US Affairs 11
Op Ed 19
Lifestyle 27
Spiritual Awareness 30
NEW YORK EDITION Vol.4 No.32 November 26-December 2, 2011 60 Cents Cyrus Mistry, new Tata head, has multi-faceted expertise
Bollywood heroine: From ‘Sati Savitri’ to ‘too sexy for you’
Thanksgiving spirit can help nation meet challenges: Obama Thanksgiving & Black Friday, Page 15
Bollywood, Page 16
Approval for Sharad Pawar slap on social media New Delhi: A resounding slap reverberated beyond the walls of the NDMC in New Delhi, as Union Minister for Agriculture Sharad Pawar faced the ire of a man named Harvinder Singh. The assailant unleashed his rage on the powerful politician venting his distress with runaway food price rise in the country as well as endemic corruption. Nicknamed the Pawar slap gate, it may have sparked condemnation by the political class but it has evoked nothing but scorn and sniggers from the virtual world. Soon after the incident on Thursday, the topic began trending on Twitter. Facebook was filled with sarcastic messages and video links about the incident. One FB status message read, “Pawar got slapped. Give that Sardarji a medal already!” An
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Powerful politician Sharad Pawar was slapped by an ordinary man, symbolic of Indians' anger against unabated corruption and iniquities. enthusiastic netizen even went to the extent of juxtaposing the hugely popular Kolaveri song audio with the looped visuals of the senior politician getting whacked on the face. Continued on page 4...
Amid opposition, India declares retail sector open to FDI New Delhi: Indian government Friday formally announced its decision to allow foreign equity in multi-brand retail industry despite strong protests by the opposition parties. The move would allow foreign retailers like Wal-Mart and Tesco to open stores in the country. Now 51 percent foreign equity in multi-brand retail and 100 percent in singlebrand format will be allowed, Commerce Minister Anand Sharma conveyed the decision taken by the cabinet Thanksgiving Thursday, presided over by Prime Minister Manmohan
Zee chief Subhash Chandra bestowed International Emmy Award New York: Subhash Chandra, the Founder of Zee Group, received the 2011 International Emmy Directorate Award on November 21 at a glittering event in New York Hilton in Manhattan, becoming the first Indian ever to be bestowed the prestigious honor. “Subhash Chandra is a one of a kind visionary - a self-made entrepreneur who made his mark on the Indian television industry by launching the first privately-owned channel in India,” said Bruce Paisner, President & CEO of the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, noting that Zee group was preparing to celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2012.
Zee Group Chairman Subhash Chandra giving his acceptance speech at the 39th International Emmy Awards held at the New York Hilton. (Photo by Chip East/PSG)
Dabboo Ratnani: Celebrating the celebrities’ photographer Photography, Page 18
Chandra said in his acceptance speech, “India is the cynosure of the world today and it’s a great privilege to be the first Indian recipient of this award. It really means a lot to me, Zee Group and the Indian media and entertainment Industry.” He added, “While there have been many representations from India in the areas of technology and retail, this puts India’s media industry on the map and raises the profile of India with regards to its media and content.” He expressed similar sentiments at a standing room only reception Nov 18 in his honor at the Indian Consulate in New York, where he Continued on page 4...
A Best Price Modern Wholesale store, a joint venture of Wal-Mart Stores and Bharti Enterprises, in Amritsar. Singh. Sharma said the decision followed a year-long debate and consultations with all
stakeholders in the most transparent and democratic manner. Continued on page 4...
Customers flock to T-Mobile stores as AT&T merger falls New York: Customers are again flocking to TMobile stores. Their confidence is back, thanks to the Thanksgiving Day announcement by AT&T that it is withdrawing its T-Mobile merger plan from Federal C o m m u n i c a t i o n s A T-Mobile store in Hicksville was crowded Commission (FCC). on Friday. General public believed that the merger would firmed that he liked T-Mobile servraise the price of T-Mobile service. ice but was reluctant to become a Visiting a T-Mobile store, subscriber because of the fear that SATimes spoke to some buyers a takeover by AT&T would push inside. They were bowled over by up the subscription fee. the great deals. One customer conContinued on page 4...
Tristate Community TheSouthAsianTimes.info
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November 26-December 2, 2011
Indo-American engineers and architects flex muscle at annual day By Ashok Ojha/SATimes New York: The Society of Indo American Engineers and Architects (SIAEA), formed 30 years ago to fight against discrimination and today a premier organization, displayed its unity and strength at its 31st anniversary gala where over 800 members and their families enjoyed a fun-filled evening. Public officials of New York State praised the professionalism and creativity of engineers and architects of Indian origin at the dinner event held at Grand Hyatt Hotel in Manhattan Nov 19. Complimenting SIAEA for its contribution in development projects, New York Senator Ruth HassellThompson said that the cultural backdrop of Indian American professionals was an asset that offers a unique perspective to the work carried out by them. She referred to the legislation ensuring equal share for minority and women entrepreneurs and called upon the Society members to take advantage of available oppor-
SIAEA President Nayan Parikh (fourth from left) with New York Senator Ruth Hassell-Thompson, Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, Ambassador Prabhu Dayal, Gala Chairman Kenny Desai, and President-elect Mihir Patel. (Photos by Gunjesh Desai). tunities in the field of investment and dia and the US closer. Michael Horodniceanu, president, construction. New York State Comptroller MTA Capital Construction, pointed Thomas DiNapoli praised Indian out that 40% engineers engaged in American professionals for making MTA projects could trace their roots remarkable contributions in improv- to India. ing the financial health of the state. SIAEA President Nayan Parikh Consul General of India, Ambassa- gave credit for SIAEA’s success and dor Prabhu Dayal highlighted influence to its members’ enterprisSIAEA’s contribution in bringing In- ing spirit. “We are moving forward to
Bansi Shah, President, KG Industries, being honored by Consul General Prabhu Dayal. expand our activities in the US. Very soon we will launch SIAEA’s new chapters in Philadelphia, Washington DC and Boston”, he added. The Society honored eight professionals at the event: Anil Parikh, Deputy Program Executive, MTACC; Hiten Patel, President, Collebera; Atul Shah, President, ANS Consultants; Bhavna Raval, Di-
rector-Engineering Audit Office, NYC DCAS/DFMO; Ashok Patel, President, Judlau Companies; Bansi Shah, President, KG Industries; Dave Goswami, CEO, Integrated Project Services; Viren Brahmbhatt, Principal, De.Sign; and Husam Ahmad, President, HAKS. Alpesh Patel, President, Voltamp Electrical Contractors, was honored as ‘Young Achiever under 40’. Bansi Shah remarked about getting honored by SIAEA, "My wife Kalpana Patel has made great contribution in my achievements. Her unconditional love and inspiration is my strength. I am also thankful to my committee members for their devotion and hard work." The Society also selected 10 students for awarding them $2,000 scholarships each. Gala Chair Kenny Desai and the Society’s President-Elect Mihir Patel also spoke on the occasion. The event concluded with performances by Bhangra Group of Columbia University and a lavish spread of Indian cuisine.
Plot to assassinate Trinidad PM uncovered Port-of-Spain: Trinidad & Tobago's prime minister said Thursday that police have uncovered an apparent plot to assassinate her and members of her government in the southern Caribbean country. At a press conference in Trinidad's capital, Kamla Persad-Bissessar gave no specifics of the alleged plot, but indicated that it was a response by criminal groups to her government's ongoing state of emergency to tackle crime and dismantle gangs. "The criminals are hurting in their pockets and so I am not surprised such elements would seek to make good on their threats of reprisals," PersadBissessar told reporters in Port-of-Spain.
Police Commissioner Dwayne Gibbs also declined to provide any details regarding the alleged plot. But he said about a dozen people have been detained. Their identities were not released. "It would be imprudent to provide further details as we are engaged in looking at the threats," Gibbs said. Earlier this month, Persad-Bissessar's government lifted a nearly three-month curfew that had helped stem a surging homicide rate but disgruntled many in a Caribbean country known for its party culture and carnival celebrations. At the time, Persad-Bissessar said the state of emergency, which allows police to search proper-
Chandan Preeni Kaur, 23 year old New Yorker was declared Miss India USA 2011 at a beauty pageant held in New Jersey Nov 20. To her right is Natasha Arora, the outgoing Miss India USA. First runner up Aasieya and 2nd runner up Sonam are also seen. (Photo: Mohammed Jaffer-SnapsIndia/IANS)
ties without warrants, would remain in place and warned that limited curfews would be applied in some areas as needed. The emergency orders, which have helped dramatically reduce homicides, come up for review in December and the country is divided on whether it has been a success. On Thursday, the prime minister said the alleged assassination plot would not deter her government and the security forces from dismantling criminal gangs.Persad-Bissessar has been invited as the Chief Guest of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2012 in Jaipur, India.
Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Trinidad's prime minister
Prominent leaders of Plainview Gurdwara called on Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano to thank him for his continuous support to the community, and offered 500 free meals to needy people on Thanksgiving Day. Hon. Mangano promised to attend a community event at the Sikh temple in near future. Seen in the picture are: Amarjit Singh, head granthi at Plainview Gurdwara, Trustee IP Dhall, Chairman of Trust Board Surinder Singh Chawla, CE Nassau County Ed Mangano, Trustee Manjit Bawa, Trustee Inderpal Singh, Nassau County Business & Economic Development Director Kamlesh C Mehta and Herb Flores from the Office of Minority Affairs. (Photo by Michael Tamborrino)
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Community
November 26-December 2, 2011
Desperate US voters seek a third candidate Washington DC: The restless political middle class in America is staking out a controversial plan to insert itself into the 2012 election. A bipartisan group of political strategists and donors known as Americans Elect has raised $22 million and is likely to place a third presidential candidate on the ballot next year. The goal is to provide an alternative to President Obama and the GOP nominee and break the tradition of a Democrat-vs-Republican lineup, reported Washington Post. The effort could represent a promising new chapter for political moderates, who see a wide-open middle in the political landscape as congressional gridlock and bitter partisan fights have driven down favorability ratings for both parties. “Voters are saddened by the inability of people in Washington to deal with the issues that are important to them,” said the group's chief executive, Kahlil Byrd, a Republican strategist. The group is relying on an ambitious plan to hold an online political convention that would treat registered voters like fans of American Idol, giving everyone a shot at picking a favorite candidate. All of this has the potential to affect the 2012 election, said Nicco Mele, a political theorist. Americans Elect's online nomination process could be “potentially disruptive” to the presidential campaign, he said. Some longtime political hands worry that no credible candidate will want to be the first guinea pig in the effort. Others warn that the group could become an experiment in technology gone wrong.
Sharad Pawar Story Continued from page 1 Facebook also saw a surge in slap related activity after news reports claimed that one Bhagat Singh Kranti Sena has announced a cash reward of Rs 11,000 for the bold Sikh. Even as he was taken away by police, Harvinder Singh remained defiant. The turbaned Sikh unleashed a small kirpan as security guards tried to pin him down. "Sab chor hain... cheer doonga... cheer doonga (They are all thieves. I will rip them apart)," he shouted. On Friday he was sent to 14 days in judicial custody by a Patiala House court while supporters of Pawar demonstrated in the court complex and tried to assault Singh. Comments on social media are now canvassing for his release from custody. Even as Parliament condemned the assault, the slap has struck a chord with the youth. Engineer Aditya Raghavan recalls the footage he saw, “When he pulled out a dagger, it looked like a movie scene. I knew there was a lot of resentment against Pawar and it finally came out, and how.” He, however, agrees slapping a senior minister is not the smartest thing to do. Pilot Vinayak J agrees, “I relate to the assailant’s sentiments but does it really make a difference? This slap is not going to solve the problem of price rise. Knowing how thickskinned our politicians are, it’s just another slap.” Is slapping progress from shoe-throwing? people ask now. Earlier, P. Chidambaram, Naveen Jindal, LK Advani and Suresh Kalmadi all have had shoes thrown at them (an antecedent being shoe attack on former US President George W. Bush in Iraq). Sukhram, the former telecommunication minister facing corruption charges, was kicked in the court. Harvinder Singh had referred to Anna Hazare’s Lokpal crusade to combat corruption. When contacted
TheSouthAsianTimes.info by journalists, Hazare said: "He (Pawar) got slapped! Only one slap?" Hazare, however, later condemned the attack, saying there was no place for violence in a democracy. FDI Story Continued from page 1 "The minimum investment in multibrand retail will be $100 million. This is minimum, and not the maximum. Fifty percent will be in developing rural infrastructure and 30 percent of sourcing will be from small and medium enterprises," Sharma said. These mega stores will only be allowed in cities with a population of over one million. Out of the 8,000 towns and cities in India only 53 cities fall under this category, the minister said, adding the guidelines of the new policy will be notified next week. Even as the minister was explaining the finer points of the policy, stocks of domestic retailers were virtually on fire. Kishore Biyani-promoted Pantaloon soared 18.94 percent, while Vishal Retail jumped 19.89 percent and hit the circuit. Meanwhile, both houses of Parliament were adjourned for the day after protests led by the BJP and the Left Front. Sharma defended the government's decision and said foreign retail chains would bring much needed investment for efficient supply chain and backend infrastructure like cold storage which the country lacks, causing 4050 percent wastage of fruits and vegetables. India produces about 195 million tonnes of vegetables alone. The minister also said mega retail chains will procure products directly from farmers, giving them better remuneration for their produce as the number of intermediaries will come down drastically. Sharma also pointed out that millions of jobs will be created as more players came into the sector, with four million new vacancies expected to open up in the agri-processing seg-
ment and five million jobs in the logistics sector. As regards opposition from among the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) allies, Sharma said he had himself explained the advantages to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee after she expressed reservations on the issue. "The centre has the right to frame policies as the issue of foreign equity in retail is under the concurrent list of our Constitution. It is the states that finally have the right to allow or reject any proposal," said Sharma. T Mobile Stores Story Continued from page 1 Smaller and more nimble—and so more economical-- than the telecom behemoths Verizon and AT&T, TMobile has over the years garnered 34 million customers in the US with an annual revenue of $21.35 billion in 2010. AT&T’s $39 billion takeover of T-Mobile was announced in March this year. Both the FCC and the Department of Justice were opposed to the deal, which would reduce the number of national mobile carriers to three, Sprint being the third. AT&T and T-Mobile owner Deutsche Telekom have, however, said they would continue to pursue anti-trust approval for the merger from the Department of Justice. AT&T would
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Zee Chief Story Continued from page 1 was introduced by the Consul General, Ambassador Prabhu Dayal. Richard Parsons, Citigroup chairman and former chair and CEO of Time Warner, along with Emmy Award-winning actress Archie Panjabi (CBS Network’s critically acclaimed hit drama ‘The Good Wife’) presented the International Emmy to Chandra during the 39th International Emmy Awards Gala. The event was hosted by Jason Priestley, who was joined on stage by a cast of international celebrity presenters. The International Emmys recognize excellence in television programming produced outside the US. A thousand international entertainment decision-makers from over 50 countries attend the Awards Gala in New York every year. Owned by NYbased Asia TV USA Ltd, Zee TV is the highest-rated South Asian network in the US offering entertainment channels with TV and film programming. Beginning with its debut in the US in July 1998, Zee TV now operates across a variety of DTH, Telco and cable platforms and offers more than 2 million viewers in America.
Zee Group Chairman Subhash Chandra with Richard Parsons, Emmy Award-winning actress Archie Panjabi, and Bruce Paisner, President & CEO of The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences at the 39th International Emmy Awards. (Photo: Allison Joyce/PSG)
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Tristate Community TheSouthAsianTimes.info
November 26-December 2, 2011
Goldman president may be asked to depose against Rajat Gupta New York: Gary Cohn, president of Goldman Sachs could be asked to depose in the insider trading case against the bank’s former director Indian-American Rajat Gupta. The name of the president along with that of Goldman employee David Loeb emerged at a hearing here Nov 18 before US District Judge Jed Rakoff. During the hearing in a Manhattan court, federal prosecutors and Gupta’s lawyers debated the timing of depositions that are set to be taken in a civil case being brought against Gupta by the Securities and Exchange Commission. At the hearing, Rakoff said he would release a more complete list of potential witnesses on Monday. Cohn’s connection in the
case emerged during the trial of Galleon founder Raj Rajaratnam, who has been sentenced to 11 years in prison on insider trading charges. During the trial, prosecutors presented evidence that showed Rajaratnam had met Cohn and Loeb in July 2008. A recording of a conversation between Rajaratnam and Gupta was also played. In it, Raj told Gupta that he had a lunch scheduled with Cohn later in the week and him about a rumor that Goldman might look to buy a commercial bank. Gupta has been charged with passing on to Rajaratnam confidential information he received as board member of Goldman Sachs and Procter & Gamble. A trial is scheduled for April 2012.
AIF hosts symposium on gender equality New York: On November 18, 2011, at the Citibank Auditorium in Midtown Manhattan, AIF hosted a very special knowledge event: our 10th Anniversary Symposium – Gender Equality: Are We Ready to Walk the Talk? As we begin planning strategies for our second decade of development work in India, AIF aims to focus our efforts on gender equality throughout our programs. In 2010, AIF adopted gender mainstreaming as a core value. In practice, this means that all AIF programs will respond to the needs of both men and women equally to the greatest extent possible, with a special focus placed on girls and women to ensure that they derive as much benefit from programs as their male counterparts. This will include giving preference to girls in seasonal hostels for migrant children, giving preference to girls’ schools in becoming part of the Digital Equalizer Program, and focusing scholarships and trade skill development on the needs of girls and women. The symposium featured a panel discussion with speakers Gloria Steinem, renowned women’s rights activist and author; Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and high commissioner of UNHCR; and Shanta Sinha, Chairperson of NCPCR, Founder of the MV Foundation, and Magsaysay Award Winner. Lakshmi Puri, Assistant Secretary-General/Deputy Executive Director of UN Women, moderated the conversation and the evening was emceed by Yael Gottlieb, Director for Global Development Strategy, Human Rights Watch, and former AIF Clinton Fellow. Drawing a crowd of 300+ people, the event was a success. The audience was extremely engaged in the
Gujarati Samaj of New York celebrates Children's Day New York: More than 80 students from dance schools around the tristate area participated in Children's Day celebrations organized by the Gujarati Samaj of New York on Nov. 12 at its community hall in Flushing, NY. Program coordinator Gopi Udehsi introduced chief guest Khandu Patel, a pharmacist and trustee of the group, a press release from
the organizers said. Patel, other trustees and executive board members, as well as New York City Councilman Peter Koo led a lamp-lighting ceremony to kick off the festivities. The function included a three- hour-long cultural program of dances from the different states of India – Dandia from Gujarat, Bhangra from Punjab, Lavani from Maharashatra,
Bharata Natyam from Tamil Nadu, Kuchipudi from Andhra Pradesh, folk dances from Rajasthan, Bollywood fusion and remixes and folk fusion, as well as instrumental and vocal music. A qawwali presentation by seniors from Staten Island, N.Y., was the highlight of the event and an encore presentation was requested, the release said.
Students, staff at Rutgers Prep School celebrate Diwali New Jersey: More than 90 lower, middle and upper school students from Rutgers Preparatory School in New Brunswick celebrated Diwali on Nov. 6 with cultural programs and skits. According to the school website, the annual event was attended by more than 50 people. "RPS Diwali is a true celebration of culture and community," lower school teacher Lisa Nelson, who participated in a dance, told The Star-Ledger. According to the website, the students worked for over two months on the performances. The highlight of the event was a dance prepared by eight teachers,
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the website said. Events like these give students throughout the various divisions an opportunity to work with each other and develop relationships with students older and younger than themselves, the website said. "I like dancing and getting dressed up for the big show," Samika, a third-grader, was quoted saying. "Celebrations like this make Rutgers Prep a great school," Mythili Lahiri, RPS teacher and Diwali coordinator said. Everyone is encouraged to share their culture with the community."
Moderator Lakshmi Puri with Panelists Shantha Sinha, Gloria Steinem and Mary Robinson conversation and fascinated by the dialogue that these four outstanding women created. This gender-focused knowledge symposium was an exciting way to generate ideas on how to incorporate gender equality into our programs in a real and lasting way. It also allowed the AIF community to see the organization’s role in the greater context of women’s rights. The evening began at 5:00 PM with a cocktail reception and continued with the panel discussion until 7:30 PM. The distinguished panelists fostered a provocative and fascinating dialogue about the role of women’s rights and gender equality in the economic, political, and development spheres. Each woman brought her own unique experience and perspective to the discussion, shaping the multifaceted tone of the conversation.
