25 Vol4 Epaper

UN Security
Council, which
bears special
responsibility
for the fate of
world peace,
is not to give
a pretext for
drawing up
documents al-
lowing the at-
tainment of
certain ends in
a military way.
Medvedev Con-
tinued on page 4
Jobs turned small ideas into
life-changing products
Russia to veto UN resolutions
aimed at toppling regimes
Washington: Calling Afghani-
stan as a proxy war between In-
dia and Pakistan, former Pakistani
president Pervez Musharraf has ac-
cused New Delhi of trying to cre-
ate an anti-Pakistan Afghanistan.
Hours after President Obama
Thursday asked its key ally to stop
New York: Its a cliche to speak of
the end of an era when someone well
known has passed away. Today, how-
ever, it does feel like something has
changed forever in the world of tech.
The brilliance and clarity of vision,
the courage of conviction, the fery
intolerance for imperfection. There is
no other individual impacting technol-
ogy in anywhere near the same way,
in our era, as Steven Paul Jobs did.
He wasnt just the guy who made
the worlds coolest gadgets. Oh,
well, that too. Do you know of any
other company for whose products
Moscow: Russian President Dmit-
ry Medvedev warned Friday that
Russia would veto future UN Secu-
rity Council sanctions to topple po-
litical regimes by Western powers.
Russia will continue stand-
ing against attempts to legitimize
through the UN Security Council
unilateral sanctions aimed at top-
pling various regimes, the Interfax
news agency quoted Medvedev as
saying, reported Xinhua.
The UN was not created for
that, Medvedev said.
We should recognize clearly that
the goal of the UN and especially the
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Vol. 4 | No.12 | July 9-15, 2011 | 60 Cents
The South Asian Times
US Affairs 9 Op Ed 19 Spiritual Awareness 30 Lifestyle 27
NEW YORK EDITION
Excellence In Journalism
Parsi community
created modern
India: Amitav Ghosh
Features,
Page 26
Indian-American
broadcaster les age
discrimination suit
National Community,
Page 7
Deadlock over
separate Telangana,
protests hot up
India Newswire,
Page 12
JAINAs 16th
Convention in Houston
a huge success
JAINA Convention,
Pages 16-18
Pakistan turns
new front line
of war on terror
2G scam claims another
minister: Maran quits
Kerala temple
treasure could be
worth $100 billion
New Delhi/Chennai: Union
Textiles Minister Dayanidhi Ma-
ran resigned Thursday following
allegations of involvement in the
2G spectrum scam, becoming the
second DMK minister after A.
Raja to exit the cabinet.
New Delhi: The
valuables found in
the secret cellars of
Keralas famous Sree
Padmanabhaswamy
Temple in Thiru-
v a n a n t h a p u r a m
could be worth Rs
5 lakh crore ($100
Toronto: Pakistan is now the
new front in the war on terror as it
has become a new safe haven for al-
Qaeda, says the Canadian media a
day after the country blacklisted the
Pakistani Taliban and started with-
drawal from Afghanistan Tuesday.
The war on terror has shifted,
and Pakistan is its new front line,
said the daily National Post.
These two events (blacklisting
of the Pakistani Taliban and the
start of withdrawal from Afghani-
stan) encapsulate a shift, not only
for Canada, but for all other na-
tions on the front lines of the war
on terror. For a number of years,
those lines have been shifting
southeast, from Afghanistan to
Pakistan, the paper said.
It said the Tehrik-e-Taliban is
very dangerous as its stated goal is
resistance to the countrys govern-
ment, the draconian imposition of
Sharia law and the waging of war
against NATO forces in Afghanistan.
Because of these militant outts
Pakistan has become the main
staging area for terrorist plots
around the world and - despite the
United States assassination of Osa-
ma bin Laden in Abbotabad - a new
safe-haven for al-Qaeda.
Quoting a study by the New
America Foundation, the paper
said 53 percent of terror plots
worldwide since 2004 involved
jihadists trained in Pakistan, com-
pared to six percent in Yemen and
three percent in Iraq. Pakistani ji-
hadi groups have directed 44 per-
cent of the terror plots since then,
according to the paper.
War on terror continued on page 4
While the government and the
Congress party did not comment on
the big political development, an
emboldened opposition described
it as too little too late and sought
resignation of Home Minister P.
Chidambaram, who they alleged
showed complicity in the scam.
Thursdays turn of events is
likely to impact both the shape of
impending cabinet shufe and deli-
cately poised relations between the
Congress and the DMK.
2G scam continued on page 4
Union Textiles Minister Dayanidhi Maran is second DMK minister to exit
Manmohan government in the spectrum scam.
53 percent of terror plots worldwide since 2004 involved jihadists,
like Tehrik-e-Taliban and LeT cadres, trained in Pakistan.
Only ve of the six secret cellars of Padmanab-
haswamy Temple have been opened, yielding
Gold idols, ornaments and other valuables.
billion), believes former chief sec-
retary of Kerala CP Nair.
As per a report, Thursday, the
former bureaucrat claims that the
estimated market value of the trea-
sures unearthed from the temple
makes it the richest temple in the
world.
Kerala treasure continued on page 4
CommuniIy 15
TheSouIhAsianTimes.inlo May 14-20, 2011
PSG College ol Technology, CoimbaIore
celebraIes diamond jubilee in New |ersey
T
he Diamond Jubilee
Celebrations oI PSG
College oI Technology,
Coimbatore, India was held at
Chutney Mary restaurant in
Monmouth Junction, New Jersey
on Saturday May 7, 2011. The
gathering was attended by 50
alumni Irom various Iields oI PSG
College oI Technology. The alumni
came Irom Boston, Virginia,
Pennsylvania, New York and New
Jersey. Included were, the oldest
graduate Mr. Shanmugam Irom
1959 batch and the youngest grad-
uate Irom 2010 batch.
The meeting was presided by
visiting dignitaries oI PSG
Management Mr. G. Rangaswamy-
Managing Trustee, Mr. C. R.
Swaminathan - the ChieI
Executive, Dr. R. Rudramoorthy
Principal PSGCT, Dr P.
Radhakrishnan - Director,
PSGIAS, Dr. R. Nandagopal
Director, PGSIM, Dr. G.
Ranganathan - President, Alumni
Association, Dr R. Nadarajan,
Head/Maths & Computer
Applications, PSGCT, Dr A.
Kandaswamy, Head/Biomedical
Engineering, PSGCT.
The slide show presentation
highlighted various departments in
PSG College oI Technology and its
growth into an University accredi-
tation which will be honored upon
PSG next year. It emphasized the
importance oI PSG Tech Corpus
Fund, which will help in education
oI 200 deserving students every
year. The PSG Trust already helps
250 students each year Ior their
education.
Some oI the alumni honored by
Mr. Rangaswamy were - Mr. Jack
Poola Ior his donations to PSG
Tech, Mr. SampathKumar, Mr.
Marthuchala Moorthy, Mr. Selvam
and Mr. Vijay Ior planning the
meeting in New Jersey.
1he college's Managing 1rustee Mr Rangswamy presenting a plaque
to 1ack Poola (left) in recognition of his donation to PSC 1ech.
Mr C R Swaminathan Chief Executieve (in white) and Dr Radhakrishnan
Past Principal (in blue) with students
Mg 1rustee Mr Rangaswamy presenting a plaque to Sampath Kumar,
organizer of the event
Mg. 1rustee Mr. Rangaswamy presenting a plaque to
Selvam, master of ceremony
Dr Rudramurthy, Principal, speaking. Mg 1rustee and
Selvam are also seen in the picture.
1he alumni at the event
Vol. 4 | No. 25 | October 8 - 14, 2011 | 60 Cents
Business 21 Spiritual Awareness 30 Rajasthan Focus 23
NEW YORK EDITION
Skilled Indians
face 30-year wait
for green card
National Community,
page 7
Star TV few in
artistes for AIA-NY
Diwali mela
Tristate Community,
Page 5
Worlds cheapest
tablet launched
in India
Business,
Page 21
Superstar
Rajnikanth blesses
SRKs Ra.One
Bollywood,
page 26
US Affairs 9
AIA-NYs Diwali mela
wowed with new features
added by its President
hedging its bets in Afghanistan and
adopt a peaceful approach towards
India, Musharraf said the US needs
to understand Pakistans sensitivi-
ties about Afghanistans relation-
ship with India.
In Afghanistan, there is some
kind of a proxy confict going on
between Pakistan and India, he
said participating in the rolling
panels at the Washington Ideas
Forum at the Newseum here, ABC
News reported.
India is trying to create an anti-
Pakistan Afghanistan, Musharraf
said suggesting that India has a vi-
sion of dominating the region and
aims to create a weak Pakistan.
He complained that India has
been training Afghan diplomats,
soldiers and intelligence offcers
and that the training should stop.
Asked why recent polling in
Pakistan holds the US in low es-
teem, Musharraf said that his-
torical past has led to mistrust
and antipathy against America
at the people level in light of the
US scale down in Afghanistan
planned for 2014.
Also see Pakistan pulls closer to a
reluctant China on page 4
The family of The South Asian Times wishes you all
A Happy Diwali and Prosperous New Year
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Afghan President Hamid
Karzai inked a strategic partnership pact Oct 4 in New Delhi.
Afghanistan a proxy war between
India, Pakistan: Musharraf
buyers queue up for three days ahead
of launch.
Steve Jobs created markets and
product categories. He changed how
we consume information and enter-
tainment. He redefned leadership.
There is so much about Jobs that
marks him out from the many tech
visionaries that dot Silicon Valley and
the rest of the world. His never-say-die
reinvention of himself and the com-
panies he started, repeatedly turning
adversity into advantage, described
most famously in his Stanford address.
Steven Jobs Continued on page 4
United Nations: As Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh left
New York earlier this week after a
five-day trip to New York, where
he participated almost entirely in
UN events, the focus of the world
body and its leaders--particularly
those from major powers--was
once again drawn to India's aspi-
rations and leadership qualities.
In his address to the 66th annual
session of the UN General
Assembly, Dr Singh highlighted
the need for expansion of the
Security Council and other
reforms in the world body. He
stated that New Delhi was ready
to help fill the gap in global gov-
ernance, ease financial crises and
put the UNs focus on internation-
al terrorism.
Among other measures, the
prime minister assured less-devel-
oped nations that India was ready
to help in their progress and make
efforts to strengthen friendship
with allies. On Palestine, which
could be the UN's 194th nation,
he articulated the need for its
admission as early as possible.
India was the first non-Arab
nation to recognize Palestine as a
sovereign country in the late
1980s.
In his statesman-like speech on
Sept 24, Dr Singh said, "We must
address the issue of the deficit in
global governance. We need a
stronger and more effective UN
that is sensitive to aspirations of
everyone--rich or poor, big or
small." He stated that the need for
UN reforms was urgent and steps
in this direction should be taken
with renewed vigor immediately.
Dr Singh visited New York/UN
after a gap of three years and
filled the vacuum left by his
absence since 2008. He voiced
concerns on behalf of all nations--
friends and foes alike. As he cele-
brated his birthday on flight back
home (he turned 79 on Sept 26),
after spending time with his fami-
ly the day before, Dr Singh
looked back to his just-concluded
visit with a degree of pride.
Though Pakistan was not men-
tioned by name, he advised it was
in the interests of every nation
that state-sponsored actors of ter-
ror should be reined in. This time
around, the number of bilateral
meetings he held was fewer in
accordance with officials' expla-
nations that the shortened visit
was planned because of domestic
issues.
In his bilateral meeting with
Iran, the prime minister promised
a visit to Tehran though no date
was announced. The anticipated
issues of nuclear energy and the
planned gas pipeline between the
two countries that passes through
Pakistan were not discussed.
Officials noted the parley was
based only on bilateral issues.
With Sri Lanka, no interference
was suggested. President Mahinda
Rajapaksa explained to Dr Singh
his nation's steps in resettling dis-
placed persons and the fisher-
men's issue over which a joint
working group proposal was dis-
cussed.
Though the issue of a law suit in
New York on alleged human
rights violations by Sri Lanka
came up, it was only in general
terms, as explained by Foreign
Secretary Ranjan Mathai.
On Japan, both prime ministers
reiterated that they would pursue
vigorously their efforts on UN
reforms, nuclear energy and coor-
dination with other G4 members
in various fields. It was also
agreed to continue efforts in the
nuclear energy area and the rele-
vant safety measures to be taken.
It was another warm meeting
with Prime Minister Baburam
Bhattarai of Nepal, who studied in
Chandigarh and New Delhi. The
focus again was on bilateral coop-
eration, with an emphasis on eco-
nomic relations. A visit to the
northern neighbor by Dr Singh
was also planned though no date
has been finalized. No specific
reference was made to the
Maoists problem in Nepal.
With regard to South Sudan,
helping the new-born nation in
various sectors was discussed
with President Salva Kiir.
Coperation in infrastructure, med-
ical, railway, hydrocarbon and
education was mulled. Vice
President Hamid Ansari represent-
ed India at the independence cele-
brations of the African nation,
which attained freedom in July.
PM highlights global issues at UN, builds on
ties in bilateral meetings
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with Iran's President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad (right) at a bilateral on the sidelines of UNGA session.
United Nations: Heads of state and govern-
ment generally highlight their own nations'
contributions and their personal achieve-
ments when they deliver speeches at interna-
tional forums. Indian leaders--from
Jawaharlal Nehru to Manmohan Singh--have
been no different. But this time somehow Dr
Singh delivered a rare speech at the UN
which is likely to merit attention for some
time to come.
In his speech, India did not canvass for a
permanent seat at the UN Security Council or
demand position on key committees; no
bashing of our western neighbor on such
issues as terrorism. Dr Singh sounded states-
man-like and forward-looking.
No wonder that the prime minister' s
speech received rare applause from the
august gathering.
India offered its own leader's expertise and
experience in economic and financial matters
to tackle the present-day global ills. By put-
ting no particular country on spot, New Delhi
called for international cooperation in com-
bating terror and emphasized the need to
carry out the long-cherished UN reforms.
Smaller and less developed nations--those in
Africa and elsewhere--were told that here is
an emerging market ready to help them in
their distress.
"Diplomats at the UN, burdened by the
weight of their national positions, do not
applaud statements by leaders of other coun-
tries except at the end of their speeches as
dictated by tradition. They rarely burst into
applause over an idea or a declaration as
nothing is taken at face value. Speeches are
for analysis in depth for new nuances in poli-
cy," retired UN envoy of India T. P.
Sreenivasan commented. "But they applaud-
ed Dr. Singh when he read out a short para-
graph on UN reform."
Undoubtedly, UN reforms are a crying
need as virtually all the 193 member states,
including the permanent members of UNSC,
agree on it. They differ only in the details.
Unsparing of himself, Dr Singh, architect
of Indias economic reforms, acknowledged
that globalization has not yielded anticipated
results, falling short of fulfilling basic needs
of the poor. India is home to 400 million who
cannot afford two square meals a day or liv-
ing on less than two dollars a day.
Palestine was issue No 1 at UNGAs just-
concluded session. India was the first non-
Arab nation to officially recognize it as a
sovereign nation--ahead of even Pakistan,
Bangladesh and Indonesia.
On neighbors, Dr Singh offered coopera-
tion with Pakistan on all fronts without any
hint of interference--a gesture reciprocated
by the Pakistani foreign minister in her
speech in which she did not refer to Kashmir
as an in international issue. Hina Rabbani
Khar only said the bilateral dialogue should
be allowed to continue. On Afghanistan, the
prime minister offered full assistance in its
reconstruction efforts.
A journalist who has specialized in India on
world stage described Dr Singhs speech as a
"landmark." He explained the PM skipping
community reception as a scheduling issue,
pointing that the visit was decided less than a
month ago, shortly after Anna Hazare's fast.
At a time of upheaval in domestic politics,
the UN visit came as a welcome relief to the
prime minister.
Meanwhile, foreign minister SM Krishna,
also visiting New York, was able to put India-
US relationship, said to be "drifting", on
track again. At a meeting with his US coun-
terpart Hillary Clinton, it was decided to hold
a series of meetings starting with a higher
education summit in mid-October in
Washington. The two nations' cooperation on
Afghanistan would also be intensified.
Krishna's presence at the Pakistani foreign
minister's reception was significant. Ms Khar
received him warmly. This was probably the
first time that an Indian foreign minister was
present at a reception, held on the sidelines of
the UN, given by his Pakistani counterpart.
Manmohan puts India on moral high ground
Statesman-like and forward looking, his speech gets rare applause at UN
India at UN 5
TheSouthAsianTimes.info October 1-7, 2011
Special to The
South Asian Times
Ranju Batra, President of the Association of Indians in America-NY,
standing in front of the 9/11 shrine with Mahatma Gandhis
non-violence as theme at the 24th annual Diwali mela Oct 2 at South
Street Seaport. The festival occurred 10 years after 9-11 and on Gandhis
birth anniversary. Six proclamations from lawmakers were conferred
upon Ranju on the occasion graced by many lawmakers, community
leaders and Indian diplomats. The cultural programs and attractions
were enjoyed by tens of thousands despite some rain.
Steve Jobs shows off iPhone 4 at
the 2010 Worldwide Developers
Conference.
Russian
President
Dmitry
Medvedev
2 Art
October 8-14, 2011 TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Best of pre-modern Indian
painting on show at the Met
I
ndian paintings have traditionally been
classified according to regional styles or
dynastic periods, with an emphasis on sub-
ject matter and narrative content. Recent schol-
arship, however, has begun to securely link
innovations in style with specific artists and
their lineages. Together with a careful study of
artists inscriptions and scribal colophons, it is
now possible to construct a more precise
chronology of the development of Indian
painting. Beginning Sept 28, The Metropolitan
Museum of Art is presenting Wonder of the
Age: Master Painters of India, 1100-1900, a
major loan exhibition devoted to the connois-
seurship of Indian painting, with some 200
works selected according to identifiable hands
and named artists.
The exhibition dispels the notion of
anonymity in Indian art. The high points of
artistic innovation in the history of Indian
painting are demonstrated through works by
more than 40 of the greatest Indian painters,
some of whom are identified for the first time.
Each artist is represented in the exhibition by
five to six seminal works.
The exhibition is made possible by MetLife
Foundation. Additional support is provided by
Novartis Corporation. It was organized by the
Museum Rietberg Zurich in collaboration with
The Metropolitan Museum, New York.
Structured chronologically, the exhibition
features the artistic achievement of individual
artists in each period. Highlights include: A
Sufi Sage by Farrukh Beg, after a European
engraving of the personification of melancho-
lia, Dolor, an extraordinary painting represent-
ing the last chapter of the artists long career
(1615, Museum of Islamic Art, Doha);
Peafowl attributed to Mansur, a master of
observation of the natural world (ca. 1610, pri-
vate collection); Jahangir receives Prince
Khurram at Ajmer on his return from the
Mewar campaign: page from the Windsor
Padshahnama by Balchand, a master of com-
position (ca. 1635, Royal Collection, Royal
Library, Windsor); Shiva and Parvati playing
chaupad by Pahari, a superb painting with
intense saturated color, bold but sparse compo-
sition, and stylized landscape, depicting the
divine couple relaxing on a tiger skin playing
chaupad, a form of chess (1694-95,
Metropolitan Museum); and Emperor
Muhammad Shah with falcon viewing his gar-
den at sunset from a palanquin attributed to
Chitarman II, depicting the emperor enjoying
his garden at sunset (ca. 1730, Boston Museum
of Fine Arts). The exhibition is accompanied
by an illustrated catalogue.
Major collections in India, Europe, and the
US have lent works to the exhibition, includ-
ing: HM The Queens Collection Windsor
Castle, National Museum of India and the
Udaipur City Palace Museum in Rajasthan, the
Aga Khan Trust Geneva, the Bodleian Library
and the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, and
the Museum Rietberg in Zurich.
Wonder of the Age has been produced
under the direction of three eminent scholars
Dr. Eberhard Fischer, former director of the
Museum Rietberg; Prof. Milo Beach, former
director of the Freer & Sackler Galleries in
Washington, D.C.; and Prof. B.N. Goswamy,
Professor Emeritus of Art History at the Panjab
University, Chandigarh. Dr. Jorrit Britschgi of
the Museum Rietberg is the organizing curator
in collaboration with John Guy, the Florence
and Herbert Irving Curator of the Arts of South
and Southeast Asia at The Metropolitan
Museum of Art. The exhibition was on view at
the Museum Rietberg Zurich before traveling
to New York. A variety of education programs
accompany the exhibition, including gallery
talks, films, and a Sunday at the Met program
on Oct 2. The exhibition is featured on the
Museums website at www.metmuseum.org.
Woman worshipping the Sun - Page from a
Jahangirnama Album. Attributed to
Basawan
Attributed to Kota Master. Emperor Farrukhsiyar Being Paraded in a Palanquin.
Abd-al-Samad -Two fighting camels.
Attributed to The KotaMaster. Ram Singh I of Kota hunting rhinoceros.
Balchand -Jahangir receives Prince
Khurram at Ajmer on Return from
Mewar campaign
Photograph overpainted by
Shivalal -Portrait of Jaswant Singh II
of Jodhpur
The exhibition Wonder of
the Age: Master Painters
of India, 1100-1900 can be
viewed at the Metropolitan
Museum of Art, New York,
till Jan 8, 2012.
just bureaucrats. In research also IITs
are lagging, said Bhandari.
The conference resolved to give
funding to 4 NGOs working in
grassroots education feld in India.
$12,500 each was pledged for them.
Out of them Pratham provides qual-
ity primary education to underprivi-
leged children, and EcoSolutions,
started by an IITian, provides solar
powered lights so children in poor
areas can read and write. Two others
are IIT-driven which help poor but
brilliant students get into IITs, or, if
admitted, to fund their education.
The PanIIT Hall of Fame saluted
alumni who have excelled in technol-
ogy, research, education, corporate
world, education, governance, etc.
Major companies that took part in
the job fair included Google, Ama-
zon, Bloomberg, Deloitte Touche
Consulting, and, from India, Mahin-
dra Satyam and Genpact.
In his keynote, Senator Charles
Schumer applauded IIT alumni for
their services and contributions in
both India and the US. Prof. Nicho-
las Negroponte, Co-founder MIT
Media Lab, shared his vision of fu-
ture technologies. He talked about
a hand-cranked, battery powered
computing device for distributing in
impoverished areas to young chil-
dren. Sam Pitroda, Advisor to the
Indian Prime Minister, talked about
improving the countrys communi-
cations system with fber optics.
Nitin Nohria, Dean Harvard Busi-
By Parveen Chopra
ness School, and John Sexton, NYU
President, in a conversation gave their
views on economic turmoil in the
world economic markets, business op-
portunities to increase bi-lateral trade
between the US and India, impact of
China on business, and growth in the
US and India.
IIT Alumni Leadership Awards
were given to seven: Dr. Nitin Nohria,
Dean of Harvard Business School;
Arun Sarin, former CEO, Vodafone
Group; K. Sridharan, President and
Founder, Sankara Eye Foundation;
Dr. Arogyaswami Paulraj, Professor
Emeritus Stanford University; Purnen-
du Chatterjee, President, The Chatter-
jee Group; Manoj Singh, COO, Delo-
itte Touche Tohmatsu Ltd; and Arvind
Kejriwal, Indian social activist. Sarin
and Kejriwal, however, were not there
in person. A posthumous award was
also instituted from this year.
Since inception a decade ago, the
annual PanIIT Global Alumni Confer-
ence has been held alternately in the
US and in India. The event brings to-
gether a distinguished group of global
business executives, government
offcials, NGO representatives, and
thought leaders from around the world.
PanIIT is an umbrella organization
representing an alumni network of the
most recognizable symbol of Indias
intellectual excellence, achievement
and leadership: the Indian Institute of
Technology (IIT) system. This year
marks the 60th anniversary of the in-
ception of the IIT System.
New York: Iconic speakers pro-
viding insights, and networking and
mentoring opportunities. That more
or less summed up the Indian Insti-
tute of Technology conferences. Not
anymore. At the frst ever biennial IIT
Global conference held in New York
at the Hilton Hotel attended by some
1,500 alumni last weekend, a few
timely and major changes were intro-
duced. Even the title of the conference
said a lot: Solutions for a better world.
