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Vol 44 | Issue 26

31st October to 6th November 2015 INDIA

Let noble thoughts come to us from every side

P26

UK

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With more than a 1,000 delegates from all 54 countries of the African continent marking their attendance, India strongly hints at better diplomatic relations with Africa Considered as one of India's biggest diplomatic jamborees of the year, the third India-Africa Summit kicked off in style in New Delhi on Tuesday (26th October). With more than a 1,000 delegates from all 54 countries of the African continent marking their attendance, India strongly hints at better diplomatic

relations with Africa. Also one of the largest ever gathering of African countries in India, this meet will see some controversial figures like the President of Sudan, Omar al-Bashir.

The previous two summits seem modest with the participation of merely 15 states in the past years.

Given the major turn up,

one is forced to appreciate Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's hand at repairing the failing ties with the continent that no longer sees India as a priority nation. On day one of the four-day-long IAFS, officials finalised the main outcome documents for the mega diplomatic event.

“They are negotiating two

documents. One is a political document which will talk of the political partnership between India and Africa. It will touch upon global and regional issues.

The other one is going to be a framework document of cooperation which will talk about the development partnership of Africa, line Continued on page 26

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COMMUNITY P14 MAGNIFICENT “OUT OF INDIA”

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A NOBLE SOUL DEPARTS

“Curry King” Lord Gulam Kaderbhoy Noon, passed away on Tuesday 27th October 2015. He was a prominent figure, not only in the British economic and political structure, but within society as well. He was an entrepreneur par excellence, whose sweets are familiar to one and all.

Continued on page 2

335 killed as quake hits, Afghanistan, Pakistan

At least 335 people were killed, many otheres injured and scores of people were rendered homeless as a 7.5 magnitude temblor struck in South Asia. The earthquake was chiefly felt in Kabul, Continued on page 26

2

ONE ONE with Keith Vaz, MP

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Asian Voice |31st October 2015

to

Witold Sobków is the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Poland to the Court of St James’s

Witold was born in Warsaw in 1961. He was educated at Warsaw University, where he studied for an M.A in the Department of English Language and Literature and then an M.A in the Department of Italian Language and Literature. He went on to study at the Hoover Institution on War and Peace at Stanford University, before completing executive programmes at Harvard University and Birkbeck College.

From 1984-1991 he lectured at Warsaw University. In 1991 he became Deputy Head of the European Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. From September 2002 to July 2006 he served as Ambassador to Ireland, becoming Under-Secretary of State for European Affairs in 2006. He worked then as the Political Director and in April 2010 he became the Polish Permanent Representative to the UN and subsequently the Ambassador to the Court of St James’s in London in August 2012.

1. What is your current position?

I have been Ambassador to the Court of St. James’s since summer 2012. As I worked in the UK from 1993 to 2000, I have spent 11 years in the UK. For Poland the UK is one of the most important EU partners and Nato allies. It is also a hospitable country where almost 1 million Poles have found their second home, some of them directly after WW II, as they fought in the Battle of Britain and on other fronts. The Polish Government in Exile functioned here until 1990.

2. What are your proudest achievements?

When I worked in New York by the UN I managed to convince the member states to adopt a resolution on the World Down Syndrome Day. I also participated actively in the NPT review conference and negotiated Sustainable Development Goals before the Rio+20 Conference. I have been proud to contribute, as the Ambassador to the UK, to the development of our bilateral relations. Much unites the UK and Poland – our vision of Nato,

our attitude to the single market, energy security etc. We have a huge surplus in trade and the UK remains our 2-nd trading partner.

schools. The diplomatic community is huge, more than 22 thousand diplomats, which gives us a unique opportunity to exchange views.

3. What inspires you?

I am a civil servant, not a politician. We serve each government having one aim in mind: the good of our country. I promote Poland’s national interest and I try to strengthen Polish-British ties, whether in political, economic or human terms. My mission is to do it objectively and honestly.

5. Who has been the biggest influence in your career?

My mentor was my former boss, Ambassador Ryszard Stemplowski, a prominent figure in Poland, at present working as a professor in Poland. I also owe much to my family, as our work has also some disadvantages, as we work from morning till night, including week-ends, and move from country to country.

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

I do not see many obstacles in my work. The UK is a fantastic country to work. The British civil service is second to none.

We have no major problems in our relations. I also enjoy my contacts with numerous think tanks, universities a n d

A NOBLE SOUL DEPARTS

Continued from page 1

Gulam Noon, was born to a Muslim family, in Mumbai, on 4th January 1936. In 1972, he came to Southall with only £50 in his pocket and set up a sweet shop. He also created “Bombay mix” and founded the company, Bombay Halva.

He also founded Noon Products in 1988.

Keith Vaz MP has expressed his deepest condolences after the death of Lord Gulam Noon.

Vaz said, “Today we have lost a giant, not only of the British Asian community, but also of British entrepreneurship.

A decent, honourable and

and throughout the world who have benefited from his enterprise, jobs he created, and his big heart. The world of cricket will also miss one of its most devoted followers. He was the epitome of everything a first generation immigrant can achieve, someone who literally came with nothing, but was also grateful to Britain Lord GK Noon with wife Mohini for giving him the life generous man, who was chances to prove what an dedicated to his family, extraordinary man he was, but also to his country, the whilst never forgetting his United Kingdom. Rightly roots in India. Our comknown as Britain’s first munity has lost one of its ‘Curry King’, he brought greatest stars.” curry to the high street.

Asian Voice sends ours There are thousands of deepest condolences to people in Britain, in India Lord Noon's family.

Photo courtesy: Facebook

Women beyond boundaries Three adventurous women took on the challenge of undertaking the first ever, all-women road expedition, driving from Delhi to London.

Nidhi Tiwari, the team lead and driver, is a member of CII’s Indian Women Network (IWN). She was joined by team mates Rashmi Koppar, who is a hotel management professor, and Dr Soumya Goyal, who is a physical therapist.

Their journey will have covered a total distance of over 23,000 kms via road in over 75 days, crossing

From left: Nidhi Tiwari, Rashmi Koppar, Soumya Goyal

13 countries, with the message of strength, empowerment, adventure and independence. Their journey and effort will be

AsianVoiceNews

commemorated on the 29th October, in London, for proving that they are certainly women beyond boundaries.

6. What is the best aspect of your role?

I have an opportunity to work in one of the most fascinating country of the world, from which I can also explore global affairs, because of the Commonwealth and special links of the UK with countries of the whole world.

The standard of expertise of British analysts is remarkable. I can always learn new things here. I can also get to know the UK well, as I travel a lot to attend conferences, deliver lectures or meet devolved governments and the Polish community.

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

7. And the worst?

The worst thing is a lack of time.

We get 5-6 invitations every day to interesting events, conferences or meetings. So it is a question of choice.

8. What are your long term goals?

Professionally, to continue my work as a civil servant or work for the European External Action Service, as I am an expert on European affairs and a proEuropean. I believe in the European solidarity and the role of the EU of ensuring peace, stability and prosperity for its members. Personally, I would love to visit more countries outside Europe and continue my life long learning experience.

9. If you were prime minister, what aspect would you change?

I am not a politician, but if I were Prime Minister, I would like to demonstrate to the electorate that politics can be an honest game, full of compassion, understanding, transparency and hard work for the good of the nation.

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

I would love to spend time with Leonardo da Vinci, as I regard him as the greatest genius in history.

High Court appoints first Asian female judge One of the most senior prosecuting barristers in Bobbie the country, Cheema-Grubb QC (49), pictured, has become the first Asian woman to become a High Court Judge in Britain.

The mother-of-three currently works as a Senior Treasury Counsel, and she will take up her new post on 23rd November 2015, in the Queen's Bench Division, dealing with negligence,

defamation, personal injury and land disputes.

In 2014, CheemaGrubb had prosecuted judge Constance Briscoe, who was found guilty of perverting the court of justice and jailed for 16 months.

After being appointed as a High Court judge, the number of female High Court judges will become 23 out of 108, in other words, 21%.

Over 100 employers fail to pay National Minimum Wage to workers Business Minister, Nick Boles has announced that over 100 employers have failed to pay their workers the National Minimum wage.

Employers have a duty to be aware of the different legal rates for the National Minimum Wage. The adult rate for ages 21 and over, the Minimum Wage is £6.70 per hour; for ages 18- 20, £5.30 per hour; ages 16-17, £3.87 per hour, and the apprentice rate is £3.30 per hour. The apprentice rate applies to apprentices aged 16-18 and those aged 19 and over who are in their first year. All other apprentices are entitled to the National Wage rate for their age.

There have been 115 companies named that owe workers over £398,000 in arrears, and span sectors such as hairdressing, edu-

cation, catering, retail and social care. In the 115 companies named, it is alleged that Mr Prakash Dattani, who is trading as Interpharm Chemist, Leicester, allegedly neglected to pay £3,077.55 to 2 workers, while Charsi Tikka Ltd, in East London is alleged to have neglected to pay an employee £1,823.19.

The scheme was introduced in October 2013 and since then, 400 employers have been named and shamed, with total arrears of over £1,181,000 and total penalties of over £513,000.

Nick Boles said, “Employers that fail to pay the minimum wage hurt the living standards of the lowest paid and their families. As a one nation government on the side of working people we are

Business Minister, Nick Boles

determined that everyone who is entitled to the National Minimum Wage receives it. Next April we will introduce a new National Living Wage which will mean a £900-ayear pay rise for someone working full time on the minimum wage and we will enforce this equally robustly.”

COMMENTS

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Asian Voice | 31st October 2015

Sino-British ties in ‘golden period’ Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Madame Xi who arrived in Britain on a four-day state visit was accorded a welcome befitting the occasion. A red carpet, the Queen and Prince Philip, together with members of the Royal family and Prime Minister David Cameron in close attendance, a Guard of Honour, 21 gun salute and a drive in the golden Royal horse-drawn carriage to Buckingham Palace was British pomp and pageantry at its most resplendent. The State dinner, the presence of the country’s great and good, speeches of welcome and the rest made it a memorable opening day. President Xi addressed the joint Houses of Parliament – an honour usually the exclusive preserve of American presidents.

The Queen presented President Xi with the works of Shakespeare, receiving in return Madame Xi’s album of popular Chinese songs, a reversal, surely, of the unequal treaties foisted upon a weak China by once imperial Britain long years ago.

Pomp and pageantry, the boast of power, bespoke, it would appear, the dawn of a ‘new golden period’ in SinoBritish relations. Britain wishes to be China’s best friend in the West, in exchange, Mr Cameron hopes China will dispense its newly acquired wealth in British projects to the mutual enrichment of both countries. China, for its part, has promised to invest $60 billion in Britain including the country’s first nuclear power plant since the 1980s. This is heady stuff.

The British media have talked up the Chinese leader’s visit as a tectonic shift in the template of geopolitics. It is no accident that President Xi was treated to a State banquet at the White House barely a month ago, hence the conjunction of events carries a whiff of some such movement in that direction. As Britain and America pay homage to China’s Rise as the new superpower, the trilateral courtship should be viewed in the more telling context of the risen superpower left for dead not so long ago. The awesome display of Russian military might against ISIL in Syria has set the alarm bells ringing in Washington and London.

The Iraqi regime of Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has expressed a desire for similar Russian might to cleanse his country of ISIL’s baleful presence. America had promised much but achieved little against the barbaric self-styled Islamic caliphate. Territorial arrangement without the participation of the trans-Atlantic alliance would be a near calamity for the Americandominated global order.

There is enough time, meanwhile, to subject China’s credentials as a stable economic giant to close critical scrutiny. The omens look less promising now than they were a year or so ago. The Chinese economic slowdown from double digit growth to the present 6.9 per cent is certainly no catastrophe. The latter figure would send most countries into paroxysms of delight. China, however, is no ordinary country; its national compact requires full employment, guaranteed standards of living and abundant goods and services to keep people content and happy; for that bargain the people are enjoined to leave politics and democratic rights well alone.

Jim Chanos, venture capitalist founder of $33 billion hedge fund Kynicos Associates that specializes in shortselling predicted the collapse of US mega power utility Enron when the stock market viewed its prospects with optimism. Chanos has been a close China watcher for the past decade; he noted its colossal commodity purchases, such as 40 percent of world copper exports, 50 per cent of iron ore exports and just about everything else. The Chinese economic ebb-tide has ruined its South American commodity suppliers, Brazil and Argentina, to take two leading examples. Chanos concludes that that China is the midst of an unsustainable credit bubble. The Chinese economy had been driven more by the headlong expansion of the domestic property market than by exports, he claimed. According to the McKinsey Global Institute, China’s debt load is an incredible $28 trillion. Huge high value properties have been built with no occupants, prompting Chanos to comment that China is on the ‘treadmill to hell.’

Jim Rogoff, who teaches at Harvard University, has made a study of financial crises across eight centuries: debt is their common denominator, he writes. Finally, Dr David Shambaugh, a respected academic and former editor of China Quarterly, following a recent visit to China, and a close perusal Communist party’s primary documents and secondary texts, concludes that the country’s over centralized economy lacks the innovative capacity that comes from political reform. President Xi, by choosing intensified repression of dissent, was imperiling China’s future, he wrote. Professor Roderick MacFarquhar, veteran China scholar, at Harvard University hints at the possibility of an eventual coup to dethrone President Xi by factions opposed to his rule.

Time will have the last word on the wisdom of David Cameron’s political investment in Xi Jinping’s future.

India-Israel ties on song The India-Israel relationship is in fine shape. That was the message emanating from President Pranab Mukherjee’s address to the Knesset. India and Israel were ‘modern nations,’ each with an ‘ancient civilization united in democracy.’ He went on: ‘Our leaders may have adopted different methods, but were inspired by the same human values and ideals. I was pleasantly surprised to learn Mahatma Gandhi is the only world leader whose picture hangs in David Ben-Gurion’s desert home. We admire the will and resolve you have shown in building your nation under difficult circumstances.’ The Indian President said India was warmly appreciative of the innovative Israeli agricultural technologies that were helping India’s rural development, improving water conservation and management and detoxifying its major river systems.

Mr Mukherjee referred to the striking successes of Israeli science, spectacular proof being the ten Nobel prizes won by Israel scientists, in a state established only in May 1948. ‘As friends of Israel, we rejoice in the successes of your scientists,’ he said. Mr Mukherjee said India ‘is delighted that Israeli citizens, particularly the younger generation, enjoying travelling to India. They rightly see India as a safe and welcoming destination, where they always feel at home….Jewish people [first] came to India more than 2000 years ago. Throughout their long history there, Jewish communities in India have maintained, developed and enriched their traditions

with many Indian additions to their unique heritage. The Jewish people have been and will always be an integral part of India’s composite society,’ he said. Mr Mukherjee pointed to Cochin, where a Jewish synagogue, a Hindu temple, a Christian church and a Muslim mosque shared the space of a single street. He paid tribute to the contributions of Mumbai’s Jewish community to the city’s architecture, banking, academia and cinema.

The President reiterated India’s support for two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestine dispute, which, he said, should be resolved through a dialogue between the parties.

Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu, replying, said: ‘India is a giant country and we’re a small one, but together we can do great things in science, technology, trade cyber crime, water management and security. We are working together to realize our potential innovation to bring growth and welfare to our countries. The time has come for our technology and our entrepreneurs to meet your much more,’ he said.

Opposition leader Isaac Herzog said: ‘I am fascinated with your ability to integrate the Muslim minority in all parts of life, politics and government, including the most senior and sensitive security positions. I’m also fascinated by your constitution that deals with issues of religion and state in a unique way. Yes, we can certainly have to learn from you and your moderate worldview.’

Angus Deaton’s India connection Angus Deaton,Britain’s Economics Nobel Prize winner (now teaching at Princeton University in the US) made the Indian economy the core of his intellectual and moral concern, that is to say, that its poverty and glaring inequalities were issues he discussed in numerous papers, in which he suggested ways out of the poverty trap. In an incisive work on anti-poverty strategies relevant to Indian policy, he writes with fellow Princeton Scholar and wife, Ann Case, Professor Deaton argues strongly in favour of cash trans-

fers as an effective anti-poverty mechanism, desri8bing it the ‘first best transfer scheme.’ He highlights how cash prizes enhance consumption choices , reach direct beneficiaries and can be women-centric. Deaton has opened up various facets of inequality through minute data-based evidence, allied to broad-based field work. There is much to ponder in Mr Deaton’s analyses and findings. He shows how to be humane, yet disciplined. In him heart and mind are in unison for the common good.

3

We love life, not because we are used to living but because we are used to loving.

- Friedrich Nietzsche

Priti Patel MP

Minister for Employment & the Prime Minister’s Indian Diaspora Champion

Two great nations, one bright future

The UK and India are natural partners, with a longstanding friendship rooted in shared history, deep cultural and people-to-people links, democratic values and common interests. Our government firmly believes that whoever you are, whatever your background, if you want to work hard and get on in life, we will be on your side.

The talented, vibrant and engaged Indian diaspora in the UK are a great showcase.As I mark my second anniversary as the UK’s Indian Diaspora Champion and through my travels in India, I have had the honour of meeting with a wide range of the Indian community both at home and abroad. As Employment Minister, I see the enduring contribution that the Indian community make to our country day in, day out. The employment rate for this diaspora has never been higher, which is testament to their hard work and ambition.

Strengthening our bonds with India will build on this success for both our great nations. That is why I am delighted to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Sri Modi to the UK as we come together to deepen our existing ties in business, education, security, culture and much more - and to celebrate the Indian community who are integral to British life.

As Prime Minister Modi has said, India’s engagement with the UK is an “unbeatable combination” that can bring immense benefits to both our countries. This is the first official visit to the UK by an Indian Prime Minister in almost ten years, marking the beginning of a new era in our relationship – made even more special by the visit coinciding with Diwali.

Prime Minister Modi has ambitious and exciting plans for India and the UK has the investment, expertise and skills to help turn

this vision into a reality.

With India’s ever-growing influence on the global stage, we are looking at how increasing economic and trade links can help create more jobs locally to help build a highly skilled workforce. London hosts the most important financial centre in the world, which is an opportunity for India as it seeks the investment to grow, creating jobs and the infrastructure for sustainable and inclusive development.

Already the UK is the largest G20 investor in India, with British companies creating one in every twenty jobs in the Indian private sector.We are also the country of choice for Indian businesses cementing our economic and cultural links. India became the UK’s third largest jobs creator last year and invested more in the UK than it did in the rest of the 27 European Union countries combined.India wants to get into the top 50 of the World Bank Ease of Doing Business Ranking for which we can share our experience.

The UK also offers the best education in the world and we can share our expertise in boosting the skills for the next generation to help meet the opportunities presented by a growing economy.

I am delighted that I had the opportunity to meet with my Indian counterpart earlier this year and pledge our joint commitment to reducing the number of people not in education, employment or training in India and the UK by 15% over the next ten years.Britain is a global leader and we will stand shoulder to shoulder with India in reaching its aspirations and ambitions.

I am truly excited about what the future holds for the UK-India partnership. By building on our successful collaboration, our two great nations will have one glorious future together.

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UK

Millionaire's son could face death by dangerous driving charges Asian Voice | 31st October 2015

Antonio Boparan (28), the heir to a £130 million food manufacturing fortune, could face charges of causing death by dangerous driving as the girl who was left brain damaged and paralysed after the car accident nine years ago, died on Saturday 17th October 2015, at Birmingham Children's Hospital. Cerys Edwards died from an infection.

Boparan, from Little Aston, West Midlands, who was 19 at the time, was alleged to have driven his Range Rover sport SUV at 70mph on the wrong side of the road in a 30mph zone, in November 2006.

His vehicle crashed into her family's jeep, which

Antonio Boparan could face up to 14 years in prison

broke her spine and left her paralysed.

In April 2008, Boparan was found guilty of dangerous driving and was sentenced to 21 months imprisonment, however, he was released six months

The aftermath of the accident

into the sentence.

The Edwards family are now called the police, asking them to bring new charges of causing death by dangerous driving against him. Cerys' father, Gareth Edwards said, “At the first court case I think the judge said if Cerys died they

would be looking at death by dangerous driving in the future, he only served six months and Cerys has lost her life. She was left on a ventilator after the crash, she caught a virus and that has killed her. She wouldn't have been in that position if it wasn't for the crash.”

Candlelit vigil held in Leicester to pay tribute to Sikhs killed in India Dozens of people gathered at a candlelit vigil last Wednesday to pay tribute to two Sikhs killed in India.

Prayers were said and candles lit at Leicester Clock Tower to remember the two protesters who were killed and dozens of others wounded by police.

The protest, in Punjab, was being held in response to the alleged theft and then desecration of the Guru Granth Sahib (Sikh holy scripture).

Kartar Singh, of Sikh Council UK, who organised the vigil in Leicester, said: "These incidents in Punjab

have hurt the Sikh community around the world. The question we really have to ask is will the Indian

authorities challenge the police officers who have done this?"

He said a lot of people

have been showing support. "This is our opportunity to stand up against senseless killing of innocent people in Punjab," Mr Singh said.

Jonathan Ure, of Amnesty UK, said: "Amnesty International condemns the use of excessive and unjustified force by any authority and calls on the Punjab authorities to fully investigate all potentially illegal acts on the part of police or other agents acting for the state.

The authority has a duty to protect individuals' human rights."

Mother duped into sex with ‘holy man’ A “holy man” may have convinced 100 women to sleep with him, saying he would cast spells in return for sexual favours, one of his alleged victims has claimed.

The woman, a university lecturer and mother, said she agreed to have sex with Syed Shah, 29, and handed over £5,400 after he promised to save her marriage.

The 28-year-old, who has asked not to be named, claimed Shah told her the intimate sessions were necessary to strengthen the

Syed Shah, 29, jailed for two years

spiritual bond between them. She decided to speak out after Shah was jailed

earlier this month for sexually assaulting another woman during a healing session.

Prosecuting at Birmingham Crown Court, Claire Nicholls said Shah had promoted himself as a holy man and garnered the trust of the community.

She said: “He breached this trust and preyed on a vulnerable victim who he assaulted for his personal sexual gratification.”

Shah, from Stechford, Birmingham, was jailed for two years and ordered to sign the sex offenders’ reg-

ister after pleading guilty to sexual assault charges.

A senior police officer said after the case that he was a “very dangerous sexual predator”.

After the sentencing, the unnamed mother broke her silence to tell of how Shah had convinced her to have sex with him in return for his help. She said she feared Shah had conned more than 100 victims after he showed her dozens of images on his phone of women he had bedded claiming they had come to him “for help”.

Student ‘raped on her first day of uni’ accused of exaggerating attack An alleged victim of rape has been accused of ‘regretting drunk sex’, by the barrister defending her supposed attacker.

The jury at Cardiff Crown Court heard that the student woke up to find Akeem Hassain having sex with her.

The 20-year-old defendant’s barrister said the alleged rape victim

‘regretted drunk sex’ and that the allegation had ‘snowballed’. But the victim, who can’t be named for legal reasons, claims she told Hassain to stop because he was hurting her and she was bleeding.

Hassain, of Merthyr Tydfil, who studies police sciences, denies rape and claims sexual intercourse between him and the

alleged victim in September 2014 was consensual.

Defence barrister John Ryan asked the jury not to judge the moral standards of Hassain and the alleged victim as public attitudes towards alcohol and sex had changed. But one thing, according to the defence, that hasn’t altered with time was a

‘girl’s desire not to be branded as easy’.

The defence went on to suggest the alleged victim didn’t want to be perceived as promiscuous in front of her peers by somehow equating the apparent serious sexual assault to The Young Ones, a comedy show starring Rik Mayall Ade and Edmonson.

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US pilot dies in crash

BRITAIN: The US pilot has been named who died after his fighter jet crashed near RAF Lakenheath, Suffolk. 34-yearold Major Taj Sareen, passed away when his FA-18 Hornet crashed into a field in Redmere, on Wednesday 21st October 2015, at approximately 10:30 US pilot, Major Taj Sareen am.

Major Sareen was a pilot of 11 years experience in the Marine Corps. It is said that he was returning from operations against ISIS in Iraq and Syria. There are investigations going on regarding the cause of the crash.

Brothers jailed for at least 30 years for murder

BIRMINGHAM: A Costco store manager, Roger Cooper (41), and his brother who is a former soldier, David Cooper (39), were found guilty at Birmingham Crown Court of murdering a marketing manager, Sameena Imam (34).

Sameena Imam was It is said that the Coopers has allegedly smothered murdered by Roger Cooper and David Cooper Imam with chloroform and her body was found buried in an allotment, in Leicester.

The judge said that the pair must serve at least 30 years in jail for this murder.

Judge Patrick Thomas QC told the Cooper brothers, “The use of a poison in a case such as this demonstrates a cold-blooded intention to kill, regardless of the consequences. You worked together, hand in glove, in planning and carrying out the murder of a joyful and bubbly young woman, brutally betrayed by a man she loved and his brother.”

