AV 3rd May 2014

First & Foremost Asian Weekly in Europe

HEATHROW SAFE DEPOSIT

LOCKERS now opened in

SOUTHALL

Broadway Lockers £150pa from

SAFE, SECURE SIMPLE

113a The Broadway, Southall, UB1 1LN

(Behind Pawan Jewellers)

020 8574 5009

www.heathrowsafedeposit.com VOL 42. ISSUE 52

Let noble thoughts come to us from every side

Send money to India in minutes From o just

£4.99

3rd May to 9th May 2014

0800 026 0535 mone moneygram.co.uk ygram.co.uk

*

**

80p

Send at: day at *** nline to .uk Send o

Bumper voting in 7th phase o gram.c money

And anywhere you see the MoneyGram sign

CS7729

*Subject to agent hours of operation and local regulations. **Fees mentioned are applicable for sends up to £100 to India. In addition to the transfer fees applicable to a transaction, a currency exchange rate set by MoneyGram or its agent will be applied. ***For a full list of online transfer fees please visit www.moneygram.co.uk. Post Office, Thomas Cook, Lebara, Debenhams, MoneyCorp and Speedy Cash are agents of MoneyGram International Limited in the provision of money transfer services, Post Office and the Post Office logo are registered trade marks of Post Office Ltd. MoneyGram and the Globe are trademarks of MoneyGram. All other marks are the property of their respective owners. MoneyGram is available at 44 Debenham locations via the money travel bureau. MoneyGram International Limited is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority. ©2014 MoneyGram. All rights reserved.

Higher voter turnout in Bengal, Andhra & Punjab

Heavy voting was registered in 7th phase of Lok Sabha polls for 89 constituencies spread across seven states and two Union Territories, despite scorching April sun on Wednesday.

The fate of 1,295 candidates, including BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, contesting from Vadodara and Congress president Sonia Gandhi (in Rae Bareli) will be decided in this phase. At the end of the seventh round, polling concluded in 438 of the total 543 Lok Sabha constituencies, leaving 105 to be decided in the last two phases in May. The counting of votes will be taken up on May 16 and all results are

Asian community grieves the untimely death of RAF Officer Community mourns the death of Flight Lieutenant Rakesh Chauhan from Midlands, killed in a Lynx helicopter crash in Afghanistan on Saturday.

Full story on page 4

Mayhem over Mango

expected on the same day to end the mammoth election process spread over 72 days. Polling was by and large peaceful though there were few incidents

of clashes between supporters of rival parties in Punjab and Telangana besides attempts at boothcapturing in Uttar Pradesh.

Voters in West Bengal – a traditionally high voting state –came up with a strong show 81.35%

Continued on page 26

Leicester East MP Keith Vaz and representatives of retailers and importers of mangoes delivered two boxes of Alphonso mangoes to Downing Street on Tuesday to raise awareness of the impending EU ban.

For full story see page 7

DUBAI HOLIDAYS MAY AND JUNE DEPARTURE AHMEDABAD – DELHI – MUMBAI – GOA – SINGAPORE – BANGKOK – HONGKONG – BUSINESS CLASS TO INDIA -

FR £435 FR £480 FR £445 FR £475 FR £505 FR £480 FR £500 FR £1670

EUROPE PACKAGES FOR 3 NIGHTS BRUSSELS FROM

£230 PP

PARIS WITH EURO STAR FROM

£270 PP

EURODISNEY WITH EURO STAR FROM

£290 PP

ALL PRICES ARE BASED ON 4 STAR HOTELS AND ARE SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY

***Five nights in a 5* hotel on Jumeirah beach at £680pp*** ***Five nights accommodation with Flights, Transfers and Breakfast in a 5* city hotel at £560pp

5938

CALL

TRAVLIN

STYLE

0208 954 0077 www.travelinstyle.co.uk *Subject to availability

2

UK

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 3rd May 2014

Keith Vazwith MP

Keith Vaz MP

Nikhil Patel

Nikhil Patel is the Managing Partner of Amey Kamp LLP, a leading firm of Chartered Accountants, Registered Auditors and Chartered Tax Advisers based in London. After achieving a first class honours degree at a prestigious UK University, Nikhil joined PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP’s London Office onto its graduate programme where he qualified as a Chartered Accountant while working in the Banking and Capital Markets Division of the Assurance Department.

In 2005 he decided to join Amey Kamp LLP and within a few years succeeded to the role of Managing Partner. Since joining Amey Kamp, Nikhil has qualified as a Chartered Tax Adviser and now spends a significant proportion of his time focussing on the tax side of this growing practice. He has substantial experience of working with small and medium sized enterprises and specialises in providing these businesses with sound tax planning solutions and strategic business advice.

During his free time from work, Nikhil relishes the time he spends with his wife and two young daughters.

1. Please tell me about your current position?

I am currently the Managing Partner of Amey Kamp LLP, a firm of Chartered Accountants, Registered Auditors and Chartered Tax Advisers.

2. What are your proudest achievements?

Although I am very proud of both my academic track record and my career progression to date, my proudest achievements are my beautiful daughters Millie and Riya, who bring me joy on a daily basis.

3. What inspires you?

Realising my clients’ ambitions is a continuous source of inspiration for me. Amey Kamp’s ethos is to provide the best quality advice in a comprehensible and an understandable format and we always strive to put our clients at the forefront of everything we do.

I genuinely wake up every day excited to go to work as I believe that when our clients are successful, we have been successful and this is what inspires me professionally.

4. What has been the biggest

Croydon fraudster sentence delayed Woman who allegedly accused a local newspaper of harassment, because it contacted her in relation to an investigation was arrested on suspicion of fraud and later bailed on April 16th.

But the Croydon Advertiser reported that the sentencing of Neelam Desai has now been delayed for a second time.

The Croydon Advertiser thereafter got involved in a media storm one of its journalists was warned by local police that he could be arrested after contacting Neelam Desai, 33, pictured, for comment on allegations that had come to light as a result of its reporting.

The police later arrested Desai, on suspicion of ten offences of fraud by false representation, reported the Croydon Advertiser.

Desai, 33, of Beulah Grove, Selhurst, had been due to appear at Croydon Crown Court on last Friday to be sentenced for a series of frauds. However, Judge Stephen Waller reportedly received an application from Desai's defence team asking for the hearing to be adjourned.

The court office could not con-

firm the reason for the application.

A Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) spokeswoman confirmed the case had been adjourned and rescheduled for May 16.

Desai has pleaded guilty to writing two fraudulent cheques, handling a stolen chequebook, running an international travel business while bankrupt and three counts of trying to fraudulently sell iPhones she did not have. An investigation by the Advertiser has since linked her to an alleged dating website scam where men were tricked out of tens of thousands of pounds.

had the greatest influence on my career to date. As a first generation immigrant, he came to the UK armed only with his education. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant and in spite of numerous personal and professional adversities, he was able to start and build a successful accountancy practice. It was from him that I learnt that accountancy was more than just number crunching. He showed me the true value of building meaningful relationships with clients and the real impact his advice had on their lives. His unfailing work ethic and the importance he places on making time for his friends and family is the type of worklife balance I too am continually striving to emulate. obstacle in your career?

The biggest obstacle I have faced in my career was the decision to move from PwC, a large multinational corporate accountancy firm to Amey Kamp, which is a smaller, more boutique accountancy practice.

It was a difficult decision to leave a firm with PwC’s size, stature and client base but the challenges and rewards that have come from running my own business have proven that I have made the right decision.

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

Without doubt my father has

6. What is the best aspect of your current role?

The best aspect of my current role is the variety it offers.

Whether it is tax or audit, compliance or advisory, meeting with a dentist or hotelier, there is always something different and interesting to get involved in.

7. And the worst?

Trying to achieve the best work life balance. I am still working on how best to achieve that, just ask my wife!

8. What are your long term goals?

My long term goals are to keep

200 Subway branches become halal meat only with no pork served The takeaway chain Subway has removed ham and bacon from nearly 200 of its stores and will be offering halal meat only after 'strong demand' from Muslims The sandwich chain reportedly said 'following a strong demand from our Muslim customers', 185 outlets in the UK and Ireland have introduced the meat, which is prepared under strict Islamic rules.

Muslims are forbidden from eating any non-halal food and meat from pigs and Subway said customers can identify those stores selling halal food by the special 'All meats are Halal' sign, which must be displayed in participating branches. In the halal-only

branches ham and bacon has been substituted for turkey ham and rashers. A Subway spokeswoman reportedly said that all halal meat served in the participating branches is from animals who were stunned prior to slaughter.

'The growing popularity of the Subway chain with the diverse multicultural population across the UK and Ireland means we have to balance the values of many religious communities with the overall aim of improving the health and welfare standards of animals.

CREATING QUALITY FOR OUR CUSTOMERS

Manufacturers of Potato Crisps & Snacks

KOLAK SNACK FOODS LTD

308-310 Elveden Road, Park Royal, London NW10 7ST (UK).

T: +44 20 8965 5331 F: +44 20 8961 9313 E: sales@kolak.co.uk

W: www.kolak.co.uk

developing and growing the firm whilst not compromising on the quality of service and advice that we currently provide. Alongside these professional goals I would also like to get involved in more charitable work and give back to the community that I have been fortunate to take so much from.

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

At Amey Kamp, we advise a number of small to medium sized enterprises, all of which make a contribution to the UK economy. These companies could in fact contribute significantly more if unnecessary red tape and bureaucracy did not hinder them. Although I acknowledge that the current government has gone some way to remove some of these unhelpful rules and regulations, if I were Prime Minister I would speed up the process.

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

I would have to say Nelson Mandela. I admire his strength of conviction, his courage, his vision for a just society and his dignity. It would be such an honour to be able to talk to and learn from someone who added pages of true social and political revolution to the history of the world.

Murdered disabled children's mother sent to secure hospital The mother of three young children, who were found dead at their home in New Malden on Thursday 24 April, has been accused of their murder and was taken to a secure hospital on Wednesday 30 April.

Tania Clarence, 42, is accused of killing her three-year-old twin sons, Ben and Max, and four year-old daughter, Olivia, at their home. Ms Clarence, who wore black jeans and a black fleece jumper, sobbed as she appeared via video-link at the Old Bailey to hear if she would be granted bail.

All three of the young children suffered from type 2 spinal muscular atrophy. Also known as floppy baby syndrome, the genetic condition leaves children with little control of their movements and can drastically shorten life expectancy.

Police were called to the family's five-bedroom

home in Thetford Road in the south west London suburb of New Malden at 9.30pm last Tuesday where they discovered the children, who were pronounced dead at the scene. Mrs Clarence was treated at St George's Hospital in Tooting, south London, and charged on 24 April- two days after the bodies were found.

The post-mortem examinations suggested that the three children had died from suffocation. But authorities are still waiting for further tests. A plea and case management hearing will be held at the Old Bailey on 15 July.

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 3rd May 2014

COMMENT

Global turbulence: Whither Indo-US relations?

The silver lining in Indo-US relations is the 32 per cent jump in 2014 in Indian students applying for admission into American graduate schools.

However, there is a noticeable chill in Indo-US governmental ties, as a former senior Indian diplomat and frequent media columnist, G.Parthasarathy, averred in a recent edit-page article in the Hindu newspaper. US policy in critical areas across the continents, he writes, is hobbled by the mistaken assumption that world still operates on a unipolar stage, when the truth refracts a multipolar reality. It is this, not President Obama’s perceived ‘weakness’ and ‘appeasement’ of America’s rivals, as the Republican Party’s foremost backwoodsman Senator John McCaine claims, that has placed US diplomacy policy in its present logjam. The idea that the US can go where angels fear to tread, can play the sheriff, as and when the mood dictates is yesterday’s world. Mr Parthasarathy pointed to American double standards: dealing with India a la Khabragorde and tethered to a policy of continuing towards Pakistan doesn’t go down well in Delhi. Consider Washingtoin’s diplomatic immunity accorded courtesy then Senator John Kerry to Pakistan’s ISI chief General Shuja Pasha, the mastermind behind the 26/11 terrorist assault on Mumbai. Mr Parthasarathy also pointed to China’s muscling in on its Southeast Asian neighbours with territorial claims and arbitrary confiscations and the Obama Administration’s tepid response; Mr Parthasarathy declaimed the perversity of US policy on Khaleda Zia and her Islamist Bangladesh Nationalist Party, which boycotted the country’s general election and let loose an orgy of violence to prevent the exercise being held.

Washington pronounced the electoral verdict (which returned Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League to power) as flawed, suggesting a new poll be held. But why?

Wouldn’t that be condoning Islamist violence and the flouting of democratic norms? India stood rock solid behind Sheikh Hasina’s victorious Awami League, as did Russia and, to a lesser extent, China as well.

President Obama and his advisers know not the limits of America’s much hyped “exceptionalism” and its “Manifest Destiny.” They remain in thrall to this jingoism.

Visibly inebriated, US officials and their EU satraps made their infamous thrust into Kiev and brazenly oversaw the removal of an elected Ukrainian government with aid of Right Sector thugs. After years of passivity in face of America’s calculated insolence in cavalierly moving NATO eastward, despite the sage warnings of George Kennan and Paul Nitze, President Putin responded with moves of his own in what is turning out to be an international potboiler.

Mint, the US-NATO importuning Delhi-based

business daily, introduced Yuriko Koike, a former Japanese defence minister and security adviser and chair of the Liberal Democratic Party’s women’s caucus and member of the National Diet, into the lists.

She launched an incontinent diatribe against faltering US policies that had even annoyed – so help us God - Saudi Arabia! Screaming a banzai for sterner US action on Ukraine and the need to bring barbarous Russia to heel, she attacked Angela Merkel for not severing Germany’s lucrative economic ties with Russia. Yuriko Koike had no recall of America’s use of nuclear weapons on Hiroshima and Nagasaki; she had no recall either of the last three Japanese military encounters with Russia: the first around 1919, when Imperial Japan sent an expeditionary force into Siberia with aim of watering Japanese horses on the Volga; the invaders were driven out in 1922; the second encounter took place in the summer of 1939, when the Soviet Red Army inflicted a severe defeat on the Japanese Imperial Army on the Mongolian border at Khalkin Gol; the third trial of strength occurred in August 1945 and ended in an unprecedented thrashing of Japan’s million-strong Kwantung Army in Manchuria. According to the noted US military historian David Glantz, the Soviet operation there was the most brilliant of the Second World War. Best to not to tempt fate with another call to arms..

The new Pakistan High Commissioner to India, Abdul Basit, has spoken of the encouraging possibility that Narendra Modi’s likely accession to power as India’s next prime minister would lead to a new era of peace and understanding between India and Pakistan. The Pakistani envoy referred glowingly to former BJP Prime Minister Atal Bihari’s peace journey to Lahore in early 1999, but omitted to mention that the Pakistani response - the occupation of the Kargil heights led to a bloody conflict in which over 700 Indian soldiers died to save their prime minister’s face and their nation’s honour. Fine words butter no parsnips. Yasin Bhatkal, the Indian Mujahideen (IM) terrorist trained in Pakistan and funded by the ISI has told Indian intelligence interrogators of the IM plan to assassinate Bollywood stars during the general election, as they were perceived as a corrupting influence on society. Pakistan terror groups responsible for 26/11 assault on Mumbai still conduct jihadi activities against India with impunity. The last word belongs surely to Tony Blair. The former British prime minister has appealed to the UK, US, and the West generally, to put aside their differences with Russia on Ukraine and confront jihadi terror together. Mr Blair described the Middle East and Pakistan “as a vast unfathomable mess with no end in sight and no one worthy of our support.”

There is a part of India in every Mercedes-Benz sold in anywhere in the world. So said Eberhard Kern, Managing Director and CEO Mercedes-Benz India.

The automobile is a show case of German engineering, a powerful symbol of the country’s famed manufacturing skills. But behind the sleek show rooms and their sleeker products lie the company’s Research & Development hubs, the true guarantors of Mercedes-Benz excellence. It is here that the company’s Indian connection comes into play. The Mercedes-Benz facilities in India operate out of Bangalore and Pune with over 1,500 engineers onboard, and growing. There were 10 people on its rolls when the company set up shop in India way back in 1996. The rapid development of MercedesBenz R&D hubs worldwide has been one of its principal strengths, enabling it to keep ahead in the game in an acutely competitive global marketplace. This is due mainly to the engineering skills of its workforce.

“There is a robust education base in India which has created top-class professionals. This is particu-

larly true of the Bangalore and Pune areas where our hubs are located,” says Eberhard Kern. He says the youngsters at these centres (most located in Bangalore) ‘are highly motivated with good English language skills.This comes in handy when it involves dealing with people with In Germany, Japan and the US where a common language like English helps,” explains Mr Kern. Today there are almost no foreigners in the Indian R&D hubs. “Besides Germany, India is the biggest R&D hub for Mercedes in the world…. We are quicker to market as a result,” says Mr Kern. And this is true not only of the car business but trucks and buses as well where Daimler (the holding company) has identified India as one of its largest growth engines. “From our viewpoint, India will soon become one of the most important markets for Mercedes-Benz. It is not there yet, but we follow a Mercedes-Benz 2020 strategy and there is a chance that India will move into the top ten by 2020 or a little later,” he predicts. The Mercedes roadmap for India has abundant promise.

It is sometimes the little incidents that indicate where the wind blows or whence it comes. A British nurse from Coventry, in the English midlands, Naomi Coleman by name, recounted her “hellish experience” at Colombo airport, where she had arrived from India. She was arrested for having a tattoo of Buddha on her arm. Her alleged crime was disrespect to the country’s Buddhist faith. Nothing could be so Kafkaesque. Ms Coleman engaged a local lawyer for her defence but he was either too cowed or was plain incompetent to do the job for which he had been hired. He wasn’t ashamed to claim his fee for letting his client down. The irony is that Ms Coleman happens to be a committed

Buddhist and is well travelled through Buddhist countries such as Cambodia and Thailand, where no eyebrows were raised at her tattoo. Only in Sri Lanka was she arrested, kept in jail, before being deported. Why so? Sri Lankan society is plagued by its inner demons, its deepening insecurities embodied in an authoritarian regime. The island’s myriad problems, including its persistent ethnic divide, show no sign of abating anytime soon. Majority Sinhalese xenophobia has led to the politicizing of the country’s Buddhist clergy, which in turn guarantees every regime with mobs on call. The cocktail of religion and politics has demeaned both. That remains Sri Lanka’s ongoing tragedy.

India key to Mercedes global reach

Climate of intolerance in Sri Lanka deepens

3 We shrink from change; yet is there anything that can come into being without it? What does nature hold dearer or more proper to herself? Could you have a hot bath unless the firewood underwent some change? Could you be nourished if the food suffered no change? Is it possible for any useful thing to be achieved without change?

- Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius (AD 121-180)

Sarah Teather MP Liberal Democrat MP for Brent Central

Thinking about Europe We are now only weeks away from the European election. The vote on 22nd May will decide who represents Britain in the European Parliament over the next four years. But there is a much more fundamental issue at stake – do we think Britain is better off in the EU, or out?

This is a really important issue, and one that for too long has not been addressed by politicians. I firmly believe that we are better off in the EU, so I’m pleased that my party, the Liberal Democrats, is standing up for staying in.

A main benefit of EU membership is economic. Studies show that three million jobs in Britain are linked – either directly or indirectly – to the EU. It’s not hard to see why – the EU is the largest economy in the world, accounting for 25% of global GDP. When I speak to businesses in my Brent constituency – whether it is a small independent shop or a large manufacturing company – I hear how valuable Britain’s place in the EU is to their business. In fact, 45% of our exports are to the EU and 80% of British firms that trade do business with Europe.

It’s clear that leaving would seriously threaten businesses and jobs in the UK. But it’s not all about the health of our economy.

The EU allows us to work with our European neighbours to tackle crime.

Central to this is the European Arrest Warrant.

The case of Jeremy Forrest hit the headlines when he fled to France with his pupil a couple of years ago.

After a week on the run, he was detained

by French police using a European Arrest Warrant and extradited back to England within weeks. He was charged and sentenced to five and a half years in jail.

It would be a major mistake for the UK to deny our police and prosecutors the international tools they need to effectively fight crime and terrorism.

We also need to work with the EU to tackle climate change – an international problem which can only be solved internationally.

My Lib Dem colleagues in the Coalition are currently pushing for a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions across the whole of the EU by 2030. This will help us to protect the planet for our children and our children’s children, but would be impossible to achieve if we were to leave the EU. Of course, the EU is not perfect. But being a member means we can use our influence to reform the EU: to make it more accountable, more democratic and less bureaucratic. Britain is at its best when we are open, outward-facing and engaged – this month’s election is a chance for us to show that.

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

AsianVoiceNews

4

MIDLANDS VOICE

Asian community grieves the untimely death of RAF officer

A 29 years old RAF officer, Flight Lieutenant Rakesh Chauhan from Leicestershire has been named as one of five servicemen killed in a Lynx helicopter crash on Saturday morning, in Kandahar province, southern Afghanistan.

The late officer's parents live in Cropston, north of Leicester, and his family run Milan's Sarees, a shop in the city's Golden Mile, in Belgrave, founded by Rakesh's grandmother.

Flt Lt Chauhan died alongside fellow non-commissioned Intelligence officer Lance Corporal Oliver Thomas, and Captain Thomas Clarke, Warrant Officer Class 2 Spencer Faulkner and Corporal James Walters from the Army Air Corps.

An investigation has been launched into the cause of the crash, which the Ministry of Defence is calling a "tragic accident".

The MoD said Flt Lt Chauhan, who was born in Birmingham, was on his third tour of Afghanistan.

Colleagues have paid tribute to a charismatic and loyal young man with a "contagious" sense of humour.

Flt Lt Chauhan is survived by father Kishore, mother Jyoti and older brother Kesh, 31. Originally from Bardoli, South Gujarat, his grandparents Karsanbhai and Vijyaben migrated to Britain from Machakos in Nairobi.

His devastated father told the Daily Mirror that his son had lived for his job.

“The air force has been my son’s passion since he

Rakesh Chauhan

was 11. He loved it, and I took comfort from seeing him happy in what he was doing.

"He was very patriotic about Britain, for which he made the ultimate sacrifice.”

Flight Lieutenant Chauhan had attended the private King Edward's School in Birmingham and was a graduate of the prestigious St Andrews University in On Monday, Scotland.

Reverend Duncan Raynor, Edward’s School King Chaplain paid tribute.

His brother Kesh told Asian Voice, that Rakesh was extremely proud to serve his country, especially proud of his RAF appointment and commission. The family is also very proud of his achievements and believes that he accomplished much more than many in his short 29 years.

The Leicester Mercury reported that his Commanding Officer said: "Flt Lt Chauhan, or Rak to his friends, was an outstand-

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 3rd May 2014

ing Royal Air Force officer in every respect.

"Bright, articulate, charismatic and loyal, he was a pleasure to be around.

"Certainly the best Intelligence Branch officer I have known, his presentations were considered essential viewing by aircrew and others alike."

"A rising star of the Royal Air Force, Rak was a team player in every respect and worked passionately for those around him.

"He would unselfishly take on additional work, safe in the knowledge that his peers would do less as a result.

"His positive attitude was infectious and he would always be seen with a bright smile on his face.

"His sense of humour was contagious and you could guarantee he would be at the centre of any laughter in the room.

The wider Belgrave community devastated by this death, sent messages of support and condolences to his family.

Neighbouring business owner Naseem Anwar, of Fashion Ghar, reportedly said: "It's very sad news. The family is very patriotic and were very proud of what their son was doing."

Vikram Lakhatariya, owner of Mohan's Hair Salon opposite the Chauhans' business, told the Leicester Mercury: "I'm very sad to hear this. They are a very good family, excellent people.

Tragic house fire kills 5 people Five people, including a nine-week-old baby girl and her two brothers, nine and seven, have been killed in a Sheffield house fire.

The children died along with their grandmother Shabina Begum, 54, and their aunt Anum Parvaiz, 20, after the fire broke out in the terraced house in Wake Road, Sharrow, shortly after midnight.

The boys were named locally as Amaan Nazim, seven, and his brother Adhyan Nazim, nine, who died in a bedroom with

their nine-week-old sister. The children's father, Nazim Parvaiz, was out working when the fire broke out and their mother, Razia Nazim, survived the blaze.

The Daily Mail reported that witnesses said the grandmother escaped the fire only to go back inside - but died trying to save her trapped family.

Distraught relatives have said the deaths are a 'tragedy beyond description' because 'within five minutes

The burnt out Sheffield house

Amaan Nazim, 7 (left) and Adhyan Nazim, 9 (right), pictured with their father Nazim Parwaiz (centre)

five precious lives were lost'.

The cause of the fire is being investigated, South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue has said.

The cousin of one of the grandmother who died, Ishfaq Hussain Kayani, said a nine-weekold baby girl was among the children killed. He said the other children were aged nine and seven.

"Kishor is a good man and is active in the Belgrave Business Association. He always helps out organising things at events like Diwali."

Dharmesh Lakhani, owner of Bobby’s Restaurant and chairman of the Belgrave Business Association, said: "Rakesh's father Kishor is a committee member on the business association and I know him and his wife well having attended many social functions together with my wife and I. "I was shocked to hear of their tragic loss, as we all are.

It's so very sad."

Mr Lakhani added: "You see on TV the devastation on the faces of the families of servicemen who have died out in Afghanistan.

"It's very difficult. And losing a brave young man from our community like this really brings it home to you.

"Everybody feels for Rakesh's family at this terribly sad time, and for the families of his comrades who died alongside him."

City mayor Sir Peter Soulsby, who is acquainted with the Chauhan family, told the local paper: "I know the family as their shop and business is such a well established and respected part of the local business community in Belgrave.

"I'm very saddened to hear of the loss of a dear son and such a fine young man.

"Our hearts go out to the family."

He added: “This tragic incident reminds us of the sacrifice made on our behalf by young men and women serving with the armed forces overseas.”

Trojan Horse ringleader writes document promoting radical Islamisation School governor Tahir Alam, who is allegedly the ringleader of the Trojan Horse plot in Birmingham, wrote a 72-page document on “Islamising’ a set of secular state schools, teachers and the curriculum.

Tahir Alam, pictured, chairman of governors at Park View school in the city, reportedly called for “girls [to] be covered except for their hands and faces”, encourages boys to be separate from girls during school activities and attacked a “multicultural approach” to collective worship.

In the document, he describes how state schools must be changed to “take account of Muslim sensitivities and sensibilities with respect to sexual morality” with “girlfriend/ boyfriend as well as homosexual relationships” treated as “not acceptable practices according to Islamic teachings”. These statements come after staff at Park View said a boy and a girl in their GCSE year have been suspended after being spotted holding hands, only weeks before they were due to take their exams.

It has also been revealed that this month, a section of the Department for Education was proposing to give Mr Alam’s Park View Education Trust another

Vaisakhi celebrated in Birmingham - Dhiren Katwa

Nasir Awan, the President of the Institute of Asian Businesses, or IAB, which is part of Birmingham Chamber, formally announced that he was to step down this month after three years in the role.

Speaking at the IAB’s annual Vaisakhi Dinner, Mr Awan, pictured, choked back tears as he thanked everyone for their “tolerance and support”.

The round-table function at the National Motorcycle Museum last Thursday evening brought together representatives from a wide range of ethnic minority businesses.

Guests included MEP Philip Bennion, Solihull MP Lorely Burt, both Lib Dem, Rashmi Swain and Sher Bahadar Khan, from the India and Pakistan Consulates, ethnic business guru Professor Monder Ram, photographer Jas Sansi and Daljit Jagait from Jaguar UK. The evening featured a range of exhibitor stands, a threecourse meal, presentations and networking. The new Committee, to be sworn in this month, were also introduced. Mr Awan mentioned that earlier in the day he’d attended the funeral of Dr Naseem Mohammed, the 90-year-old GP, an influential and straight-talking Muslim leader and Chairman of Birmingham Central Mosque. Separately, the annual Vaisakhi Mela, led by The Council of Sikh Gurdwaras in Birmingham, at Handsworth Park last Sunday attracted hundreds of people from all walks of life and race backgrounds.

Sounds for the Soul

The popular Sounds for the Soul annual event takes place in Birmingham next weekend. The round-the-clock lively song and dance festival, a melody of spiritual music, is organised by the Hare Krishna Movement, also known as ISKCON, or the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. The non-stop free event, now in its 15th year, will begin at 2pm on Saturday (10 May) and end at 7pm on Sunday (11 May). It will feature singers and musicians from home and abroad, speeches, discourses, chanting and prasad, or blessed food. All welcome. Credit to all volunteers in ensuring the success of this incredible event, one which I have attended each year for over a decade. Hats off, in particular, to ardent devotee Mohan Nandi who always goes the extra mile, selflessly, to make sure every attendee, VIP or otherwise, leaves with a memorable experience.

Sounds for the Soul will take place at Radha Swami Rasila Satsang Centre, Wharf Street, Hockley (B18 5HS).

