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Follow us on Vol.5 No. 41 February 2-8, 2013 60 Cents New York Edition TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Manmohan cabinet approves Lokpal bill amendments

But the BJP and activists like Anna Hazare and Arvind Kejriwal have slammed the amended bill, which is likely to pass parliament.
New Delhi: The union cabinet Thursday delinked the Lokpal from the Lokayuktas or anti-graft ombudsmen in states as it gave its nod to the Lokpal bill amendments but the BJP and activists, including Anna Hazare, slammed the proposed law as not enough to curb corruption. The cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, accepted 14 of 16 amendments recommended by a select panel of the Rajya Sabha on the proposed Lokpal bill. Now the PMO will also be under the Lokpal, with some riders related to national security and external affairs. Continued on page 4
IMMIGRATION REFORM PROPOSED BY OBAMA GAINING BIPARTISAN SUPPORT

The pathway to citizenship plan will benefit over 11 million illegal immigrants, including 240,000 from India.
Bank of India to start retail banking in America

By Parveen Chopra New York: Bank of India is considering a foray into retail banking business in the USA, beginning with its New York Branch. Presently the bank is majorly doing wholesale and corporate banking business and remittances. The Chairperson & Managing Director of Bank of India, Mrs. V.R. Iyer gave the welcome news for the Indian community Wednesday at a meet for the banks American clients and investors. She, along with Executive Director N. Seshadri and General Manager (International) S.K. Datta are on a visit to the US. It is Mrs. Iyers first visit to the country after she took over as CMD of Bank of India in November 2012. Earlier, she served as Executive Director of Continued on page 4
President Obama greeting people after delivering remarks on immigration reform at a school in Las Vegas Tuesday.
CMD of Bank of India, Mrs. V.R. Iyer, flanked by the banks Executive Director N. Seshadri and B.B. Joshi, Chief Executive, US Operation, at the New York meet of clients and investors.
Superbowl XLVII has Harbaugh written all over it

By Vikas Girdhar New York: Call it the tale of two brothers. This Sunday, brothers Jim and John Harbaugh will coach their teams, the San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens, respectively, for a chance at claiming footballs ultimate prize in Superbowl XLVII at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. This is the first time in any of the four major American sportsfootball, baseball, basketball and hockeythat two brothers will be matched up as coaches in the postseason. There are, of course, plenty of other compelling storylines. Neither team has ever lost in the Superbowl Continued on page 4
Washington: Amazing what an election can do! Realizing that the changed demographics will keep the Republican party out of the White House forever, the GOP now wants to reach out to the Latinos by supporting the long pending immigration reform. Seizing on an emerging consensus on immigration reform, President Barack Obama has asked the US Congress to act fast to offer a "pathway to citizenship" for over
Trust the cartoonists to speak what is unspeakable in politics and public life.
11 million illegal immigrants, including 240,000 from India. Unveiling his own plan at a campaign style event at a Hispanic majority high school in Las Vegas, Nevada, Obama Tuesday warned that if Congress does not act "in a timely fashion" he will propose a bill "and insist that they vote on it right away." Declaring "now's the time" to replace a "badly broken" system, Obama said the overhaul must provide a "pathway to citizenship" for the illegal immigrants, 6.8 million or 59 percent of whom are from Mexico. El Salvador was a distant second with 660,000. India with 240,000 ranked seventh after Guatemala, Honduras, China, Philippines in 2011, according to a March 2012 Department of Homeland Security report. But Illegal immigrants from India were among the fastest growContinued on page 4
Jaipur Literature Festival 14
64th Republic Day 16
OP Ed 20
Spiritual Awareness 30
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February 2-8, 2013
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February 2-8, 2013
Indian community in US celebrates R-day

Washington: Indian community in the US celebrated India's 64th Republic Day with Ambassador Nirupama Rao unfurling the national flag at a colorful function at the Indian embassy here on a clear but chilly day. After hoisting the flag in front of the embassy overlooking a statue of Mahatma Gandhi, Rao read out President Pranab Mukherjee's address to the nation. About 200 members of the community joined the celebrations, including singing of the national anthem and a short cultural program. Earlier, Deputy Secretary of State William Burns and Ami Bera, the third IndianAmerican to be ever elected to the US House of Representatives, were among the guests at a reception Thursday at the embassy residence. In New York, India's Permanent Representative to the UN, Hardeep Singh Puri unfurled the national tricolor at the Permanent Mission premises and read out salient excerpts from the president's address to the nation.
Amb. Prabhu Dayal (middle) is assisted by others while cutting the cake celebrating India's Republic Day at the Indian Consulate in New York. .
Ambassador Rao opens apparel trade show in city

New York: Dr. Nirupama Rao, Ambassador of India to the US, inaugurated Jan 28 a trade show organized by the Apparel Export Promotion Council of India (AEPC), in cooperation with Trade Good, at the Penn Plaza Pavilion here. Amb. Prabhu Dayal, Consul General of India in New York, Kevin Burke, President of American Apparel and Footwear Association, and A. Sakthivel, Chairman of the AEPC, were also present. Ambassador Rao said that Indian textiles represent an unbroken link between Indias ancient culture and its modern day lifestyle. Noting that Indias apparel sector has rapidly upgraded its technology and is highly competitive in meeting US market demands in various segments including high fashion and mass consumption, she highlighted that through DISHA (Driving Industry towards Sustainable Human Advancement), the Indian apparel industry has implemented an industry-wide measure for facilitating and preparing Indian apparel manufacturers toward becoming more socially and environmentally
Indian ambassador to the US Nirupama Rao at the trade show in New York organized by Apparel Export Promotion Council of India
Over 150 guests, including prominent members of the Indian American community, attended. Among the guests was Vijay Nambiar, the special adviser on Myanmar to the UN Secretary-General. Similar flag hoisting ceremonies were also held at the Indian consulates in New York, San Francisco, Chicago and Houston.
responsible. At $3.3 billion, Indias export of garments represent one of the important constituents of overall India-US trade. At the two day meet, 35 member exporters are exhibiting their Fall/Winter 2013-14 collections. More than 300-400 buyers, including at least 20 Brand Stores were expected to participate, incuding Ralph Lauren; Warnaco; Children Place; Lord & Taylor; Under Amour; VF Sportswear; Nautica; Red Cat; and Jones Apparel.
No property tax hike, yet Nassau county Seva Call launches in Big Apple to budget has a surplus connect you to service professionals
New York: Seva Call (Save-A-Call) has launched in New York City after starting in 12 US cities including Washington DC, Philadelphia and Boston. The free service finds and connects consumers to local service professionals within minutes. Says Seva Call president Manpreet Singh. We want to save all 8.5 million New Yorkers the time and frustration of searching the Yellow Pages and internet for a helpful service professional. Now, residents here will be able to hear from an available service professional in 90 seconds (rather than 30 minutes), by visiting www.sevacall.com. Seva
Mineola, NY: Nassau County, which was projected to end last year with a budget deficit of $45 million, is now expected to wind up with a $25 million surplus. County Comptroller George Maragos, who had warned in July that Nassau was headed toward a $45 million budget hole, said he now agrees with County Executive Edward Mangano that Nassau ended 2012 with millions of dollars in surplus. Final figures won't be available until outside auditors close the county's books in June. Maragos said the county was able to go from deficit to surplus in part by paying down debt with $17 million in borrowed money left over from completed capital projects. That freed money for other operating expenses. The county also pushed off payment of some property tax refunds, and spent about $10 million less than budgeted for various departments, Maragos said. For three straight years my administration has delivered no-property-tax-increase budgets that have resulted in a surplus as we continue to advance structural reform for our county finances, Mangano said in a statement. But the county legislature's minority leader, Kevan Abrahams said, The surplus has no ounce of reality . . . Expenses outweigh the revenues that come in every year. The Mangano administration projected the $25 million surplus in a December report, sent last week to the
Seva Call president Manpreet Singh with his team.
Calls algorithm matches the consumer with three preferred service Professionals like electricians, plumbers, locksmiths and limousine drivers, and then connects them by phone to the area professional standing by to take their call. When Seva Call receives a request from a consumer, the request will be relayed to the appropriate busi-
nesses by email, phone call, or text message. Once the business receives that request, they will have the opportunity to accept/reject the client based on details provided, saving valuable company time. Last Fall, Seva Call raised $1.3 million in Series-A funding from angel investors and venture capitalists.
County Executive Ed Mangano has not increased property tax for three straight years, instead advancing structural financial reform. He is seen here with County Comptroller George Maragos (left). Nassau Interim Finance Authority, the county's financial control board. In contrast, the county's November report to NIFA projected an $11.6 million deficit for 2012 unless the county curbed expenses or increased revenues. In October, NIFA staff projected Nassau would end 2012 in the red by $25 million. It's miraculous, in a way, Maragos said of the turnaround, adding that federal aid for superstorm Sandy recovery played no part in the surplus. NIFA took control of the county's finances in 2011 after calculating that Nassau's recurring expenses exceeded recurring revenue by $176 million.
February 2-8, 2013
TURN PAGE
reluctance to accept certain amendments related to the CBI raised questions over the government's intentions, noting of the eight suggestions given, only one was accepted. Rejecting the new draft of the Lokpal bill, Anna Hazare said he would continue his fight for the Jan Lokpal Bill, prepared by him and some other activists. Arvind Kejriwal, who was part of the team that drafted the Jan Lokpal Bill, also criticized the UPA government for not coming out with a "strong" Lokpal bill. "Why should you have any Lokpal? If an agency is created which will not stop corruption, will lead to increased corruption and provide protection to ministers, then what is the point," he told reporters here. "We were not interested in just the word Lokpal. You can name it anything. The government has not done a favor to the people of the country (by the bill). It is the government's constitutional duty to give a corruption-free regime," he said Retail banking in America story Continued from page 1 Central Bank of India. Speaking at the Wednesday event at JW Marriott Essex House in Manhattan, Mrs Iyer lauded the US operations under Mr B.B. Joshi, Chief Executive (US). The bank has been growing since starting operations here over 30 years ago. The US Center s contribution sands at 7.50% in the total business mix of the Mumbai headquartered banks global operations. Answering a question from the audience, Mrs Iyer stated that Indias financial and banking system has proved its resilience in the last few years of global turmoil. As members of IMF and World Bank, we now have a voice in the global arena, she added amid applause. Mr. N. Seshadri, Executive Director of the bank, added that India was looking at a growth rate of 8-9% and considers 6 % growth under-performance. Talking about her rise to an enviable pinnacle in banking after a career spanning over three decades and vast experience in all aspects of banking, Mrs Iyer told the SATimes, There is no glass ceiling for women. With focus and hard work, girls can achieve what they set out to achieve. Bank of India US Center has three offices: the New York Branch, San Francisco Agency and the Cayman Island branch, which have been functional since around 1980. The New York Branch is the main contributor for the business and is FDIC insured. The San Francisco Agencys main line of business is trade finance and wire transfer Superbowl XLVII story Continued from page 1 when they have made it that far. Ray Lewis, the popular veteran linebacker for the Ravens, declared that he plans to retire after this season well before he made it to the Superbowl, leading the Baltimore defense with a league-leading 44 tackles in the playoffs. Quarterbacks Joe Flacco (Baltimore) and Colin Kaepernick (San Francisco) will square off, with the former possessing one of the strongest arms in football. During Championship Game weekend, the Ravens and 49ers also became the first set of road teams to win the Conference Championship since 1997. Now, the playing field is mutual. Everything is up for grabs and either Baltimore or San Francisco will be left standing with smiles. One thing is for sure though: a Harbaugh will be leading his team to victory this weekend
Value your contribution to India-US ties: India to Hillary
Continuations of page 1
Immigration reform story Continued from page 1 growing with their numbers nearly doubling since 2000. Indian immigrants are also generally better educated with many of them students overstaying their visas as they endlessly wait for green cards for permanent residence status. Obama acknowledged as much saying "There's another economic reason why we need reform" as apart from those coming illegally, even those trying to come legally "have a hard time doing so, and the effect that has on our economy." Obama described a blueprint unveiled Monday by eight senators-four from each party-for overhauling the immigration system as a sign of renewed desire by Democrats and Republicans to tackle the issue. The plan was "very much in line with the principles I've proposed and campaigned on for the last few years," he said specifying three pillars of immigration reform. These were better enforcement of immigration laws, providing a path to citizenship for the more than 11 million undocumented immigrants already in the country, and reforming the legal immigration system. To earn the opportunity for citizenship, Obama said undocumented immigrants must first pass a background check, learn English, pay a penalty, and then get "in the back of the line" behind people trying to come to America legally. The principles described by Obama on Tuesday were similar to the framework proposed Monday by the eight senators. But some conservatives immediately voiced their opposition to what they called "amnesty" for illegal immigrants.
Hillary Rodham Clinton visited India as Secretary of State a couple of times.
New Delhi: India Thursday told outgoing US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that it will always value her "enormous contribution" to boosting India-US ties which had acquired "new depth and global dimensions under her stewardship". In a letter to Clinton, who steps down Friday, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid wished her well for completion of her "momentous years in office". Khurshid said though he had not met her, "across our government and indeed in our country you are regarded with great affection as a friend of India". "There is also great respect for the many talents and your natural gift of connecting across cultures and linguistic barriers, which you brought to bear over the last four years in the service of your country." He said she will always "be certain of a warm welcome in India" and that everyone in India, and he personally, wished her well for her continuing success in whatever she chooses to do after stepping down. Clinton had last visited India in May 2012. Senator John Kerry will be the next Secretary of State.
Lokpal bill story Continued from page 1 The bill will now be put to vote in the Rajya Sabha in the budget session, and will also return to the Lok Sabha with the new amendments. The Lok Sabha had approved the Lokpal bill in 2011, but it got stuck in the upper house. In May 2012, it was referred to the select panel. The select panel had recommended delinking of the creation of Lokayuktas from the Lokpal Bill, with several parties contending this would lead to encroachment on the rights of states. The earlier bill had said that the states have to set up Lokayuktas within one year of enactment of Lokpal. The government turned down two amendments, saying that now officials facing a preliminary probe will be given a hearing, and the Lokpal will have no power to transfer CBI officials investigating a case referred by it. The Lokpal will be selected by a panel comprising the pM, the Speaker and leader of opposition in Lok Sabha, Chief Justice of India, and an eminent jurist. The CBI director will be selected by the prime minister, the leader of opposition in the lower house and the chief justice. The new draft also says that charitable institutions aided by the government will also come under the ambit of the anti-graft ombudsman. The BJP said the government had no right to approve or reject the amendments under the rules of parliament. "The government said they have accepted 14 or 16 amendments. It was a Rajya Sabha committee that made the amendments and the bill is a property of Rajya Sabha. The government cannot make any amendment to it according to the rules of parliament," BJP leader Ravishankar Prasad said. He added that the government's
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February 2-8, 2013
PMI celebrates Indias 64th Republic Day in NY

of the United Nations, Indian Army and Police officers on deputation to the UN, in addition to officials from PMI and the Consulate General of India, New York and their families. Ambassador Vijay Nambiar, the special adviser on Myanmar to U.N. Secretary-General also graced the occasion. Following the unfurling of the national flag, there was a rendition of the national anthem by all members of the Indian community and officials. Earlier in the afternoon of 25th January, a national day reception was also hosted at the PMI premises, which witnessed an impressive turn out of more than 300 plus members of diplomatic corps based at the United Nations, along with key legislators from New York, eminent members of the legal fraternity, in addition to several Permanent Representatives of member states accredited to the UN.
Ambassador Puri delivering excerpts of Presidents message
Ambassador Hardeep Singh Puri unfurling the national flag at PMI
United Nations: The 64th Republic Day of India was celebrated at the Permanent Mission of India to UN in New York Jan 26. Ambassador Hardeep Singh Puri, Permanent Representative of India to UN unfurled the national tricolor at the Permanent Mission prem-
ises and read out salient excerpts from the President's address to the nation. The brief and impressive ceremony saw a well-attended turn out of over 150 guests including prominent members of the Indian American community, senior Indian officials
Nonprofit recognized for raising millions of dollars for supporting education in India
New York : Utilizing philanthropy to positively impact the children of India is cited as the reason Pratham USA is this years winner of the Times of India Social Impact Award in the category International Contribution to India. With 14 volunteerrun chapters across the United States, Pratham USA raises more than $10 million annually. 94% of the money raised by Pratham USA goes directly to Pratham and its partner organizations in India; Pratham provides educational programs, conducts research on educational standards, and offers various innovative learning opportunities for children and young adults throughout India. This award not only recognizes the efforts of Pratham USA, but most importantly, it recognizes the continued generosity of our donors, both large and small, says Arvind Sanger, Chairman of the Board of Directors Pratham USA. The International Contribution to India Award is given to an organization based outside India that makes significant contributions to address key challenges within India. Social issues of concern include poverty, lack of access to quality education, poor healthcare, social inequity, and limited employment opportunities among
Pratham USA receives Times of Indian American Subway death: New York students to get woman's arraignment postponed India Social Impact Award Capitol Hill
internship
Washington: A Chicago-based Indian American organization has announced a Capitol Hill internship program for two students of Indian origin, which will give them an opportunity to work with the US lawmakers for eight weeks. For the second consecutive year, Indo-American Community Services (IACS) announced that the program is open to all IndoAmerican college undergraduates and graduates from Illinois with an interest in public service and policy making. Selected students will have an opportunity to intern at the offices of US Senate and House lawmakers or in House and Senate leadership offices. Leadership interns will receive a stipend of 1,500 dollars from IACS. "The goal of the Leadership Internship Program is to create a corps of young Indian American leaders with the skills, outlook and contacts necessary to generate and sustain positive change in Washington DC and within their local communities," IACS said in a statement. Last year's IACS Leadership interns worked in the office of Senator Mark Kirk.
others. In presenting the award, by the unanimous decision of its jury, the organizers recognize Pratham USA for the seminal role it has played in supporting the activities of Pratham in India. Pratham USA should serve as a model for many communities in the U.S. as they support global social and economic transformations, says Dr. Molly Easo Smith, Executive Director of Pratham USA. The Indian American community understands the concept of organized and impactfocused philanthropy as a basis for significant social change globally. Smith added that this is the first time Pratham USA has been recognized by a national organization in India for its fund-raising efforts within the United States. Pratham USA was represented at the ceremony by President, Dr. Atul Varadhachary. A former student who attended a Pratham pre-school in New Delhi presented the International Contribution to India Award to Mr. Varadhachary. The star-studded ceremony attended by the President of India as well as many other prominent leaders within the Indian community and the Indian Diaspora was held January 28th at the Convention Hall at The Ashok, in New Delhi, India.
New York: The arraignment of a 31-year-old woman, accused of shoving an Indian immigrant to his death from a subway platform here last month, has been postponed as defense attorneys seek to contest a ruling that she is mentally fit to stand trial in the case. Erika Menendez of Queens pushed Sunando Sen, 46, in front of an oncoming subway train on December 27, telling authorities later that her hatred for "Hindus and Muslims" prompted her to push the India-born off the subway platform. Menendez was due to be arraigned in a federal court today but her arraignment has been postponed till February 27. At a hearing in a Queens court, her defence team said it would conAmbassador Nirupama Rao paying floral tribute at the statue of Mahatma Gandhi on January 26, 2013 in Washington, DC on the occasion of Indias 64th Republic Day.
test a ruling that she is mentally fit for trial. They want their own psychiatrist to examine Menendez, who has already undergone a psychiatric evaluation. Queens district attorney Richard Brown had said earlier this month that Menendez was deemed fit to stand trial. She has been indicted on charges of one count of second- degree murder as a hate crime and two counts of second-degree murder and faces up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted. She remains held without bail. Sen, who had owned a printing business in the city, was cremated on New Year's eve in the presence of friends and business partners.
February 2-8, 2013
NATIONAL COMMUNITY
Actor Samrat Chakrabarti plays contrasting roles in Friday releases

Washington, DC: British-born US-bred actor Samrat Chakrabarti plays two contrasting roles in two new films released in India Friday - South Indian icon Kamal Hassan's "Vishwaroop" and Canadian filmmaker Deepa Mehta's "Midnight's Children." Chakrabarti, who is headed to Mumbai for the release of the two films plays "Deep", a wealthy, slick, wheeling-anddealing businessman who gets more than he bargains for in "Vishwaroop." And in "Midnight's Children" based on the novel by controversial author Salman Rushdie, Chakrabarti plays "Wee Willie Winkie," a poverty-stricken street musician who sings for his supper in the 1940s. "2013 is proving to be an incredible year so far, especially since I never thought both my latest films would open in the same soon began dreaming of becoming an actor himself. He began performing onstage in his hometown of Boston, Massachusetts, acted throughout college at Brandeis University, and went on to receive an MFA in Acting from Harvard University. He has appeared on numerous American TV shows, including '30 Rock', 'In Treatment', 'Bored to Death', 'Law & Order', 'The Sopranos' and 'All My Children and Damages.' Last February, he made the winners' list of the Triangle Media Group's Global Awards, honoring South Asian achievements in arts and sciences. Chakrabarti has also won several awards for his compositions, including a US CARA (The Classification & Rating Administration) award for Best Original Pop/Rock Song, for the song "What's It all About."
British born US-bred actor Samrat Chakrabarti plays Deep, a wealthy, slick, wheeling-and-dealing businessman in Vishwaroop' and (left) in character of Wee Willie Winkie, a poverty stricken street musician in Midnights Children.
city on the same day," said Chakrabarti, who is also a musician and a playwright. "I've been fortunate enough to work with the likes of Salman Rushdie, Deepa Mehta, and Kamal Hassan, all the while playing characters that are completely
different from each other," he said. "I feel lucky to be a part of both of these films and am excited to be in Mumbai for their releases. My parents left India to pursue their dreams, and years later, I have come to India to pursue mine. Full circle!"
Chakrabarti was seven years old before he saw an actor on the big screen he could relate to; that was a young Amitabh Bachchan, in "Namak Halal." He began watching more Indian cinema, particularly that of fellow Bengali Satyajit Ray, and
IT minister highlights AP progress; seeks investments

