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For report see page 24

VOL 40. ISSUE 48

80p

Let noble thoughts come to us from every side

Britain criticises India’s tax plan Osborne says India’s plan to retroactively tax business deals would affect foreign investment

First & Foremost Asian Weekly in Europe

7th April to 13th April 2012

Livingstone heavily criticised in the City for ‘sensitising’ voting tools Rupanjana Dutta

Ken Livingstone and George Galloway were heavily criticised for using religion as a method to appease voters in a debate organised by City Sikhs Network (CSN) in association with Deloitte’s Multicultural and Deloitte’s Hindu Networks on 2nd April, exactly a month before the election.

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British Chancellor George Osborne criticised the Indian plan to retroactively tax business deals, saying it could damage foreign investment in the fast-developing country.

A proposal to allow Indian authorities to make retroactive tax claims is widely seen as targeting British mobile phone giant Vodafone, which has been battling the Manmohan Singh government over alleged unpaid taxes.

In a conversation with his Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjee in New Delhi on Monday, Mr Osborne said, “We are concerned that the budget measure will not just impact one company,

Vodafone, but because we think that it will damage the overall climate for investment in India.”

The Chancellor's comments came as the international business community launched a stinging attack against the Indian government's decision. The changes, which could crystallise a £1.4 billion tax charge for Vodafone, threaten an exodus of international investment from India, according to some of the world’s most powerful trade bodies.

A letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh from organisations such as the Confederation of British Industry, Continued on page 26

An event called “Mayoral Hustings” was organised in the City to facilitate dialogue between concerned citizens and the Mayoral candidates viz.

James Cleverly (Tory on behalf of Boris Johnson), Valerie Shawcross, (Labour on behalf of Ken Livingstone), Brian Paddick (Lib Dem), Natalie Benett (Green Party), Lawrence Webb (UKIP), Siobhan Benita (Independent), had a roaring turnover of around 350 people, and was efficiently chaired by Jasvir Singh, a member of the City Sikhs Network.

Both Galloway and Livingstone recently stunned Britons as they devised ‘religion’ to use as a tool for attracting voters.

It came as a shocker for other communities in Britain who have made enormous economic con-

tribution to the British society without government assistance.

Though this debate was not attended by Livingstone himself (or by Boris in that case), his representative Valerie Shawcross, CBE (Labour) appeared well briefed.

Continued on page 2

Mayoral candidates Ken Livingstone and George Galloway

Kareena Kapoor performs during the IPL opening ceremony (report on page 32)

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UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 7th April 2012

ONE TO ONE Keith Vaz MP with

Councillor Jagdish Sharma Councillor Jagdish Sharma, Leader of the London Borough of Hounslow, was born in Phillaur in Jalandhar, Punjab, India in 1935.

A graduate of Punjab University and a postgraduate of the University of London, he started his career as a school teacher in Southall, and retired as a Headteacher.

He is one of Britain’s longest-serving Asian councillors, having completed nearly 38 years of unbroken service as a member of the London Borough of Hounslow. He became a Justice of the Peace in 1975 and became Britain’s first Asian Mayor in 1979.

Cllr Sharma has been a member of the Labour Party for 43 years, holding nearly every position in his local constituency party.

He became Leader of the opposition Labour group on Hounslow Council in 2006, winning back control from the Conservatives in 2010, and becoming Leader of the Council.

His responsibilities include overall strategy, vision, and direction of the Council, the Local Strategic Partnership, liaison with key partners, Budget Strategy and communications.

Q) What inspired you to stand as a local councillor in Hounslow?

A) I believed in socialist principles so joining the Labour Party and standing as a Labour councillor was natural. At that time in Hounslow (the mid-1970’s) there were lots of Punjabis, Ugandan and Kenyan Asians who had become part of the community and needed representation. I thought I could do that job.

Q) What are your proudest achievements in poli-

tics?

A) I became Britain’s first Asian Mayor in 1979.

That is important to me because I have always hoped and believed in inspiring others from the Asian community to become involved in public life. In Hounslow, one achievement which I am proud of is the role I played in getting the Brentford Fountain Leisure Centre built.

I managed to persuade the then Leader of Hounslow Council, Alf

King, that it was the right thing to do, and later persuaded former Labour Party Leader Neil Kinnock to come and open it. Of course I was also very proud to be awarded the MBE. Q) Please tell us about your current position?

A) I have been Leader of the London Borough of Hounslow since May 2010. We are doing an excellent job for the bor-

Livingstone heavily criticised Continued from page 1 With four marriages, with a recent wife younger than his daughter, Galloway’s victory in a by-election at Bradford was not really amusing. He en-cashed on sentiments such as ‘haqq’ (rights) and ‘wajib’ (duty), bringing in sensitive issues like Kashmir or Gaza into a local election agenda.

Galloway won because young Bradford Muslims turned out for him in droves- not because of domestic issues but because he tailored his message to appeal to their religious passions and prejudices about conflicts abroad. As the Daily Telegraph pointed out on Saturday- his victory was a slap on Westminster’s

ough in difficult financial times. Hounslow is one of the most diverse places in London, and indeed the country – more than 120 languages are spoken here.

We are also making excellent progress on our five pledges to the community, including make the borough safer, building more affordable homes and regenerating town centres.

Q) What has been the biggest obstacle in your

made the matter much more sensitive than it is!

When Asian Voice asked the panel regarding their view on Livingstone’s method, James Cleverly said, “It is wrong for individuals to separate out people on basis of religion.

London as a city is all about absorbing cultures, not about setting up one group CSN Mayoral Husting- James Cleverley, Valerie Shawcross, Brian against another.

Paddick, Jasvir Singh, Natalie Benett, Lawrence Webb, Brian Paddick, the Siobhan Benita and others Lib Dem’s Mayoral candidate correctly told while he once also bravely political needs, but it’s a Asian Voice, “Ken declared that the ‘Jews will shame that it is thoroughly Livingstone is behaving like not vote for him’ because contaminated with the ‘pola bad 70s comedian, who is ‘they are too rich’! itics of religion’! making jokes and he doesn’t Livingstone- a pioneer Livingstone on the care who he upsets! of multi-faith celebrations other hand has openly A Mayor of London in Britain especially declared that if he won the should be bringing people London, talking ‘religion’ to elections he would make together not upsetting win a ‘mere’ election, has ‘London a beacon of Islam’

career?

A) There haven’t been any real obstacles, other than finding the time to offer the help and support which people in our community have needed over the years. I have been very lucky and my wife was very supportive in helping me to do this, especially when my two sons were very young.

Q) Who has been the biggest influence on your career to date?

A) Mike Nicholls, who was a councillor in my ward when I was first elected onto the council.

He never hid his views, and always said what he felt, and strongly. Cllr Alf King, a former Leader of the council, was another influence and always encouraged me.

Q) What is the best thing about your current role?

A) We have a very clear vision for Hounslow and we are making excellent progress delivering it. I was very pleased to be able to report on our progress to the last borough council meeting.

There is a long way to go and much to do, but we are succeeding for our communities. It is satisfying to meet people who we are helping and whose lives we are improving.

Q) And the worst?

A) Inevitably having to make the level of savings – which we are, year on year – because of the Government’s cuts is hard. But despite this I am proud of our record of minimising the impact on frontline services which them.” Valerie on Ken’s defence said, “The Labour party believes all people are equally important. Ken who is an atheist himself, fought for everybody’s equal rights during GLC days and even during the start of GLA. He has done things when they were required though they were unpopular.

Livingstone is a man who has set up all faith festivals in London’s Trafalgar square and people are now making nasty personal attacks and misquoting him.”

The facts about his GLC and GLA initiatives are definitely accepted. But as Siobhan Benita- a very fiery and prompt independent candidate said, “We are here talking about old records.

What about the new ones?

Neither Livingstone (or

residents depend on.

Q) What are your long term goals?

A) Regenerating Hounslow and Brentford town centres is very important to our longterm vision for the borough. Keeping Heathrow Airport, but not expanding Heathrow Airport, is also very important to the borough. There are also many health problems across Hounslow and we need to work with our partners in the NHS to solve them.

Q) If you were Prime Minister, what one thing would you change?

A) I would want to govern in the interests of everyone. The common man and woman seem to have been forgotten sometimes by the coalition. We need to think about communities as a whole and create better opportunities and better lives.

Q) If you were marooned on a desert island, which historical figures would you like to spend your time with and why?

A) Mahatma Ghandi, because of how he inspired people on a spiritual level and because of how he was truly without caste or creed. Nehru, because of the way he established a socialist pattern of society in India and laid the foundations for industry. He was truly an international leader. I also rather liked Michael Foot, who stuck to his principles and beliefs and led the Labour Party with great integrity.

Boris) turn up in events where there are no votes to be had. They simply don’t care and I have seen that myself so many times.”

The debate that followed saw topics such as youth employment, fair representation in events, transport, policing, energy costs, neighbourhood safety, community budget, gender equality, financial and housing issues discussed, while the audience asked penetrating questions, as they hoped for a ‘sensitive’ and ‘compassionate’ future Mayor, who would rightfully earn authorities to control over £3.2 billion annual budget of the GLA, in May 2012. It was a well sought initiative to gather Mayoral candidates before such intelligent audience.

Well done CSN!

Asian Voice - Saturday 7th April 2012

COMMENT

Invoking race, faith for electoral fight is untenable George Galloway’s victory in the by-election to Bradford West was totally unexpected. But the means he used were untenable. His victory was of a kind most often seen in the US Bible belt, and unknown in Britain for many years. His was the first election for a generation or more so nakedly fought through the invocation of race and faith.

“All praise to Allah!” said the new MP, to the crowd. And throughout the campaign, Mr Galloway expressed no doubt that there was another, guiding hand at his side.

His election would, he said, help satisfy voters “wajib” (duty) to care about the Aqsa (Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem), about the people under occupation in Kashmir, about the massacre in Kandahar.” Mr Galloway had some useful allies in Yorkshire, too. At his main rally earlier, one of his supporting speakers was Abjol Miah, a leading activist in both Respect Party and extremist Islamic Forum of Europe, which wants to create a sharia state in Europe. Then there was the Muslim Public Affairs Committee (MPAC), another radical group that campaigned against a Labour MP for being “Jewish” (she wasn’t, as it happened.) It waded in strongly, repeating the baseless smears against Labour candidate Imran Hussain. Mr Galloway, said MPAC, was a teetotaler, “a defender of Muslims and Bradford West’s last hope.”

But the electors of Bradford West ought to prepare themselves for representation of a fairly idle kind, if Mr Galloway’s record is anything to go by. The last time he was an MP, Mr Galloway managed to participate a full 8 per cent of votes in the House of Commons. Mr Galloway’s support for the tyrannous regimes in Iraq and Syria implies that he is prepared to avert his gaze from murder, torture and the systematic violation of the rights of citizens. They have also elected a man whose opposition to the conflict in

Afghanistan seems to extend to ambivalence even about armed attacks on British soldiers.

On the other hand the by-election result was a disaster for Labour Party. Not just the result, but also the campaign itself. It was a campaign marked by a belief that the election would be a coronation for its candidate Imran Hussain.

Though this was not a referendum on the government nor was it a referendum on the Labour Party on the national stage it was a referendum on the local politics that have come to define the Bradford West district and which the Bradford Labour Party shamelessly ignored.

Despite its reputation as a multi-cultural melting pot, Bradford West is not unlike many English villages in the sense that it is the sort of closeknit community. News and gossip can spread like wildfire and that certainly happened during the campaign. In spite of this, Labour seemed to think that they had the election in the bag and didn’t need to relate to the electorate in the way Mr Galloway has done. They assumed they could simply rely on Labour voters to turn up and vote, come what may; that there was no need to seriously engage with the electorate as Mr Galloway had done.

The lesson to take away from this election is that we take young people’s votes for granted at our peril. Labour got arrogant and cocky and got humiliated because they underestimated Mr Galloway and they took the working class for granted. Labour believed the people of Bradford West would vote for a second-rate candidate just because he’s a Labour boy. The voters saw a genuine alternative and they defected in the thousands. The Tories also lost very badly and the Lib Dems lost their deposits. They must learn from Bradford West or we are likely to see the same results repeating again.

Democracy taking root in Myanmar In what could usher a new era in Myanmar (formerly Burma) politics, pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s party on Sunday claimed landslide victory in the recently held by-elections in the country. The by-election was a test for Burma’s nascent reform credentials and could convince the West to lift sanctions on the country.

For starters, Nobel laureate and pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi – who spent the better part of the last two decades under house arrest – will take public office for the first time. This is also a victory for her perseverance. Even under severe threat she never lost faith in democracy. While full official results are awaited, Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) has already claimed victory in 43 out of the 45 seats that went to polls, including Suu Kyi’s Kawhmu constituency. Not since its landslide victory in the 1990 elections – which was subsequently rejected by the military junta – has the NLD had a stake in Myanmar’s legislative process. It did not participate in the 2010 polls that saw a nominally civilian government come to power. But a slew of reforms over the past year spearheaded by President Thein Sein has raised hopes of a democratic renaissance.

Scores of political prisoners have been released,

media restrictions eased, formation of unions allowed and ceasefires implemented with several insurgent ethnic groups.

Coming in the wake of these encouraging signs, the by-elections mark a watershed moment in Myanmar’s history. And though the polls were far from perfect – electoral list errors were reported from across the country – they do represent the first steps towards genuine democracy in Myanmar. And it’s in the incumbent government’s interests to make the transition irreversible. The international community has already pledged support for Myanmar’s reform process with the US announcing restoration of diplomatic ties. Confirmation of largely fair bypolls would warrant calibrated easing of economic sanctions. There’s no denying that engagement with Myanmar has yielded far greater benefits for its people than isolation. This has been India’s position all along. As a nascent democracy takes hold, the international community must stand behind Myanmar more than ever. Myanmar has to go ahead with more reforms. Far too many political prisoners are still locked behind bars, violence continues against ethnic minorities and the military dominates not only the composition but the structure of the government.

Remembering the Falklands war It is almost 30 years to the day that Falklands war broke out on the far side of the Atlantic. General Galtieri, the military dictator of Argentina, who had taken power in a coup with his coterie of likeminded generals, was keen to acquire legitimacy in his country. He believed the Falkland Islands, which were under British sovereignty and inhabited for long years by people of British stock, would be easy pickings for the Argentinian forces. An Argentinian victory over the British over the Malvinas - which is the Argentine name for the Falklands - would be celebrated with due pomp and circumstance.

As with adventures of this type, the Galtieri regime's calculations proved hopelessly off the mark.

No doubt the Falklands were many thousands of miles from British shores and it would be relatively easy for Argentina get in the first telling blow. This indeed turned out to be the case. In temporary occupation the Falklands, General Galtieri and his associates were convinced that the conflict had been won and that their gamble had paid off.

Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was the rock on which their hopes floundered. She rightly earned the sobriquet 0f the "Iron Lady". She mobilised the

British nation and its armed forces and set them out to do battle with the invaders. The Royal Navy and Air Force paved the way for the landing of British troops on the disputed territory and the Argentine aggressors were duly defeated and expelled. In all the war lasted 74 days. This was Mrs Thatcher's finest hour.

The Argentine dead numbered over 600, the British some 400 and more. The war, like all wars, was a tragedy, with the inevitable loss of life that characterises such conflicts. But the lesson that aggression does not pay was firmly meted out and the Galtieri regime collapsed: democracy returned to Argentina.

Remembering the war dead, Britain has cause to recall members of her ethic communities who made the supreme sacrifice to uphold the honour of their country and the right of the Falklanders to choose their rulers and way of life. On this were Pradip Gandhi, a Briton of Indian origin and a number of valiant Gurkhas.Their deaths represented a cameo of greater struggles in two world wars, where members of far flung corners of the British Empire shed their blood to honour their oaths of loyalty.

www.abplgroup.com

3

Thought for the Week If we choose to focus our awareness and energy on those things and people that bring us pleasure and satisfaction, we have a very good chance of being happy in a world full of unhappiness.

- Gordon Livingston MD (2004)

Political Sketchbook Alpesh Patel’s Why Couldn’t Kashmir Have Been Like The Falklands?

This past week saw the 30th anniversary of the invasion by Argentine forces of the British Falkland Islands. Britain went in, reclaimed its sovereign territory. End of story. Why wasn’t Kashmir like that for India? Because the British are more adapt at the UN than their Indian counterparts.

Make no mistake the Falklands conflict was warranted under specific UN resolution. Security Council Resolution 502 demanding immediate withdrawal of all Argentine forces from the Falklands, had been adopted, with mandatory force.

Most UN resolutions matter little. This British sponsored one mattered a lot. How could the British risk taking matters to the UN? How come India, in doing the same over Kashmir, has been in stalemate for 60 years? After all, the Americans, European and the Commonwealth simply did not support the British position over the Falklands. If anything the British were in a far weaker position than India in 1948 over Kashmir when it went to the UN. Yet the British did not act unilaterally.

They went to the UN. Even at a time when the majority of the 15 member Security Council could barely be counted on to support the former Colonial power.

What was critical is that Britain drafted a Resolution which made what Reagan called this ‘bunch of rocks’ a Chapter 7 security and peace issue and not a Chapter 6 issue (peaceful settlement of disputes). This made the resolution mandatory and legally binding, rather than a weak starting point for endless negotiations. Britain still needed nine Security Council votes, including Spain, Uganda, Jordan and Ireland. (If only the British had not scrapped with or colonized pretty much everyone on the Council at one time or another).

Nevertheless their diplomats managed to get the votes. The heritage of Empire has some benefits – you become very adept at diplomacy and getting your way.

UN Security Council Resolution 47 – of 1948 – concerning Kashmir, is very different. It is a Chapter 6 Resolution – therefore without mandatory enforceability and non-binding. So when it required that Pakistan ‘withdraw all nationals who entered the region’, it could be safely ignored by the Pakistanis. India’s error was not that it filed the dispute in the UN, as is commonly thought, after all it sought to be a leading light in the world – this was a nation in which Gandhiji still lived – but that it filed it under Chapter 6 – which simply does not require any mandatory enforcement.

If ever you want to know whether the West is going to War – just ask if it is seeking a Chapter 7 UN Security Council Resolution. Iraq II, was the same in 2003. UN Security Council Resolution 1441 of 1992 was also a Chapter 7, peace and security, Resolution demanding ‘a final opportunity to comply with its disarmament obligations’. It was the breach of this, incidentally, WMD, or not, had nevertheless occurred and military force was legally warranted under the Resolution (and that is the response to all those who say it was an illegal war, or ask why did we go to war). All 15 Security Council members voted in favour of this Resolution – including China and Russia and Syria.

Russia and China have now caught on. They will block such Western resolutions in future. Once bitten, twice shy. Incidentally, China and Russia abstained on the Falklands Resolution. Today, they would veto.

Alpesh B Patel www.PoliticalAnimal.me

4

Asian Voice - Saturday 7th April 2012

Leicester Voice Email: majithia.meera@gmail.com

In brief

Local MP turns to acting

By Meera Majithia

Radio presenter wins national award A female radio presenter is jumping for joy after scooping up Bronze prize at the national Hospital Broadcasting Association Awards for her ‘Special Event’ report.

Talvinder Chaggar (known as Tindy C), from Rushey Mead, bagged the prize for her report on last year’s Leicester Mela for Radio Fox. Speaking about the win, Tindy said: “It was magical, I felt so proud for Radio Fox. I’m really pleased that my hard work paid off. I really wanted to give our audience a flavour of what was going on in the world outside of hospital. My aim was to bring the hustle and bustle of the mela to their bedsides.”

Equally proud of her

nomination for Best Female Presenter and ranking in the top 10, Tindy added: “I felt absolutely chuffed.”

She joined Radio Fox as a volunteer in 2006 and started up a show called Diva Fever, which consists

of a mix of Bollywood, bhangra and urban music.

Since starting radio presenting, Tindy has interviewed a number of household names in the music industry, including the likes of Jaz Dhami, Mona Singh and Harbhajan Mann.

However, working as a presenter was not always at the top of Tindy’s to-do list.

She was training to be a top-shot lawyer in the city of London, when she sadly met with a traffic accident in 2003. This threw everything up in the air for her career and life plans, and left her with various limitations after spending months irecovering in hospital.

It was after becoming a member at Headway – a day centre for survivors of head injuries – that she gained

the confidence to start something new.

Tindy said: “I was invited as a guest on Raj and Pablo’s show (on the BBC Asian Network). I was at home after my accident, so I thought why not give it a go. When I got there, I couldn’t believe people got paid to have so much fun.

And this was when I decided to apply to Radio Fox. I absolutely love working for the station – joining was the best decision I ever made!”

The nomination and award has also given Tindy the confidence to change the direction of her show and she is seriously considering taking up a profession in journalism.

You can catch Tindy C on Sunday afternoons from 4pm on Radio Fox.

Added support for Indian business visas The Leicester Asian Association Business (LABA) launched their business visa support service at their head office in Oadby, Leicester on Saturday March 31st.

Hosted by the president of LABA Jaspal Singh Minhas, the event was launched by The Rt Hon Edward Garnier QC MP, and was also attended by leading industrialists and politicians, including Kartar Singh, Consul General of India from Birmingham.

Mr Garnier said: “The service will give businesses in the region a single point of contact for business visas to

plimented Baljit Singh, the CEO of Indo British Trade Council on the considerable strides being made to promote bilateral trade between food and drink companies in the region with India.

Lata Dattani will manage the L-R: Raj Raithatha, LABA's business advisor, Lata Dattani, Shri Kartar service and she can be contacted Singh Consul, General of India, Jaspal Singh Minhas, President of at LABA’s offices LABA, Edward Garnier QC MP and Baljit Singh, CEO of IBTC at 51 Kenilworth India and provide further between the region and Drive, Oadby, Leicester, LE2 assistance to enhance bilatIndia.”

5LT or on visas@labauk.org eral trade and tourism He also specifically com-

Leicester’s first South Asian Film Festival to go ‘beyond Bollywood’ Twelve South Asian films, many of them never screened in the UK before, will be shown as part of a groundbreaking new film festival starting on Friday 6th April at Phoenix Square in Leicester.

Rather than showing mainstream Bollywood films, the organisers of the new South Asian Film Festival Phoenix Square and First4Events - will showcase the breadth of independent and regional cinema produced in the Indian subcontinent. The Festival will begin with six films screening over the weekend of 6th - 8th April and continue with a film every week for the next 3 months, and plans to grow the festival in the future. All the films will be shown at Phoenix Square on its stateof-the-art cinema screens with English subtitles in a variety of languages including Hindi, Bengali, Gujarati, Punjabi and Kannada.

The wide range of films

to be shown include the UK premiere of international award-winning Harun Arun, a Gujarati film which addresses the partition of India and its impact on one young Pakistani boy separated from his grandfather on a journey across the border to Lakhpat.

Mother India – a cult classic - tells the story of one woman’s struggle to keep her land and dignity whilst raising her two sons after her family are conned by a corrupt money lender.

The UK premiere of Riwayat - in Hindi – looks at infanticide and the intentional killing, since 1984 alone, of 100 million baby girls, 40 million in India alone.

Riwayat brings the issue to light in an artistic and sensitive manner with the colour, song and dance of classic Indian films.

“Indian cinema is famous in the west for mainstream Bollywood films, but there is so much more depth

Mr John Rance CEO Phoenix Media Center, Organisers Nick & Mala Kotecha and Rt Hon Keith Vaz, MP

to the region’s film output,” said John Rance, CEO of Phoenix Square. “With this festival we will be revealing for the first time some exceptional South Asian cinema – films that sit outside the mainstream and are much the richer for it.”

Nick Kotecha of First4Events in Leicester commented, “With its city centre location, Phoenix Square is the perfect venue to bring rich south Asian culture into the heart of the city.

With their healthy appetite for quality world cinema, we

know Phoenix customers will enjoy these films as much as the south Asian community.”

The South Asian Film Festival was officially launched at Phoenix Square on 23rd March by the Rt. Hon Keith Vaz MP together with several councillors and guests.

Tickets for films are available from the Phoenix Square box office on 0116 242 2800 or online at More information about the Festival is available at www.first4events.com

Leicester East MP, Keith Vaz, has been given a role in an international film currently being shot in the city.

The film, titled Jadoo, is being shot in the heart of Belgrave Road and tells the story of two chef brothers who fall out and set up rival restaurants on opposite sides of the road and spend the next 20 years trying to out-do each other.

Speaking about his role, Mr Vaz said: “I am delighted that this significant international film is being shot in my constituency on Belgrave Road, the best, busiest and biggest Asian shopping street in Europe. This year in my 25th year in

Parliament I am immensely proud to represent the people of Leicester East. I have always wanted to play a part in a movie, however small that part may be, and I am thrilled about this opportunity to show-off my constituency.

My character will in many respects be similar to the real me. I, like the rest of Britain love to eat curry and we have the best curries in the world on Belgrave Road.”

Mr Vaz will appear alongside legendary chef Madhur Jaffrey as a judge for a cooking competition between the brothers. The film also stars Harish Patel (Run Fatboy Run) and Kulvinder Ghir (Goodness Gracious Me).

Witness a fusion of British and South Asian culture at a brand new public exhibition at the New Walk Museum and Art Gallery in the city.

Titled ‘Suits and Saris’ the exhibition opened up to the public on Saturday, March 31s and forms part of the Stories of the World project for the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad.

It celebrates and debates the fusion of British and South Asian fashion traditions and how it has been translated on to the nation’s high streets.

Visitors can explore global and Leicester fashion stories and how they have influenced the clothes we wear every day. It also investigates previously unexplored aspects of British Asian fashion worlds, such as the role of East African Asians in Leicester.

City Mayor Peter Soulsby, who opened the exhibition, said: “This exhibition is very important to the city as it highlights both the role Leicester has played in fusing British Asian fashion and the textile trade the city is built on. It is also the first in a line of events in Leicester’s Cultural Olympiad programme to celebrate the 2012 London Olympics.”

In the weeks leading up to the new exhibition, a group of eight young people, aged between 13 and 15, created a ‘flash mob’ and carried out a number of surprise synchronised performances across the city.

The free exhibition will run until Sunday, October 7th. For further details, contact New Walk Museum and Art Gallery on, 0116 225 4900 or visit museums@leicester.gov.uk

A special evening was organised in the heart of the city boost funds for the new Cardiovascular Research Centre (CRC).

A Heartbeat Ball was held on Thursday, March 29th by the Cardiovascular Research Centre Appeal Group to raise part of the £1m public appeal to equip the new research centre at Glenfield Hospital in Leicester.

Held at the Athena venue, the event was filmed by premier sponsor and Asian television channel, Star Plus. Attendees were treated to a grand reception with fine cuisine, live music and a gala auction.

Some of the eye-popping prizes included an all expenses paid trip to Mumbai, a cricket bat signed by the Indian cricket team and a Jaguar driving experience.

Local businessman, Birju Ghelani, Chair of the

Heartbeat Ball organising Committee and MD of St George’s Nurseries, said: “I am aware of many people and families in the local community who have been affected by heart disease and because of this I am fully committed to supporting the CRC appeal.”

Prior to the event, Steve O’Connor, Director of Development at the University of Leicester, said: “We are very excited to be hosting the Heartbeat Ball at Athena in Leicester, which promises to be a spectacular evening to raise vital funds towards the completion and equipping of the new £12.6m Leicester CRC at the University’s teaching hospital in Glenfield.”

In the East Midlands, nine people die prematurely of heart disease every day, and the cardiac services at the university’s teaching hospital see over 16,000 patients every year.