For the frst time, given the state of
the economy in the US, a job fair was
held. It was also decided to contribute
funds to some grassroots educational
NGOs in India. Third, a Pan IIT Gal-
lery was unveiled showcasing 60 years
of the history of IITs, which were envi-
sioned by Indias frst prime minister,
Jawaharlal Nehru, Anil Bhandari, con-
ference co-chair, told the SATimes.
Bhandari, IIT Kharagpur graduate
who is Senior Vice President, Mor-
gan Stanley in New York, contradict-
ed some media reports that Narayana
Murthy, Infosys founder, criticized
the lowering standards of students
entering IITs lately. Actually, Murthy
in his keynote at the conference had
implied that IIT graduates should be
more well-rounded (liberal arts can
do the trick) so they can fare better in
the world out there. One impediment
for raising the standards at IITs is the
faculty, whose pay scales are govern-
ment driven. Also, there is a need to
have IIT alumni on boards and not
Tristate Community 3
October 8 - 14 2011
Key changes introduced at Global IIT
Alumni Conference in city
IITians contributions in USA
as cellular communications and
HDTV
* CEO or Founder of 60% of Sili-
con Valley startups
In the US, IIT alumni achieve-
ments and contributions include:
* Creation of over 200,000 jobs
* Pioneering such technologies
* Leading executive at frms such
as Citicorp, Hartford Financial,
Harman International, Google, Cis-
co, Microsoft and Rohm & Haas
TheSouthAsianTimes.info September 17-23, 2011
Kamlesh Mehta promoted as Director of
Business and Economic Development
of Nassau County
Weprin loses
Congressional race
in blue New York
Nirupama Rao presents
credentials to President
Mineola: Kamlesh C. Mehta, an Indian American with
interests in media and diamond business has been pro-
moted as Director of Business and Economic Develop-
ment of Nassau County in New York State, one of Amer-
icas wealthiest counties.
The first Indian American to hold the top business job
at the County, Kamlesh Mehta said his primary role is to
provide support to existing businesses which are suffer-
ing in tough economic times and create opportunities to
attract new growth opportunities for diverse businesses in
the County.
Mehta joined the county administration as deputy Di-
rector in the office of Economic Development in Janu-
ary 2010 when newly elected county executive Edward
Mangano took charge in Long island after a surprising
victory over the two-term incumbent.
Born and brought up in Beawar, Rajasthan, he started
his diamond business in Mumbai before moving to New
York in 1986 to expand.
Mehta has interests in media and precious stones trade
and is on the board of various businesses including
Xavier Medical University and Indus American Bank. He
is the Chairman of Forsythe Media Group which has
grown exponentially as an integrated media, marketing
and advertising enterprise. Mehta has led the publication,
The South Asian Times, to make it one of the most read
US-based Indian newspapers via its print and online edi-
tions. Acknowledging his leadership role and extensive
penetration in the community, the Business Resources
Group honored Mehta with a Life Time Achievement
Award and the National Federation of Indian American
Associations felicitated him with its Excellence of
Service award.
New York: Assemblyman David
Weprin conceded the race Wednes-
day for the congressional seat De-
mocrats had held for almost a centu-
ry. Republican Bob Turner replaces
the disgraced former Rep. Anthony
Weiner in New York's 9th Congres-
sional District comprising Brooklyn
and Queens.Turner's victory was
seen as a rebuke of President Oba-
ma's policies in a district that is main-
ly Democratic. Turner had cam-
paigned in the overwhelmingly Jew-
ish district against Obama's policies
on Israel and the economy.However,
White House press secretary Jay Car-
ney said Weprin's loss is no barome-
ter of Obama's re-election chances in
2012.Weiner, a Democrat, resigned
in June after acknowledging he sent
lewd photos and text messages to
women he met online.
Washington: Describing
India-US global strategic
partnership as a defining
and indispensible collabo-
ration for the 21st Century,
President Obama has said
their dynamic friendship
advances peace and pros-
perity in Asia and the
world.
Obama conveyed these
sentiments to India's new
Ambassador Nirupama Rao
as she presented her creden-
tials to the president in the
White House last Friday.
Warmly welcoming Rao, who has
visited here as foreign secretary,
Obama wished her every success in
her high responsibilities as envoy to
the US. Rao said India was greatly
encouraged by the president's strong
personal commitment to take the In-
dia-US strategic partnership forward.
She also conveyed warm greetings
from President Pratibha Patil and
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to
him and the first lady Michelle
Obama.
An IFS officer of 1973 batch, Rao
is an advisor to the Prime Minister,
has served in world capitals includ-
ing Washington and Moscow. She
enjoys extensive experience in Indo-
China ties. From 1998-1999, she
was Deputy Chief of Mission at the
Indian Embassy in Moscow. She was
High Commissioner to Sri Lanka
(2004-2006) and Ambassador to
China (2006-2009).
Indias ambassador to the US, Nirupama
Rao, with President Obama
Kamlesh C. Mehta has been appointed Director of
Business & Economic Development, Nassau County,
by County Executive Edward P. Mangano (right).
David Weprin (left) was defeated by Rob Turner in Queens-Brooklyn
Congressional district.
Bank of India celebrates
completion of 105 years
New York: Bank of India celebrated completing 105
years on Sept 7, 2011 with festivities all over India and
overseas. To commemorate, the bank opened 106 new
branches all over India, flagged off by Finance Minister
Pranab Mukherjee.
In New York the bank celebrated the landmark starting
with the traditional lighting of the lamp in its Manhattan
office by Dr. P. Jayaraman, former Chairman of the
Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, USA. A customers meet was
held on Sept. 12 at Bombay Palace restaurant. Speaking
on the occasion Mr Narendra Prasad, General Manager of
the bank and its Chief Executive for US Operations,
spoke about the history of the bank and its future plans.
Bank of India was founded in 1906 by a group of emi-
nent businessmen from Mumbai. In July 1969, it was na-
tionalized along with 13 other banks. The Bank came out
with its maiden public issue in 1997 and followed with
Qualified Institutional Placement in February 2008. Cur-
rently the bank has a strong Government holding of
64.47%. With consistent growth, Bank of India is one of
the leading PSU banks in India. It boasts a business mix
of over Rs 5000 billion and world class technology in all
its branches. It was adjudged the Best Public Sector Bank
by Dun & Bradstreet in 2010 and given the National
Award for excellence in Lending to Micro & Small En-
terprises. Bank of India was the first bank to open a
branch outside the country (at London in 1946), and the
first to open a branch in Tokyo and Paris. Today the Bank
has a network of 29 branches (including five representa-
tive offices) at key banking and financial centers and
plans to expand its international presence by entering
New Zealand, Canada, Brazil and emerging Africa. The
international business accounts for around 18% of the
Bank's total business. Since 1978, the Banks New York
branch has been One stop shop for NRI customers for
their banking and financial needs, said Mr. Prasad. The
bank has been providing Investments/Portfolio Manage-
ment/Insurance/Master/Visa Card/Net Banking /online
and real time transaction processing and a host of cus-
tomized products to suit comprehensive needs of niche
clientele across all demographic cross-sections.
Conservative approach and prudent policies have lifted
Bank of India to top five banks in India. Conscious of its
social objectives such as poverty alleviation, the bank has
always fulfilled its priority sector lending obligations.
Customer loyalty is a strong point with the bank and
many of its clients are fourth generation customers. The
banks slogan Relationship beyond banking reflects
this philosophy.
US is Indias principal trade partner and the bank has
contributed its mite in facilitating business between the
two countries. The Center has an asset size of over $3 bil-
lion and offers a range of services like remittance facili-
ties to India, CDs, acquisition finance, trade credit, con-
firmation/advising of LCs, and external commercial bor-
rowings at competitive rates. Besides the full-fledged
branch at New York, the bank has an agency in San Fran-
cisco and plans to expand its footprint in the country.
With its strong presence of over 3700 branches in India,
offices in 12 countries and a trained and experienced staff
in the US the bank is ideally placed to further augment
Indo-US business ties.
* Dean at leading universities
such as Harvard, Carnegie Mellon,
MIT,and Director of the National
Science Foundation
* Honored by the US House of
Representatives (HR 227) for the
economic innovation attributable
to graduates of the IIT.
(from left) Dr. Arogyaswami Paulraj, K. Sridharan, Purnendu
Chatterjee and Manoj Singh 4 of the seven recipients of the
IIT Alumni Leadership Awards.
Narayana Murthy, Founder Infosys, giving his keynote address
during IIT Global Conference 2011 at Hilton New York.
He was also honored at the event.
Indian Ambassador to US, Nirupama Rao, being welcomed
by Anil Bhandari (left), co-chair of the conference.
She gave the closing keynote on Oct 2.
Prof. Nicholas Negroponte,
Co-founder MIT Media
Laboratory, shared his vision
of future technologies.
US Senator Charles Schumer in his keynote
applauded IIT alumni for their services and
contributions in both India and the US.
Grammy-nominated singer
Chandrika Tandon combined
Vande Mataram and America
the Beautiful for an inspiring
Indo-American medley.
4 Community
October 8 - 14, 2011
Pakistan pulls closer to a reluctant China
US economy
needs jolt
right now:
Obama
Indian universities fared badly in world rankings
Islamabad: Even as US-Pak ties have
been plummeting, more so after the killing of
Osama bin Laden in May in Abbottabad, Paki-
stans leaders have been turning increasingly
to China, which is seen here as an enduring
friend, an alternative to the overbearing, un-
trustworthy Americans.
Beijing has sent military supplies to Pakistan,
provided crucial help in initiating Pakistans
nuclear weapons program and cooperated
closely on intelligence. Strong relations with
Beijing are seen as a hedge against India, a ri-
val to both nations. In recent months Pakistani
offcials have gone to Beijing seeking Chinese
investment in a naval base and weapons, as
well as trade deals worth millions of dollars.
But looked closely, Pakistans ability to
use China to offset its collapsing relations
with the US may be far more limited than it
appears, because Pakistan may be left on
Washington: Urging Congress to pass
his $447 billion jobs bill without further
delay, President Barack Obama on Thurs-
day said the US economy needs an imme-
diate jolt.
Our economy really needs a jolt right
now, Obama said, adding the current cri-
sis in Europe could have a very real ef-
fect on the US economy at a time when
its already fragile.
Obama challenges those senators who
are thinking about voting against the bill
to explain to the public. Any senator out
there whos thinking about voting against
this jobs bill when it comes up for a vote
needs to explain exactly why they would
oppose something we know would im-
prove our economic situation at such an
urgent time, Obama said.
Aiming to tackle near double digit un-
employment and to spur the sluggish econ-
omy, Obama laid out on September 8 the
American Jobs Act to provide tax cuts and
credit, extend unemployment benefts and
increase investment in infrastructure.
The Senate is set to take up Obamas job
bill next week after adding to the bill a tax
increase on million-dollar earners.
Obama said he would support the new
approach by Senate Democrats for paying
for his jobs bill with a tax on millionaires
rather than his plan to raise taxes on cou-
ples making more than $250,000.
But the tax on the rich approach is
strongly opposed by Republicans, who
arguing that Obama was declaring war on
the job creators.
London: Indias higher education in-
stitutions fared badly in the new World
University Rankings 2011-12 brought
out by the London weekly Times Higher
Education.
Only Indian Institute of Technology Bom-
bay (IITB) appeared on this list of worlds
the worlds periphery once the Americans
wind down the war in Afghanistan and cut
back their presence in the region.
An ambitious China is unlikely to supplant
the US in Pakistan, according to Chinese ex-
perts on Pakistan, as well as Pakistani and
American offcials. And while Pakistans lat-
est dalliance with Beijing has been received
cordially, Pakistani leaders have walked
away from their trips to China with far less
in hand than they might have expected.
As Pakistans economy continues to de-
cline, and the nation is beset by terrorist at-
tacks, some Pakistanis are asking whether
China will prove so helpful after all.
We as a country may not fgure as promi-
nently in Chinas scheme of things as we be-
lieve we do, said an editorial on Sunday in
The News, a leading newspaper in Pakistan.
Islamabad may be valuable for Beijing in
Steven jobs Continued from page 1
His candor about shamelessly stealing the
best ideas he came across, and then turning
them into life-changing gadgets. His violent
intolerance for good enough, making life
hell for his design and execution teams, but
turning out extraordinary products.
Can you think of another person who
would have had the vision to take his com-
pany into uncharted waters like a mobile
phone with no keypad, which no market re-
search had showed any demand for, and then
change the world with that? Or have the vi-
were an inseparable, even necessary part of
the picture of Steve Jobs and Apple, espe-
cially if you go by results: stunning, life-
changing lifestyle devices.
Medvedev Continued from page 1
Meanwhile, the president also stressed
that Russia will unswervingly abide by the
UN Charter.
Russia on Tuesday vetoed, besides China,
a UNSC draft resolution on Syria, saying the
draft was based on a philosophy of confron-
tation and ran counter to a peaceful settle-
ment of the crisis.
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and cannot be held responsible for the content of the advertisements placed in the publication and/or inaccurate claims, if any, made by the advertisers. Advertisements of business or facilities included in this
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4 National Community
August 13-19, 2011 TheSouthAsianTimes.info
sion and execution to back great design with
the amazing apps and accessories ecosys-
tem that led to the re-invention of the tablet?
We are no fan of Apples closed-garden ap-
proach, its secrecy and indeed its arrogance,
or its historical lack of interest in India.
These largely derive from Steve Jobs him-
self, despite his old ties with India, which
famously made a big impression on him as
he backpacked through it (or when he went
for his meals to a Hare Krishna temple in
California).
But we lived with all that, and still bought
Apple products. The secrecy and arrogance
strategic terms, and that leads us to the mili
tary and civilian nuclear cooperation between
the two countries, but is Pakistan important for
China in economic and political terms as well?
Perhaps not. The two countries do indeed
share a strategic interest in containing India,
and China appears to do little to discourage
Pakistans expensive nuclear and conven-
tional arms race with New Delhi. As such
the Chinese military continues to play a ma-
jor production role in developing Pakistans
weapons for the army, air force and navy,
said retired Gen. Talat Masood, a former
secretary of Defense Production.
But Chinas core interests lie elsewhere -
in its competition with the United States and
in East Asia, experts say. China has shown
little interest in propping up the troubled
Pakistani economy, consistently passing up
opportunities to do so.
top 400 universities and that too at the low-
ly 317th position.
California Institute of Technology
(Caltech) in USA, with an overall score
94.8, topped this list, followed in descend-
ing order by Harvard University, Stanford,
University of Oxford (UK), Princeton,
University of Cambridge (UK), MIT, Impe-
rial College
London (UK), University of Chicago (USA)
and University of California Berkeley.
Even some universities in Singapore, South
Africa, Taiwan, Brazil, Turkey, and Egypt
ranked higher than Indias only entry IITB.
Star TV holds Talent Search and flies down pop stars at Diwali mela
By Parveen Chorpa
New York: The Diwali mela organized by
the Association of Indians in America (AIA),
NY chapter, at South Street Seaport in
Manhattan this year will be remembered for
the lines of young people eagerly awaiting
their turn to take part in the first ever
Western Union Main Bhi Star Contest. And
also for the thousands of fans who grooved
to the music of 3Mix group and Samar
Sidhu, both brought here from UK by Star
TV.
The Star India Plus booth at the Diwali
grounds was packed with fans and contest-
ants throughout the day on October 2. They
came seeking a chance to audition alongside
two stars from India Star Pluss popular seri-
al Sasural Genda Phool: Bhairavi Raichura
(Raijni in the serial) and Jitenn Laalwani
(Inder). The girls rehearsed a scene with
Jitenn and the boys with Bhairavi in a tem-
porary studio built specifically for the Diwali
event.
Speaking to SATimes, Bhairavi and Jitenn
said they had never seen such enthusiasm
before. Some contestants had come pre-
pared, memorizing the dialogues as the
script was made available online. Jitenn
added that they were kept so busy through-
out the day that they could not even take a
break. The audition tapes have gone to
India. Stay tuned to Star India Plus to vote
and see the results of the contest. Two win-
ners will get a chance to act in a primetime
Star Plus show.
Talking about Sasural Genda Phool,
which is in its second year of successful run
on Star Plus, Bharavi said, it is a Hrishikesh
Mukherjee style khatti-meethi story of three
generations of a family living in old Delhi.
There are no negatives, only nok-jhok. She
is the third generation daughter-in-law, a
good bahu. Inder said he is also third genera-
tion, the eldest son, who often tries to give
gyan to his younger brother, the lead charac-
ter. In real life also the man from Kanpur is
married, but Mumbai girl Bhairavi is not.
Star India Plus also brought exciting live
entertainment to the crowds of the Diwali
festival. Upcoming Indian pop star Samar
Sidhu, and the popular U.K.-based group 3
Mix performed live on stage at the festival.
Usman Mirza, Myan Mirza and Karim
Iqbal, better known as 3Mix group, are three
Londoners with Pakistani, Indian and
African backgrounds, who met seven years
ago while auditioning for Andrew Lloyd
Webbers iconic musical Bombay Dreams.
We call ourselves Pop and R&B group and
Asian Fusion, they told SATimes. In their
half hour performance at the Diwali mela,
they also rendered their Nachle single. They
found the Diwali vibe good in New York as
the festival brought together people from dif-
ferent cultures and races.
Samar Sidhu is only 17, still in school, but
the 6 feet one inch tall boy is already an
upcoming Punjabi pop star. Being son of
Bhangra icon Amarjit Sidhu helps, but it is
still hard work, he said. He belted out six
numbers, mainly Punjabi, at the Diwali mela
stage. On public demand he also sang Hindu
number Tujh mein rab dikhda. STAR India
is a leading media and entertainment compa-
ny, broadcasting 33 channels in eight lan-
guages to more than 142 million people
every week across India and more than 65
countries across the globe. Star India is a
fully owned subsidiary of News Corporation.
Sasural Genda Phool stars Bhairavi
Raichura (Raijni) and Jitenn Laalwani
(Inder). Photo: Parveen Chopra.
(from left) Usman Mirza, Myan Mirza and
Karim Ismail of the 3Mix group peformed at
the Diwali mela.
Samar Sidhu, who belted out 6 numbers at
the Diwali mela, posing for SATimes
in Star office.
New York: Foreign minister S M Krishna
has assured the Indian-American communi-
ty that the government will shortly look
into the matters relating to OCI cards, visa
processing, and passport surrender and
renewal.
The minister spoke to some broadcast
journalists on the sidelines of the recent UN
General Assembly session and among the
subjects that came up for discussion was
the community's grievance over those mat-
ters. "The delay concerning these matters
relates to inadequate staffing, and we will
soon resolve this and other issues," Krishna
told the journalists, adding that he under-
stood the community's concerns.
The minister met with Indian
Ambassador Nirupama Rao and various
Indian consuls general in the US and dis-
cussed ways to improve the situation. It
was the first of such meetings the minister
had over community-related matters.
Hicksville, NY: Producers
Group (PG), a "General
Agency" that represents vari-
ous competitive insurance
companies, has scheduled a
series of events for the benefit
of South Asian community
and South Asian Insurance
Brokers where some insurers
will present information to the
attendees.
The Producers Group has
also appointed Salil Zaveri as
General Agent to provide insur-
ance information to the public
and brokers. Zaveris territory
extends to the entire country.
The first event in the series is scheduled for
October 12 at Courtyard New York
LaGuardia Airport, East Elmhurst, Zaveri
said, where senior executives of Prudential
and AXA Equitable as well as
of PG will be present.
PG is one of the largest
national, privately held life
insurance brokerage agencies
in the country.
Zaveri also said that com-
munity organizations seeking
sponsorship for their events
can get in touch with him as
well as learn about various
insurance products like busi-
ness insurance.
Zaveri has experience of 33
years in the line as a General
Agent and Independent
Insurance Consultant offering
advice on risk management, pension plan-
ning etc.
He can be contacted at 1-888-372-1780 or
Salil@SalilZaveri.com.
Krishna keen on resolving
passport, visa matters
Events planned for insurance
needs of South Asians
Salil Zaveri has been appoint-
ed General Agent by the
Producers Group
6 Tristate Community
New Jersey Telangana
Association celebrates
Bathukamma festival
Highland Park, NJ:
Bathukamma, the spring festival
of Hindu women of Telangana
region of Andhra Pradesh was
celebrated with joy and jubilation
here at Donaldson Park here
against the scenic beauty of the
huge Raritan Lake. Bathukamma
is a beautiful flower stack,
arranged with seasonal flowers in
seven concentric layers of potters
clay like a cone, denoting Gauri -
the patron Goddess of woman-
hood.
About 700 people of all ages
participated in the festival which
started early in peoples homes
with everyone collecting flowers
for Bathukammas. Lunch was a
great feast with dishes sponsored
by various restaurants. The games
segment had women compete for
wearing most bangles and best
designer bindi. .
In the afternoon women in tradi-
tional saris and colorful clothes
placed their Bathukammas in the
middle and danced around them
to the tune of Bathukamma
Bathukamma Uyyaalo.
Goreti Vekanna (poet and folk
singer) enthralled the audience
singing Telangana folk and
Bathukamma songs.
After two hours the
Bathukammas were bought to the
Raritan Lake shore and immersed
in the traditional way. The woman
prayed for the well-being of their
families and everyone in society.
Chief Guest Vaddepalli Krishna,
cine writer/director, explained to
the gathering the significance of
the festival. Upendra Chivukula,
New Jersey Assembly Speaker,
also spoke.
Goreti Venkanna distributed
prizes for Big and Best
Bathukammas.
Madhu Yashki, member of par-
liament from Nizamabad, AP,
could not attend due to develop-
ments on the Telangana issue
back home.
New York: The new Indian
Ambassador in Washington,
Nirupama Rao has praised the
Indian-American communitys
contribution in key matters like the
bilateral nuclear energy deal and
their achievements in different
spheres.
I truly applaud your progress
and your contributions to the pros-
perity of this country, she said,
addressing a Sept 30 gathering at
the Indian Consulate here. Your
effort for promotion of bilateral
relations is deeply valued back
home.
Rao was in town for the UN
General Assembly session, which
was addressed by Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh.
She praised Indian Americans for
retaining their cultural heritage
while cultivating the spirit of inte-
gration, innovation and enterprise
in their adopted land. Their hard
work, discipline and becoming a
role model for people 0in their
motherland was also appreciated.
Yet, Rao reminded the gathering
that there has been tremendous
growth in Indian economy as well.
This is a great moment to cele-
brate not only the growing India-
US friendship, but also celebrating
India and the growth there, the
envoy said at the September 30
dinner meeting. Much more needs
to be done. We have just explored
the edges.
The ambassador stated India and
US are organizing a Higher
Education Summit in Washington
from Oct 13.
There will be a 50-member del-
egation from India led by HRD
Minister Kapil Sibal at the sum-
mit, Rao said, adding that
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
is expected to attend as also educa-
tion providers, vice chancellors,
college heads and government offi-
cials. More than 75,000 Indian stu-
dents enroll themselves annually in
US educational institutions, con-
sidered one of the largest group of
foreigners to do so.
Rao was the press counselor dur-
ing 1993-95 in the Indian Embassy
in Washington. Earlier she had
lived for a couple of years in
Boston. I am on familiar ground
here in the US, said the envoy,
who will be 61 in December.
Later, at a news conference, Rao
said that India's permanent mem-
bership in the UNSC reforms has
gained acceleration of momen-
tum.
Describing India' s friendship
with Sri Lanka as the strongest,
Rao said, New Delhi believes that
the interest of minority population
in the island-nation is close to its
heart. She served in the Indian
High Commission in Colombo dur-
ing 1981-83.
Rao, a 1973 IFS officer, became
the first spokeswoman of the
External Affairs Ministry in 2001.
Two years ago the Malappuram,
Kerala, native became the Foreign
Secretarythe second woman to
hold the position.
Community contribution commended by new envoy
Lessons in life series in Long Island
Hicksville, NY: Chandra Kumar Sharma, founder-
president of Delhi-based CKS Foundation, is sched-
uled to deliver a series of lectures in the US on how
to live a life inspired by the collective wisdom of the
centuries. The first of the series of lectures titled
Living the Wisdom will be held at Diwan
Restaurant, Port Washington, NY, on October 8
and 15.
