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Vol.6 No. 24 October 5-11, 2013 60 Cents New York Edition Follow us on TheSouthAsianTimes.info

AIA Diwali to light up New York on Sunday Govt shutdown

Over one lakh to partake of festivities on South Street Seaport
New York: Come Sunday and AIAs Deepavali returns to South Street Seaport here, bringing festivities and fireworks associated with the Indian festival of festivals. The flagship event of the Association of Indians in America (NY chapter), the 26th annual Diwali mela is expected to be bigger and better than before, but it will climax, as always, in the spectacular fireworks on the East River lighting up the New York sky. After Macys moved the 4th of July fireworks to the Hudson river, the AIA show is the only one enjoyed by a million New Yorkers from the five boroughs. At the kickoff held at the Indian Consulate last month, Sunil Modi, President of AIA-NY, detailed highlights of the daylong celebration, which is free and attracts over 100,000 people from the Tristate

Diwali fireworks lighting up the New York skyline; (right) Sunil Modi, AIA President.

unresolved amid signs of GOP blinking

Fatal car chase near Capitol adds to tension in Washington DC

area. Modi said the venue this time extends from Pier 16 to two-level Pier 15. Visitors will find numerous booths, vendors, Continued on page 4

Krittika Biswas case lives, thanks to attorney Ravi Batra

Baba Ramdev speaking at the Hindu Unity Day.

BJP will have a cakewalk over Congress: Baba Ramdev

By Parveen Chopra
Hicksville, NY: In an impassioned speech during his flying visit to New York, the explosively popular yoga guru Baba Ramdev batted for BJP and Narendra Modi, predicting that the saffron party will have a cakewalk in the 2014 elections and Congress will dismember, finally fulfilling the wish of Mahatma Gandhi that the party should be disbanded postIndependence. As the saffron-clad Baba gave his keynote address at the 9th Hindu Unity Day in New York organized last Sunday by the Indian American Intellectuals Forum, headed by Narain Kataria, the atmosphere was electric, rousing the audience into bursts of applause. The Baba said with Modi as prime ministerial candidate, the BJP will get close to 300 seats in Continued on page 4

New York: Federal Judge Koeltl of Southern District of New York issued Monday a 78-page decision in the false imprisonment, false suspension, and inter alia, violation of constitutional rights case brought by attorney Ravi Batra against NYC, NYPD members, and NYC's Dept of Education on behalf of Krittika Biswas, daughter of an Indian Diplomat. Judge Koeltl's Order refused to dismiss the case as the defendants wanted. Our main claims, filed in a redundant way a la an excessive Continued on page 4

President Obama blamed Speaker John Boehner for continuing shutdown.

Ravi Batra held a press conference with Krittika Biswas in 2011 on the steps of City Hall.

Washington: Three days into a government shutdown, President Barack Obama singled out Speaker John Boehner who was refusing to bring the spending bill with no strings attached to the floor of the House where it will pass with about 20 Republicans ready to vote with Democrats. While thousands of federal employees were furloughed and national parks closed to tourists, the bitter budget dispute moved closer to a more critical showdown over the nation's line of credit. The Treasury warned of calamitous results if Congress failed to raise

the debt limit. On his part, Boehner complained that the president was "steamrolling ahead" with the implementation of Obamacare. Meanwhile, the stock market sank to its lowest level in nearly a month. Outside the Capitol, shots rang out Thursday afternoon bringing an already tense Congress under lockdown, a nerve-wracking moment in a city still recovering from a Sept. 16 mass shooting at the Navy Yard. Police said an African American woman, likely with mental problems, tried to ram her car through a Continued on page 4

India at United Nations 13

SAMMA Summit 16

Humor 28

Spiritual Awareness 30

excellence in journalism

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October 5-11, 2013

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October 5-11, 2013

Mangano had edge over Suozzi at Hofstra forum

Mineola: Republican Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano and his Democratic challenger Thomas Suozzi expressed their views on a host of local environmental issues at a forum held at Hofstra University. Mangano had a clear edge, as he showed control and grip, eliciting loud applause both from the public and panelists. He was precise and authoritative in responding to questions at the New York League of Conservation Voters Candidates Forum Wednesday night. Suozzi not only gave generic answers, but he also seemed ill prepared and even befuddled at the onset of his QA session. All he could come up with was general campaign-like minispeeches. County Executive Ed Mangano, on the other hand, gave specific answers to the environment experts questions, outlining detailed plans of action to tackle issues raised. Issues included the repair and maintenance of the Sandy-hit Bay Park Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) and the procurement of a longdiscussed outfall pipe; energy efficiency; and TransitOriented Development at the HUB. Asked whether he support-

Dr Swamy offers blueprint for solving Indias big problems

By Parveen Chopra also be harnessed more, he said. Hicksville, NY: Confident Pointing out that most top that BJP will rule India after universities in the world are the next general election, Dr alumni backed, Swamy, a Subramanian Swamy, who Harvard PhD, wants NRIs has formally joined the of means to set up universiparty and is projected to get ties in India. He said Modi a major portfolio in the has special plans for NRIs. Modi government) offered They can take part in the workable solutions to some knowledge industry, the of the countrys vexing Dr Subramanian Swami speak- way Jew diaspora does for problems ing at the 9th Hindu Unity Day Israel. India has no dearth He was a keynote speaker of resources for example organized by the Indian Sunday at the 9th Hindu American Intellectuals Forum. 60% of worlds thorium is Unity Day in New York in India, a precious comorganized by the Indian American modity considering uranium will run out by Intellectuals Forum with support from several year 2030. To bring back an estimated Rs 100 other Hindu organizations. lakh crore stashed away as black money in Swamys address came right after a thunder- foreign banks, Swamy has a simple solution: ous speech by Swami Ramdev, whom Swamy nationalize those bank accounts. likened to Vishwamitra and commended for Arguing that Pakistan Prime Minister playing a big role in BJPs march towards vic- Nawaz Sharif came to power by surrendering tory. to the Taliban and mullahs, Swamy said Doubting the mental stability of Rahul Pakistan can be easily tackled provided we Gandhi for trashing the ordinance on corrupt neutralize China. And that is possible by politicians pressed by his own party, Swamy strategizing, for example, to police Malacca said BJP will have a walkover in the 2014 Strait on Chinas trade route. election. Swamy called America and Israel Indias And India will see another renaissance, a natural allies considering all three are on the return to the glorious age of the country which enemy list of terrorists, all are democracies lasted till the 17th century, he said. and market economies. Indias problems are all solvable, Swamy Having held a meeting this year at Lal pronounced. Chowk in Srinagar, Swamy stated that Agriculture should be our first priority, Kashmiris want to be in India provided they considering in India farming is possible year are assured of securitythey fear the fate of round unlike in cold countries. We can grow Kashmiri Pandits who were driven away. three crops given ample water, fertilizer and He said even Muslims will vote for BJP good seeds. The yield can be six times more, because they want peace and security. he said, pointing out that Gujarat has already Particularly Shias, Ahmediyas, Khojas and shown the way by posting an annual growth Bohras will vote BJP. He said all the Muslims in the agri sector of 11-12% over the last 10 have to do is to acknowledge that their ancesyears. Swamy also hailed the asset India has tors were Hindus. in the form of youngest population (average Swamy projects that BJP, with its allies Shiv age 27 years; Chinas is 37 years) among large Sena and Akali Dal, will gain absolute majoricountries. It is the young who do new inno- ty in the Lok Sabha in the next election. vations and spur economic growth. Elections are chemistry, not mathematics. We can inspire research on say hydrogen Sometimes 2+2 = 22, and sometimes it is fuel cells and end our dependence on oil from zero, he said hinting that the wind is blowing the Middle East. Solar and wind power can BJPs way this time.

The incumbent and the challenger: Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano and Tom Suozzi.

ed an outfall pipe for the treated effluent from the STP, Suozzi went on about how important the plant was to the Countys infrastructure and he would support it if there was no alternative. Mangano has a detailed $721 million plan for repairing and strengthening the STP and said he completely supported the outfall pipe. Mangano also pointed that all traffic lights in the County have been replaced with energy efficient LED lights, saving $1 million a year. Suozzi cited, several times, some recognition and awards he received for his environmental work during his term in office, but failed to forward concrete plans to address current concerns. Recalling the work he did as Glen Cove mayor in the 1990s, he kept repeating that everything in the County could and would be fixed through collaboration with municipalities. On smart growth and land

use, Mangano divulged a plan in place to allow developers turn vacant office buildings into much needed apartments. Four such projects are already in the planning stages, he said. Suozzi also favors plans to develop downtown apartments near train stations aimed at luring young professionals. Mangano also spoke about fighting for $6.7 billion in state and federal aid to strengthen the countys infrastructure and communities against another superstorm, and working with community groups and a recently created advisory council to figure out steps to take in each area. As for transportation around the new HUB development, Mangano deatailed a plan with NICE Bus, talks with Hofstra about connectivity with the HUB, bicycle paths already put in place, Complete Streets legislation and utilizing walkability as part of the new development.

Diwali mela in Hicksville on Oct 13

Hicksville, NY: Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano joined the board and trustees of Asa Mai Hindu Temple & Community Center on September 27 to kick off the 9th annual Diwali Mela of the temple being held on October 13. The County Executive offered his full support to our event with whatever County resources are necessary to make this event successful in addition to continued support from Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor John Venditto, a press release from the organizers said. Several major community organizations are also supporting this Diwali celebration to be held across the temple on Barclay street. Sponsors include Dunkin Donuts, NuHealth Hospital, Empire National Bank, Air India, Indus American Bank, HAB Bank, Panam Mortgage, Apna Bazaar, Yatra.com, Saavan, Patel Brothers and Bethpage Federal Credit Union. Dunkin Donut will be providing complimentary hot beverages while physicians from NuHealth Hospital will screen for various medical conditions at the fair. This year, we expect our Diwali Mela to be much bigger and better. We are holding the fair in a bigger parking lot and Barclay Street will be closed as well. This year's raffle drawing includes a Chevy Car as grand prize, the press release added. Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano with Gobind Bathija (second from left), President, and other board members of the Asa Mai Temple, Hicksville at the mela kickoff.

October 5-11, 2013

TURN PAGE
Govt shutdown unresolved... Continued from page 1 White House barricade, and later died in a police chase. Despite the heated political rhetoric, some signs of a possible way out of the stalemate emerged. Two House Republicans said Boehner told them he would allow a House vote on re-starting the entire government - but only if conservative GOP lawmakers assured him they would not attack it for failing to contain curbs on the health care law. The Speaker's office also reiterated Boehner's past assertion that he would not let the country default on its debt. "But if we're going to raise the debt limit, we need to deal with the drivers of our debt and deficits," his spokesman, Michael Steel said. "That's why we need a bill with cuts and reforms to get our economy moving again." Looking to deflect the Democratic finger-pointing on the shutdown, the Republican-controlled House was trying to push through bills to fund national parks, veterans programs, etc. But Senate Democrats would not agree to re-opening the government on a piecemeal basis. AIA Diwali to light up... Continued from page 1 mouth-watering delicacies, a designated area for children, a holistic health fair, and breath-taking performances in addition to a showcase of Indian culture, arts and crafts, jewelry, traditional clothes and an evening of music and dance. A surprise this time is that the Bhangra Queen DJ Rekha will lead the audience into a Guinness World Record breaking feat for the largest Bhangra dance party ever. Main Bhi Star contest will give participants a chance to act on the big screen as they live-audition with Pankhuri (Disha Parmar) of popular Star Plus soap, Pyaar Ka Dard Hai...Meetha Meetha Pyaara Pyaara. Omi Vaidya (remember 3 Idiots)

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will entertain with a live comedy act. Famous singer Sharda is unveiling an exciting Masti Ho to curb childhood obesity with her live entertainment. She will also sing her evergreen Jab bhi ye dil udaas hota hai, and Duniya ki sair karlo. Sponsors of Deepavali mela include Air India, SBI, Toyota, Bank of Baroda. PTC Punjabi will telecast the event live. BJP will have a cakewalk... Continued from page 1 the Lok Sabha, form the government, and pave the way for the creation of new, glorious India. I myself will go to every nook and corner of the country with this message, he promised. Ramdev praised NRIs for lifting the image of India abroad, particularly Indians in America, who are now No. 1 in per capita income in the country. You should now make India No. 1 in the world, he exhorted the audience of over 300 people packing the banquet hall of The Sterling in Hicksville. Baba Ramdev was followed on the rostrum by Dr Subramanian Swamy, BJP leader, who outlined a blueprint of solutions for Indias big problems under the new, post-Congress regime. Krittika Biswas case lives ... Continued from page 1 missile attack, survived judicial pruning and not one, but several major missiles reached target and are now live for discovery. If they again survive the defendants' summary judgment motion, a just jury will decide defendants' guilt, and how much Krittika is owed in money damages for injuries caused by defendants' complained-off misconduct. Now, with defendants' motion to dismiss dealt with, defendants must answer the complaint, guided by Judge Koeltl's binding wisdom, and then we can start the process to nail down the truth and what defendants did and what excuses they proffer for being constitutionally bad to Krittika, states Ravi Batra, who is representing Krittika, pro bono, in the case originating from a 2011 incident. Daughter of vice consul in the Indian consulate here, Krittika Biswas, then an 18-year-old honor student, was falsely accused by her school in Queens of sending two obscene e-mails when she was not near a computer. Despite repeatedly stating she was innocent, asserting diplomatic immunity and wanting her father and the Indian Consulate notified, Krittika was handcuffed on February 8, 2011 and taken away from her school to spend 28 hours in a cell. Judge Koeltl's remarkable decision is why we have the finest judiciary in the world, courtesy of American Exceptionalism rooted in our separated powers regime. A young Indian girl beat powerful Mayor Bloomberg's Law Department's unkind motion to dismiss, and won her right to be treated with respect, honor and deference for being actually innocent of the criminal and disciplinary charges leveled against her. As her lawyers, we have discharged our ethical zealous advocacy obligation owed to Krittika," Batra said. In an email, Krittikas father, Debashish Biswas thanked Batra, All of this would not have been possible without you. Hope the guilty get punished for what they did. This historic victory in court belongs to the entire community, Batra said, as it stood united on City Hall steps in support of Krittika, and demanded that unique American right: "equal protection of the law." There are 1.1 million kids who are at risk of being abused by NYC DOE's less than constitutional bearings. Krittika's case will stand testimony to the power of Krittika's innocence and community's unity, and serve to make our schools better for our kids.

Cabinet green signal for Telangana formation

New Delhi/Hyderabad: Two months after the Congress decided to carve out Telangana state, the union cabinet Thursday formally decided to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh, triggering anger in Seemandhra and resignation of three MPs of the ruling party. Police went on high alert in Seemandhra (Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra) in view of the 48 hour shutdown called by various groups opposing the state's division. Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde announced after a nearly two-hour cabinet meeting presided over by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that a decision was taken to split Andhra Pradesh to create Telangana. According to the decision taken in line with the July 30 resolution of the Congress Working Committee (CWC), Telangana will comprise 10 districts with Hyderabad as the joint capital of both states for 10 years. The cabinet also decided to set up a group of ministers (GoM) to address issues arising out of bifurcation. "The group of ministers will determine the mechanism to ensure appropriate legal and administrative measures for both successive state governments to function from the common capital of Hyderabad for 10 years and to ensure the safety and security of residents in all three regions of coastal Andhra, Rayalaseema and Telangana including guarantees of fundamental rights," Shinde said. Jaipal Reddy termed Oct 3 a historic day for Telangana and said the decision was taken in tune with the aspirations of the people of the region. Around 30 anti-Telangana supporters Thursday protested outside Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's official residence where the cabinet meeting was held.

Vipassana guru SN Goenka passes away

ounder of Vipassana meditation, S.N. Goenka, 90, died Sunday due to old age. Goenka started teaching the Buddhist extraction Vipassana in a 10-day residential course in 1969 and set up his headquarters in Igatpuri in Maharashtra with 172 centers worldwide by now.

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UN marks 'International Day of Non Violence'

United Nations: The Permanent Mission of India to United Nations, New York hosted a special event Oct 2 at the United Nations to commemorate the "International Day of Non Violence." UN Secretary General (UNSG) Mr. Ban ki-moon and President of the 68th UN General Assembly (PGA) Ambassador John Ashe graced the event and delivered the key note and presidential address respectively. Other speakers on the distinguished panel included the Permanent Representative of South Africa to UN, Ambassador Kingsley Mamabolo, and featured interventions by the Permanent Representative of Argentina, Ambassador Mara Cristina Perceval, the Permanent Representative of Czech Republic, Ambassador Edita Hrda, and Permanent Representative of Norway Ambassador Geir O. Pedersen The event had a packed audience of 450 plus, which included 65 Permanent Representatives of UN Member states, in addition to members of the media and several other dignitaries including Ambassador Vijay Nambiar, the Special Adviser on Myanmar to U.N. SecretaryGeneral and other senior UN officials. Ambassador Asoke K Mukerji, Permanent Representative of India to UN, welcomed the distinguished gathering and underscored the increasing relevance of Gandhian ideals by stating 'that the path of non-violence and dialogue is the surest path to sustainable peace, sustainable development and indeed, sustainable reforms. It is through such an approach that we would be best equipped to deal with the challenges of change, whether political, social, economic or environmental, and find solutions on the basis of the strength of dialogue.' Delivering the key note address UN Secretary General called on member states to 'draw strength from the courage of individuals like Mahatma Gandhi' and quoting him said: I object to violence because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary; the evil it does is permanent. UNSG emphasized that it was from this ideology that the UN has "insisted throughout the war in Syria that all concerned must work for a political solution" and reiterated that "whatever ones sympathies or convictions, violence is a poor means to an unsatisfactory end." In his Presidential Address, Ambassador John Ashe, President of the 68th UN General Assembly, stated that as the General Assembly embarks upon setting the post 2015 development agenda, it was important that "laying the groundwork for this new agenda, is laying the groundwork for a non-violent world one that values peace and well-being for all." Ambassador John Ashe was also presented with a life size portrait of Mahatma Gandhi by renowned artist, Dr. R.D. Pareek, who had flown in from Mumbai to present his painting to the PGA.
An exclusive Sarod recital by Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, his sons Amaan and Ayaan and accompanying artists at the event. The performance included special renditions of tunes of 'Vaishnav Jan to Tene Kahiye' and 'Raghupati Raghav Rajaram' which drew a standing ovation from the packed audience at the UN.

