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Vol.12 No. 21 September 21-27, 2019 80 Cents New York Edition Follow us on TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Trump joining Modi event sends

message to world: Jaishankar
New Delhi: President Donald
Trump joining Prime Minister
Narendra Modiʼs diaspora event in
Houston next week will be a mes‑
sage for the world and it is up to
Pakistan what they wish to read,
External Af fairs Minister S.
Jaishankar said here on Tuesday.
Modi, during his visit to the US
President Trump will join PM Modiʼs Houston rally, the White House to attend the United Nat ions
said, to emphasize the strong ties between the people of US and General Assembly, will address the
India, to reaffirm the strategic partnership between the two nations Indian diaspora at an event called
and to discuss ways to deepen their energy and trade relationship. ''Howdy, Modi!'' in Houston on
September 22, and will be joined
by Trump as a special gesture.
Addressing a press conference
on the achievements of the
External Af fairs Ministry in 100
days of Modi government's second
term, Jaishankar said Indo‑US rela‑
tions have come a long way and
were in "good health". The minis‑
ter described as a "matter of great
honor" Trump accepting to attend
Continued on page 4
Related stories on page 3 and 12
8 Over 50,000 people
expected to attend
“Howdy, Modi!’ rally in
Houston on Sept 22 that
will also feature a score
and more US lawmakers
from both parties.
8 Indian American community
will rally at UN to welcome
PM Modi’s address to the
UN General Assembly on
September 27

Oilfield attack: Pompeo A unique way to remember the Apostle of Peace To commemorate the 150th
Anniversary of Mahatma

heads to Saudi Arabia Gandhi, Shanti Fund in

association with the
Consulate General of India

to prepare response inaugurated the Gandhi

Washington: US Secretary of State
Mike Pompeo is traveling to Saudi
Arabia following the attacks on the
ally nationʼs key oil facilities, the
US State Department has said.
In Jeddah, the top US diplomat
will meet with Saudi Crown Prince
Mohammed bin Salman to discuss
"efforts to counter Iranian aggres‑
sion in the region", according to
Peace Garden on
the statement. Tensions in the September 17 at the SUNY
Middle East have escalated follow‑ Old Westbury campus in
ing drone attacks on two major oil Long Island. Joining Consul
facilit ies in Saudi Arabia on General Sandeep
Chakravorty and SUNY Old
Saturday that knocked out more
Westbury President Calvin
than half of crude output from the
O. Butts at the event were
world's top exporter ‑ five percent
Arvind Vora of Shanti Fund,
of the global oil supply ‑ and cut HR Shah, Ravi Bhooplapur
output by 5.7 million barrels per and Dr Bhupi Patel.
Detailed stories on page 2 and 16‐17.
Continued on page 4

NEW COLUMN 7 BOLLYWOOD 18 SPORTS 23 SPIRITUAL AWARENESS 30 excellence in journalism

 2 September 21-27, 2019 COMMUNITY TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Nassau County gets Gandhi Peace Garden

By Parveen Chopra

Hicksville, NY: To commemorate

the 150th Birth Anniversary of
Mahatma Gandhi, Shanti Fund in
association with the Consulate
General of India in New York
inaugurated the Gandhi Peace
Garden on September 17 at the
sprawling SUNY Old Westbury
campus.
President of SUNY Old
Westbury Calvin O. Butts along
with Consul General Sandeep
Chakravorty, Arvind Vora of
Shanti Fund, HR Shah of TV Asia,
Ravi Bhooplapur and Dr. Bhupi
Patel, both on Board of Trustees
of SUNY, planted a tree to begin
work on the Peace Garden with
150 trees planted on a 50‑acre
green land dedicated by SUNY
Old Westbury for this historic The 150 trees for the garden have been adopted by community members by contributing $500 for each tree.
garden. Trees from all 50 states Over 100 people gathered to witness the inauguration ceremonies. (Photos: Gunjesh Desai)
of America are being brought
Chakravorty and Mr Vora, HR around the world working self‑ Westbury to get the land granted issues, finally SUNY agreed to
over. The 150 trees have been
Shah of TV Asia also addressed lessly in this field. and making this project a reality have this 50 acre land cleared.
adopted by community members
the gathering of over 100 people “Then the thought was floated as Trustee of the University. It Gandhi Peace Garden with trees
by contributing $500 for each
witnessing the inauguration cer‑ to set up the “Gand hi Peace was to be a perfect gift to the from all 50 US states is a dream
tree.
emonies. Some notable names Garden”. Immediately I volun‑ Nassau County. come true and people in the area
Arvind Vora in his speech on
included Wayne Edwards and teered to work with SUNY Old After many obstacles and will cherish it for years to come.”
the occasion said that President
Michae l Kinane of SUNY,
Dr. Butts and Ravi Bhooplapur
Virendra Bansal of SBI, Swami
were the major force in getting
Param Anand, Dr. Shukla,
the land from SUNY for the Peace
Kalpana Patel, and Anil Suri.
Garden. Ambassador
Chakravorty secured the needed Ravi Bhooplapurʼs
support from the community at
large.
role
State Bank of India adopted 10 Speaking to The South Asian
trees and self‑motivated Kamlesh Times about his role in making
Mehta of The South Asian Times Gandhi Peace Garden a reality,
inspired over 20 trees to get Ravi Bhooplapur, President of
adopted. Xavier University School of
In 1999, Shanti Fund installed Medicine ‑ Aruba, who is on the
a statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Board of Trustees of SUNY Old
one of two agency buildings of Westbury, said, “Gandhi 150
Suf folk County in Hauppauge, Event was discussed with me by
NY. Now with this Peace Garden Mr Arvind Vora & Hon Consul
coming up in Old Westbury, the General last year to explore the
apostle of peace has presence on most befitting manner to com‑
Long Island in both Nassau and memorate Mahatma Gandhiʼs life
Suffolk Counties. and leg acy, something that
Orig inally, Prime Minister should leave a lasting impres‑
Narendra Modi was slated to sion. Many ideas came up such
inaugurate the Peace Garden, but as instituting a Gandhi Peace
due to logistics now it will be award like the Nobel Peace prize,
part of a community event at and invite top‑notch people to a
United Nat ions on 24th meeting in New York on Peace
September. and Non‑violence and then rec‑
Besides Dr Butts, Amb. ognize some worthy people from

Consul General Sandeep Chakravorty speaking at the inauguration of

the Peace Garden, flanked by (from left) Arvind Vora, HR Shah, Ravi
Bhooplapur and President of SUNY Old Westbury Calvin O. Butts.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info TRISTATE COMMUNITY September 21-27, 2019 3

Indian community to rally at UN Indian-Americans urge Ro Khanna

to welcome PM Modi on Sept 27 to leave Pakistan caucus
Washington: A record number of 230 and a champion of human rights, you
New York: Several Indian social media and made calls to
Indian‑American organizations have joined the Congressional Pakistan
American organizations from voters in India to support BJP
urged Democratic Congressman Ro Caucus, the letter stated.
across New York, New Jersey, during the elections. Modi
Khanna to w ithdraw from the The letter alleged that Pakistan con‑
Connecticut and Pennsylvania governmentʼs recent actions
Congressional Caucus on Pakistan, tinues to utilize terror to attack US
are planning to gather at UN such as addressing the injus‑
saying it was contrary to both US interests in Afghanistan and wage a
Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza (next tices in Kashmir over women's
principles and India's proxy war ag ainst
to United Nations) here on Sept rights, backward caste peo‑
geo‑strategic interests. India.
27 morning to welcome Prime pleʼs rights, scrapping the tem‑
Khanna, 42, became Pakistan has shown
Minister Narendra Mo diʼs porary constitutional provi‑
the first Indian‑ a complete and utter
address to UN General sion of Article 370, making
American to have disregard for human
Assembly around that time. instant Triple Talaq punishable
joined the Pak Caucus rights and re ligious
This is to express their solidari‑ have largely been welcomed
last month. This when freedom and was
ty with the popular prime min‑ by the Indian diaspora. His
he was already a recently labelled as a
ister and love for their mother‑ actions to address deep rooted
member of Country of Particular
land. Buses are being arranged corruption particularly among
In his address to UNGA on Congressional Caucus Concern by the US
from several locations across the polit ical class and his
on India and Indian‑ State Department for
the tristate area. Those coming Sept 27 morning, Prime Minister vision to make India a 5 trillion Rep Ro Khanna from
Narendra Modi will touch on Americans, the largest its "systematic, ongo‑
to attend can reg ister at dollar economy is putting India California joined the
climate change, sustainable country‑specific cau‑ ing, [and] egregious
https://tinyurl.com/ on the right path and bode well Congressional Caucus on
development and terrorism. cus in the US House. violations of religious
WelcomeHonPM and specify for its future. Pakistan in August. even when freedom"
In a letter submitted ag ainst
location where they plan to board the bus to At the international level, Modi is seen as hav‑ he was already a member of
to Ro Khanna on Hindus, Sikhs,
help with the planning. ing restored respect for India, convinced the the Congressional Caucus. on
Monday, Indian‑ Christians, Shia and
PM Modi is expected in his UN speech to touch world to take on the state sponsored terrorism India and Indian Americans,
American org aniza‑ Ahmadiyya Muslims,
on topics such as Climate change, Sustainable engaged by Pakistan. The many awards he has
tions, professional associations and they said. The letter implored Khanna
development and terrorism. He will attend many received from various countries speak to his
community leaders urged him to with‑ to write to Pakistani Prime Minister
high level events on the sidelines of UNGA and stature in the world.
draw from the Pakistan Caucus. Imran Khan and meet Pak
hold bilateral and multilateral engagements dur‑ It was in 2014 UNGA that PM Modi proposed
A copy of the letter was released by Ambassador to US Asad Majeed Khan
ing his stay in New York. International Day of Yoga, and now June 21 is
the Hindu American Foundat ion to address Pakistan's ongoing use of
This is Modiʼs first visit to the US since he won celebrated the world over as International Day
(HAF). We are deeply troubled that as terrorism to destabilize the region and
a resounding victory for a second term. Many of Yoga.
a leading member of the House India its rampant and severe human rights
NRIs groups here had very enthusiastically par‑ ‑Based on a press release from the rally organ‑
Caucus, Foreign Af fairs Committee, violations.
ticipated in the 2019 election campaign through izers

Kamala Harris launches initiative to garner

Indian American support for her presidential run
Washington DC: Indian American
Senator Kamala Harris ( D‑Calif.)
launched ʻSouth Asians for the
Peopleʼ on September 7, an initia‑
tive mainly aimed at garnering
support for her sagging presiden‑
tial bid from Indian Americans.
Harris, daughter of a Jamaican
father and Indian origin cancer
researcher Shymala Gopalan who
died in 2009, launched the new
initiative on social media. In a
Facebook post titled “Join South
Asians For The People” she has
uploaded home videos from the
time she spent in India with her
extended family members. She
has one sister named Maya
Harris, a lawyer and public policy
advocate.
“When I was a young girl visit‑
ing my grandparents in India, Iʼd
join my grandfather and his bud‑
dies on their morning walk along
As a child, Kamala Harris spent summers in Chennai, India, she revealed in home videos
she posted while launching ʻSouth Asians for the Peopleʼ.
the beach as they would talk
about the importance of fighting
for democracy and civil rights.
Those walks made me who I am
today, and thatʼs why Iʼm so proud
to launch our South Asians For
The People community,” Harris
says.
The sepia images of her grand‑
father, with a red rose on his
lapel, snippets from Indiaʼs free‑
dom marches, and even her being
introduced at the NGO Pratham at
its gala.
The Harris campaign Web site
now has a space for South Asian
Americans to sign up to volunteer,
host events, a phone bank, and
other activities.
Indian‑Americans, a majority of
them being Democrat supporters,
have yet to enthusiastically get
behind Harrisʼ presidential cam‑
paign. According to some news
reports, former Vice President Joe
Biden appears to be their favorite.
In the third Democratic debate
held on September 12 in Houston
with 10 candidates taking the
stage, Harris was not among the
top performers. She faced tough
questions about her record as the
first woman Attorney General of
California as we ll as in law
enforcement of fices she he ld
before that.
A latest NBC/Wall Street Journal
poll of contenders for the
Demo crat ic nominat ion for
President show Joe Biden staying
at the top (31%) and Elizabeth
Warren surging with 25%. Kamala
Harris has dropped to 5th posi‑
t ion w ith 5% support among
Democratic voters.
 4 September 21-27, 2019
India certain to become $5 trillion
economy by 2024: Amit Shah
New Delhi: Expressing "certain‑
ty" that India would be a $5 tril‑
lion economy by 2024, Union
Home Minister Amit Shah on
Tuesday said that the current
growth slowdown is "tempo‑
rary" and only caused by "glob‑
al factors".
Shah also promised that no
Indian will be left without a
house, bank account, toilet,
electricity, road connectivity or
any basic need of life by 2022.
Shah said that the Prime
Minister's vision of a new and
great India was about ensuring
a good quality of life for all
Indians and India getting
accepted and admired by the
world as a strong nation.
Speaking at the 46th National
Management Convention of All
India Management Association
(AIMA), Shah called on India's
business leaders to not get con‑
fused by a temporary growth
slowdown caused by global fac‑
tors and build national confi‑
dence instead.
"India has to be a $5 trillion
economy by 2024 and it is a
certainty," said Shah. The Home
Minister demanded that India's
industry and management
organizations build a consor‑
OBITUARY
T
he community has been
saddened by the news
of Dr Arvind Shah, well
known oncologist, passing
away on September 15. The
founder of Vaishnav Temple in
New Hyde Park, NY, and
active member of Gujarati
Samaj of New York, he was
known for his Philanthropy,
Chairman and Co-Founder
Kamlesh C. Mehta
Kamlesh@thesouthasiantimes.info
Co-Founder: Saroosh Gull
President: Arjit Mehta
Arjit@thesouthasiantimes.info
Managing Editor: Parveen Chopra
P : 516.710.0508
parveen.chopra@gmail.com
Associate Editor
Hiral Dholakia-Dave
hiral@thesouthasiantimes.info
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publisher does not warrant accuracy and cannot be held responsible for the content of the advertisements placed in the publication and/or inaccurate claims, if any, made by the advertisers. Advertisements of
business or facilities included in this publication do not imply connection or endorsement of these businesses. All rights reserved.
Indian Home Minister
Amit Shah
tium for Research and
Development so that the coun‑
try can earn intellectual proper‑
ty dollars instead of sending
those out.
Aditya Birla Group Chairman
Kumar Mangalam Birla, who
started the convention by talk‑
ing about shaping the new
world order, said that despite
the impression of globalization
retreating, global trade was still
growing. He reminded that
even in a year of a bitter trade
war, the trade between the US
and China would be about
$650 billion. Birla proposed an
Indian model of globalization
where globalization did not
obliterate national sovereignty
and where globalization was
not about capturing foreign
markets. "Indian globalization
Generosity and Community
Service. The community has
been grateful to Drs Arvind
and Kunjbala Shah family for
their support and contribu‑
tions. Dr Arvind Shah has
received his medical degree
from Baroda Medical College
and had been in practice for
more than two decades.
Consultants
Shomik Chaudhuri P: 646.498.5122
shomik@shomikchaudhuri.com
Ginsmon P. Zacharia P: 516.776.7061
ginsmon@hotmail.com
Contributing Editors:
Swadesh Rana
Shaker Nelanuthala,
Prof. Shivaji Sengupta,
Surekha Vijh (Washington, DC),
Suchitra Srinivas (New Jersey),
Melvin Durai,
Dr Prem Kumar Sharma,
Ashok Vyas, and Dr Akshat Jain
TURN PAGE TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Trump joining Modi event ties.
sends message to world:
Jaishankar
On the possibility of the Kashmir issue
coming up during PM Modi's US visit,
Continued from page 1 Jaishankar said there is nothing to
the Modi rally on the invitation of the worry about.
Indian‑American community.
is 'nationalism without bor‑
Jaishankar, who has served as Indian Oilfield attack: Pompeo heads
ders'."
Ambassador to the US, said the Houston to Saudi Arabia
AIMA President and
summit ‑‑ expected to be attended by to prepare response
Chairman, Ambuja Neotia Continued from page 1
50,000 people inside NRG Stadium,
Group, Harshavardhan Neotia day. Yemen's Houthi rebels, who have
home of the Houston Texans football
drew attention to the need for been locked in a war with a Saudi‑UAE‑
team‑‑is the third time Modi would be
encouraging innovation saying led coalit ion since 2015, claimed
doing a major community event in the
that doing so was necessary to responsibility for the attacks, warning
US. "And I regard this as a great achieve‑
set India on course to the $5 Riyadh that their targets "will keep
ment of the India‑American communi‑
trillion GDP target by 2024. expanding".
ty," he said. "If today, there is an event
Sanjay Kirloskar, Senior Vice But Mike Pompeo swiftly accused Iran
of this size and have someone like
President, AIMA and Chairman of being behind the assault, without pro‑
President Trump coming there, this
and Managing Director, viding any evidence. The claim was
shows where the community has
Kirloskar Brothers stressed the rejected by Tehran which said the alle‑
reached, how it is regarded in the US,
need for keeping India open. He gations were meant to justify actions
the respect it commands out there."
argued that India needed more against it. Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, has
He said with such events, the commu‑
foreign participation in its promised to "confront and deal with this
nity definitely stands more motivated,
economy and not less. terrorist aggression", while President
united and inspired by the fact that
T he two‑day National Donald Trump hinted at possible mili‑
Modi is the Prime Minister.
Management Convention is tary action after Riyadh concluded its
Asked whether Trump's presence at
highlighting the role of innova‑ investigation into the attacks.
the event would be a message for
tion in making India a $5 tril‑ Saudi Arabia said it would join a US‑
Pakistan, the External Af fairs Minister
lion economy and fostering a led coalition to secure the Middle East's
said there are going to be multiple mes‑
culture and capability of inno‑ waterways after the attack on its oil
sages there, particularly about the state
vation. The convention is being fields. The state‑run Saudi Press Agency
of India‑US relations. "And obviously it
addressed by leading members carried a statement quot ing an
will be up to Pakistanis to read what
of the government, renowned unnamed official saying that the king‑
they wish to read and the same applies
CEOs, startup founders, distin‑ dom had joined the Internat ional
to other parts of the world."
guished economists and leading Maritime Security Construct, a mission
The minister said India‑US relations
writers on business and econo‑ already joined by Australia, Bahrain and
have evolved with administrations of
my. the United Kingdom. Oil prices extend‑
Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack
More than 500 entrepre‑ ed their losses on Wednesday, after
Obama and now Donald Trump. "The
neurs, executives and manage‑ Saudi Arabia's energy minister said the
India‑US relationship has come a long
ment experts are attending the kingdom will restore lost oil production
way and if we look today at the quality
convention. by the end of the month.
of the relationship, amount of the trade,
of political comfort, security coopera‑
tion, movement of people, students,
research, there is no facet of relation‑
ship today which hasn't gone upwards
over the last 20 years," the former
diplomat said.
"The trajectory was always upwards.
Even today if we are planning an event
like Houston, the thinking from our part
is very bi‑partisan,” he stressed. Yemen's Houthi rebels have claimed
Indeed the score and more lawmakers responsibility for the attack, but
Washington has accused Iran
Dr Arvind Shah invited to the Houston meet are from
amid rising tensions.
both Democratic and Republican par‑
New Delhi Bureau News Service
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TheSouthAsianTimes.info TRISTATE COMMUNITY September 21-27, 2019 5

Indian‑American couple's $250mn Jaipur Foot to be

gift helps build US med college
Clearwater, FL: An India‑ American doc‑
tor couple's "impossible" dream to build
a state‑of‑the‑art medical college to
advance healthcare in Florida and inter‑
nationally to underserved communities
in India and Africa has come to fruition
with their $250 million gift. Zambia‑born
India‑educated cardiologist Kiran C. Patel
and his wife, paediatrician Pallavi Patel
performed a ribbon cutting ceremony
here Saturday in the presence of local
dignitaries to open the Nova
Southeastern University's (NSU) new
regional campus built with their dona‑
tion. The single largest donation made
by an Indian‑American individual or fam‑
ily in the US, included a $50 million gift
and an additional $150 million real
estate and facility investment by the
Patel family foundation.
The new three‑storey 311,000 square
foot medical education complex built in
just 17 months in Tampa Bay will also
serve as a satellite campus for four other
colleges, including Dr. Pallavi Patel
College of Health Care sciences, and the
Dr Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic
Medicine. The NSU had renamed the two
colleges located in its Fort Lauderdale
camps, about 400 km away, in
exhibited at Capitol Hill
Jaipur: The world‑famous artificial limb
September 2017 when the Pate ls
Jaipur foot will be on display during a
announced the largest philanthropic gift
week‑long exhibition at Capitol Hill in
in its history.
Washington.
"I feel that it is more important than
The Capitol Hill, in addition to being a
ever to advance the current state of
metonym for the United States Congress
health care," said Kiran C. Patel. "It is
also has the House of Representatives and
rare for someone to have the opportuni‑
the Senate in its precincts.
ty to impact the world in this way, and,
Prem Bhandari, chairman, Jaipur Foot,
as an immigrant to the US, I am particu‑
USA who is on a visit to Jaipur informed
larly honoured to be able to make a dif‑
the founder and the chief patron of the
ference in people's lives around the
Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata
world."
Samiti, the parent body of the Jaipur Foot Prem Bhandari(right), chairman, Jaipur
The Patels' gift will provide support for
that the week‑long exhibition will be Foot, USA with D R Mehta, founder and
equipment and the hiring of additional
organized from November 20 under the chief patron, Jaipur Foot in Jaipur
faculty and staff in the Tampa Bay area,
auspices of both, the Indian Mission in nations. Bhandari said this exhibition in
as well as an endowment to sustain the
Washington and the Jaipur Foot, USA. November this year was made possible
operation of the college's new location
Bhandari informed that a day long semi‑ largely because of the ef forts of the
besides an endowed scholarship fund for
nar will also be held during the exhibition. Indian Ambassador to the US,
students.
He said that it will be for the first time Harshvardhan Shringla and the members
Their goal is to be involved in the train‑
an Indian prosthetic ‑ that has benefitted of the Jaipur Foot, USA.
ing and education of generations of
1.8 million people both in India and D R Mehta said currently under an
physicians and other health care
abroad and which has its footprint in 32 agreement with the Ministry of External
providers who will serve in areas with
countries – be given an international Af fairs, Jaipur Foot camps have been
the greatest need across the US and
exposure in Washington. org anised in Iraq, Vietnam, Malaw i,
worldwide. The new campus has received
In year 2018, the Jaipur foot was dis‑ Myanmar, Tanzania, Senegal and Egypt
accreditation from the Commission on
played in the United Nations headquarter with a forthcoming camp in Namibia.
Osteopathic Accreditation. The first
in New York for a week and the United These camps are organized under the
batch of 150 osteopathic medicine (D.O.)
Nations also organized a seminar on this aegis of India For Humanity Programme
students has already joined the college
occasion which was attended by a number to celebrate the 150th birth anniversary
and will graduate in 2023.
of permanent representatives of various of Mahatma Gandhi.

