Indian

Indian March 26, 2010

Log on to www.iwk.co.nz Volume 2, No. 1
New Zealand’s first Indian weekend magazine
For free distribution

India Business | 7 Bollywood | 21 India | 8

India has weathered Abhey Deol Chacha Chaudhry
economic crisis, launches & Vodafone
says Montek online life

Indian Weekender
launches FREE
online business
directory...
Let customers find you
through their computers
and their mobiles – FREE!
Visit
www.iwk.co.nz
for details
Read more on page 5

Highly Competitive Rates

Safe & Reliable
Exceptional Service

Want to save thousands of dollars in unnecessary Global Financial

Services Limited
interest on your mortgage & insurance premium? Always working in the interest of our customers
Get in touch with Global Financial Services for all your Home Loans, Ajay Kumar: F.Finsia, CAIIB, M.Sc - Director
Business Loans, Commercial Loans & Insurance Needs Ph: 09 255 5500, Fax: 09 255 5588
Email: ajay@ globalfinance.co.nz
We are recognized by ASB, National Bank, Westpac Bank, Sovereign Home Loans, AIG,
Sovereign Insurance, Asteron, Fidelity, ING & Ansvar Insurance Free disclosure statement is available on request

Indian Weekender | March 26, 2010 | www.iwk.co.nz 1

Indian
New Zealand

Bollywood Festival mesmerises Australians

Australians and Indians in Australia alike have

Photographs by Guruswamy
hailed the Indian Film Festival held earlier this
month in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth as a great
success. The second leg of the festival is being held
in Auckland next month.
Organised in the backdrop of tensions caused
by the high number of attacks on Indian students
living in Australia over the past one year or so, the
festival has done its bit to soothe ruffled feathers on
both sides of the equation, Mitu Bhowmick Lange,
one of the festival’s organisers told Indian Week-
ender.
The star attraction at the festival was Bolly-
wood diva Rani Mukherjee, whose retrospective
was a major part of the landmark event.
“The way I look at it, in any big country around
the world, the majority of people are peace-loving
and it is only only a minor group that believes in
spreading hatred,” she said at the media conference
preceding the event in Melbourne.
“I hear the sad stories about attacks on Indians, ..AND ACTION: Rani with the Premier of Victoria and the Mayor of Melbourne, Shiamak Davar dancers – with rANI, Raju Hirani, Sohail
but I’m sure it’s only a minority that is responsible
for these attacks. I’m going to ask the majority of Khan, Imtiaz Ali and Anurag Singh.
Australians to speak up against the people who feeling of strength because it talked about the fact Hirani shot to fame with Munnabhai MBBS and included Dev D, Dostana, Ghajini, Kaminey, Love
want to spread hatred.” that nothing is lost in the world. If you want to Lage Raho Munnabhai and has quickly established Aaj Kal, Luck by Chance, New York, Paa, Rab Ne
Asked if she hesitated at any point of coming to achieve something you have to have passion and a reputation for making riproariously funny flicks Bana Di Jodi, and Wake Up Sid.
Australia, she said, “This [festival] was decided a put your mind to it. It really uplifts my spirit when that also have become huge box office successes. Its “Beyond Bollywood” category included
long time ago. To cancel this programme and my I watch it. Other Bollywood personalities present were regional Indian films Chaturanga (Bengali), Har-
visit would have been immature.” “And Bunty, because it’s the story of two kids Sohail Khan, Imtiaz Ali and Anurag Singh. Both ishchandrachi Factory (Marathi), Kanchivaram
The 30-plus films in this year’s festival included who come from a very small town to the big city to Mr Hirani and Sohail Khan. (Tamil), Mee Sreyobhilashi (Telugu), Mudhal
the Rani Retrospective of six of her films. Though follow their dream. Reality then hits them. But it’s Rani Mukerjee talking exclusively with Indian Mudhal Mudhal Varai (Tamil), and Shob Choritro
Bollywood is noted for flamboyant escapism, many also the fact that if you are a good person you can Weekender expressed her desire to come and do Kalponik (Bengali).
of Mukherjee’s films are tough tales, with heroines use the good opportunities and leave the bad ones.” a shoot in New Zealand. Anurag Singh also said It is also screened some documentaries, in-
who are poor, disabled or thwarted by stubborn tra- Two free film screenings at Federation Square that he had planned to visit New Zealand to scout cluding Antardhwani (Hindi), Ladies’ Special
dition. The first night opened with the screening of were specifically aimed at interna- tional students. locations for some of his upcoming films. Sohail (English), The Journalist And The Jihadi (English),
Dil BoleHadippa. “We are doing this so that all our Indian students Khan, Imtiaz Ali and Raju Hirani also echoed The Shop That Sold Everything (Bengali), Three
Asked which were her personal favourites, – can bring their friends, bring their beanbags and similar views and said they would surely plan on Of Us (silent), and Vellapokkathil (Malayalam).
Rani said, “The films I enjoyed doing the most are just make a night of it and watch these great films visiting New Zealand and keep Indian Weekender As part of the festival a short film competition
Black and Bunty Aur Babli.” Both films played at under the stars,” Ms Bhawmick Lange said. informed of their plans. has also been organised with participating film-
the retrospective. One of the free screenings was of the all time Indian Weekender assured the film makers of makers from Australia and New Zealand besides
“Black is about a blind girl, Michelle, who Bollywood blockbuster 3 Idiots, whose celebrated all support in New Zealand. other countries.
comes out victorious in the end. It gave me a great director Rajkumar Hirani was also present. Mr Bollywood productions that were screened also - Indian Weekender in Melbourne

2 Indian Weekender | March 26, 2010 | www.iwk.co.nz

 Indian
Rotorua scientist recognised
for community work
Photo by Richard’s Photographics
Overseas Indians, numbering over twenty-five
million, have spread right across the globe and
have made their mark in every walk of life –
trade, industry, politics, academia and arts. They
have played an enormous role in elevating India’s
image in the world. Indeed, in many cases, their
impact has transcended national boundaries and
has been truly global.
The publishers of “The Indian” magazine,
based in Hong Kong, have identified 100 people
out of this vast population and released the
second edition of a book entitled “100 Global
Indians” which has three sections: The Leading
Luminaries (30), The Entrepreneurs (40) and The
Achievers (30).
The criteria used to identify the “100 Global
Indians” were based on a set of objectives not
overwhelmingly dependent on success in the
business world alone.
“We carefully studied and weighed the track
record of community service rendered by each
biographee. The overriding consideration has
been the contribution they have made to enrich-
ing life in the community and the country they
live in and how their role is seen by society at
large” said K. Sital, Publisher of “The Indian”
Magazine, and Editor of “100 Global Indians”.
“Given that there are over 25 million people
of Indian origin living outside India and that this
number is steadily growing, selecting 100 Global
Indians is not an easy task” Mr Sital said.
Dr Guna Magesan JP, a senior scientist with
Scion (Crown Research Institute) in Rotorua re-
ceived a copy of this book recently and was very
much surprised to see his name included in the
list of achievers. He had been pinpointed for his
outstanding contribution to the community.
Some of the other achievers included were:
Amartya Sen (1998 Noble Prize winner for Eco-
nomics), The Hon. Sir Anand Satyanand (Gov-
ernor-General of New Zealand), Bobby Jindal
(Governor of Louisiana), Dr Deepak Chopra
(prolific writer of New Age books), Jhumpa
Lahiri (the 2000 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction), M.
Night Shyamalan (Hollywood Filmmaker),
Sonal Shah (American Economist & Advisor
to Barrack Obama), Sunita Williams (Astro-
naut), and Dr Thomas Abraham (ex Chairman of
Global Organisation of Person of Indian Origin
– GOPIO).
Indian Weekender | March 26, 2010 | www.iwk.co.nz
New Zealand
In a perfect
world, everyone
would speak
your language.
In the meantime, we’ll do our
best to make New Zealand
feel like home.
Dr Magesan is one of only a handful of non-
political personalities included in the list. It is
indeed an achievement for Dr Magesan, who was
born and raised in a small village in the Nilgiri
Hills, South India. He comes from Badaga com-
munity, similar to Maori community.
Guna Magesan came to New Zealand about
20 years ago for his PhD degree at Massey Uni-
versity. After completion, he worked for three
Crown Research Institutes at different times in
Palmerston North, Hamilton and Rotorua.
Along with his science work, Dr Magesan
also made enormous contributions to the various
communities he has lived in since his arrival
to New Zealand. A leading figure in the Hindu
Council of New Zealand, his drivers are inter-
cultural understanding, youth development and
promoting Indian culture and heritage to wider
community.
In Rotorua, Dr Magesan is renowned for his
work on community festivals such as Deepawali,
GlobalFest and the recent new addition to the
community calendar, Holi, or Festival of Colours.
Through each of these, as well as embracing
and educating the community, Dr Magesan has And no one’s more at home in the New Zealand branches. Some of
helped develop strong Hindu-Maori relations. New Zealand market than us. With them know what it’s like to have
Dr Magesan humbly acknowledges that there
are many other people who share the credit in his
170 years of experience in this moved from another country so
achievements. country, we know it well. We also they’re always willing to give a
“Without the support and encouragement know that not everyone has been in helping hand. We also support
from my family, members of our community and
research organisations, I am not sure I could have New Zealand quite as long as us. Indian festivals like Diwali, Holi and
achieved what I have” Dr Magesan said. “Bless- Which is why, as much as we other celebrations. Why do we do all
ings from the Elders and support from the com-
mittee members definitely had an influence” he
understand the Kiwi culture, we’re this? Because we know banking is
added. dedicated to getting to know yours. hard enough without having to
Dr Magesan aims to combine science and Because we value you and want to deal with cultural barriers. To chat
community work, especially with Maori people.
For example, taking practical science to Marae- ensure your needs are always met, to a familiar face, call 0800 744 485
based groups, promoting alternative farming we have Indian staff throughout our or email indianbanking@anz.com
systems to some of the marginal lands owned by
Maori Land Trusts, and sharing knowledge with
developing countries.
“I have a passion for both scientific research
and community wellbeing” said Dr Magesan.
“My ideal job would be to combine both, espe-
cially with indigenous people.”
He suggested that such work could start here
in Rotorua, and let Rotorua community become
a role model for others. ANZ National Bank Limited ANZ0147R
3
Indian
Hindu conference aims to strengthen bonds Bank of Baroda
Programmes and activities such as national and
regional conferences, youth and elders’ confer-
ences, heritage camps, workshops and seminars,
celebrations of festivals, Hindu-Maori relations
all helped the Hindu community to develop good
links and also to integrate well with the New
Zealand Society.
Encouraged by the responses that received for
the 1st and 2nd New Zealand Hindu Conferences,
which were inaugurated by Hon. Prime Minister
of New Zealand, and the Maori King, respective-
ly, Hindu Council of New Zealand is now hosting
the third conference on 1st and 2nd May 2010 at
the Hindu Heritage Centre, Mangere, Auckland.
The theme of the conference is “Sustaining New
Zealand through strengthening bond amongst
communities”.
“We believe this conference will help in
strengthening and organizing Hindu society
through networking among Hindu organizations/
institutions/ associations/ temples and create a
forum for their regular interaction to think about
the future of Hindu Society in New Zealand” said
Dr Guna Magesan, coordinator of the 3rd NZ
Hindu conference.
The focus of this conference will be net-
working, whether it is with Maori community
or general public, or government agencies, or
Hindus from various countries, or the different
schools of thought of Dharma, or with Hindu or-
ganisations, associations and institutions.
Some of the topics include:
• Understanding Māori, Hindu and
New Zealand communities
• Developing relations and working with
New Zealand Government agencies
- Health, Education, Social Development, ence sessions.
Immigration, Police, and other Govt depart The 3rd New Zealand Hindu conference will
ments/agencies.
4 Indian Weekender | March 26, 2010 | www.iwk.co.nz
• Bridging the gap among Hindus in New on track to
Zealand coming from different countries
-India, Sri Lanka, Fiji, Malaysia, Nepal, Ban-
gladesh, Myanmar, Indonesia, Mauritius,
Caribbean, African countries, America and
Europe.
• Strengthening bond among Bharatiya general public, or government
Dharma
- Sanatani, Jain and Sikh
• Working and understanding Dharma group
- Buddhist, Confucian, Hindu, Shinto and
Taoist
• Strengthening bond among different schools
of Hindu Dharma
- Shaiva, Vaishnava, Veershaiva, Sakta,
Arya Samaj etc.
• Networking among Hindu organisations/ as the country’s nineteenth banking company
sociations/ institutions
- Ramakrishna Mission, Chinmaya Mission,
Sathya Sai Organisation, Art of Living Foun-
dation, Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh, Sewa
International, Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation,
Swami Narayan Sanstha, various Temples,
linguistic, cultural and social organisations
and associations in New Zealand.
• Integrating Hindu temples with Society
Mr Joris De Bres (Race Relations Commis-
sioner, Human Rights Commission), Dr Rajen
Prasad (ex- Chief Commissioner of the Families
Commission and currently a Member of Parlia-
ment), Mr Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi (Member of
Parliamentarian), Mr Pravin Patel (well known
community leader) will chair some of the confer-
be interested to (1) all individuals who are com-
The focus of this conference
will be net- working, whether
it is with Maori community or
agencies, or Hindus from
various countries, or the
different schools of thought
of Dharma, or with Hindu or-
ganisations, associations and
institutions.
mitted to work for Hindu solidarity, (2) indi-
viduals who are committed to unity for Dharma
people, (3) people of accomplishment and
achievement, (4) academicians, industrialists,
businessmen, professionals, parliamentarians,
and media personalities, and (5) heads & repre-
sentatives of Hindu organizations, associations,
institutions and temples.
We are inviting Governor General, Hon.
Prime Minister, Leader of Labour Party, Leader
of Maori Party, Mayor of Manukau City, local
Members of Parliament, and other dignitaries
to attend the conference. We have confirmed
participation from government agencies, profes-
sionals, university staff, business leaders, Maori
elders (indigenous people), and community and
youth leaders.
Registration fee for the two-day conference
will be $50 per person. The fee includes regis-
tration pack, lunch, morning and evening tea on
both days.
New Zealand
open soon
Bank of Baroda will
open its doors to cus-
tomers soon, Satish
Virmani, Manag-
ing Director Bank of
Baroda New Zealand,
told Indian Week-
ender. The premises
on Dominion Road in
Mount Eden, Auck-
land was almost
ready with the infrastructure all in place, Mr
Virmani said.
On September 1 last year, the bank became
after receiving a licence to operate from the
Reserve Bank of New Zealand.
Starting up with a capital of NZ$40
million, the bank plans to roll out residen-
tial mortgages from the start but concentrate
its activities in the short term to retail and
wholesale banking.
“The Indian Diaspora will be the bank’s
focus but we will try to serve all ethnic com-
munities here and we will provide our prod-
ucts and service to the satisfaction and expec-
tation of the local customers,” Mr Virmani
had earlier told Indian Weekender.
He said the bank was on track to start all
services from day one.
The bank operates in New Zealand as
a subsidiary of India’s third largest public
sector bank, which has assets of over US$ 50
billion and operates 3000 branches in nearly
70 countries across the world.
Indian
New Zealand

Manukau Youth Council Low levels of Asia content in

nominees wanted secondary schools – report
Manukau City Council has established We need them to generate interest and
Only one third of secondary school heads of department
a Youth Council as an advisory com- feedback on initiatives, and promote say they have included some Asia-specific topics in their
mittee and is now looking for nomi- the youth council through their net-
nees. works.” teaching programmes over the past two years, says a
The Manukau Youth Council will act
as a bridge between the council and its The 24 members of the youth council
new Asia New Zealand Foundation report.
youth by engaging young people. The will be elected by their peers through
youth council will act as an advocate nominations and an election to be But that figure drops to less than a quarter (21 just two subject areas - history (59 percent)
for youth, advise the council on issues held on 26 April. percent) for secondary school programmes and geography (67 percent).
that include Asia-specific topics or projects More than half of all social studies pro-
and concerns of young people, provide
lasting more than a single period of study. grammes (55 percent) did not include any
feedback on the council’s policies and Nominations are now open. Nomina- This is despite widespread acknowledge- Asia-specific topics or projects over the last
services, and assist the council facili- tion forms can be obtained from: ment by schools heads of department that two years, and the incidence of Asia-specif-
tate events for youth. • Council’s website www.manukau. Asia is important or very important to New ic topics or projects is markedly lower for
Membership is open to all residents govt.nz/ youthcouncil Zealand. drama, economics, English, media studies,
of Manukau aged 15 to 25 years and • By ringing 262 8900 extension 5129 The Asia in Secondary Schools report re- and music.
who are connected to a youth-orien- (between the hours of 9.00am to leased today was commissioned by the Asia Contrastingly, the vast majority of schools
tated network. This could be through 4.30pm) New Zealand Foundation and conducted by (97 percent) indicated they had some link or
a marae, church, youth organisation • Or emailing youthcouncil@manukau. Colmar Brunton. relationship with Asia.
or school. This is important as those govt.nz Taking part in the study were 258 heads of The majority of schools have had visi-
elected onto the youth council will department from 73 secondary schools. The tors to their school from Asia (86 percent)
need to gain the views and opinions of Nominators must be over the age of survey is intended as a stock take of the level and enrol international fee-paying students
young people. 15 and nominations close at 4pm on of Asia content in New Zealand’s secondary from Asia (82 percent). Fifty nine percent
schools system. of schools have a sister relationship with an
Council’s youth planner, Rex Hewitt, 15 April.
Asia New Zealand Foundation education Asian school or city.
says that they are looking for young director Vanessa Lee says the report is evi- The majority of heads of departments also
people who will be committed to at- The shape and structure of the youth dence that Asia content in secondary schools believe the Asian region is important (80
tending meetings and managing their council has been created by young is far too low for New Zealand to engage ef- percent) and compared with the general NZ
responsibilities. people who have been meeting since fectively with the Asian region. population, they are more likely to say the
“We want people who will commu- September 2009. “We wish to thank “This is not a pretty picture. While some Asia region is very important (55 percent).
nicate regularly with young people in the group of young people who have schools are raising their students’ awareness In terms of language learning, Japanese is
their communities. This will mean that worked on this for all their time, energy of Asia, the majority of New Zealand schools still the most common Asian language being
they are aware of and are connected and knowledge. Without their input are missing the opportunity to equip students taught in secondary schools, followed by
to the wider community to enable them there would be no youth council,” said to operate effectively in a world where Asia Mandarin.
to identify current and future issues. Mr Hewitt. is strategically important.” While the majority of large schools offer
The report found Asia-specific topics and at least one Asian language, the number of
projects are concentrated primarily within students enrolled in courses is low.

for May, September and January 2011 semesters

MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

NZ’s largest MBA (Level 9), weekend classes and top lecturers
Majors in • Finance • International Business
• Marketing • Operations and Logistics
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Earn NZD50k in an IT career
Bachelor in IT (includes Diplomas Level 5 and 6)
Graduate Diploma Level 7 (includes National Diploma Level 7)

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
Majors in • Accounting • E-Business • Management
• Marketing • International Trade
Diplomas Level 5 and 6, Graduate Diploma Level 7
Bachelor or Postgraduate Diploma in International Business

TOURISM MANAGEMENT
NZ’s biggest industry
Diplomas Level 5 and 6, Graduate Diploma Level 7,
Bachelor of Tourism Management

HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT
17000 workers needed in the industry
National Certificate in Hospitality Level 3
Barista included
Personal attention for academic success
Bachelor of Hospitality Management
Graduate Diploma Level 7
Subject to NZQA Approval

Indian Weekender | March 26, 2010 | www.iwk.co.nz 5

Indian
LeT has 20 targets in India: US India will get access to
Washington: Banned terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-
Taiba (LeT) has targeted 20 locations in India,
said a top US official.
“In the wake of the (26/11) Mumbai attack,
investigators uncovered in controller records and
e-mail accounts a list of 320 locations worldwide
deemed by the LeT as possible targets for attack.
Only 20 of the targets were located within India,”
said Congressman Gary Ackerman.
Ackerman said LeT maintains ties with
Pak army. “Public estimates suggest LeT oper-
ates some 2,000 offices in towns and villages
throughout Pakistan, as well as maintaining ties
with the Pakistani military.
“Operational funding for the LeT comes
from charitable fundraising amongst the general
First community radio for
visually handicapped
NEW DELHI: With the grant of permission to
the National Institute for Visually Handicapped
in Dehradun to start its own radio station, the
number of Community Radio Stations has gone
up to 66 in the country.
The first CRS being set up specifically for the
visually handicapped, the station is expected to
be operational within three months. The Letter of
Intent by the Information and Broadcasting Min-
istry had been issued to the Institute after recom-
mendations of the Inter Ministerial Committee
and seeking requisite clearances from various
Ministries.
The CRS will disseminate information on
6 Indian Weekender | March 26, 2010 | www.iwk.co.nz
population in Pakistan, but also depends heavily
upon contributions by Pakistani businessmen
living abroad and other wealthy individuals from
the Persian Gulf.”
The Congressman said LeT intends to esca-
late carnage across the world.
“The LeT has been attacking US forces in Af-
ghanistan almost from day one and their forces
are present throughout Afghanistan. The LeT
has been slaughtering Indians by the score for
decades. The LeT has put the world on notice that
they intend to escalate the carnage and spread it
worldwide,” he said.
He further said there is a lack of ‘global effort’
to deal with the terrorist organisation.
education, training, employment and other fa-
cilities available for blind persons, their fami-
lies and community institutions, and will serve
as a platform to showcase talent of the visually
handicapped. It will be used as a training studio
for blind students of mass communication and
Broadcasting.
The Community Radio will provide an oppor-
tunity for empowerment of women, to conduct,
sponsor, co-ordinate or subsidise research into
all aspects of education and rehabilitation of the
visually handicapped and to promote the integra-
tion of visually handicapped children in schools
and adults in the society.
Headley, says Chidambaram
New Delhi: Union home
minister P Chidambaram
has said India would get
access to Lashkar-e-Tai-
ba (LeT) operative David
Colemen Headley, who
has been arrested in the
US, TV reports said on
Saturday.
According to reports,
Chidambaram said this after talking to US attor-
ney general Eric Holder over the phone.
“India can question Headley through judicial
proceeding,” the minister reportedly said.
However, the US has made clear that Head-
ley’s extradiction would not be possible under
present charges.
Headley pleaded guilty in a Chicago court
admitting he scouted targets ahead of the brazen
terrorist attack in India’s financial capital in Nov
2008. As a result, as per law, Headley will not
face any trial or won’t be given death penalty.
“The BJP will accept nothing less than extra-
dition,” party spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy
said in a press conference on Friday.
“It is a mixed bag. As we cannot get extradi-
tion, it is a loss. But, at the same time, we can
get official access and can officially question him
so our dossiers (against Pakistan) will be more
weighty,” another party spokesperson Prakash
Javadekar said.
Headley, 49, a US businessman of Pakistan
descent, also admitted that he scouted targets for
an attack that never took place of a Copenhagen
newspaper that angered sections of Muslims for a
cartoon of Prophet Muhammad, reports Chicago
Tribune.
According to the Chicago Tribune report,
Headley pleaded guilty to 12 counts – conspir-
ing to bomb public places in India, to murder and
maim people in India and Denmark, to provide
material support to foreign terrorist plots, to
provide material support to LeT as well as aiding
and abetting the murder of U.S. citizens in India.
Delhi autos to be
phased out: CM
New Delhi: Delhi chief
minister Sheila Dikshit
has said auto-rickshaws
would be phased out
because the people of
the national capital
deserve a better mode of
transport.
Speaking in the As-
sembly Diskhit said that
autos were a standard mode of transport, and
that the city deserved a better and eco-friendly
battery-operated alternative.
“I am concerned about the traffic situa-
tion and autos are low standard transport. They
cannot be the future and will have to be con-
verted or replaced with a better and eco-friendly
alternative,” she said.
The chief minister voiced the average Del-
hiite’s growing frustration with the traffic situ-
ation in the city, which has been aggravated by
the presence of over one lakh autos, half of them
illegal.
Dikshit said that these autos are not the trans-
port of the future and will be phased out. She
rejected the suggestion in the Assembly that the
number of autos should be increased from the
existing 55,000, the cap imposed by Supreme
Court. The question was raised by senior BJP
leader Jagdish Mukhi, who felt that it was time
to review the cap.
She told Mukhi that a planned phasing out
India
Headley also admitted meeting Ilyas Kash-
miri, a Lashkar leader who was also indicted but
remains at large. Kashmiri owned responsibility
for the Pune bakery blast this year.
The case is being prosecuted in a US district
court by U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, who
said in court Attorney General Eric Holder had
personally approved the plea deal for Headley.
In a statement, Holder called the guilty plea
an important step toward justice for the victims
of the Mumbai attacks.
“Not only has the criminal justice system
achieved a guilty plea in this case, but David
Headley is now providing us valuable intel-
ligence about terrorist activities,” Holder said,
reports Chicago Tribune.
Earlier, India’s External Affairs Minister S
M Krishna on Thursday said India is ‘closely
watching’ how US handles the case of David
Coleman Headley.
“Our stand remains the same-we are watch-
ing today’s proceedings very closely,” Krishna
told reporters in New Delhi.
Headley, who pleaded not guilty when
charged by the Federal Bureau of Investigation
(FBI) first, started cooperating later with offi-
cials.
David Coleman Headley and Tahawwur
Hussain Rana, 48, were accused of plotting
against the employees of the newspaper in Co-
penhagen.
Headley is accused of traveling to Denmark
to scout the building of the Jyllands-Posten news-
paper, and a nearby Synagogue, for an attack by
terrorists.
In December, the FBI accused Headley of
conspiring to bomb targets in Mumbai and pro-
viding material support to Lashkar-i-Taiba.
Headley reportedly had also surveyed the
spot where a blast took place in a bakery in Pune
this year killing several people.
David Coleman Headley was formerly known
as Daood Sayed Gilani. He was a Pakistani-
American businessman based in Chicago.
would be undertaken and details will be worked
out by the transport department. However,she
added that it could take up to four years to imple-
ment the plan.
Diskhit went on to add that her government is
in talks with Honda and Bajaj to provide battery-
operated vehicles. Transport minister Arvinder
Singh Lovely told the Assembly that they are
working to make a system on the lines of radio
taxis or six-seater shared vans.
Suggestions ranging from regulating the
auto-rickshaws to taking on the auto mafia were
also made during the Question Hour.
Indian
India has weathered
economic crisis, says Montek
Montek Singh Ahluwalia and Vishakha Desai, President,
Asia Society
New Delhi: Deputy Chairman of India’s Planning
Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia said India has
weathered economic crisis and the forecast is that of
growth.
He was speaking at the Asia Society’s 20th Asian
Corporate Conference, co-organized by The Wall
Street Journal and The Confederation of Indian In-
dustry,
Ahluwalia is tasked with presiding over India’s
economic transformation as it adapts to the “new
normal” in the post-crisis world.
“India has withstood global crisis and has grown
7% in 2009. The country has officially announced a
goal of 9% growth in 2010,” Ahluwalia said.
During his speech, he outlined the government’s
plans for meeting this goal as well as other challenges
that India will face in 2010.
“The Asian recovery has been difficult to ignore,
and has shifted Indian focus toward regional integra-
tion. Recent policy, such as the free trade agreement
between India and ASEAN, the Southeast Asian
regional bloc, reflects this shift,” he said. He also re-
marked that while India remains open to the world
at large, it will primarily focus on Asia as the region
most likely to experience rapid growth.
“Within India, unofficial projections for 2010
are for 8.5 per cent, lower than the official target of
9 per cent but less pessimistic than the IMF, which
forecasts 8 per cent. To meet this goal, India will have
to make up for decreased external demand due to a
weaker global economy.”
Aluwalhia was optimistic that India would be
able to post strong overall growth despite lack of
export growth.
His optimism in India’s post crisis projections was
supported by the fact tha India’s previous growth was
driven in large part by domestic demand, and that
lower export growth can be balanced by greater in-
vestment, especially investment into infrastructure.
“One of strengths of India’s economy is its focus
on “inclusive growth”. For example, consumer com-
panies have identified that during the crisis, sales in
Mumbai to get first cycling tracks
New Delhi: New Zealand is not the only country
getting new cycling tracks. Mumbai’s first cycling
tracks are to come up in Bandra Kurla Complex
(BKC), in the next eight months, said Mumbai Met-
ropolitan Region Development Authority.   native, especially while commuting shorter distances.
Following in the footsteps of Delhi, Mumbai
is pedalling the cause of green transport. Barely
two months after Chief minister Sheila Dikshit an-
nounced that its government will build cycling tracks
on all arterial roads in the capital, to promote eco-
friendly mode of commuting, Mumbai has decided
to join the race.
“We are hoping to complete this 12 km long
stretch in the next eight months,” said Metropolitan
Commissioner, S.V.R Srinivas. The width will be
these roads will be that of a footpath. Tenders will be
floated in a month’s time once the cost of these tracks
has been ascertained. A provision of Rs 150 cr has
been made to improve the BKC’s internal roads
“This is our pilot project and depending on the
Indian Weekender | March 26, 2010 | www.iwk.co.nz
rural and small towns continued to grow.”
In addition, there are numerous schemes, such
as the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act
(NREGA), which aims at raising land productivity,
and does so more effectively than many give it credit
for, he said.
“Another of India’s key assets is its dynamic
private sector, and the government has been increas-
ingly effective at unleashing it. Previously, dynamism
was largely targeted at avoiding controls, but freer
rein in the past 10 years has proven that India has a
private sector that can compete with foreign imports,
and perhaps eventually make a footprint abroad.”
Ahliwalia said infrastructure and public invest-
ment therefore, will be targeted at areas which are not
attractive to the private sector, such as rural electrifi-
cation and better roads.
“But much infrastructure does not need to be
done at all by the public sector- it can be accomplished
with private investment and with public-private part-
nerships. Such infrastructure development is pos-
sible- the most impressive example of which has been
in telecommunications.”
Ahluwalia downplayed the deficit, which though
it remains significant, is again on its way down. “Year
by year gradual reductions of 1% or so will put India
on the road to fiscal responsibility policy. Dr. Ahlu-
walia pointed out that, in the old days, India’s high
debt-to-GDP ratio was an outlier, but that today, most
countries have high debt-to-GDP ratios, and that as
long as India continues to grow at 7 to 8 percent, it is
safe,” he said.
“India’s 2010 strategy will rely on increasing
foreign investment which will not only directly stim-
ulate the economy, but in addition, will also help India
cover its balance of payments deficit. As the 2nd
fastest growing economy in the world, it will have
less difficulty to overcome a weaker fiscal position.
“We are growing our economy and creating
demand, while elsewhere there is a deficiency of
growth. We are good global citizens,” Ahluwalia
added.
response we receive we will expand it to other areas,”
he added.
Governments all over the world have shown great
keenness, to promote cycling as an eco friendly alter-
In the capital city, dedicated lanes for cyclists on
all major stretches have been promised, to actively
promote this alternate mode of transport to cut down
on the growing pollution and to manage the rising
problems of parking and congestion.
Notwithstanding the inherent disadvantages of
cycling in the city, which includes road encroachment
by hawkers, dug up streets and the garbage menace,
cycling for shorter distance can be easily popularized
according to analysts.
Cyclists constitute 15 percent of the traffic and
the organisations promoting cycling are sure more
people will take to it if some space is made available
to them.
- Jayalakshmi Sengupta
BRIEFS
Kuch Nai Chahiye?
How often have you asked a friend,
who is visiting you in the eve-
ning,
“What will you have?”
and been
told “Kuch nahi, Kuch nahi”? – espe-
cially so from the friend’s wife? And
now, a Sikh gentleman from the UK
has come up with the appropriate re-
sponse:
He’s made a whiskey called
Kuch Nai!
Airtel sponsors cricket on
YouTube
New Delhi: Bharti Airtel, one of Asia’s
leading integrated telecom service
providers, has been announced as
the official Broadband sponsor of
cricket on YouTube, said a media
release on Tuesday.
Airtel Broadband is also offering
a free automatic upgrade to a speed
of 2mbps, for enthusiasts who log on
to YouTube to watch matches of their
favorite teams.
“The excitement of cricket on You-
Tube has exploded with 6.9 mn views
being generated in just last 4 days
and Airtel Broadband has enabled
its entire user base to experience TV
quality videos without buffering on
Youtube. com/ipl,” said a company
spokesperson.
Airtel Broadband has also intro-
duced a social media game ‘Fastest
Fifty’ to engage with the community
on Orkut where customers will be
able to predict outcomes, compete
against each other and win exciting
prizes.
Baba Ramdev eyes ‘all’ Lok
Sabha seats
New Delhi:
Launching his
own political party
‘Bharat Swabhi-
maan’, yoga guru
Baba Ramdev on
Tuesday said his
candidates will contest all seats in the
next Lok Sabha elections.
“Next Lok Sabha elections will
have candidates from Bharat Swab-
himaan contesting elections in all
545 Lok Sabha seats,” Ramdev told
reporters here.
Asked what made him foray into
politics, Ramdev said he wants to
‘cleanse’ the system.
India
“Bharat Swabhimaan activists will
cleanse the political system of India,”
he said.
“Around Rs 300 lakh crore of
black money should be brought back
and invested in developmental ac-
tivities. As soon as the black money
stashed away comes back, India will
become the second most powerful
economy. We have to get the money
back by 2020,” the yoga guru added.
However, Ramdev made it clear
that he himself won’t contest any
elections.
“I will not contest any elections or
accept any political post. I am here to
serve people and my party will act as
a corrective force within the political
system,” he said.
Baba Ramdev further said he
plans to enroll 7-10 lakh members in
every parliamentary constituency of
India.
Family problems cause most
suicides in India
New Delhi: Altogether 7 per cent of
suicides in India are attributable to
mental illness, with the largest cause
of suicide being family problems
(23.8 per cent).
This was revealed by Union Health
and Family Welfare minister Ghulam
Nabi Azad in a written reply in the
Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.
The findings were based in the
latest report of the National Crime Re-
cords Bureau (NCRB).
To detect and treat Depression
and other Mental Illness, Government
Mental Hospitals, Psychiatry Wings of
Medical Colleges/ General Hospitals
are run by the state Governments
and Government of India, the minister
said.
He added that licenses are also
issued to Private Mental Hospitals/
Psychiatric Nursing Homes by the
concerned licensing authorities of
the State Governments to provide
mental health services. Azad further
informed that the Government of
India is implementing National Mental
Health Programme with the objec-
tives of augmenting the mental health
care capacity of the States/UTs
detect and treat depression and other
mental illness.
Park gets its first lake cruiser
Kerala: The Park Hotels on Monday
announced the launch of their first
luxury lake cruiser in Kerala, ‘Apsara’.
Akin to a floating boutique hotel,
the eight-cabin cruiser will take to the
waters of Kerala’s Vembanad Lake.
Priya Paul, Chairperson, The
Park Hotels, said, “We are excited
about our latest venture in Kerala
which marks our entry into the leisure
segment. Kerala has always been a
preferred destination for leisure trav-
ellers and with our luxury cruiser and
resort, we look forward to offering
our guests an experience like none
other”.
‘The Park on Vembanad Lake’, a
10-room luxury resort, will act as a
docking station for the cruiser.
7
Indian
Anti-hijack laws to get tougher in India
New Delhi: The anti-hijacking laws in In-
dia will get tougher with the government
Friday approving amendments, includ-
ing death penalty to hijackers.
The new amendments include
awarding death penalty to hijackers,
replacing life imprisonment and a fine.
It also seeks to authorize shooting
down of a hijacked plane if it is intended
to be used as a missile to target vital
installations.
Besides, the authorities will also be
able to force land a hijacked plane or
halt its departure, if it had not flown out
yet.
The amendments were approved in
a Cabinet meeting, headed by the Prime
Minister, on Friday and are likely to be
placed before the Parliament in the next
session of the Budget session.
A Group of Ministers, headed by
Union Home Minister P Chidambaram,
had earlier examined the proposals to
amend the existing law.
The amendments come a decade
after the Kandahar hijack, in which four
terrorists had to be freed to secure the
Indian plane’s release.
- Indian Weekender
India Correspondent
India
Vodafone gets over
35 comic titles
Kolkata: Vodafone Essar, one of India’s leading cel-
lular services, has announced the launch of ‘Chhota
Comics’ service on Vodafone.
Through this service, Vodafone customers can
access comic strips as well as full length comics of
popular Indian and international titles like Suppan-
di, Chacha Chaudhary, Mickey & Donald, Akbar
Birbal, Winnie the Pooh, Hanuman & lots more, on
their mobile phones.
Kumar Ramanathan, Chief Marketing Officer
at Vodafone Essar said, “Last year we launched
Amar Chitra Katha on Vodafone, which became
very popular with our customers. With the launch Chacha Chaudhry will soon
of ‘Chhota Comics’ service, we aim to further
be on mobile phones in India
enhance our customers’ experience by providing
them with advanced features and more comic cat-
egories.” The comic store has over 35 popular titles under
The ‘Chhota Comics’ services will be available various categories and is priced at Rs.2 per comic

‘Sexual Assault’ becomes ‘gender neutral’ to Vodafone customers through Vodafone Live. strip and Rs. 15 per full length comic.