Parents who tried joining Isis can keep kids

BRITAIN: A family court has ruled that a Muslim couple, Asif Malik (31), and Sara Kiran (29), who were accused of attempting to take their four children to join Isis in Syria, should not have their children taken away. The head of the family court, Sir James Munby, found that the couple did not pose a threat to the four children, who are all under the age of 8. The family's passport will also be returned to them.

Violent prisoners to be taught how to meditate

BRITAIN: Meditation has be claimed to aid one remain calm. In favour of this mindset, dangerous prisoners are going to be taught how to meditate, in attempt to calm their violent rages. It is said that almost 60 of the most violent prisoners held in England and Wales, who are held in segregation units will have access to mindfulness courses in attempt to aid control their feelings, help improve their behaviour, as well as help them to integrate with other prisoners.

2/3 antibiotics needlessly prescribed

BRITAIN: New reports have stated that two thirds of antibiotics are needless prescribed. The reports also say that new tests are needed to curb the overuse of antibiotics.

Church says distinguished bishop was a paedophile

BRITAIN: One of the most respected clerics from the Church of England, George Bell, a former bishop of Chichester, whose memory is celebrated with an annual fest day on 3rd October, is alleged to have been a child abuser. George Bell was one of the first Christian leaders to have berated Nazism in the 1930s. He passed away in 1958. Almost 6 decades later, it is alleged that the Church has revealed that there is evidence that Bell had committed “serious sexual offences” against a young child, in the 1940s and 50s. His alleged victory who is now over 70 years old and remains anonymous, received compensation and an apology from the Church.

Five held after raid on restaurant in Birmingham

BIRMINGHAM: Five workers were arrested on suspicion of working illegally at an Indian restaurant in Birmingham. They were held in a swoop by police and immigration enforcement officers at Tipu Sultan, in Moseley. The raid at the restaurant in Alcester Road, happened at 6pm last Thursday, after immigration enforcement officers, from the Home Office, acted on a tip off.

Enforcement officers said those held included a 24year-old Indian man who had overstayed his student visa and four Pakistani men including a 26-year-old and a 27year-old who had entered the UK without leave.

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Asian Voice | 31st October 2015

5

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Peaceful Sikh protest turns disruptive outside High Commission of India

Kothanodi – A must watch Spriha Srivastava

Very rarely do we come across films that have stories close to real life.

Kothanodi is one of them.

An Assamese language film, it is directed by Bhaskar Hazarika and has big names like Seema Biswas, Adil Hussain among others. The film is based on folktales from Assam and recently won the Asian Cinema Fund’s Post Production Fund Awards for 2015.

The film was first premiered at the 20th Busan International Film Festival held in October first week. It was also the official selection at the D h a r a m s h a l a International Film Festival and the 17th Jio MAMI Mumbai International Film Festival, in the prestigious ‘India Gold’ section.

Kothanodi is a dark multi-narrative film based on folk tales from Assam province in India. The film is based on characters and events described in Burhi Aair Sadhu (Grandma’s Tales), a popular compendium of folk stories compiled by Assamese literary giant Lakshminath Bezbaroa. The four fables referenced in the film are Tejimola, Champawat i, Ou Kuwori (The Outenga Ma iden) and Tawoir Xadhu (The Story of Tawoi).

It revolves around four female characters and takes its centre from the newly emerging female identity within the Indian society. There is Senehi, a schizophrenic woman who loathes her stepdaughter and plots her murder when her husband is away. Then there is Keteki, who has given birth to an outenga (elephant apple), which rolls around after her. The third is a rich woman named Dhoneshwari who is getting her daughter married to a python. And finally there is Malati who resolves to save her newest born from the clutches of her husband Poonai and his uncle.

Each story has a mystery that these women unearth keeping viewers hooked on to till the end. Each story also has a lesson to be learnt from each character. The film offers something for everyone and is very unique in its concept.

I managed to speak to

A Sikh demonstration took place outside the Indian High Commission in Aldwych, on Thursday 22nd October. Initially planned as a peaceful protest, it led to a police officer being injured and 20 arrests.

According to the Sikh Press Association, the protest was held to highlight police brutality. A statement from their website read, “Recent deaths in Punjab have again brought to light the plight of ethnic minorities in India. Sikhs have continually found themselves victims of the most severe kind of police brutality, leading to the death of unarmed protesters and even bystanders during gatherings.

However, there still seems to be a lack of empathy

Sikh protest at Aldwych

regarding the suffering of Sikhs.”

Regarding the protest, a Scotland Yard spokesperson said, “The Metropolitan Police Service was aware of a planned demonstration at the Indian High Commission. Whilst it was initially a peaceful protest, the demonstrators blocked roadway at the Aldwych and caused significant dis-

ruption to the central London road network.

Police liaison officers attempted to negotiate with those present in order to facilitate peaceful protest and minimise the disruption to the public...

During an altercation, one officer suffered a head injury and was taken to hospital. There are no reports of any other injuries.”

Rat droppings and out of date food found in restaurant and cash & carry

the film’s director Bhaskar Hazarika who had lots to say about the making of the film, his background and what the film offers for international viewers.

Q. Tell us in brief about yourself?

A. I left Assam at the age of 7 for boarding school, and have since mostly been outside the state. I have worked in Bombay and New Delhi after my education in Delhi University and the University of Reading, where I completed my MA in Film & Drama.

Q. How did you decide to get into films?

A. For a high schooler who just wanted to make a living doing creative things, filmmaking seemed a more financially stable way to express art than painting or poetry.

So that’s what got me started in exploring cinema.

Q. What is Kothanodi about?

A. Kothanodi takes some events and characters as described in Assamse folk stories to create a multinarrative film about four mothers and their struggle to overcome demons within and without.

Q. The film made it to the LFF screening. What do you think it offers for international viewers?

A. From my interactions with audiences in Busan and London, Kothanodi has introduced international audience to stories and

settings that are rarely accessible to them on screen. Very few people are aware of Assam and its people, and the stories - strange as they are seem even more fantastical because they belong to a place pretty much unrepresented in world cinema.

Q. The film focuses on 4 female protagonists.

What do you think about the issue of gender equality in India and do you think this film would have an impact on people’s thinking?

A. Not exactly. Kothanodi is a genre film and makes no conscious attempt to put a lens on issues of gender and social mobility.

Whether or not the stories that inform the film reflect the position of women in the culture they were created in, is a question for anthropologists and historians to answer.

As a filmmaker, I saw stories with great cinematic potential and ran with it.

Q. How do you think the mainstream cinema and parallel cinema in India work together? Is there a huge divide?

A. Mainstream and parallel cinema are probably going to remain mutually exclusive because the former exists to make maximum profits from cinema, and the latter exists to make cinema.

Consequently there is and will remain a huge divide in the resources available for each.

Let us know what you think.

Email Spriha at aveditorial@abplgroup.com

A council report has revealed that Hoi Kee Chinese Restaurant in Pinner, west London was invested with rats and had food which was eight years out of date and contaminated with rat droppings.

The restaurant was temporarily shut down after an inspection by Harrow Council officials.

It is also said that TSK

Out of date ingredients found in Hoi Kee Restaurant

Cash and Carry was shut down prior to the restaurant after inspectors

found that the food had been shredded by rats.

Both of the owners of the businesses were called before magistrates and were made to pay over £2,300 between them. They were also told to clean up their acts or they could face permanent closure.

Both businesses have been reopened.

Recruitment on "name blind" basis to reduce discrimination Prime Minister, David Cameron, has announced that organisations from across the public and private sector, together responsible for employing1.8 million people in the UK, will sign up to the pledge to operate recruitment on ‘name blind’ basis to address discrimination.

Under a new agreement, names will not be visible of graduate recruitment applications to reduce the potential risk of discrimina-

tion. Leading graduate employers from across the public and private sector will be committing to the new scheme; this includes applicants to the Civil Service, HSBC, Deloitte, Teach First, NHS, plus many more.

The Prime Minister said, I said in my conference speech that I want us to end discrimination and finish the fight for real equality in our country today. Today we are delivering on that

commitment and extending opportunity to all. If you've got the grades, the skills and the determination, this Government will ensure that you can succeed.”

The announcement follows the Prime Minister’s speech to Conservative Party Conference, where he cited research showing that people with white-sounding names are nearly twice as likely to get job call-backs than people with ethnicsounding names.

Pensioners receive more money compared to young employees According to a research, pensioners are said to be enjoying a higher income compared to those in employment for the first time.

On average, a pensioner receives £394 weekly after housing costs, while

the working-age population receive £385.

Paul Johnson, the director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) think tank, which carried out the research, said that the “astonishing turnaround” in elderly people's wealth

over the past 30 years showed that they were better off than the youth.

The rising inequalities between the older and younger generation is said to become worse due to planned cuts to tax credits by £4 billion.

Study suggests aspirin could help conception A study, led by researchers from the US National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, suggested that consuming a quarter of an aspirin tablet daily could help women conceive.

Scientists have claimed that a small dosage of painkillers give women high levels of inflammation around their bodies, giving them a boost to help them get pregnant, as well as giving them a higher chance

of conceiving compared to their peers. It is also suggested that a third of women could benefit from this treatment.

Researchers had tracked over 1,200 women who were trying to conceive.

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Hinkley nuclear plant deal signed between UK-China

Prime Minister David Cameron, with President of China, Xi Jinping

Amongst protests from anti-nuclear campaigners who called the project “dangerous”, Chinese President Xi Jinping and David Cameron signed multi-billion pound business deals, including for a project to build a nuclear power station in Britain, on day two of the Chinese president’s first state visit to the country.

In a joint statement, Jinping confirmed the planned Hinkley Point C nuclear plant in southwest England, as the French energy firm EDF and China General Nuclear Power Corporation signed an investment agreement to build the new plant in Somerset. China will take a stake of one third, $28bn of the project which is due to start by 2025, and is the first European nuclear plant to be built since Japan’s Fukushima disaster in 2011. The deal happens to be the main attraction of Jinping's four-day visit to the UK. In a controlled press conference at Downing Street, Cameron revealed the results of the bilateral meeting, including a new “agreement on cyberenabled commercial espionage”.

Cameron's

spokeswoman said both the sides had agreed not “to conduct or support the cyber-enabled theft of intellectual property, trade secrets or confidential business information.” Several questions were raised on Cameron compromising the country's security as well as its moral and international standing, fuelled by the crisis in the UK steel industry blamed on Chinese “dumping”. However, the unfazed leaders defended their deepening ties. “I totally reject the idea you either have a conversation about human rights and steel or you have a strong relationship with China. The stronger the relationship between our countries, the more we will be able to have a serious dialogue. We may not always agree, but we can discuss issues openly and constructively,” Cameron said.

Among five agreements signed in Downing Street were pacts on infrastructure investment, action against smuggling and joint research on new technology including satellite applications and new energy.

TalkTalk accused of "covering up" cyber attacks Customers of the broadband firm, TalkTalk, have accused the company of “covering up” mass cyberattacks, which has allegedly put millions of personal details, such as bank details, at risk.

Labour MP Keith Vaz, chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee stated that this was “alarming” and “unacceptable”, also suggesting that this should be “thoroughly investigated.” However, TalkTalk have labelled these allegations as “unfair”.

It was also alleged that frauds had already started to make cold-calls before TalkTalk had realised that customer details had been stolen. A spokesperson of TalkTalk dismissed these allegations and stated, “We

Asian Voice | 31st October 2015

Join our glittering Winter Ball to raise funds for St Luke’s Hospice ly and not just doctors Asian Voice and Gujarat and nurses. She interSamachar are proud to be acted with them well the official Media Partner and although she didfor St Luke's Hospice's n’t speak much upcoming Winter Charity English she was able Ball, on Saturday 28th to make herself November. The glamorous understood. A few event will take part in the days after mum heart of Wembley at The arrived she kept askDrum, overlooking the ing me when I was iconic Wembley Stadium. going to take her to Guests will be entertained the Kenton Temple. I in the evening with closespoke to the staff and up magic, music, dancing they immediately and a delicious three arranged for a wheelcourse meal. chair for her – I took St Luke’s Hospice promum and she loved vides care to enable people it." an incurable illness to access the care they need to live well, to know that their family and carers are supported, and to die with dignity in the place of their choice. The son of a patient cared for in St The Drum, Wembley Luke’s In Patient Sushil Radia, Trustee Department had this to for St Luke’s Hospice said, say about their care: "We are pleased to be "From the first day she holding our annual Winter came in they know what Ball at The Drum, with mum liked and how to amazing views over the make her comfortable. She stadium. Thanks to the felt like she was being support of the local comcared for by her own fami-

Keith Vaz MP

Trustees of Hari Aum Holidays, sponsors of the Winter Charity Ball with St Luke's Hospice nurses

munity, St Luke’s can continue to offer free end of life care in Harrow and Brent.We rely on the generosity of our communities for over 70% of our funding. It is guaranteed to be a brilliant night out and a chance to have fun and support the hospice."

Hari Aum Holidays of Northwest London are proud to be sponsors of

the event and will be attending the ball with friends and family and donating travel vouchers to be raffled. Harish Gohill, Chief Executive of Hari Aum is pictured here on a recent visit to the hospice .

Tickets and tables can be booked at www.stlukeshospice.org/winterball or by calling 020 8382 8112

21-year-old allegedly sexually assaulted by rickshaw driver Rickshaw driver, Mohammed Hossain (35), was jailed for 6 months after allegedly sexually abusing a young clubber, after offering her a free lift home.

Blackfriars Crown Court heard that the 21year-old victim had been crying after an argument with a friend during the night, in March. Hossain, who is a Bangladeshi asylum seeker, had offered her a free ride home and then allegedly sexually assaulted her in the back.

Judge Jane Sullivan told Hossain, “At the time [the victim] was crying and really, really scared.

Women have the right to feel safe when travelling home at night, in my view

the level of culpability and because of the vulnerability of the complainant.”

She further stated, “You are an educated Bangladeshi of previous food character and arrived here last year seeking asylum. I accept that you have struggled Mohammed Hossain

the circumstances of this offence are too serious to enable me to suspend the sentence. The harm lies in the fact that you offered a lift to, and then sexually assaulted, a young woman leaving a night club on her own at night. I have no doubt, therefore that this offence crosses the custody threshold because of

Long term transport strategy in Midlands haven't been covering up anything. We went public with this within 36 hours.

It's not easy to go much quicker. We cannot be accused of trying to hide the scale of this. This is deeply unfair.”

However, the latest news to have emerged is that a 15-year-old boy was detained at his home in Northern Ireland, on Monday 26th October. It has been alleged that he is involved in the

7

Transport Minister Robert Goodwill attended the launch of the newly strengthened Midlands Connect Partnership last Thursday to hear plans for a long-term transport strategy to help unlock economic growth in the region.

Research from Midlands Connect has found that improving transport links to speed up journey times across the Midlands could boost the economy by more than £1 billion a year, create

300,000 new jobs and save businesses nearly £500 million.

The government has provided Midlands Connect with £5 million to take the new regional strategy forward. It will be developed jointly by the Midlands Connect Partnership and the Department for Transport and will set out credible long-term transport investment priorities to support the building of the Midlands as an Engine for Growth.

with the repercussions of the offence for which you have shown more remorse and I take this into account when sentencing you.”

Hossain will remain on the sex offenders' register for a minimum of seven years.

Modi to unveil philosopher's statue in November

Former Mayor of Lambeth, Dr Neeraj Patil

During his visit to the UK in November, Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi will be unveiling the statue of an Indian philosopher from the 12th century, Basaveshwara.

The statue will be unveiled on Saturday 14th November 2015, on the banks of River Thames, in Lambeth.

Basaveshwara is considered as one of the pioneers of democracy, a

Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi

social reformer and a statesman who fought against caste and religious discrimination.

The architect behind the statue is Former Mayor of Lambeth, Dr Neeraj Patil. The former mayor had met the Indian prime Minister in March and had extended an invitation on behalf of the British Indian community to unveil the statue during his UK visit in November.

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CB Patel

Two PMs with Identical Challenges As I See It

In about two weeks time British Prime Minister David Cameron will have a heart to heart talk with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The British Council who have been very active in India for several decades have said ‘the UK must keep building a modern relationship with India”.

Indeed this is true from all the various parameters.

Both Prime Ministers are, to put it rather mildly, obsessed with their mission and there are some similarities and several contrasts.

David Cameron was born with a silver spoon and is blessed with a beautiful, sensitive and sensible wife Samantha whereas Narendra Modi was born, as everybody knows, in a backward caste with challenging economic circumstances and is “single” by choice.

Prime Minister Modi is a little bit older than David Cameron. Both won the last general elections in their respective countries against all odds, and yet were able to have a working majority for their parties. India and the UK have two-chamber Parliaments. A simple majority in the Commons or the Lokh Sabha but the upper-hand of the upperhouses - here the Lords and in India the Rajya Sabha - creates huge problems for both the Prime Ministers and their governments.

On Monday the House of Lords, perhaps for the first time in the last 100 years, rejected a bill approved by the Commons on economic matters. Last Tuesday duly elected MP Heidi Allen spoke out against tax credit cuts in her maiden Commons speech.

For a young MP to defy the Whip is courage of the highest order. Normally every MP has other career priorities and they act accordingly. On Monday in the Lords debate several Lords criticised the tax credit cuts. Church leaders followed suit by laying assault on the Chancellor in the last few days, not normally seen in the recents years. When the Chancellor, in his zest to save some £4 billion from 4 million families who depend on the tax credit and reduce on average their income by some £1000 each, could create immense hardships and pain especially to people on low income, with disabilities and single parents.

Similarly, the British Prime Minister also faces some serious problems

British Prime Minister David Cameron

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi

with his Europe sceptic MPs and the issues of terrorism, a huge migration from the Middle East into Europe, the unease in relationship with Saudi Arabia are also headaches he has to contend with.

The Chilcot Inquiry episode, to put it most mildly, is a real and mindboggling problem for not only the British government and the establishment but more importantly for former Prime Minister Tony Blair. Tony Blair has apologised after the families demanded an apology for loosing a large number of troops in what was an unwinable war launched without due care and concern. Several respected commentators also warned politicians at the time not to drag Her Majesty The Queen into this matter.

Prime Minister Modi also has several hills to climb. The Bihar election, now in its final phase, is almost a litmus test for not only Narendra Modi but also for Indian democracy.

Prime Minister Modi has several urgent matters to attend to including the recent 7.5 earthquake in the neighbourhood, the difficulties with Nepal and especially his attempt to reign in his Hindu supremacist allies and the decades old caste based Reservation and Quota Policy which has proved to be impractical and inevitably creating a vicious circle.

The most important issue facing Narendra Modi is the forthcoming state elections in Bihar, a state with 100 million residents. Bihar, historically, was a leading state and people were renowned for their scholarship, culture and economy, mainly dependent on agriculture in a well watered region from the rivers coming down from the Himalayas coupled with well developed mining industry.

But that was up until the first few years of independent India.

The Congress party ruled the State for about thirty

years and turned it into a caste based and vote bank politics. When Lalu Yadav was in power and prohibited by law, ran the state with his wife as Chief Minister, is accused by many to have turned Bihar into a “jungle raj”.

Nitish Kumar has been running the state for the last ten years, first seven in alliance with the BJP. This election between the BJP, NDA on one side and JD(U), RJD, Congress and some other caste based outfits on the other is so crucial for Narendra Modi to win that he is addressing 17 public meetings in 6 days.

The vast and enthusiastic crowds give hope for Modi to win for his party in Bihar just as he achieved nationwide in May 2014.

Modi is eyeing the poverty stricken State (the State of Bihar) in his drive to unlock economic reforms. Prime Minister Modi has been stopped from implementing his ideas about a national uniform sales tax, requisite land reforms for rapid infrastructure development as well as the labour laws for accelerated and fair industrial progress.

Let us assume that Cameron and Modi will talk about the expanding range of cooperation between the two countries and come to a new format for more cooperation for mutual benefit. But they will revert, possibly, at the impediment of the upper hand of both parliaments’ upper houses.

The release of a new book by Arun Shaurie on Tuesday is a bombshell against Narendra Modi.

He was a cabinet minister in the Vajpayee government. He is a very intelligent gentleman. One of his books, ‘The false gods’, was denounced and attacked not only by Dalits but by others as well for his expose on Baba Saheb Ambedkar.

Mr Shaurie has serious criticisms of the economic policies and performance of the Modi government.

His critics now say he has ignored several facts.

India has attracted perhaps the largest amount of foreign investment since the advent of the Modi government. The growth of the Indian GDP, well over 7%, is remarkable when China’s is hovering around 6% and the Rupee has remained fairly strong amongst the currencies of all BRICS countries and other main emerging markets. His critics have also more of less said that Arun Shaurie, once a strong supporter of Narendra Modi, has become a harsh critic perhaps because of the sour grapes.

Similar sentiments can easily be expressed by Prime Minister Cameron during their one-to-one tete-a-tete. What is very interesting is that no other visiting foreign political leader has raised such an enthusiasm and expectation as Prime Minister Modi when he arrives here on Thursday 12th November.

Most of our readers may not be aware of the thought process or writings of young Narendra Modi some 40 years ago.

He, in his 20s, had to go underground in Gujarat to escape harsh treatment under the emergency declared by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in June 1975.

Narendra Modi wrote several poems, stories and essays in Gujarati which were mainly published in the Sadhana and Chandni magazines. In 1977 Modi wrote a very informative book called “Sangharsh ma Gujarat” (Gujarat in struggle). All those who have read the writings of that young man will certainly be impressed with his spirit of nationhood (Rashtra Prem) devotion to his mother and women (Nari shakti) and especially his compassion. I was privileged to have read almost all his writings at the time. I also believe that the thoughts and the vision during the most formative years of one’s life remain at the core of his/her values and perhaps this is the secret of Narendra Modi’s popularity in India today and with Indians abroad. Like many others I vehemently believe that Prime Minister Modi is the best person to rule India and his unstinting focus, tireless energies and especially his honesty will make a huge difference in the coming years.

Welcome Prime Minister Modi!

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

PM’s threat to pack Lords with Tory Peers would cost £2.6m The Electoral Reform Society have calculated that plans to ‘stuff’ the House of Lords with 100 extra Conservative Peers, if Lords reject cuts to tax credits, would cost at least £2.6m per year.

The findings come ahead of today’s votes on changes to tax credits in the upper house. The Society have challenged the Prime Minister to introduce an elected upper chamber if he is serious about tackling any potential ‘constitutional crisis’ – instead of adding up to 100 extra Tory Peers.

Darren Hughes, Deputy Chief Executive of the Electoral Reform Society said,“If the Prime Minister is worried about a constitutional crisis following today’s House of Lords votes, he should reform the chamber so that it’s elected – instead of trying to pack it with pliant Peers. We need a fairly-elected upper chamber that has a clear definition of its responsibilities – instead of the gov-

Darren Hughes, Deputy Chief Executive of the Electoral Reform Society

ernment claiming that an unelected upper chamber is a wonderful revising body, but then threatening to pack it with cronies if it doesn’t vote the way Ministers want it to... An additional 100 Peers would take the Lords to nearly a thousand members, at a cost of at least £2.6m in extra expenses and allowances per year. And the actual cost is likely to be much higher, since that figure doesn’t take into account the increased staffing, office and infrastructure costs 100 extra Peers would entail.”

Royal role for Riaz On Friday 16th October 2015, a UK citizen with Gujarati Indian heritage, was confirmed as a new Deputy Lieutenant for the county of Leicestershire in the UK. Riaz Ravat BEM was commissioned under oath, in honour of his service to the local community. The Lord-Lieutenant of Leicestershire, Lady Gretton, made a total of eight appointments at a special ceremony at County Hall in Glenfield, UK. The Lord-Lieutenant is the official representative of Her Majesty The Queen for Leicestershire.

Riaz who is currently Deputy Director of St Philip’s Centre, leads on a wide range of interfaith initiatives through training, education and engagement. He is a member of Leicester Cathedral’s Council, the Crown Prosecution Service’s Hate Crime Panel and serves as Advisor for a number of other notable bodies. In 2013, Riaz was conferred a British Empire Medal (BEM) in HM the Queen’s New Year’s Honours list for services to interfaith understanding and named as Alumnus of the Year 2013 by De Montfort University for “uniting different cultures, races and religions”.

The office of LordLieutenant is military in origin and can be traced back to the mid 16th Century. The Lieutenancy has evolved since the days

Deputy Lieutenant Riaz Ravat BEM with Lord-Lieutenant of Leicestershire Lady Gretton

of raising local militia and today, through the appointment of Deputy Lieutenants, represents the diverse communities of Leicester and Leicestershire.

Deputy Lieutenants undertake a wide range of duties and engagements including representing the Lord-Lieutenant and participating in Citizenship Ceremonies, attending remembrance services and parades and helping to assess local organisations nominated for awards and honours.

The Lord Lieutenant of Leicestershire, Lady Gretton said, "The Lieutenancy has enjoyed longstanding links with the uniformed services and with local community and voluntary organisations of Leicester and Leicestershire. These links are further enhanced following the appointments of these very deserving candidates."

