AV 16th November 2013

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Prince Charles charms Indians by using Hindi words

See Page -26 VOL 42. ISSUE 28

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David Cameron and wife Samantha celebrate Diwali at Neasden Temple

Rupanjana Dutta

Full story on page 8

India’s Mars mission back on track after engine glitch

See Page 26

The Coalition government in Britain has finally realised the absurdity of their £3000 cash bond proposal for visitors from certain Asian and African countries who they branded as 'high risk', which took the immigrant community by sheer disgust.

With a backlog of around 430,000 abandoned case files in the Home Office, such irrational and doubtful behaviour by the government towards a community that has contributed immensely to the British Society, this proposal when announced, came as an utter shock.

However in a final victory for India and other affected countries in Africa and Asia, Britain has decided to abandon their plan to impose this bond.

India, which was one of the countries targeted with the bond, had lodged a strong and prolonged campaign against the project at the highest level of the government in UK.

The scheme if introduced would have been applicable to visitors from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nigeria and Ghana.

The bond was to deter

Story on page 5

Theresa May

over stayers as part of the government's intention to reduce the number of immigrants to less than 100,000 per year.

Continued on page 13

PM Cameron to visit India again

CM Mamata Banerjee

First ever British Prime Minister to visit Kolkata during his official tour

Full report on page 2

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www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 16th November2013

Keith Vazwith MP

Keith Vaz MP

Radhe Jaggi

about your current role?

Dancing! I get to work on pieces and make it my own. Even when it’s a prechoreographed piece it becomes my own when I perform. I don’t have a 9-5 job. I work at my dancing to varying levels based on how I am on that day at that time.

Having said that, if I don’t put in at least three-four hours a day it will show immediately in my performances.

Radhe Jaggi is a Bharatanatyam Dancer who was introduced to the art form by her mother at an early age. She underwent rigorous training at Kalakshetra Foundation, under reputed Gurus. Radhe is currently continuing her training under Nirmala Nagaraj also of Kalakshetra, all along Guided by Padmashree Leela Samson. She recently received the title of "Natya Kalai Arasi" from the Tamil Isai Sangam.

Radhe has performed extensively throughout Tamil Nadu as well as in Bhopal, Bangalore and other places outside the state. She toured the USA for the first time in June 2012 as part of the Isha Utsav festivities. She travelled to Korea as part of an InKo Centre initiative with the performance theatre group "Tuida", which culminated at the end of three weeks to a performance at the Gwanju Art Festival.

1) Please tell me about your current position?

I am a professional Bharatanatyam Dancer. I perform most of the time, I also conduct workshops for children as well as adults introducing them to the dance form.

2) What are your proudest achievements?

My career is still developing so every new event, festival or place that I am invited to becomes my greatest achievement! I was recently invited to Cambridge University to perform. As well as the House of Commons. Both of them were a really big deal for me!

3) What inspires you?

People in different situations react differently. It’s very interesting to observe the way people function and adapt that to my performance. I read a lot and that adds to the performance in a similar way.

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

There are so many dancers in India who perform the same style as I do. The competition is so high! So far getting my name out there and being recognised for the work that I do as being different from everyone else has been the

hardest part.

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

My father. My father has been the biggest influence in my life.

He’s definitely influenced my style of dancing as well. The training in yoga that I have had adds to my performance and I owe that to him!

7) And the worst?

It’s a lot of constant hard work!

You can’t master something and leave it at that. You have to go back and go over it every so often, keep practicing so that it stays a part of your system. I practice even when I’m on holiday!

establish themselves as performers. I want to start a school where artists will teach the younger generation and in turn the school will promote them as artists, give them access and opportunities to perform in different places. A sort of give and take system.

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

Education. I feel that education is unfortunately focused on getting a job. It’s a very small section of society that has access to learning for the sake of learning. I also think that if children are groomed to think for themselves without only thinking of the pressure of a job, we will have more intelligent human beings which will in turn fix a lot of problems we face in the world today. It’s a long term investment that’s completely worth it.

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

Mark Twain. From his books and his life story you know that he had incredible insight into the way people think and react.

He would also be wonderfully entertaining!

PM Cameron to visit India again 6) What is the best aspect

Kamal Rao Rupanjana Dutta

The British Prime Minister David Cameron will be making his third visit to India (in the last 2 years) on 14th November, and is scheduled to meet the Indian PM Manmohan Singh to discuss key bilateral and regional issues.

This visit to India comes before he heads to Sri Lanka to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) on November 15-16.

According to sources, Mr Cameron will also be visiting Kolkata to briefly meet Smt Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Minister of West Bengal.

The West Bengal state government is however keeping this meeting confidential, but the Times of India has revealed that Cameron's visit has been cleared by the PMO. Critics have commented

year.

Sources have revealed that Cameron would be accompanied by a 20member delegation to explore business opportunities in the state. One of the key meeting grounds is Mamata's ultimate dream to develop Kolkata as London's twin city, with beautification of the Hooghly riverfront as the

core of the theme.

The British government's DFID is reportedly helping the Bengal government with funds to restructure the power sector and the ailing public sector enterprises, including state transport corporations. DFID is also funding the Poorest Areas Civil Society (PACS) programme.

This comes as a big news to the people of Kolkata, as no British PM has ever visited Kolkata during their official tours to India.

Sources have revealed that this is the first of several such high profile meetings which have been facilitated by the State Finance Minister Amit Mitra, a former secretary general of the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), who visited London in 2012, during the World Travel Market exhibition at London Excel. He has also been

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PM David Cameron & Kamal Rao

that Britain attaches to Mamata as a powerful Indian politician and the diplomats are apparently banking on Mamata to open the doors to the much talked about 'New Silk Road' to connect East, South and Central Asia.

This was also the crux of US secretary of state Hillary Clinton's meeting with Mamata in May last

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8) What are your long term goals?

It’s difficult for dancers to

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reported to have met Cameron's cabinet members in Britain to discuss bilateral relations between Bengal and the UK. Cameron is also scheduled to spend around an hour with students of IIMCalcutta. Bengal industry heavyweights have reportedly been invited to IIM for the interactive session.

During an exclusive interview with the Asian Voice during his visit to BAPS Swaminarayan Temple on Diwali, Mr Cameron told us that this visit to India is purely meant to emphasise Britain's huge commitment towards India. He said, Britain is the third largest investor in India and India invests more in Britain than in the rest of Europe.

During the interview, the Prime Minister confirmed that he would definitely be meeting PM Singh, who 'he is very close to' and would not be getting a chance to meet

the Leader of the Indian opposition party or Gujarat Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modi, during this upcoming visit.

However despite of Mr Cameron's repeated visits to India in the last 2 years, Singh has not yet made a reciprocal visit to the UK, since Cameron government has taken over.

The Indian Prime Minister had last visited the UK in 2007, when Tony Blair was the British Prime Minister.

During the exclusive interview with Asian Voice the PM also spoke about the importance of multiculturalism and the British big society. He said that there is always something to learn from each other, whenever you look at a different religion other than yours. He emphasised that the Hindus have contributed immensely to the British Big Society in various areas including charities, businesses and professions.

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www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 16th November2013

COMMENT

Stop appeasing dictators

The British empire was transformed as the British Commonwealth with the Queen as the Head. Certain core values were decided. India, a Republic played a very pivotal role through Prime Minister Pandit Nehru for the historic transformation.

53 countries are members of the Commonwealth and almost all the countries are committed to democratic ways of government, human rights and equalities.

In the case of South Africa, Fiji, Pakistan and Rhodesia and some other delicate issues, the intervention of the Commonwealth played a very vital role.

English as a language has proved to be of great assistance and the British values of good governance, tolerance and fair play are pivotal. It is in the light of such an illustrious pedigree that one would have expected UK to take more active role in the affairs of Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka became independent in 1948. The Tamils felt marginalised and became victims of a majority rule government. The worst thing was the atrocities committed by the Tamil Tigers (LTTE). It is of no use to look back at the grievances. But yes a lot of blood was shed.

The 29 years of conflict ended in 2009 and President Mahinda Rajapaksa's victory was described as 'unwarrantedly blood thirsty'.

Upto 75,000 people have been reportedly killed so far, as per the UN. Navi Pillay, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights recently said that the country is becoming increasingly authoritarian. Army presence in nationwide locations of Sri Lanka and intimidation have created anxiety and fear amongst the minority Tamil population.

We have been to Sri Lanka and spoken to Sinhalese people. They are generally peace loving as per their Buddhist traditions and are also very concerned that the Tamils are targeted by this family run government, especially the machinery of army and security services.

The forthcoming CHOGM has already raised eyebrows. Stephen Harper, the Canadian Prime Minister has already notified that he will not attend. Her Majesty the Queen, first time ever, would not attend and Prince Charles is representing her. The Queen's health is possibly an excuse. It's perhaps her unique way of expressing her concerns about the situation of Sri Lanka, which does not follow the usual norms of a

Commonwealth Nation.

PM Manmohan Singh has also decided not to go, perhaps partly due to some domestic reasons. The British Prime Minister David Cameron need not go all the way to Colombo to demand independent investigation about atrocities committed by the Rajapaksa regime in the end of 2008-09 and subsequently.

PM Cameron of all the people should know that the Rajapaksa government has been provided with a public relation gift, which all dictators cherish.

Cameron by not going to Colombo can give more value and weight to his own demands of restoring Human Rights in Sri Lanka.

Editors Guild of Sri Lankan Newspapers are also very worried about the draconian reforms to the press regulations in Sri Lanka. Dictators and people of such an ilk are ought to be challenged. Appeasement is not an option.

The Chinese interest in Sri Lanka need not refrain India or Britain from taking a stern view of the happenings in Sri Lanka, not necessarily because of the Tamil minorities, but because Britain as a democracy can and should not tolerate such undemocratic blood thirsty rulers in any Commonwealth country.

The voyage of India’s Orbiter Mission to Mars has taken its first great leap with the take-off on the afternoon of November 5. The satellite having separated from its PSLV rocket is now circling the earth and will take the second major step when it begins to move away from the earth’s gravity, at the end of November, to commence the 300-day journey to the Red Planet, which is scheduled to conclude in September 2014. It has already been raised thrice to a higher orbit. Barring the unforeseen, this momentous venture, with its colossal scientific and technological challenges, bids fair to make India the first Asian country – Japanese and Chinese attempts being unsuccessful - to accomplish the feat, and the fourth after the United States, Russia and the European Space agency to have done so. To have completed preparations for the launch in only 15 months was, in the words of a Chinese blogger, “nothing short of a miracle.”

The cost of the venture was Rs 450 crore or $100 million. India’s space projects have involved an expenditure of $75 billion, one-tenth of America’s $750 billion. Furthermore, India’s space

programme has brought a treasure trove of social, educational and economic benefits for the population at large. One recent example was the satellite tracking of Cyclone Phailin which saved thousands of lives in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. Curiously, almost every Indian scientific or technological achievement is invariably greeted with handwringing and breast-beating and a farrago of insults, sneers and malicious comment in the West generally, and in Britain, in particular. A BBC TV newscaster on its international channel asked his Indian colleague in Delhi why a country “so corrupt, with a falling rupee and an inability feed its people” should be so profligate with its financial resources.

The Corporation’s Man Friday in the Indian capital appeared shell-shocked at the racial taunt, but rode its viciousness with a cool, dignified and factual explanation, during which he patiently explained the reasons for the overwhelming public support for the country’s space projects. Indian poverty has always been a popular talking point in the UK and US, but poverty alleviation measures rarely attract similar attention. It’s clearly a state of mind, India,

apparently, being a land inhabited by the lesser breeds without the law, is suitable for charitable NGOs, a salve for the disturbed Herrenvolk consciences and reassuring condescension. British tabloids keep telling their readers that India lives off British aid.

The BBC was also at pains to stress that India was in a space race with China, which both Indian and Chinese officialdom were equally quick to refute. Mischief-making is a finely-tuned art in Broadcasting House in London. Whatever the malignity of disappointed humanity, the facts on the ground relay India’s continuing overall progress, warts and all, especially in science and technology. The country’s future will be fashioned by its endeavours in these fields. They have a permanence that politics by itself cannot hope to emulate. The scientific temper liberates Indian minds from encrusted superstitions, including the power and authority of false divinities. India’s Orbiter Mars Mission has done its people proud, the pride not be confused with conceit. India is girded to surprise herself and the world in the coming decades.

The BBC coverage on India’s Mars venture may have left a sour taste in the mouth but Prime Minister David Cameron’s inspiring address to a Diwali audience at his residence provided a positive spin to the Indo-British relationship, as did the visit of Prince Charles and his wife Camilla to Rishikesh, a popular Hindu pilgrimage site on the Ganga, where the Royal couple participated in the ceremonies. All three bought a welcome sense of optimism that properly tended can make the Indo-British relationship the most productive in its history. Mr Cameron pointed to the scale of Indian investment in the UK, which he said, was greater than all the European countries put together. The UK, for its part, is among the top three investors in India. Beyond economics, there were, he proclaimed, cultural and educational ties between the UK and India, highlighted by Indian

students wishing to pursue their higher studies at British universities. Mr Cameron referred to the Ramayna, saying that he was struck by the common values at the core of Hinduism and those that defined British sensibility and moral conscience. He spoke of his forthcoming visit to India, his third since he assumed power over three years ago. His visit promises to go off well, especially as the British government has decided to put aside the ill-conceived scheme to impose a visa bond for ‘high risk’ Indian visitors who were thought likely to melt into the population and become permanent residents in the UK. This was both a contentious measure and one that would have turn out to be counter-productive, from which neither Britain nor India stood to gain.

With the projected measure firmly shelved Mr Cameron can now turn his attention to matters of

moment.

Right at the top of his list should be the dwindling numbers of Indian students coming to the UK for post-graduate studies. Between 2010-11 and 2011-12 there was a 25 per cent decline in numbers. This trend must be addressed at either end and the traditional flow restored. Clearly, the controversy engendered by the visa bond scheme hasn’t helped, with Indian students looking to the US and Australia as more welcoming destinations. Lost ground here must be regained.

Thereafter, trade, investment and scientific cooperation should be at the forefront of Indo-British endeavours. Mr Cameron’s talks in Delhi with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and senior Indian ministers on a range of subjects that are of common interest should bear fruit. There is much that is at stake here.

Swaminathan Anklesaria Aiyer is no government stooge and never has been. He is one of India’s most robust and independent columnists, whose trademark has been, and continues to be, verifiable facts sustained by carefully scrutinized statistics, followed by responsible comment that invite public cogitation and discussion. Mr Aiyer poses the question: “During the period of fast economic growth in the 2000s, how did poor minorities [in India] fare?” His response was encouraging : “Some heartening answers have been provided in a Columbia University paper by (economists) Panagariya and More. Poverty has declined much faster for dalits and tribals than for upper castes or the overall population. And it has declined faster for Muslims than for Hindus or the national average…..This represents very substantial progress in poverty reduction.” In the period between 2004-2011,

the poverty ratio in India fell by 15.7 per cent; the figure for dalits was 21.5 per cent and 17 per cent for tribals, contrasting favourably with the 10.5 per cent for upper caste Hindus. In the earlier decade, 1993-94, 2004-05 the comparable figures for dalits and tribals were, 9.6 per cent and 7 per cent respectively. Mr Aiyer continues: “In as many as 12 states, the poverty level was actually lower than the national average.

This is an astonishing achievement….. that shows the caste gap is closing fast.” In the northern Hindi-speaking belt dalits and tribals were doing moderately well, but in southern and western India, dalit poverty had fallen dramatically, with Kerala and Tamil outperforming the entire field.

Muslims had kept pace with this trend. Their poverty level had declined by 18.2 per cent in the past seven years, faster than the 15.6 per cent for Hindus;

and although the absolute level of Muslim poverty still remained higher, the gap between the two communities has been halved. However, Muslim literacy rates are substantially lower than those for Hindus, primarily because of the serious deficit in school enrollment of Muslim girls. Panagariya and More, having examined the urban-rural divide, reveal that the ration Muslim poverty is lowest of all in Gujarat at 7.7 per cent. In the state’s urban areas, Muslim poverty is higher. India’s overall poverty is lowest among Jains, Sikhs and Christians. Why is this is so? Possibly because they are essentially reformative societies.

Mr Aiyer concurs with Panasgariya and More, that the high economic growth of 2004-11 was the likely cause of this rapid poverty decline. Conclusion: growth, not government handouts is the quickest way out of the poverty trap.

India’s historic Mission to Mars

Cameron’s uplifting words on Indo-British ties

Good news on poverty alleviation

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MIDLANDS VOICE

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 16th November2013

Brave mother fights off gunman in newsagents

Manchester: A brave woman's 'mother's instinct' was switched on after she fought off a hooded robber who pointed a shotgun at her seven-year-old daughter in their family-owned newsagents.

35-year-old Ranvir Bassi, pictured and seven-year-old daughter Sattpreet were in the stock room when the gunman burst in, pointing the 2ft weapon through the doors, shortly after 8.20pm on Monday 4th November.

Thrusting a yellow carrier bag towards Mrs Bassi he demanded money from the till. But instead of handing over the family's hard earned takings, Mrs Bassi lunged towards the man, grabbing the barrel of the gun as she chased him when he turned and made his escape.

The raid was captured on CCTV footage, released on Thursday 7th November as police officers investigating the attempted robbery appeal for help to identify the perpetrator.

She said: 'It was just horrific. I was shutting down the shop and he just burst in waving the gun around. I really

don't know why I did it, but I guess my mother's instinct took over, my daughter Sattreet was hiding and I just grabbed the gun. He had shouted at me to give him the money and I just shouted "no, get out of my shop" and started shoving him. I must have startled him because he turned and ran out of the shop. He just picked the wrong day to mess with me - I wasn't having him take my hard earned cash. I'm OK now but my daughter it still having nightmares - she hasn't slept properly since.'

Police are appealing for help to track down the man, who was wearing dark trousers, a dark hoodie and black Nike gloves. They said the suspect is a white male, around 5ft 9in and of medium build.

Sikh student's 'bright future' destroyed after gang raid on couple's home

Manchester: A 23 year old, Bradford University student's dreams have been crushed after he was found guilty of aggravated burglary and was jailed for sevenand-a-half years. Gurinder Ranshi was in his second year of Optometry when he was caught by police raiding a couple's home with a masked gang.

The former private schoolboy watched the gang beat the man with a metal bar as the victim's girlfriend watched in horror. Ranshi then helped another man

optician, had never been ransack the house. in trouble with police When police before. He grew up in arrived at the a comfortable house in Hyde, detached home in Sale G r e a t e r M a n c h e s t e r, and was a pupil at Ranshi tried to William Hulme’s flee by leaping Grammar School. from an He denied upstairs winany wrongdoing dow, said and said he was prosecutor forced to commit Gurinder Ranshi A d a m the burglary by Lodge. But he fractured his other men, but was found spine as he landed and was guilty after a trial at arrested.

Manchester’s Minshull Ranshi, a charity worker Street Crown Court. whose father Mita is an Judge Mushtaq Khokhar

Rising stars at Rathbone

Director, Adults and Communities, Birmingham City Council. Earlier this month the charity announced its official partnership with the Institute of Asian Businesses, part of Birmingham Chamber.

Birmingham Rathbone is a charity that supports people with mild to moderate learning difficulties within Birmingham and Solihull, to reach their full potential.

To find out more visit www.rathbone.co.uk

Leicester: Businessman Kulvinder S. Sethi, also known to many as Vic Sethi, was awarded the impressive title of “Business and Humanitarian Entrepreneur of the Year 2013” in the British Parliament on Friday 25th October.

Vic Sethi was recognised for his family business success along with his contribution which he makes to the community globally and his multi-cultural values.

The award was presented by Lord Sheikh to Vic Sethi along with Rt Hon Virendra Sarma.

Among the guests present were Lord Karan Bilimoria (the founder and the chairman of the Cobra Beer) and Lord Navnit Dholakia, as well as members of the House of Commons, members of the House of Lords, Entrepreneurs and many more.

Vic said “It is a great honour to receive such an prestigious award in the Palaces of

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Popular Indian restaurant closes after diners fall ill

Leicester: The 5-star South Indian restaurant Kayal in Granby Street, Leicester, was forced to temporarily shut down as 19 people reported feeling ill after dining at the restaurant, over a two-week period.

Restaurant owner Jaimon Thomas said the group, which consisted of council officers, visited Kayal on the weekend of November 2, and four became ill.

He said: "It was unlucky that we had the council in, and that it included health inspectors, but we would be concerned if anyone reported feeling ill. We've been open since 2008 and this is the first time we've had any problems with people getting sick.” Samples of food were taken away for analysis and an investigation is under way.

and Kuwait and all the family without who’s support this would have not have been possible, a big congratulations to all the team of Anand International and Daewoo International (Europe) for this achievement. This award belongs to all the people who I have mentioned and I am honoured to collect it on their behalf.”

Rt Hon MP Virendra Sharma, Vic Sethi and Vic is also a chief Lord Sheikh patron of the charity Westminster Rt Hon MP Crimestopper’s and sits on the Virendra Sharma, Vic Sethi and board. He has been on the board Lord Sheikh and I would like to of the Prince’s Trust and still is thank the IBBF, its managepassionate about them and supment, the judges and the people ports them. Vic was also listed who have nominated me for this in the “Leicester’s Most award. I would like to congratuInfluential People” by Leicester late my proud parents in the UK Mercury.

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Leicester:The Amenity Forum’s annual conference in Leicester last week attracted around 180 delegates.

Almost 45 organisations are signed up to the Forum and its vision and mission have been endorsed by Lord de Mauley, Under Secretary of State at DEFRA. It seeks to promote best practice and drive up standards throughout the sector which includes street cleaning, parks, sports pitch maintenance and much more. The Forum’s Chairman, Professor John Moverley OBE, pictured, said he was pleased to see representation from most parts of the sector, but accepted there was still much to be done, particularly on increasing engagement with people and organisations representing and working with ethnic minority communities.

The Amenity Forum is an independent body for professional organisations involved in the amenity horticulture sector. To find out more visit www.amenityforum.co.uk

Leicester businessman honoured with Business and Humanitarian Entrepreneur of the Year 2013 Award

Photo courtesy: Vikesh Mistry

Peter Hay, centre, with clients

Birmingham: Service users of Birmingham Rathbone showcased on stage their skill and talent as part of the charity’s AGM last Monday. Acts included the story of Blackpool, and Stars in their Eyes, a series of short karaoke presentations. The charity’s own football team were introduced by Sarfraz Ahmed. The evening also featured an awards presentation, led by CEO Chris Bates and guest of honour Peter Hay, Strategic

told Ranshi: 'I still find it difficult as to why you would become involved in something like this, with the parents you have. In the course of one night you have thrown away all that you have worked for in two years of university education.'

Two other men involved in the raid in January 2012 were also jailed. Joseph Duffy, 30, of Offerton, who attacked the householder while the others searched for cash, was jailed for seven years.

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UK

PM Cameron joins community to celebrate Diwali and Hindu New Year at Neasden Temple

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 16th November2013

The Prime Minister David Cameron and his wife Samantha Cameron accompanied thousands of devotees at the Neasden Temple to celebrate the Hindu New Year on the afternoon of Monday 4 November.

His first visit as Prime Minister, Mr Cameron was welcomed at the ceremonial gates by Jitu Patel, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, and Satyavrat Swami (Head Priest) who greeted him in traditional Indian manner with auspicious marks of welcome and goodwill. Mrs Cameron was greeted by Rena Amin, lead volunteer of BAPS Women’s Forum.

Proceedings began with a ritual bathing of a metallic image of Bhagwan Swaminarayan, followed by a visit to the sanctum sanctorum where the PM and his wife offered a basket of fruit at the central shrine.

After admiring the beautiful architecture and peace of the mandir, the couple entered the main prayer hall where they performed the Aarti lights ritual in front of the Annakut – the wall of food inside. Adressing the large crowd of 2,000 people in the hall, the Prime Minister said they “were delighted to be here with you today.”

5

Mr Cameron was garlanded by Ghanshyamcharan Swami (senior sadhu visiting from India), and Mrs Cameron was similarly garlanded by Pooja Patel (youth member of BAPS Women’s Forum).

After greeting the large crowd, the PM expressed his wish that the British Indian community would continue to “help strengthen our relationship with India” and “become ever more involved in shaping the life of our country”. He then went on to congratulate the British Indian community by saying, “I see what the BritishIndian community has given to our country. The entrepreneurs who have enriched us, the artists who’ve inspired us, the sportsman who’ve entertained us, doctors who’ve helped us and, of course, the fantastic cooks who today have so admirably fed us.

Your contribution throughout this country shines out.”

He concluded his visit by wishing the audience a happy new year: "From the bottom of my heart, I'd like to wish everyone here - and all Hindus throughout Britain - a very Happy Diwali and a prosperous new year. Jai Swami Narayan."

Famous 'Charkha' used by Gandhi sold for £110,000 PM Cameron being shown the annakut offerings

PM Cameron and Samantha admiring the beautiful architecture inside the mandir

The famous spinning wheel 'Charkha', which Mahatma Gandhi used in Yerwada Jail during the 'Quit India Movement' has been sold at an auction in the UK for a staggering 110,000 pounds. Gandhi's final will was also sold for 20,000 pounds at a specialist sale of historical documents and artefacts by the Mullock's Auction house in Shropshire. with a minimum bid of 60,000 pounds, The charkha was used by Gandhi while he was in the prison in Pune and was later given to the American Free Methodist missionary Revd Floyd A Puffer as a gift. Puffer

was a pioneer in Indian educational and industrial cooperatives. Gandhi presented the charkha to Puffer for his work in Colonial India, especially for his invention of a bamboo plow.

Ahead of the auction, Mullock's specialist Richard Westwood-Brookes said, "This would have been one of Gandhi's most prized possessions as he devised the workings of it himself. The charkha was used by him in Yerwada Jail whilst fighting for the rights and independence of India. It has impeccable provenance and is unquestionably the most important Gandhi artifact we have ever had for sale."

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Gandhi spent many years in Yerwada Jail during India's freedom struggle in 1932 and later in 1942 during the Quit India movement along with many other freedom fighters.

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www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 16th November2013

As I See It

The Great Britain need not be so ungrateful The world stood still at 11.00 am on 11th November in Great Britain to commemorate the Remembrance Day. Up and down the country, soldiers and civilians in their thousands stood up in silence to pay homage to those fallen fellows for the freedom of Great Britain.

We have seen the pictures of her majesty the Queen, her husband Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh and Prince Harry felt moved by their facial expressions. Those who died on the foreign fields, after all for a foreign government, especially from India and other colonies of erstwhile empire seemed to have been totally forgotten by the British media. This is very sad and painful.

Her Majesty the Queen, laying the poppy wreath to commemorate Remembrance Day

whose fathers and grand fathers have paid the price with their own blood for the freedom of the British Islands.

