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Narendra Modi to interact via Google+Hangout

Asian Achievers Awards to be held at Grosvenor Hotel, Park Lane

Finalists for Lifetime Achievement Award announced.

For details see page 4

For report see page 24

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Let noble thoughts come to us from every side First & Foremost Asian Weekly in Europe 1st September to 7th September 2012

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Coal scandal hits Indian parliament BJP blocks Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha demanding Manmohan Singh’s resignation

Indian Parliament remained deadlocked over the last six days as BJP stuck to its demand for resignation of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the coal block allocation issue.

As soon as the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha met for the day, BJP members trooped to the well of House the raising slogans against the Prime Minister. DMK members were also seen protesting against the government for

training Sri Lankan forces at airbases in India.

In the Lok Sabha, the NDA appeared to put up a show of unity with Shiv Sena, JD-U and Akali Dal members raising slogans against the government from their seats. AIADMK members were also seen in the aisle but they could not be heard in the din.

Several Congress members were also on their feet insisting that the House function. Amid vociferous protests, both the Houses

were adjourned.

In the Rajya Sabha, DMK members moved to

‘Lawful’ immigrants made a scapegoat by the Government?

Whenever a country faces economic turmoil, the government eventually blames the 'lawful immigrants', accused of taking the jobs available to citizens/graduates, increasing the population to a staggering thousand. But they fail to understand that much of the economy is surviving because of the help rendered by these lawful new comers. They also choose to ignore that a place or job vacancy is filled in by a legal immigrant, because she/he is competent, not because he is a foreigner or has been prioritised on the basis of that.

Continued on page 8

the aisles carrying banners that read 'Stop Training Sri Lankan Army' the moment Chairman Hamid Ansari called the House to order. BJP members on the other hand shouted slogans demanding resignation of the Prime Minister.

When DMK members started moving towards the Well, Ansari warned them that he "will name them" if they stepped into the Well.

He then adjourned the House.

The opposition BJP has been insisting that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh should quit over a recent report that the country lost $33bn (£20bn) by selling coalfields cheaply.

Mr Singh has rejected the allegation. A report by Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) said the coalfields were allotted without auction from 2005 to 2009. Although the report exonerated Mr Singh, BJP leaders say he must resign as he was heading the coal ministry at the time of the sale.

Continued on page 26

EXCLUSIVE

Indian independence day celebration disrupted by 'Khalistani' extremists The Indian Workers’ Association (IWA) GB has appealed to the government, all secular democratic organisations, religious institutions, political parties and individuals to unite and unequivocally condemn the actions of extremist 'Khalistani' elements that are once again rearing their radicalism in the UK. On Saturday 18th August, an event was organised by the IWA in Coventry at the Ramgharia Community Centre to celebrate India’s Independence Day. The celebration was to hear a message from the President of India conveyed through the Consulate General and to hear in person from Prof. Jagmohan Singh, a prominent writer and direct descendant of Indian renowned martyr Bhagat Singh.

The guests were to gather to assess the achievements and shortcomings of the 65 years of India’s Independence.

They were also planning to celebrate Coventry’s marvellous contribution to the Olympics and the

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VOL 41. ISSUE 18

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historic role of Lady Godiva.

But unfortunately the gathering was attacked by masked thugs, dressed as Sikhs with ceremonial daggers under the pretext of preventing the jubilation.

Their claim was that the social gathering were eating meat and alcohol at the premises of the community centre, which was against their religion and culture.

These self appointed, unrepresentative individuals, 50 plus in number, then added to their demands by pulling down the banner of the IWA, the Indian flag and the Union Jack and physically man handling Continued on page 6

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UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 1st September 2012

one to one Keith Vaz MP with

Simon Reevell, Member of Parliament for Dewsbury Simon’s family come from the West Riding and Simon was born and raised in Yorkshire. His ambition to pursue a career in the military was cut short by injury and so having previously been awarded an Honours degree in Economics, Simon re-trained as a barrister and was called to the bar in 1990.

In 2009, Simon was selected as the Conservative candidate for the seat of Dewsbury and in the early hours of 7th May 2010, Simon was confirmed as Dewsbury’s 3rd Conservative Member of Parliament in 142 years with a majority of 1526 after polling 18,898 votes.

Simon is married to Louise who is also a barrister.

1) What inspired you to stand for Parliament?

I defended a soldier charged with manslaughter who the last government had sent to war without proper training. The lack of training and not the soldier were to blame for the death but they would have seen this man jailed rather than own up to what they had done. I felt that people who would behave like that shouldn’t govern us.

2) What are your proud-

est achievements in politics?

Helping people in my constituency to find a strong voice after they have been taken for granted and ignored for years and bringing the Olympic Torch to Dewsbury for a day on which thousands of people from all communities stood together and cheered together.

3) Please tell us about your current position?

Most of my time is spent on constituency matters.

After the expenses scan-

dal I believe that politicians have to be prepared to roll up their sleeves in order to regain some trust and respect.

In Parliament, I am a mem-

Cameron pressurises Pakistan to bring justice for 'murdered' Britons David Cameron has put pressure on Pakistan to catch killers who murdered British family 'over breakdown of arranged marriage.

Tania Yousaf, 22, and her parents Mohammed, 51, and Parviaz, 49, from Nelson, Lancashire, died in a hail of bullets from three armed gunmen in Gujrat in 2010.

Mother Parviaz Mohammed and Tania They had been in year arranged Pakistan for the wedding seen since. marriage between one of of one son but died The mystery deepened Mr and Mrs Yousaf's three because of a bitter dispute in April this year when sons, Kamar, and his over the pending divorce Tania’s grandmother, cousin Nabeela. of another, police say.

Fukraz Begum, was beatDays later, Nabeela's However, nobody has en to death in Gujrat in mother, Rahmat Bibi, and ever been brought to juswhat police believe was a two brothers, Shiraz and tice since two of the susconnected attack.

Naveed Arif, were arrestpected killers were arrestNow the Prime ed in connection with the ed - with their mother Minister has demanded crime. but went on the run when answers from the But the brothers, they were granted bail.

Pakistani government believed to have been Police believe the slayafter two years without among the gunmen, fled as ings were retribution for any further developments, soon as they were granted the breakdown of a 10a daily mail report said. bail. They have not been

Shopkeepers revealed as hardest workers A generation after Open All Hours first appeared on television screens last week, that reveals that the humble shopkeepers are Britain’s hardest worker.

Convenience Stores has found that most independent shopkeepers work more than 50 hours a week, with just 7 per cent working fewer than 30 hours.

Just over half of shopkeepers take fewer than ten days off a year, while one in five takes no holiday at all.

James Lowman, chief executive of the association, said: “Some of our members are in store at four or five in the morning to receive the newspapers and are still there late at night closing up every day of the week.”

Convenience store owners are concerned that the possible liberalisation of Sunday trading laws, which were loosened for the Olympic Games and Paralympics, will erode their advantage over superstores.

Asian Voice will publish a story with comments from independent shop owners in the forthcoming issues.

biggest obstacle in your career?

I have been really lucky.

I have only ever applied for one parliamentary seat – Dewsbury – and I have only ever fought one election - 2010 – and now I am an MP!

The really unorganised manner in which much of Parliament’s business is ‘organised’ and the way in which votes are ‘whipped’ so that the points made during the various debates become largely irrelevant.

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

No single person. Many have offered help and advice – some of it good – but I have tried to rely on my own instincts so that when I come to look back on this time I will feel that I was true to myself.

8) What are your long term goals?

Happy as I am, thank you!

ber of the Scottish Select Committee and take a special interest in Defence and Justice matters.

6) What is the best thing about your current role? In Parliament it is being able to provide ideas and suggestions that influence policy and legislation. In Dewsbury it is being able to solve problems quickly. Most organisations appear to offer mediocre customer care and an MPs’ hotline. Being able to resolve quickly a problem that has been weighing down a constituent for months and sometimes years is very rewarding.

4) What has been the

7) And the worst?

9) If you were Secretary General of the United Nations, what one thing would you change?

Thankfully the Secretary General does not have that sort of power. The sovereignty of individual nations, such as ours, is important to me. I would not want a sort of world president figure.

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

Wellington and Churchill to discuss leadership in battle during war and Shakespeare to ask him if he did do it all by himself and to recite some of his work! There are many, many more, how large is the island?

Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar to host second ‘Anand Mela’ After the grand success of ‘Anand Mela’ organised to commemorate 40 years of community service through our publications Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar, we are organising a special Mela to celebrate the most important events on our Hindu calendars viz. Navratri and Diwali.

Navratri is a festival dedicated to the worship of a Hindu deity Shakti.

During these nine nights and ten days, nine forms of Shakti/Devi are worshiped. The 10th day is commonly referred to as Vijayadashami or Dussehra.

Diwali or Deepavali is popularly known as the “festival of lights.” It is a festival principally to celebrate the triumph of goodness over darkness/evil.

This forthcoming mela like the one in June promises to display the diverse colours of South Asian Culture especially Gujarat by bringing people together in a festival atmosphere where everyone can enjoy food, music, dance and shopping for Diwali gifts for your loved ones.

The mela will include stalls from food & drink, education and entertainment, Health & Medical, Travel & Tourism, Property & Investment,

geted audiences, the mela is committed to deliver business contacts that create value for every stall participants.

Normally visitors are proactive rather than passive recipients of sales and marDancers entertaining the audience keting mesBanking & Finance, sages. This Mela can help Fashion & Wedding and you reach a large propormany more. Visitors will tion of the market in a have the opportunity to short space of time across fun and shopping along a broad section of conwith entertainment, sumers.

Outing with families and The event will be held meet the near and dear from 10am to 8pm in at one. The event will Harrow Leisure Centre, attract over 5000 visitors Christchurch Avenue, over 2 days period as it Harrow HA3 5BD on will provide from tradi29th & 30th September tional dances to the mod2012 which has good ern dances and classical access, free ample parkmusic to trendy music. ing facilities for the For exhibitors its a potential visitor’s. The great opportunity to event will be covered in engage with tightly the press before and after focused and carefully tarthe event.

Audience enjoying the mela

Asian Voice - Saturday 1st September 2012

COMMENT

Space legend Neil Armstrong the real hero In 1957, Russia surprised the world by sending Yuri Gagarin into space. It was the cold war time and America was shocked because they were supposed to send the first man to space, but Soviet Union had taken march over their arch rival. The then president John F Kennedy announced that an American would be the first man to moon. To the credit of America, on 21st July 1969 Neil Armstrong, an American was the first man to land on moon. It was a big leap in the history of mankind. It broke many a myths, beliefs and assumptions. Armstrong, the American astronaut who became a global icon as the first man to walk on the moon, died recently aged 82, but he has opened a vast space for the human being to explore. As commander of Apollo 11, he earned a place in the pantheon of American heroes when he stepped onto the lunar surface and uttered one of the most quoted lines of the 20th century: “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”

Buzz Aldrin, his colleague, called Armstrong the best pilot he knew, a plausible description of a man who survived 78 combat missions over Korea and personally landed the two of them in the Sea of Tranquillity with less than a minute’s rocket fuel left for the descent. But of all the tributes offered to the commander of the Apollo 11 mission, the most sobering came from Julia Gillard, the Australian Prime Minister. His death, she said, “marks the end of an amazing era in human progress”.

By chance it was in Australia that he gave his last interview, nostalgic for the Nasa that inspired a generation of rocket scientists with the decade of frenzied

endeavour that began with President Kennedy’s epochal challenge, in the spring of 1961, to fly to the Moon and back.

We have to keep it in mind that when Armstrong and his colleague landed on moon the computers and the telescopes were much in use. It was the human inquisition which achieved new discoveries to fulfill the inquisitive mind. The ancient Indians who discovered zero and had vast knowledge about space science were much ahead in the scientific field. Many Indians are working in the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) which is behind the historic achievements in the outer space. Now that America has sent a space probe into Mars to study the conditions there. India is also planning to send a spaceship to Mars next year. There was much criticism in India that the country should not waste money on Mars experiments and the money should be utilized on productive purposes. But India should not be discouraged by such criticism. India has talent, skills and a will to explore space but lack in funds, but funds should not obstruct their path to space.

The U.S. and the Soviet Union in those Cold War days were in hot pursuit about the space exploration.

The Earth has moved full circle - thankfully. Today, with old adversaries cooperating in this sphere and astronauts from so many countries have joined the various endeavours, if not to conquer the space, atleast to explore in the spirit of cooperation and co-existance.

In a very subtle way, that one small step has become a great stride and why not?

Coal scam stalls Indian parliament The coal scam has stalled the working of Indian parliament for over a week now. The Comptroller and Auditor General has once again revealed the rampant corruption in the allocation of coal fields to private parties for mining without any competitive bidding.

According to his report India has suffered billions of revenue in the allocation of coal fields. The allocation took place when prime minister Manmohan Singh was handling the coal department. The BJP, the main opposition in the country, wanted the prime minister to resign and terminate the licenses given to the parties.

It was again the CAG which brought to light the 2-G scam and Adarsh housing society scam. It emphasizes the need for the CAG to remain ever vigilant. Once the scams were brought to light the government will order an inquiry and a court case may be slapped but no concrete step has been taken to stem the rote and the perpetrators of the crime are roaming without any fear or hindrance. BJP wanted concrete action and not merely an inquiry commission. So BJP is not willing to settle anything less than the resignation of Mr Singh and the termination of the contracts. It will be good for the country if the ruling party and the opposition find a solution for the issue.

Assam and the North East States of India are seething with various problems and the plight of the Bodo tribals in Assam especially, mainly Christians or Pagan and the encroachment from the Bangladeshi Muslims has created a very delicate and dangerous situation. The Bodos claim that the Muslim “refugees” are depriving them of their livelihood and are very aggressive. The government of India and the ruling party in Assam ie. Congress are blamed for the situation. In the votebank Politics, the ruling party is not

willing to take any appropriate action against the refugees.

Many fear that if this situation continues, over a period of time, Assam also will face the demand for a separation from India with unprecedented problems, not unlike the 1947 partition itself. The fears are on both sides. Many thousands of workers from Bangalore, Poona and other cities rushed back to their homelands. The rumours are supposed to be fed via Internet through Pakistan and across the border.

Fortunately, the situation is a little calmer at the moment.

The Indian government wanted to curtail the freedom of the Internet which is neither practical nor desirable. China has been trying its utmost and still is unable to stop the communication skills of the modern age including facebook, youtube etc.

Meanwhile, there is a move in some quarters of the government to introduce reservation in the promotion of officers. This will be a retrograde step. The reservation was first introduced for a limited period for the backward class people so that they can get employment in the government service. Because of the vote bank politics no political party is willing to discontinue the quota system now. Since the general election is approaching the ruling party may be thinking that by reserving a quota even in promotion among the officers they can garner the votes of the scheduled caste and scheduled tribes and the minorities. Even the courts in India have also made several rulings against such reservation and the government should desist from going ahead with the idea which would demoralize the honest officers in the government. It is also against the spirit of the constitution.

Don’t make Immigrants the whipping boys Immigrants are the whipping boys of UK. They are blamed for the failure of the government on economic, employment or on sociological front. It has become a routine thing for the ruling party to blame the immigrants for any policy failure. Margaret Thatcher blamed the immigrants for the ills of the country. Now the new immigration minister Damian Green blamed the Labour party for the flow of immigrants into UK. The latest provocation for the minister to lash out at the immigrants was an incident in which the UK Border Agency audit found a number of failings at London Metropolitan University. The university was stripped of its right to educate foreign students. The university was found to be allowing students to take lessons without valid visas and failing to report that some who had been granted visas, failed to enroll or attend courses. No doubt there will always be some black sheep in any field.

Many of the prestigious universities in the country are depending on the foreign students for their survival. From the local students they cannot charge hefty fees. So the foreign students are the milch cows for them. Even the government policy is to be blamed for fake universities. Why was there no check on such institutions and what about the fate of the students who paid through their nose to study in such colleges.

All countries need immigrants for its progress for they may either bring capital, technology or man power for the host country. When the locals are not willing to do certain low paying jobs, the immigrants will be ready to do anything for a survival. So for the progress of the country immigrants are also needed especially in the Western world.

Meanwhile, Home Secretary Theresa May launched a drive to stop abuse of the UK’s marriage laws which have allowed migrants to stay here.

www.abplgroup.com

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Thought for the Week Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.

Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves: 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?'

Actually, who are you not to be?

- Nelson Mandela

Sarah Teather MP Liberal Democrat MP for Brent Central and Minister of State for Children and Families

Taking the next step Many GCSE and A-level students around the country will have received their exam results in the last few weeks. I remember the sense of nervous expectation, but at the same time excitement, that came with having to wait for my results to arrive.

With that in mind, it is important to take the time to congratulate students for their hard work.

For many students, the hard earned results they received last month will have put them on course to continue to Alevels, university or an apprenticeship. Others will now be entering the job market for the first time. For many young people, this will be an exciting period full of new experiences.

However, for others it can be a stressful and uncertain time.

For many years, governments of all parties have struggled to put the right support in place to help young people at the difficult points of transition that come after GCSEs and A-levels. The job market today is more competitive than it has been in decades and those students fresh from school or university, who have little work experience, are finding it hard to gain employment.

This is why this government is doing more to help guide young people successfully into the adult world. The first step is making sure that young people have the information, advice and guidance that they need to make good choices about their future.

Schools have been given back the responsibility for careers services where everyone can access good advice in a learning environment they feel comfortable in.

The government is

also giving tens of thousands more young people the opportunity to get a place as an apprentice.

We are re-focusing money from other areas such as the education maintenance allowance on the most disadvantaged young people.

Finally, getting good GCSE and A-level results does not happen overnight. It comes from hard work and access to good education from early on in a child’s life.

For too long, a child’s start in life has been the deciding factor in how well they do at school and gaps begin to emerge early in a child’s life.

Poor seven-year olds are twice as likely to fall short in reading and writing than those from wealthier backgrounds and this gap doesn’t close as children progress through school.

The Liberal Democrats in Government have ensured that, through the Pupil Premium, schools have access to extra funding to support disadvantaged pupils. By the end of this Parliament, the Pupil Premium will be worth £2.5bn a year.

We are also making sure that more children than ever before have the chance of receiving early years education. In September 2010, all three and four-year olds became entitled to 15 hours a week of free early education. This time next year, this free entitlement will be extended to the 20% most disadvantaged two-year olds and in September 2014, this will double to the poorest 40%.

I hope that all students who have received results in the last few weeks will be looking forward to taking the next step and wish them all the very best for their futures.

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

Asian Achievers Awards

4

Asian Voice - Saturday 1st September 2012

The 'People's Awards' to be held on 14 September 2012, at Grosvenor Hotel, Park Lane he crème de la crème of the Asian Community will be gathering under one roof this September for the much anticipated Asian Achievers Awards 2012.

The Awards – often referred to as the 'People's Awards' will be taking place on 14th September at the prestigious Grosvenor House Hotel in Park Lane.

Icon of Indian Cinema and silver screen veteran, Hema Malini will also be attending as Special Guest along with some other celebrities of similar stature.

Previous special guests include Rt Hon Dr Vince Cable, Shriti Vadera, Tony Blair, Jack Straw, Sebastian Coe, David Blunkett to name a few.

A salute to those individuals singularly responsible for bringing the Asian community to the centre stage of British life, the evening will be a celebration of the exceptional and inspirational achievements made by them.

Hosted by Asian Business Publications Ltd (ABPL), the annual event is now into its 12th year and promises to be more exquisite than ever before as this year marks the 40th anniversary of our newspaper. The highly-esteemed award ceremony will showcase some world-class acts, present an opulent dinner and host a charity auction in aid of the Sarvam Trust, an NGO that assists the integral development of rural India, including education for children.

An independent panel of high profile judges have shortlisted nominees down to the finest in the community, and the winner in each of the nine categories will be announced at the event. Sitting on the panel this year is former England Cricketer Sir Ian Botham; former India Cricketer Sunil Gavaskar; former Daily Mirror Editor Richard Wallace; the first Gujarati to represent the Conservative Party in the House of Lords Lord Popat; Cross Bench member of the House of Lords Baroness Prashar; and former diver and one of the youngest participants in the 1948 Olympics Peter Elliot.

Further to the categories mentioned last week, the following are the shortlisted candidates for the final three categories, amongst which the winners will be picked at the Awards.

n Judge Mota Singh was Britain's first Judge from the sub-continent named for the country's topmost honour.

He first appeared in a British court in 1967 as a turban-wearing barrister. He is a longstanding senior member of the Bebe Nanaki Charitable Trust Board.

T

n Lord Noon founded Noon Products in 1989, now part of WT Foods Group which he is an Executive Director. He was awarded an MBE for services in 1994 and knighted in 2002.

Ken Popat, Director of Finance House and Rt Hon Virendra n Sir Anwar Pervez estabSharma with Prof Bhupendra Jasani, winner of the Professional of the Year category lished his first convenience

2008. Before this, she was Senior Counsel and Company Secretary of the ICC. She has a wealth of experience in sports volunteering.

n Shahnaz Husain, the pioneer and leader of herbal care in India, has achieved unprecedented international acclaim for her practical application of Ayurveda. She introduced a new concept of “care and cure” and formulated her own Ayurvedic products. Today, Shahnaz heads a chain of over 400 franchise salons worldwide. n

Mishal Husain presents BBC1's 'News at Ten' on Sunday evenings and is a familiar face to viewers around the world as a key presented on 'BBC World New' where she is the host of the flagship 'Impact Asia”.

1) AAA Gold Award for Woman of the Year:

n Sonal Minocha is Dean at University of Bedfordshire Business School.

Previous to this, she was Associate Dean at the Faculty of Business and Law at the University of Sunderland, where she was responsible for international development. She has also worked at Anglia Ruskin University and Raffles University.

n

2) AAA Platinum Award for Life Time Achievement:

Urvasi Naidoo is the CEO of the International Federation of Netball, since

many people. Everyone is coming together. I’ve had seven big heart operations and for the first one, surgeons from Glenfield treated me just after I was born and saved my life.”

Georgina Paulson, 35, of Birstall, also felt strongly about the protest.

She said: “I’m due to give birth to a boy in two weeks and we know he’s

n

Nadir Lalani arrived in the UK in 1970s and started a corner shop. He expanded his successful budget retail business, 99p stores, throughout the country. Lalani now operates more than 100 stores in Britain and serves around 1.5 million customers each week.

3) AAA Gold Award for Professional of the Year:

n

Abhishek Sachdev read Economics at Grey College, University of Durham.

Achieving a First Class Honours, he went on to join Lloyds TSB. He then founded Vedanta Hedging LTD, which became the UK's first independent Risk Management firm that is fully authorised by bot the Financial Services Authority and the Ministry of Justice.

n

Rajay Naik is Director of

Leicester/Midlands news

Protest led by Ria, 14, over Glenfield Hospital heart unit If it was not for the children’s heart unit at Glenfield Hospital in Leicester, Ria may not be here today. Which is why Ria so vehemently opposed new government plans to move the children’s unit to Birmingham, which she believes will leave other children like her to die.

On Monday 27th August, Ria led a march of over 70 people along Melton Road in Syston, showing support for the children’s unit, by wearing T-shirts and holding placards.

A petition was also organised for shoppers in the town centre to sign.

Ria said: “It’s an amazing experience for me and great to see so

store in London’s Earls Court in 1963 and opened Bestway’s first wholesale warehouse in Acton, West London in 1976. As of 2010, Bestway Cash & Carry is the largest independent wholesale group and 2nd largest wholesaler with 61 Warehouses spread all over the UK. In 1992, Sir Anwar was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) and a Knight Bachelor in 1999 for services to business and charity.

got heart problems. He’s going to need treatment at Glenfield. It would be a huge problem for me if the unit was in Birmingham.

“I found out about the protest on Facebook. I think Ria’s remarkable.

She’s been through a lot and she’s such an educated and well-balanced young lady.”

Bollywood actress Hema Malini to attend Government and External Affairs at The Open University. At BIG he is Chairman of UK Programs. In 2009, he was appointed by Lord Mandelson and David Willetts as one of six panel members on the cross-party Independent Review of Higher Education Funding and Student Finance.

n Professor Sunil Shah independently developed the laser eye surgery technique now called LASEK and was the first person to use it in Britain, continuing to pioneer this technique. He has published over 50 peer-reviewed publications. n

Dr Minaxi Sharad Desai, CBE, is currently a Consultant Cytopathologist and is the Clinical Head of the Manchester Cytology Centre and the Director of the Northwest Cytology Training Centre.

n Prof. Alimuddin Zumla is a Zambian professor of infectious diseases and international health at University College London Medical School. He specialises in infectious and tropical diseases, clincal immunology, and internal medicine, with a special interest in HIV/AIDS. n Other categories include: AAA Platinum Award for Sports Personality of the Year, AAA Gold Award for Achievement in Media, Art and Culture, AAA Gold Award for Achievement in Community Service, AAA Platinum Award for Business Person of the Year, AAA Gold Award for Young Entrepreneur and AAA Gold Award for Uniformed Civil Service.

This is the last set of the shortlisted nominees. For more information on the event or for previous articles on the categories, or for booking a table, visit the website at http://aaa.abplgroup.com/contact-us or contact us on +44 (0) 20 7749 4085

Strong ears and strong teeth attract crowd Manjit Singh, noted Ironman and his apprentice, Asha Rani, stole the show at a family-orientated charity day that raised thousands of pounds for worldwide causes.

The annual Oadby and Wigston Charity Show attracted around 2000 visitors on Monday, but it was the ironman that thrilled people the most, when he pulled a fire engine with his ear.

To shock crowds even more, Asha Rani, known as the Iron Lady of India, then dragged the same vehicle with her hair and then her teeth.

The duo then embarked on a daring show of a strength when a concrete block was placed over Asha’s head and

Manjit smashed it with a sledgehammer.

The proceeds from the show, will be divided between Age UK and Menphys, which supports children and young people with disabilities.