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Rani Singh, Special Assignments Editor

The Dentist Who is Bringing Oral Health Awareness to His Community Graduating as a dentist, Amarjit Singh Khambay was convinced that Asians from his home town of Southall needed educating about oral health.

He believed so strongly in the need for an overhaul in the way that Asians feel about dentistry and its place in their lives, that he went ahead and did it.

The result is a large dental complex in Southall comprising several wings, including a teaching college.

Born in Dar-E-Salaam, Tanzania, Amarjit went to school in the Punjab and in Southall, at a time when racism was rife and the National Front stalked some of Southall’s streets.

On starting his dental education at London University in 1973, Amarjit founded the Anglo-Asian Odontological Group.

While there, he also established the University of London Sikh Society. In 1976, he established the British Sikh Student

Federation and arranged its first residential conference at Oxford University.

After Amarjit finished his studies, he was inspired to set up a “Peoples’ Practice” based in the Punjabi community. The challenge w a s demanding.

“I wanted to be a general dental practitioner in Southall (Little India), but all that people

wanted from a dentist was extractions. I wanted to reeducate them; offer preventative treatment and alternatives to extractions.

I was only 25, so it was a challenge to get our community to take notice.

It had to be done subtly, so as not to offend the elders.”

After graduating in 1977, Amarjit, with the help of family and friends, turned a derelict house into a fully operational practice called The White House in 1980.

Amarjit Singh Khambay

Asian Voice | 31st October 2015 35 years on, the White House has one of the largest NHS contracts with NHS England in North West London. “Our temple’s giani (priest) was the first patient and blessed the practice,” he recalls.

The dental practice initially grew through friends and family referrals. The White House was also the first practice to start an Emergency NHS Service covering London and the Home Counties.

Amarjit likes to promote education whenever possible. In 1994 he set up the first specialist centre in the UK; the state of the art, Sterling House dental specialist education and referral centre, next door to The White House.

Throughout his life, Amarjit has always been passionate about helping his community and aiding charitable causes.

In 1997 Amarjit became a founding trustee of the Sikh Welfare Research Trust, which this year was granted Special UN Consultative Status.

This charity supports the NGO, the Sikh Human Rights Group and Gurseva, that takes vans into UK detention centres and supports two orphanages in India. It also supports the Sikh Consultative Forum.

But the cause closest to Amarjit’s heart is the Drug and Alcohol Action

9

universities with numerous Programme (DAAP), of dental colleges have started which he is a founding links to obtain teaching of trustee. This has transmuta high standard from ed into the First Step Sterling Dental College.

Foundation (FSF), for It seems that now, the which Bobby Grewal was various institutions and the first fund raiser (see charities have a momenlast week’s issue about tum and life of their own.

Bobby Grewal’s Walk Full Coming up is a large fund Circle, currently underway raising ball organised by in India). Amarjit says, the Sterling Dental “alcohol is a problem for Foundation (of which Punjabis in the business Amarjit is the founding community, so in 2016 I trustee) at the London want to establish a culturHilton Metropole on 28 ally appropriate rehab cenNovember 2015. This will tre for Punjabis.” be in support of Bobby Sterling House Dental Grewal’s Walk Full Centre has been accreditCircle, for which ed as an outreach A B P L centre by Warwick publisher/editor University.

In Amarjit has CB Patel is also 2014, when a generous Sterling Dental always been trustee.

College was passionate T h e established, a event will collaboration about helping start with a started with his d r i n k s the world’s reception, largest private community canapés, live university, music, and a BPP. Sterling and aiding four course Dental College charitable meal.

There is a service will also be a live provider for BPP causes video feed from University.

Bobby from Chennai, The college has as well as Bhangra dancing state of the art equipment and entertainment. Bobby and smart teaching rooms is walking 2,600 miles, the where live procedures are equivalent rate of a transmitted to India via marathon a day, raising high tech cameras strategimoney for good causes. cally placed all over the colSterling Dental lege. Artificial demonstraFoundation supports tion heads are utilised on Bobby and Gt. Ormond St. dental chairs for teaching Hospital wholeheartedly. purposes. Several Indian

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10

READERS’VOICE

www.asian-voice.com AsianVoiceNews

Asian Voice | 31st October 2015

Parallel faiths in India

Hinduism and its dogmas

The USA is economically and militarily the strongest nation humanity has ever witnessed. Their reach on land, over oceans and in space is unprecedented. With their might, they are in a unique position to promote happiness and harmony amongst fellow humans.

Unfortunately, since 1945 their record shows that they are the primary source for misery and hostility in the world. One can confirm the above statement by examining their record in countries far away from them like Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq and many more.

They have killed more humans in foreign lands and allowed more of their soldiers sacrificed outside their country than the equivalent total numbers for the rest of 205 countries of the world. They also suffered humiliating setback in Vietnam. One may think that with their dismal record they would have learned to act responsibly in relation to other nations.

Presently they are poking their bloodied nose in Syria without considerations of peace and prosperity in the region. They implemented a strategy to train and to equip Moderate Syrians to attack the existing Government. However, those Moderate Syrians lock, stock, and barrel merged with the terrorists (AV Editorial 24/10) exposing the bankruptcy of their strategy. Since 9th October they have adopted the old tried and tested Afghanistan strategy against their nearest rival USSR (occupier) in 1980s viz. to equip and to support which weakened and eventually disintegrated USSR. However, that strategy also created El Qaeda, Taliban and armed Pakistan with lethal arsenal. We all know what havoc their creations have caused to them and others in the world.

After Russia (remnant of the former USSR) started some decisive actions, USA also carried out constructive raid by Special Forces on 22/10 and some positive noises are heard from Secretary Kerry in Vienna. Let us hope that this time around better sense prevails and they cooperate to eliminate the cancer (better known by names like ISIL, Daesh, IS, and ISIS) and do not aim to destroy Russia. The issues with Assad can be settled later by peaceful means.

I would like to draw readers’ attention to Jatindra Saha’s (17/10/2015) letter on Evangelisation in India.

There are two issues to be considered. Dogmas in Hindu religion is the main reason in declining of Hindus in India when compared with other religious groups.

Hindu priests believe that Hindus should be born by birth and they did not admit any body from other religions.

When one Muslim king invaded Kashmir he wanted to become a Hindu and the priests refused so he forced Hindus to become Muslims.

The caste system based on Varna is dividing the community.

Dalits are treated as second class citizens even today who are not allowed to enter the temple and they represent 20 per cent of the population. Because of the division of labour only Kshatriyas were allowed to fight and most of the Hindus were left out.

Hindus have small families where as Muslims increase their population through Sharia law.

Dalits become Muslims or Christians since they treat them equally unlike Hindus. The caste system is destroying Hindu society.

Hindus sadhus talk about Hindu dharma and Ayahimsa and they do not want to social work for the poor people in villages. Hindus do not believe in conversion historically.

Temple funds are taken over by the state governments and misuse them. Part of the money is spent on other religious groups.

Temple income should be used to build hospitals and schools as Christian missionaries do. We can build more than 1000 schools and hospitals every year.

Narsibhai Patel New Malden

Arun Vaidyanathan By email

Jatindra Saha’s letter, in Asian Voice dated 17-10-2015, about Christians converting Hindus is enlightening.

Christians did not come to India with British East India Company. St Thomas landed soon after crucifixion of Christ. Local king helped Christians to build churches; asked Brahmins to conduct rites. Christian missionaries do not go to Islamic countries because Muslims have steely resolve to protect Islamic faith. Hindus lack this fanaticism, giving rise to other parallel faiths in India.

Due to sustained tolerance, Hinduism has no selfdefense mechanism or proselytizing policy. Thus it is easy for other faiths to convert Hindus.

Also Hinduism as faith has not reached masses.eg SC, ST, BC, OBC, and dalits. Spiritual treasure chest is restricted to intellectuals and rich today. In spite of boasting about immense wealth ranging from Kuber to Mittal and Ambanis, there is no welfare practiced by government, temples or wealthy families.

Instead of worrying about conversion of Hindus, we must be proud that Hinduism is preserved and spread by diaspora and there is no hatred against Hindus or Hinduism in any country where Hindus have migrated.

Hindu teachings eg yoga, non-violence etc are accepted by many countries.

Ramesh Jhalla By email

Will the USA ever learn?

Subscribe Today Asian Voice in UK for only £29 for one year

Plastic supermarket bags

I am happy that from 5th October supermarkets have started to charge 5p for each plastic bag they provide to customers. In 2o10 supermarkets issued 6.3 billion bags and in 2014 this sored to 7.6 billion, but so many small shops are still not included. PSB are catalysing environmental, pollution, damaging countryside, coastlines, destroying wildlife both on land and in seas, blocking gutters as well as costing millions in cleaning up! They create havoc if not tackled soon when telephone and digital orders for goods are also leaping. Govt. target is to reduce them to 80% for supermarkets and 50% for others in a few years.

Nonetheless supermarkets still supply PSB with a charge of 5p or 10p each when some people don't mind to pay. Instead, they must start selling strong paper shopping bags, people won't mind a couple of pence extra. This should happen even in small shops and other shopping. England should import cheap paper bags. Alternatively it can start a big plant to make packing papers, bags, etc. out of leaves, twigs, wood and recycling rubbish papers to tackle this big problem and save money too!

Upendra Kapadia By email

Unfair student quotas

Shri Vidyanathan has jumped the gun, drawn his prophetic conclusion without reading contents of my letter. We all agree with his sentiments, about poor quality of education, as first sentence of my letter, “Most would appreciate, even support government crackdown on bogus colleges that rob students of hard earned money, even worthless qualifications and stringent but fair test in English language, essential ingredients to succeed.”

He should have read article in AV my letter was based on. Would it be fair if ten thousand aspirational, assiduous students pass preliminary tests with flying colours but only half are granted student visas for political, sociocultural reasons? Is this our Achilles heel? As for applying to prestigious universities in India, please study Hardik Patel’s andolan; one main reason stated was that students from Patidar community with 95% marks were denied places due to unfair, inexpiable and outdated quotas in favour of OBC. We are comfortably sitting on podium, grabbed opportunities we were granted, yet we would like to deprive our Indian students from taking same rout out of misguided, unfair righteousness and fiduciary loyalty or is it tantalising self-preservation? Let our luminary readers make up their own minds!

Kumudini Valambia By email

Help our own needy

Why am I not surprised reading in local papers that Brent Council’s compensation bill surges to £78K, from 1898 complaints received, mostly paid to homeless families, some with children who were obliged to live in cars while others left in B&B for over six weeks, exceeding legal limit for emergency accommodation, Council officials illegally blaming them for becoming “intentionally homeless.”

There is severe shortage of Council homes in Brent, applicants being advised unofficially not to apply, as there is no prospect of being offered Council homes. Yet Council has offered to take 50 refugee families, offering them instant homes, school places and GP services on arrival, although government request is for 20 families.

While British people are generous and caring, willing to give billions in aid, it is time we should take care of our own, as poverty, poor housing and medical neglect is reaching draconian proportion, even among British Indians who are considered reasonably prosperous community.

Government and not Councils should foot bills for refugees, paid from inexpedient £14 billion inexplicable overseas aid budget government finds difficult to spend, as there are not enough worthy, corruption free recipients, giving away to Tom, Dick and Harry simply to meet artificially created target! Are we living in fools’ paradise, in the kingdom of the blind where politically inebriate one eyed Jacks (politicians) are kings?

Bhupendra M. Gandhi By email

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Foreign students help boost British economy by £3bn AsianVoiceNews

A new study has claimed that foreign students attending London Universities have given a £3 billion boost to the British economy, as well as helped support 37,000 jobs.

Over 100,000 students from abroad have enrolled at Universities in London, both undergraduates and postgraduates, equally.

According to the report, it is claimed that each student has contributed an average of £15,141 to the economy, through their student fees, daily living costs, as well as visits to

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

family and friends during the academic year of 201314.

The report suggests

that Chinese students made the biggest contribution with £407 million of spending, followed by the US with £217 million, and India with £130 million.

Foreign students in London make up 23% of foreign students in the UK. There are 13,460 Chinese students in London, which has increased by 72% in ten years. There are 4,790 Indian students in London.

Compared to four years back, the total expenditures have risen by 18%,

which has almost doubled in the past ten years.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, pictured, said, “London's Universities help to make the capital a thought-provoking, stimulating and breathtaking city which provides a learning experience in itself. I urge this year's intake of international students to make the absolute most of their time here. Visit our iconic theatres and galleries, take in out amazing museums, learn from our greatest minds and inspire others to follow in your footsteps.”

Council takes tough stand on illegal outbuildings Two unauthorised outhouses were demolished in Southall by Ealing Council at the end of September.

This brings the total number of illegal outbuildings taken down in the borough to five within a month.

Demolition of the substandard residences at the back of 201 Scotts Road, Southall, took place over the weekend of 26 September.

Action was taken after the landlord, Mrs Nadeem, failed to comply with an enforcement notice that was served on her in the summer of 2014.

The buildings were

first discovered in October 2013 after a concerned resident reported the planning breach to the council.

Mrs Nadeem was subsequently served with the notice in 2014 that required her to stop using the outbuildings and to demolish them both by December 2014.

A formal warning was issued to Mrs Nadeem when the deadline passed with no remedial action being taken. She again failed to comply leaving the council with no choice but to demolish the outhouses.

At the time of the

demolition, the outbuildings were found to be in very poor condition with damp and no insulation.

They were also being occupied by five people and a small child, despite the landlord insisting the buildings were empty.

The occupants have since found alternative accommodation.

Councillor Julian Bell, leader of the council, said: “I am always astounded when I see and hear about the unacceptable conditions that landlords of unauthorised outbuildings expect tenants to live in. These ille-

gal structures are substandard and do not meet the planning regulations that are in place to protect our residents and communities. They will not be tolerated and the council will take robust action where owners fail to comply with enforcement notices.”

Mrs Nadeem will get a bill for the full cost of the demolition works carried out by the council.

If the bill is not settled a charge will be placed on the properties on site which will incur interest until the outstanding money is paid in full.

EDUCATION In Brief

Asian Voice |31st October 2015

11

Many students unsure what tuition fees pay for

According to a new report, 75% of universities are breaching consumer law by not telling students what their fees buy them. Other information that were not told to the students were regarding contact hours that they will have with staff and the expected workload for students.

Universities have come under pressure to be more clear on their use of tuition fees as the overall average student's debt comes to over £45,000.

University applications to be anonymous

Candidates' names will be removed from university application forms from 2017, Prime Minister David Cameron has said. The move is part of a plan to prevent unconscious bias against candidates from minority groups, said Mr Cameron, writing in the Guardian newspaper. Other measures against discrimination include a pledge by leading graduate employers to name-blind recruitment, the Prime Minister will announce. The admissions body UCAS said it was keen to boost minority student numbers.

Leading graduate employers from across the public and private sector have committed to keeping candidates' names off graduate recruitment applications, says Downing Street. These include the Civil Service, Teach First, the BBC, NHS and local government as well as top city names such as HSBC, Virgin Money, KPMG and Deloitte. Together they are responsible for employing 1.8m people in the UK.

'Islamic assemblies' held at 'Trojan Horse' school 'without consultation'

Islamic assemblies were held without consultation at a Birmingham school involved in the "Trojan Horse" affair, a misconduct panel has heard. Razwan Faraz, former deputy head teacher at Nansen Primary, also, on one occasion, had girls sitting at the back and boys at the front, it was claimed.

Mr Faraz and four other senior staff deny unacceptable professional conduct. The National College for Teaching and Leadership hearing, in Coventry, heard from former staff member Hilary Thompson, who resigned in May 2013 because of "ongoing exclusion, isolation, lies and bullying."

12

MEDIAWATCH

www.asian-voice.com AsianVoiceNews

Asian Voice | 31st October 2015

The turbulence in Indian politics shows little sign of abating anytime soon. The storming of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) headquarters in Mumbai by a mob belonging to the Uddhav Thackeray faction of the Shiv Sena (an ally of the BJP-led Maharashtra government) has brewed fresh controversy about the direction of the nation’s public life. The attack on the BCCI premises was meant to be a protest at the BCCI President Manohar Shashank’s meeting with the Pakistan cricket board President Shahriyar Khan on the possible resumption of Indo-Pakistan cricketing ties. The meeting was transferred to Delhi with no progress made. The International Cricket Council withdrew Pakistani Umpire Aleem Dar from standing in the final ODI match between India and South Africa at Mumbai’s BCCI headquarters in Mumbai Wankade Stadium. vandalised by Shiv Sena protestors

Rotten state This latest incident has provoked an uproar, coming, as it does, in the wake of the the tarring of Sudheendra Kulkarni for releasing a book in the city by a former Pakistan foreign minister, Mahmud Kasuri. The Kashmir legislator, Rashid, had his face blackened with paint, in Delhi, by fanatics of the Hindu Sena for throwing a beer party. A man in Himachal Pradesh was subjected to lynching for eating beef. Six suspect have been arrested.

Dalit home set ablaze

A Dalit family home in a Haryana village was burnt to the ground in an arson attack by men believing that they had eaten beef. The father and his infant son died, while the mother has been hospitalized with 75 degree burns. Elsewhere, in Haryana, two Dalit children died in an assault, leaving their mother distraught. V.K. Singh, a junior Union government minister and a former army chief, likened the attack to boys throwing stones at a dog, a remark that had Home Minister Rajnath Singh administering a severe rebuke to his erring colleague. Two children, one aged five, the two, were raped by adolescents in the country’s capital. There is at present something rotten in the state of India.

(Hindu, Times of India, Telegraph October 18-20)

expressing concern. A high level police inquiry into the incident has been initiated.

Troubleshooter Amit Shah

With President Pranab Mukherjee issuing a call to eschew fanaticism and intolerance, for all citizens up to live to India’s time-honoured values of pluralism and respect for the rule of law. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar have condemned such lawless behavior in the strongest possible terms.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi entrusted his troubleshooter Amit Shah to curb the hotheads within the NDA family (Hindu, Times of India October 19). .

Taslima’s take

Bangladeshi novelist and writer, Taslima Nasrin, now living in exile, because of threats to her life back home, was asked by the Times of India (October 17) to comment on the Indian situation,

Tattooed Australian

A 21 year-old Australian and his girlfriend were set upon by a gropup of men in a Bangalore restaurant. The local police arriving at the scene were not much help, taking the couple to the station and forcing the young man to write a note of apology. The Hindu newspaper’s editorial (October 20) said it all: ‘What is this Indian culture that feels threatened and slighted by a visiting Australian man sporting a tattoo of a Hindu goddess?....And who exactly are the self-styled proponents, upholders and protectors of Indian culture?’ Who indeed, you may well ask. The fallout was significant, with the Australian High Commission

Bangleshi writer Taslima Nasrin

since she has a close-up view from her current abode in Delhi.

She gave forthright and robust replies to the questions put to her.

Rising intolerance

Although regretful of the rising levels of religious intolerance in India, she pinned much of the blame squarely on the country’s left-liberal secularist intelligentsia and the non-BJP parties for their persistent double standards: always quick to the draw on Hindu extremism, invariably

indulgent towards Muslim fanaticism and their Muslim vote banks. Taslima recalled bitterly the banning of her novel Lajja [Sharma] which told the harrowing experience of a Hindu family in Dhaka, in 1946 during the communal violence preceding Partition. The ban was imposed by then West Bengal Left Front Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattachrya.

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

Durga Puja celebrations

Double standards

The present Trinamool Congress regime, led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was no better, having denied her entry into Kolkata, let alone to live there, which was Taslima’s preferred choice. And while the protests of India’s Sahitya Academi awardees at the present levels of intolerance were commendable, they would have attained greater lustre had they chosen to support her, which they conspicuously failed to do.

Women to join ‘Black Cats’

The National Security Guard (NSG) has decided to induct women into its commando force for anti-terror combat operations. Women commandos have already been assigned to VIP security duties and high risk drills related to anti-terror operations. The NSG recently celebrated its Raising Day. NSG Director R.C. Tayal told reporters that the force was constantly upgrading its operational and tactical skills (Times of India October 17)

Adani Group gets Australian assent

The Adani Group’s proposed to build one of the world’s largest coal mines in Queensland, Australia and integrate with a rail network to take the coal to port for export has been given final clearance by the government in Canberra. The cost of the entire project is estimated at $16 billion.

Australian Environment Minister Greg Hunt announced the government’s approval of the Carmichael mine project and the North Galilee Basin rail link. ‘The conditions have imposed take into account issues raised by the community and ensure that the proponent must meet the highest environmental standards,’ he said.

Two moving tributes to the celebration of Durga Puja, and to the moral and social significance of the event came from the pen of two foreign Kolkata-based diplomats. The US Consul General, Craig Hall, wrote: ‘Durga Puja: the statues, lights, people, street food, smells – it is a sensory overload. In all the places I have visited around the world, I have never seen anything like what I saw….Many countries and cultures have their street fairs and carnival-like festivals, but what makes Durga Puja different is the profound story told Devotees across West Bengal tearfully bade with all the fes- goodbye to their beloved mother goddess Durga as tivities….to see her idols were immersed in ponds, lakes and rivers the Goddess Durga standing confidently over the defeated demon reminds us that that God has not abandoned us to calamity. It makes us want to celebrate. If God would entrust to a woman the most difficult of tasks, defeating evil, what could women not do? It reminds us that God values both sexes, men and women.’ more than tripled to $16.9 billion in the third quarter, a tad less than the $17.5 billion invested in North America. ‘I’m very optimistic about the long-term opportunities,’ said Kai-Fu Lee , founder of the early stage investor Innovative Works in Beijing. It’s been driven by mobile by the increase mobile users and the spread of mobile payments which help businesses and consumers,’ he said (Mint October 20)

Labour of love

Britain’s Deputy High Commissioner, Scott Furssedonn-Wood, writes that Durga Puja in many ways was the ‘quintessential introduction to Calcutta – vibrant, thrilling, teeming with humanity….Of

course we’ve enjoyed the artistry and craftsmanship of the idolmakers…..Of course we’ve marvelled at the theatricality and audacity of some of the more dramatic pandals, with their towering images, clever automation, sophisticated lighting.

But underpinning all this – and what makes Durga Puja in Calcutta so special and so significant – is the pride and ownership that each community takes in their puja.

‘To see a pandal coming up in a tangle of backstreets , staking its claim to a mundane stretch of tarmac , over a period of weeks, transforming it into a scene of dazzling vibrancy is to witness an extraordinary metamorphosis.

Each puja….is an expression of of its creators’ shared history and values. Each is a labour of love.’

(Telegraph October 20).

Indian power

In phase 1 of the project 40 million tonnes of coal will be exported to India to operate power plants for the generation electricity. This should have a major impact on the country’s industrialization (Business Line October 16)

Indian challenge for Silicon Valley

The venture capital business in Asia carries a hint that it might rival North America, home to the Silicon Valley., where the modern venture capital model was incubated. Investments in India and China, the scene of big deals,

Indian President Pranab Mukherjee meets with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin during the first official visit to Israel of an Indian leader. (see comment page 3)

UK

www.asian-voice.com AsianVoiceNews

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

are being paid from (ie from UK earnings or from Indian parent).

Skilled Labour Shortage: Part perception, part reality but which should be seen not as a structural weakness but the fact that the best of the best are here and in demand from around the world. Britain continues importing talent from around the world and providing it outstanding facilities so the skilled labour problem can be reduced in the longer term, but in the short term by hiring into Britain from abroad at the outstanding facilities here or by price competing(less attractive) but a reflection on the talent being vied for in the UK. Regulation: Britain has outstanding firms/consultants at reasonable cost who are very able at handling regulations for companies. Of course no one likes regulations and Britain probably has less than most. But a good advisor and accountant are a cost saving in relation to the necessary evils of regulation which exist in all countries.

EU is same GDP and population of the US. It is clear for Indian companies that the unique mix of economic, cultural and geographic benefits of the UK means it’s an ideal place for EU and US entry. But we shoot ourselves if we limit the talented people needed in the UK to run those foreign investments coming here.

These have to be critical business messages on the arrival of the Indian PM to the UK.

Female bishop says God is not male

Different cultures and religions have different rituals while worshipping, as well as similar or distinctive beliefs from one another.

In religions such as

Government 'blocks' Muslim missionary group's plans to build mega-mosque in east London Asian Voice | 31st October 2015

The Politics of Immigration

Immigration remains a critical issue even as the Chinese Premier leaves and the Indian one arrives.

Inform: Those Indian companies which have invested in Britain are usually very keen to inform others of their decisions and act as informal ambassadors. They make better beacons to Indians than non-Indian UK investors. We must have a strategy of using them to the fullest in promotion in India. The UK-India Business Awards in Mumbai by the BDHC were a good way of doing this through CNBC. Also US investors into UK resonate strongly to an Indian audience in India too.

Networks: We must liaise with the corporate advisors (eg KPMG) and Investment Bankers (eg Deutsche Bank) who are key in identifying opportunities for Indian clients to ensure Government agencies such as UKTI are aware well in advance of any issues which are short-term or longer-term structural obstacles as they have their ears to the ground.