Sharma, a
retired IAS offi-
cer, guides you in
leading a joyful,
healthy and suc-
cessful life by fol-
lowing the vast
practical wisdom
inherent in the
culture, philoso-
phy, ancient scrip-
tures and
mythologies of
world civiliza-
tions. Sharma
dwells upon the
necessity of
being joyful
despite all odds
in our life and guides us on how to attain that state of
happiness and peace. Conquering anger, which is the
cause of all hardships and miseries, is the first step in
one's successful path toward happiness, he says and
suggests certain practical steps in this respect.
Admission is free and lunch will be provided.
The CKS Foundation is working for the cause of
Conservation, Knowledge and Service. The empha-
sis is to help the economically and socially under-
privileged sections of society in rural as well as
urban areas. Special attention is given to the hill
areas and the backward regions.
Amid her hectic schedule in New York, Amb. Nirupama Rao found time
to attend the event marking Gandhi Jayanti at Union Square Park on
Oct 2. Consul General Prabhu Dayal is on the left.
The Metropolitan Museum of Arts Multicultural Audience
Development Initiative is hosting a Diwali celebration on Oct 15
with a dance drama by the East-West School of Dance. It is the 4th
Diwali event at the Met, initiated by community leader Lal K.
Motwani and encouraged by Donna Williams, Chief Audience
Development Officer of the Met, pictured above.
Surya, son of Dave Makkar of New Jersey,
won the spot essay writing competition on
Mahatma Gandhi organized by Indian
Congress Party USA on Oct 2. Surya also
read his essay for the audience.
Women with their Bathukammas denoting goddess Gauri.
Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia, one of the great maestros
of Indian classical music, will perform at a benefit
concert in New York City Oct 22. The concert is
being hosted by the Association for Indias
Development (AID) at the New York Society for
Ethical Culture near Central Park.
Chandra Kumar Sharma,
founder of CKS Foundation
Special to The
South Asian Times
Diwali at the Met on Oct 15
National Community 7
Indian-American homes targeted in
rash of gold thefts in California
Obama meets two Indian American
winners of Google Science fair
2,500 take part in Be the Change events
Bhatts arrest: US groups warn of
global campaign
Washington: President
Barack Obama has congrat-
ulated two Indian-
Americans who were among
the three winners of Google
Science Fair for their land-
mark research in the field of
medical science and envi-
ronment.
Obama met Shree Bose
and Naomi Shah Monday.
Bose discovered a way to
improve ovarian cancer
treatment for patients when
they have built up a resist-
ance to certain chemothera-
py drugs.
Shah in her project
endeavored to prove that
making changes to indoor
environments that improve
air quality can reduce peo-
ple' s reliance on asthma
medications.
The third winner Lauren
Hodge studied the effect of
different marinades on the
level of potentially harmful
carcinogens in grilled
chicken.
Washington: The spirit of volunteerism
and community service should be taken
beyond a single day of service - that
was the message at the annual Be the
Change national day of service hosted
by the DC area-based non-profit organi-
zation, South Asian Americans Leading
Together (SAALT), on October 1 in
coordination with campus and city plan-
ning teams around the country.
Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi's mes-
sage, "You must be the change you wish
to see in the world," over 2500 volun-
teers including students, retirees and
professionals contributed their time and
energy to service activities around the
country including Atlanta, Austin,
Boston, Chicago, New Brunswick,
Philadelphia, and Washington, DC. In
addition, college campuses from
Wyoming to Minneapolis to New York
coordinated Be the Change activities.
"Every year, Be the Change offers
community members, young profes-
sionals and students the opportunity to
cultivate and reinforce a culture of vol-
unteerism and service in their lives,"
said Deepa Iyer, Executive Director of
SAALT.
Rupal Shah, the Project and Volunteer
Coordinator of the Austin, Texas plan-
ning team noted, "I am beginning to
realize the impact that Be the Change
had on our volunteers: we are empower-
ing others to find joy in service while
strengthening the community."
This year's service activities included
organizing and cleaning children's play-
rooms to sorting food at food banks to
assisting South Asian community-based
organizations.Partners and sponsors
also affirmed the values of Be the
Change. This year, partners ranged from
South Asian sororities and fraternities to
national Asian and Pacific Islander
organizations and South Asian profes-
sional networks. As in previous years,
Be the Change 2011 was supported by
Sodexo. "Be the Change mirrors
Sodexo's service spirit and highlights
the importance of community," said Bill
Codus, Senior Business Technology
Manager at Sodexo and National Chair
of Sodexo's Pan Asian Network Group.
"Many cultures come together as one to
help each other, and to better thecom-
munities in which we are all entwined."
New Delhi: The Coalition Against
Genocide, an advocacy coalition of
around three dozen civil society groups in
the United States, has sought intervention
of President of India, Prime Minister and
Chief Justice of India in the case of the
arrest of whistle-blower Gujarat IPS offi-
cer Sanjeev Bhatt. The Coalition Against
Genocide on 5th October wrote a letter to
President Pratibha Patil, Prime Minister
Dr. Manmohan Singh and Justice S.H.
Kapadia, urging them to act without
delay in this matter.Bhatt was arrested on
30th September for allegedly confining
his junior and taking his forced signa-
tures on illegal documents to substantiate
his charges against Chief Minister
Narendra Modi. Bhatt earlier this year
had filed an affidavit in the Supreme
Court directly blaming Modi for the riots.
Washington: Indian Americans, who are
''known for owning high-quality gold of 20
and 22 karats'', have become targets in a num-
ber of thefts in northern California.
"There has been "a rash of robberies
throughout Silicon Valley's Indian-American
communities in recent months," the New York
Times reported citing its partner newspaper
the Bay Citizen.
Indian Americans are one of the fastest-
growing populations in the Bay Area, and
their numbers have nearly doubled to 111,000
in Santa Clara County alone in the past
decade.
The exact number of gold thefts is difficult
to determine because the crimes have hap-
pened in several jurisdictions and victims' eth-
nicity is not always made public, the paper
said.
But interviews with the police, government
and civic leaders, and representatives of the
region's Indian-American community con-
firmed the trend and growing alarm, it said.
"It increased significantly nine months ago,"
Anu Natarajan, a Fremont city councilwoman
was quoted as saying. "It's not a random thing
that's happening. People are afraid. People are
nervous about it."
Indian-Americans were known for owning
high-quality gold of 20 and 22 karats. With
the price of gold surging since the recession
began ($1,614 per ounce on Thursday), that
makes them lucrative targets, Sergeant Jeff
Swadener of the Fremont Police Department
was quoted as saying.
Most of the thefts have happened while resi-
dents were not home, and had inadvertently
advertised the fact through another tradition:
they leave their shoes outside the home on
stoops or in racks.
"No shoes, no one home," Sergeant
Swadener said.
Robberies of gold jewellery have been
reported throughout the Bay Area in recent
months, including at Bay Area Rapid Transit
(BART) stations, and a gold dealer in
Hayward was shot to death at his home Sep
18, the Times said.
President Obama congratulates Google Science
Fair winners, from left, Naomi Shah, Shree Bose,
and Lauren Hodge in the Oval Office, Oct. 3.
Skilled Indians
face a 70-year
green card wait!
Washington: A highly
skilled Indian national
sponsored today for the
most common skilled
employment-based immi-
grant visa could wait 70
years to receive a green
card, conclude two new
reports by a US policy
research group.
The reports by the
National Foundation for
American Policy conclude
that exempting from green
card quotas international
students with an advanced
degree in science, technol-
ogy, engineering or math-
ematics (STEM) would
keep talented individuals
from leaving the US.
This would "reap signif-
icant benefits to the com-
petitiveness of US compa-
nies and to the economy
overall" suggests the
reports - "Keeping Talent
in America" and "Waiting
and More Waiting:
America' s Family and
E mp l o y me n t - Ba s e d
Immigration System."
The majority of employ-
er-sponsored immigrants
tend to be from India and
China, but the wait times
are longest for such for-
eign nationals because of
the per country limit,
which restricts the number
of green cards awarded to
any one country to 7 per-
cent of a preference cate-
gory.
By establishing that
fewer than 3,000 Indians
are permitted green cards
annually in the employ-
ment based third prefer-
ence (EB-3) and estimat-
ing a backlog of 210,000
among Indian profession-
als in the category, the
report is able to conclude
an Indian sponsored today
could wait 70 years for a
green card. Even if the
backlog of Indians in EB-
3 were half as large, the
wait time of them would
still exceed 30 years.
A Chinese immigrant
sponsored today in the
EB-3 category could wait
two decades. Immigrants
from other countries
would likely wait 5 years
or more.
In the EB-2 (second
preference) category the
wait times are 6 to 8 years
for a newly sponsored
Indian or Chinese immi-
grant, but there is no wait
for those from other coun-
tries.
"It is not in our interests
to have the most important
characteristic of an immi-
grant to America be the
ability to wait a long
time," said NFAP's execu-
tive director Stuart
Anderson, who authored
the two reports.
"Absent action by
Congress the situation will
grow worse, creating great
hardship and weakening
the competitiveness of US
companies," he said.
A key part of any solu-
tion to reducing wait times
is to eliminate the per
country limit for employ-
ment-based immigrants,
the reports say noting the
step would reduce the typ-
ical wait for Indians
applying today in the EB-
3 category from 70 to 12
years.
233 Fifth Ave, Suite 4A,
New York, NY 10016
Real Estate (commerci al & resi denti al
closings)
Business Law (business incorporations,
contracts)
Corporate Transactions & Litigation
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Immigration Law (all immigration matters)
Collections Landlord/Tenant Law
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Languages: Hindi, Punjabi, Gujarati
and Swahili
BIKRAM SINGH, ESQ.
(646) 924-1950
www.bikrasmsinghesq.com
bikram@bikramsinghesq.com
YOGI PATEL, ESQ.
(212) 300-7364
www.ypatellaw.com
ypatel@ypatellaw.com
Law Office of Bikram Singh
& The Patel Law Firm
8 National Community
Lady Gaga to Make India Debut
at Formula One Race
New Delhi: Pop diva Lady Gaga is all set to
make her India debut on October 30 when she
will perform during the closing ceremony of
the countrys first Formula One race in
Greater Noida. Its a very big thing that Lady
Gaga has agreed to perform in India. Shes in
the peak of her career now and I am thrilled to
announce that she will come to India for the
first time, said actor and LAP restobar co-
owner Arjun Rampal Sept. 22.
Rampal told reporters here that Gaga will
come here to attend the Formula 1 event and
perform at the LAP Buddh Circuit on its con-
cluding day. Even Lady Gaga is keen to per-
form here. As per her management, she will
enthrall us with her unique props and songs.
She has got a huge fan following, Rampal,
whose restobar will host the three-day after-
parties of the event, said.
Pop diva Lady Gaga
North American Hindu temples
endorse Green Pilgrimage Network
Columbus, Ohio: The Green
Pilgrimage Network initiative
was endorsed last week by
some 280 primarily Canadian
and US-based Hindu delegates,
representing more than 100
temples and Hindu organiza-
tions from across the world at
the sixth annual Hindu Mandir
Executives' Conference
(HMEC) in Columbus Ohio.
The Green Pilgrimage
Network is being launched on
November 1 in Assisi, Italy, by
the Alliance of Religions and
Conservation (ARC) in the
presence of HRH Prince Philip,
who is ARCs founder.
The vision is of pilgrims on all continents,
and the pilgrim cities which receive them,
leaving a positive footprint on the earth.
Founding members include Amritsar for
Sikhs, Assisi for Catholics, Etchmiadzin for
Armenian Orthodox Christians, Luss for
Church of Scotland, Kano for Nigerian
Muslims, St Albans for Church of England,
Trondheim for Norwegian Lutherans. Several
Hindu cities in India have expressed initial
interest.
The Green Pilgrimage Network presents an
unprecedented opportunity to Hindus to
reclaim the ecological vision inherent in our
culture and share it with the rest of the world.
Our temples must become models of care and
respect for the environment, reflecting the
deep values of Vedic tradition, said Kusum
Vyas, Hindu Climate Change Ambassador at
the meeting.
I am intrigued. This is a very important ini-
tiative and I will help the Green Pilgrimages
team connect with locations and projects with
most need and impact, said
Ashok Singhal, President of the
World Hindu Council.
Regarding Green Pilgrimage
Network initiative to bring back
a pristine, serene and welcom-
ing environment at our temples
and places of pilgrimage, the
HMEC in North America
strongly welcomes and supports
the idea that our temples have a
role to play in helping conserve
the environment and save
Mother Earth. This is a core
value practice of Sanatana
Dharma, intrinsic to its sustain-
able nature, said Dr. Abhaya
Asthana, Program Co-Chair.
"I support and commend the Green
Pilgrimage Network for its work to protect the
ecological integrity of the planet's ecosystems,
especially the areas in and around our planet's
holy pilgrimage sites. We as Temples and
religious organizations are the stewards of
these holy places, both from a spiritual and an
environmental point of view, and we need to
adjust our practices as necessary to support
this goal of conservation, rejuvenation, and
beautification of these holy places," said
Swami Nikhilanand, Pracharak for Jagadguru
Kripalu Parishat, Radha Madhav Dham.
The Sixth HMEC was held from September
23 to 25 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in
Columbus, Ohio. It was attended by partici-
pants from throughout the mainland USA,
Hawaii, New Zealand, Canada and Australia.
It is an annual meeting aiming to explore the
expanding role of temples to meet the ever
changing needs of North American Hindus
and to develop a network of all Hindu temples
in North America.
American College
Cricket Now On TV Asia
New York: College Cricket in United States
took a significant leap with American College
Cricket announcing an agreement with TV
Asia. American College Cricket announced
Wednesday an agreement with TV Asia as
their exclusive worldwide broadcast partner in
all formats for matches beginning October 9,
2011 in the United States
The Semi-finals and Finals of the North
East and Mid Atlantic Regional
Championships will be available on TV Asia
every Saturday at 7 pm EDT beginning
October 29, and repeated at 12 midnight EDT
each Saturday until December 8, 2011. The
schedule will be more extensive next Fall.
The top 32 teams from this Fall season will
then compete in the Nationals, the American
College Cricket Spring Break Championship
in March 2012 in Florida - Cricket Craziness
just before College Basketball' s March
Madness!
TV Asia will televise the American College
Cricket Spring Break Championship including
the final 6 matches live from Florida on TV
Asia. The National Championship will be
played as usual for the Shiv Chanderpaul
Trophy. "American College Cricket pio-
neered cricket promotion on Facebook,
Twitter and now Google +, to reach the
Cricket audience in the USA and Canada and
was the first to broadcast domestic cricket in
the USA in March 2010. TV Asia's mission
and strategy is geared towards the American
and Canadian audience so they are the ideal
Media Partners", American College Cricket's
founder and President Lloyd Jodah stated.
"In continuing with our mission to highlight
and encourage local Talent, TV Asia is proud
to be associated with American College
Cricket in televising the regionals and the
Spring break Championship Cricket matches
in USA & Canada, stated Mr. H.R. Shah
Chairman of TV Asia. "This agreement reaf-
firms TV Asia's commitment to be the Voice
and Mirror of the South Asian Community in
United States and Canada," added Mr. Shah
who agreed to be on the Advisory Board of
American College Cricket.
US prosecutors close to charging
Rajat Gupta for insider trading
New York: US prosecutors are close to
bringing criminal charges against former
Goldman Sachs Group Inc. executive Rajat
Gupta for allegedly leaking information, the
Wall Street Journal reported, citing people
familiar with the situation. Guptas lawyer,
Gary Naftalis, said allegations against him
were totally baseless, the newspaper
reported. The Securities and Exchange
Commission dropped a civil administrative
proceeding against Gupta but was fully
committed to re-filing charges in a federal
court; the SEC would now wait for any crim-
inal charges from the Justice Department, the
WSJ added.Prosecutors referred to him as a
co-conspirator during the case against
Galleon Group co-founder Raj Rajaratnam,
who was found guilty of conspiracy and
insider trading in May and is due to be sen-
tenced next week, the Journal said.
Kusum Vyas, Hindu
Climate Change
Ambassador, addressing
the HMEC meeting.
US Affairs 9
Washington DC: Steve Jobs, the
man who began tinkering with
gadgets in his garage and then went
on to power the iPod, iPad and
iPhone that became a part of so
many lives across the globe, has
died leaving behind legions of fans.
The tech legend was 56.
The end came in Palo Alto,
California, Wednesday just a day
after Tim Cook, the new CEO of
world' s leading tech company
unveiled the iPhone 4S, a faster ver-
sion of its best-selling smartphone
that includes a virtual "personal
assistant" you can talk to.
Tributes poured in from all over
the world with President Barack
Obama putting him among "the
greatest of American innovators",
while rival Microsoft co-founder
Bill Gates acknowledged his "pro-
found impact".
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
of India, a country where thousands
of young techies held him up as an
icon of their generation, said he was
"saddened" by the death of Jobs and
described him as an "innovative
man who had taught the world new
ways to communicate and connect".
Jobs is survived by Lisa Brennan-
Jobs, his daughter with Chrisann
Brennan, wife Laurene Powell, and
their three children, Erin, Reed and
Eve.
The hard-driving Jobs, who
resigned in August as CEO amid
health concerns, pioneered the con-
cept of the personal computer and of
navigating them by clicking
onscreen images with a mouse to
lead a cultural transformation in the
digital age.
In more recent years, he intro-
duced the iPod portable music play-
er, the iPhone and the iPad tablet -
all of which changed how we con-
sume content in the digital age.
"Steve's brilliance, passion and
energy were the source of countless
innovations that enrich and improve
all of our lives," Apple said in a
statement. "The world is immeasur-
ably better because of Steve."
Jobs who had battled cancer for
years, had a secret liver transplant in
2009 in Tennessee during a six-
month medical leave of absence
from Apple.
Born to Syrian Muslim immigrant
Abdulfattah "John" Jandali and
Joanne Carole Schieble and then
adopted, Jobs grew up in Cupertino,
California, which would become
home to Apple's HQ.
When he was 21, Jobs teamed
with Steve Wozniak and two other
men to launch Apple Computer Inc.,
building their first commercial prod-
uct, the Apple 1, in Jobs' parents'
garage in 1976. Next year came
Apple II at the inaugural West Coast
Computer Faire. The machine was a
hit, and the PC revolution was under
way.
Apple' s pioneering Macintosh
computer launched in early 1984.
The boxy beige Macintosh sold
well, but the demanding Jobs
clashed frequently with colleagues,
and in 1986, he was ousted from
Apple after a power struggle.
Ten years later, he returned Jobs to
the then-struggling company he had
co-founded.
In 2001, he took the stage to intro-
duce the original iPod, the little
white device that transformed
portable music and kick-started
Apple's furious comeback.
Over the next decade, Jobs wowed
launch-event audiences, and con-
sumers, with one game-changing hit
after another: iTunes (2003), the
iPhone (2007), and the iPad (2010).
Apple fans across the globe were
grief-stricken Thursday on learning
about the tech wizard's death.
Facebook founder Mark
Zuckerberg wrote, "Steve, thank
you for being a mentor and a friend.
Thanks for showing that what you
build can change the world."
Bill Gates said "the world rarely
sees someone who has had the pro-
found impact Steve has had, the
effects of which will be felt for
many generations to come".
Not many know that Jobs had an
India connect. A quest for spirituali-
ty took him to the foothills of the
Himalayas in the 1970s. Decades
later, as he lost the battle against
cancer, thousands of Indians
mourned his death.
In a curious coincidence, he died
the very day that the Indian govern-
ment unveiled its $50 tablet. The
tech revolution he had helped start
would now help thousands of under-
privileged students in India.
Perrys loss is Cains gain
Occupy Wall Street trying to
brew Liberal Tea Party
Christies no means Romney is top dog
In a test for Democrats, Tomblin
wins West Virginia Gov race
Charleston, W.Va.: Gov. Earl
Ray Tomblin, a Democrat,
narrowly won a special elec-
tion for governor on Tuesday,
successfully defending him-
self against Republican
attacks that tried to link him
with President Obama and his
health care overhaul.
Tomblin led his Republican
opponent, Bill Maloney, by
about 3 percentage points in
a hard-fought race that was
seen as a test for Democrats.
Maloney, a businessman,
was initially viewed as a
long-shot in this heavily
Democratic state, but he surged ahead in
the polls in recent weeks with
the help of negative adver-
tisements associating
Tomblin with Mr. Obama,
who is deeply unpopular
here. The election was unusu-
al. It was ordered by the State
Supreme Court after Joe
Manchin III vacated the gov-
ernors office when he won a
Senate seat last year.
Tomblin, then the president
of the State Senate, filled the
vacancy as required by the
State Constitution. He will
now hold the office for just
14 months, until another elec-
tion is held in November 2012.
Three years after this good-humored correction of a news,
the tech guru lost his battle with death.
World says
iGrieve as
Steve Jobs
passes away
Washington, DC: Texas
Governor Rick Perrys fall
from grace has finally mani-
fested itself in the polls.
According to the latest
Washington Post/ABC News
survey, Perry has seen a pre-
cipitous decline in support
from Republicans nation-
wide. In September, Perry
topped the GOP presidential
field with 29 percent of the
vote to Mitt Romneys 23
percent. Early this week,
Romney was ahead of the
pack with support from 21
percent of Republicans.
Perry, on the other hand, has
dropped to 14 percent sup-
port. Of the other candidates,
Georgia businessman
Herman Cain has benefited
most from Perrys disastrous
performance over the last
month. At 14 percent sup-
port, he is now tied with
Perry for the second place
spot. Cain is a focal point for
Republicans who dont want
Romney and arent happy
with Perry, either. But even-
tually, it may well be
Romney who runs consider-
ing the last hope of
Republicans disaffected with
him has fizzled out. New
Jersey Governor Chris
Christie announced Tuesday
that he was definitely not in
the running this time at least.
In a new poll, Georgia busi-
nessman Herman Cain has
tied with Perry at 14 percent
support among Republican
voters, while Romney tops
the GOP presidential field
with 21 percent vote.
Earl Ray Tomblin, a
Democrat, has been
declared winner of the
special election for
governor in West Virginia.
New York: Protesters gathered under the
banner of "Occupy Wall Street" are looking
to light a movement, but as hundreds of
demonstrators rally against corporate "greed
and corruption," they have a long way to go
before becoming a defined cause like the Tea
Party, say political analysts.
In three weeks time, the Occupy Wall
Street crowd has attracted high-profile atten-
tion. It has the purported backing of unions
like the Teamsters and DC-37, NYCs largest
public employees union. It has attracted
Hollywood types who love a good cause to
drop in on; and has even generated a discus-
sion group at a convention of liberal leaders
taking place in Washington, D.C., this week.
But the movement has at least one major
obstacle to becoming a political force -- the
administration it would protest is on its side.
"I would simply say that to the extent that
people are frustrated with the economic situ-
ation, we understand. And that's why we're
so urgently focused -- trying to focus
Congress's attention on the need to take
action on the economy and job creation,"
White House spokesman Jay Carney said
Monday, responding to a question about
where President Obama's sympathy lies.
David Avella, president of Republican
recruiter GOPAC, said protesters on the left
today lack the "common enemy" they tagged
during the George W. Bush administration.
And despite frequent clashes with
Republicans, the White House has passed
several major pieces of legislation that pro-
gressives liked -- even if they weren't as
sweeping as initially envisioned.
In 2006 and 2008 when Democrats took
control of power in Congress and the admin-
istration, "it was much easier for the progres-
sives to rally like-minded individuals who
wanted to ... defeat the Bush agenda," Avella
said.
Summed up on the Occupy Wall Street
website as an Arab Spring-inspired protest
against corporate greed, protesters have also
flailed against student loans, global warming
and even the Tea Party-favorite Federal
Reserve.
"I just don't see how it goes anywhere,"
said Sal Russo, strategist with the Tea Party
Express, suggesting the demonstrations have
too much of a "Marxist" appeal.
"Most Americans understand that to have
an employee, you have to have an employ-
er," Russo said.
