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INDIA INDEPENDENCE DAY SPECIAL - PAGES 35-62 FIA SPECIAL SECTION – PAGES 8‑32 excellence in journalism
 The South Asian Times
e x c e l l e n c e i n j o u r n a l i s m
Vol.11 No. 16 August 18-24, 2018 80 Cents New York Edition Follow us on TheSouthAsianTimes.info

New Delhi: Making his last Independence Day address

Prime Minister Modi

More on Modi’s I‐Day
to the nation here on August 15 ahead of the 2019 Lok speech on page
Sabha polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted
that he was impatient and restless to take the country 35
ahead of many others which had overtaken India. He See our special

'impatient to take
promised housing, power, water, sanitation and health‑ section celebrating
care for all in his mission to take the country to new India’s 72nd
heights. Two highlights of his speech stand out. Modi Independence
told the nation that ISRO is gearing up to send a Day ‐ pages
manned mission to space by 2022. His ambitious
34-62
India to new heights' Ayushman Bharat scheme (dubbed Modicare)
will be launched next month as it aims to
provide a coverage of Rs 500,000 per family
Continued on page 5

Addressing the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on August 15, Prime Minister
Narendra Modi announced a national health scheme and a manned mission to space by 2022.

Vajpayee, the moderate FIA invites

face of BJP, is no more all to India
New Delhi:
Former Prime
Minister Atal
Bihari Vajpayee,
the mo derate
Day Parade
New York: FIA President Srujal Parikh has invit‑
face of the BJP
ed people through The South Asian Times to
who attracted
“come celebrate India and its independence at
allies and formed
Madison Avenue” in NYC by attending the 38th
the first saf fron
India Day Parade on August 19, the largest out‑
government at
side India. He was speaking to the premier
the Centre in the
Indian American newspaper as part of its
1990s, died here
Independence Day special issue that has a spe‑
Tuesday after a A sketch of the departed leader by Mahendra Shah.
cial section on FIA (NY‑NJ‑CT). On August 15, Indian Consul General Sandeep Chakravorty
long illness. The and FIA President Srujal Parikh at the ceremony in
Continued on page 5 FIA collaborated with Continued on page 5
93‑year‑old leader had faded from Manhattan to illuminate the Empire State
public life for more than a decade SEE PAGE 72 FOR FIA SECTION – PAGES 8‑32. Building. (Inset: the lit up building)
following health complications. TRIBUTE TO VAJPAYEE.

TRISTATE I-DAY 48 AIR INDIA MAHARAJA 59 OP EDS 73 SPIRITUAL AWARENESS 84 excellence in journalism
TheSouthAsianTimes.info INDIA DAY SPECIAL August 18-24, 2018
TheSouthAsianTimes.info TURN PAGE August 18-24, 2018 5

Prime Minister Modi

FIA President’s Message Publisher’s Message 'impatient to take India
I, Srujal Parikh, congratulate the prosperous Indian diaspora on the to new heights'
occasion of Indiaʼs 72nd Independence Day this Aug. 15th. Dear Friends, Continued from page 3
FIA was founded on the premise of promot‑ A very Happy 72nd Independence Day of annually, benefiting more than
ing ethnic solidarity through various pro‑ India. Vande Mataram! 100 million poor families.
grams, events, community service and We are proud to present our annu‑ Indiaʼs 72nd Independence Day
cultural activities. We have organ‑ al Special Edition commemorating was celebrated across the nation
ized several events celebrating and celebrating Independence with the usual fervor with rallies
Indiaʼs culture and supporting day of our motherland, India, and processions. Indian diaspora
community initiatives. This year coinciding with India Day too celebrated the historic day
"Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – Parade, organized by the with events, especially flag hoist‑
World is one family" is the theme Federation of Indian ings particularly at Indian mis‑
to commemorate Indiaʼs 72nd Associations (NY‑NJ‑CT). sions.
Independence Day celebration This year, India Day Special
with the largest Independence Edition is much more special as it Vajpayee, the moderate
India Day parade outside India. We was published in association with face of BJP, is no more
at FIA are committed to exploring FIA. Our heartfelt appreciations to Continued from page 3
alternative connections, inspiring hopes FIA Chairman Mr. Ramesh Patel, Prime Minister Narendra Modi
and working together for positive change in President Mr. Srujal Parikh, Media Chair Mr. convened a meeting of the Union
the spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. We want to remind the world that Ankur Vaidya and to all members of FIA Executive Board for providing Cabinet which condoled the death
despite our differences, we are still one family, and this movement, this opportunity again after 8 years. of the BJP patriarch and declared
which people believe in, is alive and growing. Since 2010 when we first presented a Special Edition of The South a 7‑day national mourning and a
At FIA, we believe in the mantra of finding success in our diversity and Asian Times celebrating the 40th Anniversary of FIA, we have been state funeral for him on Friday.
uniqueness. The mission of the FIA is to foster and promote cultural and closely watching the role of FIA towards betterment of Indian diaspora Rich tributes poured in from
social interactions among the members and our community. FIA con‑ in the United States. across the political spectrum in
cerns itself with the social welfare of Indian Americans and supports The largest India Day Parade outside the India in the heart of New India for Vajpayee who had the
them by organizing community events like Women Empowerment York City and all other initiatives of FIA have conclusively put Indian reputation of having no enemies
Summit, Visa Camps, College Fair, celebrating Cultural shows and cele‑ communities of North America on top of the world map of Indian in politics.
brating Indiaʼs largest Independence Day Parade, outside India, in New Diaspora. They have preserved and promoted the patriotic emotions in US Ambassador to India
York. It is a great privilege and honor for me to serve as the President of each Indian soul, thousands of miles away from our home. Kenneth Juster on Thursday con‑
FIA. I want to take this moment to thank the entire FIA family from the We appreciate and salute the hard work and dedication of the 48 doled Vajpayeeʼs death, saying he
Chairman to the Board of Trustees, Board of Directors, my colleagues at years old organization which has played a pivotal role in uniting Indian contributed immensely to Indo‑US
the Executive Committee and my fellow Committee members. The dream diaspora in our adopted land, America. It goes without saying that ties.
was also brought into reality with the sponsors and media support who innumerable selfless man‑hours have gone into achieving this and FIA
have bestowed the FIA family with support and warm wishes and have deserves all the accolades. FIA invites
taken up all initiatives put forth by FIA and supported the organization Since its inception, The South Asian Times has earned an immaculate all to India Day Parade
whole heartedly. reputation in its excellence in journalism: value‑based content, clean Continued from page 3
I take this opportunity to thank all those who have guided me in the and crisp display and qualitative advertising. We, the team at The the iconic Empire State Building in
right direction and assisted me in focusing on the righteous causes and South Asian Times, sincerely thank all our supporters who have been New York to illuminate it with
take actions that will continue the progress of Indian diaspora. FIA is the our partners in our gracious success. Our family oriented, unique Indian flag colors, which was done
grassroots organization of the Indian diaspora in the tri‑state area. FIA vision has set new trends in South Asian media industry of North with a special ceremony.
represents the hopes and aspirations of the immigrants who are united America both in print & online. We take great pride in being a leader in
by their common bond of Indian Heritage and American Commitment. ethnic news print media and publishing a most read and adored news‑
My very special commendation to Mr. Kamlesh Mehta and his team for paper in the tri‑state area.
publishing the India Day Special Edition of The South Asian Times with For yet another year we present our India Day Special Edition. Hope
an exclusive supplement on FIA. you will enjoy the result of the efforts put in by our editorial team.
My special appreciation to my wife Krina and my children Riddhi and Please share your views by writing to Editor@thesouthasiantimes.info.
Rushabh for supporting me in all the decisions I made to provide my Thank you so much,
With warm greetings, and Jai Hind!
service to our community to make a difference.
God Bless & Jai Hind!
Kamlesh C. Mehta
Srujal Parikh Chairman & Publisher
FIA President

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 8 August
August 1
18-24,
8-24, 2018
2018 THE PARADE

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 the parade August 18-24, 2018 9

Well, with winds of change cor-

rective steps from within are being
taken. Last president of the volun-
tary run organization was Andy
Bhatia, a non-Gujarati. The current
Executive Vice President, a strong
contender to get elected President
is Alok Kumar, of Bihari origin.
People familiar with the his-
tory and achievements of FIA give
full credit to Ramesh Patel, who
served two terms as its President
in 1988-90 and has been Chair-
man for many years now. Called
variously as Iron Man, Sardar Pa-
tel of the Indian community and
Bhisham Pitamah of FIA, he was
ready to lead when the commu-
nity was just finding its feet. He
was among the first to realize the
importance of uniting the com-
munity to influence political, dip-
lomatic and legislative decisions.
Not only FIA, he played a pioneer- well as politics have served as Grand picting Indian culture and tradi- ends in a colorful Indian fair bill to mark the day. And a day af-
ing role in forming numerous or- Marshals of the grander parade. tions. The hundreds of thousands which features cuisine from In- ter the parade, FIA also now holds a
ganizations to represent and fight Now key civic and community who throng the parade enjoy the dia, and stalls showcasing Indian gala reception in New Jersey where
for issues of the Indian diaspora. leaders, marching bands and oth- great pageantry of Indian arts, handicrafts and textiles. Even the people can mingle with the celebs.
Back to the India Day Parade. It er social groups join the parade crafts, music and cuisine. Empire State Building is lit up in Fast forward and get ready
found its feet when in the 1980s, to show their support. A massive Amidst the old and loud desh- Indian tricolors on and around for the 40th India Day Parade in
FIA came up with the idea of in- wave of patriotism descends on bhakti songs blaring from trucks August 15 in a salute to India. 2020, which FIA Chairman Ra-
viting Bollywood stars to attract the streets of New York with tri- come bands of live music. The Around the Independence Day, mesh Patel told this newspaper
crowds. And it worked beautifully. colors seen everywhere to ‘Salute Jallosh Dhol Tasha band stand the Grand Marshal and other digni- will be grander than ever, with in-
Since 1983, some of the biggest India’. For many years now the out with their lezhim and drums taries as well as FIA officials are in- vitations to all living Grand Mar-
names from Bollywood, music as highlights of IDPs is the floats de- in a burst of saffron. The parade vited to Nasdaq to ring the closing shals from the parades past.

The India Day Parade on August 19, a Sunday, this

time will start at 12 noon, from the corner of East
38th Street and Madison Avenue. It is always kicked
off by NYPD officers, band and mounted police. It
heads down Madison Avenue towards 27th Street
and ends there. The review stage and press stand is
at 29th -30th street. The celebrities - Grand Mar-
shals, Chief Guests and Guests of Honor, mostly
Bollywood celebrities, get to be on the review stand
at 29th, making it easier for them to see and be
closer to the crowd. Food and merchandise stalls
can be found on 26th Street while an ongoing cul-
tural show is at 24th-25th Street where the celebs
get a chance to address the public.
- President Srujal Parikh
 10 August 18-24, 2018 GRAND MARSHAL

Kamal Haasan
Dynamic Actor, Director, Producer,
Indian Politician, Padma Bhushan awardee

Grand Marshal, India Day Parade

P arathasarathi Srinivasan, professionally known as Kamal Haasan,

is an Indian politician, film actor, Director, screenwriter, producer,
playback singer and lyricist who works primarily in Tamil cinema.

Kamal has won many top awards including four National Film Awards, and
19 Filmfare Awards. His production company, Rajkamal International, has
produced several of his films. In February this year, Kamal Haasan formally
launched his political party, Makkal Needhi Maiam (People’s Justice Centre).

He started his career as a child artist in the 1960 Tamil language

film Kalathur Kannamma, for which he won the President’s Gold Med-
al. His breakthrough as a lead actor came in the 1975 drama Apoorva
Raagangal, directed by K. Balachander, in which he played a rebellious
youth who falls in love with an older woman. He was noted for his per-
formances in Mani Ratnam’s Nayakan (1987) and S. Shankar’s vigilante
film Indian (1996), which saw him playing dual roles of a father
and a son. Since then he has appeared in films including Hey
Ram (2000), Virumaandi (2004), Vishwaroopam (2013)
which were his own productions and Dasavathaaram
(2008) in which he played ten roles.

Kamal received in 1990 the Padma Shri, in

2014 the Padma Bhushan for his contri-
butions to Indian cinema and Ordre des
Arts et des Lettres (Chevalier) in 2016.
He is FIA’s 38th India Day Parade’s
Grand Marshal.

Shruti Haasan
Actress, Singer

Guest of Honor, IDP

S hruti Haasan is an Indian film actress and singer who works predomi-
nantly in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi language films. She is the daughter
of actors Kamal Haasan and Sarika Thakur. She is the recipient of two
Filmfare Awards South and has established herself as one of the leading
actresses of South Indian cinema.

As a child artist, she sang in films and appeared in a guest role in her fa-
ther’s directorial Hey Ram (2000), before making her adult acting debut in
the 2009 Bollywood film Luck. She achieved recognition with leading roles
in the Telugu romantic comedy Oh My Friend (2011), the Telugu fantasy
film Anaganaga O Dheerudu (2011), and the Tamil science fiction thriller
7aum Arivu (2011) and several hit films including Gabbar Singh (2012),
Vedalam (2015), Srimanthudu (2015), and Si3 (2017).

Shruti is also an established playback singer.

TheSouthAsianTimes.info INDIA DAY SPECIAL August 18-24, 2018
12 August 18-24, 2018 MESSAGES
PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA
MESSAGE
I am happy to learn that the Federation of
Indian Associations has chosen
"VasudhaivaKutumbakam" as the theme for
this year's India Day Parade.
It is a theme that has resonated with
Indian values since times immemorial, and a
key pillar of our foreign policy. The Indian
community in the United States is an important part of the
American society, as also a strong bond between India and the
United States.
I am told that this Parade is one of the largest celebrations of
India's Independence Day outside India. And I understand that it
has become an important part of New York City's cultural
calendar.
I convey my greetings to all participants of the India Day
Parade, and wish the Parade all success.
(Narendra Modi)
New Delhi
July 21, 2018
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
PRESIDENT REPUBLIC OF INDIA
MESSAGE
I am happy to learn that the Federation of
Indian Associations (FIA) is organising the 38th
India Day Parade in New York on August 19, 2018,
to commemorate 70 years of Independence. The
theme of this year's parade —
VasudhaivaKutumbakam or the World is a Family
— profoundly captures the Indian ethos. I am con‐
fident this message will have great resonance in the United States.
I am also pleased to note that the Parade portrays the diversity of
our country in such an inclusive manner, with the participation of sever‐
al organisations and representatives of various regions of India. The
achievements of the Indian community in the United States are a mat‐
ter of pride. The community has helped forge close relations between
two leading democracies and two societies shaped by enterprise, hard
work and cherished values. That the celebration of India's
Independence Day in taking place in such a grand manner in New York
is touching.
In this context, I extend my warm greetings and felicitations to all
those associated with the Federation and I wish the India Day Parade
every success.
(Ram NathKovind)
New Delhi
July 21, 2018
 HONORED GUESTS August 18-24, 2018 13

Chintu Patel C hintu Patel, R.Ph., is the co-founder, co-CEO and co-Chairman of
Amneal Pharmaceuticals, one of the largest generic pharmaceu-
tical companies in the US and the fastest growing generic company
globally, currently employing more than 6,000 people across the
Co-Chairman, Amneal globe. Chintu founded the company in 2002 with a vision to provide
Pharmaceuticals, Philanthropist patients with a greater access to high quality, affordable medicines
and improve the quality of life for patients around the world. Am-
neal’s corporate culture prides itself on the shared belief that the
Community Grand Marshal legacy of the company is based on a strong sense of family values,
and that every employee is a member of the Amneal family. He holds
a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from Rutgers College of Pharmacy.

Chintu was born and raised in Ahmedabad, India, before migrating to the United States in
1987. Chintu and his wife Falguni Patel have undertaken several initiatives of giving back to
the communities of both US and India through the medium of Irada Foundation, a charitable
trust geared towards socially uplifting the people in need. Some of the initiatives undertaken by
his foundation to support his vision include Comprehensive Cancer Awareness Program, Mobile
Medical Units, First Aid Readiness and Preventive Healthcare Awareness Programs. He has also
been involved with Habitat for Humanity and the educational non-profit KaBoom.

Chintu along with his brother Chirag Patel was honored with the Ernst & Young National
Entrepreneurs of the year, Life Sciences award in 2011 for their outstanding business achieve-
ments. He has been a strong advocate for both business and non-profit endeavors. Chintu has
been a featured speaker at the Hauppauge Industrial Association in New York and serves on
the boards of the Long Island Association and Make-a-Wish foundation. Recently, he was the
featured Keynote speaker at LIU’s Arnold and Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy and Health
Sciences commencement ceremony of 2017. He was also a keynote speaker at AAPI convention
2017 held at Atlantic City, NJ.

Last year, Chintu also forayed into movie production industry, setting up a production house
in Mumbai. Through this venture, Chintu aims to promote new talent in the Indian film industry
and produce quality regional and national content with an intention to spread a socially progres-
sive message to the audience. His first movie venture titled Iraada won two National Film Awards.

In October 2017, Impax Labs a NASDAQ listed company announced that it has entered into an
agreement to merge its business with Amneal Pharmaceuticals. The combined company will be
the fifth largest US generics company with a combined value of $ 9 Billion and 7,500 employees
globally. Chintu will assume the role of Co-Chairman in the combined company.

Kailash Kher Anupam Kher

Music Composer, Singer Actor, Director, Padma Bhushan

Chief Guest NBC Guest

K ailash was born in 1973 in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh. Brought up in a
musical atmosphere, he was enchanted by music and used to listen to
his father’s Indian folks songs.
Kailash Kher is an Indian film music composer and pop - rock based
singer - with a music style influenced by Indian folk music and Sufi mu-
sic. He is a prominent singer in Hindi Gujarati, Nepali, Tamil, Telugu,
Malayalam, Kannada, Bengali, Odia and Urdu languages. He has sung
more than 700 songs in movies apart from 5 hugely popular and suc-
cessful private albums.
He is a Padma Shri awardee and the recipient of Filmfare Awards for
Best Male Playback Singer from the Bollywood movie Fanaa (2006).
A nupam Kher is an Indian actor and the current Chairman of Film
and Television Institute of India (FTII). He is the recipient of two
National Film Awards and eight Filmfare Awards. He has appeared in
over 500 films in several languages and many plays. He won the Filmfare
Award for Best Actor for his performance in Saaransh (1984). Besides
Hindi films, he has also appeared in many acclaimed international films
such as the Golden Globe nominated Bend It Like Beckham (2002), Ang
Lee’s Golden Lion-winning Lust, Caution (2007), and David O. Russell’s
Oscar winning Silver Linings Playbook (2013).
He has held the post of chairman of the Central Board of Film Certifica-
tion and the National School of Drama in India. He was the Grand Marshal
of FIA’s India Day Parade 1992 and Guest of Honor in IDP 1998.

Srujal Parikh is one FIA President who is well liked by others in the FIA (NY-NJ-CT) as well as in the media. He is humble, hardworking and dedi-
cated to community service – the last he says he imbibed from his parents growing up in Baroda, India. Based in New Jersey, he is currently work-
ing as a Certified IT Administrator with the NYPD, the force he says are of immense help in organizing a safe and orderly India Day Parade. FIA
President Parikh spoke to The South Asian Times about their flagship event, India Day Parade, their other under the radar community service ac-
tivities and projects, his 2018 themes of women empowerment and Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, even his love for cricket. Excerpts from an interview:
By Parveen Chopra
The South Asian Times: What
are some of the highlights of
the parade now in its 38th year?
Srujal Parikh: FIA was founded for
- and is dedicated to - both commu-
nity service and propagation of In-
dian culture through various activi-
ties and programs. The India Day
parade is the largest celebration of
India’s Independence Day outside
India. This is our major event, and
is so even for the Indian diaspora.
This year our major theme is Va-
sudhaiva Kutumbakam (The World
is One Family) and we are working
in that spirit. That is why we have
invited the Caribbean community
to get involved. Dignitaries from
Antigua are coming for the parade
as are Sri Lankan dignitaries.
We have 36 + floats taken by lo-
cal organizations and media groups,
all highlighting the culture of India,
and many marching groups and
professional bands. The Empire
State Building was also lit up in the
Indian tricolor on August 15.
What is this Make in India
section as part of the parade?
Srujal Parikh: We are promoting
many of the initiatives and plat-
forms of the Government of India,
such as Make in India and Swachh
Bharat (Clean India). The Govern-
ment is also taking a Make in India
float at our parade through the In-
dian consulate. Vasudhaiva Kutum-
bakam has also been adopted by
Indian Prime Minister Narendra
Modi. Both PM Modi and President
Ram Nath Kovind have sent us at
FIA greetings and good wishes for
the grand success of the parade.
What are you doing to attract
the second generation of Indian
Americans, the younger crowd?
Srujal Parikh: That is why we have
Mickey Singh, the 27-year-old India
American singer, songwriter, danc-
er and actor who mixes Punjabi
and English music. We also have
the honor of having Chintu Patel,
Co-Chairman of Amneal Pharma-
ceuticals, as the Community Grand
14 August 18-24, 2018 INTERVIEW
- Srujal Parikh, President
Marshal. His presence is to show-
case how the second generation or
even the first generation of Indi-
ans are excelling in the corporate
world. His presence will inspire
our youth that sky is the limit for
what you can achieve in America.
Do you know, Chintu is also a film
producer, and his last film, ‘Irada’
even won National awards in India.
He is a role model for all of us.
Tell us about your
association with NYPD.
Srujal Parikh: The New York Po-
lice Department has been playing
a vital role in this parade for the
last 30 years. They are the ones
who ensure that the parade goes
smoothly. Their troops make ar-
rangements and ensure that as
crowds surge, no one gets hurt and
our celebrity guests from India are
safe. Being part of FIA for many
years, I have been very proud of the
role NYPD plays and that I am part
of them. I have worked for NYPD
As FIA President, Srujal Parikh speaking at the curtain raiser
since 2014. I am also a trustee of
of the 2018 Indian Day Parade at the Indian Consulate in New York in June.
the NYPD Indian Police Officers
Society, which will be marching in Grammy winner Chandrika Tan- NJ. They work with special educa- have coalesced so well and it feels
the parade. I have also invited the don. 90% of the attendees were tion kids. My wife, Krina, is work- like family. All the more com-
Muslim society of NYPD to partici- women, young women. I made ing more with the special ed kids. mendable because working for
pate in the parade. This year being a point of inspiring the younger We opened our signature event, FIA is a voluntary job.
FIA president I have received a lot generation including my daughter Dance Pe Chance, in January with
of warmth from the force. Riddhi Parikh who was there and them. People were amazed, no- So what motivates you person-
was mesmerized by the event. body thought that those kids could ally to have worked voluntarily
What are the numbers perform so well. for FIA for 10 years?
expected this time? But FIA has had only one
woman president in its history. FIA is a federation of how many Srujal Parikh: It goes back to my
Srujal Parikh: We are expecting community organizations? boyhood years growing up in Bar-
more than 150,000 people to at- Srujal Parikh: This is where I have oda. My father was deputy district
tend. We are getting very positive brought about a change. See, my Srujal Parikh: Currently we have governor in Lions Club. He used to
response from organizations not executive committee has a balance 77 organizations on board with us go, accompanied by my mother, to
only in the tristate area but also of women and men. I am proud to from the tristate. What I have tried villages they had adopted to devel-
from outside, like in Oklahoma, Bal- say that I gave women members is to unite the community. That is op the villages and schools there
timore, Delaware and Philadelphia. the opportunity and they have ex- why I went to Long Island (from my and to work with the handicapped
So, you see, my Vasudhaiva Kutum- celled. They are coordinating most home base in New Jersey) to meet people. I used to go with them on
bakam is working well. of the event and I am giving them the Sikh community. I felt it impor- a regular basis. My mom was ap-
more and more responsibility and tant because the Sikh community’s pointed by the state of Gujarat to
Women empowerment is they are living up to my expecta- participation has not been there for settle domestic violence cases. She
another area you are tions. It will inspire people to know the last few years. I also went to the would go to where such incidents
devoting to as President. that women have the capability and mosque to get our Muslim brothers happened in Baroda. So commu-
the power and they can play a vital from India involved. Vasudhaiva nity service is something I have im-
Srujal Parikh: Yes, we have role in any organization. Women Kutumbakam is not a term I just bibed from my parents –Satyendra
started that too in right earnest. don’t need your help, you only have throw in the air, I believe in it from Parikh and Shobana. When I came
We had a women empowerment to empower them. the bottom of my heart. into this country and settled down,
workshop at the Indian Consul- I have also decided to empower In the last 6 months we have I always wanted to do something
ate on Women’s Day on March 8. and work with small organizations had great results. I have a won- for the community. So I started
It was a success, graced by Padma which are doing great work but derful team, my Chairman Ra- with the Dusehra festival. And then
Bhushan Prof Gayatri Chakravorty have limited resources like the mesh Patel, Past President Ankur I joined FIA 10 years ago. I also
Spivak and entrepreneur and SKN Foundation in Hillsborough, Vaidya, Secretary Daxa Amin... All have a love for cricket.

I used to be vice president of
one of the cricket club nonprofits.
I have also started the National
School of Cricket USA as founding
President. I thought if I am not able
to play cricket regularly, why not
make it available for our first gen-
eration people or their kids. So we
hold free cricket camps throughout
the tristate area. This year I have
trained about 400 kids.
FIA’s flagship event is the an-
nual India Day Parade, which
is truly grand. But what are the
community activities that FIA
does the rest of the year?
Srujal Parikh: We added Dance Pe
Chance many years ago as an an-
nual event. I have worked with the
Indian Consulate on various issues
of the Indian community. The first
incident happened in my term in
January when in Kearny, NJ a fire
gutted a building where 10 Indi-
an young people were living. In a
blink they lost everything they had.
Mostly students, and some start-
ing their career, they reached out
the Indian Consulate in New York,
and the Consulate reached out to
me whether FIA can help. We were
the first responder for the kids!
Within no time those kids were
back on their feet and they felt so
relieved. We were able to organize
their meals and with the help of
the community and my committee
we provided them the household
needs to restart their life. The con-
sulate helped them find a house
As part of his women empowerment push, Srujal Parikh organized a seminar at the Indian consulate in March, which was addressed by
Padma Bhushan Prof Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak and entrepreneur and Grammy winner Chandrika Tandon.
FIA promotes celebration of inception days of Indian states. Srujal Parikh was instrumental in uniting five
Gujarati community organizations to celebrate Gujarat Day at the Consulate.
and helped with a couple of months
of rent. That was an overpowering
feeling for me that I could touch the
life of these kids. They said to me,
“Srujal bhai, what you have done
for us, we want to do the same for
others.” They are with me and are
volunteering for the parade.
In April there was an incident
in Jersey City where some Indian
origin people were beaten up. We
guided them with what needed to
be done and how to approach the
police department.
Then we have community out-
reach - with the Indian Consulate
and TV Asia to give out important
messages about f passport, visa
and OCI matters, and any hurdles
people are facing. On community
awareness, I have worked person-
ally with IRS and TV Asia in relation
to phone call fraud, to which many
of our community people fall vic-
tim. We also work to create health
awareness. We partnered with the
Robert Wood Johnson founda-
tion and organized a lecture about
TRIBUTE
breast cancer awareness.
One more event we organized
that was helpful to all college
bound students, not just Indian ori-
gin students. We hosted a seminar
in partnership with McDonald’s in
Edison High School. We invited a
few colleges and students got guid-
ance on what they should look for,
how to get admissions easily, schol-
arships, financial aid and so on.
Moreover, we encourage state
governments in India to celebrate
their inception days at the Indian
consulate. Thus, we celebrated
Bihar Day and Gujarat Day at the
Consulate. I am proud to say that I
was able to unite 5 Gujarati orga-
nizations for the first time to host
Gujarat Day. FIA was a joint part-
ner I also met the chief minister
of Gujarat in India and personally
invited him to come to the parade.
What about visa camps
you co-organize?
Srujal Parikh: In March we held
August 18-24, 2018
a visa camp with one of the com-
munity organizations in Pennsyl-
vania, one camp in Toms River in
NJ, an area never been touched by
any Indian community organiza-
tion. So Consul General Sandeep
Chakravorty himself came to this
community outreach.
Going forward, what other
events have been planned?
Srujal Parikh: On an ongoing
basis, we receive phone calls or
emails daily from people mainly
with visa or passport problems.
We work with the consulate to re-
solve those issues. People needing
help can go on our website (fian-
ynjct.org), email us and we gener-
ally respond within 2-3 hours.
One thing we will like to do is
holding bilateral Caribbean-India
conferences, to take delegations to
help India and Caribbean countries
make bilateral relations powerful.
We may also celebrate a Diwali
festival event, though that is at the
15
planning stage right now.
We are promoting the next
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, which the
government is holding in Varanasi
in India in January. We are trying
to get as many people with us to
show them what PBD is all about.
We work with the Indian Con-
sulate on many ongoing campaigns.
Like, right now their Know India
campaign is going on. So we have
been spreading the word on that.
What is your message for The
South Asian Times readers?
Srujal Parikh: I would like to re-
quest people through your media
to come celebrate India and its inde-
pendence at Madison Avenue with
us. I will like to work with everyone
and unite our community, making
sure that we build a strong diaspora
so that we can support our next
generation, to bring them harmony
and our culture. In whichever way
I can do I will like to see that our
community gets support and help.