Two men forced to sell their cars to pay for confiscation orders Mark Sutherland, 31 from Aldridge and Perminder Rheel, 31 from Handsworth have been ordered to sell the only assets that they have, after benefiting from £25,000 from their crime.

The two men were taken to court after police caught them in a van with a large number of cannabis plants inside.

Police were called to the scene after someone raised alarm of some disturbance.

Both were jailed in April for possession of cannabis but hearing was adjourned under the Proceeds of Crime Act. A recent hearing has now ordered them to pay the sums within six months or spend 16 extra days in jail.

Asian Voice - Saturday 1st September 2012

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UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 1st September 2012

Former British minister’s daughter take up life of simplicity The daughter of former British minister Jonathan Aitken has swapped her life of parties for a simple life as a devout Sikh in Punjab, a report has revealed.

Alexandra Aitken's new look - a spear clutched in one hand, a bag of bananas in the other, a dagger slung over her white tunic and iPod headphones tucked beneath a white and purple turban - is a far cry from the designer dresses she favoured in her days as an 'It' girl around London, the Mail Online reported.

32-year-old Alexandra, took her family, including twin Victoria, by surprise when she announced in January last year that she was marrying a Sikh war-

Inderjot Singh in 2009 when she was practising yoga at the Golden Temple in Amritsar before meeting him on a second visit. Their wedding was arranged with such haste that her parents were unable to attend.

On her website, Alexandra says she lives with Nihang Sikhs, the sect to which her h u s b a n d (Inderjot Singh) Alexandra with Inderjot belongs, but is staying at an rior. She also changed her ashram run by a sect of name to Uttrang Kaur yoga Sikhs in the village of Khalsa.

Bani in Punjab.

She had first spotted

Indian independence day celebration disrupted by 'Khalistani' extremists Continued from page 1 the 10 or so organisers including 3 women and 3 senior citizens present and elected municipal representatives from both the Labour and Conservative parties.

The attack continued unabated for nearly two hours. They kept on intimidating the IWA supports to leave the hall by threatening that if anybody was injured it would not be their responsibility. The main reason for the attack was revealed when they started shouting slogans of Khalistan – 'demanding' an independent state for Sikhs back in India and it was revealed that they were using the opportunity to assert their demands regarding a separate 'Khalistan' state in that function.

While this drama unfolded inside the community centre, the role of the police was similar to the apathy shown during the disturbances in London last year. The three officers that did eventually arrive almost an hour later simply stood in the doorway while the masked thugs continued to provoke, intimidate, bully and manhandle people legitimately organised inside. The inability of the Police to act, even with subsequent reinforcement is puzzling and questionable. The fact that the organisers of a peaceful celebration were forced to vacate the premises and abandon the event while masked thugs were protected and allowed to occupy the centre surely is unjust and cannot be acceptable in any civil society.

When the hundreds of people, who would have attended the celebration, were denied entry to the venue gathered outside, they expressed their out-

Bhagat Singh

rage at this unprovoked attack.

In a direct response to the ongoing provocative action for incitement by the extremist Khalistani thugs, to which the police remained oblivious, pro-Indian slogans against separatism were raised by the patriotic members of the IWA. No attempt of arrests were made except the leader of this attacking group that created havoc, who already had a criminal conviction for 18 months and been to a prison, and was later released on bail.

The people trapped in the building included Councillor Ram Lakha (Ex-Lord Mayor of Coventry), Councillor Kevin Foster ( Leader of Conservative Party in Coventry City Council), Mr Davinder Prasad, General Secretary, BOPA (British Organisation for People of Asian Origin), Pandit Ravi Bhushan (Hindu Temples UK), Mr Terlochan Singh (Sikh Sports Union, Coventry), Mr Raj Malhotra (Indian Workers Association) to name a few.

Harsev Bains, General Secretary, Central Executive Committee, IAW (GB) told Asian Voice, "It was such an auspicious occasion. It was 100 years of the Ghadar party and it was nephew of Shri Bhagat Singh

speaking at that event.

These misguided men completely rampaged our efforts. I was present, and I was probably the youngest (56years) of all in that group of people trapped inside. It was really distressful and it's a pity that the police did not do anything except letting those thugs stay in.

They cannot dampen our spirit. We will organise this celebration soon again, though unfortunately cannot have Prof Singh amongst us this time!"

Cllr Ram Lakha told Asian Voice, "I was one of the main organisers of this celebration, and I asked the thugs if they wished to share our meal, or join usthey were most welcome to. There was no meat or alcohol served. But they did not listen to any of the appeals.

The thugs destroyed all our efforts and threatened us. We finally had to leave our own celebration, which we had planned for so long and looking forward to enjoying. It was such a shame!"

Communities across Britain are urged by IAW to become aware and unite to oppose this menace of anti social behaviour that will otherwise do untold damage to the credibility, integrity and reputation of hard working, law abiding, Indian citizens living in Britain.

The IWA (GB) has been a community based representative body of Indian Workers in Britain since 1938. They are proud of their association with India and its people as well as their home here in Britain. They regularly campaign for racial and social equality and against all forms of discrimination and champion the rights of the working people in Britain.

Kapil’s

Follow me on Twitter: @kdudakia

KHICHADI

by Kapil Dudakia - email: kapil@abplgroup.com

The Abuse of Fasting Fasting has long been used by many social reformers as a tool to bring together the masses. Used correctly, and by the right person/s, it can make a significant impact in galvanising a social idea into a practical reality. It forces an issue to the top of the national agenda.

I am however disturbed with how this noble tradition is increasingly being abused by people who should know better. This week’s Kapil’s Khichadi will certainly upset a lot of people – and I say to them, rightly so.

I am a great admirer and supporter of Shri Kisan Baburao Hazare, aka Anna Hazare who has brought the issue of government and corporate corruption to a head. In so doing, in the early stages of the campaign, he legitimately went on a fast to raise the issue and bring society together. That was a tremendous effort and I am sure we all applaud Anna ji for the ‘Gandhian’ like social action he had embarked on.

Alongside Anna ji we also have Swami Ramdev ji who also embarked on a similar fast to challenge the rampant corruption in Government, and in society. His fast ended in shambles when within a short period of time, the ‘yoga’ master was unable to control his body which appeared to be failing. This damaged him immensely at the time.

This pantomime of both Anna ji and Swami ji of constantly threatening to fast to death has now reached a pinnacle of laughter. Their credibility with the masses that make up greater Bharat has also diminished. They have in effect denigrated fasting to a laughing matter since everyone now knows they will not take it to the Nth degree. I say to both these camps – please grow up and have some respect for the act of fasting to bring about social reform. If you are serious, then take it to its natural end and make the point in a manner that history can record for evermore.

Otherwise please stop this utter nonsense that has now been seen by the people as a contemptible act designed to mislead the masses. In some people’s opinion it's not too different to the politicians who so often mislead by being economical with the truth.

Swami ji has also threatened to disclose the details of those in power that have offshore accounts. I was told by an insider that they have dossiers of this evidence, yet after more than 12 months of shouting and screaming, not one piece of evidence showing verifiable

details of any leading politician with an offshore account has come to light. So I say to Swami ji, when do you propose to come true and show us the evidence?

Since if the evidence is 'pukka', you have the means to sort out a major element of this corruption in one single stroke.

By making constant threats and not delivering you are now in serious danger where you will begin to lose the confidence and support of the masses.

Please do not be enticed by your loyal supporters who no doubt will continue to fill up ‘Jantar Mantar’ or ‘Ram Leela Maidan’ at your beck and call. You have to take the whole country with you to affect massive social change, and that is an entirely different matter.

Team Anna recently announced that they will come into the political arena and put their case to the people of Bharat. I say to them, go for it. If you have the belief that your platform for social reform is correct, and you believe that the masses are with you – then surely you must put that to the test via the electoral system. In my view when it comes to the crunch, the voting public will fall behind their party of choice of yesteryears. And whilst Team Anna will make an impact, it will not be anywhere close to making a major political statement, let alone taking power in Delhi.

So what should Team Anna and Swami ji do? They might need to find intelligent ways in which to influence the sitting Government or, they will need to find an opposition party with whom they can work constructively. I don’t see them doing enough to secure either of these objectives. In fact as I write this column it seems Team Anna has now embarked in alienating itself from the BJP also, a policy that is likely to bring about splits in their own ranks. This is now a dangerous time for both these camps. They have stirred the masses, they have brought the issue of corruption to the forefront and they have the moral and ethical right on their side. I fear that with so much gained in such a short time, that both these camps are increasingly looking short of strategic ideas to take their campaigns forward without destroying what they have achieved thus far.

We are all very supportive.

However, what these two camps do next will determine whether such support continues. And I urge them, stop abusing the threat of a ‘fast’, it has now become a broken record.

UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 1st September 2012

In Paralympic spirit, as Arun Patel becomes 1 of 8 torchbearers The founder of a children's polio charity, has been chosen, as one of eight Paralympic torchbearers to represent England in the upcoming relay.

Arun Patel, 59, born in Uganda but residing in Stratford, contracted polio at the age of 11 and developed post-polio symptoms in his right leg later on in life.

He said “I'm ecstatic. I never expected it, especially since I’m carrying the national flame now. To be part of the Paralympic movement in this way – I did not expect it in my wildest dreams.”

A chartered accountant and father-of-two, Patel set up the charity Polio Children in 2003 and has managed to raise more than £1 million, which has helped thousands of children worldwide.

The charity supports children in India and Africa with polio and also has their own scholarship programme to send children to university.

The torch relay event will be held on 29 August 2012 and promises to be a fantastic and fun-filled day in London. Patel will be

carrying one of four national flames representing Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England which will be combined to create the Paralympic flame.

He said: “I think having polio has spurred me on to do things I would not have done otherwise like the charity work. I thought of this charity after being inspired from a story in Asian Voice published in 2002, on poor Polio children from Ahmedabad. I feel deeply honoured and humbled, I cannot believe it, they must be out of their senses to select me. It means that someone who actually cares about disability is recognised and that my organisation is recognised.

He continues: “I no longer feel ashamed of my disability. It's an honour to be part of something which is helping reinforce the message.

Freddy Patel struck off the medical register Freddy Patel, the pathologist who wrongly said Ian Tomlinson had died as a result of heart disease, has been finally struck off the medical register over a catalogue of errors dating back more than a decade.

A tribunal of the General Medical Council (GMC) said that it had no option but to erase Patel from the register after findings earlier last week of dishonesty, as well as incompetence.

Patel, who qualified at the University of Zambia in 1974 and has practised as a pathologist for 35 years, was found guilty of misconduct but was not at the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS), in Manchester.

He was excused attendance to look after his sick wife but listened in on the hearing by conference call from London.

Tomlinson, 47, died on 1 April 2009 after he became caught up in the G20 protests in the City of London as he tried to get home and was pushed over by PC Simon Harwood.

Freddy Patel

Patel carried out the postmortem on Tomlinson and concluded that he died from a heart attack, but questions were raised when an American tourist came forward with a video recording of him being hit.

Further medical reports suggested that Tomlinson died from an injury to his liver that caused internal bleeding and then cardiac arrest.

At the inquest into Tomlinson's death, Patel's claim that he died of a heart attack was discredited by the jury in favour of the string of experts who said he died of internal bleeding.

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Swaminarayan School students achieve 11 A* grades Amar Vadgama, achieved 11A* grades and one A grade at GCSE. He is keen to know why he only managed a grade A in Gujarati!

Amar joined the Prep School in Amar Vadgama Kushali Shingala the Kindergarten when he was three years old.

Mr Savjani, Headteacher of the Swaminarayan school said: “Each year our results are better than the previous year. This year 63% of the grades were either A * or A with many students achieving a string of A* and A grades. 100% of the students at The Swaminarayan School achieved 5 or more A* to C grades at GCSE , 86% of the grades were A*, A or B 98% of the grades were A*, A, B or C. Some students with brilliant results are: Kushali Shingala F 11A* Tilak Parekh M 10A*, 3A Roshni Shah F 10A*, 3A Deep Shah M 10 A*, 1A Miraj Shah M 9A*, 4A Sachin Shah M 9A*, 3A Jeel Pandya F 9A*, 2A Chandni Shah F 9A*, 2A Shaneil Patel M 8A*, 5A Araddhna Patel F 8A*, 4A The Swaminarayan School attributes the success of the students to their good behaviour, focus and their very supportive parents along with dedication and contribution and individual attention by the school's talented staff.

Wife pleads for husband's life A disabled man who is in a vegetative state must be kept alive for as long as possible so he can have a 'good' Muslim death, his wife has pleaded. She told the High Court her 55-year-old husband responds to family visiting the hospital in Greater Manchester and enjoyed smelling some perfume 'brought from Mecca' despite his severe brain damage.

8

MIDLAND VOICE

Asian Voice - Saturday 1st September 2012

‘Lawful’ immigrants made a scapegoat by the Government?

Continued from page 1

Walking between East and West Hindu youth growing up in Britain are often caught in a dilemma. Known as British Asians, they often feel more Asian in Britain, but feel oh-so-British when they visit India, the land of their ancestors.

Caught between these two worlds, British Asians can often feel rather lost about their identity.

For those who have lost their connection with their Asian roots, there is an unending stream of confusion that never seems to get resolved.

The vagaries of Hinduism appear alien and completely foreign to the more familiar modern western world of clean lines, rationality and orderly progression. They appear to be the antithesis of each other. It seems that in order to adopt a western lifestyle, we must reject the eastern and in order to adopt the eastern, we must reject the western.

How have we landed into this predicament? It is because religion is reduced to some specific set of activities, nothing more than that. For many, Hinduism constitutes going to the temple, worshipping an idol, wearing a mark on the forehead and saying “Namaste” or “Hari Om” with folded hands to anyone who appears worthy of respect.

Hinduism can often mean singing bhajans, wearing ethnic clothing and folk dancing with sticks. For some it means sitting in meditation, doing yoga postures, fasting and observing a variety of superstitions, like driving over a coconut when you buy a new car. So if I do not perform these, do I cease to be a Hindu?

Hindu Scriptures such as the Bhagavad Gita and the Vedas give us an understanding of the pur-

pose of all our actions as well as the right attitude to adopt in our activities.

Hinduism asks us to think deeply about what we truly seek and whether we are achieving that through our current way of thinking and living.

The Scriptures want us to think about where true happiness lies, and find ways of aligning ourselves with that.

When we recognise through scriptural study and our own independent rational thinking that happiness and peace are within and not outside, and our purpose is to discover and manifest that joy in the outer world through thoughts, words and deeds – then we can truly be considered a Hindu. In the words of the great Swami Vivekananda: “My ideal indeed can be put into a few words, and that is: to preach unto mankind their divinity and how to make it manifest in every moment of life.”

With this understanding, we can see that Hinduism is not any action or any series of actions, but an insight into life, which awakens us to our own divine potential and helps us manifest it in life. If this is so, what about the temple? What about the fire rituals, offering flowers to an idol, what about bhajans, prostrating, ethnic clothing and stick dances?

If it is all about attitude and knowledge, then what purpose do these age-old traditions and customs serve?

While study of the scriptures gives us the right knowledge, the various practices prescribed in Hinduism train us to adopt the right attitude in our daily life. In the words of Pujya Swami Chinmayananda: “Every practice in Hinduism is an

Paritosh Chaitanya

external dramatisation of an inner transformative attitude that we are to adopt in life.”

Let us take one example: In order to recognise and manifest the divine within, the attitude we must always maintain is a worshipful one, where all our thoughts are mellowed in the serene atmosphere of love and compassion. In order to inculcate this, we offer flowers to the Lord in a puja, chanting His names. The flowers symbolise our noble thoughts and intentions which are fresh, fragrant and beautiful like the flowers we offer. Offering flowers to the Lord of our heart with this understanding creates a strong impression in our minds which express as a devotional attitude, which we can then manifest through all actions.

Hence the rituals and practices are all a training ground for us to recognise and manifest the divine, which lies within and everywhere around us. In fact, all actions performed with this understanding and attitude become spiritual practice. Going to work, college, speaking to a friend, attending a function – all these can indeed have the fragrance of our Hindu culture flowing through them. Such is the flexibility of the culture.

Indeed, the beauty of

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The authorities blame all the immigrants, eventually punishing them in a way or so, while the illegal immigrants from all across the world celebrate the incompetency of a certain government.

On the other hand, Britain is noted as a favourite destination for students from various countries, though the applicants are meant to be validated by the authorities before taking them on to a course, failing to do so, the blame lies on the authorities alone.

A recent incident has revealed that one of London's best universities has allegedly admitted foreign students who have not had their immigration papers in place or were 'possibly illegal', resulting into a probability of revoking the university's license to admit foreign students in the future.

This perhaps is a one off incident and the first one amongst the acclaimed UK universities, yet the 'shame' has been brought over on 'all' the settled 'immigrants', regardless of Hinduism is that it can be lived anywhere, at all times and under all circumstances.

Once we have this insight we will be able to live as Hindus in and through any lifestyle that we choose to adopt. The split between west and east merge into one stream of joyful living, which is truly what we seek.

Brahmachari Paritosh Chaitanya is a member of the CHN and an Acharya of the Chinmaya Mission.

The CHN is a Londonbased organisation which is rooted in progressive Hindu philosophy and values, and encourages networking amongst its members, who are principally London-based professionals.

You can become a member or find out more at www.cityhindusnetwork.org.uk.

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Theresa May

their status by the UK Immigration Minister, that has shocked the different non British communities.

Damian Green, Britain's immigration Minister said that for years it had been ‘almost impolite’ for politicians to raise concerns about unprecedented numbers flowing into the UK, a silence which he said had allowed extremist parties, such as the BNP, to harvest votes.

His statement came after a news that Border Agency audit has found numerous failings at London Metropolitan University, including allowing students to take lessons without valid visas and failing to report that some who had been granted visas, then failed to enrol on or attend courses.

Home Secretary Theresa May has additionally launched a drive to stop abuse of the UK’s marriage laws which have allowed migrants to stay here illegally.

A new computer database has launched to track down 150,000 illegal immigrants in Britain. Mr Green said a national campaign to crackdown on foreigners who stayed in the UK after their student visas had expired had caught 2,000. Nearly 20,000 people who arrived from outside Europe will be the first to be targeted

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in the new crackdown which will begin next month.

They will receive a letter from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) telling them to send back a photocopy of their passport or residence permit within 28 days, according to the Sunday Telegraph. If they cannot, they must email the UK Border Agency (UKBA) with a range of identifying information.

While the government is now trying its utmost to ensure they track the illegal immigrants settled in Britain, it is a pity that they had actually failed to 'track' them earlier and 'stop' them from settling in Britain.

Few critics have suggested that public services, including schools, hospitals and transport, have struggled to cope with the influx, while some employers have been accused of using cheap, or illegal, foreign workers, while others claim that generations of natives often refuse to work, enjoying 'benefits', while foreigners have to fill in those vacancies to help run the state.

While Mr Green said immigration had been like ‘turning on a tap’ under Labour and compared the immigration under Labour to ‘an oil tanker steaming hard in the wrong direction’, he has also insisted that the Government was ‘getting to grips’ with the issue, which is not very evident.

Malcolm Gillies, LMU’s vice-chancellor, reportedly told a national newspaper that the university was ‘disappointed’ by the news.

He said in the past six weeks the university had ‘done everything it could to demonstrate that it... has worked to remedy past weaknesses’.

UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 1st September 2012

National Hindu Students Forum (UK) ByTejal Shah, NHSF PR Coordinator

London 2012 Olympics: “Proud to have played our role in the greatest show on earth.�

Sisters Heenal and Sonia Raichura made a decision in early 2012 to commit their time and energy towards a spectacle that was going to dazzle the nation; they were one of 15,000 volunteers who helped cement Danny Boyle's opening and closing ceremonies place in Olympic history.

Heenal, a doctor at The Royal London Hospital, volunteered as an “audience leader�. She was responsible for handing out torches and instructing the audience about what they should do in order to enhance the visual effects of both the performances.

The 26-year-old from East London said, “It was described as the greatest show on earth and it really felt like it! It was so nice to hear people talking about it.

We knew about the negative reaction when plans of the ceremony were first unveiled, but we were happy about that because we knew everyone was going to be pleasantly surprised.� She explained that she applied to be a volunteer because she is a “proud Londoner� and wanted to represent the city at its biggest event. “I’m proud of where I come from and I live not too far from the main Olympic stadium. I also

enjoy doing different things outside of work, so this was a unique opportunity for me. One thing I really liked was that we were allowed to have family members see our last rehearsal. For them to have access to the stadium and see the hard work we put in was a great surprise.�

Sonia described her experience as an “amazing rollercoaster�. She said, “It’s been an incredible two weeks and I’m so sad it’s over. When the rings came together during the industrial revolution part of the opening ceremony, it was extremely emotional. It was all our hard work consolidated at one point.� Sonia, who works for a reinsurance company, had to sacrifice her weekends and time after work to rehearse for the ceremonies, but explained the enthusiasm of Danny Boyle and the organisers kept her going. “Our rehearsals started in May, once a week, and the nearer we came to the opening ceremony, it was four times a week. But the atmosphere during rehearsals and the people who were teaching us were very motivating.

Also the fact that we might be seen on TV or stand next to an athlete – things like that kept us going.�

Sonia was marshalling the crowds in the closing

ceremony and was dressed in a blue suit with a light bulb on top of a bowler hat. “We were at the stadium from 11 in the morning – we were on our feet rehearsing since then. We had to stand for another three hours for the ceremony but it was worth it, 100 per cent. When they extinguished the cauldron I had tears in my eyes, I really didn’t want it to end. At least we have the Paralympics coming up, so we’ve still got something to look forward to.� When asked about what she feels the legacy of the Olympics will be, Sonia commented, “There was an extremely positive reaction from the people, every time I was in the stadium or in the Olympic Park. There was not just a sense of hope, but a sense of pride and confidence which I’ve never felt before. I was born and brought up here, and I’ve never felt such immense self-confidence. I believe the Olympics brought all different cultures together.

Sometimes Britain can still seem quite segregated with people from different backgrounds, but the Olympics brought together people from all different races, colour and creed. The Olympics has brought the country together and makes you proud to be British.�

9

Tributes paid to Sikh man's sudden death Harshinder Singh Minhas, the son of Gian Singh Minhas, who died aged 63 from a major heart attack, has described his father as a “peaceful, fun-loving type of guy�

Gian Singh was instrumental in the running of the Seven Kings Gurdwara and had served in many positions for the last 30 years. He also served on the British Sikh Council UK and was a member of the board of Sikh Council UK. Upkar Singh Rai, of the British Sikh Council UK, said: “We've lost one of the most humble and spiritual individuals in our community.�

His funeral will be held on Tuesday 28th August.

Chairman of women disability group calls for more accessible sports facilities Chairman of the Redbridge Disabled Women’s Welfare Association, Abida Iqbal, 62, says more needs to be done to give disabled people better access to sports and hopes that the legacy of the Paralympics will push for more accommodating facilities and sports. Mrs Iqbal said: “The Paralympics tell disabled people that they are part of the community as well and not kept away by saying you cannot do this or that. They will feel good as it’s something for us,� she added.

Mrs Iqbal believes that one way of improving facilities around the borough is by increasing the number of benches in parks and disabled access to swimming pools.

According to a Redbridge spokesman, there are accessible facilities in the area. She said:

To advertise in Asian Voice call 020

7749 4085

“Redbridge Cycling Centre is fully accessible and has a wide range of adapted bikes available for hire, free sessions are also offered at certain times. “Vision’s sport and health team have a dedicated officer who has responsibility for inclusivity in sport and activity.�

Mrs Iqbal, however, said that even though she has tried to take the group to Fullwell Cross Leisure Centre, many of the women are too shy and do not want to swim while men are present and it is only possible to rent half of the pool. She continued: “Every meeting the women ask about swimming. We used to go to Ilford Swimming baths but that closed. There needs to be more disabled access to sports facilities�.

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YOUR VOICE

10

UK’s immigration rules I am a British national and have lived in the UK all of my life, I work hard, pay my taxes and national insurance and I am a law abiding citizen.

Under Article 8 of the Human Right Act 1998 it states that “Article 8 and the other qualified articles are largely concerned with preventing the Government, the police or other state bodies interfering with people’s rights...”

However, due to the new rules being implemented by the UK coalition government, it is becoming increasingly difficult and damaging for non-EU spouses/ fiances to live a family life in the UK. Even though different parts of the UK are cheaper to live, an income of £18,600 is still expected because Theresa May’s aim is not to be fair or lenient, it is to reduce net immigration. Out of all the migrants that come to the UK on a yearly basis, a small percentage of those are in the UK on family visas. The Conservatives pledge was to reduce net migration to the 10’s of thousands, this can never be achieved due to “free movement within the UK”. So it’s non-EU citizens with strong family ties to British citizens that have to suffer.

To tear lovers/spouses apart like this is unacceptable, what makes this even worse is the fact that the Conservatives have once again favoured the middle and upper class British citizens by imposing a minimum salary of £18,600.

I would change the rules by basing it entirely on individual circumstances, such as, how much money is left after all living expenses have been paid. I don’t understand why a British citizen cannot bring his Non-EU spouse to the UK, but an EU national can, do we not have any rights under this government?

Christopher Ward @ MRN (Migrants Rights Network)

Memorial gates

Asian Voice - Saturday 1st September 2012

Thugs v/s law abiding citizens Last Sunday when I was getting off a bus, I saw a group of 5-7 males getting in the bus. I saw all of them got in the bus and rushed their way upstairs. I saw the driver trying to stop them as hardly 2 of them touched their Oyster Card. The driver was of South asian origin. He didn’t resist for much longer and decided not to argue further; he drove the bus. The group went upstairs and started talking loudly (celebrating success I would say).

I felt very bad at the time as the driver did not take any steps. I pay £41.80 per week for my Oyster Card and these guys travelled for free! I felt angry at the driver because he did not bother to halt there and call the Police.