A fusion of fashion where east meets west

On the ball with a hearty appeal

UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 7th April 2012

30 years on: Remembering Indian blood lost at Falklands war Britain and Argentinian leaders celebrated 30th anniversary of the outbreak of the Falklands war in their own particular ways.

While David Cameron marked the the 30th anniversary of the invasion of the Falkland Islands with a reaffirmation of Britain’s determination to uphold the islanders’ right to determine their own future, Argentina, had the rioters attacking the British embassy, for old times’ sake In an article in the Daily Telegraph today, Foreign Secretary William Hague described Argentina’s recent aggressive actions as “deeply regrettable” and said the government’s statements “have impressed few people, including in South America”.

It was 30 years back that Generral Galtieri, the military dictator of Argentina, who had taken power in a coup with his supporting generals, who were ambitious to acquire legitimacy in his country.

He believed the Falkland Islands, will be easily won from the holds of Britain which is 11,000 miles away while they are just about 4000 miles away.

As with adventures of this type the Galtieri

regime’s calculations proved hopelessly off the mark. Thatcher showed faith and immense courage as she backed her soldiers fighting thousands of miles away.

The Argentine dead numbered over 600, the British some 400 and more. The war, like all wars, was a tragedy, with the inevitable loss of life that characterises such conflicts. But the lesson was learnt that that agression does help and democracy was retuned to the soil of Argentina.

Remembering those who lost their lives to uphold the honour for Britain also included people from ethnic communities including the Gurkhas

and one Pradeep Gandhi.

It is obvious that to be a super power, without courage and conviction nothing is achieved, but it was not the first time an Indian soldier died for Britain. The Memorial gates that stand in the heart of Central London represent a cameo of greater struggles in two world wars, where in the name of loyalty and sacrifice towards Britain- millions have died from Asian subcontinents.

Britain should remember India, Pakistan, Nepal and many other countries have had its people giving lives for it. That establishes their stake in this country- that remains irreplaceable over centuries.

5

Broad day light robbery in a jewellers shock residents

Around 10 robbers made off with loot worth thousands of pounds after targeting Raj Jewels in Ealing Road on Wednesday and set fire to their car before storming Raj Jewels in Ealing Road, where they forced staff to hand over an unknown quantity of valuable Asian gold jewellery at around 11.50am.

Alexandru Pavaluca, 22, of no fixed address, was due to appear at Hendon Magistrates Court charged with robbery.

Officers from the Flying Squad are investigating the robbery.

Greg Warren, who works in the Brent Labour group office opposite the jewellers, told a local paper: “I heard a loud bang, and saw all this smoke coming out of the shop. My first instinct was that there had been a fire in the store, but then I saw

a car on fire and around nine men ran out of the shop down Union Road carrying bags full of gold.”

Detectives investigating the robbery believe the gang created the fire as a diversion tactic while they threatened staff into handing over the Asian-gold jewellery worth thousands of pounds.

Mr Warren added: “The audacity was unbelievable, to do it in broad daylight and in full view.”

Store workers set off security alarms which released smoke into the store and police and fire crews were at the scene shortly after.

Larkha Kay, who has owned the store since 1991 described the attack, as ‘very sad’.

He said: “I arrived only a few minutes after the incident, its very sad but there is nothing we can do,

I don’t know how much been taken. My staff were threatened and were scared, this happens to often in this area and it will happen again, people wont to come here any more this country is horrible.”

Cllr Krupa Sheth, who sent the dramatic images showing the car in flames to Asian Voice said, “I was shocked to hear about the incident that occurred at Raj Jewels on the 28th of March. My first concern was if everyone was ok, luckily no one got hurt. It is unsettling to see such a robbery happening; especially in broad daylight. I will be working with the local police and all the traders in the area to prevent future incidents, to make sure the business owners and employees can work safely and the shoppers can roam around without fear.”

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UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 7th April 2012

”It was supposed to be the happiest day of my life” The stigma of mental health in the South Asian community

By Jayna Varambhia and Bijal Shah One in four people are affected by a mental health disorder, with the most common being depression and anxiety. According to the NHS, women are more likely to suffer from depression, whilst men are more prone to substance abuse and suicide. Mental health problems can be triggered by life stresses, disability and poverty, and are common amongst those from ethnic minority groups.

This suggests that one in four members of the South Asian community currently suffer from mental health issues. However in practice this rarely appears to be the case. The stigma, shame and secrecy associated with mental health illness in the South Asian community means that few people are willing to openly admit that they or someone in their family suffer from a mental health condition. This in turn is damaging to their full recovery.

The reality however is that any mental illness is a medical problem that is no different to any other condition such as diabetes or heart disease and needs to be acknowledged.

On 26 January 2012, the City Hindus Network (CHN) in partnership with the Met Police Hindu Association (MPHA) hosted an event to raise awareness on the stigma of mental health in the South Asian community. The event was the first initiative of its kind for a new generation of young British Hindus in the city.

The evening comprised a talk by Dr Rajendra Shah, speciality doctor in psychiatry at Guys Hospital and the Institute of Psychiatry and various speakers who had previously suffered from mental health issues followed by a short film about mental health stigma in a young Indian family called ‘Open Secrets’ directed by awardwinning director Azeem Khan. The evening ended with a Q&A discussion with Dr Rajendra Shah, the speakers, Chandra Shah (Mental Health Charity MIND in Harrow), Vanessa Crouch (London Co-ordinator for the public

awareness campaign Time to Change) and the host for the evening Bijal Shah.

Dr Rajendra Shah talked at length on the medical side of mental health conditions: “the brain is an incredibly complex organ and we know so little about it ... sometimes behaviour and speech can become dysfunctional resulting in difficulties ranging from mild symptoms such as mild anxiety to more debilitating symptoms.”

Symptoms - what to look out for: Frequent negative thinking Sleep disturbances Changes in appetite Suicidal thoughts Self harm Paranoia/odd beliefs Withdrawal from friends and activities Problems sleeping

Even though not all conditions are the same, there are a number of behavioural changes that concerned family members and friends can look out for. These include frequent negative thoughts, sleep disturbances, changes in appetite, suicidal thoughts, self harm, paranoia and odd beliefs.

The trigger for one of the speakers at the event who battled with depression was her wedding day.

“My depression was triggered by what was supposed to be the happiest day of my life. The ceiling panel at my wedding reception fell down and injured me. I was suffering with nightmares and flashbacks and my doctor prescribed counselling and medication. I was hospitalised three times, and it was only when I was in hospital that I realised that I was not alone. I didn’t want people to tell me to cheer up, or tell me to have a cup of tea ... all I wanted was for someone to listen and acknowledge what I was going through.”

Mental health problems are usually kept closely guarded secrets.

Prevention of community gossip and potential damage to family reputation are reasons cited for not disclosing their illness.

According to a 2010 report, published by Time

to Change found that someone had “kept their illness a secret from their spouse for more than 20 years.”

The new spouse of a person with mental health difficulties may be blamed for their illness by the inlaws. This can be incredibly isolating. These types of attitudes are often rooted in our culture, which often attribute mental health problems to traditional beliefs such as ‘black magic’ or the ‘evil eye’ being put upon a person.

The event held by CHN in partnership with MPHA and Time to Change was a small step in the journey towards changing public attitudes towards mental health. Given that one in four people are affected by a mental health disorder, it is likely that many of you who read this article will know someone affected.

Through building this understanding, the next generation of young British Hindus can be made more aware and accepting of mental health issues which in itself will help to improve the quality of life of our Hindu brothers and sisters and future generations who may be affected.

Jayna is part of the Media team and Bijal the Personal Development Lead of the City Hindus Network. For those seeking further information and support on mental health issues, the mental health charity MIND in Harrow provides excellent services to improve the quality of life for people experiencing mental health problems.

Information about their work is available on their w e b s i t e : http://www.mindinharrow.org.uk/.

Dr Rajendra Shah is a member of the Healthcare team of BAPS Charities UK (http://bapscharities.org.u k/index.php) and plans to hold various mental health group sessions at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Neasden in order to promote awareness of mental health disorders and recommend appropriate services, including primary care (GPs), specialist services and relevant charities.

Dr Rajendra Shah can be contacted at info@bapscharities.org.uk

Immigration can push down house prices Immigration can push down house prices because it causes wealthier people leave, a Cambridge University research has suggested.

Even a small influx of

people from overseas into an area can have a noticeable effect on the value of local properties as wealthy people move out, the study concludes.

The research, the first

of its kind, contradicts the assumption that immigrants are pushing up house prices and making them unaffordable for those originally there.

By Spriha Srivastava

Profit or Values?

Asian Foundation for Philanthropy (AFP) hosted a special event last Friday called “Absolutely Fabulous: The business of fashion.”

Held at Reed Smith, an international law firm and supporter of AFP, guests were greeted with panoramic views of London as they arrived the perfect setting for a fashion event.

The discussion focused on default business model in the fashion industry which involves exploitation of poor in the fashion industry in countries like India and Bangladesh. The industry definitely looks glamorous from the outside but what lies underneath is exploitation of poor, low pay, harassment of garment workers. When we enter a high street shop and look around at the number of fashionable garments, it never occurs to us that there is a story behind each garment, even if it is a reputed brand we are talking about. However, many companies these days are slowly adapting to an alternative business model. On Friday, AFP invited two businesses to talk about this alternative business model.

Sital Punja, a UK manufacturer and service provider (our very own Mary Portas) spoke of the gap she found in the UK manufacturing industry. Realising that many fashion houses that outsource from abroad couldn’t make samples or a smaller number of units for designers in the UK, s h e grabbed at a great opportunity.

Her business partner and she decided for one year they would open their own manufacturing unit manufacturing a small number of dockets and to support upcoming designers to make their portfolios.

They were successful.

From the outset, it was important to Sital to make sure that she could provide local jobs and maintain a dying skill set. As Sital says “Everyone wants to be a designer but no-one wants to make the

clothes”.

Whilst researching this, she was shocked to find a large number of sweatshops here in the UK. The sweatshop model was not something she wanted to follow. So they work with local people, provide opportunities for training and support the UK manufacturing industry, what many believe will save our current economic woes.

The second speaker Menissa, a UK-based manufacturer set up a business with her sister in 2007 in order to make profits. But for them, their values were just as important as making profit. They paid fair wages to their suppliers, developed relationships with local weavers and sought to source from artisans themselves. In return, their clothes are unique, worn on the red carpet by people such as Colin Firth’s wife and attract a large and varied consumer. As Menissa said, being ethical doesn’t mean being boring

and the fashion show that followed showed just that. Bright colours, vivid patterns and good quality finishes – all hallmarks of a great collection.

For both the speakers, it has been challenging, like any business but they haven’t compromised on what makes them unique. In a world where mass consumption, mass everything

seems to be the order, they stand out for being different. What they bring to the fashion industry is a sense of individualism, something that has long been lost.

Whilst many argue that profits and values don’t mix, as Sital rightly said, “It’s only in the last 3 decades that we’ve begun to believe that business have no responsibility and are not accountable to their employees and customers. The greed for money has taken away all values away from business but that wasn’t always the case. It’s time that we put an end to that.”

What both women show is that no matter which sector you work, you can make changes to poverty across the world whether it be here in the UK or abroad. That message was clear from the businesswomen but also from AFP Development Ambassadors who had just completed their Gyaan Yatra leadership training. As the 11 individuals c a m e together to celebrate their success the message of the evening was clear – we can all m a k e change happen but we have to work at it.

We all have a role to play.

For Sital and Menissa, it meant sticking to principles to make profit.

For the D e v e l o p m e n t Ambassadors it was to make small changes their own lives to bring about success. In the current climate, this is the time to start thinking of alternative ways of doing things. Don’t miss your opportunity now.

Let us know what you think.

Email Spriha at spriha@abplgroup.com

UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 7th April 2012

Leading Lights

by Rani Singh

Special Assignments Editor

Dr Amrita Narlikar (D.Phil. Oxon, Ph.D. Cantab) is the Director of the Centre for Rising Powers at the University of Cambridge. Still in her thirties, she is amongst the youngest tenured faculty members to hold a readership at Cambridge. Her academic record is of consistent and outstanding excellence: History (Hons) at St Stephen’s College, Delhi University; record high marks for her MA in International Relations at Jawaharlal Nehru University, and numerous prizes won throughout her career. She won scholarships for her M.Phil. and D.Phil. at Balliol, Oxford, and came to Cambridge as a permanent member of faculty in 2004.

Q How many books have you written?

A: I have authored or edited seven books, and am currently completing two new ones. One of these is a co-authored book on India’s bargaining strategies, which is under contract with Oxford University Press, while the other is a special issue of the Chatham House journal, International Affairs, on the issue of Rising Powers, which I been invited to guest-edit.

Q How do you manage your workload?

A: It’s about enjoying what you do. I greatly enjoy my research; hence the long hours and working on weekends seldom feel like a chore. I also do a lot of teaching, but the quality of students in general at Cambridge is good, and I try to ensure that my research and teaching inform and inspire each other. In addition, I do quite a bit of admin at the university, including serving as Chair of PhD admissions. This is time-consuming, but such tasks make the return to research even more special!

Q What are your roots?

A: My parents are academics and a major source of inspiration. My father – Professor Anant Narlikar is a Cambridge-educated physicist who works on Superconductivity (and has edited or authored over 60 books with international publishers). My mother – Dr Aruna Narlikar – holds a doctorate in English literature, and is an artist, writer and media personality.

Q You were a Fellow at Oxford, then Yale.

A: Yes, I am in fact

the only member of my family to have studied at “the other place” Oxford, whereas my father, uncle, grandfather and granduncle all won scholarships to read Mathematics or Physics at Cambridge! They still joke about their relief about my having finally “seen the light” and moved to Cambridge!

Q Do you have to isolate yourself to be so productive?

A: Yes, indeed – so the weekends and vacations often involve intensive hard work. But research is quite a communal activity, which we promote at our Centre for Rising Powers. I am a Fellow of Darwin College, which is a stimulating intellectual environment to be in. I also greatly enjoy interacting over research questions with different audiences.

I spoke, for example, at the Guardian’s Hay Festival last year, and speak frequently in seminars and international public events.

Q How did the Centre for Rising Powers came into existence?

A: The Centre for Rising Powers is founded on a unique idea, which I think won positive backing from senior colleagues within the university and outside. The idea is to study the BRICs, of course, but also to study the rise and fall of new powers from a historical perspective and a theoretical perspective. Hence, for example, we are just as interested in the rise of Germany and Japan in the last century as we are in the rise of the BRICs today. The Centre is uniquely interdisciplinary and at the cuttingedge of research: we have distinguished econo-

Dr Amrita Narlikar

mists, historians, political scientists and practitioners on our team. And although a relatively young Centre, we have already organized several high-profile events. This February, for example, we held a very successful two-day conference that brought together prominent academics, diplomats, and people from the business world. You can read more about the Centre on http://www.polis.cam.ac. uk/crp/ Q Given your origins, will the Centre focus specifically on India?

A: The Centre for Rising Powers, as the name suggests, has a natural place for Indiafocused research projects. At this point, we have close relations with institutions and negotiators in Brazil, and only a few select links with India (though I am delighted to say that both Professors Jagdish Bhagwati and Rajiv Kumar are on our International Advisory Board). So this is a definite area for cultivating future links, and hopefully some of your readers will be intrigued and inspired towards this!

Q What do you do for recreation?

A: I used to be in the rifle shooting team of St Stephen’s College, but now enjoy playing billiards instead!

Grass with Gandhi’s blood for sale

Grass with a drop of Mahatma Gandhi’s blood and soil from the place where he was assassinated in 1948 in New Delhi are among rare items to be put up for auction in the UK on April 17. Other items include a pair of Gandhi’s round-rimmed glasses, ‘charkha’, a 10 inch 78rpm Columbia disc of Gandhi giving his spiritual message signed by him, and original photographs of Gandhi visiting London in 1931.

The items, along with letters in English by Gandhi to Raghavan, Sgt NER Poduwal in Rangoon, and letters by Gandhi in Gujarati and a prayer book in Gujarati are expected to fetch nearly 100,000 in the auction conducted by auctioneer Mullock’s in Shropshire.

The highest guide price - 10,000 to 15,000 - has been set by the auctioneer for three items in the collection: the pair of glasses, ‘charkha’ and a casket containing the soil and blades of grass from the spot where Gandhi was killed in New Delhi.

The soil and blades of grass were collected by one P P Nambiar, who describes the samples in a provenance, and are placed in a small wooden casket containing a small glass topped box.

The description of the item says: “The casket comes with a letter of provenance by P P Nambiar

dated September 24th, 1996 saying that the recipient..has today received the most sacred of all relics a fraction of the pinch of soil I collected on January 30, 1948 from the spot where the Father of our nation M K Gandhi fell to the bullets of his assassin.”

Mullock’s says that the item is also accompanied by a copy of ‘True but never heard before’ by P P Nambiar, which is a personal account of collecting the

soil sample on the day Gandhi was murdered.

It quotes Nambiar’s words...”in my search I found a drop of blood on the grass almost dried”.

“I cut the grass and also took two pinches of soil from the brink of the pothole which I wrapped in a piece of Hindi newspaper found nearby.

This is in my box even today. I keep it in a jewellery box brought by me from Indo-China in a later year.

To me it is a treasure of immense sentimental value.”

Gandhi’s glasses under auction were bought in London around 1890 when he studied Law.

CIIr Navin Shah Labour’s Local GLA Candidate for Brent and Harrow Dear Readers, Due to the Mayoral and GLA elections, after nearly 4 years of continuous dialogue with you, I'm having to take a break from writing my column until the first week of May 2012. I have enjoyed sharing and communicating with you a range of diverse topics and will be back with you in the second week of May when I'd resume our dialogue through my 82nd column in the Asian Voice. Until then my best wishes to you all.

Correction Navin Shah is Labour's Local GLA Candidate for Brent and Harrow and not Assembly Member as published in the 24th March issue.

Three men jailed For Fife Killing Three men who carried out the “pre-meditated brutal” murder of a businessman were jailed for life last week. Mohammed Nadeen Siddique, 38, known as Toby, was shot dead in a flat in Forres Drive, Glenrothes, Fife on October 24 2010 His brother “Mo”, 42year-old Mohammed Azam Siddique, who hired the hitman and the “driving force” behind the murder, was jailed for at least 25

years.

Tencho Andonov, 28, the Bulgarian gunman who pulled the trigger, was told he would spend a minimum of 29 years behind bars.

Andonov had also been convicted of attempting to murder another man.

The third man, Bulgarian Deyan Nikolov, 27, described in court as the conduit between his two co-accused, was ordered to serve at least18 years in prison.

The men were sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh where they were convicted last month after a long-running trial which began in October.

Judge Lord Kinclaven told them: “You have each been convicted by verdict of the jury of the most serious of crimes.”

The trial which resulted in the convictions was one of the longest murder cases in recent Scottish legal history.

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Asian Voice - Saturday 7th April 2012

Midland Voice

Contact: Dhiren on 07970 911 386 or dhiren.katwa@abplgroup.com Dee Katwa News in Brief Imagine life on 10p a week An unemployed man from Birmingham has been told he will get just ten pence a week Jobseekers’ Allowance.

The British Indian father-of-two, Mr M, has been out of work for eight months. Up until February this year, he received £105.95 per week, the standard rate for couples. But when

of this is disregarded.

This means we are taking £93.84 from the amount the law states you require to live off.”

Asian Voice sent a media enquiry to the Department of Work

Mulholland, agreed that ten pence per week was “ridiculous”.

He explained that because DWP were paying £44.13 per week housing costs for Mr M, and considering Mr M’s wife was receiving £35.14 per week Working Tax Credit, Mr M was not entitled to any Jobseekers’ Allowance.

The ten pence was “purely for administration purposes”, said Mr Mulholand, adding, “we have to tell the computer system to pay you ten pence per week,” so that Mr M’s claim is kept open for the purpose of National Insurance and other standard contributions.

Suzanne’s sudden exit

he declared to the authorities that his partner had, in the same month, found a parttime job he received a letter from Jobcentreplus stating: “You have declared that your partner is working 18 hours per week earning £103.84 weekly. £10

and Pensions for an explanation. Press officer Clare Djordjevitch responded, giving a weblink to ‘The Beginners Guide to Benefits’, as part of the Direct Gov website. When Asian Voice challenged this further, a DWP spokesman, Shane

Fundraiser dinner raises £1k A dinner and dance event has raised £1,320 for the Midlands Air Ambulance. Held at the Unity Club in Newtown, Birmingham, last Saturday, the fundraiser was organised by generous community activist Kishorbhai Jivraj Vadhia. The evening programme featured karaoke-style songs by Chetan, Mr Vadhia’s son, speeches, slide shows, a raffle, DJ Rana, and several dance and reggae performances by upcoming black youth. The event was compered by rising star Naomi Cunningham, aka Sic’nis, a writer and lyricist. Fatherof-three Mr Vadhia, who is president of Shree Jansari Gnati Mandal Birmingham, has over the years helped several charities, in the UK and in India, and already has a list of similar charity events planned for the year ahead. To find out more about the chosen charity, or to make a donation, visit www.midlandsairambulance.com

Call for cheaper breaks A Birmingham politician is urging travel firms to give families a break by reducing the price of school holiday getaways. Councillor Chaman Lal, pictured, (Lab, Soho) said too many parents were taking their children out of school in term time to bag cheaper deals. “The Government needs to get together with the tourism industry and look at helping struggling families,” said Coun Lal. “If a child is taken out of school to go on holiday, their education will suffer and there is a cost to the community.” During the 2010/11 school year, seven per cent of Birmingham’s 154,000 pupils were “persistently absent”, according to latest figures from the Department for Education.

Baby in womb photos Hospitals are raking in tens of thousands of pounds a year charging mums for photos of their babies in the womb. Some trusts are asking up to £7 for an ultrasound photo, even though many others across the country hand them out for free. Birmingham Women’s NHS Foundation Trust made £52,830 in 2010 by imposing fees of £6 per picture. Emma Boon, from the Taxpayers’ Alliance, said: “Mums-to-be already pay for the NHS through their taxes. Pregnancy is meant to be a happy time for prospective parents, not a moneymaking opportunity for a hospital.”

BBC Midlands Today newsreader Suzanne Virdee was forced to quit two days early, it has emerged. She was barred from presenting the show on Thursday and Friday of last week.

Virdee, pictured, was told of the decision in a phone call from Cath Hearne, head of regional programmes in the West Midlands. Hearne has been at the centre of long-standing bullying at the BBC’s Mailbox complex in Birmingham. Insiders described the atmosphere in the workplace as “poisonous”. Virdee, 42, who is married to photographer Andrew Fox, spent 11 years on BBC Midlands Today. She is now considering legal action against the BBC.

Car crash kills doting dad A dad-of-four was killed when his car overturned in Birmingham as he returned home from a night out with friends. Mohammad Nawaz died when his Seat Leon crashed in Moseley just before midnight last Monday. Car dealer Mohammad, 24, described as a “bubbly character” with a “good heart”, leaves behind his widow Naima, three sons aged four, 18 months and five months and a three-year-old daughter. Mohammad’s sister Yazmeen is now demanding safety measures to be introduced on Wake Green Road, where several of her family and friends have had near-misses.

Photo: Mohammad Nawaz with his son Musa

Protest: Hail Khalistan Scores of Sikhs congregated outside the Indian Consulate in Birmingham last Wednesday to protest against the planned execution of Balwant Singh Rajoana, a Sikh radical in India. The protest, which passed peacefully, saw Sikhs, young and old, dressed in orange, wave placards and chant slogans, among them: ‘Death to India’ and ‘Long Live Khalistan’. Mr Rajoana, pictured, has been on death row since being convicted of conspiracy of murder when he and an accomplice, strapped with explosives, targeted the Chief Minister of Punjab, Beant Singh, in 1995 – killing him and 17 others. A Sikh student, Danny Singh Bhopal, 23, said: “In our eyes Balwant is a freedom fighter who was prepared to die to achieve a separate Sikh homeland for Sikhs.” Also present was the self-styled President of Khalistan in exile, Amrik Singh Sahota, ex-director of Asia 1 TV, a staunch supporter for an independent Khalistan.

Thumbs up to elected mayor An elected mayor for Birmingham will deliver a better deal for Asian businesses, according to Nasir Awan, president of the Institute of Asian Businesses, which is part of Birmingham Chamber. “It is time for the IAB and all Birmingham’s diverse communities to step up and support an elected mayor for Birmingham,” said Mr Awan, pictured. “This is a positive move bringing the city in line with other major cities.” The referendum will take place on May 3.

Top BMX event The biggest event on the world BMX cycling calendar will take place at the National Indoor Arena, Birmingham from May 24-27. More than 2,000 riders from 40 countries will compete for major titles and nations aim to secure places in the London Olympics.

Shoddy DIY skills A report which looked into the nation’s DIY habits has revealed that 26% of citizens in Birmingham have never attempted a single DIY job. The report, commissioned by trade network Job Worth Doing, blamed a lack of skills with over half of the city’s population admitting they did not have the knowledge to complete even simple tasks.

New Development A £35 million retirement village with 200 new homes is being planned for the site of the old Bournville College site, on Bristol Road, Birmingham. Subject to planning consent from Birmingham City Council, the village could open by 2015 with 30 locally-recruited staff working within the new community.

Shrinking carbon footprint Coventry has come top of a league of UK cities for reducing its carbon footprint. The report, carried out

by Oxford Brookes University, praises Coventry for a series of pioneering projects that helped reduce emissions by 21%. At 18%, Wolverhampton and Stoke-onTrent came joint second, while Birmingham nudged in the top ten with a 15% reduction.

£100k stolen from police HQ An investigation has been launched following the disappearance of £113,000 from Warwickshire Police headquarters. The cash – taken from its secure storage area at its HQ in Leek Wooton - had been reported missing in September last year, but has only just been made public. The force has now determined that a wider appeal for information from its workforce and the public is necessary.

Bhangra workshop Indian dance artist Sohan Kailey is holding a Bhangra workshop at The Public, West Bromwich next Sunday (April 15). Sohan will use interactive movements and storytelling to encourage three to 11-year-olds to find out more about the dance form. For details of session times, call 0121 533 7161. Cost is £3 per child.

Peers join BOPIO

Two British Asian peers, Lord Adam Patel and Lord Rana, have become joint presidents of the British Organisation for People of Indian Origin, or BOPIO. The announcement was made at BOPIO’s annual general meeting held at the House of Lords, London last Thursday. BOPIO is a national, non-sectarian, non-racial and apolitical organisation which promotes integration of people from the Indian subcontinent into mainstream British society. BOPIO’s Coventry-based general secretary Davinder Prasad said: “As a Hindu, it would have been impossible for me to be considered even as an ordinary member of a faith-based Hindu organisation like the Hindu Forum of Britain. So for BOPIO to unanimously elect me as general secretary again displays its great inclusivity.”

Photo: BOPIO members outside the House of Commons.

UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 7th April 2012

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Croydon Council accused of ignoring Hindu community Frustrated supporters of a plan to open a Hindu school in Croydon staged a demonstration outside the council’s headquarters on Friday.

Protesters unfurled banners declaring “Hindu community ignored” and “No faith in Croydon Council”, in anger at the decision to reject the bid submitted by the IFoundation.

The education charity’s application to open a school on the site of the Davidson Centre, Addiscombe, won the support of 6,500 people living in the surrounding area.

But the bid was turned down amid concerns regarding their capacity to run a school which is due to open in September.

