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The South Asian Times

e x c e l l e n c e i n j o u r n a l i s m
Vol.6 No. 19 August 31-September 6, 2013 60 Cents New York Edition Follow us on TheSouthAsianTimes.info

The Mahatma Gandhi of Modern India mesmerizes with his simplicity at a grand reception to welcome him to Nassau County, Long Island.
By Parveen Chopra

Hicksville, NY: Calling the Manmohan Singh government deceitful for not bringing the Jan Lok Pal (ombudsman) bill despite committing to him to pass it two years ago, the world renowned anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare said here Tuesday that he has restarted his campaign earlier this year, to build solidarity for which he is traversing the length and breadth of India. Anna Hazare was speaking at a reception given in his honor at Antuns by Minar by the Indian community of Nassau County in Long Island the day before he Continued on page 2

My anti-corruption crusade Britain will continues: Anna Hazare not join US in strike onSyria

Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano is joined by the host committee members as he presents a citation to Anna Hazare.
(Photo: Yagnesha Shah/Freelance US Media)

Domestic, global factors behind economic turmoil: PM


New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Thursday said India is passing through a difficult economic situation due to a combination of domestic and external factors such as the US monetary stance and the conflict in Syria which the country has to "reckon" with. "It cannot be denied that the country is faced with a difficult economic situation, and there are several causes, the prime minister said in the upper house of parliament. "I do not deny that there are some domestic factors but there are also international factors arising out of the changes in the US monetary stance, Singh said in response to repeated demands from the opposition for a statement on the state of the economy. "There are also problems created by the new tensions that are on the horizon in Syria and they have inevitable consequences for oil prices. So we have to reckon with all those Continued on page 4
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh

Protests started in Washington DC (pictured) and in London against military action in Syria.

London/Washington, DC : President Obama was still prepared to move ahead with a limited military strike on Syria, administration officials said Thursday, despite a stinging rejection of such action on Thursday by ally Britain and mounting questions from Congressmen. But fears of imminent turmoil eased as the diplomatic process was seen playing out into the next week, and the White House emphasized that any action would be "very discrete and limited" and in no way comparable to the Iraq war. The British Parliament narrowly voted against military action in Syria, clearly mindful of the shameful episode a decade ago when Prime Minister Tony Blair backed US invasion of Iraq over WMDs which were never found in Saddam Husseins lair. Prime

Limited US action also delayed as officials concede no smoking gun linking Assad to poison gas attack.
Minister David Cameron said hell act according to the Parliament decision. The vote came on a day that the Obama administration postponed disclosure of the intelligence that led it to conclude the regime of Bashar Assad was to blame for the Aug. 21 chemical attack that killed hundreds of people near Damascus. The British government released its intelligence findings Thursday. Continued on page 4

Lens Eye 15

Fashion 18

Health 26

Spiritual Awareness 30

excellence in journalism

August 31-September 6, 2013

EVENT

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Vivekananda and the meaning of life dawned upon him: You are given this life to serve others, and that service is worship of God. The rest is history. He never married, has no bank balance, and lives in a small room in a temple in his village. But I am always in bliss and the entire mankind is my family, he said. Tracing his journey, Anna said, Heeding Mahatma Gandhis advice, I first transformed my own village, Ralegan Siddhi, hitherto good for nothing, starting with increasing irrigation through water conservation, etc. In the next stage, beginning in 1991, he stared an anti-corruption organization, which forced the sack of half a dozen ministers and 400 officials involved in scams and corrupt deals. The non political, non-religious event in Annas honor was invitation only, historical banquet, rare and first of its kind in Long Island. It was attended by a spectrum of community leaders, the most elite and powerful gathering a rarity to see such diverse groups together at one place. Missing, however, were leaders from INOC (I) and NCP, who perhaps didnt want to be seen near an anti-establishmentarian like Anna. The event was well organized with an immaculate flow except for the throng of people wanting to get themselves photographed with the main guest after his speech. It was a house full event in a beautifully decorated grand ballroom in the newly renovated catering facility now managed by Nitu Singh of Minar Group. Emcee Nagendra Gupta was very precise and eloquent; he was also the key person who put together the whole affair. Indian national anthem was led by Jagdish Sewhani, who also introduced Anna ji as an epitome of courage committed to eradicating corruption in India. Vande Matram was sung by Jerry Kohli, who also supervised the sumptuous vegetarian delicacies. Sushil Goyal recognized the dignitaries in attendance. Nitu Singh presented the Vote of Thanks on behalf of the host committee. Raja Amar was also a sponsor but could not attend.A beautiful brochure was produced to mark the event, worked on, in the service of the community, by Parveen Chopra, Roopsi Narula, Nishant Arora, Subin Varghese, Donnie Superville and Jay Mandal. Renowned photographer Jay Mandal accompanied Anna. Antun's by Minar was catering sponsor. Decoration was sponsored by Fern n Dcor. Among the prominent attendees were Bobby Kumar, Zahid Syed, Haridas Kotahwala, Jack Poola and Dr Narinder Kukar. Leading media was in attendance too. The world famous Hotel Oheka Castle in Huntington was reserved for Anna and his team by the host committee, but he left for New Jersey the same night to catch his flight home the next day.

Anna Hazare mesmerizes with his simplicity


A view of the spellbound audience comprising prominent community members. (left) Host committee members Jagdish Sewhani, Kamlesh Mehta, and Nagendra Gupta, joined by Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano, present a bouquet to Anna Hazare welcoming him.

By Parveen Chopra Continued from page 1 returned to India from a two-week visit to the US. We started from Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar, Punjab, and we have already covered six states and after I return to India, we move to Bihar, Jharkhand and so on to raise public sentiment supporting our demand to the UPA government: Implement Jan Lok Pal or quit , he told over 250 prominent members and leaders of the Indian community. Alluding to his fast unto death in Delhi that galvanized the nation in 2011, Anna Hazare said, I will again bring together crores of people in solidarity and again hoist the tricolor at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi and push for Right to reject and Right to recall (corrupt or incompetent legislators). The spellbound audience burst into applause in admiration and encouragement. Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano was thrilled to rub shoulders with the Indian hero of anti-corruption movement and a selfless humanitarian. Before felicitating him, Mangano welcomed him to the county with these words, Anna Hazare has shown the strength and wisdom to represent his people. It is difficult to force change, which is subjected to criticism and mistruths. But it is comforting to know that there are people in the world who stand up for the common man, for all good people. And I learn that Anna Hazare is referred to as modern day Mahatma Gandhi. And that is so powerful when somebody has taken that responsibility upon themselves to help others. Mangano was introduced as the best friend of the Indian community in Nassau County by Harendra

Singh, who was a member of the host committee, others on the committee being Kamlesh Mehta, Nagendra Gupta, Jagdish Sewhani, Sushil Goyal, Jerry Kohli, Nitu Singh, and Raja Amar. Kamlesh Mehta, the overall coordinator of the event, welcomed Anna Hazare with these moving words, We have not known Mahatma Gandhi, but we see him in you and implore you to guide our people on the right and truthful

path. People like you are incarnated but rarely. May God give you long life and may you be successful in your endeavors. Listening to the living legend and meeting him in person is a revelation. Even when Anna Hazare visited Capitol Hill in Washington DC, he was attired in his customary dhoti-kurta-Nehru jacket and Gandhi cap. There are no oratorical flourishes in his speech, no high flown concepts or jargon. On

Tuesday particularly, he mesmerized all by his simplicity. Speaking in Hindi, the Maharashtra born recounted his personal transformation that inspired him to take a vow to devote his entire life in the service of the nation. Anna said that around the age of 26 he was struck by the mundane nature of everyday life and contemplated suicide. Just then he chanced upon an inspiring book by Swami

Grateful to have a glimpse of the great man


Sunil Jain Co-CEO, Vass Pipe & Steel, Inc, Mineola, NY It was an extraordinary event, exuberant in a nice way. It was a once in a lifetime experience to personally meet a great man like Anna Hazare. The India Day Parade of Long Island in Hicksville was also excellent, good that the Indian community here is now celebrating 15th August in a big way. Rajan Nabe Chairman, Lotus Management Group, Grand Sponsor of IDP Parade 2013 Attending the reception for Anna Hazare here made me feel proud to be an Indian. We wish him success and will support him in his endeavor to throw out corruption in India. The Long Island India Day Parade earlier this month too was successful, better than last year. There were more floats, and lots of people, all had a good time. We hope the momentum will continue in the years to come. Kishore Kuncham President, India Association of Long Island It was one of the best things to happen to me, to be able to have a glimpse of the inspirational icon Anna Hazare here, so far away from India. My compliments to the organizers of the event. Anna Hazare is a true warrior against social injustices and a champion of rural India. Rajesh Shah President of Jain Center of America, NY Anna Hazare is a great leader and we are fortunate to have such a leader who we can compare with Mahatma Gandhi. I was glad to be at the event to honor him. He is doing a great job to remove corruption in India. Every great leader needs support and hopefully Anna Hazare will succeed in his goal with the support of leaders like Kamlesh Mehta. Purna Aramalla Leader of the Telugu community After Jayprakash Narayan, Anna Hazare is the purest, cleanest leader in India. We were honored to honor him. Inder Bindra Founder, Nargis Dutt Memorial Foundation The event with Anna Hazare was well planned and organized, the credit for which also goes to Kamlesh Mehta and I wish he continues such leadership. It is good that people get a chance to meet great individuals like Anna. The LI India Day Parade went well too good to see the Indian community coming together and younger leaders emerging. Akshat Kaul Branch Manager, Indus American Bank, Hicksville Anna Hazare is amazingly charming, and heart-warming in his simplicity. He speaks with so much honesty that he really jump starts your patriotic engines. I just wonder how influential Mahatma Gandhi must have been if one inspired by him is like Anna.

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August 31-September 6, 2013

Gen. VK Singh blames Indian govt India not going through 1991-like crisis: Washington's CFO for weakening army
By Ashok Ojha/ SATimes North Brunswick, NJ: General Vijay Kumar Singh, former Chief of Indian Army, who is better known as the first serving Indian Military chief to take the Government of India to court and a leader of social activist Anna Hazares Jantantra Morcha, didnt surprise many when he took the stage of Overseas Friends of BJP, aligned with the main opposition party of India. Singh is rumored to have been picked up by the BJP to contest from Rae Bareilly Lok Sabha seat against the Congress President Sonia Gandhi in next year s Lok Sabha election. OFBJP accorded a warm reception to General Singh in North Brunswick on August 24 where he appealed to NRIs to prevail upon their family and friends in India to support non-corrupt persons in the 2014 parliamentary election. As a patriot of Indian origin, you have an important role to play in reconstructing the nation, he told the gathering. Please impress upon your people in India to discard such leaders who were engaged in weakening the nation with corrupt practices. Alluding to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, Singh said it was okay to project him as Indias next prime minister, However, it was more important to work for making the nation stronger and united. He also advised the BJP to field more
New Delhi: Excessive self-criticism is sending wrong signals to foreign investors and the current economic scenario in India is not comparable with the 1991 crisis when the country was forced to pledge its gold to pay import bills, an Indian-American money manager has said. "I don't think India is going through the 1991 like crisis. That situation was different. It's not comparable," said Natwar Gandhi, 72, chief financial officer of Washington DC, who is credited with the fiscal turnaround of the US capital from near bankruptcy in 2000 to a surplus budget today. "Foreign investors are withdrawing money not because something has suddenly gone wrong with the Indian economy. This is more to do with the US central bank's move," the Gujarat-born Gandhi, on a visit to Delhi for sharing his experience on urban governance, said. An alumnus of the Louisiana State University, Gandhi was alluding to the US Federal Reserve's hints at easing the fiscal stimulus that has been in force since 2008 to ward off the economic crisis, which experts say have hit currency markets in a host of countries, including India. Foreign funds have pulled out over $12 billion from Indian debt and equities markets since the US Federal Reserve hinted at tapering stimulus in late May. This has led to almost 20 percent slump in the value of Indian currency against US dollar and a sharp drop in stock markets. Gandhi said the huge pulling out of money by foreign funds from the Indian markets was linked largely to the US Federal Reserve's comments.

General VK Singh addressing OFBJP meeting

Natwar Gandhi, who turned around Washington DC finances as CFO

youthful leaders in the forthcoming election. The former Indian Army Chief, who was the mastermind for mobilizing troops on the border during the standoff with Pakistan in 2002, asserted that the Indian Army, which was capable of dealing with a possible joint assault by Pakistan and China, was considerably weakened by political interference in decision-making. He alleged the so-called food security bill brought by the ruling UPA government was likely to be another scandal in the series of many. He added that the only way to getting rid of the current mess in India was to elect representatives who thought beyond political considerations and were committed to uniting India. Jayesh Patel, president of OFBJP, introduced General Singh to the audience as a man of integrity and a crusader against corruption.

He said excessive self-criticism and political compulsions were adding to the volatility in the currency markets. "There are problems, but I see a great deal of self-criticism. Excessive self-criticism sends wrong signal to the foreign investors," he said. Gandhi said India is passing through very difficult economic situation, even though the condition is not as critical as it was in 1990s. In 1991, India was forced to pledge its gold in order to pay its bills as the country's foreign exchange reserve had fallen to $3 billion, not enough even to cover three weeks of imports. Today, the foreign exchange reserve is nearly $280 billion that can cover seven months of imports. Besides, the central bank has more tools to manage volatility in the currency markets.Gandhi pointed out the 1991 crisis had acted as a trigger for economic liberalization, and the Indian government must take similar bold reform measures to emerge stronger out of the crisis. "You have to liberalize more. This is the only long lasting solution to these kind of economic problems," he said.

For NYPD all mosques are terrorism organizations


New York: The New York police department (NYPD) has secretly labeled entire mosques as terrorism organizations. The designation has allowed police to use informants to record sermons and spy on imams, often without specific evidence of criminal wrongdoing. Since the 9/11 attacks, the NYPD has opened at least a dozen "terrorism enterprise investigations" into mosques. The TEI is a police tool intended to help investigate terrorist cells. Designating an entire mosque as a terrorism enterprise means that anyone who attends prayer services is a potential subject of the investigation and fair game for surveillance. Many TEIs stretch for years, allowing surveillance to continue even though the NYPD has never criminally charged a mosque or Islamic organization with operating as a terrorism enterprise. The NYPD declined to comment.

Primary Debate between Suozzi-Haber on Friday


Freeport, NY: A second debate has been scheduled between Democratic candidate for Nassau County Executive Adam Haber and his opponent Tom Suozzi. The debate is set for August 30 at 6:30 p.m. at the Harold Walker Memorial Park, Lakeview, NY, and will be moderated by Radio personality, Bob Slade, Habers campaign said. There are challenges in our communities that must be addressed and I look forward to sharing my solutions, said Haber accepting the invitation. Many of our communities have been overlooked for too long and we must do more to help, because the corridor counts and every Nassau residents counts." The hosting organizations are Lakeview Council, Inc., Democracy Inspiring Voter Awareness, Blacks in Law Enforcement of America, L.I., and Nostrand Gardens Civic Association, Uniondale. Inviting the candidates to debate the sponsoring stated, This joint invitation is made with the community at-large in mind and should be considered by you as an opportunity to come face to face with voters and community issues on the ground
Tom Suozzi (left) and Adam Haber: Democrat candidates for Nassau County Executive.

level. It is our hope that you will accept this invitation and appear prepared to address those in attendance and answer questions that will be asked in a controlled forum. Im looking forward to this discussion about the issues that matter most. I will be there early and stay until the community has

asked all their questions, said Haber. In case Tom happens to have a tight schedule, Ill be there for a while, so there in no chance we miss out on the opportunity to deliver the debate Democratic voters deserve. On August 1, Democrat Adam Haber called out Tom Suozzi for ducking debates.

August 31-September 6, 2013

TURN PAGE

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Britain will not join US... Continued from page 1 The vote was a setback for Obama, who has given up hope of getting UN Security Council authorization for the strike in the face of objections by Russia, Syrias longtime backer, and is struggling to cobble a coalition of allies against Syria. Pentagon officials said that the Navy had now moved a fifth destroyer into the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Each ship carries dozens of Tomahawk cruise missiles that would probably be the centerpiece of any attack on Syria. Although administration officials cautioned that Obama had not made a final decision, a strike could occur soon after UN investigators charged with scrutinizing the Aug. 21 poison gas attack leave Syria. They are scheduled to depart Damascus on Saturday. The White House presented its case for military action to Congressional leaders on Thursday evening, trying to head off growing pressure from Democrats and Republicans to provide more information about the administrations military planning and seek Congressional approval for any action. In a conference call with Republicans and Democrats, top officials from the State Department, the Pentagon and the nations intelligence agencies asserted that the evidence was clear that Assads forces had carried out the poison attack. While the intelligence does not tie Assad directly to the attack, officials said, the administration said the US had both the evidence and legal justification to carry out a strike aimed at deterring the Syrian leader from using such weapons again. A critical piece of the intelligence, officials said, is an intercepted phone call between Syrian military officials, one of whom seems to suggest that the chemical weapons attack was more devastating than was intended. It sounds like he thinks this was a small operation that got out of control, one intelligence official said. Domestic, global factors... Continued from page 1 uncertainties, he said. Oil prices have surged in the international markets in the recent weeks on fear of a USled attack on Syria that would disrupt supplies from the Middle East and India depends for 80% of its oil on imports. The prime minister assured the lawmakers that he would make a statement on the current economic situation Friday. Several opposition leaders, including Leader of Opposition Arun Jaitley, sought PM statement, saying there was a panic situation in view of the huge volatility in currency and equities markets coupled with slow growth and persistent high inflation. The Indian rupee has lost almost 20 percent of its value against the US dollar since the beginning of the current financial year, largely due to pulling out of money by foreign funds from the Indian markets after the US central bank hinted that it would lower fiscal stimulus as the economy shows sign of recovery. Foreign funds have pulled out nearly $12 billion from Indian debt and equities markets since the US Federal Reserve hinted at tapering stimulus in late May.

Lok Sabha passes land acquisition bill


New Delhi: The Lok Sabha Thursday passed the much-awaited land acquisition and rehabilitation bill that aims to provide fair compensation to those whose land is taken away, brings transparency to the process of acquisition of land to set up factories or buildings and assures rehabilitation of those affected. This legislation has been eagerly sought by both industry and those who live off the land. While Congress party termed it a historic step, most parties supported it but said fertile land should not be acquired for industrial development. Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh said industrial houses, political parties and civil society have been consulted in drafting the bill. BJP chief Rajnath Singh said: "Under no circumstances should you acquire irrigated land and agricultural land. You should make do with wasteland," Parties like CPI-M, CPI, Trinamool, JD-U, Biju Janata Dal, Samajwadi Party and BSP also said that the consent of the farmer was key in any land acquisition and suggested that fair compensation should be paid to him while demanding special economic zones to be included in the law.

Fast-food workers New York AG sues Trump, 'Trump University', claims fraud nationwide strike
Albany, NY: New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman sued Donald Trump for $40 million Saturday, saying the real estate mogul helped run a phony "Trump University" that promised to make students rich but instead steered Real estate mogul Donal Trump them into expensive and mostly useless seminars, and tion and celebrity status to take even failed to deliver promised advantage of consumers who apprenticeships. Trump shot back believed in the Trump brand." But Trump's attorney accused that the Democrat's lawsuit is Schneiderman of trying to extort false and politically motivated. Schneiderman says many of the campaign contributions from the 5,000 students who paid up to real estate mogul through his $35,000 thought they would at investigation of Trump. Attorney least meet Trump but instead all Michael D. Cohen told The they got was their picture taken Associated Press on Saturday that in front of a life-size picture of Schneiderman's lawsuit was filled with falsehoods. Cohen "The Apprentice" TV star. "Trump University engaged in said Trump and his university deception at every stage of con- never defrauded anyone. He said Trump University prosumers' advancement through costly programs and caused real vided nearly 11,000 testimonials financial harm," he said. "Trump to Schneiderman from students University, with Donald Trump's praising the program and said 98 knowledge and participation, percent of students in a survey relied on Trump's name recogni- termed the program "excellent."

over wages
New York: Fast-food workers across the country staged their largest strike to date Thursday in an almost year-long campaign to raise wages in the service sector. Employees of McDonald's, Wendy's, Burger King and others walked off their jobs in 50 cities from Boston, Mass., to Alameda, Calif., organizers say. They were expected to be joined by retail employees at stores owned by Macy's Inc, Sears Holdings Corp and Dollar Tree Inc in some cities. The workers want to form unions and bargain higher wages with their employers without facing retaliation from franchisees or their parent companies. They are demanding $15 an hour, up from $7.25, which is the current federal minimum wage. The median wage for front-line fastfood workers is $8.94 per hour, according to an analysis of government data by the National Employment Law Project, an advocacy group for lower-wage workers. Virtually all private-sector fast-food jobs are non-union, and organizers say retaliation against workers who try to organize is common.

