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VOICE

Let noble thoughts come to us from every side

VOL 39. ISSUE 20

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FIRST & FOREMOST ASIAN WEEKLY IN EUROPE

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Memorial for Noor Inayat Khan gets go ahead A bust of Noor Inayat Khan, the Second World War heroine and direct descendant of Tipu Sultan, has been given the go ahead, making it the first memorial for an Asian woman in the UK. It will be erected in leafy Gordon Square, near the house where Noor lived and from where she left on her last mission to France.

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Kashmir engulfed in ugly violence 18 killed in a day, entire valley under curfew

Noor Inayat Khan

Plans to erect permanent memorial for Sikhs – prominent members of the Sikh community and the former head of the British Army today (Friday 10th September 2010) unveiled plans for a permanent national memorial.

Continued on page 10

Kashmir valley in India is in the grip of an ugly and devastating wave of violence since June, but the situation took a very ugly turn on Monday after reports of desecration of Quran in the USA as the country observed the anniversary of 9/11 attacks.

Separatists have continued to defy the authorities since long, indulging stone pelting on the security forces. Action by police and para military forces has led to death of about 70 people since

Kashmiri protesters burn effigies of Prime Minister and the Jammu & Kashmir state Chief Minister in Srinagar on Tuesday

June. The violence escalated on Monday, as 18 peo-

ple were killed in one day, the highest death toll. The

administration was forced to enforce strict curfew in almost the entire Kashmir valley on Tuesday.

All this is happening as the political leadership in the state as well as in the centre is discussing for long some measures to help build confidence and assuage the hurt feelings of the people of Kashmir.

On Monday more than 70 people were injured, as separatist protesters clashed with Indian paramilitary officers.

Continued on page 24

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As Sikh communities across the UK mark Saragarhi Day (Sunday 12th September 2010) – the anniversary of the eponymous battle in 1897 that saw 21 Sikhs lay down their lives to defend an army post against 10,000 tribesmen

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Asian Voice - Saturday 18th September 2010

IJA celebrates its annual dinner at a gala city venue

A young Indian bride has burnt herself to death to escape the shame of her failing arranged marriage, an inquest has heard.

Harsimrat Kaur Bains, moved from India to marry husband Dalvinder Bains, 30, in 2007 but soon afterwards began complaining of domestic abuse.

After months of alleged abuse the 24-yearold doused her body in petrol and set herself alight in the couple's bedroom in Leicester.

In a two-page suicide note Harsimrat wrote: 'To save my mother's respect I am committing suicide.'

Coroner Donald Coutts-Wood recorded a verdict of suicide after an inquest at Leicester Town Hall on Wednesday.

The inquest heard

how the couple's relationship had become strained shortly after they married in early 2007.

Harsimrat told relatives she had been beaten up by her husband but she continued to work at their marriage for her family's sake.

Mr Bains kicked her out of their home to live with her sister Paramjit Kaur in Birmingham but she returned a couple of weeks later on April 17 2008.

She was said to have been devastated when Mr Bains gave her the 'cold shoulder' and refused to speak with her.

Harsimrat wrote a two-page suicide note and set herself on fire four days later while fully-clothed in the couple's bedroom.

Off-duty fireman Mark Drinkwater extinguished the flames but Harsimrat died several weeks later at Birmingham's Selly Oak Hospital of multiple organ failure.

Mr Drinkwater told the inquest: 'I had come out of the house to find neighbours gesturing towards the side of Mrs Bains' house.

'She was still smouldering and her clothing had burned off.

'She was knelt down on her haunches and obviously very distressed and in a lot of pain.'

Harsimrat's sister Paramjit Kaur told a daily media: 'My sister had complained to me many times that she had been the victim of domestic abuse at the hands of her husband.

'She had been determined to make the relationship work.

'She felt she would be letting down her family and causing them shame if she did not try.'

At the inquest Mr Bains admitted the relationship with his wife had become 'strained' but denied the abuse.

He did, however, admit that he had once pushed his wife after she kicked him.

In recording his verdict, Coroner CouttsWood said: 'I have no doubts that the deceased did the act of setting fire to herself.

'There were clearly issues between her and her husband, and between her family and her husband's family.

'I believe that she took her own life.'

Baroness Shreela Flather receives another honorary doctorate from a leading UK university In 2009 Baroness Flather, received the Pravasi Samman from the President of India. In July this year, she received an honorary doctorate in law from Northampton University after receiving the same from the Leeds University.

This year she has also published her book 'Woman: Acceptable Exploitation for Profit'.

The book focuses on changing extreme poverty in India by bringing poor women into paid work.

Shreela Flather has been working in the community since 1968 having

Baroness Flather

started her career with voluntary work. She began to collect a number of firsts - first ethnic minority councillor in the country; first Asian woman Mayor; first and only Indian in the House of Lords when she entered in 1990. In 1997 she started working on the daunting concept of erecting a memorial to the Indians, Africans and West Indians who had volunteered to fight in two World Wars, all but forgotten by the British.

Without the help of the Indian volunteers the two major victories in North

Africa and Burma would not have been possible.

The memorial itself was completed in 2002 and will stand as a reminder to everyone for a thousand years.

In 1998 she took an eminent group of viceroy's descendants to India to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Independence and Republic Day. It included Countess Mountbatten, Earl of Elgin whose grandfather and great grandfather were both Viceroys, the Marques of Reading and many others.

Gang tried to sell girls to wealthy Arabs for £150,000 on behalf of a A sex trafficking gang client. offered to sell the virThe officer ginity of underage girls arranged to meet to wealthy businessJamali who told men for up to him some of her £150,000 each. girls were virgins The three women and could be 'broand a man were offerken' by his client. ing girls as young as 13 She emailed him but were arrested in an photographs of a undercover Scotland Yard operation after Fatima Hagnegat, Mahrookh Jamali and Rassoul Gholampour number of girls and said she staff at a luxury hotel car and telephone number would bring up to five girls to tipped off police. given in the letter to an address London, including two 13One of the women had in Wigan where Fatima year-olds, and would expect ￡ arrived at the Jumeirah Carlton Hagnegat, 24, lived with her 50,000 to ￡150,000 for each.

Hotel in Knightsbridge, central husband, Rassoul The next day Jamali went to London, in a silver BMW to Gholampour. a different London hotel, in offer the gang's services in a Inquires revealed that Bayswater, accompanied by handwritten letter to the owner another similar letter had been in August last year.

Hagnegat and six girls, two of delivered to the hotel on an It read: 'I have 12 girls whom were aged 14 and 17. earlier date. ready from the age 14-20 years, The other four were 18 or Detectives then exchanged who are living all over the UK, older. Officers swooped and messages with the gang under I have spent money on the arrested Jamali and Hagnegat. the guise of potential clients. preparation of this event such The gang members, all jobOne undercover officer, known as a rented house for the girls less and Iranian, pleaded guilty as 'Cameron', telephoned the and also all expenses needed.' to trafficking and prostitution mobile number provided in the Worried staff immediately offences at Harrow Crown letter to ask about hiring girls alerted police who traced the Court on last Monday.

Photo courtesy: IJA

Bride burns herself to death to escape 'shame' of failing arranged marriage

Srichand & Gopichand Hinduja gifting the Lifetime Achievement Award to Dicky Rutnagur with Ashis Ray, President IJA

On Thursday 9th September, 2010, Indian Journalist Association (IJA) organised its annual dinner in the ballroom of Grosvenor House hotel.

The evening buzzed with excitement as over 400 guests and almost the whole of the British South Asian community gathered to celebrate the ever strengthening Indo-UK relation.

The guests present included Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt, Liam Byrne, Shadow Chief Secretary Sailesh Vara, Deputy Chief Whip of the Conservative party and several members of the House of Commons and House of Lords.

The evening started with the welcome speech

by IJA President Ashis Ray followed by the launch of the formal year book by IJA. The Chief guest was Dr Vince Cable, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation & Skills, who delivered the most witty speech (so far) regarding the Anglo Indian relationship and the British Coalition Government. He also spoke about the mutual respectful relationship between the journalists and the politicians in Great Britain.

In his speech Dr Cable

very fondly remembered his family ties with India and spoke highly about the economic, political and cultural transformations of India through decades and the opportunities it has created. He emphasised that the relationship between India and the UK must be strengthened in regards to trade and economics, that have fallen through years.

In his final conclusion he

Dr Vince Cable, MP

added, "We want British industries investing in India to grow more and want Indian industries to invest here. We want liberal flows of capital and culture between the two countries."

Dr Cable's address was immediately followed by a presentation of the IJA lifetime achievement award, which was given to the veteran cricket writer Dicky Rutnagur by the Hinduja brothers.

Musharraf to start his political journey in UK Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan’s former President is to start his new journey, as a leader of a new political party here in London on 1st October. On that day, Musharraf will formally launch his party in the UK capital and also unveil its programme. He has also established a foundation – Pervez Musharraf Foundation and it is registered in UK. He has a sizeable following among the Pakistanis settled abroad. He was able to mobilise donations for the recent floods that devastated Pakistan.

General (retd.) Musharraf also has plans to address a rally in Birmingham on 3rd October, obviously in a show of strength.

Birmingham has a large population of British citizens of Pakistani origin. It may be recalled that very recently, Asif Ali Zardari, the current Pakistani President had also held there, when he faced the fire of Pakistanis, as a man hurled shoes at him.

Musharraf will address a pub-

lic rally at the Oval Banqueting Suite in Birmingham's Sparkhill area two days later, media reports said.

The meeting is being described by Musharraf’s aides as a demonstration of the support enjoyed by his new party, the All Pakistan Muslim League, among Pakistanis abroad.

Supporters of Musharraf from the Middle East, the US, Europe and Pakistan, including former foreign minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri, are expected to attend the meeting.

Musharraf has reportedly chosen Birmingham as the venue for the meet because of the strong backing from Khalid Mahmood, a local Labour party MP. Musharraf's supporters are planning another gathering in Manchester on October 9.

The MP has stood by Musharraf all along and has hosted him at the House of Commons on a number of occasions despite the opposition from many British Pakistani groups.

Asian Voice - Saturday 18th September 2010

COMMENT

Poisonous Ground Zero controversy on Islamic centre The controversy surrounding the construction of an Islamic centre in New York, a mere two blocks away from Ground Zero, and the site of the World Trade Center, is gathering momentum. The building was levelled by an Islamist suicide aircraft attack on September 9, 2001 with the loss of 2,750 innocent lives, most American, but including as well diverse nationalities, ethnicities and religious faiths. The United States was traumatised by the event, the most horrific and unexpected since Pearl Harbour on December 7, 1941.

9/11 was shock and awe in reverse: shock at the unexpected assault on a nation long convinced of its invincibility from attack by conventional weapons; shock and awe at the spectacle of thousands of people on the streets of Middle Eastern capitals and in cities throughout the Muslim world in raptures of joy at the loss of life on American soil and at the anguish of the American people. In assessing the present situation, these celebrations must be taken into account. The pain of the bereaved and trauma of all Americans are deepened by the disingenuous double-talk emanating from certain Islamic circles and their non-Islamic fellow travellers.

It is all very well to talk boldly and loudly about freedom of worship and civil rights from people who appear impervious to their absence in Islamic polities, more in some than in others, but none by any stretch of the honest imagination to be defined as liberal in the understood sense of the term. A cursory examination of the global canvas will reveal the wanton destruction of the Buddhist Bamiyan statues in Afghanistan, the Madrid train bombings, the Bali bombing, the London Underground bombings, the Mumbai suburban train bombing and the subsequent terrorist assault mounted on metropolis from Pakistan on November 26, 2008. The sustained attacks on Christian communities in the Middle East and Pakistan continue with impunity.

Yet in most public discussions on the rights

and wrongs of constructing the present Islamic Centre within sight of Ground Zero, what usually comes across is a gnawing sense of Muslim victimhood. Even American discussants rarely make mention of the violence and mayhem perpetrated by Islamist groups in distant shores, their parochialism reflecting a blinkered view of the world. The US writer Selig Harrison, during a lecture in London, some six months before 9/11, lamented the general lack of concern among America's great and good, when it came to Islamist terrorists wreaking vengeance on third countries. He was making explicit reference to cross-border attacks on India including Kashmir. The irony of his remarks became clearer with the tragedy of 9/11.

Apropos of the present situation, every citizen of the United States is guaranteed the right to practise his/her faith by the First Amendment of the country's Constitution. No right-thinking American would deny this. But in certain fraught circumstances justice is best tempered with patience and understanding. To drain the the poison of religious bigotry that currently vitiates American public life, would it not be wise to defer the construction of the Islamic centre until passions have cooled, or else build it on different site? There are, after all, 100 mosques in New York alone, which testifies to traditional American standards of religious tolerance.

However, the behaviour of mavericks such as Pastor Terry Jones, whose Florida congregation numbers 30 souls, has muddied the waters. His Koran book-burning threat was an outrage, an offence to the sensibilities of all people of good will and good sense. He has raised the antiIslamic temperature in his country, and attacks on Muslims in America have increased. This has diminished America's standing in the world, and those who see America as a light on the hill are deeply saddened. We hope America and the world beyond emerge chastened and strengthened by the experience.

India's Kashmir challenge Most western media gurus present the challenge India faces in Kashmir in simplistic terms. The Muslim majority state is in turmoil ergo the 'Hindu' government in Delhi embodying a 'Hindu' state is an oppressor. The state of Jammu & Kashmir includes the Hindu majority region of Jammu and the Buddhist majority area of Ladakh high up in the Himalayas. Neither ever rates a mention. So, while the state as a whole has a Muslim majority, the Muslim population is concentrated in the Kashmir valley. Muslim separatists there demand a Kashmir free of Indian control as an independent entity or as part of Pakistan. As a step towards this goal the valley has been ethnically cleansed of its Hindu Pandit population. Again, amid the media handwringing and breast-beating at the alleged suffering of the Muslims nothing is ever said of the plight of the internally displaced Pandits, some Siklhs and Muslims out of favour with jehadi separatists.

Jammu & Kashmir has a democratically elected government; its special social and cultural characteristics are protected under Article 370 of the Indian Constitution. More development funds are allocated to the state than to other areas of India whose needs appear greater by far. The issue here is not about civil rights - few in any case exist in the Muslim world - but the determination of militant jehadis to create an Islamic polity. The people of Jammu and Ladakh recoil at the prospect of living under sharia law and judi-

cial punishments such as stoning, whipping and the amputation of limbs.

The recent unrest in the Kashmir valley was provoked by events in America, such as threats to burn the Koran – condemnable on any account – so the Muslim rioters burnt a Christian school, besides setting fire to government buildings and attacking the police and security forces in the state capital Srinagar and in other towns. It is all very well for the Financial Times Correspondent Amy Kazmin to write of Indian 'military rule' in Kashmir. Ms Kazmin's images of India are relentlessly negative, just as her reference to China are forcefully positive.

In the latest Kashmir violence police firing claimed 18 lives, with injuries caused to 100. The massacre at Beijing's Tienanmen Square on June 4 1989 when tanks and troops fired on an unarmed and peaceful crowd is clearly something that cuts no ice with the FT reporter. So be it.

India is a serious state, it is no pushover.

Motivated media falsehoods and calumnies will be ridden out in the fullness of time. There can be no surrender to jehadis. Napoleon recommended a “whiff of grapeshot” as the best medicine for mobs: true in his day, true today.

The jehadis have rejected all appeals to reason and dialogue. They are determined to achieve their Islamist agenda through force. They will learn the error of their ways the hard way. More's the pity.

Winter of discontent looms The TUC conference in Manchester cannot be airily dismissed by government supporters. The unions may not have the strength of yore, but they are far from weak and they do strike a chord with significant segments of the British public. That the British economy is in urgent need of repair is universally recognised. All are agreed on the need for spending cuts. The question is how the cuts are to be spread. There are swathes of the poor and vulnerable in our society. They need protection. So also do public servants and public services. Jobs mean taxes and more revenue, unemployment

means welfare and higher government expenditure.

The government's spending review will need political skill and social sensitivity without making a nonsense of the economics. This will not be easy, but nothing is easy in today's world. There must be the widest consultation with all sections of society, the unions in particular. If the unions were to co-ordinate their strike actions, Britain's troubles would deepen.There is time to parley. There is room to manoeuvre. The opportunities must not be spurned.

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Thought for the Week In spite of illness, in spite of the arch enemy sorrow, one can remain alive long past the usual date of disintegration if one is unafraid of change, insatiable of intellectual curiosity, interested in big things, and happy in small ways.

- Edith Wharton (1862-1937)

Sarah Teather MP Liberal Democrat MP for Brent East

Supporting the children who need it most Every parent wants their child to have the best possible start in life and nowhere is this more relevant than education. At its best, education opens children's eyes to what they can achieve and enriches their lives far beyond the classroom. But in order for it to do this, it is vital that the individual needs of the child are met.

As an MP in Brent, where one child in every 35 has a statement of special educational needs (SEN), I have met many families struggling to find their child the support they require. Many have spoken of their feelings of frustration with a education system which cannot take account of the particular challenges their child faces.

Some parents have felt that they have had no choice but to take their children out of the schooling system altogether or else, distressingly, have decided to stick with a bad school placement because they feel they have no other choice.

After 13 years of Labour, families in Brent are telling me that the whole process of assessment is confusing and overly bureaucratic, with many parents and carers left feeling that they have had to battle with the authorities to get the support they need. This isn't good enough. Families need a system that supports and empowers them to make the right decisions for their child, not one that gets in the way.

This is why, as part of the government's drive to effect real and lasting change for children with SEN, I have issued a call asking for

the views of parents, carers and professionals to contribute to a Green Paper on this issue. I am calling for parents, teachers, charities, teaching unions and local authorities to take this opportunity to make their voices, and their experiences, heard.

I want to look at the whole system and see where we can improve it. I would like parents to be able to chose where to send their child on the basis of what's best for them, whether that means a place in a mainstream or in a specialised school. I want improved diagnosis and assessments and I want to make the funding system simpler and more transparent so that parents and carers know where their money is being spent and why.

Every child is different - there is no one size fits all solution to giving children with SEN and their families the support they need.

We need to create a system that is sensitive to the different circumstances that children and their families find themselves in. A 'topdown' approach just doesn't work.

We have the chance to make a real difference to the lives of children with SEN. By making it clear that there is no one better placed to judge what a child with SEN needs than their parents we can drive change from the ground up. From assessment and identification to funding and schools we can strip away the cumbersome bureaucracy to ensure there is a better, more comprehensive service for all families.

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

YOUR VOICE

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Sino Indian relationship I thought I will take the opportunity to commend you on your insight as reflected in the Editorial on Sino-Indian relationship when commenting on the two articles which appeared in the Economist of 21st August. AV is absolutely right. It is in Beijing’s gift to change it.

Apropos of Prof. Paul Kennedy, a Yale University historian (his book The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers: Economic Change and Military Conflict from 1500 to 2000).

My thinking is, that even though China is now the second largest economy in the world, how long will it be before the bubble bursts. In the eighties economists were predicting that the Americans and Europeans would be reduced to secondary position by the relentless highspeed growth of the Japanese economy.

China may be the world’s number one exporter but it is also the world’s second biggest importer of oil, coal and other resources. I have reservations about sustainability of the Chinese rate of growth.

Last week we heard about the problems Chinese banks are experiencing and I think before long the growth rate could go down from 10% to 6%.

Property prices in major cities are rising annually by about 60% and these properties are mostly funded by statesponsored institutions. This year there were a number of strikes which demonstrated the ability of Chinese workers to flex their muscles. If the wages go up fast then Chinese manufactures may find it difficult to compete against producers in Indonesia, Vietnam and Bangladesh.

Sir Andy Chande Via Email

Glory of India Awards In response to the article in Asian Voice Glory of India Awards by Dee Katwa following are my comments.

First I must highly appreciate that Asian Voice has published this article to bring to the attention of British Indians what is happening in the field of some of the organisations who are giving the awards. It is completely unacceptable to demand the money for giving any awards.

The organisers of Glory of India Awards must change their practice.

I feel the work which this organisation started was very honourable and important as recognising services of NRIs is necessary.This will certainly encourage people to be more responsible to help others. I will further agree that money is required to organise this function. But there are ways to do that such as by contacting the super rich people and the Ministry of Culture of India.

If the organisers of this society wants any help in raising funds then they are most welcome to contact me (Phone 0208 554 5715). I am sure many people will join us to raise funds to assist in this matter. Only thing we need honesty to achieve success in this most important work which is very necessary.

Dharam Sahdev Ilford

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Asian Voice - Saturday 18th September 2010

Direct flight to Ahmedabad

Direct flight campaign

I was surprised to read in your papers that the Air India in their latest time table haven't mentioned about direct flight to Ahmadabad, I wonder why.

Now is the time for all Gujaratis to bycott Air India, and travel any air line going direct to Ahmedabad like Emirates,Qatar or any other airlines which does not go through Mumbai.

We have so many Gujarati Travel Agents. They should refuse to handle Air India booking to Ahmadabad. They should join together and hire a chartered flight to fly directly between London and Ahmedabad three times a week. All Gujaratis should support them.

This is the time we have to unite and teach Air India a good lesson. I am going every year to Gujarat and now my friends and I have decided not to travel by Air India. We will be travelling by Emirates instead.

Kaushik Patel Via Email

Janmashtami 2010 Last to last weekend, Janmashtami was celebrated with great colour and vigour across all of London, bringing immense joy and vibrancy to all our lives.

Alperton’s newly opened Shree Vallabh Nidhi Mandir marked its first Janmashtami celebrations within the new Sandstone Mandir, attracting huge crowds to rock the cradle of Lord Krishna. Equal celebrations of joy were also held at the Stanmore, Kenton and Willesden Green Shree Swaminarayan Mandirs, all bustling with pilgrims from far and away. The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir also hosted a Maha Janmashtami special Sabha on Saturaday 4th September, where devotees rejoiced in the tales of Lord Krishna.

The weekend celebrations ended on Sunday 5th September, with the grand Janmashtami Festival held at the Bhaktivedanta Manor, Watford, attracting thousands of people from across the country to celebrate the birth of Lord Krishna. The Manor was buzzing with a variety of stalls, from food and music to spiritual and cultural.

A special congratulations and thanks must go out to all the organisers and the hundreds of volunteers, young and old who worked tirelessly over the weekend to provide all devotees with the opportunity to gain Janmashtami darshan. I hope all devotees will join me in expressing their appreciation to all the volunteers who helped make the Janmashtami celebrations possible.

The holy month of Shravan was also celebrated joyously across the capital. I was proud to see the enthusiasm among the mass crowds across London, which reminded me that the Hindu community rooted by our elders, is held strong by the youth of today. I have not had the chance to visit Gujarat yet, but luckily with the joyous, colourful festivities held in London each year I have never ever felt distanced from Gujarat.

Ameet Jogia, Harrow Conservatives

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I am so glad that Mr. C B Patel has taken task for all of us who would like to have hassle free travel to go to our birth place in Gujarat. I have already mention few month back in my email that never fall for wording use by Aviation Minister Mr. Praful Patel that he will consider this direct flights.

I am sure being Air line operator Air India has all the statistics, that were mentioned by CB in their possession. Having plenty of knowledge in aviation industry why doesn’t Mr Minister want Air India to grow? He still hasn’t improved Air India's image in people’s eyes, especially oitside India.

I am surprised that Gujaratis are well who are connected with high profile people in industries and businesses in India and overseas are not coming forward to help. Every one must give full support to this campaign. I know the Ambani Brothers have stake all over India but also in of the biggest Oil refinery companies in the world which is situated in Jamnagar. They may have private planes for themselves and may be for their staff but for the sake of Gujarat they must join for this Campaign led by CB. We also must approach other Airliners and boycott Air India, which is our last option. I am very grateful that many opposition party leaders also join this campaign along with current government. Well Done CB. Mahendrasinh Jadeja Winchmore Hill

A Bone to Pick I would go along some way with the views expressed by one of your readers in last week’s Asian Voice. Though, unlike him, I have no bones to pick with the authors but with the contents in the letters written by the said gentlemen. Theirs is the same old references to what the politicians, notably Obama and Cameron, might have said or done. I feel that the letters should be more versatile and cover various different topics rather than just reiterating what the politicians had said.

I am an ardent reader of, and regular contributor to, the “Your Voice” column of Asian Voice for some long time now. I note with dismay that where previously your readers were expressing their concerns on general and social issues which touched on our everyday life, lately I find that some seem to concentrate on political issues, reiterating what the party leaders or other politicians said or did, and are thus churning out recycled material. Such matters have already been chewed over again and again in the media and in your own “Comment” page of the previous week. By the time we come to read these letters, the news may already have become stale or the matter may have blown over. Can we not ask the letter writers to focus on general issues which may be informative as well as interesting? It would be a change to read about people’s views on the burning questions which bother us all from time to time and what guidance or way forward they can suggest. Let the “Your Voice” column portray the reader’s own voice.

Dinesh Sheth Newbury Park, Ilford

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Have your own thoughts and views I congratulate Hiren Mukesh Dhangar in having the courage to express his views in his ‘Freedom of speech’ letter (AV 11 September 2010) which was about certain ‘columnists’ who write almost regularly under the Your Voice column on page 4.

I have been an interested reader of Asian Voice continuously for several years and I enjoy reading those letters which present an independent personal and diverse opinion on social, cultural and political issues of the day. And I think this is, quite rightly, the aim of your page 4 column - to let readers voice their own views concerning, in the main, issues arising in and around the Asian community.

Sadly, however, I have come across some letters that merely give a tedious list of some factual information which you can easily find elsewhere such as in text books and encyclopaedias, for example information on health and safety issues, significance of Hindu festivals, giving directives on what should or should not be done, etc.

I also find many letters where it appears the writer has extracted opinions given in several national and international newspapers and then re-hashed them in his own words and claimed those opinions to be his.

There is no doubt that the Asian community is a fast progressing society in this country, quite capable of having their own thoughts and views. I certainly would like to see different readers coming forward and giving their personal and independent opinions to Asian Voice, without fear of ‘domination’ by other regular writers. I would love to read them – for a change!

Uttambhai D Mistry Bolton

Not for Gujarati Hindus only I agree whole heartedly with what Mr. Hiren Dhanger has to say in his letter on page 4 of the Asian Voice. All those three mentioned by Mr. Dhangar appear to be very learned men but their views are going too far right and there has to be balance to what they preach.

Also I believe you were having a premature celebration of your victory on direct flight to Ahmadabad without getting a written agreement from the minister. These politicians say something and do completely opposite to what they mean. If you have something in black and white before you should not start celebrating.

I have been a reader of AV since last ten years because I am out of practice in reading and writing Gujarati. At least now the readers like Mr. Grewal not feel that the Asian Voice is only for "GujaratiHindus" alone.