Visas: This came up at a CII delegation I cohosted at Chatham House. We must clear up the misperception that skilled talent is being capped from entering the country.

High Labour Costs: As a high skilled economy this is undeniable, however, as the rupee is expected to continue to appreciate year on year for the foreseeable future due to relative growth rates between the two countries – this is a cost which can be hedged or even diminished depending on where the costs

Hinduism, God can be either referred to as male or female, depending on the deity you believe in.

Whereas in other religions, God is generally referred as

a male supreme power.

One of Britain's most senior female Bishop, Rachel Treweek (52), does not think that God should be referred to as male.

The government has blocked plans by an Islamic group to build Britain's biggest mosque.

The Tablighi Jamaat sect had put forward plans to build a so-called "megamosque" in east London that would have housed more than 11,000 people in a number of prayer rooms and halls.

If given the green light, the mosque, which would have been close to the Olympic Park, would have had three times the floor space of St Paul's Cathedral and 190-ft minarets.

Opponents to the plans claim the sect promotes an "ultra-conservative" brand of Islam and that the plans would have led to height-

An artist's impression of the 'mega mosque' in West Ham

ened tensions in the area.

Supporters have been attempting to have the plans agreed for 13 years but in 2012 the scheme, officially called the Abbey Mills Markaz, was rejected

by Newham councillors.

The group appealed and took their application to a three-week long public inquiry in summer last year

- the report of which was handed to the Government in January.

Ministers are said to have held the report back because of how sensitive it is politically, but sources told the Sunday Telegraph a decision has been made

by Greg Clark , the Communities Secretary, to block the scheme.

Stephen Dorrell says PM's first term was wasted opportunity for NHS A recent row had erupted regarding the proposal for a sugar tax to be implemented. During the row, the government were accused of suppressing a public health officials report that supported plans for the sugar tax as a way of dealing with obesity.

Stephen Dorrell, pictured, who is a former Tory health secretary, has now been appointed as the new chairman of the NHS Confederation, representing hospitals and ambulance trusts. He stated how

David Cameron's first term as the Prime Minister of Britain was a wasted opportunity for the NHS. Dorrell said, “I absolutely think that the years 2010 to 2015 were wasted opportunity. To go through an institutional churn and end up with institutions that still need to evolve and look alarmingly similar to the ones they replace doesn't look like good value for money.”

He further spoke about the challenges patients face in the health service.

“There's a very real chal-

lenge going into the winter period. I'm not going to say we're heading straight for a disaster, but demand for health and care services is rising faster than the resources available to meet it.”

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COMMUNITY

www.asian-voice.com AsianVoiceNews

Asian Voice | 31st October 2015

First National Indian Arts Awards presented in the UK by Milapfest Milapfest, the UK's Indian Arts Development Trust established the National Indian Arts Award to recognise the dedication of art professionals working in the field of Indian arts, as well as to celebrate the hard work and passion of young artist. The award ceremony was held at The Nehru Centre, London, on Thursday 8th October 2015.

The awards were supported by Arts Council England whose Deputy Chief Executive, Althea Efunshile extolled the role Samyo, the National T e a c h e r , Sivasakthi Youth Orchestra for Sivanesan; and Indian music to Jasdeep Singh Degun and Teacher of the Sanjuran Keerthikumar Year Year- Dance respectively. The Yuva (Nritya Acharya Ratna Awards were also Ratna) was given to Young Musician awarded to Pushkala Gopal. of the Year Yarlinie Thanabalasingham, and Awards were Young Dancer of the Year presented to outParbati Chaudhury who standing musiboth won their awards cians of Tarang, through a national compethe National tition held by Milapfest. for High Commission of India, Ranjan Mathai addressing the attendees Ensemble Indian Music and create a better underof arts and culture. “They Photos courtesy: Sharad Raval standing of how such selfare about the search for less work empowers and personal fulfillment; enriches the younger genabout strong families and eration, and how it helps friendships; about bringbuild bridges between ing joy to our learning; communities and people.” and about promoting the The High Commission bond between grandparof India, Ranjan Mathai ents, parents and children, also attended this event through the way that we and presented three major hand on our culture, awards. He presented the revere the memory of Lifetime Achievement where we come from - and Award to Executive celebrate the world we Dr M.N. Director, now all share.”

Nandakumara; Teacher of Milapfest’s Executive the Year- Music (Sangeet Director, Prashant Nayak Acharya Ratna) to explained, “The establishCB Patel, Editor/Publisher of Asian Voice/Gujarat Resident Carnatic Music ment of these awards will Samachar (extreme left)

Generously working to provide to society Food For All is a charity that has been nobly providing almost 1,000 plates of pure vegetarian hot meals in North and Central London 6 days a week. This benevolent charity has been selflessly providing food for over 20 years.

They cover regents, such as King's Cross, Kentish Town and Camden Town.

With the recent events of Syrian refugees in Calais, Food For All have launched an appeal to the community, requesting them to donate clothes, blankets

Matchless Gift Charity Shop, Kings Cross

and other necessities which would be of great use to the migrants. The charity will

also be cooking vegetarian prasadam which will be distributed among them.

They have started collecting utensils such as blankets, clothes, food, tents, pots and pans, as well as funds for the other camps in Belgium and France, and they aim to travel there at least once every ten days to distribute the donations.

People are encouraged to donate food and clothes towards this noble cause at SOAS University, or at their charity shop, Matchless Gifts, situated on Caledonian Road, King's Cross, as well as at the Hare Krishna Temple in Watford, before 10am.

Alternatively, you can also make a donation by visiting https://justgiving.com/foo dforalluk Your generous donation can have the power to restore life in someone, as well as restore their faith in humanity. For more information about Food For All, please visit http://foodforall.org.uk

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

Magnificent "Out of India" Reshma Trilochun From 21st to 24th October 2015, Out of India: Modern Moves was being showcased at the Barbican Pit Theatre, as part of the Dance Umbrella Festivals, an internationallyrenowned festival which took dance out of the theatre and into the public arena, as well as performances in London's most prestigious venues, throughout the month of October.

Out of India encompasses three distinct dance performances, choreographed by three of the most interesting contemporary choreographers who have emerged from India's dance scene.

NH7 was choreographed by Deepak Kurki Shivaswamy; Trikonanga Hemabharathy by Palani; and Nerves by Surjit Nongmeikapam.

NH7, performed by Charan C S and Amaresha Kempanna, deals with the effect of capitalism on Indian society. Shivaswamy explained, “NH7 is deeply driven by the migration of the rural population to urban spaces in search of a 'better life', and the reality of this. The piece comments on the intricate, confused, rapid urbanisation of reflecting the changing landscape of the city.”

The performers' fluid in-sync movements narrates a story of the turmoil a rural migrant might face while moving to the urban landscapes of India. Their facial expressions, along with their wandering moves elevated the intensity of the performance.

Trikonanga integrates the physical ties of three dance forms, contemporary, ballet, and Bharatanatyam, and also passes through several emotional states. The choreographer, Hemabharathy Palani, who also performed this piece, used every core of her body to transpire the story to the audience. She was unkept, unabashed and enormously empowered by her own body and movements, empowering the audience in the process as well. She depicted a sense of restriction as well as liberation in the same breath, enthralling the spectators.

Trikonanga was co-produced by Cornelia Albrecht, Ballet National de Marseille, France.

The final piece of Out of India was Nerves, which was supported by Prakriti Foundation, Chennai Nachom Arts of Contemporary Movement, Manipur Attakkalari Centre for Movement Arts, Bangalore Graner, Barcelona O Espaco Do Tempo and Montmor.

Nerves has a mix of dancers as well as non

dancers from Manipur; Senjam Hemjit Meitei, Laiphamgbam Suraj Roy, Sorokhaibam Akee, Rajkumar Roseen Singh, as well as the choreographer Surjit Nongmeikapam.

The dance piece was based on the conflict that

Hemabharathy Palani

Manipuri people encounter on a daily basis in the state of Manipur.

Nongmeikapam said, “In 2014, I started working on Nerves, with dancers and non-dancers from Manipur. Nerves is all about organic movement which I want to come from within each performer, reflecting the challenges they have faced in their everyday lives while living in Manipur.”

Nerves is a powerful dance piece with tremendously depicts the current turmoil in Manipur. The highlight of this dance segment was the hanging shoes which the performers were trying to save themselves from, signifying the present challenges faced by the people of Manipur.

Another interesting part which outshone was when the performers were twirling around in red wool, which tangled around their body. To me, it connoted the mass blood shed and the loss of lives. A strikingly memorable performance!

Out of India was certainly a pleasant surprise and a breath of fresh air as well. It diverts your mind away from the typical Bollywood dance form, which has become mainstream and popularised in the west. The show emphasised the power of storytelling via your body and how one can feel empowered, as well as empower others through sharing such stories, without having to utter a single word. As they say, silence is goldenit certainly is in this case. A marvellous show recommended for everyone, especially for those who enjoy new experiences.

Photos courtesy: Arvind Sridhar

SP

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Asian Voice | 31st October 2015

quent exhibitions in New Delhi and Mumbai.

Jagannath Panda often uses animal forms in his paintings. He paints and sculpts animals with an innocent wonder, usually embellishing their surfaces with metallic fabrics or shimmering colours, as if to amplify their inherent magical powers. Panda’s animals function as icons, albeit those we recognise from Hindu mythology which constantly transmogrify, in their infinite form and variety.

Zac Goldsmith at Garba

Zac Goldsmith MP with Lord Popat, Bob Blackman MP, Deputy Conservative Leader, Cllr Barry MacleodCullinane, Cllr Ameet Jogia, Cllr Manjibhai Kara, Cllr Kantibhai Rabadia and the LCNL Committee Garba fever hit London last week, with Navratri festivals being held across the capital from Northolt to Hayes, and Ilford to Tolworth.

One particular person to catch the garba fever was Zac Goldsmith MP, the Conservative Mayoral candidate for London. He attended the LCNL Navratri festival with Lord Dolar Popat last week to join in with the festivities.

It was the first garba festival that Zac Goldsmith had ever attended.

Goldsmith was certainly a hit with the crowds, with reports that he was being swamped by garba-goers during the evening to join in the various dances.

Also accompanied by Zac Goldsmith was local Harrow Councillor, Cllr Ameet Jogia. Ameet Jogia said, “It was great of Zac to take the time out to attend garba. He was certainly very popular and it was also nice of Zac to take part in the Aarti and to learn about the actual significance of Navratri.”

“Zac with the masses” – Garba selfie with Cllr Ameet Jogia and Bob Blackman MP

15

Sunetra Senior

The Trance Narratives Halcyon Gallery, London is proud to present The Trance Narratives, an exhibition of new works by Indian artist, Jagannath Panda, from 4th- 14th November 2015. The forthcoming solo exhibition, his first at the gallery, sees the artist juxtapose mythology and spirituality with the harsh realities of globalisation and rapid development in his home country.

In 12 large mixed media paintings and 2 sculptures, nature collides and coalesces with the manmade.

Jagannath Panda was born 1970, Bhubaneswar, India. He received an M.F.A in sculpture from the Royal College of Art, in London, and has also been a visiting researcher at the Fukuoka University in Japan. His work has been exhibited widely, with solo gallery shows in Tokyo, London, Berlin and San Francisco as well as fre-

TLIGHT

I would love to become a brand name like Boots

Mitul is Director of the one-of-a-kind, online pharmacy ‘My Own Chemist’, but it is really the formula to current trading that has been his miracle concoction: “I’d been working as a pharmacist for a few years,” he told us “but the prices for buying a property for conducting business were just sky-high; so then I thought why not just go for an online shop?

That’s really where it’s all heading.

People aren’t getting the time to go out and complete their chores: to buy their groceries, their clothing, so why not extend it to the niche for an even greater necessity such as healthcare?

That too can come to your door.”

Balancing a natural curiosity for commerce, by listening out for tips and “useful nuggets of information”, while he explored his core passion of Chemistry as he earned his Pharmacy degree from Aston University, Mitul shows that in order to affect progress in the community, one must have an alchemy in themselves: “I’m actually the first of my family to venture out into the business world”, he beamed, “I’ve always been independent, and had a diverse vision for my career.”

Mitul Patel: An Online Antidote

Can you elaborate on the differences between your online model and a walk-in Pharmacy?

Well it’s more accessible: it’s instant!

That’s really great for a lot of elderly people and other customers who might find it difficult to get out. We are also able to deliver products to anyone, based anywhere in the country. A lot of people aren’t lucky enough to have amenities down the road. We can come straight to you!

There’s also an online video-chat facility that we offer, which allows you to discuss your problems with privacy intact.

Your website is very vibrant and comprehensive; have you always been interested in merging the science and business worlds?

Well I studied the former at university but have always wanted to run and manage my own company; I’ve loved being involved in all parts of the business, from marketing to creativity and design.

What’s your favourite part of the job?

I thrive on customer interaction and responses. It’s brings me real joy to make such a significant, practical difference in people’s lives. The most common feedback is- ‘I can’t believe this hasn’t been done earlier!’ Everyone has been so vocal in their appreciation and that’s been great to hear.

What does your online pharmacy have to offer, that say, a competing rival might not?

Though, the idea has been around for a while, we did see a massive disconnect between online pharmacies and the high-street shops. They had the backend service in place i.e. medication being delivered, but lacked a personal touch. A lot of people still want this; they want

It is not enough to create a solution; you need to be unique

communication and a face they know they can trust. Our interactive, video consultation service – which I think is actually our unique, trademark feature - came about because of this human factor; sometimes people have embarrassing or intimate issues that they might otherwise feel uncomfortable discussing in public.

Where do you see yourself in the future?

I want to increase our customer base and be a franchise people can recognise nationwide. I would love

In the warehouse

to become a brand name like ‘Boots’.

Do you think what you’re offering actually overlaps with the role of a GP? Not at all in a competitive sense, but rather we take the strain off. People go to the GP for relatively minor things such as Thrush or the Morning-After-Pill, and of course the truth is people can just go to their pharmacy for a short consultation.

What we’re doing helps take the burden off.

What appeals to you about the world of Chemistry?

For me it’s always been about the maths: it’s definitive. Anything that’s a licensed product comes from the straight-forward thinking that ‘what works is what fits’. It’s an exact science.

Do you have a role model?

Ketan Mehta: he’s one of the financiers at the company.

Is there a particular business strategy you had in mind when you started ‘My Own Chemist’?

Well there was no business school theory per se, but rather I thought the need and the niche need to go hand in hand. It is not enough to create a solution; you need to be unique in your approach. Offer what no one else can in a creative sense too.

Finally, what is your advice to others who want to take their customer service to the next level?

Although you’re going online, you have to be more attuned to the customer; even more so than if you were in a shop because you have to compensate for not being there physically.

W

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16

UK

Sikh soldier launches Poppy Appeal Asian Voice | 31st October 2015

The British Army’s 25 year old Private Harmeet Singh, of Indian heritage, is one of six people who were chosen to launch the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal.

Private Singh’s maternal family had been in the Indian Army and police force, but Private Singh is the first in his immediate family to be in the military – indeed, he is the first Sikh soldier in his regiment. Private Singh is a medial healthcare assistant in the Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps.

On speaking of why he joined the Army, Private Singh said: "I had no intention of joining, never thought about it until I was watching this BBC documentary in Jan 2011, which was about Sikhs in WW1 and WW2. In school or college we never got taught about Sikhs who fought. I did more research and that really inspired me so the next day I was in the careers office. I went through an interview and did the initial tests. Depending on what score you get from that test you get different opportunities, luckily I did well so I got loads of opportunities and chose the medical side.

"In Sept 2011 I started Basic Training Phase 1, which is 14 weeks long. Phase two was another 14 weeks and that was for the healthcare assistant training. That involved anatomy and physiology and the basics we need to know as a healthcare assistant. After that I was posted to my first unit which is the Defence Medical Group in Northallerton where I am now. My career highlight so far was deploying to Afghanistan from in 2014."

Private Singh started selling poppies at Sikh temples a few years ago and was keen to do more for the Poppy Appeal. When the opportunity to participate in the Appeal itself, he jumped at the chance.

Speaking about the Royal British

Private Harmeet Singh with PM David Cameron during the appeal launch outside 10 Downing Street

Legion, he said: "Not only does the RBL look after service men and women but they look after veterans and their families. I don’t think many people know about it, they‘ve heard of it but they aren’t aware of the work. I think they should know about the legion because it made me feel better, that I know there’s a charity I can go to not only to help me but my family as well. That makes me feel so much better and other young people in the military should know about it too."

The Poppy Appeal The Royal British Legion is urging the public to uncover the story behind the poppy, as they launch their 2015 Poppy Appeal campaign. The campaign leads with a powerful series of images which provide a moving reminder of the importance of remembering the fallen whilst also supporting today’s Armed Services community.

The images, which feature in media and on billboards up and down

the country from 22 October, were taken at the world’s oldest established photographic studio. The campaign positions photos of modern day Legion beneficiaries besides their counterparts from the First World War, and highlights the sacrifices that were made in the past, and that continue to be made today.

The new portraits were photographed by Tom Reeves, the greatgrandson of Benjamin Reeves who took the original photographs in 1915 and 1916, just before the Service personnel set off for the front line. In the recreation the original camera was used to capture the poster campaign images in the very same studio and even the negatives were processed in the same darkroom as the First World War images.

Over this year’s Poppy Appeal, the Legion is telling the story behind the Poppy; the story about how is the money which is donated, for each of the 45 million poppies that are worn, is put to use helping today’s Armed Forces Community.

Still lack of BME female Harrow police urging residents to keep their homes secure officers in the UK The Home Office today published a force-by-force overview of the proportion of BME and female officers in each of the 43 England and Wales police forces.

The data is presented alongside total population statistics, allowing for an easy assessment by the public of how representative their force is in terms of ethnicity and gender.

The diversity profiles show that there is no police force in England and Wales that has a BME representation that matches its local demographic.

According to self-declared data submitted by forces to the Home Office, four forces have no Black/Black British officers. There are no BME Chief Constables and female police officers make up 28.2% of all police officers yet are 51% of the total population.

While the most recent published police workforce data shows that the proportion of BME officers joining the force (8.8%) is higher than the proportion of current BME officers (5.5%), no force, including the Metropolitan Police, is

representative of the communities they serve.

Previously published data shows there are two Chief Officers who self-identify as BME in England and Wales, and eleven forces with no BME officer at Chief Inspector rank or above.

Home Secretary, Theresa May said, “Increasing diversity in our police forces is not an optional extra. It goes right to the heart of this country’s historic principle of policing by consent. We must ensure that the public have trust and confidence in the police, and that the police reflect the communities they serve.

Incredibly, four forces do not employ any Black or Black British police officers at all, and female officers make up 28% of all police officers but 51% of the total population...This is simply not good enough. I hope these figures will provide chief constables with the information they need to identify areas for improvement and for the public and PCCs to hold them to account.”

Police in Harrow are urging residents to take simple steps to secure their home as a crackdown gets underway to tackle the rise in residential burglary offences traditionally seen during autumn and winter nights.

Whilst overall Harrow has seen fewer residential burglaries in the past year, there tends to be a seasonal increase in burglary during this period. This coincides with the clocks going back on 25 October, increasing the hours of darkness, and potentially providing criminals with more opportunities.

Officers in Harrow will be visible carrying out extra patrols, visiting homes and schools and setting up crime prevention stalls in numerous places across the borough. They will employ a range of proactive measures including traditional tactics and the use of science and technology.

Harrow Borough Commander, Simon Ovens said, "Burglary has a painful and long lasting effect on its victims and the

Met is committed to driving down the number of offences. Officers work hard every day to prevent burglaries, arrest offenders and support victims.”

As the clocks go back and nights draw in, homes remain in darkness for longer, making them easier targets.

The public is advised to: - Ensure doors and windows are properly locked with a key when leaving home; - Use time switches to operate lights in the home; - If you have an alarm in you home ensure that you set it every time you go out; - Keep valuables out of sight and out of reach; - Lock side gates and store bins behind them; - Avoid leaving packaging outside, which indicate you have expensive new items in your home; - Photograph expensive items such as jewellery; - Keep jewellery locked away in a secured and fixed safe within your home; - Register all your valuables for free at www.immobilise.com

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Forced Marriage Unit releases new video The UK Government’s Forced Marriage Unit (FMU) ha released a new film to demonstrate the devastating impact of forced marriage on both victims and their families.

The aim of the film is to raise public awareness of the impact of forced marriage, and warn of the criminal consequences of involvement, building on the outreach and education work of the FMU. Told from the perspective of a victim’s older brother, who is complicit in arranging her forced marriage but unaware of its true impact until it is too late, the film represents the first time the FMU have directly targeted family members.

Its release follows the launch of a new free online training tool designed to help professionals recognise the warning signs of

forced marriage and take the right action – at the right time.

In a statement to mark the release of the film, Foreign Office Minister, Grant Shapps said, “Forced marriage has no place in the UK. This film demonstrates the full horror of its impact, and our determination to stamp out this brutal practice once and for all - defending victims through full use of the law where necessary. We are proud of the work of the FMU and the strong message we send to anyone forcing someone to marry against their will. There is a lot more work to be done, but we are determined to continue working with communities and organisations across the UK both to protect and support victims, but also to punish offenders.”

Edgware dance group set to spice up the stage at Royal Albert Hall

Sujata Banerjee Dance Company

Talented dance students from the Sujata Banerjee Dance Company, in Edgware, are set to spice up the stage at the Royal Albert Hall, having won a coveted place to perform at Dance Proms at the Royal Albert Hall, on 15th November.

The 13 students, aged between 10 and 19 are just one of 22 acts, and the only classical Indian act selected from over 200 entries.

They will perform in front of an audience of dance lovers, talent spotters and celebrity patrons including

Darcey Bussell CBE, Matt Flint and Arlene Philips.

The school have twice the reason to celebrate this year with two of their students representing the South Asian category at the BBC Young Dancers Competition.

Sujata Banerjee, school founder said, “We are proud and humbled to be selected in this special event. We are ready to put or hard work and commitment to show high quality Kathak and make this event an amazing experience for the audience.”

Hounslow Ahmadi Muslims welcome the PM’s focus to tackle extremism The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Hounslow welcomes the Government’s counter extremism strategy.

Both the local President of Hounslow South and North, Mr Zaheer Khan and Mr Zia Qureshi of the Ahmadi Muslim Community said, "We welcome the Prime Minister’s focus to tackle

extremism. We have always been clear that this requires a collective effort and it is good to see the Government take a lead in setting a clear framework for action to support communities in this work. It is also absolutely right that the strategy looks to root out Islamophobia and far right extremism.”

Man given parking fine after having angina attack

Dave Hands was given a £35 parking ticket after he had stopped on double yellow lines in Birmingham, as he was having an angina attack.

He had followed his doctors advise by leaving

his car and finding help.

He returned back after an hour and saw the parking ticket on his car.

However, the fine increased to £70 as he had not paid the previous fine on time.

FESTIVAL

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17

Karva Chauth symbolises love between husband & wife AsianVoiceNews

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

Asian Voice | 31st October 2015

It is a one day celebration where married women observe fast from sunrise, breaking it only when the moon appears

The word Karva means 'Pot' and Chauth means 'Fourth' in the Hindi language. The festival of Karva Chauth is a one day celebration with married women observe fast from sunrise, breaking it only when the moon appears.

Widely celebrated in the northwest region of India, it falls on the fourth day of the month of Kartik. On this day, women get up before sunrise, worship Shiva, Parvati, Ganesh,

Kartikeya and the moon.

They pray for long lives of their husbands and children. Mothers-in-law give Sargi to their daughtersin-law to eat before the sun rises.

Before evening, women receive the Baya from their mothers, a basket that contains sweets, fruits and a sari. A cultural celebration, women from nearby societies gather in one house, and prepare a corner for puja to worship Goddess

Parvati. Karva Chauth is one of the best examples of the cultural richness of the Hindu religion. Women get together, sing songs, make merry as they refrain to eat a morsel of food in the whole day. The fast is broken after the moon appears, is seen through a sieve by women, and lastly their husbands give them water. The ritual is followed by a huge dinner.

The festival that symbolises the love between a hus-

Halloween – a day of celebration and superstition

band and wife, has been frequently romanticised by the Indian film industry.

News is usually abuzz during the season on how celebrities observe the celebrations. Family entertainments like 'Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham', 'Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge', 'Baghban', 'Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam', all have been the best endorsers of Karva Chauth.

One of the most well-

known tales associated to the festival is of Queen Veeravati, who had seven brothers. She observed a fast for her husband but was feeling quite unwell due to lack of food and water. Seeing her condition, her brothers tricked her into breaking her fast by showing her a fake moon. The sooner she did, her husband fell sick.

Veeravati prayed to Lord Shiva and Parvati, who after hearing her story,

gave her another chance to restore her husband's health. This story has different variations, each signifying an Indian woman's unrelenting devotion towards her husband.

Even Indians abroad observe the festivities, in their own way. Mothers courier their Bayas and Sargis to their daughters and daughters-in-law, making sure their Karva Chauth does not lack in any way.

