Asian Voice

SEE INSIDE ....

Ex-BJP chief Bangaru Laxman gets 4 year in jail for graft

!!!

For report see page 26

VOL 41. ISSUE 1

80p

Let noble thoughts come to us from every side

First & Foremost Asian Weekly in Europe

‘Boycott London Olympics’ Rupanjana Dutta A Bhopal gas tragedy victim, Sanjay Verma, who is here in London for promoting a documentary Bhopali (a film on Bhopal gas tragedy) and gain support from British MPs and community leaders to campaign against Dow Chemicals, met the Indian Journalists Association along with Meredith Alexander, head of policy at Action Aid and a former member of the Commission for a Sustainable London 2012 and Barry Gardiner MP, Chairman of Labour Friends of India on Friday 27 April at a Central London venue (pictured).

In conversation with the group, Sanjay said that

Bhopal gas tragedy campaigning group, British MPs and faith groups tell Indian sportsmen to boycott London Olympics 2012, till Dow Chemicals step down as a major sponsor of the game.

Sachin Tendulkar, Rekha nominated to Rajya Sabha

2!($"1 1- 3 '* !'*'15

Sachin Tendulkar, who turned 39 last week, has become a parliamentarian with the government nominating him to the House of Elders, Rajya Sabha, along with actress of yesteryear Rekha and industrialist Anu Aga. The nomination of the three eminent personalities was approved by President Pratibha Patil

under Article 80 of the Constitution that allows the President to nominate 12 members to the 250member Upper House.

Continued on page 26

/ 3*', 15*$

the Indian sportsmen should boycott Olympics.

Adding to that further he said, “I know Olympics is the ultimate destination for any sports man. I do not want them to feel disheartened. But I think to pay homage to the victims of what happened in Bhopal because of Dow Chemicals, they must boycott the opening and closing ceremony at least, as long as Dow continues to be a sponsor.”

Dow which has now

'0&$0 ** 1 0' ,

also signed up the Paralympic sponsorship has been criticised heavily for its involvement in a mass murder, when gas leaking from one of its factories killed more than 25,000 people in Jayprakash Nagar, Bhopal, India, many in fact in their sleep.

Some died as they tried to escape the gas, running towards the direction of the wind and choked with a chilli burning smell.

Continued on page 26

.$, # 50 4$$)

Lakshmi Mittal retains crown as Britain's richest man The UK's richest people have defied the double-dip recession to become even richer over the past year, according to the annual Sunday Times Rich List.

The newspaper's research found the combined worth of the country's 1,000 wealthiest people is £414bn, up 4.7%.

It means their joint wealth has passed the level last seen in 2008, before the financial crash, to set a new record. The richest billionaire of all, Mr Lakshmi Mittal, retains his position despite seeing 27% of his family fortune wiped out in the last 12 months because of a drop in the share price of their steel producing business.

Some 77 members of the 2012 rich list were billionaires, two more than the previous record in 2008. And the most surprising matter is that, Asians dominate the rich list. Approximately 60 of them are of Asian origin.

Next feature to note was on one of the page in Sunday Times Giving List, that making money is important and praise worthy. Voluntarily to give away is more honourable

20',$00 2!*'" 1'-,0 1# -, 1&$'/

'/$"1 %/-+

5th May to 11th May 2012

6

and rewarding for the community from which we derive prosperity.

Out of 50 namesthere is 1 Asian in the giving list. Anurag Dixit who has given away £23.4 mn out of £35 mn in recent donation comes to about 66.72%. One wishes over the period more and more Asians follow such noble example- so that less fortunate will be able to survive the difficult conditions..

The three top places in the list were dominated by foreign-born magnates with a base in Britain who earned their fortunes from resource-based industries such as minerals, steel and oil. Uzbek-born billionaire Alisher Usmanov, who owns around 30 per cent of London soccer club Arsenal, was again in second placed and close behind Mittal with a fortune of 12.3 billion pounds.

Continued on page 26

1& ,,'3$/0 /5

2

UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 5th May 2012

one to one Keith Vaz MP with

Chandu Mattani, Businessman Chandu Mattani was born in Kutch, Mandvi (Gujrat) in 1934. At the age of 19, he left for Africa and settled in Mufulira, a mining town in Zambia where he established a successful business.

In 1977, he moved to Leicester along with his wife Kamla and three children and established himself in ethnic fashionwear on the Belgrave Road. His business Sona Rupa became an iconic part of the golden mile.

Under the umbrella of Sona Rupa, Chandu and his son Hemant successfully went on to produce 150 music albums including devotional, Indian classical and meditation music. As one of the leading founder members of Shruti Arts, he has actively promoted the best of the Indian subcontinent’s music and performing arts in Leicester.

Chandu Mattani continues to live in Leicester with his family and now has six grandchildren. He has truly imbibed the culture of India and brought fame and a sense of pride to the Indians of his beloved City of Leicester.

1. Please tell us about your current position?

Having spent 55 years in the retail trade in both Africa and Leicester, our family retail outlet Sona Rupa closed in April.

The current economic climate requires Monday – Sunday trading which we decided would conflict against the family and social life we love. I now assist my son with our wholesale outlet of Sona Rupa, working on the administrative side of the business.

2. What are your proudest achievements?

On my 60th birthday, I was fortunate enough to produce, ‘Jai Jai

Shrinathji’, a music album in which I was not only hosting a range of India’s most prominent artists but also was able to sing a track on the CD. Launching this at Mumbai’s Nehru Centre completed my proudest musical journey.

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

It’s hurt immensely when I was let down by my near and dear ones, especially when it affected my career and changed my planned route in life. However I have learnt that this is a common cycle from royals to the layman and

School where 1% speaks English as first language A Muslim faith school has revealed that less than one per cent of its pupils class English as their main language. Of the 630 youngsters at Iqra Slough Islamic Primary School in Berkshire, just ten are non-Muslim and more than 99 per cent class English as an ‘additional’ language.

The school had faced educational meltdown 18 months ago after a bad Ofsted report, but is now

‘making good progress’, as bosses have claimed that ‘faith has paid off’.

The school’s board of governors’ chairman, Zafar Ali, said he hoped their improving Ofsted results would see more parents of non-Muslim children put their names down to attend.

Iqra Slough Islamic Primary is thought to have one of the lowest proportion of English-speaking students in the country.

loyal customers and suppliers becoming a thing of the past.

7. What are your long term goals?

I have been associated with Shruti Arts for the last 30 years; seeing this blossom into a fully fledged arts organisation is a goal I would like to achieve.

I am satisfied with my achievements in business but would love to see my son take our business to new heights.

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

this was part of my destiny.

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

In my business career my elder brother Ratansi was my role model. He inspired me to join the business world and is an essential part of my success.

The renowned Gujarati singers Purshottam Upadhyay and Ashit Desai have been indispensable in shaping my music career.

They created confidence in me and motivated me to reach the level I have today.

5. What is the best thing about your current role?

Although 78, I am nowhere near retiring! I enjoy being in contact with the business world, managing the numbers and working within my family business. Sharing this responsibility with my son enables me to take some time out to enjoy the social aspect of my life as well as continuing my music career.

6. And the worst?

The current economic climate can create a stressful business atmosphere with

I believe ‘charity begins at home’. Too many resources are being wasted in third world countries, some with corrupt leaders, when our own country desperately needs resources for itself.

Health, education and employment sectors are suffering and I would want to improve the quality of life for the British people.

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

Amitabh Bachchan would be my choice without hesitation. Not only due to his superb acting but because he is intellectual and knowledgeable. I would love to listen to his narration of his father’s poetry including ‘Madhushala’ ,so emotive that it brings tears to my eyes.

Court clerk spared jail A ‘bored’ court clerk who was caught watching porn by a judge during a rape trial has been spared jail. Debasish Majumder, 54, who sat casually viewing explicit online material while a sex attack victim gave evidence at Inner London Crown Court as reported by the Daily Mail.

Majumder, pictured, from Harringay, north

London, who had been working for the courts service for 27 years, confessed to routinely watching internet porn when he was bored. He was spotted by Judge Nigel Seed QC, viewing the footage, and subsequently reported the incident.

Majumder, admitted a single count of misconduct in public office, seven counts of possess-

ing indecent pseudo images of children and an additional count of possessing extreme pornography.

He will now be supervised for 18 months and must sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for 10 years.

His computer usage will also be monitored and he will be subject to a sex offender’s prevention order for five years.

People ■

Top marks for Tory Lord Dolar Popat for organising the successful Conservative Friends of India bash at

Lord Dolar Popat

Vincent Square. The Prime Minister David Cameron made a sparkling speech as did India's new High Commissioner and Lord Popat.

Best dressed lady was Sandhya, Lady Popat.

But did we also detect the quiet hand of Nabanita Sircar behind these proceedings?

■ Meanwhile over at the Commons Terrace, Labour Leader Ed Miliband was in equally fine form at the Vaisakhi Celebrations.

Baroness Hanham, Spokesperson at the Department for Communities and Local Government led for the Government and Simon Hughes was the Lib Dem man there.

■

Nick Clegg’s proposals for the reform of the Lords has met with a lukewarm response not least from the Lords themselves. We now have more ethnic minority peers than MPs. Rather like the Bishops they need to be preserved for the nation. All Liberals please note!

Asian Voice - Saturday 5th May 2012

COMMENT

The rich has to donate more for charity Britain’s rich are getting richer, and Indian steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal is still the richest of them all, according to this year’s Sunday Times Rich List. Amongst the rich list, around 60 of them are of Asian origin. This figure is proportionately slightly better than British population. No doubt many more Asians who could qualify but are not on the list. May be they are not keen for such publicity either. One most striking feature is this year’s Sunday Times Giving List. Making money is important and praise worthy. Voluntarily to give away is more honourable and rewarding for the community from which we derive prosperity. Out of 50 namesthere is one Asian. Anurag Dixit who has given away £23.4 mn out of £35 mn in recent donation comes to about 66.72%. One wishes over the period that more and more Asians should follow such noble exampleboost their numbers as generous philanthropists, same as the Jews.

Such generous act make a lasting impact in the well being of the community. The state can and is doing as much as we know but as individuals, especially those whom financial journalists often describe as ‘loaded’, can surely take active participation to off load some of the hardship and deprivation of the ‘have-nots’ and people with ill health However, to our knowledge, first time ever, Sunday Times did not publish a separate list for non English.

This is very relieving because such lists are not published for Jewish millionaires separately and also it increases envy and jealousy- culminating into hatred.

Compared to their population, the Jewish philanthropy is much more widespread and more and more for non Jewish causes.

The ancient Upanishad is quoted herewith. The message is for all those who can contribute a bit more, not necessarily confined to the Indian wealth creators alone.

ईशावास्यं ईदं सर्वं यत् किं च जगत्यां जगत् । तेन त्यक्तेन भुजज ् ीथाः मागृधः कस्य स्वित् धनम् ।। (Eshaavaasyam Idam Sarvam. Yat Kim Cha Jagatyam Jagar Tena Tyaktena Bhunjeethaah. Maa Gridhah Kasyasvit Dhanam) It means this entire universe is enveloped by the Supreme Spirit. Therefore enjoy everything with a

sense of sacrifice. Do not covet that belongs to others.

Afterall nothing belongs to us. This is the truth.

Our scriptures say that we are part of this universe.

As a human being we are given the responsibility to look after others-plants-animals-nature and all. If we fail, not only we bring disaster to ourself- we will ruin others.

So Britain needs the spirit of the 1980s. A government that gets the economy right is well on the way to success. It is now clear that this coalition’s journey towards electoral victory is being blown off course by a whirlwind of bad news. Putting aside its political woes, the last thing the government needed was for the Office for National Statistics to pronounce that the country had entered into the first “double-dip” recession since the 1970s. This economic mayhem is taking its toll. Not only have the Tories slumped to an eight-year low in YouGov poll. Eleven points behind the lackluster opposition, but 40% of people think it is handling the economy badly. David Cameron and George Osborne may still be ahead of Ed Miliband and Ed Balls, but not by much and not for long.

Lots of records are being set and they are all the wrong ones. Many go back to the 1930s and the Great Depression. But the past can teach us lessons. Britain recovered rapidly in the 1930s thanks to spending and tax cuts, a surge in house building, growing consumerism and sustained industrial recovery.

From 1932 Britain grew while America struggled.

Now the boot is on the other foot. In both the 1980s and 1990s Britain bounced back rapidly from adversity.

In the 1980s the economic renaissance and accompanying surge in productivity transformed the country’s international reputation and the government’s fortunes. Can Britain reacquire the spirit of the 1980s or repeat the revival of the 1930s? The key then was giving the private sector the freedom to grow. The omens for a similar revival now are not good. Thirteen years of Labour left Britain over-taxed and over-regulated, with a public sector dragging down wealth creators. The coalition’s prime task was to give Britain some economic oomph, providing the private sector with the belief and means to lead us out of the wilderness. The 1980s achieved it thanks to privatisation, deregulation, curbing trade union power and cutting taxes.

Indian shooters denied hotel entry in London When the demand to drop Dow Chemical, BP and Rio Tinto as sponsors of London Olympics, is gaining ground, it is bad comment on the treatment meted out to an Indian shooting contingent by a London hotel.

The Indian shooting contingent, which is in London for the ISSF World Cup, was denied entry into a hotel on Saturday night and the players were left without any accommodation.

The hotel authorities asked the rifle and pistol team, which included India’s Olympic shooters, to leave the hotel despite a confirmed room booking. The team members said that later the money paid for the rooms was refunded. The behaviour of the hotel authorities needs to be investigated and taken to the task. You have the fundamental right to get accommodation once your booking has been confirmed.

The shooting federation of India subsequently approached the Indian High Commission and a new hotel was found late at night. The shooting federation has lodged a diplomatic protest along with writing a strong complaint to the Organising Committee of the event, the International Olympic Committee, and the Indian Olympic Association. The tournament doubles up as a

pre-Olympic test event before the Games begin in July later this year. This type of behaviour is very strange.

London Olympics is already immersed in enough controversies. Last week activists called for dropping Dow Chemicals, BP and Rio Tinto as sponsors of London Olympics for causing environmental degradation, damaging public health and failing to clean up their pollution. The sponsors have been criticized by a coalition of international grassroots organization as part of their “Greenwash Gold 2012” campaign in London. A coalition of three significant groups- London Mining Network, Bhopal Medical Appeal and UK Tar Sands Network- has formally launched a direct campaign against the three high profile Olympics sponsors.

Sanjay Verma, who lost his parents and five siblings in the Bhopal disaster, along with Barry Gardiner MP urged India to ‘boycott’ Olympics. But Olympics is a once in a life time opportunity and boycott of the games will be a disappointment for the sportsmen and women.

But as a protest the sportsmen and women should boycott the formal inaugural and closing ceremonies. That will be good idea as both the protesters as well as the sportspersons will be able to achieve their objectives.

India needs an inspiring President Prathiba Patil’s term as President will come to an end in June. Consultations to elect the next president have already begun. Unless something dramatic happens, UPA’s candidate will win and become the next President of India. We need a better President than Pratiba Patil, since she was not very inspiring. The first reason why we never get a good president is the procedure of election. Unlike in USA, where people themselves elect the president, the MLAs and MPs of state legislatures and parliament respectively are handed the responsibility of electing India’s First Citizen. In simple terms, this means that the political party with the highest number of elected representatives gets to select the president. Of course, there are always other more deserving candidates, but it is always the candidate propped up by ruling party that wins.

The president hence elected becomes a puppet in the hands of the ruling party. Unlike the previous president, Dr A P J Abdul Kalam, who was charismatic, inspiring and respected by the world, Prathiba Devi Singh Patil is merely a puppet in the hands of the Congress Party. Mrs Patil’s image in the eyes of the world wasn’t very great.

Her speeches during the Republic Day and the Independence Day did not give rise to hope and inspira-

tion. She speaks like a parrot, only uttering what she has memorised from a script written by someone else and did not seem to utter a single word of her own.

Congress has recommended finance inister Pranab Mukherjee’s name for the post. A few days ago Samajwadi Party proposed the name of Abdul Kalam Azad. In the electoral college of MPs and MLAs, Congress and its allies has about 42% vote, but that is not sufficient and is mustering support from others for the crucial election. BJP is far behind on its own.

The question is not who will be the president.

President of India is the Constitutional head and must have certain moral standings and that is far more desirable. People like Rajendra Prasad, Radhakrishnan and Abdul Kalam were intellectual giants who were not from party political apparatus and are of outstanding brilliance and hold more voice and weight. So what India needs is a president who is an intellectual and who can inspire the people of the country. The testing time of the president comes when there is a hung parliament. So it is more desirable if the president is not from any political party. A man who is not attached to any political party will act according to the rule books and his actions will be more transparent.

www.abplgroup.com

Thought for the Week Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do, than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour.

Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore.

Dream. Discover - Mark Twain (1835-1910)

As I See It Morari Bapu’s Katha in Jerusalem Morari Bapu, one of the most prominent Ramayana preacher has started his discourse (Katha) in Jerusalem from Tuesday 1st May 2012. It is rather a unique Katha. Morari Bapu has delivered his 700 odd 9 days Katha in several countries, starting from the Far East to western shores of the USA. I have seen half a million audience of all ages, caste and religions listening to his Katha in apt silence in India and even 20,000 plus patient listeners in London. He is rather a messenger of the essence of Sanatan Hindu faith tradition.

One of the cardinal principles of Hinduism is ‘ V a s u d h a i v a Kutumbakam’ (the world is one family).

Morari Bapu’s Katha though based on Tulsikrut Ramayana, it has always included prayers and hymns from Sikhism, Islam, Buddhism as well as Christianity.

Morari Bapu’s Kathas have benefited human service activities of one and all faiths. He has conducted his Kathas in premises of Hindu temples as well as Islamic shrines.

This is after all the essence of Hinduism!

Judaism and Hinduism have several common traits in their messages- so has other religions too. Jewish diaspora of around 10million and predominantly Hindu-Sikh dias-

Morari Bapu

pora amongst 30mn souls have also so much common interest.

Several hundred ardent listeners and devotees of Morari Bapu from dozens of countries are attending the Jerusalem Katha.

Jerusalem, a historic pilgrimage destination for Jews, Christians and Muslims is likely to resonate with hymns and chantings, mainly from Hindu scriptures but involving other faiths and traditions.

Judaism and Hinduism are one of the oldest religions, well documented in scriptures and manuscripts.

Both traditions emphasise the values of family life, pursuit of knowledge and as Morari Bapu would have put itSatya (truth), Prem (love) and Karuna (compassion).

In Gujarat and other parts of India, Middle East, Africa, Europe and North America, Morari Bapu has successfully spread the message of satya, prem and karuna.

May it resonate in Jerusalem too!

40th anniversary of Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar along with the other publications of Asian Business Publications Ltd (ABPL) is entering 41st year with this edition. We are grateful to all the readers, subscribers, advertisers and supporters for their continuous and increasing support in various ways, without which this journey would not have been successful and satisfying.

Life begins at 40- some says. In our onward journey we will retain our commitment with the same principle of Gyan (pursuit of knowledge) and Seva (public service) Yagna.

- CB Patel Publisher/Editor

3

4

Asian Voice - Saturday 5th May 2012

Leicester Voice Email: majithia.meera@gmail.com

In brief

University is top of the table for sixth year running

By Meera Majithia

Cash prize for young entrepreneurial students Four budding entrepreneurs from De Montfort University have been awarded prizes for their entries in the 2012 Business Venture Competition.

Jenny Creasey, Rafael Godinho, Meera Gokani and Natalie Tolliday received their awards at a ceremony held on April 24. They will all be awarded valuable cash prize and invaluable mentoring and support from a member of staff or graduate.

Meera Gokani – who will complete her law degree at DMU this year – has drawn up plans for a childcare scheme that uses technology to keep parents in touch with their children.

Her plans for the Toddler Town Day Nursery won her the £1,000 Business Award.

The 22-year old from Leicester, said: “Most parents have got access to a smartphone or a tablet these days so I propose to use technology to keep parents involved in their children’s progress.

“I’ve wanted to set up a nursery ever since I ran a childcare scheme as a Millennium volunteer – and I’ll be running the playscheme again this year, which will help raise awareness of the Toddler Town name.

“This prize is a big boost and will allow me to develop my website and help with other start-up costs.”

All the finalists gave a presentation to the audience on the night in a bid to win an additional prize: the £500 Campus Enterprise Opportunities Enterprise Award.

Forensic computing undergraduate Natalie Tolliday was the unani-

– received more than 90 applications for this year’s awards, with 75 of those applicants then invited to proceed to the second round by submitting a business plan.

“We were delighted by the response to this year’s competition – and the judges were extremely Front: Natalie Tolliday; Back row (left to right): impressed by the Jenny Creasey; Rafael Godinho; Meera Gokani quality of the busimous winner, receiving around 40% ness plans we received,” said of the votes for her business that Amy. supplies 3D glasses specifically for “It was a very difficult task to children. pick out four winners, but Jenny, “I’m absolutely delighted,” said Rafael, Meera and Natalie’s ideas mature student Natalie, who also stood out. picked up a Highly Commended award in the Business category.

“Every year, this competition “I realised there was a gap in the gives us an insight into the imaginamarket when my own children strugtion, inspiration and creativity of gled to keep the adult-sized glasses DMU’s students and graduates. on at the cinema. “After finding a We’re extremely proud of all of them supplier in China, I set up DeeDees and hope that the prizes and sup3D Glasses as an online retailer in port they have won will help them April last year – and I’ve been take the crucial next steps towards absolutely amazed by the public developing their business ideas.” response.

DMU’s Business Venture “Winning this award will help me Competition is sponsored by to invest in my website and increase Creative Leicestershire (Creative my range. With 3D films and televiAward); Prospect iP (Innovation sion growing in popularity, the Award); Sir Thomas White and future looks bright for DeeDees.”

Corby Enterprise Centre (Business Amy Liddington, project managAward); and the East Midlands er at Campus Enterprise Incubation Network/The Opportunities (CEO) – the DMU Innovation Centre (£500 CEO team that organises the competition Enterprise Award).

Couple injured following confrontation with burglars Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward following an aggravated burglary at a house in Gipsy Lane, Leicester.

The incident happened at about 9.50pm, on Sunday April 29, near to the junction with Woodgreen Road, when the two occupants, husband and wife, got up after hearing noises.

When they opened their bedroom door they were confronted by two men who claimed to be police officers and demanded they hand over their belongings. When the victims refused they were pushed and the wife was punched in the chest.

One of the men left to search downstairs and was followed by the husband, who was then shortly followed by the second suspect. The husband got out of the house and banged on his neighbour’s windows.

The two suspects then threatened the husband with what has been described as a screwdriver and ran out of the house

via a back window.

During this time his wife called police to report the incident, who arrived at the scene in minutes.

Taken during the incident was a silver Nokia mobile phone, which was later recovered nearby.

Both victims received minor injuries as a result of the incident but did not require hospital treatment.

Both men have been described as being white, aged in their thirties and about 5’4” tall.

Detective Constable Yassin Desai, the investigating officer, said: “We have already spoken to locals in the area, had scenes of crime officers at the house and have carried out CCTV enquiries, but now we are asking for the public to help us.

“If you live in the area and we haven’t spoken to you yet, if you were visiting or even just passing, you might be able to help.”

Inspector Steve Riley, Commander for the Keyham Lane area, said: “We have had a number of burglaries in the area

recently and I’m thankful that the victims in this case weren’t seriously injured and nothing of significance was taken.

Enquiries are in their early stages so at this point we cannot rule out that this may be linked to others.

“We have taken serious action to reduce burglaries in the area and have increased patrols across

the Keyham Lane area.

This has been a brilliant success so far with a 71% decrease in burglaries across the area since the increased patrols began.”

Anyone with any information is asked to contact DC 2146 Yassin Desai on 101 (identification number 2146) or contact Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111.

Loughborough remains England’s top university for best student experience for the sixth year running, the Times Higher Education poll revealed Thursday April 26.

The league table, published in the THE magazine, uncovers the views of thousands of undergraduate students on the factors that matter most to them, from the quality of teaching to student facilities.

Loughborough topped six of the poll’s categories – good social life; good environment on campus; highquality facilities; good students’ union; good industry connections; and good sports facilities. Overall it came second in the survey, with Scotland’s University of Dundee taking first place by the narrowest of margins.

Commenting on Loughborough’s continued achievement, Professor Shirley Pearce, the University’s Vice Chancellor, said: “I am delighted that the hard work of the University and Students’ Union in ensuring we provide a first-class all-round experience for our students has been recognised yet again.”

Rebecca Bridger, President of Loughborough Students’ Union, added: “It is fantastic that the unique student experience on offer at the University has been acknowledged. I am incredibly proud of everyone who plays a part in the student journey at Loughborough.”

Action against tobacco and aerosol sales to children Undercover action is taking place to catch shopkeepers who sell tobacco or aerosol paint to children.

Leicestershire County Council’s Trading Standards Service has warned that it is continuing to stage inspections, using volunteer children.

Trading Standards helps to enforce the laws which prevent the sale of tobacco products to children aged under 18 and the sale of aerosol paints to children aged under 16.

Over the last year, during test purchases, the service has uncovered fifteen cases of shops that were selling tobacco to children, leading to prosecutions, caution notices or warnings being issued to the businesses concerned.

In addition to this they uncovered three under-age sales of aerosol paint and issued a warning giving guidance to shopkeepers.

Byron Rhodes, County Council Cabinet Member for Regulatory Services, said: The law is very clear shopkeepers must not sell tobacco or aerosol paints to children.

The majority of shopkeepers have been obeying the law. However those that do sell tobacco and aerosol products to children run the risk of being caught by our undercover operations and prosecuted.”

The council’s ruling cabinet will discuss a proposed enforcement programme for the current financial year at it’s meeting on Tuesday, May 8.

Distraction thief foiled by elderly woman City officers have issued personal safety advice after an elderly city woman foiled an attempt to steal her necklace and rings by a distraction thief.

The 72 year-old victim was at the junction of Green Lane Road and Coleman Road, Leicester, between 6.50pm and 7.30pm on Wednesday April 11, when she saw a woman nearby, who was apparently in distress.

The victim approached the woman, and was asked to provide directions to a nearby hospital, which she did.

In gratitude the woman tried to put a necklace around her neck as a thank-you present. As she did this, she undid the victims crucifix necklace, and it fell down into her jumper. The victim caught her necklace and rebuked the woman for undoing it.

The woman then tried to persuade the victim to try on rings, and remove her own. At this point the victim became distressed, told the woman to leave her alone and pushed her away.

The woman then left the scene in the company

of a man, who was standing a short distance away.

The victim, who wishes to remain anonymous, said: “This was a frightening experience, but fortunately nothing was stolen.

The criminal was very plausible, and friendly, and I’m very lucky not to have been hurt. She’s made me very nervous of being out at night.”

The suspect is described as being dark skinned, of eastern European appearance, with very long, dark, wavy hair parted down the middle. She is about 50 years of age, 5’4” tall of medium

build with a tattoo or scar on her left shoulder. She was wearing a long silkstyle green dress, similar to a sari, with a long green cardigan over the top.

PC Alan Cook is the Crime Reduction Officer for the city area. He said: “Unfortunately this kind of incident is something we have seen before. I would urge everyone to be on their guard, in particular people who are elderly or vulnerable for some reason.”

Anyone with information can ring 101, or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Asian Voice - Saturday 5th May 2012

5

6

UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 5th May 2012

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

SARVAM

Making a change at India's Grassroots

Healthy transition to womanhood

Government crack down on Dangerous Dogs Owning a dog can be a hugely rewarding experience. Dogs can provide companionship, help to reduce stress levels and encourage us to lead fitter and healthier lifestyles. However, while the vast majority of dog owners take proper care to train and manage their dogs, a small minority of owners fail to control their dogs and - in the worst cases - actually train them to act aggressively towards other dogs and people.