Prasad Thaker, a leading figure in Croydon’s Hindu community and organiser of the protest, said: “Croydon Council has put cold water over the parents’ rights and we are furious. The IFoundation’s bid was strong. It ticked every box and had a lot of support.

But without the proper consultation or due process it was rejected.

Riot hero is accused of street fight over insult

Tariq Jahan, who appealed for calm after his son was killed during riots in Britain is accused of punching Sajjad Ali, knocking out two teeth after accusing him of looking at his wife, a jury heard on Monday.

Mr Ali told the jury: “He grabbed my throat then punched my forehead. It went black but it felt like he was hitting me for five minutes. Then he ran away.”

Jahan admitted he was in a fight after police traced him but said he lashed out in self-defence after the other man insulted then attacked him.

His lawyer told Ali: “You were angry at the defendant for beeping his horn. You told him to f*** off and when he got out you head-butted him. He hit you only once.”

Jahan, pictured, from Winson Green, Birmingham, denies causing GBH. The trial, at the city’s crown court, continues.

Paresh Mehta, president of the Brambandhu UK Trust, confronts Cllr Tim Pollard during the protest

We cannot understand why.”

The council, however, said it had not ignored public support for the plan and that talks had been held with the IFoundation about potentially opening a school in Croydon in 2013.

Paresh Mehta, president of the Brambandhu UK Trust confronted education chief Tim Pollard

about this decision during the 40-strong protest outside Taberner House.

He said: “When we went to the consultation meeting what really wound us up was that you said you would listen to the community. Now 6,500 people are saying they want a Hindu school but the council didn’t even want to look at the petitions we got. Why did-

n’t the council look at the strength we have before they made their decision?”

Cllr Pollard, cabinet member for children, young people and learners, said these factors had been taken into account but, in the timescale, it would have been “impossible” for I-Foundation to have opened the school in September.

YOUR VOICE

10

Are many gods better than one?

Please refer to the letter on ‘are many Gods better than one’ published in Asian Voice( 24/3/2012). I watch the religious programme ‘ Big Question’ regularly and it is dominated by Muslims, Christians and Jews in the audience and hardly any Hindus and Hindu scholars are invited to the programme. I was very pleased that Jay Lakhani is very familiar with Hindu religion and Hindu philosophy. Hindu religion is not an organised one and hence Hindus have several sects and several gods and several way of worship.

Hindu religion is compartmentalised into various groups such as Hare Krishna, Swaminarayan and Saiva vedanta are not familiar with Santan Dharma itself. There are only handful of Indians who go for degree in Hindu philosophy.

Hinduism is a way of life and unfortunately castes forms very important role in Hindu society for centuries and it is very difficult to get rid of it even if Hindus become Christians or Muslims.

Western missionaries try to portray Hindu religion as caste ridden and Hindu gurus who live very cosy and comfortable life make no attempt to challenge the views on Hinduism.

Hinduism is a very democratic religion with several gods and several ways of worship. It is not dogmatic to insist on one God. The concept of many Gods can be explained by the fact that people can call God in different names just as the people are called by different names which are easy to identify. I strongly feel that Hindus themselves mostly gurus who have not done enough to project positive image of Hinduism and most of them are corrupt.

Arun Vaidyanathan Via Email

General V.K.singh and bribe offer

General V.K.singh is unjustly victimised via date of birth episode and refuting his allegations that he was offered bribe. The episode is not a fight between Gen. V. K. Singh and Government of India, but legitimate administrative procedures.

It is wrongly hyped as fight to hide the real issues. It is not offence to write to Prime Minister, offering or declining bribe, and not joining gravy train. Top politicians were aware of Tatra truck affair which was being investigated since 2009. Defence Minister has defaulted by not asking General V.K. Singh’s allegation in writing, thus scandal may become embarrassing for Honorable M. P.A. A. K.Antony.

Bribe factor is not manifest as cash offer but in escalating buying price of Tatra trucks, which can be bought at half the cost by buying directly from supplier.

Patriotic General V.K. Singh blocked the faulty deal.

Blatant offer of bribe shows that those reaching posh club level, become aware of corruption-gravy train for a ride or feed. Those reluctant to join the gravy train must keep mum, but General Singh

Asian Voice - Saturday 7th April 2012

Hindus under attack

Mahavir Jayanti

We are a quarter of the way through 2012 and already there has been plenty news items and developments around the world regarding Hindus. We are peaceful bunch but its clear to see there is a certain degree of anti Hindu sentiment in various places and we are constantly coming under attack. In Chittagong, Bangladesh over a dozen Hindu temples were vandalised over a two day period 9th - 10th Feb. In Sindh, Pakistan Rinkle Kumari a Hindu girl was kidnapped and converted against her will to Islam and married off to her kidnapper. This case raised a hue and fuss internationally but as of yet the Judge has decided the girl must stay at a hostel and not allowed to go home to her parents. What kind of justice is this? On average this is the same fate of 25-35 Hindu girls kidnapped each month in Pakistan and of these only 6-8 of them are never found by the parents and family of the girls, while the police sits idle.

The southern City of Hyderabad, in India, which is ruled by a coalition of Congress and MIM (muslim party) has proposed a ban on forthcoming Shri Ramnavmi procession in Bhagyanagar area of city. Its seems to me that secularism in India means the majority Hindus must forget about their faith as minority is appeased and pandered to at every opportunity. This is the same coalition that had earlier imposed a ban on ringing temple bells at Bhagyalxmi temple near Charminar mosque, Hyderabad because Muslims had taken offense to it. So with that argument we Hindus could also say that we want a ban on the mosques loud speaker? Is this not double standards?

When this week’s edition of Asian Voice drops on your door mats through the letter box on Thursday, 5 April, it will be the 2611th birth day of Lord Mahavira, the twenty fourth and last Tiranthakara of the Jains. Mahavir Swami was born most probably in the year 599 BC. Therefore, if we add 2012 (the current Christian year) and 599 together, we arrive at the figure 2611.

Hence Mahavir Swami was born 2611 years ago. The exact date is given in the Jain scriptures as the thirteenth day of the bright half (ie when the moon was waxing) of the month of Chaitra. The festival to commemorate this, known as Mahavir Jayanti, is an occasion for great celebration.

Jains gather together to hear Mahavira’s message of Ahimsa (non-violence in the strictest possible sense), Satya (adhering to speaking of truth), Prem (love) and Karuna (kindness) expounded, so that they can follow his teachings and emulate his example.

This year Chaitra Sud Teras falls on 5 April.

So Mahavir Jayanti will be on that day.

Mahavir Swami spread the message of nonviolence, truth, non-stealing, right conduct and non-possessiveness. He campaigned against the barriers of caste, creed and faith. His doctrines of Right Faith, Right Knowledge and Right Conduct are the three jewels, Ratnatraya, of Jain Philosophy by which to achieve the ultimate goal in life.

In India, Jains celebrate this religious event by visiting sacred sites and worshipping the Tirthankaras. We in the UK cannot easily visit sacred sites like Shatrunjay (near Palitana), Sammetshikhar, Pavapuri, Girnar etc therefore we celebrate Mahavir Jayanti locally at Jain temples and assembly halls by singing prayers and exchanging good wishes on or around the day of Mahavira’s birth. We, members of Shree Jain Sangh East London and Essex, will celebrate Mahavir Jayanti on Sunday, 5th April at Upton Centre in East London.

Dharmesh Agravat Manchester

Need to know more about Hinduism

This is my first time to be tempted to write after reading on various remarks in last week`s and this week`s Asian Voice.

Our people have congratulated Mr. Jay Lakhani on his handling and answering questions raised by Christian members in the audience.

I am following Mr. Lakhani`s Crusade to educate the British People by valid explanations on each and every point raised by our ancient religion.

Living in such a fast growing society like Britain we need more people like Jay Lakhani to learn and explain every details of our Puja and ritual system to our younger generation so they can be proud of their Religious Heritage. I would congratulate him for an excellent ambassadorship.

Ravindra J. Nathwani Hindu Chaplain, University of Exeter broke the Omerta code of silence, shaking corrupt hierarchy.

Leaking sensitive data contained in General V. K. Singh’s letter to Prime Minister is high treason, punishable by death.

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In a rare gesture, China’s top leadership hosted his delegation at Great Hall of People and had a free and frank discussion and exchange of ideas on a range of subjects including trade, industry, socioeconomic development, investment, and prevailing global economic scenario. Modi emphasized about the shared heritage of India and China, and common vision for improved quality of lives of their people.

In his meeting with the Mr Wang Gang, Vice Chairman of the China People’s Political

Consultative Conference, (and a member of the politburo of Communist Party of China), Modi showcased Gujarat as a destination with a conducive environment to invest and work. He also explained Gujarat becoming a major tourist destination. He brought out the richness of Buddhist culture in Gujarat which solicited very keen interest among Chinese leadership. He also dwelled upon the ancient Indian and Chinese ethos, relationship, friendship, cultural and business ties.

While showcasing

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Sri Lanka and tourism I read a letter by Edward Mortimer, Chair of the Sri Lanka Campaign for Peace and Justice in the FT on 31 March. I share his sentiments regarding the disruption in lives of minorities and commoners, caused by a ruthless government that wants to make profit- whatever be the method.

India has always stayed on the lines of non alignment. It’s first time even India has voted against Sri Lanka acknowledging the fact that Tamils have suffered there and the Civil War has torn the country into pieces. And they deserve justice.

Yes the country is alluring tourists in great scale, as mentioned by Ms Cadwalladr. And it is also true that the government has turned a blind eye to the minorities who have suffered immensely.

Sri Lanka is indeed a beautiful country and it’s worth visiting. But a country that ‘still quashes dissent, persecutes journalists and resists all attempts to hold a serious investigation of the crimes committed, let along bringing perpetrators to account’- has a lot to straighten before inviting ‘guests’!

It is indeed true that many develop-

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A day after Supreme Court sought to know Centre’s stand on Ram Sethu (RS) or Adam’s Bridge, Tamil Nadu CM Jaya publicly came out in favour of preserving RS and to declare it a national monument, a treasure, as it is of immense importance to the majority of Indians with archaeological, heritage, historic, cultural and religious background. It reflects the sentiment of the nation.

She also urged Tuticorin Port Authority and Ministry of Culture to take over the maintenance, preservation and future development of RS as a tourist attraction with cultural, religious and archaeological flavour. It could become a multi billion rupee industry, attracting tourists from all over the world, rivalling Sri Ram temple complex in Ayodhia if it is ever built, as envisaged by the developer. The CM pointed out that PM approved panel should examine the possibility of routing the alignment 6 cutting through the port of Dhanuskodi rather than dredging it through RS thus destroying 20,000 year old man made structure, the oldest and boldest example of human ingenuity known to mankind.

RS came into prominence after dramatic photographs, images of the bridge taken from the outer space by NASA’s orbiting satellite mapping the Ocean floor were published, showing huge foundation stones placed equidistance, linking India to Sri Lanka. It was a base for the floating bridge constructed under the supervision of Lord Hanuman and his army of ragtag volunteers.

This bridge became a launching pad for Lord Rama’s army to attack Sri Lanka and free Lady Sita, kidnapped by the demon king Ravan. Perhaps it is the economic benefits that drive the Tamil Nadu CM rather than the religious significance, as it would put her State on the tourist map that can not be matched by any other development.

Bhupendra M Gandhi Via Email ments for tourism have happened at the cost of small businesses. Happens perhaps in every country- but to the extend the Lankan government has stooped is not acceptable. The country no doubt is beautiful and has a lot to offer to the visitors. But as the letter suggests just Sinhalisation will not do. The country and its areas- especially the beautiful North deserves restoration and equal opportunities for all to investment- that includes even Tamils.

A Karthik Leeds

Disclaimer Asian Business Publications Ltd (ABPL) is not in any way responsible for the goods and services rendered by its advertisers. The ABPL management accepts all advertisements in good faith and it is entirely up to readers to verify advertisers’ products and services, should they feel the need to do so.

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The cash-strapped airline claimed that it had to drop flights as the company was trying to reconfigure its aircraft.

There was chaos at several airports after passengers complained that they were not intimated about the Kingfisher cancellations.

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Brand ‘Gujarat’ – which is equated with Guangdong of China, he invited Chinese business community and public enterprises to participate in the Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors’ Summit- 2013.

He highlights Gujarat’s special investment regions as areas where Chinese companies could invest. He called on China to invest in infrastructure and power projects in the state, wooing potential investors with a sales pitch that showcased Gujarat as a state with levels of “governance, transparency and stability” that they could not find elsewhere in India. He declared that “the two great countries will make Asia the centrestage of the global economy.”

Ramesh Jhalla Via Email

Dinesh Sheth Newbury Park, Ilford

Ram Sethu a national monument

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A new theory says that any physical activity for 15 minutes every day is a good insurance against a plethora of health problems, be it related to the heart, the brain or even cancer.

A study published in The Lancet, a British medical journal, said that just a quarter-hour of physical exertion a day could reduce a person's risk of death by 14% and increase life expectancy by three years compared to inactive people.

Incidentally, another theory published in a different British journal said daily TV-viewing for six hours could take

away five years from your life.

Adding and subtracting years from your life has never before been quantified in such medical terms, say doctors.

The 15-minute short-cut to good health, in fact, changes the most fundamental rule that was approved by the World Health Organizationthat 150 minutes of activity a week is needed to stay healthy.

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Asian Voice - Saturday 7th April 2012

SARVAM

11

Making a change at India's grassroots For more stories visit www.scribbledesk.com

Short Story by Neha Garg

Hope, Education and Future: Shivkumar got all

Billy Teaches Miss Prickett a Lesson Miss Prickett had punished Billy again.

This was the third time this week. All he had done was try and stop her slapping his best friend Jamie.

Miss Prickett scowled at him down her overlarge nose. Billy always thought that it looked rather like a parrot's beak and did not fit her thin, bony face at all.

For that matter, nothing about Miss Prickett fit any kinds of human standards.

She looked rather like a stretched rubber band.

'Billy Merryweather. Go to the corner and stay there until the end of the lesson,' snapped Miss Prickett, spit flying from her mouth.

Billy sighed and dragged himself to the corner she pointed at. How he wished he was all grown-up and could punish Miss Prickett just like she kept punishing him. But what was a small boy to do?

That evening, Billy's mother took him to the market. He skipped along happily, his pockets jingling with loose change. He loved the market place and almost always found a bargain or two.

He stopped at a small stall that sold a lot of different things. It had pots and pans and pencils and used cricket bats. In one corner stood a big bucket full of a jumble of different things. On the very top sat a rubber Goat with its mouth half open and tongue hanging out like a dog.

'That's only 10 pence sir,' said the shopkeeper following Billy's gaze.

'I'll take it,' said Billy taking a sudden liking to the weird old thing. Maybe he could use it to scare his little sister.

The next day, as Billy got dressed for school, he heard a noise. Crunch, it went.

He walked up to the door and opened it.

There was no one there.

That's puzzling, thought Billy. He had been sure that it was his sister playing a trick on him.

He shrugged his shoulders and went back to buttoning up his shirt when he heard the noise again.

CRUNCH …

This time, Billy followed the sound to his cupboard.

Yep, it was definitely coming from in there.

Billy slowly opened the door a crack and peeped in.

The rubber Goat he had bought at the market place yesterday sat in the middle of his sock pile, in one corner, its tongue hanging out.

'Were you the one making that noise?'

Billy asked the Goat even though he felt really stupid doing so.

The Goat nodded.

Billy stood and stared, convinced he had been mistaken. Surely .. Surely, a rubber Goat couldn't nod. As he watched, the Goat slowly got up and waddle out of the cupboard. It went straight to Billy's bed and started licking one of the bed posts.

'Stop. STOP,' said Billy. 'What are you doing?'

'Must Eat,' said the Goat, rolling its

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tongue back in. 'Goat hungry. No food for weeks!'

It then turned back to the bed post and resumed its licking.

Billy stood watching. An idea was forming in his head. He suddenly smiled.

'Listen, come with me. I will take you somewhere where you can have all the wood you want.'

The Goat smiled happily and immediately followed Billy out of the room.

An hour later, Billy quietly slipped the Goat into a cupboard behind Miss Prickett's desk. He had smuggled him into school under his mac.

'Now, stay quiet for a few minutes and then you can eat all of this wood,' whispered Billy to the Goat as he shut the door.

He hoped the Goat wouldn't start crunching too early and give the game away.

As you will see, however, Billy needn't have worried. The Goat was as good as his word and sat quietly until Miss Prickett was in the middle of her morning roll call when he bit off the inside of the cupboard with a loud CRUNCH! Miss Prickett jumped off her chair.

She scowled at the children in front of her.

'Naughty children! How dare you make such a noise?' she growled.

Almost before she had finished her sentence, there was another loud crunch and the Goat's nose came into view. The children giggled. Miss Prickett, who couldn't see what was happening behind her, thought the children were giggling at her.

'Very Amusing, eh?' she thundered.

'Enjoying yourself, are you, you little devils?'

She walked up to the nearest boy and pulled his ear.

Billy was annoyed. He looked at the Goat, who had just opened his mouth for another bite.

With a crunch louder than any, he stepped out of the cupboard.

Miss Prickett, finally cottoning on, turned around and screamed.

'Eeeeeeekkk!!! Where did this .. this animal come from?' she shouted, jumping up on a chair. 'Children, get it out of here.'

Not one of the children moved.

The Goat, happily sauntered over to where Miss Prickett was and took a huge bite out of her chair leg.

The chair fell forwards, taking Miss Prickett with it.

'Yaaaaaaahhhhhh!' … With a scream, Miss Prickett ran out of the door.

The Goat was at her heels, trying to take a bite out of her skirt. 'A beast. There is a beast in my classroom. Someone please help.'

Billy couldn't hold it in any longer and let out a loud guffaw. He laughed and laughed until he started rolling around on the floor, with tears streaming down his face.

Miss Prickett would definitely think twice before being rude or mean to anyone, from now on.

Mr Vijay Poddar

Semi-orphan and poor Shivkumar and his widow mother had no hope for their life. The mother earned barely enough to get home a day’s meal and Shivkumar had fallen into the company of a bigger rogue boys’ gang in the village. When he failed in all

subjects in the school exams his concerned teacher asked for SARVAM’s help and Shivkumar was enrolled in the morning and evening tuitions at its SATYAM centre in the village. Two years down the lane Shivkumar not only became constructively active, polite and diligent but also topped his class in the annual State Board exams scoring eighty nine percent marks.

Shivkumar’s story is that of many children in India who don’t have support and opportunities to education and better life.

Once caught up in poverty, deprivation and street based rogue elements their lives turn open sores. What Sri Aurobindo Society’s inclusive rural develop-

ment project – SARVAM does is that it reaches to children like Shivkumar in need in the seven villages it has adopted in Villipuram, Tamil Nadu and tries to help them towards realizing their potential and dreams.

Today Shivkumar is studying in eleventh standard and is aspiring to become an engineer. When Shivkumar first came in SATYAM, he daily fought with the other children, there were incidences when he beat and abused them. It took time for the SATYAM team to make him feel comfortable. Daily attention and care helped him overcome his sense of being lost and gradually in six to eight months violent and impulsive Shivkumar evolved into silent, respectful and

his community.

Along with Shivkumar all his classmates passed their exams with five of them securing exceptional grades. It was the first time in the history of the village school that all students had passed the tough tenth

an efficient learner.

When the results were declared Shivkumar’s mother had no idea about his son’s achievement. Her daily struggle to earn food had left her with no room and thought about her son’s education. The family is so poor that Shivkumar had no money to even pay for his eleventh standard school fee. SARVAM again came to his help and provided him with a scholarship of rupees four thousand.

Shivkumar cried and distributed sweets with the few coins he had in his pocket when he heard his results. For him it was not only a dream- come-true but also a long silently fought war won over securing a respectable identity in

standard state board exam unlike earlier when eighty percent children either dropped out in eight standard particularly girls or maximum failed to pass the exams. In this first achievers group studying at SATYAM, 18 were girls and 13 boys. SARVAM’s work with these children has just started. There is a long way to go to help them realize their dreams fully and there are many more youngsters like Shivkumar to help.

If you would like to know more about SARVAM and their activities or would like to donate please speak to Mrs Shilpa Shah on 07931717288 (between 2.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m) or email on shilpa.sarvam@gmail.com

Shivkumar

BBC apologises for calling Hindu festival Holi “filthy” British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has apologised for labeling Hindu festival of Holi as “filthy festival”, which had upset the Hindus worldwide.

In an email to Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, BBC News’ Editor On Demand Mark

Barlex wrote: “…we apologise for any offence that was caused.”

BBC News website posted a short video on March 29 under its “week’s weird videos” in “Newsbeat’s odd box” showing youth playing Holi in Utah (USA) and titled the segment as

“Filthy festival”.

Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, had complained to BBC saying that terming the “festival of color” celebrated by Hindus and others worldwide as “filthy” was very insensitive and belittling of the entire community.

12

MEDIA WATCH

Asian Voice - Saturday 7th April 2012

Scrutatorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s The BRICS summit in New Delhi attracted considerable media attention within India and abroad. The Presidents of Brazil, Russia, China and South Africa were joined by host Dr Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India. Western television channels, radio and newspapers covered the event, aware that these emerging economies, representing 40 per cent of the world's population, much of its natural resources, that these countries, richly endowed with human capital, were now the principal drivers of global economic growth in contrast to the crisis-ridden Eurozone and sluggish European Union and North America. For all their achievements the BRICS nations do not play a role in the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund that is commensurate with their current status in the evolving global order. The US and Europe remain the principal power-brokers in the world today, and BRICS is now in the business of making the collective voice of the emerging economies heard and respected globally. So BRICS join other international groupings like the G20,and although the former's formation is the most recent of its type (only four BRIC(S) summits so far), there are cautious grounds for optimism about its future development.

The most important subjects on the BRICS' agenda were undoubtedly trade and investment and the sustainability of their high growth through massive infrastructure development.

BRICS' leaders made two critical decisions: the first to finance their trade with each other in local currencies rather than in US dollars or Euros; and second, to establish a BRICS bank to further these goals. BRICS leaders referred to world troublespots such as Syria and Iran, calling for dialogue and a peaceful resolution of differences without recourse to war.

but a number of leading voices in the country affirm that its fundamentals are correct. More cause to cheer (apart from figures showing a revival of the country's manufacturing growth) is a report by the global property firm Knight Frank & Citi Private Bank forcasting that India will overtake China to become the world's largest economy by 2050. Most of us would have been gathered to our fathers by then, but descendants will savour the moment if the event comes to pass.

The report says, "China will overtake the US to become the world's largest economy by 2020, which in turn will be overtaken by India in 2050. The Indian economy will reach a size of $85.97 trillion.....In terms of growth from 2010-2050 India would grow at 8 per cent GDP annually." It remains to be seen if words become flesh.

BrahMos tested India's supersonic cruise missile BrahMos, developed jointly with Russia, was test-fired twice within days of each other last week. The first flight was designed to reaffirm the mis-

follows his report to Defence Minister A.K. Antony that he was offeered a bribe by a truck company seeking a contract. He named one of his deputies LtGeneral Tejinder Singh, who has sued his former chief for libel in a court of law. General Vijay Singh had earlier sought an

Booming east

India's eastern states were once a belt of economic backwardness. Not any more, apparently.

Eastern Business Review writes: "Not too ago, the eastern economic landscape resembled a veritable wasteland. West Bengal was virtually dead, businesswise. Jharkhand wasn't getting anywhere either with governments crumbling into dust.

Orissa had little to show by way unresolved border high up in the Geopolitical pressures of executed big ticket projects Himalayas and Beijing's military and Assam and the Northeast exercises in Tibet can only be BRICS' deliberations, like the were under the shadow of insurdirected at India. China's vauntcurate's egg, were good in parts. gency. ed statecraft is too crudely craftBehind the consensus on ecoOnly Bihar was a shining ed to generate true trust and nomic issues lie geopolitical example, which under Nitish goodwill. The country's neighpressures that make for a signifKumar had knocked out the bours prefer to keep their powicant trust deficit between some mafia and sown the first seeds of der dry in the face of an unpreof an unbelievable economic turnaround.

Today, some of the fair winds which propelled Bihar on the road to reecovery are blowing across the eastern theatre which is seeing a visible business resurgence of sorts."

Bihar's transformation has been the most spectacular with 356 mega-projects taking the state to hitherto undreamt heights of development.

West Bengal offers a more complex environment with a mercurial chief minister in Mamata Banerjee who is inclined to shoot first and think later. But (From L-R) Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, the green shoots of an economic revival are Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Chinese President Hu Jintao and South African President Jacob Zuma join their hands together during a group photo for the evident here following decades of stagnation BRICS Summit in New Delhi under Communist-led dictable power, which despite of its members. For instance, the Left Front rule, to most in the the honeyed words of its leaders huge Tibetan demonstration in statem misrule. when the occasion demands,is Delhi against Chinese occupaOrissa, Assam and the much given to flexing its mustion of Tibet and the denial of Northeast are throwing off their cles (The Times of India, The religious and cultural freedom to shackles and grasping a future Hindu,The Telegraph, BBC the Tibetan people were a stark that works.

World TV, Al Jazeera, CNN, reminder of the political and Thanks to a green revolution Russian Television and China's strategic divide in the Sinoin foodgrain, production in the CCTV).

Indian relationship. Likening region has galloped at 11.9 per the Dalai Lama to the Nazis is a cent in the past year compared stark reminder of the blinkers Economic projection to the 2 per cent in the rest of that blind China's leaders to the country. These are stirring regional and global realities.

The past year has seen a slowtimes.

India and China have an down in the Indian economy,

BrahMos supersonic cruise missile

sile's capability, the second to test its sub-systems, which are of Indian design and manufacture.

The missile has been inducted into the Indian Army and Navy and is presently being configured for integration into the Sukoi 30MKI warplanes of the Indian Air Force. It also awaits integration into India's submarine fleet.

March Hare general

extension to his term as Army chief on the disputed evidence of two contrary birth certificates and took his case to the Supreme Court, which dismissed it without undue ceremony.. He should have resigned then and there, instead he prefers hanging on with his reputation in tatters (See Indian press coverage)

Pakistan's addiction

US Under Secretary of Defence Michael Sheehan, deposing before Congressm said Pakistan was addicted to terrorism against India (Times of India 30), while a subsequent report in the same paper (March 31) told of the two-year jail sentence meted out to Ghulan Nabi Fai (an American citizen) for working for Pakistan's intelligence services the ISI under the cover of a Kashmiri organisation in the US. He confessed his role under interrogation.

Meanwhile, US Prosecutor Neil MacBride described the "moderate' leaders of Kashmir's H u r r i y a t Conference, including its leader Mirwaz Umar Farooq, as "stooges" of Pakistan's Army chief General Vijay Kumar Singh InterServices Intelligence (ISI). It reminds ernment over his leaked letter to one of Henry Kissinger's remark Prime Minister Manmohan that a 'modferate' ayatollah was Singh complaining of serious someone whose Kalashnikov shortages of ammunition for had run out of bullets! tanks and other equipment. This

India's Chief of the Army Staff General Vijay Kumar Singh is given to talking volubly about his "honour and dignity". Alas, he has little of either after his latest shenanigans with the gov-

UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 7th April 2012

Home office to rescue victims of domestic violence Shweta Desai Victims of domestic violence fearing being abandoned in the United Kingdom by their spouse can heave a sigh of relief.

