The South Asian Times

e x c e l l e n c e i n j o u r n a l i s m
Follow us on Vol.6 No. 26 October 19-25, 2013 60 Cents New York Edition TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Meet the next Mayor of New York City

The South Asian community has been one of my strongest bases of support and is one of our city's great success stories, Bill de Blasio, a shoo-in for Mayor of the greatest city on earth, told The South Asian Times.
By Parveen Chopra
ew York City could have anointed Bill de Blasio the next Mayor on September 10 when the Public Advocate won the Democratic primary with a decisive 40.12% vote, defeating nearest rivals Bill Thompson and Christine Quinn. The reason: his Republican rival, Joe Lhota, is a weak candidate in a Democrat dominated city. Already the polls show de Blasio lead over Lhota hovering in the 40-50 points range. Endorsed by President Obama, Hillary Clinton, Senators and Congressmen, de

Blasio will bring the mayor seat back to the Democratic party after 20 years. Even among Democrats, de Blasio is considered a very progressive nominee for mayor who is promising a clean break from the Bloomberg years, which created A Tale of Two Cities a rich class and a poor class. Married to an AfricanAmerican, the 52-year-old promises that his administration would reflect the rich diversity of the city and the South Asian community will play an important role in it. Excerpts from an interview with de Blasio, who was a member of the New York City

Council from 2002 to 2009: The South Asian Times: Did you expect it to be so easy winning the race for NYC mayor? Bill de Blasio: Bringing progressive change to New York City is never easy. Our campaign is a volunteer-driven, grassroots effort driven by everyday New Yorkers across all five boroughs. We also have a South Asians for de Blasio steering committee that has played a pivotal role in mobilizing our support in the community. SATimes: What really clicked in your favor in the primaries?

Bill de Blasio: From day one, my message has been the same: we need to end the Tale of Two Cities we're currently living and get City Hall back on the side of working and middle-class families. It is a vision that resonates strongly with New Yorkers, who are ready for change after 12 years of Mayor Bloomberg. SATimes: The local media ascribed the tide turning your way to a good extent to your sons afro !! Bill de Blasio: Dante's afro has taken on a life of its own, but Dante is so much more than just his hair. He's an intelligent, Continued on page 3

Exclusive Interview

Indian-American is US point Shutdown, debt limit crisis over, person for South Asia but damaged US economy
Washington: The US Senate has confirmed Nisha Desai Biswal, an accomplished Indian-American administrator, as America's new point person for South Asia making her the first person from the community to hold the top diplomatic position. Taking over from incumbent Robert Blake as the new Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, she will oversee US foreign policy and relations with India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives and Bhutan. Biswal is currently assistant administrator for Asia at the USAID headed by Rajiv Shah. A graduate of the University of Virginia, Biswal began her professional career in Washington DC Washington: As hundreds of thousands of furloughed federal employees started returning to work, President Barack Obama said the 16-day government shutdown and the threat of US debt default "inflicted completely unnecessary damage (to) our economy". The standoff between the Democrats and Republicans over the opposition's attempt to derail his signature healthcare law nicknamed Obamacare, slowed the economy's growth and set back employers' plans to hire, he said Thursday morning at the White House. "America is the bedrock of the global economy for a reason ... because we keep our word and we (meet) our obligations," Obama said observing: "Just the threat of

US Senate has confirmed Nisha Desai Biswal as the new Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, the first Indian American in that position

with the American Red Cross in the mid-1990s before she joined USAID in her first stint. As a Hill staffer with the US House of Representatives Continued on page 4

default ... increased our borrowing Jan 15 and give costs, which adds to our deficit." Treasury the "We'll bounce back from this," ability to borObama said. But the way business row above the is done in Washington has to $16.7 trillion change to make a positive differlimit until Feb 7. ence in the economy, he said sugIt also sets a midgesting taking a balanced December deadline approach to a responsifor completing ble budget. b u d g e t The Senate negotiabrokered bipartions for a tisan deal that long-term passed the spending House, with p l a n . support of all Continued Democrats on page 4 and some Republicans, will, however, fund the There are no winners in the eleventh hour deal, government President Obama said, adding that Americans only until are fed up with Washington.

US Affairs 8

Festivals 15

Fashion 18

Spiritual Awareness 30

excellence in journalism

October 19-25, 2013

TRISTATE COMMUNITY

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Thousands throng Hicksville temple for Diwali mela

Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano presented a citation to AsaMai temple President Gobind Bathija. Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor John Venditto is on extreme right.

Hicksville, NY: The AsaMai Hindu Temple of Hicksville hosted its 9th annual Diwali Mela here on Sunday. Over 10,000 people enjoyed the cultural program, savored the ethnic Indian food and crowded the over 60 vendor stalls. Dignitaries in attendance included Nassau County Executive Ed

Mangano, Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor John Venditto, former county CE Thomas Suozi and Indian Vice Consul Shambhu Amitabh. The day long stage show coemceed by Kanika Marwaha and Sonny Bathija was filled with performances from Nartan Rang

Dance Academy, Arya Dance Academy, Mystic Dance and Yoga, etc, culminating in Vishal Khera and Manik Malhotra regaling the audience with Bollywood medleys. Children made a beeline for the kids zone on E. Barclay Street. The raffle included prizes such as a 2014 Chevy, 2 tickets to India

on Air India courtesy of MPR Travel, etc. Dunkin Donuts served complimentary beverages. Sponsors included NuHealth Hospital, Empire National Bank, Air India, Indus American Bank, HAB Bank, Panam Mortgage, Yatra.com, Patel Brothers and Bethpage Federal Credit Union. About the success of the mela, temple President Gobind Bathija

said, It is all about the dedication and hard work of our past and present board of directors and the entire team of Diwali Mela 2013. We have broken all our previous year records in terms of attendance, stalls and, sponsors. The temple, he said, is committed to serve the community providing education and religious awareness.

The ethnic clothes stalls were mobbed by shoppers.

Dignitaries, temple officials and guests at the invocation.

Neon chaniya cholis, funky slings and spiky jewelry

By Jinal Shah New Jersey: Defying the traditional full-sleeved blouses and mirror work chaniyas, Indian American fashionistas are experimenting with their look this navratri season with pop colored low cut cholis, spiky jewelry and funky Indo-western slings. Although chaniya cholis remains the norm, silhouettes are sporting a western touch. Young girls, in particular, are willing to experiment with their look with Indo-western ghagras. Many even don outfits with a boho feel -- tank tops and traditional ghagras teamed with oxidized jewelry. Fashion during navratri changes in India every year, especially in Mumbai birthplace of disco dandiya. Here (in the US) navratri has been more of a traditional affair - we clung onto our old outfits with traditional accessories until now. However, changing trends have traveled here too. Indian ensembles with western twist like tank tops on ghagras or spiky jewelry are really in today, said New Jersey based housewife Nirali Bhat. This is the time to be flamboyant and don bright festival colors with an attitude, echoed Rita Furia. But mirror work, hennapainted hands and kolhapuri chappals remain popular. Ditching the regular purse, many are opting for funky ethnic jholas, colorful potlis or embroidered slings accentuating the traditional look. Fishtail plaits are also in vogue this garba season, thanks to our B-town beauties flaunting a lot of it of late. A retro low-bun is adding a touch of desi. Navratri is as much about dancing as it is about dressing. In the past few years there has been a visible change as more and more revelers are opting for garba more than dandiya sticks. Explained Riya Shah, engineering student from Queens, We are from Mumbai where very few mandals have dandiya because of small spaces. Space is no constraint here but we are not used to playing with

Dandiya revelers in US went trendy this Navratri

dandiya sticks anymore. Also every city in India has its own style of garba, as does Mumbai. Our style includes a mix of traditional and western steps like popatiyu football (a dance sequence that uses six

beats - two steps forward and four back with sequential clapping and kicking). In fact, we learned new versions of the desi steps like Dodhiyu, simple five, simple seven, popatiyu, Trikoniya (hand

movement forming an imagery triangle), Lehree, three claps, butterfly, hudo (involving raising your hands, and clapping your partner on the count of four), etc from our friends here.

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

TRISTATE COMMUNITY
Bill de Blasio: I believe the overuse and abuse of stop and frisk during the Bloomberg era has damaged the relationship between police and communities. My plan to keep our city safe is based on a strong model of community policing, where police are working hand in hand with community leaders to identify criminals and problem areas. This will build trust and goodwill in our neighborhoods. The current stop and frisk era sows mistrust, especially since 90 percent of those stopped are innocent. SATimes: As mayor will you be content with two terms or seek a third one too like Bloomberg? Bill de Blasio: I believe in term limits and led the fight against Mayor Bloomberg's undemocratic power grab for a third term. Two terms is enough. SATimes: What is your impression of the South Asian community, Indians in particular, from your interactions with them? Have they contributed liberally to your campaign? Is the South Asian vote solidly behind you? The more prosperous and older South Asians turn Republican, I have learnt. Bill de Blasio: Our campaign is powered by everyday New Yorkers reaching out to their neighbors and organizing in their communities. The South Asian community has been one of my strongest bases of support and is one of our city's great success stories. From standing in solidarity with Sikh com-

October 19-25, 2013

Meet the next Mayor of New York City

Continued from page 1 focused young man who is studying hard and devoting many hours to his debate team at Brooklyn Tech. My wife Chirlane and I are very proud of him and our daughter, Chiara. SATimes: Your lead over the Republican rival, Joseph Lhota, is over 40 points, so has it made you complacent or your campaign is still in full fighting mode? Bill de Blasio: We are moving full steam ahead, and are taking nothing for granted. We have campaign events every day across all five boroughs. We've had a number of events recently with the South Asian community and are planning a South Asians for de Blasio rally in Jackson Heights later this month. SATimes: You have projected yourself as the most progressive, pro-worker, pro-poor. That seems to be working to get you the votes, but wont it turn off businesses? Then how will you improve the overall economy of the city, so there is more to go around for everybody? Bill de Blasio: A vibrant middle class made New York City a beacon of opportunity to so many generations. But today's reality is different - New York's middle class isn't just shrinking, it's in real danger of disappearing altogether. A New York City that continues the economic and educational policies of the last decade cannot -- and will not -- be a city of

Bill de Blasio, Democratic partys NYC mayor nominee, with his activist-poet wife, Chirlane McCray, daughter Chiara and son Dante. The family lives in Brooklyn.

neighborhoods where middle-class families can live, work, and raise their children. Without a real change of direction -- an economic policy that combats inequality and rebuilds our middle class - New York will become a place where millions of New Yorkers struggle each and every day to keep their heads above water. That's not good for anyone, and people understand that. SATimes: The strong Stop and Frisk policy followed by Mayors Giuliani and Bloomberg is credited for making New York the safest big city in America. The police cannot follow it now, and you are its greatest critic, so how do you plan to keep New York safe?

munity leaders after the recent hate crime against Columbia University professor Dr. Prabhjot Singh to opposing the city's excessive fines along with South Asian small business owners, I've worked closely with the community for many years. I look forward to continuing that relationship in City Hall. SATimes: As Mayor, which top level positions in your administration you plan to give to Indian Americans? Bill de Blasio: I believe City Hall and the next administration should reflect the rich diversity of New York City. The South Asian community will certainly play an important role if I'm elected mayor. SATimes: Reshma Saujani was your deputy and she unfortunately lost the Democratic primary for Public Advocate. What do you think of her? Bill de Blasio: Reshma is a talented public servant who has worked tirelessly on behalf of all New Yorkers. She's also done admirable work mentoring young women, especially in under-represented career fields such as Computer Science. SATimes: What is your advice to South Asians seeking a career in politics? Bill de Blasio: My advice is to dive in head first and get involved at the grassroots level. I started my career as an organizer in NYC politics and later ran for my local school board in Brooklyn. NYC is a city of neighborhoods, and a critical part of public service is getting involved at the local level.

Newark, NJ: Democrat Cory Booker, the charismatic mayor of Newark, won the New Jersey special election on We d n e s d a y, handily defeating a conservative Republican to fill the state's vacant Currently the US Senate seat. Newark mayor, Booker, who Cory Booker had been heavily will become favored in polls, only the sec- defeated Steve ond black US Lonegan, a forSenator. mer small-town mayor, according to tallies published online by The New York Times, Politico and the Star-Ledger newspaper. The tallies showed Booker with a double-digit lead over Lonegan with three-quarters of the votes counted. Booker becomes the first black U.S. senator from New Jersey. In Washington, Booker will join Republican Tim Scott of South Carolina as the nation's only two black senators. He will fill the U.S. Senate seat held by Democrat Frank Lautenberg, who died in June at age 89. Booker, a Rhodes scholar and

NJ sends Democrat Cory Booker to US Senate Mangano gains 17-point lead over Suozzi in race for Nassau county
Yale Law School graduate, rocketed to fame as a booster for the state's largest city, 12 miles from Manhattan, which has struggled with poverty and persistently high crime. His first run for mayor was documented in the Oscar-nominated film "Street Fight." Booker is known to rub shoulders with celebrities and is a near-constant presence on Twitter. During Booker's tenure as mayor, Newark received a $100 million gift to its schools from Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, who said he had met Booker and was impressed by his plans.New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, a Republican seeking re-election and a possible White House contender in 2016, chose October 16 as the special election date. Democrats said he could have scheduled the special election for November 5, the day of the general election, and accused him of selfinterest and wasteful spending. They said he was avoiding being on the same ballot as Booker, who could attract Democratic and minority turnout and cut into Christie's chances of winning re-election by a large margin. Mineola, NY: Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano has already gained a wide lead over his Democrat rival Thomas Suozzi for the county executive race when the Election Day, Nov 5, ius only weeks away. Reporting it, Newsday / News 12 / Siena College poll ascribed it in part to independent and minor-party voters breaking his way, Mangano leads Suozzi 52 percent to 35 percent among likely voters, with 12 percent saying don't know/no opinion, reflecting a striking change from an August poll that showed the two in a dead heat. The new poll of 710 likely Nassau County voters was taken Oct. 6-9. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.7 percentage points. Though 52 percent believe Nassau is on the "wrong track," voters aren't holding Mangano responsible, the poll found. The poll also asked who would do a better job of keeping taxes under control. The majority, 57 percent, said Ed Mangano would do better. Another 17 percent said Suozzi, while 17 percent said they didn't know. Fifty-eight percent of voters
(Left) Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano and (right) former CE Tom Suozzi

view the incumbent favorably, while just 34 percent view him unfavorably. Donald P. Levy, director of the Siena Research Institute, explained Mangano's surge in this rematch of the 2009 election to certain factors. The poll found Republicans more solidly behind him (76 percent to 17 percent) than Democrats are behind Suozzi (63 percent to 27 percent). 46 percent have an unfavorable rating of Suozzi, 45 percent favorable. Even if voters think Nassau isn't doing well, Levy said: "There isn't this wellspring of animosity against Mangano." More Nassau voters are pleased with the job Mangano

has done running the county over the last four years than the job Suozzi did when he was county executive from 2002 to 2009, Levy said. Mangano edged Suozzi by just 386 votes in 2009. Then, Mangano was a virtual unknown running against a two-term incumbent. Newsday Columnist Joye Brown said she's not surprised by the results. "The current county executive came out early, often and strong with a message of, 'I have not raised your taxes in four years,' and he also came out with the message that the other guy, Tom Suozzi, did," Brown said.

October 19-25, 2013

TURN PAGE

TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Shutdown, debt limit crisis over, but damaged US economy... Continued from page 1 Meanwhile, according to an initial analysis from Standard & Poor's, the 16-day government shutdown took a $24 billion chunk out of the US economy. As a result, the rating agency projects that the US economy will grow 2.4 % in the fourth quarter - as opposed to the 3% growth rate predicted before the shutdown. Besides hundreds of thousands of federal workers furloughed, shutdown hit small businesses hard due to frozen government contracts and stalled business loans. Closed national parks also hit the tourism industry. Obama in his post-deal speech also outlined the immigration overhaul as his priority, which some Republican Congressmen said wont pass the House. Indian-American is US point person for South Asia... Continued from page 1 International Relations Committee from 1999 to 2002, she worked extensively with diplomats. From 2005 to 2010, she was the Majority Clerk for the State Department and Foreign Operations Subcommittee on the Committee on Appropriations in the US, a crucial position for allocation of American foreign aid. Although there have been several other Indian-Americans at the assistant secretary level, namely Bobby Jindal, Richard Varma, Karan Bhatia, Suresh Kumar among them, this is the first time an Indian-American would be heading the South Asia bureau.

Washington: Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, a potential 2016 Republican presidential candidate, plans to create a policy-focused nonprofit group to help Republicans shed their image as "the party of no." The group called "America Next" would produce detailed proposals for how conservatives would improve health care, education and energy policy if they were in charge again, Jindal told Politico, an influential Washington news site. Jindal, whose term as chairman of Republican Governors Association ends next month, complained that his party has

Bobby Jindal forms group to win 'war of ideas'

focused excessively on criticizing President Obama without saying what it would do instead. Citing Mitt Romney's failed effort to make the 2012 election a referendum on the president, Jindal, 42, said his group will bring together big thinkers to "play offense in the war of ideas." "Saying 'no' is not enough," he said. "We've got to get beyond the bumper-sticker slogans. We've got to get beyond the 30-second attack ads." When asked about his plans for 2016, Jindal said: "I don't know if I'm going to run for president or not." He quoted former British Prime Minister Margaret

Thatcher, who said that you need to win the war of ideas before you can win elections. Jindal, whose second term as governor ends at the start of 2016, said "America Next" will not be afraid to take controversial positions that run afoul of Republican orthodoxy. He said there's a helpful contrast between the paralysis in Washington and the reforms being pursued by 30 Republican governors in the states. "A rebellion is brewing outside the Washington Beltway," Jindal added. "The American people know that the policies coming out of Washington are leading us to a dead end.

Stony Brook Diwali on Nov 2 S

iwali Stony Brook Cultural Program is scheduled for November 32 at Murphy Junior High School, Stony Brook, NY. This largest Diwali event in Suffolk county is in its 6th year, and every year, the show has grown in attendance, informed the organizer Harbinder Singh. Last year we had 375 people in attendance, and 115 kids performing. We expect similar numbers this year. The performances vary from Bollywood to classical to Bhangra. Snacks and appetizers are served before the show, and a full vegetarian Indian dinner after. For more info: www.diwalistonybrook.com

wami Nikhileswarananda, a monk of Ramakrishna Order from India, held an inter-faith dialogue with clergies of various religions on October 7 jointly hosted by Long Island Council of Churches (LICC) and Long Island Multi-faith Forum (LIMFF). He praised the efforts of LIMFF towards inter-faith harmony. During his speech the Swami narrated that birthdays of prophets and saints of various religions are celebrated in 174 branch centers of Ramakrishna Mission spread all over the world, an organization started by Swami Vivekananda in the name of Swami Ramakrishna who had practiced various religions in the laboratory of his life - Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, etc, and

Inter-faith dialogue held on Long Island

declared - 'As many faiths, so many paths. Swami Nikhileswarananda said that anyone wanting to be a member of Ramakrishna Mission has to declare that he or she will respect to all religions. Practising such inter-faith harmony in our daily life at the practical level can bring global peace in a globalized world. On behalf of the Christian clergies, Rev. Thomas Goodhue, Executive Director of LICC, said that Interreligious Dialogue can help us welcome our neighbors of other faithsand it invariably teaches me something about my own faith community. Arvind Vora, Chairman of LIMFF, pointed out that Swamiji started his trip to USA in 2010 with LIMFF general dialogue and this time he was concluding his

The Dialogue Committee members of Long Island Council of Churches with Swami Nikhileswarananda. (From left): Grace Simonette, Rev. Richard Visconti, Rev. Harold Lay, Swamiji, Rev. Thomas Goodhue, Arvind Vora, Rev. Charles Cary, Rev. Lorraine DeArmitt, and Rev. Forrest Parkinson.

trip with a dialogue among dozen or so clergies and faith leaders. Swamiji was selected to represent Ramakrishna Mission to cele-

brate the 150th anniversary of Swami Vivekananda in USA at the behest of Indian Council of Cultural Relations.