By SATimes Team
A
South Asian Times editor
remembers witnessing in
awe some years ago the
fiery and impassioned Ramesh
Patel, FIA Chairman, rail against
of ficials of Indian consulate in
New York. It was a meeting called
by the consulate with community
leaders and media to discuss the
issue of passport surrender after
hue and cry in the community
over high surrender fee slapped
suddenly by the Indian govern‑
ment.
Ramesh Patel raised his voice,
articulating the anger of the com‑
munity. Eventually, Indian diaspo‑
raʼs pressure bore fruit, and the
fee blow was softened.
Goes on to show how strongly
Ramesh Patel feels about the
community. Old‑timers remember
other tougher fights Patel fought
and won during his over four
decades of community activism–
for example the Dotbusters
episode when Indians were tar‑
geted in Jersey City for looking
Indian.
No wonder he is often referred
to as the Iron Man, the Sardar
Patel of Indian community, and,
of course, the Bhisham Pitamah of
FIA. He has been active in FIA
since 1984, was its first two‑term
President in 1988‑90, and has
been its Chairman ever since you
can remember.
India Caucus
Speaking to The South Asian
Times recently, he expressed sat‑
isfaction about the march of the
India community by leaps and
bounds. He particularly pointed
to the growing political clout as
Ramesh Patel has nurtured leaders of many associations of Indian Americans, and used his
oratory skills and team building abilities to represent the issues of Indian diaspora
to US Senators and other decision makers in the country.
16 August 18-24, 2018
RAMESH PATEL
evidenced in the number of
Cong ressmen on the Indian
Caucus, which is a bipartisan
bo dy of over 180 members
including 31 US Senators.
He also said the FIA is planning
to have a big splash with its 40th
India Day Parade in 2020 for
which all the living Grand
Marshals of parades past will be
invited and political leaders and
dignitaries from America, India
and where Indian diaspora is.
For his decades long single‑
fo cus work on behalf of the
Indian diaspora in USA, he elicits
awe and admiration in equal
measure from community lead‑
ers. As was witnessed when he
was felicitated by FIA for winning
the prestigious Ellis Island Medal
of Honor in May 2013. Over 300
guests from all walks of life gath‑
ered included government of fi‑
cials, FIA stalwarts, FIA past pres‑
idents, community leaders, entre‑
preneurs, friends and family. H.R.
Shah and Dr Sudhir Parikh, both
recipients of the Ellis Island
Medal themse lves, said Pate l
deserved the honor for his stellar
achievements. There was also an
acknowledgment certificate from
the NYPD Union (Ramesh Patel
put in 24 years in the police
force, rising to senior positions).
On his part, Patel dedicated the
medal to FIA.
But even that coveted medal is
too small compared to what
Ramesh Patel has done for the
cause of promoting the interests
and aspirations of the Indian dias‑
pora in the USA.
Realizing the importance of
uniting the community to influ‑
ence political, diplomatic and leg‑
islative decisions, he played a pio‑
neering role in forming numerous
organizations to represent and
CHAIRMAN PROFILE
fight for issues of the Indian dias‑
pora. He also nurtured leaders of
associations of Indian Americans,
and used his oratory skills and
team building abilities to rep‑
resent the issues of Indian
diaspora to US Senators
and other decision mak‑
ers in the country. He
has also been a cultural
ambassador of India by
org anizing India Day
Parades and cultural
events in the USA to show‑
case Indian culture and
bring the community mem‑
bers together to cele‑
brate their
roots.
As a true representat ive of
Indian community, Ramesh Patel
had the distinction of honoring
Indian Prime Ministers from
Indira Gandhi, Morarji Desai and
Rajiv Gandhi to Chandra Shekhar,
P.V. Narasimha Rao, Atal Bihari
Vajpayee, IK Gujral and Dr.
Manmohan Singh.
Ramesh Patelʼs many initiatives
have shown remarkable results.
He has successfully lobbied
against bills that go against India
or the Indian community, raised
funds for support to victims of
natural disasters and terror
attacks, and created a sense of
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Ramesh Patel
FIA Chairman
pride among Indians in the USA.
T he organizations he formed
have been catalysts for the forma‑
tion of associations of Indian pro‑
fessionals and businesspeople
that have driven the economic
growth of the Indian diaspora in
the USA.
Ramesh Patel started communi‑
ty work soon after arriving to
study in America in 1967. He cre‑
ated the Indian Student
Asso ciat ion at the Stevens
Inst itute of Technolog y in
Hoboken, NJ. This posed many
challenges at the time as the
number of Indian students arriv‑
ing was too small to have a voice
in American colleges.
When Ramesh Patel was invited
to attend an address by Smt.
Indira Gandhi, Prime Minister of
India at the time, at Columbia, he
presented a check of $100,000 to
her as contributions to the PMʼs
Fund and Family Planning Fund.
When Mrs Gandhi expressed the
need for an umbrella organiza‑
tion to bring Indians in America
together (something that Ramesh
Patel too believed was a neces‑
sary step for the Indian diaspora
to be empowered), he worked
towards forming the Indo‑
American Association of New
Jersey from 1973‑1992 and fur‑
ther developed FIA.
Immigration ‑ Fight for
Family Reunification
In the mid‑1980s came a bill
called Simpson Mazzoli
Immigration Reform and Control
Act that aimed to control immi‑
gration of Asians and Hispanics.
The proposal that concerned the
Indian community was reducing
the quota for family reunification
visas. If passed this bill would not
have allowed the development of
the Indian diaspora in the USA to
the extent that it has. Ramesh
Patel lobbied strongly by collect‑
ing petitions from Asians, seeking
support from Congress members
and representing the case to con‑
cerned authorities. After thou‑
sands of calls and faxes sent
against this regulation, meetings
at Capitol Hill, etc, the bill was
stalled and finally status quo pre‑
vailed.
Dotbusters ‑ Fight for
Protection of Indian
Community
While Patel was President of
FIA and the Indo American
Asso ciat ion of New Jersey, a
street g ang nicknamed
Dotbusters threatened Indians in
1987 with violence and vandal‑
ism. T he gang, named for the
ʻbindiʼ or dot that Indian women
use to adorn their foreheads,
Continued on page 18
TheSouthAsianTimes.info INDIA DAY SPECIAL August 18-24, 2018
 18 August 18-24, 2018 CHAIRMAN PROFILE TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Continued from page 16
assaulted Indians and planned
extreme violence on the persons
and properties of Indians. Among
the many racial incidents in
Jersey City, the most heinous was
the beating of Navroze Mody who
went into coma and died after a
few days. Ramesh Patel met sen‑
ior officials and initiated protests
to ensure that the New Jersey
government, which included
some people prejudiced against
the Asian communities, took an
ant i‑hate crime stance. As a
result, the Senator from New
Jersey not only announced strict
punishment for racial violence
ag ainst minorit ies but also
declared that juveniles involved
would be prosecuted as adults.
Robert Menendez, currently US
Senator, Union City Major and NJ
State Assema
Pressler Amendment ‑
Fight for National
Security
One issue that concerned India
was the US Governmentʼs military
package to supply sophisticated
AWACS military plane and F15
Aircrafts to Pakistan. Realizing
the implications on cross‑border
terrorism in India because of such
aircrafts that could carry nuclear
arms, Ramesh Patel motivated the
Indians living in the US to be part
of the effort to stall the supply of
these aircrafts. 50 buses were
chartered to bring Indian origin
people from all North East states
to Capitol Hill in Washington DC
for a rally to protest and make
Senators aware of the potential
danger of such supplies. Stephen
Solarz, Chairman of the House
Committee, was presented a
Even the coveted Ellis medal is too small compared to what Ramesh
Patel has done for the cause of promoting the interests and aspira‑
tions of the Indian diaspora in the USA.
Realizing the importance of uniting the community to
influence political, diplomatic and legislative
decisions, Ramesh Patel played a pioneering role in
forming numerous organizations to represent and
fight for issues of the Indian diaspora, but his lifetime
achievement has been building FIA‑ tristate.
memorandum. The result: the his‑ every opportunity possible to fur‑
toric Pressler Amendment was ther ties between India and the
passed which stalled the transfer USA.
of weapons and aircrafts to Around the beginning of the
Pakistan. 1990s, Indiaʼs ʻcommand econo‑
myʼ was seen as being pro‑Soviet
India‑USA Relations Russia and there was a lack of
Ramesh Patel has always taken understanding about Indian
issues in the USA, with many prej‑
udiced senators proposing bills
that went against India. When
Ramesh Patel was President of
the Indian‑American Forum for
Political Education (IAFPE), the
"Friends of India" Caucus was
proposed by the IAFPE members.
Using his close relations with the
lawmakers, Ramesh Patel worked
on implementing this caucus to
enhance their understanding of
India as a large democracy and a
natural strategic ally of America.
Ramesh Patel also played a key
role in furthering U.S.‑India
Civilian Nuclear Agreement by
meeting leaders in the Congress
and the Bush Administration to
turn the tide in India's favor. The
Senate passed the agreement by a
bipartisan vote of 86‑13 after the
Congress voted in its favor by
298‑117. He arranged several
high level meetings between the
US Lawmakers and their Indian
counterparts in order to facilitate
a better understanding amongst
the two countries, a step that led
to the N‑deal. He has also been
promoting the idea of investing in
India among the Indian Diaspora.
Ramesh Patel continues to be
committed to empowering the
Indian community today and
often expresses his pleasure at
the political clout that Indians
have begun to command with an
accelerating presence in the polit‑
ical system, the growing number
of Indian professionals including
lawyers, and the increasing
wealth of the community.
Ramesh Patel continues to be
committed to empowering the
Indian community today and
often expresses his pleasure at
the political clout that Indians
have begun to command with an
accelerating presence in the polit‑
ical system, the growing number
of Indian professionals including
lawyers, and the increasing
wealth of the community.

Note from Interview with You are FIA Vice President now, so I was given both support and motivation
besides cultural side, what else is on your to rise, very much like any family

Alok Kumar Chhavi Dharayan plate?

Executive Vice President, FIA
Thank you, The South
Asian Times, so
much for your
kind support.
It is a very
proud moment
for us to have
American
India diaspora
celebrating the
special India
Independence Day
outside India and made
it "World Largest India Day Parade outside
India” in NYC. I feel very fortunate to be
part of such a great organization.
The FIA gives a great platform to con‑
nect with diversity. It also shows the
strength of unity and belief in core Indian
values. FIA does many more events
besides the parade such as community
outreach program, collage fair, Gift Bazar.
We always stand with community in need.
I wish everyone a Happy Independence
Day. A special day to remember all those
who made sacrifices to give the next gen‑
eration a great life. I hope with this cele‑
bration, people will also come together to
work on reducing the use of plastic so that
our environment can stay clean and all
can enjoy healthy life. JAI HIND
FIA Vice President
Do you have a background in dance etc
creative arts to have ably managed Dance
Pe Chance?
Chhavi Dharayan: Well I do not have
any formal training in dance, it is my
sheer flair for the art that beckoned to
this inimitable dance competition, “Dance
Pe Chance”. With a diligent and
assiduous team working with
me, I was able to pull off the
compet it ion w ith ease
from 2015 to 2017.
What are the high‑
lights of the cultural
program at the FIA
parade this time? In
which capacity are you
and Daxa Amin involved
with that?
Chhavi Dharayan: The
cultural program this time
is an amalgamation of many
dance forms from various parts
of India, showcasing our rich cultural
heritage. Chairperson for Culture, Mrs.
Smita Miki Patel, with her team worked
meticulously to ensure that most of the
regional and classical dance pieces are
presented at the cultural stage.
As me as Vice President and Daxa Amin
as the Secretary, we have been closely
involved in all preparations of India Day
Parade and all other events that have
been hosted by FIA this year.
Chhavi Dharayan: I am involved with all
the events that have been hosted by FIA
and all the community services that FIA
undertakes.
From Vice‑President to Executive Vice
President to President, do you see your‑
self as FIA President (there has been only
one woman President in FIA history!)
Chhavi Dharayan: Thatʼs a dif ficult
question for me to answer. I guess the
Honorable Chairman, Vice Chairman
and other distinguished Board
of Trustees can better
address this.
As of now I am delighted
to be serving FIA and will
always be serving FIA,
irrespective of any posi‑
tion. We are all volun‑
teers of FIA.
Some others in FIA
believe that women are
not able to volunteer
enough time in the evenings
as needed in FIA – so they are
not able to rise in the ranks. What
is your view? Do you want to prove them
wrong? More so when current president,
Mr Srujal Parikh, talks about women
empowerment.
Chhavi Dharayan: I will answer this only
on my behalf. I have been associated with
FIA since 2011 when my children were
very young. I would bring them with me
to all the meetings as they could not be
left home.
My children were always welcomed and
wherein each member is nurtured and
given a conducive environment to rise
and shine.
I am sure all women in FIA will resonate
my thoughts.
President Srujal Parikh has been very
vocal about women empowerment and
has been working assiduously towards
women empowerment and I sincerely
appreciate and acknowledge his efforts.
What drew you to FIA and voluntary
work?
Chhavi Dharayan: The sheer joy of self‑
less voluntary service in each member of
FIA has been the biggest contributing fac‑
tor that fascinated me the most.
Can you tell a little more about your
work – IT consultancy you said in 2016?
Chhavi Dharayan: I have been assisting
my husband in business for more than 17
years now.
You want to say something about your
family?
Chhavi Dharayan: I am blessed with a
beautiful daughter and a handsome son.
God has been very kind to me by blessing
me with a very supportive husband who
motivates me to strive harder and has
been a pillar of strength.
Anything else you want to add.
Chhavi Dharayan: Wishing all my Indian
American friends “Happy Independence
Day”. Please join us for the India Day
Parade on August 19th. Letʼs march
together and manifest “Vasud haiv
Kutumbkam”
TheSouthAsianTimes.info INDIA DAY SPECIAL August 18-24, 2018

By Parveen Chopra
I
t was Ankur Vaidyaʼs vision
and dedication to FIA and the
Indian community that won
him a second term as FIA
President in 2015 and The South
Asian Times declared FIA (NY‑NJ‑
CT) as Organization of the Year
2015, featuring it.
To change the image that FIA
just organizes India Day Parade,
Ankur Vaidya refocused FIA on
community service and develop‑
ment. His 2‑year‑term ran up an
impressive list: holding visa
camps, partnering with relief
agencies during Hurricane Sandy,
representing the Indian
Americans at White Houseʼs
Asian American initiatives and on
Capitol Hill, participating in
Clean‑India Campaign ‑
Darjeeling Sanitation Project,
participating in PBDs.
Yet, he is not the one to sacri‑
fice the big event, as he told The
South Asian Times in 2016. “The
celebration like India Day Parade
is a sign of the prosperity of a
community and the grandeur it
displays portrays our community.
At 3.2 million strong, our commu‑
nity needs to focus on how to ele‑
vate the grandeur of our events
not shrink it.”
Now as FIAʼs Media Chair,
Ankur Vaidya spoke to The South
Asian Times. Excerpts:
The South Asian Times: How is
the preparation for the parade
going?
Ankur Vaidya: Very good
preparation, on time, everything
is already done.
Any additions to guests list?
Ankur Vaidya: Some TV celebri‑
ties have been added to our guest
list from India. Then the Civil
Aviation Minister of Uttar
Pradesh, Nand Gopal Gupta, is
coming as also the tourism minis‑
ter of Antigua.
FIA is such a well‑recognized
organization for successfully
holding the India Day Parade for
close to four decades. Any
thoughts on what FIA should be
doing more?
Ankur Vaidya: We are going to
embark on the Pravasi Bharatiya
Divas (PBD) promotion. We are
doing that in partnership with
the Indian Consulate but that is
more for India. Meanwhile, as we
progress, my focus will be to
20 August 18-24, 2018
steer
FIA to
the issues
that we have
at hand that
need to be
tackled. It
starts
with
how to
have
a towards that.
Ankur Vaidya was elected FIA President at the young age of 35,
and became the only one to serve two terms (2014‑15)
besides Ramesh Patel, now Chairman, who served
two terms in the 1980s
united front in the community,
what would be that binding
thread that someone can find, a
needle that can stitch the commu‑
nity together as one.
We as a community have done
well, what can FIA do to empower
us politically?
Ankur Vaidya: There should be
a larger role of representation of
the community locally through
voter registration that you have
to exercise your right to vote.
Doesn't matter who you vote for
but if we have a community in
INTERVIEW
‑Ankur Vaidya, Media Chair
which there are half a million
Indians, we should have at least
400,000 people voting. That kind
of turnout in voting is how you
get true recognition. Regardless
of your differences, regardless of
who you are, where you hail from
in India, or which party you are a
part of, you should go and vote.
Because then the politicians take
a note ‑‑ such numbers are avail‑
able for them to see. That is one
cause very important to me and I,
as a deep‑rooted member of FIA,
want to spend my time, effort,
energy and resources in FIA
Of course, others are trying to
hopefully one day take the
parade to Fifth Avenue and
doing it like the Puerto
Rican or the
Macy's
Thanksgiving
Day
Parade. Right now we do the
parade on Madison Avenue, but
all the big parades take place on
Fifth Avenue in Manhattan.
Hopefully, our community can
have a voice someday that they
will allow us to do a parade on
Fifth Avenue.
Can FIA not start a political
action committee?
Ankur Vaidya: We can do it but
you would have to change the
licensing of our nonprofit, which
is non‑political. PACs get a lot of
scrutiny from SEC and for that
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
you would really need to be on
your A‑game. It cannot then be a
voluntary run organization.
Think tanks and PAC's are not
100% voluntary run, there is defi‑
nitely a paid staff behind it.
Being a voluntary run organiza‑
tion has helped or hampered
FIA?
Ankur Vaidya: I would not say
that it has hampered but what
happens is if you take a voluntary
effort there is no hiring or firing.
If I delegate responsibility to you,
and you make a blunder, all I can
say is, 'what did you do?' And all
you have to say is 'sorry'. There is
no other repercussion that I can
think of. So, my point
is that the accounta‑
bility factor is neg‑
ligible.
Yet, what I have
learned in my 10
years with FIA is
that you have to
start accepting the
limitations and
live with it.
You cannot
shoot for
perfection,
you have to
be satisfied
with excel‑
lence or
with par or
little over
par.
Being
President
of such a
big organi‑
zation, isnʼt
there a lot
of sacrifice
– neglect of
your career, and family. And you
served two one‑year terms as
President!
Ankur Vaidya: Sure it is a job of
two people virtually that is done
by the president. Then you do
your own personal business, and
then whatever little bit of time
you get, you maybe get to see
your family.
I confess my health was affect‑
ed during those two years –
2014‑15 –of my presidency. Of
course, family life takes not even
a backseat, they are at the end of
the bus.
So, what motivates people to take
on such a responsibility?
Ankur Vaidya: I was 35 years
old when I was elected for the
first time, so in my case it was a
rush to prove a point that I can
make this happen. I am sure
there are other, some people look
at it like it is a claim to fame,
some people really want to serve.
Would you take up a third term?
Ankur Vaidya: Even my two
consecutive terms was an excep‑
tion. I think only our Chairman
Ramesh Patel served two terms
and that was in the 1980s. No, I
will not go for a third term. I
think rather than me becoming
one, I would be more helpful to a
president who has the hunger. I
can be more helpful to the team
by sharing what I see and by
slowly but surely fine‑tuning and
keeping the FIA like a well‑oiled
machine.
We cannot be the engines but
we can be very good mechanics.
The president is the engine. We
have done our role of engine and
engineers. Right now, even with‑
out it, I sometimes get a little
overwhelmed with the responsi‑
bility that comes with it.
The Indian media covers the
parade extensively, how about
the mainstream media?
Ankur Vaidya: Yes, yes, NY1
and WABC will do a 5‑15 minute
coverage. FOX or CNN show clips
of the parade. But that is the
extent of what you will get out of
the mainstream media. Slowly
but surely, they are starting to
cover it. Daily News covers it
almost on a regular basis. So does
Wall Street Journal. Sometimes
New York Times. New York Post
has also covered it. Incidentally,
we promote India Day Parade
through hoardings in Times
Square.
How can FIA engage the second
generation, younger Indian
Americans?
Ankur Vaidya: I would start
with the crowds at our parade.
The celebrities come, attracting
the crowds. But how do you
engage them. I have in mind
Macyʼs parade, where they have
so many ways for the crowd to
interact. Maybe we can have a
raffle, which you enter with your
pic with the celebs. Or five states
of India can compete ‑‑ serving
their traditional dishes. Securing
engagement requires big funds.
Yet, I believe tweaks in the pro‑
gram can achieve some of it.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info INDIA DAY SPECIAL August 18-24, 2018

With appreciation for your business and with

warmest wishes in celebration
of India’s Independence Day

 
 


   

  



     
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22 August 18-24, 2018 OFFICIALS TheSouthAsianTimes.info
TheSouthAsianTimes.info INDIA DAY SPECIAL August 18-24, 2018
 24 August 18-24, 2018 COMMUNITY SERVICE TheSouthAsianTimes.info

?
The answer is: a lot, as the FIA (Tristate) calendar of the first seven months of this year alone
shows. It does community building and support work and much of it flies under the radar.
January 2018 February 2018 March 2018 May 2018 8 Supported International
Yoga Day on Governorʼs
Community Service

8 Pravasi Bharatiya Divas
Celebration with CGI New
York. Supported by: TV
FIA Culture &
8 Passaic, Woodbridge,
Kearny fire victims help
and support with Food,
8 Community Awareness &
Alert on IRS Scam ‑ worked
with IRS, Media Partners
8 Gujarat Day Celebration
Island
8 Visa Camp at
8 Curtain Raiser of India Day
Siddhivinayak Temple,

Asia, Parikh Worldwide
Media, Kenny Desai and
Dr. Sanjay Gupta
8 Organized Dance Pe
Chance extravaganza on
Republic Day of India to
promote Rich Heritage
Culture of India (600 plus
Kids Participation). Special
performance by special
aid kids to help promote
SKN Foundation.
Shelter, cloth and kitchen‑
ware. Supported by:
Mahesh Dubal, Dr. Manoj
Desai, Alok Yadav, Bupat
Patel, Reetu Ratogi, Ankur
Vaidya, Krina Parikh,
Mahesh Chitnees, Mayuri
Patel, Daxa Amin and Jyoti
Brahmbhatt.
8 Partnered with
Philadelphia Association
for VISA Camp &
Community outreach
TV Asia, Parikh Worldwide
Media and PTC Panjabi
8 Successfully organized
Womenʼs Empowerment
event with CGI New York
8 Partner with Asia Society,
New York to Promote India
Fest in September.
8 Bihar Day Celebration
April 2018
8 Breast cancer awareness
seminar
Parade 2018
Toms River, NJ
8 College Fair with July 2018
McDonaldʼs, TV Asia & 8 Honoring Padma
Parikh World Wide Media Vibhushan & Padma
8 FIA Participation in a Bhushan Pandit Jasraj
Health Awareness 8 FIA Hosted Interactive ses‑
Conference sion of NRIs to promote
June 2018 Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2019
8 Meet and Greet with Sikh
8 FIA Felicitates
Community, Long Island at
Maharashtra CM Devendra
the launching ceremony of
Fadnavis at Mumbai Meets
Interfaith Journal:
Manhattan
One World Under God

and
es h Patel ation in
am leg
man R k a de gton
Chair aidya too in Washin uld
rV ill o
Anku Capitol H 744 that w
0 13 to t bil l S‑ our
2 s to
prote ental d
DC to en detrim igrants an
ve b e im m
ha of
unity
comm usinesses.
b
small

FIA organized a College Fair in association with McDonaldʼs at Edison

High School, NJ in May to guide students – of Indian origin and
others ‑‑ on admissions, scholarships and financial aid.
FIA felicitated
Maharashtra Chief
Minister Devendra
Fadnavis at Marriott
Marquis Times Square
on June 13, 2018. FIA
became part of the sup‑
porting bodies at
Mumbai. Meets
Manhattan organized by
CGI New York and
Friends of Maharashtra.
FIA Chairman Ramesh
Patel invited the CM to
India day Parade on
August 19 in New York.

To help people with visa, passport and OCI issues, FIA has been holding
FIA Hosted an interactive session of NRIs at TV Asia on July 19 to promote Pravasi
visa camps in association with the Indian Consulate, New York,
Bharatiya Divas 2019 in Varanasi, India. It was attended by Uttar Pradesh NRI minister
like this one in Philadelphia.
Swati Singh and Consul General Sandeep Chakravorty.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info INDIA DAY SPECIAL August 18-24, 2018
 26 August 18-24, 2018 DANCE PE CHANCE

FIA celebrates the Republic
Day of India by holding
an inimitable dance competition,
“Dance Pe Chance”, every year for
the youths of the tristate area of NJ,
NY and CT. The event promotes the
rich cultural heritage, music and
various dance forms of India. Their
first dance competition called “In-
troduction to Dance” in 1980 was a
sell-out and an act that was swiftly
followed by many other production
houses. ‘Dance Pe Chance’ is a Bol-
lywood style dance extravaganza
that is staged with vivacity and pas-
sion in New Jersey.
The 2018 Dance Pe Chance
was held at the State Theatre in
New Brunswick, NJ on January 27.
In all, 14 dance schools partici-
pated with over 580 Indian origin
children in this year’s competition.
The audience enjoyed the enthrall-
ing and captivating performances
of the children in 26 different
groups. Apart from the competitive
groups, at the request of the incom-
ing President of FIA, Srujal Parikh,
a group of special needs kids were
also invited to show their dancing
moves. The all-women team of or-
Dance Pe Chance, the signature event of FIA for the youths,
is painstakingly executed to celebrate Republic Day of India.
ganizers, led by Chairperson Jyoti
Brahmbhatt, were commended by
Parikh for their hard work in put-
ting up a spectacular show.
“I commend the passion and
the enthusiasm
these kids have
for our cultural
heritage,” said
Srujal Parikh.
He added that
FIA will be working towards wom-
en empowerment and the concept
of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (The
World is One Family).
The 14 dance schools who com-
peted in three categories – minor,
junior and senior, included: Aaditi
school of dance, Arya dance acad-
emy, Aatma Performing arts, Aum
dance creations, B2Z dance school,
Dance4ever, The Dancing Shiva
Performing Arts, Fusion arts, Kavi’s
school of dance, Natraj dance studio,
Nritya creations academy of dance,
Pranavam school of dance, Simply
dance and Vedanta dance academy.
Judging the event were Aroon
Shivdasani, the founder of Indo-
American Arts Council, Anindita
Soortaal (Odissi dancer and classi-
cal vocalist), Neha Multani (Miss In-
dia USA 2015), Tadej Brdnik (cura-
tor and choreographer), and Obaid
Kadwani (actor and director).
FIA honored all the choreogra-
phers with certificates and judges
with mementos. Winning dance
groups were awarded trophy and
prize money. The top performance
overall, in all 3 categories – ‘Best of
the Best’: Aatma Performing Arts.
The FIA’s incoming executive
committee of 2018 was adminis-
tered the oath of office by the Con-
sul General of India in New York,
Ambassador Sandeep Chakravorty.

The Republic Day event is also

the backdrop for oath taking
of the new executive commit-
tee each year. The 2018 com-
mittee included Srujal Parikh
(President), Alok Kumar
(Executive Vice-President),
Chhavi Dharayan (Vice Presi-
dent), Daxa Amin (Secretary),
Himanshu Bhatia (Treasurer),
Haresh Shah (Joint Secretary)
and Andy Bhatia (Immediate
Past President).

The high octane performances, opulent production values

and keen choreography of the dance competition for youths
are reminiscent of Bollywood. The event promotes the rich
cultural heritage, music and various dance forms of India.
 28 August 18-24, 2018 LOOK BACK

Glimpses of India
Day Parade ‘17
FIA float had Mahatma Gandhi
spinning the charkha tableau.
The Grand Marshal was “Ba-
hubali” star Rana Daggubati FIA Chairman Ramesh
and his co-star Tamannaah Patel and current Presi-
Bhatia was Guest of Honor. dent Srujal Parikh filled
with patriotic fervor at the
India Day Parade in NYC.

NYC Mayor Bill de Bla-

sio has graced a couple
of India Day Parades
during his term.

Film stars from India bring

in the crowds. Rana Dag-
gubati is seen in traditional
South Indian dress.

Indian community
organizations par-
ticipate in the parade
enthusiastically.

Traditional Maharashtrian
Dhol Tasha group perform-
ing as part of the Parade
down Madison Avenue.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info INDIA DAY SPECIAL August 18-24, 2018
 30 August 18-24, 2018 LOOK BACK TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Bollywood stars and other celebs have drawn the crowds

to the India Day Parade down the years.

2009 2013

Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty in the same frame as New York City Critically acclaimed actress Vidya Balan wowed the
Mayor Michael Bloomberg and FIA President Dipak Patel at the
2009 parade. 1986 crowds at the 2013 parade.

1990 1990

Ambassador of India to
USA, Dr. Karan Singh
tradition of inviting addressed the gatherin
Da y Parad e was held in 1981. The the
Dev Anand cut a debonair figure as Grand g from the Grand Stand
The first Ind ia Hema Malini became Marshal at the 1986 FIA parade at the 1990 parade.
rshal started in 1983.
film stars as Grand Ma be invited in 1990 .
first female film star to

1984

FIA parade could boast showman Raj Kapoor

as Grand Marshal in 1984.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info INDIA DAY SPECIAL August 18-24, 2018
 32 August 18-24, 2018 ORGANIZATION TheSouthAsianTimes.info

FIA (NY‐NJ‐CT) is one of the largest and most powerful umbrella

organizations of the Indian community. How it came into being in early
1970s and how it has blossomed an effective mouthpiece and
mobilizer for the community is a fascinating story.