To find out more contact Karan Veer Mohindru on 07531350006 or visit www.iskconbirmingham.org

Birmingham school to run – even though another part of the department was mounting emergency inspections of the three it runs already.

The investigation, referred to as the Trojan Horse plot, involves the alleged takeover of secular state schools and the removal of secular head teachers in Birmingham by radical Muslim staff and governors. Twenty-five Birmingham schools are currently being investigated by the council and 18 have already been inspected by Ofsted of which at least six, including Park View, were rated “inadequate”.

UK

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 3rd May 2014

Former Police officer charged with sex assault

Gurpal Virdi, a former detective sergeant who won £300,000 damages against the Met, is due to appear before magistrates in May to face charges of indecent assault on a boy aged under 16 in 1986 in a public office.

Mr Virdi, pictured, 55, from Hounslow, west London, retired from Scotland Yard in 2012 after serving 30 years in the Police. Yet his police career stalled in April 1998 when he was arrested and had his home searched after a false allegation was made against him.

The officer was accused of sending racist hate mail to black officers, on Christmas Eve 1997, and other material which was sent to police staff the following month.

The criminal case against him was dropped but the Met dismissed him from the force in March 2000. He was awarded damages of £150,000 for injury to feelings and the heavy-handed way the Met had treated him. Mr Virdi also received an apology in 2001 from the then Met Commissioner Sir John Stevens and returned to work in 2002.

The Met awarded him a further settlement in 2002 of £90,000 and in

2008 he was paid a further £70,000 damages.

A Scotland Yard spokesman reportedly said Mr Virdi was accused of indecent assault between September and December 1986 and has been summoned to appear before Westminster magistrates’ court on May 30.

Relief for Podiatrist cleared of sexual assault charge Podiatrist Yousef Kalami falsely accused of sexually assaulting a patient has reportedly said that his court ordeal has left him “violated and broken”.

On Tuesday 29 April, Kalami was struck with tears of relief, after a jury took less than an hour to acquit him. The 59-yearold thanked his patients for their support since his arrest in October last year – a moment he said “devastated” him.

A number of Yousef Kalami’s patients had written to Cardiff Crown Court, where the podiatrist was put on trial, to praise his treatment of them. They spoke of his care, kindness and dignified approach and their

Mrs Samantha Cameron, the wife of PM David Cameron hosted a charity event at 10 Downing Street on Tuesday night (29 April) for Sangam Association of Asian Women in London, a not-forprofit charity organisation founded and managed by Asian women that provides information, advice and counselling. Over 120 people from the Asian and other communities joined Mrs Cameron to celebrate the organisation’s work to support communities in London.

Full story in coming issues of AV

Yousef Kalami

shock at him being accused of dealing with a pensioner inappropriately – leading to two charges of sexual assault.

“Without my patients and my family I would not have survived this ordeal”, he reportedly said.

5

Dancing muslims' version of song 'Happy' deemed 'sinful'

A youtube video made of hit song Happy, by Pharrell Williams, featuring British Muslims dancing and miming in the street, has received more than 1.4m views since it was posted two weeks ago. However, it has also come under attack by some Muslims who say it is against their religion. In one negative comment posted on YouTube, Esam Ahmed said: “This singing, dancing and lack of respect for the hijab and how it is to be worn is very sad. None of this is from islaam [sic], islaam is free from this stupidity.”

The video was created by

an anonymous group called Honesty Policy, a group of seven young British Muslims who have set up a blog where people are encouraged to talk freely about Islam.

More than 60 people, including friends of the group, their families, children, a Muslim scholar, community leaders and artists took part in the shoot for the video, at locations ranging from Oxford to Wembley stadium.

“The idea was to take a different approach to how young people engage and discuss Islam. The video was supposed to just be a side project to show British Muslims as individuals, coming together in a way that was positive and would make people smile,” the Honesty Policy reportedly said.

UK

6

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 3rd May 2014

“Our London”

Closure of London’s underground ticket offices Navin Shah, GLA Member for Brent and Harrow

As I write this piece the first day of the Tube strike in London is already underway and the chances of a compromises slim. Like many commuters, including myself, will be greatly inconvenienced and the economic detriment because of the strike. In many quarters the strike would be condemned but the closure of ticket offices and loss of staff raises some major long term issues that require examining.

This is the subject matter I wrote about exactly four years ago when Mayor Johnson first floated his announcement to close some of the ticket offices of London Underground stations with many to face drastic reductions in opening hours. This was a gigantic U turn by the Mayor who in his election manifesto of 2008 promised to “make transport more convenient” by “halting the proposed Tube ticket office closures, and ensuring there is always a manned ticket office at every station.”

In Harrow a major petition was organised in early 2008 to fight closure of ticket offices planned by the former Mayor Livingstone. Boris Johnson during his Mayoral campaign signed this petition outside North Harrow Underground Station on the campaign trail calling on his predecessor not to shut ticket offices or to “drastically reduce” their opening hours. Following this I was delighted that after the GLA election, under my questioning at the London Assembly, the Mayor kept his promise and announced reversal of plans to close ticket offices throughout London.

I was staggered in 2010 when Mayor Johnson in a complete reversal of his previous position proposed closure of ticket offices and reduction of hours and now, to make the matters worse, he’s

Spriha Srivastava

The rich and vast Indian Diaspora

announced closure of all ticket offices across London and reduction of nearly what union describes as 1,000 ‘safetycritical’ staff. To avert the strike, talks were convened through ACAS at which the rail union RMT set out a range of grounds which would have allowed progress to be made but, according to the RMT, the union’s proposals were rejected out of hand by the management of London Underground.

It is regrettable that the negotiations have collapsed. We need all sides to sit down and negotiate a solution to this dispute. There are some interesting ideas in Transport for London’s (TfL) plans but TfL staff and Londoners should be given the chance to have their say and improve them. After all it is the public who use the Underground on a day to day basis and they will have to live with the cuts and face the consequences. Passengers should have a say in the future of London Underground services. We need the Mayor to show some real leadership and launch a full public consultation on his proposed cuts to ticket offices and station staffing levels. People across our city need to know how the proposed changes will affect their local station and their daily journey. I’d quite like to see the Mayor talk to my Harrow constituents at a local public meeting and justify his plans which he so opposed when he singed that petition outside North Harrow station in 2008.

Indian Election The World Should Care

Holidays are always full of adventure and fun but sometimes what you need in these lovely vacations is familiarity. Over the Easter break I went to France and Switzerland and was absolutely amazed to find rich Indian Diaspora in both the countries.

Whether it is young Indians coming there to work or rich Indian cuisine being extremely popular to a well-stocked Indian grocery store, it's all there, not just in the UK but in Europe as well.

It's an interesting fact that India is the second populous country in the world and we Indians present across the world.

I love travelling and noticing things wherever I go. And I have noticed the popularity of Indian cuisine in every country that I have visited till now. There will always be a restaurant at the corner of the street selling Indian food, which might not be authentic Indian curry but it’s close to it. I have also noticed a lot of Indians working forming a big workforce in retail sector in many of these countries, especially Barcelona for instance, where Indian and Pakistani cuisine were extremely popular.

If we talk of the United Kingdom, there are a total of 1.4 million people in the UK making them the single largest visible ethnic minority population in the country. They make up the largest subgroup of British Asians, and are one of the largest Indian communities in the Indian Diaspora.

Indians in the UK are spread across regions and

professions. From medicine, to IT, banking to retail, they have left their footprints for others to follow. Some Indians or British-born of Indian descent have become extremely well-known in their respective fields.

From Lakshmi Mittal of Arcelor-Mittal to Lord Meghnad Desai, an Indian-born British economist and Labour politician and from Naveen Andrews, famous British-Indian actor to Anish Kapoor, an Indian sculptor, the names just keep getting added.

India also recently topped the list of non-UK born residents in the country, displacing Ireland, which held the top spot in every census since 1951, according to latest census figures analysed by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), reaffirming the belief that Indian Diaspora is extremely important and central to UK's economy.

But these are the well-known names that we hear quite often.

What about those who form the major workforce in industries such as IT and Banking? What's life like for them? Amit Saxena, an IT professional in the city says work environment is wonderful in the UK. "It's great to work here and I really enjoy meeting people from different cultures. I think I have learnt a lot ever since I came to London," says Amit.

Banking is another such sector that has seen a number of young Indians come to London in search of jobs. The banking industry got hit by the biggest crisis in

September 2007 after the collapse of Lehman Brothers but the profession is still extremely popular among graduates of B-school from India.

"I think the attraction is working in London," says a young Banker in the city. "The city is a financial hub of Europe and even though the industry is going through a crisis at the moment, it's the experience of working through this crisis in London that will help me in my career later on." she said.

Let's move on to another important sector of the UK economy education. Every year a number of students from India come to the UK to pursue higher education - a big source of income for the UK universities.

Recently, according to the Hefce report - Global demand for English higher education, the number of Indian students fell from 18,535 in 2010-11 to 13,250 in 2011-12 and further to 10,235 in 2012/13. A lot of this has to do with tighter UK visa regulations and crisis in the European markets.

Tighter UK visa regulations has been criticised by many experts who say this would discourage international students who are worth as much as £3bn a year to UK universities.

The Indian Diaspora culture is rich and is extremely beneficial to both the UK as well as Indians living in the UK. It's a lovely relationship that has flourished over a period of time and one that both the governments are extremely proud of.

ferent election where the people are very young.

They have a future and don't think too much about the past. The majority of people who want to be PM were born after independence so they are likely to have been chief ministers. People like Modi and others have fantastic executive experience. This is the new generation. It is almost certain that there will be BJPUPA government.”

He also made some other predictions, saying, “The Coalition will last 5 years and we can expect to see business as usual.

Corruption is not going to be resolved as Indian elections won't be possible without black money. It's a functional corruption.”

Ashis Ray said: “I agree with much of John's criticism of India. While India is a functioning democracy it is not a flawless one. I must say I am impressed with Lord Desai's optimism in his predictions. The question is should the world care?

Of course, when it is the largest democracy and emerging economy in question, the world should take it seriously. Because India, with its huge market is an opportunity for the entire world.”

Hasan Suroor said, “This election has made the Muslim factor almost redundant. My problem is that the election has become about one man who has blood on his hands. The BJP should be

careful about what it votes for. You have to think about the moral dimension - hundreds were killed under his watch and instead of an apology, he gave a puppy analogy. All this has upset Muslims. BJP never accepted moral responsibility for bloodshed. Are we so keen to see trains run on time that we forget everything else?”

The panel then broke out into Q&A where relations with Pakistan, predictions for the election, Modi's capability as a Prime Minister, how good he would be at brokering coalitions and whether the Supreme Court has a 'clean sheet' or not, was discussed.

Tanveer Mann As voting is set to conclude in India on 12th May, it is safe to say that this Indian election could turn out to be the most important for decades to come. On Thursday 24 April, The Commonwealth Journalists Association (UK) hosted a panel discussion on the question 'Indian Election – Should the World Care?' at the prestigious Chancellor's Hall in Senate House, University of London and was chaired by Andrew Whitehead, Editor of BBC

Photo credit: Tania Payne

Let us know what you think.

Email Spriha at aveditorial@abplgroup.com

World Service News. John Elliott, a former Financial Times journalist who has been in India for 25 years, was present to discuss his new best-selling book, Implosion: India's Tryst with Reality, which looks at why India has been under-achieving.

Along with him was a panel of experts, which included economist Lord Meghnad Desai and journalists John Elliott, Ashis Ray and Hasan Suroor, who discussed wider issues such as the views of minorities, the diaspora and whether Narendra

Modi government could change the idea of India.

The discussion took place at the prestigious John Elliott opened up the discussion talking about his new book and said, “A theme that I come to at the end of my book is that India uses democracy as an excuse for what doesn't happen.

Democracy is obviously an essential part of India but it has become too much of an excuse.”

Lord Desai said: “India has grown up not caring about the world.

This time, it is a very dif-

Mayhem over mangoes

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 3rd May 2014

Prime Minister David Cameron has been warned that the European ban on import of Indian mangoes including the most popular Alphonso could seriously damage UK businesses. This ban coming into effect from May 1 2014, has created a huge hue and cry amongst the mango lovers in the British community.

The ban has been imposed because of fears fruit fly found on some of the imported mangoes could devastate the UK's salad crops.

A movement is growing to overturn the ban, which opponents say will have a significant impact on wholesalers, greengrocers and restaurants.

Some say they stand to lose out by as much as £200,000 a year.

New Delhi has also asked the European Union to lift the ban, as the country has already addressed the issue cited by the 28-nation bloc in a clampdown on shipments from next month.

The EU informed India in March that shipments of premium Alphonso mangoes would be blocked from May until December 2015 after authorities in Brussels found consignments infested with fruit flies.

To protest against this decision of ban, along with the representatives of retailers, importers of mangoes and Mr Vaz delivered two boxes of Indian Alphonso mangoes to Downing Street on Tuesday to raise awareness of the impending EU ban and to press the case for change, championing an online

petition that has attracted 1,000 signatures.

Mr Vaz, who has also tabled a motion, said: "We need to explain to the EU why it is wrong and why it should have worked with India. The ban is being imposed in the middle of the Indian General Election. We look to Mr Cameron to take action on this issue and hope the problem will be resolved speedily.

“The Prime Minister has shown that he is a champion of our relationship with India.

I understand that the Indian government has complied with the rules set out by the EU and there is, therefore, no reason for this ban to go ahead. It will cost millions of pounds of lost revenue to the British economy and result in millions of mangoes going to waste in India.”

The UK imports 16 million mangoes a year, worth £6 million.

London-based wholesaler Fruity Fresh, who has set up the e-petition on the Government site, said: "The ban is excessively severe and a disproportionate step.

"The ban will severely impact importers and distributors in the UK and for some it will render

their entire trade unfeasible. For many growers and exporters in India, the ban means the end of their business.

"Growing for the season has commenced and so vast quantities of mangoes will be destroyed.

“Anyone resident in the UK or a citizen of the UK can sign this petition to help to fight the ban.http://epetitions.dire c t . g o v. u k / p e t i tions/63939.”

Labour MP Seema Malhotra, speaking to Asian Voice said, “This ban is going to have a huge impact on businesses in my constituency where Western International Market is located, where businesses importing mangoes will be selling them across the UK. I have written to the Secretary of State to urgently review the ban and to consider allowing officials from his Department to negotiate with the National Asian Business Association and the key importers to find a solution to this issue.”

Commenting on the ban imposed by EU on import of select fruits and vegetables from India, in a statement Mr. Sidharth Birla, President, FICCI told the newspaper. "This is an unfortunate devel-

opment. The way it has happened leaves open the question if this is the only measure or some more could be expected".

"We understand that this matter was under discussion for some time and it is therefore surprising that the EU side has taken such a decision unilaterally. This defies the spirit of cooperation that one would expect.

This move would have a bearing on the farmers and exporters from India as well as impact trade and consumers in UK and other countries in the EU.” "The entire ecosystem for exports in India is well geared to meet the quality and safety requirements of countries across the world. Our farmers, packers and exporters supply commodities to different countries. There may have been a few isolated cases in the past, but the way to deal with such a situation is through a discussion. We would have arrived at a constructive solution. What we have got now is a punitive solution that does not bode well for the larger economic relations between the two sides,” he added.

UK

Ruthless Killer granted £800 compensation for damaged belongings A man who shot dead three drug dealers at a house in Bishop’s Stortford has been granted more than £800 in compensation, after some of his belongings were broken or lost while he was being transported between prisons.

Three-time killer Kevan Thakrar, 27, was given three life sentences in 2008 for the killing of three individuals, over a £30,000 cocaine deal.

Thakrar, of Lomond Way, Stevenage, and elder brother Miran, 30, gunned down Keith Cowell, 52, his 17-year-old son Matthew and pal Tony Dulieu, 33, from Billericay, at the Cowells’ home in Plaw Hatch Close on August 28, 2007. The Thakrars were also found guilty of the attempted murders of Keith Cowell’s sister, Christine Jennings, 54, and Matthew Cowell’s girlfriend, Clare Evans, 23, at the house.

Yet whilst being transported between prisons, from Frankland to Woodhill Prison in Milton Keynes, Bucks, in 2010, some of his possessions were lost. He then sued prison authorities for damaging his property and leaving him "stressed”.

Kevan Thakrar

According to the court judgement, boasted about on Thakrar's Facebook page, he was awarded £224.97 for damage to his stereo, clock and nose hair clippers. He was also awarded £90 after items including cranberry juice, protein powder and toiletries were lost.

District Judge Neil Hickman reportedly said that there had been a "somewhat cavalier disregard for Mr Thakrar's rights and for his property", and awarded him a further £500 to compensate him for lost photos and personal items, making £814.97 in total.

After the payout, Thakrar wrote on his Facebook page that he had hoped to send bailiffs to the MoJ to ensure it paid his compensation.

MASSIVE BANK HOLIDAY SALE

UKIP candidate:

Close all mosques and ban Islam The UK Independence Party (UKIP) has once again come under attack over certain views voiced by its local election candidates on Tuesday 30 April, after a candidate for Oldham claimed that Britain should reportedly “ban Islam and knock down all the mosques”.

Another candidate from Walsall also reportedly said that Mo Farah is not British because he is “an African”.

Posted on her Facebook page, Jackie Garnett, who is standing to become a Ukip councillor in Oldham, suggested that all mosques should be destroyed and reportedly accused Muslims of carrying out “ethnic cleansing”

Happy Birthday to us

Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar started its journey in May 1972.

From our next issue, we begin our 43rd year. We are grateful to our readers, advertisers, supporters and well wishers who were instrumental for our continuous success. We pledge to do our utmost to serve our readers and community at large.

against the English. She also accused Muslims of turning “many of the small areas of the town (Oldham) into ghettos” and said, “ethnic cleansing is going on in this country and its the english that are being diluted.”

David Wycherley, who is standing in Walsall, also questioned the background of Farah on Facebook during the 2012 London Olympics. He asked his friends: “Can somebody explain please... Mo Farah, an African from Somalia, who trains in America, has won a gold medal for Great Britain!” UKIP has repeatedly denied that it is a racist party. A spokesman reportedly said: “Where evidence is produced to indicate a breach it will be considered at the earliest opportunity by the national executive committee as part of an established disciplinary procedure.”

7

FREE

CROWN ROYALE

UNDERLAY WORTH £8.40 sqm With all fitted carpets

SOUTHALL (WAREHOUSE) NEW STORE Unit 7, Triangle Centre Unit 3, Hounslow Trade Park, Uxbridge Rd, Staines Road, Southall UB1 3EJ Hounslow TW3 3LL (Opposite Eallg Hospital)

BATH ROAD SLOUGH 396 Bath Rd Slough, SL1 6JA (off M4 junction 7)

0208 571 3173 020 8577 9766 01628 668 505

278 - 286 HIGH STREET Slough SL1 1NB MULTI-STORY CAR PARK AT REAR

01753 535420

8

UK

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 3rd May 2014

The historical (and mind boggling) 16th General Election of India Tomorrow's News Today

India is experiencing a very exciting and entertaining period since last September, when the election campaign began. 12th May will be the last of the 9 phases where over 700 mn voters are likely to have exercised their franchise (Asian Voice published an article by the former Chair of the nation's Election Commissioner Mr S Y Qureshi on 18 January, pg 25) This campaign is a very resource rich campaign. The candidates from the Business and Corporate world, Bollywood and Cricket have entered the fray. Those from former Princely families appear to be in the retreat. The resources in terms of intellectuals' participation is also outstanding. The free and fearless Indian media - tv, radio, print as well as social media are so active, its difficult to imagine their extensive role from the UK. In terms of expenditure, a figure up to £5bn has been reported.

Each candidate is authorised to spend up to £100,000 (approx). There are 543 constituencies. Some 4 or 5 candidates per seat are from the main parties. Equally the government expenditure for organising election, promotion, security, voters' participation will cost a lot of money. Roughly speaking £1bn will be spent from official sources.

Main political parties are also spending money in an unprecedented way. The advert campaigns in media reminds us of the US elections. In the UK, we run our nationwide campaigns rather differently.

After a long time, another national party is challenging the hegemony of 129 years old Congress party. BJP has never before been able to penetrate in several states in the South, East and North East of India but not this time. A 'Chaiwalla' has taken the campaign to all corners of India, galvanising the electorates, especially youth, women, dalit and the underprivileged.

Whatever some of the pandits might say, BJP/NDA message has reached the ears and the minorities like Muslims and Christians. The youth all over the country, have been in the forefront with excitement, optimism and activism.

Gujarat's input in National Election

Historically, during elections, Gujarat provides a bulk of the financial resources for the National parties, both BJP and Congress. This year, perhaps, it's more because a Gujarati is in the forefront to become the Prime Minister of India. Formerly a Gandhian, Morarji Desai was the Prime Minister from March 1977 for about 2 years. A disciplinarian and upright man, heading the Janta Dal party inspired by Jai Prakash Narayan, was very cleverly removed by the Congress mechanism. Those days are gone and perhaps the Gandhian mode of economy has also changed beyond recognition. In that respect, India has definitely entered the 21st Century in all its aspects - some good and some not so good.

The main issues that have evolved during this campaign: 1. Lack of a decisive government, during the last 10 years of Congress led UPA regime 2. Mismanagement all round 3. Rampant corruption 4. Ever-present nepotism 5. Hereditary Politics - which has become the anathema to they youth 6. Communalism and votebank Politics All anti BJP and NDA parties are focussed on Communalism and its attacks on Modi. The Sunday Times has

As I See It

News Review

a 2 page front piece article, “The bloody trail followed by a daughter of partition” in the news review on 27th April. The article written by Mishal Hussein, a BBC news presenter is amazing. It brilliantly and impartially traces 3 generations from India to Pakistan to Middle East to UK. It is indeed a very informative piece. But it appears to be so well timed - to launch another unceremonious attack on Modi with a largeprovocative-picture of Modi.

The mudslinging by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee does not come as a surprise. Before calling Modi a 'Butcher of Gujarat', one should look at their own doings - the Sharda chit fund controversy, votebank politics and of course the use of state apparatus to settle personal or political scores.

Criticisms and attacks perhaps happen all the time during elections and everywhere. Narendra Modi has been attacking the Congress and the anti BJP focus very vehemently and fearlessly.

Perhaps one can summarise that his message has reached the ears, minds and hearts of a large number of Indian people. On 10 May, the campaign will come to an end, with voting ending on 12 May.

(his) unparalleled courage, vision and skill...”

I have known Mr Modi closely over the years not only when he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat or when he was exiled from Gujarat between 1997 till 2001 in Delhi at the Jhandewala building in a small room of perhaps 8ft x 4ft, which was his office as well.

Something should be recollected about Gujarat prior to Modi being sent

by BJP High Command in New Delhi in October 2001. On 26th January 2001, Gujarat, especially Kutch, experienced a huge and very devastating earthquake.

Thousands had perished, many thouNaMo: A rising star sands injured and the loss ran into vast sums of money. The BJP Chief Minister I have been watching Narendra Modi Keshubhai Patel, an upright and loyal very closely since 1987, when I first met party member was unfairly accused of him. He came on the national radar, mismanagement in relief, rehabilitation when he organised the India Unity and reconstruction efforts. During that march called Ekta Yatra, commencing on phase BJP lost 2 by-elections in the local 11th December 1991 from Kanyakumari, State Assembly and the next election the Southern most tip of India to was due within next 12 months. The party leadership in Delhi realised that a more younger, efficient and assertive CM was needed.

Narendra Modi was the surprise choice especially for the party and most people in Gujarat. I remember when Modi arrived in Ahmedabad as the newly anointed CM, many members of the party, especially Keshubhai's Cabinet and Civil servants were not happy.

Naturally they showed their resistance in various ways. In the previous 4 years Gujarat had some 4-5 CMs. Let us now remember how NaMo handled the delicate situation. It is public knowledge that Modi had prepared well while he was in Delhi. He was in constant Narendra Modi with Murli Manaohar Joshi at Lal touch with the party members all Chowk, Srinagar over Gujarat. He has his own style of Srinagar in far North. It coincided with working. In the early morning after his the birth anniversary of Suramania Yoga and Pranayam, he sits at his desk Bharti and the 'Balidan Diwas' of Guru and prepares his action plan very meticTegh Bahadur. The prominent issues ulously. This habit has continued all raised across the country were opposialong. tion to the violent politics and end to the menace of terror in Kashmir.

Changing the face of Terrorists had proclaimed that Indian Gujarat and Future of India tricolour will not be allowed to unfurl in Lal Chowk in Srinagar on Republic Day How can any man endure the hectic in 1992. Mr Murli Manohar Joshi, the travel, stress and strain (not only on his President of BJP and Narendra Modi, vocal chords) for speaking to huge the Organising Secretary, fearlessly crowds at so many places all over India? (though heavily guarded) stood in front Some people ask questions on how of the tricolour and called the bluff of the Modi will handle his roles as PM in a anti national forces. vast country like India with its manifold Referring to this incident, Mr Ankesh problems and contradictions. I believe Srivastava in Bharat-Glorious India he has prepared his blue print very carewrote: “The successful completion of fully. He will do the colouring from the this rare national mission amidst most midnight of 10th May when the election challenging circumstances was a tribute campaign comes to an end. He has to Shri Modi's ability to give effective acquired enough knowledge and prereplies to the anti-national elements with

pared a to-do list.

Perhaps, he also remembers that Pandit Nehru, when he formed the first Cabinet of Independent India, how he inducted non Congressmen like Baba Saheb Ambedkar, Shyama Prasad Mookerjee, John Mathai and CJ Deshmukh to bring necessary talent in the government machinery. Don't be surprised if Narendra Modi has already put some fillers, in this respect.

In Gujarat on his arrival from New Delhi in the first few weeks he assured his party and civil servants.

He offended at least 20 party big wigs when he dismantled 20 odd special boards, supposed to aid government. Each of such boards was costing about £2mn or more. But much worse, they were perhaps well known conduit of corrupt practices in the administration.

He also took the cultural/social festivals like kite flying, Navratri to the people. His vibrant Gujarat has become a benchmark for other states of India. Up until 2001 national festivals like Republic Day and Independence Day celebrations took place only in Gandhinagar. CM Modi has taken them to almost all districts and major towns, such national celebrations.

Electricity and water supply were the biggest headaches. The stealing in electricity has stopped and the Gujarat Electricity Board has become profitable and efficient. The electricity deficient Gujarat soon became self sufficient.

Narmada dam project was pursued by hard work and footwork in Delhi. The natural calamities like the flood in Surat, plague epidemic and other such incidents were handled surprisingly quickly, to the satisfaction of the people concerned.

That brand Modi became popular and comforting for people. He won 3 consecutive elections.

Modi, the much needed awakening for India?

Gideon Rachman, comments in the FT of 29th April that the rise of Modi sends an invigorating message across a country where too many people's chances are still blighted by poverty, class or caste. The anti dynastic message perhaps resonate well beyond India. It would be a welcome change for India to elect a self made man. As the poll suggests, Mr Modi is likely to reduce poverty and tackle corruptions better than his rivals.

His record offers reasons for hopes.

Mr Rachman concludes, “If he (Modi) emerges as India's Prime Minister next month, many Indian and foreign observes will be anxious about country's future. That reaction is understandable. But there would also be reason to be excited and hopeful. India needs a jolt and Mr Modi looks like the man to provide it.”

Running India is much more challenging than perhaps just an able administration of the state of Gujarat. But the man has done it in the most adverse and challenging circumstances. He is prepared to work hard and able to embark upon a Herculean effort to discharge his duties and obligations to India. I have a feeling that NaMo will form a very capable government by May 21 and serve India as well as he has done in his own state of Gujarat.

- CB

UK

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 3rd May 2014

Leading Lights

Rani Singh, Special Assignments Editor

Prime Minister’s Niece Rising in British Politics

Tulip Siddiq is the Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Hampstead and Kilburn. She is the grand daughter of Sheikh Mojibur Rahman and the niece of Bangladesh’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina.

Tulip spoke to me during hectic supportive activity for the 2014 May 22nd elections.

“My core values come from my family, which is made up of public servants. My grandfather led the Liberation War for an independent Bangladesh and my aunt’s currently fighting extremism every day in Bangladesh. The values they demonstrated through their work were of fairness, equality and social justice and that influenced me in the work that I’ve done and is why I joined politics; because I saw the difference their work made.

I never met my grandfather. He died about seven years before I was born. Everything I’ve learnt from him has been through history books or

from my mother or more importantly, stories from strangers. They said, “Did you know he helped me with my children, or did you know he saved my life, or made a difference to my life or helped set me free from torture or prose-

cution?”

Tulip spent most of her life in England and grew up in different countries in Asia.

“I realised that if you want to change the system, you have to get involved and make a difference from w i t h i n .

Arguing and shouting from the sidelines will not achieve anything. If I want to change the way decisions are made Tulip Siddiq where I live, that would mean becoming involved in politics and becoming a representative myself.

I chose the Labour Party- I joined when I was a teenager- because it most closely reflected my values and also because of

the work the Labour Party has done for the National Health Service. I grew up with a disabled father and the NHS greatly helped my father so I wanted to join the party to give something back to the community. And because I had seen the value of public services first hand.”