Printed Every Saturday by Forsythe Media Group, LLC ISSN 1941-9333 76 N Broadway, Suite 2004, Hicksville, NY 11801 P: 516.390.7847 Website: TheSouthAsianTimes.info Updated Daily Chairman and Co-Founder Kamlesh C. Mehta Co-Founder: Saroosh Gull President: Arjit Mehta Board Advisors (Honorary) Ajay Lodha, MD, Lakhpat B. Mehta, Esq. Rajasthan High Court & Supreme Court

Managing Editor: Parveen Chopra C : 516.710.0508 Editor@TheSouthAsianTimes.info Associate Editors Hiral Dholakia-Dave, Meenakshi Iyer Contributing Editors: Melvin Durai, Dr Prem Kumar Sharma, Harry Aurora, Ashok Vyas, Jinal Shah, Dr Akshat Jain, Nupur Joshi West Coast Correspondent Pooja Jain, Pooja@TheSouthAsianTimes.info New Delhi Bureau Meenakshi Iyer Delhi@TheSouthAsianTimes.info

VP - Strategy and Marketing Roopsi Narula P: 516-303-4002 Roopsi@TheSouthAsianTimes.info Marketing & PR (Washington DC) Chander Gambhir, P: 703.717.1667 Jaipur (India) Bureau Prakash Bhandari Prakash@TheSouthAsianTimes.info Photographs: Gunjesh Desai/ masalajunction.com. Xitij Joshi/xitijphoto.com Photo Journalist: Parveen/Bhanu Seth Art and Design: Vladimir Tomovski Bhagwati Creations, Rahul Sahota, Dhiraj Kumar Web Editor: B.B.Chopra

News Service: HT Media Ltd. IANS Newswire Services IANS Washington Bureau Arun Kumar arun.kumar@ians,in Printing: Five Star Printing, NY Richner Publications Contacts Editor@TheSouthAsianTimes.info Subscribe@TheSouthAsianTimes.info Advertisements Advertise@TheSouthAsianTimes.info P : 516.390.7847 F : 516.465.1343

Website: www.TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Notice: The South Asian Times is published weekly by The Forsythe Media Group, LLC. POSTMASTER: Send all address notices, subscription orders/payments and other inquiries to The South Asian Times, 76 N Broadway, Suite 2004, Hicksville, NY 11801, USA. Copyright and all other rights reserved. No material herein or portions thereof may be reprinted without the consent of the publisher. The views expressed on the opinion pages and in the letters to the editor pages are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect those of The South Asian Times. The editor/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.

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

TRISTATE COMMUNITY

October 19-25, 2013

Queens Borough honors Renee Lobo with community service award

New York: Noted Broadcaster and community activist Renee Mehrra Lobo was honored by Queens Borough President Helen Marshall with Community Board Service Award in recognition of her 10 years of outstanding service to the community in Queens. Lobo has been on Community Board 6 in Queens since 2003 and serves on Land Use & Zoning, Consumer Planning, Public Relations, Education and Youth Committees. She was the first South Asian Woman to be appointed by Mayor Bloomberg as Commissioner for NYC Commission on Human Rights in 2009 and continues to serve on the Commission. Renee Lobo is a dedicated individual committed to her community. Her service on her community board for the past decade is indicative of that commitment. She has served on a number of committees, including land use, zoning and education. All of our community board members give their time talents and energy to assist their neighbors and protect and

Close to $2 million raised at Pratham NYC Gala

New York, NY: About 600 of New Yorks crme de la crme from the finance, technology and entertainment sectors joined forces on Friday, Oct. 4, 2013, to pledge and raise almost $2 million in funding for education efforts targeted at Indias underprivileged children. Prathams annual NYC gala attracted CEOs of major U.S. corporations and financial and investment firms, senior diplomats and celebrities who enjoyed a starstudded evening on board the USS Intrepid. Guest speaker Chelsea Clinton shared a story about her parents being the first in their families to seek higher education. The 2013 Nobel Peace Prize contender and education activist, Malala Yousafzai, sent a special video-taped message applauding India for the gains it has made in making primary education universal and reminding the audience of all that remains to be done in other parts of the world. Hollywood and Bollywood actor Omi Vaidya emceed the gala for the second year in a row, and King of Bhangra, Bikram Singh, closed out the evening with his melodic, high-energy music. A live telepresence with children at a Pratham school in Pune, India, was one of the highlights of the evening, along with live and silent auctions that had guests out-bidding each other throughout the evening. What sets an organization like Pratham completely apart is that we are run almost fully by volunteers, said Dinyar Devitre, Chairman of Prathams Tristate Chapter Board. From our programs in India to our galas all over America, volunteers dedicate hundreds of hours of their time, allowing us to utilize 96% of the monies we raise directly for the children. Prathams innovations have been recognized with the Kravis Prize for Leadership, the Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship, and most recently, the WISE Prize, which is equated with a Nobel in Education, for its CEO & Co-founder, Dr. MadChelsea Clinton speaking about Pratham's education efforts at the NYC gala.

Broadcaster and activist Renee Lobo with Queens Borough President Helen Marshall

improve their communities. We are deeply grateful to them," said Helen Marshall, Queens Borough President. I would like to commend Renee Lobo and all of our veteran community board members for their outstanding service and their commitment to our wonderful borough, she added. Our boroughs 14 community boards are the eyes and ears of our diverse neighborhoods here in Queens. I am proud to say that our community boards are considered the best in the city and their opinions are respected not only at Borough Hall, but at City Hall.

hav Chavan, who spoke at the gala about four of Prathams major programs: Annual Status of Education Report (ASER), Read India, Second Chance, and Vocational Training. I applaud Pratham for the strides it has made in helping expand quality education for every child in India, said Chelsea Clinton. Prathams strategy of engaging all the sectors that need to work together to ensure any child anywhere gets the education he or she deserves -the government, businesses and private citizens that work collectively toward a common goal -- is remarkable and should be the model followed by other countries who have similar education challenges around the world.

Acclaimed musicians Paul Williams & Kenny Ascher to headline IAACs 15th gala
New York, NY: Singer/songwriter/ composer Paul Williams and jazz piano icon and composer Kenny Ascher, famous for co-writing the Oscar-nominated song Rainbow Connection from The Muppet Movie, will reunite on stage to recreate their award-wining musical magic for the Indo-American Art Councils (IAAC) 15th anniversary gala on Thursday, November 21 from 7 to 11 p.m. at the Angel Oresanz Foundation for the Performing Arts (1732 Norfolk Street, Lower East Side, Manhattan). At the breath-taking venue where Sex and the City star Sarah Jessica Parker married Matthew Broderick and Lady Gaga posed for her Vogue photo shoot, the IAAC will commemorate 15 years of educating and exposing NYC audiences to literary, performing, visual and folk arts from the Indian subcontinent. It may be surprising to find Kenny and I performing at an Indian gala, but it just goes to prove that music is universal and does not discriminate by race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status, said Williams, who has been at the receiving end of Academy, Golden Globe and Grammy awards, with his most recent work being featured on current pop sensation Daft Punk's Random Access Memories.

Etihad Airways presents events in US cities to mark Diwali

New York: Etihad Airways, the airline of choice for luxury travel to various destinations all over India, is presenting India Unlimited, a series of multi-city fashion, dance, food and cultural events to promote the heritage of India and the spirit of its people, this Diwali season. In an effort to bring India closer to the world, Etihad Airways, along with Evolve, the company that produced Hema Malini as Sita in the dance the Light of India drama Ramayana Awards for two years in New York City, is hosting four unique celebrations across three US cities. They include: A fashion tour in New York City (Oct 27), Chicago (Oct 25) and Dallas (Nov 15) showcasing Indian couture, luxury fashion and prt lines by Satya Paul and Joy Mitra, as well as Top Chef Canada host Lisa Ray, who is launching a line of sarees for Satya Pauls collection. Ramayana, Dance Drama by Hema Malini & Troupe: NYC (Nov 9), Chicago (Nov 10), Dallas (Nov 17). Indian Festive Food Week: Several restaurants in NY-NJ will create a festive feast Nov 1-7. Global Indians of the Year: Powered by Hindustantimes.com, the eventon Nov 24 at Taj Pierre Hotel, NY, will celebrate the phenomenal success of the NRI community in the US. For more information, please visit www.indiaunlimited.co.in.

Community calls upon DOE for official Diwali public holiday

New York, NY: NYC Council Member Daniel Dromm, state Senator Toby Stavisky, Ranju Batra, Chair of the Diwali Stamp Project and President of Association of Indians in America-NY 2011-2013, Ravi Batra, attorney and chair of National Advisory Council on South Asian Affairs, members of the Jackson Heights Merchants Association and members of the community have called upon Department of Education (DOE) to designate the Hindu, Jain, Buddhist and Sikh holiday of Diwali as an official day off for public school students. The CM introduced a resolution in the City Council on July 24 and since then several fellow Council Members have signed on as co-sponsors. According to the Census Bureaus 2011 American Community Survey, there were 207,414 New York City residents who identify themselves as Asian Indian, of which many are adherents of Hinduism, Sikhism, Jainism or Buddhism. This year Diwali will be celebrated on Sunday, Nov. 3. Next year, the day falls on Oct. 23, a Thursday, and in 2015 on Wednesday, Nov. 11. For the many students who celebrate the holiday, they must choose between missing a school day or missing an important holiday spent with their families. "To me, Diwalis 'Light over Darkness' means eliminating ignorance and discrimination of every kind. Diwalis row of diyas is very significant. It is the row of diyas, their unity and unified light that beats the darkness - not one diya alone. Its togetherness - Diwalis hidden message of necessary unity. I celebrate Council Member Daniel Dromm and his Diwali School Holiday Resolution, and ask all good people to support it," said Ranju Batra, Chair, Diwali Stamp Project, and President of Association of Indians in America-NY 2011-2013 "Danny Dromm's Diwali School Holiday Resolution 1863 is an American landmark to be achieved on the road to forming "...a more perfect union." It is E Pluribus Unum in action. I call upon Mayor Bloomberg or the next Mayor to have DOE observe Diwali as a school holiday, so that New York City's principled action is followed across our land, in every town and city across America, and 'equal protection of the law' becomes a sweet reality. Danny Dromm is an American hero," said Ravi Batra, attorney, and chair, National Advisory Council on South Asian Affairs.

October 19-25, 2013

TRISTATE COMMUNITY

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

IN BRIEF

4000 attend IACFNJ Navratri

Sharad Purnima Garba will be on Oct 18, 19
ndo-American Cultural Foundation of Central Jersey - IACFNJ Navratri Garba was a grand success with overwhelming and record number of people attending the event on October 5, 11 and 12, 2013, at Cross Roads South Middle School in South Brunswick. More than 4000 people attended the garba event managed by the IACFNJ organizers. IACFNJ committee members and the volunteers continued to work very hard to have two more days of celebration on October 18 and 19, 2013, from 8 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. at South Brunswick High School which will mark the celebration of Sharad Purnima. Once again, famous group of Mahesh Mehta and his talented singers from Bollywood and local singers and artists of Entertainment Unlimited rocked the stage with famous old and new live singing of garbas, dandiya tunes, and famous sanedo for non-stop live entertainment for more than six hours. The cultural diversity was very prominent on the garba floor where boys and girls and men and women from all age groups performed various traditional garbas and raas in their traditional colorful and designer outfits. In addition, South Brunswicks cultural diversity was witnessed on the dance floor where the atten-

Marylands largest Asian American Business Conference on Oct 29

he 7th annual Asian-American Business Conference (AABC), which will be held on Tuesday, October 29, 8:00 AM to 7:30 PM, at the Greenbelt Marriott, 6400 Ivy Lane, Greenbelt, Maryland 20770. The conference is jointly organized by the Governors Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs, the Governors Commission on South Asian Affairs along with business and community leaders. The objective of the business conference is to educate minority-owned business enterprises on various topics that can help develop and grow local Asian American businesses. The AABC will also feature a legislative reception with elected officials

dees were not only Guajaratis but from all over India and surrounding regions. The local business entrepreneurs Sunil Nayak and Pinakin Pathak, community leaders and South Brunswick Deputy Mayor Chris Killmurray attended the event and wished everyone a Happy Navratri. He congratulated IACFNJ dedicated committee members for organizing such a wonderful event in South Brunswick. The best costume and best dance prizes were given to the winners on all three days which was sponsored by local business Fashion Unlimited from North Brunswick. The Grand Sponsors were awarded with a wonderful gift basket of traditional Indian puja items as token of appreciation for their continued support to IACFNJ and their community involvement.

from the state of Maryland. This premier event is designed to facilitate networking between minority business owners, the local community and government officials. Participants will hear from several prominent speakers, including Mr. Frank Islam, a successful IT businessman and investor, and Patricia Loui, a member of the board of directors for Export-Import Bank. In addition, panel discussions will include current business topics, such as succeeding in the global marketplace, minority business certification, financing options and government contracts. The AABC will also offer a trade show and a variety of ways to learn about new business opportunities.

Arvind Kejriwal to interact online with USA, Canada supporters

he volunteers of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the USA and Canada are rallying to host a live Hangout with Arvind Kejriwal on October 20th at 5.30 pm Pacific Time. The rally comes at a crucial juncture for the partys preparation for Delhi Election which since its inception has seen enthusiastic support from NRIs both as donors and volunteers. However in recent months, the Indian diaspora across the globe has significantly stepped up its efforts to help AAP. What started off with a spattering of volunteers across North America has grown to over one thousand donors and hundreds of active volunteers who campaign for AAP on a daily basis, remotely through phone calls, social media and other technologies. Many are taking weeks and months off to campaign for AAP in Delhi. Hundreds of volunteers across North America are hosting parties at their respective homes for their friends and family to watch the Hangout together and spread AAPs message. I am looking forward to hosting this special get together at my home with my

2013 IITB Alumni reunion on Oct 26

IT Bombay Alumni Association of Greater New York (IITBAA-GNY) has scheduled 2013 IITB Alumni Association Annual Reunion. This is open to all IIT alumni, spouses, family and friends. The Reunion is on Saturday, October 26th, 2013, 4:00 PM onwards at Cooper Union, 41 Cooper Square, 3rd Avenue between 6th and 7th Streets, New York, NY. The Keynote Speaker is Anita Raghavan, author of the best-selling The Billionaires Apprentice. Prof. Devang Khakhar, Director of IIT Bombay & Prof. Ravi Sinha, Dean - Alum-

ni & Corporate Relations will talk about State of IITB & Recent Developments. Professor Deepak Phatak, a Recipient of 2013 Padma Shri Award will give an Update on the Aakash 2 tablet project and his highly acclaimed Teach 10,000 Teachers at a Time distance learning endeavor. The Launch of the Student Exchange Program between Cooper Union and IIT Bombay will take place. Dr. Jamshed Bharucha, President of Cooper Union and Prof. Devang Khakhar, Director, IIT Bombay will be signing the MoU.

Aam Aadmi party leader Arvind Kejriwal

Indian-American arrested in high school friend's killing

24-year-old Indian-American man has been charged in the killing of a 23-year-old Georgetown University law student who was his high school friend, according to media reports. Rahul Gupta, 24, is being held on $2 million bond after a night of drinking and birthday celebrating ended in a bloody stabbing of Mark Edward Waugh Sunday morning inside a high-rise apartment in Silver Spring, a Washington suburb in Maryland, the Washington Post reported. Gupta was pursuing a master's degree in biomedical engineering at George Washington University. Waugh was in his first year of law school. According to police, a woman called 911 Sunday at 3.25 a.m. When police arrived at the apartment, they found Waugh and Gupta inside. Police say they found Waugh suffering from cuts and he was unresponsive. It was later determined he was dead. Both Waugh and Gupta attended Langley High School in McLean, Virginia, where

they took several advanced placement and honours classes together, the Post said. Waugh was in an after-school robotics club. Gupta played on the varsity tennis team. Arrest records in the case paint a picture of several friends going out Saturday to celebrate Gupta's birthday, the newspaper said. But things later appear to have turned to alcohol-fueled confusion and - at least based on the perception of one member of the party - a jealous rage, it said. "I walked in on my girlfriend cheating on me," Gupta told the police, according to the charging papers cited by the Post. "My girl and my buddy were cheating. My girl was cheating with my buddy. I walked in on them cheating and I killed my buddy." Gupta later told a police officer he'd made a mistake and added that "he tried to kill me, though", the arrest records cited by the newspaper recount him as saying.

friends and family. They are keen on hearing Arvind first hand. I am sure this will have a ripple effect as they carry AAPs message to their respective circle of friends, says Mohan Thirumalai, an active AAP volunteer based in the US. Excited about the meeting, Arvind Kejriwal said, We see expatriate Indians as an integral part of India. They have plenty to contribute to the country in terms of knowhow and expertise in every possible field imaginable. Most importantly, they are eager to give back to their mother land. We will leave no stone unturned when it comes to tapping into this resource.

President Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, and their daughter Malia met Malala Yousafzai, the young Pakistani schoolgirl who was shot in the head by the Taliban a year ago, in the Oval Office, Oct. 11.

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

NATIONAL COMMUNITY

October 19-25, 2013

P Chidambaram meets USIBC members

Discusses investment opportunities, immigration, FDI caps, tax, openings in retail, manufacturing
San Francisco, CA: The Finance Minister of India, P. Chidambaram, Oct 14 met with a group of U.S. industry executives from the U.S.-India Business Council (USIBC) for a discussion about investment opportunities in India. Finance Minister Chidambaram engaged with the executives on important topics that have dominated the bilateral commercial relationship in recent months - namely, tax treatment of investments in India, and the protection of intellectual property (IP). The group noted that collaboration in innovative technologies will require an ecosystem that rewards and protects IP. Industry captains also discussed the need for improvements to infrastructure and increased investment in defense and energy. On India's push to develop local manufacturing, industry representatives emphasized that market-based incentives rather than mandates should be the drivers that attract manufacturing. While executives recognized and appreciated the progress made to date on the manufacturing policy, they recommended that India make clear that the private sector is excluded from any localization requirements. USIBC members advocated for the lifting of FDI caps in important sectors like insurance and defense, and for adjustment of the retail policy to attract major investment and organized players into India. The group also raised the need to work together towards an immigration reform bill in the U.S. Congress that allows choice, promotes American competitiveness, and enhances free market opportunity. USIBC President Ron Somers thanked the Finance Minister for the opportunity to meet and discuss the issues. "The Finance Minister affirmed the strong ties between India and the United States and the importance of the commercial relationship. The potential to reach $500 billion in two-way trade by 2020 is an achievable goal if we work together in partnership in an environment that provides predictability, consistency, and transparency," said Somers. He continued, "Outstanding issues will be resolved through constructive dialogue, and USIBC looks forward to working with India to enable such dialogue."

Washington, DC: Amardeep Kaleka, the son of a slain Sikh temple president, plans to challenge 2012 Republican vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan in next year's Congressional election in a Wisconsin district, according to media reports. Kaleka, son of Satwant Singh Kaleka, one of the six Sikh worshippers killed in Oak Creek Milwaukee gurdwara shooting in August 2012, announced Monday that he wanted to run for Congress, and was ready to go up against Ryan, the current chairman of the House Budget Committee. "I was continuously asked by community leaders in that area, and families in that area," Kaleka was quoted as saying by 620WTMZ, Wisconsin's radio station. The Milwaukee resident, who spent the last year fighting for stronger gun legislation, believes Washington is more about politics than people and knows it won't be easy going up against the political powerhouse and Ryan's sizable campaign coffers, the station said. "He is part of an elite class of people. And so Wisconsin is full of middle class people. I think they're going to understand exactly what I talk about," he was quoted as saying. His campaign focus is economic reform and government

Son of Sikh gurdwara shooting victim to fight 2014 polls

Amardeep Kaleka

spending, and making a difference in honor of his father, the radio station said. "Oh, I think he would be proud and honored because he was a leader that was democratically elected. He really understood democracy and wanted the nation to move that way and that's essentially what I'm trying to do for him." Kaleka will file his paperwork Wednesday to form an exploratory committee. He plans to move to Franklin, Milwaukee, full-time in November when he'll officially announce his candidacy.