Mohan Patel Via Email

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

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(Off Coronet Street)

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

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

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

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

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Asian Voice - Saturday 18th September 2010

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YOUR VOICE Leonard Cheshire Disability

We are asking you to remember Leonard Cheshire Disability in your will, as part of the national campaign Remember A Charity Week, 13-19 September. The week will see over 140 charities from around the country coming together to highlight the importance of gifts left to charities in wills.

Legacy gifts are vital to the work of Leonard Cheshire Disability, enabling us to provide a wide range of activities and support to disabled people in your local area and across the UK. A large part of our income is from the generosity of people like you, whether it's through running a half marathon, hosting a tea party, or giving a donation.

However, it is not a very well known fact that around 40% of our donated income actually comes from people leaving a gift in their will.

Any legacy – big or small – can make a huge difference to someone’s life. For example, gardening tools could help a person plant seeds as part of a horticultural project, or a computer can help a disabled person to learn valuable IT skills and be more independent.

Research shows that 35% of British people say they would consider including a gift to charity after providing for family and friends in their will, but only 7% do so, which is why we have joined this important campaign to raise awareness of legacies.

It is really simple to leave a gift to charity in your will. Visit www.lcdisability.org or call 020 3242 0311 to find out more.

Ingrid Ambrose Individual Giving Manager Leonard Cheshire Disability

Big Bang theory Mr. Gandhi’s analogy of egg or chicken versus God and creation arises because ancient knowledge including science was rolled in sandwich known as philosophy, which was based on observations of repetitive rythmes of nature, deep contemplation, and inferences.

Today, science has evolved into labyrinth of theories, and laws that can be calibrated. Scientists have found that gravity and other laws govern universe.

Scientists are struggling to formulate comprehensive law, calibration or theory, because knowledge is boundless.

Scientists are striving to discover complete unified theory leading and great unified theory of physics to understand mind of God, which may be possible when great unified theory is not confined few scientists but to all debaters of theism and atheism.

Scientists theorise that big bang began when super-high temperature of super-dense material super-accelerated speed of electrons orbiting around protons whereby mass began to expand.

Atoms began to move away from a centre, orbited as per force of gravity and curvature of the space. As temperatures cooled, atoms fused to create molecules and cells of the universe.

Merely few millennia old science is ignorant about genesis of super-dense material and what caused it to get superheated; only timeless God knows.

Ramesh Jhalla Via Email

Asian Voice - Saturday 18th September 2010

Kapil’s

Dangerous dog laws Readers of AV may have heard Deputy Mayor for Policing Kit Malthouse’s call to strengthen dangerous dog laws. As the former portfolio holder for Environment and Community Safety at Harrow Council I have a great deal of experience in this area, and I strongly believe that Harrow residents should back his call.

Talking about dangerous dogs isn’t scaremongering or being alarmist, but rather recognising a serious and worsening problem with statistics that speak for themselves. In 2006, the Metropolitan Police confiscated 263 dogs across London; the number shot up to 1,152 in 2009.

The Deputy Mayor has proposed an increase in the penalty for owning banned breeds – to bring it in line with carrying an offensive weapon. In addition, he rightly highlights the problem of so-called ‘weapons dogs’; which may not be banned breeds, but have been bred and trained by irresponsible owners into dangerous status symbols – little more than snarling Uzis on legs. And every borough in London has a story to tell about them.

In Harrow we discovered the owners of weapons dogs were encouraging their animals to clamp their teeth onto the seats of swings in our parks and hang off them – strengthening their jaw muscles.

This is a good example of the lengths people will go to in order to make their weapons dogs more aggressive. In response, we had the seats remade containing a foul-tasting chemical that the dogs wouldn’t bite into.

And before our administration lost power in May, recognising that housing estates are often plagued by weapons dogs, we proposed referring possibly dangerous dogs from estates to the police and the RSCPA for independent assessments and expert advice – allowing us to act accordingly on their recommendations.

London should lead the way on this important issue, and I therefore strongly encourage Harrow residents to make their voices heard and sign the petition on the GLA website – http://www.london.gov.uk/dangerous-dogs-petition.

Cllr. Susan Hall Leader of Harrow Council Conservative Group

God v/s Science Mr. B.M. Gandhi's letter 'God versus Science' questions existence of God. Hindus through time immemorial have always known through the Vedas that the God is eternal, immortal, omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent and ever knowledgeable, without any beginning or end.

Apparently all religious denominations of the world believe in this. If we treat this as true then the question of God creating the universe or universes does not arise because if He had then when did He do it? What was before?

He being ever knowledgeable why had to wait to create? Why there was time lapse?

The Vedas states that the truth is He did not. The universe or universes or all the cosmos we know of were there all the time, it has like us no beginning or no end.

Millions of universes, galaxies, cosmos come into existence every fraction of a second and then like us die, get eaten up by age only to reappear later in a different form in a different place. It's a process without beginning or an end.

Sat Pal Sharma Warwickshire

KHICHADI

by Kapil Dudakia - email: kapil@abplgroup.com Uncompetitive India !

I came across a recent report published by the World Economic Forum (WEF) that detailed the competitiveness of various countries. India came in at number 51 out of 139 countries (2 places down from last year!).

The thought occurred to me, who are these great and the wise of economic wizardry that can spend millions on a report yet still miss the bigger picture?

Of course these are the same people who sleep walked into the global financial crisis only to find that within an 18 month period the western economies burnt to cinders forcing them to print money – something frowned on by these same pundits when some developing countries occasionally had to do the same to support their economic developments.

So which country tops the list?

Switzerland of course.

Now I ask you, apart from looking after the money of some shady characters around the world, what else does Switzerland do? For the record, the top 15 most competitive countries/economies are: Switzerland Sweden Singapore United States Germany Japan Finland Netherlands Denmark Canada Hong Kong SAR United Kingdom Taiwan, China Norway France Source: WEF - The Global Competitiveness Report 2010-2011

Now do tell me if I am wrong, but are these not the same countries that are desperately trying to do business with India given it has such a vibrant economy at present?

I suspect the report is trying to allude to those barriers that exist in India that limit its capacity to be even bigger and better.

For example infra-

structure, energy, bureaucracy, corruption, literacy, poverty and health do need addressing, and fast.

Mind you, for a country with so many problems, it is not doing that bad is it. On a serious note – the Indian Government and its people will have to come to terms with some of these important issues, and rather quickly. Whilst one can surf the wave of euphoria over ever increasing GDP figures, at some point this will have to be underpinned with tangibles to avoid a big bust up. I am however very hopeful and cannot see why India cannot go from strength to strength over the coming two decades.

Can you imagine what it can accomplice if it actually got its act together?

Now that must frighten some countries!

Uncompetitive India? Yes. However, it seems it can still give a good fight even with one hand tied behind its back.

Incompetent TUC The annual pilgrimage made by thousands of comrades to the TUC conference started this week.

These people just don’t learn the lesson of history do they? In KK over the past 18 months or so, I had constantly highlighted that if Unions persisted with their New Labour bashing policies that it will end in tears. And tears are what we witnessed as each delegate came on stage to make their speech denouncing the Government for the savagery of the cuts it is embarking on.

Forgetting with great convenience, that if they had supported their party properly when it was in power, then maybe they might not have lost the election and faced their dooms day scenario now.

The Unions have a history of making very stupid decisions. Of undermining their own horse and allowing the opposition to gather momentum and win. I remember when they gave incredibly hostile receptions to ministers of the previous Labour

Government.

Not even having the common sense to realise that the British public were watching this orgy of inflicting wounds to itself. The psychiatrists I believe call it Masochistic Personality Disorder.

Is there a treatment for this problem? For the time being, I doubt it. The TUC let everyone down by not being tough on its membership and whipping them into a united front.

It allowed its membership in the public and civil services to almost systematically pull the rug from under the feet of Labour.

They stood by, proud of their historic culture of flexing their muscles.

And what have they ended up with?

A Tory Government with the support of the ‘wishy washy’ party who are hell bent on making cuts that will put the unions and their members on the back foot for years to come. I thought they might have learnt from their stupidity of the 70’s, I was wrong. It is right what they, there are some people who just can’t stop being silly.

Corruption, a way of life?

Pratyush Sinha the retired Chief Vigilance Commissioner in India gave an extraordinary exit interview recently when he declared that some one-third of all Indians are corrupt.

If that was not enough, he went on to say that many more are on the borderline (as many as 50%).

According to my mathematics that seems to suggest that up to 83% of all Indian are openly or covertly corrupt. Now that’s what I call a way of life.

The new Law Minister Veerappa Moily said, "Having held an office where they (Pratyush Sinha) could have made a difference but failed to do so, some bureaucrats become saints after retirement."

How true, most saints achieve their status only after they have gone.

So Mr Moily let us see what you can do in your tenure.

Asian Voice - Saturday 18th September 2010

“Our London” CIIr Navin Shah AM

UK

Traditional Kerala Ayurveda massage comes to London

London Assembly Member for Brent and Harrow

THE RIGHT ‘CHOICE’ OF MEALS FOR PUPILS The issue itself about halal meat served in schools and the lack of choice (in some schools) of other non vegetarian meals is an important one and deserves consideration by schools and local authorities. I entirely agree that there is full choice of meals available so that NO community feels discriminated. But, I strongly condemn unhelpful, strong, insensitive and even disgusting headlines and propaganda seen in the media. Request for information (under ‘Freedom of Information Act 2000) has been received by Brent and Harrow Councils seeking information about ‘how many schools ……. . serve Halal prepared meat. This would be the cases of institutions where all meat is Halal (meaning children eating meat do not have a choice)”.

I’ve been actively lobbied on this issue by a range of people / organisations including leaders of the Sikh and Hindu religions with their complaints. Consideration of the issue deserves objective and honest approach – firstly to assess the facts and then see how the situation could be remedied provided that the choice of meals offered to pupils is inappropriate. I’m happy to share my initial findings based on my meetings with the senior politicians and officers in the two Local Authority areas, namely Brent and Harrow, I represent on the London Assembly.

As a starting point the fact I’d like everyone to recognise is that the schools, regardless of which borough they are in, are autonomous institutions and it is the governing bodies of schools who decide catering policies and award contracts for school meals. The Council’s role at the best is to advice and guide schools but the Councils cannot impose or dictate school meal policies on Schools. Schools have their own budgets and final decision on this issue rests with schools.

Brent: I can confirm that Brent Council itself has not been involved in catering contracts for school meals in Brent Schools. The current situation being that it is up to the individual school to determine the range of meals it serves to its pupils. However, Brent Council is totally committed to promoting a full choice of meals in schools to its diverse school community and to this end the I would ask Brent Council to consider issuing a clear and firm advice to all its schools that meals served in schools are healthy, nutritional and give a full choice to cater for religious needs and practices.

Harrow: The funding for school meals in Harrow is delegated to schools and they are free to set their policies for school meals and choose their own provider for meals. This is neither a new policy nor one that Harrow Council can make let alone impose. The contract in Harrow’s high schools, in place for two years, and the decision to provide halal meat was based on a wide range of advice and in the interests of serving the diversity of dietary requirements within the Borough. Harrow Council’s only direct involvement in school meals has been linked to the development of the hub kitchens and the development of the serveries in primary schools.

Recently issues have been raised in relation to the provision of hot meals to primary schools and Council has been consulting with primary schools to ascertain if they wish to provide hot schools meals and if so, whether they want these provided from one of Council’s hub kitchens. This consultation has raised a number of issues and further discussions are planned in the Autumn to see how Council should proceed. I urge Harrow Council to take into

account the current concerns and put in place choice of meals available to the pupils from Sikh and all other communities of diverse religious beliefs.

I will be undertaking further examination of school meal provision in both Brent and Harrow Councils. In the meantime I urge all sections of our diverse communities to ensure that any criticism they have on this issue is balanced and take into account very clear roles and responsibilities the Councils and Schools have with regard to school meals.

Virendra Sharma MP inaugurates a Kerala Ayurveda & Herbal Spa centre at Kenton road in presence of the staff and guests

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www.abplgroup.com

Dee Katwa

Asian Voice - Saturday 18th September 2010

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

Drowning our future in alcohol ger of choking to death on vomit.

However, only 5 per cent had received any firstaid training. The findings were based on a national survey of 2,500 children aged 11 to

More than 500,000 children – many of them as young as 11 – suffer alcohol poisoning in Britain each year, according to a Red Cross report published this week.

In Birmingham alone, three-quarters of schoolchildren have been drunk before their sixteenth birthday.

The Birmingham statistics were revealed in a separate 100-page scrutiny report by Birmingham City Council which found that almost 10,000 people suffering from alcoholrelated illness were admitted to Birmingham hospitals between 2003 and 2006, and 347 died as a result of drinking too much. The worst areas in the city for alcohol abuse

were Moseley, Kings Heath, Nechells, Washwood Heath, Soho, Erdington and Kingstanding. In addition, the council review found the city had more than 11,000 problem drug users and 57,000 dependent and harmful drinkers.

Nationally, one in seven children questioned by Red Cross, the charity, said they had

Data hacking, detective fined A Birmingham cop, Det Con Balwinder Basran, has admitted carrying out unauthorised searches involving highly-sensitive information on his force’s computer intelligence systems. Married dad-of-two, aged 47, who was based at Thornhill Road station in Handsworth, was fined almost £2,000 after admitting four offences of data protection and computer misuse at Cannock Magistrates’ Court last Wednesday. He is currently suspended by West Midlands Police.

Dad accused of daughter’s murder A father has appeared in court charged with murdering his daughter. Gurmeet Singh Ubhi, 53, appeared before Telford Magistrates accused of murdering 24-year-old Amrit Kaur Ubhi. Ms Ubhi’s body was discovered at the family home in Shropshire last Tuesday. She had been strangled.

P45 in the post Almost 26,000 Birmingham City Council workers have been told their jobs are on the line. The authority’s entire non-schools staff have received legal notices warning their contracts of employment were to be changed and cuts in pay and conditions imposed. The Council, Europe’s largest, employs 60,000 staff of which around a quarter are from ethnic minority communities.

Blood pressure, get it checked The nation’s biggest annual blood pressure testing event, Know Your Numbers! Week, ends this Sunday (Sep 19). The week-long event, organised by UK charity the Blood Pressure Association, offers people a chance to get a free blood pressure check at locations across the country. In the UK, one in three adults has high blood pressure, known as the ‘silent killer’, and causes 60 per cent of strokes and 40 per cent of heart attacks.

To find out more visit www.bpassoc.org.uk/kyn or telephone 020 8772 4994.

Health boss sudden death Walsall’s health chief Professor Sam Ramaiah has died after suffering a heart attack at home last Monday night. He was 62. Prof Ramaiah, pictured, originally from Bangalore in India, leaves a widow Jyoti and two children, son Bharat and daughter India. He lived in Sutton Coldfield. Prof Ramaiah was also assistant registrar with the UK’s Faculty of Public Health, the standard-setting body for specialists in public health. Denise McLellan, chief executive of NHS Walsall, said Prof Ramaiah had made an outstanding contribution to the health and well-being of the people of Walsall for nearly 30 years.

been in an emergency tinvolving a drunken friend in the previous 12 months. Half of them had to cope with a friend who had fallen unconscious and a quarter were left trying to deal with serious injuries caused by drunken fights. Others were faced with friends in dan-

16.

Are you a parent, guardian or teacher of an 11 to 16-year-old who has an alcohol misuse problem? What action, if any, have you taken to tackle this issue. Email me (names can be withheld, on request).

Gujarat team visit Birmingham A 12-strong Indian trade delegation stopped over in Birmingham for a few hours on Monday this week during their whistle-stop tour of Europe. The delegation, led by Guruprasad Mohapatra, met with prospective business partners to discuss opportunities for trade and investment and to invite UK companies to the fifth global Vibrant Gujarat Summit (www.vibrantgujarat.com) in Gandhinagar in January 2011. Well done to city ambassador Michael Loftus for banging the drum, with genuine pride, for Birmingham. Gujarat contributes 16 per cent of India’s total industrial production and 21 per cent to total trade.

Sikhs battle to win case for free schools Birmingham City Council is fiercely opposing the proposed launch of the Government’s first twin “free school”, despite being provisionally given the green light

by Education Secretary Michael Gove. The project is the brainchild of Nishkam Education Trust, which is connected to the Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha Gurdwara in Soho Road, Handsworth, and has already spent £8 million to purchase the two sites. It is one of 16 organisations across the country to take part in the first wave of the Government’s flagship free schools programme. Half the places (500) will be offered to Sikhs with half offered to the rest of the community regardless of religion.

Arab diplomat visits Birmingham His Excellency Sheikh Sayed Ali Hashmi, advisor to the President of the United Arab Emirates, delivered a positive and encouraging speech to around 50 legal and businesspeople, all men bar three, during his visit to Birmingham on Friday a fortnight ago. His Excellency, pictured, who oversees the legal system in the UAE, spoke in Arabic and was flanked by his interpreter son and host Noor Siddiqi, a partner at law firm Artis Legal.

Themes discussed included Islamic Finance and mutual trade partnerships. This was the first in a series of overseas visits planned which aim to create trade links between the West Midlands and the Middle East. The UAE is the UK’s 13th largest export market – valued at around £3.6 billion.

New Chefs Alliance Leading chefs in Birmingham have formed a new group – Birmingham Chefs Alliance – to promote the city’s restaurants, nurture fresh talent and boost the international profile of Brum cuisine.

News in Brief Councillor cleared Walsall Conservative Councillor Mohammed Munir has been cleared of 11 charges of electoral fraud after a two-day trial in Birmingham. It was alleged Munir, 58, had filled in and signed 11 application forms for the electoral register for men who did not exist.

Soar in homeless Brummies The homeless total in Birmingham has risen by 140 per cent. Repossessions as well as the stresses of job losses are causing more family splits, with 4,415 people and families declaring they faced the streets between January and July this year. The increase means council taxpayers face a new burden as cashstricken Birmingham City Council gets set to rent an additional 630 properties from private landlords to provide homes on a temporary basis.

Tycoon to cough up cash A “greedy” Midland property owner with a £1 million empire who was jailed for fiddling £12,789 in benefits over 11 years has been ordered to pay it all back – or face more time behind bars. Naresh Chauhan, 48, who owns an apartment and five homes in Walsall, was sent to prison for 14 months in April after he admitted three charges of benefit fraud and two of using a false instrument to try to claim benefits on other properties in the area.

New Appointment Zulfiqur Ali has been appointed new dean of Teesside University’s Graduate Research School.

Professor Ali joined Teesside as a senior lecturer in chemistry and has also been reader, professor and assistant dean for research and innovation.

End of an era The vice-chancellor, pictured, of the University of Wolverhampton is to retire. Caroline Gipps, 62, said that after 40 years in full-time work, she had decided it was “time to do something else”.

Holiday on the ‘bank’ More than one in four people are getting into debt to fund their holiday, according to a new survey.

Around 28 per cent of people admitted they had borrowed money to pay for their summer break, a fifth of whom said they would rather be in debt than go without a holiday, according to online travel agent sunshine.co.uk.

Flying high financially Staff at Birmingham International Airport have been up in arms after discovering their chief executive, Paul Kehoe, pictured, was paid a staggering £386,000 last year. In addition, he received a huge package of bonuses which has sparked anger from unions who are campaigning to save jobs.

Booze ads ban on taxis A ban preventing alcohol from being advertised on the side of Birmingham taxis, introduced following pressure from Muslim cabbies, could be lifted.

Council licensing bosses are under pressure to back down and allow promotional material for Jack Daniels whisky to be displayed. The issue was due to be debated by the city council Licensing Committee this week.

Asian Voice - Saturday 18th September 2010

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Asian Voice - Saturday 18th September 2010

Memorial for Noor Inayat Khan gets go ahead Continued from page 1 It comes after months of campaigning by the Noor Inayat Khan Memorial Trust and an Early Day Motion tabled

by Labour M.P. Valerie Vaz in July.

Thirty high-power Asian women including Shami Chakrabarty, Director of Liberty, Gurinder Chadha and others had signed a petition backing the call for a memorial for Noor Inayat Khan.

This week London University gave permission to put up the bust.

"I am delighted," said Valerie Vaz who tabled the Early Day Motion and personally wrote to the Vice Chancellor, Graeme Davis. "Noor Inayat Khan deserves this recognition."

"It is the most wonderful news," said Shrabani Basu, author of Spy Princess, the Life of Noor Khan Inayat Khan and founder of the Noor Inayat Khan Memorial Trust.

"It means her memory

Shami Chakrabarty Gurinder Chadha

Book by Shrabani Basu on Noor

will be preserved for future generations. It will not only be a memorial to

Valerie Vaz, MP

an inspirational Indian woman, but also a memorial for peace, as Noor was a Sufi and believed in nonviolence. Noor’s sacrifice will not have been in vain.”

Noor used to play in Gordon Square as a child.

As a secret agent she lived nearby on 4 Taviton Street, and would often spend her off-days reading on one of the benches in the Square.

Noor, a descendant of Tipu Sultan, was recruited by the Special Operations Executive, a secret organisation started by Churchill. Infiltrated into

France under a false identity she did invaluable work for the French Resistance.

She was betrayed, captured by the Nazis, brutally tortured and killed in Dachau Concentration Camp. She was only 30.

She was posthumously awarded the George Cross

by Britain and France awarded her the Croix du Guerre, their highest civilian honour.

She is the only Indian woman to get the George Cross.

The bust will be sculpted by well known-sculptor Karen Newman, who has sculpted the bust of SOE heroine Violette Szabo on Albert Embankment.

Plans to erect permanent memorial as Sikhs remember the sacrifice made by 21 soldiers Continued from page 1 His Honour Judge Sir Mota Singh QC and DJ’s Tigerstyle announced plans to erect a permanent memorial in central London.

Coordinated by the Anglo Sikh Heritage Trail, the campaign is launching a competition for the art world to win the commission for the memorial. The campaign is also asking the government to officially recognise the battle and its crucial role in British history.

Saragarhi Day will be marked by a series of events across the UK to recognise the enormously important role in the British Army that Sikh soldiers have made in the past and continue to make today. These will include presentations to descendants of soldiers who fought in the Tirah Campaign, in the North-

West Frontier Province.

His Honour Judge Sir Mota Singh QC said: “The bravery shown by these soldiers is unbelievable and it is important that their sacrifice is remembered. The creation of a memorial to these 21 soldiers will act as a permanent reminder to us all of this famous battle. We are asking the government to formally recognise the sacrifice made by these 21 Sikhs soldiers.”

Pops from Glaswegian bhangra group Tigerstyle

added: “A lot of young Sikhs are unaware of role that Sikh soldiers have played in the British Army, and particularly at the Battle of Saragarhi. This monument will not only allow us to remember these 21 Sikh soldiers but all Sikhs who have fought alongside the British Army.”

Field Marshal Sir John Chapple, former chief of the general staff, commented: “Sikh regiments have played a hugely important role in the

Bogus colleges set up to help illegal immigration A doctor and a solicitor allegedly set up two fake colleges to help illegal immigrants gain leave to remain in Britain, a court heard.

Alleged Dr. Kawal Sabharwal, 58, and Adeyinka Adeniren, 39, are on trial alongside two accomplices accused of setting up the bogus higher education institutions in New Cross, south London.

When police raided the Academy College of Education and the Academy College of Training and Recruitment in July 2007, they found the

buildings contained “nothing more than a collection of bedsitters”, Croydon Crown Court heard.

A large amount of educational paperwork in various names was removed from the buildings, and checks on the immigrants living there showed that many had applied for leave to remain in Britain using documents supplied by the “colleges”.

The applicants had submitted papers to the Home Office which purported to show that they had been studying for a raft of qualifications at the

College of Education, the court heard.

Dr Sabharwal allegedly wrote letters to the Home Office claiming that the immigrants had been patients at his GP practices in Hackney and Shoreditch, while Mr Adeniren, of Walworth, south London, allegedly represented the immigrants in their claims, acting as Julius Caesar, Solicitors.

When the lawyer’s officers were raided, police found a number of blank letters signed by Dr Sabharwal, the court heard.

British Indian Army and the soldiers who laid down their lives at the Battle of Saragarhi were immensely brave. The Battle of Saragarhi is not well known but is an extremely important part of history and should be remembered and thanks paid to the soldiers and their families.”

Broadcaster, Dr Indarjit Singh CBE, who is also backing the campaign, added: “Such episodes in history are important in that they both inspire and help us reflect on how such courage can help us face the future. Recalling the historic episode of Saragarhi inspires us to do just this.”

The Battle of Saragarhi took place in the NorthWest Frontier Province, now part of Pakistan, in September 1897. The 21 brave Sikhs from the 36th Sikh regiment fought to the death and in doing so delayed the tribesmen long enough for reinforcements to arrive and defend nearby forts.

When the gallantry of Saragarhi was recounted it led Queen Victoria to comment: “The British, as well as the Indians, are proud of the 36th Sikh Regiment. It is no exaggeration to record that the armies which possess the valiant Sikhs cannot face defeat in war.”

The campaign is also urging people to pledge their support by logging onto Facebook and searching ‘Saragarhi Tradition Never Dies’.

Alpesh Patel’s Political Sketchbook:

The Politics of Being Indian I write to you from India, watching BBC I hear a commentator saying that the benefit of having the Chairman of HSBC Stephen Green move to join the UK Government as a Minister is he can use his connections in India.

This of course comes of the back of the new CEO of Deutsche Bank likely to be an Indian, Anshu Jain, and of course that follows in the footsteps of the CEO of Citibank – an Indian and the Chairman of PepsiCo being Indian.

So what happened to the old adage that Indian’s couldn’t manage international firms – clearly not true.

As India grows the management abilities of such Indians will provide them with a competitive advantage – the advantage of being Indian.

This is not to say racism or prejudice is dead in Western nations, but it’s never been a better time to be Indian. So what do you do if you are a midranking Indian in a UK firm to ensure you make full use of your credentials? Well, here is some advice based on my discussions with Indians who have climbed and accelerated up the ladder not least because of their Indian connections: (It’s ironic I am often asked to give career advice given that I’ve never been an employee!)

Be bold enough to make proposals to your immediate superior which embody your connections and know-how to India and benefits to the firm at which you work.

Such proposals need to fit in with how the company will benefit but also why you should be involved. And of course

Raiders return to koi carp pond A man has had fish stolen from his pond for the third time in a month.

Another three of Kiran Chaggar's Japanese koi carp were taken from his back garden, in Baggrave Road, Hungarton, last week.

The 25-year-old said nine of his fish, worth more than ￡1,000, had been stolen on two separate occasions in August.

like all wishes ensure it is something you want.

Get involved more politically outside your firm.

