sur province Tuesday, said Superintendent Martin Gamba, spokesperson of the Caraga regional police office. The victims were about to leave the premises of a rice trading firm when the assailant fired at them several times with a handgun, Xinhua reported. The suspect fled on a motorcycle driven by an accomplice. The Indians were taken to the Bunawan District Hospital but were pronounced dead on
arrival, philstar.com quoted the police as saying. As many as five spent shells from a .45 pistol were recovered. The attack took place in an area which is a known stronghold of the communist New People's Army rebels, said mindanaoexaminer.com Police are trying to determine the motive behind their killing and are probing whether the attack was connected to the victims' money lending business or extortion by rebels. The media report said that Indian moneylenders in the southern Philippines have been the subject of numerous complaints due to the high interests they usually charge. Many customers are small time traders and private employees who rely solely on it.
Website launched to honor undivided India’s war heroes London: A new website has been launched by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission to highlight the contribution of the people of 'Undivided India' during the first and second world wars, a commission official said. "Forever India" at www.Cwgc.Org/foreverindia tells the remarkable story of some of the millions of Indians who left their homes in order to fight for the Allied cause, he said. The Forever India website is the result of a joint project between the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and the Indian government, which is one of six governments that fund the Commission's work. "The Commission's new Forever India website tells a powerful story of which many people remain unaware," said Alan Pateman-Jones, Director General of the Commonwealth War Graves
Bhavin Shah arrested for helping illegal migrants in UK London: An Indian-origin man has been arrested in Britain for helping illegal migrants come into the country, get married or enter colleges. Bhavin Shah, 34, was secretly filmed by an undercover team of The Sun daily. He told them how he arranged for people to come into the country, fixed up wed-
dings and sorted college placings. “If you want to bring someone from India here, I can get a man from India for 3,000 pounds,� Shah was quoted as saying. Shah operated from a suite with its own reception and security staff in Wembley, north London, said a report handed over to police working with the UK Border
Agency (UKBA). Shah said he charged 4,750 pounds to arrange enrolment and a two-and-a-half year student visa. He also had a website of an IT and management college licensed by the UKBA. He was arrested by police and immigration officials on suspicion of facilitating illegal immigration.
Hindu doctors' murder a sad day for Pakistan: Imran Khan Islamabad: Cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan has strongly condemned the killing of Hindu doctors by armed assailants in Pakistan's Sindh province. Four Hindu doctors were attacked near Shikarpur district of the province Monday. Three of them -Ashok, Naresh, Ajeet Kumar -- who were brothers died, while the fourth was Satya Pal was injured. Khan, chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), in a statement issued by his party's central secretariat, said that the murder of Dr Ashok, Dr Naresh and Dr Ajeet Kumar marked a sad day for Pakistan, as PTI (Paksitan Tehreek-e-Insaf) believed in peaceful and harmonious co-existence of all religious and ethnic groups and an indiscriminate practice of the rule of law, Daily Times
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reported. Stating abdication of governance by the corrupt ruling mafias had resulted in an increase of violence in the society that needed to be checked immediately, Khan condemned the role of the law-enforcement agencies that tended to side with the criminals. On Thursday, condemning the brutal murder of Hindus in Shikarpur, civil society and human rights organizations announced they would stage "Fill the Besant Hall Road against Religious Intolerance" rally in front of the Theosophical Society's interior Sindh centre in Hyderabad Nov 14. Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has also strongly condemned the killings and directed that the culprits be brought to book.
Forever India poster Commission. "It will allow young people to explore Commonwealth history in a broader context and to uncover some personal accounts from the people of Undivided India who served and died, but whom the Commission continues to honor at memorials and cemeteries around the world," he added. According to the website about 1,105,000 troops from Undivided India served overseas in the First World War. By the end of the second world war, Undivided India had provided the largest volunteer force in history, comprising over 2,500,000
servicemen and women. Around 161,219 troops from Undivided India who sacrificed their lives in the two world wars are commemorated by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission in fifty countries around the world, the website reveals. Of the 161,219 troops who sacrificed their lives, 26,272 have their identified burials with their own headstones. 134,947 are commemorated on memorials - the names of those known to have died whose bodies have not been found or those who were cremated, according to their religious beliefs. In the first world war, participants from the Indian subcontinent won 13,000 medals. Eleven of them were awarded Victoria Cross, including two who were awarded posthumously. In second world war, Indian personnel received 4,000 awards for gallantry. 31 of them were bestowed with the Victoria Cross.
Poland remembers noted Hindi poet Agyeya Warsaw: Polish educationists have paid rich tributes to noted Hindi poet Sachchidananda Hirananda Vatsyayana, better known as "Agyeya," saying he was a "pioneer in modern Hindi literature in post-partition India" and he had "refined the art of story telling." The famous Hindi poet, novelist and journalist (1911-1987) was remembered at a function jointly organized by the Faculty of Oriental Studies of Warsaw University and the embassy of India in the Polish capital over the weekend, EuAsiaNews reported. A prolific writer, Agyeya was a master of prose and fiction, apart from being an editor of the Dinaman weekly of the Times of India group. Agyeya won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1964, the Jnanpith Award in 1978 and the Golden Wreath Award in 1983. Danuta Staszek, chairperson of South Asian Studies at the university, highlighted the genius of Agyeya at the program.
"Agyeya acted as a pioneer of modern Hindi literature in postpartition India. He gave a new diction to Hindi poetry and refined the art of story telling. He was liberal to the core as a journalist," he said. Monika Kapila Mohta, India's ambassador to Poland, said Agyeya's poetry could be compared to other 20th century poets such as Mexico's Octovio Paz or Poland's Czeslaw Miwosz or Zbigniew Herbert. "It is not always easy to understand Agyeya's poetry, but it is a challenge to one's aesthetic sense to appreciate the nuances of thought and mind," Mohta said. S. Zahid, an Indian poet based in Poland, said Agyeya's initiative to publish anthologies of modern Hindi poets was a milestone in Hindi literature. Students recited some wellknown poems of Agyeya in Hindi as well as their translation in Polish for the benefit of Indian and Polish audiences alike.
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Subcontinent
November 19-25, 2011
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
US working to contain LeT in South Asia Washington: A top Pentagon commander has said US forces were working with partners in the South Asian region to contain Pakistanbased terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba that threatens India and had carried out 26/11 Mumbai attacks. Admiral Robert Willard, Commander of the US Pacific Command, told reporters in Honolulu, Hawaii, that in South Asia, around India, his forces endeavor was to contain Lashkar-e-Taiba. "We find ourselves working with partners in Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Maldives to build their capacities to deal with
this organization independently," Willard said. US Pacific Command interacts with Indian armed forces with its jurisdiction starting from India and stretching to entire Asia Pacific region.Calling India as the most "consequential military in the region" which operates in a fairly challenging neighborhood, the American commander said: "Our relationship is now strong and growing stronger." The admiral asserted that American forces will "continue to deal with violent extremism and other transnational challenges. And will continue to build partnerships with India and with other allies and partners overtime."
Pakistan service chiefs skip Zardari banquet Islamabad: Pakistan's top four military officials, including powerful army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, were absent from a state banquet hosted by President Asif Ali Zardari, triggering speculation about unease in ties between the government and the military. The three service chiefs and the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff committee were not among the guests at the reception and banquet hosted by Zardari for his Turkmen counterpart Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov at the presidency. One channel quoted sources as saying that an inquiry had been ordered to ascertain why the service chiefs did not attend the event hosted by Zardari. In a brief statement, the InterServices public relations said, "They did not attend because they were not invited to
The absence of top officials has triggered speculation about unease in ties between the government and the military. attend."However, officials pointed out that joint chiefs of staff committee chairman and the air force currently in the United Arab Emirates to attend the Dubai Air Show.
He made a particular reference to new threat emerging in the region, saying that merchant ships emanating from the Gulf of Aden were now swinging so far to the east that they are entering Pacific Command area of responsibility, in and around India's exclusive economic zone, in the Sri Lankan economic exclusion zone, and that of the Maldives. He announced that his Pacific command was teaming up with India to address the issue of piracy. The Pakistani-based terrorist organization has been held responsible for the Nov 2008 Mumbai attacks.
Myanmar likely head of Asean from 2014 Bali: Myanmar, the only member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) that India shares a land border with, is poised to come out of years of isolation, with the 10nation regional bloc likely to allow it to chair the organization in 2014. Foreign ministers of Asean states met in Bali recently and broadly agreed to support Myanmar ’s bid to lead the region’s most important multilateral body in two years. “The sentiment was positive. All of us, without exception, recognize and welcome the positive developments that have been taking place in Myanmar over the past few months,” said Indonesian foreign minister Marty Natalegawa. The developments include Myanmar holding the first elec-
Punitive measures against Myanmar are being reviewed after it held an election last year and freed several hundred political prisoners, including opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
tions in the country since 1990 and the release of scores of political prisoners, including Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, the figurehead of political opposition since forming the National League for Democracy in 1988. “We all wish to see this momentum being maintained, and the sense is that Myanmar is creating positive conditions that make it more possible for them to chair Asean in 2014. Some countries were quite explicit in expressing strong support for Myanmar (becoming Asean chair) in 2014,” he added. Myanmar had been slated to chair Asean in 2006, in line with the policy of rotating chairships in alphabetical order, but it backed out after facing pressure from both within and outside the grouping.