On the other-side, I can imagine what would have happened if the driver had resisted. The group had come down and abused the driver. No single passenger would have intervened. The Police might not have come early enough and the group might have left after damaging the bus(and probably injuring the driver). I can understand that we South Asians(especially Indians) are peace loving community who do not get into, or at least initiate, any sort of argument and brawl. But is that something because of which people would take us granted for. I have noticed certain incidents at various places like corner shops, buses, super markets etc. Some aggressive, angry and/or upset people or some thugs would say whatever they want and would do whatever they want without considering the presence of that little Asianman/woman.

Devang Bhatt, Harrow, London

Prince Harry and his naked pics

My wife is fed up with her dishcloths which bear those awful turmeric (haldi) stains that are difficult to wash out. Why don’t Asian manufacturers produce yellow dishcloths to mask haldi stains?

There is probably a fortune to be made from this simple idea.

This week Prince Harry is in all the press media of the world for his naked pictures taken in one of party organised by him in Las Vegas. Prince Harry is 27 years old and 3rd in line to the throne and is an important public figure.To publish his pictures in the public interest is a matter of different opinions but it is certainly great embarrassment to the Royal Family. Prince Harry is no more a child, therefore must understand his duties as an Army Officer and the Prince of Great Britain.

He should further monitor his body language when he is in public with rest of the royal Family Members. His Grandfather is sick, he should try to spend some time to look after him and gain some worldly wisdom.

I have read the views of some people who are writing that why we are moaning about Prince Harry having a good time.

He is unmarried and it is up to him what he does. For ordinary people what they do affects them and their families alone but the actions of our Prince do affect all of us.

Rudy Otter Via Email

Dharam Sahdev Ilford

I am sorry I have annoyed Ms Vadgama again (letter page 10, Aug 25).

It was not my intention. The Memorial to the soldiers is not named after me. Never will be named after me. If she goes to visit the Memorial Gates, she will find names of those honoured with Victoria crosses and George crosses in the Chhatri. We could not put everyone’s name on the Memorial as it is dedicated to everybody who participated and not those who died.

Baroness Flather Via Email

Yellow dishclothes

South Asian Businessmen should evince greater interest in their corporate social responsibility I commend your efforts in urging the South Asian corporates world over to more meaningfully demonstrate their commitment to the society (Asian Voice of 4th August). I share your plea that our successful corporate leaders should emulate laudable examples of leaders like Tata, Azim Premji and Mittal who give something back to the society. The success of capitalism in the US, Britain and Germany came from their moral commitment to public good as evidenced by the philanthropies of John Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie, Bill Gates and Warren Buffett. Today in the USA there are over ten thousand not-for-profit organisations who annually make huge contributions to support worthy causes specially in the third world. Running businesses with a view to earn profit is perfectly laudable exercise.

However what is needed is the enlightened use of such profits so that besides the interest of stakeholder’s indigent community benefits. Many countries such as the U.K. and the USA treat donations to charitable institutions as allowable expenditure against the tax liability.

Infinitely large amounts are given away

by Indians – particularly Hindus – for religious causes – sometimes to temples some of whom do not wish to receive any contribution. Example Jalaram Mandir in Virpur, Gujarat. They are also generous with alms – almost always without giving thought to long term betterment of the recipients.

Our businesses leaders should emulate the idea of collective good. Over the years India has produced many benefactors such as Jamshedji Jijeebhoy, Ruia and Podar who have hugely supported projects in health and education sectors.

An interesting thing to know is this: Has our culture shaped our faith or has our faith shaped our culture?

Sir J K Chande Dar Es Salaam

The Unkind Cut The unpalatable decision last year by Brent Council (BC) to deprive Hindus of Navratri grants has become even more bizarre when BC announced its plan to stage a post-Olympic party at a cost of £60k. While Olympic Party will provide one day of celebrations, Navratri celebrations run for ten days. Hindu Council of Brent has taken up the cause with enthusiasm but it is too little, too late.

Without unity and political awareness, Hindus will always be marginalized, in the wilderness, used by all and sundry at election time, to be forgotten and sidelined after the event. Have we learnt from our past mistakes or do we care? Are we sleep-walking into political oblivion?

Where does the blame lie?

To be fair to BC, the times are hard with economic meltdown and government cuts in grants to Councils. Harrow Council with the highest concentration of

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

There was chaos at several airports after passengers complained that they were not intimated about the Kingfisher cancellations. )(.#(/ )( * !

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

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

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

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

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

away five years from your life.

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

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

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E-mail: support@abplgroup.com

I agree entirely with the findings at the letter writers’ seminar reported on page 6 of last week’s issue of AV stating that the letters in the “Your Voice” column should be versatile and within the word limit. This is exactly what I had in mind to convey at the seminar last Saturday, but was prevented from doing so because of circumstances beyond my control.

I am an ardent reader of, and regular contributor to, the “Your Voice” column of Asian Voice. 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, re-iterating 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.

Also, some writers focus their letters mainly on issues concerning India, but having made the UK our country of residence, to what extent we need to place emphasis on such matters? Shouldn’t we concentrate more on what touches us here in our everyday life? 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 Hindus never gave Navratri or Diwali grants to Hindu organizations. In fact BC was unique, the only Council to provide, celebrate Diwali in such a grand manner with the Hindu community. So let’s give credit where it is due.

There are so few Hindu Councillors in Brent and Harrow compared to our numerical strength and at the last local elections, many pro Hindu councillors lost their seats, even in areas dominated

by Hindus, as hardly any of us go out to vote.

May I urge our Hindu organizations to stop carping, stop shedding crocodile tears and start educating our people, give our activists a platform to preach and instruct our folks how to vote enemas to make the most impact?

Bhupendra M Gandhi Via Email Continued on page 14

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

Visit our website: www.abplgroup.com

*Subscriptions paid will not be refunded ."

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

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

1 Year 2 Years

Your voice column

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EDUCATION / COUNCIL VOICE

Asian Voice - Saturday 1st September 2012

Leading Lights

by Rani Singh

Special Assignments Editor

Mahtab Hussain, 31 Birmingham artist Mahtab Hussain has spent the last four years photographing the Pakistani community in Birmingham, exploring the relationship between identity and masculinity. He recently introduced his practice in a project-based exhibition at mac Birmingham, entitled, ‘What does it mean to be a British Pakistani today?’ The project was funded by Arts Council England through a ‘Grants for the Arts’ award.

Hussain is currently mentored by Birmingham-based artist, curator and producer Trevor Pitt, with support from Max Kandhola, Head of Photography at Nottingham Trent University.

What is your family background?

I am a British Kashmiri Pakistani. My parents married in Pakistan in 1975 and immigrated to the UK shortly afterwards, and I was born in Glasgow. My mother’s side of the family originated from Azad Kashmir and my father’s from Pakistan. I always questioned my identity and it has taken me a while to come to terms with labelling myself. I truly feel equally Pakistani and British, with a strong allegiance to Scotland!

When I was small, we moved around the country, but my family eventually settled in Birmingham when I was seven.

Who/ what are your influences?

It’s a very difficult question to answer as I am inspired by many artists, but Grayson Perry and Jeremy Deller are considerable influences, both of whom create exceptional work which comments on the way we live and interact with one another.

Having studied art history at Goldsmith College, I was really able to broaden my knowledge of the arts, and was influenced by my course subjects and the people I worked with.

What made you become a photographer?

I have always been creative and that was very evident as I was growing up. I loved building things and was very curious with the objects around me, constantly drawing them.

I was intrigued by family photographs, old and new, and I think they were ultimately the things that made me move towards photography in later life.

However, I now see myself as a social commentary artist rather than a photographer. The difference is in how I approach my practice, immersing myself within the communities and really involving myself critically within the lives and mindset of my chosen subject - all of which takes a great deal of time, trust and energy. For me, art has to have a sense of purpose for it to hold value, to question, reflect on issues within society.

Photography is the medi-

Why do you photograph Pakistanis from the diaspora? What are you saying with this subject matter?

My practice at the moment is very subjective. Growing up in Birmingham I always questioned my identity but more so when I began secondary school. There were only three Asian guys out of 1100 pupils at the time and it was very clear through the racism I suffered that I was not as fully British as I thought I was. This was the first time I realized that I was brown in colour.

At college I deliberately chose to study where the majority of students were from British Pakistani backgrounds and it so happened that there was a great art department there as well.

Many of the students labelled themselves as the ‘lost generation;’ not fully considered British, or Pakistani, and most

um which best enables me to do this at the moment, to sincerely address the real issues within our communities.

Mahtab Hussain

importantly, not able to call a place ‘home’. This loss of identity which my contemporaries at college talked about was the kernel for my project. The realisation that many young British Pakistanis felt totally displaced and culturally disorientated drove me to make work, exploring the changing identity of a community in a fast moving 21st Century world.

What are you most proud of?

As corny as it sounds, I am very proud of the fact that I am an artist making work. I am in a position which I hope will increasingly allow me to highlight areas of Britain to other British communities which would otherwise be hidden away, or worse, smothered with prejudicial opinions.

What are your plans?

I was recently awarded an Arts Humanities Research Council grant to critically engage and develop my practice though a Masters degree, with a view to staging a major show in 2014. I feel very excited by the prospect of studying for an MA; it is going to be invaluable experience for me as an artist.

Women-only health club set to open in Goodmayes Asian Women in Redbridge, can now workout in comfort and privacy after Mayor of Redbridge Cllr Ruhammed Javed and Goodmayes councillors Bert Jones and Barbara White welcomed the new business at its official opening.

The Energise Health Club for Women has a fitness section including cardiovascular and strength equipment, a sauna and a creche.

The club will be run by managing director Shamir Chowdhury, 41 and his wife Rima Chowdhury,

38, who will manage the club.

The idea of having a women only club was realised by Mr Chowdhury when he noticed there was a lack of slots for women and mothers. He said:

“Many women have the opinion that gyms are for men, there’s a lot of muscular looking men and they don’t feel comfortable being around many men working out. “particularly some Asian communities, they’re looking for facilities like this and there’s a lack of these in Redbridge” The club also offers fitness classes, nutrition advice and body massage.

Monthly memberships are £25.

11

Best GCSE results ever for Burnage boys Students at Burnage Media Arts College have excelled in their GCSE results, with 71% achieving 5 A*-C with equivalencies and 57% of these students achieving these grades in Maths and English. These grades highlight the seventh consecutive annual increase, at a 13% rise. This exceptional rise in grade standards reflects the learning and teaching quality standards at Burnage Media Arts College.

Ian Fenn, Headteacher at Burnage Media Arts College commented on the large increase of high grades: “We are delighted with the outstanding achievements of our boys this year which reflect the continued hard work and dedication of both staff and students. We constantly monitor and evaluate the impact of our teaching on the quality of the pupils’ learning and our improving year-onyear results reflect this.”

The number of students achieving grades A*C has increased from 38 out of a potential 180 Year 11 pupils, to 129 out of 182 pupils. This vast increase displays the strength of both students and staff. The vast range of languages spoken at the college displays the varied

skills which the students will come away with once they progress onto sixth form, university and the work place.

“With over 36 different languages spoken within BMAC we truly are a cohesive learning community and we always ensure that all of our pupils are nurtured both academically and pastorally to be the best that they can be.”

Among the high achieving students, many received A* and A grades:

Javaad Mazhar, Masud Chodhury, Paris Weatherby, Fian Loveday, Fahad Zia and Saddam Osman. One of these students, Javaad Mazhar, achieved 8 A*'s, 1 A and an A in additional Maths, highlighting the school's academic strengths. With these high grades achieved at a GCSE level, the students are prepared to go onto higher education with a strong range of qualifications.

New 18+ Page – Send in ideas!

From next week, we will be including a new page, titled “Eighteen Plus”, for our younger Asian Voice readers. It will cover a variety of topics weekly, such as Health, Music, Travel, Book Reviews, Upcoming Events and Interviews. If you have any ideas for this page, please send them in to tanny_mann@hotmail.com.

12

MEDIA WATCH

Asian Voice - Saturday 1st September 2012

Scrutator’s Id celebrations in India had a feel of the morning after the night before. Muslim clerics and flocks of the faithful appeared to show some understanding of the damage done to their reputation following days of riotous behavior and the disgraceful targeting of innocent people from India’s North East. The negative stereotyping of Muslims that men and women of goodwill find offensive has received a new lease. There were calls for peace, but peace cannot be constructed on desolation. “our hearts must bleed for everyone…. not just for Muslims,” was Muslim blogger Adnan’s title in The Hindu (August 19). His passionate and trenchant article asked why Muslim crowds poured out onto the streets of towns and cities at news of anti-Muslim violence in Myanmar when it was difficult to muster a 20-man delegation address a delay in opening a local school, for example. More telling was his question: where in the Arab world do you see such mass concern at injustices and alleged violence visited upon Muslims of other lands? This was followed with another query: Would it not have been wiser to collect funds for Muslim and Bodo relief in Assam rather than indulge in futile counter-productive displays of mindless violence?

Shah Bano case Adnan’s concluding paragraphs have a telling relevance. ”Just a few decades ago,” he writes, “a senseless emotional movement over a frail old woman turned Muslims into villains in this country. The Shah Bano case strengthened rightwing forces, led to the rise of the BJP, the destruction of the Babri mosque and the entry of the word ‘appeasement’ in the Indian political dictionary. Despite going through so much, the Muslim leaders seemed to have learnt nothing….” If the truth be told they rarely do.

Internet incitement Meanwhile, the posting of provocative images - many clearly fakes - by jehadi bloggers in Pakistan played no mean part in the incitement to mob violence, and their effect is certain to cast an unhealthy shadow over the troubled Indo-Pakistan relationship. Is such blogging part of jehadi cyber warfare against India?, the Times of India asked (August 21). Good question.

Those capable and willing to read the runes harbour no illusions: Pakistan has been in an undeclared state of war with India, played out not only on conventional battlefields, but also in urban and rural theatres, which are most vulnerable to terrorist attack.

Hope for a newly born

ing that India gave us a home and livelihood when we were abandoned by our home country Pakistan…. This group of people are from Sindh province, where there is forcible conversion….

Workers from the minority community are not paid minimum wages and the rich Hindus have to endure extortion and live in fear of being kidnapped for ransom.”

Sick to its roots The arrest of a mentally disabled 11- year-old Christian girl in Pakistan for an alleged desecration of the Koran is a replay of the drama involving a 14-yearold Christian boy, who was sentenced to death for a similar offence. Such allegations, made on a whim, by the street are as good as a death sentence.

German hospitality saved the boy’s life.

Anita Joshua’s edit page article in The Hindu (August 21) “A growing intolerance” - makes the point that, “All religious minorities, including non-Sunni Muslims, face persecution in Pakistan. Hindus carry the added burden of being identified with India….Ahmedis are subject to a targeted hate campaign.” Christians assume Muslim names as a form of protection, as Pakistan plunges headlong into the hell-hole Islamic radicalism.

Writing in the Daily Mail (London, August 19), Nadira Naipaul, Pakistani-born wife of Nobel laureate V.S.Naipaul, explained why she had fled the

The Hindu (August 23) carried a moving picture of Gira, a Hindu refugee mother from Pakistan, with her newly born child of six days, at a camp in Delhi.

“Bharat is our new hope”, she said. She had named her baby son “Bharat”. The hardship of a refugee camp with basic amenities in short supply, coupled with an uncertain future, “ do not seem to dampen the joy and hope that little Bharat, born on August 15, has brought along.”

The Gira with her six-day old son Bharat spokesman for these Hindu families, Krishan Das, explains: country for the enlightened “We have named the boy Bharat sanctuary of Britain: the spreadbecause he was born here and ing fanaticism and deepening we want him to grow up knowoppression and official con-

nivance wore her down. Now, to her horror, she found that “honour killings”, widely prevalent in Pakistan, had “followed me here.” Pakistani cultural ghettos in the UK, is where such values and practices [such as grooming] were incubated, she said.

Ties with Pakistan Whither Indo-Pakistan relations? It takes two to tango. So long as Pakistan is fixated by its messianic dream of destroying India no fundamental change to this troubled relationship is possible. Restoring cricket ties as a way forward, is an absurd illusion. A cricket match against India for the Pakistani street is a continuation of jehad by other means.

Comparisons with EnglandAustralia cricket rivalry - no more than a sporting affair for both – can be ascribed to the overheated imagination of fools and knaves. The best long-term hope of a stable relationship between the countries lies in a recent feature in The Hindu (August 20). It told of a Pakistani woman in need of an urgent liver transplant arriving to Delhi for the complicated surgery and the kindness shown her and her son by local people.

It took a 16 hour operation at the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital by a team of 21`surgeons, led by Naimish Mehta, to save 54 yearold Zaib-un-Nisa’s life.

Son’s tribute Her 26-year old son, Umar Subhanni, who donated part of his liver, said: “When Indians came to know we are Pakistanis, they went out of their way to help us. Starting with our landlord in Delhi to our taxi driver or vegetable vendor, everybody not only helped us but came to the hospital to enquire after my mother’s health. When we needed blood for my mother and we pasted notices outside students hostels, six students came forward to donate blood. I am so touched and obliged to all of them.”

Individual acts of kindness and personal relationships may not bring dramatic changes to the Indo-Pakistan relationship, but it is the only worthwhile show in town.

Nano for US TV celebrity America’s popular TV show host Jay Leno is highly impressed by one of his latest acquisitions: a Tata Nano, the world’s cheapest car, to add to his stable of 100 vintage cars. “It’s a great city car: It’s no different than all those electric cars you see running around you and it’s $2,700….It’s amazing”, he told CNN. He went on: “I like this car for what it represents to India. To me, India is turning up with more engineers and scientists than anyone else….To me, it’s not necessarily about the car: It is what the car represents” (The Telegraph August 20).

Jay Leno with Nano car

Non- Nato US ally Despite these appalling human rights abuses the US prefers to see Pakistan as one of its leading non-Nato allies. Human rights concerns in Washington are turned off and on like a tap, depending on the violator’s relationship with Uncle Sam. American investigative journalist, Richard Miniter, claims in his book, “Leading from Behind: The Reluctant President and the Advisors Who Decide for Him,” that Osama Bin Laden’s hideout in the Pakistani town of Abbottabad was built on Army property, and that the country’s Army chief General Ashfaq Kayani was privy to US plans to kill the al-Qaeda fugitive. A Pakistani Inter Services (ISI) colonel had apparently provided the CIA with vital help in locating Bin Laden. The cover story of Pakistani non-co-operation was cooked up to spare the vaunted Pakistan military’s blushes. Understandably so, since the self-proclaimed guardians of the country’s sovereignty were participants in the US enterprise violating it!

Mahindra’s new plant on stream

hospital of an unspecified illness.

When India was looking for support at the IAEA for its nuclear deal with the US, Premier Zenawi cast his vote for the accord unhesitatingly, saying: “India’s progress is in Ethiopia’s interest.” Located on the strategic Horn of Africa,

Meles Zenawi

Ethiopia, with its ancient Christian roots, faces an Islamist threat from the Gulf funneled through neighbouring jihadist Eritrea. This challenge was compounded by the country’s urgent need to develop economically.

Indian companies were welcomed, as were Indian doctors and agricultural experts, while an Indian Army facility was set

Mahindra & Mahindra Group, inaugurated its manufacturing facility in Bangalore. Mr. Anand Mahindra, Chairman and Managing Director, Mahindra Group unveiled the Group’s vision to co-create and shape the “future of mobility”

Mahindra Reva Electric Vehicles inaugurated its new ‘green’ manufacturing facility in Bangalore last week. Speaking at the inauguration, Anand Mahindra, Chairman and Managing Director, Mahindra Group, said the “dramatic advances” in automobile technologies were propelled by the greater use of electronics and IT solutions in the automobile industry. He said the company would be launching the Reva NXR in a couple of months (The Hindu August 21).

Ethiopian friend dies Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, a longstanding friend of India, died recently in a Brussels

up for the training of Ethiopian forces.

Footprint in Africa Addressing a gathering of Indian businessmen, without aides or notes, Mr Zenawi appealed for greater Indian investment in Africa. He said: “India is more positively in this African problem. First, it it does not take a holier than thou attitude. I know first-hand that India has worked hard for a fair referendum in Sudan. But it does not brag about it.”

Hopefully Indo-Ethiopian ties will go from strength to strength as Meles Zenawi would have wished.

UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 1st September 2012

Political Sketchbook

Retail to go full circle they are just trying to shift stock and stay afloat.

So is this the end of retail as we know it? Well like a lot of markets, it is the middle market that is getting squeezed, and almost wiped out. Consumers are either looking for a complete bargain, or for those who can afford it, complete luxury. If we examine the figures of companies that are doing exceptionally well, we’ll find its brands like Primark or Lidl or your Burberry’s and

www.PoliticalAnimal.me

Alpesh Patel’s

The Politics of Youth Empowerment It’s the summer holidays and a year since the riots in London. A college principal offered the following words from a judge who regularly deals with youth.

“Always we hear the cry from teenagers, ‘what can we do, where can we go?’

“My answer is this: go home, mow the lawn, wash the windows, learn to cook, build a raft, get a job, visit the sick, study your lessons and after you’ve finished, read a book. Your town does not owe you recreational facilities and your parents do not owe you fun.”

“The world does not owe you a living, you owe the world something. You owe it your time, energy and talent so that no one will be at war, in sickness and lonely again. In other words grow up, stop being a cry baby, get out of your dream world and develop a backbone not a wishbone. Start behaving like a responsible person. You are important and you are needed. It’s too late to sit around and wait for somebody to do something someday.

Someday is not and that somebody is you!”

When teenage British Olympian Zoe Smith was attacked on Twitter for her body-builder physique she said “I gave it to them on the platform. It's two fingers up to the abusers, basically.

What are you doing with your life? I've just competed at the Olympics! Have some of that.”

That is the beauty and power of youth. As exam results are published, I am reminded of a speech made by an American journalist to graduating students.

‘Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth. Oh, never mind. You will not

understand the power and beauty of your youth until they've faded. But trust me, in 20 years, you'll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can't grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked.

Don't worry about the future. Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind, the kind that blindside you at 4 pm on some idle Tuesday.

Do one thing every day that scares you. Sing. Don't be reckless with other people's hearts. Don't put up with people who are reckless with yours. Don't waste your time on jealousy. Sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind.

The race is long and, in the end, it's only with yourself.

Get to know your parents. You never know when they'll be gone for good. Be nice to your siblings. They're your best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.

Understand that friends come and go, but with a precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle, because the older you get, the more you need the people who knew you when you were young. Respect your elders.

Don't expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund.

Maybe you'll have a wealthy spouse.

But you never know when either one might run out.”

Mo Luthra, branding consultant www.moluthra.com Once considered the cornerstone and basis of any business, the retail store has come under a lot of stress and strain.

Retail "http://www.retailgazette.co.uk/articles/32432-second-worstjanuary-for-retail-salessince-1995" \t "_blank" sales are the worst in almost 20 years, owners face stiff competition from both ‘out of town’ shopping centres and more predominately, online etailers. With the online proposition there are invariably less costs involved, almost unlimited choice, and the ability to not hold onto stock and just drop ship goods when required, all these provide major advantages.

In return a lot of traditional retailers take the strategy to compete is to just simply discount, destroying their own margins, and ultimately their brand. This coupled with soaring commodity prices means the margin retailers are making is very slight, and in many cases

Alpesh Patel www.PoliticalAnimal.

Gucci’s which experiencing record profits and growth.

If we go back to 1609, the

however, due to the rise in tuition fees and overall budgeting, students may neglect the vital purchase of a TV licence.

Glen Morris, TV Licensing spokesperson, said, “With A-level results about to arrive, students all around the UK will be preparing for the start of university life.

In this exciting time of planning, budgeting and getting organised, it’s important students understand they’ll need

their own TV Licence for student accommodation.”

“There are a number of ways to pay for your Licence, for example as a one-off payment, or by smaller Direct Debit instalments.”

“Another good reason for planning ahead is the student refund - anyone who buys a TV Licence at the start of term in September could qualify for a refund when they move back home for the

first shopping centre so to speak was opened in the UK. ‘The New Exchange’, this was a centre with about 30 stores, which had very exotic items and was only frequented by the very wealthy. Not surprisingly we might see a return to this sooner than we think. Similarly my advice for those who are committed to staying the course with traditional retail is to pitch your business for the very profitable high-end niche market place, which does not require the huge volumes of customers and the associated costs to s e r v i c e them. The retail world is fast changing and owners have to acknowledge the fact that the rules by which the game was played for the last 30 years have fundamentally changed.

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TV Licensing urges A-level students to ‘think finance’ and budget for university TV Licensing is encouraging students who are preparing for university to budget for a TV Licence and purchase early in the academic year As students all over the UK prepare for University after receiving their results, it is important to remember the rules and regulations of staying in student accommodation. Many students will consider buying TV’s for their dorms and flats,

summer holidays.

Refunds can be claimed on any three full calendar months before a licence expires, offering cashback of around 37.”

A TV Licence is required by law to watch or record any programmes at the same time as they are shown on TV, regardless of the equipment used.

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YOUR VOICE & UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 1st September 2012

India as it is now

Burger corporation

Following Alpesh’s article dated 10th August in which he proposed that Britain should take over the running of India, a host of other letters were published in Asian Voice all of them shedding tears about India’s many failures.

Now let us see the present scenario in Britain.

Corruption in high places, massive scandals, youth crime, lack of any respect for authority and a generation of people who have no interest in playing a positive role in society. With the right contacts and money it is possible in many places to get planning permission to build supermarkets and homes to let. From being a world leader in manufacturing we have become a nation which has lost all its competitive edge and the ability to create wealth. Without creating wealth the welfare state will shrink no matter which party is governing the country.

As the Welfare state shrinks we are bound to see serious poverty which in turn will increase the crime rate. The nation is in huge debts and cannot afford to go on printing money.

Alpesh wants NRIs to be given a red carpet welcome because ‘Gandhi, Nehru and Patel who had British education and British training they can lift India.’ How many NRIs would last in India without all the life comforting services this welfare state offers?

Alpesh is well aware that India was the cradle of civilisation and people from all over the world went to India to study. All this was extinguished by the colonising power.