New Delhi: Sexual assault, which is broadly

referred to as rape, finally is becoming gender
neutral in India.
The Indian Penal Code (IPC) which seeks to
amend and replace the word “rape” with “sexual
assault”, is not intended to dilute the definition
of rape but to make it more “gender neutral”, said
home minsiter P Chindambaram on Tuesday.
As per Section 375 of IPC, penetration is suf-
ficient to constitute sexual intercourse amount-
ing to rape. By replacing the word “ rape “ with
“sexual assualt” will include all sexual crimes
inflicted on women, men and children.
This amendment is being sought to prevent
sexual crimes prevalent among homosexuals.
Crimes like sodomy, fingering, insertion of
foreign object and other similar offences in ad-
dition to rape will all come under the ambit of
“sexual assualt” hereafter.
Making sexual assault “gender neutral” will
imply that the relevant sections of IPC can be
slapped on accused of any gender who has com-
mitted the thus broadening its reach.
According to National Crime Records Bureau
cases of child rape continue to rise. A total of
4,721 cases were registered during 2006, 5,045 in
2007 and 5,446 in 2008 across the country. The
data also indicated that over two lakh women
were victims of sexual crimes in the country
during the period 2006-2008.
The home ministry has also sought the views
of the law ministry on the proposed amendment
Bill.
IPL storms British market
Mumbai: The Indian premier league (IPL) has
taken the British market by storm on ITV.
Backed by effervescent programming an-
chored by Mandira Bedi, Itv seems to have
broken all records in viewership of sports pro-
gramming in England, said an official release on
Wednesday.
Sources say that the first few days have
beaten last years all time record. Itv’s IPL ratings
have gone 5 times over and the projection is its
ratings will be 10 times over last year, apart from
the regular programming on other channels; IPL
clearly has emerged as a top sporting extrava-
ganza on British television.
James MacLeod from ITV had to say this on
the ovewhelemed response from viewers “We’re
delighted with the viewing figures for the IPL
so far. The ratings for ITV4’s coverage have
been around seven or eight times those achieved
by Setanta last year, and we’re delighted to be
bringing the competition to a wider audience.”
Mandira could not hide her excitement when
she heard this and said “To be accepted and to be
a part of something which is so overwhelming
is like a dream come true. I hope we continue to
entertain and bring all the excitement of the IPL
as it happens”.
Back here in India Lalit Modi also expressed
immense satisfaction on the way IPL has been
accepted by the British audience. Modi said
“ITV beats Sky Sports over the weekend in
number of viewers. This is great going. The ITV
numbers are double that of rugby league. This is
huge by all imaginations. UK figures for viewer-
ship on ITV already 10 times that of last year.
This is just fantastic news.”
The biggest winner, it seems have been
Mandira and ITV. While Itv has officially stated
on their website “The Indian Premier League’s
decision to go free view in the UK on ITV’s
digital terrestrial channel ITV4 has paid off
handsomely”, the IPL’s debut on ITV4 has been
declared a hit, according to ratings figures re-
leased Monday.
It seems Mandira is already a household
name in England.

Hyderabad will be a free zone,

says Supreme Court
New Delhi: The Supreme Court has said that Hy-
derabad will be a ‘free zone’ where people from
any part of Andhra Pradesh can compete in police
and government jobs.
The verdict came against a review petition
filed by the AP government.
In a terse order, the SC said: ““We have
perused the review petitions and record of the
civil appeals and are convinced that the judgment
for which review has been sought does not suffer
from any error apparent warranting its reconsider-
ation. Hence, the review petitions are dismissed.”
On October 9, 2009, the apex court said
people from all parts of AP have equal rights in
government jobs, postings and promotions. The
state government filed a review petition against
the ruling saying the decision will add fuel to the
ongoing movement for a separate Telangana state.

8 Indian Weekender | March 26, 2010 | www.iwk.co.nz

Indian
Ford launches new Figo
Kolkata: Ford India has officially launched its
new compact car Figo in Kolkata.
“Our dealers are excited, customers are
waiting and the new Figo is now ready to hit
the streets,” said Joe Hinrichs, president of Ford
Asia, Pacific and Africa. “From the start we
wanted to offer all the features of a B-Segment
car at a Sub-B price. We’ve accomplished that
with Figo.”
Four different Figo models
– LXI, EXI, ZXI and Titani-
um – will be available with
different trim levels and
designed to suit a variety
of consumer tastes.  All
models also will be avail-
able with a Duratorq
diesel engine option.
Aggressively priced, the new entry-level
Figo Duratec LXI, equipped with a 1.2-litre
petrol engine, will be priced at Rs. 3,49,900(ex-
showroom).  The entry-level model also can be
equipped with a 1.4-litre Duratorq diesel engine
that will be priced at Rs. 4,47,900(ex-showroom)
“We have kept our promise and priced all four
Ford Figo models very competitively to empha-
sise Ford’s commitment to this huge segment
of the growing Indian automobile market,” said
Michael Boneham, president and managing di-
rector of Ford India.  niques and improved reservoir recovery.
“We are committed to setting new bench-
marks with Figo in this segment.  Figo offers
more features, interior space, technology and
durability than other vehicles at this price in the
segment,” Boneham said.
The standard engine for all
models is the 1.2-litre Duratec
petrol engine.  Duratorq 1.4-
litre diesel engines are
available on all models.
India - Business
L&T bags over Rs. 1000cr
ONGC order
Mumbai: Oil & Natural Gas Corporation
(ONGC) has awarded a Rs.1013 crore Turnkey
Project to Larsen & Toubro (L&T) for 4 well
platforms for Phase II of Mumbai High North
(MHN) Re-development Project.
The Mumbai High field is in production since
1974 and ONGC is in the process of augmenting
production through latest hydrocarbon lift tech-
Each of these platforms will have 12 slots
with remote well testing and monitoring facili-
ties from NQ/MHN process complex.
L&T, a USD 8.5 billion technology, engi-
neering and construction group, will have single
point responsibility for the complete engineer-
ing, procurement, fabrication & installation of International Competitive Bidding Process.
these platforms with total in-house capabilities. L&T will carry out engineering at their
This will involve 23000 tonnes of Jackets & wholly owned subsidiary L&T Valdel at Banga-
Topsides equipped with wind turbine system and lore, Chennai and Faridabad and fabrication will
hybrid power system in addition to many state of be carried out at L&T’s world class fabrication
the art facilities. facilities at Hazira near Surat and at Sohar in
L&T bagged this prestigious order through an Oman.

Mantri Square to be India’s largest mall?

Bangalore: Bangalore-based real estate company
Mantri Developers on Monday announced the
opening of Mantri Square, which it claims to be
the largest mall in India.
Mantri Square is spread over 1.7 Million sq.
ft. and is located at Malleswaram, here.
The mall, having 252 retail outlets (includ-
ing 39 F&B outlets) offering over 10,000 brands,
will create a shopping experience unmatched in
the country.
Made with an investment of over Rs. 500
crores, Mantri Square will also generate direct
Michael Boneham, President and Managing Director- Ford India
launching Ford Figo in Kolkata Samsung sets up an e-learning center at Chennai
Sriperumbudur: Digital major Samsung India
employment for over 4,600 people.
Sushil Mantri CMD, Mantri Developers,
said, “Mantri Square is going to be the largest
mall in India. It will undoubtedly be the most
sought after destination amongst discerning
shoppers and for brands of repute as well. The
sheer scale of offerings at the mall came only
second to the detailing that has gone into ensur-
ing a world class shopping, leisure and entertain-
ment destination.”
Mantri Square was inaugurated last week by
B S Yeddyurappa, Chief Minister of Karnataka.
oriented skills to youth from the less privileged

Adulterated milk racket busted in Mumbai on Thursday announced the inauguration of its
second Smile Twin e-Learning Program (STeP)
centre in association with Smile Foundation at
Mumbai: An adulterated milk racket was busted in Mumbai on Friday, CNN IBN Sriperumbudur, Chennai.
reported. Dedicated to underprivileged youth, this e-
The Food and Drug Authority (FDA) officials conducted raids at Shivaji Nagar, Da- learning center was inaugurated on site by Min-
hisar and Borivili and caught the miscreants, who were using milk brands like Amul ister for Labour, Tamil Nadu Government -T M
and Mother Dairy, red handed on camera. Anbarasan along with H K Chang, Regional Man-
ager-South for Samsung India .
The gang members split open packets of actual milk, mixed water and resealed
Speaking at the inauguration of the STeP
them. “I was adding water to milk. We add 100 grams of water to every litre of milk,” Centre, H K Chang , Regional Manager-South,
one of the accused told the news channel. Samsung India stated, “The e-learning center,
which has been set up with the objective of em-
Hundreds of litres of adulterated milk were reportedly seized during the raid. powering the youth through education and provid-
ing them with sustainable livelihood options, will
“We have busted a milk adulteration racket here. We will lodge an FIR with the po- facilitate an all inclusive growth. The Samsung
lice,” FDA inspector Rajendra Runwal said, the report added. factory is located in Sriperumbudur and this region
is very close to our heart.”
The STeP is primarily designed to offer job-
sections of the society living in urban slums and
peripheral rural areas. Under the program, train-
ing is imparted to these youth in basic computers
and retail sales management skills along with pro-
ficiency in spoken and written English.
According to a recent survey conducted by
Smile Foundation in this region, nearly 80% of the
urban slum dwellers and rural population in the
target area are daily wagers.
The e –learning center at Sriperumbudur is the
second STeP center that the Company has set up,
following the setting up of the first center at Noida,
U.P. in December 2009.
As a part of the Hope Project, Samsung re-
cently organised the 3rd “Samsung International
Women’s Film Festival” in association with INKO
centre, Chennai. The festival showcased 175 films
from 53 countries and helped build bridges of
culture across nations and languages.

For all your

legal needs
Aaron Kashyap
BA, LLB
Barrister and solicitor
Level 1, 351 Manukau Road, PO Box 26-596, DXCP 32513, Epsom, Auckland
Mobile: 0274 857 302 Phone: (09) 6238277 Fax: (09)6235177
Email: aaron@kashyaplaw.co.nz

Indian Weekender | March 26, 2010 | www.iwk.co.nz 9

Indian
India, US sign policy to further trade
New Delhi: An agreement for facilitating trade and
investment flows between India and United States
was inked between the two countries in Washington.
Anand Sharma, Union Minister of Commerce
& Industry, and US Trade Representative, Ron Kirk,
signed the India-US Trade Policy Forum Framework
for Cooperation on Trade and Investment.
The Framework seeks to build on the success of
the Trade Policy Forum by facilitating trade and in-
vestment flows between the United States and India.
Both the Ministers also announced the launch of
an initiative “Integrating US and Indian Small Busi-
nesses into the Global Supply Chain”. This initiative
aims to expand trade and job-creating opportunities
for US and Indian small and medium-sized com-
panies. Speaking at the signing ceremony, Sharma
said, “By signing this Framework for Cooperation
on Trade and Investment we want to create the right
environment to ensure that the relationship brings
maximum benefit to the maximum number of people.
We will do so by promoting inclusive growth.”
India - Business
Tata Steel Tejaswinis meet Prez
“We also intend to use this Framework to encour-
age the development and deployment of clean energy
and environmental technologies as well as to support
India’s infrastructure growth,” he added.
During his interaction with USTR, Sharma
spoke about the benefits of commencing negotiations
on a Totalisation Agreement and added that due to
the absence of such an agreement, Indian companies
in the US were making double payments of social se-
curity, without getting any benefits.
He also raised the issues of visas for Indian pro-
fessionals, restrictive trade measures and the need for
reform of US export controls to promote high tech-
nology trade between India and the US. He also ad-
dressed a meeting of the reconstituted Private Sector
Advisory Group (PSAG) to the Trade Policy Forum.
In a meeting with US Agriculture Secretary Tom
Vilsack, the two Ministers discussed cooperation
in the field of agriculture that could be leveraged to
strengthen agricultural productivity, and promote
agro based industry in India.

Fighting suicides the T-shirt way
Mumbai: New T-Shirts have hit stalls of Dadar in
Mumbai with messages advising students against
committing suicide during this exam season.
Garment manufacturers have resorted to a new
way of wooing their customers, cashing on to the
exam fever and student stress that is usually on the
rise during the exam months of March and April.
Printed T-shirts proposing “Aal is well” was
already making their rounds after the phenomenal
success of the Aamir Khar starrer 3 idiots, at the box
office.
3 idiots took a dig at the failing education system
of the country where achievement is measured by
the marks secured at exams. From the cut throat
competition that ensues academic success becomes
a matter of life and death. The Rajkumar Hirani
movie may have tickled the creativity of these manu-
facturers to use T-shirts to attract more buyers in a  - Jayalakshmi Sengupta
totally new commercial move but bold step taken to
confront the suicide issue in particular, brings a fresh
understanding of the  magnitude of  this malady -
suicide being the fourth leading cause of death in the
15-19 age group.
In a phenomenal jump from a previous record of
6,000 students who committed suicide in 2006, the
numbers have touched 16,000, according to unoffi-
cial sources.
In 2006, the most recent year for which offi-
cial figures are available, some 5,857 students or
16 students a day, killed themselves due to exam
stress. These figures climbed further recently. The
increase in the number of suicides coincides with
board exams, various entrance tests and professional
school tests during the month of April and May.
New Delhi: Tata Steel’s ‘Tejaswinis’ on
Wednesday met President Pratibha Devis-
ingh Patil at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, here.  Patil said, “It is a pleasure to learn that Tata
These women, a total of eight, are a part
of Tata Steel’s pioneering women empower-
ment initiative – Tejaswini.
The Tejaswinis who met the President
today include Mandakini Tah (Junior Tech-
nician), P Gyaneswari (Ambulance Driver),
Jasumati Patel (Air Conditioning Machine
Mechanic), Asha Hansda (Dumper /Bull
Dozer Operator), Baby (Over Head Crane
Operator), Parwati (Pipe Line Fitter), Sefali
(Loco Operator), Jusmi Tudu (Sr Techni-
cian) along with Urmila Ekka (Sr. Manager
- Human Resource & Industrial Relations),
Tata Steel.
Applauding the Tejaswinis on their feat,
Steel is undertaking such a noble initiative
towards empowering its women employees.
The achievement of each of the Tejaswinis is
exemplary. They inspire us to go beyond the
ordinary. I wish Tata Steel and its Tejaswinis
the very best in all their endeavours.”
Project ‘Tejaswini’ was launched in 2002
to provide women employees at Tata Steel
with a platform to unleash their potential,
who otherwise would have lost their jobs due
to a surplus in labour.
- Indian Weekender
India Correspondent

10 Indian Weekender | March 26, 2010 | www.iwk.co.nz

Indian
Envoy vows to end passport scam
The Indian High Commissioner to Fiji, Professor
Prabhakar Jha, says he is taking necessary steps
to stop to a passport scam that allows Indian na-
tionals arriving with fake passports.
Prof Jha told the Fiji Times he was appalled
at the recent incident where six Indian nationals
were deported after they were caught with fake
passports.
The actions of those Indian nationals which
included two families were shameful, he said.
“I totally disagree with it,” he said. “I don’t
want to see this happening again.”
He said he had alerted his Government of the
actions of those people saying that they should be
punished. “There should be no mercy shown on
them,” he said.
He said they would take all necessary action
to ensure that such scam was not repeated.
The six Indian nationals were deported late
last month after the Nadi court ordered their
removal. They included two women, one who
was pregnant, and a five-year-old girl.
Meanwhile, Professor Jha said his initial
two-year contract had been extended. During
this time, he said he had gone “almost every-
where”. “I have gone to almost every village, met
the villagers and talked to them,” he said.
Professor Jha noticed a communication gap
where people respected each other.
“I like the people, I love this place, the people
are so simple,” he said.
He reckoned that if one needed to know about
Fiji, they had to go to the villages.
Sharing his experience of his encounter with
some villagers, Prof Jha remembered an incident
where an old man with hardly anything in his
possession offered him a glass of water.
“The way he received me, though he was shy,
he was happy to have me in his house,” he said.
“That is the Fiji that I’m talking about. I
really admire and love this beautiful country.”
-IW Online / Fiji Times
Indian university bans
students from Fiji
A prominent education institution in India has
stopped intakes of students from Fiji following
accusations of harassment by a female student
against a professor at the university.
The Indian High Commissioner in Fiji, Pro-
fessor Prabhakar Jha, confirmed the Central
Hindi Institute or the Kendriye Hindi Sansthan
in Agra, had banned students from Fiji following
the incident, the Fiji Times reported.
“I have been trying to make contact with
the school in India to find out why the school is
punishing all students from Fiji if maybe, one
student has wronged them.”
The student in question, a radio journalist
and a Fiji Times Pride of Fiji recipient, Swaran
Mala, lodged a complaint against the profes-
sor after she accused him of harassing her and
warning her of bad results if she complained to
anyone.
Fiji
happening, but I will try to find out.”
Ms Mala, in an email, alleged the professor
had harassed her and people had spread rumours
in Fiji about her.
She wrote, “On a weekend I went to visit the
Golden Temple in Punjab. I was in Amritsar and
I received a call from Prabhakar Jha. He said
‘Hey Swaran, I heard you married a Muslim boy
and are now in Shimla’.”
Prof Jha confirmed he received a call from
India from an unknown person telling him of Ms
Mala’s alleged marriage.
He said he called Ms Mala out of concern
to advise her that if she intended to get married
then she should do so with the blessing of her
parents.
Ms Mala further alleges she was forced to
change her statement after being threatened.
She further wrote in her email, “On 11th

New Zealand gives $1 million

Agra police have confirmed to the media in March, I was called to the director’s office and
India that a report was lodged with them. given a notice to be in court on March 21.
A group of foreign students, including the “It was a Sunday and I found out from people
girl, openly accused the faculty member of mis- of Agra that courts are closed on Sundays.

for cyclone relief in Fiji behaving and making sexual overtures to them
in front of the newly-appointed vice-chairman,
poet Ashok Chakradhar, who was on his maiden
visit to the institute in December, last year.
“On the notice, there is no mention of the
court’s name.
“I am really frightened. I have no idea what’s
going on here. Even today (March 17), I received
New Zealand will make Police filed a case against the professor fol- a mail, a threatening letter saying I should not
an initial $1 million contrib
efforts in Fiji following Cy ution to help relief and rec lowing Ms Mala’s public outburst. In her com- change my statement in front of anyone.
clone Tomas, Foreig n Minis ove
“Discussions are underway ter Mu rray McCully said tod ry plaint, Ms Mala, said the professor had sent her “The statement I was forced to make, I have
on how Ne w Zea lan ay.
assist the response in Fiji – d’s contribution can be bes vulgar messages on her mobile phone. been warned to stick to it or I will be in hot water
this could include a contrib t used to
of food and materials, and ution to the Red Cross; the When she protested, she was threatened and again. I feel insecure here.”
suppor t purchase
“A RNZA F Hercules arr ive for the local response. warned of the consequences that could affect her Questions sent by email to the school by the
including tarpaulins, water d in Suv a this morning car
containers, and water pur ific rying humanitarian supplies, result. Fiji Times have remained unanswered. Each
“Once the cargo has been ation tablets. According to the police, the professor used to year 25 students from Fiji receive scholarships
off-loaded, the Hercules wil
sance of the affected areas, l undertake aer ial reconn send 10 to 12 messages daily to the student. from India to take up undergraduate and post-
and is also likely to delive ais-
“New Zealand is continu r supplies to Labasa. Prof Jha said: “I am not aware of such things graduate studies in India.
ing to work closely with
joint France, Australia and our par tners under FR AN
New Zealand disaster reli Z – the
the clearer assessments of ef agreement – on assisting

Ten islands airstrips out of action, Relief

damage that we are expect Fiji, and
New Zealand and broader ing today will fur ther info
FR ANZ response,” Mr Mc rm the
Cully said.

efforts swing into full gear in Fiji

Fiji cyclone appeal nets $133,000
Auckland radio station Apna 990 has been successful
in raising more than $132,000 in its recent radiothon
appeal for the victims of Cyclone Tomas in Fiji.
Station general manager Shaiyaz Mohammed said
generous support from the people in New Zealand
towards the Fiji Hurricane Appeal had increased
pledged amount well beyond their expectations.
Mohammed said people had wholeheartedly sup-
ported the cause to help affected people in Fiji.
This is the second time since 2009 Fiji Flood Radio
Apna has done the Radio-thon.
Last year, in its 54-hour radiothon, the station
raised around $200,000 and distributed the basic food
items to the flood victims which was heartedly appre-
ciated by thousands of people who received the relief
supplies in Lautoka, Ba, Nadi and in other districts
around western division.
Mohammed has welcomed volunteers who would
Suva: Ten airstrips in Fiji’s outer islands remain
closed following the devastation caused by
Cyclone Tomas.
Airports Fiji Limited spokesman Pio Roko-
suka told FijiLive that while the Nausori, Labasa
and Kadavu airports were now operational, AFL
was still working on the ones in the outer islands.
“Our assessment team is on the ground cur-
rently assessing the damage to the airstrips and
once they have compiled a report, we will be able
to say when they will open,” Rokosuka said.
He said AFL determine the cost of damage
once the assessment was complete
National Disaster Management Office
(DISMAC) said reports are coming in of exten-
sive damage to houses and schools in the Lau
group.
“We have identified the need for shelter - big
marquee for schools damaged to put up and con-
tinue with classes until we repair schools,” said
DISMAC operations officer Anthony Blake.
Mr Blake said DISMAC is now focusing on
the parts of Fiji hit hardest by Cyclone Tomas
which include Cikobia, Taveuni, the eastern and
northern groups as well as the Lomaiviti and Lau
groups.
The number of people in evacuation centres
has also dropped in the northern division with
10,000 people now in more than 100 evacuation
centres.
Divisional commissioners have also been
asked to move evacuees from schools to other
locations such as community halls.