Amongst all the soldiers from different communities of India, the Gurakhas have been the bravest, perhaps bravest of the braves. For over 200 years generations of Gurakhas have shed their blood for the British ‘Taj’ (Crown). Right now near the gate of Downing Street some Gurakha veterans are on hunger strike for equal pension rights. Amount that they are demanding would be very small, per-

Prince Philip salutes at a Remembrance Day ceremony in Ypres, Belgium

Soldiers from the Caribbean countries, Africa and particularly from the undivided India in huge numbers took part on behalf of Britain and gave their lives so that Great Britain remains great.

In the First World War over 1.5 million Indians fought for Britain. In trenches at the mud drenched battlefields of Belgium 300,000 soldiers sacrificed their lives. Several thousands of those martyrs were from India, the undivided India.

In the Second World War 2.5 million Indians joined the fighting force (Army, Navy and Air-force) and 1.7 million also joined other activities connected with the armed forces. The Indian Treasury lent the British exchequer some 800 million pounds (of that time) to sustain the war efforts.

The British ought to remember the huge sacrifice of the Indians and other subjugated nations. The BBC, the British media and the political leaders ought to remember and remind the present generation that many thousands of British Indians who are here

haps nominal in terms of the government’s budget but let’s not forget that the forefathers of these Gurakhas have paid hugely with their blood and lives.

I was very impressed last week at the annual Diwali celebrations of the Punjabi Society of the British Isles. I was moved when the chairman Mr. Remi Ranger announced and presented a cheque of £ 5000 to the Combat Stress charity which is doing a sterling work for those soldiers who suffer stress from injuries in the aftermath of war.

Lord Popat in his special article in our Diwali 2013 magazine has raised very valid point about the Hindu and British Indian charities that lack in transparency of the funding and with their elections. Any charitable cause dependent on public donations or contributions ought to ensure that the money is used efficiently. In the discharge of the duties of the aims and objective of the charity, accounts are properly and regularly published.

Besides, entire process needs to be transparent.

London Mayor Boris Johnson has

recently called for the disclosures of the tax returns of the MPs and others in public service. It’s a very important statement. Those who are funded by the people ought to divulge all the information at the earliest with properly audited accounts to retain trust of donors and general public.

Within the British Asian communities individuals who claim to engage in several activities ‘to serve honorable causes, raise money and are not forthcoming to give income and expenditure for public perusal, there is no excuse for such a behavior.

We need to nurture our roots.

During Diwali celebrations, right from Prime Minister downwards, speakers gave glowing tributes for the contribution of British Indians in various walks of life. Such words are indeed music to our ears but in our heart of hearts we are waiting for the performance to follow the praise. Whether Sri Lanka immigration, terrorism in India and several other issues, the British government and establishment can ensue hard

and do more actions to resonate with its own values.

Huge number of Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists attended various Diwali events up and down the country.

They were young and not so old.

Everyone from Royal family downwards praise our community for its high achievers and its law abiding citizens.

Let us also remember, such positive virtues stem from our cultural roots, heritage and the unique identity which

Prince Harry laying a poppy wreath on Remembrance Day

Lack of transparency in some Hindu and British Indian charities

Indian culture and values are worth support and acknowledgement

Britain appoints new diplomat to improve bi-lateral relations between Iran and Britain Britain's new Charge d'Affaires to Iran is expected to visit the country later this month to improve bilateral relations between the two countries. Mr Ajay Sharma, previously head of the Foreign Office's Iran department, has been appointed to the non-resident post.

It comes after the UK and Iran agreed to renew direct diplomatic links during talks over the state's nuclear ambitions in Geneva last month.

Sharma will take up his appointment immediately.

Sharma’s appointment will enable the UK to have

more detailed and regular discussions with Iran on a range of issues, including conditions under which the Embassies could eventually be reopened. He will be based in the UK but will travel regularly to Iran.

Sharma has significant experience of Iran and the region. He is currently Head of Iran Department at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and served previously as Deputy Head of Mission in Tehran.

On his appointment,

Ajay Sharma said: “I am delighted to take up this appointment at this important time in the UK’s relations with Iran.

I am very much looking forward to renewing direct UK contact with the Iranian Government and society.

This is very much in the interests of both our countries. I hope to make my first visit to Tehran as nonresident Chargé later this month.”

He has been the Deputy Head of Mission in Paris and Tehran before this.

Dr Rami Ranger MBE has decided to take the House of Lords Appointment Commission to court for not disclosing adverse information held on him. The HOLAC has received two unsolicited letters containing adverse information regarding Dr Ranger, which he believes may have hindered his chances of becoming an independent Peer.

The HOLAC refuses to

disclose the information to Dr Ranger claiming that it has the right to withhold information under the data protection law. Dr Ranger’s argument is that this is most unfair in a democracy where culprits have more rights to protection than the victims where information is concerned.

He requires this information in order for him to clear his name.

Do you feel Dr Ranger should have the right to know who wrote the letters and what information they contain or not?

Let us know what you feel via email at aveditorial@abplgroup.com.

Demonstrators gathered outside the United Arab Emirates on Monday afternoon and presented a petition in support of a man who allegedly wrongly imprisoned and sentenced to death in Abu Dhabi.

Mr Gangadharan is from Kerala and fellow compatriots from his home state and across India have expressed their outrage.

An online petition has been signed by nearly 3,000 people from all over the world, and new signatures are being added at the rate of about one a minute. The campaign to save Mr Gangadharan is gathering momentum, particularly across India.

The petition to the President of the United Arab Emirates, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to the United

Kingdom, His Excellency Abdulrahman Ghanem Almutaiwee, and the Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to India, His Excellency Mohamed Sultan Abdalla Al-Owais says, "We respectfully bring to your attention the tragic case of Ezhur Kalarikkal Gangadharan.

Mr Gangadharan has served the UAE loyally and blamelessly for the 32 years he has worked in Al Rabeeh School in Abu Dhabi.

He has been sentenced to death on a terrible charge of rape. He was beaten and degraded in prison, including being denied food and drinking water for three days.

Mr Gangadharan pleaded innocent at his trial in the First Court and will do so at his appeal hearing.

There appear to have been issues that prevented him from having a fair trial, not least because his court appointed interpreter spoke Hindi and not Mr

Gangadharan’s first language of Malayalam. We understand that DNA evidence showing that neither Mr Gangadharan nor any of his fellow workers at the school committed this foul act was not given in court.

We humbly request that you investigate this case and send Mr Gangadharan home to his family in India as soon as it is possible to do so.”

Mr Gangadharan’s brother, Haridas, describes him as a “very gentle, quiet and innocent guy” who was known for “working for the Indian community in the social centre in Abu Dhabi”. He needs to go home to his family.

Over the past year there have been numerous allegations that prisoners in the UAE have been tortured in order to extract confessions.

75% of prisoners at Dubai Central Prison claim to have been physically abused.

The Appeal Court in Abu Dhabi has postponed the hearing for one week.

Entrepreneur Dr. Rami Ranger MBE takes the House of Lords Commission to Court for withholding information

Demonstration held outside the Embassy of UAE to free Indian death row convict

worth preserving and nurturing.

The British establishment should also remember that for the next generation and its successions, Indian culture and values are worth supporting, acknowledging.

Finally let me reproduce a letter from the Financial Times dated 7th November Nothing novel about Indian rockets From Prof Alok Bhargava.

Sir, The editorial “From the Red Fort to the Red Planet” (November 5) lacked historical perspective about the Indian ability for developing rockets.

From 1780, rudimentary rockets of

Tipu Sultan of Mysore terrified British East India Company troops, and Sir William Congreve reverse engineered them to create more lethal versions by 1805.

Lord Byron observed the ironic contrast between the development of rockets and smallpox vaccinations: But vaccination certainly has been.

A Kind of antithesis to Congreve’s rockets, With which the Doctor paid off an old pox, By borrowing a new one from an ox.

Alok Bhargava, University of Maryland, US - CB

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 16th November2013

Strengthening the foundations of tomorrow's world!

How Shishukunj instils positive values into our children

UK

British Asian Singer Navin Kundra Performs For Royals at St James’s Palace

7

Baalako bowing down to the Dhwaj, the Shishukunj flag. It is the highest point in Shishukunj, reinforcing the concept of equality amongst our baalako and Karyakars

Raj Mistry

Child is the father of man which in simple terms means that today's children are tomorrow's future.

A child's development depends on the environment. An environment that is rich in positive values and develops children physically, mentally, spiritually and culturally provides a foundation of decency and a moral compass with which those future adults approach daaily life.

Shishukunj exists in London and around the world for the very purpose of encouraging children from the age of five onwards to discover and develop their talent so that they can positively impact the world and support the broader community. By organising its unique activities it seeks to nurture the ideals of love, compassion, respect, humility, simplicity and eventually leadership so that each child can aspire for greatness in a way that benefits society.

Shishukunj's logo represents the underlying philosophy of the organisation. A child is like the blossoming bud that develops under the nurturing care of the beautiful flower. The pot holds the soil, manure and air that are needed for buds to blossom properly. By being that pot - Shishukunj provides the plethora of nutrients that enable a child's holistic development. As each bud becomes a flower they in turn take on the responsibility of nurturing the newer buds and so the circle that surrounds the logo remains intact and each new generation of Karyakars (field workers) continues the work of inspiring the future.

The uniqueness of Shishukunj is that it places the child at the heart of everything - the children are the most

important members and they are the primary consideration when making any decision. The words "bhai" and "ben" suffix everyone’s name to promote an environment of equality so that the smallest baalak and the oldest member are placed on the same footing. Similarly the gesture "Namaste", which all of our members use to greet each other is a composite of two Sanskrit words "Nama" (which

all children are exposed to the behaviours and perspectives that develop decent citizens. Mahatma Gandhi and Swami Vivekananda form the inspiration here. Their philosophies with regard to respect, understanding, acceptance and appreciation, whilst standing strong in the face of ignorance underpin our approach to nurture. Many of our children grow up to become young profession-

A group of Shishukunj bhaio playing Kabadi, a game that originates from India providing cultural and physical development

means "bow") and "Te" (which means "you"). So each time we meet each other, we invoke the belief of equality and oneness by saying "I bow to you".

Our approach to our activities is rooted in the principles of great educationalists like Maria Montessori and Gijubhai Badheka, both of whom encouraged education to be delivered through the medium of fun and play.

By allowing children to discover their hidden talents through enjoyment, they will stand the greatest chance of taking those talents and evolving them into significant accomplishments. Every activity that we organise at Shishukunj stems from the ideal of "Gamat Saathe Gnaan" (learning through fun), and so our children must learn something whilst having a smile on their face throughout their time with us.

Role models are very important in Shishukunj, with a very strong emphasis placed on ensuring that

als with extremely successful careers in business, medicine and public service - however Shishukunj ensures that they maintain a grounded view of their achievements and that their success is put to positive use.

Technological advancement has evolved to the point where each new era of youngsters have the opportunity to do things that were previously only a dream. However with the advancement of society, there has also been an accelerated decay of morals and values that bind society together - the London riots in 2010 were a prime example of this.

An organisation like Shishukunj has a vital role to play in trying to preserve traditions heritage and moral fibre so that progress does not cause our communities to erode and eventually disappear.

The buds that become flowers and the flowers that rejuvenate the world have never been as important as they are today.

Navin Kundra performs his chart hits to an intimate crowd of distinguished guests

ing tour”, said Navin.

Video here http://www.ndtv.com/art icle/world/mehboobaprince-charles-new-termof-endearment-436963 The singer who performs in English, Hindi and Punjabi has amassed a huge international fan following and millions of hits on Youtube. “I create fusion pop music, mixing influences from the east and west so it sounds fresh Navin Kundra yet familiar to most ears”, ing ‘beloved’, and The explained Navin.

Prince Of Wales respondSpeaking on his last ed with a flawless delivnumber 1 single, ery of the Hindi word to ‘Shudaayi’, Navin said “I rapturous applause and fused a Dutch house beat cheers from everyone in with Punjabi and English lyrics, and to top it off, the music video featured the stunning ex S Club 7 star, Tina Barrett.”

Following his royal performance at St James’s Palace, Navin is now gearing up to release his forthcoming single, ‘PA NA NA’ on November 7th. Laced with an instantly recognisable sample of the 70s hit ‘Sunshine Day’ by legendary Afro-pop group Osibisa, this song has already got crowds dancNavin teaches The Prince of Wales to say 'Mehbooba' ing and screaming across ambassador for The the country. “I hope to the Palace.

“That British Asian Trust, break new boundaries moment was a dream founded by The Prince of with my new music and come true for me – Prince Wales. Since then, he has would love for this record Charles was a great sport to reach wider audiences, with a unique charm and helped the trust raise in I hope the new addition excess of £10,000 and his especially now that I to The Prince Of Wales’ music was used to break have had compliments on vocabulary will be used a Guinness World Record my music by the Royals”, frequently on his upcomfor the biggest Bollywood said Navin.

Award winning British Asian singer, Navin Kundra, was invited to perform for TRH The Prince Of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall with distinguished guests last week at their South Asia Pre-Tour Reception held at St James’s Palace.

The multi-lingual singer, who was awarded ‘2013 Entertainer of the Year’ at the Houses of Parliament, said “It’s a real honour to be invited to perform for the royals in such a monumental Palace – this is definitely one of the biggest highlights of my career so far”. Navin added, “I knew that expectations would be extremely high as Kylie Minogue performed last year for TRH’s Australia Pre-Tour Reception.”

After topping the Asian charts six times over with his singles, Navin was invited to become an official

dance to his smash hit song, ‘Mehbooba’.

In a light hearted moment during his performance, Navin taught The Prince Of Wales how to say ‘Mehbooba’, mean-

8

UK

Indian Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari speaks at Oxford

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 16th November2013

Rani Singh

I was in Oxford University’s Nelson Mandela Theatre to listen to His Excellency, the Indian Vice President Hamid Ansari, who was visiting the Said Business School to give a talk arranged by the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies called Identity and Citizenship: An Indian Perspective.

Dr Farhan Nizami, the Director of the Oxford Centre of Islamic Studies, welcomed us and introduced the chief guest.

The Vice President told us in his speech that “Six decades earlier S a r v e p a l l i Radhakrishnan, a very distinguished predecessor of mine as Vice President of India, was for long the Spalding Professor of Eastern Religion and Ethics at this University.”

Vice President Ansari covered many areas in his academic speech that was nearly three and a half thousand words long.

One was about the introduction of the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies to Oxford; “It is now conceded, I am told, that the new structure did no aesthetic or spiritual damage to the skyline of Oxford. Perhaps, the injection of diversity has enriched it.

Speculating on the ‘ifs’ of history, Edward Gibbon had visualised a course of events that might have resulted in the teaching of the interpretations of the Qur’an at Oxford. He could not

foresee a happier, intellectually more rewarding, happening that the concluding decades of the twentieth century would bring forth. Among its manifestations is the establishment of this Centre.

This is a tribute to Oxford’s capacity to accommodate the unusual.”

Vice President Hamid Ansari then moved the discourse to India.

“Needless to say, it is an Indian perspective and draws in good measure on the Indian experience. It may be of relevance to some of the objectives of this Centre, since India counts amongst its citizens the third largest Muslim population in the world and the largest Muslim minority anywhere. ...By the same logic, a certain tension is built into the relationship, even if the society happens to be relatively h o m o g e n o u s . . .

Rabindranath Tagore described his family background as a ‘confluence of three cultures, Hindu,

Mohammedan and British’. Away from India but in our own neighbourhood, Abdolkarim Soroush depicted the Iranian Muslim as ‘the carrier of three cultures at once’ having national, religious and Western origins.”

His Excellency also spoke about the importance of the opening line of the Preamble of the Indian Constitution which starts “We, the People of India.

In other words, the superstructure of a democratic polity and a secular state structure put in place after independence on August 15, 1947 is anchored in the existential reality of a plural society. It is reflective of India’s cultural past.

Though the figure of those living below the official poverty line in India might be questioned, the Vice President acknowledged that India had a long way to go to deliver equality to its people.

“Around 22 per cent of our people live below the official poverty line

and the health and education indicators for the population as a whole, despite recent correctives, leave much to be desired.”

Lastly, he quoted the fundamental rule of equality for all Indians enshrined in the Constitution.

“The Constitution’s chapter on Fundamental Rights addresses inter alia the protection of identities, and accommodation of diversities.

These identities could be regional, religious, linguistic, tribal, castebased, and gender-based.

The right to equality and equal protection of the laws and prohibition of discrimination on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth is guaranteed.

Affirmative action is mandated by law in favour of those historically discriminated against on grounds of caste or tribal origin as well as all those who are identified as socially and educationally backward. Yet another section safeguards the right to have and conserve language, script or culture and the right of religious or linguistic minorities to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice. The purpose of these, taken together, is to bestow recognition, acknowledge the difference and thereby confer dignity that is an essential concomitant of equality.”

I wonder how far this ruling applies to every Indian today.

Gurkhas betrayed: Community goes on hunger strike demanding pension equality

Tanveer Mann

Despite their immense contribution to the British army, Gurkhas still remain strongly discriminated when it comes to the pensions they receive by the British government. About 25,000 Gurkhas who retired before 1997 only receive about a third of the pension received by their British former comrades, despite them contributing the same if not more to the military. The Gurkhas have been criticising this inequality at the hands of the British government and are angered that their tremendous contribution in the past has, in effect, gone unnoticed.

Many have been vehemently campaigning for a raise in pensions for the last five years in the capital of Nepal, Kathmandu, but with little success. In the UK however, the Gurkhas are increasingly getting their voices heard by bringing

their grievances to the root of the issue. Gurkha veterans from across the South have been going to Westminster to plea for equal pension rights in line with the rest of the military.

The situation has particularly intensified over the last few weeks, with them arguing that, despite them not being British citizens, they deserve the same rights and the same policies that their fellow British counterparts receive. Until now, the government has been simply going back and forth on this

issue, with mere rhetoric making the headlines and no action. For one Gurkha veteran, this has become all too much and he has decided to starve himself to death unless the government give him and thousands of other countrymen a larger pension – the most they can do for the sacrifices they have made for the British.

Gyanraj Rai, who on Tuesday 12th November entered his sixth day of the hunger strike, said “I will not eat unless the demand for a fair pension is fulfilled”

as he held a vigil outside the Ministry of Defence in Whitehall. “I think I can go 20-plus days. I will not move.” This movement has gained strong backing from fellow campaigners who vowed that there are many others who are ready to take over if Mr Rai dies.

The veteran from Reading, whose day job is a bus driver, lives with his wife and has three grown-up daughters in Nepal. He took his last bite of food in the form of rice and curry at 12.30pm on November 7.

For drink, he has kept a bottle of water to sustain him.

Two other campaigners, a former British doctor and a human rights activist, had attempted to join Mr Rai but only lasted three and four days respectfully before stopping. The veteran, who is being strongly supported by a group of 15 Gurkhas, admitted to having a slight headache and feeling a bit dizzy but appeared deter-

“Our London” Navin Shah

GLA Member for Brent and Harrow

United Act of Remembrance The last few weeks have been frantic but fun.

First the Navratri, followed by the Diwali and the New Year celebrations.

It’s only November but already Christmas is in the air!

A very happy Diwali and my warm wishes for a peaceful and happy new year to our Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar readers.

The festive season also combines the period of ‘remembrance’.

Remembrance services taking place all over the UK for those who served and died in wars – service for our fallen heroes.

There are a range of organisations and people including the Queen and our Leaders commemorate in different ways.

But, hat does a war mean to the new generation? What does the act of remembrance mean to a young pupil? Let me share a winning poem from the ‘Youth Remembrance Poetry Competition’ this year in Harrow:

WAR War is bad, bad is war.

I really don’t want World War Four.

Or World War Three.

Both of them are bad for me.

So were World War One and Two. Why did they fight them? I haven’t a clue.

Actually, that’s a lie. I do.

I’ve read about Anne Frank.

And I’ve heard about the tanks.

And I don’t want any more. No thanks.

By: Sam, Shaftesbury School – Harrow.

Winner of Key Stage 4 Category.

The awareness at such a young age about the wars, importance of remembrance Sunday and our obligation to the war heroes is promising for the future. London mined to endure and said that he was not scared, proclaiming “I am a soldier.”

Rai continued, "I was already prepared to die for Britain and I have been campaigning for the last 15 years at my own expense.

We don't have any more money to do a campaign now the only thing left is my body."

In a statement, the Ministry of Defence said: "Gurkha terms and conditions of service have always been fair. They have reflect-

was quite rightly at the centre stage with the Queen laying the first wreath, bowing her head and paying here respects at the Cenotaph on Whitehall to commemorate the war heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice in the decades since the First World War. Millions across the UK paid tribute to those lost in wars – crowds gathering in central London who stood quietly as Big Ben struck 11am.

London Assembly with the Mayor of London together with Mayors from London Boroughs and other dignitaries remembered the fallen at a service in City Hall on Friday – I missed the City Hall Service but attended and laid a poppy-wreath at the Harrow Civic Centre which has witnessed the community participation grown in numbers remarkably in the last few years. The occasion was made special by the poems from pupils of Harrow’s Schools and the annual Interfaith Act of Commitment made by the representatives of Harrow’s diverse communities. Annual commitment is the feature too of the service conducted at the Kenton Synagogue – Ajax remembrance service Shabbat - which I attend regularly. It is sad to see the numbers of survivors dwindling (to the level one can count on fingertips) but the spirit is uplifted and resolve made stronger when one participates in the service. The message I took away from the Rabbi was that loss of 6M as a number itself is incomprehensible but the effect of that savagery and the void it leaves behind is even more devastating.

We must do everything as one united community that there is no such repeat ever in the history of mankind. ed the environment that the Gurkhas were in, and they have changed and improved over time to reflect the Gurkhas' changing circumstances." Yet for the Gurkhas, the Government's pension policy seems unfair, even bordering on racist.

For the 10,000 Gurkha veterans living in the UK, many of them in Reading and Aldershot, it is honourable that some of them have taken up the cause of the majority to voice their grievances.

UK

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 16th November2013

Leading Lights

Rani Singh, Special Assignments Editor

A British-Educated Young Indian Foreign Policy Leader 30-year old Sujit Nair is the only Indian in the 2013 Top 99 most influential foreign policy leaders under 33, a list published jointly by the Washington DC - based Young professionals in Foreign Policy and the Diplomatic Courier. The Diplomatic Courier connects the diplomatic and policy establishment to the next generation of leaders in diplomacy and foreign policy.

Sujit was featured along with future leaders who are impacting their communities.

He has an M.B.A from London Metropolitan University and an M.Sc from Bangalore University. He helps companies that want to expand in India and the UK. Sujit was part of the Next Generation Network run by the U.K India business council (supported

by UK Trade and investment) bringing together top young entrepreneurs and business leaders. He

is a Fellow and RSA Connector, or India Ambassador, of the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA), and sits on the governing board of RSA India. “I am trying to bring in expertise of the RSA Fellows to Indian not- for- profit organizations who cannot afford them,” he told me.

Sujit was born in Palakkad, Kerala, India,

Sujit Nair

but was keen to come to a UK university. “I believe that the British have a management skill which played a role in their conquest of the world. This is what made me come over to the UK for my MBA at London Metropolitan University,” he explained.

Born into an Indian middle class Air Force family, it was not easy for Sujit to arrange the funds to study at London Met but a part-scholarship

Bobby Grewal:

A selfless and humble man

Tanveer Mann

Having walked about 5000 miles already, Balwant ('Bobby') Singh Grewal is not ready to give up just yet. The current Chairman of India Association, a UK-based charity which has raised over £1.3 million for worthwhile causes all over the globe, is renowned for his charitable fundraising walks. Through his walks, Bobby, on behalf of India Association, has currently donated to Ealing Hospital, the National Eye Hospital, Great Ormond Street Hospital and Northwick Park Hospital, St Marks Research Hospital, Help for Heroes and the list goes on.

Born in Ludhiana, Bobby left India in 1958 to settle in the UK. Arriving at his friends house with no money, Bobby began working his way up the property ladder and since then has never looked back. After being extremely successful in the property business and having just retired, Grewal decided to carry out his first walk from Amritsar to Kanyakumari in pursuit of his goal of raising money for cancer and AIDS-related research. In June 2008, he then carried out a magnificent 800km walk from

Edinburgh to Parliament House in London to raise money for research in bowel cancer and other bowel diseases for St Mark's Hospital in Harrow. From this walk, he raised an outstanding £100,000 out of which, £80,000 went to bowel cancer and £25,000 went to Help for Heroes.

Speaking about his first ever walk, he said, “I thoroughly enjoyed the walk. Initially when I started, people were laughing in Southall.

People said its a huge country, he will come back in no time. But I surprised them and myself.”

Doing so much for the community so selflessly is what makes Bobby such an inspirational figure.

His walks have touched the lives of many and have provided him with lifelong memories. He says, “the most memorable experience I had during my journeys was firstly meeting the President of India,

Abdul Kalam. I've met ministers before but that doesn't mean that much compared to this. He was the most prolific, cultured and educated person of India. The other person was Chief Minister of Gujarat Narendra Modi, whom I had the pleasure to meet because CB Patel had arranged the meeting for me during the kite festival in Gujarat. He was a very nice person to meet.”

Asking him what impelled him to embark upon these challenging but rewarding walks, Bobby said, “It was a feeling from my childhood.

When I was young, I was the smallest boy in the class, but the fastest boy in running, in playing hockey and kabbadi. But the teacher in charge never encouraged me to continue sports. When I went to university, I damaged my left knee, so I couldn’t do anything.

After that, it was a question of bread and butter. I have always wanted to walk/run for charity and when the time was right, I took the opportunity.”

Currently, Bobby is planning his next walk in October 2014, which will begin in Kanyakumari, then go from East, North East, North and end up in the North West.

from London Metropolitan and an educational loan from the State Bank of Mysore made it possible. “London Met University, with great resources, fantastic tutors, good employees, and its specialist incubator, Accelerator, opened up a world of opportunity outside the classroom. It made me think and act like those from so - called ‘elite’ institutions.”

When Sujit arrived in the UK in September 2008 he knew no-one. “But I met people like Victoria Lennox, winner of the Queen's Award for Enterprise, who inspired me to think and act differently.”

Sujit is the Co founder/ Director of the British South India Chamber of Commerce, of which Mr Virendra Sharma, MP, is the Chair.

Sujit is also a member of Sandbox, the world’s foremost community of extraordinary young leaders. Sandbox has over 900 carefully selected members from 47 countries in 27 international hubs.

“I got to know about Sandbox in the UK as a few of my friends were Sandboxers. When I went back to Bangalore last year, I was trying to set up a co- working space with a few friends. One of them, Achyutha, the Sandbox Ambassador for Bangalore, motivated me

to apply for Sandbox and I was welcomed in as a member. Victoria Lennox, whom I met earlier, is also a Sandbox member.