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Tristate Community
November 26-December 2, 2011
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
NJ Indian nurses body hosts meet on healthcare reform
Dr. Solymole Kuruvilla, President NAINA launches souvenir with Varsha Singh and Sijo Thomas Clark, NJ: The American Association of Indian Nurses NJ2 (AAIN-NJ2) hosted their biannual conference at the Gran Centurion in Clark, New Jersey on a chilly Saturday morning of Nov 19. The conference, which started with registration as early as 7:30am contin-
ued to be a full day’s event and saw the participation of more than 150 registered nurses from the state of New Jersey and New York. The event which began with an inaugural lamp lightening ceremony and welcome speech by President Thangamani Aravindan, remarks
by Dr. Solymole Kuruvilla, President NAINA , Assemblyman Upendra Chivukula and Dr. Naveen Mehrothra. The theme of the conference was the impact of healthcare reform on Nursing practice and education with a presentation from Dr. Mary Ann T. Donahue, Ph.D., RN, APN, NEA-BC, President NJSNA, Vice President and Chief Nursing Executive, Jersey Shore University Medical center on Challenges and opportunities in nursing practice. Dr. Dula Pacquiao, Professor and Director, Center for Multicultural Education, Research and Practice, UMDNJ spoke on reconceptualizing education on cultural competence in the context of healthcare reform, expanding the analysis of
Sotheby’s to offer Tagore’s previously unknown manuscript of poems and songs New York: Sotheby’s has the dance drama Chitranggada, announced the sale of an first performed in 1892 and Unknown Manuscript Notebook then modified and extended in by celebrated Bengali poet and 1936. Three other song lyrics artist, Rabindranath Tagore on were included in Tagore’s 13 December 2011 in New York. three-volume song collection Dating to the fall of 1928, the entitled Gitabitan (Garden of notebook contains twelve poems Songs), published in 1931. and lyrics for twelve songs in Heavily emended and containBengali, some being heavily ing Tagore's inimitable artistic amended drafts of subsequently deletions, one of these songs, published works. Tagore present"Mon je bale chini chini," is of ed this extraordinary work to a particular significance. family friend and early patron in Tagore wrote thousands of the mid-1930s, and through poems from his early childNotebook was presented by the whose family it has descended. hood until his death in 1941, writer to a close family friend The notebook is estimated to many of which were inspired in the mid-1930s. fetch $150/250,000. by nature and the simple life Born in Calcutta in 1861, Rabindranath of pastoral people he met on his extensive travTagore is widely recognized as one of the els in India and around the Eastern and world’s most profound writers. An astonish- Western worlds. Each of the poems in the noteingly prolific author who produced a strikingly book is a draft version of piece that would diverse output that spanned numerous literary later be published. Twelve of the poems went genres, Tagore is seen as one of the great liter- on to be included in a collection entitled ary giants of his time. He was awarded the Mohua in 1929. Mohua is a tree with flowers Nobel Prize for Literature in 1913, becoming of the same name containing intoxicating necthe first Asian Nobel Laureate. tar, and Tagore's poems included in this collecTagore once predicted that he would be best tion celebrate nature, love and life. The friendremembered for his songs, and the notebook ship between the Tagore family and that of the contains many examples, along with his stun- present owner of the notebook can be traced ning poetry. Among a range of influences were back to the mid-1800s. The notebook was preBengali folk tunes, Indian classical music as sented by poet and artist in the mid-1930s and well as Western music particularly Irish, brought to North America in the 1950s. It has Scottish and British tunes. Two of the song been consigned by a descendant of the original lyrics in the notebook were later included in owner.
impact of health care reform and the innovative paradigms for development of cultural competence. The AAIN-NJ2 is a professional organization of registered nurses, started at the corporate level from the Saint Barnabas Health care System. “As the largest group on health care professional, nurses hold the key to implement effective healthcare system changes. Much of what nurses do directly addresses health care reform goals like providing quality care at a lower cost” said Thangamani Aravindan, President of AAIN-NJ2. She continued to state that today the nursing profession faces an uncertain future but by driving toward the changes in future in a proactive strategy, we can be better prepared
to meet the challenges. The mission of AAIN NJ2 is to unite nurses of Indian origin under one professional body, foster professional development, pursue higher education, gain knowledge, acquire skills and create opportunities for networking with other professional organizations and to be actively involved in local and national level activities. AAIN-NJ2 is actively involved in health fairs, South Asian Health Survey – a project focusing on health trends among South Asians. Not forgetting the next generation of nurses, during the event, AAIN-NJ2 awarded Scholarships to two nursing students which was sponsored by Dr. Barbara chamberlain, Previous president, NJSNA.
INOC-NJ hosts interfaith forum
Forum participants at the event New Jersey: On November 5, the Indian National Overseas Congress - NJ Chapter hosted a forum ‘Loving light Interfaith’ for celebrating spiritual oneness of NRIs residing in USA. New Jersey INOC, President along with Punjab Presidents and INOC National Executive Members were present at the event held at Royal Albert Palace. Pam Kwatra as president of the INOC-NJ chapter said during gathering “it would be my esteem desire to work closely with National Executive Committee members and all other INOC chapters to contribute
towards strengthening the mission of a democratic and secular India and to bring in the NRIs based here to be able to have their thoughts and voices heard in more effective and positive goal oriented ways. Anju Bhargawa represented the White House. Pam Kwatra also honored and congratulated Gurmit Singh Gill who was recently promoted as the President of Punjab Chapter for the entire USA. Gurmit who was earlier President of Punjab Wing for NJ has held numerous successful events in one year of his presidency.
IACFNJ hosts fundraiser to support school programs New Jersey: The IndoAmerican Cultural Foundation of Central New Jersey and Tina’s Magic of South Brunswick hosted a fundraiser at South Brunswick High School Nov. 12 to support school programs that have been affected by fiscal problems. During the fundraiser, the IACFNJ executive committee presented a check of
$10,001 to Mayor Frank Gambatese, including Deven Patel, Harry Delgado, and Barry Nathanson, school board members of South Brunswick School District. The fundraiser featured a lighting ceremony, dinner, Bollywood-inspired performances, and a speech from IACFNJ secretary Dr. Tushar Patel discussing the
history of the foundation in addition to its goals. The proceeds went to the Education Foundation of South Brunswick. Dignitaries, entrepreneurs, and community leaders attended the event. Before concluding the event, Mayor Gambatese expressed his gratitude and thanks to the Indian American community.
National Community TheSouthAsianTimes.info
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November 26-December 2, 2011
GOPIO’s helping hand for new entrepreneurs By Ashok Ojha/SATimes Woodbridge, NJ: To reach out to the next generation of the Indian diaspora, the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) urged young entrepreneurs to follow the age old Indian philosophy of simplicity and helping the neediest. As a part of GOPIO’s Biennial Convention held in Woodbridge, NJ on Nov 19, at the seminar themed ‘Road to Entrepreneurship: How to jump start new ventures’, owners of startups presented their stories of success and failure. “There is no penalty for failure”, said Dr. Sid Gautam, FounderDirector, Center for Entrepreneurship at Methodist University, NC, who encouraged young entrepreneurs to develop confidence in themselves. Quoting the Vedas, he urged entrepreneurs to learn from each other and treat others like member of one happy family. Gautam emphasized that this may
The biennial conference held in Edison, NJ, discussed issues affecting the people of Indian origin.
Dr. Sid Gautam, director and professor, Center for Entrepreneurship at Methodist University, NC, addressing a seminar at the GOPIO convention. (Photo by Ashok Ojha) appear to be a period of economic downturn but ‘great things would emerge during difficult times’. Offering his Mantra of success, Gautam said, “Think the unthinkable, dream impossible and reach the unreachable.” The GOPIO conference commem-
orated the formation of its new chapter in Edison, NJ. The overall theme of the conference was “Issues and Concerns of the Indian Diaspora”. Making a forceful demand that Government of India must redesign its policies to win over loyalty of all
India wins elections to the UN-Joint Inspection Unit United Nations: The UN General Assembly Nov 12 elected India to the UN’s Joint Inspection Unit [JIU]. In a two-way contest with China for the lone seat from the Asia-Pacific region for the five year term beginning January 1, 2013, India won with a clear majority of 106 votes out of the 183 cast. India has served only once on the JIU, 35 years ago, from 1968 to 1977. India's nominee for the JIU is Ambassador A. Gopinathan, currently India’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva. Earlier, he was
India’s Deputy Permanent Representative in New York from 2002-2005. The JIU is an independent external oversight body of the UN system, mandated to conduct evaluations, inspections and investigations system-wide. The JIU is a standing subsidiary organ of the General Assembly with a mandate covering the UN, its separately administered Funds and Programmes, and the Specialised Agencies that have accepted its Statute. It is composed of not more than 11 Inspectors serving for a term of five years, renewable once.
One-fourth of foreign-born tech graduates from India: US Census Washington: According to the latest figures released by the US Census Bureau, Indians account for nearly one-fourth of the total foreign born residents with degrees in computers, mathematics and statistics. “The majority (64 per cent) of foreign-born residents with degrees in computers, mathematics and statistics were born in Asia, including 24 percent who were born in India and 14 per cent were born in China,” the Census Bureau said based on the analysis of its 2010 census figures. A majority (61 per cent) of for-
eign born students with engineering degrees were born in Asia, including 22 per cent who were born in India, and 13 per cent who were born in China, the report said yesterday. “The country of birth with the largest number of degrees in science and engineering (S&E) was India, with 747,000, accounting for 18 per cent of the foreign-born population with S&E degrees,” said the report. Foreign-born residents represented 33 per cent of all bachelor’s degree holders in engineering fields, 27 per cent in computers,
mathematics and statistics; 24 per cent in physical sciences; and 17 per cent in biological, agricultural and environmental sciences. Of the 4.2 million foreign-born S&E graduates in the US, 57 per cent were born in Asia, 18 per cent in Europe, 16 per cent in Latin America and the Caribbean, 5 per cent in Africa, 3 per cent in Northern America and less than one per cent in Oceania. 37 per cent of the 4.2 million foreign-born residents with science and engineering degrees were female.
Indians living abroad, Convention Convener Dr. Piyush Agarwal pointed out that 25 million people of Indian origin living overseas contributed $55 billion to the state coffer of India. “We are all emotionally attached to the country of our origin that is priceless”, he said amid thunderous applause. Dr. Thomas Abraham, GOPIO’s Founder President and Chairman Emeritus, proudly announced that GOPIO was responsible for changing a number of Indian Government ’s policies in favor of Indians living abroad. “Establishing a ministry for overseas Indian affairs, voting rights for Indian citizens living outside India, and reducing the passport surrender fees to a bare minimum are some of the remarkable achievements”, he recalled. Several speakers from USA, Canada, Caribbean nations and India addressed the meet. Among
them were: Dr. Yeshu Prasad from Guyana, Deepak Sharma from India. Indian Ambassador to USA, Nirupama Rao attended the concluding event while Sheila Oliver, Speaker of NJ Assembly, and Upendra Chivukula, Deputy Speaker, spoke at the inaugural sessions. The speakers at the convention said that GOPIO promoted understanding of social, cultural and educational concerns among NRI communities around the world. They said it has provided an active platform for dialogue and discussion to the Indian Diaspora and helped advance the causes that matter greatly to Indians living abroad. However, a lot is yet to be done and GOPIO is currently focused on dealing with human rights violations in countries like Fiji, Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago and South East Asian countries.
AALDEF joins rights groups in opposing discrimination against non-citizens Washington: The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) has joined civil rights groups in filing an amicus brief on Nov. 22 in the D.C. Circuit opposing the military commissions in Guantánamo Bay because they discriminate against non-citizens. "For over a century, the US has honored the principle that when it comes to criminal justice, non-citizens are entitled to the same rights as citizens," said Ken Kimerling, AALDEF's legal director. "Our purpose has been to protect the rights of U.S. citizens, both internationally and at home. That we are currently subjecting non-citizens to a second class system of justice is very dangerous." In 2002, President Bush issued an executive order establishing the military commissions at Guantánamo Bay for trying counterterrorism cases brought against non-citizens. US citizens, on the
other hand, are entitled to the benefit of either a federal criminal trial or an ordinary court martial for the same offenses. The Supreme Court ruled in 2006 that the military commissions were illegal because they did not meet the minimum standards of fairness required by the Geneva Conventions, among other reasons. Military commissions were subsequently reinstated with certain improvements this time by Congress - but continue to target only non-citizens. The current federal court case, United States v. Hamdan, is the first to challenge Congressionallysanctioned military commissions. "We are urging the Court to apply the strictest judicial scrutiny to Congress' decision to discriminate between citizens and non-citizens," said Kimerling. "Otherwise, we risk setting a precedent that will prevent us from checking Congress' power."
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National Community
November 26-December 2, 2011
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
KP George runs for Congress from District 22 in Texas
K P George Sugar Land, TX: K.P. George, the son of a farmer, who grew up in the tiny village of Kokkathodu in Kerala, kicked off his bid for Congress with a Nov. 15 evening fundraiser at the Ragin’ Cajun restaurant in Sugarland, Texas. Over the past few months, Sugar Land resident KP George has knocked on countless doors to listen to
his neighbors’ concerns about the economy, education, and the power of special interests in Congress. “As career politicians and Washington insiders continue to ignore citizens and make decisions that benefit only their special interest and lobbyist friends, I have decided to run for U.S. Congress,” George said. “As a middle-class citizen of District 22, I promise to never accept a penny of special interest money—so I can serve you, not lobbyists.” KP’s experiences as a certified financial planner and money manager and his personal battle to achieve the American Dream make him a perfect fit to represent his community in Congress during these tough economic times. “Hardworking citizens are frustrated with political deadlock and inaction in Washington, and continue to bear the brunt of the consequences of bad policy,” KP said. “My 18 years of experience in managing other peoples’ money has given me the skills to develop solid economic policy that will help put America back to work.” “I am running for Congress because I want to help normal, everyday citizens rather than serve special interests and lobbyists on Capitol Hill. And that’s why I need your help.”
CA school district recognizes November as “Sikh Awareness Month” California: Located in California’s Bay Area, the Fremont Unified School District recently passed a resolution that designates the month of November as “Sikh Awareness Month” backed by efforts of a local group known as SEVA.
The school district is composed of 42 schools with an enrollment of approximately 32,000 students. This resolution opens the door to providing Fremont’s students with valuable education and awareness about their Sikh classmates and the sizable
Ten awarded for ‘Transforming Our World’ at IACCGH gala Houston: Ten Indian Americans have been awarded by the IndoAmerican Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston (IACCGH) at its spectacular 12th gala for their outstanding work as entrepreneurs in boosting and transforming ties between India and US. ‘Transforming Our World – 2011 Excellence Awards’ were presented for community leadership to Swatantra Jain of Vinmar International Ltd and Avinash Ahuja of Magnum Producing Company. The winners of the 2011 Excellence Awards for Business accomplishments were: Vinmar International Ltd President & CEO Hemant Goradia, Unique Industrial Founder Chairman & President Jugal Malani, BMC Software Chairman & CEO Bob Beauchamp, GRA Enterprise LP President & CEO Govind Agrawal, VKC Group President & CEO Brij Agrawal, SDB Steel and Pipe Founder Chairman & President Dilip Bhargava, Abrahams Oriental Rugs owners Samuel and Omana Abrahams and Je Matadi Inc Founder and President & CEO
Pershant Mehta and his wife Nidhika. Indian ambassador to US Nirupama Rao was the chief guest for the event. Also attending the event were Sudhakar Rao, the former Chief Secretary of the government of Karnataka, who has also previously served as Minister of Commerce at the Indian Embassy in Washington DC in 1999; besides Consul General Sanjiv Arora and his wife Chhaya Arora of the Houston Consulate General of India. Ambassador Rao shared her thoughts on India and “the salience of its wide ranging growth, and opportunities and potential that it opens up for expanding India-US trade and economic relations”.“India has emerged not only as one of the key drivers of global growth, but also of its stability and the signing of the India-US civil nuclear agreement signaled a new thinking in US-India bilateral ties, a willingness to address complex issues with clarity and maturity,” Rao said, underlining her pride that India and the United States are now both partners in eachother’s growth and prosperity.
Sikh population within their community. This resolution follows one that was passed last year by California’s State Assembly that designated November as “California Sikh American Awareness and Appreciation Month.”
Dr. Shaik Jeelani to receive 2011 Presidential Award for Mentoring
Dr. Shaik Jeelani (2nd from left) seen here with National Science Foundation director Subra Suresh Washington, DC: Dr. Shaik engineering—particularly those Jeelani, VP, research and who belong to groups that are Sponsored Programs at Tuskegee underrepresented in these fields. University in Alabama, has By offering their expertise and received 2011 Presidential Award encouragement, mentors help prefor Mentoring. pare the next generation of scienOn November 15, President tists and engineers while ensuring Obama named nine individuals and that tomorrow’s innovators reflect eight organizations recipients of and benefit from the diverse talent the Presidential Award for of the United States. Excellence in Science, Candidates for the award are Mathematics, and Engineering nominated by colleagues, adminisMentoring. The mentors will trators, and students in their home receive their awards at a White institutions. The mentoring can House ceremony later this year. involve students at any grade level The Presidential Award for from elementary through graduate Excellence in Science, school. In addition to being honMathematics, and Engineering ored at the White House, recipients Mentoring, awarded by the White receive awards of $25,000 from the House to individuals and organiza- National Science Foundation to tions, recognizes the crucial role advance their mentoring efforts. that mentoring plays in the aca- The mentors and organizations demic and personal development announced today represent the of students studying science and winners for 2010 and 2011.
Indian-origin scientist Anupama Dahanukar discovers why flies like to buzz around beer Washington, DC: A team of scientists led by Indian-origin Anupama Dahanukar have revealed as to why flies are attracted to beer. Their findings state that the flies do so because they detect glycerol, a sweet-tasting compound that yeasts make during fermentation. Anupamaand her team from the University of California, Riverside, examined the feeding preference of the common fruit fly for beer and other products of yeast fermentation. They found that a receptor, a protein that serves as a gatekeeper, which is associated with neurons located in the fly’s mouth-parts is instrumental in signaling a good taste for beer. “Insects use their taste system to glean important information about the quality and nutritive value of food sources,” Dahanukar said. “Sugars signal high nutritive value to flies, but little is known about which chemical cues flies use for
Flies are attracted to beer due to glycerol
Anupama Dahanukar food sources that are low in sugar content – such as beer,” she said. The receptor in question is Gr64e, and once a fly has settled on beer, the receptor detects glycerol and transmits this information to the
fly’s neurons, which then influences the fly’s behavioral response. She also said that flies use other receptors in their sensory organs to find food from a distance. “Taste becomes important only after the fly makes physical contact with food. “A fly first locates food sources using its odour receptors – crucial for its long-range attraction to food. Then, after landing on food, the fly uses its taste system to sample the food for suitability in terms of nutrition and toxicity,” she said.
National Community TheSouthAsianTimes.info
November 26-December 2, 2011
Amritraj advises NRIs to invest in real estate in India By Ashok Ojha/SATimes Woodbridge, NJ: Vijay Amritraj, the tennis icon who continues to shine outside the tennis court as a brand ambassador and sports commentator, has advised Indians in USA to invest in real estate in India. “The housing market in cities across the US is going downhill. If you are thinking to invest in Florida or Houston housing market, think twice because these places no longer command appreciation and return on your investment, while the market in India promises to go upward in years to come,” he said while making a presentation at a housing road show here last week. The most illustrious tennis player of India who topped the Asian charts for 14 consecutive years, also advised Indian parents to take their children to the tennis court. “It is a wonderful game for which one can easily develop a passion”, he commented. Asked about his current activities, the tennis legend, who is set to enter the sixth decade of his life, Amritraj said with youthful enthusiasm, “I travel to India almost every month. I am busy with my media company (that helps top US entertainment businesses enter the Indian market) and family business there, and of course I keep encouraging youngsters to play tennis.”
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Tennis icon Vijay Amritraj speaking at a housing road show in Woodbridge, NJ. (Photo by Ashok Ojha) A multifaceted personality, Amritraj represented India in Davis Cup for 20 years and later represented the UN as its Messenger of Peace. During an informal chat, he told The South Asian Times that he serves as brand Ambassador for companies like American Airlines but “My love for tennis remains high as ever. I continue to serve as a sports commentator.”
Sunidhi Chauhan joins Alicia Keys on a charity campaign New York: Bollywood playtouching people in more than 140 countries. back singer Sunidhi Chauhan and Keys, both Chauhan has teamed with American pop star Alicia international recording artists, have teamed with Keys on a charity campaign called "World of Betters," fellow performer K'Naan to support the campaign which is designed to help which asks consumers raise awareness about ways individuals can impact other how they would make the world a better place. people's lives. Chauhan made the announcement of “I jumped at the chance to touch the lives of so her affiliation with Western many young Indian girls Union in Mumbai on Nov. with this empowering 15 when she unveiled her Western Union World of contribution to the "moving Sunidhi Chauhan money for the better" camBetters event,” Chauhan said. paign by turning disadvantaged teenagers "We gave these children and their parents a into Bollywood stars with a makeover, a brighter outlook on their future and this is the same feeling Western Union gives my press release from Western Union said. The program, which was kicked off Nov. 1 fans when they are able to send money to by Keys in New York City, will be rolling their family and loved ones around the out to additional cities across the globe, globe."
Amardeep Singh, Program Director of the Sikh Coalition and White House Commissioner, making opening remarks to kick-off Bullying Prevention Summit organized by the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and held in New York City on October 30, 2011.