We have all heard the tragic consequences of this in the stories of children left with horrific injuries or even dying after being attacked when playing in parks and in gardens. Out of control dogs are unpredictable and don’t discriminate when deciding whom they will attack. This an issue that affects everyone but it is particularly severe in inner-city areas like my constituency of Brent Central, where people live close together and open spaces are shared by many people.

Just last month in Brent, a woman was savaged by mastiffs while out in a local park and I am often approached by constituents concerned about the safety of their children in the park, as well as by doctors, postmen, social workers and midwives whose jobs require them to go into people’s homes. Even police officers are not immune from these attacks. Earlier this

year, five on duty officers were mauled by a dog in an attack that left three of them needing overnight hospital treatment.

This is a serious problem. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural affairs (DEFRA) has estimated that 210,000 people a year are attacked by dogs in England alone.

This figure includes 5,000 postal workers trying to deliver mail, 400 telecoms engineers as well as health visitors, and social workers. Astoundingly, in 70% of these attacks the owner of the dog could not be prosecuted because, as in the case of the postal worker delivering a letter, the attack took place on private land.

This injustice is something that I and the Liberal Democrats have long called for action on. Now we are in government I am very pleased that we are changing the law to make it a criminal offence not to keep your dog under control on any private property, just as it currently is on public land.

This is an area where politicians can make a real difference - helping to improve the lives of dogs, protecting workers and helping families feel safe in their communities. I’m proud that in Government, we the Liberal Democrats are supporting action on this important issue.

Imam caught advocating FGM by undercover reporters An Imam has been caught advocating female genital mutilation (FGM) and recommending that women and girls are taken abroad for the brutal procedure to avoid British laws banning the practice.

An undercover reporter from Sunday Times, posing as a Muslim seeking advice on how he could have his sister or daughter circumcised, approached a preacher at the Masjid alHuda mosque in the Easton area of Bristol.

The imam, called Mohammed Abdul, pictured, acknowledged that FGM was illegal in Britain and advised him to travel overseas to have the circumcision performed.

Despite repeated efforts by The Sunday Times, Abdul could not be contacted for comment

this weekend. Secretly filmed footage of him is available to the authorities.

Although FGM is not advocated by any Muslim scriptures, some clerics encourage it. It is banned in Britain and the Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003 makes it illegal to aid, abet, counsel or procure a non-UK resident to carry out FGM overseas.

Last week, The Sunday Times revealed how an estimated

100,000 women living in Britain were estimated to have undergone FGM. A further 24,000 women and girls are thought to be at risk of being subjected to the procedure.

Mr Vijay Poddar

It’s a common knowledge that adolescent girls around the world need family oriented care, education, adequate medial and nutritional care and nurturing growing experiences to become successful future women. However in a pluralistic society like India with varied economic and social sections, this is a far off dream for millions of girls, as they live in rural areas in families with no or little awareness about the significance of education, adolescence health care and financial literacy.

No wonder millions of girls dropout of schools by the time they reach puberty with either the government run school being far away and parents hesitant to let the girls go alone or early marriages with poverty being the added reason.

When SARVAM started to work in Pooturai and Permabai in Tamil Nadu, it realized the importance of creating nurturing atmosphere for adolescent girls and along with special tuition classes after school, organized regular general and reproductive health counseling for girls.

Fifteen year old Sharmila was just eleven when she started to come to SARVAM’s Children’s corner in her village Pooturai. Sharmila’s father had refused to marry her mother after her brother was born. He lives with his first wife in a nearby village and maintains no relation-

Wife killed to end control?

Mohammed Arshad, 42, allegedly began plotting the murder of his wife Fiza Asif with his brother Abdul Jabbar, 54, when she threatened to have her illegal immigrant brotherin-law deported, a jury at the Old Bailey was told on last Tuesday.

The men were said to wanted to end her control of the family business and finances and initially discussed hiring a hitman.

Official Charity for AAA 2012

Jabbar’s 19-year-old son, Ibrahim Farooq, is also on trial, accused of perverting the course of justice. He is said to have provided witness statements claiming his father was working at the time of the killing.

Arshad and Jabbar deny murder and conspiracy to murder. Farooq, denies perverting the course of justice. The trial continues.

Doctors being struck off are foreigners More than half of all doctors struck off the medical register last year were foreign, according to official figures, which also shows that a third of doctors practising in Britain are from overseas. Of the 77 struck by the General Medical Council last year, 19 were from the European Union, 33 from elsewhere. About 90,000 of Britain’s 246,000 doctors are trained overseas, an increase of 2000 over the past one year. Out of 90,000 trained abroad, 23,000 are from India.

ship with the family. Her mother works as a daily wager and barely earns enough to feed everyone including her old ailing mother.

Sharmila had no family oriented care and she was not interested in going to school. She started to spend her time with a youngsters group which her mother despised. She even stopped to attend the Children’s corner. When she reached puberty, her concerned mother, asked for SARVAM help and SARVAM village coordinator and team head approached Sharmila.

Sharmila then was a lonely child. She was unhappy about the fact that other girls of her age looked down upon her due to her friendship with the boys group and that many poked fun at her torn clothes.

SARVAM suggested

Sharmila to start attending the evening tuition classes at SATYAM. At SATYAM, the girl started to feel at home, made new friends and started to pay attention to her studies. She just wrote her tenth standard exam and is aspiring to be a teacher.

At SATYAM, Dr. Tamilarsi from the Government Hospital, Pondicherry regularly conducts group and individual counseling sessions on general and reproductive health care. Sharmila and her friends are more informed and educated

Sharmila

about their rights and health requirements than their mothers were. They are the first batch of girls who have studied beyond eighth standard in their village. SARVAM’s next objective is to help them get into career oriented education and ensure that they grow up into educated, economically independent and confident women.

The self-esteem and the sense of responsibility which Sharmila shows towards her mother and brother and the positivity with which she looks forward towards her future, shows a lot has been achieved. Sharmila is in a healthy transition to womanhood!

If you would like to know more about SARVAM and their activities or would like to donate please speak to Mrs Shilpa Shah on 07404 618 933 (between 2.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m) or email on shilpa.sarvam@gmail.com

Lawyer accused of helping create bogus wealth for immigrants A solicitor who has been accused of helping to prepare create fake assets of ￡200,000 to allow an immigrant to obtain residency in Britain has been reportedly exposed by an undercover Sunday Times reporter.

Muhammad Sohail Babar Khan, a partner at a firm in Ilford, Essex, told an undercover reporter how, in return for a payment of £12,000, he would provide fake documentary evidence allowing him to exploit rules intended to encourage entrepreneurs to settle in Britain, as well as arrang-

ing a “sponsor” who would falsely pledge to make £200,000 available to invest in a fictitious business, Khan and case worker Bilal Warraich allegedly said they would provide bank statements to support the bogus claim.

The revelations embarrass the government which this month closed another controversial immigration scheme.

Men such as have identified a similar flaw with another scheme operated by the UK Border Agency called tier 1 (entrepreneur).

UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 5th May 2012

CFI- designed to bridge gaps between Tories and Brit-Indians It is an honour and a privilege to have been invited to help establish the Conservative Friends of India. I am proud to have been involved with the Conservative Party for over thirty years.

During that time the Party has become a much more interesting and diverse place. Today’s Conservative Party is a mirror-image of our country: confident, progressive and inclusive.

Yet, one group continues to be under-represented within our Party – namely, the British Indian community.

We are fortunate to have a number of excellent British Indian Conservative MPs, MEPs and Councillors who make a tremendous contribution to our country and party. Nonetheless, our Party’s ability to persuade the British Indian community that we really are here to help, and that we understand –and value- the role each of you play in our communities and country, well its success until now can best be described a mixed.

So, the Conservative Friends of India has been designed to bridge that gap, between our Party and the British Indian Community.

Shared values It is a long overdue initiative, especially when you consider the shared values of the British India community and the Conservative Party, in particular: l Strong families and communities, that love and support each other l A desire to work-hard and succeed in life l A love of entrepreneurship and commerce l A belief in the importance of a decent education l A pride in our country and l A passionate belief in civic duty and responsibility The Conservative Friends of India is about building real understanding between the Conservative Party, the British Indian community and India. l It is about developing trust, and celebrating the extraordinary success, which British Indians have achieved for themselves, their families, their communities and our country, over the past 50 years. It is something we should all celebrate and be proud of.

Membership-led organisation The Conservative Friends of India will be a membership-led organisation, transparent in its behaviour, accountable and relevant to its members, and committed to making a real difference.

The organisation will run an extensive annual programme of national and regional events. We are already lining up campaign days, dinners, lectures and training sessions, as well as establishing regional branches across the Country.

It is clear that there is overwhelming demand from our community, for meaningful political engagement and dialogue with the Conservative Party, a party that is, and ought to be, a natural home for the British Indian community.

The Conservative Friends of India will also be about the new generations. We must give a sense of direction, belonging, and security, to our young British born Indians – this is your home – be proud to be British. We are no longer immigrants in this great country.

David Cameron Our Prime Minister David Cameron made India a priority when the Government was formed, and it is his determination to see the Conservative Party actively engages with the British Indian community, which has ensured that the CF India has become a reality.

I am absolutely delighted that he joined us for the launch and that he pledged his 100% support for CF India.

British Indians can feel great pride in the fact that we have a Prime Minister who so openly supports and appreciates our community.

Get Involved CF India is a member-led organisation. We will only be a success if those who care about our country and our next generation of Britishborn Indians come forward and get involved.

For more information on how to: become a member, join our campaigning days, attend our events, watch our Annual Lecture or volunteer to help – you can visit our website at www.conservativefriendsofindia.co.uk.

Prime Minister launches Conservative Friends of India Last week the Prime Minister David Cameron officially launched the Conservative Friends of India at the Royal Horticultural halls near Westminster.

Addressing 1,200 people, the Prime Minister praised the amazing contribution of the British Indian community, and he forecast that the Conservative Party will be the first UK political party to have a Prime Minister of Indian-origin.

He said in his speech “We were the first party to have a woman prime minister, we were the first party in Disraeli to have Jewish prime minister and when I look at the talent in front of me I think we are going to be the first party to have a British Indian Prime Minister.”

The Conservative Friends of India is being launched to help build stronger relations between the Conservative Party, the British Indian community and India, an initiative that the Prime Minister said he felt was overdue.

PM David Cameron with Indian MP Smriti Irani, Lord Popat and others

the most successful immigrant population in Britain’s history.

Anglo-Indian Relationship David Cameron went on to commend the Anglo-Indian relationship, highlighting how his first Foreign Trip as Prime Minister was to India, where he went with the largest trade delegation in living memory and stat-

PM David Cameron speaking to the audience

Paying tribute to many of the unsung British Indians, the Prime Minister said “There are so many British Indians who had put in hard work to make Britain what it is today.” He also made a special reference to those of Indian-origin who came from East Africa, saying they were possibly

ing that “the relationship between Britain and India is incredibly strong and incredibly important.

But we have to make it strongest ever.”

“Indian businesses own some of the most iconic British brands.

Car companies like Jaguar Land Rover that are selling cars all over the world. What a great

combination between Indian capital and British labour that’s actually producing a world-class care.

Indian investment in Britain is of top quality,” Cameron said.

Providing a humorous insight into the life of a Prime Minister, David Cameron also revealed that “one of my proudest possessions from that trip (to India in July 2010) is a signed cricket bat to my daughter Nancy from Sachin Tendulkar” Cameron said.

“I found my wife in the garden at Chequers (PM’s week-end residence) the other day playing French cricket with this cricket bat. And I said, no darling, put it down, this is probably the most valuable possession I have.”

In a sombre reflection of characteristics that tie the two countries together, Prime Minister Cameron spoke of the challenge of terrorism that both countries have encountered, as well as how in both countries, people of all faiths are able to live together harmoniously.

The Prime Minister’s speech was preceded by

an address from Lord Popat – the chairman of the Conservative Friends of India and the organiser of the event – and followed by addresses from India’s High Commissioner to the UK, Dr Bhagwati, and the Chair of the Conservative Parliamentary Friends of India Stephen Hammond, Member of Parliament for Wimbledon.

Other attendees at the launch included the CF India President, the Attorney General Dominic Grieve QC MP, Smriti Irani – a Member of Parliament in India for the BJP – and over 50 Conservative MP’s, including Shailesh Vara, Paul Uppal and Alok Sharma, all of Indian origin.

The event was supported by the official media partner for the launch, Zee TV, and was brought to a close by the Shobana Jeyasingh Dance group. Having recently appeared at the Royal Opera House with the same work, the Group performed ‘Classic Cut’ accompanied by a string quartet.

Invited guests at the CFI launch

Photo Courtesy: Husain Akhtar

of Harrow, Conservative peer

Photo Courtesy: Raj Bakrania, P.R Mediapix

Lord Dolar Popat

7

8

www.abplgroup.com

Dee Katwa

Asian Voice - Saturday 5th May 2012

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

Turbulence at Temple Three weeks ago it was reported in this column that a committee member at a popular temple in Birmingham had suffered injuries following a commotion. A police inquiry into the incident is in progress.

The fracas, which happened on April 2 following a disagreement over two festivals being held on the same day, involved a small group of people, including the religious committee lead and vice president of the temple. The latter has since formally resigned.

And his resignation has been accepted by the temple management committee.

In a statement, in English translated into Gujarati, issued a fortnight ago to all signedup members of the temple, the management committee insisted that it does, and will not tolerate bad language, aggressive behaviour, including threats and physical violence, from anyone, describing it as "shameful". It reinforced

its commitment to public safety and security and pointed out that the trustees and management committee were ‘duty bound to disqualify and ban any member found misbehaving and violent from entering temple premises’.

The serious altercation has also become a matter of police investigation and a spokeswoman from West Midlands Police confirmed, "enquiries are ongoing into the circumstances of the incident".

Separately, alleged mishandling of finances and twists in criteria required for charitable status at another popular temple, also in Birmingham, has been flagged to Asian Voice by an insider.

(Proceeding).

TV Board becomes diverse overnight Readers may recall my lead story last week about City TV, a proposed new TV channel for Birmingham.

Well, I claim no credit but rather put it to coincidence - City TV has just added four new people to its interim Board: Andeep Mangal, Jas Sansi, pictured, (both from Institute of Asian Businesses, IAB), Imtiaz Rasool of Campus Plus TV and Noor TV (nominated by IAB Chairman, Nasir Awan) and Waheed Saleem, vice chair of the Lunar Society.

A source close to Debra Davis, City TV’s CEO, said: “They need a diverse board to secure the license.

These are temp positions. The real board will be in place after the license is granted.”

Novel launch A Birmingham author is to launch her latest novel in London later this month. Award-winning Rayner Tapia, pictured, will be signing her new book, The Dream Catcher – The Adventures of Tom McGuire’ at Waterstones in St Ann’s Road, Harrow on May 25 from 6.30pm onwards. This third, in an eventual five-part series, brings to life the adventures of teenage siblings Tom and James McGuire through a magical land. ‘I’ve always wanted to write a book where the reader feels the characters’, said Rayner, an English and computing graduate. For more information visit www.theadventuresoftommcguire.com

Beef instead of lamb served Midland restaurateur Sufi Miah has been found guilty of one count of breaching the food safety act 1990.

Walsall Magistrates heard how Miah, 42, of Balsall Heath, Birmingham, served beef in a balti lamb dish.

The dish was bought at Balti Gardens in High Street, Brownhills, by two trading standards officers who sent the curry for analysis. Results revealed the dish contained beef and not lamb. Miah, was fined £350 and ordered to pay £1,460 costs.

It is shocking, deplorable too, that some greedy and selfish individuals in our society - often described as pillars of the community - are using violence, intimidation, bullying and threatening behaviour in places of worship, to overpower others in an apparent attempt to gain control and glory. This must not be tolerated by anyone.

Do not suffer in silence. If you are aware of any inappropriate behaviour, particularly at any place of worship, then please call our editorial team, in strictest confi-

dence, and we promise to investigate and campaign for justice.

At Asian Voice we pride ourselves in journalism that is honest, accurate and fair. Equally, if we do slip up, we promise to set the record straight in a clear, no-nonsense manner. With regard to the sorry saga of the Birmingham temples, we hope this article will be a wake-up call to the odd troublemaker or two who must not be allowed to flourish, triumph, gain glory or defraud at the expense of law-abiding citizens. Agree?

Fancy a game of touch rugby?

People are being invited to join medics at Birmingham’s Heartland Hospital in putting their touch rugby skills to the test. The touch rugby league will see doctors, nurses, admin staff and managers battle it out against colleagues as well as local community teams, in a bid to win the cup prize.

Games will be played by twelve six-aside teams over the next three months, with the two leading teams playing in the finals on July 8. Anyone interested in taking part, or going along to watch a game should email touchrugby@heartofengland.nhs.uk

Firm set to boost profits

A Birmingham firm run by a Ugandan Asian family is looking to double profits over the next three years after graduating as part of the first Midlands cohort of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses programme.

Jivaji Auto Factors was founded by Fazal, pictured, and Khatija Kapasi, both in their 70s now, in 1973. The little family firm grew steadily for years until its Lozells Road retail shop was burnt down in the 1985 Handsworth riots. The business was rebuilt and today has a £900,000 turnover.

The Goldman Sachs programme aims to boost local economic growth and job creation through practical business education and support services.

Crackdown on IB claimants Almost 5,000 people claiming incapacity benefit in the West Midlands have been told they are fit to work. So far in the region, 11,890 people have been assessed and 4,790 – more than one in three – were deemed to be “fit for work”. Another 4,060 were placed in a “work related activity group”, which means they are deemed to be capable of working eventually with the right support and training. Just 3,040 of those assessed so far were found to be unable to work.

Building bridges An event to help create new, and boost existing connections between further education institutions in the UK and in India took place at Burton and South Derbyshire College last Tuesday. The event, Adapting your offer to India – A session for UK Colleges, was hosted by BSDC in conjunction with the UK India Business Council. A few weeks ago, senior management at BSDC had also welcomed an Indian delegation, Kailash Chander, Puneet Arora and Sajad Sheikh, of Delhi-based Royal Education Services. Thanks to Dawn Ward, BSDC’s straight-talking principal, for inviting me to lunch with the group.

News in Brief Top honour for Bhai Sahib Dr Mohinder Singh Ahluwalia, Chairman of Birmingham-based Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha, has been honoured for his “enthusiastic contribution” to Roman Catholic-Sikh relations, also for “working for peace among people of all faiths”. Septuagenarian Dr Ahluwalia “Bhai Sahib”, pictured, is now officially a Knight of St Gregory the Great. Dr Ahluwalia, a civil and structural engineer by profession, represents the Sikh faith on the European Council of Religious Leaders and is third in line of spiritual leaders at GNNSJ.

The beans and bleach fight Three women threw tins of baked beans and bottles of bleach at each other during an alleged 20-minute fracas at Birmingham’s Indoor Markets. Stall holders said they had to intervene three times to split up the trio and claimed it took 20 minutes for council security staff to turn up. The incident, in which one woman, aged 34, was arrested on suspicion of assault, happened last Wednesday.

School to mark milestone Stanville Primary School in Birmingham will mark its 75th birthday later this month. To make this occasion even more special, the current school community would like to hear from past pupils and staff who have photos or memories to share. Stanville Primary School in Sheldon, which has around 230 pupils aged between three and 11 from diverse backgrounds, will celebrate its milestone week beginning May 28. To make a contribution, or for more information, telephone the school office on 0121 464 2322 or visit www.stanville.org

Debate on future of local papers Government has to look at ways of preserving Britain’s most popular print media – read by an estimated 33 million people per month, a Tory MP told attendees at a debate about the future of local newspapers. “The local press performs a unique function in our democracy, as often only a local paper will hold a council or MP to account,” said Louise Mensch, pictured, the Conservative MP for Corby and East Northamptonshire. She secured the debate following the decision of Johnston Press to make its two Northamptonshire dailies, weekly.

Family Awards launched The 2012 Midlands Family Business Awards were launched at two separate events in Birmingham and Nottingham, both on Tuesday last week. The Awards, now in their third year, are a non-profit initiative. It’s free to enter and entries can be made from May 2 to June 30. To find out more visit www.familybusinessawards.co.uk. The Midlands is home to a significant percentage of the UK’s estimated three million family businesses that contribute £1.1 trillion annually in revenues, providing 9.2 million private sector jobs.

Burman in Bollywood The work of legendary Indian composer Rahul Dev Burman, pictured, will be celebrated at a concert in Birmingham later this month. The evening, Burman in Bollywood, will also feature the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, table player Shahbaz Hussain and Shin Parwana of bhangra boyband DCS. The event will take place on 18 May at 7.30pm at the Symphony Hall. For more information visit www.cbso.co.uk/concerts

UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 5th May 2012

Leading Lights

by Rani Singh

Special Assignments Editor

Rajeeb Dey, 26 Rajeeb Dey is the Founder and CEO of Enternships.com – a portal connecting startups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to talent, for which he was named “02 X Young Entrepreneur of the Year” in 2009 and the world’s youngest Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum in 2012. He also co-founded StartUp Britain – a national entrepreneurship campaign launched by the Prime Minister in March 2011. Rajeeb is a Trustee of UnLtd – the Foundation for Social Entrepreneurs, he is an Advisory Board Member of Channel 4 (Education) and a member of the UKTI Sub-Saharan Africa Taskforce. Rajeeb graduated with First Class Honours in Economics and Management from the University of Oxford.

Q Tell me about your family and its origins.

We are of Bengali origin (from Kolkata, India).

My father is a doctor (General Practitioner), my mother was a teacher and my sister is also a doctor.

Q Was there any pressure on you to go into medicine?

Not at all – my family has always encouraged me to do whatever makes me happy. It is their unfaltering support and belief in me that has enabled me to do what I do today.

Q Was there any sign of your entrepreneurship at school?

My first entrepreneurial venture started aged 17 with a social enterprise called the English Secondary Students’ Association (ESSA)– now known as Student Voice (www.studentvoice.co.uk).

The premise was to give school students (the “customers” of education) a voice in their education.

Q You won a place on an important award scheme at school.

I was fortunate enough to have been awarded a place on the Windsor Fellowship Leadership Programme – a scheme designed for ethnic minority undergraduates who have already exhibited talent and potential.

Each Fellow is sponsored by a leading organisation which provides them with a paid internship – mine was the Bank of England.

Q How did Enternships come about?

Whilst at University I was the President of Oxford Entrepreneurs – the society for student entrepreneurs at the University of Oxford. The society is one of the largest networks of student entrepreneurs in Europe and I found

myself frequently being asked to promote job roles to our members from start-ups and small businesses.

What I realised was that whilst the blue-chip corporations had the time, brand awareness and HR resources to come onto campus and recruit directly, small businesses were completely disconnected from campus. At the same time I thought to myself that whilst an aspiring banker, lawyer and accountant can do an internship – what can an aspiring entrepreneur do? The best way to learn about business other than setting one up yourself is to work in a startup or small company to learn the ropes. Thus I decided to create a new word – an ‘enternship’ to denote ‘entrepreneurial’ internships within small companies.

“I see myself as a change maker and am keen to leave a legacy and positive impact on society.”

Q What are you plans?

I want Enternships. com to become a global platform to connect startups and SMEs to talent.

We are in the process of developing our operations in South Africa and are also exploring how our proposition would work for younger students (within Further Education Colleges).

Q How did the judges identify you as a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader?

The YGL honour is bestowed each year by the World Economic Forum which recognises up to 200 outstanding young leaders from around the world for their professional accomplish-

Rajeeb Dey

ments, commitment to society and potential to contribute to shaping the future of the world.

Drawn from a pool of several thousand candidates, the 2012 YGLs were chosen by a selection committee, chaired by H.M. Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan and they comprise respected international leaders from business, government and media. Past YGLs include David Cameron, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Larry Page, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Google, USA. Q What matters most to you?

I see myself as a change maker and am keen to leave a legacy and positive impact on society. I believe that if you follow your passion the money will follow and I prioritise my happiness and wellbeing above everything else. I believe that life is too short to be miserable and so if you don’t love what you do and wake up feeling excited about the day ahead then just stop! I love every day, pushing new boundaries and working with a great team of like minded people to not only create a successful business but in the process help thousands of young people in their career journeys and to inspire them to look at entrepreneurship as a career path.

9

Barry Gardiner MP Chair of Labour Friends of India

What does friendship means to the Conservatives?

I was interested to see David Cameron launch ‘Conservative Friends of India’ last week —- I was even more interested to see Baroness Warsi’s explanation of why the Conservatives have chosen to launch their Friends of India now.

She said:“The battleground for the next election is predominantly urban.

Almost all the seats we need to win to have a majority in the next Parliament, have significant BME populations”. So now we know what the word “Friendship means to the Conservatives Labour Friends of India was founded almost 13 years ago, for very different reasons. We realised in those days that Labour MPs didn’t know enough about India’s role as an emerging world power, or in many cases about the history and culture of the Indian population in the UK. I wanted to increase this knowledge with regular newsletters, briefings and gatherings. On top of this I wanted to bring together British and Indian businessmen in a climate where they could discuss the issues that were hampering UK-India trade and through which we could find solutions. Labour Friends of India has always worked with any who share our aims of promoting India and understanding of her role in the world. Our idea was always to win friends not just to win votes.

I hope that over the coming months Conservative MPs will learn from the Indian community in the UK more about the issues that really matter to the community here. If they do CFIN will be able to challenge the Conservative led Government on the many policy areas where they are currently damaging the UK-India relationship and the Indian community here.

They could start by joining the campaign to kick Dow out of the London Olympics. Their controversial minister, Jeremy Hunt, has strenuously resisted the campaign and tried to justify Dow despite the campaign having the support of all the major Indian community groups. Perhaps CFIN will denounce the Government’s decision to increase the barriers to skilled workers entering the UK, which is making it so much harder for Indian businesses to invest here. Perhaps they will push back against the many Conservative MPs who are demanding that the UK stop sending aid to India, a decision which would cost thousands of lives in India’s poorest states. Perhaps after thirteen years of ignoring the community the Conservative Friends of India will change their party’s policies in all these areas. Perhaps... I sincerely hope so.

Barry Gardiner Chair and Founder of Labour Friends of India

New free Hindu school to open in Croydon A new free school could be in the offing for Croydon after the council announced that it has reached an agreement with the Avanti Schools Trust to work with them and the Department for Education.

This move is in response to the continuing demand for primary school places, and the Council has indicated that it is working with a range of potential providers to consider ways of delivering further school provi-

sion.

The new school, which would be open and inclusive to people from all faiths or none, would be rooted in a Hindu ethos.

Croydon Council has stated that it is committed to working with Avanti Schools Trust to making this project a reality, but recent legislation means it is the Department for Education which has to approve any new school.

Locally, moves are now being made by the Council to identify a suitable site,

and, subject to the agreement of the DfE, they aspire to open a school as early as possible.

The council’s backing for the idea is based on widespread local support, backed by our campaign for the Avanti School Trust’s bid to run the new Davidson school, which demonstrated that a school of this nature is welcomed by the wider community. The school would have an open admissions policy with no faith-based criteria.

Pregnant wife smothered to death A pregnant wife was smothered to death by her husband, his parents and his brother-in-law who later all claimed she may have been killed by an evil spirit, a court has heard.

Nalia Mumtaz, 21, from Pakistan, was pronounced dead at hospital after being rushed there by paramedics who found her lying lifeless and ashen faced on a bed at the family home. Her unborn child died with her.

Her husband Mohammed Mumtaz, 24, his father Zia Ul Haq and mother Salma Aslam, both 51, as well as

his brother in law Hammad Hassan, 24, all deny charges of murder and manslaughter. The case continues.

