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VOL 39. ISSUE 46

Modi for exchange of technologies among nations Gujarat chief minister Mr Narendra Modi on Tuesday advocated the exchange of technologies among the countries for maximum productivity from minimum usage of natural resources. Modi said that we have to use our resources in a manner that the same is available in equal or greater measure for the posterity. Unfortunately, the term ‘development’ has become a limited concept. He also emphasized on a holistic view of human life and sustainable development.

Mr Modi was addressing 85 top CEOs of European companies, ambassadors and trade commissioners of 27 EU Member States, as well as representatives from the European Commission in New Delhi as a part of the interactive session held between the Government of Gujarat and the European Business Group India (EBGI).

Modi, said, “We live in perhaps the most critical era since the 1940s.

Continued on page 26

VOICE 80p

How US engaged with Modi after denying him visa

Gujarat CM did not want any interference from America in India’s internal affairs The United States diplomats found themselves in a catch 22 situation in 2006 after they got the impression that Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi may assume the leadership role at the national level. Realising the possibility that the US would have to deal with him at a later stage if he rose in stature on the national stage, the US State Department sanctioned meetings at the level of the Mumbai Consul General on the understanding that such interactions would also enable the US to deliver a “clear message on human rights and religious freedom in Gujarat.�

Meanwhile, Modi has called the cable as ‘factual reporting’ but at the same time urged the govern-

Narendra Modi

ment of India to ensure that the US did not interfere in the internal affairs of the country.

In a cable dated November 2, 2006, the Consul General in Mumbai, Michael S Owen, underscored the importance of interacting with Mr Modi “whose B1/B2 visa we revoked in 2005, at the level of the Consul General� over the Chief

Minister's role in the 2002 communal violence. Such interaction, Mr Owen said, “will also shield us from accusations of opportunism from the BJP that would invariably arise if we ignored Modi now but sought a dialogue with him in the likely event that he makes it to the national stage.�

On the basis of discussions with leaders of the RSS and the BJP, the Mumbai Consulate concluded that Mr Modi had set his sights on national politics.

Interestingly, many in the BJP leadership believed that the Gujarat Chief Minister was the “only person of the BJP's many aspiring leaders who can reinvigorate the party and stop its further slide into oblivion.�

Continued on page 26

26th March to 1st April 2011

UK immigration

Only the best and the brightest students allowed The number of foreign students coming to the UK might be slashed by 100,000 a year Theresa May, the British Home Secretary, is expected to announce a series of measures to tackle bogus colleges and tighten the rules including restrictions on those wanting to study at below degree level. A controversial scheme that allows tens of thousands of foreign graduates stay on after their degree to look for work will also be cut in half.

On Monday 21st March, the Daily Mail reported, London's iconic double-decker bus is at the heart of a scam in India selling bogus student visas for entry into the UK. The red Routemasterstyle bus emblazoned with the Union Jack,

Theresa May, MP the British Home Secretary

took the centre stage on a giant billboard in Gujarat for all to see.

The slogan accompanying the advert, which also features the capital's famous Big Ben clock, declares: 'Get a free ride to the UK. Apply for admissions, get your visas & fly free to London.'

The striking advert has proved so popular that hordes of people flocked Continued on page 2 The advertising campaign in Ahmedabad

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Asian Voice - Saturday 26th March 2011

one to one Keith Vaz MP with

Terrence Paul- Labour Councillor for Stratford Terry Paul is National Campaigns Organiser for the cross-party, non-partisan ‘NO2AV’ Campaign – fighting to stop the introduction of the Alternative Vote (AV) in the forthcoming referendum - with additional responsibility for planning, campaigning and external relations with minority communities across the UK. In his spare time he’s a Labour Councillor in the Labour Borough of Newham representing the ward of Stratford and Newtown - the ward of the 2012 Olympic Games.

Previously he ran the trade union liaison for Oona King’s London Mayoral campaign, was a director of a public affairs and strategic communication consultancy, worked in Labour Party Headquarters in London and was a bank branch manager for Abbey National (now Santander).

In his spare time Terry grows vegetables, buys too many books and is training for a charity triathlon later this year.

1) What inspired you to begin your career in local politics?

Being born, raised and schooled in the East End, I care passionately about my local community and its people. It’s my home and I grew up with my constituents.

The opportunities presented by the London 2012 Games provide a once in a lifetime opportunity to make a difference to local employment, regeneration and the community.

I wanted to get stuck in and a difference.

2) What are your proudest achievements?

Being the first member of my family to graduate from University (Leeds University 1990).

Gaining my MBA from the Open University Business School.

Buying and renovating my house with my girlfriend 3) Please tell us about your current position?

My role as National Campaigns Organiser is to ensure that the debate on the Alternative Vote (AV) is held across the

One Vote. The introduction of AV would have a detrimental impact on Britain’s minority communities, with the possibility that far right and less popular groups would gain extra legitimacy by securing extra votes because of how the complicated system works.

People ■ British businessman and Double Queens Award winner Rami Ranger was the star of last weeks UKIBC meet in Manchester.

7) And the worst?

There aren’t enough hours in a day, eating late at night or at my desk!

8) What are your long term goals?

To be a better local representative and to improve my skills standing up for my constituents.

Rami Ranger

Delegates from the UK and India applauded Rami’s homemade recipe for success.

■ Conservative MP Priti Patel was defending poorly paid MPs by pointing out that the

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

Do whatever was needed to inspire people to get on with their lives –to ensure more ‘can do’ and less ‘can’t do’. country especially amongst our minority communities. I believe that AV is wrong for this country, and I see it as my role to make sure that our campaign not only communicates with everyone, but engages and informs on the implications and risks of the proposed form of AV. 4) What has been the biggest obstacle in your career?

The occasional days when I say “I can’t because…” instead of “I can!”

5) Who has been the

biggest influence on your career to date?

My family. My family immigrated to East London in the early 1960’s. They worked extremely hard and sacrificed a lot to ensure that I had the opportunity to fulfil a dream and win a place at University.

6) What is the best thing about your current role?

Working for something I believe in. The introduction of the Alternative Vote (AV) would be bad for our democracy. I believe in One Person,

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

The slave abolitionist William Wilberforce to understand his motivations and to thank him for starting the process of ending all forms of slavery.

Mahatma Gandhi – for a master class in humility Winston Churchill – He would have the best stories and probably be great company.

Priti Patel

new MPs expenses regulator had just spent hundreds of thousands of pounds on new exipment. Well done Priti!

■ Where would you find your local MP on a Sunday morning? At home? Not if you live in Brent North. Busy and hardworking Barry Gardiner was in Wembley at a meeting to discuss the Council’s decision not to allow the Sia Baba Temple to continue to operate.

Bad Brent Council.

Good boy Barry.

Only the best and the brightest students allowed Continued from page 1 to get a closer look at the deal in the city of Ahmedabad where the poster was on show.

Migration campaigners have slammed the advert saying it proved their was a 'gaping hole' in the British immigration system, which seen as a 'soft touch' for foreigners looking to settle in Britain.

Figures suggest one in seven foreign students attending private colleges are bogus. The overall number of students who breach their visa conditions has also tripled in a year with inci-

dents now running at the equivalent of one a day.

Student visas have peaked at more than 300,000 in recent years and currently represent two thirds of all visas issued under the points-based system.

On the other hand, the super-rich are to be offered a fast track to settle in Britain under new immigration rules for highvalue investors and entrepreneurs to be unveiled on last Wednesday.

Overseas "super-investors" who are willing to keep £5m in a UK bank account are to be given the right to stay indefinitely in

only two years.

Whitehall sources believe the move, along with other measures such as a tighter English l a n g u a g e requirement, will cut the number of students arriving each year by Students queuing up for visa 80,000.

Britain after only three years, There will also be a reduction and overseas investor who is of 20,000 among those immiwilling to deposit more than grants already in the country £10m in the UK will win the who then swap to student visas right to stay even quicker, after in order the prolong their stay in

the UK. In a separate move, the Post Study Work Route will be tightened. In 2009, some 38,000 foreign students and 8,000 dependants took advantage of the system, which effectively allows a graduate to stay on for up to two years to work.

In future only those who find a job that requires a graduate level qualification or above and are earning a minimum salary within six months will be allowed to stay. It is hoped the move will cut numbers to 19,000.

Continued on page 30

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th March 2011

COMMENT

Libyan sands hold oil and possible disaster The western intervention in Libya is in full swing.The US leads yet another coalition of the willing including Britain, France, Canada, Italy, Spain and the Gulf state of Qatar. No less significant, the coalition of the abstemious and unwilling include Russia, China, India, Brazil and Germany, the last a pillar of the European Union and Nato.

The interventionists crafted UN Security Council Resolution 1973 calling for a no-fly zone over Libyan territory to save Libyan rebels in the west of the country - which includes the major urban centres of Benghazi and Tobruk – from the tender mercies of Colonel Mummer Gadaffi's forces. The goal, say the US and its allies, is to protect the Libyan people from the unbridled violence of a ruthless dictatorship. Ergo the Libyan action was a humanitarian mission and nothing more. There were no ulterior motives behind it, no hidden agenda of foreign occupation of the country and control of Libyan oil. There was also no mention of regime change.

The signs, however, are from reassuring. Allied attacks from the air and sea are intensifying, ground attacks may follow, and Libyan civilian casualties are on the increase, disturbingly so.

American and Nato weapons are designed to cripple and destroy opposing armies; they are not, by their very nature, meant to protect the lives of non-combatants. As with Iraq and Afghanistan the numbers of dead wounded will surely rise, while collateral damage is expected to be forbiddingly high.

There is also the likelihood that Libyan resistance will crystallize along nationalist and religious lines and deepen resentment of the west in the Arab and Muslim world. There is already a growing perception that the Libyan intervention is driven by principles less high minded than the rhetoric emanating from Washington, London and Paris.

On the one hand much repugnance is expressed about the Gadaffi dictatorship and its abominations, and rightly so. But the lips of western ministers and functionaries are sealed when it comes to Saudi Arabia or Bahrain or Yemen, despite the slaughter and oppression of the innocents in all three countries. What is sauce for the goose is clearly not sauce for the gander.

The French government, which was noticeably circumspect during Tunisia's democratic uprising and the fall of the friendly Ben Ali regime, is enthused over displacing Colonel Gadaffi's government with one of its own choosing without being sure of the capability and political colour of

the men they favour as replacements. The British government's decision to deploy armed SAS soldiers in Libya to protect a liaison mission to the rebels was exposed as an absurdity. Their capture and subsequent release was redolent of a Peter Sellers Pink Panther comedy.

Worse, for a British prime minister to posture on military action when his government is making draconian defence cuts is to invite scorn at home and abroad. An interventionist foreign policy based on inadequate resources makes little sense.

We are treated to a spectacle drawn up in haste that promises disquieting reflection at leisure. A Washington Post poll shows that two-thirds of the US population is opposed to further American adventures in foreign parts, especially in these straitened economic times.

The House of Commons debate on the Libyan situation was arresting, the vote in support of the Government's action was 557 in favour to 13 against, but the BBC's Michael Crick said it scarcely reflected the genuine anxieties of MPs. What if Colonel Gadaffi was able to hold onto substantial swathes of territory? This would then led to an effective partition of the country amid civil strife: would the Allies be prepared for the long haul, putting an impossible enormous strain on an already depleted national exchequer.

There are divions within the Allied camp on who leads the no-fly zone force after the US hands over authority. Will it be France or Britain or Nato?

More serious by far is the absence of an Allied exit strategy: when will the withdrawal from Libya take place, and under what circumstances? Is there sufficient understanding of the dangers of greater radicalization in the Arab ad Muslin world and the growing sectarian chasm between Sunnis and Shias and the consequent geopolitical fallout? And what of Colonel Gadaffi? The Chief of the UK's Joint Chiefs of Staff told reporters that his UN remit excluded the Colonel's future from his concerns. His minister was less sure that this was the case.

Prime Minister David Cameron ringingly affirmed that there would be no occupation of Libya as their had been in Iraq.There is no reason to doubt his sincerity, yet leaders are frequently trapped by circumstances beyond their control, as President Obama was over the Guantanamo camp holding America's 'terrorist' suspects.

Things in Libya may get worse before they get better. The future course of events is far from clear.

WikiLeaks tells of US consular chief's regard for Modi A WikiLeaks cable dated 2 November 2006 reveals the regard in which the US Consul General in Mumbai, Michael S. Owen, held for Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi. Mr Owen advised his superiors in Washington, in conjunction with the US embassy in Delhi, not to stop communications with Mr Modi because of his alleged role in fomenting the March 2002 Hindu-Muslim riots in the state. The Bush administration had cancelled Mr Modi's visa on the ground that he was a serious human rights violator. The forthright chief minister told Mr Owen at their first meeting that, “as a son of India” he needed no lessons on human rights from the United States. Period.

The US Consul General advised his government that having made their point, it would be wise to keep the lines open to Mr Modi, who could

become a serious figure on India's national stage.

However, beyond political calculation, Mr Owen saw qualities in Mr Modi which he was not averse to sharing with his colleagues back home in Washington DC. The Consul General stated: “Mr Modi has successfully branded himself as a non-corrupt, effective administrator, as a facilitator of business in a state with a deep commercial culture, and as a nononsense, law-and-order politician who looks after the interests of the Hindu majority.” And not the majority alone, as the scale of his election successes has subsequently made abundantly clear.

Sizable sections of every faith community in the state are turning to Mr Modi because of the model governance his administration has provided. That is the plain, unvarnished truth.

BBC terror film revealing and insightful BBC Television screening of Peter Taylor's twopart documentary film on Islamist terrorism in the UK, US, principally, and its incubation in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Yemen and Somalia was informative and thought provoking. He interviewed the great and good of America's intelligence community, and also Baroness Manningham-Buller, who was head of the British security service at the time of the London bombings of 7 July 2005.

They gave their respective takes on this most crucial subject, which presently constitutes a major threat to international peace, from torture and its effectivenes or its lack to the terrorist trail from the Pakistan badlands and the collusion of the country's intelligence agency, the ISI, in what General Musharraf (in a footage) described as a cooperative jehad with al Qaeda and the Taliban -

and kindred groups from every corner of the Islamic world – in Pakistan's strategic interests and those of the United States.

The film hinted that Islamabad's adversarial vision included Kashmir and India at large but this line of questioning was discreetly avoided. Hence an absorbing story was left half complete and its full complexities unexplained. The massacre of Russiann children in Beslan by Chechen-based Islamist terrorists and their confreres was ignored, which tells something of the British establishment's partially sighted view of a global scourge.

Baroness Manningham-Buller spoke of the need to engage with Islamist terror groups even at the risk of failure: she averred wisely that there was no purely military solution to the problem, that it had to be met with a complementary mix of methods, and that the civilised world was in for a long haul.

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Thought for the Week One does not worry about the fact that other people do not appreciate one.

One worries about not appreciating other people.

- Confucius (551-479 BC)

Cllr Rabi Martins Watford Borough Council

Why Yes to AV Lord Dolar Popat and other No to AV advocates would have us believe that they reject the proposed Alternate Voting (AV) system because the First Past the Post system (FPTP) enshrines the ‘majority’ principle and is fair to the voters.

This sentiment simply does not stand up to close scrutiny. How can the certainty of being elected on a minority (around 30%) share of the be said to respect the majority principle?

The fact is just as the winning candidate in the FPTP elections mostly fails to win a majority i.e.50% plus, popular vote, so any party achieving a parliamentary majority does not need to win a majority of votes across the UK as a whole. It is this anomaly that has seen successive Labour and Tory governments secure huge majorities in Parliament even though they secured just between 30% and 40% of the popular vote. Thus FPTP governments in the UK have not enjoyed majority public support many a election.

Indeed it can be argued that it is the opposition not the government that represents the public.

Research has shown that the result of the last election was decided by fewer than 500,000 votes in a handful of constituencies that, by mathematical accident, happened to be marginal. That is out of nearly 40 million eligible voters.

That means that only one in every 80 voters actually mattered last year.

How is that fair to the electorate ?

And consider this How can an MP that needs to win the support of only 30% of voters have a bigger mandate to represent his/her constituency than one who has to command the support of at least 50%, of voters? Moreover AV is a single-member system, so it continues to embody the principle of an MP being directly accountable to his constituents in just the same way as FPTP. The No to AV campaign is wrong to suggest otherwise.

The most important factor in this debate is the fact that the elected person will be able to claim to be a legitimate voice of the majority.

This is because of the manner in which the AV system works and the requirement for a candidate to secure more than 50 per cent of votes cast before s/he is declared winner. This is how it works. The system asks voters to list their candidate choices in order of preference, marking them as 1, 2, 3 and so on. If after the first count no single candidate has 50 per cent of votes, then the candidate with the least number of votes is eliminated and those who voted for that candidate have their second-preference votes allocated according to their wishes. Your vote therefore carries more weight. This process continues until one of the candidates – through a combination of his/her own firstpreference votes plus second and third preference votes for him/her – finally reaches the 50 per cent mark.

Continued on page 6

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YOUR VOICE

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Issues affecting our community I write to you as concerned member of Gujarati Community and as Secretary of Lohana Community West London on issues which are of serious concern to the Gujarati/Hindu & Indians.

We have numerous Community Organisations and Other Parent Bodies who are entrusted by the Membership to tackle issues, one can say that Local Organisations rely upon their Parent Body to represent them and fight for the issues that are of concern.

With much regret I see no National Organisation having taken up any issues with various authorities which to me is a matter of concern. Their failure to address the issues is a shame and failure on their part to discharge the duty which they have sworn to undertake.

What are the issues that concern Gujaratis & others: 1. Indian Visa System: Most of Indians are fed up with the treatment being dished out by the Visa Issuing Authorities in UK. Demand for non-existent documents, rude behaviour, petty behaviour etc. Time has come for some one to take a leadership as so called National Organisations have failed to provide the Leadership. This issue concerns entire Indian Community hence concerted action will be required.

2. Local Authority clamping down on Community Funds etc 3. National Government imposing cuts which severely affects the Ethnic Minorities.

4. Banks curtailing lending to the Businesses which is seriously affecting Gujaratis and others.

5. Mis-Management within Local Hindu Organisations There is no pressure group to seriously address above concerns hence I request through your News Paper that like minded individuals should come forward and form a true pressure group to tackle the issues identified. Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar will have to play an important role if such action group is to succeed.

CJRabheru Via Email (Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar have always taken up issues such as the Indian visa system or issues regarding OCI-PIOs and the financial cuts. In case of the former, we have received many letters and we have forwarded them to the Indian High Commission. Obviously some issues have been resolved and some are yet to be sorted by the authorities.

As far as the cuts and community organisations are concerned, we have already reported elaborately about BIA, Ashiana and Sangat Community Centre. All local organisations are free to write to us and we promise to help them however possible.

If the SMEs approach us- we are also ready to help them. As far as the mis management within the local organisations are concerned, if the organisation itself or a well wisher approaches us and if it is possible and permissible within the laws to assist themwe are ready to be the torch bearer! We are committed to serve our community and it is our duty as the largest Asian newspaper in Britain to help the people in need.

- Asian Voice)

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th March 2011

Ashiana Funding cuts

Disaster in Japan

Ashiana provides a way forward

Ashiana meets our cultural needs As a carer of a young adult with a learning difficulty I feel that it is deeply disappointing that the Harrow Council will be cutting the funding for Ashiana Charity. My son and I have been attending Ashiana regularly for the past 10 years, Chirag was only 10 years old when he joined Ashiana.

When he first started, he was very shy and lacked confidence and self esteem, since becoming involved with all of Ashiana’s activities and interacting with all the volunteers, Chirag has changed and progressed, for the better.

He is more confident now that he is a young adult and more forthcoming.

As the carer along with the rest of my family, we have become more social, confident that Chirag is well looked after and we get some respite time as well.

The services offered by Ashiana are second to none, for my son and for myself as the carer. Ashiana meets our cultural needs, offers advocacy support along with advice and important information, which we would otherwise not have access to.

By not receiving this service, I fear that it will have a detrimental effect on the family as a whole, physically, mentally and emotionally. I feel the situation is a sad one.

Mrs Kunverji Via Email

Ashiana flourished personality

I am a carer for a young girl who has been attending Ashiana since June 2010. The girl I care for has learning difficulties and generally lacks in confidence and has very few friends by her side. I have been her carer for around 13 months now and have seen many changes in her including behaviour and communications.

She is now more able to communicate her needs and how she feels without feeling shy, she is always looking forward to coming to her classes and meeting the new friends that she has made. Ashiana flourishes her personality as she has many other friends in her position, before this, she had nowhere to go and was mainly housebound.

Mrs S Mehta Via Email

Teach a lesson to fundamentals I was disgusted to read that some Islamic fundamentalists have no respect for people other than themselves, and burning poppies, beating up poor teachers who were only teaching religion in general is not fair. Why should Britain put up with this insults time after time?

Britain should start cutting any benefits for such fundamentals and deport them along with their familes.

Mina Patel Via Email

My son Khilan has been attending Ashiana for the last 4 years. Khilan has limited speech which is often very hard to understand. When he first started his behaviour was very different, he did not mix in with the other members, carers or volunteers and did not participate in any of the activities. That said however, through the years, my husband and I have seen a marked change in Khilan and his behaviour. Khilan now readily mixes in with everyone at Ashiana and is more willing to take part in all the activities, we have also noticed a difference in his behaviour at home.

If Ashiana were to stop due to the proposed funding cuts by the Harrow Council, I fear that Khilan will revert back to his old self of being shy and lacking in confidence. Needless to say that as carers, my husband and I will also be losing vital services. Ashiana helps us by providing advocacy help and information; it provides a forum where we are able to voice our concerns and put our suggestions forward, something we would otherwise be unable to do.

Mr & Mrs Shah Via Email

Me and Ashiana I enjoy Ashaiana group. I meet all my friends on Saturday mornings and we all do yoga from 10.00 to 10.50am. I feel very good and calm after doing yoga.

Now I have started playing badminton and snooker after yoga. Because I am also diabetic type 1, exercise is very good for me. I also meet lots of other people there, and we go to many outings organised by Ashiana group.

Sometimes they have lot of discussions held for us in the weekdays.

Recently we had our own “grow your own veg’’ at the Ashiana center and we really enjoyed growing our vegetables and flowers.

I don’t want Ashiana center to close as it helps me a lot with my needs to overcome loneliness and develop my knowledge.

Hinal Shah Via Email

To AV or not Lord Popat’s piece on Alternate Voting was not only informative but educational as well. But with all the goodwill in the world, it is not the answer. Our first past the post system is not only outdated but it has passed its sell by date.

Just imagine the scenario if some 36% electorate voted in a general election with seven candidates, six getting five percent votes each and the seventh got six and got elected, a meagre 6% of the total electorate. Is this just, a real democracy? It would be much easier to manipulate the result and fraud, even on a minor scale will have devastating effect with such a low turnout. Doing nothing, sitting on the fence or living on past glory is not the answer. The most important change we need is to make voting compulsory, as is

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Wrath of Nature We are taking too many liberties with nature in the name of science and progress. No wonder Mother Nature is crying out in anguish and fighting back.

The earthquakes and tsunamis; the heavy rain-falls and mudslides; unusual amount of snowfalls and floods; the eruption of volcanoes and bush fires are all manifestations of mother earth retaliating against the torture we are inflicting on her.

The earthquake and tsunami in Japan have created havoc and disaster to an unprecedented scale. The damage to property and the lives lost is similar to what happened to Japan some sixty years ago when Hiroshima and Nagasaki were bombarded by allied forces towards the end of the Second World War. The disaster and carnage then was man-made, so is what happened in Japan now- man made!

This is the price Japan and other countries are paying for being heavily industrialised with nuclear reactors belching out poisonous gases into the atmosphere. It is time we learn to respect Mother Nature and protect the environment or else the world as we know it now will no longer exist for the posterity.

Dinesh Sheth Newbury Park, Ilford

Chance to prove themselves Many countries are helping Japan in this hour of need eg USA, UK and China.

I feel India could and should be doing a lot more in this situation - for 2 reasons.

First, because India wants to be taken seriously as a big power internationally such as in UN Security Council etc.

Secondly, it would give India a lot more experience in dealing with the consequences of a Tsunami. And one needs to think of a real possibility of India itself being struck by a Tsumani off the coast of Mumbai where the plates meet. The consequences of such an event could be a lot more severe in terms of human life- and there needs to be some planning and preparation for such an event.

I feel that India has yet again missed an opportunity to not only help but also to be noticed.

Raj Patel Woodford Green the case in most countries, with proportional representation (PR). So why Government is not including a question on compulsory voting is a mystery.

Could it be that the two main political parties, namely Conservatives and Labour would like to preserve their hold, their elitism, their monopoly to govern this country? One argument against PR is that we will permanently have an unstable coalition government. But Germany exception proves the rule.

Bhupendra M Gandhi Via Email Continued on page 11

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

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

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

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

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

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Asian Voice - Saturday 26th March 2011

Sonia Gandhi’s lecture in London fails to inspire Indian audience

By Rupanjana Dutta Congress party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi delivered a lecture on the role of Indian women in the country's political, economic and social life at the Commonwealth Institute on Thursday March 17th. Although the event was sold out and no seats were available for Indian or ethnic journalists, there is some wonder as to an audience taking such interest in a lecture delivered by an essential and important representative of the Indian government, one whose role in the recent 2G scam is shrouded in controversy.