Tulip first stood as a Councillor in a ward where Labour has never won but she loved being a candidate, and stood again in Regents Park , won, and became a Councillor four years ago.

“I don’t agree with every single policy of the Labour Party. I marched against the war on Iraq. I didn’t agree with High Speed Rail Two. When I stood as an MP candidate I got a lot of support from the grassroots and from politicians I’ve worked with in the past.”

Tulip’s MP Glenda Jackson announced that she was going to stand down in the constituency where Tulip has lived since a teenager.

Local Labour Party members asked Tulip if she wanted to stand. It wasn’t an easy decision for her “as it changes your whole life. I discussed it at length with my husband and with political mentors in the local Party. People warned me that politics is about winning and losing; if you’re not prepared to

lose, then you shouldn’t be in this game. When I stood for election I stood against very strong women from my own party and I had to go through a selection process in which a thousand Labour Party members in my constituency, in the end chose me, but it was a difficult fight. I had to knock on everyone’s door, persuade them of my policies, and it resulted in a huge hustings where Labout Party members asked questions and I gave a speech. They asked about the war on Iraq, invading Syria, getting more young people involved in politics, education policy, and the economy.”

“My core values come from my family, which is made up of public servants” Tulip is involved in fighting for local councillors and her MEP. She thinks it important to stay in Europe. “Our trading position is strengthened.

Jobs are dependent on free movement between us and Europe. We can create a system that works better for us. At the moment it’s a financial EU, a banker’s EU; what we need is a worker’s EU.” What do she find vot-

9

ers want?

“On the doorstep, people raise education. We need to strengthen the system and invest more in our schools. We shouldn’t be dismantling the state system. We should bring back future school funding.

People raise the lack of affordable housing in London. They’re being squeezed out by high rents and it’s impossible to get on the housing ladder.

People can’t make ends meet because of low wages. The National Minimum Wage that Labour introduced was good for a while but we now need to look at a London Living Wage.

If people want to be involved in politics I would say look at what issues they’re interested in; is it tuition fees for young people, is it housing, is it NHS, is it rising crime in your area? We need more people to be interested in politics, I want people to come out and vote, make their voices heard. Politicians make their decisions with an eye on the ballot box. Young people’s policies don’t get much attention. For example Education Maintenance Allowance got scrapped. If more young people voted, politicians would think twice before scrapping policies that benefit young people.”

Performed in Gujarati with scene synopses in English

From 5 – 10 May

#AllsWell #G2G

10

YOUR VOICE

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 3rd May 2014

Religion in Politics

Protecting India's laws

Congratulation AV

Hypocrisy in politics

The article ‘Use of Religion in Politics’ of Mr CB Patel, the Editor of Asian Voice (26th April issue) has raised a very important point on whether religion should be used for political ends. In Britain no Prime Minister has ever given Easter message to the people. Mr David Cameron has been Prime Minister for four years. This year he has broken the age old tradition. Why? The European election and some local elections will be held on May 22. The economic condition is improving. More jobs are being created. Salaries are gradually overtaking the rate of inflation.

David Cameron has promised a referendum on Europe if his party come back to power after the general election in 2015.

Yet the popularity of the Conservative Party, if anything, is in the doldrums.

Naturally there has always been criticism when traditions are broken.

However, traditions should not be taken as something sacrosanct. The way forward for the humanity is to realise that politics is for politics only and religion must not be a part of it.

Union Minister and Parliamentary candidate Frooq Abdullah has recently given the statement that "Those who vote for Modi should be drowned in the sea" that means to be killed.

Farooq Abdullah is a son of Sheikh Abdullah. He has been Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir on several occasions since 1982 and has now made his son the Chief Minister of the State of Kashmir.

His provocative statement can easily create riots in India. It has gone beyond the limits of the election campaigns. So it is extremely important that the law enforcing organisations in India must come out and act according to the laws of India.

This man must be arrested, asked to resign from his ministry and the Congress party withdraw the seat which has been given to him. If the law enforcing agencies remains silent inclusive of Sonia Gandhi, Manmohan Singh and Rahul who are at present the custodians of Indian government, they must be held responsible if any person dies in India due to riots created by such a statement.

I would request all Hindus and Muslims to remain peaceful and calm and ask the government of India to act according to the law or we will not have any confidence in Indian laws.

Also the press and media must play their part in getting people arrested for giving such criminal and provocative statements.

I just wanted to congratulate the team at Asian Voice for compiling and capturing the 20 year anniversary of the campaign to save Bhaktivedanta Manor in one of your recent publications.

I received it in the post a little while back.

It presented and encapsulated the campaign fantastically well. It got the family reminiscing too.

I read with much interest Navinbhai Shah’s comments under the heading ‘Britain is a Christian County and India is a Hindu Country – Get Over it’ (AV 26 April 14). And I entirely agree with him.

It is often said that politics is a dirty game. There is often hypocrisy in it because it can be easy playing politics when it suits you. Our Prime Minister quite rightly said that Britain is a Christian Country. In the same way that the BJP feels for India.

Mahatma Gandhi, an astute but sincere and truthful leader in his time, said in A Bunch of Old Letters: “There is nothing so bad in all the world. And yet I cannot leave religion and therefore Hinduism. My life would be a burden to me, if Hinduism failed me. I love Christianity and many other faiths through Hinduism. Take it away and nothing remains for me.”

Gandhiji applied the principles in the Bhagvad Gita as successfully as he applied the words of the Sermon on the Mount in his life. So, what’s wrong in David Cameron asserting that Britain is a Christian country? People who are critical often have no idea of what to believe and what not to believe in their own faiths. They are just hypocrites.

Dr Jatindra Saha By email

Modi - on his way to Panchavati

Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar have been very supportive of Narendra Modi, and rightly so. We all wish that a capable person from Gujarat will find his well deserved place in No 7 Race Course Road (officially: Panchavati) which is the residence and principal workplace of the Prime Minister of India. He could also move to Number 10 Janpath which has been the residence of some of India’s former prime ministers like Lal Bahadur Shashtri (1964-1966) who succeeded Jawaharlal Nehru in 1960. However would the power that conducts the electoral process allow a Gujarati person to become the country’s next prime minister? If the elections were based on merit and capability rather than discrimination against a Gujjubhai, Narendra Modi will surely move house to New Delhi. But in a vast country like India where elections are riddled with corruption, it may be a rough ride. Lets hope that he will be successful in ousting the present incumbants of both these places.

Dinesh Sheth Newbury Park, Ilford

Champions of the poor

While campaigning before any election, political parties profess to be saviours of the minorities, the champions of the poor, etc. While recounting their ‘achievements’, they talk about whatever infrastructure projects or welfare systems they have implemented as though they had done them as a personal favour to the voters. Our politicians need to realize that whatever little they manage to do for their constituency, is nothing more than their duty, the very purpose of being in power.

Jubel D’Cruz, Mumbai, India

Dharam Sahdev Ilford

True meaning of religion

Arjun Gadhvi Via Email

What's for lunch?

Why are we Indians not proud of our culture and traditions? Indians take their packed lunch of possibly sandwiches wrapped up in cling film and hidden in their briefcases.

Matthew Offord, MP for Hendon, takes the tiffin, that he bought from a recent trip to India, to the House of Commons. He is pure vegetarian and says that this is the best way of carrying his lunch. He says he loves Indian culture and even has a Ganesh murti in his office and is a regular visitor to the Bhaktivedanta Manor.

I hope this will be an inspiration to many people to take their healthy rotli and rice in a tiffin to their workplace.

Cllr Ansuya Sodha West Hendon Ward (Conservative)

Nandan Nilekani of Infosys joins the race

April is holiest month as so many holy days fall in this month including Ram Navami (Lord Rama's birthday), Swaminarayan Jayanti, Hanuman Jayanti, Lord Mahavir Jayanti, Vaishkhi, Easter, Sinhala (Tamil New Year), Passover for Jews, to name but a few.

But in this month two very important stories touched our hearts and taught us the true meaning of religion. We saw a picture in the Toronto Star under the caption "A mercy at the eleventh hour" about an killer who escaped death after the victim's mother halted his hanging even though he killed her teenage boy. Then "Hurricane" Rubin Carter a well known boxer died of cancer in Toronto. He lived an exceptional life, filled with hardship, strength of character, compassion and hope. Instead of succumbing to anger whilst serving 19 years in a New Jersey prison after being wrongly convicted of a triple murder, he survived, overcame his misfortune and forged ahead dedicating his life to helping those wrongfully convicted. In his own words: "To live in a world where truth matters and justice, however late, really happens, that would be heaven enough for us all."

The individuals in both these stories freed themselves from anger and animosity through forgiveness and eased their pain to get peace of mind to moved ahead.

Outsiders are joining long established insiders and are getting into politics.

Nandan Nilekani is campaigning for Congress in Bangalore South. Meera Sanyal, former head of Royal Bank of Scotland's Indian operations is now a candidate for the AAP in Mumbai. Jayant Sinha, a Harvard Business School degree holder, a partner at McKinsey and now running Indian arm of a technology investment fund set up by eBay founder is running in Hazaribag, Jharkhand. He is also the son of Yashwant Sinha, former finance minister. So not an outsider. [FT Magazine, April26/27, p14-17].

Roll back to April-May 2004 elections. 5,398 candidates from 220 political parties contested the same 543 parliamentary constituencies. Sonia Gandhi confounded political pundits by leading Congress Party to victory. 380 million people, representing about 56% of the 675 million registered. voters, exercised their preference using 1.25 million electronic voting machines in 700,000 polling booths across the country, the highest in Ladakh at an altitude of 5,180 metres.

[Being Indian, Pavan Varma, p55, 2005].

One word to describe Narendra Modi is development. He could confound political pundits by leading BJP to victory in April-May 2014 elections.

Suresh and Bhavna Patel Markham, Canada

Nagindas Khajuria By email

Subscribe Today Asian Voice in UK for only £27.50 for one year

ASIAN VOICE

Please detach the form and send it with your payment or credit card instructions to address below

Karma Yoga House substantial reduction in 12 Hoxton Market (Off Coronet Street)

London N1 6HW

Tel: 020 7749 4080 Fax: 020 7749 4081 E-mail: support@abplgroup.com

Please note the

subscription rates for Europe and world after reconsideration.

New Subscription rates from 1st October 2013

UK EUROPE WORLD 1 Year £27.50 £75 £85 2 Years £50 £140 £160 Subscriptions paid will not be refunded

Uttambhai D Mistry Bolton

Christianity and Britain

I was pleasantly surprised and extremely pleased to read Cllr Navin Shah’s letter in last week’s AV. David Cameron is right to stress that Britain is basically a Christian country. The Christian ethos, democracy and freedom of press, worship and political stability first drew us to these shores, in preference to Indian subcontinent.

As long as Christianity and Hinduism prevail in Britain and India, they will remain secular, peaceful and progressive countries where everyone can enjoy unprecedented freedom and prosperity, something that is difficult to attain in Middle East countries where one religion and one culture reigns supreme. They go nuts whenever any politician even remotely shows, appreciates religious or cultural preference in most detached sense and believe they are the embodiment of Gandhi, Mandela and Napoleon rolled into one.

The likes of David Cameron and Narendra Modi will not be held to ransom by capricious intellectuals with mischief making mentality who would like to flirt more with illusion rather than reality.

Let’s hope that Modiji who represents progress, honesty and good governance will triumph over greed, rampant corruption and dynastic rule and lead India to international respect, peace and prosperity, the goal he has achieved in Gujarat.

Bhupendra M Gandhi By email

Have something to say about the stories featured in Asian Voice?

Letters are welcome at: aveditorial@abplgroup.com Word limit: 200 words.

Visit our website: www.abplgroup.com

NAME

ADDRESS POST CODE Email:

TEL:

I'd like to be kept up to date by email with offers and news from ABPL

Please charge my VISA / ACCESS / MASTERCARD for £

Card No:

Signature

Card Expiry date

Date

UK

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 3rd May 2014

UK based Indian to raise funds by walking from Kanyakumari to Delhi

Bobby Grewal, 79, a well known British Punjabi is to undertake a herculean and challenging task of walking 4160 km from Kanyakumari, the southern most tip of India, to the capital of India, Delhi, to raise ÂŁ1.5 million pounds for charity. The Chairman of India Association since 2001, Mr.Grewal plans to commence his 5month long walk starting December 1 from Kanyakumari and reach Delhi on April 30th, the

Bobby Grewal

next year. Earlier, Mr. Grewal had undertaken

a walk to raise funds for charity from Amristar to Kanyakumari and raised over 100,000pounds for charity.

At the Vaisakhi dinner of the India Association on 26th April, he said, “The amount raised will be donated to the charity Save Children International. With this walk I will be completing the full circle (of India).

He is to be accompanied by a single support vehicle and a team of four,

consisting of a walk manager, a driver, a physiotherapist and a chef.

In 2008 he had walked from Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh to Parliament in London and raised ÂŁ250,000 pounds for charity. S.S. Sidhu, Minister Coordination in the Indian High Commission, appreciated NRIs celebrating Indian festivals and combining their efforts to raise funds for charity.

Gujarat Foundation Day to be celebrated in Parliament Priti Patel MP, the Prime Minister’s UK Indian Diaspora Champion, is due to host the first ever Gujarat Foundation Day celebrations in the Palace of Westminster. As an MP of Gujarati origin, she is proud to host this event and to celebrate the outstanding achievements and contributions of the Gujarati community to the UK and around the world. This event is the first of its kind and is being hosted in partnership with the National

Congress of Gujarati Organisations (NCGO) UK. As the Indian state of Gujarat was established on 1st May 1960, celebrating this special foundation day is very important to Britain’s Gujarati population. To highlight the significance of this event, 200 high-profile guests – primarily business and community leaders of Gujarati origin – have been invited to celebrate with other dignitaries, including HE Mr Ranjan

4,000 people, 10 global locations, 1 routine, 1 world record – come and be part of something magical.

Venue: Spitalfields Market Date: Sunday, 6th July Time:12pm

Mathai, Indian High Commissioner in London.

The evening will also feature a cultural Gujarati demonstration and an awards ceremony to recognise the achievements of notable members of the British-Gujarati community.

In the lead up to the event, Priti said, “As an MP of Gujarati origin, I am proud to host the first ever Gujarat foundation

day celebrations in UK Parliament. This major event not only commemorates the founding of the state of Gujarat 54 years ago, but it is a celebration of the tremendous contributions the Gujarati community makes to our British way of life. This is a historic and special event and I look forward to sharing it with members of Britain’s Gujarati community.�

Are you looking for a more rewarding career?

Media Advertising Sales Representative Media Advertising Sales Representative positions are available with Asian Business Publications Ltd publishers of Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar, the leaders in ethnic media.

In 2012, BollyGood put on the biggest Bollywood party London has seen, hosting a Guinness world record attempt for the largest Bollywood dance. The dance was simultaneously performed by people all around the world from Adelaide to Malaysia to Somerset, and the event raised over ÂŁ10,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support.

The inspiration behind this event was Sophie Parr, a vivacious 24-year-old redhead from Somerset, who tragically died of cancer in 2010.

She had 16 days between the day of her diagnosis and her passing but in that time she set up a blog to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support. Her courage and zest for life remains a source of inspiration, as does her love of Bollywood music! The event was held to celebrate her life, and the lives of thousands of people who struggle with cancer every day.

This year, in association with Asian Voice, we

are back to challenge the Guinness world record for the largest Bollywood dance. With a team of volunteers, a catchy tune, a fabulous choreographer, Jay Kumar and generous sponsors, this event is shaping up to bigger and better than ever before.

This summer, come and join the biggest Bollywood party in London!

This is an opportunity for young and old alike to join in a fun, familyoriented afternoon: to dance, laugh and show your appreciation for the people at Macmillan who look after our friends and family. And you could walk away with a world record to your name.

We are always looking for more people to support us so if you would like to get involved and be part of producing a world class event, please get in touch. We would love to hear from you!

Please email bollygood2014@gmail.com We look forward to seeing you there!

Using a mixture of face to face, telephone and electronic contact, the position will entail selling advertising space for both Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar, theme based specials, sponsorships for various events we conduct through out the year.

We are seeking confident assertive, energetic, and goal-oriented individual with or without previous experience in sales. Position is responsible for building effective consultative business conversations with decision makers and win business. Selected candidates will receive a competitive salary and commissions. For consideration please email resume with references.

LOCATION: JOB TYPE: START DATE:

Central London Permanent Immediate

Asian Voice & Gujarat Samachar are the largest selling Asian news weeklies, now in their 42nd year with paid subscription of almost 25,000 and additional 5000 copies sold through retail outlets.

Check us online www.abplgroup.com

Send your CV with a covering letter to: Mr CB Patel Asian Business Publications Ltd Karma Yoga House 12 Hoxton Market (Off Coronet Street) London N1 6HW or email: cb.patel@abplgroup.com

11

Tribunal rules Indian doctor was unfairly sacked In a case which was dubbed as the ‘David versus Goliath battle’, a tribunal on Friday ruled that an Indian heart cardiologist was “vilified and bullied� by the University Hospital of Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust during a long “witch hunt� for exposing safety fears in the hospital.

In a landmark victory, Raj Mattu, pictured, who has been fighting a legal battle against the Trust for over 13 years, finally won an unfair dismissal case.

Mattu was initially suspended after he exposed the cases of two patients who had died due to overcrowding at the Walsgrave hospital in Coventry in 2001.

Pauline Hughes, an employment judge, supported Mattu’s case and reportedly said he “did not cause or contribute to his dismissal and had been subject to many detriments by the trust as a consequence of being a

whistleblower�.

A relieved Mattu reportedly said, “The real reason for my dismissal was my whistleblowing.

Scores of false allegations, some of them quite heinous, were put forward. The saddest thing is that for 13 years, the trust prevented me from looking after patients. They have also discouraged any further whistleblowers in the NHS from coming forward and risking having their career and livelihood destroyed.�

Solicitor stole from clients to please glamorous woman An infatuated solicitor, who stole almost ÂŁ134,000 from his clients to please a glamorous younger woman, has been jailed at the Old Bailey for 20 months.

Peter Taylor, 56, became infatuated with 30-year-old entrepreneur Louisa Dewar after he started having problems in his marriage and in his legal firm. He reportedly ‘lended’ her ÂŁ40,000 of his own money before using money from his client account of Ellis Taylor Law LLP, based in Holborn.

His fraudulent activity was only discovered after his wife reported him missing in June last year.

He was traced to a hotel in Kensington where he

had only ÂŁ20,000 of the ÂŁ134,000 left.

Taylor later reportedly told police that Miss Dewar had told him she was heavily in debt and was being chased by bailiffs. He alleged that he had given her more than ÂŁ50,000 in cash and transferred ÂŁ34,000 to her company Dewar Diamonds and ÂŁ24,000 to her personal account.

Sentencing, Judge Wendy Joseph QC said: “You were without doubt a respectable professional man with high standards and with a character trait of generosity to others, frequently extending to not charging for your work.�

Taylor pleaded guilty to three counts of fraud by abuse of position.

6, T MFBEJOH TPMJDJUPST GPS /3* TFSWJDFT t 0$* 1*0 DBSET - Preparing full application - Transferring OCI visa on to new passport - Re-issue of OCI / PIO card (if lost or stolen) - 100% money back guarantee (subject to T&C) - Avoid the Indian High Commission queues

t 1"/ DBSE BQQMJDBUJPOT t "GmEBWJUT 4VSSFOEFS PG *OEJBO QBTTQPSU t *OEJBO 8JMMT 1PXFS PG "UUPSOFZ t *NNJHSBUJPO BOE /BUJPOBMJUZ 502-504 Honeypot Lane Stanmore Middlesex HA7 1JR

t JOGP!QJOEPSJBMBX DPN

XXX QJOEPSJBMBX DPN

12

MEDIA WATCH

Trust and counter-thrust is part of the political sword-play of any democratic election anywhere in the world, and India is no exception to the rule. However, what the country’s Election Commission does - among its numerous other duties – is maintain a level playing field, act as watchdog against hate speeches by candidates and their supporters. In a land with such a multitude of ethnicities, languages, dialects and faiths a supervisory body like the Election Commission is a vital cog in the electoral process.

Giriraj Singh

Pravin Togadia

So when Gujarat politician Pravin Togadia was reported by the Times of India (April 21) to have made an inflammatory speech in Bhavnagar targeting Muslims, demanding that they be evicted from the town’s

against Togadia (who, incidentally, is no friend of Modi), while BJP candidate from Bihar, Giriraj Singh was also banned by the Election Commission from holding further public meetings since, at his last one,

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 3rd May 2014

ments and appeal to those making them to kindly refrain from doing so.” (Hindu, Times of India April 23)

Aam Aadmi under stress

Aam Aadmi’s Ilmi Shazia, its candidate from Ghaziabad has been seen on a video calling on fellow Muslims to cease being ‘secular’ and adopt a ‘communal’ position when voting in the general election. An official AAP statement said that the party “does not believe in this kind of politics nor do we endorse it. All our representatives should be careful in their choice of words so that there is no scope for misrepresentation.” (Times of India April 23) .Meanwhile, eight people were killed in a Maoist road bomb blast in Jharkhand.

Ban on Goa iron mining lifted

The Supreme Court has lifted a ban on the mining of iron ore in Goa, but restricted it to 20 million tonnes per annum. The Bench issued the following

Manohar Parrikar Sixth round of voting

he had told his political oppoHindu-majority areas. The nents to begone for Pakistan – a uproar that followed was underclear violation of the standable. Togadia apparently Commission’s Code of Conduct. has a substantial following in There are times when India’s the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and political discourse borders on the Bajrang Dal, both considthe imbecilic. ered extremist. Togadia’s performance hit the media headlines.. However, Business Line Modi in damage and the Hindu (April 22) carried control Togadia’s strong denials about the words attributed to him; he Responding to the brouhaha, said he would be suing those Narendra Modi tweeted: “Petty sections of the media responsistatements by those claiming to ble for the misrepresentation. be the BJP’s well-wishers are The BJP and RSS told reporters deviating the campaign from the that hate speeches against any issues of development and good minority community contragovernance. I disapprove [of] vened their policy ethos; they any such irresponsible stateaccepted Togadia’s denial. The Hindu’s front-page Narendra Modi report (April 22) said Togadia’s speech had been caught on camera.

He has since been banned from making public speeches.

Plot thickens

Truth will out. It was - the very next day, in fact. The Hindu reported (April 23) that a police case (FIR) had been lodged

caveats: 1. No mining lease within one kilometre of national parks and wild life sanctuaries.

2. The Ministry of Environment to identify eco-sensitive areas. 3.

Workers in mining firms to get 50 per cent of the wages for the period they were out of work.

Chief Minister upbeat

Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar expressed delight at the Supreme Court judgment, claiming that the lifting of the ban (which was imposed in October 2012) would revive the State’s economic activity .

The Federation of Indian Mineral Industries said: “It is as very good thing. This will bring mining industry back in Goa. It will create employment and boost economic activity.” (Business Line April 22)

TCS in landmark breakthrough

India’s largest IT provider Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has broken into the league of the world’s top ten IT providers in 2013, up from its previous 13th position in 2012. Twelve years ago, then company CEO S.Ramadorai laid out a roadmap to attain this goal by 2010. The global economic crisis of 200809 put a spanner in the works, but TCS reached the target three

years later than scheduled.

Considering the pace at which TCS is growing its further rise up this chain could be faster than its previous rate of progress. “Talk to any incumbent Western service provider today, and the one making them all tremble from the Subcontinent is TCS,” writes Jamie Snowdon, Executive Vice President of research operations of HfC Research.(Times of India April 22)

Indian IT model

A Business Line editorial (April 22) opined: “The results of the Indian information technology services…..testify to the robustness of the industry’s basic business model.….The top three – TCS, Infosys and Wipro saw their annual revenues go up between 16-30 per cent…..This wouldn’t be bad in normal times; in these difficult times, it is excellent….Also, it just isn’t the top three: HCL and mid-tier firms such as Mindtree and CMC have also done well.”

Shanghai invites Indian firms

The Shanghai Jiading Advanced Technology Innovation and Business Incubator rolled out the red carpet for Indian technology innovators and SMEs. A team from the Jiading facility, which has about 130 companies, visited Hyderabad to interact with industrialists and research institutions. The team is marketing the facility as a stepping stone to entry into the Chinese market. “We not only help incubators and start-ups set up their business in Jiadig, but we also help companies in their early development stage and other businesses raise resources,” said Deputy Director Zeng Qiang in an address to a meeting of entrepreneurs organized by the Andhra Pradesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries.

(Business Line April 23)

channels the exports,, it can fetch higher prices,” said Promod Kumar, Director of Sunil Agro Mills in Karnataka.

This was because firms in the private sector undercut each other, thus bringing down the price and losing a critical advantage for India (Business Line April 23)

Infrastructure projects to revive industry

Initial numbers coming into the Cabinet secretariat suggest that 90 per cent of the investment having clearances for large projects, is now producing encouraging results. An analysis of 113 projects by the Project Monitoring Group housed within the secretariat has brought in investments amounting to Rs 300,300 crore. Anil Swarup, who heads the Monitoring Group, said that thus far a total of 152 mega projects had yielded investments worth Rs 500, 300 crore. The Monitoring Group had received in all 438 project proposals worth Rs 1,000 crore, many still undergoing the approval process. With 14 States planning to set up project monitoring groups of their own, approvals will gain significant traction. (Times of India April 21)

Empire Debate

The Indo-British encounter spanning four centuries - billed the Empire Debate - is to be assessed, warts and all, in London, in September (Hindu April 19). The balance sheet was favourable, in the opinion of some of India’s greatest modern

Andhra leads in milk production

Andhra Pradesh has recorded the highest growth in milk production and per capita availability at over 41 per cent and 36 per cent respectively during 20062010. Milk production in India has grown at a significant rate of 19 per cent per annum during this five-year period, with overall production crossing 121 metric tonnes as of 2010-11. Andhra Pradesh heads India’s top five milk producing states, the others in order being Rajasthan, Kerala, Karnataka and Gujarat.

(Business Line April 23)

Wheat exports set to rise

With US wheat production declining owing to the vagaries of the weather, and the political crisis in Ukraine deepening, the prospects for India’s exports look correspondingly rosier.

“India stands to benefit from these developments. Except India no other country can supply wheat during April-July.

Actually if the Government

Kusoom Vadgama

figures, from Rammohun Roy, Swami Vivekenanda, Sri Aurobindo, Rabindranath Tagore and historians Jadunath Sarkar and R.C.Majumdar, among others. Tagore said that without the British experience India would have been incomplete. The organizers would do well to invite Nobel Laureate V.S. Naipaul to be one of the speakers. As a grandson of Mother India, born and brought up in Trinidad as a Child of Empire, his luminous intellect and moral integrity could make the occasion truly memorable.

The doughty Kusoom Vadgama is to be warmly congratulated for her valour and resolve to see the project to fruition - for her, surely a labour of love.

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 3rd May 2014

On Gujarat Day

Let No One Deny These Truths

I will this week in the Palace of Westminster deliver this speech.

It was two Gujaratis who gave the world the largest ever democracy – in the most improbable place in the world.

Communist China over one shoulder – a dictatorship, Pakistan a nuclear armed onoff military theocracy over the other shoulder and Russia straight North – that India is a Democracy in that neighbourhood, is a bloody miracle. Let no one deny it was two Gujaratis, Gandhi and Sardar Patel, who led that miracle.

Just as Britain is a Christian country, it is because India is a Hindu country that she is a democracy. Because she is a Hindu country. Let no one deny this truth.

Any list of the greatest humans to have walked the earth since the birth of Christ would have on it the names of Gandhi and Sardar Patel – because without them the world would not have witnessed the end of the age of Empires – for the first time since the Romans – the world is free of Imperialism. For the first time in two thousand years, no empires because two Gujaratis led a nation to freedom. Let no one deny this truth.

We celebrate our Gujarati bloodline, but we have each day through our works to prove worthy of our bloodline. We are for freedom of speech everywhere, we are for freedom of thought, everywhere, we are for freedom of worship everywhere.

Let no one deny this truth– this is what Gujaratis believe in.

You have got to carry that forward, onward, always remember it, let it drive you, direct you in all things. You’ve just got to.

But cross us, take advantage of our good will, good nature, and you will know the spirit of Gandhi, of Sardar Patel, still lives. Let no one deny that truth.

Gandhiji and Sardar Patel were also British Indian Gujaratis. They were British educated Barristers. We must recognise they were British Indians, like us all in this room, who changed the world, save the world from madness. Let no one deny British Indians did this.

And let no one deny, it was these British Gujaratis who when the world descended into madness in the Second World agreed to send her sons into harm’s way to save the world, to fight for British Independence in that war.

So let no one deny the truth, without these Gujaratis the world would not be democratic, Britain would not be a free country today.

We gather here today to celebrate Gujarat day, it should be a global day. It just has to be. We gather to remember our contribution to world history. We renew our faith in our Gujarati-ness, gather to remember to carry forward that legacy.