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August 31-September 6, 2013

Cardiologist Kapil Parakh named White House fellow Gas station worker shot dead in NJ
Washington, DC: Kapil Parakh, an Indian-origin cardiologist working in Washington area, is among a dozen people chosen by the White House for its prestigious fellowship program for 2013-14. A Zambia University graduate, Parakh is the director of heart failure at the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Centre and assistant professor in the Departments of Medicine, Epidemiology, and Health Behavior and Society. He edged out two other IndianAmericans among the finalists -Shilpen Patel, associate professor of radiation oncology at the University of Washington, and Jay Bhatt, geriatric medicine fellow at the University of Michigan Health System. Starting with Indian-American neurosurgeon and CNN's chief medical correspondent Sanjay Gupta, who was a 1997-98 fellow, Parakh is the latest person of Indian origin to join the White House Parakh leads heart failure quality improvements in collaboration with the Joint Commission's Centre for Transforming Healthcare, using entrepreneurial techniques to cost-effectively improve outcomes, the White House announcement said. Parakh's research focuses on understanding the increased mortality in patients with depression after a heart attack. Passionate about teaching, Parakh is a clinician-educator and has mentored trainees in award winning research. Parakh is the co-founder of Health for America, a non-profit that mobilizes youth to improve the health of communities through innovation while shaping the next generation of leaders. In recognition of his contributions to public health, Parakh was recently inducted into the Delta Omega Public Health honor society. Washington, DC: A Sikh man working at a gas-station in New Jersey was shot dead over the weekend in an attempted robbery case. The local police in New Jersey has announced an award of $8,000 for information leading to arrest of those responsible for the murder of Surinder Singh. A native of India, Singh,40, worked at a gas station as an attendant at Garden State Fuel in Woodbury for 14 years. A massive manhunt has been launched in New Jersey for the two persons allegedly responsible for the killing of Singh. The police also released sketch of one suspect.One of them was described as a black male weighing 150 pounds, 5-feet, 7-inches tall, armed with a small handgun.

Surinder Singh

Kapil Parakh

Fellows Program created in 1964 by then president Lyndon Johnson. The program is designed to give promising American leaders "first hand, high-level experience with the workings of the federal government, and to increase their sense of participation in national affairs," according to the White House.

They fled scene in a small, silver vehicle north on Broad Street. According to the police, Singh was shot twice, once in upper chest, which went straight in and a second time near the right arm pit. In a statement, North American Punjabi Association alleged that the US law enforcement agencies have failed in protecting the lives and property of Sikh Community in the country.

Indian American admits role in widespread student visa fraud

Volunteers march for radical social change


New York: The 33rd annual Indian Independence Day parade in New York City saw the convergence of approximately 150,000 people to commemorate this important turning point in the history of the subcontinent. In the same spirit of transformation, the grassroots social movement Overseas Volunteer for a Better India (OVBI) was represented in the gathering by a group of over hundred volunteers who surveyed parade participants about the state of Indian society today and what they envision for its future. OVBI had an equally strong presence at other Independence Day festivities around the US, organizing large campus events at the University of Florida, University of Texas, and Arizona State University. At the University of Florida, several students mobilized to start a campus chapter dedicated to the OVBI mission. Chief architect of OVBIs counterpart in India, VFABI (Volunteer for a Better India), Darshak Hathi addressed students at Arizona State saying, When we change the attitude of people around us, we can create a wave of difference to enrich our entire society. Today, for the younger generations, the avenue for structural change can be social media. Hundreds around the country have

Washington, DC: An Indian American has admitted his role in widespread foreign student visa fraud that took place in New Jersey, the US Department of Justice said. Manamadurai Somalingam, 64, from New York pleaded guilty before US District Judge Freda Wolfson in Trenton Federal Court in New Jersey to information charging him with one count of conspiring to commit visa fraud and one count of conspiring to conceal and harbor illegal aliens for private financial gain. He now faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in jail and a fine of $250,000. The sentencing is scheduled for December 5. According to court documents, Somalingam admitted that from March 2011 through May 2012, while he was the owner of a school

called PC Tech Learning with campuses in Iselin and Jersey City, he engaged in a conspiracy to obtain student visas for foreign citizens who were not eligible for such visas. Somalingam admitted that he falsely certified that a woman he hired to work for him at the Jersey City campus of PC Tech was eligible for a student visa even though he knew that she would be working fulltime and was not eligible. Besides, Somalingam admitted he never terminated a foreign citizen's student status as long as that individual paid his tuition fees, even though Somalingam, as the primary designated school official for PC Tech, was required to terminate any student who failed to make proper progress in his studies, the Department of Justice said.

Overseas Volunteer for a Better India (OVBI) members during a march

rallied for this cause. Says OVBI president Suresh Vasu, We are delighted with the enthusiastic responses at each of the OVBI Independence Day functions and with the interest people have shown to become OVBI members in support of ourinitiatives for India. In the cities of Ocala and Gainesville in Florida, events featured presentations on strategies to educate the public on democratic processes, highlight development initiatives driven by principles of personal empowerment, and emphasize the creation of capable future leadership through a school of good governance. In Mercer County New Jersey, OVBI members took part in a 5K walkathon to raise funds for relief ef-

forts in the North Indian state of Uttarakhand. In Northern California, the Festival of India drew thousands of participants and onlookers, with the OVBI contingent marching strong in their midst. Within the broader framework of the festivals cultural offerings and historical exhibits, OVBI raised public awareness around the social climate of present-day India with an emphasis on how those based in the US can make relevant contributions to Indian society. Launched in May 2013 by members of the Indian diaspora in the US, OVBI has gained considerable momentum as a major cause for the expatriate community and its supporters. For more information, please visit www.overseasvbi.org

August 31-September 6, 2013

NATIONAL COMMUNITY

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Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation appoints first executive director


New York: Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation, USA (EVF) recently concluded its annual fund-raising through a series of 46 concerts throughout USA with grand success befitting 25 years of operation. Every year EVF, whose administrative cost is in single digit, raises millions of dollars for eradicating illiteracy in remote tribal areas of India and for creating integrated development in those villages. This year was no exception. As of this moment there are over 52,000 Ekal Schools dispensing functional literacy to nearly 1.5 million underprivileged children throughout India, including Jammu & Kashmir, irrespective of caste, creed and religion. In last six years, Ekal has doubled the number of underdeveloped villages that it serves. Now, there are 45 Ekal-Chapters spread all over USA, supported by over 1,000 dedicated volunteers w h o have devoted their time, energy and resources to this largest literacy cause under taken by NRIs. Considering this ecliptic growth and the overwhelming response of its patrons, EVF has appointed this month (August2013) Ranjani Saigal as its Executive Director for her sterling credentials to coordinate various aspects of its sprawling administration in
Ranjani Saigal

USA. Saigal will spearhead EVFs ambitious agenda of community outreach programs in USA, streamline its fund-raising activities, promote Ekals cause and interact with support system in India. A graduate of IIT Mumbai and University of Florida in Engineering & Computer Science, Ranjani Saigal has 25 yrs of experience in Education Technology at Massachusetts Institute of Technology where she facilitated development and deployment of several teaching tools and gained accolades along the way. She is a co-founder of popular e-magazine

Lokvani.com and serves on the board of several social enterprises. Hailing the appointment, Subhash Gupta, Chairman of board of EVF, not only complimented Saigal for her passion and commitment for education and mentoring of several non-profit organizations in the past, but also, expressed his trust in her leadership. According to Ranjani Saigal, her immediate task at EVF, will be to closely work with Ekals Executive branch, various Chapter Presidents, and its key Volunteers across USA and enhance interaction, cooperation between the central body and satellite chapter-teams.

School girl founded charity raises $1000 from gala


New Jersey: Divya Mehta from the Warlaw -Hartridge School has founded a charity foundation called Liberate The Chains. It is a completely student run initiative that works to raise funds as well as awareness about modern-day Human Trafficking both on a local and global scale. On August 20, the charity held second annual benefit gala dinner at the Albert Palace in Fords, NJ. The night was filled with music, food, a fashion show, dance performances, speeches, and awareness presentations. The Mayor of Edison Antonia Ricigliano as well as Assemblymen Chivukula were in attendance. $100 were raised from the gala all of which will be donated to help rehabilitate trafficked kids. Along with annual galas, the club has been actively involved in the South Plainfield, Westfield, Edison, and Brunswick Area. We helped our school host an awareness symposium which was attended by Attorney General of NJ Mr. Chiesa and various UNICEF and activist dignitaries. Myself and a classmate were also invited by the Attorney General of NJ himself to have lunch and discuss statewide awareness needs, says Mehta.

Sikh Games NY event draws 800 participants

Youth participated in various sports events

All individual, team winners and finalists were awarded

Divya Mehta (president) along with Edison Mayor Ricigliano and other club members: Emily Wexler, Ayan Ahmed, and Alex Rappold

New York: The 2-day Sikh Games New York event was a resounding success with over 800 participants and 4000 spectators. The event was a joint effort of a team led by Manmeet K Lamba & Jatinder Singh, Glen Cove Gurdwara Team, participants, parents, supporters, spectators, sponsors, the Glen Cove High School, volunteers and the Sangat of Tri-States. This year's Games were held at the Glen Cove High School premises over the weekend, on Sat & Sunday 24th & 25th August 2013. Children, teens, youth & adults both boys and girls participated in basketball, volleyball, badminton, table tennis, lawn tennis, track, long jump, shot-put, tug of war and elementary track. Guru ka langar, with wide variety of food items and stalls (provided generously by Satguru), water, juice, refreshments were provided free to all, throughout the two days. Children and families enjoyed a festive and fun atmosphere in true Sikh spirit of Chardi Kala. The Glen Cove Town Mayor Ralph V. Suozzi graced the occasion, witnessed the events and was felicitated

and honored as a Special Guest. Tom Souzzi the former Nassau County Chief was also a Special Guest, graced the event & was felicitated. One of the stars of the event was Lester Prosper, who is a promising young basketball player from Old Westbury & was one of the NBA Draft Player for 2011. Lester is picked-up BB as a young student in USA, at 17 and now is poised for a chance to be part of a NBA Team. He has played in European and Canadian Leagues. Lester was at the event and actively involved in the basketball event on both days. Lester provided tips and explained finer points of the game to eager young Sikh boys. He was extremely happy to be part of the Sikh games and contributed significantly to the grand success of the basketball event which had over 40 teams play over the two days and compete to be the best in their groups. All individual, team winners and finalists were recognized and awarded medals and trophies by sponsors Apna Bazaar.

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against the dollar? 3. What is your take on the Immigration Bill being worked in Congress? How is it going to affect you personally? Are you for or against it?

Ashrita Furman, holder of the most Guinness Records at the same time (currently 163), with Nikhil Divekar of Panaji,Goa, India light the world's largest incense stick. The fifty-eight year old health food store manager of New York set the new Guinness World Record together with twenty other friends to honor the 82nd birth anniversary of the spiritual Guru Sri Chinmoy (1931 2007). The incense stick has a height of 31 feet (9.45 meter), a circumference of 76 centimeter and its fragrance is Nag Champa.

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August 31-September 6, 2013

Indians are third largest immigrant group in US


Washington, DC: Indians have emerged as the third-largest immigrant group in the US behind Mexicans and the Chinese with their number touching nearly 1.9 million in 2011, according to a US think tank. The share of Indian immigrants among all foreign born in the US has grown to almost 5 percent of the country's 40.4 million immigrants in 2011, noted an article published in the Migration Policy Institute's online journal, the Migration Information Source. Indian population has grown to over 150 times its size since 1960, when the slightly more than 12,000 Indian immigrants represented less than 0.5 percent of the total immigrant population of 9.7 million immigrants. Indians' share of Asian immigrants in the United States has been increasing steadily since 1960, making it the third-largest sending country overall and the second-largest Asian sending country after China. As a group, immigrants from India are better educated, more likely to have strong English language skills and arrive on employmentbased visas, and are less likely to live below the federal poverty line than the overall foreign-born population, it says. They are also more concentrated in the working ages than immigrants overall, and Indian-born men outnumber Indian-born women. In 2011, India was the second most common country of origin for international students at US institutions of higher learning, behind China, MPI noted. Based on data from various US government reports, the article noted that Almost one-third of all Indian immigrants resided in just two states: California (380,700 or 21 percent) and New Jersey (210,400, or 11 percent). Other states with Indian immigrant populations greater than 100,000 were Texas (162,400, or 9 percent); New York (145,400, or 8 percent); and Illinois (127,200, or 7 percent).

India-born Satya Nadella in running for Microsoft top job


Washington, DC: India-born Satya Nadella, currently heading Microsoft's Cloud and Enterprise group, is listed among likely successors to the information technology giant's CEO Steve Ballmer, who is set to retire within a year. As executive vice president, Nadella "runs a group that continues to churn out growth and profits", noted Seattle Times in a story on the start of a guessing game among Microsoft watchers since Ballmer's impending departure was announced. "There is no single clear successor to a lightning rod of a leader who remains one of the most identifiable CEOs in the country," it said. "What's more, the next CEO may well have a far different job than the one Ballmer is vacating", the Times said as "Once the dominant force in technology, Microsoft now finds itself chasing companies in key businesses such as Google in Nadella also figures on the New York Times' list of current Microsoft executives who could be contenders besides Tony Bates, former director of Skype and now executive vice president of business development and strategy. Speculation by analysts and executives about external candidates included Sheryl Sandberg, chief operating officer of Facebook; Reed Hastings, chief executive of Netflix and a former director at Microsoft; Scott Forstall, who ran iOS at Apple until last year and John Legere, chief executive of T-Mobile, it said. Nadella holds a Master of Science degree in Computer Science from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, a Master of Business Administration from the University of Chicago, and a Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical Engineering from the Manipal Institute of Technology.

Satya Nadella

Web search and Apple in mobile devices." Nadella, 44, as head of Microsoft's $19 billion Server and Tools Business, is credited with the transformation of the business and technology from client-server software to cloud infrastructure and services.

Tamil version of 'Madras Cafe' pulled from Canadian theaters Indian Americans accuse bank of discrimination
Toronto: Less than a week after its release, the Tamil version of controversial political thriller "Madras Cafe" was pulled from two theaters here due to protests and poor ratings. The movie, which was released across the world Friday, is based on the Sri Lankan civil war and also shows the 1991 assassination of former Indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi. Actor John Abraham, who has coproduced the film, also features as an Indian Army intelligence agent sent to Sri Lanka. The film sparked protests across the world even before it got released as Tamil groups claimed that the film portrays the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in poor light. In Canada, the movie was released in six theaters in Surrey, Montreal and Toronto. Though the company representing the film claimed that it was being pulled from theaters in Canada due to protests, spokeswoman for Cineplex Entertainment, Pat Marshall, said that it was being pulled from only two Toronto theaters screening the Tamil version,
Washington, DC: A Michigan judge has ruled that an unusual lawsuit alleging discrimination against a bank set up by members of the local Indian and east Asian business community by two of its Indian customers can proceed. Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Denise Langford Morris Wednesday ruled that the case against Novi-based Lotus Bancorp Inc. and three of its senior officers can proceed. She, however, denied a motion to establish it as a class-action lawsuit. According to crainsdetroit.com, what makes the lawsuit unusual is that Lotus Bancorp, the holding company for Novi-based Lotus Bank, was founded in 2007 by members of the local Indian and East Asian business community. Most of those who invested in the bank were of Indian descent. Most of its board members are Indian. And yet two of the bank's Indian customers, Jasit Takhar and Anil Gupta, last March filed the case alleging discrimination when they fell behind on payments on a nearly $1.5 million loan from Lotus to buy a Travelodge motel in Jackson. The lawsuit is based on a series of emails in 2010 and 2011 by the bank's president, Neal Searle, and one of its executive vice presidents, Richard Bauer, who is also the bank's CFO,

A poster of Madras Caf

the Vancouver Desi reported. "Its the way that our business works, its our guests who decide what movies stay on the screen and what movies come off by buying the ticket, she was quoted as saying. According to Marshall, the film was received well in four of the six theaters screening the Hindi version, while the two Toronto theaters screening the Tamil version could not work. The Hindi version

opened well. The two locations in the GTA (Greater Toronto Area), in the Tamil version, did not open well, Marshall said. Of those six locations, given the performance, the two Tamil version movies will come off but the other four will continue on because theyve done well, she added. A group of around 50 people protested outside Torontos Eglinton Town Centre theater.

crainsdetroit.com said. Both are named as defendants, as is chief lending officer John Westerheide, the recipient of some of the emails, which contain highly derogatory comments about Indians. One, by Bauer, as cited by the website, said that "the only good Indian is a dead Indian", and another by him, when asked if he wanted free tickets for his Indian customers to attend a concert by an Indian singer, said he was "only interested if someone is going to detonate an incendiary device." A brief in the lawsuit quotes Searle as saying, in reference to others associated with the bank: "I don't care what your Indian buddies told you, I make the decisions. I know how you Indians operate. You like to deal with someone you know in upper management but this does not work like that. Do you understand English?" Takhar and Gupta eventually got current on their loan after repeatedly being threatened with foreclosure, crainsdetroit.com reported. Arguing to have the case dismissed, the Lotus bank's lawyer Patrick McCarthy Wednesday agreed that the emails by Searle and Bauer were wrong, but said they had nothing to do with the bank's actions regarding Takhar and Gupta.

August 31-September 6, 2013

NATIONAL COMMUNITY

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University of South Carolina launches celebration of India


Washington : The University of South Carolina launched CarolIndia, a year-long celebration of India, as it unveiled the international edition of the Encyclopaedia of Hinduism at a conference on one of the world's oldest major religions. Hundreds of Hindu families travelled to Columbia in South Carolina, to watch Indian social activist Anna Hazare, Hindu spiritual leader Swami Chidanand Saraswati and university President Harris Pastides unveil the 11-volume encyclopedia Monday. Culmination of a 25-year academic effort, the definitive guide is conceived, compiled and produced by the India Heritage Research Foundation and published by Mandala Publishing, according to the university. "This is a remarkable work of scholarship and research. I hope that many in academia and in everyday life will turn to it as a resource to better understand the characters, the tenets and the impact that Hinduism has had, and is having in the world," said Pastides. Hal French, professor emeritus of religious studies, who served as associate editor of the encyclopaedia since its inception in 1987, called the 25-year quest to document Hinduism a privilege. The conference also marked the beginning of CarolIndia, a year-long celebration of India as part of the university' expanding internationalization program that would focus on a single country every year. Robert Cox, director of the university's Walker Institute for International and Area Studies, said the university chose India for its first year because of the university's and state's increasing ties with the country and for its importance as the world's largest democracy and rising economic power. Cox said his greatest hope is that university students come to think of India as familiar place, not an exotic one. CarolIndia will feature film festival, lectures, concerts and exhibits. Among the many visitors to campus will be filmmaker Mira Nair. Students also will have the opportunity to engage with faculty with Indian research and teaching interests.

Official launch of the international Encyclopedia of Hinduism inspired and guided by Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswati with Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati at USC.

