Asian Voice

FIRST & FOREMOST ASIAN WEEKLY IN EUROPE

VOL 40. ISSUE 27

VOICE

Let noble thoughts come to us from every side

80p

Million Sikhs parade to keep tradition alive Nearly one million Sikhs converged for 32nd ‘Sikh Parade’ on Sunday at Yuba City, California. It was one of the largest gatherings of Sikhs from all over the world. The parade is organized to mark the day of the installation of the Sikh scripture of the Guru Granth. The Sikhs from US, Canada, Europe and India took part in ‘Nagar Kirtan’, taken out through streets of this picturesque city Yuba. The Sikh population in the Yuba-Sutter area has grown to be one of the largest in the United States.

With the turbans carpeting the entire horizon,

The 32nd Annual Sikh Parade kicks off in Yuba City.

enthusiasm marked the ceremony. The chants from Gurbani and slogans of “Bole So Nihal” resonated all around. The Panj Pyaras carried

Nishan Sahib, the religious flag of Sikhs as they also carried the flag of California State during the parade, reflecting their total similation to local

traditions. The affluence was at display as a specially arranged helicopters hovered over for the rain of flowers and ‘langar’ (community kitchen) was served throughout.

Apart from meeting each other and cultural exchange it has also emerged as a platform for the community members to discuss and address their issues. This is why the ceremony is also seen as assertion of the community members politically also to unite on the burning issues and find ways to voice their concerns.

Continued on page 26

12th November to 18th November 2011

‘Bordering on’ unfair treatment of tax paying immigrants The UK Border agency is ‘bordering on’ making UK a laughing stock.

While the government is trying to ensure a new and stronger economic relationship with India, ministers like Theresa May and Damian Green appear to be in contraflow. While they might be involved in questionable decisions to relax border controls in the intrest of smaller queues, enabling would-be terrorists and criminals to enter the country without the necessary safeguards; they have been targeting the ‘tax paying’ non-EU immigrants

Theresa May

‘quite unfairly’.

It is understood that there has been an influx of immigrants over last few years, but with removal of Tier 1 recently has definitely curbed it by huge number.

Continued on page 2

Luxury at a price you can afford.

Approved Used Cars, including C220 CDI SE Auto Saloon from £15,490.

%.DD 7!& 2B/9 @.<"&97 29&) >&<,&)&9E(&A0 6&7.HD&< ?A !Q!!! }$! '}" IO ^OOT _ IZJI [KVGZ4 nZK]Z[ZJ5zZPC iZI_VS fJZ[ y_KJ &*A4*AA $<@@<> /8"$9 F &E7@E>#!*@ F $*3%7!*@ /D*3-E)B9 F "*43 =<>'<> /(5.9 F C%@%A C%@:43%*' F ?E>#43<> 1:<> 0!*@%4 /(.9 F ;*>)!%43%7 F 6*7B 2<,*A F +*A3!*@ $7<44 FFF4RZK]Z[ZJ5^ZPCKZI_VSHJZ[]_KJ4]O4HT ;H,75<& $?< HDD597<.7H?A =5<=?9&9 ?AD1# %.DD9 C.1 -& <&,?<)&)# ;<H,& ,?<<&,7 .7 7HC& ?$ "?HA" 7? =<&99# 6&"H97&<&) ?I,&F >&<,&)&9E(&A0 6&7.HD G<?5= 2B @7)' 4?A"3&DD' >HD7?A B&1A&9 >B:+ 8(*#

2

UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 12th November 2011

one to one

needing permanent health care. There are thousands of people still being poisoned and there are alarmingly high rate of birth defects in all of the poor communities around the abandoned disaster zone.

Keith Vaz MP with

Colin Toogood, Bhopal Medical Appeal I am a qualified architect who has taken a very disparate career path. After qualifying as an architect I ran, for over a decade, a very interesting business acting as a design and business consultant for various media companies. I also ran a music promotions events company whilst maintaining a parallel career as a successful dj both in the UK and abroad!

I also have a post graduate landscape design qualification which helped engender my interest in the wider environment. This has been invaluable in informing my thinking so far as the wider implications of the Bhopal issue are concerned.

I have been a regular visitor to India, since my engagement with the Bhopal Medical Appeal, and am a huge lover of this beautiful country 1) What inspired you to begin your career in your chosen field?

It was a change of life moment at a time when I felt that I should be doing something a little more worthwhile with my time. I was extremely lucky that there was an opening at the Bhopal Medical Appeal and now find myself extremely passionate about what is an extremely worthwhile cause.

2) What are your proudest achievements?

I am very proud to have raised a substantial sum of money, last year, for the BMA by organising a major art auction to which many of the UK’s most famous artists contributed. Aside from that,

I am always extremely proud of any activity that raises awareness of the ongoing disaster situation in Bhopal.

3) Please tell us about your current position?

We are a tiny charity and I have a very wide-ranging role. I organise fundraising events but I am also very much at the heart of our media activity and always involved in any active political lobbying we undertake.

4) What has been the biggest obstacle in your career?

The biggest obstacle in my current role is simply communicating the facts that the Bhopal disaster is not a finite event that took place in 1984. There

Bordering on ....

Continued from page 1

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

I am very pleased to have been advised, at critical stages of my career, by Ken Burnett one of the most influential voices in fundraising, marketing and communications for non-profit organisations.

Ken has been amazingly helpful, and a powerful influence and I now consider him a personal friend 6) What is the best thing

sive consultation the Mac has recommended a pay threshold as the best way to decide if a worker can stay in the UK’.

But he warned that some nurses may fail to qualify for settlement under the pay threshold, adding that the Government may want to consider making an exception for nurses and other key public sector jobs.

He also added that Chefs are also expected to fall short of the recommended pay limit, which the Mac says should be set between 31,000 and 49,000.

Prof Metcalf said the Government had already ‘ratcheted up the skill level’, introduced a pay threshold, tightened up the English language requirement, and brought in an annual cap on migrant workers coming to the UK from outside the EU, so doing

7) And the worst?

Quite simply, the fact that there is so little awareness of the ongoing disaster situation. Many potential donors assume that the Bhopal disaster was all resolved many years ago but I am afraid that this is very, very far from the case. There are many thousands of people still

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

I would ensure that all multi-national corporations were obliged to behave as responsibly in foreign countries as they do in their own or be subject to the full force of the law, with no limit to their liability.

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

With Albert Camus, one of the 20th Century’s most influential thinkers, whose writing taught me the difference between rebellion and revolution. Rebellion is always an ongoing process but revolution, as the name implies, sees a situation go round until it is back where it started!

rion is a major flaw and will not yield any results. It will only create more problems and insecurity for the already troubled migrants, who are hanging to their stability by a thread due to constant immigration changes. Introducing a rule and then adding exception to it shows the shallowness of the system and the lack of clarity behind such an action.”

“We vehemently oppose these changes. The government is constantly victimising migrants and treating them like a punching bag to score their political points. A migrant who is good to come here, pay taxes and contribute to the UK economy, is the best and the brightest and should not be forced out from the UK when she seeks settlement. This is exploitation of the highest order. This is not good for the UK economy and

■ The Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Dipu Modi was in town to speak at a meeting organised by the Commonwealth Journalist Association.

She is rapidly being hailed as Asia's Hilary Clinton.

■ Diwali at Westminster was being celebrated in usual style at the House of Commons.

The big guns were out: Ed Miliband, E r i c Pickles, S i m o n Hughes, Yvette Cooper, and Domimic Grieve all spoke with passion.

■ Over at Downing Street Prime Minister David Cameron held Number 10s third Diwlai celebrations with a clutch of A listers including Pradeep Damacha, Rami Ranger, Moni Verma, Nina Amin, Vijay Patel, Vinu and Dhiru Bhattesa.

The only thing missing was the tiara on the head of the elegant Sandihya, Lady Popat.

Rt. Hon David Cameron MP with Acting High Commissioner of India, HE Rajesh Prasad

UK’s image in the long run.”

While Theresa May, the Home Secretary has been advocating such changes, she herself is facing questions about whether a secret decision taken by Home Office ministers to relax the passport checks, potentially allowed extremists and criminals to enter Britain.

Though she is accused of being responsible for the most serious immigration scandal to face the Coalition since it took office last year, she has refused to resign over such ‘allegations’.

The UK Border Agency, which is part of the Home Office, have raised fears that foreign criminals and terrorists could have been allowed to enter Britain unchecked. Staff raised concerns about the scandal, claiming the suspensions were frequent.

SOC IE LAW

0800 118899 Email: mpatel@levenes.co.uk Website: www.levenes.co.uk Ashley House, 235-239 High Road, Wood Green, London N22 8HF

TY

E

Contact Mr. Mitesh Patel, Solicitor No Win No Fee

about your current role?

The variety of my day-today work and the knowledge that I am helping some of the world’s poorest people to receive the health-care, and hopefully the justice, that they deserve.

nothing further was ‘worthy of consideration’.

In a separate report, the Mac also said the Government should keep current employment restrictions on workers from Bulgaria and Romania - two relatively new members of the EU - for a further two years.

Amit Kapadia, Executive Director of HSMP Forum told Asian Voice, “This is nothing but victimisation of migrants. After letting them stay on for five years and profiting from their taxes, the government cannot impose a new criteria to evict them from the country after they have invested their time and earnings into building a life in the UK, and contributed towards the UK economy.

“The HSMP forum believes that introducing the income crite-

TH

Though the changes are aimed particularly at the Tier 2 visa holders (as reported by the Evening Standard), if the minimum threshold of salary goes up, it might hinder the interest of genuine Indian investors (like Infosys etc), who want to set up industries in Britain engaging both foreign and native workers.

But the Migration Advisory Committee (Mac) said unless a minimum salary threshold of 35,000 was brought in, an immigrant may fail to settle in this country, reducing the numbers by two-third.

Professor David Metcalf, the Mac chairman, said: ‘After exten-

are many outstanding issues pertaining to the 1984 disaster but, in addition to this, there is an ongoing, separate disaster taking place in Bhopal today.

The indiscriminate dumping of toxic waste, by the same Union Carbide factory responsible for 1984, contaminated the drinking water for miles around the factory. Thousands of poor people have been drinking this water for many years and there has never been any legal settlement nor any attempt at a clean-up of this second disaster

8) What are your long term goals?

The long term goals are to see the ongoing contamination situation cleaned up and to stop the people of Bhopal being poisoned. But this also needs to be in context of seeing all outstanding justice issues resolved and there being a system of permanent, free health-care in place for all of the victims of this toxic trespass.

People

Personal Injury

SOLICITORS

Asian Voice - Saturday 12th November 2011

COMMENT

Immigration: the story that has no end The brouhaha over slack controls which permitted aliens with dubious backgrounds to enter the UK is justified. In our uncertain world such border controls must be rigorously enforced. How this controversy pans out only time will show, but Home Secretary Teresa May has cause to be concerned.

Does the fault lie in the government cutback in administrative expenditure leading staff at the Border and Immigration Agency (with discreet Home Office prompting, maybe) to stop checks “to cut queues”? The government has some explaining to do in Parliament and outside.

What engages us here, however, is the question of immigration in the round, of people seeking to enter through lawful means in order to perform lawful work and leading lives within the rule of law. The conditions permitting such ingress must be drawn up with care; that done, the rules need to be applied with consistency and fairness and a broad view of the national interest. Rules should not be subject to capricious alteration to suit populist goals. That surely would result in a lose-lose situation.

But this is precisely where we appear to be heading. Migrant workers who are graduates are to be forced to leave the UK after five years unless they were earning more than ￡35,000 per annum, if the government's Migration Advisory Committee, have their way. Members of this body were asked by ministers to find some way of controlling immigration as this, they felt. had gotten out of control. Advisors do what they are told by their political masters, hence new restrictions imposing a minimum pay level for the first time are expected to reduce numbers of graduate-level foreign entrants from outside the EU acquiring the right to 'settlement' by two-thirds, from 60,000 to 20,000. The government has already “ratcheted up” the level of skills required of these foreigners including the desired command of spoken and written English.

Coupled with this is upbeat talk of making Britain fit for purpose as a business location, where talent would be welcomed. The market in this conversation has achieved near divine properties, yet it is this self-same market that is sceptical about the thinking that has seeded this scheme, which is scheduled to operate from 2016.

UK company executives have received the plan with a noticeable lack of enthusiasm. Their apprehension is that it will send a message that Britain “is not open for business”. Investors balk at the thought that foreign staff in their UK operations will be denied visas. Of course, there must be sufficient hiring of local people, but a non-UK citizen (or citizens) may be deemed necessary for certain specialisms, which in turn are calculated to boost company profits. Beyond the private sector, the Department of Health have expressed fears that the supply of foreign nurses will dry up.

The great and good in government must surely understand the unavoidable reality that capital and labour move across national frontiers in wealth-generating enterprises. The quantum of movement may be subjected to regulation, but this must be driven by rational considerations and not panicky brain storms. Words and deeds are becoming increasing disconnected as Britain, the eurozone and the European Union plunge deeper into economic stagnation and debt, which the confusion of their political leaders has done little to alleviate.

Meanwhile, the wrong type of people, it would appear, have less trouble entering the UK (through lubricating bribery, it is alleged), than those whose presence could be a national asset.

This lamentable state of affairs needs urgently to be rectified, sooner rather than later. Time is of the essence, and it is fast running out. Disaster looms.

Nigeria at the crossroads The distinguished Nigerian novelist Chinua Achebe and his son, both now in residence in the United States, were in their homeland on a visit. Mr Achebe, an Ibo from his country's south, is confined to a wheelchair due to an accident. Father and son were compiling an audit of Nigerian development since its independence from British colonial rule way back in 1960. While the pair rejoiced in their country's achievements, they were saddened by its palpable failures. Speaking to a BBC World Service interviewer, the younger Achebe lamented that Nigeria had not made the economic and technological advances registered by India.

It was an arresting point. Nigeria was and remains the largest nation in sub-Saharan Africa, it is gifted with considerable human capital and has abundant energy reserves. But its assets appear to have been squandered by profligate economic projects driven by an insensate drive for power by squabbling politicians and their rival political formations. The result has been that Nigerian oil has become a curse rather than a blessing for its people generally. Cronyism and massive corruption have taken their toll of productive possibilities in almost every sphere of Nigerian life. Worse: the country's ethnic fault lines, never an insuperable gulf in themselves, are now riven with the explosive mix of religious militancy, involving Nigeria's Christian south and Muslim north. Northern Nigeria, alas, is hobbled by the social and institutional backwardness of much of the Muslim world. The links of faith are complemented by Islamist bigotry and its litany of grievances, most imaginary some genuine,

against the non-Muslim community at home and non-Muslim communities abroad.

The Nigerian Islamist group Boko Haram has been on the rampage of late, attacking police stations and government offices and burning churches and killing Christians by the score. The group has admitted responsibility for these attacks, claiming that its ultimate goal was the destruction of the secular Nigerian state and its replacement by an Islamist caliphate in denial of public space for unbelievers.

The five-star Hilton, Nicon Luxury and Sheraton hotels in Nigeria's capital Abuja are targets of Boko Harem because they are frequented by American diplomats and diplomats of other countries. Boko Haram gave notice of its intentions when it attacked a UN office and killed some its staff. A spokesman for Boko Haram censured western education and promised more attacks in the future. Parts of Nigeria resemble a war zone said an inhabitant of a small northern town. The deteriorating security situation has provoked some Nigerians and foreign observers to detect a resemblance to Somalia.

Somalia has become a haven for Islamist extremism. The country's al Shabbab Islamists have commenced terror bombings in neighbouring Kenya and beyond, posing a threat to the peace and stability of East Africa With Boko Haram on the march in Nigeria, sub-Saharan Africa is set for confessional strife to the detriment of its economic and social advance.

Wages of sin comes to haunt West The deadline to a report in The Daily Telegraph by its Middle East Correspondent Adrian Blomfield reads: “Rogue scientist helped build Syrian nuclear site, says UN”. Who might this scientist be? It is - if you haven't guessed already – the redoubtable Pakistani metallurgist Dr A.Q Khan who purloined his nuclear secrets at the Dutch centrifuge plant, where he worked in the 1970s courtesy the US and Nato. Pakistan was valued as a US ally and Dr Khan went about his work under the protection of the Reagan administration. Much water has flowed through the Potomac since those heady days.

Dr Khan helped develop the Pakistani bomb with secrets gleaned in the Netherlands, and with the active cooperation of China. Dr Khan's handlers in the Pakistan military-intelligence establishment

encouraged him to establish an Islamic-North Korean network, through which favoured Muslim regimes, such as Libya and Iran, not to speak of Saudi Arabia, which bore the cost of the Pakistan bomb, would receive technological help for their nuclear programmes. The North Koreans were in a trade-off: nuclear technology for their missile secrets. It now transpires that Syria was a beneficiary of Dr Khan's generosity, if the Telegraph report is to be believed. According to it, the UN has the necessary facts and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has in its possession copies of the correspondence between Dr Khan and the Syrian regime. Such are the wages of sin – in this case turning a blind eye to nuclear proliferation when it could have been checked.

www.abplgroup.com

3

Thought for the Week

Never look down on anybody unless you're helping them up - Reverend Jesse Jackson

Political Sketchbook Alpesh Patel’s

The Politics of Women Her Majesty to Queen spoke at the Commonwealth gathering recently about this being an event to commemorate women as ‘agents of change’. I this past week gave a speech to no less an important group about women – to Barclays Wealth in London at their Annual Diwali function. These are some of the points I made.

The highest aspiration of a Hindu man is to be like Ram. The Diwali story is not history. The battle of good and evil is a daily battle. And Sita, Ram's wife, has been abducted - literally. She is a 15 year old girl, called Sita, who is enslaved in sex slavery in Mumbai.

I have a picture of Sita taken from a documentary.

Her name is actually Sita. She truly is 15. She has been in reality abducted. I am not making this up.

So what does Diwali mean to me. It is not a celebration. It is an annual renewal. A renewal to the cause fought by Ram himself. That evil wins when good men and god men sit silent. Every day is a Diwali battle.

So let us prove our bloodline to be sons of Ram and rescue Sita today. Go defeat evil and bring her back. Earn the right to call ourselves Hindu.

I then asked the non-Hindus to stand and bare witness that the honour of the Hindus in the room is at stake if we do not now dedicate to a great cause.

That there may come a day when Hindu will not care for Hindu. But bare witness that today is not that day.

We may live in a world of women’s equality where sexism is barred – but I don’t think it is sexist to say – Sita needs rescuing and it is men who have imprisoned her and it down to men to in the footsteps of Ram save her. Find your Hanuman and Lakshman and save Sita – save the women. Shame if the women have to do it themselves for themselves.

Shame.

I was inspired to see so many of our youth take up the cause and come back and desire to fulfil their lives with a great cause. To say they come from the most ancient of civilisations and that on their watch the Ramayan did not become ancient history. That Ram and Sita to this day from this earth have not left, that our gods are not dead. That they live…in the one place we rarely look – within is.

So it is in Indian elections you will hear stories of Ram Raj – don’t let the politicians abuse Ram and Sita. If they want Ram Raj tell them to free Sita. She is a 15 year old abducted girl in Mumbai. Save her and you save the nation and we save our souls.

Thank you Barclays Bank Wealth staff. www.facebook.com/alpeshp1

ASIAN VOICE is published by Asian Business Publications Ltd Karma Yoga House, 12 Hoxton Market, (Off Coronet Street) London N1 6HW. Tel: 020 7749 4080 Fax: 020 7749 4081 Email: aveditorial@abplgroup.com www: abplgroup.com © Asian Business Publications

4

Asian Voice - Saturday 12th November 2011

In brief

Email: majithia.meera@gmail.com

Leicester Voice

By Meera Majithia

Historian reveals new facts about firstever ‘Indian’ cricket tour to Britain A historian from the University of Leicester has been studying the firstever ‘Indian’ cricket tour to Britain in 1911.

Dr Prashant Kidambi’s research has been featured in a widely acclaimed essay in the 148th edition of Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack, telling the long-forgotten story of this extraordinary tour a century ago and placing it within the wider context of changing Indo-British relations.

During the course of his Leverhulme Research Fellowship funded research project entitled ‘Sport and the Imperial Bond’, Dr Kidambi uncovered several previously unknown aspects of the tour.

It is usually assumed that the tour was principally the initiative of Maharaja Bhupindar Singh of Patiala and that he was its principal sponsor. In fact Dr Kidambi’s research revealed that a number of other individuals - especially Parsi businessmen based in Bombay played a critical role in the organisation of the tour.

Indeed, Bhupindar Singh only joined the tour after most of the arrangements were in place and once the team got to England the prince took very little interest in the cricket after the first few matches had been played.

Another fact that came to light was about one of the Muslim cricketers in the team - Shafaquat Hussain who was one-eyed. He is thus part of a very select group of cricketers – the best known being the late Nawab Mansur Ali Khan (‘Tiger’) Pataudi who have played the game at the highest level with only one good eye.

Dr Kidambi (pictured) said: “The 1911 tour was a fascinating venture made up of an improbable cast of characters. The team’s flamboyant captain, Maharaja Bhupindar Singh, was the newly enthroned ruler of one of the biggest Indian princely states and had an apparently insatiable appetite for the high life. “ Its star bowler – Palwankar Baloo - was from an ‘untouchable’

caste, the lowest rung of the Hindu social hierarchy. The rest of the team was drawn from different parts of the subcontinent and belonged to different religious communities: Hindu, Muslim, Sikh and Parsi.

“Through an analysis of this key sporting event, my essay in Wisden highlighted the significance of a distinctive moment in the early twentieth century, when ideas of imperial belonging and nationalist selfexpression simultaneously co-existed in uneasy tension.”

He also added: “Leicester has an interesting place in the history of this tour. It was at Leicester that the Indians, after suffering a series of defeats, won the first game of the tour, defeating the local county team by seven wickets.”

Man drugs wife to keep her at home

A Leicester-man has been given a suspended sentence after secretly drugging his partner so she would become an overweight, stay-athome wife.

Dalwara Singh, of Empire Road, Leicester secretly placed steroids in his wife’s food and drink between November and January last year, causing her to sprout hair on her face and back and also made her skin itchy and spotty.

Dalwara Singh When the 37-year-old mother-oftwo insisted she needed to go to see a doctor, Singh told her she was worrying over nothing.

He admitted to administering a poison or noxious substance with intent to injure, aggrieve or annoy at Leicester Crown Court.

After several weeks he was eventually caught out when their teenage daughter heard him grinding a pestle and mortar in the bedroom. The mother then found the steroids in a locked cupboard and called the police.

Singh was given a 12-month jail sentence, suspended for two years and ordered to attend a domestic abuse programme.

He was also made the subject of a restraining order, banning contact with his estranged wife other than through solicitors or social services.

The couple had been married for 17 years and have a son and daughter, aged 15 and 16.

Double celebration at Bapa’s mandir

Bollywood

Rockstar comes to UK After the huge success of ‘Jab We Met’ and ‘Love Aaj Kal’, film director Imtiaz Ali is back with his latest offering ‘Rockstar’, which stars Ranbir Kapoor and newcomer Nargis Fakhri.

Spanning over seven years the film revolves around Delhi-boy Janardan (Ranbir) who resents the fact that he has no pain in life. He believes that all of the great musicians have had some sort of tragedy in their lives, and so decides to woo one of the most popular girls on the college campus, Heer Kaul (Nargis), in a bid to get his heart broken.

Asian Voice was invited to a special press conference held for the film in London on Monday 7th November, where Ranbir, Nargis and Imitiaz were all present.

When questioned if the film was based on his life, Imtiaz replied: “No it’s not my life story, my life is far too boring in comparison.”

However the director said that he got the inspiration of the story from his college days. He added: “A lot of us have seen these wannabe musicians. These guys who play the guitar and want to be like western-

ised rockstars, and I’ve hung around guys like this during my college days.

“The thought used to disturb me that my life is very ordinary and there is a lack of tragedy in it.

Most of the lives of big musicians and artists has some sort of tragedy and I used to think, will I ever make it, because my life is so ordinary?”

Ranbir plays the role

get an insight into their lives.

With the film being centred around music it was also important for Ranbir to look like a genuine musician. Musical genius AR Rahman has composed the soundtrack for the film and the actor travelled to Rahman’s home in Chennai to learn how to play the guitar.

Interestingly Rahman has

of a typical Jatt boy in the film and speaking about the preparation he had to do for the role, Ranbir revealed that both he and Imtiaz went to Delhi to hear the way these Jatt boys would walk and talk and they would also listen to incidents they’d had with their girlfriends.

They even went drinking and dancing with them to

roped in the internationally acclaimed guitarist Orianthi Panagris, who worked with the likes of Michael Jackson, to work on the film.

Though he didn’t identify with his character initially, Ranbir said: “I didn’t know him at all when I read the script, but through the course of the film once you start

playing him everyday something starts seeping in to your real life. We started living as Janardan and Heer and became the characters. It was one of those parts where if you don’t completely surrender to the role it would be dishonest.”

Alongside the rockstar Kapoor in the film, is newly model turned actor Nargis Fakhri, who couldn’t speak a word of Hindi before she started work on the film, and who had never acted in her life. However Imtiaz calls her his biggest lucky break for this film.

For her, the emotional hardship of playing such an intense character was quite difficult as was laying her complete trust in the director to just go with the flow.

However she said: “Before this happened to me I was at a point where I didn’t like modelling anymore and it felt so empty and shallow. I’m an artist at heart – I paint, I sketch, I sculpt and as a model you are just the blank canvas and not the artist. Now that I’ve seen what I’ve created I think it was really worth it!”

‘Rockstar’ releases in cinemas worldwide on Friday 11th November.

Over 1,500 people gathered to celebrate the 212th Jalaram Jayanti at the mandir on Narborough Road on Wednesday, 2nd November.

People came in and out throughout the day with the queue for prayers (darshan), at one point going right outside onto the streets.

The day was extra special as a plaque was unveiled in honour of Pujya Santmata Bhanuma alongside other members of the Sarvoday Satsang Mandal who were instrumental in establishing the first Bapa’s mandir outside of India on Mere Road in Leicester in 1979.

The other five ladies who are no longer with us were; late Gangaben Patel, late Ratanben Mistry, late Ramkurben Gheewala, late Jayaben Parmar and late Lalitaben Thakkar.

Together with the help of Bhanuben Kakkad who raised £1,001 by visiting houses to sing religious songs (bhajans) they set up the first mandir with the help of the late Shantilalbhai Thakkar and Chaganbhai Gosai.

Incidentally Mr Thakkar’s son, Pramod Thakkar is now the chairman of trustees for the mandir. He said: “We felt it was important to remember and honour those people who helped start this mandir and coincidentally the unveiling fell on the auspicious day of Jalaram Jayanti.”

In 1992 a new property was bought my the late Shantilal Thakkar on 85 Narborough and after threeyears of construction work the temple as we now know it, was opened.

His excellency Gururaj Rao, Consel General of India in Birmingham was the chief guest at the event alongside Cllr Manjula Sood. Bhanuben Kakkad’s family were also present to conduct the honours of unveiling the plaque.

Bhanuben’s granddaughter, Meera Kakkad, who lives in London, said: :We are very excited about the unveiling today because my grandmother has worked so hard and been dedicated to causes like this all her life.

“She is a big devotee of Jalaram Bapa and for the past 45 years she only consumes milk and fruits, not eating any other food. She wears no shoes and sleeps on the floor at the old ladies home she has set up in Rajkot.”