This is why the proudest boast of any man or woman will always be, my son, my daughter is a Gujarati. Let no one deny that truth.

UK

13

CHN and City of London Police hosts dialogue with community The City Hindus Network hosted a fruitful open evening on Thursday 17 April, with the City of London Police at Wood Street Police Station in Moorgate. An intimate group of guests met together to discuss how the Police can better engage with Hindu communities and guests were given the chance to voice any problems or issues they have with the Police face-to-face.

Organised jointly by Asif Sadiq, Head of the Equality, Diversity and Human Rights Unit at the City of London Police, and CHN, the open evening was organised to give the Hindu community the opportunity to engage in dialogue with the City's Police force, and also allow the force to gauge and respond to any concerns and issues the community may have.

Prinal Nathwani, Chair of City Hindus Network kicked off the evening by welcoming everyone and said, “CHN have been working with City Police for last two years and we appreciate the support they have given us. From a CHN point of view, a lot of our member base may have issues that they wish to raise, but because the majority of people in this

area only work here, they may not necessarily feel that they can come to the Police and they may not be aware of whats on offer.

This is chance for them to air their concerns and better learn to engage with the Police.”

Asif Sadiq said, “We have noticed that we need to speak to the community and base our plans on that rather than based on what we think. The city is a very different place to other areas. It has over 350,000 people working here everyday and for us, its about really understanding what the community wants.

Which is why we have been holding a series of events with City Sikhs, City Muslims, the Black

community, LGBT community, as a way to really understand and build links, and also to find out what issues are affecting them and what we can do better.”

Open to all CHN members, the evening also saw in-depth discussion on how the force can be more approachable and forthcoming with the community and also how the community can become more actively involved when it comes to determining how policing is carried out in the City. Issues such as the safety of women was discussed, the problem of litter and stop and search, making the community understand their rights when it comes to this.

Sri Lanka apologises for arrest over nurse's Buddha tattoo Sri Lankan officials have apologised to a British nurse, who was arrested over her Buddha tattoo and have paid for her flight back to the UK. Naomi Coleman was arrested for “hurting others’ religious feelings” after the tattoo of a Buddha sitting on a lotus flower was spotted on her right arm. She spent a night in prison, where she feared she would be raped, before being moved to a detention

centre in Colombo.

Miss Coleman is expected to land in Heathrow on Thursday night.

COMMUNITY

London to host Vaisakhi in Trafalgar Square

14

Londoners are invited to the Mayor's Vaisakhi Festival in Trafalgar Square on Sunday 4 May, celebrating the holiest day in the Sikh calendar.

Vaisakhi symbolises the start of the harvest season and the beginning of the Sikh New Year, and London's celebrations are an opportunity for people of all faiths and backgrounds to experience a festival that is celebrated by 20 million people across the world. The free event is open to everyone and organised by the Mayor of London in partnership with Sony Entertainment Network.

There will be something for all the family to enjoy, with a strong lineup of main stage performances, including classical, Bhangra and popular music. Revellers will be able to learn to dance Bhangra Boogie Woogie style, or peruse the Asian Bazaar for an exotic trinket shopping extravaganza. There will be opportunities to have your make up done Asian Wedding style and have pictures taken on a Punjab backdrop courtesy of event partner, Lebara Mobile.

Also on offer will be the chance to join in have-ago sporting activities, or simply to enjoy the impromptu Bollywood dancing and Dhol drum-

ming across the square.

There will be variety of tasty vegetarian (no eggs) traditional food and drink, story-telling, turban dressing and a range of other festive children's activities, including arts and crafts, face-painting and henna artists.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: 'Vaisakhi is a joyous occasion for Sikhs around the world, tracing its roots back to the very birth of a religion which teaches respect and generosity to people of all cultures and creeds, a relevant message for our great city. In that spirit, this is an opportunity for all Londoners to revel in the jollity and festivity of our event in Trafalgar

Square and I hope everyone visiting has a wonderful day.

Happy Vaisakhi.'

Artists performing, with the backing of a full live band, include the pioneering Bhangra legend Jassi Sidhu; award-winning PBN Team; Heera Group, the recently reformed Apna Sangeet; and Premi Group, one of the original leading lights of the Bhangra movement. With Juggy D, aka 'the Panjabi Rockstar' on stage, world music star Sonia Panesar, multigenre singer-songwriter San2, and the popular dancers Asli Baharan Punjab Diyan, crowds can expect a lively mix of Bhangra from returning legends to new stars.

people dressed as chefs, the beautifully-dressed chefs had guests enthralled before they even had tasted her food!

Sample canapés of recipes within the book floated around and received much praise from a number of guests.

On arrival, Dipna revealed her book ‘Beyond

of our secrets have been revealed. As some of you know, I have been actively involved in this industry for over ten years, but I'm still learning.”

“When I say inspiration one word comes to mind - Dad. It's been my dad's dream for the past ten years for me to write a book. He always used to say it, but I never took it seriously. Well, dad today your dream has come true and if it wasn't for your support guidance and blessing, I wouldn't be here. I wouldn't be here with this book, you're my pillar and without you I wouldn't be brilliant, let alone beyond brilliant.”

Other people also shared their thoughts on stage and gave nothing but praise to Dipna including her successful father Gulu Anand, Professor David Foskett and Samson Sohall from Cobra Beer. The evening then lead guests up to the master restaurant to enjoy the wonderful tastes of The Brilliant and Dipna Anands ‘ Beyond Brilliant’.

Beyond Brilliant will be available to by on Amazon on April 29th.

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 3rd May 2014

Critically-acclaimed Tagore Adaptation to Premiere at Edinburgh Festival

‘Unsung’, a powerful dramatic adaptation of ‘Punishment’, a short story by Nobel Prize-winning Bengali writer Rabindranath Tagore is to premiere at the prestigious Edinburgh Festival in August 2014.

Tagore’s story focuses on two brothers and their wives and a devastating incident of gender-based violence. Playwright and activist Ayndrilla Singharay relocates the action from a small village in nineteenth century Bengal to modern-day London and asks how far we have come in the struggle for gender equality. Ayndrilla’s work with Asha, a charity and refuge for South Asian women and children escaping violence has deeply influenced ‘Unsung’. “Their stories have shaped this play,” says Ayndrilla. “There is a common misconception that only certain types of women experience domestic violence, usually women who are weak or passive. We want to shift peoples’ attitudes,

show that domestic violence can happen to anyone, anywhere.”

Originally performed in 2013 to overwhelming four-star reviews from critics including The Asian Voice (‘one of the best adaptations of yesteryear short stories’), ‘Unsung’ is scheduled at C Nova in the heart of Edinburgh from 30 July26 August. Ayndrilla is currently appealing to funders to support the project. “Asha has faced severe funding cuts this year so we are only able to maintain our crisis services,” says Ayndrilla.

“Preventative work is equally important. At Edinburgh we have the opportunity to carry our important message to a world audience.

Changing attitudes saves lives.”

Funders’ brand or company logos will be printed on all ‘Unsung’ flyers and will be distributed to thousands of people at the festival.

were excellent. Second day hosted the much awaited film Salam by Kiran Yadnyopavit, the humerous play White Lily Night Rider by actress

show of Reema Lagoo, Sonali Kulkarni and Dilip Prabhawalkar, Musical by Hrishikesh Ranade and troupe, Lavani dance by actress Shruti Marathe and young local talent of Aberdeen. Chief Editor of Lokmat Vijay Kuvalekar who flew in from India gave an illustrious speech on Marathi language and culture, while Rohit Shelatkar of Vitabiotics referred to exhibits at British Science Museum linking to earliest Maratha science and intellect that laid dormant in the world of recognition. Vote of thanks was given by Ashutosh Kelkar and program was compered by Mukta Aphale and Ashwini Kelkar. Attended by about 400 guests from the UK, France, Netherlands, Germany and India, the event was sponsored by Calyx Media and supported by Lokmat group.

If you would like to help fund ‘Unsung’ at Edinburgh, please contact Ayndrilla at ayndrilla@asha.org.uk or call 0208 677 8196.

European Marathi Sneh-Sammelan 2014 concluded successfully

Celebrity Chef Dipna Anand launches Beyond Brilliant cookery book

Tanveer Mann

Dipna Anand has quietly made her mark as an excellent chef in the culinary world over the years.

Her restaurant 'Brilliant' is one of Gordon Ramsay’s top restaurants, the Express Newspaper named her ‘Spice Girl’ and she is the proud owner of

L-R: Gulu Anand, Cherry Anand, Dipna Anand, Shanker Anand, Shushma Anand

a British Curry Award. Yet there seems to be no stopping for her, as she recently launched her new signature cookery book Beyond Brilliant on Monday 28 April at The Brilliant restaurant in Southall.

Arrived to her launch on an extravagant rickshaw followed by many

Brilliant’ with a heartfelt speech. She said, “The brilliant is now in its third generation. My dad and uncle Keval learnt form my grandfather and now my brother Shekhar and I, are learning from our parents. You'll come across recipes in the book, which go back 65 years and some

The 10th European Marathi Sammelan was hosted successfully at Aberdeen by all young organising committee. The event saw the best of Drama, Dance, Art Music and Entertainment spanning three days.

Inaugurated on 18 April by noted Marathi theatre artiste Dilip Prabhawalkar of Munnabhai MBBS fame, the inaugural day showcased the best talent of Britain congregating at Aberdeen. Foot tapping songs by Mehfil UK group, powerful Bharata Natyam presentation named Trishakti by Ragasudha Rapatwar on Tanjavur Maratha Kingdom’s Shahaji Bhonsle’s compositions, Bhairavi play by Avishkar Arts have captivated the audience thoroughly. Dr Vinitaa Apte’s Kathakathi and Dilip Prabhawalkar’s Chimanrao te Gandhi

Dilip Prabhawalkar

Sonali Kulkarni & Milind Pathak, one-act play Family Business by Kalarang, chat with advertising expert Abhinay Deo, presentation on Fabric Collages by Dr Aruna Mene and interesting Scottish musical band Ceilidh. The third and the concluding day was packed with celebrity chat

UK

Ayurvedic Extravagance in a layman’s lap at the Taj Gateway

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 3rd May 2014

By Beena George

Photo courtesy: Raj D Bakrania, Prmediapix

The flight to Calicut was not expected to be in a Propeller, the thought had already put me and my 15yr old son off. Once it touched the ground, we breathed a sigh of relief.

We were greeted by a driver from the hotel to pick us up and drove us to the The Gateway Hotel, Beach Road Calicut, a hotel by Taj. It was a lovely sight, calm, serene and as the darwan opened the door, the aroma of the incense caught our nostrils and filled our lungs. A smiling face greeted our exhausted ones, that lightened us up.

Janaki, the bubbly Sales Manager who we had been coordinating with, before our arrival and she in-turn introduced us to a humble gentleman, The GM of the Hotel Mr Manoj Sharma.

They directed us towards the Ayurvedic Centre and seated us.

They assured us that the treatment would be revolving around our time and convenience. The hotel was well aware that we had a one year old child who at times could be a constrain for timing/treatment. We were introduced to Dr Vatsala, the Ayurvedic doctor, whom we were extremely pleased to meet, a very experienced and learned person who has profound knowledge and indepth insight in Ayurvedic history, medical treatments and yoga.

We were advised to start our first massage therapy before the sun set.

So we headed to our suite, which was luxurious. On entering the room, 4 tender coconuts were placed

on a table, which was an inviting treat for us after a rough flight and humid weather.

We settled our kids in the room and went straight to the Ayurvedic Centre for a quick chat with the doctor. We were then guided into individual rooms and were assigned personal therapists who would look after us for the next 7 days.

That's when I was pleased to meet Soumya, who made me feel absolutely at home.

She applied oil in my hair with a slight massage.

She also heated some oil and applied it on my hands and legs in a particular way, by laying me down on a wooden table, to increase blood circulation. Her strokes ranged between 7-9-21. This massage included oils for circulation, heat, cleansed

my skin and cleared it.

Soumya then massage my back, by asking me to sit up and then I was aided to the washroom by the hand, preventing me from slipping. Then Soumya applied moong daal powder all over, which took the slipperiness away, but retained the oil on the skin, leaving it moist and glowing.

After a hot shower, she applied Rasnadhi, a powder, so that I do not catch cold. She then took a thin towel (thorth) and dried my hair, tying it in Kerala

style, which I found extremely amusing. She then gave me a glass of warm jeera water to drink which felt really refreshing.

After giving birth, a woman can undergo severe stress—both physically and mentally. The Ayurveda treatment, I underwent developed a nourishing and relaxing therapy to tone the body, firm the skin, relax the mind and nourish the body.

This treatment refreshes a new mother, bolstering physical strength and revitalizing the mind, so that she has is happy and healthy.

The moisturising oils also greatly reduce the appearance of stretch marks and this treatment was just the right thing I needed after a pregnancy away from my mum or home.

The second phase included Ayurvedic diet.

We were directed to a restaurant and were introduced to Salin Kumar the Executive Chef. With a charming smile he led us into the buffet area and starving, we were delighted to grab a bite.

The dinner gave us back some strength and

we retired to our room to relax.

The next day we were asked to report at 8.30 for yoga and therapy. It was carried out with similar procedures as the first day but in more detailed form.

First we were applied kaajal mixed with a medicated oil and applied in our eyes to clear them. Then a rope dipped in medicinal oil was burnt and the smoke was made to be inhaled with the help of a leave rolled into a cone, so that our nose is clear including sinus gathering or any infection that we may hold.

After that we were made to drink and gargle a particular oil twice to clear the throat and clean our teeth of any infection or the mouth.

Then regular massage was carried out followed by the moong daal scrub and hot shower.

Our lunch diet contained carrot and coriander soup with phulkas and 2 vegetable curries that was very tasty considering there was no chilli or any spice.

We were called into meditation after couple of hours and were taught 2

Our 4th day had a different touch to the therapy where amla leaf paste made into balls were put on our heads to cool, that was covered with banana leaf and tied with the thin towel. After massage the leaf was taken out from the head and washed properly with shampoo followed by a daal scrub.

The second day procedure was repeated again on the 4th and the 5th day.

On the 6th day, we were asked to drink a herbal powder in warm water at 6am, which cleared our

stomach completely without any pain.

The 7th day we were introduced to an astrologer who connects Ayurveda with astrology and he advises many aspects of your stars and birth stones in respect to your health as well.

The treatment sessions are based on your health and medical condition, tailor made especially for you upon consultation with the doctor. Consultation with Dr Vatsala’s and her associates was an amazing experience. The health of an individual is based on a perfect balance of three doshas, called the Tridoshas i.e. Vatha, Pita and Kapha. These three doshas form the constitution of an individual.

Ayurveda is a science of life that calls on every individual to live in perfect harmony with his natural environment.

The ideal months for treatment are June to September.

The experience at The Gateway Hotel, Beach Road Calicut is your u l t i m a t e Ayurveda holistic health retreat. Be it a weekend rejuvenating experience you're looking for or an effective treatment, the ayurvedic centre at this Taj hotel provides you just the perfect ambience!

For further information about Taj Gateway you can call Shikha Kataria, Taj Hotels, Resorts & Palaces on tel (0)207 834 6655 ext 3001 or to book your holidays you can call Holidaymood on 020 3475 3130.

Goal fulfilled for Marketing Officer

Govinda says Thank You

On January 14, on their 25th wedding anniversary, Bollywood star Govinda remarried his wife Sunita Ahuja in a private ceremony in London. In a display of gratitude, Govinda recently made a surprise stop over in London on his way to the IFA awards in Florida, to say thank you to his friends and the British Asian community for hosting the renewal of his wedding vows earlier this year. Seema Malhotra MP was in attendance.

exercises, breathing through nostrils and a snoring technique which I found very interesting. We were given our Ayurvedic medicines that arrived into our rooms directly, to drink with warm water at 6am and 6pm, a wine like medicine called Kashayam after lunch which was followed by a powerful medicine after dinner.

Our third day routine contained a cooking class with the Chef teaching us simple recipes of Ayurvedic food. It was wonderful to learn how these simple and healthy cookings can work miracles on your health. The Yoga at 7.30 in the morning, followed by breakfast at 8.30 and a massage therapy at 9.30, then meditation at 3pm followed by dinner at 7pm continued.

15

Bhavesh Vaghela

39 years old Bhavesh Vaghela of Watford, Herts, is the Chief Marketing Officer for a well known company in UK. He always wanted to run the London Marathon as a personal goal before he turned 40. While taking on the challenge he wanted to raise some money. His grandmother losing her sight and his father suffering from glaucoma inspired him to be running for the Royal National Institute for Blind (RNIB) whose work for such people is just amazing.

To help him in his huge challenge he trained under Stretch who helped him change his diet, put an exercise plan in place and changed his outlook on life.

With Stretch's help, support from his many friends, wonderful family and some good old fashioned hard work, he finished his first marathon in 6 hours 10 minutes and raised £2,850.

Bhavesh’s achievement in his profession and marathon makes him a perfect role model for the new generation.

16

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 3rd May 2014

Mayuri Dave

Rajasthan backs BJP

India's largest state in terms of area, Rajasthan is set to back the saffron party. In the 2013 assembly election, anti-incumbancy factor completely washed away the ruling Congress party. with new BJP government under Vasudhararaje Scindia is in power, the saffron brigade is expecting over 25 seats here.

The state was created on 1 November 1956, and since then has played a crucial role in national politics. The state has 25 parliamentary constituencies of which Ganganagar, Bikaner, Bharatpur and Karauli-Dholpur are reserved for the Scheduled Caste, and Udaipur and Banswara are reserved for the Scheduled Tribe.

Barmer is the largest parliamentary constituency in Rajasthan and second largest constituency in India. Some important parliamentary constituencies in the state are Dausa, Jaipur, Ajmer, Jodhpur and Kota. just like neighboring Gujarat, two major political parties - BJP and the Congress are having sway here and regional parties are not existing here. The election histo-

GENERAL ELECTION 2014 ANALYSIS

ry of Rajasthan has been dominated by the Congress party and the BJP. From 1949 to 1977, INC was in power. Till 1962, its stronghold in Rajasthan was unchallenged. However since then, Janata Party, Swatantra Party and later BJP have challenged this dominance. In 1977, riding on the post-emergency anti-Congress sentiment, Janata Party led by Bhairon Singh Shekhawat assumed power.

After Indira Gandhi's assassination in 1984, Congress regained popularity in 1985. In 1990, BJP won the elections but President's rule was declared in the state in 1992 after the demolition of the Babri Masjid.

Since 1993, BJP and INC have been forming government alternately; with BJP winning 1993, 2003 and the recent 2013 elections, while Congress had won the 1998 and 2008 elections.

In the Lok Sabha elections, the Congress party was dominant till 1971. But its fortune

plummeted in 1977 and 1984. The BJP made its presence felt in the 1984 elections. However, 1989 elections was a watershed for the party as it won all 25 seats. In 1991 and 1999 elections, BJP lost some grounds but made a comeback in 2004 by winning 21 seats while INC got just four seats. In 2009 however, the electoral fortunes of the two parties reversed.

INC won 20 seats while BJP won only four.

In the 15th Lok Sabha, the INC bagged 20 out of 25 seats while the BJP got just four.

However, this year, the opinion polls predict a reversal of fortunes for the two rivals. BJP is expected to win 20 or more seats while INC may have to settle for five or less seats. Other parties may win one to three seats.

Here major issues are farmers' condition and lower industrialisation.

To improve the situation of the farmers, new schemes must be implemented.

Following the Annual Survey of Industries of 2010-11, the state of Rajasthan holds merely 3% factories of the country. The number of largescale as well as smallscale industries in the state is declining.

Two FIRs filed agai

The Gujarat police filed two FIRs against BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi on orders of the Election Commission on Wednesday for his political statements, displaying BJP’s symbol lotus soon after exercising his franchise. Gujarat DGP PC Thakur confirmed the development and said that a police complaint has also been lodged against TV channels.

The State administration has sent a compliance report pertaining to FIRs to the poll panel. The Ahmedabad Crime Branch will investigate the matter.

The EC had held Modi in violation of the provision of the Representation of Peoples Act, 1951 and asked the Gujarat administration to furnish compliance report. The EC is of the views that by holding the press briefing when the polling was going on in Gujarat and other parts of the country, Narendra

Modi has violated the provisions of Sections 126 (1) (a) and 126 (l) (b) of RP Act. The EC has also directed that all the TV channels and other electronic media which carried the proceedings of the said meeting and display of election matter on their channels should also be proceeded against by filing separate complaints against them.

Meanwhile, early in the morning the Gujarat Chief Minister reached at Nishan School polling booth, situated in Ranip area of Ahmedabad in style. Outside his polling station, large gathering of people and media personnel were already waiting for him. Wearing off-white sleeveless jacket on his signature white Kurta, Modi entered into the school building raising hands towards the crowd cheering for him.

As he entered into the polling booth which falls under LK Advani’s Gandhinagar constituency, a

woman along with her 4-yearold child was voting there.

Modi waited for her and shook hand with the little boy. After exercising his franchise, Modi took his own

Rahul Gandhi has been taken to task by the 'great grandson of Mahatma Gandhi' for bringing the name of the Father of the Nation into electioneering and blaming the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for the Mahatma's assassination by Nathuram Godse.

The person who has taken on Rahul is Shrikrishna Kulkarni, who says he was born in the Gandhi family. Kulkarni's mother is apparently Gandhi's third son Ramdas Gandhi's daughter.

In an open letter to Rahul, Kulkarni objected to the Congress referring to Mahatma in their election campaign. In the letter dated 8 March, Kulkarni asked Rahul to stop using Bapu’s name in the poll campaigning.

"You are not from the Gandhi family. You have fooled too many people for too long in India. Stop it now," the letter added.

Varanasi: AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal who filed his nomination papers from the city on Wednesday, played the local card by raising the issues of pollution in the Ganga and weavers’ plight.

He also accused the BJP and the Congress of using black money in the election.

An impressive crowd of AAP supporters took to the streets to join Kejriwal’s road show beginning from Lahurabir Crossing.

Kejriwal, along with other AAP leaders, including Manish Shisodia, Sanjay Singh and Ashutosh, rode in an open open jeep. The road show passed through Jagatganj, Teliabag, Andhrapur and Adesrar area covering a distance of around 3km.

Before beginning his road show, Kejriwal garlanded the statues of Sardar Patel at the Maldahiya crossing and Chandra Shekhar Azad at Lahurabir crossing.

He also released white doves, the symbol of peace, on the occasion.

Kejriwal is contesting against the BJP PM nominee Narendra Modi, who will file his nomination on Thursday.

AAP has fielded Kumar Vishwash against Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi in Amethi.

Targeting Modi and Rahul, Kejriwal alleged that both the BJP and the Congress were using black money for campaigning. “I

have heard that Modi has spent Rs 5,000 crore and Rahul has spent Rs 10,000 crore in election campaign.

This is black money and those who are investing such a big amount of money in election campaign will collect Rs 5 lakh crore from common man’s pocket after election,” he said.

“Such type of democracy should be changed. We have to bring ‘asli janata ka jantantra” (people’s democracy). I have only Rs 500 in my pocket. Mein to phakka aadmi hun, I have nothing to spend. I am fighting election with your help only,” said Kejriwal.

Kejriwal also accused Rahul and Modi of promoting ‘helicopter democracy’.

“People in Amethi say that Rahul comes to his constituency in helicopter once in five years. Modi is coming here tomorrow (Thursday) to file his nomination and will fly from BHU to Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith in helicopter,” said Kejriwal.

Rahul told to stop using Bapu’s name in electioneering

Lok Sabha polls –Phase-wise analysis

First Phase – 7th April

Total seats – 6 States – Assam (five seats – 78 per cent voting), Tripura (one seat – 85 per cent)

Second Phase – 9th April

Total seats – 6 States – Arunachal Pradesh (two seats – 55 per cent voting), Nagaland (one seat – 81.47 per cent), Manipur (one seat – 80 per cent), Meghalaya (two seats – 71 per cent)

Third Phase – 10th April

Total seats – 91 States – Andaman Nicobar (one seat – 55.9 per cent voting), Chandigarh (one seat – 72 per cent), Lakshadeep (one seat – 71.34 per cent), Bihar (six seats – 53 per cent), Hariyana (10 seat – 73 per cent), Jammu & Kashmir (1 seat – 69 per cent), Jharkhand (4 seats– 58.3 per cent), Kerala (20 seats – 73.4 per cent), Madhya Pradesh (9 seats – 66 per cent), Odisha (10 seat – 67 per cent), Maharashtra (10 seats- 56 per cent), Delhi (7 seat – 64 per cent), Uttar Pradesh (10 seats– 65 per cent), Chhattisgarh (1 seat – 51.4 per cent)

Fourth Phase – 11th April

Total seats – 6 States – Mizoram (one seat – 60 per cent voting)

Fifth Phase – 12th April

Total seats – 7 States – Assam (3 seats – 70 per cent voting), Goa (two seat – 75 per cent), Sikkim (one seat – 76 per cent), Tripura (one seat – 82 per cent)

Sixth Phase – 17th April

Total seats – 121 States – Bihar (7 seats – 54 per cent voting), Chhattisgarh (3 seat – 65 per cent), Karnataka (28 seat – 66 per cent), Rajasthan (20 seats – 63.63 per cent), West Bengal (4 seat – 79 per cent), Jammu & Kashmir (1 seat – 69 per cent), Jharkhand (6 seats– 62 per cent), Manipur (1 seats – 74 per cent), Madhya Pradesh (19 seat – 61.7 per cent), Odisha (11 seats –70 per cent), Maharashtra (10 seats- 56 per cent), Delhi (7 seats – 64 per cent), Uttar Pradesh (11 seats– 62.52 per cent)

Seventh Phase – 24h April

Total seats – 117 States – Tamil Nadu (39 seat – 73 per cent voting), Bihar (seven seats –60 per cent), Chhatisgarh (7 seats – 62 per cent), West Bengal (6 seats – 82 per cent), Assam (6 seats – 77 per cent), Jharkhand (4 seats – 63 per cent), Rajasthan (5 seats – 59 per cent), Jammu & Kashmir (1 seat – 28 per cent), Uttar Pradesh (12 seats – 58 per cent), Maharashtra (19 seats – 56 per cent), Madhya Pradesh (10 seats – 64 per cent)

Eighth Phase – April 30

Total seats – 89 Dadara & Nagar Haveli (1 seat – 85 per cent), Daman & Diu (1 seat – 76 per cent), Gujarat (26 seats – 62 per cent), Jammu & Kashmir (2 seats – 25.62), Punjab (13 seats – 72 per cent), Uttar Pradesh (14 seats – 59.06 per cent), West Bengal (9 seats – 82 per cent), Andhra Pradesh (17 seats – 70 per cent), Bihar (7 seats – 58 per cent)

Narendra Modi

Cong, BJP using black money: Kejriwal

SPECIAL

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 3rd May 2014

inst Narendra Modi

photograph pointing his finger on BJP’s symbol ‘Lotus’ by putting his mobile phone on ‘selfie mode’.

Later on he briefed media persons, though after their

insistence. Holing ‘Lotus’ in his hands while talking to reporters, Modi said that he has understood the trend and psyche of the people, which gives two important messages – first, mother-son government is going and strong foundation stone for the BJP led government has already been laid.

He claimed that he is the only person, who has campaigned throughout the country and that is why he can give a first-hand account. The confident BJP leader also claimed that the saffron party would get more seats than it has ever been won any party in the last 25 years. “High percentage of voting in soaring mercury shows that the elections are for new hope, for new trust. The elections will give strength to the country and give an opportunity to change country's fate,” said Modi.

Coming down heavily on Congress leadership, he said

that Congress has accepted defeat and already started talking on support to a Third Front government in order to keep BJP out of the power.

Top Congress leaders including the Prime Minister, the Finance Minster and other senior ministers are not contesting, he said adding that they are running away from elections.

In his recent public rallies Modi has been quoted as saying, “you have given 60 years to Congress; give me a chance for 60 months.” In this context a question raised the time he is demanding from people would be good enough to change the fate of the country. Modi instantly replied, “When I became Gujarat Chief Minister, the state was under shock of devastated from earthquake in 2001. But in just three years, the state not only stood up but now marching fast on the development path.”

People in this Gujarat village use boats for voting

MAYURI DAVE

VALLI Islet (ANAND): When people in most part of the country would comfortably utilizing their franchise on Wednesday during 7th phase of 2014 general elections, inhabitants of Valli Beit village in Gujarat required boats to reach at the nearest polling booth to cast their votes.

Yes, Valli is located on a veritable island, hardly 40 km from Anand – a place from where India’s white revolution initiated through Amul Dairy and co-operative movement in milk. There are three islets: Locally known as Valli tapu, Rail tapu and Vardada tapu on Kaneval talav (Lake).

Valli Tapu, the biggest islet which is dominated by the Koli Patel community. Rel islet is smaller, but has a population of 133 and is dominated by Devipujak community. Varsada is uninhabited.