Washington, DC: The U.S. entered partial government shut down on October 1 but many of the essential functions continued. One important event awarding of the Claremont Lincoln Universitys inaugural AHIMSA Award to Gurudev Shri Chitrabhanuji and Pramodaben was one such event unaffected by the madness griping the nation. The event scheduled to took place at the US Capitol had to be moved to the offices of AJC (American Jewish Committee) who was a cosponsor of 3rd JAINA AJC community Partnership Program holding a day long conference on that day. Current President of JAINA Prem Jain, three regional Vice Presidents and four Past Presidents of JAINA were joined by many community members from Jain centers of New York, Cherry Hill, Washington DC, Richmond Virginia, Houston and Los Angeles made up a 100-member delegation to celebrate Ahimsa Award to Chitrabhanujis. Dr. Jeffery Kuan, the President of Claremont School of Theology, represented Claremont Lincoln University accompanied by Laura Burgis and philanthropist Mr. David Lincoln and his daughter Katherine Lincoln. Acharya Shri Lokesh Muni changed his schedule and came to Washington to attend this important event. Pramodaben started the ceremony with beautiful rendering of Navkar Mantra Dr. Nitin Shah, senior Jain advisor to CLU gave history of Jain education and CLUs interreligious program before introducing CST President Dr. Kuan who spoke of unique 130 year old collaboration between Abrahamic religions Christianity, Islam and Judaism with Dharmik Traditions of Jainism, Sikhism

Claremont Lincoln University confers inaugural Ahimsa Army's only enlisted Sikh soldier Award upon Gurudev Chitrabhanuji & Pramodaben earns rare promotion at JBLM
Washington, DC: Simranpreet Lamba stands out when he lines up with his fellow soldiers in his Joint Base Lewis-McChord cavalry troop. Hes the bearded one wearing the camouflage turban. As the Armys only enlisted Sikh soldier, Lamba, 29, feels the pressure to prove himself so others of his faith can put on a uniform and serve their country. He took a step toward that goal Friday when the Army promoted him to corporal, making him the first Sikh to earn that rank in more than 30 years. I kind of think all my hard work has paid off, said Lamba, whose enlistment in 2009 triggered a 10month review in which Army officials considered whether he could serve while sporting the articles of his faith a turban, uncut hair and a beard. Hes one of a handful of Sikhs serving in the Army across the active-duty and Reserve forces, according to the New York-based Sikh Coalition. Two of the others are in the medical field as officers,

Gurudev Chitrabhanuji (second from left) and Pramodaben at the event

and Hinduism at Claremont. He presented a plaque of recognition on behalf of Claremont school of Theology, Bayan and AJR {Islamic and Jewish partners of CST). Past President of JAINA Dilip Shah and chairperson of the Ahimsa Award Committee then introduced Mr. David Lincoln who donated $50 Million Dollars to establish an inter-religious university called Claremont Lincoln University (CLU) for studies of world religions. In presenting the award to Gurudev Shri Chitrabahnuji and Pramodaben, Mr. Lincoln spoke about the rationale behind the award being given: In honor of the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, the United Nations General Assembly in 2007 unanimously established October 2 as an international Day of Non-violence. Because of Chitrabhanus lifelong self practice, synergistic, outstanding and collaboration in furthering Ahimsa, which is a cornerstone of Jain beliefs, the CLU committee decided to bestow the first Ahimsa Award to Gurudev Chitrabhanu and Pramodaben as a couple.

Simranpreet Lamba

one a dentist and one a doctor. Each current Sikh soldier had to gain an exemption allowing him to serve despite Army policies dating back to 1984 that require soldiers to shave, keep short hair and wear standard berets. Those rules prevented Sikhs from enlisting for decades. Lamba hopes his promotion will show theres nothing about being Sikh, about our turban and our beard that can stop us from excelling in the Army, he said. He enlisted through a military program that recruits foreigners with special skills and offers them a path to citizenship.

October 19-25, 2013

US AFFAIRS

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

San Francisco: Neel Kashkari 44 percent to 15 Kashkari, a former adminispercent. trator of the Troubled Asset Kashkari told The Wall Relief Program in two presiStreet Journal earlier this dential administrations, year that he recently quit floated his possible candidahis position at Newport cy for governor of California Beach, Calif.-based in 2014 to delegates at the Pacific Investment California Republican Party Management Co. to mull convention in Anaheim, running for office in Calif., Oct. 5. California under the GOP The San Francisco banner. Chronicle reported that Neel Kahskari, famous for A native of Akron, overseeing big banks Kashkari, who has acknowlOhio, Kashkari moved to bailout in 2009 edged voting for Barack California in 1997 to work Obama in 2008, is drawing notice with as an aerospace engineer for TRW. After his unorthodox approach in what would getting an MBA, he worked for Goldman be his first run for political office. Sachs, where he met Goldman CEO Kashkaris possible opponents next year Henry M. Paulson, Jr. in the gubernatorial GOP primary include When Paulson became Treasury former lieutenant governor candidate Abel Secretary in 2006, Kashkari asked about Maldonado, state Assemblyman and tea joining the government and became interparty favorite Tim Donnelly and Rep. im assistant secretary for financial stabiliGeorge Radanovich, according to the Los ty. A Paulson lieutenant, he co-wrote a Angeles Times. bank rescue proposal, Break the Glass, A poll released recently by the which formed the basis of what became PACE/USC Rossier School of Education TARP. showed that in a head-to-head match-up In 2009, when leading TARP, he got the for the 2014 governors race, Democratic nickname the $700 Billion Man, after incumbent Gov. Jerry Brown leads the size of the bailout.

Neel Kashkari to run for California governor

Washington: A majority of Supreme Court justices appeared to agree Tuesday that states can ban affirmative action policies, an indication that they are likely to uphold a Michigan voter initiative after a decadelong dispute. Several justices expressed doubts that the constitutional amendment - which banned discrimination or preferential treatment on the basis of race or sex - violates minorities' equal protection rights, as an appeals court ruled last year. "Is it unreasonable for the state to say, 'Look, race is a lightning rod ... so why don't we say we want you to do everything you can without having racial preferences?'" Chief Justice John Roberts asked lawyers trying to preserve affirmative action at state universities. The justices could be ready to issue a ruling in Schuette v. Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action that such bans are constitutional, but not to go further by taking

Justices voice support for state affirmative action ban

aim at the wide use of racial preferences by universities in 42 states without bans. Roberts and Justices Antonin Scalia, Samuel Alito and Anthony Kennedy all questioned why a state's voters should not be able to change affirmative action policies, just as any other level of school or state governmenthttp://images. intellitxt.com/ast/adTypes/icon1.pngcan. Justice Clarence Thomas' vote for the ban is virtually assured. Among those five, only Kennedy appeared torn during Tuesday's oral arguments, but his sharp questioning of lawyers opposing the ban seemed to indicate that he is more likely to align with the court's conservative wing. "The person to watch here is Justice Kennedy," says Steven Shapiro, the ACLU's legal director. In addition to Michigan, seven other states ban affirmative action: California, Florida, Washington, Arizona, Oklahoma, Nebraska and New Hampshire.

Washington: According to documents provided by former intelligence contractor Edward Snowden, the National Security Agency is gathering hundreds of millions of address books and contact lists from people around the world, including Americans. Because the collection occurs in foreign countries, such as when data crosses international borders, the activities are not restricted by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

Leaks by Snowden suggest NSA collects millions of Americans address books

Taken together, the data would enable the NSA, if permitted, to draw detailed maps of a persons life, as told by personal, professional, political and religious connections. The picture can also be misleading, creating false associations with ex-spouses or people with whom an account holder has had no contact in many years. The NSA has not been authorized by Congress or the special intelligence court that oversees foreign

surveillance to collect contact lists in bulk, and senior intelligence officials said it would be illegal to do so from facilities in the United States. The agency avoids the restrictions in the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act by intercepting contact lists from access points all over the world, one official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss the classified program. None of those are on U.S. territory.

Stricter telemarketing laws from Oct 16

Washington: If you stopped getting annoying telemarketing calls lately, thank the new rules. Starting October 16, the Federal Trade Commission has begun implementing new rules to its Telephone Consumer Protection Act to better handle mobile calls and texts from telemarketing robo-dialers. In short, this means that people can only receive robocalls and messages if they have given the companies express written consent beforehand. It used to be that by virtue of giving the telemarketers your number, that was enough to get robo-dialed. Now telemarketers need specific consent. Before, people could add their names to a national Do Not Call list. Now, being on that list is always implied. This is good news for the majority of Americans with mobile phones. According to statistics from anti-telemarketing app PrivacyStar, telemarketers call the average US citizen two to three times a day. In addition, spam SMS messages have surpassed 4.5 billion. These new rules give people more power to act. Acting can mean filing direct complaints with the FTC, suing the telemarketing companies, or employing antirobo-calling apps like PrivacyStar. Plaintiffs can receive anywhere from $500 to $1,500 per call

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

US AFFAIRS

October 19-25, 2013

US shutdown blues: From Senate reaches bipartisan end of earth to outer space deal to end shutdown, avoid default on debt
Washington: Hours before a looming midnight deadline, Democratic and Republican leaders Wednesday announced a deal to end the partial government shutdown, now in its 16th day, and avoid a possible US default. With a key Republican conservative leader Senator Ted Cruz saying he wouldn't try to block the measure, it is now expected to proceed smoothly through both houses of Congress before it reaches President Barack Obama's desk. "There is nothing to be benefited by delaying this vote a couple of days versus having it today," Cruz, who has been spearheading conservative strategy in the government shutdown fight, told reporters, emerging from a meeting of the Senate Republican conference Wednesday. "The timing of the vote will make no difference in the outcome so I don't intend to delay the timing of the vote," he said. The deal, which would fund the government through January 15 and raise the debt ceiling until Feb 7, was expected to be voted on by the Senate late Wednesday afternoon. The deal, which would also convene a budget conference between the House and the Senate with a

Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to the rescue.

Statue of Liberty reopened on the State of New Yorks dime.

By Arun Kumar Washington: The US government shutdown, now in its 16th day, has forced hundreds of thousands of federal workers to stay home and restricted many government services - from end of earth to outer space. And it has played real spoilsport for thousands of tourists from India and around the world. Outwardly the capital city of Washington does not look much different, though the morning traffic is a bit less chaotic, the metro trains are not that crowded and the White House lawns remain untended as President Barak Obama battles Congressional Republicans. For them, it's a case of so near and yet so far as they walk or drive past the city's famed sites from the Washington monument to Lincoln memorial to Smithsonian museums, only to be greeted with boards proclaiming "Sorry we're closed because of Federal Government SHUTDOWN." Smithsonian's Sackler Gallery has postponed the world premiere of "Yoga: The Art of Transformation", an exhibition on the 2000 year history of the ancient Indian practice expressed through rare masterpieces of art from around the world. All national parks across America were closed when the shutdown began Oct 1 with the Congress' failure to pass a budget for the fiscal year beginning that date, but last week Obama administration allowed states to use their own money to reopen some of them. Jumping at the chance, New York opened the Statue of Liberty, tourists returned Saturday to Colorado's Rocky Mountain National Park and to the Grand Canyon in Arizona. Utah too opened all five national parks in the state. According to one estimate, some 700,000 people a day would have been visiting the parks if they were not closed and spending $76 million every day. The shutdown has impacted Americans in other personal ways too with delays on things like getting home loans and income tax refunds and Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention furloughing investigators who probe outbreaks of food-borne illnesses. The shutdown has sparked protests in big cities and small towns, including one Sunday in Washington where a few hundred people at a rally called by the conservative tea party movement tore down barricades erected at closed monuments on the National Mall. Earlier protests brought out federal workers in cities like Chicago, Boston and Atlanta, and union members and citizens in Plano, Texas; Newton, New Jersey and Springettsbury, Pennsylvania. More demonstrations are planned for this week. But snail mail continues to be delivered, federal air traffic controllers remain on the job and airport screeners continue to funnel passengers through security checkpoints. The State Department also continues processing foreign applications for visas, and the US Citizenship and Immigration Services those for US green cards, or legal permanent residency. But federal courthouses handling immigration cases are mostly shuttered and even the Supreme Court may shut its gates this week after the US runs out of cash with the country expected to hit its debt ceiling Oct 17. The impact of shutdown has also reached the end of the world and outer space. The National Science Foundation has shut down its three stations in Antarctica and put research for the summer season that began Oct 1 on hold. And With 97 percent of US space agency NASA staff furloughed, two American astronauts Mike Hopkins and Karen Nyberg aboard the International Space Station have been keeping in touch with the world via Twitter, according to VOA. The shutdown has also spawned many a joke with David Letterman quipping: "Even the NSA (National Security Agency) is out of business. And while they're closed, while the government is shut down, they are asking citizens to please spy on each other." But for those hit hard by the shutdown, it's no joke.

mid-December deadline, will then go on to a vote in the House of Representatives. Both chambers would have to take special steps to get the legislation passed and to send it to Obama's desk before the current US debt ceiling expires Thursday. Democratic Majority Leader Harry Reid and his Republican counterpart, Mitch McConnell, had been working overnight to finalize an agreement that had been in the works all week. On Tuesday the Houses own bill proposed by Speaker John Boehner was withdrawn because he could not muster the numbers from Republican members, and Democrats had refused to cooperate. Boehner has said he would

bring whatever deal the Senate crafts to the floor of the House. President Barack Obama will accept the deal, White House spokesman Jay Carney said. Obama believes the agreement "will reopen the government and remove the threat of economic brinksmanship," Carney said. "The president hopes that both houses will act swiftly on this agreement." There was palpable relief among Republicans who had been part of a bipartisan effort to break the deadlock. "We're ready to open the government and we are ready to make sure everyone around the world knows the U.S. pays its bills on time," said Sen. Lamar Alexander (R. Tenn.).

Washington: It's hard to tell which has done more to hurt the initial phase of the Affordable Care Act: continued Republican opposition or the inept rollout of the new law. To many citizens, the rollout problems which left millions unable to even log in to the system simply confirm GOP propaganda that Obamacare won't work. Yet, despite those initial problems, the Affordable Care Act is still a big step forward in reforming the nation's health care system, and it may prove itself in the long run. It ensures that most of those now without health care insurance will get it. It removes onerous insurance requirements such as those involving preexisting conditions. And it will even, contrary to some of the hysteria, help small businesses provide health insurance for their employees, as James Surowiecki's the Financial Page column on The New Yorker's website noted. The Obama administration had an opportunity with the rollout that started Oct. 1 to at least ease the concerns of critics and mitigate the propaganda. Instead, the website proved not ready for prime time. That's a lost opportunity the Obama administration won't get back. A New York Times article Sunday on the Obamacare rollout reported that "For the past 12 days, a system costing more than $400 million and billed as a one-stop click-and-go hub for citizens seeking health insurance has thwarted the efforts of millions to simply log in. The growing national outcry has deeply embarrassed the White House, which has refused to say how many people have enrolled through the federal exchange." In Wisconsin, the initial failure of the website (HealthCare.gov) means that some of the 92,000 people losing their state BadgerCare Plus health insurance on Jan. 1 may find themselves in difficulty, the Journal Sentinel's Patrick Marley reported Sunday.

Despite initial problems, Obamacare is still a step forward

Healthcare.gov website glitches frustrated many who tried to log on.

"The fundamental problem that was foreseeable from the beginning is that there would be too many people all trying to use the marketplace at the same time," Jon Peacock, research director for the Wisconsin Council on Children and Families, said. Peacock is right about that much: The problem was foreseeable. This was not a surprise to anyone, and the Obama administration had plenty of time to work on it. Real people are being hurt. According to the Times article: "Confidential progress reports from the Health and Human Services Department show that senior officials repeatedly expressed doubts that the computer systems for the federal exchange would be ready on time, blaming delayed regulations, a lack of resources and other factors." Incidentally, Obamacare's troubling rollout has been overshadowed by the partial government shutdown something critics warned Republicans would happen. The budget impasse has diverted attention at a time when Americans ought to be asking tough questions of the administration.

10

October 19-25, 2013

INDIA

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Relief work in full swing in coastal Andhra

Over 1.34 lakh people were evacuated from 294 villages in three districts

Hyderabad: Relief and restoration work was in full swing in Cyclone Phailin-affected Srikakulam district of north coastal Andhra Pradesh, officials said. The rescue workers were busy providing relief to some villages inundated by the water from Vamsadhara River following heavy rains. The water level in the river is now receding. All relief camps opened in Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam districts were closed as the situation has improved, said a statement from the chief minister's office. Over 1.34 lakh people were evacuated from 294 villages in the three districts. Phailin, which crossed Odisha

coast Saturday night, damaged crops, roads, electricity and communication towers in Srikakulam districts while two others districts were not affected by the cyclone. One person died in wall collapse in Srikakulam district Saturday. Officials said the damage was not on the scale anticipated earlier. Clear weather prevailed in Andhra. Fishermen also returned to the sea as the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) withdrew its warning. Officials said relief and restoration works were being completed on a war footing. All damaged roads were repaired and cleared of the trees which fell due to strong winds.

Bhubaneswar: Thousands of people have been stranded for the fourth consecutive day on October 17 in Odisha after massive floods triggered by Cyclone Phailin swamped their homes, officials and witnesses said. People took shelter on roof-tops, embankments and higher places, as officials and volunteers made efforts to reach them food and other relief materials. The flood water has receded in many areas, but the situation continues to be grim in the worst-hit Balasore district, officials said. "Things are totally under control. No new area has flooded over. Some 96,000 flood affected people (in Balasore district) are getting relief," Arabinda Kumar Padhee, revenue divisional commissioner (central), who is supervising relief and rescue operations, said. "The flood has affected about seven lakh people in the district. The number of those stranded may be about 12,000," he said. Heavy rain brought on by Cyclone Phailin that hit the state coast Saturday night triggered floods in Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Jajpur, Keonjhar and Bhadrak districts. More than a million people were affected when water from major rivers and their tributaries sub-

Flood fury: Thousands still stranded in Odisha

The cyclone and floods have affected 12 million people in Odisha

merged low-lying areas and entered habitations, officials said. The army, the National Disaster Response Force, the Odisha Disaster Response Force and state police were continuing relief operations in flooded areas. The government claimed flood water was receding, and said food and relief was being provided to the needy. Witnesses, however, disputed some of the government's claims. "I have taken shelter here with my family. Except some dry flattened rice, officials have given us nothing," said 45-year-old Sukanti Tudu, a woman who has taken shelter on a national highway near Balasore along with hundreds of others. "Some private individuals gave us food. That is what we survive on,"

she said. Hundreds of flood victims blocked roads and staged angry demonstrations in parts of Mayurbhanj and Khurda districts to protest alleged irregularities in the distribution of relief material. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik reviewed the situation and ordered officials to book those involved in the plunder of relief materials under the stringent National Security Act. The severe tropical cyclone in the Bay of Bengal struck near Gopalpur in Ganjam district, and has left a trail of destruction in the coastal districts of the state. Although damage to properties was estimated at several crore rupees, the loss of lives was minimal compared to the 1999 super cyclone that left over 10,000 dead.

Kanpur: A vaastu compliant stage that is 100-feet long, astrologers propitiating the gods and invitations sent through social networking sites - the BJP has pulled out all stops to make its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi's maiden rally in Uttar Pradesh at Kanpur on October 19 a success. And the spade work, party sources say, has been "unprecedented". Astrologers have been roped in to propitiate the gods to ensure a hassle-free rally and vaastu experts have been enrolled to "give the right direction" on the stage formation. The 100 feet long and 30 feet wide main stage will hold the national leadership of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) including Modi and party president Rajnath Singh, while two side stages are being erected to accommodate the state leadership and other office bearers, BJP city chief Surendra Maithani told IANS. Despite hassles in finalization of the venue, getting necessary permissions from the district administration and working on security, the state unit of the BJP is

Astrology, vaastu and 100-feet long stage for Modi

Narendra Modi's maiden rally in Uttar Pradesh is in Kanpur on October 19

working overtime to ensure that detractors take note of Modi's popularity. Special teams have been formed to rope in a large number of youngsters and party workers have fanned out in educational and technical institutions including the Chatrapati Sahuji Maharaj university, its affiliates and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) to invite students to hear Modi and his plans for a vibrant India. Over the last week, party workers visited Ram Leela venues and Puja pandals during the Durga Puja celebrations, where they distributed invites and pamphlets informing them of Modi's rally.

The entire city has been splashed with posters, hoardings, bunting and banners giving details of the rally and its venue -- the social welfare department ground opposite Gautam Buddha Park in Indiranagar. Teams have been formed to work out guest and crowd management, food and water for rallyists, parking of vehicles, media management and sanitation, a local office bearer said. Hundreds of buses have been requisitioned to ferry people to the rally site from nearby areas. Modi will land on a chopper at around 1 p.m. near the rally venue Oct 19 after a brief stopover at Lucknow's Amausi airport.

Bhopal: The toll in a horrific stampede at a Durga temple in Madhya Pradesh's Datia rose to 111, including 47 women and 33 children. The state government, which ordered a judicial probe, suspended four top district officials after the poll panel's nod. Sub-Divisional Magistrate (revenue) Mahip Tejaswi, who announced the toll, said search operations were continuing in the Sindh river in which a number of trapped people had jumped in a bid to escape the crushing throng. The temple at Ratangarh is located in a forested part of Datia district, 390 km north of the state capital and 55 km from Datia town. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who visited the spot and the hospital where the injured were admitted, asserted that the guilty will be punished at the earliest. "A judicial inquiry will be done... It will be completed in two months. Once the report comes, within 15 days, the guilty will be punished," he told

MP temple stampede toll 111

The stampede at the Ratangarh temple on the last day of the Navratras was sparked off by a rumor

journalists. "Since the judicial inquiry report will take time to come, depending on the feedback, administrative responsibility will be fixed. We will seek the Election Commission's permission so that we can take action against those found guilty," he said. The state government later suspended District Magistrate Sanket Bhondwe, Superintendent of Police Chandrashekhar Solanki, Tejaswi and SubDivisional Police Officer B.N. Basawe after taking permission from the election commission -- mandatory since the model code

of conduct is in place ahead of assembly elections Nov 25. The stampede at the Ratangarh temple on the last day of the Navratras was sparked off by a rumor that the bridge to it had collapsed and police's use of force to control the crowd. Women and children were trampled in the stampede while many people jumped into the river. Datia's Chief Medical Officer S.R. Gupta said post-mortems had been conducted on 109 of the dead and the bodies returned to their families for the last rites.