Serendipity!”

“I want to bring some of the latest Sandbox projects from across the world to India because these projects will help India leapfrog decades and catch up with the socalled ‘developed world,’ improving the lives of people.” Sujit said.

He also runs an e-commerce

Patriotism is not about dying for your country, but living for your country and making a difference to your countrymen

website which addresses the growing needs of people with orthopedic disorders in India.

“Coming from a family that served in the Indian Air Force and the Indian Army, I want to make India a better place.

Patriotism is not about dying for your country, but living for your country and making a difference to your countrymen.

Through the various organizations I am associated with, like the BSICC, RSA, Sandbox etc, I am trying to bring about change in India.

India does not work on

9

economics, but on emotions. To get work done, I prefer to go ahead if it works to 80% of my conscience even though the other 20% may not adhere to my conscience.”

Sujit’s motivation technique is to watch the film, “The Secret.”

The secret is a film which consists of interviews demonstrating that everything one wants or needs can be satisfied by believing in an outcome, repeatedly thinking about it, and maintaining positive emotional states to "attract" the desired outcome.

“Watching The Secret for a few minutes almost every day has had a major influence on how I go about attracting things so as to achieve my life's objective.

My personal ambition is linked to my ambition for India. When India celebrates her 100th birthday, I want her to be the largest economy in the world. Some people are passionate about building a stellar career, building a company, or building a product or service. I am passionate about building my country and I am sure that I will be playing a role in fuelling India's future growth.”

Unsurprisingly, this deserving young Leading Light is keen to get into politics. We will be observing his progress.

10

YOUR VOICE

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 16th November2013

Diwali Magazine

Could Modi become good PM

Lata can speak her mind

I was very pleased to receive the special issue Diwali magazine with the 2nd November issue of Asian Voice. There was a number of informative and educating articles on the meaning behind Diwali, which I definitely made sure to share with my family. For example the article titled ‘Days of Diwali Festival’ provided a clear description of the meaning behind each day of Diwali. I particularly liked the coverage you have given to young children, allowing them the opportunity to share with the community their thoughts and experiences of Diwali. My only criticism would be that as a young woman living in the UK, I admittedly cannot read Gujarati, therefore I was unable to appreciate much of the magazine which was written in Gujarati. It is a real shame because the magazine is extremely attractive and the photos have left me wanting more! Nevertheless, thank you for the Diwali magazine. It is a great idea and was lovely to read!

Now that Modi is taking by storm India and the West, it is foregone conclusion that BJP will emerge as the biggest party barring last minute twist.

Question on every one’s lips is “Can Modi transform India with Gujarat as role model? Answer is not clear-cut.

Modi is an autocrat which could be hindrance if UPA multi-party alliances where one need concessionaire politician like Atalji. Modi is by no means cloned Atalji.

That is why Advaniji projected mild-mannered Susmaji as BJP’s PM candidate until election is won. That would have kept alliance with Bihar CM Nitish Kumar intact.

But Modi is shrewd politician who can judge people’s mood accurately.

India is in such a mess that even liberal EU has condemned present administration as most corrupt since independence, unwilling to invest in India under present administration.

Most present politicians in high office are intoxicated with power, living life of Riley that would not be permitted under Modi. Support for Modi from prominent personalities like Lata Mangaskar, Amitabh Buchan, Novjat Siddhu and Shruti Irani, few among many, is coming in thick and fast, with polls favouring Modi, Congress is in panic. I wonder how long it will take for Congress allies to desert the sinking ship! After all rats are not known for their loyalty!

Then BJP should never underestimate cunning, ruthless Congress who would go to any length, including eliminating Modi by any means to preserve their dynastic supremacy.

Lata has been a greatest Singer in the world and has full rights to express her views wishing Modi to be future Prime Minister of India.Her Comments reflects she is wishing to see the change in India in the right direction.

People who are objecting her statement in India and abroad indicate that they still have a slavish mentality and want Nehru family to continue ruling India. My request to those people is that please wake up and always remember that our parents and grand parents did not fight for independence only to be ruled by the Gandhi family. I am not against them but they got to show the right kind of leadership and development for all.

Modi has shown how he has transformed Gujarat and if he can improve the conditions for poor people in India then we must all support him.

Rupal Desai Birmingham

A true friend or foe

Your editorials on Russia and China and Arun Vaidyanathan’s excellent letter ( both 2nd Nov 2013) deserve comment. They all raise questions as to who is India’s friend or foe. At the centre is Pakistan. Russia faced US sponsored Pakistani attacks in Afghanistan, which help create Osama bin Laden, so Russia remains a true friend, as Manmohan Singh outlined on his recent visit there. China a newcomer is however busy arming Pakistan, looking for opportunities on India’s borders, ( Nepal, Sri Lanka) so India should be weary of China and the PM’s repeating Nehru’s “world of brotherhood” slogans to the Chineses is a mistake. The US is competing with China by arming Pakistan, and revelations of the Mumbai terror planner, a CIA double agent David Headley of Pakistani US decent, point to US indifference towards India. Arunji’s letter points to the continual “soft attacks” on India via foreign funded NGO’s mainly from the US. Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi are not providing a vision for India’s security, or any vision for that matter, allowing a Hindu Nepal to fall easily to Maoist terror is an example, where both China and US colluded. I was speaking to a Jewish friend and said, we Hindus are under attack by Christians, Muslims and Communists, he replied, so are we, hence Benjamin Netanyahu the Israeli PM’s words referring to Iran (their Pakistan), “study their actions not their words” ring in my ear.

Bhupendra M Gandhi Via Email

Devastating Typhoon Haiyan

The devastating natural disaster which has hit the Phillipines has left me angered and, despite being aware that there is not much we can do, I feel compelled to blame someone for destroying the lives of thousands of families. The people are in an extremely dire situation and they need our help. Efforts are slowly underway now but too many people are turning a blind eye to the trauma that has unfolded in SouthEast Asia. The worst part of it was the area was already poverty-stricken and not prepared for such a natural calamity. 500,000 people are now said to be homeless. In what defence could these people have tried to survive if there were no measures put in place or efforts at sustainable development? With such advance technology that we have today, why were the people of the Phillipines not pre-warned like they were in Orissa with Cyclone Phailin? In that case, people were moved from coasts and other places that were badly hit, well in advance. Why was this not so in the Phillipines?

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I was excited to read your article in the 26th October edition of Gujarat Samachar that on the website: http://www.anyror.gujarat.gov/, I will be able to see and get all the information and e-documents from now on.

Unfortunately google.com could not find it. One website found it, but immediately said my Browser’s security requires updating. Could you please let me know is the website ready and how do I get updated? We are subscriber to Gujarat Samachar and Asian Voice.

Our late father has a land in District Baroda. Last year I went to Baroda and obtained some papers. Engaged a Lawyer and submitted some documents, except the ‘last 50 years history of the land’. The Mamlatdar’s office cannot locate the papers. I phone my lawyer every 2-3 week and I am always asked to wait for another 2-3 weeks. And he never replies to my emails.

Do your other readers have the same problems? I would appreciate suggestions.

Happy New Year to all.

Urmila Patel Via Email

Kantibhai Changela, who passed away on Monday 28th October, was a person larger than life. He will be remembered as the person who used to feed people who arrived at Mombasa port after a long steamer journey, and take them to the station for their onward journey to Nairobi, Nakuru, Kisumu, Uganda etc.

He did not judge anybody by their cast or creed before helping them. Along with his rememberance, comes another legend Shardaben Kantibhai Changela who with her family’s help looked after Kantibhai for several years after he suffered a severe stroke. This is a prime example of total dedication.

Vinu Vacchani Via Email

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Diwali – A Jain Perspective We have just celebrated Diwali. In fact, Diwali functions and parties are still continuing where people are enjoying themselves by dancing and exchanging gifts and lighting fireworks. Hindus celebrate Diwali to commemorate the victory of Lord Rama over the evil king Ravana and other such joyous events by merry making and feasting themselves on sumptuous meals. As US president Obama said in his recent message, which has been widely circulated on the Internet, for Jains, Diwali marks the anniversary of the attainment of moksha by Mahavira (Jainism’s twenty-forth and last Tirthankara or prophet) at the end of his life on earth in 527 BC. It was late in the night of Diwali (Aso Vad Chaudash) that Mahavira left his earthly body and achieved liberation. Jains celebrate Diwali in various manners. Some fast for two days as Mahavira did immediately preceding his liberation. Others join their Hindu friends at parties and generally enjoy themselves. We, members of Shree Jain Sangh East London and Essex, celebrated Diwali at a local venue in Romford with Rangoli and karaoke competition followed by a sumptuous meal. However, Jainism preaches austerity and observing penances to shed the accumulated karma. I wonder therefore which is the right way for Jains to celebrate Diwali?

By fasting as Mahavira did or by enjoying themselves along with their Hindu friends? Jainism also teaches non-violence to even the tiniest living beings. So I believe that the lighting of fireworks which can harm tiny insects is really out of the question for Jains.

Legends remembered

Kamlesh Dhadia London

ASIAN VOICE

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www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 16th November2013

11

12

MEDIA WATCH

India’s Mars Orbiter Mission took off on its momentous deep space voyage as scheduled on November 5 from its launch pad at Sriharikota, on the Bay of Bengal. There was much joy and celebration among the assembled scientists and engineers, whose skill, dedication and hard work had made the ambitious enterprise possible, from drawing board to ignition. However,

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 16th November2013

ital by claiming that the Dr Raghuram Rajan, the recently appointed Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, was not an Indian. Dr Rajan, like Amartya Sen, may have taught at top American universities, but he still retains his Indian passport and hence his Indian citizenship, was his acerbic response – a telling jab that silenced the loquascious politician, thus ending the no-contest with his lightweight challenger (Telegraph October 30). “No investigation, no right to speak,” said a Chinese sage many moons ago.

Sensex soars

Mars Orbiter Mission launch

they cautioned that the launch was simply the first major step on a long and unpredictable journey that would end only in September 2014 with the Orbiter’s arrival at Mars. That would be the moment to pronounce judgment, they said. Meanwhile the Orbiter will circle the Earth until the end of November, after which it will head for the Red Planet. But its start has gone off with a bang and, hopefully, the remaining hurdles will be surmounted with similar success. (See page 3 for comment)

Mismatch While the celebration of this feat spread to all corners of India – an extension of the Diwali spirit, if you will – the standard of the political discourse between the parties, both major and minor, was abysmally low, highlighting

Greek Alexander fought Porus on tha banks of the River Jhelum, again in Punjab, and not along the Bihar stretch of the Ganga, as he claimed. Mr Modi appeared not to know the difference between the Maurya and Gupta dynasties and the six centuries that stood between them.

The Bihar Chief Minister Kumar had a field day tearing into the Modi gaffes. “Hell hath no fury than a Nitish mocked” was the Telegraph’s first page report (October 30) as Nitish Kumar sizzled off the grill. He certainly took no prisoners in his ferocious assault on Mr Modi, who, said the Chief Minister, was “unfit to be [India’s] Prime Minister.”

History deficit

Nitish Kumar

Columnist Reshmi Dasgupta (wife of Modi admirer, columnist Swapan Dasgupta) was understandably circumspect but also cutting. “A prime ministerial candidate should have a better knowledge of the country he wants to run,” she wrote. She attributed this to the country’s poor educational system.

Narendra Modi

a glaring mismatch between the nation’s scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs and its politicians. BJP candidate for prime minister, Narendra Modi, during his burst of eloquence at an election rally in Bihar got his geography and history badly wrong.

He seemed unaware that the ancient city of Taxila was in Punjab and not Bihar, that

Dr Raghuram Rajan

(Economic Times November 2).

A few days earlier, BJP patriarch Murli Manohar Joshi attempted to make political cap-

Th0e Sensex ended its recent rally at an all-time high. In a first-page report, Mint (November 2) wrote: “The Hindu calendar year Samvaat 2069 drew to a close with fireworks on [Mumbai’s] Dalal Street as BSE’s benchmark Sensex, India’s most closely watched stock market barometer, surged to a new lifetime high after a hiatus of five years and 10 months, propelled by strong foreign buying. Investors continued foreign fund flows to drive the index higher but doubts still remain over the strength and pace of India’s economic recovery.”

Foreign appetite for Indian funds

The Times of India (November 2), while dittoing much of the Mint report, gave its own spin: “The appetite for Indian stocks is slowly increasing among the foreign funds that invest in the country. After seeing outflows on a regular basis, India-focused offshore funds ETF’s registered inflows (exchange traded funds) a net inflow (higher purchase of Indian stocks) in September this year,” amounting to $25 million.

(Hindu November 2). Finance Minister P. Chidambaram expressed confidence that India current account deficit would be reduced to below $60 billion from $83 billion, but he was, he said, worried over the high inflation. He was, however, upbeat on the prospects of a bumper harvest following an excellent monsoon (Economic Times November 2)

a blue-tooth device that can be attached to valuable items such as wallets, bikes, suitcase etc to keep track of them. More: a Gecko stuck on your door will alert you every time it opewns.

With a DSLR camera, you can get it in frame and with a wave of your arm get Gecko to trigger the camera. Finally, you can shake it or turn it to make your mobile device perform a pre-programmed action (Times of India November 4).

Cognizant beats forecasts

IT firm Cognizant Solutions Technology Corporation (headquarters in US, workforce and operations India-based) September quarter revenue of $2.31 billion, up 15.1 per cent compared to $276.9 million earned in the last quarter. Its revenue growth has forged ahead of its principal competitors, including Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys and Wipro. The company has increased its growth forecast to 20.3 per cent, that is to $8.374 billion for the full year. Cognizant CEO Francisco D’Souza said: “Our investments across the multiple horizons of growth position us well to deliver differentiated value as we partner with clients in this journey.” (Mint, Hindu, Times of India November 6)

Planet has put things right, highlighting the pleasures of tiny Sikkim embedded in the high Himalayas.

Lonely Planet dubbed Sikkim the “best region to visit in 2014.” Not surprising, this. Sikkim was the first Indian state to frame an eco-tourism policy with the help of Japanese and American experts.

Rural homesteads

Sikkim started popularizing village tourism a few years back by utilizing central government funds to encourage residents in remote areas of the state to build an extra room with a westernstyle toilet for visitors. “We then sponsored family members to undergo training in housekeeping, cookery and other aspects of hospitality at hotel management institutes,” said Sikkim Tourism Minister Bhim Prasad Dhungel.

These rural homesteads and their surrounds, which include trekking trails, nature walks and camping sites are proving to be a magnet for foreign and Indian tourists (Times of India November 3). No Indian politician in the current election campaign has visited trouble-free Sikkim. There are not too many votes or parliamentary seats at stake here, but it is also possible that many of these super patriots may not be aware of Sikkim’s geography!

Core sector growth

New horizon in physics

The 8 per cent September growth of India’s core sector consisting crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilizers, steel, cement and electricity touched an eleventh month high. The 8 per cent growth compares favourably with the 3.7 per cent registered in August. This is an encouraging sign of an economic recovery, although its confirmation will have to await further data in the coming months. What must be taken into account is that the September upturn is still short of production norms for the same period last year. (Hindu November 1)

The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bangalore has become the site of path-breaking work in physics. Physicist Arindham Ghosh’s laboratory is where he and his team have created an ultra-thin composite material that could transform digital life on this planet. This has the potential to make digital cameras a billion times more sensitive, turn memory devices faster and more long-lasting and produce solar cells that generate more electricity for a given area , not to speak of a plethora of defence and space applications.

However, a single breakthrough will have to be followed by further innovations before it becomes a game-changer. When that happy day arrives Professor Ghosh, his doctoral student

Sikkim tops 2014 Lonely Planet list

Indian startup device in surge

Gecko, the size of a coin, is an electronic device with a multitude of functions. It has been developed and marketed by a Bangalore startup and has exceeded all pre-order expectations. By November 2, the last day of the pre-order campaign, it had raised $135,480 from confirmed foreign and domestic orders, the first shipment of which will commence in mid-December.

Each device costs $20, so over 6,000 Geckos have been sold. Gecko was has developed by Connovate Technology founded in January by four professionals, Bahubali Shite, Kiran Kumar, Rajeev M and S. Varadarajan. So what is it that Gecko does? It is

TIBET

The larger Indian states hog media headlines, often for the wrong reasons. The smaller ones for no good reason except their size rarely get the attention they deserve.

The global travel guide Lonely

Kollol Roy and others in the team will surely win laurels for themselves and for India.

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 16th November2013

We Need Ethnic Minority Ministers Who Will Speak Up For British National Interests

“IRANIAN AMBASSADOR I know what terrifies you: an Islamic bomb.

WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF: And I know what concerns Iran: a Jewish bomb.

AMBASSADOR: Einstein, Oppenheimer, Teller...

They're all Jewish bombs.”

The above is a fictional account of a meeting between the Iranians and the Americans.

Of course the Americans do not have a Jewish bomb any more than the Indians have a Hindu bomb.

But the bomb possessed by the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the one desired by the Islamic Republic of Iran is a different nuclear bomb. It is one founded on religion – because their political systems are theocracies.

Why this matters is because this past week Western nations met Iran over its nuclear programme and the British PM will meet Indian and Pakistani representatives at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Colombo.

The British Senior Foreign Office Minister, former Chair of the Conservative Party, Baroness Warsi, was in Pakistan last month and pressed for a resolution of the Kashmiri dispute between these two nuclear powers of India and Pakistan, saying in Parliament, ‘The British policy on this has been clear…the issue of Kashmir is one which needs to be resolved between India and Pakistan taking into consideration the wishes of the Kashmiri

people.”

Sadly for Baroness Warsi, if indeed the wishes of the Kashmiri people are taken into account, then the whole of Kashmir will be part of India. Unlike her, I was in Kashmir, when she visited Pakistan. Unlike her, I spoke to ordinary Kashmiris, not Pakistani politicians. And what was clear from them, Muslim Kashmiris, is they recognize they are better off as part of India.

They told me about their relatives in Pakistani Occupied Kashmir (PoK) as they call it, and how they visit them, but their poor relatives lack electricity and basic sanitation. Whereas those in Indian Kashmir recognize the immense funds in education and infrastructure the Indian government has devoted to Kashmir.

So what of Kashmir and these two nuclear powers eye-balling each other?

The problem for the United Kingdom is a nuclear Pakistan, not because of Kashmir, but because reports this past week that ‘Saudi Arabia has invested in Pakistani nuclear weapons projects, and believes it could obtain atomic bombs at will.’ The source? BBC Newsnight.

As the BBC reporter says, “Earlier this year, a senior Nato decision maker told me that he had seen intelligence reporting that nuclear weapons made in Pakistan on behalf of Saudi Arabia are now sitting ready for delivery.”

Hell will freeze over before Baroness Warsi will speak for British national interests against Pakistan and demand an explanation from the Pakistani National Security Advisor with whom she had a joint press conference about resolving ‘the Kashmiri’ dispute.

UK finally scraps £3000 cash bond for immigrants

Continued from page 1 A home ministry official confirmed that the proposal of a visa bond has now been dropped.

"The government has been considering whether we pilot a bond scheme that would deter people from overstaying the visa. We have decided not to proceed," a home office spokesperson said.

Outrage from all corners of India, was one of the major reasons for Britain's U-turn over the plan. Critics emphasised that people who want to overstay in Britain, would not mind paying for such cash bonds.

Others are of the opinion that the Cameron government finally realised the high stakes involved in application of this bond, which would have definitely influenced Indian entrepreneurs to deter investments in Britain.

It is also believed that the British Prime Minister David Cameron who will stop in New Delhi on November 14 on his way to Colombo, Sri Lanka will inform his Indian counterpart Dr Manmohan Singh offi-

cially about this decision.

However according other newspaper reports, this latest decision to not implement the visa-bond rule, has been greatly influenced deputy prime minister Nick Clegg , who threatened to block the policy. It is believed that with the general elections coming up, Cameron didn't want a confrontation with the Liberal Democrat leader.

Ironically it was the same Nick Clegg who had first announced earlier this year that migrants from "high risk countries" that is expected to include the Indian sub-continent would soon have to mandatorily sign a cash bond of thousands of pounds to enter Britain.

Business secretary Vince Cable had

launched a full-fledged attack against the visa bond recently.

He said "it has caused outrage in India - one of UK's biggest trading partners".

The pilot was formally announced by Home Secretary Theresa May who said this was the next step in making sure "our immigration system is more selective, bringing down net migration from the hundreds of thousands to the tens of thousands, while still welcoming the brightest and the best to Britain."

Rt Hon Keith Vaz who is the Chairman of the Home affairs select committee had severely criticised the scheme warning that such bonds would "antagonise settled communities in Britain and enrage our allies such as India".

UK's Immigration & Asylum Act actually allows the government the right to force such a financial security from

UK

13

The Asian Circle launches at the House of Commons

Rani Singh Everything looked pretty in the soft lighting as guests assembled in the Terrace Pavilion by the river Thames at the House of Commons on Thursday 7th November.

Welldressed animated Indian ladies buzzed around while wine, soft drinks and small bowls of rice with Indian vegetables were being handed out.

It was the launch of The Asian Circle (event sponsored by CMS Cameron McKenna), aimed to help Oxfam and women in South Asia. It is an affiliate of The Circle, founded by Annie Lennox in 2008, a partnership of highly influential women who have raised over £1 million towards Oxfam projects.

More than one billion people in the world today, the great majority of whom are women, live in unacceptable conditions of poverty, mostly in the developing countries.

Oxfam is working with

temporary migrants, which would be forfeited if they fail to leave after the expiry of their visa.

Britain's former attorney general also trashed the controversial immigration visa bond calling it "highly discriminatory that will never pass through the House of Lords".

However, it is believed in an effort to damage control, along with scrapping this plan, UK has also announced two new sets of visa facilities, to encourage Indians to travel and invest widely in Britain.

Exclusive VIP visa system

Business leaders from non EU countries especially from India will be granted an exclusive access to a new VIP visa system, launched by the Home Office to make it quicker and easier for them to organise entry to the UK. Announced as the "Great" club, it will be invitation-only and is designed to benefit around

women in South Asia to help them with agriculture, education, cope with disasters and pull them out of poverty. Oxfam also works to reduce all forms of violence towards women, by helping to change attitudes.

The event ‘Promoting Violence Free Lives For Women’ was hosted

by Alok Sharma, MP for Reading West.

In India, 35% women experience physical or sexual violence and 68% women believe that husbands are justified in beating them

The Asian Circle is a new creative initiative with a high profile association of influential women working in partnership with Oxfam. The aim is for the members to use their specialist skills, experience and resources to make a difference to the lives of women living in poverty.

100 of the wealthiest tycoons with the strongest links to Britain.

They will receive "tailored" support from the UK Visas and Immigration agency, including a dedicated account manager whose job will be to ensure the passage through the system remains "swift and smooth" through out, without incurring any extra cost.

The Home Office will run the scheme initially as a 12-month pilot, beginning in the new year.

The Home Office has also announced a number of other schemes to encourage business visitors to come to the UK, including expanding the priority visa service from 67 countries to over 90 countries by spring 2014.

A same-day visa service, already in operation in India, soon to be available in China will be introduced in other countries soon.

In India a mobile visa service will also be introduced allowing VIPs to

Members of the Asian Circle are passionate women from all walks of life which include writer, journalist and activist Rahila Gupta and award winning author Lady Kishwar Desai.

Mark Goldring, Oxfam’s Chief Executive said: “It is very inspiring to see these individuals coming together to use their knowledge and wealth of experience to help people living in poverty in South Asia.

Having such a talented and influential group of women helping Oxfam’s work is very exciting and will pave a new ground in the fight against poverty.”

Robert Goodwill Minister for Transport told me exclusively; “I think this is an amazing event, the Asian Circle, where there are so many successful women from the UK. Their vision is great for empowering women in India and the Subcontinent to get them Continued on page 30

have their biometric data and photo taken at their place of work, along with a pilot scheme allowing applicants to retain their passport while their application is considered.

Passport passback pilot scheme

Britain on last Wednesday has finally announced a passport pass-back pilot scheme in southern India, which would allow applicants keep their passports while their visa is being processed.

Officials said this would allow applicants to travel or apply for another visa simultaneously and reduce any wastage of time.

British Home Secretary Theresa May said Britain would continue to respond to the needs of high-value and high-priority businesses to provide them with services that support economic growth while maintaining security of borders.

14

DIWALI CELEBRATIONS

Sharma joins Diwali celebrations in Reading

Alok Sharma, the Member of Parliament for Reading West, was the chief guest at the Diwali celebrations taking place at the Rivermead Leisure Centre on Friday 1st November 2013.

The celebrations were organised by MASS (Multicultural Activities for Secular Society), a small group from Reading which aims to unite individuals and groups from different cultural backgrounds to celebrate and create awareness of all cultures.

Attendees at the celebration were able to enjoy a range of food and sweets and to buy traditional Diwali home deco-

rations, designer Indian clothes and jewellery and other handicrafts from around the world. There was also the opportunity to get traditional henna tattoos. Children enjoyed face painting, a bouncy castle, balloons, arts and crafts.

Prizes were awarded for the best Ramayan posters submitted and the best dressed couple.

Alok Sharma said: “I was delighted to be invited to attend the Diwali celebrations organised by MASS, who have a very positive message of inclusion and of celebrating other cultures and I hope to be able to support them again in the future.”

Diwali with a bang in Leicester

Thousands of people gathered on the famous Melton Road in Belgrave to join together to celebrate Diwali. Restaurants were overflowing with revellers, while over 10,000 people gathered in Cossington Street Recreation Ground for the traditional fireworks display and celebrations.

Side roads were also lit up as decorations from many houses beamed out of the windows, as peo-

ple celebrated the end of the Hindu year. Belgrave Road was also dazzling with more than 6,500 lights, loud music and dancing. The festival began two weeks ago when 35,000 visitors watched a lights switchon spanning 1km along Melton Road. As well as the main entertainment by the firework display, many other Diwali events took place across the city.

Hindu Forum of Britain hosts intimate Diwali event at House of Commons

Indian sweets, the gentle flicker of lights, and excited murmurs of celebration swept through the corridors of Westminster on Wednesday October 30, 2013, on the occasion of the Hindu Forum of Britain’s 12th Diwali event.

Speaking in the historic Member’s Room, the Hindu Forum of Britain President Arjan Vekaria JP, emphasized the need for unity and how people should live a life full of love, harmony and peace.

“Diwali is an international event celebrated across the world. The single fact that reverberates across

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 16th November2013

the celebration period is the unity in diversity. It’s a time where we forget the personal animosity and

extend our hands for a friendly gesture even to a strange” he said.