The sustained frustration among the
Occupy Wall Streeters has given rise to
greater visibility. What started in New York
City has spread to dozens of other cities,
including Denver, Albuquerque, Chicago,
San Francisco and Boston.
Sarah Palin has finally
announced on Wednesday
that she will not run for
president.
10 Op Ed
No surefire winners
in race to be PM
Pranab-PC duel reveals
why they cant lead
By Amulya Ganguli
A
curious feature of the
political scene is that
none of the parties has
an inspirational leader. To make
matters even more odd, there is
a figure outside the political
arena, viz. Anna Hazare, who
partly answers to this descrip-
tion although he, too, has his
detractors. Although India has
had people who played a politi-
cal role without formally being
in politics, it has rarely faced a
situation where the recognized
parties do not have someone
with a wide appeal.
The Congress, for instance,
has always had the Nehru-
Gandhi family with its charis-
matic prime ministers. But
today, while Sonia Gandhi has
ruled herself out of contention
for the post, her son, Rahul, does
not seem to have measured up as
yet to the high demands of the
office.
On the other side of the fence,
Atal Bihari Vajpayee's retire-
ment has robbed the Bharatiya
Janata Party (BJP) of someone
whose influence was not con-
fined to the Hindutva brigade.
As a result, the BJP is in an even
worse position than the
Congress, which at least has
both Rahul and Manmohan
Singh although they are not
surefire winners.
The entry of two others - L.K.
Advani and Narendra Modi - has
muddied the waters. Advani's
case is the strangest of all.
Despite his obvious desire to be
prime minister and although he
is still the party's tallest leader,
the BJP is wary of his ambition.
It isn' t only his age or the
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's
(RSS) reservations about him in
the wake of his praise of Jinnah
that are against him.
There is something else. It is
either Advani's failed efforts to
be a moderate a la Vajpayee or
the resultant belief in the BJP
that he is malleable - as his
metamorphosis from being a
fiery rath yatri in 1990 to an
admirer of Jinnah showed. In
any event, till Modi's emergence
as yet another contender, both
Sushma Swaraj and Jaitley were
engaged in internal manipula-
tions to marginalize Advani, as
was evident from his nomination
as head of the parliamentary
party even after he expressed his
wish to be the opposition leader
in the Lok Sabha till 2014.
Despite his claim that his latest
rath yatra has nothing to do with
his quest for the prime minister's
post, there is little doubt that if
the scene appears propitious
enough (for instance, if the
Congress' fortunes suffer a pre-
cipitous decline), Advani will be
there in the front row.
The question is whether Modi
will also be by his side, for the
latter's show of compassion for
the riot victims of 2002 suggest
that he is trying to put on a
mask, a trick which Vajpayee
was said to have perfected.
Modi's problem, however, is that
his appeal is limited only to sec-
tions of the saffron brotherhood
since the RSS is unlikely to look
kindly at his attempts to reach
out to Muslims, who represent
an "internal threat", according to
the outfit' s mentor, Guru
Golwalkar.
Unlike the BJP, which is torn
between four PM wannabes, the
Congress has two candidates,
but neither seems capable of
bringing the voters in droves to
the polling booths.
The present incumbent,
Manmohan Singh, has under-
mined his own case by failing to
assert himself, either through
proactive steps to check corrup-
tion or to push ahead with his
USP, the economic reforms.
After the Congress' two suc-
cessive victories in 2004 and
2009, its success in 2014 was
taken for granted along with
Rahul's coronation. The outlook
now is somewhat cloudy. First,
no one can bet on the Congress'
victory although it is difficult to
see the BJP getting its act
together to pose a serious chal-
lenge. Nitish Kumar could have
been a formidable candidate if
the BJP and the RSS were
behind him. But they will be
hesitant to do so.
Secondly, Rahul remains too
much of an enigma to be a credi-
ble contender
. His views on the economy or
the quota system or foreign poli-
cy are unknown. If his quietness
is the result of his youth and
inexperience, he can scarcely be
thought of as a prime minister.
By Parsa Venkateshwar Rao Jr
P
olitical anthropologists should be able to tell us as
to how a leader is chosen in a democracy, and they
may look at the profile of person who is likely to
emerge as the big boss.
The topic is of utmost importance in the wake of the
just-concluded duel between Union finance minister
Pranab Mukherjee and home minister P Chidambaram
and the crisis it had spawned. The crisis has been resolved
and there is a kind of patch-up, but no one is sure how
long it will last. Many observers have tried to analyse the
unseemly spat in terms of their distinct and even contrast-
ing personalities. It is one way of looking at the issue.
The more important issue is that of frustrated ambition
of two very talented and experienced people denied their
just desserts and asked to play second fiddle, where lead-
ership rewards go to people who do not have the same
qualifications. It is not so difficult to make the case that in
terms of political metier, Mukherjee and Chidambaram
have an edge over prime minister Manmohan Singh. But
the top post does not always go to the most deserving per-
son. There are other aspects that are crucial for a leader-
ship role. Singh wins points over the other two for those
reasons.
A critical scrutiny would reveal that both Chidambaram
and Mukherjee would lose out to Singh when it comes to
be reckoned as a leader of a government, and that Singh
not being a seasoned politician turns out to be an advan-
tage. Mukherjee and Chidambaram attract a lot of rivalry
not just between themselves but with the party at large
because intelligent and talented people are not good at
winning over less intelligent and less talented people,
which is important in leading a party as well as a govern-
ment.
Singh and Sonia Gandhi are less talented but they have
the confidence of rank and file in the party and in govern-
ment as well as that of the experienced and talented mid-
dle and top rung leaders. It is this ability not to antagonise
people because of their genius that helps them.
Not being a superior person is a virtue in a leader. Both
Sonia and Singh require the help of the more intelligent
and more talented Mukherjee and Chidambaram. It is
when the superior talents are harnessed that a party and a
government emerge winners. The Congress led by Sonia
and the UPA led by Singh cannot function successfully
without Mukherjee and Chidambaram, but they will not
do well if the two are asked to lead the party or the gov-
ernment
It would seem that leadership is for someone in the
crowd who is able to like if not love the crowd. That elim-
inates the most intelligent people from the leadership race.
Let us not then grumble too much about leaders who have
nothing extraordinary to show for themselves. When they
have time to think over matters, both Mukherjee and
Chidambaram are likely to arrive at the same conclusion.
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi just gave BJPs national meet
a miss, where senior BJP leader LK Advanis upcoming
Rath Yatra was the focus.
Federal Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Home
Minister P. Chidambaram.
Lokpal: Anna issues ultimatum to Congress
Ralegan Siddhi/New Delhi: No bill, no sup-
port. Drawing the battlelines, social crusader
Anna Hazare said he would resume his move-
ment for the Jan Lokpal bill with the Oct 13
by-election in Hisar in Haryana where he
would campaign against the Congress.
The Congress termed his remarks as unfor-
tunate, while party general secretary Rahul
Gandhi asserted that corruption can be fought
only through the political system.
Taking on the Congress, Hazare said at a
press conference in his village in Ralegan
Siddhi, in Maharashtra's Ahmednagar district,
that his campaign for a strong anti-graft Jan
Lokpal (ombudsman) bill would continue
after Dussehra. And if the Congress blocked
the law, he would ask people not to vote for it.
Hazare also hit out at Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh for being "remote con-
trolled". "Depending on my schedule, I shall
go to Hisar and hold a couple of public meet-
ings there. If not I shall send a video message
to the people of Hisar explaining how the
Congress has blocked the Jan Lokpal
(ombudsman) bill and urge them not to vote
for the party," Hazare declared.
He said civil society activists had written to
all the major candidates contesting the Hisar
by-poll asking them whether or not they sup-
ported the Jan Lokpal bill, Team Anna's ver-
sion of the anti-graft bill.
"While a majority of them have already
replied in the affirmative, there is no response
from the Congress. If the Congress does not
clarify its stand in the next couple of days,
then after Dussehra (Oct 6), I plan to go to
Hisar," Hazare said.
The agitation would then be taken to Uttar
Pradesh and to Punjab, Goa, Uttarakhand and
Manipur, where assembly elections are due
next year, to force the United Progressive
Alliance (UPA) government to "live up to its
promise" of passing Team Anna's version of
the Lokpal bill.
"If, as the UPA has assured, the bill is not
passed during the ensuing winter session of
parliament, we shall name the Congress and
urge people not to vote for it," Hazare assert-
ed, virtually giving an ultimatum to the gov-
ernment. The Congress was quick to react.
Law Minister Salman Khurshid said in New
Delhi that citizens were free to vote for any-
body. And Abhishek Singhvi, who heads the
parliamentary standing committee looking
into the Jan Lokpal bill and other versions of
the Lokpal bill, said the panel was not in a
confrontationist mood.
"It is their decision. Every citizen is free to
vote for anybody. Congress will only do its
work, perform its duties and Congress will
then go back to people when the duty is per-
formed," Khurshid said.
Singhvi added: "A parliamentary process is
underway. The committee is trying its best to
deal with substantive and real issues. We are
not in any manner in an argumentative or con-
frontationist mode."
Without referring to Hazare, Rahul Gandhi
said that corruption can be fought only
through the political system. Speaking at a
Youth Congress convention in Delhi, he said
people talk of corruption but it can be fought
through democratic means.
"If you want to fight corruption, then this
can only be done through the political system,
through democratic means," he said.
Congress spokesman Rashid Alvi said
Hazare was not being fair by singling out the
Congress over the issue of Jan Lokpal Bill.
"This is unfortunate, whatever Annaji is say-
ing... Every citizen has right to oppose or sup-
port anyone. His statement proves that he is
starting to oppose the Congress from Hisar
by-election when the winter session is far
away," Alvi said.
Hazare said if the Jan Lokpal bill is passed,
then they would not hold any agitation.
Instead, they would appeal to the people to
check the antecedents of the candidates and
vote for the good ones.
Quit over NC workers
death: PDP to Omar
Srinagar: The custodial death of a member
of the ruling National Conference (NC) in
Jammu and Kashmir snowballed with the
People's Democratic Party (PDP) staging a
loud protest march here.
Alleging Sayeed Muhammad Yousuf was
killed in police custody on September 30,
some 300 activists of the opposition PDP
covered nearly a kilometer before the police
prevented them from reaching the NC head-
quarters.
PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, who led
the march, said no one was safe in the state
and the needle of suspicion in Yousuf's death
pointed at Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and
his junior colleague in the council of minis-
ters. Mufti led the march from the party
headquarters, raising slogans such as
"Katilon Ko Pesh Karo". The death of
Yousuf, who was said to be close to the chief
minister and his father, has raised a storm in
the state. Senior PDP leaders Tariq Hamid
Karra, Dilawar Mir and Nizam-ud-Din Bhat
were part of the procession, which security
forces intercepted at Regal Chowk, 300
metres from the city centre Lal Chowk.
The PDP stalled the proceedings of the
state assembly for two days, demanding a
discussion on Yousuf' s custodial death.
Assembly speaker Muhammad Akbar Lone
disallowed a discussion and adjourned the
assembly sine die Tuesday as was previously
scheduled. Omar Abdullah said Monday that
National Conference workers Muhammad
Yusuf Bhat of Ganderbal and Abdul Salam
Rishi of Anantnag district had called on him
Sep 29 leveling serious allegations of corrup-
tion against Yousuf.
"Recognizing the serious nature of the alle-
gations, I asked Nasir Aslam Wani, the min-
ister of state for home, to call all three to find
out the truth," Omar said.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is being
blamed for the custodial death
of Sayeed Yousuf
Anna
Hazare also
hit out at
Prime
Minister
Manmohan
Singh for
being
"remote
controlled".
India Newswire 11
New Delhi: The United Progressive
Alliance government wants a strong and
effective Lokpal bill to combat graft in
high places, but it cannot be done by
"putting a pistol on someone's neck",
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan
Kumar Bansal said.
"You cannot get something done by
putting a pistol on someone's neck,"
Bansal told reporters here.
Bansal said a parliamentary standing
committee was looking into the bill and
was collecting views of its members. "It
will be a sincere endeavor to see that the
bill is taken up during the next winter
session. But it depends upon the work
the committee is able to do.
"The committee has members from all
the parties and they are getting inputs
from different people who want to come
before it," Bansal added.
Committed to
Lokpal, but not
at pistol-point
12 India Newswire
Over 4,000 Chinese in
PoK: Army chief
New Delhi: The Indian security
establishment is becoming
increasingly concerned about the
presence of around 4,000 Chinese
construction personnel, including
combat engineers from the
People's Liberation Army (PLA)
in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir,
even as infiltration levels across
the Line of Control into J&K have
recorded a sharp jump in recent
days.
"There are certain construction
working teams (in PoK)...Around
3,000 to 4,000 of these people
(Chinese) are present, including
some for security purposes," said
Army chief General V K Singh.
Responding to questions on the
sidelines of a function, Gen Singh
said the Chinese teams in PoK
included PLA combat engineers.
This comes shortly after defense
minister A K Antony told
Parliament last month that India
has asked China to stop its infra-
structure development activities in
PoK. "We have conveyed our con-
cerns to China and asked them to
cease such activities," he said.
Even Northern Army command-
er Lt-Gen K T Parnaik has warned
that India not only faces a threat
from Chinese troops along the
4,057-km Line of Actual Control
with China but it could well
extend to the 778-km volatile LoC
with Pakistan due to the expansive
Beijing-Islamabad military nexus.
"The Chinese presence in
Gilgit-Baltistan and the Northern
Areas is increasing steadily.
China is involved in construc-
tion and upgradation of numerous
roads, bridges and hydropower
projects. Chinese links with
Pakistan, through PoK, lend
strength to the China-Pakistan
nexus, which has been of great
security concern for us," said Lt-
Gen Parnaik.
Indian Army chief General V.K. Singh.
Ravanas effigy is not burnt here!
Dharamshala: Religious belief
keeps the people of Baijnath from
celebrating Dussehra. At Baijnath, a
town of Kangra district located
about 60 km from here, people do
not burn the effigy of Ravana. Even
markets remain closed in Baijnath
and Paprola. In fact, people don't
even buy sweets on the occasion.
Bhagwandass Sharma a local
priest at a temple said that Dussehra
is celebrated here. "This is the place
where Ravana worshipped Shiva as
a sincere devotee and burning his
effigy would bring bad luck for the
people of this area," he said. He
added that Ravana worshipped Lord
Shiva here and he is considered a
great devotee in Baijnath and burn-
ing the effigy of such a great devo-
tee was not right.
So even as Dussehra would be cel-
ebrated with fervour across the
country on Thursday, the people of
this town would not be joining in as
there is a strong belief among them
that celebrating the festival would
incur the wrath of Shiva. This belief
keeps residents of the town away
from burning the effigies of Ravana,
his brother Kumbhkaran and son
Meghnath.
Baijnath was named after a local
shepherd, Baiju. Legend has it that
during the Treta Yug, Ravana wor-
shipped Lord Shiva on Kailash and
offered his 10 heads in a Havan
Kund.
Lord Shiva was touched by this
deed and agreed to accompany him
to Lanka. Shiva took the shape of
"ling" and asked Ravana not to
place it on the ground on his way.
However, when Ravana reached
Baijnath, he felt the need to answer
nature's call. On seeing the shepherd
Baiju, Ravana handed over the
"ling" to him. The shepherd, on
finding the "ling" very heavy, put it
on the ground and it got intstalled
there.
Goa mining scam: PAC
report blames nexus
Panaji: Triggering a political storm, the Goa
assembly's Public Accounts Committee (PAC)
probing the Rs.3,500 crore illegal mining
industry, cited a nexus between politicians and
officials for the scam though it did not name
Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, any minister
or serving official.
Operative portions of the report made avail-
able to be media, name neither Kamat, who
has been holding the mining portfolio for the
last 12 years, nor ministers Joaquim Alemao
and Vishwajeet Rane, who have been named
by Leader of Opposition Manohar Parrikar at
other forums as being involved in illegal min-
ing. According to official sources, the PAC
report is, however, indicative of the involve-
ment of politicians in the scam on the basis of
"reasonable doubt".
"Reasonable doubt prevails that influential
politicians including ministers... are deeply
involved," the report states, but names only
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader
Jitendra Deshprabhu, already arrested for
involvement in illegal mining.
"How much involvement of various politi-
cians does exist, what is the illegality quan-
tum, can only be brought to light if a criminal
investigation is conducted," a source said,
adding that the PAC report has asked for a
Central Bureau of Investigation or a
Lokayukta probe into the scam.
Hours after submitting the PAC's report to
Speaker Pratapsing Rane however, Parrikar,
who heads the PAC, obliquely blamed Kamat
for the scam.
"Does the chief minister not want to change
situation in the mines department at all? He
does not want to punish anyone guilty? Any
third person would take inference that he
(Kamat) is involved," he said in the assembly.
"When he was the chief minister, exports
rose from 16 million tonnes to 54 tonnes...
Production is thrice now. What is legally
extracted is 30 million tonnes (of ore). It is
perfectly legal, while 20 millon tonnes is not
legal," said Parrikar. In his response, Kamat
said that the "truth will prevail" and the min-
ing ministry should not alone be held respon-
sible. "Ultimately truth will prevail because
there are records to support the truth," an
emphatic Kamat told the house.
Goa Chief Minister Digambar Kamat.
Telangana agitation to
intensify: TRS
New Delhi/Hyderabad:
After failing to get any assur-
ance from Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh over a sep-
arate Telangana state,
Telangana Rashtra Samithi
(TRS) chief K.
Chandrasekhar Rao rejected
his appeal to call off the
strike and decided to intensi-
fy the agitation.
KCR, as Rao is popularly
known, told reporters that he
may also go on a "fast unto
death" to intensify the move-
ment for a separate state.
The strike will not be called
off under any circumstances,"
he told reporters after meet-
ing the prime minister in New
Delhi. "The strike would con-
tinue till there is a roadmap
for separate Telangana," he
added.
"We are not satisfied. The
prime minister did not give
any assurance. We will con-
tinue to fight," said the MP,
who was leading a delegation
of JAC leaders.
In Andhra Pradesh, pro-
Telangana activists forcibly
stopped vehicles moving
from coastal Andhra towards
Hyderabad and hurled stones
at private buses, damaging at
least 20 of them in Nalgonda
district, police said.
Some activists were injured
when police hit them with
batons at Nakrekal while one
police official sustained criti-
cal injuries in stone pelting
by the mobs. There were no
reports of injuries to the pas-
sengers. Demanding separate
statehood to Telangana,
activists also damaged a
police vehicle.
The indefinite strike in coal
mines of state-owned
Singareni Collieries as part of
the general strike in
Telangana has affected coal
production and hit electricity
generation at thermal power
stations.
Authorities have imposed
power cuts on domestic, agri-
culture and industrial sectors.
A one-hour blackout has been
imposed on farmers, who ear-
lier got seven hours of free
electricity every day.
Telangana Rashtra Samithi chief K. Chandrasekhar Rao.
India Newswire 13
Gujarat told to provide security to Bhatt, family
New Delhi/Ahmedabad: The cen-
tral government asked the Gujarat
government to provide adequate
security to police officer Sanjiv
Bhatt, arrested on charges of insub-
ordination, and his family.
The home ministry instructions
to Gujarat came hours after an
Ahmedabad court reserved, for Oct
7, its orders on the state's revision
petition against the judicial remand
of the officer after Bhatt refused
the court's suggestion of granting
bail if he underwent a three-hour
police remand.
Bhatt had recently leveled allega-
tions against Gujarat Chief
Minister Narendra Modi in connec-
tion with the 2002 riots post the
burning of Karsewaks travelling by
the Sabarmati Express in Godhra.
The home ministry wrote to the
Gujarat government, asking it to
provide security to Bhatt and his
family after the police officer's
wife Shweta Bhatt wrote to Home
Minister P. Chidambaram express-
ing fears that there was danger to
the arrested officer's life.
Home Secretary R.K. Singh had
convened a meeting of senior offi-
cials after Shweta Bhatt's letter was
received by the central govern-
ment.
"The home ministry has written
to the Gujarat government to
ensure adequate security to Bhatt
and his family as per local threat
perception," a home ministry offi-
cial said here.
"We are also independently car-
rying out threat assessment at our
level," the official added.
Bhatt was arrested after Gujarat
police constable K.D. Panth lodged
a complaint that he was threatened
by the officer and forced to sign a
false affidavit on the meeting
called by Modi on Feb 27, 2002,
hours after the Godhra train car-
nage.
Shweta Bhatt had written in her
letter to Chidambaram that her hus-
band "has been victimized and
arrested" merely because a few
politicians apprehended serious
action against them due to Sanjeev
Bhatt's evidence in the pending
criminal cases against them.
An Ahmedabad sessions court,
meanwhile, reserved its order for
Oct 7 on Gujarat government's plea
to place him under police custody
for investigation in the case regis-
tered on the basis of Panth's com-
plaint.
Former IPS offier Sanjiv Bhatt had leveled allegations against Gujarat
Chief Minister Narendra Modi in connection with the 2002 riots.
Mumbai: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena and
Shiv Sena have joined hands in a violent agita-
tion against three-wheeler drivers who refuse
fare. The recent fare hike and two auto-rick-
shaw strikes have given the MNS and Sena an
opportunity just four months before the civic
polls.Mumbai Autorickshawmens Union pres-
ident Sharad Rao, however, claimed five vehi-
cles were burnt down. He demanded action
against MNS chief Raj Thackeray and com-
pensation. We will move court if the govern-
ment doesnt take any action.
Thackeray announced that his men would
campaign against the errant auto-rickshaw
drivers, especially those who had migrated
from north India.
The Sena, too, jumped into the fray. We will
not allow anyone to blackmail Mumbaikars,
Sena MP Sanjay Raut said. He said the Sena
would post men at auto-rickshaw stands to
ensure drivers did not turn down fares.
Even as the police arrested 12 suspected
MNS workers for beating up a driver at the
Sion suburban area, MNS vice-president Haji
Arafat Shaikh said, We have formed small
teams and any auto driver acting smart will be
taught a lesson.
Ahmedabad: Wife of arrested
IPS officer Sanjeev Bhatt, who
had given testimony against
Narendra Modi in the post-
Godhra riots case, has written a
second letter to Union home min-
ister P Chidambaram alleging
that her husband was being treat-
ed like a "terrorist" by the police.
She has also accused the Gujarat
government in the letter of using
all possible ways to deny bail to
her husband.
In her second letter, she has
said that her husband was being
treated like a terrorist despite he
not being a serial offender nor a
criminal.
She said in the letter that she
has just come to know that Bhatt
was kept in a dingy, filthy, stink-
ing room in the city crime branch
lock-up on the day he was
arrested.
In the letter she has also com-
plained about how Gujarat police
used derogatory and insulting
language while conducting
searches at her residence after
Bhatt's arrest.
Shiv Sena,
MNS target
migrants again
Bhatt being treated like
terrorist: wife
A modified bus will be Advani's 'rath'
New Delhi: For his anti-corruption yatra
beginning October 11, Bharatiya Janata Party
(BJP) veteran L.K. Advani will travel in a
modified luxury bus as his "rath" -- equipped
with a lift and communication facilities for
his 12,000 km journey across 18 states.
The bus, being modified and readied in
Pune, will reach the venue of Advani's 'Jan
Chetna Yatra' (public awareness journey) in
Bihar before Oct 11, BJP secretary Shyam
Jaju said.
"The bus will be equipped with lift (sky
lift), television, computer and public address
system. It will have place for him to rest and
a chamber for party functionaries to sit and
interact with him," Jaju told IANS.
The BJP has chosen the birth anniversary
of Jayprakash Narayan on Oct 11 and his
birthplace Sitab Diara in Bihar as the venue
to launch the yatra.
Jaju said the bus may not reach Sitab Diara
as the village still had flood waters. He said
Advani, 84, and other senior party leaders
were likely to visit Sitab Diara Oct 11 in a
helicopter to pay their respects to Jayprakash
Narayan and then come to Chapra to take
forward the yatra.