The UK Government has placed India at the top of its Foreign Policy priorities – so if you have substantial ideas on what it can and should do which you feel it is not doing, especially if it involves insights you have based on where you work which may be applicable across your entire industry. With your insight you could contact your MP, or a Minister. The idea is to get you involved in service of Britain not just your own firm. Whilst you may feel nothing may come of it, even the exercise can be of value to get you thinking beyond the norm. For instance I just saw a story how the Chinese Government are funding British Schools to teach mandarin – well have you written to your MP, school, the Indian High Commission that it ought to be pushing Hindi – it’s in the interests of the UK and India.

As someone who goes to India on business every 6 weeks – I wish my hindi was a lot stronger.

It’s a business edge when over late dinners I’m able to drop in a little hindi.

Get involved politically via newspapers – write to the editor – heck write to me! The more time you spend thinking about political issues and how you personally can add value the more likely you will be able to join the ranks of the global CEOs. Get of the conveyor belt to your retirement and grab the ladder to the stars! alpesh.patel@tradermind.com

Woman due in court on slavery charge A Harrow woman charged in the first case of alleged modern-day slavery was due to appear in court on Monday.

Alleged Saeeda Khan, 68, of Whitmore Road, has been accused of one count of trafficking people for exploitation and was due at Westminster Magistrates Court on Monday. Police claim she smuggled a Tanzanian woman into Britain to work around her home.

UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 18th September 2010

Watchdog warns over academies' finances

National Hindu Students Forum (UK)

By Chitra Shah, NHSF-Events Team

Digging up the Roots When people my age say they are going on a 3 week holiday with friends, most of the time you’ll hear of escapades in European countries spending lots of money on hotels and partying.

So when I told my parents I wanted to go to India on an experience trip, they were somewhat taken aback.

This was the inaugural trip for the National Hindu Students Forum (NHSF) new project, Roots. It was a trip without a specific aim.

We were not to go there expecting to do any Sewa, learn about Indian politics, or learn about Indian history, in fact, we were told to go with no expectations at all, for we were there to find out about our personal connection to Bharat.

What was the point of our trip?

Much to our family’s annoyance, we were told that shopping was to be very low down on the itinerary. However, this was to be at our advan-

tage, as we were to find something that doesn’t end when we enlist back into our daily lives. It may have been a link to our professional aspirations, a social link to India, or even something that links to our personal situation in England.

Either way, it was clear that this trip was whatever we wanted it to be.

We spent our time experiencing the beauty of Leh – Ladakh, the socio-political importance of the situation in Jammu – Kashmir, the beauty of Religion in Amritsar and the practical induction of Sewa in Chitrakoot, amongst many other things.

One thing that Roots taught me was that the extent of Dharma doesn’t end in the Mandir, or at home. The people we met at every single place, showered us with such love and attention that we never for one moment felt that we were in a country where their lifestyles are simplistic in comparison to ours. I felt that any break in their lifestyle

would probably mean they might be losing a considerable amount of income. Nevertheless, one of their key mottos, was “Athiti Devo Bhava� – “Guest is God�. Taken from the Taittiriya Upanishsad from the longer shloka, “Matra devo bhava, Pitru devo bhava, Acharya devo bhava, Atithi devo bhava� I think that it is definitely something that we second generation Indians have forgotten in life as we have become too engrossed in our own daily routines, in Facebook, University life, and earning money to spend it. If we were to stop, look at the people around us and open our hearts and doors, perhaps we would be able to find happiness in the simplest of things. I know for sure that if it wasn’t for the Roots Experience, I wouldn’t have had this realisation, which I shall be incorporating into my daily life.

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The rapid expansion of England's academies programme risks being poor value for money, the spending watchdog has warned.

With one in four existing academies needing extra financial help, the National Audit Office said much tighter monitoring was needed. It also found poorer pupils did less well in academies than in regular state schools.

The government said academies performed well and that it was reducing risks. The NAO said these state-funded, privately run schools begun in disadvantaged areas by Labour had performed impressively in their efforts on improving attainment.

But since coming to power, the coalition government has encouraged schools rated outstanding

by Ofsted to apply for academy status, saying they would be fasttracked.

Many have been tempted to express an interest by the promise of more money and greater freedoms.

School 'failed to spot racism' before attack A school where a boy was attacked with a hammer failed to recognise a series of racist incidents prior to the assault, a serious case review has found.

Henry Webster, then 15, suffered three skull fractures in the attack by a group of Asian youths in 2007. His mother Liz Webster said the review showed the school was at fault.

Mr Webster, now 18, was punched, kicked and hit with a claw hammer at Ridgeway School, in Wroughton, near Swindon.

Before the attack, Mr Webster had agreed to fight a boy "one on one" due to peer pressure and to stop harassment he thought he and his friends were experiencing. He has returned to part-time education, but still suffers from short-term memory loss.

The report summary, published by the Swindon Local Safeguarding Children Board, said: "The school, although it knew in advance, did not prepare for the arrival of a significant number of British Asian students in 2005."

The review, which made 32 recommendations for action, also found there were some incidents between white and British Asian pupils which were not recognised as racist by the school.

#VR^#OZ

11

I_TZ DOHK Z[H]_IVOP FVIW DOH

UNIVERSITIES FULL, PUPILS WARNED – RECORD DEMAND FOR COURSES* Every parent’s nightmare: your bright, hardworking child just misses the first university they chose and then – absolute horror – there’s no room for them at any of their second choices.

It happens.

That’s the reality facing any number of students this year.

Perhaps they were promised a place if they got 3 As in their A Pankaj Vekria levels but they missed and got 2 As and a B. OK, so they don’t get into their first choice and they need to join the clearing system; but this year, instead of three applicants for every place there are now seven. Many universities are simply not using the clearing system this year. They are FULL. Others will only have a handful of places to offer in the clearing system. My Chief Operating Officer is on the Industrial Advisory Board of the Faculty of Maths and Computing at Kingston University, he tells me that the Dean of the Faculty has said at a recent meeting that they expect to have very few places to offer in 2010. It would take a big leap of faith to hope that matters will improve in 2011.

What to do? Well, I’ve been banging on about it for weeks in this paper now, but one thing you might consider doing is to get a tutor for your child.

That’s what hundreds of parents are currently doing – even though they may deny it. It can make all the difference between success and failure when it comes to getting into University.

And don’t leave it too late. Trying to play catch up in the last six months before your child sits exams is a high risk strategy. Your child’s confidence may already be low, they may need help across a spectrum of disciplines and there might be a huge learning gap to catch up on. I’m not saying you can’t make a difference at the last minute, but you and your child will have a much more comfortable tutoring experience if you start sooner rather later.

If you want to have a heart to heart discussion about your child’s needs then do give us a ring at eTutors. We can help you to decide if tutoring might be of assistance in your particular situation. And while we would like you to decide to use our services we are fully aware that we are not the only game in town and we would expect you to consider every avenue available to you when you are making up your mind about additional educational support for your son or daughter. The number you need is at the bottom of this article.

What you don’t want is for your child to fail his or her exams by a tiny margin leaving you blaming yourself for not doing more to prevent it.

For more information please call 0845 004 7633. *This was the page one feature headline in the Daily Telegraph of 10 August 2010.

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12

MEDIA WATCH

Asian Voice - Saturday 18th September 2010

Scrutator’s If India is a substantial power today, this is due largely to the endeavours of Indian scientists and industrialists. The name of Homi Bhabha is a luminous one; after his untimely death in 1966 an air crash, followed in 1971 by the sudden demise of his sucessor Vikram Sarabhai, their legacy was taken forward by Homi Nusserwanji Sethna, who died last week in Mumbai aged 87. Originally a chemical engineer, he contributed hugely to critical elements of India's nuclear weapon programme along with Raja Ramana and B.D.Nagchaudhury, both long deceased. The trio were responsible for Pokhran-1, India's first nuclear test on May 18 1974.

Sethna's career in atomic energy began in the 1940s, when a number of young Indians dared to dream big about the new vistas of theoretical science and science engineering opening up in Europe and America.

Nuclear energy and space were two fields that engaged the finest minds in the West. Sethna became a pioneer in India's quest to become a major force in these areas. When India faced a strict international sanctions regime, Sethna's role in Homi Nusserwanji Sethna confronting this challenge to safeguard national security will be remembered down the years. Along with Ramana and Nagchaudhury, Sethna was awarded the Padma Vibhushan by a grateful nation.

As Chairman of India's Atomic Energy Commission, Sethna epitomised his country's aspirations; he and his band of co-workers strove tirelessly, using imagination and innovation to surmount the technology denial imposed by the major powers. He kept afloat India's programme to produce nuclear power and jealously protected India's nuclear weapon options. He was in charge of two crucial building blocks of India's nuclear development, the first was CIRUS, the Canada-India enriched uranium reactor, which was constructed in the 1950s, laid the foundation of the country's nuclear energy programme, the second building block was the reprocessing plant, in the 1960s, and its capacity to produce plutonium, without which the production of nuclear weapons would have been impossible.

Homi Sethna's passing marks the end of an era for India.

Metro for Hyderabad

Nuclear advances

The Hindu newspaper (September 5) published a report which told of a milestone development in the capital city of Andhra Pradesh: the state government and the private sector had signed a partnership deal for the construction of Hyderabad Metro Rail Project. The private sector partner was the engineering firm Larsen & Toubro

Chairman of India's Atomic Energy Commission, Dr Srikumar Banerjee, during an interview with Hindu Science C o r r e s p o n d e n t T.S.Subramaniam (September 6), said the country's nuclear powered submarine INS Arihant's Light Water Reactor, using enriched uranium as fuel, was ready for start-up.

“We are waiting for other sys-

Hydrabad Metro Rail

Hydrabad Metro Rail Pvt, Ltd Describing the giant £16 billion undertaking as the first mega-project in the state, Chief Minister K. Rossiah said it would be a boon for the inhabitants of city, adding to its prestige and the prestige of India.

When completed in 2014-15, Hyderabad would become the first city in the world with a 71kilometre-long metro rail project executed in a single phase involving advanced technology.

tems to become operational so that we can start the commissioning activity of the reactor.”

More of these reactors were being built, but Dr Banerjee declined to reveal the number.

“We are in the game. The next nuclear steam generating plants are getting ready for future applications,” he said.

In answer to a question on where the enriched uranium for these vessels would come from, he replied that the facili-

ty in the Chitragada district of Karnataka would come up later, for the present, “our Ratnagiri plant capacity has been enhanced. But more than that, there is significant improvement in our technology....I can assure you that there has been considerable improvement in our next generation caskets of centrifuges.....So total capacity enhancement at Ratnagiri has been done.....India has its own technology and we can produce enriched uranium.”

Dragon's shadow The Times of India's Washington Correspondent, Chidanand Rajghtta (September 9), tells of an article by US authority on South Asia, Selig Harrison, which had ruffled feathers in Islamabad and Beijing. Mr Harrison, a former Washington Post Correspondent, and now of the Asia Director Programme at the Center for International Policy, alleged that China had despatched troops to Gilgit and Baltistan in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Following a rebuttal by Pakistan and China, Mr Harrison in a second piece conceded that that China had not deployed combat soldiers, but “there has been an influx of construction, engineering and communication units of the People's Liberation Army into Gilgit-Baltistan, under the command of the Xinjiang military district, totalling 7,000 military personnel.”

“In addition, several thousand PLA troops are said to be stationed in the Khunjerab Pass on the Xinjiang border to protect Karakoram Highway construction crews, with ready access to Gilgit-Baltistan,” wrote Mr Harrison, adding, “ the impact of such a large foreign presence in a thinly populated, undeveloped region has been profound. To local activists, this adds up to a creeping process of de facto Chinese control over a region where Islamabad claims nominal authority but lacks the infrastructure to exercise it.”

The Chinese game plan was to construct a railway and highway through Pakistan for unfettered access to the Persian Gulf.

The Pakistan media had denounced Mr Harrison as an Indian stooge.Par for the course, surely.

BA eyes India The Financial Times Aerospace Correspondent, Pilita Clark, reported that British Airways chief Willie Walsh had flown to Mumbai “for his second trip to India in four weeks as his airline faces mounting competition in one of the world's fastest growing aviation markets. He took off in in BA's newest aircraft, a Boeing 777300, adorned with a garland of flowers by Slumdog Millionnaire star, Dev Patel. It

British Airways chief Willie Walsh with Dev Patel

is no accident that the jet's showy launch was aimed at Mumbai.” said our scribe.

“After the US, India is BA's second biggest market outside the UK and the British flagcarrier has long been a dominant force on routes between London and India's two largest cities, Mumbai and Delhi;” but while the US remains the biggest market, “India is growing much faster. Its traffic numbers have doubled since 1999....BA faces increasing competition on two routes: rapidly expanding Middle Eastern airlines such as Emirates....and Indian airlines freed from regulation constraints.... Jet Airways and Kingfisher,” wrote Pilita Clark.

Mr Walsh was after a marketsharing deal with the latter to ward off a competitive threat from Emirates.

India-US response China's 'muscular diplomacy,' say two noted US scholars attached to the Heritage Foundation, required a joint India-US response.

Recommending that Washington keep close watch on the situation in India's region, Dean Cheng and Lisa Curtis, write: “The source of the tensions is multi-faceted but driven in large part by China's concern with an emergent India and Beijing's desire to consolidate its position in Tibet.”

While military conflict between the two Asian giants is unlikely anytime soon, they said, recent Chinese moves illustrated a broader trend of 'muscular diplomacy' from Beijing over its territorial claims. “In order to guard against a variety of threats, including a potentially hostile China, India will continue to pursue a robust military modernisation programme and closer diplomatic ties with other Asian nations,” they said.

“The US should keep close tabs on the emerging on the simmering Sino-Indian border friction and continue with plans to enhance US-India defence cooperation, through coordinated maritime security programmes, joint military exercises, defence trade deals that assist India in accessing advanced military technolo-

gy,” said their article. Curtiss and Cheng urged the Obama Administration to cooperate with India in matching the increased Chinese presence in the Indian Ocean region.

Indo-Korean ties warmer Indian Defence Minister A.K. Antony's recent high level visit to South Korea assumes special strategic significance. “With an eye on China, India has deepened its strategic partnership with Japan,” writes Delhi-based internet analyst Rajeev Sharma. “A.K. Antony visited South Korea on September 2.

He led a high-level delegation to Seoul that included such senior and military officials as Defence Secretary Pradeep Kumar, Vicedmiral R.K.Dhowan, Lt General K.T.Parnaik, missile scientist Dr C.K. Prahlada and Sundaram Krishna, Advisor to the Defence Minister.”

Meanwhile, the US has started cozying up to Vietnam, with whom India has close ties. A regional security architecture is taking shape. If China thinks it will have its own way, it may have think differently sooner rather than later.

Indo-Russian projects The Russian media have reported the presence of an Indian delegation in Zhukovsky to discuss joint financing and development of a fifth generation warplane, while BrahMos cruise missiles engines are to be produced in Kerala to meet the swelling needs of India's armed forces, said CEO Dr Sivathanu Pillai. The IndiaRussia joint project has hitherto produced these engines at the Orenberg plant in Russia. There is increase talk in authoritative circles of a plan for a $2 billion Sukhoi 30MKI upgrade. India has ordered a further supply of MI-17 medium lift helicopters from Russia to augment the previous agreement in 2008 for the supply of 80 of these machines.

The contest with China has been truly joined.

13

Asian Voice - Saturday 18th September 2010

A 1000 YEARS. HOW TIME FLIES. HOW TIME STANDS STILL.

N W

E S

Bay of Bengal

Arabian Sea

BIG

FESTIVAL

of the Big Temple

Thanjavur

1000 YEARS

As you stand in awe of the magnificent edifice heralding the greatness of the Chola Empire, you stand witness to a thousand year old golden era of culture, art, architecture and literature. Under the Cholas, the Tamil region reached new heights of excellence. They excelled in foreign trade and maritime activity and have left a lasting legacy. Such was their sea faring prowess that the Bay of Bengal was known in the ancient times as ‘Chola’s Lake’.

Rajendra I, son of the great King Raja Raja Chola was even conferred the title of 'Gangai Kondaan' – the one who brought the waters of the Ganges, and 'Kadaram Kondaan'.

Come, be a part of The Big Festival at Thanjavur.

DIPR/1159/DIS/10

Tamil Nadu Tourism

Tamil Nadu Tourism Complex, No. 2, Wallajah Road, Chennai - 600 002, India.

For affordable accommodation & tour packages please contact: Phone: 91-44- 2538 3333 / 2538 4444 / 2538 9857, Fax: 91-44- 2536 1385 Delhi: 91-11- 2374 5427 Mumbai: 91-22- 2411 0118 Kolkata: 91-33-2423 7432 Jaipur: 91-141- 2570763 E-mail: ttdc@vsnl.com Online Booking: www.ttdconline.com Website: www.tamilnadutourism.org

14

UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 18th September 2010

Oxfam fundraises for education in India

By Spriha Srivastava

London bids goodbye to its CWG athletes Even as India struggling to put together its resources to host a world class game event in October, Parliamentarians and London’s who’s who were busy bidding farewell to British athletes who will be making their way to the world’s largest democracy soon. With a strict dress code, the historic Houses of Parliament at Westminster welcomed guests from different walks of life to a charity dinner, proceeds of which will go in helping fund some of the British athletes who will be going to India.

Mingling amidst the glamorous crowd that slowly made its way into the House of Commons, I was just remembering the news reports I had read about the CWG construction mess in India at this moment. And somewhere deep down strongly hoped that we make it on time, just like on many other occasions. But then the question is not about making it on time. The question is the negative publicity that has come about this entire event. Somehow the mention of Commonwealth Games brings a puzzled look on many faces. “Will India manage?” “How will they do it?” are the kind of questions I have come across from many. This definitely owes itself to the negative publicity that has sprung up one after the other.

However, the mood at Westminster was not at all dampened by the events back home.

Women in their dazzling evening wear with a tinge of red, white or gold, as specified in the invitation and men in their black suits mingled with each other with a glass of champagne in their hands. The dinner, a charity event, consisted of not only drinks and dinner but

Bhanu Choudhrie

though quite young, have a strong opinion on many issues affecting the Indian sub-continent. For example, a young girl at the event told me that she felt it was not right for the government to spend so much of money for a one-time event when the same money could be invested in street children who are the future of the country. She went on to say that 20 years later when these kids grow up, the government will regret to see rising levels of poverty, illiteracy, leading to heavy unemployment and a very poor standard of living.

An extremely interesting take on the entire event, I must say. But it is not very surprising to me. In the past too, I have come across many young British Asians with a strong and justified opinion on many issues relating to India.

All in all, apart from the fact that the event was to eat, drink

who was outbid on a painting of Westminster signed by Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and David Cameron as well as Olympic swimmer Karen Pickering, Commonwealth Games hopefuls Luke Gunn, Hannah England and O b e d Mbwakongo, Blue Peters Sports Relief Campaigner Helen Skelton, B h a n u Choudhrie, Director of B u s i n e s s Advisory Board f o r Commonwealth Games England and MP’s Keith Vaz, Sir Menzies Sir Menzies Campbell & MF Hussain Campbell and Sir Andrew Foster.

Among many discussions, I and make merry, it definitely did came across; the entire focus its part in raising a good amount seemed to be on India of money for helping British athmanaging the games letes and to bid them farewell as this year, despite its they make their way to New domestic problems.

While a few had a bit of a negative opinion towards India literally “wasting” so much of money in these games, there were many who felt that despite problems like poverty and poor infrastructure, India is still doing its best to fight all the hurdles in order to host a world-class event. And it is indeed true. I do agree that we have had many hurdles, some Kelly Holmes & Hugh Robinson absolutely unwanted and some over-hyped by the media. But in all this, the country also auctioning of a whole long has still been fighting to make list of precious collection in order these games a success. to raise funds.

It is quite easy to be able to At the end of the event, a total comment on a given situation, of £85,000 was raised through this especially when you are far away auction which will go on to help Rt Hon Keith Vaz, MP from the ground reality but then fund sending athletes to we live in a democracy and every Commonwealth Games in Delhi. opinion counts. I have been quite Delhi. One can only hope and Stars in attendance included impressed by the amount of interpray that the event is a success Dame Kelly Holmes who had the est British Asians take in Indian and they come back grinning with winning bid on cosmetic dental affairs. Some of them, even joy. surgery package, Darren Campbell

Let us know what you think. Email Spriha at spriha@abplgroup.com

Uttar Pradesh is one of the largest states in India, where one sixth of India’s population live - one fifth of India’s poor. This means approximately six million people in Uttar Pradesh live in poverty and many have no access to health, education or opportunities to make a living.

Oxfam works in three of the poorest and vulnerable districts in Uttar Pradesh. Oxfam’s education work in the state primarily focuses on the promotion of quality and equality in education in

order to improve the ability to read and write, and enhance the lives of girls who do not have a lot of opportunities. Oxfam has been running four rural girls schools since 2001 in Ghazipur and Mirzapur districts, and supporting 50 education centres in urban slums since 2007.

Oxfam’s work is benefiting 3,000 children directly, 80 per cent of which are girls, and 30,000 children through advocacy for quality education in government schools across the state.

The work includes providing education to children who are most in need, promoting greater community participation in school monitoring and management, and training teachers and community leaders to improve access to high-quality education for girls.

The schools also act as a way in which healthcare

Jonaid Jilani

can be provided and many parents use the school to receive treatment. Clean water is also available as well as playing facilities that children will use even out of school hours.

In Ghazipur, the nearest health centre is 15 kms away and there is no proper form of transport or road available. If anybody is ill or a woman is pregnant, they are wrapped in a sheet or mat and carried by foot by two or three people to hospital. A lot of people die on the way, including many pregnant women. Cholera and malaria cases are also very high in these areas.

It is vital that these schools remain open for the benefit of the children’s future success and as a place where people can receive healthcare.

Many who have visited the schools have spoken about the smiles on the children’s faces and the sense of equality and happiness that it brings.

“When I visited the education projects, I realised how vital and crucial it is for these projects to stay open.

Unfortunately with a lack of money they will have to close, which will mean children will not be receiving education or the essential healthcare that is provided”, said Sheeba Harma who recently visited the projects.

On the 30 TH September in Wembley, Oxfam will be the chosen charity at the 10 th Asian Achievers Awards. It will be raising money to ensure that these projects can continue for at least the next few years.

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

Mobility Scooter Challenge Age Concern Harrow is celebrating International Day for Older People. They have organised a new, exciting and fun event which is spread across three locations (pit-stops) in Harrow.

The Mobility Scooter Challenge is not a race but a way of challenging people s perception of the mobility scooter user. This challenge is open to anyone as long as you are over 18 and would like to see the independence a scooter can give you. It s easy and it s fun and there will be marshalls along the whole route to cheer you on. In order to take part in this

challenge you will need to register by the 17th September 2010. You can do this by contacting Mobility World or Age Concern Harrow who will then send a registration pack.

The Mobility Scooter Challenge route is from Mobility World on Station Road in Harrow to Sainsbury s in South Harrow, then back to Harrow Town Centre. The whole route will take approximately 2 hours to complete with a 1⁄2 hour break at Sainsbury’s.

For more information call 020 8861 7997

UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 18th September 2010

Hunger strikes feared over halal school meals Pressure is mounting over halal-only menus in schools with a planned hunger strike and threats of parents withdrawing their children.

Harrow Interfaith Council became the latest organisation to criticise the policy as pupils returned from their summer holidays this week.

Chairman Reverend told a local paper that Tim Gosden said some mothers and fathers had discussed the possibility of removing their children from schools in the borough.

Harrow Times reports that Sikh representative Paramjit Singh Kohli said two parents had told him they would go on hunger strike outside one of the borough's secondary schools if there was no change within two weeks.

He said: “I'd say to parents take your kids out of school. But that's the second option, the first option is to make sure there is another meat option on the

menu.”

Harrow Council says it will review plans to provide halal-only meat in primary schools, but insists fish and vegetarian dishes are always offered and pupils can bring packed lunches to school if they do not want to eat from the menu provided.

However Mr Kohli told the local paper: “Fish and vegetarian dishes are not the alternative, the alternative is non-halal meat. Those dishes are for the people who are vegetarian and vegan.”

Even the Muslim community has not backed the decision.

Ghulam Rabbani, general secretary of Harrow Central Mosque, said: “I welcome the fact they serve halal meat.

They should also take account of all the religions, not just Muslims.

“Halal I think is our right, but if it is halalonly people might think they are doing a favour for Muslims.”

Angry business owners say subway revamp in Leicester is damaging trade Angry business owners say major city-centre roadworks are damaging their trade.

Bars and shops in Granby Street, Leicester, say they are getting fewer passing customers because of the ￡1.65 million project to turn the subway near Leicester railway station into a ground level "super-crossing."

The work began in May and should be completed before Christmas and traders say they have been badly affected by the disruption.

Businessman Manoj Jethwa, whose clothing shop Jethwa Menswear has been in Granby Street for 35 years, told Leicester Mercury that his trade was down by 60 per cent.

He said: "It has had an effect on the amount of people coming into the shop.

"A lot of my customers used to pull up in their cars outside and nip in to pick up a shirt, but of course now that's impossible.

"The disabled access is a big problem, too. I know that from personal experience as my son is in a wheelchair and has quite a bit of difficulty getting into the shop.

"I also can't put out the awnings above the shop windows because of the railings around the works. My stock is being faded by the sun and there is nothing I can do

about it.

"I think the city council ought to give me some compensation."

The 10-metre wide crossing, due to be completed in November, will allow pedestrians and cyclists to cross the ring road at street level.

Cycle lanes, trees and benches will be introduced to revitalise the area and improve the entrance to the city from the train station.

Other businesses in the area criticised the city council for not giving them enough warning of the works.

Staff at South Indian restaurant Kayal said they only heard of the plans a week or two before they started.

Owner Jaimon Thomas told the paper: "We are still busy but only because of our loyal regulars. We don't get people walking by and coming in any more.

"If we had known a few months before it started we would have worked it into our business plan."

A city council spokesman said: "The regeneration works will greatly improve this area in time for the Christmas shopping period.

"Unfortunately, there will be some disruption before we get to that stage and we are working with traders to try and minimise the impact on their businesses.

15

Illegal immigrant steals Briton's passport When Henna Ali lost her passport she could not have predicted an illegal immigrant would find it and steal her identity for the next seven years.

However, Qamar Yasmeen was jailed for 16 months last week for working and even getting married using Ali's name from 2002 to 2009.

The 41-year-old was also able to get a bank account, a driving licence and accommodation using the document Ali lost eight years ago.

And, not content with just having her passport, Yasmeen even managed to obtain the 35-yearold's birth certificate and details about her late father so she could marry in her native Pakistan and bring her new husband to the UK. In addition, Yasmeen's deceit could have continued for much longer.

Ali found out about

the scam when she tried to get a new passport to go on holiday.

