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Let noble thoughts come to us from every side

VOL 39. ISSUE 19

80p

China corrects Kashmir references

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11th September to 17th September 2010

ISKCON Hare Krishna Devotees Persevere after Loss of Temple

Records of Gilgit-Baltistan as parts of Pakistan removed from website after Indian protests After India protested to China over mention of Gilgit-Baltistan, areas of Kashmir under the Pakistani occupation as parts of Northern Pakistan, Beijing corrected the offending references.

China also assured Indian Ambassador S. Jaishankar that the presence of Chinese troops in parts of Pakistan occupied Kashmir is only for the purpose of flood relief and to provide humanitarian assistance.

Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh also said on Monday that he believes China is needling India with the aim of keeping it in low-level equilibrium as Beijing aims to have a dominant position in South Asia.

An opinion piece in New York Times last week had claimed that 11,000 Chinese troops were sent to the disputed region of Kashmir. As India voiced concerns to the report to Beijing, the Chinese government issued a statement on the official news

Dr. Manmohan Singh

Wen Jiabao

agency, Xinhua website refuting that Pakistan had ceded the area and Chinese troops have taken charge of the area which is disputed and a part of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK). In the response, Beijing had also referred the areas of Gilgit – Baltistan as a part of North Pakistan.

Even the Chinese foreign ministry had repeated these reference on Thursday in the regular briefing.

On instructions from New Delhi, Indian Ambassador to Beijing, S Jaishankar met Chinese

Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Zhijun and conveyed India’s concern.

After the meeting, the offending references were removed from the website of Xinhua and the Chinese Foreign Ministry also.

Dr. Manmohan Singh frustrated by continuous pinpricks Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh sounded a bit frustrated on Monday as he had a meeting with Editors in New Delhi. Continuing "pinpricks" from Beijing and Islamabad were the reasons of his discomfort.

Asked about China's

recent needling of India by referring to Jammu & Kashmir as "India-controlled Kashmir", Singh agreed that Beijing could be tempted to use India's "soft underbelly", Kashmir, and Pakistan "to keep India in low-level equilibrium".

"China would like to have a foothold in South Asia and we have to be aware of this," he said. He, however, also said that it was his firm belief that the world was large enough for India and China to "cooperate and compete" at the same time. After his meetings with the Chinese leadership, including with President Hu Jintao and Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, Singh said he had gained the impression that Beijing wanted to sort out the outstanding issues with India. "However, this leadership will change in two years. There is a new assertiveness among the Chinese. It is difficult to tell which way it will go.

So, it's important to be prepared."

Work is under way to clear rubble and debris from a Hare Krishna temple following a gas explosion. More than 30 people escaped without injury when the temple, in Thoresby Street, North Evington, Leicester, went up in flames on Friday afternoon.

Continued on page 5

NRI’s plight & Direct Flight A symposium in Ahmedabad

The campaign for resumption of London – Ahmedabad direct flight by Air India got a new philip as Gujarat Media Club (GMC), a body of media persons in Gujarat extended their support to the cause. GMC organised a symposium in Ahmedabad which was sponsored by Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar.

Detailed report on the event on page 22 and 23.

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Asian Voice - Saturday 11th September 2010

one to one

are being addressed. It’s also a chance for me to meet people whose lives are very different from mine and who I would not normally meet in my everyday life. I love learning about different countries and cultures so this is an excellent way of doing that.

Keith Vaz MP with

Melanie Brown, UK Director, Indian charity LifeBuilder

And the worst?

Melanie Brown is the UK Director for Indian charity LifeBuilder – which works with the poorest most marginalised Punjabi communities empowering them to improve their social and economic welfare. Melanie has spent the last ten years working voluntarily and professionally for charities which are focused on International Development. She graduated from Sussex University with a degree in International Relations. Melanie currently lives in London and is a keen photographer. You can find more information about LifeBuilder at www.lifebuilder.org What made you work in the charitable sector?

I suppose from quite a young age I have been aware of welfare issues in other countries having been lucky enough to travel to many at quite a young age. I then studied International Relations at University, learning about global systems of power, economics and politics taught me more about the causes of the many on going global injustices. Working in I n t e r n a t i o n a l Development felt like a tangible way of becoming part of the solution and I wanted a job that I could go home at the end

Fundraising when economic times are hard – the constant worry of if not enough money comes then there are individuals who will have a door shut in their face as we won’t be able to help them to help themselves.

Who has been an inspiration to you?

of the day and feel like I’d done something meaningful.

What is it about LifeBuilder’s work which made you want to work for them?

I thought their focus was different from many charities as it looks for market led solutions to poverty. Their approach of training people with skills that are in demand in the business world seems a very logical and powerful model. In particular, I was impressed by their work setting up poor rural women as dairy entrepreneurs as this combined a new cutting edge business with a

strong social welfare element forming a positive symbiotic relationship.

What would you like to see LifeBuilder achieve?

I would like to see the model which LifeBuilder is using to combat problems relating to rural poverty to be so successful that it is replicated around the world by other

businesses and charities.

What is the best part about your job?

The best part of my job is meeting the people who benefit from our work. Not only is it good to hear how it’s helped it’s also useful to learn from these encounters and make sure any problems

When I was fourteen years old I met a lady called Ana de Rubio who was passionate about taking action in deeds not words to help those in need. Whilst running her own business and a thousand other things, she started her own charity during the war in former Yugoslavia and organised two convoys to take aid out there. Her and her friends risked their own safety to drive the trucks out themselves to deliver this aid during the war. She taught me that if you want change things not to wait around, do it yourself.

What has been your greatest achievement Getting 298 points on fruit ninja (iphone app – don’t start!) But really, professionally, probably getting the BBC to go out to do a film on the last charity I worked for.

Personally, when I was living in Mexico I became a newsreader and got my own radioshow which was really hard work but amazing fun.

If you were Prime Minister what one thing would you change I would change the short-termism that seems to plaque politics. I would ask politicians to be brave and try and sell long term policies to the population and not assume we are all simpletons who desire instant gratification. Investing in research and development for alternative energy for example would in all probability bring high economic and social returns in the longer term.

If you were marooned on a desert island who would you like to spend your time with and why Ray Mears, the survival expert, so that he could get me off the island and back to my friends and family asap! Maybe I’d get him to cook a tasty fresh fish first though.

The Star Chamber: How the Chancellor bring in the cuts required

By Anshul Gupta This Monday, on the 6th September, MPs returned to the House of Commons after the Summer recess. Ahead of the upcoming party conferences and this Autumn’s impending Comprehensive Spending Review, which will no doubt be brutal to deal with the huge budget deficit and the colossal national debt, I reviewed the way that George Osborne plans on forcing through his spending cuts.

Mr Osborne has laid the ground and shown that austerity begins at home by cutting the number of civil servants in the Treasury by one-quarter over the next four years, showing the he can lead by example. He has also revived the Star Chamber, a tool that is designed to apply peer pressure to ministries with large spending requirements and make them justify each and every single line of their budget.

The Star Chamber is a secretive Cabinet committee with specially chosen ministers which sit on it, supposedly in order to resolve the conflict that will inevitably arise when spending cuts must be made. However, it is as likely to cause conflict as solve it, and most ministers will go in there knowing they must cut their departmental spending by anywhere between 25 to 40%.

The Star Chamber takes its name from a court established in

George Osborne

1487, with its title derived from the ceiling star pattern in the Palace of Westminster rooms that the committee met in; it became notorious for justice dispensed arbitrarily, for secret trials, and for judgements against which there were no witnesses and no right of appeal. It was reintroduced in the 1980s when Margaret Thatcher restrained government spending.

Its membership will be the Chancellor, the Treasury Chief Secretary Danny Alexander, Foreign Secretary William Hague, Oliver Letwin from the Prime Minister’s Office and Francis Maude of the Cabinet Office.

Hence the Treasury enjoys an inbuilt advantage on the panel and, combined with

the close allies of the Prime Minister, it can be a gruelling process to endure. Those ministers that settle their budgets quickly with the Treasury, get a chance to sit on the Star Chamber.

This Comprehensive Spending Review will be the most difficult in decades, and will be keenly watched by the country, and for this reason the Treasury will be sure to do its best to see that any cuts fall as far away from frontline public services as possible. Many ministers know that its brutal decisions can determine the future of their department and the government, as well as their own careers.

Michael Heseltine once said, “You don't have any friends in the Star Chamber if you're a spending minister.” Former education secretary Gillian Shephard has a three-point plan for winning in the Star Chamber.

"1) Be prepared. 2) Find out from colleagues what lines are being taken. 3) Know - but keep secret - the point beyond which you can't go."

In one form or another, a version of the Star Chamber will be replicated in every Council, Police Authority, Quango, Health Trust etc. No one in the public sector will have experienced anything quite as tough; those bodies that are innovative will rethink the way that they do things, and will attempt to use

their reduced resources to deliver outcomes and results that are comparable to before the cuts.

In short, to create a leaner and more efficient public sector.

Where there used to problem, there were then challenges; and where there were challenges there are now opportunities.

Those ministers or public servants that are able to deliver efficient and effective services will find that there stock will rise, and soon come to be favoured by

the Chancellor and the Treasury because, as the cuts begin to bite into services in 2011 and 2012, the Coalition government will need every star it can find to carry it through the mid-term unpopularity that will be inevitable.

(Next week, Anshul Gupta looks at the Canadian experience of successfully reducing high levels of debt and their mid-1990s budget deficit).

Dear Readers Last week (4-9-10) Asian Voice page 14 we had greeted Mr Mundra, from Bank of Baroda.

In that write-up we had mentioned about the Manchester Branch.

Unfortunately we stated an incorrect working hour for the branch.

The correct opening hours are as follows: Mon-Fri 9.30am to 4.15pm Sat 10.30am to 1.30pm Our sincere apologies to all concerned SHERWOOD AGENCIES LTD

Asian Voice - Saturday 11th September 2010

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Thought for the Week

Debate that does Britain credit God has been very much in the news. Stephen Hawking in his co-authored book about the creation of the universe, The Grand Design, proclaims confidently that the Big Bang, which produced our universe, was the result of the laws of physics rather the handiwork of the Creator we call God. Believers, agnostics and atheists have joined the fray arguing their case in public with passion and rigour leavened by wit and humour. A particular encounter on television between a distinguished British scientist, based in Geneva, and an an English theologian, with a degree in physics, teaching at a well known college in London, comes to mind.

Both sides presented their arguments with elegance and clarity, without any loss of good humour or mutual respect. Those fortunate to have witnessed the debate and grasped its threads were enlivened and educated by the experience.

Yet a mere 500 years or more ago, Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury, a luminary of the English Reformation, author of the Book of Common Prayer, widely regarded as an ornament of the English tongue, was burned at the stake as a heretic in 1556 in Oxford during the Catholic Queen Mary's persecution of Protestants, his ashes scattered after his execution. To recall this tragic event is simply to acknowledge the distance Britain and Europe have travelled - barring the exceptions of a much improved Ireland – in putting such sectarian conflicts behind them.

Science and the Enlightenment have helped redefine the paramaters of Christianity, giving it space to grow within the individual conscience to work out its profounder truths. The sacred is

today part of the texture of art, music and literature. Believer and unbeliever can share equally in its glories and be enriched by the experience.

The Hawking statement and its ripple effect contrasts starkly with news emanating from Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan, where alleged wrongdoers are stoned, flogged, shot or beaten to death. These are recent occurrences and doubly disturbing for that. How odd that these societies so fanatical about their faith, are unswerving in their belief in a compassionate Creator, of ascent into Paradise and descent into darkest Hell, as reward or punishment for good or evil deeds on earth. Fear and the deepest insecurity cast doubt and tolerance, the two benchmarks of civilised life, beyond the pale. No amount of American aid, World Bank loans and a multitude of other financial dispensations, no invocations to the Supreme Being can rescue the dark places of Planet Earth from their inner demons or bring to their members a redeeming light. Their bigotry is a guarantee of continuing backwardness and suffering.

The Sunday Times columnist Minette Marrin summed up the modern dilemma. The old confessional divisions in Europe had lost their relevance, she said. “What has changed today is that all societies and different stages of development and their corresponding religions have suddenly been thrown together. In that case, from the agnostic or the atheist point of view, religion does matter in a way that until recently it had ceased to. Perhaps that explains all the fuss about Hawking; religious indifference is becoming a thing of the past.”

Methinks she is in danger of confusing religion with religiosity.

The fraught anniversary of 9/11 Another fraught anniversary of 9/11 is upon us, in America and the world between and beyond.

The Islamists, who drove their planes into New York's Twin Towers, and their confreres who crashed their aircraft into the Pentagon and Pennsylvania respectively, did so in the wildly mistaken belief that they were about to cripple the world's sole superpower to the benefit of the worldwide Islamic fraternity; that with these wanton and senseless acts of cruelty perceived wrongs in the Middle East would be righted, and myriad injustices and suffering allayed.

Worse: vast numbers of people streamed onto the Arab streets and avenues of Muslim capitals elsewhere and rejoiced in the huge loss of life visited upon the Satan, America. The United States gave vent to its fury in Iraq – another decision taken in haste and since repented at leisure. Saddam Hussain has long gone, but America's proclaimed victory has turned out to be a delusion. Iraqis and Americans have died by the thousand and peace in that troubled region is as fragile as it ever was.

In the United States popular anger at the Muslim world continues to bubble and simmer.

Many Americans recall the celebrations in the

Arab and Muslim world as the New York's twin Towers went up in flames, then crumbled in a flaming heap of brick and ash. The world's mightiest power had been humbled, and the moment was one of unalloyed Islamic joy. It is one many Americans have not forgotten nor forgiven. The groundswell of protest in the US at the decision of a Muslim organisation in the country to build an Islamic Centre, including a mosque, within a stone's throw of Ground Zero is understandable. Grief and anger are still raw.

However, Time is the great healer, and given time American passion would have cooled and such a centre would have created no community discord.

Muslim groups behind the Islamic Centre have been remarkably insensitive and self-righteous; they have made theirs a civil rights issue, when nowhere in the Islamic world are civil rights and freedoms, especially for religious minorities, high on anybody's agenda.

Pecksniffian rectitude is apt to raise the temperature – which is what has happened in the US. This was unnecessary and Muslim leaders and organisation in the US must take their share of the blame.

Strikes will hurt British economy The first of the London Underground strikes promised by the RMT took effect from Monday evening and lasted through most of Tuesday. It is estimated to have cost the UK exchequer some $48 million. More such strikes will add to the chaos and the country's bill. It is regrettable that the strike call was not met with the desired response from London Transport and the Mayor's office; they should be moved more urgently to initiate meaningful talks with the unions for a resolution of their dispute. The time will come when a settlement is reached. So why not now? Public suffering and inconvenience are set to deepen, public dissatisfaction will grow.

Every side of the political spectrum is agreed on the need to reduce public spending in order to reduce the financial deficit. The question is whether the best way forward is through wideranging and peremptory spending cuts, most of which will affect the public sector, or to make such cuts more prudently, taking into account

that some parts of society are more vulnerable than others, and that the latter's concerns need to be addressed sensitively.

Over and above the present troubles comes talk of the Royal Mail's imminent privatisation.

Postal deliveries are less smooth today than they have been for a long time, but a cynical public is prepared to accept a hobbled Royal Mail service than none at all. The Royal Mail and the postal unions are squaring up for a fight. Once again the public will be gravely inconvenienced and the public purse less secure. At this rate the true green shoots of economic recovery will have to be put back by months if not years.

Jaw-jaw being better than war-war, as Churchill famously pronounced, would it not be sensible for the government and unions to gather around a table and thrash out a roadmap to full economic recovery and renewed growth?

Confrontation promises a winter of discontent.

It is to nobody's benefit that the present state of things should continue.

Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life.

- Confucius (551-479 BC)

Steve Pound, MP Ealing North (Labour)

Cricket – invented in England, perfected in India and possibly destroyed in Pakistan Is it possible to overestimate the impact of the current “spot betting” scandal that left a sour taste in the mouth of all who had been enjoying the last Test match?

If you believe that cricket is simply a game then you can shrug your shoulders and refer to recent scandals in the worlds of rugby and motor racing. If you believe that cricket is something so special that it lifts human endeavour to heights of nobility unreachable by any other sport then you will turn away and weep. That the recent revelations have been revealed against a backdrop of catastrophic natural disaster in Pakistan is cruel indeed but for a dark shadow to be cast over the sublime innings of Broad and Trott and for the career of one of the most promising fast bowlers the sport has seen takes sadness to the point of tragedy.

No-one can deny that the early days of English cricket were mired in a slough of betting and gamesmanship. The game was entirely a betting affair until the days of Fuller Filch faded into the long hazy sunlight afternoon of Victorian England into the gathering shades of the Edwardian golden age of the immortals. Maybe it was the elegiac era just before the great War that gives us cause to treasure the run stealers flickering to and fro and “my Hornby and my Barlow of long ago”. Whatever the reality of the emotion it is impossible to separate glorious memories of Ranji, Hobbs, Trumper, Headley and Constantine from a Corinthian spirit of fair play and when the game reached hitherto unimagined heights in the era of Gavaskar and Bedi we say the apotheosis of a simple rural pastime into something that was both an art form and a physical spectacle unmatched by any other.

Indian genius took the Saxon sport and made much of its inherent mystery by contrasting the bludgeoning power of a Vishwanath with the mesmerising spin and subtlety of Chandrasekhar or Venkataraghavan and even the greatest West Indian team of the post war era was defeated by this combination.

Perhaps we don’t deserve to ever see anyone try to better Tendulkar or Lara. Maybe cricket has reached its peak and maybe the Hansie Cronje revelations were the start of a downward slide that accelerated with the

gathering pace of the rhythmic run-up of the boy genius Mohamad Amir.

The grubby mendacious money-men have laid their hands on our game of sublime beauty and may have tarnished it forever. Will we ever again see the titanic struggle between bat and ball and the pride of a nation hanging in the balance without imagining some grasping spiv lurking in a motel and texting his befuddled stooges with the commands of a distant betting syndicate ?

Cricket was the epitome of decency and fair play. A batsman “walked” when the umpire failed to detect a snick to the ‘keeper, second slip would tell the batsman if a catch had been taken on the ground and the schoolboy would signal a boundary if he caught up with the ball just over the rope.

Have we really lost all this?

I cannot believe that all that is good and clean in cricket can be swept away in a tide of blemished banknotes. The game has been tarnished – that is undeniable – but has it been damaged beyond repair? I think not.

At this moment in every continent of the world children gather on any patch of semi-level ground to imitate their idols with a tennis ball and a bat hand cut from a piece of planking.

The bowler remembers the stories his father told him of the majesty of Kapil Dev and for a moment the threadbare tennis ball is a glistening red cherry hurtling into the stumps. He feels at one with the memories of Waqar Younis or Wasim Akram and however dull and poor his daily life he walks among the Gods for a moment in his mind.

The boy at bat may wear no pads but in his mind he is called Sachin and he is the very best in the world. One day he might even be better known but for now he plays on rough earth, not manicured grass, but it is the same cricket despite the surface.

Could all this have been lost to us?

I think not. Cricket is greater than the individuals who serve it and cricket will survive.

A world without the white clad warriors striding out onto the green field of battle as the morning mist burns away in the rising sun is a world that would be infinitely sadder and poorer.

It will not happen and it must not happen.

YOUR VOICE

4

Miracle, no fatalities at ISKCON temple-Leicester News about explosion, fire and destruction were shocking, evoking horrendous thoughts, about fatalities and racist attack. But news unfolded miracle, reinforcing ones faith in God. 30 lives were saved by the volunteer who realised danger of leaking gas tank and acted like a commando to move vulnerable devotees across the street. He deserves highest accolade by Hindu community and nomination for national or Leicester city’s awards for vigilance and bravery.

Behind this bang and miracle is God’s message for us to realise realities and undertake precautions for future. l Police, fire, anti-terrorist organisations may be asked to train our volunteers to ward off disaster, accident, handling inflammatory substances or racist attacks. Volunteers may wear uniform with symbol of the type of emergency or speciality. l Convert gatherings into picnic, to reduce risk of explosion, load on kitchen, cooks and catering volunteers. Devotees may bring their own hamper, exchange delicacies at the venue, buy from commercial stalls, or vending machines. l Precooked items e.g. savouries, sweets, confectionary ONLY may be supplied by organisers.

Sun-cooked food like fruit / vegetable salads, milk, soya milk, tofu, quorn may be available. l Left-overs may be eaten by resident cows, reducing number of rubbish bags.

Ramesh Jhalla Via Email

Direct flight and Cricket There was a great feel of joy and celebration when I read about the resumption of the London-Ahmedabad direct flight service about a couple months ago.

It has been an absolute shock to know what's been developing now about the service.

It is not about having a Gujarati aviation minister but it is about the number of passengers to and from Gujarat, who would benefit from a direct flight service.

Also, it's a massive shame to learn 3 of the Pakistani players been caught cheating with the system. They have not only cheated the ICC but have also played with everyone's feelings who is involved with the game of cricket.

Whoever is found guilty must be punished so hard that the punishment stays as a tough example for the future of the beautiful game. It is a gentlemen's game and it must stay that way.

Devang Bhatt London

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Asian Voice - Saturday 11th September 2010

Freedom of speech

The Indian cricket board

I wonder if the Asian Voice newspaper has a shortage of columnists? I ask this question, as every week, whenever I turn to Page 4 (Your Voice) of your weekly issue, myself and thousands of other readers are treated to the repetitive complaints of a handful of people.

Three names in particular appear almost every single week, at least one of the three without fail.

Mr. Arun Vaidyanathan; Mr. Ramesh Jhalla; Mr. Bhupendra M Gandhi.

As a dedicated reader, I would like to ask whether this is due to a lack of letters/emails for this column/page, which I doubt, or if the editor favours the aforementioned gentlemen. I am sure that readers of Asian Voice will agree with me when I say that we would like to see different, new names and new viewpoints on this page, because surely, that is what Your Voice is about.

Also, many contributors to this page seem to think that this newspaper is read exclusively by Gujarati Hindus, as Mr. Grewal pointed out a a couple of weeks ago. In his email, he correctly said that Asian Voice is a newspaper which "spreads the true voice of India and Indians...", and was criticised by Mr. Jhalla. I, being a Gujarati Hindu myself, agree with Mr. Grewal that the idea of 'gujarati-hindus first' is gradually creeping its way across some sections of this newspaper.

I know that after writing this, I will be taken to task by the subjects of this letter, and branded a hypocrite for complaining about people complaining, but as the saying goes, 'if you can't beat them, join them'! I look forward to reading any 'replies', and hope other readers will enjoy this fresh, new name on Page 4.

On a lighter note, I would like to thank the Chief Editor, CB Patel, on compiling such a fantastic newspaper. I look forward to the new issue coming through the letterbox each Thursday, and particularly enjoy reading the Scrutator's column and the weekly updates on various Internal Affairs of India. I also appreciate the work Asian Voice is doing to encouraging free speech through this page.

The question of match fixing in cricket by players from Indian Sub-continent is going for 20 years and the most infamous match-fixing case of all results was by the South Africa captain Hansie Cronje against India and he was given a life time ban after admitting he had received money from London bookmaker to 'forecast results'. Even though Cronje denied all allegations, he had offered some of the members of his team money to perform badly.

Mohammad Azharuddin, the captain of India, is banned for life by the Indian Cricket Board after admitting fixing three One Day Internationals. Hansie Cronje in his confession for match-fixing had indicated Azharuddin was the person who had introduced him to bookmakers.

The inquiry found that ex-Indian captain received large sums of money from Asian betting syndicates to fix matches.

Azharuddin claims that he was punished because he is a Muslim.

The crux of the matter is that it is possible that the one day international matches India lost to Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka verybadly might have been fixed.

The Indian Cricket Board of Control is dominated by politicians and some of them never played cricket. It seems for years that Mumbai underworld dons are also involved in the scam. It is a waste of time for Indians to spend their money to watch cricket played by teams from Indian continent.

Arun Vaidyanathan Via Email

Hiren Mukesh Dhangar, West Yorkshire Dear Hiren, As a fellow Gujarati, allow me to use a very popular Gujarati word – “Hira” for you. I am sure there are many more readers of Asian Voice, thinking like you. Even the people you have mentioned will be happy that you at least read them regularly.

You and all readers are most welcome to write letters. You and all our dear friends are welcome to voice their views, even challenge “Asian Voice”.

Thank you.

Editor

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Consumption of Meat at Paryushan In last week’s Asian Voice, I asked readers of “Your Voice” column not to eat meat during the period of 4 September to 11 September. I wonder how many of Asian Voice readers have heeded to this request. Deeply rooted in India is the belief in reincarnation. That the essential part of the individual, the soul, passes after death into a new body which is reborn as another living being, perhaps human, perhaps not. The nature of our rebirth (including whether it is favourable or unfavourable) is determined by the effects of our actions, our attitudes, our mode of life in this and previous lifetimes.

The accumulated effect of previous lives is called karma (the result of bad deeds in the present and previous lives).

It follows that unless by good deeds in ones present and previous lives one has achieved “moksha” – a state of complete bliss and peace – one is reborn after death and returns to earth in some form or another. Depending on his “karma” – actions good or bad, one returns either as a human or an animal, plant or the tiniest creature. When one is consuming meat, maybe one is eating one’s beloved dead who has returned to earth to spend life in a form other than human. This may seem far- fetched but suppose if it were true.

Wouldn’t it put people off from eating meat forever?

Dinesh Sheth Newbury Park, Ilford

UK EUROPE WORLD 1 Year £25 £55 £70 2 Years £45 £100 £125 £225 £300 *5 Years £110 £450 £550 *10 Years £200

Why no consultation over inconvenient Bus Stop move?

I have recently been approached by a number of residents in Watford Road, Sudbury who are angry that Transport for London have moved a Bus stop without any consultation with residents. There was no consultation with the local councillors either.

The Bus stop, which used to be outside the parade of shops in Sudbury Town for many years, has recently been moved further down the road to outside number 60 Watford Road.

Some local residents now face problems of obstruction when trying to get in and out of their driveways and others, some elderly, face a much longer walk to catch their bus. Understandably, residents are calling for the bus stop to be reinstated in its original place just 50 metres down the road outside the shops.

This call however, has fallen on deaf ears.

The Liberal Democrat Councillors for the area, Cllr Paul Lorber and myself, have called on Transport for London to account for their lack of consultation and to take action to resolve the problem and move the bus stop back to its original location. Sadly, we too have been ignored.

I find it simply unacceptable that TfL can just move our bus stops whenever they feel like it without asking local people or ward councillors – it just causes confusion and concern for all. But I do hope that any publicity given to how unpopular this move is will result in their thinking again.

Cllr Chandubhai Patel Liberal Democrat Councillor for Sudbury ward

God versus Sciencea Dr. Stephen Hawkins’s new book about the Big Bang, the creation of the Universe has given rise to an interesting discussion at an intellectual level. Some egoistic evangelists dismiss Dr. Hawkins as an atheist who never believed in God. But existence of God is as complex or as simple a question as what came first, chicken or egg and most scientists believe that no one will ever be able to prove or disprove the existence of God. It is now an established fact that our Universe is not alone. There may be thousands of such Universes and the new ones are being created on a regular basis that may or may not be created by a single big bang. Could there be a different God, different Big Bang for each Universe?

No matter what we may believe, it is certain that we will never know who or how our Universe was created. But with the education and science getting an upper hand, most will prefer a scientific explanation rather than a theological argument that comes from heart. In the end we will have to agree to disagree and let personal belief triumph over science or religion in a world that is getting more complex, more extreme to the dislike of most intellectuals.

Bhupendra M Gandhi Via Email

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‘Smile Pinky’ too gets the Oscar Boyle says Mumbai dwarfed the statuette

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Cricket crazy Indians for the first time was seen so euphoric on Monday morning, as they expected a couple of Oscars. British Indians in the UK, Dharavi slums, the shanty township of Mumbai, a village in Uttar Pradesh and almost the entire Bollywood waited in expectation, glued to their TV sets. They burst into celebrations as one by one, their heroes, the actors of the British Indian film and the music maestro, A R Rahman bagged the top awards in the world of entertainment.

British actress Kate Winslett also won the Oscar after having missed it almost five times earlier.

‘Smile Pinki’, a short documentary on a cleft-lipped Indian girl in Uttar Pradesh directed

by American director Megan Mylan, won the Oscar for the Best Documentary (Short).

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LEICESTER VOICE

Asian Voice - Saturday 11th September 2010

Former head teacher is found guilty of abusing boys at a school The former head of an Indian school is facing a lengthy jail sentence after being convicted of abusing boys at a UK school during the 70s and 80s.

Alleged Derek Slade (61), was appointed to run the Anglo-Kutchi English Medium School, in a village called Mandvi, in the Kutch region of India, to teach boys affected by the Gujarat earthquake in 2001, as reported in Leicester Mercury.

The Leicester Gujarat Earthquake Relief Fund gave £15,000 towards the cost of establishing the school, and fundraising is continuing to help with

the running costs.

Slade left the school two years ago – around the same time as two former pupils of his, from a private school in the UK, made a complaint.