Jayprakash Narayan's mobilisation of stu-
dents in 1974 and call for 'Total Revolution'
led to event that culminated in prime minister
Indira Gandhi imposing Emergency rule in
1975. Gandhi lost power in the 1977 elec-
tions. Jaju said the Jan Chetna Yatra will
focus on "good governance and clean poli-
tics" and pass through 18 states and some
union territories. It will culminate in Delhi
Nov 20 after covering almost 12,000 km -
about 300 km each day.
He said the yatra will pass through poll-
bound states of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand,
Punjab and Goa and touch Arunachal
Pradesh, West Bengal and Assam.
BJP general secretary Ananth Kumar is
chief convener and Ravi Shankar Prasad,
Murlidhar Rao and Jaju are co-conveners for
the yatra. The Jan Chetna Yatra will be the
sixth such cross-state journey for the BJP
veteran. The earlier yatras include Ramrath
Yatra, Jansandesh Yatra, Swarna Jayanti
Yatra, Bharat Uday Yatra and Bharat
Suraksha Yatra. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish
Kumar will be present during the start of Jan
Chetna Yatra along with senior BJP leaders.
L.K. Advani will travel in a modified luxury bus as his rath.
Accra (Ghana): Gopal Vasu did not
leave India to be recognized in
Ghana for his work in the pharma-
ceutical industry. However, the firm
that the former oil company execu-
tive helped found has been ranked
35th in the list of Ghana's top 100
companies.
The Ghana Club 100 is a grouping
of the country's top 100 companies,
based on the assessment of the
Ghana Investment Promotion
Centre (GIPC), which examines a
company's growth over three years
as well as the return on equity and
turnover.
Vasu, who has lived in Ghana for
42 years now, changed his career
path and is today a director of M&G
Phramaceuticals. In 2005, he was
made honorary member of the
Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana.
The former sales executive of oil
brand Esso in Jaipur went to work
for Indian conglomerate Patel
Group of Companies in Ghana in
1969. He joined their Ashanti Shoe
Factory as general manager.
"I worked for the Patel Group for
24 years before, and together with
some other colleagues, deciding to
set up a pharmaceutical company,
then one of the priority areas under
the Ghana's investment code," he
said.
"After fulfilling the requirement
of the Ghana Investment Code, we
took over (then shuttered) M&G
Pharmaceuticals in July 1993," he
said.
In January 1994, the company
began producing four formulations
with 12 employees. Today the com-
pany employs 183 people and
makes 78 products, including
tablets, capsules, syrups and suspen-
sions for over 210 buyers.
Vasu is happy to be associated
with Ghana's industrial develop-
ment. "I believe that no country can
progress without a strong industrial
base," he said. "The most developed
countries in the world today are
strong because of it."
Indian-origin man teaches yoga
to Mexican migrants
Monterrey (Mexico): A shel-
ter for migrants in the northern
state of Coahuila is offering
yoga classes, run by an Indian-
origin man, to help undocu-
mented Central Americans
cope with the stress of their
arduous and often dangerous
trek across Mexico to reach the
US.
"Every week the migrants are
offered an hour of yoga thanks
to the cooperation of a volun-
teer," Posada Belen director
Alberto Xicotencatl told EFE.
Jap Singh Khalsa began
teaching yoga at Posada Belen
five months ago.
The shelter in Saltillo, capital
of the border state of Coahuila,
is currently providing hospitali-
ty to around 130 migrants.
Every year, around 150,000
undocumented Central
Americans cross Mexico with
hopes of sneaking into the US.
Singh focuses on teaching the
migrants how to manage the
physical and emotional stress
of the journey.
Always risky, the trek has
become downright dangerous
in recent years.
Xicotencatl said he and his
colleagues at the other Catholic
Church-supported migrant
shelters in Mexico have noted
an increase in the number of
people seeking shelter.
"The migrants have described
to us a more peaceful trip,"
Xicotencatl said, suggesting the
northbound migration has
expanded because Mexico' s
drug cartels are too busy fight-
ing each other over turf to both-
er with kidnapping and extort-
ing the migrants.
Over 23,000 Indians arrive in
Saudi Arabia for Haj
Jeddah: Over 23,000 Indian
Haj pilgrims have arrived in
Saudi Arabia for the annual
pilgrimage.
According to a release of
the Consulate General of
India here, a total of 23,078
pilgrims have arrived from
India, of them 2,018 are in
Makkah and 21,059 pilgrims
are in Madina. So far, 85
flights have come from India.
Meanwhile, two pilgrims
have died. One of them had
come through the Haj
Committee of India and the
other through a private tour
operator.
The Haj to Makkah, the
holiest city for Muslims, is
obligatory in Islam at least
once in a lifetime.
Madina, the second most
sacred city for Muslims, is the
burial place of Prophet
Mohammad and also has the
three oldest mosques.
Kairali TV to expand
into Middle East
Thiruvananthapuram: Communist
Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M)-
backed Kairali TV Thursday said it
will launch a new channel in the
Middle East.
The channel's chairman, superstar
Mammootty made the announce-
ment soon after being re-elected to
the post at the firm's AGM held
here.
The channel has been named
Kairali Arabia.
Kairali TV's income in the last fis-
cal stood at Rs.67.82 crore, with a
profit of Rs.14.60 crore.
Mammootty added that a 5 per-
cent dividend will be paid to all
shareholders in December this year.
14 Diaspora
Vasu receiving a plaque to mark his company's place
in the Ghana Club 100.
Kaaba in Makkah, the
holiest city of Muslims
Indian takes pharmaceuticals
to new heights in Ghana
Kerala CM to help end
expatriates' passport woes
Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy
last week assured the state
assembly that he would take up
with the central government
passport-related problems faced
by expatriates at state airports.
Indian Union Muslim League
legislator M. Ali drew the atten-
tion of the house to new passport
rules that were allegedly leading
to harassment of expatriate
Keralites.
When people employed in the
Middle East come for vacation,
their passports are impounded at
three airports in the state over
minor errors regarding their
names and address," he said.
"Once that is done, they are
asked to apply for a fresh pass-
port and when the new passport
is issued, the authorities fail to
give the old passport in which
their employment visa is
stamped, said Ali.
According to complaints, there
were more than 1,000 people
who were suffering in this
manner.
This issue was not there till
around seven months back and it
began with a new top official
taking over in Delhi in the pass-
port section, the rule of not
returning the old passport or tak-
ing out the visa stamped page
and affixing it to the new pass-
port is also not taking place, said
Chandy.
I will immediately take this
issue with the external affairs
ministry and the ministry of
overseas Indian affairs, said
Chandy.
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Festival 15
New York: The Association of
Indians in America-NY celebrated
its 24th Annual Diwali Festival on
Mahatma Gandhis Birthday at
South Street Seaport with Air India
sponsored fireworks seen by mil-
lions of New Yorkers.
On the occasion AIA-NY
President Ranju Batra launched a
Diwali Stamp Petition Drive to sup-
port Congresswoman Carolyn
Maloneys national leadership in
securing the Stamp issued by USPS.
Six proclamations were lavished
upon Ranju, including the
Congressional Record.
AIA-NY celebrates Diwali on the
first Sunday in October with tens of
thousands attending the daylong fes-
tival, which culminates in the spec-
tacular fireworks show on the East
River, seen by millions in
Manhattan, Staten Island, Brooklyn,
Queens and the Bronx--now the
only one in New York (after Macys
moved its July 4th fireworks to the
Hudson River for New Jerseys
pleasure).
This year, Diwali spilled over on
to five blocks of traffic-stopped
Water Street, all of John Street and
connected into Pier 16 & Pier 17
with a fireworks barge with Air
India blazed across.
This year was special. It was ten
years after 9/11 and Diwali was
being celebrated on Mahatma
Gandhis birthday, hence Ranju
Batra, president of AIA-NY, set the
theme as Non-Violence in Todays
World. In addition, since her cele-
brated inauguration in mid-June at
the Indian Consulate she has recali-
brated AIAs mission-focus. At the
Diwali festival, she launched a
Diwali Stamp Petition drive and in
addition to everyday New Yorkers
signing same, she had dignitaries
sign it, as well as have Ronald
McDonald sign as a good global
neighbor. Her administration,
Ranju Batra said, was dedicated to
"Protecting the future, while
respecting the past."
Ranju conceived of the following
Diwali attractions: 9/11 Shrine;
Diwali Stamp Petition; Health Fair
with world renowned Dr Pankaj
Naram and health check by Dr.
Subhash Gulati of Advanced
Research Foundation; Childrens
Fair with clowns, face painting,
magic show; a Mehandi booth to
enjoy tattoos; a food and Meena
Bazaar; extravaganza of cultural
performances including Pt Satya
Narayan Charkas Ramayan per-
formance and Bollywood hits. Star
Plus, in addition to wowing the
audience with Sasural Genda
Phools TV stars Rajni and Inder, set
up an actual audition studio on Pier
16 for folks competing in Main Bhi
Star contest!
Two hours before the VIP pro-
gram hour, rain soaked the Diwali
festival, and amazingly, New
Yorkers desire to celebrate Diwali
and see Air India light up the night
sky made thousands to remain while
the performances were delayed. The
VIP program was packed to the
gills, despite prior visits during the
day by NYC Public Advocate Bill
de Blasio and Manhattan Boro
President Scott Stringer with
Councilman Dan Halloran, all of
whom signed the Diwali Stamp
Petition. The VIP hour-long pro-
gram was cut by 20 minutes due to
the earlier rain, and Ravi Batra was
tapped to warmly, albeit, briefly,
introduce, celebrate and enjoy the
important dignitaries, all personal
friends of the Batras, in record time.
Starting with Consul General
Prabhu Dayal and Chandini Dayal,
Continued on page 16...
Amb. Prabhu Dayal, Consul General of India in New York, speaking during the VIP program hour, with a few US lawmakers
and Indian diplomats besides AIA-NY President Ranju Batra on the stage.
Photos: Jay Mandal and
Mohammed Jaffer/SnapsIndia
The cast of Ramayan dance drama with the director, Satya Narayan Charka (fifth from left)
AIA-NY President Ranju Batra in front of the 9/11 shrine with
Mahatma Gandhis non-violence as theme. This Diwali mela came 10
years after 9-11 and fell on Gandhis birth anniversary.
AIA-NY holds Diwali mela with new
attractions added by its President
(From right) Ravi and Ranju Batra got Ronald McDonald sign the
Diwali Stamp petition as a good global neighbor.
Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney presented to Ranju Batra
Congressional Record commending her.
AIA-NY holds Diwali mela with new attractions added by its President
16 Festival
Festival 17
Diwali Mela Story
Continued from page 15
the pantheon of honorables celebrat-
ing Diwali included: Amb. Hardeep
Singh Puri, Asst Secretary General
of UN Women Lakshmi Puri, Amb.
Vijay Nambiar, Amb. Joe Melrose,
Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney,
Senator Ruth Hassell-Thompson,
Senator Shirley Huntley, Comptrol-
ler John Liu, Assemblymen Nick
Perry, David Weprin and Rory Lanc-
man, District Leaders Uma Sengupta
and Jenifer Rajkumar, Councilmem-
bers Inez Dickens, Vinnie Gentile
and Daniel Halloran, Mayors Ernie
Davis and Harry Anand, Commis-
sioners Pat Acampora, Alan Croce,
Rene Lobo and Patricia Gatling, and
Deputy Chief Administrative Judge
for the state of New York, Justice
Fern Fisher and all other Supreme
Court Justices, including J. Deborah
Dowling andAJ Sylvia Hinds-Radix.
The sponsors graciously thanked
on stage included Air India, Star
Plus, McDonalds, Incredible !ndia,
Pepsico, Bank of India, Bank of Bar-
oda, State Bank of India, New York
Life, Advanced Research Founda-
tion, Kingfisher, Con Ed, Make-
MyTrip.Com, Watch India, Habib
Bank, Money Gram, Met Life, and
Zee TV, along with media sponsors
Sudhir Vaishnav of Sahara One, ITV,
TVAsia, Jus Punjabi, India Abroad,
THE South Asian Times, Indian Ex-
press, Indian Panorama ANDPadma
Award recipient Sudhir Parikh of
News India and Desi Talk.
In addition to congratulatory letters
and proclamations pre-Diwali, six
newones were conferred upon Ranju
Batra during the Diwali celebration:
Carolyn Maloneys Congressional
Record, John Lius Commendation,
Scott Stringers Proclamation, Rory
Lancmans Proclamation, Shirley
Huntleys Proclamation and Inez
Dickens Proclamation.
On a curiously funny note, remi-
niscent of the gatecrashers at the
White House, there was a gate
crasher on the VIP stage who posed
in pictures.
Also thanked were leaders of all
other organizations, including Piyush
Aggarwal and so many dear friends.
Ranju Batra called upon everyone for
support in helping make America
stronger, while respecting our culture
and origin, and to all wished a very
HAPPYDIWALI!
The tall NYC Public Advocate Bill de Blasio posing with the Batras and
others in front of the booth of Pepsico, a sponsor of the mela.
Dr Pankaj Naram with Kamlesh Mehta, Chairman of The South Asian
Times. Dr Naram visited the premier weeklys stall and carried home
quite a few copies of the Oct 1 Diwali special published in
media partnership with AIA-NY.
World renowned vaidya Dr Pankaj Naram posing with a group. He gave free consultation at the Diwali mela. The cultural performances and the VIP program were packed to the gills.
Childrens Fair offered clowns, face painting and magic show.
The audience enjoyed an extravaganza of cultural performances and Bollywood hits.
More pictures on page 18.
Assemblyman Rory Lancman brought a Proclamation commending Ranju Batra.
President Ranju Batra in her address redefined
AIA-NYs mission as: To protect our future
while respecting our past.
Ranju Batra with AIA-NY committee members and volunteers. Photos: Jay Mandal and Mohammed Jaffer/SnapsIndia
Amb. Hardeep Singh Puri, Indias Permanent Representative to the UN, and (right) eminent attorney Ravi Batra
addressing the audience during VIP program hour.
Senator Ruth Hassel-Thompson, Vijay Nambiar, Chief of Staff of UN Secretary General, Asst Secretary General of UN Women Lakshmi Puri,
Laurel Hollow Mayor Harry Anand speaking at the event.
18 Festival
Ravi Batra welcoming NYC Public Advocate Bill de Blasio to the stage even as community leaders and AIA officials look on.
Children doing an endearing number as part of the
cultural performances.
John Liu, NYC Comptroller, gave a Commendation citation to AIA-NY President Ranju Batra.
More pictures from AIA-NY Diwali Mela
Sudhir Vaishnav, President and CEO of Globosat
Entertainment, that distributes Sahara TV channels, was one
of the community leaders and sponsors thanked and honored
by Ranju Batra at the Diwali mela.
Council member Inez Dickens also gave a
citation to Ranju Batra.
Above (L to R) Arish Sahani, Sudhir
Parikh, Ravi Batra, Councilman Dan
Halloran, Boro President Scott
Stringer, Harish Thakkar,
AIA-NY president
Ranju Batra and Sudha Parikh
Manhattan Boro President Scott Stringer
signing the Diwali stamp petition.
The Air India barge on East River
before the fireworks began.
Photos: Jay Mandal
and Mohammed
Jaffer/SnapsIndia
Subcontinent 19
New Delhi: Amid souring relations
between Islamabad and Kabul, India
and Afghanistan signed a defining
pact to forge an all-embracing
strategic partnership that will entail
an annual security dialogue and
expanded cooperation to combat ter-
ror emanating from Pakistan.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
and Afghan President Hamid
Karzai, who is here on a two-day
visit, held "detailed and frank dis-
cussions on terrorism", officials
said.
Afghanistan shared its findings
with India on the complicity of
Pakistani spy agency ISI in recent
terror attacks in Afghanistan, includ-
ing the assassination of former pres-
ident Burhanuddin Rabbani,
Karzai's chief interlocutor with the
Taliban.
In a move that is set to annoy
Islamabad, India formally expressed
its intention to "assist, as mutually
determined, in the training, equip-
ping and capacity building programs
for Afghan National Security
Forces".
However, Indian officials said this
was part of the continuing training
program.
Signaling their resolve to partner
in peace and development,
Manmohan Singh and Karzai inked
a strategic partnership agreement
that seeks to incrementally acceler-
ate their ties across a broad spec-
trum of areas.
The pact envisages an annual
security dialogue between the
national security advisers that will
focus on a joint fight against inter-
national terrorism, organized crime,
and illegal trafficking in narcotics.
The pact outlines annual summits
and meetings between foreign min-
isters.
"India will stand by the people of
Afghanistan as they prepare to
assume the responsibility for their
governance and security after the
withdrawal of international forces in
2014," Manmohan Singh said.
In a clear reference to Pakistan,
Karzai said Afghanistan "recognizes
the danger this region is facing
through terrorism and radicalism
that (are) being used an instrument
of state policy against civilians and
innocents of our countries".
The strategic partnership pact
envisages the setting up of a
Partnership Council, headed by their
foreign ministers, which will be the
nodal body for coordinating the
strategic partnership.
Neither Manmohan Singh nor
Karzai mentioned Pakistan by name,
but made implicit references to
Islamabad while talking about the
need to defeat "outside interfer-
ence".
"Terrorism threatens our entire
region, and no country can remain
immune to its lethal effects," said
Manmohan Singh, adding that the
people of Afghanistan "deserve to
live in peace and decide their future
themselves, without outside interfer-
ence, coercion and intimidation."
Karzai's visit to India takes place
amid worse relations between
Pakistan and Afghanistan on one
hand and between Islamabad and
Washington on the other.
With Pak in mind, Delhi, Kabul ink strategic pact
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Afghan President Hamid Karzai
ink a strategic partnership pact that seeks to incrementally accelerate
their ties across a broad spectrum of areas.
Colombo: The government
released the last batch of some
1,800 former LTTE guerrillas
who underwent rehabilitation
after the end of a three-decade
ethnic conflict in May 2009, offi-
cials said.
The release ceremony for the
former Tamil Tigers was held at
President Mahinda Rajapaksa's
official residence in the presence
of the Colombo- based diplomatic
community.
"As you rejoin society today
after two years of vocational
training, you go out as free men
and women," Rajapaksa told the
former LTTE fighters.
He said there will be anti-social
elements who will prey on you.
"But I hope you will work for
peace and ethnic harmony in this
nation of ours. We must not dwell
on the bitter past, but look to a
prosperous future," he underlined.
The former Tamil Tiger guerril-
las were among about 11,000
LTTE fighters who underwent
vocational training in military-run
rehabilitation centers after they
surrendered following the end of
the civil war in May 2009.
They were allowed to reunite
with the families having gone
through the process where they
were taught self employment
skills and English language train-
ing.
Officials said there are over a
thousand more former Tamil
Tigers who have been sent for
rehabilitation as a result of the
court procedure.
They will be released only after
the legal process.
Lanka releases 1,800
ex-LTTE rebels
President Mahinda Rajapaksa handed over the rehabilitated former
members of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam to their families.
Tackling Haqqani Network
job No. 1: US to Pak
Washington: Placing the
Haqqani Network's tackling
at the top of its counter-ter-
rorism agenda, the US is
pushing Pakistan to act
against the terror group
described as "a veritable
arm" of Pakistan' s spy
agency.
"We continue to believe
that job one between the US
and Pakistan on the counter
terrorism front is to tackle
the Haqqani Network," State
Department spokesman
Victoria Nuland told
reporters.
"We continue to make outreaches at all
levels to our Pakistani counterparts," she
said. "I think what's important in this case is
that we continue to have very clear and can-
did conversations among all of the princi-
pals with their Pakistani interlocutors."
Nuland said that US Special Envoy for
Pakistan and Afghanistan Marc Grossman
was "on his way to the
region to continue those con-
versations. So the dialogue
continues. We've got to find
a way to work on this togeth-
er".
Grossman, she said, would
"be talking to folks both in
Kabul and in Islamabad"
about the value of the tripar-
tite dialogue among US,
Afghanistan, and Pakistan
coming up in October even
as Afghans have said they
don't want Pakistan to be a
part.
At the White House, Press Secretary Jay
Carney noted that members of the Haqqani
Network had been designated and a review
continues to designate the group itself.
The US relationship with Pakistan was
"complicated but important relationship" he
said noting, "Our cooperation with Pakistan
has helped us in the efforts against Al
Qaeda".
US State Department
spokesman Victoria Nuland.
Plot to kill Karzai through
bodyguard foiled
Kabul: Afghanistan's intelli-
gence agency said it had
thwarted a plot to assassinate
President Hamid Karzai after
arresting a bodyguard and
five people with links to the
Haqqani network and Al
Qaeda.
The plotters, who included
university students and a
medical professor, had been
trained to launch attacks in
the capital Kabul and had
recruited one of Karzai' s
bodyguards to kill the presi-
dent, the National Directorate
of Security (NDS) said.
"A dangerous and educated
group including teachers and
students wanted to assassi-
nate President Hamid
Karzai," spokesman Lutfullah
Mashal said.
"Unfortunately they infil-
trated the presidential protec-
tion system and recruited one
of the president' s body-
guards." Mashal said those
detained had ties with three
men, including an Egyptian
and a Bangladeshi, who were
all members of Al Qaeda and
the Haqqani network which is
based in Pakistan' s tribal
region of North Waziristan,
bordering Afghanistan.
Those arrested were part of
a "most sophisticated" group
who confessed to having been
trained to use guns, rockets
and suicide attacks with top
government officials among
the targets. Karzai has been
the target of at least three
assassination attempts since
becoming Afghan leader in
2002, most notably in April
2008, when insurgents fired
guns and rockets at a military
parade he attended near the
presidential palace in Kabul.
Mashal said the bodyguard,
Mohebullah Ahmadi, was
from Kazai's home village of
Karz in southern Kandahar
province, and he had been
shown Al Qaeda and Haqqani
video propaganda to persuade
him to take part in the assassi-
nation plot.
Karzai has been the target of
at least three assassination
attempts since becoming
Afghan leader in 2002.
20 International
UNESCO votes for Palestinian
membership
Paris: UNESCO's executive council voted
for allowing Palestine a membership, news
reports said.
Some 40 of the 58 members of UNESCO
executive council voted for the proposal
against four vetos including that from the US
and Germany. Fourteen members abstained
from the vote on the day, said a diplomatic
source.
Arab countries have recently proposed to
upgrade the status of Palestine in the UN
organization to member state from present
status of observer state.
Palestine will not get the member state sta-
tus until the approval of the executive coun-
cil wins ratification of at least two thirds of
all UNESCO 193 members which are due to
meet for the general conference between Oct
25 and Nov 10 at its Paris headquarters.
Palestinian authority has intensified its
effort for statehood representation in the UN
and its branches since this year. The latest
move was presenting its statehood bid to the
66th session of the UN General Assembly
starting in late September.
Germany set to reopen Nazi probes
Berlin: Nearly seven decades
after the end of World War II,
German authorities have
reopened hundreds of dormant
investigations of Nazi death
camp guards in an eleventh
hour attempt that could result
in a minimum of dozens of
new prosecutions.
Special Nazi war-crimes
investigators reopened the files
after the conviction of the for-
mer United States autoworker
John Demjanjuk, whose case
set a new legal precedent in
Germany, said Kurt Schrimm,
the prosecutor heading the unit.
Given the advanced age of
all of the suspects, investigators
are not waiting until the
Demjanjuk appeals process is
over, he said. "We don't want to
wait too long, so we've already
begun our investigations,"
Schrimm said.
Elan Steinberg, vice presi-
dent of the American gathering
of holocaust survivors and their
descendants, welcomed the
news that the files were being
re-examined.
"As our numbers - those of
the victims - have also rapidly
dwindled, this represents the
final opportunity to witness
justice carried out in our life-
times," he said. "Time is the
enemy here."
Washington: The chairman of the
House Intelligence Committee
accused China of waging an
unprecedented campaign of cyber
espionage aimed at stealing some
of the most important US industrial
secrets.
Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich., said
Chinese efforts to pilfer the United
States' technological know-how via
the Internet have reached an "intol-
erable level," and called on the
U. S. and its allies to pressure
Beijing to stop. He made his
remarks during a congressional
hearing.
Few intelligence insiders have
discussed such concerns so bluntly.
China is both a major U.S. eco-
nomic partner and the nation' s
biggest foreign creditor.