Indian American convenience store owners vow to unite to raise their bargaining power Tampa, FL: Meeting in the backdrop of economic uncertainty that has brought down their sales, convenience store and gas station owners have vowed to join hands to enhance their collective bargaining capacity and purchasing power with large manufacturers and suppliers. “We feel that all these store owners, mostly independents, are not getting the best price for buying their products from the manufacturers. Unity will enhance their bargaining capacity and purchasing power,” said Satya Shaw, president of the Asian American Convenience Store Association (AACSA) at the conclusion of the 7th annual convention of the trade body. The Nov 19 event was opened by Bollywood actress Saumya Tandon at the India Culture Center
here, the city where AASCA also has its headquarters. AASCA was formed 7 years ago after the arrest of some 50 Indian American store owners and their employees in Georgia as they were inadvertently selling some prohibited products. AASCA’s awareness campaign and activism has ensured that there has since been no repeat of that incident. AASCA today has a nationwide membership of about 10,000 convenience stores and gas station owners. According to unofficial estimates, of the 146,000 convenience stores and gas stations in the US, about half are now being run by Indian Americans, a majority being from Gujarat. “This is an effort to bring them under one platform. Unity among all the independent store owners and
their combined purchasing power would reduce the cost of their products and thus enhance our profits in these tough economic times,” Shaw said. How to tackle the economic crisis was one of the major topics of deliberations during the seminar addressed by experts and also law enforcement officials. Among those who addressed the seminar were Attorney Ricky Patel, Chase Harmer and Michael Zielinski. “This (collective purchasing power) is the only way Indian American convenience store and gas station owners can gain prominence and increase their business,” said Ronald L McDoland, a restaurant business leader, author and philanthropist. After being held in Tampa for seven years, the next AACSA annual convention would be held in Chicago.
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US Affairs
November 26-December 2, 2011
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Deficit cuts committee's Gingrich's words on collapse triggers uncertainty immigration attacked by rivals Washington: The failure Monday of Congress' supercommittee — the bipartisan panel that was supposed to cut at least $1.2 trillion from looming federal deficits — will trigger a fresh series of partisan clashes over taxes, spending, Social Security and other financial matters. The collapse of the 12-member panel, announced Monday in a joint statement by co-chairs Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., and Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, sent US stock prices plunging and generated at least another year's worth of financial uncertainty in Washington, smack in the middle of an already contentious 2012 election campaign. "After months of hard work and intense deliberations, we have come to the conclusion today that it will not be possible to make any bipartisan agreement available to the public before the committee's deadline," the co-chairs said. About the only thing the panel agreed on was the final statement of surrender, a fourparagraph press release that vowed to keep fighting for financial discipline.
When Congress returns next Monday from a Thanksgiving recess, it will quickly confront at least four thorny issues that need to be resolved in the next few weeks. Lawmakers must consider extending this year's Social Security 2 percent payroll tax cut; approving extended unemployment benefits; adjusting the Alternative Minimum Tax so it doesn't hurt the middle class; and changing how physicians are paid for Medicare patient care. Each is likely to detonate new partisan skirmishes. Each also could increase the deficit, which reached $1.3 trillion the last fiscal year. The national debt climbed over $15 trillion last week. Next year will bring new challenges. The tax cuts enacted under then-President George W. Bush expire at the end of 2012, and because of the supercommittee's failure, $1.2 trillion in automatic spending cuts are to be triggered starting in January 2013. Half will come from defense, half from domestic spending, but lower-income programs and Social Security will be exempt. Medicare cuts would affect providers but not beneficiaries.
Des Moines, IA: An intense swift backlash erupted among debate over immigration flared conservative activists that among the Republican presidencould present the biggest test tial candidates on Wednesday as of his resurgent candidacy. Mitt Romney declared that Representative Steve King Newt Gingrich “offered a new of Iowa, a leading voice doorway to amnesty” when he against illegal immigration, called for a “humane” immigrasaid he was puzzled tion policy to avoid deportation thatGingrich had suddenly for people who are deeply rootinjected such a red-hot issue ed in their churches and cominto his campaign. He said it Republican presidential was difficult to overstate how munities. Romney, who is eager to stop the rise of Gingrich with candidate Newt Gingrich potent a problem it could be for the Iowa caucuses only six weeks away, sig- Gingrich, saying it set off “a viral discussion naled that he intended to go after his rival among activists.” with the same vigor he used against Gov. Rick But Mr. Gingrich stood his ground and fired Perry of Texas two months ago when he said back at Mr. Romney in a message on Twitter, Republicans were “heartless” for standing in saying, “So what’s your position on citizenthe way of offering education to children of ship for illegals again?” illegal immigrants. His retort was a reference to a 2007 interWith the controversy likely to shape the view when Mr. Romney spoke favorably of next phase of the nominating fight, Romney creating a path toward citizenship for many of repeatedly used the word “amnesty” during a the 12 million people living here illegally. campaign visit here to describe the position Asked about that on Wednesday, Mr. Romney Gingrich outlined at a debate Tuesday night. said that there was no discrepancy and added While aides to Gingrich forcefully refuted the that he does not favor a “special deal” for characterization of his plan as “amnesty,” a anyone.
AT&T braces for T-Mobile deal collapse London/Frankfurt: AT&T said it would take a $4 billion charge in case its takeover of T-Mobile USA fails, a tacit recognition of the dwindling chances that the deal will get through US regulators who say it would destroy jobs and curb competition. The US telecommunications group and TMobile owner Deutsche Telekom, said they would continue to pursue anti-trust approval for the $39 billion takeover from the US Department of Justice, but withdrew applications to the industry regulator, for now at least. "AT&T Inc and Deutsche Telekom AG are continuing to pursue the sale of Deutsche Telekom's U.S. wireless assets to AT&T," they said in a statement on Thursday. The $4 billion sum includes $3 billion in cash and a book value of $1 billion for spectrum
access. Both the DOJ and telecoms watchdog the U.S. Federal Communications Commission oppose the deal, which would reduce the number of national mobile carriers to three. A senior FCC official said on Thursday afternoon, "The record clearly shows that - in no uncertain terms - this merger would result in a massive loss of U.S. jobs and investment." Withdrawal of the application is subject to approval by the FCC, which has the right to determine whether and how the companies could resubmit an amended application in the future. In any event, FCC approval would be meaningless if the DOJ blocked the transaction, and AT&T and Deutsche Telekom said they would return to the FCC process if they secured approval from the DOJ.
Iran lawmaker says 12 CIA agents arrested Tehran: An influential Iran parliamentarian has said that the country has arrested 12 CIA agents, the country’s official IRNA news agency reported. Parviz Sorouri, who sits on the powerful committee of foreign policy and national security, said that the alleged agents had been operating in coordination with Israel’s Mossad and other regional agencies, and targeted the country’s military and its nuclear program. “The U.S. and Zionist regime’s espionage apparatuses were trying to damage Iran both from inside and outside with a heavy blow, using regional intel-
ligence services,” Sorouri was quoted as having said on Wednesday. “Fortunately, with swift reaction by the Iranian intelligence department, the actions failed to bear fruit,” Sorouri said.The lawmaker did not specify the nationality of the alleged agents, nor when or where they had been arrested. Iran periodically announces the capture or execution of alleged U.S. or Israeli spies, and often no further information is released. This current announcement follows the unraveling by Lebanon’s Hezbollah of a CIA spy ring in that country. Hezbollah reportedly works closely with Iran.
Thanksgiving revelry across the nation New York: Thanksgiving Day brought parades and pies, sunshine and shopping plans for millions of Americans on Thursday — and joyful surprises for some, too. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords delighted diners at the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson when she arrived at noon to help serve meals to active and retired military families. Sporting a ball cap and an apron emblazoned with "Gabby," Giffords, D-Ariz., served with her left hand, a reminder of the January shooting attack that killed six and gravely wounded her. The 85th Macy's Thanksgiving parade floated, tooted and marched through Manhattan, wowing an estimated 3.5 million people on the streets and millions more TV viewers. Forty balloons from old favorites such as Snoopy to movie tie-in newcomers such as a creature from
Rep. Gabrielle Giffords helped serve meals to military families in Tucson on Thursday. director Tim Burton, were interspersed with performing stars promoting their latest recordings and Neil Diamond crooning from a Mount Rushmore float. The parade was loaded with lots of patriotism. Fifty veterans marched with 50 US flags followed by a mini-replica of Lady Liberty's torch and a glee club
Spongebob Squarepants balloon at Macy’ Thanksgiving parade. singing America the Beautiful. From sea to shining sea, Thanksgiving celebrants turned to bountiful tables. Pie-loving President Obama, before a feast with family friends and staff featuring six choices of pie, telephoned 10 service members deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan to express his grati-
tude for their sacrifices, the White House said. CNN gave troops abroad a chance to shout out to families at home. After a decade of war in Afghanistan and Iraq, thousands of troops were having their last Thanksgiving dinner on deployment before the drawdown of troops in Iraq is completed.
India Newswire TheSouthAsianTimes.info
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November 26-December 2, 2011
India opens doors to global retail chains New Delhi: In a major push to reforms, India has allowed global chains like Wal-Mart, Carrefour and 7-Eleven to bring up to 51 percent foreign equity to open multibrand retail stores despite opposition by some allies in the ruling coalition. Also allowed is 100-percent equity in single brand retailing. The much-awaited decision on allowing foreign capital into multibrand retailing and enhancing the cap on single-brand stores was approved during a two-hour meeting of the federal cabinet Thursday evening, presided over by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. "We will make a statement in parliament," is all that Commerce Minister Anand Sharma said after the meeting given the sensitivities involved. But some ministers and officials confirmed the clearance
Wal-Mart, Carrefour and 7-Eleven can now bring up to 51 percent foreign equity to open multi-brand retail stores in India. small and medium enterprises. on condition of anonymity. Sources said there are also some There are some 40 million people caveats proposed in the policy, involved directly in running these notably to protect the interests of neighbourhood stores. mom-and-pop shops, farmers and The decision came despite
India's 'bold' move will reduce prices: US body
Washington: A major US trade association has hailed Indian cabinet's "bold" move to approve opening of India's vast multi-brand retail sector to foreign direct investment and expanding FDI into singlebrand retail, saying it tamp down rising food prices and inflation. "These bold reforms have heartened investors from the United States and elsewhere," said the USIndia Business Council (USIBC), comprising nearly 400 of America's and India's top companies seeking deeper commercial ties between the two countries. "The government's opening of the multi-brand retail sector will benefit Indian consumers by bringing efficiencies and productivity to the farm-to-fork supply chain, while tamping down rising food prices and inflation," the advocacy group said. The overall effect of these actions will accelerate India towards becoming the world's third-largest
economy, which had earlier been predicted to occur by mid-century, it said. The government's bold resolve to move on these complex reforms serves as an assurance to investors that its economic liberalization agenda begun in the early 1990s is very much on track, even in the face of the global economic downturn, USIBC said. "The singular act of opening the multi-brand retail sector to foreign direct investment will significantly benefit the Indian consumer by spurring the modernisation of India's vast agri-retail marketplace," said Ron Somers, President of USIBC. "This change in policy is a good start to a win-win decision for all stakeholders, including the customers, farmers and the Government of India," said Doug McMillon President and CEO of Walmart International.
Indian industry lauds FDI decision New Delhi: India Inc welcomed the cabinet's decision to allow 51 percent foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail and said it would help bring down inflation, reduce wastage and improve farmer productivity. The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) said opening up the retail sector would usher in substantial investments into back-end infrastructure, which will help cut down wastage of farm produce and offer more choices to consumers. "This would open up enormous opportunities in India for expan-
sion of organized retail and allow substantial investment in back end infrastructure like cold chains, warehousing, logistics and expansion of contract farming," said CII president, B. Muthuraman. The move will benefit the consumers, farmers and small and medium enterprises, while generating significant employment, added Muthuraman."India with a 8-9 percent growth in gross domestic product is a consumer driven economy and modern retail has to step up to be able to meet up consumer aspiration," said the CII president.
protests by some allies, notably the Trinamool Congress. Even some cabinet ministers belonging to Congress party, which heads United Progressive Alliance (UPA) coalition, had expressed their reservations over its impact on small retailers. "This would open up enormous opportunities in India for expansion of organised retail and allow substantial investment in backend infrastructure like cold chains, warehousing, logistics and expansion of contract farming," said CII president B. Muthuraman. The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion in its cabinet note had pushed for the move saying global retailers will bring new technology, help establish supply chains to cut wastage of farm produce and induce competition in the sector.
India had allowed 100-percent foreign equity for wholesale cashand-carry chains under government approval route in January 1997 when H.D. Deve Gowda was prime minister. For nearly 10 years thereafter there was little movement forward. The day had seen the Trinamool Congress, led by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, express reservations against the move. The party had asked its sole nominee in the federal cabinet, Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi, to oppose the move. "I have some reservations, we can express our views, we will express our views when the details come to us," Banerjee said, even as Commerce Minister Anand Sharma was dispatched to convince her regarding government's intension.
Cyrus Mistry, new Tata head, has multi-faceted expertise Mumbai: Cyrus P. Mistry, the newly-appointed heir of Tata Group chairman Ratan Tata, brings to his job a rich and varied experience of managing businesses ranging from construction, to entertainment, to power, to finance. The 43-year-old Mistry is slated to succeed the $71 billion Tata Group chairman Ratan Tata after he retires next year. Born July 4, 1968, Mistry is the younger son of construction tycoon Pallonji Shapoorji Mistry, whose company has spread all over the country and even abroad. Valued at $8.8 billion, Pallonji holds an 18.5 percent stake in Tata Sons, making him the single largest shareholder. Cyrus Mistry is married to Rohika, the daughter of eminent legal luminary Iqbal Chagla. He has an elder brother, Shapoor Mistry, while one of his sisters is married to Noel Tata, Ratan Tata's half-brother. A commerce graduate from the University of Mumbai, Cyrus Mistry went on to pursue an engineering degree from the Imperial College, London, and master the science of management at the London School of Business. He loves to play golf, like many top corporate heads, and is a trustee of the Breach Candy Hospital in south Mumbai. He is also on the board of the Imperial College India Foundation. After completing his academics, Mistry joined the family business as a director in 1991 and is largely credited with taking Shapoorji Pallonji Group to new heights. Today, the group employs over 23,000 people and has a strong presence in India, besides the Middle
The 43-year-old Cyrus Mistry is slated to succeed the $71 billion Tata Group chairman Ratan Tata after he retires next year. East and Africa. However, he is not a newcomer to the Tata Group, which he joined as a board member of Tata Sons in September 2006, and was part of a five-member selection committee tasked to name Ratan Tata's successor. Mistry is also the chairman of Afcons Infrastructure, which is into mega civil and engineering projects, that was acquired by the Shapoorji Pallonji Group in 2000. Besides serving as a director of Tata Sons, Mistry also served Tata Elxsi Ltd. and Tata Power Company. He also is a senior vice president of production, DQ Entertainment Plc.
FDI in retail will increase unemployment: BJP New Dehli : Opposing the government's move to allow foreign direct investment in multi-brand retail, BJP on Friday said it will create unemployment in the country and adversely affect thousands of traders in the sector. "FDI is not required in retail sector. Cold storage facility is not rocket science that you need FDI for it," BJP spokesperson Prakash Javdekar told reporters
outside Parliament House on Friday. The Union Cabinet yesterday allowed 51% FDI in multi-brand stores and 100% FDI in single brand stores in the country. Government has maintained that farmers will get higher remuneration and the FDI will help developing logistics and cold chains in the country. Rubbishing government's claims, Javdekar said, "On the contrary it will create unemploy-
ment and adversely affect thousands of traders in the sector. We are against FDI in retail sector and we will oppose it." He said in the absence of power and roads, cold chains cannot be developed. BJP leader SS Ahluwalia said, "Two Standing Committees have given reports against the FDI in retail sector. But still the government went ahead with FDI. It must be withdrawn."
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India Newswire
November 26-December 2, 2011
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Pawar slapped, attacker says 'they're all thieves' New Delhi: Federal Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar was slapped by a Delhi youth angry over rising prices and corruption, sparking nationwide condemnation and questions over VVIP security. The assault took place at a public function at the NDMC center in the heart of the city when Harvinder Singh suddenly emerged from among a group of journalists and took a walking Pawar by surprise. The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader momentarily lost balance but immediately recovered. An aide turned around and repeatedly fisted the attacker, a young aggressive Sikh who had Saturday similarly kicked former cabinet minister Sukh Ram in a court complex after he was jailed for corruption. Even as he was taken away to a police lock-up to be produced before a court Friday, Harvinder Singh remained defiant. Dressed in a blue striped T-shirt, the turbaned Sikh unleashed a small kirpan as security guards tried to pin
Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar was attacked by a Delhi youth over rising prices and corruption. him down. "Sab chor hain... cheer doonga... cheer doonga (They are all thieves. I will rip them apart)," he shouted as he was led away. He told reporters he was fed up with rising food prices and corruption. He said he was no terrorist. "Annaji (Hazare) kept on pleading with folded hands to pass the Lokpal Bill but they didn't... We have had enough and people have
been harassed too much by these politicians." Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi telephoned Pawar to express their concern. Pawar downplayed the incident and urged his fuming party workers in Maharashtra to remain calm. "As I walked after attending a function, some media people stopped and asked me some ques-
Sukh Ram challenges conviction, sentence
New Delhi: Jailed former telecom minister Sukh Ram approached the Delhi High Court challenging his conviction and five years' rigorous imprisonment awarded by a trial court here for misusing his official position when he was in the P.V. Narasimha Rao cabinet. This was his third conviction on graft charges. The former minister approached the court seeking relief on the ground that he was suffering from health problems. He said the trial court's order should be set aside, a lawyer said. Eighty-six-year-old Sukh Ram, who held the telecom portfolio in the P.V. Narasimha Rao-led Congress government, was convicted Nov 19 for taking Rs.3 lakh as bribe to award a cable contract to a telecom firm in 1996. He was handed down a five-year jail term by Central Bureau of
Jailed former telecom minister Sukh Ram. Investigation Special Judge R.P. sentencing was filed in the high Pandey and sent to jail. The court court's registry," said a lawyer. also imposed Rs.4 lakh fine on Sukh Ram was earlier convicted in him. two separate corruption cases in "A petition on behalf of Sukh 2002 and 2009 but remained out of Ram against his conviction and jail.
tions. As I took a step ahead, a hand came ... and just passed through my face," Pawar told reporters. He said the attacker "was abusing some political parties and leaders". "In my last 50 year of political career, I did not have any personal enmity with anyone... There may have been political differences. I don't understand why this effort was made." Harvinder Singh was charged with various offences including assaulting a public servant, criminal intimidation and attempt to commit suicide. The Congress promptly blamed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the incident, saying statements from BJP leaders hinting that people disgusted with price rise could turn nasty had led to the attack. BJP leader Yashwant Sinha denounced the linkage, saying he too was unhappy over the attack on Pawar. Pawar, who doesn't accept any security beside a single constable, said he won't accept more police
personnel for his protection even after what happened. But NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal insisted that the central government should improve Pawar's security. Another party leader, Tariq Anwar, wondered what would have happened if the attacker had used his kirpan. Pawar's daughter and NCP MP Supriya Sule said the incident should be forgotten. "Whatever happened is unfortunate. Everybody has the right to protest in a democracy, but violence has to be condemned." Pawar is the senior-most politician to be attacked in this manner. But many politicians have faced the wrath of angry individuals. In April 2009, a journalist, Jarnail Singh, hurled a shoe at Home Minister P. Chidambaram but it missed him. Shoes have also been hurled at BJP leaders L.K. Advani and B.S. Yeddyurappa, Manmohan Singh himself, and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. All of them missed the mark.
'Lokpal panel for CBI, CVC autonomy’ New Delhi: The parliamentary standing committee on law and justice, examining the Lokpal bill, is likely to recommend retaining the autonomy of the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Central Vigilance Commission but is still divided on bringing the Prime Minister's Office under the anti-graft ombudsman, sources said. The sources said the panel is also likely to recommend that Group A and B employees come under the Lokpal, leaving out the Group C and D staff, being demanded by Team Anna. Earlier, CVC Pradeep Kumar and CBI director A.P. Singh had expressed their reservations before the panel on bifurcating the agencies, as suggested by Team Anna.
The draft of the standing committee report is expected to be circulated among the members this week and the panel will deliberate on it next week, said sources. The panel is expected to submit its recommendations to the parliament in first week of December. The sense of timing in the panel, headed by Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi, stems from the fact that parliament, through a sense of the house Aug 27, had assured Anna Hazare to address his concerns on the draft Lokpal bill. Hazare has threatened to campaign against the Congress in the assembly elections in five states scheduled next year if the Lokpal bill is not passed in the winter session.
India Newswire TheSouthAsianTimes.info
November 26-December 2, 2011
Kanimozhi plea: Court order unlikely this week New Delhi: Any order on Kanimozhi's bail plea was unlikely till next week. The CBI was expected to reply to the plea next week only, sources said. Kanimozhi and the five other accused moved the court for early hearing of their bail applications after the Supreme Court granted bail to five corporate executives co-accused in the case. Citing the Supreme Court order, Kanimozhi in her plea stated that keeping her in custody for some more days would be a violation of her fundamental rights and that she should be granted bail as even the CBI was not opposing her plea.