Painting of Gandhi ji in backdrop drawn by R D Pareek presented to PGA

Former Bridgewater Hindu temple chairman accused of stealing huge donations

Bridgewater, NJ: The former chairman of Sri Venkateswara temple on Route 202/206 has been accused of skimming the collection box and possibly pocketing hundreds of thousands of dollars of donations. The accusation, if true, could be difficult to prove even though the disgraced ex-chairman supposedly was caught on hidden camera pilfering cash from the Hindu Temple & Cultural Society of USA, which owns and operates the Sri Venkateswara Temple. Somerset County Prosecutor Geoffrey Soriano said Tuesday that his office spoke with witnesses but declined to file criminal charges against Subbarao Vemulapalli because investigators were unable to gather sufficient evidence. Temple leaders, however, now are putting their faith in the civil justice system. The organization last week filed a lawsuit against Vemulapalli in Superior Court in Somerville as reported on mycentraljersey.com. The organization is

Prof Sinha case:

Jury acquits last two suspects
New Jersey: After nearly a week of deliberation, a jury Sept. 30 acquitted the last two suspects in the 2010 fatal beating attack of Old Bridge, New Jersey professor Divyendu Sinha. Cash Johnson and Christian Tinli both charged with first degree murder were the last two suspects in Sinhas death. As a crowded courtroom of Sinha supporters and the defendants families looked on, a Middlesex County Superior Court jury delivered a verdict of not guilty to both Johnson and Tinli. Johnson and Tinli were found guilty of simple assault for hitting Sinhas son, Ravi. Neither is expected to serve jail time. Two other suspects in the case Julian Daley and Christopher Conway earlier pleaded guilty to lesser roles in the attack, which will allow them to serve prison terms of four to

Sri Venkateshwara Hindu temple

Alka Sinha, wife of Prof Divyendu Sinha

seeking return of the money plus interest, punitive damages and attorney fees. While the lawsuit estimates that the amount of the theft could be in the staggering sixfigures, the complaint does not say whether the organization knows exactly how much was stolen. The complaint says board members saw Vemulapalli surreptitiously pocketing money during the weekly sessions when collection boxes were emptied onto a table and counted by a select group of trusted

Board members and Devotees. The donations were made by the very many visitors to the temple. Witnesses say they saw Vemulapalli take a substantial amount of the money, but they did not confront him until after they had set up hidden cameras to record the counting sessions, the complaint says. When they finally confronted him, Vemulapalli at first denied but then admitted to stealing in the past. He had served as chairman and board member for six years, according to the lawsuit.

seven years when they are sentenced. Stephen Contreras who confessed to driving the get-away car received a sentence of six months. All three agreed to testify against Johnson and Tinli, but on the witness stand, Contreras, the states star witness, defended Johnson and Tinli, saying it was Daley who had thrown the first blow. On the witness stand, Contreras testified that the then under-aged boys had

got someone to purchase liquor for them, which they drank while driving around. A sports car cut off Contreras car; he gave chase until the sports car flipped over at a dead end. Contreras testified that the group was upset, and noted that Daley and Conway wanted to continue driving, looking for someone to fight. They found the Sinha family. A visibly upset Alka Sinha, wife of late Dr.Sinha left the court midway.

October 5-11, 2013

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Celebrity power couple Ranjana and Naeem Khan help raise $18,000 for Wishwas
our fundraiser. We will utilize the funds that we raised towards better projects for women. says Wishwas Executive Director, Nivedita Chandrappa. Nearly 200 guests came out to support Wishwas and enjoyed an evening of cocktails, fashion and networking. Aatma Performing Arts showcased a traditional dance piece to entertain the audience, and models strutted their stuff in extraordinary Naeem Khan creations. Board Chair for Wishwas and noted jewelry designer, Ranjana Khan donated multiple pieces of jewelry from her collection for a silent auction at the fundraiser. Other silent auction items included tickets to Mercedes Benz Fashion week, and a surprise announcement by Naeem Khan for a dinner date with the designer himself. Additionally Naeem Khan promised to match the highest bid, making that single auction item worth $5,000.

INOC (I) team meets the Prime Minister

INOC (I) team led by Shudh Parkash Jasuja met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New York.

Ranjana and Naeem Khan hosted a cocktail soiree at their Manhattan studio

New York, NY: Wishwas, a NYCbased non profit organization held a special fundraiser on September 26th 2013. Celebrity fashion designer Naeem Khan and his wife, jewelry designer Ranjana Khan helped support the cause by hosting a cocktail soire at their studio in Manhattan. The evening

raised over $18,000 for the charity. Wishwas focuses on two initiatives; empowering low-income immigrant women assimilate within society and training them in vocational skills to make them financially self sufficient. I whole heartedly thank everyone who attended and supported

New York: Shudh Parkash Singh, National President of the Indian National Overseas Congress (I) and his team met the visiting Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh after his address at the UN General Assembly on Sept 28. Minister of External Affairs Salman Khurshid and National Security Advisor Shiv Shankar Menon were also present. In the meeting, Shudh Jasuja brought to the attention of the PM the plight of Sikhs who get immigration in USA as political

asylees. He requested that the Indian government should liberalize the rules of issuing them passports and visas because they're not terrorists or on any wanted list. He also apprised the PM about complaints from Punjabis in general and Sikhs in particular for not receiving fair treatment from Indian government offices abroad and elaborated on how the passport and visa services have gone from bad to worse in recent months. The Prime Minister took a serious note of it.

Tobacco operation goes wrong, Indian Americans arrested

(L to R): Dinesh Arora, Surender Bhatty and Davinder Singh

'Understanding the global perspective is a must'

By Jinal Shah/SATimes New York, NY: Four times National Award winner and critically acclaimed director Madhur Bhandarkar, who was in town to participate in the Cinema Beyond Boundaries conference, talks to SATimes about his brand of cinema based on real life and how he is trying to explore new genres, audience expectations and the changing phase of Bollywood. Excerpts: Your last release was Heroine you have been missing in action. Where have you been? From Chandni Bar to Heroine, I have been making movies for past 12 years. I deliberately took a break this year and read books, travelled places attended film festivals, watched a lot of films, met new people, walked ramps. I really needed to unfold and take a break. It is only in India that we are expected to make films back to back whereas in Hollywood, filmmakers make a movie and take a break for three to four years before taking up another film. Besides our film industry has been through a major revamp so it is a good thing to sit back and observe. You are known for making topical films like Corporate, Fashion, Heroine; what made you do a romantic movie-Mar Jawa? One (a filmmaker) should show all kinds of perspective. People often say we should stick to our forte but why stereotype? I did Dil Toh Bachcha Hai. It was not based on harsh, real life issues but on something that occurs in a daily life. My new film is a romantic middle class mellow away from the realistic themes I have worked in the past. The audience has accepted you with world cinema. He said the quality of our products is keeping us from covering global markets vis-a- vis Hollywood; This despite producing maximum number of films in the world. What is your take on the same? I dont think so. Today when we look into Indian cinema, things have changed. We are doing good work. There are films based on realistic issues and also there are larger than life mainstream masala films. You cannot customize or tailor-make a film to cater to global audiences, it is absurd. We have a local taste and commercial movies cater to those tastes and that in no way is bad. I watch Bollywood commercial cinema and enjoy it. I saw Robot and I loved the film as much as I love realistic cinema. The general perception here, especially among Americans, has been that Bollywood is all about song and dance. Do you think it has changed? There is a perception that Bollywood is larger than life cinema. When I started my film career people in Gulf asked me do hero and heroine really dance on roads as seen in the film. It is not true. Yes song and dances are part of our culture and folklore and that is why we portray on big screen. However there are films made which are radically different. Just like Hollywood, we too have independent film makers who make topical films; but having said that, we cannot discount on the fact that there is still a huge section of cinemagoers wanting a masala film with six songs and a whole lot of drama. You cannot just disconnect from it. Other than Mar Jawa, are there any other projects you working on? Nothing as of now.

Film director Madhur Bhandarkar.

Hicksville, NY: Two men were arrested Tuesday on arson and reckless endangerment charges after allegedly being involved in a tobacco treating program that led to an explosion at a home in Hicksville, Nassau County police said. Surender Bhatty, 63, of Carpentersville, Ill. and Davinder Singh, of Queens, were arraigned Sept. 18 at First District Court in Hempstead after being charged with first-degree reckless endangerment and fourth-degree arson, the Examiner.com reported. The two men were charged after police arrested their alleged co-conspirator on Sept. 15. That man, Dinesh Arora, 38, of Hicksville, faced a judge on Tuesday after he was booked on a first-degree reckless endangerment

charge. The three were charged after Arson Squad detectives were called to a fire at 105 Miller Road in Hicksville at 1:20 a.m. on Sept. 15. According to police, the men were in the basement of the home and conducting a tobacco treating operation for use in hookah pipes. The operation involved treating the tobacco with acetone, which cops said created a highly volatile and explosive atmosphere. An explosion reportedly occurred during the production and packaging of the tobacco. A small fire ensued and was extinguished by Hicksville firefighters. No injuries were reported. Police said Bhatty and Singh had fled from the home before cops arrived on Sept. 15. They were arrested after returning to the home.

your style of cinema, do you fear that this movie (Mar Jawa) will go against audience expectations? Definitely, I agree with you, people have expected me to do real hard hitting cinema. However as a filmmaker I should experiment with subjects. Nobody knows what works on box office. Indias taste as cinemagoers has changed. Low budget movies without star cast have also worked wonders on box office so I should try this. What were your expectations from this event- Cinema beyond Boundaries? I really appreciate this effort, getting people (filmmakers, other creative artists) from across board to engage with audience especially budding filmmakers is a great initiative. Indian cinema is no more limited to audience in India. We have viewers all around the globe and hence understanding the global perspective is a must. Akkineni Nageshwar Rao, a veteran South Indian actor recently said Indian cinema is not at par with

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

NATIONAL COMMUNITY

October 5-11, 2013

Sikh driver allegedly called 'terrorist' by police

Washington, DC: A Sikh truck driver has alleged that traffic police in Mississippi called him a " terrorist" and a county judge later humiliated him by describing his turban as "that rag." Jagjeet Singh, 49, a trucker from California, was driving through the Mississippi State when he was pulled over for driving with a flat tyre in Pike County on January 16, according to a complaint filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and United Sikhs. Police officers called Singh a "terrorist" and had him arrested for declining to remove his kirpan ( a small, sacred sword of the Sikh faith), which Singh was lawfully wearing in accordance with his religious beliefs. When he returned to Mississippi for his court date in Pike County, Judge Aubrey Rimes ordered him out of the courtroom because he did not like his turban - calling it "that rag" - and threatened to punish him unless he removed it, the ACLU said in a press release. "The officers' shameful treatment of Mr. Singh was an abuse of their authority and a betrayal of the public's trust that law enforcement officials will carry out their duties free from prejudice," said Bear Atwood, legal director at the ACLU of Mississippi. "The fact that officers may be unfamiliar with Sikhism or other minority religions does not give them license to harass and degrade members of the public who follow those faiths," Atwood said. The letter sent to the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) officials demands that they provide public documents relating to Singh's detainment and arrest and urges them to implement an ongoing training program to educate officers about their responsibility to treat every person with dignity and to remain respectful of religious diversity. The ACLU and United Sikhs said they plan to file a separate complaint with the Mississippi Judicial Commission, asking officials to investigate Judge Rimes's conduct and impose appropriate sanctions.

Sri Srinivasan sworn in as a top US judge, creates history

Washington, DC: With his hand on the Gita and watched by family friend Gursharan Kaur, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's wife, Chandigarh-born legal luminary Sri Srinivasan made history as he became the first Indian American to be sworn in as a judge of what is often called the second most powerful court in the US. Srinivasan, 46, was sworn in an overflowing court room by retired Supreme Court judge Sandra Day O'Connor, in the presence of legal luminaries, friends and families as his mother Saroja Srinivasan held the Gita, the sacred book of Hinduism, before him. Gursharan Kaur literally rushed from the airport with just a short halt at the hotel to watch the investiture of Srinivasan on the bench of the US Courts of Appeal for the District of Columbia Circuit. O'Connor, for whom Srinivasan once clerked, called him "fair, faultless and fabulous." Confirmed by the US Senate in

Sri Srinivasan sworn in by retired Supreme Court judge Sandra Day OConnor. His mother Saroja Srinivasan seen holding the Gita.

May by a 97 to 0 vote, Srinivasan was earlier principal deputy solicitor general of the US to which job he succeeded another Indian American, Neal Kumar Katyal, in August last year. Srinivasan came to the US with his parents in the 1970s at the age of four. His family settled in Lawrence, Kansas, where his father was a mathematics professor at the

University of Kansas, and his mother taught at the Kansas City Art Institute. He received his BA with honors and distinction in 1989 from Stanford University and his JD with distinction in 1995 from Stanford Law School, where he was elected to Order of the Coif and served as an editor of the Stanford Law Review.

Indian Embassy to open a cultural center in capital Indian-origin scientist develops 'brain' for robots
Washington, DC: The Indian Embassy intends to open a cultural heritage center in Washington D.C., said the Hindustan Times, a mere one week after media sources noted widespread racist reactions to the selection of Nina Davuluri as Miss America. While born and raised in the United States, Davuluri was born to a family of immigrants from India. The Indian Ambassador to the United States, Nirupama Rao, dismissed the notion of widespread racism against Indians. At the popular level, there is a tremendous interest and goodwill that Indian culture enjoys in the United States. To sustain this spirit of inquiry about India among our American friends, we hope to establish an Indian Cultural Center in Washington D.C. soon, which would provide a platform for exchange of ideas and intellectual discourse between our two peoples in the coming years, said Ambassador Rao in public remarks last year while speaking at Harvard. The negative reactions against the selection of Davuluri were mostly confined to Twitter, and did not seem to reference the judges of the pageant, many of which are regarded as American icons including former NSYNC singer Lance Bass, New York Knicks forward Amare Stoudemire, and Top Chef contestWashington, DC: Robot brain! An Indian-origin scientist in US has developed a new feedback system that allows robots to operate with minimal supervision and could eventually lead to autonomous machines. The system may lead to robots that think for themselves, learn, adapt and use active critique to work unsupervised. Developed by Dr Jagannathan Sarangapani, from Missouri University of Science and Technology, the system makes use of current formation moving robots and introduces a fault-tolerant control design to improve the probability of completing a set task. The new feedback system will allow a "follower" robot to take over as the "leader" robot if the original leader has a system or mechanical failure. In a leader/follower formation, the lead robot is controlled through a nonholonomic system, meaning that the trajectory is set in advance, and the followers are tracing the same pattern that the leader takes by using sonar. When a problem occurs and roles need to change to continue, the fault tolerant control system comes into use. It uses reinforcement learning and active critique, both inspired by behaviorist psychology to show how machines act in environments to maximize work rate, to help the new, unmanned robot to estimate its new course. Without this, the follower wouldn't have a path to follow and the task would fail. "Imagine you have one operator in an office controlling 10 bulldozers remotely," said Sarangapani, the William A Rutledge Emerson Electric Company's distinguished professor in Electrical Engineering at S&T. "In the event that the lead one suffers a mechanical problem, this hardware allows the work to continue," said Sarangapani. The innovative research can be applied to robotic security surveillance, mining and even aerial maneuvering. Sarangapani believes that the research is most important for aerial vehicles. When a helicopter is in flight, faults can now be detected and accommodated. This means that instead of a catastrophic failure resulting in a potentially fatal crash, the system can allow for a better chance for an emergency landing instead. The fault tolerance would notice a problem and essentially shut down that malfunctioning part while maintaining slight control of the overall vehicle. "The end goal is to push robotics to the next level," said Sarangapani. "I want robots to think for themselves, to learn, adapt and use active critique to work unsupervised. A self-aware robot will eventually be here, it is just a matter of time, he said.

Indian American Nina Davuluri faced racist reactions on winning Miss America title

ant Carla Hall. Amongst others, Davuluri faced five other Asian American contestants for the title. According to the Hindustan Times Once done, the building will have an auditorium, a gallery for paintings and pictures, a library, a conference hall and more - modeled on other Indian cultural centers around the world. My dream, really, is to see a cultural center for India here in Washington, D.C. said Ambassador Rao. And this is a dream that we have been aspiring to see fulfilled for some time now. I think we are nearer that goal. The Indian Embassy has purchased the building at 1438 U Street, in Washington DC for the venture. The site is formerly home to Cada Vez and Station 9 and is a block and a half away from the U Street-Cardozo Metro station.

October 5-11, 2013

NATIONAL COMMUNITY

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

IN BRIEF

Doonya:Bollywood inspired workout premieres on ZEE TV Americas

Moodabidri theft Jain Bhattarakhas lead protest urging CBI investigation

EE Americas proudly announces the addition of Doonya: The Bollywood Workout to their fall weekend schedule. The Doonya series launches October 5, 2013 on ZEE TV, Zing, and ZEE Cinema in North America bringing dance and fitness (with a Bollywood twist!) to 800,000 homes. Doonyas founders, Priya Pandya and Kajal Desai, created a program that takes Bollywood inspired movements and connects them to target muscle groups. Their clear and easy-to-follow instruction allows the audience to burn calories (up to 800 per hour) and build strength and stamina through cardio and conditioning workouts. We know South Asians love to dance, says Desai, but working out isnt something our community is known for. Diabetes, coronary artery disease and obesity are all issues plaguing our community right now. And it can be hard to combat these diseases when working out isnt always fun, adds Pandya. Doonya bridges that gap and provides a

workout that is fun for the entire family! Youll dance to songs you recognize using moves you already know, but will do them in a way that gives you results, says Desai. Pandya finishes, Over the last seven years we've been teaching Doonya, we've seen our students' bodies transform through our program. We are excited to share a program that is so rooted in our culture and upbringing with our community. General Manager of ZEE Americas, Sameer Targe says Doonya is the first of its kind fitness program that is based on Bollywood dancing. We are very excited to partner with them as it coincides with our programming philosophy of Entertainment with a Purpose. A locally produced show was a natural move for us as it further strengthens our leadership position in the U.S. This program is set to the latest Bollywood tracks to hit the airwaves and leaves the audience with original dance steps and choreography they can practice in the privacy of their own home or take to the dance floor.

GOPIO-Health to offer awareness programs in NY area

merican Diabetes Month takes place each November and is a time to come together as a community to raise awareness about diabetes. There is growing evidence that diabetes is a major health issue in the Asian Indian community in the U.S. GOPIO-Health Council has planned the following Health Awareness Programs in the Tri-State area. These programs will be offered free to our community members. November 14, 2013 - "Controlling and

Managing Chronic Diseases- Take actions now." This program will be in collaboration with the AAPI Westchester and Royal India Palace in White Plains. November 15, 2013 - "Preventing the Complications and Making Therapeutic Life Style Changes now." This program will be in collaboration with Milan Cultural Association of CT November 24, 2013 - "Health Awareness Day" - At the Consulate of India in New York in collaboration with AAPI.

day long silent protest was organized in the premises of the ancient thousand pillars temple (Tribhuvana Tilaka Chudamani Temple) at Moodabidri (Dakshin Kannada district), Karnataka on October 2, 2013 urging the Government of Karnataka to recommend the case for CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) enquiry. Eight (Ashta Mathadishas) Bhattarakhas belonging to the different Jain Muths of Karnataka along with Dr.D.Veerendra Hegde the Dharmadhikari of Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala led the protest. Following the theft of 15 ancient, antique, precious Jain idols from Siddantha Darshan temple on the night of July 5, 2013 the police department have taken stern follow up action in the case and were able to trace the sources of 8 idols out of the total 15 that were stolen. Further, they were able to arrest Ghanshyam Das from Orissa the main accused who stole the idols in the case and they were also successful in arresting Subhash Sancheti alias Rajaji of Chattisgarh who is said to be the person who bought the idols from Ghanshyam Das. The Jain community is highly appreciative of the

The thousand pillared Jain temple in Moodabidri

police action until this stage. Though the police made quick advances in the investigation of this case, the progress has delayed after the arrest of Rajaji. The police havent been able to make any further inroads in the case after this and have not recovered all the idols nor have been able to extract any further details from the chief accused and the buyer of idols. The undue delay in the case has been a matter of concern to the Jain community and since the case is of grave national importance and is related to three different states (Karnataka, Orissa and Chattisgarh) they have been urging for CBI investigation. In view of the above facts and circumstances the Jain Samaj has urged CBI enquiry in the case.

