The South Asian Times

NEW YORK EDITION

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On October 12, Ambassador Hardeep S. Puri won for India a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council with an unprecedented 187 of the 190 member states in the General Assembly backing its candidature. Now he is using his diplomatic dexterity and vision to secure for India a permanent seat on the Council, which will happen sooner than people believe, he told The South Asian Times. And, yes, that was his one-point agenda when he came to head Indias Permanent Mission to the UN, the ultimate and most coveted posting for an Indian career diplomat.

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Man of HardeepYearPuri2010 the Singh Ambassador

Permanent Representative, Mission of India to the United Nations
See pages 23-26 for an interview with him and exclusive pictures from his 37 years in the Indian Foreign Service as well as with his wife, also a diplomat, and family.

Vol. 3 | No. 37 | January 1-7, 2011 | 60 Cents

2010 Highlights
4 October 23- 29, 2010

Community

January 1-7, 2010 TheSouthAsianTimes.info TheSouthAsianTimes.info Chairmans Message

Movers & Shakers

Savor our New Year issue

The South Asian Times

Excellence In Journalism
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County Executive Ed Mangano

I will stop at nothing to restore fiscal responsibility in Nassau and not do it at the expense of the taxpayers
In our New Year issue 2010, we had declared Edward P. Mangano as Man of the Year. He had engineered one of the biggest upsets in politics by defeating a confident incumbent in the election for Executive of Nassau County, which in terms of importance and budget is bigger than a dozen American states. The South Asian Times caught up with him a year hence for an exclusive interview on his achievements and challenges.
By Parveen Chopra SATimes: You were our Person of the Year 2009 and we interviewed you when you were ready to take office as Nassau County Executive. Now one year into your term, how has your perspective changed on the job of running the wealthiest county but with a budget deficit? Hon. Ed Mangano: I have one simple mission: to restore fiscal stability and responsible government to the people of Nassau County. It was my goal as a Legislator, it was my mantra as a candidate and it is my focus as the County Executive. I remain as determined as ever! Q: You have fulfilled many poll campaign promises, but looking back what have been your administrations biggest achievements over the year? Hon. Ed Mangano: Since taking office, I have focused on cutting taxes and reducing government spending by over $148 million. We achieved $55 million in labor savings for 2011 by cutting 400 positions from the budget, from 8,810 in 2010 to 8,410 in 2011, and by managing with less 250 unfilled

Hon Ed Mangano posing for a group photo with honorees, organizers and community leaders at the Diwali function in county office premises. (right) The chief guests lighting the traditional lamp at the start of the event. budgeted positions. As a result, 125 non-patrol police positions were eliminated in the 2011 budget, saving $23 million. We also eliminated 275 other county employee positions in the 2011 budget, saving $17 million. We still have 250 budgeted positions unfilled for 2011. Plus, a nonessential hiring freeze will result in $15 million in additional savings. More important, working with the Legislature I removed $485 million in County tax burdens off the shoulders of homeowners and employers over the next four years through the elimination of a home energy tax and by removing a 16.5% property tax hike planned by the prior administration over the next four years. All of these initiatives have helped me close a crushing deficit that I inherited when I came into office. Q: You have a certain vision about managing the county affairs, and most crucially, balancing its budget, but the medias perceptions seem to vary. Does it mean your media managers have not been able to communicate your vision, or major papers like The New York Times and Newsday have a fixed Democratic agenda? Hon. Ed Mangano: The media is always quick to criticize and many writers have simply dismissed the incredible amount of reform I have enacted since taking office. Interestingly, though, the people seem to understand that I inherited a bloated, mismanaged government and I will stop at nothing to restore fiscal responsibility in Nassau and not do it at the expense of the taxpayers. Q: The New York Times reported recently that you, like other Republican administrators, are trying to cut taxes, but cutting spending, and making government leaner, is not that easy, which means budget deficits will keep growing, or at least not reduce. Hon. Ed Mangano: It is not that easy, correct. But we have done it. I slashed the County Executives payroll and have led by example. We have also done away with many useless middle management positions that did little but waste the peoples money. Q: On the national scene, how do you feel a Republican Congress and a Democrat President will pan out in the next two years? The recent cooperation between the two on Bush era tax cuts and other issues, does it augur well for the country? Hon. Ed Mangano: Anytime there is true bi-partisan work being done on behalf of the people, it is a great thing. Elected officials have to stop letting political lines act as impassable boundaries. Q: Your views on the rise of two Indian American governors, Bobby Jindal in Louisiana, and Nikki Haley, who takes office in South Carolina in mid January.

Hon. Mangano with his charming wife, Linda.

Hon Ed Mangano speaking at Indias Independence Day celebration officially organized by Nassau County in the presence of invited guests.

County Executive Ed Mangano

Since taking office, I have been further reminded of how incredible the people of the Indian community are. I have been to many of their events and I am always greeted with smiles and open arms.
Hon. Ed Mangano: Bobby Jindal has done extraordinary things as Louisianas governor and is a fresh face for the future of America and the Republican party. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina and some of Louisianas darkest days, Gov. Jindal brought new energy and optimism to the State. He continues to break down walls and is one of the brightest stars in national politics. I also applaud Governor-elect Haley and wish her the very best as she prepares to lead South Carolina. These are very exciting times for the party. Q: You have become a household name among the Indian American community. How have your interactions been with the community in the past one year? Has your perception of them changed in any way? Hon. Ed Mangano: Since taking office, I have been further reminded of how incredible the people of the Indian community are. I have been to many events in the past year hosted by the Indian community, and I am always greeted with smiles and open arms. It has been one of the great pleasures of my time in office. Q: How are other ethnic communities faring in Nassau County? Hon. Ed Mangano: My administration continues to work closely with all ethnic groups. Our Office of Minority Affairs has served triple the amount of people that the last administration served and our doors are open to everyone. Q: What are your priorities now in the second year in office? Hon. Ed Mangano: My priorities remain the same: to move Nassau County into the future and continue to implement real reform that will ensure Nassaus fiscal well-being for many more generations. Q: How has your family coped with your added responsibilities and demands on time? Hon. Ed Mangano: In many cases, my family accompanies me to events. While this job has certainly had a negative effect on the amount of time I spend at home, my family realizes that the people elected me to do a very difficult job and they support me every day. I would not be who I am without my family. * Two new traditions were initiated under County Executive Ed Mangano: Tricolor hoisting at aristocratic Theodore Roosevelt Building, the Nassau County Executive & Legislative Building on Indian Independence Day. And Diwali Celebrations with Gala Dinner hosted by Nassau County Executive at glittering Legislative Chambers of Nassau County. These events were highly appreciated & admired by the Indo-US community of Nassau County. * Lal Motwani, Kishan Lal Sardana and Champak Parikh were recognized for their dedicated community services on India Day. * Peter Bheddah & Tulsi Polavarapu, MD were conferred Life Time Achievement Award at Diwali event. * Dr. Rajesh Singh was honored for his Humanitarian Services at BJP Diwali event. * Thousands of new toys & winter Clothes were distributed to Needy Children in Long Island. The event was cosponsored by T Mobile Limited, Hicksville Chambers of Commerce, Rotary Club of Hicksville South & The South Asian Times, all located in Hicksville Long Island.

Hon Ed Mangano honored Animesh Goenka, National President of Association of Indians in America.

NFIA president Lal Motwani honored by Mr Mangano at Indias Independence Day celebration organized by Nassau County on 15th Aug

The County Executive was invited as chief guest to Diwali function organized by Bharatiya Janata Party overseas chapter.

Mr K.L. Sardana was honored by Mr Mangano at Indias Independence Day celebration organized by Nassau County.

Mr Mangano and Indian community leaders at Association of Indians in American (National Chapter) Annual Gala Dinner at Uniondale Marriott Hotel.

Mr Mangano with Dr Rajesh Singh (third from right, whom he honored for his humanitarian service), his son Harender Singh, Rob Walker, Rose Walker and others.

Top 10 in Tristate Community

Good, bad and controversial

Controversies and unfortunate incidents markedthe year for Tristate residents. New Yorkers fortunate escape from a bombing attack, inaugural India Day parade at Atlantic City and Diwali celebrations in Manhattan gave reasons to cheer though, apart from stories of individual triumphs.

Botched Times Square bombing

n October Pakistan-born Americans, security agencies American Faisal Shahzad apprehended Shahzad trying to was served a life sentence board a flight to Dubai. Before the botched attack, Shahzad, a for driving a homemade car bomb into Times Square and budget analyst living in leaving it to explode on May Connecticut, had returned from 1. The bomb packed into the a five-month trip to Pakistan back of Shahzad's SUV fizfor training from terror organizations. Had the Times Square zled, injuring no one at the bombing been successful, crossroads of New York City teeming with restaurants, the- Pakistan born terrorist Shahzad allegedly planned to Faisal Shahzad aters, and tourists. A defiant attack four other targets -Shahzad, self-styled Muslim soldier, plead- Rockefeller Center, a Grand Central ed guilty later to terrorism and weapons Terminal, the World Financial Center and charges and warned the US that the war the Connecticut headquarters of defense contractor Sikorsky, the prosecutors with the Muslims has just begun. Two days after his failed plan to kill claimed.

Outrage over Joel Steins article in Time magazine

n article titled My Own Private India by Joel Stein in Time magazine sparked a controversy in July. His supposedly hilarious take on the Indian Americans in his hometown of Edison, NJ didnt go down well with the community at large who reacted strongly to the offensive language and intended puns. SAALT (South Asian Americans Leading Together) took up online petition, celebrity desis such as Kal Penn lashed out at him on blogs and the entire uproar finally managed to elicit an apology from the writer as well as the magazine.

Joel Steins comments angered Indian community

Brutal killing of Divyendu Sinha

ife changed forever for minor injuries defending him. the Sinha family when The incident came as a huge a casual stroll in their shock for the entire Indian American community which perfectly safe neighborhood of Old Bridge, New Jersey, demanded the culprits be tried turned a nightmare on June 25. as adults. One of the five teens Dr. Divyendu Sinha, a respectaccused, Steven Contreras, who turns 18 in April is the ed technocrat was out with his wife and two teenage sons for only one of the five who is still a walk when five teenagers Dr. Sinha was attacked in custody. He will be transferred to the Middlesex County (two Caucasians and three unprovoked African Americans) attacked jail from the county Youth them, hitting him severely on head and Detention Center where he is being held. neck without any provocation. He died The others charged in the case are free on three days later while his sons sustained bail.

Row over Padma Bhushan to Sant Chatwal

he Government of Indias decision to confer civilian honor Padma Bhushan to New Year-based hotelier Sant Singh Chatwal was like stirring up a hornets nest. Bharatiya Janata Party expressed its disappointment and sent a letter to President Pratibha Patil and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh demanding that the award be taken back for his controversial financial dealings in the US and in India. Ironically the coveted award was bestowed upon the man with highlevel political connections for facilitating the passage of the Indo-US Nuclear deal, which in fact was a

Indian dance debuts at Macys Thanksgiving parade

Hotelier Sant Chatwal receiving the coveted award from President Pratibha Patil joint community effort including powerful professional groups such as AAHOA (Asian American Hotel Owners Association) and AAPI (American Association of Physicians of Indian origin).

Arya Dance Academy dancers at the parade.

Reshma Saujani loses NY Primary

upal K Patels Arya Dance Academy became the first Indian American group to be selected for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade in the New York City on November 26. Over 100 groups had sought to join the marching bands at the parade. The Arya Dance Academy was among the

nine groups chosen this year. Patel who has a degree in computer science and business from Boston College, worked for IBM as a consultant for about a year before quitting her job and starting a dance studio in 2001. Today, Arya Studios teach Bollywood and other

traditional Indian dances such as Kathak, Bhangra or Garba, in 33 states and 341 cities including one branch in Mumbai, India making it the largest Bollywood dance studios in the United States. Macys loved the uniqueness of Patels act and accepted the Arya dancers into the show in late May.

former fundraiser for Hillary Clinton, Reshma Saujani, failed in her bid to challenge veteran Democrat Carolyn Maloney in a New York party primary. But as a first-time candidate Saujani, 34, a former hedge fund lawyer, posed a serious challenge to Maloney, 64, in her Silk Stocking District, which encompasses much of Manhattans East Side and a chunk of Western Queens. Saujani, who called

Reshma Saujani Maloney a mediocre but reliable Democrat during her campaign and attempted to paint her as ineffective and out of touch with her constituents, released a series of attack ads after the congresswoman initially refused to debate her oppo-

nent. Accusing Maloney of not having done enough to protect the citys biggest economy engine, the financial sector, she raised more than $1 million for her bid, with significant contributions from financial industry executives and technology entrepreneurs. Saujani, who cast herself as new blood in a broken political system, earlier said she was optimistic about her chances but if she didnt win she would absolutely run again. Continued no page 36...

Poll triumphs and nagging issues

Record number of Indian Americans ran for election
A record number of six Indian Americans were in the fray for Congressional seats in the November election this year. Five of them were Democrats - Manan Trivedi from Pennsylvania, Ami Bera from California, Raj Goyle from Kansas, Ravi Sangisetty from Louisiana and Surya Yalamanchili from Ohio. All of them lost. Ashvin Lad from Illinois was the only Republican Indian American contesting. In Pennsylvania, Trivedi, an Iraq war veteran, was initially ahead of his Republican rival Jim Gerlach but the latter took the lead later on. In Kansas, Goyle was defeated by his Republican rival Mike Pompe. In Louisianas Third Congressional District Sangisetty received a decent 36 per cent of the total votes counted. Similar was the fate in Ohio with Surya Yalamanchill. Several others contested various other State senate and city council elections, many won, some got re-elected and many lost. But the fact remains that the Indian Americans have arrived on the political scene in the country. their voices heard. Born in Merta, Rajasthan, the birth place of great poetess Meera Bai, Dr. Singhvi graduated in Medicine and Law from the University of Rajasthan, Jaipur and immigrated to USA in 1977. He completed Internal Medicine Residency from Booth Memorial NYU (1980) and went on to a Gastroenterology Fellowship from Wayne State University, Detroit (1982). He is Board certified in American Board of Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology, Geriatrics (2000) and Critical Care Medicine (2005). Since 1982 he has been in private practice in Gastroenterology in Hemet, CA. Along with his team at AAPI, he is now busy with the annual convention preparations to take place in New York City in June 2011. (photo): Dr Singhvi is trying to get the youth into AAPI and advocates communitys greater involvement in politics scribed Shankars pat-down as appropriate under the circumstances (as she was wearing a sari) before Secretary of State Hilary Clinton said she was concerned and an official apology was issued. (photo): Indian Ambassador to the US, Meera Shankar was subjected to frisking.

2010 Highlights
Movers & Shakers

10

January 1-7, 2010 TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Top 10 in National Community

Indian American creates artificial kidney

Indian origin researcher Shuvo Roy created the worlds first implantable artificial kidney. Whats sensational about Roys creation is that the organ, no larger than a coffee cup, will be able to mimic the kidneys most vital functions like filtering toxins out of the bloodstream, regulate blood pressure and produce the all-important vitamin D. The artificial kidney has been tested successfully on a small number of animals. Large-scale trials on animals and humans are expected over the next five years. Once available, and if affordable, this creation by the Roy-led team at University of California will do away with the

Frisking of Indian diplomats at US airports

Two back to back incidents of singling out Indian diplomats at US airports and frisking them enraged the Indian government as well as the community. Describing these searches as serious breaches of protocol, the Indian foreign ministry also registered their protest to Washington.

Nikki Haley scripted history, elected South Carolina Governor

In key mid-term polls in November in which President Obamas Democrats were routed, 38-year-old Nikki Randhawa Haley, born of Sikh parents who migrated from Punjab, became only the second Indian-American to become a governor of a US state after Bobby Jindal in Louisiana as well as the first Indian-origin woman governor. A Republican, she has served three-terms in the South Carolina House of Representatives where she represented Lexington County and was also the first IndianAmerican to hold office in that state. It was not smooth sailing for Haley, mother of Nalin (9) and Rena (12), as she had to overcome allegations of extramarital affairs and racial digs in her race for governorship. She fought a tough battle in the primaries and in the final run, receiving 52 per cent of the votes as against her Democratic rival Vincent Sheehan, who polled 46 per cent. She assumes office on January 12, 2011 in Columbia.

Dr Ajeet Singhvi takes over as AAPI President

California-based gastroenterologist Dr. Ajeet Singhvi was elected president of American Association of Physicians of Indian origin (AAPI) for year 2010-11. Getting the new generation onboard has been his main goal. In less than a month of taking over the gavel from Dr. Vinod Shah, he was successful in setting up the AAPI legislative office in Washington DC to reach out to the lawmakers and make Hardeep Puri, Indias ambassador to the United Nations, was held up for half an hour at Houston airport on November 13 after refusing for a turban pat-down by security people on religious grounds. On December 4, Indian ambassador to the US, Meera Shankar was asked by security officials at a Mississippi airport for a pat-down search, despite reportedly notifying officials of her diplomatic status. The US Homeland Security Department had initially deneed for kidney dialysis. This will be a boon for all patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The University of California team is awaiting approval to conduct larger scale animal and human trials. Already, it has successfully tested the implant in a few rats and pigs. (photo): Shuvo Roy led the team at University of California in this innovation. Continued on page 19

2010 2010 Highlights

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Movers & Shakers Movers & Shakers

29 11 Top 10 Diaspora News

January 1-7, 2010

January 1-7, 2010 TheSouthAsianTimes.info TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Nat nal Commun y Highlights Highs &T o p 1 0 i n ofi oIndians i tAbroad lows
World loses management conviction in Australia guru Patel, an Indian origin doctor sentenced to sevC K Prahlad Jayant

