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Vol.5 No. 39 January 19-25, 2013 60 Cents

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34 hostages killed in Algeria raid; 2 Americans escape

The Islamist kidnappers wanted French strikes in Mali to end.
London: Algerian army helicopters Thursday fired at a petroleum facility where over 40 Western hostages were being held, leaving at least 34 hostages and 15 kidnappers dead, media reports said. Two Americans escaped unharmed but four captivestwo Britons and two Filipinoshad died among the 34 hostages killed in the states rescue attempt. By late Thursday, 600 workers were free, as were four foreign nationals, including two Scots, a Kenyan and a French citizen. The British Petroleum (BP) natural gas field is in Ain Amenas in Illizi province, around 60 km from the Libyan border and 800 miles from Algiers. Mauritania's ANI news agency quoted a spokesman for the kidnappers group named "Battalion of Blood" that two Japanese hostages were seriously injured.

Kidnappers were acting under orders of Al Qaedas Mokhtar Belmokhtar

BBC reported that seven foreign hostages were still alive after the military raid. Four foreign hostages Continued on page 4

Flanked by children, President Obama signed 23 executive actions to strengthen existing gun laws and take related steps on mental health and school safety. These actions do not require congressional approval.

Pak govt and protesting cleric reach deal

Fears recede of alleged judiciary-military plot to derail May elections.
Islamabad: Tehrik-i-Minhajul Quran (TMQ) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri late on Thursday announced an end to four days of anti-government protests by thousands of people after striking a deal with the prime minister. A high level delegation struck a deal with the firebrand cleric, who returned from six years in Canada, after thousands of people paralyzed Islamabad pressing the government to resign over corruption charges, Dawn newspaper reported. We have reached an agreement. After getting the prime ministers signature, we will read it in out front of protesters, the TMQ chief told his supporters. Tahirul Qadri, who supported a 1999 military coup, has been calling for the military to play a role in the formation of a caretaker administration in the run-up to May elections. The government agreed with Continued on page 4

OBAMA PROPOSES SWEEPING GUN-CONTROL LAWS

Chances of passing Congress slim as NRA and Republicans vow fierce fight.
Washington: A month after the massacre of innocents in a elementary school sent shock waves through the US, President Barack Obama has unveiled the most sweeping gun control proposals in two decades. Flanked by children who wrote him letters after December's shooting in Newtown, Connecticut which left 20 children and six teachers dead, on Wednesday he signed 23 executive actions, which do not require congressional approval. These actions are aimed at strengthening existing gun laws and take related steps on mental health and school safety. The Democratic president also urged the Congress to reinstate an assault weapons ban that expired in 2004, to restrict ammunition magazines to no more than 10 rounds, and to expand background checks to anyone buying a gun. But Obama acknowledged his legislative push would encounter stiff opposition in Congress. While some of the steps he proposed are given little chance of winning congressional approval in the face of America's powerful gun lobby, Obama said all efforts must Continued on page 4

Dr Tahirul Qadri: change agent or military stooge?

14 years jail for Mumbai terror suspect Rana

It foreshadows long sentence for Headley
Chicago: Pakistan-born Chicago businessman Tahawwur Rana was Thursday sentenced to 14 years in jail for providing support to Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) that staged the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. The jail term for Rana will be followed by five years of supervised release. Although Rana, a boyhood friend of LeT operative David Coleman Headley, was acquitted of supporting the Mumbai attacks, prosecutors had sought the maximum 30-year sentence for his role in the aborted plot to attack Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten for publishing cartoons of Prophet Muhammad. Thus US federal prosecutors are probably foreshadContinued on page 4

Tahawwur Rana (left) and David Coleman Headley

"This is the fight of the century and I need you on board with NRA now more than ever," NRA chief executive Wayne La Pierre said in an urgent fundraising email sent to NRA members.

Heritage 15

Kumbh Mela 16

Bollywood 18

Spiritual Awareness 30

excellence in journalism

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January 19-25, 2013

House approves $50.7 billion in emergency aid for Sandy victims

Washington: After fierce lobbying by political leaders in states across the Northeast, the House of Representatives on Tuesday approved the long-awaited $50.7 billion emergency bill to provide assistance to victims of Hurricane Sandy. The final vote was 241 to 180, with 49 Republicans joining 192 Democrats. The Senate is expected to pass the measure, after which President Obama is expected to sign it. The $50.7 billion along with a nearly $10 billion aid package that Congress approved earlier this month seeks to provide for the huge needs that have arisen in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and other states since the hurricane struck in late October. The emergency aid measure would help homeowners whose homes have been damaged or destroyed, provide assistance to business owners who experienced losses as well as reinforce shorelines, repair subway and commuter rail systems, fix bridges and tunnels, and reimburse local governments for emergency expenditures. Though the package does not cover the entire $82 billion in damage identified by the governors of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, leaders from the storm-ravaged region expressed relief over the action in the Republican-controlled House, where storm aid had become ensnared in the larger debate over spending and deficits. Long Island Republican storm victims. It is unfortunate that we had to fight so hard to be treated the same as every other state has been treated, Mr. King said. The vote was scheduled over a week ago by Speaker John A. Boehner, after he came under intense criticism for concluding the business of the previous Congress without taking up a $60.4 billion hurricane-aid bill that the Senate had approved. His critics included influential Republicans in and out of Congress, including Mr. King and Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey. In a statement, Mr. Christie joined with Govs. Andrew M. Cuomo of New York and Dannel P. Malloy of Connecticut, both Democrats, to express gratitude to the Congress for providing the relief to hurricane victims.

Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano, Congressmen Steve Israel and Peter T. King and Steve Bellone, Suffolk County Executive celebrated after the House vote Tuesday.

Congressman Peter T. King, who helped press his partys leadership

into holding the vote, hailed the packages passage as a victory for

IALIs new President floats India House idea Rana sentencing hint of similar fate for Headley?
Mineola: A new president County Executive Ed and 11 executive board Mangano was slated to premembers of the India side over the ceremony, but Association of Long Island could not attend. In his (IALI) were sworn into stead, Kamlesh Mehta, office Sunday at a ceremony Director of the Countys at the office of the Nassau Business & Economic County executive. Development, introduced Taking over as IALI the new President and President, Dr. Kishore administered the oath of Kuncham, Superintendent of office. the Freeport School District, Others who took office turned to IALIs longtime Sunday were Satnam S. IALI President Dr Kishore dream - raising a center for Parhar as vice president of Kuncham and Deputy County public activities to be called IALI, Ved Behl as secretary, Executive Phillip Elliot at the event. India House. He proposed and Bina Sabapathy as treasthat to begin with a facility could be leased for urer. Ajay Batra, Nishi Behl, Damyanthi this purpose. He requested help from Deputy Gokhlani, Jyoti Gupta, Veena Lamba, Shoba County Executive Phillip Elliot, present on the Prakash, Rashmi Mittle and Gunjan Rastogi were occasion, in securing such a lease and in the cre- elected members-at-large. ation of a cricket pitch. Mr. Elliot expressed his Community leaders who graced the occasion willingness to help with these initiatives. included Bobby K. Kalotee, National Chairman of Dr. Kuncham also proposed that IALIs India the All American Political Party, Harendra Singh Fest be celebrated in conjunction with India Day of Singh Hospitality, Shudh Prakash Singh, Sr Parade (in Hicksville) to expand the profile of Vice President of INOC (I), Mohinder Taneja, both these mega events. Deputy Commissioner of Community Services, He also intends to expand the associations Town of North Hempstead; Zahid Syed, charitable work with the Interfaith Nutrition Chairman, Nassau County Commission on Network and Rota Care. He also advocated that Human Rights; Dr. Sukhvinder Ranu, past presiIALI should be responsive to the needs of strug- dent IALI, and Sudhir Vaishnav, CEO, GloboSat gling families in the community at large. Entertainment, who was master of ceremonies. Chicago: By seeking a prison term of 30 years for Tahawwur Hussain Rana, US federal prosecutors are probably foreshadowing a similar sentence, if not longer, for David Coleman Headley, a key plotter behind the Mumbai terrorist attacks of November 26, 2008. Although District Judge Harry Leinenweber will decide the quantum of Rana's sentence, the fact that the prosecution is asking for 30 years could be regarded as a benchmark for Headley's sentence scheduled for Jan 24. Having pleaded guilty to all the 14 counts of his involvement in the plotting of the Mumbai attacks, which resulted in the deaths of six US citizens, as well as the abortive Denmark plan, it seems logical that at the very least his sentence will match Rana's. Rana, a childhood friend of Headley's who will be handed a sentence on Jan 17 by a court here, was convicted in June 2011 of two counts of conspiring to provide material support to a plot to commit murder overseas from October 2008 to October 2009 and providing material support to the foreign terrorist organization Lashkar e-Tayyiba from late 2005 to October 2009. The plot could have led to murder on what is described by the prosecutors a "grand, horrific scale." That plot, also being initiated by Headley, involved storming the offices of the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten in the heart of Copenhagen and beheading its employees and throwing their heads on to the street. The newspaper had earli-

David Coleman Headley and Tahawwur Hussain Rana.

Dr Kuncham (middle) with the IALI Executive Council 2013.

er published cartoons of Prophet Mohammed offensive to Muslims. The prosecution had produced a recording where Rana was heard saying the Denmark plan was "good" and "this would be a huge event in the media." In pressing for a 30-year sentence for Rana, the prosecutors made several references to the Mumbai attacks for which too he was accused of providing material support to Headley but acquitted. This was not the first time that Rana applauded mass murder. After approximately 164 men, women and children were mercilessly slaughtered by the foreign terrorist organization Lashkar e Tayyiba, Rana simply stated that the victims "deserved it". Rana praised the attacks, stating in a recorded conversation that they struck "fear in the hearts of Indians". Instead of showing any compassion for the innocent victims, the defendant believed that the Lashkar leader who planned the attack and the nine Lashkar operatives who carried out the attacks, "deserved medals."

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City school bus driver strike unresolved

New York: New York Citys first school bus strike in 34 years entered its second day Thursday with no resolution in sight and tens of thousands of parents scrambling to get their kids to school. More than 8,000 New York City school bus drivers and aides went on strike over job protection Wednesday. They ferry 152,000 students. The strike is by the largest bus drivers' union; some bus routes served by other unions were operating. Most of the city's roughly 1.1 million public school students take public transportation or walk to school. Those who rely on the buses include 54,000 special education students and others who live far from schools or transportation. Parents have made plans to use subways, carpools and other alternatives, hitting slippery roads as sleet turned to rain around the city and temperatures were at or above freezing. The city has put its contracts with private bus companies up for bid, aiming to cut costs. The Local 1181 of the Amalgamated Transit Union says drivers could suddenly lose their jobs when contracts expire in June. The city plans to distribute transit cards to students who could take buses and subways and to reimburse parents who would have to drive or take taxis.

Continuations of page 1
Obama proposes sweeping Gun-control laws story Continued from page 1 be made to reduce chronic gun violence in the country. He called for citizens to let their elected representatives know what they think, saying: "The only way we can change is if the American people demand it." Opposition Republicans immediately rejected the Obama proposals as an attack on the constitutional right to bear arms. The powerful National Rifle Association said it would work with Congress to find what it called "real solutions to protecting America's most valuable asset -our children." But behind the scenes, the NRA is gearing up for a vicious fight against Obama's proposals. "This is the fight of the century and I need you on board with NRA now more than ever," NRA chief executive Wayne La Pierre said in an urgent fundraising email sent to NRA members. But a CNN/Time Magazine/ORC International poll Wednesday indicated that Americans generally favor stricter gun control, but they don't believe that stricter gun laws alone would reduce gun violence. 34 hostages killed story Continued from page 1 were freed during the operation, Algeria's state news agency APS said. The militants earlier said they were holding 41 foreign nationals, including Americans, French, British, Norwegian and Japanese workers. Algerian Interior Minister Daho Ould Kablia earlier said the kidnappers were Algerian and operating under orders from Mokhtar Belmokhtar, a former commander of the Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). A statement purported to be from the hostage-takers called for an end to the French military intervention against Islamist rebels in neighboring Mali. Algeria allowed France to use its airspace during its operation against Islamist militants who occupied northern Mali last year. Washington and Tokyo have said their nationals were among the hostages, but French President Francois Hollande said he was not certain that French citizens were being held Pak govt. deal story Continued from page 1 the cleric to dissolve the National Assembly before its term ends in mid-March, giving 90 days until elections are held, according to the Islamabad Long March Declaration. The government also agreed that the caretaker administration, which normally precedes elections, would be chosen in consultation with all parties. A declaration detailing the agreement between the government and Qadri was signed by Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf and high-level government officials. They also agreed that the treasury benches in complete consensus with Qadris party will propose the names of two honest and impartial people for the appointment of a caretaker prime minister. Meanwhile, Qadri, a PakistaniCanadian dual national, is leaving for Canada on Jan 27. The deal he has essayed may ease pressure on the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), which has come under fire for failing to tackle a range of problems, from a Taliban insurgency to a weak economy. The Supreme Court had ordered that Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf and 15 others be arrested in connection with a 2010 corruption case. The order came when Qadri led protests outside parliament seeking the government's resignation sparked panic about an alleged judiciary-military plot to derail coming elections. 14 year jail for Rana story Continued from page 1 owing a similar sentence, if not longer, for Headley, a key plotter behind the Mumbai attacks of November 26, 2008. Rana's lawyers, downplaying his role in the Danish scheme, sought a lighter sentence of no more than nine years, citing his poor health. They argued Rana was kept in the dark about much of the plot. Headley, they said was a master manipulator who fooled Rana into supporting his terror activities. But Judge Harry Leinenweber said he was baffled at the descriptions put forward by his family of Rana as a kind, caring person, saying it was so "contrary" to the person who aided the plot on the Danish newspaper's office. In new evidence submitted before the hearing, prosecutors sought to undercut the depiction of Rana as a dupe by presenting a telephone intercept of Rana's wife, saying that her husband and Headley were just alike and were both immersed in Islamic extremism. Headley, son of a Pakistani father and an American mother, who changed his given name of Dawood Gilani to scout targets in Mumbai without arousing suspicion, pleaded guilty in both the Mumbai and Danish terrorism plots, and was the star prosecution witness at Rana's trial. Headley would be sentenced a week later Jan 24.

All Air India Dreamliners grounded

New Delhi/Washington: India Thursday grounded Air India's six Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft after the US-based Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) warned of technical problems in the aircraft. National carrier Air India is the only airline in the country which operates the 787 Dreamliner. Currently, it has six operational 787s in the fleet, which fly both on international and domestic routes. "We have received instructions from the directorate general of civil aviation (DGCA) that all services on 787s should be withdrawn with immediate effect," a senior Air India official said. Air India had booked 27 Boeing 787s in 2006 in a mega-deal. Till now it has received six of these aircraft. On Sep 19, Air India started the first commercial Dreamliner service between Delhi and Chennai and then followed with the New DelhiBangalore route. Contacted, DGCA said it would wait for the results of the FAA's inquiry into Boeing's ability to fix the fire risk, linked to battery failure on board the aircraft. The move by FAA follows an emergency landing in Japan that prompted two of its major airlines to ground their fleet of 787s, and a similar problem aboard a Dreamliner on the ground in Boston nine days earlier. The FAA's emergency directive, issued Wednesday night, initially applied to United Airlines, the only American carrier using the new plane. It has six 787s.

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India contributes $ 1 mn to UN Women

United Nations: India has contributed one million dollars to the core voluntary budget of UN Women (United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women) for the 2012-13 financial year. India's Permanent Representative to the UN, Hardeep Singh Puri, handed over a check for the amount to Dr Michele Bachelet, Under Secretary General and Executive Director of UN Women, Tuesday. This contribution constitutes the third installment of India's multi-year pledge to provide five million dollars as core predictable funding to UN Women's resources, and takes its existing contribution to $ 3 million to UN Women, so far, according to a media release from India's UN mission. On this occasion, Puri also reaffirmed India's steadfast commitment to the goals of gender equality, the empowerment of women and gender mainstreaming enshrined in the mandate of UN Women.

Accused subway pusher Erika Menendez deemed fit to stand trial

New York: Erika Menendez, a Queens woman with a history of psychiatric problems and accused of pushing Sunando Sen into oncoming train because she thought he was Muslim was indicted Monday and found fit to stand trial on murder charges. Menendez, 31 is "charged with having been motivated by hate" when she shoved Sen into an oncoming No. 7 train in Sunnyside on Dec. Ambassador H S Puri, PR of India to UN 27, said Queens District Attorney Richard handing over a cheque of US$ 1 million Brown. "I pushed a Muslim off the train tracks beto USG of UN Women, Madam Bachelet cause I hate Hindus and Muslims - ever since on 15 January in New York 2001 when they put down the twin towers, I've India is one of the founding members of the been beating them up," cops quoted Menendez executive board of the UN Women, and is as saying. Cops also said she displayed no represently serving on the UN Women Executive morse and had even bragged about smoking Board. and having sex with her "man in Brooklyn" af-

Erika Menendez

ter the sickening crime. The drifter - who cackled at an earlier hearing as prosecutors detailed how she killed the hard-working immigrant - was not in court for Monday's proceeding.

NY court dismisses claims against former Satyam directors

New York: A US court has dismissed civil claims filed against former independent directors of erstwhile Satyam Computer, saying they themselves were victims of over $ 1billion accounting fraud at Indian IT firm. Hearing the petition, the US District Court Judge Barbara Jones of New York said there were insufficient allegations against the former independent directors and members of Satyam Computers audit committee. The court ruled that most allegations in the petition concerned an intricate and well concealed fraud perpetrated by a very small group of insiders and reinforce an inference that some former board members were themselves victims of the fraud. Indias biggest ever accounting fraud came to the light in January 2009 when Satyam Computers founder and the then chairman B. Ramalinga Raju admitted to having overstated the companys financials by more than $ 1 billion and other wrongdoings at the firm. Since then, Satyam Computer has become Mahindra Satyam, as it was later acquired by Mahindra group in a government-monitored auction. In the meantime, the company has settled various lawsuits after agreeing to pay millions of dollars to the shareholders and others in various cases in the US, where Satyam shares used to be listed. The companys independent directors were also dragged into various lawsuits for allegedly failing to detect the fraud and, therefore, failing to safeguard the interest of shareholders.

Reshma Saujani raises nearly half a Mangano approval rating up; has $2M for re-election million for public advocates race
New York: Reshma Saujani, who mounted a primary challenge to Rep. Carolyn Maloney in 2010, raised just under half a million dollars during the latest six months for her campaign for public advocate. Saujani raised a total of $493,473 during the latest filing period, according to her campaign, which now has $651,462 on hand. That figure includes more than $71,000 in matchable funds over the last six months. That puts her slightly ahead of State Senator Daniel Squadron over the latest filing period. Squadron reported raising $375,000 in the last six months, with $75,000 eligible for matching funds over that period. Squadron has about $665,000 on hand, and has raised about $40,000 more in total matchable funds, which would give him an advantage of a couple hundred thousand dollars. Saujani recently served as a deputy public advocate under Bill de Blasio, after trying to unseat congresswoman Carolyn Maloney in 2010. Lately, Saujani founded a program to teach young girls computer programming, called Girls Who Code, which partnered with Twitter in June.

Reshma Saujani

A spokesperson for Saujani's campaign said a number of her donations came from the tech sector, and that they brought in 150 donations on filing day, largely through social media. "All over the city, New Yorkers are engaging in this campaign because they share our vision for innovation and advocacy," said Saujani, through a spokesperson. "Our message of supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs, closing the gender gap in technology and engineering, and standing up for New York's immigrant communities is resonating and giving us the momentum to run a successful campaign."

Mineola: Going into his re-election year, Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano is enjoying his highest approval rating ever, according to a Newsday/Siena Research Institute poll, suggesting that he is benefiting from his performance during superstorm Sandy. Of Nassau County residents, 51% said they had a "favorable" view of Mangano, while 29 percent said "unfavorable." "For Ed Mangano to be a plus-22 [percentage points] going into an election year is a pretty strong position," a Siena spokesperson said. Even 44% of Democrats surveyed gave the county executive a thumbs up, 36% a thumbs down. The survey of 381 Nassau residents was conducted in early January for Newsday. Meanwhile, the New York State Board of Elections records show Mangano, a Republican, raised $826,000 for his re-election during the final six months of 2012 and now has more than $2.3 million in cash on hand. His only announced opponent, Democrat Adam Haber (a restaurateur and retired Wall Street trader), too has over $2 million (based in large part on a personal loan) in his campaign funds.

Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano

January 19-25, 2013

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Son guns down father over dispute in North Carolina

Raleigh, NC : In a ghastly act, a 28-year-old Indian-American has killed his father in a North Carolina city, following a dispute between them. Jiten Ashwin Patel, 28, is charged with firstdegree murder of his father Ashwin Kumar Vaghjibhai Patel, 62, and is being held without bond at the Gaston County Jail, police said. The incident happened in the Mount Holly city, a suburb of Raleigh. The Mount Holly Interim Police Chief David James said police found Jiten Patel driving the Camry in nearby Gastonia, N.C. Jiten was arrested after he was on the run for more than 12 hours. Both the father and son operated a BP gas station in the city. The motive of the attack has not been determined yet. According to the arrest warrant affidavit, Ashwin Kumar Vaghjibhai Patel died of several gunshot wounds on January 11. His body was found inside his home and was first reported by his family members. As per the affidavit, Jiten was not at home when the police arrived. But they found a note written by Jiten in which he said that he was sorry for what he did and that he was going to kill himself. The Police said Jiten had a criminal record. In 2005, he spent several months in prison and was convicted of felony larceny. In December 2002, he was convicted of a drug charge in Jackson County and was placed on probation.