Dr Mohan Sawhney, Kellogg School, to speak at Akshay Patra Dallas Benefit

Houston Mahatma Gandhi library celebrates Gandhi Jayanti

echtel Diversity Advisory Council(DAC) and Mahatma Gandhi celebrated Gandhi Jayanti Gandhijis birthday on Tuesday October 1, 2013. First episode of the documentary A Force More Powerful relating to Salt Satyagraha and Indias freedom was screened. As part of the notification of the celebration, DAC sent out a quiz requiring completion of quotes of Mahatma Gandhi with the words given in a word bank. The response was overwhelming with close to 100 entries received. Another event 1000 Lights for Peace will be held on Sunday, October 6, 2013. It will take place at Miller Outdoor Theater in Hermann Park from 6

'1000 lights for peace' event will be held on Oct 6

PM to 8 PM. The finale of the program will be lighting of the candle by each person as pledge to practice truth and non-violence in ones own life. The cultural program will be preceded by Walk For Peace, a 5K walk.

n Saturday, November 9th, Dr. Mohanbir Sawhney, McCormick Tribune Professor of Technology at Chicagos Kellogg School of Management, will deliver the keynote address at Akshaya Patra's 2013 Dallas-Fort Worth Food for Education Benefit Event. The event will raise funds and awareness for Akshaya Patras unique and innovative program for eradicating hunger and promoting education in India. Dr. Mohanbir Sawhney is recognized as a leading expert of technological innovation, digital marketing, and social media. Business Week named Dr. Sawhney one of the top 25 most influential people in ebusiness. He is a globally renowned scholar on new media in strategic business marketing and is a World Economic Forum Fellow. Dr. Sawhney and his fam-

Dr.Mohanbir Sawhney

ily are strong supporters of the Akshaya Patra Foundation. The Akshaya Patra Foundation was recently ranked 23rd of the Top 100 NGOs in the World in The Global Journals 2013 annual ranking. The Global Journal also ranked Akshaya Patra 1st in the world for NGOs working to improve the lives of children and youth.

Free cancer screening health camp held in South Brunswick

Commemorative ceremony to mark Gandhiji's birth anniversary

commemorative ceremony for the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi was organized by the Embassy of India, Washington DC on October 2. Ambassador Nirupama Rao and the Indian Embassy community and the Indian community of Washington paid floral trib-

utes to the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in front of the Embassy. Ambassador addressed the gathering and reiterated the continuing importance of Gandhi's message of non-violence. Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram, a favorite song of Mahatma Gandhi, was sung during the occasion.

n Saturday, September 28, 2013, Indian Health Camp of New Jersey (IHCNJ) organized free breast screening to include diagnostic digital mammogram and ultrasound for women above the age of 40 who lack medical insurance or underinsured in New Jersey. Garden State Magnetic Imaging at 1245 Whitehorse-Mercerville Road in Hamilton, NJ provided this service to 30 quali-

fied women under New Jersey State Cancer Education and Early Detection program NJ CEED program. Linda Johnson and Anita Linton worked and dedicated their time and service to collaborate with Indian Health Camp of NJ for a successful event. Durga Mandir in South Brunswick provided the space as reception site for all the participants. The transportation service was provided by NJ CEED program.

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

US AFFAIRS

October 5-11, 2013

US braces for long shutdown as lawmakers go home

By Arun Kumar Washington: As US lawmakers went home after playing their political games without finding a way to end a historic government shutdown over President Barack Obama's signature healthcare law, Americans braced themselves for a prolonged closure. The Republican-led House of Representatives which had linked passage of a spending bill or a continuing resolution to keep the government running to defunding Obamacare as the healthcare law is nicknamed, instead offered to keep a few popular programs funded. The first government closure in nearly 17 years began at the end of fiscal year Oct 1 midnight forcing the administration to furlough close to 800,000 federal workers or about a fourth of government workforce, close national parks and end several non-essential services. The Republican move to approve piecemeal funding for three popular programs Washington, DC, veterans affairs and national parks -failed to muster necessary twothirds majority for passage. The Republicans plan to bring up the same measures again Wednesday in a way that would require only a simple majority to pass, but Democratic-led Senate is bound to reject it once again. The White House has also promised a veto. As the stalemate continued, Obama made a television appearance in the White House Rose Garden to publicly admonish the House Republicans to "reopen the Republicans' reckless obsession with destroying health reform and with wounding the president has been on full display". "And, as the public's anger grows over this entirely unnecessary crisis, it should be aimed at a party and a Speaker that are incapable of governing." "Both sides are playing a long game and seem unified in their brinkmanship," Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) fellow Robert Kahn wrote, summing up the situation. "If current market and political realities are any indicator, we're a long way off from there being enough pressure on either side to deal," he wrote. Meanwhile, new healthcare exchanges designed to provide affordable insurance to America's 15 percent uninsured rolled out - the very thing that the Republicans were trying to prevent.

Obama meets Congressional leaders, but no deal

The most public signs of government shutdown

House Speaker John Boehner (left) and Senate leader Harry Reid

government" rather than continue to block federal spending to the 2010 healthcare act. "As long as I am president, I will not give in to reckless demands by some in the Republican Party to deny affordable health insurance to millions of hard-working Americans," he said flanked by a group of beneficiaries of his Obamacare law. Saying the shutdown's goal is to hinder government efforts to provide health insurance to 15 percent of the US population that doesn't have coverage, the president said it was "strange that one party would make keeping people uninsured the centerpiece of their agenda".

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid derided the Republican strategy as "just another wacky idea by tea party Republicans". Earlier, the Senate began the first day of closure Tuesday by rejecting a Republican plan for a conference committee to work out differences between the two chambers. Although much of the federal workforce will go without pay, members of the military will also get paid -- thanks to the Congress, which unanimously managed to come together to pass a bill that Obama signed. The influential New York Times blamed the crisis on Republican Speaker John Boehner, saying "The

Washington: President Obama met four top congressional leaders Wednesday seeking passage of a stopgap spending measure and a debt-ceiling increase, but failed to get a deal. His meeting with Republicans John Boehner and Eric Cantor and Democrats Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi yielded no breakthrough on the budget crisis. Obama and Democrat leaders stuck to their guns seeking a clean continuing resolution and a debt ceiling increase with no conditions attached, while the Republicans continued to insist on either scrapping or delaying

Obama's signature health care law. Pelosi later said the meeting was "worthwhile" but Republicans "keep moving the goal post" for reaching a deal with Boehner suggesting Democrats "will not negotiate." Earlier in the day Obama said he was "prepared to negotiate on anything" regarding the federal budget -- but only after Congress passes "a clean piece of legislation that reopens the government" and allows the US "Treasury to pay for things that Congress itself already authorized."

CNN Poll: Majority says raise debt ceiling

New York: Surveys indicate that most Americans didn't think shutting down the government in an attempt to dismantle the new health care law was a good idea. They apparently feel the same way about blocking an increase in the nation's debt ceiling to stop Obamacare, according to CNN/ORC International survey released on Wednesday. The poll also indicates that a majority of the public would point fingers at Republicans in Congress if the nation's ability to borrow more money is not increased. With the federal government shut down due to a bitter partisan standoff over spending and the Affordable Care Act, an even more chilling deadline is approaching. The government faces a debt ceiling crunch around October 17, when it expects to run out of options to keep below the legal cap on federal borrowing. Congressional Republicans have signaled they want to use this issue to again go after Obamacare, which would set up a new fight with Senate Democrats and Obama, who says he won't negotiate. According to the poll, 56% of Americans said it would be a bad thing if the debt ceiling was not raised, with 38% saying it would be a good thing for the country. If the debt ceiling is not raised, 53% said congressional Republicans would be more responsible rather than Obama, with 31% pointing more fingers at the president.

Overwhelming demand for Obamacare amid teething troubles

New York: In New York, officials said their exchange had 2.5 million visitors in its first half hour yesterday. California reported as many as 16,000 hits a second. And U.S. officials recorded 2.8 million visitors to the federal website, healthcare.gov, even as it fought technical problems much of the day. The difficulties with the online insurance marketplaces gave new ammunition to Republicans who say the Affordable Care Act doesnt work. President Barack Obama countered that the volume gives a sense of how important this is to millions of Americans, and administration officials said marketing of the exchanges will now start to pick up steam. Anything short of a calamity on day one is a victory, said Dan Mendelson, chief executive officer of Washington-based consultant Avalere Health LLC. Its all about message and repetition, and making sure its accessible. While the federal site, which serves 36 states, was inaccessible for much of yesterday, administrators added capacity and made adjustments to put it back into service by late afternoon, Marilyn Tavenner, administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, told reporters. She declined to say how many people enrolled in plans through the site. Day two opened with some improvement. The federal exchange was open for business as were most of the state-run markets. Sites were still down or experiencing delays in New York, Nevada, Oregon and Washington State. Thisll be a shake-out cruise, therell clearly be bumps, Peter Bielenson, chief of Baltimore-based insurer Evergreen Health Co-Op, said in an interview with Bloomberg Television. The company was deluged with calls on the first day. Like every new law, every new product rollout, there are going to be some glitches in the sign-up process along the way that we will fix, Obama said yesterday at a White House event. Opponents of the startup said the delays and frozen websites were, indeed, calamitous. And it remained unclear how much the wave of interest would translate into enrollments. While Connecticuts site had 28,000 web hits as of 4 p.m. Tuesday, only 167 people applied for coverage, said Kathleen Tallarita, a spokeswoman with Access Health CT, the states exchange. If the technical issues arent quickly fixed, they may spur a backlash, said Douglas Holtz-Eakin, a former Congressional Budget Office director who is now president of American Action Forum, an advocacy group that opposes the law.To have something that doesnt work after two-and-a-half years is pretty underwhelming, Holtz-Eakin said in a telephone interview. For more info: www.healthcare.gov

Obama curtails Asia trip as a casualty of shutdown

Washington: As the US shutdown continued for the second day Wednesday, President Barack Obama cancelled part of his upcoming trip to Asia, preparing to fight a prolonged battle with the Republicans over the budget. Secretary of State John Kerry will lead delegations to Philippines and Malaysia next week instead of Obama, the White House announced Wednesday, as both Republicans and Obama's Democrats stuck to their guns on his signature healthcare law, Obamacare. The president will, however make the trip to Indonesia to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, where Asian leaders are gathering in Bali to discuss economic issues since that cannot be rescheduled.

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October 5-11, 2013

INDIA

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Government does not feel pulse of nation: Modi

New Delhi: Narendra Modi, the Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial candidate, said that the United Progressive Alliance government at the centre was out of sync with the pulse of the nation. He claimed that the ordinance to shield convicted politicians was only brought in because the government had no notion of the sentiments of the people. The union cabinet on Wednesday decided to withdraw the ordinance. "The government sitting in Delhi does not know the pulse of the nation, or they would not have brought an ordinance to shield convicted politicians," Modi said at an event here. "No one wants to vote for criminals. The prime minister was also insulted in such a way that he lost his confidence to talk in the US," Modi said, responding to questions from students at a meeting organised by Citizens for Accountable Governance. He said the nation wanted clean politics, and a government free of corruption. An ordinance to shield convicted lawmakers approved by the union cabinet was withdrawn Wednesday. Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi had earlier publicly opposed the passage of the ordinance.Asked about his views on secularism, Modi said for him it meant "nation first". "For some, secularism is a tool to fool people; for me, secularism is nation first." Modi said. "There is no secularism bigger than a decision which is in favour of the nation. There should be justice to all and appeasement of none. A poor man is a poor man, whether he goes to a temple, mosque or gurudwara," he said. Taking a dig at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Modi said his ideas were of the 1980s. "The prime minister said something on his way back, his dialogues are of 80s. This is the India of the 21st century, people want development," Modi said.
Narendra Modi

Rahul wins, govt axes controversial ordinance, bill

New Delhi: Forced into a corner after a public censure by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, the cabinet, presided over by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, withdrew the controversial ordinance and the bill that sought to save convicted lawmakers from disqualification. A day after the prime minister indicated that the ordinance could be taken back, the cabinet met for just 20 minutes at his official residence to take the decision, brushing aside the disapproval of some Congress allies. A visibly hassled Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari, who was among the ministers who had earlier stoutly defended the ordinance, told the media: "The decision of the cabinet to withdraw the ordinance and the bill was unanimous." He insisted that the cabinet U-turn did not mean that Manmohan Singh's authority had been undermined by Rahul Gandhi, the Congress vice president who chose to publicly denounce the ordinance, that too when the prime minister was abroad. The writing on the wall was clear since Gandhi's Sep 27 dramatic outburst that the ordinance was "complete nonsense" and should be "torn up and thrown away". The ordinance, now with President Pranab Mukherjee, sought to overrule a Supreme Court ruling that favored the disqualification of convicted MPs and state legislators. "Democracy is not a monolithic

The ordinance sought to overrule a Supreme Court ruling that favored the disqualification of convicted MPs and state legislators

authoritarian system of government," Tewari said. "We respect the diversity of views, and there was a view which was articulated by Rahul Gandhi." He said Gandhi's criticism was possibly based on a "wider feedback". "Under those circumstances, the (earlier) cabinet decision was reconsidered and it was decided that we would withdraw both the bill and the ordinance. "It demonstrates that you have a government which is not authoritarian in nature." The bill would be taken back by parliament "at an

appropriate time". Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar did not look too happy after the cabinet meeting. Rahul Gandhi's criticism triggered a political storm, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) saying the prime minister must resign as his authority had come under question. Manmohan Singh has ruled out stepping down. BJP president Rajnath Singh said the ordinance withdrawal was "better late than never" for the country. The BJP claimed it was its pressure that forced the change of mind.

Rahul destabilises govt, but rescues Congress

New Delhi: Beware the fury of a patient man, wrote the English poet, John Dryden, in the 17th century. Rahul Gandhi hasn't been a patient man so much as a quiet one, who has occasionally broken longish periods of silence and absence from India to indulge in philosophical musings, such as that poverty is a state of the mind. However, his vehement outburst against the ordinance about convicted legislators appears to be the release of pent-up anger about the government's functioning. As his reference to political compromises during the brief interaction with the Press showed, he must have been fed up not only with the Congress's cynicism, but also its indifference towards public opinion. Even the perceptible decline in its popularity does not seem to bother the party or the prime minister. The ordinance was only the latest example of how the Congress turned a blind eye both to matters of principle - in this case, defending the indefensible by trying to save the convicted M.P.s - and also to constitutional propriety since the dubious nature of the ordinance has been commented upon by jurists. Before bringing forward the ordinance, the Congress had also displayed the same insouciance to popular sentiment by seeking to amend the Right to Information Act to keep the political parties out of its purview. True, the Congress isn't the only party which has been engaged in unwholesome conduct. The entire political class has been guilty of the same offense since the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is among those which supported the ordinance and the RTI amendment, notwithstanding its subsequent disingenuous disclaimers. It is too early to say if Rahul intends to take his party in a direction where morality will play a larger role than political considerations which, he said, had been behind the ordinance. It doesn't take any great political acumen to understand that the considerations which guided the prime minister related to the impending judgment in the fodder scam case against Lalu Prasad Yadav. Just as Manmohan Singh once hinted that the government desisted from taking any action against former telecommunications minister Andimuthu Raja in order to avoid having a general election if the DMK withdrew its support, similarly, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader had to be saved at any cost from disqualification as a time when the Congress needs every friendly party to stand by it to counter the challenge posed by Narendra Modi. However, if Rahul is serious about forcing the government to abandon its habitual cynicism, he

It is too early to say if Rahul intends to take his party in a direction where morality will play a larger role than political considerations

has a big fight on his hands. He may not be too concerned about taking on the prime minister. But, he will be posing a challenge to Sonia Gandhi since it cannot be believed that she had no inkling the ordinance. There is little doubt that if Rahul comes forward as a knight in shining armor to root out political skull-

duggery, there will be a huge surge of support for him. But, his revolt cannot be a one step forward, two steps back tactic of Lenin. He will have to be far more forthright in his denunciation of the power brokers, as his father Rajiv Gandhi did in 1985, and not restrict himself to a single wrathful expression - the ordinance is nonsense.

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

INDIA

October 5-11, 2013

11

Masood jailed for four years, MP no more

New Delhi: Congress MP Rasheed Masood was sentenced to four years in jail for fraudulently nominating undeserving students for MBBS seats when he was a minister in 1990, becoming the first MP set to lose his seat under a new Supreme Court ruling. The Rajya Sabha member, a party hopper from Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh, remained calm as Special CBI Court judge J.P.S. Malik held the 67-year-old guilty of cheating and corruption. He was also fined Rs.60,000. Once the verdict was pronounced at the Tis Hazari court, Masood was taken away to the Tihar Central Jail to begin his sentence -- a landmark event in Indian politics. A jail official said Masood will share space with other convicts in jail no. 5. Also held guilty were former IPS officer Gurdial Singh and retired IAS officer Amal Kumar Roy. They too were sentenced to four years in jail, and fined Rs.1 lakh each. Nine students, who got admission in medical colleges and were convicted for cheating, were sentenced to a year's imprisonment each. They moved for bail. The Central Bureau of Investigation sought seven years' jail term for the MP, saying the "lawmaker has become the lawbreaker". Born on the day India became independent, Masood, who studied law in the Aligarh Muslim University, has been associated with several political parties including the Bharatiya Kranti Dal, Janata Party, Lok Dal, Janata Dal, Samajwadi Party and Congress. The sentencing brought the curtains down on a case that began in 1990 when Masood was the health minister in the National Front government of V.P. Singh from April to November 1990. Using his authority, Masood was accused of fraudulently nominating undeserving candidates from across the country to the

Congress MP Rasheed Masood

MBBS seats allotted to medical colleges in Tripura from the central pool. Masood loses the right to contest elections for 10 years as a convicted leader cannot fight elections for six years from the date of release from prison. He will lose membership of the Rajya Sabha as an MP and a state legislator stand disqualified if convicted for crimes with punishment of two years or more and under some other laws even without jail sentence.