In a move that will help hundreds of immigrants subjected to abusive relationship by their spouse, the Home Office has decided to step in to provide emotional and financial support. Concerned with the increase in domestic violence of immigrants in Britain, the Home Office has decided to provide a safe shelter through Charities and allow them indefinite leave to remain in the United Kingdom depending on the merit of the case.

Starting this monthApril 2012, the Home Office is making its two years pilot the Sojourner Project –initiated in 2009—run by women’s NGO Eaves, permanent.

Under the scheme victims of domestic violence who entered the UK on a spousal or partner visa will be henceforth eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) under the Domestic Violence Rule, provided the Home Office approves their case.

At present victims are

forced to stay in abusive relationships due to lack of safe shelter and because they are in the country on a spousal visa and have ‘no recourse to public funds’ however under the new rules they will be provided with financial help till the time of their stay with the shelter.

Strict checklists will be in place to ensure that the system is not abused and the genuine victims in need for help are provided with the same.

Speaking exclusively to Asian Voice, Minister of state for Immigration Damien Green said that domestic violence was a ‘serious and a terrible crime’ and the government is concerned about the victims. “In the last two years we have provided help to 1500 women, mainly from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh who came to the UK on a spousal visa and were sub-

jected to domestic violence. It was necessary to address this important issue,” he said.

Green added that the case of migrants especially women was vulnerable as they constantly live under the fear of visa rules. “No body should stay in an abusive relationship. This project aims to empower victims and provide them with freedom to walk away from the abusive relationship. It will allow them to live without danger of being subjected to abuse.”

The government has set aside £ 40 million to tackle domestic violence.

Under the Sojourner Project, victims of domestic violence will be provided a safe shelter, security and help to continue with their lives. Green said that a lot of women are forced to stay in an abusive relationship here as they fear leaving their spouse will take away their right to live in the UK. “The new rules will release some part of their tension. If accepted as a victim of domestic violence they will get a three month special visa to seek refuge in this country,” said Green.

The project will be run across the UK and victims can either go to the police from where they will be

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Dewani extradition temporarily halted on mental health grounds High Court temporarily halted Shrien Dewani’s extradition on mental health grounds after his lawyers successfully argued his health and life would be at risk if he was removed from Britain to South Africa.

The British care home owner was due to be flown abroad to stand trial after he was accused of arranging the contract killing of his wife, Anni, in Cape Town in November 2010.

The judges added, however, that he should be extradited “as soon as he is fit” to be tried.

Mrs Dewani’s sister, Ami Denborg, said that although her family’s pain referred to the charities or directly approach the charities under the Sojourner Project. Here women and their dependents (if any) will be provided with support, accommodation and subsistence. The Home office will also provide funding for 20 working days or four weeks to the victims while the UK Border Agency considers their application, upon approval of which, they will be granted indefinite leave to remain and allowed to remain in the UK.

Shrien Dewani

was made worse by delays, they were hopeful that justice would be done.

She said: “It would be oppressive to send him back if his health is not good, but we are happy as a family to hear that the court has decided that it is in the interests of justice that he will go back to South Africa.

“I feel, and we feel, that there are a lot of delays and it is very painful for us, but we want to get to the truth about what happened to our sister Anni.

“We just want to know the truth because it is all about our dearest little sister who was murdered.”

She added that their family “just want him to get better now so he can finally go to South Africa

and tell us what happened”.

Mr Dewani’s family welcomed the decision. Speaking after the ruling, the family said in a statement to a national daily: “Shrien can only return to South Africa when he is well enough and when his personal safety can be guaranteed.

“The Dewani family are grateful that the High Court has upheld the appeal and blocked any attempt to extradite Shrien to South Africa now.

“Shrien is innocent and is determined to return to South Africa to clear his name and seek justice for his wife Anni.

The High Court has confirmed that extradition now would be ‘unjust and oppressive’.”

The court heard how Mr Dewani, who strenuously denies any wrongdoing, had been suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and severe depression following the incident in which Mrs Dewani, 28, was shot dead in the back of a taxi after it was hijacked as the couple were being taken to a Cape Town township.

!"#$%&'()*+),*&"*-).&#-*&/)01"22$3)4'-5$'/ +2)"'$6)7#+")&'8'*&1")#(+2)$9(:)6&25$'-8 At least 3-4 children in every class in the UK suffer from asthma, sickle cell disease or other lung problems, which cause considerable distress to them and their families. Treatment just based on symptoms is sometimes insufficient.

Breathing tests provide vital additional information which can help in improving the treatment. For accurate diagnosis and treatment, doctors need to know what to expect in healthy children before they can detect and treat children with lung problems. While we know the normal values for breathing tests in White children, there are no normal values for children from other ethnicities, such as South Asian and African children.

Scientists at Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and University College London (UCL) in London are conducting a study looking at Size and Lung function In Children (the SLIC study) to overcome the differences between children with breathing problems from different ethnic backgrounds. All children no matter what their ethnic background, with and without lung disease will be assessed so that comparisons can be made. The assessments are FUN and the children really enjoy the “breathing games” and the “lightbox experience” to create

their bodymap. These data will help doctors to offer appropriate treatment earlier.

Dr Sooky Lum, a senior research fellow, Portex Respiratory Unit, UCL Institute of Child Health, comments: “Many respiratory diseases, including asthma, have their origins in early childhood and if we can detect and treat such diseases before permanent lung damage occurs we could promote lung health throughout life”.

Ms Karen Giles, Headteacher at Barham Primary School, Wembley comments “The school will be glad to help in this important and exciting study.”

The scientists will be at Barham Primary on the 16th and 17th April conducting the Science Workshops for children in Years 1, Years 3 and Years 5 and children will then be given recruitment packs to take home to their parents. If you wish to help in this important study please give your consent for your child to take part in this study. Only children with written parental consent will be able to participate. The school has also organised a parent’s meeting on 17th April, 5.30-6.30pm so that you can talk to the scientists to find out more about the study.

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14

COMMUNITY

Asian Voice - Saturday 7th April 2012

India Connect St Luke’s supporters to complete ladies Midnight Walk in memory of aunt Q & A: Visa to India How do I apply for Minor Child (Under 16 Years of age) A copy of the child’s birth certificate showing both the parents names.

Consent letter addressed to the HCI or its respective consulates signed by both the parents.

Photocopy of Parent’s passJiten Vyas, VFS Global ports along with the copy of their current Indian Visa, if already holding one.

In case of Divorce, Child Custody Letter from court in respect of the child is required.

In case of Single Parent, Solicitor’s Letter and Child Benefit letter will be required.

Applicants can visit India without the ‘02 month entry’ restrictions with a valid Long term VISA. This is different from a Tourist VISA. What is long term VISA. A Long term entry visa is issued to people of Indian origin only and hence appropriate documentation is required to substantiate Indian origin e.g. Old Indian Passport copy or any document issued in the name of the applicant by the Government of India. The visa is valid for up to five years with multiple entries. Please note the validity of the visa is effective from the date of issue.

What are the requirement for Long Term VISA ?

Passport - valid for a minimum of 180 days with at least two blank pages.

Correct visa fee.

Two recent 50 x 50 mm size photographs. Please check the Photo Specifications.

Correctly filled application form.

Any of the below listed Documents for Proof of Indian Origin: Copy of Surrender Certificate of Indian Passport of the Applicant.

Copy of the Applicant's Parent’s Indian Passport /Surrender Certificate of their Indian Passport along with the applicant's Birth Certificate.

Copy of the Applicant’s Wife’s / Husband's Indian Passport or Surrender Certificate of his / her Indian Passport along with the applicant's Marriage Certificate.

(If claiming Indian origin by virtue of spouse's (Wife / Husband) Indian origin).

In absence of any of the above documents, an affidavit signed by the First Class Magistrate from India about Indian Nationality.

I want to submit a PIO / OCI application, where do I do this?

For all PIO or OCI applications or queries, you will be required to apply directly at the High Commission of India or its respective consulates in the UK. I have completed an online visa application but forgot to note down my web reference number, how do I retrieve this?

If you require your web reference number to retrieve, modify or print your application, please email our information desk (info.inuk@vfshelpline.com) or call our helpdesk on 0905 757 0045)

For more information regarding any quires about Indian Visa please contact by email or post: Email: info.inuk@vfshelpline.com Customer Relations Department.

India Visa Application Center, 60-62 Wilton Road, London SW1V 1DE

India Connect - your questions answered on India visas” a service offered by

Registration for St Luke’s biggest fundraising event of the year is now open. The ladies Midnight Walk takes place on Friday 29 June and school teacher, Anji Pattni has been taking part since it started in 2008 to support St Luke’s and to walk in memory of her aunt.

St Luke’s ladies Midnight Walk is set to be extra special in our 25th anniversary year. 1500 ladies are expected to turn the streets purple in a 9mile walk around Harrow.

It will start at Harrow Leisure Centre with a fun warm up at 10.30pm before the ladies begin their walking challenge at the stroke of midnight. Over 1400 ladies took part in 2011 and collectively raised £205,000.

School Teacher, Anji Pattni has taken part in every Midnight Walk event since it started in 2008 and has recently joined the Midnight Walk committee.

Anji says, ‘In 2007 my aunt, Mrs Daya Ben Dhanak (Daya Fai) was a patient at St Luke’s.

My family and I spent a lot of time in and out of the Hospice and we quickly realised just how amazing the Hospice and all of the people who work there are. They do an awful lot for individuals and their families, catering for individuals in a way I have never seen before. Sadly we lost our aunt to cancer on December 2 2007 but the Hospice continued to support the family through this difficult time. We heard about the Midnight Walk and decided almost immediately to support this as a family by walking in memory of Daya Fai.’ Since that time, we have not looked back. Each year, we continue to walk, raise a little more money and try to involve new recruits where we can.

Over the last 4 years we have raised an amazing £16,853 in total! This year

my fiancé, Jay and I have been deciding on our wedding dates for June 2012, one of my first questions was “When is the Midnight walk this year!?” All my friends and family have been teasing me about this and our team will be called, Bridesmaids in PJs!’ You can sponsor the team at www.justgiving.com/brides maids-in-pjs.

Luke’s provides all its services free of charge.

With limited government funding (we receive less than 30% our funding from the NHS) and an increasing demand for our services, we rely heavily on our community to ensure that our work can continue. It is only with the help of local people and businesses that we can raise

Midnight Walk entry is £20 and we encourage walkers to raise sponsorship. Places are filling up fast so secure your place early at www.stlukes-hospice.org/midnightwalk or for more information contact Jemini on 020 8382 8018.

the £3million we need every year to keep our doors open for patients who really need us.

Initiatives such as these, where local people are brought together to support St. Luke’s, make a vital contribution to our work.

About St Luke’s

Founded in 1987, St Luke’s Hospice is an independent charity serving the multi-cultural boroughs of Harrow and North Brent.

Unique in the area, St.

Our care

St Luke’s looks after people with cancer and other serious progressive illnesses, such as motor neurone disease and heart, lung and kidney failure.

At St

Luke’s, no-one is just a ‘patient’, and we never lose sight of the person behind the disease. We help people feel that they matter, and that they are cared for, and that they can still make a valuable contribution to the lives of those around them. The team at our hospice help people to live life to the full, for whatever time they have, no matter how long or short, at what is often an exceptionally difficult time.

We focus on adding life to days, even when days can’t be added to life.

The care we offer includes the treatment of physical symptoms, but also extends to consider the emotional, psychological, spiritual and social needs of our patients. Everyone in the family can be affected so Hospice Care also embraces families and friends by supporting them through the illness and into bereavement.

Everyone is welcome at St Luke’s, whatever their race, religion, beliefs or lifestyle. Our clinical staff and spiritual care co-ordinator are specially trained to respect and facilitate spiritual, religious and cultural needs of any patient or family.

We offer these people free Hospice Care either in their own homes or within the St Luke’s building.

Queen visits the Krishna Avanti School The Queen and Prince Philip enjoyed an eclectic mix of music and dance during their Diamond Jubilee tour of Krishna Avanti School on Thursday 29th March.

Crowds lined up in Harrow, to catch a glimpse and as the Queen arrived the children could barely contain their excitement.

Once inside she was escorted throughout by Nitesh Gor, one of the Directors of the Avanti Schools Trust, through spectacular song and dance displays by local children and adults.

Children representing every school in the borough were invited to take part in the day’s events.

Inside the main hall which contains the deities of Krishna Balaram, Krishna Avanti School children sang Sri Krishna Chaitanya, a Vaishnava song written by Narottam Das Thakur, followed by the Hare Krishna mantra. The Queen particularly appreciated the devo-

tional music.

The Queen unveiled a beautiful tapestry which depicted Chaitanya Mahaprabhu dancing in Jarikhanda forest with the animals, which was a gift from the School to Buckingham Palace.

Srutidharma Das

explained to the Queen that Chaitanya Mahaprabhu taught a philosophy that is “beyond all material designations and differences, and that through singing and dancing we should surrender our hearts to God”.

The children also recited a verse from the Siksastaka which included a translation, explaining that “in order to have peace and prosperity in society we need to imbibe three qualities: humility, tolerance and respect for all others”.

Srutidharma das explained that the Krishna Avanti School is based on these values, and the Queen responded “Isn’t that wonderful!”

UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 7th April 2012

f ashionista

by Debasree Ghosh

Be a Fashionista, Be You! If you have any questions or a story or a new style to share with us, please write to Shree at aveditorial@abplgroup.com

Not So Little Britain As a woman who has been everything between a size 14 and a size 6 in the last ten years, I find Victoria’s Beckham’s recent claim to be representing the ‘general public’ and the ensuing furore highly confusing. For the uninitiated, In a photo spread and interview for the May issue of Harper’s Bazaar UK, Beckham was asked about designing clothes and understanding the fit and preferences of her customers. “We always joke that we have this fabulously gorgeous 17-year-old model who is six-foot-whatever,” she said. “And then I say ‘OK, I’m going to put it on. I stand for the general public here.’” This, to me, seems a more innocent comment than it is made out to be. While, it is widely accepted that Posh will do no harm by eating a few sandwiches, she does not have a supermodel’s body or a fashion victim’s taste. She probably just meant that what looks amazing on a Gisele Bundchen may not look so glorious on regular people, and compared to Bundchen, Beckham definitely is more regular by a mile. If not, and if she sincerely think that her shape and size is the average Lucy, then for once I am with Katie Price ; the Californian sunshine must be doing her head in.

It often feels to me that we are becoming a society based on patronising the inadequate. We definitely have ideals. If we fall short of it, it’s more than ok. So ok in fact, that is it almost expected. If we reach it or, God forbid, exceed it, it’s akin to committing a

crime for which one must pay the price by way of ridicule and general snigger. I am fully aware that Posh has the body of a ten year old girl and goes to great length in keeping it that way. That is not normal. But neither is the score of British women the size of whales who insist of baring their bellies or jiggling their muffin tops in public. The average British woman is size 16! Now, size 16 comes in many shapes.

On a six foot athlete, it’s nothing short of aweinspiring. But on a frame of the British average 5 ft 4 inches, it’s obese. I am not saying it. The Body Mass Index chart used by medical practitioners all over the world, says it.

So she is thin. So what? Why the wail from women with nearer whale-like proportions …’How dare she! She’s THIN. What does she know about the general public, when she’s so THIN!’ She is also very likeable, funny and, despite her success, comes across as very selfconscious. And here, I must confess, that for most of my life I have

been a size ten and yes, I do sometimes make some effort to stay that way. So what? I am not throwing up every five minutes or subsisting on celery sticks to maintain my far from perfect body. It doesn’t mean I’m some sort of health freak, just like the other 41% of UK women who aren’t overweight.

And while I do indeed have to count my ice creams to fit into my jeans, I have numerous friends, who are naturally thin, or stay that way because they are sports enthusiasts or dancers.

Slim people are not covert food terrorists.

And just because they’re not the “average” size, it doesn’t mean they should be regarded with suspicion. Victoria’s designs are beyond most people’s purses, but her dresses flatter all shapes and sizes. Even though she’s far from average.

But all this is beside the point. And the point is that why is everyone so obsessed by what women weigh? Unless it’s a serious health threat, it is as intensely personal as someone’s perfume choice or opinions about jeggings. If I want to eat a Big Mac and thereafter spend the rest of the day beating myself over it, I so will! And to people who are shaking their heads at this demonstration of eating disorder, you lot have never walked past the yellow arches after a night on the town.

If only we just stopped talking about our weights and sizes and shapes for a while, a lot of us would feel less pressurised to loathe our bodies and take drastic measures.

The ‘People’s Award’ is back this September This autumn, Britons will come together in London’s posh and prestigious Park Lane, to celebrate the British Asian clout in fields varying from entertainment to media to business to sports. Attended by the highest echelon of people, this award ceremony is unique, as it’s one of the only awards where the member of audience or readers actually nominate the winners. It is also one of the oldest, finest and eventually one the best of its kind.

Every year it has been endorsed and attended by popular figures from across the world including the Far East and the US. It has been the favourite of a few

regulars like celebrity Navin Kundra, Nitin Ganatra, Ravi Bopara, Mark Ramprakash, Rajiv Ouseph, Jeffrey Archer or British MPs and Lords like former Prime Minister Tony Blair, Business Secretary Vince Cable, Rt Hon Ed Balls, Lord Mcnally, Baroness Shriti Vadera, Rt Hon Keith Vaz, Lord Dholakia, Lord Loomba, Lord Popat, Baroness Verma to name a few.

This Asian Achievers Awards, in its 12th year promises a phenomenal celebration where the audience will witness unforgettable history in the making, while they relax and enjoy their vintage wine, tantalising Indian spread and some

mesmerising entertainment.

The nominations for 2012 AAA are now open.

This is ‘The People’ awards and to ensure that achievers in our community receive the acknowledgement they are due, you must nominate anyone you feel is worthy.

The process is very simple. You can nominate someone at w w w. a s i a n a c h i e v e r sawards.com or for more information contact 020 7740 4085. If you wish to know the specific categories please see page 25 or log on to www.asianachieversawards.com.

We are waiting to hear from you!

15

Ken Livingstone Launches Knife Crime Plan Navin Shah, Labour’ candidate for the GLA seat for Brent and Harrow, chaired a summit at the ‘Hub’ in Stonebridge, launching Labour Mayoral candidate Ken Livingstone’s plans to tackle Knife Crime against young people.

The summit was attended by young people affected by knife crime, representatives from community organisations in Brent working to tackle knife crime, and the families of victims including Richard Taylor, who spoke on behalf of the Damilola Taylor Trust. The session was a valuable opportunity to discuss Ken Livingstone’s plans with a range of people affected by knife crime and involved in tackling knife crime. Speaking after the

summit, Navin Shah, Labour’s GLA Candidate for Brent and Harrow, said: “It was great to see warm support from young people and Brent’s community leaders for Ken’s knife crime initiative. I’ve always seen young people as part of the solution, and Ken’s City Safe Havens scheme will help forge strong links between young people, community leaders and politicians to collectively address the root causes of crime.” Ken Livingstone said, “The impact of knife crime and violence on daily lives of Londoners and their families and communities can be devastating.

“If I am elected I will reverse the cuts the Tory Mayor has made to the number of police in

London. As part of our ideas for practical solutions and working the Commissioner I will offer every school that wants one a dedicated police officer to work full-time with young people to break down barriers between young Londoners and the police and help break the cycle of violence.”

Labour’s candidate for Mayor promised that all organisations that support City Safe Havens scheme will be given a service agreement from the Metropolitan Police that would include: • A named officer assigned to the premises.

• Regular visits from their Safer Neighbourhood Teams.

• A panic button alarm service for emergencies.

When the birthday gift is ‘walking again’ Sometimes life is the most unfair thing that can happen to you. Thusha Kamaleswaran is eagerly waiting for her 7th birthday when the only thing she wants is to walk and dance like before. It may be almost four months away, but it is unlikely she would ever walk again! When the youngster – who became Britain’s youngest gangland victim after she was caught in the crossfire between two groups of violent youths – asked her parents if her wish would be granted, they were left in a terrible quandary. How do you

tell a bright and lively child, brimming over with energy and enthusiasm, that she is crippled for life?

Jeyakumar and his wife Sharmila have also chosen to hide the painful truth from her brother Thusan, 13, and her four-year-old sister Thushaika. Thusha has regained slight feeling in her legs and can, occasionally, move her toes. Her parents recently bought her a specially made ￡1,300 pink bicycle from the US to help build up her leg muscles. Yet despite these apparently encouraging signs, doctors have warned

that it is extremely unlikely she will walk again. The family can now only pray that her birthday wish will be granted.

16

Asian Voice - Saturday 7th April 2012

Asian Voice - Saturday 7th April 2012

Rana Daggubati bags first international project

PAOLI DAM

‘Thuppakki’ going on in top gear

Jackie Chan, Kamal Haasan and Salman Khan in a desi film?

The grapevine is buzzing with news about the three superstars, Jackie Chan, Kamal Haasan and Salman Khan sharing screen space in an Indian film. Apparently, South director Venu Ravichandran has already roped in Jackie to play the lead in his next and is in talks with Salman and Kamal Haasan to do cameos in the action film. The filmmaker had recently revealed his plans to make a sequel to the Jackie's “Armour of God.” Ravichandran has been negotiating with the Hollywood actor for long and now a deal is almost ready to be signed. A source said, "It will be the mother of all action films and is going to be made on a mammoth budget of `3 billion. It will be the most expensive Indian film ever made."

Vijay fans are eagerly looking out for the First Look of “Thuppakki.” The shooting of the film which has Vijay in the lead is going on in top gear. A R Murugadoss is directing this film. Kajal Agarwal is pairing with Vijay in this film. A song sequence featuring Vijay and Kajal Agarwal has been shot in Bangkok recently. Fifty per cent shooting of the film has been completed. Sathyan is donning the comedy role while Jayaraman is donning a comical villain role. Vidyut Jamwal is donning the role of villain. After a long time Santhosh Shivan is handling the camera for a Tamil film. Since half of the shooting has been completed there are a lot of expectations about the First Look of this film. It has been decided to release the First Look on 13th of April. The film will be hitting the screens on 15th August.

Hot Garam masala Lauren Gottlieb, B’town’s latest import Lauren Gottlieb is Bollywood's newest foreign import. American dancer Lauren Gottlieb, who is all set to act in Remo D'Souza's next film is on a strict prep mode. As she is required to mouth Hindi dialogues in her Bollywood debut, Remo has found her a coach to teach her the language. She has asked people to talk to her in Hindi on the sets so that she can get a hang of the language faster. The moment her rehearsals end, she is back at her hotel where she sits with her coach. It is difficult for her to learn a new language but she is determined to get better.

Motherhood comes first for Shilpa Shetty It's a double whammy for Shilpa Shetty. While the actress is expected to deliver her first baby this May, her pet project “The Desire,” in which she plays a classical dancer-turned-monk has been officially selected at the 2012 New York International Film Festival. However, the actress can't travel to New York as she is in her advanced state of pregnancy.

The film has recently attracted a lot of attention. It was awarded the Best Narrative Feature Film at the Geneva Film Festival and was also screened at the Boston International Film Festival (BIFF). Shilpa's mother Sunanda Shetty said, "At this point we'd rather have her rest than travel anywhere.”

Does Madhuri Dixit want `50 mn for a film?

Madhuri Dixit is apparently quoting a whopping amount for her next Bollywood film. Says a source, "She has been the most successful actress of her generation and clearly she brings in a brand value no one else does. So clearly that will reflect on the kind of money she charges. Ever since she has moved back to India, she has been approached by a lot of people to star in their films, but she is taking it easy."

Madhuri apparently has been quoting between `40 to 50 million for her films. This is the kind of money leading ladies like Kareena, Katrina and even Vidya are charging. So Madhuri clearly wants to let people know that she is no less than any of them.

Vikram Bhatt’s ‘Hate Story’ poster girl Paoli Dam is the latest bold babe to take Bollywood by storm. The girl, who hails from Bengal scandalized one and all by her “dare all bare all act” in Bengali film ‘Chatrak.’

And now she is all set to go nude for her upcoming flick. Buzz has it that Paoli has been approached for an international film titled ‘Choli Ke Peeche’, which was earlier, offered to Bong beauties Nandana Sen and Shahana Goswami. But the two actresses declined the role owing to nudity.

Talking to a leading daily, Paoli spoke her heart out about baring all. She said, “I am a performer and when I bare all, it is only for my job. As an actor, I have no inhibitions; I just play a character. But yes, if I am not comfortable with something, I will not do it.”

The girl’s identity in the bold poster of ‘Hate Story’ was kept under wraps for long.

Paoli said, “I had no idea that my character and my identity on the poster would be kept a mystery. When the poster featuring my back was released, a lot of people who knew I was doing the film asked me who was on the poster. I just asked them to wait and watch.” Will Paoli give Sunny Leone in ‘Jism 2’ a run for her money?

We will have to wait and watch.

SRK-Katrina jell well in London The yet-to-be titled film, starring Shah Rukh Khan, Katrina Kaif and Anushka Sharma, started shooting for its first schedule in the third week of February in London.

It has been creating a huge buzz all over since the first look was unveiled. And the chemistry between SRK and Katrina who have paired up for the first time is simply superb! SRK is excited about pairing up with Katrina for the first time.

“I’ve just started working with Katrina (actor Katrina Kaif). She puts in a lot of effort to make her character look and sound believable,” said Shah Rukh in a recent interview. The actors, however, prefer to remain professional, rather than discussing their personal life. “We haven’t

Saif to return in 'Agent Vinod' sequel

to go nude in ‘Choli Ke Peeche’?

Southern actor Rana Daggubati is all set to make a debut in international cinema with “A Momentary Lapse Of Reason.” The actor says he is excited to be a part of the film, which will be directed by Aditya Bhattacharya and is based on his Aamir Khan starrer “Raakh.” "It is a fantastic opportunity for a young actor like me to be part of Aditya's International project," Daggubati said. The movie in association with Guru Films, Hyderabad, is produced by Asif Noor, Aditya Bhattacharya and SunitaTati. "Rana perfectly fits the role as the scion of a wealthy Hyderabad industrialist with real-estate ambitions in Los Angeles.”

become best friends but she’s a nice girl to work with. And we never dig into the past (the popular Salman-SRK squabble),” SRK said.

Ask Katrina about working with SRK and Salman in the same calendar year, and she says, “I don’t take work from one set to the other. Shah Rukh and Salman are my co-stars and I respect them equally and immensely.”

Scheduled for a Diwali release, the film is expected to add the same fervour to the festive time that Chopra's films are known for. Yash Chopra returns to direction after seven years and his last directorial venture was cross-border love story “Veer Zaara” in 2004. The music of the new film will be composed by AR Rahman and Gulzar will pen the lyrics.

New York City honours SHABANA AZMI Padma Bhushan awardee Shabana Azmi has been honoured by the city of New York for her contribution to cinema and her involvement with the movie industry, becoming the first Indian actor to receive the honour from the city.

Azmi was presented with a 'Proclamation by the City of New York' honouring her "in recognition of her great contribution to the art of cinema and for her participation with the movie industry in New York City." Azmi, 61, was presented with the proclamation by Patricia Kaufman, Executive Director of Motion Picture and Television Development from the office of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo as well as with a 'Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition' by New York Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney.

The proclamation also applauded her work as a social activist, noting that apart from

being a "highly respected" advocate for social justice, she has worked tirelessly for other causes, including funding for displaced Kashmiri migrants and relief for victims of the Latur earthquake.