Asian Voice - Saturday 12th November 2011

5

6

UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 12th November 2011

National Hindu Students Forum (UK)

By Kajal Valani Sheth, BSc (hons), LL.b (hons)

Arise Arjuna: Reignite Your Soul Awake, arise and uphold Dharma. This is effectively the message Shri Krishna gave to Arjuna on the Kurukshetra battlefield, and this is the message the National Hindu Students Forum (UK) – NHSF – are looking to give students and the wider Hindu Samaj of the UK. It has been 20 years since the establishment of NHSF and what better way to celebrate than a yearlong theme aiming to help ourselves and others wake up and reignite our souls! NHSF, for the last 20 years, has surpassed all expectations and has provided the platform for students across campuses nationwide to succeed in all their undertakings, using Hindu Dharma as a tool. I myself have been involved in NHSF for the past 8 years and can truly say this is the organisation where students can come to find a ‘home away from home’.

This yearlong celebration, boldly entitled ‘Arise Arjuna’, is categorised into four areas: Personal, Chapter, Zonal and National. Within the

Personal area, there are two initiatives; first being to conduct an act of Sewa (selfless service) once a week and the second to read 10 minutes daily on any Hindu Dharma topic.

The Chapter area is designed to help all chapters of NHSF make a positive impact on campus using NHSF's 20th anniversary as the perfect excuse by creating ground-breaking and innovative ‘Eventson-a-Plate’ for chapters to follow (such as Who Wants To Be A Hindu Millionaire). The Zonal section is looking to hold a Dharma Retreat in each of the three zones of NHSF to allow students to unite to discuss and find solutions facing Hindus in the UK and worldwide.

The National event will be the largest and most prominent segment as a free-flowing, interactive exhibition style event with something for all ages to enjoy. It will be split in to four zones using NHSF’s tagline; Preserve, Protect, Practice and Promote Hindu Dharma. These

By Spriha Srivastava

Bollywood Experience launched areas will concentrate on six themes: Hindu Identity, Hindu Jagruti (awakening), Duty, Unity, Stand Up Speak Up and True Sewa. These themes will be portrayed in an interactive manner with theatre style productions, lectures, workshops, stalls, exhibitions, plays and skits for you to get involved in, not to mention the interactive walkthroughs, movies, food court and much more!

The National event will be taking place on Saturday 19th November from 10am to 6pm at the JFS School in Kingsbury.

Come and join thousands in an attempt to reignite their souls. Tickets are just £3 for entire day!

That same evening the first ever National Garba will take place where students will be uniting to worship through the medium of Garba!

“Arise, awake, sleep no more. Within each of you there is the power to remove all wants and all miseries.”

(Swami Vivekananda) www.nhsf.org.uk/arisearjuna

Earlier this weekend a bollywood experience was launched at Holiday Inn, Kensington to celebrate the property’s decade long experience in hosting themed parties. This time Holiday Inn hosted a Bollywood themed party to celebrate an evening of bollywood music and Indian cuisine. According to a spokesperson, ‘The Bollywood Experience’ brought together a unique blend of great ‘desi’ food and some ‘mast’ live entertainment in the form of popular Hindi singer Shery Hassan and professional Bollywood dancers.

A lavish three-course buffet was offered to the guests which included famous street food of India like Aloo Chaat and Dahi Bhalle to salads and samosas, tikkas and so on. Main course included lamb rogan josh, seafood curry, sag paneer, mixed vegetable among others. And for dessert there was mouth-

watering phirni. The event was a perfect mix of good food and good music.

Shery Hasan started with old Kishore Kumar hits and moved on to the new and latest dance numbers that brought a number of people on to the dance floor.

Partners for this event included Guglee Restaurant, a modern Indian restaurant in Swiss Cottage, serving truly authentic Indian cuisine and Bombay Funkadelic, a unique London-based company that specialises in organising and hosting Indian and Bollywood themed parties and events.

Founder, Jaspreet Pandohar, is enthusiastic about Bombay Funkadelic’s partnership with Holiday Inn London - Kensington Forum and Guglee Restaurant. “Bollywood has always been a big draw in the UK and Bombay Funkadelic has worked hard to combine

the energy and colour of both its movies and music to create a distinctive night out. Along with Holiday Inn and Guglee, we hope to make The Bollywood Experience the top desi dining and entertainment event in London.”

Jon Beecroft, General Manager of Holiday Inn London - Kensington Forum, is thrilled about this new venture. Before the event he said, “Guests will not only sample the fabulous cuisine on offer, but also get to feast their eyes on the grand Forum Restaurant and adjoining banqueting suite which will be decorated top to toe with a touch of Bollywood glitz and glamour.”

Holiday Inn London – Kensington Forum has been responsible for bringing themed events to London such as Salsa nights, Sunday jazz brunches and its most popular offering ‘The Caribbean Experience’.

Articulate 2011 – a noble initiative Pratham, a UK based education charity has brought together a selection of limited edition photographs displaying all the diversity and drama of contemporary India. The artists/photographers are well known names in Indian art circles and have kindly agreed to donate 87.5% of all proceeds raised to Pratham’s literacy drive.

Pratham’s first ARTiculate exhibition which took place last year raised over £2.1 million and thus this year the charity aimed to go further. The exhibition took place earlier in October but a number of pictures are now available online for sale.

The show this year is titled “The Journey”. At least 45 eminent artists, from India to Europe have generously partici-

pated in this year’s photographic exhibition.

Conveying the artist’s message through powerful and obvious, yet subtly tender works, the ARTiculate team have brought under one umbrella the plural, multi-coloured and multi-layered fabric of an India of a billion people.

The pictures all depict a journey- both real and surreal: the journey of Pratham children from illiteracy to self sufficiency and dignity, the literal journey, often nostalgic ones, that we have all taken from one destination to another, and the inner journey within us that starts at birth and continues endlessly with time.

For those who wish to take a look at the photographs, these are available online on

http://www.saffronart.co m/fixed/saffroncatalog.a spx?pt=2&eid=3476.

Curated by Mandakini Devi, these pictures are a treat to the eyes. “A photograph speaks louder than a cacophony of words with their stoic silence.

Whether colour or black and white, abstract or documentary, photos tell a story without the need for words. Sometimes photographs that were never intended to be viewed as a piece of art become art through their narrative superiority,” says Mandakini Devi in a note on the saffronart website.

She goes on to say that the ARTiculate project for Pratham UK continues to be a ground breaking initiative, bringing together the worlds of art and literacy.

Let us know what you think.

Email Spriha at spriha@abplgroup.com

India offers discerning tourists a “touch of class”

By Rudy Otter Economic downturns took a back seat in London’s Olympia when hundreds of people poured into the Luxury Travel Fair to hear all about upmarket holiday breaks featuring spectacular, sun-drenched beaches and plush rejuvenating spa resorts during a soothing 4day spell which ended on

6th November. India had various stands offering first-class facilities, like Spiceland Holidays of Kochi, India. Its managing director Riyaz Umar and his two colleagues told enquirers about the delights of southern India.

This firm has branches all over the subcontinent, with an increasing number of overseas offices. Other par-

ticipants included Luxury India Holidays and Cox & Kings. A rousing impression of India was provided by the award-winning Shri Academy of Dance, a Harrow-based group that specialises in various dance forms including Bollywood and Bhangra. The fair was staged for the sixth year by Conde Nast Traveller magazine.

Asian Voice - Saturday 12th November 2011

7

8

www.abplgroup.com

Asian Voice - Saturday 12th November 2011

Dee Katwa

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

Paying a price for a soul to rest in peace What used to be play dens for Lord Krishna in the so-called holy parts of India, have become trading grounds for opportunists who are targeting, in particular, foreigners who come to scatter the ashes of their loved ones.

Last month marked a year since I lost my grandmother. She was 92. We considered three places to scatter her ashes; England, where she had lived with us for 35 years, her native Zanzibar, or India, home to our ancestors. In the end we decided on the latter. But, one concern my family had was a past experience of Hindu priests pouncing on nonresident Indians, and their demands for money, which can often be disproportional to a reasonable, but more so a sensible sum.

Thus, ahead of our trip, we did some research and contacted a priest, Hiteshbhai Dave, in Porbander, Gujarat.

Hindu priest Hiteshbhai Dave

On arrival, we met him and we were satisfied.

So, my whole family travelled to Dwarka, home to Lord Krishna, an hour’s drive from Porbandar. Mr Dave guided us to a quite “ghat” flight of steps leading down to the bank of the River Gomti, where he beautifully performed the relevant cere-

Sikhs celebrate Guru birthday Thousands of Sikhs took part in a “nagar kirtan” procession on the streets of West Bromwich last Sunday to mark the birth anniversary of their faith founder, Guru Nanak Dev Ji. As is customary to the celebrations in his name, the noisy and colourful procession passed through the streets led by a float carrying the Shri Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy book.

Sikhism, one of the youngest of all major religions, was founded by Guru Nanak, born in 1469.

Housing shortage in Brum Birmingham is suffering from a serious under-supply of housing, according to a new report by the Home Builders Federation. A total of 17,750 families are currently listed for social housing in the city – that’s a 26% increase from ten years ago. HBF’s Executive Chairman Stewart Baseley said: “It is crucial that more homes are built, particularly for younger families and first-time buyers.”

Lecture on life of Prophet A rare lecture on the life of Prophet Muhammad, the founder of Islam, was delivered by Manzoor Moghal, a scholar of Islamic history. Held at the Melbourne Centre in Leicester last Wednesday, the lecture brought together Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs and Christians. Straight-talking Mr Moghal, pictured, one of Britain’s finest veteran financiers, spoke without the aid of notes, as always. During his hour-long address, multilingual Mr Moghal, a genuine connector of people and communities, told attendees that in pursuit of all things materialistic, we had forgotten the teachings of our respective faith founders. The outcomes, he said, were those we are witnessing today – a broken society, a turbulent global economy and unheard of people’s experiences. Among his key messages was this: bring back into our lives the teachings of our holy scriptures and try to live more moral, less materialistic, lives.

mony. Out of nowhere turned up a few local priests who attempted to cause a stir and said they were entitled to some money. Apparently, every priest has a roving “eyes and ears” representative, who keeps their master informed about movements at the ghats.

Fortunately, Mr Dave handled the expected situation and we gave each of the four priests 500 rupees each. Their expressions suggested they weren’t satisfied, but Mr Dave, in his priest language, managed to fob off the local priests, who otherwise had refused to move.

In a separate case, one non-resident Indian (NRI) family were harassed in Haridwar, possibly the most popular site for scattering ashes, and ended up paying thousands of rupees to a few priests.

The priests had told the family that, as per Hindu tradition, there were a string of rituals and ceremonies they had to partake in for the eternal peace of the deceased.

This case is just a tip of

News in Brief Adios Brum, viva Espana!

Nearly half the population of the West Midlands have considered emigrating to sunny Spain, according to a poll by uSwitch.com. They said they were fed up with the UK’s broken society, rising fuel costs and unemployment.

the iceberg. On the contrary, there are stories of positive experiences too, but they outweigh those not so positive.

The system is complex and pretty tough for any average British Indian, particularly youth, to fully understand. And many priests tend to take advantage of our ignorance as a means of making money.

But each to their own.

Then again, some say that we, the non-resident Indians, have given Indian priests the impression that we are financially well-off.

If the priests can earn an equal amount per day from one NRI family than from, say ten local families, can you really blame them?

Tell us about your experiences of scattering ashes of your loved ones by emailing me.

‘Easy life’ for binmen

Divine chanting A non-stop 12-hour spiritual Hindu chant event will take place in Leicester this Sunday (Nov 13).

Devotees will repeatedly chant ‘Shri Ram Jay Ram Jay Jay Ram’. The free event at the Hindu Temple in Barnabas Road (LE5 4BD) will include refreshments.

For more information contact Savdas Karavadra on 07791 050012.

Debt, not death, a worry Youthnet has discovered that 24% of young people nationwide are more concerned about debt than death. The online charity surveyed more than 1,000 respondents, finding only 7% feared death or becoming ill.

Pay rise for Chamber boss Jerry Blackett, Birmingham Chamber’s chief executive, has been awarded a bonus a pay rise covering a two-year period of£57,092. Fatherof-three Mr Blackett, pictured, saw his total earnings package rise from £112,095 in 2010 to £169,187 this year.

Future of newspapers

Binmen in Birmingham have a “God-given” right to finish work before noon and “put their feet up”, city councillor Graham Green has claimed. Councillor Green’s remarks come ahead of a proposed five-day strike set to start on 28 November.

The Guardian has lost an average of 9,000 copies off its headline daily circulation figures since it increased the cover price of its weekday issue by 20p last month, according to industry figures. Separately, Chris Blackhurst, The Independent’s new editor, is not convinced printed newspapers will survive for another 25 years.

Cash gone in a flash

Digital speed cameras

Bosses at West Midlands Ambulance Service paid out a total of £230,284 to consultancy firms between January 2010 and last month, a freedom of information enquiry has revealed. The money was spent on consultancy advice for equality and diversity training and staff learning and development.

Speed cameras in the West Midlands will be replaced with digital ones in a £1.2 million project so that running out of film will no longer be a problem. Also, images will be processed instantly. Out of 304 cameras in the region, 86 are dummy.

New role for Mal Patel Telecoms firm TalkTalk has hired Mal Patel to head its investor relations.

Before moving into financial PR, Patel, pictured, held senior positions at HSBC, Merrill Lynch Europe and NM Rothschild & Sons. At Tulchan Communications, where he was a partner, Patel’s clients included Legal & General and New Look.

Mecca misery, agent found guilty A Birmingham travel agent accused of turning a family’s pilgrimage to Mecca into a “catalogue of disasters” has been found guilty. It took a jury of seven women and five men just an hour and 45 minutes to find Chowdhury Ahmad, 39, pictured, of Hellenic Travels in Coventry Road, Small Heath, guilty of one charge of fraud and three counts of flouting package holiday regulations. The charges all relate to a £10,000 Hajj pilgrimage package brought from Ahmad by the Noori family of Rowley Regis in July 2009. Ahmad will be sentenced next month. The conviction is thought to be the first of its kind in the UK.

Technology and Journalism This year’s annual Baird Lecture, themed Technology and Journalism – a logical partnership, will be delivered by John Ryley, pictured, head of Sky News. The event, being hosted by the Midlands branch of the Royal Television Society, will take place at the University of Birmingham’s business school on Wednesday, November 30, at 7pm.

Missing man Police in Birmingham are appealing for help from the public to help find Srinivas Kadium who has been missing for a month. Mr Kadium, pictured, a devout Hindu, 5ft 5ins tall, of medium build, arrived in the UK in 2004 and graduated in 2008 from Wolverhampton University. In 2009, he moved to Oxford where he worked for a year before returning to the West Midlands. Anyone with information is urged to call 0345 113 5000.

Asian Voice - Saturday 12th November 2011

UK

9

Sun Mark Ltd celebrates its recent achievement with pomp and gaiety An NRI owned company Sun Mark Ltd, winners of three consecutive Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade held a glittering party at the Grosvenor Hotel, Park Lane, London on Saturday 15th October 2011 to celebrate this unique achievement and to pay tribute to India and Britain. Sun Mark Ltd has won the Queens Award for Enterprise in International Trade 2009, 2010 and 2011, a rare achievement by any standard.

Over 800 guests attended this glittering celebrations, which included prominent people from the world of business, sport, overseas clients, suppliers, staff and friends who came together to celebrate this unique achievement.

The Great Room of the Grosvenor House Hotel looked even more magnificent than usual with splendid decorations and lighting. Live dance performances were provided by the world famous Karan of K Spark Entertainment and guests were

Video presentation of the Sir David Brewer CMG, JP presenting the third consecutive Queen’s Award for Enterprise to Dr Rami Ranger MBE, FRSA

The party was attended by over 40 members from both Houses of Parliament and the European Parliament along with the Acting High Commissioner of India, HE Rajesh Prasad.

Mr S. P. and Mr G. P. Hinduja; Lord Hameed; Mr Sukhdev Sidhu, Minister Coordination; Mr Amitabh Jain, Minister Economic; Mr C. Rajasekhar, Minister Political; Mrs Jasminder Kasturia; Mr Jitendra Kumar and Mr Gowri Shankar, Deputy Director of the Nehru Centre were amongst the prominent guests.

also entertained by the famous magician, Magic Singh, as well as other artists.

The event was opened by Reena Ahuja, daughter of Dr. Ranger, who welcomed everyone and described her father not only as a successful businessman but also as a philanthropist. She gave a video presentation to show the work her father does to enrich community and country.

Mr. Harmeet Ahuja, Head of Operations at Sun Mark Ltd. praised Dr. Ranger’s vision, which has taken Sun Mark from a startup to a world class company in

just 15 years. It now trades with over 100 countries. He thanked the staff, customers and suppliers for making a winning team.

He then gave a video presentation showing the Lord Lieutenant of Greater London, Sir David Brewer CMG, JP, presenting the third consecutive Queen’s Award for Enterprise to Dr. Rami Ranger MBE, FRSA, on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen.

The presentation was followed by speeches by HE Rajesh Prasad, Acting Speeches by Reena Ahuja, Harmeet Ahuja, HE Rajesh Prasad, Acting High High Commissioner of Commissioner of India; Baroness Verma; Baroness Prashar; Lord Popat; Lord Loomba; Lord Sheikh; the Rt. Hon Dominic Grieve QC MP; the Rt. Hon James India; Baroness Verma; Baroness Prashar; Arbuthnot MP; the Rt. Hon Keith Vaz MP; the Hon Tony Baldry MP; Mr Stephen Pound Lord Popat; Lord MP; Mr Richard Harrington MP; Ms Priti Patel MP; Dr Charles Tannock MEP; Dr Syed Loomba; Lord Sheikh; Kamall MEP; Mr S.P. Hinduja and Mr G.P. Hinduja, Dr Mohan Kaul, Director General, Commonwealth Business Council & Kulveer Ranger, Director of Environment and the Rt. Hon Dominic Digital London, Mayor of London Grieve QC MP; the Rt. surge ahead. and his siblings up after the tragic Hon James Arbuthnot MP; the He thanked his wife, Renu, for assassination of his illustrious Rt. Hon Keith Vaz MP; the Hon supporting him when he had father during the partition of Tony Baldry MP; Mr Stephen embarked upon his business India as he opposed its breakup Pound MP; Mr Richard career. He acknowledged that on the grounds of religion. He Harrington MP; Ms Priti Patel since business was a game of peoalso thanked his adopted country, MP; Dr Charles Tannock MEP; ple, without his loyal staff he Britain, for its sense of tolerance Dr Syed Kamall MEP; Mr S.P. could not have achieved as much. and fair play where an ordinary Hinduja and Mr G.P. Hinduja, Dr immigrant like him could realise He also thanked his customers Mohan Kaul, Director General, his ambitions and become an and suppliers for supporting him.

Commonwealth Business asset for his family and country.

After his vote of thanks Dr. Council.

He thanked the founders of India Ranger received a standing ovaDr. Ranger thanked everyone for giving Indians a secular and tion from the audience. present and said that no one The speeches were followed democratic constitution where makes it alone. As a result he by dinner, courtesy of Ragamama everyone is equal regardless of owed a great deal to many people and music by Ritzy Road Show; religion, race or gender. As a who helped him along the way. He the guests danced until the early result, Indians are taught to use paid tribute to his late mother hours. merit instead of race or religion to who single handedly brought him

YOUR VOICE

10

Asian Voice - Saturday 12th November 2011

I will miss AV and GS

The Human Body

Navratri in Brent

Excellent Diwali issue

I shall be going away to India to attend a wedding in Ahmedabad. I am disappointed to say that despite all the efforts and orchestrated campaign mounted by ABPL Group via AV and GS,I will not be flying directly to Ahmedabad but will have to change flight at Mumbai airport. It seems that all the effort made by AV and GS have been in vain.

I am also sad to say that while I am away, I’ll miss the “Your Voice” column the most – to contribute to it and to read the interesting letters from my fellow contributors. I might perhaps borrow a laptop from someone there and browse through the two papers on- line and get up to speed on what is happening in England and around the world. It is a great relief and reassurance that the eedition of the papers will provide me with the facility to read and perhaps contribute to my favouite “Your voice” column. I wonder whether similar facility is available to readers of other papers. I must also add that the special Diwali issue is a great read.

The human body is made up of roughly 100 trillion cells. Each cell has three parts: the cell membrane, the nucleus, and the cytoplasm. Nutrients enter the cell via the membrane; the cell converts them into energy that fuels its life functions. Waste gets generated due this metabolic activity that must somehow get out of each cell again via the membrane.

If you do Yoga exercises properly, you should feel a tingling sensation in each of these trillion cells. The cell’s membrane must balance containment (stability) with permeability. That is why in Yoga postures you need to be moving as well as be motionless.

Breathing is a movement in two (Tesco) bags: the thoracic bag that contains the heart and lungs; and the abdominal bag that contains the stomach, liver, gall bladder, spleen, pancreas, small and large intestines, kidneys and the bladder.

The diaphragm forms the roof of the abdominal bag and the floor of the thoracic bag.

When breathing in and out, both bags change shape but in different ways. The abdominal bag is like a water balloon so that it changes shape but not the total volume. Instead the thoracic bag is like accordion bellows that can change its shape and volume.

The spinal cord is attached to the back of these two bags. In Yoga breathing the diaphragm is the principal muscle that causes three-dimensional shape change in the thoracic and abdominal bags. In inhalation there is spinal extension: in exhalation there is spinal flexion.

[Source: personal experience and Yoga Anatomy by Leslie Kaminoff – Human Kinetics].

In response to the letter from Mr Sharad Mistry we would like to state some facts. Navratri in Brent has been organised by Hindu Council (Brent) for over 35 years. This year we co-ordinated Navratri involving 27 organisations using 24 different halls. Over 30,000 Hindus celebrated a traditional Navratri in a joyful way. Because we have shown our ability and competence in organising Navratri we have had support from Brent Council over all those 35 years irrespective of which political party was in control. In the early days the support came in the form of free schools Halls.

When schools started charging the Council provided us with a grant to help pay the school hire fees. Few years ago the Grant was reduced by a previous Labour Administration and has been frozen for many years. While we accept that the Grant is frozen and will reduce in real terms over time it came as a shock when the present Labour Administration decided to stop the grant completely.

We consider this unfair especially as while slashing support for Community Festivals the Labour Administration decided to retain £250,000 for the organisation of its own corporate events many costing much more than Navratri while attracting far fewer people. We welcome the support of some Councillors on Brent Council who value the contribution made by the Hindu Community and trust us to organise a successful Navratri.

We also welcome the fact that they recognise that Navratri is unique in the way it attracts people of all ages to join together in our traditional celebration. It is a shame that the writer, not aware of the history of Navratri in Brent, tries to undermine our position rather than support our campaign.

Mahendra Pattni Brent Hindu Council

Diwali 2011 issue is excellent with informative material about Parsees, business and saintly personalities; has conspicuous absence of Diwali cheer cracker.

We have 52 weeks to read un-entertaining stories where leading characters commit suicide, old man feeling lonely, social problems and generation gap.

Diwali is meant for comedy, cartoons, adventure, jokes, thrills etc, from vibrant Damu Sangani, Jyotindra Dave, Tarak Mehta na OOndha Chashma, Bhadrambhadra, Vaju Kotak, Gunvantrai Acharya, Dhumketu, Chunilal Dhami.

We have Bakor Patel, Mian Fooski, Joitaram ni Jadibootti, Chhako and Makko etc? Without these, Divali is a damp squib. Why associate vivifying spirit of Diwali with a mausoleum containing dead body, reminder of Moguls who destroyed 3000 temples, is not Hindus’ idea of joy and celebration during outright Hindu spiritual festival.

Please note, erudite historian P N Oak has compiled irrefutable evidence to prove that Taj Mahal is a Shiva temple the “Tejo Mahalaya”, which was requisitioned and converted into a mausoleum for dead body. Diwali issue must convey to readers that joy expressed on Diwali is spiritual, is not boring, backward, stifling or inane hedonism.

Hindu lion must roar from Navaratri to Dev-Diwali. Why can’t we be assertive, non-secular, fanatical and fundamentalist Hindu on a Hindu festival day?

Dinesh Sheth Newbury Park, Ilford

Ban of Ramanujam’s essay It has been reported that Delhi university ‘s Academic Council decided to drop A. K. Ramanujam’s essay from Delhi university B.A syllabus. The Delhi university history department dominated by left wing and academics from minority communities protested against the dropping of the essay from the syllabus. In the name of freedom of expression and secularism the university should not include the essays that hurts the sentiments of millions of Hindus all over the world.

Ramanujam studies some of the myriad ‘telling’s’ of the essay throughout South and South East Asia. Many of these telling’s vary from , and even contrast with , the Valmiki Ramayana and most Indians are familiar with Valmiki Ramayana and in Tamilnadu Kambar Ramayana. Ramanujam quotes it is Ravana who becomes pregnant with Sita and gives birth to her when he sneezes.

According to Ramanujam the word SITA means ‘he sneezed’, and thus Sita’s name is given its Kannada etymology in this version. I do not know where Ramanujam got this version.

How can one can teach 20 year old students that man can get pregnant and give birth to a daughter by sneezing?

Ramanujam also quotes that according to Thai version Hanuman is quite a ladies’ man.

The Indian government run by Sikh, Christian and Muslim minorities defend the inclusion of such insulting essays which affects the sentiments of Hindus in the name of freedom of expression. On the other hand the Prime Minister of India sent a protest letter to the Danish government when cartoons of Prophet Muhammad were published by a Danish newspaper to please Indian Muslims!

Arun Vaidyanathan Via Email

Nagindas Khajuria Via Email

Vegetarian Food Banks I would like in some way to increase the awareness of the readers to your publications of the ‘trying’ times faced by many as a result of the economic climate.

This does not exclude members of our community. I personally, know of individuals who are in this unfortunate position and as a human being I feel obliged to help these individuals out of my personal funds.

There has been a lot of coverage in the media regarding communities setting up food banks to help those most vulnerable. However, it is very difficult to find food banks which cater for vegetarians.

Every day people in the UK go hungry for reasons ranging from redundancy to receiving an unexpected bill on a low income. The aim of the vegetarian food bank would be to provide emergency food (non-perishable) and support to people experiencing crisis. This is where the places of worships and community groups can play a vital part. Food banks help prevent crime, housing loss, family breakdown and mental health problems.

A simple box of food makes a big difference.

All food is donated by the public and sorted by volunteers. Frontline care professionals such as doctors and social

Too much salt As an eager consumer of sweet and savoury Indian snacks, I cringed when I turned over a packet of spicy chewra and a thick residue of salt greeted my eyes.

Fuming, I put the chewra in a colander, shook out the salt and crunched my way through the highly edible purchase.

Why do Indian fast-food manufacturers pile in vast quantities of salt (and sugar too) into their products? If they drastically reduced salt and sugar, and advertised the fact on their packets, their snacks would fly off the shelves and be snapped up by other communities as well.

Rudy Otter Via Email workers identify people in crisis and can refer individuals to these organisations.

The volunteers of the food banks also make time to chat and to signpost individuals to other helpful services.The food banks rely on the support of local communities.

Sanjay Doshi Via Email

Please detach the form and send it with your payment or credit card instructions to address below FIRST & FOREMOST ASIAN WEEKLY IN EUROPE

VOICE 0

Page -13

Page -17

Page -18

1 Year 2 Years

Page -30

3( %"14!16 3/ 3(

UK EUROPE WORLD £25 £55 £70 £45 £100 £125

*Subscriptions paid will not be refunded

!1#(

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

E-mail: support@abplgroup.com

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).

-/1% /. 0!'%

!..6

&1/.3 642( !.%2( (%$%+!1 4").! ,) "!#+ 2(/3/2( /"/ !*)5!,! !.!6 %1-!.3 ((%$! !.$ !.') !.%2( /.+!1

!..6

/6,% !.$

4").! ,)

/6,%

Iran’s naked nukes ambition It is an open secret that Iran has the burning desire to build nuclear warheads to arm its already well advanced missiles system under deployment that could deliver nuclear warheads to its bitter enemy Israel and beyond.