Rogers said the corporate victims
of cyber spying, when they were
willing to discuss it at all, are also
reluctant to point the finger at
China out of concern they could
become the target of retaliatory
attacks.
"In Washington there has been
this big dance around the 800-
pound gorilla in the room, and that
is Chinese industrial espionage,"
Rogers said in an interview after
the hearing.
"Listen, this is thievery. At the
end of the day, it is stealing."
China has said that allegations of
cyber espionage against U.S. com-
panies were groundless, and the
sources of Internet attacks are
notoriously difficult to pin down.
Experts said the pace and scale of
cyber attacks are increasing, and
that the most sophisticated and
effective attacks are mounted by
criminal organizations and govern-
ments.
Defense systems in particular are
targets, and cyber raiders have
stolen data about U.S. fighter jets,
missile systems and unmanned
drones.
A security expert, Kevin Mandia
of Mandiant Corp., said that in
more than 90 percent of the attacks
that his company investigated, vic-
tims didn't even know they were
under cyber assault until the
Pentagon, FBI or another govern-
ment agency told them.
After the Internet search giant
Google was the target of attacks in
January, Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton asked China to investigate
Google's claims it had been target-
ed by China-based hackers. Google
said hackers had tried to access
Google's proprietary software as
well as the email accounts of
Chinese human rights activists.
China slammed for cyber spying
China has said that allegations of cyber espionage against
U.S. companies were groundless.
Mogadishu: Militants detonated a
truck bomb in front of the ministry
of education in Mogadishu, killing
at least 70 people, wounding dozens
and shattering a relative calm that
had prevailed in the Somali capital
for weeks.
The bomb blew up after coming to
a halt at a security checkpoint. It left
blackened corpses on the debris-
strewn street and set other vehicles
alight. Uniformed soldiers were
seen dragging the wounded away.
The Al Qaeda-linked group al-
Shabab immediately claimed
responsibility for the attack on a
website it uses.
It was the biggest attack in
Somalia's capital since al-Shabab
withdrew most of its forces in
August amid an offensive by
African Union forces. The group
had been expected to fight back with
guerrilla-style attacks, including car
bombs. Several car bombs have
been defused or exploded before
reaching their targets in recent
weeks. Ali Hussein, a police officer
in Mogadishu, said the vehicle blew
up after pulling up to a checkpoint
at the entrance to the Ministry of
Education.
Suicide bombings were unheard
of in Somalia before 2007 but have
become increasingly frequent. Al-
Shabab claims allegiance to Al
Qaeda, which often uses car bombs
and appears bent on gaining a
foothold in the Horn of Africa.
Al-Shabab includes militant veter-
ans of the Afghanistan and Iraq con-
flicts who have trained Somalis in
tactics like suicide bombs and sniper
fire. The group carried out a double
suicide bombing in Uganda in July
2010 that killed 76 people watching
the World Cup final on television.
Americans of Somali heritage also
have joined the group.
A Somali soldier keeps guard near a burning vehicle at the scene of
explosion in Mogadishu.
A man lights a candle at the Berlin Wall Memorial at
Bernauer Strasse in Berlin (file photo).
Arab countries have recently proposed to
upgrade the status of Palestine in the UN
organization to member state from present
status of observer state.
Truck bomb in Somalia kills 70
US warns of implications
of UN veto on Syria
Washington: Upset over the
Russian and Chinese vetoes of
a UN Security Council resolu-
t i on t hreat eni ng sanct i ons
against Syria, the United States
has said nations would have to
take responsibility for implica-
t i ons of t hei r vot e on t he
ground t here. Indi a had
abstained from the vote, saying
it does not "place any respons-
bility on the (Syrian) opposi-
tion to abjure violence."
However, state department
spokesperson Victoria Nuland
Wednesday declined to spell
out if there would be any con-
sequences for countries like
Indi a whi ch abst ai ned from
vot i ng on t he resol ut i on
because it "does not accommo-
date our concerns about threat
of sanctions."
"I'm not going to speak to the
abst ent i ons, " she sai d i n
response to a question noting
"We had nine votes, which was
enough for passage. It was the
vetoes that killed these resolu-
tions."
But, Nuland said: Countries
have to take responsibility for
the decision that they made
yesterday and any implications
it might have on the ground in
Syria."
As US ambassador to the UN
Susan "Rice made clear yester-
day after the vote, we obvious-
ly consider that the Security
Counci l fai l ed yest erday t o
address the urgent moral chal-
lenge and the growing threat to
international peace and security
caused by the Syrian regime's
brut al i t y, " she sai d. Indi a' s
Permanent Representative to
the UN Hardeep Puri, announc-
ing New Delhi' s abstention,
noted the resolution does not
condemn the violence perpe-
trated by the Syrian opposition.
Business 21
New Delhi: India's finally got its much
hyped ultra-low-cost tablet, Aakash. The
government is buying the first units of
the device for Rs 2,250 each from a
British company which is assembling
the devices in India. They will initially
be given to students for free in a pilot
run of 100,000 units.
"The rich have access to the digital
world, the poor and ordinary have been
excluded. Aakash will end that digital
divide," Telecoms and Education
Minister Kapil Sibal said.
The tablet runs on Android 2.2 (Froyo)
and comes with a 7-inch resistive touch
screen with 800x480 resolution and
weighs 350 gram. The tablet has a 256
MB of RAM, a 32 GB expandable mem-
ory slot and two USB ports.
The tablet comes with a 12-month
replacement warranty and supports for-
mats like DOC, DOCX, PDF and PPTX
etc. Aakash has standard 3.5 mm head-
phones jack.
The tablet has a 2100mAh battery
which can reportedly last for 2-3 hours
depending on the usage. The device is
also said to be completely made in India,
as according to a review, a sticker at the
back emphasises the fact. Aakash also
reportedly packs some pre-loaded apps,
however, lacks the Android Market
Place.
India lags behind fellow BRIC nations
Brazil, Russia and China in the drive to
get its 1.2 billion population connected
to technologies such as the Internet and
mobile phones, according to a report by
risk analysis firm Maplecroft.
The number of Internet users grew 15-
fold between 2000 and 2010, according
to another recent report. Still, just 8 per-
cent of Indians have access. That com-
pares with nearly 40 percent in China.
Some 19 million people subscribe to
mobile phones every month, making
India the world's fastest growing market,
but most are from the wealthier segment
of the population in towns.
World's cheapest tablet
launched in India
The tablet Aakash will cost just over $35.
New Delhi: Battling serious financial troubles, is Vijay
Mallya-owned Kingfisher even defaulting on payment
of tax deducted at source (TDS)? The Airports Authority
of India (AAI) has found that the airline had deducted
almost Rs 21 crore in payments made to it for the finan-
cial year 2010-11 but the same was not being reflected
as tax deposited on its behalf. The authority has now
asked Kingfisher to pay this sum to it, along with other
dues of Rs 200 crore.
"The TDS certificates were not submitted despite this
amount (Rs 20.76 crore) being deducted from the pay-
ment made to us. We have asked Kingfisher to pay that
amount, along with old dues of Rs 205 crore and interest
for three months, failing which we may be forced to
take action that may affect their flight schedules," said a
senior official. The airline spokesperson did not offer
any comment on this issue.
The authority is closely watching if Kingfisher is able
to deliver on its promise of clearing the dues from
October onwards by paying Rs 10 crore over and above
the monthly payment every month. Based on this prom-
ise, AAI had removed Kingfisher from cash-and-carry
and allowed it to make payments once in every fort-
night.
Apart from Kingfisher, the other airline in financial
doldrums-Air India-is causing its own share of unique
problems to airport operators. The Delhi and Mumbai
airports share 46% and 38%, respectively, of their rev-
enue with AAI. "These airports requested us that the
share of revenue from AI operations should be collected
not on accrual basis but as and when AI pays. The air-
port managements told us that they often borrow money
at hefty rates to pay share from AI's bill-which is not
paid on time-to us. But this request has been turned
down and the revenue share to be paid to AAI will be on
accrual and not receipt basis," the official said. The
state-owned airport authority gets about Rs 380 crore
and Rs 360 crore every year from the Delhi and
Mumbai airports, respectively.
Is Kingfisher defaulting on
TDS payment?
Kingfisher Red, the low-cost airline, has now been
shut down by its owner Vijay Mallya.
Mumbai: The Bombay Stock
Exchange Sensex fell 286 points
to 15,864 after international rat-
ing agency Moody's downgraded
the country's largest lender State
Bank of India, warning that its
bad loans would rise.
The rating downgrade may
compel the government, which is
already financially stretched, to
pump additional capital into the
bank. "The downgrade of SBI had
a contagion effect on the banking
sector with most stocks ending
sharply lower. Also, stocks in sec-
tors like metals and auto were
sharply down" said Dipen Shah,
Head-Fundamental Research,
Kotak Securities.
Falling stocks also took their
toll on the domestic currency with
the rupee falling over 25 paise to
close at 49.40 against the dollar.
The only good news for the
markets in recent days has been
the monsoon which has been
close to normal. "Good rainfall,
along with the government' s
strategic focus on stimulating the
rural economy, has ensured that
India's hinterland remains rela-
tively insulated from both the
global and domestic macro-eco-
nomic headwinds. While we
remain cognizant of the rising
cost pressures at farm gates, we
believe that the continuing
momentum of high agri output,
coupled with rising Minimum
Support Prices (Kharif MSPs
were raised by 7-19%), will lead
to continuing incremental rural
prosperity" said Deutsche Bank.
Moody's downgrades
SBI, Sensex plunges
The State Bank of India (SBI),
the country's largest lender,
slumped over four percent
this week.
India,
Switzerland to
share tax info
Vienna: India and
Switzerland will start
exchanging information
on tax related matters
from the next fiscal after
the new tax information
exchange treaty is rati-
fied by the Swiss
Parliament tomorrow,
paving way for obtaining
data on black money
stashed there.
"It (information shar-
ing) will take place from
the first day of the next
financial year, January 1,
2012 for Switzerland and
April 1, 2012 for India,"
M. Ganapathi, Secretary
(West), Ministry of
External Affairs, said
here while briefing
reporters on President
Pratibha Patil's just con-
cluded state visit to
Switzerland.
The move comes at a
time when the issue of
black money stashed in
Swiss banks has become
a major concern back
home with political par-
ties and civil society tak-
ing up the matter.
The protocol amending
the Double Taxation
Avoidance Agreement
between India and
Switzerland was con-
cluded in New Delhi on
August 30 this year.
The initial agreement
between the two coun-
tries was signed on
November 2, 1994. It
was subsequently
amended and a supple-
mentary protocol signed
in Delhi on February 16,
2000.
22 Sports
Yes, Sachin was
scared of Shoaib's
pace: Afridi
Karachi: Though he himself has
not been spared by Shoaib Akhtar
in his book and interviews, former
Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi sup-
ported the tearaway fast bowler's
claims that Sachin Tendulkar was
scared of his pace, saying he was a
witness to the master batsman
trembling at the sight of Shoaib.
In his book "Controversially
Yours", Shoaib wrote that
Tendulkar was scared of his bowl-
ing, a comment that has caused
furor across the border, forcing
publishers to cancel all launch-
related and publicity events.
Asked about Shoaib's claims,
Afridi said: "Shoaib is telling the
truth.
Tendulkar was afraid of him and
I saw Tendulkar's legs trembling
while facing his bowling."
However, the all-rounder added
that it was not an unusual feature
of a batsman. "There are times
when every batsman feels the pres-
sure, it happens against Saeed
Ajmal even."
The former captain, however,
was critical of Akhtar's comments
that he was responsible for the fast
bowler's omission from the World
Cup semi-final against India,
according to media reports.
"Shoaib should remember that I
apologized to the chairman and
manager on his behalf and got him
back into the national squad. While
he hasn't lied about other things, he
won't be able to look me in the
eyes after he's said all that," Afridi
said.
Paes-Bhupathi advance in
Japan Open
New Delhi: India's Leander Paes
and Mahesh Bhupathi came
through a tough opening round to
advance in the men' s doubles
event of China Open tennis in
Beijing Wednesday. However,
their compatriot Rohan Bopanna
and his Pakistani partner Aisam-
Ul-Haq Qureshi made a shock
first round exit in the Japan Open
men's doubles in Tokyo.
Fourth-seeded Paes and
Bhupathi were stretched by local
wild cards Mao-Xin Gong and
Zhe Li before pulling off a 6-2, 3-
6, 10-3 victory.
The 'Indian Express' broke serve
three times to clinch victory in the
match tie-break in 69 minutes.
They next play Croats Marin Cilic
and Ivan Ljubicic
Bhupathi and Paes are next in
line to qualify for the Barclays
ATP World Tour Finals in
November, and will look to add
valuable points by reclaiming the
Beijing title which they won in
1997.
Top-seeded Bopanna and
Qureshi lost to Brazilians Marcelo
Melo and Bruno Soares 6-4, 6-3
in 70 minutes at the Japan Open in
Tokyo.
Hyderabad: England captain Alastair
Cook feels the convincing win over India
back home last month will not mean much
when they face the World Champions in
their own backyard.
The visitors don't consider themselves
favorites and are looking forward to what
he described as a "very different chal-
lenge".
"I don' t know too much about the
favorites or anything like that. We know it
is going to be a very different challenge. I
don't see any relation between what hap-
pened in England and what is going to hap-
pen here in India," Cook said at a press
conference.
"Historically, India have a stronger side at
home. We have got an extremely tough
challenge on our hands."
The visitors, who arrived here Tuesday,
will play two warm-up matches against the
local team Oct 8 and 11 before the first
One-day International against India here
Oct 14.
Cook also did not see any difference in
the Indian team which played in England
and the team which he would be facing
here. "It is a similar team. As we saw in
England they are hugely talented side and
very dangerous in home conditions," he
said. The English skipper did not agree that
the Indian bowling is weak. "When you
take out players like Zaheer (Khan) and
Harbhajan (Singh) you lose a bit of experi-
ence.
They might be inexperienced in terms of
international games but experienced in
terms of local conditions and that is going
to be the most important thing."
"We put a lot of pressure on ourselves to
perform. We are not bothered what is said
about us. We concentrate on our game and
what we try to achieve," he remarked when
asked if there would be pressure of expec-
tations on the team after its test and one-
day series victories against India.
"Playing the World Champions in their
backyard, the great support the public gives
to one-day cricket here and playing in front
of a huge crowd is a great occasion for an
English side. We are looking forward to it,"
he said when asked if he feels the series is
too early after the two teams faced each
other only last month.
Cook said Tim Bresnan would lead the
bowling attack in the absence of James
Anderson. He pointed out Anderson was
rested as part of long-term strategy while
Stuart Broad was injured.
"They are two world-class and very expe-
rienced people players but others will stand
up. Bresnon is now leader of our attack and
he is looking forward to that challenge.
Others will step up as well."
The England captain feels heat would not
be a problem for the team as it knows how
to cope with the conditions around the
world every time it plays.
England will play five ODIs in India.
In his book Controversially Yours, Shoaib Akhtar wrote that Sachin
Tendulkar was scared of his bowling.
In his book Controversially Yours, Shoaib Akhtar wrote that Sachin
Tendulkar was scared of his bowling.
Bangalore: A confident home team Royal Challengers
Bangalore (RCB) beat a defiant South Australian
Redbacks (SAR) by two wickets in a thriller at the
Chinnaswamy stadium here to qualify for semi-final of
ICC Champions League Twenty20 (CL20).
Chasing an imposing target of 215, RCB's wicket-
keeper Arun Kartik hit a mighty six of Daniel
Christian's last ball of the 20th over to clinch the excit-
ing tie.
Though Redbacks' speedster Shaun Tait tormented the
RCB batters taking five wickets in four overs, he could
not deny the home team a sensational win in a nail-bit-
ing game. Earlier, Redbacks hit a blistering 214 for two
wickets. Somerset tame Warriors to enter CLT20 semis
Bangalore: English county Somerset entered the semi-
finals of the Champions League Twenty20 with a 12-run
win over Warriors of South Africa at the Chinnaswamy
stadium.
Chasing a modest target of 147, Warriors were
restricted to 134 for eight wickets in 20 overs. After a
promising start, Warriors failed to accelerate the score
past 12 overs when their middle order batsmen and
tailenders capitulated to a spirited bowling attack and
fine fielding of the English team.
Skipper Alfonso Thomas, Murali Kartik and Steven
Kirby shared two wickets each, while Adam Dibble and
Roelof van der Merwe took one wicket each.
With five points from four matches against four points
by Warriors in as many matches, Somerset will play in
the semi-finals.
CLT20: Royal Challengers enter semis
India world champs at home: Alastair Cook
Rajasthan Focus 23
By Prakash Bhandari/SATimes
Jaipur: The weekly Thar Express
from Pakistan to Munabao on the
Indian side of the border brings in
scores of young Hindus who are
Pakistan nationals. At Munabao rail-
way station, in Barmer district of
Rajasthan, these young boys and
girls land with a lot of hope even as
the relationship between the two
countries remains strained. They
come to India with six month visas
granted by the Indian embassy in
Islamabad. Visa rules were relaxed
at the initiative of President Pratibha
Patil to allow Hindu travelers to stay
longer in India and look for suitable
match for their children.
The majority of these travelers
from Pakistan are backward class
people mainly eking out a living as
bonded laborers with the big farm-
ers (Wadheras). They are Bhils,
Kolis and Meghwals. Besides, many
Rajputs living in Sindh and other
provinces of Pakistan also come to
Rajasthan in search of life partners.
The relaxed visa rules (earlier the
stay granted was one month) give
enough time to families to to look
for suitable matches and perform the
wedding also during the period. The
initiative taken by President Patil,
who is married to a Rajput, has
greatly helped the Hindu communi-
ties in Pakistan, said Hamir Singh,
a former member of the Sindh
Assembly and ruler of the Hindu
princely state of Umarkot in Sindh.
The marriageable young boys and
girls usually accompany their par-
ents. They come to India as the
choice for a groom or a bride is
much wider here as compared to
Pakistan where the Hindu popula-
tion is just a couple of hundred
thousand.
The Hindus scattered in the vari-
ous districts of Sindh province have
cultural links with western
Rajasthan. The rulers of Umarkot
were Hindus.
Umarkot is the only Hindu king-
dom in Pakistan ruled by the Sodha
rulers for the past 800 years. My
father late Rana Chandra Singh was
also a minister in Nawaz Sharifs
government and my brother Hamir
Singh was a minister in the Sindh
province.
Umarkot is the place where
Emperor Akbar was born. Our fami-
ly would always look beyond
Pakistan and would come to India
for marriages. My father was mar-
ried in Jaipur to the daughter of a
former lawmaker. My brother was
married to famous author Rani
Laxmi Kumari Chudawat in Ajmer
and now my nieces are married in
Rajasthan, said Sangeeta Singh,
daughter of the late ruler of
Umarkot in Pakistan.
I am also married in Jaipur and
my husband is a marketing execu-
tive. Hindus from Pakistan come
regularly for marriages to India.
But when the relations between the
two countries get sour, people suffer
as visas are difficult to get,
Sangeeta said, adding that all her
cousins who are married in
Rajasthan quickly got adjusted
because of similarity of culture.
Dr Jyotsana Shekhawat, who has a
doctorate and teaches at Jodhpur
University, is married to a medico
of Umarkot, Dr Fateh Singh Sodha.
My husband is in India and is
waiting to obtain Indian nationality
because then he would be able to
practice here, she said.
Ganesh Maheshwari, who is mar-
ried to a medico girl from Pakistan
and runs a business in the border
town of Barmer, said the educated
Hindu boys of Pakistan now look
for a match online.
Many Hindu boys of Pakistan
particularly from the business com-
munity who are educated and live
abroad search their brides online.
But first the respective families too
have to be satisfied, said Ganesh.
Hindu Singh Sodha has been
fighting for the cause of the migrant
Hindus from Pakistan. The boys and
girls who come and marry in India
often wait for 3-4 years to get Indian
nationality. But Indians who go and
marry in Pakistan take less time in
getting Pakistani nationality.
After the two Indo-Pak wars in
1965 and 1971, a large number of
Hindus facing religious persecution
migrated from Pakistan and settled
down in various places in Rajasthan.
After the 1947 Partition, many the
Hindus stayed on in Pakistan where
they had all their lands and belong-
ings. Before the 1965 war, their
movement across the border was
smooth.
Today, a large number of Hindus
are trying to migrate to India
because of religious persecution in
Pakistan, said Hindu Singh, chief
of the Pravasi Pakistani Sharnarthi
Sangh, who has himself moved
from Pakistan and settled in
Jodhpur.
Hindus cross over from Pakistan to get married
The weekly Thar Express from Karachi brings many Hindu families to
Rajasthan to get their children marrried.
By Prakash Bhandari
Jaipur: Over 10,000 displaced
Hindus from Pakistan who came to
Rajasthan as refugees after the two
wars in 1965 and 1971 are yet to
receive Indian citizenship.
They left behind their land and
properties in the Sindh province and
fled to India fearing persecution.
They have settled in various parts of
western Rajasthan, becoming a part
of the mainstream, but without any
nationality. Many of these refugees or
oustees who came with their families
have died in the past 45 years but
their offspring are yet to get Indian
nationality.
In 2005, about 11,000 such
refugees were granted Indian nation-
ality through a notification of the
Indian government in which the dis-
trict magistrates were allowed to
issue citizenship certificates after
checking the applicants bona fides.
But a Rs 5,000-Rs10,000 fees was
charged, which the poor and back-
ward applicants could ill afford.
These were refugees doing odd jobs
as laborers.
But this procedure was later with-
drawn and given to a committee. This
committee has not met since 2006
and the matter of granting nationality
to those who have been staying in
India for over five years has not been
settled, said Hindu Singh Sodha,
chief of the Seemant Lok Sangathan
(SLS), fighting for the cause of the
migrant Hindus.
We have been raising our
demands since 1998 and at the initia-
tive of late Bhairon Singh
Shekhawat, the then home minister
LK Advani held a special camp at
Jaisalmer to hear our problems in
1998. When Congress government
came in power, Chief Minister Ashok
Gehlot set up a review committee
especially for these oustees in 2001.
The committee recommended that
the Union government should accept
applications of citizenship from ous-
tees from Pakistan against a simple
affidavit . The committee also sug-
gested authorizing District
Magistrates to grant nationality, said
Sodha.
The BJP government under
Vasundhara Raje reiterated the rec-
ommendations, adding that the minor
children of the oustees should be
granted nationality against an appli-
cation by their parents. The Home
Department of Rajasthan also repeat-
edly appealed to the Centre. Finally,
the Union government, through a
2004 notification, gave District
Magistrates the necessary powers.
But under the 1955 Citizenship Act,
a heavy fees was imposed for citi-
zenship applications. However, on
strong representations by the
Pakistani Visthapit Sangh, the heavy
fees was withdrawn. The 11,000 ous-
tees who gained citizenship then live
in India now with dignity and rights.
The fee structure waiver has since
been imposed again, however, putting
new applicants under hardship.
Hindus from Pakistan wait
for Indian citizenship
By Prakash Bhandari
Jaipur: Pakistans commerce minis-
ter Makhdoom Mohammed Ameen
Fahim is in the eye of a storm. He
received an overwhelming response
from thousands of people belonging
to the Sarwari Jamaat during his visit
to Ajmer last Friday. But he is now
being accused of holding a meeting
of such large number of people with-
out taking the permission of the
Ajmer district administration. The
BJP has demanded judicial inquiry
as to how Ameen Fahim was
allowed to address a gathering of
people from his community from the
border districts of Jaisalmer, Barmer
and Bikaner. State BJP president
Arun Chaturvedi has written to the
chief minister Ashok Gehlot seeking
a judicial inquiry.
Fahim was a guest of the
Rajasthan government, but he met
thousands of people. This is a matter
of great concern and a threat to the
national security. Chaturvedi said
Fahim had the permission to visit the
holy shrine of Khwaja Moinuddin
Chishti in Ajmer where over 5,000
people met him at the hotel where he
stayed for two days. These people
belonged to the Sarwari Jamaat and
came to Ajmer where the minister
who happens to be their spiritual
leader was on a visit. Sarwari Jamaat
is the largest spiritual group of peo-
ple in Pakistan, and boasts six mil-
lion people across the world. Gehlot
said how thousands of people
thronged to meet the minister in
Ajmer would be inquired.