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

INDIA

October 19-25, 2013

11

Rahul, Modi campaigns differ in style, substance

New Delhi: They are key campaigners of their parties for the 2014 Lok Sabha polls but Rahul Gandhi and Narendra Modi have their individual styles of connecting with the masses. If the Congress scion 's speeches appear sober and workmanlike, though he lately appears to be upping the ante, the BJP strongman comes across as combative and hard-hitting. One of them could be the country's prime minister next year. Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, 63, the prime ministerial candidate of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has undoubted oratorical skills that he uses to hit hard at his opponents and strike a chord with his audience, as he did in no uncertain terms at his rally in the national capital late last month. Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, 43, had appeared benign in his speeches as compared to Modi - till Wednesday when he was at his combative best at his rallies at Aligarh and Rampur. Seen as a future prime minister by Congressmen, although he is unlikely to be named the prime ministerial candidate of the party as such, Gandhi had till now been circumspect in attacking the the ruling coalition is on the side of the poor and the weak. "There are two kinds of ideologies at present. The Congress thinks about empowering the people. We want to empower the middle class, the adivasis, the tribals because we realize their strength. But the opposition thinks the opposite," Gandhi said at Jagdalpur. Cheerful and earnest in approach, Gandhi has been employing anecdotes in his speeches to forge a better connect with his audiences. Gandhi's arrival at and departure from the stage is marked by an eager waving of hands to the gathering and a ready smile. At Gandhi's rally in Baran district last month, the people patiently waited for hours in the scorching heat to listen to him. "Rahul Gandhi is an educated youth who will take the country on the path to progress. He will watch the interests of the poor," said Satnarayan Bundia, a local farmer. Assembly elections will be held in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Delhi and Mizoram later this year. The Lok Sabha elections are to be held by AprilMay 2014.

Cops looking for Asaram Bapu's son in Delhi

New Delhi: The search for Narayan Sai, son of spiritual guru Asaram Bapu who has been arrested on charges of sexual assault, continued at locations in south and west Delhi, police said. The Gujarat and Delhi Police com- Narayan Sai, son bined their forces in of spiritual guru Asaram Bapu searching Najafgarh in south and Rohini in west Delhi Tuesday night for Narayan Sai, who has been on the run since a complaint of rape was filed against him in Surat, Gujarat, Oct 6. The complaint was filed by a 30-year-old woman, who alleged that Narayan Sai raped her between 2001 to 2005. "There are a few more suspected places on the radar where we would search for Narayan Sai," said a senior Gujarat Police officer. Two sisters, who lived in Surat, have filed rape complaints against Asaram Bapu and Narayan Sai at different police stations in Gujarat. They alleged they were raped by the duo during their stay in the ashram in mid2000s. Meanwhile, a court in Rajasthan's Jodhpur city allowed Asaram Bapu, currently lodged in prison on charges of sexually assaulting a minor, to be taken to Gujarat for questioning in another case of sexual assault, police said.

Rahul Gandhi and Narendra Modi

party's adversaries in his election meetings. Gandhi, who had avoided naming opposition parties or their leaders , minced no words on Wednesday in tearing into the BJP and the Samajwadi Party for last month's riots in Muzaffarnagar that claimed almost 60 lives and rendered thousands homeless. On Friday, he appeared to be making amends for tearing into an ordinance that sought to shield convicted parliamentarians and legislators by terming Prime Minister Manmohan Singh his "guru". Hitherto, the young leader had sought to identify himself and his

party with the dreams of the poor, youth and the aspiring classes in his speeches in Udaipur and Baran (in Rajasthan), Delhi and Jagdalpur. "We want that the poorest of the poor are able to see the biggest dream. We want women should be able to see biggest dreams. Otherwise there is no interest in politics for us," Rahul Gandhi said at Baran. Gandhi's speeches have been short compared to those of Modi. In making his points directly and clearly, Gandhi has focussed on the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government's welfare measures, particularly the food and land legislations, to show that

Accepting Applications

For January 2014

12

October 19-25, 2013

INDIA

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

New Delhi: The BJP looks set to emerge as the single largest party in 2014 with 162 seats, far ahead of the Congress tally of 102. But even with its allies, the BJP looks likely to be well short of a majority, leaving several regional players holding the key to power in New Delhi. The NDA is projected to get 186 and the UPA just 117, which leaves 240 seats with others. Some of the biggest among them are mutually incompatible like the Trinamool and the Left Front or SP and BSP. That could make government formation an extremely complicated exercise come May next year. These are the major findings of the latest Times Now-CVoter survey, which suggests that the majority mark of 272 in the 543-member Lok Sabha will be a far cry for any pre-election formation. Among the "other" parties, Left Front is projected to get the largest number, 32 seats, followed by BSP with 31 and AIADMK with 28 seats. SP and Trinamool are expect-

BJP to be single largest party in 2014: Survey

No decision on CM candidate for Delhi: BJP

New Delhi: The BJP has sought to quell speculation that the party has chosen Harsh Vardhan as its chief ministerial candidate for Delhi assembly polls and said any decision on the issue will be taken by the party's parliamentary board. Former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Nitin Gadkari, who is in charge of the party's preparations for the Delhi assembly polls, said that the party has not chosen any leader as its chief ministerial candidate in Delhi polls. "The BJP has not chosen a leader as chief ministerial candidate for the Delhi assembly polls. Whatever decision is taken on the issue, it will be taken by the party's parliamentary board," Gadkari said in the statement. The BJP's shying from projecting a chief ministerial candidate in Delhi is being seen as a disadvantage by a section of the party. Sheila Dikshit is the face of the Congress campaign in Delhi while Arvind Kejriwal is the face of Aam Aadmi Party. There have been suggestions from party workers that a leader with clean image should be chosen as the chief ministerial candidate and Harsh Vardhan's name has been doing the rounds in this context. Harsh Vardhan is a former health minister of Delhi.

The NDA is projected to get 186 and the UPA just 117, which leaves 240 seats with others

ed to bag 25 and 23 seats respectively. The split with BJP seems to have hurt the JD(U), which is predicted to see its tally crash from 20 in 2009 to just nine. It could be a well and truly hung Parliament in 2014 with nobody really in a clear position to form a government if current voter preferences, as measured by the Times Now-CVoter poll, are anything to go by. Between themselves,

the two major parties could barely cross the halfway mark in the Lok Sabha. The Congress is likely to suffer crippling blows in most of the major states that helped propel the UPA to power in 2009, and the gain in Karnataka will be too little to compensate for the damage elsewhere, a Times Now-CVoter opinion poll has projected.

US ship carrying arms may escape action

Delhi likely to get a hung assembly: Survey

New Delhi: Debutant Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is likely to spoil the party for both the Congress and the BJP in the Dec 4 Delhi assembly polls, claimed a survey. According to an opinion poll conducted by ABP News and Nielsen, Arvind Kejriwal's AAP is likely to bag around 18 seats out of the 70 seats with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) likely to emerge as the single largest party with 28 seats. The Congress which has ruled the national capital for the past three terms, will end up with only 22 seats, said the survey. Other parties and Independents are likely to manage only two seats, it said. The BJP would have fared better but for the emergence of AAP, it said. "If they didn't have AAP as their competitor the BJP would have gained another 15 percent share from the Congress, displacing them as the clear winner," said the survey. According to the survey, there is a reduction in the loyalist base for both Congress and BJP in the

The vessel, MV Seaman Guard Ohio, is detained by the Indian Coast Guard east of Tuticorin

New Delhi: The American ship, detained by Coast Guard for carrying arms and ammunition off Tamil Nadu coast, may escape action if it is established that the vessel was cruising beyond Indian territorial waters, a top official said. "You have to understand that our territorial waters extend upto 12 nautical miles. Anything that happens beyond that is not within the realm of our control," Deputy National Security Advisor Nehchal Sandhu said. "So, if there is a ship beyond that and doing whatever it is doing, then what can anybody do in terms of

law. You cannot concoct law," he said. The vessel, MV Seaman Guard Ohio, whose crew included eight Indians, was intercepted and detained by the Indian Coast Guard east of Tuticorin. An FIR has been registered against 10 crew members and 25 guards of the detained ship by the Tamil Nadu Marine Police for illegally carrying arms and ammunition. Another case under the Essential Commodities Act has been registered against the crew for buying 1,500 litres of diesel illegally with the help of a local shipping agent. Sandhu refused to see

any "political connotations" in the ship carrying 31 assault rifles and around 5,000 rounds of ammunition, which were seized by the Coast Guard. "I do not see any element having any political connotations....It is a straight matter of law. Let the investigators do the job," he said. The police have intensified their probe to ascertain the motive the ship's presence in that area. The ship has 10 crew members, comprising two Ukranians and eight Indians. The vessel also has 25 security guards (6 British, 14 Estonian, 1 Ukranian and 4 Indians).

Arvind Kejriwal's AAP is likely to bag around 18 seats out of the 70 seats

last two months, resulting in a gain for AAP. According to the survey, around 32 per cent of respondents preferred Arvind Kejriwal as the chief minister of Delhi, followed by equal support for BJP's Vijay Goel and Congress' Sheila Dikshit. The survey reveals that at an overall level, corruption and price rise are the main issues for change in voting intention from Congress to BJP. The perception about parties differ. While AAP is seen as a

party that can bring down corruption, BJP is seen as a party that can control inflation. The Congress is seen as a party that can maintain law and order. According to the survey, about 65 percent respondents did not want to give another chance to incumbent Congress while 40 percent of the respondents rated the state g o v e r n m e n t ' s performance as below average. The survey was carried out between Oct 9 to 12 with 4,000 respondents.

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

OP-ED

October 19-25, 2013

13

Sachin has chosen time and place to retire

By Veturi Srivatsa he greatness of Sachin Tendulkar is that he has never been dropped from the Indian team in any form of cricket, barring a bizarre decision to rest him from the One-Day Internationals (ODI) on the last tour to Australia. That's an awesome record. Only he decided to call time, last year from ODIs and now from Test cricket. He is going out at a time and place of his choosing, not at the prompting of others, whatever be the speculation over his meetings with the cricket board officials or the national selectors. For quite some time Tendulkar's retirement had become a national obsession, everyone had an opinion. Now the cynics have started saying that he didn't want to go to South Africa and face the fearsome fast bowlers, and so he got the board to quickly arrange for a two-Test series at home against the West Indies to reach the milestone of playing 200 Tests. What's more, he wanted to do it at his home, Mumbai. It's uncharitable to point a finger at the great man's integrity. Even if he indeed wants to play his final Test in front of his home crowd, what's wrong with it? Tendulkar's exit was very much on the cards after his two other famous contemporaries --

Rahul Dravid and V.V.S. Laxman -- decided to call it a day in the last couple of years. Only he will reveal why he chose to stay on after his career ambition of winning the World Cup was fulfilled. Now some well-wishers might say he should have hung around to celebrate his Silver Jubilee in international cricket next year before walking off the field, but like timing his shots he knew exactly when to go. Tendulkar has been a star right from the day he played his first Test in Pakistan as a 16year-old. On his second tour in New Zealand, he was mobbed by fans wherever India played and called him 'Boy Wonder'. He chose his matches and tours till the team management found a way to rest him in a bizarre rotation policy in the ODIs on the recent tour of Australia in 2011-12. There were stretches when he could not attain the bar he has set for himself. Just as it took 370 days for him to get his 100th hundred, there was a time when he had only a couple of hundreds against Bangladesh to show. There was a spell when his overseas averages fell. Yes, there was a time when he could not cross the 30-run mark in nine Test innings. Curiously, his landmark knocks came against Bangladesh. Just as he picked

For quite some time, Sachin Tendulkar's retirement had become a national obsession, everyone had an opinion

Bangladesh to hit his 100th hundred, he chose to get his highest international score, 248 not out in a Test in Dhaka in 2004. In the last seven years or so there have been noises that he should go. Someone coined that terrible headline 'Endulkar'. Nothing ruffled him. He answered his critics with his bat. As a batsman, Tendulkar is a cut above two of his great contemporaries -- Brian Lara and Ricky Ponting. But both have no hesitation to admit that Tendulkar has something extra to make him a class apart. The only time he betrayed his emotions was in the aftermath of the 2007 World Cup disaster in the Caribbean. There were shrill calls for his head and he publicly ticked off the then coach Greg Chappell, inviting a show-cause

from the Indian cricket board. Another great quality of Tendulkar has been that he inspires not only his teammates but others, too. Indian players who shared the dressing room swear by him, while Ponting went public saying that he could extend his career thanks to the resilience of Tendulkar and Dravid. Sachin, his admirers say, is more humane and likeable, though as captain he appeared too stubborn, refusing to deviate from his pet fads. Seldom has a player caught the imagination of cricket fans as he did. Tendulkar was the talking point wherever people discussed cricket. That continued and will continue even after his retirement. He will still have much to contribute to Indian cricket.

Will Left again support Congress to keep out BJP?

By Amulya Ganguli hen the country is on the cusp of seminal changes, the irrelevance of one of India's previously important political groups - the communists - is noteworthy. In the 1960s and 1970s, when the influence of the comrades was confined mainly to the states, theirs was still a significant voice because of widely admired personalities like S.A. Dange, A.K. Gopalan, Hiren Mukherjee, Jyoti Basu and E.M.S. Namboodiripad. Even after the split of the mainstream communists into two parties - the Communist Party of India (CPI) and the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) the Left's clout did not diminish because of its stints in power, first, in Kerala in the 1957-59 period and then, briefly, in West Bengal in 1967 and subsequently for a three-decade-long reignthere starting from 1977. Now, however, the comrades are fading away. Their decline began in 2008 when they broke with the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) at

CPI-M has made its first move to revive the Third Front even if the Marxists have denied any such intention

the centre on the Indo-US nuclear deal, although the Left-inclined Nobel laureate, Amartya Sen, had warned that the rupture would make the communists lose their voice. This is exactly what has happened, with the commissars

falling into a state of silent torpor when neither their views nor their political tactics are deemed of any importance. As the Congress and the BJP confront eachother, some of the regional parties are weighing the options of joining either the UPA

or the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). While the Telugu Desam of Andhra Pradesh appears to have made up its mind to go with the NDA, which it left after the 2002 outbreak, the AIADMK of Tamil Nadu is widely expected to back

the NDA if only because its archenemy in the state, the DMK, is with the UPA. It is against this backdrop of careful calculations that the CPIM has made its first move to revive the Third Front even if the Marxists have denied any such intention. But their parleys with a former ally, the Samajwadi Party, and with the Janata Dal- United, an erstwhile constituent of the NDA, show that the CPI-M is testing the waters. But the tentative move is unlikely to amount to much. One reason why it may be a nonstarter is the Left's current weak position where its strength in parliament has been reduced from 59 in 2004 to 24 in 2009. Besides, it has suffered a loss of power in Kerala and West Bengal, which it used to regard as its strongholds. Another reason is that the Samajwadi Party, which switched its allegiance from the Left to the Congress in 2008, is unlikely to venture into uncharted waters at a time when it has a better chance of being the kingmaker if a weakened Congress needs it at the centre to keep the BJP at bay.

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

14

October 19-25, 2013

INDIA FEATURES

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Vastra 2013 in Jaipur does $ 69.30 M business

By Prakash Bhandari Jaipur: International fashion chains made a beeline to Vastra-2013, the international textile and apparel fair held here Oct 3-6. The buyers were here to see the mind-boggling range of fabrics in the exhibition halls. The garment exporters have worked hard on the uptakes about what will sell and have come up with new ideas, new fabrics and new source of raw material. The Indian garment and fabric industries have several factors going in their favor -cost-effectiveness in manufacture and raw material, quick adjustment to what will sell, and a vast and relatively inexpensive skilled work force. India offers the international fashion houses competitive prices, shorter lead times, and a virtual monopoly in embellishments. India has been the hub of textiles as it has been a cotton growing country. As for the market for fabrics, the variety available in India can leave the buyer impressed. A key determining factor in the selection of fabrics is the current "fashion movement" in the international market, said Elisabeth Curiger, chairperson of Switzerland's Curiger Consulting AG. In the garments segment, India has always been the default source, but the recent devaluation of the rupee against dollar has further lowered prices, favoring buyers, so the international fashion houses walk away with customized, finely crafted works of fabric art at be a dreamer and a thinker. You dont get any harsh feeling when you move your fingers on the smooth textiles that I use. I source the fabric from Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu and do the finishing work in Jaipur and in Surat, he said, adding that cotton, viscose and polyester yarn are used for garments and enough care is taken for printing. throwaway prices. Ramesh Poddar of Poddar International was proudly displaying the mini skirts that staged a comeback after almost 45 years. Mini skirts with sleeted wraps are a craze now and we are exporting it in a big way in neon, fluorescent colors. The zig zag format is a thing of the past and what has come is the placement print. Dont get surprised if you see the fabrics having body anatomy as the placement print. Its the trend that you have to cater to, admitted Poddar. The dominant colors on view were the orange, lilac, purple and black. One could see garments made of pure cotton, viscose, linen and polyester. The buyers from colder European countries look for polyester and viscose garments and those from the tropical countries set their eyes on the cotton. In Vastra there was something for everybody and I am amazed that in its second year Vastra has grown rich, said Sabrina Alvarez Jorge of Spain, a textile consultant. She was looking for mosaic, kaleidoscopic and tapestry print. Rakesh Dewan of MA'DAM, an export house of Jaipur, said they use the Indian raw material for western styling and their products are liked because they are not high end, but made ordinary folks. We export to Wal-Mart in US in large volume and are unaffected by the slowdowns in economy. The common person would still wear clothes, said Dewan. Dewan said blouses, trousers and baby doll dresses are in demand both in cotton and in polyester. We get our designing done from France and at times the buyers give us designs. The fabric printing is done at Surat and Ahemedabad using permissible chemicals, he said. He pointed that in for men the latest fashion is checks and double stitched shirt pockets. Mohammed Arif Kaghzi whose ancestors were known for making handmade Sanganeri papers has branched out as a garment exporter. I am in the garment export because of the excitement that it provides. You have to

Promotions in non-traditional markets like Latin America and Africa have started showing results.

Rupee down, fabric and garment exports up

scope for further growth. Exports promotion events in nontraditional market like Japan, Malaysia, Australia, Uruguay, Brazil, Mexico, Russia, South Africa and Israel have started yielding good results and a large number of buyers from these countries turned up for Vastra 2013 . Last year the inaugural Vastra event was visited by 361 international buyers, this year that number has increased to 421 from 66 countries. This annual event will grow from strength to strength in the coming years, said Naveen Mahajan, MD of Rajasthan Industrial Investment Corporation (RIICO)\. The non-traditional markets will grow because of the Indian government's incentives to explore new market via the Focus Market Scheme, under which cash incentives are given to the exporters to Latin American countries. I came to Vastra to look for woman's wear and kids clothes for summer. We are the largest super market chain in Uruguay with 54 stores. Uruguay may be a small country, but economically it is very stable. We have been getting our supplies from India for the past four years and our experience has been good. The climate in India and Uruguay is similar. Thus we came to buy for the summers in Uruguay, said Adrina Anza of Grupo Disco Uruguay. The textile manager of Grupo Disco Elvira Chairno said she has seen men, women, baby accessories, underwear and even shoes and was happy with the range and quality. We not only looked for cotton, but also polyester and viscose. Alisa Reid-Otaway of Panama who is a buying agent, said the Indian garments are known for handwork, embroidery and other creative work and in Vastra she would be looking for this. A large number of buyers from South Africa, Zimbabwe, Tunisia, Algeria, Botswana and Uganda were here to look for garments and home furnishing items. Obert Tawanda of Zimbabwe's Royal Welcome Pvt Ltd said he was looking for not only garments but also fabric. India has the potential to cater to the African market particularly with the printed fabrics. In India there has been a tradition for hand block printing and also embroidery. Mpho Kuaho, the director and head designer of Botswana's Issues Pvt Ltd, said her company was interested in buying uniforms and casual wear. Carol Hanlon of Textile Clothing Footwear Resource Centre of Western Australia Inc (TCFWA) has been visiting India since 1973. She brought half a dozen buyers from Australia. India as far as textile and garments is concerned has a history. Your textile has stories to tell and we have to come for buying something unique and niche. Australia is a large country with small population, but it believes in promoting ethnic values. We would be buying organic cotton made garments with proper certification from India. Indian textile has traditional elements both in cotton and in silk and is known for its richness and embellishment, said Hanlon. Egypt is known for producing the world's best cotton and is a leading exporter of cotton. But there were10 buyers from Egypt who came to the Vastra and booked orders for cotton yarn. They looked for garments and also home furnishing. Egypt exports all its quality cotton and there is very little left for the domestic market. We feel Indian cotton is equally good and the Egyptian delegation looked for the cotton yarn which has high quality fiber and suits our need, said Rggai Nassif, an agent from Cairo. There were buyers from Europe and US and they were not only looking at cotton, but also polyester and viscose garments. The designs element at Vastra fascinated them. I was here to buy scarves, shawls, home textiles and fabrics. Vastra had everything for me, said Dora Papova, proprietor of Bulgarian company Harmonia Ltd. Sunil Arora, the chairman of RIICO, announced that business worth $ 69.30 M was transacted this year during Vastra, an increase of $8 million since last year. He noted that there were 5,336 buyer-seller meetings during Vastra. We look forward to a repeat performance in the year to come. Gyan Prakash of FICCI added that Vastra-2013 had created new benchmarks by its significant achievements in a short span of two years.