The West’s warmongering, the attack on Saddam’s Iraq and Gaddafi’s Libya, nations without nuclear umbrella has strengthened Iran’s resolve to acquire such weapons of mass destruction that would stop Iran from becoming West’s latest target, a scapegoat for the economic failure of the West.

Pakistan enjoys a similar protection.

No wonder NATO would like to initiate a dialogue with Taliban, as Taliban are practically undefeatable in their own backyard with a terrain made for guerrilla warfare. The question is who would win the race, nuclear armed Iran or Israel and US who may launch a pre-emptive strike to destroy nuclear reactors and stop Iran in its track? The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is about to publish its findings making it clear that Iran’s nuclear programme is for clandestine nuclear activities leading to weapons of mass destruction. No one buys Iran’s propaganda that its nuclear programme is for peaceful purpose only, to generate electricity when the soil is soaked with oil. Once Iran arms itself with nuclear weapons, Middle East will never be the same again.

Bhupendra M Gandhi Via Email

Visit our website: www.abplgroup.com

Page -19-21

Health Watch

Ramesh Jhalla Via Email

!

UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 12th November 2011

YOUR VOICE Fauja Singh and Guinness book of world record Congratulation to Fauja Singh who completed the Toronto Waterfront Marathon in 8hrs and 25 minutes on October 16 this year . He is now 100 years old thus holds the world record being the oldest person who has achieved this wonderful achievement. We are all very proud of him. Top bosses of NHS need to know his way of life which made him so healthy and should therefore publish his food habits and other way of life in their publicity. Asian Voice and other National media should do the same for improving the health of all the people in Britain.

Instead of recognising his great success of his life I am very concerned to read in the local news weekly paper Ilford Recorder that the Editor in chief of Guinness World Records Craig Glenday said “Like everyone who read about Mr.Singh we are amazed by such an inspirational achievement. However, we have yet to receive the documentary evidence that we need to confirm Mr. Singh as the world’s oldest marathon runner.The claim will remain open until such evidence is provided.

Mr.Fauja singh got a British passport and two Indian passports but these are not sufficient evidence to prove his age.Mr Fauja Singh did not approach The staff of Guinness world Records but they approached him and were not satisfied with the evidence of passports.

It appears they do not have common sense that in 1911 there was hardly any one who had his birth certificate. I doubt very much if even Gandhiji had his birth certificate issued.

Dharam Sahdev Ilford

11

Lord Dholkia shows how magistrates are already contributing to the Big Society Lord Dholakia, the deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords delivered a speech during the debate on the role of the magistracy in the Big Society.

Lord Dholakia began by stating his interest in the magistracy as a previous magistrate, and as Chair of the magistrate’s inquiry into people’s views of the future of summary justice and the role of magistrates. This inquiry hopes to report its findings before next April.

Magistrates have existed for more than 650 years; at present numbering approximately 30,000 volunteers they are, Lord Dholakia emphasised, the envy of the world. Setting

Lord Dholakia

a very good example of volunteers, they are a diverse group drawn from far and wide. Using their local knowledge, a theme that underpins local jus-

tice, they contribute to maintaining peace and security in the community.

Dealing with more than 95 per cent of cases before the courts in the present economic climate, it is not a service that the Government can afford to pay for.

Lord Dholakia noted that the inquiries initial findings point to the public having a good deal of understanding about the way magistrates performed their duties. Even victims and offenders had no criticism of the way they were dealt with by the courts. Magistrates tread delicately but effectively, particularly when the public and political mood continues to be con-

ditioned more by tabloid reporting than by the considered way in which magistrates reach their decisions. Let us make sure that they are not ignored in the challenging times ahead, Lord Dholakia said.

Correction

Last week in AV page 7 the heading of the story about Natasha Shivanandan should have read “Barrister faces being struck off for discreditable comment”. Though the story read correct, the words ‘faces being’ were missed in the heading. It was an unintentional mistake and was immediately corrected online.

Emphasising responsibility and fairness The last few weeks have seen a number of significant yet somewhat underreported announcements from the Government on tackling crime and anti-social behaviour.

A Bill set to come before Parliament before the end of the year will, among other things, provide for custodial sentences for 16 and 17-year-olds convicted of knife crime; news no doubt welcomed by those Harrow residents who backed the ‘Don’t Carry, Don’t Kill’ campaign. This Bill will also make the very act of squatting in residential properties illegal. Significantly, this will fully cover council-owned houses for the first time.

In addition, the maximum amount that can be taken from benefits for the purposes of paying criminal fines will be increased from £5 to £25 from 2013. For the first time, this system of deducting fines from benefits may convince potential offenders to think again – with £25 representing nearly 40% of a standard weekly jobseeker’s allowance payment.

As if to prove that the current fine level is not sufficient; of the 1,350 people who have so far appeared in court in the wake of the August riots, 35% of them were claiming out-of-work benefit – compared with just 12% of the working population. Taken collectively, these changes show the utterly welcome direction in which the Government wants to take the criminal justice system – emphasising responsibility, fairness and appropriate punishment.

Cllr. Susan Hall Conservative Group Leader Harrow Council

Toddler escapes death miraculously A toddler miraculously survived a 70mph horror crash which flung her from a car when a lorry driver managed to brake just inches from her tiny body. Alisha Kabiri, pictured, was thrown from the window of her father Akmal Ullah Kabiri’s car, which had swerved violently across a dual carriageway and flipped on to its roof- tragically killing the 49-year-old dad-of-three. Alisha, then 18 months old, who amazingly suffered only minor injuries, was sitting in the middle of the carriageway when she was then nearly run over by the lorry.

Mr Kabiri died in the crash after losing control of the BMW 308 on the A14 near Ipswich, Suffolk, on May 14. The inquest heard Mr Kabiri had endured a long flight back from his native Bangladesh on the

hI_IZ z_PT OY rP[V_ VJ MSZ_JZ[ IO ^KVPX DOH _ "#,+4)# 06#.- *)*43*(3# "0. * 3424+#% /#.40% 013$! nVPVRHR [ZMOJVI OY •$!w!!!4 mO FVIW[K_F_SJ _KZ MZKRVIIZ[ YOK IWZ DZ_K4 mZF ]HJIORZKJ FOHS[ _SJO ^Z KZLHVKZ[ IO OMZP _ h_GVPXJ OK yHKKZPI {]]OHPI4 gZKRJ _P[ ]OP[VIVOPJ _MMSD4 day before the accident.

He had slept and then gone to work at his takeaway restaurant until 11pm before returning home because his wife was ill. He took her to hospital and was returning to his home in Felixstowe with his daughter at about 4.30am when tragedy struck.

Ahmad Ullah, Mr Kabiri’s brother-in-law, took in the family the month after his death.

Peter Dean, coroner for Greater Suffolk and SouthEast Essex, recorded a verdict of accidental death.

y_SS !Q!! "•= "•= POF _P[ _G_VS OY IWVJ 3424+#% /#.40% 06#.!

FFF4J^VHT4]OR

L WR KX[ gr $0 E[`N

yrga lu olmxlm

zrinrmts{n

ylevmgia

v{hg s{n

tloxvih tivvm

I: !Q!! "•= "•=

I: !$=$ "$" !/!!

I: !=/*' =•/ }!!

I: !=!Q /*! =}}=

I: !=!Q /"Q •Q"'

s{iild

ovryvhgvi

n{mysvhgvi

hlfgs{oo

dloevis{nkglm

I: !=!• $$/ $!=*

I: !$$' =/= QQ•!

I: !$'$ Q$* ="•!

I: !=!Q "*/ !$$$

I: !$}!= *$' !"!

hI_IZ z_PT OY rP[V_ VJ KZXHS_IZ[ ^D IWZ uh{ _P[ KZXVJIZK PHR^ZK VJ $•}$"'4 hI_IZ z_PT OY rP[V_ VJ _ RZR^ZK OY IWZ uVP_P]V_S hZKGV]ZJ yORMZPJ_IVOP h]WZRZ ZJI_^SVJWZ[ HP[ZK IWZ uVP_P]V_S hZKGV]ZJ _P[ n_KTZIJ {]I =!!!4 gWZ uVP_P]V_S hZKGV]ZJ yORMZPJ_IVOP h]WZRZ MKOIZ]IJ [ZMOJVIJ WZS[ FVIW OHK fp ^K_P]WZJ4 k_DRZPIJ HP[ZK IWVJ J]WZRZ _KZ SVRVIZ[ IO •Q"w!!! OY DOHK IOI_S [ZMOJVIJ FVIW HJ VP fp4 rP MK_]IV]Zw IWVJ RZ_PJ IW_I Z_]W OY OHK ]HJIORZKJ FVSS ^Z ]ORMZPJ_IZ[ HM IO _ R_EVRHR OY •Q"w!!! OY IWZVK IOI_S [ZMOJVIJ4 dWZKZ IFO [ZMOJVIOKJ WOS[ _ UOVPI _]]OHPIw Z_]W [ZMOJVIOK R_D KZ]ZVGZ _ R_EVRHR OY •Q"w!!! ]ORMZPJ_IVOP VP KZJMZ]I OY IWZVK ]S_VRw XVGVPX _ IOI_S OY •$*!w!!!4 0{vi JI_P[J YOK {PPH_S vLHVG_SZPI i_IZ _P[ VSSHJIK_IZJ IWZ VPIZKZJI K_IZ VY VI F_J M_V[ _P[ ]ORMOHP[Z[ OP]Z Z_]W DZ_K4 tilhh VJ _ ]OPIK_]IH_S K_IZ M_D_^SZ ^ZYOKZ [Z[H]IVOP OY VP]ORZ I_E _I .*+# ,/#&45#% ($ 3*'! y_SS ]ZPIKZ &!Q!! "•= "•= , VJ OMZP YKOR }4!! _R IO '4!! MR nOP[_D IO uKV[_D4

12

MEDIA WATCH

Asian Voice - Saturday 12th November 2011

Scrutator’s Maseeh Rahman's Mumbai-based report in The Guardian (November 1) on India's milestone in its quest to develop thorium technology to power its nuclear power plants is a significant reminder of the strides the country has made in the field, reflecting also its advances in a broad range of sciences. The use of low-carbon, low radio-activity through thorium instead of uranium may be a breakthrough in energy generation, writes Mr Rahman. India has announced plans for a prototype nuclear power plant that uses an innovative safer fuel. “Officials are currently selecting a site for its reactor, which would be the first of its kind, using thorium for the bulk of uranium the fuel conventional reactors. They

R K Sinha

The development of workable and large-scale thorium rectors

plan to have the plant up and running by the end of the decade.”

He sets out the canvas: “The development of workable and large-scale thorium rectors has for decades been a dream for nuclear engineers, while for environmentalists it has become a major hope as an alternative to fossil fuels.” According to proponents thorium “has considerable advantages over uranium.

Thorium is more abundant and exploiting it does not involve release of huge quantities of carbon dioxide, making it less dangerous for the climate than fossils like coal and oil.”

Ratan Kumar Sinha, the Director of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) in Mumbai told the Guardian that his team was finalising the site construction of new large-scale experimental reactor, while at the same time conducting confirmatory tests on the design. “The basic physics and engineering of the thorium-fuelled Advanced Heavy Water Reactors (AHWR) are in place, and the design is ready.”

Mr Sinha told his interlocutor that India was in talks with other countries over the export of conventional nuclear plans.

He said India was looking for buyers for the 220MW and 540MW Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWRs).

Kazakhstan and the Gulf states are known to have evinced an interest, while one source sad that talks are most advanced with Vietnam, something Mr Sinha refused to confirm., who went on: “Many countries with small grids of up to 5,000 MW are looking for 300 MW reactors. Our reactors are smaller, cheaper and price competitive.”

Indo-Pakistan trade deal Matthew Green in Islamabad and James Lamont in New Delhi produced a joint report for the Financial Times (November 3) on Pakistan's Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status for Indian goods seeking access to the Pakistan. India had unilaterally conferred this status to Pakistani commodities 15 years ago. Islamabad's decision will allow Pakistan to begin removing barriers to sales of Indian products. India's Commerce Minister Ananda had hailed the decision, seeing a paradigm shift in relations between the neighbours.

The FT report went on to say that Pakistan's powerful generals, who decide the country's foreign and security policies, had backed the announcement.

“This was a decision taken in the national interest and all stakeholders, including our

defence institutions, were on board,” said Firdos Ashiq Awan, Pakistan's Information Minister.

The military and business community are increasingly worried about the continuing poor performance of the Pakistan economy on President Asif Ali Zardari's watch. Crippling shortages of electricity have badly affected the country's production base as companies, large and small, have seen their profits decline. Foreign investors were also keeping away from Pakistan, wrote the FT. Trade with India is clearly an instrument of last resort for Pakistan's ruling establishment.

The country being in dire straits, its leaders have chosen to bite the bullet.

Beefing up border Claud Arpi, the French-born, India-based journalist provided a report of his journey to Tawang in India's north-eastern

state of Arunachal Pradesh, for DNA online (October 27). Mr Arpi reminded his audience that, almost 49 years to the day, Indian forces were in headlong retreat, following a massive Chinese assault. It was a humiliating event for India, so Mr Arpi's account made interesting reading. Having takes the pulse of the locals, he got the feel of Indian military preparedness now, in case China repeated the military exercise it launched in October 1962. He recalled how India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had first visited the area in 2008 and sanctioned Rs 24,000 crore ($2.5 billion approximately) for the socio-economic development of the state, especially road building. Work was on to construct the Trans-Arunachal Highway.

Mr Arpi saw the forward air bases to accommodate squadrons of Sukhoi-30MKI aircraft, which are in place ready for action. He saw schemes for rural uplift and the benefits these had brought to the local population. Having taken stock of his surroundings, Mr Arpi came up with a definite answer: “1962 will not be repeated.” Any Chinese misadventure would mean all-out war, not limited to the border, in which the full force of India's air power would come into play. In1962, this did not happen as Indian planes were grounded under US pressure.

J.K.Galbraith's Ambassador's Journal tells the story.

Josy Joseph's report in The Times of India (November 2) told of the Government of India plan to increase the country's military strength on the Chinese border by an additional 100,000 men over the next few years. Of these 4 divisions, two would be part of Mountain Strike Corps.

This far-reaching modernisation

Bumbla Lake

plan will cost Rs 64 thousand crore ($13 billion).

The proposed modernisation plan includes a comprehensive overhaul and upgrade of the army's fire-power, logistical capabilities etc. The arm's projected requirements for ultralight howitzers would double, while major expansion of helicopter capabilities would also occur. The modernisation plan is before the Cabinet Committee for Security, and its sanction is expected sooner rather than later.

Meanwhile, India's

Northern Railways has opened the country's longest railway tunnel piercing through the Pir Panjal range in Jammu & Kashmir. At 10, 96 kilometres, the tunnel is India's longest and Asia's second-longest and provides easy travel up to Baramullah.

Anti-submarine corvette The Indian Navy's modernization drive took another step forward with the launch of the Project-28 anti-submarine corvette Kadmati built by Kolkata's Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE). Minister of State for Defence M.M Pallam Raja, Controller of Warship Production and Acquisition of the Indian Navy, Vice Admiral N.N.Kumar and GRSE Chairman and Managing Director Rear Admiral K.C.Sekhar were present.

GRSE is commissioned to build four P28 corvettes, of which Kamorta, the first, was launched in April last year. They are undergoing sea trials. The next two on the line are Kiltan and Kavaratti. These Kamortaclass corvettes are equipped for conventional, nuclear and biological warfare. They are 109 metres long and 12.8 metres wide with an approximate displacement of 3,000 tons and a speed of 25 knots. Each ship can accommodate 17 officers and 106 sailors.

It is equipped with the most upto-date weapons suite including electronic warfare systems.

Minister Raja said he was delighted at the pace of indigenization in the ship's high-tech accessories and armaments; also by the speed at which the vessels had been constructed. This augured well for the present and future strength of the Indian

Navy and its blue water capabilities, he averred.

Dr Raja urged GRSE to set up effective mechanisms to meet competitive challenges posed by the private sector. Defence shipyards, he continued, need to reach the highest production standards, and have an effective corporate strategy based on best practices. Training of officers and crew had to conform to the most demanding contemporary standards, concluded the Minister..

India Vietnam The Economist's Banyan page (October 22) carried this teasing headline: “Not as close as lips and teeth,” a barbed reference to China's propaganda take in years gone by when relations with

Vietnam were routinely described as “close as lips to teeth.” It's so different now, with China-Vietnam ties riven by discord and distrust. The magazine's columnist spotlighted the minatory tone of the influential Chinese publication, Global Times, on the close relationship between Vietnam and India, symbolised by their joint exploration of the energy reserves in the South China Sea, to which Beijing has laid claim. “China may consider taking actions to show its stance and prevent more reckless attempts in confronting China,” the paper fumed.

Historical canvas The Economist alluded to the Sino-Soviet border clashes in 1969, hence the significance of the parallel territorial dispute between China and India, and the brief war of early 1979 on the Sino-Vietnam border region between Chinese and Vietnamese forces. It was a timely reminder that China's relations with its strongest neighbours have been ill-starred following a promising start. Banyan gleefully pointed to the Indian defeat in 1962 at the hands of China's People's Liberation Army on the Himalayan heights (schadenfreude to most British scribes), but the columnist was noticeably coy about the murderous thrashing inflicted by the Soviets on Mao's legions in the Amur-Ussuri area following an earlier beating along the Soviet-Xinjiang divide, prompting China's Chairman to seek succour from the Nixon administration in Washington. So began an axis that was to last from 1971 to the end of the 20th century.

“Vietnam's fierce resistance” (the words are the Economist's) to China's “punitive action” in February 1979 ended in a Chinese rout, always worth noting is the end result of such adventures.

India and Vietnam are engaged in a close “security dialogue, ” as is China with Pakistan. Beijing supplied Pakistan with nuclear weapon technology and even a nuclear bomb, to which the Economist makes no reference.

The presence of two battalions of Chinese troops in Pakistanoccupied Kashmir has been detected (see the Asian Age, November 7). China perceives an American hand in the Vietnam-India alignment, but the Economist dismisses this as a preposterous conjecture since both countries are fiercely independent and would be loath to do Washington's bidding.

If China had followed its own advice and opted for quiet talks, wrote the columnist, rather than issuing threats and making untenable claims to territory such as India's Arunchal Pradesh (the size of Switzerland), Beijing's would have been better served if its relations with both these neighbours would have been tranquil and satisfactory. After, all Sino-Indian trade is in robust health and is surely something to build upon.

The editor of India's Business Standard newspaper, Sanjay Baru, described ties between India and Vietnam as “perhaps the most well rounded bilateral relationship that India has with any country.” Bull's eye.

UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 12th November 2011

Anni-Shrien: A dreadful year on...

It has been an year since Anni Dewani was married to her ‘Prince Charming’, after an exciting engagement/proposition in a romantic gateway in Paris and a fairy tale wedding in Mumbai. The wedding was perfectly planned where the guests were greeted with goodies that had SA (Shrien-Anni) inscribed on it. Alas, it did not last too long!

On Saturday 12th November 2010, the ‘glamorous’ couple reached South Africa to spend their honeymoon in style. On the next day, the couple planned an evening out and although the honeymooners were staying in one of the best hotels in town, they drove for 45 minutes away from the city, ending up in the seaside town of Strand, where they ate sushi in a most unlikely spot: a down-at-heel restaurant in a shopping mall.

It was on their way back at around 10:45pm, Xola Tongo, their hired car chauffer steered the taxi in a shanty part of the town, where they were carjacked, looted, though Shrien managed to escape unharmed, Anni was kidnapped.

Shrien remained unharmed, and stumbled around in the dark until he was helped by local man Simbonile Matokazi, who contacted the police. It was exactly 11.12pm.

By sunrise the following day, the body of Anni, 28, was discovered slumped in the back of the abandoned taxi in a remote corner of the Khayelitsha township.

She’d been shot with a single bullet to the neck from a 7.62mm calibre pistol.

Initially, it was assumed she was yet another victim of South Africa’s appalling rate of

violent crime (there are on average 44 murders a day). But within days rumours started that Shrien was responsible for it.

The last one year has not been very easy for Nilamben and Vinod Hindocha (Anni’s parents). They lost their daughter, a loss that cannot be replaced. They were heartbroken, distorted and did not know who to turn to for solace. They went up and down from Sweden to South Africa to the UK, desperately seeking justice.

While Vinod Hindocha made public appearances with his brother in South African courts, Nilamben maintained a grave silence, shocked by her own loss.

In the mean time Tongo, a father of five, suddenly confirmed the suggestions by insisting the entire escapade had been masterminded by Dewani himself.

According to the driver, Dewani had persuaded him to organise the murder. Tongo claimed he agreed and contacted a friend, a former hotel receptionist named Monde Mbolombo, who in turn commissioned the two alleged hijackers-Xolile Mngeni, 26 and

Mziwamadoda Qwabe, 25.

Another two days on and the police had arrested Tongo, who had by then accepted his role in the plot.

By then Dewani had returned to England, where his family hired a PR agency to deal with the press, and he began a vigorous fight to avoid extradition.

Now, overweight, puffy-eyed and bearded, Shrien is currently detained at the Fromeside secure mental unit in Bristol, where he receives treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder and depression. While Shrien has been fighting extradition and has appealed against the Court’s decision, Hindocha family argues that Shrien must visit South Africa, face the trial and bring ‘justice’ for their beloved Anni.

The Dewani and Hindocha families are visibly divided into groups debating over the death and Shrien’s alleged involvement, though it would have been wise to remain united at such difficult times.

The UK media has had running several stories speculating about Shrien’s sexual orientation, former relationships, lifestyle and

possible motive behind the alleged offence. However in Sunday Mail on 6th November a story has been published about narrating that fateful trip. The news article by Dan Newling with the title “Naive?

Certainly.

Dishonest? Possibly. But is Shrien Dewani guilty of murdering his wife?” raises many questions and tries to factually answers them.

Asian Voice had also ran an opinion poll a few weeks back and published around 25 emails explaining about what they felt regarding Shrien Dewani’s extradition. On being interviewed later some of the letter writers (names not published on request) mentioned that they have been harassed for making public comments supporting Shrien. They mentioned about a facebook page, where Shrien and his family, supporters and friends have been heavily criticised and sometimes too harshly. However it has also been observed that some of these facebook profiles are not even real.

We feel the immense pain of the Hindochas and also firmly believe that Anni deserves justice!

What happened to her on that fateful night was certainly unfortunate and unjust. But we also believe that no one is guilty unless proven so.

In the memory of Anni’s loss, the Hindochas have arranged for a candle light vigil on 13th November 2011, 5:30pm-7:30pm at Shree Kadwa Patidar Samaj, Kenmore Avenue and we pray that she receives her due soon.

Our correspondent will be present at that vigil and will also be putting a special report in the 19th November issue.

Syal daughter cleared of assaulting model at party The teenage daughter of the television actress and writer Meera Syal was cleared of attacking a male model at a birthday party.

A jury took less than an hour to clear Chameli Bhatia, 19, of assault over the incident that left Christian Pannell needing 14 stitches to cuts to his face.

Ms Bhatia, who denied the charge, said that it had been an accident and her attempts to apologise afterwards were rebuffed.

Ms Bhatia had earlier told the court that she had been threatened by Mr Pannell’s friends – who called themselves “The Team” – and she had been subjected to bullying via Facebook.

Giving evidence on Wednesday, Ms Syal

this terrible charge. It has placed a huge and painful burden on her young shoulders. We always believed in her innocence and that this was an unfortunate accident and hope now that she can return to her studies and be allowed to continue her young life without any further intrusion.”

Mum Meeray Syal with daughter Chameli Bhatia

claimed Mr Pannell’s father telephoned on the day after the incident in September last year and had threatened to “take her to the cleaners”.

Two months later, the family received a letter from Mr Pannell’s solicitors, stating that he

wished to make a claim for damages. The court heard the letter asked if Miss Bhatia had a trust fund or any insurance.

In a statement after the case, Meera Syal, said that her daughter had “waited 14 months for her name to be cleared of

Asian Voices wishes all our Muslim readers a Happy Eid

Warm greetings of Guru Nanak Jayanti to all our Sikh readers

13

Former Gurkhas defending rail network from metal thieves The use of the Gurkha exsoldiers was the latest evidence of the havoc being wrought by the criminal gangs who have targeted railway track, war memorials and churches over the past year.

Mounting concern was reflected in the Commons where David Cameron said he was determined to put a stop to “this really appalling crime”.

The Prime Minister added: “The theft of metal, particularly from war memorials, is an absolutely sickening and disgusting crime.”

It is understood that the retired Gurkhas, who work for the security firm G4S, are being used to protect ‘hot spots” in north east England which have been particularly badly hit by the gangs.

G4S Gurkha Services, which employs more than 600 ex-servicemen, is an offshoot of one of the country’s leading private security firms and offers what it describes as “an enhanced strategic military solution” specialising in defending what is deemed to be “Critical

National Infrastructure” The company, which is managed by former army officers, specialises in metal theft prevention for both the rail and energy networks.

Major Tikendra Dal Dewan, Chairman of the British Gurkha Welfare Society, said: “It is a testament to the reputation of the Gurkhas that they have been enlisted to help prevent the rise of what is an appalling wave of crime that poses a very real threat to public safety.

There is simply no place in society for this kind of behaviour, and I hope the Gurkhas who have been enlisted to provide security are successful in preventing further incidents, and that the police are successful in tracking down and prosecuting the perpetrators.

“These Gurkhas typify the constructive role that the Gurkha community continues to play, and the way in which many exservicemen and their families continue to successfully integrate into British society.”

Cllr Navin Shah, AM, London Assembly Member for Brent and Harrow on behalf of London Assembly Labour Group organised the annual Diwali Community Reception on Friday 4th November. While Jennette Arnold AM for Hackney, Waltham Forest and Islington and Cllr Navin Shah AM spoke about the good over the evil, it was followed by a performance by Mira Salat and her group.

Memorial held for Bhavan’s former Director A memorial for a man who selflessly devoted his entire life to the promotion of India’s rich heritage was held at the Bhavan Centre in London on 6th November, following his death a month earlier in Bangalore.

82 year old Daughter of Mathoorji, Janaki M a t h o o r Nandakumara paying tribute Krishnamurti along unanimously thanked for with the former chairman his passion when it came Maneck Dalal, established to the pursuit of promothe London centre of the tion of Indian art and culBharatiya Vidya Bhavan ture especially in the UK. as one the largest institute A special report which for Indian Arts and culwent out on Indian ture in the UK. He was Television following his given a state funeral by death was played out to the Karnataka those assembled and stuGovernment last month. dents also sang a devoIt wasn’t difficult to tional song in tribute of see the high regard in Mathoorji.

Bhavan’s which the former Chairman Joginder Executive Director of the Sanger paid initial tribute Bhavan Mathoor by stating the difficult sitKrishnamurti was held in. uation Mathoorji faced in It was evident as high-prothe beginning. He said, file personalities lined up “With his determination to pay tribute and share and under the guidance of their own special memoMr Dalal the Bhavan was ries of this great man. established on firm footThe late Mathoorji, as ing. His selfless efforts he was fondly remembered made the Bhavan what it was consistently and is today.”

EVENT

14

Asian Voice - Saturday 12th November 2011

India Connect Celebratory luncheon and book launch at Karma Yoga House How do I apply for a visa to India?

If you are planning a trip to India, irrespective of the reason of travel, you need to complete an online application form, take a print out and submit it at the nearest India Visa Application Center in the United Kingdom.

This Form is common for all categories being applied for and can be found on our website at http://in.vfsglobal.co.uk along Jiten Vyas, VFS Global with all required information on fees, documents required and locations where the application can be submitted.

You also have the option to send us the application form and all required documents via post to our visa application center in Hayes.