However, she was told by officials she already had two passports - one was issued to a woman of the same name and date of birth, but with a different photograph and address.

'I booked in for the express service but they told me there was a problem, and that they had a file in my name and asked where my other passport was,' she said.

'He said to me I had another passport but I was adamant I've only got one.'

A joint police investigation was launched with the Borders Agency and the Identity and Passport Service, and Yasmeen was traced.

When police searched her property, they found hordes of documents in

Qamar Yasmeen

Ali's name.

She said: 'It makes me sick every time I think about what she has done.

'My good name is tarnished because people don't know that I have got an imposHenna Ali with her passport tor, she could have the support of my family been doing anything through it otherwise I under my name,' she don't know what I would added. have done.'

Henna added: 'The Yasmeen will be stress has made me really deported upon her ill. I'm very lucky I've had release from jail.

Sikh temple bid given go-ahead A councillor hopes a new Sikh temple could help to start the regeneration of an area of Leicester.

A local paper reports that Jaiantilal Gopal wants to convert a disused industrial unit in Frisby Road, near Humberstone Road, into a place of worship.

Residents raised an 11name petition and sent letters to the council objecting to the plans, saying they were concerned about potential traffic and parking problems.

But city councillors will be recommended to approve the plans when they meet next Monday.

Regeneration chief and ward councillor Abdul Osman said: "This will make use of a building which would otherwise be

empty, so I'm in favour of it.

"It will increase footfall in the area and could have a domino effect in getting other empty buildings nearby back into use.

"I respect the views of residents who have objected, but I can see no reason why this shouldn't be approved."

The two-storey industrial unit has been empty for three years and is surrounded by homes and a social club.

There would be five cycle spaces at the temple but no off-street parking.

Residents say parking is already a problem, which would be made worse for residents and nearby businesses if the application is approved.

A popular working

men's club and a fish and chip shop already bring people to the street, and extra worshippers in the area would cause "serious parking problems" according to one resident.

In one of the letters to the council, one resident said there were already several places of worship in the area.

Another resident said: "This area gets really busy with cars and this is only going to make it worse. It's not the temple that I object to specifically, it's just the amount of people and their vehicles that will be coming into the street."

But Mr Gopal has produced evidence showing that 95% of the potential users already live within a mile of the site, and that those living further away

could use public transport.

A council planning officer says in the report: "Although no on-site parking is proposed, I do not consider that a refusal on lack of parking could be justified.

"The applicant has demonstrated that most of the users are living in the walking distances and the area is well served by public transport. I consider that the proposed change of use is acceptable."

The report states that. under planning guidelines, the "places of worship need to be close to or within the catchments area of the community they serve provided the activities do not cause unacceptable disturbance".

Commonwealth Athletes attend Community Open Days at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Neasden To mark its fifteenth anniversary, the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Neasden, London organised Community Open Days on the weekend of Saturday 11 September and Sunday 12 September 2010. Many members of the public as well as guests visited the Mandir. On the Saturday, the Mandir also welcomed the athletes and members of Team England – who will take part in the forthcoming Commonwealth Games to be held in New Delhi this October.

The opening ceremony

took place on Saturday 11 September at 12 noon in

the presence of Brent’s Borough Commander,

Chief Superintendent Matt Gardner and the Commonwealth team.

The members of Team England were pleased to meet volunteers at the Mandir as well as members of the community.

The event was based on the theme of “One World – One Community” and proved to be inspiring and fun for all. The activities available throughout the weekend included blood donation awareness, free health screening, guided tours, interactive informative exhibits as well as delicious food stalls.

AV_P16-17_6 temp 9/14/2010 4:16 PM Page 16

16 Asian Voice Saturday 18th September 2010

Mallika Sherawat makes a bikini comeback!

Phalke award for filmmaker Ramanaidu Veteran filmmaker D Ramanaidu has been honoured with the Dada Saheb Phalke award for the year 2009 for his outstanding contribution to Indian cinema.

Ramanaidu will be presented the award during the International Film Festival of India to be held in Goa in October. The award consists of a 'Swarn Kamal', a cash prize of Rs 1,000,000 lakh and a shawl. Born in Karamchedu in Prakasam district of Andhra Pradesh in 1936, Ramanaidu entered the film world in 1963. Over the last 47 years, he has been a prolific producer of over 130 films in several Indian languages and finds mention in the Guinness Book of World Records. Apart from Telugu films, he has the distinction of producing movies in Hindi, Bengali, Oriya, Assamese, Malayalam, Tamil, Kannada, Gujarati, Marathi and Bhojpuri.

Tamil actor Murali dies of heart attack Tamil film actor Murali died last week following a heart attack, his family said. The 46year old Murali, who had acted in over 100 films, complained of chest pain and was rushed to a private hospital where doctors declared him brought dead.

He is survived by his wife and two sons, including Atharva, who made his film debut recently in the film “Baana Kathadi“.

Murali, son of famous Kannada film director Siddalingaia, made his debut in Tamil film in 1984 playing the lead role in “Poovilangu”, directed by Ameerjhan.

Murali was much-sought after actor in the 90s when he gave a string of hit movies. His notable films include ‘Idhayam’, ‘Pudu Vasantham’, ‘Porkalam’ and ‘Sundara Travels’ His latest film ‘Kavasam’ is slated for release, his family said.

Rajinikanth plans feast for his fans

Soundarya Rajinikanth and Ashwin Ramkumar cutting the wedding cake

Kollywood superstar Rajinikanth’s younger daughter Soundarya Rajinikanth’s marriage with Ashwin Ramkumar was a grand affair at the Rani Muthaiah Hall in Chennai recently.

And now, the Superstar is planning to organize a grand feast for his fans and their families. “The wedding went off in a great way, thanks for your great support. Now I am planning to hold a grand feast for all of you. I want to invite all my fans with their families, so that I can introduce the newly-wed couple to them.

I’m giving my best shot to make it happen,” the Superstar has announced in a press release.

After nearly two years in Hollywood, Mallika Sherawat has come back in Bollywood. The actor has started shooting for Ashok Thakeria and Indra Kumar’s “Double Dhamaal” (the sequel to the duo’s hit Dhamaal) in Pune. And guess what she was wearing in her first shot? A bikini, of course!

Is it the return of the sex symbol?

Thakeria, who’s co-producing the film with Reliance Big Pictures laughs, “Mallika is paired with Sanjay Dutt and the first scene was by a pool in their house. Since she steps out of the water to chat with him, a bikini was the most appropriate attire.”

He adds that the actor had no hangups about her costume and was a livewire on the sets.

Wasn’t Bipasha Basu considered for the same role? Thakeria concedes that Kumar and he had been thinking of various options but eventually decided that Mallika was the best choice.

“Indu (Indra Kumar) spoke to her on the phone and she was really excited, doubly so after she heard the

script,” adds Thakeria. Kangna Ranaut who’s paired with Riteish Deshmukh, and Sherawat have hit it off well.

The actor also chats up other co-stars, including Arshad Warsi, Aashish Chowdhry and Jaaved Jaffery, during breaks.

“The five guys have worked together in Dhamaal but with the girls entering the picture now, they’re really having a blast.

They pull each other’s legs.

There are no ego hassles or temper tantrums. It’s one big family here,” Thakeria beams. He insists that Sherawat hadn’t lost touch with Bollywood during her stay in Los Angeles: “She used to watch Hindi movies and kept herself updated on what was happening in the Mumbai through her friends.”

Upset Kareena dumps rude Madhur for her friend’s sake Kareena Kapoor has decided not to do Madhur Bhandarkar's film “Heroine” for emotional reasons. The actress' walkout has been attributed to an incident, which upset her immensely. It is learned that Madhur treated Bebo's close friend Lovely Singh's dad quite badly.

The actress considers “Kya Love Story Hai” director Singh a part of her family and they constantly keep in touch. A few days back, Lovely's dad Amarjeet Singh (he's Satish Kaushik's business manager) took an appointment with Madhur's office.

He had film-related work and requested the director's time. However, the “Fashion” director kept him waiting for over three hours and then told him he

couldn't meet him as he was too busy.

A source reveals, "Lovely was really upset when he heard how Madhur treated his dad. He didn't

like the fact that despite taking an appointment the director not only made his father wait but also eventually refused to meet him.

Kareena was appalled on

hearing this.

She told him in confidence that it was unfortunate such a thing had to happen.

And that her film with Madhur wouldn't be happening.

Officially, Bebo, Lovely and Bebo's business manager Zahid Khan will stick to the reason that Heroine has got delayed till next year."

Kareena says, "It's not true. Madhur is busy doing a film with Ajay Devgn and is busy. We will do our film sometime next year."

Abhishek wants at least two kids with Aishwarya

Kim Sharma secretly m

baby'.

In fact, the family planning of Ash and Abhi has been discussed since they got married few years back.

Abhishek added that he feels annoyed when media tries to scrutinize this topic and tries to be intrusive in this matter. He said as he never wanted to know when other people are planning to have babies so he does not want others to be so curious about them.

The actor added that he does not want media to make this personal issue a national news.

Well, Abhishek is right at his point but being a celebrity of this status, they cannot keep it away from the media!

Bollywood actress Kim Sharma has reportedly tied the knot with a Kenya- based rich business tycoon called Ali Punjani.

Earlier, it was heard that the actress was preparing to wed her Spanish boyfriend Carlos Marin and she was also supposed to move to Madrid after marriage.

But the actress called off the engagement and went on to marry Ali in a secret ceremony.

The wedding ceremony took place two weeks ago in Mombasa, Kenya. A source quoted saying that it was a love riage. They were said to have dated short period and Kim wanted that

Abhishek Bachchan and his Beautiful wife Aishwarya Rai are often asked about their plans to start a family and the couple has always tried to avoid the question.

But recently, Junior Bachchan spoke out about his wish to have at least two kids with Ash. He disclosed this while giving an interview.

Abhishek opened his thought about his life and beloved wife Aishwarya.

The actor said that in his family he has one sister and may be this has inspired him to have two kids. He said that the very idea of planning kids sounds absurd to him as he thinks it's a blessing of God

and it should just happen on time whenever its meant to be. The actor added that he finds weird when people say 'Lets plan it and we are trying for a

AV_P16-17_6 temp 9/14/2010 4:17 PM Page 17

Bollywood

Asian Voice - Saturday 18th September 2010

17

Rivalry over, SRK and Akki join hands now by. Later on, SRK requested 'Housefull' producer Sajid Nadiadwala to have a screening of the movie at his bunglaw Mannat.

In fact, SRK visited the sets of Akshay's upcoming movie 'Patiala House', four months back and spent about an hour in Akshay's vanity van with him.

Sources were quoted saying that SRK also visited Akshay's upcoming TV show 'Master Chef India' and surprised Kumar saying that he was feeling positive about Farah's next movie 'Tees Maar Khan'.

SRK added that Farah would continue to make good films. Does it mean that he is trying to mend the gap between his old friend and him through Akshay?

But, the most surprising thing is that both the stars talked about producing a movie together. Well, definitely a positive approach from both ends!

Bollywood 'Badshah' Shah Rukh Khan and 'Khiladi' Akshay Kumar are seemingly getting close to each other after their much talked rivalry on various occasions.

SRK, who was considered to be one of the closest pals of choreographer turned director Farah Khan, was reportedly upset with her for choosing Akshay over him in her next film 'Tees Maar Khan'.

Now, since last few months, SRK has been repeatedly trying to melt ice between him and Akshay and now it has shown the result.

Now, there is a report that the star duo is planning to produce a film and it will definitely star both of them.

Some times back, during the shooting of Akshay's movie 'Blue', Shah Rukh paid a surprise visit to the sets of 'Blue' as he was also shooting near-

Work comes first for Bipasha…

John Abraham can wait She went there a few months ago and I miss her very much. Her second baby is due in October and I hope to meet them then.

Her in-laws are all settled there so she won't be able to return to India until next year."

Bipasha is depressed that her best friend of over 12 years has shifted to Philadelphia. "Suzy is like my support system. I have known her ever since I started my career as a model. She's a producer."

Bipasha jokingly adds that she's upset with Suzy's husband for taking her away to Philadelphia.

"We keep in touch through e-mails, phone and Skype but it's not enough. When I want to cry or feel depressed, I can't call her."

Work comes first for Bipasha Basu, even before a planned holiday with the beau. Bips was to go on a 10-day vacation to London with boyfriend John Abraham. The two have now postponed their trip to October this year, when John starts shooting for “Desi Boyz” there.

Says the actress, "A lot of work suddenly came up. And so, I had to postpone my London holiday. Work is priority. I want to complete all pending assignments and endorsements before I leave for any holiday. But I don't mind. I will go there next month, when John shoots for ‘Desi Boyz’ in London. It's better for me as I can also spend time with him."

London won't be Bipasha's only holiday destination.

Bipasha says, "I will also be going to Philadelphia in USA to visit my best friend Suzy.

etly marries Kenyan business tycoon

source was a love mare dated for a ed that they

should tie the knot soon.

Kim earlier had a relationship with Indian cricketer Yuvraaj Singh for four years. Later, the two broke up in the middle of 2007.

The source added that the close relatives and friends of Kim and Ali attended the wedding ceremony and the bride looked very happy.

The strange fact is that the actress’ best friend Preeti Jhangiani was missing from the marriage ceremony. Both the actresses made their Bollywood debut with 2000 hit movie ‘Mohabatein’ and bonded well.

Emraan dresses up as a girl A f t e r smooching the heroines in all his flicks, Emraan Hashmi found himself being wooed and kissed well, almost!

The serial kisser dresses up as a gal in the song Mera Bina in the upcoming “Crook - It's Good To Be Bad.” A hilarious Emraan notes, "In all my films, I have been seen romancing girls but dressing up as one was extremely funny."

As the track is a fun number, director Mohit Suri wanted the filming to be equally amusing.

During a day's break, Emraan and the director visited a shop that stocked wigs and female costumes

besides vampire costumes.

The actor had his share of fun trying out all the female costumes and wigs.

Back on the sets, Mohit decided to have Emraan "dress up" for the song.

The actor was taken aback.

Says Emraan, "It really took me by surprise when Mohit asked me to shoot with the costumes as we were only having fun in the store.

It was like suddenly... 'let's shoot this'. I was hesitant at first. Then we realised it was all about being casual and having fun. So we crossed all our limits."

A Distant Mirage A film about the much glamourised NRI marriage and the risks, particularly for women from India, ‘A Distant Mirage’ is a dramatic presentation in three languages – Punjabi, Hindi and English.

The film is based upon some hard facts and some true events. But, a dramatic license has been taken to make this a work of fiction. The story is bold, hard hitting, potent and yet very entertaining. The year is 2000, and the place is Delhi, India. Usha, a young girl in her twenties, marries Micky, an NRI from London and goes for a never- to-be forgotten honeymoon holiday in Kulu Manali, North India. Three months later, her husband Micky goes back to London with a promise that he would send all the required legal papers, immigration documents and the visa soon.

Several months into it, she is still waiting for those papers to arrive. She is tired of playing the ‘waiting game’. Unlike those thousands of girls who are still waiting, Usha takes a bold step. Three months later, she lands in London. She gets a tremendous shock - both emotional and cultural, when she discovers that the things were not just what she has been told in superlatives before the marriage. Micky’s pigsty living conditions irritated her to no end. She also takes it in her stride, his relationship with an English woman - Rosi, a divorcee. She could also put up with Micky’s foul temper and tantrums, but she can not face the emotional and physical tortures and traumas. One day, Usha meets a black young student, Andy Roberts. He is kind, caring and loving. They get to know each other. He takes an instant liking to her. That was the beginning of a new life for Usha. Produced and directed by Harbhajan Virdi under the banner of Distant Mirage Films Ltd., the story and the screenplay of the film has also been scripted by Virdi.

The cast consists of Emil Marwa, Ruth D'costa, Jasmine Hyde, Tim Jackling, Kulvinder Ghir, Paul Copley, Joel Fry, Gurdial Sira, Sohm Kapila and Jamila Massey.

Channi Singh has composed the music of the film.

New Hindi movies releasing this week A Distant Mirage

Top 5 Bollywood movies for the week No. Film Last Week Total Weeks 1 We Are Family New 1 2 The Film Emotional Atyachar New 1 3 Lafangey Parindey 1 3 4 Peepli [Live] 2 4 5 Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai 5 6

Sonam takes over Katrina's Italian Job Sonam Kapoor, who stars opposite Shahid Kapoor in his father's directorial debut 'Mausam', was barred to work on any other film before completing the movie by Pankaj Kapoor. As a result Sonam walked out of the AbbasMustan project 'The Italian Job' with Abhishek Bachchan.

Studio 18 is producing 'The Italian Job', which is supposed to start rolling in this November. But, there were lots of uncertainty regarding the leading lady opposite Abhishek for a long time.

As reported earlier, Katrina Kaif moved out of the project and Abbas-Mustan has reportedly termed her 'unprofessional'. Following this, Priyanka Chopra and Deepika Padukone also refused to be a part of the movie. Sonam looked very interested in this project but the words of Pankaj Kapoor kept her away from it for a long time. However, the latest reports suggest that Sonam is back to 'The Italian Job' and she will be seen opposite Abhishek.

18

Asian Voice - Saturday 18th September 2010

Alpesh Patel Consultant Editor Financial Voice Dear Financial Voice Reader, I don’t usually read mass emails, but I received an interesting one on the global economy this week which I wanted to share with you.

“World's Richest Government. . .We know the world's richest man is Carlos Slim Helu of Mexico, followed by Bill Gates and Warren Buffet of USA. How about governments? Which countries’ government is the richest (having most money that is, in US$).

If you are expecting North American and European nations, you might be disappointed.

While the countries look rich, wealthy European nations can't withstand a prolonged major financial crisis, just like Greece.

The USA might have the biggest economy, but the American government is not at all rich; in fact, it can't even take out $150bn if asked to now without resorting to borrowing. To date the US government has borrowed $14 trillion! The UK, likewise, while the country/people are rich, the government isn't. The UK government’s debt stands at $9 trillion now.

Richest governments after 2008-2009 financial crisis: 1. China: National reserves: $2,454,300,000,000 2. Japan: National reserves: $1,019,000,000,000 3. Russia: National reserves: $458,020,000,000 4. Saudi Arabia: National reserves: $395,467,000,000 5. Taiwan: National reserves: $362,380,000,000 6. India: National reserves: $279,422,000,000 7. South Korea: National reserves: $274,220,000,000 8. Switzerland: National reserves: $262,000,000,000 9. Hong Kong, China: National reserves: $256,000,000,000 10. Brazil: National reserves: $255,000,000,000 Big national reserves doesn't guarantee prosperity however, for instance, the yearly expenses for China's government is $1.11 trillion, their government must always think of economic growth and making more money.

China’s gov't overspent $110bn last year, much on it towards modernizing their military, if it goes on like this their reserves can only last for 22 yrs. The Malaysian gov't overspent $13bn last year, if it goes on like this their reserves can only last for 7 yrs. The Singaporean government overspent $3bn last year, much of it rescuing their banks from financial crisis, if it goes on like this their reserves can last 68 yrs. The Swiss gov't overspent $1bn last year, if it goes on like this their reserves can last 262 yrs.

A country normally can borrow up to 100% its GDP, a very strong industrial country or very financial stable nation can borrow up to perhaps 200% its GDP, debts over 250% GDP the country is bankrupted.

Greece's Debts Is 113.40% GDP, and in danger as it is not considered a strong economy. Singapore Debts Is 113.10%, Not In Hot Water Due To Its Global Financial Hub Status, and also Its financial strength.

It's only dangerous for Singapore when it reaches 200%.

Japan Debts Is 189.30%, still not a problem for a powerful financial nation. US has the world’s largest debts, but it is only 62% Its GDP. China is very stable with debts at 16.90% GDP. There are only 5 Countries with no debt (I.E. 0%) – Brunei, Liechtenstein, Palau, Nieu, And Macau Of China.”

Fascinating stuff which put a different perspective on the norm!

Alpesh.patel@tradermind.com

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Cairn applies for govt nod to Vedanta deal British company says all taxes will be paid, contracts honoured Cairn Energy Plc of UK made a formal application to the Government of India seeking approval of it’s stake sale deal with Vedanta Resources, another UK based company having operations in India.

Cairn applied last week after the company declared the previous week that Cairn would be paying taxes due on the deal in both – UK as well as India.

They also assured that this will only be a share sale deal, all other contractual deals will be honoured.

Cairn Energy wrote separate letters to the Oil

Ministry for specific approvals with regards to seven exploration blocks that the company won under the NELP (New Exploration Licensing Policy) and for three other blocks, including the giant Rajasthan oilfield.

"We have received letters from Cairn and we are examining them. We will decide (on it) in due course," a senior ministry official said.

Attaching a summary of the deal where Cairn Energy is selling a 40 to 51 per cent stake in its Indian arm to Vedanta Resources Group for up to $8.48 billion, company Chief

Executive Bill Gammell, in the covering letter, stated that the proposed transaction was a sale of shares in Cairn India and "there will be no change in the parties holding the participating interests under the Production Sharing Contracts."

Gammell, in the covering letter, stated that both Cairn Energy Plc and its Indian arm, Cairn India, and its subsidiaries are fully committed to complying in full with all contractual requirements needed to proceed with the deal.

The Oil Ministry had on August 31 written to

Cairn Energy asking it to apply for approval in respect of all the properties.

Cairn Energy to pay taxes due in India, UK on Vedanta deal Cairn Energy also said it will pay all taxes due, both in India and the UK on the $8.48-billion sale of a majority stake in its Indian arm to Vedanta Resources.

“Tax will be paid in both India and UK,” a Cairn Energy spokesperson said.

Analysts said the Cairn may be required to pay 1314% tax on gross proceeds of the sale.

Foreign investment rules in India may be relaxed Companies who came before 2005 stand to benefit from the move

Foreign companies that are doing business in India for more than 5 years are likely to benefit, as the central government is mulling relaxation of rules for expansion of such business.

Foreign investment rules provides that companies from abroad who entered in tie-ups with Indian partners before 2005 should seek approval if they have plans

India beats France, Brazil as 7th best holiday destination Leaving behind all the hiccups of the Commonwealth Games preparations and other issues, India as a tourist destination is attracting more foreigners. Recently at the Conde Nast Readers’ Travel Awards 2010, India improved its rank from 13th last year to 7th, beating hot competition from countries like Brazil, France, Thailand and Greece.

Globetrotters and tourists from around the world have found Indian people and hospitality warmer than earlier. The better ranking has come after improvement in a range of accommodations available and ‘value for money’.

Turkey was voted no.

1, while Egypt came at the second spot. Australia, Italy, New Zealand, Spain were ahead of India in that order.

India scored highest for the warmth of its people and hospitality with a score of 94.44 on 100.

Three Indian luxury hotels were voted as the best 'Overseas Business Hotel' in the same awards. Taj West End, Bangalore, The Leela Palace Kempinski, Bangalore and The Oberoi, New Delhi earned the honours.

to expand business outside the present joint venture.

Ministry of commerce and industry in the central government last week released a discussion paper, seeking suggestions from stakeholders about scrapping the rules.

After a review of the policy in 2005, the rules for foreign companies that came to do business in India after 2005 are not

required to seek any approvals for any expansions.

The idea behind the previous policy was to ensure that new ventures in the same field did not hurt the interests of the local Indian partners of the foreign investors.

The discussion paper says, “The Indian industry today is in a much stronger position than it was in the 1990s, when

the condition was first introduced. It, therefore, needs to be seen whether there is a need to continue with the elements of such a regime today.”

India's foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in the first six months of 2010 were down 18 per cent to $10.78 billion from a year ago, as global investors appeared to be adopting a more risk averse approach.

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FINANCIAL VOICE

Asian Voice - Saturday 18th September 2010

19

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

Tata Nano Or Bentley – Which Would You Like To Ride?

We have mentioned Nal Safari many times in previous articles and we have had much success in selling. We feel there are many more that can benefit from this little investment, primarily due to the very low entry costs in coming in to this.

Imagine your own farm house in the woodland where you can breakfree and meet your wild side. Leave the hustle-bustle of city aside and leap into the lap of nature. Enter into the realm where adventure and tranquility go hand in hand.

Whether you want to add zing to your life or all you want is peace of mind, Nal Safari offers you the best of both worlds.

Own a ready-to-enjoy full-fledged farm house which comes equipped with furniture, A.C., fridge, T.V., microwave and every amenity which caters to all your modern-day needs and wishes. You just don’t have to worry about anything.

Having your farm house at Nal Safari is like having your own private wild getaway. Where you can relax, rave, refresh, roam, rejuvenate, rock, rejoice and rest.

What’s more, your Nal Safari farm house is your best bet when you want to invest your hard-earned money and wish greater returns in the near future.

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Project summary You can invest from as little as £15,000 The scheme has already experienced huge growth since we have been selling, and there is more to go. We have been selling this scheme from its inception when it was simply land and had no buildings. We know this project intimately and have invested our own funds.

This project has now over 90 buildings already constructed, it is no longer an off plan scheme. This means activity, this means future growth for this scheme is secure. There is plenty more mileage in this scheme - This mango is yet to mature.

The developer’s last project, Rituraj Palace, has gone up five fold in three years - we have actual proof of this from a purchase to sale of a plot which took place in late December. This development has increased from Rs 700 to Rs 2,800.

We can see it reaching Rs 4,000 soon.

We can provide an exit strategy – through our offices in India or in the UK. This area has been chosen for its still modest prices and strong future potential.

The centre of gravity is shifting strongly in Ahemdebad. In Gujarat what was a prime area today may not be the prime area in five years. Many of you who regularly visit will have seen this especially in regards to shopping malls.

All our seminars have been succesfull, due to the demand and the low entry cost.

We are taking bookings for our next series of seminiars around the UK, where you can speak to a member of the Sow & Reap team and also hear from the horse’s mouth.

Our second project we are focusing on is in Mumbai.

This is a soft launch, here is the summary:Our New Up & Coming project in Mumbai l Convenient location l Moments away from Malabar Hill, Napean Sea road, Cuffe Parade, Nariman Point, Worli, Bandra-Kurla Complex l This is a soft launch exclusively through Sow & Reap l Designed for investors l The developer has been in business since 1948 l Architect – the renowned Hafiz Contractors l Full self contained mini Town ship project You will only need to put a fraction of the property price down now but benefit from the rise of the whole property. E.g if the property price is Rs 20,000 per sq ft and you put in 20% - which is Rs 4,000 if the property then sells for Rs 22,000 in the official launch then you will have made Rs 2,000 per sq ft - a 50% return. This is the principal on which this deal has been designed. This part of Mumbai is yet to come to the levels of the rest of Mumbai, the gravity of the city is shifting fast.