Describing Azmi as a "woman of extraordinary achievement hailing from a country rich in culture and traditions," Kaufman extended Cuomo's wishes to her on receiving the honour. Azmi said the awards and honour are a "bonus" for the truthfulness with which she performs her work. "It would be a mistake to work in a film hoping that this is going to give me a national award or an Oscar because then you would not be working with truthfulness.

If you are truthful to your work then dividends will flow naturally," she said, adding that this is a lesson she has learnt from her parents, legendary poet Kaifi Azmi and actor Shaukat Kaifi.

Amitabh Bachchan is the only Superstar: Rajinikanth Shweta Desai His daughter might want to `immortalise’ superstar Rajinikanth by capturing every emotion and twitch in his face in the new period fantasy drama “Kochadiyaan-the Legend.” But the humble actor who has accolades and a cult status from his fans all over the world says the title of superstar is only reserved for actor Amitabh Bachchan.

The actor was in London to shoot for his new movie “Kochadiyaan-the Legend,” with his daughter and director Soundarya, music director A R Rehman and producer J Murali. Speaking to media, the 61year- old said that he does not believe in the title of Superstar bestowed upon him. “For me there is only one superstar and that is Amitabh Bachchan.”

The film which also stars Bollywood actors Deepika Padukone, Jackie Shroff and South Indian actors R Sarathkumar, Aadhi, Shobana, Rukmini Vijayakuar and Nassar has already generated a huge hype partly because the movie being a comeback vehicle for Rajinikanth after he was hospitalised last

(Left to right) Directer Soundarya, Rajinikanth, Oscar winning Music Director A R Rehman and Producer J Murali

year and partly because it being the first Indian feature film to use the state-of-the-art, ‘Performance Capturing with Photorealistic Technology’ last seen in Hollywood blockbusters. Soundarya, a film graphic designer herself, said the reason behind making this 8th century period drama partly based on Emperor Kochadiyaan Randhiran, was because she

17

wanted to `immortalise’ her dad.

Rajinikanth said he was aware of the pressure and expectations from his fans. “This is why I am very careful in my selection of the movies, especially from the last couple of years. I am getting older and the fans expectations are rising. I don’t want to disappoint them,’’ he said adding there is always an effort from his side to try something ‘new.’ “For me every movie is new.”

So in Kochadiyyan, besides seeing the actor as a fantasy warrior, the audience will also hear him sing. “My dad was surprised when we asked him to sing but he gladly accepted it,’’ said Soundarya who came up with the idea. Rehman said the song is less of a musical but more as a dialogue conversation and fits with the animation set-up.

Expressing his love for the `ancient’ and beautiful city of London, Rajinikanth said that he always wished to buy a house here. “I used to visit London every year some two decades ago but then fans would flock and disturb the shootings. I hope this year I can finally buy one house.’’

Saif Ali Khan-Kareena starrer spy film, 'Agent Vinod' may not have created a stir at the box office, but director Sriram Raghavan is upbeat on making a sequel. Earlier, even before the movie got released, Saif had said he would make it into a franchise. "We are toying with some ideas for the sequel but we haven't started writing the script yet. But there are a few ideas. As 'Agent Vinod' is still running in theatres, we would wait for 15 days or so and then begin our work (scripting)," said Sriram.

The action-spy film, directed by Sriram was released on March 23.

Asked if he would repeat the lead pair in the sequel, Sriram said, "Saif would be there in the second instalment as 'Agent Vinod'. The story would move to different places but eventually India would also be part of the plot. It would be like the Bond series." "Other characters would change.

Also, once we finish writing the script we would think of which characters to retain and which not," he said.

Also, the director has learnt his lessons.

"We have got a good response. The area where we need to improve is length. As it is a fast-action-spy movie, we need to reduce its length. In the next series, we would make sure the length is of two hours only," Sriram said.

Nupur to sue the British daily for `100 mn Nupur Mehta, the London-based Indian model/actress, said she was suing a British daily that carried her picture, for `100 million. Her lawyer, Gaurang Kanth, said, "My client's picture was used without her permission, and even though it was morphed, it was easily identifiable. We are going to send them a legal notice, and if their response is not in tandem with what we want, we'll file a civil and criminal defamation suit." Nupur added, "I want monetary compensation plus a punishment code, and a denial in their paper." She was in the news recently because a London publication did an expose on how an Indian Bollywood star was acting as the honeytrap to lure Indian cricketers to fix matches, and used her picture to support the story, though they pixilated the face.

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Asian Voice - Saturday 7th April 2012

India to become world's largest economy by 2050 Dear Financial Voice Reader, The Chancellor was in India this past week. Not just to argue that the Indian Government should buy the Eurofighter and stop plans to retrospectively tax Vodafone and Cairn Energy, but instead to attract investment from cash rich Indian businesses into UK companies. He will point to the success of Tata and its billion pound profits from manufacturing Jaguars and Land Rovers in Britain.

But too often overlooked for inward investment is sport in Britain. Hopefully the Olympics will change that.

Britain is rightly considered a sporting world leader.

(Though you may scoff at times at their national teams in cricket and football). But ask any club footballer – that British football – the most lucrative in the world is a world beating business. Americans do football, I mean soccer, they just do it through their cheque books – witness Manchester United and Liverpool. Where there is money to be made, there is American money paid.

And if you think Indians don’t do football, just look at Blackburn (owned by Indians) and QPR (owned in part by Mr Mittal) and the shirt sponsorship by RationalFX of Birmingham FC – clearly if Rational’s recent lavish Mayfair party is to go by, there is indeed much profit in sponsoring football clubs. And Mr Mittal is not known for duff investments.

I’m a stock picker. My job is to find investment opportunities. One I would bet on is my own club (the one I support, not own), Leeds United. In stock-picking terms, it is a ‘no-brainer’ for Indian investment; debtfree, profitable, with a huge global supporter base (top 10 most supported of all English clubs) thanks to its long heritage, and a local Indian demographic, on the brink of promotion to the lucrative Premiership so presently undervalued. It’s this last point that led the Mittals to invest in QPR – buy an asset likely to win promotion and so see its valuation rocket. And it worked.

The manager who took QPR to the Premiership, Neil Warnock, is now the Leeds United manager. So like all investment opportunities, the clock is ticking.

Even without inward investment from India, a Yorkshire team seems a strong brand for advertisers such as Tetley (back to Tata then). Indeed I hope Tata wake up and smell the coffee (tea). But most importantly I trust the Chancellor will not forget how lucrative British sport, especially football is in this Olympic year.

Not just as a business, but also for tourism.

My role with the British Government, as UKTI Dealmaker, is to do deals to bring inward investment to the UK in technology companies. If this article brings investment into Britain and reinforces my reputation in picking soccer clubs not just stocks then I will retire.

After all, it was a Yorkshire sportman who was the first ever to score 100 centuries (Sachin Tendulkar). Like him, I too am a Yorkshireman first and planning to retire at the peak of my game!

SBI’s presentation on NRI services

Surpassing China, India will become the world's largest economy by 2050, says a report.

"China will overtake the US to become the world's largest economy by 2020, which in turn will be overtaken by India in 2050," according to Wealth Report 2012 by Knight Frank & Citi Private Bank.

As per the report, Indian economy will reach $85.97 trillion size in terms of purchasing power parity by 2050, while the

Chinese GDP would be $80.02 trillion during the same period. The US - currently the world's largest economy - is expected to have a GDP of $39.07 trillion by 2050.

Other nations in the top ten list of world's largest economies would be Indonesia (4th), Brazil (5th), Nigeria (6th), Russia (7th), Mexico (8th), Japan (9th) and Egypt (10th).

In terms of growth from 2010-2050, India

would be the second fastest with its economy growing at the rate of eight per cent in the period.

With a pace of 8.5%, Nigeria would be the fastest growing economy during the same period, the report said.

In 2010, India was world's fourth largest economy with a value of $3.92 trillion compared to China's $9.98 trillion and America's $14.12 trillion.

The report named Surat and Nagpur among

fast-growing cities to watch in 2050.

"We believe the cities to watch in 2050 are the 400 emerging market middleweights - fast growing cities with populations between 200,000 and 10 million.

"This dynamic group includes many cities that are not household names today: Linyi, Kelamayi and Guiyang in China; Surat and Nagpur in India; Concepcion and Belem in Latin America," it said.

German co to buy Gujarat’s Narayana Murthy among pharma glass manufacturer greatest entrepreneurs

G e r m a n y - b a s e d Gerresheimer AG has announced its plans to acquire a 70% shareholding in Gujarat-based Neutral Glass & Allied Industries Pvt Ltd for an undisclosed amount. The promoters of the company from Kosamba in Surat will retain 30% of the shares.

The acquisition will give Gerresheimer, suppliers of specialty products made of glass and plastic to the pharma and healthcare industry, a pharma glass production facility in India. The takeover is expected to conclude shortly, according to a

press release from Gerresheimer.

“We are investing in India at a time when its pharma sector is gaining international significance on the back of sustained high growth rates. This acquisition significantly broadens our production facilities, customer base and our distribution capabilities there. We look forward to sharing our expertise and technology,” said Uwe Roehrhoff, chief executive officer, Gerresheimer.

Satish Mody, general manager of Neutral Glass said, “In Gerresheimer, we found an ideal partner for future expansion.”

Gerresheimer already has five plants in South America, seven in China and representative offices in Moscow and Mumbai.

The company aims to double revenues in such markets from 100 million euros in 2010 to 200 million euros in 2013, according to the release.

In a big boost to its precarious financial position, Air India's financial restructuring plan (FRP) has been approved by a consortium of banks, which may enable the ailing carrier save several hundred millions in the first year itself. As part of the FRP, Air India signed four agreements with the SBIled consortium. These were Master Restructuring Agreement, Working Capital Facility Agreement, Appointment of Facility Agent Agreement and

Appointment of Trustee Agreement, airline officials said.

"The Cabinet approval for infusion of funds is still awaited and is expected to be received some time next week," the officials said.

Implementation of the FRP would begin after the Union Cabinet approves additional equity infusion into the airline, they said.

Officials of at least 19 banks were present at the signing ceremony. One of the major highlights of the agreements include conversion of about Rs 105

Infosys co-founder NR Narayana Murthy is among the 12 "greatest entrepreneurs of our time" according to a Fortune magazine list that is topped by Apple's late chief Steve Jobs.

It includes Microsoft founder Bill Gates and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg for turning "concepts into companies" and changing the "face of business".

The US publication said as the "visionary founder" of Infosys, Murthy has built "one of the largest companies in India, helping to transform that economy and put it on the world stage."

Murthy, 65, proved that "India could compete with the world by taking on the software development work that had long been the province of the West.

"As one of six co-founders of Infosys and the CEO for 21 years, Murthy helped spark the outsourcing revolution that has brought

billions of dollars in wealth into the Indian economy and transformed his country into the world's back office," it said. Fortune cited his lesson that an organisation starting from scratch must coalesce around a team of people with an enduring value system.

"It is all about sacrifice today, fulfillment tomorrow," it quotes Murthy, who is ranked 10th, as saying. "It is all about sacrifice, hard work, lots of frustration, being away from your family, in the hope that someday you will get adequate returns from that."

billion of the airline's working capital in to longterm loan, carrying an annual interest of 11 per cent. "The first year interest would accumulate in a

funded interest term plan," they said, adding these would lead to substantial savings of about Rs 10 billion in 2012-13 itself. In addition, non-convertible debentures (NCDs), guaranteed by the government, worth Rs 74 billion would be issued and subscribed by the investors, the officials said, adding proceeds from the NCDs would be used to repay the lenders.

Apart from this, part of the working capital of about Rs 35 billion would be restructured as cash credit arrangement.

Banks approve Air India's restructuring plan

Green Tribunal suspends environmental clearance to Posco The regional office of India’s largest bank – The State Bank of India organised an event followed by a reception for the Indian community. The event held on 27th March at the Grand Connaught Rooms in Central London was well received by members of the Indian community and representatives from media.

A specialist NRI team led by Mr Rajeev Mehra, chief general manager per-

sonal banking, corporate centre and ably assisted by senior members of his NRI team shared a detailed presentation to the audience the various product offering under the bank’s NRI services.

The presentation was followed by an interactive Q&A session. The event was hosted by Mr Shrivastava and Mr S Venkatraman, CEO, London main branch offered the vote of thanks.

The environment clearance granted to Posco's mega steel project in Orissa in January 2011 will remain suspended till the environment ministry reviews it afresh, the National Green Tribunal ruled.

"The environment clearance granted on January 31, 2011 to the project shall remain suspended till such review and appraisal is done by the ministry," a bench of tribunal comprising

Justice C V Ramulu and Devendra Kumar Agarwal held.

The tribunal pointed out that memorandum of understanding between the Orissa government and Posco states that the project is for production of 12 million tonnes of steel per annum (MTPA) but the environment impact assessment (EIA) report has been prepared only for 4 MTPA steel productions in the first phase.

It said the MoEF

should take "policy decision" that in projects of such magnitude the EIA should be done for the complete project.

"The EIA should assess it for the full capacity right from the beginning," it said.

The tribunal directed the MoEF to review the clearance afresh and attach "specific conditions" which Posco would have to follow in a "defined timeline".

It also directed the

MoEF to set up a special committee to "monitor the compliance to the environment clearance" thus granted.

The bench said appointment of Meena Gupta as chairman of the committee to review the environmental clearance showed "departmental bias" as she had only "supported" the environment clearance granted to Posco earlier during her tenure as the Secretary, the MoEF.

FINANCIAL VOICE

Asian Voice - Saturday 7th April 2012

19

Money Never Sleeps.....

Suresh Vagjiani Managing Director Sow & Reap A Property Investment Company

On Tuesday I went to see a building in Shirland Rd. It was a rundown commercial property with flats above, owned by an elderly couple who wanted out and move to the country. Whilst looking at the property I recognised that opposite it there was a block which coincidently was to come in to auction on Thursday 2 days away, which was 92 Shirland Rd W9.

It was a large freehold conversion with bay windows. The auctioneers advertised it as 6 self contained flats with tenancies unknown.

The property was being sold by a mortgagee in possession. I knew with the tenancies being unknown this building would not fetch a very good price.

Hu mans weigh a do wn side much more he avily than an upsid e. This me an s losin g £10 will be mu ch more d evastating than gaining £10. Th is means we are more stro ngly con tro lled by fear th an o ur need to seek pl easure. T his also t r an s l at e s i n t o pr o pe r t y b u y i n g , w h e n s o m e t h i n g i s un known the c han ces are the property wil l g o for disproport io nat ely less th an it sho uld.

I have come across this type of scenario before, when a building gets repossessed from someone the person who it has been repossessed from isn’t always so forthcoming to the bank with the paper work. If the property is on AST they would say they don’t know where the contract is and tenants have been there for ages, they would also prevent access to the property. Or they would try and create some planning issue, or if the flats were empty stick someone in there and claim they were a sitting tenant. This would severely dent the price the property would fetch.

In some cases there would be a plan of action: The next step would be to find an investor, tell them they can get this property for roughly half the price and resolve all the problems and for this they charge a big fee! In this way they are able to perhaps gain even more than they would have from the building ordinarily. In effect the investor and the original owner could make, in some cases, up to 50% of the building value in a few months.

So, coming back to this Shirland Rd Property, when I read that the tenancies were stated as unknown I suspected there was more to it. So I decided to knock and see if I could find out anything further. In going to the building I was hoping to speak to the tenants and get an idea of the tenancies.

If the y are AST there wil l be no issu es, if they are sitting tenant s, t he properties may o nly be worth 50-70% of the valu e.

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The chances there would be sitting tenants in all the flats would be slim. I didn’t have any joy in discovering who the occupants were. I would imagine I had not been the first to try and they were probably fed up of random people disturbing them and asking questions.

So I left it and carried on investigating the deal in hand which has great potential. This building is 3700 sq ft and consists of an element of commercial and most of it is residential.

The next day I came back with a colleague, he had dealings with a nearby agent. We got speaking and she being Russian coincidently knew the owner of no 92 Shirland Rd, who was also a Russian lady. The story was that there were some financial issues, and the property was put into the auction without the lady’s knowledge by her husband and as he didn’t know the tenancy detail he told the auctioneer it was unknown. We were informed by our Russian contact they were all on AST’s.

According to her though the property would not be appearing in the auction the following day, as the lady had apparently paid her outstanding debt.

About 8pm the same night I got a call from the agent who told us the owner was too late in clearing the debt and the building was going for auction the following day.

Though we didn’t have sight of the ASTs, we have had previous experience in dealing with this agent and she did not have any vested interest in lying to us. On the strength of her information we decided to go for the building.

We had about fourteen hours to arrange to purchase this. I called one client up straight afterwards, who didn't pick up. I managed to speak to another client at 10.30pm and explained the angle. He agreed we should go for it, he said we should will sleep on it and then decide the limit the following morning.

The property was guided at £1m, this doesn’t tell you much. I have seen properties go for double the guide price. I was expecting this building to go for around £1.3m and there would still be a margin left on the property. The building was 2,800 sq ft, the price on this road is easily £700 per sq ft, so according to this the building would be worth £2m.

We agreed a ceiling of £1.3m for the property.

The bidding started at £850,000 and ended surprisingly at £1.1m.

We secured the building extremely cheaply. It was odd, but auctions can be like this, very hit and miss especially as there was a lot of information missing from the legal pack.

We were anxious to try and get all the agreements together and see the building from inside. To date we still haven’t been able to do so.

As soon as the local agents found out we secured the building they were on to us to see if we wanted to resell.

Over the weekend one agent was hounding me to agree the price and then agree the commission. He claimed to have someone who knew the history of the building and was happy to purchase this blind for £1.3m. I explained this would have to be on the basis they could ‘attend’ (which means, exchange at the solicitors office, without the contracts going out) and on the basis they be happy with whatever paper work we have.

As of Monday morning the price was confirmed and the paper work has started….

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Tips of the Week ! There are legal means and ways to save on stamp duty, call us and see what we can do for you. ! With the recent rise in petrol price your money in cash will be worth even less.

One way to protect it is to put it in property.

20

FINANCIAL VOICE

Asian Voice - Saturday 7th April 2012

Amit Patel has over 15 years experience in the field of Leadership and Human Resource Management

Maria Fernandes

maria@abplgroup.com

The next raft of changes due

Following the National Audit office conclusions that there are 65000 students who are not actively studying , they are likely to be the next target when searches are conducted by the UKBA. In fact even before this the UKBA were looking very carefully at students in the work place and this new statistic will increase focus in this area.

Employers are advised to go beyond the usual checks of the passport and obtain copies of the students current registration and timetable. If it turns out the student is not genuine the employer will not face the risk of a civil penalty.

Student Dependants: In the meantime there are changes to the rights of student dependants who until now could switch to Tier 2 and were treated as unrestricted staff (which meant that they were not subject to restrictions in numbers). They will from the 6th April be restricted positions and this will mean that they will need to be approved by a Panel at the UKBA and will need to return abroad to apply for entry clearance.

Visitors within the creative sector: A further category will be added to the category of visitor.

This will be a new route for those visiting the UK for one month or less which will allow them to undertake certain permitted paid engagements.

Premium Scheme: In the meantime the UKBA are now openly advertising profit making schemes in the UK which already exist in some form abroad.

There will be a new premium service for large organisations and also one called the Small Medium Enterprise plus (SME+) scheme for smaller organisations.

Employers will pay an annual fee and receive a

benefits package including an online application process.

A summary of how the proposed schemes will work is summarised below: • A web-based service with annual subscription of £25,000 for the premium service and £8000 for the SME's.

• The full subscription fee is only chargeable once the Sponsor Licensing Unit has granted the application.

• Both packages will be subject to audit for compliance by the UKBA. • Sponsorship will be offered to A rated sponsors only.

• The scheme will provide a faster, more streamlined service - initially for Tier 2 and 5 applications. The intention is that it will be extended to other routes under the Points Based System (PBS) such as family settlement and out of country in 2013.

• Sponsors will be allocated a designated account manager.

• Applicants must create a customer account, which enables them to do a self assessment on eligibility. The key data is automatically transferred from the self assessment onto the application form.

Applicants are able to save and print data at any stage of the application before they submit.

Guidance is given throughout the process, including details of how to pay and what documents need to be provided.

• There will be priority access to Public Enquiry Office (PEO) via the on-line system.

• When an application has been submitted to the UKBA, supporting documents will be scanned and immediately returned to the applicant.

• Applications made

through the standard route will receive an appointment within 14 days, a premium route applicant or dependants will be able to walk into a PEO at any time to have their documentation verified.

• The system will be phased in and initially only apply to in country applicants then extended to out of country applicants from 2013.

• From September 2012 a facility will be added to the on-line system which will allow sponsors to check the status of the application.

Employer feedback on the proposals: These proposals are subject to ongoing development and discussion and members of the UKBA employers stakeholder group have been asked to gather information of the following five questions: 1. What is the best way of deploying online applications?

2. How should the UKBA select the tier/sponsor?

3. Should the UKBA phase the system in by sponsor or tier?

4. Will phasing in be an extra burden for sponsors?

5. Is this the right time to introduce online applications?

We would like to hear your comments on the proposed scheme and specifically your responses to the five questions above by 30 November 2011. Please send your feedback to recruitmentandretention@nhsemployers.org.

Maria Fernandes has been in practice exclusively in immigration for the past 25 years.

Fernandes Vaz is based at 87 Wembley Hill Road Wembley in Wembley and can be contacted by telephone on 02087330123, by email on info@fernandesvaz.com.

5 companies vying to acquire Thomas Cook Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR), Carlyle, and Travelex are among the five bidders that remain in the running for Thomas Cook India, which has been put up for sale by its British parent. People familiar with the process said Credit Suisse, which is mandated for the sale, received 8-9 initial bids and five among them have been shortlisted for the 130year-old company's operations in the world's fastest growing travel market.

The London-listed holiday maker Thomas Cook Plc holds 77% stake in the

Indian arm and the remaining is with institutional investors and public. Other shortlisted parties include Fairbridge Capital and a Japanese travel agency.

Chinese firm HNA, along with Hong Kong's Bravia Capital, placed a serious bid even though it didn't move ahead following concerns that Indian regulator may not allow their acquisition of a local company with significant forex operations.

The list of initial bidders also included TA Associates, Actis and Everstone Capital.

Sources indicated that

bids have come in the range of Rs 50-60 a share, even as the stock of Thomas Cook India climbed to Rs 70 on the bourses recently. The deal, which is expected to be completed in the second quarter, would happen at a discount to the market price, sources said, adding that speculative interest has driven the stock off late. The successful winner will get to use the Thomas Cook brand name for a minimum of seven years. Thomas Cook India MD Madhavan Menon declined to comment.

Love and Leadership What is love? Despite virtually everyone having an opinion on what it is, surprisingly there is no universally accepted definitive answer to this question.

Great thinkers have tried to understand it, poets have tried to describe it, teenagers’ try to capture it and the wise try to give it.

But what is it? I recently read a rather poignant example which was used to illustrate what love is or rather, the effect that love has on us. The example described an old king who was childless for many years. Just as he was giving up hope, he begot a son. While the king sat in his court to deal with matters of state, the son would climb into his lap and pull his moustache. Yet to everyone’s amazement, rather than get angry, the king would just laugh.

This example aptly encapsulates the effect that love has on us. For those whom we love, we will see no fault in them, we will tolerate all manner of insults and pain and we will even sacrifice our own comfort and security to

protect our loved ones from hardship. But also it showed that love is not exclusively shown throw affection or romance.

Now what has love got to do with leadership? We are often told that leaders can be very lonely at the top, that you have no friends or companions, only subordinates and adversaries. And hence as a leader you should trust no one and be weary of everyone.

This is such a sad and misguided mindset.

When Rahul Dravid retired, he eloquently acknowledged a simple yet fundamental fact that some leaders are prone to forget. He said, ‘No dream is ever chased alone. As I look back, as one does at such a time, I have many people to thank for supporting me, teaching me and believing in me.’

It is imperative to recognise and appreciate all of the people who helped us become what we are. For it is they who will have put up with us, consoled us, guided us and supported us. They

By Amit Patel

have loved us and it was their love which enabled us to be what we are today. All a leader can do is return that love, through tolerance, acceptance, appreciation and sincerity.

Dravid summarised, ‘My approach to cricket has been reasonably simple: it was about giving everything to the team, it was about playing with dignity, and it was about upholding the spirit of the game. I hope I have done some of that. I have failed at times, but I have never stopped trying. It is why I leave with sadness but also with pride.’ How many leaders can say the same?

Amit Patel has over 15 years experience in the field of Personal Development and Human Resource Management.

He has delivered speeches on People Management and Development throughout Europe, North America, and Asia. To contact Amit, email amitpatelmail@gmail.com

RationalFX celebrates 7th birthday in style

Paresh Davdra, Keith Vaz MP, Seema Malhotra, Rajesh Agrawal, Barry Gardiner MP

RationalFX, one of the world’s fastest growing foreign exchange companies, celebrated its seventh birthday in style last week at The London Mayfair Hotel. RationalFX’s own All-Star Jazz Band, Escala and a Brazilian Samba troupe, Brazilian Fantasy, entertained the guests with their performances.

The event was hosted by renowned journalist, news presenter and TV host Tasmin Lucia-Khan.

The event also provided an opportunity for the company’s founders, Rajesh Agrawal and Paresh Davdra, to announce the next phase of their journey amidst a distinguished audience.

After the welcome ceremony, Rajesh Agrawal and Paresh Davdra, answered questions about their professional achievements as well as about their future plans for the continued

growth and success of RationalFX. Chief Guest Chris Hughton, Manager of Birmingham City Football Club, of which RationalFX is the team’s shirt sponsor, shared with the audience background about his career as a player and as a manager and the differences between the two as well as his thoughts on being one of the very few UK football managers of ethnic origin.

After a sumptuous meal, a birthday cake was cut and guests were invited to take to the dance floor.

Rajesh Agarwal also announced the good response the company has received with the launch of Xendpay.com, a leading global payments and money remittance online platform, helping individuals to save money when sending payments to almost any country in the world quickly, safely, and easily.

Speaking at the event, Rajesh Agrawal said: “I can’t believe it has been seven years already. It has been an overwhelming journey and running a business is like being in the eye of a storm. I wouldn’t have made it this far without Paresh and the rest of the team. We had a great time celebrating our successes at the birthday event and would like to thank everybody who made it convenient to join us. RationalFX is growing every single day and we have some major plans for the future of the company.

“My advice to everyone wanting to start a business would be to explore the world and go out there and experience everything for yourself, first-hand. More importantly the only person that can stop you in achieving and fulfilling your ambitions is yourself.”

FINANCIAL VOICE

Asian Voice - Saturday 7th April 2012

21

Foreign Exchange Paresh Davdra is the Dealing Director of RationalFX, Currency Specialists.

GBP starts April on a high and showing further signs of recovery in the UK GBP began trading today against the USD/EUR in a strong position not seen in a while. This comes as Last week saw the Bank of England (BoE) monetary policy, decide to main interest rates at the same position and Britain's FTSE 100 index was seen opening up 3438 points, or 0.7 percent higher on Friday. Reports have shown that BoE policy makers have decided to maintain the size of their bond buying program this week amid a split over whether the economy needs more stimulus.

Positive news was spread across the UK as the recovery in the UK financial sector saw growth. Reports suggested that PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and employers' group the CBI found business volumes in the three months to March grew for the eighth quarter in a row. This will see confidence in the FTSE index as well as consumers feeling more at ease that fears of a Euro or UK recession may be round the corner.