To our surprise even the Indian High Commission Press and Information department could not give us much information regarding the event and only after much deliberation by the Indian Journalist Association (IJA), the Indian High Commission tried to arrange for a total number of 13 tickets for its members.

Out of which, after much negotiation with the Commonwealth Foundation, only 5 tickets were given to the IJA, a body which has over 60 members. Those denied tickets were asked to view the video streaming opposite the lecture hall.

Dissatisfied by the response, Ashis Ray, the President of IJA, who also represents the largest English newspaper in India- The Times of India-wrote an email to the Commonwealth Secretariat where he expressed his concern regarding the caviller attitude towards Indian journalists. He also emphasised

Sonia Gandhi delivering the lecture

that at least two members of the Commonwealth Secretariat had explained that this treatment towards the Indian journalists was as per the instruction from Mrs Gandhi.

To that a representative from the Commonwealth Foundation, in an email to all the committee members of IJA wrote that matter was eventually sorted out and the Royal Commonwealth Society and Commonwealth Foundation– arranged extra seating for Indian journalists as well as a live web-feed at the Royal Commonwealth Society.

This representative also added, "Regarding your (Mr Ray's) suggestion that the media had been discouraged, this is not the case.

However, these annual Lectures are not an event where a media pool and accreditation occur. These Lectures are for the general public.

The Office of the Secretary-General does not speak on behalf of the Lecturer."

In her lecture "Women as agents of change" Mrs Sonia Gandhi spoke about the five areas in which women have emerged as a change in India. These included self-help groups pooling savings and securing loans for local projects; new, elected roles for women in rural self-government; social activism through the establishment of the language of human rights for women; the establishment of local enterprise collectives, some of which have been replicated elsewhere in Asia; and the setting up of village information centres and IT kiosks. She also added that women’s enterprise played a role in regions ravaged by violence and conflict, and within India, these groups had taken the lead in mediating, peace-building and reconciliation in areas of strife.

Hardly the real picture of India where women themselves are still killed in the name of ‘family honour’ and around 10 million ‘female infanticide’ are reported in the last 20 years, Mrs Gandhi chose to speak about the role of technology in reducing gender inequalities through the creation of IT sector.

An influential Indian woman present in the audience at the lecture told Asian Voice, “Mrs Gandhi hardly knows about the real India.

Her speech does not reflect the true condition of ‘women’ in Indian social life. This is just half truth!”

Interestingly the British Media did not consider worth their while to carry a report of Mrs Gandhi's lecture so far.

British Asian Women The Pinnacle of Success

British Asian Women make a vital contribution to the wealth, health and intellectual well being of Britain.

The face of today's British Asian women is changing. The Times on 21st March has made a 3 page special article on Britain's most feminist Muslim- Shaista Gohir. The recent comment by Cherie Blair about her relation with husband Tony, stirred so many leaves, raised eye brows, even sparked debates, but the Indian Khajuraho temple has always been marvelled at by Britain and the British as a symbol of a 'tale of art & love' (Kamasutra) told by none other than a woman!

Women are not about burkha and only household work any more. According to the census report in 2005, there are over 2 million Asian women in the UK and there are approximately 204,000 working Asian women in the UK and they earn from £24000 - £72000. With a huge number of honours for their endeavours, these are the just a few of the many facts that many people don't know. Asian Women have left an indelible imprint in the corporate & PR sector, media, technology, retail, literature, medicine, law, entertainment and much more.

Asian Voice will be producing a special issue this summer saluting these achievements and focussing on their successes.

This special issue- 'British Asian Women- The Pinnacle of Success' will profile some influential Asian women who have accomplished their aspirations, despite various obstacles.

Our magazine will be the first of its kind as an attempt to acclaim, praise and honour the role of these women as an ideal for our future generations.

If you want yourself to be profiled or want to nominate someone to be profiled please write to Rovin at rovin.george@abplgroup.com Tel: 020 7749 4097 or Kokila at kokila.patel@abplgroup.com Tel: 020 7749 4092.

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Asian Voice - Saturday 26th March 2011

“Our London” CIIr Navin Shah AM London Assembly Member for Brent and Harrow

By Spriha Srivastava

Colourful London On Sunday Indians in London celebrated Holi with much joy and enthusiasm. Number of community events were organised by different councils and people played colours, had good food and danced to absolute bollywood latka jhatka music. Well Holi has always been about fun. This is what differentiates Holi from Diwali.

Diwali is a quiet, well except for the crackers, and more of a festival to celebrate peacefully with prayers, food and lights.

Whereas Holi is about action and fun.

This is yet another Hindu festival which is celebrated across the world. From the streets of Delhi or Mumbai or Gujarat in India to London and further on to America and the rest of the world. However, Holi is totally a people’s festival. Lots of friends, lots of noise, colours, splashes, water balloons, sweets and not to forget bhaang.

All these aspects are closely associated to the festival of Holi and even if one of them goes missing, the festival tends to become a little dull.

To start with, do we know why is Holi so important to Hindus?

The festival of Holi can be regarded as a celebration of the Colors of Unity & Brotherhood an opportunity to forget all differences and indulge in unadulterated fun. It has traditionally been celebrated in high spirit without any distinction of cast, creed, color, race, status or sex.

It is one occasion when sprinkling colored powder ('gulal') or colored water on each other breaks all barriers of discrimination so that everyone looks the same and universal brotherhood is reaffirmed. This is one simple reason to participate in this colorful festival.

These are things we tend to take for granted when we are in India and see it happening every year. It becomes a part of our lives. But it is when we are far away from our

a number of pre holi dance parties took place across London which too celebrated the festival with joy and colours..

It is absolutely amazing how each part of London coordinated amongst them to organise the celebrations.

One thing I always miss in London is the burning of Holika, a day before Holi. In fact the festival of Holi is also associated with the Puranic story of Holika, the sister of demon-king Hiranyakashipu.

The demon-king punished his son, Prahlad in a variety of ways to denounce Lord

brother's bidding.

However, Holika's boon ended by this act of supreme sin against the Lord's devotee and was burnt to ashes. But Prahlad came out unharmed.

And thus every year a day before holi, hindus practice holika dahan to symbolise the triumph of good over evil. It is quite amazing that we celebrate festivals like Holi and Dussera to glorify the victory of good over evil.

So why is it that when it comes to mankind, we are still not able to value the life of a poor just as much as we do for a rich? Why are we not able to stand up against issues like terrorism that are simply killing innocent lives? Well these are questions that one can go on asking oneself over and over again. The answer lies in our hearts and it is for us to bring it out.

Leaving all that aside and coming back to the topic of Holi in London, I feel that despite living so far away from India, I still felt that I was part of the festivity. Well, of course I missed all the action that happens when you are with your loved ones. But at least we all celebrated the triumph of good over evil.

And I am glad that even though many like me are thousands of miles away from India, they are still close to not only the culture but also the evils

Narayana. He failed in all his attempts. Finally, he asked his sister Holika to take Prahlad in her lap and enter a blazing fire. Holika had a boon to remain unburned even inside fire. Holika did her

that continue to affect the Indian society. And just like how we celebrate the victory of good over evil every year, let’s hope that someday we ourselves gain triumph over those evils that concern the mankind.

country that we start missing all these stories, rituals and of course the food. But the Holi celebrations in London didn’t make me feel even for once that I was away from my country. The celebrations took place not only in East London but in Twickenham, Surrey and Cardiff. Also

Let us know what you think.

Email Spriha at spriha@abplgroup.com

Spectacular opening of Swaminarayan Museum Amdavad As promised from India here is my second report from Harrow – London. My reflections are of a ‘visual’ nature so as to give readers ‘feel’ of the Museum Complex and the grand opening ceremony which started on Tuesday 8th March morning with a private viewing by Shri Narendra Modi the Chief Minister of Gujarat which I had privilege of attending to.

This was my first experience of viewing the exhibits displayed in spacious and impressive halls. However, what struck me the most was the unbelievable level of security associated with the CM’s visit. I’ve not come across such security even with PM’s visits here in the UK - but then this is how the way things are in India.

Formal opening ceremony of the museum was in the forecourt of the Museum. A colourful (as you will see from the photographs) and great social occasion in the open air celebrations in warm but comfortable atmosphere.

On such occasions, similar to my visits to Bhuj, one almost feels as though you’re somewhere in Harrow or Brent because of the number of our residents and community leaders visiting these events. It was great to meet leaders and volunteers of SKSS Temple in Kenton and Willesden Temple.

As expected the evening was full of

Continued from page 3 Incidentally you if you wish you can vote only for your one preferred candidate. So it is possible to elect/re-elect a popular a local hard working MP on the basis of first preference votes alone.

Lord Popat and his No to AV lobby also like to scaremonger the public by saying that AV will produce more hung Parliaments. Again not true.

For example Australia is one of the countries that uses AV. But UK under FPTP has had more hung and coalition governments in its history than has Australia. This current coalition (which incidentally I happen to think is doing a very good job) was elected under the FPTP system.

So what is it that the No to AV lobby are so afraid of ? I think it is a fear of losing their save seat status and accountability to a larger section of the community. Many people believe that the

rich, colourful and spiritual entertainment programme with the highlight of the evening being handing over of the Museum keys from Mota Maharajshri to Acharyashri. The Museum with its landscaped courtyard concept is striking, the internal spaces / exhibition halls and the exhibits are impressive but to

me most exceptional value the museum offers is its ‘Preserve PLUS’ concept aimed at ‘Green – Sustainable’ building project and ‘inclusive’ approach visualised by Acharyashri to bring awareness to the masses outside the Swaminarayan community - making the museum a focal point for humanity.

Why Yes to AV MPs expenses scandal grew out of an outrageous culture of complacency arising from an electoral system that gives MPs safe seats for life perpetuated by the FPTP voting system. No pressure to earn the support of their constituents and every incentive to go work in their self interest, including devoting more time to their second jobs rather than their MP role addressing the interests of their constituents.

Let us face it , First Past the Post has been past its sell by date for decades It was designed for a two party system. UK today has more than five active political parties and that is why we need a new electoral system. The most suitable system would of course be a P r o p o r t i o n a l Representation (PR). But AV is what we have on offer.

AV is second best but for the reasons spelled

out above it is miles fairer and better than FPTP Voting yes in May is not like voting in any other election.

Voting yes in May will be the most positive and the most important vote you will ever cast.

We have the chance to have fairer votes for everyone in Britain for the first time in our lifetimes but, if we lose, for the last time in our lifetimes.

Even Ed Miliband says “AV will restore the balance of power in favour of voters” Voting Yes will put you in good company – the Labour Leadership, the Lib Dems, the Greens, the SNP, Plaid Cymru, Operation Black Vote …..

Vote no and you will be getting in bed with BNP’s Nick Griffin, David Cameron, the Tory right, John Prescott …..

So whose side would you rather be on ?

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th March 2011

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Dee Katwa

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th March 2011

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

Britain's youth debate politics at Westminster panellists. Father-of-two MP Whittaker described volunteering “a great developer of the mind”.

His elder daughter, Sophie, who will turn 21 next month, has just returned from volunteering in the Tanzanian region of Mwanza. She was based at the K u l e a n a Children’s Centre, which deals with boys aged 4 to 16, some of them Aids patients, and helped provide food, clothes, shelter and education.

She found it so Volunteering: Sisters Sophie and satisfying and Bethannie Whittaker helping kids at a enjoyable that centre in Mwanza

Politicians and young Britons should listen to, rather than talk at, each other. This was a key message from a stimulating debate on young people’s relationship with politics, held in Parliament, Westminster, last Wednesday. I was among attendees.

Other key messages included: Political education should be introduced earlier, in schools; Politicians should talk in language which young people understand; and Parliament needs to embrace all strands of diversity to truly reflect our ‘Big Society’. The panellists were: former Education Secretary David Blunkett MP, President of the National Union of Students, Aaron Porter, Tory MP and member of the Education Select Committee Craig Whittaker, and budding young people's campaigner Adam Crabb.

Panellist Laurie Penny, a reporter with New Statesman, was absent.

She got her dates mixed up. The evening forum was organised by the UK’s leading independent education charity, The Hansard Society, and the panel was chaired by its Director of Citizenship Education programme, Michael Raftery.

Straight-talking MP Blunkett said: “We listen to them (young people) when we like what they’re saying.”

In response, late-arriving Aaron said, ‘the problem has been built up over a series of decades’, adding, ‘young people always slip to the bottom

of the pecking order and we need to find ways to combat this.’ Aaron’s remark about free state services to millionaire pensioners, at the expense of the controversial Education Maintenance Allowance, or EMA, won applause.

Similarly, MP Blunkett’s comment, ‘I met some of the thickest people at university. Some didn’t even know what empirical meant’, was met with laughter.

There was a mass “aww”, when one participant suggested that ‘the underprivileged on benefits should contribute more to society’. On volunteering, there was a unanimous nod from all

AFP – Inspiring social change The success of an innovative UKIndia trade links project, Sudarshan, was celebrated at a prestigious dinner reception in Leicester last Thursday. Sudarshan, which encouraged British Asian businesses to better understand corporate social responsibility, or CSR, was the brainchild of Bala Thakrar, pictured, founder and director of The Asian Foundation for Philanthropy (AFP). The event saw four ‘leading by example’ businesses each receive a rare kind of award, a bamboo plant in an engraved vase, symbolic of nurturing with love and care – a need for any business – for their part in Sudarshan. A short film by Bala showcasing case studies was screened. This was followed by a panel discussion and a Q & A session, chaired by MC, “superstar presenter” Kamlesh Purohit, from BBC Asian Network. Attended by around 80 guests, including Lord Dolar Popat, the round-table event was held at The City Rooms. In addition to its work on CSR, AFP - which receives funding from the Department for International Development - exists to raise awareness of poverty and development issues aligned to the Millennium Development Goals, which are set to be achieved by 2015. To find out more visit www.affp.org.uk

she has decided to return, this time working full-time for two years. MP Whittaker’s younger daughter, Bethannie, 16, who spent three months shadowing her sister at the children’s centre in Mwanza, teaching the boys to read and write in English, has decided to join the British Army as a Medical Technician. She starts next month. Both sisters have also been involved in fundraising for the children’s centre.

The evening also celebrated the success of Hansard Society’s awardwinning online forum, HeadsUp, which connects 11-18 year olds with politicians and young decision-makers to debate political issues. To find out more visit www.headsup.org.uk

Meet Jamaica 2012 A new initiative, Meet Jamaica 2012, has been launched.

A Memorandum of Understanding for the initiative, aimed at increasing trade between Jamaica and the UK on the back of next year’s London Olympics, was signed by senior officials from both countries, pictured, at a breakfast forum at The Council House in Birmingham last Friday. Over 50 firms across Birmingham have already secured contracts to supply the London Games and related projects, as part of a wider West Midlands inward investment campaign worth almost £500 million. Attended by over 60 guests, including Birmingham’s Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress, the 7.30am-9.30am event was fantastically compered by Earl Jarrett, CEO of Jamaica National Building Society. A slick power-point presentation was delivered by Sancia Bennett-Templer, President of JAMPRO, Jamaica’s investment and trade promotion agency.

Other speakers included Karl Samuda, Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Edmund Bartlett, the Tourism Minister, and the “youthful and exuberant” Agriculture Minister Christopher Tufton. The tone, delivery and content of their speeches, filled with effervescence and passion, was remarkable. In addition, they spoke, unlike several of our own ministers, without the aid of notes. Jamaica is the third largest Caribbean island, with a 2.8 million population.

Banned for drink driving Disgraced former BBC newsreader Ashley Blake has been banned for a year from driving after failing a breath test as he rode his BMW motorbike.

Blake, 41, admitted drink-driving: “I should have given more thought to my fitness to drive,” he said. This incident came just less than a year after Blake, pictured, was freed from prison after attacking a teenager with a pole.

Ex-mayor to step down Former mayor of Wolverhampton, Surjan Singh Duhra, pictured, is to stand down as councillor of St Peter’s ward after 33 years of service. Labour has put up former Lib Dem campaigner Zahid Shah as its candidate to try to replace him.

News in Brief Did you know….

China is home to 20 per cent of the world's total internet users. And that's at a time when only around 30 per cent of the country has access to the web. With nearly 240,000 new consumers coming online in China every day, that number is growing fast.

Tough lesson for risk drivers Police in India are punishing dangerous drivers by making them direct traffic. The plan was devised by Bharti Arora, deputy commissioner of police in the city of Gurgaon, because fines were not working. "We decided to let them see how difficult it is to work as a traffic constable," she explained. "Some say it has changed their attitude."

Child abuse symposium The need for better strategies to fight child abuse and immunity was discussed at a major conference at Nottingham University last week. Nearly one in five secondary schoolchildren in the UK have been victims of violence, sexual abuse or neglect, according to a recent report from NSPCC, the charity.

New report on home cooking Just one in four adults in the West Midlands eats homemade food every day, according to the Kallo Stock Cubes Home Cooking Report. But nationally, the report states, home cooking has grown because of the recession and increased inflation.

Revenue from parking tickets Thirty-two parking wardens have helped their paymaster, Birmingham City Council, bank £4 million by issuing 126,171 penalty notices to motorists in just 12 months. The worst-hit streets were in the Alum Rock, Sparkhill and Moseley areas of the city. These figures were obtained through the Freedom of Information Act by the Birmingham Mail.

Wealthy region After London, the Midlands is the second wealthiest region in the UK with 92,000 millionaires. London has 287,000. The northwest has the third highest, with 64,000 living in the region.

GP suspended An Indian doctor who cupped a female patient’s breasts and called her ‘darling’ has been suspended for six months. Mahesh Rajeshwar, from Sutton Coldfield, had already served a 12-month ban for the incident, reports the Sunday Mercury.

Finishing touch Work to complete the new Shri Krishna Temple in West Bromwich is back on track after being delayed by cold weather. The £1.6 million temple was officially opened last August by former Foreign Secretary David Miliband.

Temple ‘thief’ in dock A teenager, Aaron Humpage, accused of stealing £5,000 from a Hindu temple in Wilenhall appeared before Walsall magistrates last week. Humpage, 18, who is charged with burglary at the temple in Fletchers Lane, will appear at Wolverhampton Crown Court on April 18.

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th March 2011

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Asian Voice - Saturday 26th March 2011

Education for financial Chef's tandoori on fire independence Kartik.S. Raval

Lead-A-Hand India (LAHI) is a charitable trust that provides education for financial independence to young boys and girls studying in the remote villages of Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka. Started from New York, this week LAHI initiated its activities in the UK by holding

India is a major contributor towards rural unemployment and urban migration. By training our course instructors we aim to provide the right platform through which thousands of kids can start focusing on various practical skills that will help them to secure employment in the future or even

organisations using more funds for administration than its own purpose, it is remarkable that LAHI utilizes more than 85% of the funds raised for its ground projects. LAHI started in December 2004 in New York with $500 contribution of a few friends and today they have turned it around

Students learning useful practical skills like electrical wiring and carpenting through LAHI's through job/life skill education

an inaugurating event at Bangalore Express City, London.

It runs three year training program that is recognized by state Government of Maharashtra while remaining in lines with regular academic courses in 61 villages and reaching more than 10,000 students. Raj Gilda, Cofounder of Lead-A-Hand India tells Asian Voice, “The significant disconnect between the education imparted and the real life skills needed in rural

start their own business.”

About 25-30 percent of students enrolled for the program go ahead in opting higher technical education like ITI and Polytechnic, leading to guaranteed jobs. Laying high importance on entrepreneurship, over 20 percent of students start their own business through the skills obtained through the course like cost and profit management, marketing and selling products locally.

With many charity

Shrinking of Royal Mail announced Royal Mail is set to cut more than 1,700 jobs, including 1,000 operational managers across the UK as well as close down south London centre in Nine Elms Lane and its east London centre in Bromley-by-Bow. This revelation highlights the struggle of Royal Mail to remain profitable in a declining market.

Moreover, half of the 64 nationwide Royal Mail centres will be shut down by 2016. Royal Mail, which employs 165,000 full-time staff, has cut 65,000 positions since 2002. Its first-half operating profit to the end of

September 2010 fell 72 per cent to £52m.The company said a further 1,700 managers’ jobs had been cut since the start of the year in areas including finance, information technology, human resources and support services.

Shrinking down of this service can cause great trouble to organisations which depend on Royal Mail for regular deliveries. Even with the current service, Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar is facing major delays in getting newspapers delivered to the readers.

into $250,000 generating charitable organisation, providing job and life skills training, career counseling and bridging loans for the kids who are most vulnerable to get caught in the vice grip of rising unemployment in the rural India. This week itself the organisation conducted four charity events in New York and Washington DC including a half marathon. With LAHI now looking to support the noble cause from the UK, residents can make their contribution through www.lend-ahand-india.org.

In its move to curb the inflow of migrants coming to the UK on Tier-2 of point based system, the government is set to exclude chef's occupation in addition to others from the 'Shortage list'.

Implication of this new agenda will highly affect the £3.2 billion Indian restaurant industry in the UK. The Home Office announced that the nonEU migrants wanting to work as chefs in the UK will need to have at least a graduate-level qualification with a minimum of five years of previous experience in a role that the candidate is entering.

According to these new rules they will also need to be paid a minimum annual wage of £28,260 after deductions for accommodation and meals.

Many Indian restaurant owners might find it impossible to match this salary cap.

Earlier, many owners got to the streets and protested in 2008 when there were talks of increasing minimum pay scale for the chefs.

Removal of this occupation from the shortage list also mean that the approximate 500,000 posts made available every year will reduce to less than half.

Immigration Minister, Damian Green said “These changes to the shortage occupation list will ensure that only skilled workers are com-

Parliamentary support for PM's action in Libya David Cameron received a staggering support of the House of Commons for his decision to commit British forces to the international military effort in Libya.

MPs David Cameron, MP Muammar Gaddafi voted by 557 to repeatedly that 13, in favour of the use of “this is not going to be armed forces to implement another Iraq” and menthe United Nations tioned that UN resolution Security Council resolumakes it clear that “there tion passed last week will be no foreign occupanwhich authorised "all neccy of Libya”. He also elabessary measures" to protect orated on Gaddafi's dictacivilians and enforce a notorship, his track record of fly zone. violence and support for Mr Cameron stressed terrorism against the UK.

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ing to the UK. It will allow firms to bring in people with necessary skills without migrants becoming the first resort to fill a wide range of available jobs".

There are eight occupations that are set to be

excluded from the shortage criteria by 8 April 2011, namely highintegrity pipe welders, airframe fitters, electricity industry site supervisors, skilled meat boners and trimmers, skilled sheep shearers, estate agents, hairdressers and beauty salon managers.

The shake-up is part of efforts to cut net migration by 2015, which had hit 226,000 last year and simultaneously address the growing unemployment amongst the British citizens. Damian Green added "this government is also deter-

mined to get people back to work and provide business with the skills they need from the British workforce reducing the need for migrants at the same time as we reduce their number."

H o w e v e r, exclusion of chefs from the shortage list and putting tighter restrictions on this occupation will mean many Indian restaurants will suffer as they highly depend on chefs from the subcontinent to provide the authenticity to their taste. This is bad news also for thousands of consumers who are already unhappy with Indian restaurants altering their authentic taste to cater to the rather popular one.

The job categories listed as skilled under Tier 2 will be initially cut from 192 to 121 and then further reduced to 87.

Officials estimate around 65% of the 8,400 work permits issued last year to workers on the shortage list would not have qualified under the new rules. The government said it wishes to follow the recommendation of Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to keep only 5% of chef jobs open to overseas chefs.

Indian Emperor Jahangir's painting on auction for £1m The largest known Mughal painting is to be offered at Bonhams on 5 April for an estimated price of more than £1m. This painting of Muhammad Jahangir, son of the r e m a r k a b l e Shahanshah Akbar, husband of the beautiful Nur Jahan and the ruler of the Mughal empire is in the style of a European portrait of the early 17th century.

The portrait which will lead a sale of works of Indian and Islamic art is a unique painting of the Mughal Emperor who ruled India 1605-1627 and is attributed to the Mughal artist Abul Hasan.

Previously shown in the National Portrait Gallery in an exhibition on the Indian Portrait in 2010, the Emperor is shown seated on a gold decorated throne holding a globe, wearing elaborate robes and jewellery. The surrounding Persian inscription states it was

painted at Mandu in the 1617 AD. Alice Bailey, Head of Indian and Islamic Art at Bonhams comments said "This is one of the rarest and most desirable 17th century paintings ever to come to auction. There is no other work of its kind known and its importance cannot be underestimated.

The extraordinary detail and complexity of the painting both fascinate and bewitch the viewers."

YOUR VOICE

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th March 2011

No-fly zone over Libya

Sai Temple and Brent Council

The U N Resolution sanctioning a no-fly zone over Libya, with abstentions from China, Russia, India, Germany and Brazil, clearly informs us that world opinion is divided.

The current five permanent Security Council members are USA, UK, France, Russia and China. Surely India and Brazil must be admitted as permanent Security Council members to make United Nations more representative of world order.

In addition, USA and UK or France should be replaced by Japan and Germany or South Africa so that a new vision for United Nations fit for 21st century can evolve.

Libya’s unity, sovereignty and integrity must be protected by all available means.