The main difference in the above two projects is price, due diligence is not an issue as we have done this. The first project requires £15k the second about £1m.

Both will have aggressive rates of growth. There are only three things to consider in an investment: Firstly and most importantly - is it clean? – Meaning have the land titles been checked, who is the contractor, what is the past record etc.

Secondly will it go up? This is based on demand and supply. If the demand outstrips supply it will increase in value otherwise it will go down.

Thirdly when can I exit? When will the price rise, will there be other investors

who are also trying to resell at the same

time?

If the above is satisfactory then you should invest.

The project you choose should suit you. If it does not we have many more which will. We do not simply sell you a property. We want you to sow the type of seed which suits you in times to come.

The Tata Nano is available in Sanand (where Nal Safari is based) at Rs 1 lakh, the Bentley is available in Mumbai which would you like to ride?

Call now on 0203 384 5323 for more information.

Development Potential 31 Ivor Place, London, NW1 6DA ly through us and is not on the open market It will not be around for long, as simply you do not get many freeholds becoming available in this location.

There is a saying, the three most important points in property investment is Location, Location and Location. From the location of this property you can see you will not have an issue to resell or to rent out this property. The block is located equidistance between Baker Street and Marylebone Stations.

Currently we have a freehold block in the heart of London for sale. The property is used as a 10 bedroom HMO located in the heart of Westminster.

The property is generating annual rentals of more than £63,000. In addition, there is planning permission granted for conversion of the property to be used as a single dwelling unit.

The property has got an excellent growth potential in terms of capital growth and it is estimated that the price for this property will be worth £1.4m when it’s converted.

In short the property will cost around £150k to develop into a well proportioned residential dwelling. Our enquiries have led us to believe there is a good market to resell this kind of property on the market.

Lending is available for this property.

The property is available exclusive-

The statistics below prove this to be true with growth rates far in excess of the national average.

The preferred angle on this property is not to purchase and hold. It would be to develop and resell. The investor would need about £500,000 to execute this investment. This would allow a good comfortable cushion should the resale and building works over run.

Stats for the area

Price Trends: Growth NW1 NW National 5yr house price growth 34.37% 34.37% 5.73% 12 months price growth 12.61% 12.61% 7.49% Call us now to purchase this exciting opportunity 0207 706 0187.

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

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

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

20

fInancIal voice

Asian Voice - Saturday 18th September 2010

Leadership Matters

UK to have more branches of Indian banks are two well known landmarks in Mumbai that have been built by his fore fathers before they moved to UK. They had shifted to London and established their first business branch outside Asia here.

“UK banks have been in India for over 150 years. And so, reciprocity is already a key feature of our relationship. I would like to see it go further. UK expects the same freedom that it allows Indianowned subsidiaries to open branches.”

“The UK has three of the top four foreign banks in India. Given licences in

UK is keen that Reserve Bank of India adopts a matching reciprocal approach in granting permission to UK banks for opening more branches in the country, as at present, 10 Indian banks are interested to open branches in UK. Commerce Secretary to the UK Treasury, Lord James Sasson disclosed this information recently in Mumbai.

Lord James Sasson was in India to attend the ‘FICCI-IBA’ conference on banking. The UK secretary has ancestral roots in India, dating back more than 150 years. Sasson Docks and Sasson Library

Make the Most of Now

smaller towns and cities, I'm sure that they, and others, would seize the opportunity to bring modern banking services to millions more Indian customers. Lack of access to finance is a major barrier to poverty reduction all over world. the UK's banks are fully committed to India's financial inclusion agenda and to the challenges of serving poorer communities across more rural areas,” Sassoon added.

Deloitte and UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) also released a guide for India Inc to set up business within the UK.

David Hartnett forced to apologise on tax errors HM Revenue and Customs owes about £2 bn to 1.4 mn tax payers Permanent secretary (tax) at HM Revenue and Customs, David Hartnett was forced to do a U-turn and apologise after denying any errors, even as mistakes in tax codes have resulted in about 1.4 million tax payers have been underpaid about £2 bn over a period of 2 years.

Hartnett, while denying any errors had also said the situation was not “extraordinary” had also refused to apologise for the errors made by HMRC. Problems arose after seven members of staff at the Belfast contact centre were sacked over claims of

racial abuse.

George Osborne, the chancellor, was said to be incandescent over Hartnett’s gaffe.

Lord Oakeshott, the Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesman, accused Hartnett of arrogance. “It’s nonsense to suggest that this is something that happens every year. HMRC has a long and deep-seated history of management failure.

"This is an amazing combination of incompetence and arrogance from Mr Hartnett. He shouldn’t be apologising, he should be going,” he said.

His earnings in pay and pension contributions

India mulling compulsory CSR spends 2% of net profit may be the mandate for the corporates

now with the Parliamentary Standing Committee of the ministry.

The private sector in India, however are against any compulsions. However, there will be thresholds for the sizes of companies which may be brought in the mandatory CSR net.

That could be entities having net worth of more than Rs. 5 billion or turnover worth more than Rs. 10 billion or those who earn a net profit of more than Rs. 50 million a year.

Even as this issue is under debate, one provision is certain, companies will have to make specific disclosures on their CSR spends in their annual reports.

India Inc. may soon have to make provisions for a mandatory CSR spending of 2% of the net profits, if a move by the ministry of corporate affairs gets the parliamentary approval.

In the new Companies Act Bill, the ministry has plans to incorporate a provision of making an investment of 2% of the net profits of companies in “Corporate Social Responsibility” (CSR) initiatives or projects. For ONGC, IOC, BPCL and HPCL, the government owned petroleum companies this has already been made mandatory.

The proposal to now make the provision applicable across the board is

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Sensex breaches 19,000 mark after 32 months Indian stock markets are on a bull run for some days now. The BSE Sensex recorded a rise of more than 400 points on Monday this week, breaching the 19,000 level for the first time since 2008. Even on Tuesday, the sensex consolidated the gains, though was the rise was not as much as compared to a day earlier.

On Monday, the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) sensitive index (sensex) soared 408 point to end the day at 19,208.

It was up by 2.1 per cent over the previous close.

On Tuesday, the index further went up by 138 points.

Foreign institutions, as per provisional data, poured in more than Rs 25 billion.

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at £286,000 last year, Hartnett had said earlier: “I’m not sure I need to apologise. I’ve read the papers, listened to the media and heard stories of HMRC blunders and IT failure — neither of those are true.

Hartnett later changed tack, saying: “I apologise if my remarks seemed insensitive. I am working flat-out with my colleagues to ensure everyone’s tax is correct.”

Pay reform HM Revenue & Customs is considering taking direct control of monthly pay cheques under plans to overhaul the income tax system.

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A couple of years ago, Vodafone ran an advertising campaign based on the punch line, ‘Don't get left in the dark. Make the most of now’. Throughout the ages many great thinkers and philosophers have encouraged us to seize the moment, live in the present and indeed to ‘make the most of now’.

Benjamin Franklin summed it up perfectly when he said, ‘You may delay, but time will not.’

Within the span of a few weeks and a few live TV debates, Nick Clegg went from being the perennial outsider to being the new ‘kingmaker’. It must be said that Clegg definitely seized the moment. He made an honourable (and brave) decision to put party politics aside and join hands with the Conservatives as they had won the most seats. It was unquestionably a huge gamble, on the one hand he risked being alienated by his own party and on the other he risked being treated as nothing more than a servant by the Tories.

By Amit Patel

thinking that it was a chance that may never come again. But in doing so he may have actually ensured that such a chance will not come again anytime soon. Call it inspirational or radical, it was certainly daring. So is he truly seeking to prove that a coalition can work or is he just trying to gain power?

Whatever he is doing, he is absolutely making the most of now.

Amit Patel has over 15 years experience in the field of Personal Development and Human Resource Management. He has delivered speeches on People Management and Development throughout Europe, North America, and Asia. To contact Amit, email him at amitpatelmail@gmail.com

Vodafone to appeal to Indian SC on tax demand Mumbai High Court last week dismissed UK giant’s appeal Income Tax troubles for UK mobile phone major Vadafone in India continue as Mumbai High Court last week adjudged that the Income Tax authorities have the right to demand tax on the acquisition by the UK company, as Vodafone should have effected the TDS on the proceeds it paid to Hutchison.

Now, Vodafone intends to file an appeal before the Supreme Court of India.

Income Tax authorities had claimed that Hutchison was liable to pay capital gains tax and Vodafone was required to hold back the necessary amount to be paid to the

Indian authorities.

Vodafone had contended that as per Indian laws, capital gains tax has to be paid by the seller and Vodafone is not responsible for that. Thought the company has not specified the amount that Income Tax authorities have demanded, sources say the demand is for `120 bn ($2.6 bn) on a transaction of $11.1 bn.

Meanwhile, the Vodafone spokesperson said, “Legal advice received indicates that Vodafone’s contention that the transfer of shareholding of CGP was a valid transaction (not a sham structure) and therefore not liable to be taxed

in India has been upheld.

However, the judgment holds that certain other contractual rights with the Indian parties were also a part of the transaction and this has nexus with India. The judgment indicates this gives jurisdiction to the tax office to levy a tax on that part of the transaction. Vodafone is seeking legal advice to challenge this part of the judgment.

“Vodafone remains confident that there is no tax to pay on the transaction.” Indian tax authorities have said Vodafone's deal was liable for tax because most of the assets were based in India.

ICICI Bank bags 3 honours at World Finance Awards Leading private Indian Bank, ICICI Bank has won three awards at the World Finance Awards, UK, 2010 the bank has said in a release.

Excellence in NRI services- Worldwide, Excellence in Remittance Business-

Worldwide and Excellence in Private Banking Business- Asia Pacific region are the three categories in which the bank has won awards.

The awards have been instituted by the World Finance Magazine, UK.

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Not making the most of now is not just about wasting time, it is also about losing chances. The chance to say ‘sorry’ immediately after we’ve made a mistake; the chance to help someone when they need it most; and the chance to take the great opportunity which has just unexpectedly presented itself. There are after all some things which should not, cannot and will not wait.

So was the decision to ‘side with the enemy’ the right one? Well, Clegg is suddenly deputy PM (even though his party finished third) and his party suddenly have a new found influence on government policy – at least as much as the conservatives will allow them. Not bad. However, there is already a murmur that ‘a Lib Dem vote is a lost vote’. Many Lib Dem voters are angry that their vote actually gave power to the Conservatives and may change their allegiance.

Perhaps Clegg simply decided to get into office while he had the chance,

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FINANCIAL VOICE

Asian Voice - Saturday 18th September 2010

21

Foreign Exchange Rajesh Agrawal is the Chairman & CEO of RationalFX, Currency Specialists.

For any further information call 020 7220 8181 or e-mail info@rationalfx.com

The Single Currency is Weak, but is the Yen Too Strong?

Last week, the Euro hit record lows against the Australian Dollar and the Swiss Franc, leading to concerns that economic problems within the Eurozone are undermining the European single currency.

Reports that the ten biggest banks in Germany may need in excess of a further 100 billion Euros extra capital led to concerns that the recent European bank stress tests may not have been stringent enough.

Sovereign debt issues became a concern again, as reports suggested that governments would have to raise 80 billion Euros in September, as opposed to 43 billion in August.

These problems, coupled with fears that the smallest economies in the Eurozone cannot service their debt and the fact that yields of Irish and Portuguese bonds climbed to record levels, have led to rumours that Ireland may have to call on the European ‘bail out’ fund.

The European Central Bank responded by making what seemed to be its biggest purchase of European Government bonds since July, suggesting that the single currency has some structural problems that are

unlikely to respond to ‘quick-fix’ solutions.

During last week’s trading session, the Swiss Franc rose to record highs against the Euro at 1.2763, as traders moved back to safe havens and away from potential risk.

The Euro also lost ground against the US Dollar, to the tune of 1.5% at 1.2699, the single currency also fell 1.2% against Sterling to 1.2120 and dropped off a further 1.5% against the Yen to 107.00.

The Euro hit a record low against the commodity driven Australian Dollar at 1.3730, as demand for the Australian currency remained strong.

Last Tuesday, the Reserve Bank of Australia policy meeting decided to keep interest rates on hold, but better than expected employment figures have led to speculation that Australian interest rates will have to rise in the near future.

Other commodity led currencies had a strong week, with the

Canadian Dollar up 0.5%, given an added boost when the Bank of Canada raised rates by 25 basis points to 1% following its Wednesday policy meeting.

The Japanese Yen rose to a

15-year high against the US Dollar of 83.22, reflecting the move back to safe havens.

Fresh data on Friday showed that Japanese economic output has expanded above forecasts in the second quarter but not enough to reclaim the title from China as the world’s second largest economy.

Although these figures were positive for the Japanese economy, concerns remain as the strength of the Yen is a potential problem to business sentiment and second half growth, seeing as consumer spending contributed nothing to these figures.

The Japanese government is now discussing attempts to stimulate consumer spending, helping to create employment and extend domestic sales incentives. The question is, however, whether the 11 billion dollar proposed package will be enough.

Weekly Currencies As of Tuesday 14th September 2010 @ 11.30pm GBP - INR = 71.564 USD - INR = 46.20 EUR - INR = 59.42 GBP - USD = 1.5415 GBP - EUR = 1.1979 EUR - USD = 1.2840 GBP - AED = 5.6571 GBP - CAD = 1.5849 GBP - NZD = 2.1153 GBP - AUD = 1.652 GBP - ZAR = 10.998 GBP - HUF = 340.25

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

Vibrant Gujarat

Asian Voice - Saturday 18th September 2010

Vibrant Gujarat delegation in the UK, signs MoU with LABA The 16 member high level delegation from Gujarat State in India, comprising business leaders and state government officials is on a three day visit to UK from 13 to 15 September. On Monday, the delegation signed an MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) with LABA (Leicestershire Asian Business Association) in Leicester. The Gujarat delegation is on a visit to UK and other European countries in preparation of the bi-annual Vibrant Gujarat Investors Summit, to be held in January 2011 in Gandhinagar, the capital of Gujarat. A road show was also organised in Leicester on Tuesday to promote the Vibrant Gujarat Summit 2011.

LABA is the leading British Asian Business led economic driver for Leicestershire and wider

East Midlands region fostering business development, training, inward investment and international trade for the last twenty five years.

The MoU will encourage and facilitate actions leading to the promotion and development of commercial exchange and of economic co-operation between the UK and Government of Gujarat.

It will enable both the parties to analyse business conditions, legal and economic environment between the two regions and take action to improve cooperation among companies in their respective countries as well as the establishment of joint ventures.

The MoU will also lead to the creation of export panels on international marketing as well as on foreign trade management and skills. Further, it will help

create joint symposiums and seminars on economic and trade information.

The MoU was signed by the delegation convener Guruprasad Mohapatra, Managing Director, Gujarat Alkalies and Chemicals Limited (GACL) and Jaspal Singh Minhas, president, LABA. The Gujarat delegation will also meet companies, organisations, institutions, NRIs and the Gujarati community in Britain.

Organised by iNDEXTb, the official investment promotion agency of the State of Gujarat, the delegation will later leave for The Netherlands, Spain and Germany to showcase opportunities for investment and discuss cross-border partnerships in advance of the much-awaited Vibrant Gujarat Summit in 2011.

The delegation will meet

Mr. Mahendra Patel Chairman and Managing Director, Mamata Group

Mr. Arpit J Vyas Whole-Time Director, Dishman Pharmaceuticals and Chemicals Ltd.

Mr. Suresh D. Patel Chairman, The Gujarat Institute of Housing & Estate Developers (GIHED), Chairman and Managing Director, Surya Group (Real Estate Developer Mr. Sandeep Save Director, Neptune Industries Ltd

Mr. S C Goyal Director (Projects), Alok Industries Limited

tion of corporate and financial resources. Its proactive government and businesssavvy population make a perfect ground for businesses to flourish. By carefully planning special industrial zones and investment regions, the state has created a much more conducive business and regulatory environment within many industries, including financial services, Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals, Energy and Infrastructure sectors.

With United Kingdom’s strong foothold in these sectors, the delegation’s meetings will provide an excellent foundation for building partnerships that will invigorate the economies of both regions.

On behalf of Gujarat’s Honourable Chief Minister, Narendra Modi, Mr. Guruprasad Mohapatra extended a warm invitation to United Kingdom’s busi-

ness leaders, investors, corporations, academic leaders and policymakers to the upcoming Vibrant Gujarat Summit, January 12-13, 2011, in the city of Gandhinagar, state capital of Gujarat. “This biennial global summit will serve as the perfect platform to understand and explore business opportunities in the State of Gujarat, as well as an opportunity to showcase products and services and hold one-to-one meetings and roundtable conferences between prospective investors and government officials. The last four summits have been a major success with more than 20,000 delegates from 47 different countries gathering in Gujarat to discuss new cross-border investment opportunities or ways to expand existing operations.”

Gujarat keen on more UK investment: Mohapatra

Key delegates Mr. G Mohapatra IAS. Commissioner, Commercial Tax Govt. of Gujarat

the leading trade organisations like Commonwealth Business Council (CBC), Confederation of British Industry (CBI, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the UK India Business Council (UKIBC) to explore various avenues of collaboration between both regions. The delegation has also accepted the invitation extended

by Barry Gardiner, MP in the Houses of Parliament in Westminster. The delegation is also meeting with the London School of Economics, North East of England Process Industry Cluster (NEPIC), Total Waste Limited.

Located on the western coast of India, Gujarat is a leading industrial state with a unique combination of strategic geographic location, state-of-the-art infrastructure, multilingual workforce and concentra-

Mr. Kapil Malhotra Business Development - Europe, Abellon Clean Energy Limited

Mr. Sahil Shah Manager, Business Development – UK Abellon Clean Energy Limited

Ms. Milina Bose Vice President, Global Marketting and Business Development Claris Lifesciences Ltd. Mr. Ranjit Parmar Director, Suzlon Group of Companies

Mr. Shaleen Sharma Managing Director, Gujarat Gas Company and Gujarat Gas Financial Services Ltd. Mr. Kalpesh Sheth Assistant General Manager (Projects), iNDEXTb

Mr Sushil Handa Chairman, The Fifth Veda Entrepreneurs

State wants to forge partnership with LSE Mr Guruprasad Mohapatra, IAS, Managing Director, Gujarat Alkalies and Chemicals Ltd (A Gujarat government enterprise), convenor of the 1. Why is the Vibrant Gujarat delegation here?

The primary purpose of this delegation is to extend an invitation to participate in Vibrant Gujarat 2011 Summit.

While the delegations have visited many of the countries in the lead-up to the 2007 and 2009 summits, we are targeting new countries, cities and regions as well as we see long-term potential for investment relationships between Gujarat and the UK and globally. For the countries like the UK with lasting ties to Gujarat, we will be looking for new partnerships; for other countries, we want to raise awareness of Gujarat and what makes it the most progressive state in India from an industrial point of view. The Government is looking to the longterm interests of the State as well as short-term investments.

2. Whom are you planning to meet?

Our focus sectors for the United Kingdom are chemicals, pharma, infrastructure & logistics, engineering & manufacturing, and financial services. While we are keeping the focus sectors in mind, we are also leveraging some of our past relationships for setting up meetings for each delegation. Also, we approached new companies and have initiated a dialogue before we actually meet them in person. This way, when we meet them, the talks

Government of Gujarat delegation to the UK and Western Europe, in a chat with Asian Voice said the state wants more British investment.

would already be in an advanced stage. We are meeting the top executives and decision makers from target companies of our focus sectors, technical and R&D-based research institutions, trade and academic associations and thought leaders, as well as the international media.

3. What is the prospect of Indo-British partnership?

I welcome the sentiments the British Government has expressed and David Cameron’s visit to India so soon after his election victory in May seems to indicate he is committed to a close partnership between India and the UK, not just in the economic field. Two-thirds of Indian investment in the EU is in the UK: we are working hard to ensure strong participation from the UK at the Vibrant Gujarat 2011 Summit and further British investment in India’s growth engine Gujarat.

4. Why did you choose LSE for a partnership?

Our discussions with the LSE are at a preliminary phase. We will be meeting with them to discuss the potential for student exchanges as well as research collaboration.

Naturally, we specifically targeted the LSE because of its first class reputation globally.

5. How do you think the Gujarat and MS University will be benefitted from a tie up with

LSE? Will students of Gujarat also get to travel to London for at least an year exchange programme from these universities under the programme?

See above. Our discussions are at a preliminary phase.

6. Is this partnership a private or government initiative?

This is purely the government’s initiative. The government of Gujarat is very proactive in every aspect for partnership, collaboration and tie-ups that could provide students of Gujarat an international experience and compete in a global challenging world.

7. Do you think there should be a cell to help NRIs in Gujarat chamber of commerce?

Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry already has a NRI and NRG wing. For more information on GCCI’s NRI Wing, you may contact them directly.

8. Why are you doing nothing for the improvement of services in the Sardar Patel International airport?

Sardar Vallabhbhai International Airport at Ahmedabad was recently renovated and opened to public. The government has taken a good lead providing travellers with world-class facilities at the airport. I am very keen to see the maximum number of routes from Gujarat but these are largely commercial decisions.

22

Vibrant Gujarat

Asian Voice - Saturday 18th September 2010

Vibrant Gujarat delegation in the UK, signs MoU with LABA The 16 member high level delegation from Gujarat State in India, comprising business leaders and state government officials is on a three day visit to UK from 13 to 15 September. On Monday, the delegation signed an MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) with LABA (Leicestershire Asian Business Association) in Leicester. The Gujarat delegation is on a visit to UK and other European countries in preparation of the bi-annual Vibrant Gujarat Investors Summit, to be held in January 2011 in Gandhinagar, the capital of Gujarat. A road show was also organised in Leicester on Tuesday to promote the Vibrant Gujarat Summit 2011.

LABA is the leading British Asian Business led economic driver for Leicestershire and wider

East Midlands region fostering business development, training, inward investment and international trade for the last twenty five years.

The MoU will encourage and facilitate actions leading to the promotion and development of commercial exchange and of economic co-operation between the UK and Government of Gujarat.

It will enable both the parties to analyse business conditions, legal and economic environment between the two regions and take action to improve cooperation among companies in their respective countries as well as the establishment of joint ventures.

The MoU will also lead to the creation of export panels on international marketing as well as on foreign trade management and skills. Further, it will help

create joint symposiums and seminars on economic and trade information.

The MoU was signed by the delegation convener Guruprasad Mohapatra, Managing Director, Gujarat Alkalies and Chemicals Limited (GACL) and Jaspal Singh Minhas, president, LABA. The Gujarat delegation will also meet companies, organisations, institutions, NRIs and the Gujarati community in Britain.

Organised by iNDEXTb, the official investment promotion agency of the State of Gujarat, the delegation will later leave for The Netherlands, Spain and Germany to showcase opportunities for investment and discuss cross-border partnerships in advance of the much-awaited Vibrant Gujarat Summit in 2011.

The delegation will meet

Mr. Mahendra Patel Chairman and Managing Director, Mamata Group

Mr. Arpit J Vyas Whole-Time Director, Dishman Pharmaceuticals and Chemicals Ltd.

Mr. Suresh D. Patel Chairman, The Gujarat Institute of Housing & Estate Developers (GIHED), Chairman and Managing Director, Surya Group (Real Estate Developer Mr. Sandeep Save Director, Neptune Industries Ltd

Mr. S C Goyal Director (Projects), Alok Industries Limited

tion of corporate and financial resources. Its proactive government and businesssavvy population make a perfect ground for businesses to flourish. By carefully planning special industrial zones and investment regions, the state has created a much more conducive business and regulatory environment within many industries, including financial services, Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals, Energy and Infrastructure sectors.

With United Kingdom’s strong foothold in these sectors, the delegation’s meetings will provide an excellent foundation for building partnerships that will invigorate the economies of both regions.

On behalf of Gujarat’s Honourable Chief Minister, Narendra Modi, Mr. Guruprasad Mohapatra extended a warm invitation to United Kingdom’s busi-

ness leaders, investors, corporations, academic leaders and policymakers to the upcoming Vibrant Gujarat Summit, January 12-13, 2011, in the city of Gandhinagar, state capital of Gujarat. “This biennial global summit will serve as the perfect platform to understand and explore business opportunities in the State of Gujarat, as well as an opportunity to showcase products and services and hold one-to-one meetings and roundtable conferences between prospective investors and government officials. The last four summits have been a major success with more than 20,000 delegates from 47 different countries gathering in Gujarat to discuss new cross-border investment opportunities or ways to expand existing operations.”

Gujarat keen on more UK investment: Mohapatra

Key delegates Mr. G Mohapatra IAS. Commissioner, Commercial Tax Govt. of Gujarat

the leading trade organisations like Commonwealth Business Council (CBC), Confederation of British Industry (CBI, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the UK India Business Council (UKIBC) to explore various avenues of collaboration between both regions. The delegation has also accepted the invitation extended

by Barry Gardiner, MP in the Houses of Parliament in Westminster. The delegation is also meeting with the London School of Economics, North East of England Process Industry Cluster (NEPIC), Total Waste Limited.

Located on the western coast of India, Gujarat is a leading industrial state with a unique combination of strategic geographic location, state-of-the-art infrastructure, multilingual workforce and concentra-

Mr. Kapil Malhotra Business Development - Europe, Abellon Clean Energy Limited

Mr. Sahil Shah Manager, Business Development – UK Abellon Clean Energy Limited

Ms. Milina Bose Vice President, Global Marketting and Business Development Claris Lifesciences Ltd. Mr. Ranjit Parmar Director, Suzlon Group of Companies

Mr. Shaleen Sharma Managing Director, Gujarat Gas Company and Gujarat Gas Financial Services Ltd. Mr. Kalpesh Sheth Assistant General Manager (Projects), iNDEXTb

Mr Sushil Handa Chairman, The Fifth Veda Entrepreneurs

State wants to forge partnership with LSE Mr Guruprasad Mohapatra, IAS, Managing Director, Gujarat Alkalies and Chemicals Ltd (A Gujarat government enterprise), convenor of the 1. Why is the Vibrant Gujarat delegation here?

The primary purpose of this delegation is to extend an invitation to participate in Vibrant Gujarat 2011 Summit.

While the delegations have visited many of the countries in the lead-up to the 2007 and 2009 summits, we are targeting new countries, cities and regions as well as we see long-term potential for investment relationships between Gujarat and the UK and globally. For the countries like the UK with lasting ties to Gujarat, we will be looking for new partnerships; for other countries, we want to raise awareness of Gujarat and what makes it the most progressive state in India from an industrial point of view. The Government is looking to the longterm interests of the State as well as short-term investments.