The Speaker of the

House Rt Hon. John Bercow lighted the lamp and stated clearly that ‘You, the Hindu Community are the best immigrant community in the UK’.

Attorney General Dominic Grieve, Rt Hon Andrew Lansley, Caroline Lucas MP, Rt Hon Ed Balls, Chuka Umunna, Ashok Sharma, Seema Malhotra, Paul Uppal ,Shailesh Vara, Virendra Sharma also attended amongst many prominent parliamentarians who wished everyone a pious Diwali and spoke about values such as sacrifice, family and hard work.

The temple reverberated with chants of Hanuman Chalisa on Saturday night. Singers and devotees chanted the hymn in unison for 108 times during the five-hour programme, which commenced at 7 p.m on Saturday and lasted untill 1 a.m. on Sunday.

Account books and ledgers were placed by devotees and an Aarti was performed for Goddess Lakshmi, praying for more prosperity, Health wealth and Happiness for all.

sSenior parliamentarians attended the annual diabetes charity event, the Silver StarDiabetes Health Challenge, as part of Diwali at Westminster at the House of Commons.

On Wednesday 30th October, Opposition Leader Ed Miliband, Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, Steve Brine MP, David Ward MP, Mark Durkan MP, Caroline Nokes MP, Iain Stewart MP, Nic Dakin MP and Julie Hilling MP along with other Members of Parliament were issued with a Silver StarDiabetes Pedometer.

The pedometer will measure the amount of steps taken on a chosen day from the day of the event until World Diabetes Day

on 14th November 2013 to see who can take the most steps.

Matthew Hancock, Parliamentary UnderSecretary of State for Business and Education is the current holder of the 2012 Health Challenge. The winner of this year’s challenge will have their award presented by the Reverend Jesse Jackson at the Silver StarDiabetes’ Health and Diversity Breakfast Seminar on the 5th December 2013.

Harsha Trivedi, Chiranjibi Paudyal, Sumantrai Desai, Swami Nirliptananda ji, Arjan Vekaria, Trupti Patel, Madhava Turumella, Velji Vekaria, Rickie Sehgal Second Row: Kirty Vekaria, Hament Mistry, Gauri Das, Swaminathan Vaidyanathan, Ramesh Patani, Jit Jethwa, Vinay Sofat

4 Days of celebrations at Uxbridge Temple

Diwali celebrations took place over a four day period at the Adhya Shakti Mataji temple in Uxbridge. New year celebrations, Diwali, Chopda puja (worship of account books) and chanting of Hanuman Chalisa (a religious hymn in praise of Lord Hanuman) all took place over the Diwali weekend.

Ankut Darshan, which literally means an offering of a mountain of food, was performed to the reigning temple diety. An oblation of 56 varieties of savouries and sweets were made to the Goddess and an Aarti (offering of wicks soaked in ghee lamps with an invocation song) was performed at noon. Devotees, dressed in their best clothes offered prayers and partook of the food later.

MPs indulge in Mithai and take diabetes test in support of Silver Star Diabetes challenge

Hundreds attend Diwali Celebrations at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Southend-on-Sea

Hundreds of people from across Essex gathered to celebrate the most popular Hindu festival in the year in Southend-on-Sea on Sunday 3 and Monday 4 November at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir (Hindu Temple) in Queensway.

This year’s Diwali and Hindu New Year celebrations were one of the best, lively and colourful to date, attracting hundreds of visitors over the two days of festivities, while raising valuable funds for BBC’s Children in Need.

The festival was celebrated with great devotion and merriment over the two days - traditionally a time when charity, goodwill, family values and the love of God are celebrated and reinforced.

Those who attended witnessed beautifully bright and authentic Indian decorative patterns, flickering lamps, and elegant arrangements of delicious vegetarian food items.

The central attraction was the ‘Annakut’ – literally, ‘a mountain of

food’ – which saw a grand offering of more than 250 pure vegetarian food items of all tastes and varieties and left all who visited in awe. The dishes were prepared by devotees and offered to the deities with faith and devotion as a traditional form of thanksgiving. Everyone had the chance to share the food offered in the Annakut at the end of the day.

The rich aromas, vibrant colours and classical Indian sounds provided the perfect ambience for the occasion.

Ilford town centre dazzles for diwali Ilford was an illusion of multicolour on Saturday as Diwali celebrates were kicked of in the town centre. At the Exchange Ilford in High Road, free yoga, meditation and dance workshops were all on offer as well as Indian head massages.

The official Diva light was lit by MPs Mike Gapes and Lee Scott with leader of Redbridge

Council Cllr Keith Prince. Outside on High Road, Bollywood performances, stand up comedians and musicians entertained passersby.

And at the Kenneth More Theatre, Oakfield Road, Ilford there was even a chocolate samosa class together with children’s plays and art displays.

Diwali at Number 10

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Kapil Dudakia

On the 6th of November Prime Minister David Cameron hosted what will go down in history as one of the most extraordinary Diwali celebrations at the official place of residence of a sitting head of state.

The day started with those who had been lucky enough to secure the golden pass.

Whilst queuing in the rain outside 10 Downing Street, you could hear the sheer excitement and anticipation in the little discussions taking place between friends and newly formed friendships.

Cometh the hour and with eagerness we proceeded through security points. You walk down one of the most famous streets in the world – looking around and counting the house numbers – 12, 11 and there it is, Number 10 and the famous black door with the traditional British bobby on duty outside.

The entourage makes its way up the stairs taking note of the paintings and pictures of all the past prime ministers of our country. And just when you blink – you are welcomed by a majestic handmade peacock. Now where have I seen that before I wonder and it comes to me that this is the very same peacock that I had seen at the BAPS Neasden Mandir

on Sunday. How did they ever manage to get that into Number 10 I wonder?

As we make way the sheer scope of what the volunteers of BAPS have done to Number 10 becomes apparent. They have transformed the Prime Minister’s official residence into little India with the rainbow of colours, the rangoli patterns, beautiful paintings and artefacts, and of course the impressive annakut.

The gathering waited with baited breath and then that moment when you sense the electricity charging through the crowd – and yes, they were right. The Prime Minister enters the room meeting and greeting people. Stopping constantly to have a few words with those he recognised as well as those he was meeting for the first time.

Photos are taken with some of the lucky ones who will take back a memento of their memories at Number 10 with their Prime Minister.

The event begins with Vedic chanting and the lighting of the Diva. Then the sound of 15 children singing the bhajan, ‘Ayodhya vasi Raam Raam Raam’ begins. The Prime Minister mesmerised as was the audience. Here we are in Number 10, the home of our Prime Minister and pupils from Krishna Avanti Primary and

Secondary School are singing their hearts out.

The singing was accompanied by live music performed also by the pupils playing the tablas, harmonium and manjiras. I stood on the side and marvelled at how children can transform the lives of a nation by their innocence and simplicity.

The Prime Minister then gave a touching speech. Speaking about his recent visit to the Neasden Temple, the Prime Minister said, “It was a beautiful service; it was lovely to see so many people packed into a temple and queues stretching round the block; people wanting to celebrate their belief, wanting to celebrate their faith, and wanting to do so with their families, with their neighbours, with their friends. It was a really wonderful thing to do and I want to thank those that asked me to take part.”

He then went on to talk about the strong relationship between Britain and India. He said, “It’s a vibrant relationship. It has so many parts to it.

There’s all the shared history, there’s the shared language. There’s the great excitement about our economies. India invests more into the United Kingdom than the rest of Europe put together. Britain is one of the top 3 investors into India.

Some of the projects, some of the businesses

The 2pm to 7pm event attracted hundreds of people reflecting the region’s multicultural make-up.

The packed programme featured dances by Bollywood Dreams’ Reena Tailor-Panchal and her team, a live demo on healthy cooking, a prayer

by Anjali Mianger, stalls, cultural performances and much more.

The lamp was lit by the Lord Mayor who joked, “thank goodness I’ve got my best socks on today,” as he removed his shoes as a mark of respect. He reminded guests that Birmingham had the youngest population of any city in Europe; 47% of Birmingham’s over 1 million population are under the age of 35.

Guests included veteran teacher Ramanbhai Parmar and his wife Nirmalaben, a former radio presenter, Mukeshbhai Ladwa and Harishbhai Wara, Presidents, respectively, of Shri Lakshminarayan Temple and Shri Ram Mandir, Yvonne Mosquito, west Midlands’ Deputy Police & Crime

Commissioner and Cllr Paula Smith (Lib Dem; Hall Green).

MP Uppal beautifully summed up the simple philosophy of Diwali: “When I first met my wife, and she walked into the room, she lit up the room.

And when I see my children at the end of every Thursday when I’m tired and exhausted, they light up my face and their faces light up too.” Referring to Jo Thanki as “aunty”, MP Uppal thanked her and HCB for inviting him. In turn, mother-of-two Mrs Thanki, a remarkable pillar of the Hindu community in the Midlands, heaped praise on HCB’s General Secretary Ramanbhai Bulsara who, she said, was the “backbone2 of HCB, without whom this event would not happen. Credit must also be given to Vinodbhai Mehta, a former President of HCB, who now serves the organisation as a volunteer, for his selfless contributions.

The event culminated with a fireworks display.

To find out more about HCB visitwww.hcb.org.uk

Hindu Council Birmingham hosts Diwali reception

Dhiren Katwa

More Asians, in particular younger British Indians must be encouraged to enter politics, the President of Hindu Council Birmingham (HCB) said in her address to a gathering of VIPs. Jo Thanki, speaking at HCB’s annual Diwali celebration at New Bingley Hall in Hockley, Birmingham, last Sunday, also thanked the army of volunteers, old and young, male and female, for their hard work throughout the year.

The top table featured HCB’s spiritual advisor Ramnikbhai Dave, Birmingham City Council’s Cabinet Member for Social Cohesion & equalities Cllr John Cotton, Mr R Swain representing Mr Ramalingam, the Indian Consul General in B i r m i n g h a m , Birmingham’s Lord Mayor Cllr Mike Leddy and Lady Mayoress Pauline Leddy and Pushpinder, aka Paul Uppal, MP for Wolverhampton South West.

DIWALI CELEBRATIONS

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PM Cameron lighting a diya to formally start the Diwali celebrations at his residence in 10 Downing Street

underway are thrilling.

The cooperation between our universities, our shared love of sport.

There’s so much that we share together.”

After praising the contribution young British Indians have made, he concluded his speech by thanking guests for attending. He said, “Thank you for celebrating Diwali, once again, here in Number 10 Downing Street. The point I will want to leave you with is, as I say, the shared things that all our religions bring. When I look at the Ramayana and my understanding of the Hindu religion, there’s so much that you have to say about the importance of family, about the importance of community, about the importance of voluntary service – these are all the

values that our country needs more of. So, as you celebrate your values, let’s make them our values, and let’s have more of them in Britain. Thank you very much indeed.”

I spoke to a number of people and amongst them was Shri Satish Sharma the Secretary General of the National Council of Hindu Temples (UK) who said: ‘Attention to detail, courtesy, care, shared dignity and respect were very much in evidence and there was a clear and undeniable desire to engage with the Hindu community as equals, equals capable of contributing fresh perspectives to long-standing key policy areas’.

As I travelled back home I had some thoughts. Britain is my home and that of my chil-

dren and theirs. I see evidence that even though there is huge diversity, that those communities that want to integrate, can do so and become part of the very fabric of British society. This is where we are today. The Prime Minister deserves a huge amount of credit in giving so much flexibility in how Diwali was celebrated at Number 10. I doubt if there is any head of state anywhere in the world that has opened their doors so widely and allowed such positive engagement with the Hindu community.

So I take this opportunity to sign off by saying to you all. From everyone at Gujarat Samachar, Asian Voice and myself – Diwali ki Hardik Shubhkamnaye and Nutun Varsha Na Abhinandan.

Metropolitan Police Hindu Association celebrates Diwali

RH Keith Vaz MP

On Tuesday 29 October 2013, Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan Howe attended the Diwali Celebration in New Scotland Yard hosted by Metropolitan Police Hindu Association.

The event began with the lighting of a candle in memory of and tribute to Officer Andrew Duncan

by Lord Swaraj Paul.

Sir Bernard Hogan Howe was invited to open the event by Deputy Chairperson Satya Minhas by the lighting of a candle. The aarti was persormed by MPHA members Lord Paul and Sir Bernard Hogan Howe.

The Commissioner was presented with a garland

by Swarah Sivakumar, a young classical dance artist from Redbridge and then was invited by Chairperson V a r s h a Mistry to address over a hundred g u e s t s including RH Keith Vaz MP, Assistant Sir Bernard Hogan Howe Commisioner Presisident Shree SC&O Mark Rowley, Prajapati Mandal East.

Commander Chishty, Cultural performances, Commander Hanstock, traditional and Commander Sultan modern and pure vegetariTaylor, MPSC an refreshments were Commander Fred Ahmed, offered to guests in attenRajnish Kashyap dance.

Secretary General Hindu Sir Bernard Hogan Council UK, Arjanbhai Howe, thanked the Vekaria President Hindu Met.Police Hindu Assn for Forum of Britain, Mr organising the Diwali Nand Kumar Directory event and stated he is Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, committed to working Min Bhogatia director towards delivering an Deloitte Forensics, Sarita increase in Police Officers Aggarwal Art of Living, and enhancing the diversiRena Amin BAPS ty profile of the MPS to Swaminarayan Mandir, reflect the communities of Harsha Trivedi Brahmin London.

Samaj, Balwantrai Mistry

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Anurag Kashyap and Censor Board's standoff!

nurag Kashyap's forthcoming film “Ugly” was slated to release on 11th A October 2013, but the release was

moved forward to next year to release on January 3rd, 2013. Apparently, it was Anurag's unwillingness to carry the “Cigarette smoking is injurious to health” disclaimer in the smoking scenes featured in the film which lead to it getting pushed. A spokesperson added, "The CBFC has directed us to insert a disclaimer in shots where a cigarette is visible, for the film to be certified. We are not carrying the disclaimer. We will consider other options."

Bullet Raja' to be released in US before India

Sridivya on cloud nine!

S

ridivya who made her Tamil debut with “Varuthapadadha Valibar Sangam,” has been flooded with film offers after the success of her debut flick. This young actress has already signed two big films in which she stars opposite GV Prakash and her next flick with director Suseenthiran, which stars Vishnu. It is also said she has several film offers linedup for her nod, but she is making sure to act only in good films. Will she be the next top actress in Kollywood? Let us wait and watch.

aif Ali KhanSonakshi Sinha starS rer film "Bullet Raja" will

be released in the US on November 28, a day before it opens up in Indian theater, promoters of the movie announced. Though it is one of the rarest occasions that a Bollywood movie is released in the US ahead of its India release, its promoters in the US said that this was being done to coincide with the Thanksgiving Day - Thursday, November 28 - to get maximum commercial benefit. Being directed by Tigmanshu Dhulia, "Bullet Raja" is scheduled to be released in some 100 theaters across the US and Canada.

My life is controversial: Kamal Haasan

O

m Puri may regret allowing his nowestranged wife to write his explosive biography. But there is someone who avoided a similar controversy just at the nick of time. Kamal Hassan, while granting rights to a couple of writers for books that chart his phenomenal rise as an actor/filmmaker, has not been as generous with someone closer home. Apparently Sarika had pitched a book to several top publishe rs about her ex- husband. It would have been a tell-all, from the point of view from someone who's shared his life as wife and mother to his two beautiful daughters.

But Kamal struck it down before Sarika could take it any further. "My life is controversial (read colourful)," he reportedly told a close friend while discussing the idea of an official biography that would have his blessings. "And I don't want my children to be affected with what is written without my consent."

Want to do a love story again: Akshay Kumar

fter working on back-to-back action-comedy films, Bollywood A superstar Akshay Kumar says he

misses doing a love story. "I haven't done a love story in a long time.

That's something I would like to explore again. And also, I wanted to do a horror film for a long time. I genuinely believe the Indian audience is ready for a big scale horror film," Akshay said. "I don't work all the time, I take breaks in between. I take around 60 days to finish a film. And I do four films a year on an average. That makes a total of 240 days that I am working. The rest of the days are reserved for my family. That's when we take our vacations and breaks," he said.

Parineeti beats Alia to romance Ranbir

A

lia Bhatt has been desperate to work with Ranbir, so much that the “Student of the Year” actor has talked about it openly.

But looks like Alia’s wish to be Ranbir’s heroine is yet to come true, on the other hand P a r i n e e t i Chopra has bagged Karan Johar’s upcoming film with the “Barfi” actor. Considering that KJo mentored young Alia, it definitely must have been disappointing for the actor. If the pairing of Ranbir and Parineeti is finalised, this will be for the first time that they will appear on big screen together.

‘Krrish 3’ breaks ‘Chennai Express’ record

Hrithik Roshan’s “Krrish 3” broke the records previously held by good friend and “Chennai Express” star Shahrukh Khan.

Hrithik is ecstatic and says, “Records, these are all facts and figures, which are essential to define the progress of cinema or any other mode of work. So it’s not about breaking records, it’s about being inspired by the previous records and then taking it forward. I hope and I pray to god that the next one that comes after Krrish 3 breaks its record and that is evolution, that is progress. Keep breaking the records.”

Vijay Singh is Mallika's ‘khayaalon ka raja’

According to a source Vijay Singh is the winner of “The Bachelorette India - Mere Khayalon Ki Mallika.” Singh, a model who hails from Himachal Pradesh has become Mallika's dream man after defeating 29 contestants. Vijay Singh is the same man whom Mallika Sherawat chose to kiss on the show few days ago after being charmed by the adequate romantic evening he had organized for her. After the kissing episode it was clear that Mallika has a soft corner for him. Mallika was mighty impressed with Vijay when he chose to propose to her in front of the Taj Mahal of Agra, the penultimate embodiment of love in India.

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 16th November 2013

Nazriya turns Singer

T

he current sensation of the Tamil industry - Nazriya, turns singer with her next flick.

The actress has become one of the busiest actresses in the Tamil and Malayalam films after her debut bilingual flick “Neram.” After the success of “Raja Rani,” she has been flooded with offers in Tamil. Now, reports claim that Nazriya will try her luck in singing in Malayalam. She would lend her voice for her upcoming Malayalam flick “Salaa Mobiles,” in which she stars opposite Dulquer Salman.

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I am traditional when it comes to love: Deepika

ollywood actress Deepika Padukone, whose sizzling onscreen chemistry with “Ram-Leela” co-star Ranveer Singh is talk of the town, says her notions about B romance are very traditional. The 27-year-old actress is playing a free-spirited girl

opposite Ranveer in the musical adaptation of William Shakespeare's tragedy “Romeo and Juliet.”

"I believe in the old school form of love, which I have seen growing up with my parents and my extended family. I am very traditional when it comes to love, marriage and relationships. This is because I do not know any other way as I have been brought up like this," Deepika said.

For the actress, who has collaborated with Sanjay Leela Bhansali for the first time, has been the most difficult film in her career. "'Ram Leela has been the most difficult film that I have done. This is because I had to go on the shoot like a blank slate everyday and he (Bhansali) would mould me. I would go on the sets and take the day as it came. So, it was unnerving because you don't know how the day would go," she said. Deepika has given powerful dance performances in the film but she did not undergo any formal training to polish her dance moves.

If laughter is the best medicine – ‘Bha Ji in Problem’ is the best doctor!

fter the super success of “Carry on Jatta” and “Lucky di Unlucky Story,” director Smeep Kang presents another family comedy – “Bha Ji in Problem.” Produced by the Bollywood star Akshay Kumar and starring Punjab’s beloved actor, A Gippy Grewal, the film will be released worldwide on 15th November.

Big B's twitter account crosses 7 mn followers

God knows from where superstar Amitabh Bachchan must be finding time to get indulged in so many things and still find time to do justice to each. No doubt that he is one of the busiest stars today, the fact also remains that he is one of the most active people on the social networking platforms. His recent 'achievement' is that his twitter account has now crossed a whopping 7 million followers!

Tweeting about which, the Big B said, "Thank you all. Its 7 million plus on twitter".

Apart from Gippy Grewal, others starring in the film are Akshay Kumar, Gurpreet Ghuggi, Rana Ranbir, BN Sharma, Ragini Khanna, Om Puri and Khushbu Grewal, joined onscreen by Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh. The music directors are Jatender Shah and Surinder Rattan.

‘Sundeep Cheema’ (Gurpreet Ghuggi) is married to two women, both of them unaware of the existence of the other.

The wives think that he has business to take care of and is thus away - half the time. Sundeep generally leads a happy life.

While the wives give him occasional trouble, the secret of his double life and matrimony makes him feel even.

However, the balance of his duality is threatened when ‘Jeeta’ (Gippy Grewal) enters his life. Jeeta falls in love with ‘Preet’ (Ragini Khanna), a match that Sundeep is dead against. Sundeep is aware of Jeeta’s notorious past, while Jeeta is privy to Sundeep’s dual existence.

And so the battle begins. In this comedy of errors of epic proportions, both sides know the deepest and the most intimate secrets of the other, which each wants to protect at any cost, holding it over the other’s head. So begins a battle of wit, charm and one-upmanship. One hilarious situation unfolds after another as the two friends sink further into problem, each attempt to get out of one only landing them in deeper!

Love between SRK-Salman not possible: Salim Khan alman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan are seen as rivals in Bollywood and Salman's father Salim Khan said that it was not S possible for two competitors to appreciate each other's work.

Salim Khan just patched up with his writing partner Javed Akhtar to unveil the trailer of the 3D version of their 1975 cult film "Sholay". They parted ways about 32 years ago after writing together hit scripts like "Zanjeer", "Sholay", "Deewaar" and "Mr. India".

When asked would the hit pair of "Karan - Arjun" (Shah Rukh and Salman) ever appear as Jai and Veeru in future, Salim Khan said: "They are individuals and grown up people, and such things happen, but there cannot be love between rivals. It's not possible.

Only saints can do that."

"If Shah Rukh's film does well, Salman will not throw a party and vise versa. Dilip Kumar and Dev Anand had maintained, but now these kids are impatient. They feel bad for small things, but there should be courtesy amongst rivals," he added.

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FINANCIAL VOICE Financial Voice

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 16th November2013

Dear Financial Voice Reader, Major currency pairs testing important support levels, what to expect on an event-heavy week ahead The previous week was a busy one for the currency market as we witnessed significant developments across all major pairs. The theme was an extended pro-Dollar rally across the board as the US currency gained a lot against its peers. The Euro dropped from 1.3820 to 1.3480 within one week which is the largest weekly loss for the Single European currency since 2012 while the British Pound also fell from 1.6200 to 1.5900.

The sell-off in the Euro was attributed to less dovish comments coming from the FOMC statement as the Fed appeared to be less pessimistic over the prospects of the US economy in comparison to what the market was expecting. Moreover, comments from European policymakers hinting to a possibility of another LTRO round next year led the Euro lower. This week we will have the chance however to listen to the ECB President himself as ECB Rate Decision is scheduled for Thursday. Should Mario Draghi appear concerned and hint to lowering rates then the Euro will take another dive taking the currency below 1.3400 but if the ECB President shrugs off previous negative comments made from his colleagues then the Euro will recover radically. On Monday growth in Germany came out a bit stronger than previously eyed and this drove the Euro near 1.3520 before settling there for the rest of the day.

The Pound is also at risk this week as key sectors' reports are expected and we believe that should the recent deterioration in figures continue this will lead the British currency even lower. The Pound had a upwards rally during previous months but it is now apparent that momentum has shifted and investors are positioning for a weaker Pound in the coming period.

On Monday, however, the Pound had a significant rise as the PMI Construction Index came at 59.4, the highest level in 6 years lifting the Pound at 1.5980. On Tuesday the PMI Services Index is also expected and a possible surprise reading here could send the Pound either way.

Across the Pond, the Non-Farm Payrolls report is also scheduled for Friday but market participants are already braced for a low printing as the US shutdown will have unavoidably taken its toll on the job market.

At the same time, many US policymakers are voicing their optimism over the recent growth in the US and they are calling for tapering sooner than later. Dallas Fed President Fisher - not a voting member of the FOMC this year but will be voting next year - said he believes the “Fed should resume normal policy as soon as they possibly can” while FOMC voter Bullard called the current level of asset purchases at $85 per month "a torrid pace” and he’d rather “get out of it.” I remain skeptical over this recent wide-spread optimism and I would like to see how big an impact the US shutdown had on the domestic economy prior to making an estimation on when to expect Fed to start tapering.

JLR earns more than 1 bn half-year profit

range of sports cars and cross-over cars featuring the latest in lightweight aluminium technology, a spend expected to create another 1,700 jobs.

Including these latest jobs, JLR would have created almost 11,000 new posts in Britain over the past three years, the company said. JLR’s performance compensated for continuing losses in the standalone Tata car business.

The Indian company

said: The weak operating environment in the India business was more than offset by the increase in wholesale volumes and richer product and market mix at Jaguar Land Rover.

JLR said the figures reflected strong demand for the new and refreshed Jaguar and Land Rover line up, lifted over the period by the sales debut of the Jaguar F-type and Range Rover Sport and a strong Range Rover performance.

Revenues jumped 26 pc to 8.71 billion pounds, with retail sales volumes rising 16 pc year on year to 197,363 units. The sales momentum accelerated in the second quarter when revenues leapt 40 pc to 4.61 billion pounds, with profits before tax reaching 668 million. JLR made 1.68 billion pound profits on 15.8 billion pound revenues for the whole of its last financial year.

The latest figures highlight the transformation of a business under its Indian owners, who were widely decried for overpaying when Tata bought the business from Ford in 2008 for 1.15 billion pounds.

Ralf Speth, JLR’s chief executive, said: Our unrelenting focus on design, technology, innovation and quality has seen Jaguar Land Rover reach global consumers in more markets than ever before, thanks to its most engaging product line-up.

State Bank of India in UK has launched free online remittance savings account through which customers can benefit from free online remittances and a debit card facility. New account offers 1.5% AER on deposits between £500 and £1 million.

The facility is available to anyone above 18 years in UK looking to send money to India. The account enables people to sign up online with no minimum deposit and carry out free remittances via its website. The prod-

uct will be the only UK remittance account that offers a debit card, which can be used to make free cash withdrawals in the UK and in India at SBI ATMs. Those who choose to use the account’s savings facility will also earn interest on balances between £500 and £1 million at the rate of 1.5% AER. Anil Arora, head of

marketing for the UK, said: “We wanted to offer a simple and convenient way for people to send money home. This account is for anyone who is sending money to India and doesn’t have time to fill in forms or go into a branch each time. Consumers want convenience and our new account offers a free and simple way of sending money to most bank branches all over India.”