I
n the late 1960's, a large num‑
ber of Indian students were in
the New York metropolitan
area. They formed student groups
and along with some other Indian
associations started representing
the community in the tristate area.
Came a call from the Indian con‑
sul general and a joint committee
of community organizations was
formed under the leadership of
Rajan Ghosh, tasked to celebrate
India's Independence and Republic
days. The committee adopted its
constitution in 1975 and changed
the name to Federation of Indian
Associations in 1977.
Thomas Abraham was elected as
the first President. The FIA partici‑
pated in the Parade of Nations.
India Day celebration was first
organized as a festival and fair at
Columbia University campus
attended by American politicians.
In January 1978 FIA held its first
Folk Dance and Folk Music
Competition at the Republic Day
celebration. Also, in May 1978,
FIA, in cooperation with other
Indian associations, hosted a pub‑
lic meeting in honor of Prime
Minister Morarji Desai.
In May 1980 FIA arranged the
First National Convention of Asian
Indians in North America which
was an immense success.
In 1981, the first India Day
Parade was launched w ith
marchers, floats, bands, and politi‑
cal leaders ‑ both Indian and
American. It began a tradition, giv‑
ing Indians here a sense of identity
and pride.
Next year started the tradition of
inviting prominent Indian digni‑
FIA hosted then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in New York during his US visit.
From left: Vajpayee, Lal Motwani, Navin Mehta, HR Shah, Ramesh Patel, Sudhir Parikh.
taries as Grand Marshals, begin‑
ning with Zubin Mehta.
The FIA also played a key role in
educating the community about
the discriminatory Simpson‑
Mazzoli Immigration Bill, which
proposed restrictions on the sec‑
ond and fifth preferences, which
went against the concept of family
reunification.
During the Presidency of Sudha
Acharya in 1983‑84, 17 new
organizations joined the FIA. The
India Day Parade that year started
a new tradit ion by invit ing
Bollywood star Sunil Dutt as the
Grand Marshal.
By now FIA was recognized as a
major representative of the Indian
community and members of the
FIA part icipated in briefings
arranged by the White House and
the State Department in
Washington DC.
The FIA participated in a series
of hearings held by the Mayor of
New York's Task Force Committee
and conveyed the concerns and
problems of the Indian community.
One of the positive outcomes was
a decision by the City to increase
the recruiting of Asian Indians in
city agencies. The FIA continued
its efforts to improve Indo‑US rela‑
tions and participated in the cam‑
paign to block the sale of AWACS
to Pakistan.
Ramesh Pate l served as
President for two successive terms
from 1988‑90. His term started
with a public meeting, which was
attended by Governor Kean of New
Jersey, Attorney General Edwards,
Ambassador Kaul among others.
The focus of the meeting was race
relations in Jersey City and other
areas of New Jersey where a high
population of Indians resided.
The 9th India Day Parade was a
notable because actress Hema
Malini was the first woman Grand
Marshal of the parade. By this time
FIA expanded to a 76‑member
organization.
In early 1990s, in response to
popular demand, the Republic Day
Celebration was shifted from New
York to New Jersey.
To mark the 47th Indian
Independence Day, the FIA
released 47 doves into the air
before the start of the parade. The
honorable Mayor Giuliani and the
honorable Ambassador Sidhartha
Shankar Ray actively participated
in the parade. For the first time
Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, Jain and
Christ ian re lig ious g roups
marched with their banners to
show their unity for democracy.
For the first time Empire State
Building was lit with the tricolor
light for four days.
The year 1994 was the turning
point of Indo‑US re lationship.
Through the tireless ef forts of
Ambassador Ray in Washington,
with the help of FIAʼs Ramesh
Patel, Prabir Roy of New York,
Swadesh Chatterjee of North
Carolina, a strong pro‑India caucus
was established in US Congress.
Congressman Dan Burton's Anti‑
India bill was de feated in
Cong ress. T he Larry Pressler
Amendment stopped weapons
sales to Pakistan and President
George Bush branded Pakistan as
sponsor of terrorism. In 1998, FIA,
along with other organizations,
participated in honoring Prime
Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.
In 2001, FIA donated for the
Gujarat Earthquake relief and the
World Trade Center fund.
Albert Jasani, president of FIA in
2002, became instrumental in
installing a 26 feet statue of Sardar
Patel at the premises of his Royal
Albert Palace in New Jersey.
The FIA remains pledged to con‑
tinue its service to the Indian com‑
munity and to stand strong behind
any cause that ef fect India and
Indians in America.

IDP 2015 Grand Marshal Arjun Rampal, other dignitaries and FIA officials ringing the closing bell at Nasdaq on August 14, 2015.
FIA keeps burnishing the image of the Indian community in America.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info INDIA DAY SPECIAL August 18-24, 2018

New Delhi: In a virtual election
speech, Prime Minister Narendra
Modi on Wednesday projected him‑
self as an impatient agent of change
against the backdrop of "docile and
inefficient" governance during the
Congress‑led UPA rule and prom‑
ised housing, power, water, sanita‑
tion and healthcare for all in his
mission to take the country to new
heights.
He also announced that the ambi‑
tious Prime Minister's Jan Aarogya
Abhiyan (PMJAA), dubbed as
"Modicare", for health insurance
coverage of Rs 5 lakh each to 10
crore families will be launched on
September 25 on the 102nd birth
anniversary of Deen Dayal
Upadhyaya, the founder of
Bharatiya Jana Sangh, the BJP's
predecessor.
Making his last Independence Day
address to the nation ahead of the
2019 Lok Sabha election, Modi said
there was "senseless" criticism
against him but asserted he was
impatient and restless to take the
country ahead of many others
which had overtaken India.
And breaking his silence in the
context of recent cases of rape and
sexual exploitation in we lfare
homes in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh,
Modi said there was a need to
attack such a mindset by putting
the fear of the law that had been
made stringent. He said law was
supreme and no one could take it
into their hands. Referring to
Don't be distracted by contentious issues: President to citizens
New Delhi: Asserting that India was
at the cusp of achieving many of its
long‑awaited goals, President Ram
Nath Kovind said "contentious
issues and extraneous debates"
should not distract the people.
In his address to the nation on
the eve of 72nd Independence Day,
he referred to various issues and
said these may have held true 10
or 20 years ago or even earlier to
some extent but "even so we are at
a juncture in our history that is dif‑
ferent from any period that we
have so far experienced".
"We are at the cusp of achieving
many of our long‑awaited goals.
Universal access to electricity, the
elimination of open defecation, the
elimination of homelessness, the
very elimination of extreme pover‑
ty is achievable and attainable. We
are at a pivotal moment. Let con‑
tentious issues and extraneous
TheSouthAsianTimes.info A D D R E S S I N G T H E
In his last I‐Day address to the nation ahead of the
2019 Lok Sabha election, Prime Minister announces
a national health scheme dubbed as “Modicare”
and a dedicated manned mission to space by 2022
Modi projects
himself an impatient
agent of change
Jammu and Kashmir, Modi repeated
the lines from his last year's August
15 speech that the Kashmir prob‑
lem can be resolved only by
embracing its people, not with bul‑
lets or abuses. He recalled former
Prime Minister Atal Bihari
Vajpayee's line `Kashmiriyat,
Jamhooriyat, Insaniyat' (eclectic
Kahmiri culture, democracy and
humaneness) and said this was the
only way forward.
Reaffirming his mantra of "sabka
saath, sabka vikas" (take everyone
along, development for all), the
President Ram Nath Kovind addressing the nation on the eve of
Independence Day at Rashtrapati Bhavan. (Photo: IANS/RB)
debates not distract us," he said.
Kovind said if freedom was
defined in narrow political terms,
then August 15, 1947 marks a clo‑
sure.
"But freedom is a broader con‑
cept. It is not fixed and finite.
odi
endra M tion
PM Nar th e na
ing
address ed Fort in
e R )
from th to: IANS
lhi. (Pho
New De
Prime Minister said there would be
no discrimination against any sec‑
tion and there would be no nepo‑
tism and favouritism.
"I want to reiterate my pledges ‑
housing for all, power for all, cook‑
ing (gas) for all, water for all, sanita‑
tion for all, skills for all, insurance
for all, connectivity for all. We want
to go ahead with these pro‑
grammes," he said.
Modi turned poetic before wind‑
ing up his nearly 80‑minute speech,
saying that the country's fortunes
were being transformed.
Freedom is a constant and relent‑
less endeavour. Even decades after
1947, each one of us can con‑
tribute in the manner of a freedom
fighter. We can do so if we expand
the frontiers of freedom and of
opportunity for our fellow Indians
N A T I O N August 18-24, 2018
"We have to make a new dawn
and create a new India. We want to
move ahead with the dream of
reaching the crescendo of develop‑
ment."
Attacking the Congress but not by
name, he said if comparison was
made of the speed of governance in
the last four years, people would be
surprised.
"If toilets were built at the speed
of 2013, several decades would
have gone to reach the present
stage. Rural electrification would
have taken two decades. Taking
and our beloved India."
Referring to the resolve of vari‑
ous sections in nation building, the
President said that the reality was
that every Indian who does his or
her job with sincerity and commit‑
ment, who contributes to society
by being true to a professional
ethic, be it the doctor's ethic, the
nurse's ethic, the teacher's ethic,
the public servant's ethic, the facto‑
ry worker's ethic, the business per‑
son's ethic, the ethic of those who
have to care for ageing parents ‑
each of these and many others are
in their own way upholding the val‑
ues of freedom. "They are provid‑
ing the fruits and goods and servic‑
es of freedom to fellow citizens.
Every citizen of India who does his
or her duty sincerely, fulfils a per‑
sonal and professional obligation
and keeps to a given word is, at a
fundamental level, upholding the
35
LPG connection to poor women
would have taken 100 years.
Generations would have gone to
take optical fibre to its present lev‑
els. There are a lot of expectations,
a lot of needs. The country is feeling
a change in the last four years.
There is new awareness, new enthu‑
siasm." He said four times more
rural houses had been built, there
was a record number of mobile
manufacturers, record number of
aeroplanes had been procured and
record number of tractors sold.
Modi said the Army, which reach‑
es out to people in case of natural
calamities, also conducts surgical
strikes to give befitting replies to its
enemies, an apparent reference to
the surgical strike conducted on ter‑
ror launch pads across Line of
Control in 2016.
In a strong election pitch, Modi
reached out to Dalits, poor, youth,
farmers, women, fishermen, securi‑
ty forces, middle class and upper
middle class by referring to the
work done by his government and
his endeavor to improve their lives.
He announced that India would
launch a manned mission in space
principles of our freedom struggle,"
he said.
"I would argue that every Indian
who does not jump the queue and
respects the civic space and rights
of those ahead in the line also lives
up to the principles of our freedom
struggle. It's a very small gesture.
Let us try and abide by it."
The President said after four
years, India would be marking the
75th anniversary of Independence
and in less than 30 years the peo‑
ple would celebrate the 100th
anniversary of India as a free
nation.
"The decisions we take today, the
foundations we lay today, the proj‑
ects we undertake today, the social
and economic investments we
make today ‑ whether for the
immediate future or for the medi‑
um term ‑ will determine where we
stand," he noted.
 36 August 18-24, 2018 IDAY IN PIX TheSouthAsianTimes.info

From ignoring security

protocol to meet school
children and setting the
stage for the 2019 Lok
Sabha elections, Prime
Minister Narendra
Modi delivered an
80‐minute address to
the nation as dignitaries
braved high humidity di
ra Mo
ter Narend meet
at the historic Red Minis car to ering
Prime out of his
ed r deliv
Fort. A few glimpses… stepopol children acfeeDay address.
t
sch den
depen
the In

others at the ʻAt Homeʼ function

8 President Ram Nath Kovind with
on the occasion of Independence Day.

sing the nation on the occasion of 72nd Independence Day

8 Prime Minister Narendra Modi addres
from ramparts of the Red Fort.

g
Modi payin
e to n Defense
hom ag
e lcom ed by the Unio f
Mahatma Modi being
w , Minister o
e m al a Sitharaman r
Gandhi at th Ministe r N ir
amre and o the
fense SR Bh Fort.
Raj Gh at. State for De val at the Red
ignitar ies on his arri
d
38 August 18-24, 2018 MESSAGES TheSouthAsianTimes.info
TheSouthAsianTimes.info INDIA DAY SPECIAL August 18-24, 2018

Indian Army,
China's PLA
meet at Nathu
La, Ladakh
New Delhi/Jammu: The
Indian Army and China's
People Liberation Army
(PLA) held two special meet‑
ings of border personnel at
Nathu La in the Sikkim sec‑
tor and Ladakh region in
Jammu and Kashmir to boost
mutual trust and promote
peace.
Both the meetings hap‑
pened on the Indian sides to
commemorate the 72nd
Independence Day of India.
The PLA delegations, com‑
prising several officers and
soldiers, attended the cele‑
bration following an invita‑
tion.
In Sikkim, the Defence
Ministry said: "The celebra‑
tion took place in an atmos‑
phere of warmth and friend‑
ship, with an aim of enhanc‑
ing mutual trust and promot‑
ing border peace and tran‑
quility." The two forces had
held a similar meeting to cel‑
ebrate the 91st anniversary
of the foundation of PLA on
August 1.
"Such interactions between
the two armies have resulted
in enhancement of goodwill
and mutual understanding
between the two nations,"
said a statement from the
Ministry. Beside interactions
between the armies, pro‑
grammes portraying the cul‑
tural diversity of the two
countries were presented by
both sides on the occasion,
said the statement.
Situated at 4,310 metres
above sea level, Nathu La ‑‑ a
mountain pass in the
Himalayas in East Sikkim dis‑
trict ‑‑ connects the Indian
state of Sikkim with Tibet.
Indian troops deployed in
remote and high altitude
areas of North Sikkim also
celebrated Independence
Day by hoisting the national
flag at different forward
posts with great zeal.
40 August 18-24, 2018
Cherish India envisaged by
freedom fighters: Mamata
Kolkata: West Bengal Chief
Minister Mamata Banerjee on
Wednesday said the people of the
country and its institutions must
strive to remain "independent" in
the true sense of the word.
Banerjee unfurled the tricolour
and attended a colourful parade at
the arterial Indira Gandhi Sarani
(erstwhile Red Road), as West
Bengal joined the nation in cele‑
brating the 72nd Independence
Day.
In a midnight tweet on the occa‑
sion, Banerjee called for cherishing
the "idea of India" for which the
freedom fighters had laid down
their lives.
"Our country must reach the glo‑
rious heights that the founding
fathers of our Constitution envi‑
sioned," she tweeted greeting "all
brothers and sisters".
Punjab CM announces Rajasthan CM Raje
drives against drugs announces round-the-week
Ludhiana: Punjab
Chief Minister
Amarinder Singh
announced spe‑
cial drives
against the drug
menace in the
state by involv‑
ing students,
besides launch‑
ing the second
phase of a loan
waiver scheme
for farmers.
Speaking during
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh
Independence
in Amritsar. (Photo: IANS)
Day celebrations
organised at the Guru Nanak
Stadium here, the Chief Minister
launched 'Tu Mera Buddy' pro‑
gramme to take the war against
drugs to schools and colleges.
He called upon the people to
take a pledge to wipe out the men‑ erty of drug traders and to secure
ace of drugs from the state to
secure the healthy future of the
coming generation.
Lauding the results of police's
Special Task Force to check drug
abuse in the state, the Chief
Minister said 'Tu Mera Buddy'
would further take the campaign
to the grassroots.
The buddy project will be led by
class teachers and will be super‑
vised by principals and district
education officers.
The Chief Minister reiterated his scheme, aimed at providing cash‑
government's zero tolerance
against drugs and warned that
those involved in exploiting and
ruining the youth would not be
THE STATES
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during the 72nd
Independence Day celebrations at Red Road in Kolkata. (Photo: IANS)
Her ministers, senior bureau‑
crats and police officers, armed
forces officers and members of the
spared. Nearly 20,000 cases have
been registered under the NDPS
Act, involving about 22,000 drug
peddlers and distributors, while
the state is working to ensure for‑
feiture of illegally acquired prop‑
death penalty for them, said the
Chief Minister.
Expressing satisfaction over the
positive results of 118 Outpatient
Opioid Assisted Treatment (OOAT)
Clinics started in the State for reg‑
ular treatment of addicts, the
Chief Minister said another 80
such clinics would be set up by
September. Unveiling the Bhai
Ghanhya Sehat Sewa Scheme, the
Chief Minister handed over cards
to some of the beneficiaries of the
less healthcare facilities and treat‑
ment to members of the coopera‑
tive societies and their families
across the state.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
diplomatic corps also took part in
the main function in the city. She
also conferred the Chief Minister's
milk plan for school students
Jaipur: Announcing a series of
welfare measures on the 72nd
Independence Day, Chief
Minister Vasundhara Raje said
September will be celebrated as
nutrition month in Rajasthan.
She also announced extension
of free milk distribution in
school from class 1 to 8 from
three days to all week days
along with mid‑day meals under
the Annapurna scheme. She said
a fund of Rs 230 crore has been
set aside for the scheme in
schools.
"Children registered in
Anganwadi centres under the
age group of 3‑6 years, preg‑
nant women and teenage girls
will also be given milk for three
days in a week. The government
will provide Rs 100 crore for
the plan," she said.
The Chief Minister, who hoist‑
Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje inspects the Guard of Honor at Sawai
Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. (Photo: Ravi Shankar Vyas/IANS)
medal to police officers.
Various wings of the police and
NCC cadets participated in the
parade, as a helicopter showered
petals, and folk dance troupes
from across the state depicted
diverse cultures.
In a first, police personnel from
Odisha took part in the parade.
Riding their blue‑white and pink‑
black scooters, the newly formed
special all‑women patrolling team
from the Kolkata Police earned
applause on their maiden presence
in the parade.
Constituted in 2018, the team
christened "winners" have been
primarily trained to assist their
male counterparts in helping
women complaining of molesta‑
tion or eve‑teasing.
Various state government
departments also brought out
colourful tableaux highlighting
their achievements, some of the
government schemes and Bengal's
rich cultural heritage.
Earlier, Banerjee was present at
the customary midnight
Independence Day celebration
organised by her party Trinamool
Congress at South Kolkata's Hazra
Crossing.
ed the national flag at SMS
Stadium here, said September
will be celebrated as nutrition
month where awareness will be
spread about nutritional aspect
of food.
"The government will spend
Rs 775 crore on constructing
94 new school buildings and
7,080 additional classrooms in
2,400 schools," she said.
The District Employment
Officer will now be made the
District Skill & Vocational
Training Officer, she said.
"Self‑defence training will be
imparted to around 2.5 lakh stu‑
dents in the state," she said,
adding loans will be distributed
to farmers paying their instal‑
ments on time at interest rate of
5.5 per cent. "Women will be
given free training at ITI centres
in the state," she said.

CM Sonowal
reiterates
commitment to
make Assam
corruption free
Guwahati: Assam Chief
Minister Sarbananda
Sonowal reiterated his com‑
mitment to making the state
free of corruption, terrorism
and illegal immigrants.
He made the remarks after
he unfurled the national flag
marking the nation's 72nd
Independence Day at the
Veterinary College ground in
Khanapara here.
Sonowal assured that his
government was keeping a
close watch to ensure that no
genuine Indian citizen's
name was left out of the final
draft of the National Register
of Citizens (NRC) and equally
alert that no illegal foreign‑
er's name entered the list.
The Chief Minister thanked
the 55,000 government
employees who made the
NRC upgradation a reality
and the Assam Police for
being able to maintain law
and order in the state.
"We firmly believe that the
NRC is going to make Assam
free of illegal foreigners,"
said Sonowal, adding that his
government has taken stern
steps to seal the Indo‑
Bangladesh border effective‑
ly to ensure that there is no
fresh infiltration from across
the border.
Regarding the multi‑crore
cash‑for‑jobs scam, the Chief
Minister said: "A total of 55
people have been arrested so
far and the recruitment
process has been made
transparent."
Sonowal also said the gov‑
ernment has taken up steps
to empower women, particu‑
larly in tea garden areas.
Thousands of people in
Guwahati and across the
state took to the streets to
celebrate Independence day
despite a boycott call give by
militant outfits
42 August 18-24, 2018
Hope new Pak leadership will end
terror agenda: J&K Governor
Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Governor N.N.
Vohra said on Wednesday that he hoped that
the new government in Pakistan will realize
the futility of continuing the agenda of terror‑
ism in the state.
Addressing the main Independence Day
function at the Sher‑e‑Kashmir Cricket
Stadium here, Vohra said: "I hope the new
leadership in Islamabad will realize the futility
of continuing with the terrorist agenda in
Jammu and Kashmir.
"Our Prime Minister has tried many times
during the last four years to extend the hand
of friendship to Pakistan but there had been
no positive response so far."
Cricketer‑turned‑politician Imran Khan is set
to take oath as Prime Minister of Pakistan
after he led his party PTI to victory in general
elections. Vohra alleged that Pakistan attempt‑
ed to infiltrate an unusually large number of
trained terrorists into Jammu and Kashmir.
"Our Army and police forces carried out
effective operations and neutralized perhaps
Maharashtra celebrates
72nd Independence Day
Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister
Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday led
the state's 72nd Independence Day
celebrations by hoisting the Tricolor at
his official residence here and later at
the state government headquarters.
A large number of his cabinet col‑
leagues, top civil and services officials
and other dignitaries were present at
the solemn ceremony.
Mumbai Mayor Vishwanath
Mahadeshwar hoisted the flag at the
BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation
(BMC) headquarters.
Ruling ally, Shiv Sena leader Shishir
Shinde organised two midnight func‑
tions in Mumbai: The national flag was
hoisted in Mulund by senior leader
and actor Adesh Bandekar and in
Ghatkopar, by a physically‑challenged
person.
Thousands of party workers
and locals took part in the
celebrations which continued
till the early hours of
Wednesday in both the sub‑
urbs.
Western Railway General
Manager A.K. Gupta hoisted
the flag and later
flagged off a
unique 30‑
bike rally
of the
Railway
Protection
Force
(RPF) from
THE STATES
Jammu and Kashmir Governor N.N. Vohra.
the largest number of terrorists in the past
many years.
"At the same time, we also suffered loss of
security personnel and civilian lives." The
Churchgate to Charni Road to high‑
light the theme of "Security of Women
& Children".
Central Railway General Manager
D.K. Sharma hoisted the flag,
addressed a gathering of railway offi‑
cials and staff and gave the green sig‑
nal to the RPF's motorbike rally to
popularise its helpline no. 182 for
safety of women and children com‑
muters and other passengers on its
network.
The Opposition Maharashtra
Congress President Ashok Chavan and
Mumbai Congress President Sanjay
Nirupam also organised functions at
their respective offices here, hoisted
the national flag and addressed gath‑
erings of party workers and the mem‑
bers of the public.
The party called upon all to
"cherish the feelings of lib‑
erty, tolerance and unity,
not of bigotry or con‑
quest" on the 72nd
Independence Day.
f world, the government plans to distribute 40 lakh spec‑
htra Chie
Maharas vendra
De
Minister
.
Fadnavis
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Governor expressed concern that Kashmiri
youths, even some pursuing professional
courses, were joining the militant ranks.
"I appeal to teachers, parents, religious and
social leaders to use their influence to ensure
that these youths return home.
"At the same time, it is encouraging that
some of them have returned to their homes.
Vohra said the policy of confrontation would
help nobody and it was only through dialogue
and deliberation that problems can be
addressed. He said ever since he took over the
reins of power after the imposition of
Governor's Rule in the state, he had been try‑
ing to ensure that the administration worked
with accountability, speed and transparency.
Contingents of police, paramilitary forces,
school children and NCC marched passed the
podium where the Governor took salute after
unfurling the national flag.
A thick blanket of security was thrown
around the venue where entry was regulated.
Separatists had called for a protest shutdown.
Telangana celebrates
I‑Day with two
major schemes
Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao.
Hyderabad: The 72nd Independence Day was celebrat‑
ed in Telangana with the launch of two major schemes ‑
free eye screening for all citizens and life insurance for
farmers. Under 'Kanti Velugu', the entire population of
3.7 crore will be provided free eye care. The authorities
will not only conduct eye screening but will also pro‑
vide free medicines, spectacles and arrange for free sur‑
geries, if required.
The government expects that four lakh surgeries will
be performed across the state. Under what is claimed to
be the first such programme taken up anywhere in the
tacles. Unfurling the national flag at the historic
Golconda Fort, Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao
also announced the implementation of another scheme,
'Rytu Bima', aimed at providing life insurance cover of
Rs 5 lakh to every farmer.
The government will cover 28 lakh farmers aged
between 18 and 59 years. The government will bear
the annual premium of Rs 2,271 per farmer. It has
already paid Rs 636 crore towards premium to Life
Insurance Corp. For the fifth consecutive year, Rao
unfurled the national flag at Golconda Fort to mark
India's Independence Day.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info INDIA DAY SPECIAL August 18-24, 2018
 44 August 18-24, 2018 MUSINGS TheSouthAsianTimes.info

attached to the event and the

I-Day musing: Does not law and

majority Hindu sentiment nur‑
tured by the ruling Bharatiya
Janata Party (BJP), the Kanwaria
pilgrimage also has an electoral
relevance. This has clearly become

its protecton apply to all? more acute in the run‑up to the

2019 national election.
Indian politics and the gradual
absorption of the religious leader
to high office is exemplified by the
election of Yogi Adityanath, a
Hindu monk, as the Chief Minister
of India's most populous state of
Uttar Pradesh in March 2017. This
was a significant development at
By C. Uday Bhaskar
the time for South Asia, for not

A
ugust 15 this year marks
the 71st anniversary of
Indian independence. As
the Prime Minister unfurls the
national flag at the Red Fort, it is a
celebratory moment; yet, a certain
sense of bleakness and desponden‑
cy is palpable. There is a deeply
ingrained perception that anarchy
is spreading in the country and
that the state has abdicated in its
primary responsibility of ensuring
the safety and security of every cit‑
izen, irrespective of religion, caste,
class and gender. Recent events
bear testimony to this mood.
In an unprecedented develop‑
ment, the Attorney General (AG) of
India K.K. Venugopal informed the
Supreme Court in an anguished
manner that there was an incident
of major rioting every week in dif‑
ferent parts of the country and
that they often go unpunished. The
AG noted: "Kanwarias (a sect of
Hindu pilgrims) are overturning
vehicles in Delhi…There is an inci‑
dent of major rioting every week,
even by educated groups.
Marathas in Maharashtra, SC/ST
What is disturbing is the pattern that emerges in the disaggregation of the violence that is ostensibly
spontaneous ‑‑ be it the rioting mob, the beef‑lynchings or now the Kanwarias.
(scheduled caste/scheduled
tribe)… nothing is done."
Earlier, a former Chief Justice of
India, T.S. Thakur, asked a very
pertinent question: "When we see
day in and day out, mobs lynching
people, it's a complete failure of
rule of law. If a mob can take the
law into its hands and administer
summary justice, what kind of rule
of law is this?" The sub‑text in both
cases is that the Indian State has
become selective in how it applies
the law and that there is a tacit
indifference to the safety and wel‑
fare of the minority citizenry.
Thus what is disturbing is the
pattern that emerges in the disag‑
gregation of the violence that is
ostensibly spontaneous ‑‑ be it the
rioting mob, the beef‑lynchings or
now the Kanwarias, the annual
north Indian ritual of carrying
water from the Ganga to one's
home.
Thousands of Hindu devotees
walk long distances in July‑August
to collect the sacred water and,
over the years, the numbers have
been swelling and the entire event
has acquired a huge carnival pro‑
file with music, dancing, et al.
Given the religious significance
even Pakistan, which was created
on the basis of religion, had
appointed an Islamic cleric to such
office. Thus, in August, India wit‑
nessed an unusual spectacle ‑‑ that
of Kanwarias being showered with
rose petals from a helicopter by
none less than the Uttar Pradesh
Chief Minister and senior police
officials. That some of these
Kanwarias have become a law unto
themselves has been brought to
the attention of the courts ‑ but as
the AG noted, "nothing is done".
Citizenship in India is no longer
equal and the law, alas, is not
applied equitably. On its 71st inde‑
pendence anniversary, one cannot
ignore the conjecture that India,
which had determinedly rejected
the two‑nation theory in August
1947, is now moving towards it in
a visible manner.
The question whether the silent
Indian majority, that is Hindu, sub‑
scribes to the ugly manifestation
of Hindutva and the violence asso‑
ciated with it, remains moot. But
the state cannot abdicate and the
exhortation of the Attorney
General should not be ignored.