New York: Andhra Pradesh Minister for Information Technology and Communications Ponnala Lakshmaiah has stated that despite the ongoing agitation for Telangana, the southern state as a whole continues to attract investment in several industrial sectors. It is a favorite destination of investors all over the world, Lakshmaiah told this newspaper in an interview during his trip to the US late last month. Today Andhra Pradesh stands at the forefront of key manufacturing sectors such as cement, paper, pharmaceuticals, chemicals and textiles. The minister noted that the industrial sector contributes a quarter of the state's gross domestic product. The growth rate in the sector averaged around 9 pecent during the 11th five-year plan (2007-12), which is among the best in states. The state is also home to several Special Economic Zones in such cities as Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam and Nellore. He highlighted achievements of the state in the biotech, pharma and life sciences sector. AP accounts for about one-third of the national output in bulk drug production, Lakshmaiah said. Three national investment and manufacturing zones have been created in Medak, Chittoor and Prakasam districts. The state has many high-level educational institutions, including 700 engineering colleges, which turn out a large number of bachelor-degree holders. Lakshmaiah added, India has a significant population of IT professionals and out of which Andhra Pradesh has nearly a third of the talent and here in the US too, Telugus have a pride of place among NRIs. The southern state hosts such companies as Microsoft,Google, IBM, Oracle, Dell, Motorola, Deloitte,
Project AGNI to focus on lead intoxication and Autism in India

New York: Within a time span of less than one year since inception, the work of Project AGNI (Anterograde Growth Normalization Initiative) has sparked interest and garnered praise from the UK to the US. Started in Rajasthan, project Agni is an initiative of health professionals Akshat, Ginee and Anushri Jain based out of New York and Boston. The group, supported by physicians of Indian origin (USA), work towards kids suffering from Autism, an under-diagnosed menace, edging on a social taboo in rural parts of India. A scientific study done by this group revealed toxic levels of lead in the blood stream of pediatric age group from 0-18 yrs. About 54% of kids had BLL levels more than 5 micrograms/dl and 36% of kids had BLL more than 9 micrograms/dl, which is the CDC guideline (2012) for harmful lead levels. Curative support and urgent supportive measures were provided as per the AGNI Protocol to rescue these children and their peers. A peculiar phenotype of Autistic kids was seen in children enrolled in the study. Autistic kids with elevated blood levels showed a much aggressive disease and increased hy-
Project Agnis research has found correlation between lead in blood and worsening of symptoms among Autistic children.
Andhra Pradesh IT Minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah (with shawl) along with key organizers at Royal Albert's Palace in New Jersey during his visit to the US late last month.
Bank of America, JPMorgan. Domestic firms such as Mahindra Satyam, Wipro and Infosys have also set up shop in Hyderabad and elsewhere in the state. The government has emphasized a lot on computer education and youngsters have been encouraged to take IT courses. Pointing out that edge over other states, the minister said, We are the fourth largest exporter contributing over 15 percent of the nation's IT exports. Today more than 300,000 software engineers and business process outsourcing professionals work in the AP IT sector through direct employment while 1.2 million others are indirectly employed or supported by the IT industry in the state. Citing surveys and news reports, Lakshmaiah said the cost of setting up an industry in Hyderabad is the lowest in the country and is the third lowest among Tier One cities in the world. The minister urged US-based NRIs and Americans at large to look for investments in the state, pointing out
that, Andhra Pradesh is only one click away from your laptop and one touch away from your I-phone. He allayed the concerns of potential investors that the ongoing agitation in the state would seriously affect the investment climate, saying the effect would not be much. As the decision from the Center was expected shortly, Lakshmaiah was cautious on his comments on the Telangana issue. It is a longstanding demand and the sentiment in the region is strong.
peractivity, a finding never reported in this subset of population. "The link between lead and autism is well known but I was surprised at the extent of its prevalence here," Jain, Fellow, Hematology/Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation at Steven and Alexandra Cohen Childrens Medical Center of NY, who is a visiting faculty at the SMS Medical College. He has decided to not only begin a larger study but also create awareness about both autism and lead poisoning. Drinking water, paint, lead acid batteries and even some Ayurvedic drugs may be a source of lead poisoning, he says.
ITV reporter Riti Sunshine Bhalla was joined on air by Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano during a program to mark the 64th Republic Day of India. Nassau County Comptroller George Maragos and Senior Councilman of the Town of Hempstead Anthony Santino also appeared on her show. Riti, currently a student of New York University, started hosting celebrations of the Republic Day and the Independence Day of India in 2008.
NATIONAL COMMUNITY
February 2-8, 2013
New US citizenship plan may benefit 240,000 Indians

Washington, DC: Seizing an emerging consensus on immigration reform, President Barack Obama asked the US Congress to act fast to offer a "pathway to citizenship" for over 11 million illegal immigrants, including 240,000 from India. Unveiling his own plan at a campaign style event at a Hispanic majority high school in Las Vegas, Nevada, Obama Tuesday warned that if Congress does not act "in a timely fashion" he will propose a bill "and insist that they vote on it right away." Declaring "now's the time" to replace a "badly broken" system, Obama said the overhaul must provide a "pathway to citizenship" for the illegal immigrants, 6.8 million or 59 percent of whom are from Mexico. El Salvador was a distant second with 660,000. India with 240,000 ranked seventh after Guatemala, Honduras, China, Philippines in 2011, according to a March 2012 Department of Homeland Security report. But Illegal immigrants from India were among the fastest growing with their numbers nearly doubling since 2000. Indian immigrants are also generally better educated with many of them students overstaying their visas as they endlessly wait for green cards for permanent residence status. Obama acknowledged as much saying "There's another economic reason why we need reform" as apart from those coming illegally, even those trying to come legally "have a hard time doing so, and the effect that has on our economy." The US was "giving them all the skills they need" to "brilliant students from all over the world" in its top universities, he said. "But then we're going to turn around and tell them to start that business and create those jobs in China or India or Mexico or someplace else?" "That's not how you grow new industries in America. That's how you give new industries to our competitors. That's why we need comprehensive immigration reform," Obama said. Obama described a blueprint unveiled Monday by eight senators-four from each partyfor overhauling the immigration system as a sign of renewed desire by Democrats and Republicans to tackle the issue. The plan was "very much in line with the principles I've proposed and campaigned on for the last few years," he said specifying three pillars of immigration reform. These were better enforcement of immigration laws, providing a path to citizenship for the more than 11 million undocumented immigrants already in the country, and reforming the legal immigration system.
AALDEF statement on Obamas Comprehensive Immigration Reform Proposal
e commend the President and members of the Senate for taking action to fix our broken immigration system. The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) supports immigration reforms that strengthen family reunification, provide a clear path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants in the United States, and protect the rights of all workers. Approximately two-thirds of Asian Americans favored comprehensive immigration reform, according to AALDEFs 2012 Asian American Exit Poll. Comprehensive immigration reform should seek to close the gap between the rights of U.S.born Americans and immigrant Americans, said
Margaret Fung, AALDEF executive director. Our immigration laws should adhere to basic human rights standards, and fair treatment of undocumented immigrants, including a path to citizenship, should not be conditional on stricter enforcement measures. AALDEF is an active voice on immigration policy and immigrant rights issues on a national level and is also among the few groups that provide both direct legal representation and community education to Asian immigrants and their families. We look forward to collaborating with government officials and policy makers on this framework in order to produce an immigration system that promotes human rights for all.
US Post urged to issue Diwali stamp

Washington, DC: Ami Bera, the newly elected Indian-American member of the US House of Representatives and two other Democrats, have co-sponsored a resolution for the issue of a postage stamp to mark Diwali. Co-sponsored by Carolyn Maloney and Grace Meng, the Diwali Stamp resolution urges the United States Postal Service (USPS) to create a stamp honoring the Indian festival of lights, Diwali. Diwali is observed in America, and throughout the world, by Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Jains, and Buddhists, but the USPS has not yet recognized Diwali with a stamp as it has other major religious holidays such as Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, and Eid, it says. "Additionally, one of the world's oldest religious holidays, Diwali symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance and it deserves to be honored with a postage stamp of its own."
Armed men rob California gurdwara

California: Armed men barged into a gurdwara in a California city and took away the money from a donation box kept inside the complex, police said. According to the local Livingston police in California, three robbers entered the gurdwara through the front door early Sunday morning. One of the men was armed with a gun, while another with a knife. The third robber was unarmed. The three men took a few thousand dollars from a donation box and left through a side door, joining two other men who were waiting outside, local newspaper Merced Sunstar quoted police as saying yesterday. North American Punjabi Association (NAPA) president Satnam Singh Chahal also that the three men took money from the donation box and left through a side door. Police chief Ruben Chavez said all of the men were wearing hooded jackets or sweatshirts, concealing their identities. Police are searching for three unidentified men. Chavez said while money has been stolen from the donation box before, it's the first robbery that he knows of at the gurdwara. "This is more brazen because they did come in armed. Obviously it's someone who knew the temple because they knew where to go," he was quoted as saying. "We're looking at different angles, and we will do our best to get to the bottom of it. We really want to identify who they are," Chavez said. The Wisconsin incident was one of the reasons officials at the temple had surveillance cameras installed, said Narinder Dola, vice president of the temple. Three person, including a woman, were present inside the gurdwara at the time of incident. Dola was glad those inside the gurdwara didn't confront the robbers. "I think they did the smart move, they didn't do anything, they just kept quiet.
February 2-8, 2013
NATIONAL COMMUNITY
Indian pleads guilty to defrauding investors of over $2.3 million

In January 2009, the California DeNew York: An Indian-origin investpartment of Corporations ordered Sodment adviser from California has hi to cease and desist from engaging in pleaded guilty to defrauding investors the business of an investment adviser of more than $ 2.3 million, and now in California. faces the prospect of 20 years in jail Despite his debarment and lack of along with a hefty fine. certification, he continued to hold himJanamjot Singh Sodhi, 35 pleaded self out to clients as a financial adviser guilty to four counts of mail fraud and who could buy and sell securities on one count of wire fraud and is schedbehalf of clients. uled to be sentenced on April 29, The total losses attributable to his when he faces a maximum 20 years in scheme were approximately $2.3 milprison and a 250,000 dollar fine, US lion. He did not use the investors' funds Attorney Benjamin Wagner said. According to court documents, during for investment purposes but used them instead to pay returns to other investors 2005 through 2011, Sodhi solicited Janamjot Singh Sodhi and personal expenses for himself. Sodinvestments from individuals using false pretenses, promising various investment opportuni- hi admitted that to lull investors into believing that their ties with high rates of return in a relatively short period funds were secure and were being used for their intended purpose, he periodically sent them false financial of time. Sodhi, who owned a financial services firm, never dis- statements purportedly showing the investments made on closed to his investors that the New York Stock Exchange their behalf. In some cases, he repaid certain investors had permanently debarred him and that he was never cer- with funds from newly acquired investors. He also protified by the California Department of Corporations to vided investors with repayment checks that were insufficient, counterfeit, or drafted on a closed account. operate as an investment adviser in California.
Priest jailed for visa fraud

Chicago: A Hindu leader from India, who had established a temple in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has been jailed for 37 months for religious visa fraud and would be deported to his native country after serving his sentence. A Milwaukee court gave its sentencing order after it found Sagarsen Haldar, aka Gopal Hari Das, who is the founder, president, CEO and spiritual leader of Gaudiya Vaisnava Society, guilty of fraudulently obtaining religious worker visas - known as 'R-1' visas - for Indian nationals in exchange for substantial cash payments. According to evidence at trial, Haldar conspired to sponsor more than two dozen Indian nationals to enter the US under R-1 visas. He was charged in June 2010 after Homeland Security Investigation special agents arrested him at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago. A search of Haldar's luggage re-
Sagarsen Haldar
vealed that he was transporting identification documents - including passports and other Indian identification documents - bearing the names and photographs of other Indian nationals. The HSI probe found that Haldar used the GVS temple as a front for an elaborate religious visa fraud scheme, under which he charged Indians as much as $30,000 each in exchange for his assistance to fraudulently obtain visas.
Harvard varsity students plan India-Pakistan peace vigil

Cambridge, MA: In the wake of tensions between India and Pakistan, South Asian students of Harvard University have planned a 'global vigil' Sunday for peace between the two countries. Sponsored by the South Asia Centre, Boston, and the Alliance for Secular and Democratic South Asia, the vigil at Harvard Square is aimed at voicing the students' concern over ceasefire violations at the LoC and the war hype being built up by "sections of the media and politicians in India that threatens peace in the region." Condoling the loss of lives on both sides and "condemning any kind of mutilation or beheading of human bodies," the organizers called for independent investigations into these reported incidents so that the truth is known. They also asked the students to join in the effort at maintaining harmony and accord between the two countries and in the region and suggested they bring a poster or placard reflecting that spirit. Appreciating that India and Pakistan have reiterated their commitment to continue the dialogue process, the sponsors said dialogue between the two countries must be uninterrupted and uninterruptible. "Any deviation from this process will only encourage and strengthen extremist, hawkish and fanatical elements on both sides who want to derail the peace process," they said. Urging India and Pakistan to stay the course and continue with the progress made towards normalizing relations, the organizers said: "A prosperous and well-connected South Asia is our best response to these divisive factions."
Zee TV cuts ties with ATN to launch 24/7 network in Canada

New York: Zee TV, the number1 South Asian Entertainment Network in partnership with Ethnic Channels Group Limited (ECG), Canadas largest distributor of third language television services has launched Zee TV Canada. Zee TV will be available to Canadian viewers as a 24/7 service for the first time. Canadian viewers who enjoyed Zees top programming such as Pavitra Rishta, Punarvivaah and SaReGaMaPa on ATN, will now be able to watch their favorite shows throughout the day. Zee TV Canada will be available on Rogers, Bell and Telus starting from February 1. Zees relationship with ATN has been a happy one. In Canada, however Zee has outgrown the relationship and felt the need to address the immediate and evergrowing consumer need for more top notch Zee content. We are fortunate to have found an energetic and progressive partner in ECG and we are confident that this partnership will help us to exponentially grow our business in Canada. Ethnic Channels Group is privileged to partner with the #1 South Asian Channel in the World. Canadian viewers will be enthralled by Zees programming repertoire said Slava Levin, Co-founder and CEO of Ethnic Channels Group. As the largest distributor of international TV in Canada, the launch of Zee TV is a great addition to our Group added Hari Srinivas, President of Ethnic Channels Group. Zee now has 6 channels in Canada catering to the diverse group of viewers. ETC Punjabi, Zing, Zee Salaam, Zee Tamizh and Zee Cinema will now be joined by Zee TV Canada as a 24/7 channel.
Zee Americas CEO, Suresh Bala said The impact and growing importance of the South Asian diaspora in Canada cannot be overstated. And with the launch of Zee TV Canada, we are now in a position to address this significant opportunity. Zee has and continues to remain the leading South Asian media brand globally. 650 million viewers in 169 countries around the world are testament to its popularity.
US AFFAIRS
February 2-8, 2013
Obama backs Senates framework for immigration reform

Washington: President Obama declared his advocacy for the Senate's bipartisan immigration framework at a major speech in Nevada on Tuesday. In doing so, he also threatened to send his own alternative legislation to Capitol Hill if Congress fails to act upon the one proposed by the Senate. The Senates legislation would ultimately strengthen border security and employment verification in exchange for a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants in the United States. "The good news is that -- for the first time in many years -Republicans and Democrats seem ready to tackle this problem together," Obama said in his speech. Yesterday, a bipartisan group of senators announced their principles for comprehensive immigration reform, which are very much in line with the principles I've proposed and campaigned on for the last few years," "At this moment, it looks like there's a genuine desire to get this done soon. And that's very encouraging." "It's important for us to realize that the foundation for bipartisan action is already in place," he said. If lawmakers fail to advance their own proposal, Obama said he would send legislation to Congress based on his own principles "and insist that they vote on it right away." There are basically four principles that President Obama focused on: strengthening border security, cracking down on employers who hire undocumented workers, streamlining legal immigration and offering undocumented workers an earned path to citizenship. "I believe we are finally at a moment where comprehensive immigration reform is finally within our grasp," he said.
President Barack Obama
Comment
Immigration reform lit by Obama electoral landslide

By Ravi Batra
Newtown police already showing signs of PTSD

Newtown, CT: The officers who responded first to the 911 call that immediately followed the shooting at Newton Elementary are one group that may have been overlooked as victims; they are highly susceptible to post-traumatic stress disorder. One look, and your life was absolutely changed, said Officer Michael McGowan. The first officers arrived within three minutes of the 911 call, and still could hear gun shots within the school as they arrived. I got out of the car and grabbed my rifle and it stopped for second, Officer William Chapman said. But then we heard more popping. You could tell it was rifle fire. And it was up so close, it sounded like it was coming from outside. So we were all looking around for someone to shoot back at. Officers entering into the lobby of the school first saw two women lying lifeless on the floor and did not know where Adam Lanza, the shooter, was. You saw them lifeless, laying down, Officer Leonard Penna, a school resource officer, recalled. For a split second, your mind says could this be a mock crime scene, could this be fake, but in the next split second, youre saying, there is no way. This is real. Were kicking the doors, yelling Police! Police! Officer McGowan said. We were ripping our badges off and putting them up to the window. Officer Tom Bean, has not been able to return to work due to PTSD symptoms, and like many other officers, worries about the effect the trauma will have on performing his job. Our concern from the beginning has been the effects of PTSD, said Eric Brown, a union lawyer representing the Newtown police. We estimate it is probably going to be 12 to 15 Newtown officers who are going to be dealing with that, for the remainder of their careers, we imagine, from what weve been told by professionals who deal with PTSD.
wo paths to citizenship, based upon differing culpability, can open the door to 11 million new Americans while reforming our immigration regime to welcome talented highly skilled workers and agricultural workers to stimulate our economy. Arizona's success in the Supreme Court in "show me your papers," with its attendant dangers of disparate impact, an issue not yet decided by the Supreme Court, seems to have galvanized both of its senators, Republicans John McCain and Jeff Flake, to be part of the Bipartisan Eight who decided enough was enough. America must control its borders, and the law must be recalibrated. Joining with Lindsey Graham, Marco Rubio and Democratic heavyweights Chuck Schumer, Dick Durbin, Bob Menendez and Mike Bennet, America can now cure its weak enforcement regime, legalize the illegals who help America get stronger daily with their Puritan work ethic, attract highly skilled workers as well as folks willing to work on America's farms to expand our economy, enforce sovereignty on the border including with hightech drones, and hold employers liable for disobeying the law. The segregated pathway to citizenship, based upon an amount of culpability, speaks with compassion and proportionality and bodes well for all of us. It was said a long time ago: the law must never be an ass. Our broken immigration system, from bad enforcement to silly exclusion of highly skilled workers who could stimulate our economy, cried out for reform.
The electoral cry heard in the November 2012 presidential election was the trigger to both save the nation and our vital two party system. No one more than the Republicans need to enact immigration reforms if they are to reattract the Hispanic vote block. America's best is always ahead, as we have the ability to recalibrate and each one of us is a patriot - after all, isn't that the ultimate joy of being an American: the ability to join patriots Thomas Jefferson and Nathan Hale. Incidentally, America's fan club is not limited only to those already American, as our exceptionalism is felt the world over. We just need our foreign policy to be less temporal and more friendshipbedrock based. Also worth noting is that our domestic freedom and lawful process permits Marco Rubio to become a star and join those already in that league. This Plan will now have traction in both houses, as it is filibusterproof in the Senate. The President awaits a bill that moves 11 million illegals onto a path of 11 million future voters who will remember that America acted with compassion and proportionality. As a New Yorker, I take special pride in our senior senator, the very Honorable Chuck Schumer from presiding over a great inauguration to a great immigration reform regime. You do us all proud, Senator Schumer! The author is an eminent attorney based in New York.
John Kerry gets Senate nod as next secretary of state

Washington: Senator John Kerry, President Barack Obama's choice to replace Hillary Clinton as the next secretary of state, has been overwhelmingly confirmed by the US Senate. Considered a friend of India who has advocated a "central role" for the country in international affairs, Kerry received 94 votes in favor with just three Republican Senators voting no Tuesday. Kerry voted present on his own nomination. He is expected to be sworn in after Clinton steps down as America's top diplomat Friday. Earlier in the day the longtime senator from Massachusetts and 2004 Democratic presidential nominee received the nod of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that he has chaired since 2009. The panel approved his nomination unanimously by a voice vote. "John has earned the respect of leaders around the world and the confidence of Democrats and Republicans in the Senate, and I am confident he will make an extraordinary secretary of state," Obama said in a statement. If for Clinton Washington's relationship with New Delhi was an "affair of the heart", Kerry, 69, looks at India-US ties as "without doubt one of the most significant partnerships in US foreign policy." "There are fewer relationships that will be as vital in the 21st century as our growing ties with India and its people," he said at the confirmation hearings for Obama's nominee to be the US Ambassador to India Nancy Powell in February. "On all of the most critical global challenges that we face, India really has a central role to play. And that means that Washington is going to be looking to New Delhi not only for cooperation, but increasingly for innovation, for regional leadership," he then said. "India's growing significance has been clear to many of us for some time now," said Kerry who has been to India many times since the 1990s when he took one of the first business trade missions to India right after its economic reforms. Kerry, who has been a senator since 1984, was also a strong supporter of Obama's endorsement of India to become a permanent member of the UN Security Council. Kerry was born in Denver, on Dec 11, 1943, and he spent much of his childhood overseas. He lived in Berlin, and
Senator John Kerry then went to a Swiss boarding school at age 11. After graduating from Yale University in 1966, Kerry was deployed to Vietnam as a lieutenant in the US Navy. Upon his return home in the early 1970s, Kerry ran his first political campaign, a losing effort for a congressional seat in Massachusetts 1972. He eventually entered politics in 1982 as lieutenant governor under Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis. Two years later, Kerry won the US Senate seat he has held for five consecutive terms.
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February 2-8, 2013
INDIA
More voices in BJP for Modi as PM candidate