Its for the first time that Dada
Sain (Fahim) has visited India and
we all have come to meet him and
seek his blessings. We wanted him to
visit Jaisalmer and Barmer to enable
him to meet a large number of peo-
ple from our Jamaat, but he was not
granted the permission to visit the
border districts, hence we decided to
meet him at Ajmer where he had
come to pay his obeisance at the
holy shrine, said Fateh Mohammed
from Barmer.
Fahim, who is the 18th Sajjada
Nasheen of the Makhdoom of Hala,
traces his lineage to the first Caliph,
Hazrat Abu Bakar Qureshi. His
father Makhdoom Talibul Maula was
also active in politics and played a
key role in spreading Sindhi culture.
His followers from Punjab and
Gujarat also came to meet him at
Ajmer. Slogans of Fahim Saheb
Zindabad was raised at the Hotel
Mewara Palace where a huge crowd
had gathered, making it hard for the
local police to maintain law and
order. The last Makhdoom who vis-
ited Rajasthan was 60 years ago and
the large turnout of the community
showed the popularity and respect
that the Jamaat head enjoys.
In his address, Ameen Fahim
asked the people of his Jamaat to
educate their children. He also told
them to love India, the country they
live in, and live peacefully and har-
mony with others. He never made
any objectionable remarks against
anybody.
Pakistans commerce minister Makhdoom Mohammed Ameen
Fahim is also the head of Sarwari Jamaat with six million followers
across the world.
Brouhaha over Pak minister meeting
his sect followers in Rajasthan
24 Mahatma Gandhi
M
ahatma Gandhi was the most
effective mass medium of the
20th century. His journalism
belonged to an era when there was neither
radio nor television. Such was the power of
his 'soul communication' that whatever he
said and wrote reached the farthest corners
of this country within days and to the
entire world thereon.
Gandhi, in a journalistic career spanning
nearly four decades, edited six journals.
None, including Harijan and Navajivan,
could boast a circulation of more than a
few thousand copies. But such was
Gandhi's grasp of the basics of mass com-
munication that he ensured that his daily
"outpourings of heart and soul" reached all.
If one were to ask the question as to who
came first - Gandhi-the-freedom-fighter or
Gandhi-the-media-crusader - the truth
would be that Gandhi-the-journalist pre-
dated Gandhi the freedom fighter by at
least 20 years.
In less than a few months' stay in South
Africa, Gandhi realized the need to
become a journalist to fight for the rights
of the Indian community. And he brought
the highest qualities the profession could
boast of-courage in the face of adversity,
unswerving adherence to truth, pursuit of
public causes, and objectivity in presenta-
tion.
His letters to the editors of South African
dailies are a lesson to all journalists on
how to fight injustice in a country where
the laws are loaded against one section of
the people, without giving offence to the
rulers themselves.
A telling example of this trait was his let-
ter dated October 25, 1894 to the Times of
Natal, which carried a contemptuously
worded editorial titled, 'Rammysammy'.
Gandhi wrote: "You would not allow the
Indian or the native the precious privilege
(of voting) under any circumstances,
because they have a dark skin. You would
look the exterior only. So long as the skin
is white it would not matter to you whether
it conceals beneath it poison or nectar. To
you the lip-prayer of the Pharisee, because
he is one, is more acceptable than the sin-
cere repentance of the publican, and this, I
presume, you would call Christianity ."
Gandhi adds: "You may; it is not Christ's.
Sir, may I venture to offer a suggestion?
Will you re-read your New Testament?
Will you ponder over your attitude towards
the coloured population of the Colony?
Will you then say you can reconcile it with
the Bible teachings or the best British tra-
ditions? If you have washed your hands
clean of both Christ and the British tradi-
tion, I can have nothing to say; I gladly
withdraw what I have written. Only, it will
then be a sad day for British and for India
if you have many followers."
After 10 years of relentless crusade,
Gandhi realized that the twin tasks of
mobilizing public opinion and influencing
official decisions required a regular news-
paper. Thus was born Indian Opinion in
June 1903. He was clear about the nature
and content of his newspaper. It would not
carry any advertisements nor try to make
money.
Instead, he sought subscribers who
would give donations. It was while writing
in Indian Opinion that Gandhi stumbled on
the concept of satyagraha.
Writing on satyagraha in South Africa, he
said: "Indian Opinion was certainly a most
useful and potent weapon in our struggle."
The journal was to Gandhi "a mirror of
his own life".
In My Experiments with Truth, he wrote:
"Week after week I poured out my soul in
its columns and expounded the principles
and practice of satyagraha as I understood
it. I cannot recall a word in these articles
set down without thought or deliberation or
a word of conscious exaggeration, or any-
thing merely to please. Indeed, the journal
became for me a training in self-restraint
and for friends a medium through which to
keep in touch with my thoughts."
Indian Opinion lasted for 11 years. It
more or less forced the South African
provincial regimes to modify their repres-
sive laws against Indians. One day Gandhi
got a call from Bihar where the Indigo
farmers of Champaran were subjected to
the same kind of indignity and exploitation
as the indentured labourers in South
Africa.
He promptly went there and investigated
the issues, and produced a report that
would be the envy of the greatest inves-
tigative journalist anywhere in the world.
After Champaran it was only a matter of
time before the Mahatma took to journal-
ism as his most potent weapon of satyagra-
ha.
As coincidence would have it, Gandhi
was persuaded to take over the editorship
of Young India. Simultaneously, he started
to edit and write in Navajivan, then a
Gujarati monthly.
Gandhi's writings in it were translated
and published in all the Indian language
newspapers. Later Navajivan was pub-
lished in Hindi, as Gandhi was convinced
that Hindi would be the national language
of free India.
The Mahatma's crusade for the repeal of
the Press Act of 1910 was a unique piece
of journalism. He was telling the rulers that
it was in the best interests of the govern-
ment to repeal the law.
Issue after issue of Young India and
Navajivan carried samples of the
Mahatma' s journalistic genius which
blended seemingly earnest appeals to the
government to do what was "just and right-
eous".
In South Africa his writings often made
the white racists look ridiculous: "The
white barber refused to cut my black hair",
extending color prejudice to not only non-
Christian skin but non-Christian hair as
well. In March 1922, Gandhi was charged
with spreading disaffection by writing
seditious articles in Young India.
In his own inimitable manner Gandhi
said: "I hold it to be a virtue to be disaf-
fected towards a government, which in its
totality has done more harm to India than
any previous system. India is less manly
under the British rule than she ever was
before. Holding such a belief, I consider it
to be a sin to have affection for the sys-
tem."
The burden of leading a nation freedom
and the contingency of having to face trials
followed by jail terms, did not stem the
flow of writings from Gandhi's pen. There
was not a day when he was not writing on
some issue or the other in Young India and
Navajivan.
To these he added Harijan, Harijan
Sevak, and Harijan Bandu, which became
the Mahatma's potent media for carrying
his message to the weakest sections of
India. Young India and Navajivan folded
up in January 1932 when Gandhi was
imprisoned for a long spell.
Between 1933 and 1940, Harijan
(English), Harijan Bandu (Gujarati) and
Harijan Sevak (Hindi) became the
Mahatma's voice to the people of India.
These newspapers found the Mahatma
concentrating on social and economic
problems.
Caste disparities and such instruments of
social deprivation as untouchability and
ostracization were the targets of the
Mahatma's crusade. Gandhi's assessment
of the newspapers of the day was not com-
plimentary.
He found them commercial, afraid of the
government and not truthful in reporting.
His last word on the Indian newspapers
came at a prayer meeting in Delhi on June
19, 1946. He said: "If I were appointed dic-
tator for a day in the place of the Viceroy, I
would stop all newspapers." He paused and
added with a mischievous wink: "With the
exception of Harijan, of course."
(Courtesy: Life Positive)
He was a peerless communicator, wrote VN Narayanan, former editor of Hindustan Times
Gandhi as a journalist
Festival 25
Dussehra: the auspicious nature of the festival
By Tania Gupta
I
n India, as in the rest of the
world, the belief that good
eventually triumphs over evil
has prevailed for ages now. One
of the biggest symbols of this
belief is the Hindu festival of
Dussehra.
The festival of Dussehra, often
referred to as Vijay Dashmi, is
celebrated on the day the Navratra
festival ends, which is known as
Dashmi. This year Dussehra fell
on October 6.
Since, we are talking about the
festival representing the eventual
triumph of good, it is also remark-
able that another major Indian
festival, Durga Puja, is also cele-
brated on the very same day.
The festival also represents a
change in the seasons in India. It
is treated as an indicator for the
arrival of winter as the rainy sea-
son is about to end.
As the day marks a new begin-
ning in terms of season change, it
is considered auspicious for start-
ing a business venture or setting
out on a journey.
Dussehra: One of the most
auspicious muhurats
Dussehra falls among three of
the most auspicious dates accord-
ing to the Indian astrological
beliefs, others being Karthik
Shukla and Chaitra Shukla.
As per Indian astrology, on this
day the planets are said to be in a
perfect alignment--a time when
human beings are closest to good
fortune.
You are advised to buy precious
metals like gold and silver as well
as a new vehicle on this auspi-
cious day. It is one of the rarest
occasions during the year when
the Muhurat time is applicable for
the duration of an entire day;
therefore any task can be started
and carried out at any time during
the day.
Also, the day is considered best
for worshipping the vehicles and
praying for their safety as well as
for that of the ones traveling in
these vehicles. Weapons passed
on by ancestors are also to be
worshipped on this day. This is
done to get the almightys bless-
ings to keep the evil at bay
through valor and bravery.
Perfect time for attainment of
motive
The auspiciousness of the day
makes it the perfect time for the
attainment of motive in ones life.
Students are advised to prepare
for their competitive exam on this
day. This is because it is believed
that during this Muhurat, the
human mind and soul can easily
gain focus on the various impor-
tant things in life as well as
beyond.
This is the prime reason that the
day is considered to be perfect for
meditation as it is considered to
be the perfect time to connect
with the divine. Many sages have
utilized this day and Muhurat to
gain enlightenment, connecting to
the divine
The day to worship trees
Dussehra is also considered the
day when the trees are wor-
shipped, especially the Shami
tree. This is an age-old custom.
Worshipping this tree is said to
bring a lot of good.
The mythological story behind
this custom goes back to the days
of Mahabharata. It is believed that
during their secret exile, the
Pandavas hid their weapons in the
Shami tree on this very day, which
when retrieved helped them to
achieve their motive. This further
establishes the days role as a rep-
resentation of the triumph of good
over evil.
Remedies to be performed on
the day of Dussehra
Performing some actions and
rituals on the day of Dussehra
takes care of a lot of problems and
helps to avoid some major misfor-
tunes. These remedies or solutions
have long been followed by peo-
ple on this festive occasion to
ward off evil from their lives.
Here is a look at the various
remedies to be performed on this
auspicious day.
To avoid accidental death
a. Take 12 dips in the holy water
of the Ganges River by standing
with your face towards the South,
in early morning.
b. Put a handful of Black Til in
the water bowl (Lota)
c. Make an offering to the Sun.
d. Do a Shiva Abhisheka and
make an offering of perfume
(Itra), Sandalwood (Chandan),
holy thread (Roli), holy ash (bhas-
ma) and clothes.
e. Do an aarti using dhoop, deep
and Naivaidya.
f. Do a jaap (recitation) of the
Om, Triyambakam Yajamahe
Akalmrityu Hrinaye Namah.
g. Plant a Bel tree
This will help to avoid an acci-
dental death.
For prosperity in business
a. In early Morning, take 16 dips
in the Ganges river. While taking
the dips face the western direc-
tion.
b. Make an offering to Sun by
pouring yellow mustard (Haldi)
and saffron (Kesar) in a water
bowl (lota).
c. Worship a photograph of
Ganga, Goddess Lashmi and Lord
Ganesha.
d. Bathe the Lakshmi and
Ganesha idols in Panchamrit.
e. Also bathe the Ganesha and
Laxmi idols in Jas.
f. Make an offering of itra (per-
fume) clothes, holy thread
(Janeu), Kumkum, Henna
(Mehandi) and Durva.
g. Do an aarti with dhoop, deep
(oil lamps) and Naivaidya.
h. Recite Laxmi Stuti or Ganesh
stotra.
i. Do a single recitation of the
Mantra, Om Makar Vahinye
Laxmi Sah Bhagignye Gangaye
Namah.
j. Offer 16 hands full of rice and
barley with your right hand to the
brahmins. Also donate an umbrel-
la each to these 16 brahmins.
k. Plant a pomegranate tree in
the garden.
Doing these things will help you
to overcome any difficulties in
your business. It will ensure that
all your unfulfilled desires will be
taken care of. The completion of
these rituals is also said to bring
prosperity to your business.
Astrologically, the festival of
Dussehra is a very auspicious
occasion; however, it is also a
very important day for the entire
human race.
It is a reminder that we should
eradicate the evil lurking inside us
and bring out the real human
being, treating everyone equally
and trying to see God in all fellow
human beings, irrespective of
their religion, caste or creed.
Wishing you all a very happy
Dussehra--stay safe and blessed,
enjoying it to the fullest.
The author is a Delhi-based
astrologer who can be contacted
at www.horoscopenzodiac.com or
through
astrotaniagupta@gmail.com
Dussehra symbolizes the triumph of good over evil. It is a reminder that we should eradicate the evil lurking
inside us and treat everyone equally irrespective of their religion, caste or creed.
First in decades: Bengal ministers
plunge into pujas
Kolkata: For the first time in three-and-a-
half decades, West Bengal's ministers have
openly joined in organizing Durga Puja cel-
ebrations, shedding the political diffidence
of the previous leftist government, some of
whose members were avowed atheists.
Puja organizing committees are witness-
ing the ministerial presence in a big way,
with many legislators of the ruling
Trinamool Congress giving them company.
The leaders say their association spreads a
message of religious harmony.
Sports Minister Madan Mitra, who organ-
izes the Agradut and Uday Sangha Puja at
Bhowanipore, said the festival was more of
a social and cultural event than a religious
one. Mitra through his Puja hopes to con-
vey the importance of agriculture and vil-
lages with the theme titled 'Maa Maati
Manush', a pet slogan of Chief Minister
Mamata Banerjee.
Public Health Engineering Minister
Subrata Mukherjee, the guiding force of
South Kolkata's Ekdalia Evergreen Puja,
said: "I have been attached with this puja
since my childhood and being a minister
does not make any difference. When it
comes to the committee I am just an ordi-
nary member."
It has a budget of Rs.40 lakh. "It would
also be wrong to say that my association
goes against secularism. I am equally active
when it comes to celebrating Eid or
Christmas. Moreover, Durga Puja is no
more confined to Hindus."
South Kolkata' s Chetla Agrani Club,
which is endorsing communal harmony
with its marquee shaped as a mosque and a
temple, has Municipal Affairs Minister
Firhad Hakim as president.
Industries Minister Partha Chatterjee is
the patron of South Kolkata' s Naktala
Udayan Sangha Puja, which has seemingly
left many of its rivals behind in terms of
grandeur.
26 Ultimate Bollywood
B
orrowing liberally from the
Shakespearean tragedy
Macbeth, Tigmanshu
Dhulia's Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster
owes more to Vishal Bhardwaj's
Maqbool than Guru Dutt's Sahib
Biwi Aur Ghulam.
It tries to be both, balancing its
personal homage spirit with a grip-
ping tale of intricate politics, love
and betrayal set against a decadent
royalty that's rapidly losing touch
with the realities of modern-day
existence.
It's fascinating to see how Dhulia
doesn' t succumb to the idea of
doing this as an expose film on the
hypocrisy that breeds within royal
mansions; neither does he develop
the crime angle, a move that par-
tially subverts this film's obvious
direction towards the crime genre.
Instead, he plays it straight with
single-minded focus on the devel-
opment of his characters and the
impact they would have on the
plot.
Dhulia lacks the stylistic quali-
ties of Bhardwaj and Anurag
Kashyap, both directors from
small-town India like him. On the
surface, you may be tempted to
ally Dhulia's themes with those of
Kashyap and Bhardwaj's but the
director of films like Haasil and
Charas truly belongs to the line of
filmmaking that someone like
Sudhir Mishra represents.
That's why when you see a ruth-
lessly ambitious Babloo (Randeep
Hooda) rising through the ranks,
you know the real influence for
this character is Shiney Ahuja's
Vikram in Hazaaron Khwaishein
Aisi and not Irrfan Khan's Miyan
Maqbool in Maqbool.
His saheb (Jimmy Shergill) begs
with his step-mother for whatever
little scrap he could partake. Those
in the inner circles know that the
glorified story of these opulent
mansions where milk and honey
flows is untrue.
Saheb wishes to enter politics
because it would help him retain
his respect and save him from
abject penury. His feisty wife
(Mahie Gill as Chhoti Rani) is neg-
lected but she is in no way the coy
and faithful Chhoti Bahu from
Sahib Biwi Aur Ghulam.
Dhulia shapes the character of
Babloo (Hooda) as an outsider,
who is scorned by his lover for
being too "cheap." He suffers the
same fate at the hands of Chhoti
Rani. Betrayed by Chhoti Rani, he
loses self-respect, power, money
and a small chance at true love
(Saheb at one point suggests he
marry Deepal Shaw, daughter of
his trusted aide).
Dhulia is certainly an under-rated
director who seeks inspiration from
small-town India and its crime and
political scene. If he is to emerge
as a key figure in this movement
led by Bhardwaj, Kashyap and oth-
ers, he must make more films like
Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster. Better
films, one may say.
Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster is gripping
Actor Mahie Gill in a still from the movie.
T
he happy-go-lucky actor
Ranbir Kapoor is one
who is actually quite seri-
ous: he is serious about his busi-
ness, acting!
The guy who calls a spade a
spade is more than happy to
claim that he is indeed single.
He doesn't shy away from his
ambitious plans either!
Ranbir said in an interview
recently that he was indeed
ambitious and career-oriented. "I
am ambitious. I want to be
known as a good actor; I believe
I'm a good actor; Why would I
not want to be No.1? Of course, I
want to be No.1!"
He adds, "Salman, Aamir, Shah
Rukh have been around for so
long, and are still ruling the roost.
They are our source of inspiration.
We have enough and more to learn
from them. So the actors of my
generation and myself have to pull
up our socks and try to be where
they are."
Ranbir aspires to
overthrow the Khans
The Kapoor guy has all his energies
focussed on Rockstar as it hits the
theatres on November 11.
N
othing is impossible for the
Bollywood badshah. He is
a demigod of Indian cine-
ma with millions of fans. However,
what makes him stand out is his
never-say-die attitude.
Even after all the controversies
surrounding his future release
'Ra.One', including one which said
his film resembled 'Endhiran', the
actor was unfazed. Instead of criti-
cizing his detractors, he chose to
show it with his action.
Even when Kollywood is still
waiting to see superstar Rajinikanth
back on the screens, Shah Rukh
Khan has managed to convince the
star for a cameo in his film. King
Khan had earlier said that ' his
movie was a tribute to Rajini sir'.
Rajnikanth supports
SRK's Ra.one
Shah Rukh Khan has managed to
convince superstar Rajinikanth
for a cameo in his much-awaited
film Ra.One.
F
orce has to be one of the worst marketed
films of the year. Promos, including a mushy
song, one a horribly pasteurized Arabic-
lyrics-driven music video, a shot of two brawny
men going at each other, and the poster of a tat-
tooed, gun-bearing John Abraham, dont do any
justice to the film.
Force is much more than that. Director Nishikant
Kamat, who carries the baggage of having to deliv-
er in a commercial set-up after two hard-hitting
films -- Dombivali Fast (in Marathi) and Mumbai
Meri Jaan -- takes up the challenge with gusto, and
comes out a winner.
Another in a string of remakes lately -- Singham,
Ready, Bodyguard -- Kamats distinct touch makes
Force somehow stand out in the crowd.
The mood remains grim almost throughout the
film, the tension on the surface, and the screenplay
moves rapidly.
The second half is watertight, and the drama is
complemented by some raw action, made effective
not just due to great choreography (Allan Amin),
but the inherent intensity.
Deft cinematography by Ayananka Bose helps.
Its the clichs that trouble.
The romance between Yash and Maya (Genelia),
an NGO worker smitten by the khadoos narcotics
officer, is inconsistent, and you wonder how the
two keep bumping into each other at malls all the
time.
The music video you saw in the promos is still as
pissing off, and sticks out like a sore thumb in an
otherwise taut film.
'Force' lands a solid punch
What makes the film really tick is the directors
refreshing treatment of a formulaic action drama.
V
eena Malik has just
made her Bollywood
debut. She will sizzle
in an item number. The 27-
year-old Pakistani actor, who
shot to fame with reality TV
show Bigg Boss, will be seen
in the song Main To Teri Fan
Ho Gayi, in Riteish
Deshmukh- Genelia DSouza
starrer Tere Naal Love Ho
Gaya.
Honestly, I had a few
offers for item numbers. But
I wanted to pick the best one.
This song is extremely spicy,
so it goes perfectly with my
personality ... at least I feel
that way.
When Kumarji (producer
Kumar Taurani) made me
hear the song, I said yes
instantly.
I hope its the right deci-
sion, says Malik.
She hopes that her home
industry takes a cue from
Bollywood and opens doors
for better opportunities.
Theres no concept of item
numbers in Pakistan.
And, therere hardly any
films being made there at the
moment. Hope that changes
soon, she says.
Veena Malik makes her
Bollywood debut
The 27-year-old Pakistani
actor shot to fame in India
with reality TV show Bigg
Boss.
Ultimate Bollywood 27
One 'beast', 13 beauties in Bigg Boss 5
I
t's almost a Bachna ae haseeno moment
in the Bigg Boss house this season.
Thirteen beauties from different walks
of life entered the fifth edition of the contro-
versial reality show, with Bollywood villain
Shakti Kapoor in tow on the night of
October 2.
What will add "double dhamaal" is hero
Salman Khan and "khalnayak" Sanjay
Dutt's chemistry as the hosts.
The participants include - model Shraddha
Sharma, who grabbed headlines for her
relationship with former Bigg Boss contest-
ant Raja Chaudhary; former Miss
Afghanistan Vida Samadzai, who was
banned in the country for wearing a bikini;
Nihita Biswas, wife of "Bikini Killer"
Charles Sobhraj and actress-singer
Raageshwari, who has bounced back to arc
lights after battling serious health problems.
Other contestants include Pooja Missra,
Pooja Bedi, Juhi Parmar, model-actress and
winner of Miss India International 2003
Shonali Nagrani, popular host Mandeep
Bevli, and Rajasthani folk dancer Gulabo
Sapera. If last year The Great Khali added
muscle power to the show, this year, woman
wrestler Sonika Kaliraman will be seen
throwing her weight around. This is her sec-
ond reality show after Khatron Ke Khiladi,
and she is now six months pregnant.
The previous seasons saw a healthy bal-
ance between male and female participants.
But this season, it's different. There's plenty
of bird watching opportunity for the men,
but for the female viewers, there's no eye
candy. The only male - Shakti Kapoor, is
over 50. In 2005, he was stuck in controver-
sy after a news channel aired tapes shot
with hidden camera showing the actor seek-
ing sexual favors from a journalist disguised
as a Bollywood aspirant.
With two star hosts - Salman and Sanjay --
the show will hopefully live up to its prom-
ise of being bigger, bolder and louder.
S
anjay Dutt, whose first production
Rascals is due for release next week, is
all set to go on floor with his second pro-
duction which is the remake of 1982's Satte Pe
Satta, in December. Satte Pe Satta will be
directed by Soham Shah, who has earlier made
Kaal and Luck. Sanjay Dutt will be seen play-
ing the dual roles of Ravi and Babu which were
played by Amitabh Bachchan in the original
and Karisma Kapoor, who is making her
Bollywood comeback with Vikram Bhatt's
project Dangerous Ishq, will be cast opposite
him. Kajol was the original choice for the role
played by Hema Malini in the original but
since she just delivered a baby, Sanjay didn't
want to pressurize her to return to the studio.