A mind boggling range of fabrics and designs attract international buyers to India. By Prakash Bhandari Jaipur: In India, a slumping currency has given a boost to garments exports. But experts warn that the boom may be brief unless the country carries out structural reforms that have hampered the growth of export-based industries for decades. The value of the rupee tumbled by about 15% against the dollar in the last few months. The drop in the rupee - Asias most battered currency - has mostly been grim news for an economy whose imports add up to more than its exports. But there is a silver lining. As its goods become more competitive, Indian exports jumped by about more than 10% in July-August. That has raised hopes that exports this year will be substantially higher than the $300 billion mark reached in 2012. But economists warn that the battered rupee may turn out to be only a short-term benefit in a country that has struggled to increase its exports for decades. Right now, exporters are optimistic. The government is also promising measures to boost exports, such as more incentives for manufacturers and cheaper interest rates for exporters. The main impediments are: shoddy infrastructure and notorious red tape. As a result, chronic problems such as a shortage of power and roads, and a slow-moving bureaucracy have hampered it from transforming into a manufacturing hub. The Indian garment industry that suffered rude jolts in the past because of the slump in business with the US is expected to achieve the $17 billion target because of emerging markets like Latin America and Africa, which sent a large number of buyers to Vastra 2013 in Jaipur. Markets like Latin America and Africa grew by about 16 per cent to $3.15 billion in 2011-12 and there is

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

FESTIVALS
An idol of Goddess Durga being immersed on the banks of Hoogly river in Kolkata

October 19-25, 2013

15

An idol of Goddess Durga being immersed in Brahmaputra at Jahazghat in Tezpur, Assam

The festive season begins with Durga Puja, Dussehra and Eid-ul-Azha celebrations; prayers, greetings and feasting take over people from all walks of life across India

Kolkata/New Delhi/Hyderabad: With tears in their eyes, scrambling to touch her feet one last time, devotees across West Bengal bade goodbye to their beloved mother goddess Durga as her idols were immersed in ponds, lakes and rivers on Vijaya Dashami. The banks of the Ganga and other rivers wore a festive look despite the slight drizzle, as puja organizers came in colorful processions to the accompaniment of drums to immerse idols of the goddess and her four children -Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ganesha and Kartik. Hundreds of devotees, including the young, joined hands in gently lowering the idols into the river. An element of emptiness at the end of the biggest celebration in this part of the country overcame all and sundry, but they consoled them-

selves shouting "Asche bochor abar hobe" (See you next year). The immersion ceremony symbolizes the end of the goddess's annual sojourn to her paternal home and she returns to her husband Lord Shiva at their heavenly abode in Mount Kailash. More than 2,700 community pujas were organized in the city and their idols will be immersed in the river. In New Delhi, President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh witnessed Dussehra celebrations, marked by the burning of the Ravana effigy. Vice President Hamid Ansari and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi were also at the Subhash Maidan here as the effigies of Ravana, his brother and son were burned. Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi then moved to the Ramlila

Maidan. On October 16, dressed in traditional fineries, Muslims across the country thronged the city's mosques to offer their prayers on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha. "People prayed for peace and unity in the country. They greeted one another and exchanged sweets and gifts," Maulana Mufti Mohammed Mukkaram, Shahi Imam of Fatehpuri Masjid in old Delhi, said. After the prayers and the customary greeting of hugging one another and wishing 'Eid mubarak', comes the highlight of the festival, the sacrificing of animals commemorating the sacrifice of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham). In keeping with the tradition, the meat of the sacrificed animals is distributed among friends, neighbors, relatives and the poor.

Muslims offer prayers on Eid-ul-Azha at Kharudin Zama Mosque in Amritsar

An effigy of Ravana being burnt at Ghatkopar in Mumbai

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi at Ramlila Ground in New Delhi

16

October 19-25, 2013

ULTIMATE BOLLYWOOD

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

ritish Playboy star Shanti Dyanamite, who will be seen flaunting her sexy toned figure in an upcoming Bollywood film, says she fell in love with Bollywood while growing up in India. The 21-year-old adult star is of Indian descent from Britain. "While growing up in Indian culture, I fell in love with the world of Bollywood. My alltime favourite stars are Amitabh Bachchan, Rekha, Sridevi, Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan and now I am going to be part of the great industry, I feel blessed," said Shanti in a statement. Shanti, who does adult chat shows for a UK television, began her career as a teenager, starting as a glamour model on

the popular Hotel Voyeur, a Britain-based topless show. Her mother is a Punjabi and her father is a Greek and they got divorced when she was very young. Her mother brought her up singlehandedly. Her maternal grandfather was from Jalandhar, called Jullundur those days, and taken to Uganda by the British settlers among indentured labourers to develop railway lines and to work in coal mines. Shanti has a Twitter account with a name "Sofiya". The account introduces her as "the

Shah Rukh Khan performing during his tour Shanti Dyanamite

first Punjabi to go topless on UK babeshows... an angel with a devil's mind."

Jaane Bhi Do.. Part 2 will be fun: Irrfan

ersatile actor Irrfan will team up with seasoned actor Naseeruddin Shah for the sequel to 1983 classic "Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro" and says more than him, his children love the cult film and they are after him to do the second installment of the dark satire. "It is a cult film. The film is much more relevant even today than that time. You can watch it even after 50 years. It will always be relevant because our society will always be corrupt," Irrfan said. "It talks about things that are much more relevant today like politics and the way people are manipulated. People relate to the humor in this film. My kids are fans of the film. My kids are after me that I

should do part two. They don't want me to lose the chance," he said. A sequel to Kundan Shah's cult classic will soon go on the floors and the part two will start exactly where the previous one had ended. Both Naseer and Irrfan will be seen in double roles in the sequel to be directed by Shah himself. Irrfan said: "I am also very excited because of the director, the subject and Naseer sir. It would be fun... I still need to hear the second draft... we are still about to finalize certain things."

fter having a blast with his Temptation Reloaded, which ended in Perth, Australia, Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan says he is missing the "frenzy and noise". Shah Rukh embarked on the tour along with his celebrity team, which included stars like Madhuri Dixit, Rani Mukerji, Jacqueline Fernandez, Yo Yo Honey Singh and Meiyang Chang. The first stop was in Auckland, New Zealand, Oct 4. "Tour ends. Will miss the frenzy and the noise. Perth you were extremely fulfilling and so gentle. (I) Am glad I could feel you all. Live happy," Shah Rukh tweeted after the tourend.

From "Lungi dance" to "Ghaghra" and "Lat lag gayi", the celebrities rocked the dance floor by grooving to hit numbers. And their energy was so infectious that the audience too grooved with them.

SRK misses 'Temptation Reloaded'

Amitabh Bachchan

Versatile actor Irrfan

Big B turns 71, Bollywood salutes his energy

egastar Amitabh Bachchan, who continues to entertain movie buffs even after over four decades of his association with the world of entertainment, turned 71. Bollywood celebrities saluted his energy and spirit, which, as one said is like a 17-year-old's. Celebrities like Irrfan Khan, Dhanush and Preity Zinta have also picked their favourite songs of the thespian, whose filmography includes memorable films like "Kabhi Kabhie", "Zanjeer", "Sholay", "Abhimaan", "Silsila", "Shahenshah", "Baghban", "Mohabbatein" and "Paa". Here's what the celebrities have wished for the actor, who is lovingly called Big B. Irrfan Khan: God bless Mr. Bachchan's spirit and energy. My three favorite songs of Mr. Bachchan are "Kabhi kabhie mere dil mein khayaal aata hai" ("Kabhi Kabhie"), "Rang barse"

("Silsila") and "Tum bhi chalo hum bhi chalen" ("Zameer"). Ayushmann Khurrana: He's playing the best innings that an actor could ever play. He's like the Sachin Tendulkar of Indian cinema. Preity Zinta: The Big B just gets better and better with time. His innings is just never-ending. Nawazuddin Siddiqui: Hazaaron saal jiye aap, swasth rahen (May you live for thousands of years and remain healthy). Jackie Shroff: He is one cool dude. My favourite songs of Mr. Bachchan are "Yeh kahaan aa gaye hum" ("Silsila"), "My name is Anthony Gonzalves" ("Amar Akbar Anthony") and "Aaj rapat jaayen" ("Namak Halaal"). Raza Murad: Amitji is turning 71 this year. But his energy level is that of a 17year-old.

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

ULTIMATE BOLLYWOOD

October 19-25, 2013

17

Muted word from 'Boss' song not vulgar: Akshay

he producers of his film have muted a word in a song after allegations that it was vulgar. Akshay Kumar, however, does not think the allegation holds any value. Talking about Honey Singh's song in his upcoming film Boss, Kumar says, "Wo koi vulgar word tha nai. Ab kisiko kuch aur sunai de to isme unke kaan ki galti hai na ki humari." (The word was not vulgar at all. They must have heard it wrongly. The blame lies on those who Akshay Kumar during Raavan vadh at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi heard it wrong, not us.) the word or the song is deleted The actor, adds, "We have, from the film. however, respected their objecAkshay Kumar impressed both tion and muted the word now." critics and the audience with Honey Singh's song Party All films like Oh My God!, Special Night in Akshay Kumar's upcom- Chabbis and Rowdy Rathore. As ing film Boss was at the centre of he comes up with yet another controversy recently. mass entertainer Boss - we wonProducers of the movie had to der how he balances his the critsubmit a petition in Delhi High ics and audience at the same Court claiming that they have time. The actor says it is not dif'muted' the alleged vulgar word ferent - he says films are passion, in Honey Singh's song. The court not work for him. For each kind was hearing a petition filed by of script, Kumar gets himself lost lawyer Sanjay Bhatnagar seeking in the character to give his a stay on the film, contending "best". that without censor board's "I wait for beautiful, sensible approval, the song could not be scripts. But the waiting does not released with such a vulgar word. stop me from entertaining myself The petition had sought a stay on and my fans in the form of films the release of the film till either that they enjoy," the actor adds.

Salman asks Tanisha, Armaan to maintain distance

ahannumwasis at 'Bigg Boss 2' were seen discussing latest lovebirds Tanisha and Armaan. However, Salman Khan warned them to be careful as there are 84-plus cameras in the house. Salman subtly reminded Tanisha and Armaan that they were under constant watch and hence should be watchful. Interestingly, Salman is known to share a good bond with Tanisha's brother-in-law Ajay Devgn, who had reportedly requested Salman to look after Tanishaa during her stay in the house. When Armaan and Tanisha later discussed Salman's warning, Armaan said that having a fondness for a person is not a crime.

Tanisha and Armaan

Adnan Sami issued notice for overstaying in India

A poster of the film ' War Chhod Na Yaar'

egastar Amitabh Bachchan met veteran actor Dilip Kumar, who is steadily recovering after a heart attack, in Lilavati Hospital here. "Mr. Bachchan came to meet Dilip Kumar today around 7 p.m. they chatted for around half and hour. As far as Dilip Kumar's health is concerned he is absolutely fine and he now desperately

Pakistani musician Adnan Sami

wants to go back home," Udaya Tara Nayar, Dilip Kumar's close family friend, said.Udaya Tara also shared a picture in which Bachchan posed with Dilip Kumar, 90, along with Saira Banu and her brother Sultan Ahmed. Dilip Kumar who was in ICU

ever since he was hospitalised was shifted to the general ward Sunday afternoon.The actor may get discharged from hospital in a couple of days, sources indicated. The actor was hospitalized on September 15 after he complained of uneasiness.

War Chhod Na Yaar, director Faraz Haiders attempt at a new genre - war comedy - has received an average response from the audience in its opening weekend, say trade experts. The film, which released Oct 11, witnessed some growth in its opening weekend. "War Chhod Na Yaar" stars Sharman Joshi, Jaaved Jaaferi, Soha Ali Khan, Sanjay Mishra, Mukul Dev and Dalip Tahil. Trade analyst Taran Adarsh said that in three days of its release, the movie has seen "marginal growth".

'War Chhod Na Yaar' gets average response

"'War Chhod Na Yaar' collected approximately Rs. 4.50 crore net in its opening weekend. On Friday (it earned) Rs.1.30 crore, Saturday Rs.1.50 crore, Sunday Rs.1.70 crore," Adarsh posted on Twitter. According to Prasanth Narayanan, director at AOPL Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. which has produced the film, the movie was made on a budget of Rs.14 crore. Released in 754 screens in India, the movie also hit screens in some parts of the Middle East and Malaysia. The makers are hopeful that the response to the film will improve over the week.

"I think the movie will pick up in the coming days, Narayanan said. However, Bollywood's last big release - Abhinav Kashyap-directed Besharam - which was released Oct 2 has failed to evoke the desired response. Made on a budget of Rs.60 crore plus, "Besharam" crashed completely, said Adarsh. "It has collected approximately Rs.3.10 crore net in weekend two. Grand total is Rs.58.46 crore net. Flop, he added. A source from a leading multiplex chain also said that Besharam didnt put up even an average performance.

18

October 19-25, 2013

FASHION

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

ut of the 113 designers who participated in the springsummer 2014 edition of the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week (WIFW), it was the young brigade who stole the limelight and set new fashion trends with their design aesthetics. Designers like Rahul Mishra, Samant Chauhan, Masaba Gupta, Nachiket Barve to Anupama Dayal and Aneeth Arora showcased collections which not just remained true to the "experimental yet wearable design" factor but also grabbed the attention of international and domestic buyers alike. Many from the over 100 buyers from across the world, especially from the Middle East, Japan, US, Australia and France, were spotted flocking to their stall areas for orders and queries. The designers were happy with such an "encouraging response" at the 22nd edition of the bi-annual extravaganza, organized by the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), the country's apex fashion body. "The business this time was exceptionally good," Chauhan, whose brand is only seven years old, said. "Our orders were doubled and tripled this time. This is very surprising and encouraging. We got orders from Singapore and almost every city of Middle East, including Kuwait," said Chauhan, who admits it was a struggle to get orders during his initial days in the business. He believes the rising demand for their designs is driven by the way the country's tier-II and tier-III cities are turning out to be new

markets for Indian designers. "Tier-II and tier-III cities have a lot of potential. They are actually showing an inclination towards buying designer outfits. Cities like Raipur, Nagpur, Jaipur and Ahmedabad have shown great interest," said the designer. Anupama Dayal too is impressed with the business that she has generated this time. "The business was excellent. We got orders from US, The Grand Finale by designer Ashish N Soni at Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week-Spring Kuwait, Bahrain and Summer 2014 in New Delhi. from a lot of Indian stores. I feel that it's a her good idea to focus on some of the tive response from around the Also, unexplored tier-II and tier-III cities globe. As for the business, I feel Bengal tant in India and hopefully, I will focus satisfied only when I add a few saris and 3D on that in days to come," Dayal buyers in my already existing client metallic dresslist and in that regard, this season es became the said. talk of the She brought old world charm was encouraging. "I have got new buyers from New WIFW attenwith her 'Gulabi' collection in this WIFW edition and her creations York, Kuwait and other Middle dees during beautifully represented the coun- East cities," Mishra, who launched the opening day of the try's handprinting and needlecraft his first collection in 2008, said. Another young designer, Masaba five-day fashtechniques. Designer Rahul Mishra show- Gupta, known for her quirky motifs ion gala. Overall, cased an amalgamation of rich and sense of style, grabbed eyeballs Indian textiles with global cuts for her line. Three prints dominated buyers were through his collection titled 'Kiss' her line this time - Chandragupta, happy with the Actor Anil Kapoor at Ashish Soni's show variety of talent (Keep it Simple and Sport). He machine prints and checkered dots. Even Nida Mahmood's ode to one in the Indian fashion industry Sharda, Alia Bhatt, Mughda Godse, used a lot of handlooms like khadi, jamdani and bandini on apparels, hundred years of Indian cinema which is estimated to be worth Raima Sen, Gulshan Grover, Rahul Dev, Koel Purie, filmmaker Anil which are as varied as dresses, turned out to be a highlight. She Rs.720 crore. Sharma, Neena Gupta and newmerged motifs of actors like For a change, the Bollywood saris, palazzos and tops. "My designs are all about 'east Amitabh Bachchan, Amjad Khan quotient remained low this time. comer Urvashi Rautela marked meets west'. This has garnered posi- and Zeenat Aman on her outfits. However, Anil Kapoor, Pallavi their presence.

Designer Masaba turns showstopper for Wendell

esigner Masaba Gupta turned the showstopper for mentor Wendell Rodricks' show at Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week that showcased a collection titled "Source of Youth" which depicted the bold, free-spirited and individualistic women of today. Masaba, daughter of actress Neena Gupta and West Indian cricketer Vivian Richards, at age 24, became the youngest fashion director of Satya Paul when she took charge of the brand in 2012. Since then, she has worked hard to revolutionise the brand. She walked the ramp in a blackand-red ensemble that had much layering. Her charm was in sync with the theme of the show, sponsored by Fiama Di Wills. Speaking of the inspiration for the collection, Rodricks said: "In the pursuit of youth, I travelled to the

Masaba, daughter of actress Neena Gupta and West Indian cricketer Vivian Richards, at Wendell Rodricks' show

heart of humanity: Africa, an Africa that is very different from what is preconceived. Here is a new continent, fresh with the promise of youth." Compared to previous

shows, the designer has used more fitted silhouettes this time. Some of the gowns were free-flowing, but for the most part, the silhouette was body-skimming.

Models in creations by designer Dolly J at the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week-Spring Summer 2014

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

DIASPORA

October 19-25, 2013

19

Mina, Saudi Arabia: Tens of thousands of white-clad pilgrims, including Indians, have begun converging at Mina near the Muslim holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia in the first leg of the annual Hajj pilgrimage starting Sunday. Pilgrims began leaving for tent city of Mina after circumambulating the Holy Kaaba in Mecca, where the grand mosque was packed with believers from across the world. In the first phase, the pilgrims will spend the night in Mina reciting the Holy Quran or catching up on sleep. The pilgrims this year include more than 136,000 Indians who are moving into Mina in groups. Indian Minister for Health & Family Welfare Ghulam Nabi Azad and Ambassador of India to Saudi Arabia Hamid Ali Rao form the country's two-member Hajj goodwill delegation. The Hajj pilgrimage is one of the five pillars of Islam that should be performed at

136,000 Indians pilgrims doing Hajj this year Indian businessman backs Ghana's cricket development
Accra, Ghana: When he arrived in Accra in 2001, Indian industrialist Akoliya Patel only wanted to mine for gold and diamonds that he is now doing across Africa. More than a decade later, he has also become Ghana's main financier to develop cricket in this West African nation of 25 million people that was a British colony till 1957. Last year, two coaches from India came to train members of the various cricket clubs that have sprung up around capital Accra. "As a keen cricket fan, I started going out to watch matches and realized that even though the country had budding stars, it lacked proper grounds and players were poorly trained; so l felt it was important for me to contribute my quota to improve the game," Patel said. The main motivation is not just his love of cricket. It is also because "I live in Ghana and breathe the air here, so I must contribute in whichever way that l can to make life easy for those whose life I

Pilgrims heading to Mount Arafat, a key part of the pilgrimage.

least once in ones lifetime by every Muslim who is financially and physically capable. The pilgrimage ends on October 18. Minster Azad expressed satisfaction over the facilities and services being arranged for the Indian pilgrims. He visited several buildings where Indian pilgrims are staying in order to oversee the arrangements, the Saudi Gazette reported. Addressing a press conference in Mecca later, he said the government will try to find a solution to three major problems raised by the pilgrims during an interaction

with them. Indian Hajj Mission has opened its offices in Mecca which will function round the clock. Medical dispensaries have been established and equipped with medicines and other supplies. Fully equipped ambulances have also been deployed. The pilgrimage ends after Eid alAdha, or the Feast of Sacrifice, which starts on Tuesday. This year Saudi expects about two million pilgrims, after it imposed restrictions to cut foreigners by 20 per cent and Saudis by 50 per cent.