Hicksville Nepali American traverses 15th UnitedHealthcare SAGA

world for blood donation awareness
New York: Hicksville resident and
world blood donor, Nepali American
Arjun Mainali is just back from
Nairobi, Kenya after donating blood
for the 172th time. He went there
with the objective of motivating
Kenyan youth to become volunteer
blood donors.
“Human blood is an essential ele‑
ment of human life with no substi‑
tute. Voluntary blood donors are the
cornerstone of safe and adequate
supply of blood and blood products.
The African Region faces a high
demand for blood transfusion due to
pregnancy and childbirth related
bleeding, high prevalence of malaria
with complication of severe malarial
anemia and high rates of road acci‑
dents. Each year in Africa 0.6 million
mothers and pregnant women lose
their lives due to excessive bleeding
and not getting blood. It is a very
painful situation,” he says. According
to Kenya Red Cross Society Secretary
General Abbas Gullet, Kenya needs
450,000 units of blood in the blood
bank but doesnʼt even get to 50 per‑
cent of this amount. “This is mainly
because the youth are afraid of
donating blood. There is misinforma‑
tion as well as lack of awareness
about the benefits of donation,” says
Mainali. Hence Mainaliʼs action
plan to motivate the youth includes
meeting the blood transfusion serv‑
ice people and blood donors before
the blood donation day, organizing
talks and sharing experiences on the
Arjun Prasad Mainali donated blood for 172th time on Sept 11.
blood donation day as well as involv‑
ing local of ficials in the drive to
increase the reach.
Mainali has put in tireless efforts
in educating, advocating, encourag‑
ing, promoting and creating aware‑
ness among thousands of people
about the importance of blood dona‑
tion for human civilization.
Understanding the knowledge
level gap, and stereotype related to
blood donation, he embodied the
leadership approach of presenting
himself as a role model. To this
point, he has donated 171 (whole
blood 122 times and platelets 49)
times during his 32 years of blood
donation movement. This amounts
to 85.5 liters of whole blood and
platelets combined. According to Red
Cross, one pint of blood can help
save as many as three people. By this
account, Mainali has helped save
precious lives of as many as 513
people.
He traveled to 16 countries
(United States, Canada, England,
Ireland, Australia, Macau, Bermuda,
Thailand, Nepal, India, Ecuador,
Haiti, Malawi, Uganda, Rwanda and
Ethiopia) of 6 continents and 14
states of United States with the sole
purpose of donating blood along
with the local people.
He has organized more than 300
blood drive programs. To institution‑
alize blood donation campaigns, he
also founded ‑ Blood Donors
Association Nepal, Blood Donors of
America, International Nepalese
Blood Donors, and World Blood
Donor Arjun Mainali Incorporation.
Open Golf Outing on Sept 28
O
n Saturday, Sep 28th 2019, UnitedHealthcare (UHC) Asian
Initiatives Team and South Asian Golf Association are host‑
ing the 15th Annual Golf Outing UnitedHealthcare SAGA
Open 2019, which is open to all for Golf and /or Awards
Celebration at Cobblestone Creek Country Club, 2170 Lawrence
Road, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648.
SAGA was started with the idea of promoting golf among South
Asian diaspora. Since its inception it has become a leading organi‑
zation promoting Golf in the Tristate areas with chapters in other
states in plans. It has over 100 current members with over 1000
golfers who have played in its outings over the years.
UHC and SAGA share the same mission and promote annual Golf
outing in the South Asian community. “UHC and SAGA Open” is a
time for the families and guests to come in the evening and be part
of a culturally rich program, which fosters friendship and harmony.
The event will also provide excellent networking opportunities
fostering valuable business relationships among South Asian com‑
munities. All events are open to the public. Contact Mahesh Yadav
mahesh@sagagolf.com to register or here is the link to register:
http://www.sagagolf.com/event/saga‑open‑2019
Satrangi School of Fusion
brings Broadway style
Bollywood dance drama
RRANG ‑ Colors of An Untold Story is a one of a kind mega show
organized by Satrangi School of Fusion, an Edison (NJ) based dance
school, known for its huge productions. Produced by UFI Events
and directed by Rohit Baxi who is the founder of the dance school,
this is a Broadway style Bollywood dance drama presented by 100
very talented students of Satrangi. To add to the grandeur of this
mega show, join Bollywood personalities Malaika Arora, Tamannah
Bhatia & Remo D'Souza, who have been performing with the stu‑
dents. A show of this magnitude has never been attempted by any
local dance school.
After successful shows in Boston and Trenton, the next shows will
be on Sept 21st & 22nd in Washington DC and NJPAC respectively.
 6 September 21-27, 2019 LOCAL GOVERNMENT TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Cricket comes to Leading the way to zero

Nassau County parks
East Meadow: Eisenhower Park
here is getting two cricket pitch‑
es. Nassau County Executive
Laura Curran joined Senator
Kevin Thomas, South Asian, and
West Indie community groups,
USA Cricket board member Ajith
Bhaskar Shetty and local athletes
on Monday to unveil the pitches
at Field 11 and Field 16.
“After soccer, cricket is the
most‑watched and most played
sport in the world and in Nassau
County we are welcoming and
supporting the game with great
enthusiasm ‑ along with the rap‑
idly growing South Asian com‑
munity,” Curran said.
The pitches were constructed
using the countyʼs golf and parks
maintenance staffs and with help
from the Of fice of Asian
American Af fairs. Within the
next few weeks, the county will
also begin installing a pitch for
youth leagues at Cow Meadow
Park in Freeport.
"As the first Indian‑American
Senator in New York, I recognize
how important the sport of crick‑
et is to the thriving South Asian
County Executive Laura Curran unveiled two new pitches at
Eisenhower Park on Monday. (Image courtesy: Nassau County)
community we have here on
Long Island,” said Senator Kevin
Thomas. “I am proud to see the
addition of cricket pitches to
Eisenhower Park ̶ yet another
great place for people to get out‑
side, engage in our community,
and have fun.”
Currently, teams play on
portable pitches they transport
to Eisenhower Park, Bay Park in
East Rockaway and Cantiague
Park in Hicksville.
The pitches are open to the
public starting this weekend and
permits are required for playing,
which are available for the 2019
fall season and must be submit‑
ted by Sept. 21.
Those interested could e‑mail
ncfield@nassaucountyny.gov.
gun deaths in New Jersey
W
ith the help
of Democrats
in the
Legislature, New Jersey
Governor Phil Murphyʼs
administrat ion has
passed new gun safety
regulations designed to
keep guns of f the
streets, to stop the flow
of illegal guns into the
state, and to keep guns
out of the wrong hands.
“Althoug h these NJ Governor Phil Murphy
reforms are having a
positive impact, we still face a Our goal is nothing short of
situation where 80% of illegal reducing the number of gun‑
guns flow into New Jersey from related deaths in New Jersey to
out of state and over 1,300 resi‑ zero. To make that possible, it
dents a year are injured by a will take all levels of govern‑
shooting. Itʼs clear we need to ment, businesses, and the resi‑
do even more,” he said in a press dents of New Jersey working
release. together toward the same vision
“Today, I announced an execu‑ of keeping our state safe from
tive order that will allow our guns,” he said. “We will not sit
administration to use the state back, cross our fingers, and
governmentʼs massive purchas‑ hope that Washington takes
ing power to hold gun manufac‑ meaningful action. States must
turers, retailers, and financial do whatever they can to con‑
institutions accountable and front this crisis, and New Jersey
ensure that they are taking must continue to lead the way.
steps to reduce the spread of As your Governor, Iʼll never give
gun violence. up that fight,” he added.

NY set to ban some e‑cigarettes People with Medicare,

N
ew York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said
Sunday he will push for a ban on
some electronic cigarettes amid a
health scare linked to vaping ̶ a move that
would follow a similar ban enacted by
Michigan and a call from President Trump
for a federal prohibition on certain vaping
products.
Speaking in Manhattan, Cuomo, a
Democrat, said the state's Public Health and
Health Planning Council and state health
commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker would
issue an emergency regulation banning fla‑
vored e‑cigarette products.
"Vaping is dangerous," the governor said.
"At a minimum, it is addicting young people
to nicotine at a very early age."
MTAʼs $51.5 billion plan
to modernise subway
"We would ban all flavors besides tobacco
and menthol," he said.
The push at the state and federal levels to
ban certain vaping products comes as the
Mark Your Calendars!
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
said last week that 380 confirmed or proba‑
ble cases of lung disease associated with e‑
cigarettes had been identified in 36 states
and the U.S. Virgin Islands, with six con‑
Open enrollment
firmed deaths.
Earlier this month, Michigan imposed a
is October 15 to
similar ban. Bills to halt the sale of flavored December 7, 2019.
vaping products have been introduced in
California and Massachusetts. In July,
Cuomo signed a law that raised the mini‑ During this period, you can
mum age for purchasing tobacco and e‑cig‑
arettes in the state from 18 to 21.
enroll for the first time and
sign up for or switch your
Medicare Prescription
Drug Plan and/or
Medicare Advantage Plan.

N
ew York Cityʼs transit network, neg‑
lected and underfunded for decades,
is about to get an incredibly expen‑
sive shot in the arm. Metropolitan
Transportation Authority officials on Monday
laid out the broad strokes of a $51.5 billion,
five‑year capital plan to quickly modernize
the subway system, make 70 more subway
stations accessible and revolutionize the way
people move throughout the region. The vast
majority of the money, roughly $40 billion,
will go towards New York City Transit ̶
including $37.3 billion of which will be used
to pay for subway projects. The amount to be
spent on the subways alone exceeds the $32
billion in the MTAʼs current five‑year capital
plan for subways, buses and commuter rail‑
roads, which wraps up at the end of the year.
The new plan also includes money for the All changes are effective
next phase of the Second Avenue Subway,
which will extend the Q line north by 1.5 January 1, 2020.
miles from 96th St. on the Upper East Side to
125th St. in Harlem. The extension will cost
$6.9 billion, a whopping $4.6 billion per mile For more information,
of track. This is an historic, transformational
capital plan that weʼre describing,” said MTA
call 311 and
Chairman Pat Foye. “Customers will have ask for “HIICAP.”
more reliable, efficient service.” But the plan
will be painful. Transit officials warned that
the aggressive construction plan will lead to
extended shutdowns of service on nights and
weekends across some areas of the subway ̶
Department for
but insisted the sacrifice will be worth mak‑ the Aging
ing.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info COLUMN September 21-27, 2019 7

EXCLUSIVE COLUMN

By Swadesh M. Rana Howdy, Modi! and Indian diaspora

T as force multiplier tool of diplomacy
he Houston Summit on
September 22, 2019 is a cel‑
e brat ion by the worldʼs
largest diaspora from a single
country of origin in the country of Holding it in Texas at the threshold of the third decade of the 21st century, the hosts of the Houston
destination for the largest number Summit titled ʻHowdy, Modiʼ, are motivated by shared dreams of an even better future for
in the global diaspora. The 17 mil‑
lion diaspora of Indian origin is the
the already robust Indo‑US collaboration in trade, tourism and cultural exchanges.
largest in the world from a single els are a constant concern about
country among an estimated 300 losing tourism as their major
million global diaspora from 130 source of live lihoo d, and the
countries. Of the 20 countries of destruction of their cultural her‑
destination in a ranking order for itage as an irreplaceable loss.
the global diaspora, the USA comes As the largest, the most educated
atop as home to 50 million of and more cosmopolitan among the
which now over 4.5 million are global diaspora living in the USA,
Indian Americans: both native and the Indian Americans may owe a
foreign born. triple obligation to the Houston
After a near doubling of their Summit on 22 September. One is to
number every decade since the express their appreciation of the
nineties, and a median annual USA as the land they live in and
income of $85,000 to $100,000 that makes it possible for them to
per household now, the Indian celebrate the success story of what
from India since the late nineties. their families after the floods in Foreign Af fairs has recently
Americans are currently seen as they have accomplished here in
US research and operational Kerala. brought within its jurisdiction the
the wealthiest among the native US only one or two generations. The
undertakings continue to employ Holding it in Texas at the thresh‑ Indian diaspora that was mostly
and foreign‑born population. With other is to act as an additional tool
Indian Americans in the fields of old of the third decade of the 21st seen hitherto as an additional
72% of their adults holding a grad‑ of diplomacy for the soil they
science, technology, engineering century, the hosts of the Houston source of resource mobilization for
uate or postgraduate degree and belong to by adding their voice to
and math (STEM). Nearly 5% of the Summit titled “Howdy Modi”, are national socio‑development and a
an 80%‑90% English proficiency that of the global diaspora repre‑
fastest growing new private com‑ motivated by shared dreams of an subject of concern for their welfare
for all age groups, they are also the sentatives at the United Nations for
panies were established by Indian‑ even better future for the “already as non‑resident Indians. Now it is
most educated and more visibly practical steps to avert the climate
Americans. Ranging in dollar value robust Indo‑US collaboration in also receiving a never be fore
eminent. Be it in trade, industry, driven threat of extinction for the
from multi to single billions, these trade, tourism and cultural accorded attention as an under‑
health care, intercultural SIDs. And still another is to them‑
companies cover a wide spectrum exchange.” Two of the five states in tapped force multiplier tool of
exchanges, international affairs or selves by adding even a very tiny
of products and services. From the USA where the Indian compa‑ diplomacy “to perform, reform or
diplomacy to mention the more vis‑ fraction more to their remittances
making products like fuel cells, nies have generated maximum transform” in a phrase first used by
ible, major media events all over for preserving Indiaʼs least known
drones and telemarketing software employment, and among the top 4 him and then echoed again and
this country in areas with large architectural heritage in its
for data analyses and artificial with the largest number of Indian‑ again by the 16th Prime Minister
Indian American population invari‑ remotest parts.
intelligence to cloud based servic‑ Americans, Texas is also the capital of India, Narendra Modi, in his
ably include an Indian American.
es, venture capital investments, of the world for energy that is in direct addresses to the Indian
This is particularly so in the tri‑ (This is first of the diplomatʼs
running restaurants and fashion‑ g row ing demand for faster Diaspora wherever they are.
state area of New York which columns that she will write for The
wellness clinics, providing caterers progress by India towards hitting The collective skills, resources
accounts for 700,000 of all the South Asian times.)
and grocery delivery to owning or the target of $5 trillion economy. and outreach of an expanding glob‑
Indian Americans.
operating real estate agencies and Along with such strongly ground‑ al diaspora are now draw ing
According to the local perform‑
renting out or driving vehicles for ed mutuality of shared interests greater attention for arriving at the Former Senior Political
ers for traditional marriage cere‑
transportation by road. between the country of their origin farthest in a timely accomplish‑ Analyst in the Executive Office
monies in this country, more than
By 2018, with 87% of them plan‑ and dest inat ion, the Houston ment of the targets of Sustainable of Secretary General Boutros
50% of the Indian‑Americans in the
ning to hire more in coming five Summit is preceded by two recent Development Goals in 2030. The Boutros
USA are married to non‑Indians
years, 100 Indian companies developments that put the Indian Internat ional Org anizat ion of Ghali,
including but not confined to the
invested $18 billion in the USA Americans in a unique position to Migration is calling upon the glob‑ Swadesh M
Americans. Of the remaining 50%
according to a recent report by the intermingle some priority issues on al diaspora to get more actively Rana was the
Indian‑American marriages, more
Confederation of Indian Industry the agenda of the local and global engaged in averting and dealing Chief of the
than half are among other Indians
(CII). Ent itled ʻIndian Roots, diaspora. Here in the USA, the last with an increase in the number of Conventional
belonging to 29 states and 7 union
American Soilʼ, the same report few years have provided them with humanitarian crises worldwide. Arms Branch
territories of India that speak 14
tabulated that the Indian compa‑ unprecedented opportunities to The forthcoming session of the in the
different languages and practice 7
nies also created 113,000 jobs influence the selection of priority United Nations General Assembly Department of Disarmament
distinct religions. While accounting
here, contributed $147 billion issues for decision making. Directly would be again hearing the Small Affairs at the United Nations.
until recently for only 1.26% of the
towards corporate social responsi‑ by occupying key positions in the Island Developing States (SIDs) She is a Gold Medalist for
native US and foreign‑born popula‑
bility and $588 million for legislative, executive and judicial now even more anxious than Masters in Political Science
tion, one out of every 10 among
research and development expen‑ branches of the US administration before about a new influx of cli‑ from Panjab University in
the 800,000 medical doctors in the
diture in the USA. Remittances to and indirectly by training the train‑ mate refugees for the global dias‑ Chandigarh and a Ph.D in
USA is of Indian origin. A more
India from the USA went up from ers as newly appointed deans of pora. At least 9 of the SIDs now international affairs from
recent tapering notwithstanding,
$62 billion in 2016 to $65.3 bil‑ prestigious universities including face threat of being submerged Jawaharlal Nehru University
there is an accumulated 1,000 a
lion in 2017 w ith the Indian those from the Ivy League. totally by the rising water levels. in New Delhi.
year inflow of computer specialists
Americans pitching in more for Back at home, Indiaʼs Ministry of For many others, the rising sea lev‑
 8 September 21-27, 2019 NATIONAL COMMUNITY TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Sunny meets Muhammad Rushdieʼs ʻQuichoteʼ shortlisted

Aliʼs wife, discusses cricket for 2019 Booker Prize
Museum in Kentucky
Sunil Gavaskar with Lonnie Ali
Louisville: Legendary Indian crick‑
eter Sunil Gavaskar on his visit to
Muhammad Aliʼs hometown in
Kentucky met with Lonnie Ali, wife
of the boxing great and Louisville
Mayor Greg Fischer to discuss open‑
ing up of a cricket museum at the
prestigious Muhammad Ali Center
in downtown Louisville.
Sunil Gavaskar has agreed to
donate some of his memorabilia to
the proposed cricket museum.
New Delhi: Award‑win‑
ning and international‑
delighted. Iʼm also happy
to be chosen, alongside
ly bestselling author such terrific writers, to
SalmRushdie's new be part of an interesting,
novel “Quichotte” is in strong list.”
the race to w in this Rushdie is the author
year's 50,000 pound of 14 novels including
Booker Prize for “Midnightʼs Children”,
Fiction. for which he won the
T he news of the Man Booker Prize, the
shortlist broke on Booker of Bookers Prize,
Tuesday afternoon and the Best of the
with an announcement Booker Prize.
from the organizers of He has also published
Rushdieʼs last nomination for Booker
one of the leading liter‑ one collection of short
Prize was 19 years back.
ary awards in the stories and four works of
Eng lish‑speaking world. nove l from the prize‑w inning non‑fiction, including the interna‑
“Quichotte” is published in India author, the story of an aging trav‑ tionally acclaimed bestse ller,
by Penguin Random House India, eling salesman who falls in love “Joseph Anton”, and has co‑edited
making it the only nominee by an with a TV star and sets off to drive two anthologies. He is a member
Indian publisher in this yearʼs across America on a quest to of the American Academy of Arts
Fischer and Louisville Sports
shortlist. This book is published prove himself worthy of her hand. and Letters and a Distinguished
Commission Board Member, Jai
under the Hamish Hamilton The tragicomic tale is one of our Writer in Residence at New York
Bokeyʼs vision of making Louisville,
imprint in India and was simulta‑ deranged times, and deals, along University. A former president of
a cricket destination in the US is all
neously released in the UK and the way, with father‑son relation‑ PEN American Center, Rushdie
set to take shape. ʻSunil Gavaskar
India on August 29. ships, sibling quarrels, racism, was knighted in 2007 for services
Cricket Fieldʼ in Louisville, which is
Inspired by the classic “Don cyber‑spies, and the end of the to literature. His books have been
the home‑ground for Louisville
Quixote” by Miguel de Cervantes, world. translated into over forty lan‑
Cricket Club and a proposed cricket
“Quichotte” is one of the most Commenting on the nomination, guages.
museum with Gavaskar memorabil‑
anticipated books of the year and Rushdie said: “It has been 19 years The winner of the Booker Prize
ia, can now fully justify calling
opened to exceptional reviews since ʻThe Moorʼs Last Sighʼ made will be announced on October 14.
Louisville, Kentucky as Gavaskarʼs
from the media. It is the 14th it to the shortlist, so Iʼm obviously (IANS)
second hometown. (IANS)