Jayesh Patel’s observation about beef burghers as American influence, at Indian Independence-day celebrations is not surprising. D-Indianisation began during 1000 years of Moghuls’ and later British rule. DeIndianisation was indisputably confirmed on 14-8-1947 with birth of Pakistan. Muslims who remained in India are calling shots and are king makers. India is under Muslim and Christian cloud under garb of secularism.

Due to softness, India has lost Kashmir to Muslim separatists, and is in process of losing Assam to Bangladeshi illegal infiltrators. Indian politicians, kow-towing to vote bank Muslims is reason why there is no Ramjanmabhoomi temple at Ayodhya. Pro Hindu organisations are shelving the issue. Pilgrims to Amarnath shrine have to suffer due to Muslims hostility. Even Baba Ramdev is prioritising Muslims in his campaign. Number of Hindu satsang-groups in UK have “Allah o Akbar” incorporated in Hindu bhajans.

After futile non alignment and later dillydallying with USSR, India is Americanised. India is emulating melting pot ethos of USA. Indians also take pride in Donald duck and coca-cola culture among their children to prepare them for life in USA. Also consider that many Indians/Hindus are meat and beef eaters. Thus beef American burgher stall can get permission easily in any Indian function.

Derailment of Indian-ness is ongoing throughout 65 years of independence, Thus USA companies like Union Carbide and later Dow is treating millions of Bhopal victims with inhuman disdain. India’s government cannot lift a finger due to subservience to USA ethos.

India is not the one as envisaged by Swami Vivekanand, because Indians / Hindus do not want to rise and shine.

Nitin Mehta Via Email

Solving long lasting problems The problems shown by Mr Amir Khan in Satyamev Jayate- exist prior to the inception of independence and 65 years thereafter until now in India, and the burden of solving them is the prime responsibility of the entrusted and elected members of the Parliament. For administering the kaw and the judiciary to take actions against the law breakers.

It appears that the relevant sections of the Indian government must be either resisting empowerment of the authority concerned or turning a blind eye to solving those issues in fear of losing votes or seats in the Parliament.

The United Nations General Assembly made my dream finally become a reality when it designated 23 June as International Widows Day in 2010. In his commemorative message, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon observed that “this first International Widows’ Day is an occasion to call attention to the many “firsts” that women must face when their husbands die.”

The Secretary-General went on to explain how in addition to coping with the grief of losing a husband, widows may find themselves without any social safety net.

Widows often lack access to inheritance, land tenure, employment and even the means of basic survival. In places where a woman’s status is linked to her husband’s, she may find herself abruptly excluded from the social order, shunned and isolated. Marriage—sometimes forced upon her—becomes the only mechanisms for recovering a meaningful place in society.

Secretary-General Ban further pointed out that of the approximately 245 million widows worldwide, more than 115 live in extreme poverty. This startling statistic should give us pause. For so many, a husband’s death creates a terrible plight widows must suffer for the rest of their lives.

The Secretary-General’s moving message brought to mind a tragic story. It was of a girl rushed and brutalized into womanhood. She was 12 years old when she was married. At 16 she was widowed. And at 18 she was in the sex trade.

Her woes began right after her husband died. She had resigned herself to a fate of anonymity and being marginalized. But this was only the beginning. Her brother-in-law, her late husband’s elder brother, raped her. He warned her that if she complained, he would say she had enticed him by stripping in front of him and she would be thrown out of her home. She was then forced to submit to his ongoing sexual advances. One day her sisterin-law discovered her husband with the widow. She was beaten, expelled from the house and had to become a prostitute in order to survive.

Ramesh Jhalla Via Email I think Mr Khan has true worries about problems, but to solve them, he must join hands with the Non government organisations as a Social activist to pressurise government to serve the people rightfully.

R N Patel Essex

This horrific story is of a child widow from a lower middle-class family. However, even older widows of upper middle-class families are also often forced to live miserable and wretched lives.

Widows’ abandonment and being caused to fend for themselves comes as the culmination of a wife’s existence that is built around her husband. Upon his death, she is ousted from the family, society and from the world she lived in and knew, and forced to rebuild her life without the tools necessary for effectively doing so. Relatives do not want her and society couldn’t care less. She is deprived of everything she had as a wife. Her husband’s death eclipsed and ruined her life. Without emotional support or hope, future widows suffer in isolation and obscurity. This is the fate shared by a large number of the 245 million widows in the world in 2010, according to The Widows Research Report sponsored by the Loomba Foundation, the figure also cited by the Secretary-General.

"Don't Worry, Be Barfi!"

Ranbir Kapoor interacting with fans Photo courtesy: Raj D Bakrania, PR Mediapix. Tel: 07977759301

A-list star Ranbir Kapoor is set to star alongside Bollywood stars Priyanka Chopra and Ileana D'Cruz in a movie about love, life and happiness. As the son of Bollywood stars Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh, and grandson of the late Bollywood veteran Raj Kapoor, Ranbir is set to bring a heartfelt and powerful performance as the young Barfi.

Ranbir Kapoor promoted the UTV Motion Picture, 'Barfi!" at Cineworld Feltham on the 27th August 2012, strengthening the excitement for the new film.

Set in Darjeeling, 'Barfi!' tells the story of a charming, jesting young man, Barfi, whose relationship with two beautiful young women

throws his life into a completely new light.

Unable to speak nor listen, Barfi invites the audience into a new, exciting world of pranks, fun and love, and takes you with him on a whirlwind journey to search for love and happiness which will leave you with a new passion for life, and the idea that you can find happiness in the smallest of places.

The film, directed by Anurag Basu and produced by Ronnie Screwvala and Siddharth Roy Kapur, releases worldwide on the 14th of September 2012. Audiences can be expected to be immersed into the world of Barfi, as he teaches you, "Don't Worry, Be Barfi!"

ows and educate their children. Doing so would not only give hope to widows, but also ensure that their children might grow up with enough qualifications and opportunities to face a brighter future.

As mentioned in a previous article, on International Widows Day 2012, The Loomba Foundation launched an initiative to empower 10,000 impoverished widows in India by providing them each with sewing machines.

They will also receive training course to learn how to make garments. The success of this effort will show how far widows have travelled—from being objects of revulsion and exile to becoming participants in, and agents of, sustainable development.

These sewing machines will become a symbol and affirmation of a widow’s autonomous identity. It allows locally resourced materials to be transformed into clothes that are affordable, aesthetic and in tune with the seasons and climate of the area where they are worn.

That transformation is made possible by human skill, effort and ingenuity possessed and displayed by proud and resolute women who may have lost a husband, but can still lead productive lives and enrich the lives of those around them.

The garment each widow sews is a metaphor too. For, as Secretary-General Ban reminds us, “despite the many difficulties widows face, many make valuable contributions to their countries and communities…taking in orphans, serving as caregivers and reaching across lines of conflict to mend tears in the social fabric.” As we work to develop and sustain this precious fabric, we are blessed to have the vast potential of an untapped resource—widows—who are the active partners in this project.

Fo r fur ther infor ma tio n plea se vi si t o ur w ebs ite

My father’s untimely death on June 23, 1954 and my own experiences of my mother’s struggles as a young widow made me decide that I would try to help poor wid-

www.theloombafoundation.org o r conta ct Priti P a tel a t priti@thelo omba founda tio n.o rg

15

Asian Voice - Saturday 1st September 2012

SARVAM

Official Charity for AAA 2012

Making a change at India's Grassroots

Where toddlers play and mother’s sing!

Mr Vijay Poddar

In rural India, most parents are not aware of the child day care facilities supported by the Government. Even those who are aware don’t wish to send their children there due to poor infra-

structure and apathetic maintenance. Thus, most children accompany their parents to agricultural or construction sites.

The day care center in Vazhapattampalayam village of Perambai Panchayat in SARVAM’s area of work in Tamil Nadu, India was largely dysfunctional. Though it provided nutritional supplement to the children, it failed to attract them and children accompanied their parents to the unhealthy work-sites.

When SARVAM held a consultation with teachers, it came to know that parents didn’t want to send their children to the day care centre.

They expressed concern about the ramshackle and rundown condition of the building. SARVAM thus took up the task of renovating the building.

With contributions as little

as rupees ten each from the mothers, some contribution from the Government and rest from the SARVAM fund, the day care centre was renovated. Outdoor play equipment was set up and utilities were added. The centre became so attractive that within no time 35 children started to

attend it on a daily basis.

It was also declared one of the ten best day care centres in the region.

“We welcome your participation and support. Seven such buildings require renovation and it costs approx. £15,400 or £2,200 per building. Details on other projects have been provided in our previous articles.

For further information, please contact.... Mrs Shilpa Shah on 07404618933 (between 2pm and 6pm) or email on shilpa.sarvam@gmail.com.“If you wish to donate to Sarvam, please make cheques payable to ‘THE SARVAM TRUST’ and send them to: The Sarvam TrustAsian Voice/ Gujarat SamacharAsian Business Publication Ltd, 12 Hoxton Market, London N1 6HW

BOOKWORM Desh Aur Diaspora

By Rudy Otter Left India for good? Or will you return? A book on this theme, entitled Desh Aur Diaspora, by distinguished Indian writer Frank Raj, has just been published.

As founder editor of The International Indian, a Dubaibased magazine published six times a year, Tamil Naduborn Raj has pulled together a selection of his robust editorials spanning the last two decades which spotlights India in all its many coats and colours.

Example: "We may well be living in a wonderful moment of India's history but no culture can survive without a moral consensus shared beliefs about right and wrong, a common standard of truth. India's national conscience has steadily eroded since Independence.

Lawlessness lurks just below the surface of our everyday life, and communal, political and gang-related violence stalks our land like a monster that periodically awakens from hiberna-

tion to devour then present, perhaps even the future."

Another take: "Can we ever return to an India where there are prospects for our children and peace and security for our retirement? A new land of opportunity that is built on good government, where corruption is the

exception rather than the rule? An India of our dreams come true, not just a sentimental fantasy-land of days gone by?"

And this: "I have to admit I share the same sense of trepidation about India's future that makes many expatriates want to keep their emigration options open.

Those who are predicting a reverse exodus of Indians from abroad at this stage are clearly engaged in wishful thinking."

My one moan about this outspoken 403-page paperback, published by TILL Publishing of Canada (available online from Amazon, £13.59), is the unfortunate omission of dates over Raj's chapters which reach all the way back to 1992 when his magazine made its debut. Never mind. Just flick to the contents list to find out when each chapter was written.

Dull, it isn't!

Nahi Kiya To Karake Dekh* For almost five years, my weekly column titled Jivant Panth (lively path) is published in Gujarat Samachar. I accidentally fell down in the bathroom and the column began to share my experience and observations. I had enormous hesitation simply because, though I am publisher/editor of Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar for nearly 37 years, I was not a regular columnist. But the column has not damaged the circulation of the Gujarati weekly. On the contrary, I believe (wouldn't I say that?), it has proved to be a popular and useful column from the reader's point of view as well.

Now and then, readers and friends express their delight with what I write in that column. Some friends have been suggesting me to write, regularly, a column in Asian Voice. I once expressed that my vocabulary is limited and I am very poor in punctuation.

I have now collected enough courage and confidence to embark on this venture. My visiting card describes me as Publisher/Editor. The meaning is clear: because I am Publisher, I also have promoted myself as the Editor.

Almost four decades ago, I ventured in publishing activity. “Fools Rush In Where Angels Fear To Tread” was said by come of my close friends. Some fools and some angels! Without any arrogance and with the blessings of our readers, subscribers, advertisers and well wishers, across the various strata of the community, I can report that my publishing activity has been viable and, I sincerely hope and pray, credible.

Dear reader, may be I am trying to justify why I am endeavouring now to embark on this journey. I wonder.

Though in the beginning of most autobiographies, the author would say, that he/she are doing this by public demand or some close friends have prevailed on him or herself. In my case, I must confess, the main motivation is a clear view that I have a message to convey to my readers. I hope to receive feedback from you, the reader. You need not be kind or tolerant. After all, you pay my wages

and in different ways, you sustain me.

I decided to write today, primarily because recently I was accosted by some non-Gujaratis at a Summer “thank you” BBQ organised by Dr Ramnik Mehta and his wife Dr Bhanu at their beautiful residence in Essex. Dr Mehtas have created a fabulous public eye hospital in India with the help of so many, but primarily because of their own vision, determination, sacrifice and patience.

There are 2 India's – one for haves and one for have-nots. Health and education are burning issues for those at the lower end of society – the so-called untouchables, slum-dwellers and poverty-stricken people. Dev Daya Eye Hospital at Wankaner, the school for slum children in Vrindavan run by Food for Life, Vrindavan, and the Akshay Patra project where I was inducted by Harin Thaker are some of the projects where I have the privilege to be involved in whatever small capacity I could.

Though so much is being done by some large-hearted people, still more needs to be done.

As a tribute to such a noble cause, I spent nearly four hours in the tube to travel and only 75 minutes at the party.

I am a committed public transport user.

Fifteen years ago, on reaching my 60th birthday, I voluntarily stopped driving and I have no regrets. I feel healthier and slightly more relaxed (in spite of my insulin dependent diabetes for nearly 30 years). I follow the slogan “let the train (or bus) take the strain.”

In Asian Voice this week, you will find a letter from Sir Andy Chande from Dar-es-Salam, Tanzania. So many people contribute so much time, energy and financial resource in helping various activities for human service. I would be more than willing, even eager, to travel and to salute the excellent work done by others like the Mehtas.

- CB (*The loose translation could be: if not now, when? or better late than never)

Policeman wrongly jailed gets £800,000 payout Sultan Alam, a police officer who was wrongfully sent to prison as a result of a malicious prosecution brought by colleagues, found out last week that he will receive a total compensation package of more than £800,000.

But ex-Pc Sultan Alam left Leeds County Court saying: ''It was never about the money.''

Cleveland Police admitted liability after they were sued by Mr Alam, who has fought for 17 years after he was wrongly prosecuted and

convicted.

He was jailed for handling stolen goods in 1996, two years after first being accused of ''car ringing''.

He served half of his 18-month sentence behind bars and, once free, began the long battle to clear his name while working as a taxi driver.

That culminated in 2007 with him being cleared by the Court of Appeal. Mr Alam, 49, will receive a total of £841,430 from Cleveland Police, the court heard last week.

Sultan Alam

This figure includes various types of damages plus an amount to compensate for the earnings he would probably have made if he had remained as a police officer.

Speaking outside the court, Mr Alam said he was relieved the case was at an end.

'Hitman' wore 'kitchen gloves' during murder The South African 'hitman' who killed honeymoon hijack victim Anni Dewani has told how he wore the bright rubber kitchen gloves as he drove Anni’s commandeered taxi at high speed through the darkened township roads.

Mziwamadoda Qwabe said he carried out instructions as allegedly planned and paid for by Anni's own husband.

Although Qwabe has already admitted his role in Anni’s murder, he appeared in court as a witness against Xolile Mngeni, who is alleged to be his partner in crime.

Anni's grief-stricken father and niece looked anguished as they attended court for each step of the trial, looking over evidence including their loved-one's mobile phone, watch and a ban-

gle.

Shrien has repeatedly denied accusations of planning his wife's murder and his extradition for trial have been stalled while the Briton is treated for post traumatic stress disorder and severe depression.

Mngeni denies kidnapping, robbery, murder and owning an unlicensed gun.

His trial continues.

16

Asian Voice - Saturday 1st September 2012

Shruti's salary `10mn?

Shruti Haasan has emerged as a hot cake in Tollywood thanks to the success of 'Gabbar Singh'. The Pawan Kalyan starrer remake of 'Dabangg' (which was made in Tamil as 'Osthe') has put Shruthi on top of the Telugu film industry. Now, reports from Andhra Pradesh suggest that the actress-singer-musician has been paid `10 million as remuneration for her upcoming Telugu film.

Titled 'Balupu', the movie has Ravi Teja as the leading lady. It is said producer P V P Prasad has paid the amount to Shruti and received bulk dates from her for the project. However, circles close to Shruti refused to confirm this. "She has been getting what she deserves and she is not the one who asks for more remuneration cashing in on the demand for her," they maintain.

No acting role for A R Rahman

Days after a Malayalam filmmaker claimed that attempts were on to convince A R Rahman to do a cameo in his upcoming film, since it revolves around a man who works in the music maestro's troupe, circles close to the Oscar winner denied any such development. "A R Rahman is not doing any role in any Malayalam film, or for that matter, in any film in any other Indian language. Nor has he permitted or authorized anyone to make any movie based on him or the members of his orchestra," said a statement.

The movie in question is a tale of five friends to be played

by Biju Menon, Lal, Suresh Krishna, P Sukumar and Sunil Babu. Biju Menon plays a member in Rahman's troupe.

Asian Voice - Saturday 1st September 2012

Why is Asin shying away from Tamil films?

Farah makes acting debut in 'Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi'

It's not easy to scare me: Esha Gupta Actress Esha Gupta says it was tough to play a part in a horror film like 'Raaz 3' especially because in real life, she doesn't get scared very easily. "I love watching horror films because I don't get scared easily. So for me it was like, 'Arey, kaise karungi ye main (How will I do it!); when I don't get scared, how am I going to act that I am scared, I can't do it'," the 26-year-old said. But the model-turned-actress gives full marks to her director, Vikram Bhatt for guiding her the right way. "I don't think any one could have made me do what Vikram has made me do. The whole imagination and expressions. I think the whole credit goes to the director," Esha said.

Don't want to make any more films: Hema Malini Actress Hema Malini, whose last production and directorial venture “Tell Me O Kkhuda” failed at the box office, says she is in no mood to invest money in another film as it is a risky proposition. “Tell Me O Kkhuda” was meant to re-launch the actress' daughter Esha Deol into Bollywood, but her efforts failed to reap the desired results. Now, while Hema is ready to act and dance, film production no longer attracts her. "I am not meant for that, my gestures are different, so I dance. If you to tell me to work in a film, I will, I act well, I can do that. But I will not produce a film," she added.

Katrina Kaif gets into shape for Aamir Khan Katrina Kaif has done some rigorous training to get in shape for working with Aamir Khan in 'Dhoom 3' Even as Aamir reportedly wants her in Chicago and Shah Rukh expects her to remain in Ladakh, Katrina is busy preparing herself to pull off some mean stunts. The actress, who will be required to be in the best of shape for the action flick, had her fair share of inhibitions for the rigorous physical training.

However, she has put it all behind and trained in all forms of combat at the Yashraj Studios in Mumbai.

Katrina's training is a mix of martial arts, gymnastics and a bit of parkour as well.

UTV’s ‘Joker,’ ‘Barfi’ and ‘Heroine’ to hit UK UTV Motion Pictures will release three movies - “Joker” on 31st August, “Barfi!” on 14th and “Heroine” on 21st September respectively in UK and worldwide.

Akshay Kumar and Sonakshi Sinha are back in “Joker” directed

by Shirish Kunder. The film also stars Shreyas Talpade and Minissha Lamba.

In 1947, when the maps of India and Pakistan were being drawn, an oversight ensured that the village of Paglapur didn’t find a place in either country. The village had the largest mental asylum in the region and in the melee that ensued during Partition, the asylum inmates broke loose, drove away the villagers and established their own republic in Paglapur. And that’s how it stayed for the following 60 years. While the world outside changed, Paglapur remained isolated, with no electricity, television or sanity.

Director Anurag Basu teams up with UTV yet again to produce “Barfi!” The film stars Ranbir Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra and will Ileana D’Cruz making her debut in Hindi cinema. In Darjeeling, his parents named him Murphy (Ranbir Kapoor), but everyone calls him Barfi!

Always ready with a prank up

Asin has said that she's poor at multitasking and hence focusing on Hindi films alone. "I can do only one work at a time.

So I am concentrating in Bollywood projects," she says. The 'Ghajini' and 'Varalaru' actress adds: "This doesn't mean that I am not giving importance to Tamil and Telugu movies. South industry is like my home and I always love and respect it a lot."

Stating that she's hopeful of doing southern projects soon, Asin says, "I am happy with the offers I have been getting. I am thankful to all my colleagues, from directors to producers to costars." Asin also accepts the fact that she is yet to get a challenging role in Bollywood which will showcase her acting skills. "But I am fortunate that my movies run well and they come with big set-up and popular costars."

Hot Garam masala

Bollywood director and choreographer Farah Khan has made her acting debut in ‘Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi’ which was released last week. The film is an offbeat romantic comedy that focuses on two 40something souls in search of love and a ‘happy-ever-after-ending’ that packs a punch in all the right ways. The film features an all-star Parsi cast, including Boman Irani and is directed by Bela Bhansali Sehgal and produced by her brother Sanjay Leela Bhansali. The film depicts this lively community in an authentic and tasteful manner. The film dissects the bittersweet and often hilarious emotions of finding true love and happiness as you age. Both Boman Irani and Farah Khan shine in their roles and create truly memorable comic moments. The supporting cast include Kavin Dave, Shammi, Kurush Deboo and Daisy Irani.

Veteran actor A K Hangal dead Avtar Kishan Hangal, one of Bollywood's best known character actors, died on Sunday, media reports said. Hangal, in his late 90s, was on life support at a hospital in Mumbai, but was taken off the ventilator after doctors said there wasn't much chance of recovery, his son Vijay was quoted as saying. Known as the grand old man of Indian cinema, Hangal appeared in over 200 films in a career spanning five decades. He was last seen in a guest appearance for a television series on actress Madhubala. Hangal, best known for his roles in films such as "Sholay" and "Namak Haraam", was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2006. "An era comes to an end. Theatre and film were enriched by him," actress Shabana Azmi said on Twitter.

17

Marriage thoughts make me weak: Soha Ali Khan

his sleeve, he’s quite the charmer, especially with the ladies. He is the talk of the town, even though he can neither speak nor hear. His bittersweet relationship with two, beautiful young ladies, Shruti (Ileana D’Cruz) and Jhilmil (Priyanka Chopra), sets in motion a chain of events that will turn his life upside down.

Post the success of “Fashion,” director Madhur Bhandarkar is back with UTV with “Heroine.” Heroine presents Kareena Kapoor in arguably the most standout performance of her career to date. The film also stars Arjun Rampal and Randeep Hooda.

“Heroine” is based on the life and times of a superstar heroine from the dream factory we call 'Bollywood'. The film is a daring, shocking, glamorous, scandalous, behindthe-scenes account of the reality behind the world of glitz and glamour that film stars inhabit.

The Walt Disney Studios and UTV Motion Pictures have formed one of the leading film studios in India. The Studio’s activities span across creative development, production, marketing, distribution, licensing, merchandising and syndication of films in India and worldwide.

As talks of her brother Saif Ali Khan's impending wedding continue to hog the limelight, Soha Ali Khan, who is in a steady relationship with Kunal Khemu, says she is scared of marriage.

The 33-year-old actress says the thought of marriage makes her weak. "I am not a responsible person. I am a child. I don't really feel like a grown up and marriage is meant for mature people. The thought of marriage makes me weak. I think that 30 is the new 20.

So, I am not tying the knot anytime soon," Soha said.

Soha, who was previously seen on TV as the host of 'Godrej Khelo Jeeto Jiyo', is all set to make her small screen comeback with makeover show 'What Not to Wear-India' alongside fashion designer Aki Narula. "Actors are apprehensive about TV. But I did not have any second thoughts regarding this show. It is a great international format. There was huge need for a show like this in India. I am not a style expert but I decided to take up this show as I wanted to share my experiences with people," she said.

Randeep Hooda's character takes inspiration from Imran Khan Actor Randeep Hooda, who is enact-

ing the role of a cricketer in Madhur Bhandarkar's upcoming film “Heroine” opposite Kareena Kapoor, has taken a lot of inspiration from the Pakistani cricketer Imran Khan.

During the 80s, Imran was known for his reported link ups. According to a source, Randeep has been portrayed as a charming cricketer, who has an affair with a popular actress, played

by Kareena. Although the character is based on Imran Khan, it has not been suggested that he is the captain of the Pakistan cricket team.

There have been reports in the recent past that Randeep had been taking a lot of cues from the Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag for his role in the film. He also went to watch him play during the last India-West Indies cricket match with Naseeruddin Shah.

“Heroine,” starring Kareena Kapoor, Arjun Rampal and Randeep Hooda, is set to release on September 14.

18

Asian Voice - Saturday 1st September 2012

Britain’s banking industry on the verge of another scandal Dear Financial Voice Reader Are there different challenges and opportunities facing the Hindu business community of Europe compared to indigenous or other communities?

I have been asked to address this as a follow up to the World Economic Hindu Forum. As I am soon to attend an Inter-Faith meeting with the British Communities Minister, Eric Pickles, it is an issue on my mind. Indeed, as co-founder of The Indus Entrepreneurs UK, (TiE-UK) part of over 40 global business chapters and the first European Chapter, and as the longest serving TiE-UK board member, it is an issue I’ve been thinking about for over a decade at least. And now as a new Advisory Board Member of the City Hindu Network, an issue I will be thinking about long into the future.

But surely business is business. If there is one thing which has only one colour, it is money – and that colour is green. It only has one religion – profitism. So are their Hindu-specific or Indian specific obstacles and opportunities?

Opportunities, and the obstacles a business faces because of a lack of opportunities, usually occur due to a lack of networks. We trust introductions from trusted parties. We include in our due diligence how much we know about someone already and what others say about them. All brands are about reputation. And word of mouth carries immense weight. The more people know you or your product the greater your opportunities and fewer your obstacles. It’s both rational and emotional. It’s human nature.

Therefore the greatest obstacle and opportunity to Hindu or Indian businesses is their access to quality networks. Through those networks, you build relationships, access points, know-how to overcome obstacles, information on which opportunities are available and how to access them.

It is why I’ve been involved in the establishment and growth of business networks targeted at Indians and Hindus. It is the single most useful thing a businessperson can do for his fellow entrepreneurs – create the infrastructure allowing obstacles to be removed and share opportunities.

Indeed if you want to know why Silicon Valley is so successful – it is because it is a network, a cluster, an ecosystem. A network which brings know-how and capital together. It is why the British PM was keen to create TechCity in London – a similar network of capital and entrepreneurs. Through this a virtuous circle of role models and business persons to aspire to can be created.