Indian High Commissioner to Ghana, Jeeva Sagar, hitting the first ball to mark the commissioning of Akoliya Patel's new cricket oval.

can touch". "It is also important that we use the wealth we generate to improve the lives of those who need to be helped," said Patel. For this reason he has spent so much money to support poor people who have not been able to pay their hospital bills. Patel has also become the anonymous philanthropist, providing help to people who need medical care. Patel, who is chief executive of Balaji Gemlust Company (BGC), has singlehandedly financed the construction of a world class cricket oval at Achimota in

Accra and has also brought in a Ranji Trophy player, Amolak Singh, to train the country's national side. "The players we have put together are good and only need to be improved, and that is why the coach has come to train them," Patel said, adding: "It is my dream to see the country's players become international stars." After handing over the oval to the Ghana Cricket Association, Patel promised to maintain the grounds because it is his dream to make the game grow in the country.

Verdict on Indian-origin doctor delayed

Sydney: The verdict on an Indian-origin former surgeon, accused of causing grievous bodily harm, got further delayed last week as the jury in an Australian court failed to reach a consensus. Jurors in the Brisbane District Court told judge Terry Martin that they had reached a stalemate of opinion on an unspecified issue in the case involving Jayant Patel, ABC News reported. Patel, 63, who worked in the Bundaberg Base Hospital in Queensland, has been charged with causing grievous bodily harm to Ian Rodney Vowles, 66, by unnecessarily removing his colon and rectum in 2004. However, the former surgeon has pleaded not guilty in the court. Prosecutors told the court that the surgery was unnecessary and he gave no option to the patient. Defense lawyers argued that Patel gave Vowles a cancer-free future and offered him treatment options. Judge Martin told the jury that it was up to the crown prosecutors to prove the charge beyond reasonable doubt and the jury must consider evidences without any bias. The Jamnagar, Gujaratborn Patel had a controversial tenure in the hospital from 2003 to early 2005, during which over 80 deaths were linked to him and 30 patients died in his care. After that, he left for Portland, Oregon, in the US. He was, however, extradited to Australia in 2008 to face trial.

India Post inks deal with UAE firm for instant money transfer
New Delhi: India's Department of Posts last week said it has signed an agreement with Wall Street Exchange, a unit of UAE based Emirates Post Group, to facilitate instant transfer of money, especially by the Indian diaspora in the Gulf. The first transfer of money under the instant cash facility was done from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to India Post or department of posts, here last week. The service will be rolled out nationally in a phased manner and will be made available at approximately 17,500 post offices across India by next month, the communications ministry said in a statement here. The service will be provided through the International Financial System (IFS) of Universal Postal Union. This tie-up offers the Indian diaspora worldwide - especially in the Gulf region - a safe, secure and reliable money transfer service for their families back home, it said. India is the world's largest recipient of remittances with over $70 billion annually, half of which come from the Gulf countries. Under the new facility money will be made available to the customers within minutes of completing the transaction. Recipients will be able to receive their payment at any of the identified 17,500 post offices by producing the unique transaction number along with their identity and know your customer (KYC) documents, the statement said.

New Delhi: Neha Sen continues to make newer dishes on "MasterChef Australia 5" with an aim to dispel the image that Indian cuisine is just about butter chicken and korma. "I am very much Indian and it shows in my food. I take inspiration from historic Indian recipes (to cook on the show). I wanted to showcase to Australia that India is not only about butter chicken and korma. There are so many more things that India is good at cooking and producing," Sen said in a phone interview. The show, which comes on Star World, started with 22 contestants from countries like Britain, Indonesia, Australia and India. Sen came to Australia eight years ago as an international student, and that was when she learned cooking. She started from the basics and today she rustles up variety of dishes. My mother is an amazing cook. But when I came to study here, I didn't have much money. Three months after eating out, I realized that I needed to teach myself how to cook. I started experimenting on long Skype sessions with my mom.

Neha Sen on Master Chef Australia

Neha Sen

I couldn't even make dal at the time," she said. "But slowly it became an obsession and a stress buster. Cooking became my best friend. I used to cook when I was happy or stressed...the journey became a huge part of my life. I am pretty much a self taught cook," she added. The 31-year-old has dreams of making a documentary, where she will showcase different types of food in India as well as Australia. Neha added: "I came to Australia as a poor international student and am now a successful career woman. I have come full circle and it is all through food."

20

October 19-25, 2013

SUBCONTINENT

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Maldives president doubts Taliban lash out at Afghan-US security pact credibility of upcoming election
Colombo: Maldives President Mohamed Waheed says he will remain an independent observer of the upcoming presidential election but expressed doubts over its credibility, Xinhua reported. Speaking to the media on Eid-al Adha, Waheed, who earlier this week withdrew from running for a second term, insisted that he would not back any of the three candidates still in the fray. They include former president Mohammad Nasheed, who bagged 45.45 percent of the vote in the first round that was later annulled. The other two contenders are tycoon Gasim Ibrahim and autocratic former president Abdul Gayoom's half-brother and MP, Abdulla Yamin. Both candidates polled nearly equally with only some 3,000 votes giving Yamin a slight edge. During the now defunct presidential poll held Sep 7, President Waheed obtained 5.13 percent of the popular vote, finishing last among the four candidates. The outgoing president said that it remained the duty of all Maldivian heads of state "to bring happiness and joy in to the hearts of the peoKabul: Taliban militants, who have been fighting the Afghan government and NATO-led troops in Afghanistan, have lashed out at the proposed security accord between Kabul and Washington, vowing to continue jihad or holy war till the foreign forces are evicted from the war-ravaged country. "The invaders and their allies should understand that inking strategic agreement would be accompanied by dire consequences," Xinhua quoted Taliban's elusive chief Mullah Mohammad Omar as stating in a message posted on the outfit's website on the eve of Eid-ul Adha. Omar, who has eluded the US's biggest military manhunt in the region over the past 12 years, in the message also warned that the people of Afghanistan would not accept any strategic agreement even if it got rubber stamped by a fake Loya Jirga. Afghan President Hamid Karzai and US Secretary of State John Kerry, after a 26-hour intense discussion here, announced at a joint press conference that differences over inking a security arrangement, known as the Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA), have

Maldives President Mohamed Waheed

ple, and to save them from the uneasiness and conflict that has engulfed the country", according to a summary of his speech provided by the President's Office obtained by Minivan News. Waheed, who was elected vice president in the country's first democratic multi-party election in 2008 as Nasheed's running mate, took office himself Feb 7, 2012, on the back of a mutiny by sections of the police and military. Waheed became the president in a controversial transfer of power, described by Nasheed as a coup d'etat orchestrated by his deputy and other political opponents.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai and US Secretary of State John Kerry are working towards the Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA)

been narrowed. The Afghan president revealed a couple of weeks ago that he would convene the traditional Loya Jirga or grand assembly of tribal chieftains, notables and government functionaries, probably within a month to take a final decision on the security agreement. The controversial security accord, if inked, would facilitate the US to keep a limited number of its troops in Afghanistan beyond 2014 when the NATO-led forces would leave the conflictridden country.

"No foreign military base is acceptable to Afghans," Mullah Omar added in his statement, warning that having military bases would intensify armed jihad against foreigners in Afghanistan. The US reportedly would have nine bases in Afghanistan if the BSA is inked. In his message, the Taliban leader also denounced the forthcoming presidential and provincial council elections in Afghanistan set for April 5, 2014, as a "drama of occupying forces" and called on Afghans to boycott the electoral process.

Mush can't leave Pakistan, says minister

Pak court reopens graft cases against Zardari

Islamabad: Pakistan's antigraft court has reopened five corruption cases against former president Asif Ali Zardari dating back to the 1990s, officials said. The allegations against Zardari relate to kickbacks, money laundering and the illegal construction of a polo ground at the prime minister's official residence, during his slain wife Benazir Bhutto's two stints as premier. As president Zardari enjoyed immunity from prosecution, but this ended when he stepped down after five years in September and now an anti-corruption court has taken up the cases. "The accountability court has ordered former president Asif Ali Zardari to appear before the court on October 29," a court official told AFP. The probe includes corruption allegations relating to customs contracts given to two Swiss companies that were behind a long-running tussle between the Supreme Court and the last government, led by Zardari's Pakistan People's Party (PPP).

India's meek response on fishermen not good: Jaya

Speculations of Musharraf's leaving the country gripped Pakistan after he was granted bail in three criminal cases

Jayalalithaa was referring to the apprehension of 22 Indian fishermen by Sri Lanka

Islamabad: Pakistan's Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said former military ruler Pervez Musharraf cannot leave the country as his name is included in the list of those who are barred from going abroad. The comments came amid strong speculations in Pakistan that Musharraf can leave the country under a deal with the government. However, the interior minister said the former president's name is included in the Exit Control List and he can only leave the country if allowed by the country's apex court. "Musharraf's name was on Exit Control List and it would not be removed till the court's decision," Khan told reporters in the national capital Islamabad.

Speculations of Musharraf's leaving the country gripped Pakistan after he was granted bail in three criminal cases against him few days ago. Police formally arrested the former president in the murder case of a religious cleric, Abdul Rashid Ghazi, who was killed in a military raid on Islamabad's Red Mosque in 2007. Ghazi was among the 90 religious students, killed during the operation. Musharraf was also charged in the murder case of the 2007 assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, the killing of a senior tribal elder Nawab Akbar Bugti in 2006 and placing top judges illegally under house arrest during his rule. He already got bail in two cases.

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa claimed that India's "meek and pusillanimous" response to the repeated attacks on its fishermen has emboldened Sri Lankan Navy to carry out more such attacks. In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, copies of which were released to the media here, she said: "The meek and pusillanimous response of the government of India to these repeated attacks have emboldened the Sri Lankan Navy to mount more and more unprovoked attacks on our fishermen." Jayalalithaa was referring to the apprehension of 22 Indian fishermen and their five boats from Rameswaram by the Sri Lankan Navy Monday. She said the fishermen have been

taken to Thalaimannar in Sri Lanka for further investigations. In another incident Monday, 15 Indian fishermen in four boats were apprehend by the Sri Lankan Navy. Complaining that none of her letters to the prime minister "on this subject have evoked a substantive response", Jayalalithaa accused the central government of "treating the vexatious issue in a casual manner as it is a backyard squabble to be sorted out by the fishermen associations of both the countries". Citing the protest lodged by India after summoning the deputy high commissioner of Pakistan when fishermen from Gujarat were attacked, she alleged the central government has a dismissive attitude towards Tamil Nadu fishermen.

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

INTERNATIONAL

October 19-25, 2013

21

Nobel Prize in Economics goes to 3 US experts

US economists Eugene Fama, Lars Peter Hansen and Robert Shiller

Stockholm: The 2013 Nobel Prize in Economics has been awarded to US economists Eugene Fama, Lars Peter Hansen and Robert Shiller for their empirical analysis of asset prices, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced. The economics prize, established in 1968 and officially called the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel, is the last of the six prizes announced this year, Xinhua reported. Since 2003, the coveted Nobel Prize in the field of economics has been won by the following people: 2013: Eugene Fama, Lars Peter Hansen and Robert Shiller (US); 2012: Alvin E. Roth and Lloyd

S. Shapley (US); 2011: Christopher A. Sims and Thomas J. Sargent (US); 2010: Peter Diamond and Dale Mortensen (US), Christopher Pissarides (Cyprus and Britain); 2009: Elinor Ostrom and Oliver E. Williamson (US); 2008: Paul Krugman (US); 2007: Leonid Hurwicz, Eric S. Maskin and Roger B. Myerson (US); 2006: Edmund S. Phelps (US); 2005: Thomas C. Schelling (US), Robert J. Aumann (USIsrael); 2004: Finn Kydland (Norway), Edward Prescott (US); 2003: Robert F. Engle (US), Clive W.J. Granger (Britain).

Manila: The death toll from a strong earthquake in the central Philippines has risen to almost 100, officials said on October 16, and rescuers were digging through the rubble of a church and a hospital in search of more victims. At least 10 people were missing under the collapsed public hospital, church and a home in the town of Loon on Bohol island, 390 miles south of Manila, which bore the brunt of the 7.2 earthquake on October 15. The quake caused landslides and widespread damage to infrastructure in Bohol and nearby Cebu, with close to three million people affected. The number of people injured in the quake climbed towards 280. At least 90 of those killed were in Bohol, the national disaster agency said. Officials feared the toll would rise further as communications with damaged villages were re-established. Many of the millions affected by the quake spent the night outdoors, including patients at some hospitals in

Philippines quake: 100 die, several missing

A damaged Basilica Del Sto Nino in Cebu, central Philippines

Cebu, because of aftershocks. More than 800 aftershocks have been recorded, the disaster agency said. Ferry and airline services have resumed despite damage to ports and airport structures in Bohol and Cebu.

Tokyo: A powerful typhoon triggered landslides and caused at least 13 deaths on a Japanese island, before sweeping up the country's east coast, grounding hundreds of flights and paralyzing public transportation in Tokyo during mornings rush hour on October 16. Rescue workers found 13 bodies, most of them buried by mudslides, on Izu Oshima island about 75 miles south of Tokyo, police and town officials said. Dozens of homes were destroyed, and more

13 dead as typhoon lashes Tokyo

than 50 people are missing. We have no idea how bad the extent of damage could be, town official Hinani Uematsu said. NHK public television showed rescue workers struggling to dig a woman out of a heap of debris as she shrieked in pain. A rescuer told NHK that he almost walked by the spot without seeing the woman in the debris until she cried out, "Help!" Typhoon Wipha packed winds of up to 110 mph and stayed offshore

in the Pacific. Dozens of schools were closed in the Tokyo area. More heavy rain and wind were forecast in northern Japan through October 16.

22

October 19-25, 2013

BUSINESS

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

New Delhi: The CBI has registered a case against industrialist Kumar Mangalam Birla and former coal secretary P.C. Parekh on charges of criminal conspiracy and misuse of official position over alleged irregularities in the allocation of coal blocks. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) booked Birla as a representative of Aditya Birla Group and his group company Hindalco, one of the biggest producers of primary aluminium in Asia, officials said.The agency registered a first information report (FIR) and conducted searches in Mumbai, Delhi, Secunderabad and Bhubaneswar. "The Central Bureau of Investigation has registered a case against the then secretary, ministry of coal, representative of Mumbaibased Group of Companies, Odishabased industry and unknown other people/officials U/s 120-B IPC and 13(2) r/w (read with) 13(1)(d) of the

Coal blocks: CBI books KM Birla, former official

public sector undertaking of Tamil Nadu," the release added. Officials said the FIR was the 14th case in the coal-blocks allocation controversy. They said Birla and Parekh may be called for questioning depending on further investigations. However, the conglomerate denied receiving any FIR and allegations of

wrongdoing. In June, the CBI registered a case against former minister of state for coal Dasari Narayan Rao and industrialist Naveen Jindal. The Supreme Court Aug 29 asked the CBI to pick up speed in its investigations in the coal block controversy, saying its work was "in the first gear".

The CBI said Kumar Mangalam Birla and PC Parekh may be called for questioning depending on further investigations.

Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 in connection with allocation of Talabira-II and Talabira-III coal blocks in Odisha," a CBI release said. The FIR alleged the "said people" were in criminal conspiracy with each other and with public servants.

"It is alleged in the FIR that during 2005, the said people in criminal conspiracy with one another and then public servants by abusing their positions (and) as such showed undue favour to Odisha-based industry in allocation of Talabira-II and Talabira-III coal blocks along with a

New Delhi: It was Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who decided the allocation of two coal blocks in Odisha in 2005 over which the CBI has filed FIRs, former coal secretary P.C. Parekh said. Parekh made the statement a day after the FIRs were filed against Parekh and industrialist Kumar Mangalam Birla for alleged irregularities and criminal conspiracy in the allocation of the two blocks. "I don't think this is any serious issue

PM decided 2005 coal allocation: ex-secretary

at all. There is no case in what CBI is trying to make out. It was a very fair and correct decision which we took... I made a proposal and the prime minister took a decision," he said. "If the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) sees a conspiracy, who is behind the conspiracy? "Kumar Manglam BIrla who made a representation, I who made a recommendation, or prime minister who took the decision?"

Fitch puts US credit rating under negative watch

India's policy on foreign banks soon: RBI chief

Washington: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will soon come out with new rules for the entry of foreign banks that may even allow them to take over Indian banks, RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan has said. "That is going to be a big big opening because one could even contemplate taking over Indian banks, small Indian banks and so on," he said at an event of the Institute of International Finance. "We're coming out with details on that in the next couple of weeks." "By setting up wholly owned subsidiaries, foreign banks will get more opportunities to expand in India," Rajan said. "We will allow you a lot of freedom on branching." Currently, foreign banks in India operate as branches of the foreign parent and face restrictions on the number of branches they can set up in the country. The banking sector reforms, particularly those facilitating entry of foreign banks in India in a "big way", is part of the five pillars of reforms,

However, Fitch believes that the debt ceiling will be raised soon

RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan

New York: Fitch Ratings placed the 'AAA' credit rating of the US on rating watch negative (RWN), saying that delays of lifting the debt ceiling would cause volatility and damage US creditworthiness. The US Treasury Secretary has said extraordinary measures will be exhausted by Oct 17, but the US authorities have not raised the federal debt ceiling in a timely manner before the deadline, said the rating agency in a statement. Fitch stated that failure by the US government to honor interest and/or principal payments on the due date of US Treasury securities would lead Fitch to downgrade the US sovereign credit rating to 'restricted default' until the default event was cured. Although the treasury would

still have limited capacity to make payments after Oct 17, it would be exposed to volatile revenue and expenditure flows, Fitch added. Moreover, the delays of payments to suppliers and employees, as well as social security payments to citizens, would damage the perception of US sovereign creditworthiness and the economy. According to the statement, it expects to resolve the RWN by the end of the first quarter of 2014 at the latest. The outlook on the longterm ratings was previously negative. However, Fitch believes that the debt ceiling will be raised soon, but the political brinkmanship and reduced financing flexibility could increase the risk of a US default.

including monetary policy framework that the RBI is going to implement in the next few years, Rajan said. "For foreign banks, if you adopt a whollyowned subsidiaries structure, we will allow you near national treatment," but with a couple of conditions, he said.

Gold premiums hit record in India

Mumbai: Gold premiums in India, the world's biggest buyer of the precious metal, hit a record $100 an ounce, about 8 per cent over London prices, on a shortage of supplies to meet festival demand, traders said. Banks, the primary dealers of bullion, are currently importing the yellow metal chiefly for exporters, as under the so-called 80/20 principle, jewellery exporters get priority for supplies over domestic manufacturers. The principle, part of a package of measures announced in July aimed at cutting India's current account deficit by reducing gold imports, states that 20 per cent of all gold imported into India must be re-exported. Most suppliers in Mumbai and Kolkata have started quoting premiums in excess of $100 an ounce above London prices, more than double the $40 charged last week.

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

SPORTS

October 19-25, 2013

23

Walsh to coach Indian hockey team

New Delhi: Australian Terry Walsh has been appointed the chief coach of Indian mens hockey team as a replacement to his compatriot Michael Nobbs, who was sacked after a string of poor results. The reputed Australian, a silver medalist in the 1976 Montreal Games, comes with a vast experience of coaching and has also represented Australia in three Olympics. High-performance manager Roelant Oltmans was doubling up as the acting coach after Nobbs was sacked in July.Hockey India (HI) secretary general Narinder Batra said that the appointment of Walsh is an important step to ensure an appropriate program is in place for the senior mens team. Walsh is also excited to work with eighttime Olympic champions India.

match in Kolkata and 200th farewell match in Mumbai. Tendulkar had written to the BCCI requesting to hold his 200th match in Mumbai, said Shukla. Baroda, which is the home association of board secretary Sanjay Patel, was allotted the third match as per the rotation policy, but if the Reliance-owned IPCL Stadium is not ready, the match will be shifted to Kanpur, the home of Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA)

Sachin's last Test at Wankhede

headed by Shukla. Last week, Tendulkar announced his retirement from Test cricket after the series against the West Indies. The series will bring the curtain down on his illustrious 24-year-long career. Tendulkar retired from ODIs last December. The recently concluded Champions League T20 tournament that Mumbai Indians won was Tendulkars last T20 outing.

The two-Test series against the West Indies will be Sachin Tendulkars swan song series

Cricket legends salute Sachin

New Delhi: Current and former cricketers from all around the world saluted the achievements of Sachin Tendulkar after it was announced that the batting legends 200th Test would be his last, ending his phenomenal career in all forms of international cricket. It is a sad day for world cricket. But it is the right decision. It is loss for Test cricket in general. The commitment he has shown all these years is incredible. The amazing fact that he has been the same humble boy after achieving so much. I wish him well, World Cup winning Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga said. Renowned umpire Dickie Bird said Tendulkar was the closest to how Don Bradman played. Asked what stood out about the master blaster, Bird said: He picked line and length very quickly, let the ball come to him and played late. I could see he would make all sorts of records. Krishnamachari Srikkanth, who was Tendulkars first captain in 1989 when India toured Pakistan, was shocked at the news. It is shocking that he will stop playing. Imagine a man who has played close to 200 Tests and scored 100 international hundreds. It is just incredible, said Srikkanth adding that Tendulkars decision had nothing to do with his form. Former Indian batsman Dilip Vengsarjar said: He dominated bowlers in all part of the world. His record will be very difficult to beat.