Delving into the 'other side' of Sehgal, Raza on Partition

By Siddhi Jain sively with his three‑year sojourn in the
US from 1949.
New Delhi: Amarnath Sehgal is best Shifting to the Kullu Valley in the
known for his sculpted marvels, S.H. Raza wake of Partition, Sehgal
for his work with the brush. Little or applied to study sculpture
nothing is known about their penman‑ in the US coupled with the
ship ‑‑ particularly about the trauma of motive to "get out of
Partition. India", he writes in the
As India enters the 72nd year of its memoir, explaining
independence, IANS, with special permis‑ why the tragedy led
sion from curator Shruti Isaac, delves into to his search for a
the archives of Sehgal, who left behind an foreign land.
unpublished memoir. Raza's memoir has "I was sad, I had
been published but very little of it is lost my sleep then. I
known in India. wanted to be away
Born in Campbellpur, in what is now from the environ‑
Pakistani Punjab, Sehgal (1922‑2007) ments, where there
was witness to the tragedy of the were cries which were
Partition, an event he described as a unheard," he writes.
"holocaust". "Such were days when I
"My nerves were shattered, having wit‑ wanted to jump across to
nessed the holocaust, with millions killed unknown frontiers to live in
peace and express myself,"
S.H. Raz
and many more millions uprooted from
their ancestral hearths and homes, on pens the sculptor, who ho to Source:
(P
developed a deep sensitivity Raza Founda
both sides of the border, to seek refuge,
solace, security and peace, keeping their towards human suffering,
bodies and souls together," he writes in reflective in many of his
"American Education: An Experience" works. His 1958 bronze sculpture "Cries
sometime in the 1960s that dealt exten‑ Unheard" stems from his tragic experi‑
ences and is housed in the permanent formerly the sculptor's studio.
collection of Delhi's National Gallery of On his part, Raza describes Partition as
Modern Art (NGMA). "an extremely difficult time" for his fami‑
The 2008 Padma ly, then based in Mandla (in the modern
Bhushan awardee, who day Madhya Pradesh) in "Itinerary"
returned to India in (2003), originally written in French dur‑
1951, also writes ing his more than five‑decade‑long
about a "strange sojourn in the European nation.
pull" that Raza (1922‑2016) writes that his family
spurred him to was absolutely against the division of the
come back to country, and all was peaceful till tensions
India for the mounted following Partition.
second time "After the Partition, there were killings
and work for in the (adjacent) region of Damoh, and it
the revival of became very difficult for my sister and
folk arts in the her family.
country's rural My older brother, Yusuf Raza, who
space. worked as Editor of the Hindi journal
"Having lived in 'Vishwamitra', was well informed on what
America for three was happening." He goes to write about
years, I had a chance his family members having to vacate
to get the resident sta‑ their homes and migrate to Pakistan.
a tus. But the lure of my "Even though the Partition was a
own country, my home, my tragedy in my eyes, I decided to stay and I
tion). mother, provided a strange pull,
never regretted staying back. I am happy
and motivated me to pack up and to have kept my name, my religion, my
leave," he writes. The memoir now passport and to remain an Indian citizen
resides in Amarnath Sehgal Private even after 52 years in France,"
Collection in Delhi, a space which was Raza writes.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info INDIA DAY SPECIAL August 18-24, 2018
 TheSouthAsianTimes.info CULTURE August 18-24, 2018 B2

The very versatile

Maharaja of Air India
By SATimes Team tional messages to millions of trav‑
elers across the world.

Perhaps inspired by Ardhnarishwara
motif, this picture postcard expressed
intimacy and companionship in love.
F
or many decades the first
encounter foreigners had
with India was via Air India,
and enticing and enchanting them
was the national carrierʼs mascot,
the Maharajah. Though the compa‑
ny was started by JRD Tata in 1934
(as Tata Airlines), the by now famil‑
iar lovable figure first made his
appearance in Air India in 1946,
when Bobby Kooka as Air India's
Commercial Director and Umesh
Rao, an artist with J. Walter
Thompson Ltd., in Mumbai, togeth‑
er created the Maharajah. The
Maharajah began merely as a rich
Indian potentate, symbolizing gra‑
ciousness and high living.
And somewhere along the line his
creators gave him a distinctive per‑
sonality: his outsized moustache,
the striped turban and his aquiline
nose., They took a stereotype for‑
eigners have and made it into a ver‑
satile, modern character who feels
The Maharajah has completed
seven decades and become the most the newly
recognizable mascot the world over. independent nation found expres‑
His antics, his expressions, his puns sion in modernity and the airline
have allowed Air India to promote earned its reputation as the finest
its services with a unique panache in the world.
and an
unmatched
sense of subtle
humor. In fact
Instead of his Common Man, he has won
cartoonist RK Laxman turns to numerous
the Maharajah here taking him national and
to Birmingham. international
at home in every part of the world, awards for Air
and who can be a lover boy in Paris, India for
a sumo wrestler in Tokyo, lay out a humor and
magic carpet in the Middle East, originality in
chomp on a multistory burger in publicity.
New York and effortlessly flirt with Before financial
the beauties of the world. And most troubles start‑
importantly, he can get away with it ed ailing Air
all. Simply because he is the India, we take
Maharajah. The mascot grew to you to its glo‑ The Maharajah can be cheeky when on the Bondi beach
take Air India's sales and promo‑ rious era, as in Sydney, and in Paris, have a trick under his sleeve.

The Maharaja has won numerous national and international awards

for Air India for humor and originality in publicity

Even coasters in the early years of Maharaja had creative input.

The airlineʼs headquarters was in Bombay before moving to New Delhi.

And its two hoarding sites entertained Bombayites for many years.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info INDIA DAY SPECIAL August 18-24, 2018
 B6 August 18-24, 2018 OP-ED TheSouthAsianTimes.info

By Shivaji Sengupta

T
here is something about the
subcontinental mind‑set that,
despite the hard‑earned inde‑
pendence that India and Pakistan
wrested from Great Britain, a linger‑
ing love affair exists between these
divorced entities. Cricket is one
expression of this love af fair. And
Imran Khan, the once Pakistani
World Cup winning captain, is the
iconic representative of this com‑
plex contradiction: the cricket star
who has morphed into Pakistanʼs
19th prime minister to take oath on
its 72nd independence day.
Curiously, the icon is no longer a
cricket icon. Apparently, something
happened to him when he won the
World Cup for Pakistan. In his victo‑
ry speech he spoke about the nurs‑
ing home he was building for can‑
cer patients, free for those who
could not afford to pay. That victo‑
ry was to take him toward what he
then must have thought of as public
service. By 1996, he had handed the
captain job over to Wasim Akram.
He also founded his political party,
Pakistan Tehreek‑e‑Insaf (PTI).
Hitherto steeped in anglophile tra‑
ditions (Oxford University graduate,
British wife), Imran Khan began to
change. First went the wife; then,
cricket.
Slowly, but surely, he began to
build this new career in politics.
Imran began to writhe in public
agony over Pakistanʼs mass corrup‑
tion, and its subservience to the US
post 9/11: that Pakistan would take
billions from President George W.
Bush so that, in the name of defeat‑
ing terrorists, America could do
whatever it liked, including killing
and capturing Pakistani citizens.
This was further exacerbated when
Pakistani military itself was killing
thousands of Pakistanis in the Swat
valley who were allegedly siding
with the Afghan Taliban. Imran
wanted to stop the bleeding and
called for dialogue with the Taliban.
PM Imran Khan traced to
the 1993 World Cup win
This led his enemies to nickname Kashmir must be key. He has now his staunch
him “Taliban Khan,” a name he also talked about increasing supporter, is of From what I have
resented. Was killing our own peo‑ trade with India so that this opinion.
ple, with the help of US dollars, a “both countries can make
I am seen of Imran, he
inclined to be
better alternative, he asked rhetori‑ tremendous economic
of the same
seems to be a
cally. progress.” This is
The truth, as it usually is, all very well, mind. From reasonable and
was somewhere in the except what I have rational person.
middle. Yes, Islamabad that it seen of Imran,
received multibillion ignores he seems to be But it is possible
dollars from the US in a reasonable
its own war with
Indiaʼs
m o s t and rational
that when push
Pakistani terrorists funda‑ person. In a comes to shove,
who were ravaging
Pakistan. Imran Khan
he could become
must have known that like any other
the terrorists had an
agenda dif ferent from Pakistani
the government of
Pakistan. W here the
prime minis‐
Pakistani governmentʼs ter breathing
main disagreement with
India is over Kashmir, the
fire on
terrorists want to decimate Kashmir.
India with waves of terror‑
ist acts in the name of Jihad. remember thinking that
Imran Khanʼs position that he would make a good
dialogue solves everything is prime minister. True, it is
also at best naïve, and at worst possible that when push
duplicitous. Or else how could he comes to shove, he could
who is touting dialogue at the same become like any other
time be in collusion with the Something changed for Imran when he won the World Cup for Pakistan Pakistani prime minister
Pakistani army, by far the single in 1992. (Photo courtesy espncricinfo.com) breathing fire on Kashmir.
powerful political entity, in control He will be following
of over a hundred nuclear war‑ mental stance: Kashmir is not nego‑ press conference with Indian jour‑ Nawaz Sharif, another rational
heads? It is common knowledge tiable, and, therefore, can not be a nalists in Mumbai in 2017, he was leader (not pro‑India). Imran
that he became PM because of army part of any dialogue. If the two asked all the uncomfortable ques‑ opposed Sharif because he was
support. Once in PM seat, would he countries cannot move beyond tions imaginable (including the financially corrupt, but would have
become a “puppet” of the army? Kashmir, where to then? Imran has‑ Mumbai terrorist attack in 2008, agreed with him in most of his posi‑
How would he then position himself nʼt addressed that complexity yet. whose mastermind was freely roam‑ tions regarding India. At least, he
vis‑à‑vis India? Imran Khanʼs friends and his ing Pakistan). Though alone, Imran might begin by keeping Sharifʼs
In his speeches as PM‑elect, he party are urging people not to pre‑ fielded the questions well, answer‑ India‑policies in place until he and
has emphasized good relations with judge him. Ashraf Jehangir Qazi, an ing them logically, with historical his cabinet forge policies of their
India, calling for dialogue in which erstwhile ambassador to India and knowledge and polite candor. I own.

Aliens in Assam: Electoral fodder for BJP, Congress

By Amulya Ganguli Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), is Her objective is obviously to con‑ cumspection with the assurance the fear of the nation being over‑
maintaining a low profile. solidate her own pro‑Muslim and that all opportunities will be given run by aliens. The party evidently

E
ver since the former saf‑
fron stalwart, Arun Shourie,
created a stir in the 1980s
with his articles on illegal immi‑
grants in Assam comprising
Bangladeshi Muslims, the BJP has
seen the issue as an excellent one
to furbish its nationalist creden‑
tials by portraying the "aliens" as a
security threat. The depiction also
fitted in with the party's anti‑
Muslim worldview.
The latest row over the National
Register of Citizens (NRC) in the
state can be regarded, therefore, as
a continuation of the anti‑foreigner
agitation conducted by the All
Assam Student Union (AASU) in the
1980s although the lead has been
taken this time by the BJP while its
ally in the state government, the
However, a solution to the prob‑
lem of "foreigners" is not simple.
Since Assam has long been a
province of immigrants with the
tea plantation laborers having
been brought in from the tribal
areas in Bihar by the colonial
rulers and the "hardy" peasants of
East Bengal being encouraged to
settle down in the state in the pre‑
partition period to cultivate land,
Assam has become a mosaic of var‑
ious communities, including its
own tribals.
Untangling the medley of the
diverse ethnic groups is fraught,
therefore, with the likelihood of
creating tension leading to vio‑
lence although Mamata Banerjee's
outbursts about a "civil war" and a
"bloodbath" are an overstatement.
"liberal" supporters in West Bengal
and elsewhere in the context of her
prime ministerial ambitions.
However, it is the near‑certainty
of a volatile outcome of the detec‑
tion and deportation of the "for‑
eigners" mandated by the Assam
accord of 1985 which has come in
the way of implementing the cen‑
tral point of the agreement. This
"failure" was not so much the
result of the Congress's "appease‑
ment" of Muslims, as the BJP
alleges, as the need to proceed
with caution.
The same advice is now being
given by the Supreme Court, under
whose aegis the enumeration of
the citizens is being conducted.
Union Home Minister Rajnath
Singh, too, has been favoring cir‑
to the four million people excluded
from the NRC to prove their bona
fides.
In contrast, BJP president Amit
Shah has virtually disenfranchised
the four million by dubbing them
"ghuspetias" (infiltrators) while the
Advocate General has told the
Supreme Court that their biometric
details will be collected so that
they may not settle down in other
states. What is more, the BJP lead‑
ers are talking in terms of similar
headcounts in other states, espe‑
cially West Bengal, which is
believed to harbor a substantial
number of Bangladeshi infiltrators.
It appears, therefore, that even
before the NRC's final report has
been prepared, the BJP is seeing
the exercise as a means of raising
believes that such charges will
help it in the forthcoming elections
while its opponents seem to
believe that the fear will make the
minorities support the "secular"
parties. To both the groups, the
hapless individuals are nothing but
electoral fodder.
Since illegal immigrants stoke
the xenophobia of "nationalist"
parties, it is a card which they are
reluctant to forsake.
It is not in India alone that the
card is played. The compulsions
are the same in Donald Trump's
America and among pro‑Brexit
Britons, not to mention the far
right parties in Europe. The NRC
controversy is likely to persist,
therefore, at least till the 2019
general election.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info INDIA DAY SPECIAL August 18-24, 2018

Happy Independence Day From


PM announces
permanent
commissioning
of women in
armed forces
New Delhi: Prime Minister
Narendra Modi announced
that women officers recruit‑
ed under the short service
commission in the armed
forces will have the option of
taking up permanent com‑
mission, which he described
as a "gift" to the "brave
daughters."
Modi made the policy
announcement while
addressing the nation from
the ramparts of the Red Fort
on the occasion of 72nd
Independence Day.
He, however, did not give
any indication whether per‑
manent commissioning of
women will pave the way for
their entry into the combat
positions in the Army and
the Navy. The Indian Air
Force has already started
induction of women as fight‑
er pilots.
Official sources said gov‑
ernment is likely to come out
with a comprehensive policy
in the next couple of months
on permanent commission‑
ing of women in the Army,
Navy and the Indian Air
Force.
In a tweet, Defence
Minister Nirmala Sitharaman
thanked Prime Minister
Narendra Modi for making
the announcement on per‑
manent commission (PC) of
women officers in the three
services. (PTI)
46 August 18-24, 2018
India's first all-women SWAT team
manned the Red Fort on I-Day
New Delhi: India's first all‑women
SWAT team from the North East
beamed with pride as it provided
security cover to the historic Red
Fort on the Independence Day.
The 36‑member all‑women
Special Weapons And Tactics
(SWAT) team has been trained by
the NSG for anti‑terrorism duty
under the Delhi Police's Special
Cell. Sumata Rabta, a member of
the team, said it has been her life‑
long dream to protect the country.
"I will always remember this day
when I got the opportunity to pro‑
vide security on one of the key
events in the country," Rabta said.
Dipti Barman, another member,
said to hear the prime minister
speak on her team made her beam
with pride. "I can feel the responsi‑
bility and my team would give its
complete support in fulfilling every
The Scotland Yard returned the stolen statue to the Indian High
Commissioner Y K Sinha at India House in London.
(image : Indian High Commission, London)
London Police returns stolen 12th century
Buddha statue to India on I-Day
London: A 12th century bronze
Buddha statue stolen from a muse‑
um at Nalanda in Bihar nearly 60
years ago was returned to India by
the London's Metropolitan Police as
part of a ceremony here to mark
India's Independence Day.
The bronze statue with silver
inlay is one of the 14 statues stolen
in 1961 from the Archaeological
Survey of India (ASI) site museum in
Nalanda and changed several hands
over the years before surfacing at a
London auction.
I DAY HIGHLIGHTS
The commandos ‑ all from the North East ‑ are trained to undertake
complex operations during terrorist attacks at crowded markets,
residential complexes or government premises. (Image : kolkata24x7.com)
task assigned to it," Barman said.
She hoped people change their
perception towards the citizens of
the north east and realize their
capability. Another team member,
Mihnhunsa, felt proud to don the
Once the dealer and the owner
were made aware the sculpture was
the same one that had been stolen
from India, the Metropolitan Police
said they cooperated with the Met's
Art and Antiques Unit and agreed
for the piece to be returned to India.
The statue was identified at a
trade fair in March this year by
Lynda Albertson of the Association
for Research into Crimes Against
Art (ARCA) and Vijay Kumar from
the India Pride Project, who then
alerted the police.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
uniform.
"Even though it is difficult task to
change people's set notions about
our region, we can try to do so
through our uniform," she said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in
Indians abroad celebrate
Independence Day with
traditional fervor
Melbourne: Thousands of Indians
across the world proudly celebrated
India's 72nd Independence Day with
the Indian flag fluttering high and
the national anthem reverberating at
Indian missions abroad.
Indians in China, Australia,
Singapore and many other countries
marked the day with hoisting of the
national flag and singing of patriotic
songs. In Beijing, a large number of
the Indians took part in the
Independence Day celebrations held
at the Indian Embassy.
India's Ambassador to China
Gautam Bambawale hoisted the
Indian flag and read President Ram
Nath Kovind's address to the nation.
Several Indian dignitaries, includ‑
ing BJP General Secretary Ram
Madhav, President of the Indian
Council for Cultural Relations Vinay
Sahasrabuddhe, senior Congress
leader Karan Singh, who are current‑
ly in China, took part in the flag
hoisting ceremony.
A large number of Indians were
present at the occasion.
his Independence Day speech, said
the government has brought Delhi
close to the North East and the
region has become an inspiration
for everyone. The 36 women com‑
mandos, who broke the traditional
male stronghold to enter the SWAT
team, were formally inducted on
August 10. They are equipped with
AK‑47 rifles, MP5 machine guns,
Glock 17 or 26 pistols and corner
shot devices for enhanced night
vision. The women commandos
were also trained in Krav Maga,
which is a self‑defence system
developed for the Israel Defence
Forces, the police said. The women
commandos were trained to under‑
take complex operations during ter‑
rorist attacks at crowded markets,
residential complexes or govern‑
ment premises.
(PTI)
In Melbourne, a large number of
Indian expatriates attended the flag
hoisting ceremonies held at the
Indian High Commission in Canberra
and consulate buildings in
Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane to
mark the 72nd Independence Day.
Congratulating the Indian govern‑
ment, Australian Prime Minister
Malcolm Turnbull said that India and
Australia were great friends with a
lot in common as modern, vibrant
and diverse democracies.
"Australia's large and growing
Indian community makes a much
valued contribution to so many areas
of our national life ‑ and has for
many year," Turnbull said here in an
official statement.
Meanwhile, Indian diaspora across
the country held several cultural
events and special dinners to mark
the occasion. Last week, Bollywood
actress Rani Mukherjee, who was
attending the Indian Film Festival of
Melbourne (IFFM) 2018, hoisted the
Indian flag at the iconic building
Federation Square here.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info INDIA DAY SPECIAL August 18-24, 2018

Edison, NJ: With officials estimat‑
ing a crowd of over 42,000, the
14th Annual New Jersey India Day
Parade hosted by the Indian
Business Association (IBA) was a
grand success. The parade, which
included 18 floats, a marching
band, and multiple walking groups,
ran down the Oak Tree Road,
beginning in Edison and ending in
Iselin on August 12.
This year the Grand Marshal was
veteran Bollywood actor Anupam
Kher. The parade also featured TV
journalist Richa Anirudh as well as
Bollywood actors Niharica Raizada
and Prachi Tehlan.
Elected officials and contenders
for public office from across New
Jersey also showed their support
for the parade. The delegation
included Cong ressman Frank
Pallone, Middlesex County
Freeholders Senators Vin Gopal,
Patrick Diegnan, and Sam
T hompson. Dignitaries from
Hudson, Passaic, Essex, Bergen,
Middlesex and Monmouth counties
were also present. Also on hand
was US Senate Candidate Bob
India Day celebrated in Queens with a parade
Floral Park, NY: The 3rd India Day
Parade, marking the 72nd
Independence Day of India, organ‑
ized by the Floral Park ‑ Bellerose
Indian Merchants Association (F‑
BIMA) was celebrated with great
fervor on August 11 on Hillside
Avenue in Floral Park, Queens.
The day‑long rain forecast and
continuous drizzle did not dampen
the spirit of thousands of partici‑
pants. More than 25 organizations
participated in the 1.2 mile trek,
along with NYPD horse‑mounted
police, NYPD Desi Ground units,
Fire Truck with Fire Marshalls
Color Guard, Veterans Color Guard,
four floats, American marching
band and much more.
The parade commenced from
263rd Street and Hillside and pro‑
ceeded west to 236 Street and
Hillside Avenue and terminated in
Padavan ‑ Preller field. All organi‑
zations walked one by one on the
field and were recognized by the
emcees. The marchers chanted "Jai
Hind "and "Bharat Mata ki Jai."
After the pledge of allegiance by
a Supreme court judge, US and
Indian national anthems followed.
New York state Lt Governor Kathy
Hochul who flew in specially from
Buf falo graced the event along
48 August 18-24, 2018 TRISTATE TheSouthAsianTimes.info
40,000 attendees make IBA’s NJ Parade a success
s
lunteer
Hugin. A cultural program followed 0 IBA vo
the parade at the review stand in Over 30 elessly to put
tir
Iselin. It included local and interna‑ worked he India Day
the rt
tog e st 12.
tional talent, who entertained the o n Augu
parade
crowd with music and dance. “This
whole event was spectacular” com‑ concurred stat ing
mented Anupam Kher. “It is great “every year the parade gets larger
to see Indiaʼs culture, history, and and draws more people to Edison.
tradition is alive and well across We are lucky to have the IBA
the ocean. Kudos to the IBA,” he organize such a wonderful event.”
added. A Senior Citizens group Edison Councilman Michae l
from Cooper Towers started an Lombardi added “The IBA does so
impromptu dance that was joined much good for this town. All the
by Kher. The actor will also feature IBA members that I know and have
in FIAʼs India Day Parade on met are wonderful.”
August 19 in NYC. Said IBA President Dhiren Amin:
Edison Mayor Thomas Lankey “We were graced with beautiful
was ef fusive in his praise of the weather, a wonderful Grand
parade and the IBA. “The IBAʼs Marshal, and the support of over
Grand Marshal veteran actor Anupam Kher waving to the crowds.
great. [The organization] gets busi‑ 100 community based organiza‑
nesses involved, but they do more tions. I also want to thank all of our team of volunteers. “Over 300 vol‑ co‑trustees, Mahesh Shah and
than that, they also get the commu‑ sponsors, especially ShopRite, the unteers worked tirelessly to put Manher Shah, and our legal advi‑
nity involved,” he said. Edison title sponsor.” the event together,” explained IBA sor, Satish Poondi, were instrumen‑
Council President Ajay Pat il IBA also appreciated its large Chairman Chandrakant Patel. “My tal in the success of the parade.”
Double Honor
for Ranju Batra
unty
ester Co r
Westch George Latime
ec ut iv e a tra by
Ex Ranju B 018
ra te d
celeb st 8, 2
g Augu
declarin Batra Day”.
ju
as “Ran
Lt Governor Kathy Hochul presenting a Proclamation from
New York State to F‑BIMA Chairman Subhash Kapadia in the
presence of his team and dignitaries.
with many elected officials
and dignitaries. Bollywood
celebrities Vatsal Sheth and
Ishita Dutta energized the
audience with their presence
and presentation.
F‑BIMA Chairman Subhash
Kapadia g ave a we lcome
address, after which resident
Kirpall Singh introduced the
Execut ive and Advisory
Committees. Executive Vice
President Hemant Shah and F‑BIMA Executive Vice President
Hemant Shah with Grand Marshals, Ranju Batra was honored by the Indian American Cultural Association of
Vice President Koshy we l‑
actors Ishita Dutta and Vatsal Sheth. Westchester at their Heritage of India Festival on Aug 5 for her long
comed the elected officials and
years of work to make the Diwali stamp a reality. Seen in the picture,
dignitaries on stage. Cultural Chinese Elmhurst Dance group
Ranju with husband Ravi Batra and their daughter Angela (on her left),
programs followed which included received accolades from the atten‑
and (on her right) Deputy County Executive Ken Jenkins and Suchitra
dance items by children in tradi‑ dees. Field celebration also includ‑ Joshi, President of the association.
tional attire. A performance by ed 25 food and other booths.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info INDIA DAY SPECIAL August 18-24, 2018
 50 August 18-24, 2018 I D A Y S P E C I A L N E W S U S A TheSouthAsianTimes.info

India Day celebrations go across DC

By Surekha Vijh
Washington DC: As India celebrat‑
ed its 72nd Independence Day this
August 15, there have been multi‑
ple cultural programs at the
embassy residence and around the
capital.
At ambassadorʼs North West DC
official residence, about 200 peo‑
ple gathered for the celebration.
Ambassador Navtej Sarna hoisted
the Indian tricolor in the sprawling
lawns of the official residence
followed by Indiaʼs national
anthem. He then read an excerpt
from Presidentʼs speech to the
nation delivered on the eve of
August 15. He informed the audi‑
ence that India was getting ready
to start preparing for Mahatma
Gandhiʼs 150th birth anniversary
and there will be many programs
planned in the coming months all
around.
Kids from the local India
International School sang a medley
of Indian patriotic songs at the
event.
Earlier this week a beautiful
Kuchipudi dance was presented at
the millennium stage of Kennedy
Center. Bhavana Reddy presented
South Indian style classical dance
to an enthralled audience. The
dance performance was organized
by the Kennedy Center in collabo‑
ration with the Indian Embassy as
part of Indiaʼs Independence Day
celebrations.
Bhavna Reddy is the daughter of
famous Kuchipudi dance duo Raja
and Radha Reddy. She started
learning dance at the age of four
The Tricolor unfurled at the
Embassy Residence
and performed at many interna‑
tional festivals.
The program started with Dr.
Aparna Ramaswami introducing
Bhavna and by lighting the tradi‑
tional lamp by Ambassador Sarna,
Vijay Gokhle, Foreign Secretary of
India, Alisha Adams, VP of
Kennedy Center of International
Programs, and executive director
of World Bank, Aparna
Subramaniam.
“This is first of the three cultural
events that we are planning as part
of India at 70 celebrations,” said
Ambassador Sarna.
“What struggle it was for India to Navtej Sarna, Ambassador of India, reading out President's
Independence Day Address to the Nation at the Embassy Residence
fight for independence from the
on August 15, 2018.
colonial rule and a huge challenge
for an infant nation, Sarna said.
“Many voices doubted whether
India would survive as a democra‑
cy and as a modern nation, we
have not only survived but thrived
as a nation,” he added.
Many other dignitaries attended
the dance performance including
officials from Myanmar, Sri Lanka
and Nepal.
The Kennedy centerʼs millenni‑
um stage was decorated in India
colors, as it staged an Indian classi‑
cal dance for the first time.
The other two cultural programs
by the Indian embassy will be Kids from the local India International School sang a medley of
announced later this year. Indian patriotic songs at the event.