US marijuana streak named after Dr Sanjay Gupta


Washington, DC: Indian American medical journalist Sanjay Gupta has had a strain of cannabis named after him since he suggested a relook at the use of medical marijuana changing his previous position on the controversial issue. A Colorado medical dispensary named a new type of medical marijuana - Gupta Kush - after Gupta, CNN's Chief Medical Correspondent, adding him to a list of celebrities including President Barack Obama who have namesake cannabis strains. "Dr. Gupta's recent reporting on marijuana puts him at the forefront of the medical cannabis movement, and we thought what better way to honor his efforts than by giving him his own strain," said Jeff Kless, owner of Helping Hands Herbals Dispensary in Boulder, Colorado, in a media release. "We'd like to ensure he remains part of the annals of cannabis culture, and now he will," he added. Kless called naming a marijuana strain after Gupta as "our way of tipping our hat and honoring him for taking such a firm, science-based stance on behalf of marijuana as 'real' medicine." "The political and health establishments now realize that cannabis has genuine medical benefits, which we've been saying for years," he said. "Gupta Kush imparts a very relaxing state that calms the mind without compromising clarity. When the

Indian American doctor writes health guide with twist of humor


Washington, DC: An Indian American doctor has brought out a book on short-term memory loss or dementia chalking out positive steps people should take to prevent it -- all with a humorous twist. Sandeep Grewal's 'Dementia Express: 100 Ways to Lose Your Memory' makes people aware of how they are contributing to their own mental decline, and how to take positive steps to prevent this, according to a press statement Thursday. The book, which has captured the attention of professionals in the medical field, incorporates humor while addressing the serious subject of mental decline. This mix keeps the reader entertained while still being informative about mental functions. The book explains that reducing mental exercise will accelerate memory loss and vice versa. Therefore, Dementia Express is loaded with brain boosting tips to retrain the brain to bring back mental acuity to the reader, the statement said. The writer encourages readers to complete small tasks to stimulate the brain like changing a daily routine, and small lifestyle adjustments that delay or eliminate dementia. Grewal practices internal medicine at Rock Hill in South Carolina.

Goan doctor's book explains health issues to children


New York: It's large, it's colorful and it's attractive. It's the kind of book that even draws an adult to go through and, before you realize it, you've picked up something new. DareBone's Big Break has been authored by Gleeson Rebello, MD, and Jamie Harisiades and published by SDP Publishing Its main author, Gleeson Rebello, is a pediatric orthopedic surgeon born and brought up in Goa. He is currently a consultant in the department of orthopedic surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, and on the faculty of the Harvard Medical School. The book describes itself as "a tale of trauma, treatment, and recovery in rhyme". It deals with a story from everyday life: a child gets injured on the playground, and ends up in the emergency room. Rebello says his attempt is to "educate without intimidating" and "entertain without underestimating". So this book packs in poetry, humor and, importantly, medical accuracy. DareBone is the boy who suffers his first major injury - a broken elbow. We meet him together with his "wise-cracking sidekick", the dog Wag-A-Bone. Given the authors' medical backgrounds, DareBone not surprisingly meets a number of "medical heroes", including the orthopedic surgeon, as he journeys through surgery and recovery. "The book was written with the aim of raising the bar in terms of explaining the nuts and bolts of everyday medical practice to a smarter generation of children without underestimating their ability to pick up complex concepts. A secondary aim of the book is to make medicine and biology 'cool'," Rebello said in an email interview. He sees the book as "very technical from an orthopedic standpoint but at the same time funny and easy to comprehend." It is aimed at children of 410 years, as well as their parents and healthcare professionals or educationists who deal with children of that age. "The response to the book has been very encouraging both from healthcare- and non-healthcare-related professionals. It took two years to write it once I thought of the idea.... (There also was) interacting with a lot of frightened children with broken bones in the emergency room and my clinic, who were mostly afraid because of lack of knowledge of what was to follow," Rebello said. Rebello has trained at the Goa Medical College, Christian Medical College in Vellore and the Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, before he joined Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, as a research fellow and on a staff position in 2008. His father, Francis M. Rebello was closely associated with a local Konkani newspaper in Goa, founded through public donations in the 1970s.

Medical journalist Sanjay Gupta

mind is quiet and happy, people allow themselves to heal. Medical marijuana helps that happen," Kless claimed. Gupta Kush is an indica strain with its origins in the Hindu Kush mountains of South Asia, the reported birthplace of some of the world's oldest and most potent cannabis strains, according to the release. It has a rich green color hidden beneath a deep layer of trichomes, and a thick, hashy, floral taste. Onset is immediate and effects are long-lasting, it said. Since publicly announcing his changed views on medical marijuana earlier this month, Gupta has inspired a more serious look at weed and even generated some pressure on Obama to re-examine his position on marijuana laws. However, the White House last week indicated Obama isn't looking to change current federal laws relating to marijuana anytime soon in the light of Gupta's views.

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US AFFAIRS

August 31-September 6, 2013

50th Anniversary of March on Washington

Obama hails King but says 'dream' requires vigilance

US prepares to bypass UN on Syria response


Washington: The State Department made clear Wednesday that the Obama administration plans to bypass the United Nations Security Council as it prepares for a possible strike on Syria, after having failed to win support from Russia. In blunt terms, department spokeswoman Marie Harf said last-ditch efforts to win support for an anti-Assad resolution at the U.N. were unsuccessful, and the U.S. would proceed anyway. "We see no avenue forward given continued Russian opposition to any meaningful council action on Syria," she said. "Therefore, the United States will continue its consultations and will take appropriate actions to respond in the days ahead." Earlier in the day, the U.S. and its allies tried to advance a resolution from Great Britain condemning the alleged chemical attack last week in Syria, and authorizing "necessary measures to protect civilians." The Russian delegation, traditional supporters of the Assad government, immediately complained about the resolution during the discussions at U.N. headquarters in New York. Harf said the U.N. Security Council would not be proceeding with a vote. Launching a military strike without U.N. authorization would not be without precedent -- the U.S. acted unilaterally during the 1983 invasion of Grenada, the 1989 invasion of Panama, and missile strikes on Sudan and Afghanistan in 1998. But in this case, the U.N.'s special envoy to Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi, is urging the U.S. to seek and obtain Security Council approval. U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon also urged the U.S. and its allies to wait until U.N. inspectors currently in Syria finish their work investigating last week's attack. Harf and other U.S. officials have argued that the U.S. is obligated to respond, given the Assad regime's alleged breach of international standards on chemical weapons, in a grisly attack that reportedly killed hundreds. The images from that attack, coupled with other evidence, led Secretary of State John Kerry to declare earlier this week that the use of the weapons was "undeniable." By the end of the week, the U.S. intelligence community is expected to release evidence making the case that the Assad regime used chemical weapons. British Prime Minister David Cameron is seeking a vote in Parliament on Thursday in support of responding in Syria. Some members of Congress are now demanding that Obama seek their approval as well -- or at least greater consultation -before proceeding.

President Obama addresses the crowd gathered on the National Mall in Washington on Wednesday, August 28. Fifty years ago, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his watershed "I Have a Dream" speech during the historic March on Washington.

Washington: President Barack Obama hailed Martin Luther King Jr Wednesday for saving America from oppression but said "constant vigilance" was needed to keep the civil rights icon's dream of equality alive. Fifty years after the "I have a dream speech," America's first black president stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, where King made an appearance in 1963 which changed American history. "He offered a salvation path for oppressed and oppressors alike. His words belong to the ages, possessing a power and prophecy unmatched in our time," Obama said. Obama also remembered the thousands of African Americans who joined King's March on Washington to demand their rights and to wake their country's "long slumbering conscience." The president, who has faced some criticism for not doing more to help the African American community, which remains plagued by poverty and barriers to advancement, dismissed arguments that little had changed for blacks since King spoke. "To dismiss the magnitude of this progress, to suggest, as some sometimes do, that little has changed -- that dishonors the courage and the sacrifice of those who paid the price to march in those years," he said. But he also argued that much work remained to be done for King's dream to be

fulfilled. "We would dishonor those heroes as well to suggest that the work of this nation is somehow complete. "The arc of the moral universe may bend towards justice, but it doesn't bend on its own. "To secure the gains this country has made requires constant vigilance, not complacency," Obama said. The president was joined at the ceremony on the National Mall in the center of Washington by former presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton. Carter bemoaned the "racist bullet" that claimed King's life in 1968. Clinton said that it was time to open the "stubborn gates" barring wider opportunity. "The choice remains as it was on that distant summer day 50 years ago. Cooperate and thrive or fight with each other and fall behind." Before Obama addressed the throngs gathered at the Lincoln Memorial, civil rights leaders past and present remembered the decades-long movement to secure equal treatment and rights for African-Americans. Celebrities and entertainers at the event included Forest Whitaker and Oprah Winfrey, who star as husband and wife in one of the summer's hottest movies, "Lee Daniels' The Butler," about life in the White House through the eyes of the (mostly black) hired help.

Nidal Hasan sentenced to death for Fort Hood shooting rampage


Fort Hood, Texas: Nidal Malik Hasan was dismissed from the Hasan was sentenced to death Army and stripped of his pay and Wednesday for killing 13 people other benefits, which he had continued to receive while awaiting and wounding 32 others in a 2009 trial. He will be transferred to a shooting spree at Fort Hood, Tex., the worst mass murder at a milimilitary prison at Fort tary installation in U.S. history. Leavenworth, Kan., on the first Dressed in Army fatigues, available military flight, officials said. Hasan, 43, listened impassively as Hasan was previously found the death penalty was handed Nidal Hasan down by a panel of 13 senior miliguilty on all 13 counts of pretary officers in a unanimous decision. If meditated murder and 32 of attempted preeven a single panel member had objected, meditated murder after opening fire Nov. 5, Hasan would instead have been sentenced 2009, at Fort Hoods Soldier Readiness to life in prison. Processing Center, where troops were getThe jury deliberated for a little more than ting medical checkups before deployments two hours. to Afghanistan.

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McCain stubbornly believes the Wildfire 25% contained but spreads House can pass immigration reform deeper into Yosemite
Mesa, AZ: Senator John McCain still hopes the Republican controlled House will pass real immigration reform, but the clock is clicking away as 2014 is election year. Its very important that we try to act before the end of this year, McCain said at a town hall in Mesa, Arizona, on Tuesday. Waiting any longer will run into campaign season. But given looming battles over funding the government and increasing the debt ceiling, passing immigration legislation before 2014 may be unrealistic. I remain guardedly optimistic that our friends in the House of Representatives will agree to their legislative process and then we can get to conference, McCain, who was joined by fellow Arizona Republican Senator Jeff Flake, told the audience. He cited the array of interests backing reform, including major business groups, labor unions, and evangelical organizations, as evidence of its momentum. House leaders are moving forward with a series of bills on border security and visa programs, but theyve yet to decide howand Groveland, CA: The Rim fire spread deeper intoYosemite National Park on Tuesday with flames racing unimpeded to the east even as firefighters shored up defenses for communities on the western edges of the blaze. The fire was 25% contained by Wednesday, with almost all of the containment coming on the fire's southwest edge. On the east, the fire has a relatively flat, clear path farther into Yosemite and the 3,700 firefighters battling the blaze have fewer options to control it. "They're in scouting mode," Dick Fleishman of the U.S. Forest Service said of fire crews. "There's not a lot of real good areas to get out in there and do a lot of work." The blaze has destroyed 111 buildings, including 31 residences, and is now the seventh-largest fire in state history, having spread across 281 square miles. "It's burning its way into the record books," said Daniel Berlant, a spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. On Tuesday, firefighters bolstered defensive perime-

Rim fire air drop

US Senator John McCain speaks to reporters after attending a Conversation On Immigration during a town hall event in Mesa, Arizona on August 27.

whetherto offer legal status and a path to citizenship to the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants living in America today. McCain is still hoping the House will support a citizenship component in a final deal. I dont accept your premise that the House of Representatives will absolutely reject a path to citizenship, McCain told a reporter at the forum. I think well know more in two or three months. The Senate bill would require undocumented immigrants to meet a variety of requirements, includ-

ing paying a fine and learning English, in order to obtain citizenship. The process would take at least 13 years for most eligible applicants. But among House Republicans, its not clear that the caucus supports even limited legal status for undocumented immigrants. Rep. Bob Goodlatte, chair of the House Judiciary Committee overseeing immigration legislation, recently suggested that even immigrants who were brought to the country illegally as children should not get a new path to citizenship.

ters to the south and west using bulldozers to clear brush and vegetation from strips of land up to the Tuolumne River to protect homes near California 108, Berlant said. "We've burned back down the mountain so that if the fire makes the river, jumps the river, that side of the hill is already burned," he said. "We're coming around the corner, catching the western portion of the fire and we'll continue to pinch it off as it goes up to the northern flank." Officials consider about 4,500 homes north of the fire and two groves of giant sequoias and other historic landmarks still in danger. The Stanislaus National Forest is taking the brunt of the blaze, with the

Groveland Ranger District making up most of the southern flank. The region has been hit hard by fires in the past, the most significant in 1987, which claimed the life of a firefighter. This week's fire has brought sorrow among the district's employees, who not only recall the past devastation but also begrudge the current damage. The fire burned though an area that had a pending $1million timber sale, said Maggie Dowd, district ranger in the Groveland Ranger District. "The economic impacts are real, but we haven't begun to estimate them yet," Dowd said Tuesday from her office in a building shrouded in smoke.

Miley Cyrus shocks with raunchy Video Music Awards performance


New York: An organization backed by Miley Cyrus's dad has criticized a raunchy MTV Video Music Awards performance by ... Miley Cyrus. The Parents Television Council have accused MTV of "falsely manipulating the content rating" for their program, encouraging children to watch "adults-only material" such as Cyrus's twerking routine with Robyn Thicke. As the New York Times points out, conservative outrage is nothing new for MTV's skin-studded red-letter night. It's not even the first time that a former child star writhed in flesh-tone underthings. But Cyrus isn't just the previously family-friendly Hannah Montana: she is also the daughter of country singer Billy Ray Cyrus, who sits on the Parents Television Council's advisory board. Although the Parents Television Council's press release did not mention Billy Ray, it did single out Miley's tongue-waggling per-

Higher education shouldn't be a luxury: Obama


Washington: US President Barack Obama Saturday said that higher education shouldn't be a luxury, touting his revamped education plan to make college more affordable. In his weekly radio and internet address, Obama said students and families and taxpayers cannot just keep subsidizing college costs that keep going up and up, Xinhua reported. The US president laid out steps to ensure that college remains within reach for all young Americans including connecting financial aid to school performance, supporting academic innovation and competition, and helping more students responsibly manage their debt. "These reforms won't be popular with everybody. But the path we're on now is unsustainable for our students and our economy," he said. "Higher education shouldn't be a luxury, or a roll of the dice; it's an economic imperative that every family in America should be able to afford." Obama took a two-day bus tour this week rolling out new education reforms for American families. The White House said the tour is a part of his broader initiative to secure a better bargain for middle class families. The rising cost of college has increasingly become a burden for many Americans. According to Obama administration figures, average tuition and fees at a public four-year college have increased more than 250 percent over the past three decades, while incomes for typical American families grew by only 16 percent. Average student loan debt stands at $26,000.

US soldier gets life term for Afghan massacre


San Francisco: A US soldier who killed 16 Afghan civilians last year was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in Washington. Army Staff Sergeant Robert Bales appeared in blue military dress. He showed no emotion as the jury announced its verdict Friday. He was led away from the court without a chance to hug his weeping mother, Xinhua reported. The 40-year-old soldier's lawyers argued that he should one day be eligible for parole, while prosecutors who described him as a "man of no moral compass" pointed to the heinous nature of the crimes in arguing to keep him in jail for life. On March 11, 2012, Bales slipped away from his military base before dawn and killed 16 unarmed Afghan civilians, mostly women and children, in Kandahar province in southern Afghanistan. The veteran of four combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan apologised Thursday for the attack. "I'm truly, truly sorry to those people whose families got taken away," he said. Bales, a father of two, pleaded guilty to the killings in June.

Miley Cyrus at MTV Video Music awards

formance: "MTV continues to sexually exploit young women by promoting acts that incorporate 'twerking' in a nude-coloured bikini," it wrote. "How is this image of former child star Miley Cyrus appropriate for 14-year-olds?" However the council also underlined that sexually provocative pop stars aren't the object of its indignation MTV's parental ratings are.

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INDIA

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Indian Mujahideen co-founder arrested

Blame centre for TN fishermen's arrest: Jaya


Chennai: Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa has slammed the Centre for remaining a mute spectator on the frequent arrests of the Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan navy. As many as 117 fishermen have been arrested by the Sri Lankan navy since July. A batch of 35 fishermen from Pamban in Rameswaram, who went for fishing on four mechanized boats, were apprehended by the navy of the island nation for allegedly entering their waters. The fishermen were taken to the Kalpitiya police station for further action. Earlier, 82 fishermen from Nagapattinam and Ramanathapuram were taken into custody and their remand period has been extended since then. In a letter to the Prime Minister, Jayalalithaa said the state failed to see any concerted action from the Centre to ensure the early release of the fishermen. "It leads us to doubt whether the issue is even taken as seriously by the Centre as it ought to be," she said. "This very muted response of the Indian government has emboldened the Lankan navy to repeatedly arrest the fishermen," she added.

'Hazare ready to endorse Modi if he leaves BJP'

Yasin Bhatkal is the second big catch for Indian security agencies after the arrest of Abdul Karim Tunda

New Delhi/Patna: Indian Mujahideen co-founder Yasin Bhatkal, wanted for a string of bombings in India, and another suspected terrorist have been arrested from the India-Nepal border, officials said. This is the second big catch for Indian security agencies after the arrest of Abdul Karim Tunda, a key Lashkar-e-Taiba operative and expert bomb-maker, also from the India-Nepal border on Aug 16. Announcing the arrest of Bhatkal, one of India's most wanted terrorists who was on the run for five years, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said: "Yasin Bhatkal has been arrested last (Wednesday) night. "He is in the custody of Bihar Police and the interrogation is going on," Shinde told reporters outside parliament. He said Bhatkal, one of the founders of Indian Mujahideen, was arrested on the India-Nepal border. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was briefed by the minister about the arrest. Hyderabad police chief Anurag Sharma identified the other suspected terrorist who was arrested as Asadullah Akhtar. He said they will be examined by the Andhra Pradesh police about their involvement in Feb 21 blasts at

Dilsukhnagar in Hyderabad that claimed 18 lives and injured scores. Bihar Police officials said the operation to arrest Bhatkal was done in secrecy. In his mid-30s, Bhatkal, also known as Mohammed Ahmed Mohammed Zarrar Siddhibappa, belongs to Bhatkal district in north Karnataka. Police said he was involved in 11 bomb attacks across India including in New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Pune and Surat. Bhatkal co-founded IM in 2008 along with his brothers Riaz and Iqbal and four others. Bhatkal is also wanted for the German Bakery bomb blast in Pune Feb 13, 2010 that killed 17 people. The terror group was outlawed by the US as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation in 2011. Bhatkal along with others were also said to be behind three coordinated bomb blasts at Opera House, Zaveri Bazaar and Dadar West in Mumbai July 13, 2011 that killed 27 people/ In 2011, Delhi Police announced a reward of Rs.15 lakh for information leading to the arrest of Bhatkal. The terrorist, said to be responsible for IM activities across India, had married before the 2008 Delhi bomb attack.

Anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare

Washington: Anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare has said that he would be "happy to endorse" Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi if he left the BJP, an American media outlet has reported. Hazare, who left for India from New York after a nearly two-week US trip, made the remarks during an interaction with the IndianAmerican community, academicians and think-tanks at an event organized by the Hindu temple in Delaware on August 20, the Huffington Post reported. "Anna Hazare did not endorse Narendra Modi. He said he did not believe in political parties and since Modi was a member of BJP, a political party, he could not endorse him. "When pressed to endorse Modi as an individual, he responded by saying that if Modi left the BJP, he would be happy to endorse

him," Muqtedar Khan, Associate Professor at the University of Delaware and a Fellow at the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding, wrote in the Huffington Post. Anna was not available for comments when approached by the over phone through his US person of contact. Khan, who moderated the question and answer session at the Delaware event, wrote that for an ethical activist, it was a very political answer. "Anna was trying to get out of endorsing Modi without offending Modi's supporters. But I suspect he offended the Hindu secularists by not condemning Modi and disappointed Hindu nationalists by not clearly endorsing him," said Khan. According to Khan, Anna's activism and his stature have put corruption on the national agenda.

Why Zubin Mehta concert a controversy in Kashmir?


was expected to host a national and international audience of music lovers. Normally, anybody who loves music or has even a remote sense of aesthetic appreciation would like to attend the concert for the sheer fame of the person conducting it. Composes like Beethoven, Hayden and Tchaikovsky are not unheard of in Kashmir, although Western classical music definitely doesn't have many followers here. "But, as world-famous sitar maestro Ravi Shankar once said, music has no language. It catches your imagination and holds you spellbound whether or not you understand the finer points", said a local singer/musician who did not want to be named for obvious reasons. Kashmiri separatist leaders as also the local Grand Mufti and civil society members have opposed the Zubin Mehta concert for political reasons. The first statement against the concert came on expected lines from hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani, who said an international event like this would tends to give legitimacy to Indian rule in Kashmir. Geelani also referred to an international cricket match in Kashmir between India and West Indies in 1983 when some locals stormed the field and had dug up the pitch to stop the match. Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, the chairman of the moderate separatist Hurriyat group, said in his statement that instead of spending huge sums of money on holding the concert, the German ambassador would do better by trying to help education, healthcare and the other needs of the Kashmiri people. Grand Mufti Basher-ud-Din, who had previously hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons for opposing an all-girls' music band, said holding the Zubin Mehta concert in a "disputed land would convey a wrong signal internationally...(that) Kashmiris have enough prosperity and leisure to attend an event like this". Interestingly, the Grand Mufti said he had initially decided not to comment on the event, but had been approached by social and religious groups to speak on the issue as a religious head.

Zubin Mehta is to perform in the Valley on September 7

Srinagar: It's a bizarre case of a concert becoming controversial in a land known for poets, singers and musicians for ages. But, those opposing the September 7 concert here of the Bavarian State Orchestra conducted by the Indiaborn and world-renowned Zubin

Mehta believe they have valid reasons to do so. German ambassador to India Michael Steiner announced that the concert would be held in the famous Shalimar Garden on the banks of the Dal Lake. And, for a concert of this standing, Kashmir

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INDIA

August 31-September 6, 2013

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'VRG Gandhi promoted unity in diversity'

No more time for Asaram Bapu: Police


Jaipur: Rajasthan Police was unlikely to give more time to spiritual guru Asaram Bapu to appear for questioning in connection with a sexual assault case filed against him by a 16-year-old girl, an official said. Asaram Bapu was served notice at his ashram in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, asking him to appear before police in Jodhpur for questioning before or on Aug 30. The girl had made a complaint at a police station in Delhi Aug 20, accusing Asaram Bapu of sexually assaulting her at his ashram in Rajasthan's Jodhpur city. A first information report (FIR) was registered against Asaram Bapu in Jodhpur after receiving a copy of the complaint from Delhi Police Aug 21. A police official said that the seer has sought time till Sep 20, saying he will participate in several spiritual functions and give discourses over this period. "Asaram gave a letter to the Jodhpur police team

Acharya Dr. Lokesh Muni, founder of Ahimsa Vishwa Bharti, with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other Jain leaders

New Delhi: The world today needs to adopt Bhagwan Mahavir principles of non-violence, peace and live and let live, said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. He was addressing a seminar organized on the occasion of Shri Vir Chand Raganv Ji's 150th birth anniversary celebrations. The seminar was organized by Ahimsa Vishwa Bharti in the presence of Acharya Dr. Lokesh Muni, founder, Mrs. Chandresh Kumari, Minister of Culture, and Jain leaders from India and abroad. Prime Minister released a book written by Acharya Dr. Lokesh Muni and Shri Pankaj Hingan on Shri VRG Gandhi. In his address, the prime minister Shri VRG Gandhi has not only played important role in spreading the Jain philosophy but also promoted India in different parts of the world. He gave assurance of his support to give minority status to

Jain community and establish Chair for Jain Studies at Claremont Lincoln University, Claremont, Los Angeles, California, USA. Reading Congress President Sonia Gandhi's message, Minister Kumari said: I am happy to know that a seminar is being organized to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Virchand Raghavji Gandhi. An outstanding figure of the nineteenth century, Virchand Raghavji Gandhi spread the message of Jainism and brotherhood. He captivated the Worlds Parliament of Religions at Chicago in 1893, interpreting Indian culture and religion in its true spirit and content." Acharya Muni said "the Indian culture of unity in diversity where others views and personality are respected, is the foundation for development in India. Shri VRG Gandhi promoted this principle which forms healthy, happy and prosperous society internationally."

Asaram Bapu is allegedly charged with sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl at his ashram in Jodhpur

'Action against Asaram if found guilty'


New Delhi: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said strict action will be taken against Asaram if he is found guilty of sexually abusing a minor girl, a charge denied by the spiritual guru who has millions of devotees worldwide. "Police should not come under any pressure while conducting investigation and it will not happen. Strict action will be taken based on the outcome of the probe," he told reporters after apprising Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde about the progress in the case. The chief minister said saints should maintain sanctity in society so that there is no scope of raising fingers against them. "I have already said no one is above law and law should take its own course," Gehlot added.

which had served him notice at Indore. In the letter, he has sought extension of the date for questioning," the police officer said. Police, however, have decided to turn down the request, the official added. "The reprieve cannot be granted on the reasons cited by Asaram. He is facing serious charge of sexual assault on a minor girl," said the official. A notice was also served Monday at Asaram Bapu's ashram in Ahmedabad. Asaram Bapu has been booked under various sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and the Indian Penal Code. Rajasthan Police also initiated formalities to get a look-out circular issued against the spiritual guru so that he can't leave the country. A police official in Jodhpur said a letter has been sent to the immigration department in New Delhi to get the look-out circular issued against Asaram Bapu. "We have initiated the process to get a look-out notice issued against Asaram as a precautionary exercise, so that he could not leave the country," the police official said.

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August 31-September 6, 2013

INDIA

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Food security bill passed in Lok Sabha


New Delhi: The Lok Sabha unanimously passed a path-breaking food security bill, which seeks to ensure subsidized food to 75 percent of the rural and half of the urban population, with Congress president Sonia Gandhi asserting it will "transform the lives of tens of millions". Gandhi, who has passionately advocated the bill, complained of chest pain during the eighth hour of an animated discussion in the lower house and was driven to and admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here for observation. A short while later, after scores of opposition-backed amendments to the legislation were rejected or withdrawn, the Lok Sabha passed the bill that is expected to cover two-thirds of India's 1.2 billion people -- the mass of the poor and the impoverished. The legislation, which virtually makes food a fundamental right in a country teeming with millions of poor, would involve an intake of 612 lakh tonnes of food annually and is expected to combat widespread hunger. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh "This legislation is only a beginning. As we move forward, we will ... have an opportunity to transform the lives of tens of millions of people." But even as the opposition parties gave their legislative backing to the bill, there was criticism. Both Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and Murli Manohar Joshi of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said the legislation was aimed at winning votes for the Congress. "Who will foot the financial burden of the states? The centre should have convened a meeting of chief ministers on the bill before bringing it in parliament," Yadav said. Joshi remarked: "This is not a food security but a vote security bill." The bill proposes subsidized foodgrain for up to 75 percent of the rural and up to 50 percent of the urban population. It proposes meal entitlement to specific groups. Eligible households would get five kg of foodgrain per person every month -- Rs.3 a kilo for rice, Rs.2 a kilo for wheat and Rs.1 a kilo for coarse grains.

Land bill tabled in Lok Sabha


New Delhi: The land acquisition bill was tabled in the Lok Sabha amidst chaos with the opposition parties demanding a statement from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the depreciation of the rupee against the dollar. As the house resumed following an hour-long adjournment, Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh introduced the land acquisition and rehabilitation bill to be taken up for consideration. The members of various political parties continued demanding that the prime minister apprise the house about the measures taken by the government to check rupee's free fall. A key legislation, the bill calls for taking the consent of 80 percent of land owners for acquiring land for private projects and of 70 percent landowners for public-private projects.

The bill proposes subsidized foodgrain for up to 75 percent of the rural and up to 50 percent of the urban population.

said after the passage of the bill: "It is yet another step of the UPA government's pro-poor policies." In an earlier speech heard in silence in the Lok Sabha, Gandhi, 66, declared: "The food bill is meant for the less fortunate sections of our society. It is a historic step to eradicate hunger. "It is time to send out a big message that India can take the responsibility of ensuring food security for

all its citizens," she added, to loud thumping of desks by ruling coalition members. The bill is her pet welfare legislation, which many feel may prove to be a game-changer in the next Lok Sabha election. In part in Hindi, Gandhi explained the significance of the legislation. "Our foreseeable future must be to wipe out hunger and malnutrition from our country.

Country faced with difficult Missing Sidhu to be back within fortnight: wife economic situation: PM
Amritsar: Parliamentarian from Amritsar Navjot Singh Sidhu, who has been missing from his constituency for almost a year, will be back within a fortnight, his wife has claimed. A local NGO had put up posters across the city declaring him lost and announced a reward of Rs. 2 lakh for information on him. Stung, his wife Navjot Kaur Sidhu, chief parliamentary secretary and legislator from Amristar East, has promised that Sidhu will soon be back in his constituency. I have advised him to visit the constituency at least once a week, and tell people where things are stuck regarding his projects, she said on Wednesday. Asked when the once-a-week visits would begin, Navjot said it would happen by the next fortnight. At least the people should know why he was
Navjot Singh Sidhu

away. He should tell them what projects he took up with the Central and state governments, even if these were never started, she said.

President, PM greet nation on Janmashtami


The Indian rupee had touched a new low of 68.80 against the dollar

New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the "country is faced with difficult economic situation" and several domestic and international factors have contributed to it. "The country is faced with the difficult economic situation and there are several causes," Manmohan Singh said during question hour in the Rajya Sabha in response to repeated demands from the opposition for a statement on the subject. "I do not deny if there are some domestic factors but there are also international factors arising out of the changes in the US monetary stance," he said.

"There were also problems created by the tensions that are on the horizon in Syria and there have been several inevitable consequences of oil prices," he said. The Indian rupee had touched a new low of 68.80 against the dollar. Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley demanded a statement from the prime minister, saying there is a panic situation and the house wanted to know what the prime minister had in mind to deal with this. "In a democracy, the buck stops with the prime minister," said Jaitley. Manmohan Singh said the country has to deal with all these uncertainties.

New Delhi: President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh greeted the nation on Janmashtami festival, saying it was an occasion to remember Lord Krishna's teaching of performing one's duty without thought of reward. Vice President Hamid Ansari also extended his greetings. In his message, the president said Lord Krishna's teachings have been an inspiration to follow the path of virtue. "Let us, on this sacred day, recall the teachings of Lord Krishna which have for centuries been an inspiration to us to follow the path of virtue and righteousness in thought, word and deed," said Mukherjee. "On the auspicious occasion of Janmashtami, I extend heartiest

The "Dahi Handi' festival on the occasion of Janmashtami in Mumbai

greetings and best wishes to all my fellow citizens." He added, "May Lord Krishna's noble message of 'Nishkama karma' or duty without thought of reward, motivate all of us to work in unity

and with selfless dedication for peace, prosperity and progress in our country." In his message, the prime minister said Janmashtami celebrates the triumph of good over evil.

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LENS EYE

August 31-September 6, 2013

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Devotees throng to pay obeisance to Lord Krishna at Sri Krishna Janmasthan temple on the occasion of Janmashtmi festival in Mathura on Aug 28.(right) Blind students create a human pyramid while celebrating Dahi Handi festival on the occasion of Janmashtmi in Mumbai on Aug 28.

Models display the Halloween dishes at a news conference in Hong Kong, Aug 27.

Writers Building, the 233-year-old British era edifice from where the colonial power once ruled India and which now houses the West Bengal secretariat, is set for restoration to make it safer and more modern. The secretariat would shift to Howrah across the Ganges from Oct 12 to enable the restoration exercise.

People protest the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh in Tirupati on August 28.

Nuns of Missionaries of Charity celebrated the 103rd birth anniversary of Mother Teresa in Kolkata on August 26.

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ULTIMATE BOLLYWOOD

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Don't blame me for rapes: Poonam


ontroversial model Poonam Pandey is appalled, amused and annoyed by talk that her provocative pictures on the internet and in magazines are responsible for the increase in crimes against women. Poonam, who recently made her Bollywood debut with a bold film "Nasha", says she was "constantly badgered and persuaded to feel guilty about the crime" a day after the gang-rape of a photojournalist here last week. "Apparently my pictures are responsible for crime against women. Ha ha, really? The same reasoning was used against me during the Nirbhaya case in Delhi. I want to ask all those people who find me provocative enough to induce crime, was there no crime against women before I arrived on the scene," Poonam asked. "Main toh sirf baat karti hoon. Maine kuch kiya nahin ((I only talk. I haven't done anything). There are renowned respected actresses who heave and thrust in item songs. They are watched by a lot more men than I am," she added.

Celebs on road against Mumbai gangrape

Actor Sonam Kapoor during a protest in Mumbai

Om Puri goes 'Satyagraha' brings common missing, faces man's power on big screen arrest
Om Puri with her estranged wife Nandita

onam Kapoor, Dalip Tahil and singer Sona Mohapatra joined hands with other artists to stage a silent protest in the city in the wake of the recent gang-rape of a woman photojournalist. "I am really shocked and taken aback with the recent shameful incident that took place in Mumbai. A sheer act of cowardice," Sonam said. Dalip called it "a shameful, extremely disturbing event and very shocking". "We want justice and to punish them," he added. The 22-year-old photojournal-

ist was raped by five men in an abandoned textile mill complex in central Mumbai on Aug 22. All five accused have now been arrested. Other celebs who joined the march included Kannada actress Reshma D'Souza, Karanveer Bohra and his wife Teejay Sidhu, Kushaal Punjabi, Aparnaa Bajpai and legislator Baba Siddique. They started the protest march from the Joggers Park and went to Amphitheater, Carter Road carrying banners and placards expressing their anger against rising crime against women.

ctor Om Puri faces arrest as the Mumbai police has been "on the look-out" for him after his wife allegedly filed a complaint against him. Officers from the Versova Police Station in the western suburbs of the city said that the actor's second wife Nandita had accused him of domestic violence. According to the police, Nandita in her statement has alleged that Om Puri had beaten her with a stick and threatened her.

"We have registered the complaint and booked the actor for voluntarily causing hurt by a dangerous weapon or means," said Harishchandra Parmale, senior police inspector of Versova police station. Cracks in their marriage appeared after the launch of the biography, 'Unlikely Hero: The Story Of Om Puri,' penned by Nandita in 2009. The book had intimate revelations which included Om's affair with his maid.

e has a knack for making political thrillers and with his next film "Satyagraha", coming out this week, director Prakash Jha will focus on the common man and highlight his aggression, struggle and demand for justice. If the promos are anything to go by, there will be intense performances by the ensemble cast led by Amitabh Bachchan. Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor, Arjun Rampal, Amrita Rao and Manoj Bajpayee also feature in the movie, which will be the solo Bollywood release this Friday,

The scenes might remind the audience of social activist Anna Hazare

giving the political thriller an edge at the box office. The scenes might remind the audience of the 2011 incident when social activist Anna Hazare went on a similar strike against the government. However, Jha has denied that Big B's character is modeled on Hazare. In an interview, he said: "The film is not based on Anna

Hazare and has nothing to do with the movement. The entire process of 'satyagraha' comes from Gandhiji. Mr. Bachchan plays the role of a 'satyagrahi' who believes in truth." Primarily shot in Bhopal, "Satyagraha" has been produced by UTV Motion Pictures and it has reportedly been made on a budget of Rs.50 crore.

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ULTIMATE BOLLYWOOD

August 31-September 6, 2013

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Over 1,100 Punjabis had signed a petition to stop his performance at 'Punjabi Virsa Day 2013'

SRK wishes 'Singham 2' surpasses 'Chennai Express'

n o i t i s o p p o e t i p s de s m r o f r e p h g n i Honey S

espite strong objections from the members of the Punjabi community in Ontario, Canada, rapper Yo Yo Honey Singh finally performed there to a crowd over 20,000 people. The members had opposed the show, calling Singh violent and obscene. Its now become a usual practice. Im mastering the art of fighting against all odds and coming out victorious by performing in front of thousands

of fans, says the 29-year-old rapper. Earlier, over 1,100 Punjabis had signed a petition to stop his performance at Punjabi Virsa Day 2013, that was finally held at Wonderland theme park in Vaughan, Ontario. We dont think a singer like him has any place in a peaceful country like Canada, Gurmukh Singh, co-founder of Guru Nanak Mission Canada, was quoted as saying.

hah Rukh Khan has his fingers crossed for Rohit Shetty's next offering "Singham 2" and hopes that it surpasses the box office success of "Chennai Express". "Singham 2", a sequel to one of the biggest hits of 2 0 1 1 , "Singham", will have Ajay Devgn reprising the role of Bajirao Singham. The first one had crossed Rs.100 crore mark. "I would pray that Inshallah his (Rohit Shetty) next 'Singham 2' does much more business than 'Chennai Express' because he deserves it," Shah Rukh said here in an interview. SRK teamed up with Shetty for the first time in romantic comedy "Chennai Express", which is still running superfast

at the box office. The Rs.75 crore film not only earned over Rs.100 crore within first weekend, but it also crossed Rs.200 crore mark in just two weeks.

'Singham 2' is a sequel to one of the biggest hits of 2011, 'Singham'

'Madras Cafe' - taut, exceptional political thriller


f only history could be changed by art. Cinema is a powerful medium for socio-political expression and revolution. Alas, in this country, entertainment engages all other aspects of life on celluloid. But seriously, it's time now to get off the "Chennai Express" and get into "Madras Cafe" for a cup of the compelling. We need a reality check. And we need to regain a sense of history in Bollywood cinema which seems lost in the hoary art of streetside tamasha, glorified and aggrandized by processes of cinematics that are perceived to be the elixir of pop culture. The trenchant script, co-written by Somnath Dey and Shubendu Bhattacharya, attempts and succeeds in building the same spiral of pseudo-history that Oliver Stone built in "JFK". I feel Indian politics, because of the country's multi-culturism, is far more complex than its American or European counterpart. Our cinema tends to dilute, simplify and trivialise history because we are much too wary of and lazy about getting involved. Not Shoojit Sircar. Not "Madras Cafe". Not John Abraham. What a courageous producer and actor John has proven himself to be! More of that later. Tucked away in the compelling creases of the plot is a terrific thriller about the assassination of a prime minister, who, let it be known, is not named in the film. Nor are the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam), Prabakaran and the other key

Review

'Madras Cafe' earnings skyrocketed: John

ctor-producer John Abraham is thrilled by the box office collection of his second production venture Madras Cafe. He thanked everyone for "putting faith in my vision for cinema to get progressive". The audience and even fellow filmmakers have described the film, which is about the civil war in Sri Lanka, as an "intelligent" attempt. If reports are to be believed, the movie was made on a budget less than Rs.10 crore. Directed by Shoojit Sircar, it earned over Rs.20 crore in its opening weekend.