It is very important to keep in mind that the two photographs that you do need to submit along with your application must be of a specific size i.e. 50x50 and with a white background. The visa centers in London, Birmingham and Edinburgh do have photo booths that will be able to provide you with the right size and quality.

Please note that incorrect or incomplete applications, documentation or photographs may not allow us to proceed with accepting your dossier at the visa center. A comprehensive FAQ tab on the homepage of our website will provide you with more information on your application requirements.

Where do I apply for a visa to India?

There are 8 locations within the United Kingdom where you can submit your application for a visa to India. These are: India Visa Application Center 60-62 Wilton Road, Victoria, London, SW1V 1DE. India Visa Application Center 142-148 Goswell Road, London EC1V 7DU. India Visa Application Center 1-3, Canalside, Uxbridge Road, Hayes, Middlesex, UB4 0JN India Visa Application Center 20 - 21 Pemberton Street, Birmingham B18 6NY India Visa Application Center 66 Hanover Buildings Rose Street, Edinburgh EH2 2NN Submission of Application for all the above centers: 0830 - 1430 Hrs Collection of processed passports from all the above centers: 1300 - 1630 Hrs Monday-Friday India Visa Application Center C/o. The India Centre, Sanquhar Street, Splott, Cardiff, CF24 2AA. Working hours are from 09.00hrs until 14.30hrs Monday to Friday India Visa Application Center C/o. Mel Milaap Centre 134 Berkeley Street, Glasgow, G3 7HY. Working hours are from 0930 - 1430 Hrs Monday-Friday India Visa Application Center C/o. Jain Community Centre 669 Stockport Road, Longsight, Manchester, M12 4QE. Working hours are from 0930 – 1430 Hrs Monday-Friday What documents are required and the subsequent fees to be charged?

Complete information on the documents required and the subsequent fees which will be charged can be found under the section ‘All About Your Visa’ on the homepage of our website http://in.vfsglobal.co.uk. Under each category information is broken down into four tabs at the top of the page titled: Visa Fees, Document Checklist, Application Form, Photo Specifications and FAQ.

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

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

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

By Rani Singh I felt humbled at the celebratory luncheon - launch given by Mr CB Patel, Publisher/ Editor of the Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar, on November 3rd, 2011, for my biography of Mrs Sonia Gandhi.

I agreed to write this book because Mrs Gandhi’s story is the greatest transformational journey made by any world leader in the last four decades. My publisher and I wanted to help the wider world understand more about this remarkable lady.

A welcoming atmosphere pervaded the head-

CB Patel, Publisher/Editor welcoming the guests

Pushpaben smilingly watched over the arrangements.

Rupanjana spoke first, before CB, who communi-

James Brewer and wife Graciete Amaro. James is the Former Insurance Editor Lloyd’s List and Rani’s honorary editorial consultant with CB Patel receiving the Love Gujarat book as a token of appreciation

quarters of CB’s flourishing publishing business which employs around 57 people across India and the United Kingdom.

There was a select group of guests from the Indian elite, and I was allowed to have invitees there, too, which took the number to

cated warmly and sincerely. He told everyone that he had known my family and I for more than 30 years. I was touched when he mentioned how I had raised my two sons alone.

He commented on Henry Kissinger’s review and

Lord Dholakia, Chair for the afternoon speaking about the book

well over the usual complement.

CB’s talented Associate Editor, Rupanjana Dutta, organised the event. It was the

said he found it rare for an Indian-authored book to be featured in publications such as the Financial times and the Economist.

Lord Navnit Dholakia,

Bihani from India House, who told me, one-on-one, that he liked my level of detail.

Historian Dr Premen Addy, Cambridge

Sonia Gandhi everywhere especially in Gujarat.

With aristocratic etiquette, when CB highlighted certain people in

CB Patel, Rani Singh, Lord Dholakia & Ashis Ray during book launch

contemporary of Rajiv Gandhi, highlighted that President Gorbachev’s moving Foreword to the book spoke, for the first time, of his personal relationship with Rajiv Gandhi and his wife Sonia. Ashis Ray, the Times of India’s London

the room, he named each of my guests before his own. The invited panellists, my honorary editorial adviser and I were each presented with an exquisite coffee table book about Gujarat published

by ABPL. The afternoon and

Dr Premen Addy talking from a Historian’s perspective

correspondent and President of the Indian Journalists’ Association, explained how because Mrs Gandhi is a private person, a biography using research and interviews with people who know her or knew her was the right way to proceed.

The last speaker was Dr Balwant Jani, Dean of Arts Faculty of Saurashtra University at Rajkot, who spoke about the popularity of

Dr Balwant Jani

CB’s wonderful generosity remains etched in my memory forever.

Ashis Ray adding some exclusive points

first literary lunch that the Asian Voice had hosted; another special honour.

Many books were sold!

Senior staff from Asian Business Publications Ltd supervised the serving of a delicious vegetarian meal, refusing to eat before the guests finished. CB’s wife

OBE, member of the Privy Council and Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party, spoke next. I was stunned to learn that he had read the book on the 22-hour flight to Perth for the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting.

Also present was Press Attache Mr Sanjay K.

Ashlee Gagui from Palgrave Macmillan present to sell the books

UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 12th November 2011

15

f ashionista

by Debasree Ghosh For more stories visit www.scribbledesk.com

Short Story by Neha Garg

The Perfect Wedding The story so far: June is getting married but is really scared because everything is going perfectly. June believes that you cry in life as much as you life and she would prefer a disaster during her wedding than a disaster during her life. She has decided to sabotage her own wedding.

The day before the wedding, June stole into the hotel room where everybody’s clothes including her wedding dress was being kept in readiness for the big day. Quietly she shut the door behind her and tip-toed over to the wardrobe where she knew the clothes of the main wedding party were.

Opening the door, she couldn’t help but marvel at the beauty of her wedding dress. Then, without a sound she took the dress off its hanger and stole out of the room. Once out, she went over to a broom cupboard and hid the dress behind a pile of old pails, taking care of wrapping it up in some old newspapers first.

The big day dawned bright and sunny. June woke up with an excited feeling in the pit of her stomach. She wondered what she was so excited about for a full minute, before she remembered that it was the day of her wedding.

‘I am getting married today’, she chirped with happiness and to no one in particular.

‘I couldn’t be happier for you’, smiled Sophie as she walked in with June’s wedding dress in her arms.

June stared at Sophie in horror. ‘Tha .. That dress. Where did you find it?’ she stammered. ‘Umm, I mean that it wasn’t in the wardrobe last night. She added hurriedly, ‘I thought someone had taken it to iron.’

‘A cleaning lady found it in a broom cupboard downstairs when she began her shift this morning.’, said Sophie. ‘I have no idea how it ended up there. I am just glad it was found when it was or we would have had a major disaster on our hands.’

(Part 2)

June hid her bitter dissapointment and with a voice that she hoped was calm said,’Oh, that’s horrible! Thank God you found it. I don’t know what I would do without you darling.’

‘But isn’t this ideal for you sweetheart ? If you had your way, you would get married in your jeans’, laughed Sophie.

June smiled. Yes, that would indeed be ideal. She never did understand why the world had to have all these rules and regulations stating that everyone has to dress up. It was her wedding after all. She could get married in pyjamas if she liked.

I would probably have to tie Sophie up to a chair until it is all over though, thought June with a smile as she got up to go join Sophie in the dressing room.

An hour later, she picked up her mobile phone and dialled the number for Star Cars, the limousine service that was due to pick up Mark and take him to the chapel.

‘Hi! This is June Evans. I would like to cancel the limousine I booked for today please.’

When she hung up, the mischevious glint in her eye was back. There, she thought. With the limousine service cancelled, Mark wont be able to get to the chapel on time. The perfect stint in the wedding.

Watford Palace Theatre celebrates Diwali Watford Palace Theatre and members of the local community have been celebrating Diwali with a range of community activities.

Members of the local community have visited a number of local schools and delivered Diwali workshops to over 350 pupils.

The children enjoyed a range of activities, including storytelling, traditional dress-up and mask, rangoli and diva making.

On Tuesday 8

November, the Palace is due to host free Indian dance workshops, delivered by well-known choreographer, Gopi Keilman from Love Bollywood Dance School. There will be a workshop for children aged 6-11 years, running from 5:00pm-6:30pm, and a workshop for children and adults aged over 12 from 7:00pm-8:30pm.

Designer Nisha Sagar who has been honoured with awards like Women Achievers Awards 2004, Best Indian Designer by the Mayor of Kingston & Best Designer Awards by all 3 Television Awards Institutions in India since past years, is taking part in the Asian Wedding Exhibition at Alexandra Palace on 12th & 13th November 2011.

Masters in Economics from Mumbai University, she sees the beauty in God’s creations and ushers the echo of

Places can be booked by contacting Watford Palace Theatre box office on 01923 225 671.

The main Diwali Celebration is taking place at theatre on 13 Nov, featuring The Epic Ramayan production presented by Bhaktivedanta Players.

The event has received an overwhelming response and all tickets have now sold out. The event will be preceded by a joyful procession down Watford High Street, starting at 4:00pm.

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

Vintage fashion Hello all! I am back to London and back in print. Hope you all had a lovely autumn and now are ready for the attack of the opaque tights! I had a fantastic time in India (bought my wedding lehenga! yay!) and now in the process of trolling through bridal boutique in search of the perfect wedding gown. Gotta love a wedding that affords you a lehenga and a dress. So, flipping through a million dresses that run the full gamut between meringue and fishtail, high-street and high-fashion, the one kind of dress that’s really grabbing attention is vintage. Now, I don’t know if it’s my love for 40’s style maximum glamour or a joint subliminal message campaign by Vogue and Oxfam, I find myself increasingly enamoured by the retro and ahem, the second-hand or ‘preloved,’ as we like to say in the fash-world!

Vintage fashion is a term given to clothes made in years gone by.

It’s the buzz word in the fashion world at the moment, and indeed has been for quite some time.

It has become the ultimate trend of the moment, with people cottoning on to the appeal of owning something retro, and in many ways unique. Although it’s only recently that wearing ‘vintage ‘ has become fashionably right thing to do, it is by no means a fad. From chelsea girls who sling their mum’s old chanel 2.55 over their shoulder to city-chic girls who borrow their boyfriend’s white shirt to those of us whose first sari was often from granny’s wardrobe; people have been wearing hand-me-downs and family heirlooms for years.

‘Vintage’ is a huge same poetry through her own designs. Like any other creative artist, she began painting her imagination, which flowed quite naturally onto cloth and designs. Designing for

thing in the celebrity world. Hollywood A-listers regularly take to the red carpet in exquisite vintage gowns to avoid the fashion faux pas of bumping into a star in the same designer dress, while Kate Moss and Agyness Deyn are huge fans of vintage fashion, as are Sienna Miller, Daisy Lowe, Fearne Cotton and Alexa Chung, which begs the questionhow has this failed to be cooler sooner?

My very beautiful colleague, Anastatsia says “I have always been fascinated by vintage fashion.

They are more figure flattering, are made of quality fabrics and there is never any fear of anybody saying..’oh that’s a nice dress, from Zara right?’”

And Anastatsia isn’t alone. Charity shops are reporting a massive surge in business, with shop specialising in vintage clothes only are coming up all over the country and on the web.

We as a nation love the thrill of uncovering a bargain and charity shops undoubtedly give us that outlet to do so. Where else can you get a sequined mini-dress for less than a tenner? And before you say 'Primark' let me rephrase the question- where else can you get a sequined mini-dress that you are guaranteed not to see on all of your friends?

The credit crunch has transformed our shopping demands.

Fast fashion may be cheap but lacks longevity and designer togs are often beyond our means.

Vintage, which is essentially recycled clothing holds appeal to the envi-

top celebrities & corporate women, pinnacle was when British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s wife Cherie Blaire also requested Nisha Sagar to clothe her with exquisite indo-

ronmentally conscious and ethical. Sub-cultures like swing dancing and rockabilly have also contributed to the growing interest in clothes and accessories from yesteryear.

Styles from the 1940's through the 1970's seem to be the most popular.

There are even kitchenware, homeware, and appliances that are being sought after from this time period. The key to bagging a truly vintage piece is to do your research about the shop and what exactly you are looking for, also set aside an amount that you are willing to spend and stick to it! If you don't fancy hunting around in your local charity shop, or indeed visiting a specialist vintage haunt, then

why not try the highstreet. Yes, it may sound like an oxymoron trying to find genuine vintage on the high-street, and of course you won't, but you will find some vintage inspired pieces, which can be just as good. Of course, wearing vintage deosn’t mean looking like a ‘betty Draper’ at all times, though I know people who wouldn’t mind one bit. Mix and match seems to be the name of the game; next time someone asks you about your outfit, try saying something like..’Oh! The trousers are from Topshop, the bag is Prada and this darling shirt I found in a flea market.’, and watch street-style blogs lining up for your picture on the way to the newsagent. western outfits.

Besides retailing at various hot spots in India & abroad, she has two spacious exclusive Studios of her own designs in Juhu, Mumbai.

16

BOLLywOOD

Asian Voice Saturday 12th November 2011

Kareena is Salman's biggest challenge now While one waits to see how soon does ‘Ra One’ break ‘Bodyguard’ collections of 1.40 billion, film's leading lady Kareena Kapoor can be assured of one thing at the least that now she is the only actor (whether male or female) to have as many as four movies to her credit that have made over 1 billion.

"Today the record is held by Salman Khan who has three of his films net over 1 billion (Bodyguard, Dabangg and Ready). Aamir Khan has two (3 idiots and Ghajine), Asin has two (Ready, Ghajini), Ajay Devgn has two (Golmaal Returns, Singham) while Shah Rukh is having one (Ra One). However Kareena would now hold the record for maximum centuries with ( 3 idiots, Bodyguard, Golmaal Returns and now Ra One).

"Even though for an interim time period, one could well say that Kareena has surpassed Salman," quips an industry insider. "After all she has more centuries to her name than Salman. It is a different matter though that the record would be challenged once Salman arrives with ‘Ek Tha Tiger’ next Eid. That film is bound to cross 1 billion by all means."

"All of this is academic though since Kareena's “Agent Vinod” (with Saif Ali Khan) will be released before “Ek Tha Tiger” and could well make it five in a row for her," the insider continues. "While Salman's Dabangg would further heat up the competition, Kareena's Dhuaan (with Aamir Khan) is a definite 1 billion plus film as well. It looks like next year competition would be mainly between Salman and Kareena more than anyone else.

There are going to be centuries galore."

Mani Ratnam likely to cast Parthiban’s daughter There were reports in the past that ace director Mani Ratnam would start his next project in the first week of October. According to sources, Mani Ratnam’s next will be an intense love story based on the sensitive issue of plight of Rameshwaram fishermen at the hands of Sri Lankan Navy. The film will have actor Karthik’s son Gautham in the lead role; the leading lady is yet to be

finalized. And now the latest buzz is that Parthiban’s daughter Keerthana (of Kannathil Muthamitaal fame) is likely to be the heroine. Veteran cinematographer Rajeev Menon and music director A R Rahman will reportedly be a part of this project. It sure looks like the ace director is all set to recapture the magic of “Roja,’’ “Mouna Raagam” and “Alaipayuthey” again on screen.

Costly climax for Vikram's 'Rajapattai'

It's a cinematic conclusion worth millions. Rs 30 million, that is. The producers of Vikram's “Rajapattai” have reportedly loosened the purse strings for the big fat climax of the starrer that features sexy siren Deeksha Seth as leading lady. As per insiders, the filming of “Rajapattai” is almost complete except for two song numbers that are likely to be shot in Europe.

Touted to be a complete mass entertainer, Vikram will appear in several

interesting get-ups for a song in the flick.

Rajapattai (PVP Cinemas) helmed by Suseendran showcases Vikram in the role of a gym instructor who comes to the city with a dream of making it big as a villain in Tamil films.

Apart from a strong romantic and comedy track, “Rajapattai” also highlights the emotional relationship between a grandfather (enacted by K. Vishwanath) and his grandson.

Dhanush to direct a Hindi movie

Everyone knows that Dhanush has an insatiable passion for filmmaking right from his childhood. But the actress wasn’t able to accomplish with his dreams as he became busy with acting career. However the actor was busy writing scripts during leisure time.

He is now helping his wife Aishwarya for the film ‘3’ that marks her debut as director. It is learned that the actor is now planning to make his own debut as

director. It is not going to be a Tamil movie, but something bigger as Dhanush eyes Bollywood. According to the sources, the actor has narrated the script to a leading Bollywood actor and he has okayed the script. It looks like the film will go on floors from mid 2012.

Dhanush is already popular not merely for the reason that he is the son-in-law of superstar Rajnikanth, but the youngest National Award winner.

Just when you thought that almost every actor in Bollywood is enjoying the role of a producer, Suniel Shetty has proved an exception. The actor, who has produced a string of films in the past and is eagerly awaiting the audience feedback to ‘Loot” has decided to stop his film production wing after the release of the film.

"I've realized that film production is too demanding and taxing and perhaps, I am unfit to play the role of the producer. As a producer, you need to take care of so many things and it's impossible to concentrate on acting simultaneously, if you are an actor. I don't want my producers [in whose film I am acting] to suffer on this count," Suniel said categorically. That explains why ‘Loot’ will be his last release as a producer.

Suniel, known for his action roles, is glad that action films are being lapped up by viewers in India. "Look at the business of films like ‘Bodyguard’ and ‘Singham”. The fact that action films are back in focus is too exciting. In fact, the offers [for action films] have already started pouring in," Suniel said. It will be nice to see one of the original action heroes getting back into action roles with a vengeance, what say?

Suniel Shetty's new resolve

‘Serial kisser’ refused to kiss Vidya Balan

Hrishita Bhatt’s film under attack from Pakistan

Emraan Hashmi wanted to shed his 'serial kisser' image in the publicity posters for 'The Dirty Picture.' So he has refused to kiss Vidya in the film. It's often concluded that in an Emraan movie, at least one kiss will be an essential part of the storyline, and his sizzling intimacy with his co-star would be conveyed in the publicity posters. However, his next film, “The Dirty Picture” might just change the actor's wellorchestrated image in the industry.

The 'serial kisser' won't be seen locking lips with his heroine in the film's publicity campaign.

One may call it a case of the leopard keen to change his spots, for since his first hit, “Murder,” Emraan has been synonymous with kissing his heroines on screen.

Ever since the Hrishita Bhatt-produced ‘Shakal Pe Mat Ja ‘hit the floors, the film has been in troubled waters. After reports that the Censor Board rejected five of its promos citing objectionable language as the reason, it’s learnt that director-actor Shubh Mukherjee is getting abusive calls from an unknown Pakistani number. He filed an FIR with Mumbai police. Hrishita Bhatt said, “My manager and I have been getting calls. Initially, it was fine but suddenly this person started speaking in a completely different tone, which was abusive. He tried to scare us by saying things like, ‘I will see how you guys release the film’, ‘It has vulgar content’ and ‘How can we make fun of terrorism,’” says Shubh.

Initially, the director wasn’t sure about the origin of the calls. “But when the calls became regular, I got to know from someone that it’s a Pakistani number. Initially, the person tried troubling me on Facebook. Later, he must have got my number from the production people and he started calling me directly,” he says, adding he isn’t “worried about it”.

“I went to the police station and filed an FIR because it’s my duty. Everyone including Hrishita knows about it,” says Shubh.

The Shah Rukh Khan - Aamir Khan rivalry seems to have taken a nasty turn post “RA.One” release.

While the film has got a mixed response from fans and critics, people from the industry has taken this opportunity to widen the Khan divide. According to sources, people in the industry have been telling SRK that Aamir Khan, who had been keeping a close tab on his dream project, is now trying to run the film down.

A source close to SRK said, "People in the industry have taken this opportunity to get closer to Shah Rukh.

Certain people from the industry too, have called and messaged him to say how Salman Khan and Aamir have been trying to run down RA.One." "Shah Rukh though not too concerned about Salman's act was upset with Aamir. The Sallu-SRK rivalry has been going on for quite some time now. However, the news of Aamir choosing to support Salman has hurt Shah Rukh a lot," said the source.

Initially, SRK even chose to ignore the stories. But after repeated reports about Aamir inquiring about the box office returns of “RA.One,” SRK was a little miffed. In fact, SRK learnt from his friends that Aamir did not think that RA.One collections were up to the mark.

On the other hand, a source close to Aamir claimed that none of the stories being spread by people in the industry were true. "Why would Aamir want to kill SRK's film?

Aamir is shooting in London for Reema Kagti's film and is not aware of the collections of RA.One at all. How can Aamir sabotage a film that has got a mixed response from the audience?" asked the source. There has simply been a misunderstanding. Some people from the industry are just poisoning SRK's mind."

Shah Rukh Khan hurt as Aamir keeps tabs on ‘Ra.One’ She is at it again! Rakhi Sawant caught in an attacking mood! While talking to the media, Rakhi speaks from her heart and shares why her career in Bollywood is heading nowhere.

It’s been nearly five years since Rakhi Sawant hogged the limelight with her muchdiscussed and publicized public kiss with singer Mika at his birthday bash. And since then she has evolved as the TV’s ultimate drama queen and has done everything from hosting a chat show to selecting a groom on TV without eventually marrying him.

Now, she is no more a foe to Mika and has let bygones be bygones at a Diwali party.

But ask her about her Bollywood career and she becomes upset. Does Bollywood have nothing to offer to this dancing queen?

“I am very sad to say that so far I have been receiving offers for rape scenes only.

And I don’t want to do films in which I have to show my body. I had abandoned the film industry for some time, to concentrate on my TV career,” tells Rakhi.

She is also up against the Censor Board, and believes she is a soft target. Her latest item song Jawaani Ki Bank Loot Le, from the movie “Loot,” is also said to be an objectionable track because of the bold words. But Rakhi is resolute and has an unshakeable faith. She knows she is young, talented and has a long way to go.

The item girl dreams big, and hopes to share screen space with the south superstar Rajinikanth.

Esha Gupta, Hrithik's red-hot new girl!

It seems like searching for Hrithik's leading lady in “Krrish 2” has become a game of musical chairs that will not end. A role which has some grey shades to it had been offered to Kangna Ranaut and Sonakshi Sinha but both of them refused to be part of the film. Eventually, Chitrangda Singh accepted it only to walk out suddenly citing date problems. And finally, when it was heard the news of Jacqueline Fernandez pairing up with Duggu little did anyone know that she'll depart soon as well making way for a newbie and a popular model Esha Gupta. Esha won the Miss India International title in 2007, and represented the country in the Miss International 2007 contest. She has also featured in the Kingfisher calendar. Buoyant with her recent project, Esha considers herself as a serious contender for the next Bollywood babe title.

Asian Voice - Saturday 12th November 2011

17

Salman upset with Sonakshi?

Sonakshi Sinha was launched

by Salman Khan in 'Dabangg' and much appreciated for her role in the film. Of course, the girl insists she remains indebted to Salman for the big break. She is supposed to be part of Sallu’s camp. At an event recently, the lady was asked what she would do if she was offered a movie with SRK, especially since she's a part of Salman's camp? Sonakshi clarified that she isn't part of any camp and doesn't believe in the camp culture. She also said that she would love to work with anybody and everybody. Of course, working with Shah Rukh would be a dream come true for the damsel. It's heard that Salman is miffed with this statement of hers.

Arjun Rampal gifts Ganesha to Lady Gaga Arjun and Mehr Rampal who played perfect hosts to Lady Gaga over the weekend, gifted the international pop star with a beautiful Ganesha statue. Gaga who visited fabric stores at the Delhi market, was intrigued about the significance of Ganesha in Indian culture. When Mehr heard about it, she got her a lovely statue from her friend Sussanne Roshan's store. A source reveals, "Gaga was thrilled to receive the idol and thanked Mehr. She's promised to seek blessings from it."

Rakhi Sawant gets only rape scenes to do!

No cell phone for Rekha!

It is commonly believed that senior actors don't use cell phones. A good example is Aamir Khan, who owned a mobile much later than others, shunning it when kneedeep in work. But times are changing. Other oldtimers are warming to mobiles while they're still reluctant about sharing their numbers. One such example is Bollywood's eternal diva - Rekha. Even her closest friends in the industry don't have her number. Once, when media was desperate to get in touch with Madam Re, her dear friend 'Hemu' (Hema Malini) advised media to call her on the landline and leave a message along with a number on voicemail. It did work.

Rekha's manager Farzana promptly called back without wasting a minute and handed over the phone to her boss. "I too don't have Rekha's number. I always leave behind a message and she calls me back," said Hema with a chuckle.

Daughters will bring me readymade sons: Hema Malini Making a pitch for 'Save the Girl Child' programme launched by the Madhya Pradesh government, noted film actress Hema Malini said she was lucky to have two daughters and the absence of a son did not bother her at all.

"The lack of sons in my life does not worry me at all. I am lucky as both my daughters would bring me readymade sons in the form of sons in-law," Hema said.

‘RA.One’ sequel on its way Interestingly, “RA.One’s” team thought of the sequel even before the film’s release.

“When we were just half-way through, we knew a film like this would demand a sequel.

The way we left it at the end shows how G.One has come back. So, without a doubt, a sequel is on its way,” Sheikh who penned RA One’s story said. “Shah Rukh believes in it (sequel). It’s completely his vision. We have discussed part two. Like everyone else, he also has some ideas in head,” adds Sheikh, who also penned SRK starrer “Om Shanti Om” (2007). Interestingly, ‘RA.One’ also features Sheikh in a cameo as a gun-toting goon. “It was my chance to intimidate Shah Rukh, something I can never do in real life,” laughs Sheikh, who shoots at SRK’s character in the film.

Soft porn okay for Tusshar Kapoor Tusshar Kapoor does not mind getting into the soft porn. He has shed his guynext-door image, for his upcoming movie ‘The Dirty Picture’. He is not perturbed of being dubbed as a ‘soft porn’ star. Tusshar will seen in the Milan Luthria film, a biopic based on the life and death of Silk Smitha, alongside Vidya Balan in a bold avatar. "There are lots of shades to my character. It is not something that will get overshadowed by the title.

My image is not going to be damaged. Today, sex is not a taboo anymore…I think even on screen and even in our society people talk about it freely. Even if I get a soft porn image I don`t have a problem with that," Tusshar says. The are some intimate scenes in the film but the actor says he wasn`t uncomfortable doing it.

18

Asian Voice - Saturday 12th November 2011

Indian ministry boosts UK tourism with special offers

By Shweta Desai Dear Financial Voice Reader, I write as I am about to go into a Chatham House Investment Committee meeting. For those who do not know Chatham House is the world’s number one ranked foreign affairs think tank outside the US and number 2 globally. Our Patron is Her Majesty the Queen. Mahatma Gandhi spoke here first, before meeting King George, about Indian independence. Several Prime Ministers have lived here including William Pitt the Younger.

So you will understand when in deciding how to invest Chatham House’s millions, as a charity and as an institution, we are somewhat cautious. But somewhat cautious is exactly how many people feel about their own returns.

So without divulging anything confidential, let me tell you how, I think a cautious strategy for investing but for the average person.

First, I think about 15% in cash – depending on how much you need for immediate needs. You may put less or more of course. Second, 20% to 30% in corporate bonds. These are loans to companies and pay interest in the case of HSBC, National Grid, Lloyds, Centrica of between 6% to 8% annually. Of course you have to be confident the companies will not default!

Third, about 25% in equity trackers. These track indices. I would put half in Western trackers eg FTSE 100 and Dow and half in Emerging Market trackers.

Finally you can put the rest in alternative – whether property or private equity or hedge funds. Now most people will not do this part and that is fine. Don’t worry. Most people usually overinvest in UK stocks or property and not enough, in a cautious portfolio, in corporate bonds.

As you will have read in the press – of course even governments fail in their bond obligations. So why should companies be different? Well they are not. Look at MF Global – a major operation which just went bust.