I-Day at Smithtown, NY Prominent NY officials, community

Indian Cultural Community from Devonshire
(ex‑and current members) celebrated India's
Independence Day at First Presbyterian Church,
Smithtown. This is the 6th year the Indian com‑
munity has celebrated the event. The idea for
the event started with a small step to teach kids
Hindi and use the application of kids learning.
The platform chosen for applying kids learning
was India's Independence Day celebration.
Every year, members meet and decide theme for
the event.
This year the theme was ‑"the Classical Dances
of India." The program commenced in two seg‑
ments. The first half included introduction, pus‑
panjali, National Anthem ‑orchestra and chorus,
patriotic song and dances, speech in Hindi and
English, religious prayer, fancy dress for small
kids and yoga dance.
The second segment which was after the snack break focused on the theme of the pro‑
gram. The group had performances in Odishi, Manipuri, Kuchipudi, Kathak (semi‑ and con‑
temporary), Bharatnatyam (pure and semi). The anchoring was done by kids both in Hindi
and in English. Through this program, kids learnt to sing and play Indiaʼs National Anthem
and National Song on various orchestral instruments.
leaders attend I Day celebration
at NY Consulate
New York: On the occasion of 72nd
Independence Day of India, Consul
General, Sandeep Chakravorty hoist‑
ed the National Flag at the
Consulate premises in the morning
of August 15th. It was followed by
the playing of the National Anthem.
Consul General read out Presidentʼs
Address to the Nation delivered on
the eve of the Independence Day.
More than 200 people including
prominent members of the Indian
community and local dignitaries
including Congresswoman Grace
Meng, Assemblyman David Weprin,
Assemblyman Raj Mukherjee,
Senator Vin Gopal and also
Bollywood actor Anupam Kher
attended the ceremony.
A short cultural program was held
by Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan, which
included singing of patriotic songs
and poetry recitation.
CG Sandeep Chakravorty hoisted the National
At the initiative of local Indian
Flag in presence of 200 people
community organizations, iconic
monuments in New York and surrounding Cultural Relations (ICCR) sponsored a seven
areas were lit up on the occasion with the member group consisting of acclaimed
colors of the Indian flag. These included the Kathak dancers ‑Sandip Mallick & group
Empire State Building, Niagara Falls among with Anuj Mishra and group to present
others. Kathak.
This year, on the occasion of India's A short glimpse of their performances
Independence Day, Indian Council for were shown during the morning ceremony

By Avatans Kumar
W
hen the news broke out
that Prime Minister
Narendra Modiʼs gov‑
ernment had invited President
Donald Trump to be the chief
guest at Indiaʼs Republic Day
parade in Delhi in January 2019,
reactions were on expected lines.
Skeptics and optimists alike
debated the merit of such an invi‑
tation. The timing of this invite, in
light of the ensuing Lok Sabha
elections, has also been ques‑
tioned. As things stand now,
according to the White House
Press Secretary Sara Sanders, “the
invitation has been extended”, but
no final decision has been made
on part of the US administration.
The matter will come up and will
be discussed during Secretary of
Defense James Mattis and
Secretary of State Mike Pompeoʼs
visit to India in the next few
weeks, said Sanders.
Despite some initial enthusiasm
in the US‑India relationship, it
saw a lull in recent months. When
Donald Trump was elected US
president in 2016, many India
watchers had high expectations.
Trumpʼs victory was seen as an
extension of the sort of anti‑
establishment movement that
brought Narendra Modi to power.
India watchers saw Trumpʼs
ascendency to the White House in
a very positive way, both for
Indians in the US and as well as in
India. After all, Trump had
famously said that he loved the
“Hindus”. It is to be noted that
Indian Americans in general over‑
whelmingly vote for Democratic
Party candidates. It was for the
first time that a relatively signifi‑
cant chunk of Indian origin vot‑
ers, especially Hindus, not only
enthusiastically supported candi‑
date Trump but also voted for
him.
However, Trumpʼs protectionist
“America first” policy has taken
its toll on the India‑US relation‑
ship.
The Trump administration has
accused the Indian government of
increasing tariffs on select US
goods. At the same time, the US
has also imposed tariffs on Indian
steel and aluminium. Indiaʼs vote
on Jerusalem and its refusal to
shut down the North Korean
embassy in Delhi were other low
points in Delhi‑Washington DC
52 August 18-24, 2018 INDO-US RELATIONS TheSouthAsianTimes.info
India's Trump Card It is New
Delhiʼs move
Why inviting the President to smoothen
India‑US
relations.
Donald Trump to Republic According to
the White
House, the
Day is a good idea invitation has
Whether Trump ing. His non‑con‑
been extended,
graces the
Republic Day
ventional style of
functioning can
but no final
parade in January
2019 will be
prove to be a decision has
nightmare for
discussed during
Secretary of
both politicians been taken
and bureaucrats
Defense James
Mattis and
alike. Trump not on it yet.
only loves battle
Secretary of State
Mike Pompeoʼs but also loves to
visit to India for take the battle to Lok Sabha elections. It is unlikely
the 2+2 summit in his opponentsʼ to have any bearing on the 2019
the next few court. Trump is general elections. International
weeks. . also very unpre‑ relations, except with Pakistan,
dictable. rarely become an election issue in
ties. improvements, dealing with Inviting Trump to the Republic India. This is purely an act of
The much‑anticipated on‑again, Trump, both as a person and as a Day parade should not be seen in realpolitik.
off‑again “2+2” talks have been president, can be a bit challeng‑ connection with India's upcoming Courtesy Daily O.
scheduled again, which is expect‑
ed to put the derailed relationship
back on track. Indiaʼs Foreign
Secretary Vijay Gokhale arrived in
the US on Wednesday ahead of
these talks. On another positive
note, India has been granted the
much‑coveted Strategic Trade
Authorization (STA‑1) status that
allows for sale of more sensitive
technologies to India than was
possible earlier.
Amidst this rollercoaster ride,
inviting a sitting US President to
the Republic Day parade may not
be a bad idea.
Indiaʼs relationship with the US
has been growing since the days
of the George Bush presidency.
Despite some bumps and bruises
along the way, the India‑US rela‑
tionship has matured over time.
Recognizing its growing econom‑
ic girth, India speaks to the US
(and the rest of the world) as a
more self‑confident nation than it
previously has. Domestically in
the US, Indian‑Americans have
increased their political clout sig‑
nificantly.
The Trump presidency, on its
part, has signaled some signifi‑
cant steps in cementing an
already improving India‑US rela‑
tionship. Trump, both as the can‑
didate as well as the president,
has berated Pakistan for taking
US money and not delivering on
its promises to do more to curtail
terrorism. The new “Indo‑Pacific”,
as opposed to the “Asia‑Pacific”
narrative, also signals a shift in
the way the Trump administra‑
tion looks at India.
Notwithstanding all these
TheSouthAsianTimes.info INDIA DAY SPECIAL August 18-24, 2018

71st

By Amulya Ganguli
T
here is little doubt that in
the wake of M.
Karunanidhiʼs death, Tamil
Nadu will enter an uncertain,
even rocky, phase. It may take
some time for the sense of dis‑
quiet and foreboding to become
apparent. There may even be a
period of relative calm as
Karunanidhis chosen heir, his
younger son, M.K. Stalin,
assumes charge of the Dravida
Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)
party.
But the reprieve is likely to be
the calm before the storm. By the
time the next assembly election
is due in 2021, the dark clouds
of the rivalry between the two
brothers, Stalin and M.K. Alagiri,
may well threaten the DMK's
smooth functioning. The only sil‑
ver lining for the party will be
the rival All India Anna DMK's
Civic education can enhance democracy in India
By Frank F. Islam
A
s India approaches
Independence Day on
August 15, it is an appro‑
priate time to celebrate the past
and Indian democracy. It is also a
time to contemplate the future
and the democracy that India
should become. India has the
opportunity, the responsibility,
and the capacity to be a global
beacon of hope for democracy.
There is a critical need for India
to become that beacon.
Freedom House, the organisa‑
tion that looks at the quality of
freedom in countries around the
world, titled its 2018 Annual
Report, Democracy in Crisis. The
opening sentence of that report
reads: "Political rights and civil
liberties around the world deteri‑
orated to their lowest point in
more than a decade in 2017,
extending a period characterised
by emboldened autocrats, belea‑
guered democracies, and the
United States withdrawal from its
leadership role in the global
struggle for human freedom."
There is a vacuum. And, India ‑‑
which is by‑far the world's
largest democracy with a demo‑
54 August 18-24, 2018
Will Dravidian movement
be diluted with
Karunanidhi's death?
(AIADMK) perceived weakness
as a challenger. It is no secret
that after the death of the
AIADMK's guiding star,
Jayalalithaa, the party has not
been able to get its act together
despite its formal hold on the
levers of power.
Be it Chief Minister E.K.
Palaniswami or Deputy Chief
Minister O. Panneerselvam, nei‑
ther has the aura of a winner.
They have little charisma and
even less administrative capacity.
Moreover, by initially denying a
burial place for Karunanidhi in
Marina beach where the graves
of Annadurai, M.G.
Ramachandran and Jayalalithaa
are located, the two AIADMK
leaders revealed a petty mentali‑
ty.
It is obvious that singly or
together, they are unable to fill
the void created by Jayalalithaa's
death. There is every possibility,
therefore, that the AIADMK will
lose the 2021 election while the
DMK will romp home. Before
that, the DMK is expected to fare
An educational initiative in India that has a targeted focus is the
Children's Movement for Civic Awareness (CMCA).
cratic system that is still young
and maturing ‑‑ is positioned to
fill that vacuum.
There are three key areas in
which action must be taken for
India to be able to shine its light
of and for democracy world‑wide:
8 Ensure effective civic educa‑
tion for younger students.
8 Pursue an intensified agenda
of inclusiveness and econom‑
ic equality and opportunity
for all.
OP-ED
well in the parliamentary
polls of 2019,
probably with
the Congress
bringing up
the rear. But
whatever the
outcome, the
focus will con‑
tinue to be on
the Stalin‑Alagiri
rivalry.
The question
is whether
Stalin has the
capability to
fill
Karunanidhi's
shoes to keep
the DMK
afloat during the turbulence of
the expected sibling rivalry and
the challenge posed by a possible
AIADMK‑BJP combine. Although
the BJP has always been a mar‑
ginal player in Tamil Nadu, it has
tested the political waters in the
state in the past in the company
of minor parties like film star
Vijaykanth's Desiya Murpokku
8 Free the free press.
Of all the the most critical, in
my opinion, for enhancing Indian
democracy is universal and effec‑
tive civic education for youth.
I put this at the top of the list
because a 2017 Pew Research
Center survey of citizens in 38
nations revealed that only eight
percent of the Indian respon‑
dents were fully committed to a
representative democracy. This
response ranked at the very bot‑
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Late M. Karunanidhi.
Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) and
former Union minister S.
Ramadoss's Pattali Makkal
Katchi (PMK) without making
much headway.
Anecdotal evidence suggests
that Rajanikanth is tilting
towards the AIADMK and Kamal
Haasan is more favorably dis‑
posed towards the DMK.
tom for the nations studied.
A strong democracy demands a
full‑throated commitment to
democracy and a complete
understanding of one's obliga‑
tions as a citizen. That commit‑
ment and those obligations are
learned through effective civic
education in the younger years.
The youth of today are the citi‑
zens of tomorrow. There is some‑
thing that can be learned from
the US about the impact of the
presence or absence of that edu‑
cation for youth.
Historically, for much of the
20th century, the US placed
emphasis on civic education for
school students in the earlier
school years. This emphasis has
declined substantially in the 21st
century and the focus has been
placed on science‑technology‑
engineering‑math (STEM) educa‑
tion and teaching to the test on
those subjects. This shift and its
negative impact on support for
American democracy ‑‑ especially
among youth ‑‑ has troubled both
citizens and academics alike.
That is why nearly 90 percent
of poll respondents to a national
survey conducted recently by
The Democracy Project reacted
However, they may also be con‑
sidering forming their own par‑
ties with Kamal Haasan having
already fired the first shot by
constituting the Makkal Needhi
Maiam. But their ideologies are
vague and do not seem to have
much to do with the kind of
aggressive anti‑Hindi worldview
which the DMK and the AIADMK
once espoused.
Arguably, India has changed
from the time of the anti‑
Hindi agitation in Tamil
Nadu in the 1960s
which made
Jawaharlal Nehru
promise that English
will continue to be
used as long as the
non‑Hindi‑speaking
states want. Thanks to
Bollywood, Hindi is
now much more
widely under‑
stood and spo‑
ken although any
attempt to push it
by the pro‑Hindi
lobby in North
India is bound to
be strongly resisted
as could be seen when Hindi
signboards were removed from
the Bengaluru metro stations.
But it will nevertheless be fair
to say that the Dravidian move‑
ment today is far from what
Periyar said and did. Tamil Nadu,
therefore, can be said to be
entering unchartered social and
political territory.
favorably to a proposal to
"ensure that schools make civic
education a bigger part of the
curriculum". In the US, in March
of this year, the National Council
of Social Studies issued a posi‑
tioning statement recommending
that effective civic education
"should target the knowledge,
skills and dispositions necessary
to ensure that young people are
truly capable of becoming active
and engaged participants in civic
life".
An educational initiative in
India that has this targeted focus
is the Children's Movement for
Civic Awareness (CMCA). Its pro‑
grammes are designed to
"empower children and youth
with knowledge, skills and com‑
petencies for active citizenship".
India's political, business, civic
and educational leaders should
collaborate in looking at CMCA
and similar programmes in India
to develop an effective civic edu‑
cation approach to be imple‑
mented in classrooms across the
country to prepare all its youth
to discharge their civic responsi‑
bilities. A comprehensive pro‑
gramme of this type could be
transformative.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info INDIA DAY SPECIAL August 18-24, 2018

T
he Vice President of India,
M. Venkaiah Naidu said
that let us all work for
more stable, inclusive develop‑
ment of India. He was addressing
the gathering at the Sawan Teez
Festival celebrations organized
by the Delhi Study Group on
August 11. The Minister of State
for Parliamentary Affairs and
Statistics & Program
Implementation, Vijay Goel, the
President, Delhi Study Group,
Vijay Jolly and other dignitaries
were present on the occasion.
The Vice President said that
share and care is the core philos‑
ophy of India and every person
must contribute in preserving
Medical tourists
flocking to India
A
rare combination of
advanced facilities,
skilled doctors and low
cost of treatment has made
India a popular hub of medical
tourism, attracting a large num‑
ber of foreign patients every
year. The total number of such
visitors in 2017 was 4.95 lakh,
Minister of State for Tourism
(Independent Charge) K.J.
Alphons, said in a written reply to
the Lok Sabha.
This number had stood at
around 2.34 lakh in 2015, and
4.27 lakh in 2016.
Bangladesh and Afghanistan
continued to be the top countries
from where the maximum num‑
ber foreign tourist arrivals (for
medical purpose) were seen. In
2017, about 2.21 lakh tourists
from Bangladesh are estimated to
have come to India for medical
reasons, compared to 1.20 lakh in
2015 and 2.10 lakh in 2016.
Likewise, the number of med‑
ical tourists from Afghanistan
stood at 27,505 in 2015 and
61,231 in 2016. The number
declined to 55,681 in 2017.
Other countries from where large
numbers of medical tourists came
to India include Iraq, Oman,
Maldives, Yemen, Uzbekistan and
Sudan.
Asked about the foreign
exchange earned (FEE) from med‑
ical tourism, the Minister said the
56 August 18-24, 2018
Let us all work for more
stable, inclusive development
of India: Vice President
and protecting the best aspects
of traditions and cultures. We
have to protect nature along with
culture for better future, he
added.
The Vice President said that
festivals like Teez teach us to live
with the nature. He further said
that Living and Loving the nature
and protecting our culture are
key aspects of our philosophy.
We must harmoniously live with
nature for a better future, he
added.
The Vice President said that
the extraordinary occasion of
Teez must be celebrated by rec‑
ognizing the achievements of our
daughters and sisters. He further
said that the society should not
data was not separately available.
“However, the provisional esti‑
mates of the total FEE through
medical tourism during 2015,
2016 and 2017 were ₹1,35,193
crore, ₹1,54,146 crore, and
₹1,77,874 crore, respectively,”
he said.
The Niti Aayog has identified
medical value travel (MVT) as a
major source of foreign exchange
earnings. India currently has
around 18% of the global medical
tourism market. Its medical value
travel (MVT) was pegged at $3
billion in 2015, and is estimated
to grow at a CAGR of 15%,
according to a report by FICCI
and IMS Health, a health industry
information firm. It has been esti‑
mated that by 2020, Indiaʼs med‑
ical tourism industry could be
worth $9 billion, and account for
20% of the global market share.
The report pointed out that in
curative care, India was the pre‑
ferred destination for cardiology,
orthopaedics, transplants, and
ophthalmology. India also
enjoyed high credibility in well‑
ness, preventive, and alternative
medicine. (Source: thehindu.com)
DEVELOPMENT
lay burden of the stereotypes on
them and allow them to progress
at par with others. Woman
empowerment is important and
we should provide every oppor‑
tunity to women for their better‑
ment, he added.
The Vice President called on
the parents of girl children to
help them revitalize their talent
and support them in their
endeavors.
Save the daughter, teach the
daughter, enable the daughter
to be able and enriched, this
is the significance of
this great festival, he
added.
The Vice President said that
India has a great tradition and
Indian movies attract
millions around the world
I
ndian films featuring megastars
with a global appeal, coupled
with the backing of affluent pro‑
duction houses, garnered millions of
ticket sales around the globe last
year. The Indian film industry grew
27 percent in 2017 on the back of
box office growth in both domestic
and international markets, according
to a report by EY and the Federation
of Indian Chambers of Commerce &
Industry (FICCI).
In 2017, box office collections for
Indian films overseas took $367 mil‑
lion ̶ up almost three times from
$125 million the year before, the
report said.
Earnings this year are expected to
do just as well and may rise to $411
million in 2020 ̶ up by 12 percent
from 2017, according to the report.
Higher overseas box office collec‑
tions for domestic‑made movies
boosts Indian tourism, creates new
jobs and adds value to the Indian
economy through taxes, said
Abhishek, who only goes by one
name, and is a partner and consult‑
ant at Deloitte India.
Indian movies may find success
overseas from the backing of well‑
known celebrities and big produc‑
tion houses ̶ factors that attract
international viewers, he said.
Those factors are helping some
Indian films earn showings at more
mainstream theaters in countries
like the U.S. Hindi‑language movies,
popularly known as Bollywood films,
earned more in international mar‑
kets in 2017 compared to their
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
culture that gives highest place
for women and women power is
Featuring megastars and backed
by big production houses Indian
movies have got the cash regis‑
ters ringing globally.
counterparts in other languages
such as Tamil, Telugu or Punjabi.
While some Tamil and Telugu
movies did well in international mar‑
kets in 2017, and Tamil superstars
like Rajinikanth have a huge follow‑
ing in different parts of the world,
other films proved unpopular with
audiences.
Excluding the earnings from
"Baahubali 2" last year, the total
overseas box office collections of
Tamil and Telugu movies would have
declined from 2016. "Baahubali 2"
originally released in Tamil and
Telugu and was dubbed in several
languages including English, Hindi
and Malayalam.
Tamil action‑thriller "Mersal" and
Telugu action‑drama "Jai Lava Kusa"
were two other non‑Hindi movies
that reaped high box office collec‑
tions in 2017, according to the EY‑
FICCI report.
Still, four of the top five grossing
Indian movies in 2017 were
Bollywood, according to Box Office
India. "Baahubali 2" is the only non‑
Bollywood film in the list.
In 2017, Bollywood film "Secret
Woman
empowerment is
important and we
should provide
every opportunity
to women; Protect
Nature and
Culture together
for better
future ‐
M Venkaiah Naidu
worshiped and respected in
India. Expressing concern
over the incidents of vio‑
lence against women, he
said that inhuman acts
against women are
like betrayal
against our own
traditions and
customs. It
appears as if we
were distracted by
our own excellent traditions, he
added.
Superstar" reaped nearly $120 mil‑
lion in China, according to a report
from Deloitte India and the Motion
Picture Distributors Association
(India).
The Indian community in China
has only about 15,000 people com‑
pared to 2.5 million in the U.S. and
1.5 million in the U.K., according to
the Deloitte‑MPDA report. But that
hasn't affected the success of Indian
movies in China.
Last year, "Dangal," featuring
superstar Aamir Khan, became the
highest grossing non‑Hollywood for‑
eign movie of all time in China,
according to the Deloitte‑MPDA
report. "Dangal" released worldwide
in December 2016 and in China in
May 2017. It was dubbed and subti‑
tled for a Chinese audience.
Earlier this year, "Secret
Superstar," featuring teen actress
Zaira Wasim as the lead and Khan in
a supporting role, also won over
Chinese audiences. The movie
grossed over nine times more in
China than it did in India, according
to the Deloitte‑MPDA report, in part
because it opened to a staggering
11,000 screens there compared to
only 1,800 at home.
"Dangal" also recorded higher box
office receipts in China than in India.
Regal, one of the largest movie the‑
ater chains in the U.S., screened an
average of 200 Indian movies annu‑
ally in the past four years, said Rob
Westerling, head film buyer for the
company.
(Source: cnbc.com)
TheSouthAsianTimes.info INDIA DAY SPECIAL August 18-24, 2018
 58 August 18-24, 2018 TOURISM TheSouthAsianTimes.info

In 2016, 1.17 million Indian tourists

came to the US, spending over
$13 billion. The author traveled with
An American
a group of Indians on the West Coast.
they would be quarreling and the next
summer for
they were friends and worrying about
each other.
It felt like a rock band traveling from
city to city with quick overnight stays
Indians
and long bus rides through the desert.
After a good nightʼs rest at a decent
By Surekha Vijh hotel, our group went sightseeing in LA.
in Washington DC T he city, which gets its name from
Spanish, "The Angels," is the second‑most

T
hey arrived in small groups from populous city in the US, after New York
Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Assam, West City. With a population estimated at 4
Bengal, Maharashtra, UP, Gujarat and million, it is the cultural, financial, and
other states. They were to spend one week in commercial center of California. It is
Americaʼs West Coast and one week on the located in a large basin bounded by the
East Coast. Organized by a tourist company in Pacific Ocean on one side and by moun‑
India, they came for a whirlwind tour aspiring tains as high as 10,000 feet on the other.
to visit as many tourist spots as possible. Home to the Indian tribes, the place was
“It used to be fashionable for affluent fami‑ claimed
lies to come to the US, but now itʼs
almost a must for upper middle and
even middle‑class families,” said Nita
Gupta, a tourist from Lucknow here for
the first time.
“I think itʼs like a competition to get
your passport stamped for the US,” said
Vepa Reddy, smiling while sitting in the
bus.
It is summer both in the US and India.
Crooked Street in
Tourist rush in the US is from May to
San Francisco
September. Winters are quiet as Asian
tourists fear the harsh winter in the US.
Universal Studios entrance in LA.
In our global village, flights are cheaper, the
hotel industry promotes tourism vigorously, as by Spain in 1542 and became a part of
do travel agents and companies, booking Mexico in 1821. Following the Mexican War
group tours for reasonable rates. of Independence, Los Angeles and the rest of
Ajoy Mukherjee, who was traveling with his California became part of the United States in
wife and young daughter, commented that 1850.
once people could not think of going to anoth‑ The group was led to famous Universal
er country because of hardships involved. “But Studios theme park and the Dolby Theatre
now itʼs just a matter of hours, you can fly (venue for the Oscars). After driving through
from one corner of the earth to another.” Beverly Hills and Hollywood Boulevard, one of
America is now the most popular destination the city's best‑known neighborhoods, they
for Indians. You are assured safe travel withinwere off to Las Vegas in Nevada.
the country (barring a few race‑related inci‑ Las Vegas, called the Sin City for its toler‑
dents). There were many well‑maintained ance for adult stuf f, bills itse lf as the
tourist places. The number of visitors from Entertainment Capital of the World, and is
India has gone up in recent years. In 2016, famous for its mega casino‑hotels. The Indian
1.17 million of them came and they spent over tourists were excited seeing the popular, psy‑
$13 billion that year in the US. chedelic Fremont Street.
People travel with organized groups where Since not many were interested in gambling,
minute details from ticketing to hotels to they left for the Grand Canyon, a river valley in
meals and sight‑seeing are preplanned. the Colorado plateau. A steep‑sided canyon
Flying from my home base of Washington carved by the Colorado River in Arizona it is
DC, I traveled with a group of 70 people from 277 miles long, up to 18 miles wide and
India who had landed at the LAX airport in attains a depth of over a mile. We found out an
Los Angeles. A bus driver and a local group interesting fact: it is not the deepest canyon in
leader met them at the airport. the world; Kali Gandaki Gorge in Nepal is
Despite initial confusion, as they had arrived
much deeper.
from dif ferent parts of India, they soon President Theodore Roosevelt was a major
became a touring mini India, speaking differ‑ proponent of preservation of the Grand
ent regional languages and breaking into Canyon area, and visited it on numerous occa‑
Hindi and English for the rest. One moment sions. From Las Vegas, the tourists were driv‑
en to the most beautiful city in the state of
California, San Francisco. With a visit to
Fremont Street,
Las Vegas. the Golden Gate Bridge, High Point and the
Lombard Street (better known as Crooked
Street), the group flew to Buffalo in New
York state, to start the second leg of their
trip on the East Coast. Not surprising, they
were to start with Niagara Falls.
As they boarded the plane from San
Francisco, their wide smiles spoke volumes
about their accomplishment.
 60 August 18-24, 2018 BOLLYWOOD TheSouthAsianTimes.info

rring
ie sta

Priyanka's m o v
The opra
riyan ka Ch ase
P ele
et to r
was s .
9
in 201

Rishi Kapoor
calls British
Airways 'racist'
Mumbai: Veteran actor Rishi
Kapoor has called British
Airways "racist" after an
Indian passenger and his fam‑
ily was allegedly asked to de‑
board a flight in the UK. He
said his own experience with
the airline once was not pleas‑
ant.
"Racist. Don't fly British
Airways. We cannot be kicked
around. Sad to hear about the
Berlin child incident. I stopped
'Cowboy Ninja
Viking' delayed
indefinitely
P
riyanka Chopra and Chris
Pratts "Cow boy Ninja
Viking" has been indefi‑
nitely delayed. Universal Pictures
has taken "Cowboy Ninja Viking"
off its schedule and undated the
movie, which was previously set
to release on June 28, 2019,
reports variety.com.
According to several sources,
the film is still in active develop‑
ment with Pratt, Priyanka and
director Miche lle MacLaren
remaining on board.
The studio said it will be re‑
dated at a later time to accommo‑
date production scheduling.
Sources say the studio delayed
the film rather than rushing it
out to make the June 28 dead‑
line.
"Cowboy Ninja Viking" is based
on the Image Comics graphic
novel by A.J. Lieberman and illus‑
trator Riley Rossmo. It was adapt‑
ed by Dan Mazeau ("Wrath of the
Titans") and Ryan Engle ("The
Commuter").
Craig Mazin wrote an earlier
draft of the screenplay with an
original version by Paul Wernick
and Everett David Reese.

S
flying British Airways after
unny Leone, who started off as
the cabin crew were rude
and had attitude not
an adult film star and ventured
into Bollywood with "Jism 2" in
Have changed for the better
once but twice even
with motherhood: Sunny
2012, is right now in love with her
after being a first
life as it is unfolding. She is not
class passenger.
just managing a career, but also
Fly Jet Airways or from a village in Latur. Another surprise came in
enjoying her time being a mother
Emirates. There March, when she shared that the two had extended
of three ‑‑ something that has
is dignity," Rishi their brood by including two more children ‑‑ sons
helped her change and evolve.
tweeted. The Noah and Asher ‑‑ via surrogacy. Sunny, who is cur‑
The Canadian‑born Indian‑
incident took rently seen hosting season 11 of youth‑based reali‑
American actress was named
place on July 23, ty show "Splitsvilla" on MTV, says motherhood has
Penthouse Pet of the Year in 2003
when the family changed her.
and shifted her focus to main‑
was travelling "I have changed and evolved but I believe (it
stream acting in Hindi films with
from London to has happened) for the better. I look at all
"Jism 2", following it up with "Ragini
Berlin on a British three of them and am completely, utterly in
MMS 2", "Ek Paheli Leela", "Kuch Kuch
Airways flight. love with them," she said. With three tod‑
Locha Hai", "Mastizaade" and "Tera
hi
actor Ris Intezaar". dlers to give attention to, will her career
Veteran id his own slow down? "I believe I am the best mother
sa
Kapoor e with the Her life has inspired a digital platform
rienc I can be if I am working and spending time
ex pe asant. series titled "Karenjit Kaur: The Untold Story of
w as unple with them. I love my job and I hope my
flight Sunny Leone". Last year, the actress, who is married to Daniel
Weber, took everyone by surprise when she announced that children grow up to be just as hardwork‑
she and her husband had adopted girl child named Nisha ing as my husband and I," said Sunny.

N
ational the people around you changes. If I bring all my sincerity to the
Award‑ do a variety of work, people notice character I play. That way I
People's winning me differently and that is what is am dedicated," said the
perception actor happening. I am fortunate to get actor, who is gearing up for
Rajkummar Rao these opportunities," Rajkummar his next release "Stree"
changes has scaled suc‑ said. with Shraddha Kapoor.
when you're cess with his The 33‑year‑old actor delivered Whether it's a film like
perfectly bal‑ a film like "Bareilly Ki Barfi", and is "Newton", which was selected
successful: anced film career also known for critically acclaimed as the Indian entry for the
Rajkummar which straddles movies like "Newton", "Omerta", Best Foreign Language Film
the worlds of com‑ "Aligarh", "Trapped" and "Kai Po at the 90th Academy Awards,
mercial potboilers as Che". "Omerta" which played at the
well as content‑driven and mean‑ With time, has he become a bet‑ Toronto International Film
ingful films. He says as an individ‑ ter judge of a good script? Festival, "Aligarh" which was
ual he has not changed, but people "My parameter of judging a screened at the Busan
around him have. "I am the same script has not changed over the International Film Festival ‑‑
person who came to this city years. I still go for a script where Rajkummar has emerged as
Mumbai a few years ago to act in the story interests me. Yes, there one of the observers of the
Hindi films and I am just continu‑ are times where I might go wrong; global audience of
ing doing that. I did not change as say, out of five scripts, I might go Indian
Sunny
ar Rao Actress he
ajkumm a person. All that happens is peo‑ wrong on one. cinema. at t
Actor R ovies Leone
n for m ple change around me. "When you "But that is only natural and the of web
is know onʼ, launch aur'
wt are successful, the perception of ratio is not bad I guess. I try to 'Karenjit K
like ʻNe ligarhʼ. series
ʼ and ʻA
ʻOm aert
 62 August 18-24, 2018 BOLLYWOOD TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Rani Mukerji Celebrate

I‑Day with
to hoist ʻSatyamev
Jayateʼ
Indian flag and ʻGoldʼ
‘Purity of in Melbourne
emotions intact
B
ollywoo d Actress Rani and styles, and it
Mukerji will be hoisting the is all put under
in Bollywood's Indian flag at the iconic one roof.
federation square building to mark "It's a matter of
patriotic songs’ Indian Independence Day celebra‑ great pride for our
tions in Melbourne. country to show‑
She has gathered along with case our films here
Rajkumar Hirani, Tabrez and reach out to
Noorani, Freida Pinto, Vicky people," Rani,
Kaushal, Richa Chadha and Ali whose film
Fazal to spread the magic of cin‑ "Hichki" w ill be
ema in Australia as part of the screened at the
Indian Film Fest ival of gala, said here.
Melbourne (IFFM) ‑‑ the biggest A u s t r a l i a ' s
celebration of Indian movies in Minister for Creative
Down Under. Industries Mart in
The celebrities addressed the Foley lauded the IFFM
Actress Rani Mukerji is in Australia for
Indian Film Festival of Melbourne.
opening press conference of the and its Fest ival
Actor John Abraham during the
movie jamboree, to be held in Director Mitu Bhowmick Lange for ing the connect ions that we
promotion of his upcoming film
Melbourne till August 22. organizing the country's biggest (Australia and India) have with 'Satyameva Jayate'.