Falls under Tarapur tahesil, there is water throughout the year in this 45-feet deep lake, and water levels rise further in the monsoon.

Life on the island literally comes to a halt after sunset.

The village has no electricity.

There is no facility of polling booth in the village. But the

inconvenience does not deter its voters from riding on boat to the nearest polling booth.

The villagers are determined to register 100 per cent voting on April 30th. Since last four elections, including 2012 assembly election in Gujarat, the village recorded cent per cent voting.

Almost everyone in this village has a cell phone!

Forget basic needs, even for charging their handsets the villagers require to ‘swim’ across the lake. The hostile conditions made everyone swimmer in this village, be it children, women or elders.

“Daily we require to cr0ss the Kanewal Lake for work.

For outsiders not having electricity might be hardship, but it is the reality of villagers,” says 33-year-old Ketan

Solanki. All the villagers above 18 years have ensured that they have election card, says Rupaben, a homemaker in her early sixty.

The fact that their village is deprived of basic facilities, largely due to geographical conditions has spurred the villagers to vote. They firmly believe that if you are not utilizing right to vote, you don’t have right to complain.

“We want to covert our adversity into opportunity. So what if electricity is not there.

We want to convert our village into tourist destination.

We would vote cent percent and demand for some infrastructure for tourism. People in adjoining developed area in Gujarat have never experienced life,” says septuagenarian villager Magan Solanki.

New Delhi: The Vishwa Hindu Parishad has approached President Pranab Mukherjee over fears of a possible suicide bomber attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi. The VHP, reportedly, sought enhanced security cover for Modi.

Ashok Singhal, patron of VHP, said Modi may be targeted in a manner similar to the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi by the LTTE. Singhal said in a letter to the President, "This is to request your highest offices to ensure immediately through your government and the

state governments an upgraded, comprehensive and foolproof security cover for the safety of the BJP's prime ministerial candidate Shri Narendra Modi.

The country in general and his supporters in particular are concerned over a possible attack being made on him."

VHP fears attack on Modi

17

Celebrities in the fray

Smriti Irani – Originally a television actress.

Already a Member of Parliament and represent Gujarat in Upper House of Parliament.

The BJP’s national vice president is contesting against Rahul Gandhi from Amethi Lok Sabha constituency.

Paresh Raval – A film a c t o r belongs to Paliyad village in N o r t h Gujarat.

He is contesting from Ahmedabad East constituency on BJP ticket.

Javed Jafary – Bollywood actor is contesting on Aam A d a m i Party ticket f r o m Lacknow against BJP president Rajnath Singh.

Gul Panang – Bollywood actress is contesting on AAP t i c k e t against another Hindi film actress Kiron Kher from Chandigarh Lok Sabha constituency.

Nagma – A film actress popular in S o u t h Indian cinema is contesting f r o m Merath seat on Congress ticket. She became a victim of eve-teasing.

Mahesh

Manjrekar – Director t u r n e d actor is contesting f r o m North-West Mumbai constituency on Raj Thackeray’s political outfit – Maharashtra Navnirman Sena.

Rakhi Savant – Item Girl and controversial actress formed her own political outfit Rashtriya Aam Aadami Party. She is contesting from North –East Mumbai seat.

Shatrugan

Sinha – Sitting BJP MP and popular Hindi film actor is contesting from Patana Sahib constituency in Bihar. Last

time he defeated Shekhar Suman.

Vinod Khanna – This charismatic actor is contesting on BJP ticket from Gurdaspur constituency in Punjab.

Though last time he lost from this seat, he remained MP for three times from the same constituency.

Hema Malini – Former B J P Member of R a j y a Sabha and Hindi film actress of yester years is contesting from Mathura constituency.

Jayaprada

ticket.

– Former actress is contesting from Bijnor o n Rashtriya Lok Dal

Bappi Lahiri – Musician is contesting from S r i Rampore constituency in West Bengal.

Ravi Kishan – Bhojpuri film superstar is contesting f r o m Jainpur constituency in Uttar Pradesh as Congress candidate.

Ramya – South Indian actress became youngest MP from Karnataka last time.

She is again contesting on Congress ticket from the southern state.

Munmun Sen – Noted Bengali and Hindi film actress is contesting on Tr i n a m u l Congress ticket from Bankura constituency in West Bengal.

Prakash Jha – Noted director of Hindi cinema is contesting f r o m Champaran East in Bihar on Nitish Kumar’s political outfit Janata Dal (U).

Bhaichung Bhutiya – Former skipper of Indian

candidate Darjiling.

football team is contesting a s Tr i n a m u l Congress from

Nandan

Nilekani – Information Technology expert and one of the founders of Infosis is contesting on Congress ticket from Bangalore in Karnataka.

Manoj Tiwari – Bhojpuri film star is contesting f r o m B a k s a r constituency in Bihar on BJP ticket.

Raj Babbar – Hindi film star is Congress candidate f r o m Gaziabad constituency in Uttar Pradesh.

Kiran Kher – Hindi film actress is contesting on BJP ticket from Chandigarh seat.

Babul Supriyo – Hindi film musician is contesting f r o m Asansol in W e s t Bengal on BJP ticket.

P.C. Sarkar (Junior) – A magician.

He is contesting f r o m Barasat seat on BJP ticket.

Mohmmad Kaif – former cricketer is contesting f r o m Phulpur seat in Uttar Pradesh on Congress ticket.

Azaharuddin – Former captain of Indian Cricket team is contesting f r o m Moradabad constituency as the Congress candidate.

Kamal Khan – This cont ro v e r s i a l actor is contesting as independent candidate from North-East Mumbai

18

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 3rd May 2014

Dear Financial Voice Reader, Poor China, trounced by India.

I write to you after having just finished an interview on Reuters TV about the Chinese stock market. The sad truth is, for all the talk about China, their stock market has delivered a zero percent return over the past 4 years.

The Indian market is near an alltime high, and with the Rupee at an all time low, it’s also cheaper than ever to buy Indian stocks – stocks like Tata Motors which I’ve been plugging for years (I am a shareholder) and which are at an all time and up 100% in the past 2 years . With an imminent change of Government you may be interested in Indian stocks.

I’ve always suggested holding them via ADRs, ie American Depository Receipts – these are those large Indian companies quoted in Dollars on the New York Stock Exchange. That allows me to hold them in Dollars, and also trade them the way I would US stocks which are a lot easier to trade than Indian ones from the UK because of the availability of online UK brokers offering online trading in US stocks.

Are there any more advantages to ADRs? Further advantages of trading ADRs are that they are traded like any

other US security. You are only holding dollars, not numerous other currencies. You pay US online trading commissions, which can be very low, even to those of brokers in other developed markets like the UK. Is there any special risk to trading in ADRs? If you are residing in the UK, for example, trading on a UK account, investing in ADRs for emerging markets will of course mean that you need to open an ADR account with a US broker.

And here, with the ADR you have the currency risk of holding dollars and the conversion costs involved. But if you intend to put away for several months a pool of money for trading in dollar stocks and don't intend to convert back and forth those costs and risks can be minimised.

What are the practicalities of trading ADRs? The practicalities of trading ADRs are straightforward. It is just like trading any US security. You would use a US e-broking account as you would for trading in say, Microsoft or Intel.

Any other sites for ADR investors?

Free sites like Google Finance are outstanding too. Go on, go ahead – own a slice of the world.

Finance Banking and Insurance Magazine (FBI) in association with

The only magazine of its kind within UK’s ethnic media.

A must read for all British Asians.

FBI Release Event

Look out for the 2014 Edition

In keeping with its profile the FBI magazine will be released at the House of Commons, June 2014 in the presence of distinguished guests.

For Advertisement Booking

Call 020 7749 4085

Asian Business Publication Ltd Tel: 0207 749 4085 Fax: 0207 749 4081 www.abplgroup.com Commercial Finance BusinessPurchase Property Purchase

Mortgages Residential Buy to let

Specialist Finance Development Bridging

US urged to drop WTO case on solar power against India

Environmentalists urged the United States to drop plans to haul India to the WTO to open its solar market, saying the action would hurt the fight against climate change.

The World Trade Organization’s dispute settlement body in Geneva was scheduled to hear the US case for a panel against India, which has some of the world’s most ambitious plans for expanding solar power. US trade representative Michael Froman, announcing the move in February, said President Barack Obama’s administration would “stand up for US workers and businesses” to break barriers to the Indian market.

He said the United

States wanted to work with India on fighting climate change but that New Delhi’s requirements that only locally made products be used in its solar industry had impeded cooperation.

Under the WTO process, the two countries had 30 days to work out their dispute through consultations before the United States could seek a panel to settle the dispute.

In a letter to Froman, a coalition of US environmentalists voiced “grave concerns” over the decision to move forward on the case. They noted that it came after a UN scientific panel warned of catastrophic consequences from climate change without immediate action to

reduce carbon emissions.

“To avert climate disaster, countries must significantly scale up renewable energy development and deployment, just as India is currently doing,” the letter said. “The US should not compromise the long-term growth of the solar market just so that it can achieve limited near-term gain,” said the letter, signed by 15 groups including the Sierra Club, 350.org and the US branches of Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth.

India's solar industry has grown rapidly in the past few years as the government looks to ease reliance on imported fossil fuels and coal. India is planning what would be the world’s first solar plant at Sambhar in the desert state of Rajasthan.

India has defended its solar policies as compliant with the WTO and said that a number of US states have similar rules.

The United States and China have also battled at the WTO over solar energy, with Washington accusing Beijing of unfair subsidies and the Asian power protesting against tariffs.

After serving the internet giant, Google+, for 8 years, its senior vice president for Social, Vivek Gundotra announced his decision on his Google+ account on April 24 and said that the decision would take immediate effect.

“Today I am announcing my departure from Google after almost 8 years. I have been incredibly fortunate to work with the amazing people of Google,” he said.

He did not inform what his future plans are and also did not reveal the reason for his departure from Google.

“I am excited about what’s next. But this isn’t the day to talk about that.

This is a day to celebrate

the past eight years. To cry. And smile. And to look forward to the journey yet to come,” he added.

Praising Gundotra, Google CEO Larry Page posted on his Plus post which said, “Vic- thank you for a tremendous almost eight years of Google. You cut your teeth on our mobile apps and developer relations, turning our disparate efforts into something great…

You built Google+ from nothing. There are few people with the courage and ability to start something like that and I am very grateful for all your hard work and passion.”

M u m b a i - b o r n Gundotra is a graduate of Indian Institute of

Technology, Madras. He previously held the position of General Manager in Microsoft, where he worked for almost 15 years, before joining Google in 2007. He was selected as one of the top innovators by MIT Technology Review’s yearly list of top innovators under 35, mainly because of his work on .NET Framework.

Considered a Social Czar by many in the industry, Google+ is considered one of his most significant projects till date. He was one of the regular keynote speakers at Google’s yearly I/O conferences and considered an evangelist for Google’s official programs for developers.

India born senior VP of Google quits

Protection Critical Illness/Life Private Medical

We believe in honesty, integrity, professionalism and delivering great customer service.

Contact us with your enquiry to see how we can help.

T: 020 8459 7677

E: info@ramfs.co.uk

W: www.ramfs.co.uk

Mortgages - Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

1Some buy to let mortgages are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority 2Bridging Finance is not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority

RAM Financial Options Limited is an appointed representative of Intrinsic Financial Planning Limited and Intrinsic Mortgage Planning Limited who are authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered Address: 505 Pinner Road, Harrow, HA2 6EH. Company Registration Number: 8203695 Place of Registration: England & Wales

Rajeev Suri named Nokia CEO

India-born Rajeev Suri will take over as the new chief executive of Finnish telecommunications gear maker Nokia, the company said, Rajeev confirming what analysts had expected.

Suri, 46, until now led Nokia Solutions and Networks (NSN), the smaller network equipment unit of Nokia when

the company still made mobile phones. Suri has helped NSN turn profitable with a drastic restructuring plan and by ditching unprofSuri itable businesses.

Meanwhile, Nokia finalized the 5.4 billion euro ($7.5 billion) sale of its struggling mobile phone business to Microsoft on Friday.

REAL ESTATE VOICE

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 3rd May 2014

19

Dilemmas of Developing

Suresh Vagjiani

Sow & Reap A Property Investment Company

Recently we managed to get planning for three flats above a Pub in Kensington. Two floors were already existing above the Pub, the third had been applied for. In order to apply for planning we went for a pre application meeting to sound out the appetite from the council regarding the extra floor.

Everything went well at the meeting and therefore as anticipated planning was granted. It doesn't always move so easy though as we have been to pre app meetings where the council on the surface were favorable yet when it came to putting things in writing they did a 180 degree U turn on everything they had said.

Now the planning is in place the question arises of whether we actually want to do the development.

O n e o pt i o n i s t o r e s e ll t h e pr o pe r t y w i t h t h e b e n e f i t o f pl an n i n g i n pl ac e . T h i s i s th e m o s t a m o u n t o f pr o f i t y o u c an m ak e i n c o m pa r i s o n t o th e a m o u n t o f wo r k pu t in, pl anning is essent ial ly onl y p aperwork; you h av e n ’ t g o t y o u r h an d s d i r t y . Y e t i t at t r a ct s a s t r o n g pr e m i u m , t h e p r o pe r t y wi ll at t r a ct b i d s o f £ 1 .8 5 m t o £ 2 m e ve n th o u g h i t w as o n l y pu r c h as e d fo r £ 1 . 2 5 m ar o u n d s i x m o n t h s ag o .

Though this seems an attractive option, as the process has gone on we have come to understand the property better and better. There is further potential to convert the ground and lower ground floor which are being used currently as a Pub into residential as well.

This will not however be easy as the council has a policy of retaining existing Pubs as it classes them as places for the benefit of the community. We would need to demonstrate we have tried to look for a tenant for 12 months clear before they will consider change of use on these floors. Given the current tenant hasn’t been paying his rent and will be vacating end of July this is no doubt helpful to the cause. The Pub is a stone throw away from other similar Pubs therefore the actual use of this Pub in practice is unlikely.

It is best to apply for planning in bite sizes thereby not overwhelming the planning officers. Once they grant one section they cannot revoke it, therefore it lays a good foundation from which to apply for more planning.

This is a policy we will be applying to our recent acquisition of four office buildings in Bell St W2, where we purchased with the benefit of planning and will be applying to enhance the current planning to try and obtain 2,000 sq ft per building.

Applying for further planning does not need to delay implementing the current permission which has been recently given.

The two can go on simultaneously, both the build work and application for enhanced planning. This would be the wise way to move forward.

Assuming we can sell for £1.85m the gain would be approx £600k; to make the next £600k - £800k will be disproportionally harder and longer, therefore if you can do the same again it makes sense to sell and replicate the deal.

Ho w e v e r p r o pe r ty d e a ls a r e l i k e b u s e s , t h e y d o n ' t c o m e fo r ag e s an d w h e n th e y d o t h e y c o m e t w o a t a t i m e ; s o th e r e i s n o g u ar a n t e e t h e r e w i l l b e a d e al o n t h e t a bl e to r o ll o v e r i n t o s t r a i g h t a w ay .

G i ve n r e s a l e s a r e £ 8 7 5 k pe r fl a t i t i s ve r y l u c r at i ve to h av e a fr e e h o ld bu i l d i n g w i t h t h r e e i f n o t f i v e fl a ts i n t h e r e , g i v i n g a n e x p e ct e d v al u e o f £ 2 . 6 2 5 m to £4.375m.

Given the property was purchased in cash the option for refinancing the deal based on the enhanced value exists, this means most, if not all, of the initial money can be extracted from the deal and used to move forward on to another deal.

Here’s a good tip, you don't need to draw the funds down straight away when remortgaging a property, the mortgage offer is valid from three to six months, which means you can draw the money down anytime during this period. This will allow you to purchase at auction with confidence, and the money is drawn only when you have found a deal, otherwise not.

However, there is a down side as always: Firstly given the council’s stance you may never get the enhanced planning of 5 flats, at best it may take several years to do so. Secondly you’re exposed to the market; this means if things take a down turn you are in the middle of a project and this may mean you cannot resell at the anticipated level, this can of course work both ways and the price can rise too. Thirdly, building work can get messy and lead to unexpected expenses and unforeseen delays.

The Real Deal

So i n t h i s c a s e w e c o u l d ap pl y f o r f i n a n c i n g fo r £ 1 . 2 5 m ba s e d o n a v al u a ti o n o f £ 1 . 8 5 m a n d t h e n we h av e £ 1 . 2 5 m i n c a s h t o u s e o n an o th e r d e al w h i l s t k e e pi n g h o ld o f t h e c u r r e n t o n e . T h e r e ar e le n d e r s wh o wi ll lo a n 1 0 0 % o f t h e b u i ld c o s t; o n ce t h e f l at s a r e d e v e l o pe d y o u ca n r e fi n an c e t h e m i n d i vi d u a ll y b y s p li tt i n g th e le a s e o n c o n v e n t i o n al B T L m o r t g a g e s .

Earls Court, London, SW5 Purchase Price: £1.7m

Following this scenario means we allow the property to do what it does best - go up naturally, and this particular area is a hot spot of growth within an already growing market.

Selling this property given the location will be relatively easy as it is an ideal auction lot, and I would imagine it could go for more than anticipated, given the current appetite for buying at auctions.

One strategy is to do several things and see which one yields the most cash: Dump in auction with a high reserve, though many auctioneers, especially the larger ones, will not take it unless they KNOW they can sell it; secondly get the refinancing in place; and thirdly apply for the enhanced planning.

This means you are allowing the market forces at the time to decide on what to do. Always better as a principle to start from inside out and see what is it you wish to achieve, in short to asset build or cash build? Or perhaps both? All said and done these are good dilemmas to have and means there is some movement in your life financially.

l Top floor flat on a highly sought after garden square in Earls Court l Three bedrooms, two reception rooms and two baths l Long lease of 125 years l Access to the 1.15 acre communal gardens l The property is coming at £1,300 per sq ft while properties in this location are being sold at around £1,600 per sq ft, it’s rare to get this level of discount in this location l The property will benefit greatly from the Earls Court regeneration scheme, being located close to the proposed ‘High Street’ and parks Call us now to secure this deal!

0207 993 0103

We provide a turnkey solution. Contact us now:

Specialists in

Central London Property Sourcing

info@sowandreap.co.uk

www.sowandreap.co.uk

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

Follow us online:

Sowandreapuk

SowandReapProperties

Tips of the Week l Beware when purchasing in auctions, they can be used by many traders as a dumping ground. Check who the seller is and do full due diligence prior to bidding. l Don't get carried away with buying BMV properties; remember to see what's happening in the future too.

20

LEGAL VOICE

Sponsorship and the ultimate responsibility

Maria Fernandes

maria@abplgroup.com

Employers who hold licences to employ migrant workers usually do so in order to sponsor a particular migrant worker but often forget that there is a continuing duty to actively manage the licence afterwards.

Many employers fail to appreciate that delegating duties does not absolve them from their responsibilities. If the representative selected makes a mistake or deliberately misleads, the employer will have punitive action taken against them. This can be a downgrade, a suspension with a view to revocation of a licence or a straightforward revocation depending on the seriousness of the allegations. In the past dishonest representatives were weeded out by regulations that required registration with specific authorities such as the Law Society or the Office for Immigration Services. However the responsibility has now shifted to those who hold the licence. They do so on the strict understanding that they will bear the brunt for the actions of others. Employers be warned. It is essential to keep passwords safe, to limit the number of people who can access your system, to check and update the system regularly and above all take steps to ensure that the person you allow access is unlikely to misuse it, deliberately or otherwise.

Whats in a name?

The names English or British are used interchangeably but mean dif-

ferent things. Very soon we may need to revisit these terms if the referendum on leaving the UK in Scotland goes a certain way.

The name United Kingdom refers to the union of what were once 4 separate countries, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Britain on the other hand comprises of England and Wales only. Great Britain is made up of England, Scotland and Wales. The British Isles consists of Great Britain and Ireland and 5000 smaller islands.

If Scotland does leave UK would still exist albeit a smaller version and the “Great” in Great Britain will disappear.

Human Rights In the past I have talked about an applicant who has serious kidney disease who has a 3 year child who is high on the scale of Autistic disorder.

The NHS have been refusing to treat the father unless his need is required as an emergency.

He recently reached this threshold.

Despite receiving some treatment he is not responding well to the dialysis offered because of the delay. Legally for now there is very little hope. If the father dies, and the prospect is getting ever closer, the prospects are grim for the child. Legal aid firms have long turned away from this case. The family are now desperate.

Statistics are one thing.

Dealing with a real life case and watching a slow death is another.

Indian account holders in German bank revealed

The government of India has disclosed the names of all 26 account holders in Liechtenstein Bank to the Supreme Court. It has also made public the names of 18 account holders against who proceedings have been launched and the names of the remaining 8 account holders have been given in a sealed cover. The names were given to India by Germany in 2009.

Out of the 18 names made public, 5 are from Dhupelia family who are trustees of Ambrunova trust, 4 from Manichi trust, 4 from Ruvisha trust, KM Mammen of Webster Foundation and

two others.

The government told the Supreme Court that income tax probe against all the 18 people is complete while prosecution procedures have been launched against 17. One person has died. The court has said it would discuss the content of documents and hear the matter later.

Tata-SIA applies for schedule licence to take off

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 3rd May 2014

The Tata-Singapore Airlines (SIA) JV has applied for a schedule airline licence from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to start operations. The move comes exactly three weeks after the aviation ministry gave it the initial no objection certificate (NOC).

“Yes, they (Tata-SIA) have applied for licence and their application will be considered,” said a senior official. Incidentally, the DGCA is already in final stages of granting a

licence to the Tata-AirAsia JV for forming a low-cost carrier. The Tata-SIA JV envisages starting a Delhibased full service carrier with an initial investment of $100 million in which

the Indian giant will have 51% stake and SIA the rest.

FIPB had last October cleared this JV. In fact, this airline has eclipsed the soon-tobe launched Tata-AirAsia LCC as the budget space is overcrowded in India. On the other hand, the full service space has just two players left - Jet and Air India - after the grounding

of Kingfisher in October, 2012. Air India is progressively moving towards a mix of LCC and full service carrier and Jet’s domestic focus is substantially on its budget version.

“The space for a true full service domestic airline is not exactly vacant but the promise of a renowned airline like SIA forming a JV with the Tatas to enter the space has created ripples in terms of expectations from both passengers and even employees.

because of the US raising concerns and due to increase in global competition, PV Appaji, Executive Director, Pharmexcil said.

Elaborating on hurdles faced by Indian companies, an official said: "The US industry is alleging that India's IPR laws particularly with regard to pharma sector discriminate American firms. They are putting pressure on their government to take

actions against India."

The US is the top destination for Indian pharma exports followed by the UK. America accounts for about 25 per cent of India's pharma exports.

The Obama administration has been strongly criticising India's investment climate and IPR laws, especially in the pharmaceuticals sectors.

US pharma companies had objected to India's move to issue a compulsory license in March, 2012 to Hyderabad-based Natco Pharma to manufacture and sell Bayer's cancertreatment drug 'Nexavar' at a cheaper price.

Compounding the problems for Indian pharma firms, Vietnam too has raised concerns over medicines imported from India. An industry official stated that "if Vietnam were to ban imports from India, It will further impact our exports."

Prospects for a strong economic rebound in India are dim as industry remains weak, and although a businessfriendly opposition party looks likely to form a new government, its ability to pass sweeping reforms is in doubt, a poll showed.

Prospects of BJP forming the next government after May 16 under the leadership of Narendra Modi had pushed up India’s stock market to record high last week. But many worry that its power to drive change will be muted if it has to form a coalition with other parties, which in the past have held policy hostage to local agendas.

A recent poll of over 20 analysts showed Asia's third-largest economy likely grew 4.7 per cent in the fiscal year that ended this March, with growth seen picking up to 5.5 per cent in the current fiscal year.

Growth slumped to a decade-low of 4.5 per cent in 2012/13 - less than half the almost double-digit rates in 2010. Anubhuti Sahay, senior economist at Standard Chartered Bank, said that against that backdrop, and with chances of even higher inflation, a strong government with the ability to legislate change is needed to put the economy back on track. "If we get into a situation where again the government, because of coalition politics, is not able to implement good policies, that is the biggest risk. We have seen such situations since 2010," she added. India's economic gloom deepened in the first quarter of this year.

Industrial output shrank and exports fell, underscoring the enormous challenges awaiting whatever new government takes over in May. The current government has been heavily criticized for not implementing economic reforms and for being unable to control persistently high inflation -- both leading to reduced foreign investment and low consumer demand.

India’s pharmaceutical exports to miss target

India's pharmaceutical exports registered slowest growth in at least 15 years at 1.2 per cent to $14.84 billion last fiscal amid growing tension with the US over intellectual property rights related issues.

As the IPR issues raised by the US - India's biggest market - are unlikely to be resolved anytime soon, industry observers say that pharma exports will miss the target of $25 billion set for 2014-15 in a government strategy paper.

According to the commerce ministry data, in 2012-13, the country's pharma exports aggregated $14.66 billion. The growth registered in 201314 is the slowest in nearly 15 years. The previous slowest was in 2009-10 when the pharma exports grew by just 5.9 per cent.

In calendar year 2000, they grew by 7 per cent.

The year 2013-14 has seen slowdown in growth

Top economist Jagdish Bhagwati seeks advisor role in Modi govt

Eminent Indian-born economist Jagdish Bhagwati, who is positioning himself to advise Narendra Modi if he becomes India's next prime minister, would urge him to allow more foreign investment and trade to spur slow growth and curtail government spending.

Modi is favourite to become Prime Minister.

He is running on a platform of reviving an economy going through its worst slowdown since the 1980s.

For the first time addressing his potential role in a Modi government, Bhagwati, known as the most famous living economist never to win a Nobel prize, said he saw himself on an external council advising the prime minister. "I'd be glad to chair something like that, and I think that's what they might do," Bhagwati said.

In a possible sign of the influence of Bhagwati's brand of free-market thinking, he said his pro-growth protege Arvind Panagariya was a strong candidate for

Jagdish Bhagwati

the more hands-on role of chief economist to the prime minister, if Modi is elected.

"The kind of person they would want, and I think correctly, as a chief economist would be my coauthor, who is about 60 compared to my 80. I don't have that kind of energy any more," Bhagwati said, adding that people close to Modi had approached him to ask about Panagariya's suitability for the role.

A BJP spokeswoman said she was not aware of any plans to invite Bhagwati and Panagariya to advise. If the two Columbia University economists did end up working for Modi, it could put them at odds with more protec-

tionist factions in the party and its allies. "To enhance growth, he will need to promise that India will open more to trade and FDI (foreign direct investment)," said Bhagwati.

Bhagwati urged the next government to position India as a trading power, seeking to enter, on its own terms, regional pacts such as the TransPacific Partnership being negotiated between the United States and East Asian nations.

He also expected Modi to move decisively to attract foreign investment, and that he would eventually implement a policy opposed by his party - to allow foreign retailers like Wal-Mart and Tesco free access to Indian markets.

"He will do it, but he can't do it right away, because you can't go against your party. It's impossible, he is not a stupid man," he said, adding that Modi's room for manoeuvre would depend on the size of a potential victory.

India's growth prospects dim, says poll

CURRENCY VOICE

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 3rd May 2014

21

Foreign Exchange

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

UK Government meets the deficit reduction

As expected from the UK, interest rates were held at 0.5%, with the MPC voting unanimously to keep interest rates at record lows. However, the minutes released did reveal that policy members are disagreeing over the likely direction of inflation.

The UK government has hit its target for deficit reduction for the last financial year, as the British deficit fell to its lowest level since the financial crisis.

The Office for National Statistics reports that public sector net borrowing in 2013-14 came in at £107.7bn, or 6.6% of GDP. This is £7.5bn lower than the same period in 2012/13, when it was £115.1bn.

UK retail sales beat expectations on Friday 25th April showing growth of 0.1% instead of a fall of 1.4%, underscoring the fact that the UK consumers is still spending. The news continued to support the pound ahead of key 1st quarter economic growth.

Sterling approached the highest in more than four years versus the dollar due to signs Britain’s economy will continue

to expand at a faster pace than previously expected. It showed that unemployment rate fell to 6.9%, the lowest in over four years. Carney previously said 7% unemployment would be a threshold for considering an interest rate increase.

Data from the US was mixed with growth in their service sector slowing marginally to 54.2 when analysts were expecting further expansion to 56.2.

Consumer sentiment was on rise however jumping to 84.1 for the month of April. The data did little to support the US dollar though, with the currency weakening to a fresh 5 ½ year low against the pound.

The US dollar headed for a five-day decline versus the euro despite data showing durable goods orders for the month of April rising to 2.6%. However initial jobless claims did rise

more than expected up to 323,000 for last week.

The release of key economic indicators for the Eurozone came in better than was forecast. Markit Manufacturing PMI came in at 53.3, up from 53, Markit Services PMI came in at 53.1 up from 52.2 and the Markit PMI Composite came in at 54 from 53.1. This is very good data from the Eurozone and shows strong growth for the two economic indicators that have a strong bearing on GDP growth.