John Abraham is adamant to get his film out in London theaters

Madras Cafe shut in UK


n line with the Hurriyat's opposition to Zubin Mehta's concert, in UK, political outfits have stripped audiences of their chance to watch Shoojit Sircar's latest film as well. This newspaper had recently reported that 'Madras Cafe' will open in UK theaters despite sharp opposition from proTamil outfits. However, a contradicting word from England has just come in. The rising intensity of these protests has forced major UK chains, including Cine World, to stop screening the film based on the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi. "Our policy is to show a wide range of films for different audiences. However, following customer feedback and working with the film distributors, we have decided to not show Madras Cafe (both versions)," read a statement from the multiplex. On the other hand, producer John Abraham is adamant to get his film out in London theaters.

A scene from 'Madras Cafe'

players. But then this is India. Here, secrecy and stealth are the founding fathers of any political expose. But you can't escape the clutches of history's tyranny. Sircar's skillful interweavement of fact and fiction leaves little room for scepticism. We know as we watch with helpless astonishment, that the 'Prime Minister' will die, that the hero in this case

won't be able to save him. "Madras Cafe" is a dark deep and satisfying film about the politics of separatism. The film doesn't take sides. If it is against anything, it is the culture of violence that nations often feed into neighbouring countries for their own gains. This film opens up the hitherto unexplored genre of political drama in Bollywood.

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August 31-September 6, 2013

LAKME FASHION WEEK 2013

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Actor Nargis Fakiri with designer Ritu Kumar at Lakme Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2013 in Mumbai

Actor Aditi Rao Hydari walks the ramp for Anita Dongre`s Global Desi collection

Several B'wood leading ladies dazzle the ramp at the Lakme Fashion week 2013 in Mumbai
Mumbai: The Lakme Fashion Week 2013, billed as India's biggest annual show on fashion, showcased some of India's best designers and their works in Mumbai. Several designers showcased their collections made with traditional textiles and handlooms during the event. Designers who contributed to the revival of Indian handlooms included Krishna Mehta, Rahul Mishra, Shravan Kumar and Soumitra Mondal, to name a few. The five-day extravaganza which was held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel here, ended on August 27. The show also witnessed several lead-

ing stars of Bollywood appearing for their favorite designers. The star attractions of the show included Karishma Kapoor, Sister Kareena, Juhi Chawla, Mahie Gill, Neha Dhupia, Adhuna Akhtar, Mugdha Godse, Aditi Rao Hydari and several others. Dressed in a gold gown with a neverending trail, elder sister Karisma did the showstopping act for Phadnis. Younger sister Kareena showed off her svelte figure in a figurehugging lime green dress that featured a thigh-high slit. Punjabi 'kudi' Juhi Chawla, who appeared for designer Shruti Sancheti, flaunted the Marathi 'Mulgi' look on August 26 at the show. Dressed in a bright sinduri pink floorlength anarkali with green hemline, green dupatta and traditional 'nath' (nose piece) as well as neck piece, Juhi brought the

Maharashtrian flavor on the ramp. "It was a pleasure walking the ramp. I really loved her work and the fall of all her attires," Juhi told reporters after the show. Describing Juhi's attire, Shruti said: "Her outfit is an amalgamation of various Maharashtrian styles. It's an anarkali with detailed embroidery work and typical Maharashtrian jewellery." Even the show began with a girl donning traditional Nauvari sari and performing on the song "Gananayakaya" from the film "Viruddh". Shruti's collection was very Indian that included saris, ghaghras and anarkalis, among others. The other act that captured the attention was the Amit Aggarwal showcase. The designer's structured dresses and bodycon silhouettes were an instant hit.

Sabyasachi's 'absolute royal' line at LFW

Actor Genelia D'souza and Ritesh Deshmukh at the Lakme Fashion Week

Mumbai: Ace designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee showcased an absolutely royal collection full of velvet and satin for his comeback show at the Lakme Fashion Week. He presented a line at the extravaganza after five years, and what a grand finale it was! The show, sponsored by Lakme Absolute Royal, was inspired by the royal era of queens, and it was indeed classy. The apparels were heavily embroidered with gold and copper threads, giving them a regal touch. The designer showcased unique saris with distinct designs on the pleats and pallu. There were also floor-lenth anarkalis, short kurtas with churidars, while the men's collection included heavy sherwanis with turbans. The colors used for the collection were also majestic - cream, red, black, cream and even peach. The clothes were royal indeed, but even the ramp and the stage were aptly decorated with grand chandeliers suspended from the cieling, and flowers adorning the entry of the ramp. The show also began on a different note, with a woman singing live. Thereafter, two to three models walked simultaneously to showcase attires of a similar kind together. Celebrities including actors Shraddha Kapoor and Milind Soman, as well as designer Rohit Bal attended the show, which turned to be a fitting end to the LFW Winter/ Festive 2013.

Priyanka gives flying kiss for Bohbot

Piyanka Chopra walks the ramp as showstopper for Bisou Bisou show

Mumbai: Bollywood actor Priyanka Chopra gave a flying kiss as she walked the ramp for International designer Michelle Bohbot's brand, "Bisou Bisou." The actor revealed that she was asked to do so by the designer as this is a tradition which she follows. "This is a standard for all of Michelle's shows. She had told me that it is their signature statement to blow a flying kiss to the audience," Priyanka told the media post the show. The actress looked smart in a one shoulder black top, which was well fitted from the waist, and black pants. She had tied her hair and wore contemporary earrings to match her outfit. "I am very excited to be here. Bisou Bisou is my favourite brand. I am so excited that Bisou Bisou has associated with my film, Zanjeer. My character is very fashionable" she said. The line included a wide range of trendy clothes for women including skirts, shorts, halter neck tops, summer dresses, jumpsuits, gowns, pants, jackets among others. The colours used for the collection were fresh like blue, pink and black.

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

OP-ED

August 31-September 6, 2013

19

India poised for instability


By Vir Sanghvi

he way the TV channels tell it, only two men are in the race to become the next prime minister of India. The general election will be a gladiatorial battle between Rahul Gandhi and Narendra Modi. Nobody else stands a chance. In recent weeks, however, this characterization has begun to seem more and more flawed. It is fair to conclude that Narendra Modi will be BJP's prime ministerial candidate. But it is by no means certain that Rahul Gandhi wants to be prime minister. And the evidence suggests that neither man may make it to Race Course Road. Nearly all of the polls published recently put the BJP ahead of the Congress, which has slumped to a spectacular low. The problem for the BJP is that most polls suggest that it is only 20 to 30 seats ahead. And even generous estimates usually conclude that it will win no more than 150-160 seats, over a hundred short of the halfway mark. If the polls are right, then this figure is not enough. A party led by Modi will find it difficult to garner the allies it needs. The BJP's best hope in such a situation is to look for a less controversial candidate. The party is not short of well-qualified alternatives Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley and even Rajnath Singh. But will Modi allow any of these people, who are roughly from the same generation as him, to come to power? If Rajnath Singh becomes prime minister then it will be difficult to oust him from the leadership of the party even when a situation more favourable to Modi arises. In these circumstances, would Modi be

better off with an elderly figure who will be happy to build the coalition and spend a couple of years at Race Course Road before fading away? LK Advani supporters certainly think so. That is why many others in the BJP are also reluctant to write Advani off. He may not be the best option for the Modi camp. But he may well be the most convenient. In the Congress, the situation is even more complicated. If the party gets around 20 to 30 seats less than Modi's BJP it stands a chance of cobbling together a 'secular' coalition and forming a minority government. But who would be the Congress's prime ministerial candidate? When Rahul Gandhi first announced that his priority was not to be prime minister, his protestations were dismissed as insincere. But his behavior over the last month suggests that he might have meant it. Even as the battle for the mandate enters a decisive phase, Rahul continues to keep a low profile, sticking only to party work. He has made few significant speeches or public appearances. Could it be, Congressmen are now asking, that like his mother, he doesn't really want the job? And besides, even if a battered and shrunken Congress came to power at the head of a fractious coalition, would Rahul want to lead such a government? He has age on his side. So, isn't he better off waiting for a more substantial mandate? In that case, who will be the Congress's choice? One possibility is that Manmohan Singh could return for a third term. But the prime minister does not seem keen to hang on and the party might also want the revi-

Nearly all of the polls put the BJP ahead of the Congress. The problem for the BJP is that most polls suggest that it is only 20 to 30 seats ahead.

talising benefits of a new face. Several candidates would then be considered. P Chidambaram is Manmohan Singh's favourite. But despite Chidambaram's firstrate intellect and his record of competence, the party might opt for a non-technocratic prime minister after a decade of Manmohan Singh. AK Antony is one choice but his religion might work against him. Sushilkumar Shinde has the advantage of being a Dalit but his health has not been good. All this suggests that the Congress may end up selecting somebody from outside this Cabinet. Meira Kumar, who is both a woman and a Dalit and has done a good job as Speaker, will rank as a strong candidate. This time around, the Congress seems less willing to support a Third Front government. Sonia Gandhi's antipathy to such

arrangements is well known. In 1999, when AB Vajpayee lost a confidence vote, Mulayam Singh Yadav refused to accept a Congress prime minister and proposed Jyoti Basu instead. Sonia Gandhi rejected the idea, stating publicly "We are not interested in any Third Front or Fourth Front", and opted for a fresh election. The signs are that this remains her position. A Third Front government could also materialize if the BJP agreed to support it from the outside. It is not entirely inconceivable that Narendra Modi would back somebody like J Jayalalithaa as prime minister. But will the RSS go along with this? The only time the BJP has backed a Third Front-type government was in 1989 when it supported VP Singh. But that experiment ended acrimoniously and the scars and bitterness endure.

What's dragging rupee down: Speculation or economics?


By Gyanendra Kumar Keshri peculation or economics! What's fuelling the persistent fall in the value of the Indian rupee? The reasons, according to experts, are several. But most of them feel the bottom is yet to be tested. The rupee, which was valued at around 55 to a US dollar in January, now trades as much as 18 percent lower at 66 to the greenback. Against the British pound sterling, it has breached the 100-mark. Each passing day is seeing a new low. Some analysts feel the currency has weakened due to structural problems in the economy and the trend would continue if they were not addressed urgently. Others maintain the recent volatility is more due to speculations and external factors. In other words, a net amount of $90 billion equivalent went out of India in 201213, as against $8 billion in 2007-08, putting much pressure on the country's foreign exchange reserves that is generally used by central banks to keep currency markets stable.

Trimming of stimulus by the US may lead to further outflow from India's equity and debt markets.

Finance Minister P. Chidambaram said the rupee is undervalued and has overshot its reasonable limit due to "unwarranted pessimism" in the markets.

Some analysts also see the recent volatility as a result of speculation. "It is more of hype and overdone," says Siddharth Shankar, advisor at brokerage firm

KASSA. "There was no such economic development in the past couple of months to justify this volatility." The US Federal Reserve recently indicated that it may resort to quantitative easing by trimming the $85-billion-amonth debt purchases later this year and eventually end it by next year if the economy performs in line with estimates and the job situation improves. These comments led to a broad rally in the dollar, while currencies of other emerging markets, including Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand hit multi-year lows. But the Indian rupee was the worst hit. It has depreciated more than 15 percent in three months. Foreign funds have also sold over $11.5 billion of Indian debt and equities since the Fed hinted at cutting the stimulus in late May. Trimming of stimulus by the US may lead to further outflow from India's equity and debt markets and put more pressure on the current account deficit - and ultimately the rupee. A foreign exchange reserve of $275 billion could prove little to stave it off..

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

20

August 31-September 6, 2013

DIASPORA

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Indian descent woman in team building world's fastest car


Cape Town: A South African engineer of Indian descent will join a team building Bloodhound, the world's fastest car, in Britain next month. Beverly Singh, 29, a woman mechanical engineer from Port Elizabeth, will be part of the British government's engineering education initiative Bloodhound SSC project sponsored by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, an autonomous body of the British government. The project was launched to attract youth towards engineering profession. The rocket-powered car, expected to be ready by 2016, is expected to cover 1,600 km per hour, almost 400 km per hour faster than the current record of 1,227.9 km per hour. Singh, who won the Bloodhound Chevening Scholarship for her masters in mechanical engineering at the University of West of England will be working alongside engineers from companies such as Boeing and Rolls-Royce, who are assembling the car. "The engineers working on the

Punjabis in Canada oppose Honey Singh show


Toronto: Members of the Punjabi community in Canada's Ontario province are opposing a show by Punjabi rapper Honey Singh on the grounds that his lyrics are violent. Over 1,100 Punjabis have signed a petition to stop a performance by Honey Singh at Punjabi Virsa Day 2013, an annual event, to be held at the Wonderland theme park in Vaughan Saturday. We dont think a singer like him has any place in a peaceful country like Canada, the Toronto Star quoted Gurmukh Singh, co-founder of Guru Nanak Mission Canada, as saying. The charity launched the petition. We dont want to bring all the gun violence and vulgarity from back home into this nation. However, Wonderland theme park and the shows organizers have refused to accept that the rapper's lyrics were so offensive that he cannot be allowed to perform. Were a family park, and it is important to us to ensure that program are family friendly, Wonderland spokesperson Dineen Beaven said. Weve done background on the performer and weve spoken to the producer and were going to proceed with the show, he added. According to Joginder Bassi, one of the organizers of the Saturday event, the petitioners are overreacting to Honey Singh's music. Canadian society is a lot more open than Indian society, and if Indians and Punjabis have no issue with Honey Singh, one must ask why a few people here are trying to make it an issue, the Star quoted him as saying. Around 8,000 tickets for the show have already been sold. Pritpal Chattha, president of the Guru Nanak Mission Centre in Brampton, fears the show might lead to fights between different groups, giving the Punjabi community a bad name. He said the rap artiste's lyrics teach young members of the Punjabi community to be violent and objectify women when in fact it is important to teach them the very opposite. Especially for a society that is so male-dominated, it gives the wrong message, he said.

Beverly Singh

Bloodhound are the best in the world in their fields. I always wanted to do something like this," the Times Live quoted Singh as saying. Singh said she heard of the Bloodhound project at a talk by Andy Green, the pilot-driver of the car. Singh gained a national diploma in mechanical engineering in 2009 and a BTech degree in 2012 from South Africa. Trial of the car will start next year in the South African province of Northern Cape.

'With rupee down, Kerala remittances could touch $12.5 bn'


Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala's economy, propped up by diaspora remittances from about two million Malayalees abroad, can expect windfall remittances to touch $12.5 billion this financial year which could form an all-time high of nearly 35 percent of its net state domestic product, migration expert S. Irudayarajan says. Irudayarajan, head of the Migration Unit of the Centre for Development Studies in the state capital, said if the rupee continues to hover at its present rates against the dollar for another two months, the magic figure of $12.5 billion in remittances would be achieved, when preliminary findings of the forthcoming edition of the Kerala Migration Survey (KMS) are out, in April 2014. The Kerala economy, in the past three decades, has received generous remittances from people from the state who work overseas. He added that Kerala is set for two festival seasons - Onam (the harvest festival) in September and Christmas. "We have observed that it is during these two festival periods that the remittances peak in the state. Hence the mark is going to be easily achieved," Irudayarajan said. Asked to comment on the impact the remittances will have, Irudayarajan said that on account of the massive inflow, Kerala can easily breathe easy. Remittances today account for 1.6 times the revenue receipt of the Kerala government, 6.2 times what the state gets from the centre as revenue transfer, and is more than twice the government's annual expenditure. In other words, it can meet 60 percent of the state's public debt. "As of now, diaspora remittances are 31.23 percent of Kerala's net state domestic product, and if the remittances touch $12.5 billion, then it would reach 35 percent, which would be an all-time high," Irudayarajan said.

Business tycoon transforms London mansion


London: An Indian-born business tycoon has spent a whopping 50 million pounds to transform a decaying townhouse into a mega mansion in the heart of London. Prakash Lohia, whose fortune is estimated at almost 2 billion pounds, recruited a small army of historians, designers and craftsmen to restore the historic Georgian property in the posh Mayfair area. The charm of creating a lavish family home seems to run in the family for Lohia, who is married to the younger sister of Indian-born steel baron Lakshmi N Mittal, among the richest men in the world. Like his brother-in-law, the chief of the firm Indorama the world's largest producer of polyester - made his money in Indonesia where he has citizenship. Indorama's operations have since expanded to Africa, Europe and North America. According to a report in 'The Sunday Times', Lohia's son Amit is also believed to be looking for a grand London property. Lohia's own new Mayfair residence, Sheridan House, was built in 1770 as a home

Prakash Lohia

On August 26, 2013, the Jawaharlal Nehru Cultural Centre, Embassy of India, Moscow, organized a dance presentation Odissi an art to unite by Omkara Dance Theatre, Moscow. Ajai Malhotra, Ambassador of India to the Russian Federation was the Guest of Honor on the occasion. The evening began with the traditional lighting of the lamp by Ambassador Malhotra and the three Odissi artistes, Ms. Irina Komissarova, Ms. Elena Knyezeva and Ms. Maria Laura Valdez.

for General John Burgoyne, who is blamed for helping Britain lose its US colonies after a disastrous military campaign during the American War of Independence. In the last century the property was used as offices, but by the time it was bought for Lohia in 2008 it had fallen into disrepair and was on English Heritage's register of properties at risk. Lohia and his wife have spent nearly five years turning back the clock and reviving its 18th-century opulence. Lohia is not the first Indian to restore one of London's architectural gems. The billionaire Hinduja brothers have spent 100 million pounds transforming four adjoining historic properties near Buckingham Palace into a family home a few years ago.

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

SUBCONTINENT

August 31-September 6, 2013

21

Pak assures Karzai of all help for peace


Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif assured visiting Afghan President Hamid Karzai that his country will continue to extend all "possible facilitation" towards peace and reconciliation efforts in Afghanistan. Holding one-on-one and later delegation level talks with Karzai, Sharif "reaffirmed Pakistan's strong support for peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan, through an inclusive, Afghan-owned and Afghanled process", said a ministry of foreign affairs statement. This is Karzai's first visit since Sharif's swearing in in June. The Afghan president, who also met President Asif Ali Zardari, has agreed to extend his one-day stay by another day to hold further talks with Sharif Tuesday. Sharif is hosting the Afghan

Musharraf's trial for Benazir murder begins


Islamabad: The formal trial of former Pakistani military ruler Pervez Musharraf on charges of involvement in the murder of Benazir Bhutto has begun. "The trial began with the anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi recording evidence of a witness," state prosecutor Chaudhry Azhar said. Musharraf, who was president at the time of former premier Bhutto's assassination in 2007, has been charged with murder, conspiracy to commit murder and facilitation of murder. Azhar said four witnesses were summoned but only one turned up to testify. He

This is Hamid Karzai's first visit since Nawaz Sharif's swearing in in June

president for lunch. Sharif also underlined Pakistan's commitment to fight extremism and terrorism, which remained a formidable challenge faced by both countries and the region. Karzai extended felicitations on behalf of the Afghan people to Sharif on his reelection for the third time. He underlined the importance Afghanistan attached

to its relations with Pakistan, continued cooperation to address common challenges including extremism and terrorism, and efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation in diverse fields. Karzai also underlined the importance of Pakistan's endeavors to support the Afghan peace and reconciliation process, said the statement.

Former Pakistani military ruler Pervez Musharraf

said he was unsure how long the trial would take. Musharraf was not present in court as he was exempted from personal appearances because of security reasons. If convicted, he can be

sentenced to death or life imprisonment. Apart from Musharraf, seven more persons, including members of the Taliban and two senior police police officials, have been indicted.

Dalai Lama to meet Suu Kyi


Dharamsala: Two Nobel laureates - Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama and Myanmar's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi - will meet at a human rights forum in the Czech Republic next month, an official said. "The Dalai Lama and Suu Kyi are attending a human rights forum in the Czech Republic from Sep 15-17," Tenzin Taklha, joint secretary at the Dalai Lama's office. The annual Forum 2000 was launched by late Czech president Vaclav Havel and American Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel in 1997. Over 100 global leaders will discuss challenges and threats related to democratic transitions at the forum. This will be the second time the two leaders meet. Officials at the Dalai Lama's office said the spiritual leader met Suu Kyi in Britain for the first time in June last year. During the half-hour meeting at the time, the Dalai

India-Dhaka land pact pact not acceptable: Mamata


Myanmar's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi

Lama told Suu Kyi that just as her late father had shown great dedication, he was confident that she too would be of great service to humanity. The globetrotter monk visited Prague in December 2011 at the invitation of Havel and attended the forum, just a few days before Havel died. The Dalai Lama has lived in India since fleeing his homeland in 1959. The Tibetan administration in exile is based in this northern Indian hill town.

Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has ruled out accepting the proposed Land Boundary agreement with Bangladesh in the present form under which 161 adversely held enclaves are to be exchanged between the two countries. In a hard-hitting Facebook post, Banerjee said it was difficult to "accept the present proposal of giving away land to Bangladesh without agreement from the state government" and consent of the locals living in the transferable areas. "It must be noted that our state of West Bengal will get only about

7,000 acres of land but will have to recede nearly 17,000 acres of land to Bangladesh. This cannot be accepted without taking into confidence and consent of the local people who live in the transferable areas," she said. "Though we maintain friendship and good relations with Bangladesh, but it should not be at the cost of the people of West Bengal," she wrote. Accusing the central government of leaking a letter regarding the proposed agreement to the media, the chief minister said she has discussed the issue several times with the ministers of external affairs during the last two years.

he UN's top rights official has begun a fact-finding mission to Sri Lanka after the government dropped public hostility towards her and promised access to former war zones. Navi Pillay, who has previously been accused by Colombo of overstepping her mandate, arrived in the capital for a weeklong mission that will include talks with President Mahinda Rajapakse and visits to the former war zones in the north and east. The government's U-turn came as Canada leads calls for a boycott of a Commonwealth

UN rights chief in Lanka to Malala gets 2013 International Children's Peace Prize probe war crimes T
summit scheduled to take place in the Sri Lankan capital later this year. Sri Lanka has resisted pressure from the UN and Western nations for a credible investigation into allegations that up to 40,000 civilians were killed in the final months of its separatist war, which ended in 2009. A no-holds-barred military offensive crushed Tamil Tiger rebels who at the height of their power controlled a third of Sri Lanka's territory. Rajapakse has since been dogged by claims of indiscriminate killing of ethnic Tamils. Amsterdam: Teenage activist Malala Yousafzai, shot in the head by a Taliban militant last October after campaigning for girls' right to education, has won the prestigious International Children's Peace Prize, KidsRights announced. The Pakistani 16-year-old will receive the award from 2011 Nobel Peace Prize winner and women's rights campaigner TawakkolKarman at a glittering ceremony in The Hague on September 6, the Amsterdam-based organization said. Malala "risked her life in the fight for access to education for girls all over the world", KidsRights said in a statement. "By awarding the 2013 International Children's Peace Prize ... KidsRights shines the spotlight on a brave and talented child who has demonstrated special dedication to children's rights," it added. The passionate advocate for girls' education was shot in the head by a Taliban gunman while on a school bus near her home in Pakistan's Swat valley last year. She was given life-saving treatment in Britain where she now lives, but the attack galvanized her campaign for greater educational opportunities for girls. Malala's brave fight-back from her injuries, and her speech at the United Nations in July, have made her a
Teenage activist Malala Yousafzai with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

leading contender for this year's Nobel Peace Prize. But the response to her in Pakistan has been mixed, with many hailing her as a national heroine while others have criticised her for promoting a "Western" agenda. The International Children's Peace Prize, an initiative of the Dutch-based KidsRights Foundation, was launched in 2005 by former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, when he chaired the Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates in Rome. It carries a cash value of 100,000 euros ($133,000) that is invested in projects relating to the winner's cause.

22

August 31-September 6, 2013

INTERNATIONAL

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

US establishes timeline of Syria chemical attack


Washington: As Washington mulls a strike on Syria as a consequence of Damascus's alleged use of chemical weapons, a media report said US intelligence has established a timeline of a chemical attack. The Obama administration believes that US intelligence has established how Syrian government forces stored, assembled and launched the chemical weapons, allegedly used in last week's attack outside Damascus, the Washington Post reported citing US officials. The administration is planning to release evidence, possibly as soon as Thursday, that will prove that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad bears responsibility for what US officials have called an "undeniable" chemical attack that killed hundreds on the outskirts of the Syrian capital, the influential daily said. The report, being compiled by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, is one of the "While the founders wisely gave the office of the president the authority to act in emergencies, they foresaw the need to ensure public debate - and the active engagement of Congress - prior to committing US military assets," 37 congressmen and women wrote to Obama. "Engaging our military in Syria when no direct threat to the United States exists and without prior congressional authorization would violate the separation of powers that is clearly delineated in the Constitution."

Military action no solution for Syria: Russia


Syrian government forces allegedly used chemical weapons in last week's attack outside Damascus

final steps that the administration is taking before Obama makes a decision on a US military strike against Syria, which now appears all but inevitable, it said. Meanwhile, more than three

dozen lawmakers - among them a handful of Democrats - demanded the Obama administration consult them, saying taking action without congressional approval is unconstitutional, according to CNN.

Moscow: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has told UN-Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi that imposing a military solution to the Syria crisis would only destabilize the country and the Middle East, the foreign ministry said. "Lavrov said that a political and diplomatic settlement in Syria has no alternative, underlining that the attempts of a forcible solution will result only in further destabi-

lization of the situation in the country and the region," Xinhua quoted the ministry as saying. The two sides agreed that "at this critical moment", all parties, including foreign players, should "act with absolute responsibility and not repeat mistakes of the past". The situation over Syria deteriorated gravely due to moves and statements made by several countries recently, the ministry said.

Show proof of chemical weapons use: Syria


The Syrian opposition claimed that some 1,300 people were killed in a chemical weapon attack

South Korea asks N Korea to dismantle N-program


Seoul: South Korean President Park Geun-hye urged North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons program. "North Korea is still adhering to the nuclear weapons development despite opposition from international communities in unison," Xinhua quoted Park as saying. Unless North Korea dismantles its nuclear programme, national unification and peace would go farther away from the Korean peninsula, Park said, stressing that North Korea should "put down nuclear weapons from its hands" immediately. Park's comments came amid easing tensions on the Korean peninsula after the two countries agreed to reopen the jointly operated factory park in the North Korea's border town of Kaesong and hold reunion of families separated by the Korean War (1950-53) in late September. Park said the family reunion and the Kaesong industrial complex's normalization can be achieved because foundations have been accumulated for building trust between Seoul and Pyongyang with patience. The country's chief executive noted that if denuclearisation in North Korea makes a clear progress, higher level of cooperation between the two countries can kick off.

Germany's ex-president to face trial

Damascus/London: Syria challenged Western nations to provide evidence on the involvement of Syrian troops in chemical weapons use even as Britain's armed forces started working on contingency plans in case of military action in the Middle Eastern country. Syria's Foreign Minister Walid AlMoallem said at a press conference in Damascus that his government has interest in revealing the reality of the chemical attack that supposedly took place in Damascus's countryside, stressing that the Syrian government has lived up to its part of the deal with the UN but the rebels hindered the mission of the UN inspectors, Xinhua reported. The Syrian opposition claimed that some 1,300 people were killed in a chemical weapon attack carried out by the government army on militant strongholds in the suburbs of Damascus on Aug 21. The Syrian government strongly denied the accusation. "Syria has evidences about the alleged chemical incident in the countryside of Damascus and will present it in due time," Al-Moallem stressed at the press conference. Regarding a possible US military

attack on Syria, the Syrian top diplomat said that any possible military strike would not affect the government troops' advancement against the rebels. "Syria will defend itself with all available means if the US decides to attack the country," he stressed. Cameron will continue talks with international leaders to agree a "proportionate response" that will "deter" Bashar Assad's regime from using toxic agents on the Syrian population, 10 Downing Street said. Number 10 indicated that a decision could be taken before the results of a report by UN weapons inspectors into the attack, Sky News reported. Britain's Foreign Secretary William Hague has already said the West could act on Syria even without full UN Security Council backing. The British parliament would vote Thursday on a government motion on how to respond to last Wednesday's suspected gas attack near Damascus, Cameron was quoted as saying. In another development, Iran Tuesday reiterated that no authorisation by the UN Security Council has been issued for military intervention in Syria.

Japanese regulator raises alert for nuclear leaks


Tokyo: Japan's nuclear regulator has upgraded the rating of a leak of radiationcontaminated water at its tsunami-wrecked nuclear plant to a "serious incident" on an international scale. Nuclear Regulation Authority official Yukiko Fukui said the The Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear plant has suffered triple meltdowns severity of the August 19's leak was raised to level 3 from struggling to contain the resulting waste water. the original level 1. Tokyo Electric Power Co said The Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear plant suffered triple meltdowns 300 tons (300,000 liters, 80,000 after the massive earthquake and gallons) of water had escaped from tsunami in March 2011. The plant's one tank and some may have operator is spraying tons of water reached the sea through a rainwater into its reactors to cool them and is gutter.

Germany's former President Christian Wulff

Berlin: Germany's former President Christian Wulff, who resigned amid a scandal last year, will face court on charges of accepting a favor while in office, justice officials said. Wulff, 54, who was Germany's youngest president and served less than two years in the largely ceremonial job, will become the country's first former head of state to answer charges in court. He is accused of having allowed a film producer friend to pick up part of his Munich hotel bill during a 2008 Oktoberfest visit in return for lending support to a film project when he was Lower Saxony's state premier.

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

BUSINESS

August 31-September 6, 2013

23

Ten reasons why rupee is sinking


Rupee slides down further to cross 68 against dollar; markets plummet, government clueless
New Delhi: Here are 10 main reasons which experts feel are responsible for the Indian rupee which has depreciated as much as 20 percent this year to touch new lows each passing day. According to currency analysts, the growing demand for the US currency from importers and a lack of foreign investors' interest in a weak economy is the main reason for the depreciation. The price of 24 carat gold soared to Rs.34,600 per 10 grams as stockists and investors bought the yellow metal amidst supply constraints as there have been no imports since July when the government hiked duty. Widening Current Account Deficit: This is resulting in creating more actual as well as speculative demand for the dollar and other convertible currencies. Policy Inaction: Perception of lack of clarity on policy front is also fanning speculative demand wherein the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on one day said it will tighten liquidity and on yet another but steady recovery in the US is making the greenback stronger against other currencies. Stimulus Withdrawal: Indications that the US may withdraw or ease the fiscal stimulus package that has been on since a few years ago to tide over the economic crisis there, could potentially put the brakes on funds for developing economies. Capital Controls: The decision by the Reserve Bank and the government to impose temporary restrictions on capital flows has not gone down well with the markets, as it will not only discourage Indian companies from investing abroad, but also foreign firms from pumping money into India. Trends in other markets: The rupee is also following the trend seen in the currencies of other emerging economies such as Brazil, Indonesia, Russia and South Africa. Speculative Trading: Speculative trading in the currency markets is putting further pressure on the Indian rupee.

Healthcare next frontier for Indian firms in Africa


Nairobi (Kenya): The healthcare sector could be the next frontier for Indian companies keen on investing in Africa after manufacturing and telecom, if a recent trend is anything to by. Two Indian medicare companies - Mumbai-based Metropolis Health Care (MHC) and Hyderabad-based Care Institute Medical Services (CIMS) - have recently made forays into the continent seen by many as virgin in terms of investment opportunities and with a huge potential to support a wide range of businesses. While MHC has been in Africa since 2008 operating a number of diagnostic laboratories in South Africa, the firm last month moved to Kenya in east Africa opening two laboratories in the capital Nairobi, with plans to set up more. The company has already spent $ 500,000 on the now operational Nairobi labs, with another US$5 million set aside for setting up another five in major towns in the country, according to CEO Ameera Shah. The Kenyan labs will have capacity to conduct more than 4,500 pathological tests in both infectious and non-communicable diseases, both a growing menace on the continent. Kenya, Shah told the media in Nairobi recently will act as an entry point to rest of east Africa a region with a combined population of more than 200million people, cutting patients the cost of travelling to India and South Africa for advanced medical tests, or having samples sent to the countries for analysis. On the other hand, CIMS is planning to set up an outpatient unit in Nairobi in near future to cater to patients who have to travel to India to access top quality but affordable medicare services.

The growing demand for the US currency from importers is one of the key reasons for the depreciation

said it will inject $1 billion in the market. Low Forex Reserves: India's foreign exchange (Forex) reserves are enough to cover imports of seven month only. The forex reserves have declined in the recent months. Due to low reserves, the RBI can't intervene aggressively in the currency markets. Economic Growth Slowdown: India's gross domestic product (GDP) growth fell to a decade low

of 5 percent in 2012-13. The situation is unlikely to improve much this year. Foreign investors are pulling money out of the Indian markets due to slow growth. Dependence on Foreign money: India's current account deficit was financed by foreign money for the last many years. Withdrawal of money by overseas investors is leading to the weakness in the rupee. Recovery in the US: The slow

Opposition attacks government over economy


New Delhi: Opposition parties attacked the government over the current state of the Indian economy, saying it has lost control over financial matters of the country and that it would be better to go for early elections. Opposition leaders cited rising prices, slowdown in growth and depreciation of rupee among the serious problems facing the economy and said the government's policies had created uncertainty and despondency in the country. Participating in a debate on the economic situation in the country, former finance minister and BJP leader Yashwant Sinha said the government had lost control over the economy. So it is better that UPA's exit from power to bail the country out of the ongoing economic crisis. "Paralysis of decisionmaking is the problem," he said, attacking the government's economic measures on a day when the rupee tumbled to 68 against a dollar and the Sensex tanked nearly 600 points.Sinha said the large fiscal deficit had affected inflation. "If you run a large fiscal deficit then it will have an effect on inflation. A large fiscal deficit will spill over to current account deficit," he said. "It's a vicious cycle."

Oil surges past $112 a barrel on Syrian crisis


Bangkok: The price of oil rose surged past $112 a barrel, as the US edged closer to intervening in Syria's civil war. US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel said that American forces were ready to act on any order by President Barack Obama to strike Syria in response to the alleged use of chemical weapons in the conflict. The last time oil closed above $112 a barrel was on May 2, 2011. Still, oil remains far below its record close of $145.29 a barrel, reached on July 3, 2008. The price of oil is has surged more than 15 per cent in the last three months on concerns over the civil war in Syria and unrest in Egypt. Neither country is a major

The last time oil closed above $112 a barrel was on May 2, 2011

oil exporter, but traders worry that the violence could spread to more important oil exporting countries or disrupt major oil transport routes. "Syria's political-economic-military links to Iran, Hezbollah (Lebanon) and

Russia underline the threat of unintended chain-reaction resulting in wider regional instability. Threat of supply disruption is not insignificant," said Vishnu Varathan of Mizuho Bank Ltd in Singapore in a market commentary.

24

August 31-September 6, 2013

SPORTS

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Archers won World Cup with old equipments

Hockey: India to face Malaysia in Asia Cup semis


Ipoh (Malaysia): India set-up a semifinal clash with hosts Malaysia after they thrashed neighbors Bangladesh 9-1 to finish on top in Pool B in the Asia Cup hockey at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup Stadium. Two-time champions India came into the match already assured of a place in the semis. But they didn't drop their guard and were ruthless against Bangladesh. D r a g - f l i c k e r s Rupinderpal Singh and V.R. Ragunath dominated the proceedings as they slammed in seven goals between them. Rupinderpal (3rd, 19th, 27th, 61st), struck four while Raghunath (29th,

The archers (center) arrived to a tepid welcome after stunning London Olympics gold medalists South Korea

New Delhi: It is creditable for the Indian recurve trio of Bombayala Devi, Deepika Kumari and Rimil Buriuly to have shot their second straight Archery World Cup title with equipment they used at the London Olympics. What tilted the scales in their favour in Poland was the presence of Korean coach Lim Chae Woong. The archers arrived to a tepid welcome after stunning London Olympics gold medalists South Korea in the World Cup Stage 4 final in Wroclaw, Poland. They had defeated China in Stage 3 of the tournament in Medellin, Colombia last month. Bombayala, the senior-most member of the team, said that Lim made a big difference for them in standing up to a champion side like

Korea. It was a blessing to have him by our side during the tournament. It was very windy in the final and his tips made us shoot really well. Most of the top teams have Korean coaches as they are the best in the business, Bombayala said after landing in Aurangabad. He told us how to shoot adjusting to the wind direction, where to aim and things like that. The womens team's remarkable success in the last two months has raised expectations besides erasing the disappointment of the London Games. Bombayala, Deepika and Rimil have been getting support from Olympic Gold Quest, but they expect more from the Archery Association of India (AAI).

India thrashed neighbors Bangladesh 9-1

52nd, 59th) hit a hat-trick. Nikkin Thimmaiah (24th) and Mandeep Singh (47th) scored a goal apiece. The consolation goal for Bangladesh came from Mamunur Rahman Chayan in the 34th minute. India preferred to rest some of the players and it was a pleasant surprise to

see skipper Sardar Singh among the starters. Sardar has been used intermittently by high performance manager Roelant Oltmans since he was down with fever. With the win, India also increased their win-loss record against Bangladesh to 7-0.

IOA rejects IOC's chargesheet clause


New Delhi: The suspended Indian Olympic Association (IOA) appeared firm on bailing out charge-sheeted sports officials and again pleaded with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to reconsider its decision to bar them from contesting elections. The IOA, during its Special General Meeting, refused to incorporate the contentious IOC-proposed clause that would have barred charge-sheeted individuals from holding any post and suggested an alternative that would affect only convicted officials. The IOC will take two weeks to come back with it suggestions. But with the IOC busy with its election process, slated for Sep 7 in Buenos Aires, IOA will have to wait and postpone its elections which are scheduled for next month.

US Open: Somdev outlasts Lukas Lacko


New York: India's Somdev Devvarman fought through rain interruptions to win his men's singles first round match against Slovak Lukas Lacko at the US Open tennis here at Flushing Meadows. Somdev, who led two sets to one when rain interrupted the match, returned to clinch it over five sets, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, 4-6, 6-4, in three hours 11 minutes. The Indian next plays World No.20 Italian Andrea Seppi, who overcame Belgian veteran Xavier Malisse in four hard-fought sets, 6-3, 3-6, 7-5, 7-5. Somdev, 28, playing the 24-year-old Lukas for the first time, was generally in control of the match, with his better court craft and net play. The Indian, who returned

Somdev Devvarman

to the circuit after a shoulder injury kept him out for more than a year, is ranked 114 as against the Slovak's 84. But Somdev had a better season with a 21-8 win-loss record whereas Lukas struggled to 12-18. Somdev was steadier of the two Wednesday as he served well, landing a greater percentage of his

first serve, and importantly he was in command of the net, winning 27 points in his 29 forays. When it came to hitting winners, Lukas was far ahead with 49 to Somdev's 30, but in going for ambitious shots the Slovak had committed double the number of unforced errors (73) than his opponent who logged in 36.

TheSouthAsianTimes.info
New Delhi: Twenty five-year-old Vrinda Kapoor often travels by train to meet her parents in Mumbai. However, she is unable to eat the insipid train food and is forced to binge on chips and biscuits. But not anymore, thanks to food portals that deliver to her favorite chicken pizza at her seat, guaranteed hot and fresh. "Travelling is easier now as I can now eat whatever I like instead of the watery dal and bland subzis served by the pantry and are a sorry excuse for food," Kapoor, a student of Jawaharlal Nehru University here says. Continental, Chinese, Italian, Mughlai and even fast food, varied cuisines are on offer by portals like comesum.com, travelkhana.com and merafoodchoice.com. These portals, who have partnered with restaurants across the country, give their customers the freedom to order food from any famous eatery along the route. The meals can be booked online or through phone by submitting train details or the passenger name record (PNR) number. The customer can then choose any restaurant en route the destination and the meal is delivered at a pre-decided station. Payment can be made online as well as on delivery. While Comesum offers food prepared at its own outlets, travelkhana.com and merafoodchoice.com have partnered with restaurants and eateries. Travelkhana.com, which started operations in Aug 2012, has tied up with over 200 restaurants and caterers at over 80 stations and has delivered food to about 60,000 passengers. The Indian Railways ferries 23 million travelers and 2.65 million tonnes of goods daily on 12,000 passenger and 7,000 freight trains. The network is spread over 64,000 route km and has 7,083 stations. At present, only 302 trains have pantry cars. Meanwhile, Nashik based merafoodchoice.com, which started in Nov 2012 offers only vegetarian meals and specializes in thalis from different states.