An embarrassed Congress reacted blandly to the development. Party spokesman Meem Afzal said the party does not comment on court decisions. "The law will take its own course," he said, adding that Masood had a right to approach a higher court. Masood was found guilty under the Prevention of Corruption Act and for criminal conspiracy, cheating and forgery. He was acquitted of the charge of using a forged document.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi paying homage to Mahatma Gandhi on his 144th birth anniversary at Rajghat, New Delhi on October 2. Also seen is Congress leader Kamal Nath.

SC issues contempt notice to VK Singh

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has issued contempt notices to former Army chief General VK Singh for allegedly making adverse comments about the top court over the way it handled the issue of his age in the service records. A bench, comprising Justices RM Lodha and HL Gokhale took suo motu cognizance of a newspaper report about Singh's alleged dig at the court for ignoring his class 10 examination certificate in deciding his age and for allegedly claiming the judges were under pressure while dealing with his row with the government over the issue. "Prima facie this scandalizes the court, tends to scandalize the court and lowers the authority of the court," Justice Lodha observed. The bench gave Singh two weeks to explain why contempt action should not be initiated against him for his remarks and the case will be heard again on October 23. Although the maximum sentence under the contempt of court act is six months, the top court can hand out any sentence under its extraordinary jurisdiction. The Supreme Court bench also issued notices to the publisher of the paper which published Singh's alleged statement. It also directed the Attorney General to assist the court in the case.

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October 5-11, 2013

INDIA

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Lalu jailed for 5 years, ceases to be MP

Ranchi: Former Bihar chief minister Lalu Prasad sentenced to five years in prison and fined Rs.25 lakh for his involvement in the fodder scam that surfaced 17 years ago. The sentencing took away Lalu Prasad's membership of the Lok Sabha, putting a question mark on the future of one of the country's best known politicians. The special CBI court of Pravas Kumar Singh also jailed former chief minister Jagannath Mishra and Janata Dal-United leader Jagdish Sharma for four years each. But while Mishra, who was admitted to a hospital Wednesday after an apparent fall in the bathroom, was fined Rs.2 lakh, Sharma was fined Rs.5 lakh. According to prison sources, Lalu Prasad, 67, who founded the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) in 1997, looked dazed as he heard the sentence over video conference facility at the Birsa Munda Central Jail. Earlier, Lalu Prasad's lawyer Surender Singh had pleaded for a lenient sentence, citing his age and health issues. He said that Lalu Prasad was a "respectable person" and held a "high position in society". The CBI court gave its verdict against 37 of the 45 convicts in

We expected justice from court: Rabri Devi

Patna: Former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi said that the RJD was disappointed after a court jailed her husband and party leader Lalu Prasad for five years in the fodder scam. "Laluji has become a victim of political conspiracy as there was no proof against him," Rabri Devi told the media here after the CBI court sentenced Lalu Prasad in Ranchi. "We expected justice from the court but are disappointed." She insisted that Lalu Prasad had been framed by political opponents and that he was a victim of a "political conspiracy". Rabri Devi added: "We will not be silent. The RJD will go to people. I will lead the party." Lalu Prasad, former chief minister Jagannath Mishra and 43 others have been convicted on charges of fradulently withdrawing Rs.37.70 crore from the Chaibasa district treasury.

Former chief minister Jagannath Mishra and Janata Dal-United leader Jagdish Sharma also jailed

the fodder scandal, which related to the fradulent withdrawal of Rs.37.70 crore from the Chaibasa district treasury when Bihar was an undivided state. The district became a part of Jharkhand after it was formed in 2000. A former RJD legislator, R.K. Rana, got five years' jail and was fined Rs.30 lakh. A man who had supplied fodder to the Bihar government's animal husbandry department was asked

to cough up Rs.1.5 crore -- the maximum fine imposed on anyone in the case. On Sep 30, the CBI court had held all 45 accused guilty. It sentenced eight of them to three years in prison and slapped them with fines up to Rs.50 lakh. With Thursday's sentencing, Lalu Prasad becomes the second politician this week to lose membership of parliament in line with a Supreme Court ruling.

Law catches up with the corrupt: Prasad

India tops global chart of remittances

Washington: India has topped the global chart of remittances with a whopping $71 billion in remittances in 2013, just short of three times the FDI it received in 2012, according to a revised World Bank forecast. Top recipients of officially recorded remittances for 2013 are India (with an estimated $71 billion), China ($60 billion), the Philippines ($26 billion), Mexico ($22 billion), Nigeria ($21 billion), and Egypt ($20 billion), the report issued on Wednesday said. Other large recipients include Pakistan, Bangladesh, Vietnam and Ukraine. As a percentage of GDP, the top recipients of remittances, in 2012, were Tajikistan (48 per cent), Kyrgyz Republic (31 per cent), Lesotho and Nepal (25 per cent each) and Moldova (24 per cent). "These latest estimates show the power of remittances," said Kaushik Basu, senior vice-president and chief economist of the World Bank. "For a country like Tajikistan they constitute half the GDP. For Bangladesh remittances provide vital protection against poverty. In terms of volume, India, with $71 billion of remittances, tops the global chart. To put this in perspective, this is just short of three times the FDI it received in 2012," he said. "Remittances act as a major counterbalance when capital flows weaken as happened in the wake of the US Fed announcing its intention to reign in its liquidity injection programme. Also, when a nation's currency weakens, inward remittances rise and, as such, they act as an automatic stabiliser," Basu said. According to World Bank estimates, India and China alone will represent nearly a third of total remittances to the developing world this year. Remittance volumes to developing countries, as a whole, are projected to continue growing strongly over the medium term, averaging an annual growth rate of nine per cent to reach $540 billion in 2016. Global remittances, including those to high-income countries, are estimated to touch $550 billion this year, and reach a record $707 billion by 2016, the Bank said. Remittances to the developing world are expected to grow by 6.3 per cent this year to $414 billion and are projected to cross the half-trillion mark by 2016, the report said. "Remittances are the most tangible and least controversial link between migration and development," said Dilip Ratha, manager of the Migration and Remittances Team at the Bank's Development Prospects Group.

Modi's 'toilets first, temples later' remark in row

BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad

I have said in my state: pehle shauchalaya, phir devalaya (toilets first, temples later), says Narendra Modi

New Delhi: BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said the sentencing of Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Lalu Prasad in the fodder scam showed that the law catches up with those involved in corruption. Ravi Shankar Prasad, deputy leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party in the Rajya Sabha, said he had mixed feelings on the sentence, as the RJD leader had worked with him the JP Movement. (Jayaprakash Narayan, freedom fighter and political crusader, was popularly called JP. The movement he led resulted in the first nonCongress coalition taking office at the centre in 1977.) The BJP leader said the verdict sent a message that the law catches up with those guilty of corruption. "With corruption, the law

catches up with you. That is the message," Ravi Shankar Prasad told a TV news channel. Ravi Shankar Prasad referred to controversies over the 2G spectrum allocation and coal block allocation, and said that the "scams" had led to losses of thousands of crores of rupees to the exchequer. A special CBI court in Ranchi Thursday jailed Lalu Prasad, former Bihar chief minister, for five years and fined him Rs.25 lakh for fraudulent withdrawal Rs.37.7 crore from the Chaibasa district treasury. With Thursday's sentencing, Lalu Prasad, the founder leader of the Rashtriya Janata Dal, becomes the second politician to lose membership of parliament, in line with the July 10 ruling of the Supreme Court.

New Delhi: The Congress accused the BJP of double standards after its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi said toilets had to be a greater priority than temples in India. Addressing college students on Wednesday, the Gujarat chief minister rued that many Indians still do not have access to basic sanitation. "My image is that of Hindutva but I'll tell you my real thinking. I have said in my state: pehle shauchalaya, phir devalaya (toilets first, temples later)," Modi said. Congress leader Digvijaya Singh said this was another example of the Bharatiya Janata Party's double standards. Rural development minister Jairam Ramesh had drawn flak from the BJP in April when he said that toilets are more important than temples. "No matter how many temples we go to, we are not going to get salvation. We need to give priority to toilets and cleanliness," Jairam Ramesh had said. The BJP's Rajiv Pratap Rudy had said then that such comments would "destroy the fine fabric of religion and faith". Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal activists had even protested outside the minister's residence.

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

INDIA AT UNITED NATIONS

October 5-11, 2013

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New York: In a tentative opening of doors, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart, Nawaz Sharif held talks to improve their relations. But India made it clear that peace along the LoC was a must for a full dialogue and bringing masterminds of 2008 Mumbai terror attack was vital. Addressing media after the ice-breaking "useful and friendly" talks here on the sidelines of the UN general assembly, Indian National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon said Manmohan Singh told Sharif that it was vital to bring to book those in Pakistan who masterminded the Mumbai terror attack that killed 166 people including many foreigners. According to Menon, Sharif said that indeed was Pakistan's intention. "Both

sides wish to see a better IndiaPakistan relationship. Both sides want a much better relationship," Menon told media. "In order to get there, we need to address today the issues we face," he added, which he said included restoring "peace and tranquillity" along the LoC and addressing issues related to terrorism. "It is very important to address the terrorism issue," Menon underlined, making it clear that while there was no proof of India interfering in the internal affairs of Pakistan, the reverse was not true. At a separate briefing for the media, Pakistan Foreign Secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani termed the talks "positive and constructive, but took the line that a "peaceful sustained and uninterrupted dialogue" was the way to resolve issues between them.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif

Pakistan again violates ceasefire

Jammu: Pakistani troops fired at Indian positions on the Line of Control (LoC) in Mendhar sector of Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district in yet another violation of the bilateral ceasefire, a defence spokesman said. The unprovoked firing by Pakistan troops, in yet another violation of the bilateral ceasefire agreement signed by India and Pakistan in November 2003, has coincided with the return of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh from the US where he met his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif. The two prime ministers had agreed to work out a more effective mechanism to stop ceasefire violations on the borders. "There is no alternative to a peaceful sustained and uninterrupted dialogue. We need to have an interaction on a regular basis to address all our outstanding issues," he said. The two prime ministers tasked the Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) of both countries to come up with "effective measures" to restore the 2003 ceasefire on the Jammu and Kashmir border, the Indian national security adviser told media.

Accepting Applications

For January 2014

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October 5-11, 2013

INDIA AT UNITED NATIONS

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sing strong language, he reasserted what he had told President Barack Obama at their Friday summit about Pakistan being the "epicenter of terrorism" and how little progress could be expected in peace talks without a shut down of Pakistan's "terrorist machinery". "State-sponsored cross-border terrorism is of particular concern to India, (also) on account of the fact that the epicenter of terrorism in our region is located in our neighborhood in Pakistan," said the Indian leader addressing the UN General Assembly. Noting that Sharif speaking at the same forum had spoken of "making a new beginning", Manmohan Singh said he reciprocated the Pakistani leader's sentiments. "India is committed sincerely to resolving all issues with Pakistan, including the issue of Jammu and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh addressing the 68th Session of Kashmir, through bilateral diathe United Nations General Assembly in New York logue on the basis of the Simla Agreement," he said. made, it is imperative that the ter- under its control are not utilized "However, for progress to be ritory of Pakistan and the areas for aiding and abetting terrorism

India asks Pak to shun terrorism to make peace

directed against India," Manmohan Singh said. The Indian Prime Minister's warning to Pakistan came even as Sharif made some conciliatory remarks to an Indian TV channel about how dialogue process between the two neighbours should not be derailed because of the "extremely unfortunate" the terror strike in Jammu. Sharif, who would be meeting Manmohan Singh for the first time told NDTV that increased tensions along the Line of Control (LoC) were a matter of concern and he would propose a joint mechanism or an independent mechanism to monitor the LoC. Saying that two countries need to pick up the threads that were broken in 1999 when he was overthrown in a coup by Gen. Pervez Musharraf, Sharif said he would also invite Manmohan Singh to pay a "long overdue" visit to Pakistan. Meanwhile, inside the assembly chamber, Manmohan Singh calling upon the world community "to renew our commitment, especial-

ly here at the UN, for concerted, cohesive and continuing global action against terrorism," said "there can be no tolerance for states sheltering, arming, training or financing terrorists". "Nor can they absolve themselves of the responsibility to prevent their territories from being used to launch acts of terrorism," Manmohan Singh said in another stern warning to Pakistan. "The increasingly complex challenges to international peace and security require a new international consensus to be built, whether it is in cyber security, non-proliferation or terrorism," he said. Manmohan Singh's message to Sharif, who had raised the Kashmir issue yet again in an annual ritual at the UN, was loud and clear. "There must be a clear understanding of the fact Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and that there can never, ever, be a compromise with the unity and territorial integrity of India," he said.

to set our own domestic priorities. No one knows the condition of developing countries better than the developing countries themselves. We are deeply concerned about the future of West Asia, a region with which India shares deep bonds of history, and one that is critical for our energy security as well as the livelihoods of nearly seven million Indians who work
Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh in a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister of Mauritius Dr. Navinchandra Ramgoolam

PM pitches for UNSC reforms

India supports strongly the elimination of chemical weapons material and equipment in Syria. There is no military solution to this conflict. We must intensify efforts to end the conflict and seek a political settlement. It is essential that the Geneva-2 conference be convened at the earliest. Terrorism remains a grave threat to security and stability everywhere and extracts a heavy toll of innocent lives around the world. From Africa to Asia, we have seen several manifestations of this menace in the last few days alone. State-sponsored crossborder terrorism is of particular concern to India, also on account of the fact that the epicenter of terrorism in our region is located in our neighborhood in Pakistan. Speaking from this podium yesterday, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif of Pakistan spoke of making a new beginning. I reciprocate his sentiments and am looking forward to meeting him tomorrow. India is committed sincerely to resolving all issues with Pakistan, including the issue of Jammu and Kashmir, through bilateral dialogue on the basis of the Simla Agreement. However, for progress to be made, it is imperative that the territory of Pakistan and the areas under its control are not utilized for aiding and abetting terrorism

t a time when the world is facing multiple challenges, there is renewed attention on the role of the United Nations in advancing international peace, security and prosperity. However, never has scepticism about the UN's capacity to do so been higher, or the external environment less propitious for multilateralism. Nearly seven decades of the work of the United Nations hold one simple lesson and that is this: we are most successful when we adhere to the letter and spirit of the United Nations Charter, basing our decisions on the widest possible consent and balancing equitably the needs and responsibilities of nations at different stages of development. The UN Security Council must be reformed and restructured to reflect current political realities.

More developing countries should be included as both permanent and non-permanent members. Multilateral Financial Institutions should also enable an enhanced voice for developing countries in their decision making structures. Issues of peace, security, human rights and governance are important and need to be addressed. But we will fall short of realizing an ambitious post-2015 development agenda if we focus merely on governance issues at the cost of robust economic growth. This agenda should not be merely about reprioritizing domestic spending, but also about fostering genuine international partnership between the developing and developed countries to bring about change. All of us need the policy space necessary

Excerpts from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's UN speech

and live in the region. The increasingly lethal conflict in Syria is not only a tragedy for the people of Syria, but also threatens stability and security in the region and beyond. It has been made worse by the use of chemical weapons. The use of chemical weapons, whosoever may have deployed them, must be condemned in the strongest terms.

directed against India. It is equally important that the terrorist machinery that draws its sustenance from Pakistan be shut down. There must be a clear understanding of the fact Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and that there can never, ever, be a compromise with the unity and territorial integrity of India. We need to renew our commitment, especially here at the UN, for concerted, cohesive and continuing global action against terrorism. There can be no tolerance for states sheltering, arming, training or financing terrorists. Nor can they absolve themselves of the responsibility to prevent their territories from being used to launch acts of terrorism. Two years from now, the United Nations will be seventy years old. Every new state that was born during this period took its place in this Assembly not just with pride but also with hope. 2015 will be a moment to celebrate our successes and to ensure that the UN is ready for this century by completing the much needed reforms of the United Nations and its Security Council, by developing an ambitious and balanced post-2015 Development Agenda and by demonstrating our capacity to cooperate effectively for durable peace and security in this world.

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

INDIA-US SUMMIT

October 5-11, 2013

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Singh-Obama meet stimulates defense, nuclear initiatives

Washington: Within hours of the White House meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and U.S. President Barack Obama, the two countries released a joint statement that showcased the breadth of their cooperation as well as highlighted joint naval exercises, promised momentum on investment treaties, reaffirmed their commitment to specific energy-sector projects and counterterrorism strategies. Among the key initiatives flagged in the joint statement, India particularly welcomed the U.S. offer of membership in its Global Entry Trusted Traveler Network programme, a scheme only offered to select countries, which will expedite the entry of approved Indian travellers at the U.S. border. Despite U.S. officials remarking on several recent occasions that they had specific concerns about Indias nuclear liability law, The joint statement welcomed the announcement that Indian Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited and U.S. nuclear company Westinghouse had concluded a Preliminary Contract to develop a nuclear power plant in Gujarat. It also reiterated that both nations remained committed to a full and timely implementation of the bilateral civil nuclear agreement. On the subject of fighting terrorism, the two leaders not only agreed to undertake even more cooperation intelligence sharing homeland security cooperation, but they concurred in their strong condemnation of the September 26 terrorist attack in Samba in Jammu and Kashmir. They further called upon Pakistan to work toward bringing the 2008 Mumbai terror perpetrators to justice. Defence cooperation, considered by many to be the centrepiece of the bilateral relationship, was applauded by Dr. Singh and Mr. Obama, who said that the way to take this forward in terms of defence technology transfer, joint research, co-development and co-production was by endorsing a Joint Declaration on Defence Cooperation. Significantly the U.S. President was said to have welcomed Indias decision to participate in the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) naval exercise, which will be hosted by U.S. Pacific Command in 2014. Another key area of bilateral interest, economic policy, got top billing in the discussions on Friday. While the usual plaudits were issued on the volume and growth of two-way trade there also appeared to be a renewed vigour in the pursuit of a bilateral investment treaty, negotiations surrounding which appeared to have hit an impasse until recently. On climate change international pressure on India to cut back on certain greenhouse gases in line with the Montreal Protocol was the core issue. As a interim solution to the conflict engendered within the Indian government over Mr. Singh going against a Cabinet decision in signing on to the G20 communiqu on this subject, India appeared to have won a temporary time extension in terms of the two leaders decision to convene the India-U.S. Task Force on Hydrofluorocarbons to discuss options based on economically-viable and technically feasible alternatives. A number of third countries of strategic interest to New Delhi and Washington were also discussed on Friday, it was apparent, and in addition to covering ground on Syria, Iran and East Asia more broadly, Dr. Singh and Mr. Obama revisited the questions emerging on the endgame for Western powers quitting Afghanistan next year. Specifically, the joint statement reflected a consensus on the view that violent extremists could only be countered by coordinated international support to build the capacity of Afghan National Defence and Security Forces an effort towards which both countries said they would remain committed during the critical transformation decade during 2015-2024.