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Halloween, which is celebrated every year in a number of countries, on 31 October, on the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Hallows' Day, is a day of celebration and superstition. Pope Gregory III of the eighth century designated November 1 as the day to honour all saints and martyrs, and the evening before was known as All Hallows' Eve, later

dubbed Halloween. With the passing of time, this day evolved into an event doted with kid-friendly activities like trick-ortreating. During this time, the nights have already begun to get colder, giving the celebration an extra needed spookiness. The word Halloween means 'hallowed evening' or 'holy evening'.

Widely celebrated in

the US, Halloween was brought to the country by the immigrants in the second half of the nineteenth century.

Initially in England, the poor would beg for food and would be given pastries called 'Soul Cakes', in return for a prayer for the family's dead relatives.

This practice was later taken up by children who would visit houses in the neighbourhood and be given ale, food and money.

Taking from the Irish and English tradition, Americans eventually began to dress up in costumes and go around blocks asking for food or money, a practice which is now called 'Trick-orTreating'.

Black and Orange are the traditional colours of Halloween and one of the symbols representing the day is a Jack-olantern.

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ASIANBUSINESS

Asian Voice | 31st October 2015

Consultant Editor Financial Voice

Alpesh Patel

Dear Financial Voice Reader, I was very fortunate that when I did my first ever launch for my hedge fund back in 2006 at the Royal Institute, Lord Noon (who sadly passed away this week) kindly attended. It is with sadness to note the passing of a business giant, mentor and role model who was always generous with his time and kind in his advice.

My business has come a long way from back then, but I still recall how privileged I felt that he took the time to attend. I learnt a lot about him.

But the markets teach you a lot about yourself too. What do the markets teach us about wealth every day? Well every day there are a hundred to a thousand trades some individuals make. In that time, unlike regular business deals, you learn a lot.

You learn how you take failure, because you are not going to win every time. You learn how to control greed, because it is tempting to take large bets, but never a good idea.

You learn about persistence paying off, because it is very easy to give up and forget even the most successful traders have losing trades, losing days, losing weeks, losing months and losing years.

The markets teach us wealth is not made like in the lottery, in one minute, but by making small gains and adding to them every day.

The markets teach us, if we don’t want big losses then we should take small ones quickly and not hide our heads in the sand. They teach us that there is a link between discipline and our success. They teach us to have a plan, and follow it and not be distracted.

You will learn that risk and reward are difficult friends. That the more reward you want, the more risk you are given, and to make them asymmetric is what counts.

You learn that risking the least to find out if you will be right and then adding to your success is a far more better strategy than any other.

So there it is in the markets you learn about your fears of taking losses, whereas you should fear big losses, not any loss.

You learn about your greed to rush money and by doing so taking unjustified risks, neglecting your discipline, relying on luck and then losing more money.

You learn about self-control for gains tomorrow, in place of small victories that make you feel good today.

Indeed, the markets are the best place to learn about yourself and business.

All the lessons of wealth from the markets are the same as the ones you learn from the markets and the ones which made Lord Noon the success he was.

Business Secretary to plead steel industry's case The steel industry in the UK is currently in crisis. They plan to talk w i t h Chancellors regarding the pledges they had made in order to help hard-pressed companies, Business Secretary, Sajid Javid, to plead steel fearing that industry's case more jobs will be a £9 million packcould be in danger. age jointly funded by the Recently, Tata steel Government, in order to had announced that 1,20 help retain Scunthorpe's employees were being redundant staff. made redundant at its At a Steel Summit in plants in Scotland and Rotherham, the Business Scunthorpe, totalling up to Secretary, Sajid Javid comalmost 2,200 job cuts in a mitted to fight for year. The future of over European approval for the 1,700 roles at Caparo also full relief. He is also due to seems doubtful after the meet European commiscompany collapsed. sioners to appeal for the However, Tata steel industry's case. have revealed that there

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Indian banks free to fix interest rates AsianVoiceNews

The Reserve Bank of India has issued directions to all scheduled commercial banks on the Gold Monetisation Scheme which is set to replace the Gold Deposit Scheme of 1999. As per the guidelines, banks will be allowed to fix their own interest rates on gold deposits. These deposits outstanding under the Gold Deposit Scheme will be allowed to run till maturity, unless the depositors prematurely withdraw them.

The bank has said that resident Indians, including individuals, HUFs and trusts including mutual funds registered under Sebi regulations and com-

Raghuram Rajan panies can make deposits under the scheme. The minimum deposit at any one time shall be raw gold bars, coins, and jewellery excluding stones and other metals- equivalent to 30 grams of gold of 995 fine-

ness. The statement said, “There is no maximum limit for deposit under the scheme. The gold will be accepted at the Collection and Purity Testing Centres certified by Bureau of Indian Standards and notified by the Central government under the scheme. The deposit certificates will be issued by banks in equivalence of 995 fineness of gold.”

As per the guidelines, banks will be free to set interest rate on such deposit, and principal and interest of the deposit will be denominated in gold.

“Redemption of principal and interest at maturity will, at the option of the depositor be either in

Japan bids $15 billion to fund India's first bullet train

Japan has offered India funds for its first bullet train, estimated to cost $15 billion, at an interest rate of less than 1 per cent. India picked Tokyo to assess the feasibility of building the 505-kilometre corridor linking Mumbai with Ahmedabad.

While the project to build and supply the route will be put out to tender, Japan offering finance makes it clearly in the first place. China had won the contract last month to assess the feasibility of a high-speed rain between Delhi and Mumbai, a 1200 km route estimated to cost twice as much. Japan's decision to give free finance to Modi's project is part of its push back against China's involvement in infrastructure development in South Asia.

“There are several (players) offering the high-

speed technology. But technology and funding together, we only have one offer.

That is the Japanese,” said AK Mital, chairman of the Indian Railway Board, which manages the network. The two projects are part of a 'Diamond Qaudrilateral' of high speed trains over 10,000km of track that India wants to set up to connect Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata. Japan has offered to meet 80 per cent of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad project cost, on condition that India buys 30 percent of equipment including the coaches and locomotives from Japanese firms, officials said. “What complicates the process is Japanese linking funding to use of their technology.

There must be tech transfer,” said Mital.

The Japanese International Cooperation

Agency has declined to give out the details of its offer. A spokeswoman said, “The report has already been handed over to India, and the Indian government is now in the process of making a consideration.”

Counsellor in the economic section of the Japanese embassy, Toshihiro Yamakoshi said that Japanese countries were keen to collaborate with their Indian counterparts on the rail projects as a part of Modi's Make In India programme.

“There is a lot of money involved in this. The different departments are weighing the implications.

Should we be committing all our resources to a single high-speed line,” an Indian railway official said on condition of anonymity. “The railways have not attempted anything as big as this before in terms of costs.”

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

Indian rupee equivalent of the deposited gold and accrued interest based on the price of gold prevailing at the time of redemption, or in gold. The option in this regard shall be made in writing by the depositor at the time of making the deposit and shall be irrevocable,” it said. “The designated banks will accept gold deposits under the Short Term (1-3 years) Bank Deposit (STBD) as well as Medium (5-7 years) and Long (12-15 years) Term Government Deposit Schemes. While the former will be accepted by banks on their own account, the latter will be on behalf of Government of India.”

Cameron gives visa pledge to China

Chinese President Xi Jinping's recent state visit to the UK, both the countries sealed a series of business deals, including an agreement by Chinese investors to take a onethird stake in Hinkley Point C, the country's first nuclear plant for a generation. Eyeing a larger share of China's fast-growing tourist market, Cameron hopes to establish Britain as China's number one partner in the west. His plans to announce cheaper tourist visas will see the tourists pay a mere amount of £324. Ministers are also exploring a pilot for a 10 year tourist visa, with unlimited multiple visits, specifically for China.

Among deals to be announced, Britain will also set up a new system of tourist visas for Chinese visitors, who typically spend £2,688 each on an visit, totalling about £500m a year. Beijing is expected to introduce a reciprocal arrangement for British tourists.

Ethnic Business Conference Dhiren Katwa The Annual Ethnic Minority Business Conference brought together around 200 delegates. Held at Fazeley Studios in Birmingham last Tuesday, the popular event was organised by the Centre for Research in Ethnic Minority Entrepreneurship, or CREME, under the leadership of ethnic business guru Professor Monder

Ram OBE, pictured.

The event, which has

been sponsored by Lloyds Bank “a fellow traveller” since its inception 19 years ago, featured a line-up of speakers and panel discussions. Speaking at the evening gala dinner, Professor Ram told delegates: “Making Diversity and Enterprise everybody’s business. For some, it’s a slogan. For us, it’s our vision and mission,” which won rapturous applause.

Professor Ram, a humble gentleman, presented

Sophie Sinclair, who joined the CREME team as Centre Manager earlier this year, with a bouquet of flowers for her outstanding work.

The welcome address and vote of thanks was given by Professor Simon Collinson, Dean, University of Birmingham Business School. Each year, ethnic minority businesses contribute an estimated £25-£32 billion to the UK economy.

REALESTATEVOICE

www.asian-voice.com AsianVoiceNews

Suresh Vagjiani

Sow & Reap A Property Investment Company

Too Many Cooks Spoil The Broth

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

Asian Voice | 31st October 2015

19

Only yesterday I had a meeting with a Fund manager, they were annoyed as it looks like they might lose £100k on a property deal. The reason was the person they were dealing was not giving a straight story.

It transpired there were 3-4 people in the loop before you got to the vendor.

The person who was facing the owner actually said it was him who was purchasing the property which of course was untrue, when you speak a lie you need to speak more lies to cover the original one up.

The Fund had exchanged on the site and were waiting for planning documents in order to complete. The party in the middle was telling the owner another story that there was an issue with the bridging loan and this was causing the delay. The buyers realised they had been fed false stories as well. As they were nearing deadline for completion they requested more time, this was denied due to the time already lapsed.

The reason they were dealing with the middleman was that they were not just looking to do the deal but also to have a JV partner who could get planning on the site and perhaps even build out, as this was outside their normal area. They soon realised this man wasn’t the right person to partner up with.

The deal is one of those outside of London where it is a piece of land without planning, but it is in a location were the council are eager for someone to come in and develop. It is almost a certainty planning will be consented.

The purchase price is £2m, the site is expected to go up in value to £4m minimum once planning has been granted. The planning which will be applied for will be for a plain vanilla scheme which should be granted, for 55 houses.

However this can be tweaked to get even more onto the site, along with commercial property too. It is anticipated you should be able to get between 90 to 150 units here.

Sometimes it is best to do planning in bite sizes, get what you can straight away and then go back for more, you waste the planning fees and time but at least you have one layer of planning locked in. It also helps the council to get used to the idea rather than going in with all guns blazing from day one.

We were brought in for two reasons one was to deliver the deal, and the second to get the planning through.

and claim I owed them money. One even insisted I meet him, his name was Ali. I agreed to meet and told him in person that I didn't know him, had no written, verbal or any form of agreement with him and therefore why would I pay him?

There was a lot of resentment created after this deal was done, shortly after completion we had a phone call from an irate neighbour, who informed us there were squatters in the building.

In residential properties you can simply call the police and get them removed. However this is not the case for commercial. There does exist an expedited route to have them removed, we followed this and got them out. It is ludicrous that in the UK a person can enter someone else’s property and occupy it and the owner cannot do anything about it.

The word on the street was one of the characters who felt he was circumvented on the deal had arranged for the squatters.

I try and avoid situations where the line leading to the deal is too long, normally it is best if you only have one agent in between, and at times it’s better if you don't even have them in between as they may have their own agenda.

I remember a deal we did in December last year, in W2 Southwick Street for £3.7m, apparently there were five people in the mix (which I didn’t know about). My contact whom I knew well, passed my number on to the agent directly, and allowed me to just get on with the deal, we already had a trustable relationship built up.

We managed to close the deal, it was a little complicated as it was a company purchase and not the sale of an asset. There was another layer of due diligence to be done, and extra legal fees. Lawyers love to point out anything outside of the norm to give a reason to jump their fees up.

After the deal was done, I had no less than three people call me up

Anyhow this is part and parcel of the property game, we got them out and then we had an unexpected offer for £4.5m within 8 months, unexpected as we hadn't even put it on the market; we took the decision to sell the building.

The Real Deal

Another example of this circus is a building we own in Portland Place, I was told by a trusted contact that a member of the Saudi Royalty wanted to see the property. On arrival I met a Sri Lankan man and then four other parties, not one of whom looked Middle Eastern.

On top of this the Sri Lankan man started quizzing me on whether I owned the building.

I allowed the viewing to take place, and then heard one of the parties speaking to the buyer, telling them this was a freehold building and the company was being sold. Neither of which were true.

On exiting I told the agents in between I did not want any offers on the building, and they should not pass the information to anyone as the building is not for sale. The reason I did this was because I knew it would be a waste of time dealing with them.

It transpired later the ultimate buyer was a bonafide buyer, and a proper outfit. They wanted the building for office use. We as a company have been victims of shrinking office space in London, as a result we were looking for office space ourselves and came across a company who were offering office space. Coincidently this party had actually been present at the viewing of Portland Place, they put two and two together and then contacted us, getting rid of the noise in between.

The role of the agent is to put the deal together and facilitate it to ensure it is closed. If this is not being done then they are redundant or even an impediment to the deal.

It’s hard enough to do a deal with a buyer and seller and their lawyers let along a raft of people in between.

Hanwell, London, W7 Purchase Price: £400k l A large two bedroom mid terraced house l Freehold l Currently generating £1,300 per month rental income l Similar sized leasehold flats are being sold for around £450k, while we are getting this freehold house at 10% discount l Very good buy and hold opportunity Call us now to secure this deal!

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Tips of the Week l Leveraging equity in your home, or equity from another property investment, can be an effective way to buy an investment property especially from a tax perspective.

l Remember to factor in the time value of a property when arranging works, if it's a buy to let then the value will be the rental lost.

20

BUSINESS - INDIA

VISA BYTES

Asian Voice | 31st October 2015

Small Mercies

Maria Fernandes

There is so much to be thankful for. As human beings we moan and we groan about often trivial things.

When you consider what is happening with the migrant crisis it is easy to dismiss it as something ' out there' which doesn’t affect your day to day life and threatens to cost you money as a taxpayer.

This is my rather pessimistic view of the world.

Human rights have taken a backward step. We care more about money than about fairness and justice.

We belong to a world where our values have been denigrated by our quest for our own comfort over the rights of the struggling masses.

So to the current laws the new rules aimed at landlords come to effect in February 2016 for new tenants. Thereafter landlords are drawn in to become policemen for the government. The net result of this will without any doubt be that anyone looking foreign will be turned away. We will be back to the days when blacks were turned away because of the colour of their skin. The worse part of this is that the law allows it. It is all very well for the government to say they have introduced regulations which ban discrimination. The point is that landlords want the least restrictive approach. And this is what will take precedence.

We are at a shocking state of affairs. Rights of independent appeals removed and powers given to the decision makers who are unlikely to change their own decision. This smacks of an Orwellian world which smacks of smoke and mirrors.

The Asian community, in a desperate attempt to be accepted, buy into a false dream that they will be accepted if they accept the changes. Today it is them tomorrow it may be you.

To contact Maria Fernandes, please email at info@fernandesvaz.com

Castrate rapists of children: Madras HC In a statement that will in all probabilities end up in a controversy, Madras high court as announced a oneword solution to curb the growing sex offences against children: Castration. “Traditional laws are not stringent enough to yield any desired positive result. Suggestion of castration looks barbaric, but barbaric crimes should definitely attract barbaric model of punishment. Many may not agree with this. Still, everyone needs to understand the stark reality in society and appreciate the punishment suggested,” Justice N Kirubakaran said, pointing to the fact that the conviction rate in cases of sex offence against children is a mere 2.4 per cent and that between 2008 and 2014, crimes against children had increased by 400 per cent.

Noting that chemical castration had come into force in several countries, including the US, he said, “The court is sure that additional punishment of castration of child rapists would fetch magical results in preventing and containing child abuses.” Passing the orders on a plea from a foreigner facing paedophile charges in Tamil Nadu for

quashing the case, Kirubakaran turned the plea down, however, putting a stay on the red corner notice issued against him. The recent brutal gangrape of children in Delhi provoked the court to make the drastic suggestion. Calling it “blood-curling” and “horrific”, Justice Kirubakaran said castration must be an additional punishment for child abusers, especially rapists.

“South Korea was the first Asian country to make castration a punishment.

Inspite of many penal laws and the recent POCSO Act, 2012 prescribing severe punishment for crimes against children, the number of such cases has increased from 38,172 in 2012 to 58,224 in 2013 and to 89,423 in 2014. When law is ineffective and incapable of addressing the menace, this court cannot keep its hands folded and remain a silent spectator, unmoved and oblivious to the recent happenings of horrible blood-curdling gang rapes of children in various parts of India. It would not only be injustice done to the child abuse victims, but would also amount to violation of the oath taken by this court,” the judge said.

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'India's daughter' Geeta returns home from Pakistan AsianVoiceNews

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Geeta meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi after her return to India Almost 15 years after she accidentally crossed over to neighbouring Pakistan, Geeta, a girl with a hearing and speech impediment has finally returned to New Delhi where she was received with warmth.

Dressed in a white-red salwar suit with her head covered with a dupatta, she landed from Karachi in Pakistan International flight PK 272. Geeta was reportedly 7 or 8 years old when she was found sitting alone on the Samjhauta Express, by Pakistan Rangers at the Lahore Railway Station.

Adopted by the Edhi

Foundation's Bilquees Edhi, she continued to live with her in Karachi over the years. Geeta's story came to light after the release of Salman Khan starrer 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan', a story of a common man who unites a girl separated from her Pakistani mother.

Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan, TCA Raghavan and wife visited her in August on External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's orders to try and locate her family.

Before boarding the flight from Karachi, Geeta thanked the Pakistani people for taking care of her.

Faisal Edhi, of the foundation said they would continue to stay in touch with Geeta through social media and even visit her. “She is not really separating from us,” he said.

Sources had earlier said that Geeta has identified her father, step-mother and siblings from a photograph sent to her by the Indian high commission in Islamabad. The family reportedly lives in Bihar.

Swaraj had said that Geeta would be handed over to the family after a DNA test.

The ministry had said she would return to the country as she is “India’s daugh-

ter”, irrespective of whether her family is traced or not.

Edhi declines donation announced by Modi Pakistani social worker Abdul Sattar Edhi on Tuesday declined an offer of £100,000 by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to his charity. "Edhi has thanked Modi and politely declined to accept his announced financial help," the Dawn quoted Edhi Foundation spokesman Anwar Kazmi as saying. Modi on Monday announced the contribution to the charity after the return of Geeta to India.

Gujarat HC refuses to squash FIR filed against Hardik Patel Gujarat High Court has refuses to squash FIR filed against Patel quota agitation leader Hardik Patel.

However, the court has ordered to drop section 153 (A) (creating enmity between two communities) of IPC from the FIR. Justice J B Pardiwala said there was prime facie case of sedition against Hardik as he had advised youth to kill policemen.

The court gave its verdict in the petition filed by the accused's father Bharat Patel to quash the sedition FIR filed against him.

"Advising a person to resort to violence and disturb peace in society amounts to sedition," the court said.

Hardik Patel Refusing to quash the sedition plaint, the court said, "Probe is in progress and picture will be clear by the end of the probe." "It's open for Patidars (Patels) to demand quota by peaceful means, but what's not permissible is any act that may jeopardise public tranquillity," the court said.

Ordering to drop IPC section 153 (A) from the FIR, the court said that Hardik's statement does not promote enmity between two communities as it is against police. A case of sedition was filed against Hardik for his alleged controversial remarks instigating his community youth to kill policemen instead of committing suicide.

The sedition case has been filed under section 124(A) of IPC at Amroli Police Station in Surat under which any accused, if convicted, can be sentenced to maximum of life imprisonment, while the minimum sentence is of three years. Earlier an

Ahmedabad crime branch has slapped charges of waging a war against the state, sedition and inciting communal hatred between communities on six leaders of the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti, including Hardik Patel. “The complaint against the PAAS leaders is for inciting violence on August 25-26 across the state,” said deputy commissioner of police, crime branch, Deepan Bhadran. “We have called interception transcripts in which the accused are planning to topple the government,” said assistant commissioner of police, crime branch, K N Patel, one of the complainants.

Diversity is mantra of India's unity: Modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his monthly radio address to the nation, 'Mann Ki Baat', has called upon people to respect and celebrate India's diversity, saying “peace, harmony and unity were the key to progress.”

Remembering Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel ahead of his birthday anniversary

on October 31, Modi said the “mantra” of unity must consistently be the medium of “our thinking, behaviour and expression.”

“India is full of diversity. It has different sects, different religions, different languages and different castes. There are so many diversities in our India and this diversity is our beau-

ty,” the Indian PM said. “In other words, the run for unity is the guarantee for run for the run for progress.” He urged people to pay tributes to Patel by carrying his mantra for unity forward. Modi said that if this diversity was not there, “we would not have been able to feel proud. Therefore diversity

is the mantra for unity.”

The prime minister's comments come at a time when communal tensions have risen in different parts of the country, over beef ban and religious processions. This is the second time he referred to the issue, earlier using his rally in Nawada, Bihar to deliver a strong message.

CURRENCYVOICE

www.asian-voice.com AsianVoiceNews

Asian Voice | 31st October 2015

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

Euro losses significant ground

The U.K. Office for National Statistics report that public sector net borrowing fell to £8.63 billion in September from £10.79 billion in August. The figure was revised from a previously estimated £11.31 billion.

This is the smallest budget deficit for a September in eight years as the tax take from businesses and individuals rose to records.

The Pound gained across the board as UK retail sales rose in September at their fastest monthly pace in almost two years as shoppers with more cash in their pockets bought beers to toast the Rugby World Cup, the first held in Britain since 1999. Retail sales volumes surged last month by 1.9 percent exceeding all expectations and marked a break with disappointing data from the previous two months. Consumers, a key engine of Britain's economic recovery, are benefiting from a pick-up in wages, falling prices for goods in stores and record-low interest rates that markets do not expect to rise before late next year.

German factory gate prices contracted for a 26th consecutive month in September emphasizing the fragility of economic recovery in the Eurozone. Year-on-year producer prices fell 2.1 per cent, versus expectations of a 1.8 per cent dip. They had

21

Foreign Exchange

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

slipped 1.7 per cent in August. Germany is Europe's biggest economy, and one often assumed to be in relatively better shape than its neighbouring countries.

However signs of strain are emerging, with factory orders and exports falling. The German economy grew just 0.4 per cent in the three months to June, missing expectations of 0.5 per cent growth.

The Euro lost significant ground after the European Central Bank (ECB) President Mario Draghi said he was studying new stimulus measures that could be unveiled as soon as December and is prepared to cut its deposit rate deeper into negative territory if needed to fight falling prices. Consumer prices in the 19country Euro-zone slipped by 0.1 percent in September, prompting calls for the ECB to expand or extend its 60 billion euros a month quantitative easing program that was designed to push inflation back to the ECB's target of just under 2 percent. ECB Chief Mario Draghi said falling inflation expectations, driven in part by lower-than-expected demand for oil, has led the central bank to consider a wide variety of possible measures, including a deposit rate cut, to shore up inflation.

However there was a set of

stronger-than-expected data releases from the Eurozone early on Friday morning, including French services PMI, German services PMI and Eurozone manufacturing, services and composite PMI data, but none of which could abate the relentless pace of the euro’s slide following the much more influential ECB announcement.

The number of housing starts issued in the U.S. rose more than expected in September, while building permits fell more than forecast. In a report, the U.S. Commerce Department said that housing starts rose 6.5% compared to last month’s previous figure. The report also showed that the number of building permits issued dropped by 5.0% to a seasonally adjusted 1.103 million units from August’s total of 1.170 million American consumers, powered by an improving job market, are keeping the U.S. afloat as they continue to spend on big-ticket items such as homes and cars. A pickup in wage gains would give even more households the ability to save for a down payment, helping to sustain momentum in the housing industry.

The Dollar was boosted by another strong jobs figure after the number of Americans claiming unemployment benefits fell to 259k last week

hovering around 42-year lows. The strong jobs figure accompanied with the home re-sales figure points at solid domestic fundamentals even as the global economy falters. The US dollar climbed following the release of the October preliminary Markit US Manufacturing PMI figure. The flash activity reading came in at 54, a higher reading than the 52.9 expected. It was also a five-month high for the series with a marked contrast to some of the other manufacturing reports that have been released recently.

China’s economy grew by more than expected in the third quarter of this year easing thoughts that it is slowing at a greater pace than previously thought. China’s statistics bureau said yesterday that the country’s GDP increased 6.9% between July and September from a year ago.

The expected figure was 6.8% growth.

In a surprise move the Chinese Central Bank cut its benchmark oneyear lending rate by 25 basis points to 4.35 percent and lowered big banks' reserve requirement ratio by 50 basis points to 17.5 percent. This move acted as a boost to equity markets and was seen as positive for the US Dollar, as the stimulus to the Chinese economy increases the probability of a US rate hike. Consequently, GBPUSD fell back, having pushed 7-week highs earlier in the week.