FDA provides a portal to India

25% spices, oils and food colorings used in US come from India
Washington, DC: The next time you stir black pepper, cumin, chili or cardamom into your stew, think about this: Nearly one quarter of the spices, oils and food colorings used in the United States comes from India. In fact, India is the largest producer, consumer and exporter of spices globally. But thats not all. India is an important source of trade with the U.S. In 2011, India was the second largest drug exporter and the seventh largest food exporter to the U.S. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) works hard to make sure that FDA works with Indian govt. and various agencies to ensure quality these India-produced foods and drugs imports reach US. are safe, effective and of good quality. With offices in New Delhi and and who to contact to mobilize a Mumbai staffed by technical experts and response when problems arise that could experienced investigators in food and affect people at home, says Bruce Ross, medical products, FDA maintains close FDAs country director in India, who is contact with Indias government, indus- based in the New Delhi office. tries, trade associations, and scientific Ross cites an event that occurred in and academic communities. March 2012 as an example of the imporConsequently, Indias officials are better tance of FDAs presence in India. informed about FDAs import require- Experts from across FDA worked around ments and the agency is able to share the clock to find the source of a best practices involving the production Salmonella outbreak sweeping the of FDA-regulated products. United States. When the source was narSuch contacts have been especially rowed to a manufacturer in India, two helpful when unexpected issues arise. FDA food investigators from the We know who the decision makers are Mumbai office were dispatched to the facility. After FDAs inspection verified that the tuna product implicated in the outbreak came from the suspect facility and uncovered potential sources of contamination, the Indian government pulled the manufacturers license, Ross says. The incident demonstrates that when collaborating with officials in another country and supporting their efforts to resolve problems quickly, theres no substitute for being on the scene, rather than thousands of miles away, Ross says. Similarly, when contaminated materials were discovered in an intravenous product manufactured in India, FDA investigators went to the manufacturing plant and helped identify the source of the contamination. FDA could then issue an import alert to flag the suspect product when offered for input into the U.S. Ross describes FDAs India office as a portal through which safety information on food and drugs flows back and forth among FDA, the Indian government and industry. This relationship is essential when new requirements come along, including those that are part of the Food Safety and Modernization Act (FSMA), currently being implemented by FDA.

Former diplomat bats for permanent UNSC status for India Anusha to represent East Meadow School district at a leadership conference
Jaipur: Acknowledging Indias growing prowess in international arena, former US ambassador to Bahrain Sam H Zakhem stated on Wednesday that India should get a permanent member status at the UN Security Council. India is the largest democracy and should get a chance to be the permanent member of UN Security Council, said Zakhem, who was in Jaipur to take part in formal inauguration of US-India Chamber of Commerce and Trade on Thursday. He opined that friendship, cooperation, peace and stability form the base of IndiaUS relations, and commerce is just another rung in the ladder. The former diplomat even predicted that US-India Chamber of Commerce would put Jaipur on the world map for trade and commerce. InIn addition to being a New York: Sophomore Anusha Syed from the superb fundraiser and outstanding citizen, East Meadow School District has been chosen Anusha is also a seasoned orator. She has to represent the district been invited to particiat the Hugh OBrian Youth Leadership Conpate in and host a variety of community ference this spring. This forum brings together events, the most memorable being the emcee tomorrows leaders with for the 2010 Leadership todays recognized pioneers in business, govBreakfast hosted by Nassau County Execuernment, education and Anusha Syed other various profestive Edward Mangano. It is no surprise that Anusha aspires to holding sions to discuss present and future issues. Anusha was selected through a rigorous a political office. In a press statement the East Meadow School process which included an evaluation by a panel of faculty, students and administrators who District said it is proud to have this civic-mindwere impressed with her poise, confidence and ed young woman represent the district at the dedication to charitable and civic activities. HOBY Leadership Conference.

The United Nations Security Council

dia is growing in terms of economy and its participation with the world is also growing. In this context, the organization will play a bigger role ensuring more and more economic interaction, added Sam.

India's global rise, a rich opportunity for US businesses

Washington, DC: With the India-US civil nuclear deal removing the biggest obstacle in their relationship, a US think tank has said their concerted cooperation could help India's global rise and provide a rich opportunity for US businesses. "The 2008 US-India Civil Nuclear Agreement did away with the biggest obstacle in the relationship-India's murky status in the global non-proliferation regime," the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace said in a new report. "The evolving US-Indian strategic partnership holds great potential for both countries," says the report "Opportunities Unbound: Sustaining the Transformation in US-Indian Relations" by Ashley J. Tellis, senior associate South Asia Program. "India's economic growth and its ties to the US can assist its global rise, which contributes to keeping the peace in Asia, provided New Delhi and Washington sustain concerted cooperation," he writes. "And India's emerging markets promise to be the key instrument for enlarging India's power while remaining a rich opportunity for US businesses," writes Tellis suggesting several steps for both sides to make the partnership fruitful. His recommendations for India include expanding the basis for collaboration by undertaking planned second-generation economic reforms and doing away with archaic protectionist policies and openly embracing economic reforms. To improve defence cooperation, "India ought to take advantage of the wealth of technologies available only to Washington's closest partners and establish greater operational ties with the US to boost its military effectiveness without forfeiting strategic autonomy," writes Tellis. "As one of Iran's biggest trading partners, New Delhi should quietly urge Tehran to abandon its nuclear weapons program in order to avert a conflict that threatens important Indian interests," he suggests. At the top of Tellis' recommendations for the US is exploring a free-trade agreement with India. "Washington should pursue such an accord on a specified deadline while negotiating various arrangements to lower bilateral trade barriers in the interim," he suggests. Tellis also advocates building up India's defence capabilities saying: "Adding to a strong foundation of military-to-military cooperation, Washington should make it easier for India to purchase advanced American defence technology and cement defence industrial cooperation."

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January 19-25, 2013

Bobby Jindal to propose gun safety legislation

Houston: As the US debates its gun control laws, Louisiana's Indian American Governor Bobby Jindal is seeking a law that will keep guns out of hands of the mentally ill while allowing other citizens to own weapons. In an effort to reduce gun-related deaths and injury, Jindal says he will seek legislation to improve gun safety in Louisiana by enabling the state to report to the federally administered National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) database an individual's eligibility to purchase firearms based on mental health records. The "relief from disabilities" provision will protect the rights of healthy, law-abiding citizens and allow Louisiana to utilize federal funding for NICS. Similar laws exist in Alabama, Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Nevada, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin. Jindal said passage of such legislation would enhance gun safety and mental health reporting standards in Louisiana. "Too often, both in Louisiana and in states across the nation, the mentally ill are slipping through the cracks and getting lost in the sys-

Nikki Haley's husband Michael deployed in Afghanistan

Washington, DC: South Carolina's Indian American Governor Nikki Haley bid tearful goodbye to her husband Michael, who has been deployed on a year-long mission to Afghanistan. Michael Haley is captain in the South Carolina National Gov Nikki Haley bids emotional goodbye to Guard; which he husband Michael. Also seen daughter Rena and son Nalin. joined in 2006 and this is his first deployment to family goes through when a loved one is serving his or her country. Afghanistan. He will undergo a month-long This is what our men and women training in Indiana before being in uniform sign up for, and leaving for Afghanistan where he although Michael, like his brothers will be deployed as part of a unit and sisters, is looking forward to that will teach Afghan farmers to his mission, we will miss him while he's away. grow sustainable crops. "Rena, Nalin and I are proud of At the departure ceremony, Nikki Haley and her two children, daugh- Michael and will pray for his - and ter Rena, 14, and son Nalin, 10, all others' - safe return," Nikki were seen hugging Michael and Haley wrote on her Facebook page. "Praying for Nikki Haley's huswiping off tears alongside the families of other departing servicemen band Michael and all of our troops as they serve our country overand women. "We are a proud military family seas," Bobby Jindal, the Governor who understands the sacrifices any of Louisiana said in a tweet.

Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal

tem," Jindal said in a statement. "In order to protect these individuals and the communities they reside in, it is imperative that (we) define situations where mental health eligibility must be reported and when a person would be disqualified from purchasing a firearm," he said. The Governor said the determination about disqualification would be made by a court on the basis of laid out criteria. "Criteria will include whether or not a person is deemed to be a danger to himself, herself or others as a result of mental illness; whether or not a person is deemed incapable of

managing his or her own affairs; whether or not a person has been found not guilty by reason of insanity or other mental disease or defect in a criminal case; whether or not a person has been found guilty but insane in a criminal case; whether or not a person has been found incompetent to stand trial; and whether or a not a person has been formally and involuntarily committed to a mental institution or asylum." The law would define situations when the state may request to have an individual deemed competent by health care professionals removed from the NICS database.

Sudha Rams research reveals how news spreads on Twitter

Washington, DC: An India origin researcher working with the University of Arizona has explained how social media sites like Twiiter act as a tool of spreading news. The answer, according to professor Sudha Ram's research, varies widely by news agency, and there may not be one universally applicable strategy for maximizing Twitter effectiveness. However, news agencies can learn a lot by looking at how their news diffuses once it is posted on Twitter, said Ram, McClelland Professor of Management Information Systems in the UA's Eller College of Management. Ram, who recently presented her findings at the International Workshop on Business Applications of Social Network Analysis in Istanbul, examined, over a six-month period, the Twitter activity of 12 major news organizations focused on U.S. news, global news, technology news or financial news. Ram, working with Devi Bhattacharya, an MIS doctoral student at the UA, tracked what happened to a news article after it was tweeted by a news organization. Together, they looked at how many people retweeted, or reposted, the article on their own Twitter feeds, then how many times it was subsequently retweeted from

Prof Sudha Ram

those accounts and so forth. Of the organizations analyzed, BBC had the maximum reach in terms of affected users and retweet levels. BBC articles also had the highest chance of survival on Twitter, with 0.1 percent of articles surviving, through continual retweets, for three or more days. The BBC's high numbers were likely due in large part to the fact that the main "bbcnews" Twitter account also is supported by two other agency accounts-"bbcbreaking" and "bbcworld," Ram said. Overall, Ram said the data showed that articles on Twitter dissipate fairly quickly, with retweeting typically ending between 10 and 72 hours after an article is originally shared.

January 19-25, 2013

NATIONAL COMMUNITY

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Top US leaders to attend Indiaspora Inaugural Ball

Gov Jack Markell, Gov Martin O'Malley, Gov Deval Patrick, California Attorney General Kamala D Harris, LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Congressman Ami Bera, Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, US Ambassador to Belize Vinai Thumalapally and USAID Chairman Raj Shah, are among the many expected to participate
Washington, DC: The who's who of America, including several governors, lawmakers and government officials, are expected to participate in the 'Indiaspora 2013 Inaugural Ball' being organized by Indian-American community to honor President Barack Obama's second term and highlight the benefits of Indo-US ties. More than 1,000 people are expected to participate in the event on January 19 here. "We want the Indiaspora ball to be more than a fantastic party. Many of Indiaspora's leaders have called for us to raise our voices together with the aim of setting an IndianAmerican policy agenda," said Californiabased M R Rangaswami, the brain behind the first of its kind event. "With hundreds of influential community members in the same room as local, state and national political officials, there will be no better time to start a national conversation," he said. The interest level of the community is very high, Mr Rangaswami said. "People are excited and enthusiastic about getting together this coming weekend in Washington DC." Prominent among those to have confirmed their participation are Senator Mark Warner, who is also Co-Chair of the Senate Caucus; and Congressman Joe Crowley, Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian-Americans. Delaware Governor Jack Markell (Chairman of the National Governors Association); Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick; California Attorney General Kamala D Harris; and Mayor of Los Angeles Antonio Villaraigosa have also confirmed their attendance. Congressman Ami Bera, only the third Indian-American lawmaker ever, and Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, who is the firstever Hindu lawmaker, would also attend the inaugural ball. US Ambassador to Belize, Vinai Thumalapally, the first Indian American to occupy such a post, and USAID Chairman Raj Shah, the highest ranking Indian-American in the Obama Administration, are among the many to participate in the ball from the US government. Mr Rangaswami said the Indiaspora Inaugural Ball will serve as a catalyst for supporting Indian-American candidates at all levels of US government regardless of party affiliation; raising the awareness and resources needed to take care of the underprivileged and "invisibles" in the US community, and a kick-start for Obama's second-term "strategic partnership" with India.

Indiaspora founder M R Rangaswami

"Entertainment will be headlined by Red Baraat, The Mona Khan Company and Shankar Tucker. Food Network star Maneet Chauhan will create an exquisite meal which will be accompanied by exotic Indian drinks," Mr Rangaswami said.

Parminder Singh jumps into Arizona meteor crater to appease gods

New York: Parminder Singh, an Indian American resident of California who was rescued early Jan. 11 from the bottom of a mine shaft in northern Arizona's Meteor Crater reportedly, jumped in to appease the gods,' authorities said. Coconino County Sheriff's officials said Singh told deputies after the eighthour rescue in freezing temperatures that he intentionally jumped into the shaft, which is 100 feet deep and closed to the public. The 28-year-old Singh, of Union City, was reported to be in fair condition at Flagstaff Medical Center. A hospital spokeswoman said Singh was not in any condition to speak to reporters and she would not disclose what injuries he suffered. But sheriff's told them he intentionally jumped into the shaft to appease the gods. Meteor Crater, a tourist attraction 35 miles east of Flagstaff, was created by an asteroid about 50,000 years ago. It is nearly one mile across, 2.4 miles in circumference and about 600 feet deep. An employee at the park called the sheriff's office about 4 p.m. Jan. 10 to report a man trespassing at the bottom of the crater. He then told authorities that he watched through binoculars as the man jumped feet first into the mine shaft, which is surrounded by a sevenfoot-high fence topped with barbed wire. It took hours for rescuers to get to the opening of the mine shaft and they were battling 20-degree temperatures with a wind chill factor of below zero.

Sikh Americans favor tougher gun laws

Washington, DC: The Sikh-American community has lauded President Barack Obama's push for tougher gun laws in the wake of December massacre of 20 children and six teachers at an elementary school in Connecticut. The Sikh community supports Obama's initiative to take measures to stop the proliferation of deadly weapons in the American society, said Rajwant Singh, Chairman of the Sikh council on Religion and Education (SCORE). "Too many innocent people have become victims of these senseless killings," said the community leader who was among the invitees at a White House event Wednesday where the President unveiled the most sweeping gun control proposals in two decades. Urging the Congress to step in and show real leadership in this hour of need, Rajwant Singh said "it's a moral obligation to create safety for all particularly our young ones. " The Sikh community will observe Feb 5, marking six months of the August shooting at a Sikh Gurdwara in Oak Creek, Wisconsin that left six worshipers dead, as a day of prayers for all victims of gun violence in America and will ask congregants to contact their representatives to support gun control legislation. Rajwant Singh was among 12 faith leaders, including a representative of the Hindu American Foundation invited to meet Vice President Joe Biden, who headed a task force set up by Obama to to examine gun control steps after the Newtown shootings. Biden's recommendations formed the basis of the package of proposals Obama announced Wednesday. Rajwant Singh he had suggested to Biden a major educational initiative to teach children against indiscriminate violence with a major push at the state and the federal level. The Sikh community was looking forward to work with the "Obama administration and Congress to find the comprehensive solution that makes our society more secure where we can raise our children free from any fear of violence," he said.

Arizona's meteor crater from where Parminder Singh was rescued spokesman Gerry Blair said deputies believe Singh had a broken arm and a broken leg and some abrasions.' Blair said it was still unclear if Singh came all the way from California just to jump into the vertical mine shaft. During an interview with deputies after the rescue, they reported Singh

Lottery winners death: Family backstory adds dramatic twists

Chicago: In the week since news surfaced that a Chicago man was poisoned to death with cyanide just before he was to collect a lottery payout, surprising details about his convoluted family saga have trickled out daily. Urooj Khan's widow and siblings fought for months over the businessman's estate, including the lottery check. His father-in-law owed tens of thousands of dollars in taxes. His 17-year-old daughter from a previous marriage had moved out of her stepmom's home and into his sister's after his death. Then his ex-wife came forward, announcing in anguish that she hadn't seen her daughter in more than a decade and hadn't even known she was still in the U.S. The slowly emerging family backstory and ever-expanding cast of characters have added layers of intrigue to a baffling case in which authorities have revealed little and everyone is wondering: Who did it? The victim's relatives hint at family squabbles. And Khan's wife, Shabana Ansari, has endured clutches of reporters outside the family home and business, asking even whether it was a lamb or beef curry dinner she made for Khan on the night he died. She's just as curious as anyone else to get to the bottom of what caused her husband's death,' said Al-Haroon Husain, who is representing Ansari in the case that will divide up Khan's estate, including the $425,000 in lottery winnings. Ansari and other relatives have denied any role in his death and expressed a desire to learn the truth.

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US AFFAIRS

January 19-25, 2013

Obamas anti-gun proposals and chances Congress will pass them

Washington: President Obama announced sweeping gun control proposals Wednesday designed to curb mass violence, including new restrictions on guns, efforts to enhance school safety, and improving treatment of mental health issues. Some items will be enacted via executive order while others will require action on Capitol Hill. The Washington Post examined the larger proposals that will require action from Congress and offered educated guess of how likely they are to pass. A ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines: Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) is set to introduce such a ban in the Senate, but its odds of passage dont look that promising right now. Both Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer have expressed doubts, as do conservative Democrats. The National Rifle Association opposes such a ban. But 58 percent Americans in a poll supported a nationwide ban on the sale of assault weapons. So odds of passage: Less than 50 percent. Requiring universal background checks in gun sales: There is better consensus around the issue of strengthening background checks by requiring them in firearm sales at gun shows and in other private transactions, to end the so-called gun show loophole. 88% of Americans support such a measure, including 89 percent of Republicans. Odds of passage: 75 percent or better. Enhancing school safety: The Obama administration is proposing enhancing the physical security of schools and better preparing them to respond to outbreaks of mass violence. The administrations proposal includes a call to put as many as 1,000 trained police officers and school counselors on the job. The administration is leaving the choice to individual school districts. It is also calling on Congress to provide $30 million in one-time grants to states to help school districts shore up emergency management plans. Overall, few Americans seem to disagree with the idea that school safety must be beefed up. The differences arise when it comes to the specifics. The Washington Post-ABC News poll showed, for example, that most support putting armed guards in every school which is the idea the NRA has put forth. Odds of passage: Very good.

New York first state to pass tough gun laws since Sandy Hook
Albany, NY: New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a package of tougher gun measures Tuesday, soon after the state Assembly voted to bolster the state's ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. The Democrat-dominated Assembly passed the provision Tuesday by a 104-43 vote after the state Senate approved it by a wide margin late Monday. The signing makes New York the first state to enact tighter restrictions on guns after the Dec. 14 massacre in Newtown, Conn., in which 28 people died including 20 children. "I am proud to be a New Yorker today," Cuomo said shortly before signing the bill. "I am proud to be part of this government, not just because New York has the first bill, but because New York has the best bill." The gun-control package makes changes and additions to a broad swath of state law, ranging from requiring universal background checks for all gun and ammunition sales, boosting the state's power to confiscate firearms from the mentally ill and increasing penalties for gunrelated crime. The new laws provide for an immediate ban on semiautomatic rifles, shotguns and pistols with a "militarystyle feature," such as a flash suppressor or a bayonet mount. Guns that had been legal but are being banned would be grandfathered in, but their owners must register their firearms with the state or sell them out of state within one year. Magazines are limited to a maximum capacity of seven bullets, down from the current 10. The legislation includes a "Webster provision," a lifewithout-parole sentence for anyone convicted of killing a first responder. The provision is a reference to the Christmas Eve shooting in a Rochester, N.Y., suburb where two firefighters were shot and killed.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo signing the gun control law An additional provision permits gun licensees to opt out of having their personal information available to the public under the state's Freedom of Information law. It was inserted in response to a controversy that erupted after Journal News (Westchester, N.Y.) published an interactive map with names and addresses of handgun-permit holders in two suburban New York counties. For the first 120 days of the new law, no information on gun licenses will be available to the public, then the optout provision will take effect. People who already have licenses will be able to fill out a form at their county clerks' offices to opt out. Criticism from gun rights advocates and a number of Republicans in the state Legislature was swift. The National Rifle Association, which had previously labeled Cuomo as "America's most-anti-gun governor," expressed "outrage" at the "draconian gun-control bill that was rushed through the process."