The last two days’ bombardment has had the unfortunate result of splitting the country into two camps in a country with a population of merely 6 million.

Colonel Gaddafi was the Arab leader who expelled British and US military bases from Libya in 1971, who nationalised all foreign oil companies in 1972 and who instigated the four-fold increase in crude oil prices in 1973 for the benefit of all Arab oil producing countries.

No wonder he is not popular with USA, Britain and France.

N M Khajuria Via Email

Shirdi Sai Baba temple and Brent Council imbroglio is interesting. Even though Sai Baba organisation could be at fault, it behoves ill of Brent Council to remove pro Sai councillors from deciding panel. If law is on its side, there should be no cause for anti Hindu, undemocratic subterfuge.

On the other hand-why the aggrieved party are Hindus only? Why exclusive Hindu support is solicited?

If number of non Hindu organisations are involved, the movement may assume more credible dimensions.

Also such move may make many about beneficial effects of SaiBaba’s spiritual influence.

While faith of followers is admirable, it is good their part to rely on prestige of dedicated Hindu Community, religion, reputation, credibility and might.

Force of term Hindu must be utilised to invoke spontaneous, unsolicited goodwill, philanthropy and friendship and not be used for defiance and one upmanship.

As Shirdi Sai Baba worship is open to all irrespective of religious denominations, it would be pleasing to be informed about Muslims and Christian support as well.

Ramesh Jhalla Via Email

No Alternative to voting system The United Kingdom will have its first national referendum for 35 years.The purpose of this referendum is to ask the voters whether they want to replace our existing voting system (First Past the Post) with the ‘Alternative Vote(AV).

AV system is not a genuine representation for the will of the people. In the AV system the voters have to chose the candidates according to their preference and mark 1,2, 3 and so on. So it is very likely that the person whom people have voted as their first choice may not get elected.

In another AV system proportional representation is introduced. Germany, Italy and France follow this system.

The introduction of proportional representation in European countries has resulted in the growth of

extreme right wing and left wing parties. The BNP was elected in the European parliament due to proportional representation and in the May general election due to ’First Past the Post' they did not get a single seat in the House of Commons.

Ed Miliband was elected leader of the Labour party by virtue of AV and he was the least popular candidate among the five and it is not surprising that Ed Miliband supports AV system.

Under AV system the labour party will not come to power of its own and Ed Miliband is 'naive’ to support AV system. The labour party members should say no to the AV system.

Arun Vaidyanathan Via Email

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Mother’s Day Tell your mother how much you love her on 3rd April.

If you want to give her a message, email it to us at aveditorial@abplgroup.com within 50 words.

We will publish your message FREE. Your mother will be thrilled to read it.

Closing date & time: Monday 28th March, 3pm.

Lib Dems have no goal Liberal Democrat party is neither liberal nor democrats! It's another form of the Tories which is acting not for the national interest but for their own interest. See what they are doing now. They are assisting the Tories to destroy the NHS founded by the Labour in 1947 (when India had become independent). They have increased unemployment and tuition fees to at least ￡9000.

Therefore to my knowledge to vote the Liberal Democrats is a total waste. This party has no goal and no aim.

J B Patel Birmingham

Photo in Mahabharat I am a very keen reader of the Mahabharata column in Asian Voice. But I would like the author to make it more illustrious for attracting my young children- who I think must learn about our culture and history!

Ratna Bhatt Via Email We are looking into it.

- AV

British Asian Women We saw the announcement about the British Asian Women magazine, to be produced by Asian Voice. We are so happy that finally a newspaper is looking after the interest and the contributions made by us- Asian women to the development of this nation. Well done Asian Voice!

Anita Chopra London

12

MEDIA WATCH

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th March 2011

Scrutator’s India's top nuclear bodies have said they would revisit all safety aspects of the country's nuclear plants and analyse the crisis in Japan’s nuclear facilities following the earthquake and tsunami there. This was made clear by Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) Chairman S.P.Jain.

“Although the Fukushima incident is the rarest of sequences of combinations of events, we will be doing a complete analysis as to what might have gone wrong and how,” said Srikumar Banerjee, the Atomic Energy Commission Chairman.

Nuclear plants in Fukushima in meltdown

Switching subjects, meet Rajendra Patil, a banana farmer from the Jalgaon district of Maharashtra, who, along with Hemchandra Patil, was recently invited by the Harvard Business School to make a presentation at an international symposium on food security. Their subject was how improved technology had helped increase their yields and incomes many times over.

Anil Dhake, Vice-President (R&D), Jain Irrigation Systems, explains that Hemchndra had been a contract farmer with Jain for 10 years, growing white onions to feed its dehydratedonion producing plant in Jalgon. “We chose him for his achievement.....that a dryland farmer can can go up to 18-20 tonnes of onions per acre....India's average is 5-6 tonnes per acre. For 10 years now he has done hi-tech cultivation using so many different – inline, sprinkler, drip and overhead irrigation systems.”

Indian farmers face several problems, such as the vulnerability of crops to newer diseases. To keep abreast of the latest farming practices, Hemchandra had bought a laptop and regularly surfs the Net using his broadband connection.

Rajendra is all excitement after his American visit. “I want to own 100 acres to grow banana, ginger etc, to go in for the latest irrigation systems. “He wants to organise quarterly workshops for farmers, guide them to on ways to improve yield through better farming practices. 'In one campus I want to provide models explaining how to plant a crop, look after it'....”

Hemchandra's future plans include horticulture and floriculture. He wants also to grow pomegranate and exotic vegetables in greenhouses.

IT firms on roll A Press Trust of India (PTI) report (March 13) quotes Deloitte, the international consultancy, as saying that the Indian IT industry will add over 225,000 new recruits to its overall workforce in 2011 and will clock revenues of $71.7 billion by the end of the year and account for 5,8 per cent of the country's GDP. The Deloitte projection follows a spate of announcements by IT majors like Infosys and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), among others, of stepping up recruitment following signs of an upturn in the global economy.

Deloitte expects higher growth in revenues from European and Asian markets, compared with the traditional North American market this year.

It also expected that under the penetrated SME (small

the DRDO, Nishant's performance of payload sensors was better than the UAVs imported by the Army.

The launch vehicle can be parked in a safe area and moved to any location when required, according to Dr Prahalad, Chief Controller Research and Development (Aeronautics and Services Interaction).

Nishant can be used in roles such as battlefield reconnaissance (day and night), surveillance, target tracking and location and correction of artillery fire. Nishant has been designed and developed by the Aeronautical Development Establishment, a DRDO laboratory sspecializingin UYAVs, Flight Control Systems and simulators, in partnership with Defence Electronics Applications Laboratory, Dehra Dun, Research & Development Establishment (Engineers), Pune, and Aerial Delivery Research & Development, Agra.

in Mumbai on the Arabian Sea. In addition to the smaller bases in Kochi and Port Blair, a base is coming up in Lakshadweep.”

Stealth frigate India's first indigenous stealth frigate INS Shivalik has arrived in Visakhapatnam last week following extensive sea trials. It has taken its place in the the country's Eastern Fleet under the Eastern Naval Command. The state-of-theart-frigate is equipped with radar and weapon systems to match. Its induction adds

Newspapers on a roll Robin Pagnamenta's piece, in The Times (March 21), on the burgeoning Indian newspaper industry is well worth a read.

He quotes a newspaper vendor

Karwar naval base The Week magazine, a Keralabased Manorama publication, produced an arresting feature on India's top secret Kawar naval base, which has a 26 kilometre coastline on the Arabian Sea, is spread over a total area of 11,200 acres and located 110 kilometres south of Goa. The base was conceived decades ago as part of 'Project Seabird' by former Naval chief Admiral Oscar Stanley Dawson. Access to the area is subject to strict controls, so the reporter Syed Nazakat saw what the base authorities wanted him to see.

The base has 1,200 officers and sailou0rs, said Commodore Rajiv Jaswal, who heads the base: “As a long range base, Karwar is perfect.

It is convenient, isolated and safe. The extent of the land available in and around Karwar will help the Navy to disperse its assets, a crucial wartime necessity.” He said

Newspaper on sale in India

greatly to India's naval power.

In this context, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, a leading Swedish think-tank, avers that India has overtaken China as the world's largest weapons importer. “Just from what they havee ordered, we know that in the coming few years India will be the top importer.” said Siemon Wezema, a senior fellow at the institute.

Radar cooling system A Hindu newspaper report (March 18) told of the first indigenous cooling system custom-built for the Indian Air Force's medium range surface-to-air missiles. The sys-

and medium enterprises) space will emerge as a “significant opportunity” in 2011. Of the $71.7 billion revenues mentioned above, $60 billion will come from the core software vertical services.

Incidentally, India's foreign exchange reserves have risen to $302 billion, driven by a recent $1.8 billion surge, according to the Reserve Bank of India.

Nishant trials Cooling system custom-built for Indian Air Force missiles

A Hindu report (March 3), quoting a Defence Research & Development Organization (DRDO) press release, tells of the successful test of India's Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Nishant by the Army at the Chandan Range Pokhran.

The Army conducted the flight trials prior to taking delivery of a set of four Nishant UAVs, together with ground systems. According to

the Defence Minister, said: “We needed a cooling system that was effective in Indian conditions. The imported ones were better suited to European conditions.”

He said defence projects provided opportunities to Indian industry, and also facilitated partnerships between Indian and foreign companies.

the Karwar's hilly terrain provided excellent camouflage for ground installations and there could also be rock-cut pens for submarines.

The report says: “The Karwar naval base will enhance the strategic capacity of the Indian Navy's twin fleets – the eastern fleet in Visakhapatnam on the Bay of Bengal and the western fleet

tem, which is part of an IndoIsraeli joint venture, was built

by Hemair Systems India, whose Managing Director Srinivasa Rao handed it over to the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) at a ceremony in Chennai.

Speaking at the event, Dr S.K. Saraswat, the DRDO chief and Scientific Adviser to

at Kolkata's central railway station, who, having sold a copy of the local Bengal Post, said: “It's a good business.

Every year I sell more. These days everybody wants a newspaper.”

“In other countries the print news trade may be struggling, as circulation falls,' writes Mr Pagnamenta, “but not in India. Here the industry is enjoying explosive growth, propelled by rising literacy rates, a growing population and a red hot economy expected to expand by 8 per cent this year. The amount generated in sales by the Indian newspaper industry last year was £2.3 billion.

Newspapers in the country's 29 regional languages were flourishing, as were their English-language peers.

“India's best selling title, the Hindi-language Daily Prakashan gained an extra 120,000 readers in the last three months of 2010.....The Times of India has an average of readership of 7.42 million, making it the biggest-selling English-language newspaper in the world.” Advertising was huge, hence the average cost of a newspaper at Rs 2 (three pence) was a pittance uniquely affordable.

The internet posed no threat to the newspaper industry. At least, not for the present, said Varghese Chandy, Senior General manager of Kerala's Manorama Group, who observed further, “Newspaoers are growing into virgin territory, places where distribution and printing facilities had not existed previously.....India's economy is growing and people have more money to spend. The growth will continue.”

UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th March 2011

13

Political Sketchbook Alpesh Patel’s

The Politics of The Security Council and India The United Nations Security Council has five permanent members, with the power of veto over UN resolutions.

Those countries are UK, US, France, China and Russia. By rotation, India is presently a member of the UN Security Council, albeit a non-permanent member.

But when the world’s largest democracy does not stand up and vote in favour of a no-fly zone over Libya to protect innocent civilian lives, you know India is not mature enough to have a permanent seat on the Security Council.

India lacks a sense of its own responsibilities on the world stage. Whilst doubtless politicians in India are more busy with the economy and the rewards that brings, they lack the maturity to understand why Britain stands up to be counted.

Anyway you may say it is all to do with oil. Well, it is difficult to justify armed conflict to Britons if neither national security or closely tied to that, economic security, is not at risk. So that is not a problem. In fact, whatever it takes to undertake humanitarian relief is good. Even if you think it hypocritical – so what - one life saved is worth a million hypocrisies.

So why is Britain involved? Cameron and Hague have the energy of a new administration – add Clegg to that – and in fact credit to the Leader of the Opposition too. They made clear their heritage, values dictate their involvement. Values. Not something you hear about nowadays. Say what you want about Britain being a post-Imperial spent power – but they have a sense of responsibility.

Do not be surprised of in International Relations our morals are derived closely from our personal affairs.

So consider that Britain has a sense of its history and heritage. This is not overreach, it is simply a case of, ‘if they do not do it, who will’? India wont, clearly.

India will let civilians die. Then again Indian lives are cheap anyway, look at the slums in Mumbai of this $1trillion economy whose sons build skyscrapers to reach the gods above them, but not

the humanity around them.

India would not stand against Burma – in its own back garden. India would not stand against China over the Dalai Lama – where was the Indian message that Buddhism was the born in India and India has housed the world’s persecuted for two millennia since the Jews led by St Thomas. That is India’s heritage. If you wanna come around looking for trouble in attacking it, you will get some trouble.

Worse than India not doing anything is the Arab League. Once again the West has to clear up their mess. They have oil, but instead of being civilised and cleaning up their own house, they kill each other. Make no mistake, so did the West until 1945. I am not saying all things Western are good, but the Arab world, Saudi Arabia in particular, needs to take the lead for once and show some moral courage.

The worst kind of country or person is one who has someone else do their dirty work for them. It is tantamount to cowardice. So it was Samuel Johnson said, ‘Courage is reckoned the greatest of all virtues; because, unless a man has that virtue, he has no security for preserving any other.’ Add Ambrose Redmoon, ‘Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear’.

And so it is India betrayed its heritage this past week, and Britain lived up to its. Say as you wish about British politicians – but they are giants compared to Indian ones. There was a time when Indian politicians could stand up to a Churchill – just ask Gandhiji, Sardar Patel, Nehru, Jinnah. Or ask the 5 million Commonwealth soldiers fighting in Western wars – cleaning up the West’s mess in the past. Not so now. Now the Indian politician betrays the brave Indian soldier by preventing him standing up to a Gadhafi.

So the next time someone shows you a chart of how India will be the third largest economy in the world in 30 years – say a prayer for the rest of the world.

Police Arrest Key Members of the Asian community for St Luke’s!

Navin Shah, Kali Chakraborty, Ajay Maru and other prominent members of the Harrow and Brent community are preparing for St Luke’s Jail and Bail event and they need your help to get them out!

On Friday 18th March eight brave members of the community underwent a fake criminal arrest by a real police officer in uniform outside Harrow Crown Court in the lead up to St Luke’s Jail and Bail event.

In an effort to raise money for St Luke’s the following people were ‘arrested’ by Harrow Police: l Navin Shah, London Assembly Member for Harrow and Brent l Kali Chakraborty, President, Kenton and

Kingsbury Rotary l Ketan Mandalia, Direct of Blue Ginger and Blue Zenzer l Ajay Maru, Director of Salon Sleek and Councillor of Kenton West Ward l Bob Blackman MP, MP for Harrow East l Cllr Bill Stephenson, Leader of Harrow Council l Chris McDermott, Head Teacher, Marlborough

Primary School l Dave Chapman, St Luke’s Hospice Head Chef Following on from the arrest, the press had the opportunity to question the ‘detainees’.

Navin Shah AM (pictured), London Assembly Member for Harrow and Brent said, ‘I feel really good to be supporting this really worthwhile cause.

Significance of social equality and representation him unemployed and fighting with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

As we look back to the society of March 1978, it is well reflected from our news reports that racial injustice faced by the Asian community was very severe. Even then our journalists were busy giving voice to the outcry of the victims of such discrimination.

Whether one believes in the arrow of time or the circle of life, it is not to be denied that once in a while history repeats itself. Every society has its own set of social issues that it needs to deal with and discrimination based on race has always been a primary one in the one we reside. Efforts to curb these social vices have sensed the virtue of equality in the past, but today we witness the same problem knocking at our doorstep; taking the contemporary British society back to square one. The reason for this repetition is that absolute equality cannot be forcefully implied through law as it is only able to subdue the high tide of discrimination for the time period and not pluck it out from the roots i.e from the minds of the people.

Even centuries back Aristotle was right to state the significance of representation of the communities in the government but even then today we hear outcries of injustice, harassment and violence experienced by members of the minor communities and the lack of opportunity to have a voice in the parliament.

“If liberty and equality, as is thought by some, are chiefly to be found in democracy, they will be best attained when all persons alike share in the government to the utmost.”Aristotle Regulations have been put to practice under the UK's legislature like The Equal Pay Act 1970, Sex Discrimination Act 1975, Race Relations Act 1976 and an empowering Equality Act 2010.

However, incidences of harassment based on one's race has kept flooding the society. This week itself, we were in conversation with a teaching assistant, Khalid Akram from Burnley who revealed the intense discrimination he faced at his school that has left

Race Report: 'Quota System Racialist' The Select Committee on Race Relations and Immigration failed to adopt a cool non-racialist approach to make a competitive bid in the numbers game.

It came out with proposals for quota on immigrants from the Indian sub-continent alone. If implemented, it would be the most explicitly racialist provision introduced into the UK immigration control.

Towards Equality For All Immigration became a controversial political issue once again as there was an increase in the public activities of racialists as evidenced by the National Front and similar organisations.

The Labour Government intended to stand firm against the cries to breach our legal and moral commitments to those given rights of

For St Luke’s I am a persistent offender yet again and I am going for a sentence which I deserve. It was great to participate in this Jail and Bail event a couple of years ago and this why I’m doing it again. I am doing this for St Luke’s because I support the great service that they provide not only to patients and their effort to improve their quality of life but to the carers as well.’

Kali Chakraborty, President of Kingsbury and Kenton Rotary Club said, ‘I feel excited about taking part in the Jail and Bail

event. It is good fun and a new concept for fundraising. The Rotary Club has been working with St Luke’s for over 20 years and every year we give money to St Luke’s and make sure we help them with different fundraising activities.’

Ajay Maru Councillor of Kenton West Ward said, ‘I came across St Luke’s because I know people who have used their facilities and St Luke’s is located very locally to me. I’m doing the Jail and Bail event for the second time as it is a great thing to do

24th March 1978

entry to this country or to deny members of ethnic minorities their full rights under the law. There are more important things in politics than more votecatching. These are principles and decency.

Whites Only Homes Going To An Asian Mr Robert Relf, the race rebel was jailed after offering his house for sale “to whites only.”

But, later he planned to sell it to a Sikh as he wanted to spite neighbors who snubbed his family over a Jubilee street party and invited colored friends instead.

The ￡14,000 house in Cowdray Close, Leamington, was up for sale with estate agents who said they expect to sell it to a Sikh and his family. Mr Relf, a 53-year old bus driver who spent six weeks in jail in 1976 after erecting a sign outside his home saying, “For Sale to an English Family”, said that he had no support from his neighbors for his views.

Asian Seaman Left To Drown The operators of the S.S. Canberra, one of the Britain's best known luxury liners, left an Asian Seaman to drown.

They refused to carry out an adequate search once they found out that the man overboard in the Tasman Sea, between Australia and New Zealand, was an Asian crew member rather than a paying passenger. They then swiftly steamed on towards Sydney.

This was despite the fact that calm sea and weather conditions meant that the man could have survived in the water up to eleven hours after the search was abandoned.

Inquiries in London and Australia had established that the abandoned man was Jesus Nazareth D'Cunha, a utility steward on the P and O luxury cruise liner and flagship SS Canberra.

and simply because it is for a brilliant cause. It will really help those who need St Luke’s support.’

The Jail and Bail Event takes place on Friday 1st April at 10.45am, and these brave members of the community have agreed to be held in police cells until they can raise £1000 ‘bail’ money each, in aid of St Luke’s.

To pledge your sponsorship please visit www.justgiving.com/jailandbail2011.

For more information about the event contact Esther on 020 8382 8023.

14

ART & CULTURE / COMMUNITY

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th March 2011

Jalaram Jyot Wembley celebrates their first Holi

Don’t forget that British Summer Time starts on Sunday 27th March, but which way to change the clocks? Easy! Just remember: "Spring forward, Fall back!"

150 dancers take to the stage at Sampad's Asian Spring

CB Patel, Publisher/Editor of Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar with CJ Rabheru and other members of Jalaram Jyot lighting the Holi fire

Jalaram Jyot, the New Jalaram Centre on Repton Avenue celebrated their 1st Ever Holi Utsav on Saturday 19th March 2011. Decided only 10 days ago, every follower pledged their support for the celebration and requested Shree Chandrakant Rabheru to assist them in obtaining permission from various departments of LB of Brent, Police and Fire Brigade and also assist them in planning the event.

Chandrakant Rabheru took the challenge and with the blessings of Pujya Jalarambapa, all the required formalities were completed.

Jalaram Jyot Trustees has a total 6 Members on

Women members of Jalaram Jyot lighting the fire of Holi

Board and were assisted by a team of 40 Volunteers. On Saturday 19th March Jalaram Jyot was full of activities to make sure that all the arrangements were concluded by 4 pm. Assisted by the volunteers who also cooked the prasad, set up the area for Holi lighting, managed the Car Park and set up the Pooja Tent.

Devotees started coming in around 5pm.

The Holi lamp

was lighted at 5.45pm.

The lighting was attended

by Shree CB Patel, Smt Pushpaben Patel, Shree Rajnikant Thakrar, Smt Jyotiben Thakrar, Dr Navin Thakrar, the trustees and around 200 people were present. The devotees kept coming till 9.30pm and all ate prasad (Rice/Mug/Puri/Idli/Pota to saak/Bhajia’s & Fruit) in the Mandir Hall, before leaving. Dhani & Dates were served as well.

In excess of 1500 devotees that were catered for, this celebration was a huge success, which delighted the volunteers. Some of the volunteers were also girls under 16 who worked real hard to make this celebration a talk of the town.

Celebrating the spirit of India Anandabazar Patrika, the largest Bengali daily in India belonging to ABP Pvt Ltd, a pre-eminent media network from India, has initiated a global initiative called Ananda Utsav to connect with the global Indian diaspora with a multi city global event. “Ananda Utsav is Anandabazar Patrika’s effort to reach out and build bonds with the NRIs, says Kaushik Banerjee, Vice President – Anandabazar Patrika. It is an effort to give the NRIs a feel of their homeland over a 3 day festival”. The inaugural event was held in London on March 1921, 2010 at Alexandra Palace and was enjoyed by more than 6500 visitors.

Following the successful launch in London, Ananda Utsav was also held in Los Angles in September 2010 to huge response. The next sched-

Shaan

ules of Ananda Utsav will be London in April 2011, New Jersey in May 2011 and Sydney in end 2011.

The event is already being acknowledged as one of most exciting cultural events in the calendar with line up of great artists across the spectrum of entertainment and arts. The artists featured in the past editions are Soumitra Chatterjee, PC Sorcar junior Magic show,

! ! " "

Soha Ali Khan and Sharmila Tagore special dance choreography, Dona Ganguly, Alka Yagnik, Kumar Sanu, Babul Supriyo and more.

KKN Group of Companies, a large FMCG from India is the Title Sponsor for all three Ananda Utsavs this year.

Building on the 2010 success, KKN Ananda Utsav will be held on April 1-3 in Alexandra Palace in 2011. This year the event focus has widened to include themes like Knowledge Zone and Cookery Theatre. Since this will be the 150 anniversary of Kabi Guru Rabindranath Tagore, we conceptualised the first ever recitation of his poems in Bengali by

Soumitra Chatterjee, translated in Urdu & Hindi and recited by Gulzar with vocal renditions by Kavita Krishnamurthi and Pt Ajoy Chakraborty. For the classical music lovers, there is sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan with his sons while popular playback singers Shaan and Hariharan will entertain the Bollywood enthusiasts.

The 3 day cultural extravaganza promises to be an entertaining experience not just for the Indian community in UK but also for lovers of Indian music and entertainment.

For more details, please visit www.londonanandautsav2011.com

Asian Spring, Sampad’s annual showcase returns in April with an energetic celebration of South Asian dance. The event brings together nearly 150 dancers of all ages and styles in an eclectic extravaganza of the Midlands’ best dance talent.

Dancers from Birmingham, Walsall, Solihull, Leicester and Coventry will take to the stage at Birmingham’s prestigious Town Hall on Sunday 10 April, 4pm.

Piali Ray, director of Sampad, a Birminghambased development agency for South Asian arts said: ‘Asian Spring is one of the highlights of

Sampad’s calendar, celebrating the wealth and diversity of South Asian dance talent across the Midlands.’

Performances will range from the ancient classical forms of Kathak and Bharatanatyam to popular Bollywood and traditional Punjabi folk dance alongside urban hip hop and street dance.

To celebrate, Sampad has teamed up with Birmingham restaurant Milan Indian Cuisine. If you book your Asian Spring tickets before 31st March, you will be entered into a prize draw to win a meal for two.

For more information visit www.sampad.org.uk.

Indian Social Club, Muscat organises Henna competition

Participants at the Hena competition

Back at the Ideal Home Show Puja Saggar (Pictured) & her company Shreem Events are back at the Ideal Home Show, the UK’s leading home & lifestyle consumer show, for the second year running. The show is currently open from 11th March until 27th March 2011 at Earls Court Exhibition Centre, London. In partnership with Bollywood Brasserie, Shreem Events is able to offer a 10% discount on Asian & Oriental Food purchased at the Bollywood Brasserie stand at the Ideal Home Show (stand 2G59, on the upper level Ideal Food section). To claim your discount simply bring along a cut out of this article to the Bollywood Brasserie stand. For more information on Shreem Events & Bollywood Brasserie visit www.shreemevents.com & www.bollywoodbrasserie.co.uk.