Then if I am asked what are the opportunities for wind farms in Romania, an area in which my company invests, I can point you to someone who knows. Who can tell you of the obstacles and opportunities. It is a sustainable infrastructure – which is far more important than what may be today’s opportunity – because opportunities change. So the biggest opportunity that exists for business persons is to join as many business organisations, especially those with which they have the most similarity.

And build their access to know-how and opportunities.

Thousands of British financial advisers face ruin More than 3,000 independent financial advisers are expected to go out of business over the next few months because of a crackdown on kickbacks and fees paid by banks and insurers. A sweeping reform of the industry the biggest in 25 years - takes effect on January 1. It aims to stamp out the plague of mis-selling cases that has blighted Britain. Advisers will no longer be able to accept lucrative commissions paid by banks and insurers for selling financial products. Instead, they will have to charge fees for their advice, making them more akin to solicitors or accountants. Those who want to continue selling pensions, life assurance and other investment products will also have to pass tough exams and prove that their books are in order.

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When businessman Colin Jones approached his local bank for a loan in 2007, he had little idea what an “interest rate swap” was, let alone a “structured collar.” Jones wanted 400,000 pounds ($630,000) to buy a small hotel in North Wales and Royal Bank of Scotland said he could have the money if he also took out a swap - a form of insurance designed to protect him from a rise in interest rates.

Like a growing number of small business owners in Britain, Jones now regrets signing up.

His hotel was repos-

sessed in July last year after a sharp drop in rates during the financial crisis pushed charges on the deal to an unaffordable 30,000 pounds a year, the same as the repayments on his loan. I’ve lost my house, my wife and I have separated, I lost my self respect and I lost the respect of my local community because they don’t see what’s going on in the background. People just assume that you’ve done something wrong,” Jones said.

The 48-year-old is caught up in what could

British economy shrinks by 0.5% in second quarter

Britain's economic output decreased by 0.5% in the April-June quarter this year, slightly less than previously thought. "UK gross domestic product (GDP) in volume terms decreased by 0.5% in the second quarter of 2012, revised from the previously estimated 0.7% decline," the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said in a statement. The main causes of the revision to GDP came from upward revisions to both the construction and production industries, with each contributing around 0.1% points to the upward revision to GDP, the statement added. Output of the production industries fell by 0.9%, within which manufacturing output also fell by 0.9%. Meanwhile, output of the services industries fell by 0.1%, while output of

the construction industry fell by 3.9%.

ONS further noted that this "indicates a mild contraction and reflects the difficult economic conditions faced by businesses and consumers, domestically and globally".

Britain has been in recession after posting two successive negative quarters since late 2011. The economy shrank 0.4% in the fourth quarter of last year and by 0.3% in the first quarter of 2012. "The weakness of growth over the last three quarters means that GDP is now around the same level as it was in the second quarter of 2010, so GDP growth has been broadly flat over the last two years," ONS said. The additional public holiday (one-off jubilee holiday to mark Queen Elizabeth II's 60 years on the throne) and bad weather during the second quarter may have adversely affected economic performance, ONS said.

become the UK banking industry’s next big scandal. An increasing number of firms that bought the disputed insurance products are claiming compensation and their advisers say the bill could run into billions of pounds. UK banks already face paying 8.8 billion pounds in compensation for disputes over other insurance. Leading lenders Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds and RBS agreed to review their interest rate swap sales in June after the Financial Services Authority (FSA), Britain’s banking regulator, said it

had found “serious failings” in the way the instruments were sold to small firms. Seven smaller banks have also agreed to review their swap sales.

But so far the banks have made provisions for only modest sums: Barclays and RBS, the country’s biggest small business lenders, have set aside 450 million pounds and 50 million pounds, respectively. The banks are underplaying the scale of the problem,” said Stuart Brothers, a solicitor at Newport-based law firm SRB Legal.

Gujarat is the right place to invest, says Japan envoy Japan's consul-general in Mumbai, Kiyoshi Asako, appeared quite impressed with the infrastructure he saw in and around Ahmedabad on his first visit to Gujarat recently and declared that scores of Japanese companies were lining up to make investments in the state due to the same reason. He said that compared to Mumbai, he found Ahmedabad greener and with better managed traffic.

He also praised the power situation in the state, security and the friendly labour, in the backdrop of the recent black-out in north and east India and the problems Maruti Suzuki is facing in Haryana.

"Ahmedabad seems to have the right pace. It is not as busy as Mumbai and we Japanese are happy to learn that there are many golf courses around the city."

Asako felt that Gujarat was bound to attract Japanese investments,

being strategically located on the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor.

Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to Japan made more Japanese companies consider Gujarat as the right location to invest in India.

During his meet with Modi, the two discussed how ties between Japan and Gujarat could be strengthened with a possible tie-up during the 'Vibrant Gujarat' investment meet to be held in January 2013. Projects, including a 'Mini Japan' township, also figured in the talks. "Japanese companies will be happy to invest in a township which provides a familiar environment for better quality of life," he said.

Haryana is my 1st home, Gujarat 2nd, says Suzuki chief

Suzuki Motor Corporation chairman & CEO Osamu Suzuki described Haryana, where his company has two plants, as his first home and termed Gujarat, where work on a new facility is to commence, as his second, while ruling out any impact on investments into India. "There is no plan to withdraw from India or stop production at Manesar. We have been here for the last 30 years," Suzuki said after meetings with chief ministers of Haryana and Gujarat.

The 82-year-old usually comes around Maruti's annual general meeting, which is scheduled this week, but has stayed unusually longer this time.

At a media interaction, Suzuki parried questions related to the Haryana government and stayed clear of commenting on the cause of the July 18 "pre-meditat-

ed" violence at Maruti Suzuki's Manesar plant, maintaining that investigations are still underway.

"The first point is to find out the cause of the incident ... We are internally trying to find out the point on which workers may have been dissatisfied. If we come across something that we can do, we will take corrective action," he said. Maruti Suzuki chairman RC Bhargava, however, suggested that the attack by workers was instigated from outside. A Maruti executive had died in vio-

lence and around 100 were injured as workers went on a rampage attacking executives with iron rods and car parts after breaking all cameras in the factory. Suzuki maintained that the problem had nothing to do with last year's strike at the plant as there were no pending issues.

After a month-long lockout, Maruti resumed production on August 21 but managed to meet only around half the target of manufacturing 900 Swift and Dzire cars from Manesar as 68% of the workers have so far

resumed work amid tight security arrangements.

While over 500 workers have been sacked, Maruti is now moving to a system of having regular workers and reducing reliance on contract workers. Suzuki, however, said that even in Japan, companies relied on contract workers, but Bhargava said the change in system was planned in advance and a complete overhaul was to be completed by March 2013. Suzuki ruled out any change in investment plans, maintaining that the third unit at Manesar would be as per schedule and the facility in Gujarat, which will have a capacity to manufacture 500,000 vehicles, would come up in three years.

Again, he avoided questions on the proposed facility in Gujarat saying that so far only land had been acquired.

FINANCIAL VOICE

Asian Voice - Saturday 1st September 2012

19

Killing Two Birds With One Stone

Suresh Vagjiani Sow & Reap A Property Investment Company

A couple of weeks ago I had a gentleman come to see me about starting to invest in property. He was a retired gentleman aged 85 years. The main reason why he wanted to start investing was to reduce the amount of inheritance tax he will eventually have to pay.

His house is in a beautiful part of Wimbledon and as he had purchased in a premier road it has simply gone up and up in value, regardless of what the rest of the economy was doing. This is the key when purchasing property, if it has been purchased in a desirable road it will tend to buck downward trends occurring in the rest of the UK property market. During times of economic turmoil, house owners simply hold on to their homes and don’t put them onto the market thereby restricting supply. Most households on these types of roads are firmly established and aren’t highly geared hence tend not to struggle financially regardless of the climate.

This property is valued currently at £1.5m. As the threshold for inheritance tax is £325,000 for every individual above this it will attract a rate of 40%. He decided it was high time to do something as otherwise the government would be taking a big chunk of the pie.

He started this process earlier in 2003 by taking an equity release.

An e quity rele ase is d iffere nt from a mortgage, in that you d o not make ANY month ly payme nts at all. The mon ey is paid after death, the o rigin al amount alon g with t he in terest rolled u p.

The other main difference between a traditional mortgage and an equity release is the older you are the more money you can borrow, with a normal mortgage there are less and less lenders willing to lend as you get older. With an equity release, as death is coming closer the lenders will realise their money quicker and so the amount they are willing to release gets bigger.

When he first took the equity release, this was a new product in the market, since then it has for obvious reasons attracted a lot of regulation. Currently not every mortgage broker is authorised to sell this type of product.

Despite taking a chunk of £460,000 the property has gone up in value heavily and so our client now feels it is time to dip in again. There are a couple of reasons why he can extract more money now, first his age has increased, and secondly the property has increased in value.

The aim of investing is two fold, firstly it is to reduce inheritance tax liability and secondly it is to ensure the funds are working hard for him.

There is little point in purchasing property in his name as his estate will be growing. The idea is to extract money from his residential house and gift it to his son. If he survives for over 7 years the gift will be fully tax free if not it will be partially tax free.

The funds will be used as seed capital to purchase income yielding properties in his son’s name. His son has little declared income, this means he will not be paying a high rate of tax on the income earned.

It is important to ascertain the amount of income which will be actually coming into your pocket. If you’re a high rate tax payer there is little point in going for high yielding properties as the government will get as much benefit from this as you will. It is far better to go for

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properties which will grow more aggressively in capital growth than ones which are cash cows.

One of the main po in ts which re so nat ed wit h him is what we repeat edly emph asise in ou r article s l ik e a man tra, which is locat ion.

He has realised the power of this particular mantra having experienced first hand how much a property can increase, defying the economic climate. This point hit home and prompted him to come and have a meeting with us.

It was great to see this client, he was very astute in matters of tax and property and was doing something about it, hands on at such a ripe age.

But what was more impressive was he has used his money to set up a hospital in Kutch Bhuj for cataract operations. His inspiration was that his father had got cataract and struggled through the later years of his life. He realised for a relatively a small amount of money he could prevent the same hardship for others, this resonated with me as this was the town where I was born. The hospital is tightly managed using his business acumen and is responsible for conducting thousands of cataract operations to date. We are actually privileged to help such a client to sort out his affairs. Naturally we could not charge this client anything for our sourcing services and told him he can further the operations he does instead.

Most asians stick their head in the sand regarding inheritance tax not realising it will wipe off half their estate above a nil rate band.

The government actually has a lot of information on their website.

It is important to be familiar with these rules, as this is one event we will all have to face.

The above example is only one method and relies upon the individual to survive for 7 years for the gift to be completely exempt.

Interestingly you cannot just gift your home over to your children, if you’re still living in the property, as you will still have an interest in the property.

According to their website, any gifts you make to individuals will be exempt from Inheritance Tax as long as you live for seven years after making the gift. These sorts of gifts are known as 'Potentially Exempt Transfers' (PETs). However if you give an asset away at any time, but keep an interest in it - for example you give your house away but continue to live in it rent-free - this gift will not be a potentially exempt transfer.

If you die between three and seven years after making a gift, and the total value of gifts that you made is over the threshold, any Inheritance Tax due on the gift is reduced on a sliding scale. This is known as 'Taper Relief'.

We provide a turnkey solution. Contact us now:

Specialists in Central London Property Sourcing

0207 313 4595 Westbourne House, 14-16 Westbourne Grove, London, W2 5RH

Tips of the Week l Look beyond your doorstep. Investing on your backdoor is often a safe option but poor option. The question you should ask is: where will your money serve you best? l Control your emotions. When it comes to an investment property don't think how your family will fit into the rooms a few years down the road, keep the two separate.

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finAnciAl voIce

Asian Voice - Saturday 1st September 2012

GVK gets final green nod for Australian coal project

In a major relief to India's GVK group and Australia's Hancock Prospecting, the Australian federal government granted final environmental approvals to the GVK-Hancock joint venture's A$10b Alpha coal and rail project in Queensland state.

GVK owns 79% in the Alpha Coal project, while the balance 21% is held by Australia's richest person Gina Rinehart, who sold the majority stake in favour of the Indian firm in September last year. In a setback to GVK, the project has been hanging fire for nearly three months after the federal government refused accord environmental clearances the project after the Queensland state government cleared it in May. The Australian federal government, which had in June halted clearances following serious concerns expressed by the environmentalist led by global green watchdog Greenpeace, has now prescribed 19 conditions for GVK to protect the environment, while granting final clearances.

The Greenpeace led environmentalists have been raising concerns over the adverse environmental impacts on the fragile Great

With no reforms, India's bulls get edgy: J P Morgan Stock bulls in India "are now getting edgy" according to a J P Morgan report, as the government has yet to deliver on key reforms, while economic fundamentals have "deteriorated." The investment bank says investor hopes India would deliver reforms after presidential elections in late July have been dashed, while Parliament has been stalled because of the fallout of the controversial coal concessions to private companies.

Investors now hope the government will act in the eight-week window from the end of the monsoon session of parliament on September 7 to the state elections in Gujarat in November. The brokerage says economic fundamentals have worsened as lower rainfalls in the monsoon season could hurt consumption, while a rally in crude prices could pressure deficits and inflation.

Still, J P Morgan remains "positive" on Indian stocks.

positive decision of the Australian federal government also paves way to ensure that more than 1.4 billion people, largely in Asia, that face a major electricity shortage are provided with an additional source of coal to enhance electricity supply to the region. The development also paves way to "improving quality of life of the people and overall economic development."

In September last year, GVK had bought 79% in the Alpha Coal and Alpha West projects and 100% stake in Kevin's Corner project, the three mines having an estimated 8 billion tonnes of coal resources, in Queensland state from Hancock Prospecting for $1.26 billion. GVK group had also acquired a 100% stake in the 500km railway line and a 60 million tonne a year port as a part of the 'pit-to-port' logistics solution. GVK said the coal mining projects with superior quality low ash, low sulphur and low gas thermal coal will be reliably exported, largely to the Asian destinations and it expects to start project works early next year expecting first coal to be produced in 2015.

G.V. Sanjay Reddy, ViceChairman, GVK Group, and G.V.K. Reddy, Chairman

Barrier Reef and threatened species in the area by GVK's Alpha coal, rail and port project. In a statement in Hyderabad, GVK said the Australian federal environment minister Tony Burkegranted approvals to construct and operate the Alpha coal mine and a railway line between the mine and the port at Abbot Point near Bowen.

GVK said the coal mine and railway line projects would provide jobs to some 6,000 people and help the Australian government earn $1.5 billion a year in royalties and taxes at peak production. The GVK group vice chairman GV Sanjay Reddy said, "This is another important milestone for our project which will provide significant benefits to the Alpha and Bowen regions, the state and the country."

Further, Reddy said the

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

Do what is right, not easy I was watching the epic film Devdas (again) and it struck me that had the heroine, Paro simply set aside her ego (and the wishes of her parents) for a moment and married the hero, Devdas then all of the drama could have been avoided and everyone lived happily ever after. But of course then there would have been no film either. Ironically, there are times in our lives when we find ourselves in situations wherein no matter what we do, or however good our intentions, someone ultimately gets hurt?

And while we all hate to be in such predicaments we cannot but help watch (and enjoy?) when other suffer this fate.

This is further evidenced by people’s fascination with Indian soap operas. While most people claim to have no interest and even ridicule these programs, the fact of the matter is that almost everyone I know can name the characters in at least one such serial. Be it Kusum - remember her? or Jhansi ki Rani – the common factor in all of these is

that there is a central figure, who has a heart of gold and yet who, through no fault of their own, find themselves in a predicament that no matter what they do, someone will get hurt. And we the audience, actually gain some sort of pleasure from watching their misfortune.

Leadership can appear to be very appealing– it brings with it power, status and even fame. There are many reasons why people would aspire to be leaders.

However, there is another side to the leadership coin, a darker, more sinister and damaging side. And which side you get can be determined by something as unpredictable as a coin flip.

Those who have been successful leaders were able to become that not because they were the richest, the most handsome or even the most intelligent. They were successful because they realised that leadership had very little to do with them at all. They understood that as the role of the leader was actually to serve everyone else.

This is a lesson often

Indian giants want to buy shares in US LNG hubs could by finalized before year-end. India is already the world’s eighth-largest importer of LNG. Those imports could rise five-fold in the next decade as domestic gas output falls and demand surges.

Currently, seven LNG terminals are planned in the US to export gas.

Indian companies want to ship from the US east coast just as Chinese counterparts focus on the west coast for shipment to ensure energy security.

This is significant as natural gas shipments from US could become more viable than gas flowing from Turkmenistan through the Turkmenistan–Afghanista n–Pakistan–India (TAPI) pipeline in the future. The landing cost of natural gas through this pipeline is estimated at $13 per mmBtu, besides the geopolitical risks.

RIL has made $3.8 billion investments in US

Reliance Industries (RIL), Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and GAIL want to buy shares in liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals on the east coast of the United States for shipping gas to India at about $9.5 per million metric British thermal unit (mmBtu), which will be over 50% cheaper than current imports.

Massive shale gas discoveries have made US gas-surplus, with work on converting LNG complexes from regasification to liquefaction (import to export) terminals underway. Liquefaction makes it easier to store and transport gas where pipelines are not available.

“Indian companies with shale gas assets are interested in acquiring an operating interest in terminals to ship gas to India at less than $10,” said a banker directly involved with the discussions, adding one such deal

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overlooked by many people who want to make their mark in the world.

They seek popularity over respect, information over knowledge and followers over friends. Yet these are useless when the time comes when difficult decisions need to be made – it is at such times when leadership is loneliest place there is. No leadership position is forever, but the consequences can last a long time.

So when you are stuck between a rock and a hard place, when there is no way to please everyone, take JK Rowlings advice, ‘Do what is right, not what is easy’. Then whatever the ending, you can be happy.

Amit Patel has over 15 years experience in the field of Personal Development and Human Resource Management. He provides consultancy services and ideas on issues such as Leadership, People Management and Development. To contact Amit, email amitpatelmail @gmail.com

GoAir gears up for foreign operations

shale exploration and production assets, and is now exploring opportunities to buy stakes in LNG terminals on the east coast to ship the gas to India. “RIL has already invested $3.8 billion and is planning to invest another $1-1.5 billion over a minimum period of five years. Shale gas is expected to constitute $1 billion to $1.25 billion of EBITDA once the total investment is completed,” said an RIL spokesperson.

GAIL India last year bought a 20% stake in one of Carrizo Oil & Gas’s shale gas assets for $300 million. The gas transporter is planning to buy a stake in an LNG export terminal and has been in talks with Macquarie Energy, which has a share in the US-based Freeport LNG project. “India needs gas, so equity participation in LNG projects is also required,” said GAIL marketing director Prabhat Singh.

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that in mind. For the time, the company has identified select routes in Southeast Asia and the Gulf countries. Roni said once the government approved its application, the airline would also consider starting flights to Singapore, Sri Lanka and Nepal.

It flies to 22 domestic destinations, with 707 nonstop and about 2,000 connecting flights every week.

It has identified select routes in Southeast Asia and the Gulf countries.

Addressing a press conference to announce the launch of the company’s Bangalore-to-Goa operations from August 21, as well as it’s thirteenth aircraft, Roni said GoAir was in talks with investors for additional funding, provided the government approved foreign direct investment (FDI) in the aviation sector. “Currently, we are well funded and do not need any cash for expansion,” he said.

The Wadia Group-promoted budget carrier Go Airlines (India), or GoAir, is gearing up to launch international operations by the end of this financial year or early the next.

Chief Executive Officer Giorgio De Roni said: “The Government of India has stipulated domestic carriers can go abroad only if they have at least 20 aircraft. Currently, we have 13, and another seven would be delivered by July 2014. We have applied to the government for waiver of this norm so that we can start services on international routes.

We are confident of securing the relaxation sometime this year.” He said the company had a fleet of Airbus A320, which could fly non-stop for five hours and potential international destinations would be selected keeping

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Asian Voice - Saturday 1st September 2012

21

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

What is the ECB’s next move?

The euro held onto its recent gains against the U.S. dollar as the rumors continue to flow out of Europe. First it was talk of a yield cap on peripheral sovereign bonds and now there's speculation of a potential setback to the European Central Bank's bond buying program. Most of these reports have not been substantiated but this morning, ECB member Asmussen admitted that the bond-buying program is still being developed and will be addressed at next month's monetary policy meeting. While the market is focused on what the Federal Reserve will do come September, the European Central Bank is preparing to take additional steps to fortify the Eurozone economy. The euro recovered smartly from its July lows thanks to the rally in global equities and decline in Spanish and Italian bond yields.

Volatility in the FX markets have declined significantly in recent weeks but with growth in the region slowing and a number of Eurozone countries falling back into recession, the central bank still needs to work hand in hand with European governments to bring an end to the region's debt crisis.

There is no question that the ECB is up to something big and it will be announced in

September or October.

When the central bank last met at the beginning of this month, President Draghi spent a lot of time talking about a new "framework" for open market operations. He said the details of the intervention in the bond market will be developed in the coming weeks and will provide "full transparency" on the countries involved and the size of the bond purchases. Mario Draghi made it a point to say that intervening in the bond market to buy short term bonds "falls squarely in our mandate." According to a story released by Bloomberg News on Friday, the ECB may not have this plan prepared in time for the September meeting but comments from Asmussen suggests otherwise. Either way, the ECB is coming to the rescue. If the central bank unveils the details for their new program next week, investors will most likely take the EUR/USD higher in approval because buying bonds reduces the risk in short term yields and the potential of more funding troubles.

In the US, Ben Bernanke's annual speech at the Jackson Hole Summit on Friday is the main focus for U.S. dollar

traders this week. Investors are desperately trying to figure out where the Federal Reserve stands on monetary policy.

According to Fed President Pianalto, who is a voting member of the FOMC this year, bond buying could boost GDP if the risks are managed properly. This indicates that certain members of the central bank still support easier monetary policy despite improvements in the economy.

Recent developments have investors thoroughly confused about where the central bank stands on monetary policy. The minutes from the most recent monetary policy meeting revealed that the Federal Reserve was much closer to easing monetary policy than most people had anticipated and as a result, the dollar sold off aggres-

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In the UK the housing market remains under pressure as the economy struggles to recover from a recession and the effects of the Eurozone crisis straying in onto other nations. Despite low interest rates, Hometrack's Director of Research Richard Donnell said the housing market remains in a fragile state. A survey by Rightmove showed that house prices declined by 2.4% the fastest pace ever seen for a month. The Bank of England is assessing the impact of their new plan to boost credit as they ponder whether to expand stimulus through quantitative easing. Although some disagree on further QE, BoE Chief Economists Spencer Dale defends it saying, "Our economy today would be in a far worse state without QE and a bank rate at 0.5%. The recession would have been even deeper, the rise in unemployment even greater." He says the purpose of the monetary policy is to stimulate the economy to return to stable growth, low inflation and a "more normal level of interest rates."

Weekly Currencies As of Tuesday 29th August 2012 @ 4pm GBP - INR = 88.10 USD - INR = 55.66 EUR - INR = 69.92 GBP - USD = 1.58 GBP - EUR = 1.26 EUR - USD = 1.26 GBP - AED = 5.81 GBP - CAD = 1.56 GBP - NZD = 1.96 GBP - AUD = 1.52 GBP - ZAR = 13.26 GBP - HUF = 354.96

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.

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PakisTaN-BaNgladesh-sri laNka

Asian Voice - Saturday 1st September 2012

Rights body urges Bangladesh to drop murder charges against teen

New York: Bangladeshi authorities should drop spurious murder charges against seventeen-year-old Limon Hossain and halt the campaign of persecution against him, Human Rights Watch said.

Hossain was physically assaulted and injured on August 20, 2012, by supporters of the Rapid Action Battalion counter-terrorism force. Hossain, was a 16year-old student when he lost a leg after being shot by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) in a bungled operation in March 2011. The police took no action against his attackers. Instead, they filed criminal charges against Hossain and failed to protect him from attacks by alleged RAB supporters.

"The ongoing abuse of Limon Hossain and his family by government elements protecting RAB adds gross insult to already grievous

injury," said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "The physical violence against Limon and his family and a new spurious murder charge only highlight the depths to which the Bangladeshi government will go to discredit and intimidate a young person who has already suffered the loss of one leg to RAB gunfire."

On August 20, 2012, Ibrahim Sikdar, an alleged RAB informant, his brother-inlaw, Forkan Sikdar and other unidentified people physically attacked Hossain on the streets of his home village of

Taliban dare Pak army over raids in North Waziristan

Islamabad: The Pakistani Taliban has warned that it would use a team of bombers to target troops if an operation is launched against militants in the restive North Waziristan tribal region bordering Afghanistan. In a statement emailed to the media, Tehrik-eTaliban Pakistan spokesman Ihsanullah Ihsan said his organization had learnt that the Pakistan army had drawn up plans for an operation in North Waziristan Agency in the near future. The Taliban are prepared to mount a fitting response to any operations, Ihsan said. "TTP has also prepared itself for resistance, we have set up a suicide bombers squad to welcome the army.

We will defeat our enemy, who is defending the un-Islamic system of Pakistan by (hitting) them back hard," Ihsan said.

Ihsan further claimed that his group had received an "exclusive" intelligence report about the operation in North Waziristan from "sources" in

A Q Khan floats own political party Islamabad: Disgraced Pakistani nuclear scientist A Q Khan has floated a political forum 'Tehrik-e-Tahaffuz Pakistan' and said he plans to launch a countrywide youth awakening programme ahead of the general election. Khan, in continous feud with the country's establishment , said he plans to motivate the youth "regarding who to vote for and who not to vote for"."I will consistently urge youth to elect honest persons in upcoming elections and stand for survival of the country," he said. Khan was put under house arrest in 2004 after he admitted to running a secret proliferation ring that provided knowhow and nuclear components to countries like North Korea and Libya. The current government has eased some of the restrictions on Khan.

the army headquarters. He gave details of the regiments and units and that would participate in the campaign, which he said would be launched on August 26 and would last one month.There was no official word on the Taliban's claims. The US has been pushing Pakistan to act against Taliban and al-Qaida elements in North Waziristan for a long time. Defence secretary Leon Panetta recently claimed Pakistan was preparing an operation against the Taliban in North Waziristan.