YOUR VOICE

10

The computer Hackers At the time when the Leveson Enquiry is looking into the scourge of computer hackings, are other AV and GS readers being plagued and pestered by unsolicited e-mails as I am? As if the ‘phone calls we receive at any odd times from people trying to sell their goods and services or companies asking you to participate in their surveys is not enough, the new technique is to send e-mails purporting to come from your friends or relatives. Thinking that it may be an important e-mail from someone you know, you open it only to be directed to a sales site.

One wonders how these people hack into someone’s mail box and use it to send out their commercial e-mails. How do we deal with the couple of dozen of such messages that one receives in a week?

Not withstanding these unsolicited emails, we rely on information technology for information, correspondence, communication and much more. We shudder to think what could happen to the modern world if computers all over the world stopped working. I am having a taste of this for the last couple of weeks as my Internet, provided by Virgin Media, has packed in.

The cable supplying my property has been damaged by the roots of a tree in the street and we do not know when my services will be up and running.

I have to depend on the terminal at Seven Kings library to check and send out e-mails.

Dinesh Sheth Newbury Park, Ilford

Respect for all regions and communities Ken Livingstone’s record during his Mayoral office gives most significant evidence of his strong belief and work in promoting community cohesion and interfaith work. It was Ken who pioneered multi faith celebrations on Trafalgar Square with Diwali and Vaisakhi events promoting the Hindu and Sikh values cherished by all. At a visit to Harrow this month, Ken has promised to celebrate the Jain religion on Trafalgar Square with annual reception in City Hall to give the top recognition that Jainism deserves. As to the offence caused to the Jewish community, an apology was long overdue from Ken and I’m glad that he has now apologised.

There is no question of Ken appeasing any particular community. The smear campaign against Ken during the course of election is regrettable and does not help the cause of Hindus. Ken has championed fairness and equality for all and is proud of London’s diversity and immense contribution made by the leading communities like the Hindus towards the success of London as a harmonious and peaceful place to live in.

Labour Party/Ken’s manifesto for London strongly promotes recognition and celebration of the contribution of every community and guarantees promotion and support for London-wide celebration of London’s diverse cultures. The

Asian Voice - Saturday 5th May 2012

Congratulation for turning 40 Congratulation to Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar on its 40th anniversary. “Jivan Panth” in Gujarat Samachar has listed Gujarati publications that came and went. But Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar have survived. Please let us know about your endeavours to reach current hi-tech status from bicycle age 40 years ago.

The team has catered frivolous, jokes, or informative material to meet perspectives of variegated readers without breaking rules of journalism. Eliminating black magic type of adverts was bold move, and much appreciated by readers. This discouraged fraudsters and warned gullible readers. Such positive and mature journalism can protect its clients.

Please sanitise Bollywoodism sending wrong signals that unsavoury and titillating values are acceptable. Please print half page of thrilling careers besides routine stereo type careers.

Post modern image of India, with strong subliminal hints of pillar of vedic sanatan ethos is noteworthy. All other cultures, religions, civilisational trends are correctly presented as vines around sturdy Hindu peepul tree. Thus, the aura of brotherhood, without becoming battle ground for cloak and dagger tactics by crafty and vicious parties in India or other countries.

While Hinduness, Muslimness or plain Indianness lies in eyes of the reader, both papers have successfully conveyed Britishness too.

Ramesh Jhalla Via Email

Hot favourite My moan in Asian Voice recently about too much salt in Indian snacks appears to have had the desired effect with at least one manufacturer - Best Food of Dagenham, Essex.

The other day I bought a packet of their Krishna-branded hot chevda and the lack of salt greatly enhanced my pleasure of crunching my way through the product. Afterwards I rushed out and bought another packet.

Hope they keep up the good work and I look forward to many more manufacturers following their example. As I said previously, less salt (and less sugar too in Indian sweets) would appeal to many more customers and quickly make Indian snacks the No.1 party fare across the UK and beyond.

Rudy Otter Via email manifesto also supports people’s right to practice all faiths, it acknowledges vital contribution to all aspects of our society by different faiths and pledges help the London Mayor will give to achieve this.

In the post-election period I’d be seeking to engage further with Asian voice readers on this matter.

Navin Shah Labour’s Candidate for the GLA seat of Brent and Harrow

Happy 40th anniversary

Mayoral London Assembly

I congratulate Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar for completing 40 years of service to the Gujarati Community.

The newspaper has grown from sometimes containing neatly handwritten sections to fully type set editions and today it has embraced modern technologies.

Gujarat Samachar and Asian Voice are now available as electronic editions in Regular e-dition and Flash e-edition formats which can be accessed by readers world wide.

The Gujarat Samachar publication has kept pace with changing times over the last 40 years and has continually learnt and implemented measures to adapt to the needs of the Gujarati readers. Appropriate sections, containing topics of interest to the Gujarati community are added.

Recently it has taken the bold step of not publishing advertisements from people who peddle services in forecasting peoples’ fate, reading palms and offering religious ceremonies to enable overcoming their difficulties. People are saved from falling prey to those who sell false hopes at a very high cost and in fact their misery could become greater.

With best wishes for the coming years.

Having just read Alpesh’s piece about the racist abuse his father faced, I was taken back to the immense racism we faced when we arrived 40 years ago.

My brother aged 12 was attacked by racists in the school playground and needed hospital treatment. I was asked to accompany my brother to the Accident and Emergency. I was 14 at the time. My parents were working in factories and being called ‘Pakis’ and told their lunch of Curry was Smelly!

This was the environment that led me to take part in issues of social justice.

IKen Livingstone and Dianne Abbott gave me hope at a time when Mrs Thatcher was accusing Asians of swamping the country.

I was further encouraged by Keeki Thamaia the first Asian Mayor of Harrow and then recently by Navin Shah who encouraged me to be a School Governor and then stand in a by-election.

Ken Livingstone brought Diwali to Trafalgar Sqaure and I was so proud to have my multiple identity acknowledged.

Having met Ken on a couple of occasions and knowing his track record I do not imagine him being against Hindus and Jews. I cannot understand anyone with the experience I describe above wanting to be a Tory, or voting Boris for mayor.

Ken is promising to reinstate the Education maintenance grant, so all our youngsters have a chance. Alpesh we have fought hard and laid the golden path for the next generation to tred, we will pay a high price if we dismantle all the hard work done by my generation.

Krishna James Cllr Marlborough Ward, Harrow Council

Pravinbhai Amin Via Email

It has to be the victim’s fault!

I can see Alpesh Patel’s anger at the scene of the incident where his father was wrongly implicated by police officers when a ‘yob’ reversed into his car and blamed him for the incident (AV 28 April 2012).

I vividly remember a similar incident some years ago that I witnessed at first hand whilst taking a walk. A middle aged Indian couple were with a young police officer standing near to a car parked in a side street. The car belonged to the couple and they had reported it missing. The police officer who found it was accusing them of deliberately leaving the car there and then claiming it to have been stolen.

The wife couldn’t speak English so her husband was explaining to her in Gujarati the officer’s accusations. From the annoyed manner in which he was conversing with his wife, I had the distinct impression that the man was telling the truth and that the car had indeed been stolen. But then, of course, the police doctrine of ‘my word against yours’ comes into play.

I refrained from getting involved for the fear that the police officer might well accuse me of breach of the peace! Back at the police station the officer would have unashamedly marked the case closed. He would have scored a brownie point from his boss but conveniently omitted to tell him that the good result was achieved only by instilling fear into a vulnerable community.

Uttambhai D Mistry Bolton

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

)! &

&$ ! "$ !$

"$

"%& % !

* ! '$"#

)))

# $"'# "

Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman ensure victory for India in first test

$ !

)0 '

, .)

' $ & ! %& $ $ ! $ " '$ ! % "'$& ( % & &" ! "! & !( & & "! " " '! %& $&* " ! ) $ ! " % '%% "! ) & &"# ! % $% # Consultative Conference, (and a member of the politburo of Communist Party of China), Modi showcased Gujarat as a destination with a conducive environment to invest and work. He also explained Gujarat becoming a major tourist destination. He brought out the richness of Buddhist culture in Gujarat which solicited very keen interest among Chinese leadership. He also dwelled upon the ancient Indian and Chinese ethos, relationship, friendship, cultural and business ties.

While showcasing

(!

(! 0#

" #,' ( ) ." .#)( & )''#.. ) ." )(-/&. .#0 )( , ( -" % - " ( - 1#."

"#( , ( ,

)*& - )&#.# ) #

&

."

)0 '

)(.#(/

)( * !

# &" "" & % "! * !'& % "!

#(! #-" , #,&#( - #- !)#(! .",)/!" .,)/ & .#' - - )0 , *#&).- " 0 +/#. . , ." 2 1 , (). * # ." #, - & ,# - 0 ( - ." )'* (2 ( && )0 , &#!".- #( ." & -. .1) 2The cancellation of 80 flights in the past couple of days left thousands of passengers in the lurch prompting the Directorate General of Civil Aviation to demand an explanation from Kingfisher.

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

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

UK EUROPE WORLD £25 £55 £70 £45 £100 £125

,

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

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

#$ 2

&&2

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

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

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

away five years from your life.

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

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

)( * !

E-mail: support@abplgroup.com

Since Godhra carnage, the media, Congress and distracter of peace, progress and harmony have orchestrated unceasing campaign of hate, intimidation and propaganda to stop Modi and Gujarat from moving forward. Billions of rupees and millions of man-hours have been wasted on inquiries, court procedures and committees with the sole aim of bringing Modi down.

The latest report by court appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed

by Mr. R. K. Raghavan, former director of CBI has absolved Modi and 60 others in no uncertain terms, throwing out Zakia Jafri’s complain lodged with the court in Ahmedabad, stating that they were baseless and without foundation.

What happened, the burning of 58 Hindu pilgrims, the riots and the arson at Gulburg Society which resulted in the death of Zakia’s husband Ehsaan Jafri, an ex MP were deep scars on the conscious of Gujarat. After ten years, it is time to move on, to concentrate on economic progress.

Gujarati Muslims are the best educated with the highest living standard in India.

Modi is already attracting their support. I hope BJP would bend backward to put up Muslim candidates in the forthcoming Gujarat Assembly Elections that would give Modi a fourth term and heal the wounds that has scarred the map and conscious of the most progressive state in the Indian Union.

Bhupendra M Gandhi Via Emai

Visit our website: www.abplgroup.com

*Subscriptions paid will not be refunded ."

*

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

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

1 Year 2 Years

Modi’s clean bill of health

!

UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 5th May 2012

11

Abandoned bikes help third world The British aid program to India is not great but justified Dr Vince Cable defends aid to India even as the coalition has decided to stop future financial help which India called as ‘peanuts’ Shweta Desai Months after the Coalition government decided to stop doling out millions of pounds in aid to India, following the latter’s note that the financial help is ‘peanuts’, Business Secretary Dr Vince Cable has reviewed the controversy by defending his support to India. Calling the British aid program as not ‘great but justified’ Dr Cable said the funding has helped in reducing India’s poverty.

Speaking at a Vaisakhi event organised by Ernst and Young on April 9, Cable said that Britain was a rich country despite the ‘horrendous problems’ it faces today. ‘’I do believe that rich countries should set aside some amount for the poor. India is a vast country and while it has some of rich pockets in Mumbai and Delhi, most of the country has worst poverty ratio than some countries in Africa,’’ he said.

Dr Cable was responding to a question from an audience member on whether Britain should stop providing any aid to India in view of its successful business and trade economy in recent years.

He added that there were sentiments within Britain and in the political circles which called for cancelling

Panellists Paramjit Kaur Matharu, Peter Singh Virdee, Dr Surinder Hundal, Amrick Singh Bhabra

our personal interests.’’

His statements were in reference to Britain being miffed by India after it rejected a £13 billion defence deal for British built Typhoon fighter jet and instead awarded the contract to France. ‘’The British companies had taken India for granted for too long. We should now work on the Commercial diplomacy.’’

A Liberal Democrat, Dr Cable’s defence over the aid to India is in contrast with the Conservatives who have been vocal about their resentment with large cheques to the former colony while Britain is facing economic hardships.

India’s own development economically and large scale investment in

abuse and it was at this time I decided to step in and get involved.’’ He supported the Sikhs in their fight to wear turbans in public sphere. ‘’I admire the Sikhs more than any other minority community for their commitment to be involved in the British society without loosing their identity,’’ he said.

Ernst and Young had arranged a series of events to mark the 313th anniversary of the creation of the Khalsa brotherhood and the Vaisakhi celebrations. Along with the key note address by Dr Cable, the event also included Turbanology ‘Sikhs unwrapped’ an exhibition featuring Sikhs and their identity wearing turbans.

Business Tycoon,

Bikes dumped on the streets of Richmond upon Thames during the last year will again be sent to Africa for use by third world families. Richmond Council is responsible for removing cycles which have been abandoned in the borough’s public areas, and currently has almost 50 in storage.

The Council has teamed up with the recycle charity for a second time to send unloved bikes to a Village Bicycle Project in Africa, rather than consigning them to a scrap metal site.

Continental Landscapes will kindly collect the bikes from the Council’s storage shed and take them to a container at Twickenham Rugby Club, South Road, Hampton.

From there they will be

picked up by re-cycle and transported abroad, 7th May in the container managed by Whitton Cycles.

They will be given to people there so they can cycle instead of embarking on gruelling four hour daily treks to provide food and water for their families.

The donation builds on the success of the Council’s partnership with re-cycle which saw more than 40 bikes sent to Ghana from Twickenham in 2010.

Cllr Virginia Morris, Richmond Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment, said: “We are thrilled to be able to play our part in this superb charity project for a second time in as many years. This is a fantastic way to dispose of old bikes which we have had

in our stores for weeks and, despite efforts to trace the owners, have gone unclaimed. I’m extremely proud we can help those less fortunate than ourselves in other countries by teaming up with re-cycle. These bikes are not all in perfect condition, but for Africans they will certainly make daily life a bit easier. If bikes are abandoned or stolen and have not been registered then sometimes it’s impossible to identify the owner. Then, we have no choice but to dispose of them, after waiting for a month in case their owners contact us or the police. It’s so much better to put them to good use again with some of the poorest people in the world, instead of scraping them.”

Paradise Lost for filthy Southall restaurant The owner of a filthy Southall restaurant that was forced to close twice in six months has been handed a court order preventing him from managing a food business.

Gurdev Singh Matharu, owner of Paradise Tandoori Restaurant in North Road, Southall, appeared at Isleworth Crown Court on Friday 20 April. He pleaded guilty to 30 food hygiene offences. As well as the Hygiene Prohibition

Order, Mr Matharu was given a 12 month community order requiring him to complete 80 hours of unpaid work and was told to pay £2000 towards the council’s costs.

Paradise Tandoori was first visited by Ealing Council’s Food Safety Team in April 2011 following a complaint from a member of the public who had seen a rat on the premises.

The inspector found dirty and disorganised

premises with mouse droppings near to food, amongst the pots and pans and throughout the rest of the premises. Spilled mice bait was found in a storage room in the kitchen and the inspector saw a rat peering through a skylight leading into the building during the inspection.

Mr Matharu agreed to voluntarily close the restaurant while work was carried out to remove the risk to health and it reopened in May 2011.

, 2)/ " .1 ( ( # 0 * ,.$ /& , . & (. .# . 2)/ 1 (. .) -#)1 - . .# *, -.$"$)/-$ ( #$ 0 ,- 1 , .#$- 2 , ! 2 - 1 1 (. .) # , !,)' 2)/ % ! " ! " "$ & "! ) & & &+ ! '% &)"$ $ "" ! "$ ! ( ' % $"'#% & & #"%% %% ! & !&% ) ! % ") % && ( !& "'% Audience at Ernst & Young

the aid following India’s finance minister Pranab Mukherjee’s statement that the country no longer needs Britain’s aid which was akin to ‘peanuts’ in the growing development expenditure. ‘’The British aid program is not great but is justified as it is channelled to the poorest states. We work directly for poverty reduction in India.’’

Dr Cable also said that there were many in Britain who believe the aid should be used with India as a ‘carrot and stick’ approach. ‘’We should use the aid for a good objective and not for meeting

defence and space research programs have further strengthened Tories sentiments.

Dr Cable’s love and admiration for India stems from his personal relationship with the former colony and its people. His late wife Olympia was a Goan Catholic whom he met during his first job posting in Kenya. Dr Cable said that after he came to live in the UK with his Indian wife and children, he noticed hostility and discrimination towards them. ‘’There was a lot of discrimination amongst the Sikhs and they became the target of

Peter Singh Virdee, announced a new fund to be launched later this year, solely for Sikhs who have a cutting edge idea are in need of finance.

This group of prominent Sikhs in British business lead by Mr Virdee, would advise, nurture and guide any worldwide Sikh initiative, to ensure the creation of more wealth and prosperity in the hands of the Sikh community.

Mr Virdee described how he felt there was a gap in the market to support creative ideas with a soft loan, without the obligation to take profit or shares.

( !& % & ! # "! .# *. ' , & $"%( !"$ $ ! ! ) &&$ & ! %& ' ! "( $ '% ! %% $% #" & !% &+ #$" %% "! % ! *& !% ( "( $ $ # $& ' $ + & "$ %

! &" % ") % &

!&% ! &

" ") !

( /-$ (.,$&)+/$-. '* ,-)( .), . ( /* )' 2

/ $.$)(- 1$&& . % *& $( )( )( )( .# .# .# /"/-. ( .# 1$(( , 1$&& (()/( -. /"/-. +"' $

!& $ %& # % +"' #"%% % "! ! $ %' &# %

&$( !), **&$

+"'$ ! ! & *&",)/* )' !& "! ,& !& '!&-

.$)(- $- ,$

2

.# /&2

.# ( 2 &

!&

12

MEDIA WATCH

Asian Voice - Saturday 5th May 2012

Scrutator’s The bad news first. Standard and Poor’s (S & P), the global rating agency, has returned a negative assessment of the Indian economy, citing the country’s growing fiscal deficit, rising debt burden and the government’s seeming inability to respond appropriately to the situation including the stalling of economic reforms. The S&P announcement means that the cost of borrowing for India on the international market will rise. The Indian media gave prominent coverage to the story, with The Times of India making it the lead item on its front page (April 26). The paper wrote: “The agency clarified that the action was not a downgrade but a revision in the outlook based on the current economic situation. S&P said India’s rating of BBB (minus)is the lowest investment grade rating.”

Following the S&P statement, the Sensex took a slide, reflecting a decline in investor confidence in the prospects of Asia’s thirdlargest economy. The value of the rupee also fell, as did shares and bonds. Finance Minister Pranab Mukhejee intervened to calm jittery markets, saying the government would ride out this difficult phase. He went on: “There is no need for panic.

Finance Minister Pranab Mukhejee The situation may be difficult, but we will surely overcome,” reassuring words that will have to be buttressed by reassuring deeds. The Finance Minister contested the view of a policy paralysis in government, pointing to a raft of bills awaiting parliamentary approval. His principal economic adviser Professor Kaushik Basu seconded the minister, saying that “some important measures” were on the anvil and would see the clear light of day in the next six months. Pranab Mukherrjee again: “Reforms are a continuing process….. One set of reforms demand another set of reforms.” He cited several landmarks passed and told of more upcoming bills. Kolkata’s Telegraph newspaper in a box display - “What To Expect”- headlined three items that needed addressing: “More clarity on General Anti-Avoidance Rule; Fast track three bills – PFRDA, Insurance and Banking”.

Analysts have described the S&P declaration as a wake-up call.

The Times of India in an opinion piece agreed in a summing up : “Clearly, the runaway subsidy bill and the consequent fiscal deficit is something that needs to be reined in. Equally, we need to push ahead with pending economic reforms not because S&P or other rating agencies want us to do so, but because it will be in our interests.” Well put.

India set for record output It shouldn’t be all gloom and doom, however. Early indications suggest that India is set for record foodgrains production this year (2011-12). The Hindu (April 24) reported: “India is all set to achieve an all-time high of foodgrains production at 252.56 million tonnes, with a record output of wheat, rice and cotton ….the total output in 2010-11 was 235.88 million tonnes.”

Wheat production is expected be a record 90.23 million tonnes, as against 84.27 last year. While rice output is expected to reach 103.41mllion tonnes as against last year’s figure of 94.11 million tones.

Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar remarked: “I am extremely happy to see these figures. I would like to congratulate the farming community. We have set up a new record for foodgrains, rice, wheat and cotton.,” .

The Punjab government has sought the assent of the Government of India to enhance its wheat exports across its western borders to Pakistan and Central Asia, the state long been known as the country’s granary. This would facilitate the interests of its farmers, said Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal (The Hindu April 25).

An adjunct to the above

report in The Telegraph (April 26) reads: “Here’s a ‘growth story’ that Standard & Poor’s missed: official statistics show good old India has grown – literally. Over 7,000 kilometres of waste land, between 2001 and 2008, has been converted into net usable terrain.”

Scientists honoured India’s scientists and engineers continue hugely to the nation’s wellbeing, and to its enhanced profile at home and abroad. The prestigious Royal Society in

Sir Paul Nurse

London which boasts among its members a galaxy of the best scientific minds of this and previous centuries has elected six Indian scientists as Fellows.

They are: Bangalore-based biologist Professor Krishnaswamy

ISRO Dr K. Radhakrishnan (centre) hands over a model of the PSLVC19 to P.S. Veeraraghavan, Director, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuram, after the successful launch of the RISAT-1 satellite at Sriharikota, near Chennai, on Thursday. Others in the photo (from left) are: P. Kunhikrishnan, Mission Director, PSLV-C19, T.K. Alex, Director, ISRO Satellite Centre, Bangalore and N. Valarmathi, Project Director, RISAT-1

Vijay Raghavan, Professor Tejendra Singh Virdee of Imperial College London, who was associated with the design and construction of the Large Hadron Collider, Professor Virendra Singh Aggarwal, whose field is Synthetic Chemistry, which he teaches at University of Bristol (UK), Shankar Balasubramaniam, Professor of Medical Chemistry at Cambridge University and Senior Group Leader, Cancer Research UK, and Chandrsekhar Bhalachandra Khare, Professor of Mathematics at the University of California and Professor Mathkumapali Vidyasagar of the University of Texas.

Sir Paul Nurse, President of the Royal Society, said: “These scientists who have been elected to the Fellowship of the Royal Society are among the world’s finest. They follow in the footsteps of luminaries such as Newton, Darwin and Einstein and I am delighted to welcome them to our ranks.” (The Hindu April 23)

Malarial Drug India has developed a powerful new drug that promises to be an alternative to Artesemin, the synthetic product manufactured in labs. The new drug has excited researches because it can be derived chemically from its plant. Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and (the firm) Ranbaxy released the new chemical entity (NCE)against Pfalciparam malaria in New Delhi to commemorate World Malaria Day. Dr Neena Valecha from the National Institute of Malaria Research (NIMR) said the new therapy, taken once a day over three days contains Arterolane and Piperhas aqine. “Clinical trials conducted by NIMR comparing the combination of Arterolane and Piperaquine have shown it to be effective and safe as Artesemin combinations like Artesemin and Sul phadoxin which is used in the nation malaria programme, she explained.” Artesemin derivatives are the most rapidly effective antidotes to malaria. The new Indian product looks set to challenge this predominance.

Space Feat India is surely making waves in space science and technology

with the successful launch of RISAT-1, whose radar can pierce the clouds and the dark. The indigenous radar imaging satellite was launched aboard the country’s workhorse PSLV rocket, whose string of successes has made it unique. The satellite will be used for weather forecasting, crop surveillance to anticipate harvests and much else, including keeping close watch on the country’s neighbourhood for possible security threats. Not surprisingly, China’s international television network (CCTV) described RISAT-1 as a “spy satellite”. It’s wise to be free of illusions.

The Hindu (April 27) devoted the better part of a page to the event, as befits India’s finest English-language newspaper.

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), led by Dr K.Radhakrishnan has pulled off a remarkable feat and is likely to add others to its list of successes.

Dr Radhakrishnan announced ISRO’s plan to launch a higher orbit GSLV satellite with an Indian cryogenic engine.

He said ISRO had a second moon mission, Chandrayan-II, in its sights, which would involve Russian collaboration.

India would make the orbiter and rover and Russia the lander.Preparations for the ambitious venture were already afoot.

If Keralite Tessy Thomas was part of the amazing Agni V long range missile team, her Tamil counterpart N.Valarmathi (52), ISRO’s Project Director, played a similar role in the RISAT-1 launch. As top women scientists both are role models for their sex and reinforce the argument for gender equality. Ms Valarmathi, a homegrown product, like Tessy Thomas, told the milling scrum of reporters: “It’s a unique satellite, and carries many new technologies like very high data handling systems, high storage devices and modulators.”

Miscellany China’s Global Times continued with its anti-Indian rant, accusing the Delhi government of caving into NATO pressure on determining the range of India’s Agni V long range ballistic missile. The Communist party organ is much given to boasting about China’s superior missile and space capabilities and disdainfully dismisses India’s efforts in

these fields. The crudity of tone says little for China’s understanding of contemporary statecraft and present geostrategic realities. Lisa Curtis and Baker Spring, two US writers associated with prominent American think tanks, in a joint commentary, pointed to the lack of condemnation of the Agni V test from any quarter of the international community, least of all from the United States – which contrasted with the situation in the 1990s when Washington was all too eager to clip India’s wings. Today, they said, the US, in a seminally changed relationship with New Delhi, accepts the need for a credible Indian deterrent capability against China’s unfolding military might allied to an increasingly minatory rhetoric emanating from Beijing.

Much can also be said of Russia, which recently leased one of its most advanced nuclear submarines to India for a ten year period and is jointly producing with India what is reputedly the world’s most powerful Fifth generation warplane with India. It has just handed over to the Indian Navy, the stealth guided missile frigate Teg, which with its state-of-theart weapons suite, makes it a formidable force on the high seas. These developments surely carry a political message for China. India’s Defence Minister A.K.Antony recently told the country’s military commanders to be vigilant about China’s designs and of the concern Beijing’s increasing assertiveness over its claim to the South China Sea was causing policymakers in Delhi and Japan.

Bluster does not pay, as pre-war Germany and Japan learned to their cost.

To end on a positive note.

An NDTV report from Delhi highlighted the transformation of Sanand, in Gujarat, from a rural backwater to a gigantic 400 hectare auto hub. Ford motor company is building a $1 billion plant there, as are Tata Nano and other auto majors.

Michael Boneham, Ford CEO in India, praised the Gujarat government for the expeditious acquisition of land, infrastructure and continuous cooperation in advancing the project.

India’s Met Office has forecast a normal monsoon this year. Two cheers are in order, the third to follow with the rains!

UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 5th May 2012

Britain’s most senior Buddhist monk accused of rape One of Britain’s most senior Buddhist monks is accused of carrying out a string of sex attacks on two young girls aged under 10. The Venerable Pahalagama Somaratana, 66, is facing nine counts of rape, indecent assault and sexual assault.

One girl claims Somaratana allegedly abused her in the shrine room of Croydon Temple where he has been chief monk for the past 31 years, as reported the Daily Mail. The attacks are alleged to have taken place on one victim in Chiswick, London during the summer of 1978.

A second woman claims she was indecently assaulted at Croydon Temple during the mid

1980s. Somaratana, pictured, appeared at Isleworth Crown Court last week to deny all charges against him.

The Sri Lankan-born monk told the court he was the victim of mistaken identity and denies the charges. He insisted it would have been impossible to carry out attacks in either his temple room or the shrine - because there was little privacy and the temple was always occupied by worshippers.

Met officer arrested after racial abuse claim An inspector with the Metropolitan Police has been arrested on suspicion of racial abuse.

The officer is being investigated in connection with an alleged incident in Barnet, north London, while he was off duty on Monday morning, the force said.

He is on police bail and has been suspended from duties pending the outcome of an investigation.

The case is one of several recent allegations of racism made against officers with the Metropolitan Police.

Help us improve our Asian Voice T

hank you for the 40 years of support and for such a successful and enjoyable journey. It is our duty to know your requirement as our valuable reader or response to the content in various sections.