In the Eurozone news was heavily centered on Spain where Eurozone Finance Ministers have agreed to increase the size

of the barrier designed to contain the spread of Spainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s debt crisis at 700 Billion Euros.

Previous small talk last week talked about a capped amount at almost 1 trillion dollars, but the decision was on line of regional real capacity of the lending fund will not exceed 700 Billion Euros as an official accepted last week Thursday in an interview to Wall Street Journal.

As we have seen in recent weeks in particular Greece who have submitted Austerity Measures to reduce their massive deficits Spain will be sub-

mitting theirs also. Spain's government approves cuts by 27B one day after strike. Spain has seen some uproar recently with unrest coming at a critical time for the ruling party PP who still need to complete their first 100 days in power. The strikes proposed in Spain were designed to put pressure on the government to change the labour reform imminently a measure, which has been demanded by Brussels. Unemployment and wages were the focal point.

102 Billion Euros have already been pledged to Greece and a couple of other countries in the zone.

Many analysts believe the total fund will not be enough especially as European Stability Mechanism (ESM) as of mid-2013, the maximum lending volume of ESM will be 500 billion in a recent report. With a total of 200 Billion forecasted to help Greece, Ireland and Portugal the remainder 500 Billion Euros will be left to help the remaining struggling economies, which sound promising, but may not be

Weekly Currencies As of Tuesday 3rd April 2012 @ 11.20am GBP - INR = 81.10 USD - INR = 50.64 EUR - INR = 67.60 GBP - USD = 1.60 GBP - EUR = 1.20

enough as highlighted by another bank analyst.

Across the ocean in US the markets remained on a positive outlook as reports indicated that US Manufacturing and Household spending probably rose in March. Construction spending also rose in February with the positive reports working as a great catalyst to boost the economy. Increase in auto sales, sustained corporate purchases of equipment, but at the same time less demand from overseas customerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s accounts for about 12% of the economy.

Based on recent reports highlighted today we should see a rise in the amount of importing from UK traders as they will want to take advantage of slightly higher rates of exchange available against the Euro and USD.

EUR - USD = 1.33 GBP - AED = 5.88 GBP - CAD = 1.59 GBP - NZD = 1.95 GBP - AUD = 1.54 GBP - ZAR = 12.58 GBP - HUF = 351.69

www.rationalfx.com Information provided by RationalFX. None of the information on this page constitutes, nor should be construed as financial advice. The exchange rates used are the commercial foreign exchange rates provided by RationalFX. For a live quote or to find out more about how RationalFX can help you, call us on 0207 220 8181.

22

PAKISTAN-BANGLADESH-SRI LANKA

Asian Voice - Saturday 7th April 2012

Pak moving towards MFN status for India: Gilani In Focus Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has urged Asian countries to establish regional harmony and sustainable development through increased trade and economic growth. He said Pakistan is taking steps towards most favoured nation (MFN) status for India, it was reported. "If we do not establish a regional harmony based on trade, investment and economic growth, we fear we will remain hostage to the past.

We can break free of this past," Gilani said while addressing Boao Forum for Asia's annual conference in Boao, China.

Gilani

Gilani mentioned the initiatives for deepening economic relations with other countries and pointed to the tariff liberalisation with China, a new Transit Trade Agreement with Afghanistan,

Pak SC warns Gilani of another contempt notice Islamabad: Pakistan's Supreme Court has threatened Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani with another contempt notice for not complying with its orders on the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO).

Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan of the seven-member bench remarked that the court's orders should be implemented and another contempt notice would be issued against Gilani if he did not do so.

At the last hearing, Attorney General Anwarul Haq informed the Bench that he had received instructions from the authorities and a report would be submitted to the registrar's office.

Accepting his request, the bench had adjourned the case till March 29.

On March 21, appearing before the Bench hearing contempt of court proceedings against Gilani, his counsel Aitzaz Ahsan said the court order to write to the Swiss authorities could not be implemented as long as

Pak population increased by 46.9% between 1998 - 2011 Islamabad: Pakistan's population increased by 46.9 per cent between 1998 and 2011 while Balochistan province witnessed the highest increase in population and Punjab the lowest, according to the preliminary results of the country's latest census.

Households witnessed an increase of 50.4 per cent since 2011 and the population increased from 130,857,717 in 1998 to 192,288,944 in 2011.

The results did not include three districts of Balochistan, South Waziristan Agency and the regions of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and GilgitBaltistan. However, with the inclusion of the population of PoK and Gilgit-Baltistan, the population would touch 197,361,691 in 2011, as against 134,714,017 in 1998, marking an increase of 46.5 per cent. The highest increase in population was witnessed in Balochistan, followed by Sindh, the semi-autonomous tribal areas, KhyberPakhtunkhwa.

Asif Ali Zardari was the Pakistani president.

Zardari, accused of graft, had been granted amnesty under the NRO which was issued in 2007 by then president Pervez Musharraf to facilitate the return of his wife, former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, and himself.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had in 1998 accused Zardari and the late Benazir Bhutto of awarding a preshipment inspection contract to the Societe Generale Surveillance (SGS). This was done in return for six per cent commission on the total amount the company received from the Pakistan government, it claimed.

The same year, Swiss judicial authorities, acting on the request of the Pakistani government, had closed the money laundering case against Zardari and released $60 million frozen in Swiss accounts.

Now, Pakistan's Supreme Court wants the case reopened.

steps towards MFN for India, and regional projects in gas pipelines and communication, reported the Associated Press of Pakistan.

Gilani said the 21st century is the "Asian Century" and stressed that Asia's role in the global economic order had changed rapidly. He said China's role in Asia, and Asia's economic, political and strategic importance was central. He said by 2050, Asia was expected to account for more than half of the global economy, restoring the world's largest continent to its former position of economic primacy. "In short, we may well be witnessed the

birth of a new world," he was quoted as saying.

Gilani recalled the global recession, three years back and said the world has not fully recovered as more uncertainty lies ahead and the pace of growth has been slow and uneven. However, to achieve this, he said "we have to remain vigilant and greater international coordination will be required among all stakeholders and international financial institutions". The prime minister also spoke of the massive floods that wiped out two per cent growth of Pakistan's GDP and caused damage estimated at $10 billion.

Zardari to meet Manmohan Singh

Islamabad: Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari will meet with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during the first visit to India by a Pakistani head of state since 2005, his spokesman said, with relations between the nuclear-armed rivals at their warmest in years.

Spokesman Farhatullah Babar said in a statement that Zardari accepted a lunch invitation from Singh. The pair will meet in New Delhi, on Sunday. Zardari is also expected to visit a shrine to a revered Sufi saint in Ajmer during the one-day visit.

Indian media have quoted government sources there as saying they hoped there would be formal talks.

Lasting Pakistan-India peace is seen as vital to South Asian stability and to smoothing a dangerous transition in Afghanistan as most NATO combat forces prepare to withdraw by the end of 2014.

The atmosphere between the two has improved after a flurry of high-level meetings

and Pakistan's recent promise to award its neighbour most favoured nation trade status.

In November, Pakistani Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani and Singh met in the Maldives and promised to open a new chapter in their troubled history.

Distrust, border clashes and militant attacks have destabilised the region since the two nations were carved out of colonial India in 1947, with the disputed region of Kashmir at the heart of tensions.

They fought three all-out wars since independence from the British and their border still bristles with soldiers.

Pakistan jails Osamaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s family for illegal stay

Islamabad: A Pakistan court on Monday charged and sentenced Osama bin Laden's three wives and two daughters for living illegally in the country and flouting immigration laws.

Senior civil judge Shahrukh Arjumand sentenced each of them to 45day jail and Rs 10,000 ($114) fine.

The court also ordered the government to arrange for their repatriation. The three-hour proceedings were presided over by a judge inside a makeshift court. It was set up in a posh house in Islamabad where bin Laden's family was put up.

The house was designated a "sub-jail" for them.

"The court directed the government to arrange for necessary documents for their earliest repatriation, so that they can go to their own country as soon as possible," Zakarya Ahmad Al-Fatah, Yemeni brother of one of Osama's wives, told

reporters.

Muhammad Aamir, their lawyer, said the period of detention began on March 3, when they were formally arrested for illegal entry and residency in Pakistan.

"The interior secretary was directed to arrange their deportation," Aamir said.

He ruled out any appeal against the decision. The women have already served a month of their sentence and are expected to be deported in two weeks.

Over the last few weeks, details about their life while they were in hiding were trickling out in media reports. Amal Abdulfattah (30) from Yemen was Osama's youngest wife. She claimed she gave birth to four of Osama's children while they were on the run.

In her account, sourced from a report compiled by Pakistani investigators, she said she flew to Pakistan in 2000 and travelled to Afghanistan where she mar-

ried Osama before the 9/11 attacks in the US. The family was later scattered, she told investigators, and she travelled to Karachi in Pakistan. Later, she met her husband in Peshawar and then moved to the Swat Valley, where they lived in two houses. They moved once again before settling in Abbottabad in 2005.

Osama's two older wives, Khairiah Sabar and Siham Sharif, are both from Saudi Arabia. While searching for Osama, most US and Pakistani officials believed he was hiding somewhere along the remote Afghanistan-Pakistan border, possibly in a cave.

He was killed on May 2, 2011 after US special forces stormed his compound at Abbottabad near Islamabad.

Several other men in the house were also killed.

Osama's youngest wife was injured while rescuing her husband.

Pak beauty queen flees US after duping dozens Islamabad: A former Pakistani beauty queen has been accused of duping scores of Californians in an elaborate loan scam before fleeing the US. Saman Hasnain, who won the 2008 Mrs Pakistan World beauty pageant, and her husband Jawad, have been accused of duping South Bay, California, homeowners into giving them money for a loan-modification scam which they operated from 2008 until October 2010. Saman is being described by the American media as a "scam artist" who cheated homeowners after impressing them with her physical appearance, including her "almond-shaped eyes, flawless skin and full beautiful lips".

Thousands rally in Pakistan against cooperation with NATO Islamabad: Thousands of members of extremist groups rallied near parliament last week as leaders of the right-wing Defa-ePakistan Council, including Hafiz Mohammad Saeed, warned the government against reopening routes for transporting supplies to US and NATO forces in Afghanistan. Saeed, the founder of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba, told a rally held at a ground a short distance from parliament that the Pakistani people will never allow the resumption of NATO supplies and there would be protests across the country If the supply routes are reopened, "American agents will again sneak into Pakistan and start killing innocent citizens", he claimed.

Now, Pakistan seeks electricity from India On Board Air India One: Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has said that his Pakistani counterpart, Yuusuf Raza Gilani, has requested him for electricity supply for the country's Punjab province.

Addressing media persons on board Air India One after attending the Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul, Dr. Singh said: "Prime Minister Gilani asked me can you supply power to Punjab (Pakistan), I said we will look into it." Dr. Singh further said that Prime Minister Gilani has invited him to visit Pakistan. "Prime Minister Gilani said please come to Pakistan, I said after some solid and concrete development," said Dr. Singh.

Pak Hindus protest occupation of temple Islamabad: The minority Hindu community in Pakistan has protested the occupation of a temple in Punjab province, prompting the authorities to take steps to "resolve" the sensitive issue. More than 30 members of the Hindu community from Zafarwal subdistrict participated in the protest against the occupation of the temple. Paul Bhatti, minister-in-charge of national harmony, expressed concern at a protest by Hindus in front of the National Press Club for repossession of the temple. He directed concerned authorities to take up the matter and "resolve it at the earliest".

Plot to attack Pak Parliament foiled Islamabad: Pakistan's Interior Minister Rehman Malik revealed that the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s police have foiled a plot to attack Parliament during a presidential address. "I commend the Islamabad police, they have foiled a plot to attack the Parliament during President's address to the joint session," Rehman Malik told reporters. "Police has arrested a suspect and an official of the Finance Ministry involved in the plot." The terrorists had planned to attack when President Asif Ali Zardari addressed the joint sitting of the federal Parliament on March 17, he told reporters here. However, he did not name any militant group.

35 militants killed in Pakistan clashes Islamabad: At least 35 militants and a security personnel were killed in clashes with security forces in northwest Pakistan's restive Orakzai tribal region. The clashes erupted while security forces were conducting a clearance operation in Balaras and Khadezai areas of Orakzai Agency. A total of 35 militants were gunned down by the troops.

WORLD

Asian Voice - Saturday 7th April 2012

23

In Focus

Suu Kyi's party claims landslide win in Myanmar vote

Russia's largest Hindu temple faces demolition

Yangon: Pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi claimed on Monday a by-election landslide for her party, which she hoped would mark the beginning of a new era for Myanmar after a historic vote that could prompt the West to end sanctions.

The charismatic Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate who led the struggle against military rule in the former Burma for two decades, was one of 44 candidates her National League for Democracy Party (NLD) said won all but one of the legislative seats being contested.

"It is not so much our triumph as a triumph of the people, who have decided that they must be involved in the political process of this country," Suu Kyi told a crowd of cheering supporters at the NLD's headquarters in Yangon.

"We hope that this will be the beginning of a new era, when there will be more emphasis on the role of the people in the everyday politics of our country.

Moscow: Russia's Vedic Cultural Centre housing the country's largest Hindu temple is facing demolition in St Petersburg, the hometown of president-elect Vladimir Putin, as a court has ordered its 'eviction' from the leased premises. "Following an arbitration court decision, the biggest Hindu temple of Russia will now be demolished," chairman of the Centre Suren Karapetyan said, appealing to presidents of India and Russia to provide "urgent help." "We are expecting some kind of intervention from the Indian government as we are preserving the Indian culture and traditions in Russia. We appeal to Russian president Dmitry Medvedev to help us in our cause and save the cultural centre," he said.

31 killed in Russian plane crash

Moscow: A Russian passenger plane crashed and burst into flames after takeoff in an oil-producing region of Siberia, killing at least 31 of the 43 people on board, emergency officials said. Thirteen survivors were pulled from the wreckage and rushed to hospital by helicopter but one later died.

Television footage showed the plane, which had broken in two, lying in a snowy field. Only the tail and rear part of the fuselage were visible. It was not immediately clear what caused the UTair airlines ATR 72 to crash with 39 passengers and four crew on board, the latest air disaster to blight Russia's safety record.

Oz-Indian surgeon to appeal against conviction

Brisbane: Lawyers representing Jayant Patel, an Indian-origin surgeon in Australia, will appeal against his conviction for manslaughter in a special sitting of the High Court in Brisbane in June. The Supreme Court in Brisbane found Patel guilty of the manslaughter of Gerry Kemps, 77, James Phillips, 46, and Mervyn Morris, 75, as well as guilty of causing grievous bodily harm to Ian Rodney Vowles, 62. Patel was jailed for seven years in July 2010. The convictions are related to his time as a surgeon at Bundaberg Base Hospital between March 2003 and April 2005, The Courier Mail reports.

Dalai Lama wins $1.7 million Templeton Prize

New York: The Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader Dalai Lama is the winner of the 2012 Templeton Prize for his work on science and religion. The honor from the John Templeton Foundation comes with a $1.7 million award. The Dalai Lama is founder of the Mind & Life Institute for Research on Science and Buddhism.

"We hope that all other parties that took part in the elections will be in a position to cooperate with us to create a genuinely democratic atmosphere in our nation."

The NLD, taking part in elections for the first time since it won 1990 polls which the military ignored, contested all but one of the 45 vacant seats in the legislature.

There was no word from the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), which was formed by the military junta before it ceded power a year ago, or the

US sentences Ghulam Nabi Fai to 2 years' jail

Washington: Ghulam Nabi Fai, a US-based Kashmiri activist who for years propagated the Pakistani line on the issue while being on Islamabad's payroll, was sentenced to two years in prison by a US court on Friday on charges of illegally working for Pakistani intelligence agency ISI. Judge Liam O'Grady of the Eastern District Court in Alexandra, Virginia, handed down a reduced sentence to the 62-year old Fai after the

government prosecution sought leniency on grounds that Fai had assisted authorities with the investigation. Fai was sentenced to 24 months of imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release against the maximum possible 5 years (for conspiracy) plus three years (for tax violation). Fai's attorney Nina Ginsberg said he would surrender after his daughter's graduation on June 25.

Judge Grady asked Fai not

US man injured in gun accident gets new face

Nancy Powell is US envoy to India

Washington: The US Senate confirmed career diplomat Nancy Powell as ambassador to India, a position that had remained vacant for the past year. The Senate confirmed ambassadors to 16 countries following Obama administration's concern over the posts lying vacant. The confirmation had been lying pending before the senate for about two months now. Obama's first ambassador to India, former congressman Timothy Roemer, had announced his resignation in April 2011. Obama had nominated Powell as his next ambassador to India on December 16 last year, but since then her name had languished in the Senate for approval.

UK govt to snoop on all emails

London: The Cameron government is to expand hugely its powers to monitor email exchanges and website visits of every person in Britain. Under plans expected to be announced in the Queen’s speech next month, internet companies will be told to install thousands of pieces of hardware to allow GCHQ, the government’s eavesdropping centre, to scrutinise “on demand” every phone call made, text message and email sent and website accessed in real time. An effort by Labour to introduce a similar law was shelved in 2006 after fierce opposition from the Tories, Liberal Democrats and privacy campaigners. While the new law would not allow GCHQ to monitor the content of communications without obtaining a warrant, it would permit the intelligence agency to trace whom a person or group had contacted, when, for how long and how often.

Election Commission on the outcome of Sunday's ballots.

If confirmed, the sweep would mean the NLD even won four seats in the capital, Naypyitaw, a new city built by the former junta where most of the residents are government employees and military personnel, who were expected to back the USDP, the parliament's dominant party.

But to be regarded as credible, and kick-start a widely expected rolling back of sanctions, the vote needs the blessing of Suu Kyi, who was freed from house arrest

in November 2010.

She agreed in November to end the NLD's boycott of a quasi-civilian democratic system created and dominated by the same ex-generals who persecuted the pro-democracy camp. That represented a giant leap of faith for Suu Kyi, who has found common ground with President Thein Sein, a former junta heavyweight who has surprised the world with the most dramatic political reforms since the military took power in a 1962 coup.

Western government's are waiting for Suu Kyi's endorsement of the poll to start reviewing political and trade sanctions, but on Monday, that was not forthcoming. She said there were flaws in the election, which would not be overlooked.

"We will point out all the irregularities that took place, not in any spirit of vengeance or anger, but because we do not think that these should be overlooked. It is only with the intention of making sure that things improve in future," she said.

Baltimore: After 15 years of wearing a mask and living as a recluse, a 37year-old Virginia man disfigured in a gun accident got a new face, nose, teeth and jaw in what University of Maryland physicians say is the most extensive face transplant ever performed. Richard Lee Norris of Hillsville is recovering well after surgery, beginning to feel his face and already brushing his teeth and shaving, University of Maryland Medical Center officials. He's also regained his sense of smell, which he had lost after the accident. Norris, who was selected from among five possible candidates for the surgery, has been living as a recluse, doing his shopping at night. It's hoped the transplant will give him his life back, said Dr. Eduardo Rodriguez, the lead surgeon.

"It's a surreal experience to look at him. It's hard not to stare. Before, people used to stare at Richard because he wore a mask and they wanted to see the deformity," Rodriguez said. "Now, they have another reason to stare at him, and it's really amazing." Rodriguez showed a 1993 prom photo of Norris, "as we all want to be remembered," beside a pre-transplant photo of Norris' shortened face with a sunken mouth and flattened nose. He then revealed a photo of Norris taken after surgery, where his face appears ordinary.

to maintain any contact with the officials and agents of the government of Pakistan and the ISI. Fair, who had earlier confessed to being a paid agent of the ISI during ques-

tioning by US authorities, had pled guilty last December to conspiracy and tax violations over the concealed transfer of at least $3.5 million from the Pakistani government. Fai was arrested in July 2011 and charged with participating in a long-term conspiracy with an associate to act as agents of the Pakistani government in the US without disclosing their affiliation with the Pakistani government as required by law.

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24

INDIA

Asian Voice - Saturday 7th April 2012

Indian government in bind over Army chief Leak of letter to Manmohan Singh seen as anti-national act Terming the recent leak of Army Chief General VK Singh's March 12 letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as "antinational," Defence Minister A.K Antony last week said he and the defence ministry would take the strongest possible action against those responsible for the leak under Indian law.

"Whoever leaked the army chief's letter to the PM is anti-national. It only helps our enemies. The issue was raised in Parliament also. We have requested the IB to inquire. Once that report is received, we will take further action. We can't spare those people.

Strongest action will be taken under Indian law," Antony told media persons.

Asked whether the army is facing a crunch in availability of ammunition, as alleged by the army chief, he said: "You are trying to corner the government on both fronts -- going slow and scams...

Don't blame me on both counts. The government will have to take care of both... I cannot throw into the basket any complaint...

It will take time (to investigate the allegations)," he said.

Antony said the amount spent for ammunition is on the increase every year.

"The figure is more and more every year.. Last

Manmohan Singh may visit Myanmar next month Indian Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, may undertake a visit to Myanmar next month in an endeavor to strengthen bilateral ties between the two nations. According to reports, Dr. Singh would be the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Myanmar in the past 25 years.

The Indian Prime Minister's reported visit to Myanmar assumes significance, as it will take place at a time when Myanmar is moving towards democracy, with Aung San Suu Kyi leading the National League of Democracy (NLD) to a landslide victory in the by-elections.

Moreover, India welcomed the successful conduct of by-elections that took place in Myanmar on April 1.

"We welcome the successful conduct of by-elections in Myanmar on April 1.

The results that have been officially announced so far show that Aung San Suu Kyi has led the National League of Democracy (NLD) to a landslide victory," said Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin.

year, it was Rs 110 billion, this year, it is 120 billion.

There is a limit of the budget. At the same time, regarding equipping the armed forces, budget will not be a problem. We are continuously reviewing the defence preparedness.

We will not spare any effort," he added.

Asked about media reports about corruption and kickbacks in a recent deal, Antony said: "Action will be taken against the companies even if the contract has been done, going by indemnity clauses contained in all the contracts.

"Our policy is zero tolerance for corruption. In the process of procurement, if we receive complaints and it is established- we will not hesitate to cancel contracts at any stage. We have strong safeguards in the form of integrity pact for any contract over 1 billion. As per integrity pact, if any malpractice is found, there is provision for strict action to protect money and

interests," he added.

Recently, a letter written by General Singh to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was leaked to the media. Media reports said the March 12 letter warned the central government leadership about the inadequacy in the Indian armed forces owing to a shortage of ammunition and an obsolete arsenal of weapons, posing a threat to national security.

General Singh said that he had informed Antony about the bribe incident.

However, Antony had told Parliament that General Singh had not lodged a formal complaint.

Army chief denies leaking letter, calls it high treason Facing demands for his dismissal, Army Chief Gen VK Singh said the leak of his letter to the Prime Minister should be treated as "high treason" and the source of leakage dealt with "ruthlessly."

The assertion by the General to trace the source of the leak came even as defence sources said that Intelligence Bureau has been asked to inquire into leakage of the letter to the media.

As tensions between him and the government escalated over the leak of his official letter to the Prime Minister, Gen Singh hit back saying a "cynical approach" to tarnish his reputation should stop.

In divine light

By Rajen Vakil

Peak of Consciousness In our last article, we saw Bhima explaining to Yudhisthira how Draupadi would not agree to be left behind.

Bhima said, “Since Arjuna has gone to the heavens you have not been at peace. When you are so eager to meet Arjuna, what would you say of Draupadi, Sahdeva and me? Let all our retinue of Brahmins, the cooks and the servants return from here but we will come with you. The forest ahead is full of dangerous demons and I do not want you to go without me.”

Draupadi said, “O king, do not worry about me. I shall walk with you.”

Rishi Lomesh said, “We will be able to climb the Gandhamadana Mountain only with the strength of our austerities. So let all of us become meditative and start the journey.”

The next morning all of them started on the long and difficult journey to Gandhamadana. After a day’s walk, they came to the beautiful land of the king called Subahu. They spent the night there and left there while leaving the whole retinue in the care of the king.

Yudhisthira said, “O Bhimasen, Man has to fulfil his karma in some form or the other. This forest is the most difficult of all terrains, normally impossible to traverse, but the

Beant Singh Killer gets a reprieve as Centre bows to Akali pressure Balwant Singh Rajoana, convicted for the assassination of former Punjab CM Beant Singh, received an extraordinary reprieve three days before his death sentence was to be executed, with the Centre buckling under the high-pressure advocacy of the Akali Dal government. President Pratibha Patil accepted a clemency petition from Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal and his son Sukhbir Badal a move that is seen to have the Centre's concurrence.

The Badals came to Delhi at the behest the Akal Takht, the temporal seat of the Sikhs that directed the Punjab government to stall Rajoana's hanging. This will be the third high profile death sentence to be subject to political pressure. The assassins of ex-PM Rajiv Gandhi and Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru being the other two.

The decision to put Rajoana's execution on hold will put in motion a fresh process as the petition is sent by the Rashtrapati Bhawan to the

home ministry for its consideration and advice.

The home ministry in its letter to the Punjab home department has said that as per procedure regarding mercy in death sentence cases, the execution has been stayed till the order of the Supreme Court or the President (whichever is later). The Centre's decision comes in the wake of unrest in parts of Punjab, J&K with clashes between Sikh and right-wing Hindu groups. While the Akalis backed the plea, Congress also has not vociferously opposed it, despite Beant Singh having been a party leader, who was credited with providing sterling leadership that helped end terrorism in Punjab.

A Rashtrapati Bhawan spokesperson said that the President had received Rajoana's clemency petition and sent to the union home ministry.

"The President met the Punjab CM and took the petition.

It has been sent to the home ministry for consideration," the official said.

Rajoana is a Babbar Khalsa International ter-

rorist convicted in the assassination of Beant Singh in 1995. The petition moved by Sikh religious body SGPC and Delhi Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee forwarded by the Punjab CM to the President. Badal also met PM earlier in the day. Beant Singh had taken on Khalistani groups by steadfastly standing by former super-cop K P S Gill who was then director general of police in Punjab.

Rajoana's co-conspirator Dilawar Singh, who was the human bomb, killed Beant Singh at the high security Punjab civil secretariat on August 31, 1995.

While jailed Jagtar Singh Hawara was the mastermind of the assassination, Rajoana was the second human bomb in case the first assassin failed to kill Beant Singh.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court had in October, 2010, had upheld the death sentence for Rajoana, but changed the capital punishment given to Hawara to life imprisonment.

hope that we will soon see Arjuna is pushing us ahead.

Ahead is Gandhamadana, the mountain which is guarded by the astral beings called Yakshas. There near a huge bel tree, we will see the beautiful ashram of the ancient rishis, Nara and Narayana.

The rishis say Arjuna is the reincarnation of Nara and Sri Krishna of Narayana. The king of the Yakshas and the one who holds the treasure of the gods, Kuber, lives on this mountain. We will go to a beautiful lake that adjoins his abode and which is guarded by hordes of demons. O Bhima, no vehicles are allowed here, if our minds are not balanced and we harbour thoughts of cunningness or greed, we will not be able to go further. So control the wavering mind

and let us move ahead.”

As they walked ahead they saw a huge white hill and while the four Pandavas and Draupadi were wondering what it was, Rishi Lomesh spoke.

“This huge white mountain you see is made of the bones of the demon called Narakasura. Lord Vishnu had killed this demon here. Narakasura had done tremendous tapas for over ten thousand years. He became so powerful that Lord Indra felt he would take away his position as king of the gods. Indra did pooja of the mighty Vishnu who came and told him not to worry. Vishnu battled with Narakasura and killed him, leaving the heap of his bones over here.”