Kishor Parmar of Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar being honoured at the Muscat Gujarati samaj of Indian Club

The ladies wing of Muscat Gujarati Samaj of Indian club organised a Henna competition on 9th March 2011 at the ISC multipurpose hall. 30 ladies participated and came forward to exhibit their talents. Each participant displayed their own unique and creative design. This event was sponsored by Al Taqdeer Fashions, Ramniklal B. Kothary and New India assurance co, LLC. The judges were Mrs Mora Shah, Mrs daksha Shah. The wimners were Suketa Shah, Farida Yousef, Karuna Kapadia and Manisha Lad. Kishor Parmar, of Gujarat Samachar and Asian Voice was the guest of honour.

UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th March 2011

Mona's fight for Women's rights On 8th March, Oxfam celebrated the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day and encouraged everyone to make this an occasion for positive change. This date also marks six years of the international “We Can End all Violence against Women” or simply, “We Can,” campaign.

Mona Mehta who works for Oxfam as a regional manager on women’s leadership is heavily involved in the campaign and has seen firsthand the difference that has been brought to women’s lives.

She first worked for Oxfam back in the early 80’s in India and was one of the first female programme officers in India to work for the organisation. Mona was attracted to the organisation's commitment to equal rights for men and women and its focus on alleviating poverty.

Over the years she has seen many women’s lives changed by the We Can campaign.

“There has been significant change with regard to violence against women. Recent We Can country assessments across South Asia have shown the positive impact of the campaign on individuals and communities.

Mona Mehta

However, a lot more remains to be done,” said Mona.

As well as working on women’s rights, Mona was also involved in ensuring people had access to healthcare, clean water, medicine and making sure people had ways to make a living, She also worked during emergency responses such as droughts.

Today Mona works across India, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Nepal to focus on changing people’s attitudes and mindsets so that violence against women is made ‘visible’ and deemed unacceptable.

“Millions of women in South Asia are still undergoing violence and discrimination on a daily basis,” Mona continued.

“We need to be able to carry the message of change to the lives of those who remain exclud-

ed and marginalised, We hope that the campaign will remain active in each country and will work towards achieving a violence- free society, “ she said.

The project involves educational and government institutions in reducing levels of domestic violence, raising awareness and supporting families.

Many of the women whom Mona has met transformed their lives through the help and support of the campaign, and are now helping others in similar circumstances.

Mona’s work also takes her outside of South Asia, where she supports fundraising for the campaign and also lobbies governments on ensuring women have a better future.

“Of course the goal of ending all violence against women is still distant. ‘We Can’ campaign has just taken the first steps but it has shown it is possible to engage ordinary women and men, boys and girls from all walks of life to challenge and change deep-seated beliefs and practices, to stand up for equality and non-violence.,” said Mona.

To find out more about the We Can campaign go to www.oxfam.org.uk

Young Entrepreneur Nipul Patel, a young entrepreneur and a youth expert, is a founder and managing director of Symbiosis Technologies, Tacttree and Acturate Infotech.

A man with lot of energy and awesome capabilities to run the business with dynamic leadership. His sense, presence and intelligence make real difference to the business and so facilitate the growth. He believes in the power of his dreams. He inspires young graduates to look beyond placements and salaries.

He has done his schooling and graduation, Bachelor’s of Engineering from Pune U n i v e r s i t y , Maharashtra, India. He pursued Masters of Science in Computer Science from Texas Tech University, Texas, USA with full scholarship. He has also pursued Black Belt in Karate in his childhood. He is very much fond of sports.

Good Nature, Hard working, very smart, intelligent and an effective communicator with extensive domain

Nipul Patel

expertise that can be seen in Nipul Patel who’s been a real entrepreneur.

5 years ago, He started SYMBIOSIS TECHNOLOGIES (www.symbiosistech.net) as a partnership firm with his wife, Vaishali Patel (Master's in Information Technology from LaTrobe University, Melbourne, Australia).

As per old saying "Behind Every

Successful man there is a woman" Nipul truely believes his wife for his success and “lady luck”.

S y m b i o s i s Technologies has a clientele from USA, Australia, UK and India with great achievements in projects with best quality work deployed before deadlines.

His other business firm in Information Technology is T A C T T R E E (www.tacttree.com) and Acturate Infotech, an event service provider and BPO service provider.

Under TactTree they are continuously striving to deliver research and insight to get better and more Sponsors. He is also having family businesses of mechanical and fabrication, construction and real estate.

His knowledge and confidence give him immense pace to grow the business up and up.

Straight forward personality and always ready to take risks.

Back with a Musical Bang

By Jaya Kumar Hailed as the new Nightingale of India and a tremendously talented successor to Lata Mangeshkar, Shreya Ghoshal, pictured, is a sensation in the world of not only Bollywood but also Gujarati music. She has been delighting the Asian audiences the world over with her amazingly sweet voice for over a decade.

And now Shreya is all set to capture the hearts of the British Asian community. Due to a total sell-out concerts last year and huge public demand, She returns to grace the Wembley stage. Yes, a new magical, musical history will unfold this year at Wembley Arena on Sunday 30th April.

She is expected to sing not only some of her enchanting Bollywood film hits but also some golden oldies and songs from Gujarati films where she displayed her mastery of Gujarati. Also the popular Indian singers Harpreet Deol, Shivprasad Mallya and comedy king Gaurav Sharma will be performing with Shreya. Yes the UK Asian audiences are waiting to welcome the one and only Shreya Ghoshal to Wembley.

Shreya was born to a Bengali family in

Durgapur, West Bengal on 12th March 1984. Her father is an engineer with the Nuclear Power Corporation of India and her mother is a singer. She was initiated into music when she was four from her first guru – her mother; two years later she began her formal training in Hindustani Classical Music.

After graduating from Mumbai, Shreya immersed herself in music.

It was her winning the Sa Re Ga Ma Pa contest in 2000 that drew the attention of Sanjay Leela Bhansali. He offered her

five songs in Devdas for which she won the Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer and the National Award for her song Bairi Piya.

Since then she has sung in nearly 200 Bollywood and other Indian films and received more awards including from IIFA, Zee, Screen and Stardust for her songs in films like Parineeta, Jab We Met, Jism, Guru, 3 idiots and Saawariyan.

It was Shreya who sang with Rahat Fateh Ali Khan the hit song Tere Mast Mast Do Nain in Dabang.

And the man who is Bringing her to Britain is Vijay Bhola, a well-known showbiz promoter, who has a number of successful shows to his credit. He said: "Shreya is all set to conquer Wembley. You have to be part of this memorable, most melodious concert staged nonstop for more than three hours. It's the concert of the decade."

Shreya Ghoshal in concert: Wembley Arena, Saturday 30th April 2011 at 7pm. www.ticketmaster.co.uk.

15

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MILAN INDIAN CUISINE

Bollywood

16 Asian Voice Saturday 26th March 2011

Salman finds his old love Junior NTR is the highest paid South actor after Rajni

With the super success of ‘Brindavanam’, Junior NTR, grandson of the legendary NTR, has reportedly been paid Rs 90 million for his next movie set to begin this month. This puts him within striking distance of the Tamil super hero in terms of sheer box office appeal and money paid per film.Neither 'Young Tiger' Junior NTR nor the mak-

ers of this untitled movie have come out in the open on the remuneration issue, but sources close to the star have confirmed the Rs 90 million figure to a leading daily. Junior NTR is one of the few Telugu stars who are a sure draw even in Bengaluru. His next movie 'Shakti' due for release has fetched him over Rs 70 million.

Prithviraj to marry Mumbai based journalist?

The hottest gossip on Internet is that the young superstar Prithviraj will get married post the release of his home production 'Urumi', slated for a March end release.

Reports claim that Prithviraj, whose name is linked to some of the most beautiful leading ladies, has fallen in love with a Mumbai based television news journalist and his family, especially his mother Mallika Sukumaran, has no objection for this alliance.

It is said that the actor used to fly to Mumbai to meet his lady love almost

every weekend!

According to sources, Prithviraj met her an year ago when she was reporting for a famous English news channel on South Cinema. The girl is said to be a Malayalee Menon girl. Marriage is most likely to be in April 2011.

Vikram to become Dr Vikram

Kollywood actor Vikram will soon become Dr Vikram, The University of Milan, Italy, has decided to confer an honorary doctorate in Fine Arts on ‘Cheeyan’ Vikram. This information was given by Vikram himself while he

was inaugurating the annual national inter-college cultural festival at SRM University in Kattankulathur, whose name too is Milan.

“This is a pure coincidence. This is the first time I am making this announcement in public and I am happy to do that at Milan,” Vikram said, even as students welcomed it with a warm applause.

When a student posed a question on whether he was interested in entering politics, Vikram said in a lighter vein, “I do not know how to wear a dhoti. I will think of politics after I start wearing a dhoti with out a belt.”

It looks like old ties are again getting fresh for Salman Khan. He is seen spending lot of quality time with Somy Ali his old flame. They were seeing each other after their break-up years back. Both of them had spent a lot of time together after the day's shoot was over in Bangkok. “They were also seen shopping there and looked happy and comfortable,” a source from Bangkok said.

The entire unit of his forthcoming film “Ready” returned to India after a 40day schedule in Bangkok. And with them came the big news: Fed up going back and forth with Katrina, it seems Sallu is giving his old love a second chance.

Somy Ali with whom he shares old passions and an abiding friendship joined the star during the last leg of the shoot, much to the surprise of others.

Ali, who is based in the United States, arrived in Bangkok end of February and stayed on till the star's return to Mumbai. All through her stay, Salman was very protective of Somy. She did not come on the sets but he was with her all the time after the shoot.

They were quiet discreet, he didn't want to be in the public eye," he added. Though they

split up after a couple of years back in the nineties, and Salman once famously poured cola over her head, the two have remained firm friends. Whenever Salman goes to US, he meets Somy. He spent some time with her during his world tour in 2008 as well.

With Somy when he was seeing her in the '90s Somy is probably the only woman in his life who has managed to remain friends and someone Salman looks up to. She is Salman's friend and confidante. He would never hear anything against her," revealed the source who refused to go onrecord.

Ali, after her brief and unremarkable film career returned to the US where she got involved in charity endeavours and launched a campaign called Human Being in 2007.

Katrina Kaif becomes officially Barbie!

Katrina Kaif's unofficial nickname, 'Barbie doll', has now become official! Look-alike Barbie dolls of the actress will be hitting stores later this month.

The Katrina Kaif Barbie dolls will be launched in stores soon, followed by a fashion show and the release of a video introducing the doll.

Apparently Kat is the first Asian actress to be replicated in the form of a Barbie doll. She is very excited being Barbie but her sisters are even more enthusiastic, they see this as a bona fide achievement.. The sisters have grown up knowing the doll as an international fashion icon, and now the Katrina doll hitting the stands is a moment of pride for them.

Well, Katrina has already made a list of names to whom she will give her first pack of Barbies. This list includes her niece Maya, Farah Khan's triplets Anya, Diva and Czar, and Kabir Khan's daughter Sairah.

The actress was heard saying everyone should have the new Katrina doll! In fact, she even remembers the days when she used to play with Barbie herself.

Previously Katrina walked the ramp as a Barbie during the 50th birthday celebrations of the iconic toy in 2009.

Its time when Katrina has to be congratulated, as she made it till the finish line inspite of all the controversies. This has become one of the most lucrative endorsement.

I'm single and enjoying it: Preity Zinta Preity Zinta was spotted with a foreigner at a party recently.

That was the second time the actress was seen with the unknown man. Naturally, speculation is rife if the actress is dating again.

Post her break-up with Ness Wadia, the actress hasn't been involved with another guy. Preity said, "I'm single and the man you are talking about is Paul, a producer. I was with Ambika Hinduja too at the party. I don't know why people ask me questions whenever they see me with a man. I will flaunt my man when I'm actually seeing someone. As of now, I'm enjoying my singledom."

Aamir Khan takes a jibe at SRK Aamir Khan never misses an opportunity to take pot shots at Shahrukh Khan. The Ghajini star recently took a jibe at SRK for winning the best actor award. Talking about the Indian Razzies - The Golden Kela Awards, Aamir said, "I love the Kela awards.”

The star, known for speaking out his mind, then added, "Like someone recently gave the best actor award to Shahrukh Khan." He also went on to say that Salman Khan should have won it for “Dabangg” or Ajay Devgn for “Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai.”

The Bollywood stars often take verbal pot shots at each other which they claim is all in good spirits. On previous occasions too, Aamir has taken digs at SRK by calling him "too intelligent". In fact, Aamir's dog is also named Shahrukh. SRK too doesn't shy away from making cheeky remarks about Aamir.

Sometime back, the superstar took a jab at Aamir by saying he can take his shirt off to sell a watch but there isn't anything written on his chest.

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th March 2011

17

Now a firebrand girl for Shah Rukh Khan Zoa Morani, who is making her debut as an actor in Shah Rukh Khan's movie "Always Kabhi Kabhi", says since she grew up seeing actors performing for her father she couldn't resist to choose acting as a profession.

"I was never really inspired by anyone. I always grew up watching dad's shows, watching actors performing on the Bollywood shows abroad and stuffs. So I think it was always in my head as I grew up watching it.”

Zoa is playing a firebrand character in "Always Kabhi Kabhi", which is an adaptation of Roshan Abbas' 1999 play, "Graffiti". Giving a sneak preview of the film, she said: "It's about how small children evolve from childhood to adolescence." She has been an assistant director to Rajkumar Santoshi for "Halla Bol" (2008) and Farah Khan for "Om Shanti Om" (2007) and also trained in acting from Anupam Kher's acting school Actor Prepares.

When asked whether Shah Rukh Khan gave her any master tip about acting, she said, "He always says that work hard and if you work hard and true to yourself, your work, then you will make god happy and he will take care of everything."

GAME

Fix over Big B's look The hotshot director of “Bbuddah,” the new Amitabh Bachchan starrer, is having a hard time. Big B's muchdiscussed look with tinted hair and dyed hair is yet to be finalized, thanks to Prakash Jha's “Aarakshan” for which Big B is currently shooting in Bhopal. Not only do the mega-star's two looks for the two films differ, there's no way he can move from one to the other effortlessly.

Says a source, "In Bbuddah, Big B needs to look like a defiant rebellious 60-year old man who thinks he's still 22. After much deliberation the director and the star had jointly decided on a particular cool-dude look. All the details of the look, Big B's special dyed wig and an imported tint for his beard had been taken care of."

But then the unexpected happened. Big B decided to sport a specific look for

“Aarakshan.” He trimmed his beard and hair to a size that he thought suited his character, thereby throwing the look for “Bbudaah” completely out of its intended course. Understandably there is high anxiety on the sets of “Bbuddah” as the look needs to now be modified according to how the Big B looks for “Aarakshan.”

Says the source, "In Aarakshan, Big B plays a college professor. His look has been tailored accordingly. But now the look planned for the Big B to play the street-smart dude in Bbuddah is no more applicable because of the size of his beard and hair for Aarkashan. So basically the makers of Bbuddah now need to work out a new look for Big B in accordance with how he looks for Aarakshan."

The director Puri Jagannadh flew to Bhopal to discuss and possibly devise a new look for Big B. But so far the Bbuddah team is not sure of what Big B should look like in the light of his unexpectedly modified look in Aarakshan.

Co-producer Abhishek Bachchan too is on the drawing-board trying to work out a look that bridges the gap between how he looks in Aarakshan and how he was supposed to look in Bbuddah.

Saif, Bebo to tie the knot soon If everything goes as per the plan, Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor will soon tie the knot. Yes, you heard it right! This bit of news has been revealed by none other than Saif's mom, Sharmila Tagore. Reportedly, Sharmila has said that the couple, who have been dating since 2007, are giving marriage a lot of thought and that Saif has even talked to his mother about the ordeal. According to Sharmila, the couple just has to decide on a date to set the prewedding festivities in place.

Kareena had earlier revealed that she wished to get married and that she and Saif have planned a date some time in 2012. But it seems like the date may have been moved forward a little and the much awaited event might end up happening in 2011 itself.

Both Saif and Kareena, who are also known as Saifeena, have been very open about their relationship, so much so that they have even discussed their wedding openly.

Game is all about twists and turns through revenge, retribution, prostitution, drug empires and good old-fashioned murder.

Spanning 5 international cities, The film is a stylish action thriller and is shot at locations in Mumbai, Greece, Istanbul, London, and Thailand. The film is in the same type of genre as the Bourne Identity trilogy, it is a slick, edge-of-the-seat crime thriller, where every 10-odd minutes sees a new twist that propels the story in an entirely unforeseen direction. The solution of the crime is a satisfying experience... where the audience has been shown all

New Hindi movies releasing this week 1. F.A.L.T.U 2. Game

Deepika and her tattoos A leading Bollywood actress has passed snide remarks about Deepika Padukone sporting a scorpion tattoo on her torso in an item number on her latest film “Dum Maaro Dum.” The leading actress was heard remarking, "What's her fixation with tattoos?" A source reveals the actress, who ranks among the top, didn't mince her words when it came to reacting to the song. "First it was the RK tattoo, now it's something else. Doesn't she have anything else to showcase?"

Ouch! We wonder what Ms Padukone will have to say when she learns that this remark came from someone she adores!

the facts...but will they get there before the end?

Directed by Abhinay Deo, Produced

by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani, Game has an ensemble cast of Abhishek Bachhan, Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Boman Irani, Shahana Goswami, Gauhar Khan. Ex-miss India Sarah Jane Dias is making her debut. Farhan Akhtar has penned the dialogues.

Cinematography is by Kartik Vijay.

Amitabh Shukla is the editor. The film was scheduled for release on 18th March, 2011 but because of the cricket matches it was postponed and it is expected to be released in the first week of April.

Top Bollywood movies for the week No. Film Last Week Total Weeks 1 Tanu Weds Manu 2 3 2 7 Khoon Maaf 3 4 3 Patiala House 4 5 4 Yeh Saali Zindagi 4 5

Actor Navin Nischol passes away Actor Navin Nischol, who is best known for his television serial ‘Dekh Bhai Dekh,’ passed away on Saturday in Mumbai following a heart attack.

Nischol made his Bollywood debut with ‘Saawan Bhadon’ in the early 70’s. Nischol was the first gold medallist from the FTII and starred in numerous hits like Buddha Mil Gaya (1971), Victoria No. 203 (1972) and Dhund (1973). Nischol had a colourful personal life and had a string of affairs.

Nischol’s wife Geetanjali hanged herself at her residence on April 24, 2006.

Nischol and his brother Pravin were held responsible for her suicide.

18

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th March 2011

UK household income suffers sharpest squeeze Dear Financial Voice Reader, The editor said many people think my political column is better than my financial one so I better raise my game on the financial one. So here goes. You wanna know what will make you money? You wanna know what will lose it? Okay, first don’t bet against America or Japan this year. Always bet on a people’s spirit and character. I still think the US markets will be up 15% for the whole year. This is because people are willing to get involved in the markets again, despite the crisis in Japan and the Middle East.

Imagine if we could even have capitalist open democracies! That’s too much to ask for, but you can imagine the ‘peace dividend’ that is often spoken of.

Either way, oil is going through the roof. If nuclear is not an alternative, then more oil is needed.

And as for copper and other commodities – the only way is up. So what about individual stocks? Well energy stocks will do well – as long as they are not nuclear related. Want names. In the US these are Petroleo Brasileiro – the clue is in the name. And Exxon. Add Shell and BP which I liked anyway. Let alone all of these are expanding their search for alternative fuels anyway.

British interest rates next. They have to rise to maintain the Bank of England credibility on inflation.

Simple. Not much to say on that. Next.

Indian markets – as I have said before – not this year as they have had such a rally. But what if you really want to be safe. Then you need a broker who will give you a portfolio of Government and company bonds targeting 8%. Please oh please don’t ask me how to get 15%+ with little risk. If I knew I would tell you. So if you want 15% you will buy stocks and stocks could dive quickly.

This then leads onto who do you get to do this for you? Well a stock broker. But how do you find one who is not a con-artist or negligent. Trust me there are a lot of bad ones out there who want your money and run.

You will have to meet them. In my experience the harder they push, the worse they are. And if it is too good to be true – then it is because it is.

So meet, interview them. Maybe pick two brokers and divide it between them. Make sure you have the CV of the broker. Ask to see the returns on other clients that they have achieved. Trust me, stock brokers will lie and tell you a load of rubbish to get your money.

I used to write a newsletter for a broker a few years ago – only to discover they maltreated their clients and I promptly resigned. So take care. Be careful with their marketing and spin.

My blog is at www.alpeshblog.com and www.alpesh.tv you can see my latest TV commentary.

IT firms to recall staff from Bahrain

Many Indian IT companies have decided to evacuate their employees from Bahrain, rocked by protests for several weeks. There are around 3,50,000 Indians in Bahrain. Wipro, Infosys, TCS and other companies have a substantial presence in the country.

Anand Sankaran, senior vicepresident and business head (India & Middle East), Wipro says: "The company has 1,100

employees in the Middle East, of which 50 are in Bahrain. We've already brought back 25 persons living and working in sensitive areas of that country." An Infosys spokesperson said the company had less than 20 employees there and they returned to India a few days ago. TCS had 20 people in Bahrain, including dependents, and all were brought back to India, said a spokesperson.

Britain household income has suffered their sharpest three-year squeeze since the early 1980s, according to a study by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS).

Average household income has seen a 1.6 per cent drop since 2008, accounting for inflation.

That contrasts with the previous 50 years during which household income typically rose by 1.6 per cent a year in real terms.

This is the first time that incomes have fallen over a three-year period since the three years from 1990 to 1993, and the biggest threeyear drop in real living standards since 1980-83," IFS said in a survey.

The analysis highlights

the fragility of Britain's economic recovery just days before the government announces its annual budget.

The government has embarked on the toughest public spending squeeze in a generation and on Monday confirmed plans to freeze the pay of all but the lowest paid public sector workers.

The IFS said the drop was driven by a combination of lower employment, lower interest on savings income, tax changes and lower real earnings.

Public sector in firing line The government on Monday accepted recommendations from the Pay

Review Body that public sector workers earning less than 21,000 pounds receive a flat pay rise of 250 pounds for 2011-12.

Those earning more will have their pay frozen for two years. The settlement covers teachers, prison officers, the armed forces and the health service and is intended to save the government 3.3 billion pounds ($5.4 billion) per year.

Unions say the government is making ordinary people pay for a recession that was triggered by bankers' excessive risktaking.

The weakness of the consumer sector - which may be further squeezed by the government's four-

Rajat Gupta resigns as ISB chairman Rajat Gupta, who was with McKinsey & Co and an accused in the insider trading in the US has resigned from the chairmanship of the Hyderabad-based Indian School of Business (ISB) on Monday. Mr Gupta has requested the executive board to relieve him of his board responsibilities till his pending matter with the US SEC is resolved.

Putting an end to the speculation that loomed large over the issue of his resignation, the ISB confirmed his resignation and is on the lookout for a new chairman for the executive committee of the board.

"Rajat Gupta has requested the ISB executive board to relieve him of his board responsibilities till his pending matter with the US SEC is resolved.

"This, and the appointment of the new chair-

Tata Power to build India's first floating solar plant Tata Power said that it would be building India’s first low-cost, high-efficiency floating solar plant in partnership with an Australian company which invented the technology.

Sunengy, the Australian company, and Tata Power will begin constructing a pilot plant that uses the Liquid Solar Array (LSA) technology from August this year, a statement issued in Mumbai said.

LSA uses traditional concentrated photovoltaic technology but rather than mounting the cells on a frame, it is made to float on water, making it lowcost, cyclone-proof and less tedious as it does not involve any land acquisition, it added.

Rajat Gupta

man, will be tabled at the upcoming board meeting on April 2, 2011," an ISB spokesperson said. Gupta, who is the co-founder of ISB, may not attend the upcoming board meeting, sources said.

A McKinsey veteran, Gupta has decided to take "leave of absence" from management of USD 1.4billion PE fund New Silk Route, which he cofounded five years ago.

Earlier, IndianAmerican Rajat Gupta

had resigned from three corporate boards, including American Airlines.

Gupta, a former board member of Goldman Sachs and Proctor & Gamble, has denied the charges level against him by the American regulator.

"We also note the statement of counsel for Rajat Gupta, which asserts that the allegations are totally baseless.

The ISB community is confident that Rajat Gupta will be vindicated.

He continues to be the Chairman of the ISB executive board," ISB had said in a statement earlier.

ISB is a premier business school in the country and has academic alliances with the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, among others.

year austerity programme is one reason why the Bank of England has left interest rates at a record low 0.5 per cent despite inflation running at double its 2 per cent target.

A separate survey on Monday showed British households suffered the biggest deterioration in their finances this month for two years.

"The pressure on households and current evidence of weakening consumer spending is something the Bank of England needs to think very carefully about as it agonises over whether to raise interest rates," said Howard Archer at IHS Global Insight .