Bainimarama hails Australia,

“The pledged amount of $115,250 jumped to
$132,692.83 in BNZ Apna Fiji Hurricane Relief
Account as at 9am Monday, March 22, 2010.
Mohammed said the money would be transferred
from Bank of New Zealand to New Zealand based
Lotus Foreign Exchange account which is providing
a better rate at which the funds would then be trans-
ferred into Fiji-based Punjas Ltd account - the suppliers
of basic food items to the hurricane victims in Fiji.
On Wednesday, Mohammed is off to Fiji with
Dharmend Shyam to head the distribution of the basic
food items with the assistance of local volunteers and
distribution is expected to begin by Thursday after-
noon.
More than 2000 people are expected to get the
relief supplies such as flour, rice, dhal, milk powder,
biscuits, onions, potatoes, salt, canned fish, noodles,
tea leaves, washing and bathing soap .
like to travel with him on their own expenses for the
distribution of basic food items and also requests
media to accompany his team for the distribution of
food in Fiji.
New Zealand relief aid
Suva: Fiji’s leader Commodore Frank Baini-
marama has commended the swift aid response
from the Australian and New Zealand govern-
ments in the aftermath of Cyclone Tomas this
week.
Despite strained diplomatic relations, New
Zealand and Australia have pledged aid and
sent immediate help.
A Royal New Zealand Air Force Hercules
aircraft was the first to arrive. It brought in
supplies and then quickly helped with aerial
surveys of damage.
“Very good, very good,” Commodore
Bainimarama said when questioned on the
swift response by the two countries. France
is expected to contribute in the distribution of
relief assistance as well.
“In this respect under the arrangement
of FANZ which is the arrangement between
France, Australia and NZ for assistance to
Pacific Island countries, these countries shall
be providing emergency relief supplies and
assist in carrying out aerial surveys to deter-
mine the full extent of the damage,”
Commodore Bainimarama said. “The NZ
Air Force landed in Fiji this morning with the
French and Australians ready to be deployed
for assessment flights later today.”
Cyclone Tomas caused devastation for
people living in Cikobia, eastern Vanua Levu,
Taveuni Lomaiviti and Lau groups leaving
many homeless and government is prepared to
aid those affected. “Government’s first prior-
ity at this stage is to carry out an assessment
to determine the full extent of the damage,”
Commodore Bainimarama said.

Indian Weekender | March 26, 2010 | www.iwk.co.nz 11

Indian

12 Indian Weekender | March 26, 2010 | www.iwk.co.nz

Indian Boundaries are indicative only

SOLD

Mangere East Buckland Road Pukekohe Clover Estate

16 Sections NOW available from $195,000 to $218,000 each Sections NOW selling priced from $175,000 each

• 16 sections NOW available to be sold off the plans.
• Good location, flat contour, lot sizes ranging from
400-477m2.
• Hurry – these sections won’t last long. For Sale
from $195,000 to $218,000 each
• Vendor offering delayed settlement terms:
View By Appointment
• Pay $1000 now to secure your site
www.donha.co.nz
• Pay 10% in 30 days Team Don Ha:
• Pay 15% in 120 days Don Ha 021 968 309
Alison Weakley 021 901 720
Manukau Office 09 261 2555
Don Ha Real Estate Ltd Licensed (REAA 2008)
43 site subdivision, fully serviced with titles already issued. Ready to
build on NOW – no delays. Section sizes from 402m² - 865m²
House and land packages also available.
Super handy location close to Pukekohe Town Centre and good
school zones
For Sale
from $175,000 each
Make your 2010 goals become a reality – call now to secure your View By Appointment
future.
www.donha.co.nz
Attend our “How to buy a NEW HOME at Clover Estate seminar”.
Team Don Ha:
Meet the builders and financiers and we will lead you through the
Don Ha 021 968 309
steps and how the process works.
Seminar Date: Tuesday 16th March 6.30pm Ray White Manukau Alison Weakley 021 901 720
12 Osterley Way, Manukau. Manukau Office 09 261 2555
Don Ha Real Estate Ltd Licensed (REAA 2008)

Ellerslie 31a Arthur Street

Owner will! Will you? For Sale $ PBN
We have found you a modern five bedroom house in a location where its next to View By Appointment
impossible finding new house. This is only two years young house. It offers two www.rwmanukau.co.nz ID# MNK22513
spacious living areas, big kitchen with granite benchtop. Master bedroom has an
ensuite plus another two bathrooms and toilet. Double internal access garage with
off street parking. Very close to Ellerslie shops and minutes walk to train station. Mandeep Gill 262 6768
Owner will look on all reasonable offers as he has expanded his business and wants mobile 021 67 55 81
this one gone. If you are looking to buy in this location dont buy unless you have Manukau Office 09 261 2555
seen this one. Call me now. Don Ha Real Estate Ltd Licensed (REAA 2008)

Epsom 115a The Drive

Grammar School Zone

Located in one of the best spot of the town is this five

bedroom two level house. Built of brick and tile it has
formal lounge and informal living area. Kitchen is modern
Three Kings 8F Warren Ave and has got all the modern appliances. Three bathroom For Sale
$ PBN
Points to Perfection For Sale $689,000 and toilet including ensuite in master bedroom. Good
* Five Double bedrooms. View By Appointment View By Appointment
school zones and very close to town. This property must
* Separate living area and formal lounge. www.rwmanukau.co.nz ID# MNK22762 www.rwmanukau.co.nz ID# MNK22508
* Modern Kitchen. be sold as vendor has other projects to finish. Well worth
* Double internal excess garage. a phone call.
Mandeep Gill 262 6768 Mandeep Gill 262 6768
* Low maintence brick and tile house.
* Excellent location. mobile 021 67 55 81 mobile 021 67 55 81
There are always more buyers than really good properties for sale - Manukau Office 09 261 2555 Manukau Office 09 261 2555
so act quickly. Don Ha Real Estate Ltd Licensed (REAA 2008) Don Ha Real Estate Ltd Licensed (REAA 2008)

Manukau - 261 2555 www.rwmanukau.co.nz

Indian Weekender | March 26, 2010 | www.iwk.co.nz 13

 Indian
Indian
From the Editor
Can National chew all that it has bitten off?
After dithering tentatively for several months on a number of issues that gripped the
country last year – not least of all the deleterious effects of the financial crisis – the Na-
tional government seems to have mustered both the muscle and the pluck to well and truly
swing into action in the first quarter of this year.
Despite almost getting a “do nothing government” tag toward the end of last year
because of a growing perception of slow movement and lukewarm, half-hearted respons-
es to a slew of problems, the government and the prime minister himself managed to keep
approval ratings remarkably high.
As the clock winds down to next year’s election, the government seems to have realised
it was high time it showed some gumption to achieve the things it had long promised
before the goodwill begins to wear out.
And so, in a great hurry as it were it has recently announced action on a range of
issues from tax reform and benefit restructure to discussions about opening a tiny frac-
tion of conservation land for exploiting the nation’s potential wealth in natural resources
and minerals. This has stirred the Kiwi policy pot more vigorously and noisily than it has
been in the past several years.
Having inherited near empty coffers from the previous government’s ill conceived big
spending initiatives and social engineering largesse this government also had to face the
effects of one of the world’s worst financial crisis. The situation is so dire that the govern-
ment is borrowing at the rate of $240 million a week to meet its budget deficit.
Assuming the government could muster all the courage at its command including
throwing political caution to the winds enough to be voted out at the next poll, no amount
of tax restructuring can hope to get the country out of this debt hole. In fact there is no
single solution and the challenge has to be met on several fronts. That is hopefully what
the government intends to do having decided to act on so many critical issues all at once.
The benefit restructure announced earlier this week is a step in the right direction.
Though it is already being criticised as being too weak and cosmetic in some quarters,
the very fact that a subject almost elevated to a holy cow status by the previous regime has
been opened up for discussion is a development that needs to be lauded.
True, the revised benefit criteria announced might not go far enough but more im-
portantly, a strong signal has been sent that the government means business and will not
tolerate long term rort of the system – something that has been happening in no small
measure going by anecdotal evidence that is available plentifully.
It is small wonder that the reaction from the hardworking members of the Indian com-
munity to the announced reform has been positive as can be gauged from the unanimously
affirmative responses of our jury to a question on the subject (page 30).
The other front that the government has courageously opened is the one on opening a
tiny fraction of conservation land for exploiting natural resources. The government needs
to do that. It is one of the most promising avenues that gives the biggest chance to lead
this country with such a tiny population out of its present financial morass the quickest.
Of course there will be the naysayers, the tree huggers and the philosophers who will
despair as is only their wont. Opinion is already sharply divided on whether New Zealand
should go ahead on mining particularly as it is likely to hurt the clean and green image
of the country, which indeed is the country’s biggest draw card. No matter what the real
merits of this claim, the tagline has brought tremendous success to the country’s tourism.
Encouragingly, as this issue goes to print, the tourism industry has said that the mining
idea, at the level that it is being planned, is unlikely to hinder tourism. They are right. The
idea is too vital and much too important to be ignored because of idle idealism that has
led this country nowhere in the past decade.
It is heartening to see the government go hammer and tongs at so many issues all at
once. The fear, however, is if between now and the run up to next year’s poll it will have
bitten more than it can chew.
And there are even more things being piled up on its plate. It has to decide whether to
go ahead with its ETS, which will push energy prices up based on a premise the kind of
which has been discredited since the Copenhagen fiasco and has been all but abandoned
in several countries including our transtasman neighbour. And then, of course, there is
the supercity.
So much to chew, so little time.
– Dev Nadkarni
Indian Weekender Volume 2 No 1 (Issue 26)
Publisher: Kiwi Media Group Limited
Group editor-in-chief: Dev Nadkarni dev@indianweekender.co.nz
Online editor: Arvind Kumar arvind@indianweekender.co.nz
India Correspondent: Shobha Rao shobha@indianweekender.co.nz
Chief Technical Officer: Rohan Desouza rohan@ indianweekender.co.nz
Design: Tanmay Desai desaidesign@gmail.com / www.desaign.co.nz
Advertising: Giri Gupta - Ph: 520 0922, Mob: 021 221 1131. Email - girigupta@xtra.co.nz
Please email original editorial contributions, community notices and pictures to
editor@indianweekender.co.nz
Views expressed in the publication are not necessarily of the publisher and the publisher
is not responsible for advertisers’ claims as appearingv in the publication
Indian Weekender is published by Kiwi Media Group, 98 Great South Road, New Market
and printed at APN Print, Ellerslie, Auckland
Copyright 2009. Kiwi Media Group. All Rights Reserved.
14
Letters
Rotorua celebrates Race Relations Day with soccerfest
Congratulations to organisers of this event, this definitely will help harmony among all New Zealand-
ers, remembering and feel proud of their own identities while respecting others.
- Subra M Subramaniam
Didn’t even know a day like this existed. We need more initiatives like this to promote racial harmony.
- R Gupta
Diversity in the community
It is heartening to know that a constructive approach was taken on both sides. An underlying process
that strikes me is the fact that now there are people of the wider “immigrant” communities, present
and active in different spheres of social life, eg. playing golf and going for a drink to the local club.
This gives a push to revisit, and examine the archaic the norms. A further question to think about is
how diverse (ethno-cultural and physical ability) are the governing bodies of clubs, etc?
-Rina
Yoga
Yoga, Meditation and Pranayam are all Indian products, Truly Indian Offerings. Excellent page on
yoga
- Hola
Memories of Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau
Where were you prior to 1987
It is very easy to account for mistakes and misjudgement in the hindsight. One could write a book, a
thesis and disect what has occured in Fiji. However, it began with the question, if you had all these
knowledge, these facts, these opinions and wisdoms, where were you prior to 1987? Why didnt you
write publicly about these things, why did you go to the media. What did you do to promote these facts,
opinion and knowledge. It would be interesting to hear from you.
- Francis Lal
This is my response to the comment by Francis Lal:
I was in Fiji from 1966 but I started taking an interest in what is happening only from the 1970s. In
the late 1970s, 1980s I started forming my opinions and felt strongly about many things that were
happening. But when I expressed my views I was told I don’t understand because I am not Fiji-born.
So I did my research to find out if I am wrong. What I am writing is based on my research and it is
history rather than politics.
- Padmini Gaunder
Apna 990 Radio Appeal
Radio Apna, especially Shaiyaz Mohammed need to be commended tremedously for their untiring
efforts to bring hope to the disturbed and unfortunate people of Fiji. May God Bless You for your self-
less service to your very own community. Thank you for remembering us in Fiji.
- Praveen Lata
Cyclone coverage
Your website coverage of Fiji cyclone was excellent. The update was regular and it helped keep in
touch with developments. Keep up the good work I am sure many people will now follow your website
updates.
- Arvin Ram
Top 10 stories on www.iwk.co.nz
1. Fiji braces for Cyclone Tomas
2. Flights to Fiji suspended as cyclonic conditions worsen
3. Club apologises for refusing service to turbaned Sikh
4. IPL Summary: Daredevils, Mumbai Indians win; Sourav fined
5. India’s first global brand
6. Indian Rugby team training in New Zealand
7. “I’d like my son to bat like Sachin”
8. Six-year-old dies, mother unaware
9. Enchanting evening of “Ghazals” awaits Aucklanders
10. IPL Summary: CSK beat KKR; BRC trounce Kings XI Punjab
Would you like your copy of
Indian Weekender delivered to
your mail box?
Please send us your name, street address and phone number along
with a cheque for $50 payable to Kiwi Media Group and mail it to Unit
O, 8 Bishop Lenihan Place, East Tamaki, Manukau 2013. The amount
would cover the costs of mailing and handling 26 issues.
Indian Weekender | March 26, 2010 | www.iwk.co.nz
Indian
The intellectual dishonesty of India’s pseudo secularists
dev nadkarni
India’s pseudo secular brigade is at it again.
Artist M. F. Husain’s decision to accept citizen-
ship from the Middle Eastern state of Qatar and
live there has them raving and ranting against
the Hindu majority, blaming it squarely for
forcing him out of the country.
It beggars belief that these left leaning so
called liberals can’t see the fact that it is the
tradition of tolerance that is deeply embedded
in Indian culture that gives them the very voice
they use to criticise everything innately Indian,
such as Hindu culture and social mores, with
such impunity that borders on intellectual dis-
honesty and complete disrespect for the very
milieu that has shaped them.
Husain is undoubtedly a well-recognised
artist whose works command hundreds of thou-
sands of dollars on the international art circuit.
As much as his mastery over his craft and tech-
nique, he has built his success by regularly re-
sorting to antics to stay in the news to raise his
profile in the media.
He has over the years put to great use the
simple but clever philosophy ever so often
relied on by the public relations outfits which
advice Hollywood celebrities: all news – good
or bad – is great so long as it polarizes people
and keeps the issue in the media and the subject
in the limelight. Eventually, it does great things
for personal brand value. Hollywood examples
of this are legion.
Husain has routinely courted controversy
throughout his career by doing things out of the
ordinary with the nous and elan of a marketing
genius. Many years ago he decided never to use
footwear and famously squatted outside a well-
heeled club in Mumbai, after being refused
entry because he did not have footwear on – a
Continuing the series Government by Greed
Qarase Becomes Elected PM
Subhash Appana
In my last article focus fell on Qarase’s infamous
Agricultural Scam that drained Fiji of approxi-
mately $25m at a time when the country was
reeling from the aftermath of the political folly
of 2000. Three government officials were con-
victed some 7 years later in the case; the most
senior was made a scapegoat because he dared
demand that he be reinstated by 30/4/02 or he
would blow the lid on the scam (FT 5/4/02).
Later on 18th June 2002 he filed a writ naming
11 of Qarase’s government ministers for having
won the August 2001 General Elections on the
back of the Ministry of Agriculture’s Farming
Assistance Scheme (fijilive 20/6/02). Ultimately,
none of the real movers was stung, all continued
to reign amid renewed efforts to ensure access to
government goodies.
That scam was a multi-million dollar program
handled by a PM with an extensive finance back-
ground. Qarase had been Managing Director of
Fijian Holdings Ltd., Fiji Development Bank and
Merchants Bank of Fiji. At FHL, he spearheaded
a move to open up access to A-class shares for
individuals and ended up being a key beneficiary
among a connected group of key individuals.
The end result at FHL was a total hijack-
ing of the organizations objectives as 70% of
its shares were diverted to individual interests
against Fijian community interests. At FDB, he
presided over assistance schemes that accumu-
lated bad debts totaling some $220m. This was
done straight after questions and debates roared
around the catastrophic $250m demise of the
National Bank of Fiji.
It is interesting that national spotlight was on
NBF and the importance of banking practices
and processes while Qarase was allowing FDB
to be drained. His one-year stint at Merchants
Bank missed public scrutiny as he was nomi-
nated to Senate by the SVT in 1999. It can be
hazarded that research would make for some in-
teresting revelations at Merchants Bank as well.
As elections approached in September
Indian Weekender | March 26, 2010 | www.iwk.co.nz
requirement according to the club’s rules.
That simple but brilliant act catapulted him
to the front page and he has time and again used
stunts like these, without doubt to preserve and
increase his brand value.
His decision many years ago to turn to paint-
ing Hindu goddesses in the nude that helped
him raise his profile in the international media
no end is therefore open to interpretation as
more a gimmick than an expression of his art,
as his pseudo secular defendants would rather
have us believe.
He craftily used the inherently high sense
of tolerance in the majority Indian psyche to
embark on this path and exploited the under-
standably outraged reaction of a small fringe
of vocal opposition to paint the majority of the
country as intolerant and with no appreciation
of his art. Which was gleefully seconded and
amplified across the world by the intellectually
dishonest pseudo secular brigade.
These people have come out in his defence
saying Hindu goddesses have been traditionally
depicted in the nude and so Husain has not done
anything different or offensive. Although it is
true that goddesses have been depicted in the
nude, there always has been a mythological and
ritual context for it.
Besides, these works of art and architec-
ture mostly seen in ancient temple sculptures
have been made for the purpose of worship.
And most importantly, all of them have been
created by legions of humble, nameless artists
and craftsmen for whom their work alone was
worship – not means to put their individual sig-
natures below to hawk off at fancy dollar prices
trudging the world’s art markets on their bare
feet.
2001, interim-PM Qarase
was well ensconced and
ready to take over as the
As elections ap-
elected PM of Fiji. There proached in Septem-
were however, a number
of real threats he had to ber 2001, interim-PM
overcome. The very first
step involved forming Qarase was well en-
the Soqosoqo Duavata ni
Lewenivanua (SDL Party) sconced and ready
in Suvavou Village in July
2000.
to take over as the
It was the SDL that elected PM of Fiji.
was credited with distrib-
uting the $25m agricultur- There were however, a
al handouts as its leaders
ran the interim govern- number of real threats
ment of the time under
Qarase. While this sweet- he had to overcome.
ening process was going
on, strategies were being formulated by Naisoro
and Co. to convert Qarase’s interim government
into a democratically elected entity.
A major problem was presented by the coup-
tainted nationalists who had to be at the forefront
of the 2000 upheaval. The SDL couldn’t overtly
court them largely because of Bainimarama
and the military – Bainimarama had clearly in-
structed Qarase to “clean up” the political scene
when he installed him as interim-PM in July
2000. This presented a major problem for Qarase
because they were clamouring for recognition
and rewards.
Moreover, the coupists knew too many
secrets, were hugely popular among some parts
of the electorate, and were a very real threat to
the SDL itself. A split Fijian vote could spring
Chaudhry back into government – that had to
be avoided at all cost. Thus a clandestine deal
was struck, the Conservative Alliance Matanitu
Vanua Party (CAMV) was formed and agreed to
contest the 2001 elections separately.
This meant that the conservative Fijian
As for the question of context and relevance,
not all goddesses are depicted in the nude tra-
ditionally – something that Husain has done
and which his cronies justify citing tradition.
Husain’s contention and that of his enthusiastic
followers that he has only followed the ancient
tradition in depicting goddesses the way he has
done rings hollow for yet another reason.
He once is said to have painted Adolf Hitler
in the nude and by way of explanation said that
he did it because he wanted to humiliate him
for his deeds. He has also used nudity in chosen
subjects to make such symbolic statements in
his other work. Undoubtedly he is a master
marketer and his supporters, in all their leftist
pseudo liberal deal, fail to see that their naivete
has been brilliantly exploited by his foxy strat-
egy.
In the same week that the Husain-Qatar
brouhaha broke out, some cities in the state of
Karnataka were ravaged by violence because
exiled Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen –
who lives in India under government protection
because her life is threatened by fundamental-
ists in her own country – made comments on
the traditional attire of South Asian Muslim
women.
She was verbally attacked by extremist ele-
ments in the media almost leading her to deny
the statement she made and offering the usual
explanation of being misquoted and misread.
What happened then to the great champions
of creative freedom who sprang to the aid of
Husain? Why did none of them have the gump-
tion to speak on behalf of Nasreen and her cre-
ative right to speak her mind? Where were they
hiding?
Also, where were these votaries of the much-
electorate could choose
between the nationalist
CAMV and the “mod-
erate” SDL. The silent
understanding was that
direct confrontations
would be avoided and the
2 would share their pref-
erential votes. In this case
of 2-way blackmail the
SDL held the power card
and the CAMV the coup
secrets card.
2001 Elections
As mentioned earlier one
of the main strategies
used by the SDL to swing
the 2001 elections was
the $15-25m agricultural
scam, which was jump-started 3 months prior to
and continued to be disbursed right up to polling
as Qarase’s interim-Ministers refused to leave
cabinet in the conventional manner. These free
disbursements held the silent promise of much
more as an indigenous right in “our country”.
Furthermore, senior chiefs in all 14 prov-
inces were approached traditionally with tabua
to endorse the SDL and direct their subjects
to support it. To consolidate this link between
the SDL and Fijian administration, the provin-
cial councils were used to vet candidates for the
forthcoming elections.
And for divine sanction as well as to sway all
other Fijian voters, the Methodist Church Presi-
dent issued a written directive to all pastors to
promote the SDL from the pulpit. For this, Rev-
erend Tomasi Kanailagi was immediately nomi-
nated to Senate by Qarase as soon as he won the
elections and became PM.
Another very interesting development that
played a role in the elections was the secondment
of Australian Liberal Party pollster, Howard
Comment
cherished freedom of creative expression hiding
when the Indian government banned Salman
Rushdie’s book that sent him into similar self-
exile for over a decade? Of course, you couldn’t
in a million years expect to hear even a whisper
from them on the Danish cartoons.
And around the same time earlier this month
books depicting Jesus Christ with alcohol and
cigarettes created a stir in the media in the
North Eastern states, forcing the government
to swoop down and seize the offending mate-
rial. That was rightly seen as mischievous and
hurtful.
Amazingly, Husain’s nude depictions of
Indian goddesses is pure art, his acolytes expect
everyone to believe.
Their blatant ambivalence and deafening
silence on such matters that are outside the
ambit of the easy to bash Hindu majority clearly
expose them through the diaphanous veil of
pseudo liberalism.
These people are unable to acknowledge
that it is this age-old sense of tolerance that is
hardwired into larger Hindu thought that gives
them their voice, which unfortunately they use
exclusively against itself but it is their skewed
sense of political correctness fostered by their
western education and mores that terrifies them
from using the same yardstick to creative peo-
ple’s stand on matters outside the comfort zone
of Hindu tradition.
There is a saying in Hindi that describes
such attitudes succinctly, “Jis thali mein khate
hain, usi mein thookktein hain,” which trans-
lates as “spitting back in the same plate that you
are eating from.”
As for Husain, good riddance. India’s gain
is Qatar’s loss.
Texter to the SDL campaign machinery. Accord-
ing to convicted con-man Peter Foster, Texter
spearheaded the wedge-politics focus of the SDL
campaign.
During polling there were threats of blood-
shed if the SDL lost. Pockets of violence erupted
in Dawasamu and Muainaweni, 2 settlements
that had been brutalized and looted during the
2000 coup. And there were numerous reports of
voter intimidation as people queued up in inter-
minable lines to cast their votes. This was clearly
a manifestation of the politics of fear.
At the end of a tedious and contentious
process Qarase became the elected PM of Fiji
in September 2001 on the back of an expected
coalition with the coup-spawned CAMV which
also had George Speight in its fold. Interestingly
the SDL attracted only 26% of total votes com-
pared to Labour’s 34.8%.
And as expected, Chaudhry and the FLP
were kept out of cabinet against constitutional
stipulations. The Supreme Court declared on
18/7/03 that Labour’s exclusion was unconstitu-
tional. Then in June 2004, it again declared that
Labour was entitled to 14 out of the 30 seats in
cabinet.
In defiance of the courts, Qarase would have
none of this as he could not see working with
a contentious individual like Chaudhry. A long
legal battle was avoided when Chaudhruy de-
clared, in November 2004, that the FLP was
not interested in joining Qarase’s government.
Indeed, Qarase could ill-afford to have such
pesky obstacles on his bigger agenda. Stay tuned
for more!
- Subhash Appana is an academic and
political commentator. The opinions contained
in this article are entirely his and not neces-
sarily shared by any organizations he may be
associated with both in Fiji and abroad. Email
subhasha@ais.ac.nz
15
Indian
Community
Rotorua celebrates Race Relations Ek sham Ghazal ke naam
Day with soccerfest set to enthrall
March 21 is observed around the world as the radabadi, Firaq Gorakhpuri, Majrooh Sultanpuri,