Endorsed Shiva. P. Murugiah, deputy chairman of the Malaysia Hindu Sangams Penang American-born Lashker-e-Taiba terrorist David Headley, en years in prison for manslaughter and causing grievous Internationally renowned manageas Lord by President Obama, Indian-American Kamala leader after Harris branch said the November issue general of Califorwon the election for attorney of the magazine portrayed Obama as Nataraja (Lord terror attack in 2008, had ha- bodily harm on patients at an AustralianPrahalad, appealed accused of plotting Mumbai ment guru C.K. hospital, popularly state 31 years nia in November caption God of was Things. He a close known as CK, Dubbed Dr Death, Shiva) with the after the result All delayed in said sacred tred towards India and warned that he would stop helping against his sentence and conviction. died in San Diego afHindu images were too ofMalaysian Indian race. portrayed in pop culture without a the office of AG ter 1 to seven years 69. ten Harris is the first woman to hold proper understanding the their spiritualadmission of guilt was linked to coopera- Patel was sentenced July a brief illness at for each case of of probe if his relevance. Congress (MIC), the in the state. Daughter of an Indian mother and Africantion with New Delhi. This came out in a secret US em- manslaughter and three years for grievous bodily harm. The countrys oldest IndianAmerican father, former San Francisco attorney generbassy cable made public by WikiLeaks. Headley, who also sentences are to be served concurrently. called attention to The man who based political party had Patel was chief of the fortune at the Base Hospital surgery at Bundaberg bottom of the al Harris defeated Republican Steve Cooley in a tough conspired to target a Danish newspaper, pleaded guilty to a change of guard after fight and replaced Democrat Jerry Brown who won the all terror charges before a US court on March 18 this year. between 2003 and 2005. Indian-born and US-trained, Patel at pyramid died in April 2010 31 years when party election for governor of California. The US President The plea was seen as an attempt chief S. Samy Vellu to had pleaded not guilty toA professor at the University of by 50-year-old Headley the top of his game. the manslaughter of James Philhad also attended a fund raiser for her in the state. Born escape death penalty as he faced six counts of conspiracy lips, 46, Gerry Kemps, considered one Morris,worlds top 10 Michigan, CK was 77, and Mervyn of the 75, who died stepped down. Vellu, following surgery performed by him. He had the fortune at and raised in the East Bay, Kamala was elected as the involving bombing public places inwho had been headmanagement thinkers. His theory about also pleaded 74, India, murdering and not guilty to causing grievous bodily harm to Ian Vowles, first People of Indian origin in San Franciscos history grievancepersons in Indiaof- providing material support to woman district attorney living in the and monitor aiming petitions and and the bottom of the pyramid is followed by many corporaing the party since 1979 whose healthy bowel markets. in October 2004. The trial inUnited Arab Emirates (UAE), first African-American December 2003, as well as the who need fer counseling to members of the Indian foreign terrorist plots and LeT and six succeeded aidingG. tions in emerging he removed was counts of by and involved the evidence of 76 witnesses over 53 days. help in legal, nancial and medical issues, community in legal, nancial and medical citizens in India. But his plea woman and South Asian American woman in California abetting the murder of US Palanivel, 61. He takes tonow haveoffice. Kamala is the -- the rstof Drissues. It will work in cooperation with hold the a toll-free helpline daughter of Shyamala agreement with federal prosecutors ruledMalaysiaspenalty Prahalads theory affected many Indian and developing over as out death speits kind Tamilian breast cancer any coun- the Indian Gopalan, afor migrant workers by specialist who traveleddiplomatic mission. It will also and extradition to India, Pakistan and Denmark, provided world retail outlets. It was his proposition that businesses cial envoy to India and totry in the world. The toll-free number is have a walk-in counter to receive petitions the US from Chennai, to pursue her graduate studies he cooperates with the governments investigations into stop thinking of the poor as victims and instead start seeing four other South Asian countries. was is princiat800-46342 the last ve digits of which read directly from Indian workersHeadley,days UC Berkeley. After attending public schools, Kamaterrorist acts. on all a Chicago resident, MIC arrested by them as value-demanding consumers that drove compaINDIA commitment to the alphabet key from 3 led p.m. joint terrorism task force on Octoberthelast year. pal among 3 parties that las strong if matched with justice and public service p.m. to 7FBIs One-to-one counselnies such as Hindustan Lever and Godrej to come out with positions on mobile phone. The helpline ing will be traditionally represent her to HowardaUniversity, Americas oldest historically given by a panel of 14 experts, ultra-small sachets of everything from shampoo to gutka of the much-awaited Indian Workers Re- California Malaysias 2.1 million Black university, and then to the University ofwho will attend to calls in English, Hindi, sparking off a retail revolution. Indeed, his 2004 book The source Centre was of Law. Robbers targeting South Asian homes ethnic Indian population and Hastings Collegededicated to the Indian Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and Punjabi. Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid: Eradicating Poverty community in the UAE by visiting Indian In Abu Dhabi, another walk-in centre and is part of the Razakthrough Profits, became a New York Times bestseller and sentenced President Pratibha Patil in Dubai. will function from the Indian Embassy led ruling coalition, catapulted him to a rock star among management thinkers The resource centre will receive, register from 3 p.m. to 7Indianon Fridays. in Washington suburbs heaved a sigh p.m. Americans Barisan Nasional (BN). although he was already a storied business guru by then. of relief when a New York City woman who admitted being part of a ring of picky burglars which targeted (photo): CK Prahalad, 69, died in San Diego. dozens of South Asian homes there was sentenced to three years in federal prison. Melinda . M. Soto, 34, and her Leading industrialist Lord Swraj Paul was cleared by the police in the MPs expenses row husband, Dagoberto involving scores of Soto Ramirez, plead- British parliamentarians across the political spectrum. The 78-year-old edLabor Peer said in a statement here that following media allegations the Metropolitan Police guilty in federal People of Trinidad and had in Alexandria court been carrying out an investigation into his parliamentary expenses as a part of its wider Tobago created history by toinquiries into this issue. Paul, Chairman of the Caparo Group of industries, said he was regularly travelelecting a woman prime delighted to announce ing from New York that the police will no longer be proceeding with any investigation or minister. Kamla Prasad Bistoinquiry inand Lou- my House of Lords expenses. Paul, who is regarded as a close friend Fairfax relation to sessar is the rst woman to of former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, had vehemently denied media allegations doun counties, two assume the highest ofce Lord Swraj Paul that he was among those MPs who wrongly claimed parliamentary allowances. Kamala Harris was endorsed by President Obama Washington subKamla Prasad Bissessar there and the second one urbs in neighboring among Indo-Trinidadians. Northern Virginia, Earlier was GoIs new NZ radio UnrestitoverBasdeo Pan- passport host apologizes for Indians celebrate century of living in Malaysia to commit the burdey in 1995 to and Born onrules 2001. visa surrender calling Gov Gen Satyanand fat Indian glaries. They admitApril 22, 1952, she is marEthnic Indians, whose forefathers came to settle in Malaysia a century back chose for Aried tonumber of Indian Americans have Zealand radio host On histo burglarizingshow large Dr Gregory Bissessar New been unhappy ted talkback radio the celebrations the historic Batu Caves, a site 13 km from Kuala Lumpur that has one with the new son. She studied Govt. of India for sur37 week, and said and has one rules imposed by Michael Laws apologized last homes Lawssteal- Sir of the largest complex of Hindu shrines in the world outside India. Over 2,000 members for calling his countrys Anand was $600,000 rendering the old Indian passport and delays in issuance ing nearly an unusualin Trinidad until graduation of the Association of Malaysia Indians of Kelantan Origin took a trip down memory lane who reminded ofand went to EnglandItto obvisa to visit India. all startedGovernor General ofSir shaped mangold jewin the third week worth of as they recalled the time spent in the state. Though many of them no longer reside in Anand Satyanand a fat him of between Janu-obese May when the Indian Embassy and consulates started tain her law degree. She elry the impossibly Kelantan, their sentiment for the state is still strong, The Star online reported. started $175 fee as teacher charging her careerfor surrenderingIndian. The broadcaster Monty and November Mr the old Indian passary Python character made the racially serin college before taking $200 for any consularcharged Creosote. He also likened him port aand additional fees of to of last year, when a British actor who played legal profession. vice used by naturalized citizens. comments which aroused tothey were arrested An online campaign the India was signed ire of the countrys the Agatha Christie creation Her experience in eduby GOPIO to the Prime Minister of along with a third Prime Minister John Key, Hercule Poirot on UK televicational institutions helped by over 32,000 people in ten days. The government alleged co-conspirawho condemned it her to and the primary fee relented improve surrenderand was reduced to $20 for in sion. Key, who was trying to tor, Francisco Gray. New secondary schools as naturalizedstrong terms. In a state- douse casesDelhis anger afthose who had become well as citizens before June The against all A British court granted bail The South African authoriment on issuesRadioLive ter another TV presenter had the which technical and vocational and 1, 2010. However there are several related three were thrown to businessman Shrien Dewani ties want to question him after website, the secretary training, special education need to be sorted out. In June this year, Laws apologized ridiculed Delhi Chief Minout by judges in a newly wed accused of hiring taxi driver Zola Tongo told a for calling Sir Satyanand ister Sheila Dikshits name, and teacher education in herIndian Affairs Dr. Deedar of the Ministry of Overseas a man to kill his bride Anni, Fairfax and LouCape Town court that he was a large, fat man who has said the radio talk shows comcountry. Singh had sent a notification to many NRI/PIO organi28 during their honeymoon hired by the husband to kill doun were unacceptable. for lack of never buffet table. ments She is prominent NRIs stating thatleft the who aczations andwidely recognized those in South Africa. Anni was his bride. According to Daily evidence, and Gray for her work in educational found dead in the back of an Mail, a paramedic who was at quired citizenship of another country before Jan. 2005 was deported to broadcasting, educational Indian students number to abandoned taxi with a bullet the scene soon after Anni died need not obtain the surrender certificate. This decision Peru. Federal aucounseling and guidance, wound in her neck on Nov 13. has said that she was executed was taken at a joint meeting of the officials of in Australia by 80% dip three min- thorities stepped moral, ethical and spiritual Authorities in South Africa in cold blood. She looked istries, MOIA, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and in enrolling at Australian uniand indicted the values and physical educaThe number of Indian students like someone who had maybe Homein schools. She has many Home Ministry officials Ministry. However, the trio in is set to plunge by 80 want the 30-year-old British July. The Sotion versities for the 2011 academic year citizen extradited for a trial passed out after drinking or had went back ontothis credit: rst this was never impletos pleaded guilty distinctions her decision and per cent, Melbourne University vice-chancellor Glyn Davis there, and objected to a lower been sedated. It looked as if mented. So everyone has to get the surrender certificate. in September to woman to serve as attorney said. There had been a string of attacks on Indian students in British courts decision to someone in the passenger seat With a lot acting prime minis- in the entire process, the of hassles involved transporting stolen general, Australia, causing outrage assaults took had leaned over and shot her in community is uniting again to register their protest to in India. Theacross state place grant Dewani bail - provided property ter and leader of opposition in Melbourne as well in Sydney. One of the attacks proved he wore an electronic tag and Shrien and Anni Dewani the neck. I got the denite imthe government. Hopefully 2011 will see some amicable lines. Gray has not of Trinidad and Tobago. observed a curfew. pression that she was executed. as newly weds fatal solution to the changed rules issue. when a student, Nitin Garg, was knifed in January. been located. Compiled by Hiral Dholakia-Dave

Malaysian Malaysian Hindus protest Obamas portrayal as Lord Shiva Indian Kamala Harris elected Attorney David Headleys revelations Malaysian of California urged the government to ban the latest issue of Ameri- US & Congress Hindu organization General continue to baffle India gets a new can magazine Newsweek for insulting Hindus by depicting US President Barack Obama

Jayant Patel appeals

Toll-free helpline launched for Indians in UAE

Trinidads first woman PM is an Indian

Lord Swraj Paul cleared in House of Lords expenses row

Sensational murder of UK bride on honeymoon in South Africa

Outgoing Malaysian Indian Congress President S. Samy Vellu, left, shakes hand with his successor G. Palanivel.

12

Indian Diplomacy

India rules global stage

It was the blockbuster diplomatic year for an emerging India that got elected to a rotating seat in the UN Security Council after nearly two decades and played host to all leaders of the permanent five (P5) members of the Security Council -- David Cameron, Barack Obama, Nicolas Sarkozy, Wen Jiabao and Dmitry Medvedev -- in the last six months of 2010.

P5 toast emerging India

he P5 leaders - save for China's Wen Jiabao - were unequivocal in backing New Delhi for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council. The big breakthrough came when US President Barack Obama ended Washington's ambiguity and announced before the Indian parliament Nov 8 that he looked forward to welcoming India "as it prepares to take a seat at the UN Security Council". "For in Asia and around the world, India is not simply emerging, India has already emerged," said Obama memorably. Obama's visit also silenced skeptics who thought India-US ties turned lukewarm under his presidency as the US also backed New Delhi for membership of elite nuclear clubs like the Nuclear Suppliers Group and clinched business deals worth $15 billion. The year 2010 also saw Indian diplomacy becoming more pragmatic and business-oriented as India sealed free trade pacts with Japan and Malaysia, East Asia's star economy, and launched negotiations for civil nuclear deals with Tokyo and Seoul.

US President Barack Obama's charm offensive visit to India is the scene-stealer of 2010 while Chinese Premier Wen Jiabaos India visit left many crucial questions unanswered. The US sought to scale bilateral trade from $37 billion to $75 billion by 2015; Britain from $11.5 billion to $24 billion by 2014; France from $8 billion to $16 billion by 2012; China from $43 billion to $100 billion by 2015; Russia from $9 billion to $20 billion by 2015. The year gone by also saw India raising its profile as an aid giver and exercising its soft power astutely as it offered an unprecedented $1 billion Line of Credit to Bangladesh and pledged $1.5 billion in soft loans to rehabilitate and help reconstruct war-ravaged northeast of Sri Lanka. In a year of many diplomatic successes, however, Pakistan remained a migraine for India's foreign policy makers as the first serious attempt post-26/11 to revive dialogue by the foreign ministers July 15 crashed in bitter mutual recrimination. Islamabad accused New Delhi of making dialogue terror-centric. India refused to buy the latter's bait of a timeline to resolve difficult issues like Kashmir, deepening the chill in bilateral ties. Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi is expected in India early 2011, but no one is betting on a breakthrough. Relations with China, too, continued on a slippery terrain as an assertive Beijing denied visa to a senior army officer from Jammu and Kashmir in July, allegedly on grounds that Kashmir was a disputed territory between India and Pakistan. When Wen visited India in December, the two emerging Asian powers inked a clutch of pacts and agreed to launch a strategic economic dialogue to address over $20 billion trade imbalance, but the issue of the Chinese stapled visas to residents of Jammu and Kashmir remained intractable. Finally, New Delhi had no choice but to do some blunt talk, telling Beijing that Kashmir was to India what Taiwan and Tibet are to China. The omission of a reference to one-China policy in the IndiaChina joint statement tells its own story. In the year to come, the world will be expecting India to balance this assertiveness with calibrated positions on key global issues and flashpoints from Tehran to Pyongyang as New Delhi returns to the UN Security Council after 19 odd years.

Indian diplomacy highlights

British Prime Minister David Cameron with Chief Mentor of Infosys, N.R. Narayana Murthy, in Bangalore; French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife with President Pratibha Patil in New Delhi; and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev with Congress President Sonia Gandhi. arch 12 - Russian Prime Minister David Cameron is the Obama's charm offensive visit is Minister S.M. Krishna asks the two sides seal deals worth $16 Minister Vladimir first leader of P5 to visit India. A the scene-stealer of 2010. Strikes Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi billion, launch a CEOs forum and Putin's visit yields nuclear agreement and a $1.1 bil- deals worth $15 billion that are to show sensitivity to India's core a strategic economic dialogue to lucrative deals in diverse areas lion defense deal for supplying 57 expected to create 54,000 jobs in concerns and says that Jammu address over $20 billion trade including oil exploration, dia- Hawk trainer jets to India are the US. Obama also endorses and Kashmir is to India what imbalance. Dec 21-22 - Russian President monds, banking and fertilizers. inked. Britain is outspoken about India's candidature for a perma- Taiwan and Tibet are to China. nent seat in the UN Security Dec 4-7 - French President Dmitry Medvedev's visit sees the Putin vows to build more nuclear Pakistan "exporting terrorism". reactors for India. Oct 14: Mirroring the changing Council, backs India's full mem- Nicolas Sarkozy's visit sees deals inking of 29 pacts, including a June 2-4 - During South Africa's architecture of the evolving glob- bership of NSG, Missile worth $20 billion being unveiled preliminary deal for building the President Jacob Zuma's visit, al order, India wins a non-perma- Technology Control Regime and nuclear giant Areva signing a fifth generation fighter jet that India and South Africa relaunch nent seat on the UN Security (MTCR), the Australia Group and pact for building two nuclear will eventually work out to $30 billion. Russia also asks Pakistan CEOs forum, sign three pacts, set Council with a record 187 votes the Wassenaar Arrangement and reactors in Maharashtra. Dec 15-17 - No breakthrough to bring the "authors, perpetrators a trade target of $10 billion by in the 192-member UN General asks Pakistan to bring 26/11 terAssembly on October 12. rorists to justice. on stapled visas, but Chinese and accomplices" of the Mumbai 2010 and vow to reform the UN. July 27-29 - British Prime Nov 6-9 - US President Barack Nov 14 - External Affairs Premier Wen Jiabao's visit sees terror attack to justice.

13

Corruption in India

Season of Scams
From 2G to Commonwealth Games, from Niira Radia Tapes to Adarsh Society fraud the year 2010 saw many skeletons tumbling out from across the layers of the society. The Opposition brought Parliament to a grinding halt demanding a Joint Parliament Committee probe into 2G scam while Radia Tapes kept on revealing the nexus between corporate India, politicians and media.

2G The mother of all scams

010's is one telecom story that will keep ringing in people's minds for years to come -leaked tapped conversations of a clutch of India's over 700 million phone subscribers suggested how lobbying may have led to an alleged Rs 1.76 lakh crore ($40 billion) scam in the sale of radio waves. All hell broke loose after the publication of the tapes, recorded by the Revenue Intelligence department between 2008-09, and the Opposition brought Parliament to a grinding halt demanding a probe. If proved, this scam may turn out to be the biggest India has ever seen.

Former Federal telecom minister A. Raja with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh; and Corporate lobbyist Niira Radia. The developments have already over-shadowed the remarkable performance of the sector that has grown by leaps and bounds by adding up to 20 million new subscribers every month. There are already over 700 million phone subscribers in India. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh removed A. Raja as the communications minister, but the Opposition continued to demand the institution of a joint parliamentary committee, or JPC, to probe the allegations. In

an unprecedented breakdown of Parliamentary traditions in Independent India, the entire winter session of Parliament remained paralyzed, as the Opposition refused to allow conduct of any business while the government, too, stuck to its stand that there was no need for a JPC. This was followed by CBI raids on the premises of Raja as well as his close aides, including his former personal secretary, a former Telecom Commission Chairman and a former TRAI Chairman and some senior officials of the Department of Telecom. Even before the leak of taped

conversations that corporate lobbyist Niira Radia had with politicians, bureaucrats, industrialists and journalists, the crisis was building, but it was the tapes that fuelled it into a raging fire. The phone conversations between corporate lobbyist Radia and politicians, particularly Raja, may complicate things further for the former Telecom Minister and the government, which also drew flak for tapping phones. The controversy even reached the PMO, with the former Telecom Minister claiming that the Prime Minister was aware of all the decisions made.

Winter of discontent
t home, the government was under attack, first for delays and then for alleged corruption in the conduct of the 19th Commonwealth Games held in New Delhi in October. Irregular allotment of houses in Mumbais Adarsh Housing Society, which was meant for the benefit of families of Kargil war victims was the other corruption scandal that undermined the governments image. Both Congressmen had to resign in connection with other acts of suspected malfeasance. One was Maharashtra Chief

Yeddyurappa in limbo
ven if action has been taken in nearly all these matters, they have not dispelled the murky atmosphere of venality, which has enveloped the government and the ruling Congress. One reason, however, why the BJP has been unable to Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa. derive much advantage from the Congress' discomfiture is that the BJP's own chief minister, B.S. Yeddyurappa, has become involved in questionable land transactions in Karnataka.

Former Commonwealth Games Organizing Committee chief Suresh Kalmadi with Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit; and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan. Minister Ashok Chavan and the other was Commonwealth Games Organizing Committee chief Suresh Kalmadi. Chavan was implicated in a housing society scam in Mumbai in which bureaucrats, including defense officials, were involved. Kalmadi's alleged sins were about the siphoning off of funds related to the Games.

Nitish, a ray of hope

he only ray of light in this depressing environment has been provided by the electoral success of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. There are two reasons for the celebrations. One is that Nitish Kumar has not featured in any scandal. The other is that his victory is mainly the outcome of his fruitful efforts relating to development and law and order, which have enabled the state to emerge from the "jungle raj" of Lalu Yadav's years

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. in power (19902005). With the government being rocked by corruption scandals and the hostile neighbors looking for opportunities to destabilize India, the country is faced with a winter of discontent.

Ajay Banga, CEO, MasterCard Ajay Bhumitra, President & CEO, Arjay Wireless
Nooyi of Pepsico heading a global conglomerate. Before joining MasterCard on August 31, 2009, Banga had spent 13 long years with banking major Citigroup and held various roles in the US, Europe and Middle East, among others. Banga started his career with Nestle in 1981 and later joined Pepsico. He also serves on the board of Kraft Foods. Son of an Army officer, Banga rejected an army career his father was keen he pursue and instead later took a BA in Economics Honors from Delhi University and later an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. He has a keen interest in social development issues and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and The Economic Club of New York, as well as a fellow of the Foreign Policy Association. He is also a member of The Financial Services Roundtable. Previously, he served on the boards of trustees of Enterprise Community Partners and the National Urban League and was vice chairman of the board of trustees for the New York Hall of Science. Ajay Bhumitra is President & CEO of the Arjay Wireless Group, also known as King Maker of wireless business, has grown from a single retail. store in 1989 to a Group that is most known and successful in the wireless industry His companies have partnered with industry leaders in wireless including AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Motorola, RIM, Nokia, Samsung, LG and HTC. The Arjay Group has over 350 employees, and has consistently won awards and recognition from business partners over the years. Ajay has established a leadership role for himself in the wireless business, and has helped numbers of people in building businesses and becoming successful in the industry. Other notables desi in wire less industry are: Sarab Lambaof AW Mobile, Raja Amar of Portables Unlimited, Vikas Dhall of ZCom and Jerry Kohli of T Mobile Limited.