2. Whom are you planning to meet?

Our focus sectors for the United Kingdom are chemicals, pharma, infrastructure & logistics, engineering & manufacturing, and financial services. While we are keeping the focus sectors in mind, we are also leveraging some of our past relationships for setting up meetings for each delegation. Also, we approached new companies and have initiated a dialogue before we actually meet them in person. This way, when we meet them, the talks

Government of Gujarat delegation to the UK and Western Europe, in a chat with Asian Voice said the state wants more British investment.

would already be in an advanced stage. We are meeting the top executives and decision makers from target companies of our focus sectors, technical and R&D-based research institutions, trade and academic associations and thought leaders, as well as the international media.

3. What is the prospect of Indo-British partnership?

I welcome the sentiments the British Government has expressed and David Cameron’s visit to India so soon after his election victory in May seems to indicate he is committed to a close partnership between India and the UK, not just in the economic field. Two-thirds of Indian investment in the EU is in the UK: we are working hard to ensure strong participation from the UK at the Vibrant Gujarat 2011 Summit and further British investment in India’s growth engine Gujarat.

4. Why did you choose LSE for a partnership?

Our discussions with the LSE are at a preliminary phase. We will be meeting with them to discuss the potential for student exchanges as well as research collaboration.

Naturally, we specifically targeted the LSE because of its first class reputation globally.

5. How do you think the Gujarat and MS University will be benefitted from a tie up with

LSE? Will students of Gujarat also get to travel to London for at least an year exchange programme from these universities under the programme?

See above. Our discussions are at a preliminary phase.

6. Is this partnership a private or government initiative?

This is purely the government’s initiative. The government of Gujarat is very proactive in every aspect for partnership, collaboration and tie-ups that could provide students of Gujarat an international experience and compete in a global challenging world.

7. Do you think there should be a cell to help NRIs in Gujarat chamber of commerce?

Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry already has a NRI and NRG wing. For more information on GCCI’s NRI Wing, you may contact them directly.

8. Why are you doing nothing for the improvement of services in the Sardar Patel International airport?

Sardar Vallabhbhai International Airport at Ahmedabad was recently renovated and opened to public. The government has taken a good lead providing travellers with world-class facilities at the airport. I am very keen to see the maximum number of routes from Gujarat but these are largely commercial decisions.

Asian Voice - Saturday 18th September 2010

INDIA

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Vishakha Hari draws them all – young and old, with her ‘Katha’ of a different kind Vishakha Hari, a young woman in her early thirties in Tamil Nadu continues her spiritual pursuit, resisting the lure of big money that she is capable to earn as qualified Chartered Accountant.

She is a very popular and respectable lady with a wide following among people of all ages with her distinctive style of ‘Kathakalakshepam’ (religious discourses delivered in a musical style that is equally entertaining).

She was, in fact ranked third at the national level in her CA exams in 2000.

But it is no surprise as she got her classical music training from violin maestro Lalgudi Jayaram.

Later, at the age of 22, she married Shri Hariji, a seasoned exponent of Vedantic and Bhagvatham discourses. He is the son of Paranur Mahatma Sri Sri Krishna Premi swamigal. For Vishakha, swamigal is also Spiritual Guru.

The most striking thing about Vishakha is her simplicity and her dress code, always wearing ‘Madisar’ (A nine yard Sari). She grew up in Chennai but prefers the spiritual aura and serenity of Srirangam. She travels widely for her performances but leisure is spent studying scriptures and

rehearsing upanyasam and sangeetham.

Vishakha draws full houses with her musical discourses.

She also instantly connects to places with spiritual vibrations. The distinct woman also says, “For me, kathakalakshepam is not just about performance. It stays with me even when I get off stage. There is no such thing as professional or personal life. They blend seamlessly. And I have chosen this way of life out of passion for the art form.”

“Home is where inspiration comes from. I draw from my father-in-law's experience, rich repertoire of stories and the numerous books penned by him.

Observation, reading, research and rehearsal are essential to upanyasam,” says Vishakha.

About draping the nine-yard every day, when asked if she didn’t find it cumbersome, she said “It is all in the mind. In Chennai or Cleveland, I

am always clad in it. It was extremely cold when I visited the U.S. for a recital, but I stuck to my dress code,” smiles Vishakha.

T h o u g h ‘Kathakalakshepam’ conjures up images of a serious religious discourse attended by a small gathering of elders, Vishakha's harikatha performances have a huge following. Her distinctive and vibrant style of coherently weaving stories from the past, peppering them with contemporary metaphors and punctuating them suitably with classical compositions keep the audience, comprising the old and the young, engaged till the last word is uttered. Her reach is wider because she performs in English outside Chennai. She spoke on “Role of education in international development” at the House of Commons in the U.K. She has also released six DVDs that are quite a sell out.

Vishakha has also been honoured with ‘Vasantha Shresht’ award by the Vasantha Memorial Trust and coveted titles like ‘Thyagaraja Prathidwani’ and ‘Yuva Kala Bharathi’. She is also enlisted as an A grade artist with the All India Radio.

Jharkhand CM Arjun Munda wins majority vote BJP leader Arjun Munda proved majority support for his coalition government in Jharkhand on Tuesday.

In the 82 member state assembly, Munda got 45 votes, while 30 MLAs voted against the trust vote motion that was moved by Munda’s deputy and JMM leader, Deputy Chief Minister Hemant Soren.

Jharkhand was under president’s rule since 30th May after BJP withdrew support to Shibu Soren lead government. After a lot of twists and turns, BJP and JMM finally decided to form a coalition government again. Arjun Munda took oath as Chief Minister alongwith two other ministers on 11th September.

The state plunged into

a political crisis after BJP withdrew support from JMM when Shibu Soren cross-voted in the Lok Sabha during cut motions in the Budget session in April brought by BJP and Left parties.

After the BJP threatened to withdraw support, Soren agreed on sharing power on rotational basis but later went back on his word.

Punjab has India’s largest Banyan tree It’s also known as ‘Kaya Kalp Vriksh’ At village Cholti Kalan in Fatehgarh Sahib district of Punjab, a huge Banyan tree, believed to be hundreds of years old, is likely to be announced at a biodiversity heritage site.

It would be the second such site after the Inami Bagh in Hoshiarpur.

The giant tree is spread in an area of about three to four acres of land. Parts of the land are also under private ownership. But the locals consider the tree very sacred, nobody dares to do any harm to the tree. The tree stands out, surrounded by lush green fields.

The belief among the locals is that the relentless spread of the tree is unstoppable. It is also believed that in past, when people tried to stop

the spread of the tree, they had to face grave misfortune. Even using of waste wood or fallen leaves of the tree is considered unpropitious.

The growth of the tree is thus not hampered, but experts feel now efforts are needed for conservation of the tree.

Also known as the “Kaya Kalp Vriksh”, the tree attracts many visi-

tors from nearby areas.

Its conservation can be beneficial from tourism point of view as well. A temple and rest house (dharamshala) have been constructed under the tree. It has now acquired even cultural significance, with an annual fair being organised under the shade of the huge tree on 15th February.

In divine light

By Rajen Vakil

Ganesha Chaturthi - giving birth to the Ganesha within A disciple tries to awaken his consciousness to higher levels once he realises that there exists a higher level of understanding. Within us is a seed which, by proper care and training, can evolve into something higher. This is represented by Ganesha, the god we pray to for happiness and prosperity.

Ganesha is the son of Shiva and Paravati. He was born out of the body dirt of Paravati. At that time Shiva was not even present; he was at the smashan where the dead bodies were lying. This represents that Ganesha was born without the active participation of Shiva. Happiness and prosperity are born out of Shiva (kalyankari or the welfare element lying dormant in all of us). We put a statue of Ganesha and pray to him to bring us peace and prosperity, but would this work? The story tells us that just doing pooja is not enough and that we must give birth to Ganesha within ourselves.

The dirt of which Ganesha is born from is symbolic of the negative emotions in our psychic body. To give birth to Ganesha within us means to transform negative emotions such as anger, irritation, jealousy, complaints, bad moods, fear, hatred, and revenge, among others into positive emotions.

Every time negative emotions rise from the subconscious into the field of the conscious mind, we pause and transform them. If we can do this then the Shiva lying dormant in us will have a child - the god of fortune and prosperity, which will then follow us wherever we go. Many of us have a lot of money and prosperity in our destiny, but we don’t have the good fortune to enjoy it because our minds are full of negativity. If we are free of negativity, then every moment in life brings joy and happiness; this leads to deep gratitude and then we do not have to do a special pooja to Ganesha as every moment is a pooja to him.

Paravati is the daughter of the mountain. It comes from the word ‘parv’ which means to fill or that which is full of over-flowing energy. This over-flowing energy needs to be purified and in the story is represented by her taking a bath.

She instructs Ganesha to

stand outside her door and not allow anyone in.

Ganesha, born out of dirt, is also symbolic of a mind that needs to be purified - where the inner vision has not yet opened. He could not recognise his father Shiva and did not allow him to where Paravati was bathing. Shiva represents the divine within us and even our minds do not have the capacity or vision to recognise the divine within ourselves.

Shiva cuts off Ganesha’s head. When Paravati sees this, she starts crying and admonishes Shiva as he has killed their only son. Shiva again gives him life by putting an elephant’s head in place of the human one. The elephant is a symbol of the sprouting of wisdom (viveka) within the mind and when this fountain sprouts, we recognise our own divinity. Shiva gives Ganesha two boons (1) in all auspicious work he will be worshipped first and (2) if worshipped, he will remove all obstacles. In actuality, obstacles are only removed from occasions that are free of individual desire (or ‘yagna karma’). Sadly, everybody worships him to fulfil personal desire (or ‘kamya karma’).

Ganesha is known as Gana and Gaja. Gana means to count and Gaja means to sound. Our ancient scriptures have a theory of sound similar to modern day physics’.

They considered that the universe was built by sound. It is through sound that ‘gati’ or movement was born and to make gati possible, energy or prana was needed.

All this was born out of sound. Science says light moves in packets called photons, while our ancient rishis said sound moved in packets called ‘matrukas’. The word ‘matr’ means to count – how much of energy or sound goes into each action, and this precise count of energy is Gana.

He is also called ‘Gajanan’ which means that when energy goes forth, it makes a humming sound. In mantra we do the opposite; by humming we create energy. It is this humming sound that sustains the whole universe.

Ganapati has four hands, symbolising that when we have the wisdom of the elephant, we can enjoy every moment of our life in four different ways. One has a rope signifying control or enjoyment by controlling our passions and desires, the second has ‘ladu’ or the symbol of mud representing enjoyment by transforming the lower into the higher, the third has the Vedas showing enjoyment through knowledge, and the fourth is in the ‘abhaya mudra’ or the posture of fearlessness, the essential quality to enjoy life. Since he can enjoy and transform both the positive and negative emotions, he has two wives – Riddhi and Siddhi.

Ganesha’s vehicle is ‘mooshak’ or mouse. The mouse steals stealthily at night; he has the power to steal bliss or ‘ananda’ in every event of life.

Ganesha has a crooked trunk, Vakratunda, meaning he breathes with a crooked nose. All of us breathe with a straight nose. All our thoughts and emotions affect our breathing, but with his crooked nose he can control his breath to create whichever thought or emotion is appropriate to the moment.

In yoga, the ‘kundalini shakti’ is made to rise by either creating fission or fusion at muladhara and swadhisthana. In all the prevalent yoga schools they use the method of fission which creates a kind of tension between the two chakras. This is a very dangerous method.

My teacher taught the technique of fusion; the joining of muladhara and swadhisthana through rhythmic breathing and body postures. Over a long period of time, the muladhara and swadhisthana fuse to become one chakra. When this happens the kundalini energy rises in a very soft, safe, and rhythmic manner. Muladhara is the head of the elephant and swadhisthana is our lower body. When these two fuse we give birth to the Ganesha within us.

The disciple then experiences the rise of energy bringing rhythm, harmony, and joy in his life.

(Edited by Chintu Gandhi)

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

INDIA

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Asian Voice - Saturday 18th September 2010

Manmohan sees ‘Peepli (Live)’ at a special home screening

By Dr Suresh Samani

Dr Manmohan Singh, the Prime Minister of India, requested to see “Peepli Live.” He does not watch films on a regular basis and this was only the fourth film he was watching in 7 years.

To fulfill the wish of Prime Minister, Aamir Khan along with Ronnie Screwvala, Anusha Rizvi, Omkardas Manikpuri, and Raghubir Yadav went to Dr Singh’s residence on Sunday, to show him the film. Dr Singh saw the film with his family and few select guests.

An ecstatic Aamir Khan said “It was an honor for us that our honorable Prime Minister Shri Manmohan Singh saw our film ‘Peepli (Live).’ His words of praise and encouragement for the film meant a lot to me.”

Indian Administrative Service [IAS] is the backbone of administrative structure in the country.

Revenue and Panchayat [local civic bodies] are considered the key departments of the state government and they are generally headed by IAS officials. The bureaucracy is much maligned and often decried for rampant corruption and red tapism. It is also considered as major bottleneck in the implementation of pro poor and welfare schemes and plans initiated by the government.

Recently, Indian IT giant Infosys mentor Narayan Moorthy in an interview had favoured abolition of the IAS to pave way for more people oriented administrative structure. It is very difficult to find fault with views expressed by Moorthy and his likes as the gap between the government servants and people is widening. However, there are a few civil servants like R J Patel, district collector of Banaskantha in North Gujarat who are emerging as role models for others for their zeal and initiatives.

It all began with the plantation of a record of sorts - 158, 8771 saplings in a single day on August 30 as part of afforestation drive.

The rain starved district has sparse green cover with only 16 trees per hectare. District administration is now facing a really challenge to nurture the saplings

An official turns crusader Banaskantha District collector leads from the front the green movement

Students of LokNiketan, an educational institution in Banaskantha district of Gujarat are seen planting a sapling in this file photo of 2009.

to ensure that they survive to become trees. How he got the idea? Patel answers that love for trees is in his blood since he hails from relatively green Valsad district. He has planted scores of saplings in his official bungalow and also rears a cow. He took a major initiative when, as ex-officio chairman of Ambaji Devasthan Trust that manages famous Goddess Amba temple in the district. “We decided to offer saplings as Prasad to devotees who offer cash to the Goddess.

Our objective was to blend religion with science. We were sure that people would not throw away the prasad. Our experience for over two years shows that people carry the saplings to their home and plant them” The initial success inspired Patel to experiment more. He started roping in non-governmental organizations [NGOs], religious institutions, cooperatives, elected representatives in various self government bodies, teachers,

students, and government network and above all religious preachers who often conduct kathas [religious discourses] at the invitation of some hosts. We trained them to conduct R J Patel Vraksh Narayan kathas [worshipping trees].

“Once the awareness created about the importance of trees and green cover, we started full scale preparation for massive plantations. We also identified the places for plantations. Schools, grassland, panchayat and cooperatives premises were our first choice. We also removed encroachment over 4000 to 5000 hectares of government land and decided to cover the tracts under plantation. We again roped in Banas Dairy and other cooperatives besides NGOS to donate us expenses for saplings. Sardar Sarovar Nigam also chipped in”, Patel narrates while giving details of planning and preparation before the massive plantation campaign.

August 30 proved auspicious as the district had received exceptionally well rainfall. People were also equally enthusiastic and determined to ensure that the district turned green. Right from the morning, amidst religious ceremonies, plantation drive began and by evening we exceeded our target of planting 1,111,111

saplings and ended up with over 1.5 million saplings, the district collector informs.

Will you be able to prove your claim? Patel answers that he has documented the drive with survey numbers of the land. He is also planning to make a documentary film on this unique drive, a model of public-private partnership that if succeeds could be a trendsetter.

The district collector is well aware of the fact that the challenges begin right now. To ensure that saplings survive and grow into trees, he has made elaborate institutional arrangement.

Banaskantha district has over 1200 villages and some 830 gram panchayat [village level elected body]. “We have formed the paryavarn samvardhan samitis [environment conservation committees] at village, taluka and distinct levels. They will hold a weekly meeting and monitor the growth and protection measures.

Irrigation and water management techniques would be put to practice to ensure that maximum number of saplings survive and grow.

He also intends to make use of National Rural Employment Guarantee Act [ NREGA] by employing two persons at each village to look after the saplings.

Patel is confident that at least 70 per cent of them will survive.

If this happens, Patel will definitely find a place in history of green movement.

Kashmir engulfed in ugly violence Continued from page 1

2010

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Minor clashes also took place on Tuesday but police reported a tense calm late in the afternoon. Air links to Srinagar, the state’s summer capital, were suspended for three days.

The Monday violence was ignited by a report on an Iranian state television channel, Press TV, allegedly showing a protester in the United States tearing pages out of Quran. One of the most violent encounters happened in the village of Tangmarg, where witnesses said more than 20,000 protesters threw stones at Christian missionary school, the Tyndale-Biscoe and Mallinson School, and then torched it.

Local police filed a complaint against a local political figure, Ali Sofi, after reports that he had incited the crowd. After burning the school, people set fire to about a dozen other government buildings. Five civilians were killed when officers opened fire, the authorities said.

“They were chanting ‘America, Down, Down,” said Nissar Hurra, the inspector in charge of the police station in Tangmarg.

“There was a loud blast that could be heard in the nearby villages,” he said. “Nothing is left of the school now.”

Kashmir has seen almost daily Muslim demonstrations since

June, with angry crowds defying curfews to throw stones or voice their anger over heavy-handed Indian rule in the region.

Protesters range from separatists who want Kashmiri independence to others demanding that India’s central government remove thousands of Indian paramilitary troops, release political prisoners and lift laws that grant immunity to security officers. Before Monday, at least 73 people had been killed in the demonstrations, in which stonethrowing protesters often face off against police officers firing live ammunition.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, angry at the delay by the central government threatened to resign on Monday, but later retracted, saying he would not allow the state to go down in more turmoil.

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has called an all party meeting on Wednesday, as he feels a political consensus is needed for the measures to be taken to tackle the Kashmir situation.

However, opposition BJP and allies are against the dilution of AFSPA, a law that gives special powers to the army in dealing with law and order situation. One of the demands by a section of people and leaders in Kashmir is to withdraw or dilute the provisions of AFSPA.

World

Asian Voice - Saturday 18th September 2010

Iran says stoning sentence suspended

Poland agrees to Sikhs’ request on turban issue thing under his turban, he is asked to touch the turban himself and then a guard inspect him with a special detector.

Puri was punished with a 500 zloty (127 euro) fine because he refused to follow the guard’s order.

Puri asked the Polish ambassador to India and chief of Poland’s Border Guards to investigate the incident but to no avail.

Therefore, Puri decided to sue the Border Guards for encroaching on his religious freedom and dignity.

Puri demands an apology and 30,000 zloty (7,600 euro) compensation, which will be donated to children who suffer from leukaemia.

Kamal Nath faces trial in US court over role in 1984 anti-Sikh riots

Indian minister had ignored summons in April, earning an entry of default will submit documentary evidence proving participation of Nath and many leaders of Congress party in the November 1984 Sikh genocide. According to Pannun, SFJ has new evidence which proves Minister Nath also organized the massacre of Sikhs in different cities of Madhya Pardesh including his constituency Chhindwara.

Oz lawyer burns Quran, Bible pages In Sydney an Australian lawyer tore pages from the Quran and the Bible and smoked them on YouTube. In a 12minute clip titled “Bible or Koran - which burns best?” Alex Stewart, who belongs to an atheist group, holds up the Christian and Muslim holy books before tearing out pages and smoking them.

US pastor cancels Quran-burning plan Earlier, a Christian pastor on Thursday last canceled a plan to burn copies of the Quran at his obscure Florida church, US, which had drawn international condemnation and a warning from President Barack Obama that it could provoke al Qaeda suicide bombings.

Washington/New York: The ninth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in the United States on Saturday saw at least four incidents of abuse of the Quran, triggered by a now-withdrawn threat by a Florida pastor to torch the Muslim holy book.

A small group of conservative Christians tore some pages from a Quran in a protest outside the White House to denounce what they called the "charade of Islam".

Another activist, Andrew Beacham, read out a few Quran passages calling for hatred towards Christians and Jews, and then ripped those pages from an English paperback edition of Quaran.

The tiny protest came following pastor Terry Jone's threat to burn the Quran.

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Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, legal advisor to Sikhs for Justice, the court's order dated September 7, 2010 is the start of trial against Kamal Nath for leading the mob that attacked Gurdawara Rakab Ganj in Delhi on November 1, 1984 in which many Sikhs were burnt alive.

The plaintiffs have requested a “jury trial” during which plaintiffs

Stray incidents of Quran abuse in US

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"settlement, exploring contemplated motions, stipulating facts, arranging a plan and schedule for all discovery and setting a time for trial".

Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), a USA based human rights advocacy group and victims of the 1984 riots, Jasbir Singh and Mohinder Singh have filed the case against Kamal Nath.

According to

language Press TV. The statement came a day after European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso called the sentence "barbaric beyond words," the latest in a string of criticisms by foreign powers.

Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani was convicted of adultery - a capital crime in the Islamic Republic in 2006. She also has been charged with involvement in her husband's murder.

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New York: Indian minister for roads and transport, Kamal Nath will face a trial in a US district court for his alleged role in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in Delhi and Madhya Pradesh. The court in Southern district of New York has issued an order, asking the parties to appear in the court on 22nd September for a pretrial conference to discuss

Tehran: Iranian authorities have suspended the sentence of death by stoning of a woman convicted of adultery, the foreign ministry said last week, after weeks of condemnation from around the world.

"The verdict regarding the extra-marital affairs has stopped and it's being reviewed," Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast told Iran's state-run English-

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Puri says that he left his laptop, briefcase, jacket, belt, watch, shoes and metal objects at the airport gate and passed through it wearing just his clothes and a turban. The alarm did not sound.

Nevertheless, Puri was asked to take off his turban, an outrage to Sikhs.

Puri said that he tried to explain to guards that his religion does not allow him to remove the turban and suggested that a border guard inspects it manually. But the guard insisted on Puri taking off his head cover.

According to safety procedures at airports around the world, if a border guard suspects that a Sikh is smuggling some-

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rules and regulations as decided by the European Union.

Puri demands apology, compensation from Poland’s border guards M e a n w h i l e , Shaminder Puri, a British Sikh, is bringing a law suit against Poland’s border guards who tried to make him remove his turban at the International Frederic Chopin Airport in Warsaw.

Puri, a British citizen said that he was outraged when he was asked to take his turban off at the airport.

Puri works as an expert for international NGOs and the EU. He travels to many countries, including Poland, where he studied in 1960s.

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Special room at airports for removing turbans ordered Warsaw: Authorities in Poland have agreed to have special rooms at airports in the country if Sikh passengers are to be checked and their turbans are to be removed. The Sikhs have been aggrieved on the issue as removing turbans is a “very sensitive” issue for the community.

Wieslaw Raban, Commandant of the Airport Security, Poland told Polish TV last week that the proposal for making arrangements of special rooms have been accepted and orders have been issued for implementation with immediate effect.

He also asked the Sikh community for their support to comply with the

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Pakistan

In focus Militants free British journalist London: A British journalist, held captive by militants in northwestern Pakistan for several months, has been freed, the foreign office in London said Thursday last. Asad Qureshi, a British national of Pakistani descent, had been involved in making a film on militancy in northwestern Pakistan for Britain's Channel 4 commercial TV station.

'We can confirm that Asad Qureshi has been released. Our consular staff are providing assistance,' a foreign office spokeswoman said.

The authorities in Pakistan were understood to have been negotiating his release since April.

Stop Zardari interference, Sharif tells Gilani Lahore: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) Quaid, Nawaz Sharif, has told Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to implement the verdicts of the judiciary and to stop President Asif Ali Zardari from creating obstacles in the process.

The government should ensure the implementation of the decisions of courts and the premier should stop the president from obstructing them, The News quoted Sharif, on a visit to the Ganga Ram Hospital to meet victims of the suicide blasts at Gamay Shah, as saying. When asked to comment on the premier's intentions to convene an All Party Conference (APC) for formulating a joint policy to deal with the flood disaster, he said that the PML-N would not support the idea, as it was too late to convene the APC. On terrorism, Nawaz said that the terrorists could not be called humans as they were killing innocent people. He said that he would continue his fight against terrorism.

Car bomb kills 16 near police complex Peshawar: Sixteen people, including women and children, were killed and more than 50 wounded in a car bomb attack targeting a police headquarters in Pakistan's northwestern city of Kohat last week.

Militants have launched a series of attacks in the past week as Muslims mark the final days of the holy fasting month of Ramadan.

Six policemen were among the dead in the latest attack and police said the other victims were women and children who were breaking their fast in the garrison city, close to the lawless tribal areas of Khyber and Orakzai. "It was a car bomb blast, we are investigating whether the car was parked or was exploded by a suicide bomber," Khalid Khan, a top administrative official in Kohat, said. "Six children, four women and six policemen died." A police residential complex was severely damaged and houses nearby had also collapsed, trapping people in the rubble.

Nobody has claimed responsibility for the attack, but the Pakistani Taliban has been blamed for similar bombings. The Taliban said earlier they would continue to target security forces. "We are targeting Pakistani security forces because the government has allowed America to launch drone attacks on us," Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan ( TTP) spokesman Azam Tariq said. "Rather it is on the Pakistan government's behest that drone attacks target us," he said.

"We will continue suicide attacks on security forces.

Civilians should avoid proximity from them."

A group, meanwhile, vowed to carry out further attacks inside Pakistan and against the United States and Europe after the US State Department added it to a blacklist of foreign terrorist organisations.

Three men to be charged over failed Times Square bombing Islamabad: Pakistan will soon charge three men with terrorism in connection with the failed attempt to bomb New York's Times Square, a police official has said. The three men identified as Shoaib Mughal, Shahid Hussain and Humbal Akhtar have been held since May, but Pakistan had not formally announced their arrest. They will be charged with helping Times Square bomber Faisal Shahzad with money and helping him meet Taliban leaders in Pakistani tribal areas. Islamabad Police Deputy Inspector General Bin Yamin said that they would soon be charged in court with terrorism offenses. Yamin described them as having "militant minds" and a strong hatred for America, The Daily Times reports. Earlier, Pakistan had acknowledged that Shahzad had met Tehreek-eTaliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Hakimullah Mehsud.

"He visited Pakistan seven times and he met Hakimullah Mehsud and also met other people, those so-called leaders of the Taliban," Rehman Malik, Pakistani Interior Minister, had said.

The TTP is based in Pakistan's tribal areas, and has been blamed for some of the deadliest suicide attacks in the country. It has also claimed responsibility for the May 1 New York bomb plot.

Asian Voice - Saturday 18th September 2010

Army won’t come to power, says Gilani He is confident that his government would complete its tenure Islamabad: Pakistan's prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said that his government would complete its tenure and army “neither intends to come to power, nor it will come to power.” “The Army neither intends to come to power, nor it will come.

The judiciary is independent and pro-democratic.