Mumbai dance group reaches Indian man impersonates

America's Got Talent final 81-year-old to board
New York: Mumbai dance group V
Unbeatable has impressed
America's Got Talent judges and
has entered the finals of the talent
hunt show. V Unbeatable managed
to again impress the audience and
judges w ith their act. T hey
smashed their way to the finale
with their jaw‑dropping perform‑
ance on Jashn‑E‑Ishqa from
Gunday. V Unbeatable's perform‑
ance got a standing ovation from
America's Got Talent judges
Julianne Hough, Howie Mandel
and Gabrielle Union. With this, the
hip‑hop dance crew are one step
closer to their dream of winning
Drug ring importing opioid pills
Team V Unbeatable with judges and other finalists
America's Got Talent. This was not
the first time that their perform‑
ance left the judges in awe. Their
semifinal act also earned them a
standing ovation from the judges.
T heir unbe lievable acrobat ic
moves, daredevil stunts and ener‑
gy level have won the hearts of
many. It won't be a surprise if V
Unbeatable takes home the trophy.
US flight, caught
New York: An Indian man dis‑
guised as an 81‑year‑old was
caught trying to board a plane to
New York with a fake passport,
authorities say.
The man, named as 32‑year‑old
Jayesh Patel, was arrested at
New De lhi's Indira Gand hi
International Airport on Sunday.
With a dyed white beard and
large spectacles, Patel passed 32‑year‑old Jayesh Patelʼs
throug h init ial security and bluff was caught by the
immigration checks in a wheel‑ vigilant CISF personnel
chair, local media report. tioning, Patel confessed that he
But not all officials were fooled. was impersonating an old man,
"He was definitely not 80 years and that the passport was not
old. His skin was of a younger
person," a spokesperson for the
legitimate. Patel was detained
and handed over to immigration

worth millions from India busted Central Industrial Security Force

New York: Eight Indian‑Americans
have been arrested and charged with
importing millions of misbranded
opioid pills into the US from India
and distributing the potentially
lethal substance drugs to individuals
and entities in the country through
US Mail and other commercial couri‑
ers. The eight accused, who were
arrested on Thursday, primarily
operated out of a warehouse in
Queens, a New York City borough,
where they repackaged the pills and
mailed them to customers through‑
out the US, according to the Justice
Department. The arrest of the eight
Indians came at a time when the
Trump administration is awarding
nearly $ 2 billion in grants to states
and local governments to help fight
the opioid crisis and prevent its mis‑
use and overdose.
Since January 2018, law enforce‑
ment authorities in the US had been
investigating the large‑scale importa‑
tion of misbranded controlled sub‑
stances, including tramadol, a syn‑
thetic opioid, into the US from India.
The eight accused who have been
charged by the federal court in
Brooklyn are Ezhil Sezhian
Kamaldoss, 46, Mukul Chugh, 24,
Gulab Gulab, 45, Deepak
Manchanda, 43, Parthiban
Narayanasamy, 58, Baljeet Singh, 29,
Harpreet Singh, 28 and 45‑year‑old
Vikas M Verma.
If convicted, Kamaldoss faces up to
25 years' imprisonment while the
other accused face up to five years'
imprisonment. Kamaldoss is also
charged with money laundering.
(CISF) told CNN.
During a later security check,
suspicions were raised when
Patel refused to be searched,
claiming he was too old to stand.
When asked for documenta‑
tion, he handed over a passport
bearing the name of Amrik Singh,
born on 1 February 1938 in
Delhi.
"The appearance and skin tex‑
ture of the passenger seemed to
be much younger than men‑
tioned in the passport," the CISF
spokesperson said. Under ques‑
authorities while an investigation
takes place. Indian police told
NDTV that Patel, from the state
of Gujarat, hired an agent who
promised him a passport and a
US visa.
T he agent, NDTV reported,
arranged for his make‑up and
costume ‑ a white tunic and tur‑
ban ‑ to be applied in a hotel
room in Delhi.
"He was planning to go to the
US for a job. But his profile was
such that he would not have got‑
ten a visa easily," police of ficer
Sanjay Bhatia said.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Infosys opens center in Joe Biden hires Amit Jani for top
Arizona, to hire 1000 techies post in his presidential campaign
New York: Global software major
Infosys has opened a technology cen‑
ter at Phoenix in Arizona, US, to
accelerate innovation for its
American enterprises.
“We will hire 1,000 American
techies over four years to work at the
center in the south‑western state for
local enterprises,” said the IT behe‑
moth in a statement.
Arizona Governor Doug Ducey
inaugurated the center in the pres‑
ence of state officials, company exec‑
utives, employees and representa‑
tives of a few enterprises.
The center, housed at the Arizona
State University (ASU), will focus on
autonomous technologies, Internet
of Things (IOT), full‑stack engineer‑
ing, data science and cyber‑security.
“Our investment in the center will
attract local and global talent. Hiring
is underway to recruit around 500
techies by 2020 and reduce the IT
skills gap in the state,” it said.
Infosys Chief Executive Salil Parikh
said the Arizona center, the compa‑
nyʼs sixth of its kind in the US since
2017, was set up to help local enter‑
prises go for digital transformation
at the earliest. “The center allows us
to collaborate with our clients across
the country in an agile manner,” said
Parekh. The center will also leverage
and empower the workforce to
bridge the skill gap in the market
and accelerate the digital agenda of
its clients.
“Our focus will be on harnessing,
TRUMP NOMINATES
ANURAAG SINGHAL
AS FLORIDA JUDGE
Washington, DC: US
President Donald Trump
on Monday nominated an
Indian‑American as a feder‑
al judge in Florida.
Anuraag Sing hal is
among the 17 judiciary
nomination sent by the
White House to the Senate.
If confirmed by the Senate,
the Indian‑American would
replace James I. Cohn as
the United States district
judge for the southern dis‑
trict of Florida.
Sing hal is the first
Indian‑American to be
nominated to this position
in Florida. His confirmation Singhal is first Indian American to be
hearing by the senate judi‑ nominated federal judge in Florida
ciary committee is sched‑
uled for Wednesday. Wake Forest University School of
Singhal currently is on the 17th Law. His parents migrated to the
Circuit Court in Florida, a posi‑ US in 1960. His father, from
tion he has held since 2011. A Aligarh, was a research scientist
g raduate from the Rice with Exxon. His mother was from
University, Singhal studied at the Dehradun.
modeling and scaling a new model
for workforce development in the
US, where the private sector has a
key role to implement it (model) or
learning and on‑the‑job training,”
said company's president Ravi
Kumar. The center boasts of living
labs, showcasing prototypes in virtu‑
al reality, augmented reality and
robotic technologies and will help
foster co‑creation, training, and col‑
laboration. Lauding Infosys for for‑
aying into the state, Ducey said its
presence reinforced Arizona's repu‑
tation as a tech hub and one of the
best places to relocate and expand.
The center will allow the company
to develop cross‑functional solutions
to pressing business challenges in
machine learning, artificial intelli‑
gence, user experience and advanced
digital technologies, such as big data
and cloud. As part of its commitment
to workforce development and bridg‑
ing the STEM (Science, Technology,
Engineering and Mathematics) skill
gap in the US, the $11 billion out‑
sourcing firm also announced a part‑
nership with InStride to allow its
employees complete degree pro‑
grams and education courses
through ASU.
"Infosysʼ commitment to Arizona
and learning speaks of the strength
of talent in our community. We wel‑
come it as a partner that will boost
our competitiveness in the global
economy,” said ASU president
Michael Crow.
NATIONAL September 21-27, 2019 9
Washington, DC: In what is likely
to be an effort to woo Indian
Americans before the upcoming
elections, former Vice President
of US and 2020 Presidential can‑
didate Joe Biden has roped in
Amit Jani, Indian‑origin adminis‑
trator, to be part of his election
campaign.
Jani, who currently works at
New Jersey Governor Phil
Murphy's office, will be heading
the Asian‑Americans and Pacific
Islanders (AAPI) outreach.
This will not be the first elec‑
tion campaign that Jani is a part
of. Apart from working in
Murphy's administration, Jani Amit Jani
was formerly the Director of the
AAPI Outreach in the successful Schools of Technology in New the Congressional Asian Pacific
'Murphy for Governor' (New Jersey. American Caucus (CAPAC), as
Jersey Democratic State His popularity in the region is well as the U.S. Department of
Committee) campaign. He was also strengthened by his active Housing and Urban Development
also a former of US Senator Bob participation in social work such and the New Jersey Department
Menendez. Jani has also worked as serving as the President of the of Transportation.
as a Congressional Aide for Rep. New Jersey Leadership Program, Jani also participates in cultur‑
Frank Pallone, Jr, the a non‑profit outfit that works al events organized by the
Congressional Asian Pacific toward increasing the South Indian‑American community in
American Caucus (CAPAC) and Asian participation and its and around New Jersey and
Congresswoman Judy Chu. He is impact on government and poli‑ lends his support to their causes.
also an APAICS Legislative tics in the US by engaging the Upon becoming the director of
Fellow alum while serving in youth. Jani is also a board mem‑ Biden's AAPI outreach, Jani said,
Chu's office in 2014. ber of organizations such as the “Itʼs an honor to join a candidate
But the South Asians For New Leaders Council and Act to in Vice President Joe Biden, with
America (SAFA) co‑chairperson is Change. whom the Asian American Pacific
not just a dry man of administra‑ Congressional Aide to Islander community can trust to
tion. He is a school board mem‑ Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr., represent and reflect the commu‑
ber at the Hudson County Congresswoman Judy Chu and nityʼs values and principles."
NPR producer Furkan Khan resigns
after Hinduphobic tweet goes viral
New Delhi: A producer with the
US National Public Radio (NPR),
Furkan Khan, has resigned after
her Hinduphobic tweet caused
outrage among people of all reli‑
gions.
"If Indians g ive up on
Hinduism, they will also be solv‑
ing most of their problems. What
with all the piss drinking and
dung worshipping," she had
tweeted on September 9.
The tweet invited backlash on
social media as users slammed
her for the tweet and drew paral‑
lel with messages of Pulwama
Furkan Khan's tweet caused outrage among people of all religions
terrorists who killed 40 CRPF
jawans in February this year. and principles. Please accept my Khan. "This comment does not
Khan later deleted the tweet, sincere regret. I'll be off Twitter reflect the views of NPR journal‑
apparently in a bid to avoid for a while," she said on ists and is a violation of our ethi‑
being "misinterpreted." Wednesday. cal standards. She has publicly
"I have taken the tweet down "You can read that tweet a 100 apologized for her tweet and has
so that I am not misrepresented," t imes. Nothing, Absolute ly resigned from NPR," NPR said.
she said, before apologizing for Nothing justifies it. I'm a Muslim Messages expressing Hindu‑
what she had said. but even I can't forgive you for hatred, often emanating from
"I wholeheartedly apologize for what you said, I doubt Hindus Pakistan, have exploded on social
my earlier tweet. It was ill consid‑ would or even should," retorted media following the abrogation
ered and unacceptable. I deleted one Twitter user. of Article 370 of the Constitution
it. I didn't mean to disparage NPR said that it regrets the which granted special status to
Hinduism or hurt anyone's feel‑ unacceptable tweet by New the former state of Jammu and
ings. It doesn't reflect my beliefs Delhi‑based producer Furkan Kashmir.
 10 September 21-27, 2019
Trump rages after NYT updates
story to say alleged Kavanaugh
victim ʻdoes not recallʼ incident
Washington DC: President Trump
on Monday tore into The New York
Times after the newspaper updated
its report about accusations of sex‑
ual misconduct against Supreme
Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh to
clarify that one alleged victim says
she “does not recall the incident.”
T he Timesʼ report, published
Saturday, detailed a previously
unreported accusat ion from
Kavanaughʼs time as a student at
Yale. The newspaper reported that
a student at the school “saw Mr.
Kavanaugh with his pants down at
a dif ferent drunken dorm party,
where friends pushed his penis
into the hand of a female student.”
On Sunday, the Times updated its
report w ith an editorʼs note,
adding, “The book reports that the
female student declined to be inter‑
viewed and friends say that she
does not recall the incident. That
information has been added to the
article.” Trump, who had recom‑
mended over the weekend that
Kavanaugh “should start suing peo‑
Actress sentenced for college admissions scandal
DC demand to be a
state gets a hearing
Washington DC: The nation's
capital has lined Pennsylvania
Avenue with 51‑star American
flags as the city of Washington,
D.C. prepares for a hearing on
statehood this week.
Roughly 140 flags were put
up by District Mayor Muriel
Bowser's office and can be seen
down Pennsylvania Avenue
NW lining the space between
the White House and the U.S.
Capitol.
The mayor's office organized
a parade Monday morning
down the famed street in the
heart of the capital. Bowser and
Justice Brett Kavanaugh was
confirmed to the Supreme
Court despite allegations of
misconduct by two women. Now
a new allegation has surfaced.
ple for libel,” fired of f multiple
tweets attacking the newspaper for
the update.
“The one who is actually being
assaulted is Justice Kavanaugh ‑
Assaulted by lies and Fake News!”
Trump tweeted.
Hollywood
actress
Felicity
Huffman
military veterans will walk "to
call on Congress to grant vot‑
ing rights and full representa‑
tion to DCʼs 702,000 residents,
including 30,000 veterans,"
according to the parade's
Eventbrite page.
On Thursday, the House
Oversight and Reform
Committee is scheduled to hold
a hearing, initially scheduled
for July, on a bill proposing
statehood for the District of
Columbia. The bill seeks to
have the city “admitted to the
Union on equal footing with
the other states.”
US AFFAIRS
“DO YOU BELIEVE WHAT THESE
HORRIBLE PEOPLE WILL DO OR
SAY,” Trump wrote in another
tweet. “They are looking to destroy,
and influence his opinions ‑ but
played the g ame badly. T hey
should be sued!”
Kavanaugh did not speak to the
Times due to a disagreement over
the terms of a possible interview,
according to the report. Kavanaugh
reportedly declined to answer
questions about the new allegation.
The Timesʼ report has spurred
multiple Democratic presidential
contenders to call for Kavanaughʼs
impeachment, including Sen.
Elizabeth Warren and Sen. Kamala
Harris of California. Harris had
questioned Kavanaugh in a volatile
and polarizing hearing during his
confirmation, when the then‑nomi‑
nee adamantly denied an accusa‑
tion from California professor
Christine Blasey Ford that he had
sexually assaulted her at a high
school gathering more than three
decades earlier.
Boston: Hollywood actress Felicity
Huf fman has been sentenced to
14 days in jail paying bribes to get
her daughter admitted to a top
university.
Huf fman, 56, was also fined of
$30,000, 250 hours of community
service and one year supervised
re lease, federal judge Indira
Talwani said in a court in Boston
on Friday.
"I think you take your sentence
and you move forward," Talwani
told Huf fman. "You can rebuild
your life after this. You've paid
ʻForeverʼ Stamp price hike struck
down by Appeals Court
Washington DC: A record 10%
price rise in the U.S. Postal
Serviceʼs 50‑cent “Forever” stamp
was struck down by a federal
appeals court, which sided with a
San Francisco man who said the
arbitrary boost set an improper
benchmark for future increases in
the cost of mailing a letter.
The postal service, which report‑
ed a $2.3 billion third‑quarter loss,
chose a 5‑cent increase to 55 cents
partly because it made calculating
the cost of buying multiple stamps
easier than a 2‑cent jump to 52
cents. But a non‑practicing attor‑
ney named Douglas Carlson, who
says he is a lifelong postal enthusi‑
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
50,000 General Motors
workers strike work
New York: The United Auto
Workers union went on strike
against General Motors Sunday,
the first work stoppage in the
US auto industry in 12 years.
The union's nearly 50,000
hourly fulltime and temporary
workers walked out at 31 GM
factories and 21 other facilities,
spread across nine states, most‑
ly in the center of the country.
It's the largest strike by any
union against any business
since the last strike at GM in
2007. The two sides did not for‑
mally meet after the union
declared its intention to strike at
a morning press conference,
although union spokesman
Brian Rothenberg said that the
dialogue between the two sides
was ongoing.
The union said that GM was
putting profits ahead of employ‑
ees who helped to turn the com‑
pany around when it went
through bankruptcy and federal
bailout a decade ago.
The union is seeking higher
hourly wages, lump sum pay‑
ments and a better profit shar‑
your dues."
T he "Desperate Housewives"
star, who must report to prison on
October 25, said in a statement
that she accepts the "court's deci‑
sion today without reservation",
reports Xinhua news agency.
In May, Huffman pleaded guilty
to paying $15,000 to a fake chari‑
ty that facilitated cheating when
her daughter took the SATs for
college admission.
The actress was the first parent
to be sentenced among dozens
indicted in a wide‑ranging scam to
ast, filed an objection in December
and pursued the case on his own.
“Although the 5‑cent stamp price
hike may have gone unnoticed by
many, the American Revolution
was fomented in part by ordinary
people who objected to taxation
through stamps,” U.S. Circuit Judge
Neomi Rao wrote in a unanimous
26‑page rebuke to an increase
adopted in January. T he court
ruled the increase was arbitrary
It's the largest
strike by any
union against any
business since the
last strike at
GM in 2007.
ing plan. It also wants GM to
agree to limit the use of tempo‑
rary workers and give them a
clearer path to permanent
employment. In addition, the
UAW says the two sides are far
apart on other issues including
health care benefits and job
security.
General Motors said it made a
substantial offer, including
higher pay and profit sharing,
along with investment to bring
new jobs. It said it offered to
commit to invest $7 billion in
coming years to preserve 5,400
jobs. It also promised a "solu‑
tion" for two of the four plants
currently slated for closure: one
in Detroit and another in
Lordstown, Ohio.
help children of the elite secure
places in prestigious US universi‑
ties.
Seventeen other parents, includ‑
ing "Full House" actress Lori
Loughlin, submitted not guilty
pleas.
Authorities said that William
"Rick" Singer, the ring leader
behind the scam, was paid about
$25 million to bribe coaches and
college administrators. He has
pleaded guilty and is cooperating
with authorities. His sentencing
will take place on September 19.
and capricious. The language used
by Rao, who was appointed to the
Washington court by President
Donald Trump earlier this year,
was a hat‑t ip to Carlson, who
works as a reg istrar for the
University of California at San
Francisco. The 5‑cent increase had
been approved by the Postal
Regulatory Commission, which
oversees the postal service and was
created in part to ensure rate sta‑
bility, predictability and “simplicity
of structure.” A spokeswoman for
the PRC said in an email that the
commission “is review ing the
courtʼs order and coordinating
with the Department of Justice.”
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Will Bolton‑free Trump try a deal with Iran?
By Shivaji Sengupta
T
he departure of President Trumpʼs
third National Security Advisor in
three years has had a two‑fold
effect, both affecting each other: On US
foreign policy, and the way it will affect
directly the presidentʼs re‑election
chances. Here I will deal with the former.
Now, I am not sure how much foreign
policy affects a presidential election.
Americans seem to be far more preoccu‑
pied with the internal, economic situation.
In fact, some believe that both the Bushes
became ultimately unpopular because of
their policy on Iraq. One couldnʼt get re‑
elected; and the other saw the passing of
power from Republicans to Democrats at
the end of his two terms. Nevertheless,
this time around two foreign policy issues
might, in fact, have deep consequences for
Trump in 2020 – Iran and China. We will
concentrate on Iran here.
John Boltonʼs brief stay as Trumpʼs NSA,
for all of 17 months, ended in turmoil
with the two at complete odds over Iran.
Trump pulled America out of the interna‑
tional Iran deal in 2017. To the president,
who inherited the deal, it didnʼt go far
enough because it could not extract a
promise from Tehran that it will never
build nuclear weapons, and abandon com‑
pletely efforts to enrich plutonium, the
critical element needed for the weaponry.
US AFFAIRS
COMMENT
Our governmentʼs position on Iranʼs
nuclear ambitions is that Iran must
declare to the International Atomic
Energy Agency (IAEA) a full account of
the prior military dimensions
of its nuclear program and
permanently and verifi‑
ably abandon such
work in perpetuity.
Iran has to stop
enrichment and
never pursue plu‑
tonium reprocess‑
ing, including
closing its heavy
water reactor. It
has to provide the
IAEA with unquali‑
fied access to all sites
throughout the entire
country, and end its prolifer‑
ation of ballistic missiles and halt
further launching or development of
nuclear‑capable missile systems. In other
words, complete denuclearization.
Now let me ask (somewhat rhetorically)
which nuclear country has willingly dis‑
mantled its nuclear capability since the
1960s? Having spent its blood, sweat and
tears – and that even secretly – to build
September 21-27, 2019
nuclear weapons, why would any country
give them up? Mr. Bolton, a known hawk,
was bent on forcing Iran to give up its
nuclear capability, if necessary, by using
military options. Ditto, North Korea. Was
that really practical? Has China denu‑
clearized? India? Pakistan? Has Israel
done so, even though they lie to the
whole world about being
nuclear free? Finally, the
ultimate question:
have Russia, the
United States,
Britain and
France given up
theirs?
This “Super
Power” attitude
that “those other
countries are not
developed enough
to have their
nuclear weapons, they
will use them irresponsi‑
bly,” does not work anymore.
When China, India and Pakistan
announced their military nuclear arsenal,
Britain, France, Russia and America could
do little more than demur and threaten
sanctions. It didnʼt work.
Enter Johnny Bolton, already renowned
for his hawkish policies in the Trump
Situation Room, giving everyone the
impression that this time America means
11
business. Bolton is going to infuse muscle
and guts in the State Department. Its
stance to the rest of the world: my way or
the highway.
But, hey, his boss understands only busi‑
ness; and international politics are not
business! The deals there are not made
with money. The days of the East India
Company are over! Itʼs amazing how the
Trump Team tries to tide over foreign pol‑
icy with the promise of billions. He is try‑
ing this, without success, in the Middle
East, North Korea, and now perhaps Iran.
Iran is hurting grievously on account of
sanctions. Trump has walked out the
treaty that was signed between Iran and
the Western countries, led by Barack
Obama. Now, with Bolton out, Trump will
try to seduce Iran to accepting money for
weapons – big money. His policy is simple
and naïve: money talks; there is no need
for diplomacy. Money is diplomacy.
It may not work. Trump does not under‑
stand that unlike him (and perhaps
Narendra Modi) there are world leaders
who still are ideologically driven. Iran is
led by them. President Obama and his
European allies understood this and took
the more humanistic approach of compas‑
sion and trust, two virtues alien to our
president.
The author regularly contributes op‑eds
to The South Asian Times
 12 September 21-27, 2019 INDIA NEWS TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Modi released butterflies, prayed to Narmada

Ahmedabad: From taking a stroll
along the Sardar Sarovar Dam site,
visit ing a cactus g arden in
Narmada district, to releasing a
basket full of fluttering butterflies
into a Butterfly Garden in
Kevadiya, Prime Minister Narendra
Modi took part in numerous activi‑
ties in Gujarat on Tuesday to mark
his 69th birthday.
Modi, who arrived in Gujarat post
midnight, sought his mother's
blessings early Tuesday morning.
He then landed in Kevadiya in
Narmada District in a chopper to
perform pooja at the Sardar
Sarovar Dam site. The dam venue
has been decorated ahead of the
Prime Minister's visit.
He also visited the Khalvani Eco‑
Tourism site in Kevadiya and
strolled across the rope bridge that
was constructed across the river
there for sports enthusiasts.
He took a safari ride on a special
jeep with zebra‑patterns at the
Jung le Safari Tourist Park in
Kevadiya. Watched the animals
there, and took a stroll around to
soak in the beauty of the safari
park.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses a public meeting on his
69th birthday in Kevadia, Gujarat. (Photo: IANS/BJP)
Later, the Prime Minister visited
the Khalvani Eco‑Tourism site in
Kevadiya and a Cactus Garden.
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani
and Governor Acharya Devvrat
were also present. He took a stroll
along the banks of the Sardar
Sarovar Dam site.
At the Butterfly Garden in
Kevadiya, the Prime Minister
smiled as he released a large bas‑
ket full of butterflies into the park.
He also visited the Ekta Nursery,
situated in the vicinity of the Statue
of Unity. The nursery manufactures
various traditional eco‑friendly
products and of fer a live demon‑
stration of the manufacturing
process to visitors.
Later Modi offered prayers at the
Sardar Sarovar Dam site.
Earlier, be fore landing at
With Patel in backdrop,
PM talks Kashmir
on birthday
Kevadia (Gujarat): Jammu and
Kashmir seems to be on top of
Prime Minister's mind, even on
his birthday. In a direct refer‑
ence, resurrect ing Sardar
Vallabhbhai Patel's vision, Modi
basked in the glory of the recent
abrogation of Article 370 end‑
ing special powers to Kashmir.
Standing in vicinity of the
Sardar Sarovar Dam, Modi said,
"Country is witnessing fulfilment
of Sardar Patel's dream of 'Ek
Bharat Shreshtha Bharat'."
Kevadiya, the Prime Minister did
an aerial survey of the Statue of
Liberty. He tweeted: "Have a look at
the majestic 'Statue of Unity',
India's tribute to the great Sardar
Patel."
"Have a look at the majestic
'Statue of Unity', India's tribute
to the great Sardar Patel," he
tweeted.
In a direct re ference to
Kashmir and the abrogation, the
Prime Minister said: "India is
trying to complete the works
that were left incomplete after
Independence. People of J&K,
Ladakh faced discrimination for
70 years and the country had to
bear its consequences in form of
separatism and violence."
Prime Minister Modi has been
greeted by large number of people
across the country. Cong ress
Interim President Sonia Gandhi
wished him a healthy, happy and
long life.