2010 Highlights
Movers & Shakers

14

January 1-7, 2010 TheSouthAsianTimes.info

10 Most Notable New Yorkers

An entirely India-educated financial pundit, Ajay Banga was appointed CEO of global payment solution leader MasterCard Inc this year. He took over from Robert Selander in July. Banga joined MasterCard as president and chief operating officer from Citigroup Inc. in August 2009 and was given a $4.2 million signing bonus he could keep if he wasnt named CEO by June 30, 2010, according to a regulatory filing. Pune-born, Delhi-educated, IIM-Ahmedabad alum Ajay Banga is the brother of high profile Manvinder Singh Banga, who left Unilever after 33 years to join a private equity firm. With his new appointment Ajay Banga joined the league of Vikram Pandit of CitiGroup and Indra

Ajit Jain, Chief Executive Officer of Reinsurance Division, Berkshire Hathaway Inc.
Ajit Jain, born on July 23, 1951 in Orissa, India, is a businessman who currently heads several reinsurance business es for Berkshire Hathaway and has been touted as a possible successor to Warren Buffet. In his annual letter to shareholders this year too, as in the past, Warren Buffet wrote: If Charlie, I and Ajit are ever in a sinking boat and you can only save one of us swim to Ajit. Jain was raised in Indias coastal state of Orissa. He graduated in 1972 from the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur with a bachelors degree in engineering.He was a resident of the Azad Hall of Residence. He didnt take his studies very seriously, according to classmate Ronojoy Dutta. Instead, they spent hours talking about economics, sociology and the Vietnam War, often debating through the night. Vijay Trehan, another classmate, described Jain and Dutta as class clowns in our mechanical engineering class. But con-sidering their later careers, Trehan said, The lesson has to be that not taking life too seriously is definitely the way to go. Jain worked for IBM in India from 1973 to 1976, then moved to the United States, where he earned an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1978. He joined McKinsey & Co., but returned to India in the early 1980s. After a monthlong courtship, he married a Tinku Jain chosen by his parents. Then he went back to the United States to work for McKinsey. According to Robert P. Miles book The Warren Buffet CEO: Secrets from the Berkshire Hathaway Managers Jain said he would not have returned to America, but his wife wanted to move there. In 1986 he left McKinsey to work on insurance operations for Buffet. At the time, he said he knew little about the insurance business.

Ra v i Batr a, E mi n e n t A tto r ne y
lowed on the heels of another-this time to the Governors Judicial Screening Panel, Second Dept, on Nov. 19, 2010 by the Democratic Majority in the state senate. Batra has received numerous awards and accolades over the years. The most recent being awarded Eminent Lawyer by Deputy Speaker of NJ Assembly, Upendra Chivkula, May 15, 2009. His list of achievements include winning dismissal of a $30 million libel suit filed by Justice Larry D. Martin against New York Daily News, columnist Errol Louis, and Ravi Batra. Batra was sued in his capacity as litigation counsel in an unrelated litigation, Riskin v. Karp, for Karps alleged breach of the adversarial systems safety net; the Karp case continues on. He also won a First Amendment landmark decision in a libel-in-fiction lawsuit against NBC and inter alia, Dick Wolf when Law & Order created and aired an episode, Floater, in fall 2003 while ripping from the headlines the real-life story of courthouse corruption between then-attorney Paul Siminovsky and then-Justice Gerald P. Garson, now both convicted criminals.

A legal luminary, Ravi Batra was appointed by Governor David Paterson on December 16, 2010 as a Member of NYS Interest on Lawyer Account Fund for a 2-year term. This appointment fol

Ashwini Gupta, Executive Vice President and Chief Risk Officer, American Express
Gupta is one of the 15 most senior leaders of American Express Company. As the Executive Vice President and Chief Risk Officer, Mr. Gupta oversees all risk manpany agement and information management for the com and manages over 1000 people. He has held various positions in American Ex press Company for more than 25 years with increasing responsibility and is now a part of the companys Global Management TeamGupta received his Bachelors Degree in Mechanical Engineering from IIT Delhi in 1974. He completed his MBA from Columbia Business School in 1977.

J Ganesh Bhat, Nephrologist and cofounder, Atlantic Dialysis

New York Governor David Paterson appointed noted nephrologist J. Ganesh Bhat, MD to the NYS Public Health and Health Planning through 2016. Previously he was a member of the New York State Public Health Council appointed by Governor Paterson. Co-founder of the Atlantic Dialysis Management Services in Queens, Dr. Bhat has practiced nephrology for almost 30 years and is a founding member of Mattoo & Bhat Medical Associates, P.C., one of the largest non university based nephrology practice in New York City. Dr. Bhat is also the Chancellor of Xavier University School of Medicine in Oranjestat, Aruba in the Dutch Caribbean. Dr. Bhat has held numerous teaching and administrative positions in the NY area, including Assistant Professor of Medicine at SUNY Stony Brook, Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at Albert Einstein School of Medicine, Nephrology Director at Queens Hospital Center and Flushing Hospital Medical Center, and Medical Director at North Shore/LIJ Hospital at Forest Hills.

Vikram Pandit, CEO Citi Bank

theailing banking giant to prof itability and brought it mostly out from under strict government scrutiny after a $45 billion rescue during the financial crisis, told the Citi board he wouldnt accept any compensation above $1 for this year. Pandit hogged the media limelight worldwide when he was declared as the youngest CEO of the worlds largest conglomerate, the Citigroup in 2008. Born on Jan 14, 1957 at Nagpur in the state of Maharashtra in India. He shifted to US at 16 and went on to acquire BS and MS in electrical engineering. He completed Ph D in finance in 1986.

2010 Highlights
Movers & Shakers

17

January 1-7, 2010 TheSouthAsianTimes.info

10 Most Notable New Yorkers

Indra Nooyi, Chairman & CEO, PepsiCo
Forbes said Nooyi nudged a 20 million dollar slice of the companys $616-million-a-year ad budget away from traditional to social media spends. Pepsico has the worlds largest portfolio of billion-dollar food and beverage brands, including 19 different product lines tha each generate more than $1 t billion in annual retail sales. Nooyi was named President and CEO on Oct 1, 2006 and assumed role of chairman in May 2007. She has directed the companys global strategy for more than a decade and led its restructuring, including the divestiture of its restaurants into the successful YUM! Brands, Inc. the acquisition of Tropicana and the merger with Quaker Oats that brought the vital Quaker and Gatorade businesses to Pepsi Co and the merger with PepsiCos anchor bottlers.

India-born Citi Bank CEO Vikram Pandit decided to work for just $1 for the second year in a row. Pandit, who has restored

PepsiCo chief Indra Nooyi kept up with her record of making it to the list of Forbes Worlds 100 Most Powerful Women this year too. She ranked 6th on the list. Nooyi, 54, whose total annual compensation package last year was 10.6 million dollars, ranked secondin the business category.

Jai Ho Concert was led by Oscar and Grammy winner A R Rahman in New Jersey, where he projected a giant image of legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar. Pic: Vijay Shah

Proud moments for SATimes in 2010

The South Asian Times published a special edition celebrating 64th Independence Day of India & 40th Anniversary of FIA in partnership with FIA NY-NJ-CT. This edition is a collectible due to its superior content and colorful layout about history of Indian Independence & FIA.Seen in the photo: Preity Zienta, Bollywood star and Grand Marshall at the India Day Parade unveiling the special edition of The South Asian Times presented by Ms. Apurvi Mehta & publisher Kamlesh C. Mehta.

Nassau County Executive Edward P Mangano was presented the prestigious Rotary International Paul Harris Award by Rotary International Dist Gov. Ravi Bhooplapur. Seen in the photo are: Kamlesh Mehta, President Rotary Club Hicksville South, Ed Mangano, Linda Mangano, Dist. Governor Bhooplapur and Deputy County Executive Pat Foye.

Thousands of New toys & winter clothes were distributed to Needy Children in Long Island. The event was cosponsored by T Mobile Limited, Hicksville Chambers of Commerce, Rotary Club of Hicksville South & The South Asian Times, all located in Hicksville Long Island.

National Federation of Indian Associations (NFIA) honored Kamlesh C. Mehta, Chairman & Publisher of The South Asian Times for Excellence in Print Media at NFIA International Convention 2010.In Photo Kamlesh Mehta is seen receiving the plaque.Others in pictures are: CK Patel President NFIA, Mr. Lal Motwani Convener 2010 NFIA Convention and Mr. Raj Purohit, BJP President, Mumbai.

Harry Singh , COO, Bolla Group

is very involved in the strategic planning and vision of the company. Singh oversees the business operations as well as the Company Owned Stores. Singh is recognized as one of the top Oil Executives in this tri-state area and across the nation. He currently has over 400 people in his organizations and sells over 113 million gallons and operates 44 sites with maculate c-stores. He currently flies the following flags ExxonMobil (23 locations), Sunoco (11), BP (3) and Gulf (1) in the Metro New York and Long Island area. He is a hands on experienced operator as an oil jobber, Franchise operator, supplier, construction company executive with over $14.5 Million projects currently underway (Residential projects [$10Million], Ground up Gas Station projects [$2 Million] and 4 gas station upgrade projects [$2.5 Million].

2010 Highlights
Movers & Shakers

18

January 1-7, 2010 TheSouthAsianTimes.info

10 Most Notable New Yorkers

Nirav Shah, NYs next Health Commissioner
the states Medicaid program and making sure the agency safeguards the health of the public at all income levels. Straddling the worlds of medicine and research, Dr. Shah, 38 is an attending physician at Bellevue Hospital Center in New York City and an associate investigator at the Geisinger Center for Health Research in Danville, Pa. Dr. Shah is an expert in the use of systems-based methods to improve patient outcomes and a nationally recognized thought leader in the very methods needed to transition to the future of lower-cost, more patient-centered health care, according to the announcement. According to the Langone Center website, his research focuses on the use of technology to improve patient care. More specifically, he has been working on ways to improve care for vulnerablepopulations in the public hospital system of New York City and the rural, aging population of eastern Pennsylvanias Geisinger Health System. The website describes Shah as a leading researcher in the use of large-scale clinical laboratories and electronic health records to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of care, and as a nationally recognized thought leader in the very methods needed to transition to the future of lower-cost, more patient-centered, healthcare for the 21st century. A graduate of Harvard College in Cambridge, Mass., Shah studied medicine at the Yale School of Medicine, specializing in epidemiology. He completed his residency in internal medicine at YaleNew Haven Hospital.

Harry Singh is an extremely hands-on and committed NJP executive who has more than 26 years of oil and convenience store business experience. He is an entrepreneurs entrepreneur. He is living the American Dream. Singh is often quoted throughout the tri-state area and is known for his philanthropy and commitment to excellence. He is New Jersey Petroleums COO (Chief Operating Officer). As a partner and officer of NJP, Singh is responsible for much of the day-to-day functions. He

Dr. Nirav Shah, an assistant professor at New York Universitys Langone Medical Center, will be New York states next health commissioner. His appointment was announced Dec. 16 by New York Gov.-elect Andrew Cuomo. He replaces Dr. Richard Daines. As head of the Department of Health, Dr.Shah will be responsible for overseeing

Specials in 2010
In a short span of less than 3 years, The South Asian Times has become the most read & admired weekly newspaper of Indo-US Community. Due to trendsetting clean concept and detailed write ups with value based content, display & advertising, it has earned immaculate reputation of coffee table newspaper of upscale households in affluent Indian community of tristate area. There are many special issues and exclusive coverage during the year 2010 which were highly appreciated by the community. All issues are archived in ePaper section on our daily updated, website www.thesouthasiantimes.info, which can be visited any time online... Most admired issues of The South Asian Times

19

Top 50 Coolest Desis of 2010

Its the end of the year and what does that mean? The biggest and best year-end list is back! Ladies and gents, yet another year of monumental achievements and further establishment for South Asians. Read on as Desiclub tells you who called the shots in 2010.
by Hiral Dholakia-Dave e never fail to awe and inspire, do we? And here by "we" - we mean the intelligent, enterprising, creative, hardworking Desis who straddle the two worlds they grow up in with elan. How else would you explain the success of a Sikh American woman who defied every odd and went on to become the only other Desi Governor of an American state? Or the new breed of young, brainy moneymakers who are also creating jobs for millions or the master innovators bridging the scientific divide and even helping making sense of how the universe works! As we step into a brand new decade, it is that time of the year when we at Desiclub spent sleepless nights chronicling history through our trend setting "Top 50 Coolest Desis" list. After all, as in the past, there were contenders A-P-L-E-NT-Y for the coveted inclusion and it sure did take a lot of diligence on our end to get the compilation just right. We have been at it for seven years now, so would it be immodest to claim the inspiration for all other lists that have come along? Be it the 30 Under 30s, 40 Under 40s, 80 Under 80s and all other yearenders. It doesn't hurt to claim recognition for expanding on a wonderful idea and setting a benchmark. Indian American politicos topped our list this year with a record number of them in the fray during the November 4 elections and many making it to the seats of power. And if the political pundits have it right, we may soon see the likes of Nikki Haley and Kamala Harris running for President in the future. Some high-profile appointments - Subra Suresh as director of National Science Foundation and Vijay "Jay" Chand Gandhi as a federal judge in California have made it to our list as well. As have some former claimants - Fareed Zakaria, Vinod Khosla, Russell Peters - whose list of achievements just keeps getting bigger and better. From ruling a democracy to unraveling the mysteries of the universe, Desis have been at it all, designing robots to ease our lives and what not. And of course how could we miss a big bunch of entertainers, some known names and some new, who've rightfully claimed their spots after making their space in the public consciousness ala the cast of "Outsourced" - the wonderfully brilliant and funny new NBC show, which makes light of stereotypical Indians in call centers with witty lines and deeply penetrating Indian jokes, which everyone gets. Talk about bridging the mainstream we are the mainstream! So here's raising a toast once again to the Desi spirit... we now present to you the mother list of all lists, here's Desiclub.com's Top 50 Coolest Desis of 2010. while serving as San Francisco District Attorney, previously), the voters won't be disappointed, we hope. Cool Fun Fact: Last year, she was named by the New York Times on a list of 17 women most likely to become the first lady President. She has been featured on the Oprah Show and in Newsweek as one of "America's 20 Most Powerful Women." We will be hearing this name over and over and over again, that we are certain of. 2. Nikki Haley Location: South Carolina Who is She: Governor-Elect Why is She Cool: She's the first woman of South Asian origin to win the Governor's race in any US State. This is no minor achievement ladies and gentlemen, for she faced quite a difficult campaign and withstood her many opponents. It isn't enough that she became Governor, but that a woman with the ethnic background she has became governor of the state of South Carolina is quite a feat and she proves that no challenge is too daunting. What's Next: Nikki is already being mentioned as a "long shot" Presidential/VP candidate in 2012. Cool Fun Fact: According to CNN, she was the "fastest rising" political figure searched for on Google in 2010. Among all the political fresh faces and new names Googled in the United States in 2010, "Nikki Haley" was the search term that spiked the most from last year to this year. company. He also invested in a Tamil Nadu based microfinance institution, through his non-profit private foundation, Amar Foundation.

5. Irrfan Khan Location: Mumbai Who is He: Actor Why is He Cool: Give him a role and he'll turn it into a memorable character with his histrionics. He's Bollywood's most notable export to the West in recent times. After fortifying a place in public psyche with his portrayals in 'Namesake', 'Slumdog Millionaire' and 'A Mighty Heart' he managed to become the 'most interesting patient' in the TV series 'In Treatment' this year with what New York Times called a deft and compelling rendering of a grieving Indian migr struggling to retain his dignity in an alien culture. What's Next: He has been cast as a second villain 'Van Adder' in the 3D 'Spider Man' due out in 2012 and will be seen in Ang Lee's adaptation of Yann Martel's bestseller "Life of Pi." Cool Fun Fact: Slumdog Millionaire maker Danny Boyle says Irrfan "is a touchstone connecting two worlds." I personally enjoyed him in "The Warrior" - fantastic film!

1. Kamala Harris Location: California Who is She: Attorney General Why is She Cool: She's the first woman of South Asian origin to be elected to the post anywhere in the country. She has been called the female "Barack Obama" but we like to think Kamala Harris will be spawning many male and female Kamala Harris's now and in the future. There is a bright star that shines on this well poised woman who has set out to make some drastic changes in the way California deals with and enforces the law. What she has accomplished through her mainstream and grassroots efforts is truly inspiring and a sign of things to come. What's Next: At the moment, her top priority is to try new approaches to reduce the state's high recidivism rate - the term technically means, after having served the sentence and released, criminals getting back into prison for committing felony again. Given her track record (she's responsible for increasing the trial conviction rate of gun felonies to 90%

3. Fareed Zakaria Location: New York City Who is He: Editor, Columnist, TV Host, Commentator, Author, Foreign Policy Expert Why is He Cool: Global magazine Foreign Policy named him one of the Top 100 Global Thinkers. Plus, in January, Zakaria received "Padma Bhushan", the third highest recognition awarded to civilians by the Indian Government. This was for his contribution to the field of journalism. He has become the voice of authentic journalism on TV and in print. In an age where the word journalism has become myth with tons of personalities overshadowing the news and stories, Fareed's voice of objective thought and analyzing sets him apart from every single individual in his business. What's Next: More accolades, more hard-hitting journalism, he's a brown Walter Cronkite. Cool Fun Fact: Before joining Newsweek in October 2000, he was managing editor of Foreign Affairs for eight years, a post he was appointed to at only 28 years old!

6. Aasif Mandvi Location: New York City Who is He: Actor, Writer, Comedian Why is He Cool: All for the satirical and witty insights on daily happenings, he's also one of the biggest reasons for us to stay addicted to 'The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.' 'Today's Special' which he adapted from his one act play Sakina's Restaurant received rave reviews at the film festival circuit and is on its way to reaching the mainstream. What's Next: For someone who knew from age 13 that he wanted to act, Aasif has been pursuing it relentlessly and getting a thumbs up for a job well done with his integrity in place. We see Aasif heading into even greater places. Cool Fun Fact: Spiderman is his favorite superhero and he played Peter Parker's boss at the Pizzeria in the sequel of the film!

4. Vinod Khosla Location: California Who is He: Billionaire Venture Capitalist and cofounder Sun Microsystems Why is He Cool: He is featured in Vanity Fair's annual listing of The New Establishment 100. He comes in at #71 (Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg is at #1 and Apple's Steve Jobs at #2) on the list of "The 100 Most Influential People of the Information Age." What's Next: He plans to start a VC fund to invest in companies that focus on the poor in India, Africa and elsewhere by providing services like health, energy and education. Cool Fun Fact: Khosla Ventures has made one direct investment in India - $3.35 million in an electrical utilities

7. Russell Peters Location: Los Angeles Who is He: Errr... you know him, don't you? Why is He Cool: He is named as No. 7 on Forbes's list of the Top 10 Highest Grossing Comics ($15 million, earned from June 2009-June 2010) What's Next: Peters will star in his own sitcom on NBC. The comic has teamed with "Cheers" writer Rob Long on a half-hour comedy that will be based on his own life, as a child of Anglo-Indian immigrants and will likely be called "I'm With Russell." Cool Fun Fact: During a recent tour of Dubai, Russell sold tickets at the rate of one ticket every two seconds crashing all the online sales outlets as soon as the tickets went on-sale!