Despite this if some people are engaged in such a debate, they are wasting their time,' Gilani said in an informal talk with media persons at his official residence last week.

According to Geo TV, the prime minister said the

Yousuf Raza Gilani

present government has come to power after rendering sacrifices and winning elections and 'the mandate of people should be respected'.

Some people were wrong in their thinking

that army intends to come to power, the prime minister said, responding to a query related to a statement by Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain.

The MQM leader had accused the Pakistan Peoples' Party-led government of having failed to handle flood relief operation in the country and called on the army generals to take action against corrupt politicians.

Gilani wondered why the army should give any clarification on the statement of Altaf Hussain,

and added: 'The clarification should come from those who gave the statement, and they have already done it.'

The media, the masses and the political parties were clear that democracy is the need of the country and that the world would not accept any undemocratic move, he said.

The army was taking part in the flood relief activities on the government's request, Gilani said, adding that those who consider army and the government as two separate entities were living in a fool’s paradise.

Musharraf sees good chance of winning election London: Former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf says he is forming a new political party and plans to return to Pakistan as he has 'a good chance' of winning the next elections.

Musharraf, who now lives here, said that he would be returning to his country before elections take place in 2013.

For the past few months, the former military dictator has spoken about the possibility of returning to Pakistan.

Media reports said he

would be stand for a seat in parliament.

'I believe very strongly that it's better to try and fail rather than not try and go down without trying.

At this moment we see darkness all over in Pakistan, we have to show light, we have to show an alternative, a viable alternative where people see light and gain some confidence,' he was quoted as saying. He added: 'I can't be sure of becoming president again but I believe there is a good chance of my winning.'

Pervez Musharraf

Musharraf took charge of Pakistan after a bloodless coup in 1999 ousted the elected government of prime minister Nawaz Sharif.

Pak govt, SC on collision course over legal eagle Islamabad: Pakistan government and the supreme court were last week engaged in a face-off over the removal of the prosecutor general of the main anti-corruption agency, with the incumbent official insisting that only the president can sack him.

The standoff could spark a fresh crisis between the government led by President Asif Ali Zardari's Pakistan People's Party and the apex court headed by chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry.

The government has

already earned the judiciary's ire for vacillating on several orders. During a hearing on September 1, a bench headed by the chief justice ruled that the appointment of National Accountability Bureau Acting chairman Javed Zia Qazi and prosecutor general Irfan Qadir as "unlawful" and said they should be removed. However, Qadir told Geo News channel that he was "legally appointed" by President Zardari and was "still NAB's prosecutor general." He also said only the

President could ask him to quit his post. Presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar said that the court had expressly directed Qadir to leave his post and there was no truth in reports about directives from the president giving Qadrir the go-ahead to continue his work.

Adding another twist to the imbroglio, the law ministry, headed by Zardari's close aid Babar Awan, issued a directive to Qadir to leave his post and not to talk to the media.

He ended his decadelong rule and resigned as president in August 2008.

The former army chief admitted that if he returned to Pakistan, he would face legal cases and there could be a risk of his being killed.

'A time has come in Pakistan when we need to introduce a new political culture, a culture which can take Pakistan forward on a democratic path, on a correct democratic path, not on an artificial, makebelieve democratic path,' he said.

Dalit girl forced to convert to Islam Islamabad: A 13-year-old Dalit girl was kidnapped and apparently forced to convert to Islam in Karachi, according to a media report on Saturday last. Poonam was kidnapped from her house in Lyari Town in Karachi, her uncle Bhanwroo told the Daily Times newspaper. When neighbours informed her family of Poonam's presence at a madrassa in Lyari, they went there. "She was very scared and under the influence of maulvis. She told us they will not let her go, so she will stay with them as a Muslim," said Bhanwroo.

Angelina Jolie visits flood-hit people

Islamabad: An elderly woman displaced by Pakistan’s devastating floods broke down when UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie asked her about her problems last week, saying she did not want to burden the Hollywood star with her woes. Zainul, a resident of Mohib Banda village near the bank of the Kabul river in Nowshera district where 70 per cent of homes were destroyed or badly damaged by the floods, told Jolie: "How can I burden you with all the things we need? I feel embarrassed.”

Her husband Rehman Gul pointed to an old plastic fan buried in mud and

Angelina Jolie with flood victims in Mohib Banda village

said, "We will never be able to afford the things we once had, never again.

Standing in the ruins of his home, Gul said, "Since the flooding, flies and mosquitoes are everywhere, all over the children, all over us, every-

thing.” Jolie, who visited Pakistan to highlight the suffering of millions of flood victims and the need for continuing aid for the displaced, walked through Mohib Banda village and witnessed first-hand the losses of the people and

their bewilderment at the task they face ahead in rebuilding their lives.

"There was a small stream outside the broken homes.

It was full of a mix of faeces, flies, old shoes and old clothes that had been recently washed into the water," said Jolie.

Jolie, who travelled to Pakistan as the personal envoy of UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antnio Guterres, also visited areas near Peshawar, including the Azakhel settlement for Afghan refugees and the Jalozai camp for people displaced by military operations against the Taliban.

"It’s clear this crisis is far from over," she said.

East Africa

Asian Voice - Saturday 18th September 2010

27

EU Parliament plans Kenya censure over Bashir visit In focUs

Strasbourg: European countries plan to pull up the Kenya Government over its failure to arrest Sudan President Omar alBashir during the European Union/African Union Summit to be held in Libya at the end of November. The European Parliament meeting in Strasbourg, France last week heavily censured Kenya for failing to arrest the Sudanese leader, who has been indicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged war crimes when he visited the country to attend the ceremony to promulgate the new constitution last month.

The MPs directed its representative to the joint EU/AU Summit to ensure that al-Bashir’s visit to Kenya tops the agenda at

Omar al-Bashir

the Tripoli Summit.

“Parliament expresses its regret at Kenya's decision to invite President Omar al-Bashir to attend the signing of the new Constitution on 27 August, since Mr al-Bashir has been the subject of an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) since March 2009 for crimes against humanity and war

10 killed in Mogadishu airport suicide attack Mogadishu: At least 10 people were killed in a suicide attack at the airport of Somali capital Mogadishu last week, witnesses said.

Witnesses said they saw a bomber drive up to the main gate, protected

by African Union peacekeepers, and then detonate an explosive device in his car when he failed to gain entry.

'Around 10 corpses were lying at the airport gate, including Somali police,' Zakaria Ahmed Salim, who owns a shop by the gate, said.

'The suicide attack was followed by skirmishes between the attackers and peacekeepers.

crimes,” read a statement on the EU Parliament’s website.

“MEPs deplore the positions of the African Union and the Arab League, which are refusing to cooperate with the ICC,” the statement added. “The 31 African countries that have ratified the Rome Statute, including Kenya, are obliged to arrest any person who is wanted by the ICC and to deliver them to the Court or deny the person admission to their territory,” the MPs noted.

Already, ICC has moved to report Kenya to the UN Security Council over President Bashir’s visit so that appropriate steps might be taken.

A statement released

by ICC hours after President al-Bashir made

the surprise visit to Kenya read: “The court informs the Security Council of the United Nations and the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute about Omar Al-Bashir's presence on the territory of the Republic of Kenya, in order for them to take any measure they may deem appropriate."

"The Republic of Kenya has a clear obligation to cooperate with the Court in relation to the enforcement of such warrants of arrest, it added."

Kenyan ambassadors in Europe were also summoned by their host nations to explain why the government did not arrest the Sudanese leader.

The ambassadors were summoned to foreign ministries in a number of European countries.

Zuma to be father again, to take another wife Pretoria: South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma is back in the news for the two things. He seems to give more attention than running state affairs – he is about to be a father, and to take another wife.

According to news reports, Zuma is to become a father for the 22nd time. The mother is his fiancée, Gloria Bongi Ngema.

Ms Ngema is expecting a child early next year.

The pair already has one child and are due to marry in December. This would bring to four the official number of South Africa's First Ladies.

Jacob Zuma

Zulu culture allows Zuma to have as many wives as he wants, and as many partners as he has the energy for. And he has not disappointed.

Barely two weeks ago, Zuma's 21st child was

born to the second of his wives.

Zuma’s amorous exploits are rich fodder for cartoonist and satirists, but it is probably time to ask why men like him (and he is not the only African president who is a serial wife collector), are still enamoured of polygamy at a time when the march of modernity; economic shifts that make polygamy and a houseful of children impractical; and a significant improvement in the status of women should have made polygamy extremely unfashionable.

Ban urges Rwanda not to withdraw UN peacekeepers Kigali: UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has urged Rwanda not to withdraw its peacekeepers from Sudan over a leaked report saying its troops may have committed genocide.

Ban Ki-moon said he was "disappointed" the draft had been released, after he held talks with President Paul Kagame in Kigali in a bid to ease tensions. The report accuses Rwandan soldiers of massacring civilians in the Democratic Republic of Congo in the 1990s.

Rwanda says the document is "malicious" and "ridiculous" and wants it amended.

The UN last week delayed publication of the

document until 1 October, to give countries more time to comment on its contents.

Mr Ban unexpectedly flew to Kigali last week to discuss the threat by Mr Kagame to withdraw Rwanda's 3,500 peacekeeping forces.

Rwanda has 3,300 soldiers and 86 police serving with a joint UN and African Union force, Unamid, in the troubled western Sudanese region of Darfur. It is led by Rwandan Lt Gen Patrick Nyamyumba.

Another 256 troops serve with the UN Mission in Sudan (Unmis), which is supporting the implementation of a peace deal between north and south.

After meeting Mr Kagame in the capital, Mr Ban told reporters: "Both the president and I are disappointed that the draft report has been leaked.

The United Nations is interested in establishing all the facts relating to DRC uncovered by this mapping exercise."

Mr Ban said he had commended Rwanda's support of the whole UN agenda and peacekeeping operations in Sudan, and hoped it would continue.

"I have asked President Kagame to continue with that contribution around the world and in particular when we are going to see a referendum in Sudan in January next year," he added. Foreign Minister

Louise Mushikiwabo declined to say whether Mr Kagame had withdrawn his threat about the peacekeepers, but said the government was happy that Mr Ban had come to listen to their views.

"My government has very simple demands and that is that our concerns and our worries and indeed our revolt concerning the draft report that was leaked to the media a few weeks ago, be heard," she added.

Ms Mushikiwabo earlier described the leaked report on neighbouring DR Congo from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCR) as "fatally flawed" and "incredibly irresponsible".

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Mandela ‘blasted Blair over invasion of Iraq’ Pretoria: Former South African President Nelson Mandela felt so betrayed by Tony Blair's decision to join the invasion of Iraq that he made a furious phone call to a UK minister to protest. Labour MP Peter Hain, whose biography of Mr. Mandela is published on Monday, said Mr Mandela was "breathing fire" down the line.

The former Welsh Secretary said Mr Mandela felt Mr Blair's good work was "blown out of the water" by the war. Mr Hain said the criticisms were made formally, not in a private capacity. He said: "He rang me up when I was a cabinet minister in 2003, after the invasion. "He said: 'A big mistake, Peter, a very big mistake. It is wrong. Why is Tony doing this after all his support for Africa? This will cause huge damage internationally'. I know Nelson Mandela quite well. He was virtually breathing fire down the phone on this and feeling a sense of betrayal” "I had never heard Nelson Mandela so angry and frustrated. "He clearly felt very, very strongly that the decision that the prime minister had taken - and that I as a member of the Cabinet had been party to was fundamentally wrong and he told me it would destroy all the good things that Tony Blair and we, as a government, had done in progressive policy terms across the world. "He was always full of praise for the way our government had trebled the overseas aid and development budget for Africa; he just felt that all of this had been completely blown out of the water by the Iraq invasion.

"I know Nelson Mandela quite well. He was virtually breathing fire down the phone on this and feeling a sense of betrayal. It was quite striking." Mr Hain said he told Mr Mandela that he respected his feelings but that the prime minister "acted out of conviction".

Zimbabwe releases four US Aids workers on bail Harare: Zimbabwe has released on bail four US health workers suspected of running a clinic and dispensing Aids drugs without a licence.

The four, along with two other staff from New Zealand and Zimbabwe, were told by a magistrate to pay $200 (£130) and surrender their passports. They will next appear in court on 27 September. The medical team, which worked from two clinics in Mutoko and Harare, denies the charges. The accused are Gloria Croxwell, 48, Anthony Jones, 39, Gregory Miller, 64, and David Greenberg, 62, all from the US, Andrew Cheyne, 48, from New Zealand and Tembinkosi Ncomanzi, 37, from Zimbabwe. The penalties for the foreign workers could include a fine and deportation. The Christian volunteer health team from California includes a doctor, two nurses and a community worker. They mainly looked after Aids orphans and HIV-positive patients, the US embassy said. A police spokesman told the state-controlled Herald newspaper that the six were arrested "for questioning in connection with practising without a premises licence and dispensing medicines without the supervision of a pharmacist". The group's lawyer Jonathan Samkange criticised the conditions they had been kept in. "This is excessive. They shouldn't have been arrested in the first place. "You don't arrest people who are helping your own brothers who are suffering from Aids."

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28

UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 18th September 2010

This week in CB Live, CB Patel will interview the well known poet and Narasi Mehta Award recipient, Mr Anil Joshi and Folk Music Singer Mr Vinod Patel

Sneh Joshi - 020 8518 5500 You work will be very ARIES Mar 21 - Apr 20 invigorating and rewarding -

If you do not have a tv, go to www.tvunetworks.com and watch CB Live on TVU Player Channel 75203

To ask questions please call on: 020 8963 1001

For more information e-mail: cblive_matv@yahoo.co.uk

Don't miss !!!

Only on CB Live - MATV Sky 793 - Thursday 7:00pm to 8:00pm

Walk for Heart and Stroke On Sunday 26th September 2010 the Northwick Park Institute of Medical Research (NPIMR), is hosting a large sponsored walk in the beautiful Hyde Park.

NPIMR is a registered charity carrying out pioneering and groundbreaking research into the causes of heart and stroke diseases. Their work is largely supported by public donations and grants from Trusts and Foundations Why heart and stroke?

These are the biggest killers in the UK; every five minutes someone in the UK has a stroke and every six minutes someone in the UK dies as a result of heart disease.

The chances are that you know will someone whose life has been turned upside down by these debilitating diseases.

Strong scientific evidence now supports the many benefits to health of

regular walking. Walking is one of the most beneficial and safest forms of exercise and can be undertaken by all ages. So do something amazing – help save lives by signing up with your friends and family, walking and raising lots of money to support this important research.

Professor Shervanthi Homer-Vanniasinkam, a vascular surgeon and the Director of the Institute is all too aware of the huge problem of cardiovascular diseases, says ‘without investment in research, the stark statistics will not change much, so it is really important and all communities and their leaders get behind our Heart and Stroke Research Campaign at NPIMR and support this Walk’.

For more details Visit www.npimr.org or call Jayshree on 0208 869 3284 or email her on j.shah@imperial.ac.uk

Competition Which of these films were produced by Aamir Khan productions?

Coming Events l Dinner and dance by The Lion Clubs of Zone E and F- In aid of Pakistan Flood Relief Friday 17th September, 8pm-till late. Premier banqueting House, 1 Canning Road, Harrow Wealdstone HA3 7TS. Contact: Ali Musani- 07712563254 l Wed 15th Sep, 6:30pm- Punjabi Film 'Tera Mera Ki Rishta Thursday 16th Sep, 6:30pm: Punjabi Film: Heer Ranjha The Nehru Centre, 8 South Audley Street, London W1K 1HF. Contact: 020 7491 3567 l Indian Music Education in Manchester at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, starting on Saturday, 11th September.

During school terms, every Saturday all classes take place at Withington Girls' School, Manchester, M14 6BL. Contact: 07973 306 125 l Jalaram Bhajans on Thursday 16th September and every Thursday Kalaram Jyot Mandir, Repton Avbenue, Sudbury, Wembley, HA0 3DW. 7pm-9:30pm followed by prasad.

Contact C J Rabheru 07958 275 222 l Mehfil at Navnat Centre, Friday the 17th Sept.

2010, from 7 p.m. till late. Dinner will be served from 7.00 p.m. to 8.25 p.m. l Ganesh Visarjan - 19/9/2010 by Shree Jalaram Trust at Southend On Sea 11-00 am.

Satyanarayn Katha Music Singers from India Mr. Bipinbhai Sathia and Varshaben Patil will be performing Bhakti Sangit. Contact Jalaram Jupadi: 020 8569 5710 l Mahavir Foundation is holding a Nav-Graha Poojan and Swami Vatsalya on 19th September Sunday at 10 am at the Kingsbury High School, Stag Lane London NW9 9AA. Contact- Chandrakant Shah 020 8723 1138

a) Taare Zameen Par b) Fanaa c) Ghajini d) 3 idiots

TAURUS Apr 21 - May 21 All close ties of love and affection will benefit from the gentle influence of Venus and the fiesty Mars in your opposite sign. If you are married or have a well-founded relationship, it seems that the pattern of events will somehow draw you closer. Some of you will find this to be a good time to make changes in your careers.

GEMINI May 22 - June 22 Be cautious of overextending yourself. You are consumed with too much work and it can take its toll on your health. This is the the right time to to focus on your health and improve any bad habits.

Make health and healing your focus and it will make you feel confident and better about yourself. Be progressive and change the patterns that have been destructive.

CANCER Jun 22 - Jul 22 If you're currently romantically involved, your lover could well go from strength to strength in the area of passion. The work that you are involved with at this time is likely to demand a great deal of energy and initiative from you. This will also involve a lot of moving around and a need to establish a wider network of contacts.

LEO Jul 23 - Aug 23 Disruptions in your home bring a new outlook with a search for security.

There will be opportunities through partnerships either within a marriage or a business partnership. It is time to team up with others with the same desires and goals. It is time to take your plans to the next level with focus and planning.

You must understand that others have a different perspective on life and beliefs from you. Be careful in what you say lest you upset others. An important area of your life that needs attention is your relationships. You must be aware of your partner’s feelings and needs or you may find yourself alone. Tact and dipomacy will win you through.

VIRGO Aug 24 - Sep 23

LIBRA Sep 24 - Oct 23 Many restrictions have prevented you from moving forward with creative ideas and plans. The secret for your success is to find the right partner to move your projects forward. You have allowed your fears to dominate and control your life, but now the time has come for you to finally move forward. You must address your past to move forward fearlessly..

SCORPIO Oct 24- Nov 22

You will feel energetic and confident as the week begins. Your thinking is inspired, so go with the flow. This may be a time of expansion and improved opportunity and it would be unwise to let yourself become complacent. Affairs of the heart are likely to flourish, so open your heart and you will receive the love you have desired.

Two winners will get a pair of ticket for the Gala Screening of Peepli Live. Please send your reply with your full name, address, email address and phone number to aveditorial@abplgroup.com by Monday 20th September 9am. Make sure you put the subject as 'Peepli Live competition'.

Editor: CB Patel Associate Editor: Rupanjana Dutta Tel: 020 7749 4098 - Email: rupanjana.dutta@abplgroup.com Senior News Editor: Dhiren Katwa Chief Financial Officer: Surendra Patel Tel: 020 7749 4093 - Mobile: 07875 229 220 Email: surendra.patel@abplgroup.com Accounts Executive: Akshay Desai Tel: 020 7749 4087 Email:accounts@abplgroup.com Advertising Managers: Alka Shah Tel: 020 7749 4002 - Mobile: 07944 151 893 Email: alka.shah@abplgroup.com Kishor Parmar Tel: 020 7749 4095 - Mobile: 07875 229 088 Email: kishor.parmar@abplgroup.com Advertising Sales Executive: Rovin John Goerge - Email: rovin.george@abplgroup.com Tel: 020 7749 4097 - Mobile: 07875 229 219 Nikhil Gor - Email: nikhil.gor@abplgroup.com Tel: 020 7749 4009 - Mobile: 07875 229 200 Business Development Managers: Urja Patel - Email: urja.patel@abplgroup.com Liji George Tel: 020 7749 4013 - Email: george@abplgroup.com Design and Layout: Harish Dahya & Ajay Kumar Tel: 020 7749 4086 Email: graphics@abplgroup.com Customer Service: Saroj Patel Tel: 020 7749 4080 - Email: support@abplgroup.com (BPO) AB Publication (India) Pvt. Ltd. 207 Shalibhadra Complex, Opp. Jain Derasar, Nr. Nehru Nagar Circle, Ambawadi, Ahmedabad Tel: +9179 2646 Fax: +9179 6061

you can look forward to a fairly good week. Some of you may find the work load extremely heavy, so try and find ways to relax. You might be thinking of new financial ideas but these may not be agreeable to others - use tact to persuade them. The key for you is to remain calm and collected.

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SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 - Dec 21 The fiery planet Mars and romantic Venus are the moving force in regard to amorous experience, giving more than just a hint that links between lovers will be rather intense and passionate. On a material level the trend greatly favours anything geared towards establishing greater financial stability.

CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan 20

You are feeling the sense of duty and responsibility. This will be a very productive time for you. Travel and learning through a new perspective opens new horizons you never thought possible.

Experiences in life have taught you the great wisdom which will stand you in good stead. Keeping an open mind has immensely changed your outlook.

AQUARIUS Jan 21 - Feb 19

It is a particularly favourable time for dealing with financial interests with a long-term basis, such as investments, insurance and pension schemes, legacies and all jointly held resources. You will be able to sort out any difficulties by taking immediate action.

Be flexible in your approach to accommodate the odd twists and turns of everyday life.

PISCES Feb 20 - Mar 20

This week you will make your best progress by focusing your mental and physical energies on what you want to achieve. The underlying trend seems to be pulling you into a much wider social circle now. This is bound to enrich your life and give you a deeper sense of purpose. It is agood time for improving personal relationships.

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Asian Voice - Saturday 18th September 2010

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Young deer Belgrade native Counterfeit skylit courryards Be aware of Waikiki wiggle ?

Sandra’s “Speed” costar Hawkeye State Colo. neighbor Psychic letters “(Today I Met) The

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4 Solution of - 104: Dirty trick

Solution of sudoku-104 HOW TO PLAY Each row, column and square 3x3 box is a sub-grid of 9 cells. Fill in the grid so that each subgrid contains the digits 1 to 9. Every puzzle has one solution.

E C H R O E N I A B M I E D

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8 2

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An absentminded bank teller switches the rupees and paise when he cashed a check for Mr. Suresh, giving him rupees instead of paise, and paise instead of rupees. After buying a five paise stamp, Mr. Suresh discovered he had left exactly twice as much as his original check. What was the amount of the check?

9

9

45 47 49 50 51 53 55 56 58 59

MINDBENDER-105

Sudoku-105 5

37 39 40 43

Question Pub offerings Hanks role Sheep’s cry Alutian island Little devils Submariners’ harbor Transit-loss allowance Off-the-well lke’s V.P. Site of rites Changed the landuse rules Body of water Owing Limerick necessities Balalnce-sheet item Amtrak’s builet train Henhouse area Wild plum Kodak brand Poker declaration Word after 21A, 39A, 54A, 3D and 35D Winter Games grp.

Solution of Crossword-104

63

44 Rider Revere 45 Cimema-tographer Nykvist 46 Have life 48 Part of SEATO 50 Online bookseller 53 1986 Indy winner Bobby 54 Upstaires 57 Cartoonist Keane 60 Anna of “Nana” 61 Sailor’s saint 62 Florida city

Boy I’m Gonna Marry” singer House Coat Comes to Andre of tennis Pesto herb Skulk about Pinball foul Jim of CBS sports CRP specialist Conference ID Coach Parseghian “Heidi” novelist

29 25 27 28 29 30 33 35 36

Perry’s creator Long scarves Red dye Unlikabel one Printed matter Play part

Down

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46 50

13

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pass

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SPELLATHON - 105

7

3

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Today’s Ratings: 03-average |04-good |05-outstanding

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How many words of four or more letters can you make from the letters shown in today’s puzzle? In making a word, each letter may be used once only. Each word must contain the central letter.

There should be at least one seven-letter word. Plurals, foreign words and proper E names are not allowed. British English I H Dictionary is used as reference.

3

5

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8

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H S L

KAKURO - 105

Solution of KAKURO - 104 20 12

Solution of Spellathon - 104

L

The numbers in the pink squares refer

Example to the sums of the digits that you must fill into the empty spaces directly below or to the right of the pink square containing the number. For instance, in the given example, the 2 boxes below 12 must contain 2 digits that add upto 12, whereas for 20, the 3 boxes places horizontally next to it must add upto 20. No zeroes are used here, only the digits one through nine.

Note: A digit cannot appear more than once in any particular digit combination.

For instance in the example, we cannot have the combination of 8+4+8 for 20.

Option, pint, pinto, point, poor, port, PORTON, potion, print, pronto, proton, trp, troop.

By Dr Anil Mehta

What is Domesday Book?

Put simply, it’s the single most important administrative document in English history. The most comprehensive survey of property, land, and people ever undertaken in Medieval Europe. The great national audit was conceived by King William I (the Conqueror) in 1085 and conducted in 1086.

Having conquered England (1066) William of Normandy (Northern France) wasted no time in getting firm administrative hold on the country and imposing his will on its population. In 1085 he ordered a survey of his kingdom lock, stock, and barrel and by the following year had received its first draft.

The survey’s purpose was twofold. A more secure tax base and firm political and bureaucratic control over people especially barons (wealthy landowners). An increase in tax revenue was desperately needed for William’s expensive wars to pay for, so there was an urgent need to close loopholes and make tax collection more effective.

These requirements prompted William to order a full-scale investigation into the nation’s wealth although this caused great resentments and even riots.

Some seven or eight panels of royal commissioners (each responsible for certain counties) were appointed who travelled up and down the country to carry out a detailed inventory of all the estates of the king and his tenants-in-chief (those who were directly responsible to the king). To ensure their neutrality, the commissioners were chosen to serve areas where they did not themselves hold land. Everything the king needed to know for the purpose of raising money or even army was there : names of the landlords before and after 1066, tenants, workers, size use and price of the land, livestock, houses, churches, rivers, meadows – you name it, were all meticulously recorded.

The information was supplied to the commissioners by sheriffs, barons, their sub-tenants, or by representatives from each town or village.

Every landowner was then called to give evidence before commissioners and a panel of juries.

The survey was completed with astonishing speed. Once the inquest hearings were completed, the results of the survey

were compiled shire by shire in a book formally known as ‘King’s Book’, but popularly as ‘Domesday Book’ or simply ‘Domesday’. The name refers to ‘doomsday’ – so called because if there was any controversy regarding land or property, the Book was referred, and, Like the Day of Judgement, its word was final; there could be no appeal from its verdict.

The Book, written by hand in Latin (it took one year to write), actually comes in two volumes.