Lomesh continued, “Another great feat of Vishnu was also performed here. Long ago, the Earth was totally drowned in the ocean and was slowly sinking to its bottom. The great Lord Vishnu took the form of a Wild Boar and lifted the Earth out of the water with his two horns.”

Yudhisthira said, “O great rishi please tell us the story of how Lord Vishnu performed this great feat.”

To be continued…

All past articles on the Mahabharata can be accessed from http://epaper.asianvoice.com or from http://www.3stepbreath.com/mahabharata.html

Cheese Circles

Try out these awesome starters with your evening tea. A snack that children and teenagers freak out on.

Ingredients: For the circles: 100 gms margarine or butter (at room temperature), 2 tbsp grated processed cheese, a pinch of chilli powder, 100 gms of plain flour (maida), a pinch of salt.

To be mixed into a cheese topping: 2 tbsp butter (at room temperature), 2 to 3 tbsp fresh cream, 3 tbsp grated processed cheese, a pinch of chilli powder.

For the decoration: 3 to 4 olives, sliced, a pinch of salt.

For the circle: Beat the butter until light and creamy. Add the cheese, chilli powder and salt and beat again. Add the flour and make dough. Roll the dough thinly and cut into small rounds. Bake in a moderately hot oven at 180 degree C (375degree F) for 7 to 10 minutes.

Cool and store. Use when you want to serve.

Directions: Fit a star nozzle in a piping bag and fill the bag with the cheese topping. Pipe out a circle on each round and decorate with sliced olives.

Health Benefits of Butter: Butter is necessary for thyroid and adrenal health. It is also used in treating fungal infections and candida. It has anti-tumor and anti-cancer properties, protects against tooth decay and builds the muscles of human body.

Health Benefits of Cheese: Cheese reduces the risk for osteoporosis, hypertension, tooth decay and heart diseases.

WORLD

Asian Voice - Saturday 7th April 2012

25

Word Masala discovers Boris can’t be bothered about art & literature of London’s expat communities

Yogesh Patel

about the desirability of having a more representative selection of art and literature across the City. I would certainly look to adopt a much more inclusive approach to our creative arts in general when I become Mayor.” With her Anglo-Indian background, one obviously accepts her genuine desire in the matter.

Compare it with the Boris team messing me about and making only to come up with “what did other candidates have to say,?” so that they can react to discredit them! I sternly had to stop them in their track. However, focused Boris Johnson campaign maybe on a negative campaign, the display of such apathy to expat literature and concerns only adds to this negative image. A great pity because he has

come up with some fresh ideas during his term as a Mayor on other issues.

Word Masala believes reforms are necessary from whoever gets elected as a Mayor.

Like Siobhan Benita, Ken Livingstone obviously scored best with his pledge, “I am absolutely committed to continuing such a process if I am elected on 3rd May. I would work with the Boards of Poetry/Art on the Underground to ensure that promoting art and poetry from diverse backgrounds is a priority goal for their programme and to extend the range of work that appears.” Both candidates showed humility which Boris Johnson has failed to display.

The question is why is Boris Johnson so pathetic, arrogant, irresponsible, disinter-

ested and ignorant of the issues at stake?

Let me tell you how expats are engaging. I recently blogged at a major expat site about literature. Within two days I had more than 500 hits with writers and readers responding with extraordinary enthusiasm. It is unfortunate that Boris Johnson has no time available to come up with any comment for such an engaging and interesting crowd of expat voters!

A deeper problem is that his apathy only reveals the broader aspects of continued lack of support for improving the prospect for arts and literature of the expat Londoners filling up London’s coffers. I only hope that the expat voice is not continuously strangled by such reviling attitudes after the election is over.

For my Word Masala project, campaigning for the South-Asian diasporic literature, and now for the expat literature as well, I recently approached three of the main candidates standing for the Mayor of London.

My specific and leading question was why the poetry published on the London Underground doesn’t represent the spectrum of cultures enriching London. This concerns me immensely for the wider cultural aspect as a writer and poet, who runs the Word Masala project which enjoys the patronage of Lord Dholakia, Lord Parekh and poet Dr Debjani Chatterjee, MBE. Word Masala pointed out that as a symbol of a typical apathy to the expat literary voices in London, mayors past and present seem to have been complacent regarding the selection committee’s weird choices showing no connection with the plethora of cultures and colourful voices the wide ranging communities bring to the metropolis.

Poets from international scene visitPresents ing Word Masala Books have often expressed their doubts about what these selections of poetry published on the underground really achieve regarding diverse cultural voices in London. The th programme was the idea of American writer Judith Chernaik, who selects them !"#! !"#!

NOMINATION FORM with the help of poets Cicely Herbert and Gerard Benson. And yet the voice of 98#& 63#4%/)/7:4& ;4/($& ;08/#"#34& ;<(3*4& /4& 874%#*& #"#3,& ,#(3& =,& >?@4& 1#(*/$)& $#<4& <##A1/#4& ;4/($& B7/0#& ($*& C:D(3(% minority is surprisingly lost here.

Undoubtedly Londoners are the 5(E(08(3&%7&87$7:3&+3/%/48&;4/($4&6(3&#F0#11#$0#G&H.&%8#3#&/4&47E#7$#&,7:&A$7<&<87&8(4&=37A#$&=7:$*(3/#4&($*&*#4#3"#4 majority who use the London 3#07)$/%/7$&.73&%8#/3&:$/I:#&07$%3/=:%/7$&%7&%8#&07EE:$/%,&($*&%8#&$(%/7$&%8#$&61#(4#&$7E/$(%#&%8#E&.73&7$#&7.&%8#&(<(3*4 Underground everyday. But clearly, in 1/4%#*&=#17<G spite of them filling London Underground’s coffers, their own diver- '(A#&4:3#&%8(%&,7:&./11&/$&%8/4&(661/0(%/7$&.73E&($*&4#$*&/%&7$&73&$%&'(%)#!*+),-./0)!"#! =,&674%J&.(F&73&#E(/1&%7& sity is somehow remarkably ignored, '3G& K& C#73)#J& 9#1L& MNM& OOPQ& PMRSJ& T(F& MNM& OOPQ& PMURJ& !E(/1L& (((V(=61)37:6G07EG& H.& ,7:& (3#& 4#$*/$)& /%& =,& 674%& %8# even though LT along with ACE funds (**3#44&/4&'3G&K&C#73)#J&;+WK&C37:6J&?(3E(&X7)(&Y7:4#J&RN&Y7F%7$&'(3A#%J&K7$*7$&ZR&[Y\G the project, and the Mayor’s office stamps the posters. In the view of Word Masala the selectors have dismally failed Londoners in this respect. The Mayor seems to not care about the selection of Sports Personality of the Year............................................

Woman of the Year ................................................................ poems by not exacting the leverage and Awarded for excellence in sports.

The award will recognise and honour a woman who has made a the influence of his office. The wider significant mark in any chosen field.

Business Person of the Year .............................................. issue this represents really is about the Awarded to a business person who is a success in every sense of Young Entrepreneur of the Year ...................................... expat literary voices ignored by the peothe word and can demonstrate a genuine passion for social Awarded to an young entrepreneur (less than 35 years) with a ple who run the institutions. I wanted the view of the candidates before the issues. proven track record of operating a successful business enterprise. election, as to what their approach will Professional of the Year ......................................................

Uniformed and Civil Services ............................................ be to remedy these Ivory Tower attitudes Professionals in the field of medicine, law, education, banking, For outstanding achievements in uniformed and civil services or ignoring the expat art and literature. finance and others, who have scaled the heights of their chosen contribution to the community through any of the above services.

I was warmed by Ken Livingstone’s response and personal assurance which profession.

International Personality of the Year ............................ showed the knowledge of the situation Achievement in Community Service................................

Awarded to those who have acclaimed popularity internationally which Boris Johnson arrogantly lacked.

In recognition for an individuals service to community. for his/her contribution in any particular sector and is recognised Mr Livingston acknowledged very for their timeless philanthropic activities. quickly, “I entirely agree that the arts Achievement in Media, Arts and Culture ....................

Lifetime Achievement Award ............................................ and culture in London do not reflect the Someone who has made a mark in media including print and full diversity and talents of London's To honour those individuals, who during their lifetime, have made broadcast media; cinema, art and culture. population. I have always been commitimmense contributions in any given field. This remarkable individAward for Entertainment .................................................... ted to diversifying the Boards of arts ual can be marked as an example for the younger generation. and cultural institutions in London, by For outstanding performance by Asians in the field of Dance and including more women, people from difMusic. ferent educational and working backApplication Form grounds, different ethnicities and ages.”

According to him, between 2000 and ! Name of the Nominee: ___________________________________________________________________________________ 2008 when he was Mayor he put this pledge into action where he had powers ! Contact Details of the Nominee (Tel & email): _______________________________________________________________ to appoint to such Boards. He confirmed that he refused to accept pro- ! Present Occupation of the Nominee: _______________________________________________________________________ posed nominations that did not contribute to diversifying these Boards and ! Please attach your CV which includes the following information (Please do not exceed a limit of 1000 words) used his direct nominations to the same (1) Personal background end. He also added that he ran and (2) Most important career achievements till date funded a programme (called GAIN) to (3) Your contribution to the community and nation help support and train people from different backgrounds to take up places on (4) Any notable obstacles in you career that has helped you to reach where you are today (5) Future plans, ambitions and visions such Boards.

That in my view displays the desire to do better. On the contrary, in spite of one ! Summary- (Please include a summary in not more the 150 words why the nominee is worthy of winning the particular award in a separate sheet) month’s battle to get the reply out Boris Johnson, he despicably ignored the issue, ! Nominators name and contact details: _____________________________________________________________________ and seemed pathetically distant to any understanding of the points raised, and ! Nominators current Occupation/Company: __________________________________________________________________ even when one of his senior campaign directors produced a response on his ! Tel/Mobile: _________________________________ ! Email: __________________________________________________ behalf, it read like a marketing leaflet!

NOMINATION AND SELECTION PROCESS This is a unique event where readers nominate and an independent panel of judges comprising of eminent personalities selects the winner. Judges’ decision is final. ABPL Group will not entertain Siobhan Benita, the real underdog any dialogue with members of the public regarding the judging process. In order to ensure a high degree of transparency and fairness, the management and members of the staff of Asian Voice and of the campaign, and understandably Gujarat Samachar will play no role in the nomination or judging process. You may use an additional sheet if the space provided is insufficient. The winners will be announced at the AAA Awards cerhas no first hand experience of the mat- emony in 14th September, 2012. Asian Voice, Gujarat Samachar will publish the names of the short listed candidates and winners after the event. The winners names will also appear in our e-edition ter, still took time out to respond per- www.abplgroup.com You can nominate yourself if you wish to. Nominations and entries must follow the prescribed format. All nomination forms must reach our offices on or before 12th July, 2012 sonally to reflect on my concerns very 567$4734 -../0/(1&2(%#3#34 !"#$%&'($()#*&+, 567$473#*&28(3/%, -../0/(1&W] quickly. Her comment was, “Thank you for your question about poems on the tube. I am using my campaign to celebrate London’s diversity as much as possible so I share your sentiments

12th Asian Achievers Awards 14 September 2012

Please tick the appropriate category

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26

INDIA

Asian Voice - Saturday 7th April 2012

BRICS agrees to development bank, currency mechanism In Focus BRICS nations last week decided to examine the viability of a development bank for developing countries, besides agreeing to make life a little simpler for those trading within the grouping by settling transactions in local currency.

But in both cases the outcome fell short of expectations of four members – India, Russia, Brazil and South Africa - seemed to fear the clout that China would enjoy if the proposal to set up a bank and move to a single currency went through.

As a result, finance ministers have been tasked to study the feasibility of a multilateral agency modeled on the lines of the World Bank or the Asian Development Bank to generate resources for funding infrastructure and core sector projects in the BRICS nations as well as other

emerging economies. The idea is also to ensure adequate financing during a period of global economic uncertainty. The joint working group will submit a report at the next meeting, a joint declaration said.

On the issue of making credit available, the five countries signed a master agreement to ensure that purchases from the other members of the groups are settled in local currency.

Although the stated goal is to boost trade within the group by cutting down on transaction cost, the move is being seen as a step towards replacing dollar as the main currency of trade.

Once the arrangement is in place, funds routed through the five designated banks, an Indian buyer can make the payment to a Chinese supplier in yuan instead of first converting the rupee into dollars and then reconverting it into

the Chinese currency.

Although the summit may have ended a little short of expectations on the overall substance, the five countries were not short of words.

They blamed the US and Europe for generating excessive liquidity in the global financial system as part of their strategy to boost local economic activity.

Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff had said that the steps taken in the developed countries had created “monetary tsunami” as most BRICS nations had to initiate measures to check excessive volatility in capital flows and commodity prices. “...it is critical for advanced economies to adopt responsible macroeconomic and financial policies, avoid creating excessive global liquidity and undertake structural reforms to lift growth that create jobs,” the Delhi Declaration said.

Manmohan gives way; agrees US announces $10 mn bounty to consult CMs on NCTC on Lashkar chief's head Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has agreed to the demands of the chief ministers who were opposing the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) being implemented in states.

Manmohan Singh will hold a separate meeting on NCTC and no decision will be taken before the meeting of the chief ministers on May 5.

Congress spokesperson Manish Tiwary reiterated the government's stand on the issue and stated that both the Prime Minister and Home Minister have already said that the government is ready for consultations with the concerned states on this issue.

West Bengal's Mamata Banerjee who heads Trinamool Congress - a partner in the ruling United Progressive Alliance, and other chief ministers who have opposed the formation of the NCTC say the powers vested with the anti-terror unit will infringe on the rights of states.

It's not only Banerjee, but Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi also has also written a letter to the prime

minister requesting for making NCTC the exclusive agenda of the April 16 meeting.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa had earlier reportedly written a second letter to the prime minister asking him to put his government's plans to establish the NCTC on hold.

She had sought a separate meeting of all the chief ministers to discuss the counter-terrorism body and the apprehensions raised by the state governments. The main task of the NCTC would be to ensure that the wide variety of security organizations in the country work in tandem, at least on issues related to terrorism.

It will also have the power to seek information, including documents, reports, transcripts, and cyber information from any agency, including from the Central Bureau of Investigation, National Investigation Agency, National Technical Research Organization, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence and all seven central armed police forces including the National Security Guard.

New Delhi: India's tormentor-in-chief Hafiz Saeed, the head of Pakistan's deadliest terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba, now carries a $10 million bounty on his head. The US has announced this reward for the capture or information leading to the capture of Saeed, making him one of the most wanted terrorists in the world.

In her maiden visit to India, US undersecretary of state Wendy Sherman told Indian officials and a select audience at the Aspen Institute that apart from Saeed, his brother-in-law and co-founder of Lashkar Abdul Rehman Makki now carries a bounty of $3 million on his head.

LeT, and principally Saeed, are accused of planning and executing the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai with the help of Pakistan's spy agency, ISI. Under Saeed's watch, Lashkar has grown to become a terror group that rivals al-Qaida in its reach and lethality.

Although primarily focused against India, LeT, which has

the US National Foreign Trade Council and Japan Foreign Trade Council warns the changes have “called into question the very rule of law, due process, and fair treatment in India.

“We are writing to express deep concerns about many of the tax provisions proposed in the Finance Bill 2012,” the letter states. “If enacted, these proposals will significantly alter the Indian taxation of our member companies with retroactive effect extending back for as much as half a century.

“Some of our member companies had already begun re-evaluating their investments in India due to increasing levels of controversy and uncertainty regarding taxation.”

The letter has elevated

the tax issue from a bi-lateral dispute between Vodafone and the Indian government to a multilateral row that could end up in the international courts.

As well as Vodafone, companies such as SAB Miller and Kraft are among those that have carried out deals involving Indian companies which could fall foul of the revised law. India is currently struggling to close a 4.94 trillion rupee (£60.6bn) budget deficit.

Vodafone has been fighting to overturn a £1.4 billion tax claim arising from its 2007 acquisition of Hutchinson Whampoa’s Indian business.

Indian courts have twice ruled in Vodafone’s favour, most recently at the Supreme Court.

The letter to Mr Singh

states: “The sudden and unprecedented move in the bill has undermined confidence in the policies of the government of India toward foreign investment and taxation and has called into question the very rule of law, due process, and fair treatment in India.

“Although presented as clarifications, these changes are seen as in clear reaction and contradiction to a long series of recent rulings and judgments rendered by Indian tribunals.”

The letter was signed by Business Roundtable, Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters, Capital Markets Tax Committee of Asia, Confederation of British Industry, Japan Foreign Trade Council, National Foreign Trade Council, United States Council for International Business.

Bahuguna govt wins trust vote

The Vijay Bahuguna government won a trust vote in the Uttarakhand Assembly amid a walkout by the opposition BJP members. Thirty-nine members voted in favour of the trust motion tabled by Bahuguna, speaker Govind Singh Kunjwal informed the House. opposition BJP staged a noisy walk-out demanding that secret ballot system should have been used for voting on the motion. "This is totally unconstitutional that the government did not accept the demand of secret ballot," said Ajay Bhatt, a senior BJP MLA.

IIT-Delhi is India’s highestranked institution

Hafiz Saeed

links with the ISI (some claim it has been nurtured by it) has reached European and Australian shores.

The US has $25 million on the head of Ayman al Zawahiri, the head of Qaida after the killing of Osama bin Laden, making him the most wanted terrorist in the world.

Saeed is in the second rung he joins the ranks of Mullah Omar and the Qaida chiefs of Iran and Iraq, all of whom carry a reward of $10 million.

Britain criticises India’s tax plan Continued from page 1

Norway to hand over kids to uncle

In what is probably the first sign of good news for the two Indian children Abhigyaan and Aishwarya, the Norway child care service has said that it will hand them over to their uncle Arunabhash soon. This means that the uncle will finally be able to bring the children back to India to live with him.

However, a final decision in the case will be made on April 17. For 11 months now, the two children have remained in foster care in Norway. The pair have been separated, as they are being fostered by two different families. The decision to hand them over to their uncle means they will once again be reunited. This decision comes after the Norwegian court dropped the hearing for the case, last week, owing to reports of marital discord between the Bhattacharya couple. Soon after, the couple themselves quelled the reports saying it was untrue.

n a joint letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, they said the "unprecedented" proposal "had undermined confidence in the government's policies on foreign investment."

The proposal, announced in last month's budget, "called into question the very rule of law, due process, and fair treatment in India," it added.

Signatories to the letter include the Confederation of British Industry, the United States Council for International Business and the Japan Foreign Trade Council.

"India will lose significant ground as a destination for international investment if it fails to align itself with policy and practice around the world and restore confidence in the relevance of the judiciary," the groups said.

Indian Institute of Technology- Delhi is India’s highest ranking institution in world with a global rank of 218, the Rajya Sabha was informed. Minister of State for HRD D Purandeswari said that as per the Quacquarelli Symonds global system of ranking of higher education institutions for 2011, IIT-Delhi is the overall highest ranking institution in India at serial number 218. "As per the Times Higher Education World University Rankings for 2011, IIT-Bombay is the highest ranked institution at serial 317, while the Academic Ranking of World Universities has ranked Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore at serial 321," she said.

Miss India World 2012: Vanya Mishra wins the title

Chandigarh girl, Vanya Mishra who got a direct entry in the final 20 after winning Dabur Gulabari Miss Rose Glow 2011 contest is finally Pantaloons Femina Miss India (PFMI) 2012 Miss World. Prachi Mishra is ( Pantaloons Femina Miss India Earth 2012), and Rochelle Maria Rao ( Pantaloons Femina Miss India International 2012).

Femina will not send the beauties to the Miss Universe pageant as it had decided in 2010 to abstain from the event.

India mulling over abolishing Haj subsidy

India’s External Affairs Minister S M Krishna said the central government is mulling over abolishing the Haj subsidy after several Muslim organisations urged the government to remove it. Reacting to reports that there are plans to provide similar packages to Christian pilgrims, Krishna said the government is planning to do away with the subsidy for Haj pilgrims, adding that the change would be part of reforms that are taking place. "Well, there have been second thoughts, even with reference to Haj. Haj reforms are taking place and we are evaluating this question of subsidy constantly and a large number of Muslim organisations have approached the government of India to abolish this subsidy concept.

Brahmos supersonic cruise missile test fired

India successfully test fired Brahmos supersonic cruise missile as part of a user trial by the Army from the test range at Chandipur off Odisha coast. "The missile was test fired from a ground mobile launcher from the launch complex-3 and the trial was successful," said a defence official. The missile, which has a flight range of up to 290 km, is capable of carrying a conventional warhead of 200 to 300 kg.

INDIA & HISTORY

Asian Voice - Saturday 7th April 2012

Modi in running for Time power list of top 100 Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi is running for Time power list of top 100. Spurned by the US once, he is lapping up the attention of the American media now. His efforts to shed the burden of the 2002 Gujarat riots got another fillip when Time magazine listed him among the contenders for the 100 most powerful people in the world list.

BJP workers have already started circulating emails seeking votes for him.

Modi finds himself in the company of his bête noire Nitish Kumar and Anna Hazare, who are among the contenders. Others who have been listed from India include actors Vidya Balan and Salman Khan and cricketer

Master chef Sanjeev Kapoor was in Ahmedabad recently to crown “Gujarat Cooking Queen.” After the event, which was held at ‘The Yellow Chilli,’ he shared his expert tips and suggestions on food.

“The coming trend in Indian food, Kapoor believes, is rooted against globalisation. People are much prouder of everything Indian. But it is sad that new Indian generation in west is forgetting its roots and origin of food.

People should remember that Indian food is a balanced meal; it’s something that is cooked fresh and served fresh. It is simple, yet exotic. There is diversity in it because it blends with spices and herbs. Indian spices have so much medicinal properties and any recipe prepared with it will taste awesome. I have a new mission: To make Indian regional food more popular. There are so many unexplored cuisines from across the length and breadth of our country. I want to know more, learn more, and then take up the task of sharing my findings with the world.”

When asked about the secret of his cooking, he

By Dr Anil Mehta

Lord Curzon : Viceroy of India - Part I

Sachin Tendulkar.

What may irk Modi the most is the way the magazine has described Nitish, the Bihar CM. "His success (and re- election) has introduced a revolutionary new idea to Indian politics: that delivering basic services to the poor is as

effective a political strategy as promising handouts or pandering to religion or caste," it said. But Time described the Gujarat CM as "the most polarizing figure in Indian politics" who "remains associated with the ugly legacy of the 2002 Gujarat riots".

Sanjeev Kapoor- the master chef who popularized Indian cooking

By Purvi Apurva Shah

27

said, “I try to simplify it. I cook with a lot of positive energy and keep the end taste in mind. I cook with the knowledge that the ingredients I have in hand are going to be used for best results. I cook for the person who is going to eat.

I have always been keen about pleasing the palate.”

Sanjeev Kapoor is regarded as the most renowned face of the Indian Cuisine. His pioneering ‘Khana Khazana,’ started 18 years ago, is the longest-running TV cooking show in Asia, and he has just launched India's first 24-hour Hindi-language cooking channel FoodFood. This success has brought awards, government advisory contracts, jobs with foreign airlines and an appearance on CNN alongside Heston Blumenthal, Gordon Ramsay, Jamie Oliver and Wolfgang Puck as one of the top five celebrity chefs in the world. Kapoor's website gets 25 million hits a month, and his 36 books have sold an estimated 10 million copies.

His daily cooking show on television has 500 million viewers.

He started out in the hospitality industry in the year 1984. Armed with a degree in hotel management, he started his career

in the ITDC and was a topper in his batch. After working in many hotels he was designated as the Executive Chef of the Centaur Hotel in Mumbai.

He has also been awarded the “Best Chef of World Award” by H & FS and the “Mercury Gold Award” by IFCA at Geneva. He has also been recruited by the Singapore Airlines as one of the members of its `International Culinary Panel` to prepare a meal with a brand new name of `Shahi Thali` in the year 2006. In the recent past his name was in the nomination of the Indian Culinary Association Best Chef Award for the introduction of the spice called Buxus Obtusifolia in Indian Cooking. “This is world's first site where one can search for well-tested recipes and that too all kinds of regional recipes," he said. When asked about the secret spices, Kapoor said that the basic ingredient should be good and spices are just the jewellery. He has also set up more than 20 restaurants in several cities in India and other countries like Dubai, Bahrain and Nepal.

Ahmedabad restaurant The Yellow Chilli is the only vegetarian restaurant around the globe run by him.

As Viceroy of India Lord Curzon is noted for many things. His administrative, educational, financial, and agricultural reforms, creation of the separate departments of commerce and industry, and of police service, the preservation of historical and archaeological sites of India, and formation of the North West Frontier Province. He also attempted to rationalise land assessments, reorganise Indian finances, and supported agricultural research. On the debit side was his controversial partition of Bengal, which, after bitter opposition, was revoked.

George Nathaniel Curzon (1859-1925) was a British Conservative statesman who served as a Viceroy of India (18981905). He was educated at Eton and Oxford. In Britain, as a Conservative MP (Southport) he served as Undersecretary for India (1891-92), and for Foreign Affairs (1895-98).

He became the authority on the East by travelling and writing extensively throughout central and eastern Asia during the 1880s.

In 1898 Curzon succeeded Lord Elgin as the Viceroy of India, a post filled with pomp and pageantry which he loved.

He was interested in this job and had prepared himself thoroughly for it. At the time of his appointment Britain was the most powerful nation on earth with its possessions stretching across the globe. The sun, indeed, never set on the Empire.

An ambitious viceroy, Curzon worked very hard to further the interests of both Britain and India alike. He worked energetically to organise finances, irrigation, and commerce.

He initiated a number of commissions to inquire into education, police, civil service and other branches of administration on whose reports further legislation was based. He ordered immediate punishment of any Britons (including members of the army) who ill-treated Indians.

A new Department of Commerce and Industry was set up to encourage, among other things, railway construc-

tion. India’s existing network of 43,000 km of railways was extended by another 10,000.

Furthermore, a new North West Frontier Province was created to improve the administration of that area and act as a buffer zone between India and Afghanistan.

A major famine struck in India in 1899 in which more than 6 million people died. It exposed the stark inadequacy of official methods for relief.

Although Curzon implemented some famine relief measures such as immediate food supply, tax reduction, and more irrigation projects, it was considered not enough and he was heavily criticised for having done little to fight the famine. To help agricultural production, he established an Agricultural Research Institute near Delhi.

Curzon was fascinated

by India’s history and architecture. He encouraged the restoration and preservation of what he claimed as the ‘greatest galaxy of monuments in the world’. He ordered the restoration of Taj Mahal which was decaying and thereafter took personal interest in India’s artistic and cultural treasures.

It is said that one of the earliest efforts at the wildlife conservation in India began in the Gir Forest through Curzon’s inspiration. In 1900 the Nawab of Junagadh had invited him for the lion hunt in the Gir Forest, but after a public outcry about the extinction of this rare animal, the Viceroy, although a keen huntsman

himself, not only cancelled the hunt but advised the Nawab to protect this rare species which he did.

Today, the lion sanctuary in Gir Forest is a safe haven for the Asiatic lions.

At the end of his 5-year term in India, Curzon’s successes were recognised by British Government by a renewal of his term, but for him the period of blazing glory was well and truly over. He resigned in 1905 as a result of a disagreement with his army chief Lord Kitchener over who controlled India’s defence and military spending. He returned to England and was succeeded by Lord Minto. In England he filled many important government and non-government posts (such as the Chancellor of Oxford University) before retirement. He died of abdominal complications in 1925 in London.