Virtually out of the blue. Was it foreseeable? Well, for all the people with business with them, including myself, we thought a multi-billion dollar company was not about to go under, else we would have taken our funds and run. But did we? No – we didn’t know.

So you wont see me write that these institutions are safe, no matter what the credit rating agencies say. We live in a world where LloydsBank and the Italian Government are willing to pay you the same money on loans. Who would you trust more? I think most would say they will lend it to Lloyds.

Nothing is as obvious or as safe as we thought. And so what before I could have taken for granted I no longer can. I have to now ensure money is with several banks. It sounds paranoid – but it is not. We have all learnt the hard way. And before my asset management company did business with MF Global, we did business with Bear Stearns – one of the major investment banks in the US- they too went bust!

Alpesh Patel

Rajat Gupta out on $10-million bail Rajat Gupta, former McKinsey head and founder of the Indian School of Business in Hyderabad, pleaded notguilty to the charges of insider trading that could put him in jail for life, if proven true. Gupta, who is now free on bail for $10 million, surrendered to the FBI and was arraigned in a New York court. He is charged with five counts of security fraud and one of conspiracy, which together could get him 105 years in jail, with millions in fine.

The former McKinsey chief, who was born in Kolkata and grew up in Delhi, is charged with passing insider tips to friend and founder of Galleon hedge fund Raj Rajaratnam, who has been sentenced to 11 years for insider trading.

He “became the illegal eyes and ears in the boardroom” for Rajaratnam, said US attorney for Manhattan Preet Bharara, also Indianborn, whose office is prosecuting the Galleon insider trading case.

# " #

$ !

# #

!

Reviving historical ties with the United Kingdom, India wants to project itself as the `revisit’ destination for tourists and the local Asian population.

The travel and tourism ministry aims to woo visitors by offering special religious circuit tours.

Speaking at the inauguration of the World Travel Market, ExCel, on Monday India’s Minister for Tourism,Subodh Kant Sahai said he wants to attract more tourists from the UK and Europe. “There are five million people from all around the world who come to travel in India. We want to double this figure in another five years.”

Sahai is visiting London to attract more business and travellers in the tourism sector. He said in the coming year there would be 1 billion world travellers and India aims to draw one per cent of this population.

UK is the second largest source of tourism for India with a large number of Asian people from Birmingham and London visiting annually. Sahai said both the countries have historical ties dating back to the colonial British Raj times. ``We want to portray India as a second `revisit’ destination. Most people from the UK have

Shri Subodh Kant Sahai, Union Minister for Tourism, India

already visited India once when young or to visit families,’’ he said. ``But now we want them to come back and see the changed India, which has a lot to offer in terms of tourism.’’

Sahai also added that India is the perfect destination for the British tourists to get away from the winter blues. ``We have a `beach and peace’ tourism.

Travellers can come and soak in the sun and enjoy the warm climate even during winter. Or they can just relax and find peace in the spiritual tourism.’’

The Indian tourism board is heavily marketing on its spiritual tourism by offering special circuit tours. To begin with it has planned for Buddhist circuit in Bihar which will allow travellers to explore the spiritual and holy sites of Buddhist religion. It has also recently introduced a special train called `Mahaparinirvana’ which travels through the main popular Buddhist sites in India. Similar tours are on

the offering of Sufism and Sikhism. ``Spiritual tourism is still a big attraction for the world travellers and we want to offer all the facilities to explore them. A complete infrastructure and connectivity will be provided for people to travel and stay along these circuits.’’ Sahai said.

The volatile but beautiful region of Jammu and Kashmir which is a major centre for religious sites including Vaishnao Devi shrine, Buddhist monasteries in Leh-Ladakh and mosques in Srinagar and other parts of the Kashmir valley, was announced safe for tourists. ``There was an uninterrupted flow of 1.6 million tourists who visited the region of J&K in 2010-2011 alone. If there were any safety problems we would not get such large number of tourists,’’ State Tourism Minister, J&K, Nawang Rigzin Jora said.

While the news of bomb-blasts and terrorist attacks in popular cities

like New Delhi keep tourists away from visiting it, Sahai said there was no need to worry. ``Every country issues travel advisories whenever there are problems. But that should not keep travellers away from visiting India.’’

India plans to invest around 219 billion rupees in the 12th five year plan to improve the infrastructure and give boost to tourism. Sahai believes by 2017, India should have a world class infrastructure in terms of five star and budget hotels, road, rail and air connectivity amongst other facilities which are vital for tourism. An aggressive marketing strategy will also be undertaken to project India as an excellent tourist destination. The Indian Tourism Ministry was declared as the World’s Leading Destination (2011) and World’s Leaders Tourist Board for its Incredible India campaign at the World Travel Market.

India will also be hosting the Global Travel Market in December 2012 for the first time. Sahai said tourism industry has become a major focus for the government and the mart will be a good platform to showcase India as a tourism destination and attract trade and business opportunities.

Vodafone results boosted by strong India growth

Vodafone edged its fullyear outlook higher on Tuesday as growth in emerging markets and robust trading in northern Europe helped the world's largest mobile operator to post first-half results ahead of forecasts.

The results were boosted by strong growth in India and robust performances in Germany and Britain. Growth in Turkey inevitably slowed but remained solid.

However, the group showed that it was still facing tough conditions in Italy, where organic service revenue fell 3 per cent in the second quarter from down 1.5 per cent in the

first, and Spain, where it has struggled in a weak economy for several years.

Service revenue was slightly improved in Spain but it was still down 9.3 per cent in the second quarter from down 9.9 per cent in the first. The company took an impairment loss of 450 million pounds ($721 million) in relation to Vodafone Greece.

It moved its outlook for full-year adjusted oper-

ating profit to the top end of its range, predicting profits of between 11.4 billion pounds and 11.8 billion pounds compared with an earlier forecast of 11 billion pounds to 11.8 billion pounds.

"They're really great numbers," analyst Will Draper at Espirito Santo said. "Revenues are up 1 per cent on the consensus and they've raised the operating guidance towards the top end of the range. So I think they're pretty bullet proof. Overall I would mention the organic service revenue growth at 1.3 per cent which was a long way better than consensus at 1.1

per cent and within that the really encouraging thing was Europe which was only down 1.2 per cent, compared to the forecast of minus 1.7".

The group posted firsthalf revenue up 4.1 per cent to 23.5 billion pounds and core earnings up 2.3 per cent to 7.5 billion pounds.

Analysts had been expecting group revenue at 23.4 billion pounds and earnings at 7.4 billion pounds.

On the key industry metric of group organic service revenue, which relates to the provision of ongoing services, the group was up 1.4 per cent in the first half and up 1.3 per cent in the second quarter.

India 'most improved' in bribery index

Chinese and Russian firms are the most likely to pay bribes while operating abroad, and the most corrupt sectors are public works contracts and construction, according to Transparency International's latest "Bribe Payers' index".

China and Russia rank bottom, in 27th and 28th place respectively, in the 2011 index released, while the Dutch, Swiss, Belgians, Germans and Japanese get the top scores. Britain and the United States rank eighth and ninth.

But the Berlin-based anti-corruption campaigners said not one of the 28 countries surveyed -which include all of the G20 -- was perceived as "wholly clean of bribery" and few had made a major improvement since the last bribery index in 2008.

"India's score improved the most, with an increase of 0.7, but it still remains near the bottom of the table.

Canada and the United Kingdom saw the most significant deterioration in their scores with a drop of 0.3," read the report.

The group asked 3,016 business executives in 30 countries -- selected by the value of their foreign direct investments and exports, plus their regional significance -- how often companies based in countries in the survey engaged in bribery.

Transparency urged countries to ratify conventions against bribery under the auspices of the United Nations, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development and the European Union.

"It is of particular con-

cern that China and Russia are at the bottom of the index," it said, citing their increasing global presence, especially in oil and gas in Russia's case and China's investments in infrastructure and mining, in particular in Africa.

China's decision this year to expand anti-corruption laws to Chinese firms operating overseas and foreign companies in China was an important step, but there was still a risk of "bottlenecks", said Ran Jianmin of Transparency in China.

FINANCIAL VOICE

Asian Voice - Saturday 12th November 2011

19

The Power Of Mantra Suresh Vagjiani Managing Director Sow & Reap A Property Investment & Financing company.

Prior to Sow & Reap I was working in an estate agent in Paddington, this was when I caught the property bug. This is a disease much like gambling, but worse, as it is not officially recognized. Without even recognition how can there possibly be a cure? The symptoms of this disease are you must be doing property deals at any cost, otherwise life loses all meaning.

This was in around the year 2002. My background was in Mathematics having done a degree in Actuarial Science, but having little interest in the subject. So estate agency and property was not on the radar, ever.

I landed myself into this role accidently.

As with many things in life, you have your plans, and destiny has hers.

Sow & Reap started as a mortgage company, and then evolved to include sourcing UK properties and India property.

In the beginning I was attending all the investment seminars I could, eg Inside track and all the shows, learning about no money down deals.

I also started buying properties with no money or very little money.

Many times we even bought property and got money back!

Very quickly it was apparent there were many brokers and agents in the market who were long timers but did not know the loopholes in the system. As they kept to the same groove.

Naturally there are regrets about what properties we had bought at that time. Not all were selected well. But as

I have said previou sly, buyin g a du d propert y is like havin g a bad haircut, if you wait lon g enou gh it will g row back.

A group of properties we bought in particular was based in Luton.

The reason we ended up in Luton again was completely accidental. I went to auction focusing on a property we went to purchase. Not coming away with a property left me incomplete, therefore as an addict I had to purchase something. So I quickly looked at the catalogue and picked something cheap which we could buy for the cash we had without the need of a mortgage - just in case it required work. A Buy to Let mortgage is given on the basis the rental pays for the mortgage from day one. A property requiring work does not fit into this criteria, as work and money will be required. Consequently this is classed as a special case. Often in these scenarios the lender will either refuse the mortgage or insist on a retention meaning they will hold on to say £5000 and release this on completion of the works which will involve another survey. In an auction situation and purchasing blind this was not a risk worth taking.

So the property we picked up was in Harefield court, for £45,000.

This was purchased in cash and in those good old days you could refinance at a higher valuation straight away. This meant we buy the property for cash one day and then we refinance the property at the valuation the next day. To illustrate we bought this property for £52,000.

It was worth £62,000. Therefore remortgaging at 85% meant we got all the money we paid for it back: £52,750.

So we got all our money back and the property rental was £450pm and the mortgage payment was only £234pm, leaving roughly £200pm in excess.

So we bou ght t he property f or free, got a litt le cash back and then had a positive rent al o f £200pm. Look s like a no brain er right? So af ter a few months we boug ht f our more in the same block and why not as they were fo r free and there’s mo ney co min g in o n each rig ht?

W ron g!

There were a number of problems. All the numbers given above are correct. The main crux of the issue is this if you give out peanuts you will get monkeys. The tenants we were attracting due to the location of the properties in Luton, were all DSS, I do not even think you could get a professional in there. Note – I’m not painting all DSS tenants with the same brush. We have had stable DSS families in properties for years with zero issues.

The problem here was with a one bedroom property in the rubbish part of a undesirable town. Luton was voted as the worst place to live in 2004 in the officially named crap town survey. Therefore you will not be attracting one parent families as they will be wanting two bedroom properties which have at least some stability. You will be getting the unemployed single youth.

We would have phone calls to say the rent had stopped being received, we would go and visit the properties to discover the tenant had left and simply given the keys to their mates to use as a drinking and smoking den. There would be holes in the wall - obviously one of them was a Kung Fu Expert… and cigarette butts on the carpets.

The hassle factor on these properties was too much and well out-

weighed the benefits. If you have an episode like this once a year, by the time you take off the agent’s fees, you’re in negative cash flow. Added to this the building was poorly maintained and so this added to the maintenance costs.

Clearly there is a big disparity between the theory and the practicality.

In a nut shell the issue I forgot here was the first mantra of property investment which is Location, Location, Location.

The location and the property will govern the kind of tenant you will attract. A good property in a great location means you will be in a position to choose who your tenant is.

Even a poor property in a great location will still put you in a position of strength.

We had a rubbish property in a rubbish location!!

The other opportunity I had back around this period was purchasing 10 properties, new builds in West End Quay a new development in Paddington. I could get each of these at £275,000. Valued at £350,000 the mortgage company would lend 85% equating to £297,500. The left over would be used to pay the sourcing fee, stamp duty and legal fees.

In short this means you pay nothing. The cherry on the pie was they were rented to a Swiss bank for a two year period.

At this time a one bedroom property priced at £275,000 was unheard off. As the banks were throwing money at this time I could have bought all ten without any issues.

I didn’t.

Currently you cannot purchase a property for less than £450,000 in this development. This means an uplift of £175,000 per property, about £1.75m for the 10 properties minimum.

Of course in life you cannot look back and it moves forward, as do property prices.

Many investo rs stan d o n a hill and look do wnwards at ho w hig h property prices we re hist orically, they do no t tu rn the other way t o see the fu ture pot ential.

Property prices will always increase, in the long term, especially when there is an abundance of cash injection into the economy.

These are lessons learned which will never hit you strongly if you simply read about them. Only through the practical experience of going through some of these experiences you tend to realize and avoid similar issues in the future.

T here is a re ason t he man tra in pro pe rty investment is loc at ion, location, lo cation stick to this and you won’t go wrong! This is the essence of property investment regardless of time and place. Countries’ laws and regulations may change, but location is key wherever you go in the world.

We provide a turnkey solution. Contact us now: Specialists in: l Property Sourcing l Mortgages l Commercial Finance l India Properties

UK Sales 0207 313 4595 India Sales 0203 384 5323 Westbourne House, 14-16 Westbourne Grove, London, W2 5RH

Tips of the Week l Anywhere around the world the fundamentals of property never change its still location l With all things in life what you sow is what you reap, so of property you will attract the tenant according to location and quaility

20

financial vOICE

Asian Voice - Saturday 12th November 2011

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

Child Poverty - Not Our Fault, Not Our Responsibility

maria@abplgroup.com

Maria Fernandes

The English language test: A tool to axe numbers?

Recently I went on an intensive course to learn Spanish and expected at the end of it at the very least to hold a very basic conversation. However whilst I now know the meaning of some words and phrases applying the correct grammar and constructing sentences which make sense is a mammoth task which I have yet to conquer. I suspect it will be many months (or even years) before I can make sense when I speak.

The rapidity with which the new rules on the English tests was introduced has at a stoke excluded many families who did not make their applications quickly enough. A language is not something that you can learn within a short period. These regulations were considered by the last Government who took the view that the changes had to be phased in and the process to do so had begun. The new Government fast tracked this process with very little interest in considering the impact of such changes.

If the rationale behind the rule was to

abroad that offer the test.

In Pakistan the number is miniscule.

Spouses of British citizens or those who have permanent settlement status who have been married for over 4 years and are planning to return to the UK are entitled to immediate settlement if they pass the Life in the UK test. So far so good. Whilst the law provides for them to be granted permanent settlement there are no test centres abroad and now test centres in the UK are requiring proof of address in order to enrol applicants. So whilst in theory an applicant can qualify in actual fact there is no ability to do so with the exception of a few applicants.

Is all this the fallout of the changes or the grand plan?

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

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

enable communities to integrate why was there a need to rush in this manner. Is it because the purpose was to cut numbers?

Obviously the reason for not stating that this was the blatant purpose was that this could fall foul of the human rights law.

And the effect has been felt across the board. As well as the humble carpenter the changes have also affected businessman who do not (yet) have the luxury of a £1 million which by passes the need to take the test but could make an enormous economic contribution nevertheless but are unable to do so because of the English test.

The rules regarding the English language tests have had a further knock on effect on students.

Colleges who are required to assess English when applications are made for admission rather than undertake the assessment themselves are now requiring students to provide a test result at a certain level before they consider enrolling them.

And in terms of actually taking the test there are very few centres

India's growth likely at 7-8% in next 3-5 years: Barclays Capital Global financial services major Barclays Capital said India's economy is likely to register an annual growth rate of 7-8 per cent, below the country's full potential, in next 3-5 years.

"We expect India to register growth of 7-8 per cent over the next 3-5 years, depending on the global growth cycle and the absence of any large-scale weather aberrations. While this appears a decent growth rate, it is lower than India's growth potential," Barclays Capital said in its issue of 'Emerging Markets Research'.

According to the financial services firm, India's growth pattern remains skewed towards the services sector and is heavily

dependent on domestic consumption, which it said, raises the possibility that the imbalance between the services and other sectors may widen even further. The services sector contributes to around 55 per cent of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

According to Barclays, over the next five years, infrastructure bottlenecks, normally blamed for holding the country's growth back, are expected to ease in certain areas.

"We expect this to occur in the areas of financial, urban and human capital infrastructure, which are likely to be of greatest benefit to the services industry," it said.

The firm, however, added that absence of largescale improvements in basic and rural infrastructure would mean that agriculture and manufacturing sectors are likely to continue to be hampered by weak productivity growth and capacity constraints.

While Barclays has projected 7-8 per cent annual average growth for India, the Planning Commission is looking at achieving 9 per cent annual growth during the 12th Five-Year Plan (2012-17).

The economy is expected to end the current 11th Plan (2007-12) with an average annual growth of 8.1 per cent, below the original estimate of 9 per cent.

*& ) %

(

%*

In one of the scenes from the film Gandhi depicting the inquiry into the Jalianwala Bagh massacre one of the judges asked the General if he had made any provisions to aid the wounded. He replied that he had. The judge then asks, ‘General, how does a child shot with a Winchester 303 rifle, apply for help?’ The General’s remarks imply that he expected that just as the adults, it was for the children to approach him for help. It was their fault that they did not, not his.

I was recently speaking to someone about how the fact that the government could not protect poorer people from the price rises in utilities suggested that the argument that ‘privatisation led to increased competition which would lead to better deals for the consumer’ was wrong. Their retort was that it was not the role of the government to give handouts to people to pay for their

heating bills. He stated that it was up to the individual to decide what they would pay and more importantly, what they could afford. So if a parent cannot afford to turn on the heating in winter, it is the fault of the utility companies, not ours.

Every year the Government publishes a survey of income poverty in the UK, ‘Households Below Average Income (HBAI)’. The most recent HBAI survey in 2009/10 unless otherwise stated shows that 13.5 million people in the UK (22%) are income poor.

Of those 13.5 million people 53% are in families which include at least one child.

14% of children would like to participate in a hobby or activity but cannot afford to do so. 18% of children cannot afford to invite friends round for tea. 13% of children cannot afford to go on school trips. There are those who say that parents should take more respon-

By Amit Patel

sibility and that the government already does a lot to help such children.

While this is true it also has a ring of ‘it’s not my responsibility so I am not accountable for it’.

We live in a society obsessed with identifying the cause of accidents or incidents and determining who is to blame?

However, this has also led to people often confusing the meaning of accountability and responsibility.

We may not always be accountable for something, but does that mean that should not take some sort of responsibility.

Leadership is not just about giving directives and management. It is also about standing up and reaching out when all those around you are too busy watching. Child poverty is real and it is damaging and irrespective of who’s fault it is. It may not be our fault but we should make it our responsibility.

Ambani brothers to bury hatchet?

The talks between Mukesh and Anil Ambani in the telecom sector sparked speculation that India’s billionaire brothers may reunite the business empire founded by their late father and conclude one of Asia’s biggest dynastic battles.

Reliance Industries, controlled by the elder and richer Mukesh, is considering leasing Anil’s Reliance Communications telecoms tower infrastructure to launch his upcoming broadband and wireless internet services.

RCom’s stock price rose nearly 10 per cent since the news emerged, while Reliance Industries shares rose more than 3 per cent, in a clear sign that investors would welcome a move that sees the two brothers joining forces. The deal, which does not involve any equity investment, would provide the ailing RCom – which at the end of March 2011 had a net debt of about $7bn – with additional revenue after multiple attempts to sell its Infratel towers unit failed.

Analysts have long

& +$ %* &(

India-China trade to touch $100 bn in four years

The trade between India and China would touch $100 billion in the next four years from the present $63 billion, says industry body Assocham.

As per the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham), the two Asian giants can emerge as world's largest trading partners by 2030. "China has already raced past United States, Britain and Japan to become India's largest trading partner.

Indian companies can gain substantially by accessing Chinese capital goods at attractive prices by way of imports," Assocham said in a statement. Indian exports to China jumped 68.8 per cent to $19.6 billion in 2010-11, from $11.6 billion in the previous year.

Imports increased 41 per cent to $43.5 billion from $30.8 billion in the same period.

speculated that Mukesh Ambani could bid for his brother Anil’s telecoms assets at the right price.

Reliance Industries needs the infrastructure to power its internet business after it acquired Infotel, the only company to have won an India-wide allocation of fourth-generation spectrum in an auction.

In 2005, the two agreed to demerge their father’s empire but a dispute later flared over the price of gas that Reliance Industries should provide to power plants planned by Anil. In 2010 the two brothers signed a deal in an attempt to end the feud, which saw them fighting each other in India’s top courts and in the media. The two live in the same apartment block with their mother but use different lifts and, it is said, still rarely speak to each other.

(

# *&

&(# ," , !' !,0% !

"()* #" !* &+(" () )%.

#

*/)-'*1 /-%)!--

,&

'% !

3

+(&' */)-'*1

* %

2

( %' - '!- "%,-."'%#$.!/ )!.

"*, + , !'-

*0!

&%'*-

FINANCIAL VOICE

Asian Voice - Saturday 12th November 2011

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

G20 Meet – With Uncertainty Yet Again The G20 meeting in Cannes last week was drawn in at short notice to boost funding from the G20 countries to the IMF resources. The G20 summit Eurozone leaders, Barack Obama and ECB, IMF and EU officials tried to reach an agreement on the way to boost IMF's firepower. The need for financial backing came as the ECB is reluctant to purchase large amounts of the indebted countries bonds. This comes as the ECB do not want to be seen as a lender of last resort. The European officials have turned towards the IMF, this as an added precaution in case of a larger Eurozone economy required a bailout.

The concern is that no agreement has arisen in this scenario as members representing each of the G20 countries did not agree in boosting the IMF resources.

The IMF was relying heavily on the emerging markets to come to the rescue, but the only agreement that came about was that this situation should be reviewed quarterly.

The emerging markets contributed significantly including India who commits to strengthening revenue mobilization through tax reforms, including a unified goods and services tax, and overhauling the personal

and corporate tax code.

China will rebalance demand towards domestic consumption by implementing measures to strengthen social safety nets, increase household income and transform the economic growth pattern. These actions will be reinforced by ongoing measures to promote greater exchange rate flexibility to better reflect underlying economic fundamentals, and gradually reduce the pace of accumulation of foreign reserves. These efforts were recognized and created reassurance to the rebuilding of the world markets along with Other surplus economies recognise that they too have a significant role to play in pro-

moting global rebalancing and commit to encourage private spending The situation of Greece and the possibility of the country leaving the Eurozone were hot on the agenda. The president of the EC José Manuel Barroso assured that the EU will support Greece's efforts to stay in the Eurozone if Athens commits to carrying out all the required reforms. Greece is seen as one of the major culprits and reasons to why a lot of international summits are being held and more importantly a contributor in the need for a meeting in Cannes last week.

With further chaos in Greece and why this is still the case especially after 50% of the countries Debts were erased by major banks is still surprising many around the world. With banks already agreeing to wipe 50% of debt to Greece this allowed for Euro to grow after weeks of turmoil. Greek PM George Papandreou won a confidence vote and will seek a coalition government.

The effects of Greece’s ongoing debt concerns have had an

impact on the major banks. This is ever more present as Commerzbank and RBS report massive Sovereign debts with an estimated loss of 679 million Euros estimated for Commerzbank. Reports according to senior EU sources are suggesting that Italy has agreed to IMF monitoring progress on economic reforms.

The most crucial data was the ECB interest rates decision.

Mario Draghi the new ECB president surprised markets by cutting the Interest rate by 25 basis points. The Euro dropped against other major currencies as a knee jerk reaction, however later recovered as the Greek referendum was scrapped.

G20 leaders agreed however that IMF together with the EU should exercise quarterly supervision of the Italian economy and the progress in the implementation of reforms necessary to reduce debt. EC inspectors will visit Rome already next week to evaluate the current situation. With the G20 summit ongoing proposed quarterly meetings and a confidence vote for George in Greece yet again there is huge uncertainty amongst consumers, markets and general outlook. We all wait eagerly on the coming month’s results.

Weekly Currencies As of Tuesday 8th November 2011 @ 12.30pm GBP - INR = 79.50 USD - INR = 49.57 EUR - INR = 68.14 GBP - USD = 1.61 GBP - EUR = 1.17 EUR - USD = 1.38 GBP - AED = 5.90 GBP - CAD = 1.63 GBP - NZD = 2.02 GBP - AUD = 1.55 GBP - ZAR = 12.75 GBP - HUF = 359.14

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

22

Pakistan-BanGladesH-sri lanka

Asian Voice - Saturday 12th November 2011

India playing great game in Afghanistan: Musharraf In focus

Washington: Accusing India of trying to gain influence in Kabul after the planned US withdrawal by 2014, former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf has also hit out at Afghan president Hamid Karzai for 'going along' with it.

'India is certainly, certainly doing that. And, unfortunately, Afghan government is going along,' Musharraf said in an interview when asked if he saw a new great game beginning where Pakistan and India are struggling for influence in Afghanistan.

'I mean, I know that diplomats, intelligence personnel, military men, security people, go to India for training,' Musharraf said, suggesting that similar offers from

Huge Pakistan logistic buildup at LoC New Delhi: Taking note of a huge number of construction activities by Pakistan across the border, which is resulting in the erection of an additional 97 ‘observation post’ towers and 162 barracks, an Indian Parliamentary panel has come out with many suggestions for the government to counter the logistic build-up by Pakistan. It has asked the Centre to urgently implement the proposal for the construction of an earthen ‘bund’ on the home side of the fencing.

Pakistan were rebuffed.

'I have been bending backwards, asking President Karzai to send people to Pakistan instead of India,' he said. 'We've opened up all our training institutions free of cost.

Come to Pakistan and we'll train you. Not one has come.'

'What is his game?'

Musharraf asked, suggesting that the planned pull-

out of US troops from Afghanistan due to be completed by 2014 had pushed Karzai closer to India.

Musharraf said he did 'not at all' trust Karzai, but thanked him for once making a pro-Pakistan statement though he dismissed as 'preposterous' a suggestion that the US may attack Pakistan.

Asked about Karzai's recent statement that Kabul would back Pakistan if the United States were to attack Pakistan, he said: 'I think it's totally preposterous to imagine this kind of thing.'

'And then I thank him that this is the first time he's made a pro-Pakistan statement.'

Musharraf believed Karzai would not be able

to hold on to power as the Americans draw down. 'I think it's going to be very difficult. Very difficult.

Very, very difficult. He is not liked by the majority of Pashtuns because of what he is doing.'

Musharraf also dismissed suggestions in an article in The Atlantic magazine about the dangers to Pakistan's nuclear assets as over the last few years there have been six attacks by militants on sites that are generally known to be Pakistani nuclear sites.

'Well, no. I don't think so. Our nuclear assets are very well dispersed, they are - and strongly held and in - placed in very, very reinforced areas which cannot be - which are not accessible,' he said.

4 Hindu doctors gunned down in Pakistan Kaarachi: Four Hindu doctors have been gunned down in Pakistan's southern Sindh province, sparking fears and panic among the minority community.

The doctors were gunned down at their clinic in Chak town close to Shikarpur. Dr Ramesh Kumar, a former member of provincial assembly and chief patron of Pakistan Hindu Council, confirmed that Dr Ashok, Dr Naresh, Dr Ajeet and Dr Satia Paul were killed by armed assailants while working in their clinic.