He was head of St George's private school, which was initially in Wicklewood, Norfolk, then moved to Great Finborough, Suffolk, in 1980.

On Friday, a jury at Ipswich Crown Court found him guilty of sexually assaulting and beating 12 boys aged between eight and 13 between 1978 and 1983.

Slade, of Burton-on-

Trent, Staffordshire, was convicted of more than 50 offences and was sentenced last week.

He had admitted assault, indecent assault and child pornography offences. He denied other allegations of assault and indecent assault but was found guilty after a month-long trial.

Charnwood ward councillor Abdul Osman, who was involved in the fund-raising for the Indian school, told a local paper: "We never knew anything of his history.

"He left the school two years ago and we are glad he is no longer there."

Judge gives chance to drug addict turning life around A drug-dealing addict who was caught with 18 wraps of heroin has been given a chance by a judge.

Father-of-four, Tallat Mahmood, avoided a jail sentence because he has turned his life around, given up drugs and got a job.

He received a two-year community order, with 12 months of supervision, and a condition to participate in a drug rehabilita-

tion programme.

The 39-year-old, of Carfax Avenue, in Oadby, admitted possessing the class A drug with intent to supply on December 3 last year.

Judge Sylvia De Bertodano told Mahmood if he breached any of the orders he would be brought back to court and could expect at least a two-year jail sentence.

James Varley, in miti-

Asian Voice readers may remember our previous article in the last edition of the Asian Voice about the Point of Sale Display Ban which stops retailers from displaying tobacco products in their shops even though it is legal product.

LABA (the Leicestershire Asian Business Association) together with Asian Voice are campaigning against this legislation which was pushed through in the last days of the previous Labour Government.

This piece of legislation will force newsagents and other small retailers to hide their tobacco products out of view. As you can imagine, many retailers up and down the country are concerned about the affect this will have on their business including the potential for an increase in shoplifting.

The campaign is now fully underway and already newly

gation, said Mahmood supplied a small circle of acquaintances with the drugs and had voluntarily come off heroin and found work.

He said: "Prison would be a massive retrograde step."

Judge De Bertodano said: "I accept you sold the drugs to fund your own habit. I'm going to take a chance on you."

elected MP, Angie Bray has raised the issue on the floor of the House of Commons in July. Ms Bray asked Health Minister Anne Milton MP about the impact of the ban. Mrs Milton replied that the Government was looking at this issue given the challenges on businesses and the costs involved. It is great to know that politicians are looking at this issue seriously and vital that we communicate how big an issue this new legislation is for retailers. Therefore now is the time to get involved and help to support all small retailers who face difficulties. It is simple to get involved, all you need to do is to get in touch with your MP. One of the easiest ways to do this is via the website: www.theyworkforyou.com http://www.theyworkforyou.com On this website you can type in your postcode and it will link you

5

ISKCON Hare Krishna Devotees Persevere after Loss of Temple Continued from page 1 Crews arrived at the weekend to start removing debris from the site, but a huge mound of rubble, where the kitchen of the building once stood.

The cause of the explosion has now been confirmed to be a gas leak in the kitchen area.

A third of the temple building is demolished and the rest has been severely impacted throughout. At present they are unsure of the extent of structural damage and if the property will indeed be functional again.

The ISKCON Hare Krishna community in Leicester, and indeed across Britain and the world, are shocked and devastated by what has happened. The Leicester devotees are currently without a permanent place to congregate for worship and there is great uncertainty. They are, however, coming together for prayer and reflection on what has transpired, at congregation homes and collectively on the streets of Leicester.

At present there is a palpable sense of relief that no one was hurt and

that the sacred deities from the temple shrine were unharmed in this devastating incident.

Temple President, Pradyumna das comments, "I am relieved to say that the 30 devotees who were inside the temple managed to vacate the building before the main explosion. Looking at the devastation throughout the building it truly is a miracle that our worshipable deities on our main shrine were unharmed. The deities are being temporarily taken care of at the home of a devotee.

We've gratefully received messages of support and prayers from all over the world, which gives us great strength and courage to be resilient at this time and to look forward to plans for rebuilding our temple in the near future. The support from the local Hindu community leaders and other faith leaders has been overwhelming and we are greatly appreciative of all their support and wellwishers.

"Our neighbours deserve a special mention, they have been outstanding in their support during and in the after-

to the Member of Parliament for your area so you can write directly to them to raise your concerns over this issue. If you are a small retailer, please invite your local MP to come and visit you at work to discuss your concerns over this issue and do take photos – we would be happy to print them in future editions of Asian Voice!

Tobacco counts for a massive 22% of turnover for retailers and many Asian Voice readers and their families will know how hard retailers in Britain work. In addition, the costs for each retailer to transform each shop will be in the region of £2000 which will obviously harm hard-earned profits.

We are afraid this will simply send small shops to the wall forever.

Where the ban is in place in other countries across the world there is no evidence that it has any effect. Put simply, it is a bad law, which politicians themselves

math of the incident, they provided invaluable comfort and reassurance to those who were impacted, we have been overwhelmed with their outpouring of neighbourly love.".

Spokes person for the ISKCON Leicester Community, Nimai devi dasi who was present at the temple with her two young children at the time of the explosion says; "Our community has been shaken to the core by this incident however we believe everything happens for a good reason although we are unclear what that reason is at present, we have faith that with united prayer things will become clearer".

Ankit Patel, 18, who lives in the house, told a local paper: "The garage is gone and there's a few cracks in the side of the house.

"Some of the insulation has been burnt too.

The electricity went off but that's back on now but there's no water."

Firefighters who tackled the blaze on Friday said it was a "miracle" that no one had been killed or seriously injured.

are divided over and it will undoubtedly hurt smaller retailers disproportionally as the larger supermarket chains can afford these changes. In addition, the black market in cigarette sales will continue to prosper which benefits nobody except the criminal underworld. It would be smarter for this new Government to focus on tackling the illegal trade and education programmes for young people to deter them from smoking.

We continue to seek partners to join our campaign – this is hugely important to the lives of Asian Voice readers up and down the country but politicians will only take notice if you speak up over the issue so please do get in touch on aveditorial@abplgroup.com mailto:aveditorial@abplgroup.com and get involved.

UK

6

Asian Voice - Saturday 11th September 2010

Kapil’s

KHICHADI

by Kapil Dudakia - email: kapil@abplgroup.com Hacked Off !

Labour Pains

The Tory Party and David Cameron just cannot shake off the history that follows their director of communications, Andy Coulson.

Mr Coulson was once the editor of the now famous ‘News of the World’ that is increasingly gaining a reputation for ground breaking news which gets under the skin of those who work in murky waters and with clandestine counterparts.

The allegations are simple, that Andy Coulson was fully aware of the journalists at the NotW who, it seems, were routinely hacking phones of public figures including MPs. In a twist the New York Times printed further allegations from an exjournalist which frankly added more fuel to the fire. The fire will burn until there is a clean investigation by the police, or by having a judicial review. There are those who feel that the Police may well have critical information which has yet to surface and have a bearing on the guilt or otherwise of Mr Coulson. What is clear to me is that this is now turning into a nightmare for the Tories.

The easiest route out of this mess is to shift Mr Coulson from his present responsibilities to other duties in the back office.

Will David Cameron do this? I suspect he will stand by his man, but there will be a price to pay.

So what is the way out of this mess? Well let there be a challenge to Mr Coulson – submit to a lie detector test live on television conducted by an independent renowned authority. If you have nothing to hide, then you will be vindicated. This will either prove the case for the prosecution, or it will pull the rug from the under the feet of all those who conspire to throw mud at the very first opportunity.

Labour on the other hand has discovered the 70’s all over again.

Some in the party have lost their marbles if they think, even for one moment, that going back to ‘old Labour’ is the answer. Any move in that direction and Labour will be out of British politics for at least a decade if not longer.

However, is ‘New Labour’ the answer? New Labour is not the full answer, and the way and manner in which it was implemented left much to be desired. The direction that New Labour took was right, but en-route it seems Tony Blair and the sheep that followed lost their way a little. Iraq was a total disaster, not because they got rid of Saddam – but because underpinning all of their rhetoric, the public perceived that it was all lies.

And in politics, very few can come back when the public have made up their minds.

David Miliband will be crowned king with his brother holding another senior position.

The brothers have played this well since no matter what happens one of them will be in charge of Labour.

Whilst they debated to their own audience, Tony Blair was doing the rounds, signing books, giving television interviews and being pelted with eggs (and shoes, an imported idea from an ex-colony). Blair has got everything, except for the fact he lost the British public in his pursuits with Bush. He has much to be proud about and in time history might judge him with a better sense of fair play.

However, don’t feel sorry for him, he is responsible for his own position and man enough to take the rough with the smooth.

No doubt every now and then he will shed a tear or two whilst counting the millions that pour into his account. What a

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Asian Achiever’s Award Every year this prestigious event takes place honouring champions and gifted individuals from all walks of life, and from all sectors.

Like last year, it will be held at the renowned Wembley Stadium banqueting hall with the who’s who of the Asian and the wider community in attendance. I can’t wait to attend the function and celebrate these achievements.

I have to say the cheeky chap in me thinks that we should introduce a new category – ‘Dunce of the Year’ Award. Looking at the people lining up for this award, I believe Praful Patel might be the leading candidate for the callous manner in which first he said yes to direct flights first, only to make a total ‘U’ turn and say no a few weeks later.

Others might suggest the head of the Commonwealth Games in India should get this prestigious dunce award for the utter mess they have created. Games like these are a showcase.

Normally one would wish, of course, to showcase that which is good in the country.

Somewhere in all this the organising committee appears to have lost sight of the games and the Nation, whilst they prioritised their own needs first.

I have also had conversations with many people about the High Commission of India in London (HCIL). They really do make life hard for all of us, as well as for themselves.

No doubt if we had a public vote on who should get the ‘Dunce Award’, I would not be too surprised if someone from the HCIL might feature very prominently also.

Who would you give the ‘Dunce Award’ to, if you had the chance?

Shovel horror injures Ilford teenager A teenager has been left partially blind in one eye after a road sweeper accidentally hit him with a shovel.

Zubare Hussain (pictured) was struck on the head near his home in Dudley Road, Ilford when the sweeper pulled the tool from his cart.

The 16-year-old's spectacles shattered on impact, embedding pieces of glass in his left eye and cheek, leaving him in agony.

Zubare, who is recovering at home, told a local paper: "I was walking to my grandmother's house when the sweeper swung something over his shoulder and it hit the corner of my eye.

"I immediately put my hands to my face, felt something sharp and pulled a shard of glass

from my eye. There was blood everywhere and I didn't know what was going on around me."

A London Ambulance Service crew attended treated Zubare before taking him to King George Hospital, Goodmayes.

He was then transferred to Moorfields Eye

Hospital in London for an emergency operation.

Doctors told him his retina had been pierced and fear his eyesight may never be the same.

The Caterham High School student is now wearing a protective patch and has to have antibiotics administered every 30 minutes.

The shocking incident was captured on CCTV by father Azmat, who slammed the road sweeper for his "careless" actions.

A council spokesman told the local paper: "We are aware that an incident occurred on August 19 involving a street sweeper contracted by the council.

The matter is under full investigation and therefore we are unable to comment further on the incident at this stage.

Which Miliband brother is the right choice as a Labour leader?

The Labour leadership candidate who has so far criticised the government the most is Ed Balls. He has been aggressive in opposition to government cuts and tenacious in harrying the economic analysis underpinning the coalition budget.

But while fierce anti-Tory pugilism makes loyal Labour voters happy, it does little to woo the rest.

The same deficiency has marked the campaigns of Diane Abbott and Andy Burnham.

That leaves, as the serious contenders, the brothers David and Ed Miliband.

Both are clever, both are passionate in their allegiance to Labour tradition and articulate on the need for those traditions to be renewed for the current political context.

Neither is complacent about the scale of the task.

Even then, the differences are often overstated.

However, David Miliband (pictured) has a more cautious critique of the government in which he served longer and at a more senior level than his younger brother. He does not flinch from criticising Labour's unthinking reliance on state power to engineer social change, its tendency to "managerial arrogance" which left ordinary people feeling that the government was not on their side. But he emphasises the need to rebuild a

coalition of support from the bottom up and – salvaging the electorally vital kernel of New Labour – a coalition drawn from the broadest possible social spectrum.

David Miliband's most compelling stump performances have been when evangelising for a Labourinspired alternative to David

Cameron's "Big Society"; an authentic, grassroots civic revival instead of a Tory stunt to put volunteers where there used to be public services.

Ed Miliband's promise of a clean break from the BlairBrown era has much visceral appeal to Labour supporters.

By contrast, there is a breadth and subtlety to David Miliband's campaign that elevates him above his rivals. He is unquestionably loyal to the Labour tradition, but loyal also to the politics of winning general elections.

The Labour party would be wise to choose a leader who has the intellectual agility and political experience to meet that threat.

Gurdas Maan to perform in the UK

John Pymm, Ashok Suman, Gurdas Maan, Lucy Noble, Dr Rami Ranger & Sonia Deol

On Monday 6th September UK Box Office will held a press conference at London’s acclaimed Royal Albert Hall to Gurdas Maan to receive a Honary Degree of Doctor Of Music from the University Of Wolverhampton in recognition of his lifelong career as an influential artist. Maan was awarded the doctorate at

To advertise in our forthcoming glossy & colourful Diwali magazine call

Wolverhampton’s Grand Theatre on Tuesday 7th September.

Gurdas Maan’s forthcoming extravagant 2011 UK tour; will take place in the following six major cities: London, Birmingham, Glasgow, Wolverhampton, Leicester and Leeds; which will include for the first time ever the prestigious Royal Albert Hall.

UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 11th September 2010

Over 55,000 people visit UK's largest Janmashtami festival Over 55,000 pilgrims and guests visited Bhaktivedanta Manor Hare Krishna Temple on Thursday 2nd and Sunday 5th September to celebrate Janmashtami. Among the guests there were interfaith representatives, locals, business and community leaders, media, Mayors and MPs. The Chief guest was Dione Grimston (The Countess of Veralum) who is The Queen's representative in Hertfordshire who enjoyed her experience immensely.

Beautiful decorations showing Krishna and Radha playing holi with gopis

painted blue, many carrying flutes and wearing peacock feathers in their hair, dressing like Lord Krishna as part of the festive spirit!

Once again, another festival highlight included a flowered walkway through the spiritual gardens and woodland. Those queuing for darshan journeyed through the life and pastimes of Lord Krishna and the spectacular deities of Sri Sri Radha Gokulananda, who were decorated with thousands of flowers, were as beautiful as ever.

The festival is managed and run by volunteers from the community, the eldest being 96 and the youngest being 16, who gather

every evening after work for a month prior to the event and put in countless hours of hard work for the occasion.

Cllr Linda SilverMayor of the Borough of Hertsmere said, "I was honoured to be a guest at the Krishna Temple on Janmashtami and the afternoon was memorable.

It was wonderful to experience the warmth and hospitality that was Srila Prabhupada statue displayed at present wherever we walked and to the temple encounter so many families with The Temple kitchens were workchildren of all ages. I wish the ing 24 hours a day to prepare free Temple and its members peace and vegetarian meals (prasad) to everyhappiness for the future'. one who came the festival. "It is an Rev Paul B.W of St Albans ancient tradition to serve sacred Cathedral said, “Thank you for the food, prasad, to all who come to privilege of joining the Bhaktivedanta Manor," said Hindu community at the Ajay Kumar, the festival coorJanmashtami festival. I had dinator, "we are sure that the several interesting converefforts of 1500 volunteers over sations and found the many months made everyone's drama helpful in undervisit memorable.” standing a little more of the Over one million free beginnings of your faith.” meals a year are cooked at the Cllr Asad Omar, Mayor Manor and other at centres in of Harrow, "I was delighted the London area. The charity to be there for my first visit Food for Life, based at the to the Manor. It was nice to Manor, distributes to homeless see so many people and and disadvantaged people families having a great day. around London.

One important thing which During the festival we were I noticed was that all the delighted to see hundreds of The queue in front of Bhaktivedanta Manor, waiting to volunteers had a big smile on enter the festival children who had their faces their faces!"

Oona King gets support from Asian businessmen Oona King won the backing of another business tycoon as Sir Gulam Noon donated £2,500 to her campaign to be Mayor, reports Evening Standard.

Sir Gulam, who gave up his non-dom status to raise funds for Gordon Brown before the general election, is one of Britain's most prominent Asian businessmen.

Ms King, who is fighting Ken Livingstone for the Labour candidacy, has received £10,000 from City financier Nigel Doughty, co-founder of one of Britain's oldest private equity houses.

Her campaign coffers, at least £50,000 strong, have also been boosted by £7,000 from private equity millionaire Sir Ronald Cohen and £10,000 from media tycoon Lord Alli, both

Oona King

well known Labour supporters.

She has also been backed by two trades unions.

Financial backing for Mr Livingstone, put so far at £35,000, has come almost exclusively from trades unions on the Left of the Labour Party.

The former mayor was close to many City figures when in power but some of his policies since, designed to woo

Sir Gulam Noon

Labour's core vote, have frustrated some in financial services.

Mr Livingstone has argued for a 60 er cent tax rate for people earning more than £200,000 a year, but Ms King believes the 50 er cent threshold about right.

7

Archie Panjabi 's husband might face jail for theft Posing proudly with her golden Emmy Award last Sunday, Archie Panjabi looked for all the world like a woman with a sparkling future.

The British star won the best supporting actress statuette at the US television equivalent of the Oscars for her role as private detective Kalinda Sharma in the American drama The Good Wife.

But as she contemplates her critiArchie Panjabi with husband cal acclaim and Rajesh Nihalani upward career trajectory, Ms Panjabi Tailoring, allegedly bought – who co-starred with the goods with his credit Keira Knightley in Bend It card and then immediately Like Beckham in 2002 – claimed the card had been will also have to contend stolen. with far less welcome pubA hearing expected to licity. last two or three days will The Mail on Sunday take place at Wood Green reported that her husband, Crown Court in North Rajesh Nihalani – whom London from October 11. she wed 12 years ago in an If convicted, he could face arranged marriage – has up to seven years in jail. been charged with an Ms Panjabi has said in alleged theft and is due to the past she is attracted to stand trial for the crime her husband’s scrupulous next month. personality. ‘He’s my best Mr Nihalani was friend and he’s very honapparently arrested at the est,’ she once said. couple’s home in North ‘He’s always been very London in February. He is supportive. You can have accused of stealing a camall the agents and publiera, a digital camera memcists in the world but no ory card and an Apple Mac one’s ever going to give laptop computer from the you 110 per cent like Brent Cross branch of someone who loves you.’ department store John They married when Ms Lewis in January, reports Panjabi was 24. Mr the daily media.

Nihalani was a friend of The 40-year-old, who her elder brother, Ashwin, runs a bespoke tailoring and was set up with her by company, Imperial her mother, Padma.

Foreign students numbers to be cut Foreign students could be blocked from some educational institutions and courses as part of a plan to reduce immigration.

Ministers want to cut the number of overseas students entering Britain by tens of thousands. More than 362,000 were allowed to study here in the year to June, an increase of 35 per cent on the previous year.

Figures show that one in five foreign students is still in Britain five years after arrival, leading to concerns that student visas are being exploited as an easy migration route.

Home Office research shows half the foreign students who arrive each year are not studying degrees, but a range of lesser qualifications such as A-levels and even GCSEs. Damian Green, the Immigration Minister, will outline plans as part of an overhaul of migration policy.

Despite ruling out a cap on total foreign student numbers, Mr Green is expected to say the system

Damian Green, MP

will be tightened. Options could include limiting visas to those studying degree courses or to certain institutions.

Tens of thousands of foreign students have entered "lower tier" colleges, where it is easier to gain places.

Mr Green said it was "transparently clear" that the immigration system did Mr Green said that every other immigration route, including giving visas to foreign wives or husbands, must be reviewed and tight-

ened. David Cameron has promised to bring net migration, the balance between those leaving and those arriving, down to the "tens of thousands".

Figures last week showed it rose by a fifth last year to 196,000. The main driver was a sharp increase in the number of foreign students, to more than 360,000.

Research for the Home Office shows that in 2004, around 186,000 students were granted visas and 21 per cent of them were still here in 2009, meaning they had been able to switch to other routes such as work permits or marriage, paving the way for them to settle here permanently.

And that is only those known to immigration officials. Tens of thousands more may have simply overstayed their visa and disappeared.

Earlier this year, it was estimated that more than one in 10 foreign students was arriving in Britain through bogus or suspect colleges.

8

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Dee Katwa

Asian Voice - Saturday 11th September 2010

Midland Voice Contact: Dhiren on 07970 911 386 or dhiren.katwa@abplgroup.com

Glory of India Awards to be bestowed on ‘achievers’ An Indian organisation is preparing to host its controversial annual ‘cash for honours’-style awards ceremony in London later this month. Asian Voice probed past and potential award winners to find out more. The organisers have chosen to remain tight-lipped.

countries in culture, education and sports (ii) to act in the best interests of the government, the country and members of the society and (iii) to exchange scientific and technical education. Mr Singh had been prompt in his responses to the academic, until the academic refused to pay £250.

Furthermore, the two Mr Singh’s Gurmeet and

The invitation also lists three guests of honour – Lord Bhikhu Parekh, Councillor Nirmal Singh Gill, Mayor of Barking and Dagenham and Judge Mota Singh QC. Asian Voice contacted all three, who are listed as members of IIFS, among a total 42. Lord Parekh, who will be in Gujarat, India on September 25, had no rec-

The e-invitation and The lid was lifted by a supporting letters, which Midland academic who are littered with gramreceived an email matical errors, are informing him that signed by Gurmeet “your name has been Singh, Office Secretary selected” for the Glory of India Award. It asked of India International him to submit his profile Friendship Society, or and photograph. On doing this, he received another email asking for £250 “contribution towards the cost of cocktail and dinner”.

This “reasonable” delegate fee, according to the organisers’ website, helps swell Cllr Balvinder Lord Mohamed Cllr Nirmal Singh Baroness Sandip Lord Bhikhu Saund Sheikh Gill Verma the coffers and is Parekh “strictly voluntary” and, apparently, no deleIIFS, the organising ollection of an invitation Gurpreet, who are both gate is under any obligabody. Based in New patrons of the IIFS, have to this event. Judge Singh tion to pay. However, a Delhi, the IIFS is a volfailed to respond to emails did not respond. past attendee claims she untary organisation Councillor Gill’s office from Asian Voice. was refused entry unless which seeks to strengthsaid he had received an The Friendship she paid the £250, in en, it says, ties between invitation but has not Banquet ceremony at the advance or at the door.

India and the internabeen a past award recipiCrown Plaza at The academic, who has tional Indian diaspora. ent, as the invitation letter Buckingham Gate on asked not to be named, Its dozen aims and states.

Saturday 25 September is feels the award should objectives include (i) to Asian Voice also conexpected to attract hunbe bestowed on individhonestly share and tacted the following dreds of guests. The euals on merit and not on exchange important evoalleged past award recipiinvitation states that the financial contribution. lution between any two ents: Lord Navnit event will mark the feliciDholakia (received his tation of Tory peer ‘out of office’ until Baroness Sandip Verma.

October 5); Lord Daljit In a telephone conversaRana (email acknowltion on July 31, Baroness edged by Sameer Seth in Verma said she had been his office on August 11, in talks with IIFS but had An Indian bride not received an official message left with Francis, and Irish groom who invitation. In a follow-up no response); Lord Patel tied the knot in of Bradford (no response); email she said: “I support Dublin this week Parmjit Dhanda MP (no organisations that support have donated all response). A follow-up and promote people espetheir wedding gifts to email was sent to Mr cially from the Indian subcharity. Big-hearted Dhanda by Peter continent. It is upon us all couple Sheetal and Starkings, Regional to ensure full recognition Paul, pictured, who Communications Officer is achieved. This organisahad a Hindu ceremofor the West Midlands tion like all others will ny, chose to giveLabour Party, but still no work to promote that and away their presents response); Former High I expect as with all things to the less fortunate, as a personal contribution to Commissioner of India in costs occur. I have never Shanti Microfinance, a social enterprise founded by the UK Nalin Surie (email been asked to submit to Sheetal. The UK-based charity provides access to techacknowledged by Mr any costs and as far as nology and capital for entrepreneurs in slums and vilMaseed in Press and others are concerned I am lages in Gujarat, India. So far £10,000 has been raised.

Information, messages left afraid I cannot enlighten The target for this year-end is £190,000. Sheetal is with Bindu, no response); you, suffice to say I hope daughter of Mukund and Mrudula Mehta, of to see many people receivLord Mohamed Sheikh – Edmonton, Canada, who have roots in Gujarat and the ing worthy recognition in a telephone conversaUgandan capital Kampala. Entrepreneur Paul is son of amongst their fellow contion on August 16, Jim and Rosaleen Walsh from Wexford Ireland. To temporaries.”

Continued on page 13 donate or to find out more visit www.shantimicrofinance.org

New couple donate gifts to charity

Charity walk and run

Nursery re-opens

People are being encouraged to sign-up to a charity 5km walk and 10km run in Handsworth Park in Birmingham on Saturday 25 September. The Community Walk for Wellbeing, which aims to promote community cohesion, will be broadcast live on Raaj FM. All funds raised will be split between Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice, Acorns Children’s Hospice and the Nishkam Aid Project. Participants will be led by Bhai Fauja Singh, pictured, the 99-year-old Indian-born celebrity athlete. For more information visit www.nishkam-aid.org or telephone 0121 515 4229.

Sparklings Day Nursery in Sparkbrook, Birmingham, which was closed for a fortnight after rodents took refuge has re-opened. Manager Meena Bharadwa said: “We disturbed nesting mice whilst we completed an external children’s play area. The temporary closure also provided the perfect opportunity to refurbish the nursery.”

Council chief steps down Sandwell Council’s chief executive has left her post – but has not revealed what she is going to do next. Dr Allison Fraser quit last Wednesday after four years in the job. “I am leaving the council in a strong position to successfully face the serious challenges ahead,” she said.

News in Brief Yes, Your Honour Law-abiding Birmingham citizens are invited to try their hand at judging a court case online. More cases have been added to the “You Be The Judge” interactive website, where visitors can compare the sentences they give to criminals with those issued in real-life court cases. To have a go at a case visit http://ybtj.cjsonline.gov.uk

Vyas scoops award for research Chartered psychologist Nora Vyas has been awarded a Fulbright Distinguished Scholar Award for her research into schizophrenia, the mental disorder which affects about 1 per cent of the general population.

Vyas, pictured, is a visiting research associate at the Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London.

The award will allow her to work with experts at the National Institute of Mental Health in Washington DC.

Free gym scheme may shut A free gym membership scheme which has helped thousands of Brummies to get fit is set to be axed.

The £4 million Be Active project triggered more than a million visit to leisure centres and swimming pools since being launched last year. But funding for the scheme, which comes from the government and the city’s Primary Care Trusts, is at risk.

Green light Britain’s biggest Chinese food importer, Wing Yip, has been successful in its planning permission bid to expand its Birminghambased headquarters. The oriental cuisine, started in the city 40 years ago by Mr Wing Yip, pictured, will create 50 extra jobs and secure the existing 130 existing jobs. A local reporter recently asked him who his God is, “Bank of England,” he told her.

New college chief The new principal and chief executive of Warwickshire College has vowed to lead the college through “difficult times” in education. Mariane Cavalli will head up 25,000 students and 2,000 staff at six campuses in Warwickshire and Worcestershire.

The Pope in Brum Urgent talks between bosses at Birmingham City Council are continuing over the potential influx of around 3,000 gypsy pilgrims to the city during Pope Benedict XVI’s visit next week. The Pope, pictured, will conduct an open-air Mass in front of 70,000 people at Cofton Park next Sunday (Sep 19). The cost of policing the Pope’s four-day trip to Britain has been put at more than £7 million.

Electoral fraud Walsall Councillor Mohammad Munir’s fingerprints were found on 11 electoral roll applications which were delivered to non-existent residents, Birmingham Magistrates’ Court heard.

Conservative Cllr Munir, 57, pictured, is facing 11 counts of electoral fraud in the 2008 local elections. (Proceeding)

UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 11th September 2010

Dr Freddy Patel suspended for three months for misconduct Dr Freddy Patel has been suspended for three months by a General Medical Council disciplinary panel The pathologist who carried out the first postmortem examination on newspaper seller Ian Tomlinson, who died at the G20 protest, was suspended from the medical register for three months today.

A General Medical Council disciplinary panel previously ruled that Dr Freddy Patel acted in a way that amounted to misconduct in two earlier post-mortem examinations, meaning his fitness to practise was impaired.

The panel also ruled that Dr Patel had displayed deficient professional performance in a third post-mortem.

He has already been suspended from the Home Office register of forensic pathologists after questions were asked about the autopsy carried out on the body of 47year-old Mr Tomlinson, who died in London in April last year.

The panel had already concluded that Dr Patel was 'irresponsible' and failed to meet professional standards during his examinations of the bodies of a five-year-old girl in 2002, a four-week-old baby in 2003 and a woman who died in 2005.