8. Aziz Ansari Location: Los Angeles, CA Who is He: Actor and Standup Comedian Why is He Cool: He's been a fixture on NBC's "Parks and Recreation" as Tom

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Top 50 Coolest Desis of 2010

Haverford, the witty and sometimes desperate ladies man. Aziz has been busy touring with his sold out standup comedy tour 'The Dangerously Delicious' show. He also hosted the MTV 2010 Movie Awards - a rare achievement for a Desi celeb. He's been appearing in countless hit films and has developed a good presence in the Comedy world for himself, paving the way for others. He has been named "The Next Big Thing" among 17 stars to watch by Forbes. What's Next: If not acting he is touring with his standup comedy and vice versa. He's always been up to something creative. An entertainer to the core. He's earned himself a three-picture deal with Apatow and GE's Universal Pictures. With his partner Jason Woliner, Ansari is working on a movie about Raaaaaaaandy (the character he played in Funny People) as well as a road trip film about two motivational speakers. Cool Fun Fact: Ansari's performance on Parks and Recreation has received notable praise from critics, including Entertainment Weekly naming him one of 2009's "Breakout TV Stars," TV Guide naming him a "Scene Stealer" and Yahoo! TV placing him in the number one spot on their list of "TV MVPS." 9. Sarina Jain Location: New York City Who is She: Fitness trainer and innovator Why is She Cool: She brought the Masala Bhangra routine into the fitness industry lexicon and celebrated its 10-year mark in 2010. Add to it, she was selected as the new face of Nestle Fitness' "Flat Belly" campaign. What's Next: She just introduced Bar Bhangra and expanded her presence to as far as Tokyo. You can imagine what's next. Cool Fun Fact: Sarina says she loves learning, culture, why people do what they do, politics, reading and last but not least, cooking and eating! As for the last one, she sure can afford to indulge because burning calories is pretty much on her schedule all the while. 10. Aarti Sequeira Location: Los Angeles Who is She: TV news producer turned food blogger turned chef Why is She Cool: She won the sixth season of Food Network's reality TV show The Next Food Network Star by weaving Indian flavors into American classics! That also got her a dream job - she now gets to host her own show, Aarti Party on the network. What's Next: More Desi flavors, more fun and a permanent spot, not just on the network but in public memory with her touch of humor and on-screen charisma. Cool Fun Fact: Aarti's passion for food started before she could even talk. As a toddler, she sat on her mom's kitchen counter, secretly sneaking slices of raw onion into her notyet-toothed mouth whilst her mom was cooking. She never considered food as a career, though. 11. Vijay Iyer Location: New York City Who is He: Jazz pianist, composer Why is He Cool: His album "Historicity" has been nominated for a Grammy in the Best Jazz Instrumental Album category. And the Jazz Journalists Association Jazz Awards recently named Iyer their 2010 Musician of the Year, an honor previously awarded to jazz legends like Herbie Hancock and Ornette Coleman. Cool Fun Fact: A polymath whose work has spanned the sciences, arts, and humanities, Iyer holds a B.S. in Mathematics and Physics from Yale College, and a Masters in Physics and an interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Technology and the Arts from the University of California at Berkeley. He was chosen as one of nine "Revolutionary Minds" in the science magazine Seed, and his research in music cognition has been featured on the radio programs This Week in Science and Studio 360. 12. Kumar Barve Location: Maryland Who is He: House Delegate Why is He Cool: He was reelected to the Maryland House of Delegates for District 17. He continues to serve in his incredible leadership role as Maryland House of Delegates Majority Leader. What's Next: He mentored two other Democrats Sam Arora and Aruna Miller who also won their elections. Just proves his able leadership and commitment towards the Desi community too. Cool Fun Fact: He's the longest serving Indian American in elected office. 13. Archie Panjabi Location: London, New York City Who is She: Actress Why is She Cool: She bagged the best supporting actress award for her role of Kalinda, the street smart in-house investigator in CBS's hit legal drama "The Good Wife" at the 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards. What's Next: She's picked up projects, which have won her accolades along the way. Be it Best Actress award at Reims Festival for her role in 'Yasmin' or critical acclaim for her role as a journalist in Anjelina Jolie's 'A Mighty Heart'. Cool Fun Fact: Winning an Emmy is a dream fulfilled for Archie. As a kid she aspired to be a TV actress as "film was just impossible - you never got any Asian women in Western cinema." She's also known for her roles in 'The Constant Gardener', 'Bend It Like Beckham' and 'East is East.' 14. Vijay "Jay" Chand Gandhi Location: California Who is He: United States Magistrate Judge Why is He Cool: Gandhi is the first Indian-American federal judge in California, and only the second IndianAmerican federal judge in the history of the United States. What's Next: Until his second term after eight years, he'll be busy ensuring that law and order is in place in the largest district of the nation. Cool Fun Fact: He is 38 and currently the youngest federal judge in the Southern California area and one of the youngest in the country. 15. Adnan Virk Location: Connecticut Who is He: On Air Sports News Anchor/Sportscaster Why is He Cool: Global sports broadcaster ESPN hired him in April, 2010. That makes him one of the countable few South Asian faces to bring in the best of national sporting events to drawing rooms of millions. What's Next: He's on a two-year contract but given his flair, we sure hope to see him around for a long time to come. Cool Fun Fact: He was previously an anchor for Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment's Raptors NBA TV, Leafs TV, and Gol TV. Until June of 2009 he hosted several programs on The Score in Canada and was previously an associate producer for Sportscentre at TSN. In 2007 Virk hired an agent who soon secured for him an interview at ESPN. Virk impressed his interviewers but was victimized by a hiring-freeze at the Disney-owned network. "The ESPN guy told my agent afterwards, 'If I had an opening, I'd hire him tomorrow,'" he told the Ontario Whig Standard. Not one to give up, he kept a follow up and three years on, he finally made it to what he calls "the Mecca of sports television." 16. Sachin Tendulkar Location: Mumbai Who is He: Cricketer Why is He Cool: The greatest run-scorer of all-time scored an epic double hundred runs including six sixes in the one day international against South Africa in February in Gwalior, India, which catapulted him to the league of cricketing greats whose records will remain unsurpassed for a long time to come (unless cricketers also start using Steroids, do they?). He created a record of sorts by hitting his 50th test century against South Africa. What's Next: The batting maestro never ceases to amaze us creating a higher benchmark for himself year after year. Cool Fun Fact: He holds the record as the youngest Indian to make an international debut and got the highest number of Man of the Match and Man of the Series awards in One Day Internationals (ODIs). 17. Siddhartha Mukherjee Location: New York City Who is He: Cancer Specialist Why is He Cool: Mukherjee's book, "The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer", on the history of the disease, features among "The 10 Best Books of 2010" in the New York Times Book Reviews, a rare feat for a work of non-fiction. What's Next: Despite the overwhelming response to the book, the author doesn't intend to turn a fulltime writer. Practising and writing about medicine is what he would like to stick to.

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Top 50 Coolest Desis of 2010

Cool Fun Fact: He's been known to say, "people first train in medicine and then get fascinated by cells. It happened the other way around for me," as he's a cellular biologist turned oncologist. 18. Rizwan Manji Location: California Who is He: Actor Why is He Cool: Manji plays Rajiv Gidwani on NBC's new comedy Outsourced where he plays Todd's mischievous assistant manager who has aspirations to be Todd's replacement no matter what. We got to see quite a bit of him on the telly this year. He has been seen on "Glee," "How I Met Your Mother," and "Hawthorne," as well as a recurring role on "FlashForward," "Three Rivers," and "Better off Ted." Manji also appeared as Ahman on the final season of "24," though he is probably best known for playing the cantankerous butler Rami on the series "Privileged." What's Next: More screen space definitely! Cool Fun Fact: Manji was born in Toronto, Canada and was raised in Calgary, Alberta. His ancestry is from a small village in Gujarat, India, however, both his parents were raised and met in Tanzania. 19. Parvesh Cheena Location: California Who is He: Actor Why is He Cool: He's been around for quite a while with recurring roles in TV shows and movies. Currently, he stars in NBC's new comedy series Outsourced as Gupta, a socially awkward call center employee. His hilarious portrayal of the character has got him noticed in American media and garnered him a fan-following in the mainstream. What's Next: Theatre, films, television, commercials, he's been proving his acting prowess all around. It won't be long before we hear him bag some prestigious awards too! Cool Fun Fact: He's also busy polishing his talents performing long -form improvisation with the Harold mainstage team, Fairfax Prep, at IO/West. He is also a part of a threeman improv group named STU; the South Asian team Browntown; and the musical improv troupe All- Skate. He is continuing classes at Steppenwolf Classes West with renowned viewpoints teacher Alexandra Billings, and at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in Los Angeles. 20. Ajay Naidu Location: New York City Who is He: Actor, Director Why is He Cool: He made his directorial debut with the indie flick 'Ashes' which premiered in NYC in November. Reviews say 'Ashes' brings out the serious actor-director in him. What's Next: Festival circuit of the film next year. And more accolades and awards, may we add? Cool Fun Fact: Known for his comic roles including the cult classic 'Office Space' he's been around for 15 years having working in 50 film and TV projects. 21. Ami Sheth Location: New York City Who is She: Actress, Model, Veterinarian Why is She Cool: Ami did what every parent in the world wants there offspring to do become a doctor. She didn't stop there however, having accomplished something to fall back on, she pursued her modeling and acting career with full force and can now be seen in commercials for Six Flags, Ethan Allen, Claritin, to name just a few household brands. Talk about the perfect combo for success! Artist meets Science - Parents: Here's your example of a perfect child. Kids: Sorry! What's Next: While Ami recently appeared in the feature film "Walkaway" you can catch Ami in an episode of CBS' "Blue Bloods", which aires on January 14th. Cool Fun Fact: Ami was one of Desiclub.com's swimsuit calendar models way back in 2007. Time surely flies and we are immensely proud of Ami! 22. Kal Penn Location: Washington DC Who is He: Actor and Associate Director, Office of Public Engagement at the White House Why is He Cool: He has returned to the White House after a five month hiatus which he took to film the third installment of "Harold and Kumar", the role he is best known for. A good balancing act indeed. What's Next: He will be the point person for those in the Arts, Youth and Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities. Cool Fun Fact: Penn has also taught at the University of Pennsylvania as a visiting lecturer in the Cinema Studies Program. Kal will be in our top 10 again once the next H&K movie is released, at least we predict that. 23. Shailja Gupta Location: New York City Who is She: Artist, Filmmaker and New Media Specialist Why is She Cool: After a successful career in New Media and Information Technology, Shailja actively pursed her passion for film. She made her directorial debut with the feature film Walkaway. What's Next: A multifaceted personality, she's been a successful entrepreneur, artist and now a filmmaker. Wonder what surprises she'll pop up with in the future? Keep watching this space. Cool Fun Fact: She worked as Global Marketing Manager for the Indian National award winner (2003) and internationally acclaimed film - Chokher Bali, followed by Assistant Script Supervisor for another Indian National award winner (2005) - Raincoat, starring the former Miss World Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. 24. Capt Tejdeep Singh Rattan Location: New York Who is He: Dentist Why is He Cool: He is the first Sikh in a generation allowed to complete US Army officer basic training without sacrificing the articles of his faith. He graduated at Fort Sam Houston after the Army made an exemption to a uniform policy that has effectively prevented Sikhs from enlisting since 1984. What's Next: He has set a precedent. Hopefully it will lead to the US Army adopting more leniency towards recruiting Sikh citizens in the future. Cool Fun Fact: During training, Rattan wore a helmet over the small turban, which he doesn't remove, and was able to successfully create a seal with his gas mask despite the beard, resolving the Army's safety concerns. 25. Samrat Chakrabarti Location: New York City Who is He: Actor, Composer Why is He Cool: He's a prolific artist with a spate of releases during the year. Be it New York premieres of "Ashes" and "The Waiting City" or screening of "Gangor" based on a work by Mahasweta Devi at Rome International Film Festival, and "Walkaway" across the US or sharing the screen space with the likes of Alec Baldwin (30 Rock) and Irrfan Khan (In Treatment). What's Next: He has already left an indelible mark on independent cinema with his work so far. We can only expect more additions to his oeuvre, be it movies or music. Cool Fun Fact: Samrat also composed the original score for Hiding Divya, starring Madhur Jaffery and Pooja Kumar and Sundaram Tagore's documentary "Natvar Bhavsar: Poetics of Color." 26. Archana Patchirajan, Puneet Mehta and Sonpreet Bhatia, Location: New York City Who are They: Cofounders, MyCityWay mobile apps 27. Naveen Selvadurai , Location: New York City Who is He: Founder of Foursquare, a location-aware social networking app 28. Subra Suresh, Location: Virginia Who is He: Director of National Science Foundation 29. Kesha Ram, Location: Vermont Who is She: State Representative 30. Hashem Clarke, Location: Michigan Who is He: Congressman 31. Nergis Mavalvala, Location: Cambridge, MA Who is She: MIT Astrophysicist 32. Chandrika Krishnamurthy Tandon Location: New York City Who is She: Businesswoman-cum-Vocalist 33. Amit Goyal, Location: Tennessee Who is He: Researcher at the US Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) 34. Raghuram Rajan, Location: Chicago Who is He: Economist and Professor at Chicago Booth School 35. Raj Varma, Location: New York Who is He: Actor, Writer, Producer 36. Sam Arora, Location: Maryland Who is He: State Delegate District 19 37. Sachin Agarwal, Location: California Who is He: CEO, Posterous 38. Ooshma Garg Location: California Who is She: Founder of Anapata, Inc., an online recruitment site for law firms that want to reach a diverse population of law school graduates. 39. Vikas Reddy, Location: Colorado Who is He: Co-founder of iPhone application startup Occipital 40. Poonam Alaigh, Location: New Jersey Who is She: New Jersey Health and Senior Services Commissioner 41. Priyamvada Natarajan, Location: Connecticut Who is She: Yale University Cosmologist 42. Aruna Miller, Location: Maryland Who is She: State Delegate 43. Nisha Desai Biswal Location: Washington DC Who is She: Assistant Administrator for Asia and Near East, USAID 44. Waris Ahluwalia, Location: New York City Who is He: Jewelry designer, Actor 45. Narayanan Krishnan Location: Madurai, India Who is He: Award winning chef turned fulltime humanitarian 46. Chee Malabar, Location: California and Brooklyn Who is He: Rapper 47. Ashutosh Saxena, Location: New York Who is He: Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Cornell University 48. G Deep, Location: New Jersey Who is He: Singer, Songwriter, Composer, Music Director 49. Sonia Shah, Location: Wisconsin Who is She: A Gymnast 50. Anamika Veeramani Location: Ohio Who is She: Scripps National Spelling Bee Champion For More Details, visit Desiclub.com. Courtesy and of Desiclub.com

2010 Highlights
Movers & Shakers
by Parveen Chopra
When The South Asian Times met Ambassador Hardeep Puri, Indias Permanent Representative to the United Nations, in his office in the Mission of India to the UN, in Manhattan, he was basking in the glory of having secured for the country non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council by a huge vote. But a week before India assumed membership of the Council on January 1, 2011 for a two-year term, the suave Sikh and proud Indian was not resting on those laurels.

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January 1-7, 2010 TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Securing a seat for India on UN Security Council

Ambassador Hardeep S. Puri
In an illustrious career spanning 37 years, he was secretary (economic affairs) in the external affairs ministry in New Delhi before coming over to New York. Earlier he served as Ambassador to Brazil (2006-8), and as Ambassador/Deputy High Commissioner to the UK (19992002). From 1984-88 he was First Secretary/Counsellor (Political) in the High Commission of India in Colombo, when he assisted in the negotiations of the historic IndiaSri Lanka Agreement for Peace and Normalcy in Sri Lanka in 1987. Ambassador Puri is also known among his peers for his wide-ranging experience with multilateral institutions and has served as Indias Permanent Representative to the UN institutions in Geneva. His juniors at PMI consider him a model officer. They ascribe his success in his projects to identifying a goal and then breaking it down to proceed in measured steps to achieve those goals. His wife, Lakshmi Puri, is also an IFS officer of the same batch as him. She is currently serving as Director of the UN Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS). They have two daughters, Himayani, who is married, and Tilottama. Excerpts from the interview with the Ambassador conducted by Parveen Chopra and Kamlesh Mehta, Managing Editor and Chairman of The South Asian Times respectively, accompanied by Mr Ravi Batra, eminent attorney and a friend of Mr Puri.

The dexterous diplomat with a vision was already planning and pushing ahead for a permanent seat for India on the Council, unperturbed by the publicity to the incident of his frisking at a US airport, which he clarifies was not a pat-down. Delhi-born Puri, who joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1974, has reached the zenith for a career diplomat. He took over in mid-2009 as Permanent Representative to the UN, a most coveted posting.

gratulations on facilitating Indias election to a non-permanent seat on the Security Council by a huge vote. We are proud to say that you are our Person of the Year 2010, as you are the most deserving having brought India closer to its rightful place on the Council so it can play its rightful role in world affairs.

SATimes: Mr Ambassador, con- relations between India and the now there are 192. There has been a dis- we will simultaneously work to- and its relative weight in global
United States are excellent. The India-US civil nuclear deal has elevated our links to a higher plane. Indias nuclear status has been sanctified. Following the deal, the IAEA has approved an India-specific nuclear Safeguards Agreement and we have obtained an exemption from the Nuclear Suppliers Group requirements. This political and strategic momentum has been supplemented by rapidly expanding business and trade linkages, education and technical exchanges. Our governments are working closely together on a number of areas ranging from security to a second green revolution. persal of global power since then and a shift towards emerging economies. Indias credentials to be a permanent member are probably the best. We are one of the top economies of the world, a country with enormous capabilities. We are a bastion of freedom and democracy. We are a voice of moderation and a force for stability. We represent one-sixth of humanity. We have no aggressive intentions and no ideological axes to grind. wards getting a decision on Security Council reform. The procedure is established. Two-thirds of General Assembly members (128 votes) have to authorize an amendment, followed by endorsement by the P5 (US, UK, France, China and Russia). The P5 have endorsed the idea of Security Council reform in general and Indias candidature in particular. It is wrong to say that China is against reform. It too wants an increased role played by No country has contributed more than the developing world and has clearus to peacekeeping. We are also prob- ly conveyed that will not stand in ably the largest contributor of finan- the way of reform. cial resources amongst developing countries. We have the capacity and A text that specifies the reforms has the willingness to make contributions been drawn up by an inter-governto global issues like climate change. mental process in New York. This We are also a success story when it text, which is a 30 page document comes to transforming a colonial soci- is being pared down to 2-3 pages so ety into a modern, secular state within that it can provide a basis for negosix decades. This unparalleled nation- tiations to commence. That should building experience is something that be done by February 2011 followis highly relevant to the maintenance ing which it will be placed on the of international peace and security in table for attention of members of many parts of the world. the General Assembly. After that there will be hard negotiations for Q: When you came to head PMI in another 6-8 months. mid-2009, did you come with the onepoint agenda to secure Permanent Seat Q: Incidentally, in which ways will for India on the Security Council? securing that permanent seat benefit India and its standing in the Ambassador Puri: (an emphatic, world? unabashed) YES. Ambassador Puri: History Q: What timetable do you see now teaches us that once a country acfor the process of Security Council re- quires a certain size, it has to asforms? Do you think it will happen dur- sume greater responsibilities in ing your three-year term? international relations. Indian has acquired that critical mass and the Ambassador Puri: After assuming logic of the situation dictates that membership of the Security Council, India, by virtue of its capabilities

interview

Ambassador Hardeep Puri: I

give credit to team effort; the team I have here in New York, to my colleagues in Delhi, the efforts of our External Affairs Minister, right up to the Prime Minister. But yes, we put our best foot forward.

Q: You think President Obama made a spontaneous decision to endorse Indias bid for Permanent Seat on the Security Council during his address to Indian parliament in Delhi on November 9?

The nature of our relations is dynamic; it is based on a forwardlooking agenda. Some people say the (George W.) Bush years were the best for Indo-US relationship. My response is: the best is yet to Ambassador Puri: Such cru- come. The atmospherics surroundcial matters are always planned in ing President Obamas visit and the advance. I was told by Ambassador reaction to his speech in Parliament Susan Rice, US Permanent Repre- clearly convey the unique characsentative to the UN, that the Presi- teristics of this relationship. All dent took the decision personally a this would have been factored into few days before his India visit. It his endorsement. Among the major was kept under wraps. They made thrust areas between the two counthe announcement in Indian parlia- tries is cooperation at the United ment for maximum impact. In any Nations, a fact which he referred to in his speech in Parliament. case, we warmly welcome it.

affairs, find permanent representation in the Security Council. As its names indicates, the Security Council deals with issues related to peace and security. It has an unprecedented legislative mandate and the coercive power to counter threats to international peace by way of sanctions. India and Indian national power is central to emerging security equations and India will use its presence on the Council to make the world a safer place. It will work towards strengthening human rights and will focus on humanitarian issues and on concepts such as the Responsibility to Protect, so that the horrors like ethnic cleansing do not ever happen again.