Will Modi drop in at Pak a challenge till it

Sangh event during addresses terror '
his US visit? successfully': Jaishankar
New Delhi: Narendra Modi and the Sangh go
back a long way, so much so that present RSS
chief Mohan Bhagwat's father was one of the
Indian Prime Minister's mentors during his
formative years.
So, little should it surprise that the ethos of
the Sangh goes with Modi wherever he goes.
But when a top RSS body based abroad holds
its national level meeting in the US at the
same time when Modi is visiting Washington,
it's too much of a coincidence.
The Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) USA
was set to hold its national level meeting on
September 17 in Houston, Texas, when Modi
was to address the Indian American commu‑
nity there. It is an affiliate of the Rashtriya
Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) that Modi has
been a part of.
While there is no scheduled visit of Modi to
the Sangh's meeting or any high profile visit
from the HSS to "Howdy Modi" ‑‑ the mega
event of Modi that will be attended by US
President Donald Trump himself ‑‑ the Indian
Prime Minister is known for breaking proto‑
col. Be it going ahead and welcoming former
US President Barack Obama on January 25,
2015 in India himself or making a "surprise"
trip to his former Pakistani counterpart
Nawaz Sharif's ancestral residence in 2015,
Modi has changed the rule of the game.
What adds significance to the event is that
V. Bhagaiah ‑‑ joint general secretary of the
RSS ‑‑ is also believed to be attending the HSS
meeting at Houston. Bhagaiah, an eloquent
speaker who is fluent in Telugu, Hindi and
English, makes him the ideal choice for
spreading the word of RSS abroad.
Established in 1966, the HSS has branches
all over the world. But the US chapter is
known to be both critical and influential as
the country has 146 branches of this organi‑
zation. In the US, the HSS is registered as a
non‑profit organization. On its Facebook
page, it describes itself as "... a voluntary, non‑
profit, social and cultural organization. Sangh
is inspired by the idea that the whole world is
one family and conducts activities across the
US in order to spread this message widely.
Sangh in the US started in the early 1989 and
today has over 150 weekly meeting centres
(shakhas) across the country".
About its motto, the organization says:
"Sangh, as the organization is popularly
known, aims to organize the Hindu communi‑
ty in order to preserve, practice and promote
Hindu ideals and values."
It also has a fairly strong public presence
among the Indian‑American community
through organization of several events.
Recently, the HSS held the Ganesh Festival
in Rutgers University in New Jersey. In
January, it organized a Surya Namaskar
Yajna. On October 21 last year, it organized
the Vijayadashami in Edison.
The organization has also made its way into
the power circuit with members of the HSS
tying rakhi to US Congressman Jim
Sensenbrenner.
Will he or won't he? We may have to wait
till the US says, "Howdy Modi?"
New Delhi: India on
Tuesday made it clear
that Pakistan will remain
a "unique challenge"
until it "successfully"
addresses the problem of
cross‑border terrorism
and "becomes a normal
neighbour".
External Af fairs
Minister S. Jaishankar,
while addressing a press
conference on 100 days
of Modi government's
second term, said imme‑
diate neig hborhoo d
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.
remains a priority for
India, with focus on gen‑ have resonance in the foreign policy.
erous and non‑reciprocal policy aimed at Talking about the neighborhood, the
increasing business and people‑to‑people External Af fairs Minister said it remains
contacts. the first priority of India and entails con‑
Giving a gist of the work done by the nectivity, commerce and contacts.
External Affairs Ministry since May 30, he He noted that the Prime Minister
said there is a linkage to what the govern‑ Narendra Modi began his second term with
ment does domestically and international‑ a visit to Maldives, followed by Sri Lanka
ly. He said a major difference is that the and then Bhutan.
co‑relation between the national security India's policy is going to be generous and
goals and foreign policy goals has become non‑reciprocal, with emphasis on business
stronger. and people‑to‑people contact, Jaishankar
In these 100 days, there has been a mes‑ said.
sage of change against the backdrop of Talking about Pakistan in a veiled man‑
strong vote of confidence for the Modi gov‑ ner, he said this neighbor will remain a
ernment from the electorate, Jaishankar "unique challenge" until cross‑border ter‑
said. rorism is "successfully addressed" and
He said certain issues like changes in "until that neighbor becomes a normal
Article 370 and cross‑border terrorism also neighbor".
TheSouthAsianTimes.info INDIA NEWS September 21-27, 2019 13

Harish Salve blames Supreme Court for economic slowdown

New Delhi: Senior advocate Harish
Salve has blamed the Supreme
Court for pushing the country into
the economic slowdown, citing its
judgments in the 2G spectrum case.
Salve said the economic slow‑
down begun with the 2G case order
when the apex court in one stroke
cancelled 122 spectrum licenses
issued to telecom operators. In an
interview to a legal website, Salve
said, "I squarely blame the Supreme
Court." Though, he acknowledged
that he could understand holding
people responsible for the wrongful
distribution of the licences in 2G
spectrum allocation.
"Blanket cance llation of
licences...when a foreigner invested,
it was your rule that said he must
have an Indian partner. The foreign‑
er didn't know how the Indian part‑
ner got a licence. Foreigners invest‑
Senior advocate Harish Salve.
ed billions of dollars, and with one
stroke of the pen, the Supreme
Court knocked all of them out", he
said.
T he Comptroller and Auditor
General (CAG) in its 2010 report
concluded that the 2G spectrum
allocation method had led to Rs
1.76 lakh crore loss to the excheq‑
uer. A charge‑sheet was filed by the
CBI in April 2011. In February
2012, the top court cancelled 122
licences.
Salve had appeared for telecom
companies in the case. In December
2017, the CBI trial court acquitted
former Union Ministers and key
accused A. Raja and Kanimozhi,
along with 15 others. Emphasising
on the nature of foreign investment,
he said it turned risky after the ret‑
rospective changes in the Vodafone
case. The great strength of India
was the people's belief in its judici‑
ary that it would deliver justice, he
said and added the Vodafone case
dealt a blow to that. "People now
had to factor in ‑‑ you win in the tri‑
bunal, they will make a retrospec‑
tive law and change it", said Salve.
Salve said the apex court was
inconsistent in dealing with com‑
mercial cases and that was a matter
of huge concern for investors.
Referring to the apex court's judg‑
ment in the coalmine allotment
case, he said, "You cance lled
coalmines (allocation) by one stroke
of the pen, without examining the
merits of every case. Much genuine
foreign investment in the coal
industry went flat. Then what hap‑
pened? Indonesian and other coal
prices softened up. It became cheap‑
er to import."
He said the import of coal was
putting pressure on the economy
and also led to job losses.
In August 2014, the top court
declared all 218 coal block alloca‑
tions, from 1993 to 2011, illegal
and arbitrary. The court cancelled
all but four licences in September
2014. Salve also called the top
court ruling cancelling iron ore
mining leases in Goa "a howler".

Chinmayanand Oil shock: Sensex loses 642 points

Mumbai: Indian equities plunged on
unwell, rape charges Tuesday after the weekend attacks on
Saudi Arabias oil facilities resulted in
most on the exchanges. Hero India imports 83 per cent of the oil
MotoCorp, Tata Motors, Marut i
Suzuki India and Bharat Forge Ltd fell
it consumes, and a recent report by
Kotak Institutional Equities said that

hang on his head the suspension of nearly 6 per cent of

the worlds crude production, sending
shock waves across global financial
markets.
Heightened nervousness was evi‑
dent on Dalal Street from the sharp
jump in the 'fear index' ‑‑ 'India VIX' ‑‑
which closed nearly 7 per cent high‑
er.
The auto sector, already in the grip
of a major sales downturn, lost the
in the range of 4 to 7 per cent.
Subsequently, the Nifty Auto index
finished nearly 4 per cent lower.
Brent crude on Tuesday afternoon,
traded at $68 per barrel on the oil
futures markets, up 11 per cent over
Friday's close of $60.15 prevailing
prior to the attack on Saudi oil facili‑
ties which resulted in their suspend‑
ing production of 5.7 million barrels
of crude oil per day.
the sharp rise in international crude
oil prices may require India "oil mar‑
keting companies (OMCs) to increase
the retail price of diesel and gasoline
by Rs 5 to 6 per litre in the following
fortnight".
On Monday, the oil prices jumped
to as much as $71 a barre l as
investors reacted to the sudden loss
of nearly 6 per cent of the world's
daily oil production.

Pak student who sparked anti‑

BJP leader Chinmayanand.
Shahjahanpur (Uttar Pradesh): Former Union Minister
and BJP leader Chinmayanand, who is being probed by a
Uttar Pradesh Police Special Investigation Team in a sex‑
ual misconduct case, has fallen ill.
A team of doctors was called in at his Mumukshu
Ashram late on Monday to treat the 72‑year‑old politi‑
cian.
The development came hours after a law student, who
has accused Chinmayanand of blackmail and rape, earlier
on Monday recorded her statement against the accused
in the court of the chief judicial magistrate under Section
164.
SIT sources said that after the victim's statement in
court, there is a possibility of the rape charge being
included in the FIR against Chinmayanand on Tuesday.
Chinmayanand is said to have complained of uneasi‑
ness and weakness. The medical team said he had been
suffering from diarrhoea.
"He is also diabetic and this led to weakness. We have
given him necessary medication and advised him com‑
plete rest," said M.L. Agarwal, the doctor leading the
team.
T he vict im had reg istered an FIR ag ainst
Chinmayanand in Delhi on September 5 at the Lodhi
Road police station and the same was later transferred to
Shahjahanpur.
Hindu violence denies blasphemy
Karachi: Even as the police in Pakistan's Sindh province
cracked down on Islamist radicals who vandalized a Hindu
temple and homes of the minority community over an alleged
case of blasphemy, a student whose complaint triggered the
massive violence has said the blasphemy complaint was
cooked up to target the Hindu school principal.
Meanwhile, amid the violence, many Muslims spent the
night in the vandalized Sacho Satram Das temple premises in
a show of support to the Hindus.
The student, Mohammed Ihtisham, on whose complaint his
father filed a First Information Report police complaint
against the principal of Sindh Public School, has said in a
social media post that he was very angry with the principal
Notan Lal as he was scolded for not memorizing his lesson.
He said that he had no idea that the issue would blow up to
Social media erupted in anger and disgust over anti‑
such a proportion. He asked "Sir Notan" for forgiveness, in
Hindu riots in Ghotki town of Sindh province.
the social media post.
On Sunday, political and religious leaders sat down at the "Mark my words. Ghotki incident has laid the foundation of
vandalized Sacho Satram Das temple and reassured the Hindu migration of Hindus from northern Sindh to Karachi and
community of their full support. India," he said.
Muslims from the neighborhood of the temple and school Many on social media targeted Pakistani Human Rights
spent the whole of Saturday and Sunday night in the temple Minister Shireen Mazari for not speaking up on the violence
premises, which was badly vandalized, with the idols thrown in Ghotki. The FIR against the school principal Notan Lal was
down, and glass panels smashed. lodged on Saturday under Article 295(c) "that pertains to
Sindh resident Kapil Dev, a human rights activist, tweeted: "derogatory remarks in respect of the Holy Prophet" of the
"Aren't we Pakistani? We #Pakistani #Hindus are only 2% of Pakistan Penal Code.
the total population. I just want to know what danger do we Videos showing a frenzied mob wielding sticks venting
pose to 98% population. Just visit my timeline and see how their anger on a Hindu temple and the Sindh Public School
we observed Muharram a few days ago, but yet we suf fer over the alleged incident of blasphemy, were doing the
incidents like #Ghotki. rounds on social media.
 14 September 21-27, 2019 OP-ED TheSouthAsianTimes.info

By Robinder Nath Sachdev trade deficit, tariffs, market access, to intel‑

Modi, Trump
lectual property rights, and many more.

T
he ducks seem to be lining up for Moving forward on these, in the spirit of quid
President Donald Trump to join Prime pro quo and some exchange of favours, mov‑
Minister Narendra Modi at the Indian‑ ing towards a roadmap for an FTA could,
American community event slated to be held therefore, be a logical path and outcome of
the summit.

at Houston
on September 22 at Houston.
Modi will take the megaphone to address Right now, India may be at a stage where
the Indian‑American community at the the geostrategic interests might weigh in
50,000‑capacity NRG Stadium, at an event favor of such a step by India. If India decides
titled as "Howdy, Modi". Now imagine that so, then the quid pro quo from the US must be
Trump is also at the event. Opto‑politics of the something that India gets in exchange that is

all about quid pro quo

rarest kind will emanate and follow from the
combination.
The optics and politics of Trump at the
community event will be powerful. Why
would Trump travel to Houston? Surely not to
only attend the community event with Modi.
It will have to be for something far more than
this. Though by attending the event, Trump
could well stand to gain political mileage with
the Indian‑American community, or is Trump
doing a favour by joining the event?
Or, Trump could please the crowds by mak‑
ing a short announcement that he will soon
be visiting India? A visit by Trump to India in
next 3‑4 months is of high importance, per‑
haps as chief guest to the pageantry of the
Republic Day Parade at New Delhi on January
26, 2020. In any case, remember that there
will also need to be some nimble political cho‑
reography on site at the community event to
keep the messaging on track. After all, majori‑
ty of the Indian‑American crowd is not very
enthusiastic about Trump, and many of the
US lawmakers who will be there to welcome
Modi are no supporters of Trump.
With the community event done, both lead‑
ers will move to hold the summit meeting.
This is where the next quid pro quo will
unfold. Will it be a mega oil and energy deal
between the United States and India? Houston
being the oil capital of the world, it will make
sense as a venue to announce such a deal. If
India does so, then what is the quid pro quo
With the community event done, both leaders will move to hold the summit meeting.
This is where the next quid pro quo will unfold.
that the United States will offer to India?
Or, will it also be about large‑scale shifting
of American companies to India from China,
with some marquee announcements? What
about a strong signal from America for an
FTA (Free Trade Agreement) deal? India is
worryingly short of what to do to tackle its
current economic slowdown. A green flag on
FTA will push US investments into India, away
from China, and will therefore be a significant
confidence building measure for the Indian
market, and economy. If the US does this sig‑
nalling, then what is the quid pro quo offered
by India?
In any case in matters of trade, there are
several items outstanding ‑ ranging from
similarly ground‑breaking, and with commen‑
surate value for India. What can be this value
that India might demand?
Of course, there are a host of other topics
too, equally important, that shall be dis‑
cussed, like counter terrorism, Pakistan
behavior in the Af‑Pak, PoK, and Kashmir, and
a range of other bilateral, regional, and global
issues, including reform of world bodies, like
the United Nations and WTO.
Surprisingly, one big ticket area, which has
seen silence so far is related to 5G and
Huawei. After the Osaka G‑20 summit, Ivanka
Trump had made a short announcement
about the topics discussed. In that announce‑
ment, she had said that the two countries
have decided to work together in a big way to
develop 5G technologies. This can be a game
changer.
All the above can be discussed at New York,
or in Washington DC, where again there is
supposed to be a bilateral between Trump
and Modi. What was the need for a separate,
additional summit at Houston? Or, is it that
the Houston rendezvous will piggy‑back on
the momentum of the community event,
announce one mega‑deal on oil, announce a
state visit by Trump to India, and the rest will
be taken up in New York or Washington?
When Modi roars "Howdy America", it will
be answered by a resounding "Howdy, Modi"
by Trump. Quid pro Quo. Hello, Houston, we
have a deal.

Security for all -- the mission of democratic governance

By DC Pathak today it is known that the targets even the citizens at large ‑‑ ought
of a 'proxy war' include economic to be aware of their responsibility

T
oday, India is grappling
with the challenge of pur‑
suing economic growth of a
nation of 1.3 billion people spread
across far corners of the vast
country and placed in uneven con‑
ditions of development.
The officers of the Civil Services
on whom falls the responsibility
of implementing the development
policies of the Centre are finding
it easier to coordinate the efforts
that cut across various ministries
and institutions ‑‑ somewhere
because there are no psychologi‑
cal barriers amongst them. In the
domain of development they had
enough shared experience to put
their heads together in a meaning‑
ful way. They had knowledge of
various facets of what constitutes
development ‑‑ financial, agricul‑
ture, infrastructure, forestry, pub‑
lic health and so on. The recall of
the foundation course definitely
helped in all of this. While the ori‑
entation of Civil Services to the
tasks of development is adequate
assets and the industrial life‑line ‑‑
since damaging these weakened
the opponent far more effectively
than an open war would do. Those
handling governance at decision
making levels have to have an
understanding of the economic
dimensions of national security.
For all of this it becomes a
requirement of the time that sen‑
ior of ficials across the spectrum
of governance ‑‑ who are adept at
handling development ‑‑ should
also be fully informed of the
national security imperatives that
In the Indian context the reality of a proxy war being conducted by a the governance had to reckon
hostile neighbor underscores the importance of our counter‑
with.
intelligence capabilities that security is all about.
Subjects that would qualify for
the national scene points to the concern for all and should not be being included in the presenta‑
need for an awareness program deemed to be something relegated tions by professionals and strate‑
for all Civil Services ‑‑ as they completely to the care of a nation‑ gic analysts include National
advanced in their career ‑‑ on the al security set up and the spe‑ Security Scenario & Policy
share of responsibility that would cialised agencies besides the Responses, Terrorism & Maoism,
fall on them directly or indirectly, Police. Warren Christopher, the Disaster Management,
in the sphere of securing the then US Secretary of State, Dimensions of Drug Traf fic and
nation and the citizens at large famously said in 1993 that 'na‑ India's National Security Set Up &
against threats both internal and tional security was inseparable Intelligence Agencies. Every func‑
external. Security for all is also the from economic security' and tionary of the government ‑‑ and
towards safeguarding national
security. We are in an era of
covert of fensives, an open exter‑
nal attack of the enemy is not the
only threat to the nation.
Our defense forces are always in
a state of readiness to deal with
an open warfare. In the Indian
context the reality of a proxy war
being conducted by a hostile
neighbor underscores the impor‑
tance of our counter‑intelligence
capabilities that security is all
about. Both defense and security
have to work together to produce
a perfect response.
Kashmir has been a test ing
g round for the success of
Intelligence based operations of
army and para military forces ‑‑
the challenge being of neutraliz‑
ing the infiltrated terrorist with‑
out collateral damage. Those who
man the senior positions in the
civil side of the government can
benefit from an early exposure to
an orientation program on the
lines suggested above.

The views expressed in Op Eds are not necessarily those of The South Asian Times.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Safarnama app breathes
new life into Delhi's monuments
By Vishnu Makhijani
T
here have been guidebooks,
bus tours, videos, pam‑
phlets, walkabouts et al, but
this 'Safarnama' app will "capture
the way history in Delhi is actually
held within and under the stones"
in short bursts as you travel across
the city.
"We wanted to capture the way
history in Delhi is actually held
within and under the stones ‑ so
much extraordinary heritage is
embedded within small places and
barely seen fragments," said Dr
Debs Sutton, a Senior Lecturer in
Modern South Asian History at the
Lancaster University, who devel‑
oped the app with the aid of a
grant and in association with
Centre for the Study of Developing
Studies (CSDS) in Delhi.
"I wanted others to feel the ener‑
gy of the city's fabric and heritage
as I do. With that in mind we really
thought about how technology
could reanimate the city. There are
so many stories to be told and so
many sounds to hear ‑ and
the app provides the
medium to do this. It's a
new way of seeing the
past," Sutton told IANS in
an interview from
Lancaster in England.
Sutton lived in Delhi for
five years and was captivated by
the "energy and excitement" of the
city when she studied for a PhD at
HERITAGE
JNU. The app contains images,
texts, newspaper cuttings and
audio recordings that tell the sto‑
September 21-27, 2019
ries of Delhi in the years after the
partition of the subcontinent that
displaced millions of people and
caused unparalleled violence. Delhi
was transformed by this displace‑
ment and refugee influx.
The app will enable users, when
they near particular points of
interest, to receive a push notifica‑
tion. If they pass close enough ‑
within a ''trigger zone'' ‑ their
phone will automatically open the
media associated with the place of
interest.
How did this project come
about?
"The work evolved from my his‑
torical research on the ways in
which Delhi heritage has been ani‑
mated by and integrated into the
city of Delhi in the twentieth cen‑
tury.
Despite the best efforts of the
Imperial government to set monu‑
ments apart from the everyday life
of the city, monuments were
always animated by all sorts of
social (and often economic) occu‑
pation. This led me to think about
15
the proliferation of physical her‑
itage across the city. Notified mon‑
uments are only a small fraction of
the extraordinarily rich and com‑
plex history of the city.
"Safarnama is an attempt to cap‑
ture that variety and to allow new
publics to engage with heritage.
The app promotes that engage‑
ment as part of everyday mobility,
rather than as occasional visits to
monuments," Sutton explained.
How were the monuments cho‑
sen?
"In all sorts of ways. I had been
working on the occupation of
mosques, mandirs and monuments
by Partition refugees when I start‑
ed thinking about the project. That
is why I proposed the Partition
City Delhi as the first, proof of con‑
cept digital heritage experience.
Thereafter, we drew on a huge
range of archives and scholarly
publications," Sutton said.
What's next?
An Industrial Heritage
Experience for Mumbai and an app
for Karachi, Sutton concluded.
 16 September 21-27, 2019 GANDHI 150 CELEBRATIONS TheSouthAsianTimes.info TheSouthAsianTimes.info GANDHI 150 CELEBRATIONS September 21-27, 2019 17

Garden to get trees from all US States

Peace Garden coming up in Alaska
Juniper Virginiana

LI to celebrate Gandhi 150 Nations in New York.

In the Gandhian spirit, the Indian
Consulate proposed to establish the
As part of the celebration of Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birth
Peace Garden with full people's par‑
ticipation by way of adopting one or anniversary, Shanti Fund, a volunteer organization committed
more trees in the memory of their
loved ones or as a symbol of love and to enlightenment and peace through education, is
affection. A suitable tag indicating
the adopter's name will be placed on
or near the tree.
collaborating with the Indian Consulate to create the
By Arvind Vora
The author is cofounder
and anchor of Shanti Fund.
Mahatma Gandhi himself never
wanted any recognition in the form
Gandhi Peace Garden in SUNY Old Westbury campus, NY. Alabama
Crataegus

I
n a unique way to commemorate
Mahatma Gandhiʼs 150th birth an‑
niversary, a Gandhi Peace Garden
is coming up in Long Island. It is a
collaborative effort of the Consulate
General of India in New York, the
State University of New York (SUNY) ‑
Old Westbury and Shanti Fund. The
garden on the 500‑acre campus of
SUNY Old Westbury will consist of
150 trees representing each of the
50 US states and District of Colum‑
bia. Gandhi 150 is a yearlong cele‑
bration worldwide. In the US, several
organizations around the country
have undertaken many activities and
events to remember Gandhi ‑ his life
and works.
Mahatma Gandhi is in many ways
also one of the first environmental
leaders the world has known. His as‑
sertion, ʻThe world has enough for
everyone's need, but not enough for
of memorials or otherwise. Post‑
1947, he refused any position like Phaenopyrum
president or prime minister of India.
In fact, he chose to help victims of
communal riots that followed the
birth of Independent India! At his
death he had less than a dozen bare
essential items in his possession. It is
an instructive message in our west‑
ern, conspicuous consumption
lifestyle that is rapidly becoming a
worldwide phenomenon and endan‑
gering survival of Planet Earth.
The Government of India, people of Launch of Gandhi 150 by Shanti Fund at Huntington Town Hall last Sep‑
India and various jurisdictions within tember. (From left) Janki Sheth, Jo‑Ann Raia ‑ Town Clerk, NYS Assem‑
India have honored the Father of the blyman Andrew Raia, Anthony Santino, Councilwoman Joan Cergol,
Nation in multitude of ways. What is Father Walter J. Kedjierski, Councilman Edmund J. M. Smyth, Rev. Mark At Mahtama Gandhiʼs birthday celebration by Shanti Fund last October
unusual is the affinity towards Bigelow, Ila Vora, Town Supervisor Chad A. Lupinacci, Arvind Vora, (From left): Soh Young Lee, Arvind Vora, NYS Assemblyman Andrew
Gandhi by the people of USA. Nor‑ Kamlesh Mehta – Chair, The South Asian Times, Consul General Raia, Huntington Town Supervisor Chad A. Lupinacci (Honoree), Ko‑
mally sovereign nations donʼt have Sandeep Chakravorty, Dr. Pradeep Albert ‑ Medical Arts Radiology, makech Charles (Honoree from Africa), Ila Vora, Hon. Dr. Amee Yajnik
Seema Bhansali ‑ representing Stanly Bergman CEO of Henry Schein, (Honoree, Indian MP), Arun Vora, Consul General Sandeep Chakravorty,
foreign leadersʼ statues. Yet, there are
Ravi Bhooplapur – President, Xavier University School of Medicine, Bakul Matalia, Consul K. Devdasan Nair, George Abraham, Kodankandth
at least a dozen statues of Gandhi in
Aruba, NYS Senator Carl L. Marcellino and Bakul Matalia. Antony Francis and Deputy Consul General Shatrughna Sinha.
New Jersey
public places in USA. America also
was the first nation, besides India, to

Shanti Fund @ 25: Enlightenment &

everyone's greed' has continued rele‑ In 1999, Shanti
issue Gandhi postal stamp in 1961 ‑
vance even today. As the world is fac‑ not one but two stamps.
Fund installed this
Gandhi statue at
Quercus Rubra
ing environmental challenges,

Peace thru Education

One obvious reality that most Suffolk County
planting trees is a fitting tribute to South Asian immigrants here over‑ building in
Mahatmaʼs life and legacy. look, is that we all owe a debt of grat‑ Hauppauge, NY.