Joint statement on Manmohan-Obama Summit

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with US President Barack Obama during their joint media session at White House

resident Obama and PM Singh pledged to make the next decade equally as transformative, challenging their governments to reach the full potential of this partnership, particularly in the areas of security cooperation, bilateral trade and investment, energy and environment, higher education, and global architecture. The leaders called for expanding security cooperation between the United States and India to address 21st century challenges in the areas of counter-terrorism, cyber, space, and global health security. Obama and PM Singh discussed ways to strengthen bilateral efforts to promote energy efficiency, clean energy, and address climate change. The two Leaders also deplored the use of chemical weapons in Syria, stressing that the global norm against the use of chemical weapons by anyone and anywhere must be maintained. President Obama and PM Singh recognized that increased cooperation in these areas will strengthen the United States-India strategic partnership, highlighting shared democratic values and the capabilities the United States and India have to work together across Asia and around the globe.

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October 5-11, 2013

SAMMA SUMMIT 2013

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

I push the envelope on way to greatness: Priyanka Chopra

The Bollywood star and global recording artist keynoted the SAMMA Summit.
By Parveen Chopra
New York: Unlike most Bollywood events where oozing glamour suffices, this one had Priyanka Chopra give a prepared speech to over 300 prominent South Asians in Media, Marketing & Entertainment at the 4th annual SAMMA conference here Saturday and do a QA with Huffington Post Managing Editor Jimmy Soni. She not only came across as brainy, but she also revealed a lot about her drive that explained the seeming craziness of the lead Hindi film star trying to establish herself as a global recording artist. The leggy diva says that she defies conventional wisdom, would rather push the envelope, and constantly challenge herself to do new things. All that has paved the way to her phenomenal success. She does acknowledge that luck (universe conspiring) played a part in how the Bareilly girl, educated in RFK High School in Queens, NY, on returning to India at age17 was catapulted into the limelight as Miss World 2000. Acting was not in the script (an honors student, and daughter of physician parents, I wanted to be an engineer and study at MIT, she says) but was a natural progression for the millennial beauty queen. Success and accolades came b e c a u s e Priyanka points o u t , Against advice, I did negative roles early in my career as in Aitraaz, played a badass cop [in Don], an autistic girl [Barfi], and a heroine oriented role [supposedly taken by actresses going downhill] -- in Fashion. Priyanka likens the label F.O.B. (fresh off the boat) immigrant for herself, who landed in Queens from small town India. Fast-forward and Im at the same place, she says. F.O.B., from gawky teenager to debutante recording artist. It feels very similar because its completely new and different from what I know. Very scary. She has most recently become the first Indian film artist to be signed by a m a j o r record label in America; her debut single In My City was chosen for the theme for NFL Networks Thursday Night Football. Her second single Exotic was released in July and features Pitbull, who co-wrote it with her and producer RedOne. It contains both English and Hindi lyrics, and was selected as the official theme song of the Guinness International Champion Cup 2013.She is also the voice of the first Indian character (Ishani) in a major Disney animated film (Planes). Hating the word crossover for being too limiting, she would rather say she is test tubing, likening her music to a science experiment that could be explosive or like an exotic cocktail. I love doing acting, writing, musicanything that allows me to express myself, she says, adding, the creative process is lonely but incredibly satisfying. I quite deliberately brought my culture and background with me, Priyanka adds. She likes both lentils and rice and a double cheeseburger, both Rihanna and Robin Thicke and the latest Bollywood blockbuster. For her, the world is her oyster. Priyanka Chopra notes that where India is very star-driven, she has experienced how artists in America are promoted by a team consisting of managers, agents, record company executives, producers and publicists. About her philanthropic work (she is the Unicef Goodwill Ambassador for Child Rights),

she says, I want to make a difference and not what will make you look good. Before the QA with Priyanka, Huffington Posts Jimmy Soni lauded the principles underlying her work, the most interesting including her pluck, courage, conviction, and a kind of strategic whimsy.When he asked where she sees herself 10 years from now, Priyanka Chopra quoted Bruce Springsteen: I dont want to be rich. I dont want to be famous. I dont even want to be happy. I just want to be great!

SAMMA Trailblazer Awards for 4 including Mindy Kaling

New York: The Association of South Asians in Media, Marketing & Entertainment (SAMMA) held its 4th annual conference and gala over the last weekend here bringing together over 300 top South Asian leaders and innovators in digital media, television and film, marketing and advertising and music and entertainment for two days of insights, ideation and industry building. The SAMMA Summit, copresented by Time Warner, was followed by an evening gala where the Trailblazer Awards were presented to four individuals for significant contributions to their industry and helping pave the way for South Asians in their respective fields.

The awards went to:

Mindy Kaling Actor, director, producer, and writer Russell Peters Comedian and actor Vijay Iyer - Jazz pianist and composer Anjula Acharia Bath CEO/Founder, DesiHits! It is strange to be called a trailblazer because Ive never really considered myself one, said Mindy Kaling, lead actor, producer and writer of The Mindy Project on Fox. In general, I try to tell stories that are relatable to everyone. Ive always aspired to be the funniest person out there, not just the funni-

Mindy Kaling, arguably the most successful South Asian on American television today, accepted the SAMMA Trailblazer Award remotely. Aasif Mandvi, however cavils that she is playing a white person in The Mindi Project who happens to be brown.

Aasif Mandvi (actor-comedian, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart), Keli Lee (EVP and Head of Casting at ABC), and Sakina Jaffrey (Actress, Netflix House of Cards) discussed the opportunities for South Asian talent on American television, which is predicated on the emergence of South Asian writers who would write about their culture and unique experience here.

est South Asian, she said in a video acceptance from the set of her show. Russell Peters is a Canadian comic of Indian origin who made her reputation on YouTube and his Notorious is kicking off Netflixs stand-up comedy specials this month. Vijay Iyer is one of the most awarded jazz artists in the world and winner of the prestigious 2013 MacArthur Genius Award said. Anjula Acharia Bath was named Billboards top 40 women in music for her work in blending Indian tal-

ent with mainstream music in the US. Priyanka Chopra credits Bath for inspiring her foray as a recording artist. Built to network and advance the industry of South Asian professionals across media, marketing and entertainment, the SAMMA Summit 2013 was keynoted by Priyanka Chopra, one of Indias top award winning actresses who was recently signed by Interscope and DesiHits! and is now the opening musical act for the NFL Network; Dr. Mehmood Khan, EVP and Chief Innovations

and Science Officer at PepsiCo, one of the top innovators in global marketing.
Dr. Mehmood Khan, EVP and Chief Innovations and Science Officer at PepsiCo, in his keynote zeroed in on the biggest crisis facing the world: food shortages due to populations growing and resources shrinking. He exhorted young minds to find solutions to the problem like cheaper refrigeration to prevent food rotting. The Pakistan-born doctor was inducted into PepsiCo by CEO Indra Nooyi.

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

ULTIMATE BOLLYWOOD

October 5-11, 2013

17

'The Lunchbox', 'The Good Road' are siblings

yan Correa, whose film "The Good Road" has been selected to represent India at the Oscars, tackles the controversies that have erupted over the film saying "running my film down is not going to help any other film". Many felt that "The Lunchbox" should have been selected for the Oscar race. "People who hadn't heard of the film let alone seen it are criticizing it. That I think is unfair," Correa said about his first feature film. The admaker-turned-filmmaker added: "'The Lunchbox' and 'The Good Road' are siblings." Excerpts from the interview: Q. There seems to be a very intense line of thought in Bollywood that Ritesh Batra's "The Lunchbox" should have gone to the Oscars? A. Some people seem quite upset by the decision. I am hoping they would stop being upset in a while. They are seasoned people and have been around long enough.

Stills from 'The Lunchbox' and 'The Good Road'

release? A: I am curious as to where these reviews are coming from. Q. The jury's wisdom is also being questioned? A. I think it's inappropriate for people who had a film in the competition to be publicly discussing and questioning the process of selection. I wouldn't do that. I was very surprised by the comments on the jury...that they don't know cinema and all

that. Most uncalled for. Q. Have you seen "The Lunchbox"? A. No. But I am going to see it as soon as possible. 'The Lunchbox' and 'The Good Road' are siblings. They've both come out of the NFDC (National Film Development Corporation of India) route in different ways. So both films have originated from the same foundation where good cinema is fostered. That's the way I see it. The real story is that the NFDC, which once used to

nurture meaningful cinema, is back in business. This other story (about Oscar-worthiness) is totally out of league. Q. Lobbying for an Oscar in Los Angeles is a very expensive and time consuming process. Are you prepared for the struggle ahead? A. I've to meet my producers (the NFDC) and discuss our strategy. We do have a plan. Raising resources for our struggle in LA is not an easy job.

Q. There are reviews of your film, apparently published at the time of release, which describe the film as "horrible" that failed critically and commercially on

ith no other big lms releasing this Friday, Abhinav Kashyap's "Besharam" has a clean week as far as competition goes. The Ranbir Kapoor-starrer is hitting theaters on October 2. The film will be a litmus test for both actor Ranbir after superhit "Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani" and Kashyap post "Dabangg". "Our expectations are huge. We have made a good film and have promoted it well," Kahsyap said. The film, produced by Himanshu Mehra, Sanjeev Gupta and Reliance Entertainment, had a shooting budget of Rs.60 crore plus the cost of promotions, marketing and advertising. "We have locked about 3,600 screens in India and 700 screens overseas," said the director. Whether the audience will accept Ranbir in deglam role or not, will only be revealed once the movie releases. "It is a big film and there is no other film releasing in the

Many a filmmaker sought to document Gandhi M

ahatma Gandhi, the apostle of non-violence, whose 144th birth anniversary will be observed on Wednesday, has been the favourite of many a filmmaker who has gone behind the camera to bring his philosophy and sayings to the big screen. We list some of the movies that were about the man, revered in India as Father of the Nation, and also those that were not about him, but highlighted his philosophy: "Gandhi" (1982) Directed by Richard Attenborough, "Gandhi" is one of the best movies on the Mahatma so far. Ben Kingsley essayed Gandhi so convincingly that he walked away with the best actor award at the 55th Academy Awards for his role. "The Making of the Mahatma" (1996) - Shyam Benegal, one of the best directors of Indian cinema, decided to adapt "The Apprenticeship of a Mahatma", written by Fatima Meer, who also wrote the screenplay for the film. "Lage Raho Munna Bhai" (2006) - Rajkumar Hirani can be credited for bringing on the screen Gandhi's principles in the most simple yet most effective manner with the movie and popularised them as 'Gandhigiri'. "Gandhi, My Father" (2007) He may be

The Ranbir Kapoor-starrer is hitting theaters this week

same week. We have to wait and watch how it unfolds and whether the audience likes it or not," trade analyst Taran Adarsh told IANS. "Besharam" also stars Ranbir's

actor-parents Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh. Actress Pallavi Sharda, a newcomer who hails from Australia, plays the female lead in the film.

On parole, Sanjay wants to be with family

ollywood actor Sanjay Dutt, out on a twoweek parole from Pune's Yerawada Central Jail on medical grounds, says he wants to devote his time to his family. "I want to thank my fans and the media. I am out on parole for 14 days. In these 14 days I want to spend time with my family," Sanjay told reporters outside his Bandra residence.Son of late actors Sunil and Nargis Dutt, Sanjay is married to Maanyata and has twins with her. The 54-year-old actor is currently serving a 42-month sentence for his role in the March 1993 Mumbai serial blasts. Sanjay had surrendered before a Special TADA Court in Mumbai in May and he was shifted to Pune to serve the remainder of his jail term.

known as the Father of The Nation, but Gandhi's relationship with his son Harilal was strained. Director Feroz Abbas Khan brought this strained relationship on the big screen with Darshan Jariwala as Mahatma and Akshaye Khanna as Hiralal. There other movies that talk about Gandhi and his preaching, but they are not entirely focussed on Gandhiji. "Sardar" (1993) - When Ketan Mehta wielded the megaphone to make a biopic on Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, he also talked about Gandhi and his philosophies. While Paresh Rawal essayed Patel, Annu Kapoor was seen as Gandhi in the critically acclaimed movie. "Hey Ram" (2000) - Kamal Haasan directed "Hey Ram", released in Hindi and Tamil, was based on partition and Gandhi's assassination. Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah portrayed Gandhi in the film.
Ben Kingsley essayed Gandhi so convincingly that he walked away with the best actor award at the 55th Academy Awards

Sanjay Dutt

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October 5-11, 2013

TRAVEL

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

By Sandip Hor

veryday thousands, who are keen on punting their luck to become instant millionaire, storm into Macau often touted as Asia's Monte Carlo, or the Las Vegas of the East. Several expansive, neon-lit and glitzy casinos are now the major attraction of this tiny territory neighboring Hong Kong and China. It drives the economy of this former Portuguese colony which in 1999 became a special administrative region of China. Chinese philosopher Confucius said gambling was morally wrong, but preferable to being lazy and doing nothing. So it became a great pastime for the Chinese and close to home Macau emerged as a haven for the Chinese from the mainland and Hong Kong, only 60 km away. Thanks to Chinas one country two systems which allows gaming in Macau but not in China and Hong Kong. The Portuguese after establishing themselves in Goa, landed here in the early 16th century and soon turned the impoverished area into a rading port, linking Europe with China, Japan and India. During a stay for almost 400 years, they bejeweled the village-like land with architectural marvels and developed it like a mini Lisbon. Since 1999, the Chinese administration has been

Bollywoods prestigious IIFA Awards event returned to the Venetian Macau this year after an outing in 2009. The Venetian is the largest casino in the world, and one of 33 casinos in Macau, a special administrative region of China since 1999.

known that the Portuguese introduced Christianity into the region, thats why the domain is powdered with so many beautiful churches which still play an important role in the life of Macau, maintainSenado Square was the civic hub of the Portuguese colonial empire. ing hospitals, schools, old peoples homes and protective of the regions European ing on poles from the balconies of heritage. Portuguese is still the offi- apartments of the impoverished, refugee centers. Founded in 1587 by three Spanish cial language alongside Chinese. Oriental design finding space in Macau is a peninsula less than 30 Art-Deco architecture and fine Dominica priests, St Dominic sq km in size. Its size is increasing restaurants offering a cuisine called Church draws attention by its magwith more land being reclaimed and Macanese that brings the best of nificent yellow baroque exterior while the serene atmosphere inside offered to entrepreneurs to build cross-cultural influences. bigger casinos, alongside hotels, The landmark site from the glori- gives instant peace. Back in the 19th century, the restaurants and shopping malls. ous past is the Senado Square said What I noticed was a unique to be the civic hub of the Portuguese in order to boost their mlange of Asia and Europe. I Portuguese colonial empire. Its revenue opened doors for gambling found Portuguese pastry shops next striking features are the wave-pat- which has now become its backto a Chinese dumpling eatery, terned, stone mosaic streets and the bone. There are 33 of them, all antique furniture store giving way gorgeous pastel colored buildings. operating under a common set of to a noodle bar, colorful piazza with At one end of the square is the for- government rules. The biggest of the lot is the planter boxes, shutters and bench mer Loyal Senate and opposite to it seats flanking a grey housing is the 16th century built Holy House Venetian Macau, a visit to which estate, European style lamp posts of Mercy, the oldest charity institu- lists in all tourists itineraries, even line streets where laundry is hang- tion in China region. Its well if gambling is not their cup of tea.

So went there as well to get stunned by its pomp and grandeur. With 550,000 square feet of gaming space, its recognized as the worlds largest casino but for general visitors like me the key attraction is experiencing the ultimate in ersatz tourism an imitation of eternal Venice with canals and gondolas, glittering sculptures and gildings and replica of St Marks Square. Bollywood dearly loves this setting. The prestigious IIFA Awards event, which was held at the Venetian Macau in 2009, returned this year again in June to match up the venues extraordinary gleam with Bollywoods glamour, the memories of which are still vivid among the Macau locals. Getting There: Fly to Hong Kong and then take fast ferry to Macau from the airport. More Info: www.macautourism. gov.mo

By Shivya Nath he island changes color three times a year. The endless plantations of sugarcane have painted the interiors of the island an elegant green, and the harvest season started in September. Once all the crops are cut, the island will be stroked by shades of light brown, and come December, the new crop will start to flower with a magical red glow. I have been wheeling around the island on my two-wheeler, watching the sugarcane fields sway in the wind against the backdrop of a very blue sky. Time and again, I have been surprised by the sudden appearance of mountains in my rear view mirror, though glimpses of turquoise blue waters are gentle reminders that Im still in Mauritius. One week ago, when I caught my first glimpse of the deep blue ocean enveloping Mauritius from the flight window, I was convinced that luxury travel magazines were justified in flaunting beautiful Mauritius as a honeymooning paradise.

My quest to unearth the best kept secrets of the island starts at Vallee Des Pretres, once an active volcano submerged under the sea; an eruption sprouted out a panoramic range of mountains, with an opening towards the reunion of Port Louis, the capital of Mauritius, with the Indian Ocean. In this predominantly Hindu region, I hike along trails that take me past small streams among fields of chilli, chance upon a local devi worshipping ceremony, and find my way to the base of the namesake peaks of The Window and Priest. I drive into the sugarcane belt as far as Mapou, stopping by to taste seven types of raw sugar derived from the crop at the sugarcane factory-turned-museum of LAdventure Du Sucre, sample cocktails concocted with local Mauritian Rum and sugarcane juice in the islands party district of Grand Bay, and pamper myself with a Sugar Rituals spa treatment at Explore Spa in Le Meridien Ile Maurice. I soon find myself grappling to understand the potpourri of

The main tourism hub in Mauritius is in the north, where there is the highest concentration of hotels, beaches and entertainment. The mountains are not too far away either.

cultures on the island, and to experience this, I shake a leg in a traditional Sega dance performance, and revel in the Creole music that clubs African beats with popular culture; this form of recreation arrived on the island to give expression to the stories of the earliest immigrants on the island. Along the east coast of Mauritius, I stop for a sumptuous vegetarian Creole meal accompa-

nied by indigenously crafted chutneys at Chez Tino, which combines Indian, African and Mauritian cooking with French breads, and offers uninterrupted views of the coast beyond. The best stretches of the coast are cordoned off for the wealthiest. At the lesser known Blue Bay, a protected lagoon with a public beach, I realize otherwise; I snorkel in the

crystal blue waters right from its sparkling white shore, into aquarium-like patches of the bay, filled with colorful schools of fish and vibrant corals at less than an arms distance from me. A veritable paradise ready to be rediscovered! Getting there: Several airlines fly from USA to Mauritius. More info: http://www.tourism-mauritius.mu

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

OP-ED

October 5-11, 2013

19

Lalu Prasad:
A maverick who made waves
By MR Narayan Swamy

e milked cows at his official residence, dressed only in his undergarments. He was photographed eating rotis being baked by his wife in the kitchen. He was a maverick, a jester, a crowd puller par excellence. Lalu Prasad turned Bihar's politics - and economic health - upside down as he catapulted from a student leader of the 1970s to be one of India's best-known politicians before his downfall Monday. Few regional politicians enjoyed the kind of pan-India appeal as Lalu Prasad, who was born into a farmers' family in June 1948. His first electoral victory in 1977, when he entered parliament at age 29, marked the start of an eventful career that just 13 years later made him Bihar's chief minister and, still later, a much admired railway minister. But what made him a household name was his dramatic arrest of then BJP star L.K. Advani when his 'Rath' rolled into Bihar in 1990. By 2003, such was his popularity that when Lalu Pradad visited a vegetable market in Islamabad, Pakistanis -- of all ages - virtually mobbed him. With his rustic looks, ready wit and earthy attitude to events and people, Lalu Prasad quickly outgrew many of his contemporaries from his student days in Patna. One reason was his very vocal style, his pet hate being the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Hindutva politics. When Sonia Gandhi came under attack on her foreign origin after taking to politics, Lalu Prasad was among her greatest supporters - and remained so year after year. Jokes were aplenty on and about Lalu, as he was widely addressed. He regaled audiences on how he could turn Japan into a Bihar - after a Japanese promised to transform Bihar into a Japan. He promised to make Bihar's roads as "chikna" (smooth) as actress Hema Malini's cheeks. As he grew and grew, he vowed never to fade away in politics with a self-made quote that became as famous as the man: "Jab tak rahega samosa main aloo, tab tak rahega Bihar main Lalu!" Such were his theatrics that actor Shatrughan Sinha remarked that had Lalu Prasad not been a politician, he would have been a successful actor in Bollywood. It may well have been true. After a mostly low-key existence in the Lok Sabha from 1977 to 1980, Lalu Prasad was elected twice to the Bihar assembly, becoming the opposition leader in 1989. Coinciding with the decline of the Congress across the northern belt, Lalu Prasad became the chief minister of Bihar, one of India's most backward states, in 1990. His caste-laced politics came to be recognized as "social engineering". Lalu Prasad returned to the Lok Sabha in 1998. By then, he had allied with the Congress, a party he once loathed. His RJD became a key member of the Congress-led UPA alliance in 2004. Lalu Prasad was named the high profile railway minister. It was a period when he surprised friends and foes alike by turning around the loss making Indian Railways into a profitable venture, earning the admiration of business schools in India and abroad. Lalu Prasad replaced paper cups with 'kullads' to serve tea to

millions of passengers. He once travelled on a train at midnight to know how the railways were faring. By then, Lalu Prasad was battling, for some years, what came to be known as the "fodder scam" - which proved to be his nemesis. Critics accused him - and his wife Rabri Devi, who succeeded him as the Bihar chief minister after Lalu Prasad was first sent to jail in the scam of virtually destroying the state and turning it into a de facto 'jungle Raj'. Lalu Prasad's use of an Osama look alike in the 2005 Bihar election to woo Muslims did not win him many friends.