Great Domesday contains the final summarised record of all counties except East Anglia, the un-summarised account of which appears in Little Domesday. Almost all English villages and towns are covered but not London and Winchester for which no Domesday records survive.

Domesday is England’s earliest and most potent bureaucratic weapon and a fascinating document of its early social history. The scope and efficiency of the survey and speed of its execution was most remarkable administrative accomplishment of its time (the Middle Ages). It is fundamental for all types of historical inquiries and its importance to geographers, lawyers, linguists, and researchers cannot be denied. It was frequently used in medieval law courts and in its published form (first published in 1783) it is occasionally used even today.

Thanks to Domesday we know much about England than about any part of the 11th century Europe. For example, it shows that there were almost two million people, about 650,000 oxen, and some 6000 water mills (mills worked by waterwheels) in Domesday England. It also shows that most of the land was now possessed by Norman settlers who succeeded the old AngloSaxon land holders – a complete replacement of one ruling class by another ever recorded in English history.

Unfortunately, William did not live to see the completion of the survey which took approximately two years. He died in 1087 before the Book was completed. Currently the original two volumes of Domesday Book are displayed in the National Archives in Kew near London.

30

www.abplgroup.com

Asian Voice - Saturday18th September 2010

Baluchari sari The Baluchari sari is bound to wow you with its intricate patterns and ornamental works. This sari from Bengal is appropriate as bridal wear as well as party wear.

Baluchari sari weaving is derived from the famous muslin of Bengal. The history of Baluchari sari dates back to the 18th century, when this sari was woven by the weavers of a small village named Baluchar in Murshidabad district of Bengal. Before the British occupation of Bengal, the art of Baluchari sari weaving was patronized by the nawabs or rulers of Murshidabad. However, during the British rule this art of Baluchari sari weaving declined. It was in the later half of the 20th century, Baluchari sari weaving was revived by Subho Thakur, a famous artist of India. He invited weavers to reinvent the tradition of Baluchari sari weaving.

The center of modern Baluchari sari weaving shifted from Murshidabad to Bishnupur in Bankura district in West Bengal.

The motifs woven on the famous silk of Bishnupur are influenced by the culture of the region. The intricately designed anchals or pallus depict scenes from Indian mythologies. Baluchari This saree from Bengal is standard five yards in length. Baluchar is a small district in West Bengal where baluchari sarees are woven since ages.

The field of the saree is covered with small butis and a beautiful floral design runs across the edges. Baluchari sarees are famous for their elaborate borders and pallo.

The anchal has amazing and unique design narrative with motifs. Common colors used for baluchari saree are red, purple and neptune blue.

The Baluchari is unique in its design with silk-brocaded narrative figurative motifs, inspired

by Persian style, Hindu mythology with floral lotus buds (kalkas and kunjas) and is woven on traditional draw-boy-loom.

Baluchar Sarees are similar in appearance and in weaving techniques to many Banaras Brocades although they never contain Zari threads, only silk. They have intricate supplementary weft or warp borders and end pieces created in untwisted silk threads of colors that contrast with the ground, with elaborate floral borders. The figures are commonly involved in such activities as smoking a hooka, riding a train,

or smelling a flower, and are often dressed in Mughal style or European cloths, the grounds of these saris are generally dark with purple, dark brown and red being common, while the wide range of colors found in the supplementary threads are always light, such as white, yellow orange of pink.

The Bengali Saris are created on draw looms, which contains a complicated mechanism for weaving multi-warp and multi-weft figured textiles.

Baluchari saris add gravity to a woman's wardrobe. These are handloom made saris with silk base and block prints on it. The fine quality of silk used here adds a luster to it. Being made in the small villages of Bankura and Birbhum districts, the designs on these saris depict the cultural richness of these places. The image of the clay horse for which Bankura is known worldwide is a special feature of the baluchari saris.

Usually the design on the saris is made with threadwork with contrast to color of the base. The body of the sari has blocks or square patterns of horse, or any animal or bird and the pallu is full of these designs.

Nowadays baluchari saris are available in cotton base and kora silk base also.

Women who do not like wearing heavy saris opt wearing baluchari saris as they are light weight and glamorous too. The cloth is very fine and transparent with a soft drape.The sari has large flowing kalka motifs in the centre surrounded by narrow ornamental borders.

Theseare framed by a series of figural motifs worked in rows around the kalkas. These motifs are woven diagonally and are worked in four alternating colours, white, blue, yellow, redand green on a shaded background. The motifs are entirely in silver zari. The most distinctive feature of Baluchari sarees is their

elaborate borders and pallu. The Famous Handloom sarees of India are as follows.

Baluchari is usually five yards in length.

These sarees have colors, which harmonize with one another.

You will not find any contrasting colors in it.

Even if the sari is red, you will find intricate golden work on it, which will give it an elegant and royal look.Mostly nature designs like flowers, shrubs etc. are woven into the silk base of these sarees. Narrative designs such as people on horses, musicians playing, men and women in various poses are also popular Baluchari designs.

Baluchari sarees are rich and sophisticated. They can be worn by young girls, middle-aged women as well as elder women; such is the beauty of the Baluchari.It takes a lot of time and hard labor to weave a Baluchari.

Firstly, the silk worms are reared. When they turn into cocoons, the silk thread is extracted from the cocoon. Then the silk threads are processed and dyed in various colors. Then patterns are woven onto the silk, using various threads. Now when you see a Baluchari in a shop, you will know how much time and labor goes into making a single piece.The history of the Baluchari goes back centuries. During the rule of the Mughals, Baluchari was in high demand. It was mostly reserved for the elite class due to its high quality. Only royal families and members of the royal court used to wear Baluchari.

These are some features of the cluster that have been brought out in light: 1. Around 75 to 150 designs are made per annum.

2. Designers have their own clients, mostly.

3. Out of all designs only 60% get sold off.

4. The designers get cash payment against production of design as well as graph work.

5. Most of the designers produce the design for jacquard woven sarees.

6. Some designers are trained at WSC, NIFT, and Kolkata 7. Maximum designers have hardly seen a design workshop/exhibition/ design samples of different states.

8. Annual income of a designer on an average may be anything between Rs. 28000/- to 40000.

Maria Fernandes Tier 2: The cap bites The effects of the cap are now beginning to bite. Employers who applied to the Managers for allocation of Certificates for Chefs (who are recognised to be in short supply) are being turned down on the basis that priority is being given to those who are applying for extensions with their current employers within a 60 day period. This effectively means that new staff are not being considered nor are staff who want to move within the UK to other employers. This is a restrictive measure which is likely to be regarded as unlawful under employment law provisions as it has the effect of preventing staff from leaving their employment. It is also a signal to new restaurants that they will not be able to bring in staff to enable them to develop their businesses despite the fact that there are acute shortages. There is currently a potential challenge in the higher court on the legality of these latest changes as there is no clear indication of the legal authority for the measures. The higher courts have in recent times criticised the UKBA for introducing guidance which has no clear legal basis and this looks like the next provision to be challenged. At a time when the growth of businesses is critical and creates employment these provisions will have a negative impact.

Employers are asked to contact the author with their experiences of

maria@abplgroup.com

the cap.

Human rights A recent case has succeeded on the basis of a human rights claim under Article 8 where the student could not meet the Immigration Rules. In the case of Pankina, Sedley LJ giving the lead judgment in the Court of Appeal recognised the fact that the Home Secretary must have regard and give effect to applicants' Convention rights. The recent case applying Pankina has stated that it is necessary to look at the wider impact of the guidance.

This will mean in most cases evaluating the extent and quality of their family and private life in the United Kingdom.

It recognised the impact on the applicant where he/she falls marginally or momentarily short of a financial criterion.

It is worth reproducing the comments of LJ Sedley in Pankina: “The Home Office has to exercise some common sense about this if it is not to make decisions which disproportionately deny respect to the private and family lives of graduates who by definition have been settled here for some years and are otherwise eligible….. If the Home Secretary wishes the rules to be black letter law, she needs to achieve this by an established legislative route.

The recent case

accepts that an applicant may fail to qualify under the Rules and yet may have a valid claim by virtue of Article 8 and requires that this must always involve the striking of a fair balance between the rights of the individual and the interests of the community which is inherent in the whole of the Convention. The severity and consequences of the interference must call for careful assessment.

The case makes the point that those who have been “admitted on a course of study at a recognised UK institution for higher education, are likely to build up a relevant connections with the course, the institution, will be aiming for a professional qualification sought, as well as have social ties during the period of study.

Cumulatively this may amount to private life that deserves respect because the person has been admitted for this purpose, the purpose remains unfilled, and discretionary factors such as mis-representation or criminal conduct have not provided grounds for refusal of extension or curtailment of stay.”

Maria Fernandes has been in practice exclusively in immigration for the past 25 years and is accredited in Immigration Law by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Fernandes Vaz is based at 87 Wembley Hill Road Wembley in Wembley and can be contacted by telephone on 020 8733 0123, by email on info@fernandesvaz.com

Erissery (Maya Nair) • Green bananas or plantains (nenthrakkay) cubed • turmeric powder - 1 teaspoon • chili powder - 1 teaspoon • cumin seeds 1/2 teaspoon • mustard seeds 1/4 teaspoon • urad dal - 1/4 teaspoon • coconut, grated - 1/2 cup (may substitute des. coconut) • coconut for garnish - 1 tablespoon • black pepper - 1/4 teaspoon • curry leaves - a few • salt to taste • oil - 1 teaspoon

Soak the cut plantains in warm water mixed with half teaspoon turmeric for ten minutes.

Drain and cook the plantains with the remaining turmeric and salt.

Grind the coconut well with cumin and add to the cooked plantains.

Let

it

simmer.

Meanwhile, heat the oil and pop the mustard seeds.

Add the urad dal and the coconut reserved for garnish and stir till browned. Add this mixture to the erisherry and mix in the curry leaves.

Sport worLd

Asian Voice - Saturday 18th September 2010

Tainted Pakistani trio not cleared in spot fixing charges PCB now says players have to get agents approved Even though the tainted trio of Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir have been allowed to fly back to Pakistan by London Metropolitan Police, it has been reported that they are not cleared of the spot fixing charges they are facing following the expose by the British tabloid ‘The News of the World’.

Government of Pakistan is understood to have given an assurance that the players will be made available if they are needed for any further investigations.

The three have still not

been charged for any offences by Scotland Yard.

The PCB's legal advisor Taffazul Rizvi confirmed that investigations will continue. The players also have to respond to the suspension notices served to them by the ICC for which they have one more week left. That investigation and process is separate to whatever conclusion police officials reach.

Players have to get agents approved For Pakistan cricketers, getting approval of their agents from the Pakistan Cricket Board

has been made compulsory. Failing on this count will render the cricketer ineligible for selection in the national team, PCB has said. Pakistan players will have to complete the process of seeking agent approval by 30th September. This will also apply for players at local levels.

Prior written approval of the PCB is a must for engaging any agent/manager for players.

PCB has also decided that all agents who wish to work with players will have to submit a written application to the board

giving their own background data, names of the players they wish to represent and terms of the contract. PCB will also seek verification of the details provided by the agents, including foreign nationals.

The move comes in the wake of the spot-fixing scandal that broke during the Lord's Test, after the tabloid News of the World released details of a sting operation on Mazhar Majeed, an agent for Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer.

Rising anger and frustration among China's football fans has finally forced the authorities to crackdown on top soccer officials on suspicion of bribery and match fixing.

Recent months has seen several riots on soccer fields and extensively voiced anger among young fans on the issue of match fixing.

The Chinese police have now launched a probe into the activities of Xie Yalong, former Chinese Football Association, Wei Shaohui, a former top official in China's national football team, and Li Dongsheng, a former head of the CFA's referee commission.

These officials are bound to face a difficult trail and stand little chance of escaping the arms of the law now that the ministry of public security has chosen to make public its investiga-

tions. It said on Sunday that the "police and prosecutors have obtained clues after receiving tipoffs" with the help of the General Administration of Sport.

Riots are not uncommon on Chinese football fields. But the level of public anger has risen since China's failure to find a place in the recent World Cup matches.

Chinese participation in the football segment at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing was also marred by poor performance and a sex scandal.

Public anger was evident on August 18 when a riotous mob demonstrated, demanding the resignation of the manager of a local team.

Henan Construction Football Club after it lost 0-2 against the visiting Jiangsu Sainty football club.

An angry woman held

up a match for 30 minutes after she charged into the field to express her protests against the lead referee and linesmen at a match in Dalian last July.

The ministry has also let it be known that the probe is part of a widening gambling and matchfixing investigations. The move follows the arrest of several lower officials and referees in the face of allegations of bribery and match-fixing earlier this year.

Police arrested five officials of the Guangzhou Yiyao football club for alleged match-fixing in November last year.

Allegations that surfaced earlier this year include charges that Chinese players pay large bribes in order to participate in the national team's training camp, and pay high amounts to compete in international matches.

China crack down on soccer match fixing

NZ not confident on security in Delhi New Zealand Olympic Committee President Mike Stanley is reportedly still not confident about security situation in New Delhi and has said they were prepared to take tough decisions if necessary, indicating that pull out of the New Zealand contingent from CWG was still an option.

Chef de mission of New Zealand, Dave Currie was on a visit to the Indian capital recently for a final assessment of the situation. Stanley said security for the athletes was their “number one priority”.

According to a report in The New Zealand Herald last week, Stanley said, “It's a multi-national approach, it's well organised and we are very confident in them” .

Currie said there would be a specific number of Kiwi policemen in Delhi during the Games.

"We don't believe any more police would mean the New Zealand team are any more secure," Currie said.

Warriors beat Victoria in Champions Trophy T20 Davey Jacobs led his team to their second victory in the Champions Trophy T20 on Monday at Port Elizabeth, as Warriors beat favourites Victoria by 28 runs.

Warriors scored 158. Jacobs began with a blitz and ended up scoring a sparkling 59. He followed up with two sensational catches inside the circle, and finished off with perceptive bowling changes to lead Warriors to a 28-run win over pretournament favourite Victoria.

Jacobs charged out of the blocks with 59 off 39 balls and, though his batsmen let him down, his bowlers responded in clinical fashion as Warriors became the first side to register two wins in the Champions League.

Pursuing a middling target of 159, Victoria held all the aces despite the early loss of Rob Quiney.

Warriors had lost the momentum following Jacobs' assault in the Powerplay overs, and Brad Hodge was settling in to put the chase on course. And then Victoria ran into the one-man army for the second time in the match: in the fifth over, Jacobs back-pedalled furiously at

mid-on before leaping up and back to pluck Hodge's mow that was headed to the boundary, reducing Victoria to 20 for 2 after 4.1 overs.

Right through the game, Jacobs sported the mentality of someone who knew he was up against a team with serious T20 pedigree.

Victoria had found an opening into Warriors' castle, and three overs later, they claimed full ownership.

Prince could not compensate for the run-out, succumbing to a clumsy paddle-scoop off McDonald in the 11th; Colin Ingram holed out in the 12th; Justin Kreusch over-balanced in the 13th and Warriors had lost 4 for 35 in 39 balls following the Powerplay.

Mark Boucher and Johan Botha ensured the Warriors innings was not a complete failure and salvaged them to a fighting score. All the same, the dice was still loaded in Victoria's favour and a total of 159 should not have bothered their experienced line-up. However, one Warrior had completely different plans and that made all the difference. {Brief scores: Warriors 158 for 6

(Jacobs 59, Boucher 31, McDonald 2-22, Nannes 1-25, McKay 1-27) beat Victoria 130 for 9 (Hussey 29, Theron 3-22, Ntini 2-33) by 28 runs Results of previous matches from match no. 1 to 5: 1st Match - Lions beat Mumbai Indians by 9 runs at Johannesburg.

Lions 186/5 (20 overs); Mumbai Indians 177/6 (20 overs).

2nd Match - Warriors beat Wayamba by 7 wickets at Port Elizabeth.

Wayamba 153/9 (20 overs); Warriors 156/3 (18.2 overs) 3rd Match - Chennai Super Kings beat Central Districts by 57 runs at Durban.

Chennai Super Kings 151/4 (20 overs); Central Districts 94 (18.1 overs) 4th Match - South Australia beat Lions by 11 runs at Centurion.

South Australia 178/6 (20 overs); Lions 167/8 (20 overs) 5th Match - Royal Challengers Bangalore beat Guyana by 9 wickets at Centurion.

Guyana 103 (20 overs); Royal Challengers Bangalore 106/1 (12.2 overs)

31

Arjun Parmar receives medal at Queens Lawn Tennis Club Arjun B. Parmar, London boy of under 8 years of age won the County Closed Under 8’s Boys Singles Tennis tournament on 27th August.

Arjun is seen receiving his Medal at the Queens Lawn Tennis Club the next day.

Indian authorities taking adequate measures to prevent dengue epidemic in Delhi The High Commission of India, London has issued a press release, giving details of the measures being taken by Indian authorities in Delhi to tackle dengue.

India House came out with the press release after some Commonwealth countries reportedly issued travel advisories on the prevalence of dengue in New Delhi. It is important as New Delhi is to host the Commonwealth Games in less than a month from now.

The High Commission has said that the incidence of dengue in India, until the first week of September this year, has been limited to 7746 laboratory confirmed cases and 25 deaths India-wide. Not only is the laboratory confirmed variant of the dengue virus, circulating in India, causing disease of a milder nature but also the number of cases reported are fewer in comparison to the substantial number of cases reported from other South East Asian countries.

The Government of India has undertaken a series of measures that have had a direct impact on reducing the aegypti mosquito and bringing the situation under control. Commencing September 6, 2010, the health authorities, in Delhi, have launched a massive drive in this regard. Stagnant water pools everywhere would be sprayed with the larvicide, Temephos, to destroy the mosquito larva and attendant source reduction measures would be implemented to eradicate breeding. Ward level task forces are being constituted that would function with the active participation of the local community to ensure the implementation of dengue prevention measures. All public and private buildings would be visited by municipal teams to ensure that all possible breeding places of the aegyptis mosquito like water tanks, flower pots, coolers etc. are comprehensively free of the mosquitoes.

Rashid Latif ruffles PCB feathers, resigns as coach Pakistan cricket team’s former captain and wicketkeeper Rashid Latif has ruffled the feathers of PCB chief Ijaz Butt. After he received a show cause notice from PCB, he resigned as the wicketkeeping coach of Pakistan. His comments against the PCB chief led to the notice. He also made some sweeping comments when he said players in all the countries are involved in spot or match fixings. Latif has been issued a show cause notice for his comments on a TV show on Geo TV, as he is considered a full time employee of the PCB, working as a wicketkeeping coach.

In his appearance on the Geo super channel talk show, Latif had said that had PCB chairman Ijaz Butt been responsible, he would have suspended the tainted trio without waiting for the ICC to do that.

PCB has, in the notice asked Latif to explain how he appeared on the TV show without permission from the board. Latif also criticised the formation of the inquiry committee after the Australian tour and the people selected to sit on it.

EPL games this week Saturday, 18 September Stoke v/s West Ham Britannia Stadium 12:45 Aston Villa v/s Bolton Villa Park 15:00 Blackburn v/s Fulham Ewood Park 15:00 Everton v/s Newcastle Goodison Park 15:00 Tottenham v/s Wolverhampton White Hart Lane15:00 West Brom v/s Birmingham The Hawthorns 15:00 Sunderland v/s Arsenal Stadium of Light 17:30 Sunday, 19 September Man Utd v/s Liverpool Old Trafford 13:30 Wigan v/s Man City D W Stadium 15:00 Chelsea v/s Blackpool Stamford Bridge 16:00

32

Asian Voice - Saturday 18th September 2010

Pakistan’s moral and sporting restoration strewn with obstacles

Sushil Kumar creates history Grappler Strikes Gold at World Wrestling Championship Kumar Sushil celebrates his victory over Alan Gogaev of Russia in their 66 kg men's free style gold medal match at the World Wrestling Championships in Moscow on September 12

Visitors lose both the T20, first two ODIs to England

By Dr. Premen Addy The restoration of Pakistan's good name among international cricketers and the worldwide fraternity of cricket lovers will almost be as daunting, in its way, as putting the country back on its feet after the havoc caused by the floods. There was much sympathy abroad for Pakistan's serial misfortunes, from terrorism, weak government, poor administration and endemic corruption. Such were its dire straits that no nation was willing to undertake a Pakistan tour, the final straw being the terrorist assault on the visiting Sri Lankan in Lahore. That the touring party escaped death and serious injury can be put down to a stroke of luck.

No cricket body was prepared to tempt the fates again; foreign tours became a thing of the past.

However, the parlous situation was no fault of the Pakistani cricketers; they needed a helping hand, so matches involving Pakistan were to be played in neutral venues, either in the Gulf or in England. The best cricketers from Pakistan were marked by unique talent and flair and their exclusion from the international circuit would be a loss to the game of cricket. Hence the English & Welsh

Shahid Afridi dismissed Paul Collingwood at Headingley on Sunday

Cricket Board (ECB), driven by the efforts of its chairman Giles Clarke, arranged that the Pakistani tour to England this summer would include two Test matches and a series of one-day fixtures against Australia as a curtain-raiser to the full complement of Tests, one-day and T20 fixtures with England. Mr Clarke even mooted a World XI tour of Pakistan sometime next year as a defiant gesture to the terrorists and an affirmation of solidarity with Pakistani cricket.

But it all went awry with the spot-fixing scam.

Giles Clarke was humiliat-

ed and that was that.

Now comes news that ICC executives, who will be meeting in Cape Town, South Africa, are expected to ban Pakistan's projected tour of England next year, during which a number of Tests were to be scheduled against India, the regular tourists. It was expected that these would be money-spinners, unlike Pakistan's matches with Australia in the first half of this summer, which ended in financial loss due to poor gates.

The ECB chief executive David Collier, it is believed, will not be offering Pakistan the same

facilities for 2011 as was provided in 2010. For Pakistan the party is over.

Meanwhile, on the cricket field the tourists were thrashed in the two T20 encounters with England, but put up a more convincing show in the one-day games, despite losing both. In the first of these, Pakistan were stranded at 250 for 9 in their 50 overs, in reply to the home side's 274 for 6.

Debutant opener Steven Davis sparkled with 87 glorious runs.

In the second match, Pakistan scored a brisk 294 for 8, to which England replied with 295 for 6, winning it by 6 wickets. Skipper Andrew Strauss struck a robust 126 and Jonathan Trott a fluent 53, before being was run out. England lead 2 nil in a 5-match series. {Brief scores: 2nd ODI - England 295 for 6 (Strauss 126, Trott 53) beat Pakistan 294 for 8 (Kamran 74, Broad 4-81) by 4 wickets. 1st ODI England 274 for 6 (Davies 87, Ajmal 4-58) beat Pakistan 250 (Kamran 53, Anderson 2-35) by 24 runs. 2nd T20 - England 90 for 4 (Collingwood 21) beat Pakistan 89 (Bresnan 3-10) by 6 wickets. 1st T20 - England 129 for 5 (Morgan 38*, Yardy 35*) beat Pakistan 126 for 4 (Umar 35*, Swann 214) by 5 wickets}.

Rohan Bopanna – Qureshi create history at US Open The Indo – Pak pair became the first to reach finals Rohan Bopanna of India and Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi of Pakistan played as men’s doubles pair at the US Open tennis and created history to reach the finals of the tournament.

They are the first IndoPak players to reach that far. In the finals, thought they lost to top seed pair of the USA – Bryan brothers of Bob and Mike.

Meanwhile, Spaniard Rafael Nadal completed his career grand slam on Monday, as he won the US Open title for the first time, beating Novak Djokovic 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2.

The Bryan brothers

Rohan Bopanna (R) of India and Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi (L) of Pakistan hold the runners up trophy in New York on Sept 10

won the doubles title with a 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/4) victory over the “India-Pak Express”.

"This has been the best

match we ever played," Bob Bryan said. "These guys played incredible. We had to step up and match their energy."

Qureshi and Bopanna won their first ATP doubles crown last February at Johannesburg.

Nadal’s grand slam Rafael Nadal is the second youngest player to win the US open title.

Djokovic gave a tough competition to Rafael Nadal but at the end of it he committed 47 unforced errors.

Nadal on the other hand finished the game with eight aces and had 31 unforced errors.

With this victory, Rafael Nadal, became the first player since 1969 to win the French Open Wimbledon and U.S Open in the same year.

Indian sportspersons continue to bring laurels for the country even as the administrators have proven big laggards in the preparations for the Commonwealth Games.

Sushil Kumar won the first ever wrestling gold for the country in World Championships at Moscow on Sunday. The wrestler now aims to repeat his feat at the Delhi CWG. Sushil Kumar also won a

bronze at the Beijing Olympics.

At Moscow, Sushil beat Gogaev Alan of Russia in the final encounter.

Born May 26, 1983, Sushil won the bronze medal in the Men’s 66kg Freestyle Wrestling event at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.Kumar defeated Leonid Spiridonov of Kazakhstan in the repechage round to win the bronze.

Chelsea keen for a football business kick-off in India One of the leading football clubs in UK, Chelsea is looking to setting up a variety of businesses in India to encash the popular brand name that the club has earned for itself among the fans of the game. Chelsea is looking for a strong partnership with one of India’s top corporate houses and has plans to set up soccer schools. The UK club also is looking at setting up a franchise for running cafes and restaurants, selling branded merchandise and mobile content targeted at football fans.

Head of marketting at the Chelsea Football Club, Ben Wells said the club is looking for an Indian corporate house, as they would know the Indian market better.

Chelsea is also in talks with the US-based National Basketball Association (NBA) to jointly set up schools — having facilitates for both football and basketball.

“There is no clash between these two and as NBA is already in India, we are open to talks with them to build the infrastructure” said Wells.

When asked why Indian corporate houses would put their money in football in a cricket-crazy nation, Wells said: “Football is a global game, while cricket is not. So, if you want to address consumers in the US, south

east Asia and Europe you cannot use cricket to reach these audiences.”

Ben feels not too many have read the Indian market and feel it is a cricket market. “The changing demography has ensured there is a large population which is no longer interested in a five-day match but is looking at something of a short duration.

The success of the IPL was an eye-opener. There is no reason why football with 90-minute duration will not be attractive to India.”

Other peers of the club like Manchester United and Arsenal are already in India doing business for some years now. For instance, Manchester United has got three cafes and bars in Mumbai and New Delhi. United inked a five-year deal with Airtel in May 2009, through which its customers get exclusive content — such as video clips of premiership matches and UEFA Champion’s League highlights, downloads of mobile games, ringtones, animations, and wallpapers of popular Manchester United players.

In association with Nike and the All India Football Federation (AIFF), United had also conducted a tournament – the Manchester United Premier Cup – where kids under the age of 15 were called to show their skills.