Please tick appropriately in the box and you need not put your name for confidentiality purposes. May we request you to post your reply by Monday 30th April to Rupanjana Dutta, Associate Editor, Asian Voice at Karma Yoga House, 12 Hoxton Market, London N1 6HW or fax at 020 7749 4081 or email at aveditorial@abplgroup.com.

Your views and opinions can help us to make Asian Voice as a more enjoyable read.

News Section Comments Media Watch UK News World News India Bangladesh-Pakistan-Sri Lanka Financial Voice Leicester Voice Midlands Voice Your Voice

Very good

Good

Fair

Poor Very poor

Political Sketchbook Alpesh Patel’s

Labour Day and Government Reform Labour Day, May 1st, should remind us at a time of global efficiency and reform drives, that the ultimate arbiters of whether such programmes will succeed are the people – for which read oftentimes the workers.

To this end, I have shamelessly stolen for Barak Obama. I have nicked, purloined, and committed an act of theft and larceny from the US President. But he had an idea I liked and thought the UK could benefit – so why not?

His idea was this: to ‘crowd source’ from the public and experts how to increase US exports and competitiveness and separately how to ‘make other parts of the Government more effective and efficient’. His ‘Government Reform for Competitiveness and Innovation Initiative’ is a public website onto which people can submit ideas. You only need one good idea and who knows it could be worth millions to the Government.

Why not? It costs the Government nothing. Of course in one sense companies have been doing such things for decades through suggestion boxes. And Governments have been doing it through their political parties. In fact that is one reason for some of the current scandals in politics – that access to party political or No 10 ‘policy units’ could be to a select few with self-interest.

The web way avoids the pitfalls and keeps the advantages. The pitfalls are avoided because it is open to all, and people can vote on the ideas they like, which may be some indication of the

!$,.14

Columns Very good

Good

Fair

Poor Very poor

$'( ,0$0&( 14

)1!./(!)/ -*+!-/%!. %) %1% 0 ' *- +*-/"*'%* -! 0-.%)# !.% !)/% ' *(!. 0-.!-2 )1*% ! %. *0)/%)# /*-%)# ! '/$ -! -*"!..%*) '. * /*-. !)/%./. $ -( %./. !/ 0+ /* "%) ) ! !1!) *) ! .!$*' *- -!!$*'

* ). 0) !-

*/!' !%.0-! !)/-!.

3.

0!./ *0.!. *%)# *) !-). !1!'*+(!)/ %) ) ! !.% !)/% ' *((!- % ' ,0%.%/%*) 1% $ -! +%/ ' -*+!-/2 *-&%)# +%/ ' %) ) ! )0" /0-%)# %./-% 0/%*) 0/'!/.

* ) 0 - )/!!

$!(!. "*- ! .!$*' +-!(%.!.

14 $.. ;174 $059(45 $.. ,6 6$-(5 ,5 $ 2+10( &$..

14 8,5,6 174 9(%5,6( 14 $ 2(4510$.

Entertainment/Health

Remarks:

(),0$0&( 1)

7%5 (56$74$065 010 .,&(05(' .,&(05(' $56 11' 176.(65 !$-( 9$; ,*+6 .7%5 (6$,. "0,65 ,&(05(' 4(/,5(5 9,6+ 14 9,6+176 $&&1//1'$6,10 !4$'( ,0$0&( (66(4 1) 4(',6 156 4( +,2/(06 ,0$0&( (641. 6$6,105 1&- 72 $4$*(5 #$4(+175,0*

Remarks:

Category Bollywood Kollywood Art & Culture Women Community Health Sports Coming Events

quality of ideas. But also the Government is not obliged to take up or even reply – so saving resources in reply to the hair-brain and the dotty.

But more importantly than a glorified suggestion box – every businessman will tell you the best ideas do come from the staff – but to have them implemented requires their ‘buy-in’ – it needs to come from the staff, it needs to have the staff behind it. So too with government reform and efficiency drives.

External government reforms and efficiencies (ie austerity) without buy-in of the staff (ie public) leads to public disorder (witness Spain, Greece, France) and ultimately failure. But so too with internal government reforms – where the Government tries to cut the size of the public sector through cost cutting and efficiency savings from above – critical to success is sourcing ideas and indeed know-how and intelligence from those working within the departments themselves. Of course you may say Sir Humphrey has no incentive in confessing savings – but there are a lot of regular people working in departments who see where their tax pounds are going and have no vested interest in waste, and budget sizes for the sake of egos.

So please do your bit in the National Service, your country needs you – visit my little project where you can post ideas for efficiency and government reform: www.UKGovernmentReform.com www.PoliticalAnimal.me

SPECIALIST COMMERCIAL FINANCE BROKERS

Remarks:

Section One to One Councillor's Column MP's column Leading Lights Spriha's corner CHN Column Children's corner India Connect Fashionista Alpesh's Political Sketchbook Alpesh's Financial Voice Sow & Reap Foreign Exchange Visa Bytes Leadership Matters Mahabharata History Matters Women Achievers Travel Tonic/Travel Diary Lifestyle Matters Kapil's Khichadi

13

Very good

Good

1/2(6,6,8(

Fair

$6(5

1057.6$6,10 &$..

7$4$06((' (48,&(5

1

,''(0

Poor Very poor

70911'; 175(

!(.

(0610 1$'

$4419

,''.(5(:

$: /$,. (037,4,(5 '70911';+175( &1 7- &1 7#(%5,6( 999 ),0$0&(+175(.6' &1 7-

+$4*(5

14

ART & CULTURE

India Connect How do I apply for a visa to India?

If you are planning a trip to India, irrespective of the reason of travel, you need to complete an online application form, take a print out and submit it at the nearest India Visa Application Center in the United Kingdom.

This Form is common for all categories being applied for and can be found on our website at http://in.vfsglobal.co.uk along Jiten Vyas, VFS Global with all required information on fees, documents required and locations where the application can be submitted.

You also have the option to send us the application form and all required documents via post to our visa application center in Hayes.

It is very important to keep in mind that the two photographs that you do need to submit along with your application must be of a specific size i.e. 50x50 and with a white background. The visa centers in London, Birmingham and Edinburgh do have photo booths that will be able to provide you with the right size and quality.

Please note that incorrect or incomplete applications, documentation or photographs may not allow us to proceed with accepting your dossier at the visa center. A comprehensive FAQ tab on the homepage of our website will provide you with more information on your application requirements.

Where do I apply for a visa to India?

There are 8 locations within the United Kingdom where you can submit your application for a visa to India. These are: India Visa Application Center 60-62 Wilton Road, Victoria, London, SW1V 1DE. India Visa Application Center 142-148 Goswell Road, London EC1V 7DU. India Visa Application Center 1-3, Canalside, Uxbridge Road, Hayes, Middlesex, UB4 0JN India Visa Application Center 20 - 21 Pemberton Street, Birmingham B18 6NY India Visa Application Center 66 Hanover Buildings Rose Street, Edinburgh EH2 2NN Submission of Application for all the above centers: 0830 - 1430 Hrs Collection of processed passports from all the above centers: 1300 - 1630 Hrs Monday-Friday India Visa Application Center C/o. The India Centre, Sanquhar Street, Splott, Cardiff, CF24 2AA. Working hours are from 09.00hrs until 14.30hrs Monday to Friday India Visa Application Center C/o. Mel Milaap Centre 134 Berkeley Street, Glasgow, G3 7HY. Working hours are from 0930 - 1430 Hrs Monday-Friday India Visa Application Center C/o. Jain Community Centre 669 Stockport Road, Longsight, Manchester, M12 4QE. Working hours are from 0930 – 1430 Hrs Monday-Friday What documents are required and the subsequent fees to be charged?

Complete information on the documents required and the subsequent fees which will be charged can be found under the section ‘All About Your Visa’ on the homepage of our website http://in.vfsglobal.co.uk. Under each category information is broken down into four tabs at the top of the page titled: Visa Fees, Document Checklist, Application Form, Photo Specifications and FAQ.

For more information regarding any quires about Indian Visa please contact by email or post: Email: info.inuk@vfshelpline.com Customer Relations Department.

India Visa Application Center, 60-62 Wilton Road, London SW1V 1DE

India Connect - your questions answered on India visas” a service offered by

Asian Voice - Saturday 5th May 2012

Foodies Festival to celebrate quality family times together Foodies Festivals like the previous years are yet again ready to bring you and your family the most exciting mix of food, drink and culinary talent for 2012. In an exclusive interview Sue Hitchen, the Director of Foodies Festivals, told Asian Voice about the fun involved, the exclusivity and the unique opportunities available for our readers at the festival.

AV: Tell us briefly about the idea of Foodies Festival. Who and why it was conceptualised?

Sue: I identified that there was a real need for family food and drink festivals as part of the mix of festivals in Edinburgh and then brought the event to Jubilee Square, Brighton, in 2009, alongside the Brighton Fringe - and then last year expanded on to Hove Lawns. Word spread about the success of the festivals and we were approached to run them around the country so it was an expansion brought about by demand.

try to include innovative features every year to give people something new to experience. This year we have put in the Food of Love Cinema, where you can watch the greatest food films of all time and eat the food from those

AV: Is this the first year of this event? If not, how is each year different from the other?

Sue: We now have seven shows yearly, since our first was set up six years ago. The festivals grow each year, so there's always something new to try and more delicious food than ever to taste.

AV: Who are your target audience?

Sue: Anyone who loves quality food as well as a friendly family festival atmosphere.

AV: Do you have any Asians especially Indians taking part in the event?

If yes in what capacity?

Sue: Cyrus Todiwala OBE, who recently cooked for the Queen, is bringing his innovative restaurant trailer to Hampton Court Palace Foodies on May 5,

AV: Do you have any theme for each year?

Sue: No, although we

Foodies Festivals are at 7 locations around the UK this year. Call 0844 995 1111 or visit www.foodiesfestival.co m for tickets and more information

sorts of food stalls alongside each other. There is a lot of Asian food in the Street Food Avenue area, however, as well as Asian exhibitors, such as Curry Tree Spice Mix and Indian Affair.

6 and 7 and he'll be cooking a mixture of street food and classic Indian dishes. Priya Raman, of Raman's Kitchen, is doing daily masterclasses on Indian cuisine.

AV: What are the benefits for people who are visiting the festival other than tasting good food?

Sue: They can watch TV and Michelin-starred chefs cooking live in the Chef's Theatre and enjoy food and drink masterclasses with experts.

There's a Kids' Cookery Theatre for budding young chefs, as well as a city beach to relax on and

AV: Do you have any special section on Asian food?

Sue: Not specifically, as we like to display all

make sandcastles. There's a VIP Lounge, where premium ticket holders can enjoy live cabaret, free restaurant meals and free champagne.

Cyrus Todiwala

films during the screening.

Anjali launches pencil Campaign

The AkshayaPatra Foundation hosted a dinner to thank all their current donors and supporters at the Wembley Plaza hotel on Wednesday, 25th April evening. Even with heavy rains and unusual traffic,the banquet hall was full - with around 200 people. Full report next week with more photos.

A 15 year old London schoolgirl has begun a campaign to send used pencils to a school in Africa. Anjali Vaz from Stanmore in Middlesex began her initiative when visiting Kenya the country of birth of her mother last year. While there in a Village School near Kisumu, she discovered that children were using charcoal to write on pieces of paper because they didn't have pencils.

Photo courtesy: Raj Bakrania

The initiative involves sending used pencils to a Village school in Kenya.

She is therefore calling on anyone who has used pencils of length 14cm or over which they are going to get rid of to send them to her so that she can send them on to a school in

Kenya.

Anjali said: ‘I believe that the young children in this school in Kenya deserve to have the chance for an education and should get the opportunity for learning. Here, we take pencils for granted, however even the pencils that you do not want can help immensely.’

If you have any pencils that you are not using, please email Anjali on sendapencil@hotmail.co.uk

leading Tamil film star and Politician R Sarath Kumar and MP Virendra Sharma at the House of Commons to discuss on future goals and ambitions of the organisation.

Sarath kumar said “I am delighted to support

BSICC activities in the future and also provide my assistance where necessary. “ BSICC aims to help those who would like have links with businesses in Uk and South India.

Virendra Sharma MP to chair the British South Indian Chambers of Commerce Rt Hon Virendra Sharma, MP will be chairing the newly formed organisation British South Indian Chambers of Commerce (BSICC).

The BSICC will include members from 4 south Indian states (Kerala, Tamil Nadu , Andhra Pradesh and Jacob Ravi Balan , President of World Karnataka).

Tamil Organisation with Tamil Actor A meeting was and Politician, R Sarath Kumar and held last week Virendra Sharma MP at the British with few members South Indian Chambers of Commerce meeting at the Parliament along with the

UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 5th May 2012

For more stories visit www.scribbledesk.com

Short Story by Neha Garg

Electra's Broom ‘The broom hurts my bum,’ wailed Electra.

‘That’s no surprise. You are so bony.

No padding whatsoever. What’s a bum to do?’ said Agnes chuckling.

They were at the dinner table and Agnes was stuffing her face with anything she could reach. Electra, as usual, was wondering how much more her friend’s stomach could take before she exploded.

‘What you need, is feeding up,’ said Agnes through a mouthful of chocolate éclair.

‘The witches Annual Christmas Meet is in one week, Agnes! Nothing I can eat in that time will fatten me enough,’ said Electra, pushing her plate away.

‘Besides, if I became as big as you, my broom will probably never lift off the ground.’

‘My broom lifts off just fine,’ snapped Agnes, spraying her friend with bits of éclair. She was very touchy about her weight.

Electra grinned.

‘I passed an airplane while practicing my flying yesterday. The people inside looked so comfortable and warm on their cushiony seats while I was stuck outside, frozen solid to my broom,’ said Electra.

‘Why don’t you just hire a plane then?’ said Agnes.

‘HIRE A PLANE?’ boomed Electra, suddenly standing up and knocking her glass over. ‘How dare you, Agnes, How silly will it look if I, a Mighty Witch, arrived in an ordinary airplane?’

‘Okay, Okay. Relax, O Mighty Witch,’ said Agnes, setting Electra’s glass straight again.

Electra glared at Agnes. How dare she suggest something like that? Hire an airplane indeed. Why, she would be the laughing stock of the entire Witching community. Still seething and ignoring the steady drip of the water from the table to the floor, she sat back down.

She had to do something soon though. The Annual Witches’ Meet was her one chance to show the other witches up.

The next day, Electra set to work.

She set her broom down in the middle of the garden and stood back looking at it.

‘I am going to shopping for a bit, Electra,’ called Agnes, from the kitchen window. ‘The sofa needs new filling and I really need a new pet to show off at the Witches Meet.’

Electra nodded absent-mindedly, only half listening to what her friend said.

‘A sofa,’ she murmured and snapped her fingers. A chintz armchair appeared.

It hovered in mid-air for a second before it dropped with a loud bang right on top of the broom.

Electra climbed into the armchair and snapped her fingers again.

‘UP!’ she commanded.

The broom lifted into the air about a foot or so before it started shivering violently, almost throwing its mistress off. Electra held on for dear life (not that falling a foot to the ground would have done her much harm).

‘Down Broom! DOWN!’ she screamed.

The broom had barely touched the ground again that Electra jumped off.

‘Hmmm,’ she said, scratching her chin thoughtfully. ‘I suppose that is no

better than putting Agnes on the poor broom.’

‘I know!’ she said suddenly and snapped her fingers. The armchair disappeared and in its place sat a bright red cushion, velvety and fat.

Once more, Electra climbed her broom and commanded, ‘UP!’ This time, the broom lifted gracefully into the sky. It flew straight up into the clouds. By the time, it came back down to earth, both Electra and the cushion were soaking wet.

‘Well, at least it was comfortable,’ said Electra to herself, standing up and shaking her head like a dog to get the water out of her ears.

‘Any Luck?’ shouted Agnes looking at Electra from the kitchen window.

Electra shook her head as she walked towards the house with her broom on her shoulder.

‘Aah well. Maybe you will have better luck tomorrow,’ said Agnes, handing Electra a towel.

‘Come, I want you to meet someone.’

Electra followed her friend to the fireplace, in front of which, sat a big green Dragon, his head almost brushing the ceiling.

‘This is Norg,’ said Agnes, beaming up at the Dragon and lovingly patting his knee. ‘And Norg, this is Electra.’

Electra’s eyes shone as she took the claw the Dragon politely offered her.

‘Agnes, this is it. The answer to all our problems.’

‘What do you mean?’ asked Agnes, bewildered, looking from the Dragon to her friend.

‘Why, we can both just ride your Dragon to the Annual Witches Meet,’ said Electra, excitedly gesturing to Norg. ‘His back will surely be more comfortable than our brooms and whenever we are cold, we can just ask him to breathe fire to make us warm.’

‘Besides,’ she continued, with a chuckle, ‘He looks strong enough to carry even you.’

Agnes looked at Norg, understanding slowly dawning into her eyes.

‘That’s a fabulous idea,’ said Agnes.

‘All we need a couple of saddles and we are all set.’

She happily patted Norg’s knee as he stood purring gently. In their happiness, neither witch noticed his breath burning a small hole in the ceiling.

A week later, everything as ready.

Electra and Agnes’ bags were tied to Norg’s neck and they themselves, sat in the brand new velvet cushioned saddles they had conjured.

‘Let’s go Norg. Let’s show those witches, who the Queen Witches really are,’ said Electra happily as she dug a heel into the Dragon’s side.

And away they went, flying over clouds and across snow drenched mountains. The Dragon dutifully breathing fire every time Agnes commanded him to, never once letting his mistress and her friend get cold or uncomfortable during the journey.

And when they arrived, they arrived in style. Electra got her wish as all the witches stood and stared, their mouths open as the big dragon landed in the middle of the garden, with the two witches sitting tall on his back.

And here we shall leave them, happy and proud until the next adventure.

15

Heathrow chaos tarnishing UK’s image?

Air Passengers are being forced to wait up to an hour and a half to get into the UK as the Border Force routinely misses its daily targets for queue times.

Figures obtained by the Daily Telegraph, covering the first two weeks of the month, have revealed the extent of the chaos faced by people flying into Heathrow.

Immigration Minister Damian Green was told he will have account for the chaos when he appears before the Home Affairs Select Committee and explain the chronic queues that are doing “huge damage” to Britain’s reputation.

There are fears that the problems are tarnishing the UK’s image, particularly with the London Olympics only three months away.

However it has been alleged that The Home Office has tried to ban Heathrow from informing the public about the full extent of delays at the airport, suggest leaked emails obtained by The Daily Telegraph.

Heathrow approached “breaking” point last week, with passengers left so frustrated by delays that they resorted to storming past officials without showing their documents and slow handclapping staff in

7/7 bombers planned attack on Bank of England The July 7 bombers originally planned to launch a truck bomb against the Bank of England in an attack to coincide with the G8 summit, a daily newspaper has reported.

According to a top secret first-hand account from the alQaeda commander behind the attacks, the

original plan was to drive a truck bomb into a financial target.

They eventually opted to detonate rucksack bombs on the underground, killing 52 people. Tony Blair was hosting the G8 summit at Gleneagles in Scotland at the time and flew back to London after the attacks.

immigration halls.

Several times last week delays were reported in Terminal Five of up to two hours.

On Saturday BAA, the owner of Heathrow, tried to defuse tensions with a leaflet apologising to passengers for the “very long delays” and saying people entering the country “deserved a warmer welcome”.

The leaflet suggested that passengers should complain to the Home Office.

However, Marc Owen, the director of UK Border Agency operations at Heathrow, told BAA the leaflet was “inappropriate”.

Vaisakhi celebrations in Trafalgar Square This Sunday, 6th May, Live Bhangra music and great entertainment will be on offer in Trafalgar Square for a special celebration of the Sikh New Year, the tenth anniversary of the festival coming to London.

The festival regularly attracts upwards of 30,000 people, including Sikhs, the wider Asian community, Londoners and visitors.

The free event is organised

by Sunrise Radio and the Greater London Authority and sponsored by Lycamobile.

16

Asian Voice - Saturday 5th May 2012

Nikita Thukral opted out of ‘The Dirty Picture’ remake

Nikita Thukral, who was expected to play the lead in the Kannada remake of the Bollywood blockbuster “The Dirty Picture” titled “Dirty Picture: Silk Sakkath Maga,” opted out of the film due to certain issues. Now, Pakistani actress Veena Malik plays the lead in the Kannada version. On being quizzed about the reason for opting out of the film, Nikita said, “When I was approached for the Kannada version of the film, the makers said it would be their version of “The Dirty Picture,” based on the life of Silk Smitha. So, I asked them for the exact story. But, I was shocked after hearing the complete story. It was neither like the Bollywood version, nor about the life of Silk Smitha. The story was about a commercial sex worker. So, I turned the offer down.”

Amy Jackson joins Yardley 'brand'wagon

Lady luck is favoring this British model turned Indian film actress. She is now the brand ambassador of Yardley, one of the leading FMCG brands in India that also features Katrina Kaif. This was widely rumoured in mid March but it's now as good as official and a photo shoot and commercial is touted to have been shot as well. It will soon be aired in television channels. The actress was widely appreciated for her performance in 'Madrasapattinam' post which she bagged 'Ekk Deewana Tha'. Although the film didn't fair well in Hindi she made her presence felt in the north by being the cynosure at events and her camaraderie with co-star Prateik Babbar.

Asian Voice - Saturday 5th May 2012

Namitha all set to titillate in ‘Midatha’ Namitha all set to titillate in “Midatha.” The latest film to be dubbed from Tamil to Telugu is “Indira Vizha,” which will be released in Telugu as “Midatha.” The producer of the film says, "Nasser plays the role of an affluent old man who is always thinking about sex and money. He marries Namitha and is very possessive about her.

The film is about how Namitha uses her power to get back at her ex, Srikanth, who is now happily married to Sruthi." It is learnt that certain portions of the film have been shot specifically keeping the Telugu audience in mind.

The filmmakers are planning to have the audio launch soon.

Hot Garam masala Sunny Leone to work for Ekta Kapoor While “Jism 2” is still being shot, Sunny Leone, our Indo-Canadian kudi who is rated as one of the top female porn stars in LA, is going fully legit by becoming a bona fide Bollywood actress. The latest project she has bagged is Ragini MMS 2, to be produced by Ekta Kapoor under her banner Balaji films. Ekta Kapoor herself has become a raunchy producer of late, as though making up for the regressive neo-con soap operas that made her a household name and a millionaire. Close on the heels of “The Dirty Picture,” she has announced that Sunny Leone will be starring in the sequel to her horror flick.

Aamir attends wedding of auto-rickshaw driver's son Superstar Aamir Khan kept his promise to his friend and autorickshaw driver Ram Lakhan by attending the wedding of his son in Varanasi amid much chaos. The 47-year-old actor reached the wedding venue at Mehmurganj's Chaurasiya marriage hall post midnight. Aamir was supposed to reach there by 9.30 pm but he got delayed as he had to travel by road from Patna, said Ram Lakhan who met the actor during the promotions of “3 Idiots.” Aamir hugged his friend and felicitated the newly weds Rajiv and his bride, Vijayta before posing for the paparazzi. It was utter chaos at the wedding as crowd and media had gathered to get a glimpse of the actor. Interestingly, his decision to attend the wedding coincides with the promotions of Aamir's debut television venture “Satyamev Jayate” which also has a common man theme.

Konkona Sen Sharma back on sets Actor Ranvir Shorey says his wife Konkona Sen Sharma, who took a sabbatical after their son Haroon's birth, is back under arch lights. The actress, who was last seen in a cameo in "7 Khoon Maaf," will be seen in Anant Mahadevan's "Gaur Hari Dastaan."

She plays Odisha's freedom fighter Gaur Hari Das' wife in it. Regarding motherhood, she said "It's a beautiful experience. My mother passed away about eight-nine years ago and she always used to be after me to get married. I used to be like, 'No, not now.'

And now when I have a family, I realise what she meant.”

Nargis Fakhri kisses a guy at a party Nargis Fakhri who is rumouredly dating Shahid Kapoor showed her wild side recently. A few weeks ago she attended a house party at Shahid’s pad in Versova. Only very close pals of the star were present.

A source reveals, “It was a fun party and we started playing the game of truth and dare.

When Nargis was asked to choose between truths or dare she chose the latter. So Shahid dared her to kiss one of the guys present at the party and she immediately took up the challenge.

She went ahead and kissed the guy in front of Shahid. While the guy who was at the receiving end of the kiss turned red, Shahid and Nargis took it very sportingly. It was all done in a fun spirit.” Well that’s what we call kiss and tell! Wonder what Sasha told the guy later? Or better still what did he tell Nargis about her chumma with the guy?

Bollywood’s grand old lady Zohra Sehgal turns 100 Film, theatre and TV personality Zohra Sehgal has turned 100 last week.

Begum Mumtaz-ullah Khan (her first name) was born in 1912 in Rampur.

Soon after her college days she started her professional career as a leading dancer.

She fell in love with a fellow dancer, Kameshwar Sehgal and married in 1942. In 1945, she joined Prithvi Theatre.

When Kameshwar took his life, leaving Zohra with two kids, she went to Britain in 1962. In the late 1970s, British TV and films rediscovered her. She acted in serials such as “Jewel in the Crown” and “Tandoori Nights” and films like “My Beautiful Laundrette” and The Mystic Masseur.

Zohra came back to India in the 1990s to

live with her daughter, renowned Odissi danseuse Kiran Sehgal, in New Delhi. In 1994, she was diagnosed with cancer, but she has fought this off, too.

Zohra has appeared in over 20 films. She is best remembered for her appearances in “Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam,” “Bend It Like Beckham,” “Dil Se” and “Cheeni Kum.” In 1998 she was honoured with the Padma Shri, following which she received the Kalidas Samman in 2001, and the Sangeet Natak Akademi in 2004. In 2010, she was bestowed with the Padma Vibhushan. In 2008, she was named the ‘Laadli of the Century’ by the United Nations Population Fund (UNPF)Laadli Media Awards.

Salim Khan ‘awards’ Shoojit Sircar for ‘Vicky Donor’ Veteran scriptwriter Salim Khan loved Shoojit Sircar`s newly released film ‘Vicky Donor’ so much that he called the young director to his residence and presented him with an award.

Salim, who has written scripts for many a blockbuster, including ‘Sholay’ and ‘Don’, watched ‘Vicky Donor’ and called Shoojit to award him with one of his own Filmfare trophies. "I couldn`t believe it was Salim Khan when I

received the call. He said, ‘I saw your film with 10 women in my house and we all loved it. I don`t know how you made this film. I even spoke to your scriptwriter. Both of you have done a commendable job so I want to give you an award from my side’," Shoojit told reporters.

The director then went to Salim`s house and the 76-year-old father of superstar Salman Khan presented Shoojit with a Filmfare trophy.

Bollywood hit makers RDB pack a punch in Punjab

Internationally acclaimed RDB group charmed Chandigarh with their bhangra buzz with their performance for Super Fight League’s (SFL) second fight night.

SFL, which had its first event in Mumbai, also had performers like Mehak Chahal and Malaika Arora Khan at its Chandigarh fight night. RDB performed some of their legendary hit tracks such as ‘Singh is Kinng’, ‘Shera Di Kaum’ and all-time favourite chart buster ‘Aloo Chat’.

The audience were enthralled and on their feet while the band interacted with the audience. RDB have been frequent visitors to India and has performed at various high-profile events. The band is slated to compose

17

Emraan promotes ‘Jannat 2’ in Ahmedabad

Emraan Hashmi was in Ahmedabad recently to promote his forthcoming crime thriller ‘Jannat 2.′ Producer Mahesh Bhatt and director Kunal Deshmukh were also present on the occasion.

The film is all about illegal arms trade and the best part is that though it is a serious movie it will make you laugh as well as cry. "That is the beauty of the film; I think ‘Jannat 2’ is a testament to the new developing concept of different cinema,” said Emraan.