Rani, looking simple and elegant
Yesteryear actor
in a floral suit, said it was an honor
Manoj Kumar singing
for her to be a guest of honor at
ʻmere desh ki dharti…ʼ.
the event, where 60 films across
A
Indian film festival in its creative each other. And that's what IFFM
does," Foley said. ctor John Abraham ʻs
capital Victoria.
"Satyameva Jayate" is going
In its ninth edition currently, the The opening night film is Tabrez
to clash with Akshay
gala has been strongly supported Noorani's "Love Sonia" on sex traf‑

M
ere desh ki dharti
sona ugle" in the
1960s to today's
"Ghar layenge gold" ‑‑ the vibe
of patriotic songs has under‑
gone a change. But there's a
constant.
"When it comes to patriotic
songs, one thing that has
remained common forever is
the soul and pure feeling of
love for the nation," Jigar
Saraiya of the Sachin‑Jigar
composer duo said.
"What has changed is the
sound and the representation,
which depend on the way you
want to reach your target audi‑
ence. The feelings for the
motherland remain intact, but
we try to make such songs
more modern and accessible to
the younger listeners. The
purity of emotions does not
change," Jigar added.
His music partner Sachin
Sanghvi pointed out the lyrical
difference in the Hindi songs
from the 1960s and 1970s to
now. "Earlier, patriotic songs
were about the post
Independence movement or in
glory of the independence
fight. Whereas patriotic songs
today are about retaining that
glory, our culture and values.
"Today's track speak of
national pride... So, with time,
songs have changed lyrically,"
Sachin said.
20 languages will be screened.
"On behalf of the Indian film fra‑
ternity, I would like to thank the
Victorian government for support‑
ing the Indian industry as it is so
diverse with so many languages
by Film Victoria, the government ficking. Freida and Richa, along
body which of fers film commis‑ with the film's lead actress Mrunal
sion services to productions inter‑ Thakur, said they were looking
ested in filming here. forward to showcase a film about
"We are looking at increasing the lesser known side of the harsh
the opportunities and strengthen‑ reality.
Politics shouldn't be viewed
as career: Kangana Ranaut
ctress Kangana Ranaut,
A who is vocal about political
and social issues, says she
has no plans to join politics.
"I think politics shouldn't be
taken as a career. If somebody
like me wants to join politics,
then firstly he or she needs to
renunciation all pains and pleas‑
ures of the material world,
become as ascetic or bairagi,"
the actress said.
"If you want to serve people
then you have to give up your
family and other things in your
life, then only, I will be able to
serve the country and that
should be the intention.
"At this point, I am very suc‑
cessful in my career so I don't
want to make my career
in another field."
The actress, who
The actress
is busy with
slammed her
contemporaries "Manikarnika:
for not taking a The Queen Of
stand on social Jhansi", said: "If I
issues. have to serve for
Kumar's sports drama "Gold" on
Independence Day.
John said the makers of his
upcoming film "Satyameva Jayate"
chose August 15 as the film's
release date as it is a very commer‑
cial date in terms of doing busi‑
ness. Asked why makers of the film
chose Independence Day as they
could have avoided the clash with
big film like "Gold", he said at a
media interaction: "We chose
August 15 as release date of this
my land then there shouldn't be
vested interests of mine because
then there will be conflict of
interests.
film because it's a very commercial
date and by releasing your film on
that day, you are able to make
good money through your film."
Kangana expressed her views
"If we had a solo release of this
about joining the political world
film in the next week of
while interacting with the media
Independence Day then also we
at the "In Conversation with the
would not be able to do that much
Mystic 2018" session along with
business which we will be able to
Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudeva.
do on Independence Day with
The actress also criticized her
"Gold" so, it makes more sense to
contemporaries from Bollywood
release it on a holiday."
for not taking a stand on social
Adding further, John said that
issues. "I feel we should talk
the film will not compete with
about present day conditions of
Akshay Kumar's "Gold" but both
our country and we should think
film will complement each other
about how we can unite this
on Independence Day.
country. Most of my contempo‑
"I think there is enough space for
raries don't talk about it.
two big films on a holiday. It's not
"Not long ago, a celebrity made
competing. We are complementing
a statement that we don't have
each other. We would love if peo‑
water and electricity problem, so
ple go and see 'Satyameva Jayate'
why should we talk about it? And
and we would be absolutely happy
it hurts. You cannot talk like
if people go and see 'Gold'."
that. What kind of an individual
John Abraham plays vigilante in
talks like that? You are a part of
the film who fights against corrup‑
this country and it's not just
tion and social injustice.
about you."
 64 August 18-24, 2018 TRIBUTE

Our Angel of Love,

Our Mentor & Guru!
I N LOVING MEMORY OF BANSI SHAH (AU G 27, 1940 – AUG 10, 2017)

proofing, bridges and tunnels, bus he could not do without talking to Chetna, for PK Bhatt and Kashmi- A day in our life did not go by
By Kalpana Patel stations and many more projects. every single day and be with you ra, for Tanay and UCI India office without a hearty laughter session

I
t was a beautiful morning on
August 10, 2017 when we
both had morning tea in the
garden looking at your beauti-
ful flowers, a rabbit, some birds
including a red robin and lots of
peaches! Bansi Shah as usual was
in full swing talking about poli-
tics and where to travel next and
what shall we do the following
You strove to just have perfection
and left your mark on those proj-
ects and in our heart.
You loved your children and
their families – Sandeep, Neha and
Akash. You surprised Neha with
many unannounced visits to have
a cup of tea with her. You called
Sandeep every morning and you
assigned Akash to use WD40 and
Zip tie for every new project! You
on every vacation.
Lisa Court families were so in-
separable from Bansibhai that he
did not want to move to another
location leaving them in Syosset.
Mr. Ed and Louise Straber were the
first ones to give him CPR and to
call an ambulance. George-Robin
Estrange, Bobby and Traci Finell,
Robert and Lisa were all around us
on that fateful August 10. And they
staff and for Sunitaben. They all
just had the time of their life being
with you and you inspired them to
achieve more and more in life!
And finally to me, you were my
true partner in crime – crime of
loving colors, people and life! You
were my mentor, guide and guru
who believed in me and inspired
me to go after my dreams.
You never forced your
when with your talk or with your
actions you created real comic
situations. Today your garden is
blooming with colorful flowers
like your memory in our hearts.
The swing, the birds, the rabbit,
the red robin, the peaches, the
paintings, every corner of our
house reminds me of your colors
and divine beauty of your heart!
We all will always miss you,

n
weekend out east in Long Island!

i
drew flowers, birds and artistic mo- are there for us even now helping opinion or decisions on me,

r
Bansibhai, in our own ways and you

orev e
Wish we knew then that his buck- tifs for my Mom to stich her art on me and Akash with your unfin- but rather guided me every

Fur hearts
will always remain in our hearts.
et list will remain pending for me clothes as if you wanted to tell her ished projects or maintaining the time with pros and cons
to complete – alone! your life story. To Paramjeet Walia finished ones. Traci, the famous of every decision. You

o
– you were his godfather. To your dancer and owner of Norma School taught me not to focus
grandchildren Neel, Nina, Om and of Dance, was your favorite neigh- on how to save but on
Aarav you were the cool grandpa. bor and you both shared and cel- how to make more
To Rajiv, Monica, Shalin and Shrey ebrated your birthdays together. money.
you were that uncle role model In India, you shared enor-
they loved to spend time with. mous love and affection for you
SIAEA (Society of Indo-Amer- niece Ragini, for Nimish and
ican Engineers and Architects), Chandani, for Alkesh and
UCI, Rotary Club of Hicksville
South and Lisa Court were your
other families that you loved to
spend time with. A conversation
with Jack Kapur or Nayan Parikh
of SIAEA went on for hours. For
Anil Roy and Dhillon you were one
of their close Punjabi bhai sahib.

“You were my true partner in crime –

Bansibhai with wife, Kalpana
Patel, and son Akash.
His next trip he wished for was
to Russia to see their marvelous ar-
chitecture and the subway galler-
ies. Followed by China for the Great
Wall and its amazing engineering.
Then Australia … and the list goes
on and on! At the age of 77 he
was unstoppable -- to imagine and
paint, to dream, to love his family
and to cherish his friends and to
invest in the Hicksville downtown
revitalization project that he dis-
cussed with Kamlesh Mehta.
What a life you lived! You were
a king of life – fully in command.
Perfection was the one quality you
knew in your world and you went
to heaven with that perfection –
all 24 shiny white original teeth
in your mouth, a perfect vision
and a perfect smile on your face!
We watched Dow Jones Building
that you poured cement on from
One World Trade Center observa-
tory to celebrate Akash’s birthday.
We talked about so many build-
ings in the city that you protected
with perfect roofing and water
Bansibhai wanted to have na-
tional presence of SIAEA, SIAEA to
have its own building and all past
presidents acting as advisors. SI-
AEA events were most cherished crime of loving colors, people and life!”
– Kalpana Patel
by him. SIAEA is fondly respect-
ing him with the continuation of
scholarship program for deserving
engineering students!
Kamlesh Mehta (Past Rotary
District Governor), your close bud-
dy, loved to see you every other day
and Roopam Maini – Nilima Madan
- Dave Sharma - Mukesh Modi –
Ashok Varshney - Quddus Moham-
med from Hicksville Rotary Club
South all admired you and wanted
you to help them lead the club to
better and bigger projects.
To UCI (Unique Comp, Inc)
family you were our mentor and
guide. To Meeta you were that
protective older brother whom she
worshipped. To Kaushal you loved
to challenge his technical skills to
make your technical dreams come
true. To Gautam you were legal
and business brain he could count
on and his children Arya and An-
jali just wanted to have you fix
or build their toys. To Diana you
were the godfather she and her
daughters cherished and for Gary
you were his business and po-
litical bouncing board over wine
tasting. To Kirtibhai you were his
brother from another mother that
 TRIBUTE August 18-24, 2018 65

tion of New York, Gujarati Samaj

Greeting Bansi Shah at his of New York, East West School of
77th birthday celebration. Dance and ISG he played an active
role to help these organizations
achieve their goals. He had been
executive director of many non-
profit organizations in USA and
Bansi Shah with supported their charitable projects
Rotary friends for the underprivileged.
Kamlesh Mehta
and Mukesh
For family and friends,
Bansi was fun to be with.
Modi. His love for
mother india
Bansi Shah perfected every field he entered Even when Bansibhai’s pro-
fessional career and community
services were primarily in USA,

A
community leader and an
accomplished business own-
er well known in New York
and tristate area for his contribu-
tions to the community as well to
Bansi Shah was a founder and
Managing Director of KG Indus-
tries - a well-known commercial
roofing and construction company
in New York which has to its credit
couraged and helped many of his
employees and friends to set up
their own companies and those are
successful enterprises today.
gram called “Score” where he helped
small businesses to build capac-
ity and mentor them to succeed in
their business. He received numer-
ous proclamations and recognition
he never lost sight of his beloved
home country, India, and where
he came from. To name a few, he
undertook projects to help a blind
girls school in Baroda, free eye

the major construction projects
including Dow Jones Building, NYC
bridges and tunnels, JFK airport
train terminals, and many of New
York City schools and universities.
Born in Baroda in Gujarat, In-
dia, Bansi Shah had entrepreneur-
ship qualities from his childhood
when he helped his middle class,
visually impaired father to man-
age a small shop. After his gradua-
tion in Civil Engineering from M.S.
University in Baroda, Bansi Shah
worked for reputable engineering
firms in India like PWD and BEST
in Mumbai, as well as in USA, ulti-
mately following his dream to own
his own engineering firm which he
named after his dad’s initials – K.G.
Engineer and
many well-known projects includ-
ing World Trade Center – Path
Train Terminal at Ground Zero,
construction of World Financial
Center at Battery Park, JFK Air
Train Terminals, York College
and many more. When in the late
80’s, USA was at a low financially,
Bansibhai visualized that USA will
never lose passion for one-family
homes and relying on his construc-
tion expertise, he ventured into
the development of land in upstate
New York, acquired 100 acres of
land and built 81 houses.
Bansibhai’s vision, entrepre-
neurial aptitude, civil engineering
background and a broad range of
expertise have made KG a house-
hold name within the construction
industry. KG employed 70+ em-
ployees of diverse backgrounds:
A passionate
for such services, leadership and camps and cataract surgery for the
participation from New York City, needy, and scholarships to school
going children. For four decades
community
New Jersey Council, Nassau and
Suffolk counties and many more. he never missed the India Day
Bansibhai had a real passion Parade in New York. Being semi-
Leader for community service. As an ex- retired, he was looking forward to
ecutive member of many leading take on major charitable projects
Bansi Shah was closely involved professional and social organiza- in India. Bansi Shah also continued
with the Society of Indo-American tions like Rotary Club of Hicksville to support Rotary Club with their
Engineers and Architects (SIAEA), a South, APBNY, Roofing Associa- projects to help the needy.
1000+ member organization activi-
ties since inception. As president of
SIAEA, he envisioned SIAEA as a
one stop engineering group con-
sisting members from all related
disciplines. During his tenure, the
institution attained new heights
with fundraising gala dinner, Net-
Daughter
working Cruise around New York
Neha and
City, technical seminars for mem-
(on left)
bers and awarding scholarships.
Bansi Shah continued to volun-
her family
posing with

Entrepreneur Greek, African Americans, Indians teer as an expert business counsel- Bansibhai
and other ethnic groups. He en- or for nationally known federal pro- portrait.

2002 : US Congress – Entrepreneurship Award

2017
2003 : Queens Chamber of Commerce
– Excellence in Entrepreneurship Award

2005 : Office of Mayor, New York City – For

Community Service, Leadership and contribution

2011 2007 : New Jersey General Assembly – Proclamation

2007 : Nassau County – Proclamation

2008 : NYS M/WBE – Community Advancement Award

2011 : Society of Indo-American Engineers and

Architects (SIAEA) – Lifetime Achievement Award

2005 2017 : Bharat Gaurav (Pride of India)

- Lifetime Achievement Award
66 August 18-24, 2018 NATIONAL COMMUNITY TheSouthAsianTimes.info

SOSʼ national HQ opens in Chicago

Lisle, IL: Over the last three
decades, Sant Rajinder Singh Ji
Maharaj has impacted the lives of
millions of people throughout the
world with his message of per‑
sonal transformation through
meditation on the inner Light
and Sound. On July 28, thou‑
sands of people from 30 coun‑
tries gathered her for the inaugu‑
rat ion of the new Nat ional
Headquarters for Science of
Spirituality. Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj Inaugurated the spectacular new
National Headquarters of Science of Spirituality on July 28.
Accompanied by dignitaries
from lo cal towns and US Perhaps one of the most inter‑ can discover how to enter our (from left) Wheaton Mayor Michael Gresk, Mata Rita Ji, Sant
Congres, Sant Rajinder Singh Ji esting features of the building is personal sanctuary through med‑ Rajinder Singh Maharaj, US Congressman Bill Foster and Village of
Maharaj inaugurated the iconic a golden circular structure
Lisle Mayor Chris Pecak at the inauguration.
itation, leading to inner and
building. The organizationʼs new designed as a meditation sanctu‑ outer peace and last ing joy. read from two US Senators from opens its doors to the public in
home embodies love, grace, and ary. Meditation can help us uncover Illinois, Dick Durbin and Tammy September, not only will the com‑
universality, bringing together In his address, Sant Rajinder our spiritual side and discover Duckworth. munity find a sanctuary of peace
design elements from the East Singh Ji Maharaj said: the wonders within.” Rep Grace Meng from New where they can spend time in
and the West. “We have a wisdom awaiting Rep Bill Foster, from the 11th York in her message said: “I com‑ meditation, but they will also be
The ribbon‑cutting took place us deep within. Instead of only District of Illinois, commented on mend Science of Spirituality for able to register for a variety of
in front of the reflecting pool logging onto the Internet, we can how the Science of Spirituality its unwavering dedication to sup‑ free classes, prog rams, and
where a 3‑ton sculpture named take some time daily to log into has brought together people port ing its community and events.
“The Meditator” embodies the our own inner essence to lead to from all backgrounds. beyond.” For more information see:
SOS logo. a wisdom to enrich our lives. We Congratulatory letters were When the Meditation Center www.sos.org

Tamil 1st South Indian Biking for a cause and

language to receive
Biliteracy Seal
finding goodness
By Suchitra Srinivas
By SATimes team Tamil studies with the Plainsboro

Plainsboro, NJ: Tamil, the 2000‑year‑
old South Indian language with its rich
cultural heritage, has become the first
South Indian language to get the bi‑lit‑
eracy seal recognition, with the very
first student from West Windsor
Plainsboro (WWP) School district pass‑
ing the required state testing
requirement in New Jersey.
Biliteracy seal assumes
major significance as for
the first time in New
Jersey an Indian lan‑
guage learned outside
the school curriculum gets
recognition and necessary
language credit applicable for
college studies.
New Jersey will be the second US
state after Minnesota to have made
this possible.
Plainsboro Tamil Club, a volunteer‑
run Tamil school, strived to get the lan‑
guage into the Bilingual Seal testing
process in the state. The Club has been
teaching the Tamil language to over
150 students pro bono for the past 11
years. Since this was the first time for
state testing for Tamil, they set the
testing parameters and processes.
Helped by the Penn Language Center
and Prof Vasu Renganathanʼs guidance
the Club worked with the WWP school
district and the NJ state department to
get the process rolling.
Prathisha Shyamsundar, a high
school senior who has been pursuing
Tamil Club, will be the first student to
receive the recognition. Two separate
exams administered by the state‑
appointed agencies tested the oral,
writing and comprehension abilities of
the candidate. The official seal will be
awarded to her along with final school
transcripts. Biliteracy seal recognition
certifies the student has the
necessary verbal, written
and comprehension skills
in the said language
equivalent to English. The
seal is expected to
enhance the employability
of students.
One of the toughest chal‑
lenges for the immigrant popula‑
tion has been to pass on their cultural
lineage to the second generation as
they blend with mainstream cultures
in the US. Language has always been
the hallmark of this endeavor.
Weekend language schools in Hindi,
Chinese, Tamil, Telegu, Bengali etc. are
common. For teaching Tamil in New
Jersey alone there are over 10 major
schools run by volunteers with over
1,500 children enrolled.
The seal of Biliteracy law was first
passed in California in the year 2011.
By now 32 states have passed the nec‑
essary legislation to implement
Biliteracy seal provisions. New Jersey
adopted the same in 2016.
More students from Plainsboro
Tamil club will be receiving the seal in
fall 2018.
F
ive students from Rutgers
University set on a biking cam‑
paign to raise money for chari‑
ty ended up with a very strong con‑
viction that the world outside is not
as unfriendly and uncaring as most
recent hateful incidents have tried to
portray.
One of them is Neeharika Thuravil,
a third year student, as they went on
a 30‑day, 2000‑mile biking trip to
Miami raising $ 20,000 for charity.
Said she, “We were welcomed with
warm hands and kind hearts and will‑ Neeharika Thuravil (3rd from left) was part of the Rutgers
students group that covered 2000 miles raising $ 20,000.
ing ears. We went on a charity mis‑
sion and we learned that the world outside is full They had to bike through rough weather of
of love and care. The word ʻhateʼ never seemed rains, hurricane and heat waves during their 30‑
to exist in the routes we biked. The humane val‑ day odyssey. But all troubles would vanish when
ues and humane touch are not definitely lost in people everywhere would receive them with a
the dark.” When Neeharika first saw the ad call‑ warm welcome, talk to them, offer them dinner
ing for bikers to Miami, she was not convinced and shelter for the night. Neeharika said she saw
that she could do this. But something pushed her a world full of people who were kind, courteous,
to reply ʻyesʼ and she started for Miami on May traditional, value‑based and what not.
19 along with 4 others, all non‑professional bik‑ “Initially we were scared that all of us except
ers. one were brown skinned. Would hatred be an
The event was organized by Dream Project, NJ issue when we travel through interiors? But sur‑
based NGO. The money raised was donated to prisingly people were so friendly and caring that
Visions and Pathways, a Bridgewater charity, to we felt comforted.”
build shelters and rehabilitation of the homeless The team stopped at major towns and went to
and abused children. meet the local businesses and talked about the
Each day morning with light energy bar break‑ charity project for which they were raising
fast the five‑member team would start their trip money. They did community service as well:
to cover an average 70 miles distance. Thanks to painting walls of veterans shelter in Richmond,
sponsors like ShopRite and Trader Joeʼs they had a childrenʼs shelter in Charleston and at a
their food covered. The Kent bike store spon‑ womenʼs shelter in Miami, to name a few.
sored their new bikes. After completing the mission on June 19,
Each day one of them would take turns to drive Neeharika is now looking for a east coast to west
the van that had their supplies for the camp. coast biking campaign for the next summer.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info INDIA DAY SPECIAL August 18-24, 2018
 68 August 18-24, 2018
Donald Trump hosts top CEOs,
including Indra Nooyi,
Ajay Banga for dinner
New York: PepsiCo's outgoing CEO
Indra Nooyi and MasterCard's chief
executive Ajay Banga were among a
small group of top corporate leaders
hosted by US President Donald
Trump for a dinner at his private
golf club in New Jersey to hear their
perspective on the state of the coun‑
try's economy.
The White House had said in a
statement that the dinner is an
"opportunity for the President to
hear how the economy is doing from
their perspective and what their pri‑
orities and thoughts are for the year
ahead."
Nooyi and Banga were accompa‑
nied by their spouses Raj Nooyi and
Ritu Banga, according to an updated
list of attendees provided by the
White House.
Among the 15 prominent business
leaders attending the dinner hosted
by President Trump were Fiat
Chrysler CEO Michael Manley, FedEx
president and CEO Fredrick Smith
and Boeing's chief executive officer
Dennis Muilenburg.
Donald Trump's wife Me lania
How an Indian-American
physicist laid foundation for
NASA's mission to 'touch' the Sun
New Delhi: Mankind's first mis‑
sion to 'touch' the Sun may have
panned out differently had it not
been for Indian‑American astro‑
physicist Subrahmanyan
Chandrasekhar, whose interven‑
t ion made it possible for a
research paper proposing the
existence of solar wind to get
published 60 years ago.
The unprecedented sun‑skim‑
ming probe that lifted of f on
Sunday from the US is set to
study the 'solar winds' proposed
in the paper by Dr Eugene
Newman Parker, who has now
become the first living scientist
to have mission named after him.
NASA's Parker Solar Probe,
which will fly closer to the Sun
that any other spacecraft has
attempted be fore is set to
explore the corona, a region of
the Sun only seen from Earth
when the Moon blocks out the
Sun's bright face during total
solar eclipses. Back in 1958,
when the 31‑year‑old Parker
suggested that the charged parti‑
cles streamed continuously from
the Sun and fill up the space, the
scientific community refused to
believe him. The prevailing opin‑
ion at the time was that the
space was total vacuum.
NATIONAL COMMUNITY
President Trump referred to Nooyi as one of the
"most powerful" women in the world. (Image : ndtv.com)
Trump, daughter Ivanka Trump and
her husband Jared Kushner also
attended the dinner.
According to a White House pool
report, President Trump referred to
Nooyi as one of the "most powerful"
women in the world.
Addressing the power dinner,
Donald Trump said he is meeting
with some of the top business lead‑
"When he submitted his paper
detailing his theory to the
Astrophysical Journal, the most
prominent research journal of
the field, it was rejected twice by
two dif ferent reviewers who
were asked to provide opinions,"
Dibyendu Nandi, an associate
professor at Indian Institute of
Science Education and Research
(IISER) Kolkata, told PTI. "The
Senior Editor of the
Astrophysical Journal intervened
and overruled the reviewers and
allowed the idea to be published.
T hat Editor was the Indian‑
American astrophysicist
Subrahmanyan
Chandrasekhar," said Nandi,
who is also the chairman of the
Working Group on Solar‑Stellar
Environments of the
Internat ional Astronomical
Union (IAU).
"Chandra, as he was popularly
known, is another astrophysicist
with his name tagged to a space
mission, NASA's Chandra X‑ray
Observatory," Nandi said.
Chandrasekhar was awarded
the 1983 Nobel Prize for Physics
with William A Fowler for stud‑
ies of the physical processes of
importance to the structure and
evolution of the stars.
ers in the world.
"You talk about business, this is
the group. And we're so honored to
have you. And we're gonna be dis‑
cussing later on some of the ideas
you may have to, as the expression
goes, make America great again."
He added that the group had been
"big beneficiaries" of his policies and
"you've helped in many cases."
INDIAN‑AMERICAN RESEARCHERS
UNLEASH TURMERIC'S POWER
TO FIGHT CANCER
Bengaluru: A team of Indian‑
American researchers at the
University of Illinois at Urbana‑
Champaign (UIUC) and at the
University of Utah at Salt Lake City,
has used an ingenious process to
enable curcumin to kill cancer
cells.
Curcumin is the active ingredient
of turmeric (haldi), the ubiquitous
kitchen spice that gives curry its
yellow color. Turmeric has been
used in India for thousands of
years as a spice and medicinal herb
because of its powerful anti‑inflam‑
matory and strong antioxidant
property.
Curcumin is also known to exhib‑
it anti‑cancer properties, but its
poor solubility in water had imped‑
ed curcumin's clinical application
in cancer. A drug needs to be solu‑
ble in water as otherwise it will not
flow through the bloodstream.
Despite decades of research, the
development of efficient strategies
that can effectively deliver poorly
water‑soluble curcumin to cancer
cells had remained a challenge.
A team headed by Dipanjan Pan,
associate professor of bioengineer‑
ing at UIUC, has now found a way
out.
"Curcumin's medicinal benefit
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Indian-American high
schooler wins International
Geography Bee Championship
Houston: Indian‑American
high school student Avi Goel
has won the world champi‑
onship at the International
Geography Bee's junior varsity
division held in Berlin,
Germany, last month.
Avi, 14, a tenth grader at
Silver Creek High School in
Evergreen, San Jose, CA, won a
gold medal in seven out of the
10 medal events, and a silver
medal in two of the events,
topping the overall medals
table.
He also bagged the top spot
in all the three events count‑
ing towards the world champi‑
onship title: the International
Geography Exam, the
International Geography
Showdown, and the
International Geography Bee.
The competition took place
from July 11‑18, 2018, and
brought together over 100 of
the world's top geography stu‑
dents to vie for the world
championship title in the
A team headed by Dipanjan Pan, associate professor of
bioengineering at UIUC has found an ingenious way to enable
curcumin to kill cancer cells (Image : nripulse.com)
can be fully appreciated if its solu‑
bility issue is resolved," Pan told
this correspondent in an e‑mail.
Pan's laboratory collaborated with
Peter Stang at the University of
Utah on ways to be able to render
curcumin soluble, deliver it to
infected tumors and kill the cancer
cells.
Because platinum is a commonly
used cancer therapeutic agent in
the clinic, the researchers decided
to experiment with a drug consist‑
ing of a combination of platinum
and curcumin. "It is a combination
subject.
"After these awards, I want
to move on to progress in
other subject areas such as
math and computer science as
these are my desired areas to
study in college.
The lion's share of my
rationale for winning such
things stems back to personal
pride and desire although I
hope to use them, to some
extent, to hopefully embellish
my college applications if pos‑
sible," Avi told PTI.
"With this international win,
his long time passion has been
fulfilled and we are very
proud of his hard work and
dedication," proud parents
Komal & Rajiv Goel said.
The competition was held by
International Academic
Competitions, a worldwide
organization that runs aca‑
demic competitions across the
world, including the newly
formed International
Geography Bee.
of clever chemistry and nano‑pre‑
cipitation utilizing host guest
chemistry," Pan explained. "The
sophisticated chemistry leads to
self‑assembled hierarchical struc‑
ture that drives the solubility of
curcumin and simultaneously
delivers an additional anticancer
agent, i.e. platinum. The combined
therapeutic ef fect ‑‑ of curcumin
and platinum ‑‑ is lethal for the
cancer cells."
The team has reported its work
in the "Proceedings of the National
Academy of Sciences."
TheSouthAsianTimes.info INDIA DAY SPECIAL August 18-24, 2018
 70 August 18-24, 2018 TRISTATE COMMUNITY TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Value-based motivational Xavier Medical School

mantras for success
By Suchitra Srinivas trustworthy character can be built that
determines true success.
receives full CAAM‑HP
T
wo decades after his ʻYou Can In the conversation, Khera also
Winʼ that sold around 4 million
copies in 21 languages, Shiv
Khera is back with his new book ʻYou
expressed his skepticism about our
education system. “Todayʼs education
is only teaching how to make a living
accreditation
Can Achieve Moreʼ. but doesnʼt teach how to live.” As a cor‑
Shiv Khera, a well‑known author, porate consultant to major corpora‑ This is a full accreditation from 2018-2021
business consultant, and sought‑after tions like Nestle, Lufthansa and IBM,
speaker who has inspired millions of Shiv Khera believes that corporate Aruba: The Xavier
individuals helping them to realize training is all about repairing the tal‑ University School of
their inner potential, has presented ents. “If you prepare them you donʼt Medicine (XUSOM) and
some deeper dimensions of achieve‑ have to repair them. The current educa‑ President Ravishankar
ment in his new book. tion system that produces graduates Bhooplapur are excited to
In general, motivational speakers get does not build the right attitude,” he announce that the
their listeners into a hyped mode and grumbles. University has received
set them to fly high He has also insights full accreditation from
for the moment and into handling stress. the Caribbean
then you know what, There is both positive Accreditation Authority
the mundane routine stress and negative for Education in Medicine
may soon get the lis‑ stress. There is more and other Health
tener sucked in. But stress when one is not Professions or CAAM‑HP.
Shiv Khera with 15 motivated to do This is the highest possi‑
books to his credit is things. Positive stress ble accreditation that is
not the one in this motivates to do more offered by CAAM‑HP.
wagon. His books whereas negative The standards used are
have deep penetra‑ stress drains out the based on the Liaison
tive effect that gets energy and this is Committee of Medical
you going to places, where one has to Education (LCME) which
internalizing the focus more motiva‑ accredits US medical
vibrations of motiva‑ tion, he elaborates. schools. CAAM‑HP is rec‑
tional thoughts. His All achievers move ognized by the National
due to internal moti‑ Committee on Foreign
An interaction with
choice of words is
simple yet they have vations. Where there Medical Education and
Accreditation (NCFMEA),
a deeper impact,
mostly inviting a
Shiv Khera in New is lack of internal
motivation people at which is a part of the US
reader for a come‑ York on his new work stop performing
when their target is
Department of Education,
as having standards com‑
back, that is appeal‑
ing to many. book, ‘You Can achieved. parable to those used to
accredit US Medical
Achieve More’
In ʻYou Can Shiv Kheraʼs mes‑
Achieve Moreʼ Khera sage to the corporate Schools. This accredita‑
has stressed the world is: making tion makes Xavier fully Ravishankar Bhooplapur, President of Xavier
point that success is nei‑ money is criminal but compliant with the University School of Medicine, Aruba.
ther a miracle nor a earning money is spiri‑ Educational Committee
mystery and that one tual. It is an integrity for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) rule translational research organization. BS/BI
that starting in 2023 ECFMG applicants already has 32 companies at the center and
has to live by issue. A Gallop serv‑
must graduate from a medical school that is many of those have had their research and
design and not by ices study found
accredited by an accrediting body that is discoveries approved by the US FDA and
default. that 63% of people
recognized by the World Federation for have reached $1 billion valuations. This col‑
If you want to who go to work
Medical Education (WFME) and its Program laboration will give Xavier students a com‑
stand out then you are disengaged
for Recognition of Accrediting Agencies. petitive advantage amongst their peers, and
need to do some‑ while 24% are
XUSOM now holds full accreditation from give them the ability to participate in high
thing outstanding, actively disengaged,
(CAAM‑HP), and a provisional accreditation level research electives.
he says reassuringly. meaning they ensure
from the Accreditation Commission of XUSOM was founded in 2004 and is char‑
According to him atti‑ others are also not
Colleges of Medicine (ACCM). Both of these tered by the government of Aruba. It is a not
tude, success, leadership, doing their job. So, only
accrediting bodies are recognized by for profit medical school with the goal of
motivation and values are the 13% do their job. Evidently
ECFMG and the WFME. Xavier graduates “Cultivating Great Minds for Primary Care
key ingredients that one has to work the world is becoming tolerant to
will also be eligible for residencies in the Medicine”. The campus is located in the
on to achieve sustainable success. unethical behaviors and accepting
state of California starting January 1st, largest city in Aruba, Oranjestad. The island
Shiv Khera was in New York recently degradation of value as a norm. This is
2020. The state of California has passed of Aruba is located in the southern waters
in connection with the launch of his just not the path to sustainable success,
legislation that the state now follows the of the Caribbean and is below the hurricane
new book. He is confident that it will he said. The world has shrunk, business
regulations of the ECFMG 2023 rule. belt. It is very accessible with daily direct
shape the lives of millions around the has gone global. But different compa‑
President Bhooplapur and the committed flights from North America.
world who look for the motivational nies, organizations and countries have
board of trustees are proud to have Xavier school has a diverse student popu‑
push to fly higher. different work cultures or ethical val‑
achieved accreditations of these standards, lation from 27 different nationalities, and
While speaking to this reporter, he ues. Culture starts percolating top
and are working hard to continue to pro‑ under the current leadership has expanded
emphasized taking adequate care to down, never bottom up. So, building
vide an excellent education for the schoolʼs to open pre‑med campuses in Ghana,
build a positive attitude towards value‑ values, Shiv Khera argues, has to begin
students. XUSOM currently holds a 94% Jordan, and India. Xavier has also worked
based living for achieving sustainable from the top. Growth devoid of value is
first time pass rate on the US Medical hard to develop new postgraduate courses
progress. just swelling like a cancerous growth.
Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step1 covering fields including Anatomy,
The very first line of the book says, “A To him when we take care of the peo‑
exam. This exam is the first of 3 exams you Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Physiology
person with a positive attitude cannot ple problem, all business problems gets
need to take in order to receive your MD and Radiology.
be stopped and person with negative dissolved.
attitude cannot be helped. People hire A special book release function for degree.
Xavier has also entered into a collabora‑ For more information, call Andrew
us for our skills but they fire us for our ʻYou Can Achieve Moreʼ is being
tion agreement with The Baruch S. Sheldon at 516‑333‑2224 or email ashel‑
behaviors.” In other words, our attitude planned at Washington DC, Houston
Blumberg Institute (BS/BI), a non‑profit don@xusom.com.
shapes the behavior through which a and New York in September.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info INDIA DAY SPECIAL August 18-24, 2018
 72 August 18-24, 2018 OBITUARY TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Atal