Dr Patel, 63, behaved irresponsibly, failed to meet standards expected of a Home Office pathologist and acted in a way liable to bring the profession into disrepute when he changed the woman's cause of death in 2005,

Dr Freddy Patel

the panel found.

He carried out a postmortem examination on January 5 2005, and decided she had died due to a blood clot in the coronary arteries. A month later, following a second post-mortem by another pathologist, he prepared an addendum to his report, changing the cause of death to a brain haemorrhage in line with the new findings.

Dr Patel told an inquest into the woman's death he had changed the primary cause of death 'to satisfy the family'.

But panel chairman Richard Davies said the pathologist's assumption that the change made no difference from the coroner's viewpoint, as the death was not suspicious, and merely allowed an inquest to proceed was not an adequate explanation.

The moment Ian Tomlinson clashed police officers during the G20 protests in central London In the GMC ruling, Mr

Davies said Dr Patel's 'acts and omissions were very serious' and amounted to misconduct.

Two other pathologists agreed Mr Tomlinson died as a result of internal bleeding rather than natural causes, as concluded by Dr Patel Dr Patel will face a fitness to practise panel at the end of his period of suspension.

There are a number of conditions he will be expected to fulfil before he is allowed to carry out any more post-mortems, Mr Davies said.

These include improving his knowledge of the law on conducting postmortem examinations and identifying pathologists to whom he could refer cases for peer review.

Dr Patel was also told to discuss with the Royal College of Pathologists how he could find a mentor for advice and support, maintain a log of his caseload, and take part in courses during his suspension.

Top transplant surgeon drowns while snorkelling in the Maldives Family, colleagues and patients are in mourning after top transplant surgeon Ali Bakran, pictured, drowned while snorkelling on holiday in the Maldives.

The 61-year-old who worked at Royal Liverpool Hospital for more than 20 years was a consultant transplant and vascular surgeon who touched the lives of 'hundreds and thousands of people'.

Bakran was enjoying a two-week holiday with his wife Diane and daughter Miriam when he was pulled from the water and pronounced dead.

The cause of Mr Bakran's death on the morning of August 27 is not yet known and his grieving family must now await the results of a postmortem, which will be carried out in the UK. His son, Adam, said: We have no idea if he died before he drowned. My

mum saw him snorkelling and then half an hour to 45 minutes later he was pulled from the water.

'Probably the best way I can describe him is selfless. He cared about his patients almost as much as he cared about his family.'

Colleagues at the hospital where Mr Bakran worked broke down in

tears when they learnt the tragic news.

Registrar Ajay Sharma, who was mentored by the surgeon, told thehe was renowned in the hospital for his commitment.

'Hundreds and thousands of people had very high admiration for him,' he said.

'In transplant surgery, we follow the patients throughout life we see them for 25 or 30 years.

'Mr Bakran was exemplary.

'At times, people in the hospital would be taken aback or a bit stunned because he would do whatever was necessary for his patients - he would bulldoze his way for patients.'

9

The Kingdom of Indian sweets & Curries A journey of gourmet delights that started over a century ago from Bikaner — a beautiful city in the desert lands of Rajasthan, India; and over the years, has taken them to many overseas destinations.

Opening of this 36th outlet in UK is the latest feather on their cap.

With this new destination added to their ever growing chain of Traditional Indian Sweets, Snacks and pan-Indian cuisine, we bring to the food loving coinsures of England our famous ‘flavours of the orient’.

The very name ‘Bikanervala’ spells a family tradition of sweets and exotic cuisine that goes back well over a century, to the era of Royal Houses of Rajasthan, where their forefathers developed and perfected a wide range of exquisite delights. They are the proud inheritors of this priceless treasure of recipes that are envy of competitors in the trade.

In modern times, to their great family tradition they have added professional management, standardised processing, international norms of hygiene and amiable ambiance.

Bikanervala is India’s

most popular hospitality brand with 35 successfully running outlets spread over India, Nepal, UAE and New Zealand.

At the U.K. outlet, their customers will be able to enjoy the entire range of our delicious Sweets, famous Chaat of North India, the amazing variety of Indian Snacks and what has now become a world famous phenomenon — their ‘100 % vegetarian fine dinning experience’, in a tastefully rendered environment.

Bikanervala Foods Pvt. Ltd. the parent company, has the unique distinction of being the first Indian company in its line of business and product category, to have been granted

ISO-9001-2008, HACCP & SQFCM certifications — the internationally accepted benchmarks of Quality and Safety.

Bikano is the company’s brand of packaged products that is popular not only in India but is also exported the world.

The Hyderabad outlet will also be a convenient single point source of all our long shelf-life Bikano packaged products.

In the words of Mr. Shyam Sunder Aggarwal, the Managing Director, “The aim is to place the highly developed ‘Indian Sweets & Fine Food Culture’ firmly on the world map. Opening of this new outlet in U.K. is a step in that direction”.

10

UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 11th September 2010

'Honour killing' parents dramatically re-arrested

Shafilia Ahmed

The parents of suspected honour killing victim Shafilea Ahmed were dramatically re-arrested on suspicion of murder last week almost seven years to the day since she went missing.

Taxi driver Iftikhar Ahmed, 50, and 47-yearold wife Farzana were held in a dawn swoop by police.

The arrest comes just days after another of their daughters was arrested on suspicion of masterminding an armed robbery at the family home.

Alisha Ahmed, 22, had been detained last week after three men burst into the semi detached property tied up and threatened Farzana and three other relatives before stealing valuables.

She was later freed on bail pending further inquires over allegations of conspiracy to rob.

Officers from Cheshire Police believing to be acting on information from Alisha allegedly went to the house in Great Sankey,

Warrington at 5am and led out Mr and Mrs Ahmed. They are currently being questioned at Manor Park police station in Runcorn and their house is under police guard.

On September 11 2003 Shafilia, 17, a student who wanted to become a lawyer went missing after complaining she was being forced into an arranged marriage.

Police who investigated discovered shortly before her disappearance Shafilea had travelled to Pakistan where she rejected an arranged marriage partner. She had also swallowed bleach, badly scarring her throat.

Her father later denied any arranged marriage and claimed his daughter drank the bleach during a power cut, thinking it was a bottle of fruit juice.

Her dismembered body was found five months later in the River Kent near Sedgwick, Cumbria, 70 miles away from her home.

Police said the corpse was deliberately hidden and was dumped there very shortly after she went missing.

Mr and Mrs Ahmed were arrested on suspicion of their daughter's kidnap along six other people from the family in 2003 but the couple were never charged and have vehemently denied any involvement in the death.

Today a Cheshire Police spokesman said: 'A 50-year-old man and a 47-year-old woman from

Ifitkhar (right) and Farzana Ahmed, pictured in 2004

Warrington were arrested early this morning on suspicion of the murder of Shafilea Ahmed.'

But a police source said: 'When Alisha was questioned, she made more allegations about her parents in relation to the death of her sister Shafilea.

'Officers looked into her claims and made the decision that her parents needed to be brought in and questioned. They wanted to be discreet so went to the house at 5am and brought her parents in.'

Shafilea had been missing twice before briefly in October 2002 and for a week in February 2003 with a male friend, Mushtag Bagas. The family had reported her missing on both previous occasions, but had failed to do so when she went missing in September 2003.

It was a teacher at Great Sankey High School where Shafilea was formerly a pupil who alerted police on

that occasion after hearing rumours that she had left home.

During her February disappearance, Shafilea had sought help from youth advisory service Connexions telling them she was 'running away because she was in fear of being married'.

Her disappearance then coincided with a flight she was booked on to travel to Pakistan with her family. The trip was cancelled, but took place later that month.

Several poems emerged written by Shafilea in the run up to her death one saying: 'I feel trapped.'

When her body was found a cause of death could not be established though her body had been dismembered and a pathologist said it was most likely Shafilea was smothered to death or strangled.

In January 2008, an inquest coroner said Shafilea was the victim of a 'very vile murder' as a recorded a verdict of unlawful killing.

Council worker provokes storm with outrageous Twitter comments A senior council officer has sparked fury after allegedly claiming that it is acceptable for employers to slap their servants.

Rehana Mohamed, pictured, made the alleged comments on her Twitter account after watching a TV debate on the abuse of foreign domestic workers exploited by wealthy families.

While watching the Channel 4 Dispatches programme, Britain's Secret Slaves, Cambridge University educated Miss Mohamed allegedly wrote, as per a daily media report:'Oh this is so selfrighteous.

'That b****y maid needs a good slap. Some ppl [sic] here have no idea what it's like having servants.

'I'm sorry but being on call 24/7 and not having a day off for months and not being allowed to leave the house doesn't make you a slave.'

Miss Mohamed, who is from Sri Lanka, works as a strategic change management consultant at Brent Council in north London, an ethnically diverse area.

She added: 'Damn right

they should get up and make what you want.

That's their job.

'We never let out female servants for their own safety.'

Miss Mohamed, who is in her thirties, insisted she had made the astonishing comments 'in jest and that's been acknowledged'.

Sarah Teather, Brent Central MP and Education Minister, called the remarks 'unacceptable'.

The Liberal Democrat MP added: ''I am extremely shocked by these comments.

'Anybody who is working on policy on a council like Brent needs to be sensitive to the issues.

'The council should ask whether it is appropriate to employ a consultant who holds such views to work in

policy for the most ethnically diverse borough in the country.

'The Dispatches programme raised the very serious issue of abuse of domestic servants in this country.'

Brent Council said it is considering what action to take.

Miss Mohamed told the Telegraph: 'I sincerely apologise if I offended anybody with my remarks.

'I realise that my remarks were insensitive and did, at the time, apologise for causing offence.

'However, I would like to say again that I am very sorry for the flippant way I commented on a serious issue.'

Miss Mohamed has continued to tweet about the furore over her com-

Shopkeeper ‘battered to death with wine bottles’ A 63-year-old was left dying in a pool of blood after he bravely defended his corner shop from a gang of young robbers, a court was told.

The raiders repeatedly smashed bottles of wine against Gurmail Singh’s (pictured) head. His alleged murderers fled the scene even though local people became aware that a robbery was under way, raised the alarm, rushed to Mr Singh’s aid and attempted to capture them.

Bradford Crown Court was told that five men were involved in the robbery on a cold February evening this year in the village of Cowcliffe, near Huddersfield, West Yorkshire.

After escaping with cash, sweets, cigarettes and alcohol, they are later said to have bragged about their attack, one of the killers telling a friend that they had pinned down the shopkeeper and kept “hitting him and hitting him” with whatever they could lay their hands on.

Adrian Waterman, QC, for the prosecution, told the jury that Mr Singh had moved to Britain from India as a teenager in 1963, and built a life for himself in Huddersfield, bringing up a family as he worked initially in a mill and then for a pipe manufacturing company. After taking early retirement he bought the corner shop and had been running it for five years.

“Gurmail Singh did not meekly hand over his property, his hard-earned money,” Mr Waterman said. “When he resisted the robbers, they used serious violence on him, grabbing the nearest weapon to hand, which happened to be bottles of wine he sold.”

Smokers standing outside a nearby pub became suspicious of two men who came out of the shop and started walking, then running, away.

Mr Waterman said that when one of the locals crossed the road to check on Mr Singh, he looked through the door’s window to see another two men rifling through a shelf of cigarettes and spirits. The villager shouted for the police to be called and

pulled the front door shut, trying to trap the robbers inside as they smashed bottles against the laminated window to try to force their way out.

The pair eventually escaped via a back door but were chased by another local man who tackled one to the ground.

Another villager stuck out a leg to trip the second robber, who stumbled.

Both, however, managed to escape.

When locals ventured inside the shop, they were confronted by a desperate scene, said Mr Waterman, who showed the jury photographs of the bloodsoaked shop floor.

Mr Singh “was lying on the floor in the corner of the shop. The turban he always wore was off and his head was very badly injured and bleeding”. He died early the next day, The jury was told that scientific evidence suggested that the shopkeeper had been hit at least five times with considerable force, with severe fractures to the top and back of his head. Mr Waterman said all five defendants were involved in the robbery, though only four entered Mr Singh’s shop because a taxi they had ordered to take them to Cowcliffe would not take more than four passengers.

“To put it in colloquial terms, they were in it together and each was responsible, criminally, for his death.”

Umare Aslam, 20, Muawaz Khalid, 20, Nabeel Shafi, 18, Rehman Afzal, 18, and Shoaib Khan, 18, all from Huddersfield, deny murder. Shafi and Afzal have admitted robbery and Khan, the only one of the five who is not said to have entered the shop, has pleaded guilty to assisting an offender. He, Mr Aslam and Mr Khalid deny robbery. The trial continues.

ments, writing: 'I have become a hate figure.'

A reported 15,000 domestic workers flood annually into the UK with many paid less than £50 a week to work 20-hour days.

Aidan McQuade, director of charity Anti-Slavery International, told the daily: 'Many instances of domestic servitude in this country are forced labour -

a classification that includes retention of passports and wages, threat of denunciation and restriction of movement and isolation.'

Cllr Ann John, leader of Brent Council, told the daily: 'I find it unacceptable she made a joke like that.

'I feel very strongly about this issue. It's a set of stupid remarks.

EDUCATION/COMMUNITY

Asian Voice - Saturday 11th September 2010

11

Michael Gove unveils first Mayor calls for Muslim volunteers during visit to wave of free schools Parents and teachers disillusioned with local education are among the first 16 groups to set up their own academies, which open next year Michael Gove, the education secretary, is giving the go-ahead for the first wave of â&#x20AC;&#x153;free schoolsâ&#x20AC;? set up by parents and teachers that were at the centre of the Tory election manifesto. The 16 new schools are expected to open in September next year and will begin accepting their first applications over the next few weeks.

Those behind the projects include a Sikh group in Birmingham that has been fighting its council for a decade to open a new school; and a group of teachers in Bedford who want to escape â&#x20AC;&#x153;stiflingâ&#x20AC;? bureaucracy preventing them doing their jobs properly.

The schools, which will be set up as academies

Michael Gove

free from council control, are expected to be joined over the coming months by dozens of others planning to open in 2011.

The first 16 have been given the go-ahead to draw up business plans for final approval.

They include a school to be set up by Sajid Hussein, son of a Bradford bus driver.

He went to Oxford University, then became a

teacher and is determined to help rescue his home city from the blight of poor education.

Gove is attempting to build the momentum of his education reforms, which are bitterly opposed by unions.

Ed Balls, the shadow education secretary, said the number of schools was far lower than Gove had forecast and described it as â&#x20AC;&#x153;another embarrassment for the education secretaryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s flawed, unfair and unpopular school reformsâ&#x20AC;?.

Under the free schools programme, inspired by reforms in Sweden and America, parents, teachers, businesses, established academy sponsors and other groups can apply to open state schools if they can demonstrate enough parental demand for new places stemming from shortages or poor quality.

First state Hindu School to open in Leicester The I-Foundation, the educational charity behind the UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first Hindu state school, has unveiled plans to open a second state primary school, this time in Leicester, home to the largest Hindu community in Europe outside London.

The proposal is one of just 16 approved last Monday by the Department for Education as in the running to open in 2011, under the Coalition Governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s flagship free schools policy. The Leicester KrishnaAvanti Primary School is to be located in Evington and will provide 420 places for children aged 411 years old.

A suitable site has been identified and an offer accepted for its pur-

chase, which will allow the school to open to its first sixty pupils in just a yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time.

The IFoundationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Directors now have to submit a successful business plan to the DfE over the next month to win final approval as one of the first wave of parent-promoted schools introduced by the new Government.

The Leicester state primary school will draw heavily for its ethos, curriculum, teaching and leadership on the success of its sister school, the voluntary aided KrishnaAvanti Primary School (KAPS) in North West London, which opened in 2008 and moved into its own-award winning building last year.

Building on the prac-

tice and approach of its sister school, Project Director for the Leicester school, Pradip Gajjar, expects rapidly to achieve the same high standards in the new school, and he is optimistic that the project will now advance in time for a 2011 opening.

Subject to final approval, the school will open one school year at a time, starting with reception classes for 4 and 5 year olds.

In keeping with the school's commitment to openness and inclusivity only half the places will be awarded on faith-based criteria with the other half going to local residents living near the school, regardless of religion or background.

Brick Lane Mosque

Mayor Boris Johnson and Deputy Mayor Richard Barnes with other members of the Muslim community

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, visited the Brick Lane Mosque in east London on last Friday, at the heart of Londonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Muslim and Bangladeshi communities.

During the visit, the Mayor reiterated his call for 5,000 adult volunteers to work with uniformed youth groups such as the Scouts. He also asked for members of Muslim communities to put themselves forward as Ambassadors for the 2012 Games.

8000 Ambassadors are being recruited to provide the best welcome and experience of London to the millions of visitors expected during summer 2012.

The Mayorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s message about giving back to the community and society comes during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan which teaches Muslims the importance of community spirit, charity and helping those less fortunate.

Marking the final week of Ramadan, Boris Johnson met with the

UK youth adopts their MPs Young people across the country are challenging their MPs to attend â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Parliament in the Parkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, a picnic between young people and their MPs, to discuss how they can build safe, fair and clean communities in their constituencies. 533 MP's have been invited!

Parliament in the Park is the official launch event of the UK Youth Climate Coalition campaignâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Adopt an MPâ&#x20AC;?.

Taking place on Monday 13 September, 1-4pm.

Parliament in the Park will bring together over 200 young people, with politicians and other guests for a picnic in Old

Palace Yard, Westminster. Subsequent events will be held in Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast.

By allowing young people and MPs to meet over a slice of cake, rather than in the dark corridors of the House of Commons, Parliament in the Park will bring politicians closer to young people in a fun and engaging way.

Young people are adopting their MPs to hold them accountable on environmental issues that their affect their constituencies, such as insulation in public buildings, green jobs and

reliable trains.

The Adopt an MP campaign is not about criticism or praise, but remembering that MPs are humans and supporting them to make a stand and fight for a difference when it comes to local issues and national policy to create the sustainable future that we need.

Each young "adopter" will act as a constant reminder to MPs that it is our future that is being legislated for. After all, they're unlikely to be around in 2050. We will!

Caroline Lucas MP has given her support for the campaign, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Now is exactly the right time to

be knocking of the doors of new MPâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. In particular, it is great to see young people take their energy, enthusiasm and commitment into our surgeries.â&#x20AC;?

Jake Leeper, Adopt an MP campaign manager added, â&#x20AC;&#x153;We canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t keep carrying on as we are, with a reliance on fossil fuels and where we are living in an environment that wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t provide us with a safe future. I would encourage everyone to adopt their MP and hold them accountable to secure the green jobs and low-carbon services that we all deserve.â&#x20AC;?

President of the mosque, Ataur Rahman Chowdhury, members of the mosque management committee, local community members and over 1000 worshippers.

Boris Johnson said: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Generosity, community spirit and strong family and societal ties lie at the heart of the teachings of this holy month and it is with this in mind that Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m calling for Muslim volunteers to take part in our drive to get 5000 volunteers to work with young people in uniformed groups such as the Scouts and Cadets. Islam teaches that young people should be nurtured and drawn away from that which is bad such as crime and violence and guided towards that which is good. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Most people donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t realise that even a few hours a week can make a real difference to the lives of young people in the capital. From charities to

uniformed groups, everyone has the same problem - simply not enough people to lend a helping hand.

Some of these groups have thousands of kids on their waiting lists. Muslims are an integral part of the rich and diverse fabric of London and contribute to every sphere of society including the economy, culture, sport and finance.

I want 2010 to be the year that Muslim Londoners come forward to volunteer and make an even bigger contribution to their communities and their capital city.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; The Mayor is also supporting Londonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Eid in the Square celebrations in Trafalgar Square which take place on Sunday 26 September.

The event attracts around 25,000 people from all communities and religions across the capital and has grown to become one of the key highlights of the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s events calendar.

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12

MEDIA WATCH

Asian Voice - Saturday 11th September 2010

Scrutator’s Lydia Polgreen's sumptuous piece on Amritsar's Golden Temple, in The New York Times (August 31), is a good place to start the week. Her title – “A Sikh Temple Where All May Eat, and Pitch In” - set the scene: “It is lunchtime at what may be the world's largest free eatery, the langar, or community kitchen at this city's glimmering Golden Temple, the holiest shrine of the Sikh religion. Everything is ready for the big rush.

Thousands of volunteers have scrubbed the the floors, chopped onions, shelled peas and peeled garlic. At least 40,000 metal plates, bowls and spoons have been washed, stacked and are ready to go. Anyone can eat for free here, and many, many people do. On a weekday, about 80,000 come. On weekends almost twice as many visit. Each visitor gets a wholesome vegetarian meal, served by volunteers who embody India's religious and ethnic mosaic.'This is our tradition,' said Harpinder Singh, the 45-year-old manager of this huge operation. 'Anyone who wants can come and eat.'

Unity in diversity Ms Polgreen again: “India is not only the world's largest democracy, it also is one of the most spiritually diverse nations.... from the moment of its independence, India has been a resolutely secular nation and has managed to accommodate an extraordinary range of views on such fundamental questions as the nature of humanity, the existence of God and the quality of the soul. Indeed, few places in India demonstrate so clearly the country's genius for diversity and tolerance, the twin reasons that India – despite its fractures and fissures – has remained one nation. Sikhism, which emerged in the Punjab region of India in the in the 15th century, strongly rejects the notion of caste....The

through India's parliament told of concern in the US and elsewhere by the prompt compensation required in case of a nuclear accident. The Bhopal disaster twenty-five years ago and the tardiness with which Union Carbide, the US firm involved in the accident, and its impact on Indian public opinion, had prompted the country's legislators to take a firm line this time.

If US companies (and those elsewhere) are deterred from entering the Indian market, so be it. Indian lives will not come cheap in future. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, unshaken by the protests of business lobbies, said: “This bill completes our journey to end the nuclear apartheid that the world imposed on us.”

The significance of the par-

The Langar in Amritsa’s Golden Temple

Golden Temple, a giant complex of marble and glittering gold that sits at the heart of this sprawling, hectic city.....seeks to embody this principle. Nowhere is it more evident than in the community kitchen, where everyone, no matter his religion, wealth or social status, is considered equal....Volunteerism and community support are other central tenets of Sikhism.....Indians of all faiths come here to find a measure of peace....The temple is a world of cleanliness and order....India's current prime minister, Manmohan Singh, is a Sikh.”

This says it all.

Nuclear bill passed Amy Kazmin's Financial Times report (August 26) on the passage of the nuclear liability bill

liamentary debate was the way the government and the principal opposition party, the BJP, parleyed together, as a result of which the bill incorporated a number of BJP amendments and made for consensual legislation drafted in the national interest.

The Times of India (August 26) told how Dr Singh had telephoned BJP leader L.K. Advani and his senior colleague Sushma Swaraj to thank them for their support. Mr Advani in turn praised Pranab Mukherjee, the Leader of the House for consulting the opposition and including their suggestions in the final document.

One of India's leading columnists, Swapan Dasgupta, writing in The Pioneer newspaper (August 31) , noted: “The passage of the nuclear civil liability bill through Parliament was marked by a rare display of

convergence....it takes two to tango....the tentative shift away from the cussed and disruptive role played by the BJP in Parliament between 2004 and 2009 has not been easy. Those responsible for what I have often described as the 'Hizbullah-like' opposition to the Indo-US nuclear deal succeeded in making the party look ridiculous to its large middle-class base....the BJP undertook a much-needed course correction.” Coming from a BJP sympathiser, it's quite an admission.

Constructive engagement transcends narrow party divisions, it is a victory for India.

RIM-India truce A 60-day truce has been called in the stand-off between the Indian government and the Canadian manufacturers of BlackBerry, reported Joe Leahy from Mumbai for the Financial Times (August 31). Mr Leahy writes: “Research in Motion [RIM] and India's government avoided a stand-off by agreeing to extend for two months talks over a demand to open all BlackBerry handsets services to scrutiny by intelligence agencies.”

The reprieve came ahead of the August 31 deadline for mobile phone operators in India to shut down the Canadian company's corporate e-mail and messaging services if it did not agree to the demand. India's Home Ministry issued the following statement: “RIM have made certain proposals for lawful access by law enforcement agencies,” adding that it would “review the situation within 60 days.”

This followed talks between Jim Balsillie, RIM's co-chief executive and senior Indian Home Ministry officials. The dispute is seen as a test of the private sector's right to data security. RIM had said India's demands for access to its encrypted corporate e-mail service, known as BlackBerry Enterprise Server, were technically unfeasible since customers hold the keys to the codes.

The company is reluctant to lose access to the lucrative Indian market, where it had 1 million subscribers. RIM, however, is also worried about setting a precedent for government interference in its services that would undermine the confidence of its 46 million users worldwide.

Me Leahy again: “India shaken by terrorist attacks in Mumbai and militant activities across the border in Pakistan, insists that its security agencies should have access to all communications in the country.”

This was simply not possible, said the company.

The immovable object attempts to face down the irresistible force.

Tejas, India’s Light Combat Aircraft

suggests India initiate a naval dialogue with Vietnam. Both countries are at loggerheads with China. Vietnam, which once fought the US in the most destruct war of the second half of the 20th century, is now America's strategic partner in Southeast Asia. The US and Vietnam recently held naval exercises in the South China Sea. There has long been a convergence of strategic interests between New Delhi and Hanoi, and with Washington taking an increasingly hard line with Beijing and its aggressive regional postures, the time was ripe for India to commence a strong naval dialogue with Vietnam. Mr Raman quotes an official China organ called Global Times, which said: “It is clear that military clashes would bring bad results to all countries in the region involved, but China will never waive its right to protect its core interest with military means.” (Global Times, July 26 2010). The paper's minatory tone is clearly a warning of things to come.

Indo-US response US think-tank, The Heritage Foundation, published a lecture entitled “China's View of South Asia and the Indian Ocean” (August 31, 2010) by its Asia specialist Dean Cheng. The lecture's abstract states: 'The Indian Ocean is becoming an increasingly important to China's economic and security interests. China appears to be pursuing what has been widely characterised as a 'string of pearls' strategy of cultivating India's neighbours as friendly states, both to protect its economic and security interests and to balance a 'rising India'. With Chinese influence in the region growing, it is essential that the US not fall behind in the Indian Ocean, but maintains a steady presence in the region, both to signal its resolve to stay engaged and to avoid the difficulties of

Combating China B.Raman, a retired senior Indian official, with his own internet website on domestic and international security matters,

The Arjun Battletank

re-entering the region.”

Mr Cheng reminds us: “Not only must a significant portion of China's oil imports transit this region, but one of China's enduring friends (Pakistan) and one of its long-time rivals (India) border this region, as well as China's sensitive Tibetan front.”

Sino-Indian balance This is a substantial analysis, but a point of particular interest in Mr Cheng's survey of the Sino-Indian balance is the military hardware China and India will bring to any conflict.

Numbers are on China's side, technology on India's, says the author. China has little or no access to the best global technology. Dr Cheng cites India's Sukhoi 30MKI aircraft, which are superior to the earlier models Russia had sold to China.

Indo-Russian co-operation in the defence sector is as close today as it ever was during the days of the Soviet Union. The unprecedented 10-year lease to India of a Russian-built Akulaclass nuclear attack submarine was evidence of this, observes Mr Cheng, who could have mentioned their joint production of BrahMos, the world's leading supersonic cruise missile.

Dr Cheng referred to US high-tech dual-use space technology, which is now available to Bangalore-based the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). To this one can add AWACS, the early airborne warning system which Israel, with US consent, has sold to India. Further, India and Israel are engaged on multiple defence projects. India, Britain, France and German are in a similar, if smaller, frame. However, India's Defence Research & Defence Organisation (DRDO) has produced (and is producing) Indiamade weapon systems, including tanks and missiles, despite Western embargoes. The Light Combat Aircraft (Tejas) is presently undergoing a final series of tests before induction into the Indian Air Force (IAF) in December.

Peace hath its victories no less renowned than war. China would do well to rely on peace, for a change. It doesn't do to bully and browbeat neighbours, as pre-war Germany and Japan learned to their cost.

UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 11th September 2010

Hope for children Oxfam believes good quality education can play a crucial role in reducing poverty and promoting gender equality. It is empowering to girls and boys and enables them to develop the skills they need to help them overcome poverty, to make positive changes in their lives, and to make their voices heard.

In India a low level of public funding in education has led to huge dropout rates amongst children and little investment in schools thems e l v e s .

According to Oxfam research, half of India's schools have a leaking roof or no water supply, 35 percent have no blackboard or furniture, and close to 90 percent have no functioning toilets.

David Kenningham, an Oxfam supporter and volunteer, saw some of the work Oxfam is doing to help bring education to more and more children in India.

He visited two schools in a remote area in the state of Uttar Pradesh.

There, he met some of the poorest and least privileged children in the country who are all too often denied the opportunity to receive even a basic education, despite the requirement of state governments to provide it.

Girls are often more deprived from an education than boys, staying at home to help while their brothers are given priority in going to school. David was therefore encouraged to see that 60 per cent of the five to 12-year-olds attending the two schools were girls.

At the schools, the

teaching focuses on literacy and numeracy and includes science, history and geography, as well as opportunities for art, drama, dance and music.