Earlier this month, the high court had issued notice to the CBI seeking its response on bail applications of the six by Dec 1. After CBI Special Court Judge O.P. Saini rejected their bail pleas Nov 3, they moved the high court Nov 5. The special court dismissed their bail pleas despite the investigating agency not opposing their applications. Counsel for Kanimozhi told the high court that the special court wrongly made a distinction between women belonging to various classes of society even when the provision did not seek to do that. "Besides, the apex court had
Top Maoist Kishenji killed, states on high alert
Mid-Day journalist J Dey was killed by Chhota Rajan men on June 11 this year.
ishenji, alias Malojula Koteswar Rao, the Maoist top gun who headed the rebels' eastern India operations, ran out of luck while facing death for the third time in recent months. His trademark AK-47 rifle was found beside him. Kishenji, 55, who had foxed the governments of West Bengal, Jharkhand, Orissa and Bihar for nearly a decade, was killed on Thursday after a 30-minute gunfight in Burisole forests of West Midnapore district, 10 km from the BengalJharkhand border. Kishenji’s body was found at a spot in the jungles about 10 km away from the Bengal-Jharkhand border. Kishenji’s is the most prized head scalped by the West Bengal government since the second innings of ultra-Left insurgency surfaced in the state in 2009. Late in the evening police took surrendered Maoist Soma Mandi and former Sankrail police station OC Atindranath Dutta (who was taken hostage on October 21, 2009) to identify the body. Officials of West Midnapore police and state intelligence branch claimed a total of six bodies were found in the jungles. Two of the bodies were of Maoist squad leader Jayanto and Ramkrishna.
K The 2G accused Kanimozhi and the five other accused had moved the court for early hearing of their bail pleas. in June granted her the liberty to apply for bail after charges were framed in the case," she said.
J Dey killing: woman scribe held in Mumbai Mumbai: A woman reporter with an English newspaper here has been arrested for alleged involvement in senior journalist Jyotirmoy Dey's killing, police said. Jigna Vora had allegedly provided Dey's mobile number and his location to mafia don Chhota Rajan, who claimed responsibility for the sensational June 11 killing. Vora was arrested after being summoned by the Mumbai Police
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Crime Branch for investigation. She has worked with several Mumbai-based newspapers and is the eighth person to be arrested in the case. She will be presented before a special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court here. Dey, 56, Mid Day's editor for special investigations, was gunned down near his residence in central Mumbai's Powai by motorcycle-borne assailants.
Top Maoist leader Kishenji. Exchange of fire resumed between the rebels and the security forces around 9:30pm as this correspondent was traveling in pitch dark on foot in the Burishole jungle and crossed a canal to reach a spot where CRPF officials were waiting. The exchange of bullets was taking place about a km from the spot where nothing except CRPF torches were visible in the dark. “There was an exchange of fire in the jungles of Kushboni. One body was recovered and the police is trying to establish its identity. Though the AK-47 used by Kishenji was found beside him, nothing can be said unless the confirmation comes,” said director general of police, Naparajit Mukherjee, at the state secretariat around 7pm. In New Delhi union home secretary RK Singh said the end of Kishenji would be a “huge set back” for the Naxals as he was number three in the CPI(Maoist) hierarchy.
SAT NOV 05 SUN NOV 06 SUN DEC 04 SAT T NOV V 05 SAT NOV 06 05 SUN
Dhaliwal Banquet Hall, 230 8166 128th St Surrey, Surrey, BC,Canada V3W1R1
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India News Features
November 26-December 2, 2011
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Didi carries Writers’ Building to districts! West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee a is traveling the length and breadth of the state. She has assured that the Secretariat, Writers' Building will 'visit' every district every three months to get reports. This seems to be part of the proactive CM’s way to portray her administration as people-oriented from top to bottom. t could well be a case of the mountain coming to Mohammed. Living up to the promises she made before the historic April-May assembly elections, a tireless Didi is traveling the length and breadth of West Bengal, virtually carrying the Writers' Building to the masses. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has even assured that the Secretariat, Writers' Building - the nerve center of the state administration - will 'visit' every district every three months to get reports. This seems to be part of a proactive Banerjee's way to portray her administration as people-oriented from top to bottom and improve the work culture among government officials, giving pace to a slew of development projects she had earlier announced. During her visit to Burdwan district Nov 12, which marked the conclusion of the Trinamool Congress chief's recent round of visits to the districts, she cautioned that 'no one will be spared in case of any dereliction of duty'.
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She went there with eight state ministers and three union ministers of her party, besides 18 top-level bureaucrats, and held meetings with local administrators, asking them to work in tandem. In her own words, 'The entire Writers' Building has come here as it is just perfect to get reports of districts from districts.' People of the district, which has an industrial region like Durgapur-Asansol, hit the streets for a glimpse of 'Big Sister', who came to power after dethroning the CPI-Mled Left Front government six months back. Only seven months ago, Burdwan was considered a CPI-M stronghold. Banerjee, flanked by top bureaucrats, also went to Birbhum district where enthusiastic crowds jostled with each other to get a better view of her. Even students were seen clicking many pictures of her at Bolpur. Before her Burdwan tour, the firebrand leader also visited Purulia, considered a Maoist den. After holding talks with the local administration, Banerjee, in a public rally at Balarampur, Nov 11 called upon the rebels to lay down arms and return to the
mainstream and reiterated that her government will provide 'everything' to the guerrillas who surrender. 'I am not your enemy, but killers are my enemy. I do not want to use arms against arms. I am against arms. If you lay down arms, we will give you everything you want. When people will not get food, they will snatch guns from you. So the fight is for development. Return to the mainstream of life,' she said. Banerjee simultaneously announced developmental projects for the backward district. 'We want Purulia to become a model. There will be stadiums, medical colleges and also an airport here,' she added. She also decided to commence a telephone-based redress system called 'Samadhan'. The visit of Banerjee, who is on the Maoist hit list, to Purulia can be seen as her desperate attempt to spread the influence of the administration and the Trinamool Congress in the region, where her party cadres are being gunned down by the rebels. Banerjee's short-term aim is to attract the poverty-
India's new social entrepreneurs: making an impact where government fails ome merely debate on the great Indian urban-rural divide. But there are others who have resolved to do something about it and meeting with success in areas where even large governmentfunded programs have failed to make an impact. Indian professionals, many of whom led comfortable lives abroad, are increasingly giving up their well-paid jobs to become social entrepreneurs, bringing in the process modern-age management and perspective to solve basic problems like reaching power, water, education and healthcare to the millions. Take the case of Gyanesh Pandey. A native of Baithania village in Bihar's West Champaran district, he was making mega bucks in Los Angeles in the semiconductor industry. But a chance conversation with a childhood friend persuaded him to return to his home state. Pandey came back and with the help of friends to start Husk Power Systems, a company that provides electricity at dirt-cheap
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rates to villagers, using rice husk: A clean, simple solution, as the raw material is available in ample quantity. "I had been trying for many years to do some work in rural electrification. But nothing worked out," Pandey, an electrical engineer from Benaras Hindu University, said. But in 2007, the idea of producing inexpensive green power using husk struck Pandey who set up the first plant in Tamkuha, a remote village in West Champaran. Soon he was able to light up Tamkuha, which literally means fog of darkness in the local lingo. Today, Husk Power runs 84 plants, lighting up the lives of over 350 villages and hamlets in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh. They charge around Rs.100 for 50 Watt of power per month to a village household. People like Pandey feel social entrepreneurs should not to be misunderstood with those doing philanthropy. They understand that a one-off dole or an odd project is not
going to help the less privileged in a meaningful way. "It is not about philanthropy," says Neelam Chhiber, co-founder of Industree, a social enterprise out of Bangalore that not only facilitates artisans to sell their wares in urban markets and earn more but also help them upgrade their skills. "We look for market-led solutions, not for the corporate social responsibility type of solutions, because that is not going to be sustainable," said Chhiber, who also runs Mother Earth, a sustainable brand for food and fashion that is part producer-owned. "We regularly conduct social audits. We found we can triple the incomes of artisans once they start working with us. We also use design as a tool to push producers up the value chain," said Chhiber, who even has funding from Kishore Biyani's Future Group. Sudesh Menon, co-founder of Waterlife, has a similar story to share. Before coming back to India, he was the country head of
stricken people in order to alienate the extremists. Although state Left Front chairman Biman Bose took a dig at Banerjee's 'car visits' to the districts, saying she perhaps had problems in walking, it seems the chief minister's tour to the Maoist stronghold is already paying off as a 28-year-old dreaded rebel leader of Bengal's first all-woman Maoist squad, Jagori Baske, surrendered Nov 17. Bidding farewell to arms, Baske came to Kolkata with her rebel husband and fiveyear-old son to surrender at the state Secretariat. Guess who must be smiling at the Writers' Building!
Social entrepreneurs should not to be misunderstood with those doing philanthropy. They understand that a one-off dole or an odd project is not going to help the less privileged in a meaningful way. General Electric in Malaysia. But Anji Reddy of Dr. Reddy's Lab persuaded him to join his mission on drinking water in rural India. Perturbed by a UN finding that India ranked 120 out of 122 nations on potable water quality, Menon toured the countryside and launched pioneering water purification systems. They charge Rs.3-5 for 20 litres of drinking water across 1,500 villages in six states. "When we started this model, we were ridiculed by everybody -- government, bureaucracy. They said village people will never pay for water. But we proved all of them wrong," said Menon. "Our next target is urban slums."
Thanksgiving & Black Friday TheSouthAsianTimes.info
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November 26-December 2, 2011
Thanksgiving spirit can help nation meet challenges: Obama resident Obama delivered a Thanksgiving message on Thursday morning, and said the spirit of the holiday can help Americans deal with the nation's economic and political problems. "If we support each other, and look out for each other, and remember that we're all in this together, then I know that we too will overcome the challenges of our time," Obama said. The president sent special Thanksgiving greetings to U.S. troops overseas, telling them "the American people are thinking of you today. And when you come home, we intend to make sure that we serve you as well as you're serving America." Obama also paid tribute to volunteers who are serving Thanksgiving meals to the poor and homeless. "This sense of mutual responsibility -- the idea
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President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, daughters Malia and Sasha, and Marian Robinson greet people as they fill care packages with food for Thanksgiving at the Capital Area Foodbank in Washington, D.C., Nov. 23, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza) that I am my brother's keeper; that I am my sister's keeper -- has always been a part of what makes our country special," he said. Referring to the bad economy,
On Thanksgiving travel mania grips US
Obama said, "I know that for many of you, this Thanksgiving is more difficult than most." But he said the nation's problems will be solved with patience and
Obama pardons the turkey "all the partisanship and gridlock" perseverance. "The problems we face didn't in Washington, Obama asked lisdevelop overnight, and we won't teners to "think about what's hapsolve them overnight," Obama pening at this very moment: said. "But we will solve them. All Americans from all walks of life it takes is for each of us to do are coming together as one peoour part." ple, grateful for the blessings of While Americans worry about family, community, and country."
Shopping and feasting the desi way By Jinal Shjah/SATimes
hanksgiving is one of the busiest travel periods of the year as families make their way over rivers and through miles of woods to Grandma’s and other relatives’ houses for the traditional feast. The 42.5 million Americans whom AAA projects will take to the roads and airways is up 4% from just a year ago. In 2008, the low point as the recession hit home, Thanksgiving travel was just 37.8 million people.The cost of travel is also expected to be about 20% higher since the recession began, AAA said. Ninety percent of holiday travelers plan to drive, and will pay almost 20% more for gas, which has reached an average of $3.42 a gallon, the organization said. The cost of air travel is also up by 20% Undeterred by costlier gas and airfare, millions of Americans set out Wednesday to see friends and family in what is expected to be the nation's busiest Thanksgiving weekend since the financial meltdown more than three years ago. Heavy rain slowed down early travelers along the East Coast. Snow across parts of New England and upstate New York made for treacherous driving and thousands of power outages. And a mudslide covered train tracks in the Pacific Northwest. As afternoon traffic picked up, flight delays were reported in Boston, San Francisco, Newark, N.J., and New York.The average round-trip airfare for the top 40 U.S. routes is $212, up 20 percent from last year. Tickets on most Amtrak one-way routes have climbed slightly, and drivers are paying an average $3.33 a gallon, or 16 percent more than last year, according to AAA.
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New York: Last few days, Navtej Singh (26), an IT professional from New Jersey, is investing extra hours on his laptop browsing the internet and meticulously jotting down the best deals offered this holiday season. So what does he have in his wish list? “A TV,” he said adding, “I had my eyes fixed on a TV set since last Thanksgiving, but due to economic uncertainty I could not risk investing in one.” Like Singh, many Indian American budget conscious shoppers are now stepping into stores to buy things they long wanted. So is recession a thing of past? Well, no, says Singh. “Because of the lingering fear of recession, we are reduced to shopping only during Thanksgiving. I am eagerly waiting for cyber Monday,” he added. According to the National Retail Federation estimation, hordes of bargain-sniffing shoppers are expected to turn out now. The federation estimated about 152 million people to shop in stores or online over the long weekend through cyber Monday, a 10% increase from 138 million shoppers a year earlier. This does not include the estimates for Thanksgiving Day. Retailers are well aware of the consumers’ disposition and hence to squeeze in every extra cent from the buyers, several retailers began early promotions for the holiday shopping season. Given a weak economy, chains like Walmart and Target even tried to jump-start holiday shopping early with earlier than ever store openings for the big Black Friday weekend. “This year the Black Friday ads came up as early as October. This gave us a buffer time to prepare our list,” said Deepal Shah, Bayon resident. The trade-off was that bargain hunters saw fewer jaw-dropping sales this year. “This year the ads were not that enticing. I could easily pinpoint a lot of items carried forward from last year,” said Singh. However, the herd mentality still prevails, say experts. Instead of refraining from shopping due to economic worries, Rajul Parekh, a homemaker, believes it’s wise to stock up gifts from the sales. “I’ve been conservative with spending the entire year, but I am definitely looking for a few gifts to buy, especially for my trip to India slated this February. This is a perfect time to stock up gifts for friends on birthdays and anniversaries too,” said Parekh.
This Thanksgiving-Black Friday weekend, Indian American budget conscious shoppers are flocking to stores to buy things they long wanted while some other families intend to have fun feasting. But there are some regulars giving shopping a miss and instead enjoying the long weekend with families and friends. Increasingly, a lot of Indian Americans are hosting Thanksgiving dinners for their friends and family members. “We Indians need a reason to get together and feast. Thanksgiving is a perfect excuse for partying, only to be followed by shopping - a perfect retail therapy!” said Ekta Lund, a medical professional. A Newport resident, she tried her hands on Italian cuisine for the potluck dinner with her friends. Her shopping list consists of a laptop, shoes, clothes, coffee maker, jackets, vacuum cleaner, blender and much more. For two years in a row three families - Shahs, Doshis and Ashars - religiously get together for Thanksgiving. Their agenda- “watch movies, make cookies, have food and prepare strategy to shop!” “It’s almost like a trend now. Every year ladies prepare list of things they want and on the D-Day it is distributed among family members. So, for example one person is given charge of picking up the chopper boards, another has to wait in line. It is not shopping per se but the experience that we go for,” said Zenal Ashar who has traveled all the way from Long Island to Bayon to shop in the newly opened Walmart.
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Ultimate Bollywood
November 26-December 2, 2011
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
From 'sati savitri' to 'I'm too sexy for you' he gulps down 'desi tharra', smokes pot, mouths expletives, talks naughty, exposes like never before and doesn't mind some sultry moves -- that's the new age, raunchy, naughty and bold Hindi film heroine for you. From the "Chhor do anchal zamana kya kahega" coy woman to the "I'm too sexy for you" babe the Bollywood heroine has come of age. Be it Nargis Fakhri's desire to drink tharra and watch soft porn in "Rockstar", Vidya Balan's sensual and titillating looks in "The Dirty Picture", Sonam Kapoor's confident display of the middle finger in "Players", Katrina Kaif's drunken act in "Mere Brother Ki Dulhan" or even Rani Mukerji's uninhibited mouthing of expletives in "No One Killed Jessica" - the bold drift is wide and visible on the big screen. "Basically, cinema reflects what happens in society. So the homemaker, subservient, silent sufferer and 'pativrata' woman of yesterday,
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Vidya Balan in 'The Dirty Picture.' was what was shown in Hindi movies earlier. But as times changed and society became more democratic and liberal, the woman's portrayal underwent a change on the big screen too," film critic Omar Qureshi said. "Today, women live with the
Kangna is dating UK-based doctor!
'double income, no kids' mantra, they go to work, some don't mind living life alone, some don't mind extramarital affairs...they socialise, party, drink and smoke...so that is clearly reflecting in cinema as well," added Qureshi. Some other films with actresses
in bold roles include "Delhi Belly", "Ishqiya", "Shaitan", "Tanu Weds Manu", "Jism", "Saat Khoon Maaf", "Dum Maro Dum" and "Girlfriend". In some, girls were shown consuming drugs and locking lips with the same sex. Young producer Ekta Kapoor has pinned her hopes on "The Dirty Picture", in which a saucy Vidya is seen telling co-star Tusshar Kapoor: "Mujhe jo chahiye uska mazza raat ko hee aata hai". But she feels yesteryear films were more titillating. "My film 'The Dirty Picture' is about a woman revelling in her sexuality. There is a very definite line between sexuality and raunchiness, and our story is about this woman who lived her life with aplomb. It is a brave and bold performance, no doubt, but one needs to see how actresses are getting more comfortable in their skin nowadays," Ekta said. "Earlier, actresses used to play
Gerard Butler looking for true love
angna Ranaut has admitted to dating UK-based doctor Nicholas Lafferty for over a year, claiming they were introduced by Kites actress Barbara Mori's brother Kintaro. The actress has also admitted to being in love on a chat show, adding that despite being a world apart they keep in touch through video chat. While the two haven't been spotted publicly or even with friends, the actress maintains that this relationship is for keeps. Recently, a celebrity magazine printed a photograph of Lafferty, provided to them by the actress. A little investigation on Kangna's man on Facebook reveals cosy pictures of him with another girl.
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In fact, there are pictures of him there with everyone except the actress. That could be because she is a public figure or that they want to keep photographs private. Or perhaps, this is an open relationship because Kangna too has been linked to several co-stars in the past year. What's strange is that they aren't even friends on the site, given that he visits his profile regularly.There have been reports that she spent time with Lafferty in London while shooting for Tezzz, but none of her co-stars or the crew has seen him. Strangely enough, he never visited her on the set. If she's talking about him publicly, why won't she meet him publicly?
ctor Gerard Butler says he is ready to settle down and share his life with the right woman.The 42-year-old was previously linked with actresses Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Aniston and model Sarah Carrol. "I would love to settle down and share my life with someone. But it'll happen when it's going to happen," femalefirst quoted Butler as saying. "When I try and plan things in my life they very rarely pan out. And it's often when I think, 'OK, you know what, I don't want to be in a relationship right now for whatever reason', that suddenly I find myself open to one and it happens," he added.
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The 42-year-old was previously linked with actresses Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Aniston and model Sarah Carrol.
The actress maintains that her relationship with Nicholas Lafferty is for keeps.
so-called 'sati savitris' and used to be covered in wet dupattas or saris. I think that used to look more suggestive and raunchy," she added. When acclaimed filmmaker Rajkumar Gupta made romantic Rani mouth cuss words and smoke in "No One Killed Jessica", he had explained: "The abuses have been used to define attitude and not in a derogatory sense. These days abuses are a part and parcel of conversational language and we didn't feel that there was any harm in using them." "The sexy and bold woman was restricted only to the vamp in Indian films earlier. She would do the seducing act back then because a heroine was to be shown doing all 'ideal' things. At that time, producers didn't want to take a chance by showing a heroine doing 'bad' things and plus. Nowadays the audience is also more exposed - so they have a wider perspective about women and their sexuality," said Qureshi.
Demi Moore to 'punish' Ashton Kutcher ctor Demi Moore has reportedly instructed lawyers to "punish" her estranged husband Ashton Kutcher by "grabbing his fortune". The 49-year-old actress has confirmed she is splitting from the 33year-old Kutcher after it was alleged that he had cheated on her with another woman. She is said to be planning to claim part of his personal fortune, even though they signed a pre-nuptial agreement while tying the knot in 2005. "With a pre-nuptial agreement, Ashton should be sitting pretty. But Demi is furious. She wants to punish him financially because of the way he has broken her heart. She is talking about going after a share of what he has earned since their marriage on the grounds that she contributed to much of what he has achieved," femalefirst.co.uk quoted a source as saying. "She is going to give him a bitter fight and, whether or not she wins, it will be an expensive lesson for him," the source added.
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Both the actors had signed a pre-nuptial agreement while tying the knot in 2005.