Q: With the sea change in Indias image the world over, has it become more comfortable to be an Indian diplomat abroad? Ambassador Puri: It has always
been a privilege to be an Indian Foreign Service officer. India is nation with 5000 years of glorious history. We waged, under Mahatma Gandhi, a non-violent war against the colonial, British rulers, which became an example and an inspiration for other societies in the world. We have so much to offer to the world.

Q: You think the huge vote (187 More importantly, Security Coun-

out of 190) for India in the General cil reforms have a logic that goes Assembly would have influenced beyond bilateral relations. The Security Council must reflect the realPresident Obamas endorsement? ities of today, not those of the SecAmbassador Puri: There were ond World War. When the UN was a number of factors. Bilateral formed, it had only 51 members,

Q: You were posted to Colombo during the IPKF (Indian Peacekeeping Force) days. In hindsight, now that LTTE is finally defeated, you think India muddled the Sri Lankan Tamil issue by supporting the rebels at one time? Puri continues on page 26

Lakshmi Puri, also an IFS officer, on her husband

With a lifetime of extensive experience and distinguished record in multilateral diplomacy in the Ministry of External Affairs, WTO, different UN agencies and policy areas and as Permanent Representative (PR) of India to the UN in Geneva, coming to New York as the PR to the UN was a natural destination for him. That he is charming and a peoples person, adept at connecting with people from diverse countries and backgrounds, is a captivating orator and commands intellectual depth and strategic vision, makes him the right man in the right place at the right time. Most of all, he is a brave heart, one who is courageous and bold in setting high goals for his

Puri, the brave heart

country and with an iron determination to achieve them. We have been soul-mates since we got married at the young age of 22 and have grown up together in our lives, families and our careers through an eventful three and a half decades. He has been the most affectionate, generous and caring husband to me and father to my two daughters. He has always stood by me and with his strong family, ethical and spiritual values, has also been a source of inspiration and support to us all. As colleagues and batch-mates in Foreign Service, we have been fortunate to be posted together most of the times in the last 36 years but have had to make compromises in terms of career and family over different points of time. These are I guess the trade offs and sometimes cruel choices that a tandem couple has to make but the balance sheet shows that our joint enterprise has been worth it in every way.

2010 Highlights
Movers & Shakers

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January 1-7, 2010 TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Highlights from four decade

Hardeep Singh Puri

Permanent Representative, Mission of India to the United Nations

With UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and Pakistan Ambassador to UN Mr. Abdullah Hussain Haroon while handing over a check for $ 20 million on 17th September, 2010 for flood relief in Pakistan.

Celebrating Diwali and Indias election to the Security Council (securing 187 votes out of 190). Seen in the picture are Mr Puri with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Mrs. Yoo SoonOn Gandhi Jayanti, October 2, 2009, with members of the Permanent Mission of India in New York. taek and Mrs. Lakshmi Puri.

With Indian Minister Anand Sharma and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during the latters landmark visit to Brazil in Sept 2006.

At the release of a commemorative stamp on Mahatma Gandhi by the UN Postal Administration in NY, the event coinciding with the Commemoration of International Day of NonViolence at the UN, October 2, 2009. Seen in the picture are: (From left), Ambassador Palitha Kohona, Permanent Representative (PR) of Sri Lanka to the UN, Susan E. Rice, PR of US to the UN, Ali Abdussalam Treki, President of the UN General Assembly 64th session, Asha-Rose Migiro, UN Deputy Secretary-General, Hardeep Singh Puri, PR of India to the UN, Baso Amb Puri Presenting a check for $5 million to the Permanent Representative of Haiti to the UN, Sangqu, PR of South Africa to the UN and Robert Gray, Chief Ambassador Leo Merores on January15, 2010, towards Indias assistance to the victims of the of the UN Postal Administration. earthquake in Haiti

2010 Highlights
Movers & Shakers

26

January 1-7, 2010 TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Ambassador Hardeep S. Puri

Puri continued from page 23 During a security check on November 13 at Houston, I did not Ambassador Puri: What India did allow removal of my turban, volwas absolutely right and a bold deci- unteering in accordance with the sion. We (IPKF) went there on the re- rules - to pat it myself. The officer quest of the Sri Lankan government to was not aware of this provision. wage peace, to find a political solution So he went to consult his seniors to the ethnic problem. We were the first and returned to apologize. Left to to take on LTTE and thus laid the foun- myself, I would not have talked dation for the Tigers defeat now. I was about it at all. For the record, as personally involved in negotiations a matter of principle, as a responwith the LTTE chief Prabhakaran then. sible global citizen I do not seek exemptions of this nature. Q: WikiLeaks has created a rumble in the world of diplomacy. Your response... Q: How have you taken to the no fixed-address life of a diplomat? Ambassador Puri: I wish our IFS officers write such crisp cables (in Ambassador Puri: It has been a lighter vein)! But seriously, students great privilege to serve India. It has of diplomacy will find much material been a privilege to represent India there to study and analyze. This also as it grew and transformed itself. highlights the need for us to mecha- If I could do it, I would live this nisms to prevent such breaches from occurring in our systems. life all over again. I have no regrets even after 37 years in the service.

Q: What do you think of the Indian community here in America? Ambassador Puri: They are
doing extremely well herein medicine, on Wall Street, in academia, in the world of business and so on-- as they draw strength from Indian roots and also having become good American citizens. We rejoice in their success.

Q: How do you keep fit? Any other interests? Ambassador Puri: I am under strict orders from my wife (laughs) to workout on the treadmill regularly and eat light. I also like to read.

Q: A section of the media was critical

of you that you talked about your frisking at a US airport much after it happened, soon after Ambassador Meera Shankars pat-down incident at another airport.

Unconditional love

Himayani Puri, on her father

Ambassador Puri: For the record,

no pat down took place. With Indian Foreign Minister SM Krishna (right) outside UN building in September 2009.

Hardeep Puri with Laxmi Puri and daughters Himayani (in green) and Tilottama in Udaipur in December 2008 at Himayanis marriage.

At US Open Tennis semifinal with the doubles team of Rohan Bopanna of India and Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi of Pakistan along with Pakistani Ambassador to UN H.E. Mr. Abdullah Hussain Haroon.

My father (Hardeep Singh Puri) exemplifies drive, that is, hard work, attention to detail, focus, determination, how to deal with and overcome obstacles/adversity. Also how to manage different constituencies and how to adapt to changing circumstances. As a father, there are so many qualities to admire in him ... perhaps most importantly his sher-like (unconditional) support of my life path and choices.

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January 1-7, 2010 TheSouthAsianTimes.info Top 10 Diaspora News

Highs & lows of Indians Abroad

Malaysian Indian Congress gets a new leader after 31 years
Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC), the countrys oldest Indianbased political party had a change of guard after 31 years when party chief S. Samy Vellu stepped down. Vellu, 74, who had been heading the party since 1979 was succeeded by G. Palanivel, 61. He takes over as Malaysias special envoy to India and four other South Asian countries. MIC is principal among the parties that traditionally represent Malaysias 2.1 million ethnic Indian population and is part of the Razakled ruling coalition, Barisan Nasional (BN).

Malaysian Hindus protest Obamas portrayal as Lord Shiva

Malaysian Hindu organization urged the government to ban the latest issue of American magazine Newsweek for insulting Hindus by depicting US President Barack Obama as Lord Shiva. P. Murugiah, deputy chairman of the Malaysia Hindu Sangams Penang state branch said the November issue of the magazine portrayed Obama as Nataraja (Lord Shiva) with the caption God of All Things. He said sacred Hindu images were too often portrayed in pop culture without a proper understanding of their spiritual relevance.

Jayant Patel appeals conviction in Australia

Jayant Patel, an Indian origin doctor sentenced to seven years in prison for manslaughter and causing grievous bodily harm on patients at an Australian hospital, appealed against his sentence and conviction. Dubbed Dr Death, Patel was sentenced July 1 to seven years for each case of manslaughter and three years for grievous bodily harm. The sentences are to be served concurrently. Patel was chief of surgery at Bundaberg Base Hospital between 2003 and 2005. Indian-born and US-trained, Patel had pleaded not guilty to the manslaughter of James Phillips, 46, Gerry Kemps, 77, and Mervyn Morris, 75, who died following surgery performed by him. He had also pleaded not guilty to causing grievous bodily harm to Ian Vowles, whose healthy bowel he removed in October 2004. The trial involved the evidence of 76 witnesses over 53 days. Outgoing Malaysian Indian Congress President S. Samy Vellu, left, shakes hand with his successor G. Palanivel. Lord Swraj Paul Shrien and Anni Dewani as newly weds The South African authorities want to question him after taxi driver Zola Tongo told a Cape Town court that he was hired by the husband to kill his bride. According to Daily Mail, a paramedic who was at the scene soon after Anni died has said that she was executed in cold blood. She looked like someone who had maybe passed out after drinking or had been sedated. It looked as if someone in the passenger seat had leaned over and shot her in the neck. I got the definite impression that she was executed.

Toll-free helpline launched for Indians in UAE

People of Indian origin living in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), who need help in legal, financial and medical issues, now have a toll-free helpline -- the first of its kind for migrant workers by any country in the world. The toll-free number is 800-46342 the last five digits of which read INDIA if matched with the alphabet key positions on a mobile phone. The helpline of the much-awaited Indian Workers Resource Centre was dedicated to the Indian community in the UAE by visiting Indian President Pratibha Patil in Dubai. The resource centre will receive, register and monitor grievance petitions and offer counseling to members of the Indian community in legal, financial and medical issues. It will work in cooperation with the Indian diplomatic mission. It will also have a walk-in counter to receive petitions directly from Indian workers on all days from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. One-to-one counseling will be given by a panel of 14 experts, who will attend to calls in English, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and Punjabi. In Abu Dhabi, another walk-in centre will function from the Indian Embassy from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Fridays.

Trinidads first woman PM is an Indian

People of Trinidad and Tobago created history by electing a woman prime minister. Kamla Prasad Bissessar is the first woman to assume the highest office there and the second one among Indo-Trinidadians. Earlier it was Basdeo Pandey in 1995 to 2001. Born on April 22, 1952, she is married to Dr Gregory Bissessar and has one son. She studied in Trinidad until graduation and went to England to obtain her law degree. She started her career as teacher in a college before taking to legal profession. Her experience in educational institutions helped her to improve primary and secondary schools as well as technical and vocational and training, special education and teacher education in her country. She is widely recognized for her work in educational broadcasting, educational counseling and guidance, moral, ethical and spiritual values and physical education in schools. She has many distinctions to her credit: first woman to serve as attorney general, acting prime minister and leader of opposition of Trinidad and Tobago.

Lord Swraj Paul cleared in House of Lords expenses row

Leading industrialist Lord Swraj Paul was cleared by the police in the MPs expenses row involving scores of British parliamentarians across the political spectrum. The 78-year-old Labor Peer said in a statement here that following media allegations the Metropolitan Police had been carrying out an investigation into his parliamentary expenses as a part of its wider inquiries into this issue. Paul, Chairman of the Caparo Group of industries, said he was delighted to announce that the police will no longer be proceeding with any investigation or inquiry in relation to my House of Lords expenses. Paul, who is regarded as a close friend of former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, had vehemently denied media allegations that he was among those MPs who wrongly claimed parliamentary allowances.

Kamla Prasad Bissessar

NZ radio host apologizes for

calling Gov Gen Satyanand fat Indian
New Zealand radio host Michael Laws apologized for calling his countrys Governor General Sir Anand Satyanand a fat Indian. The broadcaster made the racially charged comments which aroused the ire of the countrys Prime Minister John Key, who condemned it in strong terms. In a statement on the RadioLive website, Laws apologized for calling Sir Satyanand a large, fat man who has never left the buffet table. On his talkback radio show last week, Laws said Sir Anand was an unusualshaped man who reminded him of the impossibly obese Monty Python character Mr Creosote. He also likened him to a British actor who played the Agatha Christie creation Hercule Poirot on UK television. Key, who was trying to douse New Delhis anger after another TV presenter had ridiculed Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshits name, said the radio talk shows comments were unacceptable.

Indians celebrate century of living in Malaysia

Ethnic Indians, whose forefathers came to settle in Malaysia a century back chose for the celebrations the historic Batu Caves, a site 13 km from Kuala Lumpur that has one of the largest complex of Hindu shrines in the world outside India. Over 2,000 members of the Association of Malaysia Indians of Kelantan Origin took a trip down memory lane as they recalled the time spent in the state. Though many of them no longer reside in Kelantan, their sentiment for the state is still strong, The Star online reported.

Sensational murder of UK bride on honeymoon in South Africa

A British court granted bail to businessman Shrien Dewani a newly wed accused of hiring a man to kill his bride Anni, 28 during their honeymoon in South Africa. Anni was found dead in the back of an abandoned taxi with a bullet wound in her neck on Nov 13. Authorities in South Africa want the 30-year-old British citizen extradited for a trial there, and objected to a lower British courts decision to grant Dewani bail - provided he wore an electronic tag and observed a curfew.

Indian students number to dip in Australia by 80%

The number of Indian students enrolling at Australian universities for the 2011 academic year is set to plunge by 80 per cent, Melbourne University vice-chancellor Glyn Davis said. There had been a string of attacks on Indian students in Australia, causing outrage in India. The assaults took place in Melbourne as well in Sydney. One of the attacks proved fatal when a student, Nitin Garg, was knifed in January.

Compiled by Hiral Dholakia-Dave

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January 1-7, 2010 TheSouthAsianTimes.info

World News

2010 in 10 Frames
40 mn Footsteps at Mahakumbh 2010

WikiLeaks stuns Global Diplomacy

Worlds Biggest Ecological Disaster

On October 22, WikiLeaks released the largest leak of U.S. military documents in history: nearly 400,000 Iraq war documents. On November 28, the site started publishing more than 250,000 diplomatic cables that embarrassed or infuriated foreign governments across the globe. Its Founder Julian Assange, who is under intense probe, has been credited with Person of the Year Award by the media.

The largest confluence of human beings on earth, Maha Kumbh, that occurs every 12 years, began in Haridwar, north India, on January 14 and ended on April 28 after the Baisakhi Shahi Snan onApril 14. Over 40 million people visited the Maha Kumbh this year.

The Deepwater Horizon oil spill (also referred to as the BP oil spill) is an oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico which gushed unchecked into the Gulf of Mexico for three months in 2010. It caused extensive damage to marine and wildlife habitats as well as the Gulfs fishing and tourism industries. Ravaged by the spill, the British energy major slumped into a staggering loss of $17.15 billion.

U.S. Combat Operations in Iraq End

Afghanistan: Mission Far From Accomplished

Obamas Visit India, Shake a Leg

Irans Nuclear Defiance

After seven and a half years of conflict, President Barack Obama declared in August that U.S. combat operations in the country had drawn to a close. The death toll stands at 4,746 coalition deaths, as well as tens of thousands of Iraqi soldiers and insurgents.

Despite the United States dropping $2 billion a week on the war in Afghanistan and the presence of some 150,000 foreign troops throughout the country, every possible indicator reveals a situation that is rapidly devolving. More U.S. soldiers, NATO forces, Afghan soldiers and police, humanitarian workers and civilians have been killed or wounded in 2010 than any year since the U.S. invaded.

US President Barack Obamas charm offensive visit is the scene-stealer of 2010. India and US inked deals worth $15 billion that are expected to create 54,000 jobs in the US. Obama also endorsed Indias candidature for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council. Post-diplomatic parleys, Obamas didnt miss a chance to show their dancing skills!

Irans President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad claims he wants to go nuclear for energy purposes, while many fear weapons intentions from the saber-rattling Islamic Republic. The U.N. Security Council agreed on May sanctions against Iran for its nuclear program, but Iran spent the rest of the year stressing that the sanctions hadnt hurt the country.

Over 2,30,000 Die in Haiti Quake

Chiles Miner Miracle

Economy Busts and EU Bailouts

The 2010 Haiti earthquake was a catastrophic magnitude 7.0 MW earthquake, with an epicenter near the town of Logne, approximately 25 km (16 miles) west of Port-au-Prince, Haitis capital. An estimated three million people were affected by the quake. The Haitian government reported that an estimated 230,000 people had died, 300,000 had been injured and 1,000,000 made homeless.

It was a chilling scenario with a survival story for the ages: A main ramp in the San Jose Mine, near Copiapo, Chile, collapsed on August 5, 2010, trapping 33 miners 2,300 feet below ground. For days, anxious relatives braced for the worst as rescuers tried to locate the miners to no avail. Finally, all 33 miners came to the surface through a specially drilled hole. The miners inspired all and became instant celebrities.

As the world struggled to recover from global recession, entire countries took a hit and extended a hand for help. In May, the IMF and EU agreed to extend a $145 billion bailout package to Greece. In November, a $113 billion bailout package was extended to keep Ireland afloat. Fears abound about Portugal being the next to need a bailout, or Spain -- Europes fourth largest economy.

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Top 10 Revelations

WikiLeaks rattles South Asia

WikiLeaks, the whistleblower website leaked 250,000 US diplomatic cables in November end, leaving the global diplomacy in rumbles. In South Asia, however, the US Diplomatic Cables have done a favor by letting the people know of the dangerous situation evolving, particularly in Afghanistan, Pakistan and increase in Indo-Pak tensions. Here are the 10 most crucial and controversial Wikileaks surrounding this strategic region.

Monumental corruption in Afghanistan

Another set of leaked US diplomatic cables portrayed Afghan President Hamid Karzai as paranoid, with an "inability to grasp the most rudimentary principles of state-building" and paint a picture of Afghanistan steeped in corruption. The cables sent from the US embassy in Kabul over the last two years showed corruption's "pervasive nature, its overwhelming scale, and the dispiriting challenge it poses to American officials."

ISI paid Taliban to hit Indians

Pakistan's ISI was actively involved in attacks on Indians working in Afghanistan and paid the Taliban and the Haqqani terror network to target Indian missions, road workers, doctors and engineers working in the country. A March 2008 intelligence

Pak Army involved in 26/11

A 26/11 victim being escorted by a security personnel at Mumbai railway station. The Pakistan Army was involved in the Mumbai terrorist attack, India's National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon told the US just days after the 26/11 terrorist attacks. The cable quoted Menon as bluntly telling US Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher: "Let's not insult one another by telling a story that the Pakistan army was not involved ... They're either unwilling to take action, or incapable, or both; any way you look at it, they're involved."

The Haqqani terror network is a deadly terror organization. report said the ISI paid the Haqqani network $15,000-30,000 to eliminate Indian nationals working on the key ZaranjDelaram road project and target engineers and road workers.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

LeT planned to kill Modi

Taliban uses opium like savings

Osama pledged $20m for jihadis

Al-Qaeda supremo Osama bin Laden had promised jihadis fighting in Kashmir that they will not "run short of funds" and was willing to "divert" $20 million Al Qaeda number to support Kashmirtwo Ayman oriented militancy, al-Zawahiri. Indian officials were quoted as telling US diplomats. In a meeting with US diplomats, Indian security officials said that India is now becoming more prominent on Al Qaeda's radar and pointed out to the terror group's number two Ayman al-Zawahiri's April 29, 2006, video message praising 'popular jihadist movements against Indians in Kashmir'.

Pak fastest producer of N-arms

American and British diplomats fear Pakistan's n u c l e a r weapons program could Concerns raised that lead to fissile Pak nuclear arsenal material falling may be given to into the hands opposition groups. of terrorists or a devastating nuclear exchange with India. A separate cache of U.S. embassy cables contains warnings that Pakistan is producing nuclear weapons at a faster rate than any other country in the world. Mariot Leslie, a senior British Foreign Office official, told U.S. diplomats in September 2009: The U.K. has deep concerns about the safety and security of Pakistan's nuclear weapons."

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi. Pakistan-based terror outfit LeT had planned to assassinate Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and use Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu as a strike base in southern India. A June 19, 2009, secret State Department cable also suggests a dangerously expanding LeT network in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Nepal.

The Taliban at an opium field. The Taliban in Afghanistan are withholding thousands of tons of drugs, which they were treating like "savings accounts" so as to manipulate street prices in the west, according to a US cable. The Taliban withheld 12,400 tons of opium from the global market to keep the price of heroin and opium at a profitable level, Antonio Maria Costa, head of the UN's office on drugs and crime, told NATO.