One of the schools also offered the children a chance to visit local towns and go on residential camps to help boost their confidence.

“The level of interest and involvement of the girls and boys would have satisfied the sternest observer of a primary school class in the UK,” David said.

“The head teacher, Rita, also explained the emphasis on ‘joyful’ edu-

cation methods with wellplanned pupil activities enhancing motivation and attendance. She told me that seven former pupils, all girls now at a Junior High School, had won prizes there for poem presentations, dance, playing music and singing.”

David also saw how clean drinking water was supplied at the schools

Jonaid Jilani

For more information about Oxfam and its India project or to donate please call 0300 200 1242

Leading British Asian figures unite for one night in aid of Flood appeal On Wednesday 22nd September some of the UK’s leading Asian companies come together for one exclusive night at Troxy, London, to raise money for the Pakistan Flood Victims. With the help of popular celebrity faces and key figures in the industry, the charity event hopes to increase awareness about the tragedy which has taken place in Pakistan and to raise as much money as possible to help its people.

Hosted by the beautiful model and TV presenter, Gulzaeb Beg Ali and charismatic TV/Radio broadcaster, Murtz, the evening hopes to bring everyone together for this

worthy cause.

July 2010 saw severe floods hit Pakistan, which affected close to 15 million people. It is thought to be the worst flood to hit the region for eighty years, causing complete turmoil for the people of Pakistan.

Around a fifth of Pakistan’s land has been affected and people are struggling with shortages of food, clean water, shelter and medicine as a result of the flooding. All funds raised will go directly to the DEC appeal and will slowly help re-build the lives of the people in Pakistan.

There promises to be an array of entertainment on the night, with perform-

Healthy Asian food wows trade professionals at top London Speciality show

By Rudy Otter

and heard how the schools help develop good hygiene habits, which are often ignored among the poorest communities.

During the break, the children played musical instruments and played games on the recently installed swings and climbing frames. There were also bicycles for boys - and girls - to use, to help tackle the tradition of families not allowing girls to ride on them.

Among the children David spoke to Lakshmi who told him how she travels 8km every day to get to school. The 12year-old told him that while there was a school in her village, there was no teacher.

David said: “She told me how much she liked studying and how she enjoyed the story books.

She knew about health problems of the people in her village and said her ambition was to become a doctor.

“I hope she and all the others get the chance to continue their education, fulfil their potential, and break the cycle of deprivation and discrimination that has blighted the lives of so many women.

“It is early days and everyone involved knows there will always be much to do. The approach seems to be well established and a very good feature is the lack of complacency. The main aim now is to secure the future of these schools.”

ances by Canadian superstar Raghav, recent chart topping Bhangra artist, PBN, Manchester duo Bonafide, midlands singersongwriter Navin Kundra and Pakistani pop producer Khiza.

A glamorous star-studded fashion show, choreographed by established modelling agency, Caramel Models, will also be taking place with top designers.

The music on the night will be courtesy of BBC Radio 1’s DJ Nihal and UK AMA award winning, Jags Klimax. Added to this will be a 3 course sit down meal, magic, hypnosis and even a celebrity charity auction! With so much on offer, it will be unmissable!

13

Baked samosas were among the tongue-tingling Asian snacks exciting visitors at the 11th annual Speciality & Fine Food Fair held in London's Olympia from 5th to 7th September.

The vegetable samosas, ranging from chickpea-lentil and spinach-potato to paneer-pepper flavours, were among the 14 products created by Samosaco, a business launched just over a year ago in Wales, run by Punjabis Goldie Sandhu and her husband Sokhy who originally came from Malaysia.

Goldie told Asian Voice: "Because we buy most of our supplies locally, as well as use local printing and design services, the Welsh Assembly government gave us a grant to set up a purpose-built samosa factory in Cardiff, and the response has been wonderful for our carefully selected oils, spices and ingredients - nothing artificial is used."

She added: "What's more, Asian food contractors at this show are interested in taking up our products, so we must

be doing something right!" Outlets for their samosas, pakoras and onion bhajis include universities and bakeries.

Vishal Madhu of Innovative Bites, a Slough-based business set up three years ago, supplies healthily produced snacks such as crisps, breads, spices and pickles. Helped by his sister Neha and brotherin-law Mayank, he supplies Harvey Nichols, Selfridges and various delis.

Big smiles greeted visitors at Shemin's Curry Paste stand. The Ascot-based business, started just 12 weeks ago

by Shemin MacGregor, consists of home-made pastes created by her mother Begum in Kampala, Uganda. "We use specially blended fresh herbs and spices with an East African touch," she told Asian Voice. "They come in mild, medium and hot varieties and can be used to prepare authentic curries or as a marinade."

She, her husband John and their daughter Zara handed out Shemin's recipe leaflets for meat or chicken curry, fish masala, dhal and vegetable curry and

even baked beans. Her pastes are already winning swathes of customers in Shepperton, Bagshot and other areas.

Mr Singh's curry pastes received a big boost when this Manor Park-based business, set up two years ago, featured in a BBC television show called "High Street Dreams." Said director Rav Singh. "As a result, Asda is promoting our products in 18 stores all over the country. Foreign interest includes South Africa, Ireland, Switzerland and the United States."

Leicester-based spicekit producer, Spicentice, headed by Ketan Vasu, launched two new spice kits based on Mexican cooking. The firm offers 24 recipe spice kits for home cooks, free from additives, preservatives and artificial colouring, representing cuisines from countries such as India, Thailand, Morocco, Jamaica, Portugal and the United States.

Around 600 small producers displayed their wares at the 3-day show which included free seminars and case studies to help new businesses grow and prosper.

Glory of India Awards to be bestowed on ‘achievers’ Continued from page 8 “I’m driving. I can’t talk to you when I’m driving”, he said, but continued anyway. On explaining the enquiry, “now the jigsaw pieces are coming back to me,” he said. “I know what you’re referring to. I will not be attending on the 25th and I do not wish to say anymore to you so there is no question about me having received any award or not.”

According to news reports Lord Sheikh was the chief guest at the 2008 ceremony as was Virendra Sharma MP. The only past award ‘winner’ to respond, Councillor Balvinder Saund, who had attended this ceremony in 2008 described the buffet as “ordinary” adding, “we helped ourselves to it nothing special about it, we would normally pay £10 for it in the UK”. She explained how “everyone had won the same award” and was presented by Baroness Verma. “Due to the dignity of the event, no-one asked awkward questions directly to the organisers, but I know there was disbelief in the room, which left us all amused as the drama unfolded. We were being

duped but nobody dare said anything.” Cllr Saund said guests were being offered official photographs for an additional £100. The IIFS have told her by email that she has won an award but must go to India to collect it. “I immediately deleted it because I know it will cost me a lot of money and I am now suspicious of their credentials and also what they do with the money. Someone should investigate this outlet in Delhi and advise the NRIs (non-resident Indians).

Your newspaper is doing such a great investigative job and I hope you get to uncover this matter.”

A prominent community leader from the Midlands, who asked not to be named, said: “The event is organised by a voluntary Indian organisation which flatters itself with a huge number of attributes, and really one should ask as to how much net profit will this organisation end up with after hosting this event at £250 per head. These are the kinds of spurious awards that people of the Indian subcontinent (and I include Pakistan and Bangladesh) are fond of giving and receiving, which they are proud to

publicise everywhere. I do not know when our people will really mature and move away from these fashionable silly exercises.”

Last year this distinguished gentleman had castigated the whole award culture “which has so insidiously penetrated and enthralled the Asian community in Britain”.

Baroness Verma was also present. “All she could say was that we have to recognise achievements of the Asian community. What achievements? Self-propagated, self-contrived and garishly conducted.”

This week our reporter tried again to talk to Mr Singh by telephone, posing as a potential invitee.

“Who is this”, asked the man who was reluctant to talk over the telephone and asked to email him.

Earlier, our reporter had spoken to this same man who cut the call off when Asian Voice was mentioned.

With just days to go to this year’s ceremony, it remains to be seen who will attend, who will win and most importantly where the funds raised will be channelled to. Our antennae are switched on, batteries fully charged.

Watch this space.

14

ART & CULTURE

Asian Voice - Saturday 11th September 2010

A ground-breaking degree in Indian Asian Music Circuit launches new Indian music has its first graduates Festival of Afghan Culture age to combine and offer in the process of putting it Four years after the the best of both." together must have been launch of a unique Three of these stufully aware of their pioBachelor’s degree in dents will receive Upper neering role but that also Indian Music, the Bhavan Seconds. However, Tom means it was a big leap in Centre in London and Pope has been awarded a the dark and nobody was Trinity College of Music First. Tom who’s from quite sure whether it have reason to celebrate.

Yorkshire and plays the would work. But four All four students have years on, and passed with flying given the results colours, attaining of the first batch one first and three of graduates, I upper seconds. think that those The Degree who initially put Course Manager, this degree course Jameela Siddiqi said, together have "The credit surely done a great job. goes to all those We hope other teachers who budding worked so hard to musiget the students to cians will take this very high level. inspiration from Situ Kharel, Tom Pope, Nalini Jani, It is a very difficult this and study Arani Sivapathasundaram music further and highly demandmandolin had nothing but through our successful ing course and the stupraise for the Bhavan. degree course. There will dents all worked extreme“I am very proud and be a graduation ceremony ly hard to achieve this privileged to have been at Trinity College of Music exceptionally high stanin Greenwich on the 8th dard." associated with the December. The Bhavan The course is unique Bhavan over the last four wishes to congratulate all in that it combines an years. This degree was a concerned, including the ancient tradition like dream come true for me teachers and degree Indian classical music and I feel you have done administration staff. with thoroughly modern my education a great servResults Attained: learning requirements of a ice. I am filled with great Situ Kharel – 2:1 western – style University memories and I wish the Tom Pope – 1st or conservatoire.

Bhavan every success in Nalini Jani – 2:1 Jameela Siddiqi says, the future, especially the Arani Sivapathasundaram “Those two things may degree department. Many – 2:1 sometimes appear to be at many thanks.”

The four-year Indian opposite ends of the specJameela Siddiqi praised Degree Co-ordinatrum – Indian music with Music B.Mus (Hons) tor, Candida Connolly and its traditional "do as I say" course has been running current Degree Adviser approach and western at the Bhavan in associaDharambir Singh for their learning with its emphasis tion with Trinity College of vision. She went on to say, on rationalisation – but I Music and is validated by think we somehow manCity University. “those who were involved

‘Paryushan’, a Jain festival to repent, purify explained that “the Jains Forgiveness.

The ‘Paryushan’ is one of the are an important national Daslakshana festival is for most important festivals barometer for peace in ten days starting on 12th observed by Jains, is the fesBritain and their presence September. tival for “Kshmapna” in the country is critical to There are in all, approx(seeking pardon). The spirour diverse culture.” imately 35000 Jains living it of Paryushan Parv is Dr. Peter reflection, a time to Flugel, Director of take stock of one’s the Centre for Jain actions and activities, Studies at the to repent for any misSchool of Oriental deeds or violence, to and African purify the spirit.

Studies, London Coming in the months University, comof August or mented: “It is September, this Jain extraordinary that festival is mostly this living tradiobserved by fasting for a varied period, nor- Yongsters also taking part in the religious tion is so alive and vibrant in the UK, mally from one day to festival held in Kingsbury high school despite being so eight days. In India, far from its homeland in the native place of the Jains, in Britain. They have their devotees even undertake India. Jains are very comtemples and community longer fasts of up to 15 mitted to keeping their culcentres all over the UK – days. ture alive.” most of them in London, Dr. Atul K. Shah, CEO Mr. Tushar Shah, others in Leicester, of Diverse Ethics Ltd. and a President of the Oshwal Birmingham, Manchester devout Jain himself has Association of the UK, the and Leeds. In places where decided to observe fast for largest Jain community the community does not all the eight days this years. body with nearly 25,000 have a base, they hire a Giving some insight about members explained: local school or community “During Paryushan, people hall to celebrate.

Jains in UK, he has written all over the UK make an The spirit of the festival in his blog that one of the effort to do something at is reflection - a time to take oldest living religions of the least to connect to their stock of actions and activiworld, the Jain Dharma, heritage. At our branches in ties and repent for any mishas a strong presence in London, the energy is of deeds or violence. It is a Britain. The best evidence deep introspection and time to purify the spirit; of the energy and vibrancy reflection, we can literally fasting is common, with of this tradition is in the celmany fasting for the entire ebration and practice of see a transformation hapeight days, without any their most important festipening among our memfood. Every day, there are vals, Paryushan and bers during this period. prayer gatherings and reliDaslakshana.

The Fasting for eight days withgious discourses from Paryushan festival, lasting out any food whatsoever is learned people, many of eight days, has begun on not easy, yet over 100 whom come from India 4th September 2010; will accomplish this every year. especially for this occasend on 11th September This shows their discipline and determination.” sion. Lord Dholakia has with the Universal Day of

The Asian Music Circuit is delighted to host the first UK festival of Herati music and culture from Afghanistan. The festival aims to open a door onto the rich cultural heritage of Afghanistan and bridge the gap in the knowledge and understanding of a country too often associated with poverty and conflict.

Situated in a fertile valley in western Afghanistan, the ancient city of Herat is nationally recognised as a preeminent fount of the arts. An important trading centre, Herat has continuously absorbed new influences while maintaining the essential flavour of its own local culture.

Music is a vital part of Herati culture, even in the late 1990s, during the Taliban’s ban on music-making, Herati people took great risks gathering in secret to make and perform their music.

The festival features a tour of Herati musicians and several other events related to the culture of the region, including Afghan Tales, a storytelling event in partner-

ship with Afghan Action and the Aga Khan Trust for Culture.

The nationwide tour, Music from Herat, will feature a mixture of Herati vocal and instru-

mental music, along with the Afghan classical music that has been performed in Herat since the 1930s.

The festival also features several events at the Asian Music Centre, including Professor John Baily’s lecture on the music from Herat as well as screening his film The Annual Cycle of Music in Herat, featuring recordings of his visits to

Afghanistan from 1973 to 1977, in the years before the Soviet occupation.

At the Elgar Room at the Royal Albert Hall Professor Baily performs, along with Ustad Arif Mahmoud-Chishti, a master tabla player, a mixture of traditional Afghan folk and classical music in Roses and Nightingales.

At the Asian Music Centre, Dr Moya Carey, Iran H e r i t a g e Fo u n d a t i o n Curator at the Victoria and Albert Museum, gives a lecture on the painting for Sultan Husayn Bayqara from Late Timurid Herat.

Afghan Tales is a family friendly event at the Asian Music Centre which takes us on a musical journey through the emerald pastures, snow-capped Pamir mountains and arid valleys of Afghanistan, a land of teaming bazaars and palaces inhabited by greedy kings, wicked viziers and jinn fairies.

Drawing on Afghanistan's rich oral heritage, Afghan Tales introduces the customs, religions and cultures that make up this fascinating country.

Dance away for a chance to win cash prize If you have a passion for dancing or want someone to be recognised for their contribution to the community then the NCT Star Awards is just the ticket.

The NCT Star Awards 2010 are to celebrate heroes in the community and to search for dancing talent. Though a specialist South Asian dancing competition the prestige of the event will attract participants from all backgrounds. The community awards are also open to individuals from all communities who have a special story to share.

The inspiration for The NCT Star Awards from the late Nisha C Thobani , a talented, successful beautiful and giving individual who lost her life prematurely at the age of 31 after suffering a sudden aneurysm.

The event is being produced by Anand Bhatt, the founder of Desi Masti Dance Academy who is regarded as one of the best up and coming stage producers in the UK. He and the family of Nisha C Thobhani are working to deliver a sensitive, thought provoking and high quality event spreading the message of Nisha’s life and inspiring

people in the community to follow their dreams and work hard in their community. The event is being supported by Sampad a dynamic development agency for South Asian arts based in Birmingham, Akademi a pioneering organisation that works to encourage excellence in the practice of South Asian dance in Britain and Media Partners Biz Asia – UK’s only Asian media news website.

The national search is on for the best dancer. It can be Bollywood, Bhangra, Kathak, Bharat Natyam, Ballet or any other style of your choice as long as it is adapted to South Asian music.

The competition will be split into 2 categories: l Best solo performer – £1000 prize l Best group performance - £2000 prize The p anel of judges will be Acclaimed judges from the UK dance fraternity both South Asian and mainstream including Ann Oliver OBE, David Lee and Piali Ray OBE Semi finalists will then get the opportunity to perform in front of a live audience at the Gala event for the chance to

win a cash prize. With a cash prize at stake, let the battle of the most talented dancers begin.

The Community Awards are split into 5 categories and will be open to young people and adults. It is an opportunity to nominate friends, family and organisations that deserve recognition for their humble and valuable work to support others.

Nominees will be shortlisted and invited to the Gala Event. Winners will be chosen by an awards committee, the awards committee will be key community figures who have achieved success by offering their services and helped the community To enter the dance competition or nominate someone for a community award, simply download the form, complete and return www.nctstarawards.com Nominations will take place in October in the following locations: Leicester, Birmingham, Manchester and London.

The Final Gala Event will take place on 14th November 2010 at The Curve Theatre in Leicester.

Life styLe

Asian Voice - Saturday 11th September 2010

15

The tale of

By Rupanjana Dutta One of the famous saris of South India is the Kanjeevaram sari.

Kanjeevaram saris are made in a small town Kanchipuram or 'Kanchi' as it is popularly called, which is situated near Bangalore. It is a 150 year old weaving tradition. The name of this sari is derived from the name of this town. These fine silk saris are simply gorgeous, with bright and bold colors. The wedding trousseau of a South Indian bride is incomplete without one of these saris. In fact, it would be the proud possession of any woman from any part of India. The magnitude of colors, designs and variety in which these saris are available are incredible. The price of these saris vary from $50-100 for the simple ones up to $1500-1750 for the top quality ones.

Top quality kanjeevaram saris can be bought at reputed online stores. The preparation of Kanchi natural silk saris takes anything up to 25 days for the intricately designed silks.

This sari is characterized by gold dipped silver thread that is woven on the silk.

The thread is prepared first on the weavers loom, and then dyed in bright, beautiful colors before being dried in the sun. This sari is made in parts; the body, border and the pallu are made separately, and then they are interlocked together.

The motifs used on these saris are mostly figures of animals and birds like peacocks, deer, elephants, swans etc.

Scenes from great Indian Epics like Mahabharata and Ramayana, and even The Bhagwad Gita are also woven to make special pieces.

The Kanjeevaram saris are traditional and never go out of fashion, even today they are in great demand and are very popular at the time of weddings. It is made of a heavy silk. A hallmark of Kanjeevaram silk is the bold and bright color, favored by almost every Indian and International woman. A Kanjeevaram saree always find a place in every bride's trousseau.

Bridal trousseau is not complete without the ‘Kanjeevaram’ saree, characterized by golddipped silver thread that is woven onto brilliant silk.

This 6 to 9 yard gold embellished saree with the intricate work of gold-

en and silver threads when pleated and tied it give gorgeous look to the bride.

Kanjivaram silk represents the best of the Indian textiles’ heritage.

Its unmatched craftsmanship, the beauty and grandeur of the gold thread work, quaint motifs and association with ceremonial occasions have been glorified since time immemorial. While there are loyalists for every variety, one saree that holds a spellbinding appeal for every Indian woman — transcending age, religion and regional affiliation — is the Kanjeevaram. India gives best exclusive collection

of kanjeevarams, kanjivaram silk sarees, zari kanjeevarams, pure silk and real zari kanjeewaram sarees for bridals, weddings and marriage.Kanchipuram is a town in Tamil Nadu with more than 150 years of weaving tradition – completely untouched by fashion fads. Ranges of gorgeous kanjeevaram sarees come from Tamil Nadu. Saris represent the essence of womanhood.

The kanjeevaram sarees had a fine cotton ‘ground’ with and zari border and pallu. Their patterns display a predominance of bird and animal motifs and the rich gold-brocaded pallus and borders had patterns of rows of deer, peacocks, galloping horses, bulls, elephants, parrots, swans and such other birds in stylized abstraction.

Kanjeevarams have always been very popular at the time of weddings and forms an important part of a bridal wardrobe.

Kanjeevaram silk sarees are very traditional and never go out of fashion.

Available in bright hues, these forms the best formal wear for both Indian and international women.

Each Kanjeevaram saree adds considerable grace character in ones

p e r s o n a l i t y .

Kanjeewarams are favoured for their durability. Kanji silk is thicker than almost all other silks, and is therefore more expensive. The heavier the silk, the better the quality. Though lightweight kanji sarees are popular as they are easy to wear and cost very little. While Korean and Chinese silk is suitable for light-weight sarees (machine woven), only mulberry silk produced in Karnataka and few parts of Tamil Nadu, is right for the classic Kanjeewaram.

Now days, sarees are increasingly woven on mechanical looms and made of artificial fibers such as nylon or rayon and many other fabrics which do not require starching or ironing.

But Kanjeewaram fabric is considered to be a rich Indian and traditional fabric which was worn by women over c e n t u r i e s .

Kanjivaram saree celebrates the feminine attire. A Kanjeevaram sarees are for all ages too. Older women enhance their natural dignity, the middle-aged women wear it with selfassurance and poise. The younger, nubile beauties wear it with a feminine grace that is most alluring. Kanjeevaram sarees are available in a large price range to suit different wallets from the easily affordable to the extravagantly expensive. The price is determined by the quality of silk yarn (the count per square inch), the intricacy and ornateness of the borders, the pallu, the little scattered motifs and the amount of gold-thread (zari) work in the saree.

Apart from each Kanjeevaram creation being a work of exquisite art, it is a fabric steeped in Indian tradition and is a part of the cultural heritage of India.

Western fashions and their influences on Indian attire, come and go, but this tradition lives on.

Indeed Kanjeevaram sarees are the pride of India. The Indian market is offering wide range of gorgeous kanjeevaram sarees. Many vibrant colors available in that stuff.

Vibrant hues like maroon, red, vermilian red, orange, yellow, mustard, dark green and lots more with the contrasting pallus have always been quite appealing to the eyes of women.

Congratulation Suraj, second runner up in Mr England contest A young Gujarati man Suraj Unalkat (pictured) took part in the official national Mr England 2010 competition and walked away with pride after winning the third place.

The contest was held at the Hilton Metropole, Birmingham alongside the Miss England finalists on the 1st September. Suraj was up against 11 of the best contestants from all over the country, all of whom had battled their way to the finals, fending off over 500 contestants. The day involved a catwalk in gym wear, a cowboy outfit and dinner suit as well as an interview with 3 judges.

The title was taken by Mr Birmingham, a black professional basketball player and runner up by Mr Lincolnshire, an English rugby player.

Suraj retains his title as Mr North London 2010 and receives various prizes for being second runner up. He is the only Indian to make it into the finals this year has done us all proud. With a bright future ahead, we wish Suraj all the best for his upcoming endeavours and congratulate him on this success and for continued pushing boundaries as an Indian in the mainstream.

Witness a miracle The most interesting musical event of the year will see an all blind orchestra from India performing not to be missed concerts in Leicester and the London Borough of Brent.

Inspiring, heartwarming, miraculous and musically sublime, the concert features critically acclaimed band Black playing contemporary and classical Hindi music as well as hit Bollywood songs from different eras.

The quality of songs and music is equal to anything that has ever been done by an Indian orchestra in the UK

despite the fact that all 13 members of the amazing group, from the percussionists to the two lead singers, are blind. One of the very talented members of the band is flautist Kiran Vinkar, who has worked on everything from performing at high profile stage shows to playing all the flute parts for the background music of big budget Bollywood film Sarkar Raj. The event will also feature a performance from comedy king Gaurav Sharma and there will be a surprise appearance from a Bollywood star.

NOW NOW is a new concept from Ping Pong.

Innovating and exploring the Cantonese dim sum culture of delicious small eats, NOW is about highest quality and genuine Chineses food. The most interesting part about NOW food is it's not only tasty, but it is low in saturated fats, carbohydrates and sugar and high in protein, every ingredient, thoughtfully chosen for health benefits.

However, NOW is more of sophisticated street food, inspired by urban lifestyle in China.

NOW has delicious and healthy range of succulent dumplings, savoury of sweet buns, rice dishes as well as the best of China's celebrated teas.

NOW provides authentic and handmade Chinese delicacies from breakfast till dinner.

The taste of food is authentic and the quan-

tity is sumptuous, if you like a nice light dinner.

Not only they have Chineses savouries but also sweet snacks. The main food is divided into vegetarian to sea food.

All the items are nothing more than £4.19, but served in a reasonable large platter.

The smoothies and juices are pretty original and taste refreshing. The salads are fresh and the desserts taste extremely yum.

The small restaurant has about sitting arrangement for not more than 10 people, but is a swanky and cool place to have a quick meal, on the way back from work.

The service is very

quick and the alert and vigilant chefs can get your choice of dish in a minute. The colourful, woody and dramatic restaurant is a very happy place to go to.

The ingredients used are fresh and the presentation is new and compact. My favourite is the Classic dimsum basket, that gives a taste of every type of dumplings that you can fancy! The other worth recommending dish is chocolate-covered organic rice cake!

Ratings

Food Taste: Food Quality: Hospitality / Service: Quantity: Décor:

WWWW WWWW WWWW WWWW WWWW

NOW, 22/23 Liverpool Street, London EC2M 7PD. Contact: 020 7042 9191

If you want to get your restaurant reviewed call Rupanjana at 020 7749 4098 or write to rupanjana@abplgroup.com

Bollywood

16 Asian Voice Saturday 11th September 2010

Akki to continue promotion of martial arts to youth

Kareena not comfortable with intimate scenes Director falls in love with Meera Nandan Debutant filmmaker Chellamuthu, who is directing a film titled ‘Suriya Nagaram’ which has Meera Nandan as the heroine, has fallen in love with the actress and has also proposed to her.

“I was impressed by Meera’s good heart and discipline while working with her for ‘Suriya Nagaram’.

So I expressed my heart to her over phone one day”, a Tamil tabloid quoted the director as saying.

He added: “She refused my proposal saying her parents had already fixed her marriage with someone else. Following this, I wished her all the best and stopped thinking about the issue. But she is spreading it to everyone in the unit”.

Denying his allegations, Meera Nandan reportedly said, “It’s true that Chellamuthu proposed to me. But I told it only to mother and to no one else. There is no truth in the director’s claim. I am trying to forget the issue”.

Celebrity couples attend Soundarya - Ashwin wedding

The hottest couple of Indian film industry graced Soundarya and Ashwin Ramkumar’s marriage at Rani Meyammai Hall in Chennai on Sept 3. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan, Sridevi and Boney Kapoor, Mani Ratnam and Suhasini, Surya and Jyothika and many other celebritry couples attended the function.

Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram, MK Alagiri and several other politicians blessed the newly-wed couple. But, former Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaa could not attend the function. K. Balachander, megastar Chiranjeevi, Kamal Haasan, Vikram, Surya, Vijay, Ajith Kumar, Prabhu, lyricist Vairamuthu and other dignitaries were also spotted at the function.

Earlier, daughter of superstar Rajinikanth and real estate tycoon Ramkumar’s son Ashwin tied the knot as per the Hindu rituals. The marriage was performed in Tamil Brahmin tradition.

Sada denies seeing Madhvan Marathi girl Sada, whose name was recently linked with R Madhavan, has denied the rumours of dating the actor. There were speculations that the actress was seeing her Naan Aval Adhu (NAA) co-star Maddy.

The 26-year-old actress says that she is not in touch with Madhavan since long time. Sada’s mother used to come with her during the shoots. Talking about her mother’s presence, Sada says that it is not possible, when someone from her family would be there on the shooting set.

However, Sada is currently busy with P. Vasu directed Tamil movie Puli Vesham. She has two Kannada movies like Mylari and Thunta Thunti. She has also got couple of projects in Bollywood.

Kareena Kapoor is not comfortable with intimate scenes.

Madhur Bhandarkar's “Heroine” has the actress getting steamy with five men, which has shaken the actress's moral fibre.

Sources say that the film has to go back to the storyboard after Kareena showed her displeasure with the script. The source says, "Kareena might have done an intimate sequence recently in “Kurbaan,” but that was only because it was with Saif.

Otherwise she is not keen on getting up close and personal with other co-stars."

Kareena plays the character of a headstrong heroine, which has similarities with Smita Patil's character in Shyam Benegal's “Bhumika.”

The source adds, "Benegal's film was a look at the life of the 1940s actress Hansa Wadkar.

Bhandarkar's film is based on several heroines, from Marilyn Monroe to Divya Bharti. It fol-

lows a heroine who flits from one relationship into another, just like Bhumika. Smita might have performed many intimate scenes with authenticity, but Kareena doesn't want to enter that space."

Kareena says, "We were supposed to start next year.

Madhur is still working on the script. We start shooting the film when the script is ready in the next three months.

Right now Madhur is busy with Dil To Bachcha Hai Jee." But she denied that “Heroine” has been sent back to the storyboard to edit out the lovemaking scenes.

M a d h u r Bhandarkar also refrained from making any comments.