When asked, what is his Jannat (Heaven) in his personal life? He said, “At this point of time, my only Jannat is Jannat 2 being a super hit.” When asked if he would ever like to change his image of serial kisser, he soon directed this question to the audience and asked them if they would like him to change the image.

Girls shouted a big ‘No.’ In the film ‘Jannat 2’, the character of Sonu Dilli, played by Emraan, is a

man who has all the knowledge by simply living on the roads. He has no degree but is street smart.

He is street graduated, and that makes all the difference to him tackling life.

Bhatt said, “Emraan is going to surprise you with the maturity of his performance in Jannat-2.

There is a universe worth of wisdom available to us every day, in every street of our country if we only paused, looked and listened. That's where Sonu Dilli comes in. The character will take you on an exploration of human wisdom with all its hues as it exists on the streets.

"Sonu is light-hearted, yet profound. Listening to him you will realize that the human heart has mountains, valleys, deserts, oasis and summits, which only someone like him who has graduated from the University of the Street can, articulate.” The film is scheduled to be released on May 4 worldwide.

- Purvi Apurva Shah

music for yet another film post their ‘Chaar din ki Chandni’ outing.

RDB has even confessed to love the music in India and that they would love to compose music in more films.

Surj, a member of the band said, “We love Indian cinema and its energy. The whole vibe is so festive.

Composing tracks for Hindi films is great as there is so much to play with. Different genes and different scenarios. It’s just some crazy energy.” Speaking about their latest performance at SFL, Surj adds, “We had a great time performing at SFL. It was a great night with superb action and a lot of Masti. We love performing in India and are looking forward to more such entertaining performances.”

Big B gearing up to host KBC 6 Contrary to reports that he might not host the sixth edition of the reality game show 'Kaun Banega Crorepati', megastar Amitabh Bachchan seems all prepared to take the hot seat again. "Off for a meet with Sony for next KBC... planning, operation, execution... will keep you informed on its broadcast and other details," Bachchan wrote on twitter. KBC is the Indian version of the UK game show “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” The show became a rage with Bachchan hosting its first and second seasons.

Following this, superstar Shah Rukh Khan was roped in for the third. But Big B returned to anchor the fourth season and the fifth season.

John Abraham to marry this year Last year, John Abraham split with his girlfriend Bipasha Basu after close to a decade of courtship. It wasn't pretty. Things at work too weren't taking off, with both “Force” and “Desi Boyz” not quite hitting the mark.

But 2012 has been kinder. Not only has he cemented his relationship with the love of his life Priya Runchal, but his first production “Vicky Donor” too has been lapped up by the audience and critics alike (a rarity). He said "Priya and I have decided to get married this year." "I met Priya through a common friend. Ours is a very honest relationship. We can tell each other everything. I think that is a benchmark for a healthy relationship."

18

Asian Voice - Saturday 5th May 2012

Decision making is slow in India: Mittal

Dear Financial Voice Reader, The key aim of investors is to beat the Index, such as the FTSE 100. Why? Because if you can’t beat the index, then you may as well invest in an index-tracker.

Most fund managers do not beat the index – which is extraordinary given that they are paid lots of money to try. Little wonder private investors prefer DIY. What if you could pick a stock which keeps on beating the Index, month in month out, year in year out?

Would that be possible, if not necessarily wise? I mean a British company not some fad US dot-com.

I was asked recently to be one of the few men to be an Ambassador for Women Empowered, launched by the effervescent Reena Ranger Ahuja – an organisation promoting...well… empowerment of women. Having coauthored a book, ‘Our Turn: the ultimate start-up guide for female entrepreneurs’ I was delighted, honoured and privileged to accept.

Looking at my fellow Ambassadors I noticed Ruby McGregor-Smith CBE of MITIE Group. Her biography on the Women Empowered website states “As the only Asian female Chief Executive in the FTSE250, and running a company that aspires to join the FTSE 100, I know how important it is that people of all backgrounds have the opportunity to reach their potential. I really believe that MITIE’s success is a direct result of the collective experiences, talent, perspectives, cultures and unique attributes of our people. As part of this, attracting future female talent is of key importance. We are always working hard to create a culture where differences are not merely accepted, but valued; where everyone has the opportunity to develop themselves and reach their potential.”

So I wondered do companies run by women, an Asian woman, with such a gender equality initiatives outperform other companies? Or is it an indulgence at the shareholder’s expense? Of course there are too few such companies for my experiment to be statistically significant, but I thought I would check the share price performance of MITIE. I wasn’t expecting anything special, after all the mighty testosterone world of banking and Barclays could not manage to raise their share price after 15 years, so what chance MITIE? Hmmm…the MITIE share price has outperformed the Index, and Barclays over the past month, three months, six months, one year, 5 years, and 10 years.

That’s 6-0 in blokey Football scores. Indeed over 10 years – MITIE is up 300%. When it comes to their share price over the same period, Barclay’s men had, well, a failure to launch; they just couldn’t excite the market to give them a rise (albeit the CEO got pay rises) – simply couldn’t get it up – the bankers were as limp as a wet lettuce.

I’m not saying it’s sensible to base an investment strategy on this, or that you should put all your money in MITIE – but for all those bankers who bang on about how they need to be paid lots because they are so talented, I would say this, research in my book shows that women tend to be less vocal in asking for higher pay, or indeed placing a greater value on their work. So maybe the problem is, as exhibited by the male-dominated world of banking, men not only value their work more, and so get paid more, but actually, clearly, over-value their work.

It would be a leap to say banks need more women at the top – but if my little experiment is anything to go by, it couldn’t get worse could it? Oh, by the way, most fund managers, those who can’t beat the Index, are men too.

HSBC axes 550 Indian employees Over the last two days, HSBC India has undertaken a massive layoff exercise showing the door to as many as 550 employees ranging from assistant manager to vice presidents from its Hyderabad and Pune centres alone.

It is estimated that a total of 750 employees have been asked to leave across locations and designations. So from assistant managers to vice presidents have been summoned to the meeting room in the last two days, asked to choose between

termination and resignation, pack their bags and leave. Every couple of hours, employees was escorted out of the building by guards after quick meetings with the human resource department.

No time was given to bid goodbyes to friends and colleagues. They were later packed off in cabs after their access cards were taken. A manager who was asked to leave said, "I was asked to log off from my computer and leave in ten minutes. Even those who have done well were asked to leave."

Billionaire Lakshmi N Mittal on Saturday said decision-making in India is slow but he would not complain about policy paralysis.

"We have businesses all over the world. I tell my guys don't complain about the policies, try to adopt...policies... We don't complain. We have tried to adapt to local policies.

We will all have to adjust to the new policies," he told reporters after Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh formally launched his investment arm's refinery project.

But, he said, decision making was slow. "Surely

things are moving slowly.

There is no doubt. Process approval is taking time.

The biggest impediment is still infrastructure development," Mittal added.

Asked if the perception of policy paralysis in the UPA-government was responsible for slowdown in the economy and loss of investor confidence, Mittal said his philosophy was not to complain but to adapt to local policies.

"For an emerging market like us, we should grow more. There is so much of potential," he said.

Mittal said India was growing slower than its capability as European

Union crisis has affected emerging markets.

Mittal, Chairman of ArcelorMittal, the world's biggest steelmaker, said European economy may take 2017 to reach pre-crisis level.

"There was an impression couple of years back that India as an emerging market was decoupled from global economy. But last global crisis has proved that we are not decoupled.

"There is clear relation between global crisis (and) Indian economy," he said.

While the US economy appears to have come out of the 2008 crisis, the

Sun Mark wins award from Queen for 4th consecutive year Sun Mark Ltd has won Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade for the fourth consecutive time. Sun Mark Ltd is the only company in Britain to have won three consecutive Queen’s award earlier and set a new record.

Dr Rami Ranger MBE, the founder and chairman, puts this success down to his upbringing where he was taught by his mother to strive for excellence in all tasks he performed, no matter how small. He is also grateful to the British sense of tolerance and fair play where an ordinary immigrant like him can realise his ambitions and become an asset for his family and adopted country.

Sun Mark Ltd exports British supermarket products to over 100 countries with staggering results.

The company was set up

in 1995 to market FMCG (fast moving consumer goods) products made by companies such as Unilever, Cadburys, Premier Foods, Fox's, Nestle, Weetabix, Twinings, Heinz and many others.

In 2000 Sun Mark introduced a range of competitively priced products under its own brands.

These are Robust, Golden Country, Bullet, Pure Heaven, Royalty, Comfi, Bulldog, Laser, Anmol, Glucomax and others to complement its existing portfolio of products. The results speak for themselves. The company's annual sales have since grown more than 10 fold and are still growing at over 30% per annum

despite the global economic downturn.

The company's motto is, "we only succeed when our customers succeed". This is the defining principle of Sun Mark and has brought it this fourth recognition in as many years from Her Majesty The Queen. Sun Mark also featured for a second year running in the prestigious Sunday Times Profit Track 100, but at an improved position, up from 33 last year to 25 this year signifying the company's stable growth and emphasis on the right principles for business.

The company was also listed in the "Investec Hot 100" as a company to watch. The company firmly believes in a partnership between its customers, suppliers and the team at Sun Mark working in perfect harmony to achieve a combined success for everyone.

recovery in EU would be slow because of various issues, Mittal said.

"My guess is that (for EU) to reach pre-crisis level of 2007, it will be 2016/17," he added.

India's forex reserves rise by $1.46 bn India's foreign exchange (forex) reserves rose by $1.46 billion to $294.60 billion for the week ended April 20, official data showed. Forex reserves had risen by $213.8 million to $293.14 billion in the previous week.

Foreign currency assets, the biggest component of the forex reserves kitty, rose by $1.45 billion to $260.21 billion during the week under review, according to the weekly statistical supplement of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

The RBI did not provide any reasons for the upward change in foreign currency assets.

The foreign currency assets expressed in US dollar terms include the effect of appreciation or depreciation of non-US currencies such as the pound sterling, euro and yen held in reserve, the RBI said.

The value of special drawing rights (SDRs) rose by $5.2 million to $4.45 billion.

UK slides back into recession Britain's economy sank back into recession in the first quarter, when it contracted by 0.2 per cent amid ongoing state austerity and the euro zone debt crisis, official data showed.

The British economy has now returned to a technical recession, defined as two successive quarters of contraction, after shrinking by 0.3 per cent in the previous three months, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed.

The data confounded most analysts' expectations that gross domestic product (GDP) would grow by 0.1 per cent in the quarter from January to March, compared with the final quarter of last year.

The ONS added in a statement that the decline in first-quarter GDP - the value of all goods and services produced by the economy - was driven by a poor performance by the

construction and manufacturing sectors. Britain's economy had clawed its way out of a record-length recession in the third quarter of 2009 following a downturn sparked by the global financial crisis. But it has now returned to recession amid painful government spending cutbacks and fallout from the debt crisis in the neighbouring euro zone, which is a key trading partner.

Britain joins a number of euro zone countries in recession, including Spain,

and bailed-out nations Greece, Ireland and Portugal.

Overall, the 17-nation euro zone's output shrank by 0.3 per cent in the fourth quarter of last year, while recent weak data has sparked deep worries that the region is also back in recession. Highlighting the extent of Britain's debt strains, official data showed public sector net debt as a percentage of GDP - excluding the cost of bank bailouts - hit a record high 66 per cent in

March. Britain's total debt stands at £1.022 trillion (1.25 trillion euros, $1.65 trillion), the ONS had revealed. "It's a very tough economic situation," British finance minister George Osborne said following news that Britain was back in recession.

"It's taking longer than anyone hoped to recover from the biggest debt crisis of our lifetime - even after the recent fall in unemployment. "But over many years this country built up massive debts, which we are having to pay off. It's made much harder when so much of the rest of Europe is in recession or heading into it. "The one thing that would make the situation even worse would be to abandon our credible plan and deliberately add more borrowing and even more debt," added Chancellor of the Exchequer Osborne.

FINANCIAL VOICE

Asian Voice - Saturday 5th May 2012

19

Weighing up the risks Currently we are trying to tie up a deal in Shirland Road, we have been working on it for just over a month.

Whilst we were tracking this deal originally another one across the road distracted us and we managed to purchase this and resell in between looking to purchase this one.

Suresh Vagjiani Sow & Reap A Property Investment Company

With propert y you can ne ve r predict when thin gs will fru ctify. You simply ke ep sowin g t he see ds, some you can harvest and some you will have to wait unt il next se ason. This is t he min d set yo u must have, otherwise thing s will only en d in frustration .

The property comprises of a commercial unit on the ground floor and badly done residential units above. In order to squeeze as many flats as possible into the building the original high ceiling rooms had been destroyed by moving the floors internally. The job was so badly done some of the windows were at floor level. This was an illegal conversion done badly.

Our initial suggestion to the vendors was they exchange with us and they keep the money on exchange, as they claimed to be looking for a country home, rather than it staying in the solicitors account, and we have a delayed completion. This would allow us to sort the planning issues out with the building, and them to exchange on a new country home. From a money perspective this is great as we would have the deal locked for 10%.

H aving re searc hed t he sellers we discovered t hey had previously been convicte d of t he l argest ever bene fit f raud to the tun e of several millions of pou nds and had been t o prison , t his was all d one on the pre mises we were look in g at.

Apparently the lady was making up false identities using people who had emigrated from UK to Australia. The judge had said: "It is obvious in my judgment that this was a pre-meditated, sophisticated and highly organised fraud with the singular aim of maximising the illicit financial rewards for you and your accomplices."

Given our discovery the risk attached to allowing them to keep the exchange money could be large, especially given the background of the sellers. After exchange they could for example go and get a bridging loan and remortgage the property up to the hilt, and pocket the money and simply wait for it to be repossessed. Any proposed agreement would have to be done by an astute solicitor and be water tight from all angles including a charge on the property. Hence we were a little hesitant in going down this road.

Not what you would expect from a couple of pensioners whose first story is they want to down size their home and move further out to the country.

Added to this there was also an ongoing issue with Westminster Council over rates, this resulted in a second charge being put onto the property. In short they needed to sell, this told us they were a motivated seller, someone going down a dead end road - sooner or later this property will be sold. In one sense these are the kinds of sellers we like because as each day passes the chances of a sale happening grows

The Real Deal Off Market Opportunity

Freegrove Rd, N7 9JN Purchase price: £275,000 Stamp Duty only 1% No sourcing fees required

This two bedroom duplex flat is located in a smart purposebuilt block of eight flats. The flat requires modernisation.

Transport links include local buses and Caledonian Road Underground Station. Residents benefit from private parking, on a first come first served basis.

This property is an off-market opportunity to acquire a very spacious two bedroom flat at a very attractive price!

Possibility of adding value by modernising the property.

Rent of around £380-£400pw Surrounded by Victorian property on a tree lined residential street.

Tenure: Over 100 years Comparables: 61c Hartham Road, London, N7 9JJ 18 Nov 2011- £335,500 21b Hillmarton Road, London, N7 9JE 09 Sep 2011 - £339,000

stronger. So we simply circle the property like vultures and wait for the inevitable!

On the other hand these are not the kind of people you would feel comfortable in doing a deal with.

Even if th e cont racts were water tight you cann ot pre ve nt e ve ry eventu alit y. And havin g a tight c ontract is o ne t hin g but to try and enfo rce the con dition s is an other.

We had initially come across this property through an agent, however we failed to agree a price and terms so the deal didn’t happen at this point.

Given the circumstances the property has ended up in auction. This means the sale is likely to be a sure thing.

The fact we bought a freehold block of flats directly opposite for £1.1m only last month will hopefully reduce the amount someone would pay for a sticky property such as this which is leasehold and has a commercial element. This is because the £1.1 million now becomes a comparable and a ruler to measure all other similar properties in the location. The legal’s also make mention of the charge on the property so I would assume a lot of potential buyers would be put off. I would imagine the necessary conditions will be put on the auction agreement so that the property can only be sold once they have cleared these and this will delay the completion, I do not think this will be a standard 28day completion - which suits our intentions.

The inside of this property looked like of one those houses you would see in the hoarders documentaries. Junk was piled from floor to ceiling, not the ideal scenario for encouraging buyers, of course this property is likely to be purchased by a seasoned investor who should see past this.

The comparables on this street are £700 per Sq FT. The property is coming up for auction on Thursday 3rd May 2012.

Given the above issues, and the fact that the auctioneer is a relatively small one, we are hoping the property will go for a low figure. But who knows? Auctions can be very hit and miss, even the weather can have an impact on the turn out and hence the bidding.

The property currently comprises of 3,800 Sq Ft, has 5 flats in the building starting from the lower ground, the front part is commercial and the rest residential. It seems the property has been this way for a long while. This would help us legitimise the flats.

There are a few different scenarios here. One is we can do a refurbishment job which will cost in the region of £200,000 for 5 flats.

The other option would be to try and reconfigure the flats by going for planning, so they are better proportioned.

The bottom line is the £ per Sq Ft in this location for residential is £700. Even allowing for 1000 Sq Ft of commercial, which I think is an overly generous estimation, we still have 2800 Sq Ft of residential space. This would be expected to achieve £2m alone. The commercial would sell for £300-400k, so we are looking at a resell of £2.3m.

Our limit on this property will be £1.3m. We are hoping to secure it for less but time will tell. So by the time you are reading this article the deal may have been exchanged!

We provide a turnkey solution. Contact us now:

Specialists in Central London Property Sourcing

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

Tips of the Week l Keep your investment and the place where you would like to live separate. The purpose of an investment is to grow your money as fast as possible. Your home has a different objective, often if you try to combine the two you will not maximise your investment. l Grow your flowers where you can water them. Investment in London is transparent and clear, and has solid growth potential, so why consider investing outside?

20

financial VoICE

Asian Voice - Saturday 5th May 2012

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

Maria Fernandes

maria@abplgroup.com

Tackling delays Something has happened to the immigration system of late with delays on the increase. The target waiting times for applications at the UKBA have increased from 13 weeks to 6 months.

Anyone making enquiries about their applications are told not to contact the UKBA until a full 6 months have passed. The regular and rapid increases in fees appear to have no impact whatsoever on speed. The lack of communication as always increases frustration of the system.

At airports the problem has reached crisis point. There are reports of queues taking over 3 hours to get through and passengers trying to walk out without going through controls. As we get closer to the start of the Olympics these numbers and problems will increase.

Bearing all this in mind it is surprising that risk profiling is not used more aggressively to identify risk and for the system to target these areas specifically.

After all those who come from countries where visas are compulsory have been already been assessed for risk and their immigration status has been cleared.

The Airlines Liaison Officers who act in an advisory role at air-

ports understand the immigration requirements and very few applicants as a result are allowed to get through to board airlines.

The Airlines already have enough information about travellers by the time they board the aircraft. Therefore the risk assessments have almost entirely been completed before a passenger arrives in the UK. From an immigration perspective the areas of risk have largely been covered. It would therefore make sense for the checks to be random on arrival without the fear of compromising security.

In Australia risk profiling is prioritised before a person travels.

Everyone, regardless of nationality requires a visa. There is an Advance Passenger Processing system which requires airlines or shipping companies to confirm that a person has the right documents to travel. Within 4 seconds the documents are checked and the airline is informed whether the passenger can or cannot travel or in some cases of doubt the passenger will requires further screening on arrival.

This makes it easier for those who have been prechecked and cleared.

Another measure may be to introduce these

checks on board airlines.

There is not reason why this cannot happen. The Immigration Act 1971 , which determines a lot of immigration functions, appears to contain powers to enable immigration officers to board ships or aircrafts and even if the powers currently do not do so it would be a relatively easy thing to implement. In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia this is exactly what has happened. They are introducing on-board checks to ease the passenger load. At present biometric capture is possible though the use of mobile units and so where there is a need the existing staff can be deployed to carry out these checks.

It is clear that the situation at the airports cannot carry on for much longer. It carries its other risks and will damage UK’s reputation in the long term. A number of temporary and permanent solutions need to be put in place. But this does require thinking out of the box.

Maria Fernandes has been in practice exclusively in immigration for the past 25 years.

Fernandes Vaz is based at 87 Wembley Hill Road Wembley in Wembley and can be contacted by telephone on 02087330123, by email on info@fernandesvaz.com.

IMF too flags India’s governance concerns After chief economic adviser Kaushik Basu and Standard & Poor's, it's the International Monetary Fund (IMF) which has cited governance concerns and the tardy pace of project approvals for a moderation in economic growth in India.

In fact, in the Asia Pacific Economic Outlook, IMF on Friday said that the global economic environment is unlikely to have a significant impact on the Indian economy, which is relatively less integrated with the world economy.

But the domestic policy concerns were sufficient for the multilateral agency to forecast 6.9% economic growth in 2012, marginally lower than the earlier estimate of 7%. IMF, however, said that GDP growth is expected to pick up to 7.3% in 2013.

"In South Asia, domestic factors have also played a role in India's growth slowdown over the second half of 2011. Concerns about governance and slow project approvals by the government have weak-

ened business sentiment, which in turn has adversely affected investment, along with cyclical factors such as global uncertainty and policy tightening, although the latter has loosened since then," the 49-page report said.

Blaming structural issues for a lower growth forecast, IMF said, "In India, the lowered growth outlook in 2012 owes much to a slowdown of investment which partly reflects structural factors.

In particular, apart from some financial reforms and measures to broaden the use of public-private partnerships announced in the 2012-13 Budget, the implementation of reforms related to infrastructure is likely to proceed slowly."

The only good news seems to be on inflation, which has moderated and the inflationary expectation is lower, but IMF warned that it is still above the historical average.

Standard & Poor’s cuts India's outlook to negative Earlier ratings agency

Standard & Poor's lowered the outlook on India's sovereign rating to negative from stable, raising fears of a possible downgrade if growth is hit due to the absence of fiscal and policy reforms. For the moment, however, the agency retained the sovereign rating at BBB-, which is just about investment grade.

"The negative outlook signals at least a one-inthree likelihood of the downgrade of India's sovereign ratings within the next 24 months. A downgrade is likely if the country's economic growth prospects dim, its external position deteriorates, its political climate worsens, or fiscal reforms slow," S&P credit analyst Takahira Ogawa said in a statement.

The government, however, said there was no cause for panic. There is no need for panic. The situation may be difficult, but we will be surely able to overcome (it)," finance minister Pranab Mukherjee told reporters after S&P's announcement.

When Loyalty Leads to The Stocks When Krishna Bhagawan asked him to come and join his brothers, he simply replied that he could not. For it was Duryodhan who had offered him friendship and respect when others only offered scorn and ridicule. In return he would, if necessary die by his side, but he would not betray him.

While Karna’s loyalty was to be credited, there was one significant flaw.

His loyalty blinded him to the light of righteousness.

Loyalty is valiant only when it is offered in a just cause, otherwise it becomes complicity. While Karna thought he was being loyal, he was actually implicating himself and condemning himself to being remembered throughout history as one who fought for unrighteousness. This was to be his punishment.

David Cameron has shown that he too can be very loyal. To Andy Coulson, Liam Fox and now Jeremy Hunt. Is there a pattern emerging here?

While I would not wish to pass judgement on the actions of Hunt, it is clear that Cameron will be the one who is punished, not

by death as Karna was, but rather he will be feeling something akin to being bound in the stocks.

Where he will have to suffer the scrutiny and humiliation from the opposition and the public. It is important for Leaders to be loyal, but it is even more important to know when loyalty ends and accountability begins.

The primary purpose of the stocks was to teach a person that the petty crime was not worth the public humiliation which followed and so they would not do it again. I would imagine that most people who were bound in stocks learned their lessons. Sadly, it appears that this cannot be said for Mr Cameron.

Amit Patel has over 15 years experience in the field of Personal Development and Human Resource Management.

He has delivered speeches on People Management and Development throughout Europe, North America, and Asia. To contact Amit, email amitpatelmail@gmail.com

India may go easy on FIIs, but not on Vodafone

Barclays profit up 22% on investment banking rebound

‘Stocks are devices used in the medieval and colonial American times as a form of physical punishment involving public humiliation. The stocks partially immobilized its victims (by clamping their hands and head between two wooden beams) and they were often exposed in a public place such as the site of a market to the scorn of those who passed by.

Since the purpose of putting offenders in the stocks was to expose them to ridicule and mockery, passers-by were encouraged to throw mud, rotten eggs, mouldy fruit and vegetables, smelly fish, offal, and excrement (both animal and human) at those being punished.

Consequently, many of those who sat in the stocks were very dirty and smelly by the time that they were let out.’ (Wikipedia) Loyalty is a virtue which is celebrated and considered honourable. So why would loyalty leading to the stocks? In the Mahabharat, Karna stood

by Duryodhan even when he knew that the Pandavas were his brothers and that ultimately the batter would be lost.

Amid pressure from international investors, India’s finance ministry is planning to provide a lifeline to angry foreign institutional investors by keeping them outside the proposed General Anti-Avoidance Rules (GAAR) to ensure that they are not subjected to a higher tax burden or hardship. But so far, the government appears unrelenting in its pursuit to tax a dozen overseas deals including Vodafone through the proposed "retrospective clarification" on taxing M&A deals involving foreign companies with assets in India.

Officials in the tax department said that "carve outs" for FIIs, a majority of them route their funds into India through tax havens such as Mauritius, was being finalized and would be notified under the rules that will also provide safeguards against misuse by authorities.

"We are assuring investors that there will not be any need to provide details of their clients if the FII decides to pay the short-term capital gains tax," said an official.

The government, which had first stated its intent to put in place

GAAR three years ago, incorporated it in the Finance Bill this year in a bid to ensure that foreign investors using Double Tax Avoidance Agreements do not escape without paying tax in either country. The agreements are meant to ensure that companies which have their parent in another country do not end up paying taxes in India as well as at home.

But the finance ministry has taken a view that several investors are using these treaties to avoid paying taxes anywhere. "It (GAAR) is essentially against those who go for treaty shopping. It is an internationally accepted practice and it is going to apply prospectively," an official clarified.

Already, finance minister Pranab Mukherjee has said that participatory notes, which are instruments used by overseas investors to invest in India and are often said to hide the real identity, will not be subjected to GAAR.

By Amit Patel

Barclays beat forecasts with a 22% rise in firstquarter profit, as a strong rebound in revenue from its investment banking arm and a drop in bad debt countered increased compensation for insurance mis-selling.

The British bank reported an adjusted pretax profit of 2.45 billion pounds in the three months to endMarch, up from 2 billion a year ago and above the average forecast of 2 billion from a poll of analysts supplied by the company.

"Barclays first quarter results are an encouraging start to the year and demonstrate continued progress across our execution priorities," CEO Bob Diamond said in a statement.

Top-line income at Barclays Capital, the investment bank business that provides the bulk of the bank's profit, rose to 3.46 billion pounds, up 3% from a year ago. That marked a 91% jump from the weak fourth quarter of 2011 and was above the consensus forecast of 3.36 billion pounds.

BarCap, along with other investment banks, endured a miserable end to 2011 when a slump in bond trading income due to the euro zone sovereign debt crisis led to its worst quarter for three years.

That same year banks were hit by tougher regulations.

financial VOICE

Asian Voice - Saturday 5th May 2012

21

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

Is Spain the next Greece?

European leaders will seek to restore market calm this week after Spain was cut by Standard & Poor’s and a German-led austerity agenda to resolve the debt crisis came under fire ahead of elections in France and Greece. Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s government battled to prevent Spain from becoming the next country to seek bailout aid. To add to the worries first quarter Spanish GDP figures came out worse than expected. The economy contracted by 0.4% as oppose to the 0.3%. Prime Minister Rajoy has insisted that more measures might be needed in order to shrink the fiscal deficit, amid increasing popular unrest and swelling unemployment.