New Delhi/Mumbai/Patna: Voices continued to arise within the BJP for making Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi the party's prime ministerial candidate. But ally Shiv Sena said it preferred Sushma Swaraj for the role. A day after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Yashwant Sinha favored making Modi the prime ministerial candidate for 2014 elections, MP C.P. Thakur echoed similar views. Suspended party MP Ram Jethmalani also said Modi was the best bet for the task. But voices in the BJP in support of Modi's candidature have not made an impact on the party's allies in the National Democratic Alliance. Janata Dal-United (JD-U) has already indicated its reservations over making Modi the prime ministerial candidate while Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut backed Leader of candidate. Thakur, who was in Patna, supported Sinha over his views that making Modi prime ministerial candidate would benefit the BJP. "He is suitable as prime ministerial candidate," Thakur said. Jethmalani told reporters in Delhi that Modi was best suited to be the prime ministerial candidate. "Narendra-bhai is the best prime minister (candidate) of the country. Nothing has happened to change my mind. Yashwant Sinha has supported my view, and I'm very happy," Jethmalani said. JD-U, the second-largest party in the BJP-led NDA, has been against projecting Modi for the top post due to the 2002 Gujarat riots. Asked if the JD-U could walk out over Modi's projection, Jethmalani said: "I don't think that will happen. But if it happens, let it happen". "Tomorrow, if like my friend (JD-U chief) Sharad Yadav, some new gem of purist race turns up and declares he is also an aspirant, there is enough time to evaluate his candidature." "This is democracy. Everybody has the right to proclaim his candidature, but at the present moment, I still think Modi is the best and Sharad Yadav has said nothing to the contrary," Jethmalani said. "They (BJP) should announce the candidate. It is inconvenient for people in a democracy to know after election who their prime minister should be," Jethmalani said. Sinha, who strongly backed Modi's candidature Monday, said that riots were unfortunate but they have "been attached to Modi deliberately". "But the situation is different in Gujarat. Muslims also voted for Modi in substantial numbers," Sinha told NDTV news channel.
More BJP leaders want Narendra Modi as PM candidate but ally Shiv Sena said it preferred Sushma Swaraj for the role Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj for the post. "We feel Sushma Swaraj is the suitable candidate for the PM's post," Raut said in Mumbai. Former Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackery too had favored Sushma Swaraj as the prime ministerial
'Vishwaroopam': Jayalalithaa to sue Karunanidhi

Chennai: Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa said that Kamal Haasan's movie "Vishwaroopam" was banned in Tamil Nadu due to real fears of violent protests and that she had no grudge against the actor. The chief minister also announced that she would file criminal cases against DMK leader M. Karunanidhi and sections of the media that she said had maligned her on the issue. Reeling out statistics, she said it would have been impossible to provide police protection to all 524 cinemas in Tamil Nadu where the multilingual film was to be released after Muslim groups announced a wave of protests. "I have no personal grudge, no personal interest in banning the movie," the actor-turned-politician told the media, adding she knew nothing about the Rs.95 crore espionage thriller until it became controversial. in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Singapore. It was also banned in states neighboring Tamil Nadu. "Was I responsible for all that?" The chief minister said Muslim leaders had told her that they were ready to accept the movie now as Kamal Haasan had agreed to delete some portions they had found objectionable on religious grounds. "If the leaders of Muslim organizations and Kamal Haasan can sit together and work out an amicable agreement, the government will do everything possible to facilitate that ... and the deck will be cleared for screening the movie. "There is no question of curbing the freedom of speech." Jayalalithaa insisted that her critics were "totally unaware of the sheer logistics of administration and maintenance of law and order".
Andhra-Telangana, a divide deep and complete
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa She said her government had the powers to ban a movie completely but it banned it only for 15 days so that tempers could cool down and both Kamal Haasan and Muslim groups could reach an agreement. To make it clear that her government's decision was not without basis, Jayalalithaa pointed out that the movie had also been also banned
Nitish best man for PM post: JD-U leader

Patna: As speculation mounts over BJP's Narendra Modi being the NDA's prime ministerial candidate in the next general election, a senior Janata Dal-United (JD-U) leader has said Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is the best man for the job. "There are several names doing the rounds for the post of PM. But Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is best among them," JD-U leader Hari Kishore Singh said. The JD-U is the second-largest party in the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). "Going by the reputation and experience of governance with justice, Nitish Kumar ranks first among those in the race for the post," added Singh, who is also vice chairman of the Bihar State Planning Board. Without Nitish Kumar's support, no party would be able to form a
The proponents of a separate state cite the Telugu film industry as a classic example of the divide.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar
government at the centre, he said. Singh criticised Bharatiya Janata Party leader Yashwant Sinha for supporting Modi as the party's prime ministerial candidate for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Last year, Panchayati Raj and Rural Works Minister Bhim Singh had triggered a controversy when he
asked the BJP to declare Nitish Kumar as the NDA's prime ministerial nominee. However, later the minister expressed his regret after Nitish Kumar aired his unhappiness over his remarks. Nitish Kumar has repeatedly said that he is not in race for the PM post.
Hyderabad: For 56 years they have lived in the same state and spoken the same language. But this linguistic affinity may not keep them together for long. As the movement for a Telangana state enters a decisive phase, the divide between the economically backward Telangana region and Seemandhra (as the rest of Andhra Pradesh is known) appears deep and complete. Despite many commonalities, the people of Telangana and Seemandhra came from different historical, geographical and socioeconomic background. There are vast differences in linguistic accent, culture, customs, food habits, festivals and even the deities they worship. Andhra Pradesh is India's fifth most populous state with 84.6 million people. Telangana accounts for 35.28 million. Andhra region and Rayalseema are home to 34.19 million and 15.13
million people respectively. For Telanganities, the movement is a fight for "self respect" and against "exploitation" by others in the state. Andhra leaders deny this. The proponents of a separate state cite the Telugu film industry as a classic example of the divide. All the top actors and producers are from Andhra and the films make fun of the language spoken in Telangana with Deccani accent. It is usually the villain or the comedian in the film who speaks this accent. Rayalaseema comprises four districts while the Andhra region is made up of nine coastal districts. Most are prosperous because of fertile land and industrial development. While Telangana, comprising 10 districts including Hyderabad, was part of the erstwhile Hyderabad State, Andhra state was carved out of Madras Presidency in 1953 for Telugu-speaking people with Kurnool as its capital.
INDIA
February 2-8, 2013
11
Cabinet approves Lokpal bill amendments

New Delhi: The cabinet has accepted the separation of Lokayukta in the states from the Lokpal at the centre, while accepting 14 of 16 amendments recommended by a select panel of members of the Rajya Sabha on the proposed bill to institute an anti-graft ombudsman, Lokpal. "We have accepted 14 out of 16 amendments proposed by the select committee... we did not approve two," Minister of State in the prime minister's office V. Narayanasamy told reporters after the cabinet meeting. The bill will now be put to vote in the Rajya Sabha, and will also return to the Lok Sabha with the new amendments, Narayanasamy said. The Lok Sabha had approved the Lokpal bill in 2011, but it got stuck in the upper house. In May 2012 it was referred to the select panel. Given that two amendments recommended by the select panel have been turned down by the government, officials facing a preliminary probe will be given a hearing under the present draft of the bill, and the Lokpal will also have no power to transfer CBI officials investigating a case referred by it. The prime minister's office, Narayanasamy said, will also be under the Lokpal, with some riders related to national security and exter-
Gandhi memorial in Taj city lies in shambles

Agra: Once a hub of Gandhian activities and Sarvodaya workers, the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial, adjacent to the Mughal monument Etimad-udDaula, on the banks of the Yamuna river, is now visited mostly by petty criminals and vagabonds. "We have not seen any serious Gandhian coming here or doing any social service. Once or twice a year, there is some activity. The Agra Municipal Corporation is supposed to be the custodian of this property, supposed to look after its maintenance. But all they do is use it as a storage facility," says Surendra Baghael, who lives in the neighborhood. This house, where Mahatma Gandhi stayed for 11 days in 1929 while under treatment of an ayurvedic doctor here, was renovated and opened to the public sometime in 2008 by then Agra mayor Anjula Singh Mahaur, who had promised to make it a place worth a visit. Soon after the building was opened to the public, however, it fell into disrepair. Sadly, locals use the vast open spaces around the building for defecation. "No one visits, and anti-social elements have a field day here," said Bharosi, who fears for the security of his house nearby. The memorial is close to the tomb of Etimad-ud-Daula ("pillar of the state") the title given to Mirza Ghiyas Beg, father of Nur Jahan, wife of Mughal Emperor Jahangir. Etimad-ud-Daula was also the grandfather of Mumtaz Mahal, the favourite wife of emperor Shah Jahan. The tomb of Etimad-ud-Daula is a significant Mughal monument, said to have served as a model for the Taj Mahal. It was among the first buildings in the Mughal era to be constructed in white marble, not the usual red sandstone. Yet, it remains little frequented, and its fate has been shared by the memorial to the Father of the Nation too. Besides, a new bridge across the Yamuna adjacent to the memorial has hampered the visual view, points out Surendra Sharma, president of the Braj Mandal Heritage Conservation Society. The structure where Mahatma Gandhi lived had fallen to ruin. On repeated requests from Gandhians, it was restored by former municipal commissioner Shyam Singh Yadav. "We have not just given it a facelift, we have also re-built parts of the house where Mahatma Gandhi stayed for 11 days in 1929 for treatment from a local Ayurvedic Vaidya," Yadav had then said.
The bill will now be put to vote in the Rajya Sabha, and will also return to the Lok Sabha with the new amendments
nal affairs. According to the minister, the state government will have to enact a law for setting up an institution of Lokayukta within a year of the centre passing the Lokpal bill. The selection panel for the Lokpal will comprise the prime minister, Speaker of the Lok Sabha and leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha, Chief Justice of India, and an eminent jurist, the minister said. He said charitable institutions aided by the government will also come under the ambit of the antigraft ombudsman. On the selection of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) direc-
tor, the minister said it will be done by the prime minister, the leader of opposition in the lower house and the chief justice. The minister also said that a person affiliated with any political party would not qualify to be a member of the proposed Lokpal. The bill also proposes that director prosecution of the CBI be selected by the chief vigilance commissioner. "I am happy to say the cabinet has given the seal of approval. The select committee recommendations have broadly been accepted," Law Minister Ashwani Kumar told reporters.
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February 2-8,2013
INDIA
Sustainable development: PM for transparent regimes

New Delhi: Asserting that protecting the environment and promoting development need not amount to a zero sum game, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called for transparent regulatory regimes to ensure that environmental and economic objectives were pursued in tandem. Addressing the 13th Delhi Sustainable Development Summit (DSDS) organized by The Energy Research Institute (TERI), the prime minister stressed that resource efficiency was a necessary condition for sustainable development. "Protection of the environment and promoting development need not amount to a zero sum game. What is required is regulatory regimes that are transparent, accountable and subject to oversight and monitoring," he said. "Regulatory regimes are often the basic necessary condition to ensure that environmental and ecocoal ministry have also been at loggerheads with the environment ministry over delays in green clearances to their projects. Manmohan Singh emphasized on resource-efficiency for sustainable development. "The global environmental agenda and the global development agenda are now interlinked. We in India are fully conscious of the need to conserve our resources through their utilization in a sustainable manner," he said. He stated that India is committed to meeting its domestic mitigation goal of reducing the emissions intensity of GDP by 20-25 percent by 2020. "We need to re-engineer our economies in ways that are both frugal and innovative in their use of resources." He said India has taken several major steps on the path of low carbon growth but real progress cannot be achieved if developed countries are not willing to enhance their ambition levels. "Now is the time for the richer industrialised countries to show that they too are willing to move decisively along this path," he said. The 13th edition of the DSDS focuses on the theme "The Global Challenge of Resource-Efficient Growth and Development". It provides an efficient platform for thought leaders and policymakers to discuss effective policy mechanisms to reduce energy and resource footprint. The summit has been held annually in New Delhi since 2001. The three-day summit, which ends Feb 2, will see participation of three heads of state - Guyana President Donald Ramotar, Seychelles President James Alix Michel, Republic of Kiribati President Anote Tong - as well as dignitaries, Nobel laureates and ministers from several countries.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called for transparent regulatory regimes to ensure that environmental and economic objectives were pursued in tandem.
nomic objectives are pursued in tandem." The comments are important in the context of the ongoing debate over environment clearances hampering the country's development.
The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) has been directly involved in sorting out differences between various infrastructure based ministries and environment ministry. Highways authorities and the
Akbar Owaisi sent to police custody

Hyderabad: A court in Andhra Pradesh's Nizamabad district sent MIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi to police custody for two days in another case related to his hate speech. The court allowed police to question the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) legislator for two days on Feb 1 and 2. Owaisi is currently lodged in a jail in Adilabad district in the hate speech case. The court in Nizamabad Jan 24 had sent him to judicial custody till Feb 7 for delivering a hate speech in the town Dec 8. Nizamabad is some 175 km and Adilabad and about 300 km from Hyderabad. Owaisi was arrested Jan 8 for making a hate speech at a public meeting at Nirmal town in Adilabad district dec 22. The next day, a court in Nirmal town sent him to judicial custody for two weeks. His custody was later extended till Feb 5. A member of assembly from Chandrayangutta constituency in
Anna Hazare rejects new Lokpal Bill draft

Patna: Activist Anna He downplayed a quesHazare rejected the new tion about corruption in draft of the Lokpal Bill Bihar under Chief with amendments proposed Minister Nitish Kumar. by the central government However, on Gujarat and announced that he Chief Minister Narendra would continue his fight Modi being projected as for the Jan Lokpal Bill. the Bharatiya Janata "The proposed new draft Party's prime ministerial of the Lokpal Bill is usecandidate, Hazare said less. We will continue our that Modi was not keen fight for the Jan Lokpal on making his state free Anna Hazare Bill and force the govof corruption. ernment to pass it," Hazare told reporters "Why not Modi appointed Lokaykta in here. Gujarat and why he failed to make Gujarat a Hazare added that the proposed bill would corruption free state? It appears that Modi is not help fight corruption. "Such a bill will not willing to make India a corruption free not benefit the people," he said. country if he becomes the prime minister," He said his campaign for the Jan Lokpal he said. Bill would intensify in coming months. "I On Wednesday, Hazare announced that he will visit people in towns and villages across would form a Jantantra Morcha to fight for the country in coming months to awaken people's rights. Hazare said the Morcha their conscience," the septuagenarian said. would also work for eradicating corruption.
MIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi
Hyderabad, Owaisi is facing charges of sedition, waging war against nation and promoting enmity between people. Cases were also booked against him in several police stations in Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy and other districts on complaints lodged by individuals.
Uddhav hints at joining hands with Raj

Mumbai: Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray hinted he was open to the idea of his party joining hands with cousin Raj Thackeray's MNS, speaking off political reactions in Maharashtra. The indication came in an interview to the party mouthpiece Saamna, Thackeray's first since his father Balasaheb Thackeray's death Nov 17 and after he took over the reins of the party Jan 17. Estranged cousin Raj Thackeray declined to comment. Asked if the cousins could come together, Uddhav Thackeray told Saamna: "You cannot clap with one hand. Tell me, can you?" Shiv Sena ally Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) welcomed the prospects of unity between the estranged cousins. "There should be unity between them. It will be a major political development," said a BJP leader, Vinod Tawade. Lauding the move, senior BJP leader Gopinath Munde said it augur well for both the brothers and the Marathi people. Saamna's executive editor and party MP Sanjay Raut asked Uddhav Thackeray whether his comment implied the Sena and the Maharashtra Navnirman Samiti could join hands. "Why do you ask this question only to me? I am ready to reply. But for that you have to make us sit together, next to each other. Then you can ask the question to both of us. It depends on both sides," the Shiv Sena leader said, hinting at the possibility of burying the hatchet with Raj. "More important than coming together, we have to first analyse why we drifted away... If we reunite, then for what purpose? Who is your main political opponent? Who do you want to destroy politically? And what direction should be taken for achieving this?" Uddhav Thackeray added. Asked to clarify his views, Thackeray said the late Bal Thackeray had founded the Shiv Sena over four decades ago to fight
Uddav Thackeray with Raj Thackeray
for the rights of the Marathi people. "Subsequently, when he realised that Islamic groups were posing a threat to the country, he said that only the Marathis would not be able to tackle the challenge. So he adopt-
ed the policy that in Maharashtra he would fight for Marathis. For the entire country he would be a Hindu," Thackeray said. The Congress was dismissive of the comments.
OP-ED
February 2-8, 2013
13
Elections 2014: Rethinking democracy

By Prof. Debashis Chatterjee
hen nearly one half of India still lives in fear of rape and physical abuse, you get a democracy that is not just dented but also badly painted for the world to see. On a visit to Saudi Arabia Bill Gates was asked how the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia could become one of the top three Information Technology powers in the world. Bill Gates responded with his characteristic candor that it was not possible as long as half of Saudi Arabia's population lived perpetually undercover. In Bill Gate's own world, 6% more women than men turned out to vote for the US presidential elections. Barack Obama got 11% more votes from the women of America than his Republican counterpart Mitt Romney did. Arguably, one factor that sealed Romney's fate was his views on abortion laws that threaten to take away a woman's power over her own body. There will be a decisive power shift in the way democracies around the world will function in the 21st century. The Indian democracy will be no exception. For one, there will be a clear shift from central power to what can be called "peripheral people power." The texture and colours of Indian democracy are fast changing. As a whole new generation of India begins to bring democratic processes to fierce flashpoints through twitter and text messages, the political class seems clearly out of step with the vigour and vibrancy of democracy in the fizzy
Through enabling technology the spirit of democratization will affect more people in much less time. Increasingly, social networking will change democracy when it is not working. The leaders would be those who can create consensus capital.
scientist and a deep observer of human nature said long ago, "In the happiness and well being of the subjects lies the benefit of the king and in what is beneficial to the subjects is in his own benefit" (Arthashastra 1.19.34). Very often, the brightest of economists confuse well-being with GDP or per capita growth. Well-being has to do with a host of other issues such as better governance, safer roads, less corruption, quality education, transparency of systems, justice and adequate leisure. All these will mean that the quality of our institutions have to be upscaled like never before. The number of people who are looking for a decent middle class existence in India in recent years have now outnumbered the entire European population. These are the people who would not turn a blind eye when a woman is marginalised by a feudal social order. As Chanakya pointed out, leaders of democratic institutions have to optimize their peoples well-being, not just maximise their material comfort. This means policies will have to be geared towards sacrificing short term comfort for long-term well-being. The performance appraisal of a government is based on how it fares in the election. Winning the impending election of 2014 is both a managerial as well as a leadership challenge. You can "manage" an election by employing smart election managers. It requires tact and deft manoeuvre of shifting public perceptions. However, leading the people in the 21st century India requires not just tactical but adaptive capabilities. The Indian political class which aspires to lead India in 2014 will have to adapt to more power share with women in the parliament. They also have to adapt to the increasing demand of people for greater competence in government. The problem with most politicians who find their way to the government is as follows: they are so full of ambition there isnt much room left for competence. That will have to change. Finally, this breed called "the political middlemen" who can be trusted to cobble together a working coalition will finally emerge as respectable professionals. They will lend their reputation to building consensus capital. Like Chanakya, they will devote themselves full time to king making rather than becoming kings themselves. The author is Director, Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Kozhikode.
20-20 format. Through enabling technology the spirit of democratization will affect more people in much less time. Increasingly, social networking will change democracy when it is not working. Unfortunately, the mental maps of the leading minds in our country, especially in the established national political parties, are trapped in the feudal past. This map reflects the large territories of feudal India in villages who still toe the lines of caste, community and cash for votes. Truth, transparency and trust will become the basis of vote share when feudal India begins to think on its feet. It is not just that voters will have to trust the politicians. The politicians too will have to trust the voter's ability to think for themselves. Sometimes, good economics can be bad politics. This is particularly so when the economy is decoupled from its larger ecology. Just think of the dismal political fallout of BJP's India shining campaign. Chanakya, the astute political
The views expressed in Op Eds are not necessarily those of The South Asian Times.
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February 2-8, 2013
JAIPUR LITERATURE FESTIVAL 2013
Maha Kumbh of writers and thinkers