Photos: Alexis LewGor and Susana So

International Day for the Elimination of Racial
Discrimination.
In New Zealand, Race Relations Day is pro-
moted by the Human Rights Commission. It is
the time when many multi-cultural festivals or-
ganised by community groups, schools, coun-
cils, workplaces, places of worship and most of
19 Regional Multicultural Councils around New
Zealand take place on the preceding weekend
to celebrate the value of cultural diversity; thus
making March a multicultural month. The theme
for Race Relations Day 2010 is ‘It’s About Us-
Whanau’.
Multicultural Rotorua celebrated Race Rela-
tions Day through U&I Soccerfest 2010 on March
6 at the Rotorua United Football Club (Neil Hunt
Park). This is an annual social soccer tournament
organised by the Rotorua Multicultural Council
Inc. in association with the Rotorua United Foot-
ball Club. U&I Soccerfest 2010 was made pos-
sible through funding from the New Zealand
Community Trust (NZCT).
There were nine soccer teams playing for
the championship title. The following nations
were represented either by a team or an individ-
ual playing in a multicultural team: NZ (Kiwi/
Maori), Fiji, South Korea, Thailand, Mauritius,
England, Argentina, Bulgaria, France, Brazil,
Chile, Sri Lanka, India and Japan. Due to time
limitations, the game was split into two groups
and there were two 1st place and 2nd place titles.
Graham Hall (Patron of the Rotorua Mul-
ticultural Council/Former Mayor of Rotorua)
graced the occassion along with National MP
Todd McClay who officially opened the ceremo-
ny and welcomed all the teams. He was particlar-
ly pleased to see more young players this year.
At closing, Mr. McClay awarded custom-
made wood trophies made and donated by
Norwegian Kjell Gudmundsen of Geyserland
Woodworkers Guild (Pererika Street) to winning
teams:
Ngati by Nature (bi-cultural team:Maori/
Kiwi) won First Place, Ezy Speed (multicultural
team:Fijian-Indian, Kiwi, Korean and Japanese)
won First Place; Bula Fiji1 (Fijian team) won
Second Place, Be the Reds (South Korean team)
won Second Place. A consolation prize voucher
courtesy of Sam’s Kitchen was awarded to We
Ate Yo (multicultural team playing for Western
Heights High: Indian, Kiwi, English, Sri Lankan
and Thai).
The Bula Fiji team and supporters. The team
won the second prize
Prashant Belwalkar
This famous couplet sung by Ghazal maestro
Ghulam Ali, brings back the memories of youth in
the subcontinent, when love was in the air and ghazal
concerts were a routine affair. Ghazals have their
own fan following and iss appreciated by both the
male and female members of the society. Infact, such
concerts were also an occasion to meet each other in
the highly reserved society where mingling in open
was frowned upon.
The word ‘Ghazal’ has its origin in Persia and
is a poetic form consisting of rhyming couplets
and a refrain. It consists of minimum five couplets
and typically no more than fifteen. However, each
couplet is autonomous in its own right, with only the
emotion as a common theme in all the couplets of a
ghazal. The length of each line of couplet is also the
same. The second line of a couplet (or ‘sher’ as it is
known) ends with a repetition of few words known
as ‘radif’ which is preceded by a rhyme known as
‘qaafiyaa’. The poet generally places his or her name
in the final verse (or Maqta) and the ‘takhallus’(pen
name) often subscribes the credit of the ghazal to
him or her.
Traditionally invoking melancholy, love,
longing, and metaphysical questions, ghazals are
often sung by Iranian, Indian, and Pakistani musi-
cians. The form has roots in seventh-century Arabia,
and gained prominence in the thirteenth- and four-
teenth-century thanks to such Persian poets as Rumi
and Hafiz. In the eighteenth-century, the ghazal was
used by poets writing in Urdu, a mix of the medi-
eval languages of Northern India, including Persian.
Among these poets, Ghalib is the recognized master.
Most ghazal scholars today recognize that some
ghazal couplets are exclusively about Divine Love
(ishq-e-haqiqi), others are about “earthly love” (ishq-
e-majazi), but many of them can be interpreted in
either context.
On April 10, Aucklanders will be lucky to enjoy
the first ever concert of Ghazal in New Zealand.
The credit for this must go to Nisar Mirza, who has
worked tirelessly for the last six months to get this
project off ground. He has single handedly pushed
for this dream project and has brought imminent
singers in Auckland together with the help of Sargam
School of Music.
The reference of Ghazal brings to fore prominent
singers like Begum Akhtar, Ghulam Ali, Mehdi
Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Jan Nisar Akhtar, Shakeb Jalali,
Qamar Jalalabadi, Qateel Shifai, Nasir Kazmi,
Ahmed Faraz, Makhdoom Mohiuddin, Sahir Lud-
hianvi, Nida Fazli and Gulzar have given us some
wonderful ghazals. Add to the mix, musicians like
Khayyam, Naushad who have composed some
wonderful ghazals for films. It was this legacy that
Mirzaji wanted to carry forward in New Zealand and
the task was difficult.
Ghazals are traditionally based on classical Hin-
dustani music and you need singers with soft voice
and versatility to pick up the fine nuances of the
couplets and relay the emotion effectively to the au-
diences. Ghazals have become a part of the folkore
across the globe. The tough task of rendering these
masterpieces will fall in the hands of noted singers
Shobha Pathak, Arun Khotkar and Sandhya Rao.
Mehdi Hassan’s ghazals sound very soft and easy
to the ears but are one of the most complicated to sing
as they stick to true classical form which include hits
like “Ranjish hi sahi” or “tumne yeh phool joh julfe
pe saja rakkha hai” or “ shola hun”. It will be chal-
lenging for Nisarji and his team to sing these ghazals.
But he has also some aces up his sleeves in the form
of Prof S D Madhur, who can render these emotions
with ease and will also have the support of Kanika
Diesh and Viraj Maki. How can the program of
ghazal be complete without the mention of Roshan,
a popular singer on these shores. Harish Khatnour
will be at his best while rendering the complex com-
postions of Jagjit and Ghulam Ali.
Evergreen ghazals like “Who Kagaz ki Kashti”,
“Sarakti jaye”, “ Apni Marji se”, “Diwaron se milar
rona”, “Ab dhalte hue sagar nahi dekhe jaate” or “jab
aanchal raat ka leheraye” are a challenge to any mu-
sicians. However, rest assured that Sargam School
led by Basant Madhur and Deepak Madhur on Tabla
and Hemant Thaker on Keyboard are upto the task
and they will be assisted by Shivam on Base Guitar
and Surbhi Sharma on Violin.
The concert promises to be an evening to re-
member and will keep the audiences rooted the seats.
So mark the date in your calendar – April 10,
2010.
Venue: Dorothy Winston Centre, Howe Street,
Auckland. Time: 7.00 pm and book your tickets
in advance.
Tickets: $15 & $20.00

Benny to front Easter fiesta Hassan, Jagjit & Chitra Singh, Talat Aziz, Farida
Khanum, Pankaj Udhas, Nina & Rajendra Mehta
among others who have given us innumerable hits.
Poets like Wali, Aatish, Mirza Ghalib, Jigar Mo-
Available at : Yogiji’s foodmart or contact
Nisar Mirza: 027 2777623
Basant Madhur: 021 0357954/ 09 626 2646

World famous musicianary Benny Prasad youth groups will provide support with their
will be the main guest artist at a grand attendance. There is also a sports tourna-

Talk series on ‘Tips for

Easter youth gathering in Auckland next ment on the running track (next to the Trusts
week. stadium) at the same time.
The Youth Easter Fiesta 2010 will be “We are having an extensive marketing
held on Saturday March 27, at the Trusts campaign. Public admission is free. Seating

Happy Living’
Stadium Arena, capacity of
Waitakere, from the stadium
3pm to 10pm. is 2000. We
This festival is are expect-
a large scale youth ing high foot
programme, one traffic. Similar H.H.Swami Te- ing and cursing. However, some happily dance
of the organizers, if not more jomayananda is through live, sporting and playing ordinary or
Leela Wati, said. than Diwali and visiting Auckland extraordinary roles, gaining mastery over them-
“Many youth Holi, as this is a during the second selves and others, making a mark everywhere
groups from church- multi-cultural, week of April. they go and touch the lives of all they come in
es of different cul- multi-ethnic During Swami contact with.
tures/ethnicities and and multi-de- Te j o m a y a n a n - Such extraordinary people are rare, and are
denominations will nomi national da’s visit to New remembered long after their departure. Tips for
present an item at event. Zealand in April Happy Living show practical ways of how to live
the festival.” “This is 2010, Aucklanders happily and outlive life.
There will also the first time will get an oppor- These talks deal with matters of day to day
be guest speakers any church in tunity to hear one living such as
such as the world Benny Prasad...live in Auckland Auckland is of the contempo- • Turning potential to performance,
renowned Steve on March 27. organising an rary masters of • Harmony in Relationships,
Kumar. There will eve nt /fe st iva l Vedanta speak on a very pertinent and down to • Mind your mind, etc.
be live bands performing. of this magnitude. Not only is this the first earth topic, ‘Tips For Happy Living’, based on These talks are a must for the young and old
Also, there will be multi-cultural food time for a church to do something like this,” the book ‘Jivansutrani’ (Aphorisms for Daily alike in terms of giving direction to our lives or
stalls, non-food stalls, not-for-profit food said Leela. Living). even resolving situations through a new insight.
stalls and educational institutes. Rides for “But this is the first time for an Indian Swami Tejomayanandaji states that people
youth and children will also be present, church to host an event as big as this. No are fascinated with knowing about life after When: 13th April to 17th April 2010
Leela said. other church (especially an Indian church) death but knowing about life after birth is more Time: 7.30 pm to 9.00 pm
Benny Prasad, of Bangalore, will be in has managed to set up something like this important and relevant and his ‘sutras’ for happy Where: Dorothy Winstone Centre, Auckland
New Zealand for only two days. He has a in Auckland. living are based on lessons learnt from his ex- Girls Grammar school, Howe street, Newton.
huge international following. His popularity “All in all, it will be a great for all to periences of life- trials and deep understanding
in New Zealand is escalating at a fast rate. enjoy.” of the scriptures and contact with various saints For more information contact Chinmaya
The church members and friends of the - Arvind Kumar and sages. Mission New Zealand on 2756954.
Some live ‘ordinary’ lives, that too complain-