Key features of the savings account are: Free

online money transfer to India with confirmed exchange rate 24/7; no minimum balance is required; interest paid on balances between £500 and £1 million; debit card is provided; account managed online and interest paid (if applicable) on a monthly basis; open to individuals aged 18 and above and should be resident in the UK and has a permanent UK address; State Bank of India is covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. Terms and conditions apply.

sentence it had already imposed, the court further ordered Gupta to pay the statutory maximum civil penalty of $13.9 million even though Gupta himself never traded on the information and made no money from any of the trades,” the lawyers said.

Harvard-educated Gupta was indicted in October 2011 and charged in a superseding indictment with one count of conspiracy and five counts of securities fraud. A jury convicted Gupta of conspiracy and three counts of securities fraud, and acquitted him of the two remaining counts of securities fraud in June 2012.

Gupta has appealed against his conviction and is awaiting the decision of the appeals court while on bail.

It is easiest to start a business in New Delhi within India, while Hyderabad is the fastest for closing an enterprise, says a World Bank study.

On the other hand, Kolkata is the toughest place for closing a business among 17 cities, while Bengaluru requires the maximum efforts to start a company, it says.

The city-wise details are part of separate 216page report by World Bank and International Finance Corporation (IFC) on doing business in India, which was ranked 134th globally in terms of ease of doing business.

According to the report, it requires 32 days for starting a business in New Delhi, while it takes 40 days to register a company in Bengaluru.

Besides, a total of 11 pro-

cedures (any interaction of the company founders with external parties such as government agencies, lawyers and auditors) is required to register a firm in New Delhi, while 13 procedures need to be followed in case of Bengaluru, the study said.

In terms of ease of doing business within India, New Delhi is followed by Patna, Jaipur, Hyderabad and Bhubaneshwar. When it comes to closing a business, Hyderabad is best place as it takes an average of seven years to wind up an enterprise, while Kolkata is the toughest place for closing a firm by taking an average of 10.8 years.

Among other top five cities, where closing a business is easy are Ludhiana, Mumbai,

Ahmedabad and Bhubaneshwar.

In the 'Ease of Doing Business' ranking of 189 economies, India has dropped from 131 spot to 134 position, while Singapore continues to remain at the top.

The rankings are based on various parameters including starting a business, dealing with construction permits, getting electricity, registering property, getting credit, protecting investors, paying taxes, trading across borders, enforcing contracts and resolving insolvency.

Overall, India's business environment has come for criticism on various issues in the past including in Vodafone tax dispute and recently in the case of industrialist Kumar Mangalam Birla.

India's Tata-owned Jaguar Land Rover has powered to half-year profits of over 1 billion pounds for the first time, boosted by global demand for the new Jaguar F-Type and Range Rover Sport.

JLR said that it would invest 2.75 billion pounds in its products and facilities in the financial year to March 2014.

According to a report, the UK-based car maker surprised analysts with a better than expected 42 pc rise in profits to top 1.08 billion pound for the six months to September 30.

In Britain, it is opening a new 500 million pound engine factory in Wolverhampton next year, with the creation of 1,400 jobs, while in September JLR announced plans for further expansion of its Solihull factory in Birmingham.

The company said it would invest 1.5 billion pounds to support a new

SBI in UK launches free online remittance service

Rajat Gupta challenges $13.9 million fine, life ban

India-born former Goldman Sachs director Rajat Gupta has asked a US appeals court to overturn a court’s ruling that he pay a hefty $13.9-million fine in the insider trading case and sought reversing a life ban on him from serving as director of a public company.

In a brief filed in the US Court of Appeals, Gupta’s lawyers argued that the district court “abused” its discretion in imposing the statutory maximum civil penalty on Gupta of $13.9 million, which is triple the benefit hedge-fund manager Raj Rajaratnam had obtained from the tips Gupta allegedly passed on to him.

The lawyers said the penalty was excessive in light of Gupta, 64, already

Rajat Gupta

facing a $5-million fine and two-year prison sentence in a parallel criminal insider trading case.

“In fixing the amount of Gupta’s civil penalty, the court failed to consider - as it was required to do - the deterrent effect of the other penalties it had imposed...

And without even considering the deterrent effect of the substantial criminal

(L to R) Ralf Speth, CEO of Jaguar Land Rover, Ravindra Pisharody, Executive Director & Head, Commercial Vehicle Business Unit, Tata Motors and Karl Slym, Managing Director, Tata Motors

Delhi easiest place to start a business in India: World Bank study

FINANCIAL VOICE

Proof of the pudding is in the taste!

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 16th November2013

Suresh Vagjiani

Sow & Reap A Property Investment Company

19

Last Wednesday at 9.30pm I had a call telling me we had just exchanged on a deal in Ealing Broadway for £4.8m. Luckily our lawyer does what is needed to complete the deal and so he stayed in the office answering queries until the purchaser's lawyer was ready to do the exchange.

We had ourselves exchanged on this property for £4.2m only seven weeks prior to reselling it for £4.8m. We knew it was a good deal even at the price we were initially offered it at which was £4.5m. The property consisted of four commercial shops on the ground floor with a residential property above; the residential had planning for 12 one bedroom flats, on which initial work had started.

This was done purely to keep the planning permission alive, if work does not start planning could lapse.

The sellers were particularly difficult in this transaction. First of all they did not want to sell the property in a company, despite it being no skin off their nose. And secondly after exchange they proved very difficult to allow access into the property.

As soon as we exchanged we went to work on reselling the property back on again. We had an initial offer of £4.6m with another party which we were progressing with. The agent was told in order to get his full 2% commission he would need to get us £4.8m as we had agreed only 1.5% on the basis of a £4.6m sale.

So he secured the deal at £4.6m at 1.5% commission, and then went to work on getting a higher offer whilst the current buyer was progressing.

In all fairness until the deal is done there is always a danger of either party pulling out. Conversely in the above situation the buyer could have pulled out leaving us hanging.

At this level of the market you generally get people who know what they're doing and how to operate, especially when there is already a buyer on the table. They know as soon as the 2nd contract goes out they and their solicitors need to move fast as the original buyer will be alerted and get their skates on.

In a n ut sh el l t h e d e al was d o ne wit h a n u mbe r o f se parat e in v est o rs who m we had b rou g ht t og e th e r. W e h ad rai sed £2. 5m in cash fo r th is d e al, me ani n g it was ov ersu b scri be d, no rma ll y we ai m fo r 50% o f th e pu rc hase p rice in c ash wh ich in t hi s c ase wou l d be £2.25m .

means no stopping. For a high street supermarket this would be a godsend for deliveries, which they need daily due to a lack of storage space. The current rental of the commercial is £183,000, with a high street supermarket you would expect a rent of no less than £250,000 this would increase the value of the commercial alone to £4m at least.

The upstairs too had various angles, one was to redo the planning and increase the number of flats. The planning it seemed was done simply for resell purposes and didn’t have much thought behind it.

The point was this deal had plenty of potential to expand in many different directions if we ended up with it.

However it was the trade which happened. This gave a short and sharp profit. A solid return on the money invested which was in this case £420k. The returns for the investors will be 65% net over a two and a half month period. Needless to say the investors were exceptionally happy with this deal.

For one group of investors this was the first time they were working with us, this was their test run. Normally it goes like this: Uncle comes to see me and says he has got £50k to invest, we say you cannot do much in central London with £50k, and it is only central London (and a few exceptions) where we recommend.

Only £420k was required to be committed in cash. It took rather a long time to close this deal due to the negotiations around the deal and to get the price reduced.

This was to the frustration of some of the investors who in all fairness deposited the money on time in the lawyer's account in anticipation of a quick exchange.

Finally after a protracted negotiation we managed to exchange on the deal; much later and for £300k less than they were asking for.

Once this was done we went to work on the resale of the property. Our logic was simple, there are investors who do residential and others who do commercial. Let's split the investment up and sell the bits on to the relevant parties. Ealing Broadway is a strong and vibrant area and an area which is increasing in value almost week by week. The property is also in the middle of a new development called Dickens Yard.

The commercial ground floor units had an interesting angle to them, if you vacated all the tenants you would have a large floor plate.

What was interesting here was that the rear of the building backed on to a car park and therefore this would be ideal for deliveries. On the front side you have the Broadway which has a double red line this

Y ou th e ref o re n e ed to co mb in e yo u r in ve stm e nt . H e agre e s, t h e £50k tu rn s in to £70k . Un cl e t he n c all s m e u p an d s ays he wan t s th e n ext d e al v ery q u ic kl y. Gre at! Ok Un cl e h o w mu c h mo ne y d o yo u h ave t o in ve st an d Un c le s ays £750k in c ash!

The Real Deal

I say Uncle why didn’t you say in the beginning?

This is normally the protocol. I do understand this as the proof of the pudding is in the taste. But it does get annoying too, as the track record is there for all to see.

However this group were very generous in their level of investment especially for a first deal and they were very pleased with the level of return in the short space of time. Needless to say they're now in for the next deal, in which they are planning to increase their investment and rotate it into our fund which will be doing deals such as this on a continuing basis.

If you like the sound of this return we have a track record of all the London trades we have done over the last couple of years.

We have ways to make your money work hard for you using property as the vehicle. If you're interested please call our office and see how we can work your capital.

I believe that over the next two years you will see London property prices rise to even higher unprecedented levels.

This is a great time to invest and this is one of the strongest methods to make your money work hard for you. Get in touch with us now.

Prince Albert Road, London, NW8 Purchase Price: £1.6m l A very spacious three bedroom balcony apartment l Opposite Regent's Park l 24 hour porterage, lift, communal roof terrace and underground parking l Share of Freehold l End value after works expected to be around £2.35m Call us now if you would like to have a piece of the pie!

0207 993 0103

We provide a turnkey solution. Contact us now:

Specialists in

Central London Property Sourcing

info@sowandreap.co.uk

www.sowandreap.co.uk

55 Bryanston Street, Marble Arch Tower, London, W1H 7AA

Follow us online:

Sowandreapuk

SowandReapProperties

Tips of the Week

l There are two ways to source a good property investment, one is to buy a 'Below Market Value' property, the other is to foresee the trend and buy at market value.

Buying in a strong location reduces the risk. l Normally the best buy and flip opportunities are on the top of the pyramid, i.e. priced at £1.5m and above. If you don't have the required cash, you can join hands with others and start investing.

20

FINANCIAL VOICE

Prime sites don't S&P to review rating after India’s always work, says Lok Sabha polls Asian exhibitor

Rudy Otter

People who take part in exhibitions always try to secure "prime sites" where visitors will hopefully flock to their stands, says Gujarati businessman Raju Shah. However, this year at the annual "lunch!" food event in Angel, north London, Shah, who previously took a stand facing the entrance, found himself further away, a move that drew "more visitors than ever," he chuckled.

Shah, co-director with his brother Kapur of family-run business Kavis Ltd of Wembley, leading suppliers since 1980 of environmentally friendly catering disposables made from paper, plastic, foil, foam and bamboo, said he suddenly found himself dealing with 120 enquirers soon after the 290-stand two-day show opened in September for the UK's retailing, hospitality, snacking and catering sectors.

Shah said their clients include independents to multiples, plus bars and cafes. His in-laws, he said, are keen readers of Asian Voice's sister paper, Gujarat Samachar, which they had as a Diwali gift subscription years ago and have "happily kept taking the paper every week since".

Journalist Catherine Furze was reading a novel which mentioned flavoured popcorn which intrigued her. She and husband Richard, an IT consultant, decided in 2008 to set up the Consett Popcorn Company in County Durham and their best sellers in a 5-flavour gourmet range include sweet cinnamon as well as chilli and lime which are especially popular in coffee shops and pubs, respectively. Higher repeat sales prove "we're tastier and more affordable", she beamed.

Manaaz Akhtar, regional marketing director of Subway Europe, gave a talk on catering for the family covering nutrition, interacting with children and building global relationships.

Other participants included Farsan of Leicester producing "hand-crafted ethnic savouries", GFT Retail of Surrey providing peanuts in jalfrezi and tikka flavours, and New York Delhi of south-west London selling peanuts and cashews in various spicy flavours.

Also there was Prashanti Sharma, sales assistant for Dina Foods of London's Park Royal promoting soft bread wraps.

Britain's biggest clothing retailer Marks & Spencer wants to convince India's young and trendy that it is fashionable too as it looks to offset slowing profit growth and declining sales overall.

To succeed, it has to take on the world's biggest fashion retailer Inditex SA and its Zara brand, which has managed to outperform Marks & Spencer in India even though it set up shop in one of the world's biggest retail markets almost a decade later.

"Since they entered, Marks & Spencer has had one issue and that is getting their positioning right," said Harminder Sahani, managing director of retail consultancy Wazir Advisors.

"They are now trying to become hot and happening and that is a very competitive segment," he said.

Marks & Spencer wants to grow in India, a market that sees $ 38 billion of apparel sales a year and where the biggest spenders are, on average, aged 35 and below.

Chief Executive Marc Bolland is opening the retailer's biggest India store in a fashionable shopping area of Mumbai. Regulatory fil-

ings, however, show the retailer has failed to turn a profit in India since 2009.

Consultants say M&S has struggled since it set up shop in Asia's third largest economy in 2000, squandering its "first mover" advantage.

Image problem Bolland has built his global recovery plan for M&S around offering higher quality, more stylish fashion. Clothing sales, however, have fallen for nine straight quarters, the retailer said last week, and first half profits fell nine per cent. In India, Marks & Spencer Reliance Retail Ltd. reported a net loss of 25.95 million rupees in the year ended March 2012 on gross revenue of 2.8 billion rupees, according to the most recent filing at the Registrar of Companies (ROC).

In the same period, Inditex Trent Retail India Ltd, which operates Zara stores in India, reported a profit of 383 million rupees on total income of 2.6 billion rupees, according to ROC filings. In the year ended March 2013, the three-year-old joint venture saw profits rise 18 per cent to 452 million rupees.

Marks & Spencer takes stylish bid in India

Global ratings agency Standard & Poor’s said that it would review its rating on India after the 2014 general elections but cautioned that it might lower it within a year if there was continued policy drift.

However, it also said that it might revise the outlook to stable if it believes that the new government could restore the country’s lost growth potential, consolidate its finances and ensure an effective monetary policy.

The agency retained its BBB (minus) rating on India and said the negative outlook indicated that it might lower the rating to speculative grade next year if the government that takes office after the general elections did not appear capable of reversing the country’s low economic growth. The BBB (minus) is the lowest investment grade rating.

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 16th November 2013

“Barring an unexpected deterioration of the fiscal or external accounts before the election, we expect to review the rating on India after the next general elections when the new government would announce its policy agenda,” the agency said in a statement.

The government has been pitching for a ratings upgrade and had cited the measures taken to contain the current account deficit and the fiscal deficit. A downgrade at this point in time would have hurt confidence and the nascent recovery, choked foreign

fund inflows and made it difficult for domestic companies to raise funds abroad. It would have also have been difficult to defend a downgrade at a time of elections.

The government has taken several steps to avert a ratings downgrade and the efforts of the new Reserve Bank of India (RBI) governor, Raghuram Rajan, won praise from S&P. “.... we expect the financial sector, under the new leadership in the central bank, to be gradually liberalized and a steady disinflationary environment to emerge,” the

agency said.

S&P said India’s strengths are counter-balanced by significant weaknesses, which include an onerous burden from its public finance, lack of progress on structural reforms and shortfalls in basic services.

It said that the next government, regardless of its composition, will face several challenges. The 13th Finance Commission has recommended a central government fiscal deficit target of 4.2% of GDP in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013.

“Although the current Congress administration tried to close the gap to this target, it did so by having one off measures such as compressing unspent Budget allocations and selling minority stakes of non-financial public enterprises to public sector financial enterprises,” the agency said.

India's exports jumped by 13.47 per cent to $27.27 billion in October, while imports dropped by 14.5 per cent, government data showed. According to data released by the commerce and industry ministry, the value of merchandise exports in October was $27.27 billion, as compared to $24.03 billion recorded in the same month last year, registering an year-on-year growth of 13.47 per cent. Imports fell by 14.50 per cent to $37.82 billion during the month under review as compared to $44.24 billion recorded in the corresponding month of last year.

This has left trade deficit of $10.55 billion in October. Trade deficit had narrowed to $6.76 billion in September.

India Post has applied for banking licence to Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and if all goes well it may get the licence in January 2014.

India Post will divide the postal and financial services as part of the arrangement. The banks will handle the banking and financial services for which India Post will hire officials separately. Last month, a four-member parliamentary committee from New Delhi visited Ahmedabad and carried out inspection at the head post office in Navrangpura. The committee also went to Rajkot for the inspection.

According to sources, the first such bank in Gujarat is expected to be opened at Navrangpura post office.

PepsiCo to invest Rs 330 bn in India by 2020: Indra Nooyi

Global beverages and snacks major PepsiCo said it would invest Rs 330 billion in India by 2020 to ramp up operations.

The company, which has so far invested $ 2 billion in India since its entry in 1989, said the investment that it is going to make will strengthen its capability in various strategic areas including innovation, manufacturing, infrastructure and agriculture.

"PepsiCo is going to make an investment of Rs 330 billion in India between now and 2020, that is $ 5.5 billion and the investment is going to be made in manufacturing, agriculture, infrastructure and innovation," PepsiCo chairman and CEO Indra

Nooyi said.

"India is a country with huge potential and it remains an attractive high priority market for PepsiCo. We believe we have only scratched the surface of long term growth opportunities that exist for PepsiCo and our partners," Nooyi said.

Elaborating further, Nooyi said: "The reason we are making investment

in India is because we believe India is a terrific growth story and PepsiCo has a great business in India. We believe that the story is still unfolding and we want to grow in India, with India, for India and this investment showcases our confidence in India and its growth prospects."

Responding to a query, Nooyi said: "We are not guided by elections. We are guided by potential of India. We are not waiting for any election results to invest in India. We are investing in India for its economic story."

In 2010 the company had said it was investing $ 500 million to sustain its growth in India, following up on a similar investment it had made in 2008.

Foreign banks such as Standard Chartered, Citibank and HSBC have an opportunity to play a much larger role in India and possibly even acquire small private banks with the Reserve Bank of India releasing a new framework for setting up of wholly owned subsidiaries by overseas players in the country.

The high point of this framework is that a foreign bank - the largest of which does not have a network exceeding 99 branches will have nearly the same freedom as an Indian private sector bank in opening branches if it chooses to incorporate locally. To incorporate locally, a foreign bank will need to start out with a capital base of Rs 5 billion. Half the directors of the bank should be of Indian origin

and at least one third should be Indian nationals. The foreign banks would also have to lend to farmers and small scale industries and they would also face the same restrictions on CEO compensation that Indian private banks are subject to.

According to Ashvin Parekh, partner, national leader, global financial services, Ernst & Young, the new framework is radical and at the same time measured and well calibrated as it ensures protection of domestic interests while providing foreign banks an opportunity to grow. “Those banks which have long-term interest in India and want to grow their business here will look at incorporation,” he said.

RBI has said that it may force some of the for-

eign banks to incorporate locally if it feels that rules in its home country requires the bank to favour depositors back home over depositors abroad. Foreign banks which account for 0.25% of banking assets in India may also be forced to convert into a local entity.

Domestic incorporation may also be made mandatory for banks that do not have adequate disclosure requirement in their home jurisdiction, or those that have a complex structure or are very closely held.

“Wholly owned subsidiaries may be permitted, subject to regulatory approvals, to enter into mergers and acquisition transactions with any private sector bank in India subject to the overall foreign investment limit of 74%,” RBI said.

Indra Nooyi

RBI to ease norms to unshackle foreign banks

India's exports jump in October

India Post seeks RBI nod to start own bank

FINANCIAL VOICE

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 16th November2013

21

Foreign Exchange

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

Job numbers hit 5 year high The pound continued to be buoyed in the week ending 8th November 2013 as data revealed that UK service sector activity, which makes up 70% of total GDP, grew at its fastest rate since May 1997. Along with last month’s impressive manufacturing and construction figures as well, the data suggests, according to Markit, that the UK is growing at a rate of 1.3% for the fourth quarter, from 0.8% in the third quarter.

Data from the UK’s manufacturing and industrial sector also showed that output increased further in September, lending to further support for the pound this morning.

Also a report by Reed Plc, showed that job numbers in the UK have hit a 5 year high. This continues the recent trend of optimism around the UK economy. A better jobs picture for the UK would give a good case for the Bank of England to raise interest rates.

Although interest rates were held at 0.5%, recent data may cause the Bank of England to raise its growth forecasts for the UK and may even prompt mem-

bers of the MPC to bring an interest rate closer in the UK’s quarterly inflation report due to be released on the 13th November.

The US dollar drew support after Non-Farm Payroll figures for October increasing considerably more than economists expected. The estimates were for 125k added to the previous month’s figures, but there was actually 204k added. Despite the positive Non-Farm Payroll figures, the unemployment rate for the USA actually increased from 7.2% to 7.3%, which were in line with analysts’ predictions.

Additional data from the

Institute of Supply Management showed that manufacturing activity rose to 56.4 in October and America’s service sector grew more than expected in October to 55.4 from 54.4 in September, despite the government shutdown.

Sentiment on the US dollar may well be changing as the impact of the shutdown on the economy may well not be as bad as analysts were initially expecting with some even speculating that tapering of quantitative easing may start sooner than forecasts of March 2014.

The euro suffered in the week ending 8th November as

Mario Draghi surprised markets by slashing interest rates to 0.25% The European Central Bank reiterated its forward guidance that borrowing costs will remain at their present or lower levels for an extended period of time, and also pledged that "our monetary policy stance will remain accommodative for as long as necessary". Suggesting a further cut below 0.25% is still possible.

A major determining factor in the decision made was the report published on 31st October showing the region’s annual inflation rate unexpectedly fell to 0.7 percent last month, the least since November 2009.

The European Commission downgraded its growth forecasts for the Eurozone to 1.1% from 1.2% for 2014. The Commission also raised their concerns at the level of unemployment, predicting for the unemployment rate to hit 12.2% by the year end As a result of this news the Euro fell against all of its major trading partners and the most in two years versus the US dollar.

Weekly Currencies

As of Tuesday 12th November 2013 @ 2.15pm GBP - INR = 101.54 USD - INR = 63.84 EUR - INR = 85.74 GBP - USD = 1.59 GBP - EUR = 1.18

EUR - USD = 1.34 GBP - AED = 5.84

GBP - CAD = 1.67

GBP - NZD = 1.93

GBP - AUD = 1.71

GBP - ZAR = 16.55

GBP - HUF = 353.42

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

In Focus

2 get death for Bangla war crimes

Dhaka: A Bangladesh war crimes court convicted and sentenced to death in absentia two men accused of committing atrocities during the country's war of independence from Pakistan in 1971.

Britain-based Muslim leader Chowdhury Mueen Uddin and Ashraf Uzzaman Khan, a US citizen, were found guilty of the torture and murder of 18 intellectuals during the war, lawyers and tribunal officials said. They said the 18 included nine Dhaka University teachers, six journalists and three doctors. Both men were 65 years old.

19 Indian fishermen released by Lanka court

Colombo: A Sri Lankan court released 19 Indian fishermen on completion of their judicial remand period. The fishermen, said to be from Pudukkottai in Tamil Nadu, were arrested in September 2013 for alleged illegal fishing activity near the Delft islands off Jaffna. According to sources at the Consulate General of India in Jaffna, the fishermen have been handed over to the Indian Consulate General’s office and will be sent home. However, their trawlers, which were confiscated by the Sri Lankan Navy have not been released by the court.

Gold worth millions looted from Pak bank

Islamabad: At least 61 bags containing gold worth millions of Pakistani rupees were stolen from a bank's locker in Swabi district of Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, a media report said. According to a report in Geo News, the robbery occurred at the National Bank's branch in Thandkoi area of Swabi.

Police have registered an FIR and arrested a person.

Pakistani folk singer Reshma dead

Islamabad: Renowned Pakistani folk singer Reshma, who was suffering from throat cancer for a long time, died in Lahore, hospital sources said. Reshma was in coma since a month, Geo TV quoted hospital sources as saying. Born in Bikaner, Rajasthan to a Banjara family around 1947, her tribe migrated to Karachi shortly after the partition. Dawn reported that she his survived by son Umair and daughter Khadija. When she was just 12, a television and radio producer spotted her singing at Shahbaz Qalander’s shrine.

The producer arranged for her to record “Laal Meri” on Pakistan radio. She became an instant hit.

Pak denies reports of nuke deal with Saudi Arabia Islamabad: Pakistan has denied reports of its nuclear cooperation with Saudi Arabia, terming the media reports as baseless and mischievous. A Foreign Office (FO) spokesman said that Pakistan is a responsible nuclear-armed state and it fully supports non-proliferation objectives. The media reported that Saudi Arabia had invested in Pakistani nuclear weapons projects, and it could now obtain atomic bombs at will.

The intelligence reports also claimed that nuclear weapons made in Pakistan, on behalf of Saudi Arabia, were ready for delivery.

Pakistan's private schools ban Malala's book

Islamabad: Malala Yousufzai's book has been banned in Pakistan's private schools after the teenage activist was accused of becoming a tool of the West for writing "highly controversial" contents in her memoir. The All Pakistan Private Schools Federation (APPSF) issued a statement, saying it has been decided that Malala's book, 'I am Malala', would never be made part of the libraries or the curriculum in private schools.

Bangladesh cabinet quits to allow all-party govt for polls

Dhaka: Bangladesh's cabinet ministers tendered their resignations to pave the way for an all-party government to oversee general elections, with the BNP-led opposition adamant on the demand for a neutral nonparty government amid a violent political standoff.

"The ministers and state ministers have submitted their resignation letters to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina," Prime Minister's press secretary Abul Kalam Azad said.

He could not confirm if resignations of all the ministers were already received but previous media reports said at least 20 influential ministers handed over their resignation letters to the

been killed on the outskirts of Islamabad, Pakistani militants and Afghan intelligence officials said on Monday.

London: Nasiruddin Haqqani, son of the Afghan warlord Jalaluddin Haqqani and its chief fund-raiser, was shot dead by a gunman riding a motorbike outside a bread store, Pakistani militants and Afghanistan intelligence said. Two Haqqani commanders confirmed that Nasiruddin, who was designated by the US as a “global terrorist” in 2010, had been killed.

“We have received his body, and the funeral has taken place,” said Gul Hassan, a commander in north Waziristan, the main hub of Haqqani network activity in Pakistan’s tribal belt. Gul has described the dead militant as “a devoted brother who had been doing jihad against the crusaders.”

A Pakistani intelligence official said that after funeral

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 16th November 2013

premier earlier.

An adviser to the premier said the resignation of some of the ministers would not be accepted under a government plan to keep

them in the all-party government while the resignations of the rest were sent to the presidential palace for formal acceptance.

The development came following a nationwide 84hour general strike enforced

by BNP and its rightwing allies including fundamentalist Jamaat-e-Islami.