"This is not the first time such an incident has taken place where mem-

bers of our community have been targeted. What is of concern is that the law enforcement agencies tend to support the criminals involved in such acts," Dr Kumar said.

"There is a strong population of around 50,000 Hindus in Chak so for such an incident to happen is bad and the government must take notice of it and provide protection to the minorities," Kumar demanded. Police said they had arrested two of the people involved in the killings and were searching for the other culprits.

A police official confirmed that the killings

could have been the result of a dispute between some Hindus and the local Bhaya Baradari that took place two weeks back over a Hindu girl.

Kumar said minorities were well protected and secure when military strongman Pervez Musharraf was the president but now they had become prey to open terrorism and crime.

Condemning the murders, the Pakistan Hindu Council appealed to President Asif Zardari, the Chief Justice of Pakistan and the Army chief to take note of the targeting of Hindus in parts of Sindh.

Pakistan for military action against terror: Gilani

Islamabad: Pakistan supports military actions against terrorists to safeguard its own interest and for global peace, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said.

Gilani told ABC News: "We are supporting military action against terrorists and extremists. The terrorists are working against the interest of my country and we are fighting for the peace, prosperity and progress of the entire world."

The prime minister

Beijing: China is all set to develop the historic town of Kashgar along its border with Pakistan into a "key financial and manufacturing hub" to counter terrorism in its restive province of Xinjiang and help Islamabad's efforts for economic recovery in the Taliban-scarred areas in border areas.

The move suggests Beijing's belief that additional employment and business opportunities will wean away the youth in Kashgar, the scene of repeated riots, from terror activities.

It also signals China's long-term plans of cementing relationship for

spoke in the Australian city of Perth where the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) was held.

Gilani said Pakistan was a frontline country against terror and had paid a huge price in terms of casualties and also in shape of weakening national economy, reported Associated Press of Pakistan.

"Nobody can win a war without the support of masses. All the political forces (in Pakistan) including the parliament are on one page," he was quoted as saying.

Gilani said Pakistan was vigilant about cross-

border movement and was interested in placing a biometrics system at the border with Afghanistan.

He said there existed an "excellent cooperation" on defence and intelligence both with the US and Australia.

"We further need to have a greater cooperation between the US, Afghanistan and the ISAF (International Security Assistance Force). We have to work together so as to fight this common enemy," he said.

Pakistan as a means to contain what the Chinese media calls "Indian ambitions."

"The China-Pakistan free trade agreement isn't really working. There are lots of complaints in Pakistan of the Chinese dumping goods. China now wants to provide more trade and business opportunities to Pakistanis to build goodwill," said Srikanth Kondapalli, professor of Chinese studies at JNU. "The move will also help Beijing deal with authorities in Kashgar, who recently accused Pakistan of training terrorists responsible for riots in

the town," Kondapalli said.

The move also gives credence to Pakistan's claims that it will soon be linked to China by railways, and a second road link between the two countries is on the planning board. Kashgar, an important link on the ancient Silk Route, is also a key strategic point for both the Taliban and the Chinese military.

China desperately needs to develop the Muslim-dominated Xinjiang, which covers one-sixth of the country's landmass and holds rich oil and gas reserves.

Chinese authorities believe poverty is the root

cause of unrest in Xinjiang, and stability alone will help.

Beijing also wants to develop Horgos, the border town connecting China to Kazakhstan. The government has extended 10 favorable policies for developing them into major economic zones.

The incentives include tax exemptions, subsidized electricity and transportation , low-interest loans for infrastructure and improved rail and air links with neighboring countries. China is competing with Russia in wooing Central Asian countries which recently signed free trade deals with Moscow.

China to develop town on Pak border to tackle terror

Pak decision to give India MFN status flayed

Islamabad: The Secretary General of the Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan, Liaqat Baloch, has warned that Pakistan should not promote trade with India until the Kashmir issue is resolved, as it might damage the cause. Pakistan had earlier declared India as the Most Favoured Nation (MFN), a decision which the opposition slammed, saying that the government took such a step after being pressurized by the US. Criticizing the Cabinets' decision to declare India most favoured nation status, Baloch said that it would damage the Kashmir Cause and the countless sacrifices made by Kashmiris. It is the strategy of our enemy to deceive us through different tactics, he said, adding that the neighboring country wanted to damage Kashmir's freedom movement and to construct dams on our rivers.

Pak army a stakeholder in dialogue with India: Hina Rabbani Khar

Islamabad: The Pakistan army was a stakeholder in the dialogue process with India, Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar said and assured that Islamabad had granted the most favoured nation (MFN) status to India. Khar told media persons that MFN status to India had been granted with the approval of the federal cabinet with the assurance that India would waive nontarrif barriers as part of the dialogue process. On confidence building measures with India, she said that New Delhi had assured Islamabad that it would not block Pakistan's way in Preferential Market Access by the European Union unlike it had done in the past.

JuD missing from Pakistan's new terror list Islamabad: The Jamaat-ud-Dawah, a front organization for LeT, is not included in a new list of 31 banned extremist and terrorist groups released by Pakistan's interior ministry. The interior ministry released the list of banned organizations as part of efforts to bar such groups from collecting the hides of animals sacrificed during the Eid-ulAzha festival. Hundreds of hides collected every year by members of the groups are sold to raise funds. Though the Lashkar-e-Taiba was included in the new list, the JuD was not on it. In the wake of the Mumbai attacks that killed 166 people, the UN Security Council had declared the JuD a front for the LeT. After the Mumbai attacks, Pakistani leaders like interior minister Rehman Malik insisted that the JuD had been banned. However, during a hearing in the Lahore high court in 2009, a senior law officer admitted that no notification had been issued to ban the JuD.

Roadside bomb kills south Afghan police chief Kabul: Police say a roadside bomb has killed a district police chief in restive southern Afghanistan and his two bodyguards. Helmand province police chief Mohammad Hakim Angar said that Mohammad Saifullah, the police chief in the province's Garm Ser district, was killed when a roadside bomb detonated as he and two of his bodyguards were driving. Security responsibilities in the province's capital have already been handed over to Afghan forces by NATO while two other districts in the province are being recommended for an upcoming second phase of handovers.

Russia donates US$ 2.7 mn worth equipment to Sri Lanka Colombo: The Russian Federation has donated US$ 2.7 million worth equipment to accelerate the humanitarian de-mining operations in Sri Lanka's North and East, the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development said.

The Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Sri Lanka Vladimir P. Mikhalov handed over the consignment of equipment to the Secretary of Defence and Urban Development Gotabhaya Rajapaksa at a ceremony held at the Ministry in Colombo. The de-mining equipment included four controlled light category machines including spares and metal detectors.

Lanka blocks 5 news websites over 'insults' Colombo: Sri Lanka has blocked five news websites because they committed character assassination and insulted people including key political leaders. Media groups criticized the moves as undemocratic, and the US Embassy recently raised concerns about press freedom in Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan laws do not restrict the press from criticizing leaders, but media can be charged for defamation. The five sites blocked were publishing reports that amount to "character assassination and violating individual privacy," information and media ministry secretary W.B. Ganegala said.

Jailed terrorists' call sends Pakistan officials into tizzy Islamabad: In a major security breach, two terrorists lodged in a Pakistani jail over a 2008 plot against exPresident Pervez Musharraf made a call to a militant commander in the tribal belt and discussed dispatching of suicide bombers to Lahore, throwing authorities into a tizzy.

A Pakistani intelligence agency intercepted the call made by the terrorists from the Kot Lakhpat Jail of Lahore to the militant commander in Khyber, a media report said.

world

Asian Voice - Saturday 12th November 2011

23

Hindujas’ 100-million-pound palace has Indian touch

In focus 5 Indian sailors drown off Oman coast

Muscat: Five Indian sailors have reportedly drowned and nine are still missing after their ship sank off Oman's southern coast. According to Gulf News, the Omani Coast Guards and Naval vessels rescued six sailors when the incident took place on Saturday. The rescued sailors are currently being kept at the police station in Sadah, located around 140 km from Salalah in southern Oman.

88 killed in Vietnam floods Hanoi: Vietnamese officials say some of the country's worst flooding in a decade has killed 88 people and left four others missing in the central and southern regions.

Central Quang Nam province disaster official Nguyen Minh Tuan says recent floods have killed eight people there, leaving another missing as large swaths of land remain submerged.

Dubai cinema hall bans lungi-clad patrons Dubai: A cinema hall in Dubai has banned ‘Lungis’ over complaints that the dress was a little too racy. The manager at Bollywood Cinemas said that women and men had complained that men were coming to the theatres with “half mast” lungis, Husbands complained, ‘how can we bring our wives and kids here?’“Even Emiratis wear lungis — but under their kandouras.

They are home clothes, not something you come to a cinema in. “Many families were uncomfortable so we asked people to wear pants,” the manager added.

London: The billionaire Hinduja brothers beat everyone from industrialists to Bollywood stars who've been splashing around over the past two decades on exorbitantly expensive homes in London - by spending £100 million on a palatial property, a stone's throw from Queen Elizabeth's iconic Buckingham Palace.

This huge £100 million palatial property of the Hindujas is an example of East meets West - a blend of quintessentially English presentation and Indian touches, such as elephant motifs on doors.

The director for London of English Heritage, Paddy Pugh, told the Sunday Times newspaper, "I can't think of another domestic restoration project on this scale with buildings of this impor-

tance," adding, "Rarely have we seen such opulence allied to such craftsmanship."

It took the Hindujas who have an estimated fortune of £6 billion - five years to restore the mansion, carved out of four listed properties and located on the Mall, the boulevard in front of the UK's monarch's London residence. It was originally commissioned by King George IV in the 1820s.

Its six floors and 50 rooms are divided into four spacious, integrated

apartments - one each for Srichand, Gopichand (both based in London), Prakash (who operates from Geneva) and Ashok (who lives in Mumbai), a swimming pool and a cinema hall.

The John Nash-created facade is charmingly English and a reflection of one of the most distinctive features of the London's architecture. It has, in fact, been acquired from the Elizabeth-owned Crown estate, a royal portfolio worth £7.3 billion. One of the flats was once the

home of a 19th century British prime minister, William Gladstone.

The Hindujas' acquisition includes a dining room which can seat more than 30 people on a glass table. Italian chandeliers and Honduran mahogany paneling adorn the house.

The meticulous restoration work under the watchful eyes of English Heritage has relaid solid marble floors.

The Hindujas bought the four properties - which were in a run-down condition - for £58 million in 2006. They spent £40-£50 million to bring it back to their old glory. The Hindujas are known to entertain high-profile guests, such as British prime ministers and American presidents.

Their interests include automotive plants, banks and petroleum products.

China to build the world's largest underground system Beijing: After rolling out almost 50,000 miles of expressways and 6,000 miles of high-speed rail lines, China is now turning its attention underground with the most extensive metro project the world has ever seen.

More than 1 trillion yuan (£100 billion) will be spent on building underground networks in 28 cities, according to Gao Yucai, the head of the urban

( )

mass transit committee at China’s Communications and Transport association.

Twelve Chinese cities already have metro systems up and running - and Shanghai went from a standing start to having a bigger network than the London Underground in just 15 years.

But creating metro systems has now become an important badge of progress even for lesser

! $ $ .& ( $ # ( %$ & %+( " $ &+ " * %$) * , (* ) $ * %" ( $ )

%(! $

. +* , " ) . +* , $ / " ) )&%$) " */ *% )* " ) %$* * - * $+# ( % ! / / $ %* * $ ) "" $ $ ) +( $ ! / , (* ) $ $ ) %( * " $*) % '+ " / - ( ) ! $ )*(%$ #%$)*( * * %""%- $

$ & !!" $ # %" " & % $ " % $ $ $ # # $ % $ # # " " $$ $ " $# #% '$ $

( $" &" 0

# ( %$ & " ) # " *% % $ ) $ $*( " %$ %$

" $*) $ "+ $ # $)*( # ( $ ) " ! ( " /) ( ) / % " ) %( )%$) ) - "" ) # $/ %* ( !$%-$ * $

%$$ ) $ %( " ) $ ( * - "" /%+( ( %( $ ) * %$) $ ) & (*$ () &) - * %* & ()%$ " - % $

!"

(%# %+( % ) $ $*( " %$ %$ * ) ( ""/ ) $ . &* %$ " %&&%(*+$ */

($

"* # * "/ * ) (%" -%+" )+ * $ * - % $ %/) &&/ -%(! $ $, (%$# $* - ( /%+( $&+* - "" , *%- ( ) /%+() $ * %#& $/1) )+ )) $" " ,# ( )# #-, -" 1

+'

cities, such as Taiyuan, Urumqi and Shijiazhuang, many of whose residents are unsure about why billions of pounds of investment should be funnelled underground.

“For local governments, having a metro really polishes the city’s image and illustrates the political achievements of its officials, even though all the metro lines currently in operation are losing

*-

).,

#

$0

#

*%

)* & ( *, ( * %$*( +* %$

$

$ $

.$ + ' " + + -" & +! ,- , &&#(! ,# ( ( /, / + /#-" * # ,. , +#*-#)( ) &'),( #-#)( & -"+).!" + - #& ).-& -,

)!

!

,# ( .,#( ,, . &# -#)(, )0-)( +% )+)( - -+ )+

-

%&# , ()/ #( )*# , ,)&

)( )(

money,” said Zhao Jian, a professor at Beijing’s Jiaotong university.

“Of course, local governments will have to fund the projects, and they are already heavily in debt.

The money will have to mostly come from bank loans,” he added.

More than 90 new lines have been rubberstamped by China’s Reform and Development Commission, which over-

sees the country’s planning. And many smaller cities, including Dali, Haikou, Zhuzhou and Luoyang, are now in the process of submitting their own plans for approval.

Experts said even if there appeared little need for widespread metro systems now, China’s traffic problems would be a major issue in the years ahead. “Even the smaller cities are choked up with

traffic,” said Xie Weida, a professor at Tongji university. “Urban rail is a good way to solve that.” “I am sure the local governments are not building subways just to improve their image, but also out of practical concerns. Our original plans never foresaw how many cars there would be on the roads, and there are ever increasing numbers of people moving to the cities.”

24

INDIA

Asian Voice - Saturday 12th November 2011

Anna to restructure his team With his team rocked by controversies, Anna Hazare on Monday said he planned to restructure his Core Committee to also give representation to religious minorities, tribals, Dalits and youths to strengthen the campaign against corruption.

Hazare also hit out at the UPA government for targeting the key members of his team, alleging that those who are threatened by the Lokpal movement are attacking his supporters and close aides and trying to break his team.

“They fear that their political career will be jeopardized if a strong Lokpal mechanism comes into effect,” he told reporters at his native village.

The social activist’s move to restructure his core team came against the backdrop of allegations that he was being misguided and used by his team members to fulfil their political agenda.

Some key members in Team Anna - Kiran Bedi and Arvind Kegriwal - also faced alleged financial irregularities.

Anna Hazare

“We will take all sections in the Core Committee, Dalits, Muslims, Adivasis and all others. Nobody should complain that they were not given a chance,” the anticorruption crusader said.

“Even youth will be well represented. Youth’s power in Committee is extremely necessary.

Youths from different communities will be picked for the Committee,” he added.

Mr Hazare recalled that when the Core Committee was formed there were complaints from some sections that they were not given representation.

“That Committee was for two-and-a-half months.

But the Committee that we will form now will be for a much longer period,” he added.

Mr. Hazare said he and his team would not be cowed down by anyone and challenged the government to show any evidence of misconduct or irregularities committed by his team members.

“We have nothing to fear. The government is free to conduct any investigation against any of our team members but our fight against corruption will continue. Do it (the inquiry) not once but four times,” he added.

Ms. Bedi is under the scanner regarding some inflated air travel bills while Mr Kejriwal faced allegations of diverting funds to his trust.

Plagued by controversies, Team Anna is also approaching retired judges requesting them to become part of a committee to be set up the civil society to probe the allegations against some of its members.

India poorer than Pakistan India, the world's second fastest growing economy, has been ranked as poorer than its blighted enemy Pakistan in a United Nations report on global poverty.

The report also finds more 'gender equality' in conservative Pakistan than in 'tolerant' India. Its findings amount to a wake-up call for a nation which has taken great pride in its rapid economic growth and the increasing clout of its billionaire business leaders but has failed to share the spoils with its poor. Britain's Department for International Development has pointed to this chequered progress to justify its continuing aid to India.

The Human Development Report reveals that while India ranks slightly above Pakistan in its level of 'human development' – based on life expectancy, schooling and per capita income – its wider poverty level is worse than Pakistan's.

In absolute terms, 41.6 per cent of India's 1.1 billion people earned less than 78 pence per day compared with 22.6 per cent of Pakistan's 173 million.

The report quotes its 'multi-dimensional poverty index' which includes measures of schooling, child mortality, nutrition, access to electricity, toilets, drinking water, and hygienic living conditions, and reveals India is poorer.

It found 53.7 per cent of Indians suffering from this broader kind of poverty, compared with 49 per cent of Pakistanis.

More surprisingly, India is ranked below Pakistan and Bangladesh

on gender equality which reflects maternal death rates, teenage pregnancies, access to education, and the number of women parliamentarians and in the workplace.

India's rural development minister Jairam Ramesh said the report highlighted the prevalence of poverty in the midst of economic growth and the possibility that "actually economic development may lead to retrogression of social indices." Priya Subramanian of Save the Children said India's poor ranking reflected a lack of

political will to tackle poverty. "It is things like healthcare and education which have India lagging behind Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka. These countries are well on track and India, with its fast growing economy, has still not got its act together," she said.

"While we have a new band of millionaires, on the other side people continue to suffer endlessly.

Millions still live below the poverty line and go to sleep hungry. The [economic] growth has not flowed towards them," she added.

In divine light

By Rajen Vakil

Chyavana and Sukanya Chyavana, Maharishi Bhrigu’s son, was a great rishi. He lived deep in a forest, on the banks of a beautiful lake. There he practiced difficult tapas and remained seated in the same posture for many years.

This increased the power of his aura, making his eyes and body shine with a beautiful radiance. As time went by, he was covered by an ant hill which totally hid him, but for his eyes from where he could see the outside world. Within the ant hill, the rishi kept practicing his austerities for many years.

Sharayati, the king of a nearby kingdom, together with his queen, his retinue, and army came to spend a few days of pleasure and rest on the banks of the lake.

He had a beautiful and pleasing daughter, named Sukanya. She was always surrounded by her maids and companions. Intoxicated with youth and beauty, the young Sukanya spent her time collecting the fragrant flowers of the forest. One day while she was out alone and was playfully picking flowers along the bank of the lake, very near to the spot where the rishi was meditating. Through the two holes in the anthill, the rishi was watching Sukanya, and her youth and playfulness made him very happy. He tried calling out to her but as he had not spoken in years, his throat was dry and he could not speak.

Sukanya saw the anthill and the two holes from which the rishi’s eyes shone like two beautiful balls. Her curiosity aroused, she took two pointed sticks, and pierced them into the two holes, blinding Chyavana.

The rishi cried out in anguish and Sukanya saw blood flowing out of the two holes. Frightened that she had done something gravely wrong, she ran away. The rishi was in terrible pain and also very angry at what had happened. The vibrations that emanated from his anger were so powerful that it affected all the soldiers in the king’s army.

They all started getting stomach cramps and cried out in deep pain.

Hearing the cries of the army, the king ran to see his soldiers and immediately realized that someone had disturbed the tapas of the rishi. He

started asking everyone who had done so. He pleaded that even if someone had done so unknowingly, they should own up so that the rishi’s anger could be pacified.

When Sukanya saw the condition of her father’s soldiers, she went to her father and narrated what had happened. She explained that she mistook the two bright holes in the anthill to be fireflies and pierced them with two sticks. Sharayati quickly went to the anthill, where he saw the blinded rishi and begged him to forgive his daughter who had committed the act in ignorance.

The rishi was very angry and told the king that his daughter had committed this offense out of pride and haughtiness. He said he would only forgive her if she married him.

To be continued...

All past articles on the Mahabharata can be accessed from http://epaper.asianvoice.com or from http://www.3stepbreath.com/mahabharata.html

Guru Nanak Jayanti: most sacred festival of Sikhs Guru Nanak Jayanti is the most sacred festival of Sikhs, which commemorates the birthday of Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism. It falls on 10th Nov this year. The festival is celebrated with great religious fervor, dedication and devotion across India, chiefly in Punjab, Haryana and abroad. This holy occasion is observed on the full moon day in the month of Kartik as per the Hindu calendar. The celebration is spread across three days.

How is Guru Nanak Jayanti celebrated?

Guru Nanak Jayanti begins with the reading of the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of the Sikhs non-stop for 48 hours in the Gurudwara. This recitation of the Guru Granth is known as Akhand Path. The recitation ends on the day of the festival. A day prior to Guru Nanak Jayanti, a religious procession or Prabhat Pheri is carried

out in the early morning that is lead by the Panj Pyares, the five armed guards.

These guards head the procession carrying the Sikh flag known as the Nishan Sahib.

They also carry the Guru Granth Sahib that is well set in a Palki (Palanquin) ornamented with flowers.

The procession starts from the gurudwaras and proceeds towards localities. The guards are followed by local bands playing brass bands and a team of singers singing shabads (religious hymns). While the procession passes through the localities, the devotees sing the chorus and offer sweets and tea to the people in the procession. ‘Gatka’ teams (martial arts) display mock-battles with the traditional weapons. The route of the

procession is decorated with flags, flowers and religious posters. Banners are also posted depicting various aspects of Sikhism.

The golden Temple in Amritsar is the main attraction during this festival.

About Guru Nanak Dev: Guru Nanak Dev is the founder of the Sikhism.

He was born in 1469 into a Bedi Kshatriya family in the village of Rai Bhoi di Talwandi, now known as Nanakan Sahib near Lahore in Pakistan. His father, Mehta Kalyan Das Bedi, better known as

Mehta Kalu, was the accountant of crop revenue in the village, while his mother, Tripti Devi was a homemaker. He had one elder sister, Bebe Nanaki.

Since childhood, Nanak was attracted towards spirituality, purity, justice, devotion and goodness. While his father used to give him money for buying goods from the marketplace, Nanak distributed all the money to village urchins on the way to the bazaar.

Though he was born in a Kshatriya (warrior) family, Nanak studied both Hinduism and Islam. He married Mata Sulakhani and had two sons.

However, Nanak soon realized his real calling and abandoned his family and wandered in the forests to become an asce-

tic. While wandering in the jungles for years, he was highly influenced by both Hindus and Muslims, especially Sufis. He was highly impressed by Kabir’s teachings. Nanak then started preaching “There is no Hindu, there is no Mussulman”. In a young age, he underwent a profound spiritual experience. While taking a bath in the river Baain, he disappeared and reappeared after three days. It is said that during that time Nanak came in direct communion with God. Nanak used to spend time with holy men, pandits and mullahs and interested in long discussions with them. Nanak was a great seer, saint, mystic, prolific poet and unique singer of God’s praises.

His only message was to spread love, peace, truth and renaissance. Even today, Sikhs all across the world practice his preaching to reaffirm their belief in the founder’s teachings.

INDIA

Asian Voice - Saturday 12th November 2011

25

Vast sections see Modi as the next PM

Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s senior politician and eminent lawyer Ram Jethmalani believes that Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi is rising day by day inspite of not so positive response from Central government, influential sections of the media and civil society arraigned against him. He feels that no politician in India has been demonised in such a relentless, manner as Modi, and no politician has withstood it with as much resilience and courage as him.

His dark patch started with the unfortunate Godhra train massacre and the ensuing communal riots of Gujarat in 2002, where several innocent people lost their lives.

A train carrying non-violent harmless karsewaks were set on fire and nearly 60 persons were burnt to death. Understandably, but regrettably, this provoked retaliation and mayhem resulting in many innocent members of the minority community losing their lives and suffering other indignities. It is equally true that the desire for revenge did paralyse the will of some law enforcement agencies, including some prosecutors and judges. Serious steps had to be taken to restore the confidence of the victims of revenge in the legal and judicial sys-

!'

tem of the state.

Today, vast sections of civil society see in Narendra Modi the next prime minister of India. I hope he will plant more visible footprints on the international seashore. He feels that Modi should speak of peace and a durable solution to the Kashmir problem with the rulers of Pakistan.

The most diabolical role was played by the Congress government at the Centre. A bogus commission was appointed to whitewash the Godhra tragedy to establish that the attack on the train was not the result of a conspiracy of some evil minded Muslims, but an accidental stove fire. This serious crime by the Congress government was fully exposed when a Special Investigation Team appointed by the Supreme Court made their own independent investigation and reiterated that the burning of the pilgrims was a concerted plan by those who must have known that it will inevitably lead to retaliation and atrocities against the minorities, a finding fortified by recent court judgments. Their evil calculations proved to be right. Obviously, the planners wanted India to get a bad name, its national unity and integrity shaken

%# # ! %#* " ! ( # $

##!(

$&# %# *#! # $% &# ' & ##!( $ ) "

! ( # $

Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi

and its defence against scheming neighbours enfeebled.

The unfortunate riots were followed by the state elections, the results of which made the psephologists run for cover. One is reminded of a story, which may well be apocryphal, but is fairly apposite and bears repetition. A former Viceroy of India, Lord Linlithgow, wanted to hold an open air reception in Simla and sought, and received, the assurance of the weather bureau that there wouldn't be any showers on that day.

Jethmalani hopes that the media will never again mess with Narendra Modi or Gujarat elections. Modi won a landslide victory, which even he and his followers could not have imagined or hoped for.

Jethmalani congratulated Modi for his brilliant victory, but he advised him that he should wear a look of absolute humility; he should publicly own that something had seriously gone wrong and that he should loudly proclaim that India could never go forward and retain its independence and sovereignty unless Hindus and Muslims were locked in an embrace of love and mutual understanding. He must declare his firm resolve to bring back to the minorities a feeling of absolute security and an assurance of every kind of protection by the powers of the state.

Modi thought out and reasoned his strategy and since then his stature has risen manifold to heights rarely attained before.

Today, vast sections of

civil society see in him the next Prime Minister of India. He hopes that he will plant more visible footprints on the international seashore. He has to speak of peace and a durable solution to the Kashmir problem with the rulers of Pakistan. He must project himself as a great democratic leader of the world and a fighter for human rights and justice the world over. On the domestic front, it is to be proud to see him winning Muslim hearts by presenting to them the real Hindutva, which even the Supreme Court had to acknowledge and admire.

Let not the real Hindutva be confused with its counterfeit version, which unfortunately gains currency during the course of electoral battles.

The policies and conduct of Narendra Modi may be compared with those of the late Rajiv Gandhi. The sad assassination of his mother led to what may accurately be described as a virtual genocide of the Sikhs.

Armed bands of hooligans and murderers went around the streets and colonies of Delhi in search of innocent Sikhs, sought them out and slaughtered them mercilessly. We saw some Sikhs being burnt alive on public roads while crowds watched the

heartrending scenes. Even the then Sikh President could not move a finger to help the unfortunate followers of Guru Nanak. I cannot forget those shameful days even now.

All that the new prime minister Rajiv Gandhi had to say was a defiant, "When a big tree falls the earth must shake". Never did the Congress leadership apologise for the atrocities and the murders.

It is the greatness of the Sikh community that they have forgiven the Congress.

In a corruption ridden country where the chief source of corruption is the Congress and its leaders, Narendra Modi shines for his impeccable integrity.

He has focused his entire energy on building in Gujarat an able administration and good governance. He has achieved phenomenal development and economic growth, and at the same time bolstered social inclusiveness.

Through these he has worked hard to regain the confidence of the minorities, even as the relentless and pervasive hate campaign against him has continued unabated in the electronic media, among the fashionable intellectuals and civil society activists, who have become the media sweethearts.