LIFESTYLE

August 31-September 6, 2013

25

Food portals open up options for train travelers in India

Five star hotel in India dedicates floor to single women travelers


New Delhi: The Leela Palace five-star hotel in the capital has dedicated a floor for single women travelers. Titled Kamal, the floor offers women safety, maximum comfort and privacy. Kamal is equipped with CCTVs and has restricted elevator access, said a statement. Reiterating our commitment towards our valued female guests, we are proud to introduce Kamal, designed exclusively for them. Packaged with unmatchable services, unique features and personalized attention, I am confident that Kamal will become the preferred choice for every single traveler, said Kunal Chauhan, resident manager, The Leela Palace New Delhi. Kamal also has a private access to the spa leading to the relaxation room with space for a personal yoga session.

Shop in high heels to control overspending


Wa s h i n g t o n , DC: Women who tend to splurge on shopping should wear high heels to curb the habit of overspending, says a study. A study by the Brigham Young University has found that consumers experiencing a heightened sense of balance are more likely to weigh the options and go with a product that falls in the middle of the high-end, low-end scale. "If you're someone who tends to overspend, or you're kind of an extreme person, then maybe you ought to consider shopping in high heels," said study author Jeffrey

Want to lose weight? Use smartphones


Los Angeles: Get away from healthy eating habits and regular exercises if you want to lose weight as new research shows that smartphones also play a big role in getting into shape. According to a new study by mobilephonechecker.co.uk, an online platform that offers the best mobile phone deals, as many as one-third of Britishers are now turning to their smartphones when dieting in a bid to help them reach their weight goals. According to study, 39 percent of people rely heavily on dieting and weight loss phone and tablet application in order to make informed decisions about their food choices. Also, 81 percent had seen more successful weight loss results through using dieting applications than they did before using them, reports femalefirst.co.uk. I think it is an absolutely fantastic sign that so many people are using their mobile phones to help aid them with weight loss, and seeing effective results from it. It must be hard to try and stick to a diet or low calorie menu when on the go or out at a restaurant, so being able to track food intake in situations like this on a mobile device must be a godsend to some, said Adam Cable, director of mobilephonechecker.co.uk. Some of the reasons for using dieting apps included: - Easier to track calories and food intake at the push of a button - Can check calorie content of items before deciding to eat them - Helpful for planning healthy and nutritious meals in advance - Cheaper and easier alternative to diet books and magazines

"We are trying to promote the Indian food culture and offer thalis of various states," said founder Piyush Kasliwal adding that the portal is offering its services at 145 stations across the country and has so far catered to over 30,000 clients. "The vegetarian thali, is priced between Rs.100 and Rs.200 and the customers don't mind the pricing because they know that they are getting quality food," added So, the next time you travel on a train, remember that your favorite butter chicken or masala dosa or chicken manchurian is just a call or a click away.

Larson, a marketing professor at the university. Larson and co-author Darron Billeter discovered that anything that forces your mind to focus on balance affects your shopping choices as well, Science Daily reported. The results of the study show that influential cognitive processes are at play as people stumble through life, regardless of whether those stumblings are literal or metaphorical, the authors said.

Naomi Campbell practices yoga on yacht

Proper planning leads to happy retirement


Taipei: Scientists suggest that retirees plan their free time effectively to lead a happy and fulfilling life post-retirement. This is the advice of Wei-Ching Wang of the IShou University in Taiwan, leader of a study published in Springer's journal Applied Research in Quality of Life. The study found that the effective management of free time has a far greater impact on a retiree's quality of life than the amount of time the person actually has available for leisure activities. Wang and his team studied the responses of 454 Taiwanese retirees to understand if there is a link between their management of free time and their overall quality of life. With regard to their free time, the retirees were asked about the goals they set, their general attitude towards it and how they schedule and manage it. The Quality of Life scale of the World Health Organization was also adapted and used for the purposes of the study. "Quality of life is not affected as much by the amount of free time that a retiree has, but on how effectively the person manages this time on hand," says Wang. "Therefore it is important to educate people on how to use their free time more effectively to improve quality of life."

Marc Jacobs not a fan of online shopping


Fashion designer Marc Jacobs

Naomi Campbell practicing yoga aboard a yacht

London: Supermodel Naomi Campbell doesn't give her fitness session a miss - even when she is on board a luxury yacht! She was spotted practicing a yoga session with her actor friend Adrien Brody during a Mediterranean cruise. Both are guests on designer Roberto Cavalli's yacht. They were spotted having a yoga session with a yoga teacher. Campbell was up early morning and was seen practising yoga postures with her personal trainer and Brody, reports dailymail.co.uk. Dressed in a purple bikini and a matching wraparound skirt, the supermodel followed instructions carefully and displayed her flexibility. The 43-year-old even tried a head upside down posture.

New York: American fashion designer Marc Jacobs is not a big fan of online shopping and prefers to physically go and pick clothes. The 50-year-old says that he gains pleasure from the traditional form of shopping, reports femalefirst.co.uk. "The idea of actually enjoying shopping for clothes, to touch fabrics to try things on, to have a conversation with a sales person," fashion magazine Vogue quoted Jacobs as saying. "All of that to me, it feels like it's becoming archaic when I hear people saying, 'Oh I'd rather order it online, who wants to stand inline at a store?' 'Who wants to spend their Saturday going shopping?'," added Jacobs.

26

August 31-September 6, 2013

HEALTH

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

One in 5 American deaths due to obesity

Five reasons you are not losing fat


aving trouble sticking to your diet? When your body doesnt respond to your efforts the way you expect, its easy to lose the motivation to continue. Most dieters are using outdated or inefficient methods to reach their goals, says Dian Griesel, Ph.D., coauthor of TurboCharged: Accelerate Your Fat Burning Metabolism, Get Lean Fast and Leave Diet and Exercise Rules in t h e Dust. T h e b o o k tries to debunk m a n y myths a b o u t weight loss. Many dieters see slow results due to bad practices rooted in misguided belief, says Griesel. But if you get the basics right, rapid fat loss is not difficult to achieve and you will see your body transform much more quickly. Here are five reasons you may not be losing fat fast enough: * Wrong goal: If your goal is an arbitrary number based on your scale, you are already setting yourself up to fail. Scale weight doesnt tell you anything about your actual body composition -- fat content and how much youre losing. Your scale

recent study published online in the American Journal of Public Health says obesity is the cause of nearly one in five American deaths. This study emphasizes the importance of preventing childhood obesity, as the risk of health consequences are greater the more years a person is in an obese state, comments Nutritionist and HungerShield co-founder Elizabeth DeRobertis, MS, RD, CDE, CDN. This research supports the fact that recent efforts to address childhood obesity are focusing in the right place, she adds. We see in our practice daily the negative health consequences of obesity, including diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and even some forms of cancer. We also see that weight loss can help to reverse or prevent many of these conditions. It is not surprising to us, as Registered Dietitians, that obesity is linked to higher mortality rates, given the health risks it creates. We also see that with the right education, much of this can be reversed, DeRobertis comments. Earlier risk of obesity comes partially from the food environment in which we live, which includes super sized portions, high calorie processed foods, and easy access to caloric drinks and high calorie meals and snacks. There are things that a family can do to help address or prevent obesity, as well as help their children to form habits for a lifetime of healthy weight management. We are in a society that craves quick fixes. The practice of living a healthy lifestyle is a marathon, not a sprint and it involves the whole family and starts at a young age. Many folks don't have the tools to live healthier and then they are surrounded by temptation like inexpensive fast food or choose the wrong thing when they are over hungry. DeRobertis suggests some key strategies:

Strategic snacking - Going too long without eating puts most people at risk of overeating, or grabbing a less healthy quick-fix. A great tactic is to always carry a few healthy snacks with you, especially when you are on-thego. Snacks should be about 100 calories each, and provide some protein or fiber to feel full longer: eg, 0% Greek yogurt, fruit, or a high fiber granola bar. Plus, a HungerShield, an all-natural appetite control stick pack, is easy to carry on-the-go. You simply add to water the pre-portioned drink mix to curb your appetite in between meals. Stay hydrated Many people think they are hungry when they are actually thirsty. Making sure to drink enough water during the day is important. Often kids and adults will drink high calorie drinks, especially after playing sports, and they rarely need those extra calories. They certainly don't need them on a day they are not active. MPD - Calculate the maximum potential damage or MPD of the food packages you buy. This means calculate the calories of the whole package. If you feel you may be at risk of eating 800 calories in one sitting (which is the amount of calories in a large bag of Pita Chips), make sure to only buy packages that are 100 calories, especially when it comes to snack foods, like nuts or popcorn. Meanwhile, stay well stocked with healthy and convenient options . Keep them in plain sight. Skip. If there is a bowl of fruit or some crunchy veggies out, your family will be much more likely to grab that.

weight could fluctuate because of hydration level, water weight or muscle loss. *Water retention: Proper hydration is critical to fat loss and overall health. However, too little or too much water can cause problems. Intake will depend on weight and activity levels. Consume 1/2 ounce of water per pound of your body weight. Drink 16 ounces of water first thing in the morning. * Too much exercise: Excessive exercise creates stress and can be counterproductive when youre restricting calories, causing loss of muscle mass. Low-intensity activities like walking -- along with minimal strength training to retain muscle mass -- is all thats needed. *Too much of the wrong thing: Diet is the most efficient way to create a caloric restriction, maintain blood sugar levels, which are conducive to fat loss, and provide all the nutrients you need for optimal health. Wrong diet is usually the culprit. *Stress and lack of sleep: Chronic stress can have an adverse effect on hormonal balance, which can hinder fat loss and cause loss of essential lean body mass. Stress and lack of sleep disrupt many delicate physiological functions. Regularly practicing some method of relaxation and getting seven to nine hours of sleep every night will make a big difference in your fat loss efforts.

Know the right quantity of nutrients required by body


t's well known that iron, vitamins or carbohydrates are nutrients essential to keep our body fit. But be careful about the quantity, warns an expert. Annapurna Agrawal, nutritionist at Snap Fitness India, recommends a list of nutrients that are required by our body. Focus on the quantity to avoid health problems. Carbohydrate: Whole grains cereals, legumes, fruits, milk, sugar, honey and potatoes are sources of carbohydrates. Quantity should be 40 percent to 60 percent of your calories requirement. It provides energy, and helps in oxidation of fat. Insufficient amount of carbohydrate can cause lack of calories, which can lead to malnutrition. Excessive consumption will make you obese. Protein: Eat pulses, legumes, nuts, milk and its products, chicken, fish, and egg to give your body much needed protein. According to body weight, consume 0.8 to 1 gm per kg of protein to help in growth

and maintenance of body. It gives structure and shape to all the cells, organs and connective tissues. Proteins also help your body fight infection. Malnutrition, weight loss, thinning of hair, muscle soreness, weakness and lethargy, are among other things that you will experience if there is less amount of protein present in your body. Fat: Ghee, butter, cream, cheese, nuts, seed, egg, fish, chicken, pork and beef are all rich in fat. 15 to 25 percent of calories requirement is the right quantity. It provides energy, helps in the absorption of fat soluble vitamins like vitamin A, D, E and K. It is important for the development of brain and central nervous system. There will be poor vitamin absorption and depression, if you don't have fat in your body. Overeating food items rich in fat will lead to obesity, stroke and many more. Vitamin A: Sweet potato with

peel, carrots, spinach, liver, fish are the sources of this vitamin. 700 to 900 micrograms (mcg) of vitamin A per day strengthen immunity against infection and help in vision. Lack of it can cause night blindness and rough skin. Excess of it can affect the bone, which increases the risk of fracture. Vitamin D: 15 mcgs of vitamin D rich food items like egg yolks, liver help to form and maintain your teeth and bones. Rickets (long, soft bowed legs), flattening of the back of the skull, osteomalacia (muscle and bone weakness), and osteoporosis (loss of bone mass) are some of the major diseases that one can suffer from, if vitamin D is not taken. Too much of it leads to slowed mental and physical growth, decreased appetite, nausea and vomiting. Vitamin E: This acts as an antioxidant and protects vitamins A and C, and red blood cells from destruction. So have 15 mcg of vegetable

oil like soybean, corn and cottonseed. Egg yolks also contain vitamin E. Vitamin K: All leafy vegetables are said to be good for health. Turnip greens, spinach, cauliflower, cabbage and broccoli, soybean oil, canola oil and olive oil are all rich in vitamin K. The vitamin is required for proper blood clotting. Just have 120 mcg every day. Vitamin C: Citrus fruits like orange and lemon are known for being source of this vitamin. 75 to 90 mg per day is the right quantity required by your body. It heals wounds, helps in bone and tooth formation, increases absorption and utilization of iron, and acts as an antioxidant.

If you don't take vitamin C rich food, you can be a victim of scurvy, causing a loss of collagen, which results in loose teeth, bleeding and swollen gums, etc. Excess leads to formation of kidney stones and you may even suffer from diarrhoea. Iron: Have beans, lentils, beef, eggs to stay away from anemia, dizziness or fainting. Men should have 8mg per day. For women 18 mg per day is sufficient. Calcium: Milk, yoghurt, spinach are rich in calcium. 1000 mg per day of calcium is essential for bone growth and strength, blood clotting, muscle contraction, and the transmission of nerve signals. Absence of calcium can lead to thinning and weakening of bone.

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

SELF HELP

August 31-September 6, 2013

27

Math understanding is key to Weathering hurricane season: Insure your home now success for girls in future
Homeowners insurance does not usually cover flood damage only flood insurance can ensure your financial protection against the devastating effects of flooding.
The ratio of boys to girls enrolled in STEM courses is a staggering six to one, putting girls at a severe disadvantage to excel in these fields in the future. STEM jobs require strong mathematical aptitude.
urricane season has arrived and it is time to take steps to financially insure your home against flooding. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is predicting an extremely active season with a 70 percent likelihood of 13 to 20 named storms, of which 7 to 11 could become hurricanes, including 3 to 6 major hurricanes. You dont have to live right on the coast to face significant loss from hurricanes and tropical storms. Hurricanes can produce severe flooding on the coast and inland. Some of the most damaging and dangerous floods occur when the remnants of a hurricane or tropical storm system travel inland, producing above average rainfall hundreds of miles from the coast. Preparing before the storm is critical. Homeowners insurance does not usually cover flood damage only flood insurance can ensure your financial protection against the devastating effects of flooding. Also, there typically is a 30-day waiting period before flood insurance goes into effect. If you wait for the storm to form, it will probably be too late. If we didnt have flood insurance, I would be homeless, says Bertie Midgett, whose home was destroyed by Hurricane Irene. If youre not sure if you need flood insurance, here are some things to consider: Maintaining flood insurance coverage can make for a faster, more cost-effective flood recovery compared to relying on federal disaster assistance which usually comes in the form of a loan that must be paid

n epidemic is sweeping the nation. Girls are at a disadvantage when it comes to success in math and science, and the future does not look bright if parents dont act now. In the next ten years, 80 percent of all jobs will require technical skills, according to Labor Department statistics. And jobs in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields are expected to grow twice as fast as all jobs. But currently, the ratio of boys to girls enrolled in STEM courses is a staggering six to one, putting girls at a severe disadvantage to excel in these fields in the future. STEM jobs require strong mathematical aptitude. So when it comes to your daughters math classes, these statistics should motivate you not to let her off the hook. From design to computer science, studying math now means enjoying a world of professional options later. How do you steer your daughters toward classes that can help them develop the skills and interests necessary to pursue these careers? Find math role models: Leverage your own professional network to educate your daughters about these fields. Do you have a friend who works in math, science or engineering? Ask her to talk to your kids about her job, what she studied in school, and how math applies to her everyday work and life. This discussion can be a great inspiration. Take a field trip: Show girls that math can be fun through weekend field trips. Visit a science museum or take a tour of an architecturally impressive building to learn how it was designed. Take

your daughter s interests into account to plan outings that will spark a deeper interest in real world mathematical applications. Gear up: Its not enough to sign up for higher level math courses. Be sure your young mathematicians are equipped to succeed in their classes. A high-quality graphing calculator is crucial. Look for models with a high-resolution color LCD and full textbook-style display that includes features and functions that enhance the understanding of lessons and bring math to life. For example, PRIZM, a graphing calculator from Casio, enables students to experiment by creating their own graphs over pictures, from a library of real-life scenes. The fx-9860GII Pink provides built-in spreadsheets, probability functions and many types of regressions, and works three times faster than previous models. Be musical: When youre listening to your favorite tunes, dont forget that music and mathematics go hand-in-hand. Understanding the fundamental principles of music may help your daughter strengthen her visuospatial reasoning and succeed in her math courses. In a study published by Nature, the science journal, students improved their mathematics test scores significantly after several months of musical training. Encourage her to join the school band or take piano lessons. In todays economy, having a solid mathematical foundation is becoming increasingly important. So dont let historical gender imbalances in these fields hold your daughters back. With a little encouragement, getting girls hooked on math can be easy as pi.

back with interest. For example, a $50,000 loan at four percent interest requires a monthly payment of about $240 a month ($2,880 a year) for 30 years. The average flood insurance premium of $640 per year covers up to $250,000 in building coverage and $100,000 in contents coverage. Just a couple inches of water can cause tens of thousands of dollars of damage. Learn how much a flood in your home could cost you by using the interactive Cost of Flooding Tool on FloodSmart.gov/dontwait. You can also listen to home and business owners share their personal stories and why theyre glad they had flood insurance or why they wish they had purchased a policy. Anyone can be financially vulnerable to floods. In fact, those outside of Special Flood Hazard high-risk areas file more than 20 percent of National Flood Insurance Programs (NFIP) claims and receive onethird of disaster assistance for flooding. And just because youve never experienced a flood before does not mean you wont experience one in the future. Factors such as new land development can increase your flood risk, especially if the construction changes natural drainage patterns. Flood insurance is sold by insurance agents and backed by the federal government. Rates are set and do not differ from company to company or agent to agent. Visit FloodSmart.gov/dontwait or call 888-226-9499 to locate an agent serving your area.

28

August 31-September 6, 2013

HUMOR

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Funny Bone by Nury Vittachi

Dead people coming back to life means something


lot of dead people came back to life this week," said the email from a reader, containing several links to news reports. "Don't the ancient prophecies say that's a sign of the Last Days or the Four Horsemen or the launch of a new iPhone?" Sure, or it could be a sign you've been reading Indian newspapers, I thought. Stories about people who walk in on their own funerals are so common in India that temple priests surely build it into their eulogies: "We will now have a moment of silence to allow the recently deceased to enter the room and family members to gasp and fall over." One report was about a young woman named Ganga Devi who ran off with a lover. After several days, she read her own name in the newspaper, not as a missing person, but as a murder victim. Her corpse had been found and positively identified by family members, it said. She had accidentally made the perfect escape. But then she took another look at her new lover, a friend of her father's, and decided to call home, said news reports. He must

have looked like a hideous, repulsively wrinkled member of the Rolling Stones, or, to put it another way, a member of the Rolling Stones. I can imagine the phone conversation she had with her brother. "Hi, this is Ganga. How are things at home?" "Fine, except for the fact that you're dead. Wait." Another link led to a report about a young man who disappeared. His parents got the police to round up his six best friends, charge them with murder and put them on death row. Then the boy returned from a jaunt. Let this be a lesson to all males. CALL HOME. Had he returned later, it could have turned out badly. Mother: "You should have phoned. We had all those people killed." Boy: "Sorry, Amma, next time." How do cops identify bodies? Police: "We found a corpse. It has two arms, two legs and one head." Parent: "So did my daughter!" (Collapses) Parallel news stories often pop up. Earlier this week, one reader emailed me a report about guys making guns using 3D printers in the US. The next email was

about scientists in China using 3D printers to make live human organs. I see a horizontally integrated business opportunity. People can blow bits off each other using the US invention and then grow new body parts using the Chinese one. But I'm not looking forward to standing in the doorway of the copying room hollering to colleagues: "Okay, who left 25 copies of their internal organs in the photocopier?" By lunchtime, a reader had sent in another "dead person alive" story, this time from China. A street vendor in Zhejiang province was said to have died of harassment by officials. A huge protest was organized around his corpse. Three hours of angry shouting followed. And then the "dead man" threw off the sheet covering him and said: "It's so hot. I need a drink." His workmates glared crossly at him for spoiling the scam. They should have smiled and said: "Hallelujah, he's risen from the dead!" Then it really would have seemed like an earthshaking Holy event, such as the coming of the Last Days or even the launch of a new iPhone.