Britain's Budget

Kiran Patel

Next week in Asian Voice Kiran Patel of Weston Kay will be analysing UK's new budget and the government's policies. Kiran is a qualified Chartered Accountant and has a vast amount of experience in giving practical advice and help businesses from start-up, through growth, restructuring, and diversification to planning exit routes.

Sale of vehicles in India hits record level Sale of vehicles in India in February has touched a record high of 1,370,932 units, growing by 21.3 per cent over the 1,130,037 units sold in the year-ago period, as customers advanced purchases on fears of a rise in excise duty in the budget. The duty, however, has been retained at 10 per cent.

Sales in February bettered the previous high of 1,84,332 units in January this year. The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (Siam), however, cautioned these could moderate to around 14-16 per cent in the next financial year, since the sector would have to overcome high interest rates and rising commodity prices.

Siam DirectorGeneral, Vishnu Mathur, said, “At some point, vehi-

cle manufacturers have to rationalise prices to offset an increase in input costs.

Moreover, the base has been growing, so growth rate will come down.” In the April-February period of the current financial year, car sales grew by 30.3 per cent to 17,88,503 units from 13,72,192 units in the same period of the previous financial year.

Domestic car sales rose to 189,008 units last month, an increase of 22.6 per cent over the 154,132 units sold in February, 2010.

Last month, the country’s largest car manufacturer, Maruti Suzuki India Limited, registered sales of 101,543 units in the domestic market, a rise of 19.8 per cent over the year-ago period. Hyundai Motor also posted its sec-

ond-best sales numbers in the domestic market last month, at 32629 units.

Two-wheeler sales in February rose 22.04 per cent to 1,022,272 units from 837,653 units in February, 2010.

Sales of scooters rose 27.2 per cent to 185,460 units. Motorcycle sales grew by 20.80 per cent in February to 776,051 units from 642,419 units in the same month last year. The growth was primarily driven by market leader Hero Honda, which posted a 22.9 per cent rise in sales to 4,29,928 units. Bajaj Auto sales rose 16.74 per cent to 2,05,145 units during the month. Threewheeler sales stood at 49,082 units in February, up 24 per cent from the same month last year, Siam said.

FINANCIAL VOICE

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th March 2011

19

Rules Are There To Be Broken

Suresh Vagjiani Managing Director Sow & Reap A Property Investment & Financing company.

Last week I mentioned a property which was coming up for auction, this was a one bedroom ground floor flat with garden in Maida Vale. I mentioned a ceiling price of £280,000.

Spookily enough this was the price it went at.

We purchased the property for a client and will be involved in the decoration and the ultimate resale or remortgage. On all projects there tends to be a six month delay due to a lending criteria which requires the current owner to have held the property for a minimum of 6 months.

The policy was, I presume, designed to prevent investors from making too much money too quickly from property. But this kind of policy prevents the market from picking up and giving much needed liquidity to the property market. It means cash is stuck in for longer for the investor.

The garden here is a great feature and we will be consulting the top agent in the area and a designer to ensure we are able to squeeze the maximum out of this flat.

There is a risk of going over board in this, this area is not Mayfair and so we must be aware there is a ceiling on this street and ensure we do not go above this.

By ceiling I mean there is a price most purchasers will not go beyind to live on this street. This means if we were to spend £75,000 on this property it will be unlikely we will be able to sell and make a profit as the price would exceed the ceiling on the street.

Sometimes however this becomes a glass ceiling.

Mean ing people observe this rule be cau se everyone else observes it and the ref ore like shee p we all stay within t his parameter. Pe rhaps worse than sheep, as she ep need a do g t o ke ep them in lin e, we only ne ed each othe r to k eep u s within line.

I know an investor who has successfully smashed through the perceived glass ceiling on all his projects. All his projects were in Notting Hill and each time he achieved the highest £ per Sq FT price ever achieved on the street. His key was he would get an interior designer to polish off the apartment. The flat would be looking like the best show flat you have ever seen. With all the trimmings such as curtains and artwork. There is a reason why big developers spend allot of money on their show flats. Why not apply the same principle to your investment be it a single unit?

The Candy brothers sold their apartments at £10,000per Sq Ft, an unheard of rate, but they did and successfully. The demand led to increases which did not make any economic sense. The only way this could be made sense of was the demand was strong at this ultra wealthy level and there was no supply. Rates for these apartment where increased at about 15% over a 3 month period.

So there are, as always, exceptions to the rule Many spend a huge amount of money in their own residential prop-

erties without a hope of recovering the funds, this is ok as long as they are aware they have zero chance of extracting those funds out of the property; it will be only for their own use. This is not OK when doing development for business. The bottom line is always maximum profit in the shortest time.

However the exceptions to the rule occurred in locations such as Notting Hill and so there are restrictions as to how far we can push in this location. A nearby studio which started off at £200,000 has now achieved offers of £275,000. This confirms the demand for this location is ripe. Watch this space we will cover our progress on this property.

Plotting scheme

Quick Movement Required!!!

From £10,000 What you must look out for when purchasing plots

4 Repossession Property 4 Spacious one bedroom flat on

4 Plotting schemes are best for pure investments

Edgware Road

4 The flat is located in the

4 There are no maintenance to worry about

beautiful area of Little Venice Canal

4 Decide why you are purchasing

4 Plots within a society where there is some construction and activity will be better placed to hold future value

4 It has its own private entrance

4 Is it an investment or to live in?

4 As the real estate is increasing in value it has

and a small front garden

4 It is better to keep both separate otherwise you

4 The flat was bought by the

will not achieve either objective well

previous owner for £350,000 in

4 Always purchase NA approved plots

20/09/2005 according to land registry records

4 It requires refurbishment that will drive the value up significantly

4 One bedroom flats in the area sell for at least £350,000 bare minimum

4 Immediate exchange required at £230,000 4 10% is required to be transferred to our solicitors client account for an immediate exchange

attracted attention from dubious characters, be very aware who you purchase from and do the necessary due diligence

4 Engage the services of an advocate to check all

4 Not buying a NA plot is like taking a post dated

the paper work

cheque without knowing when you finally will be able to cash it

4 Do not let an attractive price detract you from

4 Think about how and when you will exist

the Basics of the deal

4 Contrary to popular belief a NRI can purchase

4 Plots within a society are more secure then

agricultural land in india, but not in some states.

Gujarat being one of them

open land

4 A few banks will lend on plots, it is a good idea

If you missed our seminar on the 24 th March focusing on plot investments in gujarat, get in touch with us to see the exciting options we have.

to get a small mortgage as the bank will do all the due diligence, so you do not have too

We provide a turnkey solution. Contact us now:

UK Sales 0207 706 0187 India Sales 0203 384 5323

Tips of the Week l It is tax efficient to raise the deposit for purchasing a property from another property rather than using cash l An Offset mortgage has tax advantages on interest earned as you do not technically earn any interest on money going into an offset account l You can offset 10% for wear and tear on a BTL property

20

FINANCIAL VOICe

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th March 2011

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

Maria Fernandes

maria@abplgroup.com

A haven for the Rich!

Changes to Immigration

As practitioners, we have been waiting with baited breath for the announcement of the changes to the immigration rules.

The Immigration Minister stood at the Stock Exchange (Parliament after all is for wimps) and I swear that I could hear trumpets sound as he strode out and made his announcement with a Cheshire cat grin. This is what he triumphantly produced from his goody bag.

Investors can buy settlement after 2 years if they if they invest £10million smackers or after 3 years if they invest £5million. They can also spend upto 180 days abroad and presumably by doing so reduce their tax burden.

And the need for them to speak English is not considered to be important. After all why would

they need to integrate with us plebs.

Entrepreneurs can come in as visitors and stay if they want to once they secure funding of £50 k from among others “seeding competitions.” And here was me thinking that seeds are things that you either eat to improve your health or plant.

Entrepreneurs can also take part in the sales and buy settlement if they create 10 jobs or the business generates a turnover of £5 million.

As they are not as bountiful as investors they do have to pass the English test. However they too can dodge taxes by spending 180 days abroad.

The raising of English tests for those working, and those applying for settlement.

Those who are taking the ESOL tests can, if

they put their skates on, obtain the qualification before the 6th April otherwise I am afraid they will forever (or at least until they learn to speak proper English) remain in limbo. Difficult innit?

Those with criminal records will be excluded.

You can be a despot or engage in all kinds of deals providing your record shows that you do not have a criminal record. Colonel Gaddafi watch this space. Britain needs you.

Maria Fernandes has been in practice exclusively in immigration for the past 25 years and is accredited in Immigration Law by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

Fernandes Vaz is based at 87 Wembley Hill Road Wembley in Wembley and can be contacted by telephone on 020 8733 0123.

Courage in Adversity Since the earthquake and tsunami devastated Japan, it has become very clear that there are many lessons to be learned.

From disaster management at nuclear plants to establishing relief efforts rapidly and efficiently.

There is also a very good lesson for leaders. The Prime Minister of Japan, Naoto Kan has been subject to intense pressure, immense scrutiny and a fair amount of criticism.

Yet, remarkably while many foreigners (and some locals) were desperately trying to leave the country, the majority of the Japanese tried to go about their daily business and to maintain a sense of calm and perspective.

Now it must be said that this is due, in some degree to Japanese culture, but it also is a reflection of how their leaders have dealt with the situation.

‘Shell Shock’ is common term used to describe how some people become almost paralysed when faced with a situation which they were totally unprepared

for.

According to Wikipedia it can lead to fatigue, slow reaction times and indecision. It can also lead to people feeling disconnected from their surroundings and an inability to prioritise. It is quite conceivable that during the aftermath of a natural disaster, many people will experience some form of ‘shell shock’.

The US military deals with shell shock by providing therapy based on 6 key principles: Brevity – Messages should be brief; Immediacy – Attention should be given immediately; Centrality or Contact – Attention should be personal / physical; Expectancy – Ensure that everyone expects to get back on their feet; Proximity – People should not be too far from the front line (so no long distance evacuation); Simplicity – Recovery plans should be simple and easy to follow.

While these steps are more focused on getting soldiers back to the front line, one can see who this can easily relate to the

By Amit Patel

realities facing the people who, in the space of a few hours, have lost virtually everything.

Throughout the crises, Prime Minister Kan has shown an ability to focus on the immediate needs of his country and not be distracted by media speculation or the ‘advice’ of ‘experts’ and foreign diplomats. Rather than displaying despair and confusion (emotions he would have experienced), he chose to ask his people to focus on recovery and rebuilding.

This was not through any insensitivity on his part, but rather an appreciation that the greatest danger facing his people was not the nuclear plant or the aftermath of the tsunami – it was the fear that comes when people cannot see the road ahead. He displayed courage in its truest form. ‘Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear’ (Ambrose Redmoon).

Indian finance ministry seeks legal opinion on ONGC’s claims on Cairn-Vedanta deal

State Bank of India, UK, opened a new branch in East Ham on March 1. Those present during the function (Left to Right) Mr Siva Sri Kailai R Naganathasivam (Chief priest of the temple), Mr Stephen Timms (MP for East Ham), Mr Rajnish Kumar (Regional Head, State Bank of India UK), Mr Deepak Ahuja (Head of Consumer Banking & Wealth, State Bank of India UK), Mr Rajmohan Ramadass (East Ham Branch Manager).

HDFC figures among world's most ethical companies Housing Development Finance Corporation ( HDFC) is the only Indian company figuring in a New York City think tank's fifth annual list of the World's Most Ethical Companies.

The Ethisphere Institute's list, which includes 110 organizations, the largest since the award's inception in 2007, does not have a ranking.

There were almost 3,000 companies from 100 countries and 36 industries which were nominated –or nominated themselves-to be considered this year.

The 110 companies that made the final cut this

year include first-time recipients Adidas, eBay, Microsoft, ColgatePalmolive and 30 other newcomers.

Thirty-one companies from last year disappeared, generally because of litigation or ethics violations, as well as increased competition from within their industries.

Twenty-six companies have been recognised as a WME company for all five years, and 50 more have made the list at least twice.

This year's list also includes more global companies, with 42 winners from outside of the US, including six from Japan.

The finance ministry in the government of India wants legal opinion from the law ministry on the royalty state-owned ONGC pays on behalf of Cairn India before Cabinet considers giving nod to Vedanta Resources’ $9.6 billion acquisition of Cairn India.

Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) owns 30 per cent in Cairn India’s mainstay Rajasthan oilfields but pays royalty on not just its share of oil but also on Cairn’s 70 per cent share.

It had on July 14, 2010, a month before Vedanta announced buying most of Cairn Energy Plc’s stake in Cairn India, cited contractual provisions to say royalty - like other duties, levies and fees alongside capital and operating expenditure - is recoverable from sale of oil before profits are split between all stakeholders including government.

Sources said the finance ministry was of the view that the grant of consent for the deal cannot be made conditional upon

settlement of disputes and instead asked the oil ministry to seek a legal opinion from the law ministry on the issue of cost recovery of royalty paid by ONGC before taking the proposal to the Cabinet.

This was the finance ministry’s response to the note that the oil ministry had circulated to the ministries of law, finance, home, environment and corporate affairs before taking Cairn-Vedanta deal to the Cabinet for approval.

Sources said other ministries too have con-

Mukesh Ambani appointed as director of Bank of America Reliance Industries chairman and a business tycoon Mukesh Ambani has been appointed as a director on board of Bank of America - the first nonAmerican on the board of one of the largest financial institutions in the world.

"BofA's shareholders will benefit from the global perspective Ambani brings to our board. He has demonstrated expertise in risk management and strategic planning across a diverse range of businesses, including energy, information and communications technology, and retail networks," BofA chairman Charles O Holliday Jr said in a statement.

Mukesh Ambani

Ambani is a member of the Indian Prime Minister's Council on Trade and Industry. Among others, he is a member of the IndoUS CEOs Forum, the cochair of the Japan-India Business Leader's Forum, and India-Russia CEO Council. He also serves on the Foundation Board of the World Economic Forum.

"I am delighted to join the board of BofA. It is a privilege and a great honour for me, as the first non-American citizen to join the board of one of the world's largest financial institutions. I look forward to contributing to the growth and progress of BofA," the BofA statement quoated Ambani as saying.

The management team looks forward to benefiting from Ambani's judgement and experience, this was said by BofA chief executive officer Brian T Moynihan Ambani would stand for election at annual meeting of shareholders of BofA.

curred with the view that government approval to the $9.6 billion deal should be given.

In all likelihood, the approval may come up before the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs for consideration next week.

Cairn India had on November 23 last year, more than three months after its parent firm Cairn Energy announced the sale of its majority stake to Vedanta, made conditional applications seeking government nod for the deal.

Some say the conditional application run contrary to this month’s Delhi High Court ruling that held the government’s sovereign right to approve transactions resulting in a change in the status of companies operating national resources.

It used this ground to allow the government to terminate Canoro Resources’ contract for the Amguri oilfield in Assam.

The Canadian firm had sold shares to Barbadosbased MASS Financial Corp without seeking prior government nod.

Sources said Cairn, after repeated reminders, had on November 23 applied for the sale of a 51 per cent stake to Vedanta, but with a rider that government consent was not mandatory.

FINANCIAL VOICE

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th March 2011

21

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

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

No Fly Zone Pins back Gaddafi The US and European Allies began their advances against Muammer Guddafi and his regime on Saturday halting his march on the rebel stronghold of Benghazi and creating a nofly-zone over his country.

This triggered the USD to weaken when the trading week began on Sunday night as risk appetite hit the market as investors saw the end coming to the dictator’s regime or at least certainty that we were now going ahead and doing something to stop his malicious regime.

The MoD said late on Sunday night that one of its submarine’s had fired guided

Tomahawk missiles as part of the second wave of attacks against Guddafi. This is now the biggest western intervention in the Arab world since the Iraq invasion in 2003. The allied forces of France, US and UK had targeted and “taken out” most of the Libyan leaders air defence systems, some of his airfields (including his most significant) and some tanks in a bid to halt the Libyan leaders advances. The US have now confirmed that Guddafi has been unable to fly his aircraft for several days now and ]the no-fly-zone was now successfully in place.

What has been seen as incredibly significant is that Qatar has now said that it will send 4 planes to help the military action. The US and its allies believe that is essential to gain visible Arab support to emphasise that the military action is widely backed.

All this action has seen nervousness in the market and we saw late on Sunday Brent crude surging up nearly $2 to $115.75. This came after Col. Gaddafi announced in TV and radio broadcasts that this would be a “long drawn out

Weekly Currencies As of Tuesday 22th March 2011 @ 1pm GBP - INR = 73.63 USD - INR = 44.96 EUR - INR = 63.95 GBP - USD = 1.64 GBP - EUR = 1.15 EUR - USD = 1.42 GBP - AED = 6.01 GBP - CAD = 1.60 GBP - NZD = 2.20 GBP - AUD = 1.62

war” and he has “patience which has no limits”. This goes to emphasise how long and protracted this war could be.

Of course this action comes at a cost and whereas the action against Iraq came at a time when our economies were in a much better condition, now it comes at a time when we are still struggling to come out of a recession. Not only will this cost in excess of

$100m a week to enforce a nofly-zone there will obviously be other more subtle effects to our economy as Oil prices soar due to the closure of the Oil fields in Libya.

With Oil prices being on the rise without the problems in Libya, this is certainly going to take its toll and we could well see inflation rising in the next couple of months which may spark an interest rate hike before the BOE had intended.

GBP - ZAR = 11.31 GBP - HUF = 311.33

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

22

Pakistan-Bangladesh-Sri Lanka

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th March 2011

Excavation threatens ancient Hindu temple in Pakistan Islamabad: A private company's excavation for granite deposits in Pakistan's southern Sindh province is posing a threat to an ancient Hindu temple and has triggered protests by local residents.

The company began excavating a hill near the Durga Mata temple in Choryo village of Tharparkar district with heavy machinery and dynamite about a month ago.

The excavation was launched as pilgrims from Nepal, India and other countries came to the temple to attend the annual 'Sardaro mela' in February, reports said. The 'yatris' or pilgrims found that the path leading to the temple was destroyed.

"Pieces of rock were scattered all around and heavy machinery loomed ominously and silently nearby," the report said.

The three-day Shivratri mela that began on February 2 became an occasion for protests by

Durga Mata temple in Choryo village of Pakistan

local residents.

"We found that the way leading up to the temple is also destroyed. The hill is being sawed from all sides, we're afraid our temple will be damaged," Veerjhi Kohli, a resident of Choryo, said.

Local residents said contractor Abdullah Qureshi was given control of the hill on lease by the Sindh government.

Qureshi is "busy blasting through huge chunks of the hill at the bottom of

the temple to extract granite while the pilgrims watch on in horror," the report said. Kohli said Hindus cremated their dead and saved their ashes till Shivratri to be scattered into holy water.

While Pakistan's richer Hindus go to India and release their loved one's remains into the Ganges, those who cannot afford the trip come to Tharparkar.

The Durga Mata temple is one of two shrines

Pak boycotts US talks over drone attack Washington: Ties between United States and Pakistan continued to deteriorate despite resolution of the spat over CIA contractor Raymond Davis with Islamabad announcing on Friday that it is boycotting a USconvened meeting on Afghanistan to express displeasure over drone attacks that killed 44 people on Thursday last.

The multiple attacks in North Waziristan, which came within hours of Davis' release on payment of "blood money" compensation to families of Pakistanis he allegedly killed, ignited a fury in Islamabad, with the country's de facto ruler Army Chief Pervez Asfaq Kayani and Prime Minister Yousef Raza Gilani angrily denouncing it in strong terms.

In a rare public out-

burst, Kayani described the drone attack as "intolerable" and "unjustified," and fumed that "in complete violation of human rights, such acts of violence take us away from our objective of elimination of terrorism."

A statement from the Pakistani military had Kayani saying, "It is highly regrettable that a jirga of peaceful citizens, including elders of the area, was carelessly and callously targeted with complete disregard to human life." The Pakistan foreign office followed suit, calling the attack a "flagrant violation of all humanitarian rules and norms" before announcing it will not attend the USAf-Pak talks scheduled next week in Brussels.

A flurry of diplomatic activity followed, with Pakistan's foreign office

summoning the US ambassador in Islamabad, Cameron Munter, to deliver a formal protest, and asking its ambassador to the US, Hussain Haqqani, to do the same with the State Department.

Pakistan claimed that the drones attacked what was a routine tribal jirga where elders were meeting to resolve local disputes.

Jirga pledges attacks on Americans Peshawar: A grand jirga representing major tribal clans of North Waziristan Agency of northwest Pakistan has pledged it would avenge the killing of over 40 tribesmen in missile strikes by US spy planes by carrying out suicide attacks on Americans. "We will take the revenge for our near and dear ones and announce a jihad against the Americans.

where Hindus always go and pay their respects on Shivratri, making it a significant part of their religion. According to Kohli, around 200,000 pilgrims flock to the temple for the festival. Though the excavation for granite stopped during Sardaro mela, the pilgrims were dismayed by the digging.

They organised a protest but "in a place as remote as this, no media came, there was no notice", said a disappointed Kohli, adding "Only one newspaper picked it up as a small story". The local residents have had little success so far in their efforts to stop the digging.

The contractor said he had a lease for the activity.

The local "mukhtiarkar" and district administration chief said they have no authority in the matter. A legislator has promised his support for efforts to stop the excavation. "He said the digging will be stopped," Kohli said.

CIA faces reduced role in Pakistan after murder row Islamabad: Pakistan's powerful spy agency appears to have gained the most from the CIA contractor's release, by forcing the US agency to recognise its importance to the US effort in Afghanistan, and curtailing American activities in Pakistan. A Pakistani court acquitted CIA contractor Raymond Davis, 36, of murder charges and released him after a deal that involved paying compensation blood money to the victims' families.

The ISI wants the United States to rein in contractors like Davis and clear any monitoring of militant groups with it first. "They want to keep a close eye on the American operations," spokes person said.

Lanka PM retracts statement on LTTE training centres in India Colombo: Sri Lankan prime minister D M Jayaratne retracted a statement he read out in parliament alleging that the Tamil Tigers were being trained in three camps in Tamil Nadu, India. But his statement had left a trail of questions and denials.

Jayaratne belatedly realised that the facile piece of paper from which he read out the statement was not a confidential intelligence report leaked by whistleblowers but a report published in newspapers.

But why was Jayaratne desperate enough to quote from unsubstantiated news reports that the LTTE were regrouping? Clearly, he wanted to bolster his argu-

Lanka PM D M Jayaratne

ment to extend the provision of emergency regulations in Sri Lanka – a set of rules institutionalised during the decades-old civil war and still in practice nearly two years after the end of war; a set of rules that Parliament extends

every month with the blind consent of government law makers; and a set of rules which many say are still exercised only to smother dissent.

"The emergency laws grant state authorities sweeping powers of detention and permit the use of secret prisons, a practice that encourages human rights abuses like enforced disappearances, torture and death in custody, which could constitute crimes under international law," Amnesty International (AI) said in a report last year while asking for the laws to be repealed. Last May some of the regulations, like curbs on meetings, were diluted but the main frame-

work including the power to detain without trial remains.

It's odd that the government continues to extend the laws even after repeatedly proclaiming how it had rooted out the "most ruthless terrorist organisation in the world."

In post-war Colombo, for one, changes are visible on the road: most military check posts have been withdrawn, roads around government offices are now open after years, and security checks at the cricket world cup venues are minimal compared to India. The once LTTEcontrolled North now remains out of bounds only for foreigners.

In focuS 52 feared dead in Pak coal mine accident

Quetta: Rescue workers used shovels and bare hands to dig out victims buried by explosions in a coal mine in southwestern Pakistan, and officials said they feared all 52 miners underground at the time of the accident were dead. The workers have recovered 24 bodies after digging through one of the mine's three wings, said Iftikhar Ahmed, a top mine inspector. The search was slowed by the presence of poisonous methane gas, which caused Sunday's explosions, and also by the fragile state of the mine, which prevented the use of heavy machinery, he said. “We have yet to dig out and search the remaining two wings, but there is zero per cent chance we can get anybody alive,'' said Ahmed.

Many terror groups eyeing Pak N-arsenal

Washington: Many terrorist organizations based in the region are eyeing Pakistan's nuclear arsenal, a top most US commander has said stressing that a strong vigil is needed to be maintained. Hinting that groups other than Al-Qaeda and Taliban might be seeking to arm themselves with nuclear weapons, General David Petraeus, Commander of US and NATO forces in Afghanistan has suggested that US should stay engaged in the area in which "we have such vital interests". Though the US commander did not name the groups, American security officials have said that Punjab based groups like LeT, JeM and Sipah-i-Sabha were now working closely with Al-Qaeda and Taliban in the tribal areas close to the Af-Pak border.

Pak Air force conducts joint exercise with China Islamabad: The Pakistan Air Force has announced it was conducting a joint exercise codenamed Shaheen-1 with the Chinese air force. This exercise is mainly targeted for sharing mutual experiences, honing professional skills and accruing maximum benefits from the expertise of the two air forces, said a statement issued by the PAF. A contingent of the Chinese air force comprising combat jets, pilots and technicians had arrived at an operational base of the PAF for the exercise. It is the first time that a contingent of the Chinese air force has deployed in Pakistan for an operational exercise.

And this exercise coincides with the celebration of 2011 as the "Year of Pakistan-China Friendship".