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January 19-25, 2013

US AFFAIRS

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Panetta vows to rescue US hostages in Algeria We are not a deadbeat nation: Obama
Washington: The US Defense Secretary, Leon Panetta, has pledged to "take all necessary steps" to rescue American hostages taken by terrorists who took over a natural gas plant in Algeria, Xinhua reported. "I want to assure the American people that the United States will take all necessary and proper steps that are required to deal with this situation," Panetta was quoted by the American Forces Press Service as telling the US reporters travelling with him on his current visit to Rome. The US defense chief arrived in Rome Tuesday on a six-day trip to Europe to visit defense counterparts and troops. He said the US strongly condemns these kinds of terrorist acts. "It is a very serious matter when Americans are taken hostage, along with others." Panetta said he did not know how many Americans were being held by the terrorists, but noted that the US and British authorities -- the natural gas complex is partly owned by British Washington: Declaring that America is not a deadbeat nation, President Barack Obama has asked the US Congress to raise the debt ceiling while making it clear that he would not negotiate with the opposition Republicans over the issue. Raising the debt ceiling is not a license to spend more money, Obama said Monday at the last press conference of his first term. Rather, he said, it would allow Treasury to pay financial obligations already authorized by lawmakers. "America cannot afford another debate with this Congress about whether or not they should pay the bills they've already racked up. ... We are not a deadbeat nation." But Republicans, who control the House of Representatives, appear to be equally adamant, saying they would not support a debt ceiling increase unless it is matched or exceeded by spending cuts. "The consequences of failing to increase the debt ceiling are real, but so too are the consequences of allowing our spending problem to go unresolved," said Republican House Speaker John Boehner in response to the president's comments. Meanwhile, the Treasury Department followed up Obama's call with a missive to Congressional leaders saying it will run out of ways to keep the country under the legal borrowing limit sometime between midFebruary and early March. US borrowing officially hit its $16.394 trillion legal limit Dec 31. As a result, until the debt ceiling is raised, Treasury is not allowed to borrow new money to help it pay all the country's financial obligations. To cover near-term borrowing needs, Treasury has begun using "extraordinary measures", or cash management through selective payments, to harvest $200 billion. "If extraordinary measures were allowed to expire without an increase in borrowing authority, Treasury would be left to fund the government solely with the cash we have on hand on any given day," Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner said in a letter to congressional leaders.

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta

Petroleum -- are in close consultation with their Algerian counterparts to learn as much as possible. Panetta said he was not sure whether there was a link between the terrorist attack in Algeria and the French military operation in Mali, where France launched air strikes against militants that he identified as affiliated with alQaida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM).

Stating that he had spoken with European government and defense leaders in Portugal, Spain and Italy about the situation in Mali, Panetta said: "I believe that there is a consensus that France took the right step here to ... deter AQIM from taking even further action there." He noted that European defense ministers would hold a meeting Thursday to discuss ongoing assistance in Mali.

Facebook launches As ZeroDarkThirty captivates audiences, director defends torture scenes new search tool
Washington: After the Oscar-winning "The Hurt Locker" on the Iraq war, Kathryn Bigelow now brings one of the world's greatest manhunts in "Zero Dark Thirty", key sequences of which have been shot in India. Though the director admits it is a sensitive topic as it involves Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, she says it "has been sensibly and cautiously made". "Zero Dark Thirty" chronicles the decadelong hunt for Al Qaeda leader Osama after the September 2001 attacks and his death at the hands of the Navy SEAL Team 6 in Abbotabad, Pakistan, in May 2011. "Yes, it is sensitive topic, which has been sensibly and cautiously made, which the people can judge for themselves. The movie is not for anyone or against any one; it has no agenda. It is a very neutral depiction of what happened during the world's greatest manhunt," Bigelow said. "The movie is based on a first-hand

Washington: Social media giant Facebook has unveiled a new tool -- Graph Search -- to enable users in conducting targeted searches for people, places, photos and interests on the site. "You should theoretically be able to ask Facebook 'Who are my friends who live in San Francisco?' and Graph Search should be able to return an answer to you," Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg told reporters Tuesday. Facebook's Graph Search photo component is the first of its kind for the California- based tech company. "Photos will be surfaced based on the query, and then based on the number of likes and comments," said Lars Rasmussen, Facebook's director of engineering. "For example, you can look up photos of friends taken in Paris, or even photos of friends taken in national parks," he said. Want Thai food in New York City? The new tool will let users see which friends have dined where, and which restaurants were "Liked" by friends. And using natural language search terms such as "friends who like college football", Graph Search is also able to comb through the billions of "Likes" to curate results, a tool that advertisers might find useful, experts said. "You can only search for content that has been shared with you," Zuckerberg said, adding that a message will appear on users' Newsfeeds to remind them to review their privacy settings before the product begins to roll out this week.

Kathryn Bigelow

account; so we have tried to keep the cinematic version of it as accurate as possible. This is a naturally dramatic and exciting story and, as

you know, it is one of the biggest manhunt story ever. This is a story told by the people who lived and encountered the hunt," she added. Now, however, Bigelow has had to defend her use of the torture scenes in the film after audiences and senators alike have called her out on their nature. In response, Bigelow released an open letter. "Experts disagree sharply on the facts and particulars of the intelligence hunt, and doubtlessly that debate will continue," the 61year-old Bigelow writes. "As for what I personally believe, which has been the subject of inquiries, accusations and speculation, I think Osama bin Laden was found due to ingenious detective work. Torture was, however, employed in the early years of the hunt. That doesn't mean it was the key to finding Bin Laden. It means it is a part of the story we couldn't ignore." The film has done well so far and last month won four Golden Globe nominations.

Lance Armstrong admits doping to Oprah Winfrey

Washington: Cycling superstar Lance Armstrong, who overcame cancer to win the Tour de France seven consecutive times, and has defiantly denied using performanceenhancing drugs, has admitted to doping in an interview with talk show host Oprah Winfrey. "I think he was just, ready. I think the velocity of everything that's come at him in the past several months and the past several weeks, he was just ready," Winfrey told "CBS This Morning" Tuesday. The interview - taped in Austin, Texas Monday - is scheduled to air over the course of two nights, beginning Thursday on Winfrey's OWN network. Last year, the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) stripped Armstrong of all the titles he had won since 1998 and announced a lifetime ban from all sports that follow the gram that sport has ever seen". In an effort to reduce the ban, Armstrong is set to testify against officials from the International Cycling Union, which governs the sport, The New York Times reported, citing "people with knowledge of the situation". CBS News reported Armstrong is negotiating the possible return of a portion of money his team - sponsored by the US Postal Service - received, an amount said to be in the millions. Winfrey described Armstrong as "emotional" at times during the interview, telling CBS that "emotional doesn't begin to describe the intensity of the difficulty that I think he experienced in talking about some of these things". She also called it "certainly the biggest interview I've ever done in terms of its exposure".

Fallen cycling star Lance Armstrong

World Anti-Doping Agency code. The USADA found in its report that as a champion cyclist, Armstrong took part in and helped enforce "the most sophisticated, professionalized and successful doping pro-

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

INDIA

January 19-25, 2013

11

Chautala, son convicted in graft case

(junior basic training) teachers. The Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) chief and son Ajay, both Haryana legislators, were taken into custody immediately after the ruling by the Central Bureau of Investigation court in Rohini. The court also convicted 53 others for the illegal recruitment of over 3,000 JBT teachers. The court will pronounce the sentence on Jan 22. The CBI had formally charged the father-son duo and others June 6, 2008, in connection with the scam that took place in 1999-2000 when Chautala was chief minister of Haryana. Over 3,000 teachers were to be recruited in the state and Chautala had pressurized a senior official, Sanjeev Kumar, to change the list of selected candidates by fudging the marks of certain favorites. Later, Sanjeev Kumar went to the Supreme Court and submitted before it the list of the candidates originally selected. The official also alleged that money had changed hands in the recruitment scam. The Supreme Court directed the CBI to investigate the matter, especially the bribery charges. The federal investigating agency in its chargesheet said forged documents were used to appoint the teachers. Although Chautala alleged that he was politically victimized, the Rohini court convicted him in the case. Son of former deputy Prime Minister Devi Lal, Chautala is the leader of opposition in the Haryana assembly. The INLD was earlier part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Chautala and his two sons -- Ajay Singh Chautala and Abhey Singh Chautala -- are legislators in the Haryana assembly. He was the chief minister of Haryana between 1999-2005.

Chautala's fallout: Haryana teachers' fate uncertain

Chandigarh: The fate of hundreds of teachers in government schools in Haryana has become uncertain with the conviction of former chief minister Om Prakash Chautala, his son and 53 others in the JBT (junior basic trained) recruitment controversy. Chautala and others were convicted for tampering with the selection list of over 3,200 teachers recruited in 1999-2000 when he was chief minister and selecting them on the basis of bribes, nepotism and favoritism. Senior functionaries in the government maintained that a decision on the fate of the selected teachers, who have been in government service for over 12 years, will be decided by the present Congress government led by Bhupinder Singh Hooda only after receiving a copy of the judgment of the Rohini CBI court. "We will evaluate the court order and then the government will decide the next course of action," said Education Minister Geeta Bhukkal. Some of the selected teachers had in fact gone to the Punjab and Haryana high court to seek promotions. A senior education department officer said the government and the education department will have to look into all the aspects, including the fate of the wrong selections as well as those who were left out of the selection to accommodate the favorites.

A CBI court convicted them in a recruitment scam involving JBT (junior basic training) teachers New Delhi: Former Haryana chief minister Om Prakash Chautala and his son Ajay were taken into police custody after a CBI court convicted them in a recruitment scam involving JBT

Akbar Owaisi produced in Medak court

Hyderabad: MIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi was produced in a court in Medak district in connection with a case booked against him in 2005. The leader of Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen leader, who was arrested and jailed last week for making a hate speech, was brought to Sangareddy town from Adilabad district jail. He was produced in the court, which adjourned the hearing to Jan 28. The court had issued Prisoner Transit (PT) warrant against him in connection with a 2005 case for obstructing officials from carrying out the demolition of a place of worship to facilitate road extension. He had allegedly misbehaved with then Medak district collector at Muttangi village. Sangareddy is about 55 km from Hyderabad, while Adilabad is some 290 km away from the state capital. Several MIM workers who had gathered at the court complex raised slogans when Akbar Owaisi was brought there amid tight security. Police used force to disperse them. Akbar Owaisi was having difficulty in walking and was seen keeping one hand on his stomach, indicating that he was in pain. MIM leader Afsar Khan said the legislator was not well and alleged that he was not being given proper treatment. Akbar Owaisi, a member of the Andhra Pradesh assembly from Chandrayangutta constituency in
Akbar Owaisi is facing charges of sedition, waging war against the nation and criminal conspiracysic training) teachers

the old city of Hyderabad, is facing charges of sedition, waging war against the nation and criminal conspiracy.

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January 19-25,2013

INDIA

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

After a week full of tension across Line of Control (LoC), India and Pakistan have finally agreed to maintain peace after the beheading of two Indian soldiers by Pakistan troops that angered the nation; US wants amicable solution through peaceful dialogue

Ball is in Pakistan's court

New Delhi: Pakistan has to take concrete steps to reduce tensions in the wake of the outrage over the killing of two Indian soldiers near the Line of Control, one of whom was beheaded, security analysts say. They also asserted that India's "no business as usual" move towards its neighbor was a reflection of public sentiment. On January 17, Indian and Pakistani forces agreed to maintain peace on the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir after days of bitter stand-off that had threatened their uneasy ties. The two armies agreed not to violate the 2003 ceasefire on the LoC, an officer said. "The DGMOs (Director General of Military Operations) of India and Pakistan had a 10 minute talk in the morning and agreed not to violate the ceasefire and exercise maximum restraint," an Indian Army spokesperson told IANS. The DGMOs agreed not to allow the situation along the LoC, which divides Kashmir between India and Pakistan, to escalate, he added. Former Intelligence Bureau chief Ajit Doval said it was for Pakistan to address India's concerns over the killing of its soldiers, through proper follow-up action that India could verify. "The ball is in Pakistan's court. If it takes suitable measures, the situation can be de-escalated. That would be in the interest of both countries," Doval said. "It will necessitate some concrete and verifiable actions by Pakistan rather than mere assurances," he said. Doval said Pakistan needed to stop violating the Line of Control. It must also act to trace the culprits responsible for killing and mutilating Indian soldiers, he said. "Somebody is responsible, and Pakistan needs to take action," he said. Lance Naik Sudhakar Singh and Lance Naik Hemraj were killed and their bodies mutilated in the Mendhar sector in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir Jan 8. Hemraj's head was missing from the body, and there is concern that it might have been taken away as a trophy by the raiders. Pakistan has denied any involvement in the killings, and accused Indian forces of killing two of its soldiers - one on Jan 6 and another four days later. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said there can be "no business as usual" with Pakistan. He called on the neighboring country to ensure that those responsible for the barbaric and heinous act be brought to book. Indian Army chief General Bikram Singh termed the Jan 8 incident a "gruesome and an unpardonable act". He said his forces could not be expected to remain passive, and would reserve the right to retaliate at a time and place of their choosing. Doval said that besides bringing those responsible for the gruesome
The two armies have agreed not to violate the 2003 ceasefire on the Line of Control

Khar calls for talks with Khurshid

Islamabad: Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar has called for talks with her Indian counterpart Salman Khurshid, saying that continued tension along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir region was not in the interest of South Asian peace. Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar Stating that Pakistan had gone out of the way Manmohan Singh said that there to build constructive relationship can be "no business as usual" with with India, Khar said: "We have Pakistan following the brutal invested hugely in the dialogue killing of two Indian soldiers. Indian Army chief General process and have worked energetically to keep the dialogue process Bikram Singh termed the killing moving forward in a sustained and of the Indian soldiers "an unpardonable act" and said his forces constructive manner." Earlier, Prime Minister reserved the "right to retaliate".

act to book, Pakistan must also offer India an assurance that such "inhuman activities" would not happen again. The prime minister's remarks reflected the mood of the people over the incident and the subsequent denial by Pakistan, Doval said. Former foreign secretary Shashank said the prime minister's remarks were cautious, and the government was still waiting for a response from Pakistan to the concerns raised. He said that it was now up to Pakistan to decide if it wanted to move ahead in bilateral relationship. "Pakistan has to take the initia-

tive now, and India has to respond," he said, adding: "We have to prepare ourselves for any eventuality." With tension persisting on the LoC over ceasefire violations, the government put on hold the Visaon-Arrival (VoA) regime for senior citizens of Pakistan. Its players in the Hockey India League (HIL) have also been asked to go back. External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid had made it clear that the government would not ignore the brazen denial and the lack of a proper response from Pakistan to India's demarches over the Jan 8 incident. He said bilateral relations could not remain unaffected.

US favors India-Pakistan dialogue

Washington: The United States has said it favors a dialogue between India and Pakistan as the "right way" to resolve tensions over the killing of two Indian soldiers along the Line of Control in Kashmir. "We favor dialogue between India and Pakistan on this issue in any and all channels that both governments consider appropriate," State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland told reporters in response to a question. "That's the right way to work through this," she added. Nuland said US was concerned about the violence along the LoC, but was encouraged that the two countries had recommitted to a dialogue to calm the situation.

Pakistan firing hits life on Kashmir border

Poonch : Life has turned full circle for many villagers whose homes virtually hug Jammu and Kashmir's porous border with Pakistan. With the Indian and Pakistani militaries locked in fresh shelling and firing, and with tensions peaking, panic has gripped the villages, which had been breathing easy since the 2003 truce. "They (villagers close to the border) are fearing a collapse of the ceasefire agreement (between India and Pakistan)," said a Poonch resident, Aijaz Kazmi. Hashim Din, 75, of Khari hamlet recalled what life was like before the two countries decided to sign a cattle and damage our homes." In the process, fields were not farmed. People preferred to build mud houses instead of concrete ones due to frequent firing. The 2003 ceasefire changed all that. But the bliss is over, for now. After Pakistan accused India of killing a soldier on Jan 6, two Indian soldiers were killed in Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistani raiders beheaded one and took away his head, and mutilated the other soldier's body. Since then, Pakistan says it has lost two more soldiers to Indian firing. Many of the villages -- also called hamlets because of their size -- are located close to the border, so close that one can see movements of troops and people across the LoC. Each hamlet is home to 150 to 200 people, dominantly Sunni Muslims. The Indian Army posts are not far away. Already, the Pakistani Army has breached the truce 10 times this year, compared to 117 last year and 61 in 2011. Indians say that Pakistani forces open fire at Indian posts to help terrorists to sneak into Jammu and Kashmir. Chand Mohammad, a 45-yearold farmer in Salotri village, said children in the border hamlets had stopped going to schools "as their route is exposed to shelling".

The Pakistani Army has breached the truce 10 times this year

truce along the winding LoC. "Earlier we led a life of animals," Din said over telephone. "We had

to frequently migrate to safer areas during firing across the LoC. The firing would kill people and our

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

INDIA

January 19-25, 2013

13

Congress 'Chintan Shivir' to counter BJP

New Delhi: Faced with a direct contest with the BJP in five assembly polls this year and in the 2014 general elections, the Congress is set to discuss ways to counter the main opposition party at its 'Chintan Shivir' brainstorming session from Jan 18-20 at Jaipur, party sources said. Aimed at paving the way for the return of the Congress-led United Progresive Alliance for a third consecutive term in 2014, the conclave is expected to draw a roadmap for the party to counter the BJP in the assembly polls and the Lok Sabha elections. "We need a strategy to counter the main opposition (BJP) in the assembly polls and the general elections," a senior Congress leader who did not wish to be named said. vote for new assemblies but there no direct Congress-BJP challenge here. During the conclave, a subgroup on future political challenges is expected to deliberate Jan 18-19 on the possible strategy and this will then be discussed at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) session Jan 20, sources said. The recent win in the Himachal Pradesh assembly polls proved to be a leveller for the Congress. However, the party failed to dent the prospects of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi in the Dec 2012 assembly polls. The Congress has been out of power in Gujarat since 1995, and could only increase its tally from 59 in 2007 to 61 in 2012 in the 182-member House. While returning to power for the fourth time in a row in Delhi could be an uphill task for Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, a divided Congress in Madhya Pradesh may yet find it difficult to stop Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan from performing a hattrick in 2013. The Congress is not too strong in Chhattisgarh either. Karnataka, which goes to polls mid-year, is the only hope for the Congress, which should not find it difficult to defeat a divided Bharatiya Janata Party led by Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar. The exit from the BJP of former chief minister and strongman B.S. Yeddyurappa, who now heads his Karnataka Janata Party, is expected to further dent the party's vote share.

Assembly elections are due this year in Delhi, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh

Assembly elections are due this year in Delhi, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. While the Congress rules in Delhi and

Rajasthan, the BJP is in power in the other three states. Four states in the northeast Meghalaya, Nagaland, Tripura and Mizoram - are also set to

Govt's clean chit to Team Anna

New Delhi: The Center conceded before the Delhi High Court that it found nothing to warrant a criminal investigation in its inquiry into utilization of foreign funds by a few NGOs affiliated to anti-graft activist Anna Hazare's civil society organization. In a status report filed before the bench of Chief Justice D Murugesan and Justice V K Jain, the ministry of home affairs (MHA) said NGOs Navjyoti Indian Foundation and India Vision Foundation run by Kiran Bedi and NGO Kabir run by Manish Sisodia did receive foreign funds, but these were not used for any political activity or the India Against Corruption (IAC) movement. The government said technical irregularities were found relating to accounting. "Inspections were carried out in August and also in November 2012 under Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) and FCR Rules and some irregularities were found," the report says. "These irregularities are not serious enough at this stage to warrant a criminal investigation. During inspection no documentary proof

Police question Swami Kamalananda Bharati

Hyderabad: Police Hyderabad. began questioning The same day, he Hindu religious was sent to judicial leader Swami custody for 14 days. Kamalananda Bharati Police booked a in connection with a case against him for hate speech he delivpromoting enmity ered at a rally here between different last week. groups on grounds of The Special religion and perInvestigation Team forming acts detri(SIT) took custody of mental to communal Bharati on Thursday harmony. morning from Meanwhile, a Cherlapally Jail. group of Hindu reliA city court had gious leaders called Swami Kamlananda Bharati sent Bharati to two on home minister days police custody while dismissing his Sabita Indra Reddy to demand Bharati's bail petition. The questioning will continue release, alleging that a false case was on Friday. booked against him. Bharati, president of Hindu Devalaya Another group of leaders launched a Parirakshana Samithi, which works for pro- hunger strike at Banjara Hills police station tecting Hindu temples, was arrested on demanding that they be allowed to meet Monday in Srisailam and brought to Governor ESL Narasimhan.

The government had said technical irregularities were found relating to accounting of foreign funds in the records of the association was found to show the use of the fund in any such political activity or in India Against Corruption (IAC) movement or agitation," said the MHA report. The government said during inspection of India Vision Foundation's accounts last November, it was found that the organization maintained as many as 15 bank accounts, including FCRA designated bank account, and it frequently withdrew foreign contribution.

Pro-Telangana students disrupt Seemandhra meet

Hyderabad: Police arrested dozens of proTelangana students here as they tried to disrupt a meeting of Seemandhra leaders, opposing the proposed division of Andhra Pradesh. Students belonging to Osmania University and activists of the Telangana Jagruthi, cultural arm of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), tried to barge into the high-security Ministers' Quarters in Banjara Hills to stop the meeting of Congress party leaders of Seemandhra (Rayalaseema and Andhra regions). Raising slogans of 'Jai Telangana', the students said they would not allow any meeting which is aimed at stalling formation of Telangana state. As tension mounted, police arrested the protestors and bundled them into waiting vehicles. Later, activists, including from Telangana Jagruthi, tried to lay siege to the Ministers' Quarters but were arrested. The protestors, including women, said they would not tolerate attempts by Seemandhra leaders to stop formation of a Telangana state. The leaders from Seemandhra, including ministers and legislators, are meeting to chalk out their future course of action amid indications that the centre will soon take a decision to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh. Telangana Joint Action Committee (JAC), comprising various pro-Telangana groups, began day-long silent protest to demand the centre to make an announcement for carving out Telangana state by Jan 28. After the Dec 28 all-party meet on Telangana, union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said a decision on the issue would be taken within a month. Leaders of various political parties and representatives of the groups of government employees, lawyers and journalists are participating in the silent protest at Telangana Martyrs' Memorial, Gun Park near state assembly building.