'India playing great game in Afghanistan' New York: Accusing India of trying to create an "anti-Pakistan Afghanistan", ex-Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has said India is seeking to increase its influence in the war-torn country with the sole purpose of "troubling" Islamabad. "India-Afghan relations are bothering Pakistan. I personally feel India is trying to create an antiPakistan Afghanistan and I have tremendous intelligence from my own time to prove this. I know it," Musharraf said during a talk at American think tank 'Council on Foreign Relations' here. "If this is happening in our backyard, if somebody is stabbing us in the back, then we have to make some arrangements," he said. He said with the US forces readying to leave Afghanistan in 2014, Pakistan is interested to
The former Pakistani military ruler, who is planning a political comeback, said India teaming up with Afghanistan "is nothing new". "safeguard" itself from the fallout of what happens in the country post-2014.
"I would like to ask the question why does India want influence in Afghanistan. Do they want to
stretch out to Central Asian republics, is this some action against China? What is their (India's) requirement (to have influence in Afghanistan). The requirement is to trouble Pakistan," Musharraf said. The former Pakistani military ruler said Islamabad can help Kabul in its fight against the Taliban because Pakistan has been helping Afghanistan since the time it was fighting the Soviets in the 1980s. "If India is trying to influence there (Afghanistan) using a minority which is anti-Pakistan, how does Pakistan fend for itself... If President (Hamid) Karzai and Afghanistan find it suitable to have a strategic agreement with India, then what do you expect from Pakistan?" Musharraf, who is planning a
political comeback, said India teaming up with Afghanistan "is nothing new". Right from Pakistan's birth in 1947, Afghanistan has been in the "eastern camp" under the influence of the Soviet Union and India, he claimed. Musharraf accused Indian and Soviet intelligence agencies -RAW and the KGB -- of being "in league" with the Afghan security unit Khad and "always troubling Pakistan." He said Pakistan wants a stable Afghanistan, and while it does not want to interfere in Kabul's affairs, "we don't want any (other) outside interference" either. He said he had repeatedly told Karzai to send his intelligence and security personnel, diplomats and army officials to Pakistan for training but they instead go to India.
Business TheSouthAsianTimes.info
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November 19-25, 2011
Virginia seeks Indian investment in IT, energy Mumbai: Soliciting Indians investment in plastics, information technology, energy and advance manufacturing sectors, the US state of Virginia has announced cash incentives to enterprises instead of tax benefits, a top official said. Virginia Governor Bob McDonnel said Indian companies and investors would get cash incentives based on the capital investment and actual number of jobs created in the state. Owing to its location and readymade talent pool, Virginia is the IT industry leader in the US which will continue as a trend with the current business synergies of an ideal location with a vast transportation and a highly skilled talent pool required by IT enterprises.
Virginia Governor Bob McDonnel. Besides IT, Virginia is also focusing its growth in advanced manufacturing and aerospace
Kingfisher off the tarmac, Mallya wants funds Mumbai: Vijay Mallya, the chairman of crisis-ridden Kingfisher Airlines, has said that he has not sought a bailout from the government but wants the lenders to help the cash-strapped airline with Rs 700-800 crore working capital as short-term need and interest concessions. Mallya said, "We have not asked for any bailout from government. We have not asked the government to dip into the taxpayers' money. We have never done it, we will never do it." Mallya further clarified that the banks had not told him formally to infuse capital. "If there is requirement of recapitalization or infusion of additional equity, we will consider it," he said He also said he has not sought any restructuring of the loan. Addressing a press conference after announcing the second quarter results, which showed a loss of Rs 468.66 crore, he said that "we are in dialogue with banks to open Letters of Credit which can help us recover debt and repay our high cost rupee loans."
The company's second quarter results showed a loss of Rs 468.66 crore. "We have not asked for a concession. We have not asked for a haircut. Our demands with the banks are mainly two-folds. One is to meet short-term capital needs which have gone up and concession on interest," Mallya said. Vijay Mallya also pleaded helplessness in flying heavily loss making routes. "We cannot, as a private company, fly routes that are heavily loss-making," he told reporters adding, "Kingfisher Airlines is flying in tough environment conditions." "Kingfisher has statred reconfiguration and it (reconfiguration) will give us incremental revenue generation opportunities," he said.
projects, McDonnel added. McDonnel, currently in Mumbai on a fortnight-long mission to cre-
According to the report, there are around 50 posts on Facebook stating that the users are quitting the social networking site forever after being embarrassed before friends and family. Incidentally, according to a Bloomberg report, Facebook claimed that it has identified those responsible for the deluge of hardcore porn and violent images in some users' newsfeeds, and said it is working with its legal team "to ensure appropriate consequences follow." The social networking company made the statement after porn, pictures of extreme violence and faked
presence there. McDonnell expressed hope that his delegation's visit would garner more interest among potential Indian companies to set up operations and benefit from a slew of incentives and attractive schemes - targets being plastics, advanced manufacturing, IT and energy. The governor and the Virginia Economic Development Partnership officials are also scheduled to meet corporate leaders and business associations to enlighten them on the merits of Virginia as a preferred destination for investment. The high-powered business delegation led by McDonnell includes Sandesara Group senior vice president Danny Patel who dwelt on the strategic business and geographical location of Virginia.
India's top auditor stands by 2G figures New Delhi: India's top government auditor Vinod Rai stood by his presumptive loss of Rs.1.76 lakh crore in the 2G spectrum allocation, dismissing his former colleague's claims that the sale of scarce radiowaves had cost the nation only Rs. 2,645 crore. Rai also denied the allegations of the former colleague, R.P. Singh, then director general, audit, post and telecom, and lead auditor of the 2G audit case, that he was kept out of the picture when the report was finalized. Rai, the Comptroller
Vinod Rai, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India. and Auditor General (CAG) of India, and his team had a marathon session of about six hours with members of the Joint
Parliamentary Committee (JPC). Rai told the panel members that during the various stages of spectrum allocation audit, the CAG had come across many projected loss figures and his figure of Rs.1.76 lakh crore was presumptive. The CAG told the panel that Singh had also given some other loss estimates in his draft report that ranged from Rs.65,000 crore to Rs.102,498 crore on account of 2G spectrum sale and the figure of Rs.2,645 crore was included in the final report.
Citigroup likely to cut 900 jobs: Report New York: US-based banking major Citigroup is likely to slash 900 jobs in its securities and banking division amid financial market turmoil, says a report. Quoting people familiar with the situation, the Wall Street Journal said job cuts are planned since turmoil in the equity and debt markets is eroding revenues. "The cuts are part of a broader move by Citigroup to curtail expenses. The bank is considering eliminating 3,000 jobs, or
Facebook hacking scare reaches Bangalore Bangalore: The recent Facebook hack has reportedly claimed over 2 lakh victims in Bangalore. According to a news report in Mid Day, some two lakh Facebook users in Bangalore had their accounts hacked and weblinks to their morphed pornographic pictures sent as feeds to friends and family. Quoting social networking analysts, the report says that more than 2 lakh Bangalore Facebook accounts were hacked. The cybercrime department too is reported to have received calls and complaints regarding the mass hacking.
ate job and marketing opportunities from India, also announced the setting up of representatives offices in Mumbai, New Delhi and Bangalore. "India is a very valuable market for Virginia which exported nearly $293.7 million in goods to India during 2010. As one of the world's fastest growing economies, India is a key player in the global marketplace," McDonnell said. With Virginia's representation in India, McDonnell said the doors will open further to build a strong economic relationship with India and help create more jobs and opportunities for Virginians. Besides 31 of Fortune 1000 firms headquartered in Virginia, Indian conglomerates like the Tata Group and the Essel Group have already cemented a significant
photos of celebrities such as Justin Bieber in sexual situations had overrun the profiles of some Facebook users. Facebook said that it has "drastically limited the damage caused" by a spam attack that took advantage of a browser vulnerability. "Protecting the people who use Facebook from spam and malicious content is a top priority for us," Palo Alto, Californiabased Facebook said in a statement. Users were tricked into pasting malware into their browsers, which in turn resulted in the sharing of offensive content, Facebook said.
around 1 per cent of its work force," the daily said. According to the report, a head count reduction for the overall bank had not been finalized and could change. Citigroup has cut thousands of jobs during the financial meltdown. The Wall Street Journal pointed out that lately Citigroup has been wooing high profile talent from competitors to rebuild market share.
‘German financial health crucial for Asia’ Singapore: Asia’s ability to ride out the turbulence in the eurozone rests with Germany and its neighbors coming out of the sovereign debt crisis relatively unscathed.That is according to leading Asian economist Yuwa Hedrick-Wong, who said, as emerging markets face up to the very real fear of contagion, Asian concerns are centered on the trade relationship with Germany, Netherlands, Austria and the Nordic countries.‘In emerging Asia, the key group of countries for them is not in the eurozone but it is whether the German block comes through it, as they drive import and export between the eurozone and Asia,’ he said. ‘As long as the German block coun-
tries can stay above water then emerging Asia is unlikely to be impacted.’ In addition, Hedrick-Wong said Asia had limited financial exposure to the eurozone and, he went as far as to suggest they are the best situated region to ride out the current crisis. Assessing the outlook for global emerging markets, Hedrick-Wong said the most pressing concern will be the closing of the convergence gap – the difference between developed world and emerging market productivity. He said the emerging markets need to shift their resources and labor away from low productivity areas – such as agriculture – towards high productivity areas – such as urban construction.