However, Pakistan army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani said that his forces will undertake an operation in North Waziristan "at a timeframe of our choosing and determined only by our political and military requirements".

Jhalakati in Barisal district.

When his mother and brother tried to intervene, they were also beaten. All three required hospitalization for their injuries and the doctor who tended to Hossain's injuries said he requires ear surgery as a result of the attack.

During the August 20 incident, Forkan Sikdar suffered fatal heart failure. On August 23, Ibrahim Sikdar filed murder charges in the Jhalakati magistrate's court against Hossain and his relatives, accusing them of killing Forkan Sikdar.

The Rapid Action Battalion was formed in March 2004 as an elite counterterrorism force.

It has targeted both criminal suspects and alleged members of militant Islamist or left-wing groups.

The unit consists of members from the military - army, air force, and navy - the police, and Bangladesh's

other law enforcement groups.

Members are assigned from their parent bodies, to which they return after serving with the unit.

It operates under the Ministry of Home Affairs under the command of an officer not below the rank of deputy inspector general of the police or the equivalent military rank. Human Rights Watch and other international and domestic human rights organizations have long documented extrajudicial killings and torture by Rapid Action Battalion.

However, the Bangladeshi government has refused to investigate these allegations.

In private, some Bangladeshi officials have told Human Rights Watch that they are aware of the human rights violations, but that the government refuses to take action for fear of antagonizing the military.

Pak summons US diplomat to protest over drones

Islamabad: Pakistan summoned a US diplomat to protest over drone strikes in its northwestern tribal area, which it called "unlawful", the foreign ministry said in a statement.

Missile attacks from unmanned US aircraft in the restive North Waziristan tribal district have killed at least 15 people since the start of the Muslim festival of Eid. "A senior US diplomat was called to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and informed that the drone strikes were unlawful, against international law and a violation of Pakistan's sovereignty," the ministry statement said.

Pakistan has repeatedly criticised the drone strikes in public, calling them counterproductive.

In June Richard Hoagland, the US charge d'affaires -- currently the most senior US diplomat stationed in Pakistan -- was summoned to the foreign

lion in loans to its borrowers, nearly all of whom are poor women. An organisation that has made Bangladesh proud and transformed so many individuals, families and communities - and was itself awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006, along with its founder – has not find favour with the government.

The Government is out to break the bank and the good works it has achieved. The bank’s government-appointed chairman, instead of its millions of shareholders - the same people who are its borrowers - will now decide on Grameen’s new managing director and, with it, the future of the bank.

This prepares the ground for de facto nationalisation of Grameen Bank. Soon, it will

Pak barber has eyes, lips, tongue cut out over illicit relationship Lahore: A barber in rural Pakistan was left fighting for his life after being horrifically mutilated over a relationship with a married woman from an influential local family.

Yousaf Khan, 32, was kidnapped by seven members of a landowning family who gouged his eyes out with a knife before cutting off his ears, nose, lips and tongue. The bloody incident took place in Mirzapur village in Okara district, around 120 kilometres (75 miles) east of Lahore. Yousaf Khan was blamed for an illicit relationship with a woman. We have arrested five culprits, police said.

Woman sleeps through Pak-France-Pak flight Lahore: A Frenchwoman flew from the Pakistani city of Lahore to Paris and back again after sleeping through the stop in the French capital. Patrice Christine Ahmed, had boarded Pakistan International Airlines flight PIA-7333 to Paris via Milan. She returned to Lahore after failing to get off in the French capital Ahmed remained asleep during the two-hour stopover at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris. She had apparently taken sleeping pills as it was not possible for a passenger to sleep for so long inside a plane. When the plane took off from Paris for Lahore, Ahmed woke up and realized she was going back to Pakistan. She raised an alarm and asked the crew to take her back to Paris. She was told her request could not be entertained and she was asked to stay calm. On her return to Lahore at 7am after a 12,000-km round trip, immigration authorities stopped her and took up the matter with PIA.

Pak Supreme Court gives PM Ashraf more time in graft case

ministry to hear a protest about drones. This week's strikes came amid reports of a thaw in Islamabad's difficult ties with Washington following a visit to Washington

by Pakistan's spymaster, Lieutenant General Zaheer ul-Islam, earlier this month.

Islam's talks with his CIA counterpart were said to have focused on drone strikes.

Attacks by unmanned American aircraft are deeply unpopular in Pakistan, which says they violate its sovereignty and fan anti-US sentiment, but US officials are said to believe the attacks are too important to give up.

Bangladesh’s grameen Bank faces an uncertain future

Dhaka: Dr Muhammad Yunus’s Grameen Bank, which helped millions of Bangladeshis out of desperate poverty since 1979, is facing an uncertain future.

Things are not looking good for Dr Yunus or Grameen, which makes tiny loans without collateral to the country’s poorest people. The Nobel prizewinner has been forced out of the bank because of unfair slanders against him, while the Government of Bangladesh is now close to gaining de facto control of an organisation that is 97 per cent owned by its customers.

The seizure of Grameen Bank is a tragedy. From its small beginnings in 1983, it now operates in more than 80,000 villages. Grameen has distributed more than $10 bil-

In Focus

no longer remain the same bank that it always has been.

The rights of shareholders to decide its future will be removed. This will be a sad end of a globally admired institution.

The World Bank recently cancelled more than a billion dollars in financing after it pulled out of a project to build Bangladesh’s biggest bridge because of concerns about corruption. It is vital that everyone in the international community ensures that we hold the Bangladeshi Government accountable for providing a fair, transparent and safe environment for leaders such as Dr Yunus and others to work with the people of Bangladesh to ensure that they can live the lives of dignity they deserve.

Islamabad: Pakistan's Supreme Court adjourned a case that could see Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf being formally charged with contempt of court and disqualified. Ashraf appeared in court over his failure to comply with orders to reopen corruption cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.

The case has fuelled tension in a long-running standoff between the government and increasingly assertive judiciary. The court adjourned proceedings until Sept. 18. It said Ashraf must ensure a letter is written to Swiss authorities asking them to reopen corruption cases against Zardari. Justice Asif Khosa said Ashraf did not have to write the letter himself. He could nominate someone else to write it. "I will make a sincere effort to solve this issue in a way that the dignity and honour of the Supreme Court will be maintained," Ashraf said.

Top Haqqani commander killed in US drone strikes in Pak Islamabad: Badruddin Haqqani, the key operational commander of the al-Qaida linked Haqqani network, and top Pakistani Taliban commander Mullah Dadullah are believed to have been killed in US drone and air strikes in the tribal region of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Badruddin, the son of Afghan warlord Jalaluddin Haqqani, is ranked as a deputy to his elder brother and the network's chief Sirajuddin and was believed to be killed in one of the five volleys of drone strikes in Pakistan's Taliban-controlled tribal agency of North Waziristan since August 18.

Four of the missiles hit took place in Shawal Valley.

17 party-goers ‘beheaded’ in Afghan village Afghanistan : The Taliban beheaded seventeen party-goers, including two women dancers, in Afghanistan's volatile Helmand province as punishment, recalling the darkest days of rule by the ultra-conservative Islamist insurgents before their ouster in 2001. The bodies were found in a house near the Musa Qala district where a party was held on Sunday night with music and mixed-sex dancing, said district governor Nimatullah. Men and women do not usually mingle in Afghanistan unless they are related, and parties involving both genders are rare and kept secret.

worlD 23

Asian Voice - Saturday 1st September 2012

China develops missiles that can carry 10 nuclear warheads

‘Dr Death’ gets new lease of life

48 killed in Kenya ethnic clashes

Nairobi: Their were 48 people including 11 children killed in a clash involving two communities in Kenya. The clash between the Pokomo and Orma communities took place overnight in the Tana river region of southeast Kenya. Many people were injured and several houses were burnt down.

Several livestock belonging to the Ormas were slashed to death. The Pokomos are farmers and the Ormas are pastoralists, and have been fighting over pastureland for some time now. The Ormas' cattle had strayed into farmlands owned by the Pokomos, and in the process destroyed crops.

This prompted the Pokomos to attack the Orma herdsmen.

Los Angeles: An armed man has been arrested in the western US for allegedly sending an email that threatened President Barack Obama, a justice official said. "He had sent an emailed threat against the president," said Emily Langlie, a spokeswoman for the US attorney's office in Washington state, confirming that the man was detained at an apartment in Seattle.

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court, in a unanimous decision, ordered a retrial saying a substantial miscarriage of justice had occurred on the 43rd day of Patel's 58-day trial, when the “prosecutors radically changed their case in a way which rendered irrelevant much of the evidence”.

“The prejudicial effect on the jury was not overcome by the directions given by the trial judge

about the limited use that could be made of that evidence,” the court said in a summary of its reasons published here.

“A substantial miscarriage of justice occurred.

The court set aside the order of the court of appeal and in its place ordered that there be a new trial.”

During the hearing before Justice Martin Daubney, the director of public prosecutions did not oppose Patel's bail.

Patel's lawyers argued the bail conditions were “exactly the same” as the conditions he faced while on trial in 2010, and that the 20,000-dollar surety lodged at that time remained in place.

Washington: An elderly Sikh man, in his early 70s, was allegedly beaten up by his neighbour in New Jersey following an altercation and was later arrested by the police because of keeping 'kripan', a Sikh article of faith.

The incident happened on July 26, nearly 10 days before the shooting at Oak Creek gurdwara in Wisconsin, United Sikhs, a Sikh advocacy group said.

Giving details of the incident, the group said that Avtar Singh, a gas station owner and one of the founding members of Glen

Rock gurdwara in New Jersey, went to his neighbouring shop owned by Edward Koscovski to request him to move his truck that was parked and blocking the entrance of his gas station.

The request turned into an altercation in which Avtar Singh was brutally assaulted, it said. "I kept on yelling that please let me go but nothing moved Edward from hitting me. When I turned around using all my strength, Edward smashed my face, broke my teeth and kept punching me in the stomach. He grabbed

my kirpan and threw it at his attendant.

"The attendant removed the kirpan from the mian (cover) and hid the mian (cover) in a room inside. He also snatched my phone and put it out of sight," Avtar Singh said.

Upon arrival at the scene, the police arrested the 72-year -old Avtar Singh and charged him with possession of a weapon (kirpan), United Sikhs said.

He was interrogated before anyone attended to his injuries and then taken to the hospital.

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suggesting that the new reports say that it currently had 55 to 65 ICBM. The US experts also said that Beijing had separately tested submarine launched missiles in recent weeks, which it could use to outflank American missile defence systems.

The experts also said that China had developed the expertise to mount dummy warheads on some of its nuclear missiles and that these have heat and electromagnetic devices designed to trick defence missile system. The NYT also said that China was preparing two submarines for deployment each with 12 missiles. US experts said China's moves to modernise its missiles comes in the wake of it carrying out sea trials of its first aircraft carrier and flight test of its new stealth J-20 jet.

Th NYT said to counter the Chinese build up, US was considering placing additional high-tech radar systems to track Chinese ballistic missiles either in southern Japan or in south east Asia.

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Washington: China has developed a new generation of inter-continental and submarine launched missiles capable of carrying as many as 10 nuclear warheads, increasing its ability to reach US and to overwhelm missile defence systems. The US military and intelligence officials say that China has developed the new long range Dongfeng-41 ICBM with mobile launching system making it harder to find and destroy the missile before it is launched. But the Global Times - a newspaper controlled by China's Communist Party - disputed Western media reports of Dongfeng-41 tests being carried out last month.

It admitted China was developing the capability to put multiple warheads on its inter-continental ballistic missiles.

The new generation Dongfeng-41 is estimated to have a strike distance of 12,000 to 14,000 kilometers and armed with single, 3, 6, or even 10 multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicle (MIRV) warheads.

The NYT, quoting a Congressional panel, said that US and other western powers might have underestimated the size of China's nuclear arsenal,

Elderly Sikh man beaten up in US, arrested for keeping 'kripan'

Armed man held for email threat to Obama

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Melbourne: In a major relief to India-born American surgeon Jayant Patel, an Australian court quashed his conviction for manslaughter of three patients in a Queensland hospital and ordered a retrial, calling him a victim of a “substantial miscarriage” of justice. Dubbed by the Australian media as “Dr Death”, 62-year-old Patel, who was jailed for seven years in 2010 for three counts of manslaughter and one count of causing grievous bodily harm to his patients, walked free from a Brisbane prison after the high court set aside his convictions and jail term. ismissing his convictions, the Brisbane high

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24

INDIA

Asian Voice - Saturday 1st September 2012

2G case: Supreme Court gives clean chit to Chidambaram

The Supreme Court gave absolute clean chit to finance minister P Chidambaram in the 2G spectrum allocation scam.

The apex court said that there was absolutely no evidence to link him to any conspiracy in the 2G spectrum scam. The SC said there is no evidence presented to infer that Chidambaram had a role in under pricing of spectrum.

The apex court said mere meeting of Chidambaram with then telecom minister A Raja is not sufficient to infer a conspiracy to lower the price of spectrum or their alleged irregular allotment.

The SC bench also said there is no evidence to infer that Chidambaram had either abused his official position to earn pecuniary benefit to himself, A Raja or anyone. The SC said mere meeting of ministers among themselves or with the Prime Minister can not be cited as evidence to suggest wrong-doing.

The apex court also asked for affidavit from telecom secretary promising that the government

will implement 2G judgment directing auction of 122 spectrum licences.

The court sought the affidavit before entertaining the Centre's plea to extend auction deadline from August 31 to November 13.

The apex court dismissed Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy's petition seeking CBI probe against Chidambaram in the 2G scam. It said Swamy's petition is devoid of any merit. I will file a review petition in SC: Subramanian Swamy.

Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy said he will seek a review of the Supreme Court judgement dismissing his petition in the 2G spectrum case against finance minister P

Chidambaram.

"I will seek a review of the judgement. I did not talk about conspiracy. I spoke about loss to the nation," Swamy said outside the Supreme Court shortly after his petition was rejected. "It is a bad judgement. The Supreme Court never allowed me to complete my submissions," he told reporters.

He said the court has given its verdict on issues which he never raised and not touched on the important aspect of huge loss to the nation.

Government quickly come out in strong defence of Chidambaram.

"Chidambaram has nothing to do with 2G case. Swamy is always involved in filing these kinds of petitions.

So, there is no ground for his petition. We will face him legally and politically if he tries to malign the Congress party," minister of state in the PMO V Narayanasamy said.

Even if Subramanian Swamy files a review petition in the apex court, it will be dismissed as he has no case, the minister said.

Narendra Modi to interact via Google+Hangout

By AV Correspondent In a first of its kind, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi is all set to interact with people, across the globe, in a Google+ Hangout session on Friday evening. While Modi may be first Indian politician to try this mode of public relation, US President Barack Obama and Australia’s Prime Minister Julia Gillard, have already held Google+ Hangout sessions earlier.

It is learnt that to generate higher participation in the session, Google has invited popular Bollywood actor Ajay Devgn to anchor the session.

While the state government has been celebrating the 150th anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, the theme of the Hangout session will be ‘Strong and Glorious India Long Cherished by Swami Vivekananda’, according to the state government.

The interactive session will also be aired live on Modi’s website as well.

The state government claims that the Hangout has received a tremendous response from both India and across the world, receiving over 5,000 questions. “Questions can be sent till midnight IST of 29th August with the byline ‘#ModiHangout’ for them to be considered,” said a government statement, adding that the

viewers can post their questions on several forums including YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Modi’s own website.

While Modi has been making efforts to brand himself as the development icon, he has also been projecting a tech savvy image for himself, which is expected to get a boost from this exercise. As it is, he has been fairly active on social media sites like Twitter and maintains his own blog, which he updates regularly.

Modi blames Congress for mess in India

State chief minister Narendra Modi slammed the Congress for what he called the country's "durdasha" (mismanagement) and urged the Gujarat BJP Mahila Morcha to prevent the Congress from coming to power in the state.

"Congress is campaigning for 'change of direction, change of situation' in Gujarat. But due to the bad direction of the Congress, our country is in a bad situation at present.

You will not let that atmosphere of 'durdasha' enter our soil," he said while

addressing a gathering of the morcha in Gandhinagar. He also took a dig at the Congress for being "intolerant" to criticism. He mentioned a circular of the Gujarat Congress banning a regional TV channel from covering its events.

"Journalists on Twitter, who spoke against Congress, were blocked.

Here they banned a TV channel. Their crime is that they exposed cracks in the 'Ghar Nu Ghar' scheme of the Congress.

Yet this party talks about democracy," he said.

He urged them to remember the Emergency imposed by late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in the 1970s when civil freedoms were suspended and a reign of terror was unleashed.

"Remember the days of Indira Gandhi, when she attacked democracy. There was widespread fear of the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA), which was repealed in 1977. People were jailed, but they voted her out," Modi added.

He called upon BJP Mahila Morcha members to focus at the booth-level for the forthcoming assembly elections in the state, which is likely to be held in December this year.

"Elections are won at the booth level. If women bring at least 300 votes per booth, we will emerge victorious," he said.

In divine light

By Rajen Vakil

The Story of Bhima and the Python After the Pandavas left Kailas and the mountain called Gandhamadana, where Arjuna had returned from the heavens, they travelled across many places till they reached the forest called Dwaita (meaning duality). They felt sad at leaving the beauty of Gandhamadana.

One day Bhima went for a walk in the jungle. On the way he shot many deer, killed elephants, and uprooted trees. He was so happy that he started jumping in joy and making terrible sounds which shook the whole forest and the mountains nearby.

Hearing his sounds, even the most powerful of elephants and lions started scampering in fear, snakes that were hiding in caves started running away in different directions. This pleased Bhima and he started going into the caves and terrifying the snakes.

Here, Bhima saw a huge python which gave him goose bumps. Its body was huge like a mountain and it covered the opening of a vast cave. Not only was the python extraordinarily huge, it was very long too, with yellow coloured stripes. It had four huge teeth in a mouth that was larger than the cave, its eyes were fiery red, and it kept on flicking its long tongue. All the other animals were frightened of this python which looked like the god of

death in person.

The python was very angry that Bhima had disturbed the jungle and other animals with his terrible sounds. It ran towards Bhima to attack him. It twisted around Bhima’s two hands and when it did this, Bhima fainted. The snake had a boon that anyone it touched would fall unconscious.

Even though Bhimasen had the strength of ten thousand elephants, he could do nothing to this large python. As Bhima woke up from his feint, he tried his best to free himself from the snake but all his efforts were useless as the snake was blessed with the boon.

Bhima was shocked at the strength and power of the snake and spoke to him. He said, “O great snake please tell me who you are? What do you

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

Kingfisher grounds pilot who took woman into cockpit

Kingfisher has derostered the commander who last Sunday flew a lady with him from Delhi to Mumbai in the cockpit in violation of all rules and despite being warned against doing so by the crew. The airline has told Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) Arun Mishra that it would shortly be completing its probe into the cabin crew's complaint against the pilot, pending which this action has been taken.

The DGCA will launch its own probe into the episode and sources said the pilot's flying licence would be suspended for some months if the complaint against him is found true. Mishra is learnt to have taken a very serious view of this episode and sources say if the com-

want of me? If you feel it right, do answer my questions. I am the younger brother of Dharmaraja Yudhisthira, the Pandava. I have the strength of ten thousand elephants, have defeated and killed many enemies including animals, demons, snakes and beings of the other world.

Yet, here I am, helpless in your grip, what kind of strength and knowledge do you have?”

The snake slowly wrapped itself around Bhima’s body and said, “O strong one, today is a day of good fortune for me that the Gods have sent you as my food. Before I kill you, let me tell you the story of how I became a python. I was a great king but the curse of a rishi made me fall into this state. Let me tell you the story in detail.”

To be continued…

plaint is true, this episode will be a permanent blot on the pilot's record as it would be put on his flying licence.

Apart from making the pilot join the swelling ranks of grounded and unpaid pilots, the airline could strip the commander — who is its head of training — of his examiner and instructor positions.

Sources say the airline top brass is livid at the pilot as his alleged breach of rules came at a time when the DGCA is conducting a safety audit of Kingfisher.

While the government has ruled out any action against Kingfisher is face of its mounting woes due to a crippling cash crunch, such blatant violation of rules and regulations could make life tougher for the ailing airline.

Isro prepares for historic 100th mission

Preparations for the historic 100th mission of the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) were on with the space agency planning to launch PSLV C-21, which will carry two foreign satellites in September. "We have two capsules, a remote sensing satellite from France and a small Japanese satellite will be the co-passenger.

Preparations are going on.

We plan to have the launch in the second week of September," Isro chairman Dr K Radhakrishnan told reporters at the Chennai airport. Isro plans to launch 720-kg SPOT-6 remote sensing satellite from France (built by ASTRIUM SAS) and a 15kg Japanese spacecraft Protiers on board the home-grown Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C21) in September, in what is perceived as a major milestone of sorts.

INDIA

Asian Voice - Saturday 1st September 2012

Trinamool ready for mid-term polls, says Mamata

Kiran Bedi fires salvo at Arvind Kejriwal, wants Anna to step in

Asserting that her party was prepared for mid-term polls anytime, Trinamool Congress chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, however, said that she wanted the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government to complete its full term.

"We don't want the UPA dispensation to fall.. we want it to complete its full term in office," Banerjee told media persons at the state secretariat, Writers' Building, to a query on chances of midterm polls against the backdrop of the current political situation.

But she said the party would assess the political situation if the situation drifted to the possibility of a mid-term poll.

"If we have the general elections tomorrow, we will discuss it in the party and in the right forum because it is not my sole decision."

"But I can tell you our party is ready to go for polls anytime. We are ready to serve the people," Banerjee added.

In a veiled attack on Arvind Kejriwal, activist Kiran Bedi said erstwhile Team Anna has become "suspect" in its programme after a few chose the political route and suggested that Anna Hazare step in to provide direction.

Bedi also appeared to take a dig on the series of street agitations by India Against Corruption led by Kejriwal when she asked whether "are we a movement for a cause, which was Jan Lokpal Bill, Right to Reject etc or a mass of agitation-ists?"

Asked whether the dissolving of Team Anna has made corrupt more confident now, Bedi said the pressure "may have lessened".

Her remarks came on Twitter against the backdrop of questions being raised on her stand to focus on Congress in the anti-corruption fight and not target BJP. "Ever since few have opted for political route the movement has become suspect in its programmes.

Anna needs to step in to direct," Bedi said.

Hazare had disbanded Team Anna after the anticorruption movement decided to take a political plunge earlier this month.

Bedi had skipped a protest organised by IAC on Sunday as she was opposed to targeting BJP

while Kejriwal and others were of the opinion that both Congress and BJP should be attacked alleging that both were handin-glove on corruption.

Defending her stand not to target BJP, the former IPS officer said when she told IAC about not gheraoing BJP chief Nitin Gadkari's residence, it was "only to keep focus" on the party in power.

"Once we prove that voters punish parties in power be at Centre or state which break their trust wider lesson will go gradually," she said.

She said she values her freedom to make choices most. "Had I been politically inclined I would have retired as Delhi Police commissioner," she said terming as "imagination" remarks that she was planning to join BJP for contesting elections.

Bedi is of the view that there should be a "united front against corruption" which includes Hazare and Ramdev and others who are for a strong Lokpal Bill.

Burj consultant gets Sardar Patel statue contract

An international consortium, led by Turner Project Management — the project management consultants of Burj Khalifa — signed an agreement with the Gujarat government for “engineering, design and contract management” to construct the 182-metre-high Statue of Unity of Sardar Patel.

Dubai’s Burj Khalifa happens to be the world’s tallest building, while the Sardar statue, in the midst of Narmada river, is proposed as the tallest statue of the world.

Other partners in the consortium, apart from USbased Turner, include

Michael Graves and Associates, also from the US, and Mindheart from Germany.

The Statue of Unity will cost Rs 2,500 crore, the agreement says, and it will be built under the supervision of the consortium, which will charge Rs 56 crore for the job.

During the first year and three months, the consortium will prepare master plan of the project and finalize contract bid documents. In the next 40 months, it will supervise the construction activity, and in the last two months, it will hand over the statue. In all, it will

take 56 months to complete the Statue of Unity.

The formal agreement, signed in the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Ltd (SSNNL) in Sachivalaya, says, the consortium will carry out technical and financial feasibility of building the statue, including its pre-investment planning, detail a financial and revenue model, prepare a tourism plan for the area surrounding the statue, and manage the bid process for choosing the contractor to build the statue.

Apart from the statue, the agreement says, the consortium will have to conceptualize “the bridge that will connect the statue in the Narmada river, off the Narmada dam on Sadhu bet, the approximately 3.5 km road connecting the project to the town of Kevadia, the memorial and the visitor centre buildings, the memorial garden, the hotel and convention centre, and miscellaneous support structures.”

For all this, the agreement says, the consortium will have to supervise on a continuous basis in order to ensure that the work is of the highest order, carry out insitu and ex-situ inspection, and assist dispute resolution.

25

Team Kejriwal’s protest stalls Delhi

Less than two weeks after yoga guru Ramdev’s protest had ended amid high drama, Arvind Kejriwal and other activists of India Against Corruption took the city police by surprise by mounting guerrilla protests outside the homes of the PM, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and BJP chief Nitin Gadkari. IAC activists were scheduled to hold their protest at Jantar Mantar but changed their plans. The protest drama, which started early morning and went on through half the day as protesters came in waves, saw Kejriwal and others activists being detained twice. The activists were lathicharged at Akbar Road, where cops also fired 20 rounds of teargas shells and used water cannons to control the agitation. By the end of the day, around 974 protesters were taken into preventive custody. Fifteen policemen and six protesters were injured. Police registered cases of rioting against Arvind Kejriwal, Prashant Bhushan, Manish Sisodia, Gopal Rai and Neeraj Kumar. Cases of assault have been registered against unknown persons who, sources said, were still being identified in late evening.