Laughter is the Best Medicine

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

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

ASTROLOGY

August 31-September 6, 2013

29

By Dr Prem Kumar Sharma


Stars Foretell: August 31st-September 6, 2013
ARIES: Promotions and monetary benefits for dedicated professionals. You will be the star of attraction of familys gettogether. Speculation coupled with some unexpected gains improves financial health. Your charm & generosity bring new romantic opportunities for you. Meditation and self-realization prove beneficial. An enriching vacation full of fun is what you need. Are you longing to buy a farmhouse, try for it? You are certain to gain knowledge if you keep mind open and believe that it is never too late to learn new skills. TAURUS: You need to make full use of your aspirations, supportive nature and open mindedness at work. Entertainment will be a real fun provided all the members of the family join you. Be sure where you put hard-earned money because only wise investments will fetch returns. You enjoy a memorable time with partner to cement the lovely bond. Make sure you dont get nervous and lose confidence on meeting some high profile personalities. Minor preparations before you travel overseas will make your trip a lot smoother. Your loan procedures for pursuing a plot will be in process. People who are not on good terms with you will seek your company/help. GEMINI: The week could force you to search a new job where your skills are more useful. Domestic scene will be somewhat unpredictable. Suffering financial losses is on the offering in business this week. You are likely to face disappointment as longawaited date program fails. Strive to attain selfconfidence because it is as essential for good health as capital for business. Traveling on your own, with a friend or with the whole family will be exciting and comfortable too. Too much of buying and selling of property is a danger to your bank balance. Long desire to enjoy a shopping spree with friends is not likely to materialize this week. CANCER: Leadership qualities and ability to understand people would benefit at work. A happy time in the company of friends and relatives as they do many favours to you. Real estate investment would be lucrative. You will be attracted to someone special. A week when smile will perpetually be on your face and strangers will seem familiar. Travel in comfort with kids to an adventurous place might be possible. Investment in hotel industry can be the right choice to be made. Ability to tackle tough situations/problems by acting swiftly is likely to bring recognition. LEO: At work you will be perfect in whatever you do during this week. Enjoying the company of close relatives will brighten your evening. Investment in stocks & mutual funds would help in earning profits. Differences with beloved/lover will keep you in a gloomy state. Your energy level will be high. Better to channelize it in a positive direction. Traveling with kids can be a challenge, try to reduce the stress and nerves. Spending too much on lifestyle homes, will ruin your relations and bank balance. Unfavorable planetary position makes it difficult to cross some hurdles at personal front VIRGO: Support and appreciation from seniors would raise your morale and confidence. Shopping with family members will be highly pleasurable and exciting. Long-term investment in stocks & mutual funds will enable to earn profits. Time now to strive to bring back harmony in romantic relations. Dont forget to massage body to give relief to tired muscles. A trip that stimulates and gives opportunity for work is coming ahead. Investment on construction business might give fruitful results. Caring for others feelings/emotions would bring much joy to you. LIBRA: Dont forget to devote time on acquiring new technical skills to enhance career prospects. Have fun in the company of relatives. Finances will definitely get a boost. But at the same time there will be rise in expenses too. Romance will flourish provided you take care of partner. Start meditation & yoga to attain sound health especially mental toughness. A luxurious getaway type vacation with your spouse waiting for you. Investing on a ship or a cruise is an exciting venture to be made. Time to objectively evaluate yourself. SCORPIO: Your gullible nature would allow people to easily take you for a ride. Trouble seems to be brewing at home therefore think twice before uttering your views. Tireless efforts would fail to bring expected monetary gains. Absence of true love in life will make you disappointed. Positive outlook impresses those around you besides keeping you fit & fine. You may face some chaos or disruption while traveling, be prepared for it. Have you realize that your financial conditions do not allow you to invest on property? Missing the golden opportunity to enjoy some recreational activities will disappoint later in the week. SAGITTARIUS: A test of your ability to handle pressurised situations as you are entrusted with a special assignment. An auspicious week for family functions and important ceremonies. You will be presented with many new financial schemes. However you must weigh them considering all pros & cons before making any commitment. If possible plan something interesting with lover/beloved for future. Charity work undertaken will bring mental peace & comfort. Excitement for a vacation is not enough, planning is also required. Ready to purchase a plot consider your priorities first, dont be too fast. Fast changing times would require you to change with it. CAPRICORN: A very good week to apply for overseas job. You will be at the limelight in a social gathering provided you attend. Improvement in finances is certain. Warm romantic thoughts occupy mind. Make sure your entertainment includes participation in outdoor activities. Thrilling experience is on your way, as your trip is full of excitement The best ideas for investment are to on invest on real estate business. Your style & unique way of doing things would interest the people. AQUARIUS: A dull atmosphere at workplace could cloud judgmental ability. Continuous negligence to household duties will annoy family members. Unrealistic goals would only bring financial disappointments. Failure to pay a proper attention to love life will upset partner. For some psychological fear could bring nervousness. Pack your bags as a happy, fun-filled holiday trip is looking forward. Dont deal in a property which is crime ridden. Even your sense of humour fails to bring desired results for you. PISCES: The efforts of people aspiring to join interior designing course are likely to be handsomely rewarded. An important development at personal front brings jubilation for entire family. Financial position will improve later in the week. New romance that some of you are going to experience would take the worries off mind. High time to get rid from negative emotions like fear, doubts, anger and greed because these prevent from enjoying a sound health. Going for a vacation is always a big expenditure- you must plan everything. Dont bring hurdle to your family where property matters are concerned. Try to cooperate despite obstacles no matter what the situation is.

Chandigarh, India: +91-172- 256 2832, 257 2874 Delhi, India: +91-11- 2644 9898, 2648 9899 psharma@premastrologer.com; www.premastrologer.com

Annual Predictions: For those born in this week


31stAugust, 2013 Ruled planet: Uranus Ruled by no: 4 Traits in you: Uranus, being your dominating planet helps you become dynamic and creative. You are positive, realistic, responsive, and sincere. You need to work and overcome the weaknesses in your personality to attract more people towards you. Health this year: You will enjoy a good health throughout this year but provided you go for regular medical checkups and take proper medication prescribed by the doctor. Finance this year: Your financial condition will be pretty good as the movements of your stars are favorable for making money this year. You may go for any investment on real estate or gold. Do not trust anyone when partnerships are concerned. You should not lend or borrow money as it will create disputes. Career this year: You may have to take few major decisions in your profession. You can succeed if you put some extra effort in your work and deliver quality. You have to drive the team to put qualitative effort. Romance this year: Your plans to go for holidays with your partner may not work because of huge work pressure and this may create disturbance in your marital life. You need to take care of the emotional requirements of your partner to lead a peaceful life this year. Lucky month: November, February and May 1st September, 2013 Ruled planet: Sun Ruled by no: 1 Traits in you: As you are governed by the Sun, you epitomize uniqueness and philosophy. You are courageous, daring, courteous, affectionate, decisive, and very determined by nature. However, you need to work on your impatience and short tempered nature to become a better individual. Health this year: You need to take appropriate care of your health. You may fall sick in the middle months of the year though those will not be serious. If you are a sportsperson, you need to be very careful for your diet and nutrition to perform better in your sporting events. Finance this year: You may prosper financially with the opportunity to earn as much as possible with new sources of income. You may go for long distance business trips if you want success in your business. Be aware of fraud investment agencies as you may end up losing a huge amount of money. You are advised not to lend money this year. Career this year: You will be very impressive in your professional circuit this year. However, you need to work smart and perform well to grow as a perfectionist. You should take quick decisions to excel in your field. You may have to help your ordinates to drive productivity. Romance this year: You will enjoy an improved life with your partner with lot of love, care, and concern. You should give time to your spouse or partner. If you are not married, you might have to wait as the movement of your planets does not suggest a marital alliance this year. Lucky month: October, January, March and July 2nd September, 2013 Ruled planet: Moon Ruled by no : 2 Traits in you: As dominated by the Moon, you are very peace loving. You do not want to get involved in unnecessary talks. You are reliable, emotional, generous, humble, kind, mature, and optimistic. However, you need to eradicate selfishness from your nature to improve as an individual. Health this year: As far as your health is considered you may go through minor health issues this year. However, regular medical checkups and proper medication will solve this problem. You may go for Yoga and meditation classes to remain healthy. Finance this year: Your financial conditions will be very stagnant this year. As you will not earn much or spend much, you will lead a peaceful life in money matters. You may invest for future. Do not lend or borrow money from your friends or colleagues. Career this year: You will be successful professionally this year. You will be additional responsibility and you will well execute them to perfection. Your success may get you various awards and rewards as well. You may share your ideas with the higher management as it would help you grow quickly. Romance this year: You may get some good news from your spouse or partner later this week. This will make your relationship grow stronger. You may have to travel to distant places to spend time youre your partner and maintain a good relationship. Lucky month: September, November, March and May 3rd September, 2013 Ruled planet: Jupiter Ruled by no: 3 Traits in you: Being ruled by Jupiter, you are courteous, courageous, decisive, ambitious, disciplined, and realistic. You are gifted with high imagination power, optimism, and enthusiasm. However, behaving restless and dominating may hamper your characteristics at times. You need to work on your personality to make yourself better as an individual. Health this year: As far as health is concerned, you will be enjoying a pretty good health this year. However, some of your family members may fall sick and that will bother you. Finance this year: You may try your entrepreneurship skills this year and you will be successful unexpectedly. You will be able to get many projects, which you help you establish as a good businessperson. You should go for investments in real estate and stock market. Career this year: You will get enough opportunities in your professional life to prove yourself. You will create a better impression on your seniors or higher management, which may result in promotion. You should work efficiently to maintain your respect at your workspace. Romance this year: You will spend a peaceful life with your love interest this year. You will lead a blissful life with your beloved with lots of love, care, concern, and support. Lucky month: November, January and June 4th September, 2013 Ruled planet: Uranus Ruled by no: 4 Traits in you: The influence of your ruling planet Uranus makes you active, practical, enthusiastic, courageous, ambitious, and highly philosophical. You are very proud of your traditions, culture and rituals. You are highly religious and have a very sharp mind. However, you need to work on your impatient and stubborn behavior. Health this year: You should take your prescribed medication in spite of a better health. The health of your parents may make you a worried person. Finance this year: Your undisputed energy and enthusiasm to earn money will make you financially stable this year. You may go for property sale this year and earn a lot of money. Career this year: You will get new heights in your profession because of your excellent communication skills. Your employer would be very impressed and will admire you. You may get few extra responsibilities and salary will also increase. You will get expert in your domain and you must go for learning new things in your profession. Romance this year: Your relationship with your spouse or partner will blossom this year. If you are not married, you may have to wait for few more years though you are eligible for marriage. Lucky month: October, November, March and July 5th September, 2013 Ruled planet:Mercury Ruled by no:5 Traits in you: As you are influenced by your ruling planet Mercury, you are intelligent, unique, sensible, business oriented, dignified, optimistic and charismatic. You are also pretty warmhearted and friendly. However, you need not be restless and impatient always to get your things done. Health this year: You will enjoy a better health this year as compared to last year. However, the health of an aged family member may deteriorate and that will make you bothered. You may end up spending lot of money for the health issues of your family members. Finance this year: You may go for a property transaction this year and this will bring you a lot of money. You need to be decisive to invest on real estate or gold as there are risks involved. Do not trust any of your new partners as they may cheat you. You may spend enough money on buying a vehicle or renovating your property. Career this year: You need to work hard to prove yourself in your profession. Do not take up minor issues to an escalation. Try and brush up you knowledge and skills to perform more efficiently. You may go for a job change during the last months of the year. Romance this year: You will share a good relationship with your spouse. You may decide to turn your relationship into marriage if you are not married yet. However, you need to understand your beloved and provide the required emotional support for the betterment of your relationship. Lucky month: December, March and July 6th September, 2013 Ruled planet: Venus Ruled by no : 6 Traits in you: Your ruling planet Venus makes optimistic, ambitious, caring, aspiring, and determined. You are very social and love to make new friends and get into new relationships. You are a huge follower of intelligence and education. Health this year: You will enjoy a pretty good health this year. You need to take care of the health of your family members. You need to take extra care of your health if you are having some chronic diseases. You may go for domestic healthcare instead of allopathic medicines as it will give better results for your ailments and save your money as well. Finance this year: Your innovative ideas to earn money may not meet your expectations. However, you need to keep trying until you succeed. You will find it tough to make money this year. You may go for investments in various sectors like shares, gold, land and so on. Career this year: You will get new heights in your profession because of your excellent communication skills. Your employer would be very impressed and will admire you. You may get few extra responsibilities and salary will also increase. You will get expert in your domain and you must go for learning new things in your profession. Romance this year:Your relationship with your partner may reach to new heights this year as your love, trust, care and concern will develop towards your beloved. You may get married towards the end of this year if you are yet to marry. Lucky month: October, December, April and August

30

August 31-September 6, 2013

SPIRITUAL AWARENESS

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

The power of attention


By Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj

soul is sent to a life in the human body for a certain period of time. During that time the soul is confined in the human form like a prison cell. When the soul inhabits a body, the soul is still a part of God and is still one with God. The soul, however, is now overpowered by some very powerful forces, such as the mind, the body, and the outer world, which cause the soul, over time, to forget itself. The soul slowly begins to identify itself with the body and mind and world outside. It suddenly begins to think that it can only receive information from the outer world through the senses. Thus, the soul has become attuned to only one channelthe channel of the world. If we think about our life as watching a television program, we have multiple choices as to what to watch. Just as there are a dozen network stations and then dozens if not hundreds of cable stations from which to choose, so, too, there are many activities in this world that we can engage in. Now, let us take a look at the other choices available to us. This physical planet is not a separate offshoot from all of creation and God. Most religions believe that there are higher regions of existence to which the soul goes after it dies. Scientists and doctors have tried to verify this by documenting accounts of people who were declared clinically dead but had near-death experiences and described something beyond this world. The question is, where are these realms? They are not zones in outer space delineated by borders. All these realms exist concurrently with this one. The reason we are not aware of them is because they operate on a different frequency or vibration. The saints and mystics tell us that we have the choice to either stay tuned to this physical world, or to tune into the channels of God. God wants us to watch Gods programming. God is available twenty-four hours of the day, three hundred sixty-five days a year. Gods programming does not turn off at three a.m. like some networks do. It is a free station broadcasting all the time without any cable fees. We only need to know

how to tune into Gods station. The hook-up to God is not hard. It is just a matter of making the choice that this is what we want to do. The steps to do this are simple. Step one is to stop identifying with the body, mind, and world outside, and identify with the soul. Step two requires that when we identify with our soul that we shift our attention to the frequency of the higher realms and ultimately to God. That is all we must do. God did not make it hard for us to become aware of our true Home. It is we who have made it complicated. So how do we accomplish step one and step two? To accomplish step one, we must withdraw our attention from our body, mind, and

state of consciousness to the other. The other state of consciousness does not exist in time or space. They are operating concurrently. We are simultaneously in the other realms and in God at the same time but we are not aware of it because our attention is only focused on one regionthe physical. So, for step one, the Masters who have learned to be attuned to the realm of God, teach us that we can withdraw our attention from the world, the body, and the mind by sitting in meditation. If we meditate accurately we will experience ourselves as soul. Once we identify with the soul, then we will also be aware of the inner Light and Sound that is the radiance and

vibratory sound of God within us. If we absorb ourselves in the Light and Sound within, we can then attain step two. We can shift our attention into the Light and Sound, which attracts our soul to higher levels of vibration. The Light and Sound function at different vibratory rates in the different regions. As we shift our attention we find ourselves conscious of being in the different regions. Ultimately, the Light and Sound function at their highest vibratory rate, which is the power of God itself. When we shift our attention to that, we have come to the state of consciousness where we are at one with God and merge with God. It is simply a matter of choosing

where we want to put our attention. That is the true meaning of the anecdote about Bulleh Shah and Inayat Shah. When Bulleh Shah asked his Master, Inayat Shah (who was a gardener by profession), How can I find God? Inayat Shah pulled up a plant and replanted it in another place. When Bulleh Shah questioned what that demonstration meant, Inayat Shah said, To find God it is merely uprooting your attention from one place and planting it in another place. That is the simplicity of spirituality. God did not make things complicated. It is simple. It is only we who have to choose to transplant the flower of our attention from the world into Gods garden.

If we meditate accurately we will experience ourselves as soul. Once we identify with the soul, then we will also be aware of the inner Light and Sound that is the radiance and vibratory sound of God within us.
the world outside. We must decide to turn off the outer programming. When that programming is in the off mode, then in the silence we will experience ourselves as soul. That is the step that we call selfknowledge. Once we identify with the soul, we will be able to pick up frequencies that the soul is capable of receiving. We can do a gradual shift in which we go from the consciousness of one region to consciousness of the spiritual realms. Once someone asked the great saint, Hazur Baba Sawan Singh Ji Maharaj, how long it took to get from here (the physical region) to Sach Khand (the highest spiritual region). Hazur closed his eyes, and then opened them. He told them, I have just been there and back. He was showing that the shift of attention from the physical realm to Sach Khand could be done in the twinkling of an eye. Why? Because we are not going anywhere physically. We are merely shifting our attention from one

Veggie Fest confirms popularity of vegetarianism


By Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj cience of Spiritualitys Veggie Fest event in Naperville, Illinois this month was attended by crowds of more than 25,000. We are clearly witnessing an increased interest in vegetarianism around the world and a growing enthusiasm for the vegetarian lifestyle. The popularity of the weekend program made me reflect on how far we have come since the times when I first arrived in the United States from India in 1968 to attend Illinois Institute of Technology. As a vegetarian student in Chicago, I remember that if we ate out at a restaurant, we could only get a simple salad and either a grilled cheese sandwich,

pizza, or pasta. Today, one finds many vegetarian, vegan, organic, and raw food options served at restaurants in the city, and there are many that feature only such foods. Awareness of the benefits of a vegetarian diet for the health and wellness of the body, mind, and soul is greater than ever. Medical researchers and doctors are promoting the value of the vegetarian and vegan diets for physical health. They cite the reduced risk of heart disease, stroke, cancers, and other ailments when living on a plant-based or vegetarian diet. The list of famous vegetarians continues to grow, and this helps bring plant-based diets into the limelight. These people become inspirational to others in their circles, and more people realize we

can live without meat, fish, fowl, and eggs and remain healthy. Throughout history, there have been vegetarians from all walks of life, from founders of various religions, to philosophers, humanitarians, authors, civic leaders, musicians, artists, athletes, and others. From a spiritual perspective, the vegetarian diet has many benefits. First, it is consistent with leading a life of nonviolence. Further, a vegetarian diet contributes to the inner peace needed for meditation. Vegetarian and vegan foods are calming, so when we meditate we tend to be in a greater state of mental quietude. This helps us focus within ourselves. The peace we find in meditation emanates to others whom we meet, contributing to a peaceful, loving world.

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

August 31-September 6, 2013

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

August 31-September 6, 2013

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