16 Indian Weekender | March 26, 2010 | www.iwk.co.nz

Indian
Sangam observes Environment day
The Muthamil sangam observed environmental day
on March 14. Sangam members, non-members, and
children participated in the activity that has now
become an annual event every year for past 10 years.
The Sangam is taking initiatives to keep the environ-
ment clean by inculcating the culture in youngsters.
The Manukau city council provided fresh fruit
and chilled water during the day. They also dispensed
Hanuman Jayanti to be celebrated on March 30
Sri Raghavendra Bhakti Prachara Peeta is organizing the Sri Hanumaan Jayanthi on March 30, 2010
in Mt Roskill war memorial hall.
PROGRAMME DETAILS
7:00 PM – 7:15 PM Prayer-Vijayarayara kavacha, Madhwanama,Hanuman chalisa
7:30 PM – 7:50 PM Pravachan on ‘Prowess of Sri Hanuman’
8:00 PM – 8:30 PM Rathotsavam with Bhajans 2010.
8:45 PM – 9:00 PM Mahamangalarati/Naivedyam
9:00 PM Distribution of Prasadam
Sevas : Rathotsava Seva $21
Devotees willing to offer seva may contact Peeta’s office : ph.(09)6274007 by 20th March 2010
Job Search Helpline for Indians from April
Auckland: Finding a job in New Zealand has
always been a thorny path. Thousands of unem-
ployed workers and students have unsuccessfully
tried to find a suitable job. Skills and experience
gained in New Zealand and overseas are not helping
anymore. Frustration and home sickness is making
their life more difficult.
Voluntary Law Association of India New
Zealand Inc, a charity working to uplift the lives
of Indians living in New Zealand have decided to
start a job search helpline for unemployed people of
Indian origin in New Zealand free of cost. Accord-
ing to its Chairman Arunjeev Singh, the helpline
would start registration of unemployed people from
1st April 2010 and then a data base for employers
COLENSO1967F
Offer ends 30th June 2010. See vodafone.co.nz for details.
Indian Weekender | March 26, 2010 | www.iwk.co.nz
different sized gloves to suit adults and children for
hygiene purposes, and they also provided sunscreen
lotion to those present.
Sangam President Mr. Ilango Krishnamoorthy
thanked members for their voluntary work and their
support. A barbeque party at the President’s place
rounded off the day’s celebrations.
would be created to match their qualification and
experience. Registration fee would be $5 and soon
the people would be able to do it online through
the website www..vlainz.com. There would be no
fee from either the worker or the employer for this
service.
The organization is also publishing an informa-
tive book in Punjabi soon for new migrant com-
munity where necessary information about the
services and facilities provided by governmental/
non- governmental organizations, institutions,
agencies will be included exhaustively. Businesses
interested in supporting this project are welcome.
For more details contact (09) 2769102, (09)
2969181 or visit www.vlainz.com.
Woman power to the fore
Dr. Primla Khar
It was an amazing reflection of ‘Matre Shakti’
(Women Power). All those glorious, decked in ex-
traordinary saris, happy, eager women in one room
about a 150 of them. Subtly proud grandmothers,
daughters, nieces and granddaughters – all togeth-
er sharing to learn to explore and to broaden their
horizons. All (but two) in that monumental hall
were Kiwi Indian Women from Fiji, India, Malay-
sia and South Africa. Some born abroad and some
have risen from the Aotearoa soil. This was the
day when women of Indian origin came together at
New Zealand Indian Central Association’s Annual
Women conference hosted by Auckland Indian As-
sociation at Mahatma Gandhi Centre on 27th Feb
My first attendance at earlier conference was
about five years ago at the same premises when I was
impressed by the speech of none other than late Smt.
Tara Satyanand (mother of H E Anand Satyanand,
Governor General of New Zealand). Short in stature
but tall in her dialogue she reinforced the need for
coming together of Indian women and showing the
way to the families and society at large. That has
remained the essence of these annual conferences.
This time the main emphasis was on – growing from
within. The theme being ‘Shine like a diamond’
For the ultimate well being, it is very important
to nurture both the physical and emotional side of
a being. Our physical well being is catered to by
our regular visits to our doctor (pay your doctor a
visit atleast once a year for a general check-up; your
doctor may find issues that you might have ignored
otherwise)
Our emotional well being can be enhanced by
listening to and participating in forums where we
talk and discuss about self confidence. How impor-
tant is it to be at peace with our inner being. One
such lovely speaker went into her own past and
shared her experience wherein she rose from this
Why fly home when you
can call home?
Just 10c a minute to call mobiles and landlines
in China, India and other selected countries
from your Prepay Mobile.
See vodafone.co.nz for details
Community
timid, confused young girl who went through the
turmoil of a globally organised marriage only to be
followed by a divorce. Her struggle ending into her
zest to find ‘herself’.
Her successful approach following a simple
three step path – set a small goal – work towards
it – then achieve it.
Similarly to lose weight: – 1. Set a small goal -
say lose half a kg in next four months. 2. Research
your possible options like small plate portions, food
substitution (thickly cut potatoes chips have less
calories and fat as compared to thin cut chips), and 3.
Achieve your goal – lose weight. End result huge self
confidence and the other fall outs being able to wear
those model dresses.
Also at the conference this dynamic ex school
principal who volunteers for an organisation ‘Dress
for Success’ addressed the gathering. It was very
brave of her to walk us through her very personal
wardrobe. How many of us can do that. This woman
could as she exudes amazing amount of positive
energy and self confidence. Sharing her story of
raising from rags to comfortable life style she holds
on to her past with an eye on helping those who are
less fortunate. Helping dress up women for their job
interviews - God Bless her
Another speaker, who works in India - teach-
ing – bringing in the importance of Tadasana the
mountain posture in Yoga; which helps in gaining
balance in our body and hence in our lives. She re-
minded us about the goldmine that is there for us
only if we apply it to our daily lives – meditation and
Yoga – getting our mind and body into a balance.
Revisiting our traditional practices and applying
these after understanding them.
The conference was interactive, enlightening
and entertaining. The culmination was singing,
dancing and a sumptuous dinner. It was an em-
phatic statement by these women that a wonderful
creative conference can be concluded with immense
enjoyment and joy and without the aid of smoke or
alcohol.
17
Indian
Bollywood
Vivek Oberoi cuts green cake Sonam Kapoor turns
‘Golden Girl’ Ojas Rajani creating
Mumbai: L’Oreal Paris brand ambas- the look on Sonam
sador Sonam Kapoor launched the
Spring Summer 2010 make up look
called –‘Golden Girl’ on Monday
at L’Oreal Paris boutique at
Phoenix Mills, Lower Parel,
here.
Guest Make up artist Ojas
Rajani created the look on
Sonam Kapoor. Inspired by
the warm tones of summer
and the rich notes of latest
products, L’Oreal Paris
Golden Girl look is feminine,
with simplicity and elegance
as its key expressions.
The base colours for this
look are coral and matte gold,
lifted through a use of the non-
colours, white and black.
While eyes stay smokey and
wide-eyed, lips and cheeks get a
boost of flush.
Speaking about the look Sonam said,
‘“I’m really happy to be L’Oreal Paris’s
Golden Girl for the day! The Golden Girl
Spring Summer ’10 animation created by L’Oreal
Bollywood actor Vivek Oberoi was recently spotted giving tips on how to make a greener tomorrow Paris looks and feels great while complimenting So
to children from ‘Snehasadan’ NGO here. the Indian skin tone perfectly. The Golden Girl m y
His visit to the NGO was a part of Panasonic’s Eco Idea campaign. The fun-filled afternoon saw look brings out the glow of your skin, instantly advice to all the girls
the children rejoicing and celebrating with Vivek, who not only cut and shared a ‘Green’ cake but also glamorizes your appearance and makes you out there… add a touch of gold to your look this
gave them a few tips to keep the environment clean. radiate warmth and happiness. summer… You’re worth it!”
“Children are the future of tomorrow, I am blessed to be here and bring joy in their lives. I am “They say a touch of Gold, mixed with a flush L’Oreal Paris Marketing head Vismay
grateful to Father Francisco for letting me spend this afternoon with these children and be a part of of Coral, goes a long way in looking great and who Sharma said the ‘Golden Girl’ has been created
their lives,” said Vivek. wouldn’t like to be a Golden Girl especially when by L’Oreal Paris & Guest Make Up Artiste, Ojas
He even gifted the NGO an eco idea Panasonic Refrigerator so that the kids can enjoy some cool its by using fabulous products by L’Oreal Paris… Rajani, especially for the Indian woman.
drinks this summer.
Snehasadan is an NGO that provides homes and futures for homeless street children in Mumbai.

18 Indian Weekender | March 26, 2010 | www.iwk.co.nz

Indian

Indian Weekender | March 26, 2010 | www.iwk.co.nz 19

Indian
Bollywood
e rance
I look short in dark clothes: Jeetendra e
r
a s
r im . e * Life I n s u
a nce
e n s u r
th o t fe.. d
I
Health tion
w
t li an !!!
* P r o t e c
o r tgage
in w te * M
Protec
tion
no o la * Income
to *Etc...

The latest superstar to shake a leg with the final-
ists of Zee TV’s Dance India Dance is “Jumping
Jack” Jeetu!
Oliver,
the Insurance GURU
pletely the other way around. I have always taken
your guidance and followed your footsteps in the
industry. You have been my idol for a very long

Call Now for a No Obligation

The evergreen heartthrob who made the time!”
ladies swoon in the 70’s and 80’s had all the girls In a bid to dazzle Jeetendra, the 3 masters
on the sets of India’s popular dance reality show and their teams are said to have presented acts

raving about how young he still looks.
When quizzed about his trademark ‘White
shirt, white pants n white shoes’ look, the actor
said, “Dark clothes make me look short!”
Heard this one before, guys? Quite an origi-
nal perspective, Jeetu ji!
As he stepped up on stage, Jeetendra said,
“Let me first admit … I am deeply intimidated
by all the dancers who’ve performed on this plat-
form. Over the years, fans have loved me for my
dance style. But these guys are just something
else. They’re rockstars. I doubt if anybody can
match steps with them!”
Turning to Grand Master Mithun
Chakraborty, he said, “Dada’s been a great
friend and a source of inspiration in so many
little ways.”
Overwhelmed by the praise, Mithun Da in-
terrupted him saying, “Please, Jeetu ji! It’s com-
FREE Consultation!
depicting the famous dance styles of all their fa-
vorite Bollywood stars.
Watching Shakti from Terence ki Toli bring
alive the magic of Madhubala with Aaiye Me-
herebaan from Howrah Bridge, a floored Jeetu
asked her who taught her all those lovely expres-
Oliver Pereira
sions. Insurance Adviser
P: 0 8 0 0 6 6 7 7 9 2 • M: 0 2 1 6 6 7 7 9 2
Playfully, Shakti pointed at her guru Terence
Lewis who went red in the face! Jeetuji insisted,
at this point, that Terence show them a glimpse
of Madhubala and the ace choreographer had no
Email: oliver.pereira@xtra.co.nz
choice but to oblige!
Everybody’s favorite Dharmesh “sir” from OPM Insurance Services Limited
Geeta Ki Gang brought the house down with a
medley of dance hits from Jeetendra’s films and PO Box 87133, Meadowbank,
the superstar had tears in his eyes! Auckland 1742
All eyes were glued to the floor when Jeetu
took to the dance floor with Mithun Da and
Master Terence Lewis.

Architectually LIVE INVEST THRIVE

designed, modern
apartment complex
built to the strictest Location, Convenience, Security and Quality
standards
Prime Opportunity For Singles, Couples and Investors in the Heart of the Fast-Growing and Vibrant Manukau CBD!
Tremendous demand - limited availability!
FREEHOLD! You CAN afford an up-market, freehold, air-conditioned apartment with conservatory & secure single under-roof carpark in the
thriving Manukau CBD! You’ll have the convenience of quick accesss to entertainment, great shopping, the motorway, the airport
and Auckland City - and still be close to nature, parks, and beaches.

tle d! Manukau is buzzing with activity and will soon boast new MIT & AUT University Campuses & a new city-linked train station.
set Proximity is a safe and secure environment for young and old, singles and couples, and offers an outstanding investment and lifestyle

n 135 opportunity. Surrounded by great shops, cafes and restaurants. Safety and security are enhanced by professional on-site management.

re tha
Mo Offered with the added security of a 7% rental return (conditions apply). Call Munish now to secure one of the few remaining
treasures, and add real value to your property portfolio.

Priced from $161,500 to $328,000

Call me for a private viewing
www.barfoot.co.nz/414018
Presented by:

MUNISH SETH
No. 1 2008 & 2009 Salesperson
for the Dannemora Branch,
and amongst Barfoot &
Thompson’s top performers

FREE PHONE: 0800 62 62 60

M: 021 686 474 | O: 09 271 6199 | H: 09 277 5676
DANNEMORA BRANCH | m.seth@barfoot.co.nz

20 Indian Weekender | March 26, 2010 | www.iwk.co.nz

Indian
Bollywood
Harsh Chhaya back to his roots
Mumbai: He is one of the most versatile actors
we have today in both television and films.
Haarsh Chhaya’s immense acting caliber was
noticed in a powerful television show ‘Swabhi-

Things you need to

man’ on DD National almost a decade back and

KNOW
since then it has been a long journey for this
actor who graduated to films but has been in
constant touch with television for the pure love
for the art.
The actor will be soon seen returning
back to his roots in the forthcoming soap
About us
Best of
“Karmyudh” to be aired from April on DD
National.
From a wife abuser in “Ladies Special” to

INDIAN
an honest politician in “Karmyudh”, Harsh is
gearing up for his comeback on DD National.
“Karmyudh” is the story of an inspira-

125
tional, honest political leader and an upright,

ENTERTAINMENT
dedicated police officer.
The ethos and nuances of the subject is

$
contemporary in nature. It’s a story of the
changing social scenario, the mindset of the
people at large, the conflict between family
and values of changing fortunes and forti-
tude. TV actress Vaishnavi Mcdonald
*
“Karmyudh” stars eminent artist of Indian along with actors Jitendra Hirawat, Abhay
Television Rohini Hattangadi who is also Bhargav and Bakul Thakkar.
making a comeback on DD after a long hiatus. - Indian Weekender
The other stars of this soap include famous Bollywood Correspondent

Abhay Deol launches online life

Mumbai: Bollywood actor Abhay Deo, who
is known for his on-screen quirky avatars,
only
launched ‘GoJiyo’, an online virtual world from
the Godrej Group.
The website-gojiyo.com- aims to provide
users the perfect platform to live an exciting life
online while making new, like-minded friends
while creating a fusion of customer experience
and brand activation.
“The GoJiyo virtual arena will be an ex-

2nd Decoder
pansive 3D world where users interact with

32
one another via personalized avatars that are
unique representations of themselves,” said

$
Abhay.
GoJiyo.com will mark the coming together Only *
of online gaming, virtual reality and social
networking to create an integrated experience
for
on a global scale.
Tanya Dubash, Executive Director &
President, Marketing, Godrej Group said,
“GoJiyo.com is a platform for the Godrej
brand and its portfolio to interact with the
young Indians who are the predominant pro-
portion of India’s rapidly growing base of
millions of online consumers.”
India’s current online population is an
estimated 81 million connections and 54
million users* and a majority of internet
India’s first : Abhay Deol along with
users are in the age group of 19-35 in the SEC
Zee Punjabi

9
A.B and C categories.
Tanya Dubash,Executive Director &

95
This population is growing by a third each

$
President - Marketing, Godrej Group year and is the key target group to engage in a
at the launch of Gojiyo, India’s first meaningful and long-term relationship especially Add *
Online Experiential Platform
in urban India where household penetration in
urban India is estimated at nearly 45%. on

Indian Weekender | March 26, 2010 | www.iwk.co.nz 21

Indian
Bollywood

Madhur, Suniel launch ‘AbMeriBari’ Khaiyyaam launches

M.D OF ABMERIBAARI- PREET BEDI, SUNIEL SHETTY, SANJAY CHHEL,
SAROJ KHAN & MADHUR BHANDARKAR AT ABMERIBAARI LAUNCH
Mumbai: Filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar, actor
Suniel Shetty and choreographer Saroj Khan
launched ‘AbMeriBari’, a website to identify,
evaluate and nurture talent for the entertainment
industry.
Conceived by AMB Talent Media , through
the website- Abmeribari. com- the company will
reach out to talented individuals interested in the
Indian entertainment industry across the globe,
evaluate their talent and provide them with appro-
priate opportunities.
Madhur Bhandarkar will be seen as the chief
Talent Mentor of the website, while Suniel Shetty
is the Advisor to AMB Talent Media.
“I am glad that Abmeribaari will now provide
the opportunity to talented youth even from small
towns and villages to apply for roles and oppor-
tunities without having to come to Mumbai and
spending weeks, months and sometimes years
trying to get their talent recognized,” Madhur said.
Also present at the launch was music composer
Anu Malik.
“In a country of our size and diversity, there
is no dearth of talent but till now there has been
no real process by which the Anu Maliks and
Rahmans of tomorrow could be identified. I am
happy that Abmeribaari has created a process by
which real talent can be seen and spotted not just
in India but even abroad,” Anu Malik said.
Anu Malik and Saroj Khan have been appoint-
ed mentors for music and dance respectively.
“For talent to flourish, access to opportunities
‘Parichay’
is crucial. I am delighted to be associated with ab-
meribaari and am sure it will help discover many
new talents in the coming years,” Saroj Khan said
at the launch.
Via Abmeribaari.com, anyone with talent who
wants exposure for his or her talent and suitable
work opportunities can do so without leaving his
city of residence, said the company.
The company is collaborating with Bollywood
and regional language filmmakers, TV serial pro-
ducers, music companies and other entertainment
industry organizations with a view to getting them
new talent from across the country.
The aspirant will study the brief given by the
filmmaker/TV show producer/music company or
other company, shoot his or her screen test or audi-
tion himself and upload it on the site after paying
the application fee.
Every screen test will be evaluated on a set
of parameters, and will receive an Abmeribaari
Talent Score, which will be shared with the ap-
plicant.
The shortlisted screen tests will be shared with
the talent-seeking company, who will make the
final decision. Veteran music director Khaiyyaam launched
Preet Bedi, Managing Director of AMB, said Saregama’s latest album ‘Parichay’-a compilation
on this occasion: “Already a major global soft of songs from the Golden Era of Hindi film music
power, the Indian entertainment industry is now that are remembered even today.
set to grow exponentially year after year. But for Khaiyyaam, along with his singer wife Jagjeet,
the industry to maintain its scorching growth rate Atul Churamani VP of Saregama and Najma Mer-
it must create channels by which it can access and chant (Sr. Consultant & Advisor – Content) of
nurture new talent. Abmeribaari will do exactly Saregama were present at the launch.
that and provide a credible, fair and transparent “I’m really happy that Saregama came up with
process by which talent is globally accessed, fairly this idea of releasing this series. All the songs in
evaluated and suitably rewarded.” the MP3 are the ones which a music lover would
As a first major activity, Abmeribaari has an- love to hear over and over again,” said Khaiyaam.
nounced a worldwide talent search in the acting The album series of “Parichay” has a compi-
singing and dance. lation of songs composed by music composers
They are planning to give 10 three-year con- like Khaiyyaam, Ravi, Roshan, Madan Mohan,
tracts to exceptionally talented people in singing Shankar Jaikishan, O P Nayyar, Lakshmikant
dance and acting. Each contract will be worth at Pyarelal and Salil Chowdhury.
least 15 lacs.