Mumbai: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has finally granted Sachin Tendulkar his wish to play in his 200th and farewell Test at his home ground of Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The two-Test series against the West Indies will be Tendulkars swan song series. The cricketing great will be playing his 199th Test at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata Nov 610 and the farewell Test at the Wankhede in Mumbai on November 14-18. In addition, the West Indies will also play ODIs at Kochi (Nov 21) and Visakhapatnam (Nov 24), while the third, slated for Nov 27, will be held either at Baroda or Kanpur. For the boards tours and fixtures committee, headed by BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla, that met here, the decision on the venues was a mere formality. Tendulkar will be playing his 199th Test

One-dayers: Aussies shock India

Australia beat India by 72 runs in the opening game

Pune: Australia raised their game to beat India by 72 runs in the opening game of the seven match ODI series at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium here on October 13. Aaron Finch (72 off 79 balls) and captain George Bailey (85 off 82) set up Australias 304 for eight before their bowlers did a brilliant job to stop India at 232 all out in 49.4 overs. James Faulkner struck thrice while other pacers Shane Watson and Clint Mckay picked up two wickets each. Australian bowlers learnt their lessons from the Rajkot tie and bowled a much better length, using the odd short and slower ball to good effect.

The stylish opening pair of Shikhar Dhawan (7) and Rohit Sharma (42) found it tough to push the scoring rate. Faulkner had Dhawan caught behind with an away going ball. The left-arm pacers celebrations went awry as he ended up hitting wicketkeeper Brad Haddin in the eye while going for a high-five. After the openers departure, Virat Kohli (61 off 85) and Suresh Raina (39 off 45) too did not get many loose deliveries from the opposition attack. They put up 71 runs together but were not able to find the boundaries needed to keep up with the asking rate.

24

October 19-25, 2013

HEALTH

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Less physical activity makes Indians more prone to arthritis

New Delhi: More and more Indians are prone to arthritis as they don't exercise and this is also affecting people as young as in their 30s. Experts said Indians need to do more physical exercise and not ignore the initial symptoms. India currently is home to 2.5 million arthritis patients, experts say and the figure is growing fast. "Arthritis is not a single disease, it has hundred forms varying from hip joint, knee joint, finger joint and many more. India is currently a hub of all forms of arthritis patients," Hemant Gopal, senior consultant (Rheumatology) at Max Super Specialty Hospital in Delhi said. "Indians are most prone to arthritis as physical activities among them are the least as compared to people in other countries," he added. He said the age group prone to this bone disease is decreasing sharply and is no longer restricted to people in their 50s and 60s. "There have been certain cases where I have treated both male and female patients under 30 years. They have come to me with complaints of severe joints pains," added Gopal. He said every Indian above the age of 35 who complains of any joint pain could be patient of arthritis. "People tend to ignore the early symptoms and then in the later part of their life it becomes acute," added Gopal. Rajeev Sharma, senior orthopedics and joint replacement surgeon at Apollo Hospital, said the main problem in India is that people ignore the affliction at the initial stage just because the pain is mild. "Many people in their late 30s are not ready to accept that the joint pain that they experience is the symptom of arthritis," he added. "Though issues such as late detection, poor food habits and obesity leads to arthritis, we have also found that Indians are not keen to go through the implant surgeries that can cure the affliction from its roots," Sharma said. Madhujeet Gupta, a consultant pain physician at Fortis Hospital, said that compared to the 100,000 cases of knee implants in India, this was 10 times more in the West. Though the number of Indians undergoing implants have increased, it will take at least 10 more years to equate the number of implants in the West, Gupta added. "Also, the Indian patients need to realize that if they want to get rid of the problem completely they need to consult the right person at the right time. If they think their symptoms are of arthritis then they should consult a rheumatologist for proper diagnosis," said Gopal. "Its better to kill the disease at an early stage rather than suffer throughout the life," he added.

Combat stress with proper diet, water intake

Babies can tell Self-medication for allergy can be dangerous when adults fake emotions
Montreal: A new study shows that children can tell if adults mean the gestures they make. This finding could impact the way caregivers tackle kids' behavior. In a study recently published in Infancy: The Official Journal of the International Society on Infant Studies, psychology researchers Sabrina Chiarella and Diane Poulin-Dubois, from Concordia University, demonstrated that infants can detect whether a person's emotions are justifiable given a particular context. They show that babies understand how the meaning of an experience is directly linked to the expressions that follow, reports Science Daily. The implications are significant, especially for caregivers. "Our research shows that babies cannot be fooled into believing something that causes pain and results in pleasure. Adults often try to shield infants from distress by putting on a happy face following a negative experience."
New Delhi: Each individual on earth is allergic to something and it should not be ignored, but one should not do self-medication as the problem could further aggravate, experts said. Allergy, if categorized, can be of more than hundred types and every one of them need separate medication to be cured, Vandana Boobna, consultant internal medicine at Max Super Specialty Hospital in Shalimar Bagh here, said. Allergy at the initial stages can be treated, but when it reaches the extreme end stage, it can be immensely perilous, she added. Boobna said that she has come across many who trying to treat their allergyrelated ailments on their own have ended up making it more severe. One should not try to treat skin allergies on their own. I have seen many cases in which people have self-medicated themselves and then have to undergo major treatment and even drastic surgeries, Boobna said. As the Oct 16 is observed as World Allergy Awareness Day, experts said the first thing anyone should do when they suffer from any allergic problem is to find the trigger point, and then to visit the expert and get proper treatment. An allergy is a hypersensitivity disorder of the immune system. Allergic reactions can happen when a person's immune system

London: Nail biting, excessive smoking, obesity and overeating are some of the symptoms of stress, which can be overcome with a balanced diet and by drinking enough water in a day. With high pressure schedules and long working hours, stress is becoming inevitable. It is important to beat it the right way. "Eat regularly throughout the day in order to maintain healthy blood sugar levels, choose wholegrain foods such as brown rice and whole meal bread and avoid sugary snacks and drinks," femalefirst.co.uk quoted Robert Hobson, head of nutrition of British health brand Healthspan, as saying. You can also manage stress by limiting caffeine and alcohol intake. There are natural ways to beat stress as well. "There are a number of herbs that calm such as Rhodiola, which is a registered herbal medicine that could help to reduce symptoms of stress and anxiety as well as helping to combat fatigue and improve mental alertness," Sarah Brewer, author of the book "Cut Your Stress in 12 weeks", said. Other ways of releasing stress include exercising and getting enough sleep.

reacts to normally harmless substances in the environment. Allergies can play a major role in conditions such as asthma. It can be caused by anything such as egg, unhygienic places, milk, cold, rain and even dust. Anurag Mahajan, a consultant in internal medicine at Pushpawati Singhania Research Institute at Sheikh Sarai, said that many patients without doctors prescription take anti-allergic tablets such as cetrizine, avil etc to get rid of it. This may even aggravate their problems. Moreover, if they do not know what is the dose they have to take, they could face side-effects like dizziness, excess sleepiness and laziness, added Mahajan. Mahajan said that not in all cases they suggest patients to undergo antiallergy test. It is easy to treat allergy at the initial stages. If they come to us on time, we can treat it with steroids and the anti allergy treatments. But once the patients start self-medication, the

problem becomes complicated as many a times the allergy gets worse and requires advance treatment, lasting months or in some cases years, Mahajan said. Vishal Singh, a dermatologist at Apollo, said that around 45 percent of people in the world suffer from Rihinitis Medica Menntosa - a problem caused due to excess usage of anti allergic tablets. He said in India, however, it is less severe as compared to the west, but it is fast catching up. Once the allergic patients start self-medication without proper knowledge, the medicines instead of curing starts showing reverse reactions and even in some cases it could lead to death specially in bronchitis and respiratory allergy, which is very common among Indians, Singh told IANS. It is always advisable to patients that they should find out the trigger factor and consult the doctor rather than getting into selfmedication, which of course will deteriorate it rather than curing, Singh added.

Road accidents major killer in India

Aligarh: Road accidents result in a major loss to the economy, opined experts and surgeons from Uttar Pradesh at a three-day workshop on trauma, organized by Aligarh Muslim University's (AMU) medical college here last week. Habib Raza, organizing secretary and chairman of department of surgery said that in comparison to neighboring countries, India has the largest number of road accidents, which amounts to a great economic loss for the country. He said: "In India, reported road traffic fatalities in 2010 were 133,938, out of which 85 percent were male and the rest were female. The estimated GDP loss due to road traffic crashes amounted to three percent." "There were 2,958 reported road traffic fatalities in Bangladesh in 2009. The estimated GDP loss due to road traffic crashes was 1.6 percent. In Pakistan, the reported road traffic fatalities in 2010 were 5, 192," Raza said. The professor also said that heart disease is the leading cause of death in the US, and death due to trauma stands at fifth place. Earlier, inaugurating the workshop, AMU vice chancellor Zameer Uddin Shah said he appreciated the efforts of the organizers and assured all possible help. He said the trauma centre building is ready and the equipment is being acquired. A panel discussion was also organized on problems encountered in managing a trauma centre. Muzaffar Ahmad, disaster management expert from New Delhi, M.C. Misra, director of AIIMS Trauma Centre, and T.D. Yadav, associate professor, PostGraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh participated in the discussion.

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

SELF HELP

October 19-25, 2013

25

What to know when Maintaining glowing skin as the seasons shift you work from home A
s the seasons change, looking great can be a challenge - especially when it comes to your skin, as cooler air and strong winds can leave your complexion with seasonal skin disorder. Unfortunately, a bad skin day can mean a bad day overall. In fact, 90 percent of Americans agree that they feel more confident when they have a good skin day, according to a recent survey conducted by Wakefield Research on behalf of Mary Kay. So how do you achieve a healthy, natural radiance, even in winter? With a strategic skincare regimen, you can combat common seasonal beauty pitfalls, such as dryness and dullness, says Maria Lekkakos, an aesthetician for Mary Kay. With this in mind, Lekkakos is offering some restorative, hydrating beauty tips to protect and restore your skin: *Re-texturize: With the weather shift, youll notice more dryness, particularly on the face, elbows and lining of the cheekbones and hands. Re-texturize your skin by frequently moisturizing. *Protect: 84 percent of Americans surveyed by Wakefield Research say they would change how they cared for their skin if they could have a do over. Dont live with regret -protect skin against free radical damage that can impact skin firmness and definition. Use an antioxidant-rich serum, such as the Mary Kay TimeWise Replenishing Serum+C, which contains a potent blend of botanical extracts derived from natural ingredients known for their high levels of Vitamin C. *Hydrate: Sometimes the source of dryness comes from the inside out. Drink plenty of water and eat hydrating fruits and vegetables to deliver vitamins to the skin and prevent dryness. *Nourish: In the morning, use a mask for five minutes to prepare and protect the skin for the day. Its the ideal time to open the

f you ever work from home or plan to, there are many things you need to consider to make sure your home office is conducive to productivity. From preventing technological snafus to dealing with the social realities of working where you live, preparing yourself for the home office experience is important:

Stay focused Working from home provides flexibility and worklife balance. But the flip side of the coin is a risk of distraction. Stay on task by planning your day in the morning, setting strict working hours, and sticking to the rules you create -- such as no television or personal calls during the day. Make sure your family and friends know that working from home is not synonymous with an extended vacation. Protect your work When you work in a central office, you rely on your companys tech support team to protect your work and data. But when you work from home, you may not have that luxury. Over half of all small business owners have had to redo work due to a lost or deleted file, according to a research study conducted by Carbonite, a provider of automatic data backup. Be sure your work is not in vain. Protecting your work against data loss can be a challenge. And while many home-based workers and small business owners are concerned about data loss, most arent taking full advantage of what is known as cloud computing. These days, you can back up all of your data securely on the Internet so you are covered if your personal computer goes down. New technology is making data protection an easy, affordable investment. For example, Carbonite offers cloud backup solutions that are robust enough for a medium-sized business and affordable for even very small ones. Because it backs up computer files automatically, you can set it and forget it, so you can concentrate on your bottom line. And if your work keeps you on the go, youll have access to your backed up data from any computer, smartphone or internet-connected device. To learn more about automatic data protection, visit www.Carbonite.com. Stay connected Many people dream of working from home to avoid long commutes, co-worker distractions and other office pitfalls, but once they start, they realize that it can be a lonesome prospect. You can combat work-from-home loneliness with a bit of structure, however. Make full use of your lunch hour by using the time to run errands, have a lunch date with a friend, hit the gym or otherwise break up the day with conversation and interaction. Also, dont be shy about picking up the phone or using Skype to touch base with colleagues, versus sending an email. While you may not be dealing with traffic jams and chatty cubicle neighbors, working from home comes with its own set of challenges. Preparing for them can make the experience more productive, happy and fulfilling.

cells, allowing skin to breathe. A mask that hydrates and locks in moisture can leave it looking less stressed and feeling more nourished. There is a mask for every skin type, but most people dont know the benefits, says Lekkakos, who recommends adopting an anti-aging regimen as soon as early signs of aging begin to show. Its never too late to save your skin, Lekkakos adds. In fact, 84 percent of Americans would change how they cared for their skin if they could travel back in time, with 42 percent saying theyd moisturize more frequently. *Repair: At night, use a retinol treatment to reduce the appearance of deep lines and wrinkles and make skin tone appear more even. With beauty comes confidence. So just because the seasons are changing, dont let your healthy, radiant glow take a vacation.

26

October 19-25, 2013

FEATURES

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

By Anil Rajvanshi

Is precision agriculture the solution to India's farming crisis?

small sugarcane farmer in western Maharashtra, Bhau Kadam (name changed) and his family, own about three hectares of land. He has two sons who are both graduates and work in Pune. When I asked him why he did not make his sons farmers, he says that farming is hard work, is non-remunerative and it is difficult to get labor. Besides, he also thinks that farming is not glamorous, a farmer's son is a non-marriageable commodity and that his sons have a better life in Pune. Kadam is getting on with age and is thinking of selling his land to the highest bidder and moving out of farming and even going and staying with his sons in Pune. Village after village and state after state, this is the story of most farmers in India. They want to sell their land and move out of farming. Indian agriculture is in crisis. No matter how advanced or rich we become, all of us have to eat food. We cannot eat software or nuts and bolts. I feel wealth and security of the country comes from its land and hence what is needed is sustainable, high-tech and high productivity agriculture which will be remunerative and help provide both food and energy security. Precision agriculture, which can provide precise inputs like water, fertilizer, insecticides at the right time to crops, can help bring in the next green revolution. In the existing agricultural scenario, India is characterized by small farms with around 80 percent of total holdings less than 2 hectares (5 acres) and land mostly rainfed with only 30 percent irrigated. Around 55 percent of the Indian population depends on farming, as against less than 4 percent in US and other advanced economies, because

Mechanized farming is the way to go for India.

of heavy mechanization of agriculture. Because of poor availability of funds, farm inputs, poor support price structure for the produce and almost no farm insurance, farming in India is non-remunerative and half the farmers are in debt - the main reason for a large number of suicides. Also, without mechanization, farming is hard and back-breaking work. This has resulted in most farmers' children quitting farming and going for other vocations. Farmers get more money in selling their land to builders, malls and factories. This has put more pressure on farm land, thereby requiring technologies to increase the productivity so that shrinking farm land can feed billion plus people of India in the future. India, though one of the biggest producers of agricultural products, has very low farm productivity, with the average only 33 percent of the best farms world over. This needs to be increased so that farmers can get more remuneration from the same piece of land with less labor. Precision agriculture (PA) may provide a way to do it. Originating in US and Europe where farms are generally big (over 100 hectares), it sees extensive use of GPS for precise mapping of farms and - with appropriate software -

informs the farmer about status of his crop and which part of the farm requires inputs like water, fertilizer and pesticide, etc. PA in western countries is also characterized by increased mechanization with the use of heavy farm machinery (average power 100-200 kW) for all the farm and field operations such as sowing, harvesting, weeding, and baling. The machinery runs on fossil fuels and uses about 63 percent of the total energy used in farming - a significant amount. PA for small farms can use small farm machinery and robots which may also be amenable to run on renewable fuels like bio oil, compressed biogas and electricity produced on farms by agricultural residues. The energy efficiency of the machinery and operations could also be improved. For small farms, precision agriculture may include sub-surface drip irrigation for precise water and fertilizer application to the crops and robots for no-till sowing, weed removal, harvesting and other farming operations. Some of these robots are already being used on small farms in US and Europe and with vigorous R&D taking place, it is expected that they may be deployed in large scale in near future. Similarly drones are being used

quite regularly in Japan and US for insecticide application to the crops. PA elsewhere has shown tremendous increase in productivity, lowering of inputs and hence increased remuneration to the farmers. Besides it has helped improve the quality of land with no-till farming and less water usage. Similar things are possible in India with its use. However, farm machinery is costly and no farmer, including big ones, can afford it. Since precision agriculture is dependent on mechanization, this criticism is presently justified. However I feel the mechanization and PA may give rise in a big way to farm machinery leasing agencies in rural areas. These companies will lease the mechanized equipment, including drip irrigation systems, to the farmers and also provide trained manpower to run these machines. Such a thing already exists on limited scale in India where few agencies do the wheat harvesting using combines and spraying of crops. In western Maharashtra, more and more farmers are depending on mechanization offered by such agencies. It is also envisaged that these leasing companies may form the backbone of Indian agriculture by providing the necessary advice and manpower to the farmers on precision agriculture.

Tthe non-availability of inputs and labor on time is the biggest stumbling block to increase productivity of farms and remuneration. PA can help in this matter. To my mind the ultimate role of a farmer should be to identify better crops, use that seed to propagate it further and hence in effect become a breeder of sorts. Progressive farmers already do that and with more time available to them because of PA they may be able to help Indian agriculture to produce better and higher yielding varieties. Also the mechanisation will make the farming glamorous and may attract more people to take up farming in a big way. The most important component in taking PA forward will be in creating a huge resource of engineers, scientists and agriculturists to develop various components of the technology. There is a need for engineers from IITs, NITs, etc. to design machinery like robots and drones for PA. High tech PA therefore can help in bringing next green revolution to India and can produce tremendous rural wealth in a sustainable and environmentally sound way. Anil Rajvanshi is the director, Nimbkar Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) in Maharashtra.

By Jaideep Sarin

We can be among world's top 200 varsities: Panjab University VC

Chandigarh: Panjab University, alma mater of two PMs, a Nobel laureate and an astronaut, now wants to "hit the Top200 rankings" among world universities, said a top official after it was listed as the top Indian university, even ahead of the IITs, by the Times Higher Education world university rankings. "The universities with better rankings than us are good at pushing the frontiers of knowledge. They are good in research. This ranking has made us confident. Now we know what our competitors are doing," Panjab University's Vice Chancellor Arun Grover said. Based out of a 550-acre beautiful campus in Chandigarh, PU has emerged as the highest ranked Indian university in the top 400 institutions of its kind in the world. Having been placed among universities ranked 226-250th by Times Higher Education, PU is the only Indian institution of higher learning to inch closer to the Top-200 mark. "The forte of the Top-200 universities is in the graduate school programs and not under-graduate teaching like we do. We don't have a rigorous graduate program and that is one area where we want to concentrate. We have been talking and want to raise resources to run a good graduate program. We

Panjab Universitys Institute of Engineering & Technology

can then hit the Top-200 rankings," Grover said. The VC feels the latest ranking will help PU's students and faculty. "They will get better opportunities in India and abroad," he pointed out. PU's famous alumni include Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, former prime minister I.K. Gujral, former president Shankar Dayal Sharma and Nobel Laureate Hargobind Khurana, besides astronaut Kalpana Chawla, several union ministers, CEOs, corporate heads, top bureaucrats, army and

police officers. "The expectations from the IITs are very high. People think that IITs are the best. They get the best of students and faculty. Only a handful make it to these premier institutes. The rest come to universities. We have our constraints. Still we have been able to surge ahead," Grover said. Crediting faculty and officials in PU for effective presentations and filling up the required data to compete for the rankings, Grover admitted that the university always had the potential but never competed for the rankings. Promising to "adopt the work culture of the Top-100 universities in the world", Grover said that the effort would now be research focused, an area it scored poorly in. "We want to change that. We want to focus on research. We want to begin a pre-PhD program. We don't have the full faculty strength. The faculty is forced to take more lectures due to teaching load. Research needs a lot of time. You cannot be giving three lectures a day and then expected to carry out research activities also," he said. Grover said that students enrolling for research programs have no access to grants. "The grants from the center are limited. Students have to depend on these. 87 percent of our funds go to salaries. Due to this, we cannot give research fellowships," he said.