By Prakash Bhandari Jaipur: The Pink City is also called Chhoti Kashi, as it has been a big center of learning Sanskrit. They also called it the city of Dhanvantri because it has also been a big center of Ayurveda. The city was built on cosmic philosophy and on religious belief. The city is also now known for the annual Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF), which coincided this time with the Kumbh Mela in Allahabad. So, JLF can now be called the Mahakumbh of writers, poets and thinkers. While the thousands who attend the JLF at Diggi Palace, a heritage property, cannot really be compared to the crores who flock to the two-month Kumbh Mela, the Jaipur event has become the biggest literary festival in the AsiaPacific region, drawing over 130,000 people this January. Kumbh Mela often causes stampedes, while JLF stirs controversy. Now in its sixth year, the JLF has novel Narcopolis was shortlisted for the 2012 Man Booker prize, was even invited to this years event. So, it was a case of mistaken identity. Thayil became the first Indian to win the $50,000 DSC South Asian Literature Prize 2013 for his novel about Mumbai's dark underside and the forces that make the megapolis tick. Rushdie may have skipped the JLF again this year, but has been in India to promote the movie Midnights Children, based on his novel. For its part, the BJP demanded that no scholar from Pakistan should be allowed to read or participate in the festival in protest against the mutilation of two Indian soldiers in Jammu & Kashmir by the Pakistani army. In the end, however, the government and event organizers managed to keep the tensions out of the limelight. Compared with last year, the JLF was held under tight security. But as the festival began, controversy followed when Ashis Nandy, well-known sociologist, was booked for his comments on the corruption and backward communities such as SC, ST and OBC. Overall, some observers felt that JLF has lost some of the momentum gained last year. On January 24, the festivals kick-off day, only one event drew a full house, helped by the presence of the Dalai Lama. A large number of local Tibetans were in the audience. To make the event more attractive, the JLF invited prominent women writers, with some sessions devoted to women and sexuality. This focus caters to the prevailing mood in India, which has recently been convulsed by issues of gender and violence against women. The effort to shine a spotlight on important local issues and writers is a mark of progress for the festival. Only time will tell if the same openness will one day be extended to Rushdie and others of like mind.
Chief Minister of Rajasthan Ashok Gehlot inaugurating the festival.
become a hotspot for literary giants from India and abroad, and a stage where various kinds of tensions and tussles play out in public glare. JLF gained international prominence last year with the invitation extended to the controversial author Salman Rushdie, a much maligned figure in the Muslim world. Radical Muslims whod never read him protested forcing the organizers to keep him out. This year the event raised further
ire when four Indian authors who had read passages from Rushdies Satanic Verses at the last JLF were not allowed to speak at the festival at the behest of Muslim clerics. Sajid Sehrai, an Islamic scholar who organized a meeting in Jaipur where clerics called for the banning of the four authors, said Rushdie was "a criminal who has committed a heinous crime against all Muslims". Incidentally, only one of the four said authors, Jeet Thayil, whose
JLF spawns other fests, but remains the best

main sponsor of the festival. The award is given for the best work in fiction based in South Asia, published in English, including translation into English, and not dependent on the authors ethnicity. The DSC prize is a seamless extension of its existing sponsorship and it serves the rich and varied world of literature and promote the achievement of South Asian writers as well as writers of any ethnicity writing about South Asia and its many diaspora, explained K. Satchidananda, chairman of the award jury. JLF this year showcased 17 Indian languages including Bhojpuri, Magadhi, Sindhi, Santhalui, Tamil and Urdu with such varied themes as Buddha in literature, God is a political philosopher, kinship of faith, Shakespeare, Kipling and even cricket writing. The JLF is basically a platform for the authors as well as for publishers. It is a forum for all of them to say what they want to and even raise storms as all of them are intellectually powerful. Controversy is a good and healthy part of any lit festival, admitted Namita Gokhale, coproducer of the festival. JLF is supported by big publishers as a stall of the size of 8x8 feet cost Rs 8 lakh, which only big publishers can afford. But Gokhale admits that small publishers should also be encouraged who can bring unheard of and marginalized voices. The JLF has grown because it is very well designed and the panel selection is done with a lot of care and understanding. Yet, the invitations are extended to celebrities on intuition. The same set of known writers are invited again and again such as Javed Akhtar and Shabana Azmi, ignoring names such as Nida Fazli and Basheer Badr from the Urdu world. Some even question whether Shabana is invited as an actress or as an author when she has never written a book. Even Javed Akhtar has not written anything new in the last couple of years. This year s festival boasted Commonwealth Writers Prize winner Aminatta Forna from Sierra Leone and a respected Arab novelist, Ahdaf Soueif. Also attending were Pakistans celebrated wunderkind Nadeem Aslam, historical novelist Lawrence Norfolk, and three of Britains popular writers, Sebastian Faulks, Deborah Moggach and Zoe Heller, whose books have been adapted into the acclaimed movies Birdsong, The Exotic Marigold Hotel and Notes on a Scandal. From Harvard came Diana Eck, whose book India: A Sacred Geography has been one of the hits of the year, and the leading cultural theorist, Homi Bhabha. From Columbia varsity came the post-colonial and post-modern literary critic and thinker Gayatri Chakrovorty Spivak. From Oxford came acclaimed authority on Eastern Europe, Timothy Garton Ash and the Shakespearian Christopher Ricks. Three of the worlds most acclaimed artists were presented in conversation: Anish Kapoor, Marc Quinn and William Kentridge. Nandan Nilekani discussed Breakout Nations with Ruchir Sharma, author of this year's bestselling non-fiction. Essayists who spoke included Pico Iyer of Time magazine and Tim Parks and Ian Buruma of the New York Review of Books. This year the JLF ran into financial difficulties with some sponsors backing out. Sanjoy Roy of Teamwork Films, the co-producer of the JLF, revealed that its a misnomer that the festival is a money spinner. Were losing Rs 1.5 crore because our sponsors pulled out, he said without naming them beyond the fact that one was a media house, another is a bank and the third is a heavy industries transport cooperation. Roy clarified that they will not scale down the event next year. He also disagreed that the event was low-key compared to last time and was low on glam quotient, saying. We were never about glamour. This is a literature festival. Its the media who built that up. This time its the Pakistanis who were the stars!
Jeet Thayil became the first Indian to win the $50,000 DSC South Asian Literature Prize 2013 at the JLF for his novel about Mumbai's dark underside and the forces that make the megapolis tick.
Controversy broke when sociologist Ashis Nandy was booked for his comments on corruption and the backward communities in India.
Hyderabad Literary Festival and Kolkata Literary Festival and the cities of Bangalore, Guntur, Kovalam. In New Delhi, the National book Trust will hold its biennial World Book Fair this month with the theme of Mapping Indias Folk & Tribal Literature. Litfests in India have become a glamor fixture. JLF, for example, is often seen as a festival where Indian and foreign women turn up in designer long boots and gloves and with long scarves dangling. In any case, JLF remains the biggest literary festival of Asia to date. The festivals footfall is growing and it is going from strength to strength since 2006 when it started with 18 authors reading from their books. An award of $50,000 prize has been instituted, courtesy H.S. Narula of the DSC construction giant, the
By Prakash Bhandari
he literature festival calendar in India is getting crowded by the year, egged on by the success and popularity of the Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF). The giant Times of India group, which used to sponsor JLF, has opted to organize its own literary carnival, the first of which it held in December 2012, using its clout and marketing muscle, at an unusual venue -a film studio in Bombay. The event discussed motely subjects such as sex and lies and greed. There the work of V.S. Naipaul came for sharp criticism from film and theater personality Girish Karnad. Jumping on the litfest bandwagon have been the Tata festival Mumbai, Goa Writer s group,
JAIPUR LITERATURE FESTIVAL 2013
February 2-8, 2013
15
Some question whether Shabana Azmi (left) is invited again and again as an actress or as an author when she has never written a book.
On the festivals kick-off day, only one event drew a full house, helped by the presence of the Dalai Lama. A large number of Tibetans were in the audience.
Book launches galore at JLF

By Prakash Bhandari ook launches are a way to drum up excitement and sales for a new book. During the Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) as many as eight books in English and Hindi were launched and the authors and publishers saw culmination of months or years of effort and readymade crowd to attend and stalls displaying their books Publishing houses usually have to organize a book launch at a price, but the JLF provided the platform where even the all-important buyers get to have a look at the book and interact with the author. But for some authors, their book launch came as an anti-climax as even after the fanfare, there were not many buyers. Book launches are nothing but eyewash and even good or bad reviews do not work in favor of authors. My book Narcopolis, which is winning awards and accolades, had an unimpressive launch and hardly received any good or worthwhile reviews, yet it is selling, said Jeet Thayil, winner of this years DSC JLP prize of $50,000. Notable among the new book launches were Uprising 2011 by Kiran Bedi and Pavan Choudhry; Terracota by Himmat Shah; Of Mothers & Others by Jaishree Misra; Anant Raag: Infinite Verse by Amit Khanna; In the Shadows of Freedom by Laxmi Dhaull; Days of Gold & Sepia by Yasmeen Premji; The Nawab of Cricket by Suresh Menon and Sunshine Lanes by Prasoon Joshi. Books launched by celebrity authors received special notice and the luckiest was Suresh Menons book The Nawab of Cricket, which was launched by cricket star Rahul Dravid in the presence of Sharmila Tagore and TV journalist Rajdeep Sardesai as moderator.
Amit Khannas Anant Raag had Javed Akhtar, Prasoon Joshi and Neelesh Mishra for the launch. Yet, it was Laxmi Dhaul whose book In The Shadow Of Freedom was launched by Suhel Seth, who got applause because of quality writing. Her book is the real life story of Ayi Tendulkar, a young journalist from Maharashtra who went in the early thirties to Germany for study. Within a short time, he married German actress Eva Schubring, his professor's daughter. Soon, the marriage broke up. Tendulkar, by now a well-known journalist in Berlin, fell in love with and married the filmmaker Thea von Harbou, divorced wife of Fritz Lang. Many years his senior, Thea encouraged and supported him in bringing other young Indian students to the country. Hitler's coming to power put an end to all that, and on Thea's advice, Tendulkar returned to India, where he became involved in Gandhi's campaign of non-cooperation with the British, and where with Thea's consent he married Indumati Gunaji, a Gandhian activist. Caught up in the whirlwind of Gandhi's activism, Indumati and Tendulkar spent several years in Indian prisons, being able to come together as a married couple only after their release. In this unique account, Indumati and Tendulkar's daughter, Laxmi Tendulkar Dhaul, traces the turbu-
lent time lives of her parents and Thea von Harbou, against the backdrop of Nazi Germany and Gandhi's India, using a wealth of documents, letters, newspaper articles and photographs. Not until the publication of Patrick McGilligans monumental biography of Fritz Lang in 1997 had the name of Ayi Tendulkar rung a bell among experts of German cinema during the Weimar Republic (19181933), or even in the community of scholars who have done extensive research on Indians living in Germany between the two world wars. The latter included students, radical activists engaged in the cause of Indian independence, artists, filmmakers and a handful of businessmen. Some of them are wellknown: the communists M.N. Roy and Virendranath Chattopadhya, the socialist leader Ram Manohar Lohia, former President Zakir Hussain, filmmakers Himanshu Rai and V. Shantaram. Oddly enough, Ayi Tendulkar does not figure in the list even though he had forged strong links with institutions and personalities that shaped Germanys tumultuous politics and culture in the decade preceding the triumph of Nazism, observed senior journalist Dileep Padgaonkar in his foreword to the book. Bollywood lyricist, screenplay writer and advertising copywriter, who is also the chairman of the
Laxmi Tendulkar Dhaul and title cover of her book about the turbulent time lives of her parents.
advertising company McCann WorldGroup-India, Prasoon Joshis Sunshine Lanes is a compilation of lyrics from his 60 odd song written over the last 10 years. Accompanying the lyrics are writers notes about the thought process behind each song or sharing a perspective. Prasoon Joshi has written lyrics for films like Hum Tum, Rang De Basanti, Fanaa, Taare Zameen Par, Delhi 6, Black, London Dreams, etc. He has also written for albums like Silk Route, Ab ke Saawan. While we increasingly hear about the decline in the quality of lyrics in film songs, theres one name that defies this trend and stands apart. Prasoon Joshi is among the contemporary song-
writers, who has kept the tradition of poetry alive in the medium of the Indian film songs. He has created songs with fresh thought and extraordinary craft. His poetry and songs have a mass connect as well as are respected by connoisseurs, observed noted Bollywood actress and singer Ila Arun. The Nawab of Cricket tells a story of former India skipper Mansur Ali Khan "Tiger" Pataudi. After the launch of this book was a talk show called 'Corner of a distant playing field', based on the transformation of cricket as a sport. That is when we learnt that Rahul Dravid, who retired from cricket last year, is now penning his autobiography.
Rahul Dravid, now retired from cricket, is penning his autobiography, it was revealed.
A music presentation at the JLF.
(Photos: Mahesh Acharya)
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February 2-8, 2013
INDIA'S 64TH REPUBLIC DAY
Military hardware, cultural diversity blend

New Delhi: There was a perfect blend of indigenous military hardware and rich cultural diversity at India's 64th Republic Day parade, as the country showcased its rapid military strides as well as its roots with the past. Time was when almost all the hardware on display was of foreign origin. This time around, it was the the opposite barring few exceptions. And what was on view was itself an exercise in contrast. The marching contingents from the armed forces, the paramilitary and National Cadet Corps vied for attention besides school students in traditional costumes and a breathtaking canvas provided by tableaux from 19 states and government departments. The highlight of the 100-minute parade was the nuclear-capable 5,000 km Agni-V ballistic missile developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation, flight-tested in April 2012. Sent aloft from a self-contained road mobile launcher, the missile provides India genuine deterrence capability and brings it at par with an elite group of advanced countries. Then there was the Arjun main battle tank that has long been in development and whose kinks have finally been ironed out, setting the
The highlight of the 100-minute parade was the nuclear-capable 5,000 km Agni-V ballistic missile; and a DRDO tableau at the parade
stage for serial production. Also on display was a versatile armored amphibious dozer, indigenously developed to support combat engineers with its excellent earthmoving and amphibious capabilities in varied terrain. The other army weaponry on show included the supersonic cruise missile Brahmos, Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher, a CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological nuclear) warfare reconnaissance vehicle, a bridge-laying tank and a mobile integrated network terminal system. The army's mechanized column display concluded with a flypast by the Dhruv advanced light helicopter
developed in the country. Not to be outdone, the Indian Air Force displayed a model of its soon to be acquired indigenous "eye in the sky" atop an Embraer 145 airborne early warning and control aircraft.The Indian Navy showed a replica of the INS Vikramaditya aircraft carrier being acquired from Russia and expected to be inducted this year to enhance its blue water capability. Interspersed with the hardware were the marching contingents. Each comprised 144 personnel with a fair sprinkling of women and provided their own share of contrasts. While the army columns were in the regulation olive green, a blaze of
colour was on view in their turbans blue and white, red and gold, orange and gold, deep green et al. The navy was in black with white lanyards, belts and leggings, the air force in blue and the paramilitaries in khakhi. And there was the music: well loved tunes like "Saare Jahan Se Aacha" and "Kadam Kadam Badaiye Ja" to name just two. The parade was split almost equally between the military and cultural elements, the latter bringing up the rear. As for the tableaux, these dealt with a variety of themes: homage to Swami Vivekananda (West Bengal), linking tradition with technology
through pashmina (Jammu and Kashmir), houseboats (Kerala), 100 years of Indian cinema (information and broadcasting ministry), inclusion of people with disabilities (social justice ministry), and seasons (Central Public Works Department) made up entirely of flowers. A flypast by the air force provided the grand finale with the piece de resistance being a lone Sukhoi Su30MKI streaking into the wild blue yonder in a Vertical Charlie manoeuvre. The marching contingents go all the way to the 17-th century Red Fort in the city's old quarters while the armored units and the cultural pageants stop at the India Gate lawns.
Beating Retreat weaves magical musical spell