The violent shutdown, which claimed many lives, was aimed to mount pressure on the government to accept the opposition's demand for constituting a non-party caretaker government led by an "acceptable" figure for election oversight.

The strike was enforced following two back-to-back 60-hour shutdowns since October 27 on the same

issue. The BNP-led alliance called the first 60-hour shutdown from October 27 and second one from November 4 to press for the restoration of the neutral caretaker government system to oversee the polls scheduled to be held by January 25, 2014.

A total of 26 people have died in violence linked to the political turmoil since October 25. Political analysts say the ministers' resignations reflect the government's firm stance for going ahead with the plan to constitute the all-party government for election oversight even if BNP declined to join the interim administration or decided to boycott the elections.

Waziristan, Haqqani was buried in the family graveyard at Danday Darpa Khel the same village where Hakimullah Mehsud, the leader of the Pakistani Taliban, was killed in a US drone strike on November 1.

It is unclear whether the two events are linked. An Afghan intelligence official in Kabul said that preliminary intelligence showed Haqqani died as a result of a family dispute. A tribal leader in the eastern Afghan province of Khost, main stronghold of the Haqqani tribe, noted that Nasiruddin Haqqani had a long-running dispute with a cousin, Ishaq, whom he had accused of working with Afghan intelligence officials.

The fact that Haqqani was killed on the edge of the capital was a major embarrassment to the government, underscoring longheld accusations that the Haqqani network operates with ease inside Pakistan, and not just inside the tribal belt.

Islamabad: Pakistan plans to conserve and restore a Sikh ‘Samadhi’ and a Hindu temple, two important historical monuments located near the Lahore Fort, at a cost of Rs 22 million, a media report.

The Samadhi of Bhai Vasti Ram, a spiritual guide to Maharaja Ranjit Singh, and the temple of Jhingar Shah Suthra, a Hindu mendicant of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb’s time, are the two monuments which are planned for restoration, the Dawn reported.

Quoting officials of Punjab Archaeology Department, it said work on both the projects would start in January next year to be completed in 2016.

The Samadhi of Bhai Vasti Ram, entirely built in marble, is a beautiful and unique monument of the Sikh period.

According to officials, during the war of independence in 1857 and the British period, the British

soldiers destroyed the ‘Pietra Dura’ of the Samadhi by extracting semi-precious marbles and stones from inlay works.

Later, when the Muslims attacked the Samadhi, they destroyed the elevations by crushing the marble tiles, columns as well as the marble platform on the structure’s edges.

All the wall paintings and intricate carvings were completely destroyed and some pieces of the precious carved work could be seen lying on the floor of the Samadhi even today, the report said.

The temple of Jhingar Shah Suthra also has historical significance.The archaeology officials said the conservation work would be carried out through experienced artisans and craftsmen, using traditional material methods under the supervision of the Directorate General of Archaeology.

Sheikh Hasina

Haqqani chief Jalaluddin’s son killed Pak to restore Hindu, Sikh prayers in Miram Shah, the London: A senior leader of religious monuments main town in north the Haqqani network has

Taliban plan wave of revenge attacks in Pak

Dera Ismail Khan (Pakistan): The Pakistani Taliban announced they would orchestrate a wave of revenge attacks against the government after naming hardline commander Mullah Fazlullah as their new leader.

The rise of Fazlullah, known for his fierce Islamist views and rejection of peace talks, by the Taliban shura, or leadership council, a day earlier follows the killing of Hakimullah Mehsud, the previous leader, in a US drone strike on November 1.

"We will target security forces, government installations, political leaders and police," Asmatullah Shaheen, head of the shura, said.

He said the Taliban's main target included army and government installations in Punjab province, the political stronghold of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Mullah Fazlullah

"We have a plan. But I want to make one thing clear. We will not target civilians, bazaars or public places. People do not need to be afraid," Shaheen added.

Pakistan publicly condemns US drone strikes as a breach of its sovereignty but in private officials admit the government broadly supports them.

Militants are mainly holed

up in remote areas on the Afghan border where the army has no presence.

"Pakistan has full information about drone attacks," said Shaheen.

"Pakistan is a slave of America. It is an American colony."

The Pakistani Taliban are fighting to topple the government and impose Islamist rule in the nucleararmed nation. Attacks have

been on the rise since Sharif came to power in May, a concern for global powers already unnerved by the possible security implications of the planned withdrawal of most US-led troops from n e i g h b o u r i n g Afghanistan in 2014.

Mehsud and his allies had been tentatively open to the concept of ceasefire talks with the government, but Fazlullah, whose men were behind the attack on schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai last year, strongly opposes any negotiations.

No meaningful talks have taken place since Sharif's election and Fazlullah's rise could signal the start of a new period of uncertainty and violence in the already unstable region.

The Pakistani Taliban have links with al Qaeda and are also allied with but separate from the Afghan Taliban.

WORLD

In Focus

Indian-American doctor gets prestigious US award

Washington: Indian-origin doctor has been selected for prestigious "Outstanding American by Choice" award for his valuable contribution to US health sector.

Eminent transplant surgeon and philanthropist Rahul Jindal will be honoured by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) at the Women in Military Service for America Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia on November 13. The initiative recognises naturalised citizens who have made significant contributions to both their community and their adopted country. Jindal, who recently received the Leadership Award from the International Leadership Foundation, has been appointed the Commissioner on Service and Volunteerism. Currently working as a Staff Transplant Surgeon at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Centre and Professor of Surgery at Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, Jindal is also a Clinical Professor at George Washington University. He obtained his MD from BJ Medical College, Ahmedabad and then studied in Britain where he earned an FRCS from the Royal College of Edinburgh.

Images of deities on beer bottles irk Hindus

Nevada: Hindus are upset over having images of deities Ganesha and Lakshmi on beer bottles by an Australian brewery, calling it highly inappropriate. Hindu leader Rajan Zed said in a statement that inappropriate usage of Hindu deities or concepts or symbols for commercial use was not acceptable because it hurt the sentiments of the devotees. "Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi were highly revered in Hinduism and they were meant to be worshipped in temples or home shrines and not to be used in selling beer for mercantile greed," said Zed. He is president of Universal Society of Hinduism. Symbols of any faith should not be mishandled, he added. He demanded that the brewery withdraw the beer bottles carrying the juxtaposed images.

Aamir Khan honoured in US for ‘Satyameva Jayate’

Washington: Bollywood actor and talk show host Aamir Khan was among a select group of film personalities honoured here for making a major impact on social issues through cinema. In glittering event held at the Andrew Mellon Auditorium in Washington the America Abroad Media (AAM) group feted Aamir Khan along with Oscar-winning director Kathryn Bigelow and 2013 Nobel Prize nominee the International Centre on Non-violent Conflict. All three winners of AAM’s inaugural awards were commended for work that exemplified “the power of media to inform, educate and empower citizens about the critical, social, and public policy issues of our time.” Khan said that women’s empowerment was an important example of issues that films could influence, particularly in the Indian context.

Iranian deputy industry minister shot dead

Dubai: An unidentified attacker shot dead Iranian Deputy Industries Minister Safdar Rahmat Abadi in Tehran on Sunday evening, the state news agency IRNA reported. It said the minister had been shot in the head and chest as he got into his car in the east of the capital. "Investigations show that two shots were fired from inside the vehicle," the agency quoted a police official as saying.

North Korea publicly executes 80

Seoul: North Korea publicly executed around 80 people earlier this month, many for watching smuggled South Korean TV shows, a South Korean newspaper reported.

The conservative Joong Ang Ilbo cited a single, unidentified source, but at least one North Korean defector group said it had heard rumours that lent credibility to the report. The source, said to be "familiar" with the North's internal affairs and recently returned from the country, said the executions were carried out in seven cities on November 3.

71-year-old grandmother wins beauty pageant

California: In a special beauty pageant held in California, 71- year- old Julie Rose from Utah won the title of Queen Lola 2013. Winning the title from among the 10 participants, Rose was most thrilled, as she exclaimed, "it's awesome! Most of the family is here."

"Cross-fit junkie" is a term we mostly associate with young men, but Rose definitely qualifies to be called one. She bench presses 150 pounds, and is very particular about fitness. She's glad to have some more years to spend with her grandchildren and that she isn't a burden to her family or to society. While most people at her age need assistance, Julie is glad that she is still capable of assisting others! She has 7 children and 37 grandchildren.

23

US ready to work with Modi if BJP is voted to power: Officials

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 16th November 2013

Washington: The US would be willing to work with BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, if the party is voted to power in the next general elections, senior Obama administration officials have said, asserting that the enduring bilateral relationship is to continue irrespective of the poll results.

"We will work with the leader of the world's largest democracy. There is no question about that," a senior US official said when asked about the prospects of working with an Indian government led by Bharatiya Janata Party's PM nominee Narendra Modi. Dismissing visa as a

non-issue, the official said it was largely a creation of the Indian media and not at all an issue in the US government.

"Visa issue is a media creation. He has to apply and we will review. He (Modi) has not applied (for a visa)," said the official.

"You said you have very strong relationship with Prime Minister Singh. If

Modi become the Prime Minister next year, would that be problematic for the United States?" the official was asked. "I think that the United States had a very strong relationship with the previous Indian government when it was under BJP leadership," the US official said.

"I think the relationship between the United States and India is an enduring one, it is a bipartisan in the United States, irrespective of who is in office. And we believe that (in a ) multiparty (system) in India that it is supported by all political parties, we expect that relationship to continue," the official said.

According to another US official "there is not a lot of angst about him (Modi)" in the US government, but it is believed that the administration has decided to maintain the status quo on this issue for the very reason that it might be seen as an interference in the internal domestic polity of India.

Any change in the status quo, might be used as political parties to politicise the issue ahead of the elections, sources said, adding that the US would be working with any leader who is elected as the Prime Minister of India after the next years general elections.

Washington: At least five Indian-American candidates scored victories in US polls with three of them becoming legislators in two states and two others winning elections to local bodies.

The most significant gains for the Indian American community came in New Jersey where Kolkata-born Raj Mukherji scored a victory in the 33rd district to join fellow Democrat Upendra Chivukula, who retained his 17th district seat, in the State assembly.

While Mukherji, 29, a former Jersey City deputy mayor and current chairman of the Jersey City Housing Authority, is entering the state legislature for the first time, India-born Chivukula, 63, has been a member of the New Jersey assembly since

2002.

In another notable victory by an IndianAmerican Democrat, Latha Mangipudi upset Pete Silva with an 18 point margin to become New Hampshire's State Representative from Ward 8. In the local elections, Democrat Sapana Shah won a berth on the Edison Municipal Council in New Jersey, while Steve Rao retained his seat on the Morrisville, North Carolina City Council, remaining as the only Indian American on the Council.

There were IndianAmerican losers too. They included Republican Sudhir Deshmukh seeking a New Jersey state assembly seat from the 5th District and Reshma Saujani running for New York City Public Advocate.

Philippine super typhoon 5 Indian-Americans score kills at least 10,000 victories in US polls

Tacloban (Philippines): One of the most powerful storms ever recorded killed at least 10,000 people in the central Philippines, a senior police official said on Sunday, with huge waves sweeping away coastal villages and devastating one of the main cities in the region. Meanwhile, the officials confirmed only 1,744 deaths across a vast region of the country, and displaced about 660,000 others. Super typhoon Haiyan destroyed about 70 to 80 per cent of structures in its path as it tore through Leyte province, said police chief superintendent Elmer Soria, before weakening and heading west for Vietnam. As rescue workers struggled to reach ravaged villages along the coast, where the death toll is as yet unknown, survivors foraged for food or searched for lost loved ones.

"People are walking like zombies looking for food," said Jenny Chu, a medical student in Leyte. "It's like a movie."

Most of the deaths appear to have been caused by surging sea water strewn with debris that many said resembled a tsunami, level-

the typhoon-prone Southeast Asian nation.

Nearly 480,000 people were displaced and 4.5 million "affected" by the typhoon in 36 provinces, the national disaster agency said, as relief agencies called for food, water, medicines and tarpaulins for the homeless. International aid agencies said relief efforts in the Philippines were stretched thin after a 7.2 magnitude quake in central Bohol province last month and displacement caused by a conflict with Muslim rebels in southern Zamboanga province.

Witnesses and officials described chaotic scenes in Leyte's capital, Tacloban, a coastal city of 220,000 about 580 km southeast of Manila which bore the brunt, with hundreds of bodies piled along roads and pinned under wrecked houses.

Washington: The Indian student population in the United States has dropped for the second year running, going down to less than 100,000 even as the American education business continued to expand on the strength of growing interest from China, which now has 235,000 students in the US. The 2013 Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange shows a 3.5% decrease in

student enrollment from India in 2012-13 (on top a 4% decline from previous year), bringing the Indian student count in the US to 96,754 after more than 15 years of growth that began reversing in 2011.

In contrast, China, which was displaced by India as the biggest source of foreign students for a few years at the turn of the century, has surged ahead. It registered a 21.4% increase in 2012-13.

ling houses and drowning hundreds of people in one of the worst disasters to hit

96,754 Indian students in US academic institutions

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South

Andhra woman dies after nurses perform caesarean

A 28-year-old woman died soon after two nurses at a government hospital allegedly performed a caesarean and delivered twins.

The duty doctor was reportedly not present in the hospital when the incident rook place and the woman died of excessive bleeding.

The incident took place at Godavarikhani area hospital in Ramagundam,, Karimnagar.

According to police, Vegolapu Kavya, 28, a resident of Alluru village, came to the hospital for delivery. Kavya went into labour and in the absence of a doctor two on-duty nurses performed surgery. Kavya delivered two healthy baby girls, but the nurses failed to control the bleeding. They called the doctor but Kavya died before he arrived.

45 killed as bus catches fire in Andhra

Forty-five passengers were feared dead when a private Volvo bus from Bangalore to Hyderabad caught fire on the Mahbubnagar national highway-44 last week. Among those who died in the accident, five were engineers working for IBM and other software companies in Bangalore. However, the police have confirmed 45 deaths. All the bodies were retrieved by the police and revenue officials.

Among those who died were two infants, aged one-and-a-half and two years.

Petrol bombs hurled at post offices in Chennai

Tamil Nadu police arrested four activists of Dravidar Viduthalai Kazhagam, a little known Tamil outfit, for throwing petrol bombs at two post offices in Chennai. The petrol bombs were thrown at post offices located in Mylapore and Mandaveli. The activists want India to boycott the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting to be held at Colombo next month.

According to police, no person was injured in the attack except for slight damage to the building wall and an air conditioner.

Punjab

Punjab HC report exposes judicial corruption

A secret inquiry by the Punjab and Haryana high court has found that former CBI special judge Hemant Gopal acquitted a man for extraneous consideration. After the investigation suggested he was guilty of grave misconduct and impropriety, the court suspended him as additional district and sessions judge of Faridkot, which was his last post.

The secret report says that the judge was in touch with middleman Sushil Singla, who after accepting bribe from accused, visited the judge's house at Patiala, where he was then in the CBI special court.

International sports stadium to come up in Amritsar

Punjab government is building 7 international sports stadiums in the state including one at Amritsar, said information & public relation minister Bikram Singh Majithia. He said the stadium-cum-sports complex would be constructed in the expansion scheme of Ranjit Avenue, Amritsar. He said that for this purpose Amritsar Improvement Trust will give 15 acres of land. The Punjab government is developing Amritsar as a sports hub of the state with the purpose to create facilities to host important sports events besides providing a world class sports infrastructure to budding players, he said.

Teenager drugged, gang-raped in Gurgaon

A 19-year-old girl was gang-raped near Gurgaon’s city centre while returning from a birthday party. As it was around midnight, she couldn’t find transport home and accepted a lift offered by a youth whom she knew.

The girl, who works at a call centre in Delhi, said in her complaint that she was raped by three persons, including the youth who gave her the lift. A medical test confirmed rape, joint commissioner of police Maheshwer Dayal said.

Jaya slams Centre on Indian fishermen’s issue

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 16th November 2013

ermen by the Sri Lankan navy continues unquestioned and unabated."

"The Sri Lankan navy appears emboldened to act in a high-handed and repressive manner largely because of the

government of India's meek and passive approach to this serious issue," she said in her letter to Singh.

Referring to two separate incidents that had occurred on November 5, Jayalalithaa said a total of 30 fishermen from Ramanathapuram and Pudukottai districts, and seven boats were "unlawfully abducted by the Sri Lankan navy."

She said 56 fishermen who had been apprehended earlier were still languishing in Sri Lankan jails, while 35 boats were under Sri Lanka's custody.

"Such harsh, punitive and repressive action, which amounts to depriving poor fishermen's families of their livelihood, deserves to be condemned in the strongest terms. The government of India cannot continue to remain a passive spectator in the face of the high-handed belligerence of the Sri Lankan navy," she said.

The chief minister urged Singh to personally intervene "through the highest diplomatic channels" at the earliest to secure the release of all 86 fishermen and 42 boats.

The bill for forming the new state of Telangana will be tabled in parliament during the present term of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said.

Shinde, however, said he cannot affirm on whether parliament will pass the legislation.

The bill for creating Telangana out of Andhra Pradesh will be presented before the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, Shinde told reporters at his monthly press conference.

Asked if it will come during the winter session of parliament, Shinde was noncommittal.

"It (the bill) will come. It will come before our period ends," he said.

Asked if the bill will be passed during the UPA-II government, Shinde said he cannot say what will happen in parliament.

He said the group of ministers (GoM) looking into

the issue will try to finish its work at the earliest.

The home minister said the GoM was looking into several issues, including water distribution and education, related to the proposed division of Andhra Pradesh.

On the stance of Andhra Pradesh chief minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy concerning division of the state, Shinde said Reddy had not met him. "We will see," he said.

Asked if there was a proposal that the central government will retain law and order in Hyderabad for some years, Shinde said no decision has been taken and the issue was being discussed.

About the probe into the serial blasts in Patna ahead of a rally by the Bharatiya Janata Party's Narendra Modi last month, Shinde said "there is no link from the neighbouring country but the matter is under investigation".

While the state government is yet to fully set up the much delayed child rights commission for the welfare of minors, child labour continues to be rampant in Andhra Pradesh with a large number of cases being reported from the twin cities. Last month, a child rights organisation conducted a raid in Miyapur and found 22 children working for commercial establishments.

Mahita, an NGO, found many children employed at hotels, grocery shops and even liquor stores. Another organisation working in this area 'rescued' 216 child workers from across the city in the past three months. According to its findings, 97 were girl children, many of who were also found to be victims of physical and sexual abuse.

Recent raids in several pockets of the city have exposed existence of active rackets who supply child labourers to be employed as domestic help, workers at construction sites and at commer-

cial establishments.

"Most of these children are migrants who have come from states like Odisha and Bihar.

Some of the girl children have been forced into begging by middlemen who brought them to the city. With the geographical expansion of the city, the scope to drag children into various forms of illegal employment has also increased," said Swarup Kumar, official at Mahita. In a survey done by the group last year, it was found that 8,000 underaged children were employed as domestic help in the city.

As per the 2001 census, AP has the dubious distinction of being the second largest employer of children with the figure touching about 13.63 lakh. In addition, a few more thousand child beggars are estimated to be found in the Greater Hyderabad region.

Hundreds of these children, forced to live in deplorable conditions, die every year due to lack of proper healthcare.

As India inches towards becoming the world capital for diabetes, on the World Diabetes Day, on November 14, the residents of the Tricity would be raising a slogan " Bhaag India, Bhaag " while they jog their way for prevention against lifestyle diseases and diabetes in particular.

According to the WHO, in India, about 63 million people suffer from diabetes, and this figure is likely to go up to 80 million by 2025.

The health marathon would be organized by the department of endocrinology, PGI. "The walk would be open for NSS students, all diabetic patients and their family along with the general public," said Dr Anil Bhansali, head of the endocrinology department at the PGI. Walking is one thing that the doctors prescribe to fight

the lifestyle disease. "On November 17, given a Sunday, we will be starting the walk at 8.30 am from Sukhna to the Rock garden.

During the walk, we will interact with the participants and make them aware of the wonders of exercise," said Dr Bhansali.

In a study, conducted by the department of the PGI which concluded three years ago, it was found that prevalence of diabetes in the urban section in the city was 14.2% out of a sample of 3,086 residents representing every sector. The study was conducted between November 2008 and April 2010, over 13,000 participants in Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu and Chandigarh. Prevalence of diabetes was 10.4% in Tamil Nadu, 8.4% in Maharashtra and 5.3% in Jharkhand.

Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda inducted two more ministers - Nuh MLA Aftab Ahmed and Hisar MLA Savitiri Jindal - in his cabinet, raising the total number of ministers to 12. Haryana governor Jagannath Pahadia administered the oath to the newly-inducted ministers at Raj Bhawan. Savitri Jindal, who has been given the portfolio of urban local bodies department, took oath in Hindi. This is Savitri Jindal's second innings as minister.

Gopal Kanda had earlier held the portfolio of this department.

Aftab Ahmed has been allocated the portfolio of transport department, which

was once held by Panipat MLA Om Parkash Jain. Jain is currently lodged in Ambala jail for allegedly abetting the suicide case of Kambopura sarpanch Karam Singh.

"Now, a long pending demand of people from Hisar division is met even though it is delayed. People had been looking forward to an appropriate representation to this area in terms of elevation of one of the MLAs from the region,'' Savitri Jindal's MP son Navin Jindal said.

Among those aspirants who have been left high and dry included Nalwa MLA Sampat Singh, Panchkula MLA D K Bansal and Panipat MLA Balbir Pal Shah.

Slamming New Delhi's "meek and passive approach" over the arrests of Indian fishermen by Sri Lankan navy, Tamil Nadu government has said the Centre cannot remain a "mute spectator" and asked to condemn the island navy's action in the "strongest terms."

Chief minister J Jayalalithaa in her letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said that in spite of her repeated representations to him on this "critical livelihood issue of the fishermen of Tamil Nadu, the harassment and arrest of these fish-

Jayalalithaa

Bill on Telangana will come during UPA rule: Shinde

Chandigarh to race against diabetes

Hyderabad turns into child labour capital

2 more ministers join Haryana cabinet

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 16th November2013

Life and

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Film

Imran Khan and Kareena Kapoor have once again joined forces in this year's must-see romantic comedy!

The urban-rural 'rom-com' brings love, loss and laughter together in one feel-good tale set in the picturesque village of Jhumli in Gujarat, India. I sat down with leading lady Kareena and hearthrob Imran for a fun insight into their latest venture.

What roles do you both play in the movie?

Imran: I play a guy called Sriram who is a very selfish, self-involved guy. A guy who doesn't really care about anything other than himself. He's a party boy, wants to hook up with girls, a very shallow guy basically.

along with the voice of British soul and reggae legend Maxi Priest, without compromising his trademark British Asian fusion sound throughout the track!

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appreciate, it's awesome!

she goes to the village and he follows her there.

Coming together after Ek Meh Aur Ek Tu, what was it like working together again?

I: It's obviously a lot easier the second time around. The first time you're working with someone, someone you haven't met before, it takes a little time to figure eachother's rhythms out and as actors, you kind of start to fall into sync. This time it was a lot more fun.

no practice before, we were simply told, “there's the bridge, now you have to walk on it!”

I: Wait, how many days did we spend on that bridge?! It was at least 20 days shooting on that bridge, sometimes it was a song, sometimes it was a sad scene, funny scene, we lived on that bridge for three weeks!

I: Hmm, it's the kind of film that reaches across the family.

From young couples to...

K: It's a Karan Johar film, it has to be a family movie!

Kareena, you're not one to shy away from hard work and your film choices have shown you in very demanding roles.

What made you choose to do a lighthearted romantic movie this time?

K: I think people like to see me in this genre of romantic comdy. Jab We Met was like that, this is a step further in terms of romance, comedy and entertainment and I liked the script. I've never really had a benchmark as such. You know as actors you kind of pick the best that you are offered and what you want to do.

What's the most adventurous thing you had to do for this movie?

K: Dangling of that bridge for sure!

I: It was literally one cable that we had to stand on. We had

Imran, do you ever feel pressured to live up to expectations/be as good as Amir Khan because your his nephew?

I: I don't really, it doesn't really enter my thought process.

Expectations, pressure, all of

What is different about this movie from any other romantic comedies and how would you describe it in one word?

I and K: Fun! What audience is it directed at?

Kareena: I play the role of a social activist, her name is Dia. She is obviously someone who has a strong voice and wants to do something to help people.

She is always ready to fight a case, take to the streets for protest against corruption. How she meets up with Sriram and their ideologies clash takes the story forward to the point where

25

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WORD OF THE WEEK

UK

these things are going to be there, but it doesnt help me in anyway so I give it aboslutely no thought. I do the work to the best of my ability and hope for the best.

Where are your most loyal fans outside India?

K: I think UK for sure, the Asians in the UK are always exceptionally nice to me.

I: I have to tell you something, there has been a couple of times where there have been films which haven't done well in India and for some reason have done really well in the UK. There is a fanatically loyal audience in the UK which I really

What do you think they prefer Imran, the romantic type of movie or seeing you in hard-hitting roles?

I: I've always had a lot of luck with romantic comedies.

Kareena, what is your favourite movie of Imran's and Imran what is your favourite movie of Kareena's?

K: Well I havent seen any of Imran's movies but I'd like to say it is Ek Meh Aur Ek Tu because I was there on set and I know that it's a special movie.

I: For me, I know its not an original choice but Jab We Met, it was just a beautiful, beautiful work.

Finally, what's in the pipeline for both of you next?

I: Early next year, I'm going to start shooting for Bhavesh Joshi, which is being directed by Kamal Motwani.

K: I'll start shooting in December for a film called Shrudi.

INDIA

Prince Charles charms Indians by using Hindi words

26

The Prince of Wales charms India's great and good by using a Hindi term of endearment to introduce the Duchess of Cornwall on an emotional day on the Royal tour.

True to his age – he turns 65 on Thursday last– the Prince of Wales proved himself an old romantic on day four of a nine-day royal tour to India.

At a charity dinner attended by some of India’s wealthiest and most glamorous citizens, he introduced his wife the Duchess of Cornwall as his “Mehbooba”, a Hindi term of endearment best translated as his love or his beloved.

"My wife, or as I was taught in London recently by the wonderful Indian diaspora community, my Mehbooba and I, are absolutely delighted to be here in Mumbai."

The show of devotion was joyously received by an audience at the Trident Oberoi Hotel in Mumbai which included Bollywood's biggest stars

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 16th November 2013

ed the audience, had been the last Viceroy of India, presiding over its independence, and the two countries had exchanged many traditions. "We've ended up with wonderful Indian things like bungalows, jodhpurs, pyjamas and curry, which people now think of as the British national dish," he said.

"And in the other direction, cricket, which was an English invention, was adopted in the most remarkable way.

We proudly gave you Geoff

al day for the Royal couple.