Pak test-fires nuclear-capable missile

Islamabad: Pakistan on Friday test-fired the shortrange surface-to-surface nuclear-capable Hatf-II or Abdali ballistic missile that has a range of 180 km. The test was conducted successfully. The missile can carry both nuclear and conventional warheads, was an official statement. The test, conducted at an undisclosed location, was witnessed by the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Chairman Gen Shamim Hyder Wyyne.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani felicitated defence scientists and engineers on the success of the test.

Nepal denies asylum to Fonseka aides

Kathmandu: Nepal has refused to grant refugee status to few close associates of former Sri Lankan army chief Sarath Fonseka. The Sri Lankans who worked with Fonseka during his presidential campaign are reportedly staying "semi-underground" in Kathmandu for past few months and seeking asylum in Nepal. The Nepal government has, however, turned down the request.

"This information is news to me and this is the first time such a thing has happened. We have written to the foreign ministry to seek their directives," Thosapala Hewage, Sri Lanka's Ambassador to Nepal, said. A report stated that the asylum seekers who had fled Sri Lanka following Fonseka's electoral loss amid fear of retribution by the present regime could be arrested soon. The Sri Lankans who had entered Nepal via India in the second half of last year fear that if they were sent back they could be falsely branded as terrorists and handed life or death sentences.

Former Pak minister criticises govt

Lahore: Pakistan's former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has responded to apparent criticism of his actions by President Asif Ali Zardari by saying that the ruling PPP government should get rid of "rotten fish" within its ranks to improve its image among the people. Qureshi said a few rotten fish in the government were responsible for the problems being faced

by Pakistan. "A few rotten fish cannot be allowed to pollute the whole pond and determine the fate of the nation," he said during an interaction with reporters.

His comments came in the wake of Zardari's remarks that some rotten eggs wanted to assume the position of the Bhutto family that has led the PPP since its inception. "Those who quit the party and then return don't command respect,� Zardari said.

worLd

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th March 2011

23

Arab League concerned about civilian safety in Libya

Tripoli: The Arab League was deeply concerned about the death of civilians in the bombing campaign in Libya. “What we want is civilian’s protections, not shelling more civilians,” said by Arab League head Amr Moussa. Arab league feels that the use of force was excessive following an overnight bombing campaign in Libya that killed at least 48 people.

A coordinated attack

by Western forces targeting Libyan air capabilities and armor appears to have succeeded in damaging Libyan military installations and armor, but Arab support for the no-fly zone may be waning.

US-led assault nears goal: Meanwhile, an Americanled military campaign to

destroy Col Muammar Qaddafi's air defenses and establish a no-fly zone over Libya has nearly accomplished its initial objectives, and the United States is moving swiftly to hand command to allies in Europe, American officials said Monday.

But the firepower of more than 130 Tomahawk cruise missiles and attacks by allied warplanes have not yet succeeded in accomplishing the more ambitious demands by the United States that Colonel Gaddafi withdraw his forces from embattled cities and cease all attacks against civilians.

Libyan government forces continued to engage in scattered fighting on Monday, defying the

77% Egyptians say 'yes' to constitutional amendments

Cairo: Egyptians have voted overwhelmingly to constitutional amendments, allowing the country to move swiftly toward fresh parliamentary and presidential elections. Moving further beyond the legacy of ousted President Hosni Mubarak's 30year authoritarian regime, in the first test for democracy 77.2 per cent Egyptians voted "yes" to the nine constitutional amendments suggested by a committee formed by the Supreme Armed Forces Council.

More than 18 million voters, or about 41 per cent of those eligible, cast ballots nationwide on Saturday. The amendments limit the presidency to two four-year terms and lay out the requirement of a public referendum for imposing a state of emergency that lasts longer than six months.

Egypt has been under a state of emergency for the last 30 years. Other amendments in the package make easier the requirements for independent candidates seeking the presidency, besides laying out complete judicial oversight for elections.

By virtue of this result, the amended articles are the only active ones, while the rest of the constitution is suspended until a new constitution is written. The military-led transitional government has promised to hold free and fair elections in June. One of the provisions in the amendments requires the new parliament to appoint a constitutional assembly within six months of taking office. The constitutional assembly will then be responsible for drafting a new constitution, which would be put to another referendum before taking effect. For Egyptians, the referendum was the first truly free vote in three decades. However, it divided Egyptians between those who said the reforms would suffice and others who said the constitution needed a complete rewrite.

While Egypt's two main political forces, the former ruling National Democratic Party and the Muslim Brotherhood, had both asked people to vote a "yes", other opposition groups, including, Nobel Laureate Mohammad Elbaradei's camp. have urged people for a "no" vote. The cultural 'elite' are also unsatisfied with the result seeing it as a sign the religious groups and hardliners are popular.

Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar is bringing out a special magazine on VIBRANT GUJARAT. This magazine will give you an insight into the ongoing and massive developments taking place under the able and dynamic leadership of Gujarat Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modi.

A man carries his son as they stand at a destroyed U.S Air Force F-15E fighter jet after it crashed near the eastern city of Benghazi March 22, 2011.

United Nations resolutions authorizing the allied strikes. The resolution demands an immediate cease-fire by Colonel Gaddafi's forces and an end to attacks on civilians.

Pentagon officials are

eager to extract the United States from a third armed conflict in a Muslim country as quickly as possible.

But confusion broke out on Monday among the allies in Europe over who exactly would carry the military

operation forward once the United States stepped back, and from where.

At NATO headquarters in Brussels on Monday, members of the military alliance came to no agreement on who would take the lead on a no-fly zone or how to proceed on enforcing a United Nations arms embargo against Libya.

Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain said responsibility for the no-fly zone would be transferred to NATO. But France objected to that, with its foreign minister, Alain Juppé, saying: "The Arab League does not wish the operation to be entirely placed under NATO responsibility. It isn't NATO which has taken the initiative up to now."

India, China, Russia criticize air strikes: India, China and Russia condemned air strikes on Libya as cracks appeared within the international coalition with Arab League and African Union distinctly uneasy with air attacks that could kill thousands of civilians. “We view with grave concern the ongoing violence, strikes and deteriorating humanitarian situation in Libya. We regret the air strikes that are taking place,” India’s foreign minister S M Krishna said. As the no-fly zone enforcement developed into a full blown bombing mission in Libya, Krishna said, “India calls upon all parties to abjure violence and use of threat and force to resolve the differences.”

24

INDIA

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th March 2011

Parsis honour Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi

Parsis presenting roll of honour to Mr. Modi in Gandhiganar

high priest of Parsis, and other eminent personalities were present during the function. The dignitaries recalled how their tiny communities had flourished in Gujarat for several centuries. They also said that the Fire Temple at Udvada near Valsad has been their prime place of worship for hundreds of years.

Mr Modi said he wished that Udvada would emerge as the Global Capital of Religious Harmony. He urged the Parsi community to maintain Udvada's sacredness.

The Parsi community leaders invited Mr Modi for the 1290th birthday celebration of Iranshah, scheduled to take place in Udvada on April 24, which the CM gladly accepted.

The high priests and eminent personalities of the Parsi community recently presented Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi with a roll of honour. They showered lavish praised on the state government and said that the commu-

nity was and will always remain a proud to be part of Gujarat.

A large number of eminent Parsis descended on Gandhinagar, the state capital, to take part in a function.

Dastur Khurshed K Dastur the

Indian army inducts Akash missile

Mamata allots 65 seats to Congress in West Bengal

Indian armed forces are going in for a huge induction of the indigenous Akash surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems to counter the threat posed by enemy fighters, drones and helicopters on both western and eastern fronts as well as protect vital areas and installations.

Developed by DRDO after 25 years of technical glitches, the 25-km range Akash air defence weapon system finally seems to have found favour with the armed forces, who are desperate to plug existing operational gaps in air defence.

The IAF had earlier ordered eight Akash squadrons six of them will be based in North East to counter China. Now, the Cabinet Committee on Security cleared two Akash regiments, with six firing batteries and hundreds of missiles each, for the Army.

The low-reaction-time Akash is designed to neutralise multiple aerial targets attacking from several directions simultaneously, with a digitally-coded command guidance system, in all weather conditions.

Ending days of suspense, Congress and Trinamool Congress reached seatsharing agreement with the former settling for 65 seats, against its original demand of 90, in the 294-member West Bengal assembly.

The deal was announced within hours of a meeting between Congress president Sonia Gandhi with finance minister Pranab Mukherjee and the latter's telephonic talk with Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee.

"Congress had entered into a seat-sharing agreeement with Trinamool Congress for West Bengal assembly polls. We expect that the alliance will give a chance to the people of Bengal to end misrule of the Left," AICC spokesman Shakeel Ahmed told reporters here.

Under the agreement, Congress had contest from 65 seats while Trinamool had contest from 229 seats, Ahmed said.

Congress initially had demanded 90 seats but Trinamool was not ready to give more than 45.

During the several rounds

of negotiations, Congress dropped the demand to 70 seats but Trinamool said it could give only 64 seats.

Trinamool went ahead and unilaterally declared candidates for 228, saying it could not wait endlessly.

Replying to queries, Ahmed insisted that there was no compromise in the agreement on part of the Congress. "There is no question of compromise or surrender when two parties agree for a negotiated settlement. All should honour it," he said.

"Every party wants to contest as many seats as possible but when they sit at negotiating table, they arrive at a mutually agreed number," the Congress spokesman argued.

Bhunia had earlier given to the Congress High Command a list of 98 seats, which it wanted to contest. It looks Congress unhappy with Mamata's move, but wants to continue alliance "Ours is a national party and I am the PCC chief of Bengal. I had communicated the views of my people to the party high command.

CBI asked to probe Raja aide's suicide The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) last week said it had been asked to probe the suicide by Sadiq Batcha, a close aide of disgraced former communication minister A. Raja. A CBI official said that the Tamil Nadu government had transferred the suicide case to it. The Tamil Nadu government said it was transferring the case as the CBI was investigating the spectrum scam and had questioned Batcha.

Batcha, 47, was found hanging at his Chennai home on Wednesday afternoon. His autopsy was conducted and the body

Sadiq Batcha

handed over to the family.

Batcha was under the CBI scanner to check whether his company, Green House Promoters, was a conduit for the money generated in the spectrum scam.

Batcha's wife has said her husband was under pressure because of the CBI's investigation into the

spectrum scandal and the media spotlight on him.

Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu government has refused to accept the resignation of V Dekal, who conducted autopsy on Sadiq Batcha owing to inadequacy of staff.

According to a source, Dekal wanted to contest in the state assembly elections and hence put in his papers.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Dekal said he has put in his papers from government service as he would like to contest the assembly polls as an independent candidate.

In divine light

By Rajen Vakil

Burning of the Khandava Forest Part 8: Agni and the Sarang Birds In the last article we saw how the flames of Agni were coming close to the sarang birds. The mother of the birds had left them and gone away to a place of safety. Their father had got a promise from Agni that he would not burn the four sarang birds of which the young birds were unaware. Although young, they were very wise and harboured no fear of what was coming their way. Actually, they were young rishis – their names were Jaritari, S a r i s r u k k a , Stambhamitra, and Drona.

Let us see the meanings of their names.

Jaritari is connected with the aging process (or the process of dissolving). There are two kinds of aging – the first is of the body, where we grow old. The other is the aging which leads to ripening and maturity.

This maturity brings wisdom and dissolves the ego. This young bird is wise beyond his years. Sarisrukka comes from the root ‘sru’ meaning to move with the agility of wind – like an arrow or thunderbolt. This is the brilliance of the mind and the power of one-pointed attention. Mostly, the attention is fragmented and hence, powers of the mind remain hidden. When onepointed, the attention works like a thunderbolt and the mind can take the right decisions in a flash.

Stambhamitra comes from the root ‘stha’ – to stand, pause and wait. The word ‘mitra’ comes from the root ‘mid’ meaning greasy or affectionate.

All our emotions are greasy – stuck in possessiveness. Here, we have an emotional energy that is friendly without getting stuck. The last young one was called ‘Drona’, which comes from the root ‘dru’ or liquid – one who is adaptable and can escape from any adverse situation. He is not obstinate or adamant. These four brothers speak words of wisdom and then address Agni, and so remain untouched by his flames.

Jaritari says “That person who has the wisdom to see in advance the obstacles he will have to face, remains calm and steady in unfavourable times.”

The next brother Sarisrukka addresses his elder brother “The elder brother is wise, he is the father and he will find a way out of this calamity.” The third Stambhamitra told his eldest brother, “You are brave and without fear and are sure to rise above these troubled times.” The youngest Drona then said, “Agni has seven tongues and seven faces and he has both the power of creation and destruction, he is cruel and is fast engulfing the forest and moving towards us.”

Here Drona gives the eldest brother a key of how to stop Agni. He iterated that Agni has seven tongues, signifying that he understands all languages – those of persuasion and also those of request and appeal. The four brothers decide to pray to Agni so that he can be persuaded not to harm them. They bring their attention together, hold their hands in prayer, and invoke the god of fire.

Jaritari says, “Oh one who inflames and burns, you are the spirit of the wind, and the body of all medicine.

Water is where you were born, but you are also the womb which gives birth to water. Just like the rays of the sun, your flames can move in all directions.” Here he reveals the different properties of fire. It inflames when we get angry but our own anger burns us. The wind is the courier which carries all communication, and the heart of the message is fire – that which we want to convey. The rays of the sun fell upon the atmosphere and caused oxygen and hydrogen to combine to form water and so fire is the womb of water. The ether element pervades, the wind goes and comes, water flows down, and earth is steady. But fire, the heat and light pervade, the flames can go and come, as water goes down the flames rise, but in that very rising lays the hidden quality of falling too and hence, it is the womb of water. It is the fire too that heals by burning samskaras.

Sarisrukka says, “Oh fiery comet, your flames form seven peaks which lead to freedom from suffering. You bring heat in the form of suffering in people’s lives. The yogis convert that heat into austerity or tapas and thus free themselves from all kinds of pain. We surrender to you and ask that you do not burn us to death.” The seven peaks are the seven doors which lead to samadhi and freedom from suffering. To be free from heat, one must rise up to the peak of heat. Sadly though, we spend our lives running away from suffering.

Stambhamitra says, “You are Brahma, you are the fire that brings and sustains life in all forms. You give birth to the three worlds, sustain them, and when the time comes destroys them. It is your light that brightens the universe and holds the heavenly bodies in their place.” Brahma means expanding consciousness and Agni is the symbol of this consciousness. As long as we have the fire of life within us, we are living.

The same is true for all heavenly bodies, thus it is fire that sustains all possible life.

Finally, Drona said, “You remain in our bodies and help us to digest the food we eat. At a subtle level you help us understand, which too, is a form of digestion.

As the rays of the sun, you fall upon the earth and enter into water and give life and nutrition to all life. All the greenery we see in life, the rivers, and the mountains are dependent upon you. You are the bearer of good fortune. So to us brothers, please bring good fortune and help us cross the shore as you burn this forest.”

Agni was very pleased with the young sarang birds; not only did he spare them but also granted them many boons. After the fire calmed down their father and mother both returned and the family was together again.

The author can be reached by emailing 3srb@live.com (Edited by Chintu Gandhi)

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

INDIA

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th March 2011

Aarushi murder case: Talwars move Supreme Court The ongoing case of Talwar family whose daughter Aarushi was found dead inside her Noida residence in May 2008 with her throat slit. The body of Hemraj was recovered a day later from the terrace.

Aarushi Talwar's parents - Rajesh and Nupur Talwar - approached the Supreme Court seeking stay of criminal proceedings against them in the murder case of their daughter and their domestic help Hemraj.

"The appeal has been filed today in the Supreme Court seeking stay of the proceedings," Satish Tamta, counsel for the Talwar couple.

The dentist couple has moved the Supreme Court against the Allahabad High Court's order. The High Court had dismissed their plea seeking quashing of the proceedings initiated by the lower court

which not only refused the closure report of the CBI but also summoned them as accused in the case.

The High Court had said that it cannot prohibit the magistrate from taking cognisance of a case if prima facie it appears that there is sufficient evidence against a person.

Justice Balakrishna Narayana of the Allahabad High Court had dismissed the criminal revision petition of Nupur against the CBI court proceedings, saying the petition has "failed to provide any valid reason warranting the court's intervention at this stage".

The High Court asked Nupur, who had submitted that she had been summoned despite never having been called for interrogation or having been named as an accused in the CBI's closure report, to appear before the trial court within two weeks.

Former Deputy Prime minister L.K Advani and other dignitaries attended the wedding reception of jewellery designer Rajat Sharma and fashion designer Mira in New Delhi on 11th March at Hotel City Park. Rajat’s father Kailashnath Sharma and family reside in Rajkot.

25

Kerala CM given ticket to contest Assembly polls Bowing to public pressure, the CPM in Kerala on Friday reversed its decision to drop Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan from contest for the state Assembly, bringing the party's most popular face to poll arena to lead the LDF for the April 13 polls.

The dramatic turn, which was a replay of 2006 scenario, came after the central leadership directed the state unit to revoke its decision, factoring in widespread protests from the party rank and general public over the issue.

The 87-year-old veteran will be contesting from

his sitting Malampuzha seat in Palakkad district, as per the list of candidates announced by the party on Friday afternoon.

The faction-riven state unit dominated by state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan had sealed the fate of 87year-old CPM stalwart earlier by denying him the ticket.

The decision, however, pushed the party into a deep crisis with workers taking to the street condemning the party decision to dump Achuthanandan. Many of the district committees of CPM also aired their

strong feelings against the decision, which also made the party to revoke its earlier decision.

The members of the politbureau held two rounds of discussion in New Delhi since yesterday and sent a clear message to the state secretariat for reversing its decision.

In 2006 also, Achuthanandan made a dramatic come back to the electoral field thwarting the moves of the rival faction led by Viajayan which initially managed to keep him off the fray.

The move to dump Achuthanandan sparked

AIADMK announces deal with DMDK Tamil Nadu's major opposition party AIADMK on Monday formally announced its agreement with the DMDK, led by actor-turned-politician Vijayakant, allotting it 41 seats for the coming assembly elections.

The AIADMK also announced it own revised list of candidates for 160 constituencies.

Party general secretary and former chief minister J Jayalalithaa will contest from the temple town Srirangam, around 330 km from Chennai, which is considered to be a safe seat for her and falls under the Tiruchirapalli Lok Sabha constituency held by the AIADMK. In 2006 Jayalalithaa had won from Andipatti.

The AIADMK candidates will file their nomi-

J Jayalalithaa

nations March 24 between 11am and 1pm as per party directive.

The AIADMK has finalised alliances for 74 of the 234 seats with 10 parties for the April 13 elections.

Besides DMDK, the other parties in the alliance are the CPM (12 seats), CPI (10), MNMK

(3), PT (2), SMK (2), RPI (1), FB (1), KYF (1) and AIMMK (1).

The agreement with the DMDK ended a threeday crisis Sunday that had threatened to break the AIADMK-led alliance over concerns about the hugely popular Vijayakant leaving it after Jayalalithaa's unilateral announcement of constituencies for AIADMK candidates.

Jayalalithaa will now start her campaign tour March 24 to Tiruchirapalli, around 335 km from here. She will return here March 30 and start out for Tuticorin, Kanyakumari and Tirunelvelli the next day.

After canvassing in various districts, the leader will return to Chennai April 9 and campaign here till April 11.

widespread protest compelling the central leadership to prevail upon the state unit to bring him back.

Achuthanandan is seen as the "best bet" of the LDF to face the huge challenge posed by the Congress-led UDF, which had put up a splendid performance in the last Lok Sabha and civic polls.

Despite his advanced years and the machinations of his rivals, a set of developments in the last couple of months have boosted Achuthanandan's image as a crusader against corruption in public life.

Bangalorians forced to bathe in mineral water If Cleopatra used donkey's milk to bathe and preserve her beauty, several Bangaloreans now use mineral water to bathe just because they're supplied hard water which also stinks.

The water shortage is so grave that residents in hundreds of apartment complexes are not buying mineral water only for drinking, but for bathing and cleaning too. Most apartments don't have Cauvery water connections and are heavily dependent on borewell and tankers.

Hundreds of apartments on Outer Ring Road till Marathahalli don't have Cauvery water supply. "The little borewell water we get is so hard we cannot use it even to wash clothes.

Luhar’s plea for anti-caste discrimination law

By Bharat Parmar I am writing on behalf of the Luhar community and similar smaller and underprivileged minority castes living in the UK who could be directly affected if this Law is not passed. I apologise in advance if my comments may offend some of your readers however truth has to be shared.

In a recent House of Lords presentation under Lord Dholakia, there were moves made by certain leading members of the Hindu organisations to oppose the law. I am particularly appalled at this undemocratic stance without first of all, having any dialogue with people of my community to establish the facts. The erstwhile position within our community for centuries whether in India or Uk is that socio economic progress is directly dependent on one's caste. Of course we are not living in India and therefore UK is not a place for sorting out the differences, one might say. However one should also acknowledge that this country is at the forefront of making Laws which are then followed generally by the rest.

The word Harijan and Other backward classes (of which I belong) are as synonymous in the society as they were when I commenced my Degree education back in Mumbai during 1973. If it were not for sheer inspiration by my dad whose generation suffered in the newly independent India I would still be working on tools.

Education was salvation for me and many of my Luhar compatriots some of whom as well as their family are still going through the same struggle in this country. I must also add that I was helped by the philanthropic generosity by a tiny proportion of the well to do for which I am grateful.

In India those OBCs who are fortunate enough to educate themselves have at least the cover of reserved places so that continue and finish the Education. My family did not have enough money to send me attend tuition classes for the coveted IIT examination neither could we go for any school or college trips. I always found that friends from the Bania/Patel/Brahmin communities could afford

to attend the tuition's and thereby avail entry to better Universities and hey had their own hostels.

Even today, the number of Indian students who emigrate to the USA or abroad for further education come from rich and privileged background.

My community does not even have a small hall to speak about in spite of being settled in the UK in similar time frame as the others. If the so called leaders are not aware of such hidden discrimination then they ought to include members from the communities of Luhars, Suthars, Darji's, Mochis and sad to say, Harijans etc. Did not anyone watch the famous film called Bandit Queen (Phoolan Devi) produced

by Shekhar Kapoor of Channel 4? This film graphically showed the abject violence meted out to this woman by the Thakurs who subsequently were murdered by in her in revenge.

Of course nothing like this will happen in the UK however. the MPs who have thought about formulating this Law are wise enough to address a very real problem (in the same

way as Forced Marriage or Honour Killing issues.) It is not supposed to divide us. In fact it will make those in the higher castes at the position of power to refrain from discriminating members of lower caste whether economically or otherwise.

It does not take a genius to find out how well the higher echelons of the community have done, just look at • Names of the richest Hindus • Names of the Hindus living in well to do areas and therefore availing better or private school education • Ditto trustees of Hindu affiliated organisations • Names of higher caste communities who enjoy better facilities for social engagements/media publicity/spending power • Classified ads for matrimony which insist on a particular specification stating the caste of the prospective partner • Divisions even among the well heeled Patel community on the basis of which grouping of Gaams (village) they hail from It is futile to even think

that discrimination does not exist (in the same way you ask an AA whether he/she has a drink problem). The younger organisations like NHSF are not better or factually informed as the span of the student life is minimal to understand the complexity of centuries of impact of subjugation upon the lower castes.

I also heard that Lord Popat had not come across the word 'Dalit', is this the case of showing 'inferiority complex' to his majority white audience as he was embarrassed by this term?

Or does he just end up meeting the Ambanis, flown by a helicopter without noticing the slums when he goes to India?

Gandhiji did not start the Harijan movement for nothing. Ambedkar did not write into constitution reserving of places for people of lower castes in all the walks of life if there we no concerns. Vinoba Bhave gave whole his life in championing the cause. Sant Kabir whose Kabirvani is revered even among the higher caste Hindus used to live in the outer neighbourhood of the village meant for lower caste, which is

still the case in India.

In fact in the bizarre twist of fate, I have also come across information from fellow colleagues during my days of working in the Middle East that some of the 'higher' caste people are changing their surnames in some Indian states to make them look like from 'lower caste' thereby to avail University and employment places!!

Please also look at the origins of Sikhism, it was Guru Nanakji's answer to bring all humanity together.No wonder there was a mass conversion of underprivileged Hindus in Mumbai couple of years ago to Buddhism.

Needless to say, unabated conversion of the tribal and less advantaged Hindus goes on as we speak which says a lot about how the better off look after the worse off.

To deny that something does not exist means that it does. Hence sooner this Law gets passed, better it will be for all us Hindus.

This will show that we are able to correct our past mistakes and unite us as democratically in how we conduct our prayers as in how live and let live.

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INDIA

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th March 2011

BJP moves privilege Gujaratis to raise funds for Japan rehabilitation motion against Manmohan Singh

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday gave notice for a breach of privilege motion against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in connection with the 2008 bribe-for-votes scam. The opposition party said the prime minister misled the House by his remarks that the panel which probed the bribe-for-votes scam in 2008 had found insufficient evidence to draw any conclusions.

Opposition stages walkout: The BJP-led NDA, meanwhile,boycotted the debate on the Finance Bill in the Lok Sabha following differences with the government over the timing of taking up a discussion over Manmohan Singh's statement on the cash-for-votes scam.