Ultimate Bollywood Thesouthasiantimes.info
17
November 26-December 2, 2011
'Shakal Pe Mat Ja' lacks novelty hakal Pe Mat Ja is a Gaasmandu film!!!! If you don't understand what it means, well this is the lingo of today's generation that is often used in this film, meaning "All Gas". A light-hearted comedy, the film is literally a one-day show in terms of the time span of the story and as well as its exhibition. The prologue begins with an absurd amateurish scene of the 55th World Terrorist Awards taking place in some god-forsaken prison, where the prize for the best terrorist is given to a bearded Rohan Govardhan Malhotra. This leaves you assured that you are watching a slipshod attempt at exposing the slice of life in a ter-
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REVIEW ror-fixated society. It all happens one fine day in Delhi when Ankit (Shubh Mukherjee), his younger brother Dhruv (Pratik) and friends Rohan and Bulai are out to shoot a documentary on terrorism. In order to capture a brilliant shot of a low flying commercial plane, the foursome land up at the periphery of Delhi international airport. After the shot, they are accosted by the police and arrested as suspects. They are brought before the inept airport security cop, Raghuveer Yadav. The music and background score by Salim and Sulaiman Merchant, Nitin Kumar and Yo Yo Singh is
too loud and disappointing. Shaurabh Shukla, Raghubir Yadav, Mustaq Khan, Joy Sengupta, Aamana Sharif and Zakir Husain try to elevate the film, but alas! Subh Mukherjee as the actorwriter-director seems to be a bundle of talent that needs channelizing. Some of the scenes are well handled. In short, the film is good in parts. With no pedigreed casting, hackneyed scenes and dialogues inspired from recent films, the film lacks the novelty factor that one looks in for first time filmmakers' projects. The treatment is so mediocre that it seems like a well-made college project.
The film’s treatment is so mediocre that it seems like a well-made college project.
Big B says no to baby pictures
Mahesh Bhatt gets Sunny Leone for 'Murder 3' fter the success of Murder 2, the third film in the franchise was immediately announced with speculations of Bhatt favorite Emraan Hashmi leading the cast, yet again. However, looks like Mahesh and Mukesh Bhatt have decided to add a twist in the tale this time around. The Bhatts have decided to bring together ex-Bigg Boss housemate Rahul Bhatt and the latest entrant in the ongoing season of the reality television series, Sunny Leone together for the third film in the successful Vishesh Films franchise. A source revealed, "Mahesh Bhatt wanted to launch his son Rahul opposite Sunny Leone in a film titled Blue Film. At the time,
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Leone had no intentions of making a Bollywood debut. She had turned down the offer back then. However, now, she has made it pretty clear that she is game for Hindi cinema. Mahesh is apparently reviving Blue Film at the moment." When contacted, Rahul Bhatt said, "Yes, my father was going to launch me with Sunny Leone in Blue Film. But it didn't materialize. About the project being revived now, I am not denying it. But you will have to ask my father. I am a big fan of Leone." When contacted, Mahesh Bhatt admitted that he was indeed going to cast his son with the adult film actress. However, the project
Tom Cruise to party with Anil nil Kapoor takes the cake away from Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay and Rampal. Tom Cruise during his stay in Mumbai will only attend a party hosted by co-star Anil Kapoor. Apparently Shah Rukh, Akshay Kumar and Arjun Rampal wanted to host parties for the actor during his stay here, on December 4 and 5. However all requests have been politely declined. Anil Kapoor is the only Bollywood star who is allowed to host a party for Tom Cruise according to reports. That must have hurt the Bollywood machos. Now that Anil Kapoor has not only moved on to mainstream Hollywood he also gets to host the biggest star in the industry. A screening for fans of MI4 has been arranged on December 4, three days before the film's global premiere in Dubai.
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Apparently Shah Rukh, Akshay Kumar and Arjun Rampal wanted to host parties for Tom during his stay in India on December 4 and 5. However all requests have been politely declined.
mitabh Bachchan, who has received requests for pictures of his newborn granddaughter, says he can't share the photos because it is a personal thing. "Many asking for the picture of the baby...I am afraid that is not going to happen... too personal...you will understand...thank you," Big B tweeted. Big B's daughter-in-law, Aishwarya Rai, gave birth to her first child Nov 16 here and ever since people are curious to see her daughter. Meanwhile dad Abhishek has asked fans to suggest names for his daughter through his tweet.
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Latest entrant in Bigg Boss 5 and Indo-Canadian star, Sunny Leone, to make her Bollywood debut opposite the filmmaker's son, Rahul. would no longer be Blue Film. "That's the cast for Murder 3," revealed the father and filmmaker.
Big B's daughter-in-law, Aishwarya Rai, gave birth to her first child Nov 16 here and ever since people are curious to see her daughter.
‘Salman hits women, hunts deers’ ooks like Shakti Kapoor is still not over his eviction from the ‘Bigg Boss’ house. The actor, who was evicted from the reality show a few weeks back, lamented about the show and Salman Khan on micro blogging site Twitter. The actor called Mehak a strong contender for the winner’s spot in the show as she was Salman’s friend. The actor tweeted, “Mehak is salmans girl.soo she has a big contestant 2 win.big bos is salman(sic).” Shakti who had earlier claimed that the show was planned, stated again that the show was planned. “Even salman cud nt save d biggest fraud called BIG BOSS(sic).” Shakti also blasted Salman with whom he has been having a long standing tiff. Salman who was earlier planning to launch Shakti’s son, Siddhant in
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Actor Shakti Kapoor blasted Salman with whom he has been having a long standing tiff. Bollywood, changed plans due to his and Shakti’s cold war. Shakti tweeted about Salman, “A person who hits women.gets drunk and drive over
people.hunts deers.shame(sic)” Shakti, looks like you have missed out a chance of returning to ‘Bigg Boss’ as a wild card entry.
18
Photography
November 26-December 2, 2011
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Celebrity fashion photographer Dabboo Ratnani with his work.
2012 would be another big gift from me: Dabboo By Prakash Bhandari/SATimes e followed superstar Amitabh Bachchan as a paparazzi in London, shot the bootilicious Priyanka Chopra in a vintage car and made Mr perfectionist Aamir Khan pose as a Robin Hood. Over the years, the man and his lens has made the stars look better and brighter and sometimes even better than the original! He is none other than celebrity fashion photographer Dabboo Ratnani who was recently spotted holidaying in Jaipur with his wife Manisha and daughter Myrah. The holiday, as Dabboo himself agrees, was a welcome break from his everyday hectic professional life in Bollywood bastion Mumbai, where he shoots publicity campaigns with top stars for brands like Airtel, CocaCola, ICICI Bank, Donear Suitings, Santro Hyundai and Dabur. Dabboo first got the individual attention through his publicity stills for GP Sippy’s film Aatish in 1993 and never looked back after that. Is career spanning 14 years, he has captured all big stars like Amitabh Bachchan, Aamir Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Katrina Kaif and Mallika Sherawat. Dabboo says that he sticks to his professional norms without forgetting the clients’ requirements while shooting for publicity campaigns. But his best creative urge could be seen in the annual calendar that he brings out in January. Dabboo Ratnani's New Year calendar over the years has become a big media event and an invitation for the calendar’s launch is something that everybody looks forward to in Mumbai. “The calendar has acquired a reputation as all the twenty four photographs -- two for each month have different styles, different make up
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and styling. I try to project the stars differently and each photograph has its own tale to tell. I face no problem to get stars’ date and time for this calendar shoot and they all do this free of cost for me,” Dabboo said in an exclusive interview to the South Asia Times. The calendar, inspired by Pirelli Calendar, had no theme when it was first published in 2004. It had Perizaad Zorabian, Urmila Matondkar, Priyanka Chopra, Neha Dhupia, Bipasha Basu, Esha Deol, Preity Zinta, Amrita Arora, Aishwarya Rai, Rani Mukherjee, Raveena Tandon, Amrita Rao, Shilpa Shetty, Lara Dutta, Dia Mirza, Katrina Kaif, Sameera Reddy, Soha Ali Khan, Amisha Patel, Tabu, Ishaa Koppikar, Pooja Bhatt, Riya Sen and Mahima Chaudhary. “The first edition was an all female face, now it’s a good mix of men and women and top actors like Priyanka, Katrina, Shah Rukh, Amitabh, Aishwarya, Rani and Bipasha still figure in my calendar each year,” he
said. “It has become a collectible rather than just a calendar because of its varied theme now,” added Ratnani. In the 2011 calendar, Bipasha Basu almost posed nude while Mallika, Deepika and Sonakshi Sinha appeared in revealing clothes. “What I like most about the stars are they pose for me the way I want to do. .. I talk to the actors and we brainstorm on the look. Each picture must tell a story. We try and create a story around the picture,” says Ratnani. What is coming for 2012? “ I thought while holidaying in Jaipur I would think of it, but the ideas never came. Every year we have to think new and sell the idea to the stars for their response. The thought process is still on and I am unable to reveal what it would be at this stage. But I can tell you 2012 would be another big gift from me,” says Dabboo smiling. Apart from working with established stars, Dabboo has also helped
The Dabboo Ratnani New Year calendar has become a big media event in Mumbai. a lot of newcomers find a foothold in vibe, and to get to know what I must the industry by doing portfolios with highlight,” reveals Dabboo. “If they them. have complexes about some feature “ I feel very satisfied in guiding the of theirs, or have faced ridicule or young and upcoming people , I even rejection due to, say, a particular suggest the newcomers to undergo blemish or defect, they usually concorrective surgeries of nose, teeth fide in me.” Considering his own etc and even suggest hair styling and star-status, those who come to him clothes they should wear and they usually give him complete autonomy. follow me and return for the shoot. “If things are really bad, I suggest The results are always amazing. For corrective surgeries or procedures in me photography is just not clicking, nose, teeth or other features before but also reinventing,” says the ace we proceed. The results of these reallensman. ly boost their confidence. Then I sugIt is worth a mention that filmmak- gest the complete look, hairstyling, er Rakesh Roshan decided to launch garments and accessories depending his son Hrithik only after seeing his on what they are looking for, as well portfolio shots by Dabboo Ratnani. as the people who will execute The rest, as they say, is history! them.” When success finally arrives Dabboo adds that it is a great feel- and sustains, Dabboo is also there to ing to realize that he has helped so lend a helping hand to reinvention, many newcomers in their profession. which is so crucial for a professional He says that since he is an estab- to survive. “Obviously the emphasis lished name who continues to be on may shift to different aspects once the ascent for more than 11 years you are already a top star or model,” after his first film released, Dabboo’s says Dabboo. He adds that star and job is not so much to look for new celebrity attitudes have also evolved. faces and talent as to help those who “Most stars have realized that being do approach him. photogenic is more about a feel-good “I meet the prospective star or and pleasant attitude. This has made model to understand his needs and work easier.”
Over the years, Dabboo Ratnani and his lens have made stars look better and brighter, and sometimes better than the original..
Op Ed TheSouthAsianTimes.info
19
November 26-December 2, 2011
'Yatra' over, Advani calls for UPA's ouster
The former deputy prime minister said the government "was down in the dumps" and it had failed to check corruption due to lack of political will and not due to lack of laws. nding a 40-day 'yatra' that many said was aimed at projecting himself as prime
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ministerial candidate, BJP star L.K. Advani called for the ouster of the UPA government.
Showing no visible sign of fatigue at the end of the whirlwind tour, Advani was at his oratorial best as he blamed the Congress-led government for mounting corruption and unchecked rising prices of food items. Enthused by a large crowd of mainly Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers thronging the Ramlila Maidan, Advani's favorite target was Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. He called for a mass struggle till India wins the war over corruption. If public awareness and mass pressure fails to end corruption, then the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government will have to go, he thundered in Hindi, triggering a huge
round of clapping. However, political analysts say it has reaped little benefit for either the man or the party. While it was meant to put the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) in the dock over corruption and black money, BJP insiders admit that the sixth rath yatra by the man, who many say nurses prime ministerial ambitions, did not enthuse people as he may have desired. Political scientist Aswini K. Ray said Advani, 84, had sought to bolster his own image in a party which is "considerably divided". "The hidden agenda of the yatra (was) to promote his candidature for the post of prime minister. There is no doubt about that," Ray
said. Ray said the Jan Chetna Yatra or public awareness campaign was no match for Advani's famed Ram Rath Yatra of 1990 that ignited nationwide passions over Ayodhya's temple-mosque row. Nisar-ul-Haq, head of the department of political science, Jamia Millia Islamia, said Advani's yatra did not have much impact, though it was aimed at taking advantage of the atmosphere created by the anticorruption movement of Anna Hazare. He said it was linked to Advani's "desire to become prime minister. But there are many power centres in the BJP for the post of prime minister".
Indo-Pak trade the game-changer in Asia? By Subhash Chopra easures to expand trade among the eight member nations of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) agreed at the group’s 17th summit in Maldives will not only mark a new chapter for SAARC economy but could be a game changer in the region and beyond. Signals of improved trade and cooperative relations between India and Pakistan could transform the situation in Afghanistan and Central Asia with the revival of the Old Silk Route. Indo-Pak entente holds the key to peace and prosperity for the entire area. Pakistan’s promise of granting ‘most favored nation’ or MFN trade status to India, is significant far beyond its symbolism. Pakistan has granted MFN status to nearly 100 countries but is yet to grant the same to after holding back for more than a decade of being granted the MFN status by India. True, if implemented, the measure could almost immediately double the trade between the two countries from its current level of a little over $2 billion. In terms of trade it would still be peanuts compared with, say, IndiaChina trade level of over $60 billion. The MFN status, though important in its own weight, has far more importance in bilateral political and foreign relations. And not just bilateral relations, it has an equally great importance for Afghanistan. Opening
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of the Indo-Afghan trade route through Pakistan, which would be next on the cards, could be a real game changer for the entire region and beyond. India’s active support to Pakistan for a seat on the UN Security Council as a non-permanent member like India herself has been appreciated by Pakistan. So has been India’s support for Pakistan to gain concessional terms for exports to the European Union. Another fact that has gone un-noticed is that none of the opposition parties, except the fanatic fringe Lashkars and Jihadi outfits, has attacked the improvements in relations between the two countries. From the ruling PPP, MQM and ANP coalition to opposition Muslim League (Nawaz) and Muslim League (Q)—all have welcomed bilateral developments. Nor is this new bonhomie a flash in the pan. It is a steady fruition of older bottled up aspirations. It is the culmination of the earlier efforts of leaders of almost all power centers, including sometimes even the Armed forces. The Nehru-Liaquat pact of the early 1950s didn’t have time on its side because of the assassination of the Pakistan Prime Minister. Then followed a long interregnum of bitterness and three wars until the arrival of two young Prime Ministers -- Benazir Bhutto and Rajiv Gandhi -- who managed to establish a mutual rapport. But time once again was not on the side of peace as Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated in 1991. But
Benazir, inspite of her later tough stance on Kashmir for domestic reasons, saw the necessity of a new approach during her years of political exile from Pakistan. Speaking nearly three years before her assassination at a conference organized by the Hindustan Times in New Delhi in 2004, she put forward her vision thus: “I am looking at two soft borders. One is the Line of Control (in Kashmir), and one is a softer border over the whole of Indo-Pak gamut. Since India and Pakistan are divided (on) the solution of territory, we have suggested that this be looked at later. Let us instead look at how we can socially unite the people of Jammu and Kashmir, how we can culturally and economically unite the people of Srinagar and Muzaffrabad without going into the issue of whose territory it is.” Almost exactly, what I would like to call the Anglo-Irish approach to Northern Ireland .Break the territorial and sovereignty logjam first by establishing peace, goodwill and economic cooperation and following up with administrative and other steps. What we need is a Belfast -style Good Friday or Juma agreement. It won’t be easy as the Northern Ireland experiment has shown. Thirteen years of patient work even after Good Friday the experiment is still in progress. Given the positive signals of the last few months emanating from a cooperative civil and military establishment of Pakistan, it may not be a far fetched expectation to see
Signals of improved trade and cooperative relations between India and Pakistan could transform the situation in Afghanistan and Central Asia. General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani emulate the example of General Musharraf in view of the new realpolitik of Taliban threat and the need to usher in a new era of prosperity through trade for Pakistan and Afghanistan. The civilian leaders from President Zardari to Nawaz Sharif and other political leaders, except the militant fringe, are on the same page of peace with India, whatever their internal differences. Amen to the new peace initiatives which augur well not just for South Asia but extend to Central Asia and beyond. (Subhash Chopra is a freelance journalist and author of ‘Partition, Jihad & Peace— South Asia after bin Laden.’)
The views expressed in Op Eds are not necessarily those of The South Asian Times.
20
Diaspora
November 26-December 2, 2011
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Man jailed for tampering with British court records London: A 22-year-old Indianorigin man, who worked as a court clerk in Britain, has been jailed for taking bribes and tampering with records at the office where he worked. Munir Patel charged 500 pounds every time he removed drivers’ speeding conviction records at the Redbridge Magistrates’ Court,
The Sun reported Saturday. Police said Patel helped at least 53 people evade prosecution for driving offences. He was handed a three-year prison term under new bribery laws. He was also ordered to serve six years concurrently for misconduct in a public office. Patel, a resident of Dagenham, east London, was caught in a sting
operation when he bragged to an undercover journalist that he took bribes “all day long.” He was seen taking ten 50pound notes in return for clearing a motorist caught speeding. Patel pleaded guilty at the Southwark Crown Court to charges of bribery and misconduct in a public office.
Two Indians in Dubai jailed for one year for posing as CID staff Dubai: Two Indians in Dubai have been sentenced to one year jail term by the Dubai Criminal Court of First Instance for posing as CID staff and stealing a car, Dh1,200, a mobile phone and an iPod. SST, 30, and JKS, 26, were ordered to be deported after serving their jail terms. Another accomplice JSR, 41, was ordered to pay Dh1,000 for possessing a white Ford car despite knowing that it was stolen. According to the Dubai Prosecution, SST and JKS with the help of two others, robbed Toma Huaji, a Sri Lankan, and stole his car after stopping him and posing as CID staff on June 24. Huaji, a photographer, testified that at around 12 midnight while he was heading home, a black Lexus drove up from behind. driven behind made him a signal using the high light. “Initially, I did not pay attention but as the car drove up next to mine, the driver opened the window and asked me to stop. I stopped and two people got down
from the car. They were wearing the UAE national dress and aged between 35 to 40. One of them talked to me in Urdu and asked for my driving licence and the car’s card. I refused and asked them to prove their identity but they did not and claimed to be CID staff. As I took out my wallet from my pocket, one of them snatched it. I again asked them for their ID cards. Two others got down from the car and together started beating me. While lying on the road, one of them searched me. Two men drove away with my car which belongs to the company where I work and others ran away,” he testified. The victim went home and informed the police. Investigating the crime, the first accused, SST, was arrested on June 29 in Al Rifaa area, and the second accused, JKS, later in the day in Dubai Silicon area and the third JSR on July 1 around midnight at Al Rifaa area, testified Corporal Khalid Shehab. SST and JKS confessed to stealing the car after the victim bought from them a bottle of alcohol.
Kerala cabinet clears sops for diaspora Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala cabinet on Wednesday unveiled sops for the diaspora by clearing a special housing scheme for them and also lowered the minimum amount for equity in the proposed Kannur airport to allow mid-income diaspora to invest in it. Unveiling the new housing policy, Finance and Housing Minister K.M. Mani said it is a wrong notion that all the Kerala diaspora are rich. "There are so many from the diaspora whose dream of owning a house is yet to materialize and for that we have launched a trial scheme in Thrissur exclusively for the diaspora. It has been proved a success with many joining it. This scheme will now be replicated in other districts for the benefit of the not-rich diaspora," said Mani. The nodal agency for implementing the housing policy is the Kerala State Housing Board (KSBH) which extends subsidies to all the allotees who buy flats and houses build by the KSHB. "The diaspora will now get the benefit of subsidy. When it comes to allotment, the average diaspora would get the preference in exclusive schemes which will now be floated," said Mani. A recent study by the Centre for Development Studies here found that 2.1 million Keralites work
abroad with close to 85 percent in the Middle East, and of these close to 70 percent are not in the rich category. After the cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said that following repeated demands from several quarters, the government has decided to lower the minimum amount for acquiring equity in the proposed Kannur international airport from Rs.200,100 to Rs.50,000. "This was a long standing demand that the minimum amount be reduced so as to help many who want to invest in the Kannur airport. This was first cleared at the board of the airport and today the cabinet accepted the demand," said Chandy. Kannur International Airport Limited (KIAL) has already been registered and the Rs.1,200 crore airport would be built under a public-private initiative in an area of 2,000 acres near here at Mattanur in Kannur district. It is expected to open in 2013. There was a huge hue and cry from the diaspora when the previous Left government decided to fix the minimum amount at Rs.2,00,100 and when the Chandy government took over in May this year, they announced that they would ensure that even the ordinary diaspora can become an investor in Kannur airport.
Land of gods and ghouls: the Hindu connect in a Muslim nation Nusa Dua (Bali): The stylized figures from Hindu mythology and gnomes, fanged demons and animals, some towering, some not so: exquisitely crafted stone sculptures are as much a part of this Indonesian island - where Balinese Hindus comprise the majority of the island's population in this Muslim-majority nation - as the famed sun, sand and sea spray. Interestingly, many of the sculptures are covered in sarongs. Set amid the green fronds, the figures are wearing blue and white checked sarongs, dressed up much like the gods in some parts of India. From street corners to city squares, from hotel lobbies to sweeping driveways, the sculptures are part of the landscape, making Bali in many senses like an open air culture gallery, with aesthetics the leitmotif of everyday life. Amongst the most spectacular perhaps is the chariot scene from the Mahabharata, of Krishna and Arjun and horses straining at the mouth. The elaborately recreated scene greets you soon after you drive out of the airport as part of the media entourage of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Traders and missionaries came into the archipelago of Indonesia from India, China, Arabia and Europe, bringing along with them their cultures and religion. Over the centuries, the influences amalgamated and assimilated into the fabric of society. And nowhere is the Indian connection as evident as in Bali, where the Ramayana and the
Idol of Vishnu in one of the gardens in Nusa Dua
Balinese Hindus make for majority of the island’s population
Mahabharata are integral parts of the folklore and where Hindus are a major part of the population in this Muslim majority country. The guide tells you that she begins her day with the Gayatri Mantra and that today is the day of Saraswati puja. The stylized figures of the gods and goddesses, the dance dramas drawn from the epics and the small offerings at roadsides are further evidence of the civilization's reach.