Protests, placards mark a month of Delhi gangrape

New Delhi: Over hundred people protesting the Dec 16 gruesome gang-rape marched to Jantar Mantar with lit candles to silently mark one month since the crime was committed. "Today we remember the braveheart who died after fighting for her life for several days," said Radhika, who has been joining protests at Jantar Mantar since Dec 20. People lit candles and marched towards Parliament Street. However, they were prevented by policemen from moving beyond Jantar Mantar. "We are holding a peaceful protest which we will continue till there is justice for the woman who has died. We want justice, and we want amendment in laws dealing with rape," said Nupur Sharma, a college student. Among the protesters was former woman Indian Police Service officer Kiran Bedi. Bedi demanded a social audit of the police forces and the judiciary. "We should demand

People lit candles to silently mark one month since the crime was committed that gender sensitivity be taught in schools and colleges," Bedi said. "We should teach our daughters to be brave," Bedi said, as she remembered the 23year-old student of physiotherapy who died Dec 29 in a Singapore hospital after battling for life for over a week after being brutally raped by six men in a moving bus Dec 16.

14

January 19-25,2013

OP-ED

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

A prospective PM cannot be a part-timer

By Amulya Ganguli y disappearing during the widespread popular protests in Delhi against the gang-rape and death of a 23-year-old paramedical student, Rahul Gandhi hasn't done his prime ministerial chances any good. The upheaval posed a major challenge to the government and the party, forcing them to appoint a committee to stiffen the penal provisions on rape, and another to probe the lapses into the police response to the barbaric incident. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi also broke with protocol to go to the airport to receive the girl's body when it was flown in from Singapore. But, even as the country was exercised not only over the brutal incident but also over the rising cases of violence against women, the heir apparent, who has been widely touted as the person to replace Manmohan Singh in 2014, was nowhere to be seen. He only issued a brief message of condolence from behind the scenes before falling silent even as the turmoil continued with the tragic incident being discussed night after night on television and the ruling party fending off the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) demand for a special session of par-

Rahul Gandhi may still make it to the top, but the country will look upon his ascent with skepticism in the wake of his latest disappearing act. liament. Rahul's absence was felt all the more because it was the younger generation which played a leading role in expressing outrage over the tragedy and the seemingly tardy official and political response as well as the earlier callousness of the establishment towards the deteriorating social scene. What Rahul's absence showed at a time when the entire central vista of the national capital was sealed to keep out the protesters was his lack of interest in playing a key role in politics and administration. A few months ago, a union minister had ruefully said that the young general secretary had been playing only a few "cameo roles" instead of being more proactive. But, this time, he did not enter the stage at all. There may be two reasons for such indifference. One is that having risen to a No.2 position in the party by virtue of his lineage and, therefore, without having to strike for

it, his political instincts have been dulled. The other is that he may have been disheartened by some of the failures in his political forays, notably in Uttar Pradesh, and earlier in Bihar, and more recently in Gujarat, which shows that he lacks the NehruGandhi family's match-winning charisma. There may be a third reason, which is that Rahul is not a political animal. Politics is not his natural arena, which explains why he does not attend parliament regularly. He has been pushed into the field by his mother for the sake of continuing the family's traditional occupation. But he remains a debutant who shows no signs of becoming a mature player. As much is evident from his desultory efforts to carve out a path of his own, but with no clear idea of what he wants to achieve. Hence his exercises in slumming, as it were, when he spent a night or two in Dalit homes with a bottle of mineral water and then lost interest in whatever he had in mind. Or his endeavors to democratize the party by favoring internal elections, which can seem strange for someone who is the prime beneficiary of a feudal culture to try to do. He may still make it to the top, but the rest of the country will look upon his ascent with skepticism in the wake of his latest disappearing act.

'Sangam' of technology and tradition at Kumbh

By Mohit Dubey t was a rare 'sangam' of technology and tradition on day one of Maha Kumbh 2013 with Google map integration, GPS and 'flying cameras' making their advent in the 55-day festival, the biggest religious congregation anywhere in the world that is estimated to draw tens of millions from India and around the world. The Uttar Pradesh government has also spent about Rs.1.17 crore on 13 gigantic LED screens, which dot the mela premises at vantage points in this north India town that is playing host to the mega event. These screens, some fixed and some on moving trucks, relayed events like the bathing and 'aartis' to faithfuls, who could not make it to the Sangam - the sacred confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati rivers - in this Uttar Pradesh town. The other attraction, also a first, are the 'flying cameras' that have been positioned by the mela administration to click high definition aerial shots of the tents, sadhu camps and the multitude. Millions of people are expected to congregate each day and cameras will record the devotees flocking to the 18 pontoon bridges

An interactive map online shows how the 4,000 Kumbh Mela camps have been allotted in the 193.5 hectare campus. Sector markets, sector offices, ration shops and key religious places are also marked. constructed to ease the flow of people as they converge on the Sangam area, Arail and Jhoosi. Rakesh Sharma, the chief executive officer of Prabhatam, the company that has set up the media center for national and international media, said 10 OB vans have been stationed at the Sangam nose and would be telecasting live pictures. The feed would later be distributed free of cost to the televisions channels and whoever seeks to keep them. In addition, 30 computers, all connected to broadband and printers and scanners have also been provided to the media. Also, in a first, the mela administration has gone in for Google map integration of the whole township. Every inch of space, officials say, has been accounted for. Through the global positioning system (GPS), the employees are surveying the land and all information collated has been put up on the website for easy access to journalists and other visitors. The seers are equipped too. At many 'akhadaas', as each community of different sadhu sects are called, the holy men and their disciples are not only carrying latest gadgets like Android mobile phones, tablet note books and broadband connecting dongles, some vehicles of these sects, including a fleet of Mercedes, have GPS technology installed "just in case they get lost". An interactive map has been made online wherein one can see how the 4,000 camps have been allotted in the 193.5 hectare sprawling campus. In these maps, details of the sector markets, sector offices, ration shops and important religious places has been given. The state government has also taken the opportunity to highlight its own achievements at the once in 12-year event billed the largest gathering of people in the world. Small advertisements of the state government, highlighting the achievements of the 10-month-old Akhilesh Yadav government were also displayed. Shiva, in-charge of the Mumbai based company that put up these screens, was happy at the crowds gathered around the screen. With all this technology in place, one visitor remarked, it would indeed be impossible for anyone to get lost in the Kumbh mela -- a staple of many a lost and found theme in Hindi films.

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

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

HERITAGE

January 19-25, 2013

15

Rashtrapati Bhavan is now more accessible to public

Pranab Mukherjee, the 13th President of India, has made it his mission to make the imposing presidential palace as open as possible to people.

Rashtrapati Bhavan is illumined for Republic Day. This central Delhi landmark is becoming a draw for visitors.

The Durbar Hall inside the Bhavan has been remodeled at the behest of the current occupant, President Pranab Mukherjee. It is now open to public.

New Delhi: Rashtrapati Bhavan, the imposing presidential palace spread over 130 hectares in the heart of this capital city, has become a more accessible place for tourists and common people of India. Pranab Mukherjee, who became the 13th President of India on July 25 last year, said his mission was to make the place as "open as possible to people, including children." All one needs to do is to log on to the internet and make an advance booking for any of the three days it is open to the public every weekend. Previously, one had to physically go to Rashtrapati Bhavan to make a booking. The new system has seen footfalls spiral from 500 over three days on an average last year to nearly 1,600 over the same period, with a cap of 700 visitors per day, an official said. A media tour through Rashtrapati Bhavan threw up

interesting sights of groups of foreign tourists being escorted by young scholar-guides through the Durbar Hall, the Marble Hall, the south and north drawing rooms, the museum, library and banquet hall. Explaining the growing popularity of the president's abode on the capital's sight-seeing map, the official said: "We have been receiving online reservations from around the world. We have thrown open new galleries and the front entrance of Rashtrapati Bhavan. The sale of souvenirs at the memento shop has increased." For the media on Tuesday, it was a landmark tour. "For the first time, the media has been allowed inside Rashtrapati Bhavan other than the designated areas," the official said. Visitors have a choice of two guided tours around the premises. The interiors were a revelation. The grand British-style decor and

The Ashoka hall is often used for cabinet swearing in ceremonies and other important state events.

the furniture have been spruced up in a mega restoration drive to bring the Bhavan back to its original glory. The main library is the focus of the restoration drive. Nearly 24,000 books and manuscripts are in queue for digitization - 4,000 having been archived during the tenure of President A.P.J Abdul Kalam. President Mukherjee is taking personal interest in bringing a semblance of order to the library. "Dr Kalam had initiated many good projects and created infrastructure. I am ensuring that they are utilized. The Rashtrapati Bhavan auditorium which he inaugurated in 2007 is being used regularly," Mukherjee said while interacting with the media. The decision to build the 340room mansion -- the erstwhile residence of the British viceroy - was taken in 1911 when the British decided to shift their capital from Kolkata to New Delhi. Designed by Edward Landseer Lutyens, it took 17 years to build the abode at a cost then of Rs. 1.28 crore. The most distinguishing aspect of Rashtrapati Bhavan is its dome, which is superimposed on its structure. It is visible as the most eye-catching round roof with a circular base in the heart of Delhi. The presidential art collection that begins at the Durbar Hall - the public assembly space - with a 5th century statue of Lord Buddha and an Ashokan edict is being catalogued and dusted. The private collection comprising art by masters like Jamini Roy and Jogen Chowdhury has been mounted in a dedicated art gallery that will open for viewing soon, an official said.

The collection that adorns the walls of the presidential abode is a veritable treasure chest with commissioned portraits of all the Indian presidents and East India Company paintings of India in the 19th century. The artworks complement the art deco furniture of the British Raj - in gilded golden metal, ornate hard wood, rich upholstery and soft carpets. The south and the north drawing rooms - where the dignitaries call on the president - shine like jewels out of time with ornamental chairs, richly inlaid tables, colorful portraits and expensive paneling. Two of the most exciting features of the president's house are the kitchen museum and the Marble Hall that draw steady streams of visitors. Set up by Kalam when he was president, the kitchen museum is a virtual walk through the pantry and culinary traditions of

Rashtrapati Bhavan with laid-out tables, British-era cutlery and pots and pans used by the crew. The Marble Hall is a gallery of marble who's who from modern Indian history - including two single marble sculptures of King George V and Queen Mary - the founding forces behind Lutyen's Delhi as the country's political capital. The Mughal Gardens modeled on the Persian style 'char bagh' is yet to burst into its riot of colorful blooms. But a fleet of gardeners is hard at work to ready it for a spring gala. A single black rose on a freshly pruned black pearl rose bush against the pink backdrop of the presidential home serves as a reminder of the mystique that hangs like an aura around the country's domed echelon. Last year, nearly 700,000 people visited the Mughal Gardens alone when it opened for viewing in February, the official said.

Modeled on the Persian style 'char bagh', the Mughal Gardens in the presidential estate is a riot of color in spring when it is opened to the public.

16

January 19-25, 2013

RELIGION

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Maha Kumbh: Over 10 million take holy dip

Allahabad: Millions of devout Hindus, led by naked ascetics with ash smeared on their bodies, plunged into the frigid waters of the Ganga on January 14. Divisional Commissioner of Allahabad Devesh Chaturvedi said that the first day with record devotees passed off peacefully. Elaborate arrangements were made on the VIP ghat, where the 13 sects of sadhus lead bathers in a mutually agreed sequence. The fraternity was led by Maha Nirvani Akhada and was followed by Niranjani, Anand, Juna and Bairagi akahadas, among others. As the clock struck five, heavily decked-up chariots, some in silver and gold, wound their way to the Sangam, with hundreds following in procession on foot, beating drums and blowing conch shells. There was a mad frenzy in the foreign and national media, with photographers rushing to get winner shots of the naked, ashsmeared Naga sadhus jumping into the chilly waters of the

The holy dip on day one was led by Maha Nirvani Akhada and was followed by Niranjani, Anand, Juna and Bairagi akahadas

The world's largest gathering of people, the 55-day Maha Kumbh congregation, began in the north India town of Allahabad with over a crore people, led by the ash-smeared Naga ascetics, taking a dip at the Sangam the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati river
Misra said that arrangements had been made to ensure that the Ganges flowed "well and clean" during the major bathing days. A special team of 10,000 sweepers have been pressed into service to keep the area clean. "Deep water barricading has been done and an extensive presence of 'jal' police has also been

Ganga. Before they did so, the sadhus danced and threw garlands at the press gallery in gay abandon, waving to hundreds of followers on the other side. Carrying silver tridents, maces, axes and swords, some of the sadhus with flowing beards said that they felt on top of the world as they "touched mother Ganges".

"This is an electrifying moment," said a visibly elated 75year-old Mokshanand from Vrindavan, who said he this was his seventh Kumbh in a row. Several rows of sand bags have been piled up on the three-km 'bathing stretch', said Mani Prasad Misra, the 'mela adhikari', incharge of Kumbh 2013.

pressed into service to avoid mishaps," Additional Director General of Police (ADG) Law and Order Arun Kumar said. Policemen from Uttar Pradesh and neighbouring Uttarakhand were on vigil. Many policemen were seen blowing whistles to keep crowds in order, while some were spotted showing lost devotees the way. While some thought of the large crowd as a "spiritual mayhem", there were those who bit their nails as they watched Naga sadhus into the water. For the hundreds who have not been able to reach the bathing sites, 13 huge LED screens, both mobile and stationary, were playing the recording of the bathing sessions. An army of mediapersons is covering the event. Over 100 foreign journalists and more than 500 local and national journalists are present here. Special arrangements have been made for the coverage, likely to be beamed across the globe.

Hatha yogis grab eyeballs

Allahabad: Apart from hosting saints, pilgrims and visitors from across the globe, the ongoing Maha Kumbh has also become home to weird practices performed by saints in the name of 'Hatha yoga'. Derived from the Hindi word "Hatha" meaning resolve or pledge, the practice is common in Hindu tradition. Jhoola Baba, camping on the premises of Juna Akhara, has made a wooden swing his abode for the next two months. Sitting precariously on a wooden block suspended with the help of a rope, the Baba is drawing large crowd of curious onlookers. Talking to reporters, he said it is part of a Hatha yoga practiced by him over the past few decades. The Baba rarely talks to visitors and appears unmoved by the gathering of curious onlookers around him. Similarly, Swami Tyagiji Maharaj has pierced his body with 21,000 steel needles and is staying on the premises of Hanuman temple in Jhalwa. Looking like an embodiment of steel, the Swami withstood the pain and agony with a smile on his face even as locals who gathered around him appear shudder at the sight. The Swami who is also the founder of Shani Sarkar Sewa Dham trust, Khaga Fatehpur, said: "The painful ritual as a part of Hatha yoga is for public welfare and to solicit support for construction of Shani temple on the premises of Hanuman temple, Jhalwa." Chants of "Jai Shani dev" rent the air as the entire premises becomes home to one of the most difficult and painstaking effort of a sage to ensure construction of a temple for his beloved deity. Another sadhu accompanying the Peshwai procession of Shankarcharya Vasudevand Saraswati also became the centre of attraction given the extra-ordinary size of his nails measuring around 20cm, which have twisted wildly over the passage of time. The sadhu,

A big draw for foreigners too

Allahabad: Expecting that around 60,000 foreign nationals will attend the Maha Kumbh, the Mela police have set up a Foreign Resident Registration Office (FFRO) where the visitors can get themselves registered within 24 hours of their arrival in the Kumbh area. This would provide the Mela police with detailed information about every foreigner and ensure security to them. Most of the foreign nationals will staying on the campuses located at Sangam, Jhunsi and Arial areas. "We have chalked out an elaborate security plan for them and police teams are being deputed," IG said. The foreigners will be provided a hand-out on Dos and Dont's to be followed for a safe stay.

Shri Juna Akhara sadhus taking out a procession 'Peshwai' as part of Maha Kumbh celebrations

however, refused to share his reason for growing nails. Similarly, a disciple of Juna Akhara carrying a copper kalash (pitcher) containing waters of some holy rivers like the Ganga, Yamuna, Shipra, Godavari and Narmada has also drawn crowds in the Kumbh Mela. Deriving his name from the task he has been carrying out since the past 40 years, the 55year-old Kanhaiya Lal Kumbh Kalash carries the urn on his head for at least 18 hours a day during Kumbh mela, Magh Mela and Ardh Kumbh.

Over 60,000 foreigners are expected to visit Maha Kumbh

A Russian tourist Ala and her husband Barno have decided to spend a long time in Allahabad during the Kumbh Mela. They are facing language problem but are inspired and interested in enjoying the Indian culture. Narayan, who is an Indian

and working in Germany, has come with his mother to be a part of the Kumbh Mela. Narayan has been left mesmerized by the huge gathering of humanity for the Kumbh Mela and is enjoying at Sangam.

Actor Shilpa Shetty took a holy dip at the first day of the Maha Kumbh. The 37year-old mother, who did not bring her seven-months-old Viaan, was accompanied by her parents. The actor, her parents and NRI business tycoon Srichand Hinduja attended a special prayer organized at the camp of Swami Chidananda Saraswati.

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

FESTIVALS

January 19-25, 2013

17

Makar Sankranti: holy bath, harvest and sun

New Delhi: The Maha Kumbh, which occurs once every 12 years, began with Makar Sankaranti, marking a new harvest and worship of the sun god. In the east, on the Sagar island, where the Ganga empties into the Bay of Bengal, about six lakh devotees converged to take a ritual bath believed to wash off the sins of a lifetime. Millions of people in Odisha took a ritualistic dips in ponds and rivers and visited temples across the state as they celebrated the harvest festival of Makar Sankranti. More than two lakh devotees visited the temple of Lord Jagannath at Puri, about 55 km from here, to witness the special rituals performed by temple priests on the occasion. People in several places of the state prepared special sweet rice made with sugar, banana, coconut and black pepper and offered it to the gods. They also distributed the special rice popularly known as Makar Chaula. Thousands of devotees also worshipped the sun god at Konark with great fervor and

People believe that a ritual bath and prayers would cleanse them of diseases and wash away sins on this auspicious day

A participant with his kite in Ahmedabad paying tribute to Delhi gang-rape victim

enthusiasm. The festival marks the beginning of the annual swing of the sun northwards, according to various Indian calendars. Tribal groups lit bonfires, danced and organised feasts in various places of Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Keonjhar and Sundergarh districts. Kite-flying competitions were organized in places like Cuttack and other towns with fun and enthusiasm. In Gujarat, colorful oblations were made to the Sun god, and

decorated kites were flown, almost in an attempt to reach the sun. The kite-flying ritual was also observed in Maharashtra and Karnataka. Reports from Hyderabad city indicated that with vast numbers of people traveling to other parts of the state to be with family for the festival, city streets wore a deserted look. Maghi, as the festival is known in Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, is an occasion to make "kheer" (sweet made of rice

boiled in milk). The winter festival sees the preparation of foods that are high-calorie, meant to keep the body warm. Til (sesame seeds) and jaggery are used in many ritual preparations at this time. Sankaranti is probably the only Hindu festival celebrated on the same day, Jan 14, each year. Makar Sankranti is considered one of the most auspicious days by Hindus. Many believe that a ritual bath at ponds and rivers and prayers at temples on the occa-

sion would cleanse them of diseases and wash away sins. The lunar calendar is usually followed for traditional purposes, but Makar Sankaranti is observed in keeping with the solar calendar. There are 12 Sankarantis each year, marking the shift of the sun into different signs of the zodiac. The festival of Makar Sankaranti is celebrated when the sun transits from Dhanu (Sagittarius) to Makara (Capricorn), falling 24 days after the winter solstice.

Tamil Nadu celebrates Pongal

Chennai: Tamil Nadu celebrated the harvest festival Pongal with thanks being offered to the sun, rain and farm animals on the first day of Tamil month Thai. Across the state, people rose early, wore new clothes and offered special prayers at temples. At homes, chilWomen celebrating Kaanum Pongal in Chennai dren beating a small drum shouted beginning. 'Pongolo Pongal' when milk started boiling The second day was the main Pongal festiover at the auspicious time. The ritual is part val, celebrated on the first day of the Tamil of preparing Chakarai Pongal, the special month Thai. dish cooked as part of festivities. The third day was Mattu Pongal when When the milk boils over, other ingredibulls and cows are bathed and their horns ents - rice, jaggery, Bengal gram - are added painted and worshipped as they play an to the milk and finally ghee-fried cashews, important role in farms. almonds and cardamom. Women feed birds with colored rice and The vessel in which the dish is cooked -- a pray for the welfare of their brothers. In mud pot in earlier days and stainless steel some parts of the state, jallikattu - a bullpots now -- is decorated with ginger, turmertaming sport, also seen as a celebration of ic, a piece of sugarcane and banana tied at masculinity, though banned these days over the neck. concerns about the rights of animals - is The Pongal dish is offered to the sun god held. as thanksgiving and eaten as 'prasad'. People The fourth day was the Kannum Pongal exchange greetings and Chakarai Pongal the day to go out and meet relatives and with their neighbors. friends. Pongal festivities took place over four "We got up early and prepared the days, the first day being Bhogi, when people Chakara Pongal and offered prayers. We burn old clothes, mats and other items, and plan to visit relatives," Revathi Vasan, a homes are painted afresh to mark a new housewife, said.