Bollywood superstar, Akshay Kumar, is proud to sponsor the Akshay Kumar Second Invitational National Karate Championships 2010 for the second consecutive year. The free to enter tournament, aimed to promote Karate among India’s youth, will be held at Andheri Sports Complex, Mumbai from October 28 to 31.

The Tournament, organised by Nippon Budo Sogo International India and Nihon Gojuryu Karate-Do Kuyukai India, is the biggest karate contest in India. Following Akshay’s commitment to youth, the championships help promote karate and martial arts to the remotest corners of t h e country

Actress Juhi Chawla, who has given voiceover for Sita's character in 3D animation film 'Ramayana The Epic', said she hadn't quit the film industry and would soon make an appearance in director Onir's 'I Am'. 'There may be gaps in between, but I am not going anywhere. I have a film called 'I Am'. It has four short stories and in one of the short stories called 'Medha', Manisha and I are playing the lead. It's Onir's film,' Juhi said. This will be her third film with Onir after 'My Brother... Nikhil' (2005) and 'Bas Ek Pal'(2006).

The actress was speaking at the unveiling of the first look of 'Ramayana - The Epic.' Talking about her experience, Juhi said it was her first animation film and she didn't find it difficult to emote Sita's

character. 'I wouldn't say it was difficult. Since I didn't have any visual to help me, so I had to imagine the scene. Some scenes which I found really difficult were when Sita was in captivity of Ravan and had broken down while waiting for Ram,' said the former Miss India.

In Hollywood, most of big stars give voiceover in animation movies.

Juhi maintains that as not many animation films are being made in India, so actors lending voice to them is not in vogue yet. 'We haven't done it so far and also animation movies have come recently in our country. I will not be surprised to know that lot of people are willing to lend their voice. All the A-list stars abroad do it and it is considered 'the thing' to do,' said Juhi.

around 2,400 students participating in the tournament, this year’s contenders have already crossed 3,000.

Eight individual winners will be selected in the contest and trained to represent India at the International Karate Championship in Japan in 2011. Last year’s winners won one silver and three bronze medals at the championship that was held in Japan in July this year.

My mom wants me to get hitched now, says Sameera

The 24-year-old star seems to be keen on shedding her glamourous image with two back to back films. She last played a blind girl in Yash Raj’s ‘Lafangey Parindey’ with Neil Nitin and now will be seen in cotton sarees in ‘Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey.’ Talking about her co-star, Abhishek, Deepika said, “He is so much fun to work with.

I’m glad that I am getting a chance to work with different kinds of actors.” ’Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey’ is based on the book ‘Do And Die’ by Manini Chatterjee and centres around the C h i t t a g o n g Uprising of the 1930s. The film has been shot mostly in Goa and Mumbai and will hit the theaters in December.

I am making an appearance soon, says Juhi

and aim to create a platform on which young and budding talent from all over India come together in a world class fighting event.

Akshay Kumar is renowned for his passion for martial arts, which he has been practicing since the age of 14. Regarding this year’s tournament, the superstar says, “I’m very much looking forward to the event. I wish the participants all the best. Focus well and train hard.”

While last y e a r ’ s turnout s a w

Sameera Reddy’s mother is a worried woman now. In case of most mothers, they are worried because their grown up daughters returning home late at night after a round of parties. But Sameera’s mother is worried that her daughter could well be loosing out on love when she is at her prime in life. She insists that Sameera gets hitched to someone, hit the dating scene in a big way and generally have fun.

"Can you imagine that", questions Sameera with mock humor, "My mom keeps telling me that I should find a guy for myself. She is fed up of me that all I do to spend my idle time is to travel to different places in the world. She really wants me to get hitched now."

Sameera could well be one of the very few long standing single women around. She may not admit it but the fact remains that after spending two years without someone special in tow, Sameera herself won't quite mind a man entering her life pronto.

"I haven't dated for two years now", she sighs, "It is so difficult to find a guy in India; especially in Mumbai. More so

Konkona weds Ranvir Shorey

Bollywood actress Konkona Sen Sharma tied the knot with her longtime beau Ranvir Shorey at a private ceremony on Friday (Sept 3). The couple, who have been living together for the past two years, exchanged vows at their

Goregaon residence.

According to reports, Konkona wore a traditional Bengali saree with her grandmother's jewellery at the wedding. The couple have always been very low profile and same was the case with their wedding.

because I am an independent woman with a strong personality.

Here in Mumbai, everyone knows you for who are you so it is impossible to judge whether someone is being good to you just due to the on - screen personality that you have. Of course, it would be great to get hitched to someone special. Well, the wait continues."

Elaborating on her strong personality coming in way of men reaching out to her.

"That actually becomes a bit unnerving for men", she says in self admiration, "Kya karein, most of the Indian guys want their mother in their girls; I definitely can't be one."

Currently scorching the scene with item number 'Ishq' in 'Aakrosh' (directed by Priyadarshan), Sameera doesn't regret her period of being single though. "I have an extremely active life outside of Bollywood. I am not into filmy parties. In fact tomorrow if I date someone, he has to be someone far away from the industry. Till then people can continue to speculate around my link ups.

Hard luck for them though because they would be able to write something only if they see something", she laughs before signing off.

Genelia D'Souza is John's latest girl Genelia D’Souza will play opposite John Abraham in the Hindi remake of Tamil blockbuster “Kaakha Kaakha.” The film is being produced by Vipul Shah and will be directed by Nishikant.

First it was Asin who had been signed. But then she chose to give away her dates to the Salman Khan starrer “Ready” directed by Anees Bazmi.

Desperate for a heroine, Vipul Shah approached his “London Dreams” heroine Katrina Kaif. But she chose a Yashraj film with Imran instead.

Matters came to a point where the team was ready to shoot without a heroine

in the hope that a suitable match for John will show up next.

Luckily Genelia d'Souza has now stepped

in to the empty space.

Lately things have not been moving too smoothly the perky Jaane Tu…Ya Jaane Na actress. John and Genelia got to know each other well during the cellphone ad that they did together. It was only a matter of time before a movie materialized.

The shooting of the untitled Hindi version of ‘Kaakha Kaakha’ began last week.

Producer Vipul Shah confirmed the last-minute casting of Genelia. “Yes, she's the girl opposite John. We're in the process of signing papers even as we speak. ”

17

Dabangg

Second Akshay Kumar karate tournament to be held in October at Mumbai

Deepika’s dream comes true Bollywood actor Deepika Padukone, who plays a freedom fighter in Ashutosh Gowariker’s ‘Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey’, says playing the spirited character of ‘Kalpana’ was a dream come true.

Deepika stars alongside Abhishek Bachchan in Gowariker’s period thriller based on the Chittagong uprising during the freedom struggle. The actress, who started her Bollywood journey with Shah Rukh Khan starrer ‘Om Shanti Om’, will be seen in a new look in the film.

“It is something so new and unique for me.

I am very grateful to Ashutosh who thought I was capable to carry off such a powerful role.

It is a dream come true and a very important film of my career,” Deepika said.

Asian Voice - Saturday 11th September 2010

Dabangg, an action and drama flick is produced by the Khan family of Arbaz and Malaika in company of Dhilin Mehta. Under the banner of Shri Ashtavinayak Cine Visions, the film is directed by Abhinav Kashyap.

Set in Laalgunj, Uttar Pradesh, Dabangg is a story of Chulbul Pandey, a totally fearless but corrupt police officer with unorthodox working methods. But even the most fearless at times face a tough fight with their innermost demons. Chulbul has had a bitter childhood.

His father passed away when he was very young after which his mother Naini married Prajapati Pandey.

Together, they had a son Makhanchan.

Prajapati favours Makhanchan which does not go down well with Chulbul. He decides to take control of his destiny and detaches himself from his stepfather and half brother.

His sole attachment is his mother. However after his mother's demise and an unsuccessful attempt to mend wounds, Chulbul snaps all ties with his stepfather and half brother.

Rajo with her unique perspective of life enters his world and turns it upside down. Chulbul starts to see life more positively and also gets sensitized to the value of a family.

But his detractors, especially the dubious Cheddi Singh, have their own vested interests and emerge as spokes in the wheel, putting one brother against the other. Makhanchan ends up carrying out acts oblivious to the consequences. When he realizes he has been used, he turns to Chulbul.

The cast consists of Salman Khan, Sonu Sood, Arbaaz Khan, Sonakshi Sinha, Mahie Gill, Vinod Khanna, Dimple Kapadia, Om Puri, Anupam Kher, Tinu Anand, Mahesh Manjrekar, Amitosh Nagpal and Murli Sharma.

Abhinav Singh Kashyap and Dilip Shukla have written the story, while Jalees Sherwani, Faaiz Anwar and Lalit Pandit have written the dialogues.

Jalees Sherwani has penned the lyrics for which Sajid-Wajid has scored the music.

New Hindi movies releasing this week Dabangg

Top 5 Bollywood movies for the week No. 1 2 3 4 5

Film Last Week Total Weeks Lafangey Parindey 1 2 Peepli [Live] 2 3 Aashayein New 1 Hello Darling New 1 Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai 3 5

Ajay Devgn fined for smoking in public Bollywood actor Ajay Devgn has been fined Rs 100 for smoking in the courtyard of a multiplex in Panaji, police said. "The notice will be issued soon. We are acting on a complaint filed by the state health department," deputy superintendent of police Deu Benaulikar said.

A police official said the complaint was filed by the health department director Rajnanda Desai after the National Organisation for Tobacco Eradication (NOTE), an anti-tobacoo watchdog NGO, submitted photographs to her office showing the Mumbai-based actor smoking at the INOX multiplex premises.

The incident took place in May this year. "The complaint was filed with the crime branch by the health department. Later it was forwarded to us for action. We verified the pho-

tograph and later decided to issue the notice to the actor," the police official said.

This is the second time that the actor has been fined for smoking in public. Devgn was earlier fined in January this year for smoking in a public place in Chandigarh.

18

Asian Voice - Saturday 11th September 2010

Vedanta taps Gujarat for bauxite supply to its Orissa refinery Anil Agarwal-led Vedanta Resources has begun talks with the Gujarat government to ensure long-term supply of bauxite for its refinery in Orissa's Kalahandi district after its mining project in the Niyamgiri hills was refused permission by the Indian government on environmental grounds.

Mukesh Kumar, chief operating officer of Vedanta Aluminium Ltd, said the company was also prospecting the raw material in other states after the environment ministry rejected its mining plan near the refinery.

"We are trying to sign a pact soon with the Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation (GMDC) for supply of around 600,000 to 800,000 tonnes of bauxite every year for our refinery.

They have already agreed for 500,000 tonnes," Kumar said.

GMDC is a govern-

ment of Gujarat undertaking engaged in mining of minerals and developing mineral-based industrial products.

"In the recent past we had several rounds of discussions with GMDC officials and the result was encouraging. In the next 15-20 days, we are likely to finalise something with them," he said.

Environment and Forests Minister Jairam Ramesh earlier rejected the company's bauxite mining project in the Niyamgiri hills in Lanjigarh, saying it will affect the environment and disturb primitive tribes living in the area for ages.

The one million-tonne alumina refinery of the company set up in 2008 has been running on bauxite from other mineral-rich states, including Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, Kumar said.

Recession forces London builders to target foreign buyers London is becoming more attractive to cash rich Indians, as big builders in the UK capital are finding it touch to stay afloat and they are now increasing looking at wealthy investors in India as well as other emerging economies.

A weak British pound makes it even more attractive for prospective foreign buyers.

Property dealers in London have reported sales to several foreign investors, including Indians.

Housing industry sources say foreign buyers bought more than half of the London homes that sold for more than 2 million pounds each last year.

The new trend has also caused some concerns

about the prices in London remaining higher than real levels, making it tough for local people to buy homes in London.

London is particularly attractive to the global super-rich because of its accessibility, stability, safety and the global standing of its financial institutions.

The rush to buy houses in London among foreign investors is also driven by the fact that London has been consistently ranked as the best place to locate a business in Europe.

London is also seen as the world's best gateway to international markets, including the 450 million people in the European Union, the biggest single market in the world.

Maruti records highest ever monthly sales in August India’s largest car maker Maruti Suzuki India reported its highest ever monthly sales at 1,04,791 units in August, registering 23.56 per cent jump over the year-ago period.

Sales for the same month last year were at 84,808 units, Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) said in a statement.

"This is the highest ever monthly sales recorded by the company," it added.

It was the third time in this fiscal that the company's monthly sales figure has crossed 100,000 mark.

MSI had reported its highest ever monthly sales at 1,02,175 units in May, the first time when the company had crossed the

100,000 units in monthly sales.

The National-Capitalbased company also posted its best figure so far for the domestic market at 92,674 units in August, a 32.47 per cent increase from 69,961 units in August 2009.

MSI's exports ast month, however, declined by 18.39 per cent to 12,117 units from 14,847 units in the year-ago period, the company added.

BA looks to India for more business Willie Walsh flew to Mumbai with a brand new Boeing 777-300 With competition increasing from Gulf based airlines – Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad, British Airways is now looking to India for getting more business, as outside UK, India is its second biggest market after the USA. It is also one of the fastest growing markets globally. Incidentally, due to lack of promotional efforts, BA lost some of its market share in India this year. Now, to make BA’s presence felt, Willie Walsh

visited India twice in about four weeks, the latest visit being last week. It was to launch BA’s new acquisition, a Boeing 777300. At Heathrow airport, BA had roped in Dev Patel, a popular British Indian face and the star of Oscar winning film ‘Slumdog Millionaire’.

Walsh, Dev Patel and the plane, all were garlanded in Indian traditions on the inaugural flight of BA’s newest acquisition.

British Airways has

most of it’s flights to India connecting Mumbai and New Delhi.

For BA, though the US market remains much bigger, the growth has been negative, as compared to India, which has registered a very brisk growth.

For BA, even more competition is emerging from Indian carriers.

Overall, today there are 108 flights between India and the UK. BA operates 45, Air India has 21, Virgin Atlantic flies

S S Mundra elevated as Executive Director of Union Bank of India

After an outstanding innings at Bank of Baroda, Mr SS Mundra, Chief Executive of Bank of Baroda’s European Operations has been elevated as Executive Director of Union Bank of India. The Government of India notification appointing Mr Mundra as Executive Director of Union Bank of India was issued last week.

Mr Mundra, who took over the reins of BoB’s European Operations in January 2008, led the Bank to achieve many key milestones. The Bank’s business in UK more than doubled under his leadership, BoB setup a Centralised Processing Cell (CPC) and a

S S Mundra

Centralised Back Office (CBO) for streamlining back office operations and reducing turn around time, opened a new branch at Kenton with another in Ilford on the anvil and introduced many interesting retail banking products including the most recent online fixed rate bond termed as Baroda MAX.

A seasoned and accomplished banker, Mr Mundra has served Bank of Baroda since 1977 as a Directly Recruited Officer and in a banking career spanning over three decades, he has held various positions across the country and overseas. In the UK, Mr Mundra is also a Nominee Director of Govt. of India on the Board of India Infrastructure Finance Company (UK) Limited (IIFCL), London.

Mr KD Lamba who currently heads Bank of Baroda’s US Operations in New York will be taking over the mantle from Mr Mundra as Chief Executive of European Operations.

seven times a week.

Remaining 35 flights are shared by Jet Airways and Kingfisher. Six years ago, it was just 38 flights a week, shared equally between British and Indian carriers.

BA reported its traffic in August fell 3 per cent from the same month in 2009, due partly to promotional activity last year.

The group said overall summer volumes had been slightly lower than the peak levels seen last year.

Axis Bank coming to UK soon One of India’s leading new generation and private bank, owned by Unit Trust of India, Axis Bank will soon be opening a branch in London. They have already got a nod from the Reserve Bank of India for their UK foray.

Axis Bank is now waiting for the permission from Bank of England.

S K Chakrabarti, Executive director of Axis Bank gave this information at Vadodara in Gujarat last week. The bank already has presence in Singapore, Hong Kong and Dubai and plans to expand its international presence further. It will also open its branch in Abu Dhabi, he said.

Twinings turns bitter for the British employees The Tea company is shifting base to Poland, China Twinings, the tea company that claims to have been one of the pioneers in introducing tea to Britons more than 300 hundred years back has decided to close their factory at North Shields in North Tyneside.

263 employees will be losing their jobs, while some of them will also be

training the foreign staff who will take over their jobs in Poland. Twinings also opened the first Tea Room in England.

Twinings bosses have said all production would be transferred by September 2011 as a part of efficiency drive. As consumption of tea in continental Europe is increas-

ing in a big way, the company has plans to build a new factory in Poland and a new high-speed packaging equipment in Andover, Hants.

Staff at the North Shields plant said they had been told Polish workers would come to Tyneside to “familiarize themselves with the tea

making process.” Workers have criticised the move as "Rubbing salt in the wound" after being told they were losing their jobs.

After the plant closure was announced last year 22 MPs signed a Commons motion condemning the move. But the campaign was not successful.

BoE likely to put a cap on risky mortgages Radical plans are being charted by Bank of England to prevent a repeat of the credit crisis with a prime emphasis being on prescribing a cap on ‘Mortgage lending’, a senior official of the bank has said.

Homebuyers may be asked to put down sizeable deposits with the bank or the building society before they are granted mortgages, deputy Governor of Bank of England, Charlie Bean disclosed last week.

He also said that with the aim of restricting access to credit, ‘direct constraints’ may be needed. To achieve this, Bank of England is likely to make a direct intervention.

Mortgage lending would be “capped” to stop borrowers taking out risky loans under radical Bank of England plans to prevent a repeat of the credit crisis, a senior official has disclosed.

Under the plans, prospective buyers would have to put down between 10 per cent and 25 per cent of a property’s purchase price as a deposit before being able to obtain a loan.

It is the first time that a senior official has indicated that the Bank may intervene directly with new rules on so-called “loan to value ratios” to stop risky lending. In the years before the credit crunch, some borrowers

were lent 125 per cent of their property’s value and became stuck in negative equity when prices crashed. The move would also mark the return of socalled “credit controls” — scrapped in the early 1980s — which made it difficult for many borrowers to get a mortgage.

The Bank of England is expected to be given responsibility for regulating the overall banking market in the autumn after new laws are introduced by George Osborne, the Chancellor.

Mr Bean last week published a policy paper at an international conference detailing how the Bank would approach its

new role. There had been speculation earlier in the summer that Mr Osborne favoured a “mortgage cap” although he has never publicly discussed the scheme.

The Financial Services Authority, the current banking regulator, said last month that a policy of limiting mortgages was “too blunt” and could “unfairly deny” loans to creditworthy Britons.

But, in a speech to other central bankers in America, Mr Bean raised the prospect for the first time of the Bank restricting the size of mortgages as part of a package of measures to stop the economy overheating.

FINANCIAL VOICE

Asian Voice - Saturday 11th September 2010

19

Property Focus Suresh Vagjiani Managing Director of Sow & Reap, a Property Investment & Financing company.

Added Value and Money for Nothing This week we will be revisiting a property I spoke about a couple of weeks ago.

It was a little one bedroom purchased in Stonebridge Park. The unique aspect was that the property was purchased with no money down.

Not being content with the purchase, our client wanted to squeeze even more out of the deal. The property required refurbishment, so we advised our client to use a good firm we have been working with named Simba. Simba was started a couple of years ago by a Jagdish Hirani from Mombasa, hence the African connection in the name. They are small enough to care and give attention to individual projects.

The firm started off as a maintenance company whom we used due to their reliability and execution. They have gone on now to developing properties for clients, having recently completed several flats in Kings Cross.

Their experience in the property sector and working closely with Agents has allowed them to gain an intimate knowledge of the property market.

This translates into them being able to identify ways in which the property can be developed to add value to the property.

case the mortgage payments will be £8,415 based on a rate of 5.5% and the income will be £17,000. In this case the rent is double the mortgage amount. This is well in excess of the multiple mortgage companies require to ensure there is adequate cover.

In the good old days of pre credit crunch you could release money based on the valuation of the property at per annum.

Our client has a strange mentality, he believes when he purchases a property he should not have to part with any money. And furthermore he believes the property should actually pay him money.

He really believes he can earn money for not doing very much.

Consequently after sitting down with us and discussing things, we agreed a strategy. For less than £10,000 the property can be converted. This will add about £60,000 to the property value.

The property will be remortgaged after a six month period to release the new gain in equity. This will be 85% of the up lift which will come to £51,000.

This

The flat in its current state

In this example the investor invites them around to see what can be done.

The builder identified the property could be converted reasonably cheaply to achieve a well proportioned two bedroom property. This will give an enhanced value of £180,000 minimum, and a corresponding rental of £17,000

means the gain in the property value can be realised after a six month period rather than when the flat is sold.

Though ordinarily it would be dangerous to take so much money out of the property, in this instance it will be justified as the rental amount will far outweigh the mortgage payments. In this

any time. Even at the moment you purchase the property. If for example you were purchasing a property for £120,000 and the actual valuation was £150,000.

You could get a loan based on 90% of the valuation which comes to £135,000 which means you will get a cash back of £15,000. Alas how things have changed!

If you would like to contact the builders used for this project to see how your properties can be enhanced in value you can call them on 07853 362 852.

A Foot in Both Continents The recent budget has brought in many forms of taxation most notably the sharp rise in capital gains tax.

What most NRIs do not appreciate is the privileged position they are in.

Only those with NRI and PIO status can invest in property and land in India.

This means you are fortunate to have a foot in both continents.

The majority however let there funds rot in UK bank accounts, not making use of their privileged membership NRI pass. Whilst your rights are being stripped away by our new gods in Europe and taxation and inflation is eating away at your money. It is a good time to use these factor as a push to investigate the new opportunities which have opened up in Gujarat.

We appreciate the reason for not investing is though being Indians investing in India is still outside many of your comfort zones.

For those of you who are new to investing in India we have an ideal opportunity with low entry level of £5,000 so you can get a taste of the process and realize returns.

This is not the off course the only reason, the project is destined to be fastest growth stories in Gujarat.

This zone has been described by Narendra Modi as ‘A new Gujarat within Gujarat’.

The zone will be what’s known as a SEZ this concept comes from China.

SEZ are special economic zones areas designated for High economic growth.

A SEZ zone was introduced in China in the 1980’s as a mini Dubai. This means any companies in this zone will pay little or no tax. The effect is companies will stream into this zone.

Dolera is not a small scale project it has the size of 2360 Sq Km. This is 360 Sq Km more then the famous and well

documented growth story of the Senzhen SEZ in china.

The parallels between the two are strong and mean the future will be a bright one for all to see. Unfortunately i have noticed most of the money will not be made by the local gujartais. It is made by both foreign and national firm outside of gujatart. The reason for this is gujaratis have no idea what effect these projects will have on land prices in the coming future. They cannot vislualise the scale of things to come in Gujarat. Overseas firms have seen the effect of development on property prices. When the majority realize what’s happening on their doorstep it will be to late. Most of the growth is made in the beginning. The doors are open for all to participate. Those who know will go.

It is always better to jump whilst the wave is rising and it is just beginning.

It has the CM attention on it and benifits from the strong and decisive leadership it brings.

Entry into this project is highly recommended for the following reasons l Entry costs are low starting from £5000 l You are entering right at the beginning stages l Land is the driving factor of real estate not property l Investing in land means you do not have to worry about maintenance, it is a pure investment purchase l Resell can be done from our office as prices rise l It has been fully vetted by Sow & Reap Call us now to benefit from the tremendous growth about to take place in this exciting region

n Mortgages n Commercial Finance n Property Sourcing n Gujarat Properties - Sale & Resale T: 0207 706 0187 F: 0203 014 8484

E: info@sowandreap.co.uk W: www.sowandreap.co.uk

31 Southwick Street, Paddington, W2 1JQ Registered in England No. 05083823

20

fInAncIAl voice

Asian Voice - Saturday 11th September 2010

ArcelorMittal, Indiabulls talk JV for steel plant

ArcelorMittal, the world's largest steelmaker, is in discussions with Indiabulls Group to form a joint venture company for scouting and mining iron ore in Rajasthan and setting up a steel plant.

"The discussions are on (between ArcelorMittal and Indiabulls to form a JV company).

ArcelorMittal is pitching for a majority stake in the JV company," a person inthe-know of the development said.

"There are indications of iron ore in Rajasthan. It is a mineral-rich state. The JV company would seek to locate and develop it.

Then, a steel plant would be developed in the state," the source added.

According to the source, the JV would be between an ArcelorMittal subsidiary or an investment arm of the Mittal family and an Indiabulls Group firm.

ArcelorMittal Chief Financial Officer Aditya Mittal is said to be the brains behind the proposed venture, which aims at tapping the market for steel in North India, where there is no integrated steel plant.

"Promoters of ArcelorMittal and Indiabulls share a good relationship and the new venture would further their partnership," the source added.

Through LNM India Internet Ventures, it is said that L N Mittal already holds an 8.79 per cent stake in Indiabulls Power, which is developing various power projects across the country.

State-owned SAIL has already discovered iron ore deposits in the desert state.

The proposed invest-

ment in the JV could not be immediately ascertained. An ArcelorMittal spokesperson refused to disclose the cost of the proposed venture.

ArcelorMittal had in July said it expected to start work on one of its proposed Rs 130 billion India projects in early 2011.

ArcelorMittal announced plans to set up projects in Jharkhand in 2005 and in Orissa a year later. In June this year, it signed an MoU with the Karnataka government for a Rs 30 bn steel project.

"We believe that in 2011, in one of the projects, we will break the ground, we don't know which one... It is our hope that it should be in the first quarter or the second quarter," ArcelorMittal Chairman and CEO L N Mittal had said.

Spliting of UK banks could force exodus, warns HSBC

Leadership Matters

The Moral High Ground On April 13, 1919 (which happened to be 'Baisakhi') fifty British Indian Army soldiers, under the command of Brigadier-General Reginald Dyer, opened fire on an unarmed gathering of innocent men, women and children without any warning. As the news of the ‘Amritsar Massacre’ spread throughout the country the British authorities braced themselves for the inevitable backlash.

It never materialised, Gandhiji called on the people to show restraint and they heeded his appeal. By one act, he ensured that ‘free India’ had maintained the ‘moral high ground’, while those who argued that British rule was essential for peace and justice in India, had lost theirs.

With the Allahabad high court due to deliver judgment on the ‘Ram Janma-bhoomi land title’ case, the Indian government has sought to hold the moral high ground by stating that whatever the outcome, it will ensure that peace and justice will be upheld. Then the

HSBC Holdings, Europe's biggest bank, warned that Britain's big banks could move overseas if a government review decides that lenders should be broken up.

Stuart Gulliver, head of investment banking, said HSBC was "genuinely concerned" that a UK government appointed commission would recommend big banks must split retail banking from riskier investment banking.

Gulliver said it was "clearly possible" the Commission will recommend a break up, which could have implications for itself, Barclays and Standard Chartered.

"That has significant implications for where we may choose to headquar-

ter our institution and that would probably also be the case for the other two institutions," Gulliver said at a conference held on Thursday last.

"Our absolute wish is to stay here in the UK, but we won't know until we see how the Commission responds."

HSBC Chief Executive Michael Geoghegan moved to Hong Kong earlier this year to be in the bank's key region.

The CEO of Asiafocused rival Standard

Chartered warned last month that the rationale for keeping its headquarters in London was weakening as UK banks face being at a disadvantage to rivals on taxes, pay and regulation.

Gulliver also said he expects HSBC's annual profit in the Middle East, which plunged to $455 million last year from $1.7 billion in 2008 due to troubles in Dubai, should recover to between $1 billion - $1.2 billion by 2012 at the latest.

Tighter credit conditions for small businesses have led to falling rate of lending in June, Bank of England has said. In June, new loans were lower than repayments received by lenders. Small businesses are struggling to get affordable credit, as loans for them went down by 2 per cent this year. Figures suggest banks have withdrawn £3.5 bn of credit, though much of this reduction is a result of a decline in demand. Large businesses are repaying bank debt and refinancing where they have to through the bond market.

The new direct taxes code which India is expected to implement in 2012 could bring a large number of global Indians under the tax net as it does away with a provision that allowed individuals to escape tax in any country citing double tax avoidance.

The new legislation, introduced in Indian parliament recently, says an individual shall be resident in India in any financial year if he is in the country for more than 59 days in that year and has been in India for more 365 days in the four preceding financial years. A number of Indian industrialists including Vedanta’s Anil Agarwal and Essar’s Ravi Ruia have acquired non-

resident status over the years.

“The DTC has only attempted to clean up the provision in line with the laws globally,” said an official with the central board of direct taxes (CBDT), the apex direct tax arm of the government.

A phrase “being outside India” in the existing income tax law exempted individuals who stay outside the country for six months from paying taxes.

This was prone to misuse and allowed individuals to escape tax in any country, the official said, requesting anonymity.

The new code is expected to come into effect from April 1, 2012.

More than 25 million Indians stay overseas and

one million visit the country every year. A large number non-resident Indians, particularly those working in the Gulf countries usually visit India for longer durations.

“This could result in a situation wherein the overseas income of expats may be subject to tax under certain situations,” said Vikas Vasal, executive director at consulting firm KPMG. Amitabh Singh, partner at Ernst & Young, said this could become a dampener for the overseas Indian population who routinely visit India to meet their relatives and friends.