India 'tortured' Kashmir Headley wasn't acting alone Home Minister prisoners P. Chidambaram
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) sent evidence to US diplomats about widespread torture by Indian security forces in Kashmir. Visits to detention centers in the region Families of Kashmiri prisoners at protest. in 2002-04 revealed cases of beatings, electric shocks, sexual abuse and other types of ill-treatment. The most highly charged dispatch is likely to be an April 2005 cable from the US embassy in Delhi which reports that the ICRC had become frustrated with the Indian government which, they said, had not acted to halt the "continued ill-treatment of detainees". had insisted on having access to PakistaniA m e r i c a n Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operative David Coleman Headley, who David Coleman Headley. scouted for targets for the 26/11 terror attack. A "secret" US cable of Feb 26 this year said that in a Feb 23 meeting in 2010, FBI Director Robert Mueller and Chidambaram discussed the case of Headley, who is in US custody. During the meeting, Chidambaram confided that "I have a feeling in my bones that Headley was not acting alone" in India and expressed frustration over what he characterized as Headley's false claim that he had no accomplices in India.

Hindu terror bigger threat: Rahul

The most talked about Wikileak, which stirred an anti-Congress protest in the country, was Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi's comments on saffron terrorism. According to US Cables, Congress general Rahul told US Ambassador to secretary Rahul Gandhi. India Timothy Roemer last year that "the growth of radicalized Hindu groups" may be a "bigger threat" to India than support to some Islamic terror groups from the Muslim community. He told Roemer that although "there was evidence of some support for (Islamic terrorist group LeT) among certain elements in India's indigenous Muslim community, the bigger threat may be the growth of radicalized Hindu groups, which create religious tensions and political confrontations with the Muslim community."

2010 Highlights
Movers & Shakers

January 1-7, 2010 TheSouthAsianTimes.info

2010 Highlights
Movers & Shakers

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January 1-7, 2010 TheSouthAsianTimes.info Top 10 in Business

India growth story continues in 2010

Indian economic growth rebounded from 6.7 percent in fiscal year 2008-2009, and 7.4 percent in fiscal year 2009-2010. The GDP growth even could rise to 9 percent in fiscal year 2010-2011, starting from April 1, 2010. The Sensex touched 20,000K mark and FDI increased multi-fold in 2010.

Women workers at a BPO company in Gurgaon and Wipro CEO Azim Premji.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at G20 Summit in Seoul.

The Reserve Bank of India building in New Delhi.

Traders celebrate Sensex crossing 20,000K mark.

Nissan launched Micra for Indias hot mid-sized car segment.

Revival of IT Sector
The year 2010 marked a period of revival for the $60 billion Indian IT industry, with the global economy assuming some semblance of normalcy after a period of prolonged turbulence and demand for software technology products on the rise again. According to industry body Nasscom, the Indian IT-BPO industry is well-poised to reach the $70 billion-mark by the end of the current fiscal. The year 2010 also saw a lot of philanthropic initiatives taken up by the leaders in the sector. The biggest contribution came from billionaire technology czar Azim Premji, who donated more than Rs 8,000 crore to his educationfocused trust.

India enters global stage India Inc raises India pays great importance to the Rs2,00,000 cr
G20 summit and wants to interact with more powers in comparison with smaller club of BRIC countries including Brazil, Russia, India and China, said Kaushik Basu, chief economic adviser at the Ministry of Finance. Afterwards, India sought to reconcile the tensions between China and the US on the exchange rate of Chinese currency RMB by calling for dialogue and against protectionism at G20 Summit in Seoul, South Korea, in November this year. India held a mild but clear stance at the meeting and strived to force ahead Doha Round trade talks despite the lack of enthusiasm from developed economies in the time of recession. India also successfully leveraged the BRIC forum to push forward the reform of the international financial bodies and lifted its quota shares from 2.44 percent as the 11th shareholder to 2.75 percent as the 8th one. India Inc slaked its thirst for funds in 2010 with a record haul of over Rs200,000 crore from the equity and debt market during the calendar year. The capital raised by Indian companies in calendar year 2010 topped by a third the Rs150,000 crore mop-up during the previous year, which heldeut hope for a global economy hit by the woes of western economies. Standard Chartered was the first foreign company to list in India through an Indian depository receipts (IDR) issue. It raised Rs 24.9 billion by via this IDR. The IDR is an opportunity for investors to invest in a globally diversified (both in terms of geography and segments) banking and financial services conglomerate at a reasonable price.

Sensex at 24,000 in 2011 Consumers pampered Since the recent peak for the BSE like never before
Sensex and the S&P CNX Nifty (21,108/ 6,348 on November 5), there has been a correction of over 10 per cent due to a mix of concerns -- the conflict in Korea, the 2G licence scandal and the bribefor-loans scam involving banks and realty sector stocks. The coming year is expected to generate 10-20 per cent returns for investors, though the stock markets will not rise as sharply as they did in the calendar year of 2009. The return in 2009 was the best since 1991, with benchmark indices rising over 80 per cent. The return so far in the current calendar year has been around 14 per cent, considerably lower than other asset classes, such as gold, which appreciated by 26 per cent, and silver, which was up 74 per cent. Choice was the buzzword for the Indian consumer who in 2010 was mollycoddled like never before, with companies offering a range of products, from mobile phones to cars, tailored to ones taste rather than seeking to unload what was thought as best. According to leading industry lobby, the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham), the $6.5billion market for consumer durables grew 30 percent this year and will expand 40 percent next year. In the mobile phone market, where India has been adding some 15 million subscribers each month to touch 700 million subscribers, as many as 500 new models were launched, many in the sub-Rs.1,000 category with a built-in FM radio receiver to target the hinterland. Apple launches iPad In the auto market, as many as 78 On the global front, one saw the new models were launched during launch of the revolutionary iPad 2010, across all the segments. from the stable of Apple, which spurred the interest of technogeeks Facebook outsmarts all and commoners alike. The launch The subject of David Finchers film also prompted many others like The Social Network this year, FaSamsung, Dell and Motorola to cebook founder Mark Zuckerberg join in the tablet race. now strikes terror into the hearts The year 2010 saw numerous ac- of his commercial rivals. Google quisitions in the technology space, clearly views Apple and Facebook, with companies breaking free from rather than Microsoft, as the enemy the shackles of recession. One certainly in terms of the advertisof the largest acquisitions of the ing that generates 97% of Googles year was by global chip giant In- revenues, $22.89bn (14.87bn) for tel, which bought security software 2009. Estimates put Facebooks firm McAfee for USD 7.68 billion. revenues at $2bn for 2010.

Super Indian GDP figures

Indian economic growth rebounded from 6.7 percent in fiscal year 2008-2009, and 7.4 percent in fiscal year 2009-2010 thanks to the dominance of domestic consumption and monetary stimulus policies. The GDP growth even could rise to 9 percent in fiscal year 2010- 2011 starting from April 1, 2010, according to the mid-term economic analysis by the Ministry of Finance. Earlier this year, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said he hoped that the countrys economy could see 9 to 10 percent growth in the coming 25 years.

Price tag for 2010 disasters: $222 bn

The global economic losses from natural catastrophes and man-made disasters equaled $222 billion in 2010, more than triple the $63 billion lost in 2009, according to reinsurance company Swiss Re. The worldwide insurance industry spent $36 billion on disasters this year, an increase of 34 percent from 2009. The most expensive was the February earthquake in Chile, which cost the insurance industry $8 billion, according to preliminary estimates. New Zealands earthquake left a bill of $2.7 billion for insurers, while winter storm Xynthia in Western Europe led to insured losses of $2.8 billion.

Inflation haunts aam aadmi

Although Indias economy has been growing rapidly in recent years, its high inflation at home threatens to derail the prospects of near doubledigit economic growth in addition of laggard progress in infrastructure both physically and socially. Though the wholesale price index has come down to 7.48 percent in November as the lowest so far this year, inflation is still very high and close to economic growth rate.

Engineers working on a Metro Rail coach in Gujarat and Indian rupees new symbol.

People protest against rising food and vegetable prices in New Delhi.

The Chile earthquake cost the insurance industry $8 billion

One of the first few iPad owners in New York and Indias e-book called Kindle.

Estimates put Facebooks revenues at $2bn for 2010.

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January 1-7, 2010 TheSouthAsianTimes.info Top 10 in Sports Arena

Year of mega sporting events

Sushil scripts history in wrestling
Indian wrestler Sushil Kumar created history after winning the gold medal in the 66 kg freestyle competition at the FILA 2010 World Wrestling Championships. On July 2009, he received the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna - Indias highest honor for sportspersons.

The year 2010 was witness to various international sports, including FIFA World Cup, 19th Commonwealth Games, 16th Asian Games and Hockey World Cup. The year will also be remembered for Indias living legend Sachin Tendulkar, who scored a double hundred in an ODI and his 50th Test ton.
place in the medal tally with 64 medals. Indias performance in Guangzhou pales in comparison with China, but by winning 64 medals in a variety of events with varying degrees of success, Indian

Good year for Indian cue sports

To say the least, it has been a fairly satisfactory year for Indian cueists, notably Pankaj Advani, the countrys No.1 exponent. Although only 25, Advani has won virtually every trophy, national and international. He ended 2010 by claiming the gold medal at the Asian Games, but in the course of the year, lost both his World billiards titles (points and time format).

Spain with FIFA World Cup trophy

FIFA World Cup, South Africa

South Africa hosted a successful FIFA World Cup in. South Africa became the first African country to host the mega event. Beating all predictions, Spain and Netherlands managed to enter the Football World Cup final but it was Spain which clinched the coveted trophy winning 1-0. The star predictor of the FIFA World Cup 2010 was Octopus Paul Baba, who hogged limelight for its correct predictions. Paul the Octopus died Oct 26. Vijender Singh with his boxing gold. athletes have proved that the country is headed in the right direction for the 2012 London Olympics. Indias 14-Gold haul at the Asiad was crucial, it managed to win a Gold in rowing (Bajrang Lal), 5 Gold in athletics, Billiards, Boxing and Shooting.

Sania weds Pakistani Shoaib

Tepid finish for Indian hockey

A riotous start and a rather tepid finish for Indian hockey in 2010.

Sania Mirza with Shoaib Malik. Indian tennis sensation Sania Mirzas wedding with Pakistani Cricketer Shoaib Malik was much talked about event this year. After several hiccups, finally Sania and Shoaib entered the wedlock on April 12. Shoaib faced legal action for denying his telephonic marriage to Hyderabadi girl Ayesha Siddiqui. Former Pakistan cricket captain Maliks passport was seized by the police after a complaint. However, the case was withdrawn after Malik gave divorce to her first wife Ayesha.

Commonwealth Games, New Delhi

After questionable preparations for CWG 2010, the entire world hailed India for holding a successful international mega event. Despite being marred by corruption charges, CWG opening and closing ceremony was a fit reply to the world that New Delhi is capable of holding even the Olympics. The official mascot of the Games was Shera and the official song of the Games, Jiyo Utho Bado Jeeto, was composed by A.R. Rahman. CWG 2010 is also important for India for medals won: over 100. The final medal tally was led by Australia. The host nation India gave its strongest performance yet to emerge second, while England was placed third.

Saina rules the roost in badminton

Indias ace shuttler Saina Nehwal was the pick of the year 2010. The 20-year-old Hyderabadi girl finished the year with second rank and also broke the Great Wall of China with five international titles: Indian Open Grand Prix Gold, Singapore Super Series, Indonesian Open in June, Commonwealth Games 2010 and Hong Kong Super Series. For her giant stride, Nehwal was conferred the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award and Padma Shri.

Pankaj Advani won gold at Asiad.

Tiger Woods is on comeback trail.

Karun Chandhok.

Chandhok, Gill shone in motorsports

Saina Nehwal won 5 world titles. Although Karun Chandhok made it to the pinnacle of motorsports with his Formula One debut, it was left to Gaurav Singh Gill to bring home top honors with his second place finish in the Asia Pacific Rally Championship to round off a year that saw Indians otherwise struggling to maintain a toe-hold at the international level. India is now seen as a hot Formula One destination with the Indian GP scheduled next year and more significantly, the FIA General Assembly and the FIA annual awards gala, also to be held in New Delhi. Indias first Formula One driver, Narain Karthikeyan, too entertains some hopes of a return.

The Indian hockey team at Commonwealth Games. And there were glimpses of hidden potential with a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games, followed by a bronze at the Asian Games. The only silver lining was the nomination of Sardara Singh and teenage sensation Rani Rampal to the International Hockey Federations (FIH) All-Star mens and womens teams,at the fag end of the year. The mens team put in a remarkable display to reach the final in Commonwealth Games after stirring victories against Pakistan and England. But they were outclassed in the final by Australia who won 8-0.

The Closing Ceremony of Commonwealth Games 2010.

Tiger Woods holes up Golf

Ace golfer Tiger Woods will definitely try to forget the year 2010. A year ago, Woodss fortunes plummeted on and off the course after the stunning revelations of his marital infidelities, which ended with divorce. However, Woods made a comeback in April.

Asian Games 2010, Guangzhou, China

The host country China dominated the 16th Asian Games aka Asiad 2010 by winning 416 medals alone. India finished the Games at sixth Sushil Kumar.

2010 Highlights
Movers & Shakers
Indias batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar became the first batsman in Test crickets history to score 50 centuries. He achieved the feat when he drove Dale Steyn through the covers for a single on the fourth day of the first Test Tendulkar achieved another impossible milestone on February 24, 2010 when he became the first batsman to score double hundred in a one day match. This innings also found place in Time magazines top 10 Special Sports against South Africa at Centurion. It took him 175 Test matches to reach the record, which will be near impossible to break. Next best is Australias Ricky Ponting (39 centuries in 151 Tests). moments. Tendulkar also crossed the 14,000 runs in Test cricket. He became the first batsmen in the history of Cricket to cross this Mount Everest. He also became the first batsman for scoring most 1,000 Test runs in a calendar year. He has done it six times - 2010 (1543 and counting), 2008 (1063), 2002 (1392 runs), 1999 (1088 runs), 2001 (1003 runs) and 1997 (1000 runs).

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January 1-7, 2010 TheSouthAsianTimes.info Top 5 in Cricket

The living legend also received ICC cricketer of the year 2010- Highest award in ICC listings. He was also in news for a book about him titled Tendulkar Opus, which is one of the most costly biographies and weighs 40 kg. He

Tendulkars spate of records

amassed 1,532 runs in 13 Tests this year at a stupendous average of more than 85 runs per innings. Interestingly, Tendulkars seven centuries in 2010 are his most in a calendar year during his career spanning two decades. He has also notched up five fifties this year. By runs scored, 8 batsmen have registered 10,000 or more runs in Tests. How do their figures compare with the greatest batsman of them all, Sir Donald Bradmans whose score is the gold standard? Here are their statistics:

Top 8 Batsmen (with 10,000 Test runs) compared with Bradman (as on 25 Dec 2010)

Batsman Country Tests Don Bradman Aus 52 Sachin Tendulkar Ind. 175 Ricky Ponting Aus. 151 Rahul Dravid Ind. 148 Brian Lara WI 131 Jacques Kallis SAf 143 Allan Border Aus. 156 Steve Waugh Aus. 168 Sunil Gavaskar Ind. 125
Bold figures indicate a record.

Runs 6,996 14,513 12,333 12,000 11,953 11,650 11,174 10,927 10,122

Average Top score 100s 50s 29 13 99,94 334 50 59 56.91 248 257 39 56 53.85 270 53.09 31 59 400 52.88 34 48 201 56.82 38 54 205 27 63 50.56 200 51.06 32 50 236 51.12 34 45

* * * *

For Sachin Tendulkar, sky is not the limit.

Tendulkar has played most number of Tests, scored most runs and hit most centuries. Laras unbeaten 400 remains a Test record. Border has made most fifties, 63. It is interesting that out of eight to score 10,000 Test runs, three are Indians, with Gavaskar being the first to reach this milestone. Bradmans batting average of 99.94 will remain supreme in decades to come. Also his century per Test ratio of 0.56 (29 in 52) is twice as good as Tendulkars of 0.28 (50 in 175). So comparison between greats based on statistics alone is futile. Lets say Bradman was the supremo in his time and Tendulkar is the maestro of this decade.

* = not out.

International Cricket Hall of Fame opens near Sydney

The worlds one and only International Cricket Hall of Fame was opened in November in Sir Donald Bradmans hometown of Bowral, south of Sydney, in Australia. The Hall of Fame is devoted to the achievements of cricket and cricketers from every country. Among other displays it contains the statistics of every player - male and female - who has ever played for his or her country in any form of the game at an international level. It also features the worlds most up-to-date and comprehensive series of interviews with famous international cricketers. A key difference between this and any other cricket museum is that it is not built around objects. While there are numerous fascinating objects, particularly relating to Bradman, what visitors will experience is an interactive digital exposition of cricket through the ages. Australias captain Ricky Ponting is the Global Ambassador for The International Cricket Hall of Fame (TICHOF). He said, It was Sir Donalds vision that cricket should continue to flourish and spread its wings. TICHOF reflects that vision. It makes sure that future generations will understand Bradmans values and his belief in the character-building attributes of the game courage, honor and humility. It will lead to a better society among the cricketing nations of the world.

India dominates

ICC T20 World Cup 2010 in England

The host England lifted the third edition ICC Twenty20 World Cup after beating Australia by seven wickets in the final. With this, Paul Collingwood became the first England captain to get his hands on a major trophy. However, the champion of inaugural edition, Indias eviction before the semifinal was real disappointment for cricket fans.

the pitch

Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led Team India dominated the entire year in the cricket field. They retained Numero Uno position in the Test cricket while jumping to 2nd spot in the ICC ODI rankings. The other achievement from the cricket filed was Sri Lankan Spin Wizard Muttaiah Muralitharan, who bid adieu to Test cricket after claiming his 800th Test wicket. He achieved the milestone against India in the Galle Test.

Indian Premier League (IPL-3)

The third edition of cash-rich Indian Premier League (IPL-3) had a rollercoaster ride off the field. However, Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings lifted the trophy after beating Sachin Tendulkar led Mumbai Indians in the final but the mega T20 extravaganza was more in news for controversies. The corruption and illegal infusion of funds in the IPL franchise hogged limelight. The IPL row over new IPL franchise Kochi also cost Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor his ministerial berth while the IPL commissioner Lalit Modi, who brought Indian Cricket at the highest level, was sacked from his position. BCCI also annulled two IPL franchises Rajasthan Royal and Punjab Kings XI over funds irregularities. However, the Bombay High Court stayed the BCCIs suspension order.

The Indian cricket team after defeating Australia in Test series.

The Hall of Fame is housed in the Bradman Museum.

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Best of 2010 cartoons

A select few from our chief cartoonist Mahendra Shah's collection of witty and humorous take on everyday life events

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.

...Continued from page 9

First India Day parade in Atlantic City

he Indo US Council organized the first India Day parade at the Atlantic City Boardwalk this year. The event was part of a set of initiatives to boost the influx of visitors to Atlantic City. On August 13, 2010 the Indias Independence Day celebrations commenced with a night of music and dance featuring a live concert by the international pop sensation and multi-platinum selling Cash Money/Universal Parade was hosted by the Indo US Council Republic recording artist Jay Sean at the Trump Taj Mahal Arena followed by Avenue to the Tropicana Casino and a colorful parade next day. The first-ever Resort, complete with music, dancers and Atlantic City India Day parade made its floats celebrating the 63rd anniversary of way eventually from New Jersey India becoming a nation.

Tragic death of filmmaker Manish Acharya

he desi film fraternity lost this bright talent in early December. Loins of Punjab Presents fame actor-director-producer Manish Acharya died in a freak accident falling off a horse while holidaying in Matheran, Maharashtra. He was just 40. Acharya came to the US at age 18 to earn degrees in physics and industrial relations. He founded a software company too that went public in 1998. But he realized his true calling was filmmaking. He applied for the NYU Tisch School of the Arts graduate film program and made it as he was quoted saying due to clerical

Manish Acharya error. He was planning a period drama based in the '80s and had begun work on it.