With bonfires and drumbeats, Delhi celebrates Lohri

New Delhi: Bonfires, drumbeats and revelers singing and dancing to folk songs -- that was the sight in many residential areas in Delhi, as people gathered around crackling fires to celebrate the harvest festival of Lohri. Traditionally associated with the harvest of the rabi crop, people celebrated Lohri with feasting, exchange of gifts, and songs and dance around bonfires. Sesame seeds, jaggery, peanuts and popcorn are tossed into the fire and celebrations continue till the fire The festival is particularly special for newlydies out. The festival is particularly weds, and for new-borns who have never seen such festivities before special for newly-weds, and for new-borns who have never seen Manchanda. "A part of the prasad, after such festivities before. being offered to the fire, was distributed," "It is my daughter's first Lohri. All our she said. relatives have joined us for the celebrations, Manchanda said her newly-wed son and and more importantly, to bless the child," his bride performed all the rituals to seek said 30-year-old businessman Sanket the blessings of Agni Devta. Bhatia. For 55-year-old Surmeet Chahal, Lohri is According to Bhatia, the maternal grand- a time to bond with friends and family. parents of the baby got gifts, sweets, dry "Everyone is busy these days, but Lohri fruits, peanuts and popcorn on the occasion. brings us together in the warmth of the bonThough largely celebrated as a harvest fire in chilly winter. At this time, the comfestival, for some Lohri is an occasion to pany of friends and family is priceless," he seek the blessings of Agni Devta (fire god). said. "I prepared prasad on the occasion comBesides Lohri, a host of other harvest fesprising til (sesame), jaggery and peanuts. tivals are also celebrated across the country: Once the bonfire was lit, milk and water Uttarayan in Gujarat, Magh Bihu in Assam was poured around it to thank Agni Devta and Pongal and Makar Sankranti in south and seek blessings," said 52-year-old Savita India.

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January 19-25, 2013

ULTIMATE BOLLYWOOD

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Oscar nomination good for Carnatic music: Jayashri

T
he Tamil lullaby "Kanney Kanmaniaye.. Aararo, Aararo" sung by her, perhaps has robbed Carnatic music vocalist Bombay Jayashri Ramnath of her sleep, what with the excitement of being nominated for the Oscar. More importantly, it has reinforced her faith in the reach of Indian classical music. Written, composed and sung by Ramnath, "Pi Lullaby" from the Hollywood film "Life of Pi", has been nominated in the best music original song category for the 85th Academy Awards. "The Oscar award is never in the minds of Carnatic musicians. But the nomination has reaffirmed my faith that the reach of Carnatic music is much wider than what we normally think," Ramnath said. Interestingly, her song is the first Tamil song to be nominated for an Oscar. However, she does not think of what the Oscar nomination might do to brand 'Bombay Jayashri' or to the world of Carnatic music, though lovers of this genre say that there will be renewed interest not only among Indians, but also from the global audience. Queried on whether it was 'mettuku paatta or paattuku metta' song written for a set tune or the tune set for the song - she said: "Originally it was 'mettuku paatu' - song for a tune. A framework was given. Later, there was some change and finally it was a mix of both - song for the tune and tune for the song." She says the song is a combined effort of movie director Ang Lee and Canadian composer Mychael Danna. "We looked at various words and selected them," she said. mobile phone on silent mode. I saw several missed calls and came to know about the Oscar nomination through friends and television," she said. Curiously, Ramnath has sung only the traditional lullaby for her son Amrit when he was a baby. "In India, we compare child language with musical instruments and nature while cuddling a baby. A baby's utterances are the sweetest things in the world and even great musical instruments cannot compare with that," she said. The movie "Life of Pi" has bagged 11 Oscar nominations overall. "It was a great learning experience for me - whether working for this Hollywood movie or with great music composers like Illayaraja, A.R. Rahman, Harris Jayaraj and others," said Ramnath, who is married to a chartered accountant.

'Pi Lullaby' from 'Life of Pi' has been nominated in the best music original song category

Ramnath says she had no idea that the song would become popular and would get an Oscar nomina-

tion. "The news came as a surprise. I was with my students with my

70th Golden Globe awards

'Argo' wins top honors, 'Les Miserables' leads tally

Argo' walked away with the two top honors - best film and best director - at the 70th Golden Globe awards, which was otherwise dominated by Tom Hooper's musical drama 'Les Miserables' that clinched the maximum gongs. "Les Miserables" won best film (musical or comedy), as well as the best actress in a supporting role for Anne Hathaway, and Hugh Jackman triumphed in the best performance by an actor in a motion picture (musical or comedy) category. It was double whammy for Ben Affleck, whose "Argo" not just won the best film award, but also helped the actor-filmmaker win the best director's gong. Daniel Day-Lewis managed to win the best actor in a motion picture (drama) title the only award for political drama "Lincoln", which led the nomination pack with seven nominations this year. He played

Tabu, Suraj walk Golden Globe red carpet

ndian actors Tabu and Suraj Sharma walked the red carpet of the 70th annual Golden Globe awards with Oscar-winning director Ang Lee here. Their film "Life of Pi" was nominated in three categories, but won just one award. Tabu, known for her offbeat and intense performances, opted to stay desi at the international gala, wearing a bright red designer sari teamed with a heavily embroidered golden blouse. Debutant Suraj, 19, exuded confidence in a white shirt and formal black suit with a matching bow-tie. "Life of Pi" won the best original score motion picture award for Mychael Danna, who pipped Alexandre Desplat ("Argo"), Dario Marianelli ("Anna Karenina"), Tom Tykwer, Johnny Klimek, Reinhold Heil ("Cloud Atlas") and John Williams ("Lincoln") to walk away with the prestigious

'

former US President Abraham Lincoln in the movie. Among the actresses, Jessica Chastain secured the winner's position for her role in "Zero Dark Thirty" at the gala, where actress Jodie Foster was bestowed the reverred Cecil B. DeMille trophy. In the best supporting actor in a motion picture category, Christopher Waltz received the prize for "Django Unchained", which also won the best screenplay award (motion picture) for Quentin Tarantino. Jennifer Lawrence bagged the best actress in a motion picture (musical or comedy) honor for "Silver Linings Playbook". Ang Lee's 'Life of Pi', which stars Indian actors Suraj Sharma, Tabu and Irrfan, won just one accolade - for composer Mychael Danna in the best original score motion picture category.

Actors Tabu and Suraj Sharma with Oscar-winning director Ang Lee

trophy. It was also nominated for the best motion picture (drama) as well as for best director (motion picture).
"'Kai Po Che!' selected to premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival. Yeah baby," tweeted Kapoor. Bhagat also calls it a proud moment. "Proud moment for Abhishek Kapoor and team 'Kai Po Che!', more than anything, proud moment for India. Wow Abhishek! Salute," Bhagat also tweeted. As many as 31 fictional features from 23 countries, including Turkey, Indonesia, India, Taiwan and the Ivory Coast, have been invited to provide insights into contemporary world cinema production for the ten-day long festival. The film will hit theaters on Feb 22.

'Kai Po Che!' to premiere at Berlin film fest

bhishek Kapoor's upcoming film "Kai Po Che!" will be premiered at the 63rd Berlin International Film Festival starting February 7. The film, based on Chetan Bhagat's bestselling novel "The 3 Mistakes Of My Life", features Sushant Singh Rajput, Amit Sadh and Raj kumar Yadav in prominent roles.

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

ULTIMATE BOLLYWOOD

January 19-25, 2013

19

Television

My nature made me win 'Bigg Boss': Urvashi

'Barfi!' leads Filmfare nominations

A
nurag Basu's "Barfi!" has won maximum nominations, including for best film, best actor, best actress and best director, for the 58th Idea Filmfare Awards 2012. Yash Chopra's last directorial "Jab Tak Hai Jaan" follows close behind. "Barfi!", a heart-warming love story of a deaf-and-mute man, essayed by Ranbir Kapoor, with an autistic girl (Priyanka Chopra) has received nine nods. Shah Rukh Khan-starrer "Jab Tak Hai Jaan" stands a chance to win across seven categories. Apart from Ranbir and Shah Rukh, those vying in the "best actor in a leading role" (male) are Hrithik Roshan ("Agneepath"), Irrfan ("Paan Singh Tomar"), Manoj Bajpayee ("Gangs Of Wasseypur") and Salman Khan ("Dabangg 2"). Priyanka apart, those nominated in the "best actor in a leading role" (female) category are Deepika Padukone ("Cocktail"), Kareena Kapoor ("Heroine"), Parineeti Chopra ("Ishqazaade"), Sridevi ("English Vinglish") and Vidya Balan ("Kahaani"). In the best director section come Anurag Kashyap ("Gangs Of Wasseypur"), Gauri Shinde

rvashi Dholakia believes it was her straightforward nature that helped her win "Big Boss 6". The actress bagged Rs.50 lakh as prize money, and admits she "never earned so much money at one go in my life". "This is the way I am and how I have always been. You can ask everyone. I told them I never thought that I could last so long. My straightforwardness works against me, but today it worked for me and I won," Urvashi said. "I never earned so much money together ever in my life. I can say this openly and this is a big thing for me. And I am very confident this time. "I believe in the philosophy that the more you run after something, the more it runs away from you. So, the money was not at all important for me. I didn't come here because of that," she added. Do not pretend, suggests the 33year-old, best known for playing negative role of Komolika in popular TV show "Kasautii Zindagii Kay". "My personal experience is that be the way you are. You don't

'Big Boss 6' winner Urvashi Dholakia

need to become someone else or have a split personality. If you are accepted the way you are, then it is good," said the mother of two teenage sons. Talking about co-contestant Imam Siddique with whom she had several tiffs on the show, Urvashi explained that she noticed both positive and negative traits in his personality.

Ranbir Kapoor in a scene from 'Barfi'

("English Vinglish"), Shoojit Sircar ("Vicky Donor") and Sujoy Ghosh ("Kahaani") along with Basu ("Barfi!"). For the best film trophy, the nominations are: "Barfi!", "English Vinglish", "Gangs Of Wasseypur", "Kahaani" and "Vicky Donor". Crime thriller "Gangs of

Wasseypur" has clinched a total of six nominations, Karan Johar's action-packed "Agneepath" remake has five nods, and "Vicky Donor", about sperm donation, has secured four. "English Vinglish", "Kahaani" and "Talaash" have been nominated across three categories each.

Pt. Jasraj, Big B launch Lata's music label

'Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola' electrifying entertainment

Review
Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola" is a political satire. The film begins with Mr. Mandola and his drinking companion, Matru, creating havoc. "Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola", belongs to feudal lord, Hukum Singh Mandola aka Harry (Pankaj Kapur) from the first frame, literally. Harry harbors the dream of selling his agricultural land for industrialization and development, not sparing a thought to the villagers' plight. But that is only when he is sober. But after taking alcohol, he is a changed man, completely transformed. The socialist in him surfaces and incredibly, he challenges his own feudal self, wanting to help his villagers. He is not the only one wanting to help the poor villagers. Matru (Imran Khan), Mandola's driver-cum-assistant and his partner in crime, too is egalitarian and wants to help the villagers save their land. There is Mao, a faceless well-wisher, who manages to offer timely help to the villagers. And there is Mandola's foreign educated daughter Bijlee (Anushka Sharma) too joining in the revolution. On the surface, at the start, it seems like a light-hearted entertainer about an alcoholic feudal lord, his drunken idiosyncrasies and his villagers. It's when Chief Minister Chaudhary Devi (Shabana Azmi) mouths, "Maslaa hai desh ka, na power ka na bijli ka," sums up the larger issues that the film deals with and post her entry it becomes evi-

"

egendary singer Lata Mangeshkar's music company LM MUSIC was launched by Pandit Jasraj, Amitabh Bachchan and Nita Ambani at a star-studded function in Mumbai. Bollywood celebrities like Sridevi, Boney Kapoor, Madhur Bhandarker, Alka Yagnik, and Mahalakshmi Iyer were among those present. Amitabh wished all the luck to the new label. "I am too small in front of all the dignitaries present here.... best wishes to LM MUSIC and I wish the company also becomes a precious stone like Lata," he said LM MUSIC will encourage young talent that needs an outlet for its creativity including budding artists who Lata feels have the potential to maintain the high standards set by legends. The label has six new albums including Sufi and spiritual music. Jasraj said that there was no one who could match Lata's contribution to the field of music. "There is no one today who has contributed so much to music....she is the eight wonder of the world," he said.

Pankaj Kapur in a scene from 'Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola'

dent that it is a political satire. The film is not only layered with demons of the society, but also deals with personal demons that haunt Mandola, his people and the place. Pankaj Kapur is the only star of the film as the film belongs to him. After "Maqbool", this is easily his best. He keeps the audience regaled with his "pancho pancho" after guz-

zling a few pegs, hallucinating about a "gulabi bhains" (pink buffalo) and when he is confronting the scheming Devi (Azmi). Bhardwaj has managed to package the film well. The treatment is indeed poetic and smooth. The cinematography is good and inspiring. The dialogues and lyrics are hard hitting with messages and oodles of entertainment, mostly double entendre.

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January 19-25, 2013

DIASPORA

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

It's official: Indian students shunning Britain

London: There has been a 24 per cent drop in the number of Indian students coming to Britain to study during the 2011-12 academic year, latest official figures show, reflecting concerns generated due to visa restrictions imposed on non-EU students by the David Cameron government. According to the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), the number of Chinese domicile students at British Higher Education institutions continued to grow during the academic year, but "the number of Indian and Pakistan domicile students fell for the first time" in recent years. New restrictions on student visas have been much in the news since the Cameron government came to power, particularly its closure of the poststudy work visa, which was popular among Indian students who used it to recover some of the cost of studying in Britain. The government, keen to reduce immigration from non-EU countries, clamped down on universities such as the London Metropolitan University, which saw its license to recruit Indian and other non-EU students cancelled recently. Jo Beall, British Council director of education and society, said the Indian and Pakistani falls were "very alarming indeed." "Not only are these countries with large numbers of ambitious students aspiring to study overseas, but they are also countries with which we have historically been actively engaged in the areas of higher education and research," she added. Tim Westlake, director for the student experience at Manchester University, told The Guardian that students whose families relied on them working in Britain after their studies to gain experience and repay the fees were starting to look elsewhere. "Since 2004, the university has had significant growth in Indian students, but over the past two years there has been a 32 per cent drop in Indian master's enrollments. Master's applications from India are down again by 33 per cent this year," Westlake added. Beall said: "Although the UK government has made it clear there is no cap on international students, these statistics for the first time provide real evidence that the changes to UK visa regulations may have dissuaded many students from applying to the UK, and in particular postgraduate students who are so important to the UK's research output."

RBI: NRI deposits nearly double to $11.24 bn

New Delhi: Continuing rupee fall and higher interest rate have seen NRI deposits nearly doubling in the first eight months of 2012-13 to $ 11.24 billion from $ 6.39 billion a year ago, according to the Reserve Bank data. However, the non-resident (ordinary) rupee accounts and foreign currency non-resident accounts saw an outflow this year as against an inflow last year, according to the central bank data. It can be noted that the rupee had hit an all-time low of 57.32 to the dollar on June 14. However, last Friday, the rupee ended at 54.76 to the dollar, which is 4.67 per cent stronger from its all-time low. Even though the currency has appreciated from its all-time low, inflows into NRI deposits continue on the back of higher interest rates. In November this year, net inflows into NRE accounts touched $ 696 million. According to the RBI data, the non-resident (ordinary) rupee accounts saw a net outflow of $ 307 million in November, while foreign currency non-resident accounts which allow NRIs to hold deposits in foreign currency, rose by $ 116 million in the month. The aggregate value of NRI deposits held by Indian banks stood at $ 57.9 billion as of March 2012.

InternetNZ's chief executive Vikram Kumar resigns

Wellington, New He will leave the Zealand: The Indianorganization in good origin boss of shape, the report said. Over the past three InternetNZ, the group years InternetNZ has protecting and promoting the Internet in New doubled its memberZealand, has announced ship and tripled its his resignation. Kumar work output, without an increase in the operwill step down as chief ating budget. executive of the firm at the end of the month According to the when his term expires. report, Kumar was InternetNZ's chief According to instrumental in setting executive Vikram Stuff.oc.nz, he was as up the NetHui forums Kumar resigns yet undecided on where to discuss the shape and he would go but said he had been direction of the Internet, which he "talking to a few people" and was described as a "gamechanger for open to anything new. the way discussions are held."

Indian-origin scientist creates breakthrough material for soft electronics

Melbourne: Scientists including one of Indian origin, have created liquid metal marbles coated in nanoparticles, which they hope will advance research in soft electronics and industrial sensing technologies. Lead investigator Vijay Sivan from RMIT's Platform Technologies Research Institute said that these marbles are like flexible ball bearings, which can endure high impacts and temperatures, and operate like semi-conducting systems, the Herald Sun reported. According to Sivan, these are still early days but the possibilities of the new platform appear to be "amazing" as it overcomes the limitations of liquid metals. Sivan said that as it is a liquid metal it can be used in soft electronics where flexibility is needed. He said that as the marbles have a nanoparticle coating they will not stick on the surface and also by having a functional material as a coating it can be used it like a transistor. And as a liquid metal, any damage caused in the circuit could Liquid metal marbles coated in nanoparticles be self-healed, he said. He added that it could be used in The multidisciplinary team optical sensing as a heavy metal research has been published in the sensor and it also has a high sensi- journal Advanced Functional tivity to gas. Materials.

Norway kids back in mom's custody

New Delhi: Calcutta High Court has granted the interim custody of two children to their mother. The interim order came less than a year after a Norway court sent the children to India on the condition that they would live with their uncle. Norwegian child welfare services, which had taken away the children and put them in foster care citing "fear of possible violence against the children and lack of adequate parental care", had allowed them to return to India last April after the parents signed an agreement giving the children's custody to their paternal uncle. The Indian embassy in Oslo had notarized the agreement between the parents, Anurup and Sagarika Bhattacharya, and the uncle, Arunabhas Bhattacharya, that the Norwegian court's verdict ' that Arunabhas would get custody ' would be honored. The uncle of the children, who had been taking their care since April last, also has the liberty to meet them once in a week. The meeting will take place in the chamber of the mother's lawyer on Saturdays. Sagarika, who is now separated from her
Sagarika Bhattacharya with the son

Indian nurse's family hasn't got reply to questions

London: The family of Indian-origin nurse Jacintha Saldanha, who was found hanging after taking a hoax phone call about the Duchess of Cambridge, said they are yet to receive answers from her hospital to 40 questions over her death. The Telegraph said Saldanha's widower and her two children were also waiting to hear from radio show bosses in Australia after the nurse was duped by two radio presenters who impersonated Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles to ask questions about Kate who was being treated for morning sickness. The 40 questions prepared by her family on Saldanha's death will only be answered following an internal inquiry led by hospital chairman Lord Glenarthur, the daily said.

husband and lives in Birati, said after the judgment: "I am very happy today. My husband (Anurup) does not stay with me. But for the sake of the children's future, I will not mind staying with him provided he returns to Calcutta," she said.

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

SUBCONTINENT

January 19-25, 2013

21

Zardari ready for 'any situation', stays on

Islamabad: Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari was not going anywhere and was ready to face "any situation", his spokesperson has said, adding that he was extending his stay in Karachi from where he would monitor political developments. Zardari has also reiterated that general elections would be held on time. Denying reports of Zardari planning to leave for Dubai to avoid the uncertain political situation in the country, his spokesperson Farhatullah Babar said the president has reiterated government's resolve that elections will be held on time and not be delayed in any case, Dawn News reported. "He is not going anywhere and is ready to face any situation," Babar said, adding the president preferred to monitor fast changing political developments in Islamabad while sitting in Bilawal House, Karachi, for next few days despite the fact that he has been staying there for almost a month. The spokesperson said the overstay in Karachi had nothing to do with Pakistani-born Canadian cleric Tahirul Qadri. "The president will follow his own schedule. Qadri's presence in Islamabad or anywhere else is not a factor in the determination of president's schedule," he said. Qadri, a Pakistani-born Canadian cleric and Thehrik-eMinhajul Quran leader, has been staging a protest along with his tens of thousands of supporters here to seek ouster of the government, dissolution of parliament and a corruption-free Pakistan. Babar said the president was closely watching Qadri's protest program and developments following the Supreme Court ordering the arrest of Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf. Zardari believes that there are two aspects of the Supreme Court's order - one is legal and the other is political, he said. "As far as the legal aspect is concerned, Law Minister Farooq Naek has informed the president about the whole situation and repercussions of the Supreme Court's order and about its political fallout, the president will soon consult coalition partners," the spokesperson said.

Pakistani-born Canadian cleric Tahirul Qadri has been staging a protest to seek ouster of the government

No force against Qadri supporters: Zardari

Islamabad: Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has ruled out the possibility of using force to disperse cleric Tahirul Qadri's followers who are staging a sit-in near parliament. Zardari told a Geo News TV host over the phone that no use of force would be undertaken against the marchers in Islamabad. The clarication came when speculation was rife over the Pakistan government's next line of action to deal with the massive sit-in Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari in the capital.

Pak to hold general elections by May 6

Islamabad: General elections in Pakistan will be held by May 6, Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Khursheed Shah said. Shah assured the people of Pakistan that the date of elections will not go beyond May 6, Geo News reported. Polling "can be held on May 4, 5 or 6 but the date will not be extended beyond May 6", the minister was quoted as saying. Earlier, the main political parties representing the opposition pressed the government to announce the date for elections. Heads of opposition parties including Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Jamaiat Ulema-eIslam (F), Jamat-e-Islami, Pakistan Milli Awami Party and others made their joint stand at a press conference.