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International
November 19-25, 2011
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Over 70 killed in Syria's bloodiest day Damascus: More than 70 people died in one of the bloodiest days of Syria's eight-month uprising, activists said, as president Bashar al-Assad's loyalists reacted angrily to growing isolation. Around 100 of his supporters stormed the Jordanian embassy in Damascus overnight - the latest regional mission to be targeted since the Arab League voted to impose sanctions - after Jordan's King Abdullah II became the first Arab leader to publicly call for Assad to quit. Buoyed by the fast-growing diplomatic pressure, Syria's opposition stepped up its contacts with the regime's remaining bulwarks, holding talks in Moscow, which last month joined Beijing in vetoing a United Nations Security Council resolution that would have threat-
A total of 34 soldiers and 12 suspected army deserters were killed in clashes, as well as 27 civilians shot dead by security forces. ened "targeted measures". Desertions within Assad's security forces - which have a professional hard core but also much larger conscripted ranks - triggered much of Monday's death toll of more than 70. A total of 34 soldiers and 12 suspected army deserters were killed in clashes, as well as 27 civilians shot dead by security forces.
US, Philippines boost ties amid row with China Manila: In a highly symbolic ceremony aboard a guided-missile destroyer, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton underlined America's military and diplomatic support for the Philippines as the island nation engages in an increasingly tense dispute with China over claims in the resource-rich South China Sea. On the USS Fitzgerald in Manila Bay, Clinton and her Philippine counterpart, Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario, signed a declaration calling for multilateral talks to resolve maritime disputes such as those over the South China Sea. Six countries in the region have competing claims, but China wants them to negotiate oneto-one _ and chafes at any US involvement. Clinton said that at this week's East Asian Summit in Bali, Indonesia, the U.S. ``will certainly expect and participate in very open and frank discussions,'' including the maritime challenges in the region and how to address them. Beijing said Tuesday it opposes bringing up the issue at the summit. The US said it is helping its longtime Asian ally reinforce its weak navy as it wrangles with China over the sea's potentially oil-rich Spratly islands, which straddle one of the world's most vital sea lanes. ``We are making sure that our collective defense capa-
Mario Monti is Italy's new PM
Rome: Mario Monti, an eminent economist and former European commissioner, was appointed as Italy's new prime minister. President Giorgio Napolitano has asked Monti to head the new government after Silvio Berlusconi resigned from office Saturday. Earlier, Napolitano held meetings with leaders of various political parties as well as former presidents before inviting Monti to form a caretaker government, Xinhua reported. Monti is expected to push through austerity reforms asked by the European Union (EU) to cut Italy's massive debt and regain market confidence. "I want to fulfill this task with great sense of responsibility and service towards our country. In a
moment particularly hard for Italy, and troubled in Europe and in markets, Italy must meet the challenge of redemption," said Monti at a press conference soon after the appointment. He added that Italy had to restart growing as "it is for our children to give them dignity and hope". Earlier last week, Berlusconi had lost majority at the parliament's lower chamber and promised to resign as soon as the austerity measures were approved by both the houses of parliament. Monti, 68, served as a leading European Commission member between 1995 and 2004, gaining a reputation as a highly capable and tireless worker. He is now due to present the list of
Mario Monti, 68, served as a leading European Commission member between 1995 and 2004. the cabinet ministers to the president and then face a parliament confidence vote, according to local media.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton with local government officials in Manila. bilities and communications infrastructure are operationally and materially capable of deterring provocations from the full spectrum of state and non-state actors,'' Clinton said aboard the Fitzgerald, a U.S. Navy vessel that has operated in the South China Sea. The Manila Declaration signed by Clinton and del Rosario commemorated the 60th anniversary of the allies' Mutual Defense Treaty. It also calls for ``maintaining freedom of navigation, unimpeded lawful commerce, and transit of people across the seas.''
Case against Mirchi dropped in UK London: Dawood Ibrahim aide Iqbal Memon alias Iqbal Mirchi (61) will not face trial on "threats to kill" in a recent case here. The case against him brought by London's metropolitan police has been dropped by the UK's Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). Mirchi was arrested in London on October 13 for threatening to kill his associate Nadeem Kader. He was granted bail on October 20 by a magistrates' court. A press office statement of the
CPS said that it "keeps cases under continuous review... a decision to discontinue these charges has been taken because the evidence received was not enough to provide a realistic prospect of conviction. If more significant evidence or information is discovered at a later date, the decision may be reconsidered". India's application to British authorities for the extradition of Mirchi has also been found to be "inadequate", as ource said. It will not be surprising if the request is rejected.
Rushdie’s Facebook row sparks identity debate San Francisco: Writer Salman Rushdie hit Twitter with a flurry of exasperated posts. Facebook, he wrote, had deactivated his account, demanded proof of identity and then turned him into Ahmed Rushdie, which is how he is identified on his passport. He had never used his first name, Ahmed, he pointed out; the world knows him as Salman. Would Facebook, he scoffed, have turned J Edgar Hoover into John Hoover? “Where are you hiding, Mark?” he asked of Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook’s chief executive, in one post. “Come out here and give me back my name!” The Twitterverse took up his cause. Within two hours, Rushdie gleefully declared victory: “Facebook has buckled! I’m Salman Rushdie again. I feel SO much
Writer Salman Rushdie, aged 64, told about his run-in with Facebook in a series of tweets.
better. An identity crisis at my age is no fun.” As the Internet becomes the place for all kinds of transactions, from buying shoes to overthrowing despots, an increasingly vital debate is emerging over how people represent themselves. One side envisions a system in which you use a sort of digital passport, bearing your real name and issued by a firm like Facebook. Another side believes in the right to don different masks so you can consume and express what you want without fear of repercussions. The argument over pseudonyms — known online as the “nym wars” — goes to the heart of how the Internet might be organized in the future. Major Internet firms like Google, Facebook and Twitter
have a valuable stake in this debate —and, in some cases, vastly different corporate philosophies. Facebook insists on what it calls authentic identity, or real names. Google’s social network, Google+ likewise wants the real names. But it has indicated more recently that it will eventually allow some use of aliases. Twitter, by sharp contrast, allows the use of pseudonyms. It does consider deceitful impersonation though to be grounds for suspension. The debate over identity has material consequences. Data that is tied to real people is valuable for businesses. Real identity is good for Facebook’s business, particularly as it moves into brokering transactions for things like airline tickets on its site.
Sports TheSouthAsianTimes.info
23
November 19-25, 2011
India defeat WI in second Test, win series Kolkata: India defeated the West Indies by an innings and 15 runs in the second Test on the fourth day at the Eden Gardens here Thursday and took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. The West Indies were bowled out for 463 runs in the second innings, following-on after they were bundled out for 153 runs in the first innings. India had declared their first innings at 631 for seven. The 22-year-old Trinidadian Bravo played with perfect balance, putting a defensive bat to the good deliveries while pouncing on the loose ones, thereby not allowing the Indian bowlers to get on top. Bravo got to his second hundred
Darren Bravo celebrates after scoring a century during the second Test between India and West Indies at the Eden. in 12 Tests with a boundary off mark was reached facing 181 Umesh Yadav past third-man. The deliveries in 240 mins with 10
US Grand Prix to be called off: Ecclestone London: The Formula One United States Grand Prix is set to be called off even before it has had its first edition, the sport's supremo Bernie Ecclestone said. Ecclestone said there was no doubt that at the next meeting of the sport's governing body The FIA on December 7 the race due to be raced in Austin, Texas, in November next year would be pulled from the calendar. "Yes, it will be, for sure," said Ecclestone, when asked whether the race would be called off. Ecclestone's remarks came after it was announced that work on the purpose-built circuit - which would have hosted the first Grand Prix in the US since 2007 - has been halted in a dispute among developers, Formula One and promoters. As the Circuit of the Americas
issued a statement on Tuesday confirming construction had been halted, the project was dealt another blow when Texas state comptroller Susan Combs said in a statement that $25 million in state money for the event won't be paid in advance. A statement issued by the circuit said construction would be halted "until a contract assuring the Formula One United States Grand Prix will be held at Circuit of The Americas in 2012 is complete. Ecclestone said no contract had been issued because he had yet to receive a guarantee or letter of credit that he would be paid. "We've done everything we can to make this race happen," he said. Formula One's last appearance on US soil was in 2007 at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
against the double spin attack of Ravichandran Ashwin and Pragyan Ojha. They duo rotated the strike and played with supreme caution, perhaps keeping in mind the side's collapse in the first innings in the morning session. Bravo brought up the team's 200 with a single in the third over and the two batsmen opened up as the session progressed. Only two boundaries came in the first 11 overs, while Bravo was lucky to survive being run out on 54. He went halfway down for a run but Chanderpaul did not back up. However, Gautam Gambhir's ill-directed throw to keeper M.S. Dhoni gave the batsman time to regain his crease.
Lee-Hesh headed for splitsville? Mumbai: With the big-serving Rohan Bopanna breaking into the top-10 of the ATP individual doubles ranking, new options are emerging for India in the men's doubles competition for the 2012 Olympics. The 'Indian Express' in the London Summer Games is unlikely to be the original pairing of Mahesh Bhupathi (No.7) and Leander Paes (No.8). Lee and Hesh are heading for splitsville, according to sources
close to the players. So, while the three-time Grand Slam champions will play the World Tour Final starting in London on Sunday together, they are unlikely to feature on the same side of the net in the 2012 season. Sources close to Paes and Bhupathi said that the break-up was triggered by the fact that Paes wanted to partner Rohan Bopanna next year. However, 2012 is likely to see Bopanna and Bhupathi forge a partnership.
Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes.
Federer wins Paris Masters for first time Paris: Roger Federer won the Paris Masters for the first time on Sunday by defeating Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-1, 7-6 (7/3) in a one sided final. It was the Swiss star's third tournament win of the year after Doha early in the year and his Basel hometown event last week. It was also his 18th Masters title win,
Ashwin ties the knot in low-key ceremony Chennai: India's newest spin sensation R Ashwin tied the knot with his childhood friend Preethi Narayanan in a low-key wedding ceremony attended by only family members and close friends. The off-spinner, who made his debut in the first Test against the West Indies in Delhi, will fly to Kolkata for the second match starting on Monday after an impressive nine-wicket haul in the earlier game. His nine-wicket haul in Delhi included six in the second innings of a match which India won more than
fours and four sixes. His maiden ton - 195 - had come against Bangladesh in Dhaka last month. However, the morning fightback started with Bravo and Shivnarine Chanderpaul, with the visitors resuming at 195/3 - 283 runs short of stopping India from an innings victory. The two batsmen stitched together a 108-run partnserhip for the fourth wicket before Chanderpaul (47 94 b, 6x4) departed. Umesh Yadav and Ishant Sharma (both 2-68) have been the successful bowlers in the innings so far. Bravo and Chanderpaul played with lot of grit and determination
R Ashwin with his wife Preethi Narayanan a day to spare. The per- tor's nod for the second Test formance got him the selec- as well.
second only to Rafael Nadal who has won 19 times. Tsonga, the winner here in 2008 and a hugely popular figure with the noisy Bercy Stadium crowd, was aggressive from the start and he immediately had two break points. The 30-year-old Federer, though, saved them both and then
Roger Federer with the trophy. totally took command of the match running off five games in a row with two breaks of serve.
Paris win good for confidence: Bopanna Paris: Rohan Bopanna and Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi prepared for their debut in seasonending finale by capturing the ATP Paris Masters and the Indian said the win is a confidence booster ahead of the elite event in London. The Indo-Pak Express outplayed French pair of Julien Benneteau and Nicolas Mahut 6-4, 6-2 to win their first ever Master series tournament. "This win gives us a lot of confidence, it is our biggest title by far. All the hard work over the years has paid off," Bopanna said after collecting his third ATP doubles title of the season with Qureshi. They had shocked number two seeds Michael Llodra and Nenad Zimonjic and number three seeds Max Mirnyi and Daniel Nestor en route to the final. "We are ecstatic to win our first Masters
Rohan Bopanna and Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi with the trophy. 1000 title. Last year we didn't play well in finals and this year we have won three out of three," said Qureshi.
24
Cinema
November 19-25, 2011
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Shekhar Kapur: Failures secret to his success He quit a career in accountancy and failed as an actor, only to find success as a film director. By Jinal Shah/SATimes e said no to a career as chartered accountant in his mid 20s. Trading off number crunching in the UK for acting in Bollywood and on small screen in India also didn’t do him any good. It was only when he ‘crossed the line’ to behind the camera that he found his calling in films. His journey to find the 'nebulous' and walking hand in hand with 'failure' was his secret to success. Today more than two dozen films to his credit, Shekhar Kapur is the most established director and producer both in Bollywood and internationally, but when asked what motivated him to join films, he said, “Because I was a bad chartered accountant I am a filmmaker. I am terrible at mathematics, as a CA my balance sheets never matched but I knew I had visual instincts.” Kapur, currently working on his new venture ‘Paani’ in India, was a guest at the first ever conversation series held by the South Asian International Film Festival on Nov 12. The film maker discussed his evolution from an unsuccessful chartered accountant and film actor to a successful director and also his magical journey from Bollywood to Hollywood. The conversation - part of the five day film festival that showcased 19 films - was attended by budding film makers, media and just curious fans. Of his struggles and triumphs, Kapur highlighted his experience as a debutant director for the coming-of-age movie Masoom (1983). “To date, this is my best film. Budgeted at about $ 20,000 as opposed to the $ 50 million I have done, the movie touched my heart for the simple reason that there was naivety. I was naïve, I knew nothing and all I wanted was to tell a story. The lack of any knowledge of the techniques of film making
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In Bollywood, dancing and song help carry the message to the audience. In the movie Elizabeth, this form helped Kapur retain his naivety, he said during a conversation at SAIFF . “There was a big discussion on how to introduce (Queen) Elizabeth in the film. I said, ‘she is dancing!’ and suddenly everybody looked at me with huge clouds of doubt and said oh no Bollywood!” and the complete instinctiveness helped me,” said Kapur adding modestly, “I wish I had gone to a film school, I wish I could go now,” to which the audience broke into peals of laughter. His transition from India to Hollywood was smooth in terms of directing a big budget film, however Kapur admitted that he tried to retain his naivety and creative independence but could not do so. “When I was called to direct Elizabeth I was told the budget was $ 24 million which was huge. But money is an irrelevant concept. Despite the money I couldn’t do things that I could easily do in India. I even had to drop scenes. Further, if everything is rounded up in the figures, creativity is lost. So when the production team came to my office for negotiating the budget I had a sign printed behind me stating ‘money is the biggest joke perpetuated against man,” said Kapur. Not drifting from his
modest tone he added, “Producers often ask, ‘when is he going back to India, he should stay there.’ I do try and get fired every time.” Kapur, now 65, admitted that dancing and music – two most essential elements of Bollywoodhelp carry the message to the audience. In the movie Elizabeth, this form helped him retain the naivety. “There was a big discussion with all producers and writers on how to introduce Elizabeth in the film. When I was asked I said ‘she is dancing!’ and suddenly everybody looked at me with huge clouds of doubt and said oh no Bollywood! but I gave her a reason to dance – she is learning dancing. She looked vulnerable, looked like a girl in love and moreover it looked like destiny was about to take over in life. These emotions would not have been expressed in words.” Regarded as king of queens especially after making powerful films on women -- Phoolan Devi
that won him international recognition as well as controversy and Academy award winner Elizabeth, one would think he is in control of what he is doing. Kapur differs. “On my way to the sets I try and create panic because if I am not panicked I am uncomfortable. I tell myself today is the day the world will find that I have been conning the world for 24 years. I don’t really know my job. And sometimes if that doesn’t work I listen to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s music- completely chaotic music but in some way there is harmony in that chaos. ” To the first time film directors who romanticize about the sets only to be hit by reality that directors are mere managers, Kapur said, “You as a director have to be vulnerable and go through every emotion the actor is going through or the technician is going through. In simple words, a director has to squeeze the essence out which is
exhilarating and how many exhilarations do you go through in life, that’s the reason why I am not making films that often,” When asked about Bollywood and the trend of big budget films, he reverted, “Currently the problem in India is that Indian cinema is separated into two kinds. This divide is due to multiplexes, they are losing out on 90 percent of audiences who cannot afford to buy a multiplex movie and hence forced to watch dubbed Hollywood films”. Having directed India’s first popular science fiction film Mr India - a cult classic – Kapur promptly retorted to a question on why there are not enough sci-fi movies in India, “Sci-fi is used for fantasy -- a man becomes a superman. In India all heroes fly- Have you seen Salman Khan fighting or for that matter all south Indian actors. He also touched upon his forthcoming film Panni. “Panni is a film on a city that runs out of water and how the city breaks into water woes. I had pitched in this idea 15 years back but people smiled at me and said - socially conscious director how about doing a next super hero story. However now people are more socially aware and want me to do the film before someone else does it. Currently I am looking for finance for the film.” Before ending the conversation Kapur narrated an interesting anecdote from his life - “I never lost hope in life. After convincing my parents for a career in acting, when they first came to see me I assured them that I am doing well. But the fact was I was going around with one of the big stars at that time that was my only claim to fame. However the posters said a different story. One of the Stardust posters read ‘The biggest loser in town’ but I didn’t lose hope.”