They had earlier spoken to survivors of the Mumbai terrorist attacks

tragic stories, you cannot believe,” said the Duchess afterwards. “You just want to scoop them all up in your arms and

take them home.”

Visit to Mumbai Attacks Memorial From there the couple visited the Mumbai Attacks Memorial at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel.

More than 150 people were killed and 300 injured in the atrocity staged across Mumbai five years ago this month.

The Prince described as “tragic” one of the tales told by Sophia D’Silva, 35, a hotel switchboard operator, who had been besieged by heartbreaking calls from guests trapped in their rooms crying and screaming for help as gunmen prowled the corridors.

Prakash Bangera, the senior captain in charge of waiters, told the Prince how he had run through gunfire to retrieve food for the guests. “The Prince said he was very proud that we had tried our best to save the guests and that 'we need more guys like you everywhere’,” he said afterwards.

fuel into the rocket's engine, were successfully performed last week.

ISRO said the brief engine failure on Monday was not a setback to the ambitious low-cost mission.

India has never before attempted interplanetary travel and more than half of all missions to Mars have ended in failure, including China's in 2011 and Japan's in 2003.

The cost of the project, at Rs. 4.50 billion is less than a sixth of the $455 million earmarked for a Mars probe by NASA which will launch later this month.

Only the United States, Europe, and Russia have sent probes that have orbited or landed on the planet.

India's space programme began 50 years ago and developed rapidly after Western powers imposed sanctions in response to a nuclear weapons test in 1974, spurring its scientists to build advanced rocket technology. Five years ago, its Chandrayaan satellite found evidence of water on the moon.

The Mars must travel more than 200 million km over 300 days to reach an orbit around the Red Planet next September.

The top Republican leadership in the US has congratulated Narendra Modi on being nominated as the prime ministerial candidate of the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and has extended an invitation to address Congressional leaders and Indian Americans via satellite at the Capitol Hill.

"I want to congratulate you on winning the nomination of the BJP for Prime Minister of India," Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers said in a congratulatory message to Modi, ahead of the November 19 event.

Being billed as "Bharat (India) Day on Capitol Hill" the day-long event is being hosted by House Republican Conference in

the US House of Representatives - of which Congresswoman Rodgers is the chair - in association with Shalabh Kumar, who is chair Indian American Advisory Council.

Rodgers, who had travelled to India early this year along with a few other lawmakers and met Modi in Gujarat, is only the second woman to serve as Chairwoman of this powerful House Republican body.

"She had the opportunity to meet with Chief Minister Narendra Modi and became an instant admirer of his work in Gujarat," the invitation letter sent to the IndianAmerican community leaders said. "This will take place on November 19, 2013 in the US Capitol.”

each year. Kidneys are the most commonly traded organ.

Donor countries include impoverished nations in South America, Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe, according to a Harvard study, while recipient countries include the US, Canada, Australia, the UK and Japan. Trafficking involves a whole host of offenders, from recruiters who identify the victims to transporters and hospital or clinic staff.

Last year the Salvation Army revealed it had rescued a woman brought to the UK to have her organs harvested – which was thought to be the first case of its kind in this country.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday sent a letter of regret to Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, explaining that he is unable to attend the Commonwealth summit in Colombo next week. In the letter, Singh said external affairs minister Salman Khurshid would represent him at the November 1517 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), the external affairs ministry said.

The letter was delivered by the Indian high commission in Colombo.

The UPA government decided against sending Prime Minister Singh, taking into consideration protests by Tamil Nadu parties.

Prince Charles with Mukesh and Nita Ambani

as well as an Indian cricketer or two and the country’s richest industrialists.

The Prince continued his Indian charm by telling the guests of his love of their country. He pointed out that he shared his birthday with Pandit Nehru, India’s first prime minister, and that Sandringham, one of the Queen’s country houses, was so full of Indian antiques and artefacts that it was enough “to start a small war”.

His uncle Lord Mountbatten, he remind-

Boycott - you replied with Sachin Tendulkar!"

The Duchess did her bit for the cause, wearing a mint-coloured Kurta pyjama outfit by the British designer Anna Valentine. The glitzy dinner organised by the Prince of Wales’s British Asian Trust, a charity he set up in 2007 to do good deeds in the region, came at the end of an emotion-

The Duchess of Cornwall treats a horse to a sugar lump

India’s Mars mission back on track after engine glitch

India's Mars spacecraft was "successfully" raised into a higher orbit around Earth early on Tuesday, after a brief engine failure during an earlier attempt, according to the Indian Space and Research Organization (ISRO).

The Mars Orbiter Mission, which blasted off on November 5 for an 11month trip to the Red Planet, is being launched on its way via an unusual "slingshot" method for interplanetary journeys.

Lacking a large enough rocket to blast directly out of Earth's atmosphere and gravitational pull, the Mangalyaan spacecraft is orbiting Earth until the end of the month while building up enough velocity to break free.

On Tuesday, the spacecraft completed a fourth repositioning to take it 100,000 km (62,000

miles) from Earth, after the thruster engines failed during an attempt on Monday, leading the autopilot to take over.

"Fourth supplementary orbit raising manoeuvre of Mars Orbiter Spacecraft... has been successfully completed," ISRO said in a statement.

The first three manoeuvres, which involve firing additional

five years ago, as well as the children of migrant workers supported by the prince’s charity. The Duchess, visiting without her husband, also met youngsters at a home for abused and abandoned children.

The Duchess had been moved almost to tears at the Asha Sadan, 'the house of hope’, children’s home. “They are just such

Modi invited to address Indian diaspora in US

Bangalore-based ‘organ dealer’ offers Britons illegal transplants in Lanka

British patients awaiting organ transplants are being offered illegally trafficked kidneys and other organs by a Bangalore-based “International Organ Deal”, according to an investigation by The Times.

A Times journalist reportedly posed as the relative of a Briton seeking a transplant overseas and recorded Antonio Kanickaraj – an employee of Mediease India, which specializes in organizing medical tourism for international patients – offering an illegally harvested organ with the transplant carried out at a state-owned hospital in Sri Lanka.

Kanickaraj said the surgery would cost $40,000,

from which he would take commission.

A further secret payment of up to $35,000 would be made to the donor, who would have to pretend to be offering the kidney at no cost in order to obtain legal clearance.

While a transplant from a volunteer donor is legal, the buying and selling of human organs is banned by international law. Despite offering to do medical checks on the donor for a fee, Kanickaraj later denied offering "any assistance of finding a donor" to anybody.

The proposed operation would have taken place at a facility owned and operated by Lanka Hospitals Corporation (LHC), a gov-

ernment-controlled outfit headed by Gotabhaya Rajapakse, Sri Lanka’s powerful defence secretary and the brother of President Mahinda Rajapakse. There is no suggestion that LHC has any knowledge of the scam with a spokesman for the company telling the Times that all its transplants are carried out within the law and that it even requires extra checks for foreign patients. The number of legitimate organs available for transplant worldwide has fallen, partly due to better road safety - fewer healthy young adults are dying in traffic accidents.

Meanwhile, the number of people waiting for transplants has increased. As a

result, organised criminals can make a fortune from unethical clinics who will buy organs for wealthy patients. Some victims are kidnapped and forced to give up an organ, while others are duped into believing they need an operation and the organ is removed without their knowledge. Some people sell their organs out of financial desperation, often seeing just a fraction of the profit, if anything at all, and placing their health at great risk. International organ trafficking is a growing trade. According to the World Health Organisation, around one in ten organ transplants involves a trafficked human organ, which amounts to around 10,000

Manmohan not attending CHOGM

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 16th November 2013

Charusat aims high to become one of the top 20 universities in India

By Mayuri Dave Charotar University of Science & Technology, popularly known as Charusat, is a 13-yearold educational institution. Situated at Changa village near Nadiad town of Charotar region in Gujarat, Charusat has kept a goal to be amongst the top 20 universities in India by the end of 2015.

The journey of Charusat was started in the year 2000, with 240 students, four programmes and an institute with an investment of Rs 30 million. Today, it has transformed into a 105 acre sprawling university campus having wi-fi facility with round the clock Internet facility and having more than 6,000 students.

These students have enrolled in eight different institutes offering 48 different under graduate and post graduate programmes in engineering, pharmacy, computer application, management, applied sciences, nursing, physiotherapy

and paramedical sciences. The developers of the University have made it a point to focus on research & development centre for the emerging sciences like nanotechnology, biotechnology, etc. The management has so far invested Rs 1,000 million for the development of the campus.

“Educational programs at Charusat are paired with an extraordinary breadth of extracurricular activities and opportunities for research, independent study and community service,” says Suredra Patel, president of the emerging educational institute, adding that the university aims to make students “job creators

and not job seekers”.

“We constantly try to mould the students for global platform through technology based knowledge and vital skills,” said Dr M C Patel, honorary Provost.

Charusat Provost Dr B G Patel says that the university strives to ameliorate human lives through quality teaching

and research. “We are looking forward to offer 60 different programmes having total strength of 7,000 students and capital outlay of Rs 2,500 million in near future,” he added.

Interestingly first convocation of the university was graced by former President of India and architect of the missile programme of the country, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, who appreciated the university’s mission of social uplift.

The fast emerging educational institution has a social lineage of 119 years. The name of the university derived from the region –

Charotar – the region comprising Anand and Kheda districts of Gujarat.

Industrious Patidars or Patels who mainly populate this region are highly inspired by the dynamisms of Sardar Patel, the visionary integrator of independent India and legendary son of Charotar.

History of Charusat founders is equally interesting. A group of Patidar villages conceived a social organization way back in 1895 which subsequently got registered in 1984 as charitable trust and came to be known as ‘Shri Charotar Moti Sattavis Leuva Patidar Samaj – Matrusanstha.’ It worked for social causes like

organizing mass marriages for the community and abolishing destructive societal evils.

Some of the prominent people associated with Matrusasnstha felt the need for quality education in the region and decided to form another trust Shri Charotar Moti Sattavis Patidar Kelavni Mandal in 1994. From its

inception, Kelavani Mandal adopted knowledge dissemination as a tool of social change. The trust established DZ Patel Higher Secondary School in Anand town in 1995 and a Management Training Centre (JMTC).

And in the year 2000 the trust founded Charotar Institute of Technology as the first institute in Changa which evolved as full-fledged university.

With the grand success in professional education, Kelavani Mandal is entering into healthcare education backed by healthcare services. In the first phase of the healthcare education, Charotar Institute of

Nursing and Charotar Institute of Physiotherapy have been established. Both of these institutes offer B.Sc. in nursing and Bachelor of Physiotherapy programmes respectively. In the second phase of healthcare education, the Kelavani Mandal is planning to establish Charotar Institute of Dental Science & Research and Charotar Institute of Medical Science.

Not only education, Charusat is also focusing on extracurricular activities including sports and culture. The campus has housing faculties for students too that include separate Girls’ hostel.

INDIA

Congress only eulogizing Nehru-Gandhi family: Modi

27

AV Correspondent A day after the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s comment that the BJP is changing India’s history and geography, Modi hit back at Balasinor accusing the Congress of altering the country’s geography by allowing partition and history by neglecting national heroes like Sardar Patel, Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad, Dr. Ambedkar, JB Kriplani to name a few and only eulogizing Nehru-Gandhi family. Counter attacking the Prime Minister, he said that the village in which Manmohan Singh was born was part of ‘Hindustan’ but today it is not. “Who broke the unified India into pieces? It was Congress which committed the ‘sin’ of dividing India into two parts. China has captured hundreds of square km of Indian Territory. Who changed the geography of India?”

Criticizing Congress on Center’s proposal to change the route of the Sabarmati-Dandi heritage road, he said that Congress has not only abandoned Gandhi but also wanted to change his path.

Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi were given Bharat Ratna when they were alive, said Modi adding that even Rajiv Gandhi was conferred upon the most prestigious civilian award one year after his death but Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar was given the award 35 years after his death and in the case of Sardar Patel, his services were recognized 41 years after his death.

Modi also blamed Congress for forgetting Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Bipin Chandra Pal.

Meanwhile, taking potshot on Congress led UPA government at Deesa in North Gujarat earlier on Sunday, Modi said that despite co-operative banks in Gujarat are committed to empower farmers, the central government was strangulating its development by introducing Income Tax provisions for co-operative banks. Since co-operative banking sector is most developed in Gujarat, the negative impacts of IT provisions introduced by union minister of finance are deepest in Gujarat, he added.

While addressing huge rally of farmers after inaugurating newly constructed building of Banaskantha District Central Co-operative Modi appealed political parties and economist across the nation to study success story of Gujarat’s co-operative sector. “There is minimum interference of the state government in the functioning of Gujarat’s co-operative sector. It has flourished just because of co-operative fortitude,” he claimed.

All 15 sugar factories in Gujarat are functioning on co-operative model and Gujarat government made it sure that private sector players would not enter in that domain, he said

adding that while in Uttar Pradesh farmers are being exploited due to nexus between the state government and private owners of sugar factories. Unlike UP’s farmers, Gujarat farmers are continuously flourishing, he said.

The Gujarat Chief Minister said that his government had given two per cent relief on crop finance in order to strengthen bonding between farmers and co-operative banks and now a scheme has been launched to give crop finance at minimum interest rate of 4 %. “On the other hand, union government is not sanctioning Rs. 2.50 billion to Gujarat for giving relief to farmers,” Modi said.

Farmers from parched North Gujarat area gathered in large number at the rally. The region is expected to get maximum benefit of Sardar Sarovar Dam after its completion. Modi struck the chord by updating them that the UPA government was not giving permission to put gates on Sardar Sarovar Dam and the farmers of Gujarat should raise their voice collectively. He also appealed them to support in the making of the tallest statue of the world – Statue of Unity.

AV Correspondent Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi last week expanded his Cabinet by inducting six Ministers of State (MoS). The expansion aimed at strengthening the state BJP’s poll prospects as Modi to tried to balance representations of region and caste in his ministry.

Prior to expansion the Modi Government had seven Cabinet Ministers and nine MoS. With the inclusion of six junior ministers, including Jaswantsinh Bhabhor, Dilip Thakor, Chhatrasinh Mori,Vasan Ahir, Jaydrathsinh Parmar and Jayesh Radadia, the total strength has increased to 22 in a House of 182. Of the newly inducted ministers, five were previously served as MoS in previous Modi government. The 32-yearold Radadia, son of Leuva Patel leader Vithal

Radadia, who four months back left Congress and joined BJP is a new face in the Modi’s ministry.

Governor Dr Kamla Beniwal administered the oath of office and secrecy in the presence of Modi and Speaker Vajubhai Vala.

Later Modi allotted portfolios of the new ministers. Bhabhor, a tribal leader and MLA from Limkheda constituency in Dahod district has been given forest and environment as well as tribal development. Chansama MLA from North Gujarat Thakor was given animal husbandry, fisheries, cow protection, stationary and printing.

Chhatrasinh Mori, who represents Jambusar constituency in Bharuch district has been given food and civil supplies and consumer affairs.

Anjar MLA in Kutch district, Vasan Ahir will take care of cottage and salt

industries. Halol MLA from Central Gujarat, Jaydrathsinh Parmar, is given road and building and the youngest member in the Modi cabinet Radadia, who elected from Jetpur constituency in Rajkot district, will look after tourism and civil aviation.

Political sources in Gujarat said that, Modi, who is crisscrossing India more frequently ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, has not only reduced burden on himself but also tried to give representations to different sections of societies in his ministry, especially from those areas where Congress is having relatively better positioned.

Few days back, Modi also appointed chairmen and Vice-Chairmen in various boards and corporations where political appointments were not done over a decade.

Six new ministers of state join Modi cabinet

28

TRAVEL - INDIA

India requires Sardar Patel’s secularism: Narendra Modi

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 16th November 2013

Heritage tourism:

Tamil Nadu

eritage has always been an attracting H force in Tamil Nadu. Its

countless temples, dance forms, cuisine, festivals have been unique and mesmerizing. And none other than Karaikudi holds the crown for heritage tourism in Tamil Nadu. Palatial homes, sumptuous cuisine, intricate wood carvings, are some of things that make this Chettinadu culture special. Much of Karaikudi’s history was established around the 18th century when the Chettiars, a trading community settled here. This community was into trade and commerce with many South East Asian countries like Malaysia, Singapore, Burma, etc.

Emboldened by the wealth gathered through trade, these Chettiars built huge palatial homes that were adorned with artifacts and materials imported from far and wide. Intricate carvings on Burmese teak wood, Italian marbles, Belgium mirrors and lights, etc. are commonplace in most Chettiar homes.

But by the middle of the 20th century, most families moved away from Karaikudi to cities like Chennai and abroad in search of greener pastures.

These homes were maintained by trusted caretakers who served them when

these families came back for vacations. It is said that there were almost 20,0000 such homes in and around Chettinadu more than 100 years ago.

Many of them are in disrepair and in dire need of restoration. And those that have been well maintained are now converted into heritage hotels giving

curious visitors a glimpse of the Kongu culture.

Chidamabara Vilas is one of the many boutique hotels that offer an insight to curious heritage tourists about actual life in Chettinadu. Like the many homes that were refurbished, Chidamabara Vilas too was renovated by the Sangam Group of Hotels. The original home was built more than 100 years ago by a powerful Chettinadu family.

Restorers who undertook the renovation project

made sure than the authentic heritage of the house was preserved.

Besides the huge houses and priceless art and artefacts there are plenty of things to explore and experience in Karaikudi and adjoining places. Pudukottai for instance, is home to the Thirumayam fort,

Chirhannavasal, and several temples that were built centuries ago. Just a few kilometers away from Karaikudi are the famous temples of Thanjavur, Madurai and Trichy. And for those who’d like to explore Chettinadu ever more, a visit to villages like Kanadukathan, Kadiapatti etc. are a must.

With its glorious past and well preserved culture, Karaikudi continues to be a hotspot for heritage tourism in Tamil Nadu.

-Dr. S. Bakthavatchalam

AV Correspondent Emphasizing on importance of national unity, BJP’s prime ministerial candidate and Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi said that instead of following secularism of Sardar Patel, Congress is using ‘Secularism’ for vote bank politics.

Speaking at foundation stone laying ceremony of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s statue – ‘Statue of Unity’ at Sardar Sarovar Narmada dam site last week, Modi carried forward tug of war with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who called Sardar a ‘Secular Leader’ couple of days ago during his visit at Ahmedabad. “I congratulate the Prime Minister for calling the great leader like Sardar as secular. He worked to regain lost glory of Somnath Temple by its reconstruction. Let’s give momentum to Sardar’s secularism,” said Modi. He also reacted Singh’s comment during inauguration of renovated Sardar Patel National Memorial in which he shared dias with the Prime Minister who said that Sardar belonged to Congress party. “Don’t try the great leader like Sardar Patel within party limit. The ‘Iron Man of India’ had worked for the unity of the country. Let’s not divide legacy of a great leader like Sardar Patel.”

He struck a chord by asking audience that did Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, Rana Pratap or Chhatrapati Shivaji belong to Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP)? Amid roaring ‘No’, he continued, “They all just like Sardar Patel lived and died for the country. We need to understand that the nation is bigger than political parties. If we link Sardar with a particular party, it would be the biggest injustice to the architect of united India.”

Terming the ceremony conducted on River Narmada’s bank as historic event, Modi said that it was

Sardar’s dream to build dam on Narmada to quench thirst of people of Gujarat and Rajasthan. “This is fitting tribute to him on his 138th birth anniversary”.

Ever since Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru laid foundation of Narmada Dam project decades ago many governments came, but in last one decade, his government spent maximum money in order to complete the project as early as possible. “My government is trying to execute Sardar’s dream. Because of the work done on the dam site, economic condition of Kutch completely changed,” he said adding that workers of BJP and even Congress from Rajasthan often thank me for supplying Narmada water.” Replying his critic for spending state’s exchequer on the statue project he said that China created Shanghai, Japan developed bullet train, likewise India

should also position itself on global platform.

Comparing Sardar with Chankya, he said that let the world come to know through the tallest statue on the planet, how he had shown the new direction to the world by merging 565 erstwhile princely states in united India.

Blaming Congress for not coming out of shadow of slavery even after years of freedom, Modi said that British rulers used to announce budget in the evening to match timing with their country’s parliament. Congress ruled governments never tried to break that tradition. It was Vajpayee government which started giving budget in the morning. “World used to take India for granted. But after the nuclear test conducted during BJP government, suddenly world started looking at the nation with respect,” he said.

Advani again endorses Modi

Veteran BJP leader L K Advani once again endorsed Modi as the party’s prime ministerial candidate during the function. Advani who was the chief guest said that he felt happy and proud to be at foundation stone laying ceremony of world’s tallest statue of a truly patriotic leader. “I congratulate our prime ministerial candidate for conceptualizing the project,” said Advani adding that if Sardar wasn't given the responsibility to merge erstwhile princely states India might have divided into multiple pieces.” Apart from Advani, BJP’s national vice presidents Smriti Irani and Balbir Punj as well as senior BJP leaders Mukhtar Abbas Naqui and Rajya Sabha MP and Gujarat in-charge Om Mathur attended the function. Besides, council of ministers in Modi’s government and senior state BJP leaders remained present. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Punjab chief minister Prakash Singh Badal and union minister Farooq Abdulla also sent their best wishes for the ceremony.

Gulkand Cashewnut Flowers

Ingredients: ½ cup cashewnut powder ½ cup milk powder ¼ cup condense milk 1 tbsp gulkand (available from Asian grocery shop used in pans) Little red food colour 1 tsp rose syrup Almond marzipan Flower cutters Sweet pearls Method: Gently heat the condense milk on low heat and add gulkand, food colour and

rose syrup.

Add cashewnut powder and milk powder and mix and cook till it gets to ball stage. If the mixture is too runny add a little extra milk powder.

Let the mixture cool down and roll between cereal lining paper to a thickness of a pound and cut into 2” circles.

Roll the marzipan thinly between cereal lining paper and cut into 2” circles.

Roll more of the cashewnut mixture and cut into small flowers.

Roll more of the marzipan and cut into big flowers.

Place a marzipan circle on top of cashewnut circle.

Layer the small flower on

top of the big flower. Place this on the layered circle.

Finish of with a sweet pearl in the centre of the flower.

Refrigerate to firm.

Serve at room temperature.

By Jyoti Shah, Harrow

Lifestyle diseases to cost India $6 trillion, study estimates

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 16th November 2013

India's march towards being an economically stable nation is threatened not just by global financial issues. Poor health indicators pose an equally big threat.

The Harvard School of Public Health has, in a study on economic losses due to non-communicable diseases (NCDs), estimated that the economic burden of these ailments for India will be close to $6.2 trillion for the period 2012-30, a figure that is equivalent to nearly nine times the total health expenditure during the previous 19 years of $710 billion.

NCDs, chiefly cardiovascular diseases (including heart disease and stroke), diabetes, cancer and chronic respiratory diseases, are defined as diseases of long duration and generally slow progression. They are the major cause of adult mortality and illness worldwide.

The Harvard report, which is based on WHO projections of the mortality trajectory associated with NCDs, says ischemic heart disease is going to be the single most costly non-communicable disease in India (causing an output loss of about $1.21 trillion over 2012-30), followed by chronic obstructive

pulmonary disease (COPD).

China, the report adds, is estimated to face output losses of $27.8 trillion for 2012-30 which is more than 12 times the total health expenditure during the previous 19 years of $2.2 trillion. "The economic impact of NCDs is estimated higher in China than in India mainly because of China's higher income and older population," said David E Bloom, the lead researcher.

According to Dr K

Srinath Reddy, president of the Public Health Foundation of India, NCDs can impact the economy in multiple ways. "Most of the noncommunicable diseases, for example diabetes or heart disease, affect the person in the productive years.

They cause reduced productivity and early retirement. Also, they put immense pressure on public health expenditure as in most cases the treatment costs are higher compared to communicable diseases," he said. Reddy added that

the increasing burden of NCDs could rob India of the 'demographic dividend' it is projected to reap on account of a predominantly young population. A recent report published by IRIS Knowledge Foundation in collaboration with UN-HABITAT states that by 2020, India is set to become the world's youngest country with 64% of its population in the working age group.

The WHO has suggested 'best buy' interventions (policy measures) for reducing NCDs that include increasing tax on tobacco products and alcohol and ban on their advertising. It also proposes interventions such as reduced salt intake in food, counselling and multi-drug therapy for people with a high risk of developing heart attacks and strokes, and hepatitis B immunization to prevent liver cancer.

"The implementation of these 'best buy' interventions for reducing NCDs in low-and-middle income countries (LMICs) could lead to a 10-15 per cent reduction in premature death from NCDs (and in their economic costs)," the Harvard researchers have pointed out.

ointments as it stimulates the release of pain-relieving endorphins.

Chillies are also a great aid for the digestive process. When crushed in the mouth, they stimulate the taste buds and this in turn results in an increased flow of salivary juices. Gastric emptying is also improved with capsaicin, which means that it could rid the feeling of food 'sitting' in the stomach.

Scientific data shows that this happens because the sensory nerves regulating the stomach movements are capsaicin sensitive.

In addition, if you are ever feeling low, it may be worthwhile trying to eat some chillies. This releases some endorphins in our system, which generates a 'feel good' effect.

It's no wonder that people can get addicted to the chillies.

Scientists have discovered a microbe that stays young forever by rejuvenating every time it reproduces, a finding that provides fundamental insights into the mechanisms of ageing.

An international team involving researchers from the University of Bristol and the MaxPlanck Institute for Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics in Germany has found that a common species of yeast microbe has evolved to stay young.

The organism could potentially serve as a model of certain non-ageing types of cells in humans, researchers said. The team has shown that, unlike other species, the yeast microbe called S pombe, is immune to ageing when it is reproducing and under favourable growth conditions.

In general, even symmetrically diving microbes, do not split into two exactly identical halves.

Detailed investigations revealed that there are mechanisms in place that ensure that one half gets older, often defective, cell material, whereas the other half is equipped with new fullyfunctional material.

So like humans microbes, in a sense, produce offspring that is younger than the parent.

However, ageing is not inevitable for the common yeast, S pombe.

Researchers found that this microbe is immune to ageing under certain conditions.

When the yeast is treated well, it reproduces by splitting into two halves that both inherit their fair share of old cell material.

"However, as both cells get only half of the damaged material, they are both younger than before," said Iva Tolic, the lead investigator on the project.

At least in a sense, the yeast is rejuvenated a bit, every time it reproduces, Tolic said. Unlike

HEALTH WATCH

Listening to music can relieve pain

29

A new survey by chemists at Lloyds Pharmacy has sown that listening to Bach can ease backache and the Eels’ ‘Novocaine For The Soul’ could help reduce pain. A poll found that four in ten people living with constant pain said that listening to their favourite tunes helps them relax and feel better.