Lalu Prasad was desperately trying to claw back into reckoning in Bihar after the rise of Nitish Kumar when he faces the prospect of going back to prison, his head hung in shame.

"For the period he ruled Bihar, he was the king of the state," Nisar ul Haq, a professor of political science at the Jamia Milia here, told IANS. But kings don't rule forever. Lalu Prasad was des-

perately trying to claw back into reckoning in Bihar after the rise of Nitish Kumar when he faces the prospect of going back to prison, his head hung in shame.

The views expressed in Op Eds are not necessarily those of The South Asian Times.

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October 5-11, 2013

DIASPORA

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Sikh man sues London bank for racism Ethnic Indians heroes in Nairobi aftermath
London: A Sikh man has sued his former employer in London for over 50,000 pounds for allegedly hurting his religious belief verbally, physically abusing him and sexually harassing him. Harminder Dhanota, 42, claimed at the Central London Employment Tribunal Monday that he was verbally and physically abused by colleagues at the London office of Saudi Arabian bank Samba Financial Services and his workmates would dislodge his turban, the Daily Mail reported. Dhanota told the tribunal that his boss Jack Tanna also insulted his religion by showing him porn on a mobile phone. His boss allegedly boasted about organizing prostitutes for his Arab business associates. Dhanota, a father of three children, said that Tanna also asked him whether he was shagging female colleagues. He alleged that his boss would punch his arm, twist his fingers and whack him on the hand with a ruler. He claimed that after he started complaining, he was axed from his 37,500 pounds-ayear job in October last year on grounds of poor performance. He had joined the bank in July 2011. Prior to this job, he worked with a company in its information technology (IT) department. Dhanota told the tribunal he was seeking 56,825 pounds for loss of earnings and injury to feelings. I have always taken pride in my religion and culture and find it upsetting and disNairobi: Members of Kenyas Indian community are emerging as heroes of last Saturday's terrorist attack at a Nairobi mall they frequent in large numbers, with their institutions and individuals providing critical emergency assistance at one of the darkest moments in the east African nations history. Institutions owned and operated by the community, including the MP Shah Hospital, and the Aga Khan and Guru Nanak hospitals -- all located less than one kilometer from the ill-fated Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi, are treating scores of the injured admitted there. With all the three premier medical facilities located in the Parklands area of the city, an area traditionally dominated by generations of Indians, the institutions battled against time to save scores of lives. Individual Asians, including elderly women and young girl volunteers, tirelessly provided food and refreshments to journalists covering the siege and the security forces battling the attackers in one of the greatest acts of solidarity with the rest of the country in times of adversity. Indian-led charities, including those of the Oswal community, and the Indian-dominated Lions Club rose to the occasion during the agonizing siege making all manner of donations and providing supplies to Kenyan soldiers and volunteers as part of the rescue operation. The charities also mobilized hundreds of their members to join well-wishers in donating blood, something that was priceless at the time. Images captured on television and print media showed some members of the community caught in the melee that followed soon after the raid, directing evacuation and rescue operations, a few minutes before the Somaliabased Al Shabaab terrorists took control of the shopping center. However, it is perhaps the act by the management of the MP Shah Hospital to waive all medical bills for victims treated at the hospital that caught the countrys attention. The hospital, through chairman Majud Shah, announced Wednesday that it would not be charging any fee for all the care offered to victims, including surgery done to remove bullets lodged in delicate body parts. This hospital, while appreciating whatever support it can receive from well-wishers, will not charge for services to victims numbering more than 40 or charge for any of the 19 bodies received at its mortuary, announced the chairman. The waiver implies that the facility will forgo more than $5,000 in fees it would have levied on the victims, money it badly needs being one of the hospitals with top facilities in Kenya and which handles some of the most complicated cases. oung Jains Nairobi has organized a 24 hour continous recitation of universal prayer (Navkar Mahamantra) for peace and positivity globally from Saturday, Sept 28, 4 pm to Sunday, Sept 29, 4 pm followed by lightening 1008 candles for peace (diva aarti) at The Oshwal Center, Ringroad, Westlands.

Harminder Dhanota

tressing when people mock, ridicule or disrespect my personal beliefs, Dhanota, a Briton of Indian origin, was quoted as saying. Dhanota said that in January 2012, he reported Tanna's abuse to the company's human resource department confidentially. He alleged that his objections only spurred Tanna on to humiliate him further in front of colleagues. At times, the physical assaults would be so aggressive as to cause my turban to loosen, which was the cause of significant distress to me, he said It is both shocking and ironic that such an ethnically diverse bank appears to condone such outrageous acts of bullying, harassment and discrimination, Dhanota's solicitor Jay Joshi said. Samba Financial Services, however, has denied all of Dhanota's claims.

Indian-origin officer appointed acting Fiji police chief

Indian-origin scientist gets top Canadian award

Toronto: A 42-year-old Indian-origin scientist has been named this year's recipient of a prestigious Canadian award that recognizes excellence in complementary and alternative medicine. Sunita Vohra, director of Canada's first academic pediatric integrative at the University of Alberta medicine program was named the winner of the $250,000 Dr. Rogers Prize at a gala dinner in Vancouver Thursday, the Vancouver Sun reported. The Dr. Rogers Prize carries the largest cash prize of its kind in North America. It is overwhelming, about being chosen as this year's recipient, the report quoted Vohra as saying. It is a huge honor. I have not had enough time to digest it. It's incredible and humbling at the same time, she said. Clinician scientist Vohra said that she didn't have specific plans for the money other than she would use it to help get the kind of research she does out of books and into policy that makes changes in the world. Vohra said she was evaluating the effectiveness of pediatric integrative medicine alongside traditional care at Stollery Children's Hospital in Edmonton. She said she wanted to explore alternative and complementary therapies which were extremely popular in Canada. "I think that therapies are along a continuum," Vohra said. "I think that patients make choices around therapies that interest them and the things they're willing to take. I think that conversation with their healthcare provider can be inclusive around all their health care providers." The $250,000 Dr. Rogers Prize for Excellence in Complementary and Alternative Medicine is awarded every two years to celebrate the achievements of researchers, practitioners and others in the field of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) healthcare. The award was initiated in 2007. The prize is funded by the Lotte and John Hecht Memorial Foundation in Vancouver.

Ravi Narayan

Sydney: Indian-origin Ravi Narayan has been appointed the acting commissioner of the Fiji police force, reported Fiji Live citing a police department statement Thursday. According to the report, Minister of Defence Joketani Cokanasiga took the decision Wednesday. Narayan was the deputy commissioner of the Fiji police. He took over from Iowane Naivalurua and will head the department till the appointment of a new commissioner of police, officials said.

Sunita Vohra

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

SUBCONTINENT

October 5-11, 2013

21

Terrorism boomeranged on Pak: US official

Manmohan-Nawaz talks a miracle: Pak media

Islamabad: The Pakistani media termed the meeting between India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistan's Premier Nawaz Sharif as no less than a "miracle", given the troublesome backdrop against which it took place. The two leaders met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. In an editorial, the News International said the prelude to the meeting couldn't have been more disastrous, and that the meeting itself took place is a minor miracle as both sides called it useful and constructive. The Dawn newspaper said the meeting with the "lowest expectations" was perhaps a small victory for both the nations, while the Daily Times said the intent shown by both the neighbours to continue the process of dialogue and peace negotiations was encouraging. "Before the non-breakfast meeting between Nawaz Sharif and Manmohan Singh in New York Sunday, the troubled relations between the two sides sunk to yet another low. The Indian prime minister devoted much of his speech at the United Nations General Assembly to the question of Pakistan and terrorism, calling us an 'epicentre of terrorism' and refusing to negotiate over the status of Kashmir. Singhs meeting with the US President Barack Obama also focused almost entirely on

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with Pakistan's Premier Nawaz Sharif

Deputy Defence Secretary Ashton Carter

Washington: A day after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh asked Pakistan to shun terrorism to make peace with India, a top US defense official suggested that over time Islamabad "flirted" with terrorism as state policy and now it has boomeranged on it. He said the threat to Pakistan was not from India but from the terrorism that it promoted and fostered. "I was clear in Pakistan that the principal threat to Pakistan is terrorism, not its neighbours," Deputy Defence Secretary Ashton Carter, who visited India, Pakistan and Afghanistan recently, said at a Washington think-tank. "The government of Pakistan has flirted over time with using terrorism as an instrument of state policy, and it's coming to the realisation that terrorism's a boomerang and it comes back on you when you try to use it for your own purposes,"

he said. "I was honest with my hosts in Islamabad in terms of how Pakistan must achieve peaceful relations with India on the east in order to reap the benefits of cross-border trade, if it's truly to develop its economy," he said at the Centre for American Progress. "And it needs a secure and stable Afghanistan on the west for the same reason," Carter said. The official said he "was equally frank with my interlocutors in Delhi that the US supports Pakistani efforts to improve their bilateral relations and hope Delhi will reciprocate". Carter said he had also told the Indians of US government's appreciation for their support to Afghanistan "in the realms of humanitarian and development aid and their efforts to train the Afghan security forces in India".

Pakistan," said the News International. The Daily Times said the decision to continue the process of dialogue and peace negotiations was encouraging. "Eventually the meeting between the prime ministers of Pakistan and India took place in a cordial atmosphere in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assemblys annual session. That both the countries have decided to continue the process of dialogue and peace negotiations is encouraging," the newspaper said.

Still time for land swap agreement, PM assured Hasina

On Board Air India One: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said he had assured his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina that there was "still time" and the government would make every effort to try and convince the opposition parties to agree to ratify the land boundary and Teesta agreements. Speaking on board the special aircraft on his return to India from the US, the prime minister also said he could not meet Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa in New York because the dates the latter had asked for were not "convenient". Manmohan Singh said India's relations with the Bangladesh prime minister, who he met in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, are "very good". "I am myself disappointed that it has taken us much too long to ratify the agreement and I have assured her that we still have time. In the next session of parliament we will make every effort to convince our opposition parties who have been a problem up till now to fall in line," he said. The constitutional amendment on ratifying the Land Boundary Agreement on exchange of enclaves could not be ratified in the monsoon session of parliament after the BJP declined to back it.

India, ASEAN likely to sign FTA on services next week Economic growth alone can't

fight South Asia poverty

Kathmandu: Though the South Asian region achieved an economic growth averaging 6.5 percent annually in 2000-12, this was not enough to reduce poverty and ensure food security, said a report released by the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). The report, titled SAARC Regional Poverty Profile, underlined that still 32 percent of South Asian people live on less than $1.25 per person a day, reported Xinhua. "While some countries of the region may be near achieving the millennium development goal of halving the proportion of people in extreme poverty by 2015, the region in general has still high incidences of poverty, hunger and malnutrition," said the report. Food production has improved considerably over time in all countries of the region, but inter-country and intra-country variations persist. For instance, India is selfsufficient in all major food items except pulses and edible oils, while Pakistan is self-sufficient in wheat and rice. Nepal, whose index of per capita food production has improved marginally, still depends on import for most of its food items including cereals, pulses and fish, while Bangladesh is more or less self-sufficient in rice but imports wheat. Afghanistan, Bhutan and the Maldives depend on import of most food items to meet their domestic demand, while Sri Lanka meets nearly 99 percent of its rice requirements internally but imports 97 percent of its demand for pulses.

India and the 10-nation ASEAN had finalised the FTA in services and investments

New Delhi: India is quietly firming up its relations with ASEAN, which could see formal signing of the India-ASEAN free trade agreement on services and investments, during their annual summit later this month in Brunei Darussalam. With the services sector contributing majorly to the country's growth, India is keen to have the FTA in services and investment signed so that it can enter the large ASEAN market. India and the 10-nation ASEAN had finalised the FTA in services and investments during the ASEANIndia Commemorative Summit last

December. A similar pact on goods was implemented in 2011. "The text of the FTA in services and investments is ready. It only needs to be signed now," an informed source told IANS, terming it as a "big ticket agreement". Both sides ironed out irritants that remained in the FTA on services during the ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) meeting in Brunei in August. The pact, when implemented, is expected to facilitate the temporary movement of business people, including contractual service suppli-

ers and independent professionals in accounting, architecture, engineering services, medical and dental, nursing and pharmacy, computer services and management consulting. Some countries, especially the Philippines and Indonesia, had voiced concern over the movement of professionals under mode 4 which will make entry of Indian professionals to the ASEAN nations easier. They feared it might affect their workforce with the increased presence of Indian workers and were opposing the agreement.

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October 5-11, 2013

INTERNATIONAL

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Putin in Nobel peace prize race for Syria role

UN chief welcomes Security Council statement on Syria

United Nations: UN SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki-moon welcomed a Security Council statement on Syria, which called for unhindered humanitarian access in the wartorn country. "The secretary-general welcomes the presidential statement by the Security Council today that aims to address the horrifying humanitarian situation in Syria and illustrates the commitment of the international community to support the people caught up in the crisis," said a statement issued by Ban's spokesperson. The UN chief noted that if the commitments and practical steps outlined in the statement are implemented, "humanitarian workers will be able to reach millions of Syrians in desperate need, many of whom have been unreachable for months". The UN Security Council adopted the statement unanimously Wednesday morning, urging all parties in Syria "to take immediate steps to facilitate the expansion of humanitarian relief operations, and lift bureaucratic impediments and other obstacles". The statement called on all parties "to take all appropriate steps to ensure the safety and security of

Russian President Vladimir Putin

Moscow: President Vladimir Putin has been nominated for the 2014 Nobel peace prize by a Russian advocacy group for his key role in preventing a US missile strike on Syria and initiatives to dismantle Damascus' chemical weapons. The International Academy of Spiritual Unity and Cooperation Among the Nations of the World has nominated President Putin as a candidate for the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize. Elaborating on Putin's active participation in the search for a political and diplomatic solution to the

Syrian crisis, group's vicepresident Beslan Kobajia said those efforts made him deserving of the Nobel Prize, media reports said. An official letter containing the request was sent to the Nobel Prize Committee on September 16 and was received on September 20. US President Obama had received the Nobel peace prize in his first year in office in 2009 for his "extraordinary efforts" to strengthen international diplomacy. Putin has already been proposed for the Nobel peace prize by All-Russian Education Fund's president.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

United Nations personnel, those of its specialised agencies, and all other personnel engaged in humanitarian relief activities". It also urged "all member states to respond swiftly to the United Nations' humanitarian appeals to meet the spiralling needs of people inside Syria, in particular internally displaced persons, and Syrian refugees in neighbouring countries, and to ensure that all pledges are

honoured in full." The 15-nation body warned that the humanitarian situation will continue to deteriorate in the absence of a political solution to the crisis. The over-two-year conflict has produced one of the most dramatic exodus of recent years, with an estimated 4.25 million people internally displaced in the battleweary nation.

Italian government wins confidence vote

Rome: Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta won a vote of confidence at the Senate, securing his troubled government's survival, with former premier Silvio Berlusconi making an about face on his decision to vote against the government. Letta, whose Democratic Party (PD) controls the lower house but is short of a solid majority in the Senate, obtained the victory with 235 "yes" votes versus 70 "no" votes and 0 abstentions. The PD gave a vote of confidence as did its centreright partner, former premier Silvio Berlusconi's People of Freedom (PdL) party, and the centrist formation of Letta's predecessor Mario Monti. Opposition forces, namely Five-Star Movement (M5S), Northern League and Ecology and Freedom party (SEL), gave a vote of no confidence. Letta decided to ask for a confidence motion after his coalition was threatened last week by Berlusconi who ordered the five ministers from his party, including Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Angelino Alfano, to resign. Berlusconi, who is waiting for the Senate's decision over his ejection from parliament following a final tax fraud verdict, blamed the coalition for putting on ice the postponement of a value added tax (VAT) hike, which Letta said "was agreed upon by PdL and PD". Letta refused to accept the ministers' signatures and the PdL appeared to split over the vote until the last moment when Berlusconi decided to back the government. "We listened carefully to the statements made by the prime minister... Italy needs a government and reforms, and we decided not without internal anguish to express a vote of confidence," the 77-year-old media tycoon said.