You know that this is not the place for work when the receptionist informs you that newspapers are unlikely to come in before 10 a.m. The towering palms, the sandy beaches and the gentle sea breeze are invitation to drop the stresses of everyday life and just soak in the atmosphere. Alas that is not to be with Bali hosting the ASEAN and the East Asia Summit as well as several heads of state, ministers, officials and their security retinue.
Subcontinent TheSouthAsianTimes.info
21
November 26-December 2, 2011
Memogate: Pak envoy to US Haqqani resigns Washington: Pakistan's ambassador to the United States has resigned over claims that he sought Washington's help against his country's military. Husain Haqqani is accused of compiling a memo seeking US help to avert a military takeover in Pakistan following the killing of Osama Bin Laden in May. The ambassador denied the allegations, which were made by a USbased lobbyist. The row has put already tense relations between Pakistan's civilian and military leaders under severe strain. Mr Haqqani was summoned to Islamabad earlier this week and offered to resign after meeting Pakistan's top civilian leaders, the head of the army and intelligence service chiefs. State television said that his resignation had been accepted. The prime minister's office said Mr Haqqani had been asked to resign. "I have much to contribute to building a new Pakistan free of bigotry and intolerance," Mr Haqqani said in a Twitter message. "Will focus energies on that." Mr Haqqani, a close ally of
media raising new questions about the role of the military - and the US - in Pakistani politics. Imran’s role The issue has been complicated by the involvement of opposition politician and former cricketer Imran Khan.
Sherry Rehman takes over
Pakistan's ambassador to the United States Husain Haqqani is a close ally of President Asif Ali Zardari. President Asif Ali Zardari, has nessman Mansoor Ijaz, published repeatedly denied any role in draft- on 10 October. ing or delivering the memo. In it, Mr Ijaz said that President However, former US Joint Chiefs Zardari had offered to replace his Chairman Michael Mullen con- country's military leadership and firmed receiving a secret commu- cut all ties with militant groups folnication. But he said he did not pay lowing the killing of Bin Laden last any attention to it and took no fol- May. low-up action. It is far from clear that President The row over "memogate" origi- Zardari could deliver on either nates from a Financial Times arti- score. cle by Pakistani-American busiThe affair has led to the Pakistani
‘Apologise for 1971 atrocities’
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's ruling Awami League has sought a Pakistan apology for the atrocities and genocide in 1971. Dhaka: Bangladesh has demanded a formal apology from Pakistan for the atrocities carried out by its troops during the 1971 Liberation War. The demand came as the new Pakistani envoy called on foreign minister Dipu Moni here. "The foreign minister sought Pakistan's understanding and recognition of Bangladesh's position on resolving the outstanding issues including an expression of formal apology from Pakistan for the genocide and atrocities committed by the Pakistani military in 1971," a foreign office
He named Husain Haqqani as a player in the "memogate" affair at a large rally in Lahore on 30 October - before Mr Ijaz had brought his name into the public domain in the West. Mr Khan has yet to explain why he did so.
spokesman said. He said Moni also asked new Pakistani high commissioner Afrasiab Mehdi Hashmi to settle the issues of division of assets and war reparations saying, "early resolution of the outstanding issues would enable the existing friendly relations between Bangladesh and Pakistan to make a great leap forward and create a wider space for cooperation". A foreign office statement, earlier said Moni, however, conveyed her sympathies for the flood victims in Pakistan while she appreciated Afrasiab' s point that an enhanced level of people-topeople contact could go a long way towards promoting better understanding among the two peoples. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's ruling Awami League has sought a Pakistan apology for the atrocities and genocide in 1971 when as per official figures three million people were killed and over two lakh women were tortured by Pakistani troops and their Bengali-speaking collaborators. The country won the independence after nine months of Liberation War crucially backed by India.
Islamabad: Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani appointed lawmaker and former information minister Sherry Rehman as the country's new ambassador to the United States, an official said. The appointment came just hours after Gilani asked envoy Husain Haqqani to resign. "The Prime Minister has appointed Sherry Rehman as Pakistan's ambassador to the US," his press secretary Akram Shaheedi said. He said Rehman met Gilani in Islamabad, without giving any further details. Rehman, a lawmaker for the main ruling Pakistan People's
Party and a confidante of President Asif Ali Zardari, is considered one of the most liberal politicians in the country. Last year, she sparked fury among the conservative religious right by lodging a private member's bill seeking to abolish the death penalty for blasphemy after a Christian mother was sentenced to death.
‘US could’ve averted Mumbai attacks’ Washington: The 26/11 Mumbai attacks could have been averted if the then Bush administration had taken seriously the warning and threat perception of Lashkar-eTaiba's global operations by renowned French judge, a media report said. Jean-Louis Bruguiere met officials of the Bush administration in 2007 to inform them about the LeT's threat and Pakistan's double game, but US officials were not convinced by his argument , reported PBS's Frontline and ProPublica.
Bruguiere argument was based on his investigation of French LeT terrorist Willie Brigitte, who after being caught had confessed to involvement in a foiled bomb plot in Australia. During his investigation, the judge found that Brigitte's handler LeT handler was Sajid Mir, one of the key architect of the Mumbai terrorist attack. "When Bruguiere questioned Brigitte, the links between Lashkar-e-Taiba , Sajid Mir and Pakistan's intelligence service ISI began to unravel," the report said.
Sri Lankan HC jails ex-army chief
Colombo: A Sri Lankan high court sentenced former army chief Sarath Fonseka to three years in jail on Friday after finding him guilty of making a false allegation against the president's brother. Sarath Fonseka, who ran against President Mahinda Rajapakse in 2010 elections, is already serving a 30-month prison term after a court martial convicted him of irregularities in military procurements. The three-judge bench in a two-to-one judgment found Sarath Fonseka guilty of violating emergency regulations by "spreading rumors and causing public disorder" in an interview with a weekly newspaper. He had alleged that President Mahinda Rajapakse's brother, Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse, had ordered the execution of surrendering Tamil rebels in the final stages of Sri Lanka's separatist conflict in May 2009. One of the judges cleared Sarath Fonseka of all
Sarath Fonseka ran against President Mahinda Rajapakse in 2010 elections. three charges brought against him, court officials said. Fonseka has the right to appeal.
22
Business
November 26-December 2, 2011
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Rupee at record low, RBI intervenes Mumbai: India’s rupee snapped a seven-day decline on speculation the central bank sold dollars and as regulators moved to ease access to foreign exchange. The Sensex was in volatile mood too, shedding nearly 600 points, before recovering a bit. The rupee rebounded from a record low as some state-run banks sold dollars, according to J. Moses Harding, an executive vice president at IndusInd Bank Ltd. The Reserve Bank of India eased rules for currency swaps to boost the supply of dollars in the financial system. “The rupee opened lower this morning, and then we saw state-run banks selling dollars, seemingly at the behest of the Reserve Bank,”
The rupee touched an all-time low of 52.73 this week. The rupee advanced 0.4 percent
to 52.1250 per dollar as of 3:09
p.m. in Mumbai, after earlier sliding as much as 0.5 percent, according to data. It had touched an alltime low of 52.73. The Reserve Bank “can and will intervene” in the foreign- exchange market when it is consistent with its policy of ensuring that exchange-rate volatility doesn’t impair macroeconomic stability, Governor Duvvuri Subbarao told reporters in the southern city of Hyderabad yesterday. He said he can’t confirm if the central bank intervened. The RBI removed a $100 million limit on net foreign- exchange supply into the local market via currency swaps, according to a statement on the central bank’s website today. The decision will allow
companies with overseas income to sell more dollars in the local market, according to Standard Chartered Plc. “This is a move to free up limits so that corporates can sell dollars,” said Priyanka Kishore, a Mumbaibased currency strategist at Standard Chartered. “Some corporates had already reached their limits and so their banks could not execute orders to short the dollar.” The rupee lost more than 14 percent this year, the worst performance among Asian currencies, and is headed for the biggest decline since 2008. Implied volatility on one-month dollar-rupee options, a gauge of expected fluctuations, jumped 210 basis points this quarter to 13.60 percent, based on data.
2G scam: five corporate Aviation spooks FIIs; Jet, Kingfisher at 52-week low honchos get bail
(From left) Corporate executives Vinod Goenka, Gautam Doshi, Sanjay Chandra and Surendra Pipara at the Patiala House court in New Delhi. New Delhi: Seven months after they were taken into custody as co-accused in the second generation (2G) spectrum allocation case, the Supreme Court granted bail to five corporate executives on a surety of Rs.5 lakh each. The five are Sanjay Chandra of Unitech Wireless, Vinod Goenka of Swan Telecom as well as Reliance Group's Gautam Doshi, Surendra Pipara and Hari Nair. They are among the 14 individuals accused in the case, led by former telecom minister A. Raja. An apex court bench of Justice G.S. Singhvi and Justice H.L. Dattu said the five would be released on furnishing the surety to the satisfaction of the trial court, and that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) could seek a modification if the bail is misused. Their trial is being held by a special CBI court, presided over by Judge O.P. Saini. The five executives had challenged the earlier judgment and common order of the Delhi High Court delivered May 23 in which it had rejected their bail pleas, due to the magnitude of the offence and gravity of the accusations against them. The five, however, contended in the apex court that the rejection of bail by the high court was bad in law and that their contin-
ued incarceration amounted to a pre-trial punishment, which violated their constitutional right. "The courts below committed a grave infraction of the Article 21 of the Constitution as there is no evidence that the petitioner may frustrate the trial by tampering with the witnesses or the records." Their petitions said they were in no way connected in influencing the fixing of the allegedly low price for spectrum, revising the cut-off date for allocation of airwaves on a first-come-firstserved basis or any manipulation. The three Reliance executives contended that the trial court had failed to appreciate that there was no material on record whatsoever to show that they had any role in the transfer of control of Swan Telecom to the Dynamix Balwas Group, as alleged. The probe agency had filed the first set of charges April 2 in which it had named as accused Raja, his former personal secretary R.K. Chandolia, former telecom secretary Siddhartha Behura, Swan Telecom's Shahid Usman Balwa, Goenka and Chandra. It had also named as accused Reliance Group's Doshi, Pipara and Nair, besides three companies - Unitech Wireless, Swan Telecom and Reliance Telecom.
Mumbai: Foreign investors have cut their exposure to the three listed Indian air carriers, Jet Airways, Kingfisher Airlines and SpiceJet, amid concerns over escalating operational costs because of high crude oil prices, weakening rupee and other factors. According to stock exchange data, the holding of the Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) declined in all the three aviation firms during the July-September quarter of this year. Market analysts said airline stocks have become less attractive in recent past due to high operational costs, following a surge in fuel prices and the rupee depreciation. “FIIs are reducing their stake in the Indian aviation sector because of lack of clarity from the government’s part, coupled with high oper-
Market analysts said airline stocks have become less attractive in recent past due to high operational costs, following a surge in fuel prices and the rupee depreciation. ational cost following rise in jet fuel prices and depreciating rupee,” CNI Research CMD Kishor Ostawal said. According to a report in Mint, mounting liabilities of around Rs 84,0583 crore have weighed down collectively on Air India, Kingfisher Airlines, Jet Airways, JetLite and
SpiceJet. While state-run Air India has a total debt of Rs 48,000 crore, Jet Airways debt is pegged at Rs 19,602 crore, JetLite at Rs 2,197 crore, Kingfisher Airlines at Rs 12,668 crore, and SpiceJet at Rs 1,591 crore, the report said.
Adidas' $1 shoes soon in India New Delhi: Reebok International is working to develop a "sustainable business model" as part of its German parent Adidas AG's plans to sell "one dollar shoes" in India. After conducting a pilot test for 5,000 pairs of shoes of an existing design of Reebok in three villages in Bangladesh last year, the firm is now planning to apply the learnings in India in the next stage, which it has termed as 'Phase III'. "The focus of Phase III is the development of the actual product and the development of a sustainable business model to ensure the program's long-term success," Reebok International spokesperson Daniel Sarro told media. During this phase, Reebok will be testing the technical feasibility of producing a durable, functional and affordable shoes-based on learnings from the Bangladesh market. When asked if the shoes would be priced at one dollar as envisaged by Adidas CEO Herbert Hainer, Sarro said: "The price of the product is unknown at this time. However, the goal of the project remains to create an affordable product that meets the needs of the consumer." Having failed to get the desired result in its similar
The firm has conducted a pilot test for 5,000 pairs of shoes. attempt in Bangladesh, the company is ensuring that in India they are taking the right steps to overcome the challenges. "Based on the staffing challenges learned in the previous phase (in Bangladesh), phase III is being conducted in India, where Reebok has a central headquarters and a range of staff that can dedicate the time needed to develop the product and test the business model," he said.
International TheSouthAsianTimes.info
23
November 26-December 2, 2011
‘Million march’ deepens Egypt crisis Cairo: Egypt's ruling military moved up the date for transferring power to a civilian government by June 30 next year and consulted with political parties on forming a new Cabinet. Military ruler field marshal Hussein Tantawi told the nation in a televised address that the armed forces are prepared to hold a referendum on immediately transferring power to a civilian authority if people demand it. But tens of thousands of protesters gathered in Cairo's Tahrir Square immediately rejected Tantawi's proposal with chants of "erhal" , or leave, and threatened a "second revolution" . "We are not leaving, he leaves," chanted the protesters , demanding that military ruler field marshal Hussein Tantawi and his council of
Protesters gathered in Cairo's Tahrir Square with chants of ‘erhal’ , or leave. generals immediately give up power to a civilian transitional authority. "The people want to bring down the field marshal ," they shouted in scenes starkly rem-
iniscent of the uprising that ousted Hosni Mubarak nine months ago. Aboul-Ela Madi and Mohammed Selim el-Awa , two politicians who attended a five-hour crisis meeting
Libya's NTC unveils new govt Tripoli: Libya's National Transitional Council (NTC) named a new government with a line-up that dropped several seasoned officials in favor of appointees who will soothe rivalries between regional factions. On a visit to Tripoli, the International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor conceded that the captured son of Muammar Gaddafi, Saif alIslam, may be tried in Libya rather than in The Hague, meaning he faces the death penalty if convicted. The NTC faced the tricky task of forming a government which would reconcile regional and ideological interests whose rivalry threatens to upset the country's fragile stability, three months after the
Libyan Prime Minister Abdurrahim El-Keib. end of Gaddafi's 42-year rule. "All of Libya is represented," Prime Minister Abdurrahim El-Keib told a news conference as he unveiled the line-up. "It is hard to say that any area is not represented." Western countries, which backed the revolt against Gaddafi and have a big stake
in seeing his replacements succeed, welcomed the new government, saying it would guide the oil exporting country toward democracy. The NTC's choices to fill ministerial posts appeared to have put regional affiliation ahead of experience or a track record. The new cabinet will include as defense minister Osama Al-Juwali, commander of the military council in the town of Zintan. In a symbolic step for Libya, a deeply conservative Muslim society, the cabinet included two women, heading the ministries of health and social affairs. El-Keib said those appointments showed women enjoyed more equality than ever before.
with the military rulers, said the generals accepted the resignation of prime minister Essam Sharaf 's government and will form a "national salvation" cabinet to
replace it. Previously, the military rulers had floated late next year or early 2013 as the timetable for transferring power.
EU to slap sanctions on 200 Iranian firms Brussels: The European Union is eyeing sanctions on some 200 Iranian firms and individuals as Western nations tighten the screws on Tehran over its contested nuclear program, diplomatic sources said. The new measures would be announced by EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels on December 1, the sources said. "More than 200 extra names are to be added to the list" of sanctions against Iran, said one EU diplomat who asked not to be identified. Another diplomat said EU nations were debating whether to also target "new areas and industry sectors" but that no decision had been taken as yet. Asked if EU nations were split over such economic sanctions, the source said: "They're not divided over sanctions on entities and individuals." The discussions take place as the United
The new measures would be announced by EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels on December 1. States, Britain and Canada this week slapped new sanctions on Iran because of a report by the UN atomic energy watchdog strongly suggesting Tehran was researching nuclear weapons.
US, China face off over sea dispute Beijing: In a major test of its new, proactive Asia policy, the U.S. appears to have scored a diplomatic victory over China by forcing the contentious issue of the South China Sea onto the agenda of a regional summit despite Beijing's public objections. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao reluctantly discussed the issue with 17 other leaders at the East Asia Summit in Bali, Indonesia recently while restating China's position that it was an inappropriate forum to address the matter, according to U.S. and Chinese official accounts of the meeting. A senior U.S. administration official said Mr. Wen broached the issue, sounding "a little bit grouchy at first," after U.S. President Barack Obama and seven other leaders raised it directly. Seven other leaders talked about the broader problem of maritime security at a two-hour leaders' retreat.
China's state-run Xinhua news agency quoted Mr. Wen saying: "I don't want to discuss this issue at the summit. However, leaders of some countries mentioned China on the issue. It's impolite not to make a return for what one receives. So, I am willing to reiterate China's stance." The U.S. official said he detected some signs of greater flexibility in Mr. Wen's remarks, but a Xinhua commentary published Saturday indicated no change in policy. Some experts said Mr. Wen may have just toned down his language as a facesaving way out of the confrontation. China has long maintained that territorial disputes over the South China Sea—where its claims overlap with those of Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei—should be resolved bilaterally with each of the claimants, one by one. The U.S. and its allies in the region have been pushing for a mul-
tilateral approach that they say will help smaller countries counteract what they see as China's more assertive diplomacy and its growing military power. Beijing is particularly wary of other countries getting involved, especially the U.S., and was infuriated last year when U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton declared in a speech in Vietnam that the U.S. had a national interest in freedom of navigation in the South China Sea. The regional backlash gathered momentum this year after China was involved in a series of incidents at sea, and heated diplomatic exchanges, with Vietnam and the Philippines, which has a mutual defense treaty with the U.S. To help reassure the U.S.'s Asian allies, Mr. Obama unveiled plans last week to refocus U.S. foreign policy on the Asia-Pacific region and to bolster the U.S military presence there by stationing up to 2,500
China has long maintained that territorial disputes over the South China Sea should be resolved bilaterally with each of the claimants, one by one. Nations and of the broader East Asia Marines in Australia. As a result, the South China Sea Summit, which also includes the issue loomed large at last week's U.S., China, Japan, South Korea, meetings of the 10-member Australia, New Zealand, India and Association of Southeast Asian Russia.
24
Sports
November 26-December 2, 2011
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Dravid crosses 13,000 runs, Sachin misses 100th ton Mumbai: Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar's wait for his century of centuries in international cricket continued as he fell just six short of the landmark on the fourth day of the final Test against West Indies at Wankhede Stadium here. Tendulkar, resuming at overnight 67, came out aggressively and looked set to achieve the impending milestone. He struck three fours and a six to quickly reach the nervous nineties. But the ton eluded him as he was out to fast bowler Ravi Rampaul, caught in the second slip by West Indies captain Darren Sammy. Earlier, Rahul Dravid has become the second player in the world to score 13,000 runs in Test cricket, as as India were 398 for six on the fourth day of the third
Rahul Dravid missed his hundred by a mere 18 runs, though he crossed the thousand runs in the calendar year. and last cricket Test in reply to the West Indies' first-innings score of 590. Dravid missed his hundred by a
Butt and Aamer's appeals rejected
Pakistan's disgraced cricket trio London: Pakistan cricketers Salman Butt and Mohammad Aamer's appeals against their sentences for a spot-fixing scam were rejected. "The pair were not present at the Court of Appeal in London for the proceedings before the Lord Chief Justice and two other judges," BBC reported. Butt was jailed for 30 months while Aamer received a six-month term. Another fast fowler, Mohammad Asif, and cricket agent Mazhar Majeed were also jailed. They were sentenced over a plot to bowl deliberate no-balls in a Test match against England. The judges rejected a plea that
Butt's sentence was "manifestly excessive" and the argument that Aamer should have been given a suspended sentence. "Lord Chief Justice Lord Judge said if corruption continued, then the enjoyment of those who watch cricket would 'eventually be destroyed'." Butt was jailed for his role as the "orchestrator" of the plot to bowl deliberate no-balls in the Test at the Lord's cricket ground in London last summer. Aamer was detained for six months in a young offenders' institution after admitting bowling two intentional no-balls in the Test.