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

October 19-25, 2013

28

October 19-25, 2013

HUMOR

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Funny Bone by Nury Vittachi

Each of us has six doubles

A
top police officer showed reporters a photo of a wanted criminal - without realizing that it looked exactly like him! Citizens of Kuala Lumpur were highly amused to see senior assistant commissioner Ku Chin Wah issuing a warning while holding up what seemed to be a "selfie". Theories are flying that the criminal and the embarrassed cop are twins separated at birth, said reader Wendy Tong who sent me the links. Since there are seven billion people on earth, scientists say each of us has SIX exact doubles, she added. I'm tempted to find one of mine and move into his neighborhood so I can blame him for the extremely large number of stupid or dangerous things I do (as a married men, I get regular reminders of these). The Global Times reported that bus company employee Liu Yonggang of China was told that he had an exact double: same eyes, same hair, same number of eyes and ears, etc. He met the guy, Zeng Yong, and learned that they even shared the same birthday. "We're brothers," they realized, stunned. And then: "No. We're twins!" Yes, I know what you're thinking. Add an orchestral soundtrack and this is word-forword the screenplay of the Disney film "The Parent Trap". I hate the way real life keeps stealing stories from books and movies. Can we not take a class action lawsuit against Fate? Does Fate not respect copyright? And of course there was that Canadian couple who noticed that their adopted Chinese daughter Lily looked exactly like their friend's adopted Chinese daughter Gillian. The Chinese authorities said they were not related. But it quickly became obvious that the girls were identical twins, taking their first steps on the same day. As they reached the age of six, one of the dads told an ABC reporter: "Both girls like clothes." Well, that clinched it for me. In that instance, the Chinese authorities were wrong. The odd thing is that Beijing recently passed a "false rumors" law making it illegal to say anything untrue. Yet they do that every day! Here's an actual quote from Li Baodong, Chinese ambassador based in New York: "China has never restricted freedom of speech. There is no media censorship. We guarantee full religious freedom, and journalists, lawyers, human rights advocates have full freedom. The public can express their opinions freely and nobody will be punished or investigated for making opinions." No reporter was able to write this

down as we were all rolling on the floor laughing. Asian laws are strange. In India recently, a man was arrested for "drinking tea in a suspicious manner", the Times of India reported. The case made it all the way to a court in Mumbai, where the judge threw it out. Pity. I would have liked to have seen the arresting officer demonstrate how exactly one can

drink tea in an arrestable way. It may be that most of us do this regularly without realizing it, dicing with danger. If you do get arrested in India for drinking tea in a suspicious manner, I suggest you use this line: "It wasn't me: I have a twin I knew nothing about." And if they don't believe you, tell them to contact Kuala Lumpur's Ku Chin Wah.

Laughter is the Best Medicine

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

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

ASTROLOGY

October 19-25, 2013

29

By Dr Prem Kumar Sharma

Stars Foretell: October 19-25, 2013
ARIES: Innovative ideas & technical expertise would enable to win the confidence of seniors at professional front. Enjoying a picnic with family will not only bring joy but also help in clearing misunderstandings. Financial hassles will be eased out with the help of your friends. Someones timely help would enable visualizing succeeding in love. You attain a bloom in health on sharing happiness with others. Travelling on your own, with a friend or with the whole family will be exciting and comfortable too. Off-plan property investment is one of the easiest and most profitable methods to maximize gains in the real estate market. An auspicious week to engage yourself in social as well as religious functions. TAURUS: Service people, artists and those in creative field will get several new opportunities. Charming nature and pleasant personality would make you the attraction of family function in this week. Certain important plans will be executed, bringing fresh financial gains. Romantic imagination would keep you in a jovial & cheerful mood. A cheerful state of mind would allow enjoying the perfect health. Travel in comfort with kids to an adventurous place might be possible. Your property prices will boost in the coming period. Shopping with friends would bring unlimited joy in this week. GEMINI: Your greatest gains will come through your creative ideas at professional front. Family members appreciate the changes made in & around the house. Speculations are likely to bring monetary profits. The company of love partner makes you forget about the work. Divine knowledge from a saintly person provides solace & comfort. A trip that stimulates and gives opportunity for work is coming ahead. Buying property can lead to gains as property prices continue to increase. High time for to make mind and express whatever is in your heart. CANCER: Success is certain provided you work as a team. Friends and family members would encourage to work harder. Avoid overspending in order to impress others. Sudden romantic encounter will lift your spirits. Meditation and yoga prove beneficial for spiritual as well as physical gains. A luxurious getaway type vacation with your spouse waiting for you. You could buy the property that you are looking for. An ability to act swiftly would enable to tackle many personal problems. LEO: You will be on the seventh heaven when you receive recognition for your achievements at work. You are likely to hear a good news from close relatives. Monetary position is likely to improve later in the week. Attending a social event/family function brings a romantic encounter. A very healthy week when your cheerfulness gives the desired tonic and confidence. Thrilling experience is on your way, as your trip is full of excitement Investing on properties which are under developed will be profitable. A week when your favourable stars will add to your happiness. VIRGO: You will fail to explore the full potential of software/hardware skills. An old friend makes a pleasant visit later in the week. Your physical charm would catch the attraction of opposite sex. You are likely to maintain good health that would also give you success. Pack your bags as a happy, fun-filled holiday is looking forward. Whether young or old, now is the time to start investing. Revealing personal & confidential information would act a blessing in disguise for you. LIBRA: You are likely to realise that interviewing is not an easy job. Evening enjoyed with family and close relatives brings immense pleasure. You succeed in making some extra cash on playing your cards well. Love life blossoms paving the way for lovely times ahead. A continuous positive thinking gets rewarded as you succeed in whatever you do in this week. An enriching vacation full of fun is what you need. Looking for good long term investments, then go for a property which is under construction. A week when you could attract towards charity & social servicing. SCORPIO: Your creativity will amaze people around you besides enhancing career prospects. You are likely to plan a short trip with family. An auspicious week to invest money on items that would grow in value. A romantic encounter is likely to add spice to life. Creative hobbies are likely to keep you relaxed. Time to make your vacation a dream come true. Value the property at right price to attract buyers for it. Timely help to a needy friend would help in solving personal problems. SAGITTARIUS: New job opportunities for some will be better than expected. Unexpected visit by old friend could give you a pleasant surprise. Investment on long-term plans would pave the way for earning financial gains. Romantic partner would try innovative methods to catch your attention. With a positive outlook & confidence, you succeed in impressing people around you. Affordable luxury vacation will explore your desires. It always is exciting to begin looking at homes for sale in your area. You get a golden opportunity to enjoy some recreational activities. CAPRICORN: At work you are likely to win appreciation and awards for past efforts. Good advice from family members will help in reducing mental tension/pressure. Improvement in finances makes it convenient in clearing long pending dues & bills. Initiatives in love bring positive results as you catch the desired attention. Mental alertness would enable to solve a tricky problem. Perfect getaway time for you and your partner. Buying cheap property in the right location can provide you triple gain annually. You will be highly benefited by your sense of humour. AQUARIUS: Timely and swift action would give an edge over others at professional front. Sudden good news in the evening will bring cheers for the entire family. Successful execution of brilliant ideas would help in earning financial profits. Your generous attitude would contribute much in your love life in this week. A cheerful state of mind brings mental peace. A group of friends or your partner is looking forward for a vacation with you. Investing in property business sounds very appealing. Some decisions going in your favour would put you on the top of the world. PISCES: Colleagues and subordinates will lend a helping hand enabling to complete the work on time. Your efforts bring success & happiness at family front. A very successful week as far as monetary position is concerned. Extremely supportive & loving partner would help in withering away your troubles. Good time to divert attention to spirituality to enhance mental toughness. A leisure trip will prove to be a premium time for you. Banks love to finance those, who invest in properties which are under development. Nothing is impossible for you provided you have the will.

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

Annual Predictions: For those born in this week

19th October, 2013 Ruled planet:SunRuled by no: 1 Traits in you: As you are influenced by the Sun, you possess the nature to become strong, truthful, reliable, confident, responsible and creative. You are devoted to your father as you consider him to be your friend, mentor and inspiration. Despite of being a well mannered individual, you are stubborn and careless. You need to work on your negative characteristics to improve as a human being. Health this year: You will find peace of mind if you follow spirituality. Finance this year: You may go for transaction of your properties. You may go for constructing new house or renovating old one. Career this year: Association with creative individuals will help you gain a lot of knowledge, money appreciation, and recognition. This year your performance will be exceptional and you can easily impress your seniors and higher management. You will be able to showcase your responsibility taking capacity in your profession and that will allow you grow and reach new heights. Romance this year: Your romantic life would be extra ordinary this year. You will not find your spouse to be supportive enough. You may suffer a lot in your personal life as well. Lucky month: January, April, June and September 20th October, 2013 Ruled planet: Moon Ruled by no:2 Traits in you: Under the influence of your ruling planet, you have obtained characteristics such as creativity, emotions, honesty, simplicity and generosity. You are very good at understanding critical situations and act according to the demand of the criticality of the situation. You are also an eternal learner as you believe learning is a never ending process and ever helpful. Though you have an attractive and pleasing personality, you also have shortcomings as a human being. You should not show your mood swings as that creates a negative impression. Health this year: As far as your health is concerned, it will be sound. However, your parent's health may degrade and make you a bit worried. Finance this year: You may plan frequent business trips this year and all your trips will be successful as they will earn you a lot of money and business. Career this year: You will be confident enough to fight any adverse situation or take any challenge in your life this year. If you are looking for a job change, the middle months of the year will be ideal to do so as you may receive exceptional job offers. Romance this year: You will enjoy an exceptionally good time with your partner. You may plan for marriage this year as well. Lucky month: November, April, July and October 21st October, 2013 Ruled planet: Jupiter Ruled by no: 3 Traits in you: Your governing planet bestows energy, honor, ambition, dignity and intelligence on you. As you have a charismatic personality, you will easily make friends. Your commitment and honesty helps you gain appreciation and rewards. You should control your ambitions as it may make you rude and careless at times. Health this year: Your health will remain good provided you take a good care of your health. You may consult doctor to take preventive vaccines and medicines to remain healthy. Finance this year: If you are into consulting business, this year will bring you lot more customers and of course a huge income. You may invest but you should be well aware of loses that may happen if you invest without any prior research on the market conditions. You should not behave extra friendly with strangers. You should not disclose your innovative ideas or plans to someone else as it may make you face loses later. It is advisable not to lend or borrow money. If want to lend money, then be extra cautious. You need to take care of your valuable personally to avoid loss and theft. Career this year: You may not find your new project beneficial at once. However, it will grow gradually to benefit you. Romance this year: You may get involved in a new romantic relationship. If you have reached the age to marriage and you are financially stable, you may get married later this year. Lucky month: October, February and August 22nd October, 2013 Ruled planet:Uranus Ruled by no:4 Traits in you: As you are influenced by Uranus, you are full of positive energy. You are honest, reliable, cheerful, and highly honorable. Your personality is pretty attractive and influential. You should not be lazy if you want to grow mentally, physically, and financially. Health this year: You should go for regular medical checkups this year as there are chances of degradation of your health conditions. Finance this year: You may find new and innovative money making business this year and it will also click for you. You will be able to improve your financial conditions later this year. You may end up spending a lot in maintaining a comfortable and luxurious lifestyle. You may go forward investing on real estate and stocks as it may bring you long term benefits. You should plan for foreign trips to enhance the territory of your business as it will result in monetary gain later. Career this year: You have the ability to handle every crucial task in a simple way and that makes you get appreciation from your peers and seniors in your profession. Romance this year: You will be enjoying love, care, and support from your spouse or partner throughout the year. If you have become eligible for marriage, you will receive many marriage proposals this year. Lucky month: November, May, June and August 23rd October,2013 Ruled planet:MercuryRuled by no:5 Traits in you: Mercury being your ruling planet blesses you with practicability, sensitivity, diplomacy and optimism. You are the master of a intelligent brain, sound health, and an influential character. To grow as a better human being, you should avoid being lazy and arrogant at times. Health this year: You may have to visit distant pilgrimages to attain mental peace. You will enjoy a sound health but one of your aged family members health may degrade and put you in immense stress. Finance this year: You will be benefited from your previous investments. You may go for innovative ideas and stat new thing in your life this year. You are advised to create new contacts and make friends with new people as they will come forward to help you later during your financial crisis. Career this year: As you are an intellectual person, people in your professional surroundings will hold you in a high esteem and sought your advice and help. You should grab every opportunity come across you with both hands as it will prove beneficial for you later. Romance this year: You will improve your relationship with your partner with lots of love, care and concern. Lucky month:November, February, June and September 24th October, 2013 Ruled planet:Venus Ruled by no:6 Traits in you: Your ruling planet Venus makes you the master of a highly dynamic and charismatic personality. You are independent, daring and ambitious by nature. Being very social, you love to make friends with educated and intelligent people. You have the attractive nature to make friends with ease. You should avoid being stubborn and lazy. You need to control your mood swings to share a better relationship with your friends and family. Health this year: In spite of minor health issues during the initial months of the year, you will enjoy a good health throughout the year. You may practice meditation and yoga for better results. Finance this year: You will be benefited hugely financially this year. You may invest in real estate business as it may bring you unexpected returns. You may go for long trips to distant places for business purpose Career this year: Your energetic performance in your profession will bring you recognition and increment in salary. Romance this year: Your romantic life may touch new heights this year as you may get married during the last few months of the year. Lucky month: December, February, June and August 25th October, 2013 Ruled planet:7Ruled by no:Neptune Traits in you: Being ruled by Neptune, you are independent, intelligent, quick, confident and sociable by nature. You are very joyful and amusing by nature as you have an exceptional sense of humor. You should not behave jealous, introvert and self-centered. Health this year: You will be enjoying a normal sound health. However, minor health issues may bother you throughout the year. Finance this year: You may suffer from instant losses and gain will also be spontaneous. To avoid such situations, you need to take decisions very wisely after researching on all aspects. Career this year: You are not a big fan of office politics as you dislike arguments and conflicts. You will enjoy new hopes and possibilities in your profession this year. You will get results according to your efforts. However, you will have the luck factor with you. Your creativity will help you get success and recognition in life. You need to develop good relationships with people who are in higher positions as they may help you obtain your goal. Romance this year: Your romantic life will be exceptionally good. You will share your emotions with your partner and this will improve your relationship. Lucky month: January, March, May and October

30

October 19-25, 2013

SPIRITUAL AWARENESS

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Peace of mind, heart & soul

By Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj
bances is the fact that most human beings have an ongoing fear of death. We are afraid of dying, and that fear is always nagging us, always keeping us from being peaceful. There are only a few people in the world who can go beyond these disturbances, who can rise above them and see life from a higher angle of vision. When we learn about the spiritual science, it gives us insight into between and behind the two eyebrows. It is the place from which the soul leaves the body and enters the worlds within. Once we go into the worlds within, we see the divine Light of God. We see the inner sky, the stars, the moon, and the inner sun until we ultimately reach our true spiritual home and have union of our soul with God. Each of us is capable of enjoying this spiritual flight through the process of meditation. When we our universal Father, which can be experienced through meditation on the inner Light and Sound, is not subject to change. Being receptive to divine love is like taking a dip in the ocean of intoxication. Our hearts are filled with peace. When we are loved by God and we really feel it, then our heart is dancing with joy. It is filled to overflowing with the divine nectar of Gods love. There are no bounds to its ecstasy. are neither the body nor the mind that our soul yearns to go back to its True Home, and it knows no peace until it is again united with its Creator. We may gain peace of mind. We may gain peace of the heart. Peace of the soul, however, only comes when our soul merges with God. When we enter those states in which we experience peace within us, then that peace radiates from us to others. It goes from us to

any people want to take some time off from their day-to-day jobs so that they can take a vacation. They want to get away from the drudgery of their day-to-day life to relax and find some peace of mind. They wish to get away from the daily troubles and worries of life and experience happiness by being in a place where they can enjoy themselves. Most people, however, want to experience peace not only for a few fleeting moments, but for all times. There are three levels of peace that occur simultaneously. There is peace of mind, peace of heart, and peace of soul. Peace of mind is not only essential to our daily lives, but it is very helpful in our spiritual journey back to God. When we analyze what happens during the day, we know that there are countless occurrences that keep us from experiencing peace. When we review what we did all day long, we find that there were a lot of disturbances, whether we had problems at our jobs, in our families, or in any other activities. Underlying all other distur-

Spirituality and meditation not only provides us with peace of mind, but it also gives us peace of heart. Each human being needs love and each human being can give love. The spiritual path provides us with a means of lasting love and happiness because the love of God is beyond time and space.
true peace of mind. When we start to know about the spiritual way, we realize that death is just an illusion. We learn that our real existence is not this human body, but in reality we are the soul that inhabits this body. There is no doubt that our body will perish one day, but the soul gives the body life and never dies. It just changes its state. Just as we change our clothes, the soul changes one body and goes to another. The seat of the soul is located enter the worlds within, then the fear of death leaves us. We realize that we are not the body but are the soul, and the soul is immortal. Spirituality and meditation not only provides us with peace of mind, but it also gives us peace of heart. Each human being needs love and each human being can give love. The spiritual path provides us with a means of lasting love and happiness because the love of God is beyond time and space. The love that we get from Every so often our soul awakens to its true nature. The sweet voice of God calls us. It tries to awaken the soul, and we have an experience which is stirring, which changes our life. That experience could be the haunting music of the violins. It could be the verses of a poet that speak of God or the divinity we see in nature. It could also be the shock we experience when we lose a loved one and realize that this body is not our real home. It is when we understand that we everyone else that we come in contact with. If you have peace in your heart, if you have peace of mind, if you have peace in your soul, then that peace is going to radiate from you to so many people, and you will become very effective in spreading joy and peace all around you. Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj is head of Sawan Kirpal Ruhani Mission / Science of Spirituality with international headquarters in Delhi, India. For more information contact www.sos.org.

Lifes awakening moments

n each persons life a moment comes when we have a transcendent experience or a revelation in which we become aware that we have a higher purpose in this world. Suddenly, amidst the daily rituals of waking up, getting dressed, going to work, eating, and sleeping, we get a glimpse that there is something more to this life. That moment may come when we are a child. It may come to us while a teenager, or it may come in adult life. Some may have it when they are young adults, and some have it in their senior years of life. Whenever it comes, it leaves us transformed. Suddenly, we begin to question who we are, why we are here, where we go when we die, and what our purpose in life is. Read about the life of any of the great saints and mystics and you will find some life-transforming experience that awakened their quest.

Sant Mat
S
ant Mat, the Path of the Saints, reflects the core teachings of saints and mystics through the ages. People new to this path often say they are attracted by its simplicity, integrity, and effectiveness in fostering spiritual growth. Although Sant Mat was born centuries ago in India, it is in many ways ideal for the modern seeker. Followed under the guidance of a living spiritual Master, these teachings couple meditation on the inner Light and Sound with an inclusive, positive way of living. At the heart of Sant Mat are these simple principles: There is one God of all creation, though people worship the Lord by different names and through different practices. While Sant Mat respects all faiths, it stresses that religion has two dimensionsouter and inner. Sant Mat focuses on the inner dimensionthe deep spiritual essence known as mysticism. Mysticism looks beyond rites, rituals, and scriptural knowledge and pursues spirituality as a matter of personal inner experience. Sant Mat expresses the deepest values of every great spiritual traditionlove for God, compassion for Gods creation, and a daily life grounded in ethical values. Sant Mats unique contribution is distilling these noble ideals into a simple, universal spiritual path and then providing the tools and techniques to make them a personal reality. Sant Mat does not demand that we renounce our families or societies. Instead, we can pursue our spiritual goals while leading normal lives.

Once these burning questions arise, there is no turning back. We are restless until we find the solution. Before our awakening, it is like we are sleeping. Our soul has been asleep for aeons. We started out in the lap of God but became lost in the attractions of the world. We have forgotten our true Home. We are in a state of slumber or forgetfulness that we are souls, a part of God. We think we are the mind and the body and have forgotten our true essence as soul, as a part of the Creator.

The need for a living master

A competent teacher speeds our progress. It's a common sense principle of life: studying with one who has mastered the subject we wish to learn accelerates our learning. That's why seekers throughout history have turned to spiritual Masters. By virtue of their own inner awakening, these Masters awaken others. As much as we revere Masters of the past, Sant Mat stresses the importance of a living guide. Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

October 19-25, 2013

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

October 19-25, 2013

PAID FOR BY FRIENDS OF ED MANGANO