SRI AMBA BAVANI ASTROLOGER

PANDIT: JAGANATH SHASTRI
Good news for New Zealand people
Specilist in Indrajal Poojas
Pandit Can Forecast Your Future And Make Prediction On Your Promotion,
Marriage, House Construction, Foreign Tour, Family Problems, Health
Problems, Business, Love, Education, Land, Court Proceedings, Trade, Birth Of Children,
Domestic Problems, Job, Horoscope,
Pandit can Perform Lakshmi Pooja, Gayathri Pooja, Navagraha Pooja, Nivarana Pooja, Solutions
for any Kind of Family and Love Problems)
All Types of Black Magic Remove
100 years generations experience
Spoken Languages: Hindi, English, Tamil,Kannada, Telugu
Contact: 168, Great South Road, Hunters Corner
Papatoetoe, Auckland, Open 7 days- 8.30am to 8.00pm

Ph: 09 278 1102, Mob: 021 0249 4018

22 Indian Weekender | March 26, 2010 | www.iwk.co.nz
Indian
Bar bar dekho - I am ‘not’ the bar dancer this time!
TV star Narayani Shastri insists that ‘Na Ghar Ke Na Ghaat Ke’ released last week is her filmy
‘debut’! Was she trying to conceal that she has played a striking bar-dancer role in Bhandarkar’s
‘Chandni Bar’ (2001)? Meanwhile she denies that she is ‘going steady’ off-screen with her
movie hero Rahul Aggarwal.
Chaitanya Padukone
Sensuous TV star and film actress Narayani Shastri
is being hyped all over the media for her “Hindi film
debut” with producer-director-actor Rahul Aggar-
wal’s rural-urban culture-shock comedy ‘Na Ghar Ke
Na Ghaat Ke’.
What is intriguing that the same Narayani has
made her discreet yet striking acting debut in Madhur
Bhandarkar’s award-winning bold movie ‘Chandni
Bar’ (2001).
When confronted, the bubbly Shastri admits to it.
“ Yes, its true that I have performed a striking sup-
porting role in ‘Chandni Bar’.As the sultry bar-dancer
in that movie, it was an honour to work with National
Najam Sheraz sings for Aditya Narayan
Mumbai: Popular Paki-
stani singer Najam Sheraz
has lend his voice to singer
Udit Narayan’s son Aditya
for his film ‘Shaapit’.
Filmmaker Vikram
Bhatt’s ‘Shaapit’ is his
next spooky horror film;
the last release being
‘1920’, which had a decent
success at the box office.
Apart from acting as a mainstream hero,
Indian Weekender | March 26, 2010 | www.iwk.co.nz
Award winning director Madhur.
Later on, I have even played one of the leads with
co-star Nana Patekar in a Marathi movie ‘Pak Pak
Pakaak’ . But I still maintain that ‘Na Ghar Ke..’ is
my actual debut-launch in Hindi movies as the ro-
mantic lead,” shrugs Narayani tossing her tresses.
Considering she is so fastidious about her selection of
roles even in the string of TV serials that she has acted
in, how come she agreed to act in ‘NGKNGK’ ? “ My
lead debut is absolutely by default. That’s because I
was originally only the production designer design-
ing the clothes, sets etc.
Dozens of aspirant girls whom we screen-tested
just did not fit the bill . Ultimately, Rahul’s father T P
Aggarwal insisted that I would be the perfect choice.
Aditya Narayan has also done playback singing in
the film.
However, the song ‘Tere bin jiya jaaye na’ sung
by Sheraz, who has even written the lyrics of the
song.
This makes many wonder that despite Aditya
Narayan’s playback songs, why was Najam chosen
to do a song too in the film? Guess its Vikram
Bhatt’s knack for good music.
Well, whatever be the reason, the songs in
the film by both the singers are competitive and
gaining popularity.
In fact, originally, even Rahul was not supposed to be
playing the hero.
It was Paresh Rawal, who plays a cop in the movie,
who compelled director Rahul to cast himself as the
naïve, rustic ‘aam aadmi’ lead character,” she clari-
fies. Rather quirky is the fact that while in ‘Chandni
Bar’ she played a raunchy bar-dancer, in ‘Na Ghar
Ke..’ she is put behind bars by the cops who mistake
the newly-wed bride a demure gharwalli-with-her-
ghunghat to be a soliciting ‘bar-girl’! “It’s as if I have
turned a ‘full circle’.
Call it bar bar dekho,” quips the actress. Wasn’t
the dusky Shastri babe perturbed over the nagging
gossip about her “off-screen romantic fling” with
co-actor Rahul Aggarwal who convincingly plays
Rotary Award for Amrita Rao
Bollywood
her ‘husband’ ! She chuckles. “ Hey listen, I am
always being linked with almost all my male co-stars.
Thankfully I am used to it and have become immune.
As always I am still an independent single girl . By
the way, I shall be flying shortly to New York and
Boston for a month-long vacation with my close
‘female’ friends.
Who knows, I may even sign on a cross-over flick
while in the US,” she signs off. Meanwhile hero Ag-
garwal is optimistic as he feels he has ‘a winning title
that too in pure Hindi’.
“These days with almost all Bollywood movies
with angrezi movie titles like ‘3 Idiots’, ‘Wake Up
Sid’ and ‘Hide and Seek’, we hope to connect with the
masses with ‘Na Ghar Ke…’, he laughs.
Rotary Club of Bombay Sea Coast pre-
sented ‘Vocational Excellence Award’ to
Bollywood actress Amrita Rao. This was
presented to her for her continued social
commitment towards the Rotary Club
for the past 16 years and also for her
versatile portrayal on the silver screen.
Her father, Deepak Rao (pictured) also
known as Mastermind to the corporate
world presented the award to his proud
Rotarian daughter.
23
Indian
Why are we still talking about Rām Rājya?
ram lingam
Heritage of an ideal society King Ram ruled
This week we had the Sri Rām Navmi celebrations.
Though Lord Rām lived and ruled India some 10,000
years ago, his life and values are still extolled. There
is hardly any King in the Indian history who is cel-
ebrated till today, except King Rām of Ayodhya.
Lord Rām’s legacy still rules the hearts of Indian
people including our politicians. Just last month
India’s opposition party BJP’s president Nitin Gadkari
chanted a new mantra for Rām Rājya to his party
workers to bring back the glory of Rām Rājya back
in the 21st century. Last year the BJP unveiled their
election manifesto pledging to work for the purpose
of bringing in ‘Rām Rājya’ in the country on the oc-
casion of Rām Navmi. To cap it all the Gujarat Chief
Minister Narendra Modi said he believes in Gandhi’s
Rām Rājya. When pressed, Modi explained that Rām
Rājya meant a “welfare state”.
Even the late Rajiv Gandhi (former Prime Min-
ister of India) inaugurated the Congress party’s 1989
election campaign from the vicinity of Ayodhya with
a promise to usher in Rām Rājya, which was also
Mahatma Gandhi’s dream. There have been and still
are many politicians who wish to give Rām Rājya a
concrete shape in their own way.
But was there any period in Indian history where
we had a glimpse of a golden period or an ideal
society? In fact the 17th century saint Sant Tukarām
extolled Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s reign as Rām
Rājya in which ruler and subjects were all equal and
there was all-round welfare.
However it’s to be noted that the legend of Rām
whose exemplary character and governance more
than 10,000 years ago, makes it the most popular text
book on moral living and righteous polity.
In post-colonial India, Rām Rājya as a concept was
24
first projected by Mahatma literally the land without
Gandhi. Gandhiji announced Historically, from the Ramayana, wars. Incidentally in Hindi,
that Rām Rājya would be “Ayodhya” means “a place
brought once Independence the chapter on Ayodhya gives where there is no war.”
arrived. When he was asked a majestic description of Ram Hence “Rām Rājya” is de-
about the ideal State, he scribed as an ideal society.
talked about Rām Rājya. Rajya, where peace, prosperity Is there any country that
By using the Rām Rājya and tranquility reigned, for there doesn’t want peace, pros-
slogan, Gandhiji implied an perity and tranquility?
ideal Rājya (without being was no one to challenge the seat According to many
communal) where values of Ayodhya, literally the land authors who have re-
of justice, equality, ideal- searched the Indian epic
ism, renunciation and sacri- without wars. Incidentally in Hindi, (Itihaas) Rāmayana have
fice are practised. To quote “Ayodhya” means “a place where concluded that Rām Rājya
Mahatma Gandhi on Rām is not a myth or imagina-
Rājya, he said and wrote there is no “yuddha” or war. Hence tion, it is an historic truth of
on February 26, 1947, “Let “Ram Rajya” is described as an it times and for the time to
no one commit the mistake come. It is not a proletysing
of thinking that Rāmrajya ideal society. concept and not a dystopian
means a rule of Hindus. My relic.
Rām is another name for Khuda or God. I want Khuda So why are still talking about Rām Rājya in this
Raj which is the same thing as the Kingdom of God on day and age…well I guess everybody, anywhere in
Earth.” Obviously this meant an ideal society where the world wants good governance and with the heri-
everybody follows a code of righteous living and more tage of Lord Rām that we have, the name of Lord
or less happy, meeting all their essential needs. Rām becomes a rubber stamp for anything associ-
Rām Rājya according to many scholars meant ated with the good. Just recently the India’s Law and
that the state (Rājya) was the sole legitimate agency Justice Minister Dr. M Veerappa Moily who is also
wielding power (force), which imposes limits upon its an eminent poet, writer, and thinker was awarded
exercise of power, either for the greater happiness of the Bharatiya Jnanpith’s prestigious 21st Moortidevi
the people, or to evade a greater tyranny that could be Award for his outstanding five-volume magnum opus
caused by moral outrage or self-righteousness. ‘Shri Rāmayana Mahanveshanam’. According to
Historically, from the Rāmayana, the chapter on Mr.Moily, what present day India has to learn from
Ayodhya gives a majestic description of Rām Rājya, the Rāmayana is to build a nation out of many voices,
where peace, prosperity and tranquility reigned, for many cultures and many peoples.
there was no one to challenge the seat of Ayodhya, To quote Mr. Moily from his acceptance speech
Tax Working Group recommendations
create uncertainty in property market
RAVI MEHTA
Ever since the tax working group’s recommendations
have been made public, the activity in the property
market has slowed down considerably. Though the
prices have been more or less stable, the number of
sales has gone down and it is taking longer to sell the
houses. The supply is on the rise as some of the inves-
tors have become panicky. They fear that property
prices will go down once the tax benefits enjoyed by
property investors are removed. To make the matters
worse, the politicians give statements in public about
proposed tax changes, which are not concrete steps
and it creates more confusion in the minds of public.
Still it is highly uncertain as to what government will
announce in forthcoming budget which is due in the
month of May.
There is a sharp division of opinion among
members of public about the proposed tax changes.
Some, particularly those who do not own houses
at present want the tax benefits to be removed so
that investors turn sellers and prices go down. They
expect that this way the houses will become more
affordable and they will be able to buy. Some of the
experts are also of the same opinion.
Even if the property prices go down, how many
of these people will be able to buy houses? It is a big
question. For some, raising money for deposit will
always be a problem. For some others, their personal
credit issues will always be a problem, as there are
no lenders who will sanction them a mortgage. Simi-
larly there are many people who will remain invested
in property even if the tax benefits are reduced. For
them, the property investment is the safest invest-
ment. The selling pressure may not be that much as
is feared.
I have read different comments in response to ar-
ticles in media where many people feel that property
investors do not do any service to society by investing
in properties and renting them out. It is true that a
Indian Weekender | March 26, 2010 | www.iwk.co.nz
Heritage
that ‘’At the heart of the epic there are three distinct
cultures: the Lankan culture of acquisition, plea-
sure and power; the Ayodhya culture of artistic and
academic progress and the culture of Kiskindha...
mostly tribal and backward in terms of development
in the modern sense. Initially, there is friction among
these three cultures. However, when Vibhishana, the
Rakshasa King, and Hanuman, the Vaanara noble,
become allies of Rāma, the King of Ayodhya, all the
three cultures come together and fuse into one great
culture-- the culture of Rāma Rajya.’’ Dr Moily recited
a stanza describing King Dashrath’s attitude in treat-
ing even the poorest of the poor as ‘’equal,’’ saying
‘’his feelings reflect true Rāma Rajya.’’ Another
stanza he cited dwelt on the education Vishwamitra
imparted to Rāma and Lakshamana, by ordering the
brothers to walk instead of covering a distance on
chariot. ‘’Unless the rulers, administrators, experience
the pain and suffering of the poorest and weakest, they
cannot be good in their jobs,’’ he summed up.
May be this knowledge of the heritage of Rām
Rājya is the starting of something that is going to shine
India in modern times.
Column
capitalist invests money for his own profit, but if we
look at different economies, these are the capitalists
who invest and create employment opportunities for
others. Of course they do not do it for charity, but it
will be unfair not to recognize their contribution to
society. Similarly most of property investors have
built property portfolios by working for longer hours,
saving money by sacrificing their life style. They
are doing a service to society by buying houses and
renting those out to those who cannot afford to buy.
Even Housing New Zealand is dependent on property
investors to fulfill the demand for housing.
The Government should do whatever is required
to create a balance in the economy. The distortions
need to be removed. The other areas of investments
should be promoted. But it is not right time to be
harsh to property investors and spoiling the housing
market and thus economic recovery.
Everyone needs a roof on his/ her head. New
Zealand population, particularly Auckland popula-
tion is growing each day. More and more houses are
needed. In case of lack of first home buyers, property
investors fill the gap. So Government should avoid
making any drastic changes.
Till the budget is announced which is still a
couple of months away, home buyers and property
investors should not become panicky. Remember if
the proposed changes in taxation turn out be less than
what is feared in market, many of the listings may be
withdrawn and many of those who are thinking of
buying after the changes may become hot buyers. It
may push the house prices higher.
- Ravi Mehta is an Auckland based Financial
Advisor and can be contacted on ravi.mehta@pfsl.
co.nz. A disclosure statement as required under
Securities Act 1988 is freely available on request.
Indian
So you have life insurance: is that enough?
Oliver Pereira
Trauma Claim Story* a medical condition they had both previ-
John, 36, a plumber employed by a nation- ously thought only affected much older
al building contractor, worked mostly on people
major residential buildings construction After a period of rehabilitation, he
projects. made an almost full recovery, but was told
Seven years ago on the advice of his that he would be
older brother, John talked to an Insur- on medication for
ance adviser about insurance protection.
Although single at the time with no chil-
the rest of his life
to prevent further One Sunday at a
dren or major financial commitments, he strokes.
While he was
match one hour from
insured his life and took out income pro-
tection and trauma insurance of $200,000. convalescing, his home, he was waiting
John’s main interest in life, aside from brother remind-
Dolly, his wife who he was married to for ed him to check to go out to bat when
with his Insur-
three years, was cricket. Priding himself
on keeping fit and healthy, he was a long- ance adviser about he suddenly blacked
standing member of his local club side
with a reputation as a reliable opening
whether any of the
insurance policies out and collapsed.
batsman. he’d taken out a few
years ago would
He was rushed to
One Sunday at a match one hour from
home, he was waiting to go out to bat when cover him now. John hospital, semi-
he suddenly blacked out and collapsed. He did so and learnt he
was rushed to hospital, semi-conscious. could claim under conscious.
One of his team mates contacted Dolly, his trauma policy,
and she hurried to the hospital to be with since stroke was one
him. of the stipulated medical conditions. With
John regained full consciousness at his adviser’s help he made the claim and
the hospital, and after urgent and exten- received the full payment of $200,000.
sive medical testing, he was diagnosed as He and Dolly paid off a substantial part
having suffered a minor stroke. This news of the home loan they had only recently
came as both a relief and a shock to him taken out. They also decided they needed
and Dolly - relief that he had not suffered a holiday, and used some of the money to
something even more serious, and shock take a two -week trip to Europae.
that someone his age could have a stroke, John also claimed on his Crisis benefit
Indian Weekender | March 26, 2010 | www.iwk.co.nz
under his income protection policy while
he was off work. This helped cover their
everyday expenses such as their car loan
& other hire purchase bills.
John returned to work after four
months, and resumed
playing cricket two
months after that, when
the new season began.
By taking out Trauma
Insurance and Disabil-
ity Income Protection not
only did John get the time
needed to recover but
also gave him the oppor-
tunity to choose how to
spend the claim amount
like paying off part of the
mortgage and taking a
holiday.
So are you prepared
for a serious illness?
Every day, about 22
people in New Zealand
have strokes.1 The Uni-
versity of Auckland has revealed a 40%
decline in the number of deaths after
stroke in the total population of Auck-
land, over the past 25 years. However,
as the death rate declines, there has been
significant increase in the number of pa-
tients suffering from an impaired level of
consciousness and mobility following a
stroke.2
Column
52% Of Male and 59% of Female
cancer patients will recover and be alive
five years later.3
Trauma Insurance is designed to pay a
lump sum to you if you suffer a critical
illness, to ensure that you can cope with
the consequential effects on your life-
style, family and work.
1 New Zealand Stroke Foundation Inc,
2007
2 The George institute for interna-
tional Health, in collaboration with Auck-
land City Hospital and The University of
Auckland, 2007
3 South Australian Cancer Registery,
2003
*This Story is just an illustration of
how Trauma Insurance is designed to
work.
The above information has been
provided to serve only as a guideline
to assist in evaluating your insurance
needs. You are encouraged to do your
own research before arriving at any
decisions.
For further information,
please contact:
Oliver Pereira –
OPM Insurance Services Ltd.
Ph. 0800 66 77 92, Faxmail. 021 551
669, Mobile. 021 66 77 92
Email. oliver.pereira@xtra.co.nz
25
Indian
‘Lahore’ denied release in Pakistan
Sensuous TV star and film actress Narayani
Shastri is being hyped all over the media for
her “Hindi film debut” with producer-director-
actor Rahul Aggarwal’s rural-urban culture-
shock comedy ‘Na Ghar Ke Na Ghaat Ke’.
What is intriguing that the same Narayani
has made her discreet yet striking acting debut
in Madhur Bhandarkar’s award-winning bold
movie ‘Chandni Bar’ (2001).
When confronted, the bubbly Shastri
‘I’m big fan of AR Rahman’
International musi-
cian Wayne Sharpe
has composed the
background score
of Warner Broth-
ers and Sai Om
Film’s joint venture
Lahore. The musi-
cian tells he is a big
fan of AR Rahman.
Excerpts:
Tell us about the background score of
Lahore?
It is coming out very well and I am really I
am really proud of the score as Lahore will
be releasing soon. It was incredible working
with Sanjay Puran Singh Chauhan. I met
him in America and we worked hard togeth-
er to make the score right and the music is
really powerful. And I have full faith that
the music will do really well.
Lahore is period movie have you
done any research on it?
Ans. Against the backdrop of kickboxing,
Lahore is the most authentic Indian sports
film as far my knowledge is concerned. I
wanted to have a western sound to it and
highlight the action also and we had to keep
Indian audience in mind along with that.
We wanted to have different sounds for the
action. We highlighted Lisbeth Scott’s voice
and Sanjay was really keen for this music as
he had many ideas to it.
When did your association with In-
dian music began?
It started when I met Prakash Jha in New
York through a friend. He came to my studio
and he asked me to do background score for
Gangaajal as he wanted a western touch to
his music.
How do you manage to do back-
ground score for Indian films without
26
admits to it. “ Yes, its true that I have per-
formed a striking supporting role in ‘Chandni
Bar’.As the sultry bar-dancer in that movie, it
was an honour to work with National Award
winning director Madhur.
Later on, I have even played one of the leads
with co-star Nana Patekar in a Marathi movie
‘Pak Pak Pakaak’ . But I still maintain that ‘Na
Ghar Ke..’ is my actual debut-launch in Hindi
movies as the romantic lead,” shrugs Naray-
knowing the language?
What I do is that the director of the film
takes me through the whole film scene by
scene from starting and they explain me that
what is the film all about and also give me
sub-titles. We just finished Lahore and the
director of the film Sanjay explained me ev-
erything and that is how I get to know the
exact emotions I need to add in the sound.
Has the association of Indian music
has changed your perception about
music at large?
Oh yes, I have been very much inf luenced
and have been opened up with different
music styles. There are unbelievably excel-
lent artists in India and it affects my score
and my approach to the music as whole.
When was the first time you came
across Indian music?
Ans. I am listening Indian music for many
years and I was inf luenced in America. I
was a big fan of A.R. Rahman and his first
music score I heard was Taal which really
inf luenced me and change things for me.
Besides A.R. Rahman, do you have
any other favourite Indian musician?
Yes, I love the work of Ustad Sultan Khan
as I have worked with him in Gangaajal
as he is a beautiful singer and I like Zakir
Hussain, Ravi Shankar and I had a wonder-
ful opportunity working with Sonu Nigam
and Sunidhi Chauhan as well.
Have you used any Indian instru-
ments for this Indian score?
Yes I have. Basically the process is that I
compose music score at my studio in New
York then I brought all the tracks and we
added the musical instruments here in India
so I did lot of programming in playing and
we had live instruments like drums and
f lutes; we had Indian choirs too.
ani tossing her tresses. Considering she is so
fastidious about her selection of roles even in
the string of TV serials that she has acted in,
how come she agreed to act in ‘NGKNGK’ ? “
My lead debut is absolutely by default. That’s
because I was originally only the production
designer designing the clothes, sets etc.
Dozens of aspirant girls whom we screen-
tested just did not fit the bill . Ultimately,
Rahul’s father T P Aggarwal insisted that I
‘Lagaan is my favourite film’
International singer
Lisbeth Scott has
sung the opening
alaap in the Warner
Brothers-Sai Om
Films’ forthcom-
ing film Lahore.
She says, when it
comes to Bollywood,
Lagaan remains her
favourite movie of all
times. Excerpts:
What made you decide to sing for a Hindi
movie?
The composer, Wayne Sharpe, liked my work in
several films he had seen, and he contacted me about
singing on his score for Lahore. When I heard about
the film and its compelling subject matter, I knew I
would love to sing on it.
How was your experience working for the
film Lahore?
It was a wonderful and intense experience working
with Wayne on his beautiful score to Lahore. It was
cold in New York when I arrived and I was working
on another project in the city during my visit as well.
We had all been working long hours and were a bit
bleary eyed. When Wayne and I first got together, he
decided to start by giving me an idea of the film and
showed me the first fight scene. I was mesmerized and
realized what an important and special film this was.
We worked steadily after that for several days and had
a very easy and organic creative interaction. I am very
excited to see and hear the final results!
Did you have to sing any kind of Hindi or
Indian melody or raga?
I have sung in Hindi before also and I have used
Indian based styles for the film and not the raga. There
was a very big movement in USA and I sang in yoga
vocals in Sanskrit and Hindi words and in some in-
stances I have sung those with the Indian artist.
What you have sung is quite similar of what
you have done in Hollywood projects as it is
a part of background and not a song situa-
tion for actors and actress?
It is quite interesting and it is not exactly the back-
Indian Weekender | March 26, 2010 | www.iwk.co.nz
Bollywood Extra
would be the perfect choice. In fact, originally,
even Rahul was not supposed to be playing the
hero.
It was Paresh Rawal, who plays a cop in the
movie, who compelled director Rahul to cast
himself as the naïve, rustic ‘aam aadmi’ lead
character,” she clarifies. Rather quirky is the
fact that while in ‘Chandni Bar’ she played a
raunchy bar-dancer, in ‘Na Ghar Ke..’ she is
put behind bars by the cops who mistake the
newly-wed bride a demure gharwalli-with-her-
ghunghat to be a soliciting ‘bar-girl’! “It’s as
if I have turned a ‘full circle’.
Call it bar bar dekho,” quips the actress.
Wasn’t the dusky Shastri babe perturbed over
the nagging gossip about her “off-screen ro-
mantic fling” with co-actor Rahul Aggarwal
who convincingly plays her ‘husband’ ! She
chuckles. “ Hey listen, I am always being
linked with almost all my male co-stars.
Thankfully I am used to it and have become
immune. As always I am still an indepen-
dent single girl . By the way, I shall be flying
shortly to New York and Boston for a month-
long vacation with my close ‘female’ friends.
Who knows, I may even sign on a cross-
over flick while in the US,” she signs off.
Meanwhile hero Aggarwal is optimistic as he
feels he has ‘a winning title that too in pure
Hindi’.
“These days with almost all Bollywood
movies with angrezi movie titles like ‘3
Idiots’, ‘Wake Up Sid’ and ‘Hide and Seek’,
we hope to connect with the masses with ‘Na
Ghar Ke…’, he laughs.
ground score because there is sometime the voice and
the score are secret and sounds of the film drafts away
all you see is visual then you hear my voice and music.
And yes, it’s not a song situation for the cast. It’s the
opening soundtrack of the film.
If given a chance to work with Indian singer
whom would you prefer?
Personally I would choose A.R Rahman who did
the score for Slumdog Millionaire. I love Indian sound
and I have always been drawn to classical music.
When you were singing for Lahore, was
there something new you did which you
haven’t done before in Hollywood projects?
Nice thing about Wayne Sharpe’s score is that he
manages to blend the styles and sounds differently
and he also has sense of world music. I used my voice
differently as there was an Indian flavor to it and the
wonderful part of this movie is that it has a universal
message about cultural borders and healing conflicts.
Did you find any similarities between your
singing in avatar and Lahore?
Yes there were similarities in the approaches.
There were several scenes in avatar which I watched
and listened to the music which was written by the
composer and created certain melodies and respond-
ing to the emotions and similarly I did that with
Wayne Sharpe too. He allowed me to create my own
melody and give my response.
Have you watched some Indian movies to under-
stand the genre of music we play here?
My favourite movie is Lagaan. That was the first
movie I saw quite a few years back. For me, it was
musically a dream come true. The music which was
played was fantastic and an eye opening experience.
The film had intense passion that made me love Bol-
lywood movies.
What attracted you to Indian music?
The first time I got interested in the Indian music
was when I was a child. When I was 12 year old, I
had a jazz music teacher and he was an Indian. One
day he played Pt. Ravi Shankar’s signature music and
I remember I was so fascinated and speechless as the
music was fantastic and after that I had this immense
love for Indian music.
Indian
AFTER THE GRAND SUCCESS OF O HANSINI
Sursangam
in Association with