Galleon hedge fund scandal contd.

panies on charges that they leaked confidential corporate information to the Galleon group. The charges are the latest brought by the government in its rapidly expanding investigation into insider trading on Wall Street. The case is built around the prosecution of Raj Rajaratnam, a billionaire hedge fund manager (of Sri Lankan Tamil extract) and co-founder of the Galleon Group. The Justice Department has charged 23 people related to that case, 14 of whom have pleaded guilty. Rajaratnam, who is free on $100 million bail, is fighting the charges and is expected to go on trial early in 2011. (Compiled by Hiral Dholakia-Dave)

23rd AIA South Street Diwali fest brings India to NYC

he Association of Indians in America (AIA) held its 23rd annual South Street Seaport Deepavali festival in the New York City on October 3. The exuberant and dynamic festival has become an annual fixture and this year the onus of its successful execution was on AIA President Sushma Kotahwala. Enjoyed by tens of thousands of people, the festival displayed the colors, tastes, art, and culture of India. The theme of this year Enlighten the

World promoted the Indian culture and heritage throughout the Tri-State area. The festival was well attended by many public figures including Sushilkumar Shinde, Energy Minister of India, Mr. Gondane, a representative of the Indian Consulate, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, Mayor Mike Bloomberg, Comptroller John Liu, New York Assembly woman Grace Meng, New York council member Dan Halloran and District Leader Uma Sengupta.

Galleon group co-founder Raj Rajaratnam

arly this month, federal authorities arrested three employees of some of the world's largest technology com-

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Top 5 of Science & Astrophysics

Striking Discoveries
2010 has proved to be an important year for discoveries in the fields of space science and physics. Here is a pick of the most consequential with far-reaching implications.

Top news from space science and physics Alien life among us? NASA announces arsenic-based life form on Earth

Water found on moon

t a press conference held in early December, NASA announced that it has discovered the presence of arsenic-based life forms on earth, Dr. Wolfe-Simon, a bio-chemist from US Geological Survey, suggested that phosphorous, carbon, and the other fundamental elements found in every living thing on Earth aren't the only signs of life. All life on Earth is based on a single genetic model that requires the element phosphorus as one of its six essential components. But, researchers now have uncovered a bacterium that has five of those essential elements but has, in effect, replaced phosphorus with its look-alike but toxic cousin arsenic. After a two-year study at California's

Alien Lifeform Mono Lake, near Yosemite National Park, Wolfe-Simon found that a bacterium will grow in the presence of the toxic chemical arsenic when only slight traces of phosphorous are present. Scientists said the results, if confirmed, would redefine the quest for other life in the universe.

ASA radar carried by Indias Chandrayan-I mission identified 40 craters on the North Pole, where water could be found. The craters ranged from 1 to 9 miles in diameter. According to scientists, these craters could be holding around 600 million gallons of water. In order to further confirm the results, NASAs Lunar Orbiter crashed a rocket into a crater, called Cabeus, on the South Pole in October 2009. After months of analyzing the data, NASA announced in March 2010 that they have found significant quantities of water on the moon, shattering the belief that Moons surface is dry. The discovery of such vast sources of water has significant implications for the future of space exploration, as astronauts

Picture of North Pole, where craters, believed to be storing water, are marked. could use the water to sustain a base on the moon, or even to generate oxygen.

Evidence of water on Saturns moon Enceladus

Trapped anti-matter could reveal Universes secret

cientists at European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) have managed for the first time to trap antimatter, which could help them unravel the mysteries regarding the evolution of our universe and how we even exist. Matter is the stuff we are made of, our surroundings are made of, and anti-matter is the one which is exact opposite of matter and annihilates when it comes into contact with matter. According to scientific theories, both matter and antimatter were produced in equal quantities at the beginning of the universe.

ASAs Cassini probe, which is circling the planet since 2004, has for the first time revealed the presence of liquid water on Saturns moon Enceladus. During one of its flyby, instruments aboard Cassini analyzed the gaseous material contained in plumes ejecting from one of its pole. Analyzing the data, Cassini scientists found significant quantities of water being ejected from long fissures in its surface. The evidence from the Cassini probe points to a possible global liquid ocean beneath the frozen surface.

Antimatter trap And thats where the problem lies. If both were created in equal quantities, then both should have annihilated each other long ago and we should not even exist. By trapping anti-hydrogen, scientists at CERN plan to study what exactly is anti-matter and how it behaves. (Anti-matter should look exactly as matter but in opposite way), and, plan to unravel conditions at the beginning of the universe.

Saturns moon, Enceladus Particles of ice analyzed by Cassini revealed that the ice was of salt water which could, it is surmised, only occur in a large liquid body of water, and, this, in turn, raises the tantalizing possibility that Enceladus is a candidate for the harboring of extraterrestrial life.

Sciences breakthrough of the year

The first Quantum Machine

ll human-made objects have moved according to the laws of classical mechanics. But, in March 2010, a group of researchers designed a gadget that moves in ways that can only be described by quantum mechanics -the set of rules that governs the behavior of tiny things like molecules, atoms, and subatomic particles. Physicists Andrew Cleland

and John Martinis from the University of California at Santa Barbara and their colleagues designed the machinea tiny metal paddle of semiconductor, visible to the naked eyeand coaxed it into dancing with a quantum groove. First, they cooled the paddle until it reached its "ground state" or the lowest energy state permitted by the laws of quantum

mechanics, a goal longsought by physicists. Then they raised the gadget's energy by a single quantum to produce a purely quantum-mechanical state of motion. They even managed to put the gadget in both states at once, so that it literally vibrated a little and a lot at the same timea bizarre phenomenon allowed by the weird rules of quantum mechanics

This is the first time this feat has been achieved and it could shed light on the mysterious boundaries between the classical and quantum worlds. It could also lead to new devices that would control the quantum states of light, ultra-sensitive force detectors and, ultimately, investigations into the bounds of quantum mechanics and our sense of reality.

The first quantum machine a mechanical, vibrating device, which is as long as a hair is wide

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Top 5 weather, natural and environmental disasters

The year 2010 has seen some of the worst types of weather, natural and environmental disasters. Though there are quite a few, we list here the ones we believe were most severe.

Haiti Earthquake
ithout doubt, Haiti earthquake qualifies to be one of the worst natural disasters ever to strike a nation. The 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti on Jan. 12 approximately 16 miles from Port-au-Prince, Haitis capital. Nearly 3 million people were affected. Around 220,000 deaths were recorded and 300,000 people were injured. Nearly 280,000 buildings collapsed or were rendered inhabitable due to severe structural damage, which included the presidential palace, the Port-au-Prince cathedral and the main jail from which many prisoners

Pakistan Floods
akistan suffered devastating floods in July 2010, after heavy rains affected the Indus-river basin. The floods affected nearly 20 million people mostly through destruction of property, livelihood and infrastructure. At one point, nearly one-fifth of land area was under water. Devastation wrought by floods was severe nearly 17% of Pakistans fertile crop land was submerged, 200,000 herds of cattle were killed and massive amounts of grain were destroyed. The damage to infrastructure was also quite heavy

escaped. The Inter-American Development Bank estimated the total cost of destruction from $8 to $14 billions, and many countries have pledged financial and humanitarian aid towards rebuilding of Haiti.

many roads and bridges were washed away, and scores of public buildings were destroyed. Pakistans economy was badly impacted by the floods.

Icelands Volcano Eruption

n the months of April and May, a volcano located in Iceland erupted, spewing huge plume of smoke and ash cloud in the air which stretched as far away as Spain. The ash cloud shut down the air space over most of Europe. Many airlines had to cancel their flights and thousands of

passengers were stranded. Even though it is currently dormant, according to scien-

tists, the area is still geo-thermally active and might erupt again.

he BP oil spill, also known as Deepwater Horizon oil spill, was the biggest accidental oil spill in the history of petroleum industry, which flowed for three months in the Gulf of Mexico. It began as a sea-floor oil gusher when oil rig Deepwater Horizon exploded and sank. The explosion killed 11 and injured 17. The well was not capped until July. During that period, nearly 185 million gallons of crude oil were released into the gulf. The runaway gusher was finally capped on Sept.19, when a relief well was completed which was used to permanently seal the leaking oil gusher and the government finally declared the well effec-

BP oil Spill

tively dead. The impact of the oil spill has been devastating. Many fisheries were ruined, hundreds of birds were killed, many first responders

have gotten sick and tourism was badly affected. Scientists are still assessing the impact of the spill on the environment.

Russian Wildfires
n July, the hottest heat-wave on record in Russia set on fire nearly 300,000 acres of land spread across seven regions of Russia. The fire spread from country's peat marshes, filling the air with toxic fumes in a plume that could be seen from outer space. Moscow was covered

in dense smoke, which delayed many flights. The smog was so bad that residents in Moscow had to wear surgical mask while walking in the streets. The fires caused an extensive damage to wheat crops, which forced Russia to halt its export. At one point, there was danger of fire

spreading to Chernobyl site, raising the possibility of a worst-case scenario: the fires spreading to the radioactive waste and creating a nuclear nightmare. Fortunately, a sudden drop in temperature and rainfall helped firefighters bring fires under control in late August.

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

January 1-7, 2011

By Dr Prem Kumar Sharma

The Year 2011 is significant as it rings in change for everyone, either on the physical plane or in mental attitudes. Dr. Prem Kumar Sharma, our celebrated resident astrologer, tells what this may mean to you in terms of health, profession, family and romance

Yearly Forecast 2011

ARIES the Ram
(March 21-April 20) Health: The year 2011 starts with a healthy note, with the first quarter of the year promising total fitness. This is because you turn excessively health conscious and make extra efforts to keep fit. However, your excessive love for food and drinks may start taking its toll by the month of July. Some ailment or injury cannot be ruled out sometime in the last quarter of the year, so be careful. Profession: Whatever you had planned for 2011 will start unfolding by the end of the first quarter of the year. However, things may start becoming a bit shaky on the professional front in the third and the last quarter of the year. Someone working against your interests at work needs to be won over, instead of being confronted. Family: Marital boat will cruise along smoothly and the relationship appears particularly blissful during the second quarter of the year. This will happen only if you dont cross each others path and give each other adequate space! Socially, you may keep aloof, more due to circumstances, than by design. In the last quarter of 2011, worry and concern for someone in the family may keep you ill at ease. Romance: Making a fresh beginning on the romantic front is indicated for some. So watch out for the months of April and May 2011, when chances appear the brightest! Love life for the married remains satisfactory through mutual sharing and caring all throughout 2011. Some misunderstanding is possible in the month of November. Your Lucky Months: January, March, May, June Your Lucky Charm: Gold or silver pendant ance is indicated in the month of October. Family: Socially, you may remain either a recluse or become over active. Both courses will prove unfavorable and isolate you. Your sharing and caring nature will keep the marital front in a blissful state, but some turbulence cannot be ruled out in the last quarter of the year. A vacation with your near and dear ones is indicated in the month of April or May. Romance: For you, love is in the air for the whole of 2011! Forming a special equation with partner is indicated, which promises immense happiness and fulfillment. The eligible will manage to find a suitable mate by the third quarter of 2011. Be wary in the month of April, as someone may try to create confusion in your relationship. Your Lucky Months: February, May, September Your Lucky Charm: Gold colored wrist watch

CANCER the Crab

(June 22-July 22) Health: You remain unduly worried about health, but things will change for the good in 2011. Those on the wrong side of fifty should avoid becoming over conscious of bodily changes and getting medical check-ups done frequently, as this may actually land them in hospital without any serious ailment! Happenings in the month of July may take the form of mental or physical ailments. Profession: Opportunities for career enhancement are aplenty in the year 2011, as you enjoy an unhindered run of luck in the first two quarters on the year. Professionally, you remain a cut above the rest and attract all important assignments and projects. However, things begin to totter a bit by the end of July. Watch your step in the month of October, as someone may work against your interests. Family: Your own nature generally keeps you at loggerheads with others, so expect a love-hate relationship to linger on the family front during the year 2011. A chance to travel overseas is possible either in the beginning of the second quarter or latter half of the third quarter of the year. Steer clear of any misunderstandings in the month of October. Romance: Romance is assured, so expect an immensely fulfilling existence in 2011. Newlyweds and young couples are likely to enjoy closeness not experienced before. Overlooking shortcomings in partner is your mantra for a satisfying relationship. Eligible may find the third quarter most favorable. November is the month to be watched out for, as it can affect your relationship. Your Lucky Months: February, May, December Your Lucky Charm: Ring with birthstone

things threatens to affect your professional reputation adversely in the month of October, so remain guarded. Family: You uphold family values and will remain a pillar of strength to the family. On the whole, family life cruises along smoothly in 2011, but may encounter some choppy waters too! It will be important to keep in touch with those in your social circle in the third quarter of the year to help out a family youngster in achieving something important. Romance: Your charisma is likely to prove irresistible to someone from the opposite camp in the first or third quarter of the year 2011, so expect romance to blossom! The month of April doesnt augur well on the marital front, as your uncompromising attitude may ruffle partners feathers. Eligible can expect a suitable mate to walk into their lives by the end of third quarter of the year. Your Lucky Months: February, May, September Your Lucky Charm: Red colored wrist band

GEMINI the Twins

(May 21-June 21) Health: Health-wise the year 2011 may have its ups and downs, which can grow worse in the month of July. You will also need to take extra care in the months of March and June. However after this period, your health promises to remain free of ailments. You may begin to focus on fitness by the middle of the third quarter and take appropriate steps to remain fit. Profession: An immensely fulfilling time is foreseen on the professional front, almost all throughout 2011, that promises to keep you on the forefront in your field of expertise. Those planning to switch jobs may not do so, as they find many more benefits in their present occupation. Those planning to set up their own business should avoid the months of August and September. Family: All throughout 2011, family seems to remain sharply in your focus. You will remain poised to provide full support to a family member, who is on the threshold of something important. On the marital front, you may be blowing hot and cold intermittently due to your own stubbornness and partner s mood swings. However, the third quarter of the year promises pure bliss. Romance: A potent combination of good looks, inherent charm and liveliness is likely to attract people of the opposite gender, like moths to the flame! Expect 2011 to be most romantically happening. A long-term romantic relationship may culminate in wedding. Those married will succeed in keeping the embers of passion alive. Some adverse situation can develop in the month of April. Your Lucky Months: February, May, November Your Lucky Charm: Silken handkerchief with gold thread

VIRGO the Virgin

(August 24-September 23) Health: The first quarter of 2011 is likely to liberate those ailing since the previous year. But this is not to say that perfect health is assured all throughout the year, as some problems are foreseen in the month of April or August. Those on the fitness trail may become insistent on eating right and exercising, and show the difference by the last quarter of the year. Profession: A steady build up since 2010 on the career front will come to fruition by the second month of the year 2011. Not only will you manage to assume a position of authority on the professional front, but also take steps to further your career. Additional academic qualifications are likely to benefit in a competitive situation. Be careful of some professional reverses in October. Family: Some serious differences may crop up in your relationship right at the beginning of the year 2011, but from then on the situation will only improve. So, dont harbor any apprehensions. An elder may become instrumental in bringing stability in the family. Newlyweds are likely to strengthen their marital bonds by making conscious efforts to draw closer to each other. Romance: Although you remain happy in your present relationship, but someones unusual interest in you may become hard to resist! This is not to say that you will stray or do anything inappropriate, but you will certainly use the opportunity to pep up your romantic life! A competitor may give you a tough time on the romantic front in the month of November. Continued on page No. 41.....

TAURUS the Bull

(April 21-May 20) Health: The ailments that afflict you presently may trouble you intermittently, but will certainly disappear by the middle of the third quarter of 2011. On the whole, no serious medical problems are foreseen, unless you become negligent. However, you need to protect yourself from injuries, especially in the month of July, as even minor ones can become lingering problems. Profession: Luck and your own efforts have certainly paid dividends in 2010, as regards career advancement. The year 2011 is the year of consolidation of whatever you have achieved. Those finding grass greener on the other side of the fence and may decide to switch jobs. So, expect significant changes between the months of February and July. A slight dip in perform-

LEO the Lion

(July 23-August 23) Health: Your love for outdoors and physical activity generally keeps you fit. The year 2011 promises to keep you fit as a fiddle, but exposure to a lingering problem cannot be ruled out, especially in the month of July. End of the third quarter rings in good health and a fitter existence, as you get increasingly health conscious. Profession: A born leader, you believe in taking the bull by the horns in professional matters. Your never-say-die attitude and the capacity to take up all kinds of challenges will endear you to superiors and make the first-half of the year 2011 good for your career. Your tendency to overdo

Astrology
TheSouthAsianTimes.info

41

January 1-7, 2011

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

By Dr Prem Kumar Sharma

Yearly Forecast 2011

Continued from page No.40 Your Lucky Months: March, July, September, December Your Lucky Charm: Pendant of any semi-precious stone September and October, as some serious ego problems threaten to harm your career. Also dont undertake any new venture in the months of March and April. Family: Expect a good phase of family life from May to August of 2011. A lovehate relationship with someone on the social front may keep you on your toes in September. Married life will have its ups and downs, as you get caught in balancing work and home. A challenging situation may develop in the months of March and April. Romance: Romance is likely to hit a rough patch in the year 2011. Lack of trust and suspicious nature will put paid to your romantic aspirations. Differences in a relationship may crop up in month of January. Months of April and October also appear to pose challenges on the romantic front. Good period for those married commences from May to August, when something significant is likely to happen. Your Lucky Months: February, May, June, July Your Lucky Charm: Copper coin the year, August, December Your Lucky Charm: Silver bead in black string

CAPRICORN the Goat

(December 22-January 21) Health: The first and the third quarter of 2011 seem a period of excellent health. This is because of your continued Endeavour to attain perfect fitness. Seasonal changes and other factors may get you under the weather in the months of April, June and November, so be careful. Yoga and meditation may appeal to some and prove spiritually gratifying. Profession: Professional front remains excellent, except for the third quarter of 2011. During this lean period, you will need to keep your emotional nature in check, so as not to rub someone important the wrong way. Some special achievements are in store for you in the last quarter of the year. A position of authority may be acquired by some. Family: Your reputation on the social front is likely to soar during most of the first half of 2011. However, you need to check superficiality in your relations with others, as they may send wrong signals. From June onwards, marital relationship may come under strain and the onus of steering it out of troubled waters will rest upon you. Romance: Good times are foreseen in the year 2011 for those going steady for sometime. Wedding bells may toll for those in a long-term relationship. Those divorced or single with no chance of marriage are likely to benefit from the initiatives taken by them. Something untoward may happen on the romantic front in the month of April, so be warned. A lot of travelling and leisure trips are in store for young couples. Your Lucky Months: First quarter of the year, May, October Your Lucky Charm: Any sandalwood item

LIBRA the Scales

(September 24-October 23) Health: The year 2011 brings good news on the health front, especially for those making efforts to lead a perfectly healthy life. Since you are sensitive to seasonal changes, more precautions are advised, especially during winter and monsoon seasons. Beware of injuries or some disease in the month of July. Profession: If a job switch is on your mind, 2011 is the year for you. However professionally, it may prove difficult to get the best of both the worlds a good salary and job satisfaction. Whatever you choose will go in your favour, but make the changes before the month of July, as a professionally lean period starts after that. Family: Solemnizing the marriage of someone eligible in the family may remain topmost on your mind in the first half of 2011. But be rest assured, good news is likely by the month of August or September. Taking up a social cause is indicated for some, which may keep them gainfully employed. Marital life will remain without problems, but some turbulence can be experienced in the last quarter of 2011. Romance: There seems a distinct possibility that love may creep up on you, without you even realizing it in the first quarter of 2011 itself! Be careful of an outside element out to create friction in the relationship in the month of April. Newlyweds and young couples will find the third quarter to the year exceptionally blissful. Stagnation in love life can be expected in the beginning of the last quarter of the year. Your Lucky Months: February, May, June Your Lucky Charm: Pearl in any form of jewellery

two months at the beginning of the year. Business persons are advised not to transact any deals in the months of February and November, as stars appear unfavorable. Family: The hectic pace of the year 2011 may not permit you to enjoy family life to the fullest extent. For youngsters, parents or family elders may appear more of a hindrance than support. Marital life may have its ups and downs, and will need conscious efforts to keep it on track. Something happening in the month of September threatens domestic harmony. Romance: Paucity of time and a busy life may have direct fallout on romance in the year 2011. Those looking for love may find it, but may not be able to continue it for long. The months of June, July and August appear favorable for those romantically inclined. An overseas trip or a trip out of town with lover cannot be ruled out. Your Lucky Months: June, August, December Your Lucky Charm: Silver bracelet