Six die in Afghan intelligence office attack

'India-Sri Lanka ties have scope for improvement'

Islamabad: Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari was not going anywhere and was ready to face "any situation", his spokesperson has said, adding that he was extending his stay in Karachi from where he would monitor political developments. Zardari has also reiterated that general elections would be held on time. Denying reports of Zardari planning to leave for Dubai to avoid the uncertain political situation in the country, his spokesperson Farhatullah Babar said the president has reiterated government's resolve that elections will be held on time and not be delayed in any case, Dawn News reported. "He is not going anywhere and is ready to face any situation," Babar said, adding the president preferred to monitor fast changing political developments in Islamabad while sitting in Bilawal House, Karachi, for next few days despite the fact that he has been staying there for almost a month. The spokesperson said the overstay in Karachi had nothing to do with Pakistani-born Canadian cleric Tahirul Qadri. "The president will follow his own schedule. Qadri's presence in Islamabad or anywhere else is not a factor in the determination of president's schedule," he said. Qadri, a Pakistani-born Canadian cleric and Thehrik-e-Minhajul Quran leader, has been staging a protest along with his tens of thousands of supporters here to seek ouster of the government, dissolution of parliament and a corruption-free Pakistan. Babar said the president was closely watching Qadri's protest program and developments following the Supreme Court ordering the arrest of Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf. Zardari believes that there are two aspects of the Supreme Court's order - one is legal and the other is political, he said. "As far as the legal aspect is concerned, Law Minister Farooq Naek has informed the president about the whole situation and repercussions of the Supreme Court's order and about its political fallout, the president will soon consult coalition partners," the spokesperson said.

NAB to face Pak SC over PM's arrest

Islamabad: Officials of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) will appear before the Supreme Court following orders that Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf and 15 others be arrested in connection with a 2010 corruption case, Geo News reported. Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry ordered all those accused of graft in power generation projects be arrested. He also said that the NAB chairman report to the court. The order, which came when cleric Tahirul Qadir began his protest with tens of thousands of supporters outside parliament seeking the government's resignation, sparked panic about an alleged judiciary-military plot to derail elections due by midMay. Interior Minister Rehman Malik threatened overnight to disperse the crowd unless Thehrik-e-Minhajul Quran leader Qadri ends the demonstration, but President Asif Ali Zardari later intervened to stop authorities from using force against protesters. Last June, Ashraf replaced Yousuf Raza Gilani, who was disqualified by the Supreme Court in a showdown between the government and the judiciary.

A six-member group of suicide attackers raided a compound of the National Directorate for Security (NDS) in Charahi area

Kabul: Six suicide bombers who targeted a compound of Afghanistan's intelligence agency here were killed, police said. Several civilians who were injured were in critical condition. A six-member group of suicide attackers raided a compound of the National Directorate for Security (NDS) in Charahi area around noon. Police said five of them were gunned down by security personnel while the sixth died in a blast he himself triggered. One of the attackers first blew himself up next to the gate of the compound, enabling the other five to get inside. But security personnel responded immediately and killed all of them on the spot. However, 30 civilians, mostly passersby, suffered injuries in the firing. Some of them were in critical condition. Several shops and cars nearby were damaged in the first blast. Earlier reports said the powerful blast occurred close to a compound of the intelligence agency and the interior ministry building.

WB exhibit aims to bring South Asia together

Washington: "Imagining least integrated region in the world, to realise its full our Future Together", an art exhibition organized by potential. Scheduled to run the World Bank, is aimed through Feb 13, the exhiat taking forward the vision that art has the bition is the result of a regional competition potential to connect people and countries in South organized by the World Bank's South Asia vice Asia. A six-member group of suicide presidency and the World The exhibition's 25 attackers raided a compound of the Bank Art Program for artists come from National Directorate for Security young South Asian artists Afghanistan, Bangladesh, (NDS) in Charahi area Bhutan, India, Maldives, in 2012. Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Opening from The theme for the competition was creating a Jan 22 at World Bank headquarters here, the vision for a common future and showcasing exhibtion advances the concept that breaking the unique beauty, creativity, and challenges of barriers is not only about economics and trade South Asia. Forty-four artworks by the 25 winof goods and services and more and better ners of the competition are being exhibited regional cooperation will help South Asia, the here.

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January 19-25, 2013

INTERNATIONAL

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

French troops' ground Death toll from Syria blasts operations in Mali on reaches 87
Damascus: The death toll from two massive blasts that ravaged the campus of a Syrian university has reached 87, anti-regime activists said. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the number of those killed in blasts at Aleppo University could rise even further because medics have collected unidentified body parts and some of the more than 150 injured are in critical condition. It remains unclear what caused the blasts, which hit the campus as students took exams, setting cars alight and blowing the walls off dormitory rooms. The opposition and the government have blamed each other for the explosions, which marked a major escalation in the struggle for control of Aleppo Syria's largest city and once the country's main commercial hub. Activists said forces loyal to President Bashar Assad launched two airstrikes on the area at the time of the blasts, while Syrian state media said a "terrorist group" the government's shorthand for rebels hit it with two rockets. Either way, the explosions shattered the relative calm of the sprawling, tree-lined campus, signaling that Syria's civil war has reached areas that were mostly spared the violence that has killed more than 60,000 people and reduced entire neighborhoods all across the nation to rubble. The competing narratives about what caused the blasts highlighted

France will only end its intervention in Mali when political stability and an election process are restored

Mali: French troops will be in direct combat with Islamist militants in Mali "within hours," the country's military chief of staff has said. Admiral douard Guillaud said on Wednesday morning that French ground operations had begun overnight hours after the defense minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, said France's intervention would continue "as long as necessary". A column of French armored vehicles left Mali's capital Bamako and headed north towards insurgent frontlines. Guillaud's announcement reversed France's earlier insistence that it would only provide air and logistical support for a military intervention led by African troops. "Now we're on the ground," Guillaud said. "We will be in direct combat within hours." President Franois Hollande said France will only end its interven-

tion in Mali when political stability and an election process have been restored to the west African country and Islamist groups have been wiped out, raising the prospect of a drawn-out engagement on hostile desert terrain. Mali is in political disarray after a coup last year and the fall of the vast northern desert to Islamist groups who operate a drug trafficking and kidnap economy in several Sahel countries. Le Drian said French air raids continued "day and night" in the vast area seized by the Islamist alliance, which combines alQaida's north African wing, AQIM, with Mali's homegrown Movement for Oneness and Jihad in west Africa (Mojwa) and Ansar Dine rebel groups. Le Drian described an implacable fight against Islamists who were "agile, determined, wellequipped, well-trained" and could easily hide in the desert.

The U.N. said that more than 60,000 people have been killed in the Syrian violence

the difficulty of confirming reports from inside Syria. Aleppo has been the focus of a violent struggle for control since rebel forces, mostly from rural areas north of the city, pushed in and began clashing with government troops last summer. The university is in the city's northwest, a sector still controlled by the government. Both activists and the Assad regime said those killed in Tuesday's blasts were mostly students taking their midyear exams and civilians who sought refuge in the university dorms after fleeing violence elsewhere. Activists said a government warplane carried out two airstrikes on the university. To support their claim, they circulated a video they said showed a small trail of smoke left by a jet. They could not explain why the government would strike an area controlled by its forces.

Syria's state news agency said a "terrorist group" government shorthand for rebels fired two rockets at the university from an area further north. It did not give numbers for the dead and wounded. Meanwhile, the White House has downplayed media speculations that chemical weapons had been used by President Bashar alAssad's regime against the Syrian rebels. According to a recent report in the Foreign Policy magazine, a secret American investigation revealed that Assad forces used a poisonous gas against the rebels in Homs city on Dec 23, 2012. Syria's crisis began with political protests in March 2011 but quickly descended into a full-blown civil war, with scores of rebel groups across the country fighting Assad's forces. The U.N. said that more than 60,000 people have been killed in the violence.

British Airways Washington mulls found guilty of sanctions on North Korea religious bias
London: British Airways discriminated against a devoutly Christian airline employee by making her remove a crucifix at work, Europe's highest court ruled. But the court rejected discrimination cases by three other Christian claimants. BA check-in clerk Nadia Eweida sparked a national debate in Britain over religion in public life when she was sent home in November 2006 for refusing to comply with rules banning employees from wearing visible religious symbols. She claimed she was a victim of religious discrimination, seeking damages and compensation for lost wages. British courts backed BA, but Eweida went to the European Court of Human Rights. The Strasbourg, France-based court ruled on Tuesday that the airline's policy "amounted to an interference with her right to manifest her religion". Seoul: There would be "more developments in the days ahead" in Washington's push to punish North Korea for its rocket launch, said a top US diplomat. Kurt Campbell, assistant secretary of state for East Asia, told reporters in Seoul that the US was in talks with the key players at the UN, including China and Russia, over potential sanctions against Pyongyang, Xinhua reported. "We're very clear in our position that provocative steps are to be discouraged," Campbell, who arrived in Seoul a day ago on a two-day visit, told reporters. "We are closely working with the key

China readying for war with Japan?

Beijing: China's armed forces have been instructed to raise their fighting ability in 2013, state media reported on Tuesday, amid heightened tensions with Japan over disputed islands. In 2013, "the PLA and the Chinese People's Armed Police Force should focus on the objective of being able to fight and win battle," according to a report in the overseas edition of the People's Daily newspaper, the Communist Party organ. The directive came in a document released at the beginning of the year by the PLA general staff on military training in 2013, said the report, republished from a website linked to a PLA newspaper. To prepare for combat, the armed forces must also "vigorously strengthen real-combat-like military training" and intensify efforts to cultivate high-caliber military personnel, the report said.

players including South Korea at the UN with respect to our diplomacy after the missile test late last year." North Korea launched a satellite last month despite being banned by UN resolutions from conducting any ballistic missile tests. Pyongyang said the launch was for scientific and peaceful purposes only. Campbell, who is scheduled to meet with South Korea's President-elect Park Geun-hye later in the day, said policy coordination between the two countries would continue under the new leadership in Seoul.

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

BUSINESS

January 19-25, 2013

23

India's financial sector vulnerable: IMF After slowdown, India set to grow: World Bank
Washington: Despite remarkable progress toward developing a stable financial system, India's financial sector still confronts longstanding impediments to its ability to support growth as well as new challenges to stability, according to a new IMF report. Since liberalization in the early 1990s, the system's growth and increasing commercial orientation have been accompanied by steady improvements in the legal, regulatory, and supervisory framework, the International Monetary Fund noted in a Financial System Stability Assessment Update for India. "The Indian economy and its financial system weathered the global financial crisis well-due to strong balance sheets and profitability entering the crisis, a robust regulatory framework, and timely actions to counter pressures on liquidity, the supply of credit, and aggregate demand," said the paper. Noting that the system is becoming more complex, with interlinkages across institutions and borders, the update on assessment undertaken in June and October 2011 suggests the main near-term risks to the financial system are a worsening of bank asset quality and renewed pressures on systemic liquidity. "However, stress tests did not reveal near-term stability concerns, suggesting the banking system would be resilient to a range of adverse shocks," it said. "The prominent role of the state in the financial sector contributes to a build-up of fiscal contingent liabilities and creates a risk of capital misallocation that may constrain economic growth," the report said. Washington: After a sharp slowdown pushing down its projected growth to 5.4 percent in the fiscal year ending March 2013, the World Bank expects India to grow at 6.4 percent this year, rising to 7.3 percent by 2015. The slowdown in India, South Asia's largest economy, also weakened growth in the region to an estimated 5.4 percent in 2012 (7.4 percent in 2011), said the World Bank's latest Global Economic Prospects. Regional GDP is projected to grow by 5.7 percent in the 2013 calendar year, and by 6.4 percent and 6.7 percent in 2014 and 2015, respectively, driven by policy reforms in India, Regional GDP is projected to grow by 6.4 percent and 6.7 percent in 2014 and 2015 stronger investment activity, normal agricul"Moreover, greater volatility in international tural production, and improvement in export financial markets could make it difficult for India demand. However, growth in the region remains vulnera- to finance its widening current account deficit," it ble to an uncertain external environment and said. South Asian countries urgently need to strengthcountry-specific factors, the report said suggesting a resumption of financial market tensions in the en their macroeconomic fundamentals and rebuild Euro Area or protracted debt uncertainty in the their policy buffers to withstand external shocks, United States would affect the South Asia region as well as enhance their longer-term domestic growth drivers, the report said. through both trade and financial channels.

India defers anti-avoidance tax norms to 2016

New Delhi: In a move to boost investor confidence, India has deferred the implementation of the controversial General AntiAvoidance Rules (GAAR) by two years to April 2016 and exempted non-resident Indians in foreign institutional investors (FIIs) from its purview. "Having considered all the circumstances and relevant factors, government has decided that the provisions of Chapter 10A will come into force with effect from April 1, 2016 as against the current provision of April 1, 2014," Finance Minister P. Chidambaram told reporters here. The controversial GAAR norms introduced by the then finance minister Pranab Mukherjee is targeted at the foreign investors and companies routing money through tax havens like Mauritius. The finance ministry had earlier said it would implement GAAR (General Anti-Avoidance Rules) from April, 2014. Chidambaram said the government has accepted the major recommendations of the Parthasarthi Shome committee, appointed last year to look into the concerns of foreign investors, who are against the GAAR. He said the tax proposal will not apply to foreign institutional investors (FIIs) run by non-resident Indians and will ensure that the same income is not taxed twice. GAAR, which was proposed in 2012-13 budget to prevent tax evasion, evoked sharp reactions from foreign as well as domestic investors who feared that the law could be misused by taxmen to harass investors.

Fitch may downgrade US rating over debt

Paris: Fitch ratings agency issued a strong warning to the United States to deal with its recurrent debt-ceiling dramas in a way which strengthens the economy in the long term, saying that its top "AAA" credit rating was at stake. Fitch said it might revise downward its notation for the United States from the "AAA" level if Congress did not reach agreement on raising the ceiling for the national debt. Fitch said that failure to raise the limit in time would lead to a formal revision by Fitch of its ratings of US debt instruments, but the agency also said the risk of a US default was extremely low. However, Fitch also warned that fundamental strengths in the US economy were being undermined by the weight of debt and associated strains. Fitch warned, that even if a crisis over the ceiling were averted in the immediate future, if the solution did not address the debt in a way which supported growth, then it was set to downgrade the US rating later in the year anyway.

'India's business environment Mistry's major challenge'

Mumbai: Ratan Tata has said that the biggest challenge for Tata group's new chairman Cyrus Mistry will be the country's business environment that is going to be tougher and more complex than the crisis of 1991. "The big picture challenge is that the (business) environment is going to be tougher and more complex than it was in 1991. In 1991, there were less people aspiring to succeed in this newly opened economy. On Tuesday there are many," he said in an interview published by Time magazine. Ratan Tata, who has just stepped down as Tata group's head on December 28 after 21 years at its helm, was replying to a query about the biggest challenge for his successor. Mistry has taken over from him as Chairman of Tata Sons, the

Mistry lauds Gujarat's culture of implementation

New Tata Group Chairman Cyrus Mistry has lauded the Gujarat government and chief minister Narendra Modi saying they have created an enabling business environment and a culture of implementation. As Mistry's name was announced for delivering his maiden public address since taking over the helm of the salt to software conglomerate at the valedictory session of the sixth 'Vibrant Gujarat' summit, a thunderous applaud resounded at the packed Mahatma Mandir auditorium. "At the outset I would like to applaud the spirit of entrepreneurship of the people of Gujarat and the spirit of entire Gujarati diaspora...It is important to recognize the infrastructure and enabling enviornment put in place by Gujarat government," Mistry said. Mistry said, "In Gujarat, we see a culture of implementation, reflecting the qualities of the chief minister...And our commitment in Gujarat goes beyond industrialisation and investment". The new Tata Group chairman said the $100-billion group would continue to invest in the state. "We, as the Tata Group, will continue to invest in the state".

Tata group's new chairman Cyrus Mistry with Ratan Tata

holding company of salt-tosoftware conglomerate Tata group. Asked whether corruption was eroding investor confidence in India, Tata said: "It's been a concern to many of us for some time", but it has been masked by the very high

rate of growth and prosperity of the country. "It has led to a fair amount of crony capitalism and people like us have been concerned that it is not usually a level playing field as it should be," he said.

24

January 19-25, 2013

SPORTS

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Pakistani hockey players to return home

New Delhi: All nine Pakistani players, now here for the Hockey India League (HIL), will be sent home in the wake of the protests against their presence in the inaugural event when tensions are mounting on the Line of Control (LoC). The players leaving for home are Fareed Ahmed, Imran Butt, Mahmood Rashid and Muhammad Tousiq (all Mumbai Magicians), Muhammad Rizwan Sr. and Muhammad Rizwan Jr. (Delhi Waveriders), Muhammad Irfan and Shafqat Rasool (Ranchi Rhinos) and Kashif Shah (Jaypee Punjab Warriors). The players, blissfully unaware of the late-evening development, were practicing with their franchise teams. "The decision was made in consultation with the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), International Hockey Federation (FIH) and the franchise officials," HIL chairman Narinder Batra told reporters. "Due to extraordinary circumstances, we reached a consensus that it was best for Pakistanis to return home. We did not want them to play under any sort of pressure. As it is not their fault, they will be paid according to their three-year contract and the teams are free to look for their replacements. The decision (to send them home) however was taken only for 2013," added Batra. There were indications Monday night that the Pakistani players might not feel secure enough to play in the league when Jaypee Punjab Warriors and Delhi Waveriders did not field them in the inaugural game here. The clamor for their ouster began when Shiv Sena threatened to disrupt the Mumbai franchise team's home matches if it fielded the Pakistani players. The extreme right wing party's action came following the killing of Indian soldiers at the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. Taking the cue, a couple of youngsters raised slogans against the presence of the Pakistani playAll nine Pakistani players will be sent home in the wake of the protests against them

ers during the opening HIL match in the national capital. Mumbai Magicians, the franchise which had the maximum number of Pakistanis in their squad, have already started looking at replacing Ahmed, Butt, Rashid and Tousiq with players from Australia and New Zealand.

"Keeping the public sentiment in mind, we have decided to send the players back to Pakistan," Mumbai Magicians owner Amit Burman said. "To replace the Pakistanis, we have already started talking to the Australian and New Zealand players," he added.

Kochi: India leveled the fivematch series against England in emphatic fashion, defeating the tourists by 127 runs in the second One-day International at the Nehru Stadium here. India did well to post 285 for six after winning the toss and cleaned up England for 158 with 14 overs to spare in the game. All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja performed his role to perfection, smashing an unbeaten 61 off 37 balls and picking up a couple with the ball. Mahendra Singh Dhoni (72) continued with his good form while Suresh Raina (50) too came handy with the bat. Speedster Bhuvneshwar Kumar (3/29) impressed with his swing again and offie Ravichandran Ashwin (3/39) cleaned up the tail. It was a much need win for India, who were under pressure to perform after losing the series opener in Rajkot. England were in the hunt of the steep target as long as their skipper Alastair Cook and the dangerous Kevin Pietersen were in the middle. The duo took the score to 58 for 1 in 10 overs before Cook

Cricket: India level series with emphatic win IOC tells sports federations to keep off IOA
New Delhi: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) wrote a letter to the suspended Indian Olympic Association (IOA) asking its national sports federations (NSF) not to associate themselves with the "illegitimate individuals purporting to act on its behalf". The letter, addressed to IOA acting president Vijay Kumar Malhotra and secretary general Randhir Singh, asked the NSFs not to attend any meeting convened by "these individuals, who do not represent the suspended IOA and are acting in violation of the IOC's decisions and the Olympic Charter". The IOA was suspended by the IOC Executive Board Dec 4. In spite of this, "illegal elections" were conducted where Lalit Bhanot and Abhay Singh Chautala were elected as the secretary general and president of the IOA, respectively. "Take all necessary measures against these individuals at national level (including any appropriate legal action) to stop their illegal activities with immediate effect and to protect the interests and assets of the suspended IOA," said Pere Miro, National Olympic Committee relations director. "The members of the suspended IOA must not associate themselves with these illegitimate individuals or interact with them in any manner whatsoever. In particular, the national federations must not attend any meeting convened by these individuals, who do not represent the suspended IOA. "In the event that any federation associates itself with these individuals, in violation of the IOC's decisions and the Olympic Charter, the IOC will immediately ask the International Federation concerned to take necessary action," added Miro. The IOC also proposed to hold a joint meeting at its headquarters in Laussane with Singh, Malhotra and a senior representative of the Government of India as soon as possible to get the IOA back on the road.

All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja performed his role to perfection

was adjudged leg before wicket off Kumar. Kumar struck twice in the 14th over innings to give India the advantage, his incoming delivery rattling the stumps off Pietersen and Eoin Morgan edging one to Dhoni two balls later, leaving England at 73 for four. From there on, the England could not keep up with the asking rate and fall of wickets at regular

intervals pushed them out of the game. Earlier, a blistering 96-run stand off 60 balls by Dhoni and Jadeja propelled India to a score which looked unlikely when they were 119 for four in the 27th over. The partnership saw some serious hitting by the left and right hand combination. Dhoni came up with a slew of helicopter shots to enthrall a packed house.