Sharp Government cutbacks in order to reach the 2012 deficit limit imposed by the European Union, and the entry into the second recession in three years, have caused the lowering of the growth forecast for Spain, published in a report put together by a panel of experts for the Savings Banks Foundation (Funcas). The organisation, which has gath-

ered together in a report, data provided by different organisations, companies and associations, stated that they expect Spain’s GDP to decrease by a higher than expected 1.7% year, up from 1.3%.

Standard & Poor’s cut its credit ratings for 11 Spanish banks, including Banco Santander SA (SAN) and Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA, citing “potentially negative implications” from the nation’s downgrade last week. S&P said it may also downgrade six other lenders. Santander, Spain’s

biggest bank, had its long-term debt rating cut by two levels to A- from A+, and BBVA (BBVA), the second-largest, had its rating cut to BBB+ from A, the ratings company said in a statement today. The outlook for those ratings is negative.

This week we also see French presidential candidate Francois Hollande and Nicolas Sarkozy go into the last round of French voting amid separate scandals. Political risks have not abandoned France in light of the second and decisive round between N.Sarkozy and

F.Hollande, due on Sunday 6.

According to polls the gap between the two parties has narrowed. Hollande leads at 57% against Sarkozy’s 43%.

The challenges facing Hollande include creating jobs and increasing competitiveness while keeping the region’s financial woes at bay.

France’s debt is approaching 90 percent of gross domestic product and jobless claims are at a 12-year high. He’s already squabbling with Germany and clashing with European Central Bank President Mario Draghi.

During the course of the week we Sterling broke a 20 month high against the Euro and hit the 1.23 level which should be a fantastic incentive for UK investors looking to purchase in Europe. Even though the UK had negative growth figures last week there has been continual gains made against the Euro due to the positive UK unemployment figures. If you have clients looking to sell their property and may have a need to sell Euros then they should look at this as quick as possible.

Barclays

Weekly Currencies As of Tuesday 1st May 2012 @ 6pm GBP - INR = 85.19 USD - INR = 52.53 EUR - INR = 69.46 GBP - USD = 1.62 GBP - EUR = 1.23 EUR - USD = 1.32 GBP - AED = 5.96 GBP - CAD = 1.60 GBP - NZD = 1.99 GBP - AUD = 1.57 GBP - ZAR = 12.52 GBP - HUF = 348.57

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

22

Pakistan-Bangladesh-sRi lanka

Asian Voice - Saturday 5th May 2012

Pak PM convicted in contempt case, spared jail term In Focus Islamabad: Pakistan's Supreme Court has convicted Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani for contempt of court for refusing to revive graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari and sentenced him to a symbolic "till the rising of the court", sparing him a jail term.

During proceedings in the courtroom that lasted less than 10 minutes, the sevenjudge bench headed by Justice Nasir-ul-Mulk announced the verdict and said Gilani's sentence would last "till the rising of the court" or till the completion of the hearing.

The judges left the court immediately after announcing the verdict, effectively ending 56-year-old Gilani's sentence. However, legal experts were divided on

whether Gilani's conviction would lead to his disqualification. They said the court's detailed order would provide clarity in this regard.

Emerging from the court, Gilani told the media: "We had sought justice. The decision was not appropriate".

The maximum sentence that could have been given to Gilani in this case was six months.

Earlier, Gilani drove in a small motorcade to the

Supreme Court complex, where members of his council of ministers were waiting for him. The premier then walked towards the building flanked by his son Abdul Qadeer Gilani and interior minister Rehman Malik as his supporters showered rose petals on him. He stopped at the door of the building and waved to his supporters before going inside. The proceedings in the packed courtroom began in the morning.

After the judges entered the room, Gilani walked and stood at the rostrum with law minister Farooq Naek and his lawyer Aitzaz Ahsan. The government put in place strict security arrangements for Gilani's third appearance in the Supreme Court in the contempt case.

The Supreme Court has

been pushing the government to reopen cases of money laundering against President Zardari in Switzerland since December 2009, when it struck down a graft amnesty (National Reconciliation Ordinance) issued by former military ruler Pervez Musharraf. The government has refused to act, saying the President enjoys immunity in Pakistan and abroad. Hours after the Supreme Court convicted Pakistan's Prime Minister of contempt, the Cabinet came out in full support of Gilani. Gilani chaired an extra-ordinary meeting of the Federal Cabinet after appearing before the court.

Extending full support to the PM, the Cabinet said Gilani has not been convicted of any criminal offence and need not resign on moral grounds.

Pak students raise concern over Pakistan tests nuclearinclusion of Rushdie works capable ballistic missile

Islamabad: The proposed inclusion of two famous works of India-born Booker Prize winner author Salman Rushdie in the additional courses for MPhil and PhD at the University of Peshawar has raised the ire of students and teachers.

The students are planning protests at the university campus and elsewhere in Peshawar, the capital of KhyberPakhtunkhwa province over the inclusion of two of the Rushdie's works 'Midnight's Children' and 'Shame' by the department of English and Applied Linguistics.

The department's faculty board had approved these

US issues alert for its citizens in Pak Islamabad: The US Embassy has issued an emergency message asking American citizens in Pakistan to take precautions for the next two weeks.

The message said the US Embassy had restricted its employees from going to restaurants and markets in Islamabad during April 27May 5 due to "security concerns". It added: "We recommend that US citizens in Islamabad during this period take similar precautions."

"Also, based on the current security conditions and a significant increase in the level of sectarian violence in northern Pakistan, the US Embassy has prohibited its employees from taking personal trips to the Gilgit/Skardu area until further notice," the message said. The US Embassy "continues to recommend that US citizens defer all non-essential travel to Pakistan," the message further said.

books in the curriculum for additional courses for MPhil and PhD. A proposal was submitted to the dean of the faculty of arts and humanities for approval by the Academic Council of the university, The News reported.

The Academic Council, which met recently with the acting vice-chancellor Qibla Ayaz in the chair, approved the proposal "without even discussing it", the report said.

It further said that the students planned the protests as they considered Rushdie a "notorious blasphemer".

A member of the Academic Council expressed ignorance about the matter.

He said that the Academic Council had met after three years and the body had a lot of things to do.

"We could do nothing but approve each and everything.

This also must have been approved without discussion," the unnamed official told the daily.

Islamabad: Pakistan successfully test-fired a nuclearcapable ballistic missile last week, the military said, less than a week after rival India tested a missile capable of delivering nuclear warheads as far as Beijing and Eastern Europe.

Pakistan's Shaheen-1A is an intermediate range ballistic missile, capable of reaching targets in India. Military officials declined to specify the range of the missile.

The missile's impact point was in the Indian Ocean.

India and Pakistan have fought three full-scale wars since they were carved out of British India in 1947. They conduct missile tests regularly and inform each other in advance.

Pakistan conducted nuclear tests in May 1998, shortly after India conducted similar tests.

US intelligence estimates last year put the number of nuclear weapons deployed by Pakistan at 90 to 110.

has retaliated by cutting off NATO supply routes to Afghanistan.

The United States and Pakistan disagree about the precise sequence of events in the deadliest single cross-border attack of the 10-year war in Afghanistan.

Pakistan denies shooting first, and has accused the Americans of an intentional attack on its troops.

The administration of President Barack Obama had been seriously debating whether to say "I'm sorry" to Pakistan's satisfaction - until April 15, when multiple simultaneous attacks struck Kabul and other Afghan cities, The Times said.

"What changed was the 15th of April," the paper quotes an unnamed senior administration official as saying. US military and intelligence officials concluded that the attacks were directed by

Dhaka: A five-year-old Indian boy Ariful Sheikh, who along with his grandparents spent a year in a Bangladeshi jail after being sentenced to two months in prison for trespassing, was on Sunday sent back home. "The five-year old child and his grandparents went back to India through western Chuadanga frontiers," Banamali Bhoumik, deputy commissioner or administrative chief of western Kushtia district, said.

He added that the district administration arranged a special car for 48-year old Hachimuddin Sheikh, his wife Mafroza Khatun, 40, and their grandchild to take them to Chuadanga, amid an opposition enforced nationwide day-long shutdown.

Farman Shinwari named new chief of al Qaida in Pakistan New Delhi: Farman Shinwari, 30, has been named the emir of al Qaida in Pakistan, according to a premier Pak daily. A few of his brothers have "fought" in Jammu & Kashmir with the erstwhile Harkat-ul-Ansar (later renamed Harkat-ul-Mujahideen). The newspaper quoted sources in Waziristan to say that al Qaida's Dawa Wing had issued a statement naming Shinwari as the new head after consultations with all global al Qaida leaders. Shinwari was apparently chosen for his closeness to Badar Mansoor, an AQ leaders killed in a drone attack in February, and his knowledge of the FATA areas in Pakistan.

British aid worker beheaded

by Taliban in Pakistan Islamabad: The decapitated body of a British aid worker has been found almost four months after he was kidnapped in Pakistan with all the hallmarks of a Taliban execution. Red Cross nurse Khalil Dale, a 60-year-old Muslim convert, was taken hostage by suspected pro-Taliban fighters in one of the most troubled regions of the country in January. He was managing a health programme in Quetta, Baluchistan, and had previously been awarded an MBE for his humanitarian work. Friends paid tribute to Mr Dale and his "endless supply of understanding", and said he had become engaged to be married before his kidnap.

Bin Laden's family deported from Pakistan Analysts say the strategic US ally's nuclear arsenal is the fastest growing in the world.

Pakistan, like neighbouring India, is not a signatory to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT).

Talks between US, Pakistan to end deadlock fail Washington: High-level talks on ending a diplomatic deadlock between the United States and Pakistan have ended in failure over Pakistani demands for an apology from the United States, The New York Times reported on Saturday.

The newspaper said US special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan Marc Grossman left the Pakistani capital on Friday night with no agreement.

The departure followed two days of discussions aimed at patching up the damage caused by a US air strike last November that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers on the Afghanistan border, the report said.

The United States refuses to apologize for the strike.

The incident has damaged the precarious US-Pakistani partnership and provoked outrage in Islamabad, which

Dhaka frees 5-year-old Indian boy after 1-year jail

the Haqqani network, a group working from a base in North Waziristan in Pakistan's tribal belt, the report said. That swung the raging debate on whether Obama or another senior US official should go beyond the expression of regret that the administration had already given, and apologize, the paper said.

Without the apology, Pakistani officials say they cannot reopen the NATO supply routes into Afghanistan that have been closed since November, the report said. The United States, in turn, is withholding from Pakistan between $1.18 billion and $3 billion (2.26 billion euros) of promised military aid.

The continuing deadlock does not bode well for Pakistan's attendance at a Nato meeting in Chicago in three weeks, assuming it is even invited, The Times said.

Islamabad: The family of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, killed almost a year ago

by American special forces in a military town in northwest Pakistan, left Pakistan for Saudi Arabia on Friday morning, the family lawyer said. The move ends months of speculation about the fate of the three widows and 11 children, who were detained by Pakistani security forces after the May 2 raid. "Yes, they're being deported to Saudi Arabia," said Aamir Khalil, the family lawyer.

UN finds cluster bombs in Lanka

New Delhi: A report from a UN demining expert says unexploded cluster munitions have been found in northern Sri Lanka, appearing to confirm, for the first time, that they were used in that country's long civil war. The revelation is likely to add momentum to calls for an international investigation into possible war crimes stemming from the bloody final months of fighting in the quarter century civil war that ended in May 2009.

The government has repeatedly denied using cluster munitions during the final months of fighting.

Pakistan comedian abducted for poking fun at militants

Islamabad: A comedian who poked fun at the Taliban's practice of apprehending thieves and meting out summary punishment to them was kidnapped from Peshawar in Pakistan while he was entertaining guests at a wedding. Nisar Khan had recently written a comic song about thieves being caught and punished by the militants with lyrics like: "Shave my head, paint my face black; Mount me on a donkey and make fun of me". Khan was entertaining guests at a wedding at Matani, when around 20 militants entered the guesthouse where he was performing and abducted him.

world 23

Asian Voice - Saturday 5th May 2012

Bo's wife 'confesses' of poisoning British businessman

In Focus British surgeon removes huge back mole

London: A child dubbed 'turtle boy' because of a giant mole that covered his back like a shell, can now live a normal life thanks to a British surgeon. Didier Montalvo, six, from Colombia, had the rare condition, Congenital Melanocytic Nevus. Didier looks in wonder after his giant mole is removed from his back by surgeon Neil Bulstrode. The family were also ostracised from their rural village as the superstitious residents said Didier's condition was due to being conceived during an eclipse. They feared he was touched by evil forces which meant he could not attend school or be baptised.

“I want to grow up,” Didier said. “But the mole won't let me.” But thanks to leading plastic surgeon Neil Bulstrode, who operated on him free after hearing of his plight, Didier can now grow up as any other child.

Beijing: Bo Xilai's wife, Gu Kailai has confessed to the police that she was present in the hotel room when British businessman Neil Heywood was poisoned.

"I did it," a report quoted Gu, as admitting to the Chongqing police and confessed that she was responsible for the murder.

Wang Lijun, the former chief of police in Chongqing, who fled the town fearing for his life, gave his account of her alleged confession to diplomats at the US consulate in the nearby city of Chengdu in February.

According to the report, Wang revealed that Heywood, a fixer with decades of experience in China and a family friend of Bo and his wife, was held down in a hotel room in Chongqing and forced to drink cyanide.

"Gu said 'I did it' three times to Wang," a diplomatic source with knowledge of Wang's account was reported, as saying.

"It was a gruesome scene, Heywood spat the cyanide out and they had to give him more," he added.

Reports claim that Heywood , Gu and her son, Bo Guagua, are said to have had a close relationship until it ended following a quarrel over an "economic" matter, which finally led to Heywood's murder.

Outrage in Egypt over 'farewell intercourse law'

Cairo: Egyptian husbands will soon be legally allowed to have sex with their dead wives - for up to six hours after their death. The controversial new law is part of a raft of measures being introduced by the Islamist-dominated parliament. It will also see the minimum age of marriage lowered to 14 and the ridding of women's rights of getting education and employment. Egypt's National Council for Women is campaigning against the changes, saying that 'marginalising and undermining the status of women would negatively affect the country's human development'.

Church service attack leaves 20 dead in Nigeria

Abuja: Suspected Islamic terrorists killed 20 Christians in an attack on a makeshift church at a university in northern Nigeria. Several small bombs, believed to have been fashioned from fizzy drinks cans, were thrown into a lecture hall used by hundreds of worshippers in Kano, a city that has been repeatedly attacked

by Muslim radicals.

10 mn Indians want to settle in US

Washington: Around 13% of the world's adults - over 640 million people - would like to emigrate with roughly 150 million, including 10 million Indians wishing to settle in America. So suggests a new Gallup survey giving the US an undisputed title as the globe's most desired destination for would-be migrants. The would-be migrants mostly come from populous nations such as China (22 million), India (10 million), Brazil (7 million), Nigeria (15 million) and Bangladesh (8 million). In addition almost 1 in 30 adults globally would like to settle in US.

5+#0 1+%' 7,#4#6 #/#%*#4 .#70%*'5 %1(('' #$.' 11- 10 5+#0 1+%' #0& 7,#4#6 #/#%*#4 0'95 9''-.+'5 27$.+5*'& # 1(('' #$.' 11- = +(' ')#%; +4 #;#,+4#1 #'-9#& > #6 #8.#-*+ 4170& +0 #&1&#4# 4'%'06.; 7,#4#6 *+'( +0+56'4 #4'0&4# 1&+ 708'+.'& 6*' $11- 10 6* #4%* &74+0) 6*' 6* $+46* #00+8'45#4; %'.'$4#6+105 1( #*#4#,# #;#,+4#1 *+5 $11- #0 +0+6+#6+8' 1( 4 #6'. 6*' &+614 #0& 7$.+5*'4 1( 7,#4#6 #/#%*#4 5+#0 1+%' ':2.14'5 51/' 1( 6*' 70':2.14'& (#%65 #$176 6*' .+(' #0& .')#%; 1( 6*' )4'#6 47.'4 #0& 5#.76' *+/ (14 *+5 4'/#4-#$.' %1064+$76+10 61 #41&# *' 1(('' #$.' $11- +5 10' 1( +65 -+0&5 61 &1%7/'06 51/' 1( 6*' #52'%65 1( 6*' 47.'4?5 .+(' 9*+%* #4' 016 '8'0 /'06+10'& +0 174 *+5614; $11-5 #0& *#8' 4'/#+0 7061.& #4& %18'4'& 2#)'5 $11- *#5 51/' 4#4' 2+%674'5 #0& #46+%.'5 94+66'0 $; '56''/'& 94+6'45 14'914& +5 94+66'0 $; 41( 14& *+-*7 #4'-* 175' 1( 14&5 #0& 0+8'45+6+'5 1( !'56/+056'4 #0& 7.. *+5 $11- +5 # 24'%+175 2+'%' (14 %1..'%6+10 '#&'4 (4+'0&5 9*1 #4' +06'4'56'& +0 +0%.7&+0) 6*+5 $11- +0 6*'+4 190 .+$4#4; 14 )+(6+0) +6 61 6*'+4 #%37#+06#0%'5 #0& +( 6*'; #4' #$.' 61 2+%- +6 72 (41/ 174 1((+%' 6*' $11- 9+.. $' #8#+.'& #6 4'&7%'& 4#6' 1( 10.; <

.'#5' &'6#%* 6*' (14/ #0& /#-' ;174 %*'37' 2#;#$.' 61 7,#4#6 #/#%*#4 #0& 5'0& +6 61 #&&4'55 $'.19

7,#4#6 #/#%*#4 1:610 #4-'6

#%* 11- 156 <

#4/# "1)# 175' (( 1410'6 64''0 10&10

156#)' <

616#.

!

ffer to O l a i c Spe f iber o Including r c s b Su ge Posta S G / V A

£5

Suu Kyi's party to end boycott of Myanmar's parliament

Yangon: Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and her party agreed on Monday to end a boycott of parliament and swear an oath to protect the constitution that it had resisted, party officials said, setting aside a dispute with the government.

Officials in her National League for Democracy (NLD) party said they could attend parliament from Wednesday.

"As a gesture of respect to the desires of the people and in consideration of the requests made by lawmakers from democratic parties and independent lawmakers, we have decided to attend the parliament," Suu Kyi told reporters after a party meeting.

"We will go there as soon as possible and take

the oath and attend the parliament," she said.

Suu Kyi said she had to meet UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in Yangon.The NLD's elected members of parliament, including Suu Kyi, would travel to the capital, Naypyitaw, for the session on Wednesday, officials said.

The NLD boycotted general elections held in November 2010 to end almost 50 years of military rule saying the poll was rigged in favour of the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP).

The USDP won an

overwhelming victory, but the new government under President Thein Sein quickly embarked on political and economic reforms, and the president persuaded Suu Kyi to enter the political process.

The NLD took part in by-elections on April 1 and won all but one of the 44 seats it contested. Suu Kyi, who won one of the seats, has said she wants to amend a 2008 constitution drawn up under the control of the military which gives the military a "leadership role" in politics.

The NLD wanted to replace the words "safeguard the constitution" with "respect the constitution" in the oath sworn by new members of parliament and delayed its entry into parliament.

Obama pokes fun at Mitt Romney, himself Washington: US President Barack Obama poked fun at Mitt Romney, the Republican Party but above all himself in his annual satirical speech to the Washington press corps on Saturday night.

Mocking his "hot mic" gaffe that saw private remarks to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev shared with the world, Mr Obama's address to the White House Correspondents' Dinner

began as he prepared offstage. After insulting several high-profile members of the audience, he joked about his much-mocked dependence on a Teleprompter and pondered if he could get away with dying his rapidly-greying hair. The President then riffed on a subject that has become unexpectedly prominent in his election battle with Mr Romney, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee: their

past treatment of dogs.

"I know everybody is predicting a nasty election, and thankfully, we've all agreed that families are off limits," he told a 2,700strong crowd. "Dogs, however, are apparently fair game". While Mr Romney has come under fire for strapping his family's Irish Setter Seamus to the roof of their car for a 12-hour trip to Canada, Mr Obama has been ridiculed for eating dog as a child in Indonesia.

24

INDIA

Asian Voice - Saturday 5th May 2012

Gujarat virtually rose from the debris: Modi

By AV Correspondent

As the state celebrated its 52nd anniversary on Tuesday, Chief Minister Narendra Modi took on his detractors alleging that the “opponents have been celebrating the Decade of Lies” while the state government is celebrating Development Festival in Gujarat.”

In the election year, Modi chose tribal dominated Dahod district to observe state formation day in an obvious move to woo the tribal voters who have traditionally been voting for the opposition Congress. Modi on the occasion announced a slew of development projects worth Rs 9.03 billion for the district.

The projects included an ambitious water supply scheme worth Rs 4.56 billion aiming to provide clean and sufficient water for drinking and irrigation purpose for the 210 villages of northern part of

Dahod district, an underground sewerage scheme worth Rs 450 million and Rs. 1.27 billion water supply scheme for Dahod city and so on.

“We are also planning to provide clean drinking water for the villages of southern part of Dahod district by laying 119 km long pipeline from Hafeshwar and it will be materialized soon,” he added. “We are not utilizing a single paisa from Centre’s fund for these development works. All the expenditure for the implementation of these schemes will be borne by the money of Gujarat’s

exchequer. I am the custodian of public exchequer and not allow any body to misuse it,” he said.

Modi in his message on the eve of state formation day said Gujarat has risen from the debris in the twenty first century. “If we look behind, the first decade of the 21st century became a decade of development, even though it began with many calamities like unforgettable earthquake, upheavals in cooperative banks and drought in 2001.

Adversaries wished Gujarat should never rise, but were proved wrong. Gujarat virtually rose from the debris, converted obstacles into opportunities,” Modi had stated in his message.

“We could see the results of our relentless efforts paying dividends.

Any discussion on development anywhere in the world would remain incomplete without a mention of Gujarat’s development,” he said.

The US has said there was no change in its policy to deny visa to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

"Our position on the visa issue hasn't changed at all," State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland told reporters at her daily news conference.

Nuland was responding to questions on the letter written by Congressman Joe Walsh to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, that the US Government reverse its 2005 decision not to issue US visa to Modi.

The letter by Walsh was written about a fortnight ago. "If we do respond, it'll be along familiar lines," Nuland said.

In a statement, the Indian American Muslim community demanded the State Department should

not change its 2005 policy on Modi's visa.

India’s law minister Salman Khurshid said it was a matter of concern that a question mark hung over someone who was heading a leading state in the country.

"I am sure that they (US) look at everything they want to look at...Not for us to comment on US policy but it is a matter of serious concern that there is this kind of serious question mark on the personality of somebody who leads a major state in our country," Khurshid told reporters in Delhi.

Khurshid said this when he was asked to comment on the US stand.

"It is sad but we have that. I hope that the person concerned will reflect upon this and think about

it and think about why the world thinks so poorly of him," Khurshid added.

Modi was first denied a visa in 2005 by the US against the backdrop of the 2002 post-Godhra communal riots in Gujarat in which 1,200 people were killed, most of them Muslims.

The US had said that it could not issue him a diplomatic visa because of its Immigration and Nationality Act which states that "any foreign government official responsible for serious violation of religious freedom is ineligible for a visa.

Time magazine recently featured Modi on the cover of its Asia edition, and included him in an online poll to pick the world's most powerful people.

No change in visa policy to Modi: US

Gujarati fisherman becomes millionaire overnight

By AV Correspondent Ibrahim Bhura, a fisherman from Jamnagar in his late forties, spent all his life at sea and yet, his catch never earned him more than `200,000 annually.

Recently, however, he instantly became a millionaire, thanks to just one catch. Bhura struck gold when he caught some 350odd ghol fish from Jhakhau creek in mid-sea.

The catch is worth close to `10 million.

The value of ghol fish, scientifically known as protonibea diacanthus, comes from its fins which are used in the pharmaceutical industry to manufacture dissolvable stitches. It is also used in wine

purification and is exported to countries like Singapore. It is three to 4.5 feet in length and can weigh up to 20 kg. "I had no clue of the value of the catch till I landed on the shore," Bhura, a resident of Bharana village, said.

"When I was told about the price by local traders, I immediately thanked Allah. The windfall from the sea has ensured that trip into the sea was my last of the fishing season."

With just one medium-sized boat, Bhura and his family have struggled to make ends meet so far. But thanks to ghol fish, he is starting to think big.

"Constructing a pucca house is our top priority given that we are a joint family," he says. "I will also buy another boat and name it after the ghol fish.

If Allah permits, I also want to go on Haj with my father."

Nayan Makwana, the fishing officer at Jhakhau, said, "Ghol fish is not rare fish, but it is found only in the fag end of the season.

Lucky fishermen net eight to 10 fish in the entire season. A catch of 350 ghols is the largest we have heard of."

In divine light

By Rajen Vakil

Story of Bhima and Hanuman - Part 2

Continuing from last week, Bhimasen approached the monkey and roared like a lion. The whole forest, with all the wild animals within, trembled at the deafening sound but the monkey remained unperturbed.

He opened his eyes, looked at Bhima and with happiness in his heart, said these words, “I am ill and suffering, I was sleeping soundly; why have you woken me? You seem an intelligent human being, then why are you frightening the animals? A person of knowledge, such as you, should sympathize with the animals and not harm or kill them in this way. I think you do not know what Dharma is. You have not served the Brahmins.

It is because you are short of intelligence that you are harming all these animals. Who are you that you have come into this forest where no man ever comes? O lion among men, tell me where you want to go, this mountain is impossible to climb.

This path is only used by the gods, it is only out of compassion that I stop you, so listen to me and go back.”

Bhimasen replied, “Who are you and why are you in the form of a monkey. My name is

ISRO successfully launches RISAT The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Thursday last successfully launched the Radio Imaging Satellite -1 (RISAT-1) from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. Moments after the launch, ISRO chairman Dr. K Radhakrishnan termed the mission as a "grand success". "PSLVC19 has successfully injected India's first indigenous radar imaging satellite RISAT-1 into orbit. It is a proud moment for India," said Dr. Radhakrishnan.

The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)C19 carrying the RISAT-1 successfully lifted off from Sriharikota spaceport in Andhra Pradesh at 5.47 am. RISAT-1, is the first of the RISAT series of Indian remote sensing satellites built by the ISRO, which uses the indegineously built C-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) for all-weather earth observation. According to ISRO, RISAT-1, which weighs at 1,850 kilograms, is the heaviest microwave satellite built by India.

The all weather RISAT1 has day and night viewing capacity which will be unhindered by cloud cover.

It will help in crop monitoring and flood forecasting.

Bhimasen, the son of Pandu, and I am born from Vayu, the wind god.”

The monkey quipped, “I am a monkey and I will not get out of the way for you, please go back. Do not try to fight me.”

Bhima retorted, “O monkey I am not asking you, just get up and let me go ahead, otherwise you will suffer at my hands.”

The monkey calmly continued “I am ill and cannot move so if you want to go ahead, then jump over me.”

Bhima said, “The unmanifest Almighty lives in everyone’s heart. He can be known through the path of knowledge. I will not insult him by jumping over you. If I were ignorant of this, I would jump

not only over you but also over this mountain, just like the great Hanuman jumped over the sea.”

The monkey said “Who was that Hanuman who jumped over the sea?

Foremost among men please do tell me.”

To this, Bhimasen replied “The one who is full of good qualities and has intelligence, strength and patience, the great monkey, famous for his part in the story of Rama.

He is my brother and in lustre, strength, and courage, I am just like him. I can defeat you easily so please make way for me. If you do not, I will send you to the god of death.”

The monkey who really was Hanuman laughed in his mind and then said aloud “I am very ill and cannot move, so please lift my tail put it on the side, and go on your way.”

Bhima, who was in vain of his own strength, thought that it was just a weak monkey and he would easily lift his tail and throw him to the god of death, so Bhima smiled sarcastically and bent down to lift the monkey’s tail.