Churchill wanted to gas Indian tribes: Historian

London: Winston Churchill wanted chemical weapons to be used against "troublesome" tribes in north India during British colonial rule to suppress them, a noted historian has claimed citing an official memo. Giles Milton, who has written a number of non-fiction historical books, has illustrated Churchill's commitment to the use of chemical weapons, explaining that he had supported their use against rebellious Indian tribes in early 20th century when he was not the Prime Minister. "What I found really shocking was when he (Churchill) wrote this internal memo to the India Office, along the lines of 'we should use it against the tribes on the North West front. They're really troublesome, let's gas them," Giles was quoted as saying by The Telegraph. "There's a line in the memo that says, 'I really don't understand this squeamishness about poison gas'. Today that reads pretty badly," Milton said. The British historian made the remarks following his appearance at the Wigtown Book Festival to promote his new book " Russian Roulette", the paper said. Milton also claimed that Churchill sanctioned the "most devastating chemical weapon ever devised" against the Russian Bolsheviks. "Churchill, who was secretary of state for war at the time, wanted to really go hard against the Bolsheviks in Russia. He wanted to support the 'White Army' in their fight against the Red Army but the Government simply refused to countenance that," Milton was quoted as saying.

Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta

Earlier, senior PdL Senator Roberto Formigoni said that 25 of the party's lawmakers were ready to form a breakaway group and vote for confidence in Premier Enrico Letta's coalition government later. "There are already 25 of us. It's possible that others will join," Formigoni said, adding that they would later Wednesday establish an independent group called 'I Popolari' (the People's Party). The group would position itself on the centre-right as an alternative to the centre left, he said. Letta called the make-or-break confidence vote after Berlusconi Saturday announced that the PdL was pulling out its five ministers from the fragile coalition with Letta's centre-left Democratic Party (PD). Berlusconi's move came after the government approved an increase in value added tax (VAT). Former premier Berlusconi also faces ejection from the Senate this week after a binding tax fraud conviction handed him in August by Italy's top court.

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

BUSINESS

October 5-11, 2013

23

US business concerns due to our economy's slowdown: PM

On Board Air India One: US President Barack Obama has suggested a CEO's forum meets to discuss concerns relating to business between the two countries, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said, noting that the concerns had largely arisen due to the slowdown of the Indian economy. Replying to a query about relative deterioration in IndoUS business relationship and demands to investigate Indian trade practices, the prime minister said there have been US business concerns but these largely arise out of the slowdown of the Indian economy. "When Indian economy was growing at the rate of 8 to 9 percent, I think everybody was quite happy even when there were defects in our policies,

Dollar falls in Asia after US govt shutdown

Mumbai: The dollar slipped in Asian trade owing to uncertainty caused by the US government shutdown but losses were limited by hopes for a quick resolution to the crisis. The greenback bought 97.74 in Tokyo, down from 97.94 yen late in New York and well off the 98.62 yen in Tokyo before the shutdown. The euro fetched $1.3521 compared with $1.3527 while it slipped to 132.17 yen from 132.51 yen with the single currency hit by profit-taking after a recent rally and political uncertainty in Italy.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh

Analysts see the shutdown as bearish for the dollar because it could slow economic growth

they were overlooked, and when the economy slows down people try to find fault and excuses," the prime minister told reporters on board his special aircraft on his return home from a five-day visit to the US. He said the US presi-

dent did not go into detail on the issues. "He did understand our concerns but he also said that it is time that the CEO's forum on both sides sat together to discuss these issues and to find out a meeting ground," the prime minister said.

Hopes for a dollar rally will depend largely on how quickly Washington legislators resolve their budget dispute, with investors still betting a solution can be found soon, dealers said.

"If the shutdown continues beyond this weekend, further dollar weakening can be expected," Junya Naruse, chief strategist at Daiwa Securities, told Dow Jones Newswires.

Tourists will have to tweak US itinerary

ADB cuts India's growth forecast to 4.7 percent

New Delhi: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) sharply lowered its forecast on India's economic growth to 4.7 percent for this year from its earlier projection of 6 percent. In an update of its flagship annual economic publication, Asian Development Outlook 2013, the ADB said the Indian economy has been under pressure with the recent depreciation of the rupee and capital outflows adding to structural constraints which are weighing heavily on its prospects for returning to a high growth path. With gross domestic product in the first quarter of 2013-14 expanding at its slowest pace since the global financial crisis, ADB revised down its growth forecast to 4.7 percent from 6 percent projected in April, the Manila-based lender said. It has also lowered the growth forecast for next financial year to 5.7 percent from its earlier projection of 6.5 percent. The Indian economy grew by 5 percent in the financial year ended March 31, 2013. The recent financial market turbulence is a timely reminder of the need for structural and fiscal reform not just to ensure long-term growth but also to keep financial markets stable in the short-run, said ADB chief economist Changyong Rhee. The ADB has presented better picture on inflation. It has lowered its projection on India's inflation for the current financial year to 6.5 percent from its earlier forecast of 7.2 percent announced in April.

Swiss firm looks for Dornier aircraft from India

Dornier multi-utility planes

About 7 lakh Indians visit US every year

Mumbai: The US shutdown has made Indian travellers jittery. They are calling up tour operators seeking clarifications from visa issuances to flight schedules to sight-seeing destinations as the US shutdown, the first in 17 years, threatens to spoil their travel plans. While the US airports and other critical public services will function normally, the country's more than 400 nature parks and other government managed tourist destinations will be closed. As a result, travellers will have to tweak their itinerary. While the Statue of Liberty in New York or Tennessee's Great Smoky Mountains National Park will be off limits, they could, however, visit theme parks such as Universal

Studios, DisneyWorld in Los Angeles and indulge in shopping. About 7 lakh Indians visit US every year and Indian visitors are the 10th biggest spenders in that country. In 2012, Indian visitors spent $5 billion, according to Brand USA, the country's tourism board. Brand USA recently set shop in India to promote the country to the growing Indian globetrotters. It expects a million visitors from India by 2015. Tour operators expect the US shutdown to have little impact on travel as of now but the situation could change if the shutdown continues for longer. So far they haven't received any cancellation or rescheduling requests, travel agents said.

New Delhi: In a sign of the growing confidence in India's aircraft manufacturing capabilities, SwissGerman RUAG Aviation is looking to purchase around 40 of the modernized version of the Dornier 228 multiutility planes from state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). According to Thomas K Schilliger, vice president (Commercial Programmes) at RUAG Aviation, the acquisition will be dependent upon new technology insertions into the aircraft's manufacturing, for which his company would offer all possible assistance to its Indian partner. HAL is already making the Dornier 228 under licence from RUAG, but the aircraft being made by HAL is of old, 1980s technologies. The European requirement is for the new Dornier 228 NG (Next Generation), which has more powerful engines, five-blade composite propellers, contemporary glass cockpit and other gadgets for safety and both fuel and operational efficiency.

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October 5-11, 2013

SPORTS

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Sachin looks beyond 200 Tests, at 25 years

New Delhi: Sachin Tendulkar may, after all, retirement," Patel said. continue to play Test cricket even after the That is, of course, not West Indies tour at home next month. totally true. Sourav According to sources Ganguly and close to the cricketer, he VVS Laxman, has set his sights on a 2014 finish, which to name two will complete 25 glorious years for him in recent examinternational cricket. p l e s , In other words, he were intends to keep playing at least till the New Zealand tour next year, if form and fitness are with him. There were suggestions, though, that he might call it a day after playing the two Tests he needs to complete the landmark. Whether Tendulkar should retire or not is, of course, entirely up to him. But the selectors will decide whether he should be in the Indian BCCI, incidentally, has made it clear that Test team, depending on his utility to the it wouldn't be pushing Tendulkar into a decision after his 200th Test match squad and his contributions in the middle. BCCI, incidentally, has made it clear that it wouldn't be pushing Tendulkar into a decision forced out when they were keen on playing. after his 200th Test match. "BCCI never pushed anyone," explained "It's completely up to Tendulkar when he BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla. "It wants to retire. BCCI won't tell him when to always boils down to performance and nothretire," BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel said. ing else. How can the board force someone to "Personally, I am a big fan of Tendulkar and quit cricket? It's always the prerogative of the it's not in BCCI's culture to push a player into player."

Wait for Srini, SC refuses to revoke order

New Delhi: Narayanaswami Srinivasan will have to wait for at least another week before again taking charge of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) as the Supreme Court declined to revoke its order restraining him from assuming office on his re-election. With the decision, Srinivasan has to stay away from office till Oct 7, when the apex court again takes up the matter, while other office bearers took immediate charge. Srinivasan was unanimously re-elected as the BCCI president for a third year in office. In the absence of Srinivasan, board secretary Sanjay Patel cleared the senior team that was selected in Chennai. BCCI vice president Rajiv Shukla said that the Supreme Court's postponement of the case won't affect the running of the board. "It is a matter of only four days. For the time being, it is status quo," Shukla said. Meanwhile, the apex court bench headed by Justice A.K. Patnaik asked the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to furnish its proposal under which Srinivasan will be allowed to discharge his duties mandated by the BCCI constitution while completely keeping off the probe into allegations against his son-in-

With the SC decision, Srinivasan has to stay away from office till Oct 7

law Gurunath Meiyappan of involvement in spot fixing and betting in the lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL). The court said this after the BCCI pleaded that Srinivasan be allowed to discharge certain responsibilities as the board chief. Senior counsel Harish Salve, appearing for Cricket Association of Bihar, said they could respond to the suggestion by the BCCI only after receiving the concrete proposal in writing. The apex court was hearing a petition filed last week by Cricket Association of Bihar (CAB) secretary Aditya Verma pleading that Srinivasan be barred from contesting the BCCI presidential election. He also wanted the SC to issue an interim ban preventing Srinivasan from being a

member of any committee of the Indian cricket board. The petition was filed on the ground that Srinivasan's son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan is being probed by Mumbai police for placing bets in the Indian Premier League (IPL) matches. The apex court allowed Srinivasan to contest the election but said that he cannot discharge his duties. In the course of the hearing, the court observed that "so many things are coming about IPL and something seems wrong with the apex cricketing body ... why it has lost its credibility", Justice Patnaik asked BCCI counsel C.A. Sundaram. "Only things we have to see how far you as BCCI president will affect the probe or prosecution," Justice Patnaik asked Sundaram.

T&T beat CSK, march into CLT20 semis

New Delhi: Trinidad and Tobago eased into the Champions League Twenty20 semifinals beating Chennai Super Kings by eight wickets to top Group B at the Ferozeshah Kotla. Trinidad and Tobago achieved their first objective as they bowled out Chennai Super Kings for 118 in 19.4 overs after putting them in to bat. In response, they chased down the target in 15.1 overs. The Caribbean side will now face Mumbai Indians in the second semifinal here Saturday while CSK take on Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur Friday. Openers Lendl Simmons (63) and Evin Lewis (38) gave a solid start to their chase, striking a 79-run partnership. After the inform Lewis was caught in front of the stumps by part time bowler Suresh Raina, Simmons continued his onslaught. The right hand bat Simmons anchored the innings with his 41-ball knock which included five fours and four sixes while Darren Bravo (11 not out) saw the team home. There was not much to talk about the Super Kings' bowling as only Raina and Ravichandran Ashwin managed to clinch a wicket each. Earlier, the Super Kings batsmen were really not in their elements as they collapsed for a measly 118 with only three of their batsman getting into double figures. It was more of dismal batting from the two-time Indian Premier League (IPL) champions than a good bowling performance of T&T, which led to the result. Only opener Murali Vijay (27), skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (25) and Raina (38) showed some potential in the otherwise drab batting show by the 2010 CLT20 champions. Pacers Ravi Rampaul and Lendl Simmons clinched two wickets each as all-rounder Rayad Emrit took three with his medium pace.

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

LIFESTYLE

October 5-11, 2013

25

Improve concentration in winter

London: The chilly winter months can give you a hard time with your power of concentration. An expert suggests good sleep and right exercise to cope. John Bramm, managing director and sleep expert at Dormeo Octaspring, suggests various ways to improve concentration during these months, reports femalefirst.co.uk. Keep the temperature stable: The heating in a space can make you feel sleepier. Checking if the central heating is on the right temperature as well as investing in comfortable bedding for a sound sleep will help. Sleep for the right amount of time: Six hours of undisturbed sleep at night is a must. Recent studies have shown that oversleeping in the morning does actually have a number of physical and psychological side effects. Breakfast: A small breakfast containing fiber whole grains, dairy and fruit improves memory.Take adequate breaks: When you feel your concentration levels decreasing, take breaks, in which you could talk to a colleague or go for a walk. Listen to music: There are numerous benefits to listening to music while working. Eat smart foods and eat regularly: There are some foods which are scientifically proven to help sharpen focus and concentration and increase attention span.

Thinner colleagues motivate women to lose weight

London: Looking at thinner colleagues in the office might be a strong motivational factor for women to lose weight. A new study reveals that along with this competition with colleagues regarding weight, women also require higher energy and stamina levels to perform in their professions and this often leads to a condition termed as 'Diet Brain', reports femalefirst.co.uk. Almost 40 percent of women have admitted to suffering from this condition. It involves mood swings which impact on close relationships and performance at work. "The modern workplace is an increasingly competitive arena for women and appearances certainly do matter so its no surprise that women are under pres-

Ahimsa Silk clothes launched on Gandhi Jayanti

New Delhi: As a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti Oct 2, wellness brand Vedic Collection has launched a line of garments made from Ahimsa Silk fabric. Designed by ace designer Jattin Kochhar and conceptualized by Divita Kanoria of Vedic Collection, the line is titled 'Tatha Vastram by Jattinn Kochhar.' Made from luxurious Indian silk, the collection comprises chic kurtas and kurtis along with styl- The outfits are designed ish jackets for by Jattin Kochhar and men and women, Divita Kanoria said a statement. Ahimsa Silk is a technique of getting silk yarn from cocoons without killing the silk worms. The spinning of Ahimsa Silk takes around two months and weaving can take another month. The finished product, although slightly less lustrous, is softer to the touch. The designs are available at the online store of the brand. They are available for a price tag upwards of Rs.8,000.

sure to diet to look better than their colleagues," said Linda OByrne, chief nutritionist for the New Atkins Nutritional Approach. Byrne also says how some women skip meals which is very unhealthy. "While its encouraging that women are rejecting unrealistic images of what a healthy, adult womans shape should be, many are going about it the wrong

way, sometimes dodging meals altogether to keep up with workmates bragging about how little they have eaten and how much weight they have lost," she said. "Skipping meals causes your metabolism to slow down and makes you much more likely to give in to sweet treats so often available in the office, or overeat at tea time," she added.

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October 5-11, 2013

HEALTH

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Cancer has an answer, say Manisha, Yuvraj

Kolkata: "If we can, you can too", Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh and Bollywood actress Manisha Koirala said here in a fervent bid to pep up the millions afflicted with cancer, as they came together for the first time to spread awareness about the disease. Rejecting the notion "cancer has no answer", both Koirala and Yuvraj Singh valiantly fought and overcame the life-threatening cancer recently. The tinsel town actress and the aggressive left-handed batsman Tuesday evening spoke about the traumatic moment when they came to know of their affliction, followed by the agonizing and tough treatment process, but finally - the victory over cancer. Having gone through it all, both have decided to spread awareness about the disease. "No matter at what stage the disease is detected, you have to pick up the pieces yourself and fight back. I tell people 'If Yuvi can, you can',", said Yuvraj Singh during a lively interaction program, "Pratigya, Cancer Myths and Reality", organized here. Manisha, who dislikes the term "cancer survivor" as it sounds "meek", called herself a "cancer crusader". "A crusader has the attitude which gives you strength, because that is what you need when you are fighting a disease, which may be cancer or some other thing." "There is a stigma that cancer means death. No, it is not so. I

Film star Manisha Koirala and (above) cricket star Yuvraj Singh pictured after they beat cancer..

know lot of people who got cancer, got treatment and are fine. Let us crusade against any kind of challenges," said the actress. Cancer patients, doctors, leading Bengali film stars, singers, fash-

ion designers, sportsmen, socialites - in short, the creme de la creme of the city attended the program that aimed to raise awareness about cancer. The audience listened to the duo in rapt

attention, breaking out into applause now and then. Yuvraj acknowledged they had now become role models for cancer patients. "We both are symbols of hope and courage." a motivational speech, helped by audio-visual props like slides, her pictures as a child, a young girl, an actress and as a cancer patient, said: "The disease has taught me what all is important in my life. I want to tell people how fragile life is. We should value our life, our health." She stressed on leading a healthy life and eating organic food. Leading Bengali film actress Rituparna Sengupta, whose organization "Bhavna Aaj or Kaal" tied up with corporate affairs expert Subroto Mukherjee's "Illusions" for the show, said: "We all have our professional lives, but beyond that we have some duty. We need to do our bit for the society."

On his comeback into the Indian team, he said: "It is the passion to come back. If you have the passion, you can come back. This is the reason I am back. Hopefully, I can play a few more years for the country." The strength to fight against the disease comes from within, your family, friends and well-wishers, said the cricketer. Yuvraj exuded confidence that Manisha would also make a comeback, but cautioned her against hurrying. "The media should not hound her about her comeback schedule," he added. The star-cricketer said early detection was the key to fight back the disease. Manisha Koirala, who gave

Exercise most effective weapon against aging

eeping active may be the secret to staying young for both mice and men. Researchers from Canadas McMaster University discovered that endurance exercise could halt the aging process in a group of mice, even though they were genetically engineered to age faster. These furry creatures continued to exhibit the same youthful appearance as normal mice after engaging in a treadmill exercise routine over a period of several months. In addition, the exercise program prevented premature aging in almost every organ of the morphed mice. The results of the analysis

indicate that not only can exercise help to prevent an early death, it can also delay the aging process. The researchers said that the exercise routine provided nearly 100 percent protection ag0ainst graying fur, hair loss, brain and muscle atrophy, and more. According to lead study author Mark Tarnopolsky, a Professor of pediatrics and medicine at McMaster's DeGroote School of Medicine, What really shocked us was the gonads, the spleen, liver -every tissue we looked at was made better with the exercise. It has a systemic effect and even prevented a slight shrinkage of the brain.

TheSouthAsianTimes.info
f youve ever thought about purchasing a home, youre not alone. Called the American Dream for good reason, nearly four out of five renters now say that homeownership is a priority for them in the future, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR) 2013 National Housing Pulse Survey. Homeownership is often associated with creating a sense of community, making memories and building financial security. But if youre a renter, the possibility may sound daunting, particularly if youve heard that credit is getting harder to attain and mortgage rates and house prices are rising. Owning your own home can provide you with financial stability and

SELF HELP

October 5-11, 2013

27

Is homeownership within your reach?

the opportunity to build equity over time -- so dont make a decision to take yourself out of the market before doing your homework and reaching out to an experienced housing professional for guidance. Why buy? While renters are subject to rising rents, often on an annual basis, a monthly mortgage payment that stays the same for the entire period of a loan provides significant stability, making long-term planning and budgeting easier. So when deciding if homeownership is within reach, consider the added benefits of a 30year fixed mortgage rate. Not only will you have stable payments for 30 years, youll be building equity and can take advantage of certain tax breaks. Recent numbers suggest that now is a great time to buy, according to many industry experts, as mortgage rates are still historically low. Although rates have been rising in the past few months, as of midSeptember, the Freddie Mac update on mortgage rates showed the 30year fixed-rate mortgage rate still below five percent. In the early 1980s, the rates exceeded 18 percent. And in an economy thats bouncing back from a recession, potential homebuyers are feeling more confident -- with less concern about jobs and foreclosures than in 2011, according to the NAR survey. Homeownership may be within reach if you: Have reliable income, good credit and documentation to verify your savings. Can afford at least a five percent down payment plus related closing costs. Have adequate cash reserves to withstand a loss of job, long-term illness, large maintenance costs or other financial setback. While homeownership can provide many benefits, its important to carefully evaluate your lifestyle and financial situation before diving in, particularly if youre a first-time homebuyer. Youll also want to become educated about the responsibilities associated with homeownership -- financial and otherwise. Its one of the biggest financial decisions youll ever make and the more you know the better. Educated borrowers are better prepared for successful long-term homeownership and overall financial stability, says Christina DiazMalone, Vice President of Housing and Community Outreach at Freddie Mac. To determine if homeownership is right for you, and learn more about credit, mortgage options, and the mortgage process, speak with your lender, or visit Freddie Macs homeownership pages at www.freddiemac.com/homeownership. Dont defer the dream of homeownership because of what you may be hearing. Do your research and reach out to an experienced housing professional. You may find that its an attainable goal for you and your family.