Nation mourns Bihari

Vajpayee
(25 Dec

Vajpayee's demise 1924-

16 Aug
2018)
Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was a man of
moderation in a fraternity of jingoistic nationalists; a peace
visionary in a region riven by religious animosity; and a man
who believed in India's destiny and was ready to fight for it.
New Delhi: Former Prime Minister support system. Despite the best of for which he did
Atal Bihari Vajpayee, a moderate face efforts, we have lost him today." not have the num‑
in saffron politics and the first non‑ Vajpayee, a diabetic patient, was bers.
Congress prime minister to complete undergoing treatment at the All India Vajpayee again became
a full term in office, died here on Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). the Prime Minister in
Thursday after a prolonged illness, His condition worsened further on March 1998 but his govern‑
AIIMS authorities said. He was 93. Wednesday evening with leaders ment fell 13 months later on
"It is with profound grief that we from across the political spectrum the floor of the Lok Sabha
inform about the sad demise of for‑ thronging the hospital and enquiring losing by one vote in the
mer Prime Minister Atal Bihari about his health. confidence motion after
Vajpayee at 5.05 p.m. on The former Prime Minister, whose AIADMK headed by the late
16.08.2018," an AIIMS press state‑ birthday on December 25 is celebrat‑ J.Jayalalithaa withdrew sup‑
ment said. ed as Good Governance Day, was hon‑ port to the BJP.
The statement said Vajpayee was ored with the Bharat Ratna in 2014 at The BJP government
admitted on June 11 and was stable his home. headed by Vajpayee
in the last nine weeks. "Unfortunately, He was Prime Minister for 13 days returned to power in 1999
his condition deteriorated over the in mid‑1996 when he was forced to and completed its full term
last 36 hours and he was put on life resign ahead of the confidence vote till 2014.

Man of moderation who raised India's global stature

New Delhi: Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari
Vajpayee (93) will go down in history as a
person who tried to end years of hostility
with Pakistan and put development on the
front burner of the country's political agenda.
He was also the first non‑Congress Prime
Minister to complete a full five‑year term.
Even though he lived the last 13 years of
his life in virtual isolation, dogged by debili‑
tating illnesses and bedridden, he has left an
enduring legacy for the nation and the region
where he was much loved and respected
across the political spectrum and national
boundaries, including in Pakistan.
Success didn't come easily to the charismat‑
ic politician, who was born on Christmas Day
in 1924 in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, into a
family of moderate means. His father was a
school teacher and Vajpayee would later
recall his early brush with poverty.
He did his Masters' in Political Science,
studying at the Victoria College in Gwalior
and at the DAV College in Kanpur, Uttar
Pradesh, where he first contested, and lost,
elections. He began his professional career as
a journalist, working with Rashtradharma, a
Hindi monthly, Panchjanya, a Hindi weekly,
and two Hindi dailies, Swadesh and Veer
Arjun. By then he had firmly embraced the
ideals of the Hindu nationalist Rashtriya
Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS).
His first entry into Parliament was in 1962
through the Rajya Sabha, the upper house. It
was only in 1971 that he won a Lok Sabha
election. He was elected to the lower house
seven times and to the Rajya Sabha twice.
Vajpayee spent months in prison when
Indira Gandhi imposed Emergency rule in
June 1975 and put her political opponents in
jail. When the Janata Party took office in
Do din mile udhaar mein
ghaaton ke vyapar mein
kshan-kshan ka hisaab loon
yaa nidhi shesh lutaoon main?
raah kaun si jaaon main?
launched a widely acclaimed diplomatic ini‑
tiative by starting a bus service between New
Delhi and Pakistan's Lahore city.
Its inaugural run in February 1999 carried
Vajpayee and was welcomed on the border by
his Pakistan counterpart Nawaz Sharif. It was
suspended only after the 2001 terror attack
on the Indian Parliament that nearly led to a
war between the two nuclear‑armed neigh‑
In his full five‑year term, Vajpayee succes‑ bours.
sively carried forward India's economic The freeze between the two countries,
reforms program with several initiatives. including an eyeball‑to‑eyeball confrontation
1977, dethroning the Congress for the first on the border for nearly a year, was finally
time, he became the foreign minister. cracked in the spring of 2003 when Vajpayee,
The lowest point in his career came when while in Kashmir, extended a "hand of friend‑
he lost the 1984 Lok Sabha polls, that too ship" to Pakistan. That led to the historic sum‑
from his birthplace Gwalior, after Rajiv mit in January 2004 with then President
Gandhi won an overwhelming majority fol‑ Pervez Musharraf in Islamabad ‑‑ a remark‑
lowing his mother Indira Gandhi's assassina‑ able U‑turn after the failed summit in Agra of
tion. And the BJP he led ended up with just 2001. Despite the two men being so far apart
two seats in the 545‑member Lok Sabha, in in every way, Musharraf developed a strong
what looked like the end of the road for the liking for the Indian leader.
right‑wing party. In no time, Vajpayee was His unfinished task, one that he would prob‑
replaced and "eclipsed" by his long‑time ably rue, would be the peace process with
friend L.K. Advani. Pakistan that he had vowed to pursue to its
He brought into governance measures that logical conclusion and a resolution of the
created for India a distinct international sta‑ Kashmir dispute.
tus on the diplomatic and economic fronts. In He was not known as "Atal‑Ji", a name that
his third prime ministerial stint, Vajpayee translates into firmness, for nothing. He could
go against the grain of his party if he saw it
deviate from its path. When Hindu hardliners
celebrated the destruction of the 16th centu‑
ry Babri Mosque at Ayodhya, he was full of
personal remorse for the apocalyptic action
and called it ‑‑ in a landmark interview to
IANS ‑‑ the "worst miscalculation" and a "mis‑
adventure". He even despaired that "moder‑
ates have no place ‑‑ who is going to listen to
the voice of sanity?"
In his full five‑year term, he successively
carried forward India's economic reforms
program with initiatives to improve infra‑
structure, including flagging off a massive
national highway project that has become
associated with his vision, went for massive
privatization of unviable state undertakings
despite opposition from even within his own
party. While his personal image remained
unsullied despite his long innings in the
murky politics of this country, his judgment
was found wanting when his government was
rocked by an arms bribery scandal that
sought to expose alleged payoffs to some sen‑
ior members of his cabinet.
His failure to speak up when members of
his party and its sister organizations, who are
accused of killing more than 1,000 Muslims
in Gujarat, was questioned by the liberal fra‑
ternity who wondered aloud about his secular
proclamations. He wanted then Chief Minister
‑‑ now Prime Minister, Narendra Modi ‑‑ to
take responsibility for the riots and quit but
was prevailed upon by others not to press his
decision.
A day before his party lost power, Vajpayee
was quoted as saying in a television interview
that if and when he stepped down he would
like to devote his time to writing and poetry.
But fate ruled otherwise. ‑IANS
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Indians among 78 found "I probably funded Al Qaeda": Indian‑
in locked refrigerated origin restaurateur racially abused
trailer at a US checkpoint
New York: Over 100 people, includ‑
ing some Indians, have been
detained by the US border patrol
and immigration officials in sepa‑
rate enforcement actions for ille‑
gally entering and living in the
country. Federal Officers from US
Immig rat ion and Customs
Enforcement's (ICE) Enforcement
and Removal Operations (ERO)
arrested 45 people in the Houston
area for violating US immigration
laws during a five‑day enforcement
action.
The agency did not give the total
number of Indian nationals arrest‑
ed during the operation.
Individuals arrested during this
operation included nationals from
Honduras, El Salvador, Mexico,
Guatemala, Argent ina, Cuba,
Nigeria, India, Chile and Turkey,
ICE said in a statement.
The local enforcement operation
targeted at‑large criminal aliens,
many of whom had absconded
from prior immigration proceed‑
ings, it said.
The agency said some of the indi‑
viduals arrested during the opera‑
tion will face federal criminal pros‑
ecution for illegal entry and illegal
re‑entry after deportation.
Arrestees who are not being fed‑
Indian chess prodigy wins
visa battle to stay in UK
London: A 9‑year‑old Indian chess
genius has won a battle to stay in
the UK after the expiry of his
father's work visa. T he Home
Of fice made an exception in the
case due to his "exceptional tal‑
ent."
Shreyas Royal has won a series
of chess championships and is
ranked number four in the world
in his age group and has the
potential to be a future world
chess champion.
After his father Jitendra Singh's
visa was set to expire, the family
was expected to return to India. A
number of British MPs had inter‑
vened in the case to urge UK
home secretary Sajid Javid to
make an exception in Royal's case
due to his exceptional talent.
"T hey [Home Of fice] just e‑
mailed me and told me they had
considered my case and we are
allowed to extend our leave to
remain on Tier 2 general route,"
Singh told the 'Guardian' newspa‑
per.
"We are very happy and
Shreyas is very happy. He jumped
erally prosecuted, will be detained
in ICE custody and administratively
processed for removal from the US,
it said.
In a separate action, US Border
Patrol agents discovered 78 illegal
aliens inside a locked refrigerated
trailer at a checkpoint in Texas last
week.
The illegal aliens were found in
good health and identified as being
from the countries of Mexico,
Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador,
Brazil, Ecuador, India and
Dominican Republic.
"These criminal organizations
continue to use tractor trailers and
view these individuals as mere
commodities without regard for
their safety.
"The blatant disregard for human
life will not be tolerated. We will
continue to work with our law
enforcement partners to disrupt
and dismantle these organizations
and prosecute those responsible,"
said Laredo Sector, Acting Chief
Patrol Agent Jason Owens.
Earlier, nearly 100 Indians, most‑
ly from Punjab, were detained at
two immigration detention centers
for illeg ally entering the US
through its southern border.
(PTI)
Shreyas Royal
(Image courtesy: newsshopper.co.uk)
up on the sofa when he heard the
news. I want to thank all those
who helped and supported us... I
would also like to thank the
Home Office and the home secre‑
tary who considered our case," he
said.
The news was also welcomed by
the Eng lish Chess Federation
(ECF), which has been campaign‑
USA
New York: An Indian‑origin restau‑
rateur in the US has been racially
targeted by a customer who
referred to him and his family as "a
tribe from India" and went on to
comment that he "probably just
funded Al‑Qaeda" by eating at the
hotel, according to a media report.
Taj Sardar, the owner of 'T he
Kings Diner' in Ashland, Kentucky,
was targeted by racial posts by the
man after eating at his restaurant,
WSAZ‑TV reported.
The small eatery serves a combi‑
nation of home cooking and Indian
dishes. Later, the man took a photo
of the restaurant and wrote on
Facebook to voice his displeasure
with the food and also the people
inside, it said.
"I reluctantly entered to order
meatloaf special and was greeted by
a tribe from India. I'm ashamed that
I probably just funded Al‑Qaeda,"
the post on Facebook said.
"When I first read the thing on
the Facebook, I was like, 'Oh my
gosh, is this serious?' " Sardar said.
"I was like hopefully his backers
don't try to get together and push
me out here, which I've been living
here since 2010," he was quoted as
saying by the report.
Since the racist post, the restau‑
rant has been packed with commu‑
nity support doubling business.
"I got to realize there are more
DIASPORA
ing for the boy to stay on in the
UK and hone his talent. ECF presi‑
dent Dominic Lawson said: "We...
are delighted that our ef forts to
persuade the government to
recognise Shreyas Royal's excep‑
tional talents have borne fruit."
Shreyas is currently competing
in the Brit ish Chess
Championships. (PTI)
August 18-24, 2018
Taj Sardar, the owner of 'The Kings Diner' in Ashland, Kentucky. Since the
racist post, the restaurant has been packed with community support
doubling business. (Image : deccanchronicle.com)
positive people out there than the
negative ones we just had experi‑
enced, and I'm really thankful to
this community here," Sardar said.
Sardar said he is thankful for the
outpouring of love he has received.
He has complained about the inci‑
dent to police as he fears the safety
of his family, the report said.
Meanwhile, Ashland city's Mayor
Steve Gilmore and three city com‑
missioners visited Sardar to give
support.
"After what he went through, I
wanted to tell him, we're very proud
you're one of our entrepreneurs in
the city of Ashland and your reputa‑
tion is sterling," Gilmore said.
"There's no room in this city for
that kind of behavior, for racist
Lok Sabha passes bill to
allow NRIs to vote by proxy
New Delhi: After a short discus‑
sion, the Lok Sabha passed a
bill to amend the
Representation of the People
Act to allow non‑resident
Indians (NRI) to vote in elec‑
tions through a proxy. Even
though several members of the
Opposition raised concerns
about how the proxy voting
could be misused, Union
Minister for Law and Justice
Ravi Shankar Prasad asked the
MPs to trust the judgment of
the NRIs and moved the
motion to pass the Bill.
Introducing the Bill earlier,
Prasad said that many NRIs
had “complained” that they
were “unable” to vote in elec‑
tions, and thus the government
had decided to allow proxy vot‑
ing for them.
Several members of the
Opposition voiced their con‑
cern that the proxy chosen by
an NRI would vote as per the
NRIʼs choice. AIADMK leader R
Gopalakrishnana asked, “What
73
behavior and racist comments," one
of the city commissioners said.
Sardar and his family came to the
US legally in 2006 and moved from
upstate New York to Ashland in
2010 to open their store.
Meanwhile, the Portsmouth
Emergency Ambulance Services has
terminated the employee. "We
recently became aware that a mem‑
ber of our staf f created several
posts on social media that fall far
short of that standard. On behalf of
Portsmouth Emergency Ambulance
Services, and all 650 members our
team, we wish to apologize to any‑
one who was of fended by those
posts. We do not agree with, or con‑
done, them," they said in a state‑
ment.
is the guarantee that the proxy
will vote for the candidate cho‑
sen by the NRI?”
Anadrao Adsul of Shiv Sena
also asked that since the
Constitution only allows one
vote to every person, how will
the proxy get a chance to vote
again, and for how many NRIs
will a single proxy will be able
to vote. Adsul asked, “Kitne ink‑
mark, kitna ungli ke upar?”
evoking the picture of the fin‑
ger of a voter being inked after
she cast her vote.
Some members wondered if
the proxy voting will be against
the confidentiality of the vot‑
ing process. Kalikesh Narayan
Singh Deo of BJD said it was
not a “simple” amendment, as
Prasad had commented while
introducing the Bill but “goes
to the basic foundation of the
democracy and Constitution.”
He asked how the Elect ion
Commission will ensure accu‑
rate registration of voters.
(TIP)
 74 August 18-24, 2018
Pence details plan for creation of Space Force
Washington: Vice President
Mike Pence unveiled on August
9 details of plans to create a US
Space Force that would become
the sixth branch of America's mil‑
itary, saying the "time has come"
to prepare for "the next battle‑
field."
In June, President Donald
Trump ordered the creation of
Space Force, arguing the
Pentagon needs it to tackle vul‑
nerabilities in space and assert
US dominance in orbit.
The creation of Space Force is
not a done deal, as it first needs
to be approved by Congress, and
it has met with some skepticism
from lawmakers and defense
officials who are wary of the cost
and added bureaucracy.
But Pence was unequivocal in
presenting the administration's
wish for it to become a reality ‑‑
preferably by 2020, the end of
Trump's term in office. "The time
has come to write the next great
chapter in the history of our
armed forces, to prepare for the
next battlefield where America's
best and bravest will be called to
FBI fires top agent for
anti-Trump texts
Peter Strzok helped lead FBIʼs probe into Russian meddling
in 2016 election and participated in investigating Hillaryʼs
private e‑mail servers. (Photo courtesy AP)
Washington: Peter Strzok, the
FBI agent who said in a text
message that he would help
prevent President Donald
Trump from ever winning the
White House, was fired by the
agency, media reports said on
Monday. According to a state‑
ment issued by his attorney
Aitan Goelman, FBI Deputy
Director David L. Bowdich fired
Strzok on Friday, although the
head of the internal FBI office
that generally deals with disci‑
plining employees had decided
Strzok only be demoted and
suspended from his duties for
60 days.
The firing comes months after
private texts surfaced in which
Strzok and his girlfriend dis‑
cussed Trump's candidacy dur‑
ing the 2016 election cam‑
paign, Efe reported.
In those texts, an FBI lawyer
Vice President Mike Pence said an independent Space Force was
essential to counter Russia and China, which are aggressively
working toward anti‑satellite capabilities. (Courtesy New York Post)
deter and defeat a new genera‑
tion of threats to our people, to
our nation," Pence told an audi‑
ence at the Pentagon.
Shortly after Pence's speech,
Trump tweeted: "Space Force all
the way!"
The Pentagon's existing mili‑
tary branches are: the Navy,
Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Army
and Air Force. Given the stakes
about building a new branch of
with whom Strzok was pursuing
a romantic relationship at the
time asked him if Trump would
ever become president and he
responded that he would not
because "we'll stop" him. Strzok,
a 22‑year‑old veteran of the FBI,
helped lead the agency's investi‑
gation into Russian interference
in the 2016 election and partic‑
ipated in investigating the use
of private e‑mail servers by
Trump's rival, Hillary Clinton.
When the text exchange
between Strzok and his then‑
girlfriend came to light, the FBI
removed him from the Russia
investigation, now being headed
by Special Counsel Robert
Mueller. Trump has frequently
used Strzok as a foil to attack
the Mueller probe, which is
examining alleged links
between the Trump campaign
and the Kremlin.
US AFFAIRS
the military, the issue is likely to
be a political football.
Currently, the Air Force over‑
sees most space capabilities and
there is some push back from
officials who worry Space Force's
mission would be duplicative and
create turf wars.
But Pence said an independent
Space Force was essential to
counter Russia and China, which
are "aggressively" working
New York Rep suspends re‑election
campaign over insider trading rap
Washington: New York Republican
Rep. Chris Collins suspended his
reelection campaign last Saturday
after he was indicted earlier on
charges related to insider trading.
His announcement reverses a
comment he made last Wednesday
insisting that he would "remain on
the ballot running for re‑election
this November" despite the
charges.
Collins' move sets up a scramble
by Republicans to overcome New
York's complicated election laws to
remove him from the ballot in NY
District 27 and replace him with
another candidate before
November's midterm elections.
Gov. Cuomo to debate Primary
challenger at Hofstra on Aug. 29
New York: Finally, Gov.
Andrew M. Cuomo and
challenger Cynthia Nixon
will square off in a tele‑
vised debate, set for
Hofstra University on Aug.
29, two weeks before the
Democratic primary,
reported Newsday.
Cuomo, who had rebuffed
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo & his Democratic
previous invitations, has
primary challenger Cynthia. (Photos : Newsday)
agreed to participate in a
debate hosted by WCBS,
according to a statement issued
Monday by Byron Brown, the
Buffalo mayor and the chairman
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
PRESIDENT TRUMP SIGNS
$716 BN DEFENSE BILL
Washington: President Donald
Trump on Monday signed the
$716 billion National Defense
Authorization Act (NDAA) into
law.
The bill for the fiscal year
2019 was named after
Republican Senator John
McCain, one of Trump's leading
critics within the party, Xinhua
reported.
The President made a speech
before his signature at Fort
Drum, a northern New York
military base, but didn't men‑
tion the ailing senator's name.
toward anti‑satellite capabilities.
Pence outlined a series of steps
the Pentagon will undertake
ahead of the creation of Space
Force. Key among these is the
creation of US Space Command, a
new organizational body that
would draw in members of exist‑
New York Republican
Rep. Chris Collins
That outcome will likely impact
the ability of Democrats to flip the
seat, which had previously been
the most heavily Republican dis‑
trict in New York but now could be
of the state Democratic
Committee. It would be held at had in 12 years. He didnʼt debate
Hofstra University before a live Zephyr Teachout, his challenger in
audience, a source said. a Democratic primary in 2014.
The bill provides about
$616.9 billion for the base
Pentagon budget, $21.9 billion
for nuclear weapons and $69
billion in war funding.
It also authorizes a 2.6 per
cent pay raise for members of
the military, boosts the ranks
of the US military services by
15,600 active troops and
approves the purchase of 13
new Navy warships and 77 F‑
35 Joint Strike Fighter jets.
The bill was passed 87 to 10
in the Senate on August 1 after
being approved by the House.
ing military branches. It would
require a new headquarters and
major organizational changes.
Defense Secretary Jim Mattis
said last week that Pence is
Trump's "point man" for Space
Force, and Pentagon officials are
working closely with his office.
competitive. Federal prosecutors
on Wednesday charged Collins, his
son and another man with 13
counts of securities fraud, wire
fraud and false statements stem‑
ming from an alleged insider trad‑
ing scheme centered on an
Australian pharmaceutical compa‑
ny. Collins has maintained that he
is not guilty of the charges.
Collins also said Saturday that
he's not immediately stepping
down and will "fill out the remain‑
ing few months of my term."
House Minority Leader Nancy
Pelosi on Saturday said House
Speaker Paul Ryan should call for
Collins' resignation from Congress.
“After 8 years of the
Cuomo administration, vot‑
ers deserve to finally hear a
real debate about his
record̶and I look forward
to sharing my progressive
vision for NY,” tweeted
Cynthia Nixon on August 13.
Nixon had been chiding the
incumbent for months for
not agreeing to debate.
This will be the first one‑
on‑one debate Cuomo has
TheSouthAsianTimes.info INDIA DAY SPECIAL August 18-24, 2018
 76 August 18-24, 2018 INTERNATIONAL & SUBCONTINENT TheSouthAsianTimes.info

V.S. Naipaul dead, admirers say legacy will live on

London/New Delhi: Nobel Prize‑winning
writer V.S. Naipaul, known for his celebrat‑
ed works like "An Area of Darkness" and "A
House for Mr Biswas", has died at age 85.
The literary fraternity mourned his passing
and said his rich legacy will live on for gen‑
erations to come.
No sooner did Lady Nadira Naipaul con‑
firm that her husband had died peacefully
in London, condolence messages from
readers and admirers flooded the social
media.
"He was a giant in all that he achieved
and he died surrounded by those he loved,
having lived a life which was full of won‑
derful creativity and endeavor," Lady
Naipaul said.
Indian President Ram Nath Kovind and
Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the
nation in saluting the writer who shared
deep ancestral ties with ‑ and love for ‑
India. Also paying homage were prominent
Nobel‑winning writer V.S. Naipaul had a
career spanning over five decades.
faces from the literary arena including
Salman Rushdie and Paul Theroux who
were often critical of Naipaul's works.
Rushdie, who himself has Indian roots,
said he had disagreed with Naipaul on poli‑
tics and literature but felt sad "as if I just
lost a beloved older brother".
Vidiadhar Surajprasad Naipaul was born
in 1932 in Chaguanas on the island of
Trinidad and Tobago to a family that had
arrived from India in the 1880s. His life
was one of many discoveries and Naipaul
captured what he saw around him in his
writings.
In a career spanning over five decades,
Naipaul penned some 30 books, across lit‑
erary genres, and established himself as a
prominent voice among the writers of his
time.
His first book was so bad that a London‑
based publisher told him: "You should give
this up, forget this work, do something
else." And so he did, starting work as a pre‑
senter for the BBC on their programme
Caribbean Voices. But he had one power‑
ful ace up his sleeve.
"I believed in my own talent. I thought
whatever I did would be alright in the end.
If I wasn't true to my talent, that would be
the end of me as a person. So I kept on
writing despite drawbacks and lack of
encouragement," Naipaul revealed at the
Jaipur Literature Festival in January 2015,
his last public appearance in India.
Sure enough, he had a breakthrough at
the BBC. In a room on the second floor of
the Langham Hotel, then part of the BBC,
there were two or three typewriters.
"Out of sheer idleness, I began to write
the first short story of ʻMiguel Street'. I said
to myself, you will only leave this sheet of
paper when you have finished what you
are writing. That was the great break‑
through, finishing in that way," Naipaul
recalled.
He was awarded the Booker Prize in
1971 for "In A Free State".