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

Lajawab Aloo

Ingredients: To be ground into a smooth paste: 4 tbsp cashew nuts (kaju), 1 tsp roughly chopped garlic (lehsun), 1 tsp roughly chopped ginger (adrak), 2 tbsp water Other ingredients: oil for deep-frying, 2 cups potato cubes (unpeeled), 2 tbsp cashew nuts (kaju), split into halves, 1/2 cup chopped onions, 5 tbsp ghee, 1 tsp caraway seeds (shahjeera), 1/4 tsp turmeric powder (haldi), 1 tsp kitchen king masala, 1 tsp chilli powder, 3 tbsp beaten curds (dahi), 1/2 cup milk, 1 tbsp finely chopped coriander (dhania) for the garnish.

Method: Heat the oil in a Pan and deep-fry the potatoes till golden brown.

Drain on an absorbent paper and keep aside. In the same oil, fry the cashew nuts till golden brown. Drain on an absorbent paper and keep aside. Heat the ghee in a Pan and add the caraway seeds. When the seeds

crackle, add the turmeric powder, kitchen king masala and chilli powder and sauté for 30 seconds.

Add the cashew nut paste and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the curds, milk and ½ cup of water and allow it to come to boil.

Add the potatoes and simmer for 2 minutes. Serve hot garnished with cashew nuts and coriander.

Health benefits: Yogurt contributes to colon health. There's a medical truism that states: "You're only as healthy as your colon."

Cashew nuts are rich in “heart-friendly” monounsaturated fatty acids.

Proper functioning of the brain depends largely on the glucose level, oxygen supply, some members of the vitamin-B complex.

INDIA

Asian Voice - Saturday 5th May 2012

25

India's economy is still bullish: Dr Ahluwalia Deputy chairman of the planning commission hopeful of India's growth story amidst weakening debt and credit profile Shweta Desai A day after global ratings agency Standard and Poor cut India's outlook to negative, Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, Dr Montek Singh Ahluwalia defended India's growth story to say the country is ''still bullish and not slowing down.''

In a delegation to London's 3rd Clean energy Ministerial meeting (CEM) organised in London between 24-26 April 2012, Dr Ahluwalia met the press as they discussed the strategy and next steps deciding the way forward for the CEM process based on lessons learnt from the CEM3.

The CEM serves as an important platform to promote international collaboration for accelerating the changeover to clean energy technologies worldwide. Energy ministers from 23 countries participated in CEM3.

The CEM3 was inaugurated by Dr Edward Davey, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate change on 25th April, where Dr Ahluwalia spoke on India's initiatives and achievements in clean energy technologies, opportunities in clean supply, energy efficiency, Solar mission in collaboration with CEM members. He met the British PM David Cameron too.

Since 2006, India's GDP (Gross

In Focus SC reserves order on Kasab's plea

The Supreme Court of India has reserved its order on Pakistani terrorist Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab's plea challenging his conviction and death sentence in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. A bench of justices Aftab Alam and C K Prasad reserved its verdict after a marathon hearing, spanning over two and a half month, of arguments by the prosecution and defence counsel in the terror mayhem, which involved random firing by Kasab and other mercenaries, killing 166 people. During the argument, Kasab contended that he was not given a free and fair trial and that he was not the part of any larger conspiracy for waging war against the nation.

He had also maintained that the prosecution had failed to prove the case against him beyond doubts and told the bench that his right against selfincrimination as well as his right to get himself adequately represented by a counsel to defend himself in the case had been violated during the trial.

Mangalore college bans burqa in class

A Mangalore college has banned women students from wearing the burqa in classrooms, laying down the law in its prospectus. The diktat that is likely to trigger a debate crisiscrossing gender and sectarian lines, was meant for undergraduate courses at the St Aloysius Pre-University College. "Students must be neatly dressed in accordance with the rule of approved etiquette. Girls are not expected to wear burqa in the classrooms and in the examination halls.

At many places in UP's Muslim-dominated areas, students routinely wear the burqa but most take it off inside classrooms although there is no fiat against the full-body dress.

Internationally, France, Italy and Belgium are among countries that have banned the burqa to empower women and ensure personal identification among other reasons. Many other European nations may follow suit. However in Mangalore colledge, source said lecturers found it difficult to teach students in burqa and it was mandatory for students to show their face during exam.

Domestic Product) has been growing at a rate of 8 per cent or more. However in 2011, for the first time in two years, the growth rate fell below 7 per cent leading experts to claim that India was becoming a basket case and has been the biggest let down in comparison with other emerging economies including Brazil, Russia and China. Dr Ahluwalia however rejected the claims and seemed positive about the economy. ''India's growth rate had slowed down to 6.9 per cent in 2011, however, the economy all across the world had slowed down. The slow growth was not India specific,'' he said addressing the press here

on the sidelines of the Third Clean Energy Ministerial Meeting (CEM) on Thursday. ''We have to look for the coming years to see if the growth rate can go up or not.''

Dr Ahluwalia added that while the UK and Europe continued to plunge deeper in recession for the second quarter, investors should look at East. ''The growth is in China and India and it should be realised that money should be put where the growth is.''

The emergence of third world countries of Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC) into the world market had put India into the frontline to be one of the fastest growing economies of the world.

However, India's inability to attract foreign investment and its poor political leadership ridden with corruption led economist Jim O'Neil-- who coined the term BRIC-- to state that India has been the biggest letdown in BRIC. Dr Ahluwalia refuted the claims to say that India has been growing at a double pace than both Brazil and China. ''Yes, we failed to pass a bill over foreign investments but we never had a policy to attract major foreign investors. We are keen on it and will be happy if foreign investments pour in India but it is not a must,'' he said adding that foreign investments contribute to a mere 3 per cent of the total GDP.

Presents

12th Asian Achievers Awards 14th September 2012 NOMINATION FORM *' 24'56+)+175 5+#0 %*+'8'45 9#4&5 +5 *156'& '8'4; ;'#4 $; <5 .'#&+0) 0'95 9''-.+'5 5+#0 1+%' #0& 7,#4#6 #/#%*#4 61 *10174 4+6+5* 5+#05 2#4 ':%'..'0%' ( 6*'4' +5 51/'10' ;17 -019 9*1 *#5 $41-'0 $170&#4+'5 #0& &'5'48'5 4'%1)0+6+10 (14 6*'+4 70+37' %1064+$76+10 61 6*' %1//70+6; #0& 6*' 0#6+10 6*'0 2.'#5' 01/+0#6' 6*'/ (14 10' 1( 6*' #9#4&5 .+56'& $'.19 #-' 574' 6*#6 ;17 (+.. +0 6*+5 #22.+%#6+10 (14/ #0& 5'0& +6 10 14 4 '14)' '. #: /#+. ### #$2.)4172 %1/ #&&4'55 +5 4 '14)' 4172 #4/# "1)# 175' 1:610 #4-'6 10&10

$; 2156 (#: 14 '/#+. 61 ( ;17 #4' 5'0&+0) +6 $; 2156 6*' !

Please tick the appropriate category Sports Personality of the Year............................................

Woman of the Year ................................................................

Awarded for excellence in sports.

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.

Young Entrepreneur of the Year ......................................

Professional of the Year ......................................................

Uniformed and Civil Services ............................................

Professionals in the field of medicine, law, education, banking, finance and others, who have scaled the heights of their chosen profession.

For outstanding achievements in uniformed and civil services or contribution to the community through any of the above services.

Achievement in Community Service................................

Awarded to those who have acclaimed popularity internationally for his/her contribution in any particular sector and is recognised for their timeless philanthropic activities.

In recognition for an individuals service to community.

Achievement in Media, Arts and Culture ....................

Someone who has made a mark in media including print and broadcast media; cinema, art and culture.

Award for Entertainment ....................................................

For outstanding performance by Asians in the field of Dance and Music.

Awarded to an young entrepreneur (less than 35 years) with a proven track record of operating a successful business enterprise.

International Personality of the Year ............................

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 Nominee: ___________________________________________________________________________________ Contact Details of the Nominee (Tel & email): _______________________________________________________________ Present Occupation of the Nominee: _______________________________________________________________________ Please attach your CV which includes the following information (1) Personal background (2) (3) (4) (5)

(Please do not exceed a limit of 1000 words)

Most important career achievements till date Your contribution to the community and nation Any notable obstacles in you career that has helped you to reach where you are today Future plans, ambitions and visions

Summary- (Please include a summary in not more the 150 words

why the nominee is worthy of winning the particular award in a separate sheet)

Nominators name and contact details: _____________________________________________________________________ Nominators 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. Judgesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; 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 in 14th September, 2012. 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 12th July, 2012

2105145

8'06

#0#)'& ;

((+%+#. #6'4'45

((+%+#.

((+%+#.

'&+# #460'4

210514'& *#4+6;

26

INDIA

Asian Voice - Saturday 5th May 2012

Ex-BJP chief Bangaru Laxman gets 4 year in jail for graft Former BJP chief Bangaru Laxman was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for having accepted Rs 100,000 as bribe from a fake arms dealer who sought his help to bag an order from the defence ministry. The trial court rejected his plea for leniency and said he was guilty of political corruption, and had sought to compromise national security for selfish ends.

Special CBI judge Kanwaljeet Arora emphasized that Laxman headed the BJP, the largest con-

stituent of the then NDA government at the Centre, when he accepted the bribe from a counterfeit company to push the sale of hand-held thermal imagers, a fictitious device.

Laxman, who was caught on camera in a sting operation accepting bribe 11 years ago, is the first president of a national party to have been jailed for corruption, something that can embarrass the BJP in its anti-graft campaign targeting the Congress.

The case assumes significance because the court

Bangaru Laxman

rejected the argument that Laxman, the only dalit to have headed the BJP, was a victim of entrapment, saying while the methods of those who carried out the sting may have been objectionable,

their purpose was not.

Rejecting the demand for leniency on grounds of age, health and "unblemished record of public life" of four decades, the special CBI judge said Laxman had agreed to compromise the security of the nation" for his personal interests.

Meanwhile, Laxman after his conviction has resigned from BJP’s national executive committee. He had to quit as BJP president shortly after the sting operation was exposed.

Another custody row, this time in Sweden With the custody row with Norway over two NRI children settled, an Indian mother in Sweden has sought the Indian government's intervention for custody of her 11year-old son allegedly being held by the Swedish authorities.

Kolkata-based NGO India's Smile, which had claimed to have brought to light the custody row over the two NRI children in Norway, said that the mother, Annie Johansson, informed them that she was inspired by the role played by them in bringing back the two children Abhigyan and Aishwarya to India. The mother who had settled at Visby in Sweden in

April, 2000 contacted them with a plea to the Indian government for custody of her son who was in the care of Swedish Gotland Municipal Social Welfare Committee.

The NGO said that the authorities of Gotland

Municipal Social Welfare Committee had allegedly taken away Annie's son, Domenic Johansson in 2009 and placed him in an emergency foster home on the ground that the parents were not taking proper care of him.

The mother alleged that the Swedish authority which had no idea of Indian culture and tradition, held that Domenic was not being reared suitably.

Annie, whose earlier name was Nirmalkumar Bharos, a resident of Pune, married Christer Johansson in India on April 24, 2000.

After their marriage, they continued to reside in India.

Annie was pregnant with Domenic when there was a devastating earthquake in the spring of 2001 and the Johanssons family lost everything and decided to migrate back to Sweden. Domenic was born on Swedish soil on September 9, 2001. The NGO has forwarded Annie's prayer to the National Human Rights Commission chairman, with copies to the President, Prime Minister, External Affairs Minister, Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs, Home minister.

Copies of her plea were also sent to the embassies of Latvia and Sweden.

Sachin Tendulkar, Rekha nominated to Rajya Sabha Continued from page 1 The names of Tendulkar, who has brought many a laurel to the country through his exploits in the game, Rekha, known for her brilliant and emotional portrayals in Hindi cinema in the 80s, and industrialist and social worker Aga were sent by the Prime Minister to the home ministry for approval

by the President.

The 70-year-old Aga, former chairperson of Thermax Industries and a member of the Sonia Gandhi led National Advisory Council, is a social worker who had figured among the richest Indians in the list by Forbes.

Article 80 of the Constitution provides for nomination of persons having special knowledge or practical experience

in matters such as literature, science, art and social service.

The 57-year-old Rekha was one of the top heroines of the 80s in Hindi films and had won several national awards in her acting career.

Tendulkar's nomination to Rajya Sabha has come as a surprise against the backdrop of a long-standing demand for conferring of Bharat Ratna on him for his contri-

bution to the game.

He completed the historic achievement of scoring 100 international centuries in March this year. Earlier in the day, Tendulkar, accompanied by his wife Anjali, met Congress President Sonia Gandhi at her residence.

Tendulkar would be the first active sportsman and a cricketer to be nominated to Rajya Sabha.

‘Boycott London Olympics’ Continued from page 1 Of course the Indian and US governments have been continuing the blame game over last 25 years, as the compensation paid to each families has not been even close enough to replace what they have lost. Children are still being born with abnormalities or deformation as the survivors continue to suffer periodic illnesses. Dow Chemicals, which allegedly has links with media tycoon Rupert Murdoch and his close allies, has of course not bothered to step down from Olympic sponsorship, despite of continuous and regressive protests.

However, as the British government fails to bulge, cross faith groups in the UK have formed a coalition opposing Dow Chemicals involvements with the London Olympics and Paralympics. It includes Arjan Vekaria, President of Hindu Forum of Britain, Chairman. the Justice of

Bhopal victims group, Bharti Tailor, Member of faith reference group and member of European council of religious leaders, Hindu Forum of Britain, Muslim Council of Britain., Chairman, Imams and Mosques Council UK, Hindu Council of the North, NCGO, Gujarat Hindu Society, Preston, Hindu Council (Harrow), Hindu Council (Brent) and Navin Shah,a former and GLA member candidate. The aim of the group is to make Dow or LOCOG issue a public apology to the people of Bhopal for its ignorance and insensitivity and to retract all statements that have sought to justify Dow chemical’s dealing with Bhopal and its victims. It also aims to ensure that Dow chemicals should not be awarded any further Olympics, Paralympics or legacy oriented contract or promotions and Dow chemicals and its employees should be absolutely precluded from any presence at the

Paralympics till they clean the toxic legacy of Bhopal and appropriately compensate the victims and their progeny who are still born with disabilities.

Justice for Bhopal Victims A letter with above mentioned demands by faith groups have been sent to Lord Coe and has been endorsed by International Siddhashram Shakti Centre (UK), National Hindu Students Forum (NHSF) and Aden Vanik Association.

The inclusion of LOCOG Faith Reference group members in the above is of course proved to be a huge embarrassment to LOCOG and a major blow to the credibility of Dow’s sponsorship deal.

Indian shooters denied entry in UK hotel A shocking incident was reported widely by the Indian medias on Monday as the Indian shooters were denied hotel entry. Indian shooting

contingent, which is currently in London for the ISSF World Cup, was denied entry into a hotel here on Saturday night that left the players without any accommodation.

The hotel authorities asked the rifle and pistol team, which included India’s Olympic shooters, to leave despite a confirmed room booking. The team members told CNN-IBN that later the money paid for the rooms was refunded.

The shooting federation NRAI apparently had to get the Indian High Commission involved, and a new hotel was found late at night. The NRAI is lodging a diplomatic protest along with writing a strong complaint to the Organising Committee, the International Olympic Committee and the Indian Olympic Association, the media reported.

The tournament doubles up as a pre-Olympic test event before the Games begin in July later this year.

In Focus Man kills daughter for honour in Indore A man strangled his 19-year-old daughter to death for going against his wishes in choosing her groom and later surrendered to the police saying he did no regret killing her, said the police. Shivnarayan Verma (45), angry because his daughter Jyoti had planned to elope with her lover, Anil Gaur, strangled her in front of the gate of his house on Saturday. Jyoti was waiting, bags packed, for Anil to arrive when her father saw her. Verma got into an argument with Jyoti outside their house and when she refused to give up on her relationship with Anil, he strangled her. She died on the spot.

Verma then left Jyoti’s body at the gate reached the Pardeshipura police station and surrendered.

Man keeps 84-year-old mother in cattle shed for 2 years An elderly woman was rescued from a cattle shed she was confined to for two years by one of her sons in Mysore. Police raided the house of Javarappa on a tip-off and rescued his 84-year-old mother, Malamma.

Malamma, wife of Mariappa, had not seen sunlight for two years. Preliminary investigation has revealed the octogenarian was confined to the shed by Javarappa, a cattle rearer. He told police he kept her confined because she behaved in an abnormal manner. The place was a hell hole, serving as bedroom, dining hall and toilet. Javarappa was arrested and released on bail.

ND Tiwari directed to undergo DNA test The Delhi High Court asked veteran Congress leader ND Tiwari to undergo a DNA test in the paternity suit filed by Rohit Shekhar, who claims he is the former's son.

The court had earlier turned down the plea of Tiwari that he cannot be forced to undergo the DNA test, saying it is the right of a child to know his or her biological father.

The Delhi High Court had also dismissed Tiwari's plea challenging imposition of Rs 75,000 as cost on him for seeking deletion of certain paragraphs from a paternity suit filed against him by Shekhar.

Maoists release Odisha legislator Odisha legislator Jhina Hikaka, who had been kidnapped by Maoists more than a month ago, was finally released. The Maoists released the 37-year-old tribal legislator on the outskirts of Balipeta village in Narayanpatna Block of Koraput district. He had been kidnapped by the Maoists on March 24, when he was returning to home in his Laxmipur constituency from the district headquarters town of Koraput in night.

The Maoists had said that a decision to release Mr. Hikaka had been taken after he gave an undertaking that he would try to get their demands fulfilled, and would resign from his post if he failed to keep his words.

The Maoists had demanded for the release of 29 persons from jail.

Lakshmi Mittal retains crown as Britain's richest man Continued from page 1 Russian investor Roman Abramovich, who owns rival London club Chelsea, held onto third place with a personal value of 9.5 billion pounds, down from 10.3 billion pounds last year. The richest British-born billionaire was the Duke of Wellington, who slid from fourth to seventh place even though his largely property-based fortune rose five per cent to 7.35 billion pounds.

Britain's richest woman was former 'Miss UK' beauty queen Kirsty Bertarelli, who shares a 7.4 billion pounds fortune with her Swiss-Italian entrepreneur husband Ernesto.

The list was published as British Prime Minister David Cameron suffers a slump in his government's poll ratings following an unpopular budget last month that cut income tax for the richest earners.

The annual list is based on identifiable wealth, including land, property and other items such as art, racehorses or significant shares in publicly quoted companies.

india & HISToRy

Asian Voice - Saturday 5th May 2012

27

Gujarati adaptation of Shakespeare’s play to be staged in London

By Purvi Apurva Shah William Shakespeare's works have been translated into every major language and his plays are continually performed in different parts of the world. This time in London, 37 international companies will present 37 of Shakespeare’s plays in 37 different languages as part of the Cultural Olympiad.

A Gujarati adaptation of Shakespeare’s bittersweet comedy “All’s Well That Ends Well” (‘Maro Piyu gayo Rangoon’) will be performed on 23-24th May in the prestigious Globe to Globe International Theatre Festival during the sixweek-long World Shakespeare Festival 2012.

Mumbai-based Arpana Theatre Company and director Sunil Shanbag have been specially commissioned by the Shakespeare Globe Theatre in London to pres-

By Dr Anil Mehta

Round Table Conference

festival director to direct a play for the festival. They were keen on a Gujarati adaptation because of the large Gujarati-speaking population in and around London. I agreed to work in Gujarati, and that's how we came to adapt 'All's Well That Ends Well' into Gujarati."

The play will have a limited run in India before heading to London at the end of May for its international premiere. In ‘Maro Piyu gayo Rangoon’ Shanbag mixes live music,

Gujarati artist makes it big!

Ahmedabad- based Gujarati artist Archan Trivedi who plays a role of Lafaram in the play says, “I am very proud to do the Shakespeare’s play in Gujarati. It has been a long struggling journey to reach this stage.

Previously, I had the problem of stammering while talking. But I had made up my mind to overcome this deficiency. Thus with strong will-power and efforts I not only improved my speech but also established myself as a pleasing stage singer. Not only that I also made a name for myself as a well-known drama actor. During my theatre career, I had gone through a lot of obstacles. I was diagnosed with cancer which I overcame. But a keen desire to make it big has anchored me to reach the world stage today. The best part is doing the world play in our own Gujarati language.” ent a Gujarati adaptation of William Shakespeare’s play.

Regarding the Gujarati adaptation, Shanbag says, "though 'All’s Well...' is often referred to as being one of Shakespeare's problem plays, I found it had interesting layers and was easily adaptable to an Indian context. I was invited by Tom Bird, the

dance, and acting to tell a story set in Saurashtra, Mumbai and Rangoon in the early 1900s. The story is about Heli from the small town of Rasoli who specialises in nature cure (vaid). She loves young Bharatram, but he is called away to Mumbai to help his uncle, Rao Bahadur Gokuldas, the merchant prince. Heli follows him,

and when she cures Gokuldas of tuberculosis, she claims Bharatram as her reward. Bharatram flies away to Rangoon. But before he goes away, he sets two difficult conditions to their marriage conditions he is sure Heli will never be able to meet.

According to the organisers, "Shakespeare’s play in different languages brings us together better than any other and which reminds us of our almost infinite difference, and of our strange and humbling commonality. And above all, the plays themselves have travelled far and wide and give rise to new theatre cultures, spread light and laughter, and helped nations to define themselves."

This play in musical form is adapted in Gujarati by well known writer Mihir Bhuta, music

by Uday Mazumdar, set design by Nayantara Kotian and executive producer Manhar Gadhia.

Some of Gujarati theatre’s most respected and exciting new talent forms the artist core of the play.

Meenal Patel, Utkarsh Majumdar and Archan Trivedi are established theatre veterans, and Manasi Parekh, Chirag Vora, Satchit Puranik, and Nishi Doshi are among the most exciting emerging new talent. These versatile actors sing and perform with élan, a unique combination in our theatre.

Norman Knights supplier of flexible packaging Norman Knights are an established European supplier of flexible packaging that has been in the industry for over 40 years. We specialize in the Confectionery, Coffee, Ethnic and Organic Food markets however our range of customers and industries that we service is extremely diverse. We have built our customer base through providing high quality products, reliability and a level of customer service, second to none, all at extremely competitive prices. We provide numerous products and materials in the sizes and colours that our customers need, be it plain Cellophane bags, printed Euro slot bags or even reels of poly propylene. Norman Knights are able to offer high quality flexographic and gravure printing on a wide range of our products.

We supply a wide range of industries as the uses for our bags and films are very diverse. Some of the main industries we supply are shown below.

Confectionery Ethnic & Specialty Foods, Organic Foods, Coffee Roasters, Gift Suppliers.

Our Main Products are: Collophane Bags, Polypropylene Bags, Sideweld bags, Film Front Bags, Coffee Pouches, Stand Up Pounches, Twist Wrap, Reels of Printed Film, Block Bottom Bags, Window Bags, Cone Shaped Bags, Titan' Bags, Sheets and Discs, Conversion of Film into Bags.

!!!

manknights.com

In November 1930, British Labour PM Ramsay MacDonald at the request of the Viceroy Lord Irwin, convened the first session of the Round Table Conference in London to discuss India’s future constitutional set-up. The Conference was held in three sessions (1930 – ‘32). It was hoped that all parties and interest groups would attend to present their cases.

The Conference was a unique event. It was officially opened by King George V, on November 12 in a grand surrounding of the House of Lords and chaired by the PM himself.

Inaugurating the event, the King said ‘Never before have British and Indian statesmen and rulers of Indian states met, as you now meet, in one place and round the table to discuss the future system of government for India’ (The rest of the Conference was held at St. James’s Palace).

Around 90 dignitaries attended the first session (Nov ’30 – Jan ‘31).

The three major British political parties (Labour, Conservative, Liberal), political leaders from India and princely states were present. Those present were leaders of Muslim League (Jinnah, Aga Khan), Hindu Mahasabha, Liberals, zamindars, Catholics, Sikhs and leaders of other minority communities.

Depressed classes (‘untouchables’) were represented by their leader Dr. Ambedkar.

They all came to safeguard their own interests and claim separate electorates (i.e. to be able to elect their own representatives) for their communities.

However, with Gandhiji and other leaders still in jail for their participation in civil disobedience movement, Congress was not represented. In the words of Gandhiji this was much like staging Hamlet without the Prince of Denmark.

It was to the benefit of the Congress to attend the first session as some important decisions were to be made on India’s constitutional future.

However, the first session ended with little accomplishment. A limited selfgovernment (i.e. defence, finance, and foreign affairs in British hands) for India was discussed with eventual full dominion status (i.e. full independence with the sovereign as Head of State) at a later date.

Following personal discussions with the

Viceroy Lord Irwin, Gandhiji signed a pact (Gandhi – Irwin Pact, 1931) which brought a temporary halt to civil disobedience movement. It also secured the release of political prisoners including Gandhiji which enabled him to attend 2nd session. Many young Congress leaders like Nehru and Subhas Chandra Bose construed this (Gandhi – Irwin Pact) as surrender to government but Gandhiji insisted it was not so.

Gandhiji attended the 2nd session of the Conference (Sept – Dec ’31) as the sole official Congress representative.

When offered help, he said he did not need advisors; ‘my advisor is god’.

As he left India he looked despondent. Perhaps he had a hunch he may not achieve much and return e m p ty- h a n d e d .

Zaverchand Meghani, the eminent Gujarati poet of the day wrote a memorable ode to ‘Bapu’ urging him to go it alone and

not be treated as a separate minority. He did not mind reserved seats for the depressed classes for which all including caste Hindus were eligible to vote, but not separate electorates for them.

Disappointed with the results, he returned to India empty-handed as he feared. Little was accomplished in the 3rd session (Nov – Dec ’32). It was poorly attended. Gandhiji, Jinnah, and the British Labour party did not attend.

In the Conference Gandhiji’s impact was limited but outside it he was immensely popular, mobbed by people everywhere he went. He met famous people (the King, George Bernard Shaw, Charles Chaplin) as well as ordinary folks such as textile workers of Lancashire and enjoyed their love and admiration.

British PM, ignoring Gandhiji’s protest, granted separate electorates to depressed classes and other communities in the

‘drink the last chalice of poison’.

The proceedings of the 2nd session were made difficult for the British government as Gandhiji claimed to represent over 85% of India’s population and he (i.e.

Congress) spoke for the people of India as a whole. However, his claim was rejected by the other Indian delegates – leaders of several minority communities who were present with their own political demands.

During negotiations Gandhiji was unable to accept the idea of separate communal electorates. He could not reach agreement with the Muslims nor with Ambedkar who also demanded a separate electorate of the kind awarded to Muslims. He protested against Ambedkar at the Conference and thereafter in India. In his view, unlike Muslims and other minorities, ‘untouchables’ were Hindus and should

Communal Award of Aug ’32. Gandhiji who was in jail, protested again, and embarked on a fast unto death putting Ambedkar on the spot.

Though, most Hindus thought fast was fully justified, Ambedkar condemned it as a political stunt. After five days of hard bargaining by him, a compromise was reached.

He received more reserved seats than the Award had given him and special sums of money for the educational uplift of depressed classes, but not separate electorate.

In 1935, Round Table Conference proposals on constitutional reforms were incorporated in the Government of India Act 1935. It gave a large measure of self-governance (provincial autonomy) to India. However, within a decade, the gulf between Hindus and Muslims proved impossible to bridge resulting in the partition of India along religious lines at the time of Independence in 1947.

28

travel & women

asian voice - Saturday 5th May 2012

Purvi’S traveL bag

women achievers

By Purvi Apurva Shah

Lajja Goswami

Kasauli: a profusion of flowers and greenery wherever you turn

Kasauli is a small cantonment town in Solan District of Himachal Pradesh. This town is famous for the Kasauli Brewery which is the largest brewery in the World. The town has a very rich history. It is said that the city came into being when Lord Hanuman on his way of getting the Sanjeevani herb to cure Laxman landed here before jumping on the Sanjeevani Hill. This cantonment town is a wonderful place to spend a vacation with your family. However, being a cantonment area, for entry you need permission from concerned authorities and foreign tourists traveling in this town must carry a valid passport.