SAGITTARIUS the Archer

(November 23-December 21) Health: Your health remains satisfactory in the year 2011. In fact, the first four months of the year may find you in peak physical condition. You will need to watch your step in the month of July, when an injury or a medical condition may entail surgery. However, you will recover quickly and enjoy the last five months of the year without any problems. Profession: You are passionate about what you do, so success will always be with you all throughout 2011. Multi-tasking may become your forte in creating more earning opportunities. Chance for a promotion or a coveted appointment is likely by the second quarter of the year. In all this, your hard work and efforts will be most evident. Family: Family life appears most satisfying in the year 2011. Forming a special equation with life partner is on the cards and will help in forging stronger ties. You will need to be careful in the months of June and July, as your personal likes and dislikes may create some misunderstanding with people in your social set-up. Helping out a family youngster is on the cards. Romance: Too many love interests may prevent you from having a steady relationship in the year 2011. But instead of pitying your situation, you will enjoy the periods of brief flings! Married couples will keep their relationship alive by being available to each other and giving each other space. The months of April, June and September do not augur well for romance, so go slow. Your Lucky Months: First quarter of

PISCES the Fish

(Feb. 20-March 20) Health: A balanced lifestyle promises to keep you in perfect health and fitness all throughout 2011. You will steer clear of any mental or bodily ailment and will enjoy a perfectly healthy phase, not experienced before. Taking up a sport in a serious way is indicated for some. Your positive influence and insistence will keep others around you perfectly fit. Profession: Whatever you have managed on the professional front in the year 2010, will multiply many times over to make this year one of the best professional phases of your life! A better and well paying job is in the offing for those looking for one. An overseas job is possible in the third or last quarter of the year. Promotion comes with many perks, so rejoice! Family: Stability on the marital front is yours for the asking, as complete understanding with life partner is achieved. Harmony prevails on the domestic front all throughout the year, strengthening familial and filial bonds. Socially, your charisma will help you in acquiring special place in the hearts of all those you come in contact with. Newlyweds may get a chance to set up a separate household. Romance: There will be much love and caring in your current relationship that promises to grow stronger during the year 2011. Those engaged for marriage are likely to enjoy an extended courtship and get a chance to know each other better. Downplay whatever happens in the month of September on the romantic front and you will be better off. Your Lucky Months: All months, except April and September Your Lucky Charm: Peacock feather

SCORPIO the Scorpion

(October 24-November 22) Health: Freedom from an ailment requiring constant monitoring is indicated by the end of the first quarter of 2011. However, you will need to exercise all precautions to prevent it from recurring. Naturopathy may appeal and may entail sacrificing the lifestyle you are used to. Nursing someone back to health is indicated. December appears definitely bad, so be careful. Profession: You are ambitious and yearn to make your mark on the professional front. Year 2011 may prove a mixed bag in this respect, since your endeavors may not be good enough to achieve total success. Be particularly careful in the months of

AQUARIUS the Water Bearer

(January 22-February 19) Health: Health may not remain on the tracks all throughout 2011. Problems pertaining to health may be as minor as pimples on the face to as grave as getting out of shape, but nothing more serious! Eating right and adopting an active lifestyle will need to be your fitness mantra for the year, if you want to maintain perfect health. Some work-related tensions may also manifest as bodily ills, so take steps to de-stress. Profession: There is much happening on the professional front in the year 2011. Those looking for a suitable break may get their chance after a frustrating period of

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

January 1-7, 2011

By Dr Prem Kumar Sharma

Stars Foretell: January 1-7, 2011

Aries:This week travel would promote new romantic connections. Important people around you would appreciate your ideas. Relationship with the opposite sex would be highly cordial and pleasant. Spend some exciting time with family members and relatives. Your ability to converse intelligently would help you seek favors. You can easily double your financial gains if you play your cards well. Taurus:This is an excellent period to show your knowledge and skills. You should go ahead with new plans and finalize important deals. Children would give you happiness and comfort. This is also the perfect time for romance, pilgrimage and even seeking favors. Financial gains from past investments would roll in, but not at the rate you might expect. Gemini:Travel and learning should be on your agenda this week. For some, a change in residence would prove highly lucky. Your income would rise and you would spend lavishly on family members and friends. Be cautious while handling sophisticated equipment or entering a new alliance. Your ideas would bring you rewards. Cancer: This week you are likely to be asked to handle additional responsibilities. Your outgoing nature would work to your advantage as you gain favors from others. Business trip might prove unproductive. Exercise caution while dealing with colleagues and important clients. Not a favorable period for romantic alliance. Speculation will prove highly beneficial. Spiritual gains for some. Leo:This week your partner expects a lot from you, which seems to add pressure on your mind. Do not sign any legal documents or any other papers pertaining to property. You need to take some time off and go for little recreation towards the weekend. This period is also not very good for romance or those seeking a matrimonial alliance. A close friend will try to do the unexpected. Virgo:Discuss your objectives with experienced people to benefit this week. Your intellectual charms would win heart and bring you opportunities that you least expected. Visiting a place of worship would bring peace of mind. Businessmen and those starting a new venture stand to gain. Residential moves would prove to be highly hectic and expensive. Libra:This week money matters would take high priority and new ventures would be highly alluring. Students need to concentrate on their career and plan for the year ahead. Be at your best behaviour and precise in your communication when meeting influential and important people. Take firm decisions regarding office matters. Be careful not to say anything that will offend others. Scorpio:Colleagues would appreciate you because of your skills and talents. Good period for materializing real estate and financial transactions. Unexpected gains on the money front are quite likely. A long journey concerning work is on the cards for some of you. Renovation or purchases made for your home would pay off in the long run. Be careful while driving. Sagittarius:This week support from friends and family members would generate new confidence into you. Pending correspondence should be completed immediately, but be precise and honest when writing to the one you love. Personal needs and requirements would increase but gains from unexpected sources would take care of the financial obligations. Close relatives might try to force their opinion on you. Capricorn:Do not trust others with important information. Matters related to property, partnerships and new ventures would work to your advantage. Maintain a positive approach to reap maximum benefits during this period. Children and youngsters would demand attention. A new romantic affair is likely for some of you. Go out with friend, as you need to relax towards the weekend. Aquarius:Concentrate on your efforts and rewards will follow by themselves. A stable period of growth and prosperity. This is also the right time for establishing new contacts, participating in charity and social work. Affairs of the heart would be pleasant and highly enjoyable. Work with people who are creative and enterprising. Friends will understand your problems and your needs. Pisces:This is going to be a highly rewarding period for women. An unexpected achievement or news would bring in happiness for you and the entire family. Also prepare yourself for favorable changes at your work front. Children would look forward to some of your time. Some situation might be blown out of proportion, which might bring tensions at home.

Annual Predictions: For those born in this week

January 01 Ruled by number 1 and the planet Sun. You are confident, intelligent, original, enthusiastic, and possess a very creative and artistic mind. You are a good host and love moving about in good society, but you need to control your tendencies towards extravagance and stubbornness at times. This year you will see a remarkable improvement in your ability to take quick and correct decisions. Your self-confidence and dedication would help you accomplish difficult tasks and assignments before the stipulated time. Monetary rewards and benefits for those employed. Favours from govt. officers and prominent persons likely later in the year. Your health would be perfect, but the health of your parents would bring some moments of stress and anxiety. New romance for some through social gathering and entertainment activities. Matrimonial alliances for those eligible. Renovation or new construction activities towards the year-end. The months of January, April, August and December would prove to be important and significant. January 02: Influenced by number 2 and the Moon. You are imaginative, emotional, trustworthy, simple and possess a sharp memory. Your command over your work can do wonders for you in your career and profession, but you need to check your tendency to behave fickle-minded and introvert at times. This coming year will require you to be highly cautious of your moves. During this period you are likely to face several ups and down in your career. Your financial position also seems to be moderate, therefore make new investments with extreme precautions. Only secure investments like banks fixed deposits and tax saving schemes should be encouraged. Domestic front however would bring enormous happiness. Your spouse and children would be supportive and helpful to your concerns. A sudden influence of an important and eminent spiritual person would provide you solace and mental comfort and bring a new twist into your life. Distant journeys probably for pilgrimage would be undertaken later in the year. The months of February, August, September and November would prove to be highly significant. January 03: Governed by number 3 and the planet Jupiter, you are energetic, honorable, ambitious, dignified and intelligent. You are hard working and always appreciated for your commitment and efforts, but your tendencies towards extravagance and jealousy need to be checked at times. This coming year brings enormous prosperity for those inclined to learn and improve their skill levels. Success would be yours provided you work towards given opportunities. Businessmen are likely to venture into new and more profitable avenues. Important decisions and contacts that you establish during this phase would bring long lasting benefits to your career. Health will show improvement in spite of the hectic schedule that you might have to follow. Investments will yield favorable returns. Foreign education or travel for some. Some misunderstanding with your in-laws might create some tense atmosphere at home. Being patient and calm would be important to ease out the tension. New romance for some, so make the best of it. The month of January, March, June, July and August will be significant. January 04: Influenced by number 4 and the planet Uranus. You are active, energetic, reliable, systematic and methodical. You are fond of art and soft music. You can really do wonders in your career but you need to check your tendency to behave introvert, stubborn, and jealous at times. This year your stars promise you plenty of fame and fortune. Your sincerity towards your work and your office would ultimately bring you enormous benefits in the long run. New sources of income will improve your financial position. Journeys undertaken will bring you in close contacts with important and influential people. Acquisition of some real estate later in the year cannot be ruled out. Health wise this year would not be satisfying as minor ailments would keep on bothering you now and them. It would be wise not to avoid preventive medication and seek a doctors advice whenever necessary. Matrimonial alliances for those eligible as other would find romance to get them going. Lending and borrowing money should be avoided to the casual acquaintances. The months of March, June, July and August will be significant and result oriented. January 05: Ruled by number 5 and the planet Mercury. You are an imaginative, practical, honest, brilliant and simple. Youre co-operative and helpful person and enjoy enormous respect in your friends circle, but you need to check your tendency to behave jealous and stubborn at times. New proposals and assignments would improve your income and prosperity. Although there would be a rise in expenses but increase in earnings would take care of your needs. Your strong willpower and determination would see you emerge victorious in whatever task you undertake. Travel would be undertaken quite frequently and would be important in establishing new and important ties. Difference of opinion with your family members would bring some stressful moments at home. Certain losses due to overconfidence in others and speculation cannot be ruled out. Children will win laurels in their respective fields and would be supportive and understanding towards you. The months of February, April, August, September and December would be highly significant. January 06: Ruled by number 6 and the planet Venus. You are kind hearted, generous, simple, accommodating, love peace and harmony. You have a strong memory and an ability to impress others with your intelligent and witty conversation. But you need to control your tendency to be extravagant, reckless and moody at times. This year plenty of important function and religious ceremonies would be performed in the family. Social gathering and activities would be beneficial in establishing new and long lasting ties. Property matters will materialize. Financially this year might not bring results that you have been dreaming for long. Opportunities for a new job and assignments would be plenty but job satisfaction seems unlikely. A sudden influence of a person from the opposite sex will give a new and interesting twist to your life. Travelling will be pleasurable and highly exciting. Friends would be helpful and supportive to your concerns. Some gains through inheritance also seem high on your cards. Pilgrimage or a distant journey with the family for some. The months of May, June, September and October will prove to be highly result oriented. January 07: Ruled by number 7 and the planet Neptune. You are intelligent, sensitive, adaptable, charming, independent and kind hearted. You enjoy a good position and respect at your work place, but you need to control your tendency towards extravagance, recklessness and to dominate others. This year you are going to do major changes in your style of working. You are also going to be more particular about your health and looks. Gains from investment and speculation will improve your financial positions. Long pending legal matters will be sorted out to your satisfaction. Promotions or increments are likely to take place later in the year for some of you. Your rapport with the important govt. authorities in various departments will improve. Children may cause some dissatisfaction, but your spouse will provide you with lots of love and affection. The months of April, July, August and November will prove to be highly eventful.

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Top 10 Bollywood Actors

Stars that shone bright

For Bollywood actors, 2010 has been a year of no big consequence. The usual frontrunners like Shah Rukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan and even megastar Amitabh Bachchan failed to charm audiences with their big budget outings this year except for Salman Khan and Ajay Devgn. New faces brought in a breath of fresh air through their powerful performances in smallbudget films like Peepli Live and Tere Bin Laden. Here are the top 10 Bollywood actors who struck a chord in 2010.

Salman Khan

Katrina Kaif
amp to rampage - this model-turned-actress has taken Bollywood by storm. Continuing her habit of turning a movie into a hit, the gorgeous face rocked the box office with her chaste Hindi volleys in Prakash Jha's political thriller "Raajneeti" and the sizzling Sheila ki Jawani in Farah Khans Tees Maar Khan. According to the ETC Bollywood Business Awards 2010, Katrina was the most profitable actress of the year as Indian viewers paid a total of Rs.142 crore to watch her movies Rajneeti and Tees Maar Khan.

With Dabangg, Salman Khan was Bollywoods unquestionable king this year.

obody beats this "Bigg Boss" when it comes to pleasing audiences with his authenticity and irrevocable charm. Living up to his "Wanted" legacy, 'Robinhood Pandey' stood

tall as the invincible king of Bollywood this year with his corrupt cop saga "Dabangg" that flushed the debacle of his first release of the year "Veer" to obscurity.

Katrina Kaif emerged as the most profitable actress of the year, with Indian viewers paying a total of Rs.142 crore to watch her movies.

Rajnikanth
ajnikanth challenged every Bollywood actor worth his salt, and also proved that when it comes to box-office appeal, all that matters is star charisma. Rajnikanth's 'Robot' perhaps is the only 'Indian' hit of the year making waves wherever it went. It also proved that India can still make a movie for the entire country - not for south, north, east and west.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

Kajol
here is nothing that she can't do. Daughter, actress, wife, mother - Kajol's dormant comings and goings on the big screen took a surprise turn when the dusky beauty returned with three outings this year, "My Name is Khan", "We Are Family" and "Toonpur Ka Superhero".

Kajol in My Name is Khan.

Rajnikanths star charisma, both in India and abroad, played a major role in making Endhiran (Robot) a blockbuster.

Ajay Devgn
omedy, politics, action - you name it, he's done it. Proving his mettle with the maximum releases for an actor this year in "Atithi Tum Kab Jaoge?" "Raajneeti", "Golmaal 3", "Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai" and the forgetful "Aakrosh" and Toonpur Ka Superhero, the National Award winner emerged as the most versatile and dependable actor. According to the ETC Bollywood With three hits this year, Business Awards 2010, Ajay was the most Ajay Devgn emerged as profitable actor of the year, as four of his the most versatile and six releases did good business. dependable actor of 2010.

Ranbir Kapoor

Aishwarya Rai has been praised for her powerful performances this year.

lthough two of her three releases tanked this year, Aishwarya Rai was praised for her powerful performances in all her films of 2010 Endhiran (Robot), Guzaarish, Raavan and Action Replayy.

obody believed that this Kapoor family scion will portray the nuances of a conniving and scheming politician with such perfection in "Raajneeti". But this chocolate boy turned into desi Michael Corleone and surprised everyone with his Ranbir Kapoor, known for his immaculate performance in chocolate face image, surprised the political thriller that hit everyone with his immaculate bull's eye at the box office. performance in Raajneeti.

Dazzling Debuts

Ali Zafar
hile illegal Bollywood discs run on the neighboring nation's home theatres with panache, the Hindi film industry got an original import in Ali Zafar from Pakistan to produce Pakistani pop singer Ali "Tere Bin Laden". As for the Zafar received critical acclaim for his singer-actor's performance, he performance in Tere definitely left the fairer sex Bin Laden. wanting for more.

Omkar Das Manikpuri

Aditya Roy Kapoor

o six packs, no film connections and no fanfare, but still this 39year-old managed to make his place in a billion hearts with his vulnerable, suicidal and tattered appearance as soon as his modest debut "Peepli Live" hit the screens. The result - you had the common man and now he's got a name, Natha. Manikpuri has been a member of folk-theatre doyen Habib Tanvir's Naya Theatre company for several years.

V
Omkar Das Manikpuri in Peepli Live.

J-turned-actor Aditya Roy Kapoor is surely a star in making. His performance in Guzaarish and Action Replayy has been appreciated by both critics and Bollywood hotshots. Starting out as a VJ with Channel V, he made his film debut with a role in Vipul Shah's film London Dreams in 2009.

Aditya Roy Kapoor in Action Replayy.

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Bollywood Boxoffice

More misses than hits

It was a pathetic year for Bollywood, except for a couple of big hits and some others that managed average commercial success. It was also the worst year for top filmmakers. Instead, some small budget films defined the year as they credited their viewers with both IQ and EQ and won instant applause.

HITS
Endhiran (Robot)

hahrukh Khan and Kajol starrer created records in India and is the highestgrossing film in overseas markets.

Love, Sex Aur Dhokha (LSD)

Golmaal 3

irector Rohit Shetty, along with the enigmatic Ajay Devgn, Arshad Warsi, Kareena Kapoor, Shreyas Talpade and Kunal Khemu, delivered Golmaal 3 as the second highest-grossing Bollywood film of 2010 despite mixed reviews from critics.

irected by Dibakar Banerjee, LSD was applauded for its unique filming style, acting, realistic story and superb editing. It also made it to the list of best feature films released in 2010 on IMDB (Internet Movie Database).

Tere Bin Laden

he year belonged to Rajnikant whose robot avatar in Shankar's 'Endhiran' enjoyed a great run at the box office. With a record opening weekend of $21 million, the film took the crown of being the biggest hit of the year.

and produced by Prakash Jha. Starring Ajay Devgn, Manoj Bajpai, Ranbir Kapoor, Arjun Rampal, Katrina Kaif, Naseeruddin Shah and Nana Patekar in major roles, Raajneeti had the second biggest Friday opening in India after 3 Idiots.

Peepli Live

My Name Is Khan

Dabangg
t marked the directorial debut of Abhinav Kashyap and became the first release under the Arbaaz Khan Productions. The Salman Khan-starrer broke many records at the box office within the first week of its release.

Raajneeti

political thriller that drew parallels to the epic Mahabharata, it was directed

ritten and directed by Anusha Rizvi and produced by Aamir Khan Productions, it emerged the most noticeable movies ever made in Bollywood. Peepli Live is India's official entry for the Oscars in the Foreign Film category.

ritten and directed by Abhishek Sharma, Tere Bin Laden is a spoof on Osama Bin Laden, as well as a comic satire on America's war against terror and the realities of the post-9/11 world. The film generated positive reviews for being mint fresh.

MISSES
Raavan

here. The movie's budget exceeded Rs.40 crore and made just about half of that. The film was criticized for sorely lacking in drama and genuine humor.

Kites

declared a 'disaster, notwithstanding good reviews by some critics and wows from many viewers.

half and a plot that did not excite the youth.

Tees Maar Khan

Action Replayy
ritten, directed and produced by Mani Ratnam, Raavan is the biggest disappointment of 2010. The film's budget was Rs.100 crore, but the gross revenue of the Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan-starrer was just Rs. 29.50 crore. Chota B reportedly got depressed after that verdict.

espite a sizzling chemistry between Hrithik Roshan and Barbara Mori, Kites had to be taken off theaters with people facing issues with the language in the film, and a boring second half. Directed by Anurag Basu and produced by Rakesh Roshan, the film managed to recover its cost with a gross revenue of Rs 65 crore.

Guzaarish
anjay Leela Bhansali's meditation on euthanasia, starring Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai, was made on a budget of more than Rs. 67 crore, but the gross revenue was Rs. 21 crore. The film was

Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey

D B
ig names like Akshay Kumar and Aishwarya Rai failed to create magic

espite having a novel storyline and commendable direction, Ashutosh Gowariker's Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey bombed at the box office due to its slow first

he last big release of the year failed to create a happy ending for Bollywood. Farah Khan's Tees Maar Khan, starring Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif, has been panned for its tacky writing, tasteless humor and poor performances.

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Spiritual Awareness TheSouthAsianTimes.info

January 1-7, 2011