New Delhi: For once it was not bitterly cold and the warmth added to the ambiance as a thousand bandsmen of the armed forces Tuesday wove elaborate patterns to rousing music at the Beating Retreat ceremony, marking the end of the Republic Day celebrations. The setting couldn't be more perfect. Under a clear blue sky, with the tricolor waving languidly in the gentle breeze on the vast stage at the foot of the Raisina Hill that houses the Rashtrapati Bhavan and the imposing Secretariat blocks, the hour-long ceremony unfolded with a judicious blend of Indian and western marches that had the audience in raptures. So cold has it been in the past that a three-sided screen has had to be erected to protect the president from the breeze. That wasn't necessary Tuesday as President Pranab Mukherjee arrived for his first Beating Retreat ceremony. As it happens at the Jan 26 Republic Day parade, there was plenty of contrast on view from the cream breeches, red tunics and blue turbans with gold-white-blue trims, the green trousers and red tunics of the tankmen, the olive green and orange uniforms of the infantry and
The band performing at the Beating the Retreat Ceremony in New Delhi and a view of the illuminated Rashtrapati Bhawan, South Block and North Block during the Beating the Retreat Ceremony.
the maroon uniform of the veterinarians. Against this were the black uniforms matched with white belts and lanyards and white caps of the navy and the blue of the air force. The massed bands set the tone for the ceremony as they marched down Rajpath to a rather unusual arrangement of "Kadam Kadam Badahe Ja" that was a blend of military and symphonic styles. It went down extremely well. As the massed bands halted the pipes and drums peeled off with a medley of quick and slow marches that included "Bala Sepaiah", "Suman Sarila" and "Pulkat Himalaya", etching out squares, tri-
angles and circles on Vijay Chowk and rounded off by a deft display of stick work by the kettle drummers. It was then the turn of the navy and air force to take centre-stage. They quickly had the audience eating out of their hands with an extremely peppy rendition of "Through the Great Ocean", followed by "Astronaut", a quick march, "Evening Breeze" a slow march and "The Admiral's Insignia" that involved some intricate forward and backward movements. The sun was slowly setting as the army brass band moved forward with a haunting version of George Frederick Handel's "Scipio", a slow
march featuring the woodwinds echoing a theme etched out by the brass. It was then the turn of the massed bands to come forward for one last time. They did so with the grandios "Sher-e-Jawan" and the "Drummers Call" that involved staccato beats on the kettle drums that rose to a cresendo and tapered off to a single drumbeat. Then came the moment that everyone was waiting for: "Abide With Me", Mahatma Gandhi's favourite hymn that had the bells in the belfry of the North Block taking up the theme essayed by the brass. The "Retreat" was sounded, the national flag was lowered and the
principal conductor for the evening, Lt Commander S.K. Champion, sought permission to take the bands back. This granted, the bands wheeled around and marched up Raisina Hill to the soul-stirring "Saare Jahan Se Aach". As the bands crested the hill and the music became a mere echo, tens of thousands of bulbs on the Rashtrapati Bhavan, the two Secretariat blocks and Parliament House came alive, evoking "Ooooh" and "Aaaah " from the audience. Another Beating Retreat had ended, with the promise of more to come next year.
INDIA'S 64TH REPUBLIC DAY
February 2-8, 2013
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Navy, Air Force adjudged best marching contingents
The Navy and the Indian Air Force (IAF) contingents at the parade
New Delhi: The Navy and the Indian Air Force (IAF) have been jointly declared the best marching contingents among the services and the CISF among the para-military forces in this year's Republic Day parade, an official said. Kerala won the prize for the best Republic Day tableau while Rajasthan was chosen
second and Chhattisgarh third in the category of "best three tableaux", the official said. The tableau presented by the Central Public Works Department has been selected for a special prize. Children of the Eastern Zone Cultural Centre, Kolkata won the prize for "best school children item" for Purulia's Chhau Dance.
The consolation prize was won by Sarvodaya Kanya Vidyalaya, Amalwas, New Delhi. The official said the Navy and IAF had been jointly declared best marching contingent among the three services. The IAF bagged the title consecutively for the third time. The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) was chosen the best
marching contingent among the para-military forces and other auxiliary marching contingents. The official said three panels of judges were appointed for assessing the performance of marching contingents from the three services and paramilitary forces, the various tableaux and items presented by school children.
Rashtrapati Bhavan 3 NRIs among Padma Bhushan awardees comes alive with folk, N fusion dances
New Delhi: Artists from the Republic Day Parade tableaux performed again before President Pranab Mukherjee, this time at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The president played host to artists, officials and tribal leaders involved with the various tableaux at the Republic Day Parade and cadets from the National Cadet Corps (NCC) and National Service Scheme (NSS). Artists from across India performed dances such as the 'Mayur Nritya' from Mathura, 'Rouf' from Kashmir, 'fusion Bharatanatyam' on wheelchairs, the Odissi from Odisha, and a combination of all Indian classical dance forms by NCC cadets. The performances took place at the sprawling central lawns, part of the Mughal Garden, at the president's estate a day after the country celebrated its 64th Republic Day Jan 26. Artists from Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, dressed as Lord Krishna and his consort Radha, danced to the folk song 'mor ban aayo rasiya' (He came dressed as a peacock), based on a folklore that Lord Krishna once transformed into a peacock to appease Radha. A group of men paralysed from the waist down performed a 'fusion Bharatanatyam' on wheelchairs. "It was very heartening that Mrs. Mukherjee was encouraging us. It boosted our confidence and made us want to do much more," 24year-old Ajay Kumar Tanwar from Delhi said. "I wanted to shake the president's hand but I was very nervous," said 14-yearold Himanshi Dahiya, an NCC cadet. Mementos were presented to the president by the visiting dignitaries from Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and the NCC and the sports and youth affairs ministry. "Our cadets learn the diverse and rich culture of India through such events," NCC's director-general Lt.Gen. P.S. Bhalla said.
oted theorist, translator and post-colonialism expert Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak said at Kolkata Wednesday that people should want laws, and not respect them out of fear, offering her view on how to prevent crimes like the Dec 16 Delhi gangGayatri Chakravorty rape. Spivak Spivak, Professor, is a recipient Deptt of English and of the Comparative P a d m a Literature, Columbia Bhushan University award on Indias Republic Day this year. "Respecting laws not out of fear, but actually wanting laws, should be the way to go. And wanting laws is a result of education and ethics," said Spivak at the second Kolkata Literary Meet 2013. Spivak is best known for the essay "Can the Subaltern Speak?" considered a founding text of post-colonialism and for her translation of, and introduction to, Jacques Derrida's De la grammatologie (Of Grammatology). In 2012, she was awarded the Kyoto Prize in Arts and Philosophy for being "a critical theorist and educator speaking for the humanities against intellectual colonialism in relation to the globalized world". According to Spivak, besides wanting laws, one must also check whether laws are being followed. "There are so many illegal things happening in our country. It is important to see whether the laws are being followed or not," she said. The translator also felt that a change in mentality is necessary to bring about lasting change in society. "Changing laws cannot change everything. There is a need to change people's mentality for a long-term effect," she said. She also spoke at the Jaipur Literature Festival this January. C Irvine Distinguished Professor Satya N. Atluri can add the 2013 Padma Bhushan Award to his long list of accolades, as he is one of the six honorees in the category of science and engineering to receive the distinguished award from Satya N. Atluri, UC his native Irvine Distinguished country. Professor Atluri is an award-winning engineer in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and also the director of the Center for Aerospace Research and Education at The Henry Samueli School of Engineering. Greater aircraft safety and durability can be attributed to his extensive research and passion for his trade. As a teenager growing up in India, I followed with awe the two or three Padma Bhushan awardees in the sciences, each year, wrote Atluri. I never dreamt that one day I would be considered to be worthy of this award, but here it is, proof only of the fruits of labor and commitment to science, education and research. I want to share my immense joy on this occasion, and thank UCI for giving me a job and an opportunity to think, to teach and to publish. His other notable awards include the
Excellence in Aviation Award (1998), the Structures, Structural Dynamics and Materials Medal (1988), the Penday Aerospace Literature Medal (1998), the Aerospace Structures and Materials Award (1986), the Hilbert Medal (2003), and the Eringen Medal (1995).
r. Jogesh Chandra Pati, Professor of Theoretical Physics at the University of Maryland, can add the 2013 Padma Bhushan Award to his impressive list of accomplishments, the most noteworthy of which is perhaps the successful origination of new symmetries that explain why strong, weak and electroDr. Jogesh Chandra Pati, Professor of m a g n e t i c Theoretical Physics, forces are so different as University of we see them. Maryland Pati is a Member and Fellow of the American Physical Society, Co-Director of the International Summer Workshop on High Energy Physics, Trieste, Italy for 10 years and Chairman of the International Summer School on Current Trends in Condensed Matter and Particle Physics. He has won many laurels including Richard C. Tolman Postdoctoral Fellow, Calif. Institute of Technology (1960-1962), Washington Academy of Sciences Award in Physical Sciences (1973), John Simon Guggenheim Fellow (1979-80) and Distinguished Scholar-Teacher, University of Maryland (1986-87).
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February 2-8, 2013
ULTIMATE BOLLYWOOD
India, Pak spar - this 'Vishwaroopam': Kamal threatens to leave India T time over SRK
he Madras High Court has reimposed the ban on Kamal Haasan's "Vishwaroopam", escalating problems for the filmmaker who cited the late M.F. Husain and threatened to leave the country while also agreeing to cuts in scenes that some Muslim groups found objectionable. As controversy swirled over the Rs.95 crore multilingual espionage thriller, the debate on creative freedom also intensified. Kamal Haasan, one of southern cinema's most successful stars, said if the ban on his film was not lifted, he might have to look out for a "secular state" and that can be out of the country. He also agreed to cuts in the film following objections from the Muslim organisations. "There is no difference between me and my Muslim brothers. It is our duty to take care of them. There are four scenes that are being pointed out and I am willing to remove these scenes from the movie," he said. Stating that he was "fed up", Kamal had said earlier at a press conference: "If there is no secular state in India, I would go overseas. I think Tamil Nadu wants me out. M.F Husain had to do it and now Haasan will have to do it. It's fine. What would change is my passport; I would still be an Indian. I have pledged all my property for the film. I have lost my house because of delay in release." "Going by what is happening with me, I'm very likely to seek a secular state or country to release my film, on which I've invested my lifetime's savings, including all my assets," Kamal said in an emotional outburst that came a day after another film icon, Shah Rukh Khan, asserted his secular, national identity. Kamal said he was still trying to understand why
The Tamil and Telugu versions of Kamal Haasan-directed 'Vishwaroopam' were scheduled to release on January 25
In eye of storm: Shah Rukh Khan
ollwyood star Shah Rukh Khan was at the center of the latest round of sparring between two often uneasy neighbors with Pakistan's minister Rehman Malik's comment that India should provide the actor security prompting a sharp rebuke from New Delhi that Islamabad should mind its own 'minorities'.Malik said in Islamabad that the Indian government should provide security to Shah Rukh, in the thick of a controversy over his remarks on being a Muslim that led to Jamaat-ud Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed saying the star could move to Pakistan. Addressing reporters in Islamabad at a reception hosted by the Indian High Commissioner, Malik added that people of both Pakistan and India love Shah Rukh. India was quick to react. Soon after Malik's remarks were reported in the media, Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish
Tewari and Home Secretary R.K. Singh said Pakistan should worry about the state of affairs in its own country. Shah Rukh, one of Bollywood's more articulate personalities, had written in Outlook Turning Points magazine, published in association with The New York Times: "I sometimes become the inadvertent object of political leaders who choose to make me a symbol of all that they think is wrong and unpatriotic about Muslims in India." "There have been occasions when I have been accused of bearing allegiance to our neighboring nation rather than my own country - this even though I am an Indian, whose father fought for the freedom of India. Rallies have been held where leaders have exhorted me to leave and return what they refer to my original homeland," added the 47year-old star.
"some members with strong political backing" were against his film. "The film is running successfully in other states and the feedback from the audience has also been positive." The lavishly mounted film, which stars Kamal and is written, produced and directed by him, was banned by the Tamil Nadu government after some Muslim groups complained that the film portrayed their community in bad light. The film was originally scheduled to release Jan 25 in Tamil and Telugu, but was only released in a few places in Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. It was banned in these places as well after the first show on the release day. It was also banned in places such as Malaysia and Sri Lanka after two days of run in the cinemas.
RGV to launch 'The Attacks of 26/11' song
eopold Cafe was one of the key targets of the brutal 26/11 Mumbai attacks. And five years down the line, filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has decided to release the first song of his new film "The Attacks on 26/11" at the same cafe, Feb 6.
While Varma had trouble getting permission to shoot his film at several authentic locations, where the terror attacks actually happened, the owner of Leopold Cafe, Ferzad Jehani, supported the filmmaker and helped him recreate the events at his cafe,
which led to ghastly attacks in 2008. The director is now set to release the first song from "The Attacks Of 26/11" at the Leopold Cafe Feb 6, exactly at the time when the terror attacks began on the cafe and the city.
'Vishwaroop': one helluva entertainer, and no sentiments hurt

irst things first. Kamal Haasan's enormously controversial film doesn't hurt Muslim sentiments. In fact, it doesn't hurt the sentiments of any section of the people except those party-poopers who think having a ball at the movies went out of style with "Sholay" and "Chachi 420". Leave aside its sobering take on global warfare, "Vishwaroop", the Hindi version of the Tamil, Telugu "Vishwaroopam", is one helluva entertainer. If you've forgotten what edge-of-the-seat entertainment meant, then it is time to rediscover that pleasure. Stylish and substantial, the narrative weaves and winds its way into coherent and compulsive threads that bring together the theme of international espionage with the more sensitive issue of the Islamic and the personal identity of a man, whose heroic stature grows out of a sense of commitment to the country and to world peace. The deeper thrusts of Kamal Haasan and Atul Tiwari's devious screenplay leap out of this compact epic drama, which takes off into the Taliban terror outfit in Afghanistan and hence to the New York suburbia where domestic normalcy is replaced by a vio-
Review
with it. Just about the only desirable thing that emerges from the horrific folds of global militancy are some great adventure sagas. And "Vishwaroop" is as gripping as it gets. The narrative moves steadily and sharply to an inevitable nemesis. Maverick director Kamal Haasan builds the mood for adventure, and the payoff is enormously satisfying. With some remarkably austere and sharp editing by Mahesh Narayan and camerawork by Sanu John Verghese that captures scenes of violence with as much rugged candor as the sharply-drawn scenes from the hero's personal life, Kamal Haasan's tale of terror during the times of love, witticism, philosophizing and, yes, dancing comes alive in a huge adrenaline rush of action and drama. The rigorous research that has gone into the plot never weighs down the narration. Whether infiltrating the Al Qaeda (scarily real in the detailing and eerily cinematic in its visual sweep) or focusing on the hijinks
lence - a kind of ceaselessly renewable violence that has gripped working-class lives ever since 26/11, which made it clear that international terrorism is here to stay. Deal
of our hero, the creative crossovers in the narrative are achieved with the fluency of chapters in a deftly-written novel. Gone is the heavily cerebral, over-studied atmosphere of his earlier directorial epic "Dasavatharam". Also gone is the overindulgent footage-occupancy of this actor's recent screen outings. Yes, Kamal Haasan dominates the show with three different avatars whose destinies intertwine in strange ways. Pooja Kumar as his beloved is charming. Also leaving a lasting impression is Rahul Bose, who as an Al Qaeda chap swathes his persona in menace and terror without getting into the gritting-teeth mould. The sharply-drawn characters, the terrifying insight into the psyche of terrorism and the sumptuous mounting and packaging add up to a movie that is quite easily one of the finest adventure sagas in recent times. The action sequences are, at last, on a par with Hollywood. Insult to any community? Hah! It would be an insult to the filmmaking community to miss "Vishwaroop". Miss this big screen adventure at your own risk.
ULTIMATE BOLLYWOOD
February 2-8, 2013
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Padma awards for Bollywood - delayed and deserved

hat Rajesh Khanna is being honored with a Padma Bhushan is a good thing. That he is being honored after his death is not such a good thing. Why wait for the legends to die before honoring them? Why honor him with a Padma award a good 35 years after his hey days are over? Between 1969 and 1974, Rajesh Khanna saw the kind of stardom no other actor had ever seen. Shouldn't the government have honored him closer to his glory days? If not, then at least while he was still alive to go on stage and recite the immortal lines that Sahir Ludhianvi wrote for the superstar in Yash Chopra's "Daag". "Aap, aap kya jaane mujhko samajhte hain kya, main toh kuch bhi nahi. Is kadr pyaar itni badi bheed ka, main rakhunga kahaan?" The other posthumous winner from the entertainment industry - Jaspal Bhatti seems a bit of a sentimental choice. A leading entertainer from Bollywood on condition of anonymity opined: "With due respects to Jaspal Bhattiji, he was a terrific comic talent. But would he have received the Padma Shri, let alone the Padma Bhushan had he not passed away so suddenly in a road accident last year?" There seems to be no quibble over Sharmila Tagore getting the Padma Bhushan. Having worked with directors as distinctive as Satyajit Ray and O.P. Ralhan, she epitomizes the
Actor Sridevi and late comedian Jaspal Bhatti
spectral spirit of the entertainment industry and also has to her credit a substantial body of work besides acting.
The Padma Shri for Sridevi and Nana Patekar also has gone to the deserving.
Lucky to be working with Bollywood: Chetan Bhagat

estselling novelist Chetan Bhagat has now turned a Bollywood scriptwriter. After writing the screenplay of "Kai Po Che!" -- an adaptation of his novel "The 3 Mistakes of My Life" -- the 38-year-old author from Mumbai is now writing the script for a Telugu film remake. The film, titled "Kick", will star Salman Khan. "It is the story of a man who lives for passion and kick," Bhagat said. "I'm lucky Bollywood has liked my stories. It feels good because writers don't get noticed so much. Not only they are making films on my books, but I'm also working with big and talented people," he said. "Kai Po Che!", directed by Abhishek Kapoor, is a story of three friends in Ahmedabad and the
Gippy Grewal to dub for Punjabi 'Die Hard 5'

he fifth installment of the popular "Die Hard" franchise, Bruce Willis' "A Good Day To Die Hard", will not just release in India in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu, but Punjabi as well. Punjabi actor Gippy Grewal will dub for it. Fox Star Studios roped in the multi-talented Gippy, who is known for his singing and acting alike.Happy to be a part of the project, Gippy said: "I am a huge fan of the 'Die Hard' films and loved the idea of the film being dubbed in Punjabi. I really enjoyed dubbing
Novelist Chetan Bhagat
upheaval in their lives. "One Night@The Call Centre" was made into a film titled "Hello" (2008) and "Five Point Someone" into "3 Idiots" (2009). Bhagat's other novels are "2 States" and "Revolution 2020".
for the film; I am sure my fans will absolutely love my part." Gippy rose to fame thanks to his single "Phulkari" and made his acting debut in 2010 film "Mel Karade Rabbe". He also featured in the movie "Jinhe Mera Dil Luteya", and is known for the song "Angrezi beat". He will voice Jai Courtney, who plays Willis's estranged son and partner in fighting the bad guys in the latest "Die Hard" installment. "A Good Day To Die Hard" will release Feb 22.
Punjabi actor Gippy Grewal
'Race 2': A clueless race course caper

veryone is busy deceiving everyone else in this paper caper, which probably looked tempting in the writing but comes across on screen as a monstrous masquerade of hedonistic hijinx filmed at exotic locales where men and women play for high stakes, live dangerously and die foolishly. They deserve it. Abbas-Mustan's love for depicting the high life is by now as wellknown as David Dhawan's penchant for guffaws. Everyone in an AbbasMustan caper takes his or her life at the race course seriously when in fact the characters are all an extended joke. They are comicbook cutouts pasted on to the big wide screen with all their exaggerations
Review
blown out of proportion. It's hard to pinpoint where the leakage in this latest Abbas-Mustan adventure-caper begins to seep septically into the plot. But you know there is something serious amiss in the plot when one of the protagonists, Saif Ali Khan deadpans: "Revenge is best served cold." Really? If that were indeed the case then the volumes of vendetta served up by disgruntled men and women in "Race 2" should have made our adrenaline...er...race really hard. Everyone says the 'R' word with a special stress savoring the word 'race' like a Caucasian teaplanter talking about his favourite
A poster of 'Race 2'
slave in the 19th century. Boring in their self-absorption and utterly oblivious of the world around them where pain and suffering are to be obtained once the fun and games end, these characters are busy striking artificial poses in carefully-toned bodies draped in the best dresses and suits created for the rich and the restless. Don't even try to reason out the characters' motivation in "Race 2". Drowned in a cacophony of one offkey song after another, wallowing in their one-note wickedness and getting high on their endless bouts of drinking, partying and masquerading , the characters in "Race 2" are a laugh. But shhhh. Don't tell them.
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February 2-8, 2013
OP-ED
BJP's 'galaxy' - more liability than asset

By Amulya Ganguli
or all of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Arun Jaitley's claim that his party has a "galaxy" of leaders, it has had to fall back on an old and controversial warhorse, Rajnath Singh, for the second time to be the party chief. What this means is that, in actuality, the BJP's cupboard is bare so far as members of leadership potential are concerned. Moreover, the potential embraces a whole gamut of complicating factors. As a result, there is no easy ascent to the top. The BJP's greasy pole, therefore, which is the phrase denoting upward mobility, is greasier than in most parties. Nothing demonstrated the conflicting ingredients of the leadership battle than the rise and fall of Nitin Gadkari. If, in the Congress, the scions of the Nehru-Gandhi family parachute down to the top of the party pyramid, in the BJP, it is the patriarchs of the Rashtriya
Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), who determine who will descend from above to take charge of the party. The starkness of this choreographed procedure has been highlighted twice in Rajnath Singh's case. The first time was in 2006, when then party president L.K. Advani was ousted by the RSS for committing the unpardonable sin in the saffron brotherhood's eyes of praising Mohammed Ali Jinnah on a visit to Pakistan in 2005. Even at the time, the choice raised eyebrows because Rajnath Singh was - and still is - regarded as a "provincial", the unflattering word used by Jaswant Singh when he was dismissed from the BJP for repeating Advani's folly of lauding Jinnah in a book. But provincials are apparently the kind preferred by the RSS because they lack the faint traces of cosmopolitanism, which includes fluency in English, which the BJP leaders based in Delhi tend to acquire. So, when Rajnath Singh's term ended in 2009, the RSS turned to another provincial in a state
The penchant of the RSS for the less sophisticated leader is another roadblock before the party's smooth functioning
which is farther away from the national capital than Uttar Pradesh, which is Rajnath Singh's home province. But, in choosing the little known Maharashtrian, the RSS hadn't considered how his business ventures will come to haunt him. The praise which a saffron
scribe heaped on Gadkari's business acumen when he became president is unlikely to be repeated now. What the toing and froing between Rajnath Singh and Gadkari show is that even if there are leaders in the BJP who consider themselves capable of being
the chief, the special predilections of the RSS keep a lid on their aspirations. So, it isn't only the absence of secular credentials which is a hindrance to someone like Narendra Modi's prime ministerial hopes; the penchant of the RSS for the less sophisticated is another roadblock before the party's smooth functioning. Although the recent upsurge among its cadres helped to bolster several leaders in the states Modi in Gujarat, Shivraj Singh Chauhan in Madhya Pradesh, Raman Singh in Chhattisgarh they cannot move to the national level for various reasons, of which Modi's disadvantage is well known. The others cannot be elevated for two reasons. One is that it will create a vacuum in the states and the other is that their ascent will be resisted by the ambitious Delhi-based leaders - Advani, Jaitley, Sushma Swaraj and others. In a way, therefore, Jaitley's boast about a "galaxy" of leaders is true, but it is a liability rather than an asset.
Cultural terrorism: Idea of India threatened

Shah Rukh Khan one day and Kamal Haasan the next. Is it mere coincidence or a sign of an increasingly knee-jerk, reactionary India that two of its most loved film icons are forced to go public to painstakingly reassert their secular identity and insist, in case the message is lost, that they are proud Indians?
By Minu Jain
hah Rukh Khan one day and Kamal Haasan the next. Is it mere coincidence or a sign of an increasingly knee-jerk, reactionary India that two of its most loved film icons are forced to go public to painstakingly reassert their secular identity and insist, in case the message is lost, that they are proud Indians? Given the trajectory of events and the escalating intolerance on a range of issues -- Ashis Nandy and Salman Rushdie are more cases in point -- this is the time to worry. And the question above, merely rhetorical. Shah Rukh and Kamal Haasan are not mere actors but extremely successful, talented artists with millions of rupees and many jobs riding on them and their films. If one rules over the powerful Hindi film industry, the other is a veteran of south Indian cinema. Yet, they are under attack, victims of what some term cultural terrorism and even state terrorism. Shah Rukh cornered for his views on what it is to be a Muslim in India and Kamal Haasan for mak-
ing a film that allegedly has scenes that some Muslim groups find objectionable and that the Tamil Nadu government seeks to ban. On Tuesday evening, an upset Shah Rukh - in the thick of controversy for an article that sparked a ridiculous war of words between New Delhi and Islamabad after Pakistan's Interior Minister Rehman Malik said the Indian government should offer him security - said the "unwarranted twist" was "nonsense". Nowhere in the article, a first person account for Outlook Turning Points magazine, does he state or imply directly or indirectly that he feels unsafe, troubled or disturbed in India, the star said, reading out from a statement. "It does not even vaguely say that I am ungrateful for the love that I have received in a career spanning 20 years. On the contrary the article only says that in spite of bigoted thoughts of some of the people that surround us, I am untouched by skepticism because of the love I have received by my countrymen and women," said the actor, who
has been in the eye of so many storms. And Wednesday, ironically Mahatma Gandhi's death anniversary and the day to recall the spirit of tolerance, came Kamal Haasan's emotional outburst that if the verdict on his Rs.95 crore film "Vishwaroopam" was not favorable, he would have to consider moving overseas to a "secular state abroad". "M.F. Husain had to do it, now Haasan will do it," said the angry filmmaker, saying that he lost all his property, even his house. The reference to the late artist, who died in London in 2011 after he was literally chased away from his homeland by rightwing Hindus who took offence at his paintings on goddesses and his depiction of Bharat 'mata', was so apt. It was the same righteous wrath that links the Muslim groups who objected to "Vishwaroopam", the same calculated move for maximum publicity that saw Jamaatud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed invite Shah Rukh to Pakistan. A rainbow coalition of fringe, fundamentalist views - all intolerant, regardless of which religion they originate
from. But here is also the difference between Shah Rukh and Kamal Haasan. While the 58-year-old Chennai-based veteran could afford to take the offensive and say he would move away from India, the 47-year-old Khan from Bollywood could just not do so. Can you imagine what would happen had Shah Rukh spoken of getting out of India instead of stressing: "We, in India, are extremely safe and happy. We have an amazing democratic, free and secular way of life." Lyricist Javed Akhtar said rightly about Kamal Haasan's outburst: "Don't listen to the words, listen to the sentiments." Wonder if anybody would 'listen' to Shah Rukh's sentiments had he said the same thing? As Indian celebrities, even those in filmdom, come under scrutiny and the discourse gets more polarized, there are other victims. Social analyst Nandy had to be questioned by police in Jaipur for his comment during the Jaipur Literature Festival on corruption and caste. And Rushdie was in the country too, promoting
"Midnight's Children" but was kept safely away from the Kolkata literary fest. The right of thinkers to argue must be protected at all costs, an online petition said, defending Nandy. By Wednesday evening, as the dust settled somewhat over the SRK brouhaha, Kamal Haasan had agreed to make cuts in his film but the Madras High Court had re-imposed the stay. As filmmakers know only too well, if you don't upset the fringe element of one religion or another, you hurt caste groups and other sub-sections, even barbers. It's a tricky tightrope walk. Remember how "Billu Barber" was finally released only as "Billu". The attack on creative freedom as well as the debate on its limits is not new but it's getting worse. And where does India go from here? To another SRK storm maybe, to more uncertainty for "Vishwaroopam", more tension for Ashis Nandy. And other casualties of a society where knee-jerk reactions are taking over from considered debates and calibrated decisions.
The views expressed in Op Eds are not necessarily those of The South Asian Times.
DIASPORA
February 2-8, 2013
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Republic Day celebrated at Indian Embassies all over