For the "Gandhi Peace Garden", a
variety of trees, from flowering to
evergreens, are being planted in the
run up to his birth date, October 2. A
very high‑level dignitary from India
is likely to dedicate the Garden at an
event on September 24 at the United
Award Presentation by Suffolk County executive Steve Bellone to school students promoting peace.
M
itude to Gandhi for his role in freeing
ahatma Gandhi inspired the
India from colonial rule, which led to
foundation of Volunteers of
successful independence movements
Shanti Fund in 1993‑4 in
in many countries. And mind you,
Long Island with a mission to spread
USA laws would not allow immigra‑
his message of peace and nonvio‑
tion were we not citizens of an inde‑
lence.
pendent nation!
From 1994 to 1998, almost every
month building bridges events be‑
tween the mainstream and Indian
Americans were held at a country
club in the area. Decision makers in
business, government, judiciary, in‑
dustry, commerce, and utilities were
invited. Noticing these unprece‑
dented and highly successful events,
the Suffolk County administration
approached Volunteers of Shanti
Fund and offered to honor the organ‑
ization and Indian Americans. Offi‑
cials suggested to erect a Gandhi
statue in a public place in the sprawl‑
ing county. To seal the deal, the Bill
signing ceremony was held on Octo‑
ber 2, 1998. The lifesize bronze
statue sculpted by an American artist
was unveiled on October 2, 1999
and is at the Plaza Level of the H. Lee
Dennison Building in Hauppauge,
one of Suffolk Countyʼs two agency
buildings.
An energized Shanti Fund then
hosted Round Table discussion
events, where ambassadors and con‑
gressman were invited. For the first
time the threat of terror coming
from Indiaʼs western neighbor was
conveyed to those in power and
seeds were sown to tilt American
policy towards the worldʼs largest
democracy.
Terror struck America in the form
of 9‑11 attacks. Its aftermath was
bad for the Indian community as
Sikhs were lumped with Muslim ter‑
rorists. Volunteers of Shanti Fund
(VOSF) reached out to local schools
to provide peace education. Gandhi
being an apostle of peace made vol‑
unteersʼ job easy. VOSF came up with
innovative peace programs each year
and took peace education to thou‑
sands of students in a dozen school
districts in Suffolk and Nassau coun‑
ties. In 2009, massive multi‑day,
multi organizational events
were held to celebrate the
10th anniversary of the un‑
veiling of the Gandhi statue
in Hauppauge.
The tragedy and horror of
9‑11 exposed the structural
weaknesses of faiths. Again, Gandhi
can help us. On every Punya Tithi
(January 30) of Gandhi the Long Is‑
land Multi Faith Forum in coopera‑
tion with Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan
hosted prayer services at the NY
Consulate from 2005 to 2009. From
2010 the Punya Tithi is observed at
the Gandhi Statue venue in Haup‑
pauge, NY to inspire harmony among
people of diverse faiths.
Shanti Fund, of course, celebrates
Gandhiʼs birthday, October 2, every
year to promote peace and nonvio‑
lence education For Gandhi 150,
VOSF found an extraordinary partner
in CGI‑NY. Together they held more
than half a dozen events. For Gandhi
related activities, Shanti Fund took a
lead in the 10 states that fall in the
jurisdiction of CGI‑NY. For its 25
years of dedicated service, the Indian
Consulate honored Shanti Fund.
Shanti Fund can claim quite a few
other singular achievements. India
Study Center at the Stony Brook Uni‑
versity became a reality at their be‑
hest in 1996. To promote peace and California New York
nonviolence, VOSF led a successful Salix Niobe Ptelea trifoliata
Gun Buyback Program on Long Is‑
land in 2013. VOSFʼs Teachers Ex‑
change Program (USA‑INDIA),
supported Ivy League students and
sponsored them under the leader‑
ship of Vivek Murthy of Harvard Uni‑
versity. He later became the first
Indian American and the youngest
District of
ever Surgeon General of America.
Columbia
Quercus Coccinea
 18 September 21-27, 2019
‘Indian cinema much
more than Bollywood’
I
ndian Cinema is so much
more than Bollywood, said
Cameron Bailey, Artistic
Director, Toronto International
Film Festival (TIFF).
Speaking at the India
Breakfast Networking Session
was hosted by I&B Ministry on
the side‑lines of its participa‑
tion at TIFF 2019, Bailey said
that there is a very strong bond
between Indian Cinema and
TIFF.
He highlighted the range of
Indian Cinema, stating that it is
so much more than Bollywood.
He talked about the richness of
Indian cinema with different
styles, languages and regional
flavors which are reflected in
Cameron Bailey, Artistic Director, Toronto
the large scale musicals, anima‑
tions, serious dramas, comedies
and other genres of films produced in
India. He also stated that there is no coun‑
try in the world that makes films like
India does.
Apoorva Srivastava, Consul General of
India, Toronto; Cameron Bailey, Artistic
Director and Co‑Head, TIFF and the Indian single window mechanism at Film
Delegation interacted with the partici‑
That's a rap! Hip Bollywood
stars hop to rapping
S in London, actor's office informs
alman Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Alia
Bhatt and Priyanka Chopra are among
Bollywood actors who had taken
charge of the microphone to croon romantic
numbers or dance tracks. Big screen actors,
budding or experienced, are now broadening
their horizon and rapping in style for upcom‑
ing movies. Nawazuddin Siddiqui is set to
take up rapping for his upcoming film "Bole
Chudiyan", which marks the directorial debut
of the actor's brother Shamas Nawab
Siddiqui.
"I am not a singer but I have tried to do a
rap song," Nawazuddin said. Makers of this
film, he said, had convinced him to do it.
"I don't think I have the ability to sing songs
and I don't want to become a singer either. I
think in that song, there were some elements
and because of those (elements), my voice
suited it," said Nawaz.
Meanwhile, newcomer Karan Deol will have
a double debut in Bollywood ‑‑‑ as an actor
and a rapper ‑‑ when his father ‑‑ actor‑film‑
maker Sunny Deol ‑‑ launches him in "Pal Pal
Dil Ke Paas" later this month. Rewind to
ULTIMATE BOLLYWOOD
International Film Festival.
pants at the session.
The Indian Delegation apprised the par‑
ticipants about friendly policy initiatives
and framework for filming in India and
also on the process and procedure for
obtaining clearance for shooting through
Facilitation Office.
For rappers,
ʻGully Boyʼ is
one movie
that has set a
benchmark.
February 2019 and you'll recall Ranveer
Singh's character using rap as a tool to
express his views on society and life in
Dharavi, one of the largest slums of Asia, in
the superhit film "Gully Boy".
There have been others too. Aamir Khan,
for instance, showcased his rap skills in the
song "Dhaakad" on women empowerment. It
didn't feature in the 2016 film "Dangal" but
was loved by many. Its original version in the
film, by rapper Raftaar, also gained a lot of
popularity. Talking about Bollywood actors
taking up rap, Raftaar told IANS: "It's a good
thing that Bollywood is now no longer being
pigeonholed into a single category. Someday
rappers and singers may also start looking at
acting." "Hip‑hop in our country has come a
long way. It was considered as one of the
most underdog genres in India. Masses in
India didn't know the power of hip‑hop.
Hence, it was never loved," rapper Ikka told
IANS. Everyone can see that rap has made its
way to Bollywood, but to rappers "Gully Boy"
by filmmaker Zoya Akhtar is one movie that
has set a benchmark.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
DREAM GIRL':
Laugh while it lasts
By Vinayak
Chakravorty
T
he trick never
fails. Put a
Bollywood leading
man in a woman's garb,
and watch the box‑office
rock. In "Dream Girl", it is
the turn of Ayushmann
Khurrana, new‑age dar‑
ling of the multiplexes, to
invoke girl power and
woo the box‑office.
Although Ayushmann
also gets to play out a
sari‑clad naari in parts,
the crux of his role lies in
Ayushmann Khurrana, the new‑age darling of the multiplexes.
impersonating a woman's
voice.
Debutant director Raaj Shaandilyaa FILM REVIEW
uses that idea to touch upon the contem‑ story to narrate, over nearly two hours
porary malady of loneliness. Ayushmann and 15 minutes of runtime. The funny
as smalltown boy Karamvir Singh finds a lines and the often hilarious situations
lucrative job‑op thanks to that sad reality. spawned out of Karam's quandary don't
Son of a debt‑ridden, middle‑class seem to carry the story anywhere beyond
shopowner (Annu Kapoor) in Mathura, a point. Post interval, the narrative
who sells items for Hindu last rites, becomes a routine about Pooja being
Karam accidentally stumbles upon a call chased by her assorted bunch of lovers,
centre for sex chats. His knack at mimick‑ and how she desperately tries to outsmart
ing a woman's voice lets him assume the them, till the film draws to a rather pre‑
sultry, imaginary avatar of Pooja for lone‑
ly callers.
dictable end.
It could all have seemed rather
Life is a cruise for a while, and the mediocre despite the random laughs, but
moolah rolls. The trouble starts when
Pooja's regular bunch of callers start
for a few brilliant performances.
Ayushmann and Annu Kapoor stand out
falling in love with her voice. To add to in particular.
Karam's woes, many of these callers turn Ayushmann's reunion with his "Vicky
out to be people he knows closely. Donor" co‑star Annu Kapoor once again
Shaandilyaa and his co‑writer Nirmaan triggers off comic chemistry. This time
D Singh were out to set up simple, feel‑ pitted as a father‑son duo, whose relation‑
good fare. Karam's plight is therefore ship is fated to see a bizarre twist in the
entirely utilised to generate ample funny second half, the two together remain a
moments. big draw for the film. "Dream Girl" is your
The trouble is there isn't much of a film if you are looking for a couple of
Irrfan had 'successful surgery'
ctor Irrfan Khan has undergone "a
A
successful surgery" in London, his
spokesperson said. Speculations were
rife in the afternoon after pictures and
videos of the actor leaving Mumbai airport
in wheelchair went viral. Giving update
about Irrfan's health, his spokeperson
issued a statement.
"Irrfan had a successful surgery after
wrapping 'Angrezi Medium' shoot in
London. He was missing home and has
come to Mumbai for a few days to recover.
We request the media to not speculate and
thanking everyone again for the continued
support," the statement read.
The 52‑year‑old actor was spotted at
Mumbai airport when he returned after
Actor Irrfan Khan
shooting for his upcoming film "Angrezi wheelchair. He sports a blue cap, light
Medium" in London. black jacket, blue denims and white sneak‑
Videos and pictures doing the rounds on ers. Irrfan got diagnosed with neuroen‑
the Internet showed that the actor is hiding docrine tumor last year. For several
his face as he is led out of the airpot on a months, he stayed abroad for treatment.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
India's women filmmakers make I'm not playing Amrita
a mark in global fest circuit Pritam: Taapsee Pannu
S
tanding out among a new genera‑
tion of Indian filmmakers making
waves in the global festival circuit
is a brave bunch of female directors who
are exploring Indian womanhood across
social strata and in all its facets.
Alankrita Shrivastava, Shonali Bose,
Gitanjali Rao, Zoya Akhtar and Tanuja
Chandra are adding the new‑age relevance
and power to the Indian film industry.
They are also addressing issues pertaining
to women and society at large with
nuanced sensitivity and creativity.
"More and more women should make
films. It is very important for the female
point of view to be well represented in
films. And if a woman is helming the proj‑
ect, there are better chances to portray
female‑oriented stories in a correct way,"
Alankrita told IANS.
Interestingly, all these women have
become much sought after at international
film festivals.
Alankrita's upcoming movie "Dolly Kitty
Aur Woh Chamakte Sitare" will have a
world premiere at the 24th Busan
International Film Festival. Her previous
film "Lipstick Under My Burkha" was pre‑
miered at the Tokyo International Film
Festival.
Gitanjali Rao's "Bombay Rose" will be
screened at the Busan International Film
Festival, following the world premiere at
the 2019 Venice Film Festival. It also had
its North American premiere in the con‑
temporary World Cinema section at the
Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF)
on September 7. Shonali Bose's upcoming
Bollywood drama "The Sky is Pink", which
features actress Priyanka Chopra, will also
have its world premiere at TIFF as one of
20 Gala presentations. Besides, Zoya
I don't think about my
stardom: Ajay Devgn
A
jay Devgn doesn't believe in look‑
ing back or prodding much about
the future, and likes to live in the
present. The actor says he doesn't care or
think about stardom, and that helps him
stay in touch with reality. Son of late vet‑
eran action director Veeru Devgan, Ajay
entered Bollywood in 1991 with "Phool
Aur Kaante". It was a hit, and Ajay's win‑
ning streak started there.
"Luckily, I never had to go through
struggle in my life. Everything just fell in
place. The thing I learnt from my journey
is to work hard," Ajay told IANS, adding
that he doesn't believe in comparing him‑
self with others, and doesn't look back
but "look at today".
"I don't get carried away by success too
much or bogged down by failure," said
the actor, who is married to Kajol.
How does he detach himself from his
stardom?
"I don't think about it. I don't care
about it. I don't go out much. I don't show
my power. I think both (Kajol and him)
don't care about it. We are happy in our
ULTIMATE BOLLYWOOD
Actors Priyanka Chopra and Farhan
Akhtar in Shonali Bose's ʻThe Sky is Pinkʼ.
Akhtar's "Gully Boy" won hearts in South
Korea, bagging the Network for the
Promotion of Asian Cinema Award at the
23rd Bucheon International Fantastic Film
Festival (BIFAN).
Last year, several major film festivals,
including Cannes, Venice and Locarno,
signed the 50/50 by 2020 gender parity
pledge, which commits festivals to pro‑
mote gender equality in the industry and
to get equal number of men and women in
their top management.
According to Alankrita, international
screenings that festivals facilitate play a
vital role in establishing a name in the
world of cinema, especially for female
filmmakers.
Standing behind the camera and calling
out "lights, camera, action" is still mainly a
man's job. India's female filmmakers, how‑
ever, have proved time and again that
when it comes to crafting beautiful cine‑
matic aesthetics, they often scale rare
heights of excellence.
Actor Ajay Devgn has worked
in over 100 films.
space," he said. After 28 years in the
industry and having worked in over 100
films, Ajay will next be seen in the period
drama "Taanaji: The Unsung Warrior.
September 21-27, 2019 19
T
aapsee Pannu has denied she is
playing Amrita Pritam in a new
biopic. Recently, sections of the
entertainment media, mistook Taapsee
Pannu's social media post quoting leg‑
endary author‑poet Amrita Pritam to
rashly assume that the actress is set to
play Pritam in Anubhav Sinha's under‑
production "Thappad".
It now turns out Tapsee is not playing
Amrita Pritam.
"It's sad that the majority don't bother
to read and interpret my Tweet efficient‑
ly enough. Nor connect it with what I
posted just a day before the post on
Amrita Pritam...”
Taapsee, who recently signed a film
where she plays a Gujarati sprinter, feels
she would be far more open in admitting
it if she were to really play Amrita
Pritam.
Actress
"… the truth is Amrita is the name of Taapsee
my character in Anubhav Sinha's film Pannu will
Thappad and since her name has a cer‑ play a
tain connect with Amrita Pritam I used a Gujarati
quote that's written by her but reflects in sprinter
my character Amrita's life in Anubhav in her
Sir's film," she cleared the air. next film.
I wake up to music even
today: Asha Bhosle
S
he is a living legend with an active
career of six decades and she
needs no introduction. Padma
Vibhushan‑honored Asha Bhosle turned
86 and, in between celebrations with
close friends and family in Dubai, she took
out time for a quick tete‑a‑tete with IANS
over the phone.
Bhosle, who celebrated her birthday
after 11 years, says she was surprised to
see so many people turn up to wish her on
her special day at her Dubai restaurant,
Asha's.
Life otherwise, she insists, has not
changed over the years.
"Every morning I wake up to music even
today, I do my riyaaz for an hour every
day. Riyaaz is not a task for me, it is my
lifestyle. I carry an electric tanpura even
when I travel, and for one hour, wherever
I am, I have to do my riyaaz. That is my
way of starting my day, there is no other
way for me. If God has gifted me a voice, I
should keep nurturing it. Regular riyaaz
beautifies and maintains the voice. Iska
koi shortcut nahin hai," Bhosle said.
Legendary singer Asha Bhonsle
Since the late 1940s till Bhosle has sung recording a song.
numerous blockbuster hits including
"Chura liya hai tumne jo dil ko", "Parde Lata Mangeshkar.
mein rehne do", "Piya tu ab toh aa ja", The singer last lent her voice for the
"Dum maro dum", "Yeh mera dil", "Mera 2017 Bollywood film "Begum Jaan", with
kuchh samaan", "Dil cheez kya hai aap the song 'Prem mein tohre', which was
meri jaan lijiye", among others. This time, picturized on Vidya Balan.
the icnoc singer shared her passion for Bhosle, the first‑ever Indian artiste to be
food. Born in 1933 on September 8 into nominated for a Grammy Award, said that
the musical family of Master Deenanath although she sings these days, she missed
Mangeshkar, Bhosle learnt music since the golden old days when she worked
childhood and, as a kid she not only gath‑ with iconic music directors such as OP
ered inspiration from her father, but also Nayyar, RD Burman, Khayyam and Madan
her elder sister, the Nightingale of India Mohan among many others.
 20 September 21-27, 2019
Osama's son killed in Imran acknowledges Pak
US ops in Af‑Pak region could lose in war with India
U
S President Donald Trump
confirmed that Hamza bin
Laden, the son of Osama bin
Laden and a high‑ranking Al Qaeda
member, was killed in a US counter‑
terrorism operation in the
Afghanistan‑Pakistan region.
Though the news was reported a
few weeks back, this is the first offi‑
cial acknowledgement of the infor‑
mation. Hamza bin Laden was offi‑
cially designated by the US as a
global terrorist and was thought to
be a potential future leader of Al
Qaeda. Announcing the develop‑
ment, the W hite House Press
Secretary said that his killing "not
only deprives the Al Qaeda of
important leadership skills and the
symbolic connection to his father,
Taliban lift ban on Red Cross operations in Afghanistan
Kabul: The Taliban lifted a ban it
imposed on operations conduct‑
ed by the Internat ional
Committee of the Red Cross
(ICRC) in Afghanistan after five
months.
In a statement, the militant
group said that it made the deci‑
sion to lift the ban following the
peace negotiations in Qatar, Efe
news reported.
"Both parties consented to fol‑
low the old agreement, on top of
new promises in humanitarian
aid leading to the Islamic Emirate
Pak singer's move to threaten Indian PM with reptiles backfires
Pakistani pop singer Rabi Pirzada with her reptiles.
Hamza bin
Laden was
given a
prominent
role in Al
Qaeda.
but also undermines important
operational activities of the group.
Hamza bin Laden was responsible
for planning and dealing with vari‑
ous terrorist groups."
Earlier, news reports emerged
indicating that Hamza bin Laden
was dead. He had last made a public
statement in 2018.
Hamza bin Laden was given a
prominent role in Al Qaeda, which
masterminded the 9/11 terrorist
attacks.
The US State Department earlier
this year of fered a $1 million
reward for any information leading
to his capture and labelled him as
an "emerging" leader in Al Qaeda.
He was believed to have been in
his early 30s.
granting ICRC permission to
resume their act ivit ies," the
Taliban said.
The insurgents explained that
"a number of issues with the
quality and quant ity" of the
ICRC's activities had led them to
implement the ban in the first
place.
"With the publication of this
statement, the Islamic Emirate of
Afghanistan restores the former
security guarantees to ICRC in
Afghanistan and instructs all
Mujahideen to pave the way for
SUBCONTINENT
Islamabad: Pakistan Prime
Minister Imran Khan has once
again raked up the prospect of a
war, including a nuclear war, with
India over New Delhi's "illegal
annexation" of Kashmir.
In an interview with Al Jazeera,
Imran has also tacitly acknowl‑
edged that Pakistan could lose in
a conventional war with India,
and in that case "there could be
consequences".
To a question on his issuing a
nuclear threat to India over
Kashmir, Imran told the channel:
"There is no confusion. What I
said is that Pakistan will never
start a nuclear war. I am a paci‑
fist, I am anti‑war. I believe that
wars do not solve problems. War
has unintended consequences.
Look at the war in Vietnam, Iraq,
the wars caused other problems,
probably much more serious than
what it was originally fought for.
"But I am clear that when two
nuclear armed countries fight a
conventional war, there is every
possibility of it ending in a
nuclear war. If I say Pakistan, God
forbid, and in a conventional war,
ICRC activities," they added.
When the ban was announced
in April, the ICRC said that thou‑
sands of Afghans affected by the
longt ime conflict would be
deprived of essential humanitari‑
an aid provided by the organiza‑
tion.
The ICRC and the Taliban have
often engaged in a verbal tug‑of‑
war and clashed on several occa‑
sions over the past few years.
The militants previously sus‑
pended the ICRC's activities in
October 2018 for two months.
Islamabad: Pakistani singer Rabi
Pirzada's move to threaten
Indian Prime Minister Narendra
Modi on the Kashmir issue with
snakes and crocodiles has back‑
fired as she has been fined by the
authorities for posing with rep‑
tiles.
According to reports in the
Pakistani media, the singer has
been asked to pay fines by the
wildlife department for illegal
captivity of the reptiles.
In a video posted earlier this
month on her YouTube channel,
Pirzada, raising the Kashmir
issue, can be seen holding a
snake, saying: "All these are gifts
for PM Modi. My friends will
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Pakistan Prime Minister
Imran Khan.
and we are losing, and if a coun‑
try is stuck between two choices,
either you surrender or fight to
the death for your freedom. I
know Pakistan will fight to the
death for freedom, when a
nuclear armed country fights to
the death, there are conse‑
quences.
"T hat is why we have
approached the UN, and are
approaching every international
forum, that they must act right
now, as this (Kashmir) is a poten‑
The ICRC and the Taliban have often engaged in a verbal tug‑of‑war.
feast on you."
She began the video by saying
a Kashmiri woman and her
snakes are ready to take on
India. Several snakes and croco‑
dile can also be seen lying on the
table in the video.
If convicted, Pirzada could be
jailed for up to five years and
fined as well.
T he singer has, however,
claimed that the reptiles don't
belong to her and she had rented
them for the video.
Miffed by the development, she
said in another video: "I have
appeared in several news chan‑
nels along with these snakes in
the past five years. No one both‑
tial disaster that will go way
beyond the Indian subcontinent.
On India's revocation of special
status for Kashmir, he said that
India had "annexed Kashmir ille‑
gally" and "unilaterally broken
international laws".
He also said that there was "no
longer prospect of a dialogue"
with India, though his country
has downgraded diplomatic ties
and snapped trade links with
New Delhi since the latter on
August 5 revoked Kashmir's spe‑
cial status in order to integrate it
into the rest of the country.
"There is not much we can do
except approach international
org anizat ions" and also the
"stronger countries" like the US,
China ("which is supportive"), and
Russia. "We are approaching all
of them."
He also said that if the Kashmir
issue is not resolved by the inter‑
nat ional community it could
"impact world trade".
Imran had in an opinion piece
in The New York Times issued
the threat of a nuclear war with
India over Kashmir.
ered to take action then.
"Unfortunately, now since I
have warned Modi, I am facing
action," she said.
Without naming anyone, she
said such incidents make her
believe that Indians are far better
than "traitor Pakistanis".
"The wildlife department is one
such traitor," Pirzada said.
"I never criticize Indians... I just
target Modi. If you can't love
Pakistan, at least don't betray
your nation," she said.
The singer said she has not
received anything in written
from the wildlife department and
would explore legal action if she
receives something.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info INTERNATIONAL September 21-27, 2019 21