Weekly Currencies As of Tuesday 27th October 2015 @ 5.50pm GBP - INR = 99.55

USD - INR = 65.02 EUR - INR = 71.80 GBP - USD = 1.53 GBP - EUR = 1.36

EUR - USD = 1.10 GBP - AED = 5.62

GBP - CAD = 2.03

GBP - NZD = 2.26

GBP - AUD = 2.13

GBP - ZAR = 20.95

GBP - HUF = 432.30

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

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WORLD

In Brief

Asian Voice | 31st October 2015

Terror suspect gets thousands in legal bid to return to Britain LONDON: The Tunisian terror suspect from the holiday resort where 30 Britons were massacred, has received over tens of thousands of pounds of taxpayers' money to help fight his attempt to return to the UK. Facing terrorism charges in Italy, Habib Ignaoua was extradited from the UK and is now demanding his right to return. Despite being ruled as a national security risk by intelligence agencies, he has received over £100,000 legal aid to fund his court bid to return to his country.

Farmers told to erect EU billboards

LONDON: Landowners have been told they must put up permanent billboards which can be seen by the public, or face financial penalties. Eurosceptic Conservative MP, Daniel Hannan said, “Brussels is effectively offering landowners money to advertise the EU. Then again, that's the reason that a lot of people in Britain agree to support the EU: NGOs, charities, big corporations and universities.” The new Country Stewardship scheme stresses that landowners receiving more than €500,000 (£388,000), must put up a 4ft by 6ft billboard. There are concerns that the billboards could blight rural areas and popular walks, as over 11,000 landowners could participate in the scheme.

Bus crash kills 41 pensioners from tiny French village

PARIS: Considered the worst road accident in France since 1982, 41 pensioners on a coach trip collided with a lorry carrying the driver and his young son, and caught fire, in narrow road through vineyards near Bordeaux.

Most of the victims were burnt to death after surviving the low-speed crash. Seven people escaped after the unhurt coach driver jumped out and rescued passengers before they were engulfed in the fire. The lorry driver's three year old son's body wasn't found until seven hours into the crash. Eight people were being treated in hospital for nonlife-threatening burns, including driver of a car who stopped by to help. Nearly ten hours after the crash the remains of the passengers were still on board the burnt-out coach as police experts examined the scene.

British academics to boycott of Israeli universities JERUSALEM: Protesting against the “violations of international law,” hundreds of British academics have decided to boycott Israeli universities. Three hundred and forty three university lecturers in subjects like chemistry, mathematics and political science, have said that they would not accept invitations for academic visits to Israel or cooperate with their universities in any way.

Experts warn against eating processed meats

LONDON: The World Health Organisation has warned that eating bacon, sausages or ham sandwich everyday could significantly increase the risk of bowel cancer. It said that processed meats were classed alongside cigarettes and asbestos after the expert advisory agency calculated that they led to tens of thousands of extra deaths every year.

Red meat is also probably carcinogenic when eaten over time, the International Agency for Research on Cancer ruled.

Murdoch reportedly dating Mick Jagger's ex

CALIFORNIA: It has been reported that the 84-year-old media mogul, Rupert Murdoch is currently dating a former supermodel and the ex-partner of Rolling Stones singer, Sir Mick Jagger, Jerry Hall. It has been claimed that the duo will be appearing at the rugby World Cup final together.

Jerry Hall (59), had once dated Bryan Ferry, of Foxy Music, before being in a relationship with Mick Jagger. Hall and Jagger married in 1990 in Bali, however separated in 1999.

They had four children together. Murdoch was known to be single after his marriage to Wendi Deng ended in 2013.

Avoid 'toxic June' when trying to conceive, say scientists

INDIANA (US): Researchers at Indiana University looked at data from more than 270,000 pregnancies between 2004 and 2009 to find marked differences in the percentage of healthy babies born at different times of the year.

Scientists have suggested women hoping to conceive, to avoid “toxic June”. The highest chance of having a healthy baby was in December with three extra babies surviving per every 200 pregnancies compared with in the summer months.

www.asian-voice.com

Lankan troops committed war crimes: probe panel AsianVoiceNews

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

The probe panel said that some members of the armed forces committed acts in the final phase of the war that amounted to war crimes COLOMBO: In a not so surprising report, allegations that the Sri Lankan army committed war crimes during its conflict with Tamil rebels have been termed as “credible” by a government probe panel who has also backed UNHRC's recommendation that foreign judges should play a role in domestic inquiry.

“There are credible allegations which, if proved to the required standard, may show that some members of the armed forces committed acts during the final phase of the war that amounted to war crimes giving rise to individual criminal responsibility,” the probe panel commissioned by

former President Mahinda Rajapaksa said in a 178page report. Lead by retired judge Maxwell Paranagama, it also called for an independent judicial investigation into war crimes allegations.

The panel proposed to set up a separate war crimes division within the

Sri Lankan legal system.

Paranagama said that there were evidence to suggest that footage obtained by the Channel 4 documentary No Fire Zone showing Sri Lankan soldiers executing Tamil prisoners was genuine.

“The Commission is of the view that the material

shown in Channel 4 shorn of its theatrical and dramatic presentation and of the occasionally extravagant language used - does show, however, that there was material enough to justify a judge-led investigation,” the Paranagama commission said.

On the allegation that Sri Lanka had executed surrendering top members of the LTTE at the end of war, the panel contended that despite some conflicting evidence, the underlying matrix is such that these alleged illegal killings, together with other such killings of those who surrendered, must be the subject of an independent judge-led investigation.

Maldives vice president arrested on 'treason' charges MALDIVINA: Maldives police have arrested vice president Ahmed Adeeb on suspicion of links to a blast on the presidential boat last month that President Yameen Abdul Gayoom escaped unharmed.

Police spokesman Ismail Ali said Adeeb was arrested on Saturday at the airport when he returned from an official visit to China. He said Adeeb has been taken to a detention centre on an island.

The September 28 explosion took place on board the speedboat when Gayoom and his wife were returning to the capital

Ahmed Adeeb from the airport after a Hajj journey to Saudi Arabia. The airport of the archipelago state is on a separate island. Gayoom escaped unhurt, but his wife, an aide, and a bodyguard were injured.

Authorities said ini-

tially the blast could have been the result of a mechanical failure. But they announced later the blast was an attempt to assassinate Gayoom and launched a criminal investigation. The device was placed under the seat usually occupied by the president, who escaped unhurt because he was not sitting there, an official spokesman said.

Adeeb has denied that he was linked to the explosion. Adeeb was a staunch Gayoom loyalist and became the vice president in July at the age of 33.

Gayoom was instrumental in promoting Adeeb from

tourism minister after the president got his lawmakers in parliament to impeach the previous vice president, Mohamed Jameel.

Lawmakers also lowered the minimum age for president or vice president from 35 to 30 to enable Adeeb to take the position.

Weeks after the blast, however, it was apparent that Gayoom suspected his vice president was involved, orchestrating a series of raids on homes and businesses of Adeeb's associates. Gayoom also sacked his defence minister and the police commissioner after the blast.

Liberals sweep Canada polls with Punjabi help TORONTO: Shortly after Justin Trudeau-led Liberals ended the 10 year rule of the Conservative party, around 19 Canadians of Indian origin have been elected to the Canadian Parliament.

The highest ever presence of MPs with Indian roots in the House of Commons of Canada, 17 of them are believed to be of Punjabi origin. Indo-Canadians make up for over 3 per cent of the Canadian population which is about 35 million.

Punjabis played an important role in helping the Liberals go past the 170 mark needed for a simple majority. Among the sitting MPs, Conservative Deepak Obhrai from Calgary Forest Lawn, Alberta, was the only Punjabi-origin

candidate to retain his seat. “I have a strong record both as a representative of the constituency as well as working in government, and in the opposition, over the years I have been in Parliament,” Obhrai, who won the seventh term, said. Amarjit Sohi of the Liberals, who won by mere 80 votes said, “This victory is about

inclusion, cohesiveness, where we build strong communities. Canada is where someone like me can come from somewhere else, build a new life, raise a family and contribute back so immensely.”

Other Liberal IndoCanadians who won include, Navdeep Bains from Mississauga-Malton in Toronto, Gagan Sikand

from Mississauga Streetville, Raj Saini from Kitchener Centre, Bardish Chagger from Waterloo and Bob Saroya of Conservative from Markham- Unionville.

Compared to the 24 candidates of Punjabi-origin in the previous general elections in 2011, this time 43 were in the fray, including one independent. There were 11 constituencies where Punjabiorigin candidates from either of the three main parties, Liberal, Conservative and NDP, were pitted against each other. In the 2011 federal polls, there wasn't a single Punjabi-origin candidate of the Liberal party who made it to parliament.

From just 36 in 2011, Liberals have 184 MPs in a house of 338 this time.

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Sharif returns as disappointed In Brief man from US AsianVoiceNews

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Asian Voice | 31st October 2015

Sharif ended up assuring Obama that Islamabad would take effective action against Pakistan based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba, and its affiliates responsible for the Nov 2008 Mumbai terror attack WASHINGTON: Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif visited the US with a long list of complaints against India, hoping to hit it off with the West and involving Washington in the Kashmir issue. He however, had to return home a disappointed man. His meeting with American President Barack Obama was reportedly one sided where Obama did most of the talking and Sharif ended up assuring him that Islamabad would take effective action against Pakistan based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba, and its affiliates responsible for the

Queen invites Indian-origin engineer to Palace

Roma Agrawal LONDON: Queen Elizabeth has invited Indian-origin structural engineer Roma Agrawal who helped build Europe's tallest building, the Shard in London, to the Buckingham Palace. She will join a group of other female engineers at a reception being hosted by the Queen to encourage more women to take up the profession. "We need to break the stereotype of an engineer and show young girls it's a fun career," Agrawal said about the event.

The palace has also released a photograph of the then Princess Elizabeth as a driver and mechanic in the Auxiliary Territorial Service during World War II. And at a time when there is a big industry push for more girls to become involved in engineering, the Queen would wholeheartedly support that.

It's no coincidence that some brilliant and inspiring young female engineers will be coming to the reception," he said. The Queen's support comes as a report published this week is expected to reveal that Britain lags behind other nations in the status it gives to the profession.

Nawaz Sharif and Barack Obama Nov 2008 Mumbai terror attack. Obama also cautioned him against raising nuclear tensions with new weapons.

A joint statement read, “Regarding Pakistan's nuclear weapons programme, the President stressed the importance of avoiding any developments that might invite increased risk to nuclear safety, security, or strategic stability.”

However, Sharif did manage to get a call from an India-Pakistan dialogue to resolve all issues, including Kashmir. But in accord with Washington's hands off Kashmir policy, the joint statement expressing “concern over violence along the Line of Control” noted “their support for confidence-building measures and effective mechanisms that are acceptable to both parties.”

“The leaders emphasised the importance of a sustained and resilient dialogue process between the two neighbours aimed at resolving all outstanding territorial and other disputes, including Kashmir, through peaceful means and working together to address mutual concerns of India and Pakistan regarding terrorism,” it said. “In this context, the Prime Minister apprised the President about Pakistan's resolve to take effective action against United Nations-designated terrorist individuals and entities,

including Lashkar-e-Taeba (LeT) and its affiliates, as per its international commitments and obligations under UN Security Council resolutions and the Financial Action Task Force,” the statement added. Obama's spokesperson Eric Schultz said, “Pakistan has embarked on significant military operations that have had a significant impact. They've targeted terrorist sanctuaries and restored governmentcontrolled parts of Pakistan that had previously been safe havens to terrorists for years. So we understand that the people of Pakistan have suffered greatly at the hands of terrorists and violent extremists, and we welcome Pakistan's commitment as part of its national action plan to not discriminate amongst terrorist groups.”

Regarding IndiaPakistans' relations, he said, “I think it's clear that Pakistan's relationship with India is critical to Pakistan's future.” “The normalisation of relations between those two countries is vital both to them and to the stability in the region,” he said stressing “economic linkages and a broader view of the USPakistan relationship beyond just counter-terrorism.”

"And I think it's discussions like the one the President had today that helps unlock opportunities

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for millions of people and leads to a more prosperous region, which no doubt will go a long way towards counterterrorism efforts," Schultz said.

Senior officials from Obama administration have revealed that the US is preparing to sell eight new F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan, an overture that intends to bolster a tenuous partnership despite persistent concerns about Islamabads' ties to the Taliban. The decision came ahead of President Obama's meeting with Sharif. Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, during his visit of the US of A, was heckled by a protester who demanded to free the restive Balochistan province where activists reveal the army is engaged in abductions, torture and killings. While addressing the US Institute of Peace, a protester raised slogans shouting “Free Balochistan” and called Sharif, a “friend of Bin Laden.”

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Men should bank sperm early as quality diminishes with age

CALIFORNIA: US researchers from Stanford University and the New England Cryogenic Centre conducted a study on a group of nearly 500 men who donated sperm to a bank over 11 years, checking the condition of semen on each occasion. A significant decline in the quality and quantity of their sperm along with increasing problems, were found. Authors of the study said men who wanted to put off fatherhood until later life should bank their sperm early or risk not being able to get their partners pregnant.

Gandhi's kin charged with $830,000 fraud in SA

JOHANNESBURG: The 45 year old great-granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi has been accused of defrauding two businessmen of more than $830,000 in South Africa.

Ashish Lata Ramgobind is alleged of defrauding two local businessmen of more than 11 million rands by claiming that she had secured a tender to import bedding from India for private hospital group Netcare. According to Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi of Hawks, an elite fraud investigation unit, Ramgobind allegedly provided forged invoices and documents to convince the investors that three containers of linen were being shipped in from India.

She later appeared in the Durban magistrates' court on charges of theft, fraud and forgery.

At least 11 killed in Pak passenger bus explosion

KARACHI: At least 11 people have been killed and 22 others injured in a passenger bus explosion in Pakistan’s Quetta Sariab Road. Police Surgeon Dr Noor Baloch said eight of the injured people are critical. IG Balochistan Almish Khan said the bomb, a time device, had been planted at the bus roof, adding that it weighed around four to five kgs. One of the victims said that most of the victims were people sitting at the back in the bus, when the bomb exploded, while the passengers in the front suffered minor injuries. No known terrorist organisation has claimed responsibility for the attack.

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Modi lays foundation stone for Andhra's new capital Asian Voice | 31st October 2015

AMARAVATI: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of Andhra Pradesh's new capital, Amaravati at Uddandarayunipalem village in Guntur district. The new capital boasts of a 17 km long waterfront and is strategically placed between Guntur and Vijayawada.

With investement worth £2 billion, the city has found trouble with the National Green Tribunal for flouting environmental norms.

Among those present were Union Ministers M

Narendra Modi Venkaiah Naidu, Ashok Gajapathi Raju and Nirmala Sitaraman, AP and Telangana Governor ESL Narasimhan and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao. Modi

CBI questions Telangana CM in '06 case NEW DELHI: The CBI has examined Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao in connection with alleged irregularities in an award of a contract related to civil works done at ESI hospitals. The irregularities have allegedly caused a loss of approximately £600,000 to the government.

It is said that Rao, who was the Union Minister of Labour, Employment and Training in 2006, expressed “special interest” in ensuring that the contract was given to Andhra Pradesh Fisheries Department after cancelling the tender from NBCC, a central agency for the work. When questioned, CBI found that Rao's private secretary wrote to the management of ESI hospitals saying that the minister desired that the contract be taken from

K Chandrasekhar Rao NBCC and given to executive engineer V Suryanarayana of AP Fisheries Department “without looking into the rules and regulations”. The contract pertained to minor civil work and maintenance of ESI hospitals in three cities.

Officials said Suryanarayana had written to both, ESIC and Rao, asking that the contract be given to him. “Everything happened very quickly and ESIC was forced to change the contract, which had already been given to NBCC,” an official said.

CBI to probe killing of Dalit children in Haryana FARIDABAD: The Haryana government has agreed to a CBI probe into the Faridabad caste violence case in which two children were killed. Chief Minister's office said that the case was about the enmity between two families. CM Manohar Lal Khattar has appealed to people not to politicise the issue. While the CM has postponed his visit to the victim's family, central ministers and political leaders are visiting the family. The CM said that action would be taken against the perpetrators who set fire to the house of the victims.

Police had resorted to lathi charge after local villagers blocked the highway demanding immediate arrests of those involved.

Four persons have been arrested after the family of four was set on fire, including one child aged 11month-old and the other

who was 2.5-year-old. The children's mother also sustained serious injuries and is in the ICU in Safdarjung hospital with 50 per cent burns. Their father has also sustained serious burns.

Another body found: Meanwhile, a 14 year old boy was allegedly killed by cops when he was being questioned for the theft of pigeons in Sonipat's Gohana police station. The boy's body was found near his home at a vacant plot in Govindpura. The police has lodged an FIR against two cops under charges of murder, after local residents blocked a road and a local railway track for more than three hours.

Chief minister Khattar said that the boy committed suicide and he was not being interrogated. The family claimed the boy died in police custody and that police had demanded money for his release.

went around the 'Amaravati Pavilion', a walk through showcasing evolution of the city, neck deep in immense historical, mythological and cultural significance. The city was once the seat of power of the Satavahana rulers, and as per orders from Naidu, soil and water from 16,000 villages in the state and prominent pilgrim centres in the country were brought to the region to be used in the construction of the capital city. The idea is to promote a sense of belongingness among the

people, officials said.

Singapore government agencies have prepared the master plans for the threelayered capital; seed capital, capital city and capital region. The venue was decked up with flowers, banners, festoons while LED screens were also erected to help people watch the entire proceedings.

The organisers, including Heritage Food owned by Chandrababu Naidu's family arranged food, buttermilk and coffee for 150,000 people.

DMK rehabilitates many senior leaders CHENNAI: The DMK has unveiled a list of district incharges for next year's Assembly polls, accommodating several former ministers who had lost their regional clout after the bifurcation and trifurcation of the party's district units.

However, some of them have not been given charge in their respective home turfs. Former Ministers K.N. Nehru, E.V. Velu, M.R.K. Panneerselvam, I. Periyasami and S.S. Palanimanickam, were among those included by the revamp.

Prominent leaders like Suresh Rajan of Kanyakumari, Muthusamy of Erode, K C Palanisamy of Karur and former Speaker R Avudaiappan of Tirunelveli were ignored.

The DMK's district units have gone up to 65 after the shuffle of the organisational structure. In Chennai,

where the district unit was divided into four, none of the party district secretaries have been assigned a role in the poll panel. Instead, Alandur R S Bharathi will be in charge. Madurai district, once the fortress of DMK president M Karunanidhi's estranged son M K Alagiri, is now in the hands of former minister Thangam Thennarasu.

Virudhunagar district has been left to local strongman K K S S R Ramachandran.

Former Union Minister S.S. Palanimanickam of Thanjavur, who was out of favour with the party high command for a brief period, has been allotted Pudukkottai. The party has also rewarded leaders like S. Austin, T.M. Selvaganapathy, V. Sathyamurthy and Dr. T. Masthan, who defected from the DMDK and the AIADMK.

Punjab DGP removed, Panj Pyaras taken back CHANDIGARH: Amidst protests in the state over incidents of the desecration of the Guru Granth Sahib, the Punjab government has replaced the Director General of Police, Sumedh Singh Saini with Suresh Arora, a 1982 batch IPS officer, who was serving as the chief director of Vigilance Bureau. Saini has been shifted as director Housing Corporation.

Considered a close ally of chief minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, many opposed the conduct of Saini as the DGP. In another move, the Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee announced it had revoked the suspension of the Panj Pyaras for summoning the high priests, and said they would be transferred to other duties in the organisation. SGPC president Avtar

Singh Makkar said the five have been moved to the Dharam Parachar Committee, but the Panj Pyaras said they had not heard anything from the committee and that they did not acknowledge their suspension in the first place. The protests coincide with Sikh anger over the SGPC's pardon to the controversial Sera Sach Sauda head Baba Ram Rahim Singh, and in the wake of the farmers' agitation over a range of issues.

There have been violent protests in the state lately since the first case of desecration surfaced on October 12. Matters were made worse when two protesters were killed in police firing.

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Abused on Facebook, 8 women from Kerala push for a change

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Eight women from Kerala have now joined hands with a campaign called 'For a Better FB', with support from no less than 75 international online organisations. “I was the one who was abused but it was my ID that Facebook blocked thrice,” said Preetha G, 41, a single mother. “When I reported the abusive comments to Facebook in Malayalam, I got a response that said it does not violate our community standards.” But it is not just the abuse and victimisation by other users they have to face, said the women. Jaseela C V, 28, said she faced abuse when she supported a man who got arrested for not standing up during the national anthem at a cinema hall. “I was abused, my profile was reported and I was shocked when Facebook sent me a message saying I was using a fake name, when actually I was using my real name.” They have now asked Facebook to get rid of the real name policy and the need to provide government identification for verification, dedicate personnel to assess hate pages and linguistic experts who can understand the complexity of the non-English cultures.

AP temple deity decorated with £250,000 worth of cash, gold

VISHAKHAPATNAM: Administrators of a 130 year old temple in Andhra Pradesh have decorated a deity of Goddess Vasavi Kanyaka Parameswari with Indian and foreign currency notes and gold ornaments worth £250,000 on the occasion of Navratri. The goddess at the Sri Kanyakaparameswari Devasthanam Temple in Viskhapatnam was decorated to mark the 'Sri Mahalakshmi Avatram' of the goddess during the Navratri celebrations. On the eighth day of Navratri the goddess is worshipped as Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth.

President of the temple's administrative wing, K Ramakrishnan said, “We started with only one 1,00,000 (rupees) first and after that we are continuing 1,00,000; 200,000; 3,00,000; 4,00,000, and now we decorated Mahalaxmi avatharam with money and gold, £250,000 cash and £1000,000 worth of gold.” Indian currency was in the denominations of rupee 1 to rupees 1,000.

Dalit writer assaulted in Karnataka for 'anti-Hindu' writings

BENGALURU: Even while writers across India protested against the “rising intolerance”, a young Dalit activist and writer was allegedly attacked by unidentified men for his “anti-Hindu” writings at Davangere, Karnataka. The 23 year old student and author of book 'Odala Kichchu', Huchangi Prasad alleged that he was assaulted and threatened that his fingers would be cut off for writing against Hinduism. “On October 21, late night, a group of eight to nine persons came to SC/ST hostel where I reside and told me that my mother was unwell and I followed them. They took me to a place and started threatening and assaulting me for writing against Hinduism and caste system,” Prasad said.

Farmers return to streets; add to govt woes

MOGA: Farmers and farm workers have carried out a protest march on the Moga-Ferozepur national highway, later staging demonstration in front of Agriculture Minister Tota Singh's residence in support of their demands. Sukhdev Singh Kokri, general secretary of the BKU, demanded a relief of Rs 40,000 per acre to farmers whose crop as been damaged by the whitefly attack, Rs 20,000 per family compensation for farm workers, Rs 4,500 per quintal for basmati Pusa- 1509 variety, and Rs 5,000 per quintal for basmati Pusa-1121 variety. He also sought the release of payment to sugarcane farmers by private mills, debt relief and Rs 500,000 financial assistance to next of kin, of the farmers who committed suicide.

Man kills his baby, held

ABOHAR: A disagreement between a man and his wife over “extra-marital relations” took a turn for the worse when it resulted in the drowning of a three-month old infant, in Sriganganagar. Sewa Ram and wife Raj Rani were reportedly have doubts and fights with each other over infidelity issues. On October 14, when Rani was in the bathroom, Sewa Ram took their baby and threw him in the water tank inside their house, covered it and left for the fields. When the wife found her baby missing, she raised an alarm. The dead infant was recovered by a neighbour. Initially blaming her sister-in-law, an interrogation of Sewa Ram unfolded the mystery, after which he was arrested.

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25

Sardar Patel- An Embodiment of National Unity AsianVoiceNews

Ashok Tandon

In its January 27, 1947 issue, Time Magazine featured 72-year old veteran Congress leader Vallabhbhai Patel on its cover page.

The comprehensive story on the socio-political dimensions of Patel’s life led to speculation that perhaps the person taking over as the first prime minister of independent India would be the “Sardar of Bardoli”, a title given to him by Mahatma Gandhi for successfully championing the cause of the peasants in Gujarat against anti-farmers policies of the British Raj. But, as aptly put by some commentators, Sardar Patel was destined to be the finest prime minister of his time that India never had.

Apparently, Mahatma Gandhi had made up his mind to anoint Jawaharlal Nehru for the coveted role; otherwise, he would not have asked Patel to withdraw in favour of Nehru for the post of Congress President at a time when the British were preparing to leave India.

Many historians believe that the Iron Man of India, whose “steely determination and pragmatism” in taking decisive action to consolidate the Indian Union and ordering direct police action against the Nizam of Hyderabad forcing him to merge his state into India, deserved a better treatment from the successive Congress governments in commemorating his birth anniversary since his death in 1950.