US risks losing Indian envoy meets Imran

Turkey as strategic Khan; discusses terror Islamabad: Indian High

partner: Erdogan Commissioner to Pakistan Ajay

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Ankara: Turkish President
Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned
the US that it risked losing a
"strategic partner" due to
demands made by the US gov‑
ernment that Turkey release an
American pastor who was
arrested on terrorism charges.
"We only bow before God. It is
wrong to try to punish Turkey
for a priest who is here. I am
addressing the US once again: it
is a pity that you chose a pastor
over your strategic partner in
NATO. We will only do what
justice demands," Efe quoted
Erdogan as saying during a
rally in the northern province
of Ordu. Turkish authorities are
seeking a 20‑year prison sen‑
tence for US pastor Andrew
Brunson, who was arrested two
Bisaria met Prime Minister‑in‑wait‑
ing Imran Khan and the two pushed
for the resumption of bilateral talks
and the envoy briefed New Delhi's
concerns about terrorism, an of fi‑
cial said.
The meeting with the Pakistan
Tehreek‑e‑Insaf (PTI) chief took
place in the presence of senior
party leaders, including former
Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood
Qureshi. During the meeting, Khan
"expressed his grave concerns on
the human rights violations in
Jammu and Kashmir", a PTI spok‑
ersperson said.
Khan also hoped that the Saarc
leaders' conference will take place Imran Khan, PM‑in‑waiting and chairman
of Pakistan Tehreek‑e‑Insaf party.
in Islamabad soon, he said.
Bisaria, too, hoped that a new PTI leadership on India's concerns country was ready to enter a new
chapter in the Pakistan‑India rela‑ about terrorism and cross‑border era of relations with Pakistan.
tions would begin soon. infiltration. In July, Indian Prime Imran Khan will take oath as
During the 30‑minute meeting, Minister Narendra Modi had tele‑ Prime Minister on August 18,
the High Commissioner briefed the phoned Imran Khan, saying his Senator Faisal Javed said.
years ago and is accused of
being linked to the PKK Kurdish
guerrilla organization and to
cleric Fetullah Gulen, who lives
in exile in the US and whom
Ankara blames for the failed
coup against Erdogan in 2016.
Last week, the US government
imposed economic sanctions
against two Turkish ministers
involved in Brunson's arrest.
In addition, US President
Donald Trump announced he
would increase tariffs on
Turkish steel and aluminum by
up to 50 and 20 percent,
respectively, at a time when
Turkey's lira is at an all‑time
low. Ankara has ruled out
releasing Brunson, although he
was granted house arrest in
July.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info INDIA DAY SPECIAL August 18-24, 2018
 78 August 18-24, 2018 SPORTS & BUSINESS TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Second Test: England

outplay India at Lord's
London: England bowled out
India for 130 runs in the
second innings to win the
second Test by an
innings and 159 runs
on the fourth day of
the play here.
With the w in,
Eng land took a 2‑0
lead in the five‑match
series.
Having conceded the first‑
innings lead by 289 runs, India's
batting line‑up could notch up
only 130 runs in their second
innings here to add to their first
innings total of 107.
Seamers Stuart Broad and
James Anderson took four wick‑
ets each, while fellow seamer and
Man of the Match Chris Woakes
picked up two.
The fourth day started with
Eng land declaring their first
innings at 396/7, taking a lead of
289 runs. Woakes (137)
remained unbeaten.
Resuming the fourth day at
357/6, England added 39 runs to
their overnig ht score w ith
Virat Kohli, who was being troubled by back stiffness,
could score only 17 runs. Woakes scoring 137 in 177 balls,
KOHLI SLIPS TO NO 2
IN ICC TEST RANKINGS
Dubai: India skipper Virat Kohli dropped a spot to No.2 in the latest
ICC rankings for Test batsmen, a day after his side slumped to an
innings and 159‑run loss to England in the Lord's Test.
Kohli, who rose to the numero‑uno spot by overtaking banned
Australian Steve Smith last week, scored 23 and 17 at the home of
cricket, even as the visitors succumbed for 107 and 130, to concede
a 0‑2 lead to the hosts in the five‑Test rubber.
Besides Kohli, his deputy Ajinkya Rahane (23), and openers Lokesh
Rahul (25), Murali Vijay (34) and Shikhar Dhawan (26) also slipped
in their rankings.
However, Ravichandran Ashwin was the notable exception, moving
up in the list for batsmen from 67th to 57th, with defiant innings of
29 and 33 not out. Ashwin has also leap‑frogged South Africa's
Vernon Philander to grab the third position among all‑rounders.
which includes 21 boundaries. sion saw the same struggle as
Coming to bat in the second England pacer Stuart Broad took
innings, India got of f to a disas‑ all the four wickets in the session
trous start as the visitors were to push India on the verge of
17/2 at lunch, trailing by 272 defeat in the second Test, with
runs. the tourists reaching 66/6 at tea.
Opener Murali Vijay (0) was the The Indian batsmen have strug‑
first one to go. He was caught g led throughout the session,
behind off pacer James Anderson being bowled out for a paltry 107
in the third over. The second ses‑ in the first innings.

BUSINESS

I share Trump's vision of prosperity for India, US: Modi

New Delhi: Amid uncertainties
regarding US President Donald
Trump's trade and visa policies,
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has
said that he shares Trump's vision
of prosperity for India and the US.
"I share with him the vision of
prosperity of our peoples through a
strong India‑US partnership, based
on important convergences, inter
alia, in combating terrorism and
promoting stability and develop‑
ment in the Indo‑Pacific," Modi said.
"I have met President Trump a
few times," Modi said in an inter‑
view to the Times of India ahead of
this year's Independence Day. "We
have also been in touch through
several conversations."
India and the US, apart from
Japan and Australia, are part of a
quad that was revived last year to
work for peace in the Indo‑Pacific, a
geostrategically important region.
Modi's comments come ahead of
the India‑US 2+2 Dialogue next
month in New De lhi involving
External Af fairs Minister Sushma
Swaraj and Defence Minister
Nirmala Sitharaman and their US
counterparts Mike Pompeo and Jim
Mattis. In February, the Trump
administration came up with a new
visa policy that makes the proce‑
dure for issuing H‑1B visas tougher.
According to the new policy, the
hiring company would have to
prove that its H‑1B employee at a
third‑party worksite has specific
and non‑qualifying speculative
assignments in speciality occupa‑
tion.
In March, US President Donald
Trump slapped import tariffs of 25
per cent on steel and 10 per cent on
aluminium, unfolding the prospect
of an all‑out global trade war.
In retaliation, India raised cus‑
toms duty on 29 products, includ‑
ing on iron and stee l products
imported from the US.
Stating that India and the US were
Prime Minister
Narendra Modi.
two important engines of growth in
the world, Modi said: "The focus of
President Trump and our own pri‑
ority in India on innovation and
entrepreneurship has the potential
to take this relationship to new
heights."
He stressed that the India‑US
Strategic Partnership had "deep‑
ened in an unprecedented manner
in the past few years".
India and the US share a Global
Strategic Partnership based on
shared democratic values and
increasing convergence of interests
on bilateral, regional and global
issues.
Over 70 lakh jobs created in
formal sector last year: Modi
New Delhi: Calling the opposition
claims on rising unemployment a
"political gimmick", Prime Minister
Narendra Modi said that over 70
lakh jobs were created in the for‑
mal sector alone in the last one
year. Based on Employees
Provident Fund Organisation
(EPFO) data, more than 45 lakh for‑
mal jobs were created between
September 2017 to April 2018,
Modi said in an email interview
with Times of India. "According to
our study based on the EPFO data,
more than 70 lakh jobs were creat‑
ed in the formal sector alone last
year." Attacking the opposition, he
said that rather than the so‑called
failure of this government to create
jobs, "I believe the shortcoming lies
in the absence or lack of a stream‑
lined database of jobs.
Naturally, in the absence of infor‑
mation, our opponents will exploit
this situation and blame us for not
creating jobs".
Modi also called the opposition's
claim of rising unemployment a
"propaganda". "If you look at
claims made by the state govern‑
ments ‑‑ Bengal says it created 68
lakh jobs and the previous
Karnataka government claimed it
created 53 lakh jobs ‑‑ are we say‑
ing that all the country's jobs are
being created in some states and
that other states and the country as
a whole are not creating jobs? This
propaganda on jobs by the opposi‑
tion is nothing but a political gim‑
mick," he said.
Modi said that informal sector
accounts for around 80 per cent of
all jobs and creation of jobs in the
formal sector has a spin‑off effect
on job creation in the informal sec‑
tor. "There are close to three lakh
village‑level entrepreneurs who
run common service centres across
the country and create employ‑
ment. More than 12 crore loans
have been given under MUDRA
Scheme," he said. Airlines are
adding new aircraft on a monthly
basis and the number of mobile
manufacturing units in this country
increased to close to 120, he
claimed. "These alone have gener‑
ated 4.5 lakh direct and indirect
jobs," he said.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
By Michael Phulwani, Esq.
& Dev B. Viswanath, Esq.
T
he US Department of State
issues a visa bulletin every
month that lists priority
dates which have become current
for people to process their
Immigrant Visas and/or Green
Cards. When an individualʼs pri‑
ority date has become current it
means that they can now apply
for an immigrant visa or adjust‑
ment of status.
A priority date is the date an
individualʼs immigrant petition
was filed (or in employment set‑
tings it might be the date that the
labor certification was filed) and
it can be found in the top left
hand section of the I‑797 Notice
of Action form.
Family Based
Immigrant Visa
If an individual had a family
member that filed an I‑130 immi‑
grant petition on their behalf,
they will need to know how to
read the family‑sponsored prefer‑
ence section of the visa bulletin.
The family preference category is
based on an individualʼs relation‑
ship with the petitioner. Different
relationships are assigned differ‑
ent priority for an immigrant
visa. There are five different fam‑
ily preference categories:
4 F1‑ unmarried, adult sons and
daughters (age 21 or over) of
U.S. citizens
When will my number be called?
VISA
TALK
4 F2A‑ spouses and unmarried
children (under 21) of perma‑
nent residents
4 F2B‑ unmarried adult sons
and daughters of permanent
residents
4 F3‑ married sons and daugh‑
ters (any age) of U.S. citizens
4 F4‑ Brothers and sisters of
adult U.S. citizens
Once an individual has their pri‑
ority date and family preference
category, they are able to read the
visa bulletin and find out if they
are able to apply for a green card.
If an individualʼs priority date
comes before the date listed, their
immigrant visa is current and they
are able to apply for a green card.
Most individuals look at the col‑
umn labeled “All Chargeability
Areas Except Those Listed” but if
their country of nationality is
China, India, Mexico, or
Philippines, they look at the par‑
ticular column for those countries.
Individuals looking to file applica‑
tions for adjustment of status with
DISPLAY CLASSIFIEDS
IMMIGRATION
The Infamous Visa Bulletin
USCIS in the Department of
Homeland Security must use the
“Final Action Dates” charts for
determining when they can file
such applications. When USCIS
verifies that there are more immi‑
grant visas accessible for the fiscal
year than there are known candi‑
dates for such visas, USCIS will
state on its website that candi‑
dates may instead use the "Dates
for Filing Visa Applications" chart
for that month.
Employment Based
Immigrant Visa
If an individual would like to
obtain an immigrant visa through
their employer, the employer in
most cases must first obtain a
labor certification approval from
the Department of Labor. Once
the labor certification is com‑
plete, the employer then must file
Form I‑140, Immigrant Petition
for Alien Worker, for the corre‑
sponding employment based
preference category.
There are five different employ‑
ment based categories:
4 Employment First Preference
(E1): This includes persons
August 18-24, 2018 79
with extraordinary ability, grant petition in employment set‑
outstanding professors and tings, the priority is set.
researches, and multinational Once an individualʼs priority
managers and executives. date is current, the NVC will noti‑
4 Employment Second fy the individual to complete
Preference (E2): This includes Form DS‑260, submit all neces‑
professionals holding sary fees, and submit all neces‑
advanced degrees and per‑ sary immigrant visa documents.
sons of exceptional ability. If an individualʼs priority date
4 Employment Third Preference comes before the date listed, their
(E3): This includes skilled immigrant visa is current and
workers, professionals, and they are able to apply for visa.
unskilled workers. Understanding the Visa Bulletin
4 Employment Fourth will also help people to determine
Preference (E4): This includes if children can be protected from
certain special immigrations. “aging out”. An experienced
Immigrants in this category immigration practitioner can
are not required to a labor assist in understanding whether
certification. an individual is eligible for
4 Employment Fifth Preference becoming a lawful permanent
(E5): This included immigrant resident based on current priority
investors. dates and any ancillary benefits
Once USCIS approves the immi‑ that one may gain.
Dev Banad Viswanath is the Principal
Attorney of The Banad Law Offices PC in
the United States, and Banad Immigration
in India for which Attorney Michael
Phulwani is also affiliated as
Of Counsel. He can be reached at
Dev@Banadlaw.com and 718‑361‑5999.
 80 August 18-24, 2018
Itʼs incredible how incredible India is
O
n a highway in Chennai, I
pass a luxury bus with the
words “Incredible India”
emblazoned across its side.
Underneath, in smaller letters, is an
explanation that some genius in the
tourism department found neces‑
sary to include: “The mantra to woo
tourists.” India is indeed incredible.
And if you donʼt believe me, just ask
some of the tourists who have been
successfully wooed.
British tourist, wiping his brow at
a juice stand in Bangalore: “Itʼs
incredible how hot it is over here.”
American tourist, sitting in an
auto‑rickshaw in Mumbai: “Itʼs
incredible how unruly the traffic is.”
Australian tourist, relaxing on a
houseboat in the backwaters of
Kerala: “Itʼs incredible how few croc‑
odiles there are.”
India is incredible in many other
ways, of course. Itʼs a country where
youʼll find incredible poverty and
also incredible wealth. Some of the
worldʼs richest people live in India,
the type of folks who would wonder
how Bill and Hillary Clinton man‑
BEST
RATE
FOR
INDIA
AND
PAKISTAN
New York Head Quarter
422‑S Broadway
HICKSVILLE
NY 11801
516‑827‑1010
Humor with Melvin Durai
aged to spend only $3 million on
their daughter Chelseaʼs wedding ̶
didnʼt they buy enough diamond
and gold jewelry to put around the
necks of the elephants? Didnʼt they
spend a few million to ensure that a
dozen Bollywood stars made appear‑
ances, not to mention a former U.S.
president?
Indiaʼs wealth is evident in the
huge houses youʼll see in many
neighborhoods and the coterie of
servants that the well‑to‑do employ.
If youʼre lucky enough to be rich in
India, youʼll have someone to do
your cooking, someone to do your
cleaning, someone to write love let‑
ters to your wife. (A man can dream,
canʼt he?) But you donʼt have to be
rich to have domestic help in India.
Even some of the maids have maids.
Whatʼs truly incredible is the num‑
ber of businesses in India. Youʼll find
stores and stands on the side of
almost every street in the city, most
operated by smalltime entrepre‑
neurs. Now I know what the tourism
guidebook meant when it said,
“Donʼt be surprised if you spot a few
HUMOR TheSouthAsianTimes.info
people doing their business on the
street.” (But Iʼm still confused about
the part that said, “Itʼs impolite to
stare.”)
Very few of Indiaʼs retail outlets
are franchises ̶ most are independ‑
ent businesses. McDonaldʼs, like
other fast food chains, has expanded
to India, but you wonʼt find the gold‑
en arches in every neighborhood ̶
not yet, at least ̶ and thatʼs a good
thing. I donʼt miss having a Big Mac,
not when I can have a Big Dosa. I
ordered an incredibly big dosa at
one restaurant and, being a little
careless while handling it, almost
knocked over the man in the next
table. Many a fight has been started wearing short skirts. And youʼll
by a poorly handled dosa. never guess which of the women rode motorcycles are now driving
Itʼs incredible what youʼll see on were listening to Justin Bieber on cars, and those who drove cars are
the streets of India. The other day, I their iPods. now relaxing on houseboats in
saw a man washing clothes on the Itʼs incredible how much progress Kerala. As the country develops, it
side of a street, another man ironing India has made in the last decade or may one day be flooded with
clothes, and a third man standing in so. You can see it almost every‑ tourists. Then I wonʼt be surprised
his underwear, saying, “Hurry up! where. The economy is churning, to see a luxury bus with the words
Iʼm going to be late for my inter‑ people are earning, and rupees they “Intolerable India” on it. And under‑
view!”Iʼve seen young women wear‑ are burning. The people who rode neath, some genius in the tourism
ing burkas ̶ with only their eyes bicycles to work a decade ago are department will include an explana‑
visible ̶ and also young women now riding motorcycles, those who tion: “The mantra to shoo tourists.”
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 INDIA DAY SPECIAL August 18-24, 2018
82 August 18-24, 2018 ASTROLOGY TheSouthAsianTimes.info

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

By Dr Prem Kumar Sharma
ARIES: Donʼt rush through the period, as it
will cause you to make mistakes.
Caution is of utmost impor‑
tance week. You are likely to
seize all opportunities that
come your way on the financial
front. The need for peace and har‑
mony is paramount to prevent any emotion‑
al imbalance. An employee may ask for a
raise, so consider his or her case sympatheti‑
cally, rather than rejecting it outright. Family
responsibilities may make you feel bogged
down, but you will be able to cope up.
Stars Foretell: August 18-24, 2018
TAURUS: You will need to pursue something
important in all earnest to get a
favorable outcome. The period
promises to prove professional‑
ly satisfying for doctors, engi‑
neers, architects and other pro‑
fessionals. Some of you may get
busy in arranging the marriage of an eligible
member of the family. Property investments
should be avoided in this week. Discuss sensi‑
tive issues only when the other person is
ready to confide in what you say. Romance is
in the air but needs serious attention.
Delhi, India: +91-11- 2644 9898, 2648 9899;
psharma@premastrologer.com; www.premastrologer.com
GEMINI: You may feel dissatisfied with a new
development at work, but it may
not be as bad as it seems now.
You will not regret your deci‑
sion to undertake a journey
which you were reluctant to in
the first place. Do not bow down to
someoneʼs extra ordinary demands. Stand up
for what is right and face it deliberately.
Dedication and sincerity may amount to noth‑
ing, if you are not able to project them to
those who matter. Money loaned to someone
may not be returned in a hurry.
CANCER: Your stars appear to be great in this
week. Contrary to your ef forts,
the results on the academic
front are likely to take you by
surprise. Delegating a job may
ease your burden, but you will
need to keep a close watch. People
are likely to look up to you as you gain
celebrity status. Something conducted by you
at work will become a perfect example for
others to emulate. Money will not pose any
problem, but investing wisely is the need of
the hour. Curtail frivolous expenses.

LEO: You are likely to enjoy an outing with
family in this week. You will get
praise from a superior at work
front. Pending issues on the
domestic front will get complet‑
ed without any dif ficulty. You
will be able to retain your focus on
the academic front. A business venture will be
put on the tracks. Be prepared to compromise
and make some concessions. A journey under‑
taken in this week will be comfortable and
without delays. Try and keep your options
open as new proposals are on their way.
VIRGO: Of ficial tours may not let you LIBRA: Things may hang in suspense for you, SCORPIO: This week, you must give time to
spend time with family. Your but it is only a matter of time someone who is desperate to
reluctance to help out some‑ when they turn favourable. meet you. Things will be totally
one close may give you a bad Difficulty to cope up with the in your control as you establish
name. Some anomalies in a workload on the professional your authority at work. Some
recently purchased piece of front can hamper the peace of of you may plan to let in or shift
land may prove disturbing. A mind. Family members will be sup‑ to an ancestral property. You will
problem in the family will need immediate portive. Be more decisive to avoid being a remain most understanding on the family
solution, before it turns serious. Health prey to otherʼs mischief. Honing your market‑ front and will successfully cater to the moods
needs care. Be careful of how much you ing skills can open up more income avenues. of spouse. Do not focus on any major strategy
invest and in what on the financial front. Romantic thoughts may dominate your mind change without a green signal from seniors.
Travelling will open door to more oppor‑ on this weekend. A good opportunity for Maintaining your exercise routine without a
tunities. sightseeing may materialize. break will help keep you fit.

SAGITTARIUS: This is not the right opportu‑
nity to project anything personal
on the social front, as it can go
against you. Choose well, as
wrong choice may not be in
your favor. Some of you may
end up catering to the whims and
fancies of a senior at work. Differences with
spouse may take a serious turn, so be careful
with what you speak. You will have to under‑
take something stressful, but there is no other
way. Keep your eyes and ears open for any
deceptive statements around you.
CAPRICORN: Stop wavering on the romantic
front and stand for what is right.
Continue to help people irrespec‑
tive of your personal equation
with them. Dealing with the
facts and making concrete plans.
Donʼt expect instant recognition
for your excellent performance at work.
Permanent solution may have to be found for
a vehicle giving problems. Learn about invest‑
ments and ways to tackle debt. Limit your
expenses. Introspection will help you shed
light on personal issues that are worrying you.
AQUARIUS: You may remain busy with addi‑
tional work in this week. Those in
business will be able to increase
their net earnings. Stick to your
intuition in the real estate mat‑
ters. Help from someone on the
financial front will help you over‑
come a tight situation. Itʼs time to concentrate
on close personal ties now. Those conscious of
their figure or physique are likely to go for a
tough exercise regimen. Keep ahead of the lat‑
est trends in the market to have an intimate
knowledge of what could be at stake.
PISCES: Now that you have brought some
order into your life, you are likely
to take long strides on the pro‑
fessional front. You will be able
to find a good buyer for a prop‑
erty you want to dispose of.
Stay cautious at work as your
opponents may plan to snatch an upcoming
project from you. Your closest contacts could
resent interference with their strategies. Get
projects rolling quickly to beat competition.
Express your thoughts clearly to improve
your relationships.

18th August, 2018
Traits in you: Being ruled by planet
Mars, you are blessed with personal
traits such as courage, energy, determi‑
nation, enthusiasm, and so on. You are
innovative enough to bring in new ideas
and work on them. You have to stop
behaving quarrelsome, impolite, rude,
and selfish.
Health this year: If you have some
chronic disorders, you need to get your
medical checkup done on a regular basis.
You may try meditation and yoga for bet‑
ter results.
Finance this year: You are expected to
be among financial gains this year by
earning a lot of money from various
sources. However, you may end up
spending a lot of money in buying com‑
fort and luxury for yourself and your
family. If you are a businessperson, you
should create lot of new contacts as this
would help you in enhancing your busi‑
ness later.
Career this year: As you are a vivid
learner, you believe in enhancing your
knowledge every now and then and you
are very much interested in technology.
You may go for new and innovative work
culture and methodologies to improve
your professional efficiency and perform‑
ance.
Romance this year: Your romantic life
would be very easygoing this year. You
will find enough support from your
spouse and children but in return you
need to spend a lot of time with them.
19th August, 2018
Traits in you: As the Sun is your ruling
planet, you will be hugely influenced by
the power and vigor of Sun. you will be
dignified, assertive, humble, mature, opti‑
mistic, positive and selfless. You are very
much fond of interacting with new peo‑
ple and know everyone quite well in your
surroundings.
However, you need to work on your
nature of being indifferent, unreliable,
indecisive, and arrogant.
Health this year: The health issues of
ANNUAL PREDICTIONS: FOR THOSE BORN IN THIS WEEK
your parents may keep you bothered
throughout the year.
Finance this year: You may attend a lot
of social events this year and come in
contact of a lot of influential people. This
might help you make your business
expand if you are into business.
Career this year: You will develop a
very good relationship with your col‑
leagues, which will guide toward new
peak in your career.
Romance this year: You will find your
partner supportive enough whenever
you require emotional support. This year
your love life will reach new height as
you finally decide may get married to
your longtime partner.
20th August, 2018
Traits in you: As you are influenced by
your ruling planet moon, you will be cre‑
ative, honest, aspiring, cheerful, courte‑
ous, and highly decisive.
Health this year: As your parents will
remain sick, you may take stress for their
health.
Finance this year: If you are affiliated
to business, it is the best year for you to
start new business plans and deals. You
may earn a lot of money and popularity
due to the planetary movements. You
may celebrate few religious functions as
your home as a thanksgiving ceremony.
Career this year: Being a very efficient
professional, you know what should be
done in which situation. This makes your
colleagues and seniors admire your profi‑
ciency in work. You need to improve your
communication skills, attitude and
behavior towards others if you want to
grow as a professional.
Romance this year: You will find your
love life getting better day by day this
year. You will get every emotional sup‑
port from your partner, which will help
you keep going with lots of inspiration.
You should have complete trust on your
partner and you should avoid doubting
on your partner for minor issues.
21st August, 2018
Traits in you: You dominating planet
Jupiter, makes you very ambitious, indus‑
trious, intelligent, dignified and generous.
Being highly social, you love making get‑
togethers with your old friends, roaming
new places, and spending time with
them. You know the art to attract people
towards you. That is the reason you can
easily make anyone your friend. You
have a huge friend circle, which may cre‑
ate problems for you in future.
Health this year: You will remain
healthy throughout the year except few
minor health issues.
Finance this year: If you are into busi‑
ness, this year is supposed to bring you
lots of success personally and financially.
You will be able to grow in financial sta‑
tus with the help of your previous invest‑
ments and paternal properties. You may
land up in critical problems if you share
your business secrets with your friends,
colleagues and partners. You should not
borrow or lend money to anyone to avoid
future discrepancies.
Career this year: You may not get your
expected salary in your professional life,
which would make you dissatisfied with
your job. You may go through various
major changes in your professional
career this year. You may go for a job
change later this year. The changes will
make your life better though you may
take a lot of time to get adjusted to your
new lifestyle.
Romance this year: You will be in a
very good relationship with your love
though your partner may behave indif‑
ferent at times. You are able to keep your
relationship going by giving it lots of love
and care.
22nd August, 2018
Traits in you: You are very much influ‑
enced by your ruling planet, which
makes you humble, honest, independent,
creative, industrious, and reliable. You
should work on your nature of being pes‑
simistic, ungrateful, and immature.
Health this year: You should go for reg‑
ular medical checkups to maintain your
good health.
Finance this year: You may go for
investments in various sectors say stock
market or real estate this year. You may
plan to build your new house or renovate
the old one towards the end of the year.
You may plan to build your new house or
renovate the old one towards the end of
the year.
Career this year: You are well aware of
the ways to utilize your skills and expert‑
ise to derive qualitative results. You uti‑
lize your talent to do smart work and it
gets you recognition in your professional
life. You should not be involved in any
kind of conflict with your seniors or high‑
er authorities to avoid losing your job.
You should take your time to think over
the matter and act diplomatically if you
believe you have been treated unfairly.
Romance this year: You will get good
emotional support from your partner and
this will make things easy for you by giv‑
ing you immense relaxation and peace of
mind. You may convert your relationship
into marriage this year.
23rd August, 2018
Traits in you: As you are ruled by
Mercury, you will be very charismatic
and independent in nature. You do not
encourage people to interfere in your
personal life and help you take your own
decisions. You are strong, determined,
decisive, enthusiastic, and very mature by
nature.
Health this year: You may have to cele‑
brate religious functions very frequently
at your place to find peace of mind.
Finance this year: You may get mone‑
tary benefits from dif ferent sources if
you are a businessperson. You will not
feel running out of money this year and
you will buy luxury and comfort for your
family.
Career this year: You believe in run‑
ning after success. You do not get peace
until you achieve your desired goals. You
need to control your ambitions as it may
make you take the wrong way to get suc‑
cess. You may witness a huge improve‑
ment in your professional success this
year as you may get rewarded for your
previous performances. You might get
surprise from the higher authorities of
your company as you may get promoted
to a managerial position. You will be able
to efficiently execute the responsibilities
assigned to you and this may result in a
handsome salary hike.
Romance this year: If you are yet to
be in a romantic relationship, you may
seek a life partner for yourself this year
as you feel this year to be the high time.
24th August, 2018
Traits in you: Being ruled by planet
Venus, you are fun loving, easy going,
focused, faithful, and carefree in nature.
You believe yourself to be self‑esteemed,
confident, and very generous. You have a
sharp memory power and intelligence.
You should work on your traits of behav‑
ing self‑centered, indif ferent and pes‑
simistic.
Health this year: You may suffer with
problems in your eyes and mouth. So you
need to get your periodic medical check‑
up done on time and take prescribed
medicines without negligence.
Finance this year: It is advisable not to
invest hurriedly as it may make you suf‑
fer huge losses.
Career this year: You may get a promo‑
tion this year which will help you earn
more money and stabilize your financial
condition. You may be given the respon‑
sibility of an important role in your
organization as a result of your smart
and efficient work. You should get pre‑
pared to become decisive and take quick
and correct decisions as you may need to
take some crucial decisions for the
organization you work for.
Romance this year: You are going to
enjoy a very pleasing romantic relation‑
ship with your love this year.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info INDIA DAY SPECIAL August 18-24, 2018
84 August 18-24, 2018 S p i r i t u a l A w a r e n e ss

Attain True Independence

- Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj

India celebrates Independence Day on August 15. While in the world this holiday marks
the day a country declared itself a sovereign nation, independence also refers to the lib-
Sant Rajinder
eration and freedom of our soul. Just as one country may be a colony of another country,
Singh Ji Maharaj
is an internationally our soul has been colonized and taken over by the coverings of our mind and body.
recognized spiritual
leader and Master
of Jyoti Meditation Most of us think of ourselves as a body and a mind; few realize that we have another
who affirms the
transcendent part that is our true essence, our soul. When our soul declares its own independence
oneness at the
from the bondage of the mind and body, it soars with exhilaration and freedom.
heart of all religions
and mystic traditions, Instead of being bound to the limitations of time and space of this earthly realm,
emphasizing ethical
living and meditation the soul experiences its unlimited nature as it experiences the bliss and
as building blocks joy of regions of creation that exist beyond this realm.
for achieving inner
and outer peace.
Scientists of the soul, often referred to as saints, mystics, philosophers, or Masters,
have been exploring the regions beyond since recorded history. They came to the same
conclusions. We are more than the body and mind; we are the soul. The soul can travel
into spiritual realms and merge back in its source, the Oversoul, the Creator, or the
Divine. They have all achieved this realization by inverting their attention, whether it is
called prayer, inversion, or meditation. They tell us our true independence comes when
we sit in silence, close our eyes, direct our attention within, and experience the Divine.

The journey begins with our inner awareness or inner eye opening up to see inner
light and hear celestial music. Through further absorption in these, our soul transcends
awareness of the physical body to become aware of the inner realms, such as the astral,
causal, and supracausal regions, until it merges into a region of all spirit, the home of
the Divine. We then discover our soul, which is spirit, is the same essence as the
Creator, which is also spirit. The two merge back into one and we
experience limitless bliss, joy, and divine love.

When we celebrate the outer independence days in our respective countries, whether

For more info visit it is August 15 in India, or on different dates in different countries, let us also strive to
www.sos.org
achieve our spiritual independence. We can do so by meditating on the inner Light and
Sound which will lead our soul to recognize that we are more than the physical body
and intellect. We are soul, a part of the Divine, and our true nature is bliss, joy, and love.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info INDIA DAY SPECIAL August 18-24, 2018
TheSouthAsianTimes.info INDIA DAY SPECIAL August 18-24, 2018

HAPPY
INDEPENDENCE

DAY

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TheSouthAsianTimes.info INDIA DAY SPECIAL August 18-24, 2018