Cops said force was used against the activists because they were violating section 144 of CrPC (prohibiting assembly of people) that had been imposed

in these VIP areas. The FIR has been lodged at the Parliament Street police station. At several places, we had to resort to lathicharge as the protesters refused to disperse,” a senior police officer said.

The drama started early in the morning when six Team Anna members — Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, Kumar Vishwas, Gopal Rai, Gopal Mohan and Sanjay Singh — split themselves into three groups and made their way to 10 Janpath, 7 Race Course Road and 13 Teen Murti Marg, the residence of Gadkari.

Protesting against Delhi Metro’s decision to shut six stations in view of IAC’s scheduled protest at Jantar Mantar, the three IAC teams took the cops by surprise by started out for the VIP residences instead of Jantar Mantar as planned. However, they were stopped before they could reach.

Sitting on footpaths, Kejriwal and his team were finally rounded off by the police around 7.15am, from where they were taken to the Mandir Marg

police station. “The cops have not provided us reasons for the detainment.

We have not violated any law as Section 144 says that a gathering of four or more is prohibited. We were just two persons each in all three places,” said Kejriwal. As Kejriwal and Sisodia were being put into the police vans to be taken to Bawana, supporters who had surrounded the police station, stormed the police station and blocked the exits. Blocking the passage of the vans that were carrying Kejriwal and Sisodia, the supporters lay down in front of the vehicles, puncturing tyres of police vehicles in some cases — forcing the cops to release the team members one by one.

The gloves are off within erstwhile Team Anna with one of its core members, Kiran Bedi, conspicuous by her absence protest in New Delhi, coming out in support of the BJP in sharp contrast to her colleagues.

In a statement explaining why she did not attend the protest, Bedi said the activists “needed” the prime opposition party to put effective systems in place.

This was in response to fellow activist Arvind Kejriwal’s stand that neither the Congress nor BJP or any other political party but only a “people’s movement” would bring about a systemic change.

26

world - IndIa

Asian Voice - Saturday 1st September 2012

Neil Armstrong, the reluctant hero, is no more

Ohio: The camera that Neil Armstrong used on the Moon is still there. The titanium ladder from which he took his “small” step is still wandering the solar system, attached to the lunar module in which he and Buzz Aldrin started their journey back to Earth. The footage of his moonwalk will still be being broadcast centuries hence.

But the man himself is gone.

The first human being on the Moon, and one of very few to have had the chance to say goodbye to planet Earth during their lifetimes, has said goodbye for good. He left no memoir. We do not even know if he approved the statement from his family suggesting that we look up and give him a wink, but many will. Six hundred million people watched his moonwalk 43 years ago, and few of the billions born since are not aware of it. He left this world from Ohio, in the privacy he always cherished; the principal player in the most astonishing real-life drama of the modern age.

Aldrin called Armstrong the best pilot he knew, a plausible description of a man

who survived 78 combat missions over Korea and personally landed the two of them in the Sea of Tranquillity with less than a minute’s rocket fuel left for the descent. The two men vying for the White House tripped over each other to praise Armstrong’s heroism, and with good reason. This was, after all, the astronaut who calmly set off for the Moon with only a “5050” expectation of landing safely on its surface, and who told Congress in his final months that “ideological differences fade in the presence of overpowering pride in what we do”.

But of all the tributes offered to the commander of the Apollo 11 mission, the most sobering came from Julia Gillard, the Australian Prime Minister. His death, she said, “marks the end of an amazing era in human progress”.

By chance it was in Australia that he gave his last interview, nostalgic for the Nasa that inspired a generation of rocket scientists with the decade of frenzied endeavour that began with President Kennedy’s epochal

Rats kill baby in Chennai hospital

challenge, in the spring of 1961, to fly to the Moon and back.

Unbelievably, it happened. After a disastrous start to the space race, in which the US Navy and then Nasa could answer the challenge of Sputnik and Yuri Gagarin only with timid test flights or embarrassing flops, Werner von Braun sought and won unlimited funding for the mighty Saturn rockets that would eventually trump

anything the Soviets could build. Von Braun confounded the sceptics (and anyone still squeamish about enlisting Hitler’s top rocketeer) with a successful trip round the Moon in 1968. Armstrong landed six months later, still five months before the decade was out.

The legacies of his moonwalk are many and profound, from satellite TV and GPS tracking systems to the lookback-in-wonder pictures of the Earth that galvanised the modern environmental movement. Yet his most searching bequest is, as Ms Gillard hinted, a question: can we top that? Will human beings ever again take such a romantic leap of faith into such an unforgivingly hostile wilderness, and pull it off with that perfect a mixture of panache and understatement that allowed the whole planet to stop, watch in amazement and applaud as one?

Not at this rate. In the great feasibility study of human space travel of the 1960s, so much was achieved so fast that even a manned trip to Mars might not elicit the same gasps.

When Prince Harry met folly

Nine persons, including two doctors, were suspended in connection with disfigurement of a dead infant, reportedly by rats at a government hospital in Chennai.

As the shocking incident drew public outrage, chief minister Jayalalithaa held a review meeting with Health Minister V S Vijay, Finance Minister O Panneerselvam and officials in the wake of reports that the cheek and ear of the 12-day-old infant had been gnawed by rats.

Jayalalithaa admitted lapse on the part of hospital authorities and said contrary to established procedures, the body was not handed over to the parents soon after its death as a post-mortem was not required and the parents had signed all the necessary documents in this regard.

The premature baby had died of natural causes and there were no bite marks when her father saw her body on being informed of her death, she said in a statement here.

"The body was not kept in the mortuary... It was

wrapped in a cloth and kept in a room and the father of the child noticed bite marks on her face when the body was handed over to him the next day," she said, quoting an official report.

The bite marks could be due to biological reasons also, but post-mortem and forensic tests of the tissue had been ordered to ascertain if she was bitten by rats, she said, adding nine persons, including two doctors had been suspended.

The meeting decided that government hospitals should ensure timely handing over of bodies which do not require post-mortem while efforts would be taken to ensure hospital premises were free of stray dogs, cats and rats.

Meanwhile a PIL was filed in the Madras High Court, seeking a direction to government to issue proper directions to all government and private hospitals in the state to keep premises of hospitals neat and exterminate pests and animals like dogs, cats and rodents and contamination through them.

Los Angeles: For Prince Harry, it was intended as an informal lunch with his Norwegian explorer friend Inge Solheim, in Venice on the outskirts of Los Angeles.

Abbot Kinney Boulevard, on which Gjelina, the restaurant, lies, is the kind of edgy location that would appeal to Harry: once the front line between surfer dudes to the south and a gang-controlled ghetto known as Ghost Town to the north, it has become gentrified in recent years and counts several celebrities among its residents. British expats call Venice “Camden sur Mer”.

The lunch was meant to focus on a charity project close to Harry’s heart: helping wounded soldiers to scale Everest, the subject of a television documentary to be broadcast. Instead, it was overshadowed by extra-curricular royal activities of a far more dubious nature.

What had begun the previous Friday as a break from official duties had turned into a PR disaster for Harry, the party prince who had so

recently won praise on a jubilee tour of Belize, Jamaica and Brazil.

An aide had just broken the news that photographs of him enjoying a game of “strip pool” in his hotel suite in Las Vegas had been published on TMZ, an American gossip website with an average 18.5m readers a day.

The controversy surrounding the prince has continued, however - and has not confined itself to his poor choice of pool partners. At a time when the ethics of the press are in the spotlight, Harry finds himself at the centre of a storm over media freedom: should newspapers publish pictures of him naked already seen by millions of people across the world on the internet?

Continued from page 1

decisions taken by the coal ministry, Singh said: "I want to assure honourable members that as the minister in charge, I take full responsibility for the decisions of the ministry."

He sought to make a statement in the Lok Sabha on the controversial coal block allocation but the din raised by Bharatiya Janata Party members demanding his resignation drowned out his voice. The prime minister

then tabled his speech in the house.

The chief of the ruling Congress party Sonia Gandhi has backed Mr Singh and has criticised the opposition for holding the parliament "to ransom." "We have nothing to hide or to be defensive about," she was quoted as telling a party meeting.

Senior BJP leaders say that, if needed, they will stretch their protest to cover the entire monsoon session, due to end

on 8 September. The government says the coalfields were "allocated by the same procedure by previous governments". The sale of coalfields has been dubbed "Coalgate" by the opposition. India is one of the largest producers of coal in the world. The auditors' report on the sale of coal is the latest in a series of financial scandals to hit the Congress-led government, and the revelations have caused public anger.

Gujarat’s latest export to China – garba!

Youth from the land of the dragon dance are learning the garba. Students of Sichuan University, one of the oldest national universities of China, will undergo training to master the teen taali and hinch, besides the dodhiyu with grace. The training sessions will take place in two parts in China and Ahmedabad.

Gujarati garba teachers in China will initially impart the training. The students will then arrive in Ahmedabad 15 days, when on October 1 they will perform at Karnavati Club during Navratr. Likewise, the Chinese will also teach Gujaratis the traditional Chinese dances of the lion, dragon as well as acrobatics. The various forms of traditional dance will be performed by Gujaratis along with the Chinese during the Vibrant Gujarat summit in January 2013. Besides, a 72-member team from China will stage a Beijing opera, which dates back to the third century, at Motera stadium for three days during the upcoming Vibrant Gujarat summit in January next year.

In bad weather, Sikhs, Muslims and Hindus make good friends

In a country where religious intolerance and communal hatred dominate the news now-adays, here is something that goes to show that all is not rotten and ugly. Muslim residents of Joshimath in Uttarakhand offered Eid namaaz (prayers) in a gurdwara (Sikh temple), after being invited in by its head priest.

There is no mosque or idgah in Joshimath, a town perched above the Alakhnanda deep in the Garhwal Himalayas. Usually its 800-odd Muslim residents offer namaaz at the town's Gandhi Maidan, a public ground. However, Gandhi maidan had turned into slush. It had been raining heavily for several days and Eid, the festival day too dawned in a downpour.

The Muslim community was struggling with the problem when the head of the local gurdwara sent a heart warming message to themThe Muslims could use the main hall of the gurdwara for offering namaaz.

'Lakshya-1' test flown successfully

Coal scandal hits Indian parliament

Mr Singh said on Monday that the findings were "flawed", and that "any allegation of impropriety is without any basis and unsupported by facts". Calling the observations of the CAG clearly "disputable", the prime minister said: "I wish to say that any allegations of impropriety are without basis and unsupported by the facts."

Taking responsibility of

In Focus

India's indigenously developed, micro-light pilot-less target aircraft 'Lakshya-1' was successfully test flown from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur near Odisha at Balasore.

Lakshya-1, fitted with an advanced digitally controlled engine, was test flown from the launch complex-2 of the ITR at about 12.15 PM successfully. The test was carried out to check the validity of its engine and duration enhancement, they said, adding that usually the flight duration of the six-fo ot-long micro light aircraft is 30 to 35 minutes. Lakshya-1, a sub-sonic, re-usable aerial target system, is remote controlled from the ground and designed to impart training to both air borne and air defence pilots. Lakshya has been inducted into the Indian Air Force since 2000.

SC notice to Tata Motors on Singur land

The Supreme Court issued notice to Tata Motors on a petition by the West Bengal government challenging a Calcutta High Court order holding unconstitutional its Singur land act to reclaim 400 acres given to the company. The apex court bench of Justices H.L. Dattu and C.K. Prasad, however, said the high court's interim order allowing the state government to keep the possession of the land would continue. The Calcutta High Court, while holding the Singur Land Rehabilitation and Development A ct, 2011, unconstitutional in a June 22 order had given the West Bengal government two months to appeal in the apex court against its verdict and allowed the government the possession of the land till then.

Mumbai top cop shunted out

Chief minister Prithviraj Chavan, after getting orders from the Congress high command bowed to his coalition partner NCP’s pressure to abruptly shunt out Mumbai police commissioner Arup Patnaik by promoting him to the director general rank and replacing him with Satyapal Singh, the additional director general (law and order).

Patnaik’s transfer to head state security corporation comes barely 48 hours after Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray took out a protest rally calling for his resignation for “mishandling” the August 11 violence in south Mumbai.

INDIA

Asian Voice - Saturday 1st September 2012

Sons, arrested for parading mother half naked Police arrested five people, including two sons and daughters-in-law of a middle-aged Dalit widow who was publicly beaten and paraded half naked in a village in Bihar's Gaya district. Sonma Devi, a ward member of Lalu Panchayat under Mohanpur police station of the district, was injured when her sons and daughters-in-law assaulted her and forcibly cut her hair. They later paraded her half naked in Lanlganj village. Sonma Devi, mother of three sons, had called up the women's helpline to complain. Police said that Sonma Devi complained that her children abused, assaulted and humiliated her in a bid to get her to part with property. The accused would soon be chargesheeted, and the case would be treated as a heinous crime.

Tamil Nadu student wins UK MBA scholarship Sruthi Vijayachandran, a postgraduate student from Tamil Nadu, has been awarded a scholarship to study MBA at the London School of Business Finance after being awarded the First Prize in the final of the Best Young Speaker from Asia competition held at Robinson College, University of Cambridge.

Ms. Vijayachandran, who hails from Coonoor, was among nine young English language students from across Asia flown to Britain to take part in the competition that involved giving two presentations with a business theme and answering a series of questions put to them by an expert panel.

Organisers said that Ms. Vijayachandran, who holds a Master’s Degree in public relations, secured a place in the final by “impressing judges with her English speaking ability” at the regional rounds held earlier this year.

Prisoner escapes from Jammu high security jail A prisoner escaped from a high security jail in Kathua of Jammu region which houses many hardcore militants. A jail official told that Sohan Singh, undergoing trial in a murder case since 1998, was reported missing by jail staff around 7 a.m. The 35-year-old prisoner made good his escape while the prison premises were being cleaned. "All the 124 prisoners were present during headcount at 6 a.m.

Then cleaning of the premises began, after which Sohan Singh was reported missing," the official said.

Gujarat’s Jyotigram scheme earns global acclaim A new report by the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) has commended the Jyotigram Yojana launched by the Gujarat government in 2003 that provides 24hour power supply to villages in the state.

The report, titled ‘Feeding a Thirsty World: Challenges and Opportunities for a Water and Food Secure Future’, has been published as the institute’s input for the ongoing 2012 World Water Week in Stockholm from August 26 to 31. The report mentions achievements of the Jyotigram Yojana launched by the Narendra Modi government in September 2003 while warning about water scarcity and its impact on food production and for the estimated global population of 9 billion by 2050. By then, the report says, there will not be enough water to produce enough food.

The report says, “In trying to solve water problems, we often look for ‘optimal’ solutions emanating from our disciplinary or sectoral perspectives.

However, holding out for the best often means we miss other opportunities for positive change as the case of Gujarat, India shows”. Recalling the power-deficit situation

before the Jyotigram Yojana was launched, the report notes the situation has now changed across rural Gujarat.

The report says that the Yojana’s ‘alternative approach’ “diverges from the textbook optimum and embraces the electricity subsidies as a strategy”.

“Under the programme, rural Gujarat has been completely rewired. Villages are given 24-hour, three-phase power supply for domestic uses, in schools, hospitals, and village industries, all at metered rates,” the report says.

It adds, “The Jyotigram scheme has now radically improved the quality of village life, spurred non-farm economic enterprises, and halved the power subsidy in agriculture. The solution may not be perfect, but it has proved to be implementable and it has brought substantial improvement in and outside the water sector.”

Rather than viewing subsidies as a default component, the Jyotigram Scheme focuses on providing rationally managed subsidies where needed, and pricing where possible, the report says, and notes that farmers operating tubewells continue to receive free electricity for 8 hours.

MLA arrested for role in Assam violence

An MLA of Bodoland Peoples Front (BPF), which is an ally of the ruling Congress in Assam, was arrested in the wee hours for his alleged involvement in the recent violence in the state. Pradeep Brahma, alias Gara, who represents Kokrajhar (West) constituency, was arrested from his house at Dotoma near Kokrajhar town at about 1am as seven cases had already been registered against him in several police stations. BPF is the ruling party of the Bodoland Territorial Autonomous District (BTAD) whose chief is Hagrama Mohilary. Following the arrest and violence in neighbouring Dhubri district in which two persons were killed, indefinite curfew was clamped in Kokrajhar district. Army staged flag march even as Brahma's supporters started picketing on the railway track and national highway 31. More than 80 persons have lost their lives and four lakh were rendered homeless in the violence in lower Assam districts of Korajhar, Dhubri and Chirang.

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A young runaway bride from Kerala is being chased by police after leaving countless men with broken hearts and empty pockets.

Shahanaz, believed to be 33, has allegedly married over a dozen men in the last few years.

Though some reports claimed she has 'married' over 50 times, officials claim that only 15 have surfaced. Shahanaz first married approximately 11 years ago to a man named Siddique, with whom she had a child.

However, her marriage-spree only came to light when two of her husbands approached the Chennai police and follow up complaints were made by several other victims. A total of seven formal complaints have now been made against her but it is possible many more embarrassed victims exist.

The first to submit a complaint was a Manikandan, 24, who works at a car showroom. Shahanaz told him she was in search of a man that had cheated on her friend after promising to marry her. The two spoke many times over the phone and soon became close. She told him that she was orphaned early in life and claimed to be an advocate at the Madras High Court. She also said that she was studying for

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civil service examinations.

The two got married in April without the approval of Manikandan’s parents.

Two months later, Shahanaz convinced Manikandan that she needed to stay in a women’s hostel so that she could prepare for civil service.

Manikandan claimed he sold the jewels he had bought for the wedding so that Shahanaz had some money to take with

her when she left.

Two weeks later, she went missing from the hostel and is yet to be traced. As the city police started probing the case, another person, Prasanna, a district level football player, came forward saying he too had married her some years ago. Once again she cited civil service preparations as a reason to move into a hostel and then disappeared with his valuables According to Prasanna, there was an incident when another person claimed that Shahanaz was his wife and approached the police.

The inspector at the women's police station questioned both parties, but allowed Shahanaz to go with Prasanna after the woman told the officials that the other person, Suresh, was a just a friend while Prasanna was her husband. The couple also produced a photo album of their marriage to strengthen their claim. Police have now found out that Shahanaz has also married others including: a Rajesh, a Chandrababu and a Saravanan. More names are still emerging. Police are now pursuing the thief and they suspect she may have been involved in other criminal activities as well.

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28

travel & WomeN

Asian Voice - Saturday 1st September 2012

women achievers Kiran Bir Sethi inventor of Design for Change

By AV Correspondent

he Caribbean evokes images of relaxation, beautiful beaches, sparkling T seas and tranquillity, making it the per-

fect destination for holidays. It is made up of thousands of islands with the most popular being some of the larger ones (which themselves encompass many smaller islands), with beautiful resorts and activities for everyone to enjoy.

Antigua, Bahamas, Barbados, Grenada, Jamaica and St. Lucia are the main islands of choice and can all be described as a tropical paradise. You can go trekking through beautiful rainforests and swim in stunning waterfalls, there's many watersports to try from surfing to sailing, and of course snorkelling and diving tours to see incredible aquamarine life in the coral reefs. You can swim with dolphins, take an underwater sightseeing tour, and there's many day-trips available to take you island hopping so you can explore, including visiting historic plantations and learning about local life.

What is hard is which island to

choose although many people discover a place that they fall in love with, and return to every year! The best time of year to visit the Caribbean is between late October to June, to avoid the hurricane season, although if you choose to go then as many people do, there are often amazing value deals on offer! You may not be affected by a hurricane but it would be best to take out travel insurance just in case.

Brightsun Travel always offer a range of excellent value deals catering to all budgets, at any of the islands you choose to visit. For Barbados, a great offer currently available is 7 nights at the Coconut Court Beach Hotel, starting from just £869pp including flights, hotel on B&B basis and transfers. This hotel in the heart of the vibrant south coast of Barbados, is family run with an unbeatable beachfront location, dotted with mature trees with safe swimming and snorkelling year round in a protected lagoon. The pool deck features a freshwater swimming pool, Jacuzzi and children's paddling pool. It is minutes away from excellent restaurants, duty free shopping, lively nightspots and walking distance to local sights inlcuding the Barbados Museum, George Washington House and the Garrison Savannah racetrack.

For an amazing all inclusive deal, choose the Grand Pineapple Beach Resort in Antigua. As soon as you arrive you'll be spellbound by the brilliant, white curve of beach that elegantly sweeps along 1,600 feet of stunning waterfront. With excellent facilities including two pools, three restaurants, four bars and many watersports and activities available, you will never run out of things to do. Brightsun have an amazing offer to save 35% if you book a holiday by 31st October (for travel by 5th December 2012). Prices start from just £995pp for 7 nights all-inclusive hotel stay with flights.

There are several benefits of booking with a travel agency like Brightsun Travel: because of the amount of custom they give to hotels, they negotiate long term rates making savings on room prices, which are passed onto you the customer; they are Atol bonded which means your payment is protected giving you peace of mind; they offer a one stop holiday shop so you can buy everything you need from one place like flights, hotels, transfers, tours and insurance -saving you time and money. Their experienced travel consultants can help you plan your ideal holiday and they offer a price match promise on worldwide flights and holidays so you will get the best deals.

To book your Caribbean escape, call Brightsun Travel today on 0208 819 0486 or book online at www.brightsun.co.uk.

Kiran Bir Sethi's early training as a designer has reflected in her work as an educator and she looks beyond what exists, to ask, "could we do this a better way?" In 2001, she founded the Riverside School in Ahmedabad, designing the primary school's curriculum and its building from the very beginning.

Based on around six "Beacons of Learning," the school's syllabus focuses on creating curious, competent future citizens. The school now enrolls almost 300 children and has franchised its curriculum widely.

Sethi's latest project, inspired by dialogue with the children of Riverside, is called AProCh - which stands for "A Protagonist in every Child." AProCh looks for ways to engage children in modern city life and to revamp our cities to make room for kids to learn, both actively and by example. "It is possible to organize cities to teach usefulness, social responsibility, ecological skill, the values of good work, and the higher possibilities of adulthood."

Sethi’s Design for Change is the largest global movement designed to give children an opportunity to express their own ideas for a better world and put them into action.

Children and adults learn through Design for Change that “I Can,” two most powerful words in the world. Children who have discovered this are changing their world. Design for Change asks students to do four very simple things: Feel, Imagine, Do and Share.

A new variation of potato sabji Ingredients: 500gm aloo (potatoes) boiled and peeled, 1 tbsp gingerfinely sliced, a pinch asafetida, 1 tsp cumin seeds, 1/2 tsp garam masala, 2 tsp coriander powder, 2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp chilli powder, 1/2 tsp turmeric powder, 1/2 cup yogurt (curd), 3-4 green chillies 2 tbsp clarified butter/ghee, 1 tbsp coriander leaves-chopped.

Preparation: Cut few pieces of aloo (potatoes) and even smash one aloo (potatoes) to simmer it later with the gravy. Keep it aside until further use.

Heat the ghee, add cumin and asafoetida. When the cumin splutters, add ginger and sauté till slightly fried. Lower the flame, add yogurt 1 tbsp at a time, stirring vigorously until all of it is well blend-

Children are dreaming up brilliant ideas all over the world, for example challenging age-old superstitions in rural communities, earning their own money to finance school computers or solving the problem of heavy school bags. Children are proving that they have what it takes to design the future that they desire.

Sethi explains: “Design thinking allows one to invent a future that is desired, and who better to drive this change than our children.

Design for Change empowers children to improve the quality of life by helping them see that they can ‘Be the

Change’, and in this process, Be Changed.”

Design for Change developed a simple design process that enables children to become drivers of change. The process got children to feel any issue that bothered them, imagine a way to make it better, do implement the act of change and share make it visible. This was created as a toolkit that was translated into 15 languages, including Braille to make it the most inclusive movement of change to date.

The toolkit included guidelines, teacher tips, an example of a “change story” and inspirations.

The style of the toolkit is child-friendly and uses appealing colors. In 2011, Design for Change reached 33 countries and over 300,000 schools - inspiring

hundreds of thousands of children and their teachers and parents to celebrate the fact that change is possible and that they can lead that change.

Spurred by Design for Change, children design solutions and implement acts of change for a large number of issues across the world ranging from social evils, environment improvements, education, alcohol, child labor, floods, traffic and discrimination.

Not only does Design for Change impact the children, but also the teachers and communities. The children change the perception in the minds of the adults and become “drivers of change.”

Design for Change is creating a curriculum for schools, using the stories as inspirational case studies, allowing the children to become role models for other children.

Design for Change works on the premise that if you let children believe that they can, then they will. It is independent of age, culture, geography or language as it is fueled by the power of an idea.

Design for Change believes that since children are the future, they need to be given the tools to design a better future. Design for Change is building better citizens who are concerned, proactive, aware and responsible.

Children were designing solutions for a diverse range of problems from loneliness and filling potholes in the street to alcoholism, and 32 children even stopped 16 child marriages in Rajasthan. I mean, it was incredible.

Basically again re-affirming that when adults believe in children and say, “You can, and then they will.”

Aloo Dahi Wale

ed. Add garam masala, coriander, salt, turmeric and chilli powder. Stir a few times until well mixed, add smashed aloo (potatoes), 2 cups of water. Boil and mix it well. After the thick gravy is ready, add pieces of potatoes and then simmer uncovered for about 15 minutes. Serve aloo dahi wale hot, garnished with coriander leaves.

Health Benefits: It is said that curd provides more nutritional values than milk. It helps to

improve the digestive system, strengthens the immune system and increases the capacity to absorb the nutrients and minerals from other food stuffs. Proves beneficial for the lactose intolerants as they can gain all the nutritive contents of milk through curd.