India’s rupee fell to a four-week low on speculation importers stepped up dollar purchases to meet month end payments. The rupee fell for a second day as exchange data showed foreign funds sold a net $1.2 billion of Indian bonds this month through Monday. The rupee’s losses will probably bottom out as exporters send back overseas income to take advantage of a favourable exchange rate, boosting the value of overseas earnings in local terms.

Weekly Currencies

As of Wednesday 30th April 2014 @ 1pm

GBP - INR = 101.62 USD - INR = 60.30 EUR - INR = 83.56 GBP - USD = 1.69 GBP - EUR = 1.22

EUR - USD = 1.39 GBP - AED = 6.19

GBP - CAD = 1.85

GBP - NZD = 1.97

GBP - AUD = 1.82

GBP - ZAR = 17.73

GBP - HUF = 373.83

www.rationalfx.com

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

22

NEWYORK

Mark Shand, a friend of Asian elephants, passes away

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 3rd May 2014

Mark Shand, 62, the brother of Duchess of Cornwall and a leading advocate for the conservation of Asian elephants, travel writer and one-time playboy who dodged hurricanes and cannibals and rode across India by elephant, passed away after he stumbled against a revolving glass at a Manhattan hotel and cracked his skull on the pavement.

Although Shand was the Prince of Wales’s brother-inlaw, it was not this relationship which had made him much admired and desired presence at parties from London to Mumbai. He had survived hurricanes, shipwreck, and run-ins with cannibals. Later he found greater fulfilment in his efforts to save the Asian elephant from extinction in the wild. Mark Shand visited the offices of Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar on 3rd June 2005 with the special mission of meeting the editor and publisher of the publications Mr C B Patel. He presented some of his renowned books to the editor, while his eyes kindled with joy as he reminisced

elephants, Shand recollects the days when he first rode one. “It was an enchanting experience for me.

Elephants are intelligent animals, full of wit. They experience the same emotions as h u m a n s . ” Remembering Tara, his beloved elephant, he related one of the instances when he was travelling through the northeastern terrain of Mark Shand India. “She kept on touching her foot with her trunk with a continabout his journey on eleuous squeaking sound. It phants in some of the most was then that I realised that a difficult terrains in India. sharp stone had pierced her “I am British by birth, but foot and she was in deep India is my soul,” says Shand agony.” Shand has travelled with a great devotion for Shri extensively in India. He has Ganeshji. “On the dreadful written a touching, eloquent day when tsunami struck the and entertaining chronicle of coasts of eastern India, I happened to be around with my a journey from Tibet across wife and daughter. We were Arunachal Pradesh to the just 30 yards away from the Bay of Bengal on the mighty fatal wave. But the fact that Brahmaputra, in the compaall three of us were ny of his Indian hunting dog unharmed is a sheer blessing Bhaiti. of Lord Ganesh,” said believHis travelled to the er Shand.

Kailash Mansarovar situated Fascinated by the exotic at 18,000 feet above sea level

was indeed a mystic experience, said Shand. But his heart was out with the elephants. It was his heart-felt desire to work for a noble cause, which shaped into charity work. “The elephant has no natural enemy.

Mankind alone is responsible for driving this compassionate and intelligent creature to extinction.” Shand said sadly. Elephant Family is a unique organisation, founded on passion and commitment. It is the only charitable organisation dedicated to the conservation of all Asian elephants. Known as ‘Elephant Man’ in Assam, Shand has trekked a 1,000-mile journey on an elephant across midwestern India 10 years ago.

Recently, the Government of Assam appointed him as the International Brand Ambassador. The Elephant Family charitable Trust is honoured by four distinguished patrons, Gayatridevi Rajmata of Jaipur, Sir Evelyn de Rothschild, Sir George Martin and Goldie Hawn.

They share lifelong interests in wildlife and were dedicated to the welfare of the Asian elephant.

London: A survey of the employees of the Law Society, the professional body for solicitors, has found that bullying and discrimination are commonplace at the institution. The poll of nearly 400 staff at the society suggests that 16 per cent have been bullied in the past year, and 10 per cent claim to have been victims of discrimination.

The findings are above the national average of 9 per cent for discrimination and 13 per cent for bullying. Des Hudson, the chief executive,

has vowed to take steps to eliminate the malpractices.

In a newsletter, he reportedly told staff: “I believe it is fundamentally important for the chief executive to lead this agenda and I want to make sure we get it right.”

Hudson said, “We aim to be an exemplary employer. We are acting on the results of the latest survey. The work is on track and I will ensure that it is fully implemented.”

The plan includes staff training on “managing a diverse workforce”; the possible appointment of volun-

teer “harassment advisers”; and workshops to ensure staff have “an understanding about the standards of behaviour expected at the Law Society”.

“We are taking this very seriously and we are making progress,” said Hudson, who is stepping down in July, adding that he wanted to make “even more progress” so that the new incumbent has a strong foundation to build on when it comes to diversity and inclusion.

Hudson says that he

would take necessary steps to end discriminatory or bullying behaviour.

Diversity and dignity at work is to be honoured on all council and senior management meetings and progress will be monitored. The views of staff will be gleaned through focus groups. Senior managers are reminded that they are responsible for leading change and listening to staff concerns.

This is not the first time that the Law Society has been hit by claims of bullying before. Fifteen years ago, Kamlesh Bahl its then vicepresident, was accused of bullying staff, prompting an independent inquiry by Lord Griffiths, a former law lord.

She was set to become the first woman and first ethnic-minority solicitor to head the society, but Lord Griffiths found that she had humiliated and demeaned staff and created “an atmosphere of fear and confusion”.

She was forced to stand down in 2000 and then claimed that she had been a victim of racial and sexual discrimination before a tribunal and won her claim, saying later that the society was “full of champagne-sipping racists.” However, the tribunal also found that she had lied on oath and was not a “witness of truth”.

The Law Society’s own research two years ago revealed that 17 per cent of solicitors claimed to have been bullied at work, with the percentage as high as 25 per cent for government lawyers and 23 per cent for those employed in industry.

When Gujarat Samachar/ Asian Voice contacted Kamlesh Bahl, she declined to comment.

Bullying, discrimination common at Law Society

Hatch-Match-Dispatch

There are occasion we would like to share with our love ones. Some of them may have moved on. Our address book may not be accurate. Such acquaintance may be from our ancestral home, residence in India or East Africa or some other places we have resided earlier. In the UK. Information regarding Birth of a child, Engagement of family member, Wedding or Sad occasions like Bereavement can be quickly shared through the pages of Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar.

As you are aware our total number of subscribers are 25,000, and they may be reached through the pages of Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar.

We are able to serve the purpose either no cost or minimum charge.

Both our newsweeklies provide the following services:

1. Birth, weddings and bereavement: Up to 25 words free of charge without photo.

2. Birth, birthday, weddings, anniversary, bereavement notices and other occasion: Up to 150 words and a photograph £120 including VAT. The written message has to be in English and the photograph will have to be provided by the sender, with their relevant contact details and need to be emailed to Saroj Patel by Monday 5pm at saroj.patel@abplgroup.com. Phone: 020 7749 4006 / 4080

In Brief

Britons leaving Spain in droves

London: Nearly 90,000 Britons who went to Spain to make a fortune are leaving the country in droves. The eurozone crisis, a huge property slump and a rapidly shrinking job market are the reasons behind the exodus. Following the exodus, the total population of Spain had shrunk for the second year running. The Britons in the country dropped from 385,179 on January 1 last year to 297,229 at the end of December.

Improving paperwork for car insurance

London: The terms and conditions on car insurance policies are printed in small letters and are often ignored by the customers. But it is vital to read it before signing it. Some documents more than 30,000 words. So in order to make it more customer friendly, an insurance trade body is working with the regulators to improve the paperwork.

Breast feeding can reduce risk of heart disease

London: Researchers have found that breastfed babies face less risk of a heart attack in later life.

It means that the benefit of mother’s milk continues to benefit in old age and they have lower levels of protein linked heart diseases.

40 students found with guns

London: A survey has found that nearly 40 students were found with guns on school premises over the last three years. According to police records, the weapons confiscated included two hand guns, 27 ball bearing guns and seven other air weapons.

Why we freeze when in fear

London: Why we freeze when in fear. Scientists explain that a sudden threat can trigger a range of almost instantaneous physical responses, including stopping in our tracks, a racing heart and an increase in blood pressure - often before we have had time to assess the situation consciously. The study showed that a brain region linked to the experience of fear can hijack the part of the brain that acts as an autopilot for movements such as walking and talking and stop us in our tracks.

Control in sale of e-cigarettes

Washington: US Food and Drug Administration proposes rules to control sale of electronic cigarettes in United States. E-cigarettes should carry health warnings under new regulations.

The sale of the device to children would be banned and the packets should list their ingredients. It is seen as an alternative to smoking and are battery operated products which deliver a nicotine flavour to users in the form of an aerosol which is inhaled by the user.

Women make better criminals

London: A study of women involved in street gangs found that they make better criminals than men because of their superior social skills.

They were often crucial for money laundering, smuggling weapons in prams and providing “intelligence”, while men, who acquired status only through violence, hung around and smoked cannabis.

Increased coffee drinking may reduce diabetes risk

London: A study has suggested that drinking more than three cups of coffee a day can reduce the risk of catching type 2 diabetes. It was found that people who increased their coffee consumption by an average of half cups a day in a four year period were 11 per cent less likely to be diagnosed with diabetes. But those who reduced the consumption increased the risk by 17 per cent. But the study may not necessarily be true. So watch your sugar levels and keep in contact with the doctor.

31,400 new home owners in March

London: According to a study there were 31,400 new home buyers in March, the highest figure since August 2007. The average deposit paid by new owners has also fallen by ten per cent in a year. Buyers now pay an average of £23,802 to secure their first home - the lowest figure in three years.

LONDON - USA

In Brief

Man arrested on suspected terrorism links

London: Police arrested a 36-year-old man on the suspicion of terror funding and encouraging terrorism from a house in Greenford, west London. As part of antiterrorism operation they have also raided a house in Ealing, west London, and business premises in Fulham. Earlier conducted a series of counter-terrorism raids at six addresses in the south of England.

Cameron leaves it to Boris to decide on his future

London: Prime Minister David Cameron said that it was up London mayor Boris Johnson to decide on his future. Cameron said that Boris could continue his duties as mayor as well as to become an MP. He told a local radio station: “Boris is a star and it would be great to have him back on the national team as well as continuing with the great work he is doing in London.”

Britain urged to cut taxes to produce more entrepreneurs

London: A leading think tank has urged Britain to reduce taxes and red tape to produce more entrepreneurs. Dr Nima Sanandaji, says that the government should reduce capital gains tax and scrap the 45p rate if it wants to encourage potential entrepreneurs. Meanwhile, an analysis by the Centre for Policy Studies found that Britain does not even rank among the top 10 countries for producing billionaire entrepreneurs and is lagging behind Hong Kong, the US, Australia, Canada and Ireland.

Teens do not distinguish between real world and online world London: According a survey teenagers no longer distinguish between real life and the online world. The survey, commissioned by Google and Vodafone, raises questions about whether schools are providing sufficient education about how young people should guard against dangers that exist online, and warns that the jump between primary and secondary school precipitates a sudden and major change in digital behaviour.

Marriage can cause depression

London: Psychologists in the US found that marriage can lead to depression. Being nagged or criticised or feeling let down by your other half are just some of the triggers for dissatisfaction with marriage. Those who suffer long-term stress within the relationship are more unlikely to enjoy the positive aspects of being married – a hallmark of depression.

NHS to interview Indian doctors to fill vacancies

London: In a desperate bid to reduce the shortage of staff in the accident and emergency departments, the NHS will recruit scores of trainee doctors from India by waving the competency tests. Health officials will next week interview dozens of overseas medics via Skype in order to tackle an NHS staffing crisis which has left almost half of specialist training places for casualty doctors unfilled for the past three years.

China unease at rapid spread of faith within its borders

London: Psychologists in the US found that Beijing: China has shown deep unease at the rapid spread of faith within its borders and condemned predictions that the country is on course to have the world's biggest Christian congregation there. Fenggang Yang, a leading expert on religion in China, said the number of Chinese Protestants could rise to about 160 million by 2025, with the total number of Christians exceeding 247 million by 2030. That would put China ahead of Mexico, Brazil and the United States as having the world's biggest Christian community.

Blood test can predict cancer risk

London: Scientists have developed a simple blood test that can predict the risk of cancer in older men. The test is based on the discovery that men with a common defect in their white blood cells are nearly four times as likely to die from cancer as those without the defect.

23

India becomes polio-free nation

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 3rd May 2014

India has reached a historic milestone by becoming a polio-free nation. Sri Lanka, Maldives and Bhutan – countries that make up part of South East Asia Region can now get the regional certification as part of poliofree region, leaving only Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria still battling the disease. The last polio case in India was recorded on 13 January 2011.

In honour of the good news, The Trustees of the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International are hosting a reception on May 6th at the House of Commons, sponsored by Virendra Sharma MP, to celebrate the PolioFree Certification of the WHO South-East Asia Region. Till 2009, nearly half the world’s new polio cases were still being reported from India.

After a concentrated $2.5 billion campaign and the emergence of a newer, more effective vaccine, India

coverage for essential vaccines (diphtheriatetanus-petussis) rose from 82% to 96% between 2000 and 2012, in Nepal, the rate went from 74% to 90%.With this new announcement, the GPEI's goal of delivering a polio-free world Judith Dime, Ranjan Mathai and by 2018 is in Nayan Patel sight. has somewhat managed to Innovative approaches overcome its age-old battle and new partners are driving with polio. The 11 countries global progress against a in the region – Bangladesh, multi-year plan to stop transBhutan, Democratic mission, improve immunizaPeople's Republic of Korea, tion rates and make a lasting India, Indonesia, Maldives, impact on child mortality.

Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Judith, Chair of the Rotary Thailand and Timor-Leste – International Polio are home to 1.8 billion peoEradication Advocacy Task ple. To end polio in these Force and UK National countries, strong systems Advocacy Adviser, has said: were created that are now “I congratulate India and all being used to advance other the countries in the SE Asia health priorities.

In region on being certified Bangladesh, immunization polio free – a historic mile-

stone in the worldwide effort to end polio and realize the broad benefits eradication will bring. The event at the House of Commons will celebrate this achievement as well as highlight the need to complete eradication in the remaining three endemic countries: Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria.

Recent outbreaks in the Middle East and the Horn of Africa are stark reminders that polio anywhere is a threat. One factor in the failure of polio immunization has been the sheer opposition by some Muslim fundamentalists in Pakistan, who have issued fatwas against polio vaccination. Similarly, in Afghanistan and Nigeria, where there is a large Muslim population, militant Muslims have attempted to murder those who try to vaccinate children against polio.

For more information and to support the polio programme see www.endpolio.org.

Florida: Krishna Maharaj, 75, a Briton serving two life sentences in Florida for a double murder, was granted an opportunity by a US court put forward his testimony. He says he did not commit the murder and was framed by a Colombian drug lord. He said that the real culprits in the murders of two Jamaican money launderers in Miami in 1986 were henchmen for Pablo Escobar, the late leader of the Medellin drugs cartel.

Judge William Thomas, of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, will also consider allegations by Maharaj’s lawyers that corrupt detectives colluded with the cartel to frame him and that prosecutors at his trial in 1987 withheld evidence that could have been favourable to his case.

“I am elated by the judge’s decision and I can’t wait for the whole truth to come out in court,” said Maharaj, who is from London and was originally sentenced to death. The sentence was commuted to life imprisonment in 1997.

The case has been a cause celebre for decades. In 2001, about 300 prominent supporters in Britain, including politicians, members of the judiciary, church leaders and the then attorney-general, Lord Goldsmith, petitioned the governor of Florida for a retrial, saying that there had been “astonishing flaws” in the prosecution’s case. The call was rejected.

In January, Maharaj, who is in failing health and in a wheelchair, received a letter from state authorities informing him that he would be considered for parole in 2042, when he would be 103.

The case centres on the murders in the Dupont Plaza Hotel of Derrick Moo Young and his son, Duane, who were shot dead after being lured there for a meet-

over the years that the prosecution suppressed at trial, showing that the Youngs had laundered up to $5 billion (£3 billion) for drug cartels, which in the 1980s made Miami a hub for global trafficking. Former cartel operatives have testified to Maharaj’s defence team that the murders were carried out by the Medellin cartel on the orders of Escobar, who was killed by Colombian security forces in 1993.

The new hearing, to be held later this year, could open the way for a retrial or a reduced sentence. Clive Stafford Smith, Maharaj’s British lawyer, said: “Judge Thomas has shown great courage in ordering this crucial new hearing, which is a vital step along the road to finally proving Krishna’s innocence. After 27 years in prison for a crime he patently did not commit, there is a chance that justice will be done.”

US court to hear British killer’s appeal after 27 years

Krishna Maharaj

ing. Prosecutors said that Duane Young owed money to Maharaj and the killing followed an argument over his failure to repay the debt.

Evidence has come to light

Gujarat Samachar & Asian Voice

Anand Mela Presents

7th & 8th June 2014

AK Bollywood Dance Academy

Venue: Harrow Leisure Centre, Christchurch Avenue, Harrow HA3 5BD

Time: 10am to 7:30pm

Honey Kalaria

Food, Music, Dance and Shopping Property Section

Wedding Section

Raas-Garba

Television Media Partner

Navin Kundra

Ticket price

£2.50

Tours & Travel

Beauty & Jewellery Section

Food and Drink

An event for all ages Special program for children I Fun filled weekend I Enjoy your weekend with your family I I

per person per day Child under 12 years FREE

All proceeds from ticket sales goes to Shishukunj, the chosen charity for Anand Mela.

For Sponsorship, Stall booking and Tickets please call 020 7749 4087

24

INDIA

Eggs thrown at Chiranjeevi after his comments on Modi

Machilipatnam (Andhra): Some BJP supporters allegedly hurled eggs at union minister and AP Congress election campaign committee chief K Chiranjeevi during a public meeting after his remarks against Narendra Modi calling him a "Hitler" and "tyrant", police said.

Chiranjeevi, who was addressing a rally at Koneru Centre here, stopped his speech for some time after the incident. However, police managed to bring the situation under control and the minister continued his

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 3rd May 2014

speech. Police later said they nabbed two suspects in this connection.

During his speech earlier, Chiranjeevi said, "Modi is a tyrant. He is a Hitler.

He had been deliberately sidelining a number of senior BJP leaders, including former prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and party veteran L K Advani. BJP is a communal party and YSR Congress Party has roots in criminal ideology," the actor-turned-politician alleged.

Targeting BJP's prime ministerial candidate over

his remark that "Congressfree India is need of the hour", Chiranjeevi said, "No one can root out the Congress from the country and many parties which tried to do so have perished.

The people will never forget the work Congress has done for the country. BJP, TDP and YSR Congress party cannot harm the Congress."

People are well aware of who is responsible for the division of Andhra Pradesh and the BJP, TDP and YSR Congress parties should own up the responsibility for it, he added.

New Delhi: India’s former telecom minister A Raja, DMK MP Kanimozhi and 17 others were chargesheeted in a special court by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with a money laundering Kanimozhi and A Raja case relating to the 2G spectrum allocation Directors of Kusegaon scam.

Fruits and Vegetables Pvt ED in its chargesheet Ltd, Asif Balwa and Rajiv also named DMK supremo Aggarwal, Bollywood proM Karunanidhi's wife ducer Karim Morani and Dayalu Ammal, Swan Kalaignar TV managing Telecom Pvt Ltd (STPL) director Sharad Kumar have promoters Shahid Usman also been named as accused Balwa and Vinod Goenka in the case. as accused in the case in Raja, Kanimozhi, which it alleged that Rs 2 Shahid Balwa, Vinod billion was paid by STPL Goenka, Asif Balwa, Rajiv promoters to DMK-run Aggarwal, Karim Morani Kalaignar TV. and Sharad Kumar are also The final report names facing trial in the 2G scam 10 individuals and nine case in which CBI had earlier filed chargesheets. companies as accused in the The ED's chargesheet case and the ED has said that the agency had charged them for the investigated the "flow of offence of money laundering funds" and they have found under the provisions of that money was laundered Prevention of Money by these accused persons.

Laundering Act (PMLA).

Chennai: Voter apathy and sweltering heat contributed to the low voter turnout of 61.13% in the three Chennai constituencies, bringing down the overall Tamil Nadu figure to 72.83% when the state went to polls. In the elitist South Chennai constituency, turnout was the lowest at 57.86%. Chennai north and central recorded 64.63% and 60.9% respectively. With a history of low voter turnouts, except in the 2009 polls when it recorded 73.03%, the Election Commission had stepped up its awareness campaign to bring 80% voters to the booths. But, the summer heat and the disinclination on the part of many voters to go to polling booths to exercise their franchise brought down the turnout figure in the city constituencies, which is marginally lower than 2009 figure as well.

Sriperumbudur recorded a turnout of 61.19%, Kancheepuram 64.08% and Tiruvallur 74.75%. In 2009 Lok Sabha polls, Chennai north recorded a turnout of

64.91%, Chennai south 62.66% and Chennai central 61.03%. "The voter turnout of 72.83% in Tamil Nadu is likely to change," chief electoral officer Praveen Kumar told reporters in Chennai.

While some constituencies like Dharmapuri recorded a high 80.99% per cent, the three constituencies in Chennai and other urban constituencies like Coimbatore, Madurai and Trichy recorded on an average 60%, which impacted the total turnout in the state.

The election, held across 39 constituencies on a single day and under elaborate security arrangements was largely peaceful. Barring some minor skirmishes in Chennai and some parts of the state, there were a couple of incidents of violence to mar the overall sedate mood.

In five villages in the state, voters boycotted elections and electronic voting machines were replaced in 129 polling booths. The replacement of some malfunctioning EVMs delayed polling in several booths.

It was Modi’s P a t h a n k o t first election rally in (Punjab): BJP’s this border town of prime ministerial Punjab. Modi said candidate Narendra the drug mafia was Modi warned that destroying the youth India’s enemies of the country for who, having failed the sake of money. to break up the mother, country, have Narendra Modi “Every especially every resorted to narco— mother of Punjab, is worried terrorism as part of their that her son does not get nefarious designs to destroy addicted,” he said referring the youth. “The people who to the drug menace which cannot defeat us in wars, has increased in the State those who cannot destroy us over the years. Modi said by the bombs and bullets of when the BJP-led NDA terrorists, those who fail to comes to power at the break our country internally, Centre, it will put an end to such inimical forces have drugs being pushed into the now taken to new route, Indian territory from across which is very dangerous and the border. “We won’t allow that is narco-terrorism,” our youths to be destroyed,” Modi told an election rally. he said, adding that the Drug trafficking and country’s border security rampant drug abuse by will be modernised. The priPunjab’s youth is a major ority of a BJP government poll issue in the State which will be not to allow inflow of shares a 550 -km boundary drugs into our territory from with Pakistan. Huge cache of across the border. These drugs are routinely seized by drugs are destroying our BSF and other agencies in youth,” Modi said.

Punjab.

Majithia. A proAmritsar: Punjab tester, Mogum revenue minister Singh, said: "We Bikram Singh Majithia was are protesting found guilty of reliagainst Bikram gious misconduct Singh Majithia for distorting who has insulted words of composithe compositions tions of Sikh of the Sikh Gurus, 'Gurbani', Gurus. We had Bikram Singh Majithia during an election sent a request to rally. The Takht Sri Hazur the Punjab Government to Sahib in Maharashtra's file a case against him, but Nanded district declared this is yet to be done."

Majithia 'Tankhaiya' (guilty Workers of Aam Aadmi of religious misconduct) for Party (AAP) also took to showing disrespect to the streets in Amritsar and sacred compositions of the burnt an effigy of Majithia.

"The Aam Aadmi Party is Sikh Gurus. Former Takht protesting against Majithia president Laddu Singh who has distorted the Mahajan said the diktat of Gurbani while canvassing declaring Majithia for BJP's Amritsar candidate 'Tankhaiya' has come because of protests by Sikhs.

Arun Jaitley. We and the "A few days ago, Majithia Sikh community condemn had distorted some words of this act," said another prothe Gurbani during a public tester, Princepal Singh. meeting. Therefore, the temMajithia has reportedly subporal authority has declared mitted a letter of apology to him 'Tankhaiya'," Mahajan the Sikh temporal authority, said. In Amritsar,Sikhs which is yet to take a deciexpressed their anger against sion on it.

2G scam: Kanimozhi, Raja, 17 others charged K Chiranjeevi

Modi warns against narcoterrorism by 'enemies'

Chennai records lowest voter turnout

Minister found guilty of religious misconduct

South Brief

FIRs filed against 6 firms for working on polling day

Chennai: Poilice have registered FIRs against HCL, Wipro, Voltas, First Source, Sodexo and Tech Mahindra for ignoring the Election Commission’s order to declare a holiday on the polling day (April 24). Based on a complaint by Sholinganallur tahsildar Ravichandran, an FIR under two non-bailable sections and another FIR under Section 135(B) of The Representation of People's Act, 1951, have been registered. Action will be taken against the firms after instructions from senior police officers, said sources.

Pepper spray attack on BJP candidate

Hyderabad: Some unidentified persons resorted to a pepper spray attack on former union minister and BJP candidate for the Rajampet parliamentary constituency, Daggubati Purandeswari, during her roadshow at Punganur Assembly segment in Andhra. Purandeswari has been on a whirlwind tour of the constituency after she filed her nomination. When the roadshow reached a poorly lit zone, there was a sudden spray of pepper in the air right in front of her.

Purandeswari and the local leaders bore the brunt of the attack, leading to tension for a while.

YSR Congress candidate dies in road accident

Hyderabad: YSR Congress party candidate B Shobha Nagi Reddy, who was seeking a reelection from Allagadda constituency in Andhra Pradesh in the upcoming assembly polls, succumbed to her injuries, police said.

The 46-year-old, Shobha, a sitting MLA was seriously injured after the four-wheeler in which she was travelling overturned while returning after a election campaign in Kurnool. She was rushed to a hospital with severe bleeding injuries, where she died undergoing treatment.

North Brief

Child 'molester' arrested in Chandigarh

Chandigarh: The police arrested absconding Bal Niketan supervisor Manish Arora for allegedly sexually exploiting the inmates when he landed at the shelter home in Sector 15. Police claimed the sustained pressure mounted on the 50-year-old and his family members in Kurukshetra in Haryana forced him to turn up at the institute even as sources claimed the supervisor came on his own accord. Arora has been allotted a house on the premises of Bal Niketan. Arora had gone on leave a day before the registration of the FIR on April 21 after the social welfare department inquiry had nailed him.

Model code hits drug addicts badly in Punjab

Chandigarh: Drug addicts are the worst hit by the Election Commission's model code of conduct for the polls in Punjab. De-addiction centres across the state are seeing a surge in the number of patients as the poppy husk supply from Rajasthan dried up after the code came into force. With cops keeping a vigil on the border with Rajasthan, rural Punjab's favourite dope has vanished from the market. Life has become miserable for addicts in Malwa, Punjab's drug capital. The number of walk-in patients at the deaddiction centre at Bathinda civil hospital has gone up from around 100 in February to 250 in April.

Caught taking bribe on TV, 4 held

Gurgaon: Four officials including two subdivisional officers of the Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) have been suspended by managing director R K Verma for allegedly taking bribe. Maruti subdivisional officer Ashutosh, SDO (M&P) Ashok Sharma, accountant Jitender and clerk Devraj were exposed in a sting operation by a local TV channel. An inquiry against them has also been ordered.

INDIA - WORLD

‘Health is wealth’ – mantra of this heart surgeon

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 3rd May 2014

25

Dr Ramakant Panda - born in a small parish of Orissa state in India is a big name across the globe as noted heart surgeon. The Government of India has conferred this doctor with ‘Padma Bhushan’, who on an average does 5-6 heart surgeries daily. Dr Panda has done more than 18,000 surgeries so far that include Dr Manmohan Singh’s bypass surgery in 2009 too. He has successfully conducted critical surgeries, but Dr Panda believes that health is wealth.

“Even if you don’t have time, make it a point to take time for your health. Exercise is important, not only to keep heart health but also entire body and mind,” he said in an interview.

“As a doctor I would like to say that one should give top priority to health”, says Dr Panda. He emphasizes on physical as well as mental health and advocates exercise, yoga and meditation. He says if children are taught from the beginning to remain alert on these three things, it would become part of their entire life. People, who do exercise and yoga regularly, would hardly become ill.

Another important point is – exercise keeps on changing as per one’s age. At young age one can do mild to heavy exercise, but after a certain age one should focus on particular exercise as per changes in one’s body. For example, after the age of 40, metabolism started slowing down and sign of increasing fat becomes visible in different parts of body. In this situation, one should

Modi’s final push on the last day

With six back to back rallies in Gujarat, BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi gave final push in his homestate on the last day of election campaign. The Gujarat Chief Minister wrapped up campaign in Gujarat with rallies in North Gujarat – Kheralu and Modasa, Central Gujarat – Lunawada, Dahod and Vallabh Vidyanagar as well as at Amreli in Saurashtra region.