Books TheSouthAsianTimes.info
25
November 19-25, 2011
Karl Marx supported the Sepoy Mutiny of 1957 By Ashok Ojha/SATimes ajmohan Gandhi, a Research Professor at University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign, USA, and a grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, has asked the younger generation of Indian Americans to learn lessons from the American Civil War and India’s first war of Independence, both of which took place around the same time in the 19th century. “There is a deep connection between the two revolts depending on how you see it”, said Gandhi at the launch of the US edition of his book, ‘A Tale of Two Revolts: India’s Mutiny and the American Civil War”, first published by Penguin India in 2009. “The mutiny of 1857 was ignited by Indians serving in the British Army as well as kings of princely states in North and Eastern India. But it failed to connect to people in all parts of the country”, he commented. The author said that during his research for the book he didn’t find evidences that leading Indian intellectuals and social reformers supported the revolt. “Well known names like Bankim Chand Chattopadhyaya, Ishwar Chand Vidyasagar and Jyotiba Phule didn’t support the
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Author Rajmohan Gandhi (left) at the launch of US edition of ‘A Tale of Two Revolts’ along with TV Asia chief HR Shah and noted philanthropist Dr. Navin Mehta. (Photo by: Ashok Ojha) mutiny which was ignited by freedom fighters like Nana Peshwa or Jhansi ki Rani for personal reasons rather than nationalistic goals.” Gandhi added that the US president during the American Civil War, Abraham Lincoln, whom Mahatma Gandhi had described as a great achiever against all odds, didn’t comment on India’s revolt of 1857; however, a number of Americans eagerly awaited merchant ships coming from India to bring news about the revolt. “In the early days of the Sepoy Mutiny, Americans sympathized with the mutineers that waned significantly after the news of murder of
English women and children in Kanpur”, he said adding that while the Western world including the US sided with the British, two learned philosophers Karl Marx and Engels chose to criticize British rulers for their atrocities against Indians and favored victory for the mutineers. “India in 1861 was largely indifferent to the American Civil War, with the exception of Jotiba Phule, who spoke about it in public”. The former Rajya Sabha member said that the Mutiny of 1857 was for a good cause while the American Civil War was initiated by the Southerners for a wrong cause, to
Clinton book hails Obama’s crisis management ormer president Bill Clinton has just published his book 'Back to Work', which analyses the nation's moment of crisis and suggests ways to create jobs and stimulate competitiveness in clear support for the strategies proposed by current President Barack Obama. With this book Obama, who faces voter disillusion and a knock-down, drag-out fight in Congress over his jobs plan, receives the support of fellow Democrat Bill Clinton who at the same time criticizes his mistakes. 'Back to Work' is published by Knopf. During a sumptuous private party last month celebrating his 65th birthday, Clinton said he intends to help Obama but that, in his opinion, 'he seems to have lost his narrative'. According to the The New York Times, the book 'marks a new and somewhat warmer stage in the two men's rivalry and relationship', since Obama defeated Bill Clinton's wife Hillary, now secretary of state, in the 2008 Democratic primaries. Citing White House advisors, NYT said that Obama and Clinton have not had a 'heart-to-heart talk' about the 'ill will' between them since the 2008 campaign, though these days they do have 'brief but positive meetings and shared beliefs'. Nonetheless, the Obamas still have not invited the Clintons over for dinner at the White House. According to previous press articles, Clinton's book analyses the econom-
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ic situation and generally praises the measures adopted by the Obama administration to ease the effects of the crisis, though the former president does criticize what he considers mistakes by the current resident of the White House. One of them, Clinton says, was that he never raised the national debt ceiling in the brief legislative session of 2010 before Democrats lost control of the House of Representatives and the matter that became bogged down this year by the Republicans' unyielding attitude. In 2010, Democrats lost control of the lower house and saw their Senate majority slashed, something that now stands in the way of getting a number of White House priorities passed. From their minority position, Senate Republicans have managed to block Obama's $447-billion jobs plan, forcing the White House to try and get some of it approved, piece by piece. But the Republicans have also twice blocked separate elements. Though Clinton's book is an effort to strengthen his legacy as president, it also attempts to aid the current president and his party with a view to the 2012 elections, when Obama will seek a second term. According to observers, Clinton has a well-demonstrated talent for 'economic storytelling and attracting white working-class voters', a segment of the electorate that Obama needs in order to be re-elected next year.
oppose the American Union and to retain slavery. According to Rajmohan Gandhi, a number of residents in Bombay were closely watching the development of the US Civil War while some even sent monetary help for the unionist fighters. The author said that Mahatma Gandhi, after his arrival in India from South Africa, extensively read about 1857 revolt before devising strategies for the non-violent revolt against the British. Vijay Nambiar, Assistant Secretary in the office of UN Secretary General, introduced the author as a courageous person who provided
unique perspective on two great events of the 19th century in his book. “In doing so the author never lost sight of his tradition and lineage despite compelling changes in our times”, commented Nambiar. In turn, Prof. Gandhi complimented Nambiar for his dedication to peace work at the UN and said that Nambiar was the custodian of the peace process taking place in the world through the good offices of the UN. Community leader Dr. Navin Mehta made a sharp remark over the Western approach to history. He made an emotional appeal to historians and researchers to investigate the stories of thousands of Indian workers who were deceived by the British into servitude at distant lands of Africa, Fiji and The Caribbean and were never allowed to return home. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s secretary Kenny Desai and its director Deepak Dave also addressed the gathering. The book launch was organized by the Bhavan in collaboration with TV Asia in Edison, NJ. TVAsia’s Chairman and Bhavan’s Acting Chairman HR Shah expressed his deep commitment to the Gandhian philosophy and said that both Bhavan and TV Asia were engaged in promoting the values and traditions of India in the United States.
26
Health
November 19-25, 2011
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Sugared beverages raise heart, diabetes risks for women rinking two or more sugared beverages daily could not only bloat a woman’s waistline but also elevate the risk of heart disease and diabetes. Researchers compared middleaged and older women who drank two or more sugared beverages such as carbonated sodas or flavored water with added sugar daily, to women who drank less. Women in the first group were nearly four times as likely to
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develop high triglycerides, and were plausible to increase their waist sizes and develop impaired fasting glucose levels. “Women who drank more than two sugar-sweetened drinks a day had increasing waist sizes, but weren’t necessarily gaining weight,” said Christina Shay, who led the study at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. “These women also developed high triglycerides, and women
Majority have trouble falling asleep
British study has found that over 50 percent of people have trouble falling asleep, which may prove quite detrimental for their health. Some 51 percent of adults struggle to nod off or remain asleep. Women suffer far more than men, with 75 percent reporting problems compared to 25 percent of men, the Daily Mail reports. Sleep expert Colin Espie, professor at the University of Glasgow and co-founder of the organization Sleepio, has collated interviews with 12,000 adults in Britain's largest study of sleep patterns. 'Insomnia affects people's quality of life during the day, not just their sleep at night. Living with poor sleep and its consequences is not only very common, but it is in all likelihood degrading Britain's health.'
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The survey found that 55 percent of adults reported relationship difficulties as a result, it affected the concentration of 77 percent, 64 percent said they were less productive at work, 83 percent had mood problems and 93 percent lacked energy. Espie said a quarter of those with insomnia suffered for more than 11 years. Another survey of 3,000 adults found that 70 percent of people believe they don't get enough sleep and 57 percent lie awake at night worried about work or money. The result is that one in 10 check work e-mails, six percent wake up their partner if they can't sleep, 26 percent listen to soothing music and 18 percent believe having sex helps. It also discovered that one in 10 adults go to bed with a teddy bear.
with normal blood glucose levels more frequently went from having a low risk to a high risk of developing diabetes over time,” added Shay, an Oklahoma statement said. The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) included food frequency surveys in 4,166 African-American, Caucasian, Chinese-Americans and Hispanic adults from 45 to 84 years old. According to the study, the participants did not have car-
diovascular disease in the beginning. These findings were presented
at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions this year.
Dental cleanings reduce heart attack risk eople who have their teeth scraped and cleaned had lowered their heart attack and stroke risk by 24 and 13 per cent respectively, compared to those who never had a dental cleaning. These findings are based on a Taiwanese study of a database of more than 100,000 people who underwent dental cleaning and were followed for an average of seven years. Scientists considered tooth scaling frequent if it occurred at least twice or more in two years; occasional tooth scaling was once or less in two years. "Protection from heart disease and stroke was more pronounced in participants who got tooth scaling at least once a year," said Emily (ZuYin) Chen, cardiology fellow at the Veterans General Hospital in Taipei, Taiwan, who co-authored the study.
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Professional tooth scaling appears to reduce inflammation-causing bacterial growth that can lead to heart disease or stroke, she said, according to a Veterans Hospital statement. The study included more than 51,000 adults who had received at least one full or partial tooth scaling and a similar number of people matched with gender and health conditions who had no tooth scaling. None of the participants had a history of heart attack or stroke at the beginning of the study, under the
Taiwan National Health insurance data base, the source of the information used in the analysis. In a separate study, researchers found a big difference in heart and stroke risk based on the number of remaining teeth. Anders Holmlund, Centre for Research and Development of the County Council of Gavleborg, Sweden, and senior consultant (specialized dentistry) studied 7,999 participants with periodontal (gum) disease and found people with fewer than 21 teeth had a 69 per cent increased risk of heart attack compared to those with the most teeth. A higher number of deepened periodontal pockets (infection of the gum around the base of the tooth) had a 53 per cent increased risk of heart attack compared to those with the fewest pockets.
Urine test can predict fatal condition in pregnant women simple urine test during mid-pregnancy could tell which women will suffer from preeclampsia, a potentially fatal complication. The key problem so far has been separating which women only have high blood pressure (BP) and which have pre-eclampsia related high BP. Researchers found certain kidney cells are shed into the urine in women with high BP who develop pre-eclampsia but not in others, the Telegraph reports. Vesna Garovic and colleagues from Mayo Clinic, US, tested 315 women. In the group, 15 developed pre-eclampsia and 15 developed high BP but not preeclampsia. 'Studies of the associations of hypertensive pregnancy disorders with maternal risks for future cardiovascular disease could lead to new guidelines for screening and treatment of women at risk with the
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ultimate goal of improving cardiovascular health in women,' Garovic said. None of the women with normal pregnancies tested positive for the kidney cells, showing the test is highly accurate. In a related study, the same team investigated the long-term effects of high BP in pregnancy on the women. More than 6,000 women who had babies in the 1970s and 1980s were followed up. It was found that after 40 years, women who had suffered high BP in pregnancy were more likely to continue to have high BP but also to develop kidney disease and strokes. Half of women who had high BP in pregnancy still had the condition at the age of 40, compared with less than a third of those with healthy pregnancies. The findings were presented as part of the American Society of Nephrology's Annual Kidney Week.