High time hockey got its due: Suneil Shetty Mumbai: World Series Hockey has announced Sporting Ace Pvt Ltd as owners of its Bangalore franchise. To be called 'Karnataka Lions', it will have Bollywood actor Suniel Shetty playing the role of chief mentor. Shetty, who has been associated with the cause of hockey in the past too - he was brand ambassador of the national game not so long ago - seems an ideal choice as he
also belongs to Karnataka (Mangalore, to be precise). "It's been all cricket in India till now, I think it's high time hockey got its due," Shetty added. Like cricket, Shetty wants hockey too to become a viable career option. "The game needs infrastructure, players need better salaries and exposure. I want this game to become a career option, like cricket."
mere 18 runs, though he crossed the thousand runs in the calendar year, and Tendulkar was still there batting on 67 and with him at
stumps was V.V.S.Laxman on 32. All the top-order Indian batsmen, barring Virender Shewag (37), got half-centuries, Dravid top-scoring with 82 (149 balls, 11x4) was involved in two good partnerships -- 71 for the second wicket with Gautam Gambhir and 86 runs for the third with Tendulkar. Gautam Gambhir (55) and Sehwag gave India the customary rousing start, knocking up 67 runs at over five runs an over, after offspinner Ravichandran Aswhin (5/156) picked up his second fivewicket haul as the West Indies innings came to a close within 15 minutes of the morning play. Sehwag brought up the 50 of the innings, greeting Darren Sammy with a huge six over the covers. Sammy, however, was rewarded for his accuracy in his third over
when he pitched it just short of driving length and it nipped back enough to rattle Sehwag's stumps. This was the third time the Indian opener was dismissed by the West Indies captain in the series. India were 74/1 at lunch break, and in the second session Gambhir and Dravid got going untroubled. Dravid reached the milestone of 13,000 runs with a classic drive for four off Sammy as he moved from 19 to 23. Gambhir reached his half-century with a lofted shot over mid-wicket off Sammy and a ball later struck the medium-pacer to the on for a four. Earlier, the West Indies, resuming at 575/9, survived just 3.1 overs before their innings folded up, last man Bishoo being bowled by Ashwin, who finished with five for 156.
Paes-Bhupathi to split at end of season Chennai: The 'Indian Express' duo of Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi will split again at the end of this season and would not compete together in the season-opening Chennai Open early next year, official sources said. "Paes and Bhupathi have decided to part ways at the end of this season. And Bhupathi would be pairing with Rohan Bopanna at the Chennai Open," M A Alagappan, president of Tamil Nadu Tennis Association, said. Paes was to partner Radek Stepanek but the latter has not yet promised his entry to the tournament so far, informed Alagappan, who is also the Organising Committee chairman of the Chennai Open. So, it is likely that Paes would either skip the event or pair with someone to be announced later. Paes and Bhupathi won the doubles title at the 2011 Chennai Open by
Paes and Bhupathi are the most successful Indian tennis doubles players with 23 Grand Slams between them. defeating the Dutch-American pair had been intense speculation that of Robin Hasse and David Martin they may part ways again. Paes and in the final. Bhupathi are the most successful Nearly a year after the pair had Indian tennis doubles players with got together after nine years, there 23 Grand Slams between them.
Shastri backs Bhajji for Australia tour New Delhi: Former India skipper Ravi Shastri has thrown his weight behind out-of-favor Harbhajan Singh, saying the offspinner should be included in the team for the upcoming tour of Australia as he has the "ability to get under their skin". Harbhajan has been off the selectors' radar after a stomach injury cut short his England tour during the second Test in Nottingham in July. He, however, recovered to lead the Mumbai Indians to the Champions League Twenty20 title in October, but was still ignored for the West
Indies series. But Shastri feels that Harbhajan should definitely be on the plane to Australia. "I will definitely call back Harbhajan. He's smelt the coffee against Australia more than anybody else. If you look at his record against Australia, it's better than anybody else," Shastri said. Harbhajan has failed to impress the selectors in the ongoing Ranji trophy in which he has managed to scalp only two wickets in three matches for Punjab at an average of 102.
Harbhajan Singh is going through a bad phase.
Rajasthan Focus TheSouthAsianTimes.info
25
November 26-December 2, 2011
One more Japanese zone coming up in Rajasthan By Prakash Bhandari/SATimes Jaipur: Neemrana in Alwar district in Rajasthan, which is not far from New Delhi, is slated to become a big hub for Japanese investments. The state government’s investment wing, Rajasthan Industrial Investment Corporation (RIICO), after the success of the Japanese Zone at Majarakath, will now develop a phase II for the Japanese investors at the Industrial Area within the National Capital Region (NCR). The meeting recently between the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) with the officers of State Government paved the way for such a complex. The JETRO delegation’s leader and its President, Hidehiro Yokoo, stressed that a phase II was required looking at the demand of land there by Japanese investors. Principal Secretary Industries and Chairman RIICO, Sunil Arora agreed in principle to provide 500 acres of land for the new phase of the Japanese zone. However, he emphasized that a time frame will be required for the land to be allotted in the new phase of the
The meeting between the JETRO delegation and State Government and RIICO officials. Principal Secretary Industries, Sunil Arora is third on the left and President JETRO, Hidehiro Yokoo is third on the right. Japanese zone. The JETRO delegation proposed three years, which was agreed upon. The exact location of the area will be decided shortly. The state government has got land but it will have to acquire more land from farmers to provide adequate infrastructure support for the second phase. Arora said that the NeemranaBhiwadi region was being wooed by many investors. He added that since gas line has reached
Family meets Pak virologist languishing in Indian jail By Prakash Bhandari/SATimes Ajmer: It was an emotional reunion for the Pakistani virologist Dr Khalil Chisti as his wife Mehrunnisa, two daughters and two grandsons came from Pakistan to meet him at the central jail here. For Mehrunnisa, resident of Karachi, and daughters Shoa Javed and Tasneem, it was a meeting they waited for many long years. "Both we sisters have grown up while my father was stranded in India and now in jail. You could imagine his happiness to see us and also the grandson who has come all the way from Jeddah where his father works. But Dr Chisti looked a broken man as he has no hope that he would be set free and return to Pakistan to be with his family again. He said all this in a trembling voice as he looked sick and alone,” said Soha Javed. The family has made a demand
for his release. A court in Ajmer had sentenced Dr Chisti to life imprisonment in April this year on charges of murdering one Idris in a group clash near the world famous Dargah of Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti. It was an altercation between cousins over some property dispute. Chisti was present when Idris died of the injury suffered during the scuffle. An appeal for suspension of sentence moved by Dr. Chisti in the Rajasthan High Court was rejected on the ground that he was a Pakistani national not worthy of “leniency”. Nineteen long years after the crime, Dr. Chisti languishes in jail. Several human rights organization, both in India and Pakistan, demanded the release of Dr Chisti on humanitarian grounds. The Supreme Court has asked the Union government to consider his release because of his age.
Neemrana, quality captive power at lower cost would be possible and that the State Government and RIICO would be happy to show around the area to the new Japanese investors. He hoped for a more proactive approach by the JETRO in getting the land allotted to Japanese companies. JETRO president Yokoo said that many medium and small Japanese industries had evinced keen interest in investing in
Rajasthan. He hoped existing concessions in the central sales tax would be extended for all new incoming Japanese companies in the agreed time frame. He was assured by Arora that the matter would be taken up in the suitable forum in the Government. C o m m i s s i o n e r- I n v e s t m e n t , Purushottam Agarwal informed the conclave that the hub under the Delhi- Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) near Neemrana is also being developed and it would give a boost and support to both the existing Japanese zone and the new one which would be developed. He also said that a logistics hub was being developed near Neemrana. Agarwal also invited Japanese investment in the proposed infrastructure projects in DMIC hub. He added that technical human resource would be sent to the Japanese companies for requisite training and internship, after which some of them could also be recruited by them. In October during a meeting with a high profile Italian delegation, RIICO proposed to build a similar Italian zone like the Japanese zone provided the state
received good investments from Italy. RIICO was successful in developing the Japanese zone in an expanse of 1166.63 acres. In all 124 plots ranging from 4,000 sq m to 40,000 sq m have been created and 20 plot allotments have already been made. According to the MD of RIICO, Rajendra Bhanawat, nine projects have already begun trial production. These are for manufacturing of automobile brakes components and assemblies, PP compounds, cylinder liners, air conditioners and chillers, and slide adjusters. And these projects have begun trial production also on this exclusive enclave for Japanese investment Yet, uncertainty looms over the first exclusive enclave in the country which has come up after RIICO reached an understanding with the JETRO to develop a zone on 1100 acres to attract Japanese investment. $ 450 million investments have already come to Neemrana from Japan because of tsunami. But it seems that the country of cherry blossom has emerged from the calamity and is gearing up for new vistas.
3 Indian entries among 7 finalists for world design impact award By Prakash Bhandari Jaipur: The world famous Jaipur Foot, Jaipur Knee and Jaipur limb of Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayta Samiti (BMVSS) are one of the seven finalists for the prestigious international “world design impact prize” of the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (ICSID). This award, in its inaugural year, aims to recognize, empower and stimulate socially responsible design projects and initiatives around the world. Significantly out of the 7 entries, three are from India. The seven finalists were chosen by ICSID members from 22 entries submitted. The top prize winner will be announced at the World Design Capital Design Gala on Feb 2, 2012 in Helsinki (Finland). Besides Jaipur Foot, Jaipur Knee and Jaipur Limb, the other finalists are Bahikhaata, Chulha (all from India), Community cooker (Kenya),
Kenya has issued a stamp on the Jaipur foot. innovation centre (Chile), N200 (Haiti) and Size China ( Hong Kong). In 1975, DR Mehta, former deputy governor of RBI and former SEBI chairman set up BMVSS to create an amalgam of Jaipur Foot Technology, special humane value system, patient centric management system and funding. Currently 20,000 limbs are fitted every year. By now, more than 4,00,000 Jaipur Foot and Jaipur Limbs have been given by BMVSS. Jaipur Foot and limb underwent numerous changes. For Jaipur Knee, Mehta signed an MOU with Stanford University,
which resulted in the development of one of the world’s 50 Best inventions in 2009, as per TIME Magazine. With Jaipur Foot / Limb, a belowknee amputee walks, runs, squats, climbs a tree /mountain, drives bike or car. Above knee amputee with Jaipur Knee is almost near him. Bahikaata is for women beneficiaries of micro financing, who are mostly illiterate. It gives them an easy way to handle their accounts without the help of a professional accountant. It’s project leader is Akshay Sharma of Virginia Tech. Chulha is a project co-developed with an Indian NGO. The Chulha stove has many advantages over a traditional stove. Locally produced and distributed, it is relatively cheap and easily made. It is easy to use and maintain, and is able to significantly reduce indoor and outdoor pollution. Its modular design makes it easier to manufacture and transport.
26
Health
November 26-December 2, 2011
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Living with diabetes iabetes cannot be treated but is managed, at times with as many as four insulin injections a day. New drugs and treatments offer promise of long-lasting insulin analogues that control blood sugar fluctuations without the painful frequent needle-pricks. “MSD announced the phase-2 trial of a new oral gliptin to be taken just once a week. “It’s from the sitagliptin (Januvia) stable, which was the first in a new class of oral, once daily diabetes drugs used to treat people whose type-2 diabetes cannot be controlled with conventional drugs such as metformin or glitazone,” says Dr Ambrish Mithal, chairman of the division of endocrinology and diabetes at Medanta. Drugmakers Eli Lilly’s drug Bydureon allows for a once-weekly dosing. Bydureon contains the same ingredient as Lilly's Byetta, the blockbuster twice-daily injection that was launched in 2005 and generated US $710.2 million in global sales in 2010. “The developmental push is towards drugs that lower frequency of administration to make compliance better. Too much insulin, for example, can cause hypoglycemia, where the brain is not getting enough glucose,” says Dr Mithal. Early data from Novo Nordisk’s ultra-long acting insulin Degludec shows it may be effective for 48 hours. In India, National Institute of Immunology director Dr Avadhesha Surolia and his team are working on very long-lasting insulin
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which successfully maintained near-normal blood glucose levels in animal models for as much as 120 days. With over 50 million diabetics, the diabetes medication is the fastest growing pharmaceutical segment in India, worth R3,188 crore a year in August 2011, doubling from 1,695 crore in August 2008, shows ORGIMS data. The market for insulin, being taken by 2 million people in the country, is worth another Rs 890 crore. Since the 1920s, people with diabetes have depended on insulin— which prepares cells to admit glucose from the blood — when their insulin-producing pancreatic cells either self-destruct (type-1 diabetes) or stop producing insulin over time (type-2 diabetes). “Insulin pumps have already replaced more painful injections to deliver insulin continuously through a little plastic catheter under the skin. The pump can be programmed to suit different diets and exercise profile and leads to better blood-sugar control,” says Dr Anoop Misra, director, department of diabetes and metabolic diseases, Fortis Hospitals.“Discovery that incretin hormones produced in intestine decrease blood sugar has revolutionised diabetes treatment as these drugs do not cause as much hypoglycemia (low sugar) as sulphonylureas. Injectable drugs also lead to significant weight loss and have been in use in India for three to five years,” says Dr Misra.
Dracula therapy to help you fight ageing or ages, blood sucking has been the preserve of vampires, but medical science has now put 'dracula therapy' to good use - to fight ageing. A test tube full of your own blood could be used to get rid of wrinkles, say doctors. "Dracula therapy, as the name suggests, is a therapy that uses blood. We extract nearly 1520 ml (a test tube) of blood from the person's body, and after processing it with growth hormones in a laboratory, the blood is injected on the person's face," A.S. Bath, head of plastic and cosmetic surgery at BLK Super Speciality Hospital in New Delhi, said. Platelet rich plasma (a component of blood) is extracted from the blood, after which drugs are used to release a growth factor in it. The fresh solution is then injected on the face using micro-needles after applying local anesthesia. "The concept is that your own blood with additions of
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growth hormones will help stimulate the growth of fresh cells, DNA repair, heal scars and treat wrinkled skin without any chemicals or surgical procedure. And that too there are just three sittings required without any hospitalization," Bath explained. Apart from being noninvasive, the technique also reduces the chances of allergic reactions as the body gets back its own blood. Introduced in Britain by Daniel Sister, the technique has found many enthusiasts in India, say doctors. Women who had been opting for botox and laser thera-
py now have a painless technique to vouch for, feel experts. "We have conducted eight such therapies in the last three months. Botox paralyses the facial muscles to stop wrinkles. But with dracula therapy, your own blood is used to replenish the damaged skin cells, making the skin look babysoft and natural," said Datinderjeet Singh Tulla, consultant at the department of plastic and cosmetic surgery at the same hospital. A single sitting for the therapy costs around Rs.25,000. And the trend is catching up among women in their 30s who have the urge to look their best in the social space. "It would be wrong to say that it's just a trend in the West to try cosmetic surgery. In urban India, people now want to fight ageing and score with looks wherever possible," Tulla says, adding that his clients have ranged from a hospital nurse to a documentary filmmaker.
40,000 Zimbabwean men circumcized in a year to prevent AIDS ore than 40,000 Zimbabwean men have been circumcised so far since the program began in 2010, in a bid to reduce the risk of HIV. Officials from the ministry of health and child welfare attributed the high statistics to widespread health awareness campaigns carried out in the southern African country. Zimbabwe has set a goal of circumcising 1.2 million men by 2015. Circumcision reduces the risk of HIV in men by approximately 60 percent.
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Sinokuthemba Xaba, Zimbabwe's national male circumcision coordinator, said preparations were under way for the launch of a neonatal circumcision program, where the medical procedure will be performed on male babies right after they are born. He said the neonatal male circumcision would also be done free of cost. He urged the people -- men as well as women -- to use condoms meant for both sexes, and remain faithful to their partners to avoid HIV.
Lip care for winter season ere are some tips on how to keep your lips soft and crackless in winters. Moisture: Take special care of your lips to maintain its requisite moisture level. It is important to moisturize your lips on a regular basis to keep them soft and smooth. Timely care: Use good quality lip oil and apply it at regular intervals. Lips are very sensitive and need regular care. Also, eating a good diet keeps them healthy in winters. Before sleep: Always remove lipstick from lips before sleeping as the ingredients of the lipstick tend to effect the lip texture and make them rough. Also, apply some lip oil to moisturise them at regular intervals. Use olive oil or almond oil, as they nourish the lips effectively. Don’t bite: Never bite dry skin off the surface of your lips. Instead try to soften them by using lip butter. It is always good
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to exfoliate your lip surface with honey and sugar mixed together or with your tooth brush. Nourishment: A good intake of vitamin B will nourish your lips and you will never face the problem of cracked lips. Have food items containing vitamin B, such as green vegetables, eggs, cheese, egg yolks and brown rice.
Lifestyle TheSouthAsianTimes.info
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November 26-December 2, 2011
Turn on unisex fashion this winter s winter knocks on the door, stock up on a mix of bold colors and experimental designs that suit both genders, say experts. Coats, jackets, dresses, hats and scarves and even a mix of Indo-Western will be the major trends this season. Designer Nida Mahmood, known for her flair for creative and dramatic creations, stresses on androgyny fashion for this winter. "Androgyny and color blocking is very much in trend and looks great. This season is all about teaming jackets with sharp trousers, ruffled blouses or buttoned-up shirts. Also, shoulders and high waist are the highlights of the androgyny look, and going metallic with colors is also a cool idea," Nida said. "A smart trend which will hit the fashion markets are clothes inspired by the 1940s style. While long lengths are prominent this season, full sleeves, floor length dresses and skirts teamed with buttoned-up collars tops are going to set the mood," she added. Mahmood's fashion tips were
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Shorts jackets and stylish tops. more for the bold girl who doesn't mind experimenting. But if you are one of those who like to stick to feminine silhouettes, try dresses, accessorized with belts and leather jackets. "For those who want sophistication, metallic dresses, red carpet gowns and pencil skirts, teamed with belts and leather jackets can
do wonders. To add fun, go for hats of different varieties like berets, beanies, cloches and caps," advised designer Jatin Varma. Designer Archana Kochhar suggests the Indo-Western look. "Color blocking is an excessive trend which can't go wrong regardless of either an Indo-Western outfit or a complete desi garment. As
for prints, floral, spotted and wild prints will continue to be in fashion. But I feel vintage prints will have a special significance in inspiring trends," Kochhar said. The regulars like the coat and jacket will obviously be around. "Top picks for the winter season will be a smart hat, gloves, high boots, an overcoat and woollen scarf. Maxi coat, double-breasted short jackets will be in vogue. Feminine blouses with bows or scarves are impressive. Not to forget leather which is also a hit this winter," said designer Kapil Arora of label Kapil and Monika. Also, unlike common perception that embellishments are best kept for summer, Mahmood feels such add-ons lend a style quotient to winter garments. Designer Pam Mehta suggested, "Layering can make you look glamorous. And accessories like crystal belts, chunky necklaces, earrings and head pieces can be good options, and embroidered bibs can also jazz up the usually plain necklines." If girls have so many options,
Champagne goes equally well with roti? We traveled to 13 cities and showcased local food with a modern twist.” Try these signature recipes the next time you pop open a bottle, first by Vineet Bhatia and second by Renji Raju, also with Ziya, Oberoi.
Crisp roti wrapped lobster with tempered idli chat ichelin-starred chef Vineet Bhatia feels champagne is “unnecessarily restricted as a luxury drink” when it can be used more regularly with Indian food. “It’s a myth that Indian food doesn’t go well with champagne,” he says, adding “Sour, crispy and light Indian food is not acidic and hence it can go well with champagne.” The chef also recommends usage of coriander and curry leaves in food items that are not too creamy and milky. Bhatia, who runs Ziya at the Oberoi in Mumbai, recently prepared an elaborate Indian meal to go with Dom Perignon champagne for a dinner hosted by Queenie Singh. His eclectic Indian meal- champagne combination garnered appreciation from Sushmita Sen, Bandana Tewari, Natasha Poonawala, Kabir Bedi and others who had come for the dinner. Though this was an invitation-only affair, foodies can now get a taste of Bhatia’s signature dishes, which are available on prior order at Ziya. Ask him why he didn’t partake in Masterchef India this year, he says, “I was doing another travel-food show for Fox History called the Twist of Fate.
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Ingredients Lobster 1,500 gm; Fresh coriander 10 gms; Fresh chilli garlic sauce 20 gms; 2 curry leaves; 8 chopped gingers; 20 shreds of spring roll sheet; idli 300 gms; 1 litre oil for frying; 1 cumin seed; 1 mustard seed; 6 green chillies; 0.5 gms turmeric; 2 gms red chilli powder; 100 chopped ; 150 chopped tomatoes; tamarind pulp 20 gms; tomato ketchup 40 gms. Directions For Crisp Lobster: Clean the lobster and de-shell it. Make a marinade by mixing coriander stems, chilli garlic sauce, and chopped curry leaf, chopped ginger. Marinate the lobster with it and keep aside for one hour. Finely shred the spring roll sheet, roll the lobster in the shreds and press tightly. Line a clean tray with butter paper and keep the wrapped lobster refrigerated for three hours For tempered idli chaat Heat oil, add mustard seed and let them crackle. Then add cumin seeds,chopped green chillies, curry leaf and turmeric. Add finely chopped onion and saute it till it is brown. Add chopped tomatoes and red chilli powder. Add the idli to the above mix sprin-
kle tamarind pulp and tomato ketchup. Saute the idli gently and finish with fresh chopped coriander leaves. For assembly Heat oil deep fry the lobster. On a flat plate arrange the idli one behind the other. Place the crisp lobster on the side garnished with fresh coriander. (serves 10)
Long coats for winter. why should men be left behind? Designer Sunneet Kapoor says military style coats, jackets, pleated trousers and bold pocket squares are making a huge comeback, apart from the usual Nordic motifs, stripes and check prints. For accessorizing, he said: "Men have restricted styles available but one can add variety to their wardrobe by adding accessories like a good watch, scarves and elegant brooches. Also, canvas shoes and loafers can work well for men this winter."