Terming Rahul Gandhi as ‘Pappu’ at Dahod on Monday, Modi said, “Rahul has to ask his mother (Sonia Gandhi) to take every decision. We don’t require asking anyone.” On Sonia Gandhi’s poison jibe, he said that in reality they (Congress) are tilling poison, we (BJP) are doing development.

He also came down heavily on Farook Abdulla for his comment on secularism, saying that he doesn’t have any right to talk on secularism as in his home-state Kashmiri Pundits had to leave their mother-land. “Secularism is in our blood. India considers whole world as a single family. Our country has never attacked on other countries with swords. We are silent, it doesn’t mean that anyone can speak anything on us,” said the BJP leader adding that Abdulla family did communal politics in Kashmir and as result of it, the state is in dire condition. Modi said that BJP believes in inclusive growth and development for all.

focus on exercise like jogging and cycling which helps to augment heart rate. Besides such cardiovascular exercise, people should also focus on weight training too.

Dr. Panda further says that he has habit of walking from his childhood. He used to walk 15 km everyday to reach at his school when he was studying in his village. He used to play badminton and football.

According to him, he was not doing all those physical exercise keeping health in mind, but lifestyle was such that automatically exercise became part of daily routine.

Now life has become extremely busy and it is difficult to pay proper attention on eating, sleeping and exercise. “Right from early morning at around 7 am up to late in night till 2 to 2.30 am, I remain constantly busy.

Everyday 5-6 surgeries and subsequent check up of patient in OPD keep me busy. Later in the evening I check and reply important e-mails. Thus I reach home vary late in the night and next day by 8 am I need to reach at hospital,” he adds.

Despite his busy

DG

à{

schedule, Dr Panda make it a point to devote at least 35 minutes for exercise.

Some times in the morning or after operations in the evening, he does quick aerobics exercise. At the same time he also focuses on breathing and stretching exercise. Dr Panda spends 8-9 hours in opera-

tion theater, where he requires standing all the time. Obviously, muscles become stiff. Hence, every 2-3 hours he does stretching exercise as Dr Panda doesn’t have time to go to gymnasium for heavy exercise and also he does not have time too.

Though, Dr Panda feels that he should change habit of taking sleep. Due to busy schedule, few years back he didn’t have time to pay attention on himself. Five days full of work and week-end complete rest. However, it is not proper from health point-of-view. Because of it, he decided to change lifestyle deliberately. He in fact keeps on bringing changes suitable to his lifestyle every year. Earlier he used to take hardly 3-4 hours sleep, later on he added one hour more.

Now he takes at least five hours sleep and he settles

account of sleep on weekends. According to him, it is an awful habit but at the moment there is no choice. For better health, exercise and meditation both are equally important.

“What to eat and what not to? This is the question people often ask me,” he says adding that for better health moderate eating habit is must. Try to avoid overeating and focus on balanced food. There is no need to live on boiled food or only on fruits or vegetables. Everything can be taken – oily, spicy etc., but one should maintain balance.

Dr Panda’s schedule of eating and menu are not fixed. But he makes it a point that his meals contain items having all sorts of nutrition. “I believe in taking balanced food.

There is no other rule,” he added.

NOMINATION FORM

The prestigious Asian Achievers Awards is hosted every year by UK’s leading news weeklies Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar to honour British Asians par excellence. If there is someone you know who has broken boundaries and deserves recognition for their unique contribution to the community and the nation then please nominate them for one of the awards listed below.

Make sure that you fill in this application form and send it on or before 14th July, 2014 by post, fax or email to Mr. L George, Tel: 020 7749 4013, Fax 020 7749 4081, Email: aaa@abplgroup.com. If you are sending it by post the address is Mr. L George, ABPL Group, Karma Yoga House, 12 Hoxton Market, London N1 6HW.

Please tick the appropriate category Entrepreneur of the Year ....................................................

Uniformed and Civil Services ............................................

Awarded to an entrepreneur with a proven track record of operating a successful business enterprise.

For outstanding achievements in uniformed and civil services or contribution to the community through any of the above services.

Achievement in Media, Arts and Culture ....................

Professional of the Year ......................................................

Someone who has made a mark in media including print and broadcast media; cinema, art and culture.

Achievement in Community Service................................

Professionals in the field of medicine, law, education, banking, finance and others, who have scaled the heights of their chosen profession.

International Personality of the Year ............................

In recognition for an individuals service to community.

Awarded to those who have acclaimed popularity internationally for his/her contribution in any particular sector and is recognised for their timeless philanthropic activities.

Sports Personality of the Year............................................

Awarded for excellence in sports.

Woman of the Year ................................................................

The award will recognise and honour a woman who has made a significant mark in any chosen field.

Business Person of the Year ..............................................

Awarded to a business person who is a success in every sense of the word and can demonstrate a genuine passion for social issues.

Lifetime Achievement Award ............................................

To honour those individuals, who during their lifetime, have made immense contributions in any given field. This remarkable individual can be marked as an example for the younger generation.

Application Form

Name of the Person you are Nominating: __________________________________________________________________________

Contact Details of the Nominee (Tel & email):_______________________________________________________________________

Present Occupation of the Nominee:_______________________________________________________________________________

Please attach the Nominees's CV which includes the following information (Please do not exceed a limit of 1000 words) (1) Personal background (2) Most important career achievements till date.

(3) Nominee's contribution to the community and nation.

(4) Future Plans, ambitions and visions.

(5) Any notable obstacles in the Nominee's career that has helped him/her to reach where they are today.

Summary- (Please include a summary in not more than 150 words why the nominee is worthy of winning the particular award in a separate sheet) Nominator’s name and contact details: ____________________________________________________________________________ Nominator’s current Occupation/Company: _________________________________________________________________________ Tel/Mobile: _________________________________ Email: __________________________________________________________

NOMINATION AND SELECTION PROCESS This is a unique event where readers nominate and an independent panel of judges comprising of eminent personalities selects the winner. Judges’ decision is final. ABPL Group will not entertain any dialogue with members of the public regarding the judging process. In order to ensure a high degree of transparency and fairness, the management and members of the staff of Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar will play no role in the nomination or judging process. You may use an additional sheet if the space provided is insufficient. The winners will be announced at the AAA Awards ceremony on 19th September, 2014. Asian Voice, Gujarat Samachar will publish the names of the short listed candidates and winners after the event. The winners names will also appear in our e-edition www.abplgroup.com You can nominate yourself if you wish to.

Nominations and entries must follow the prescribed format. All nomination forms must reach our offices on or before 14th July, 2014

26

INDIA - WORLD In Brief

Two police officers jailed for failing integrity test

London: Detective Sergeant Stephen Phillips and Detective Constable Jason Evans of South Wales have been jailed after they failed integrity test. In a sting operation police recovered cash and pens from them after suspicions were raised about their honesty. The officers had been asked to investigate a house allegedly linked to a series of burglaries unaware that the resident was an undercover officer. Hidden cameras and microphones recorded Phillips, 45, taking £240 from a coat pocket. He was jailed for 22 weeks.

Evans, 43, was sentenced to 12 weeks custody for pocketing two pens.

British tourist’s body found in Delhi

New Delhi: The badly decomposed body of a British citizen, Andrew Raymond Roddick, 40, was found wrapped in a carpet on a Delhi street. The body was recovered after shopkeepers in Jangpura, a busy market district in southeast Delhi, reported a foul smell. He had been wrapped tightly in a carpet inside a zipped blue plastic bag, which was dumped in a narrow market lane early on Sunday morning, police said. The body, which was found gagged, and with feet and hands bound, also had burn marks - possibly from cigarettes - and other signs of torture.

Toddler died in freak accident

London: In a freak accident, a two-year-old died after she got stuck in the cord of a tangled window blind which strangled her, while she played hide and seek with her older brother. Danielle Hudson, 28, found her daughter Sophie Allen hanging with the beaded cord around her neck in her bedroom when she went to find her, after her four-year-old son Jayden said his sister was stuck.

Candidate arrested over Churchill speech

London: Paul Weston, chairman of the far right Liberty GB party and a candidate in the European elections has been arrested after making a speech quoting from a book by Winston Churchill about Islam.

He was making the speech on the steps of Winchester Guildhall, Hampshire, on Saturday, when a member of the public complained to police and he was arrested.

He had been reading from Churchill's book The River War, written in 1899 while he was a British army officer in Sudan.

Teacher murdered in classroom

London: Ann Maguire, 61, who taught Spanish and Religious Education in a school was stabbed to death in the classroom. She was just weeks away from retirement and had already got part-time job and was working a four-day week at Corpus Christi Catholic College in Leeds. A post mortem examination has confirmed she died from "multiple stab wounds" following the attack. Police are still questioning the 15year-old boy accused of stabbing her in the back and neck during the school's languages block.

Cancer survival rate doubled

India faces below normal monsoon under El Nino

Monsoon rainfall in India this year is likely to be below average and there is a 60 per cent chance that El Nino will affect farm output and economic growth, the weather office said. Average rainfall during the 2014 monsoon season (June to September) across the country is likely to be 88 per cent with a margin for error of plus or minus five per cent, according to data released by the India M e t e o ro l o g i c a l Department and Earth System Science Organisation (ESSO).

Deficient monsoon will negatively impact farm output and economic growth. Nearly half of India's farmland lacks irrigation and is dependent on monsoon.

The weather office said there was 60 per cent probability of El Nino affecting monsoon in India. El Nino impacts the atmosphere and increases temperature, which could further disrupt rainfall.

"Latest forecast from a majority of the models also indicates warming trend in the sea surface temperatures over the equatorial Pacific reaching to El Nino level during the southwest monsoon season with a probability of around 60 per cent," India M e t e o ro l o g i c a l Department and Earth System Science Organisation (ESSO) said in a statement.

On southwest monsoon, it said the seasonal rainfall is likely to be 95 per cent of the long period average with a model error

London: Max Clifford, the public relations expert and whose fingerprints are over some of the most memorable stories of the past 50 years and who thought that he was untouchable, turned out to be one of the country’s most notorious sex offenders. He was found guilty at Southwark crown court of eight indecent assaults on women and girls as young as 15.

Clifford, 71, of Hersham, Surrey, is known to have spent the best part of two decades grooming children, abusing teenagers who thought that he could make them famous, and playing twisted sex games.

of plus or minus five per cent.

The long period average (LPA) of the seasonal rainfall over the country as a whole for the period 1951-2000 is 89 cm.

The experimental forecast based on the coupled dynamical model forecasting system suggest that the monsoon rainfall during the 2014 monsoon season (June to September) averaged over the country as a whole is likely to be 96 per cent with margin of error of plus or minus five per cent of long period model average.

The experimental five category probability forecasts for the 2014 monsoon season rainfall over the country using the experimental dynamical prediction system are 33 per cent (deficient), 20 per cent (below normal), 24 per cent (normal), 6 per cent (above normal) and 17 per cent (excess).

Last year, the monsoon was above average with rainfall over the country 106 per cent of the long period average. This led to a record grain output of 262 million tonnes in 2013-14.

Poor farm output due to deficient monsoon may drag already sluggish Indian economic growth and spiral inflation.

Bumper voting in 7th phase

2 Indian doctors charged

New York: Two Indian-American doctors are among six persons who have been charged by the federal regulator in an insider-trading scheme where they reaped nearly $300,000 from confidential information.

Suken Shah and his brother Shimul Shah received confidential tips from Christopher Saridakis, the CEO of GSI Commerce, an e-commerce company about its proposed acquisition by eBay in March 2011.

Continued from page 1 exercising their franchise in the nine seats where polling was held.

Voting took place in the state in the backdrop of a bitter war of words between the BJP and Trinamool, especially on the Saradha ponzi scam.

In Gujarat, where voting was held in all 26 seats, around 62% voters exercised their franchise.

In 2009, the polling percentage was a meagre 48.

Modi was among the early voters in his home state where the BJP is aiming for a clean sweep. In Bihar, as much as 60% polling was recorded in the seven seats which went to

Rememberance

Sad Demise of Mrs Jasuben Chandrakant Desai of Nottingham, wife of Dr Chandrakant Bhai Desai, who passed away peacefully at her residence.

Sad Demise of Swami Shreeji

Pujya Dr. Sanandbhai was one who had surrendered his life in the shelter of Param Pujya Jashbhai Saheb, and aided the development of Anoopam Mission.

London: According to the authors of a new research, half of patients diagnosed with cancer can effectively be “cured.” According to the authors, the survival rates in England and Wales have doubled since the 1970s.

Experts hailed the landmark findings as a “tipping point” in the war on cancer, and said dramatic improvements in diagnosis and treatment meant the disease could soon be treated as a chronic condition, instead of a death sentence.

Max Clifford found guilty of 8 sex charges

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 3rd May 2014

the polls in the fourth phase of elections in the state. In Punjab, where polling was held in all 13 seats on a single day, over 73% cast their votes amidst minor clashes in two places The Telangana region in Andhra Pradesh – which will become a separate state by June 2 – voted with new-found zeal and freedom, notching up over 70% polling for 17 Lok Sabha constituencies. In an interesting incident there, a young voter stopped Union minister Chiranjeevi from jumping the queue at a polling booth in Hyderabad.

Bangladeshi immigrants will be deported: Modi

Sreerampore: In his sharpest comment on illegal immigrants yet, BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi said that Bangladeshis will be deported if he comes to power.

Claiming that many politicians welcome illegal immigrants only for votes, Modi told NDTV: 'You can write it down. After May 16, these Bangladeshis better be prepared with their bags packed.'

Targeting Mamata Banerjee's government, Modi said that the Bengal chief minister only pursued a policy of vote bank politics and this "will make the future of the youths of Bengal dark".

He alleged that Banerjee had no love for people from outside the state who have settled in Bengal, but 'your face glows when people come from Bangladesh'.

"Mamata made Bengal a ground for vote bank politics. People from Odisha, Bihar are outsiders but Bangladeshis come here and her face shines," Modi said at a rally in Srirampur.

"But I tell you, after May 16, people of Bangladesh will have to

leave bag and baggage."

Modi came down heavily on Mamata for not improving the state of affairs in her state. "I always had high respect for you (Mamata Banerjee) but you are doing the same thing here that the Left did," Modi remarked.

Modi also accused her of joining hands with Finance Minister P Chidambaram to save the Saradha scamsters and ruining the state by vote bank politics.

Addressing an election rally in this town of Hooghly district, Modi raised the issue of the multi-crore rupee Saradha scam, promising no one will be spared if he came to power at the Centre and specifically raising questions about who bought one of Banerjee's paintings for Rs.1.80 crore.

"Chidambaramji, you are the country's finance minister, such a big scam has taken place, who are you trying to save? Why have Mamataji and Chidambaram joined hands to help those responsible for the Saradha scam, people of Bengal want to know," he said.

In view of the exciting 7th phase of the Indian election your Asian Voice has been delayed by 1 day.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused to our respected readers.

- AV

Cong sub-manifesto promises ‘OBC’ quota

New Delhi: Midway through the Lok Sabha polls, Congress has launched an aggressive minority outreach, committing itself to “finding a way forward” on quotas for backward Muslims and Scheduled Caste status to all dalit minorities.

In its additional manifesto on “empowerment of minorities”, Congress has said it will work towards earmarking a quota of 4.5% for backward Muslims in the existing other backward caste (OBC) reservations.

Though Congress’s main manifesto released on March 26 mentions quotas for backward Muslims, the new document specifically reiterates the 4.5% subquota announced by the Manmohan Singh government but which was stalled in courts. The fresh minority pitch – available on the

manifesto link on the Congress website – goes further, speaking of “extension of Scheduled Caste status to all dalit minorities”, a demand opposed by many dalit groups currently accessing quotas.

Amending the SC criteria – currently available to Hindus and Buddhists — will allow ‘dalit’ Muslims and Christians to access quotas and has been strongly opposed by the BJP on the ground that there is no caste-based discrimination in both religions. New Delhi: The document also says a Congress government will examine the feasibility of the next delimitation commission being mandated to ensure minorities are not “disenfranchised” by constituencies where their population is equal or more than dalits or tribals being declared as reserved.

27

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 3rd May 2014

Health & Wellness

Keep your blood sugar in control naturally with garlic

Healthy tips for night shift workers

ooking for a natural method to help conL trol your blood sugar?

Garlic might just be what you are looking for. A regular ingredient in a number of dishes, garlic packs much more of a punch than you can see.

Touted as an antidote for various ailments and packed with innumerable health benefits, garlic is a boon for your body. Here is how you can use it to keep diabetes in check.

An elixir for your health Garlic has a variety of potent sulphur-containing compounds which are the reason for its characteristic pungent odour. Allicin, the vital compound among them, is known to have great anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal and anti-oxidant properties. This allicin is released in abundance when a garlic pod is either finely chopped, minced or pureed and allowed to sit for some time. Allicin, along with other compounds like ajoene and alliin have a significant effect on your circulatory, digestive and immunological systems, which in turn helps lower blood pressure, detoxifies the body, helps in overall healing, lowers blood sugar levels and increases the amount of

everal research has warned that night S shifts can cause long-

good cholesterol in the body.

Apart from all this garlic is also a reliable source of selenium.

Selenium is essential to the body since it uses it to synthesize proteins known as selenoproteins.

These proteins help in protecting your DNA from damage caused by free radicals, regulates the working of the thyroid gland and strengthens the immune system.

How does it help with diabetes?

Garlic is known to

Skip oily food in the morning

orkaholics tend to skip breakfast or W indulge in fast food to

save time. But the habit is unhealthy, says a nutritionist adding that consuming fatty and oily food is not an ideal way to start the day.

Ambica Sharma, nutritionist, Columbia Asia Hospital,

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...

Ghaziabad, shares a list of food items that should be avoided: - Paranthas dripping with oil or ghee are a big no. Even if you wish to eat them, avoid using excess oil and ghee and have them with curd.

- Poori-Aaloo is a common breakfast for those who stay in hostels. It is not a healthy option. If there is no other choice, use a paper or tissue to soak the excess oil in Pooris.

- Junk food like chips, fried fast food and soft drinks or sweets like candy must be avoided too.

increase the amount of insulin released and regulates blood sugar levels.

A study published in the Journal of Medicinal Food found just that garlic was highly effective in increasing one’s insulin content in the body and improved glucose tolerance. Apart from that another study published in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry showed that garlic had the potential to protect your heart from diabetes-induced cardiomyopathy.

Eat garlic for better blood sugar control The best way to eat garlic is by crushing one or two pods and eating it raw. Just crush two medium size pods of garlic and eat this paste on an empty stomach, ideally first thing in the morning. If you find it too pungent to eat just as it is, you could swallow it with a glass of warm water. If raw garlic is too pungent you could opt for garlic extract pills or simply add them to your daily meal.

term damage to health.

Shift work, including night work, has been fond to increase the risk of chronic diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease (CVD), metabolic syndrome and diabetes apart from sleep disorders.

A new study has found that irregular bed time hours and lack of sleep causes "profound disruption" to more than 1,000 genes.

Here are some useful tips to help you stay healthy while doing the night shift.

Drink water: Avoid taking energy drinks during the shift as they are filled with high levels of caffeine and other ingredients that can impact your health negatively. Instead, drink lots of water, which is good for your system.

Sleep whenever possible: It has been advised to sleep at least 8 hours a night. With the shift work, especially

Beetroot can help reduce high BP or hypertension

e all have heard that including veggies in W our diets is an essential

step to staying healthy.

But did you know that eating something like beetroot can take care of your blood pressure problems?

Yes, the pink root has a number of health benefits right from helping pregnant mums have healthy babies to beating osteoporosis to keeping your blood sugar in check. Here is how beetroot can help you maintain your blood pressure levels naturally.

How it helps you: According to the British Heart foundation, eating vegetables rich in nitrates could help reduce blood pressure drastically. In another study at the Queen Mary’s University in the year 2010 the same theory was proved again.

Beetroot is a great source of nitrates, which when consumed, is converted to nitrites and a gas called nitric oxides. Both these

components help to widen the arteries and lower blood pressure.

Researchers also found that having just about 500 grams of beetroot every day reduces a person’s blood pressure in about six hours.

How to use it: Beetroot is a great addition to a salad. To add it to a salad par-boiling it makes it softer to eat and it does not lose any of its nutrients.

Wash one beet well and par boil it. You can do so either in a cooker or a vessel of boiling water.

Throw away the water that it boils in as this could contain mud that is normally found around the root. Now peel the beetroot, slice it and eat it as a salad. You could finely chopped pieces to a mixed salad as well.

If boiling the beetroot seems too tedious, try beetroot juice instead. Cut the beetroot into fine pieces or grate it. Add it to a blender and extract the juice. Add a tiny pinch of salt (if you want) and drink this juice first thing in the morning on an empty stomach.

when you are working at night, it may not be possible to get that proper 8 hours sleep in one stretch. So try to take naps as much as you can during the day.

Keep your room cosy: Setting up your room in the right environment can help you sleep longer and sounder. Before going to sleep, block your bedroom from sunlight and other lights. You can also wear ear plugs to avoid street noise.

Limit phone calls: Avoid or limit phone calls during daytime as that will disrupt your sleep.

Adopt a consistent eating habit: Sleep deprivation can influence your appetite making you to eat more and gain weight.

Make sure that you eat dinner before starting your shift. Also eat snack after every 2-3 hours to keep yourself energised and to stay focused on your work. This will also help you avoid eating a heavy meal at the end of your shift, which is bad for you as that can disturb your sleep.

Laughter is the best medicine

new poll has revealed that laughA ter is the best medicine

to cure flu. According to the poll, conducted by ‘Day and Night Nurse’, three out of four people claimed that a chuckle can make them feel “energized”, 29 per cent said a hug from a loved one was beneficial and 14 per cent insisted listening to music soothed away the symptoms.

The poll found that women are skilled at harnessing the power of laughter, as 83 per cent agreed that it cheers them up, while only 70 per cent of men agreed to the same.

28

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 3rd May 2014

Parthiepan moulds a new actress

Dhanush wins Nayantara puts ‘Nee Enge his first IIFA En Anbe’ in trouble?

K award

D

ollywood actress Nayantara seems to be having some serious differences with the director Sekhar Kammula of her forthcoming movie “Nee Enge En Anbe.” It became evident with the actress skipping the audio launch function of the Telugu version of the film “Anamika.” From the past few weeks, people were murmuring about Nayantara and Sekhar Kammula's differences. It is said that the actress has not been happy with the way her character has been written in the movie.

Her co-star's getting more screens in the flick has irked her. The director has made a lot of changes from original movie “Kahaani.” This has made Nayantara keep herself away from promoting the movie.

Vijay confirms affair with Amala Paul

T

amil actor Dhanush, who made his Bollywood debut with “Raanjhana,” has struck a gold, as he bagged his first IIFA award. He is honoured with Best Debut as Lead Actor for his Hindi flick. The awards ceremony was held at Tampa Bay, Florida. He wrote on Twitter,"My first iifa :) thanks for all the support and love guys. Without your support would n have been here."

At the awards function, audience did not allow him to speak and asked him to croon his popular track 'Kolaveri di' from his movie “3.” He tweeted, "The audience dint let me speak. Kept asking for kolaveri and I started blabbering. Had 2 sing a few lines. 3 years since d song.still" In his 12-year career, Dhanush has won several awards. He had also bagged National Award for Best Actor for his brilliant performance in “Aadukalam.” Currently, the actor is busy with multiple projects. Dhanush is working on his second Hindi movie with R Balki. Apart from this Bollywood flick, he is busy with Tamil movies like KV Anand's “Anegan” and Velraj's Velaiyilla “Pattathari.”

D

irector Vijay has finally confirmed his affair with Amala Paul. In a statement he said, “Yes, the search for my life partner ends here as I have found soul mate in Amala! She's the girl with the most beautiful heart I know, she is truly a treasure and I will preserve with utmost love and care. We were to announce our wedding plans to media, but the news was out without our knowledge. We had no intentions whatsoever to conceal anything from the media or to our friends, wellwishers and fans on our wedding plans. We will meet the media and friends with personal invitations in a well-organised event that reflects our respect.”

Sridevi to do a Tamil film M

aking a comeback truly with a bang, Sridevi was offered innumerable projects after the success of ‘English Vinglish’. But the actress has now chosen to do a film in her mother tongue Tamil and she will be soon seen with the popular South star Sudeep.

Known for his villainous role in ‘Makkhi’, Sudeep, who is thrilled to share the screen with the actress, stated that the film has a lot of A-listers and Sridevi is surely one of them. He also revealed that he is eagerly looking forward for this association.

The film in question is said to be fantasy adventure which is slated to go on floor in September.

‘Purani Jeans’

“Purani Jeans” is a movie directed by Tanushri Chattrji Bassu, the film stars Tanuj Virwani, Aditya Seal and Izabelle Leite in lead roles. The film is based on the belief that – “friendship is like a pair of old jeans- the older it gets, the better it becomes”, and tells the story of young boy who returns to his hometown and reconnects with his old friends.

‘Kya Dilli Kya Lahore’

It is film set in 1948, postIndependence period and deals with the subject of Indo-Pak partition. The movie stars Vijay Raaz, Manu Rishi, Raj Zutshi and Vishwajeet Pradhan in

irector R Parthiepan has been claiming that his upcoming film “Kathai Thiraikkathai Vasanam Iyakkam” does not have a story.

But the film's lead heroine Akhila Kishore has revealed that the film revolves around a couple and the role played by others in their life. Akhila who has acted in three Kannada films makes her Kollywood debut with KTVA. The film has an ensemble of leading stars like Vijay Sethupathi, Arya, Amala Paul, Nazriya and Prakash Raj and many others playing extended cameos. Parthiepan for the first time will not be acting in a film.

breath was filled with revenge. But the Love remains unknown...... the Revenge remains unknown...Enemy remains unknown. Hold your breath while the mystery unfolds itself before you. the lead roles and credits Gulzar as the presenter of the movie. The movie is produced by Karan Arora and also marks the directorial debut of actor Vijay Raaz.

‘Angry Young Man’

It is an action romantic thriller directed by Ramesh Rout. “Angry Young Man” is thrilling and mysterious journey of a guy who's every

‘Kahin Hai Mera Pyaar’

It is a romantic movie starring Sanjay K a p o o r, J a c k i e S h ro f f , Abhishek Sethiya, S o n i a M a n n , Gajendra Chauhan and Kishori Shahane. It is directed by Mahesh Vaijnath Doijode for Mohini Art International and music director is Ravindra Jain.

Amitabh lends his voice for mythological drama

A

m i t a b h Bachchan has given the voice-over to a mythological drama ‘Arasuri Maa Ambe’, a short film made in 3D to be screened at the famous Ambaji temple. Situated at the Gujarat and Rajasthan border, the temple has millions of devotees visiting it every year.

The film talks about the story of the temple and how it came about. “When I approached Amitabh Bachchan to give the voice-over, I was surprised that he knew the history of the temple even before it had become so popular. He has narrated about 10minutes of the story in the 40-minute film,” said filmmaker Shiv Sagar, who is the grandson of the late Ramanand Sagar.

29

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 3rd May 2014

‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’ wins 9 IIFA awards Farhan Akhtar starrer “Bhaag Milkha Bhaag,” a biopic on sportsman Milkha Singh, walked away with nine trophies at the at International Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFA) Magic held at Tampa Bay (United States).

Milkha Singh attended the ceremony with director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra and Farhan. The film won the Best Cinematography (Binod Pradhan), Best Screenplay (Prasoon Joshi), Best Dialogue (Prasoon Joshi), Best Editing (P S Bharti), Best Sound Design (Nakul Kamte ), Best Sound Mixing (Pranav Shukla), Best Background Score (Shankar-Ehsaan- Loy), Best Costume Designing (Dolly Ahluwalia) and Best Make-Up (Vikram Gaikwad).

Hrithik Roshan starrer “Krrish 3” won Best Action (Sham Kaushal & Tony Ching Siu Tung) and Best

Special Effects – Visuals (Keitan Yadav & Haresh Hingorani – Red Chillies VFX), awards. Hrithik grooved on stage with singer Mika Singh on Shahid Kapoor’s hit song ‘Agal Bagal’ from “Phata Poster Nikla Hero.”

Director Rohit Shetty’s “Chennai Express” won Best Song Recording (Vinod Verma for Lungi Dance) and Best Sound Mixing (Anup Dev) along with “Bhaag Milkha Bhaag.” Bollywood actors like Kareena Kapoor Khan, Deepika Padukone, Sridevi, Madhuri Dixit Nene, Anil Kapoor, Shatrughan Sinha, Hrithik Roshan, Anupam Kher, Parineeti Chopra, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, Ramesh Sippy, Vaani Kapoor, Siddharth Malhotra, Arshad Warsi, Vive Oberoi and others attended the award ceremony.