Handbook on yoga released in Indonesia
handbook on yoga was released here Saturday to mark India's Republic Day. The publication "Yoga for beginners and Intermediate level", brought out by Embassy of India and Jawaharlal Nehru Cultural Centre, Jakarta, was released by Ambassador Gurjit Singh. The handbook sets out to inform in a lucid way the various postures of yoga and gives clear and precise introduction to asanas, pranayam and meditation techniques, a media release from the embassy said. The 64th Republic Day was
marked not just at the Indian embassy in Jakarta but consulates in Bali and Medan. Gurjit Singh hoisted the national flag at the embassy premises and similar ceremonies took place at the consulates. Nearly 400 members of the Indian community, PIOs and friends of India participated in the ceremony. About 150 school children from three Indian schools Gandhi Memorial International School, the Rama International School and Texmaco DPS School sang the national anthem and patriotic songs.
Ambassador Gurjit Singh and Madame Neeru Singh with guests at the Republic Day Reception in Jakarta. From left to right: Mr Suresh Vaswani, Executive Member of Gandhi Seva Loka, Mr HS Dillon and Madame, President's Special Envoy for Poverty Alleviation; Mr Wardana, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Indonesia; Mr Gurjit Singh, Ambassador of India to Indonesia, ASEAN and Timor Leste; Mr Le Luong Minh, Secretary General of ASEAN; Madame Neeru Singh; Ms Andinatassa, Putri Indonesia Pariwisata 2011, Ms Grace Gabriela, Miss Jambi 2011.
Ambassador Dinesh Patnaik unfurled the Indian tricolor on the occasion of India's 64th Republic Day at Indian Embassy in Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Missing Indian teen found drowned in British canal

Bangalore: Souvik Pal, the 19-yearold Bangalore youth who went missing Dec 31 in Britain, was found drowned in a canal Tuesday at Manchester. "We are shocked to hear that Souvik is no more after his father (Shantanu Pal) identified the decomposed body, which was recovered from the Westbridge canal in Manchester by search divers," Pal's family friend told media here Wednesday. According to Manchester police chief detective Colin Larson, an autopsy will be conducted to ascertain the cause of Souvik's death as there were no visible signs or marks by flight. Souvik, an engineering undergraduate student at the Manchester Metropolitan University since Sep 2012, was last seen at a nightclub on New Year eve and went missing later under mysterious circumstances. Souvik called his parents Dec 31 night to wish them a happy New Year and told them that he would be going with his friends to celebrate the New Year at a nightclub. The family first came to know Jan 2 that Souvik was not seen in the hostel after the New Year party. A complaint was lodged by Souvik's friends with police. 1960, has a population of around 16 million. The country has been in turmoil since a military coup last March. Islamists seized a vast area of northern Mali and have tried to impose strict Islamic Sharia law. France sent troops to Mali earlier this month to quell the regional Al Qaeda-led militia. Around 3,000 French troops are engaged in the operation. France has 2,150 soldiers on Malian soil, with 1,000 more troops supporting the operation from elsewhere. African states have pledged nearly 5,700 troops to support French and Malian forces in their campaign.
People to people contact through 'India by the Nile' in Egypt
Souvik Pal
on his body to suspect any foul play. Police will hand over Souvik's body to Shantanu after autopsy so that the family could decide whether to perform the last rites in Manchester or take it to Bangalore
Indians in Mali are safe

Accra (Ghana): As French-led international forces in Mali press on with their offensive against Islamist rebels, the situation has not had any impact on Indians living in the West African nation, an Indian official said. There are about 200 people of Indian origin living across Mali. The Indian embassy in Bamako says the community is small but growing. Indians started coming to the country about 12-15 years ago. "The situation has not had any impact on Indians living in the country," Ashish Mehta, Charges d'Affaires of the Indian embassy, said from Bamako. Habibatou Gologo, a representative of international aid agency OXFAM, told media via phone that "Bamako has not been affected in any way... every aspect of life is going on normally." "Bamako is generally calm and everything is going on smoothly, foreigners are going about their duties normally," Gologo said. Mali, a French colony until
Ambassador Navdeep Singh Suri reading out the text of President Pranab Mukherjee's address to nation.
he 64th Republic Day was celebrated on January 26 in Cairo with traditional enthusiasm. Ambassador Navdeep Singh Suri unfurled the national tricolor at India House ('Bharat Bhawan') and the National Anthem was sung. The Ambassador read out the President's Address to the Nation. Texts of the Address in Arabic, Hindi and English were distributed. In his own remarks on the occasion, Ambassador Suri acknowledged the tremendous contribution of the Indian community in promoting Indian culture in Egypt. He also outlined the various initiatives being
taken by the Embassy to promote bilateral economic and political ties and to promote people-to-people contacts through a major India by the Nile cultural festival. Over 250 members of the Indian community together with their families and friends of India attended the function. A press conference was held prior to the Republic Day on 23rd January 2013 to disseminate information on the Republic Day, bilateral relations between the two countries, and major Indian events in the coming months. This has been widely covered in the Egyptian media.
22
February 2-8, 2013
SUBCONTINENT
US to help India counter Pak terror: Clinton

Washington: Calling the fight against terrorism an "unfinished business", US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said her country will improve its information sharing and law enforcement cooperation with India to deal with the terrorism threat from Pakistan. Participating in what was described as a "Global Townterview" at the Newseum here, her last before she leaves office later this week, Clinton said she was of course not satisfied with Islamabad's efforts to deal with terrorism. Clinton was asked if she was satisfied after the sentencing of David Coleman Headley, a key Mumbai attack plotter. The secretary of state had personally approved a bounty of $10 million on the head of Hafiz Saeed, Lashkar-e-Taiba mastermind of the 26/11 Mumbai attack, and was aware that current Al Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri was in Pakistan. "We have been successful in capturing and eliminating a number of the most dangerous terrorists who have safe havens inside Pakistan," she said in response to a question from India during her 59th "townterview" with six TV networks from across the globe participating. "We have continued to press the Pakistani government because of course terrorists inside Pakistan are first and foremost an ongoing threat to stability of Pakistan," she said. "And they need to deal with it because of that as well as implications for India, Afghanistan, the US and elsewhere." She said the efforts that both Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari have made to improve business, trade and commerce between the two countries also "helps create a more receptive environment for dealing for dealing with these serious threats". "So of course I am not satisfied," she said recalling her comments during a similar townhall in Kolkata in May last year. She also assured India that bringing the perpetrators of Mumbai terror attack remained one of America's top priorities.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
Indian Army denies decapitating Pakistanis

New Delhi: The Indian Army described as "erroneous and speculative" a media report that Indian soldiers had tortured and decapitated Pakistani troops. The army said in a statement that it was a "highly professional force and does not indulge in unsoldierly acts as alleged" in the newspaper story. "The very fact that Pakistan has not raised any such issue in bilateral interactions since 1998 bears testimony to the allegations being misleading," it said. It said it was incorrect to say that there was no agreed mechanism to regulate conflicts along the Line of Control (LoC) that divides Jammu and Kashmir between India and Pakistan. It said that "existing hotlines were effective in reducing the tensions along the LoC recently". A front-page story in a newspaper Wednesday reported classified Pakistani protests to the UN that accused Indian troops of torture and decapitation of at least 12 Pakistani soldiers in crossLoC raids since 1998. The report and the army denial follow tensions along the LoC after a Pakistani soldier was killed Jan 6 by the Indian Army and Pakistani troops killed two Indian soldiers two days later. One of the Indian soldiers was beheaded and the head carried away. The other soldier's body was reportedly mutilated. The Director General Military Operations (DGMOs) of the two countries have since agreed to stick to the 2003 ceasefire along the LoC.
Kargil a four-man show: retired Pak general

Islamabad: The operation by Pakistani soldiers to capture strategic heights in Kargil sector in 1999 was a "four-man show" orchestrated by former army chief Gen Pervez Musharraf though then premier Nawaz Sharif was "not" kept totally in the dark, a retired general has said. Lt Gen (retired) Shahid Aziz, who recently created ripples by acknowledging in an article that regular troops were involved in the Kargil operation, said the "misadventure" was a "four-man show" and details were initially hidden from the rest of the military commanders. When the operation began in the spring of 1999, it was known only to Musharraf, Chief of General Staff Lt Gen Mohammad Aziz, Force Command Northern Areas chief Lt Gen Javed Hassan and 10 Corps commander Lt Gen Mahmud Ahmad, Aziz told the Dawn newspaper. Though former premier Nawaz Sharif has for long claimed that he had no information about the Kargil operation, Aziz said information he had gathered suggested Sharif was not kept "completely in the dark". Aziz said he was personally not aware of what information had been shared with Sharif but recalled that another general had told him that Sharif had once asked during an informal discussion: "When are you giving us Kashmir?" This suggested that Sharif was not completely in the dark, Aziz said. The former general's remarks are the first time someone from the senior military hierarchy has spoken in detail and with frankness about the Kargil conflict, the report said. Aziz said the operation was a "failure" and the actual fig-
Then premier Nawaz Sharif was "not" kept totally in the dark, a retired general has said ure for Pakistani casualties was still not known. "It was a failure because we had to hide its objectives and results from our own people and the nation. It had no purpose, no planning and nobody knows even today how many soldiers lost their lives," he said. A majority of corps commanders and principal staff officers were kept in the dark and even then Director General of Military Operations Lt Gen Tauqir Zia learnt about the operation after it had begun, said Aziz, who was the head of the analysis wing of the ISI in 1999. Musharraf worked on a policy of "need to know" throughout his tenure as army chief and later President, Aziz said.
India, Bangladesh ink extradition treaty

Dhaka: Bangladesh and India signed two crucial agreements, an extradition treaty and a friendlier visa regime, on the first day of the two-day visit here of India's Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde. Bangladesh Home Minister Muhiuddin Khan Alamgir and Shinde signed the agreements on behalf of their countries, the Daily Star reported. After their meeting, the two ministers announced the agreements at a joint press conference. The extradition treaty, designed to tackle terrorism, however, has some "refusal provisions". If extradition of some person poses a threat to national security, the country concerned might Monday was for a friendlier visa regime for Bangladesh titled "Revised Travel Arrangement". The visa agreement paves the way for removing restrictions on visits of businesspersons, students, patients, senior citizens above 65 years and children below 12. According to the visa accord, businessmen from either side would be given a five-year multiple entry visa. Those who want to travel on medical grounds would get twoyear multiple entry visa, which is extendable for one more year. In case of medical-purpose entry, as many as three attendants of a patient would be entitled to visa. Bangladesh Prime Minister's International Affairs Adviser Gowher Rizvi, Minister of State for Home Shamsul Haque Tuku, Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Tariq A. Karim and Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Pankaj Saran were present at the meeting. The extradition treaty will benefit India as it will pave the way for the deportation of a number of insurgent leaders currently lodged in Bangladeshi jails, including the general secretary of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), Anup Chetia. Chetia was arrested in Bangladesh in 1997 and sentenced to seven years in jail for illegal entry and possession of firearms.
Bangladesh Home Minister Muhiuddin Khan Alamgir with his Indian counterpart Sushilkumar Shinde
refuse the deportation request, a Bangladeshi home ministry offi-
cial was quoted as saying. The second accord signed
INTERNATIONAL
February 2-8, 2013
23
Three held for Brazil nightclub inferno India donates $2.5 mn
for Syrian refugees

Kuwait City: India pledged a donation of $2.5 million as humanitarian assistance for over two million Syrians displaced by the ongoing conflict in the country. The announcement was made by Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed at an international conference of donors on Syria, inaugurated by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. The Indian minister said the conference was an important initiative of the UN to support the humanitarian needs of the Syrian people. The Indian assistance could be in the form of life saving drugs, food and other essential items. At the same time, Minister Ahamed expressed India's opposition to foreign military intervention in Syria. He said at a reception hosted by the Indian mission here that India wanted the people of Syria to decide their own future. Some 60,000 people have been killed since the conflict between the government of Bashar al-Assad and USbacked opposition groups determined to topple him began nearly two years ago. Some four million Syrians in Syria are in need of food, shelter and other aid, according to UN figures. More than 700,000 have escaped to Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and Egypt. India has closely followed the developments in Syria and is "deeply concerned" about the hardships and sufferings of the people of Syria as a result of violence in the country.
Santa Maria (Brazil): One of the owners of the Kiss nightclub and two musicians have been arrested in connection with the fire that killed 231 people over the weekend in Santa Maria, a city in Brazil's Rio Grande do Sul state, media reports said. An arrest warrant was also issued for the nightclub's other owner, but it could not be executed because he was among the 112 people hospitalized for injuries sustained in the fire, precinct chief Marcelo Arigony, who is in charge of the investigation, said. The arrest warrants were issued by Judge Regis Adil Bertolin in Santa Maria. The club's operating license expired last year, Rio Grande do Sul fire department central region chief Lt. Col. Moises da Silva Fuchs told the G1 news website. "It has been expired since August. The license is needed for the normal operation of the establishment," Da Silva Fuchs said. Elissandro Spohr, one of the nightclub's owners, and two members of Gurizada Fandangueira, the band performing when the fire started, were arrested by police. The band's accordion player, Danilo Jaques, died in the blaze, which started when a member of the band set off fireworks, investigators said. Of the 112 people hospitalized after the fire, 79 are in intensive care, Health Minister Alexandre Padilha said.
The nightclub fire killed over 230 people, mostly youth, in Santa Maria, a city in Brazil's Rio Grande do Sul state Nearly 80 percent of the patients in intensive care are being treated for smoke inhalation, while the other 20 percent are undergoing treatment for serious burns, the health minister said. Families in Santa Maria, a city of 261,000 that is home to eight universities and a military base, began burying the dead. Pvt. Leonardo de Lima Machado was among those buried, with officials calling him a hero. The 26-year-old soldier managed to get out of the burning nightclub, but he went back inside to help others escape the flames. The soldier was unable to escape the inferno a second time and died. Machado was buried with full military honors. "He got his girlfriend out, left her on the sidewalk outside and went back in to help others," Cp. Gilmar Geison Buscher, a friend of the dead soldier, said. The nightclub fire in Santa Maria was the worst blaze in Brazil in more than 50 years, media reports said. The worst fire in Brazil's history occurred Dec 17, 1961, during a circus performance in the city of Niteroi, where at least 503 people, the majority of them children, died.
French troops control key airport in Mali

one after another. Afterwards they took the airport and then entered the town, and there was no combat," said Maiga, who had been in touch with people in the town by satellite phone as all the normal phone networks were down. "The French are patrolling the town and two helicopters are patrolling overhead," he added. In Paris, French army Col. Thierry Burkhard confirmed that the airport was taken overnight and described the operation in Kidal itself as "ongoing." France, the former colonial ruler, began sending in troops, helicopters and warplanes on Jan. 11 to turn the tide after the armed Islamists began encroaching on the south, toward the capital. French and Malian troops seized Gao during the weekend, welcomed by joyous crowds. They took Timbuktu on Monday. The Islamists gave up both cities and retreated into the surrounding desert. To help battle the Islamists in their desert hideouts, a US military official says the Pentagon is considering setting up a drone base in northwest Africa to increase intelligence collection.
Australian PM announces Sept 14 elections
Prime Minister Julia Gillard
Pentagon is considering setting up a drone base in northwest Africa to increase intelligence collection
Mali: French forces have taken control of the airport in Kidal, seizing a key position in one of three provincial capitals the Islamist militants took over last year, officials said this week. One Malian official said French troops even moved into the city, which was the last remaining urban stronghold of the Islamists in Mali. French and Malian troops have recaptured two of the other provincial capitals, Timbuktu and
Gao, in recent days, and been welcomed by overjoyed crowds. However, already concerns are emerging about whether the Islamists will try to return once France hands over the military operation to Mali and soldiers from neighboring countries. Haminy Maiga, the interim president of the Kidal regional assembly, said French forces met no resistance when they arrived. "The French arrived at 9:30pm aboard four planes, which landed
Canberra: Prime Minister Julia Gillard surprised Australians by announcing that elections will be held on September 14, in a country where governments have traditionally given the opposition little more than a month's notice to keep a strategic advantage. In a speech to the National Press Gallery, Gillard said she wanted to create an environment in which voters could more easily focus on national issues by removing uncertainty around the timing. "I reflected on this over the summer and I thought it's not right for Australians to be forced into a guessing game, and it's not right for Australians to not face this year with certainty and stability,'' she said, referring to her holiday break during the current southern
summer. Opinion polls suggest the conservative opposition coalition led by Tony Abbott is likely to win convincingly. Gillard's center-left Labor Party narrowly scraped through the last elections on Aug. 21, 2010, to form a minority government with the support of independent legislators and a lawmaker from the minor Greens party. While the announcement was a surprise, the date was not. Gillard had to set a date between August and the end of the year. Sept. 14 had been touted by commentators as a likely date. Oakeshott and Windsor said Gillard had agreed in 2010 to hold the next election in September or October.
24
February 2-8, 2013
BUSINESS
BlackBerry 10 launched, gives hope to ailing firm

New York: Having seen its market share drop by more than half in the last year alone, Canadian mobile handset manufacturer Research In Motion (RIM) has launched BlackBerry 10 to reverse its fortunes. In an increasingly competitive marketplace,RIM has found itself muscled out by Samsung and Apple, among others. Its rugged build, keyboard and secure servers made it ideal for business use - and for a younger generation its BlackBerry Messenger Service remains a key way of keeping in touch. But problems with handsets, coupled with a service outage in 2011 that saw many users locked out of their emails, tarnished the brand. RIM sold less than 12 million handsets in the last quarter, com-
Red lines for Budget drawn: Chidambaram

London: Red lines have been drawn for next month's Union Budget, finance minister P Chidambaram has said ruling out abandoning of all subsidises while nonmerit ones could be eliminated over a period of time. "I have drawn the red lines. The red lines are that the fiscal deficit for the current year will be no more than 5.3 per cent (of the GDP) and the fiscal deficit for the next year will be no more than 4.8 per cent. "That's a red line and I will not breach that red line," he said in an interview to British daily 'Financial Times'. He said government has taken measures to augment revenues, especially through tightening tax administration. It has promised the people that next year higher growth rate between 6 and 7 per cent will be aimed at. "So I think all that we have said and all that we have done points to a responsible Budget. The Budget can be nothing except a responsible Budget," he said. Asked whether the government would be strong enough to cut fuel subsidies, he said he would not make any "declarations from the pulpit". The government has already corrected diesel prices and allowed oil companies to make small corrections periodically over a period of time.
BB10 puts BlackBerry on the same level as Apple, Android and Windows Phone
pared with 47.8 million iPhones and 63 million Samsung devices. Those who have seen the new BlackBerry are, however, singing its praises. Ramon Llamas, an analyst at IDC, said it was a "really positive step for the company". He added: "It puts BlackBerry on the same level as Apple, Android and Windows Phone, and brings them into 2013 rather than being stuck back in 2010."
The fiscal deficit for the current year will be no more than 5.3 percent of the GDP, says the finance minister
In reply to a question whether the direction of travel is clear, he said replied, "absolutely". Asked whether the government would like to abandon fuel subsidies as a long term goal, he said not all subsidies can be abandoned.
Toonz partners with US-based Bark Buddies

Thiruvananthapuram: Toonz Animation has signed up with Los Angeles based company, Friends of Bark Buddies, to develop, finance and distribute of a 3D children's series titled Bark Buddies. Developed by former radio talk show host and nature educator, Constance Nelson, Bark Buddies is an animated multi-media series that motivates kids to discover the great outdoors and to reconnect with nature and all things green. Bark Buddies will be a one of its kind show that can pull kids away from the sedentary, unhealthy, stuckindoors lifestyle and connect with the green spaces where they can play, plant and explore. "We're excited about 'Sparking a Nature-Child Reunion' and guiding kids to an interactive new 'funtier' - the great outdoors! The Bark Buddies multimedia TV series is not just 'sit back and watch TV'. It's handson engagement with the best teacher of all, nature!", said P. Jayakumar, Toonz Group CEO. With eco-friendly merchandise based on the show's
US economy unexpectedly contracts in fourth quarter