Bhupathi, Bopanna advance in Australian Open

Melbourne: Finally, there was something to cheer for India in the men's doubles as Rohan Bopanna and Mahesh Bhupathi advanced to the second round with their respective partners. Bopanna and American Rajeev Ram, seeded 12th defeated Australian pair of Thanasi Kokkinakis and Nick Kyrgios 6-2 6-4 in their first round. Fifth seeded duo of Mahesh Bhupathi and Canadian Daniel Nestor ousted the Spanish pair of Pablo Andujar and Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-2 6-4 in their first round match. Second seeded Leander Paes and his Czech partner will begin the defense of their title against South Africa's Kevin Anderson and Isarel's Jonathan Erlich tomorrow. Bopanna and Ram will next take on Italian team of Simone Bolelli and Fabio Fognini. Earlier, Somdev Devvarman gave a mighty scare to world number 26 Jerzy Janowicz before fizzling out while Sania Mirza and her American partner Bethanie Mattek-Sands suffered a shock first round exit in a mixed day for the Indians at the Australian Open on Wednesday. Somdev was well on course to record his best performance at the singles second round, which lasted four hours. Somdev showed he has recovered well from his shoulder surgery, which spoilt his 2012 season, but somehow could not complete the job despite a magnificent start. Somdev was lone Indian featuring in the men's singles. In the women's doubles Sania and Bethanie, who came into tournament after winning the Brisbane international, were ousted by unseeded Spanish team of Silvia Soler-Espinosa and Carla Suarez Navarro. Sania will now compete in the mixed doubles with new partner Bob Bryan.

Rohan Bopanna and Mahesh Bhupathi

Grand Slams but frittered away a two-set lead to go down 7-6(10) 6-

3 1-6 0-6 5-7 against 24th seed Polish rival in a marathon men's

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

FOOD

January19-25, 2013

25

Royal kitchens revealing secret recipes

By Madhusree Chatterjee

rstwhile royal families have closely guarded culinary secrets of their kitchens like treasures down the ages. But the struggle to keep the estates sustainable is forcing the descendants to open up. Nearly six decades after independence, the hosts of the royal palace resorts are opening their recipe books to contribute to the experimental culinary wave sweeping through the kitchens of urban India. "Cooking a family recipe is like singing a 'ghazal'. It sounds different each time, but you know the flavor. One of our favorites was 'Shahi Sabzi Pulao'," Randhir Singh, scion of the family of the erstwhile Maharaja of Patiala, said. It was a dry pulao that could be improvised with meat arranged in layers, he said. The pulao, originally cooked by royal chefs, has now been tweaked to suit the lowoil palate. The pulao can be paired with "Murgh Musallam Laung Elaichi", a sweet and sour dry chicken dish with hints of clove, cardamom, lime juice and honey. Like Patiala, till about a decade ago, Tripura was a culinary wilderness unknown to mainland India. The repast table of the Deb Barma family was a locked wonderland. "General awareness about northeastern food is poor. Most of us are ethnically, linguistically and culturally of Tibeto-Burmese origin.

Legend has it that Mughal Emperor Jahangir had a weakness for chicken that was kept on a diet of saffron for a year. It took at least 100 chickens to cook the dish with a special blend of spices, "Dining With the Maharajas", a new book, says.

Our food is basic, represents plenty of eats with pork, bamboo shoots and red chillies. It is similar to Burmese cuisine with a bit of Cambodian spice blend," Pradyot Manikya Debbarma, scion of the erstwhile Tripura royal family, said. He lives for his "bhaat" -- a sticky rice variety -- like other northeasterners. "It is a level world in our land because we are looked upon as custodians of the land, not rulers. We don't have a caste system and it tells on our royal cuisine as well," he said. Debbarma loves to cook "Wahan Mos Deng" -- a pork dish, pork marinated in salt water, boiled and cooked lightly with ginger, onions and mixed with mustard oil. Fish is another staple, the former prince-turned-journalist-cum-cook from Tripura said. "Sheena Kebab", "Tunde Ka Kebab" and "Kakori Kebab" - the signature of Awadh Dastarkhwan created by the Mughals -- long moved out of the palace to the neighborhood eatery. While Tunde Ka Kebab, named after an one-armed chef, uses 160 spices, Kakori has a divine legacy. It was created at the 'dargah' of Hazrat Shah Abi Ahder Sahib in Lucknow with a mince of the "raan" of mutton and spices that still continue to vex the common cook. "Dining With the Maharajas", a recent book published by Roli, says: "Every day, any given meal

for Nawab Shuja-ud-Daula of Awadh and his wife was cooked in six different kitchens at a monthly cost of Rs.60,000. The amount did not include salaries of the cooks". Legend has it that Mughal Emperor Jahangir had a weakness for chicken that was kept on a diet of saffron for a year. It took at least 100 chickens to cook the dish with a special blend of spices, the book says. Food and cuisine have been integral to Indian culture, says Neha Prasada, who authored the book with Ashima Narain. "Traditional Indian cuisine is backed by years of experimentation. The fun is that the Indian royal cuisine has evolved with different influences. Somewhere, the original recipes have been deleted. What finds place on the table are improvised or diluted versions of the original fare -- with reduced oil or ghee. We have tried to preserve some of the original recipes from their kitchens," Prasada said. Shehzadi Naghat Abidi from the former royal family of Lucknow says the cuisine is no longer confined to palace kitchens. "From rich to poor, everyone loves Tar Gosht, a traditional dish of Rampur served during feast after a man's wedding," Abidi said, adding, "It is a gravy dish of either baby lamb or buffalo meat stir fried in a light spice base of ginger and chilly served with red tamarind dip and good wine."

Exploring the cuisine of eastern India

engalis are one of the most food and culture obsessed people in India. They are commonly compared to the French in that regard, as dining and entertaining are such an integral part of their culture. What makes Bengali cuisine so unique is the variations and complexities that are a result of practice and delicate subtlety. Now a new cookbook brings this distinctive culinary experience to home kitchens in the US. In The Bengali Five Spice Chronicles, author Rinku Bhattacharya explains the food and culture of her native homeland in Eastern India and showcases the recipes that are at the heart of Bengali life. The book gets its title from the five-spice blend Bengalis call panch phoron. This spice blend consists of five whole spices in equal proportions: cumin seeds, mustard seeds, nigella seeds, fenugreek seeds, and fennel seeds and is at the heart of Bengali flavors and the individual spices form the basis of the Bengali pantry. The Bengali diet leans heavily on vegetables, rice and fish. Bengali cooks prepare a variety of imaginative dishes using the many types of vegetables that grow in the region year round, Rinku explains. A traditional

Bengali meal sequence involves eating through a rainbow assortment of vegetables, and then finishing off usually with a fish dish, but sometimes mutton or goat. Since Bengalis rely on seasonal foods and usually eat what is available, meals are prepared in small quantities so cooking is a daily ritual. With over 180 easy-to-follow recipes incorporating a balance of traditional and contemporary recipes, The Bengali Five Spice Chronicles showcases the best of the Bengali table. The book begins with a thorough introduction to Bengali culture and cooking, including sections on spices, ingredients, and equipment. Recipe chapters cover Rice & Breads, Lentils, Fried Vegetables and Fritters, Vegetarian First Courses, Vegetarian Entrees, Eggs, Fish, Chicken & Poultry, Meat Dishes, Chutneys & Relishes, Drinks & Snacks, and Desserts. Rinku has adapted the cuisine for the American kitchen and markets making it easy and accessible to find ingredients. Some of the recipes in the book include tempting dishes like Eggs Cooked in Caramelized Onion Sauce; Crisp Lentil Cakes in Curried Gravy; Lentil-Stuffed Puffy Breads; Tart Pigeon Peas and Green Mangoes; Lightly Spiced

Pan-Sauted Okra; Green Plantain and Taro Cakes; Golden Cauliflower in Orange Mustard Sauce; Slow-Cooked Rice with Saffron, Shrimp and Rosewater; Steamed Mustard Fish Wrapped in Banana Leaves; Red Snapper in a Coconut Tamarind Sauce; Pickle-Spiced Lamb Curry; Coconut and Cardamom Fudge, and Milk Cake. The Bengal region is made up of the Indian state of West Bengal and the country of Bangladesh (formerly East Bengal). The food of this area comes from a long history of influences, both foreign and South Asian and stems from the historical invasions and trade links it had with many parts of the world. For anyone who loves to cook and experience food of different cultures, The Bengali Five Spice Chronicles is a fascinating culinary journey without ever having to leave the kitchen. Rinku Bhattacharya was born in Kolkata, and moved to the US about 25 years ago. A doctorate in business, she has been teaching cooking classes for the last seven years at her home, community college, and Whole Foods Market in Westchester, NY, where she lives. Rinku has a natural passion and love for regional Indian cuisine and uses it to share

The Bengali Five Spice Chronicles is authored by Rinku Bhattacharya, who lives in Westchester, NY.

and connect with her cultural heritage. She has travelled extensively and specializes in adapting Indian cuisine in global environments and kitchens. Her deep commitment to using seasonal ingredients for Indian cooking is reflected in her recipes. Rinku writes a popular blog, Cooking in Westchester, and a weekly column Spices and Seasons for the Journal News online, Small Bites.

26

January 19-25, 2013

LIFESTYLE

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Christian online dating sites surge in US

ooking for love in America? Perhaps what you need is a little faith. Call it a 21st century take on an age old biblical teaching -- Surf, and ye shall find. Christians in the US trying to find their soul mates are turning with increasing frequency to the internet, so much so that Christian dating sites have become a booming and very competitive business. "The benefit of coming to a site like ours is knowing you are coming to an online Christian community where you know people share your faith and your values," said Ashley Reccord, spokeswoman for ChristianMingle.com. "We are the largest and fastest growing online dating site for Christians," she said. With just over eight million registered members, ChristianMingle.com is the largest of a dozen or more Christian dating sites. It is also the most popular of the 28 different, niche-dating sites owned by Spark Networks including JDate.com which is targeted toward Jewish singles and has 750,000 active members. While LDSSingles.com is for Mormons, which reports over a thousand couples that have found their matches, BlackSingles.com reports thousands of members that log onto its site each day. Tre Reaume said he logged onto ChristianMingle.com from his home in San Diego, California in February 2009, after a breakup with a girlfriend. He was not look-

ing for anything serious, but for another Christian,

someone ambitious, adventurous, and attractive. Three weeks later, he met Miki, a former Radio City Rockette dancer and a musical theatre performer who was living across the country in New York City. The long distance relationship allowed their friendship to take off. "I proposed at the end of 2009, we got married in June of 2010. It's definitely a God story for us," he said. His story and scores of others like it are helping to drive the popularity of Christian

dating sites across the US, a growing trend that seems to contradict reports about the decline of religion in America, particularly for those under 30. The Pew Research Center, a Washington-based think tank that studies national and global trends, released a report in 2012 that found the number of Americans who have no religious affiliation had grown from 15.3 percent in 2007 to 19.6 percent in 2012, the vast majority of them under the age of 50. "While I can't argue with the numbers in the report, I can argue that perhaps our country isn't really losing its religion but rather finding new ways to keep the faith," said Clayton Coates, a pastor at Grace Point Church in Texas and an advisory board member for ChristianMingle.com. "Perhaps it's because singles are no longer going to church in the traditional sense, they now are finding new ways to associate and share their beliefs in online communities as well as the faith community," he added.

Merchant to showcase 'real India' at Hongkong Fashion Week

Indian, Chinese firms lead in innovations

ndian and Chinese companies have become better in developing new complex products, a Swedish researcher says. Monica Plechero has questioned the notion that Indian and Chinese companies compete with their Western counterparts only through lower wages and cheap imitations. "It is still the case that both Indian and Chinese companies imitate others but they have also become better at developing new complex products", said Plechero from Lund University, Sweden. Plechero has studied Indian and Chinese companies in the automotive, information and communication technologies and green

bio-tech industries as part of her doctoral thesis. But the process has not been the same in both countries, a Lund University statement quoted her as saying. China mainly develops products for the domestic market. In India, the international market is used as a springboard in product development, she said. "(But) the Chinese market is larger and more mature," said Plechero. In just a few years, the Chinese and Indian share of the world's research and development centers has risen from eight to 18 percent.

Plechero claims that India and China invest more than the West in organizational innovation or the implementation of a company structure that creates a favorable climate for new inventions. But what is the West to do then when it can neither compete on low wages or on the best innovation capacity? "I think we need to become better at utilizing others' knowledge, just as is done in China and India," she said. "Of course, you have to specialize and find your own niche. Successful European companies are far too eager to keep their trade secrets to themselves," she said.

Indian designer Shouger Merchant Doshi ndian designer Shouger Merchant Doshi is set to light up the ramp at the ongoing edition of Hong Kong Fashion Week with vibrant Indian colors. The four-day fashion extravaganza started Jan 14 and the designer will showcase her collection - A pink opera - Wednesday at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. "I have taken inspiration from the various shades of the color pink that is present in almost every flower. I decided on this theme because I wanted to show different ensembles in one color. Each model will be wearing a creation inspired by a different pink flower and will be wearing the flower as a hairpiece as well," Merchant said. "Also, India is known for its bright colors, so why not showcase this to represent the country's rich culture," she added. From anarkalis to saris and lehengas in fabrics like net, velvet, silk, chiffon, georgette and organza, the designer has covered every ethnic style. She has also used lot of embellishments like zardozi, zari, threadwork and swarovski work to add elegance to her creations. "This collection is different from the last. It is a little more feminine, cute, fun and flirty," she said.

Indian men conservative: British designer

M
en make cautious buyers, but Indian men are even more conservative and traditional when it comes to their dressing style, feels British designer Fabian Lintott, who is currently in India to launch a new range of bags. "Indian men are a touch more conservative compared to the international field. Indian men are still fairly new to fashion consumerism. Men in general tend to lean towards the more cautious side when it comes to the purchases they make," Lintott said. Based out of London, the 31-year-old is currently in Pondicherry to launch the latest collection of Hidesign bags, a brand he has been associated with from 2006. He is responsible for giving a quirky taste to the Indian brand's designs. "I have been fortunate enough to visit the Hidesign factory here in Pondicherry every year for the last six years. I have to be honest: I love coming here. The vibe of India is always electric and contagious. There is a real sense of the way the country is changing and developing, which is exciting. It is always an inspirational experience," he said. Lintott feels Indian men need to keep into account their personality while dressing up as well as accessorizing, without thinking much about others. "I think you have to be true to yourself. As long as you are comfortable with your style, no one else really matters. In Japan, for instance, men are happy to carry man bags and underarm bags, as well as the more commonly seen city and cross body bags. As long as you are comfortable, I say go for it," he said. A graduate of Central St. Martin's College

British designer Fabian Lintott. of Art and Design, London, the designer feels there has of late been tremendous growth in the area of men's accessory. The effect of that, he believes, is reflecting on Indian soil too.

"There is now a huge growth in the men's accessory market over the last few years. Men have woken up to accessories and to more adventurous use of color," he said. "I think accessories are and will be ever more important in our lives. With iPads, tablets, laptops and other tech pieces, accessories like the humble despatch bag, briefcase or day bag are called upon more and more to help us carry our precious items. This will lead to more and more demand for bags to fulfill our needs," he added. Talking about his design inspiration, he said it varies from simple things to extraordinary landscapes. "I am fluid with my inspiration sources. I love details and my sources are always varied. It may be a bonnet catch on an old sports car or as varied as leaves from the garden. It is always the little things that spark an idea that leads me to the finished item," said Lintott. He also revealed that Hidesign will soon launch its first range of sunglasses, shoes and non-leather luggage.

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

ARTS AND LETTERS

January 19-25, 2013

27

Jaipur to host literary stalwarts at Jan 24-28 Literature Festival

By Prakash Bhandari Jaipur: There is a mad rush of participants for the Jaipur Literature Festival. So far 70,000 people have already registered online and the on-the-venue registration which would begin from January 20 is expected to add a few thousands more. The festival will be held from January 24 to 28. Considering the large turnout, the organizers have split the festival into two venues. The festival which was held at a heritage property Diggi Palace will have its cultural session at a five star hotel which can accommodate 20,000 people at a time. The five-day festival will encompass a wide range of activities including debates, discussions, readings, music and workshops for the participants. Festival will play host to subjects as diverse as the history of miniature painting and war reporting, Sharia Law and gay and lesbian literature, the Jewish novel, the 18th century sexual revolution, detective fiction and the literature of 9/11. It will focus on new writing from Latin America and Iran; examine the economic prospects of India. The audience will look at the mixed legacy of the British Empire, the decline of America and the rise of China. In fiction this year, the festival will host Commonwealth Prize winner Aminatta Forna from Sierra Leone, Booker Prize winner Howard Jacobson,two Orange

Commonwealth Prize winner Aminatta Forna

Booker Prize winner Howard Jacobson

European poet John Burnside

Author Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak

Prize winners Linda Grant and Madeline Miller and Abraham Verghese - he best-selling writer of Indian origin in the US. Two respected novelists from the Arab world Ahdaf Soueif and Tahar Ben Jalloun are also expected to join. The Festival welcomes back two of Pakistans most celebrated wunderkinds Nadeem Aslam and Mohammad Hanif and look forwards to introducing Jamil Ahmad. From Chile come Ariel Dorfman, the playwright and celebrated author of Death and the Maiden. For the first time Indian audiences will hear favorite historical novelist, Lawrence Norfolk, and three of Britains most popular literary writers, Sebastian Faulks, Deborah Moggach and Zoe Heller, whose award-winning books have been adapted into the highly acclaimed movies Birdsong, The Exotic Marigold Hotel and Notes on a Scandal. The festival will also be graced by two of the greatest poets in Europe, Simon Armitage and John Burnside.

Sharing his enthusiasm Festival Co-Director William Dalrymple said, Its going to be an absolutely extraordinary five days and only wish it were possible to clone oneself so that one could attend five sessions simultaneously. The non-fiction list is especially strong this year. No less than three winners of the Samuel Johnson Prize for non-fiction Frank Dikotter on Mao, Wade Davis on Everest and Orlando Figes on Stalins purges, while Pulitzer winner Andrew Solomon will speak on his remarkable new book, Far From the Tree. Harvard Diana Eck, whose book India: A Sacred Geography has been one of the hits of the year, philosopher Michael Sandel who brings his popular BBC Radio 4 series, "The Public Philosopher," to Jaipur and the leading cultural theorist, Homi Bhabha are also expected. From Columbia University comes the much-revered postcolonial and post-modern literary

critic and thinker Gayatri Chakrovorty Spivak. From Oxford University comes acclaimed authority on Eastern Europe, Timothy Garton Ash and the Shakesperian Christopher Ricks. DSC Jaipur Literature Festival will present three of the worlds most acclaimed artists in conversation: Anish Kapoor, Marc Quinn and William Kentridge. Nandan Nilekani will discuss Breakout Nations with Ruchir Sharma, author of this year's bestselling book of non-fiction. Some of the most admired essayists in the world will also be speaking: Elif Batuman of the New Yorker, Pico Iyer of Time Magazine and Tim Parks and Ian Buruma of the New York Review of Books. On a lighter note, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the James Bond films DSC Jaipur Lit Fest will have a special session featuring Sebastian Faulks, who wrote the latest book in the franchise, Devil May Care, and Ian Flemings biographer Andrew

Lycett. Poems, stories, readings, and panels will discuss the multifaceted experience of being a woman, and the search for gender equity and justice. To add to the enthusiasm, a friendly cricket match is being organized between leading authors coming to the DSC Jaipur Literature Festival and the Royals XI, comprising of few players, team management and esteemed personalities. The Authors XI versus Royals XI match will be held in Jaipur, on January 23. Sreesanth, Ashok Menaria, Ajit Chandela, Dishant Yagnik, Raghu Iyer, Shashi Tharoor, Tarun Tejpal and Lakshya Raj Singh Mewar are among the eminent players constituting the Royals XI team. The Authors XI team includes prominent names such as Richard Beard, Sam Carter, Nicholas Hogg, James Holland, Tom Holland, Anthony McGowan, Anosh Irani, Alex Preston and Charlie Campbell, the captain of the team.

Now Ramayana in Polish language Rashtrapati Bhavan library being digitized

Warsaw: Ramayana, the great Indian epic, is now available in Polish language, courtesy Janusz Krzyzowski, an Indologist in Poland who has translated the monumental work. Though few episodes of Ramayana were translated into Polish in 1816, these were mere translation of western writers. In the 20th century, some attempts were made to translate a few more chapters. It seems Krzyzowski collected the material from dozens of books and presented in a coherent manner so that a reader could sustain his interest while going through different chapters. The original was penned by Maharishi Valmiki in Sanskrit. "My main purpose was to translate this epic into many chapters in a story format so that laymen and particularly Polish children could enjoy the book as well as they should be aware of the great Indian mythological tradition. "Ramayana and Mahabharata are two great epics which cannot (be) compared with other epics. Even Greek epics come out as pale shadows when we see the canvas of the Indian epics. They are almost unique in the history of mankind," Krzyzowski told. The book's effect was visible when a group presented a two-hour show on the pattern of Ramlila. In May, the group will visit few cities in Poland to enact Ramlila for Polish schoolchildren with the help of the Embassy of India in Warsaw. "He has done great justice to promote India in his nation. He deserves all our praise and we feel proud that such a gem is with us in Poland," Indian ambassador Monika Mohta said. Krzyzowski has been a prolific writer on India since 15 years. His love for India has roots since his university days when he enrolled for a master degree in philosophy after a medical degree. This interest turned him into an automatic Indophile. His books on Ashoka and Tansen were well-received along with books of Urdu masters like Mir Taqi Mir, Mirza Ghalib, Firaq Gorakhpuri, Faiz Ahmad Faiz that he translated with Surender Zahid, an Urdu poet in Warsaw. Krzyzowski is the president of India-Poland Cultural Committee since its inception in 2004.