Lifestyle TheSouthAsianTimes.info
27
November 19-25, 2011
Young man, older woman: Relationship rules changing New Delhi: The urban relationship manual is gradually changing a few rules in India. Age is no longer a barrier in relationships in an era of instant chemistry, gender empowerment and lifestyle insecurities. For a growing number of young men and older women in India, age ceases to play an important part in relationships. India too is seeing its share of what in the West are called cougar women with the tribe of smart women entrepreneurs on the rise - and in relationship mode. Jayeeta Ghosh, a senior scribe at a leading newspaper in Kolkata, married her former student, eight years her junior after a torrid courtship during a stint in Mumbai. 'It was nostalgia...I was out of home and one day I came across
The Western trend has caught up in India too my (present) husband, a sailor, at a party. We reconnected as friends...I told him not to call me ma'am. The
Cooked - not raw - food provides more energy Washington: Contrary to popular belief, cooked food provides more energy than its raw version, which is particularly true of meat. The finding suggests humans are biologically adapted to benefit from cooking, which played a key role in driving our evolution from an ape-like being into one that resembles humans today. 'It is astonishing that we don't understand the fundamental properties of the food we eat,' said Rachel Carmody, evolutionary biologist at Harvard's Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reports. 'All the effort we put into cooking food and presenting it - mashing it up, or cutting it, or slicing or pounding it - we don't understand what effect that has on the energy we extract from food, and energy is the primary reason we eat in the first place,' added Carmody, according to a Harvard statement. To examine those effects, Carmody designed a
unique experimental model. Over 40 days, she fed two groups of mice a series of diets that consisted of either meat or sweet potatoes prepared in four ways - raw and whole, raw and pounded, cooked and whole, and cooked and pounded. Over the course of each diet, researchers tracked changes in each mouse's body mass, as well as how much they used in an exercise wheel. The results, Carmody said, clearly showed that cooked meat delivered more energy to the mice than raw. Though early humans were eating meat as early as 2.5 million years ago, without the ability to control fire, any meat in their diet was raw, and probably pounded using primitive stone tools.
fact that I taught, both in college and outside at a private coaching institute, fell aside as we caught up.
whether you meet them face-to-face or see their online presence. "Seeing a profile on a social networking site will only tell you so much about a person so it's easy to jump to conclusions, especially if an individual has outlandish pictures or expresses particular strong views online." Images which may have negative connotations included the pictures where the subject is seen holding an alcoholic drink or if they are drunk, photos of them in passionate clinches with their other half, the report found. The study found a shot taken of oneself is seen as positive just as a
Kolkata and connected to my brother's friend again. He was older, divorced and ready to settle down again,' Sen recalls. A former director of the Fertiliser Corporation of India, now a technical consultant, recalls how as a trainee he ran away with his girlfriend 10 years his senior. 'We eloped and married in a temple. Rejection of the relationship by the family kept us together...and when she passed away a few years ago, after five decades of companionship, I felt like a wasteland,' the former government official, who lives alone surrounded by memories of his 'girlfriend' in Bihar says. A study by Cosmo says nearly 30 percent men (in the dating category) would be willing to date.
Cambridge U students clueless about unsafe sex? London: A survey by Cambridge University's student newspaper has made the shocking revelation that show half of the students having had unprotected sex. Of the 309 students surveyed at Cambridge University half admitted to having unprotected sex. While the same number said they believed there was no risk of pregnancy when a women is menstruating and ten percent said they believed wearing two condoms could reduce the risk of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), the Daily Mail reported. Despite revealing a lack of proper knowledge - 92
percent of those questioned before the survey said that they felt very or quite confident about sexual health and contraception. The survey's findings published in the university's newspaper could also throw light upon the substantial increase in diagnoses of sexually transmitted diseases over the past decade. Sir Nick Partridge, from HIV and AIDS charity, Terrence Higgins Trust, described the findings as staggering. 'Until we improve sex education and give extra support to young people, they will continue to take avoidable risks with their sex lives,' he said.
House buying could lead to premature ageing London: Stress of buying or selling one's home could be taking a heavy toll on our health and prematurely ageing us as well, a study has suggested. Psychologists found over twothirds of people quizzed for the study saying that the strain of moving made them feel and look older by as much as two years, the Daily Express reported. Common side-effects include hair loss (10 percent), short-term memory failure (14 percent) and diminished sex drive (19 percent), with the process ageing anxious
buyers and sellers by 25 months over the average 15-week housebuying period. According to research by online conveyancing service In-Deed,
among the most stressed the 'ageing effect' can increase to nearly four years (47 months). Psychologist Glenn Wilson said: 'Periods of prolonged stress and anxiety - such as when buying or selling a home - can seriously take their toll on our well-being, with depression, weight loss and even premature ageing a likely outcome.' The main strains, however, include worries about mortgage approvals (38 percent), inept lawyers (31 percent) and bad solicitors (11 percent).
Italian hairstylist Ferretti opens salon in Delhi
FB profile pics could be keeping nice friends away London: Your semi-clad photos on social networking sites like Facebook could be one of the things which might be preventing many individuals from becoming your online friends. According to new research, online profiles featuring over the top poses, bikini shots or pictures of cars immediately spark a negative opinion on strangers, the Daily Mail reported. Online reputation management firm Reputation 24/7, which carried out the study, said: "Managing your online reputation is just as vital for people as it is for brands." "It's difficult not to judge someone
It was almost like coming home,' the 41-year-old journalist recalls. They married two years later in Mumbai. For Arpita Sen, tying the knot with a younger man was a karmic love story. A former student of Kolkata's Loreto House, Sen met her first 'boyfriend', five years her junior, while in high school. 'He was a child...my younger brother's pal. We played together. We met years later when I was in the final years of my college. He had matured. And somehow there was chemistry. We ended in a physical relationship,' Sen says walking down memory lane. The 38-year-old Sen later married a colleague in California. 'But it fell apart...I came back to
Pictures with babies are good for one’s online image wedding picture. Pictures of children or shots taken on a beach are also good for one's image. Even a smile was hailed as being important.
New Delhi: After opening his maiden Indian salon in Mumbai in 2009, Italian hairstylist Rossano Ferretti has now arrived in the capital, with an aim of breaking myths about hairstyling. "Women in India primarily believe long is beautiful. This is not true. A lot depends on the texture, styling and how the style compliments your face. So, I want to break these myths and tell people great hair doesn't mean long hair," Ferretti said at the launch of the salon Saturday. Ferretti, along with hair care brand Kerastase, has opened the salon at the Oberoi Hotel in
Gurgaon. Ferretti has 20 salons worldwide from New York and Miami to Paris and Milan. The highlight of the Gurgaon salon is that clients will get personal attention of a hair-expert who will discuss in detail hair issues, problems and the kind of hair-cut one wants to opt for. "I have always felt that interacting with your client on one-on-one basis helps a lot in understanding what he or she wants. You try to understand the person and his needs and then you cut his hair," said Ferretti, who charges a whopping $1,000 for a hair-cut in Manhattan.
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Humor
November 19-25, 2011
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Humor with Melvin Durai
"The amazing 72-day celebrity marriage" hen my wife told me that reality TV star Kim Kardashian and her husband, National Basketball Association player Kris Humphries, were getting a divorce after 72 days of marriage, I was pretty impressed. "Wow, their marriage lasted two and a half months!" I didn't realize they had been married that long. Two and a half months! I haven't checked the Guinness Book but I'm pretty certain that's a record for a celebrity marriage involving a man who enjoys playing basketball and a woman who enjoys playing the field. You have to give them credit. A celebrity marriage doesn't last that long without the couple trying really hard to work things out. After the first month, they must have gone to marriage counseling, and after the second, they must have gone to Dr. Phil. Dr. Phil: "Kim, you say you have some major differences with Kris. What seems to be the biggest difference between you?" Kim: "I'd say height. He's much taller than me." Dr. Phil: "No, I mean the type of differences that are causing problems in your marriage." Kim: "I'd say ratings. He didn't do much for the ratings of my reality shows." Dr. Phil: "You're thinking of
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divorcing your husband because he didn't improve the ratings of your TV shows? Forgive me for being blunt but are you NUTS?" Kim (standing up to leave): "That's it. I'm outta here. I knew this wouldn't help." Dr. Phil: "Hey, come back here. You can't leave so soon. What about MY ratings?" Kris: "That's all right, Dr. Phil. I'm still here. I've got nothing else to do. The NBA is locked out." Dr. Phil: "Oh, thank goodness. Tell me, Kris, when you and Kim tied the knot in that glitzy $10 million TV wedding in August, were you hoping your marriage would last forever?" Kris: "Well, I was hoping it
would last at least until Christmas." Dr. Phil: "But it has already lasted longer than most celebrity marriages. You've had a number of anniversaries. How did you celebrate them?" Kris: "Well, for our one-week anniversary, we went to Las Vegas; for our two-week anniversary, we went to Hawaii; and for our threeweek anniversary, we watched 'Kim's Fairytale Wedding' on E! network again and counted all the money we made from it." Dr. Phil: "How romantic! What about your other anniversaries?" Kris: "Well, we started taking each other for granted after that. I forgot all about our four-week anniversary and she made me watch 10 episodes of 'Kim and Kourtney Take New York.' We had a big fight on our five-week anniversary because she wanted the cameras to follow us around and I shut the door whenever I peed. The six-week anniversary was great because E! network had a special about it and my friends kept asking, 'What's the secret? How did you make it last so long?' And I had to tell them about the 'C' word." Dr. Phil: "Commitment?" Kris: "No, cash. The reality show producers were paying us to stay together. We couldn't let the marriage end too soon. Besides, when you have cameras following you
around, you have to try to make things work. Otherwise you'd look really stupid." Dr. Phil: "That's true. Whatever happens now, you definitely won't look stupid. Tell me, Kris, what do you think it was that attracted Kim to you?" Kris: "Well, she likes athletes and I'm ... uh ... always around them. She also liked my name. It's the same as her mother's and it begins
with 'K.' She told me that she'd like to have a reality show called 'Kim and Kris: One Kardashian, Two Kaucasians.' But that was before she realized that 'Caucasian' doesn't begin with a 'K.'" Dr. Phil: "What advice do you have for other celebrities?" Kris: "My only advice is this: If you have to marry a Kardashian, marry one who doesn't have a reality show."