The main Opposition staged a walkout as soon as the Bill was moved by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee as it wanted the discussion on the Prime Minister's statement to be taken up before the legislative business.

But the government insisted on taking up the Finance Bill first, saying it had been scheduled earlier.

"We agreed to short duration debate after the Finance Bill is passed. We have no problem to discussion under Rule 192 (which does not entail voting). But please allow the Finance Bill to be passed first," Finance Minister and Leader of the House Pranab Mukherjee said addressing the Opposition which was demanding the debate on the PM's statement first.

"The Finance Bill has its own sanctity," Mukherjee said, appeal-

Terror is unfolding each day with radiation threat looming large over Japan, forcing many to leave the country. The Gujarati population - around 100 families - in Japan, which was not directly affected by the massive earthquake followed by the killer tsunami, had left the country.

"Life in Tokyo had returned to normalcy a day after quake and tsunami, but the radiation threat got everybody in.

ing for cooperation from the Opposition.

Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj said the Opposition also wants passage of the Finance Bill but it should be taken up only after a two-and-ahalf hour debate on the PM's statement.

"It is a question of two-and-a-half hours...You allow debate, then we can have both...

It is just a matter of earlier and later," she said.

Swaraj said if the debate is allowed on the PM's statement, "We are ready to sit here till 12 pm (to pass the Finance Bill)."

Countering Swaraj, Mukherjee said a precedent like this should not be created.

"You have given the notice for a Short Duration discussion today. Allow 24 hours.

The discussion can take place tomorrow... The Finance Bill has been decided long ago. We should stick to the schedule," he said.

P C Chacko, who was in the Chair, also ruled that the Finance Bill should be taken up first and Mukherjee started moving the Bill.

Unhappy over this, Swaraj led a walkout, asking the government to pass the Finance Bill without the main Opposition if it was so adamant.

Though there were no casualties, most Indians decided to return to India and go back once things settle," said Shrikant Shah, a diamond trader settled in Tokyo for the last 22 years. Shah returned with his wife and children to Ahmedabad on Saturday.

He with support of city-based Vishwa Gujarati Samaj (VGS) now plans to raise funds for the rehabilitation process in Japan. The aid

collected through the drive will be handed over to Japan Red Cross Society.

"Japanese businessmen have always shown interest in becoming partner of Gujarat's success story, and so we are urging Gujaratis to help in the rebuilding process of the country. We are writing to members of VGS world over, including eminent businessmen, to garner support for the affected families," said Shah. He

added that the Japanese spirit of fighting back even in the worst of the circumstances is one that Gujaratis should learn.

"Gujaratis in Japan were among the first ones to send aid to the 2001 earthquake-affected families. Now when Japan has seen large scale destruction we are getting together to help the people there. Also most Gujaratis would return to Japan once the nuclear reactors cool down," Shah added.

Modi for exchange of technologies among nations Continued from page 26 Many of our previous assumptions are being challenged by economic system failure and natural disasters. None of the global theories have proved to be sufficiently robust. The answers lie within each one of us and it involves nurturing our environment and our human resources, rich and poor, the powerful and the powerless.

Mahatma Gandhi’s teachings have much to teach Europe and the world in this regard.”

He added that “Unto The Last” is the best guiding principle for balancing economic growth and development. However, we have mis-interpreted it to mean just ‘trickle down’ of wealth and development. What we need is the models of development where people are not just beneficiaries, rather they are made equal partners in the process of development. People should be part of the development cycle in the beginning, not at the end.

Giving an example of his own Government, He said that Gujarat’s growth model is very different.

Growth means active participation of people and mass movement, Growth

Modi addressing CEOs of European companies in Delhi

is both robust and pervasive, quantitative and qualitative.

“Gujarat’s growth leads India and Gujarat’s growth is inclusive. Our focus now is on human development. Our efforts in terms of good governance have been recognised the world over. I trust European business agrees, Gujarat represents the best of India: our traditional morals and values combined with service delivery which meets global standards.”

India has emerged is the buzz word all around the world today. However, to make India’s emergence steady and sustainable, all States of the country have put up strong foundation.

Modi narrated that

Gujarat represents the elements of such a strong foundation. Our fundamentals are strong. We are strong not in particular sector but all across the economic sectors.

Gujarat’s vibrancy can be felt not only in economic activities but also in social life.

Highlighting the achievements in rural, agriculture and industry sector, He said that Gujarat has emerged as the Growth Engine of India not only because it contributes immensely in its economic growth but actually the bigger success is that it has an amazing mix of the big and small; robust and inclusive; fast and yet sustainable.

Gujarat’s growth rate of

GDP has been double digits for a decade, similarly the people have also grown at the fastest rate of 13.8%. Not only multinationals and big companies have done well, but a large number of SMEs have also prospered. Not only the industry has grown at 13% but agriculture has also grown at 9.6%, he appraised.

During his speech, He also outlined the achievement of the State Government which include Jyoti Gram Yojna, Chiranjeevi Yojna, excellent work in water harvesting and good governance etc.

Some of the key companies who attended the session include BAe Systems, Veolia Water India Pvt Ltd, Vodafone, BP, Dassault, EDF, IKEA, Rio Tinto and Halcrow India as well as Shell Hazira and Alstom India, the co-sponsors of the event with iNDEXTb, the Industrial Extension Bureau.

Leading European companies which have already invested in Gujarat are Heubach, BASF, Bayer, Siemens, Linde AG, Lanxess, Duravit, Pharmacia, Perstorp, Cheminova, Sanofi Aventis amongst many others.

How US engaged with Modi after denying him visa Continued from page 26 The Mumbai Consulate's 2,850-word assessment, which was cleared by the New Delhi says: “If Modi does eventually get a national leadership role in the BJP in the foreseeable future, the USG [United States Government] will be obliged to decide how it wants to deal with a figure of national prominence whose B1/B2 we revoked.

We believe it would dilute our influence to avoid Modi completely. If we waited to engage Modi after he attains national stature within India's largest and most important opposition party, many in the BJP would likely view this as an opportunistic move and only deepen the suspicions cultivated by some BJP leaders in western India since the visa revocation.

“Since the riots of 2002, we have declined to engage Modi at the Ambassadorial level, but Mumbai Consul Generals have routinely sought meetings with Modi whenever they visited Ahmedabad. We will continue to seek such meetings at the level of the CG to emphasize that the USG does not have a formal nocontact policy… and to demonstrate to the BJP that we are interested in cultivating relationships with the party while it is in the opposition. Direct encounters with Modi will also enable us to deliver a clear message regarding USG concerns for the state of human rights and religious freedom in Gujarat.”

On Mr. Modi's strengths as Chief Minister that could aid his national leadership ambitions, Mr Owen's analysis was: “Modi has

successfully branded himself as a non-corrupt, effective administrator, as a facilitator of business in a state with a deep commercial culture, and as a nononsense, law-and-order politician who looks after the interests of the Hindu majority. Modi's backers in the BJP now hope to convince the party leadership that he can use these positive traits to attract voters throughout India. Some BJP leaders believe, or hope, that voters will forget or forgive Modi's role in the 2002 bloodshed, once they learn to appreciate his other qualities.”

When Modi was denied the visa After the UPA government urged the United States in March 2005 to reconsider its decision to revoke the visa of Modi, the U.S. Embassy made an action

request to Washington seeking a “review” of the case. However, the ‘action request' cable of March 18, 2005 (29140: confidential) also had a revealing accompanying note: “Post does not expect any change, but would appreciate a cable telling the GOI [Government of India] we took a fresh look and decided to maintain our decision.”

Giving his reaction on latest Wikileaks cable, Mr Modi on Tuesday said he was happy to learn that America believes he is incorruptible. Modi said the cable mentions honest reporting of his talk on human right issue with American official.

On sideline of a public function near Ahmedabad, Mr. Modi told curious media persons that, “they have discussed on many issues related to Gujarat.

So far as Gujarat’s development is concerned, Gujarat is developing speedily, and America also has believed that Gujarat can develop very speedily.

And when they were discussing human right violation (issue) with me, (I said them) I am son of India, I am connected with India’s prestige and glory, I had said them looking in their eyes that America should not advise us on humanity. I counted and told them about what America had done in the area of human right violation. Conversation of this talk has been revealed in Wikileaks and I feel good that they had reported it honestly.”

Modi further said, “and another thing. They have written after all kinds of investigation that Modi is uncorruptable. If person is non corrupted it is another

thing, but America has sent a report that on the basis of feedback received by various people that Modi is uncorruptable (incorruptible). I am happy as a citizen of Gujarat and I always receive blessings of the people in this regard.

Modi didn’t miss opportunity to compare his ‘uncorruptable (incorruptible)’ image with present central regime’s ‘highly corrupt’ image. He said, “and these days, there is one face of the country about which Wikileaks and others say that there’s nothing but only corruption here, and there is another face which is Gujarat according to what has been revealed in latest cable which also openly says that this country has a leader uncorruptable (incorruptible). I feel nice that America has lately started understanding this.”

WOMEN & history

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th March 2011

27

history Matters

By Dr Anil Mehta

Bayeux Tapestry:

By Swati Bhan

The story of the Norman Conquest

Wedding dress of Kashmiri bride, groom

Kashmir is the land of beautiful valleys, lakes and mountain peaks.

Kashmiris have more resemblance with north Indians than with other Himalayan people. The population in this region is stratified due to religion and caste system and has lot of diversity. But main residents are Kashmiri Pundits and Muslims and both have different flavours of festivities in their weddings. This article gives a brief account about the marriage outfits, worn in the weddings of Kahsmiri Pandits and Kashmiri Muslims.

Kashmiri Pundit: They are Hindu Brahmins and worship Lord Vishnu and are popularly known as Vaishnavs. Though most of their population lives outside Kashmir, they still practice same wedding rituals and customs with traditional wedding customs and dresses for brides and grooms.

Bridal Wear: Kashmiri bride has to wear an elaborate wedding outfit with lots of colours and glitz. A head gear known as Kalpush is an extensive cap folded three or four times and lined either with silk or cotton from the inside, is worn by the Kashmiri Pundit bride. Then the white color cloth over kalpush is wrapped in three to four layers, which is known as zoojh.

After which, a glace paper is stitched over zoojh and this entire head wear is known as tarang.

The bridal wear consists of suit, saree or lehnga which has to be mainly in red in color and if not red then the pink or yellow shades are also used.

A lot of golden thread work known as zari work is blended with Kashmiri embroidery which looks spectacular on the bride.

Dupatta is put over the head gear tarang which enhances the look of the Kashmiri Pundit bride.

The jewellery holds lot of meaning for a Kashmiri Pundit bride.

They wear heavy gold jewellery around neck, gold bangles on the hands, paayal and toe ring in the foot and a spe-

cial ornament known as dejharoo is worn.

Dejharoo is a pair of gold pendants hanging on a gold chain through the holes in the ear lobes. It holds the similar significance in Kashmiri Pundits as a mangalsutra does among Hindus. A waist band is also an important bridal wear which is two meter long and a half a meter wide.

Grooms: The Kashmiri groom wears a traditional dress, known as pheran on the day of his wedding. He wears a waist band along with it which is very broad and long. A sword is attached to the waist band and one of the male relative ties a turban known as Gordastar on the head of the groom. But, the traditions are changing these days, with more and more youngsters preferring to wear kurta pyjama, achkan, or formal suits in their marriage.

The Kashmiri Pundit groom is supposed to wear tradi-

tionally embroidered shoes known as paazar.

The whole look is glamorized by putting ruby bead or some other precious stone bead chain around his neck.

Kashmiri Muslim: Majority of the population in Kashmir is of Muslims and they celebrate their wedding by performing every ritual with utter religiosity. The women are very beautiful with eastern tan. The brides wear beautifully embroidered pheran, a traditional dress for Kashmiri women along with an elaborate head gear known as Kasaba. It is a cloth available in various colors and held tight by silver pins and trinklets. It is decorated with gold embroidery and embellishments of silver pendants hanging on the

forehead. In jewellery, the brides wear heavy bunches of silver jewellery which shines and whose beauty can even be noticed by a person from distance. The jewellery also, includes heavy jhoomar style earrings which are supported by thick silver chain, necklace, bracelets and paayal around the ankle. The Kashmiri Muslim groom on the other hand, wears a pheran along with a broad belt. He wears a Muslim cap on his wedding day which shows devotion towards his religion.

The wedding attire of the bride and the groom plays a significant role in making the marriage ceremony more memorable and cherishable. The Kashmiri brides and grooms have the most unusual marriage attires which showcases their culture with utmost simplicity without over-glamorizing it which adds on to the beauty and the feel of their marriage.

Norman cavalry

Bayeux Tapestry is a celebrated strip of embroidered linen depicting the Norman conquest of England in the Battle of Hastings in 1066, and is kept in a museum at Bayeux in Normandy, France (a replica is in the Museum of Reading, Reading). It’s one of the largest piece of needlework ever undertaken anywhere. Made sometime in 1073-83, it’s a remarkable piece of narrative art and an important source of the 11th century history.

The conquest of England by William (the ‘Conqueror’), Duke of Normandy in 1066, is one of the most significant dates in British history. It was the last successful foreign invasion of Britain. English King Edward the Confessor died childless in January 1066.

Just before he died he named his brotherin-law Harold as his heir who was crowned just two days later. However, William claimed that King Edward had earlier promised the English throne to him and he was the rightful king. He even said that Harold (while in Normandy) too sworn an oath promising to support his claim to the throne. William wasted no time and crossed the Channel in earnest with army (infantry and cavalry) and defeated Harold, the last AngloSaxon king at the Battle of Hastings.

Harold was killed in the action. Bayeux Tapestry depicts the Norman Conquest and the events leading up to it.

Bayeux Tapestry: The Normans are coming

Bayeux tapestry is actually not a tapestry but a stunning piece of linen embroidered in coloured worsteds providing a visual record of the Battle of Hastings. A work of enormous skill, it consists of one single horizontal line of pictorial narrative set within the borders above and below. Measuring 231 ft X 19 in, it depicts in more than 70 scenes the events leading to the battle in chronolog-

ical order. Latin inscription identify characters and pictures. The decorative borders are filled with animals, foliage, and scenes related to the main pictures. The final section of the tapestry, perhaps continuing the story beyond the battle (such as William’s coronation) is missing.

Bayeux Tapestry: English axe-men in combat with Norman cavalry

Bayeux Tapestry is one of the most important relics to survive from medieval times. It’s an extraordinary work of art unique for its time and a record of immense importance for the study of contemporary history such as battle tactics, ship building, and navigation, and everyday life such as clothes and furniture. The consistent quality of the tapestry indicates very close supervision by some expert designer. It gives more details of the events other than the battle itself. For example, it records the appearance of Halley’s Comet in 1066.

In the Middle Ages this was a bad omen – a sign of impending doom.

Who might have commissioned such a work? Though claimed as French, the tapestry almost certainly looks like an English work of art, most probably of Canterbury, Kent, at the end of the 11th century. The superiority of the English needlework during this period was widely acknowledged. Moreover, around this time, Odo, Bishop of Bayeux and halfbrother of William was Earl of Kent. The tapestry seems to tell the Norman version of events, justifying the Conquest. If Odo had commissioned the work, it is natural it would have to tell the story from a Norman perspective, in support of William’s claim to the English throne (as they say, history is written by the victors). This may have distorted somewhat the historical accuracy of the story but this does not reduce in anyway its overall artistic and historical importance.

Since there is no alternative contemporary in-depth record of Norman Invasion, it is difficult to establish a truly independent view of what actually happened before the invasion. This is the mystery of Bayeux Tapestry.

UK

28

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th March 2011

BACL hosts dinner to Raising Awareness of honour Bob Blackman MP Domestic Violence in the Asian Community welcomed Cllr Sachin Rajput and spoke of the great need to work hard between now and 2012 to ensure that Cllr Rajput wins the GLA seat of Harrow & Brent, and at General Secretary, the same time, Bob Blackman, Member Mr. Rickie Sehgal of Parliament for ensure that Harrow East speaking sharing his vision for Boris Johnson the Link to the audience

The British Asian Link Conservative (BACL) were proud to host a celebratory dinner to honour their widely acclaimed political champion, Bob Blackman MP at the prestigious Carlton Club in London. The Churchill Room was filled with guests who had come to show their admiration for Bob on his splendid win at the General Election.

Guests enjoying the evening

is re-elected to serve as Mayor of London.

Mr. Rickie Sehgal, the Link’s General Secretary explained about the important work that the BACL was doing to encourage a greater participation in politics from the Asian community, and described how the BACL were driving forward with projects. He welcomed two BACL champions to the room; Camilla Khawaja who is standing for council election in Nascot for Watford Borough Council, and Hitesh Tailor who is standing for council election in Leavesden for Three Rivers District Council. Cllr Sachin Rajput spoke to the guests and commented that it was a great honour for him to be invited to be a guest speaker at an event hosted by the BACL as a long time BACL member.

He introduced himself as the GLA candidate for Harrow & Brent and described his past experi-

Guests included Cllr Sachin Rajput – GLA Candidate for Harrow & Brent, CB Patel – Editor/Publisher of Asian Voice, Don Billson – Chairman of Harrow West Conservatives, Heather Harper – Chairman of B e a c o n s f i e l d Conservatives and Cllr Ray Graham – Chairman of Ruislip, Northwood & Pinner Conservatives.

Bob fought an effective election campaign and took the seat from a sitting Labour Minister – not an easy achievement.

Before proceedings began, Ameet Jogia, Chair of the BACL Youth Committee, asked guests in attendance to join him in a minute silence for the victims of the recent devastating earthquake in Japan.

Mr. Ranbir Suri, founder and Chairman of the Link then welcomed the guests and praised Bob for his determination which won him a seat in Parliament. Mr Suri also

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ence and his determination to serve the people of the two great areas.

Dr. Rami Ranger MBE, founder and Patron of the Link, then spoke about the importance of engaging in with the Asian population in Harrow & Brent. Dr Ranger praised Bob Blackman, Member of Parliament for Harrow East and guest of honour on the evening, for his determination in pursuing his political career and his commitment to working with the Asian communities throughout his career.

Bob Blackman, Member of Parliament for Harrow East, then spoke to the guests about his long association with the Asian community, the benefits that the Asian communities in areas such as Harrow and Wembley have brought to the UK, and the important role that the BACL can play in engaging with these Asian communities and encourage them to play an active role in Conservative Party Politics.

Hitesh Tailor thanked the speakers for their wonderful contributions to the evening and the Executive Board of the BACL for hosting the event. He also thanked the guests for their support and the management and staff of the Carlton Club for making the evening enjoyable.

ITV series producer suspended over race row The producer of ITV1's Midsomer Murders, Brian True-May has been suspended after saying the drama "wouldn't work" if there was racial diversity in the show.

Brian who co-created the series, told the Radio Times the longrunning drama was a "last bastion of Englishness." He added, “I'm trying to make something that appeals to a certain audience, which seems to succeed.

And I don't want to change it."

A very successful community awareness event was organised by Naree Shakti (Women’s Strength) a registered charity in Palmers Green, North London.

The event was marked to celebrate International Women’s Day, but looked at the very serious issue of domestic violence within the Asian community.

Shan Kilby, the Domestic Violence Cordinator from the Community Safety Unit at the London Borough of Enfield spoke about the various forms of Domestic Violence that occurs in our society. She stated that 1 in 3 in London face domestic violence and only one third of these crimes are reported. She emphasised the importance of educating our society about these issues and letting women know about their right’s. Two outreach workers from a local women’s refuge Solace Women’s Aid were on the platform of speakers and spoke about the journey an abused women takes once they are sheltered in the refuge and the

support and guidance given to them.

Many organisations from Enfield and surrounding areas attended the seminar and praised Naree Shakti for raising awareness about this very serious issue, and emphasised the importance of the Asian community changing their mindsets and not turning a blind eye to victims of abuse but reaching out to them and supporting and empowering them to take control of their lives.

The event attracted over 150 individuals, mainly Asian, who heard some very interesting speakers through out the day. The event was chaired

by Councillor Anwar Chaudhry, with guests

including Deputy Mayor Christiana During and the local Member of Parliament David Burrowes.

Vijey Rattan the Chair of Naree Shakti spoke about the history behind International Women’s Day and commented that ‘despite of the differences that exist for women across the world, it is crucial that we continue to use International Women’s Day to focus on the adverse conditions that effect women worldwide, campaign and respond to the urgent need for change, and as a time to celebrate women's achievements and reflect on the struggles that have brought women's liberty this far.

Non-EU Dentists Caught In Bureaucratic Tussle Non-European dentists find their hopes of practising in the UK becoming more of a distant dream due to infighting between governing bodies. Candidates who have successfully completed the 1st part of the Licentiate in Dental Surgery (LDS) run by the Royal College of Surgeons of England and enrolled for the 2nd part were not allowed to finish the 2nd part due to what seems to be a bureaucratic tangle between the Royal College of Surgeons of England and the General Dental Council.

The HSMP Forum was informed by the candidates concerned that they received acknowledgment from General Dental Council beforehand that LDS is an alternative to ORE. The qualifying candidates paid more than ￡

2,000 in exam fees and ￡ 5,000 and more on dental equipment for preparation.

Mr Sanoj Majeed had to borrow money from family and friends for exam fees and various courses and equipment in order to prepare for the part 2 exams. He says, “The Royal College had advertised that they would be running two diets of the exam every year when we enrolled for Licentiate in Dental Surgery. So far, the College has failed on this promise without even realising the impact it is having on our careers.”

Ms Pragati Maheshwari took the exam in April 2010 and successfully cleared the part 1 exam. She accepted the invitation to take the part 2 (practical exam) to be held in September 2010 and gave up various employ-

According to Brian True-May, his comments were misinterpreted and taken out of context. A few journalists also have shown their support stating that “Midsomer Murders portrays an old fashioned English village and such villages are not known for their multiethnicity.”

Midsomer Murders, based on the books by Caroline Graham, was launched in 1997 and has run 14 successful seasons and is set to enter the 15. However, a study in 2006 found the programme to be "strikingly unpopular" with viewers from ethnic minorities.

ment opportunities to focus on the exam. She says, “I am starting to think that the Royal College is trying to abandon us half way through the exam process. Both the Royal college and the General Dental Council are ignoring the fact that the candidates are getting the short end of the stick due to their differences.”

Amit Kapadia, Executive Director of the HSMP Forum said, “At a time when the government is trying to lure the best and the brightest of the migrant workers, some of those who are present in the UK seem to be denied the opportunities and are being treated unfairly. It is such a shame that the Royal College is unable to take a strong stand and fight for these deserving candidates.”

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Asian Voice - Saturday 26th March 2011

Glass of wine a day 'cuts dementia Drinking a glass of wine a day or a pint of beer can cut the chance of developing dementia by almost a third, according to researchers. followed Scientists 3,200 over 75s, who had no signs of dementia when they enrolled on the study, for three years. Of those, 217 went on to develop dementia.

They found that those who drank between two and three units a day (20 to 30 ml) were 29 per cent less likely to have started developing dementia by the end of the three-year period than those who were teetotal.

(Two to three units is equivalent to a mediumsized (175ml) glass of wine (2.3 units) or a pint of beer (2.8 units).

The results for Alzheimer's, which accounts for two-thirds of dementia cases, were even

more striking: such drinkers were 42 per cent less likely to have developed the disease.

The researchers say in the journal Age and Ageing: "We found that alcohol consumption ... is significantly associated with lower incidence of overall dementia and Alzheimer dementia."

The academics, led by Siegfried Wayerer of the Central Institute of Mental Health in Mannheim in Germany, concluded that "light-to-moderate" alcohol consumption could have a "protective effect" against dementia.

They believe alcoholic drinks could work to stave off dementia in a number of ways.

The alcohol itself could work by lowering cholesterol levels, stopping blood from clotting too much and improving insulin sensitiv-

ity to blood sugar levels.

The non-alcoholic elements "may have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and vaso-relaxant [blood vessel relaxant] properties", they wrote in the journal.

“It is still an open question whether different alcoholic beverages, such as beer, wine and spirits, have a similar effect," they noted.

"Some studies have shown a positive effect of wine only, which may be due either to the level of ethanol [alcohol], the complex mixture that comprises wine or to healthier life-style ascribed to wine drinkers."

Interestingly, there was no such protective effect for vascular dementia and cognitive decline, two other common types of dementia.

However, the authors noted that prolonged heavy drinking is thought to be responsible for about one in 10 cases of dementia.

In Britain about 750,000 people are thought to suffer from dementia, although less than half has received a diagnosis. The number is expected to top one million by 2021.

Dr Anne Corbett, research manager at the Alzheimer's Society, said: "The idea that a drop of your favourite tipple could reduce risk of dementia will come as welcome news to many. This latest study adds real punch to the growing argument that this could be the case.

Coffee can cut women’s stroke risk

Hey, ladies, now you can have as many cup of coffee as you want! As per a study, drinking coffee reduces stroke risk in women. And, women who don’t drink coffee at all may actually be increasing their risk for stroke, the study has warned.

Researchers at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, who carried out the study, have also found evidence that drinking more than a cup of coffee a day can help ward off diabetes and

liver cancer in women.

“Some women have avoided coffee because they thought it is unhealthy. In fact, evidence indicates moderate consumption may decrease the risk of diabetes, liver cancer and possible stroke,” researcher Dr Susanna Larsson said.