Even India’s first President Dr. Rajendra Prasad at one stage said: “No attempt has been made in Delhi to erect a memorial. Even the portrait in the Parliament House is the gift from the Prince of Gwalior. Let us not, therefore, run away with the thought that his (Sardar Patel’s) services are any the less valuable because we choose not to recognize them.”

Patel was awarded Bharat Ratna (highest civil decoration) in 1991, forty one years after his death, by the then Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha.

Today a grateful nation is commemorating Sardar Patel’s 140th birth anniversary as the Rashtriya Ekta Divas (National Unity Day), introduced for the first time in the calendar of national events by the Narendra Modi’s BJP-led NDA government in 2014, to be officially held annually on his birthday, 31 October.

Prime Minister Modi has always believed that "India will forever be indebted to Sardar Patel

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for his tireless efforts to unite the Nation," In a befitting tribute to Sardar Patel, 182 metres (597 feet) high Statue of Unity monument dedicated to Sardar Patel is being constructed facing the Narmada Dam near Vadodara in Gujarat.

The world’s tallest iron statue is being built by the Gujarat Government at a cost of nearly Rs.3000 Crores. The Statue of Unity Movement organized a marathon entitled Run for Unity in which millions of people participated at several places throughout India.

Sardar Patel, according to his contemporary historians, was a man of strong convictions with high moral character.

His wife Jhaverba died of cancer in 1909 when he was just 34. Leaving his daughter Maniben Patel and son Dahyabhai Patel to his family members for their upbringing, Patel, instead of marrying again, went to England to study Law and returned as a Barrister finishing a threeyear degree course in 30 months as a topper in his class. He used to study 16 hours a day at the age of 36-37.

Sardar Patel returned to India as a highly westernised barrister and a keen bridge player. He soon set up a flourishing law practice in Ahmedabad and aimed to be a rich man.

But his first meeting with Mahatma Gandhi, a chance encounter at the Gujarat Club in Ahmedabad in 1915, changed the entire course of Patel’s life and within a year the three-piece suit loving stylish barrister turned into a Khadi DhotiKurta clad freedom fighter.

Patel became the mayor of Ahmedabad in 1927 where his extraordinary skill as an administrator was on display during the Gujarat floods. He initiated an unprecedented fundraising drive for the relief of the flood victims.

Patel soon established himself as Congress Party’s chief organiser. He handled party funds but never used them for personal purposes.

Sardar Patel demonstrated his organizing skills in making a success of Mahatma Gandhi’s Bardoli Satyagraha in 1928 and the Dandi March in 1930.

Patel was at his persuasive best when spoke at the Gowalia Tank ground ( now called August Kranti Maidan) in Mumbai to launch the nation-wide civil disobedience movement in 1942 at the behest of Mahatma Gandhi.

Patel guided the cooperative movements in Gujarat and helped in set-

Asian Voice | 31st October 2015

ting up of the Kaira District Cooperative Milk Producers’ Union which proved to be a game changer for the dairy farming throughout the country.

Patel came to be known as the “muscle man “ of Mahatma Gandhi and a genuine grass root level party leader with mass appear and a true son of the soil.

The Sardar was also an exceptional scholar and a prominent member of the Constituent Assembly and several provisions of the constitution, especially relating to the Fundamental Rights, carried his stamp of approval.

It was at Sardar Patel’s insistence that Mahatma Gandhi persuaded a reluctant Nehru to induct stalwarts like Dr. B. R. Ambedkar and Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee into the Union Cabinet.

Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee, who later formed Bharatiya Jana Sangh, described Sardar Patel as“the most valiant champion of India’s freedom and the strongest unifying force in our national life.”

According to Dr. Mookerjee, Sardar Patel was “a rare combination of idealism and realism, of strength and generosity which made him a leader and a statesman who had no equal.”

As the Union Home Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister, Patel emerged as a statesman of integrity with practical acumen and resolve to accomplish the monumental task of integrating 565 princely states to merge into the independent Indian Republic.

Patel is also affectionately remembered as the "Patron saint of India's civil servants" for having established the modern unified Indian Administrative Service and other all India services.

On the issue of Jammu & Kashmir, Sardar Patel was unequivocal in declaring: “I should like to make one thing clear, that we shall not surrender an inch of Kashmir territory to anybody.”

Sardar Patel was perceived as the real boss of the Congress and a disciplinarian.

When dissidence erupted against the then Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Pt. Govind Vallabh Pant, It

was Sardar Patel who took upon himself the ardours task of handling this unfortunate development.

Patel convened a meeting of the Congress Legislature Party in the Vidhan Sabha hall in Lucknow and asked for all the exit points to be thrown wide open and said in a commanding tone “those who want to leave are free to go”. He again said “I say those who want to leave are free to go” and repeated the same for the third time.

There was a pin drop silence and no one moved from his/her seat.

Patel then asked all the doors to be shut and gave the Congress legislators a dressing down for plotting dissidence against a great freedom fighter and a dedicated congressman like Pt. Pant.

That was Sardar Patel’s style of tackling internal party dissidence.

Historians believe that one of Patel’s key achievements was the building of cohesion and trust amongst the different castes and communities which were divided on socio-economic lines.

Sardar Patel played a pivotal role in the reconstruction of the ancient Somnath Temple in

Saurashtra through a public trust.

But on the Ram Mandir-Babri Masjid issue, Patel wrote to UP Chief Minister Govind Vallabh Pant in 1949, "I feel that the issue is one which should be resolved amicably in a spirit of mutual toleration and goodwill between the two communities. . . . such matters can only be resolved peacefully if we take the willing consent of the Muslim community with us. There can be no question of resolving such disputes by force."

Very little is known about Sardar Patel’s role in the growth and consolidation of the Press after independence.

As the first Information & Broadcasting Minister in the Nehru cabinet, Sardar Patel played a key role in bringing round the British transnational News Agency Reuters to enter into a reasonable partnership agreement with the Indian premier news agency the Press Trust of India for supply of international news to the newspapers in free India.

Eventually, when the terms were accepted by Reuters and an agreement was announced on 21 September 1948, PTI had

to raise funds quickly for buying the shares of Reuters.

PTI issued 10,000 debentures of Rs. 100 each and Sardar Patel helped by persuading the ruler of Baroda to buy a large portion of the debentures.

That was how PTI remitted the money and became a partner of Reuters.

Sardar Patel did not live long after independence to further shape India’s destiny.

One unique feature of the condolences which poured from all over the world on his demise was that even the erstwhile rulers of the princely state which Patel merged into the Indian Union paid their respectful homage to the great son of India.

In a departure from the British service rules, member of the I.C.S and the I.A.S assembled in the capital and passed a condolence resolution paying glowing and affectionate tributes to the man who launched the unified all India services.

(Ashok Tandon is a senior journalist and a part-time member of the Prasar Bharati Board) ashokkumar.tandon@gmail.com

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Indian gangster Chhota Rajan caught in Bali One of India's notorious gangsters who has been on the run for the past 20 years, Chhota Rajan was recently arrested in the resort island of Bali in Indonesia. An associate of mob boss Dawood Ibrahim, Rajan was arrested from Bali airport based on an Interpol red corner notice and a tip-off from authorities in Australia, where is is reported to have spent the last 6 years. A joint CBI and Mumbai Police team will soon fly to the island to bring Rajan back.

Addressing the media, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said, “It is official. We have captured Chhota Rajan. Once identification and verification is done, appropriate action will be taken.” Senior police officers have stated that while the arrest may not help catch Dawood, it could be vital in cracking a spate of unsolved murder and extortion cases, including the high-profile killing of journalist Jyotirmoy Dey in 2011. Former Mumbai police commissioner M N Singh said the gangster may have staged the arrest citing ill health, but several offi-

cials believe he wants to come back to take control of the underworld. “At the request of CBI (Interpol wing) India, Bali Police arrested an Indian national Mohan Kumar on October 25. Kumar alias Rajendra Sadashiv Nikalje alias Chhota Rajan is a fugitive,” said CBI director Anil Sinha, putting an end to the confusion over the identity of the person arrested.

India and Indonesia signed an extradition treaty in 2011 but Jakarta hasn’t ratified it so far. In August, the two countries signed a pact for the deportation of wanted criminals on court warrant, an agreement that may come in handy. “We don’t need a formal extradi-

CONTINUED FROM P1 of credit by India to African nations,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup told reporters.

India wants a “developmental partnership” with Africa to be the base of their economic ties. This also allows India to differentiate itself from the principles on which countries belonging to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. While the Indian private sector, including big names like Tata, Bajaj, Mahindra and Airtel have made significant investments in Africa, it needs bolder and more imagination to gain control in the initiative in Africa.

There are several other strategic convergences, like the growing hold of terrorist organisation Boko Haram in Nigeria, the Islamic State and Islamic extremism the continent faces. India and Africa can together address the issue.

India is building economic and commercial ties with Africa even as it is contributing to the development of African countries through cooperation and technical assistance. It is the third-largest contributor of UN peacekeepers to the continent. The Indian Navy is also engaged in dealing with pirates off the coast of Somalia. It has been patrolling the waters of the Indian Ocean and

helping countries in Eastern and Southern Africa in tackling piracy and surveillance of the EEZ. India has sought cooperation of African states in the Indian Ocean littoral to establish mechanisms for cooperation in order to deal with threats to regional security including terrorism and piracy.

India’s trade with Africa is valued at USD 75 billion. India has granted USD7.4 billion for various developmental and capacity building projects, and has implemented 137 projects in 41 African countries in the past four years. “We will have a cultural component in the inaugural ceremony, which has not happened in the last two Summits. This will exhibit some of the traditions and cultures of India and also the brand new India, and how that new India can partner with a resurgent Africa,” chief coordinator of the Summit, Akbaruddin said. He said India will be focussing on capacity building and human resources as the major deliverables. “We stand for human resources in Africa...the most important element in any society.

Any other resources are peripheral to our engagement. Our engagement with Africa is in terms of human resources, peopleto-people contact, exchange of ideas, capacity building where and African can gain,” he said.

Africa converge in Delhi

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Love has no borders

tion treaty. There are other arrangements.... and it has happened before,” said Anil Wadhwa, secretary in the external affairs ministry.

It is said that he was under the Australian police's radar four months back. “But despite identifying Rajan, Australian authorities didn't want any mess on their land as rival Dawood's hitmen were looking for him.

They wanted to avoid any India-Pakistan situation in Australia,” a security official said. The Maharashtra government has said it will write to the Centre and demand Rajan's custody for further investigation in at least 68 cases, 28 of which are on extortion.

Rajan had started his career in crime as a petty thief and bootlegger under the Rajan Nair, known as Bada Rajan, slowly expanding his syndicate committing at least 20 murders. He fell out with Dawood Ibrahim after the 1993 Mumbai blasts that killed 257 people, declared himself a “patriotic don', and murdered key associates Sunil Sawant and Sharad Shetty in the UAE, besides other blasts accused.

When we think of these two sporting celebrities, we think of them as a match made in heaven. The world's No 1 doubles tennis player, Sania Mirza from India, and robust Pakistani cricketer, Shoaib Malik have been married since 2010 and their love story has been no less than a Bollywood film.

For them, they were two individuals in love.

However, people were not too keen on this marriage, due to the ongoing animosity between the two neighbouring countries, India and Pakistan.

With time, their love has triumphed and

CONTINUED FROM P1 Afghanistan and Peshawar, Pakistan. It was also felt in several northern region of India. US Geological Survey has placed the epicentre of the quake near Jarm in the Hindu Kush mountains. Official reports placed the death toll of 335, for now. Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif flew home to deal with the emergency, cutting short his US visit.

Helicopters were needed to reach the most remote villages, many of which were inaccessible by roads. Given Afghanistan's lack of resources, Pakistani helicopters and planes were being used to transport relief supplies and military engineers are currently trying to restore the disrupted communication lines.

The prolonged tremors are considered to be one of the worst experienced in the region. A resident from Lahore, Waqas

Habibi Rana said, “As soon as we felt the first tremor we stepped out of our home. It stopped for a few seconds, but started again.

The third tremor was really severe. It was by far the worst earthquake I have ever experienced in Pakistan. Everyone was scared and praying. It has triggered a landslide in Baltistan.”

Insisting it does not need International assistance to cope with the disasters, the Pakistani army has responded to the crisis.

While the civilian officials have warned that the death toll could rise, Inayatullah Khnan, minister for local government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, one of the worst affected Pakistani provinces said, “The district officers in those areas have informed me there were many villages and buildings that got totally destroyed. We are trying our best to utilise every

Sania Mirza and Shoaib Malik on their wedding day

Adnan Sami to receive Indian citizenship silenced all the critics who were out to malign them for their cross-border love story. They have proved that love has no borders.

Another cross-border love story is of Adnan Sami and the land of India. He's

been residing in India for over a decade now and looks like he will finally be getting his Indian citizenship. It is said that he is likely to be granted “citizenship by naturalisation” in view of his “distinguished service to the cause of art.” Whether it's for the love of their lives, or for the love of arts and culture, India surely seems to be a favourite among people from different nations.

Surely, the homely feeling of India may have compelled many to kick back and settle into a more harmonious lifestyle without the hustle and tussle of a daily monotonous life.

335 killed as quake hits, Afghanistan, Pakistan

facility we have and already have sent mobile ambulances carrying every facility of a hospital towards Upper Dir.” Afghan officials said at least 74 people were confirmed dead and hundreds more injured, with casualties reported from around half a dozen of the country’s 34 provinces. The Kabul government has called for international aid agencies to send help.

Joining hands, the

Taliban promised help to those affected.

“The Islamic Emirate [Taliban] calls on … charitable organisations to not hold back in providing shelter, food and medical supplies to the victims of this earthquake,” the group said on its website. “It similarly orders its mujahideen in the affected areas to lend their complete help to the victims and facilitate those giving charity to the needy.”

AsianVoiceNews

Steps to take to prevent tooth ailments A FOOD

FITNESS

s we get older our teeth start showing signs of wear and tear; signs like darkening of teeth, gum, tooth decay, loosening of teeth, widening gaps between teeth and finally tooth loss.

These effects can also speed up due to improper tooth and gum care, inadequate oral hygiene and unhealthy eating. What we can do to prevent these tooth ailments.

the teeth. Saliva calcification is strong enough to hold bacteria inside the tartar. This is why people with tartar have less tooth decay. However, tartar itself can cause holes in the teeth, which can eventually lead to a disease. Saliva gives calcium to the teeth and repair hidden tooth decay every day. To keep the saliva from being more acidic one must drink lots of water on a daily basis.

TOOTH DECAY Our teeth are made up of thousands of tiny enamel pores that form the visible part of the teeth. The acids that the bacteria produce in the plaque penetrate the enamel's pores. This can produce a weak spot in the tooth's surface, and the enamel can decay and create a cavity. Therefore, the inner portion of the teeth will melt or decay first. In this kind of process, the tooth will look like a hardened sponge, which will be noticeable from the outside. Saliva can repair or remedy tooth decay, because it works by calcifying the damaged portion of

PLAQUE BUILD-UP Plaque is a film that sticks to the surface of your teeth.

It consists of various forms of bacteria and other such micro-organisms. If this biofilm is not removed properly and regularly then the plaque build-up can lead to various dental problems like cavities (caries) or periodontal problems such as gingivitis. It also causes build up of Tartar that is a hard calculus which can only be removed by a dentist. To avoid plaque one must eat a proper diet (avoid surgery food), stop smoking and regularly use fluoride based toothpaste.

new study has found that exercise and weight loss improves ovulation in women who have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a common hormone disorder that often causes infertility.

"The findings confirm what we have long suspected - that exercise and a healthy diet can improve fertility in women who have PCOS," said one of the study authors, Richard Legro, a professor

at Penn State College of Medicine in Pennsylvania.

Polycystic ovary syndrome is the most common cause of female infertility.

The condition occurs when a woman's body produces slightly higher than normal

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HEALTH&WELLNESS AsianVoiceNewsweekly

STAINING Staining is a common disease of discolouring of teeth with time and also due to food habits. As we indulge in our normal life the stains start accumulating on our teeth. Initially the stains show as yellowing of teeth from the nor-

Beetroot juice can help you beat mountain sickness

mal white. With age the yellow start changing towards brown. One needs to clean teeth properly to maintain natural white teeth.

APPEARANCE OF TEETH If we talk about kids, they usually have white teeth. If he or she has yellow teeth, they need to visit their dentist. It may lead to a serious dental problem. As we enter the age of 13, our teeth slowly start turning yellow. In the early thirties, teeth start looking more yellow than white. As we grow older the colour changes to brown. At this time changing or lighting the colour becomes a big challenge.

Exercise improves fertility in women amounts of testosterone and other androgens, sex hormones associated with male traits.

The resulting hormone imbalance can cause irregular or absent menstrual periods, weight gain, acne, excess hair on the face and body, or thinning hair on the scalp.

Women with PCOS often take birth control pills to regulate the men-

To Our Readers

We are publishing these items in good faith, kindly consult your Doctor before you try to implement it. We do not hold any responsibility for its efficacy...

| Asian Voice | 31st October 2015

www.asian-voice.com

LIFESTYLE

ACID EROSION This is one of the most common dental problems seen among kids aged between 5 to 17. It is caused due to acidic foods and drinks like sweets and fruit juices etc. The various particles present in these foods ferment and produce acids that attack and destroy the enamel of teeth and eventually cause tooth decay.

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strual cycle and reduce the level of androgens in the body as past research has indicated that pretreatment with a short-term course of birth control pills can raise pregnancy rates among women with PCOS. The latest study examined the differences in pregnancy outcomes among 149 women with PCOS who either took birth control pills, underwent lifestyle modification or a combination of the two interventions for a fourmonth period.

The participants were between the ages of 18 and 40. The researchers found that women who participated in the lifestyle modification intervention and took birth control pills were more likely to ovulate than women who were assigned to take birth control pills.

"The research indicates preconception weight loss and exercise improve w o m e n ' s reproductive and metabolic health," Legro said.

he next time you plan a high altitude trip, don't forget to carry a bottle of beetroot juice in your backpack.

Researchers have found that nitrate-rich beetroot juice helps the body acclimatize more quickly and thoroughly at high altitude.

Drinking beet juice can help you beat acute mountain sickness, caused by lower air pressures at high altitude which affects the ability of our bodies to take up oxygen, the findings showed.

"It may be the extra boost your body needs to deliver enough oxygen to your tired muscles and keep you healthy when you are climbing a high mountain," said the study's corresponding author Svein Erik Gaustad, from Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU).The team of Norwegian and Swedish researchers decided to see how nitrate-rich beet juice might affect acclimatization on a 39-day expedition to Kathmandu

T

and at 3,700 meters in the Rolwaling Valley, Nepal.

Previous research had shown that blood vessels tend to contract at high altitude, so researchers decided to see if they could improve blood vessel function at high altitude simply by having test subjects drink beetroot juice.

They measured blood vessel function with a standard test of arterial endothelial function, a flow-mediated dilatation test (FMD) that uses ultrasound. In the study the researchers showed that consumption of organic nitrate-rich beet juice restored reduced blood vessel function at high altitude.

Participants were investigated after drinking two types of beet juice with a 24-hour break between tests. The study showed that beet juice with high amounts of nitrate made the blood vessels relax and return to normal function, while beet juice with no nitrate (the placebo) did not have any effect.

Neeta’s Herbal Clinic for Hair & Skin Care

Coventry Now Open

A traumatic experience when one is balding or suffering from hair loss If you have been one to watch in despair as your luscious locks disappeard down the plug-hole everyday, then there is hope to save your crowing glory!

While lustrous, healthy hair is a source of pride for men and women alike, many are forced to battle with hair problems.

There are many reasons why a person can start losing their hair.

Research has shown that stress plays a vital factor in determining hair condition. Poor hair care, environment, lifestyle and diet too has its effect on hair growth.

It is very important to ascertain what kind of hair you have and then look after it accordingly.

Hair loss falls into two categories, where it is distributed over the whole scalp and where hair loss is limited to localised areas. Hair loss is often more than a beauty problem. In some cases of alopecia, the condition is caused by bacteria or other infection or may even indicate a severe systemic disease. In the case of Hair loss, the hair follicles loose the capacity to initiate new growth.

Neeta’s Herbal offers a safe and natural solution to combat hair and skin problems.

For Free Consultation:- Please call Coventry North London West London 317 Foleshill Road, North Finchley Hounslow Coventry, CV1 4JS. 0208 446 7020 0208 577 6821 Tel: 02476 681 649 www.neetasherbaluk.com

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Suriya denies being part of 'Baahubali 2'

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

Asian Voice | 31st October 2015

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S Rajamouli's 'Baahubali' hit home this year, with its grandeur and stunning visual effects. While promoting the movie, actor Suriya expressed his wish to be a part of the sequel, kickstarting a chain of rumours

that claimed Suriya will play a brief role in the film's sequel.

The latest update was that both Suriya and Shriya Saran will be seen in 'Baahubali 2'.

During the audio launch of his upcoming 'Pasanga 2', Suriya was bom-

Tollywood comedian Kallu Chidambaram dead

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ctor and comedian, Kolluri Chidambara Rao, popularly known as Kallu Chidambaram, died recently at a private hospital following respiratory ailment. The 67 year old had made his debut with 'Kallu', based on writer Gollapudi Maruti Rao's play-let and directed by

cin emato grapher M V Raghu in 1987, for which he won the Nandi award. He has also acted in comic roles in more than 300 films, including 'April 1 Vidudala', 'Aa O k k a t i

Adakku', 'Govinda G o v i n d a ' , 'Jambalakadipamba' and 'Money, Money, Money'. Drawn to the theatre right from his school days, he acted in 36 plays and play-lets.

In 2008 he had founded a federation of artistes, Sakala Kalakalrula Samakhya, for the welfare of artistes.

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'Main Aur Charles'

K

ollywood actor, director Kamal Haasan has featured in many unofficial remakes of Hollywood films such as 'Avvai Shanmughi' ('Mrs. Doubtfire') ), 'Sathi Leelavathi' ('She Devil'), 'Tenali' ('What About Bob') and 'Magalir Mattum' ('9 to 5') to name a few. For the first time the Ulaganayagan has acquired the rights for remaking the French film ‘Sleepless Night’ as ‘Thoongavanam’ starring Trisha, Asha Sarath, Madu Shalini, Prakash Raj and Kishore which is going to hit the screens on his birthday, 7th of Novermber. Kamal has actually beaten Hollywood with ‘Thoongavanam’ as an American version of the film is under production titled ‘Sleepless Night’ starring Jamie Foxx and Michelle Monaghan and the release of this film is expected only sometime in 2016.

ished. “Today, I have 200 students and after I nurtured this school for long… these days, I do not spend much time as I have appointed full-time teachers who are my former students,” she said.

Speaking about her choreographic production 'Krishna', Shobana said it has now been staged 91 times and she is happy that it has been going on well. Talking about motherhood, the actress said that her seven-year-old daughter keeps her busy. “No, she does not dance, but she makes me dance,” said the actress light-heartedly.

'Titli'

Ajay Devgn's balancing act

gives a peek into the mind of noted criminal Charles Sobraj, who once escaped India's most securely guarded prison.

'Titli,' the youngest member of a violent carjacking brotherhood, desperately wants to escape the 'family' business. He finds an

ally in his new wife after his family. Together, their beneficial partnership watches them struggle to get out of their family bindings.

Esha refuses to promote skin lightening product

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vinced (well, al most!) that he won't be part of the franchise, Shriya Saran's inclusion in the cast is still shrouded in mystery.

Guess we would just have to wait for an official confirmation from Rajamouli.

Kamal Haasan's 'Thoongavanam' progressing fast

Shobana becomes selective

alayalam actress Shobhana has become selective of the films she does, saying she will return to the big screen if she gets to play exciting roles. The National Award Winner said that she was often approached by directors, but they aren't exciting enough. “I decided to become selective once I realised that the ones that were coming... after being in the industry for so long... were no longer exciting and challenging.

I will certainly return, if someone offers me an exciting one,” she said.

Her dance school in Chennai has since flour-

Main Aur Charles' revolves around a man and the lives he affected with his inescapable charm and personality.

Set in the 1980s, the film

barded with questions about his role in the sequel, to which he promptly replied, “No, I'm not part of Baahubali 2.

Rajamouli sir hasn't approached me for any such role. They are all just rumours.”

While Suriya has us con-

wo-time National Award winning film actor Ajay Devgn, who is among the most bankable box office stars in the industry today, has been felicitated for his valuable contribution to Indian cinema at the opening day of Confederation of Indian Industry' Big Picture Summit. “When you are an actor you do not think about genres... When you are doing comedy you do think, 'Oh I wish I was doing a serious film as it takes less energy'. Comedy needs a lot of energy and timing. When you are doing action you feel it's tiring. I like to switch and do different things,' Devgn said after receiving the award.

ollywood actresses have started to speak over the bias promoted by the insensitive marketing of fairness products.