Washington: The US economy unexpectedly contracted in the fourth quarter, suffering its first decline since the 2007-09 recession as businesses scaled back on restocking and government spending plunged. Gross domestic product fell at a 0.1 percent annual rate after growing at a 3.1 percent clip in the third quarter, the Commerce Department said. That was the worst performance since the second quarter of 2009, when the recession ended, and showed the economy entering the new year with no momentum. The contraction, coming against a backdrop of tightening fiscal policy, could spur fears of a new recession and create an urgency for policymakers to deal with outstanding budget issues. Economists polled by Reuters had expected output to increase at a 1.1 percent rate. None of the economists surveyed had predicted a contraction. For the whole of 2012 the economy grew 2.2 percent. The economy was slammed by a monster storm in late October, which caused extensive damage along the East Coast, which was expected to have cut around 0.5 percentage point off fourth-quarter growth.
characters already making waves in McDonalds, Walmart, parades, classrooms and events, the series is slated to branch out into books and games as well. Established in 1999, Technopark-based Toonz Animation India Pvt. Ltd. is the animation production division of Toonz group.
What's at the core of Apple's next big thing?

cent, the lowest performance in years, after Apple's quarterly revenue came in below estimates. There is also concern on Wall Street that Apple lacks the innovation necessary to pull the next big thing out of its hat of industry altering ideas. Analysts have said in a way, Apple has fallen victim to its own successes. Since the release of the iPod in 2001, the tech giant has been at the forefront of innovation, dominating each industry it attacks with a product that changed the way the business works. "The stock today is trading at a level that looks like a massive revenue miss, and like there won't be any new product productions in 2013," said Trip Chowrdy, analyst and managing director at Global Equity Research a California-based firm that examines stock market trends. Chowrdy, who has closely followed Apple for nearly two decades, said contrary to the stock's recent performance, his research shows 2013 will be a year of significant Apple innovation. Chowrdy said his firm has obtained information that shows Apple is planning to update its current LCD display screens on all of its next-generation devices using a new technology developed by Japanese electronics maker Sharp called IGZO. "This technology has displays that are flexible and are 40 percent faster than today's displays and consume 30 percent less power," Chowrdy said. "It indicates that the new iPhone may be flexible and come in multiple shapes." But some industry experts believe a new design for the same phone is not enough to get investors excited again. For years, rumors have circulated as to what Apple's next big thing might be. Some have speculated a system that links home appliances is on the horizon, while others have said in-car accessories is a market that is begging for the company's innovation. Analysts have predicted Apple TV, equipped with email, text messaging and social media integration could launch as early as this fall. Several Apple retail stores have moved into larger spaces, providing another hint the company plans to roll out larger products, analysts said.
Apple TV, equipped with email, text messaging and social media integration could be launched this fall
New York: A look at Apple's finances suggests the company that revolutionized the music, computer, smart phone and tablet industries is thriving. Its more than $40 billion in profits for fiscal 2012 were more than any non-oil company has
earned ever. But for Apple, it is a case of "what have you done for me lately", or more to the point, what are you going to do for me in the future? Last week, skittish investors sent the stock down more than 12 per-
SPORTS
February 2-8, 2013
25
Game bigger than association, players: Leander

New Delhi: India's top tennis player Leander Paes broke his silence on the revolt against the All India Tennis Association (AITA) by eight players, led by Somdev Devvarman, saying the game is more important than individuals. Paes, who has stayed away from the players' revolt, doesn't believe "that the rebellion is important" but agreed that communication is important. "I personally don't believe that rebellion is important. But communication should always be open. There is one point which all of us are missing - the game is bigger than all of us, it will always be. End of the day, sport is most important. Whether it's the Association, or players or you guys (media), essence should not be lost," Leander said after a training session here for the Davis Cup tie against South Korea at the R.K. Khanna Tennis Stadium. Somdev and seven top players, including Mahesh Bhupathi, Rohan Bopanna and Yuki Bhambri, have made themselves unavailable for the Group I Asia/Oceania tie, starting Friday, until their demands are met by the AITA. Leander said he did talk to Somdev during the Australian Open and also to a few other players trying to make them realise what is good for their career. The 1996 Atlanta Games bronze medallist tried to tell the players that the game and the nation are bigger than everything else. Asked what he told Somdev, Leander said: "I can't make public what we discussed... I chatted with him what is good for his own career. I spoke to a couple of other young players also. We are for the flag and the game of tennis. An opportunity to do well for the nation should not take a backseat." Leander said that in his 24 years of Davis Cup career, he had missed only three ties. "Recently against New Zealand in Chandigarh, I did not play as I had a prior agreement, which, I thought, was my duty to fulfill. Twice before this, I missed Davis Cup because of injury," he said. The 39-year-old said he had never questioned the decision of the selection committee. Paes's former partner Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna had defied the selection committee to play together during the 2012 London Games. "Never in my career had I ques-
Tennis player Leander Paes
tioned the decision of the selection committee. So many times in the recent past, my partner was
switched. I accepted it, as I had no choice. I have to play for the flag and the people," said Leander.
Warner injured, doubtful for India tour

Melbourne: Australian opener David Warner's participation in next month's tour to India remains under cloud after he suffered a minor left thumb fracture Wednesday that ruled him out of the first two ODIs against the West Indies. Cricket Australia (CA) physiotherapist Kevin Sims said: "David Warner was struck on the left thumb by Mitchell Johnson in the nets. While the fracture is very minor, it is not worth taking any risks. The injury will keep him out of at least the next two Commonwealth Bank Series matches against West Indies. We'll assess how he is progressing after that to determine his availability for the remainder of the series." Warner got injured by Mitchell Johnson while batting in the WACA Ground nets in the afternoon in Perth.The selection panel announced that Usman Khawaja will replace David Warner in the squad for the first two matches against West Indies.
Vijay Singh admits to using 'banned' substance

n a shocking revelation, golfer Vijay Singh has admitted to using a banned substance in an article in Sports Illustrated. The SI story is centered on the company S.W.A.T.S. Sports with Alternatives to Steroids which sells such products as deer antler spray and hologram chips to help athletes maximize their performance. Linebacker Ray Lewis was among the players mentioned in the report. According to the report, Singh paid one of the companys owners $9,000 last November for the spray, chips, beam ray and powder additive. He also reportedly uses the spray every couple of hours every day, and sleeps with the beam ray on and has put chips on his ankles, waist and shoulders. Im looking forward to some change in my body, Singh said, according to the report. Its really hard to feel the difference if youre only doing it for a couple of months.
Golfer Vijay Singh
The deer antler spray contains IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor), which SI describes as a natural, anabolic hormone that stimulates muscle growth and is a banned substance in all major sports leagues, including the PGA Tour.
Mithali top-ranked in Women's World Cup

Mumbai: India's Mithali Raj and England's Katherine Brunt enter the International Cricket Council (ICC) Women's World Cup 2013 as top-ranked batter and bowler. West Indies' Stafanie Taylor has consolidated her lead as top all-rounder. Mithali, who is appearing in her fourth successive World Cup and is also the India captain, will lead her side in the tournament opener at the Brabourne Stadium against the West Indies in a Group A match. Other teams in Group A are 2009 champion England and Sri Lanka. Group B comprises Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Pakistan. The tournament is scheduled to be held from Jan 31 to Feb 17 in Mumbai and Cuttack. Mithali currently tops the batting table with 767 ratings points. Stafanie is ranked second, 22 ratings points behind. The England duo of Sarah Taylor and Lydia Greenway are third and fourth, respectively, while New Zealand's Amy Satterthwaite in fifth spot completes
Tiger Woods wins Torrey Pines title

La Jolla: World No. 2 Tiger Woods captured his 75th career title, winning the US PGA Farmers Insurance Open by four strokes for his record-setting eighth career triumph at Torrey Pines. Despite struggling in windy conditions over the final 11 holes, Woods showed flashes of the form that has brought him 14 major titles as he chases the all-time record of 18 won by Jack Nicklaus. Woods won his most recent major title at the 2008 US Open at Torrey Pines and has also won the PGA event staged at Torrey Pines seven times. No other PGA player has won so many times on a single course. A fog delay led to the finish, with darkness halting Woods after seven holes. Woods completed a final-round par 72 despite going three-over in the closing stretch, finishing 72 holes on 14-under par 274. Brandt Snedeker, the 2012 winner, and Josh Teater shared second on 278.
Cricketer Mithali Raj
World No. 2 Tiger Woods
the top five. The fight for the top slot in the ICC Women's Player Rankings for ODI bowlers is even more interesting. Katherine heads the bowlers' table with 777 ratings points. But Brunt will face a tough challenge from Australia's Lisa Sthalekar, who is currently second with 764 ratings points.
Woods had two bogeys and a double bogey between the 14th and 17th holes, but managed a par at the par-5 18th to close out the victory. "It got a little ugly toward the end," Woods said. "I started losing my patience with slow play and lost my concentration there a little bit. But I was able to get my par there at 18 and got the win."
26
February 2-8, 2013
FEATURES
One child one light: A project to brighten up schooling days

By Manish Desai & Bhavana Gokhale
How the project works

The subsidized cost of the solar light is only Rs 200 for students, although the MRP is Rs 580/-. These Solar lights will be centrally charged at school while the child is studying through common solar PV modules installed on the terrace of the school. Lamps are kept on a charging rack during the day time, and 4 to 5 hours of charge would be good enough for the lamp to provide 2 -3 hours of light during the night for 2 -3 days says Tejwani. Student, who owns solar lamp, takes it home for study during night. The student brings the light back to the school for recharging whenever it is due.
ver the last two decades, the rural areas of India have witnessed many changes. There are better road connections, there is a significant improvement in health care, literacy levels have gone up and mobile phones have become ubiquitous. But one thing that hasnt changed much is the sorry state of electricity supply. 12-14 hours load shedding is a common phenomenon across most states of the country. When there is no electricity for such a long time span, one of the most affected lot are the school going children. In absence of electricity, students either do not study at all or they study under kerosene lamp. Either situation is not good. In India over 120 million children depend upon crude kerosene lamp for studying due to lack of grid electricity supply. Kerosene lamps do not emit sufficient light to enable children to read in comfort. They also emit carbon monoxide, which is harmful to the health of a child. There is also a chance of kerosene spilling resulting in a fire hazard. The end result -students fail to keep pace with school teaching and when they pass, they are less confident and less skillful to find employment opportunities. Therefore the availability of light during the study hours of children is very important. So how to address this challenge?
to provide a simple light suitable for reading purpose that consumes less than a quarter watt but provides 10 to 50 times more useable light than a wick lamp. Hyderabad based Voluntary Organization Thrive Energy Technologies has indigenously developed a Solar Study light which provides enough light intensity for study purpose. It gives 7-8 hours of light per day on full charge.
Features of Solar LED

Provides close to 150 lux of evenly distributed light output as compared to 2-3 lux of light output provided by a flickering wick lamp Uses a NiMH (Nickel-metal Hydride) battery, which can be charged either by using the 0.5 watt solar panel provided or by an AC mobile charger or by a solar powered bulk charging system Uses the world's best LED and an advanced IC that ensures consistent and quality lighting even after many years of use. The lights are designed to be very rugged and fail proof considering the rural environment. Through innovation in technology and processes, these lights are up to 40% less expensive than commercially available lights of similar quality says Ravi Tejwani of IITBombay, closely associated with the project.
LED study lights - The best solution

Among all possible solutions, solar energy based solar lanterns appear to provide the cheapest and quickest solution. Emerging LED lighting technology which is semiconductor based presents a wonderful solution to this simple lighting issue. With the white LED revolution it is now possible
Khargone experiment: One child one light One Child One Light is a project initiated for providing solar light to 100 students each from 100 schools, totaling to 10,000 lights in Khargone district located in South West Madhya Pradesh. It is proposed to target 100 schools from Zhirnya and Bhagwanpura Tehsil, which are among the most backward during the pilot stage. The main plan is to distribute as many as 100,000 lights in the district. Khargone district of MP has been chosen as pilot as more than 84% population lives in rural area of which 40% belongs to SC/ST category. Over 40% people use kerosene for lighting purpose. Per capita electricity consumption in MP is only about 330 units per year, while the same is 750 units for India and on an average 2000 units for the world. The project is being executed by Education Park located in Khargone district in collaboration with Thrive Energy Technologies, Hyderabad. So far, more than 4500 solar LED lights have been distributed. The objective is to distribute.
Benefits of the project

The project, once implemented successfully, will bring lot of benefits directly and indirectly in the society. 10,000 students getting solar lights will result in 30 lakh extra study hours per year. It will bring awareness among parents, teachers and administrators and encourage people to get their own solar lights. Another domestic light model is also available for home use. It will help reduce demand for kerosene, which is already in short supply, which in turn will save precious foreign exchange for the country. It will reduce the health hazard to children caused by the use of kerosene lamps. The implementation of this project will result in saving of 1.5 million tons of Carbon Dioxide emission per year. The purpose of this project is to demonstrate the effect and impact of the project on the social life of Madhya Pradesh and encourage governments to adopt solar lamps for lighting purpose as the most cost effective solution in rural areas.
This man makes instant buildings!

By Jaideep Sarin Chandigarh: At 46, Harpal Singh is a successful first generation entrepreneur. But that is not his only achievement. His company is now a record holder in erecting a fully-functional 10-floor building in just 48 hours. And there is no stopping him. He is now aiming at making a livable house in just 20 hours. On Dec 1 last year, Harpal Singh's infrastructure company, Synergy Thrislington, delivered its promise of completing the 10storeyed ready-to-use building in Punjab's Mohali town, 10 km from here. The entire building, the material for which was pre-fabricated at his factories, was assembled at the site. The unique building stands tall with three of the floors being prepared for the mock-up of a hotel, a hospital and an IT office. An elevator also has been installed inside the building which has a red and ivory facade. "The idea to construct buildings with a time-line came from my own experience of constructing a house in Chandigarh. It took me over two years to complete that. I had to run after all sorts of people (labor, skilled workers, suppliers and others) to get things executed. It was a major headache," said only a successful entrepreneur but also owns the JW Marriot Hotel in Chandigarh. "For me, it's not whether something is possible or impossible. Even in impossible, I see I-M-Possible," he said. The 10-floor building, called Instacon, was certified by the Limca Book of Records for being completed in just 48 hours. "This is be the first building of its kind in the country to be built in just 48 hours. The model has been cleared for Zone-V seismic areas (the highest risk area for earthquakes)," Harpal Singh said. Over 200 skilled workers, technicians, engineers and equipment were engaged in the building's construction. "No bricks or sand was used. The outer wall is a double-skinned PUF panel. The cost is almost the same as of conventional construction material. It saves a lot of time that goes into construction otherwise," Harpal Singh said. Singh has now set his sight on construction of a house in just 20 hours. "India has a big shortage of houses. We can provide a solution to that," he said. Singh's company, Synergy, took over Britain-based Thrislington Products, a relocatable steel partition manufacturer, to set up its infrastructure company here.
Entrepreneur Harpal Singh Harpal Singh. "During the construction, I found that things were coming from the factory and shops to my site. So I thought why can't the building be at the factory itself and then things are brought and installed at the site. This was a challenge for me and I took it up," Singh said. He said that 70 percent of the 10-floor building was pre-fabricated at his factories. "The building uses a lot of technology, especially the concept of insulation and saving energy. We have used PUF (physical unclonable function) in the building and a lot of thinking has gone into reducing pollution, getting effective cooling, retaining heat (in
The 10-floor building built in 48 hours winter) and proper usage of sunlight," he pointed out. Son of an Indian Air Force pilot, Harpal Singh had a modest beginning, cycling his way in the mid-1980s to an evening college to attend his Bachelor of Science classes even while he was studying during the day at the Indo-Swiss training center here to hone his technical skills. While he was in his first job at a Punjab government enterprise, he got the opportunity to make a precision equipment. Getting on to an unreserved compartment of a train to Bombay (now Mumbai) with just Rs 10,000 in his pocket, Harpal Singh took his first step towards entrepreneurship. Today, he is not
SELF HELP
February 2-8, 2013
27
Tips to help you get more sleep
ne of the simplest things you can do for your health is to get enough sleep, say experts. Unfortunately, many Americans have difficulty sleeping, making this seem like a simple task, but it can be anything but simple. According to the National Sleep Foundation, the average American sleeps about six hours and 55 minutes per night during the week, and 15 percent of adults sleep less than six hours per night. Lack of sleep can take a significant toll on your overall health and interfere with some of your daily activities, said Dr. Michael Thorpy, director of the SleepWake Disorders Center at the Montefiore Medical Center in New York. Almost everybody has trouble sleeping now and then, but many Americans experience significant problems getting to sleep or continually wake up in the middle of the night. Such problems may be clinical symptoms of insomnia. According to the National Sleep Foundation, if you have trouble falling asleep at night or staying asleep, or you wake up in the morning feeling unrefreshed, you
may be suffering from insomnia. Insomnia can affect people in different ways. Some sufferers have trouble initially getting to sleep, while others wake up in the middle of the night and have difficulty falling back asleep. To help you get better sleep, Dr. Thorpy suggests these simple tips: Set and stick to a sleep schedule. Establish a regular bedtime and wake time. Set aside time at night to wind down. Spend some quiet time before bedtime. Such activities as watching TV, using the computer or working right before bedtime, or in the bedroom, can make it harder to fall asleep. Avoid caffeine and alcohol before bed. Exercise regularly. Just dont exercise rigorously near bedtime and check with your doctor before starting an exercise regimen. Dont clock-watch. If you awaken in the middle of the night and stay in bed, dont lie there staring at the clock. And dont watch TV or use your laptop or cell phone, because these technologies stimulate the brain, making it tougher to fall back to sleep.
Five teamwork strategies to prevail over any challenge

n extraordinary level of teamwork, cooperation, trust, planning and execution can equal your survival and triumph in the face of perilous conditions. No clearer were these principles tested than when the crew of the AFR Midnight Rambler, facing hurricane-force winds and monstrous waves, piloted their tiny vessel through the storm to win the Sydney Hobart Race, known as the Everest of ocean racing. A new book, Into the Storm: Lessons in Teamwork from the Treacherous Sydney to Hobart Ocean Race, co-authored by Dennis N.T. Perkins and Jillian B. Murphy, and published by AMACOM Books, chronicles the crews nearly four-day ordeal, shedding light on critical strategies for teamwork at the edge, and drawing parallels to the world of business through case studies. Whether your competition is better equipped than you matters far less than having the right attitude and teammates, says Perkins. Teamwork is a powerful thing. The year was 1998. While bigger,
better-equipped boats attempted to maneuver around the deadly storm, Ed Psaltis, skipper of the Midnight Rambler, made the daring decision to head directly into its path. In a race in which six sailors perished, Perkins attributes the crews success to the power of teamwork. Perkins is offering the same five strategies the crew used on the water to survive and win, to those seeking success in the business world: Make the team the rock star: Business teams that aspire to excellence may not have the same physical challenges as ocean racing crews, but lofty goals require sacrifice, dedication, and ability to persevere. Select teammates with the right levels of confidence and motivation and a commitment to putting team unity first.
Remove all excuses for failure: Preparing in advance is crucial, but so is continuing to prepare while navigating through crises. Successful teams master the art of bifocal vision, Perkins attests. They have the ability to focus on current challenges, while at the same time preparing for longer-term threats and opportunities. Find and focus on the winning scenario: Whether winning means being the first in your field to achieve a breakthrough result or coming in under budget, a team needs a clear, shared understanding of its goals. Build a gung-ho culture of learning and innovation: Everyone, regardless of rank, should have a right to speak up. The ability to talk honestly about what works, what doesnt work and what might work is critical to effective teamwork. Be willing to sail into the storm: Test your limits before challenges come your way to learn what hits you can sustain as a team. Only by taking small risks will teams be able to assess their ability to take on big ones -- and to sail into the storm when need be, says Perkins.
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February 2-8, 2013
HUMOR
Funny Bone by Nury Vittachi
Bank automatically moves husband's money to wife's account