“They will now have to restrict their stay to less than 60 or be in danger of

becoming tax residents,” he said.

Expats who have spent 365 days in the last four years, which is permissible under the current income tax law, are at the risk of becoming a resident and facing tax on their global income.

They will be given relief from payment of tax for two years on their global income in the transition period when they become resident from nonresident, a CBDT official said.

The income tax department can define the term “visit” more tightly to ensure that there is no misuse instead of removing the provision altogether, Mr Singh of Ernst & Young said.

Lending squeeze continues for UK small businesses

Expats face tax threat under DTC

Home Minister, P Chidambaram created a furore by making the incredible claim that ‘saffron terrorism’ is one of the greatest threats to national security. It seemed that the government was straying from the moral high ground it professed to value so dearly.

So what is the ‘moral high ground’?

The Wikipedia is, ‘The moral high ground in ethical or political parlance, refers to the status of being respected for remaining moral and adhering to and upholding a universally recognised standard of justice or goodness.’

Why, then is this ‘moral high ground’ so important? With the exception of a few, extraordinary leaders such as Lincoln, Gandhiji and Mandela, most leaders who proclaim to stand and act for the people seem to only do so when it suits them or their followers. Thus making it seem like just another part of the propaganda sold to us by those who rule in order to justify their actions?

Perhaps, it is important because rather than

By Amit Patel

being propaganda, it is a reflection of our beliefs.

We want to believe that our leaders should be moral and sincere. We want to believe that we live in a society built upon the values of righteousness and honesty. We want to believe that there is a moral high ground.

But to make it a reality, we need to live by the standard we set for others - that we too will always seek the moral high ground’ and not just when it is convenient for us.

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 him at amitpatelmail@gmail.com

SBI opens branch exclusively for millionaires India’s largest bank, State Bank of India (SBI), has been in a hurry in the last few years to shed its sleepy, PSU image. After its aggressive retail play, it’s taking the fight straight to private and foreign banks by targeting their preferred clientele the very rich. Particularly, those who count their bank balance in the multiples of eight digits.

To match its rivals’ suite of services like private bankers, portfolio management and other customized offerings to the mega wealthy, SBI launched a ‘crorepati only’ branch in Hyderabad last week.

Located in the city’s up market Banjara Hills area, the only criterion required to open an account in the branch is simple: a minimum opening balance of Rs 10 million. That too only if

you have an invitation from the bank.

Christened the ‘Kohinoor Banjara Premium Banking Centre’ (after the famed Kohinoor diamond that was discovered here), the swanky branch, spread over 4,000 sq ft, will see SBI roll out the red carpet for Hyderabad’s nawabs, nouveau and old. It will offer them specialized banking facilities like personalized relationship managers, 24/7 lockers, extended banking hours, doorstep pick-up and drop facilities, in addition to pampering with five-star amenities at the branch. So the city’s swish set, most of which is concentrated around the Banjara Hills and Jubilee Hills area, can bank king size while they chill out in the plush comforts of the branch’s ‘Nizam lounge’.

Invest for a Life in the US The United States of America, often referred to as the land of opportunity, has been taking in immigrants at the rate of more than one million every year for over a century.

Unfortunately, because it is so popular, it has become progressively harder to secure a visa for those who wish to live and work there on a permanent basis.

Most visas are either difficult to obtain or unsuitable, because they need to be reapplied for, which carries risks. Noone wants to emigrate

only to lose their visa after a year or so.

The most popular choice, for those in a position to invest $500,000, is the EB-5 investment visa.

In 2003 the US Government reintroduced the Regional Center program. Investments into an approved Regional Center qualify an investor, spouse and all children under 21 to Green Cards (Permanent Residency).

Citizenship can be obtained after 5 years.

For information, visit eb5-visa.net.

FINANCIAL VOICE

Asian Voice - Saturday 11th September 2010

21

Foreign Exchange Rajesh Agrawal is the Chairman & CEO of RationalFX, Currency Specialists.

For any further information call 020 7220 8181 or e-mail info@rationalfx.com

From Stock Brokers to Pawnbrokers The recession that we are currently experiencing has affected more working class families than previously predicted, that’s if recent reports released are to be believed. One of the only industries that are having a boom at this time is the pawn

broking industry. With banks reluctant to issue personal loans as they are attempt to improve their balance sheet to avoid a repeat of the near collapse of some of the high street banks which we had recently.

They have addressed how they do their business in an attempt to stabalise the banking indus-

try.

With interest rates remaining unchanged for the last 18 months at record low rate of 0.5% you would have thought that it would have assisted the everyday family in getting their house back in order. This however doesn’t seem the case as inflation is still relatively high especially on everyday items such as food and petrol for example.

Employers are having to either reduce staff or cap earnings to keep afloat, which in turn is making the regular man in the street worse off than they were 2-3 years ago.

As banks are not passing on the low rates to desperate families, which there appear to be more of than this time 3 years ago before the banking recession, are looking elsewhere for much needed finance. Many are trying the rocky path of lending from pawnbrokers at extortionate interest rates which is causing much distress to many as they struggle to keep up the pay-

ments. There has to be a better balance of lending from the banks than the current situation as it is going to drive many individuals and companies into bankruptcy.

Previous governments, when interest rates are low and return on savings are minimal, they encouraged investors to maybe try the stock markets to hopefully get a better return. The new coalition government is trying to fix the previous governments

mess and cuts have to be made but are they going to cut t0o severely so that the man on the street has to look for pawnbrokers rather stock brokers?

Sterling has come under pressure this week with the impending cuts expected in next month’s budget, this may stall the growth of the UK economy. The coalition will have to be very careful to make sure that they look after the man in the street and not overcut.

Weekly Currencies As of Tuesday 7th September 2010 @ 1pm GBP - INR = 71.84 USD - INR = 46.81 EUR - INR = 59.77 GBP - USD = 1.5326 GBP - EUR = 1.2049 EUR - USD = 46.88 GBP - AED = 5.6426 GBP - CAD = 1.5967 GBP - NZD = 2.1264 GBP - AUD = 1.6829 GBP - ZAR = 11.15 GBP - HUF = 344.18

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

INDIA

Asian Voice - Saturday 11th September 2010

Air India has to consider of serving people too: Shaktisinh Gohil Campaign for resumption of London – Ahmedabad direct flight gets Gujarat Media Club’s support

Bhupatbhai Parekh, a senior Gujarati journalist and consulting editor of Asian Voice – Gujarat Samachar in Gujarat is at the extreme left. Uday Mahurkar, senior journalist and representative of India Today in Gujarat, Dhimant Purohit, bureau chief of ‘Aaj Tak’ news channel in Ahmedabad, C B Patel, Shaktisinh Gohil, Ajay Umat, Siddharth Patel and Dr. Kirit Solanki. (2nd Picture) The leading citizens of Ahmedabad who attended the symposium on Saturday, 4 September at Hotel Cambay Grand.

PSUs (Public Sector Undertakings) or government owned enterprises are basically not meant for profit making only, they ought to serve the people.

In case of Air India too, the national airline should not just look at profit, Shaktisinh Gohil, leader of opposition in Gujarat state assembly observed at the symposium “NRI’s Plight & London Flight” The symposium held at Hotel Cambay Grand in Ahmedabad on Saturday, 4 September, was organized by Gujarat Media Club and sponsored by Asian Voice – Gujarat Samachar, London. Apart from Mr Gohil, BJP MP from Ahmedabad (West) Dr. Kirit Solanki, Gujarat Congress President Siddharth Patel, President of the Gujarat Media Club and State Editor of Gujarati daily ‘Divya Bhasker’ Ajay Umat, office bearers of the Media club, Bhupatbhai Parekh, veteran journalist and Convener of Direct Flight campaign in Gujarat and other leading citizens as well as media representatives of print and TV media attended the symposium in large numbers.

Initiating the debate at the symposium, Ajay Umat said that Civil Aviation Minister of India, Praful Patel had made an announcement for the resumption of Air India’s direct flight between Ahmedabad and London on 4th July, 2010 on the occasion of inauguration of the new T2 Terminal at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. He had assured then that the direct flight will be included in the winter schedule of Air India, which comes into effect in October. The winter schedule of the air-

line was recently announced but the Ahmedabad – London direct flight did not find a mention in it, hence this symposium has been specially organised to highlight the plights of the NRIs. Ajay Umat went on to say that the Air India has even decided to discontinue the Ahmedabad – Frankfurt – New Jersey flight. Air India officials when contacted, have said that they are not getting enough passengers from Ahmedabad. But the statistics gathered from authentic sources do not support their claims. In fact, figures of international passenger traffic show that at least on average 350 passengers fly daily to different international destinations from Ahmedabad. The other side of the story is that Mumbai and New Delhi airports are already at their saturation point. But influential and powerful people are trying to build up strong cases for second airports at both the places – New Delhi and Mumbai at the cost of Ahmedabad.

This has deepened the feelings of neglect among Gujaratis.

Oversees Gujaratis too share these feelings, Umat added. He said he spoke to the Managing Director of Air India, Mr. Arvind Jadhav today (on 4th September) on the direct flight issue and Mr. Jadhav has said that Ahmedabad – London direct flight is under consideration, and a decision in this respect is likely in a couple of days.

Media Club President also said he has been told by sources that Air India fleet will be under some extra pressure in view of the Commonwealth

Games. Further, Air India is also undertaking the process of shifting its hub from Frankfurt to New Delhi. Whatever are the circumstances, the symposium has been organised to have a frank discussion on the subject and impress upon the concern authorities to accept the just demand for the direct flight.

C B Patel, Publisher and Editor of Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar as well as the main architect of the ‘Direct Flight’ campaign in UK, in his address also expressed the feeling that the issue of direct flight is not just limited to British Gujaratis or Indians but concerns people of Gujarat too.

He welcomed all the honourable guests, participants and hosts. C B Patel said, “I am not just a Gujarati but an Indian nationalist settled in Britain.” He welcomed the close co-operation between Asian Voice – Gujarat Samachar and the Gujarat Media Club (GMC) and said there is a very strong relationship already existing between the Indians and people of Indian origin settled abroad. We need to think of ways to make this ties stronger.

On the demand of direct flight, he gave a detailed account of the Gujarati community settled in Britain.

Approximately 800,000 Gujaratis are settled in Britain. The community comprises of all – Hindus, Jains, Muslims and others.

Further, there is a floating population of around 200,000 Gujaratis who come as students, employees and professionals as well as tourists. In recent years about 40,000 people

from Gujarat came to Britain on HSMP visa and almost same number of students made way to Britain for study. A sizeable number of Indian tourists in Britain are Gujaratis. Giving an example, he said Mr. Piyushbhai Desai, one of the founders and proprietors of the famous Wagh Bakri Tea brand from Ahmedabad, was recently in London.

He was amazed to find out that at his Kingsbury Hotel in Kingsbury, London all room occupants were Gujaratis.

Mr C B Patel further emphasised the achievements of British Indians and particularly Gujaratis.

He described Gujaraits as ‘a very vibrant’ community. They are doing a lot of very concrete work in the fields of education, profession, trade and industry.

There is a very strong and special bonding between Indians and their brethren settled abroad.

In today’s world of high speed mobility, air travel has become a necessity for a lot of people.

One estimate suggests that on an average, 300 people from abroad come to Gujarat daily. ‘Mumbai Samachar’, a Gujarati daily from Mumbai has published these figures in its editorial on 8 July, 2010. Hence, if someone says that a direct flight cannot be operated due to lack of adequate traffic, it is nothing but a false excuse.

He recalled the earlier campaign for a direct flight, when Atal Bihari Vajpayee led NDA government was at the helm in New Delhi. C B said the campaign at that time had got the support of Narendra Modi, Gujarat Chief Minister.

Gujarat Media Club – a body of prominent journalists Gujarat Media Club is an organization with members primarily from various media, but has members from also other walks of life to the advisory committee of the body. With pioneering efforts from a few prominent journalists in Ahmedabad, the club was formed on 22 September, 2006. Today, it has more than 200 members from various media – Journalists working with Gujarati, Hindi and English newspapers and magazines, TV channels and Radio men as well as press photographers and cameramen.

Well known economist and former central minister Y K Alagh is the head of the Media club advisory com-

mittee while prof. Bakul Dholakia, advisor to the Adani Group and a former director of IIM, Ahmedabad, a well known communications expert at global level Dr. Binod C. Agrawal, former Resident Editor of Indian Express Ahmedabad M K Mistry, Chairman of Zydus Cadila, a prominent pharma company Pankaj Patel and Chairman of the Nisa group, Sanjay Gupta are the members of the advisory committee. The activities of the club include organising talks with various leaders of national and international repute as well as seminars on current affairs and important issues.

Subsequently, Air India started with two flights a week. The frequency of the direct flight was increased to three and again to five fights per week. To drive home the point, C B Patel asked if Air India had made this decision without giving any thoughts. If there was not enough traffic, the airline would not have done this.

Expressing his anguish, he said after Praful Patel assumed the charge of the Civil Aviation Ministry in the UPA government, the Air India flight was discontinued without any dialogue with stake holders. Not only this, no official announcement was made to the public in advance.

Mr C B Patel also said that before they launched the campaign for restoration of the direct flight here in Gujarat, they had written many letters, made a number of representations to Praful Patel, but of no avail. Dejected and distressed over the sheer neglect of our demand, we mobilised the Indian community in Britain and got their signatures in thousands on a petition. We also enlisted the support of leaders like Gujarat assembly speaker Ashok Bhatt, tourism and health Minister Jay Narayan Vyas, Ahmedabad MP and chairman of Ahmedabad Airport consultation committee Harin Pathak, Pradipsinh Jadeja, Union Minister Dinsha Patel, Congress leaders Shaktisinh Gohil and Siddharth Patel, Gujarat NCP chief Jayant Bosky, NCP National Secretary Bholabhai Patel and scores of MLAs and MPs. Even Lord Bhikhu Parekh and other leaders from UK also wrote letters to the Indian Civil aviation minister. All these efforts unfortunately did not bear any fruit. Worse, there was not even a proper acknowledgement, he rued.

Finally, on 4th July, on the occasion of the inauguration of the new Terminal II of Ahmedabad International Airport, Praful Patel made an announcement that Air India’s direct flight

between Ahmedabad – London will be restored by October, 2010. Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, Central Ministers M/s Bharatsinh Solanki, Dinsha Patel, Shaktisinh Gohil were among the Gujarati leaders present on the occasion. All leading newspapers in Gujarati and English also carried this news. The minister repeated the announcement during his Saurashtra tour subsequently. Patel had even informed personally the decision to resume the flight to leaders like Siddharth Patel and Dinsha Patel But as the October schedule of Air India was made public and the promised direct flight was not included, we again became active on the issue.

Mr C B Patel explained that the issue of the direct flight is not just a matter of business or economy; it is more of an emotional issue. Even in May – June, considered to be the offpeak months for NRGs’ travel, almost 300 people from abroad arrive in Gujarat daily. If one tries to have a detailed picture of their composition, there are about 8 to 10 pregnant women, kids accompanied by only their mother or their grand parents, about 10 to 20 passengers needing wheel chairs (physically challenged passengers). Elderly people are also among the travelers in almost every flight. These passengers have to spend 2 to 3 hours at Mumbai or Delhi to catch the connecting flights and also have to undergo physical and mental stress as they have to move with their handbags. This is really a painful situation.

He also questioned the wisdom of Air India policies. “We are creating a situation wherein, Gulf based airlines such as Emirates, Gulf Air or Qatar Airways get the traffic on a platter, as Indian passengers prefer to travel with them instead of Air India, Jet Airways and Kingfisher airlines. One of the reasons of Indians giving preference to the Gulf based carriers is the added attraction of shopping at

INDIA

Asian Voice - Saturday 11th September 2010

23

Ajay Umat

C B Patel

Dr. Kirit Solanki

Shaktisinh Gohil

Siddharth Patel

Dhimant Purohit

the duty free shops at the airports in Dubai, Muscat, Doha, or Abu Dhabi.” why can’t Air India price their tickets at competitive rates. While other airlines offer tickets at cheaper rates, whereas Air India was charging £50 extra for each ticket between London and Ahmedabad.

My question is as to why we do not look sympathetically to our own women, children and elderly people.

On the Indian Diasporas, he said while everybody harps on the contribution of the Diaspora, we do very little or nothing to facilitate them and make them comfortable. People of our generation do have an emotional, strong link as most of us were born here.

If India and Gujarat fails to meet the expectations of the younger generation of Indians settled abroad, the link might get severed.

I am concerned about preserving and, protecting the Gujarati culture in the

community abroad. We need to make the bond stronger. Everybody needs to spare a thought about that, CB felt.

Emphasising his point, he said this is his fourth visit to India this year.

Recalling his earlier visit to South India, he said as many as 28 daily flights connecting to the MiddleEast and other places were being operated by different airlines. One can seek an exception to Hyderabad and Bangalore as they are IT industry hubs, but Gujarat also has a lot of important things happening. The state is leading in development, inflow of investment and so on. A large number of NRIs too visit the state frequently.

Mumbai is a huge mega polis, but does it mean that Mumbai should be promoted at the cost of Gujarat? This issue not just concerns the NRGs alone. A large number of Gujaratis are also going abroad regularly.

On the concluding

note, he appealed the Gujarati and Indian media to help the cause. He said one of the reasons why India has a vibrant democracy is an active, even proactive media.

He hoped that the Gujarat Media Club will take a lead of the campaign. He added that we British Gujaratis do not indulge in stone-pelting, but would like to say that whenever we take up a cause or launch an agitation against any injustice – even if that is fighting with the British government, we have invariably met with success.

Sounding a warning for Air India, he said the airline could not afford to neglect us for long. I have even presented the facts and figures to Praful Patel and asked him to prove us wrong, if you believe we are not right. Ours is not a very big demand. We request at least a weekly flight to help the women, kids and elderly travelers.

Dr. Kirit Solanki, the

MP from Ahmedabad (West), in his address supported the demand of restoration of direct flight.

He said we all have come together here to highlight the injustice being meted out to Gujarat. Quoting a well-known Gujarati phrase, he said it is really

is forgetting after making an announcement, he will have to think again, it is an import issue for Gujarat.

The Ahmedabad MP also said if Mumbai and New Delhi airport are already overloaded, some of the traffic from there

to serve the people. Profit should never be their sole consideration. I do believe that Air India should provide two to three flights a week, at least on an experimental basis. But at the same time, Gujaratis and Indians are also playing a key role in development of

Media coverage of the symposium

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Uday Mahurkar, Siddharth Patel, Kamlesh Amin (CEO of AB Publications India Pvt. Ltd.) are seen among the audience. Vishnubhai Pandya, a senior columnist and historian and Savjibhai Vekaria, joint general secretary of the Vishwa Gujarati Parishad are also seen.

surprising that a Gujarati minister in the government, who is in charge of the ministry, is unable to accede to such a small and justifiable demand. The direct flight demand is a very genuine one and there is no polit i c s involved in it. I would dare to claim that among the people traveling abroad from India; Gujaratis would outnumber most of others.

He also lamented that the recently inaugurated the International Terminal at Ahmedabad airport has not become operational yet. Not just London, Ahmedabad airport should have direct flights to many more countries. If Praful Patel

should be diverted to Ahmedabad. He even went on to say that important religious places like Ambaji and Somnath as well as other important cities of Gujarat should also have inter connectivity with Ahmedabad.

Shaktisinh Gohil, leader of opposition in Gujarat Assembly, in his address said that he and the Congress party leaders did respond positively to the campaign, even made representations to Praful Patel. The Civil Aviation Minister also did respond favourably. I can say with confidence that Gujaratis are known to fight against injustice and for the casues dear to them. We, Gujaratis are always concerned about our issues and history is a witness to that. We are always in quest of development. I fully support the demand for a direct flight connecting Ahmedabad and London. He said he has always been of the firm view that PSUs are meant

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Britain; hence they should also make a strong case for a direct flight before the UK government and British Airways.

Gujarat Congress President Siddharth Patel also addressed the gathering. He said today as Air India is facing a financial crunch. Government of India has sanctioned a huge bail-out package for the national carrier. The aviation industry as a whole in India is undergoing transformation. He urged the British Gujaratis to be a little patient during the transition and testing period.

At the start of the symposium, Ms. Dipti Joshi and her group rendered a musical programme with songs in Gujarati.

Dhimant Purohit, the joint secretary of GMC compeered and conducted the symposium in a very interesting, informative style.

(Photo Courtsey: Harshad Jatakiya, Jayendra Jatakiya, Jatakiya Studio)

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INDIA

24

Asian Voice - Saturday 11th September 2010

Manmohan sees Kashmir, Ayodhya as top challenges Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh had a chat with top Indian Editors on Monday in New Delhi, when he gave his mind on a variety of issues.

He emphatically said he is not going to retire mid way in the term. He also gave a hint that his cabinet will be given a fresh look before the winter session of the Parliament.

While the economy was back on track, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said growth did not take place in a political vacuum. In this context, he identified three issues of particular concern. “First and foremost, I am told in a few days' time the judgment of the Babri Masjid title suit is expected. Now the way the country handles this — the aftermath — will have a profound impact on the evolution of our country. Then the

same way — I think the way we handle the Kashmir problem, the way we handle the Naxalite problem.” If the country didn't manage “the divisiveness, the communalist elements … caste tension … I think there could be problems for India.” In the interaction Dr. Singh said he was proposing to call the Cabinet Committee on Security later this week “to discuss threadbare” the Kashmir problem.

“No instant solution” “I cannot promise you that I have an instant solution, I cannot produce rabbits out of my hat. It will be a problem of experimentation and the country must learn to be patient.”

Not being patient could sometimes “lead to pathways which may later on prove to be counterproductive,” he warned.

The problem of

Naxalism required a twopronged strategy where underdevelopment and poverty were tackled even as law and order was restored. Here, he again emphasised the wider economic implications. “After all, the Naxalite areas happen to be those areas which are the heartland of India's mineral wealth.

Now, if we are not allowed to exploit the mineral resources of this country, I think the growth path of this country could be adversely affected.”

The Prime Minister also stressed the need to find a “new balance” between the environment and industry.

“Environmental issues are important, they cannot be wished away,” he said.

“We must adequately ensure that whether it is tribal rights, environmental concerns or forest con-

cerns, they are given their appropriate place. But at the same time there has to be a balance. You cannot protect the environment of this country by perpetuating poverty.”

Vedanta project Asked whether he was calling for a new balance in the light of the government's recent decision to shelve Vedanta's mining plans at Niyamgiri in Orissa, Dr. Singh said he was speaking in general terms and not with reference to any individual project.

The Prime Minister said he would soon convene a meeting of the Ministers of environment, coal, surface transport and other infrastructure related ministries to find a “new pathway” for ensuring environmental and development imperatives do not come in the way of each other.

One of the pioneers of the Green Revolution in India, M.S. Swaminathan, is to be honoured by University of Alberta, Canada with an honorary doctorate. He is being honoured for his contribution to food security in the world.

Swaminathan will be conferred the doctorate on 7th October.

The Edmonton-based

university has forged strong relationship with India mainly because it is headed by a president who was born in Sri Lanka, Indira Samarasekera. thanks to its Sri Lankanborn president Indira Samarasekera.

He will also deliver the annual Bentley Lecture on Sustainable Agriculture and the Lester Pearson

Memorial Lecture the same day.

Announcing the honour for the 85-year-old scientist, Nat Kav, associate dean of the faculty of agricultural, life and environmental sciences, said: 'His contributions have been in the areas of science, in plant breeding and genetics, followed by taking that science to the level of

the farmer and being concerned about gender equity and being concerned about the poorest of the poor and that's what I think makes him stand out.'

Chancellor Linda Hughes said the university is delighted to have the opportunity of bestowing the honorary doctorate on Swaminathan.

M S Swaminathan to be honoured by a Canadian University

2010

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Elected to the top position for a record 4th term Sonia Gandhi was reelected as Congress President for fourth consecutive term in New Delhi last week. Sonia is already the longest serving party President.

With no one else in contest, her election as President was a foregone conclusion. The formal announcement about Sonia's election was made by Congress Central Election Authority Chairman Oscar Fernandes.

Thanking the party leaders and workers, she said: "since the beginning, the Congress has been working for every section of the society. Whether we are in government or not, we should not forget this big responsibility".

Sonia Gandhi poses with the certificate of her re-election as Congress Party President

"I am grateful to all the Congress workers across the country for supporting me," she said.

The function was attended by many Congress leaders and Union ministers including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Death sentence for two Akshardham convicts stayed Supreme Court of India on Monday ordered a stay on the execution of two convicts in the terrorist attack at the Akshardham Temple in Gandhinagar, the capital of Gujarat.

A POTA had pronounced death sentence to two of the four accused in the case of deadly terror attack on cultural iconic structure Akshardham eight years ago. The two accused are Adambhai Sulemanbhai Ajmeri and Abdul Kayum alias Muftisaab Mohmedbha.

The apex court also stayed the jail terms of the two other accused. While Mohmed Salim Hanif Shaikh had been given life i m p r i s o n m e n t , Abdullamiya Yasinmiya Kadri had been awarded 10 years in jail by the POTA court.

On September 24, 2002, two terrorists armed with AK-56 rifles and hand grenades committed mayhem at the temple in Gandhinagar, killing 33 people and injuring many.

NSG commandos had to be flown in to neutralise the two terrorists. Nearly

four years later, on July 1, 2006, a special POTA court in Ahmedabad convicted four accused (arrested by Gujarat police) and awarded death sentence to two of them. Gujarat High Court dismissed their appeal, following which they approached the apex court.

While staying the death penalty, the SC on Monday sought Gujarat government's response to a plea for a re-investigation by CBI or any other independent probe agency.

The apex court also issued notice to the Gujarat government on the appeal of death row convicts and two others who alleged that tainted IPS officer DG Vanzara, arrested in connection with the Sohrabuddin fake encounter case, had falsely implicated them in the Akshardham case.

Jinnah House: daughter Dina Wadia’s claim admitted by Bombay HC

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Bombay High Court recently admitted a petition, claiming the rights over Jinnah House, the palatial bungalow in the Malabar Hill area in Mumbai. Dina Wadia, the daughter of Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the patriarch of Pakistan had filed the petition claiming to be the sole heir, as the only heir to Jinnah. Dina is almost in her nineties and has settled in the USA. She had challenged the government of India notification on the Jinnah House. The said notification was issued 60 years ago, while Dina filed the petition three years ago.

While the government says Jinnah willed his

house to his sister Fatima on May 30, 1939, Dina and her lawyers have denied the existence of any such valid will.

In a three-way fight, the HC also admitted a petition filed by Jinnah’s grandnephew Mohammed Ebrahim and his son, staking an independent claim to the house that Jinnah rebuilt. Their counsel Yusuf Muchala said that under Muslim Law they were Fatima Jinnah’s legal heirs and hence entitled to the property.

The bench of Justices D K Deshmukh and N D Deshpande, after admitting the petitions, posted the matter for final hearing on September 23.

Asian Voice - Saturday 11th September 2010

INDIA

25

Bihar elections in October – November Six phase voting to elect 243 MLAs, results on 24 November

Election Commission of India announced the dates and programme for elections to elect a new state assembly in Bihar. Voting for 243 seats will be in six phases, starting from 21st October and the last phase of voting will be on 20th November. Counting of votes will start on 24th November. The term of the present assembly expires on 27th November.

Chief Election Commissioner S Y

Qureshi had called a press conference in New Delhi in Monday, where he announced the election programme. The remaining dates of voting are 24th October, 28th October, 1st November and 9th November.

More than 55 million voters are entitled to cast their votes to elect the 243 MLAs. Voting will be held at 56,943 polling stations.

A bypoll for Banka Loksabha (Parliament)

seat will also be held on 1st November. This is the first elections after Qureshi took over as the Chief Election Commissioner on 30th July, 2010.

A three cornered contest is expected this time with the ruling JD(U) – BJP continuing their alliance, while Congress will be fighting it alone.

Lalu Yadav’s RJD and Ram Vilas Paswan’s LJP also have formed an alliance.

The chopping off of a professor’s palm by extremist elements in Kerala has exposed the fact that terrorist elements have also took roots in the state, though the state government feels that terrorism is not deep rooted, no major terror attacks have happened in the state.

The admission of the existence of terror links has been made in a counter affidavit filed by the state government in response to a PIL. Gireesh Babu has sought a ban on the radical outfit, “Popular Front of India” (PFI). The state government has submitted before the High Court that investigations into the incident have revealed the fact that there is a connection between the PFI and foreign based terrorist organizations like the Hizbul Mujahideen, Lashkar-e Taiba (Let) and al-Qaeda.

The state government has also requested the centre to get the matter investigated by NIA (National

Investigative Agency (NIA).

P J Joseph, a professor at the Newman college allegedly prepared a question paper that had derogatory references about Islam. Following this, people claiming to be activists of the PFI attacked prof. Joseph brutally and chopped off one of his palms. This incident had caused a huge furore in the Kerala.