The study suggested that the most effective genres are pop, classical and rock and indie music, while the songs that work best include Bridge Over Troubled Water by Simon and Garfunkel, Robbie Williams’ Angels,

Albatross by Fleetwood Mac and The Commodores’ hit Easy.

The chemists surveyed 1,500 people and learned two thirds of patients aged 16 to 24 got the most help by listening to music to manage their aches and pains.

A daily dose of vitamin D can be used in the battle against Type 2 diabetes, experts have revealed.

Researchers are carrying out a major clinical trial to confirm whether taking vitamin D can prevent or delay the condition. They believe that the “sunshine vitamin” may reduce diabetes risk by 25 per cent.

The study led by Professor Philip Raskin, from UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas, is a four-year trial

across America which will track 2,500 people aged 30 or older who have pre-diabetes.

They will be given daily doses of vitamin D about five times higher than usually recommended.

other species S pombe can escape ageing as long as it keeps dividing fast enough.

To test what happens to the microbe when it is treated badly, the researchers exposed the yeast to heat, ultraviolet radiation, and damaging chemicals, which slowed its growth to a point where the microbes could

not divide fast enough to stay young.

Once subjected to these negative influences the yeast cells started splitting into a younger and an older half just like other cells. While the older cells eventually died, their offspring survived long enough to reproduce even in the harsh environments.

Daily dose of Vitamin D can help stave off diabetes

Health benefits of chillies Could a microbe be key to eternal youth?

Chillies have a ubiquitous presence in Indian cooking due to their pungent flavour. But few of us users and lovers of chillies realise their health properties. Some of the health benefits of chillies are.

Chillies come in many shapes and sizes. The more pungent ones that generate extreme distress and sweating tend to be long, thin and smooth with a tapering and pointy end. The larger bell shaped fruit, which includes paprika, is less pungent and is used as a cooked vegetable or in salads.

Besides being a potential and potent antibiotic, there are other health and medicinal benefits connected with chillies. One of these is related to capsaicin, the one common factor that makes them pungent.

The presence of capsaicin qualifies any variety of the spice to be called a chilli. It is one of the principal ingredients in many pain-relieving

To Our Readers

We are publishing these items in good faith, kindly consult your Doctor before you try to implement it. We do not hold any responsibility for its efficacy...

30

UK

The Asian Circle launches at the House of Commons

Continued from page 13 to build and take the lead in their communities, in business, in local government, in national and civic society. I am pleased that Alok has sponsored this event."

Santosh Bhanot, founder and chair of the Asian Circle, said "British Asian women have long helped set-up significant charities and organisations in this country. Now they are coming together to form the Asian Circle to help women in the Indian sub-continent.

It is really exciting for the Asian Circle to be able to play a vital role in helping vulnerable women in South Asia. The turnout at the launch is tremendous. Our focus is now towards leveraging the amazing skills and talents of our network to actively resource the Oxfam programmes in South Asia.

In India, 35% women experience physical or sexual violence*, and 68% women believe that husbands are justified in beating them**......such

instilled thinking is what The Asian Circle wants to help change by working with Oxfam India and its Partners.”

Source: * National Family Health Survey (NFHS) Round III report (2005-2006) ** Oxfam India, Baseline Survey, 2010.

Before Alok Sharma MP gave his welcome speech, I asked him to speak exclusively to us so he took me on one side and said, “I’m honoured to be hosting this event. It is all about empowered, successful women in the UK supporting and empowering those in other countries. I wish the Asian Circle the very best for the future.”

Apart from the MPs and six lady speakers at the event, Indo-Jazz band Nirakar blended traditional North Indian melodies with contemporary jazz.

There was an extensive raffle too.

A successful launch for a worthy cause deserving of support.

The fourth programme of Samvad will bring together some personalities from varying fields and different backgrounds on one common platform. The theme of the Samvad this time is ‘Transformation of My Life’.

Well known social worker Smt. Devi Parekh and some invited dignitaries will speak about their own experiences and how their life-style changed after certain incidents in their lives. Our valued reader also can suggest names of the prominent social workers, artist and speaker for the Samvad – Dialogue sesson. This will indeed be a programme

which will provide not only some factual information but will enlighten all of us after learning some good real life stories.

Samvad’s aim is to bring people to together for a lunch where they can discuss common issues. It will no doubt create harmony by exchange of ideas. All are invited to attend the next function of Samvad on 23rd November, Saturday at 2 pm at the Karma Yoga House, Gujarat Samachar Office in Hoxton Market, London N1 6HW (nearest tube station Old Street) Vinod Kapashi Tel 079 6600 6262 Or Kamal Rao 020 7749 4001.

SAMVAD: The next programme

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Coming Events

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 16th November2013

l Saturday 16th November 2013 – Pioneers of Percussion at London Scala, 275 Pentonville Road, Kings Cross, London N1 9NL from 8pm.

Contact: 020 8742 9911 l Saturday 16th November 2013 - RFF Interfaith Talent Show from 8pm at VHP Hindu Centre, 55 Albert Road, Ilford IG1 1HN. Contact: 020 8708 2478 l Sunday 17th November 2013 – Chha Gam Nagrik Mandal's Annual Get-together and Diwali Celebration at Copland High School, Cecil Avenue, Wembley, HA9 7DU from 3pm onwards.

Contact: 07775 620 023 l Sunday 17th November 2013 – Diwali Anand Milan at Sattavis Patidar Centre, Forty Avenue, Wembley Park, HA9 9PE from 4pm till 11pm.

Contact: 01707 655 986 l Sunday 17th November 2013 – Tulsi Vivah Invitation at Gujarat Hindu Society, South Meadow Lane, Preston, PR1 8JN from 1.30pm.

Contact: 01772 253 901 l Sunday 17th November 2013 – Jalaram-Jayanti and Tusli Vivah from 9am onwards at Shree Ram Krishna Centre, Alfred Street, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 1NG. Contact: 0150921 8274 l Saturday 23rd November 2013 – Janak Dulari Sita at Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan, 4a Castletown Road, West Kensington W14 9HF from 7pm.

Contact: 02086 771 528. l Saturday 23rd November 2013 – Bhajan, Kirtan, Bhojan Prashad from 1pm at Apple Tree Centre, Gurjar Hindu Union (GHU) Ltd. Sanatan Mandir, Ifield Avenue, Crawley, RH11 0AF. Contact: 01293 519 130 l Monday 30th November – Bollywood Dance Super Weekend Classes for beginners and advanced. Contact: 07400 233 528

ARIES Mar 21 - Apr 20

Sun is transiting your eighth house of joint finances, loans, taxes, sexuality, and psychological matters. This is a time of increased accumulation of wealth if you manage your resources well. In some cases, a significant tax refund, inheritance, or other such benefit might arrive during this transit.

TAURUS Apr 21 - May 21

You are in a brilliant period for increasing your earning power and you'll be busy taking charge of your finances. Achieving a sense of security becomes a priority. Although there is a lot of sorting out to be done in your relationship sector, it will not phase you as so many issues have already be dealt with.

GEMINI May 22 - June 22

Sun enters the sign of Scorpio, your work and health sector. You are likely to see benefits in these areas, as well as daily routines. Benefits may come through work itself, co-workers, or employees during this cycle. You might be especially interested in the healing arts during this cycle, such as massage or aromatherapy.

CANCER Jun 22 - Jul 22

Jupiter is transiting your sign and this is particularly beneficial and significant for you. This transit heightens your optimism and confidence.

You are greeting life with a fresh and positive attitude. You have an altogether different perspective on life now, and are not fazed by anything.

Furthering yourself comes easily during this transit.

LEO Jul 23 - Aug 23

Saturn, Sun and Mercury transiting your solar 4th house creates a lot of activity in the home.

This could be in the form of negative energy and loose ends to tie up. You are likely to find tension in your family connections and experiences. Reassessment for home improvements and renovations are also favoured.

VIRGO Aug 24 - Sep 23

Sun and your ruling planet Mercury entering your solar 3rd house brings benefits and fresh energy to networking activities, long-term goals and organizations in your life. Achieving your goals tends to come more easily. Income from your business or career is likely to increase. You can rely on your friends for their help and support.

LIBRA Sep 24 - Oct 23 Venus is transiting your Solar 4th house of home and family. You are likely to find much joy and pleasure in your family connections and experiences during this transit.

Opportunities to buy or sell real estate for financial gain may present themselves. Home improvements and renovations are also favoured.

SCORPIO Oct 24- Nov 22

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You are endowed with a level of determination that others sometimes find formidable. Once you set your mind on a goal you stay the course no matter what obstacles you encounter. Saturn's placement in your Solar 1st house often denotes a phase of restriction, sometimes frustration, in one's working and personal life.

SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 - Dec 21

Take some time out to reflect. Try and work out where you want to make changes in your busy life. Once you know, don't hesitate to implement it systematically. A tremendous amount of planetary activity in your chart signals a time of mixed emotions as well as personal issues to be dealt with.

CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan 20 It's an excellent period for increased energy and motivation, so that new endeavours, whether they are business or health-related, or personal, fare especially well. You are more decisive and forward-looking now, and you feel that your decisions are right. With Venus in your sign, love should be blossoming.

AQUARIUS Jan 21 - Feb 19 Sun and Mercury are transiting your solar tenth house of public recognition and professional success. This can be a time of career advancement, and success in business.

Your worldly or public status may change for the better. Integrity, directness, and honesty will get you everywhere now.

PISCES Feb 20 - Mar 20

Sun and Mercury are particularly beneficial for you, as they transits your solar ninth house. You may have opportunities to travel, study, expand your horizons, and meet people who are of diverse backgrounds. Business dealings, particularly longdistance ones and those involving publicity and promotion, are likely to be profitable now.

SPORT WORLD

India set for emotional Sachin Tendulkar finale

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 16th November2013

Sachin Tendulkar is set for an emotional farewell when he plays his 200th and final Test at home in Mumbai from Thursday, exactly 24 years after he began his record-breaking career.

Former teammates, onetime opponents and even his mother will join fans at the Wankhede stadium to acclaim the world's leading Test and one-day batsman, and the only one to score 100 international centuries.

Speaking at a function on Monday to celebrate his career, Tendulkar gave some insight into the famous work ethic that has enabled him to play on to the age of 40, long beyond his contemporaries.

"I think every step was different, every tournament required different type of preparations," he said in Mumbai. "Without preparations, things wouldn't have been the same."

Since making his debut as a 16-year-old in Karachi in 1989, Tendulkar has become almost a deity for the billion-plus population of India, helping the country win the 2011 World Cup and reach the top of the world rankings.

After racking up a staggering 15,847 runs in his 199 Tests, even his rivals acknowledge that Tendulkar is second only to Sir Donald

Bradman in the pantheon of batting greats.

In his final interview before he died in 2001, the Australian said that Tendulkar was the one modern player who came closest to his own legendary batting style. "It was just his compactness, his stroke production, his technique, it all seemed to gel as far as I was concerned," Bradman said in the 1996 interview.

Brian Lara, one of Tendulkar's few rivals at the highest summit of the modern game, has flown into India to watch the Indian's final farewell against the West Indies.

"When I speak about cricket, I will speak about Tendulkar," the former West Indian batsman said. "Just

like you mention Mohammad Ali when you mention boxing and Michael Jordan when it comes to basketball."

Some television channels have been showing wall-to-wall highlights of Tendulkar's greatest moments since the weekend, and the build-up to his last match has dominated the front as well as the back pages.

Billboards and murals of Tendulkar have been sprouting across India as the country prepares to bid goodbye to a man whose off-pitch humility as well as his onfield achievements are a source of national pride.

Such has been the clamour for tickets that the main online vendor collapsed

within minutes of sales opening on Monday.

Organisers say they could have sold out many times over.

"Basically Sachin means everything to me because cricket has been my life," said Yatin Joshi, a self-styled "Sachin Superfan" who lives in Tendulkar's hometown.

"And as we say cricket has been my religion and Sachin is my God. So everything revolves around Sachin, so any, all happiness, sadness, you know, go along with how he does on the field and off the field," he said. Even Britain's Prince Charles, currently visiting India, has been caught up in the hype.

"He is a master. I wish him a very happy retirement," Charles responded when asked by reporters about Tendulkar's final Test.

Tendulkar's aged mother, Rajni, will be watching her son for the first time after organisers built a special ramp to accommodate her wheelchair at the Wankhede.

The superstitious Rajni has previously worried that her presence at a match would bring Sachin bad luck. For all his recordbreaking feats, it has not gone unnoticed that Tendulkar has struggled for form in recent years.

Be it war or chess, you don't give away territorial advantage to the enemy.

The second successive draw of the most-anticipated World title match in recent years, this time Vishwanathan Anand's call with white pieces, just underlines that. Result? Two short draws not befitting the expectations and stature of World Championship.

In the opening game on Saturday, Anand replied to Magnus Carlsen's club-level tactics with a sequence of moves which was not played by him before. Carlsen got surprised with the sharp response and went for three-

fold repetition.

On Sunday, Carlsen opted for Caro Kann defence. Anand said he was surprised. Since Carlsen had never played the classical line of Caro Kann with black pieces before, it can be assumed that the Indian was not selling a dummy.

So, once black (Carlsen) appeared to be more comfortable and threatening some bruises to White (Anand) if the latter had continued, both players decided to play safe and pocket half a point.

After two successive games of three-fold repetition lasting less than 25

moves and 90 minutes, it's quite evident that the except Team Anand and Team Carlsen, no one wants the three-fold repetition in the third game. That would be a dubious hat-trick.

Anand said: "When you are caught out in preparation, it's hard to go for sharper lines. Caro Kann was a mild surprise considering I was expecting to be surprised. I had not focused my efforts on the Caro Kann and on this variation as well as he could have."

What would have happened if Anand had not gone for three-fold repetition?

"He would have had to fight another 50 moves for the draw," said GM RB Ramesh, one of commentators on the championship website.

GM Tejas Bakre said: "Quite disappointed with both games. We were expecting some fireworks.

The castling on opposite sides increased our hopes.

But then, the position just fizzled out."

Carlsen played the first 12 moves in just two minutes and seemed upset that Anand managed to equalise. "I won't talk too much about the opening," said Carlsen.

Chess: Anand fails to breach Carlsen's defence

31

Pakistan retain Asian Hockey Champions Trophy

Defending champions Pakistan on Sunday retained their title by defeating hosts Japan 3-1 in the final match of the third Asian Champions Trophy field hockey tournament being played in Japan's Kakamighara city. The Japanese team took an aggressive start scoring one goal to take the lead in the first half. Pakistan replied with a comeback in the second half scoring three goals before the 66th minute. Pakistan replied strongly in the second half and a goal each from Haseem Khan, Ammad Shakeel Butt and Rizwan Senior sealed the Championship for the side. Pakistan remained undefeated in the tournament. The green shirts had beaten Oman, Malaysia, China and India to reach the final. The match between Japan and Pakistan ended in a 1-1 draw. Malaysia claimed the third position in the tournament after defeating China while India were on fifth spot with win over Oman.

Djokovic crushes Nadal to retain Tour Finals title

Novak Djokovic gave Rafa Nadal a masterclass in power and precision to defend his title at the ATP World Tour Finals, crushing the world No. 1 63 6-4 in the final on Monday. The Serb dominated from start to finish, winning the pair's 39th career meeting with surprising ease. He began the final as if with a point to prove after losing his No.1 ranking to the Spaniard in October. Playing immaculate tennis, Djokovic raced into a 3-0 lead, only to lose the next three games as Nadal began to unwind. Djokovic edged in front again and broke in jaw-dropping style in the eighth game, haring across the baseline to produce an inch-perfect lob before stealing in to the net where he won a quickfire exchange of volleys. Uncharacteristic errors from the Nadal racket allowed Djokovic to seize complete control early in the second set as the world number two looked to be running away with it. Nadal dug himself out of trouble at 2-4 as Djokovic moved in for the kill, saving two break points, but there was no way back as the Serb sealed a comprehensive victory on his third match point.

AlphaOne plays cricket match to spread awareness about good health & lifestyle AlphaOne played a friendly cricket match with the mixed team of AAI – South, East, West and North, on November 11, 2013. The event was part of the ‘Be The Change Club’, Initiative with the slogan of 'Say Yes to Health and Say No to Drugs.' The match kept the audience spell-bound by the team spirit and enthusiasm of the participants.

The players were aware that they were helping to foster a healthy and drugfree lifestyle among all Amritsaris.

The earlier cricket matches in the tournament were played between India Inter-zonal Cricket Teams of the Airport Authority of India (AAI). The Zones that participated in the

Navjot Singh Sidhu with the Winning team and Trophy

matches included North, South, Central, North East, East West and South

East. The Final match was played between East zone vs. Central and the Winner

was East zone. However, to promote the compelling message of “Be the Change Club” a friendly match was played between the mixed team of AAI – South, East, West and North and AlphaOne’s “Be the Change” Club team.

The Winners were given trophies by Navjot Singh Sidhu, Member of Parliament, Amritsar, who appreciated AlphaOne’s support to AAI in terms of horticulture at the Airport, and also praised AlphaOne’s efforts towards civic hygiene through “Amritsar Sparkling” and for promoting the message of healthier and more wholesome lifestyles through “Be the Change Club. He said, “It is heartening to see a city

centre like AlphaOne involving itself meaningfully for the benefit of Amritsar society. Our Airport will soon be one of the best in the country.

AlphaOne has also been actively supporting civic hygiene and a generally healthier lifestyle. The Holy city of Amritsar will continue to support them in such positive and meaningful endeavors.”

Sudhir Choudhrie, Vice Chairman, Alpha G:Corp reaffirmed AlphaOne’s commitment to a clean, healthy and progressive Amritsar.

“AlphaOne will continue to add wholesome value to the Holy city of Amritsar and its citizens. We aim to foster positive awareness and family values in the

cities where we have a presence. We are of course delighted to facilitate this event along with the ‘Airport Authority of India, Amritsar. We will continue to aim for positive interactions for all with many more events that add value to living in Amritsar.”

AlphaOne, Amritsar has been actively undertaking wholesome initiatives along with likeminded Organizations for the fun-loving Amritsaris.

With special care and attention to the needs of customers, AlphaOne has been lining up new surprises and amenities for customers and patrons since its launch to mark their signature tagline, ‘AlphaOne –Aithe Aao Happy ho Jao!’

32

SPORT

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 16th November2013

Shami reverse swings India to fabulous win against West Indies

Pacer Mohammad Shami gave an awesome exhibition of reverse swing to cap a dream debut with five second innings wickets as India inflicted an innings defeat on a hapless West Indies inside three days in the first cricket Test at Kolkata to mark a fabulous start to the Sachin Tendulkar farewell series last week.

Shami followed up his 4/71 performance in the first innings with a 5/47 show in the second to claim an enviable match haul of 9/118 the best ever by an Indian pacer on debut.

Shami's performance propelled India to an innings and 51-run victory in the first Test at the iconic Eden Gardens.

Offie Ravichandran Ashwin followed up his exploits with the bat (124) with admirable figures of 3/46.

Needing 219 runs to escape the ignominy of an innings upset, the West Indies collapsed like a pack of cards in the final session - 98 minutes into the post tea session - to be bundled out for 168. Veteran Shivnarine Chanderpaul (31 not out; 101 b, 2x4) put up a gritty resistance, but in the end ran out of partners.

In the morning, Ashwin struck his second Test ton (124) and extended his seventh wicket stand with Rohit Sharma (177) to a staggering 280 to enable the hosts finish at a mammoth 453. The visitors had notched up 234 in their first innings.

Beginning their second knock in the post-lunch ses-

which was lapped up by his Indian counterpart.

With half the side gone, Chanderpaul (23) and skipper Darren Sammy (8) tried to put up resistance briefly, but they crumbled in Shami's 11th over - the 49th of the innings.

The Bengal pacer again pitched on a length outside the off stump, and got the ball to reverse, uprooting Sammy's middle stump.

Two deliveries later, Shane Shillingfored got a similar ball which unsettled the off stump by breaking through the gate.

There was a further tragedy for the Caribbeans after the next delivery. Shami again extracted reverse swing, and Veerasammy Permaul (0) was struck on the pads. As the Indian fielders appealed, Permaul took a few steps out of the crease, but the alert Dhoni was quick to throw down the stumps to get a run out decision.

The writing on the wall

was more than clear, and the West Indies were reeling at 152/8. The formalities were soon completed with Ashwin claiming Tino Best (3) and Shami castling Sheldon Cottrel (5).

Earlier, resuming at 354/6 overnight, Ashwin and Rohit batted fluently to notch up a stand of 280 - an Indian highest for the seventh wicket which catapulted the hosts to a strong position.

Ashwin, who had taken the partnership to 200 in the morning's second over with a streaky boundary off Best, brought up his delightful 100 in the fourth over by pushing the same bowler through the sweeper cover.

Reaching the three-figure mark, a visibly ecstatic Ashwin punched the air as Tendulkar clapped in appreciation in the dressing room balcony. The landmark was reached off 159 balls.

All the four wickets in the morning session were equally shared by the visiting spinners on a track which played slow but gave turn.

Shillingford (6/167) claimed his fifth five-wicket haul in 11 Tests.

Left armer Veerasammy Permaul (2/67) was the other successful bowler.

Rohit finally departed as he deliberately padded an offering from Permaul which pitched around the off stump and turned away.

Aswhin was claimed by Shillingford with a flighted delivery which beat the batsman and dislodged the middle stump.

international hockey event imaginable.

Both the men's and women's Hockey World Cups will feature an increased 16nation field of participants.

Next year's hugely anticipated Rabobank Hockey World Cup, which takes place in The Hague, Netherlands during the first two weeks of June, will see 12 men's and 12 women's teams competing in a mammoth double event.

"The decision certainly was not an easy one to make.

All of the bids that we received were exceptional, being completely in line with

our strategy to deliver the most entertaining, exciting and inspiring hockey events in the world. The FIH Executive Board were hugely impressed by the bids from England Hockey and Hockey India," said FIH Chief Executive Officer Kelly Fairweather.

The FIH has been meticulous in its approach to choosing the hosts for the 2018 showpiece events. As part of the bidding process, the FIH requested that bid questionnaires were submitted before a deadline of Aug 31.

The second phase of the process saw each bid evaluated in detail, as well as further discussions, clarifications, site visits and negotiations taking place with the respective National Associations.

The final decision was made by the FIH Executive Board in Lausanne, bringing the process to an end by naming England and India as the host nations of hockey's top properties.

Rohit Sharma congratulates Ravichandran Ashwin

sion, the West Indies raised the promise of a fight back by reaching 101/1, courtesy a 68-run second wicket stand between Darren Bravo and Kieran Powell but Ashwin began the Caribbean demolition by foxing Powell with a flighted delivery that hit the batsman on the pad plumb in front of the stumps.

Shami - after a listless effort in his first spell returned with a vengeance close to tea, and saw the back of Marlon Samuels (4) with one that reversed and got him leg before.

In the second over after tea, Bravo tried to cut Ashwin, who had pitched outside the off stump, and the ball dipped into the hands of a diving Rohit Sharma at point. The West Indies were then 120/4.

Shami then jagged one back after pitching on a length just outside the off stump, inducing an inside edge from Windies wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin (1),

India, England to host Hockey World Cups in 2018

India will be hosting the men's Hockey World Cup for the third time in 2018, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) said.

India first hosted the showpiece event in 1982 in Bombay where Pakistan emerged as the champion.

The 2010 World Cup was also hosted by India as a part of test events for the Commonwealth Games and it was won by Australia.

While Hockey India (HI) won the bid for the men's tournament, the women's event went to England.

The women's tournament in England is scheduled to take place from July 7-21 in 2018 and men's event will be held later that year, Dec 1-16.

"I wish to offer my sincere congratulations to England Hockey and Hockey India on their successful bids to host the Hockey World Cups 2018," said FIH president Leandro Negre.

"The quality of both bids was truly extraordinary, and

the FIH is greatly looking forward to bringing its top properties to England and India. I would also like to congratulate all of the National Associations that submitted bids for these events. The standard was exceptionally high, making the decision extremely hard for the FIH Executive Board," he added.

Alongside the Olympic Games, the Hockey World Cups are the most coveted tournaments. Held every four years, they bring together the world's greatest teams and most skilful players for the toughest, most competitive

Heena Sidhu strikes gold at World Cup

Indian shooter Heena Sidhu won her first ISSF gold medal when she triumphed in the women’s 10m air pistol at the ISSF World Cup Final in Munich, Germany, on Sunday.

The 24-year-old shooter beat reigning world champion Zorana Arunovic of Serbia by over five points. Heena was not even supposed to feature in the competition, but was called to compete when the three shooters in front of her in the qualification process pulled out for personal reasons.

She beat the 26-year-old Arunovic in the final face-to-face for the yellow metal, aggregating 203.8 points to the Serb’s 198.6. Four-time Olympian Viktoria Chaika of Belarus was third with 176.8 points. “This medal is a bit of surprise. I was not even supposed to participate in this World Cup Final. The qualified athlete could not come here, and the following two qualified shooters withdraw their participation. I was the next in the qualification line and I picked up the chance. I had to do my visa and arrange a flight to come here in two days!” Sidhu said. Sidhu had never won a world-level competition before, and her best result in this year's ISSF World Cup Series had been two eighth-place finishes in Changwon (Korea) and in Munich. It was the points earned at those two events that allowed her to compete at the season finale.

“I have been training for years without winning any world-level medal. Today was just my day: everything came together,” the Ludhiana-born girl said. Her previous best achievement was a gold medal, along with Annu Raj Singh, in women’s Pairs 10 metre air pistol at the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

She also won a silver in the singles event.

Indian women win silver in Asian Champions Trophy hockey

Indian women's hockey team had to be content with a silver medal in third Asian Champions Trophy after losing to hosts Japan by a solitary goal in the summit clash of the event at Kakamigahara, Japan on Saturday.

India conceded an early goal when Otsuka Shiho converted a penalty corner for Japan in the second minute of the match. The Indians had a chance to equalise in the eighth minute when they earned their first penalty corner, only to waste it. The Indian defence led by goalkeeper Savita played a superb game.

Japan earned three more penalty corners in the next 10 minutes but the Indian defence stood tall to deny the home team any further opening in the first half. Trailing 0-1, India tried hard to forge a comeback after the breather and created a few chances but the forwardline disappointed the team. If not for custodian Savita, the margin of defeat could have bigger for India. Japan earned another penalty corner in the 50th which was brilliantly saved by Savita to keep India in the hunt. India fought hard till the end but failed to score the equaliser. The Indian eves put up a impressive display in the tournament, beating higher-ranked China 4-2 and Malaysia 51 before losing to Japan 1-2 in the league stages. Japan won the gold, while India and Malaysia bagged the silver and bronze medals respectively in the four-team event. Malaysia defeated China 3-1 in the bronze-medal playoff match earlier in the day.