26

INDIA

Asian Voice - Saturday 12th November 2011

Advani asks Congress to release white paper on black money Continuing his tirade against the UPA government, senior BJP leader L K Advani on Monday asked Congress to come out with a white paper detailing black money stashed abroad and steps it has taken to bring it back, on the first day of the parliament's winter session.

Advani was on a nation-wide Jan Chetna Yatra to take on the UPA government on corruption and press for the return of black money stashed abroad. When Advani’s yatra entered VadodaraAhmedabad those present for the veteran leader's welcome were Ahmedabad BJP MPs Harin Pathak and Dr Kirit Solanki and state minister Nitin Patel.

Soon after entering the Ahmedabad city, Advani praised chief minister Narendra Modi for giving him a warm welcome during the beginning of his yatra from Vapi.

Large number of people gathered on both sides

of the road in all the areas he passed through before reaching Ghatlodia where he addressed a public gathering late in the evening.

In several areas, Advani was welcomed with drum beats and firecrackers. Modi joined the yatra from Maninagar.

However, it was a long wait for many as the leader's convoy was late by over an hour. The delay stopped the leader from halting at many of the areas where party workers

wanted to meet him. More than 100 Congress and Mahagujarat Janta Party (MJP) workers gathered at Hatkeshwar and shouted slogans against the yatra.

Ruling out differences between himself and Advani, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi accused the media of playing into the hands of the ruling Congress and sensationalising news.

“It is all a handiwork of the media barons,” Mr. Modi said, in the presence of Mr Advani whom he

accompanied in the specially-configured bus throughout the Yatra both the days to drive home the point that all was well between the two.

He was reacting to reports that there were cold vibes between him and Mr Advani, both said to be in the race for the prime minister’s post, despite his welcoming him in Vapi with garland.

Among those sharing the dais at Ghatlodia was former chief minister Keshubhai Patel, who is rarely spotted at public events these days.

Interestingly, Modi showered praises on Patel while talking about his stupendous victory in Rajkot municipality election in mid 70's.

The BJP patriarch also showered praise on Modi as well as former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

"Vajpayeeji and Modi ensured that there was no corruption in their governance, which led to India and Gujarat prospering."

22 killed, 40 injured in Haridwar stampede

At least 22 people were killed and 40 injured in a stampede that occurred when massive crowd had gathered near the Ganges for a religious meet in Haridwar on Tuesday.

About four lakh devotees were gathered for a five-day event that began on Sunday to propagate the Gayatri Mantra, one of the foremost chants in Hinduism.

But tragedy struck the gathering, which had been lauded for its discipline.

Witnesses said the tragedy occurred when an elderly woman slipped while walking through a barricaded route close to where 1,551 ‘yagyas’ – or fire rituals – were on.

Once the woman fell, there was commotion. The crowds, however, kept pushing ahead. In no time, people began to fall over one another, crushing

many. The activist said that people who were killed instantly, were more of women folks. Many succumbed to their injuries late in the evening. Most of the victims were elderly and suffocated to death.

Around 40 others were injured in varying degrees.

Within minutes, sounds of

bhajans being sung were replaced by ambulances with waling sirens rushing the dead, the dying and the injured to a 10-bed hospital that the organisers had set up to deal with emergency situations.

Some were taken to other hospitals in the Hindu holy town. “Some

of the injured are serious but not critical,” a district official said.

Some of the injured men and women - limped away from the site of tragedy. Others were taken away on stretchers.

Devotees walked around, traumatised after the experience as others gathered at hospitals to get news of their relatives.

Local officials claimed that the organisers had not told them that lakhs would throng Haridwar during the event but the Gayatri Parvar denied this.

“This is not at all true.

A senior minister of Uttarakhand was at our inaugural function, so was a former chief minister and a central minister.

And they all knew what a mammoth function we were organising,” the activist said.

Million Sikhs parade to keep tradition alive Continued from page 1 Many political issues back home in India in Punjab are usually the topics of the discussion. The turban issue, elections in Punjab, the recently held Shiormani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee polls, the hate crime due to the Sikhs mistaken as Arabs and the efforts for creating awareness over Sikhs’ identity are some of the issues to be taken up during the gathering.

Various Sikh leaders addressed gathering inside the Gurdwara hall.

Each year on the first Sunday of November, Sikhs from the United States, Canada, India, the United Kingdom and

throughout the world attend the Sikh parade in Yuba City, which commemorates the receipt by Sikhs of their Holy scripture, the Guru Granth Sahib, in 1708.

The 2005 parade drew an estimated 56,000 people while the 2007 parade was estimated to draw between 75,000 to 85,000 people of both Sikh and non-Sikh background. In 2008, an estimated 80,000 people came out for the event which is now considered one of the largest gatherings in Northern California.

It all started three decades ago locally but the ceremony has gone into international event with Sikhs looking for this day

to interact with the community members. Apart from religious significance, the parade also gives an opportunity to the members for cultural and community exchanges, said Coordinator, American Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (AGPC), Dr. Pritpal Singh.

Tejinder Singh Dosanj, heading the local Gurdwara Committee said the Sikhs have been a part of America for over 130 years. ``The Yuba City, which has some of the best cultivable agricultural land, was the natural choice for the agriculturist migrants who now own one of the biggest farms in the world here.’’he said.

Yuba City is known for

its sizeable Sikh community and one of the largest Sikh populations outside of the Punjab state of India. Yuba City is also known as the first Punjabi village in the US. Yuba City has been hosting an annual Guru Gadee Parade since 1979.

Local people and folks from around California come to observe the festivities. Each year the number of attendants are growing The parade runs for several miles through the streets of Yuba City. Yuba City police and community volunteers stand guard along roads intersecting the parade route which are closed to through traffic.

The parade is held in rain or shine.

China's Communist leaders to hold 5 meetings with Modi during his visit The Communist Party of China is paying close attention to Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi, who is scheduled to meet CPC leaders on five different occasions during the four days he will spend in the country from November 9. There are signs the Chinese leadership would like to form their own opinion on Modi, who has been described as a future prime minister by several Indian industrialists.

Modi is scheduled to meet "a top leader" of CPC at the Great Hall of the People. The leader who will meet him at the Great Hall has not been specified. But this is the venue where foreign visitors are greeted by China's president, premier or chairman of the standing committee of the National People's Congress, which is the Chinese parliament.

Meetings with senior CPC leaders is bound to help Modi cement business ties because Staterun corporations, and industry leaders in China usually look for signals from the party and government before signing major business deals, informed sources said. The visit comes immediately after Modi announced plans to build the world's tallest Buddhist stupa in Gujarat.

The Gujarat CM will

also visit the International department of the CPC Central Committee, which acts as a bridge between the party and political parties across the world. He will also meet the mayor and party secretary of two major cities, Beijing and Shanghai. His appointments include dinner with a senior CPC leader of Sichuan province on November 11 and a meeting with the Sichuan governor at Chengdu the next day.

Modi is also due to visit a research center of Huawei Technologies, which has been facing close scrutiny by the central government concerning its telecom equipment supplies. He will talk to local businessmen in Chengdu and end his China tour with a visit to a Buddhist temple in Sichuan.

Modi, who is accompanied by M Sahu, principal secretary for industry and mines, and AK Sharma, secretary in the chief minister's office, will address a business seminar in Beijing and attend a dinner hosted by the Indian community in Shanghai on November 10. He is leading a business delegation that includes Sudhir Mehta, Parimal Nathwani, Pranav Adani, Mahendra Patel, Zarir Langrana, Nirav Shah, Sunil Chaturvedi and Rajesh Jain.

A.P.J. Abdul Kalam labels N-plant safe, sceptics wary Former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam said the Kudankulam nuclear plant was absolutely safe but failed to convince those agitating against the commissioning of the facility, located 650km from Chennai.

Kalam, who visited the project site said he had not come to play mediator. But the protesters argued that Kalam's decision to meet only the plant officials and not villagers' representatives proved he had come merely to issue a certificate to the nuclear facility.

"Twelve lakh people live in the nuclear fallout area, but Kalam has met just 40 people who are intent on starting the plant unmindful of the safety of these people," said S.P. Udhayakumar, the protesters' leader.

"Also, Kalam has only repeated what the officials have been saying. Neither he nor the scientists have answered our question why Russia has stopped using the technology employed at Kudankulam.

Similarly, they have been silent on the issue of nuclear waste," Udhayakumar said at Indinthakarai village, where the agitators are camping.

The persistent agita-

tion by the villagers, led by anti-nuclear groups, has brought the fate of the Rs 1,336-crore, 2,000MW plant under a cloud. The plant managers have put off its commissioning, which was due in December.

The Centre has appointed a 15-member committee to reassure the villagers about the plant's safety features. It had also requested Kalam, a votary of nuclear power and weapons, to affirm the safety of the plant. The government was looking to exploit the popularity that the former President, a Tamil, enjoys among the masses.

Kalam spent three hours inspecting the plant and being briefed on its various features.

"He asked many questions about safety. He wanted to know how we can be sure that a disaster like Chernobyl (Russia) or Fukushima (Japan) would not happen here," station director R.S. Sundar said.

"We explained that the technology to be used here is much more advanced, and so are the safety features."

Later, Kalam told the media the plant had put in place all the necessary safety features.

traVel & EvENT

asian voice - Saturday 12th November 2011

PuRvi’S TRaveL BaG

By Purvi Apurva Shah

Visit wax museum at Ooty

Wax statue of Mahatma Gandhi

Do you know that there is a wax museum in Ooty? It is known as “The Wax World” that houses lifesize look-alike statues of personalities of Indian history, culture and heritage.

The museum is housed on a 142 -year -old bungalow on Coonoor Road.

Wax statue of Jawahar Lal Nehru

whittle your heart with a tremendous experience.

You must try a cuppa of tea in this place. Ooty is famous of its tea plantation and every nook has a proud chaiwala ready with a hot cuppa. But if you’re looking for a more exotic experience, make your

Wax statue of Tilak, Bhagat Singh, Rabindranath Tagore & Subhas Chandra Bose

Next best place to visit is thread garden where artificial garden is created with the help of thread.

Unbelievable, but true.

The plants and flowers are made out of threads, and that too without the help of needle or any machine.

One of its kind, where flowers and plants are entirely woven by hand.

Ooty was a largely a British town in pre-independence India. After the end of British rule, this region was further developed into tourist spot.

One of the popular hillstation that has been awarded as 'Queen of hill stations' by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.

This place is mix of natural and urban. It has lot of natural scenic views, pleasant environment full of hill retreat, but with this it also has urban comforts that one would be accustomed to. It’s where you should head to if you want to be in the lap of nature and yet not forgo luxuries of contemporary lifestyle.

Ooty is the picturesque hill station situated in Tamil Nadu at an altitude of 2286 m. It can be reached by road, rail and air. Nearest air port is Coimbatore which is 88 km away from Ooty. One of the sight not to miss are expensive tea estates on Nilgiri mountain slopes spellbind your eyes and

way to one of the many tea plantations for a session of tea tasting. You are sure at risk, as teatasting will make you a tea lover all your life.

Botanical Garden

Few of such typical things should be surely tried. And do not forget taking an opportunity to

high in the sky leaving behind the picturesque verdant surrounding. You fly like a bird over dense shoals, beautiful waterfalls and streams. It’s an experience to treasure for life, and also makes you come back to fly over the scenic Ooty again.

Located around 20 km from Ooty, Kalahatty in the mountain ranges of Nilgiris is a world-class site for hand gliding. From March to May, hand gliding training courses are organised in Ooty. There are trained professionals available to guide the beginners during the hand gliding expedition.

Do not miss seeing Toda huts, they are few in number on the hills of Botanical Gardens where Todas still dwell.

Dodabetta Peak: As its name suggests it is the highest peak point in Ooty. It is nearly at the height of 2,600 m. There is a telescope house located where tourists come and enjoy the sightseeing.

Being the highest peak, Dodabetta remains foggy for maximum days of a year. If the visitors are lucky then they may find a chance to look Mysore from the height at this point.

Lambus Rock: Lambus Rock is a perfect picnic spot for nature lovers. The green carpet of large Tea gardens covering mountain slopes is a remarkable view. Each and every crook of the Tea estates on Nilgiri mountain

explore number of adventure sports and recreational activities, including hand gliding. The exciting and thrilling sport of hand gliding takes you soaring

Lambus Rock is picture perfect view to click in camera and store for the everlasting memories.

Ooty’s remoteness is part of its charm.

27

A Rangoli that keeps you wondering At first glance, you will be confused whether the image is a painting or a photograph. But it is none, but a beautiful art of Rangoli. The Rangoli is done with so much finesse that it looks very realistic.

Rangoli of Ganesh, RadhaKrishna, Anna Hazare, Sai Baba etc. have been done with so much details and patience that it simply keeps you amazed and wondering how it has been done. Rangoli can easily be mistaken as a poster laid on a floor. No wonder that around 15,000 people had thronged the annual exhibition arranged during Diwali at Kirti Mandir hall in Vadodara.

The exhibition was organized by “Swastik Rangoli kalakar,“a group established in 1985. The purpose of this group was to keep the art of Rangoli alive. The group which was founded by six artists, now has 15 specialist artists and has now become an internationally renowned group.

Some of Rangoli artists have had the privilege of being invited to New Zealand, Dubai and London to make Rangoli pictures in the festivals organized by the respective governments.

Rangoli making: Rangoli takes around 80 hours to complete – depending upon its detailing. Artists work continuously for 4 to 5 days, before the exhibition starts. They stay at the venue itself and prepare Rangoli. The hall is closed enough to stop wind and other elements from spoiling the work. ‘Rangoli’ is made from loose powder and the artists take care even ‘not to whistle’ while working. Complete concentration is required to make a Rangoli picture.

Because, once the colour (Rangoli powder) is filled in, there is no chance of removing it. Thus, there is no scope for correction.

And hence, there is no room to make any mistake.

Ambition: The art of Rangoli is unique and is part of ancient Indian culture. Rangoli medium is not known in other countries. Artists wish to exhibit this art form in different countries, so as to enable art lovers to see and appreciate one of the most beautiful mediums of ancient Indian art. A wish that maximum people should see this unique art form and believe - why Indian art and culture is believed to be among most liked cultures in the word.

The most unfortunate thing about Rangoli is – it is a temporary art form and no way it is possible to preserve it! Once the Rangoli exhibition is over, the hard boards are lifted one by one and all the Rangoli powder comes down on

the floor. A picture which takes around 80 hours for its creation, loses its entity within seconds!!

A moment for artist to turn

their faces from the removal process of Rangoli – may be just to hide their wet eyes sometimes!

Web: www.swastikrangoli.com

*' 4#*/# 7/#4+5 !14.& 2+4+67#. 0+8'45+6; # 4')+56'4'& %*#4+6; +0 6*' 6'#%*'5 #,# "1)# #5 # 9#; 1( ':2'4+'0%+0) 2'#%' 1( /+0& #0& # 215+6+8' #2241#%* 61 .+(' *' 0+8'45+6; 2418+&'5 12214670+6+'5 (14 2'12.' (41/ #.. 4'.+)+175 #0& %7.674#. $#%-)4170&5 61 ':2.14' 6*'+4 190 52+4+67#.+6; #0& .'#40 5-+..5 1( 4'(.'%6+10 #0& /'&+6#6+10 &'4+8'& (41/ #,# "1)# 9*+%* 9+.. *'.2 &'8'.12 +00'4 %#./ %.'#4 6*+0-+0) #0& 2'4510#.

9'.. $'+0) !' *#8' 6*4'' 81.706#4; 215+6+105 #8#+.#$.' (14 #0 14&#+0'& 4#*/# 7/#4+5 4+'56 '55 '0+14 2+4+67#. '#%*'4 9*1 1(('4 6*17)*6(7. 6'#%*+0) #0& %*#..'0)+0) 52+4+67#. .'#&'45*+2 1..#$14#6+8' /+0+564; '55'06+#.

10&7%6+0) 24#;'45 /'&+6#6+10 #0& %.#55 9+6* # %10)4')#6+10 1( ':+56+0) 567&'065 '#%*+0) 6'%*0+37'5 #0& 24#%6+%'5 1( #,# "1)# '&+6#6+10 61 0'9 567&'065 ''6+0) 9+6* ':+56+0) 567&'065 #0& 16*'45 24+8#6'.; 14 +0 5/#.. )41725 61 )+8' )'0'4#. )7+&#0%' 10 *19 61 #22.; 52+4+67#.+6; +0 &#; 61 &#; .+(' #0& 61 (746*'4 '8#.7#6' 6*' 52+4+67#. 241)4'55 1( 6*' +0&+8+&7#.5 18'4 6+/' +5+6+0) 2#6+'065 (14 52+4+67#. 5756'0#0%' +0 *152+6#.5 #0& *152+%'5 #0& 1(('4 # $'4'#8'/'06 5'48+%' &&+6+10#..; ;17 9+.. #55+56 +0 24'2#4+0) #0& 1(('4+0) 4#*/# *1,#0 1.; 11& 756 $' # 4#*/# 7/#4+5 24+'56 '55 9+6* #6 .'#56 ;'#4 ':2'4+'0%' +0 6*+5 41.'

6'#%*+0) 37#.+(+%#6+10 6*17)* 016 #0 '55'06+#. %4+6'4+# 917.& $' #0 #&8#06#)' 756 $' '.+)+$.' 61 914- +0 6*' 10 # 81.706#4; $#5+5 *' 215+6+10 1( 4+'56 '55 '0+14 2+4+67#. '#%*'4 +5 81%#6+10#. #0& &'/#0&+0) *' 4#*/# 7/#4+5 9+.. 5210514 *+/ *'4 61 %18'4 #.. .+8+0) $1#4& /'&+%#. #0& 64#8'. ':2'05'5 #0& 9+.. #.51 2418+&' (14 #.. 2'4510#. +0%+&'06#. #0& 16*'4 0''&5 57%* #5 (746*'4 64#+0+0) #0& &'8'.12/'06 1 #22.; (14 6*+5 8#%#0%; 2.'#5' 5'0& ;174 .'66'4 #5 5110 #5 2155+$.' 61 4756''5 ((+%' ! .1$#. 1 12'4#6+10 175' 170& #0' 10&10 ! '. .15+0) &#6' (14 4'%'+26 1( #22.+%#6+105 +5

#0& # %18'4

18'/$'4

28

UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 12th November 2011

Global Punjabi Society organises successful awards night

CB Patel receiving his award from Baroness Verma,and HE Rajesh N Prasad

Amar Lodhia receiving the award from Rt Hon Dominic Grieve

Gurucharan King Mall receiving award from Mike Whitby

The Global Punjabi Society (U.K.) Chapter held its highly successful second Dinner and Dance 2011 Award Night at the Leicester Stage Hotel in Leicester (U.K.) on the

S K Sharma with Shri Gururaj Rao

Krishna Prashad Sharma receiving the award from HE Rajesh N Prasad

Dr Gautam G Bodiwala receiving the award from Lord Parekh

Mrs Sudarshan Mohindra receiving the award from He Rajesh N Prasad

evening of Saturday 29th October 2011, coinciding with the special occasion of Diwali, where over 200 hundred guests enjoyed an evening of great enter-

Ranjit Singh Ghura receiving the award from Ashok Verma

D L Chadha receiving the award from Ashok and Baroness Verma, HE Rajesh N Prasad, Dr Rami Ranger

Niki Aneja Walia receiving the award from HE Rajesh N Prasad

tainment and fun.

The event marked an opportunity to recognise and award the notable achievements of Punjabis and non-Punjabis who had contributed in every aspect of life in the U.K. and beyond. The Global Punjabi Society (U.K.) Chapter also supported three worthy charities.

The Global Punjabi Society (U.K.) Chapter President, Mr. Ashok Kumar Verma opened the event welcoming invited Dignitaries and guests.

Mr.Verma paid special thanks to the Chief Guest, His Excellency the Acting High Commissioner of India Mr. Rajesh Prasad and the Minister for Coordination Mr. Sukhdev Singh Sidhu and the Birmingham Consulate team headed by the Consulate General Mr. C.

Harminder S Dua receiving the award from ex Mayor, Cllr Manjoola Sood

David Sidhoo receiving the award from HE Rajesh N Prasad

Gururaj Rao. He also welcomed the Chief Guest Speaker, the Attorney General of U.K. The Rt. Hon’ble Dominic Grieve, QC, MP for Beaconsfield.

He also expressed his gratitude and thanks to Lyca Mobile U.K. Ltd, India Property Mart , Emaar Group and Sunmark Ltd the main sponsors of the event and to everyone that attended and enabling good causes to be supported in the U.K. and India.

The Rt. Hon’ble Baroness Sandip Verma of Leicester, Lords Minister for Business, Innovation and Skills (Higher Education), Equalities and Women and also the Whip for the Cabinet Office, House of Lords compered the event introducing notable Speakers and a variety of traditional Indian music and dance

Nathuram Puri receiving the award from HE Rajesh N Prasad

performances.

Amongst the other speakers were Dr. Rami Ranger,MBE, FRSA, the International Chairman of the Global Punjabi Society who paid tribute to the achievements of the Global Punjabi Community, the High Sheriff of Leicestershire Resham Singh Sandhu, Assistant Mayor of Leicester Councillor Manjula Sood, Mr. A.P.S. Chawla of Roko Cancer and Mr. Atul Sharma of Overseas Indian Association.

The Chief Guest His Excellency Rajesh Prasad paid tribute to the Punjabi Community who he said had established themselves in every walk of life and achieved so much where ever they had settled.

His Excellency together with other guests

Bobby Grewal receiving the award from Resham Singh Sandhu

presented the Awardsof achievement conferred by the Global Punjabi Society to high achievers from the charitable sector, business, medical and educational professions.

The recipients were: Mr. D.L. Chadha, Dr. G.G. Bodiwala, CBE, DL, JP, Mr. C.B. Patel, Prof.

Harminder S. Dua, Prof.

N.R. Puri, Mrs. Sudershan Mohindra, Mr. Amar Lodha, Mr. Bobby S. Grewal, Mr. Krishan Prasad Sharma, Mr. King G. Mall, Ms. Nicki Aneja Walia, Mrs. Nileema D. Sukhadia, Mr. David Sidoo, Mr. Ranjit Singh Ghura, Mr. S.K. Sharma and Mr. Madan Paliwal.

Monies were raised for - Breast Cancer Awareness (Roko Cancer), The Overseas Indian Association and Crime Beat in Leicestershire.

Anoushka Shankar to play at exclusive tribute concert for Noor Inayat Khan The talented Anoushka Shankar will play at an exclusive tribute concert in the House of Commons next month to raise funds for a Memorial for WWII heroine Noor Inayat Khan. The Memorial for Noor Inayat Khan will Anoushka Shankar be installed in Gordon

Square in London in 2012. It is being sculpted by well-known artist Karen Newman. It will be the first statue of an Asian woman in Britain.

“We are delighted that Anoushka Shankar has so graciously accepted to perform for Noor Inayat Khan. It will be a

meaningful tribute from one young Indian woman to another,” said Shrabani Basu, chair of the Noor Inayat Khan Memorial Trust.

The concert is being organised by the Noor Inayat Khan Memorial Trust in association with Culturepot Global.

Noor Inayat Khan

HEaltH WATCH

Asian Voice - Saturday 12th November 2011

Emotional eating makes you put on weight "Many diets make wild promises but the usual rule of thumb is that the wilder the claim the less likely it is to work. Any diet is going to work in the short term because you are going to eat fewer calories but often the proposed eating plan is not sustainable. If you have followed every diet in the book, but nothing works, then there is “no-nonsense diet for you,” says dietician Anita Bean.

Anita, 46, has published Slim Secrets, which gives a safe diet based on scientific facts from her 18 years of experience. Slim Secrets, addresses the psychology and emotions behind dieting which she feels is the main barrier to long term weight loss. "Before you begin working out whether you are going to have broccoli or a chocolate cookie, the starting point of any diet has to be sorting out your emotions. You have to start taking control, not only of your eating but also your whole lifestyle," she says.

She admits this "all sounds a bit serious," but adds "the reason why many women have weight issues is because they haven't got control over what they are eating.

Food becomes tangled up with negative beliefs about yourself and your past. It's got to be a longterm process. If as a child you were hurt or upset and given sweets you might associate food as a reward or use it to hide emotions. I am not talking about heavy-duty psy-

Any quest ions writ e to m amta @thinkspalon

By Mamta Saha don.com

Psychologist

Face to face with Mental Health

chology here, it's about getting people to be honest with themselves and face up to what they are doing," she added.

Anita offers simple techniques to help you decide which foods to eat and which should be avoided. She says there is no need to cut out major food groups such as dairy or carbohydrates if you pay attention to the calorie density of what you eat.

Anita's simple tips for a slimmer future are: Keep a food mood diary - Write down everything you eat and drink for a week and how you felt before and after you ate. Soon you'll see a pattern and identify what makes you eat when you're not hungry.

De-stress - Emotional

eating doesn't actually reduce stress levels.

Although you may experience the initial enjoyment of the food, your negative feelings don't go away.

The best way to deal with stress is to exercise. Go for a walk, swim or enjoy a yoga session.

Don't buy it - One of the best things you can do is not buy the foods you binge on. Don't bring them into your house. If snacks aren't available you will automatically discover something else to do to change the way you're feeling.

Plan ahead - If you know you've got a stressful time coming up then plan your food strategy to help you cope better. Plan what healthy meals and snacks you're going to eat and keep all others out of sight.

Kids absorb twice more radiation from cell phones than adults A new study has revealed that children absorb twice as much microwave radiation from cell phones as adults do. The study also found that keeping cell phones in shirt or pants pockets exceeds Federal Communications Commission (FCC) exposure guidelines.

The study noted that the industry-designed process for evaluating microwave radiation from phones results in children absorbing twice the cell phone radiation to their heads, up to triple in their brain’s hippocampus and hypothalamus, greater

29

absorption in their eyes, and as much as 10 times more in their bone marrow when compared to adults.

The existing process is based on a large man whose 40 brain tissues are

assumed to be exactly the same. A far better system relies on anatomically based models of people of various ages, including pregnant women, that can determine the absorbed radiation in all tissue types, and can account for the increased absorption in children.

It allows for cell phones to be certified with the most vulnerable users in mind - children - consistent with the “As Low As Reasonably Achievable” (ALARA) approach taken in setting standards for using radiological devices.

This weeks article is focused on Mental Health in the Asian community. Most people are not aware that 1 in 4 people suffer from mental health problems and often the pain caused by discrimination is far worse than the symptoms.

As a community we can be extremely judgemental and uncomfortable about addressing mental health issues and it is about time we opened our eyes and smelt the coffee - as this is an issue that requires empathy, not judgement.

I interviewed Amarinder Vadera who specialises in helping those with mental health problems so that she could shine some light on this matter. She is a trainer for Mind a charity which raises awareness about Mental Health problems and how to deal with them and is actively involved with campaign work through Time To Change aspiring to take stigma and discrimination away from mental health.

What inspires you to work with people who have mental illness?

I truly believe in people’s abilities even if they are challenged by a mental health Condition. There isn’t a lot of practical help out there.

Coaching is effective with a difference as it empowers people to self discover and set goals and explore options. It helps them build a positive belief system and tackles difficult situations. Whilst working with Mind I could see how many people have been left isolated and not

What is the most exciting thing you have done recently?

I recently attended a Cabinet Meeting at Harrow Council to represent other Service Users of Mental Health to ask a question on their behalf, challenging the new proposals to remove discretionary freedom passes and their new Draft contributions Policy that would charge for day care costs and other Mental Health Services. I was very proud to represent HUG (Mind’s Harrow User Group) and will continue with such campaign work that empowers people who don’t have the confidence to use their voice.

Lastly, I must add that Mamta (www.thinkspalondon.com) has been a very positive influence and role model since I have known her! Her passion and attitude has had an impact on my own progress and seeing her tenacity to achieve her goals can be quite contagious.