HEaltH Watch

Asian Voice - Saturday 1st September 2012

Alzheimer’s affects women more rapidly than men

Men can stave off the effects of Alzheimer`s for longer than women, whose condition deteriorate faster when affected by the disease, a new study has found. The study found that women suffering from Alzheimer`s deteriorate faster than men, even when both are apparently at the same stage of the disease.

The findings suggest that women sufferers show greater loss of their mental faculties than men, whose brains are better at coping with the ravages of the disease.

The stage of progression of Alzheimer`s is measured using general tests, such as those based on behaviour. More detailed tests, such as verbal skills tests, on sufferers who were at an apparently equal stage of the disease suggested men have an advantage in coping with its effects. Men with Alzheimer`s consistently outperformed women sufferers in detailed tests of memory and even verbal ability, where healthy women normally have the advantage.

A review of data from 15 studies by researchers from the University of Hertfordshire shows for the first time that men

might resist the progression of dementia more than women. The analysis of studies involving 828 men and 1,238 women discovered that men with Alzheimer`s consistently and significantly outperformed women with the disease across five cognitive areas examined in detailed tests. These included tests of episodic memory, where people recall events from the past, and semantic memory involving factual information. But a "striking" finding was the verbal skills of women with Alzheimer`s are worse compared with men who appear to be at the same disease stage.

Factors such as age and education level did not significantly predict the advantage that male sufferers had. "Unlike mental decline associated with normal aging, something about Alzheimer`s specifically disadvantages women," Professor Keith Laws, who led the study said. "For whatever reason, and it`s not about greater intellect, men are better able to stave off the effects for longer," he added. The study was published in the Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology.

29

Eating 6 meals a day helps lose weight?

Are you still stuck in the three-heavy-meals-a-day rut? Do you think that the six-meals-a-day routine is not meant for you?

If your answer to both questions is yes, then don't worry you are not alone.

Technically, how many meals you eat in a day doesn't matter, but how you spread your total calorie consumption in the day does affect your food habits. Research has time and again proved that those who eat six small meals a day are more successful at eating healthy and losing unwanted weight. Let's understand why.

Why is it important to eat six mini meals in a day.

More than 95% of overweight individuals are in the habit of eating three square meals a day.

Because these meals are infrequent and ill-timed they tend to be heavier and low on nutrition. This affects metabolism quite adversely. Across on the six mini meals side though, your meals will be timely and nutritious as they will be part of a carefully planned daily menu. For instance, a healthy and well-portioned breakfast followed by five moderately sized meals spread through the day will keep your metabolic rate healthy. It will also keep your hormone levels stable and regulate your blood sugar level, burning more calories. Irregular eating patterns and skipped meals are the main reasons why people cannot lose weight.

Stay away from the word 'snack'. Think of snacking, and the immediate images that the word conjures up in our minds are those of fried chips, chocolates, sodas, candy bars and every other unhealthy food under the sun. It is not snacking itself, which is bad for us but the junk and convenient yet unhealthy foods associated with it. The right way to snack is to invest in healthy foods that you can eat without guilt. These snacks are what make up the inbetween meals in a six mini meals a day meal plan. Make each meal an opportunity to eat a well portioned and nutritionally balanced meal, which includes lean protein, complex carbohydrates and healthy fats.

'More is less' is the new mantra for eating healthy.

The health bonuses of eating more of mini meals in a day are many. This will help you in adding a greater variety of foods to your meal plan, thus helping you meet your daily nutritional needs.

If you hear nutritionists say that to lose more you have to eat more, don't be alarmed. What they mean is that healthy weight loss involves eating healthy meals more frequently in clever portions.

No wonder then that most

successful weight loss warriors eat a lot more than those who are stuck in a weight loss rut.

Never starve yourself for long durations. By eating three meals in a day, which are set apart too far you tend to, unknowingly, drop your blood sugar levels. When this happens, there is a sudden urge to reach for unhealthy snacks in order to satisfy the cravings. Instead, grab a quick healthy high-carb or lean high-protein snack, which will keep your stomach full until you find your next balanced meal. The trick here is to stay away from eating loads of unnecessary unsaturated fats and calories.

Still not convinced?

Here are three more reasons why you should eat 6 meals in a day.

• It will keep you away from overeating and automatically help you maintain your portion sizes.

• Eating smaller and healthy meals will also help you fight the risk of lifestyle conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and hypertension, which are all linked to unhealthy meals.

• This dietary routine will also help in maintaining your body's muscle tone, because it will feed amino acids and nutrients to your muscles at frequent intervals, especially when

combined with exercising.

Choose power-packed healthy meal combos. The buzz word here is diversity. The more diverse your meals, the more you are likely to balance your proteins, carbs, and fats. Here are some power packed combination ideas: • Spinach is already quite healthy, but when you combine it with an avocado, it becomes even healthier. Research suggests that healthy fats in avocado enhance the fatsoluble carotenoids in spinach.

• Seasonal fruits. A handful of almonds and other dried fruit.

• Vitamin C when combined with eggs is the most powerful supporter of iron absorption. Vitamin C makes the iron up to 6 times more soluble, which means that you can use 100% of the iron you munch, keeping fatiguecausing anemia- at bay.

• A large bowl of skim milk and whole grain cereal. Add your favourite fruit to it.

• A tiny sized bran muffin along with raisins and a medium-sized glass of skim milk.

• One egg, whole wheat toast, and a glass of orange or apple juice.

• One whole wheat roti combined with steamed chicken and stir-fried vegetables.

Here is a wonder grain which can trim your inches considerably!

A unique grain, barley is filled with benefits manifold. Extremely low in calories it acts as a wonderful diet supplement and helps maintain a slim stature. Being low in cholesterol, it is known to reduce cholesterol levels.

The core ingredient in this highly useful grain is beta-glucan that is also found in oat bran.

Explaining it's benefits nutritionist Aruna Kulkarni elaborates, "Barley is packed with insoluble fibre which retains water. So it flushes

out intestinal contents with great speed. This also minimises the risk of cancer, since the possibility of harmful elements accumulating in the intestines is less. It is also a good cure for digestive problems like constipation."

While the market is filled with varieties like pearl, pot or whole hulled barley, the latter is known to possess the maximum health benefits. Being from the brown family, whole hulled barley has twice the fibre and vitamins compared to the other varieties. Although the pearl variety is the most refined, it contains ample quantity

of iron and fibre.

Barley water is a boon for kidneys as well. It can combat arthritic and rheumatic problems if consumed in large quantities.

It is advisable to prepare your own barley water rather than picking up the readymade stuff as it is known to be laded with excess preservatives and sugar. Kulkarni shares with us the recipe of making an ideal glass: - Boil 1 kg of barley until soft- Strain the extract- To make it tasty mix fresh lemon or orange juice-- One can add Demerara or golden sugar if required-- Can be used

for longer periods if refrigerated If stored in a dark place, away from the light, barley pods can last up to one year. So, make this wonder grain a part of your daily diet regimen.

Include it in soups, cereals, salads or have it plain, and raise a toast to your good health.

Barley water for a thinner waistline

Lychee, which means 'gift for a joyful life', surely lives up to its name. Here is why...

It is a truth that the fruit is sweet and delicious, and almost anyone can get addicted to it.

However, it is one addiction you should be proud of. As there are numerous studies to show the health benefit of this wonder fruit.

The fruit: Lychee, the juicy fruit that belongs to soapberry family, is sparsely found in the Philippines, Indonesia, in northern Vietnam, in southern Taiwan and in southern China and India.

It is a seasonal fruit, especially found in plenty during the summer season.

The lychee fruit contains vitamins and minerals that promote a healthy diet.

What the studies say...

Studies show that lychee fruit can fight the

growth of cancer cells as it contains flavonoids in its pulp, which is effective against breast cancer.

It is also a great source of vitamin C that helps the body to fight heart disease, apart from cancer.

Vitamin C is also good for bones, skin and tissue.

Due to its high vitamin C content, the fruit benefits those suffering from cold, fever and sore throat. Lychee also helps the body to digest food properly for the best nutrition, and is said to have the ability to relieve pain too.

Choose the best: When choosing lychee, select those with a firm shell that has no cracks.

It is best if the fruit is still attached to its stem. The fruit's colour should be pink or red but never brown. Brown lychee are overripe and will not be as tasty.

To Our Readers We are publishing these items in good faith, kindly consult your Doctor before you try to implement it. We do not hold any responsibility for its efficacy...

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30

UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 1st September 2012

CB Live is the only Gujarati live programme in UK on Television Kutch Mitra Assistant Editor Deepak Mankad and a young journalist Vasantlal Patel, from Kutch Mitra and Janmabhumi Group will discuss about Gujarati journalism and developments in Gujarat, India with Kokila Patel, Managing Editor, Gujarat Samachar.

If you do not have a SKY, go to www.tvunetworks.com and watch CB Live on TVU Player Channel 75203

to take things in ARIES Mar 21 - Apr 20 yourTrystride rather than

anticipating what might happen. Keep calm as conflict and disagreement could be sparked off by your shortsightedness. Think carefully about the implications of your actions. Intense focus is what is needed now so do not let yourself be distracted by non-essentials.

7pm to 8pm Every Thursday

CB LIVE Every Thursday on MATV (SKY 793) 7pm to 8pm For more information email: cblive_matv@yahoo.co.uk or call Alka Shah on 07944 151 893

Coming Events l Gujarati classes held at Canons High School in Edgware between 10.00 am – 12.00 noon. The school also offers optional classes such as Tabla, Harmonium and Dance. Students are enrolled from age of 4 years in Reception class to GCSE in Gujarati.

Registration to take place on 9th September 2012 from 10.00 am – 12.00 noon. contact: Vijyabahen Bhanderi on 0208 958 8564. l Sunanda Sharma presents Thumri Traditions of Benaras, Intensive course 28 Aug - 1st Sept.

10.00am – 5.00pm daily (except on 1st Sept 9.30am - 4.30pm) Museum of Asian Music 1 Bradford Road, London W3 7SP l Wanza Samaj UK and Shivam presents Gujarati comedy play- bacho Ne Baatlima Utaaro Saturday 8 September, 6:30pm to 7:45pm. Show: 8pm, Winston Churchill Theatre Hall, HA4 7QL. Contact: Sunita: 07946458610 l 31st August, South Thames College in Tooting Broadway, Free event, 10am-4pm, for careers advice, job seeking support and information on starting businesses and finding training programmes. See www.sadiqkhan.org.uk/tootingworks l GHU Board of Governors Committee & the Lohana community of Crawley present Shree Jalaram Bapa Chalit Pratistha Mahotsav. 31st August -2nd September 2012 at Apple Tree Centre (ATC). Ifield, Crawley. RH11 0AF. 1p.m. to 9 p.m.

Punam Bhajans to be held on 1st September 2012 at Khimdas Bapu's residence starting from 9pm.

29 Hanger View Way, Acton, London, W3 0EX l Shree Bavis Gam Patidar Samaj (UK) presents A Family Friendly Summer Funday -Barbeque on Sunday 16th September 2012, From 2.00 PM till late.

Best Western The Watermill Hotel, Hamel Hempstead HP1 2RJ. Kiritbhai:07828 213 772

Bhaja Govindam Discourses – Chinmaya Mission UK On this grand journey of life, it is the birthright of all human beings to achieve fulfilment and success.

However, along the way many of us get bogged down under the weight of innumerable pressures and that enduring fulfilment and success that we seek seems to elude us.

What is the solution?

Adi Sankaracharya thunders forth in his famous text “Bhaja Govindam” that we must stop and think about life in its totality. He beckons us to hear the clarion Call of the Infinite and discover how we can master all dimensions of our lives with the right knowledge and attitude.

Whether you are seeking: n Joyous and fulfilling relationships n Success in your professional life n Discovering your innate potential n Managing your wealth and prosperity n Mastering your mind; or n Clarity in the direction

and goal of your life You will find powerful and logical answers to all these important questions and many more provided in these 31 concise verses of Bhaja Govindam.

S w a m i Swaroopananda from Chinmaya Mission UK will be speaking over 7 evening discourses on Bhaja Govindam, delivered in a way that makes this knowledge relevant and accessible for people of all backgrounds, ages and walks of life.

Come along and experience how the profound wisdom of Bhaja Govindam can transform your life forever!

Talks take place from 9 – 15 September 2012 at the Sattavis Patidar Centre, Forty Avenue, Wembley Park, Middx HA9 9PE from 7.30-9.00pm. Talks are in English, free and open to all.

For more information or call 0208 203 6288 or just come along.

Editor: CB Patel Associate Editor: Rupanjana Dutta Tel: 020 7749 4098 - Email: rupanjana.dutta@abplgroup.com Senior News Editor: Dhiren Katwa Freelance Correspondent: Rudy Otter Chief Operating Officer: Liji George Tel: 020 7749 4013 Email: george@abplgroup.com Chief Financial Officer: Surendra Patel Tel: 020 7749 4093 Mobile: 07875 229 220 Email: surendra.patel@abplgroup.com Accounts Executive: Akshay Desai Tel: 020 7749 4087 Email: accounts@abplgroup.com Business Manager: Alka Shah Tel: 020 7749 4002 - Mobile: 07944 151 893 Email: alka.shah@abplgroup.com Advertising Manager: Kishor Parmar Tel: 020 7749 4095 - Mobile: 07875 229 088 Email: kishor.parmar@abplgroup.com Business Development Managers: Rovin J George - Email: rovin.george@abplgroup.com Tel: 020 7749 4097 - Mobile: 07875 229 219 Nihir Shah - Email: nihir.shah@abplgroup.com Tel: 020 7749 4089 - Mobile: 07875 229 111 Urja Patel - Email: urja.patel@abplgroup.com Design and Layout: Harish Dahya & Ajay Kumar Tel: 020 7749 4086 Email: graphics@abplgroup.com Customer Service: Ragini Nayak Tel: 020 7749 4080 - Email: support@abplgroup.com (BPO) AB Publication (India) Pvt. Ltd. 207 Shalibhadra Complex, Opp. Jain Derasar, Nr. Nehru Nagar Circle, Ambawadi, Ahmedabad Tel/Fax: +91 79 2646 6061 Bureau Chief: Nilesh Parmar (M) +919426636912 Email: nilesh.parmar@abplgroup.com Consultant (P.R): Kamlesh Amin Tel: +91 922 710 4308 Email: kamleshamin123@yahoo.co.in Consulting Editor (BPO): Bhupatbhai Parekh, Ahmedabad, Gujarat Tel: +91 79 2630 4142 Mumbai: Kanti Bhatt, Hemraj Shah (Jumbo Advertiser) Horizon Advertising & Marketing: 205 Shalibhadra Complex, Opp. Jain Derasar, Nr. Nehru Nagar Circle, Ambawadi, Ahmedabad Tel / Fax: +91 79 2646 5960 (M) +91 9913346487 Email: horizon.marketing@abplgroup.com Neeta Patel, (Advertising Manager) (M) +91 98255 11702 International Advertisement Representative: Jain Group(South India) Tel: +91 44 42041122/3/4 Fax: +91 44 25362973 Mumbai: +91 222471 4122 Email: jainmedia@eth.net

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TAURUS Apr 21 - May 21 You will probably have little cause to complain this week. Expect everything to run smoothly and luck to attend your efforts.

However, underneath this positive surface you may be plagued by a feeling of restlessness. Try to strike a balance between material and emotional affairs !

GEMINI May 22 - June 22 It seems that the winds of change begin to gather momentum and put a strong focus on domestic and family matters. The outlook remains optimistic as developments point the way forward and bring you a sense of real achievement. Don't be afraid to act if your instinct tells you it's time for change.

CANCER Jun 22 - Jul 22 You will feel energetic and confident as the week begins. Home and family duties and responsibilities may weigh heavy on you. In effect, you’re building a new foundation, so the work you put in now will pay off in the future. Professional and financial pressures will begin to ease.

LEO Jul 23 - Aug 23 At home, be at your diplomatic best and try not to tread on anyone's toes.

Passions will run from hot to cold, and relationships may suffer. Even the most strong-willed Leos will be more open to compromise to keep the peace. Plan your spending and set sensible budgets. All things considered, your health should be robust.

VIRGO Aug 24 - Sep 23

The pace of everyday life will gather momentum and there may be times when you find it hard to keep your act together.

Any obstacles that have stood in the way of your heart's desires should melt into the background soon. Your self-confidence will be extremely high and this will be helped by various encouraging events.

LIBRA Sep 24 - Oct 23 Life appears to be focusing your mind on practical matters. So you will need to organise your time carefully if you are to avoid an "all work and no play" situation. Resist making any hasty moves when it come to finances this is a time to focus on consolidation of current assets rather than attempting to make any new investments.

SCORPIO Oct 24- Nov 22

The fiery planet Mars is the moving force in regard to amorous experience, giving more than just a hint that links between lovers will be rather intense and passionate. Legal or official matters are likely to occupy your time. Jupiter, the planet of luck and expansion has moved into your solar 8th house.

SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 - Dec 21

Your attention turns to money and finance this week. You are satisfied with your love life, but now you’ve got to get busy making cash. You have much professional territory yet to cover, with two planets in your work sector, there is no reason why you should not get there.

Good period for communications.

CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan 20 The accent’s very much on relationships. The opening up of a more diverse social life is a point in favour of romantic attachments, if this is what you want. You will achieve a lot more, especially when you're motivated by your own desires. The general pattern of things continues on a progressive and buoyant theme.

AQUARIUS Jan 21 - Feb 19 Jupiter, the planet of abundance, is transiting your solar 5th house. You have plenty of romantic options. Financially you are still not out of the woods, so do not be hasty when buying. At work you will experience a relaxed atmosphere and this will help you to get on with everyone around you.

As social life is likely to gather a pleasant momentum throughout this week, this is bound to present a better prospect, not only for striking up new friendships but also romantic encounters. This is going to be one of those times when insignificant events give rise to unexpected developments especially regarding work and health.

PISCES Feb 20 - Mar 20

Asian Voice - Saturday 1st September 2012

31

32

Action at a Glance Pietersen in trouble again as talks with Andrew Strauss held up

Having the occasional slanging match with team-mates is nothing new in any team sport but to criticise a debutant, as Pietersen did of James Taylor during the Headingley Test, plumbs new depths of obnoxious behaviour.

Strauss returned from a family holiday in Spain to find more Kevin Pietersen revelations in the press. Taylor, who is just 5ft 4 in tall, shared a 147-run partnership with Pietersen against South Africa at Headingley, making 34. But instead of that drawing praise from his partner, Pietersen criticised him in front of the rest of the team.

It is another charge on a growing rap sheet for Strauss to consider when the two eventually meet without the encumbrance of agents and lawyers. When the meeting, which is being brokered by Angus Porter, the chief executive of the Professional Cricketers’ Association, eventually takes place, Pietersen will need to satisfy three things if he wants to play for England again.

Usain Bolt considering a switch to long jump

Usain Bolt has completed everything he could hope to as a sprinter.

He has world records in the 100m and the 200m, six Olympic golds, and a set-instone legacy as one of the greatest sprinters of all time. Why not seek another challenge? Though there were rumors of his retirement, Bolt dismissed the idea that his track and field career was over.

Instead, he mentioned a prospect that would mean the world's fastest man wouldn't even be in the sprints. Bolt is considering trying other events, namely the 400m and long jump. "It's just about making different goals, there's a lot of things I can do in the sport," Bolt told Britain's television channel. "My coach wants me to do 400 metres, I want to try long jump," said Bolt. Seeing Bolt long jump would certainly be a sight to behold.

One of the reasons why he is so dominant in the sprints is that he uses his height as an advantage. He uses every inch of his 6-foot5 body to get to the finish line in a fast, efficient manner. Can you imagine what he will do to get that frame to jump farther?

Wadekar gets lifetime award, Unmukt best junior cricketer

Former skipper Ajit Wadekar under whose leadership India won the historical Test series against the West Indies in 1971, was selected for the Castrol Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to the sport. The award will be conferred upon the veteran cricketer this week in Bangalore during Castrol Awards for Cricketing Excellence for 2011, a release from the organisers stated. Apart from his onfield genius, Wadekar has also been the coach, manager and chairman of the national selection committee. Meanwhile, current India under-19 captain, Unmukt Chand has been declared Castrol Junior Cricketer of the Year for 2011, it added. Initiated in 199798, the Castrol Awards for Cricketing Excellence recognizes outstanding performances by Indian cricketers - past, present and future.

Besides the Lifetime Achievement Award and the Junior Cricketer of the Year awards, current Indian cricketers will be recognised in the categories of Cricketer of the Year, Test Cricketer of the year, ODI cricketer of the year, Batsman of the year and the Bowler of the year.

Asian Voice - Saturday 1st September 2012

Ashwin spins India to victory over New Zealand

Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin picked up a careerbest 12 wickets as India crushed New Zealand by an innings and 115 runs within four days in the opening test at Hyderabad on Sunday.

Ashwin's 6-54, his second six-wicket haul in the match, and left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha's 3-48 bundled the visitors out for 164 in their second innings, giving India a 10 lead in the two-test series.

The 25-year-old Ashwin, who took six for 31 in New Zealand's first innings, grabbed 12 wickets for 85 runs in the match, the best by an Indian bowler against New Zealand in a test.

The Indian spin duo once again shared nine wickets as they had done in the first innings when New Zealand were bowled out for 159.

"This performance is very satisfying," India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said during the presentation ceremony. "There was a bit of

turn but it was a wicket where you had to keep coming at the batsmen, bowling in the right areas. "With the batsmen deciding 'I'm not going to take you on', it was very difficult to get them out.

Bowlers were patient, that was very important.

"We were also battling the weather because we never

Former UK footballer looks to India to unearth new talent

After the events in July a gala dinner was held where Sheila Dixshit, Delhi's Chief Minister and Bollywood Star Arjun Rampal attended.

Sport Esprit Academy, UK, has conducted a football showcase week in Delhi last month. At the end of the showcase, free football scholarship worth £23,000 GBP were given. Prior to the scholarship an elimination process was conducted and nearly 60 candidates aged between 15-16 were selected and scholarship distributed.

The scholarship will cover accommodation, tuition fees, football coaching fee, 3 meals per day. The scholarship will run on the British college academic calendar.

After the scholarship project Sport Esprit Academy will then launch a Football Academy in September.

Anish Khinda, a former British Asian footballer and the managing director of the academy said, “our academy will run for 9-10 months of the year and sessions will be delivered as after school clubs, evening football development centres, weekend and holiday clubs. We will also be introducing specially

arranged holiday showcase dates where football scouts from premiership clubs would be invited to the camps in India. We shall also be inviting coaches from Premiership clubs to come and coach some sessions alongside Sport Esprit Academy. The main reason and focus of our academy In India is to implement a solid and professional infrastructure from grassroots football to elite and performance levels. We will also be creating pathways for those interested in careers in football such as exit routes to clubs and academies in England, coaching pathways, sports journalism, sports therapy etc. British Coaches will run all of our coaching sessions and this will be our Unique Selling Point.

However we will also be recruiting local coaches to support and shadow our coaches hoping this along with coaching seminars we will run can influence the development and standard of local coaches.

knew how many overs we'll get. That was the main reason why we wanted the opposition to follow on."

After a barren, rain-shortened morning session, India picked up five wickets in the afternoon session and completed the formalities soon after returning from the tea break. Resuming on 41 for one, Brendon McCullum (42) and Kane Williamson (52) batted resolutely in the first session to deny the hosts a breakthrough.

New Zealand captain Ross Taylor, who was clean bowled trying to shoulder arms to Ashwin, said the team needed to find a way to handle the off-spinner better.

"We showed in periods that we could survive. The way Kane and Brendon batted showed rest of the batters that it could be done," Taylor said. "We could not put enough pressure on the Indian bowling line-up. We need to learn how to play Ashwin and... play him a lot better. "We

will be a lot better side come Bangalore."

Umesh Yadav, the only Indian paceman to grab a wicket in the first innings, got McCullum lbw to end the second-wicket stand of 72.

McCullum was unhappy with the decision as he thought the ball had touched his bat before hitting the pad and trudged off shaking his head and muttering to himself.

The dismissal opened the floodgates as New Zealand lost their last seven wickets for just 26 runs.

Ojha got his second wicket of the innings by bringing Williamson's resistance to an end after the batsman had completed his half-century.

The start of play was delayed for the third day in a row due to morning showers.

Most of Saturday's play was washed out due to a heavy downpour. The second and final test of the series will be played in Bangalore from Friday.

India colts beat Australia to lift the World Cup

India won their third Under19 World Cup title as captain Unmukt Chand saved his best for last, proving himself a bigmatch player and coming up with a crucial, unbeaten ton in the final against Australia on Sunday. Chand has for long been earmarked for bigger things and in Townsville he justified the promise, turning things around for his team just when the match seemed to be slipping away from India’s grasp.

When Australia, the defending champions, rode on their skipper William

around by the captain, who scored 111 not out off 130 balls. He found an able ally in wicketkeeper Smit Patel, whose winning hit to the boundary saw him remaining unbeaten on 62.

Chand’s innings was dotted with six clean sixes in front of the wicket and seven boundaries. After an enterprising second-partnership of 73 between Unmukt and Baba Aparajith, things looked dim for the Indians when they slipped to 97/4 in the 26th over. By then runs had become scarce. When Patel

Bosisto’s 87 not out and posted 225 after being sent in to bat, the chase seemed a tough ask. The Indian batsmen were expected to struggle against a pacey Australian attack. But Chand decided to come up with his third consecutive century in tournament finals to enable the colts to lift the trophy with six wickets and 14 balls remaining.

India’s three U-19 World Cup titles means they are now level with Australia in terms of trophies. India’s chase was a topsy-turvy chase but it was steered

came to the middle, Unmukt was batting on 50 but the Aussie pacers had their tails up. In danger of running out of partners, Unmukt had his arms around Smit’s shoulders when the latter walked in to bat, and the pep talk seemed to work in India’s favour.

Luck, too, went India’s way: Smit capitalized on Aussie wicketkeeper Jimmy Peirson letting go off a regulation chance and didn’t look back, and Unmukt himself was dropped by the rival captain Bosisto with 49 required off 42 balls.