More protests were held in the state last week, as the management of the college, an institution run

by Christian missionaries, dismissed prof. Joseph from the services on charges of hurting sentiments of the Muslims.

Several organizations and individuals have expressed their opposition to the college management’s order. “With the dismissal of Joseph from service by imposing maximum penalty, the Newman College management has chopped off his second hand,” state lead-

ers of the All-Kerala Private College Teachers Association (AKPCTA) and Association of Kerala Government College Teachers (AKGCT) said.

They urged the college management to reinstate Joseph immediately.

Some of the materials seized by investigators indicate that these organisations are trying to propagate extreme ideology to its cadres, it was stated.

There are also allegations leveled against these organisations that they receive funds from foreign countries as well as extremist elements getting weapons, financial and political support from Pakistan. These matters are also under investigation, the state govt. affidavit said.

PFI’s links with another extremist organisations like ‘Simi’ are also under scanner.

Thirty persons have so far been arrested in connection with the attack on Joseph.

Terror links have expanded in Kerala, state govt. admits

Sharjah court accepts translator, records statements of 17 boys The statements of all 17 Indian boys facing the death sentence in the Sharjah murder case were recorded today by a Sharjah Sharia Appeal Court after it accepted Mohammed Arif, a Balouchi, as translatorcum-interpreter. Relatives of eight of the 17 boys were present in the court during the recording of the statements. Divided into three groups, the Indian boys, who could not be present in the court during the last hearing on July 14, preferred to make their statements in chaste Punjabi, denying all allegations made against them.

The proceedings lasted a little over an hour after which the case was adjourned till September 29. Besides being charged with the murder of Pakistani boy Mishri Khan, the Indian boys are also facing charges for attack with an intention to murder three accomplices of the deceased.

The third charge against

them is their alleged involvement in the illicit liquor trade. Early this year, the Sharia Court had held them guilty on all three charges and convicted them before sentencing them to death.

The case has been hitting newspaper headlines as the 17 Indian boys were convicted and sentenced to death for the murder of a Pakistani boy, who according to the prosecution, was also in the illicit liquor trade.A dispute over jurisdiction allegedly led to a clash between the two groups in which Mishri Khan was murdered and three of his accomplices, including his brother, were seriously injured.

The Indian boys facing the death sentence are Sukhjinder Singh, Sukhjot Singh, Ram Singh, Baljeet Singh, Daljeet Singh, Kulwinder Singh, Namjyot Singh, Satnam Singh, Dharampal Singh, Satgur Singh, Kashmir Singh, Sukhinder Singh, Suban

Singh, Kuldip Singh, Arvinder Singh, Harjinder Singh and Tarnjit Singh.

Amandeep Singh (brother of Satgur Singh), Ranjit Kaur (wife of Dharampal Singh), Jaswinder Singh (brother of Kulwinder Singh), Balraj Singh (father of Arvinder Singh), Manjit Singh (brother of Sukhjinder Singh), Jaspreet Singh Sekhon (brother of Kuldeep Singh), Daljit Singh (brother of Baljit Singh) and Manjit Kaur (mother of Sukhjot Singh) were present in the court.

“Making of statements in Punjabi was a huge morale booster for the visiting relatives of eight of the 17 convicts.

After the proceedings today, they looked convinced that their wards could convincingly plead their innocence comfortably in their own mother language and they would get justice,” says SP Singh Oberoi, who has sponsored them.

In divine light

By Rajen Vakil

Shikhandin - the art of surrender Shikhandin was born a girl, the daughter of King Dhrupad of Panchala. In her previous life, she was Amba, the daughter of the king of Kashi and was in love with the prince Shalva.

Before she could choose him to be her husband, Bhishma abducted her and her two sisters from their swayamvara for the prince Vichitravirya.

When she told Bhishma of her love for Shalva, he let her go free.

As she had been abducted once, Shalva refused to marry her.

She went to Bhishma and told him that as he had abducted her, it was now his duty to marry her. Bhishma stuck by his pratigya and refused to marry her. Amba was left for nowhere and she then vowed to be the cause of his death. She did tapa of Lord Shiva who granted her the boon that in her next life she would be born as a girl to become a man later – the one who would be the cause of Bhishma’s death. Upon receiving the boon, Amba did not wait to live her life out but immediately jumped in the fire and killed herself.

Hence, Shikhandin was born a girl; a heavenly voice told Dhrupad that she would become a man one day and hence, was brought up as a boy. She was married to King Hiranyavarma’s daughter as a man, but the daughter came to know of the deceit and left Shikhandin.

Shikhandin then went into the forest where she met Sthunakarna, a ‘yaksha’ or demigod. He heard her story and agreed to exchange his manhood with Shikhandin for some time.

The Lord Kubera was Sthunakarna’s master and when he heard what had happened, he cursed Sthunakarna that he would only be able to get his manhood back after Shikhandin’s death.

The Pandavas led by Yudhisthira, on the ninth day of the Mahabharata war, go to Bhishma and ask him how they could kill him.

Bhishma knew the time had come to repay Amba’s debt and he told them that if a woman came in front of him on the battlefield, he would put down his weapons.

Krishna knew that Shikhandin had been

born a woman and so asked Arjuna to put Shikhandin in his chariot and fire arrows at Bhishma.

On seeing Shikhandin, Bhishma put down his weapons and Arjuna’s arrows felled Bhishma.

The word ‘Shikha’ means the top or the highest point at the top.

At the top, one is free of opposites.

We live in a world where we are bound by the opposites. Every moment we either like or dislike something and our whole lives we swing from one end to the other hypnotised with events, trying to avoid pain and attempting to run after pleasure.

Shikhandin has swung between the two opposites and has freed himself from them, whereas we keep swinging between the opposites our whole life. Our brains are wired in such a way that we can see only one pole.

When we fall in love, we think that the love will last forever. We do not see that everybody has a hidden side, and in that hidden side there always is the opposite of love, that is hatred. This hatred comes out sometime after marriage (or relationship) and then we wonder if it is the same person we are living with that we fell in love with. The hatred was always there, only we could not see it. Life is a polarity but in our normal way of thinking, we see only one pole (of the polarity) and we try to make that one part the whole.

What is the significance of Arjuna standing behind Shikhandin in the chariot? In previous articles, we have seen that Bhishma represents the ego in all of us.

Whenever the ego expresses itself in anyway the keyword is aggressiveness; many a time this is hidden below a cover of humility. Deep down all of us want our way, all the time. Man represents the aggressiveness or macho behaviour whereas woman represents the receptive energy.

Shikhandin, from a woman has become a man; thus, representing the female surrender in the form of man. This is the art of dropping aggressiveness and this

can only be done by shifting from aggressiveness to acceptance and surrender.

Once a seeker asked Swami Ramdularay how to dissolve the ego and he replied that “for one year we should go and live with a person who has a much stronger ego than ours”. Normally, when we meet someone who has a stronger ego or is more obstinate, we try to avoid that person.

In doing so, we only reinforce our own ego and thus, aggressiveness.

When we live with a person with a larger ego than ours, we learn the art of surrendering and thereafter we master the art of unconditional acceptance.

Surrender is not something we do just to a teacher, but something which as students of spirituality we try to live every moment of our lives. Life is a series of events and every event we get attached to, there is a like or dislike. We do not and cannot accept events we dislike, but acceptance is the door to divinity and surrender is the key to acceptance.

As we practice dissolving the ego in every situation of life, there comes a moment – a moment within an event, which we would have disliked and run away from, and yet the dislike does not manifest. We remain calm and stable; this is the moment of equanimity which we have practiced for. This balance, or as Krishna calls it ‘samatvam’, is the highest form of yoga.

Shikhandin gets his manhood from a ‘yaksha’. This word means to stir or move; stirring up the power within the disciple to surrender. Many times, people question that should we become mere weaklings and just docilely accept anything and everything. Little do they realise that to surrender requires greater strength, courage, and patience than to just react. What we want to work on is the dislike within and transform this negative emotion of dislike into a powerful strength. How we relate to others outside is the art of relationship, which when there is no dislike within us, we do consciously.

(Edited by Chintu Gandhi.)

All past articles on the Mahabharata can be accessed from http://epaper.asianvoice.com or from http://www.3stepbreath.com/mahabharata.html

26

Pakistan

Asian Voice - Saturday 11th September 2010

Pak Taliban added to US terror list In focUS Washington: The United States has designated the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), or Pakistani Taliban, linked to the botched Times Square bombing attempt by a Pakistani American, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton last week also designated two senior TTP leaders Hakimullah Mehsud and Wali Ur Rehman as specially designated global terrorists as the US imposed financial and travel sanctions on the Pakistan based group that trained Times Square suspect Faisal Shahzad.

'These actions will help stem the flow of finances

to TTP and provide the Department of Justice with a critical tool to prosecute those who knowingly provide material support to TTP and its senior leaders,' State Department spokesman Phillip Crowley said announcing the sanctions.

The US also announced a $5 million reward for any information leading to the arrest of Mehsud or Rehman under its Rewards for Justice Programme, while the Department of Justice issued an arrest warrant for Mehsud charging him 'with conspiracy to murder US citizens abroad and conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruc-

tion.' 'Hakimullah Mehsud has been the leader of TTP since August 2009 and Wali Ur Rehman is the TTP Emir (leader) in South Waziristan. Rehman has participated in crossborder attacks in Afghanistan against US and NATO personnel, as well as attacks against Pakistani security forces,' the State Department said. Noting the TTP 'has carried out numerous attacks against US interests under Mehsud and Rehman's leadership,' it said: 'Such instances include a December 2009 suicide attack on a US military base in Khost, Afghanistan, which killed seven US citizens, and an

April 2010 suicide bombing against the US Consulate in Peshawar, Pakistan, which killed six Pakistani citizens.'

Taliban threaten attacks in US, Europe In Islamabad, Taliban on Friday last threatened to launch attacks in the United States and Europe "very soon" and dismissed a move by Washington to add the group to its terrorism blacklist.

"The US listing of TTP as a terrorist organisation is a sign of them being scared. It shows the US and its allies are scared of us," Qari Hussain Mehsud, a senior TTP leader, said from an undisclosed location.

Washington: The increasingly frayed ties between Washington and Islamabad unraveled a little further last week after a slew of misunderstandings led to a Pakistani military delegation being offloaded from a commercial flight in the US. In retaliation, a distraught Pakistan cancelled the visit and recalled the team home despite an apology from the Pentagon for the incident.

It all began when a nine-member group of high-ranking Pakistani military officers led by a brigadier general boarded United Airlines flight 727

at Washington Dulles Airport to Tampa for a visit to the US Central Command headquarters, on a US invitation.

According to the Pakistani version, a travel-weary member of the delegation, which had just arrived in the US after a long journey from Pakistan, said, I hope this is my last flight or words to that effect.

The comment was either reported by a passenger or overheard by a crew member; in either case, it was misconstrued or deemed inappropriate, according to the airline.

Ground officials were noti-

fied even as the plane was ready to depart. Security personnel with guns boarded the plane and the officer was asked to disembark. Moments later, the whole delegation was offloaded. Explanations and altercations followed.

The plane was held up for more than 40 minutes beyond its departure time; many passengers, scared by the commotion, also disembarked and rebooked on other flights.

According to the Pakistanis, the delegation was refused telephonic access to the Pakistani embassy and airport secu-

rity officials declined to recognize letters of invitations from their hosts and explanations about the innocuous remark made by one of the officers. By the time the matter was sorted out several hours later, ending with an apology from the Pentagon for the fracas and United offering to rebook the team on another flight, an angry Islamabad had directed the delegation to return to Pakistan in protest against the treatment.

This is not the first time that Pakistanis have taken offence to treatment in US airport.

After airport fracas, Pak recalls defence team on US visit

British deputy PM visits flood-hit areas Islamabad: British Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg last week visited the floodhit areas in Pakistan's Sindh province along with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari.

Around 1,600 people have died while over 20 million have been displaced in floods triggered by torrential rains that started in July.

Infrastructure has been badly hit across Pakistan and the country is now looking for assistance from global powers to help in relief and rescue operations. Clegg arrived in Pakistan on last Wednesday and went with Zardari to Sukhur, where he visited relief camps set

Nick Clegg

up by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF). He talked to women and children there and learnt about the misery they were going through. He held a meeting with the president at Sukhur airport and was given a briefing by representatives of NGOs involved in relief work.

Later, Clegg went on an aerial tour of Kashmore

and Jacobabad.The British deputy prime minister assured all possible help for the rehabilitation of the flood-affected people.

He offered to send technical experts to assess the damage caused to the Sukhur barrage.

Britain has offered the second largest humanitarian assistance to Pakistan following the disaster and the contribution by now has exceeded 64 million pounds. Clegg later met Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani. The visit of the British deputy prime minister was kept under wraps and the officials concerned were not given any details in advance.

Obama announces $ 33 mn aid Washington: US President Barack Obama has signed an executive memorandum to provide dollar 33 million aid for the refugees of Pakistan's worst floods that have claimed over 1,700 lives and affected 20 million people.

With this the total US aid to Pakistan for flood relief work has crossed dollar 230 million -- the largest foreign donor to the flood-ravaged country.

India has provided USD 25 million, which is routed through the United Nations.

A Mandir and a Masjid unaffected in floods Villagers of Ghouspur in Kashmore say it’s a ‘Miracle’ Karachi: Even as large parts of Pakistan were inundated by the devastating floods, a hindu and a muslim place of worship remained unaffected of the surging waters while the adjoining places were under around 5 feet water in Ghouspur town of Kashmore District.

Villagers who saw this termed it as a miracle.

They also felt that

Divinity triumphed over disaster. The town in Kashmore district was completely submerged.

But a Hindu temple, built

by Baba Gharib Das around 300 hundred years back and a Mosque built

by Ghous Shah remained unaffected. The temple is the central point of worship for Hindus in Kashmore, Kandhkot, Shikarpur and Jacobabad.

Hindu prayer leaders say many followers of Baba Gharib Das have even constructed small temples in his name in different provinces of India and they visit his shrine annually. Mukhi Sarvanand, the leader of the Hindu community in the area said, “Every corner of the city was filled with eight feet water, but floods did not even reach the gates

of the temple”.

A native of Ghouspur and a Doctor working at the Civil Hospital, Karachi, Dr Suresh Kumar said “When houses started inundating many Hindu families took shelter in the Mandir.

Even after people were moved to other places, the army engaged in rescue operations was stationed there.

Over 100 killed, 400 injured in suicide attacks Islamabad: At least 125 people were killed and over 400 were injured in a series of bomb attacks in Pakistan during last week. In the first incident, a suicide blast ripped through a rally of Shia Muslims in Pakistan's southwestern city of Quetta on Friday, killing at least 65 people and injuring around 197.

Two other blasts rocked Mardan and Peshawar on the last Friday of Ramzan, killing two, including one police officer. The Quetta blast occurred at a gathering of around 2,000 people in Meezan Chowk. In the second incident, two days ago, triple suicide bombings targeted a Shia procession in Lahore killed 39 people and injured more than 250.

The Shia community was observing the death anniversary of Hazrat Ali, Prophet Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law. Both the Pakistan Taliban and the Punjab-based terrorist group Lashkar-eJhangvi claimed responsibility for the Quetta blast as they had done for the Lahore attack. In the last incident on Monday 19 people were killed when a suicide bomber rammed his car into a police station in northwest Pakistan on Monday. The latest attack took place in the town of Lakki Marwat. The bomber struck a school van before hitting the rear wall of the police station. "Nineteen people have been killed.

There are nine policemen and two children among the dead," Information Minister of KhyberPakhtunkhwa province, Mian Iftikhar Hussain, said.

China denies reports of troop deployment in Pakistan Beijing: China has rejected reports that claim the presence of over 11,000 troops in northern Pakistan, saying that 'ulterior motives' were involved in hurting Beijing's relations with India and Pakistan through such 'groundless reports'. In a statement, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Jiang Yu said," We believe the attempts of some people to fabricate stories to provoke China-Pakistan or China-India relations are doomed to fail."Xinhua News said Beijing's reaction came amid reports that more than 10,000 Chinese troops were present in Pakistan's GilgitBaltistan region.The Pakistan Foreign Office also strongly denied the news being circulated in the American and Indian media claiming that 'GilgitBaltistan' region had been handed over to China.

"The Chinese were working on landslide, flood hit areas and on the destroyed Korakoram Highway with the permission of Pakistani Government," the Dawn quoted Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit, as saying.

India seeks letter rogatory from Pak on Headley issue New Delhi: Carrying on the "dossier" diplomacy with Pakistan, India has now told Islamabad that it will have to send a letter rogatory if it wants answers relating to Lashkar-e-Toiba operative David Coleman Headley's visits to India between 2006 and 2009.

Pakistan had recently raised 47 questions relating to Headley in response to the last dossier sent by India. A letter rogatory or letter of request is a formal written communication sent by a court in one country to another foreign court requesting judicial assistance. The National Investigation Agency's case against Headley, his Canadian co-accused Tahawwur Hussain Rana and others is currently on in a designated special court in New Delhi. Pakistan has already sent a letter rogatory to India, asking it to send 26/11 Mumbai attacks' lone surviving terrorist Ajmal Amir Kasab to Pakistan. India declined the request on the ground that judicial processes relating to Kasab's trial were still pending in India since Kasab was already in the process of filing an appeal against his conviction. Hence India was in no position to send Kasab to testify in a Pakistan court.

N-bomb has prevented war with India, says A Q Khan Washington: Pakistan's nuclear arsenal has prevented a conventional war with India and made the 'nation walk with heads held high', boasts notorious Pakistani scientist A Q Khan, considered the father of Islamabad's clandestine nuclear weapons programme. 'Our nuclear programme has ensured our survival, our security, and our sovereignty ... I am proud to have contributed to it together with my patriotic and able colleagues,' the man accused of running a nuclear black market said in a published interview. 'Yes, I fully agree,' he said in the interview published in the inaugural issue of 'Newsweek Pakistan' when told that most Pakistanis believe Pakistan's being a nuclear state has served as a deterrent to conventional war with India.

World

Asian Voice - Saturday 11th September 2010

Another Prachandagate rocks Nepal Maoists shown seeking Chinese help to buy MPs Kathmandu: Sixteen months after a secretly taped video filming Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda boasting he deliberately lied about the strength of his guerilla army to UN monitors damaged his credibility irreversibly, the former revolutionary has received yet another blow with a new audio tape allegedly documenting his party seeking NRS 500 million from a Chinese “friend” to buy MPs. Copies of the tape sent to journalists in Nepal feature conversations between two men. While one of them is addressed as “Mr Mahara”, the other, a foreigner speaking with an accent, remains nameless. The conclusion drawn from the conversations is that the former is Krishna Bahadur Mahara,

Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda

Maoist member of parliament and chief of their foreign affairs, while the other is a go-between for the Maoists and an influential Chinese, possibly a senior government official.

The go-between asks Mahara whether the Maoists will get enough votes to win Sunday's election. The answer is that though the party has roped in additional support besides its own MPs, it still needs at least 50

votes more. The task is difficult as the MPs who could be persuaded are controlled by India and have to be neutralised.

The caller says he has a friend who is willing to help but the details must be discussed at a meeting.

He suggests Hong Kong, saying his friend will not need a visa to go to Hong Kong but Mahara has cold feet about it since there is a large number of Nepalis living there. Instead, he suggests Chengdu in China or failing that, Singapore.

However, Chengdu gives the caller jitters.

“This is very sensitive and we don't want to have anything to do between (you) and the Government of China,” he says and the pair decide that Mahara will discuss the issue with his party chairman.

The second conversa-

Deepa Patel becomes the first Indian woman cop in southern America This BAPS devotee is inspired by the story of Jhansi Ki Rani Palanpur: Deepa Patel earned the distinction of becoming the first Indian woman police officer in the whole of southern region of USA. ‘Khub ladi mardani woh toh Jhansi wali rani thi’ - this tribute to Jhansi Ki Rani, the great warrior queen of India, changed the life of Deepa, when she was only four years old. The martyr’s story touched Deepa’s heart and fired her ambition. She wanted to become a fearless warrior like her idol and protect her compatriots.

Tw e n t y - t w o - y e a r s later, in January 2010, Deepa realised her dream and become a police officer in Cobb County, Georgia (a southern American state).

The story of Deepa the daughter of an expatriate businessman originally from Tejakuva village, Vadodara district exemplifies the virtue of grit and perseverance.

“After completing a fourmonth course in criminal justice in December 2009, I became a senior police officer in January 2010,” Patel said, over the telephone from Georgia.

Deepa is a devout follower of the Bochasanwasi Shree Akshar Purushottam Sanstha (BAPS), and says the support of the

Deepa Patel

Swaminarayan sect helped her beat odds and achieve success.

“I could secure this honour only because of the inspiration and blessings of Guru Pramukh Swami Maharaj,” she said. “It’s he who taught me that failure was not the worst thing in the world. The worst thing is not to try.”

Deepa said she was four years old when she visited London with her parents. “There, I attended a fair organised by BAPS,” she said. “The fair was about Indian freedom fighters. On show were statues of figures like Mahatma Gandhi. What fascinated me was the statue of Jhansi Ki Rani, who was depicted riding a horse and wielding a sword.”

Deepa asked her father to explain the meaning of the words inscribed below the statue. “When he told me who she was and how she had died while trying

to protect her people, I instantly knew I wanted to become like her,” she said.

However, emulating her idol was an onerous challenge for this Gujarati-American who is married to a restaurateur, Vimal. “My parents were against my career choice,” she said. “So, when they kept trying to dissuade me, I wrote to the Pramukh Swamiji. It was he who supported me and encouraged me to follow my dream.”

Deepa said she would never forget a two-day police recruitment camp called the ‘survival week’.

“I fractured my leg during a pre-training session,” she said. “I didn’t want to miss my selection, so the next week, I showed up for the event. There, I had to run a mile to compete with my male counterparts. I believe it was God’s will that helped me overcome those hurdles despite the excruciating pain.” Deepa later discovered that she was the only Indian woman to become a police officer in the southern United States.

“I was overjoyed,” she said. “I wish to tell all women that there is nothing like a man’s job. Every woman can do any job, if they put their heart and soul in it.”

27

Kenyan envoys summoned over Omar al-Bashir’s visit

tion takes place on Wednesday last when Mahara says he needs minimum NRS 500 million to buy the 50 MPs at the rate of NRS 10 million each.

The caller says his friend wants to know the details and the two finally agree to meet in Hong Kong.

With the tape now hitting the headlines, there was a predictable denial by the Maoists and a deafening silence from the govt.

Maoists fail yet again Belying hopes of a resolution, the seventh round of the deadlocked prime ministerial poll in Nepal failed yet again on Tuesday. Although there was expectation that Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal could win with support from some Madhesi parties he failed to secure the 300 votes needed for victory.

Nairobi: Kenyan ambassadors in Europe have been asked to explain why their country did not arrest the Sudanese president during a recent visit to Nairobi.

There is an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for President Omar al-Bashir on genocide charges.

President Bashir was in Kenya during the ceremony marking the adoption of a new constitution.

The ambassadors were summoned to foreign ministries in a number of European countries.

Kenya is a signatory to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and is obligated by its warrants.

"They emphasized that UK expects the government of Kenya to stand by its obligations under the Rome Statute, and as a UN member state," a

Kigali: Rwanda has threatened to withdraw co-operation with the UN if a draft report criticising its army is published.

Kigali said it would reconsider its contributions to UN peacekeeping missions, dismissing claims in the UN report as "insane".

The document accuses Rwanda's Tutsi-led army of killing Hutus in Democratic Republic of Congo in the 1990s - acts it says may amount to genocide.

Extremist Hutus killed an estimated 800,000 Tutsis in Rwanda during 1994. But the UN draft report, which was leaked, says in the years following the genocide, the Tutsidominated Rwandan army went into neighbouring Zaire (now DR Congo)

and killed tens of thousands of ethnic Hutus including women, children and the elderly.

It emerged on Saturday that Rwandan Foreign Minister Louise Mushikiwabo had responded to the report earlier this month, sending a strongly worded letter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

In the letter, obtained by journalists in the US, she criticised the sourcing and methodology of UN investigators.

She concluded: "Attempts to take action on this report - either through its release or leaks to the media - will force us to withdraw from Rwanda's various commitments to the United Nations, especially in the area of peacekeeping."

Omar al-Bashir

statement from the British High Commission in Nairobi said.

The ICC has reported Kenya to the UN Security Council over the visit. In July the African Union instructed its members which include Kenya - not to apprehend Mr Bashir.

Kenya is not the first ICC signatory to choose not to arrest Mr Bashir.

Earlier this year he travelled to Sudan's neighbour Chad, which took no action and said the visit had helped to improve bilateral ties.

Rwanda threatens UN over DR Congo ‘genocide’ report Rwanda contributes thousands of peacekeepers to the joint UNAfrican Union mission in the Sudanese region of Darfur, and the commander of the force is a Rwandan.

Analysts say the possible withdrawal of these troops would be a massive blow, especially as it comes at a time of increased violence in Darfur.

Rwandan officials have always said their forces entered the former Zaire, now DR Congo, to pursue the Hutu militias responsible for carrying out mass killings of Tutsis in Rwanda in 1994.

Rwanda's justice minister Tharcisse Karugarama said that there was no way Kigali's troops had killed civilians.

Exiled Madagascan leader Ravalomanana sentenced

A n t a n a n a r i v o : Madagascar's exiled former president has been sentenced to life in prison with hard labour for ordering the killing of opposition supporters.

Marc Ravalomanana was sentenced in absentia for the February 2009 murders of at least 30 people by his presidential guard.

Mr Ravalomanana has

been living in South Africa since March 2009.

Those killed were supporters of Andry Rajoelina, who has now taken over the government. The former president's defence lawyers walked out on the trial shortly after the hearings began, saying the court was being used by Mr Rajoelina's administration.

"The aim is to sentence him so he can't return to Madagascar and run in future elections," lawyer Hanitra Razafimanantsoa said.

Madagascar has been in the midst of a political crisis for the past 19 months.

It is the third sentence given to Mr Ravalomanana by a court since he left the country.

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28

UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 11th September 2010

This week meet Mr Bihag Lalaji, Mrs Naimisha Lalaji & Mr Dhiresh Sach of Samarpan Meditation Trust UK and Vallabh Peethadhishwar and His Holiness Pujya Paad Goswami, 108 Shree Rameshkumarji Maharaj ji from Mumbai

Sneh Joshi - 020 8518 5500

If you do not have a tv, go to www.tvunetworks.com and watch CB Live on TVU Player Channel 75203

To ask questions please call on: 020 8963 1001

For more information e-mail: cblive_matv@yahoo.co.uk

Don't miss !!!

Only on CB Live - MATV Sky 793 - Thursday 7:00pm to 8:00pm

His Holiness in the UK His Holiness Shree Vallabh Peethadhishwar (the current presiding head) of Shree Va l l a b h a c h a r y a Mahaprabhuji's 36th Bethak (seat) in Nashik, Pujya Paad Goswami 108 Shree Rameshkumarji Maharaj Shree from Mota Mandir will be in London until the 12th and then in Birmingham from 12th to 24th and then 25th and 26th will be in Bolton and Blackburn/Manchester area where he will provide vachanmruts and will also be gracing the Kerala Ayurveda Centre in Bolton 39 Bradford Street, Bolton, BL2 1HT, Tel: 01204 388552, Birmingham Mukam (residence) will be in: Handswort, Birmingham, Contact Bhartiben on 0121 507 0070. His holiness has taken up a mammoth challenge to fulfil his dream project, the con-

struction of an international standard 'Kala Bhavan' - A truly unique museum consisting of fine artifacts, primarily, but not limited to Pushtimarg in the town of Morbi in Gujarat).

One of the main aims of this project is to provide the future generations with the much needed knowledge and understanding of our Fine Arts, Culture and Tradition that has been a subtle part of the various sampradays of our religion.

Editor: CB Patel Associate Editor: Rupanjana Dutta Tel: 020 7749 4098 - Email: rupanjana.dutta@abplgroup.com Senior News Editor: Dhiren Katwa Chief Financial Officer: Surendra Patel Tel: 020 7749 4093 - Mobile: 07875 229 220 Email: surendra.patel@abplgroup.com Accounts Executive: Akshay Desai Tel: 020 7749 4087 Email:accounts@abplgroup.com Advertising Managers: Alka Shah Tel: 020 7749 4002 - Mobile: 07944 151 893 Email: alka.shah@abplgroup.com Kishor Parmar Tel: 020 7749 4095 - Mobile: 07875 229 088 Email: kishor.parmar@abplgroup.com Advertising Sales Executive: Rovin John Goerge - Email: rovin.george@abplgroup.com Tel: 020 7749 4097 - Mobile: 07875 229 219 Nikhil Gor - Email: nikhil.gor@abplgroup.com Tel: 020 7749 4009 - Mobile: 07875 229 200 Business Development Managers: Urja Patel - Email: urja.patel@abplgroup.com Liji George Tel: 020 7749 4013 - Email: george@abplgroup.com Design and Layout: Harish Dahya & Ajay Kumar Tel: 020 7749 4086 Email: graphics@abplgroup.com Customer Service: Saroj Patel Tel: 020 7749 4080 - Email: support@abplgroup.com (BPO) AB Publication (India) Pvt. Ltd. 207 Shalibhadra Complex, Opp. Jain Derasar, Nr. Nehru Nagar Circle, Ambawadi, Ahmedabad Tel: +9179 2646 Fax: +9179 6061

Relationships are experiencing major transformations - those with shaky foundations should be extra careful. Financially, you have everything going for you. A good time to put lucrative plans into action and reap the benefits of sound investments. Be prudent and do not fritter away your good fortune.