By Nury Vittachi
xecutives at China Merchants Bank created a genius program that automatically transfers the husband's earnings to the wife's account. Every time the guy's account balance reads more than US$160, the extra cash automatically moves into the woman's account. Not only will their system enable couples to save up for a house, the bank said, but it should be good for relationships between men and women. There was a huge outcry over this idea, including 170,000 complaints on Weibo, China's copy of Twitter. The bank will probably have to withdraw it. Shame, because it's actually a brilliant idea. They should have replaced "husband" and "wife" with other terms, for example, "the sensible spouse" and "the other one". The idea certainly makes sense to older folk in many parts of Asia, including India and Sri Lanka. Traditionally in this region, it is women who are in charge of family finances. Men are allowed to retain a small amount of their earnings to buy beer, arrack, beer, newspapers, beer, cigarettes, and did I mention beer? *-* Photographers from Kompas magazine snapped politicians puffing at cigarettes under a no smoking sign at the Makassar Parliament Office in Indonesia last week. This is typical
Asian leader philosophy: WE make laws. YOU obey them. *-* Bosses at McDonalds in Japan sent a stern memo to all staff banning them from discussing their work with outsiders, but they did offer one "recommended remark" that staff were allowed to use: "This chicken tatsuta is delicious!" Staff decided to express their dismay by obeying the command all too enthusiastically. Chatrooms and the Twittersphere in Japan are now full of that phrase. It's only a matter of time before someone tries to rob a McDonald's in Japan and this happens. ROBBER: Hand over the money. STAFF: The chicken tatsuta is delicious! ROBBER: This gun is loaded! STAFF: The chicken tatsuta is delicious! ROBBER: What's the code or password for the safe? STAFF: The chicken tatsuta is delicious! [Robber runs away screaming.] *-* A wacko guy who stands up and flaps his arms while driving his motorbike at speed around Dhaka, Bangladesh, has become a YouTube star. The world has gone crazy. In the past, when people in South Asia acted utterly deranged, we didn't make them stars. We dubbed them sadhus (prophets) and worshiped them. Wait. Maybe it's the same thing. *-* A designer has created drone-proof clothes. The garment hides the "heat signature" that
drones (remote-controlled fighter-bombers) use to locate targets, according to a feature on Adam Harvey in Rhizome magazine. I can't see a big market for this. Are fugitive Taliban terrorists from the mountains north of Pakistan really going to trek to New York fashion houses to buy these? And the trendy young people in New York who normally buy designer clothes-who's going to send heat-seeking missiles after them? Unless they book a table at Torrisi and fail to show, in which case the maitre d' might. *-* A health group in the US last week criticized a restaurant called The Cheesecake Factory for serving 3,000-calorie meals. This is like going to a sauna and complaining that it's hot. Of course it's hot. It's a sauna. *-* The cheating husband app is coming. But for now, you can only get phones with that function in secondhand stores in Japan. I heard this from a gentleman whom I shall call Phil Anderer (not his real name) who is on his third wife but still has mistresses, due to a tragic medical condition (shriveled conscience). "There are 200,000 apps in the world but NOT ONE can do what a 2002 Fujitsu flip-phone can do," he enthused. Cheaters (who prefer to refer to themselves as "players") do NOT need a high level of security. They need a high level of sneakiness. So he sneers at Smartphone apps which offer password-protected files for secrets. That's stupid, Phil says. "It's like a 1000-watt beacon saying: There are things I'm not telling you." In contrast, when a Fujitsu flip-phone owner gets a call, text or email from anyone on his list of mistresses, no record appears on the recent
calls list, nor on the missed calls list, nor in the contacts list. His wife can spend as much time as she likes scrolling through his phone. She finds nothing. That's because the indicators are very subtle, such as a small change in the shape of the battery or antenna icon. App developers are expected to copy the sneaky Fujitsu system for modern smart-phones this year. But it may be too late for Phil, who is rapidly losing the ability to remember passwords, written or visual. He was looking a bit crushed the last time I saw him. He said: "These says, when I give my 1,000 megawatt smile to young women, they assume I must be one of their fathers' friends." Four signs you are old, from readers: 1) The numbers in your bank account won't go up and the numbers on your weighing scale won't go down. 2) Your favorite rock songs are now playing in elevators. 3) It's Saturday night, you have no-one to see and nowhere to go, and you think: Yippee! 4) "Putting on your best clothes" no longer means choosing between four pairs of jeans. *-* Actress Jodie Foster got onto a stage in front of the world's television cameras last week and made a speech in front of 20 million people about how much she valued privacy. Oookaaay. *-* A bungling drug-smuggler triggered suspicions when he fixed himself a NINE-MINUTE sightseeing holiday. He flew into a Massachusetts airport ready to hand over a tiny package and immediately board a plane heading back, according to a link forwarded reader Rajiv Das. No city in the world is so ugly that it deserves only a nine-minute visit. Except for Xian. And Ulaanbaatar. And Detroit. And Seoul. And Warsaw. And Luanda. And Moscow. And Naypyidaw. And Riyadh. And Maputo. I'll finish the list when I have a couple of days to spare. *-* (Nury Vittachi is an Asia-based frequent traveler.)
Photo of the week
Justin Bieber seen sporting Meggings the male leggings, which are expected to be the hot trend this fall/winter. They are seemingly doing well in intercity New York and now on the way to Britain..
ASTROLOGY
February 2-8, 2013
29
By Dr Prem Kumar Sharma

Stars Foretell: February 2-8, 2013
Aries: You are likely to become highly ambitious, determined and enthusiastic this week. Your high energy level would bring enormous gains and enhance your reputation. Financially you would become more comfortable and have plenty of time for recreational and other activities. Members of the opposite sex would be source of inspiration and will help you in need of the hour. Some tension might arise with close friends or relatives. Taurus: For those of you who have not been going out lately, you will have plenty of opportunities to meet and build new alliances. Anxiety and indecisiveness that has plagued you in the past seems to end, as optimism and confidence seems to take control. Financial gains likely but you need to be extra careful before entering into any new partnerships. House ladies are likely to be more involved into embroidery, cooking or other creative activities. Children and youngsters will look up to you for inspiration. Gemini: Though progress has been slow and not rewarding on financial front, some news will bring happiness and boost your morale. Business decisions and investments need to be made very carefully, as speculation will only bring major losses. Close relative might make an unexpected visit bringing gifts and presents. These pleasant and memorable moments bring happiness and harmony at home. Your interest in religious and spiritual activities would make you seek divine knowledge. Cancer: Finish your pending jobs that have been hovering over your head before you pick up any new assignment. Work pressure might leave you irritated and exhausted, but you should remember that harsh words and erratic behaviour would only bring disregard and criticism. Financial gains seem likely as you recover delayed and pending payments. Children would need careful handling and proper attention. Try to meditate to calm inner conflicts. Leo: Improvement in relationship with important and influential people would bring a change in your personality. Your confidence and determination would be upbeat and you are likely to win plenty of favours with your charms and pleasant personality. However deception from a close associate and losses due to hasty investment cannot be ruled out. Encourage children to spend their extra time with creative activities and sports. Spouse in a loving and caring mood banishes your troubles away. Virgo: You might be bestowed with rewards and recognition for your recent achievements. The appreciation you receive will have major contributions from your family members and friends. Religious feeling will arise, making some of you embark on a pilgrimage. Journeys and travelling that you undertake during this period would be highly rewarding and educating. Though gains of luxury items are foreseen, but few losses due to hasty speculation cannot be ruled out. Libra: This week you seem to possess the Midas touch. Gains from investment and speculation would be beyond expectations. New plans and offers would dominate the week. For those at service new job opportunities or some sort of monetary benefit cannot be ruled out. Domestic happiness and new romance will flourish. Despite such a prosperous time and financial gains, some tensions due to careless actions of your domestic servants, co-workers or working partners cannot be ruled out. Scorpio: A brilliant week for creative as well as literary activities. Your imaginative talent will prove to be highly lucrative. Financial gains are also expected from investments that you have made recently. New contacts and friendships will develop through social activities. Uncertainty regarding career opportunities of your children will seem to bother your mind, seek advice from an academic counsellor if necessary. Do not overspend on friends and spend more time with family members. Sagittarius: This week you should set your goals and make the best of your efforts to reap the rewards. Your confidence and ability to work on projects, which require high responsibility, would bring you benefits in the long run. This period is also good for building ties with influential people and important govt. officials. A short trip for pleasure later in week cannot be ruled out. Nuptial knots for some lovebirds. Capricorn: This week opportunities to travel should not be turned down. There would be improvement in your business as well as professional skills. Certain legal matters would need immediate attention, therefore seek an advice of a lawyer if necessary. Financial gains will accrue throughout the week, but you need to control your tendency to be extravagant, in order to save. Friends and relations will be helpful to complete pending jobs. Aquarius: Despite some tensions and botheration that you might have experienced last week, this period start on an optimistic note. Excitement and gaiety marks this week with plenty of gains in whatever you do. New ventures and assignments would improve your financial conditions. Your interest in outdoor activities will see you go out on short trips, outings and other entertainment activities. Children are likely to win laurels in extra curricular activities. Pisces: This week you will benefit provided you are willing to take bold decisions at workplace. Your determination and confidence will yield favourable results with each passing day. Money position improves as pending payments get cleared. Your life partner will bring you immense pleasure, but would behave highly possessive. During this period you should go out and build new relationship and contacts, but avoid strangers and people that you have ignored in the past.
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

February 02 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 favours and benefits from important people. The months of June, October, November and February will bring prosperity. February 03 Governed by number 3 and the planet Jupiter. You are a practical, energetic, business minded, brilliant and an optimistic person. Youre co-operative and helpful and enjoy great respect in your friends circle, but you need to check your tendency to behave jealous and stubborn at times. This year you are advised not to trust others on important issues. Sharing personal and secretive information will not be in your interest. The atmosphere at office will require you to handle important jobs with more responsibility. A sudden influence of a spiritual person will bring remarkable change in your life. Your spouse and family members will be supportive to your concerns and provide you with love and affection. Distant journeys, maybe overseas for some will fetch favorable returns. The months of March, May, August and December will prove to be significant. February 04 Ruled by number 4 and the planet Uranus. You are generous, peace loving, dashing, systematic, disciplined, artistic character and introvert in nature. You possess a strong memory and an ability to impress others with your intelligent and witty conversation, but you need to control your tendency to be extravagant, reckless and moody at times. This promises to be a memorable year bringing prosperity and good fortune. This is going to be a rewarding period for women as there will be new opportunities to improve career prospects. Students need to concentrate on their studies and plan for the year ahead. Romance and new alliances look likely for the unattached. Elders and children in the family will demand a lot of your attention. Health of your spouse may cause concern and anxiety. The months of August, December, January and February will be significant. February 05 Ruled by number 5 and the planet Mercury. You are highly intelligent, diplomatic, highly business oriented, accommodating, god fearing and kind hearted person. You are fond of good food, meeting like-minded people and visiting distant lands. You enjoy a good name in the society and people respect you for what you are, but you need to curb your tendencies towards restlessness and over-exertion. It will be a period of success and happiness throughout, thanks to the support provided by your family members. You will also gain importance amongst your colleagues because of you better skills and aptitude. Health will show improvement despite hectic hours that you might put in office. Investments will yield handsome results. Romantic alliance develops with someone that you have secretly admired. The months of July, September, November and January will be eventful. February 06 Influenced by number 6 and the planet Venus. You are energetic, practical, systematic, methodical and a generous person. You are creative and research oriented and can do wonders with your intelligence, but you need to control your tendencies to behave impatient, whimsical and jealous at times. A stable period of growth and prosperity sees you shine with new confidence and enthusiasm. Your self-confidence will be high. Speculation will prove to be rewarding and long term investment is also recommended. Long pending disputes will be sorted out bringing relief to your mind. Blessing from a saintly person will provide solace and comfort. Stay away from strangers who behave extra friendly and excuse those who approach you for loans. Friends will be supportive but demanding. The months of February, May, June & August will prove to be result oriented. February 07 Governed by number 7 and the planet Neptune. You are affectionate, charming, sober, courageous, original and honest. You are good at heart and very helpful, but you need to control your tendency to behave impatient and short temper to succeed in your endeavours. Your stars will be in a favourable position, bringing you happiness and prosperity. Those involved in arts and other creative professions will achieve recognition and monetary gains this year. Matrimonial alliances for those eligible. Although health will be fine but it will be important to take necessary precautions. Children will make you feel proud with their achievements. Pilgrimage or distant journey will be high on your agenda. The months of April, July, September, November and February will prove to be significant. February 08 Ruled by number 8 and the planet Saturn. You are creative, active, confident, intelligent and an artistic person. Your strong vision always keeps you ahead of others and makes you popular in your surrounding, but you need to restrain your tendencies towards being erratic, stubborn, behaving moody and jealous at times. The coming year is expected to bring in achievements and rewards. Businessmen will expand their ventures into new and more profitable avenues. Property disputes will be settled down to your satisfaction. Health will definitely need more attention. Meditation and Yoga should be practiced for spiritual gains. Some exhilarating news from your children will boost up your spirits. Journeys overseas or financial transactions from abroad will fetch returns. The month of February, October, November & January will be eventful and result oriented.
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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, dont feel shy. Its 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.
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30
February 2-8, 2013
SPIRITUAL AWARENESS
Concluding part of the discourse 'Love of God is all around us'
Focus on your present, be in the moment

experiencing water we are complaining that we are not in the water! We can begin to note how much time we spend complaining or clutching, and then as an exercise catch ourselves doing it and bring our attention back into the receiving or receptive mode. We can stop the interference of our thoughts and instead pay attention to being open to meditating or listening to the satsang. Many people have pets. Those who have dogs are taught how to walk them without letting them run away. They gently pull the leash to keep the dog walking properly in time to their own pace. Similarly, the mind is like a dog. We have to keep it on a leash so it does not get out of control. When we notice it pulling us away from stillness, we have to rein it in. Avoid Thinking of the Past and Future during Meditation Another problem we have that keeps us from experiencing the love of God all around us is thinking of the past and future. While in satsang or in meditation, we are not imbibing the spiritual radiation because we are thinking of what happened to us in the past, or planning or worrying about what will happen in the future. The solution for thoughts of the past and future is to stay in the present or current moment. Every second we have an opportunity to be in the current moment. If, instead, we fill it with thoughts of the past or future, the current moment is wasted and is gone forever. We can never get the present moment back. If we can stay in the current moment, then thoughts of the past and future will stop. We will be able to be at the still center in which we can connect with the Light and Sound within. We can immerse ourselves in God in the current moment. There are two switches for our attention: one is the switch to be attuned to our soul and the other is to be attuned to our mind. The solution for the thoughts that the mind sends us is to be able to separate what thoughts are of God and the soul, and what thoughts are of the mind. We need to learn to be vigilant when the mind is pulling a trick to distract our attention either in meditation or throughout our day. Distractions from the mind include: trying to tell us we have more important things to do than to meditate, engaging us in anger, lust, greed, attachment, and ego through its need to fulfill desires, or making us dwell on the past or anticipate the future. Thoughts from the soul are those that lead us to God. They are thoughts that we should meditate, that we should lead an ethical life, that we should do selfless service, and that we should love God, the Master, our fellow human beings, and all creation. In meditation we should have no thoughts at all. That is why we are given simran. Instead of thinking, we should be repeating the Five Charged Words. In this way we do not allow thoughts to enter our system. Simran is the process by which we repeat the Five Charged Words while gazing into the middle of what lies in front of us. Simran protects us from thinking about the past or future. Simran keeps us in the current moment. Meditation requires continual stillness through the whole session. We cannot expect to sit still for one minute and then find God. We need to sit still for as long a time as is needed for us to get to the third or single eye. We need to silence our thoughts for a long enough time to witness the Light of God and hear the Music of the Spheres. There is an account from the Bible, in the Old Testament, about the Prophet Elijah. The Jews of Israel were being persecuted by a cruel king and his queen. The queen believed in a false idol and had four hundred fifty false prophets trying to make all the people convert to worship of the false idols. Whoever refused to worship God as a stone idol and continued their religious views of worshipping one God whose essence was spirit was killed. The situation was so terrible that God sent Prophet Elijah to confront the cruel king. A confrontation ensued between Elijah and the four hundred fifty false prophets of the idol. The result was that the idol was exposed as being a false god, and the four hundred fifty false prophets were killed. When the king reported what had happened to the queen, she was so angered that she wanted to seek revenge and have Elijah killed. Elijah fled the kingdom and sought refuge on a mountain. There, Elijah prayed to God. He felt alone and abandoned and wanted God to take his life. As Elijah prayed to God, God responded by sending an angel to provide him with food and water. The angel helped Elijah realize that God was listening to his prayers. The food and water were so blessed that it gave Elijah the strength to journey for forty days and nights to a distant mountain, Mt. Horeb, which is the blessed mountain where God had once appeared to Moses and had given him the Ten Commandments. When Elijah reached that mountain, he entered a cave to rest. Suddenly, he heard the Voice of God speak to him and ask him, Elijah, what are you doing here? Elijah explained that he had been waiting for the message of God. He described how the rest of the people had disobeyed the laws of God, were destroying the places of worship, and murdering the true prophets. He explained how he was the only prophet left and how the queen was trying to have him killed. God told him to stand on the mountain with attention, and wait for God to pass by. Elijah sat in silence. First, a strong wind like a hurricane ripped through the mountains, and the rocks broke to pieces, but God was not found in the strong wind. Next, an earthquake rocked the land, but God was not found in the earthquake. Then, fire blazed, but God was not found in the fire. Finally, Elijah heard the Voice of God in the silence within him. In the silence, Elijah heard God again ask what he was doing there. Elijah again explained his situation of how he was being hunted to be killed and there was no one left to worship God. God then gave Elijah inner instructions on the work God wanted him to do. God also told Elijah that there were seven thousand other people left in the same boat as Elijah, wanting to worship God, who had not bowed to the false idol. Elijah felt relieved that he was not alone and that others were left who believed as he did. Elijah returned home with instructions from God with renewed faith in Gods existence. This story shows that when Elijahs attention was outside on the storms, the earthquakes, and the fire, he could not find God. He had to invert his attention within to sit in the silence of meditation to hear God. This is what happens to us. We are so focused on the storms, the earthquakes, and the fires of our physical life that we do not take the time to sit in silence. We are so focused on the storms, earthquakes, and fires in the thoughts the mind sends us that we cannot sit in silence. We have the storms of our passing thoughts. We have the earthquakes of our emotions that shake us up, and we have the fires of our anger as we complain and think hurtful thoughts about others. All these thoughts keep us from going within. We need to sit in a surrendered state, with no thoughts. We need to sit with an attitude in which we leave it to God and to the Master to provide for our meditative experiences. We have no role to play other than sitting at the door and waiting. We should focus into the middle of whatever comes our way. Whether we see gray, black, white, yellow, orange, red, blue, green, violet, or gold Light within we should gaze into the middle and that will give way to other sights. It does not matter if it is blue, yellow, or red light. We should continue looking into the middle. It does not matter if it is the inner sun, moon, or stars. Similarly, it does not matter if it is Hazur Baba Sawan Singh Ji Maharaj, Sant Kirpal Singh Ji Maharaj, and Sant Darshan Singh Ji Maharaj appearing to us within. Our job is to lovingly accept and embrace whatever or whoever comes our way. Our job is to focus into the middle of whatever experience is coming to us. As we become more absorbed, we will be pulled further and further inside. Focus on Gods Love Surrounding You What does life look like when we experience Gods love all around us? First, our attention is absorbed in a state of love when we are in satsang. Satsang no longer becomes a place to which we go and sit for an hour and think about other problems or spend time criticizing others. It is a place where we can rest our weary self and bask in a state of love. It is like taking a vacation to sit by the seaside and enjoy the ocean, free from the cares of the world. Satsang should be our vacation from the problems of life. During that time we should relax and bask in the spiritual waves of love lapping against our soul, like the gentle ocean waves at the beach. The love of God is pouring out to us through the eyes of the Master. If we could open up, without any thoughts to distract us, we would feel that love flow to us. Any thoughts will block out the love flowing to us from God. That hour of satsang would recharge us with love to help us stay focused on God through the rest of the day or week. Second, our attention should be absorbed in a state of love when we meditate. Meditation is not a dry chore in which we go through certain steps mechanically. It is a process of sitting in silence to bask in the love within. The silence helps us receive the love that is innate in our soul. We can then witness the Light and Sound of God within, which is also love. The current of Light and Sound is Gods love flowing out from God. When we see and hear the Light and Sound Current, we are connecting our soul with a river of love that leads us back to the ocean of all love. Meditation should be a time in which we are connected with love. Any thoughts will put a wall stopping the love flowing to us from God. We should stay open to that love, without any distracting thoughts. Then, when we come out of meditation to do our worldly chores and responsibilities, that love stays with us. We then radiate our own love to others. Third, our attention should be absorbed in a state of love when we do selfless service. Selfless service should be a time of sweetness in which we are serving the Lord in love. We can serve the Lord in love whether we are helping our brothers and sisters in God, doing volunteer work for an organization dedicated to helping people, or taking care of those in need. If we serve with an open heart as if serving God, then we will experience Gods love flowing through us while doing the seva. Any thoughts will block out the love flowing to us from God. If we catch ourselves having negative thoughts while doing selfless service, we should pull them back like we pull back a wayward dog trying to run when we want it to walk. In this way, we can enjoy the sweet fruits of seva by experiencing the love and Light of God within. Fourth, our attention should be absorbed in a state of love as we go about our worldly life and work. We can remember God while doing our worldly tasks, experiencing love no matter what job we do. If we are doing physical work or mental work, we can stay attuned to the love within. That will help us work in a loving, cheerful manner and bring joy to others. We should sit in meditation with a still mind and total receptivity to receive the love of God pouring on us at all times. In this way, we will not be struggling to find the ocean of God, but instead will be consciously bathing in the bliss of full immersion in Gods ocean of love.
By Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj

irst, we start thinking about all the things we want in our lives. We start clutching for outer material things. If we could sit in the complaint department of God, just like the complaint department at the national or state park districts, we might find complaints such as: Why didnt I get that raise? Why didnt my children get good grades? or Why didnt my basketball team win? Second, we start thinking about what we are not getting spiritually. We may not ever meditate for a moment but we complain we are not seeing inner Light. We may start clutching for what we are not seeing or hearing inside in meditation rather than being happy with what we are getting within. We may start complaining about the people with whom we are doing volunteer work. We may start complaining about the environment around us. We can reflect upon the kind of things we think about when in satsang or in meditation to see the many ways we block our receptivity to the spiritual radiation coming our way. When we do introspection daily, there is a column on the diary for how much time we spent in meditation. But most of us enter the time that we sat on our meditation pillow or chair. How much of that time is spent actually silently gazing within while repeating simran or listening to the Sound Current, and how much of that time is spent clutching or thinking? We need to subtract from the time we record as sitting in meditation how much of that time we spend thinking for us to have a truly accurate picture of our real meditation time. Then, when we enter our inner experiences on the back of the diary where we check off what we see and hear inside we will find the answer to our question of why we may not be receiving much inner experience. If we are clutching, complaining, or thinking during meditation time, how can we see the Light or hear the Sound? We live in an age of interaction and workshops. In most schools and businesses, training consists of doing interactive activities. If we really wish to improve spiritually and gain more inner experience, then we should do a spiritual exercise. We should observe how much time we spend in satsang or meditation clutching or thinking of what we want instead of being mentally still and receiving what is being sent to us. We want water and are swimming in water but instead of
February 2-8, 2013
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The South Asian Times

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