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 Cash or card? Now, app to shoppers’ aid Video games make you insensitive: Study Toronto: Ready to ditch your wallet, cash and credit cards? A mobile payment app lets users make purchases with their smartphone without taking the device out of their pocket or purse. Developed by electronic payment startup Square, the app called Card Case allows customers to pay for products and services at local merchants automatically by simply providing their name to complete the transaction. "You walk in, say your name, and walk out. It's a seamless payment experience ," said Megan Quinn, director of products for Square. The app automatically opens a tab when it detects that a customer is within 100 meters of a business, as long as they've enabled the
functionality in the app and approved the business. The user's arrival, along with their name and photo, is announced on the merchant's app giving them the ability to charge products and services to the customer's credit card. "You can pay without ever reaching for your purse, taking out your wallet, or even your phone," said Quinn. "It requires no new or unusual customer behavior - you don't have to wave your phone, or preload money." Over 20,000 merchants have signed up for the app across the US in eight weeks, including coffee shops, bakers, barbers and even farmers market stalls.
New York: Video games make you insensitive and kill core human values such as warmth, open-mindedness and intelligence, claims new research that says people identify with the aggression they perpetuated in the virtual environment. Brock Bastian from the University of Queensland School of Psychology and coauthors looked at whether the experience of cyber violence had dehumanizing consequences for players and their opponents. Given his findings, it was not surprising that many people were concerned about the effects of playing violent video games, such as Mortal Kombat, especially regarding our behavior, emotions and cognition, the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology reports.
"There are good reasons to be concerned: the negative effects of violent video games have been well documented and appear to be more significant than those associated with other forms of violent media," Bastian said, according to a statement from the university. One reason violence within video games was more powerful than other forms of fierce media was that people identified with, and to some extent felt responsible for, the violence they perpetuated within virtual environments, Bastian explained. The second part of the study had participants playing each game in collaboration with a coplayer, such that both players were playing together against computer-generated avatars
Astrology TheSouthAsianTimes.info
November 19-25, 2011
By Dr Prem Kumar Sharma Stars Foretell: November 19-25, 2011 Aries: Interference in others work will not help in any way, it will only bring you criticism. You need to check your financial position and control your excessive spending. Although you have a good chance to bring your creative ideas to use, your colleagues and coworkers are not likely to extend much support. You could have a hard time convincing people who will be slow to catch on your plans. Contribute generously to social organizations. Taurus: This week spend time with family members and friends. It promises to be a special week, when loved ones bring you gifts and presents. You will find yourself bubbling with loads of energy and your intuition will be helpful in making crucial decisions. You will definitely pick up valuable suggestion if you listen properly. Love and romance will dominate your week as you go out of the way to please your beloved. Gemini: This week you will feel somewhat let down by people you trust. Don’t allow people to take undue advantage of you. Be patient, not stubborn and control your emotions. Take time to think before you speak. Meditation and yoga will bring you spiritual as well physical benefits. A small pleasure jaunt towards the weekend will be good for lifting your spirits. Financial gains will be slow but certain. Cancer: This week your profile will be positive and you will work on projects, which would have tremendous effect on your life. Your artistic abilities and hard work will bring you recognition and fame, but make sure that you don't compromise on your principles in the process of glamour and finances that seem to come your way. Attending social functions will ensure you meet someone who will help you come closer to your goals. Leo: This week you will benefit from your leadership strength. You would take charge of important work and gain additional respect from people in your group. Your ability to negotiate important deals, make plans, and carry them to perfection will help you stay ahead of others. Elders and family members provide you with necessary love and care. You will also find sufficient time with the one you love, so don’t shy away from expressing your true feelings. Virgo: This week be extra cautious how you deal with your colleagues and employers. Although you will be in a special position to express your ideas, too much interference in the affairs of others will only bring unnecessary tensions. Relatives and friends will make demand, which you will find difficult to keep. Real estate investment will pay off well in the long run. Spiritual gains likely for some. Libra: If you have a new idea, which you feel could bring you major recognition and monetary gains, then you should put your sincere efforts to convert it into concrete form. You will win support from family members and friends on your new project. If you are planning to travel abroad during this week, then this trip will be a major success. You will find members of the opposite sex very appealing, but try not to annoy someone you really care.
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Scorpio: New projects will be alluring and hard hour will ensure outstanding gains in the long run. You'll attract more respect and honor from people young as well as old. Financial gains are also certain, but if you have been ignoring your health lately, then you will feel tired, weak and might require some medication. Extra rest, proper diet and little exercise will be important to regain your strength and spirits. Although a favorable period but don’t be afraid to speak in your defense if you feel others are trying to suppress you or ignore your opinion. Sagittarius: This week some memories or unresolved issues come to the surface, bringing you lot of tension and stress. If you thought you had these problems resolved for good, then you will be surprised that they appear once again. Frustration will engulf you. Unless you deal with these problems with proper advice and some help, you will find it extremely difficult to resolve this issue and concentrate on other work. Message from overseas will bring happiness. Capricorn: There will be many social activities this week, including few family gathering where you will get to spend some special moments with people you haven’t seen for a long time. You will be the center of attention, and you should not waste these opportunities to revive lost contacts. At office your efforts will bring desired results. You will accomplish jobs at a speed that usually seems impossible. New job opportunities for some seem later in the week. Aquarius: This week you should set new goals for yourself. You will have a vision and determination, which will bring you, gains much beyond your expectations. Elders will join you in your efforts and provide support whenever needed. Sudden romantic encounter with someone you have secretly admired will make your head spin. A wonderful week to spend with children, friends and relatives. Look for something to do together towards the weekend. Pisces: This week it doesn’t matter if you are the guest or the host because you will be at the center of attention. Your observation and creativity will help you meet new and fascinating people, bringing you new opportunities. Unusual circumstances will involve legal matters and prove financially expensive. You might also need to seek favours from an influential person to sort the issue. Later in the week, a spiritual person gives blessings and good wishes.
Before you consult... i) Accurate Data: Please make sure Date, Time and Place of birth is accurate. ii) Careful: Did you check background of the astrologer before disclosing your secrets. iii) Fee: Discuss the charges before, don’t feel shy. It’s his business. iv) Expectation: Expect the best, if the outcome is not as desired, never give up. v) Consult: Take second opinion before spending thousands on cure/remedies.