Netanyahu vows to annex UK will leave EU on Oct 31

Jordan Valley, Arabs condemn with deal: Home Secy
Jerusalem: After Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to annex the
Jordan Valley in the occupied West Bank
if he is voted back to of fice next week,
Arab nat ions sharply crit icized the
announcement.
Netanyahu said he would apply "Israeli
sovereignty over the Jordan Valley and
northern Dead Sea," the BBC reported.
Such a move would be popular with
right‑wing parties which he would have
to depend on to form a coalition but
fiercely opposed by Palestinians.
Arab nations, including of ficials in
Jordan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia, have
heavily condemned Netanyahu's annexa‑
tion plans.
The Arab League denounced "the dan‑
gerous development" as "aggression".
Palestinian diplomat Saeb Erekat said
such a move would be a "war crime" that
would "bury any chance of peace".
Israel occupied the West Bank, along
with East Jerusalem, Gaza and the Syrian
Golan Heights, in the 1967 Middle East
war.
It effectively annexed East Jerusalem in
1980, and the Golan Heights in 1981,
although neither move was accepted
internationally for decades. Palestinians
Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu.
claim the whole of the West Bank for a
future independent state. Netanyahu has
insisted that Israel would always retain a
presence in the Jordan Valley for security
purposes.
The fate of the West Bank goes to the
heart of the Israeli‑Palestinian conflict.
Israel has built about 140 settlements
there and in East Jerusalem which are
considered illegal under international
law, though Israel disputes this.
London: Prime Minister Boris Johnson is
"committed" to ensuring that a deal for the
United Kingdom to leave the European Union
is in place by October 31, Home Secretary
Priti Patel said.
The "entire machinery of government" is
focused on getting the Brexit deal, Patel said
on BBC's Andrew Marr Show, but declined to
reveal details, saying it wasn't "a public nego‑
tiation". Stating almost 10 times that the gov‑
ernment was aiming for a deal to leave the
EU, and not mentioning once the possibility of
leaving without one, Patel also stressed that a
condition of her becoming a minister was a
government's serious attempt to get a deal.
"When he (Johnson) brought me into govern‑
ment, along with other colleagues, we were
clear to him, as he was to us, that our focus is
UK Home Secretary Priti Patel.
on leaving on October 31 with a deal.
"Our job right now is to absolutely give con‑ mistic" of getting a Brexit deal, but the UK
fidence to securing that deal, and backing the would leave by the deadline "whatever hap‑
Prime Minister in everything he is doing to pens", despite MPs passing a new law that
secure that deal through the negotiations that would force the Prime Minister to ask the EU
are currently under way," she said in the for an extension to that deadline if a deal was‑
interview. Patel's statement came even as n't agreed by October 19.
Johnson said the UK would break out of its Patel, however, maintained that Johnson is
"manacles" like 'The Incredible Hulk' in order "fully committed" to getting a deal. "My
to leave the EU, media reports said. instinct is we have to leave, and we have to
He had said that he was "cautiously opti‑ leave with a deal on October 31," she said.

Trudeau dissolves Scuffles in Hong Kong as

parliament, calls
election on Oct 21
47‑year‑old Justin Trudeau is seeking
a second term as Canadian PM.
Ottawa: Canadian Prime Minister
Justin Trudeau dissolved the par‑
liament and called a federal elec‑
tion for October 21, reports said.
race with Trudeau's Liberal Party
t ied neck and neck w ith the
opposition Conservatives, with
over 30 per cent support each.
protests enter 15th week
Hong Kong: Scuf fles broke out
between anti‑government protest‑
ers and pro‑Beijing groups in differ‑
ent parts of Hong Kong as the city
entered its 15th week of protests.
Riot police were called to the resi‑
dential area of Kowloon Bay where
rival groups confronted each other
in a shopping centre.
A local resident told journalists
his son, who was not wearing black
‑ the trademark color of young pro‑
testers in the ongoing anti‑govern‑
ment protest movement ‑ was Hong Kong is in the midst of its most severe political crisis in decades.
arrested for no apparent reason, Efe
news reported. Some waved found violating Hongkongers' students also he ld a rally at a
American flags calling for the US to human rights and freedoms could square in the city's central business
pass the Hong Kong Human Rights have their assets in the US frozen district, where they erected the
and Democracy Act ‑‑ a congres‑ and be denied entry to the country. "Lady Liberty Hong Kong" statue.
sional bill proposed by some US A standof f ensued between the The Asian financial hub is in the
lawmakers. demonstrators and riot police who midst of its most severe political cri‑
If passed, Washington would have were deployed to the scene and sis in decades. T he crisis was
to annually certify that Hong Kong warned the protesters they were sparked four months ago in opposi‑
remains autonomous from main‑ involved in an "illegal assembly". tion to a bill on extradition from
land China. Any Chinese of ficials More than 100 secondary school Hong Kong to mainland China.

Iran denies US claims about Saudi Aramco attacks

The 47‑year‑old Trudeau, who
is seeking a second term, visited
Governor General Julie Payette,
Canada's acting head of state, on
Wednesday morning to formally
launch the campaign.
"Canadians get to vote once
again for the country they want
to live in," he told reporters out‑
side her of ficial residence, the
BBC reported. However, opinion
polls indicate it will be a tough
The cost of living, the economy
and climate change are likely to
be prominent issues for voters,
Tehran: Iran's Foreign Ministry said in a statement, Xinhua news against aggressions and war crimes
while a string of controversies
denied the "pointless" US claims that agency reportd. by the Saudi‑led coalition for the
have dogged the tenure of
Iran is behind recent drone attacks US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo past five years. He said that "the only
Trudeau, who swept to power in
on Saudi Arabia's Aramco oil estab‑ blamed Iran for the attacks on two way to end the useless crisis in
November 2015, including the
lishments. Aramco oil plants in the east of Saudi Yemen and establish peace in the
SNC‑Lavalin issue and his India
"Such accusations and useless Arabia. Pompeo's tweets came hours region is to halt the Saudi‑led coali‑
visit.
blind viewpoints are meaningless after Yemen's Houthi rebels claimed tion's attacks and invasion, cut off
The NDP, led by Jagmeet Singh,
and incomprehensible within the responsibility for the drone attacks. western political and military sup‑
is in the third place, on roughly
diplomatic norms," Iranian Foreign Mousavi said that the Yemenis port to the aggressors, and find polit‑
13‑14 per cent support.
Ministry Spokesman Abbas Mousavi have proved that they have resisted ical solutions."
 22 September 21-27, 2019
India administers booster shot to push exports
New Delhi: With GDP growth sliding
to a six‑year low of 5 per cent in the
April‑June quarter along with sever‑
al sectors facing a slowdown,
Finance Minister Nirmala
Sitharaman announced a fresh set of
measures worth around Rs 60,000
crore to boost exports and the hous‑
ing sector.
The key measures include extend‑
ing the scheme of reimbursement of
taxes and duties for export promo‑
tion, fully automated electronic
refund for Input Tax Credits (ITC) in
GST, revised priority sector lending
norms for exports and expanding
the scope of Export Credit Insurance
Scheme (ECIS).
An inter‑ministerial working
group has also been formed to moni‑
tor export finance. Accordingly, the
scheme for Remission of Duties or
Taxes on Export Product (RoDTEP)
was announced which will replace
Merchandise Exports from India
Scheme (MEIS) for textiles.
In effect, RoDTEP will more than
adequately incentivise exporters
than existing schemes put together.
Attack at Aramco, 'India‑US continuously working
trade optimism towards resolving trade issues'
to boost oil prices
Experts noted that the global growth concerns
could cap the gains in the oil prices.
Mumbai: Drone attacks at the
world's largest oil processing
facility of Aramco in Saudi
Arabia and the recent optimism
in US‑China trade re lat ions
could boost oil prices, analysts
have said.
The drone attacks claimed by
Yemen's Houthi rebels set alight
two major oil facilities run by
the state‑owned company
Aramco in Saudi Arabia on
Saturday, the Kingdom's
Interior Ministry said.
Owing to subdued demand
and trade tension, Brent Crude
declined for the fourth consecu‑
tive session on Friday.
Brent crude oil prices closed
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
T he revenue foregone on this
account is projected at up to Rs
50,000 crore. However, existing dis‑
pensation in textiles of MEIS plus
old ROSL scheme will continue up to
December 12, 2019.
Textile and all other sectors which
currently enjoy incentives upto 2
per cent over MEIS will transit into
RoDTEP from January 1, 2020.
Sitharaman also announced that
Export Credit Guarantee
Corporation (ECGC) will expand the
slightly higher than the $60
barrel.
"News of attack on a major oil
producer as well as the easing
of trade tension will certainly
boost the oil prices," Anuj Gupta
of Angel Broking told IANS.
However, experts noted that
the g lobal growth concerns
could cap the gains in the oil
prices.
The Saudi Press Agency, citing
a statement by the Ministry,
said that the drones caused the
fire at the refinery in the city of
Abqaiq in the Kingdom's oil‑rich
Eastern Province, as well as the
blaze at the Khurais oil field,
around 150 km from Riyadh.
BUSINESS
scope of export credit insurance
service (ECIS).
Effectively, this will offer higher
insurance cover to banks lending
working capital for exports. Further,
Sitharaman revealed that Priority
Sector Lending (PSL) norms for
export credit have been examined
and that the enabling guidelines are
under consideration of the RBI.
The new norms, if implemented,
are expected to release an additional
Rs 36,000 crore to Rs 68,000 crore
New Delhi: Union Commerce
Minister Piyush Goyal on
Monday said that India and the
US were continuously working
towards resolving their trade dif‑
ferences.
However, the Minister stopped
short of revealing whether the
two countries have reached a
deal or not.
Goyal made the remarks while
was addressing a press briefing
regarding a slew of recently‑
announced measures to prop‑up
CFOs feel US trade policy
negative for businesses: Survey
Washington: Some 65 per cent of
US chief financial of ficers (CFOs)
believe that US trade policy will be
negative for their businesses over
the next six months, a new survey
showed. Thirty‑five per cent of
CFOs cited US trade policy as the
"biggest external risk factor," more
than double the second biggest
risk hig hlig hted ‑‑ consumer
demand, revealed the latest quar‑
terly CNBC Global CFO Council sur‑
vey released on Friday, Xinhua
news agency reported.
"While at a macro level it's easy
to understand the mot ivat ion
behind the recent policy changes, I
can't find a single CFO who has
told me it would be a positive for
his or her business," said Jack
McCulloug h, president and
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
as export credit under priority sec‑
tor. Sitharaman announced to
reduce turnaround time for exports
by leveraging technology and bench‑
marking it to Boston and Shanghai
ports.
Furthermore, the government will
provide Rs 1,700 crore for export
guarantees and to cut credit cost for
the exporters. Other measures like
creation of Special dispensation for
facilitating and on‑boarding 'handi‑
crafts artisans and handicraft coop‑
eratives' directly on e‑commerce
portals for exports were also
announced.
In addition, Sitharaman said that
India will organize annual mega
shopping festivals at four locations
with four themes across the country
in March, 2020. The minister came
out with several measures to prop
up the country's housing sector
which is considered as one of the
main job creators.
Now there would be relaxed ECB
norms for housing sector. Further,
interest on house building advance
would be lowered by linking it with
the country's exports.
When asked whether the two
countries have reached a trade
deal which might be announced
during Prime Minister Narendra
Modi's upcoming US trip, the
Minister replied that India was
continuously working towards
resolving all issues.
The development comes after
speculat ions have built up
regarding a trade deal which
mig ht be announced during
Modi's visit.
founder of the CFO Leadership
Council, an executive networking
group. "I cannot recall when CFOs
were as jittery about a change in
policy as they are today." The sur‑
vey was conducted between
August 21 and September 3
among 62 global members of the
CNBC Global CFO Council, which
represents some of the largest
public and private companies in
the world.
According to a recently released
annual survey conducted by the
US‑China Business Council
(USCBC), US‑China trade friction is
"negatively impacting" US compa‑
nies operating in China, with 81
per cent of the some 100 execu‑
tives reporting such impact, up by
8 per cent from last year. Nearly
10‑year government securities.
Sitharaman said that there would be
special window for affordable and
middle‑income housing.
Under this, a special window to
provide last‑mile funding for hous‑
ing projects which are non‑NCLT,
non‑NPA cases to complete unfin‑
ished projects. For this, a fund of Rs
10,000 crore would be contributed
by the government and "roughly the
same size by outside investors."
The fresh set of measures to boost
the economy has come in the wake
of sinking business sentiment across
the industry. With most engines of
growth stuttering, the Reserve Bank
of India recently lowered its GDP
forecast and pegged it at 6.9 per
cent in 2019‑20.
Several rating agencies and
research firms expect the growth to
be in the range of 6.5‑7 per cent.
Besides domestic consumption slow‑
down, the external factors remain
adverse threatening to pull down
the economy. A lingering US‑China
trade war and fears of a global
recession could make things worse.
Union
Commerce
Minister
Piyush Goyal.
half of the respondents report lost
sales and ceding market share to
foreign competitors, and a "stag‑
gering" 37 per cent of respondents
indicate lost sales in China due to
Chinese partners' concerns about
doing business with US companies,
which are increasingly viewed as
unreliable business partners as a
result of the trade tensions, the
survey showed. Brian
Higginbotham, senior economist at
the US Chamber of Commerce,
wrote in an article Thursday that
in recent months both business
and consumer confidence have
"faltered," citing tariffs on China as
one of the factors. "There is a clear
consensus that the recent tarif f
actions against China are particu‑
larly worrisome," he said.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info SPORTS September 21-27, 2019 23

My hunger, passion hasn't Air India signs

diminished at all: Pankaj
New Delhi: Ace cueist
Pankaj Advani, who just
registered his 22nd world
title, insists he is not done
yet and is motivated enough
to win more titles and bring
laurels to the country in the
future. "To be honest, I feel
as hungry and motivated to
win as I was when I won my
first world title. The hunger
and passion hasn't dimin‑
ished at all. It feels special
to be able to maintain that
position consistently and
win title after title over the
last one and half decade. I
am glad that it's happening
more often than not,"
Pankaj told IANS.
On Sunday, Pankaj won a
fourth straight final in the 150‑
up format at the IBSF World
Billiards Championship. In a
repeat of last year's final against
local favorite Nay Thway Oo, he
re‑enacted the one‑sided match
with the same eventual outcome
as well as identical scorelines of
6‑2. In the short format of bil‑
liards, this was Pankaj's fifth title
in the last six years.
"This 150‑format, which is a
test deal with
The ace Indian cueist has
been awarded with both
BCCI for SA series
Padma Bhushan (2018) and
New Delhi: With Jet Airways annual contract. "We are doing
Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna
under insolvency, the Board of the current South Africa series
Award (2005‑06) and has
Control for Cricket in India with Air India since Jet is no
proven to be the most con‑
(BCCI) has decided to give Air longer flying. We had a con‑
sistent Indian athlete, pre‑
India a try as they have signed tract with them (Jet) when it
vailing in world champi‑
a deal with the national carrier came to the team travelling in
onships since 2003.
for the ongoing series against India. But we had to look at
He has won more world
South Africa. If things go well options at the start of this
titles in cue sports than
and the board is happy with the home season and we decided to
anyone in the world making
services, it could be an annual give this a go and if all goes
him the greatest cueist of
deal between the two parties. well, we move to a longer con‑
all time.
Speaking to IANS, sources in tract, say an annual one," the
"I think this sport is very
the Air India management con‑ functionary explained. This
psychological in nature and
firmed the development and interestingly isn't the first time
it really helped that I start‑
said that the as of now, that the BCCI is looking to work
ed winning at an early age.
arrangements are on for the with Air India and did have a
Ace Billiards player Pankaj Advani. That instilled tremendous
South Africa series. "We have contract with them in 2016
amount of self belief in me
joined hands with the BCCI and before moving back to Jet
shorter format in billiards, is because when you start winning
the Indian team travelled by Air Airways. "The board had an
very unpredictable. early in your life, it just gives you
India to Dharamsala and will be annual contract with Jet in
To maintain consistency in this the confidence to go forward
using the services through the 2015, then we had a one‑year
format especially is an incredible from strength to strength," said
series. Post that, we will sit and contract with Air India in 2016
feeling and winning the title for Pankaj.
assess how to move forward," before going back to Jet for
four years in a row," he said T he ace cueist is expecting
the source said. 2017 and 2018. Not getting
while talking about the challenge tough challenge in the years to
A BCCI functionary said that into details, the experience was
he faced throughout the tourna‑ come and acknowledges that it
with Jet out of the market, the assessed at the end of the con‑
ment. will remain a huge task for him
board looked at working with tract in 2016 and those taking
The 34‑year‑old has brought to maintain the position at the
Air India and if things go well, the call decided to give Jet
home a world trophy every year top spot. "That excites me a lot
the one‑series agreement has another shot," the functionary
ever since returning from a pro‑ and I am looking forward to the
the potential to turn into an said.
fessional stint in the UK in 2014. upcoming challenges."

Smith, Cummins maintain No.1 spots in Test Rankings

London: Australia batsman Steve Smith and
pacer Pat Cummins have maintained their
positions at the top of the ICC Test Player
Rankings after the Ashes, which culminated
with a 135‑run victory for England on
Sunday as the five‑match series ended in a
2‑2 draw. Smith's scores of 80 and 23 have
helped him remain 34 points ahead of Virat
Kohli with 937 rating points, an incredible
effort since he started the series in fourth
position with 857 points before his surge
that came courtesy 774 runs in four Tests.
Cummins too is we ll clear of other
bowlers as he enjoys a lead of 57 points
over second‑placed Kagiso Rabada after fin‑
ishing as the top wicket‑taker with 29
scalps.
David Warner has lost seven places after
the Test to finish in 24th position among
batsmen. He slid 19 places during the five
matches with a tally of 95 runs in 10
innings, starting the series in fifth position.
Josh Hazlewood has dropped from 12th to
eighth after briefly making the top‑10
among bowlers.
For England, fast bowler Jofra Archer has
moved into the top 40 for the first time
after grabbing six first‑innings wickets
while left‑arm seamer Sam Curran has
gained six slots to reach 65th position with
three wickets.
Australia batsman Steve Smith

Sourabh Verma wins 2019

Vietnam Open badminton
Shuttler Sourabh Ho Chi Minh City: India shuttler Sourabh
Verma. Verma won the Vietnam Open after he defeat‑
ed China's Sun Fei Xiang in the summit clash
here on Sunday. The Indian registered a 21‑12,
17‑21, 21‑14 win in the final to win the tour‑
nament. Sourabh made a positive start in the
first game as he took a 11‑4 lead in the mid‑
break, before Sun Fei Xiang put some fight to
delay the Indian's wait for victory in the first
game. Sourabh however, won the game com‑
fortably.
He, however,m faltered in the next game as
his opponent won seven consecutive points
and went on to win the second game 21‑17.
The second‑seeded Indian kept his calm to seal
the final and last game 21‑14 to clinch the title.
Earlier, Sourabh had stunned Japan's Minoru
Koga in straight games to book his place in the
men's singles final.
The Indian defeated his Japanese opponent
22‑20, 21‑15 in the semi‑final clash which last‑
ed 51 minutes.
 24 September 21-27, 2019 ART & LITERATURE TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Iconic JLF set for Toronto, A life dedicated to Rajasthan's

to add 8th country in 2019
New Delhi: Close to its debut at Toronto on
September 27‑29, the iconic Jaipur
Literature Festival (JLF) is set to add an
eighth country in 2019 "where the narra‑
tive is disturbed" and also make its pres‑
ence felt at the Frankfurt Book Fair, its
producer Sanjoy K. Roy said.
"We represent diversity and provide a
non‑biased platform. Towards this, apart
from Toronto, we are adding an eighth
country this year
where the narra‑
tive is disturbed,"
Roy, the Managing
Director of
Teamwork Arts
that produces the
JLF, along with
over 25 highly
acclaimed per‑
forming arts, visual arts, and literary festi‑
vals across more than 40 cities globally,
told IANS. "We aim to discover the undis‑
covered or to be the discovered voices," he
added, declining to name the eighth coun‑
try as arrangements were still being final‑
ized. "We are each other's stories. Across
race and gender, language and culture, it
is books, ideas, and dialogues that define
and connect our common human narra‑
tives," JLF Co‑Director and noted author
Namita Gokhale said.
"At a time when the world is consumed
by doubts and anxiety, the joys of shared
narratives, of literature and philosophy, of
music and poetry, provide deep solace and
inspiration. We celebrate the arts, listen to
writers and thinkers, and investigate and
interrogate our ever‑changing planet. Over
the years, we have helped create a com‑
traditional Dabu print
munity of writers across cultures and con‑
tinents. JLF Toronto, set in the city's
By Siddhi Jain
Distillery Historic District ‑ one of
Canada's premier arts, culture and enter‑
New Delhi: A casual stroll into the open Bapu
tainment destinations with charming cob‑
Bazar of the pink city of Jaipur, and one will
bled streets, artists' studios, cafes, gal‑
see a range of traditional Rajasthani textiles.
leries, and the dynamic Young Centre for
Amid the Bandhej, Sanganeri and applique
the Performing Arts ‑ will encompass a
work, clothing and home decor items in the
line‑up of over 15 sessions of speakers
mud‑resist Dabu print are sure to stand out. A
that include acclaimed travel writer Pico
master‑printer dedicated to the craft,
Iyer, veteran jour‑ (Image courtesy:
Ramkishore Chippa Derawala, brings the story
nalist Daniel Lak, crafytalks.craftsventure.com)
of Dabu from his little village for the world to
New York Times higher general communities," he said.
see.
bestselling novelist This continued till the early part of 1970s,
The print Dabu or Daboo, believed to have
Andre Aciman, when the traditional hand‑block printing tech‑
originated in China, is practiced by a major
ce lebrity Chef nique and the community caught the govern‑
artisan cluster in Bagru, a village of hand‑block
Madhur Jaf frey, ment's eye. Soon the district‑level marketing
printers just 30 kilometers south of Jaipur. A
former diplomat grew to national and export‑oriented markets.
tradition ongoing for 480 years now, was once
Shashi T haroor, An influx of designers into the handloom sec‑
rife with caste boundaries until it found an
Indian High tor gave it the indigo, maroon and white hues
international market.
Commissioner Vikas Swarup and writers it is recognized for today. Speaking of dyes,
"At first, when the marketing was only till the
M.G. Vassanji, John Ralston Saul, Chitra Derawala, who had pledged to himself to only
district level, the block‑type and print colors
Banerjee Divakaruni and Izze ldin wear handloom 40‑odd years back, maintains
used to be as per caste," Derawala, a Padma
Abuelaish, among others. "I am very that natural, vegetable dyes are still the pivot
Shri recipient, told on the sidelines of a FDCI
pleased that a new chapter of the of Dabu. "Our natural dyes are made from
handloom symposium in Delhi.
renowned JLF will now be hosted in the pomegranate's rind and onion's leftovers,
"Alag alag rang the, alag alag jaat ke." (There
city of Toronto. Several Canadian writers turmeric, phitkari (alum), and iron horseshoes.
were different colors for different castes)
of eminence have participated in the festi‑ Chemical colors are also being used these days
Dressed in a handloom Dabu himself,
val at Jaipur including Margaret Atwood, as per the wishes of the designers, so we have
Derawala adds: "Women used to wear lehenga‑
Yann Marte l, Michae l Ondaatje, to fit some 20 percent of them with 80 percent
choli and dupatta based on their castes. So
Manjushree Thapa, and Rupi Kaur, to of natural dyes," he explained.
when they went out wearing different lehen‑
name a few. The process, however, has not undergone
gas, everyone in the village used to get to know
"The festival is yet another milestone in major transformations and is still the same,
which caste a woman belonged to."
the rich people‑to‑people ties between our handed down through generations.
"There were four colors: Yellow, red, sky
two nations. I am confident that the festi‑ "Handloom has had a rich history and keep‑
blue, and ''hara dhaniya'' (green). Green and
val will provide an opportunity to make a ing it alive is the duty of weavers, printers,
blue were for communities who are today
new connection in the literary and cultural designers, buyers and the government.
known as Other Backward Classes (OBC). Red
sphere and further enhance our bilateral Weavers are already in a bad condition, many
was for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
ties in this sector," Canadian High of them are living hand‑to‑mouth," he said.
(SC and ST). The yellow one used to be for the
Commissioner to India Nadir Patel said.