After Kangana Ranaut and Anushka Sharma, the recent actress to refuse to promote a fairness cream brand was Esha Gupta. A source said, “The brand was pretty keen to have Esha on board. They had conducted market research and found out that she would be suitable for their product's campaign. Following a discussion with her team, the brand officials showed willingness to pay a hefty amount, but she refused outright.”

When asked, she said, “Yes, I have rejected a brand deal. I won't endorse a fairness product because of the bias it promotes.”

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AsianVoiceNewsweekly

Deepika praises Ranbir and Ranveer

D

eepika Padukone who launched her signature line 'All About You' for an online brand, describes her own style as boring. At the launch, the actress said there were many whose style she admired, from Rekha to Hema Malini, and Sonam Kapoor. “It's all about being you and this is what I want to tell every young girl that don't try too hard,” Deepika said.

The 'Piku' actress will be next seen across Ranbir Kapoor in Imtiaz Ali's 'Tamasha'. When asked if she was nervous, she said, “Yes. Excited but not nervous and it has been a great year with Piku. I am fortunate to have got the movies I did and the diverse roles to perform.” When asked who was a better co-star, Ranveer or Ranbir, she said, “I find these ques-

Bipasha is afraid of love

Asian Voice | 31st October 2015

tions very silly. Both are different with their own individualistic style and fun. Both of them have been fun and have been amazing co-stars and I look forward to working with them more.”

Seven years ago it was Deepika and Shah Rukh Khan versus Sanjay Leela Bhansali ('Om Shanti Om' v e r s e s 'Saawariyan').

This year she is on the other side.

The famed December 18 clash between her film 'Bajirao Mastani' and Shah Rukh's 'Dilwale.' Yet again, a politically correct Deepika said that there was nothing to it and that 'both films are different.'

B

ollywood horror queen, Bipasha Basu is all set to make a TV debut with a brand new series called 'Darr Sabko Lagta Hai'. In an interview, Bipasha, when asked if she was happy being called the Horror Queen of Bollywood, she said, “Yes. From the time Hindi cinema started no one has had this title. I own it. People are desperate to make it big and here I am who has always got one tag or other all my life. You get a tag only when you are doing something good.

Emraan Hashmi is called a serial kisser which means he has done something nice.” In the context of the name of her show and the famous dialogue Thappad se darr nahi lagta, pyaar se lagta hai, Bips was asked if she was afraid of love. The dimpled beauty replied, “Thappad se darr lagta hai aur pyaar se bhi.

But no one will slap me.

Actually love it is not like some masala. There is both good and bad, fun and not so fun involved in it. You have experienced it I am sure and you do know what I am talking about.”

The 'Jism' actor who is rumoured to be dating actor Karan Singh Grover, was recently seen at Madhavan's birthday party with ex-flame Dino Morea. When asked to define her relationship with Grover, she said, “Your definition is good friends and I define him as a friend.”

Sonam wants Katrina in her new film?

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ctress Sonam Kapoor has reportedly approached Katrina Kaif with a role for a parallel lead in a new chick flick. The film is expected to go on floors next year, after Sonam completes shooting for 'Battle For Bittora'. Kaif is apparently considering the offer quite seriously and will even sit for a film narration session soon. The movie will mark sister Rhea Kapoor's directorial debut. Rhea has so far produced 'Aisha', 'Khoobsoorat' and 'Battle For Bittora', all starring Sonam in the lead role.

The film may also star

Freida Pinto spotted with special 'friend'

F

r e i d a Pinto, who broke up with her ' S l u m d o g Millionaire' costar Dev Patel last year, was recently spotted with her special "friend" American polo player Ronnie Bacardi in Los Angeles. The Academy Award-winning actress was pictured kissing the player at Brazilian steakhouse Fogo de Chao, and the couple seemed completely in love as they walked hand-in-hand.

They were also spotted making their way to a popular ice cream parlour. "We're just friends," Freida claimed while speaking to the media back in April. "There is nothing to comment on, really," she said. The duo also went on a romantic getaway to Vancouver on October 18, where they ushered in Freida's birthday.

Biopic on former Pak cricketer Imran Khan

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rapevine is abuzz about a biopic on Pakistani cricketer-turnedpolitician to roll out soon. A source said, “Indian producer Rakesh Upadhyay is planning the project with director Ritesh Sinha. Islamabad-based entrepreneur Babar Shaikh facilitated their meeting with Khan, who did not raise any objection to the biopic. At the moment, everything is in the planning stage only.” Confirming the story, Upadhyay said, “Yes, we met him recently to discuss the project and secured his permission to go ahead with it. We want to make the film as per international standards since Imran Khan is a global icon and has a huge fan following across the world. Ritesh will direct and co-produce the film.”

Huma Qureshi and Anushka Sharma. Sonam Kapoor, who was last seen in 'Dolly ki Doli', awaits the release of 'Prem Ratan Dhan Payo', where she stars opposite Salman Khan. The Sooraj Barjatyadirected film will hit the screens on November 12.

Meanwhile, Katrina, whose last venture was 'Dhoom: 3' with Aamir Khan will be soon seen in Abhishek Kapoor's adaptation of Charles Dickens' The Great Expectations, titled 'Fitoor.' She had also been busy with the shooting of Nitya Mehra's 'Baar Baar Dekho' and also has Anurag Basu's 'Jagga Jasoos' co-starring Ranbir Kapoor up her sleeve.

Raveena Tandon bats for good parenting

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ctress Raveena Tandon, who was last seen in 'Bombay Velvet' s t r o n g l y believes parents need to teach their children “the value of everything”.

She has four children, including two girls she adopted in 1995. “As parents we need to teach our kids the value of everything, even the value of a rupee for that matter. As per my opinion the most important factor in a child's upbringing is the atmosphere.

Hence, parents need to ensure that their child is brought up in a strong, stable, normal and positive environment. This would make their child happy, healthy and positive,” she said in a statement. Tandon is a part of BIG FM's 'Badon Ki Pathshala' campaign, which aims to help young parents plan their children's future thoughtfully.

Singh is Bliing singer Labh Janjua found dead

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opular bhangra singer Labh Janjua was found dead at his residence in Mumbai. Originally from Ludhiana, he became popular with the song 'Mundiyan Toh Bach Ke', produced by Punjabi MC and used in Amitabh Bachchan- Katrina Kaif starrer 'Boom'. He officially became a Bollywood singer in the 2007 film 'Hattrick'. His songs have been used in popular movies like 'Dev D', 'Jai Ho', 'Garam Masala', 'Singh is Kinng' and also its recently released sequel, 'Singh is Bliing'.

UK

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Asian Voice | 31st October 2015

Indian children in WWI The new book, For King and Another Country: Indian Soldiers on the Western Front 1914-18, reveals that the British Government had affiliated Indian children, as young as 10, to help fight against the Germans in World War I. The book is by writer and historian, Shrabani Basu, and it is based on some of the official papers at the British Library and National Archives.

The book reveals how several children were shipped to France to carry out support roles in the war. However, they tended to be sent extremely close to the front line that many would end up injured and hospitalised.

A Gurkha boy, Pim, awarded for bravery in combat during World War

Basu's book also reveals that British nurses were allegedly restricted from treating Indian soldiers in war hospitals. They were only allowed to supervise orderlies, which led to claims of discrimination.

The book will be published on 5th November 2015, by Bloomsbury.

Coming Events

l Sardar Patel Memorial Society (SPMS)- Bhajans in Memory of Sardar Patel: Saturday 31st October 2015, 4pm- 6pm. Shree Jalaram Jyot Mandir, WASP, Repton Avenue, Sudbury, Wembley HA0 3DW. Contact PG Patel: 07960 376 229. l Brahmin Society North London- BSNL Navchandi Havan: Saturday 31st October, 9am- 5pm.

Mahaprashad will be served after. SKLP Community Centre, West End Road, Northolt, Middlesex UB5 6RE. l Nagrecha Charitable Trust Presents Sunehri YaadeinEvergreen Hindi Songs: Saturday 31st October, 6:30pm. Hariben Bachubhai Nagrecha Hall, 198- 202 Leyton Road, E15 1DT. Contact: 07946 565 888. l Klose to my Heart- Sonu Nigam Live in Concert: Sunday 1st November, 6pm. The SSE Arena, Wembley. l Nari Shakti Swaroopani- Female Strength in its Grandest Form: Sunday 1st November, 4:30pm- 8pm.

Vegetarian dinner will be served. Corelli College, Kidbrooke, Corelli Road, London SE3 8EL. Contact Binal Rabadia: 07849 978 940. l Jailed Academy of Music Presents Life- Indian Classical Music & Dance: Thursday 5th November, 7:30pm. St John's Smith Square, Smith Square, London SW1P 3HA. Contact: 020 7222 1061. l Vaso Nagrik Mandal UK Get Together- Enjoy Music, Entertainment, Variety of Food & Drinks: Sunday 8th November, 4pm till late. National Association of Patidar Samaj Hall, 26b Tooting High Street, (Next to NatWest Bank), Tooting Broadway, London SW17 0RJ. Contact Pradipbhai Amin: 07930 474 711. l BSNL Diwali Dinner & Dance: Saturday 21st November, 6pm- 11:30pm. Sangam Community Centre, Burnt Oak, London. Contact: 07944 913 208.

Editor: CB Patel Associate Editor: Rupanjana Dutta Tel: 020 7749 4098 - Email: rupanjana.dutta@abplgroup.com Editorial Executive: Reshma Trilochun Tel: 020 7749 4010 - Email: reshma.trilochun@abplgroup.com Senior News Editor: Dhiren Katwa Chief Operating Officer: Liji George Tel: 020 7749 4013 Email: george@abplgroup.com Account Executive: Arjun Chokshi Tel: 020 7749 4087 Email: arjun.chokshi@abplgroup.

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AsianVoiceNewsweekly

Durga Pujo celebrations by London Sharad Utsav Durga Pujo celebrations were grandly held at London’s Ealing Town Hall from 22nd-25th October. Organised

by London Shard Utsav committee and inaugurated by MP Virendra Sharma, the weekend programs included captivating performances by Shahana Bajpaie, Pritidipa Barua, Anashmita Saha, Sinjini Chakraborty, and Ragasudha danseuse Vinjamuri and the students of Sanskruti Centre for Cultural Excellence, compered by Samya Karpha, intercepted by Bengali poetic expressions.

Performances covered the dance disciplines from North, South, and Eastern parts of India. Playback singer and Indian Minister of State for Urban Babul Development Supriyo was the Guest of Honour whose rendition a hall packed full of audience enjoyed thoroughly. Stalls exhibiting jewellery, art

ARIES Mar 21 - Apr 20 You could work with some-

Photo courtesy: Srinjoy Sen

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and crafts, fabrics and food stuffs attracted hundreds of audiences too. Pujos and aartis were held traditionally on all days, in which scores of attendees including women and children have participated.

LSU’s aim is to promote moral and spiritual welfare of the community, and had previously hosted events at the Nehru Centre and Harrow Arts Centre and held Cricket Utsav tournament at the Shepherd’s Bush Cricket Club. LSU also supports the cause of underprivileged children in Sundarbans area of West Bengal.

£5 coin marks anniversary of Agincourt battle

A £5 coin was released by The Royal Mint to commemorate the 600th anniversary of the Battle of Agincourt, which was a turning point in the Hundred Years war between England and France.

one on a project that calls for clear communication and a high degree of cooperation. You may also find yourself thinking deeply about what it is you really want to do, and who you really want to be with. The decisions you make now will be important for the path you take.

TAURUS Apr 21 - May 21 There seems to be some pressure on joint financial affairs. If you feel that something has been hanging in the balance, whatever happens you will get a clearer picture of the situation eventually. Allow matters to ride as impatience will not give you the whole picture.

GEMINI May 22 - June 22 This is an excellent time for

developing and perfecting skills. Do not kid yourself that emotional problems can always be solved by material means. This only covers the cracks and does nobody any good in the end. Be prepared to confront the issues.

Cancer

CANCER Jun 22 - Jul 22

This week should see you at the peak of your creative powers and at the height of a romance. It’s an exciting, expansive time, when you should find it easier to be who you are and do what you want - you may be surprised by just how far you can go. This is a good time to embrace changes you might not even consider at other times.

LEO Jul 23 - Aug 23

Your attention turns to money and finance this week. You are satisfied with your love life, but now you have to get busy making cash. You have much professional territory to cover, with Jupiter in your financial sector, there is no reason why you should not get there. Good period for communications.

VIRGO Aug 24 - Sep 23

Extra energy and drive will serve you well in getting things accomplished, but try not to come on too strong when you deal with others. Avoid get-rich-quick schemes and be cautious about other people's enthusiasm. Experience you have built up in the past will now stand you in good stead.

Your communications are at their peak and any initiatives you take now will be well received. A tremendous amount of planetary activity in your chart signals a time of mixed emotions. Although the very practical affairs of life continue to be highlighted, this does not mean that there will be all work and no play.

LIBRA Sep 24 - Oct 23

SCORPIO Oct 24- Nov 22

Gujarat Tel: +91 79 2630 4142 Urvashi Jagadeesan (India) Mumbai: Kanti Bhatt, Hemraj Shah (Jumbo Advertiser) Horizon Advertising & Marketing: 2012, Shalibhadra Complex, Opp. Jain Derasar, Nr. Nehru Nagar Circle, Ambawadi, Ahmedabad. Tel +91 79 2646 5960 Email: horizon.marketing@abplgroup.com Business Manager: Hardik Shah (M) +91 99250 42936 Email: hardik.shah@abplgroup.com Advertising Manager: Neeta Patel (Vadodara) M: +91 98255 11702 Email: neeta_abplgroup@yahoo.co.in Business Co-ordinator: Shrijit Rajan M: +91 98798 82312 Email: shrijit.rajan@abplgroup.com International Advertisement Representative: Jain International Tel: +91 44 42041122/3/4 Fax: +91 44 25362973 Mumbai: +91 022 2471 4122 Email: jain@jaingroup.net Delhi Office: Tel: +91 9311581597

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You will be pleased to see that your social life livens up during this week. It is as if a lucky twist of events and something unexpected that will provide you with a key to your heart's desire. There is a definite expansive trend where money is concerned, so do not be surprised if you have lucky breaks.

SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 - Dec 21 The fiery planet Mars, continues to occupy your Solar 10th sign for some time to come. Its influence will help you to maintain a high energy level and achieve anything that requires drive and initiative. If you are involved in a fairly competitive field of activity, you will be the one who comes out on top.

CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan 20 You’re likely to receive insights into where everything is going and these may shape your life for months to come. You can look forward to advancing both personal and professional ambitions from now onwards. There are opportunities to expand your sphere of operations and you and a partner could really go places.

AQUARIUS Jan 21 - Feb 19 You’re likely to find yourself weighing practical considerations with long–term goals. Certainly you’re entering a very important period of your life where, by working hard and being focused, you can go a long way towards realising your ideals.

Currently your ruler Saturn is helping you to define who you really are.

PISCES Feb 20 - Mar 20

You will feel energetic and confident as the week begins. New beginnings are favoured around now, as long as you do not bite off more than you can chew. This may be a time of expansion and improved opportunity and it would be unwise to let yourself become complacent. Affairs of the heart are likely to flourish.

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Fading light denies England chance of victory

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The first test between England and Pakistan ended in a draw as England fell agonisingly short of glory following a Twenty20-style run-chase.

A staggering and unscripted Pakistan collapse opened the door for a gallop to the finish in rapidly fading light. The hero of the hour was Adil Rashid, who turned his long-awaited maiden Test wicket into a redemptive five-wicket haul as Pakistan were routed for 173 in 57.5 overs.

However, needing 99 for victory in what amounted to an hour's worth of daylight, England could not quite defy the heavens in their gallant sprint for the line.

Had there been time for Pakistan to bowl their full allocation of 19 overs, the target would have been a breeze for a spirited young line-up featuring many of the men who have revived England's one-day fortunes this summer.

However, despite the best efforts of Joe Root, who hustled 33 from 29 balls, and Jonny Bairstow, who clattered an enormous six over midwicket in a Wahab

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Riaz over that was dispatched for 17 runs, their rage against the dying of the light left them 25 runs short after an 11-over slog.

Pakistan, inevitably, were in no hurry to get through their overs, but they could hardly be faulted for that. England themselves have used delaying tactics to their advantage in the past, not least during their great escape at Cardiff in the 2009 Ashes, when Bilal Shafayat, the 12th man, earned notoriety for his glove-delivering duties. Ultimately it came down to the umpires to

assess the conditions, just as they had done on the previous evening. Fifteen years on from Karachi, and with no Steve Bucknor in the middle to take matters into his own hands, the end of the match was signalled with an apologetic shrug of the shoulders, as Bruce Oxenford and Paul Reiffel called a halt to proceedings at 5.46 pm local time, seven minutes before sunset was officially confirmed.

The first hint that something extraordinary was afoot had come in the third over of Pakistan's sec-

ond innings. The morning, up to that point, had been following the pattern of the previous four days England, 569 for 8 overnight, added 29 runs for the loss of Rashid in a ponderous first hour, before Alastair Cook decided enough was enough and declared on 598 for 9.

James Anderson, the notout No.11, appeared oddly peeved at the decision perhaps he had designs on a last-day century? - but whatever his gripe, he quickly channelled it into another superb spell of new-ball bowling.

Young sporting talent breaks school's centurion record Aryan Patel, who is in Year 6 at Fairfield Preparatory School was touted as being the youngest half-centurion at the school. However, he has now made history by becoming the school's first ever centurion.

Aryan Patel plays for his school's cricket team but apart from that, he also plays for Loughborough Town, and has also been part of the County squad for the past 4 years.

He is not the only crick-

Aryan Patel becomes school's first centurion

eter in his family. His cousin, Shiv Thakor, is the Derbyshire all-rounder and former England Under-19 captain. He also happened to be a former student of Fairfield. Aryan Patel said, “As my total approached 100, I was excited but really concentrating. I was happy and very relieved when I finally got my century and our team won. I love following and playing cricket and would really like to play for England one day.”

England star triumphs again at 2015 Talk Home Mobile Asian Cricket Awards The 2015 Talk Home Mobile Asian Cricket Awards took place at Lord's, on Tuesday 13th October. The 28-year-old England and Worcestershire all-rounder, Moeen Ali was named as Player of the Year for the second time.

Receiving his award, Moeen Ali said, “I'm very honoured and very happy to win this again and long may it continue.”

The Lancashire and England U19 player, Haseeb Hameed won the Professional Young Player of the Year Award, while former England batsman, Vikram Solanki, was hon-

From left: England international Ravi Bopara, Lancashire CCC's Haseeb Hameed and Tara Naidu of Air India. Hameed won the professional young player award at the 2015 Talk Home Mobile Asian Cricket Awards

oured with a Special Recognition Award.

Solanki said, “I am very pleased to have received the award and to be recognised at an awards ceremony as prestigious as this is very flattering.” Baljit Rihal, the co-founder of the Asian Cricket Award said, “The Asian Cricket Awards aim to increase the awareness of the positive impact made

by British Asians within the cricket industry. Out goal is to engage with individuals and organisations to help improve representation across all levels; including professional players and the hierarchies of English cricket.”

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Asian Voice | 31st October 2015

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ICC team heading to Bangladesh to assess security measures

International Cricket Council will be sending a team to Bangladesh to assess the anti-terrorist steps in place there to for the under-19 World Cup there. Reg Dickason, the security adviser for the ECB, will be part of the team. The move comes as the ICC confronts a series of safety issues in the subcontinent and awaits final arrangements for the World Twenty20 in India, which is still without a schedule, although it is less than five months away and may be cut from eight to five venues. With Pakistan ruled out because of concerns of teams, the ICC is keen that concerns over a second Test-playing country can be allayed to allow the youth tournament to go ahead in January.

An ICC statement confirmed that Bangladesh will be the hosts, but that is likely to change if Dickason, who also advises players via the Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations, deems the present climate too dangerous. Sean Norris, the ICC security manager, is heading the trip at the start of next month, which is being taken so seriously that David Richardson, the ICC chief executive, may travel too. Sri Lanka is a possible alternative venue, although there is no official plan B. Australia scrapped their scheduled tour of Bangladesh this month after a late alert and the murder of an Italian charity worker, for which Islamic State claimed responsibility. South Africa postponed a visit by their women’s team. The UK Foreign Office refers to “a high threat from terrorism” and advises tourists to keep away from all public spaces and limit attendance at events where westerners may gather.

England’s men are due to tour Bangladesh next autumn, but players would be highly reluctant to travel if the present conditions continue there. Four English players - Dawid Malan, Chris Jordan, Josh Cobb and Darren Stevens - were selected to play in next month’s Bangladesh Premier League, but the Professional Cricketers’ Association is likely to caution them if they take up their slots. Jordan is highly unlikely to feature because of England commitments.

Problems around the World Twenty20, due to start on March 11, were compounded when right-wing extremists stormed the Mumbai headquarters of the Board of Control for Cricket in India before scheduled talks with the Pakistan Cricket Board. This prompted the ICC to withdraw Aleem Dar, the umpire, from the one-day series there against South Africa.

Asif Iqbal, a former Pakistan captain, said: “The ICC should be telling India that if the political climate does not show a marked improvement, the ICC will have no alternative but to withdraw the T20 World Cup from India.”

There is next to no chance of that, but Pakistan will be kept away from Mumbai if they decide to participate.

Plans to use as many as eight venues for the men’s and women’s competitions - twice as many as in Bangladesh in 2014 - are being reconsidered as expensive and impractical because of the vast distances between locations.

Sehwag retires from international cricket, IPL

Dashing India opener Virender Sehwag has chosen the day of his 37th birthday to officially announce his retirement from international cricket and the Indian Premier League. The confirmation ends a lot of speculation, which had started ever since his one-time teammate Zaheer Khan announced his retirement last week. The 37-year-old scored a fighting 51 for Haryana in the Ranji Trophy last week, and looks set to continue to play a major role for his team in this year’s domestic season. He is also set to turn out in the Master Champions League in 2016, a T20 league for retired players.

Saina Nehwal slips to World No 2

Early exits at Japan Open and Denmark Open proved costly for ace India shuttler Saina Nehwal as she lost her World No.1 crown to All England and World champion Carolina Marin of Spain. In the latest Badminton World Federation (BWF) ranking list, Saina dropped to No.2 spot in women's singles with 81,782 points, 1,630 points behind Marin, who reached the semifinals at Odense last week. Saina's performance in the last two tournaments - Japan Open and Denmark Open where she lost to Japan's Minatsu Mitani in the second round of both the events, led her to drop to No.2 in women's singles. In men's singles, Kidambi Srikanth, Parupalli Kashyap and H S Prannoy slipped down the rankings chart.

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SA hammer India to claim series win Asian Voice | 31st October 2015

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A 58-ball 87 from Ajinkya Rahane and a 60 from Shikhar Dhawan brought some cheer for the crowd but it was never going to be enough for the hosts, who folded for 224 inside 36 overs.

South Africa beat India by a massive 214 runs in the fifth and final One-Day International (ODI) at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai to win the series 3-2, their first bilateral one-day series victory in India.

Quinton de Kock, Faf du Plessis and skipper AB de Villiers all scored hundreds as South Africa crushed India’s bowling attack to post 438-4. With the five-match series tied at 2-2, de Villiers won the toss and opted to bat in hot and humid conditions and could not have been a happier man at the close of their innings as his team matched their second highest score in the 50over format.

A 58-ball 87 from local boy Ajinkya Rahane and a 60 from out-of-form opener Shikhar Dhawan brought some cheer for the crowd but it was never going to be enough for the

hosts, who folded for 224 inside 36 overs.

Kagiso Rabada took four wickets while pace colleague Dale Steyn took three for the touring side to complete a 3-2 series win, their first ODI series win in India. It was only the second time that a team had scored three cen-

turies in an ODI innings after South Africa did it against West Indies in January this year on their way to their highest total of 439 for two. De Kock (109) continued to make merry against the Indian bowlers, scoring his fifth century in nine innings against the opponents after South

Africa had lost Hashim Amla (23) early.

The left-hander hit 17 fours and a six on his way to his eighth ODI hundred and laid the perfect platform for de Villiers’s onslaught with a 154-run stand with du Plessis (133 retired hurt).

India compounded

their misery by dropping catches and du Plessis made the most of his good fortune to score his first century against India and his fifth overall after being put down twice, on 45 and 85. The right-handed batsman suffered severe cramps during the later part of his innings and had

to retire but had added 164 runs with de Villiers for the third wicket before that.

De Villiers, the owner of the record for the fastest hundred in the format, needed no invitation to launch into the Indian bowlers with the stage set perfectly for his pyrotechnics. The 31-year-old reached his century, his 23rd in the format, in just 57 balls and cleared the boundary ropes with ease.

The right-hander hit 11 sixes and three fours in his knock.

India medium paceman Bhuvnehwar Kumar ended with figures of 1-106 in his 10 overs, the second most expensive in ODIs behind Australian Mick Lewis’s 0-113 against South Africa in 2006.

The two sides will next play a four-Test series with the first match starting at Mohali in Punjab on November 5.