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 November 19 You are dominated by the number 1 and the Sun. The planet Moon, also has a strong influence on you. Happiness, prosperity and fame, is what most of you can expect in the coming year. Your methodical approach to work, coupled with your sincerity, will take you to newer heights in your professional career. You will be able to go to the depth of any project that you undertake. Your quest for knowledge and research, will help you immensely in your field of work. But, sometimes you tend to get a little restless and this results in your taking hasty decisions. Weigh the pros and cons, before taking any important decision. Hasty actions, will not only result in wrong decisions, but will also lead to unpleasantness with colleagues and friends. Your warmth nature, will make friends around you, confide in you, and look towards you for help, when they are in distress. July, September and January will be significant. November 20 You are dominated by the planet Moon. You are also governed by the number 2. Your warm nature and your helpful attitude, draws people towards you. You will have a large circle of friends around you, in the coming year. For those of you, who are going to be married, can expect to achieve success and prosperity in their married life. Those of you, who are in the field of journalism or teaching, can expect to reach newer heights of excellence, in the year ahead of you. For most of you, proximity to a water body, will bring you prosperity. You should, therefore opt for a posting near a river or a seaside. Most of you will be associated with charitable institutions, and you will be spending a lot of your spare time, in doing social work. July, November and February will prove highly significant. November 21 You are governed by the number 3 and by the planet Jupiter. You are also influenced by the Moon. You are courageous by nature and are not afraid to overcome any obstacle which may come your way. The coming year, will see you achieve honour and fame, in your professional front. You will have to do a lot of traveling, both for work and for pleasure. Self respect and happiness, is what you can achieve from the year, ahead of you. Your kind hearted nature, and your generosity, will draw friends towards you. You will always have a circle of friends who will find solace and peace in your company. But you will not tolerate too much interference in your life. You like privacy and will go all out to maintain it at any cost. You tend to become suspicious at times. This may result in a rift with your friends and loved ones. June, September, December and March will be eventful. November 22 You are governed by the number 4 and the planet Uranus. You are also influenced by the Moon. Those of you in your 40th year and above, should expect to reach the height of your professional career, in the year ahead of you. Most of you will be lucky in money as well as love matters. You will benefit by your friendship with the opposite sex. Some of you may get into a special relationship which may turn out to be everlasting. Your domestic front, will be peaceful and full of harmony. You like to avoid disputes and keep those around you happy. Your introvert nature will not allow you to
express your sentiments and because of this, you will have limited friends around you. You do not like to mingle easily with all persons. The months of June, July, October and January to be highly eventful. November 23 You re governed by the number 5 and the planet Mercury. You are also dominated by the Moon. You have a fascination for anything that moves fast. You like your projects and plans to move in double quick time. You will be able to achieve success and that too in a short time, in the year ahead of you. Honour, fame and recognition, will be yours in the coming year. Financially too, it will be a good year. Some of you can expect to inherit property from your ancestors. Those of you in the field of writing, or teaching, can expect it to be an exceptionally good year. Your extensive vocabulary and communication skills, will take you to greater heights of success. Because of your devotion and loyalty, you will be able to gather many admirers and friends around you. You will be the centre of attraction at social gatherings. The months of May, July, September and December will be important. November 24 You are governed by the planet Venus and dominated by the Moon. You are also influenced by the number 6. You are full of confidence and do not underestimate you capabilities. In the coming year, you will try to impose your ideas on others. This may not be liked by your colleagues, who tend to drift away. You will achieve success in your pursuit of knowledge. Gaining an imparting knowledge to others, is what you enjoy doing. You will spend a lot of time in collecting donations for charitable institutions. Your warmth nature draws you to those who need help. This gives you ultimate satisfaction. A word of advice for the coming year – keep away from speculation and gambling. Overindulgence in these may lead to losses. The months of June, August, January and February to be important and significant. November 25 You are governed by the number 7 and dominated by the planet Neptune. Moon also has an influence on you. You are faithful and honest by nature. You will go all out to fulfill your duties towards your friends and family, in the year ahead of you. You will be able to pursue many subjects, rather than confine yourself to any one. Your honesty and loyalty, towards your work, will impress your seniors. Those of you, in the teaching line, will do well, professionally. Your sharp memory and intelligence, will be your assets. But, sometimes you tend to get fickle minded and inconsistent in your attitude. This could reflect on your work. The months of August, November, March and Nov will prove to be highly significant.
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Spiritual Awareness
November 19-25, 2011
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Give thanks by giving First of a three part discourse on the occasion of Thanksgiving
By Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj hanksgiving is a special day in the United States devoted to giving thanks. It began with the newly arrived people from Europe who landed in America and gave thanks to the Native Americans for their help. Over time, Thanksgiving has come to symbolize giving thanks for anything in our lives for which we are grateful. Oftentimes, when we give thanks, it is because we received something from someone else. We may have received something from our family, our friends, our teachers, our community, or our country. We also may give thanks to God for the many gifts we received. For those who follow a particular religious belief, we may give thanks to the founder of that religion. For those who have a spiritual Master, we may give thanks for the spiritual treasures we received. Yet, most of these forms of thanks are for what we have received. There is another way to show appreciation and that is not only by thanking others, but by giving of ourselves. When we give thanks, it is mostly for what we have taken or received. If we really want to show appreciation for what we have received, we can express it by giving to others. It is a way of passing on the goodness of what we have received to others. In this way, we are not only takers, but we also become givers. Others in need become recipients of our gifts. Saints and Masters are shining examples of being givers. They want nothing for themselves from their disciples. They have everything they need. They are one with God, the source of all bliss and love. When we have love and joy, what else can compare to that? It is only we who have forgotten that innate love and joy who try to find it in the material wealth and playthings of the world. To illustrate this, there is an anecdote about a saintly man. He was devoted to God and spent a great amount of time in both prayer and
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service to his fellow human beings. He was generous to those in need and spent a lot of time doing charitable work. As a result of his generosity, he was often in financial difficulties. His wife complained all the time about how he spent all their money helping others. One day, a poor man came to his house. The saintly man invited him in and listened to his long tale of sorrow. The man badly needed money to help his family. The saintly man was moved and wanted to help the poor man. The saintly man went to his lock box to see if he could give the man any money, but saw that he had used up his financial resources. His heart was so touched by the poor man’s story that he could not bear to send the man away empty-handed. When his wife was in the kitchen preparing a meal, the saintly man crept into her room and found her jewelry box. He saw that she had a ring with a small diamond in it. He took the ring and brought it out to the poor man. The saintly man said to him, “I
The saintly man was stuck now, because his wife was expecting him to get the ring back from the man. The saintly man had no choice but to run after the man who had accepted the ring from them. The saintly man raced out of the house to catch up to the poor man. Breathlessly, the saintly man, caught up to the man, took him by the arm and said, “I have to tell you something.” The poor man turned to him and said, “Yes, what is it?” The saintly man said, “My friend, I want you to know I made a big mistake.” The
earnings to be flimsy and impermanent. They know that worldly belongings will ultimately perish, and we will leave them at the time of death. To them, it does not matter whether they have material wealth or not. If they have it as a result of their hard work or circumstances in life, they are not attached to it. If they do not have it, they are content also. Some saints are in circumstances of wealth and some are in circumstances of simplicity— they accept the circumstances in which God places them. They are indifferent to their outer circum-
Spiritual wealth is available to all, regardless of outer circumstances in life. Our soul can soar through inner spiritual realms until it is united with God do not have any money at the moment as I have given it all away. But I do have this ring I bought my wife, and you can surely sell it to get enough to help your family.” The poor man was grateful. Tears came to his eyes. He thanked the saintly man and left with the ring. The wife, who was in the kitchen, had overheard parts of the conversation and did not make much of it because she could not believe her ears and thought she was hearing things. She thought she heard something about a ring, but could never imagine her husband would be giving away the ring he had bought her. But when she went to her room and saw her jewelry box lying open on the bed without the ring in it, she knew she had heard correctly. Her husband had, indeed, given away the ring to the poor man. She rushed out to the living room and began shouting at her husband for giving away the only valuable thing they had left—the ring. She implored her husband, “Please, run after the man, and get the ring back. Tell him you have made a mistake. Tell him that you accidentally gave him a gold ring with a real diamond in it.”
poor man asked, “What is the mistake?” The saintly man said, “The ring I gave you is solid gold and the diamond is genuine. Make sure, then, that when you sell it to a jeweler he gives you its true value and doe not cheat you.” This anecdote shows the extreme generosity of a saintly man. Instead of getting the ring back, he wanted to make sure the poor man got the fair value price for the jewelry. This story shows that saints care more about helping others than for their own material belongings. It is difficult for those living with a saint to understand this quality. Throughout history, they had to stand by while the saint dispensed grace and mercy to one and all. In this case, the wife had to share the gift she received from her husband with someone who was so needy he had nowhere else to turn. It is common to see saints sacrifice their own selves and their own needs for the needs of others. Sometimes the saint gives them straight out money. Sometimes they pay their bills for them. At other times, they help them with medical care. Sometimes they provide help for their children. Saints and Masters can do all this because they consider material
stance, because they know they are here to distribute spiritual wealth. Spiritual wealth is available to all, regardless of outer circumstances in life. Saints teach that we can gain that divine wealth through receiving a conscious contact with the holy Word or Naam that can lead us back to God through the help of a living Master. If we were to come in contact with such a Master, we would transcend physical body-consciousness to know there are spiritual realms beyond. Our soul can soar through inner spiritual realms until it is united with God. When we reunite our soul with God we will experience spiritual love which penetrates to our core. Then, we too would be overflowing with love and radiate that to others. We have seen cases of extreme generosity in the lives of the saints. We have seen them being generous with their money and time. They bring solace and help to the poor, the needy, and the downtrodden. They bring comfort and peace to all who come, whether rich or poor. We know from the lives of Sant Kirpal Singh Ji Maharaj and Sant Darshan Singh Ji Maharaj that they would use whatever they earned to help others.
If Sant Kirpal Singh Ji Maharaj found people who could not afford food and medicine he would purchase these from his own money even if he had to forego his own needs until his next paycheck. There is the story of how, as a young man in his twenties, he would visit the sick and needy in hospitals. Once, his own uncle was hospitalized with an illness, so he went to visit him to assist him with food and medicine. There, in the next bed, was an elderly man who had no family or friends to visit him. The man was weak and thin and had no blanket to cover him. Sant Kirpal Singh Ji asked him, “What can I do for you?” Suddenly, tears flowed from the eyes of the elderly man. The man replied, “It has been many years since somebody has asked me what he can do for me.” Sant Kirpal Singh Ji was moved and decided to help the man. He began taking care of both his uncle and this elderly man. He brought them milk and fruit and paid for their medicines. Those were days when there was no health insurance and families would have to provide their own food and medicine if they were in a hospital. Although Sant Kirpal Singh Ji was only making a meager salary of his own, he spent his own money on helping the sick. As a result, he himself had to live on dry bread and water. His uncle observed this strange behavior, because most people only take care of their own families, especially when they have no financial resources of their own. His uncle questioned him about the care he was taking for the elderly stranger despite his own lack of resources, by asking, “You are doing all you can for me because I am your uncle… but I see that this old man…with no means to reward your services, receives the same kind of treatment from you as I do.” Sant Kirpal Singh Ji beautifully replied, as is customary with all great saints, “Respected uncle, you are both alike to me. He has as much right on me and my services as you have. In fact, the entire creation has the same right on me. I have come to serve all.” (To be continued)
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.