ARIES Mar 21 - Apr 20

Coming Events l Dinner and dance by The Lion Clubs of Zone E and F- In aid of Pakistan Flood Relief Friday 17th September, 8pm-till late. Premier banqueting House, 1 Canning Road, Harrow Wealdstone HA3 7TS. Contact: ali Musani- 07712563254 l Samakti Mission UK organised a Unity Walk (5KM) at Ruislip Lido, Reservoir Road, Ruislip HA4 7TY on,12th September 9.30 am for Cultural Awareness. Contact: Dipak- 07884 313 770. l Walk for Heart and Stroke, Sunday 26th September 2010, Hyde Park. Northwick Park Institute for Medical Research, Register now.

Contact: 020 8869 3284. Web: http://npimr.org/funraising/heartstrokecampaign l An exhibition of Watercolour Wash Technique Paintings by Bhavesh Zala (India) Mute Gossip Series: 8-13 September 2010 Private View on Tuesday, 7 September at 6.00 pm.

Bhavans, Institute of Indian Art and Culture 4a Castletown Road, West Kensington, London, W14 9HE Nearest Station: West Kensington, Barons Court l Shree ram Mandir Temple presents Shree Krishna Janmashtami Bhajan Sandhya, 12th September, 7:30-9:15pm. Southall l Wed 15th Sep, 6:30pm- Punjabi Film 'Tera Mera Ki Rishta Thursday 16th Sep, 6:30pm: Punjabi Film: Heer Ranjha l The Nehru Centre, 8 South Audley Street, London W1K 1HF. Contact: 020 7491 3567. l Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) Walk to Cure Diabetes On Saturday 2 October 2010, Shree Swaminarayan Yuvak Mandal Cardiff will be taking part in the Walk to Cure Diabetes at Bute Park to raise funds to find the cure for Type 1 Diabetes. Thousands of local children rely on multiple injections of insulin every day just to stay alive, so it is vital to raise more money to support JDRF’s search for the cure. There is also the potential to raise awareness in our motherland India and to support work done by the Kutch Samaj Hospital. They would like to invite you and your family to join the walk and help them reach their target of £5,000.00.

For further details of the event, please follow this link http://www.jdrf.org.uk/walk/, or alternatively, please contact, Karsan Vaghani, on 0778986575, or Karsan.vaghani@bristol.ac.uk Chief Executive Director: Kamlesh Amin Tel: +91 922 710 4308 Email: kamleshamin123@yahoo.co.in Editorial Co-Ordinator (BPO): Suresh Samani (M) +91 9898441330 Email: sureshsamani@yahoo.com Dy. Editorial Co-Ordinator (BPO): Nilesh Parmar (M) +919426636912 Consulting Editor (BPO): Bhupatbhai Parekh, Ahmedabad, Gujarat Tel: +91 79 2630 4142 Mumbai: Kanti Bhatt, Hemraj Shah (Jumbo Advertiser) Horizon Advertising & Marketing: 205 Shalibhadra Complex, Opp. Jain Derasar, Nr. Nehru Nagar Circle, Ambawadi, Ahmedabad Tel / Fax: +91 79 2646 5960 (M) +91 9913346487 Email: horizonadvt2009@yahoo.in Neeta Patel, (Advertising Manager) (M) +91 98255 11702 International Advertisement Representative: Jain Group(South India) Tel: +91 44 42041122/3/4 Fax: +91 44 25362973 Mumbai: +91 222471 4122 Email: jainmedia@eth.net

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Karma Yoga House, 12 Hoxton Market, (Off Coronet Street) London N1 6HW. Tel: 020 7749 4080, Fax: 020 7749 4081 www.abplgroup.com © Asian Business Publications

Asian Voice switchboard: 020 7749 4000 Gujarat Samachar switchboard: 020 7749 4080 Sales: 020 7749 4085

TAURUS Apr 21 - May 21 Expect everything to run smoothly and luck to attend your efforts.

However, underneath this positive surface you may be plagued by a feeling of restlessness, an uneasy feeling that something is not quite right. Try to srike a balance between material and emotional affairs !

GEMINI May 22 - June 22 The need to push ahead with personal interests and to assert yourself with added force will take precedence over everything else for some time to come. Mentally you will be in top form, feeling quite passionate about expressing your ideas and views. A goal you have been striving towards will at last be reached.

CANCER Jun 22 - Jul 22 At home, be at your diplomatic best and try not to tread on anyone's toes. Passions will run from hot to cold, and relationships may suffer.

Even the most strong-willed Cancerians will be more open to compromise to keep the peace. Plan your spending and set sensible budgets to reach your financial goals.

LEO Jul 23 - Aug 23 It is a favourable time for dealing with financial interests with a long-term basis and all jointly held resources. There may be a certain amount of unfinished business to be dealt with.

Therefore you will need to adopt a fairly flexible policy in order to accommodate the odd twists and turns of everyday life.

VIRGO Aug 24 - Sep 23

Your communication sector is all-abuzz with planetary energies firing you up preventing you from sleeping properly. Give yourself plenty of physical outlets to drain off some of the excess mental stimulation. You feel like you can finally settle into a more grounded and steady routine instead of letting your schedule run you.

Charm will be your ally in this week' s activities.

Others will be responsive to you and your ideas. You are extremely warm and affectionate as a person and you look for just as strong a response from your partner. You will achieve success by being responsible and diplomatic.

LIBRA Sep 24 - Oct 23

SCORPIO Oct 24- Nov 22 With Jupiter riding high in your 5th house of romance and creativity, you should enjoy a very popular phase in your life where everyone wants to invite you to parties. Expect this to be a romantic period in your life with lots of opportunities arising for you to find someone special.

The fiery planet Mars, continues to occupy your Solar 11th house for some time to come.

Its influence will help you to maintain a high energy level and achieve positive results in anything that requires drive and initiative. If you are involved in a competitive field, you will be the one who comes out on top.

SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 - Dec 21

CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan 20 Your horizons have most certainly expanding. Jupiter in the area of your chart ruling long-distance travel and philosophical thoughts will make your mind run wild. With Venus transiting your networking sector for some time, there will be many romantic opportunities. Your financial affairs are looking up.

AQUARIUS Jan 21 - Feb 19 There seems to be some pressure on financial affairs and maybe a problem to contend with in regard to a joint venture.

If you feel that something has been hanging in the balance, whatever happens you will get a clearer picture of the situation eventually - therfore, allow matters to ride.

PISCES Feb 20 - Mar 20 The focus is on finances this week, but that doesn’t mean you should worry yourself sick. Rather, finding new and improved ways to boost your earnings potential. Don’t let nebulous tendencies interfere with your plans. It’s fine to consider several options but don’t get caught up in indecision.

Schedule networking opportunities later this week.

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Asian Voice - Saturday 11th August 2010

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Momma’s Partner Academy Award “60 Minutes” network Of hearing Chummy Willam Tell’s canton Head lock Holliman and Scruggs Road to Rouen Never say die Ornamental container

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SCRAMBLE - 63 Rearrange the letters in the four word jumbles, one letter to each square/circle, to make four ordinary words RUVEE

How to play

Now arrange the letters in the circles to form the answer to the riddle or to fill in the missing word as indicated

RITES GHNSIO ADEIIM

Some____are realities and are better than anything that can ever happen toone again. (8)

Solution of Scramble - 62

45 “Painting” 48 Tapers off 50 Partly frozen drink 53 Pouchlike structure 55 Simpson kid 56 Eavesdropper’s perch 59 C.I.A.forerunner 60 Log home 61 Cunning 64 Leguminous plant 65 Inorganic compound 66 Old-time journalist Pyle 67 __Lanka 68 Relinquishes 69 Lawn tool Down 1 Light touch 2 “__Town” 3 Keeps going 4 Chalklike crayaon 5 In additon 6 Marine expanse 7 Blind parts 8 Foot woe 9 At a slant 10 Took five 11 Peculiar souvenir 12 Main impact

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Sollution-103: Cut out the middle man

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Rules Connect adjacent dots with vertical or horizontal lines, creating a single loop.

(Fig A).

Crossovers or branches are not allowed 1 (As shown by dotted lines in Fig B).

2 2 2 2 3 Numbers in the puzzle indicate the 2 2 3 3 2 number of lines that should 3 1 2 surround it, while empty cells may 0 3 2 be surrounded by any number of 3 2 1 3 lines.

You can’t draw lines arround zeroes.

Each puzzle has just one unique solution.

How to begin: Example (Fig A) - Begin with the zero next to 3. Since no lines can be drawn around zero, mark crosses around it, as shown. Now there is a cross in one space around 3. So we know the three lines of 3 can only be drawn in the remaining three spaces. Next these lines can only be extended in one direction each. Continue, using the same Solution of LTL No. 62 logic. x x Hints: Keep elimix 2 x 3 nating possibilix x x x x ties by marking x x 3 1 2 2 crosses in spaces x x x x x between dots x 2 x 2 where a line isn’t x x x x possible, i.e., if x 2 x 1 2 x0 x3 you have already x x x x x c o m p l e t e d x 2 x 2 required lines or x x x x x where a line x x 2 2 2 extension may x x x x create a branch x x x 2 x 2 or cause a deadx x end (Fig B)

MINDBENDER - 104 What is common about these words : Are, Came, Gape, Lien (Hint_ Add an appropriate letter)

Solution of 103 :

SPELLATHON -104 Today’s Ratings: 07-average | 10-good | 12-outstanding How many words of four or more letters can you make from the letters shown in O today’s puzzle? In making a word, each R T letter may be used once only. Each word must contain the central letter. There P should be at least one seven-letter word.

N I Plurals, foreign words and proper O names are not allowed. British English Dictionary is used as reference.

Our Solution_4!*(Sqrt($)/4 + 4!) = 588

Sudoku-104 4 7

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Solution of Spellathon - 103: quad, quail, quid, suad, SQUALID, Squid

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The numbers in the pink squares refer to the sums of the digits that you must fill into the empty spaces directly below or to the right of the pink square containing the number. For instance, in the given example, the 2 boxes below 12 must contain 2 digits that add upto 12, whereas for 20, the 3 boxes places horizontally next to it must add upto 20.

No zeroes are used here, only the digits one through nine.

Solution of KAKURO - 103

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LOOP THE LOOP - 63

Solution of Crossword-103

Words: Slots, viola,blinds, dipole.

Answer: If passion drives, let reason hold the reins.

-- Benjamin Franklin

WHATZIT? - 104

13 Surround-and-wait tactic 21 Donna lead-in 22 Green tea 23 See-through fabric 24 One in a cast 28 Research room 29 Cut back 32 Call back 33 Just get by 35 Shaking up 36 Brak off 37 Assignation 39 Neatly maintaine 40 Image Award grp.

41 Priestly garb 46 Emetic medication 47 Give a new title to 49 Laughable 50 Duds 51 Stairway element 52 Very, in music 53 Maliciously sarcastic 54 “___of God” 57 Footnote abbr.

58 Curved molding 62 Fasle story 63 Back of a chariot?

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Every puzzle has one solution.

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A digit cannot appear more than once in any particular digit combination. For instance in the example, we cannot have the combination of 8+4+8 for 20.

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HEALTH WATCH

Asian Voice - Saturday 11th September 2010

Men should be screened for postnatal depression, say researchers Overall one fifth of men suffered depression before their child was 12-years-old, a study has shown, leading experts to call for a change in guidance to check all fathers for signs.

The majority of women suffer some level of 'baby blues' in the months after their baby is born but for some this becomes more severe and is known as post-natal depression.

A team at the Medical Research Council found that 14 per cent of mothers suffered depression in their child's first year along with almost four per cent of fathers.

Professor Irwin Nazareth, director of the MRC General Practice Research Framework and lead author of the study, said: “It is standard clinical practice to screen new mothers for depression, but currently no equivalent scheme exists for fathers.

"Our research shows dads are in great need too and hope the findings will inform and encourage the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) for a change in policy.

“Parental depression can have a serious impact on children’s behaviour and development as well so it’s vital that we improve our understanding of it in order to lessen the burden on the whole family. We must also support GPs with training to recognise those parents who are most vulnerable, such as young parents.”

The study found that by the time the child was age four, a quarter of mothers and one in ten fathers had suffered an episode of

depression.

By age eight this had increased to one third of mothers and around one in six men.

By the time the child was 12years-old, four out of ten mothers had suffered symptoms of depression along with one in five fathers.

It is thought that the stress of a new baby including disturbed sleep, change in responsibility and added pressure on the relationship can trigger depression in some people.

The study found parents with a history of depression, between the age of 15 and 24 and those from deprived areas were more likely to suffer.

The study identified depression through medical notes which recorded symptoms and if the patient had received a prescription for antidepressants.

Professor Stephen Holgate, chair of the MRC’s Population and Systems Medicine Board, said: “Research, like this, which leads to

improvements and changes in clinical policy and practice is central to the MRC’s remit of informing healthcare decision makers.

"This is the first study to chart parents’ depression over much of a child’s life, and provides an accurate picture of the patterns of paternal depression. By identifying those who are most at risk, we can help to improve detection and management of the condition in future.”

The findings are published in the journal Archives of Paediatrics & Adolescent Medicine and were based on almost 87,000 families in 350 GP surgeries between 1993 and 2007.

Rob Williams, Chief Executive of the Fatherhood Institute, said: “For too long there’s been the assumption that it’s depression and other mental health problems in mothers that has an impact on children. But in reality, the impact of a father's poor mental health on his children is also powerful.

“The Medical Research Council study presents sound evidence for the risks of depression amongst fathers – and in fact is likely to have underestimated the numbers of fathers who experience depression; because we know that fathers are less likely than mothers to seek help with depression and so the numbers on medical records will be lower.

“We want to see Health Visitors and GPs screening fathers for depressions as well as mothers – particularly when the mother is depressed since it’s much more likely that the father will be depressed too."

Sunshine can give you wrinkles 'even through a window' It's a well-known fact that shunning the sunscreen and basking in direct sun leads to wrinkles.

But those who thought their skin was shielded while driving, or sitting in a conservatory, could be in for a nasty surprise.

The damage caused by sun coming through glass can be so dramatic that, over time, the side of the face exposed to the rays can end up looking up to seven years older than the other.

Even a few hours sitting in a car during April results in skin damage, according to a study.

The sun's ageing effects during autumn months are also far worse than previously realised, it found.

Glass does block out the sun's UVB rays, but about 50 per cent of UVA rays, associated with burning and ageing, do get through.

Leading dermatologists and photobiologists warn that daily exposure

to ultraviolet rays means the skin can age more than twice as quickly as skin that is protected.

There will be more lines and wrinkles, and these will be much deeper around the eyes, nose and mouth.

A team at University College Hospital, Besancon, in France, conducted the first study on how sections of the face age at different rates related to sun exposure.

They demonstrated that a woman office work-

er or regular driver will age more quickly on the side where the skin faces the sun and heat - even through glass.

Researchers said: 'Participants showed significantly more clinical signs of facial ageing on one side of their face due to driving or working close to windows over many years.'

One, a 62-year-old sales-woman, had been driving two to five hours a day for 33 years to attend client meetings.

Researchers found that the side of her face closest to her car window looked more than seven years older than the opposite side.

Clinical measurements found more signs of ageing including more, and deeper, wrinkles.

If the woman had worked in the UK, the ageing would have been on her right side as the steering wheel here is on the other side of the car.

Another study, by skin experts at Boots, found

even a few hours sitting in a car in April resulted in skin damage linked to ageing.

Research by Professor Trevor McMillan and Dr Sarah Allinson at the School of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, showed that low dose UVA, equivalent to a British autumn day, causes up to a 50-fold increase in the expression of certain genes involved in photoageing - premature ageing of the skin from exposure to UV radiation.

Signs can include dark spots, wrinkles, droopy and leathery skin and broken blood vessels.

Professor John Hawk, an Emeritus Professor of dermatological photobiology and UVA expert, said: 'We believe up to 90 per cent of the visible signs of ageing are due to the sun's ultraviolet radiation and more than 95 per cent of these are known to be UVA rays.

'What's needed is a step-change in awareness of the damaging effects all year round, not just during summer holiday season.'

Why women with love handles are better at dealing with stress Independent women who have a bit of a tum may enjoy significant health advantages over hourglass-shaped sirens, says a 37-nation study in the journal, Current Anthropology.

Elizabeth Cashdan, a Utah University anthropologist, says that being wasp-waisted can carry a sting - it may mean missing out on the hormones that make women physically stronger, more competitive and better able to deal with stress.

Her study shows that across the world, women’s average waist-to-hip ratio is higher than the magic number of 0.7, the upper threshold of a classic hourglass figure - and the shape long thought by anthropologists to be a sexually mesmerising sign of fertility.

But why, asked Cashdan, are women globally bigger than the size supposed to bring optimum mating success? She searched for another factor and arrived at androgens, a class of hormones that includes testosterone.

Androgens increase the waist-to-hip ratio in women by boosting levels of visceral fat, which is carried around the waist.

Raised levels of androgens are linked to increased strength, stamina and competitiveness in women, says Cashdan.

“These effects may be particularly useful where a woman must depend on her own resources to support herself and her family.”

Trading the benefits of a thin waist for better ability to be independently resourceful may prove a good deal in many societies, she adds - and this in turn may alter male preferences.

Thus, in Japan, Portugal and Greece, where women tend to be less economically independent, the men say they place a higher value on a thin waist than do men in Britain or Denmark, where there tends to be more sexual equality.

And in some nonWestern societies where food is scarce and women bear most of the responsibility for finding it, men prefer larger waist-to-hip ratios.

“Whether men prefer a waist-to-hip ratio associated with lower or higher androgen levels should depend on the degree to which they want their mates to be strong, tough, economically successful and politically competitive,” Cashdan hypothesises.

And anyway, she adds waspishly: “From a woman’s perspective, men’s preferences aren’t the only thing that matters.”

Health myths: the perfect female shape What is the perfect healthy female figure, the shape to get men instinctively slavering? It’s all in the ratio of waist to hips, according to The Daily Telegraph, The Sun and the Daily Mail.

New Zealand anthropologist Barnaby Dixson said, the health-radiating ratio of waist to hip that signals sexual bounty to caveman brains. The newspapers report how Dixson tracked men’s eyes as they ogled various female torsos. He then polled their opinions. Dixson concluded that if a woman’s waist is seven-tenths as big as her hips, then bingo.

Is human attraction that simple? In 1993 Minnesota University researchers also hit on the hip-to-waist ratio, but their best shape was significantly less hippy, with the waist 76 per cent as big as the hips, reported the Journal of the American Medical Association.

An Australian study of male students found averageness to be most attractive. The “girl next

door” look caught most eyes, reported New Scientist last year.

But do men instinctively seek signs of healthiness? If so, they may be out of kilter. A survey by Harvard Medical School declared thinness to be the best indicator of good health.

It found that averageweight women have a slightly higher risk of dying than underweight women, reports the New England Journal of Medicine. Then again, a study last July by N o r t h w e s t e r n University, Chicago, says that apple-shaped women may do best in the longevity stakes, as they have the lowest dementia risk.

SPort worLd

Asian Voice - Saturday 11th September 2010

Pakistan: eye of cricket storm

By Dr. Premen Addy The plot thickens as the rumour mills grind overtime. Spot fixing was the principal story to start with, but it has been superseded by a new match-fixing allegation against a fourth Pakistani cricketer, who cannot, as of now, be named for legal reasons. If the unnamed Pakistani cricketer is found guilty of the charge it will surely be curtains for his career in the game.

Speaking to the BBC at the weekend, Imran Khan, a former Pakistan captain and one of cricket's alltime greats, described his country's anguish at the revelations involving Captain Salman Butt, Mohammed Asif and the 18-year-old Mohammed Amir, hailed as cricket's next megastar. In astronomy a collapsed star becomes a black hole, so one must hope Amir continues to remain a star into the future.

Imran Khan averred that those guilty of spot

fixing deserved timebound punishments, as befits the lesser crime, but match-fixing, must, he insisted, result in an unequivocal life ban.

Never had seen such demoralisation among his compatriots, Khan continued, the scam had almost broken the “camel's back”, coming as it did with “crisis after crisis,” from suicide bombings, corruption and the devastating floods that had laid Pakistan low.

The tabloid News of the World, which broke the story, is applying the slow drip of water torture.

Last weekend, the paper published the words of Yasir Hameed, the Pakistani opening batsman, who claimed to his interrogator, that covert cash transactions between his team mates and bookies were rife. Hameed was unaware that the interview was being secretly taped; he now denies intent to blacken colleagues, claiming his words were carelessly uttered and taken out con-

text. He must hope the International Cricket Council's Anti-Corruption unit will accept his explanation, which seems unlikely.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan High Commissioner to the UK, Wajid Shamsul Hasan, has done his best to look ridiculous – not difficult at the best of times – by claiming that it was all part of an anti-Pakistan conspiracy, hinting at a hidden Indian hand behind the scenes.

Such shenanigans have done little to help his country's cause. Patience is wearing thin, and so is public sympathy with Pakistan's misfortunes, writes former English Test star Geoff Boycott in his Daily Telegraph column.

He commended to the Pakistani authorities India's firm and prompt action following the Hansie Cronje affair: Mohammed Azharuddin and Manoj Prabhakar were silently banished from domestic and inter-

national cricket in the absence of evidence of wrongdoing that would stand up in court. Ajay Jadeja, was never selected to play for India again, although he had won a court acquittal. The selectors were not obliged to select him, whatever the judicial ruling, and there the issue rested. The genuine whiff of suspicion ended their careers.

The chances of Boycott's advice being accepted are minimal, given that India was cited as role model. His other suggestion could be more alluring. He asked that he, Ian Botham and Michael Holding be appointed by the ICC Anti-Corruption unit to conduct an inquiry into this latest cricket scam. As respected international cricketers, their keen noses would be quicker than most to smell a rat, and the guilty and innocent would be named with the speed of Holding's quickest delivery. And it was quick, by heck!

Euro qualifying: England starts on a winning note

England began their campaign for qualifying in Euro 2012 with a win against Bulgaria at the Wembley stadium in London last week. A hat trick of goald by Jermain Defoe and one more from Adam Johnson made the scoreline 4 – 0 for the home team.

After half time, Michael Dawson had to leave the field after he suffered a serious knee injury.

Ignoring all the pre match criticism, Fabio Capello continued with his favourite 4-4-2 formation.

England had the lead within three minutes. Wayne Rooney, his form so indifferent in South Africa, set Ashley Cole through on the left.

The Chelsea full-back’s shot was saved by Nikolay Mihaylov, but he lofted the rebound back across goal for Defoe to thrash in his thirteenth

international goal.

At that stage England seemed wholly in control, pressing well with Steven Gerrard and Gareth Barry in complete control in the centre of midfield.

Chances, though, were in short supply, and the only other real moment of goalmouth incident in the first-half came as Glenn Johnson inadvertently guided a Stanislav Manolev cross towards his own goal.

Joe Hart, though, saved comfortably. The second-half was a little under 10 minutes old when Dawson suffered what looked a serious knee injury, his foot seeming to become stuck in the turf as he twisted.

After lengthy treatment, he was stretchered off, and replaced by debutant Gary Cahill of Bolton Wanderers.

England’s second came just after the hour. Hart beat away Angelov’s drive from a Martin Petrov cut-back, England broke, and Rooney released Defoe to stroke a finish between Mihaylov’s legs.

Hart then saved again from an unmarked Ivelin Popov, who nearly joined Blackburn Rovers before the transfer deadline.

Defoe was denied another as Mihaylov scooped the ball away after making a fine low save from Gerrard, but Adam Johnson did add a third with seven minutes remaining, running on to Rooney’s pass and driving in low at the near post.

The hat-trick arrived four minutes from time, Defoe’s pace carrying him on to another assist from Rooney. He too then hobbled off, but the injury did not look serious.

Sachin Tendulkar dawns IAF Colours Cricketer conferred as Group Captain Sachin Tendulkar, the Indian batting maestro was last week conferred with the Indian Air Force's honorary rank of Group Captain to honour his cricketing achievements and contribution to the nation.

Tendulkar is the first sportsperson to be conferred a rank by IAF and the first personality with no aviation background to receive the honour.

In 2008, India's World Cup winning captain Kapil Dev had received the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel of the Territorial Army. The 37year-old Tendulkar was inducted into the Air Force as its brand ambassador with IAF chief Air Chief Marshal P V Naik doing the honours in a glittering ceremony. "It's a great pleasure and honour to be honoured by IAF. It was a wishful think-

Sachin Tendulkar, left, receives the honorary rank of Group Captain of the Indian Air Force (IAF) from Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik in New Delhi on September 3

ing and it has come true today. I'm extremely proud to be a part of IAF. I want to urge the youth to join air force and serve the nation. So dream, because dreams do come true," Tendulkar said after receiving the honour.

Earlier, President Pratibha Patil had conferred the honorary rank of the IAF on the iconic

batsman on June 23 this year. The rank was conferred on Tendulkar under the provision of granting honorary rank by Armed Forces to eminent personalities acknowledging their contribution towards the nation. The IAF had, in January this year, mooted a proposal.

IAF feels that besides the recognition, his asso-

ciation with it would motivate the younger generation to join the Air Force to serve the country. Naik said the batting legend's association with IAF will help in making the youth aware about the Air Force.

"Youth admires Tendulkar. I think the youth will get inclined towards the Air Force.

What youth will do in future we can't say but the indications that we are getting from school students ... we are hopeful.

Before being felicitated with the honorary rank, Tendulkar had gone through a process of familiarisation with the IAF and training in basic military practices and drills. In a career spanning more than two decades, Tendulkar has crossed many milestones and holds almost every batting record.

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Archery gold for Indian men at World Cup Indian men's team won the gold medal on Saturday in Recurve Men Section in the 4th World Cup Archery Championship held at Shanghai.

Jayanta Talukdar, Tarundeep Rai and Rahul Banerjee clinched gold from Japan team in a touch final match (224 Vs 220). Before the final, they defeated Great Britain (218 Vs 216) in pre-quarter final, USA (225 Vs 208) in quarterfinal and China team (222 Vs 217) in semi final.

Talukdar, Dola Banerjee and Deepika have qualified for the final World Cup to be held at Edenburg on 18th and 19th September, 2010.

18 Indian athletes fail dope test, shame the country As if the late preparations and corruptions in the Commonwealth Games were not enough, now 18 Indian athletes have failed dope tests, which has put the nation to shame.

Most of the athletes even claimed they were innocent and blamed coaches for the taint.

CWG Organising Committee vice-chairman Randhir Singh on Tuesday dismissed the claims of dope-tainted athletes that they were not aware of the banned substances and said that those guilty would be punished under anti-doping rules.

Eighteen athletes from five sports recently tested positive for banned substances, at least 11 of them for methylhexanamine. “Sports Authority of India and respective federations circulate about prohibited drugs. The team doctors know it and they must have informed the athletes,” he said.

Josh Hazlewood is the new face in OZ team for India tour Teenage rookie fast bowler Josh Hazlewood has been included in the 15-man squad Cricket Australia (CA) announced on Thursday for the two-Test series in India.

The squad for the three-match ODI series starting on October 17 in Kochi will be announced after monitoring the fitness of injured players.

Peter George from Josh Hazlewood South Australia and 19year-old Hazlewood from New South Wales are the latest inclusions in the Australian pace attack.

It is was Majeed’s money, tainted trio admit Pakistan cricket captain Salman Butt and two bowlers have reportedly admitted that money found in their hotel room was paid to them by bookie Mazhar Mejeed. The players have, however maintained that the money was given to them on account of sponsorship contracts that they had signed with different commercial organisations, GEO TV reported.

The players also stated that Majeed was working as their agent to secure sponsorship deals and they did not know that he was a book-maker.

The trio appeared before the Scotland Yard inquiry in London, Friday. The investigation has started following a report in the tabloid News of the World that the players bowled deliberate no-balls in the Lord’s Test match after taking money from a book-maker. The legal advisor of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Tafazzul Rizvi confirmed that the players had given this statement.

EPL games this week Saturday, 11 September Everton v/s Man Utd Goodison Park Arsenal v/s Bolton Emirates Stadium Fulham v/s Wolverhampton Craven Cottage Man City v/s Blackburn City of Mcr. Stadium Newcastle v/s Blackpool St. James Park West Brom v/s Tottenham The Hawthorns West Ham v/s Chelsea Boleyn Ground Wigan v/s Sunderland DW Stadium Sunday, 12 September Birmingham v/s Liverpool St. Andrews Ground Monday, 13 September Stoke v/s Aston Villa Britannia Stadium

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Asian Voice - Saturday 11th September 2010