It's now 4.74 degrees of separation
Wild mushroom chestnut vaati with idli chat Ingredients Shitake 100 gms; white fungus 75 ; black fungus 75 gms; button mushroom 1 00 gms; porcini 50 gms; oyster mushrooms 100 gms; chilli garlic sauce 50 gms; chopped coriander 3 gms; filo sheet 100 ; idli 300 gms; oil 1 gm, 1 cumin seed; 1 mustard seed; 6 green; turmeric 0.5 gms; red chilli powder 2; onion 100 pieces chopped; 150 chopped tomato; tamarind 20 gms, tomato ketchup 40 gms. Method Soak white fungus and black fungus and shitake and porcini. Chop them into small dices Sautee the mushrooms in oil. Add chilli garlic and chopped potato. Keep aside to cool. Cut the filo sheets in rectangles of 10 x 10 cms. Apply butter on each filo sheet. Put them into a ring mould. Bake the filo sheets at 170 centigrade till they turn light brown in color. Assembly In a round plate place the filo basket in towards the edge of one corner. Fill the filo basket with sautéd mushroom. Arrange the idlis one behind another on the plate. (serves 10)
New data suggests Facebook users are more connected than ever. n the Facebook age -when digital "friends" are just a click away -the distance between people seems to be shrinking, according to data the social network released this week. The adage maintains there are "six degrees of separation" between any two people on Earth, meaning that any two people would know each other through no more than six intermediary contacts. On Facebook, however, the average user is only 4.74 degrees away from
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any other Facebooker. "Thus, when considering even the most distant Facebook user in the Siberian tundra or the Peruvian rainforest, a friend of your friend probably knows a friend of their friend," Facebook wrote in a blog post about its findings. That conclusion comes from a non-peer-reviewed study of 721 million active Facebook users, released by Facebook in collaboration with the Università degli Studi di Milano, the blog post says.
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Humor
November 26-December 2, 2011
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Humor with Melvin Durai
Many reasons to be thankful 've always enjoyed Thanksgiving in America, because it reminds everyone to be thankful. Just go to any home on Thanksgiving Day and you will meet people who are thankful -thankful they have an opportunity, in this great country, to stuff themselves with food. Yes, many people spend the entire day being thankful. I wish everyone around the world could be just as thankful -and not just once a year. There are many reasons to be thankful. Here are just a few: Be thankful if you have food on your plate, if you aren't constantly hungry, if you don't lick your lips whenever you spot your neighbor's Chihuahua. Be thankful if you have an unlimited supply of water, if your plants don't have to be that thirsty, if your children don't have to be that dirty. Be thankful if you enjoy freedom of speech, if you can write a book portraying the president as a horse's behind, if you don't have to extricate the book from yours. Be thankful if you have freedom of worship, if you can attend a church, temple or mosque without any fear, if no one stones you when you wear your "Elvis is
benefits, if the boss touching you isn't one of them. Be thankful if you have a roof over your head, if it's wide enough to cover your belongings, if it's long enough to cover your toes. Be thankful if you have a means of transportation, if you can take your family anywhere
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they want, if you sometimes feel like a preacher, saving their soles. Be thankful if you're able to help others, if you can afford to feed or educate a child, if you can do it without a court order. Be thankful if you're a human being, if you're ready for Thanksgiving dinner, if you're sitting at the table, not on it.
Laughter is the Best Medicine
king" T-shirt. Be thankful if you're smarter than the average teen, if you can find Oman, Sudan, Kenya and Samoa on a world map, if you don't think they're parts of speech, as in: "Oman, I'm Sudan tired! Kenya give me Samoa water?" Be thankful if you have health insurance or free health care, if you can see a doctor anytime you wish, if your doctor isn't sitting in front of a web camera in Bangalore. Be thankful if you don't face discrimination, if the country
club doesn't reject you because of the color of your skin, if the attractive musician doesn't reject you because of the color of your teeth. Be thankful if you have a loving family, if they accept you the way you are, if they're willing to forget the way you were. Be thankful if you have no serious addictions, if you can survive an entire week without smoking, drinking or gambling, if you show no signs of withdrawal, not even when visiting the bank. Be thankful if you have a decent job, if it comes with many
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
Now, your smartphone too can be a robot! Washington: Scientists have now come up with a new concept, which allows a robot to use smartphone as its brain. The powerful robot called 'Romo', developed by the folks at Romotive, is based on a quite simple concept. You just need to put a wheeled chassis on a smart phone or iPod Touch that allows for using the device as the 'brain'. Since the controls are contained entirely within the phone, they can be
downloaded as apps, Discovery News reported. One can even add new physical capabilities to Romo, such as a claw, or a scoop but that does not require any new additions to the phone. Also, the controls are through the headphone jack, which apparently simplifies the design and means that the robot can be linked with several brands of smart phone.
Sabeer Bhatia launches free SMS app Jaxtr New Delhi: Sabeer Bhatia, the founder of Hotmail.com, on Tuesday launched JaxtrSMS, a mobile application that lets users send unlimited free text messages to any other phone anywhere in the world. He claimed JaxtrSMS is the world's first mobile-based application for sending SMS that is completely open as the recipients do not need to have the app installed. It is already available as a free download for all major mobile operating systems - iOS, Android, Blackberry and J2ME. In fact, users in 197 countries have already downloaded the app within a few weeks since the soft launch, said Bhatia, who is CEO &
co-founded Jaxtr with Yogesh Patel in US. JaxtrSMS is unique in that a mobile user can send a text SMS to any mobile phone in the world without requiring the receiver to have the JaxtrSMS application installed on her phone. This "open" facet of JaxtrSMS distinguishes it from other free mobile messaging applications such as Whatsapp where messages can only be sent within a closed network to people who also have the same app installed. JaxtrSMS retains the number of the user and no new number is required while signing up for the JaxtrSMS service.
Astrology TheSouthAsianTimes.info
November 26-December 2, 2011
By Dr Prem Kumar Sharma Stars Foretell: Nov. 26-Dec. 2, 2011 Aries: This week travel would promote new romantic connections. Important people around you would appreciate your ideas. Relationship with the opposite sex would be highly cordial and pleasant. Spend some exciting time with family members and relatives. Your ability to converse intelligently would help you seek favours. You can easily double your financial gains if you play your cards well. Taurus: This is an excellent period to show your knowledge and skills. You should go ahead with new plans and finalize important deals. Children would give you happiness and comfort. This is also the perfect time for romance, pilgrimage and even seeking favors. Financial gains from past investments would roll in, but not at the rate you might expect. Gemini: Travel and learning should be on your agenda this week. For some, a change in residence would prove highly lucky. Your income would rise and you would spend lavishly on family members and friends. Be cautious while handling sophisticated equipment or entering a new alliance. Your ideas would bring you rewards. Cancer: This week you are likely to be asked to handle additional responsibilities. Your outgoing nature would work to your advantage as you gain favours from others. Business trip might prove unproductive. Exercise caution while dealing with colleagues and important clients. Not a favorable period for romantic alliance. Speculation will prove highly beneficial. Spiritual gains for some. Leo: This week your partner expects a lot from you, which seems to add pressure on your mind. Do not sign any legal documents or any other papers pertaining to property. You need to take some time off and go for little recreation towards the weekend. This period is also not very good for romance or those seeking a matrimonial alliance. A close friend will try to do the unexpected. Virgo: Discuss your objectives with experienced people to benefit this week. Your intellectual charms would win heart and bring you opportunities that you least expected. Visiting a place of worship would bring peace of mind. Businessmen and those starting a new venture stand to gain. Residential moves would prove to be highly hectic and expensive. Libra: This week money matters would take high priority and new ventures would be highly alluring. Students need to concentrate on their career and plan for the year ahead. Be at your best behaviour and precise in your communication when meeting influential and important people.
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Take firm decisions regarding office matters. Be careful not to say anything that will offend others. Scorpio: Colleagues would appreciate you because of your skills and talents. Good period for materializing real estate and financial transactions. Unexpected gains on the money front are quite likely. A long journey concerning work is on the cards for some of you. Renovation or purchases made for your home would pay off in the long run. Be careful while driving. Sagittarius: This week support from friends and family members would generate new confidence into you. Pending correspondence should be completed immediately, but be precise and honest when writing to the one you love. Personal needs and requirements would increase but gains from unexpected sources would take care of the financial obligations. Close relatives might try to force their opinion on you. Capricorn: Do not trust others with important information. Matters related to property, partnerships and new ventures would work to your advantage. Maintain a positive approach to reap maximum benefits during this period. Children and youngsters would demand attention. A new romantic affair is likely for some of you. Go out with friend, as you need to relax towards the weekend. Aquarius: Concentrate on your efforts and rewards will follow by themselves. A stable period of growth and prosperity. This is also the right time for establishing new contacts, participating in charity and social work. Affairs of the heart would be pleasant and highly enjoyable. Work with people who are creative and enterprising. Friends will understand your problems and your needs. Pisces: This is going to be a highly rewarding period for women. An unexpected achievement or news would bring in happiness for you and the entire family. Also prepare yourself for favourable changes at your work front. Children would look forward to some of your time. Some situation might be blown out of proportion, which might bring tensions at home.
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 26 You are governed by the number 8 and by the planet Saturn. You are also influenced by the Moon. Full of energy and enthusiasm, you like to undertake big projects. In the coming year, you will have to give up your lethargic tendency, if you have to achieve success in the projects that you undertake. You will get many opportunities, and it is up to you, how much advantage you can take of these opportunities, which come your way. Family and loved ones, will play an important part in your life. You will go all out to give the best to your family members. You do not like to reveal your sentiments and emotions, even to your loved ones. Sometimes, this creates misunderstandings. Try to express your love and emotions, this will do wonders for you. You are easily attracted towards the opposite sex. The months of May, November, January and Nov will bring in prosperity. November 27 You are governed by the number 9 and dominated by the planet Mars. You are also influenced by the Moon. You have a high imaginative power and you will use this to your fullest advantage, in the year ahead of you. Your imagination and new ideas will catch the attention of your seniors, who will be impressed with your creativity. But you will have to take care of your moody nature. You tend to be unpredictable in your thoughts and actions. You also try to dominate over others. By imposing your views on your colleagues, you tend to upset them. In love matters, you will have to be careful. Take a step forward, only when you are sure of a positive response from the other end. A little care for the sentiments of your love partner or your spouse, will do wonders to bring harmony and peace in your married life. The months of August, December and February will be highly eventful. November 28 You are dominated by the number 1 and the Sun. The planet Moon, also has a strong influence on you. Will power and determination are striking traits of your nature. You will go all out to achieve, what you want to. The coming year, will bring prosperity in whatever projects you undertake. You will be able to complete these with full sincerity and dedication. You will spend a lot of your time, doing charity for the under privileged and the handicap, in the coming year. This will give you ultimate satisfaction. You are unable to express your emotions, and keep your feelings to yourself. Sometimes, this results in people misjudging you for being cold and reserved. Try to mingle more freely with your friends. You are also advised , to be careful with money matters. The months of June, August, February and Nov will be highly significant. November 29 You are dominated by the planet Moon. You are also governed by the number 2. You are intelligent and are blessed with an aptitude for business. Your ability to think deeply and then take any action, will be an asset for you in the coming year. You will be blessed with good fortune and good money, in the year ahead of you. But, you will have to control your moody nature. You have to make the best of your courageous nature, which will allow you to overcome any obstacle that may come your way. But try not to take matters to the extreme. You must keep a balance in life and not get carried away by
your emotions. The months of August, November and Nov will be highly significant. November 30 You are governed by the number 3 and by the planet Jupiter. You are also influenced by the Moon. Your vivid imagination and a huge creative sense which makes most of you successful as a writer, actor or a musician. Those of you in the teaching and the writing line, could expect to see success, in whatever project you undertake, in the coming year. You will travel to distant lands in the year ahead of you. Travel to places of pilgrimage, is also not ruled out. Financially, it will be a good year, for most of you. Some of you can expect to inherit property from your ancestors. You will be full of energy and enthusiasm in your work and you will have the capacity to overcome any obstacle that may come your way. But sometimes, you tend to get restless and impatient. The months of July, December and March will be highly significant. December 1 Governed by number 1, and the Sun, you are assertive, authoritative, dignified, determined and dashing person. You have lot of in built talents and you can easily impress others with your dedication and hard work, but you need to control your tendency to dominate and overspend. Your coming year sees you gain from the improving economy. New ventures and plans would improve your financial status. Your investments will multiply and yield good profits. Matrimonial alliance for some towards the end of the year, while others would find romance to keep them going. Children would win laurels and make you feel proud. Swimmers and athletes would scale new heights in their professional career. Pending legal matters would end satisfactorily, giving you mental relief. Chronic patients would need to take extra care of their health. Meditation and yoga would help immensely. July, November and February will prove highly significant. December 2 Influenced by number 2 and the Moon. You are active, smart, energetic, responsible, systematic and a friendly person. You are never satisfied until you achieve your dreams. You can really do wonders with the given opportunities but you need to check your tendency to behave stubborn and fickle-minded at times. New sources of income will improve your financial position. New contracts will be highly beneficial. Frequent and fruitful journeys will be undertaken bringing you desired results. A property transaction or acquiring a new vehicle during this period seems likely. Visit to a religious place or blessings from a spiritual person will be high on your agenda. Your outgoing nature will work to your advantage as you gain favors and benefits from important people. The months of October, November and March will bring prosperity.
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Spiritual Awareness
November 26-December 2, 2011
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Make a commitment to give and serve others Part two of the discourse on the occasion of Thanksgiving realize that whatever we have is a gift of the Lord. We also realize that all creation is part of our family, as brothers and sisters in God. Just as we freely share what we have with our parents, children, or siblings, in the same way we see all as our family and freely share with them. We are then generous not only to our own family but even to strangers. We no longer consider anyone a stranger. We are then ready to give to anyone who needs our help.
By Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj nother example of this spirit of giving is illustrated in the life of Sant Darshan Singh Ji Maharaj. During the partition of India, train service was not running as usual. Sant Kirpal Singh Ji informed Sant Darshan Singh Ji that the health of their Master, Hazur Baba Sawan Singh Ji Maharaj, was failing and he should come immediately to see Hazur. Sant Darshan Singh Ji rushed to the train station in Delhi to catch a train to Beas. Unfortunately, the last train was already packed, and the gates to the train were closed. Being athletic and determined to get on that train, Sant Darshan Singh Ji climbed the fence. There were absolutely no seats left in any train compartment. Thus, he had to ride along with other passengers on the top of the train. The ride took many hours. At night, the temperature dropped and it grew colder. As Sant Darshan Singh Ji rode on the top of the train, he noticed a man who had no coat. The man was shivering tremendously. Sant Darshan Singh Ji, moved by compassion, took off his own coat and wrapped it around the shivering man. As a result, Sant Darshan Singh Ji had to bear many hours of being in the cold night air, with the wind whipping around him. As a result, Sant Darshan Singh Ji contracted chronic asthma. This asthma plagued him for many years to come. But, as is the case of all saints, he put the needs of others before his own needs. His compassion for the suffering of others was so great that he gave of himself, even if it meant he had to sacrifice his own health, his own time, his own money, or his own comfort. Such cases are just a few examples of the long history of saints giving of themselves to help others. As we advance spiritually, we become immersed in the love of God and are filled with a neverending stream of bliss coming from within. This love is so great that we no longer feel pleasure from the outer gifts of the world or for wanting things for ourselves. We then
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As Sant Darshan Singh Ji Maharaj said in a verse: Others have disowned their kith and kin, But I have made even strangers my very own.
anymore. There is no such thing as a stranger. We experience that the same Light of God shining in us is in all other people. We feel connected to all other human beings as if we were all one family of God. We love others and want to help them. We turn a new page in our life and begin to help everyone. We live by the principle that Sant Kirpal Singh Ji lived by which said, “I have come to serve all.” The more we meditate, the more we develop this angle of vision. Then, one day, we too will be filled with extreme generosity and will share whatever we have with all creation. Let Thanksgiving not just be a day in which we thank God and our family for our many gifts. Let this be a day in which we make a com-
ing as a humble vessel through which God’s grace can flow to reach others. We are not doing seva for our own gains, but doing so in the name of God and the Master. During these moments, we are humble. We are spending our time engaged in helping others. What is more, we are spending our life’s breaths engaged in activities that do not create any new karma. When we act in our own name, we are creating karma. Even when we do good deeds we are accumulating good karma for which we must stay in the physical world to reap physical rewards. If our aim is to wind up karmas in our lifetime, then we do not want to come back to this physical realm. Any karma, whether for good deeds or bad deeds, requires us to reap rewards
the gallows could be reduced to a pin prick. Third, the Master lays out a path by which we can avoid incurring further karmas. He tells us that daily meditation on the inner Light and Sound can help burn away new karmas we create just by the process of living. Each day, without intending to do so, we may step on insects, drive over insects or tiny creatures, kill microscopic life forms just by breathing, and take the lives of plants given by God to eat for food. Even though killing plants incurs the least karma of all living things, there is still some karma. Thus, each day we are adding karma just by virtue of being human. By meditating, we can burn off the added karma we create each day. Also, when we
How can we inculcate the virtue of giving in our own lives? We can give in many ways. We can give physically, intellectually, emotionally, financially, and spiritually. Sant Darshan Singh Ji is saying that most people feel obligated to help their families. We mostly focus on our immediate family who lives in our household such as our parents or children. Then, we go out of our way due to family obligations for our brothers and sisters, our aunts and uncles, our grandparents, or our grandchildren. But beyond that, most people stop. They think that the problems of people who are not related to them are the problems of other people’s families. We often only give out of social obligation at the time of Christmas or Thanksgiving to organizations that collect money for the poor. We may donate to an organization that provides toys to needy children or toiletries to needy families. We may open up our pockets at the time of an international disaster such as a flood, hurricane, tsunami, earthquake, volcano, or fire. Some people do this because “everyone else is doing it,” and they do not want to be perceived as being selfish. But beyond these occasions for giving, we seldom consider the need to help a stranger. It is only when we meditate and rise above consciousness of this physical world to travel as soul in the spiritual realms beyond that we gain a new awareness. We begin to see that we are not separate people
mitment to give and serve others. We should not be like a sponge in which we soak up all the gifts from others. We need to squeeze the sponge so that the water within us flows out to others. How can we inculcate the virtue of giving in our own lives? We can give in many ways. We can give physically, intellectually, emotionally, financially, and spiritually. There are two areas of the introspection diary designed to help us develop the qualities of giving and selflessness. One area of the diary lets us record the number of times we fail per day in a particular virtue. One of these is selfless service, which is also called seva. Each time we are presented with an opportunity to help someone and we do not avail ourselves of that chance, we note that as a failure. In this way, we become more attuned to these opportunities that present themselves and make a concerted effort to help someone next time around. The other area of the introspection diary provides a place in which we mark the time we spend in selfless service or giving. This means that it is not only that we take each opportunity for selfless service, but that the amount of time we spend in serving selflessly is equally as important. Why? Time spent in seva is time in which we are remembering God and are act-
or consequences. This physical realm is one in which we pay for all our karmas. Thus, any karma is going to bring us again and again to this world. When we do so, we have to pass through the ups and downs of life in this physical realm again. Our goal should be to rise above the three lower realms of karma. We need to transcend the physical realm, the astral realm, and supracausal realm. When we do so, we enter the supracausal realms and Sach Khand, where we are no longer touched by our karmas. We are then free from the cycle of births and deaths, and live in an eternal realm of all peace, joy, and bliss. To free ourselves of this cycle of births and deaths, we have to stop accumulating new karma and burn off our old karma. How can we pay off our karma? There are three blessings we receive when we come to a spiritual Master that wind up our karma. First, the Master takes over our karmic accounts at the time of initiation. This means that Master is the accounts keeper of our destiny. He can determine how best we can wind it up for our maximum progress. Second, the Master helps us pass through the sanchit karmas allotted for this lifetime in an easier fashion. Thus, what was supposed to be
keep the introspection diary, we are weeding out the negative traits that incur more karma. By leading lives of nonviolence, truthfulness, chastity, humility, and selfless service we are avoiding creating bad karmas for which we will have to return to the earth to pay off. The Master also gives us the gift of meditation and selfless service. When we spend time in those two activities, we are not incurring any new karma, as long as we remain selfless. That is why entering the time spent in seva is important, because each hour we spend in selfless service, we are not incurring more karma. But that seva must be selfless, in which we do not want any material gains for ourselves. We do seva in the name of God and the Master, whereby our help is given and we only reap the spiritual rewards in the form of blessings from God and the Master. (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.