Education Employment & Enterprise

www.ntec.ac.nz
Presents

Yeh Zameen
Ga Rahi Hai Buy you
TICKETS A TRIBUTE TO R.D.BURMAN AND r
before 3 ticket
KISHORE KUMAR BY HIS SON 1st Marc
and get h

$35
RESERVED

AMIT KUMAR DISCOUNT Oa

F
LIVE IN CONCERT first time in New Zealand $5
$30
GENERAL

with musicians from Bollywood who worked with RD Burman

for ticket
bookings call Directed by Gopal Bhatia
624 6330 Contact 021 911 386 / (09) 624 6330
Saturday 1st May 2010 • Logan Campbell Centre, Auckland • 7.30pm Sharp
Media Partners Sponsors

g- c100/m28/y43
b-c100/m75/k35
Ranjeet Singh, Panmure
Ph: 625 8888
(09 )5802667

Indian Weekender | March 26, 2010 | www.iwk.co.nz 27

Indian

28 Indian Weekender | March 26, 2010 | www.iwk.co.nz

Indian

Indian Weekender | March 26, 2010 | www.iwk.co.nz 29

Indian
Issue of the day WEEKENDCUISINE
What do you think of the changes to the benefit
criteria announced yesterday? Are they a step in the Tawa Fry Chicken
right direction?

Recipe by Ruby Dhillon
Good on you National! I hope this is one of the many social policy changes
being made to make New Zealand the enterprising and prosperous coun-
try it deserves to be. Ingredients: Method:
• 1 Kg chicken boneless • In a bowl add ginger, garlic and green chilli
- Nilima Kalambi
• 1 tablespoon ginger paste paste. Add curd to this and mix it thoroughly.
Clinical administrator in community health and a student of health manage-
• Cut chicken into bite size pieces and add
ment in the University of Auckland. • 1 tablespoon garlic paste
to the above mix and put it in a refrigerator
• 4 green chillies crushed to a paste allowing it to be marinated for at least 2-3
Yes, it is a step in the right direction. Taxpayers must get something in
return from those who can work. • 1 onion made in a paste hours.
• 1 tea spoon red chilli powder • Add cooking oil to a wok and add the onion

• 1 tea spoon garam masala paste cooking it till it is golden brown in

- Ram Rai
colour.
Indian born New Zealander and business owner • 1 tea spoon turmeric powder
who is very passionate about New Zealand • Add all the powder masalas and salt followed
• 1 tea spoon chicken masala by tomato puree. Stir this while cooking until
Unfortunately, living on very little is not progress. The Government‘s an- powder the oil leaves the masala.
nouncement is timely, however genuine disabled and sickness beneficia- • 2 tablespoon tomato puree • Add the marinated chicken along with the
ries must not be burdened. marinade into the wok. Sprinkle a little water
• 1/2 cup beaten curd
if the chicken tends to stick or the mix is
- Ann Pala • Salt to taste
too dry. Cook with occasional stirring till the
Ann Pala is a nominee for the NZ Labour Chopped coriander leaves
•
Party Waitakere Electorate chicken is tender and fully cooked and coated
with the masala.
Government is borrowing $240 million per week to meet its budget deficit. • Serve hot garnished with fresh finely
Steps have to be taken to reduce welfare dependency and make people chopped coriander leaves.
responsible for their lives on this basis it is a step in the right direction.
- Kanu Patel
Chairman of Board of Trustees of The Auckland Indian Association and
accountant serving the community for over forty years.

Feature

Want to start a new business?

Madhup Srivastava
Many of us harbour a wish to start their own business.
Some postpone it until they think they get more expe-
rience, money or both and some plunge in head-on.
Some start a business by default and some start
it as a well planned idea. Some start from scratch and
some buy a running business. Some start a business
as a sole proprietor, some in partnership with others
and some form a company to do business.
Whatever is your way of entering into a business;
there are a few questions to be answered:
Should I keep control of my business?
How do I turn a business potential into profit?
How can I make my resource crunched start-up
grow?
What legal mistake I must avoid while starting a new
company?
Well, then how about delving a little bit into each of
above areas.
Should I keep control of my business?
Business research shows that entrepreneurs are moti-
vated by money and control but very few can achieve
both. Some only want to be rich while some want to
grow their business and control it.
Getting rich often means selling control to inves-
tors. So to grow you need to get more resources and
in the process you loose your control of the business.
It is therefore necessary to identify before you start
a business as to what motivates you more: money or
control. And in due course if you choose to go to in-
vestors, make sure they understand your motivations
well so that they could align their expectations from
you in a better way.
How do I turn a business potential into profit?
Professor Joseph B. Lassiter of Harvard School of
Business says transforming high-potential ventures
into high-performance ventures depends on combin-
ing what, how, and who you know.
A successful entrepreneur will know its customer
well, will understand their need and know that in two
three years time his/her product will exactly meet the
need of target customers and that is why they will be
compelled to buy.
I will cite an example of a New Zealand entre-
preneur to illustrate this point. A young entrepre-
neur in New Zealand named Jeremy Moon created
a company called Icebreaker (www.icebreaker.com).
At the age of 24 he was introduced to a sheep farmer
by his American girlfriend. That sheep farmer lived
on an isolated island with his family of 8000 sheep
and had developed some prototype thermal under-
wear made from 100 per cent pure New Zealand
merino wool.
When Jeremy saw that piece of cloth, he realised
there was a business opportunity. At that time outdoor
clothing was made of petroleum and was either poly-
propylene or polyester. He thought polyester was
good for disco gear, and that we were all ready for a
natural alternative.
His bet was that people were ready for a new
choice. Think about it. Everybody knows that wool
underwear is terrible: it’s itchy, it smells bad, and it
gets oily — just a whole bunch of problems.
So Jeremy Moon runs across a pair of wool under-
wear made not out of everyday sheep’s wool, but from
the merino sheep, whose long, fine wool is used for
suits and ties at the high end of the market.
He sees that a product can be created that’s light,
not itchy, and captures no odour. Of his first $200,000
in seed financing, he spends a $100,000 creating a
“brand blueprint,” architecture for what the brand
needs to look like some day to exploit this advantage
in natural fibre. He then thinks “backward” to iden-
tify what he can do to get started building a global
brand.
Again, He understands what outdoor athletic
people or design-conscious people might want. He
makes assumptions about how these are going to fit
together over time, and in the end, he turns that strand
of wool into the tapestry of a brand.
You see that way of realizing the core product-
customer link, and then going out and building an al-
liance with merino suppliers, so that he’s got a steady
supply of a rare product and with machine provid-
ers so that the product can be spun and worked into
outdoor gear. He builds up a worldwide supply chain
by recruiting people who want to gamble that there is
a customer need not being met by polyester.
Another important point to consider is that who
you do the business initially with. This “right” person
or business will help putting your product on the right
path to achieve above vision.
A successful entrepreneur have a deep knowledge
of its product, people, have technical know-how and
knows “right people” Knowing what, knowing how
and Knowing who is important to turn a business
potential into profit. Late Dhirubhai Ambani - the
founder of Reliance Industries is a good example of
such an entrepreneur.
How can I make my resource crunched start-up to
grow?
Small businesses suffer insurmountable barriers
to growth: biggest of all is financial crunch that they
face. Nine out of Ten small businesses fail in first three
years of their start. It is not so hard to understand why.
They lack vital resources to grow like finance,
human resource and technology resources. They do
not have a track record that tells customers and in-
vestors that they can be trusted with their money. So
what should they do to grow? Professor Mukti Khare
of Havard Business School says the key may be in ac-
quiring intangible resources such as legitimacy, status
and reputation.
Legitimacy is the critical factor in early stages of
a start up’s lives. To create a positive perception in
the minds of the people, the location of your business
must be at a reputable place. This creates a kind of
legitimacy in the minds of the stakeholders.
Any business has to work towards maintaining its
status in the hierarchy all the time.
Reputation is created with positive word-of-
mouth and this generates when you offer your cus-
tomers more than what they had expected. When you
create a ‘wow’ factor your customers would then rec-
ommend your business to others and that helps build-
ing up a reputation.
What legal mistake I must avoid while looking to
start a new company?
Most of us while making our first business move
in business are working full or part time with some
organisations. Starting a business while employed by
a potential competitor, or hiring employees without
first checking their agreements with the current em-
ployer and their knowledge of trade secrets could be a
potential source of legal problems.
The law is clear that if someone is currently
working for a company, particularly if she is a key
employee, they cannot operate a competing business.
Even just incorporating may spark a lawsuit from the
current employer.
Would-be entrepreneurs should first go to their
current employer and either resign or tell them what
they’re doing and ask them if they’d be interested in
investing. You will be surprised that it is often a very
smooth way of ending that relationship. Under no
circumstances should you misrepresent the nature of
the new business. Even after leaving the current em-
ployer, one still cannot use or disclose the company’s
trade secrets.
Hiring a competent lawyer is good at the start
rather than later. But too much delegation is not advis-
able as they are generally risk averse. In business if
you have created boundaries or policies strictly based
on what a lawyer advise, you will loose the flexibility
to operate successfully in a dynamic marketplace.
I believe there is no short cuts to success in a busi-
ness, a hard work, right strategy, focussed attitude and
customer orientation should help you build up you
business. Good luck.

30 Indian Weekender | March 26, 2010 | www.iwk.co.nz

Indian
Advertisement

New Zealand Indian Central Association (Inc.)

PO Box 1941 - Wellington, New Zealand

President: Ratilal Champaneri Gen Secretary: Veer Khar

Phone: 021 383 859 Phone: 0274 417 654
Email: president@nzindians.org.nz Email: secretary@nzindians.org.nz

New Zealand Indian Central Association’s Women’s Forum organized Women Conference at Mahatma
Gandhi Centre, Auckland on 27th & 28th Feb 2010.
Theme of the conference was ‘Shine like a Diamond’ and the deliberations and workshops revolved around gaining confidence, Yoga, Body Language, CV preparation and
Dressing for Success. The speakers included:

Ruth DeSouza (Senior Research Fellow at AUT coordinating the Centre for Asian and Migrant Health Research)
Bhavna Desai (Human Resource Specialist)
Taruni Falconi (Intercultural Communication Specialist)
Graham Dallas (Representing ‘Dress for Success’)

The conference was attended by about 150 women delegates representing Indian Associations in various parts of New Zealand.

Committee Members: Gurpreet Kaur (Chairperson), Pushpa Lekinwala, Ranjana Patel, Damanjeet Bains, Mona Patel and Pritam Kaur Singh

(Advert Sponsored By Basra Family Trust)

Feature

The Burden of Love

A report on a unique way of claiming one’s bride: lifting a 99kg rock while the entire village roars in approval
of the bridegroom who’s passed the test with flying colours! Nigel Moffiet in Kichanayakkampatti village,
Tamil Nadu.
They say love conquers all boundaries; if you’re a man
(a non-local) wanting to consummate your marriage
with a local woman from the small Southern Indian
village of Kakkinayakanpatti, you must also conquer
a 99 kilogram rock, tossing it over your shoulder as the
whole village looks on.
A Unique Rock Lifting Ritual
Kakkinayakanpatti is a small village in the Indian
state of Tamil Nadu. According to local residents, there
are no more than 2,000 inhabitants and this is evident
by the motionless peace pertaining to the village;
a peace that is amplified, in contrast, to the bedlam
typical of the greater part of India. Not only does this
village have a tranquility of its own, its rock lifting cer-
emony gives a unique wedding ritual to go with it.
According to locals, this ritual dates back at least
150 years and the same rock has been used the whole
time. There’s much pride in the ritual which marks a
special sense of identity upon the village. When asked
if local men had to perform the rock lifting ritual, they
told us it wasn’t necessary; only men from outside
the village where required to lift the rock. However,
the locals were quick to point out that the men in the
village can lift the rock quite comfortably. Men from
inside the village have had years to perfect the tech-
nique which requires you to roll the rock up your body.
One local resident explained to us how local school
boys drop their bags on their way to school, pick up
the 65 kilogram practice rock, and head on their way
again.
A Celebration of Male Strength
So what is the meaning behind all this? The resi-
dents of Kakkinayakanpatti stress that it’s mostly
celebratory and entertaining; they don’t take it very
seriously. To be fair, the specific history of it and how
it started in this village is not all that clear. However,
one defining element of the ritual is pointed out to us:
by successfully lifting the rock, the hopeful groom is
proving his worth, proving to the village of Kakki-
nayakanpatti that he is hard working and respectable,
dutifully deserving to marry one of their local women.
And what if a man fails to lift the rock? We heard
that a man must provide money and gifts to the village
if he fails. Yes, this is so, explained the resi-
dents, but they stress that this is not as a form
of punishment, rather, it’s all part of the celebra-
tory ritual that takes place. If a man fails to lift the
rock he might give 500-1000 rupees to the village and
he shall return another day to make another attempt.
That is, the compensatory money does not get one off
the hook. Despite the amiable nature of the ritual, I
imagine it could become somewhat of an ordeal for a
man who had to make numerous returns to the village
in order to lift the rock.
The residents of Kakkinayakanpatti were friendly
people, at ease, and happy to explain to us their unique
rock lifting ritual. And they had a friendly piece of
advice for us before we left: no one is to touch the rocks
with their feet, if you do, you too will be obligated to
give some money to the village, they said laugh-
ing. We heeded their caution and left the village of
Kakkinayakanpatti waving goodbye to the locals,
and leaving the two rocks to rest nondescriptly
on the dusty road, waiting patiently for the next
hopeful groom…

Indian Weekender | March 26, 2010 | www.iwk.co.nz 31

Indian

32 Indian Weekender | March 26, 2010 | www.iwk.co.nz