List of winners: Best

'Arjun and Alison'

Tanveer Mann

When their best friend is the victim of a racist murder on a Birmingham university campus, Alison (Monique Squeri), an American student, and Arjun (Shiv Jhala), an Indian who obsessively films everything, plot their revenge on Gordon, the rising star of the university’s controversial “English” Society.

‘Arjun & Alison’ is a hard hitting thriller directed by debutant Sidharth Sharma which tackles the underlying concerns of racism and racially motivated behaviour amongst the British youth. It is out now at selected Cineworld cinemas. In an interview, Director Sidharth Sharma answers the questions by Tanveer Mann.

Have you always been interested in directing?

No not really. I was

New Release

quite confused when I was growing up as to what I wanted to do. I had a brief stint in architecture but that didn't really appeal to me, so after a couple of years, I took a year off, and travelled. I bought a video camera and I started recording obsessively. So that's when I realised that I really enjoyed cinema and began thinking of it as my career. I discussed it with my family, they thought I was actually mad.

But I saw it as a kind of a calling.

How did the idea for the movie come about?

From start to finish, the movie has taken some time to shape up. The idea started on the 5th September 2009 from the Birmingham riots.

Performance in a Leading Role (Female) – Deepika Padukone, Best Performance in a Leading Role (Male) – Farhan Akhtar for “Bhaag Milkha Bhaag,” Best Performance in a Supporting Role (Female) – Divya Dutta for “Bhaag Milkha Bhaag,” Best Performance in a supporting role (Male) – Aditya Roy Kapur for “Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani,” Best Debut (Male) – Dhanush for “Raanjhanaa,” Best Debut (Female) – Vaani Kapoor for “Shudh Desi

Why did you chose to set the film in Birmingham?

I chose it because I spent a large part of my student years in Birmingham.

Though it is a fictional story, there's a lot that is real. Art imitates life and vice versa.

I was keen to bring out those real moments that I had spent.

Also, Birmingham itself is a character in the movie, a place where all the other characters can meet, clash and collaborate with each other.

What were the challenges you faced directing/producing this movie?

We had a lot of problems trying to get a university location. The beginning of the movie was set on a campus but when we approached universities, they were quite shy about it because the riots had just happened, so they were

Rani Mukerji weds Aditya Chopra

Bollywood actor arrested on rape charge

B

ollywood a c t o r Inder Kumar been has arrested after a 22-year-old w o m a n claimed he had been raping her under the pretext of getting her roles in films.

The woman, who is a model, alleged in her statement that Inder Kumar, who played the role of Akshay Kumar’s younger brother in movie ‘Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi’ had convinced her that he would get her main lead roles and asked her to stay with him at his Mumbai flat. Police said that they have sent the woman for a medical check up and awaiting the reports.

Salman Khan frenzy hits Warsaw

I

f sources are to be believed, then Rani Mukerji and Aditya Chopra's wedding, which took place in Italy on April 21, was not a planned affair. Sources say that the couple had gone to Italy on a holiday where they decided to get married. This is also why it wasn't a lavish affair; instead, it was a small church wedding. A source close to the actor says, "They are private people and have always wanted their wedding to be a small function rather than a mega event. Accordingly, theirs was a white wedding where only close friends and immediate family was invited.

Romance,” Best Director – Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra for “Bhaag Milkha Bhaag,” Best performance in a comic role Arshad Warsi for “Jolly L.L.B,” Best performance in a negative role – Rishi Kapoor for “D-Day,” Best Playback Singer (Female) – Shreya Ghoshal (“Aashiqui 2”).

Best Playback Singer (Male) – Arijit Singh (“Aashiqui 2”), Entertainer of the year – Deepika Padukone and “Outstanding Contribution to Indian Cinema” – Shatrughan Sinha.

probably worried that it would create controversy or trouble as we were recreating some scenes from the riots.

Have you ever faced any racism?

Yes I have, I've experienced instances here and there, definitely a little xenophobia as well, maybe in the workplace.

Favourite Director?

Steven Spielberg, from my childhood, I've grown up watching his movies.

What are your expectations for this movie?

I am very excited to hear peoples' reviews. I've already had a few screenings in Boston university where we showed the film to students and it was made part of the syllabus.

In London, the lovely Indian Film Festival gave us a great review as well.

So I am not really nervous.

I know the strengths and weaknesses of my film. I just hope that everyone goes and gives the film a chance and watches it.

rom being followed by fans everywhere to getting wide media coverage - the filming F of Bollywood film "Kick", which stars

Salman Khan and Jacqueline Fernandez in the lead roles, has generated frenzy in the Polish capital.

Director Sajid Nadiadwala, who is shooting the film's climax here, had no inkling people would react like that when he parked himself in the city for the shooting. Wherever he goes to shoot, a mixed crowd of Indians and Polish fans of Bollywood films follow him. They also chant "Salman, Salman" whenever the Hindi movie superstar comes on the set. Shooting is in full swing for the past 10 days and Gazeta Wyborcza, the largest newspaper here, is giving wide coverage to the shooting. It has put four journalists on the job. Private Polish TV channel TVN also gives big coverage to the "Kick" unit, which is expected to wrap up the shooting by the end of the month, almost every day. "The day is not far when Warsaw can be known as Warsaliwood for the Bollywood producers. The locales and natural scenic beauty would prompt Bollywood to select Poland for their outdoor shootings.

Hazare, Rishi Kapoor get Deenanath Mangeshkar awards

L

egendary singer Lata Mangeshkar conferred the 72nd Master Deenanath Mangeshkar Awards to social activist Anna Hazare, musician Zakir Hussain, veteran actor Rishi Kapoor and other prominent personalities at a function. The award carries a memento, citation and cash prize of Rs.100,000 each. "We commemorate my father's death anniversary on April 24 every year. These awards are given to eminent people in the field of cinema, music, theatre, literature and social work," said Lata Mangeshkar who personally felicitated each of the awardee.

Katrina challenges Salman Khan

K

atrina Kaif has challenged Salman Khan in terms of action films. The pretty actress, who is starring in action films “Bang Bang” and “Phantom,” has done all the stunts herself. The directors of both the films had insisted her to use body doubles to perform difficult stunts, however she refused.

Katrina insisted on doing the stunts herself so that it looked real. If Katrina can manage her own stunts, we wonder why does Salman use a body double?

Well it seems Kat is more powerful than the Tiger here.

30

UK

Vivek Jyoti – Vivekananda continues to light Jyoti in the hearts of many

“Let us read Swamiji’s life in depth, understand him and then follow his teachings. He was above all religions and believed in the divinity of mankind” said Swami Dayatamandaji (Chair person of SV150 UK) as he addressed the concluding function of SV150 called Vivek Jyoti.

His message of “Atmano Mokshartham Jagad Hitaya Cha” (For one’s own salvation, and for the welfare of the world) was very relevant today.

Vivek Jyoti, the official concluding function of SV150 UK was held on Sunday 13th April 2014 in Laxminarayan Mandir, Birmingham.

Madhava Turumella, Vice President of Hindu Forum of Britain welcomed important leaders of the three main umbrella bodies of Hindus i.e. Hindu Forum of Britain, National Council of Hindu Temples and Hindu Forum of Europe.

With over 250 people present, it was an inspiring and buzzing evening with positive vibrations which had filled the hall.

People had travelled from Plymouth down south to Manchester in the north to be part of Vivek Jyoti.

The chief guest was Bob Blackman MP, the Chair Person of APPG for British Hindus who lighted the deep with Swami Dayatmanandaji to auspi-

ciously commence the function.

The 2 hour event had a variety of performances which included a classical dance-song narrative on Swamiji’s life by a talented group from Manchester. The star of the function was a 4 year old girl named Payal Jain who gave a 3 minute speech on Swamiji’s message without reading from notes and with appropriate hands and head gestures. She brought the whole audience on feet with standing ovation. An interactive panel discussion on “What would Vivekananda Say” kept the audience attentive and thinking. Four penalists Dr Sachin Nandha (Sec of SV150 Committee), Dhiraj Shah (President, HSSUK),0 Jyothi Ramaiah (Youth activist Balaji Temple) and Sujata Barot (Social worker) gave their views on Swamiji’s thoughts related to Youths, Hindu Dharma, Family values and women empowerment. The function was concluded with a peace prayer from Rig Ved, recited elocuently by Madhava Turumella.

We hope this Vivek Jyoti (Light of Vivekananda) inspires all in the coming years to proactively work and serve the society.

Coming Events

Coming Events

l Thursday 1 May 2014 – Mystic Voices: The Bhakti tradition at The Bhavan Centre from 7.30pm. Contact: 020 7381 3086 l Sunday 4 May 2014 – Bhajans at 3pm by Shree Budhdevbhai and Shree Manubhai Kotak, finishing with Arti at 5.30pm at Adhya Shakti Mataji Temple, 55 High Street, Cowley, middlesex UB8 2DZ, Contact: 07882253540. l Sunday 4 May 2014 – Swaranjali Bhajans at Chinmaya Kirti, London from 6.30pm – 8.00pm. l Wednesday 7 May to Tuesday 13 May 2014 – Shiv Mahapuran Katha at Gujarat Hindu Society Mandir (Main Hall), South Meadow Lane, Preston PR1 8JN – UK from 5pm – 8pm.

Contact: 01772253901. l Saturday 10 May 2014 – J&S Promotions proudly presents Tum Mujhe Bhula Na Paoge, Golden hits of Shankar Jaikishan from 6.30pm at Elliot Hall, Harrow Arts Centre, Uxbridge Road, Hatch End HA5 4EA. Contact: 02084168989. l Saturday 10 – 11 May 2014 – Isha Yoga by Shambhavi Mahamudra at M.P. Birla Millenium Art Gallery, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, 4a Castletown Road, London W14 9HE/ l Sunday 11 – Friday 16 May 2014 – Success without Stress – Discourses on Chapter 3 of the Bhagavad Geeta at Sattavis Patidar Centre, Forty Avenue, Wembley Park HA9 9PE from 7.30pm – 9.00pm l Sunday 11 May 2014 – Soul Sounds, monthly bhajans at The RCT Hall, Harrow, Middlesex from 12.30pm – 2pm. l Saturday 24 May – Sunday 1 June 2014 – A week of Shree Ram Katha by Shastri Shri Ramniklal Dave from 2pm – 6pm at Shree Hindu Community Centre, Birmingham.

COMPETITION WINNER! Congratulations!

The winner of the Bayleaf Restaurant Competition is: Shivangi Joshi.

You have won a complimentary meal for two. You will be contacted shortly.

Indian Election Analysis

TAURUS Apr 21 - May 21 Although all kinds of opportunities are coming your way, there are many obstacles between you and the fulfillment of any of these. As you clear your path you will get closer to achieving your dreams. Relationships and romance are both under scrutiny by the presence of Saturn in your 7th house - this will teach you to be patient and re-assess your position.

You will make your best progress by focusing your mental and physical energies on what you want to achieve. The underlying trend seems to be pulling you into a much wider social circle now. This is bound to enrich your life and give you a deeper sense of purpose. The prevailing pattern of planets gives you a marvellous opportunity - take advantage.

GEMINI May 22 - June 22

CANCER Jun 22 - Jul 22 It is a great week for seeing real results. You can accomplish more than usual with a little elbow grease - the keyword here is discipline. Your social graces will serve you well career-wise. Mixing business with pleasure will bring you benefits. You will achieve great success by being responsible and diplomatic.

LEO Jul 23 - Aug 23 Jupiter's transit of your 12th Solar House indicates that experience will put you in a deeply reflective mood. This is a favourable time for getting away from usual routines and seeking a retreat for a few days. All the better if you are interested in such things as meditation, yoga and therapies that help you to get in closer touch with your inner self.

VIRGO Aug 24 - Sep 23

The cash situation continues to be rather erratic. However, problems can be avoided if you can curtail extravagant impulses and keep everything well organised. However, there are indications of favourable changes and developments in the areas of career and employment. Keep away from any emotional tensions with your partner.

The pace of your life may be a bit hectic now, and if you're not used to it, this could also be a time of mental restlessness. You are more inclined to seek a broad understanding of people and of your immediate environment. Concentrating on listening, connecting, communicating, and learning is your best bet now.

Details: http://www.nehrucentre.org.uk/events/detail s/article/talk-indian-elections.html

(BPO) AB Publication (India) Pvt. Ltd. 207 Shalibhadra Complex, Opp. Jain Derasar, Nr. Nehru Nagar Circle, Ambawadi, Ahmedabad.

Tel / Fax: +91 79 2646 5960 Bureau Chief: Nilesh Parmar (M) +91 94266 36912 Email: nilesh.parmar@abplgroup.com

By nature you are a highly enterprising, gogetting type of person and these are qualities that will stand you in good stead in the coming weeks.

Go easy on yourself though, especially if it's a question of financial loans. Don't be afraid to act forcefully if your instinct tells you it's time for change.

ARIES Mar 21 - Apr 20

LIBRA Sep 24 - Oct 23

Please join Kailash Budhwar, former head of BBC World Service in Hindi & Tamil and a specialist lecturer on Indian Sub-continent at Centre for International Briefing at Farnham Castle, on Wednesday May 7th at 6.30pm at the Nehru Centre. He proposes to discuss the How & Why of Indian Democracy.

Editor: CB Patel Associate Editor: Rupanjana Dutta Tel: 020 7749 4098 - Email: rupanjana.dutta@abplgroup.com Editorial Executive: Tanveer Mann Tel: 020 7749 4010 - Email: tanveer.mann@abplgroup.com Senior News Editor: Dhiren Katwa Freelance Correspondent: Rudy Otter Chief Operating Officer: Liji George Tel: 020 7749 4013 Email: george@abplgroup.com Chief Financial Officer: Surendra Patel Tel: 020 7749 4093 Mobile: 07875 229 220 Email: surendra.patel@abplgroup.com Chief Accountant: Akshay Desai Tel: 020 7749 4087 Email:accounts@abplgroup.com Business Manager: Alka Shah Tel: 020 7749 4002 - Mobile: 07944 151 893 Email: alka.shah@abplgroup.com Advertising Manager: Kishor Parmar Tel: 020 7749 4095 - Mobile: 07875 229 088 Email: kishor.parmar@abplgroup.com Business Development Managers: Rovin J George - Email: rovin.george@abplgroup.com Tel: 020 7749 4097 - Mobile: 07875 229 219 Urja Patel - Email: urja.patel@abplgroup.com Graphic Designers: Harish Dahya & Ajay Kumar Tel: 020 7749 4086 Email: graphics@abplgroup.com Customer Service: Ragini Nayak Tel: 020 7749 4080 - Email: support@abplgroup.com

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 3rd May 2014

Consulting Editor: Bhupatbhai Parekh, Ahmedabad, Gujarat Tel: +91 79 2630 4142 Urvashi Jagadeesan (India) Mumbai: Kanti Bhatt, Hemraj Shah (Jumbo Advertiser) Horizon Advertising & Marketing: 205, Shalibhadra Complex, Opp. Jain Derasar,Nr. Nehru Nagar Circle, Ambawadi, Ahmedabad. Tel / Fax: +91 79 2646 5960 Email: horizon.marketing@abplgroup.com General Manager: Sanat Trivedi (M) +91 94293 65619 Email: sanat.trivedi@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 Assistant Marketing Manager: Manish Shah (Vadodara) M: +91 96876 06824 Email: manish.shah@abplgroup.com Business Co-ordinator: Shrijit Rajan M: +91 98798 82312 Email: shrijit.rajan@abplgroup.com International Advertisement Representative: Jain Group (South India) Tel: +91 44 42041122/3/4 Fax: +91 44 25362973 Mumbai: +91 222471 4122 Email: jain@jaingroup.net Delhi Office: Tel: +91 44 9311581597

Asian Voice Head Office

Karma Yoga House, 12 Hoxton Market, (Off Coronet Street) London N1 6HW. Tel: 020 7749 4080, Fax: 020 7749 4081 www.abplgroup.com © Asian Business Publications

Asian Voice switchboard: 020 7749 4000 Gujarat Samachar switchboard: 020 7749 4080 Advertising Sales: 020 7749 4085 AsianVoiceNewsweekly

AsianVoiceNews

SCORPIO Oct 24- Nov 22 It is a particularly favourable time for dealing with financial interests with a long-term basis. You will be able to sort out any difficulties by taking immediate action.

There may be a certain amount of unfinished business to be dealt with. Therefore, you need to be flexible in order to accommodate the odd twists and turns of everyday life.

SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 - Dec 21 There are subtle transformations taking shape in you life and a feeling of helpful influences in the background. There is much to suggest that you are in tune with your inner self and in touch with those hidden forces which often seem to take a guiding hand in one's life.

Focus on essentials and establish a solid foundation.

CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan 20 Career-wise you cannot go wrong provided you do not act in a way that threatens other people's egos. An ambition that you have been striving for over the past year is likely to come to fruition which could mean promotion and a boost in status and reputation soon. Play your cards right and you can pull strings in you favour.

AQUARIUS Jan 21 - Feb 19 With Venus traversing your sign of desires for some time to come, it will put you in the right mood to indulge your pleasureloving instincts. Venus, the planet of love and romance throws a pleasing light on affairs of the heart. Existing emotional differences can be easily sorted out now. Your creativity is also riding high.

PISCES Feb 20 - Mar 20

Don't take short-cuts in legal or official matters.

It will be only too easy to feel exasperated by bureaucracy but you won't be doing yourself any favours if you lose your cool. This is a fine time for you to get away from the mundane realities of life and relax. Some of you will probably go abroad.

A tough decision to accept England offer: Paul Farbrace

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 3rd May 2014

Paul Farbrace who quit the coaching job of Sri Lankan team to join as England’s assistant cricket coach said it was a tough decision for him to make. He was assistant coach of Lankan team when terrorists attacked them in Lahore while they were travelling in the team bus. He and many other cricketers were injured in the attack.

So, whatever the worst the England job throws at him, as Peter Moores’s deputy, it will pale when compared to that terrifying moment. Not that Farbrace believes it has changed him much except to underline

very difficult for him to give up his Lankan job. After accepting the England offer, he even flew to Colombo over the weekend to explain his decision to the cricket board. “I didn’t have to fly

to Colombo and see them face to face, I could have emailed them. But we go back a fair way so I felt I owed them an explanation.

To accept the England offer was a very tough decision and it is not a financial one.

To be asked to coach your home country and with it the chance to be at home more often is a massive pull, and I had to take it.”

Farbrace, whose coaching experience extends from the England women’s team to Kent, Yorkshire and Sri Lanka, has a reputation for being relaxed and sensible, but he says that was not always the case.

Patel Anshul Kothari from a family of modest means, Mondal has won several national level events.

Medals for two Gujarat swimmers Two Gujarat swimmers have also won meals in Dubai aquatic meet. They are Ahmedabad’s swim-

ming sensation Maana Patel who added another gold to her kitty when she finished first in the 100m backstroke clocking 1:06:68. India’s Damini Gauda took second place with timing of 1:07:18.

With this, the 14-year-old Maana took her tally to four medals - three gold and one silver - from her maiden international meet. Suratbased swimmer Anshul Kothari timed 52.42 seconds to bag a silver medal in 100m freestyle. Anshul also managed a bronze medal in the 50m freestyle by clocking 24.19.

Paul Farbrace

how lucky he and the players were that nobody on the bus lost their life that day.

That incident bonded him well with the Lankan players. He said that close bonds meant it has been

Supriya Mondal qualifies for Youth Olympics

Indian swimmer Supriya Mondal has qualified for the 2014 Youth Olympics by winning a gold medal in the 200m butterfly event at the Dubai International Aquatic Championships in Hamdan.

The 17-year-old swimmer clocked 2:03.93s, achieving the ‘A’ qualification mark and will compete in the same event in the Youth Olympics, to be held in Nanjing, China in August.

Mondal had earlier won silver in 100m butterfly with a timing of 56.45s and followed it up with a gold in 50m butterfly clocking 25.67s, achieving the ‘B’

Supriya Mondal Maana qualification mark in both the events. Mondal is a recipient of the GoSports Foundation’s PACE scholarships programme for the last three years and has relocated to Bangalore, training under Coach Nihar Ameen.

Hailing from Shahpur in West Bengal and coming

Special offer:

SPORT WORLD

Fly

MUMBAI fr £440 Call 020 8582 1111

Atapattu to coach Lanka on England tour

31

Marvan Atapattu will coach Sri Lanka on a tour of England and Ireland next week with a major task of overcoming the inside knowledge of his predecessor as national coach, Paul Fabrace.

Fabrace resigned as Sri Lanka coach to return to England to become the assistant to new England coach Peter Moores. Atapattu was confirmed as the interim coach by Sri Lanka Cricket. “That’s the biggest challenge for us. (Farbrace) had been working with Sri Lankan players for the last few months. He knows the inside out of our team,” chief selector Sanath Jayasuriya said. “We were a very successful team. Our team management, Marvan, (Chaminda) Vaas, and Ruwan Kalpage have to do a lot of things to come out of this problem.”

Luis Suarez named English PFA player of the year

Controversial Liverpool striker Luis Suarez was named the English Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) player of the year. The 27year-old Uruguayan, who will lead his country at the World Cup in Brazil in June, has scored 30 goals and contributed 12 assists this season as Liverpool head the Premier League table with two matches remaining. "The Premier League is full of really great players and so it is a great honour when these players recognise your work on the pitch," Suarez said.

Wirral Cricket Club all out for 3

It is every batsman’s worst fear: stepping on to the field only to be dispatched for a duck. A “freak performance” by Wirral Cricket Club saw almost the entire team bowled out for ducks, however, scoring just three runs.

with Skylord

DUBAI fr £390 www.skylordtravel.com

SPORT

32

Rajasthan Royals win a thriller

IPL Results of 11 matches played from 22nd to 28thApril

Match

Date

1

22 April

2

23 April

3

24 April

4

25 April

5

25 April

6

26 April

7

26 April

8

27 April

9

27 April

10

28 April

11

29 April

Teams

KXIP v/s SRH at Sharjah KXIP won by 72 runs Brief scores: KXIP 193/6 (20 overs); SRH 121/10 (19.2 overs) CSK v/s RR at Dubai CSK won by 7 runs Brief scores: CSK 140/6 (20 overs); RR 133/10 (19.5 overs) KKR v/s RCB at Sharjah KKR won by 2 runs Brief scores: KKR 150/7 (20 overs); RCB 148/5 (20 overs) SRH v/s DD at Dubai SRH won by 4 runs Brief scores: SRH 184/1 (20 overs); DD 180/4 (20 overs) MI v/s CSK at Dubai CSK won by 7 wickets Brief scores: CSK 142/3 (19 overs); MI 141/7 (20 overs) RCB v/s RR at Abu Dhabi RR won by 6 wicket Brief scores: RR 71/4 (13 overs); RCB 70/10 (15 overs) KXIP v/s KKR at Abu Dhabi KXIP won by 23 runs Brief scores: KXIP 132/9 (20 overs); KKR 109/10 (18.2 overs) MI v/s DD at Abu Sharjah DD won by 6 wickets Brief scores: DD 126/4 (18.5 overs); MI 125/6 (20 overs) SRH v/s CSK at Abu Sharjah CSK won by 5 wickets Brief scores: CSK 146/5 (19.3 overs); SRH 145/5 (20 overs) RCB v/s KXIP at Abu Dhabi KXIP won by 5 wickets Brief scores: KXIP 127/5 (18.5 overs); RCB 124/8 (20 overs) KKR v/s RR at Abu Dhabi RR won by 0 runs Brief scores: KKR 152/8 (20 overs); RR 152/5 ( overs)

Ashwin nominated for Arjuna Award

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has nominated off-spinner R Ashwin for the Arjuna Award this time. Last year, the ministry had to extend the deadline for submission of nominees in order to accommodate cricketers. Virat Kohli eventually got the Arjuna last time. Like last year, the BCCI has not nominated any cricketer for the highest sports honour, the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award. Two years ago, the BCCI had recommended the name of Rahul Dravid for the award. But given that 2012 was an Olympic

Gujarat Samachar & Asian Voice Presents

A few days ago Chris Lynn had given Kolkata Knight Riders a win from nowhere, which sparked wild celebrations. Today they experienced what it was like to be on the receiving end of such an unexpected result. Knight Riders needed only 16 off 12 balls with six wickets in hand, when their middle and lower order collapsed against James Faulkner in the penultimate over.

Shakib Al Hasan forced the match into a Super Over and Knight Riders would have been confident of Sunil Narine defending 12. But with three needed to win off the last ball, Steven Smith played a smart dab into the vacant space at extra cover and ran an easy two, levelling the match again and taking Rajasthan Royals to a thrilling win on the basis of a greater number of boundaries scored in the match.

For Knight Riders, it should have never come to that stage. Faulkner hadn't had the best of times in this year's IPL and was benched for a match after ordinary outings in his first three games, but bowled an inspirational over to turn the game on its head.

Cameos from Suryakumar Yadav and Shakib had almost brought Knight Riders on the doorstep of a smartly constructed innings and a win seemed there for the taking. They had added 49 runs in 26 balls. Then, Faulkner's slower balls, so effective last year, made a sparkling re-entry.

Yadav, looking for a big hit, sliced the first ball of the 19th over to long-off to fall for a 19-ball 31. It was still Knight Riders' game, but Faulkner's fourth and

Mithali Raj, captain of the Indian women’s cricket team, and batswoman Jhulan Goswami have been chosen to represent the Rest of the World in a one-day match against Marylebone Cricket Club to celebrate the bicentenary of the Lord's Cricket Ground.

“It will be a great experience to play for the Rest of the World XI along with some other superb players.

This is the first time a Rest of the World team will be

Anand Mela th th &8

fifth deliveries proved to be the icing on his birthday cake as Robin Uthappa and Vinay Kumar missed straight deliveries to be bowled. Six balls, three wickets and 12 off nine became 12 off 6. With Shakib still around, Knight Riders still had some chance - they kept up with the task as Shakib squeezed a boundary off the first ball off the last over. Kane Richardson did not bowl the best of overs, serving leg-side balls and half-volleys. Shakib failed to connect properly again in the over, but managed to tie the game. However, Smith's presence of mind off the last delivery of the Super Over that won them two points showed Royals were in no mood to spoil Faulkner's birthday party.

One of the heartening side stories for the Knight Riders to emerge despite the loss was Gautam Gambhir's return to form.

Gambhir didn't set the stage on fire - the slower Abu Dhabi pitch was never going to allow that sort of stroke play and that's not Gambhir's game anyway - but his 45 from 44 deliveries was the ideal platform for the middleorder stroke maker.

Such had been the drought that Gambhir would have been satisfied with anything of substance; he had hardly spent any time in the middle. He ended up playing the solid knock that was needed at the top of the order following the template Ajinkya Rahane, who top-scored with 72,

had set in the first half of the match. A pull shot off the gentle medium pace of Stuart Binny didn't run to the boundary but was the ideal tonic for a sagging spirit.

Once he had played a few balls though, Gambhir was in familiar territory, comfortably nudging the ball into the gaps and using his feet to the slower bowlers. Familiar with Rajat Bhatia's tricks, Gambhir handled his Delhi teammate with ease, once using his feet to carve a slower delivery over extra cover in trademark fashion. But he was caught in the boundary to a sweep shot, five short of his half-century.

His team's fate followed a similar course: Solid, but not being able to finish it off.

Indian Premier League 2014 Points Table (21 / 04 / 2014)

Teams KXIP CSK RR KKR RCB DD SRH MI

Match 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 4

Won 5 4 3 2 2 2 1 0

Lost 0 1 2 3 3 3 3 4

Tied 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

NRR 1.33 1.05 0.4 0.15 -0.21 -1.12 -0.99 -0.97

Points 10 8 6 4 4 4 2 0

2 Indian women cricketers in Rest of World team

year, silver medallist shooter Vijay Kumar got the nod. Last year, the BCCI forwarded Sunil Gavaskar's name for the Dhyan Chand Award for lifetime achievement in sports, but since Gavaskar had received the Arjuna as a player, his name was not considered.

7

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 3rd May 2014

June

Mithali Raj playing,” Raj said.

“I am not going put myself under too much pressure. I want to soak in the excitement and play with players from different teams. It will give me an

Jhulan Goswami opportunity to interact with them. I am looking at it from a different perspective, unlike a match where I have to perform. I have gone through that pressure all these years. I just

Venue: Harrow Leisure Centre, Christchurch Avenue, Harrow HA3 5BD 2014 Time: 10am to 7:30pm

For Sponsorship, Stall booking and Tickets please call

020 7749 4087

want to go out there and have fun. I just want to have fun. Representing the Rest of the World will add another feather to my cap,” the 31-year-old added.

Raj is no stranger to England, or Lord's. Back in 2002, she had registered the then highest individual score by a batswoman in Tests - 214. And in two appearances at Lord's, she scored two half-centuries, missing out on a rare century by six runs in 2012.

Ticket price

£2.50

Child under 12 years FREE

per person per day

Television Media Partner

All proceeds from ticket sales goes to Shishukunj, the chosen charity for Anand Mela