“Even small amounts of coffee may reduce the risk of stroke,” she added.

The findings are based on an analysis of a 10-year research involving 35,000 women aged 49 to 83 in Sweden after another survey found coffee reduced men’s risk of a stroke, the report said.

The researchers found women who drank more than a cup a day saw their stroke risk fall by between 20 and 25 per cent compared with those who drank little or none. This held true regardless of

their weight, smoking and drinking habits, or whether they had a family history of diabetes.

The study also revealed that drinking coffee lowered the risk of other diseases like diabetes by improving insulin sensitivity and having other beneficial effects.

The findings have been published in the latest edition of the ‘Stroke’ journal.

By Radhika Madlani

Education – does it matter where you study?

I recently attended an Open day for a local private school and had some dialogues interesting with other parents who were present. Like me, many parents were genuinely trying to weigh up the pros and cons of a private school whereas some had already made up their mind to send their children to a private school and were simply deciding between those in the area.

Some parents I spoke to were quite opinionated about their decision.

They firmly believed that the smaller class sizes, the modern facilities and the experience of the staff along with the well groomed surroundings would accelerate their childs academic growth.

It is a one-dimensional view that simply sending your child to a private school will result in an academic child. Surely what contributes to a childs growth is their own appetite for learning and parental support?

There was also a consistent view that attending a private school would open more doors in later life and present more opportunities. My parents, nor I, were privileged enough to attend a private school and have been successful without it so I am not fully convinced of this either.

Drive, ambition and a centered personality can

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open far greater doors than the name of an establishment on paper.

I quizzed a friend of mine who is a teacher for an objective view and I was surprised to hear what she had to say. She concluded that having worked in a state and a private school, her decision for her own child was made. In her experience, she spent 80% of her time in the state school disciplining and only 20% on teaching (which translates into 80% of her time focused on the underperformers and only 20% on those performing well). On the contrary, when she moved to a private school, this balance reversed in her spending 20% of her time disciplining and 80% teaching.

Clearly, there are many reasons why children behave better in a private school. Firstly, private schools are known to have higher standards, hence attracting more capable students. Of course, being more generous with their pay attracts better and more qualified staff.

This, along with high standards of resources and a focused curriculum, you start to understand why people pay good money to send their children to private schools. Of course, sending your children to private school does not

guarantee a brilliant education and a bright child.

I firmly believe that how children are raised at home has a massive influence on their attitude not only towards education but towards their own ambitions, morals, values and drive. These attributes will have just as much of an impact on your children how progress in life.

There is tremendous pressure on children who attend private schools, from the school who want to maintain their position on league tables and from parents who want to ensure their children are getting ‘value for money’. You have to visit schools in your area to compare them objectively and decide what is best for your children. You may even consider moving to a good state school to avoid paying extortionate private school fees.

I have concluded that parents need to strike a balance to ensure that their child obtains the education they need to progress in life without turning into a snob in the process. Good children from good parents exist in all schools, state or private.

Quote: “A child only educated at school is an uneducated child” – George Santayana

Should you have any comments or want to get in touch with me you can email on avmamaria@gmail.com

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UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th March 2011

This week watch Anilbhai of Skylink- Pilgrimage Expert talking about Kailash, Chardham & Jyotirling.

Skylink Travel of Wembley organises pilgrimage to Kailash- Mansarovar, Chardham, Amarnath, Gyrah and Barah Jyotirlings. Skylink has also introduced Luxury chardham which can be arranged privately for groups and individually.

Sneh Joshi - 020 8518 5500 A great time to meet and interact with people.

Whatever your present interests you are likely to find that new doors open and the way ahead offers increased scope for expressing your real self. The opening up of a more diverse social life is a point in favour of romantic attachments.

ARIES Mar 21 - Apr 20

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Only the best and the brightest students allowed Continued from page 2 An earlier consultation had suggested scrapping the route altogether but many education bodies fear it will damage the UK’s reputation to attract the best students. Their argument gained the tacit backing of Vince Cable, business secretary, and David Willetts, universities minister. “Higher and further education is a major success story for the British economy,” Mr Cable told the Financial Times last week. “It’s an export industry – we want to grow it.”

Figures earlier this year revealed some 61,000 foreign students are attending private colleges which do not have the Home Office status of Highly Trusted Sponsor, awarded to colleges which can show there have not been instances of student visa abuse and have systems in place to check for

abuse.

Further research to be published indicates that some 13 per cent of students at such private colleges do not attend their courses, with non-attendance rates at some running as high as half.

The number of enforcement arrests for abuse of student visas is also currently running at 30 a month – three times the rate of this time last year.

A Home Office spokeswoman told a daily media: “Immigration by students has more than doubled in the last ten years and is now far larger than through the work or family routes.

“This Government recognises the important contribution that international students make to the UK’s economy, and to making our education system one of the best in the world.

You may find yourself hard at work behind the scenes, although that may not be apparent to others.

You may find yourself caught up in a whirlwind of activity, with opportunities to advance on both the inner and outer level. There is likely to be a powerful incentive to do what remains to be done and tie up loose ends.

TAURUS Apr 21 - May 21

Coming Events l Lions Club of London Kingsbury organises Mehfil night Kal ki yadeen Golden Hits with Bankim Pathak & Anila Gohil on Saturday 02nd April at R n B Hall, Kingsbury NW9 9AA. Contact: Dinesh Sonchhatra on 020 8424 8686/07956 810 647 l Saathi Sammelan on 10th April 2011 by the Federation of Brahmin Associations of Europe.

Contact: HetalUpadhyaya Tel: 07415 903 198 l Saaheli's of SKLPC in association with "Woman from the East" at Safari Cinema, Station Road, Harrow HA1 2TU, On Saturday 26th March 2011@ 8 pm. l Nehru Centre, 8 South Audley Street, London W1K 1HF. Contact: 020 7491 3567 i. London Sat 26 March 3.30 pm Film: Lights, Camera, CUT!a first-timer’s guide to film-making: Anusha Rizvi and Aditi Khanna.

In association with the Noor Inayat Khan Memorial Trust ii. Tue 29 March 6.30 pm Exhibition of Paintings: Alabhyam Ruju Jotani iii. Tue 29 March 7.00 pm Book Launch/Performance: Journeys. In association with Sampad (www.sampad.org.uk) “But it has become very apparent that the old student visa regime failed to control immigration and failed to protect legitimate students from poor quality colleges.

“Too much trust has been placed on largely

unregulated colleges and too many people used to come as students but were primarily working, not studying.

“We want to refocus the system as a temporary route, available to only the brightest and best.”

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.

GEMINI May 22 - June 22

CANCER Jun 22 - Jul 22 At home, be at your diplomatic best and try not to tread on anyone's toes. Passions will run from hot to cold, and relationships may suffer.

Even the most strong-willed Cancerians will be more open to compromise to keep the peace. Plan your spending and set sensible budgets to reach your financial goals.

LEO Jul 23 - Aug 23 A wind of change may be in the air; attention should turn to the wider world and benefits come from broadening of horizons and mental stimuli. This is an opportune time to go ahead with your plans. All things considered, your health should be robust. The more you live up to your own set of principles the more you’ll gain.

VIRGO Aug 24 - Sep 23 Mars in your opposite sign sets a rather challenging theme. Although this gives increased potential for tension and conflict with other people, it also means that you are able to confront issues and sort any problems out. If this involves a close relationship, you can now resolve your differences.

LIBRA Sep 24 - Oct 23 The accent’s very much on relationships. The opening up of a more diverse social life is a point in favour of romantic attachments. 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.

SCORPIO Oct 24- Nov 22 Not only will the general pace of everyday life gather a speedier momentum but there are liable to b a few unforeseen problems along the way. It is only if you try to cram too much into the day that you will come a cropper or damage your health, so be warned. Be prepared to shoulder certain responsibilities.

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SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 - Dec 21 With Jupiter, Sun and Mercury in your 5th house of romance and creativity, you should enjoy a very popular phase in your life where everyone wants to invite you to parties. You will meet people of your own calibre and pursue any romantic liaisons. Your communications are extremely high making it easy to close those lucrative deals.

CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan 20 You are endowed with a level of determination that others sometimes find formidable. Once you set your mind on a goal you stay the course no matter what obstacles you encounter. Saturn's placement in your Solar 10th house often denotes a phase of restriction, sometimes frustration, in one's life.

AQUARIUS Jan 21 - Feb 19

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 srike a balance between material and emotional affairs !

PISCES Feb 20 - Mar 20 The focus is on finances this week, but that doesn’t mean you should worry yourself sick. Rather, It is about finding new and improved ways to boost your earnings potential. Don’t let nebulous tendencies interfere with your plans. It’s fine to consider several options but don’t get caught up in indecision.

SPort World

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th March 2011

Ponting’s captaincy under threat Ricky Ponting, who is the captain of the Australian cricket team, may be removed from the post, a report quoting a Cricket Australia official said.

The Sydney Morning Herald said there was stiff opposition at boardroom level to the 36-year-old retaining the job for next month's tour of Bangladesh, although his position as a player was not in jeopardy.

"We need to be looking at the future.

It's time for us to make a change," the newspaper quoted the official as saying.

Ahead of the World Cup, Ponting earned the dubious distinction of becoming the only Australian skipper to fail to win the Ashes three times, putting him under enormous pressure.

He has also done himself no favours in India, taking a reprimand from the

International Cricket Council after smashing a dressing-room TV in a fit of fury after being run out during

Australia's World Cup win over Zimbabwe.

He was also criticised for angrily throwing the ball to the ground after colliding with teammate Steven Smith during their victory over Canada.

Then his sportsmanship was questioned when he failed to walk in Saturday's defeat to Pakistan.

"We're waiting for the next thing to blow up," the official said. "We don't go a game without there being some issues with him."

Michael Clarke, who led Australia to an emphatic 6-1 one-day series victory over England to give them a boost after the post-Ashes despondency, is seen as favourite to take his job.

The Australians face India in Thursday's World Cup quarterfinal in Ahmedabad.

Sania-Vesnina pair Shoaib Akhtar to retire wins doubles title after World Cup in Indian Wells

Sania Mirza and her American partner Elena Vesnina clinched their first title in just their third WTA event as a team, lifting the BNP Paribas Open women’s double trophy after upstaging Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Meghann Shaughnessy 6-0 7-5.

Mirza and Vesnina, who were quarterfinalists at Dubai and Doha in February, were unseeded here but they lost just 19 games in their first four matches, including a surprise 6-2 6-3 upset over seventh seeds Iveta Benesova and Barbora Zahlavova Strycova.Sania and Vesnina won the first set in just 25

minutes.

The Americans came back in the second set taking a 5-1 lead, but Sania and Vesnina then notched up six straight games to lift the trophy on centre court.

“We weren’t even supposed to play here, because initially I wasn’t going to play Indian Wells. Now we’re planning to play the rest of the year,” Sania said.

“We tried playing together in Dubai and Doha and it worked fine.

From our first match you could see it was already a team. It really works,” Vesnina added. Sania and Vesnina have been among the top-30 in singles.

Pakistan’s mercurial pacer Shoaib Akhtar will retire from international cricket after the World Cup ending a tempestuous career that was marred by several controversies, including a dope scandal.

The 35-year-old reportedly broke the news to his teammates and manager on Thursday last. With an injury-ravaged body finding it tough to withstand the rigours of international cricket, Akhtar was looking at the World Cup as his final shot at glory.

He was impressive in the opening match against Sri Lanka but form began to desert him as the event progressed prompting the team management to drop him for the last match against Zimbabwe.

Akhtar, who took 178 wickets in 46 Tests and 247 in 163 ODIs, made his international debut in 1997, against the West Indies.

The bowler, however, was always at the centre of controversies over his action and disciplinary issues. He was handed a two-year ban in 2006 for testing positive for banned steroid nandrolone.

The pacer missed out competing in the Champions Trophy that year but the ver-

Jeev Milkha Singh to listen. He just said, 'No, you won't be able to board the flight unless you take it off.' It was particularly insulting that I was asked to keep my turban on a tray

where people also keep their shoes."

While it is customary to use hand-held wands to scan turbans, European Union rules state that the headwear

Pakistan now ready to play matches in India Pakistan, which earlier voiced concern about playing matches in India on security issue, is now ready to play knockout stage matches in India. "It does not matter to us where we play our quarter-final. The biggest issue for us was to qualify for the knockout stage and we have done that now," Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi said.

"We are ready to play our quarterfinal at any venue now," the experienced all-rounder said.

The Pakistan skipper had kicked off a debate in Pakistan cricket circles earlier in the competition when he said that his team would like to avoid playing their knockout matches in India and preferred to remain in Sri Lanka.

Afridi had reasoned that playing in India would bring more pressure on the players because of the tense relations between the two nuclear-armed nations.

"That is a thing of the past. Right now we are just happy to make the quarterfinal and if we remain in our confident mode then it does not matter where our quarterfinal venue is," Afridi said after an apparent change of view.

Pakistan's former captain, Imran Khan had criticised Afridi for publicly airing his views on not wanting to play in India. "If I had been in his place I would have announced we are ready to take on India in India because there is more pressure and expectations on the Indian team," Imran earlier said.

5,000 Pakistanis get Indian visa for WC

dict was overturned by a three-man tribunal a month later.

He had his differences with the Pakistan Cricket Board as well and was even fined for openly speaking against the PCB.

Indian golfer’s coach forced to remove turban at Milan airport Indian golfer Jeev Milkha Singh’s coach Amritinder Singh was forced to remove his turban at Milan’s Malpensa airport last week for clearance before being allowed to board a transit flight to Rome.

Amritinder was travelling with Jeev for the European Tour's Sicilian Open. Jeev is a three-time winner on the European Tour.

"The man was very rude," said Amritinder. "We kept telling him that I am a sportsperson who has travelled across the world and he should take a look at my passport but he wasn't ready

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can be 'patted down' if the metal detector bleeps when they walk through. Urged by Jeev to stand his ground, there was not much Amritinder could do but take it off. "For me it is like being asked to strip in public," he said. "I even told them that this is not security but harassment."

"I belong to a country whose Prime Minister wears a turban, and I feel that my nation should take up such issues with other countries. I do not want to stand in the way of safety regulations, but a person's personal privacy also has to be respected," he added.

So far, 5000 Pakistanis have been issued visas to watch World Cup cricket.This are multientry visas, allowing Pakistanis to return to India after their respective onward journeys to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka for the quarter-final and semi-final matches.

The Indian Government has issued visas were issued after due security checks by the immigration and various security agencies of each Pakistani national who applied for the travel document much in advance (minimum 45 days) to watch the quarter-finals, semi-finals and the final matches to be held in different venues across India.

"The 15-day multiple-entry visas were issued only to those applicants who could show a proper ticket of the ICC World Cup cricket matches, their return journey travel tickets and addresses of their stay in India," a government official said. Ahmedabad will host the second quarterfinal, featuring India and Australia, on March 24, Mohali one semi-final on March 30 and Mumbai will host the final on April 2. So far, Pakistan has not played any of the World Cup matches in India.

Somdev achieves career-best ranking Reaping rich reward for his fantastic run at the Indian Wells M a s t e r s , S o m d e v Devvarman of India on Monday jumped 11 places to achieve his career-best singles ranking of 73 in the latest ATP list. Somdev reached the pre-quarterfinals in Indian Wells, eventually losing to finalist and top seed Rafael Nadal but not without giving a good fight to the world number one Spaniard.

Meanwhile, Serbian Novak Djokovic, who on Sunday won the Indian Wells title, moved into second place in the world tennis rankings.

Djokovic beat former world number one Roger Federer in the semi-finals and swapped places in the rankings with him. The Spaniard, however, continues to hold a convincing lead at the top of nearly 4,000 points. ATP top 10 as of March 21: 1 Rafael Nadal, Spain, 2 Novak Djokovic, Serbia, 3 Roger Federer, Switzerland, 4 Robin Soderling, Sweden, 5 Andy Murray, Britain, 6 David Ferrer, Spain, 7 Tomas Berdych, Czech Republic, 8 Andy Roddick, United States, 9 Fernando Verdasco, Spain, 10 Juergen Melzer, Austria.

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World Cup Results Australia beat Canada by seven wickets at Bangalore on Wednesday, March 16.

Australia 212 for 3 (Watson 94, Haddin 88), Canada 211 ( Patel 54, Lee 4-46).

England beat West Indies by 18 runs at Chennai on Thursday, March 17. England 243 (Trott 47, Russell 4-49), West Indies 225 (Russell 49, Tredwell 4-48).

Ireland beat Netherlands by six wickets at Kolkata on Friday, March 18. Ireland 307 for 4 (Stirling 101, Poterfield 68, Cooper 2-31), Netherlands 306 (Ryan ten Doeschate 106, Borren 84, Stirling 2-51).

Pakistan beat Australia by four wickets at Colombo on Saturday, March 19.

Pakistan 178 for 6 (Shafiq 46, Umar 44, Lee 4-28) Australia 176 (Haddin 42, Gul 3-30).

South Africa beat Bangladesh by 206 runs at Mirpur on Saturday, March 19.

South Africa 284 for 8 (Kallis 69, du Plessis 52, Amla 51, Rubel 3-56), Bangladesh 78 (Shakib 30, Peterson 412, Tsotsobe 3-14).

India beat West Indies by 80 runs at Chennai on Sunday, March 20. India 268 (Yuvraj 113, Kohli 59, Rampaul 551), West Indies 188 (Smith 81, Sarwan 39, Zaheer 3-36).

Zimbabwe beat Kanya by 161 runs at Kolkata on Sunday, March 20.

Zimbabwe 308 for 6 (Ervine 66, Sibanda 61, Taibu 53, Otieno 2-61), Kenya 147 (Odhiambo 44, Price 2-20, Lamb 2-21).

For The Record

Yuvraj Singh gets it third time Indian middleorder batsman Yuvraj Singh has become first player to receive the Man of the Match award thrice in the ongoing World Cup. Yuvraj stroked 113 runs off 123 balls and picked 2-18 during India's 80-run win over the West Indies at Chepauk on Sunday. He is the first to post a hundred and three fifties in this edition.

Yuvraj is also the first Indian batsman to score a century at Chepauk, Chennai at the World Cup and also the first Indian all-rounder to strike a hundred and bag two wickets in the same game. He is now the ninth all-rounder to do so, joining Aamir Sohail, Aravinda de Silva, Neil Johnson, Feiko Kloppenburg, Sanath Jayasuriya, Ryan ten Doeschate, Tillakaratne Dilshan and Paul Stirling.

West Indies pacer Ravi Rampaul took 5-51 for his career-best figure in ODIs and he became the fifth Caribbean bowler to capture five wickets in a World Cup innings, joining Winston Davis, Kemar Roach, Vasbert Drakes (twice) and Joel Garner. He is now the second West Indian and the sixth overall to bag five wickets on World Cup debut, joining Winston Davis (7-51 against Australia at Leeds, June 11, 1983), Gary Gilmour (614 against England at Leeds, June 18, 1975), Austin Codrington (5-27 against Bangladesh at Durban, Feb 11, 2003), Dennis Lillee (5-34 against Pakistan at Leeds, June 7, 1975) and Damien Fleming (5-36 against India at Mumbai, Feb 27, 1996).

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th March 2011

India ease into quarterfinals, but doubts remain

By Premen Addy

After the debacle against South Africa, when India collapsed to 296 all out, having been 267 for 1, thanks to sterling contributions from Virender Sehwag (73), Sachin Tendulkar (111) and Gautam Gambhir (69) and cruising, it seemed, to a safe anchorage of 350 plus runs. Team captain, Mahindra Singh Dhoni, had one of his brain storms, changing his batting order when none was called for, and relying on proven unreliables to deliver with the ball, which they famously didn't do.

South Africa cantered home in a contest they had all but lost. Not since Jesus Christ raised Lazarus from the dead 2000 years ago was there a miracle such as this.

A week was time enough for India to digest the disaster and think about how best to save their skins against West Indies at Chennai's Chepauk stadium.

Dhoni won the toss and elected to bat, proof surely that he was back to normal.

Sehwag was indisposed, so was unable to play. Gambhir and Tendulkar opened proceedings, but the latter was soon back in the hutch with only 2 to his name. The wicket appeared slow and of uncertain bounce, the odd ball keeping disconcertingly low, yet also lifting unexpectedly from a length. It was far from an impossible surface, but it required watchfulness, technique and an eye for the proper opportunity. This was tailor-made for Virat Kohli, elevated to No 3 to give the innings its rightful ballast, was soon into his stride - following Gambhir's departure for 22 - with his new partner, the lefthanded Yuvraj Singh. The pair put on an invaluable 122 runs, setting the platform for a 300 plus total and security, which would take some getting for their opponents on a challenging environment.

Yuvraj was in prime form, and it confirms Kohli's maturity that he gave his partner the bulk of the strike as he rotated the singles with exemplary judgment.

India players celebrate the wicket of Ramanesh Sarwan of West Indies during the Group B ICC World Cup match between India and West Indies at M. A. Chidambaram Stadium on March 20, 2011 in Chennai, India.

Kohli was bowled by Ravi Rampaul for 59, the third victim to fall to him in succession in an eventual return of 5 for 51, brilliant figures in any form of the game.

Yuvraj glided to 113, with signature drives and sweeps, but thereafter another collapse ensued, India subsiding to 268 all out. The late order and Indian tail, it would appear, have difficulty holding a bat.

India's bowling, this time round, was more demanding than it had been previously. Spinner R Ashwin opened the bowling with Zaheer Khan, and neither disappointed, as their respective figures of 2 for 41 and 3 for 22 show. However, it wasn't all plain sailing. West Indian opener Devon Smith stroked a powerful 81 from 97 balls; and while he was at the crease, his side were well in the hunt. At 154 for 2, they were in cruise control, but Zaheer knocked out Smith's off-stump

Collingwood's daughters wanted England loss for daddy to come back

Victory and defeat are not just abstract terms, and people interpret it in their own perspective.

While the English cricket fans were restless before the decisive World Cup Group B encounter against the West Indies, two girls in the country wanted the team to lose because they were desperate to have their daddy back at home.

All-rounder Paul Collingwood's daughters were missing him so much that they wished the English lose the match which they ultimately went on to win narrowly to make the quarterfinal slot.

Keira and Shannon Collingwood spoke to their father on the eve of the match and conveyed their wish in no uncertain terms before the cricketer pacified them with a promise. "'We hope you lose tomorrow, daddy. Then you can come home.'

That was quite tough and I had to think quickly," said Collingwood.

"I told them, 'Yes, but if we win, daddy will get a few more

Paul Collingwood with Shannon, left, and Keira

pennies to buy you more Barbie dolls'. That seemed to do the trick.

'OK, I hope you win now', said Shannon," he recalled.

"It has been very emotionally draining. There were times in the match against West Indies when we thought we were down and out of the World Cup. We've gone from despair to euphoria in the space of 20 minutes," Collingwood said.

"Bearing in mind the mental, emotional and physical strain of the Ashes tour and subsequent events, a lesser leader would have had plenty of excuses to choose from if he's wanted to," Collingwood was quoted as saying.

with a gem of a delivery and the door was opened. Ramnaresh Sarwan (39) hung on valiantly as he ran out of partners, the West Indies innings ending with 188 on the board, a defeat by 80 runs.

India will meet Australia in a keenly anticipated quarter-final knock out tie at Ahmedabad in midweek, while West Indies will meet Pakistan in Dhaka.

Australia lost to Pakistan by 4 wickets in a tense contest at Colombo's Premadasa Stadium, while Sri Lanka vanquished New Zealand with consummate ease by 153 runs. Australia struggled to 176 all out, which Pakistan passed for the loss of 6 wickets. England will meet Sri Lanka in Colombo and South Africa will play New Zealand at Mohali in the other quarter-final fixtures, the former having demolished Bangladesh (78 all out to their opponents 286 for 9). It will be man's work hereon for everybody.

World Cup Cricket Points Table (as on 22/3/11) Group A Teams Mat Won Lost Tied N/R Pts Pakistan 6 5 1 0 0 10 Sri Lanka 6 4 1 0 1 9 Australia 6 4 1 0 1 9 New Zealand 6 4 2 0 0 8 Zimbabwe 6 2 4 0 0 4 Canada 6 1 5 0 0 2 Kenya 6 0 6 0 0 0 Group B Teams Mat Won Lost Tied N/R Pts South Africa 6 5 1 0 0 10 India 6 4 1 1 0 9 England 6 3 2 1 0 7 West Indies 6 3 3 0 0 6 Bangladesh 6 3 3 0 0 6 Ireland 6 2 4 0 0 4 Netherlands 6 0 6 0 0 0

Net RR +0.758 +2.582 +1.123 +1.135 +0.030 -1.987 -3.042 Net RR +2.026 +0.900 +0.072 +1.066 -1.361 -0.696 -2.045

India to host 2016 T20 world cup After the World Cup, the subcontinent's cricket fans can continue to look forward to top-notch international cricket for the next five years. Sri Lanka and Bangladesh were to stage the World Twenty20 Championships in 2012 and 2014; now India has been listed to

host the 2016 edition of the tournament.

"India will host the World T20 in March 2016," a top ICC official told TOI on Thursday.

India's name figures as the host of the event in the ICC's tentative Future Tour Programme 2012-20.