New Delhi: President Pranab Mukherjee is a man of many talents, at ease with a multitude of assignments of varying kinds. Besides managing the affairs of the state, the veteran politician is these days busy digitizing historic records and books in the Rashtrapati Bhavan library, sorting his old journals to put together a book and restoring the British-era building to its pristine glory - and of course, reading. Briefing the media at an informal interface in Rashtrapati Bhavan Tuesday, Mukherjee said the library was big enough for "anybody to spend five years reading." "The library has records as old as government proceedings of 1891. Right now, the documents are dumped on the floor are being removed and put in order. After seeing the library in order, I will concentrate on reading. "I want to read official records - the history of the transfer of power and how the financial business of the government was transacted. The first budget was passed in 1892," Mukherjee said adding digitization of old books and reports was his priority. An aide to the president said: "Out of the 24,000 documents and records, only 4,000 have been digitized during president A.P.J Abdul Kalam's tenure." But the "hardware is outdated and restorers are

Pranab Mukherjee browses through books in the library

trying to retrieve them in a user-friendly format." The president is also keen on writing a couple of books. "Not an autobiography or anything like it," he said. The president said "he did not want to add anything new to Rashtrapati Bhavan but "just restore the building to its original glory." "I will not change anything. I am traditionalist," he said. Mukherjee said he has recently watched "Lincoln" that won its lead actor Daniel Day Lewis a Golden Globe award and has bought a copy of Ramachandra Guha's new essays.

28

January 19-25, 2013

HUMOR

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Funny Bone by Nury Vittachi

Man tries to board plane wearing 60 outfits

By Nury Vittachi MAN TRIED to get on a plane wearing 60 outfits. Too miserly to pay the excess baggage charge, he simply opened his suitcase and put on everything he owned. "I've done the same thing myself, but only with four jackets," said Shreya Gangul, the reader who sent the story to me."I was really uncomfortable. I can't imagine wearing 60 layers." The news clip said the passenger, a nonChinese man at Guangzhou airport in southern China, looked like a giant ball. I can imagine the conversations that would have ensued had he managed to board the aircraft:"Please sit down, sir." "I AM sitting down." But he never made it on to the plane. That's because he had a USB drive or two tucked into one or other of his garments. When the security gate went beeeeep, guards asked him to empty his pockets. Imagine his horror: "Yeah, sure. Just gimme a moment." But there was no way he could reach all his pockets. The staff detained him. Shreya said that her worst clothes-smuggling experience was when she wore a leotard, three outfits and a padded jacket.""I started

the journey in a really hot country, so I nearly died of heatstroke on the way to the airport. I had to drink two litres of water." But the worst part of the ordeal was still to come."NEVER wear a leotard as your bottom layer. When you have to go to the toilet, you have to strip totally naked, even if it's just for a ten-second pee." On a 19-hour trip with a three-hour stopover, she had to strip naked seven times. "I seriously considered asking the baby sitting behind me if I could have one of his diapers," she said. -*TWEET FROM Gabbar Singh describing India's parliament:"Think of a bus where every seat has a steering wheel & the bus moves in the direction of the sum of all the vectors." That sums it up pretty well. -*YOUNG DESPOT Kim Jong-un released video footage of his missile launch centre. Eagle-eyed viewers noticed his monitors were running Windows Vista. This is a terrifying thought for anyone in range of North Korean missiles (i.e., all of us in Asia). Picture the scene. Hackers send a virus to launch all the missiles at once. Kim reaches for his master computer to stop them.

But the screen freezes and up pops a message" "Keyboard not responding. Press any key to continue." -*A RESTAURANT in China serves spicy soup which is so hot it burns a hole in your stomach, I read in several Asian news sites. After dealing with a 26-year-old victim, hospital staff in Wuhan said that 15 percent of gastrointestinal cases now came from extreme soup eating. Women reading this are thinking: Yeuuch, how dumb can people be? Men reading this are thinking: Where can I get me some of that? -*GEEKS HAVE INVENTED a programme that can make anyone East Asian. The link was forwarded by a helpful reader who had heard this columnist lament that he had not been born a member of one of the cooler races. "This will make you Chinese or Japanese or South Korean," said Sunita Chau. I clicked the link but Make Me Asian only works on photographs, not on real people - not yet, anyway. You upload your photograph, whether you are Caucasian, Australoid, Mongoloid, or, like me, Random Nondescript Brownoid-and then press a button. Round eyes are flattened, noses shrink, skin is tinted yellow and a wig of straight black hair is photoshopped over the top of your head.

The app-developers have been castigated as racists in America, since people on that side of the planet are terribly sensitive about these things. But Chinese and Japanese people seem unoffended, and are using it themselves to make their eyes longer and their noses tinier. Further investigation revealed that it's part of a range of photo-editing apps which include Make Me Old (your hair disappears), Make Me Fat (the lower part of your head expands) and Make Me Irish (orange hair and a beard appear on your face). Surely the range would sell better if they were Make Me LESS Old, Make Me LESS Fat or Make Me ANYTHING BUT Irish. Anyway, the Make Me Asian app is so badly coded it crashes all the time. One reviewer wrote a note to the programmers: "If you want to be Asian, you should make functioning apps for a starter." -*TWO STUDENTS wore hi-tech cheating shirts during exams, the Indian press revealed last week. The shirts have a lapel mike built into the collar and a mobile phone in the armpit. This is utterly despicable and I wish I had thought of it first. Grade F for ethics, Grade A for resourcefulness. -*A NEW TRAFFIC law was passed in China last week, forcing drivers to stop at yellow lights, I heard from reader Chris Donnolley. "How about getting them to stop at red lights while they're at it?" he asked. That may be asking too much! -*A BOLSHIE MONKEY with a Donald Trump hairdo took up residence in the US embassy in Sri Lanka the other day, forcing staff to evacuate. It was eventually persuaded to leave using a trail of bananas - to the British government building next door. If this starts another war in Sri Lanka, America will pay. -*-

Photo of the week

A group of local public school teachers use rubber training guns as they practice drills on disarming an attacker during a teachers-only firearms training class offered for free at the Veritas Training Academy in Sarasota, Florida January 11, 2013. The December 14 tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut, where 20 first-graders and six adults were killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School, has sparked a national debate about whether to arm teachers, prompting passionate arguments on both sides.

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

ASTROLOGY

January 19-25, 2013

29

By Dr Prem Kumar Sharma

Stars Foretell: January 19-25, 2013
Aries: This is a period to invest with extreme precaution and care. Past investments need another reexamination. If you're planning on investing in a new venture then you better take small factors into consideration. Your ability to charm others will put you in the limelight. Property or vehicle transactions seem quite likely. Children will cause some dissatisfaction but spouse remains quite cooperative. Taurus: Stabilization in your relationship with your family members seems certain if you are willing to compromise on certain fronts. Professional gains for some bring gains and prosperity. Your new ideas and technical knowledge will make a good impression on others. Residential moves and renovation during this period will prove auspicious. Outdoor sports events and entertainment programme will help you keep relaxed. Gemini: This is an excellent time for professional advancements, promotions and recognition. At work you will be in the good books of your seniors and you will also benefit monetarily. Romance is in the air, so make the best of it and avoid any arguments with your lover. Opportunities to go out with friends will be informative and pleasurable. You need to do more things that you enjoy in order to relax. Foreign transaction or overseas journey will prove to be highly beneficial. Cancer: Your optimism will push your career to new heights. Put some of your innovative ideas into your work to reap longterm benefits. The next few days will see pressure on your work front arise giving you little time for recreational and other activities. Gifts and presents will be plenty from visiting guests. Avoid standing for surety of any one to avoid unnecessary complications in the coming period. Family members will be supportive and caring. Leo: You will be in a commanding position as your confidence and enthusiasm will be high. Important messages should be attended to immediately. You will make financial gains if you get involved in speculation. A spiritual persons blessings give comfort and relief. New relations and attachments will develop as a result of vacation and other recreational activities. Get involved in activities that will help you keep in perfect shape. Virgo: Some challenging project will see you express your skills in a very different way. New approach will give you new confidence on which you will build future hopes and dreams. Businessmen and investors will see past investments reaping profits. Relations with somebody close might get strained over petty issues. Good week to call important people over to your place. Spouse will be highly supportive and shower you with love and affection. Legal affairs will create a state of nervousness. Libra: Financial matters demand more attention. You should cut down your expenses on entertainment and shopping. Financial difficulty will even effect your health. Stay focused on your goals, but take necessary precautions. For some, a change of residence or a new construction will prove highly auspicious. Your erratic behaviour will raise emotions at home. Dont take criticism too seriously. Travel will be highly exciting but expensive. Scorpio: Your present health condition will be primarily because of the work pressure that you carry on your mind. You need to take time out with your friends will help you relax and regain your energy. Relationships with your clients will strengthen and you can accomplish a lot through smart negotiation and diplomacy. This week you should meet people who can further improve your career goals. Take care while driving, especially during the nights. Sagittarius: This week you will focus on domestic issues and should think about the immediate needs of your family members. Spouse and children will be a source of immense happiness. Guests and visitors bring you gifts in cash and kind. Going out with friends will be exciting and you will learn new and different skills. A good diet, coupled with fitness program will make you feel better. Capricorn: You will meet interesting people at social functions that you attend this week. Your ability to stand out in the crowd will bring you popularity and recognition. Your creative ability will surface, bringing you good ideas to make extra money. Great period to go out shopping for expensive items and jewelry. Spend some time with the one you love. Travel will be highly educating. Aquarius: Work will suffer this week as romance clouds your mind. You will find it difficult in concentrating on your jobs and getting favours from others. Keep your focus clear on your goals to reap professional benefits. Pleasure trips for some will be educating. Little time for meditation and yoga will be important for mental as well as physical gains. Group involvement will entertertaining, but expensive if you dont learn to say no. Pisces: Money making efforts will be profitable provided you work on new ideas and plans. This seems to be an excellent time for you to do things that will keep you relaxed and entertained. This period seems exceptionally good to take time out for hobbies, or take an adventure trip or go out on a short vacation. Friends and family members will seek your advice. Wonderful week to look into new courses that interest you.

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

Annual Predictions: For those born in this week

January 19 You are dominated by the number 1 and the Sun. The planet Moon, also has a strong influence on you. Happiness, prosperity and fame, is what most of you can expect in the coming year. Your methodical approach to work, coupled with your sincerity, will take you to newer heights in your professional career. You will be able to go to the depth of any project that you undertake. Your quest for knowledge and research, will help you immensely in your field of work. But, sometimes you tend to get a little restless and this results in your taking hasty decisions. Weigh the pros and cons, before taking any important decision. Hasty actions, will not only result in wrong decisions, but will also lead to unpleasantness with colleagues and friends. Your warmth nature, will make friends around you, confide in you, and look towards you for help, when they are in distress. March, June, July, September and January will be significant. January 20 You are dominated by the planet Moon. You are also governed by the number 2. Your warm nature and your helpful attitude, draws people towards you. You will have a large circle of friends around you, in the coming year. For those of you, who are going to be married, can expect to achieve success and prosperity in their married life. Those of you, who are in the field of journalism or teaching, can expect to reach newer heights of excellence, in the year ahead of you. For most of you, proximity to a water body, will bring you prosperity. You should, therefore opt for a posting near a river or a seaside. Most of you will be associated with charitable institutions, and you will be spending a lot of your spare time, in doing social work. May, July, November and February will prove highly significant. January 21 You are governed by the number 3 and by the planet Jupiter. You are also influenced by the Moon. You are courageous by nature and are not afraid to overcome any obstacle which may come your way. The coming year, will see you achieve honour and fame, in your professional front. You will have to do a lot of traveling, both for work and for pleasure. Self respect and happiness, is what you can achieve from the year, ahead of you. Your kind hearted nature, and your generosity, will draw friends towards you. You will always have a circle of friends who will find solace and peace in your company. But you will not tolerate too much interference in your life. You like privacy and will go all out to maintain it at any cost. You tend to become suspicious at times. This may result in a rift with your friends and loved ones. June, September, December and March will be eventful. January 22 You are governed by the number 4 and the planet Uranus. You are also influenced by the Moon. Those of you in your 40th year and above, should expect to reach the height of your professional career, in the year ahead of you. Most of you will be lucky in money as well as love matters. You will benefit by your friendship with the opposite sex. Some of you may get into a special relationship which may turn out to be everlasting. Your domestic front, will be peaceful and full of harmony. You like to avoid disputes and keep those around you happy. Your introvert nature will not allow you to express your sentiments and because of this, you will have limited friends around you. You do not like to mingle easily with all persons. The months of April, June, July, October and November will be highly eventful. January 23 You re governed by the number 5 and the planet Mercury. You are also dominated by the Moon. You have a fascination for anything that moves fast. You like your projects and plans to move in double quick time. You will be able to achieve success and that too in a short time, in the year ahead of you. Honour, fame and recognition, will be yours in the coming year. Financially too, it will be a good year. Some of you can expect to inherit property from your ancestors. Those of you in the field of writing, or teaching, can expect it to be an exceptionally good year. Your extensive vocabulary and communication skills, will take you to greater heights of success. Because of your devotion and loyalty, you will be able to gather many admirers and friends around you. You will be the centre of attraction at social gatherings. The months of May, July, September and December will be important. January 24 You are governed by the planet Venus and dominated by the Moon. You are also influenced by the number 6. You are full of confidence and do not underestimate you capabilities. In the coming year, you will try to impose your ideas on others. This may not be liked by your colleagues, who tend to drift away. You will achieve success in your pursuit of knowledge. Gaining an imparting knowledge to others, is what you enjoy doing. You will spend a lot of time in collecting donations for charitable institutions. Your warmth nature draws you to those who need help. This gives you ultimate satisfaction. A word of advice for the coming year keep away from speculation and gambling. Overindulgence in these may lead to losses. The months of February, June, August and January will be important and significant. January 25 You are governed by the number 7 and dominated by the planet Neptune. Moon also has an influence on you. You are faithful and honest by nature. You will go all out to fulfill your duties towards your friends and family, in the year ahead of you. You will be able to pursue many subjects, rather than confine yourself to anyone. Your honesty and loyalty, towards your work, will impress your seniors. Those of you, in the teaching line, will do well, professionally. Your sharp memory and intelligence, will be your assets. But, sometimes you tend to get fickle minded and inconsistent in your attitude. This could reflect on your work. The months of April, June, August, November, March and April will prove to be highly significant.

Before you consult...

i) Accurate Data: Please make sure Date, Time and Place of birth is accurate. ii) Careful: Did you check background of the astrologer before disclosing your secrets. iii) Fee: Discuss the charges before, dont feel shy. Its his business. iv) Expectation: Expect the best, if the outcome is not as desired, never give up. v) Consult: Take second opinion before spending thousands on cure/remedies.

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January 19-25, 2013

SPIRITUAL AWARENESS

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Concluding part of the discourse 'Stay still for God'

To find God silence all distractions

By Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj
they achieved their goal. Some people can barely swim across a pool, yet there are people who train themselves to swim the English Channel. We wonder how it is possible. But someone had that desire and worked hard to make it happen. If we look at the field of medicine, we marvel at how doctors have created ways to transplant an organ such as the heart or do delicate brain surgery. For centuries no one could have dreamed these treatments possible, yet people had the idea to develop these methods and they worked hard to make it reality. The mind is a great tool to use to achieve a goal. All the great inventions, innovations, and creations have come about due to the power ered that the balloon was descending, getting closer to the waters surface. One of them said, "We are going to crash into the ocean unless we either heat the air in the balloon or get rid of some weight." Another said, "We have no way to heat the air in the balloon so we have to reduce the weight by throwing something overboard." They took stock of what they had with them. They decided to throw overboard their shoes, coats, and weapons which they had smuggled out with them when they escaped. As they threw these items into the ocean, they each took a sigh of relief as the balloon rose higher. Hours more passed. Soon, they realized the hot air balloon was descending again. What were they supplies. If the balloon did not have that weight to carry, it could stay aloft. "But how will we be saved?" asked one of the other men. The man with the idea said, "We will each tie all the ropes together strongly to form a basket out of the ropes, and we will sit on the ropes hanging from the balloon once we release the basket from the ropes." The men knew they would have to hold on to the ropes for their lives, but there was no other hope for them. The men began to cut away the basket beneath their feet and tie the ropes together as support for them. As they did so, the hot air balloon had less weight pulling it down and it rose up again. As they sat, sitting on the supto your aspirations, And step towards your chosen goal. Our trouble is that we have not yet made up our mind what our aspirations are. One day we say we want God but the next day we want to make a lot of money. Then, the next day we want to have a physically fit body. Then, the next day we want to travel and see the world. We do not stick with one goal long enough to have success. We allow the chatter of the world to sway us from our goal. If our goal is to find God, we need to stay still, physically and mentally, in meditation. This requires us to quiet the distracting voices that call to us from the world outside and from our own mind. We need to set our sights on our spiritual goal and silence all other distractions. We do not realize what a great gift simran is. We do not have to worry about silencing our mind by ourselves. We can repeat the five Charged Names given to us at the time of our holy initiation as a way to silence the mind. While repeating the five Charged Names, our mind is automatically silenced. The Names do not allow any space for our own thoughts to distract us. Simran is a powerful tool given to us by the attention of the Master to help us silence our mind. All we need to do is make a decision. What is that decision? We need to decide that we want to find God and that we are willing to put in time to meditate. If we make that choice then all we need to do is sit still and keep quiet. Five magic wordssit still and keep quiet. Repeating simran helps our mind stay quiet. In this way, we will be still long enough for God to have a chance to meet us and greet us. God will have a chance to bathe us with the Light and Sound. Absorbed in the Light and Sound, we will rise on that Current to meet the radiant form of the Master. The Master will then guide us through the higher spiritual realms until our soul reunites with God. Let us stay still for God. If we can do so long enough, we will find we can achieve our lifelong goal and desireto be one with the loving Lord. Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj is an internationally recognized spiritual leader and Master of Jyoti Meditation who affirms the transcendent oneness at the heart of all religions and mystic traditions, emphasizing ethical living and meditation as building blocks for achieving inner and outer peace. www.sos.org.

ook at all the amazing tasks humans do when they have a desire and how they put in time to make their dreams a reality. For example, people have figured out how to put a human being on the moon. Who could imagine that someone walking on earth, pulled down by gravity, could rise out of the earths gravitational pull, travel through oxygen-less space, land on a moon, without any oxygen, walk on that lifeless surface, and come back alive. It is remarkable. Yet, someone had the dream to make it happen and then set in motion all the necessary steps for it to become a reality. If we can put a physical body on a moon, why cannot we take our spirit and return it to the spiritual realms from where it came? All it takes is the desire to do so and a will to follow the instructions to make it happen, and it will happen. Another example of making a dream into a reality is that of the astronauts who are able to leave the space shuttle to do a spacewalk safely and even make repairs or upgrades to the ship. Is that anything less than amazing? Some people are afraid to lean out their window on a second floor or higher lest they fall. Yet, astronauts venture out to space, where there is no oxygen, and face dangers such as the cord breaking, causing them to float off to their death in space. Yet, these people put their mind to doing these feats and achieved it. If we ever watched the Olympics, we are awed by the tremendous feats that athletes train themselves to do with their physical bodies. We marvel at their ski jumps, hurdles, gymnastics routines, or amazing triple jumps while skating. We wonder how they can hurl their body into the air and do all those gyrations, seemingly defying laws of gravity. Yet, they set their mind to it and their body followed along. In marathon races people test their stamina and endurance to run miles and miles. We marvel at how they do it. Yet, they had a goal and worked day after day to increase their ability to run. They not only trained their body, but they trained their mind to keep at the task until

The mind is a great tool to use to achieve a goal. All the great inventions, innovations, and creations have come about due to the power of the mind. The question is, why cant we control our mind to sit still to concentrate within?
of the mind. The question is, why cant we control our mind to sit still to concentrate within? For success in any field, we need a ruling passion and commitment. When we do not succeed at a task it is because we take it as a low priority. Then, we do not have the will to do it. We are focused on all the other aspects of life. Success requires us weeding out those time-wasters or distractions that keep us from achieving our goal. In this connection, there is a story from a novel that illustrates this point well. Five people were being held in a prison camp during a war. They found there was only one way for them to escape. They had to escape in a hot air balloon. They were able to escape to an area where a hot air balloon was being kept and were able to lift off before the guards discovered them. As they sailed off, they discovered to their horror, that the wind was blowing them over the ocean. They drifted further and further away from land and were fearful of how long the hot air balloon would stay up. They drifted for many hours over the ocean waters and then discovto do now? As they neared the oceans surface, they discussed what to do. All they had left to throw overboard was their small supply of food. With no choice, they threw overboard their food. As one said, "It is better to be hungry than to drown." They figured they could live for days without food, whereas if they kept the weight of the food, it would mean certain death for all five of them by drowning if the hot air balloon fell into the ocean. The balloon rose again and all were relieved. Hours more passed. Again, the solution to throw overboard the food was only temporary. Without heat for the air in the balloon, it started flying lower and lower, again nearing the surface of the water. "Now what?" they wondered. There was nothing left to throw overboard. Finally, one of the men had an idea. It was their last resort. They could cut the ropes that held the basket in which they were riding. The basket was heavy, strong enough to hold five men and their port of the ropes only and holding on for their lives, a welcome sight greeted them. They were nearing land. As their hot air balloon reached close enough range for them to swim to land, they jumped off and swam to the island safely. The story has an instructive lesson. Each time they were faced with the possibility of their death, they had to toss out something they considered the least necessary. They first decided that their lives were more important than their clothing. Next, they had to choose between their lives and food. They decided they could live without the food for a few days. Finally, they had to decide between their lives and the comfort of the basket. Each time they had to discard something less necessary than what their chosen goal was. For success in life, especially on the spiritual path, we must do the same. In our case, it is a matter of discarding time-wasters. What are those things that are keeping us from our chosen goal? Sant Darshan Singh Ji Maharaj said beautifully in a verse: Begin to live your life according

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

January 19-25, 2013

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

January 19-25, 2013