The last of the great Victorian Viceroys, Curzon was not only the most brilliant scholar-administrator of the day but also the most resolute imperialist.

He was probably better informed about India’s history, language, and culture than any other British ruler save Warren Hastings. An eloquent, egoistic, overbearing, paternalistic, and rather pompous, he demanded obedience from the local princes and provincial governors alike.

He did not like to delegate to others either work or responsibility, nor did he involve Indians – the people for whom he worked so hard – in his projects.

His general attitude was that he knew best. He presided over Delhi durbar in 1903 to mark accession of King Edward VII (190210).

Curzon’s viceroyalty is also remembered for its splendour. Calcutta’s elegant Victoria Memorial was conceived by Curzon to commemorate the Empire at its peak.

Referring to his love and knowledge of India’s history and culture, Prime Minister Nehru paid him a surprising tribute : ‘After every other viceroy has been forgotten, Curzon will be remembered because he restored all that was beautiful in India’.

28

TRAVEL & WOMEN

Asian Voice - Saturday 7th April 2012

WOMEN ACHIEVERS Falguni Pathak from tradition to Indipop

TRAVEL TONIC

Stunning Sri Lanka

I’m Kyra and I review holidays. If you want to visit one of the friendliest most welcoming countries in the world, Sri Lanka must be your next stop. With incredibly beautiful landscapes, white sandy beaches, lush mountains and amazing sightseeing hotspots, your memories of this holiday will last a lifetime.

I booked a tour, as you really need an English speaking escort to make the most out of your trip. The best way to explore the country is by car and with road signs and names lacking, a tour

guide that doubles as a chauffeur is a great option.

My first stop was the elephant orphanage sanctuary in Pinnawala, Kandy. Immediately you are in awe of these beautiful animals. You can help bathe them in the shallow pools, and for the brave, take a bareback ride around the sanctuary –this will make any jet lag vanish! Then I went onto do a city tour of Kandy which included the peaceful Buddhist Temple of the Tooth, where many Buddhists come to do their pilgrimages and the Royal Botanical Gardens filled with wonderful scents of exotic flowers.

In the evening at my hotel, we were treated to a cultural show with classical Sri Lankan dancing.

Set against a starry sky, with a home made style

ground, offering beautiful views. I also visited several tea and spice plantations, including one in Matale with cinnamon, pepper and nutmeg. I purchased some Batik

spent my last couple of days relaxing at a beach resort. The beaches are still unspoilt and a haven for relaxing with unforgettable sunsets and white sand so soft your feet will just melt into the sand.

My holiday was arranged by Brightsun Travel who offer a helpful and friendly service, answering all my questions such as providing several tour options including shorter stays or longer ones to see as much of the country as possible, with both budget and luxury options.

For flights, 8 nights half board, including a chauffeur driven escorted tour, Brightsun have a special April offer on this package for only £979 pp.

Brightsun Travel offers a price match

presents after I saw them being handmade, to go with my tea gifts! On my way back to Colombo, I also visited the ancient city of Anuradhapura, and then after doing a city tour of Colombo,

promise on worldwide flights and holidays so you will get the best deals. To book your dream holiday, call Brightsun Travel on 0208 819 0486 or visit www.brightsun.co.uk

meal, it was an unforgettable start to my trip.

The rest of my visit included climbing the famous Sigiriya Rock, a sixth century fortress perched 200m above

By AV Correspondent Falguni Pathak is a singer and performing artist based in Mumbai and has strong affinity towards the traditional music of Gujarat. Her style of singing encompasses varied genres touching aspects of modern beats as well as folk tunes inspired by traditional musicians of the country. She has, since her professional debut in 1998, developed into an artist with a large fan following across India and across the world.

Her debut album was released in 1998. Most of the themes in her songs were about love. Her debut song ‘Yaad Piya Ki Aane Lagi’ was a hit which stayed on the top of the charts for a long time.

Her tunes were known to be catchy and her videos are full of colour and

dance. She always acted in them playing the central character. Post that, her other popular hits include ‘Meri Chunar Udd Udd Jaye’ and ‘Maine Payah Hai Chankai.’

Bollywood too can’t get enough of Falguni. She has recorded numerous songs that have been featured in movies such as “Na Tum Jaano Na Hum,” “Deewaanapan” and “Leela.” She has performed in many shows and a number of her shows have run throughout the night, both in India and in other countries. She, being a powerful vocalist and energetic performer, entertained audiences during the ‘Navratri’ festival. She performed at Goregaon in Mumbai during this Navratri and thousands of people danced the garba to her tunes. After this fes-

tival she visited other countries, such as the USA and UAE to perform for the NRI fans there.

She is one the most popular singers specializing in the music of the Navratri festival.

She has rightfully gained her ground as the ‘Queen of Dandiya’ with chartbuster music comprising a complete entertainment package. The first time she sang was at the age of nine and her father made no secret of his disapproval, even giving her a beating.

Famous actress Ayesha Takia made her music video debut in Falguni’s ‘Meri Chunar Udd Udd Jaye’ when she was 15.

Falguni is often backed by a band called ‘Ta Thaiyaa’ with 18 members with whom she regularly blends traditional styles with a more modern approach.

Easter- the time to experience God’s love Easter is the most important feast for the Christians. It is also the time to experience the love of God. Forty days prior to Easter is Lent. It is a time for repentance, renewal and a time to reflect on the Word of God and apply it on to one’s life. The Scripture calls upon the Christians to pray, repent and give alms. Fasting is also an important part of Lent.

The week before the Easter Sunday is called the Holy Week. On Thursday, which is called the Monty Thursday, Jesus Christ shares his last supper with his disciples.

During the supper he told his disciples that one among them would betray him and give him into the hands of the rulers, about his passion, death and resurrection.

On Friday, which is called Good Friday, Jesus was condemned to death by the Roman rulers and handed him over to the soldiers, who stripped him, torture him, placed a crown of thrones over his head and forced him to carry a heavy cross to Calvary where he was crucified in the company of two thieves. It is the physical end of Jesus Christ who all along loved people. The events leading to his crucifixion are heartrending. He was abandoned by the people whom he had come to redeem; by his closest friends and even by his disciples and dies on the cross.

The loneliness of Good Friday, when the beloved Son of God died hanging on the cross is the loneliness all of us experience

when suffering and pain assails us and when all world seems to have abandoned us, when even our strength seems not to be with us. God does not die to take away our crosses but gives strength to us to suffer and join us in our sufferings. Good Friday is not the end of Jesus Christ but beginning of a new life; conquering death and his resurrection on Easter Sunday.

Holy week is the time to discover and experience the love of God which is unconditional. His love does not depend on what we do, say or our status.

God’s love is eternal and is not bound by any event or circumstances. The Bible says, “God is love, whoever lives in love lives in God and God in him. If anyone says, I love God, yet hate his brother, is a liar. If anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen cannot love God, whom he has not seen.”

To illustrate the love of God, Jesus told a story in the form of a parable.

“There was a man who had two sons. The younger

one told his father, Father, give me my share of the estate. So the father divided his property between them. Not long after that, the younger son sold all his property and set off for a distant country. He had squandered all his wealth and that time there was a famine in that country. He finally went to a rich man who hired him and send him in his field to feed the pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. He came to his senses and said, how many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death. I will go to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me one of your hired men.” He got up and went to his father. The father saw the son coming and filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. The son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” But the father said to his servants, “Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Let us have a feast and celebrate.

For this son of mine was died and is alive again; he was lost and found.”

The parable tells us about the unconditional love of God. God’s unconditional love gives us new life.

HEALTH WATCH

Asian Voice - Saturday 7th April 2012

Watermelons are very nutritious

Juicy watermelons are indeed packed with some of the best antioxidants in nature. Research has shown that they are good for cardiovascular diseases, colon cancer and diabetes too. They are rich in Vitamin A, B and C. What's more, they are low in calories and very nutritious.

It is an ideal health drink because it is 92 per cent water, and does not contain any fat or cholesterol. It also fills you up fast because of its water content. So have it along with your barbeque or grills as watermelons will prevent you from overeating.

The right pick: Choose the right watermelon. Always choose one that is symmetrical

and firm without any cuts and bruises. Turn it over and you will see a yellow colour on one side. The yellow area is a good sign as it shows that the watermelon was rested on the ground while ripening under the sun. It is also an indication that your melon is sweeter and juicer. Slap your melon and if it sounds hollow, then it is ripe.

Are you hesitant to buy watermelon frequently because of its size which will occupy a lot of space in the refrigerator? But now plenty of micromelons are available in the market which will easily fit into any small space. So, next time you hit a fruit shop, don't forget to shop for a watermelon.

Lemon juice: a health drink Lemon juice has more benefits that you'd ever imagine. Lemons have five per cent of citric acid, which gives it its unique taste. Rich in vitamin C, it also has vitamin B, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, proteins and carbohydrates.

Here are some benefits.

• Suffer from indigestion? Mix a few drops of lemon juice with warm water and sip it. This is useful for treating nausea, heartburn, diarrhoea, bloating and burping.

• Since lemon is a natural antiseptic, it is great to cure skin problems. It clears your skin and also

acts as an anti-ageing agent by eliminating wrinkles and blackheads.

• Have a toothache?

Apply fresh lemon juice where it hurts. If you have bleeding gums, applying lemon juice can curb the bleeding and stop bad breath.

• A sore throat can be cured by gargling with lemon juice and water regularly.

• Nimbu paani is high in potassium, which controls high blood pressure, dizziness, nausea and reduces stress. It also cures respiratory disorders like breathing problems and asthma.

To add to that, he insists that it is the only common food with its own mortality rate. What we are being sold today in the form of whole grain bread, bagels, muffins, pizzas and so on is not the same grain our grandparents grew up on. It's not even close.

Humans haven't changed but the wheat we consume has changed considerably."

Dr Davis feels that modern wheat is "the altered offspring of thousands of genetic manipulations, crude and sometimes bizarre techniques." It is

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responsible, he says, for a whole range of inflammatory diseases, from rheumatoid arthritis to inflammatory bowel disease. He notes, "Modern wheat contains a type of sugar called amylopectin A, that raises blood sugar in an extravagant fashion, leading to the accumulation of visceral fat on the body, the deep fat encircling organs.

Wheat-consuming people are fatter than those who don't eat wheat.

Among the changes introduced into this plant is a re-engineered form of the gliadin protein unique to wheat, such that it serves as a powerful appetite stimulant. When you eat wheat, you want more wheat and in fact want more of everything else.

Poets and authors have likened its scent to that of an ethereal, otherworldly experience.

Sensual, earthy and almost wildly exotic in an olfactory sense, the humble papaya is one of earth's finest gifts to mankind. Here are a few reasons why you should include this fruit in your diet: Low in calories, high on nutrition, it's an excellent choice for those on a diet.

The peel of the papaya helps in healing skin wounds and injuries.

The fruit has antiinflammatory and anticancerous properties.

People affected with osteoporosis, arthritis and oedema should consume it regularly.

The fruit is good for hair growth and is known to check the growth of dandruff.

Papaya is one of the most trusted detox solutions. If taken in moderation, the fruit can help get rid of toxins from the body.

Those suffering from constipation and indigestion can rely on the papaya for relief.

Cumin is good for health

Cumin (also known as Jeera) has a richness of history to give it a special place in the world of spices. Ancient Egyptians used it for the mummification process. And the humble jeera is a part of almost every Indian kitchen and on a hot summer day it's sheer bliss to have a glass of buttermilk with a dash of cumin powder. Roasted jeera has a very unique flavor and adds much taste to an ordinary dish like aloo ki sabzi. Apart from taste, cumin has lots of health benefits and that's why you should add it in your diet.

Common cold: Antiseptic properties of cumin can help fight flu, by boosting your immune sys-

tem. A cup of water boiled with cumin seeds, ginger, basil leaves and honey, can give great relief.

Anemia: Cumin seeds contain a good amount of iron. Iron is an essential element for the formation of hemoglobin in the blood required for transport of oxygen. Anemia [lowered levels of hemoglobin in the blood] has always been a concern in women, children and adolescents. It's a

good idea to include jeera in everyday preparations like parathas, curries, cookies, soups, rice, lentil preparations.

Digestion: It's a common practice in India to find people popping in Jeera Goli after meals, but did you know it works well for digestive disorders? Cumin helps control stomach pain, indigestion, diarrhoea, nausea and morning sickness.

Jeera is also found to be effective in stimulating menstrual cycle in women.

Cumin can be used in the treatment of piles due to its fibre content, anti-fungal, laxative and carminative properties. So, make it a point to add a dash of jeera powder in your diet.

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Ditch wheat to lose weight To most people in India, wheat is staple food. It forms an integral, intrinsic part of our diet and it's in practically every meal we consume in some form or the other.

To the vast majority, it's unthinkable to imagine a life without the grain. A new best-selling book, 'Wheat Belly' by Dr William Davis, a US-based practising preventive cardiologist, is asking you to do just that! Why? According to him, triticum aestivum (what we call modern wheat) has a variety of ill-effects. He cites commonly known facts: that it has been associated with Type 1 Diabetes and that it increases both insulin resistance and leptin resistance, conditions that lead to obesity.

29

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30

UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 7th April 2012

CB Live is only a Gujarati programme in UK on MATV SKY 793 This week in CB Live, Bhaishri Nalinbhai Kothari, Minalben and Vikrambhai from Raj Soubhag Satsang Mandal and CB Patel, Publisher/Editor of Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar will be interviewed by Business Manager, Alkaben Shah If you do not have a SKY, go to www.tvunetworks.com and watch CB Live on TVU Player Channel 75203

Sneh Joshi - 020 8518 5500 As Mars, your ruling planet is retrograde, this will particularly affect you on a highly personal level. As this transit is affecting your solar sixth house, enthusiasm for your work or health regimes, could wane. Refocus, backtracking, and review become necessary and recommended now. How you organize your time is in question now.

ARIES Mar 21 - Apr 20

7pm to 8pm Every Thursday

CB LIVE Every Thursday on MATV (SKY 793) 7pm to 8pm For more information email: cblive_matv@yahoo.co.uk or call Alka Shah on 07944 151 893

Coming Events ! Cinnamon Lounge presents Punjab food festival. 26 March- 15 April 2012. 181 Twickenham Road. Isleworth TW7 6AB. Contact: 020 8560 8995 ! Hanuman Jayanti on Friday 6th April. Hillbrook School, Hillbrook Road, Tooting, SW17 8SG, 9:30am-7pm. Contact: Jyotiben Pandya (07777624968) ! Queen's Diamond Jubilee Celebration ; Indian Cultural Centre, Croydon, Saturday 2nd June, Queen's Gardens, Fell Rd. 3 pm. ! Nehru Centre, 8 South Audley Street London W1K 1HF. Contact (020) 7 491 3567 04 April, 6:30 Book Launch: Air, Fire & Water T K Ramanujam 10 April, 6:15 ICCR Exhibition of Paintings: Aananda : The Eternal Bliss Sandhya Singh 10 April, 7pm Illustrated Talk: Ray and Rabindranath Swapan Mullick 11 April, 7pm Dance Drama Chitrangada (55 min) Ranjana Gauhar

Competition If you want to win a pair of tickets to the Bollywood Spectacular Dhamaka starring Sonu Nigam and Atif Aslam, answer this simple question.

Where is Dhamaka 2012 with Sonu Nigam & Atif Aslam taking place? a. NEC Birmingham b. O2 Arena c. Wembley Stadium The correct answer should be emailed to aveditorial@abplgroup.com by 9th April 6pm along with name, full address and phone number.

Please note: the two winners will be chosen on first cum first basis from the right answers received.

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Sewa Day adds 400,000 value to Britain An independent report shows that Sewa Day, which encourages social action, good deeds and public service, in 2011, returned 4.40 of economic and social benefit for every 1 expended on it resulting in a 400,000 monetised gross benefit of to the British economy.

Sewa Day (www.sewaday.org), which started in 2010 aims to promote public service and selflessness across the voluntary, private, and education sectors.

Economists Pratik Dattani and Sam Juthani, from the City Hindus Network, determined a Social Return on Investment (SROI) from Sewa Day activities in order to complete their independent economic analysis. For the initiative to continue developing, the evaluation makes a number of recommendations including engaging more school children, exploring the idea of

developing champions in each community, minimising the opportunity cost of taking part and ensuring that projects are sustainable.

Arup Ganguly, Chairman of Sewa Day, concludes: “We believe Sewa Day 2011 provided significant positive social and economic benefits for Britain . However, as always, the question is what have we improved? How do you measure the impact of a project like Sewa Day on society or even on an individual? This report backs up our belief that Sewa Day is a good thing. With benefits outweighing costs, our volunteers will be very heartened that they are adding value to the nation.”

Sewa Day 2012 will take place on 7 October providing an opportunity to people across the UK to get involved in social action projects in their community.

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TAURUS Apr 21 - May 21 Transit of Mars retrograde occurs in your solar fifth house. A relationship with a lover or a child could become more complicated or possibly exhausting. New initiatives with fifth house matters may appear less exciting, or you could find that you are less confident about expressing yourself in fifth house areas of life-creativity self-expression, recreation, children, and romance.

GEMINI May 22 - June 22 Venus, the goddess of love, is transiting your sign. This is a time when you naturally show your softer side. Romantic matters, as well as pleasure-seeking activities, come to the fore now. You are more likely to pay closer attention to your physical appearance and aim to improve and enhance your attractiveness. At home, be diplomatic or there will be misunderstandings.

CANCER Jun 22 - Jul 22 It's time to rethink, revise, and reorganize your plans. Backtracking is a good idea. Daily affairs become less complicated and this frees you up to tend to more worldly goals. Your original ideas can capture the attention of your superiors. Professional opportunities abound. Love has a private feel and you are not ready to share your feelings with others.

LEO Jul 23 - Aug 23 The transit of the sun through your Solar 9th house, tends to expand your experiences and awareness, whether through philosophical thinking or travel. Mars is retrograde in your solar 2nd house of finance - money and security matters are extremely important to you during this cycle, but they are not as straightforward as they have been. It's time to rethink and revise your plans.

VIRGO Aug 24 - Sep 23 Mars retrograde in your sign affects you in the areas of partnerships and shared resources. Both these areas are adversely affected, resulting in misunderstandings, broken promises, delays and frustrations in finalising matters. Backtracking is a good idea now. How you assert yourself and how you go about going after what you want out of life are up for review now.

LIBRA Sep 24 - Oct 23 You will find added scope and greater incentive to push full steam ahead with your cherished aims. You must be careful not to tread on other people's toes. This is the right time to talk things over with your loved one - especially anything that has been worrying you or making you feel insecure.

SCORPIO Oct 24- Nov 22 You may find yourself hard at work behind the scenes, although that may not be apparent to others. You may find yourself caught up in a whirlwind of activity, with opportunities to advance on both the inner and outer level. There’s a sparkle to your social life and you will have fun communicating with others.

SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 - Dec 21

It is certainly going to be a fortunate time for those already married or in an established relationship.

The keynote is emotional enrichment through close interaction with a loved one. Facets of your life that have been a source of restriction and dissatisfaction will begin to loosen their hold.

CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan 20

Give top priority to important written work. This applies particularly to financial and commercial interests. If you can manage to get away from usual routines, this will prove to be highly enjoyable and have a beneficial effect on your physical and psychological well-being. Loved ones will be looking after you.

AQUARIUS Jan 21 - Feb 19 It seems that the winds of change begin to gather momentum and put a strong focus on domestic and family matters. Besides spending more time tending to domestic affairs, the focus can be on cultivating and nourishing your inner foundations, so to speak. It will serve you well in getting things sorted out without upsetting anyone.

PISCES Feb 20 - Mar 20

Your energy and attention will be very much devoted to financial matters. The tide of fortune continues to run strongly in your favour for some time to come. You will be working harder than usual, intent on getting thing done. Close personal relationships may come under some stress and strain.

Asian Voice - Saturday 7th April 2012

31

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Action at a Glance 50th doubles title for Paes Leander Paes of India became only the 24th player in the ATP Tour history to win 50 doubles titles, after he and his Czech partner Radek Stepanek clinched the Sony Ericsson Open, their second team trophy of the season at ATP Miami Masters. The 38year-old Paes and Stepanek, who were seeded seventh, rallied to upstage second seeds Max Mirnyi and Daniel Nestor 3-6, 61, 10-8 on Saturday. After dropping the first set, the Australian Open champions broke Mirnyi and Nestor twice in the second set to force a match tie-break. The Indo-Czech duo trailed 1-4 before winning six straight points to surge ahead. Stepanek closed out the victory with a volley to clinch the win in 82 minutes.

Djokovic beats Murray World number one Novak Djokovic defeated Andy Murray 6-1, 7-6 (7/4) on Sunday to win his second straight ATP Miami Masters title and third overall. Djokovic, who won here for the first time in 2007, became just the third man to win the title three or more times, along with Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras.

Radwanska defeats Sharapova Meanwhile, Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska used her wits to defeat world No. 2 Maria Sharapova 7-5, 6-4 to win the women's final on Saturday and once again deny the Russian. Sharapova has now lost all four finals she has featured in at the Miami tournament and all three she has played in this year. Radwanska's victory was her second of the year following a triumph in Dubai and her ninth WTA title, arguably her most valuable one.

Star group bags Indian cricket broadcast and digital rights Star group on Monday beat competition from Multi Screen Media ( Sony) to bag sixyear broadcast and digital rights of India's international cricket matches at home and domestic events like Ranji Trophy, Duleep Trophy and the Irani Trophy. Star, in collaboration with ESPNCricinfo, bagged the broadcast, internet and mobile rights in India for a period of six years starting from July 2012 till March 2018. The Rupert Murdoch-owned company's six-year contract is valued at Rs 38.51 billion and will cover 96 matches in all. It would be coughing up Rs 400 million per match on an average much higher than the Rs 325 million per match that Nimbus was paying the BCCI before its contract was terminated last year due to default in payments. Star and Multi Screen Media (Sony) were the only two companies to make the bids but a total of five had filed the tenders.

A dazzling ceremony launches IPL 5 The opening ceremony of the 5th edition of Indian Premier League in Chennai on Tuesday was a dazzling function. A spectacular mix of Bollywood razzmatazz and high-octane performances by International stars were the highlights of a glittering opening ceremony which set the ball rolling for the fifth edition of the IPL. The glamour quotient was at an alltime high as a galaxy of stars, led by megastar Amitabh Bachchan, descended at the YMCA College of Physical Education ground and set the stage on fire with their performance.

Amitabh, started the proceedings for the evening with a rendition of a poem 'If I were to be born again', written by renowned lyricist Prasoon Joshi. The 69year-old's baritone voice and inimitable style, coupled with a dance performance choreographed by Shiamak Davar at the background gave an apt start to the glittering ceremony, which set the stage for the 54-day extravaganza featuring nine teams. South African percussion band First Project, composer DJ Ravi Drums and Colonial Cousins then took the stage and churned out their brand of music, setting the pulses racing.

Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra then enthralled the audience with her dance and heroics during her performance to the hit numbers from her films such as 'Don', 'Don 2' and 'Kaaminey', which even saw India spinner Harbhajan Singh shaking a leg on the stage.

India's dancing sensation and Chennai's own Prabhu Deva then burned the dance floor with his power-

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for the high-octane Twenty20 tournament over the next eight weeks. Banking on their home advantage which enabled them to win back-to-back titles, the Chennai outfit, led by talismanic Mahendra Singh Dhoni, will be hoping for their third consecutive IPL crown, but for that to happen they will have to pull out all stops to ensure a winning start to their campaign as their rivals -- Mumbai Indians -- appear to hold a slender edge.

Dhoni, who led Chennai to two IPL titles and final and semi-final appearance once, besides the 2010 CLT20 crown.

Sri Lanka beat England in first test

England captain Andrew Strauss faces close scrutiny of his batting and leadership skills as he attempts to keep his spin-shattered team on top of the world Test rankings.

England, who toppled India from the mantle with a memorable 4-0 whitewash on seaming wickets at home last year, have come unstuck on the spinner-friendly tracks of Asia over the last three months.

The 75-run defeat to Sri Lanka in the first Test in Galle last week was England's fourth consecutive loss, following the embarrassing 3-0 hammering by Pakistan in the United Arab :&;$+<%=+;>?$+= Emirates.

If Saeed Ajmal Z-HB%#%;6(.-2(6%:-456(%=64[.56H and Abdur \P34(A%P.A6] Rehman wrecked England in the UAE with a combined haul of 43 wickets in the series, Sri Lanka's G4-@586H/ Rangana Herath and Suraj Randiv =WV"Y&<< P+QG<+R% V:"WC%:&;E grabbed 18 of the JKJL%XMU%OJXJ JKJL%SJJ%OTUS JKJL%XUL%UKKT 20 wickets in "33B.@I%JKJL%MNMO%LLJ Galle.

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Amitabh, Salman, Kety Perry and Priyanka perform during the IPL opening ceremony

packed performance where he danced to songs from films such as (Wanted) and 'Hum Se Hai Muqablah'.

Sights firmly set on a hat-trick of titles, defending champions Chennai Super Kings will open their campaign against last year`s Champions League Twenty20 winner Mumbai Indians in the inaugural match of the Indian Premier League V on Wednesday.

The season`s lung opener at the M A Chidambaram stadium could not have got any better as two of the strongest teams in the tournament will set the tone

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a bonus of $175,000 from the International Cricket Council as the number one side on the cut-off date of April 1, but their future at the top remains uncertain.

Strauss' men will slip to number two behind South Africa if they fail to win the second and final Test which began at Colombo on Tuesday.

Rankings will change over the next 12 months, but a greater concern for the tourists is the form of their captain. Strauss has now gone 23 innings without adding to his 19 Test centuries, averaging a poor 28.52, and has managed just one three-figure knock in his last 48 innings.

He made 26 and 27 in Galle, falling both times to Herath, but the left-hander was determined to change his - and the team's - fortunes in the second Test.

"I feel in good form, but you're judged on your performances and I have not performed well enough," the 35-year-old admitted.

"My job in the side is to score runs, the same as any other batsman, and I have not scored as many as I would have liked in the last 12 months or so. That's very frustrating, but hopefully I

Mahela Jayawardene scored his eighth Test hundred against England

will put it right next week."

Strauss admitted his team's inability to put runs on the board had proved costly, both against Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Jayawardene century keeps England at bay: James Anderson took three early wickets before Sri Lanka fought back, led by a century from Mahela Jayawardene He treated England to another gentle batting master class with a second successive Test century to ensure Sri Lanka maintained a position close

to equilibrium at the close of the first day of the second Test. Jayawardene exuded calm, recapturing the mood that brought him 180 in the first Test in Galle, with 105 stealthily assembled in more than five hours before Graeme Swann, straightening one from around the wicket, had him lbw, a decision upheld on review, and the slightest rustle of disbelief arose around the P Sara Oval at a rare misjudgment in an unblemished innings.

England dismissed Jayawardene with the second new ball imminent. They took it for the last nine overs and plucked out a sixth wicket when Steven Finn had Mahela's namesake, Prasanna Jayawardene, caught at the wicket. It was a reward for another disciplined bowling display, in which an increasingly resilient Finn proved he can now share, but the pitch already has a mosaic of cracks and, even allowing for its stultifying lack of pace, there is already ample evidence of uneven bounce and turn for the spinners. That will be enough to keep England's sense of well-being in check.