Tips to make owning a car more affordable

rom gas, parking permits and insurance premiums, to maintenance and repairs, owning a car can be an expensive prospect. But motorists can pave the way to lower costs by following a few clever rules of the road: Reduce Your Rate Shop around for auto insurance, as prices can vary widely between companies. For a cheaper rate, avoid purchasing a sporty or expensive vehicle. Insurance companies are more likely to give low rates to drivers of reliable cars that have safety features. Inquire into any discounts associated with a clean driving record. And if you dont log too many miles per week, you may also be eligible for a low-mileage discount. Make Smart Repairs The next time your vehicle needs a part replaced after a fender bender, opt for alternative collision repair parts, which are anywhere from 26 to 50 percent less expensive than parts issued by car companies. Such parts also often have warranties that exceed those offered by the car companies. On average, competition in the collision parts industry saves consumers approximately $1.5 billion a year. Car companies, however, are trying to prevent drivers from utilizing these less expensive parts by enforcing design patents on things like

bumpers, hoods and mirrors, say experts. Supporting consumer-friendly legislation, such as the Promoting Automotive Repair, Trade, and Sales (PARTS) Act, would mean more consumer choices and access to affordable repair parts in the future. More information about the PARTS Act can be found at www.KeepAutoPartsAffordable .org. Fuel Up Efficiently Regular maintenance to your vehicle will help it run more smoothly and efficiently. So take care of your car. Pay attention to your route. With the right apps, you can make bumper-to-bumper traffic a thing of the past. Sophisticated GPS-based technologies can steer you clear of the road blocks and jam-ups that leave you idling and wasting fuel. For short trips, consider using your own two feet. Its great exercise and will save you a few pennies in the process. Make trips to the gas station worth your while by filling the tank completely. After all, you are using gas every time you idle waiting for a pump. For most people, owning a car is not a luxury, but a necessity. While some expenses associated with driving are unavoidable, there are steps you can take to make it a more affordable mode of transportation.

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October 5-11, 2013

HUMOR

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Humor with Melvin Durai

Important Questions on the Mars Program

he Mars One Astronaut Selection Program recently asked people from all over the world to submit applications to become the first human settlers on Mars. More than 200,000 people submitted applications, eager to make a one-way trip to the red planet. About 25 percent of the applicants were Americans, each paying a $38 application fee. One middle-aged, divorced man from New York paid $380 to submit 10 applications, hoping to increase his chances of going. He called it a small price to pay for a once-in-a-lifetime chance to go as far away as possible from my ex-wife. After conducting some in-depth research on the Mars program, I decided to answer questions from readers about it. Question: How much will the first Mars mission cost and who will pay for it? Answer: The first mission will cost $6 billion. Organizers hope to sell broadcasting rights for shows and movies about the colonization of Mars. If that doesnt work, they will sell naming rights to Mars. In a few years, it might be called the 5-Hour Energy planet. Q: Before sending humans to Mars, shouldnt they first send monkeys there?

A: They tried to do that, but couldnt find any monkeys willing to pay the application fee. Q: If we are called earthlings, what will people who live on Mars be called? A: They will be called marsupials. Q: I heard that Mars does not have a Pope yet. Do you think I could go there and become Pope? A: No, Mars already comes under the jurisdiction of Pope Francis. But the Vatican is accepting applications for Archbishop of Mars. The application fee is $38. Q: What happens if I go to Mars, do not like it there and want to come back to earth? A: The Mars program, unfortunately, does not have a return policy. The application fee will not be returned and neither will you. Q: Is it true that people on Mars will live longer than people on Earth? A: Yes, scientists believe that people on

Mars will live 20 years longer than people on Earth, largely because they will have far less exposure, on a day-to-day basis, to Bill OReilly. Q: What if the Mars rocket ends up taking me to another planet by accident? Or worse, what if it lands on another part of earth, like North Korea. I do not think I could survive in North Korea. A: Dont worry. North Koreans do not bite. Unless you happen to be South Korean. Q: I heard that Mars does not have oxygen. Will I have to breathe another gas, like fluorine? A: While oxygen does not exist naturally on Mars, it will be produced there (by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen) and sold at special oxygen stations. The price of oxygen will be controlled by OPEC (oxygen-producing exploitation cartel). Q: What will people on Mars do for food

and entertainment? A: Details are still sketchy, but its believed that they will eat lots of Earth bars and listen to music by some guy named Bruno Earth. Q: If I go to Mars, will I have to pay taxes there? What will happen to my tax debt in America? Will it be forgiven? A: You will not have to pay taxes on Mars, at least until Mars has its own government. As for your tax debt in America, I asked an IRS agent if it will be forgiven and he responded with the Internet slang FCOT, which stands for fat chance of that. Q: Is it possible that the Mars program is a total scam? Are they just trying to make money from all the application fees? A: I checked with the FBI. They advise you to exercise caution when dealing with individuals who are eager for you to leave earth, whether its the Mars One organizers or the people in your will. They also warn you not to give money to a Republican organization that has been collecting millions of dollars for a space mission, calling itself MARSBOM (Movement of Americans Rallying to Send Barack Obama to Mars).

Laughter is the Best Medicine

by Mahendra Shah
Mahendra Shah is an architect by education, entrepreneur by profession, artist and humorist, cartoonist and writer by hobby. He has been recording the plight of the immigrant Indians for the past many years in his cartoons. Hailing from Gujarat, he lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

ASTROLOGY

October 5-11, 2013

29

By Dr Prem Kumar Sharma

Stars Foretell: October 5-11, 2013
ARIES: Leadership qualities and ability to understand people would benefit at work. You are likely to hear good news from close relatives. You could find yourself in an exciting new situation, bringing you financial gains. Chances of your love life turning into life-long bond are high on the card. You will be successful in getting rid from tensions. Great time for perfect family vacation to an exciting destination. Your personal loan plans for property could be in progress. You are likely to find many takers for unique & innovative ideas. TAURUS: At work you will be perfect in whatever you do during this week. A reckless behavior will upset family members in this week. Indications of earning financial profits through commissions, dividends or royalties. Exciting week as your long pending wait for affirmation is going to materialize. A sparkling laughter filled week when most things proceed, as you desire. Its high time to visit a relatives place otherwise relationships can be ruined. Your dream for new house might be full filed now. Taking independent decisions would benefit you. GEMINI: Time to put thrust on looking for self-driven people who could take business to newer heights. An old friend makes a pleasant visit later in the week. Important people will be ready to finance anything that has a special class to it. Enjoying the company of partner in a lively restaurant would bring immense romantic pleasure. Your enormous confidence would help in enjoying a healthy life. Travel opportunities full of challenges are often the beginning of great enterprises. Getting your dream home will be the greatest pleasure for you. Sharing the company of philosophers/intellectuals would benefit. CANCER: Your plans to organize a musical evening for team members might not materialize during this week. Evening enjoyed with family and close relatives brings immense pleasure. Property dealings would materialize helping in bringing fabulous gains. The presence of love would make you feel life meaningful. To counterattack your stress you will have to go in shelter of spirituality. You will discover travel destinations that are unique and magical. Selling a plot might be profitable as property rates tend to rise sooner. An auspicious week, to engage yourself in social and religious functions. LEO: Support and appreciation from seniors would raise your morale and confidence. You are likely to plan a short trip with family. You are likely to earn monetary gains through various sources. Love life brings some memorable moments that you could cherish rest of your life. Time now to realize that drinking/taking wine is a deadly enemy of health and retards efficiency. A trip that is unconventional and adventurous will be favourable enjoy every minute of it. Lifestyle home is what you are looking for? Revealing personal & confidential information to friends proves a blessing in disguise. VIRGO: A very good week to apply for overseas job. Unexpected visit by old friend could give you a pleasant surprise. Unexpected travel for some proves hectic & stressful, but financially rewarding. Your flashing smile would work as the best antidote for romantic partners unhappiness. A very healthy week filled with happiness & vitality. Being too choosy for a romantic destination might irritate your partner. Deals on commercial property can tend to be at full boom. Friends encourage in developing an interest in social service. LIBRA: Promotions and monetary benefits for dedicated professionals. Good advice from family members will help in reducing mental tension/pressure. Expenditure rises but rise in income takes care of your immediate bills. Sharing candy floss and toffees with lover/beloved would bring unlimited joy. Pleasure trip would help in maintaining sound health. Dreaming of traveling is good, but if possible than plan a trip. Investing residentially is one thing you can rely on. Timely help to needy friends would bring joy. SCORPIO: Pending proposals will get implemented with the help of seniors. Sudden good news in the evening will bring cheers for the entire family. Increase in income from past investment is foreseen. Romantic partner seeks a firm commitment in love. Yoga and meditation would help in keeping in shape and mentally agile. Take some time to travel with your spouse for romance and seduction. Investment on overseas property has to be considered seriously. Decisions going in your favor will put on the top of the world. SAGITTARIUS : Good week for implementing new plans and ventures. Your efforts bring success & happiness at family front. Monetary gains from unplanned sources will brighten your week. Company of love partner would inspire to take initiatives during this week. Blessings of a saintly person give peace of mind. You can make your vacation extra special by planning it with your family and friends. Time to spend money on your homely accommodations. Patience coupled with continuous efforts & understanding will bring success. CAPRICORN: Subordinates/coworkers would be very helpful. You achieve success in personal work with the timely help & support provided by family members. New moneymaking opportunities will be lucrative. Love works like a panacea as you find sanity. Chances of recovering from physical ailment are high. Luxuries are not what you need in a vacation, its peace and companionship. A good week to make some investment on kitchen items. Legal battle will be sorted out with friends timely help. AQUARIUS: Traveling brings new overseas business opportunities. You need to be patient with children because they are less experienced than you. You get some financial rewards as dedication & hard work gets noticed. Avoid making false promises especially in love life otherwise it would only create problems. Inexhaustible energy enables to participate in outdoor activities. Spiritual vacation is a quest for life, plan it and enjoy it with your family. You might be purchasing a refrigerator or any other gadget for your house. You are likely to succeed in making a mark. PISCES: Auspicious week to start a new venture. No help from family members would disappoint you. Monetary gains are likely to be from more than one source. Love partner touches soul that would take imagination to unlimited heights. You attain a bloom in health on sharing happiness with others. Vacation full of beauty and history as well as exciting is waiting for you. Purchasing of electrical appliances can be done. Auspicious time to bring changes by adopting a balanced attitude in life.

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

5th October, 2013 Ruled planet: Mercury Ruled by no :5 Traits in you: You are blessed with intelligence and a very sharp memory. Mercury being your ruling planet makes you realistic, emotional, honest, helpful, and diplomatic. You always want to make your life happening by filling it with lots of joy and excitement. You are very much interested in exploring new places and meeting new people. However, you need to refrain yourself from getting nervous as it may be counted as a short coming in your rich personality. You will be appreciated by your near and dear ones for showing your emotional side and helping nature. Health this year: You will be enjoying a very good health this year despite lot of stress. Finance this year: The second half of the year will be the ideal time to finalize your financial deals as it would bring you excellent returns. However, you need not invest in a partnership. You may face loss. Career this year: You should concentrate on your goals set for this year and work hard to achieve them. If you can achieve the goals, you will gain lot of financial rewards. You may have to face losses and public embarrassment due to your lack of ability to gather accurate information. It is advised to concentrate on everything you do. Romance this year: If you are in a romantic relationship, you may decide to get married this year. Lucky month: December, February and July 6th October, 2013 Ruled planet: Venus Ruled by no: 6 Traits in you: The influence of your ruling planet Venus makes you adorable, independent, ambitious, and charismatic. You are a huge believer of love, peace and harmony. Your attractive personality and friendly nature allows you to make friendship with strangers easily. However, you should be more careful in your life. Work had to get a control over your mood swings. It will help you improve as a person. Health this year: This year will take you to new heights by offering you with an excellent health. You will be enjoying a better health this year as compared to the previous year in spite of following a more hectic work schedule and taking lot more pressure in the first few months of the year. Finance this year: You may end up spending much more on your luxury and entertainment. This year you may purchase valuable assets such as furniture, television, washing machine and so on. Career this year: You will be rewarded for your efforts and people in your professional circuit will recognize you. You will be able to handle tougher things with your improved confidence and steady determination. Romance this year Casual friendships may turn into strong romantic relationships this year. Lucky month: January, April, May and August 7th October, 2013 Ruled planet: Neptune Ruled by no: 7 Traits in you: Your ruling planet Neptune is believed to bless you with positive approach. By nature you are very much active with lots of energy. Being witty enough, you are confident, vigilant and sharp. Being the owner of undisputed imagination, you can easily win over anyone. You will be liked by everyone for your charismatic nature and behavior. However, you need to control your stubbornness, which may prove to be harmful for you at times. Health this year: You will be enjoying a better health as compared to last year. However, you need not neglect your regular medication. Finance this year: You may get huge benefits in your business if you do not invest wrongly. Try to avoid partnerships in your new ventures to avoid loss. Career this year: Your stars will help you touch new heights this year as you will be enjoying prosperity on each and everything you undertake. You will be able to nurture your imagination power to help yourself gain more rewards. You can improve your knowledge, skills and intellectual level by participating actively in debates and interesting conversations. Romance this year: You should create new contacts and revive old ones as this year is the best time to make romantic relationship stronger. You may convert your romantic relationship to marriage this year. You may carry on with your relationship if you are not prepared to marry this year. Lucky month: October, December, February and May 8th October, 2013 Ruled planet: Saturn Ruled by no: 8 Traits in you: You are the master of the characteristics such as energy, discipline, and originality. Being ruled by Saturn, you are trustworthy and hardworking. You are very much orthodox who believes in ancient customs and values. You have not let western civilization ruin your beliefs. You are very helpful and reliable. However, behaving prude and stubborn does not suit your personality. You need to leave being a pessimistic and welcome optimism to your life. Health this year: You need to take extra care of your health this year as you are expected to fall sick frequently and that may hamper your work. Finance this year: Financially you would remain stable. However, minor sickness of your family members may make yyou spend lot of money. Career this year: You have to enhance your knowledge and skills to succeed in your profession. You need to follow-up with higher government officials to get your work done. This may prove to be very frustrating for you as your work will progress very slowly. However, your previously created contacts will come forward to help you in this matter to get your work done. Some of you may visit abroad for studies or business later this year. Romance this year: You may get involved in a new romantic relationship though it will be for a short period of time. Lucky month: January, April, August and September 9th October, 2013 Ruled planet: Mars Ruled by no :9 Traits in you: You are active, courageous, dashing, enthusiastic and highly diplomatic person. You achieve a lot with your impressive personality and command over your work, but you need to check your tendency to behave erratic and impatient at times. Health this year: You will be in a merdiocre health condition this year. You have to take regular medication to stay fit. Finance this year: Businessmen will invest in more profitable ventures. Promising contacts will build through social get-togethers and traveling. Career this year: This year you will slowly but gradually climb the ladder of success. Romance this year: Your spouse will be quite cooperative and shower her love and affection upon you despite your weired behavior at times. An infatuation within the group will keep you in high spirits for some time but it will not be long lasting. Lucky month: October, December, March and August 10th October, 2013 Ruled planet: Sun Ruled by no: 1 Traits in you: The power and vigor of the Sun, your ruling planet makes you sovereign, intelligent, honest, imaginative and simple. Being a diplomatic speaker, you may drive people with your powerful speech and make it a huge asset for yourself. You may gain enough money by utilizing your power to speak. You are very intelligent and efficient as well. However, you have to get over your jealousy to become a better individual. Health this year: You will enjoy an overall good health though you may suffer from some minor diseases. Finance this year: You may plan frequent travels to get monetary benefits. You should not be carried away with the promises made by people as they may prove futile. If you have invested somewhere by assuming gain, you will be right this time. You may successfully buy some real estate shares with least investment. Career this year: The initial time of the year will allow you gain a lot of things say money, power, recognition, relationships and so on. However, you need to utilize the opportunities that come across you. You will be financially benefited and there will be a huge improving in your work environment to inspire you to work much more efficiently. You may get promotions this year or may be switch your job from your existing company to another with an increased salary package. Romance this year: You will develop new relationships with your long time friend, which may finally strengthen and turn into marriage. Lucky month: February, May, July and September 11th October, 2013 Ruled planet: Moon Ruled by no :2 Traits in you: With the influence of your ruling planet Moon, you are industrious, creative, friendly, and simple. You are a challenge loving person and try to perform on the toughest tasks ever. However, your laziness stops you from achieving your set goals. If you get over your casual approach towards your commitments, you will rise to be a winner for each and every opportunity. Health this year: You may suffer with problems in your eyes and mouth. So you need to get your periodic medical checkup done on time and take prescribed medicines without negligence. Finance this year: You may go for investments in various sectors say stock market or real estate this year. You may plan to build your new house or renovate the old one towards the end of the year. You may plan to build your new house or renovate the old one towards the end of the year. Career this year: You may be criticized in your professional surroundings for your innovative plans. Your plans will be opposed by your seniors and management but you will be able to convince them the usability and action of your plan with your ability to speak artistically. You will be supported by your friends and colleagues and this will help you enhance your confidence. Romance this year: You will be in a good mood throuhout the year as your partner will provide you with lots of love, care and concern. If you are unmarried, this year may end our bachelorhood or spinsterhood. Lucky month: November, January, April and August

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October 5-11, 2013

SPIRITUAL AWARENESS

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

By Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj

hen 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

Focus on Gods love surrounding you

Concluding part of the discourse 'God is around us, within us'

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. 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

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.

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 help-

ing 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. Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj is an internationally recognized spiritual leader and Master of Jyoti Meditation who affirms the transcendent oneness at the heart of all religions and mystic traditions, emphasizing ethical living and meditation as building blocks for achieving inner and outer peace. www.sos.org.

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

October 5-11, 2013

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

October 5-11, 2013