Revisiting East India Company's history to flag corporate power perils of abuse
H
istorian and award‑win‑
ning author William
Dalrymple is all set to
release his most ambitious and
remarkable history book to date,
The Anarchy: The Relentless Rise
of The East India Company. It is
believed that this book carries the
weight of his entire body of work,
a lifetime of research and nights
spent reading on days gone by. It
took the Scottish writer six years
to complete the magnum opus,
which not only recounts the most
horrific story of corporate vio‑
lence, but also gives a chilling
augury of our future. The most
discerning of readers will sense
the hints as they read between the
lines. Dalrymple, a recipient of the
Wolfson Prize for History,
Britain's most prestigious prize
for non‑fiction, spoke to life about
the book, while also giving a peak
into the corporate origins of the
British Empire.
''My last book, Koh‑i‑Noor: The
History of the World's Most
Infamous Diamond, in collabora‑
tion with Anita Anand, took little
more than six months' work.
While I'm tempted to say that The
Fall of a Dynasty, Delhi 1857, institution in one volume, so yes it Battle of Plassey, that the compa‑
looks at the years between 1856 is much more ambitious than I ny moved from being a trading
and 1858 and is a micro history ever expected it to be. organization to a nascent colonial
of the Great Uprising in Delhi; It takes a concentrated look at power, something that accelerated
Return of a King: The Battle for the years between 1599 to 1803; in 1765 after the Battle of Buxar.
Afghanistan 2012 is a perspective two hundred years of a This, of course, continues to be
of the years between 1839 and Machiavellian‑style offensive, the story today, when conglomer‑
1842, a micro history of the first aided and enabled by Indian ates try to dictate policy, influence
Author William Dalrymple to British invasion of Afghanistan. sepoys and paid for very largely government and enable one party
release his most ambitious But this book looks at the by loans given by Indian bankers. to win elections. One has to read
and remarkable history sweeping story of the onset of The East India Company had a it not just as history, or even the
book to date
colonialism across the entire Royal Charter to ''wage war'' and story of the present, but to some
Anarchy took only six years; the region over 200 years. It is the use violence to secure its trade. extent that of the future too.
truth is it has taken a lifetime. It is history of the whole monstrous But it was only in 1757, with the (IANS)
everything I've read, everything I
know and everything that a read‑
er ought to know about this
extraordinary company that
somehow seized an entire subcon‑
tinent.
I've been on the job ever since I
released the Return of a King: The
Battle for Afghanistan in 2012
with this book, I will have com‑
pleted four books on the East
India Company:
The White Mughals in 2002 is
about the years 1795 to 1805, a
micro history of a true Hyderabad
love story between an East India
Company Resident and Nizami
Princess; The Last Mughal, The
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
NASA joins ISRO to track
Vikram 'calling home'
T R
he Indian Space
Research
Organisation
(ISRO) is continuing
its attempt to reach
out to India's moon
lander sending com‑
munication signals
with its Indian Deep
Space Network (IDSN),
said officials.
It is also reported the American
space agency National
Aeronautics and Space
Administration's (NASA) Jet
Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is
sending radio signals to Vikram.
"Attempts are being made to
reestablish communication links
with the moon lander Vikram.
The attempts will be made till
September 20‑21 when the sun‑
light will be there in the area
Over 112 mn play Minecraft
a month: Microsoft
T
he popularity
of video game
Minecraft has
been growing, with
Microsoft announcing
that over 112 million
people play it a
month. Itʼs a 20 mil‑
lion increase over the
figures reported in
October 2018. Minecraft was
acquired by tech giant Microsoft
in 2014 for $2.5 billion. Given
that the game is available on
almost all platform, itʼs no sur‑
prise that number of players
keeps growing, Windows Central
reported on Saturday.
Often touted as virtual LEGO,
the game is about fitting pieces
together to create something
India to have largest developer
population by 2024: Report
I
ndia will overtake the US as
the worlds largest developer
population center by 2024,
says a report that sheds new
light on how the app sector could
be a potential source of jobs for
India going forward. India has
1.6 million app economy jobs, as
of August 2019, 39 percent more
than 1.2 million in 2016, said the
report titled “The App Economy
in India” by the Progressive
Policy Institute (PPI).
By comparison, the US had
2.246 million app economy jobs
as of April 2019, and the
European Union (plus
Switzerland and Norway) had
2.093 million app economy jobs
as of July 2019.
where the Vikram has landed,"
an ISRO official preferring
anonymity told IANS.
Scott Tilley, an amateur
astronomer who found American
weather satellite IMAGE in 2018
that was considered to be lost, on
September 10, tweeted: “#DSN
24 beams 12KW of RF at the
#Moon in hopes of stimulating
#Chandrayaan2ʼs lander
#VikramLander into communi‑
cating with home.
amazing. The game is essentially
a blank canvas and provides end‑
less building blocks.
But post‑launch support and
the ability of users to create con‑
tent, even campaigns, are consid‑
ered reasons behind its success.
Hopefully, the title will continue
to flourish and reach even
greater heights, the report said.
(Source: IANS)
At a discussion organized here
on Thursday by the Internet and
Mobile Association of India
(IAMAI), Miachel Mandal from
the PPI highlighted the key find‑
ings of the report.
To estimate the number of core
app economy jobs, the report
used a multi‑step procedure
based on data from the universe
of online job postings.
To obtain a holistic picture, the
report covers the top 5 states
and territories for app jobs
across India. Bengaluru is the
leader with 362,000 app econo‑
my jobs followed by Delhi with
248,000 app economy jobs and
Mumbai with 137,000 app econ‑
omy jobs, said the report.
SCI-TECH
New breakthrough in
cancer hair loss treatment
esearchers based at The
University of Manchester
have discovered a new
strategy for how to protect hair
follicles from chemotherapy,
which could lead to new treat‑
ments that prevent chemothera‑
py‑induced hair loss – arguably
one of the most psychologically
distressing side ef fects of mod‑
ern cancer therapy.
The study from the laboratory
of Professor Ralf Paus of the
Centre for Dermatology Research
describes how damage in the
hair follicle caused by taxanes,
cancer drugs which can cause
permanent hair loss, can be pre‑
vented.
To do this, scient ists have
exploited the properties of a
newer class of drugs called
CDK4/6 inhibitors, which blocks
ce ll division and are already
medically approved as so‑called
“targeted” cancer therapies.
Dr Talveen Purba, lead author
on the study explains: “Although
at first this seems counterintu‑
it ive, we found that CDK4/6
A coordinated drone attack
knocks out half of Saudi
Arabiaʼs oil supply
(Image courtesy: Al Jazeera)
A
n attack by 10 drones
caused fires at a major oil
processing facility and a
nearby oil field in Saudi Arabia.
Houthi re be ls have claimed
responsibility.
The drone attack on Saturday
targeted Abqaiq, the worldʼs
biggest oil processing facility and
the Khuaru oil field, which pro‑
duces around one million barrels
of crude oil a day. Saudi Aramco,
the state‑owned oil firm, said that
around half of Saudi Arabiaʼs daily
oil production had been suspend‑
ed as a result, the WSJ reported.
Houthi rebels in Yemen have
used drones for a number of
September 21-27, 2019
inhibitors can be used temporari‑
ly to halt cell division without
promot ing addit ional toxic
effects in the hair follicle. When
we bathed organ‑cultured human
scalp hair follicles in CDK4/6
inhibitors, the hair follicles were
much less susceptible to the
damaging effects of taxanes”
Taxanes are very important
anti‑cancer drugs commonly
used to treat, for example,
patients with breast or lung car‑
cinoma and particularly cause
anxieties among breast cancer
patients for the very distressing
and sometimes long‑lasting hair
loss taxanes can induce.
(Thousands of patients in the US
are currently suing pharmaceuti‑
cal company Sanofi over a lack of
warning of the risk of permanent
hair loss after treatment with the
taxane drug Taxotere.)
Dr Purba emphasises: “A piv‑
otal part of our study was to first
get to grips with how exactly
hair follicles responded to taxane
chemotherapy, and we found
that the specialized dividing cells
attacks so far this year, including
hitting a Saudi missile battery as
well as other oil fields. In such
attacks, the drones are typically
packed with explosives and flown
at speed into their targets. While
the group used to use standard,
off‑the‑shelf hobbyist drones with
a limited range, later attacks have
used more sophisticated models
with an estimated range in excess
of 900 miles, the UN reported in
January. Immediately after the
attacks, a spokesman for the Iran‑
backed Houthi group in Yemen
claimed responsibility. Yahia Sarie
said 10 drones had been launched
and warned that more attacks
25
at the base of the hair follicle
that are critical for producing
hair itself, and the stem cells
from which they arise, are most
vulnerable to taxanes. Therefore,
we must protect these cells most
from undesired chemotherapy
effects – but so that cancer does
not profit from it.”
The team hopes that their work
will support the development of
externally applicable medicines
that will slow or briefly suspend
cell division in the scalp hair fol‑
licles of patients undergoing
chemotherapy to mit ig ate
against chemotherapy‑induced
hair damage. This could comple‑
ment and enhance the efficacy of
existing preventive approaches
i.e. scalp cooling devices.
The researchers underscore
that more work is desperately
needed in this lamentably under‑
funded field of cancer medicine,
where patients have waited for
so long to see real break‑
throughs in pharmacological hair
loss prevention.
(Source: Scitechdaily.com)
would take place. On Twitter, US
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo
said there was no evidence the
attack came from Yemen and
instead blamed Iran directly. Iran
has rejected the accusation.
If it was them, the fact that the
Houthis now have the ability to
carry out such attacks could
change the face of the Yemen war,
which started in 2014. Drone
attacks are extremely disruptive,
but are cheap to carry out (these
drones may have cost no more
than $15,000 each, one expert
told the New York Times) and
incredibly hard to stop.
(Source: Technologyreview.com)
 26 September 21-27, 2019 HEALTH TheSouthAsianTimes.info

A magical place to cure aches and pains in NJ

By Janya Bhave as possible. Countless hours and a signifi‑
cant amount of money was invested into
Having had a positive experience with the each location so that we could position our‑
New Jersey physical therapy group named selves well for success within the given
ProFysio, which is opening their fifth market.
branch in Edison, the author, a helpful kind, How do you select competent physical
decided to interview its co‑owner and write therapists?
about it so others too can benefit. Dr. Somarriba: It takes great people and
great systems to achieve success in busi‑

I
came across this amazing physical ther‑
apists group named ProFysio in my
town, East Brunswick, NJ. My experience
with them has always been very good. My
physical therapist there was Dr. Nichole
Chaviano, who is very caring and knowl‑
edgeable. My PT aides there were Jerusha
and Jalen who also good. They have a five‑
star rating. Many South Asians – Indian,
Pakistani – as well as Chinese and others –
go to ProFysio to get well. ProFysio is actu‑
ally making a special outreach to the South
Asian community and are opening a loca‑
tion in Edison, hub of the community in
New Jersey. Some other similar places in
East Brunswick that I know function from
small places and are more interested in
making money. ProFysio has a huge place
and they make good use of the facility.
I interviewed the co‑owner of ProFysio,
Dr. Leonard Somarriba, DPT. Here are his
responses:
What inspired you guys to start
ProFysio?
Dr. Leonard Somarriba: When my part‑
ner and I began practicing as new gradu‑
ates we quickly found that the current state
of outpatient physical therapy practice was
flawed in our area. There was an emphasis
The clinical team of doctors of Profysio with its co‑owners
(front row, 2nd and 3rd from left) Dr. John Scafidi and Dr. Leonard Somarriba.
on treating a large volume of patients
because of declining insurance reimburse‑
ments. However, we felt strongly that we
could provide phenomenal care, provide
excellent clinical outcomes, and individual‑
ized attention and still run a profitable
practice. Health care practices should
stress quality care first and foremost.
Despite the current trend of shifting cost
responsibility to the patient, we are suc‑
cessful because patients can see and feel
the ProFysio difference. The value of the
service that we provide is superior to the
competition.
How did you start and develop your four
locations?
Dr. Somarriba: Mainly we chose our loca‑
tions which would be ideal for us to have a
positive impact on as many patientsʼ lives
ness. We would not be where we are today
if not for the efforts, passion, and sacrifices
of every member of the team. Of course,
we seek clinicians that have top tier train‑
ing from a credent ialed university.
However, we also ensure that they share
our values of integrity, hard work, compas‑
sion, and giving.
How many physical therapists are work‑
ing in your four facilities?
Dr. Somarriba: We have 10 Doctors of
Physical Therapy and 2 Physical Therapist
Assistants on the team at this time.
Are you planning to start occupational
therapy too because there is an acute
need for that in East Brunswick?
Dr. Somarriba: Yes, we plan to expand
our list of services. Occupational therapy is
a service we are strongly considering
adding in the future.
Contact: The Edison location is at 1921
Route 27 Edison, NJ. ProFysio main loca‑
tion is in Aberdeen, NJ, Ph 732‑812‑5200.
Website: profysionj.com.

Regulate but don't

ban E‑cigarettes:
Traders to Indian govt
New Delhi: With over 100 million smokers
in India, regulations and education can be
the key to provide safer alternative to
tobacco smoking. Though Indian govern‑
ment has been planning to ban E‑ciga‑
rettes in India, experts and the traders
have been demanding that instead of ban‑
ning these products, regulation can be the
key which could help Indian get over tradi‑
tional smoking which many believe is way
more dangerous than E‑cigarettes.
Speaking to IANS, Lindsay Mark Lewis,
Executive Director and Board Member,
Progressive Policy Institute (PPI) claimed
that banning E‑cigarettes would result into
a big fatal for public health in India as
these devices can help millions of smokers
in India to quit smoking and also save
bystanders from the dangerous smoke.
"It is necessary that E‑cigarettes are kept
in Indian markets, if you see some issues
with excessive use then put in regulations
like a minimum age of usage. But banning
these products would end up giving a big
blow to Indian economy and the public
health," Lewis said.
Lewis added that educating younger gen‑
eration and people rural India, is one big
key to remove concerns that have come up
against E‑cigarettes.
"I agree that nicotine might also be
addictive, but one needs to understand that
E‑cigarettes are far more safe then tradi‑
tional smoking. Its better that we educate
youngsters and people in rural India to
give up smoking," he added.
Among the other experts who have been
writing to the Indian government against
E‑cigarette ban was Patrick Basham,
Director, Democracy Institute, Washington
DC. In his letter to Prime Minister's Office
(PMO), Basham wrote, "Countries where e‑
cigarettes or heated tobacco products are
allowed have seen dramatic reductions in
smoking rates and limited use among
youth and nonsmokers." The
Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT)
also wrote to the Health ministry demand‑
ing that E‑cigarettes must not be banned.
It has been established by leading public
health bodies like the Public Health
England that ENDS are at least 95 percent
less harmful than cigarettes and globally,
these products are being used to strength‑
en tobacco control measures of various
countries like UK, Canada, New Zealand,"
CAIT wrote in its letter to the Health
Ministry.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info LAW AND SOCIETY September 21-27, 2019 27

Road to equality for LGBTQ is a long one

By Puja Gupta
New Delhi: A year after the Indian
Supreme Court struck down Section 377
of the IPC decriminalizing homosexuality,
the LGBTQ community still struggles with
social stigma and lack of opportunities.
But people have found the courage to
speak up and come out of the closet, says
Keshav Suri, who was at the forefront of
LGBTQ communityʼs battle for equality.
The Executive Director of The Lalit Suri
Hospitality Group spoke to IANS. Excerpts:
A year since Section 377 repeal, in
which ways your life has changed?
Keshav Suri: I was open and accepted by
my friends, family and team long before
Section 377ʼs repeal. However, as an
LGBTQ community member, the judge‑
ment affirms my belief in the Constitution
of my country. Now we can walk freely
without being made to feel like a criminal.
It signifies freedom! Last year I married
my long‑term partner, Cyril. The wedding
happened in Paris, but we hosted a recep‑
tion in Goa. I also performed in drag with
my mother. The wedding pictures went
viral, without any backlash. It is a positive
change.
And what changes have you seen since
in the society?
KS: I see a positive change of attitude
and acceptance towards the community.
Millions of queer people have found the
courage to speak up and come out of the
closet. Content hs been produced with pro‑
Keshav Suri, Executive Director of The Lalit Suri Hospitality Group, has been
at the forefront of LGBTQ communityʼs battle for equality.
tagonists from the community: the movie
“Ek Ladki ko Dekha …”, Netflix series
“Made in Heaven” and short film “Intezaar”
to name a few. Also the coming out of ath‑
lete Dutee Chand is a classic example of
growing social acceptance.
I see corporate India trying to establish a
connect with the community, by forming
ERGs (Employee Resource Groups), doing
sensitivity workshops and creating safe
environment. We recently hosted Indiaʼs
first LGBTQ job fair, which saw a healthy
participation from the community and cor‑
porates. Affirmative action is the need of
the hour. I am glad work in that direction
has begun. But there is still a long way to
go. The community still battles social stig‑
ma, and equal job opportunities. The Lalit
Suri Hospitality School is giving 100 per
cent scholarships for LGBTs. We urge
more and more corporates and thought
leaders to come forward and embrace the
change.
How can organizations be made more
inclusive and create a safe working envi‑
ronment for LGBTQ?
KS: A lot of homophobia gets generated
out of lack of knowledge. It is important to
address it. I have taken session with teams
at all my hotels across the country.
It is essential to form ERGs and ensure
the teams are sensitized. The community
members should feel safe and wanted.
There are issues like locker rooms and toi‑
lets that need to be taken care of.
Organizations should be mindful of their
needs such as leave, etc, especially in the
case of trans community. Make an effort
to provide equal opportunities and bene‑
fits such as insurance. It is good to have a
psychologist on board as a lot of people
from the community find it easier to talk
to one.
Is Indian society not evolved enough to
embrace queers?
KS: Homophobia is a western concept.
There are several examples of queer gods
and goddesses in our scriptures. I believe
we are a tolerant and loving society, as
opposed to what people think. We need to
be educated, open our minds and rid our‑
selves of our prejudices. At some level, I
feel we all are closeted. We need to open
and embrace the change, and our society
and its people.
How do you see the path ahead?
KS: The road to equality is a long one.
We need representation across industries
and functions.
We need marriage equality, health insur‑
ance, housing, education and adoption
rights to begin with. As of now, the com‑
munity has only been told that they are
not criminals. It was said in the judgement,
the society needs to be educated and sensi‑
tized to ensure there is no discrimination.
The community should stand together,
support each other and keep the dialogue
alive to ensure equality.

IMMIGRATION
Victims of Human Trafficking,
By Michael Phulwani,
Esq. and Dev B.
Viswanath, Esq.