Mamta has encouraged me when my confidences has been low and has been highly motivational throughout my journey and know she has helped many others and will bring out the best in you. Mamta has solid belief in herself and others. A great inspiration to work with, thank you Mamta.

To find out more contact mamta@thinkspalondon.com. Don’t forget to ‘like’ the Facebook page and if you are interested in Skype coaching email me.

Good luck!

functioning on a day-today level.

I have witnessed Mental ill Health in my family and had an acute period of anxiety myself. However I had a strong sense of belief and was able to challenge the stigma and continue to fulfil my goals despite my short breakdown a few years ago. I wish to pass this positivity onto others and for them to know that they too can achieve with the right guidance.

What does your typical day look like?

Every day is different and exciting. I run a fortnightly workshop for Asian ladies from EKTA who have suffered mental ill health and I continue to conduct training for Mind and spend the rest of my time working on new projects!

What methods do use take someone from deep dissatisfaction with life to a place of real satisfaction?

This is a great challenge and can often take time.

There are many techniques in NLP as well as Cognitive Behavioural techniques.

I get my clients to creatively visualise their dreams and how to get there and use all their senses to engage in this feeling of positivity. I often ask my clients to keep a daily diary of gratitude recording all the things they are grateful for.

Setting new goals and action plans is a great way to move forward with life, the more you do, the more satisfied you will feel!

No magic pill can cure a bad cough Acute cough is one of the common reasons why people visit their doctors. One of the most common questions asked by doctors to patients is about their phlegm: “Are you coughing anything up?” or “What colour is your phlegm?”

Clinicians and patients commonly believe that yellow and green phlegm is associated with a bacterial infection, which is more likely to benefit from antibiotic treatment compared with nonproductive cough or cough that produces clear phlegm.

However, Professor Chris Butler and his team from

producing discoloured phlegm are prescribed antibiotics more frequently. But recovery was not associated with antibiotic treatment.

Cardiff University’s School of Medicine, along with colleagues from 14 European centres studied 3,402 patients with acute cough.

They found that patients

#

!

!

!

# &

! # !

&

#

#

!

#

"

! !

$

! ! ! % #

DIMPLE SELF DRIVE HIRE LTD

DIMPLE VANS - CARS - MINIBUS

Profesional

Competitive prices No hidden extras Unlimited mileage 3 days & over Special weekend rates Minibuses 8, 12, 15 & 17 seaters Vans & estate cars

Mini Bus (8-17 Seater) 8 Seater from £60 12 Seater from £65 15 Seater from £70 17 Seater from £80 Small Cars from £25 Medium Cars from £30 Large Cars from £35 Large Vans from £40

Tel: 020 8205 1200 / 7898 Fax: 020 8200 7426 www.dimpleselfdrive.com Email:dimplemotors@aol.com 19 Varley Parade, Edgware Road, London NW9 6RR

(

!+( ! *(

$ % "$ "& '

*

'& '& . '$ "&, )*% &*) ' +#

--- '$ "&, )*% &*) ' +#

30

UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 12th November 2011

CB Live is only a Gujarati programme in UK on MATV SKY 793 Adam Tankarvi, a life long teacher, resident in Bolton is a renowned Gujarati/Urdu poet especially Ghazalkar. He has been recently awarded the coveted 'Kalapi' award in Mumbai for an outstanding achievement. In England, especially in North West areas of Lancashire and Yorkshire there are several Muslim Gujarati poets and writers- perhaps proportionately much more than South East England or London. CB Live will discuss with Adam Tankarvi and Siraz Patel on the modern trend of creations of these writers.

Sneh Joshi - 020 8518 5500 The pace of everyday life will gather momentum and there may be times when you find it hard to keep your act together. Any obstacles that have stood in the way of your heart's desires should melt into the background soon. Your self-confidence will be extremely high and this will be helped by various encouraging events.

ARIES Mar 21 - Apr 20

7pm to 8pm

For more information

e-mail:

If you do not have a SKY, go to www.tvunetworks.com and watch CB Live on TVU Player Channel 75203

Coming Events l Shree Jalaram Bapa's 212th Birthday Mahotsav, Sunday 13th Nov, 11am-5pm, Canon Palmer School, Ilford. Contact: 0845 838 21-26

cblive_matv@yahoo.co.uk

PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION

BY ROMA LOOMBA AT THE IDEAL HOME SHOW, AT EARLS COURT, LONDON, NOVEMBER 16-20 2011. (STAND NUMBER 2H30 )

l Nehru Centre, 4 South Audley Street, London W1K 1HF Friday 11th Nov: Panchdeepmala: 6:30pm Sunday 12th Nov: 12pm: Children's Day l Jalaram Jyot, Repton Avenue, Sudbury, Wembley HA0 3DW organises Jalaram Bhajans every Thursday from 7.00pm till 9.30pm, followed by prasad and Hanuman Chalisa every Saturday from 11.00am till 3.00pm followed by prasad.

Buses: 18/92/245. Contact: Usha 07894858566 or Asmitaben: 07905348333 l A coach has been organised to Leicester, at the invitation of Jain Samaj Europe, for the opening of the Arhat Touch School on Sunday the 20th of November. Contact: Chandan Mehta0161 4346633 by the 12th Nov. l Posun Uk annual general meeting, Sunday 20th Nov 2011 at Archbishop Lanfranc School, Croydon CR9 3AS. 3pm-10pm l Rock On Music presents Sunidhi Chauhan and KK. Live on Stage at Wembley Arena on Saturday 12th November 2011at 6.30pm.

Contact: 08448150815 & KK Live on Stage at De Montfort Hall Leicester on Sunday 13th November 2011, 7pm Contact: Leicester- 01162333111.

Roma Loomba

GEMINI May 22 - June 22 It would be a mistake always to blame the other person if your experience and expectations of love turn out to be disappointing. It is said that if you do not learn from past experience you will be condemned to repeat it until you do learn. You now have an excellent opportunity to sort out where things may be going wrong. The hard part is that you will have to be honest with yourself.

CANCER Jun 22 - Jul 22 Love is liable to blow hot and cold rather unpredictably. If so, then it might be a good idea to check your own behaviour and motives for it could be that you are already taking too much for granted.

Avoid get-rich-quick schemes and be cautious about other people's enthusiasm which is likely to be misplaced. Travel and social life combine to bring a lively time ahead of you.

LEO Jul 23 - Aug 23 Life appears to be focusing your mind on practical matters. So you will need to organise your time carefully if you are to avoid an "all work and no play" situation. Resist making any hasty moves when it come to finances - this is a time to focus on consolidation of current assets rather than attempting to make any new investments.

Choose from a huge selection of framed photographs.

Prints available at £20 each or 3 for £50 only.

Photographs taken by the Artist, Roma Loomba, in India, Switzerland and Alaska For any further information please contact: Roma

Loomba at 0774 030 5298

email: Roma@loomba.com

www.Romaloomba.com website:

Ideal VISIT ROMA VISION AT STAND NO 2H30 Home Christmas Show, Earls Court, London.

16-20 November 2011

VIRGO Aug 24 - Sep 23 Guard against being too impatient and restless. You will need to exercise care in the use of credit. Extra energy and drive will serve you well in getting things accomplished, but try not to come on too strong when you deal with others. There appears to be a more successful trend coming into effect.

LIBRA Sep 24 - Oct 23 There is an element of disruption or stress which may be hard to avoid, but it appears that there is a strong sense of purpose in the background. A certain amount of sheer hard graft will be necessary for a short while, but the final result will be extremely pleasing. An exchange of opinions ought to prove very enlivening at this time.

SCORPIO Oct 24- Nov 22 Either you or your partner have been going through a phase of inner doubts and uncertainties, and perhaps the main source of tension has simply been the need for breathing space in your relationship and a need to look at things more objectively. Wait before going full steam ahead with grand actions and gestures.

l Anoushka Shankar- an evening of Indian classical music. In aid of the Noor Inayat Khan Memorial Trust, in association with Culturepot Global. Hosted by Rt Hon Keith Vaz MP. Saturday 3rd Dec 2011, 7pm. Booking: 020 8904 2533 l Anni Hindocha Candle Light Vigil, Sunday 13 Nov 2011, 5:30pm-7:30pm. Shree Kadwa Patidar Samaj, Kenmore Avenue, Harrow HA3 8LU. Contact: 07796147370 Editor: CB Patel Associate Editor: Rupanjana Dutta Tel: 020 7749 4098 - Email: rupanjana.dutta@abplgroup.com Senior News Editor: Dhiren Katwa Freelance Correspondent: Rudy Otter Chief of Operations ABPL: Liji George Tel: 020 7749 4013 Email: george@abplgroup.com 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 Media Consultant: Rovin John George - Email: rovin.george@abplgroup.com Tel: 020 7749 4097 - Mobile: 07875 229 219 Nihir Shah - Email: nihir.shah@abplgroup.com Tel: 020 7749 4089 - Mobile: 07875 229 111 Business Development Managers: Urja Patel - Email: urja.patel@abplgroup.com Design and Layout: Harish Dahya & Ajay Kumar Tel: 020 7749 4086 Email: graphics@abplgroup.com Customer Service: Ragini Nayak Tel: 020 7749 4080 - Email: support@abplgroup.com

TAURUS Apr 21 - May 21 Social commitments are liable to increase considerably. At times this could lead to a conflict of loyalties and perhaps a degree of resentment that others are taking advantage of you. Make a very conscious attempt to stick to main priorities. Organise your time so that it is not taken up entirely by the demands of other people.

There will be increased scope for varying your activities, widening your network of contacts and getting out and about. It is an excellent time for exercising your mental energies, clarifying your and other people's ideas and getting involved in discussion. Exercise caution when it comes to making financial decisions as being hasty will cost you !

SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 - Dec 21

(BPO) AB Publication (India) Pvt. Ltd. 207 Shalibhadra Complex, Opp. Jain Derasar, Nr. Nehru Nagar Circle, Ambawadi, Ahmedabad Tel/Fax: +91 79 2646 6061 Chief Executive Director: Kamlesh Amin Tel: +91 922 710 4308 Email: kamleshamin123@yahoo.co.in 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

Asian Voice Main Office 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

CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan 20

There are subtle transformations taking shape in you life and a feeling of helpful influences in the background. There is much to suggest that you are in tune with your inner self and in touch with those hidden forces which often seem to take a guiding hand in one's life. Focus on essentials and establish a solid foundation, so that you feel secure.

AQUARIUS Jan 21 - Feb 19

Co-operative ventures are likely to generate financial success. So, if hoping to drum up support or backing, it would certainly do no harm to adopt a more pushy and outgoing approach to life. As social life will tend to draw you into a wider circle, the chances of meeting someone attractive are greatly increased. The general pattern of things continues on a progressive and buoyant theme.

0Mars and Saturn placement in your chart sets a rather challenging theme. Although this gives increased potential for tension and conflict with other people, it also means that you are able to confront issues and sort any problems out. If this involves a close relationship, you can now resolve your differences.

PISCES Feb 20 - Mar 20

SPort WoRlD

Asian Voice - Saturday 12th November 2011

Olympic torch to travel around Britain by balloon, canoe and zip wire

The Olympic torch will travel by balloon, canoe and a zip wire on its journey around Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the 2012 London Games.

The organisers have released details of the 8,000-mile journey that the flame will make, taking in more than 1,000 cities, towns and villages in the hands of more than 8,000 people. In addition to traditional relay running, the journey will include modes of travel more akin to adventure sports than the Olympics.

Along with flying off the Tyne Bridge on a zip wire, it will be carried in a balloon across Cornwall, down rapids in Hertfordshire, and in the sidecar of a TT motorcycle on the Isle of Man. The stunts are the highlights of the journey that has been designed so that more than 95 per cent of the population will be within 10 miles of the torch as it makes a snaking journey to the Olympic Stadium. The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (Locog) confirmed where the Olympic flame will be carried by torchbearers. On other parts

of the journey it will go via horseback, bicycle, tram and steam train. The street-by-street detail of the route will be confirmed next year.

The relay will also take in hundreds of landmarks including Snowdon, Loch Ness, the Eden Project and Stonehenge.

Every county in England and every local authority area in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales will host the flame, with visits to Lerwick in the Shetland Islands in the north, St Helier in Jersey in the south, Lowestoft in the east, and Enniskillen in Northern

Ireland in the west. Lord Coe, the Locog chairman, said: “I’m delighted that the Olympic torch relay will take the 2012 Games to almost every corner of the UK and that we have achieved our ambition to take the flame to within an hour’s journey of 95 per cent of the population.

“Now everyone is invited to plan their welcome and find out where they can go to be part of this historic occasion.” The Olympic flame will be lit in Olympia in Greece in May, and British Airways will fly the torch into Britain.

The 70-day relay will start at Land’s End, Cornwall, on May 19.

It then travels around Britain carried by 8,000 torchbearers, each picked because of a “personal achievement” or contribution to their community.

On the final day of the relay, July 27, Locog expects the flame to be taken down the Thames, then on to the Olympic Stadium in Stratford, east London, for the lighting of the cauldron at the opening ceremony signifying the official start of the Games.

Indian men at 10th spot, Aisam-Rohan rewarded World Tour Finals berth women 13th in FIH rankings The Indo-Pakistan tennis duo of Rohan Bopanna and Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi has booked a berth in the season-ending ATP World Tour Finals to be held from November 20 to 27 at London’s O2 arena.

The “Indo-Pak Express,” who have got a bye in the opening round of the ongoing BNP Paribas Masters in Paris, will be making their team debut at the season finale, which will feature the top eight doubles teams.

Bopanna and Qureshi have been rewarded for their consistent show this year.

They pocketed two ATP Tour Titles - at the Gerry Weber Open and the Stockholm Open - and made the quarter-finals and semifinals of more than five ATP

1000 Masters events.

The US Open semi-finalists, ranked seventh in the world, became the seventh team to join the elite list which will battle it out at the Tour Finals.

“This has been a great year for us, and we are very excited to be playing against the best of the world. All our hard work has paid off and we are glad we met the goal we had set for ourselves earlier this year,” Bopanna said.

“This would not have been possible without the help and guidance of Shayamal Vallabhjee, Robert Davies and the rest of our team,” he added. Echoing similar sentiments, Qureshi said, “We had a great 2011 and we thank all our fans for their constant love and support.

Erstwhile hockey powerhouse India are languishing at the 10th position in the men`s category, while the women`s team is further down at 13th spot in the recently-released FIH world rankings. With just 1,385 points in their kitty, India are a place behind the archrivals Pakistan in the rankings chart issued recently, after the conclusion of the continental championships.

World champions Australia occupy the top position among men, while 2008 Beijing Olympic gold medalists, the Netherlands is the numero uno team among women.

In the Asian region also, India cut a sorry figure and are currently ranked fourth behind Pakistan, Malaysia and Korea.

Germany is placed second among men`s team with the Netherlands occupying the third position.

In the women`s category, Argentina is ranked second ahead of Germany.

Top 10 rankings: Men: Australia 1 (2,620 points); Germany 2 (2,470); The Netherlands 3 (2,213); Spain 4 (1,990); England 5 (1,947); Korea 6 (1,788); New Zealand 7 (1,610); Argentina 8 (1,470); Pakistan 9 (1,460); India 10 (1,385).

Women: The Netherlands 1 (2,063 points); Argentina 2 (2,030); Germany 3 (1,765); England 4 (1,696); China 5 (1,675); New Zealand 6 (1,615); Australia 7 (1,548); Korea 8 (1,423); Japan 9 (1,318); United States 10 (1,233).

Pakistan clinch test series against Sri Lanka Pakistan clinched the threeTest series against Sri Lanka 1-0 after the third and final match ended in a draw at Sharjah stadium on Monday.

Persistent rain wiped out play in the pre-lunch session a two hours and 35 minutes delay - which left Sri Lanka with little time to enforce a win despite declaring their second innings at 181-6, setting Pakistan a target of 255 in a possible of 61 overs.

By tea, Sri Lanka had taken three early wickets and were pressing for a win.

Pakistan lost a further fourth wicket when opener Taufiq Umar fell for 39, before they finished at 87-4 when umpires called off the match four overs earlier due to bad light.

Skipper Misbah-ul Haq (nine) and Asad Shafiq (seven) survived some anxious moments to salvage a draw.

Pakistan won the second Test in Dubai by nine wickets after the first in Abu Dhabi ended in a draw. The result kept Pakistan on the sixth ranking, as they needed a 2-0

victory to jump one place up and replace Sri Lanka on fifth.

Pakistan started positively before losing Mohammad Hafeez (13), Azhar Ali (seven) and Younis Khan (11) in the space of 37 runs.

Hafeez had struck a boundary in the first over by Chanaka Welegedara but fell in an unwise manner, run out after taking a sharp single as he failed to beat a direct throw from mid-wicket by substitute Lahiru Thirimanne.

Ali, who scored a maiden hundred in the second Test,

was trapped leg-before wicket by left-arm spinner Rangana Herath before Younis played an uppish drive off Welegedara and was caught at mid-on.

Sri Lanka, who have now gone 13 Tests without a win since beating India at Galle in 2009, had hoped to score some quick runs in order to set Pakistan a target and then get their rivals out for a victory.

But overnight rain and constant drizzle forced the umpires to keep the team away from the ground, part of which remained covered dur-

ing the morning session.

When play finally resumed 35 minutes after lunch, Sri Lanka lost Kosala Kulasekara (seven) before declaring the innings at 1816, after 2.2 overs of batting.

The series highlighted Sri Lanka's batting frailties, especially in the first innings where they were bowled out for 197 and 239 in the first two Tests.

If not for Kumar Sangakkara's 516 runs in six innings at 86, Sri Lanka would have been hard pressed to save the two matches.

Pakistan can take consolation from the fact that they have not lost a single series since the spot-fixing and corruption scandal of last year which ended in jail terms for their former Test captain Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer.

Both teams will now start a five-match one-day series with the first game in Dubai on November 11. They will also play a Twenty20 in Abu Dhabi on November 25.

31

David Beckham turns coach for his sons David Beckham turned coach for his sons, giving tactical insight and instructions to them during soccer practice in Los Angeles. The 36-yearold enthusiastically gave Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz the benefit of his extensive experience on the pitch. Like any good coach, the LA Galaxy midfielder yelled instructions and also offered plenty of encouragement, high-fiving the youngsters after their performance. Earlier this week, Beckham had admitted that he fears that his kids' 'privileged upbringing' may wipe out their 'hunger' to achieve success and said that he was as hard on his sons as his own father was when it comes to soccer.

Boxer Frazier passes away

Joe Frazier, the relentless slugger who became the heavyweight champion of the world and earned boxing immortality with three epic battles against Muhammad Ali, died on Monday at 67, his personal manager said. "Smokin' Joe" Frazier, who was the first boxer to beat Ali, died in Philadelphia a month after being diagnosed with liver cancer. Leslie Wolff, Frazier's personal manager, confirmed his death. Frazier won the Olympic heavyweight boxing gold medal for the United States in 1964 in Tokyo and held the world heavyweight boxing crown from 1970 to 1973. He is eternally linked with Ali thanks to their trilogy of fights in the 1970s, among the most famous in the history of the sport. Frazier won the first and Ali took the next two. While both fighters were American blacks and Olympic gold medalists, their personalities could not have been more different. Ali was a charismatic self-promoter. Frazier was a proud, no-nonsense man who dropped out of school at the age of 13. Frazier won the world heavyweight title in 1970, knocking out champion Jimmy Ellis, after Ali had been stripped of the championship in 1967 for refusing to fight in the Vietnam War due to his Muslim beliefs.

Bangalore Midnight Marathon on Dec 10 The fifth edition of the Bangalore International Midnight Marathon (BIMM), the city's only public full-marathon, will begin on the night of December 10 at the EPIP area in Whitefield.

The event will comprise seven races, including a half-marathon and a 10 km run. Organizer Rotary Bangalore IT Corridor (RBITC) expects close to 300 entries for the full marathon (42.195 km) and 10,000 in all. Total prize money of approximately Rs 500,000 is on offer, though the event is conducted for charity.

NBA to build 100 basketball courts in India As part of its commitment to the development of the game in India, National Basketball Association (NBA) is aiming to build 100 courts across the country within the next five years and to increase the scope of the Mahindra NBA Challenge to 10 cities. "Our ultimate aim is to make basketball the number two sport in the country (after cricket). We are seeking to do that by making a sustainable grassroots program in a minimum of 10 cities in India. We are looking to do that through school-based platforms," senior director of development for NBA India, Akash Jain, said. "We are looking for partners to build infrastructure for the same and have a goal of building a 100 basketball courts in India over the next five years," he added.

Asked whether NBA India has inked a deal with anyone for building infrastructure in the country, he said, "Not at this point. We are exploring for the right strategic partners and for locations and (also finalising) on the type of courts that we need to build." Jain said another aim is to expand the Mahindra NBA Challenge to 10 cities in the next 3-4 years from the present five.

32

Another landmark for Sachin

Asian Voice - Saturday 12th November 2011

Cricket corruption spells Pakistan

By Premen Addy

World’s leading run scorer in tests and one-dayers Sachin Tendulkar passed 15,000 test runs as India closed in on a comfortable victory over West Indies in the first test at Ferozeshah Kotla Stadium on Tuesday. Sachin became the first to touch the new mark with a single off leg spinner Devendra Bishoo to move to 28 on his way to 33 not out at stumps on day three. Tendulkar raised his bat and looked towards the sky on reaching the landmark and was congratulated by batting partner Rahul Dravid and the West Indies players.

Tendulkar struck two fours during his 87ball knock, and with 124 more runs needed by the team, he's unlikely to achieve his 100th international century this week.

Mumbai cricketers get calling from New South Wales Mumbai cricketers and fans could be in for a treat. Australia’s top domestic side, New South Wales, which owns 45 Sheffield Shield titles, is keen to have a Twenty20 tourney against Mumbai every year, both on home and away basis.

New South Wales want the 39-time Ranji Trophy champions to tour Sydney.

Australia’s domestic giants also intend to travel to Mumbai the following year for a return series. The idea is to give a different exposure to their cricketers.

NSW and Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) are yet to finalise the dates. In all likelihood, the tournament will be organised somewhere between the end of September or early October. It will be scheduled in a way so as not to interfere with India’s cramped domestic calendar.

It learnt that the trophy will be named after former Australian captain Mark Taylor and Sachin Tendulkar. An MCA official said, “When Mumbai travel to Sydney they will play for Mark Taylor, while the Mumbai leg of the tournament will be called the Sachin Tendulkar Trophy. However, we are yet to get in touch with Tendulkar.”

MCA joint secretary Nitin Dalal said, “It will be a good opportunity for young Mumbai cricketers. We have got the proposal from NSW and we are considering it.” The last time Mumbai toured Australia was in 2000-01 for the Champions Cup, a one day tournament in Perth. Mumbai, led

by Samir Dighe, played Western Australia, KwaZulu Natal and Central Districts.

It would profit English pundits like Ian Botham and Andrew Strauss et al to stop their relentPakistan has been ill-starred less ICC bashing and look a little from birth, yet the causes of the more closely into the record of country's dire predicament lies their own officials, and at a furnot in heavenly bodies but in its ther remove, include the conduct leaders and political class. of their country's political leaderPakistan was a “criminal entership in this scrutiny. One is yet prise” from the moment it first drew breath on August 14, 1947, to hear a British media whisper wrote writer V S Naipaul after a about the mysterious death of visit to that benighted land.

Bob Woolmer, who played for Those with a Midas touch turn Kent and England and was coach most things into gold, others to the Pakistan Test side at the have the power to turn gold into time of his tragic demise in Mohammed Asif, Mohammed Amir & Salman Butt Kingston, Jamaica, during the dross – which is usually the case 20/Twenty World Cup. The local patholIn the 1950s, the Pakistani umpire with Pakistan, whose name translated is ogist, following an autopsy, pronounced Idris Beg became a synonym for cheat; in “Land of the Pure.” the deceased to have been strangled. The the 1980s his mantle fell on Shakoor Rana, Let us start by relating the story of powers that be in London and to whom the English captain Mike Gatting the black arts that have defiled the fair Washington, in anxious overdrive, had was forced to apologise for uttering cross name of cricket. It concerns match-fixing words at one of his more brazen decisions, and its sub-plot, 'spot-fixing', which the verdict reversed a week later courtesy on British prime minister Margaret involves bowling no-balls at pre-arranged an obliging Scotland Yard. Mrs Woolmer Thatcher's insistence. She feared that bad signals for legions of punters, near and was generously compensated and there feeling in Pakistan towards the West would far, desirous of filling their pockets, the matter ended. Pakistan's reputation whatever the means. was salvaged – at least for the time being. impede its war effort in Afghanistan Apropos of the present scandal, a against the Soviet Union.

Thanks to a sting operation by number of competing voices have made Pakistan has been afforded extraordireporters of the defunct ‘News of the their known feelings in no uncertain nary indulgence by British and American World,’ three Pakistani cricketers, capterms. Messrs Botham, Strauss and rulers. Keeping Islamabad on board (for tain Salman Butt and pacemen Boycott have taken the ICC to task for cricketing and non-cricketing reasons) Mohammed Asif and Mohammed Amir being a “toothless tiger.” Others such as would appear to be the highest form of have been found guilty by a London statecraft open to British and American court and sentenced to varying terms of Sir Ronnie Flanagan, the head of the policymakers. Terrorism has cast imprisonment, together with their manICC's anti-corruption unit and once a Pakistan beyond the pale as pussible ager Mahzar Majeed, the villain captured distinguished member of the UK police cricketing host, the Gulf sheikhdoms as on camera negotiating the deal. establishment, has said the recent misdeOnce again Pakistan is the spotlight – meanours represented a mere fraction of stakeholders of the Arab Spring have once again for the wrong reasons. the cricket community; that things, more provided alternative venues for Pakistan or less, were under control. His predeat an international level, the arrangement Cheating is a living thing in the country. cessor at the ICC, Lord Condon, a former enthusiastically endorsed by the English The rich and mega-rich cheat their less head of Scotland Yard, said he was in and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). There fortunate compatriots and the national favour of excluding nations and cricket are other signs of pro-Pakistan bias. exchequer through tax avoidance, with International Cricket Council President others of the elite engaged in diverse boards from the international arena if Haroon Lorgat tells how he had warned forms of innovative crime. But Pakistani they had transgressed through complathe ECB against employing former leaders and the public at large never tire cency, complicity or neglect; he suggestPakistan Test star Mushtaq Ahmed as of airing a multitude of grievances ed an audit of players' finances to see if spin bowling coach because of the conagainst all and sundry, from America and there was excessive, unexplained wealth India, apostate hobgoblins and kaffirs of that was unlikely to have come from the demnation of him by Pakistan's Justice game. This line of inquiry is worth Qayyum in his report on match-fixing every hue and stripe for the nation's exploring. involving Pakistan ten years ago. many ills.

Pakistan to provide legal aid to jailed cricketers Pakistan's Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said that the government would provide legal aid to the jailed cricketers involved in last year's spot fixing scandal.

Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt was handed a 30-month sentence, Mohammad Asif 12, Mohammad Amir six and their agent Mazhar Majeed 32

months respectively for their roles in fixing part of the Lord's Test against England last year.

The government led by president Asif Ali Zardari, who is also a patron of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), is giving the case his full consideration.

"During a high-level meeting last week Zardari directed

the PCB to submit a report which should include recommendations on how to avoid a repeat of such incidents," The Dawn quoted Malik, as saying.

"The government would consider bringing the three players home. We have also requested Pakistan's High Commissioner to the UK, Wajid Shamsul Hassan, to provide necessary legal aid to

them and he has been asked to submit a report," he added.

Malik, who said the players could still be innocent, termed the whole episode "unfortunate."

"It's unfortunate what happened, the government will form a commission to investigate the matter thoroughly and the players will not be left alone," he added.