Sanjay then approached his Lagey Raho
Munnabhai co-star Vidya Balan for the role but
she was busy with her other assignments.
Karisma in Satte Pe Satta remake
Karisma Kapoor will be cast opposite
Sanjay Dutt in the movie.
B
ollywood' s lucky mascot Katrina
Kaif may soon star in musician/actor
Ali Zafar's music video, thanks to a
bet that took place on the sets of their last
film Mere Brother Ki Dulhan.
The story goes that Katrina had promised
co-star Ali that she'd star in his next music
video if the film made a box office mile-
stone...that day isn't too far considering that
Mere Brother Ki Dulhan has crossed the 50
crore mark
Says Ali "I have a written consent from
Katrina, along with a video recording on my
phone, but I won't pressurize her.
If she wants, I'll compose a song for her
and we' ll record it next time we' re in
Mumbai, probably in November for the
MBKD success bash" For Katrina Kaif, the
singer/actor is willing to experiment with the
song that promises to show fans a new side
of her. "She's a delicate soul.
If she appears in my video, you'll see a
side to Katrina you've never seen before"
adds Ali.
Katrina may star in Ali Zafars next music video
For Katrina Kaif, singer/actor Ali Zafar is willing to experiment with the song that prom-
ises to show fans a new side of her.
F
or the last nine years or so,
Ive been a stay-at-home dad,
but I prefer to call myself a
write-at-home dad. Thats because I
spend a lot of time writing. I mostly
write emails to my wife with ques-
tions such as: Why isnt the baby
drinking from the bottle? Doesnt
she like Coke? and Is it okay if
the baby watches Law & Order with
me? She seems to like it.
Actually, I dont ask many ques-
tions these days. Thats partly
because my three kids arent babies
anymore - the youngest is 5 - and
partly because Ive become an
expert at being a stay-at-home dad.
If this were a real job, I would have
been promoted by now. Id be the
Director of Domestic Affairs or the
CEO of Home Management.
Being an expert at this job does
not mean doing everything well. It
means making a list of everything
that needs to be done and figuring
out a way to get the kids to do it.
My youngest child, Rahul, often
helps me load the washing machine.
My oldest child, Lekha, often helps
me sort the socks and underwear.
My middle child, Divya, doesnt
help much but at least she doesnt
leave her dirty clothes lying around
on the floor like a few other mem-
bers of this household, who appar-
ently believe that Dad has nothing
better to do than pick up after them.
I do have something better to do:
watch Law & Order.
Yes, being a stay-at-home dad
isnt easy, even when youre an
expert. Theres so much to do at
home -- cooking, washing, sweep-
ing - and its hard to get it all done
during the commercial breaks. I
dont know how the stay-at-home
moms do it - I just dont.
Thankfully, I dont do most of the
cooking - my wife does. Its her
main responsibility when she
returns from work, aside from
spending time with the kids and ask-
ing me why the house is such a
mess. Most of the cleaning falls on
my shoulders - and then I flick it
onto the kids shoulders. At least I
try to. When I turn on the vacuum
cleaner, my son gets excited and I
can usually con him into doing some
of the vacuuming. He loves to watch
things get sucked up. This arrange-
ment has worked rather well, espe-
cially since my wife hasnt counted
our children recently.
The biggest challenge for a stay-
at-home dad, Ive come to realize, is
dealing with societys expectations.
Dads are not supposed to stay at
home. Were supposed to go out and
make money. And if we cant make
money, were supposed to go out
anyway - go out and play golf, go
out and watch a movie, go out and
do yoga under a tree. A woman can
call herself a housewife and no one
will bat an eyelid. But you should
see the looks I get when I call
myself a houseband. Stay-at-home
dad is more acceptable, of course,
but even then, the first question
youll get is Are you looking for a
job? Trust me, I know. Ive heard
that question hundreds of times -
and not always from my mother.
Its going to take another century,
perhaps, for society to completely
embrace the idea of a father staying
at home, looking after his kids. After
all, the custom of fathers working
outside the home goes back thou-
sands of years. Just imagine a cave-
man saying to his wife: You go kill
mammoth. I stay in cave, look after
baby. What do you think would
have happened to him? Yes, he
would have received a threat: You
no kill mammoth, you no get my
mud pudding tonight.
Caveman: Me no need your nasty
pudding.
Wife: You no kill mammoth, you
no get my fire-roasted worms
tonight.
Caveman: Me no need your nasty
worms.
Wife: You no kill mammoth, you
no pudding your little worm any-
where near me tonight.
Caveman (grabs spear): How
many mammoths you want me kill?
One or two?
28 Humor
The challenge of being a stay-at-home dad
Tech Life
Humor with Melvin Durai
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 car-
toons. Hailing from Gujarat, he lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Laughter is the Best Medicine
Washington, DC: Going on a busi-
ness trip to China? Take your pass-
port and visiting cards but not your
laptop loaded with sensitive corpo-
rate information as the sophisticated
Chinese electronic surveillance sys-
tems may access them in a giffy,
experts say.
China's booming market beckons
to American businesses as the
Communist giant is the United
States' second-largest trading partner.
However, many are increasingly con-
cerned about working in China amid
electronic surveillance that is sophis-
ticated and pervasive, the
Washington Post reported.
China's brazen use of cyber-espi-
onage stands out because the focus is
often corporate, part of a broader
government strategy to help develop
the country's economy, the report
quoted experts who advise American
businesses and government agencies
as saying.
"I've been told that if you use an
iPhone or BlackBerry, everything on
it -- contacts, calendar, e-mails -- can
be downloaded in a second," said
Kenneth Lieberthal, a former senior
White House official for Asia who is
at the Brookings Institution.
But Chinese officials say cyber-
spying is a problem in much of the
world. "It's advisable for all interna-
tional travelers to take due precau-
tions with their computers and cell-
phones, " Chinese embassy
spokesman Wang Baodong said.
"China is not less insecure than
other countries," Wang said.
Travelers to China often tote dis-
posable cellphones and loaner lap-
tops stripped of sensitive data. Some
US officials take no electronic gear.
Other travelers hide files on thumb
drives, which they carry at all times
and use only on off-line computers,
the report said.
"It' s real easy for them [the
Chinese] to read everything that goes
in and out of the country because the
government owns all the networks,"
said Jody Westby, chief executive of
Global Cyber Risk, a consulting
firm. "The real problem here is eco-
nomic espionage," she said.
San Francisco: US technology
stalwart IBM and Internet start-
up Streetline on Wednesday will
begin courting cities with a sys-
tem designed to take the pain out
of parking.
"Smarter Parking," which has
been touted as a way for cities to
reduce driving hassles while
optimizing parking revenue,
combines IBM's data analytics
capabilities and Streetline' s
innovations in parking sensors
and software.
Power-stingy Streetline sen-
sors placed at parking spaces
detect whether vehicles are pres-
ent and then relay the informa-
tion in real time to city networks
and to free "apps" available for
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smarter
Aries: This week advancement is cer-
tainly yours, if you put your energy to
positive use. You would be in the limelight
during social get-togethers that you attend.
Your attitude at work would open new avenues
for you and the hard work that you do would
not go unnoticed. Home improvement projects
that you undertake would run smoothly.
Include family members and friends in your
plans.
Taurus: This week you are advised to
concentrate on your professional
endeavors. Family responsibilities would
mount, bringing some tensions on your mind.
Trips that you undertake would be fruitful and
the communication that you have with your
partner would be helpful in clearing misunder-
standings if any. Children would bring you
enough reasons to be happy. Blessings from
spiritual person bring solace and mental peace.
Gemini: This week is especially bene-
ficial for artistic and educational pur-
suits. Unexpected gains are foreseen. Your
practical approach to life would win you
appreciation from people who would be
watching you. Good week, which would fill
your life with happiness, best wishes and gifts.
A distant trip or a visit to a religious place will
be on the cards for some of you.
Cancer: This week pressure builds up
from all sides and severe differences
would crop with partner, leaving you in a con-
fused state and unable to take decisions.
Talking would be the best method to resolve
conflicting issues. Dont waste your time wait-
ing for favors and things to happen by them-
selves. Plan out things very wisely to reap
rewards on work front but do not do this at the
cost of ignoring your family and health.
Leo: Your business and career-related
problems, which have been going on, are
likely to get sorted out. New assignments or
ventures are likely to take place. Efforts put in
during this period would bring excellent results.
Being extra generous with children would only
lead to trouble. Avoid overeating and visit a
health club regularly to stay fit. Foreign transac-
tion/trips made during this period would bring
handsome monetary benefits.
Virgo: Challenging, but very fruitful
period. Your work would get recog-
nized and rewarded. Trips, outstation travel or
shopping would be exciting. Your ability to be
practical in business would help. Financial
gains from unexpected sources for some.
Spend some extra time with your family mem-
bers. Good week to revive contacts with
acquaintances that you have nearly forgotten.
You should focus on your goals and making
money.
Libra: This week important meetings
would take up most of your time.
Listen to others before you give your opinion.
Domestic matter would require attention other-
wise your family members are likely to create
a mountain out of a molehill. Avoid confronta-
tion and arguments as much as possible as it
would do no good. Go out with close friends
who understand your situation and your needs.
Minor infection and cold could upset you.
Scorpio: Favourable period for profes-
sionals as well as businessmen.
Financial investments would be lucrative as
long as you make them on your own. Property
investment made during this period would be
solid and grow in value. Your willingness to
help others would leave you tired and exhaust-
ed, but would enhance your reputation. Going
out with friends towards the weekend will be
in your own interest.
Sagittarius: This is the time for
allurement. Hasty decisions in making
investments can perturb the smooth pace of
life. Be careful with whom you do business,
and dont get involved with dubious individu-
als. You would spend lavishly on luxuries and
other comforts. Do not be erratic in your
behaviour, especially with family members;
otherwise it will ruin the peaceful atmosphere
at home. A trip or small journey would bring
positive results.
Capricorn: This is not the week to
dominate others or ignore the opinions
of seniors. Financial confusion is likely.
Refrain yourself from overspending on unnec-
essary items. Travelling would help improve
business contacts. This period would see you
come up with great imaginative ideas, which
would interest others. Some changes are in
store for you in the next few days, and eventu-
ally gains are certain.
Aquarius: If you are not travelling
this week then make sure you sign up
for courses that are stimulating and satisfy
your craving for knowledge. Concentrate on
new projects, as these are favourable days.
Fresh obstacles would stand in your way but
you should work quietly behind the scenes and
seek help from people who are experienced
and willing to help you. Children demands
would add pressure to your mind.
Pisces: This week added responsibili-
ties would be burdensome. You would
have to try to get other relatives and friends to
pitch in and help. Avoid getting trapped in dis-
putes that do not concern you in any manner.
Be discreet in your approach and dont present
your ideas until you are certain theyre fool-
proof. Put your extra cash into personal invest-
ment such as real estate or art objects.
October 08:
Influenced by number 8 and the planet Saturn, you are
practical, disciplined, systematic, original, and authori-
tative person. You are of very charitable nature and you
like to spend your money and time for noble cause, but
you need to control your tendency to behave pessimist,
adamant and nervous at times. This year new sources of
income would generate for you. You are likely to be un-
satisfied with your present employer and would prefer
to go for a change of job. Chances for a new job would
brighten around the month of May. Your new job, al-
though very different from your present one, would give
you job satisfaction and a better growth prospective.
Family members would be supportive but at the same
time your opinions and actions might be faced with
strong resistance and criticism, leading to arguments
and confrontations. Your spouse would be your major
support and the two of you would enjoy many exciting
social events together. Fresh investment needs to be
made with extreme care. The months of August, Sep-
tember, October and May would be result oriented.
October 09:
Ruled by number 9 and the planet Mars, you are active,
aggressive, dashing and enthusiastic and trustworthy
person. You are fond of reading and acquiring new
skills and techniques, which you ultimately use to your
benefit. You possess a charming and charismatic per-
sonality, but you loose many great opportunities due to
your erratic and impatient behaviour. You could be very
dissatisfied with your employer, but do not leave your
present job till you have another one in hand. You need
to remain very conservative, especially this year and try
to save as much as possible. This year your romantic re-
lationship would suffer because of your preoccupation
with other important work. Although you would spend
little time with each other, but your understanding
would strengthen and you would appreciate each oth-
ers concerns. Frequent travel would be undertaken by
most of you, which would bring desired results. Good
period for investment in real estate and selected stocks.
The months of July, October and February would be
highly eventful.
October 10:
Ruled by number 1 and the Sun. You are independent,
confident, intelligent and highly enthusiastic person.
You have a knack for negotiating things to your advan-
tage. People in your group consider you an asset, but
you need to check your tendencies to behave, moody,
extravagant and reckless at times. This year you would
be opposing many of your employers policies and
methods. It would be extremely difficult for you to keep
your thoughts to yourself, which would create problems
for you at times. You need to behave in a very tactful
manner to avoid arguments and confrontations. Your
earnings would increase but you need to control your
spending. You and your beloved would reach a new lev-
el of understanding. You would also accomplish a lot to-
gether which would bring happiness and peaceful at-
mosphere at home. Health of someone close in the fam-
ily would be a matter of serious concern. The months of
September, December, October and May would be pro-
ductive.
October 11:
Ruled by number 2 and the Moon, you are imaginative,
warm-hearted, friendly and hard working person. You
are of very fond of arts and artistic things and your tal-
ents usually bring you lot of appreciation and rewards,
but you lose out the good opportunities because of your
introvert and arrogant behavior at times. Businessmen
would get new opportunities but they need to be ex-
tremely judicious while lending credit. New job oppor-
tunities for professionals would bring higher earnings
and better working environment. Religious ceremonies
and functions would be performed quite frequently. A
sudden influence of a person from the opposite sex will
give a new and interesting twist to your life. Do not
share your business secrets with your colleagues or ca-
sual friends. Avoid lending and borrowing money. The
months of August, September, January and April will
prove to be highly significant.
October 12:
Ruled by number 3, and the planet Jupiter, you are am-
bitious, dignified, philosophical, methodical and sys-
tematic person. You are very devoted to the one you
love and you go out of your way to please and keep the
person happy. You are smart and talented, but you need
to check your tendency to behave jealous, extravagant
and moody at times. Bad phase of your career seems to
be getting over, but you are advised to take every step
with extreme precaution. Some of you could also con-
sider a change in job, later in the year. Financially this
seems to be a very rewarding period and most of your
investments would multiply and yield good profits. Ro-
mantic relationship would strengthen and matrimonial
alliances for some lovebirds seem certain towards the
yearend. Businessmen would benefit from new con-
tacts. Garment, hardware, provisions traders and sup-
pliers would prosper. The months of October, Novem-
ber October and June will prove highly significant.
October 13:
Influenced by number 4 and the planet Uranus, you are
energetic, creative, trustworthy, systematic, reliable and
studious person. In school or at work, you always hold
position of immense importance and responsibility, but
you need to control your tendency to behave moody,
stubborn and jealous at times You would immensely en-
joy the work you do this year, but your busy schedule
would leave you with very less time for social activities.
You would also plan new projects to increase your in-
come, but it would not be possible to implement your
plans without the support of others. You would develop
new and trustworthy friendships that would provide fi-
nancial and moral support at times of need. The latter
half of the year could bring in opportunities for some of
you to travel overseas for business or pleasure. Some
good news can be expected from friends circle towards
the last quarter of the year. The months of August, De-
cember and April would prove to be highly significant.
October 14:
Ruled by number 5 and the planet Mercury, you are ac-
tive, energetic, honest, systematic and highly coura-
geous person. You are true sportsman and you play
every game in the right spirit. You have excellent lead-
ership qualities, but you need to curb your tendency to
behave vindictive, jealous and reckless at times. This
year you would develop very strong opinions on how
important work should be completed. Some of your
supporters however would not agree to your methods of
doing things. You should put your thoughts in front of
them in a positive manner to win their confidence. You
would also increase your income through work, which
you would complete at home. New romance could de-
velop for some during this period. Relationship with
your spouse would be healthy and highly cordial. Some
tension and anxiety due to health of your parents may
mar the peace at home. Your brother or sister would be
very helpful in finishing your pending tasks. The
months of July, October, January and May would be
significant.
Astrology 29
By Dr Prem Kumar Sharma
Chandigarh, India: +91-172- 256 2832, 257 2874
Delhi, India: +91-11- 2644 9898, 2648 9899
psharma@premastrologer.com; www.premastrologer.com
Stars Foretell: October 8-14, 2011 Annual Predictions: For those born in this week
i) Accurate Data: Please make sure Date,
Time and Place of birth is accurate.
ii) Careful: Did you check background of the
astrologer before disclosing your secrets.
iii) Fee: Discuss the charges before, dont feel
shy. Its his business.
iv) Expectation: Expect the best, if the out-
come is not as desired, never give up.
v) Consult: Take second opinion before
spending thousands on cure/remedies.
Learn about the fair value of
diamonds & precious stones.
from a Gems Expert
For appointment, please call 516-390-7847
or email consult.gems@gmail.com
A special offer for the readers of
Before you consult...
Free Consultation
30 Spiritual Awareness
W
hat kind of joy did the
thief hWe all know about
Isaac Newton and that
many scientific developments are
based on his insight. Once, when
someone talked to him about his
knowledge, which was helping
many people all over the globe, he
said that his knowledge was just
like a pebble on the shore of an
ocean.
Whatever heights we might attain
in the physical, mental, or emotion-
al arena, we have no real knowl-
edge of the truth, and unless we are
enlightened spiritually, there will be
no unity between humans in the
true sense.
What we first need to understand
is that we, ourselves, are love. We
are love because we are each a part
of God, who is an ocean of all love.
The second thing that we need is to
accept that love in others. They
might look different from us,
belong to different faiths or speak
different languages, but if we
would learn the language of love
then we would be able to communi-
cate with others. If we love some-
one, we will care for them. We will
never do anything to hurt them. So
when we truly, truly love anyone,
then we will take care of them,
share in their problems, and make
sure that the quality of their life is
better.
As we help each other, unity will
definitely be a part of our existence.
As we look at our life, how do we
really live? Most of us spend time
during the day in pursuit of this
materialistic world. We search for
happiness, we search for truth, and
we search to have unity, but the
object of our search is on the out-
side. As long as the object of our
search remains on the outside, we
will never find eternal truth and
unity, because everything of this
world is perishable. The only thing
that is permanent is the divine
treasures, God the Creator, and
what has been called the Holy
Word, Naam, Shabd, Kalma, Jyoti
and Sruti, Sonorous Light, Celestial
Music, or Harmony of all har-
monies. These are different names
given in different languages to talk
about the creative force that
emanated from the Lord and creat-
ed regions after regions of exis-
tence.
When humans set foot on the
moon and looked at the earth, it
seemed like a small, insignificant
speck in the universe. As science
has developed, we know there are
many, many other galaxies in the
physical region. Likewise, the great
saints and mystics tell us that there
are many, many other regions
beyond the physical: regions that
are more conscious and more spiri-
tual than this physical region of
ours.
As that realization sets in that we
are only a part, then the desire in us
is ignited to know the whole.
It is natural that we all want to
know who we are, and what is our
relationship with the Creator. As
that realization sets in, the passion
to understand our true state comes
to us. That passion is fulfilled only
when we go within ourselves.
The great saints and mystics have
always talked about being able to
focus our attention within ourselves
because this is where the treasure
house of divinity resides. As we
connect with the divine power, we
will be transported to regions of
love, peace, and bliss.
When we start on our spiritual
journey, we will find that unity
comes automatically in our lives
because as our soul merges in the
Creator, we realize that every living
form is a spark of the Creator.
When that happens we realize
that we are not only a Sikh, a
Hindu, a Christian, a Muslim, a
Jain, or a follower of any other reli-
gion, but, in truth, we are soul. In
truth, we are spirit, a part of God.
Generally what happens is that as
a human being, we feel that we are
not capable of making a difference.
Many of you might remember
that it was Benjamin Franklin who
put the first street lamppost in front
of his house. When he did so,
everyone said, He is crazy. Why is
he putting light in the area? But he
lit it up night after night. Soon
everyone in the neighborhood start-
ed putting up street lamps and there
was light for everyone to see where
they were going.
Similarly, if we were to connect
to the Light within ourselves, we
might think that it wont make a
difference, but if we recognize the
divine Light within ourselves, that
Light is going to remove the dark-
ness in our own surroundings, in
our families and in our work envi-
ronments.
Soon, those with whom we come
in contact will also follow our
examples. As the great mystic poet,
Sant Darshan Singh Ji Maharaj, has
said: I started alone on the journey
of love filled with faith and zeal. At
every step, travelers joined me, and
soon we were a caravan. As we
become peaceful within
ourselves, let that peace radiate
from us to everyone with whom we
come in contact so that we will be
living in an age of peace, of love
and of harmony as we spend our
time on this earth.
Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj,
an international spiritual leader
and Master of meditation, affirms
the transcendent oneness at the
heart of all religions, emphasizing
prayer and meditation as building
blocks for achieving
peace.www.jyotimeditation.org
By Sant Rajinder Singh
Ji Maharaj
A
Brahman once invited Lord Buddha
to come and have a meal at his
home. Buddha agreed. When he
arrived at the Brahmans house he found
that the Brahman had invited him there for
another purpose. The Brahman began to
criticize him and abuse him.
The Buddha quietly listened to the
Brahmans verbal attacks. This went on for
some time. Finally, the Buddha said, Do
visitors come to your home often, good
Brahman?
Yes, they do, replied the Brahman.
Buddha continued, saying, What prepara-
tions do you make for your guests when
they come?
The Brahman replied, We get ready for a
big feast.
The Buddha asked, What happens if they
do not arrive?
The Brahman said, We eat the food from
the feast by ourselves.
The Buddha said, Well, you have invited
me for a meal but you entertained me with
criticism and harsh words. It appears the
feast you have prepared for me is abusive
words. I do not want to eat from what you
have prepared. So please take it back and eat
it yourself.
With that, the Buddha left the Brahmans
house.
Buddha realized that the feast that was
given to him was not food but verbal
abuse. Rather than turning around, engag-
ing in criticism and abusing the Brahman
in the same way, he refused to partake of
the anger. Instead, he left the scene. Thus,
the anger was left with the man who was
giving it out.
Buddha advised his disciples who were-
watching this whole scene, by saying,
Never retaliate in kind to what is done to
you. Hatred never ends through more
hatred.
Many times in life we are faced with peo-
ple who say bad things to us, who verbally
abuse us, who criticize us and who call us
names. Rather than engage at their level, we
should not accept these gifts from others.
Then their anger has nowhere to go. It
remains with them. When we withdraw from
the scene, they find themselves alone with
their anger. Soon, they realize what they
have done. They see how calm we were in
the face of their poison. Sometimes they
wonder how were able to be loving in the
face of their anger and they may come to
respect us.
As we go about our day and are faced with
people who are filled with anger and criti-
cism toward us, we should look at their
words calmly. We should ask first whether
their words have any truth to them. If so, we
can take their words as a lesson to improve
ourselves.
If their words do not have any truth to
them then we should not accept their gift of
anger. We should not be dragged down to
their level. In this way, we can maintain our
equanimity and peacefulness.
We add calmness to their hostile environ-
ment. We should leave the gift of anger with
them and go on our peaceful, merry ways. In
this way, we have kept our attention on our
spiritual goals and we have become a posi-
tive influence in our environment
For more visit www.sos.org
Achieve unity through spirituality
This article has been selected and reprinted from Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharajs book,
Spiritual Pearls for Enlightened Living (Radiance Publishers), an inspirational collection
of stories from the worlds great wisdom traditions.
By Sant Rajinder Singh
Ji Maharaj
Sant Darshan
Singh Ji Maharaj
has said: I start-
ed alone on the
journey of love
filled with faith
and zeal. At
every step, trav-
elers joined me
and soon we
were a caravan.
As we become
peaceful within
ourselves, let
that peace radi-
ate from us to
everyone with
whom we come
in contact so that
we will be living
in an age of
peace, of love
and of harmony
as we spend our
time on this
earth.
Do not accept gift of anger
Never retaliate in kind to what is done to
you. Hatred never ends through more
hatred. Gautam Buddha

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