T
he T nonimmigrant visa was
created by Congress to help
provide temporary immigra‑
T Nonimmigrant Visa
tion relief to victims of human traf‑ Mariana Islands, or at any port of dren, parents, and unmarried sib‑ three years in T nonimmigrant sta‑
ficking. It was part of the Victims of
Trafficking and Violence Protection
Act. The visa is granted for up to
VISA entry as a result of the trafficking;
4If the individual fulfills any rea‑
sonable requests from a law
lings who are under the age of 18.
Applicants who are over the age of
21 may also apply for their spouse
tus or once the investigation or
prosecution of the trafficking is
over, whichever happens first.

four years to victims who have
helped law enforcement in an inves‑
tigation of prosecution of human
trafficking. Certain qualifying fami‑
ly members of trafficking victims
may also be granted a T visa. T non‑
immigrant visa holders are allowed
to work and receive certain federal
and state benefits and services.
They may also be able to adjust
their status and become lawful per‑
manent residents.
Human trafficking is a modern
day form of slavery, where traffick‑
ers force individuals to perform
services or provide labor without
any or very little compensation and
keep them under very limited and
often restrictive circumstances.
Traffickers usually prey on vulnera‑
ble individuals such as those who
are poor or from vulnerable rungs
of society. There are two main
forms of trafficking: sex trafficking
TALK
and labor trafficking. Sex traffick‑
ing is when someone uses force,
fraud, or coercion to cause a com‑
mercial sex act with an adult or
causes a minor to commit a com‑
mercial sex act. A commercial sex
act can be prostitution, pornogra‑
phy, or any sexual acts done in
exchange for money, drugs, shelter,
food, or clothes. Labor trafficking is
when someone uses force, fraud, or
coercion for the purpose of involun‑
tary servitude or slavery.
Who may be eligible for T nonim‑
migrant status?
4If an individual was a victim of
either sex trafficking or labor traf‑
ficking;
4If the individual is in the United
States, American Samoa, the
Commonwealth of the Northern
enforcement agency to help in the
investigation or prosecution of
human trafficking, this does not
apply to individuals under the age
of 18 or individuals who have phys‑
ical or psychological trauma;
4If the individual is able to show
that they would suffer extreme
hardship if they were removed from
the United States; and
4The individual is in all other
ways admissible to the United
States, if they are not admissible
then they may be allowed to apply
for a waiver.
Any information about the appli‑
cant or their application is kept
strictly confidential and is protected
by law. The Department of
Homeland Security may only share
the applicantʼs information in very
limited circumstances. Applicants
who are under the age of 21 may
also apply for their spouse, chil‑
and unmarried children who are Congress allows 5,000 T nonimmi‑
under the age of 21. grant visas to be granted every
The T nonimmigrant visa is ini‑ year, but this limit does not apply to
tially granted for four years but in family derivative visas. Once the
some situations the visa holder may cap is reached, applicants are
extend their status. T nonimmigrant placed on a waiting list and then
visa holders may apply for lawful given first priority the following
permanent resident status after year.
Dev Banad Viswanath is the Principal
Attorney of The Banad Law Offices PC
in the United States,
and Banad Immigration in India for which
Attorney Michael Phulwani is also affiliated
as Of Counsel. With Offices in Manhattan,
Queens, Bangalore, and Mumbai, the firm is
able to assist clients with all facets of the
immigration process, including
Employment Visas, Consular Visa Assistance,
Student Visas, Removal & Deportation, US
Citizenship and Green Card Applications
based on Family or Employment. Dev B.
Viswanath can be reached at
Dev@Banadlaw.com and 718‑361‑5999.
 28 September 21-27, 2019 HUMOR TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Humor with Melvin Durai

If retirement isnʼt for you, retire from it

M
any people, especially
those in their late 50s or
older, count down the days
until retirement. Itʼs their reward
for several decades of hard work, an
opportunity to do whatever they
want – sleep all morning, watch
reruns of “Law & Order,” take a nice
hot bath every other month.
Having no boss is like being
released from prison: thereʼs so
much freedom to enjoy. No more
dreading Monday mornings, no
more dreaming of Friday evenings.
Itʼs just one lovely day after anoth‑
er, as long as you donʼt overdose on
Netflix.
But is retirement really as blissful
as it seems? For some people, it cer‑
tainly is: they absolutely love retire‑
ment and wouldnʼt exchange it for
any job, not even Ambassador to
Jamaica. But for others, itʼs not
quite what they had imagined.
While they once looked forward to
retirement, theyʼre now looking for‑
ward to unretirement.
If they canʼt get their old jobs
back, theyʼre eager to find new jobs,
even if it means waking up at 6 a.m.
again and getting reacquainted with
the BIC razor.
70‑year‑old man: “Ouch, that
hurt!”
Wife: “You cut yourself with the
razor again?”
Man: “Razor? I thought this was
the tongue cleaner.”
The New York Times recently
reported that a growing number of
Americans are “unretiring” – return‑
ing to the workforce after getting a
taste of retirement. A Pew Research
Center study showed that almost 19
percent of Americans aged 65 and
older worked part‑time or full‑time
in 2016 compared with 13 percent
in 2000. About 40 percent of those
senior workers were once retired,
according to a survey by the RAND
Corporation, a nonprofit research
firm. While some retirees return to
work because they havenʼt saved
enough money for retirement,
financial concerns arenʼt usually the
primary reason for unretirement.
Because people are living longer
and in better health, they donʼt want
to just sit at home, watching birds
and squirrels through the window
and waiting for the next “Breaking
News” alert on CNN.
They want to resume working,
especially if they are able to work in
jobs that arenʼt physically demand‑
ing. “You hear certain themes: A
sense of purpose. Using your brain,”
Dr. Nicole Maestas, an economist at
Harvard Medical School, told the
Times. “And another key compo‑
nent is social engagement.”
A sense of purpose is really
important. Many people are able to
find a sense of purpose in retire‑
ment. Some help their children by
taking care of their grandchildren.
For many of them, this is the “tiring”
part of “retiring.” For others, itʼs
truly a joyful experience – from
start to finish. Theyʼre overjoyed
when their grandchildren arrive,
and after a whole day of running
after the kids, theyʼre overjoyed
when they leave.
Volunteering is another way that
many retired people find a sense of
purpose. But some discover that
they miss the actual work they once
did and want to return to it, at least
on a part‑time basis. Imagine being
a doctor for 40 years, then hanging
up your stethoscope and staying at
home. It can get boring pretty fast,
even if you spend your mornings
watching re‑runs of “Greyʼs
Anatomy” and your afternoons
diagnosing your spouseʼs ailments.
Retired doctor: “Honey, I think
you have an iron deficiency. Look
how misshapen your nails are.”
Spouse: “Honey, I think you need
new glasses. Thatʼs Roverʼs paw
youʼre holding.”
Not everyone can go back to
work, of course. There are so many
hurdles, including mandatary retire‑
ment in certain types of jobs, age
discrimination, and health con‑
cerns. But itʼs something more peo‑
ple should consider. If you can be
the leader of a country in your sev‑
enties, why canʼt you be a lawyer or
librarian or cashier?
Next time someone asks me if Iʼm
looking forward to retirement, Iʼm
going to say, “Nope, Iʼm looking for‑
ward to unretirement.”

Laughter is the Best Medicine

BEST
RATE
FOR
INDIA
AND
PAKISTAN
New York Head Quarter
422‑S Broadway
HICKSVILLE
NY 11801
By Mahendra Shah
516‑827‑1010
Mahendra Shah is an architect by education, entrepreneur by profession,
artist and humorist, cartoonist and writer by hobby. He has been recording
the plight of the immigrant Indians for the past many years in his
cartoons. Hailing from Gujarat, he lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info ASTROLOGY September 21-27, 2019 29

Chandigarh, India: +91-172- 256 2832, 257 2874

By Dr Prem Kumar Sharma Delhi, India: +91-11- 2644 9898, 2648 9899
psharma@premastrologer.com; w.premastrologer.com

SEPTEMBER 21‑27, 2019

Aries: You receive care and affection
from family members. Financial has‑
sles will be eased out with the help of
your friends. Romantic vibrations from
someone unknown would lift your spirits
taking imaginations to scaling heights.
Pleasure trip would help in maintaining
sound health towards the last week of the
week. A good deal for residential property
is ahead. Spiritual vacation is a quest for
life, plan it and enjoy it with your family.
Taurus: Time ly and swift action
would be required at professional
front as you are entrusted with addi‑
tional responsibilities. Your search for a
house is towards its final destination. Mid
of the week is the good time when misun‑
derstandings at family front are sorted out
with ease. A new source of income will gen‑
erate through influential contacts. Creative
hobbies are likely to keep you relaxed.
Gemini: Love birds are likely to find
the mid of the week especially excit‑
ing.Your efforts to put yourself in a
strong position at workplace are likely to
materialise this week. Control your nega‑
tive emotions to enjoy a sound health. If
youʼre planning a vacation, be sure to con‑
sider your work does not ef fect. Spend
some relaxed moments with family mem‑
bers later this week. Developing friendly
relations will all, deserting ill will against
others would benefit you.
Cancer: At work you are likely to
win appreciation and awards for
past ef forts. Decent manners and
intellectual talk would catch others atten‑
tion. You are likely to earn monetary profits
through most unexpected sources. Sudden
romantic encounter will lift your spirits.
Those involved in purchase and selling of
the assets should first resolve the legal
issues then mortgage your property. Health
poses absolutely no problems this week.
Leo: Mortgaging your plot is not
right for you at this point, crisis may
arise. You may harm personal inter‑
ests by revealing confidential information
to a third person.Investment on overseas
property has to be considered seriously. A
promising wee k to revive old
contacts.Cooperative nature brings desired
results at professional front.To enjoy the
richer grandeur of infinite life, make it more
sublime by absence of worry, which is the
first step in this direction.
Virgo: Your performance will put to
rest a seniorʼs apprehension about
your professional competence. A busi‑
ness trip will prove immensely successful
and bring new opportunities. Speculation
and stocks can give good returns. You are
likely to be richly rewarded for going out of
the way to help someone. A home remedy
may prove effective in curing an old ailment.
A change will be refreshing.
Libra: You are likely find comfort in
the arms of romantic partner. It is
an auspicious week to start a new
venture. Buying property can lead to gains
as property prices continue to increase. Do
not behave stubborn otherwise it will only
offend your colleagues and as a result you
may not receive their help in return. Health
of the self or a near one may cause some
concern during this week.
Scorpio: Those spiritually inclined
will find mental solace in religious
activities. Important people will be
ready to finance anything that has a special
class to it. Love companion will be eager to
meet you throughout the week. Your deft
handling of a case will help defuse an
explosive situation. Property dealings
would materialize helping in bringing fabu‑
lous gains. Some of you may find their
dream jobs but materializing the same may
take some more time.
Sagittarius: Success in completing
difficult assignments brings a lot of
laurels at work. Itʼs time to get
involved into activities that would help in
bringing contact with close relatives.
Selling a plot might be profitable as proper‑
ty rates tend to rise sooner. Sharing can‑
dyfloss and tof fees with lover/beloved
would bring unlimited joy. Meditation and
yoga prove beneficial for spiritual as well as
physical gains.
Capricorn: Special ef forts may be
required by some to bring happi‑
ness back into their family life. Your
style and confidence is likely to win some
admirers on the work front. Good network‑
ing is likely to net a good deal for some
traders. Some of you may have to sharpen
your communication skills to make your
mark in your field of expertise. Mental ten‑
sions will be countered successfully to
achieve peace of mind.
Aquarius: You can make your vaca‑
tion extra special by planning it with
your family and friends. You might
be purchasing a refrigerator or any other
gadget for your house. The desire to do
things on your own would pave the way for
success. Be careful with whom you deal
financially this week. For some, change of job
would bring mental satisfaction. You succeed
in making new acquaintances provided you
participate in social /family function.
Pisces: You are likely to spellbind
others by wit & repartee. Success is
certain provided you work as a team.
Buying overseas property will be benefici‑
ary for some. This is a very healthy week as
your cheerfulness gives the desired tonic
and confidence to you. Love companionʼs
company fails to bring desired results as
you behave high demanding. Parental guid‑
ance in your decision would immensely
help.

September 21, 2019 be peaceful with family members

Governed by number 3 and the
planet Jupiter, you are intelligent,
dignified, jovial, generous and an
optimistic person. You are good at
everything you do, which in return
brings lots of appreciation and
rewards for you. But you need to
control your tendency to behave
spendthrift, dominating and vindic‑
tive at times.
The coming year will promise
many new opportunit ies for
growth. Your acumen in business
will really do wonders, but you
need to plan your budget well in
advance and it will be wise not to
go beyond it. Investment made in
the past will bear fruits, making
your financial position much com‑
fortable. Property/legal disputes
will settle to your satisfaction.
Health definitely needs more atten‑
tion. Meditation and Yoga should be
practiced for spiritual gains as well
as physical gains. Some exhilarat‑
ing news from your children will
boost up your spirits. Travel and
journey, most likely overseas for
some will ensure pleasure and
excitement. T he months of
February, June and November will
be eventful.
September 22, 2019
Influenced by number 4 and the
planet Uranus, you are energetic,
methodical, and systematic and
possess an attractive personality.
You are highly social and helpful,
but you need to check your tenden‑
cy to behave jealous, self centered
and destructive at times.
The coming year promises many
ANNUAL PREDICTIONS: FOR THOSE BORN IN THIS WEEK
new surprises and rewards for you.
Financial benefits will flow through
various sources. New sources of
income will improve your financial
position and ongoing projects will
get a major boost. Journeys under‑
taken for work purpose will be ben‑
eficial and hig hly rewarding.
Investment in a house and selected
sto cks recommended. Sudden
expenses due to health problem in
the family will bother your mind.
Legal matters will prove expensive.
Purchase of a property or a mode of
transportation will be high on your
agenda. The months of February,
April, July and December w ill
enhance prosperity.
September 23, 2019
Ruled by number 5 and the planet
Mercury, you are active, practical,
sensible, systematic and highly
diplomatic person. You are a great
admirer of music and literature, but
you need to curb your tendency to
behave moo dy and care less at
times. A year of gifts and rewards.
New proposals and assignments
will boost your morale and confi‑
dence. Property transaction will
bring you good returns and will
also help raise money. Travel will
be undertaken for building impor‑
tant relationships and monetary
gains. Overseas journey or business
transaction for some. Wedding bells
will ring for some later in the year,
and others will find romance to
keep them going. Chronic patients
need to take extra care for their
health. Avoid lending and borrow‑
ing money. The months of March,
June and September will be highly
eventful.
September 24, 2019
Ruled by number 6 and the planet
Venus, you are generous, practical,
cooperative, accommodating and a
simple person. Your hard‑work and
sincerity are appreciated by others
but your tendency to be extrava‑
gant and interference in the affairs
of others attracts enormous criti‑
cism at times. The new year promis‑
es financial prosperity and good
health. Businessmen will expand
their business into more profitable
ventures. Those in creative profes‑
sion like artists, advertisers and
media will receive appreciation and
fame. Promising contacts will build
through social get‑togethers and
traveling. Unexpected help from an
acquaintance would give a major
boost to your career. Your spouse
will be quite cooperative and show‑
er her full love and affection upon
you despite your erratic behavior
towards her. New romance for
some, so make the best of it. The
months of March, August and
September will prove to be highly
significant.
September 25, 2019
Dominated by number 7 and the
planet Neptune, you are responsi‑
ble, af fectionate, creative, simple
and highly emotional person. You
are having a wonderful command
on your undertakings, which always
bring in appreciation and awards,
but you need to check your tenden‑
cy to be jealous and fickle‑minded
at times.
The coming year sees new ideas
and plans materializing. Support
from your partners and colleagues,
boosts your morale and builds new
confidence. Financially you would
benefit through speculation. Those
want ing to pursue educat ion
abroad will receive favourable
response. Family members will be
understanding to your concern and
highly supportive. Health of your
spouse might suf fer due to stress
and tension and would require
some medical attention. A journey
preferably to a distant location
towards the end of the year cannot
be ruled out. T he months of
February, July and November will
prove to be eventful.
September 26, 2019
Influenced by number 8 and the
planet Saturn. You are act ive,
authoritative, systematic, sober and
methodical person. You have an
inherent talent to fight against
adverse conditions with courage
and conviction, but at times you
behave highly stubborn and ignore
the opinion of others, which does
not work to your benefit. This year
you reap fantastic returns from
investments that you have made in
real ‑estate and stocks. Foreign trip
or financial transaction will be
highly benefiting. Home front will
extending all possible help and
cooperation. Spouse and children
would be supportive and provide
you with lots of love and care.
Wedding bells for some in the last
quarter of the year while others
would find romance to keep them
in the right spirit and good mood.
The months of May, August and
December will prove to be impor‑
tant and eventful.
September 27, 2019
Ruled by number 9 and the planet
Mars. You are energetic, dashing,
courageous, enthusiastic and bril‑
liant person. In any crowd, you can
easily attract attention because of
your decent manners and highly
intellectual talk. Your tendencies
towards arrogance, aggressiveness
and short‑temper need to be gov‑
erned at times.
This is an excellent period to
develop new contacts and revive
old ones. Past investments will
fetch handsome returns and long
pending judicial disputes will settle
in your favour. The latter half of
the year sees you getting closer to a
spiritual person who would make a
remarkable dif ference on your
thinking and personality.
Unexpected gains in cash and kind
from near ones and friends through
out the year. Journeys and foreign
transactions are likely to yield
returns. Finances may remain mod‑
erate. Stress and tension might lead
to some minor health problems.
T he months of April, July,
September and December seems to
be eventful.
 30 September 21-27, 2019 SPIRITUAL AWARENESS TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Setting spiritual goals in our lives

spirit depends the health of the If we want spirituality, it can be
body, mind, and intellect. developed in any place. It does
In the East it is said that when help when we live in a peaceful
the peacock dances in the jungle environment where there is little
or forest and nobody sees it, what or no commotion around us. It def‑
good is it? Just like a flower that initely helps when there is peace,
blooms and gives fragrance to oth‑ calm, and quiet. That is why we
ers, so should we. Hence, we find a quiet place to meditate, but
should remain in our outer soci‑ when we reach a certain level in
eties and not negate that part of our spiritual growth, none of these
By Sant Rajinder Singh our life. outer things bother us.
Ji Maharaj Once we recognize that we are There is a story of Isaac Newton
soul, we need to spend time in who was sitting by a roadside, lost

S
pirituality is not only devel‑
oped in one place like a
monastery, or on the banks
of a river, or in the wilderness. If
we want spirituality, it can be
developed in any place. We can
recognize our spirituality in what‑
ever culture, region, or religion we
are born and in whatever activities
we are involved.
Although in some forms of mys‑
ticism people try to negate life and
everything else just to concentrate
on their spiritual journey, we need
to become complete human
beings.
We need to develop physically,
mentally, emotionally, and spiritu‑
ally. Actually, on the health of the
enhancing our spiritual capabili‑
ties. To do so, we need to set spiri‑
tual goals. If, on the other hand, we
spend our time haphazardly, with‑
out knowing where we are going,
then we will have a hard time
reaching our aspirations. In the
spiritual arena, our goals consist of
spending time in meditation and in
improving our ethical life.
On the spiritual path we need to
realize what is important, set our
goals, and do whatever makes
sense to take us in a direction to
reach those goals. It is essential to
realize that there are certain fac‑
tors that will help us in our spiritu‑
al progress.
The key is to still the mind. If we
do not still the mind, we will not be
able to recognize ourselves spiritu‑
ally. Therefore, leading an ethical
life in which we cultivate the
virtues of truthfulness, nonvio‑
lence, humility, purity, and selfless‑
ness will aid us on the spiritual
path. When we lead virtuous lives,
our mind is calmer, and once our
body and mind are stilled, we can
connect with the divinity within.
This is why the mind, which is the
source of all desires, must be
stilled.
Keeping the mind focused on
God helps us in this process. That
is where the principle of simran
comes into play. Simran keeps the
mind occupied by the repetition of
the names of God. If the mind is
empty, thoughts will come in, and
as soon as a thought enters̶
whether it is a good or bad
thought̶it distracts us in our
meditation. Once we learn how to
still our mind, we automatically
get closer to a state of having no
desires.
in thought.
He was so absorbed that he did
not notice a band passing by.
Similarly, when someoneʼs atten‑
tion is focused on the divine with‑
in, nothing in the outside sur‑
roundings bothers him or her. It
takes a long time to get to that
state, but we can improve spiritual‑
ly wherever we are and in whatev‑
er environment we live.
In order to reach our spiritual
goals, we need to evaluate our pri‑
orities so that our desires do not
make us attached to the objects or
activities of the world. Instead,
when we are detached, our atten‑
tion will automatically focus on
the Divine.

By Sant Rajinder Singh Ji This article has been selected and reprinted from Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj’s book,
Maharaj Spiritual Pearls for Enlightened Living (Radiance Publishers) an inspirational
collection of stories from the world’s great wisdom traditions.

D
uring the time of Guru Gobind
Singh, there was a great rishi who
gave up everything to go to a forest
to meditate. There was also a king who had
already conquered many other territories
and their people. One day, the king set his
ambition on conquering the rishi to make
him obey his
commands. People thought it was strange
that the king would focus on conquering a
rishi who had no property, kingdom, or
wealth. But it turned out that the rishi had
previously been a king before giving up his
kingdom for the spiritual life. This made the
present king have an obsession with want‑
ing to conquer the rishi. So the king gath‑
ered his entire army to prepare for battle.
The army marched into the deep forest.
The army finally reached the rishi, who was
sitting in the woods, deep in meditation.
The king waited for the rishi to come out
of meditation, but he kept on sitting there.
Finally, the king became restless and
shook the rishi out of meditation.
The king shouted, “Prepare for a fight. I
have come to do battle with you.”
The rishi surveyed the scene calmly. He
saw the great army and said, “Fight! I ran
away from my worldly life for fear of my
one great enemy. I came here to hide in the
woods from this enemy. My soul shudders
in fear when I hear the sound of my enemyʼs
name. Just to think of this enemyʼs name
causes my heart to quiver.”
The king listened carefully as the rishi
continued to describe his feared enemy.
Finally, the king became angry and shouted,
“Is your enemy stronger than me?”
The rishi replied, “Even the thought of
THE STRONGEST ENEMY
this enemy destroys my soul. I left every‑
thing to escape from this enemy.”
The king said, “Tell me the name of this
enemy of yours.”
The rishi said, “There is no use in telling
you who it is. You will never be able to con‑
quer him.”
The king replied, “If I cannot conquer
him, I will consider myself a failure.”
The rishi then told him, “This great
enemy of whom I am speaking is the mind.”
From that day on, the king tried every‑
thing to overcome the mind. He tried all
kinds of techniques to gain control over his
own mind. Years passed and still he could
not conquer the mind. Finally, the king had
to admit that he had failed and that the
mind is truly the strongest enemy.The mind
is powerful and will try every means possi‑
ble to gain control over our soul.
Many yogis and rishis have tried to gain
control over their minds but failed. If such is
the fate of those who have given up the
world to conquer their own mind, then what
is the fate of the rest of us who are
immersed in the world?
The mind is the obstacle our soul must
deal with to return to God. The mind is like
a soccer goalie, guarding the goal. It will try
everything to keep the ball from reaching
the goal. If even devoted rishis had trouble
overcoming the mind, how can we do it?
The fact is that we cannot conquer the
mind on our own. The only way to conquer
the mind and still it is through the help of
someone who has conquered the mind. Such
enlightened beings give us a lift to contact
the Light and Sound within us. The Light
and Sound help uplift our soul beyond the
realm of mind.
The rishi found that doing spiritual prac‑
tices alone in the jungle did not help him
overcome the mind. The mind still tempted
him with the countless desires of the world.
The mind knows that contact with the
soul will render it harmless. Thus, the mind
will find all kinds of excuses to keep us from
meditation. It will make us think of the past.
It will make us think of the future. It will
make us wiggle around instead of sitting
still. It will make us feel sleepy just when we
sit to meditate. It will make us feel hungry. It
will make us feel jealous.
It will make us feel depressed. It will
When we learn to
concentrate fully, wholly,
and solely into the Light
and Sound, we will
experience bliss, peace,
and joy. We will want to
repeat meditation again
and again because of the
wonderful experience
we receive.
make us feel like doing work instead of
meditating. It will find a million excuses.
How do we overcome the mindʼs tenden‑
cies to distract us? We must use the tenden‑
cy of the mind to form positive habits. The
mind likes habits. If we tell our mind that we
need to sit for meditation each day at the
same time and place, a habit will form. Soon
we will find ourselves compelled to sit for
meditation at that time each day. If will miss
meditation, we will start to feel like some‑
thing is amiss. Soon we will find ourselves
meditating regularly.
When we learn to concentrate fully, whol‑
ly, and solely into the Light and Sound, we
will experience bliss, peace, and joy. We will
want to repeat meditation again and again
because of the wonderful experience we
receive.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info September 21-27, 2019
TheSouthAsianTimes.info September 21-27, 2019