Kasauli is easy of access by roads, railways and airways. The best way to reach here is by road. One can hire a private car or take a luxury bus towards Shimla and

reach Dharampur. From Shimla, one can also take a toy train to Dharampur.

To provide accommodation needs to the growing influx of tourist each year, numerous hotels have come around this town.

Kasauli Regency situated at a height of about 5600 ft on Kasauli Hill is one of the best

options for accommodation.

One of the major attractions in the city includes the Christ Church which is located near the bus stand. This 159 year old Church is a wonderful architectural creation

Hanuman. You can also visit Dharampur, which is on the National Highway No. 22 and is about 15 km from Kasauli. Besides, one can also visit the temples like Baba Balak Nath Temple and the Shirdi Sai Baba Mandir on their visit

Gujarat’s very own shooter

By AV Correspondent Lajja Goswami, who was born in an ordinary family in Anand, rose to become one of the best women shooters in India. She won bronze medal in 2010 Commonwealth Games.

She is a former National Cadet Corps (NCC) cadet.

She was conferred Raksha Mantri medal.

Her father Tilak Giri is a temple priest. Tilak Giri said while other children were playing with toys, Lajja played with guns in her childhood. She had also participated in Beijing Olympic.

However, she couldn’t secure victory there. Lajja had in past secured sixth place in world shooting championship held at Munich. She had won gold medal in Kerala last year defeating all national shooting champions. Lajja has been trained by Indian coach Sunny Thomas in Pune.

Gujarat Chief Minister

Narendra Modi had also congratulated Lajja for her victory. Modi had said, “On behalf of all Gujarat, hearty congratulations to daughter of Gujarat, Lajja Goswami on her achievement of silver medal for India at CWG.” She is the only shooter from India to have qualified in the 50m 3-position event in the ISSF World Championship to be held in Berlin in October She first shot to fame when she won three gold medals in the 52nd National Shooting Championship at Thodupuzha in Kerala.

Lajja won gold medal in 10-metre air rifle, 50metre rifle prone and 3position air rifle event in the junior category. Lajja secured 394 points out of 400 to clinch the gold. She scored 582 points to win the 50-m rifle prone event.

The 3-position air rifle event saw Lajja ascertaining her supremacy as she left her competitors far

behind her.

Lajja, who was also competing in the senior event, placed first after two rounds of shooting in the senior women’s 3position air rifle event.

She also won gold in the senior and junior categories of the ninth Kumar Surendra Singh Memorial All India Shooting Championship held at Indore. Lajja won gold in the .22 event scoring 581 out of a total 600 points.

As the points in the senior women’s .22 event were considered for the junior event also, Lajja was adjudged the winner of the junior girls section also. By scoring 581 points she also set a national junior record in the .22 event.

Besides bagging gold in .22 events, Lajja won two bronze medals in the air rifle event. Lajja won bronze medal in the women’s 10m air rifle event as well as the junior girls 10m air rifle event.

Baby bride gets her 'marriage' annulled which attracts visitors still today. The Church is located on a spur and is a must to be visited site for the tourist. Another major attraction in Kasauli is the Monkey Point which gives a wonderful view of the distant plains of the

Chandigarh region. There is also a small temple on the top of the hill which is dedicated to Lord

to Kasauli.

Kasauli also offers guest accommodations.

There are many resorts in and around the city which offer lodging and dining facilities to the guests.

One such resort is the Snow Valley resort which offers fishing, paragliding, horse riding and camp fire to the guests.

The two main walks around Kasauli, the Upper and Lower Mall are beautiful. The residents of Kasauli walk a lot, for Kasauli was always short on hill resort attractions and meant for getting about on your own two feet, in communion with nature or if you are lucky, a walking partner. The somewhat steep Upper Mall takes you past an important landmark, the Kasauli Club.

The Indian hill resort of Kasauli is easily accessible through air, road and rail from the other major Indian cities and states. Delhi to Kasauli is 305km.

From Kasauli the nearest airport is Chandigarh, 61 km.

Laxmi Sargara, now 18, wed husband Rakesh when he was three, in the desert state of Rajasthan after their parents decided they should eventually start a family. Although child marriages were officially outlawed in India in 1929, the practice is still common in many parts of the country, especially in poor rural communities.

Sargara only discovered she was married a few days ago when she was told she would be sent to live in her husband’s home this week. She sought advice from a social worker who runs the children’s rights group Sarathi Trust.

She said: “I was unhappy about the marriage. I told my parents who did not agree with me, so I sought help. Now I am mentally relaxed and

Laxmi Sargara holds the certificate annulling marriage.

my family members are also with me.” A recent Unicef report says 47 per cent of married women in India wed before age 18 and that 40 per cent of the world's child marriages take place in India.

Girls married in their infancy usually continue

to live with their parents until they reach puberty at which point they are taken to their husband's family.

Social worker Kriti Bharti negotiated with Rakesh on Sargara's behalf and managed to persuade the families that the marriage was unfair.

She said: “It is the first example we know of a couple wed in childhood wanting the marriage to be annulled, and we hope that others take inspiration from it.” Bride and groom signed a joint legal document to annul the marriage which was validated by a public official in Jodhpur. Indu Chaupra, local director of the ministry of women and child development, said: “To ensure that the girl does not face any problem in future, we decided to go for a legal agreement.”

57% of boys think wife beating is justified

It's a shocking revelation in this day and age. Not just Indian men, but even adolescents - in the 15-19 age group - feel that wife beating is justified. Unicef's "Global Report Card on Adolescents 2012", says that 57% of adolescent boys in India think a husband is justified in hitting or beating his wife.

Over half of the Indian adolescent girls, or around 53% think that a husband is justified in beating his wife. In comparison, 41% women in Bangladesh and 54% in Sri Lanka harbour a similar feeling. In Nepal, however, the prevalence of both men and women justifying domestic violence is inordinately high at 88% and 80%, respectively.

According to the report, societal attitudes that con-

vey acceptance or justification of domestic violence are making girls and women more vulnerable to abuse. It says, "Available data for developing countries show that nearly 50% of girls and women aged 15-49 believe that wife beating is justified... girls aged between 15 and 19 years hold the same views as women in the 45-49 age group." The report explains that because of reporting bias, this may be an underestimation of the actual size of the problem in several countries. Many factors contribute to the incidence of domestic violence.

For instance, in many places, child marriage, gender-based power relations, women's low economic status and traditional practices or social norms per-

petuate it. Mission director for India's National Rural Health Mission Anuradha Gupta said spousal violence takes place both in developed and developing countries "though the degree would vary." She said, "When girls are brought up with the message that a woman's status in a family is inferior, she starts to accept whatever behaviour is meted out by her husband or in-laws."

She added, "When a boy grows up seeing his father assault his mother, he starts to accept such a behavior and repeats it."

Ranjana Kumari, director of Centre for Social Research, said, "Most women think this is their fate. Education or economic prosperity alone can't improve the situation."

HealtH WATCH

Asian Voice - Saturday 5th May 2012

problems, ranging from heart ailments to cancer.

A group of people was randomly assigned by researchers at the San Diego State University, US, to take either a daily serving (50 grams) of regular dark chocolate (70 per cent cocoa) or its version that had been overheated or "bloomed," or white chocolate (no cocoa), for a period of 15 days.

According to a university statement, blood pres-

sure, forearm skin blood flow, circulating lipid profiles, and blood glucose levels of the subjects were recorded at the beginning and end of the study.

When compared to those assigned to the white chocolate group, those consuming dark chocolate had lower blood glucose and low-density of lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL or 'bad' cholesterol) levels coupled with higher high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL, the 'good' form), the study said.

Researchers thus concluded that dark chocolate may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by improving glucose levels and lipid profiles.

However, they cautioned that it must be eaten in moderate quantity, as it can easily increase daily amounts of saturated fat and calories.

"We had great compliance with our study subjects because everybody wanted to eat chocolate.

We actually had to tell them not to eat more than 50 grams a day," a researcher said, adding that the university is planning follow-up studies involving more people and a longer duration of chocolate consumption.

make an excellent dish.

Mushrooms go very well with spring onions and interestingly spring onions can be added to soy nuggets while making a Chinese dish. Spring onions are used in salads as the flavor tends to be milder than other onions.

It is used widely in oriental food both as an ingredient and as a garnish.

Spring onion is a nutritious plant, and therefore it provides a host of health benefits to us. It is a rich source of vitamins and minerals which aids in curing the various ailments. It is seen to have helped in reducing the harmful impacts of various diseases.

Some of the health benefits of spring onions are as follows: Spring onion lowers the blood sugar level; it is a support against gastrointestinal problems; it is often used as a medicine for common cold; it is used as an appetizer as it helps digestion and it speeds up the level of blood circulation in the body.

Dark chocolate may reduce cardio risks

Dark chocolate, rich in flavanols, may reduce the risk against cardiovascular diseases by lowering blood pressure, blood flow and improving blood lipid levels, says a new study.

Flavanols, compounds also found in grapes, berries and apples, counteract the role of rogue oxygen molecules known as free radicals which not only damage healthy cells, but also alter cellular DNA and are known to cause at least 60 different health

Health benefits of spring onions

Spring onions add great nutritive and taste value to a dish and can be used in different ways. Spring onions were grown in Chinese gardens 5,000 years ago! Do you know the onion bulb was worshipped as the symbol of the universe by ancient E g y p t i a n s ?

Nutritionally, green onions have a combination of the benefits of onions and greens. They are an excellent source of vitamin K and vitamin C, and a very good source of vitamin A too.

Spring onions can be added to dal and make it a much tastier dish.

Similarly, you can add it to vegetables like cauliflower and potatoes and it will

'* &+, -#*/ 2 , #"-++) $( / -#*/ '. 2 , '1/0-# '//'*% 2 , $ " (%$* 0 %$ *( * " !&%%" &&(%. )' * ( ) $*"/ %& ( * $ ) $* ($ * 0 $ $ $ $ !)

-%+" )+ * $/ */& % 0* ! - / ( ) $*"/ ) *) &"+) " &*%& )* * %$) * * * " ) $ ) & ( * $* ($ * )* * %$) %)) " ( %" ) " *% $ "+ %+ " (%%# " * %, %( 1 "" ( $ & )* +) ) ( , (%%#) - * * (%%# $ * $

#(

29

Any quest ions

write to mam ta@thin

By Mamta Saha kspalondon.com Psychologist

How to be Resilient

Have you ever wondered why some people seem to remain calm in the face of disaster, while others seem to fall apart? People that are able to keep their cool have what psychologists call resilience, or an ability to cope with problems and setbacks.

Resilient people are able to utilize their skills and strengths to cope and recover from problems and challenges, which may include job loss, financial problems, illness, natural disasters, medical emergencies, divorce or the death of a loved one.

How does one build resilience?

According to many experts, resilience is actually quite common and people are very capable of learning the skills that it takes to become more resilient.

Build positive beliefs in your abilities. Research has demonstrated that selfesteem plays an important role in coping with stress and recovering from difficult events. Remind yourself of your strengths and accomplishments.

Becoming more confident about your own ability to respond and deal with crisis is a great way to build resilience for the future.

Find a sense of pur-

ing your problem-solving skills on a regular basis, you will be better prepared to cope when a serious challenge emerges.

Establish goals. Crisis situations are daunting.

They may even seem insurmountable. Resilient people are able to view these situations in a realistic way, and then set reasonable goals to deal with the problem. When you find yourself becoming overwhelmed by a situation, take a step back to simply assess what is before you. Brainstorm possible solutions, and then break them down into manageable steps.

How does ‘one’ get up when ‘one has been knocked down?

Be optimistic. Staying optimistic during dark periods can be difficult, but maintaining a hopeful outlook is an important part of resiliency. Positive thinking does not mean ignoring the problem in order to focus on positive outcomes. It means understanding that setbacks are transient and that you have the skills and abilities to combat the challenges you face. What you are dealing with may be difficult, but it is important to remain hopeful and positive about a brighter future.

Good luck!

pose in your life. In the face of crisis or tragedy, finding a sense of purpose can play an important role in recovery. This might involve becoming involved in your community, or participating in activities that are meaningful to you.

Develop a strong social network. Having caring, supportive people around you acts as a protective factor during times of crisis. It is important to have people you can confide in.

While simply talking about a situation with a friend or loved one will not make troubles go away, it allows you to share your feelings, gain support, and come up with possible solutions to your problems.

What is the best way to deal with challenges and problems?

Develop your problemsolving skills. Research suggests that people who are able come up with solutions to a problem are better able to cope with problems than those who cannot. Whenever you encounter a new challenge, make a quick list of some of the potential ways you could solve the problem. Experiment with different strategies and focus on developing a logical way to work through common problems. By practic-

The goodness of coconut water

Coconut water has many health benefits and one of them is losing weight quickly. Yes, you heard that right. Thus 'nut' is packed with anti-aging properties and has the right number of calories to keep you going.

The water inside the green coconuts is ones to be had. One cup of this water has around 46 calories compared to 550 calories that

similar to human plasma.

Staying hydrated will help you feel full for longer, which in turn will reduce hunger and sugar cravings.

This will effectively lead to you eating less, which means your total calorie consumption will go down. Drinking this water will known to flush out toxins which will help you to lose weight faster and also reduce those cravings and hunger pangs.

coconut milk has. Coconut water is very hydrating and was given to soldiers during the World War when saline was not obtainable. The water contains no fat and consists mostly of natural sugars and minerals.

Coconut water is very rich in magnesium and potassium, as well as being very high in fibre.

It is so hydrating because of the electrolyte composition, which is very

" $

&($$ % # " ) % ,

*.$'" ('! ,$(' *0 (!! (( ' -+,*$ + & $' *$',

,#'$ !& /$ &

+ %&

' *" '$ % "$'"

+!'(#

DIMPLE SELF DRIVE HIRE LTD

-))&0

DIMPLE VANS - CARS - MINIBUS

Competitive prices No hidden extras Unlimited mileage 3 days & over Special weekend rates Minibuses 8, 12, 15 & 17 seaters Vans & estate cars

Mini Bus (8-17 Seater) 8 Seater from £60 12 Seater from £65 15 Seater from £70 17 Seater from £80 Small Cars from £25 Medium Cars from £30 Large Cars from £35 Large Vans from £40

Tel: 020 8205 1200 / 7898 Fax: 020 8200 7426 www.dimpleselfdrive.com Email:dimplemotors@aol.com 19 Varley Parade, Edgware Road, London NW9 6RR

Profesional

& # $% "' ! # #''#! & " #* & #" $ & ' " & '& " & & #") %& #" # ! "'#

#$ " & # ,$%#$, " & * & ! %#"' & # $#( & ' " $ $#( & * &' % $

(', *** "#%! " "

,

'& #!

&

* ++ &

&

"#%! " "

'& #!

30

UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 5th May 2012

CB Live is only a Gujarati programme in UK on MATV SKY 793 This week in CB Live, on the 40th Anniversary occasion of Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar, Publisher/Editor CB Patel will be interviewed by a renowned scholar/journalist and a renowned public personality.

Sneh Joshi - 020 8518 5500 There is an element of disruption or stress which may be hard to avoid, but it appears that there is a strong sense of purpose in the background. A certain amount of sheer hard graft will be necessary for a short while, but the final result will be extremely pleasing. An exchange of opinions ought to prove very enlivening at this time.

ARIES Mar 21 - Apr 20

If you do not have a SKY, go to www.tvunetworks.com and watch CB Live on TVU Player Channel 75203

7pm to 8pm Every Thursday

CB LIVE Every Thursday on MATV (SKY 793) 7pm to 8pm For more information email: cblive_matv@yahoo.co.uk or call Alka Shah on 07944 151 893

Be aware of Malaria It is estimated that 50% of imported cases of malaria in England are not officially reported, according to a study by the Health Protection Agency.

Malaria can affect anyone. But this year the Malaria Awareness Campaign is making a special call to those travellers visiting friends and family in the malarious regions of the world to encourage them to take essential steps to protect themselves from this preventable yet potentially deadly disease.

Gareth Thomas, MP for Harrow West said: “Great progress has been made in the last decade to tackle malaria. However,

worrying new figures show that there has been a 22% increase in the number of people returning to the UK who have contracted the disease after travelling to the Indiansubcontinent. If you’re planning a trip soon; going on holiday, or to see family or friends and to a place you know well, you may not be aware that you could be at risk. In fact, 80% of the Indian population live in malaria risk areas, so it is worth taking extra care, and checking the latest health information before you go.”

Visit www.malariahotspots.co.uk for advice, tips and facts on how to protect against malaria.

Devdaya Gala Night Broadcast on MATV, Sunday, 6 May 2012, 12pm Or repeat on Sunday, 13 May, 3 PM

Coming Events l Sunday 6th May 2012 - Bhajans from 3.00pm to 5.15 by Shree Budhdevbhai, Shree Manubhai Kotak and Various Artists followed by Arti and Maha Prasad. Adhya Shakti Mataji temple, 55 High Street, Cowley, Middlesex UB8 2DX. Contact: 07882 253 540 l Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Celebration ; Indian Cultural Centre, Croydon, Saturday 2nd June, Queen’s Gardens, Fell Rd. 3 pm. l London Sharad Utsav and London Kalibari present Harrow Music Festival. Sunday 6th May, Zoroastrian Centre Hall, South Harrow HA2 9TL, 2:30pm onwards.

Contact: Amitya Bhattacharya 07801 542 276 l Nehru Centre, 8 South Audley Street, London W1K 1HF 04 May: Book Launch: Jab Diyon Ke sar Uthay (in Urdu) Dr Hilal Fareed 08 May: Exhibition/Film: Cameos & Memoirs of a Journey - Gurudev 1861-1941 09 May: Music: Rabindra Sangeet: Memoirs and Gurudev Sudeb Guhathakurta and Dr Anand Gupta 11 May: Presentation : Hair Yoga - Jawed Habib l The Company Theatre presents at Shakespeare Globe theatre. Contact: 020 7401 9919 - The Tempest in Bangla: 7 and 8 May - Alls well that ends well in Gujarati: 23 and 24 May - The Taming of the Shrew in Urdu: 25 and 26 May

Asian Voice has received many articles by people who participated in London Marathon and raised a substantial fund for their chosen charity. We are not being able to publish it due to lack of space. But will do so in the near future. In the mean time if you have taken part in the Marathon and have not sent us a photo and your bio with fund raised and the charity, do so immediately at aveditorial@abplgroup.com.

Editor: CB Patel Associate Editor: Rupanjana Dutta Tel: 020 7749 4098 - Email: rupanjana.dutta@abplgroup.com Senior News Editor: Dhiren Katwa Freelance Correspondent: Rudy Otter Chief Operating Officer: Liji George Tel: 020 7749 4013 Email: george@abplgroup.com Chief Financial Officer: Surendra Patel Tel: 020 7749 4093 Mobile: 07875 229 220 Email: surendra.patel@abplgroup.com Accounts Executive: Akshay Desai Tel: 020 7749 4087 Email:accounts@abplgroup.com Business Manager: Alka Shah Tel: 020 7749 4002 - Mobile: 07944 151 893 Email: alka.shah@abplgroup.com Advertising Manager: Kishor Parmar Tel: 020 7749 4095 - Mobile: 07875 229 088 Email: kishor.parmar@abplgroup.com Business Development Managers: Rovin J George - Email: rovin.george@abplgroup.com Tel: 020 7749 4097 - Mobile: 07875 229 219 Nihir Shah - Email: nihir.shah@abplgroup.com Tel: 020 7749 4089 - Mobile: 07875 229 111 Urja Patel - Email: urja.patel@abplgroup.com Design and Layout: Harish Dahya & Ajay Kumar Tel: 020 7749 4086 Email: graphics@abplgroup.com Customer Service: Ragini Nayak Tel: 020 7749 4080 - Email: support@abplgroup.com (BPO) AB Publication (India) Pvt. Ltd.

TAURUS Apr 21 - May 21 The need to push ahead with personal interests and to assert yourself with added force will take precedence over everything else for some time to come. Mentally you will be in top form, perhaps feeling quite passionate about expressing your ideas and views. This is also a time when you will develop fresh insights into other people.

GEMINI May 22 - June 22 Sun'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.

CANCER Jun 22 - Jul 22 Activities and interests that involve co-operation and teamwork are very much in the spotlight. You will be able to further your special aims and objectives by communicating and working closely with others. You are likely to experience some tension in close relationships - it may be a time to take stock of things.

LEO Jul 23 - Aug 23 This is not a time to take undue risks with money yet it is certainly favourable for those who are working towards improving their earning potential. It is not only career and employment that come under this fortunate trend because your creative energies will be very much to the fore too. Tread carefully where legal matters are concerned.

VIRGO Aug 24 - Sep 23 The fiery planet Mars, continues to occupy your sign for some time to come.

Its influence will help you to maintain a high energy level and achieve positive results in anything that requires drive and initiative. However, you will need to focus on what is most important in your life, otherwise mistakes will be made.

LIBRA Sep 24 - Oct 23 It is a particularly favourable time for dealing with financial interests with a long-term basis, such as investments, insurance and pension schemes, legacies and all jointly held resources. You will be able to sort out any difficulties by taking immediate action. There may be a certain amount of unfinished business to be dealt with.

SCORPIO Oct 24- Nov 22

The accent’s very much on relationships. The opening up of a more diverse social life is a point in favour of romantic attachments, if this is what you want. You will achieve a lot more, especially when you're motivated by your own desires. The general pattern of things continues on a progressive and buoyant theme.

207 Shalibhadra Complex, Opp. Jain Derasar, Nr. Nehru Nagar Circle, Ambawadi, Ahmedabad Tel/Fax: +91 79 2646 6061 Bureau Chief: Nilesh Parmar (M) +919426636912 Email: nilesh.parmar@abplgroup.com Consultant (P.R): Kamlesh Amin Tel: +91 922 710 4308 Email: kamlesh.amin@abplgroup.com Consulting Editor (BPO): Bhupatbhai Parekh, Ahmedabad, Gujarat Tel: +91 79 2630 4142 Mumbai: Kanti Bhatt, Hemraj Shah (Jumbo Advertiser) Horizon Advertising & Marketing: 205 Shalibhadra Complex, Opp. Jain Derasar, Nr. Nehru Nagar Circle, Ambawadi, Ahmedabad Tel / Fax: +91 79 2646 5960 (M) +91 9913346487 Email: horizonadvt2009@yahoo.in Neeta Patel, (Advertising Manager) (M) +91 98255 11702 International Advertisement Representative: Jain Group(South India) Tel: +91 44 42041122/3/4 Fax: +91 44 25362973 Mumbai: +91 222471 4122 Email: jainmedia@eth.net

Asian Voice Main 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 Sales: 020 7749 4085

SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 - Dec 21 Jupiter and Sun's transit in your solar 6th house, you will find it easy to do well at work and rise to great heights. During this transit you will enjoy robust health and find physical activities very enjoyable. Plan your spending and set sensible budgets to reach your financial goals.

The cosmic energies are decidedly invigorating at the moment. If you are taking a holiday, so much the better ! Not only do you have a great time away from mundane realities but, with Mars you can be sure of deriving the utmost pleasure from adventures and excursions. There will be great confidence in whatever you do.

CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan 20

AQUARIUS Jan 21 - Feb 19 This is almost certain to be an eventful time for affairs of the heart. The transit of Venus through your desire sign augurs well for those hoping to meet the right partner. A party that you attend allows you to connect with interesting new people, one of whom may be interested in you as a romantic partner.

PISCES Feb 20 - Mar 20 At the moment, relationships are experiencing major transformations those with shaky foundations should be extra careful.

Financially, you have everything going for you. This is a good time to put lucrative plans into action and reap the benefits of sound investments.

Asian Voice - Saturday 5th May 2012

31

32

Asian Voice - Saturday 5th May 2012

IPL Results of 34 to 43 matches played till Tuesday, 1st May Match Date 33 25 April

34

25 April

35

26 April

36

27 April

37

28 April

38

28 April

39

29 April

40

29 April

41

30 April

42

01 May

43

01 May

Teams KXIP v/s MI at Mohali MI won by 4 wickets Brief scores: KXIP 168/3 (20 overs); MI 171 (19.5/20 overs) RCB v/s CSK at Bangalore No result (abandoned with a toss) PW v/s DC at Pune DC won by 18 runs Brief scores: DC 177/4 (20 overs); PW 159/7 (20 overs) DD v/s MI at Delhi DD won by 37 runs Brief scores: DD 207/5 (20 overs); MI 170/9 (20 overs) CSK v/s KXIP at Chennai KXIP won by 7 runs Brief scores: KXIP 156/8 (20 overs); CSK 149/8 (20 overs) KKR v/s RCB at Kolkata KKR won by 47 runs Brief scores: KKR 190/4 (20 overs); RCB 143/6 (20 overs) DD v/s RR at Delhi DD won by 1 runs Brief scores: DD 152/6 (20 overs); RR 151 (20 overs) MI v/s DC at Mumbai MI won by 5 wickets Brief scores: DC 100 (18.4/20 overs); MI 101/5 (18.1/20 overs) CSK v/s KKR at Chennai KKR won by 5 wickets Brief scores: CSK 139/5 (20 overs); KKR 140/5 (19.4/20 overs) DC v/s PW at Cuttack DC won by 13 runs Brief scores: DC 186/4 (20 overs); PW 173/5 (20 overs) RR v/s DD at Jaipur DD won by 6 wickets Brief scores: RR 141/6 (20 overs); DD 144/4 (15.2/20 overs)

Pujara to lead India A to tour West Indies in June

Cheteshwar Pujara, who is looking to work his way back into the Indian Test team after recovering from a knee injury sustained during the 2011 IPL, will lead India A on a tour of the Caribbean in June. West Indies A will host India A for three four-day matches, three one-day matches and two Twenty20s on the tour, which begins in Barbados on June 2.

India A squad Cheteshwar Pujara (capt), Wriddhiman Saha (vicecapt), Abhinav Mukund, Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Manoj Tiwary, Rahul Sharma, Ashok Dinda, Jalaj Saxena, RP Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Robin Bist, Akshay Darekar, Shami Ahmed.

West Indies chief selector Clyde Butts said that A tours provide an opportunity for fringe players to develop their game at the international level and impress the selectors.

"The West Indies Cricket Board has shown a commitment over the last few years to providing a number of opportunities for our players to develop," he said. "We hope that the players selected will take the opportunity to play meaningful cricket and put their hands up in the hope of making the senior team."

(89

! " !% " !,2/()2, (7*,2 ",7;/*,8 &572+ &/+,

",4+ (7*,2 95

,7

7(4*.,8 &

'

$ #

!

" $#

#559/4-

3(/2 0:3)5 6(7*,2 <(.55 *5 :1

#

662<

Pune Warriors slump to their third consecutive loss

Pune Warriors succumbed to the tournament's whipping boys, Deccan Chargers, batting them out of the match for the second time in less than a week. It wasn't a flawless win for the Chargers' though, as their ground fielding and catching continued to look sloppy.

Their saviour was an explosive stand of 157 between the two experienced hands - Cameron White and Kumar Sangakkara - which took them to 186. The Warriors slumped to their third consecutive loss and remained third from bottom in the points table.

The Chargers won the toss but got off to a poor start when they lost Parthiv Patel first ball, dragging Marlon Samuels onto his off stump.

The pressure increased on the inconsistent White and out-of-form Sangakkara, who brought himself back after sitting out the last match. The first ten overs was a slow and steady build for the Chargers, who struggled to get the run-rate above six.

Sangakkara didn't look convincing at the start, playing and missing and also getting an under-edge off a drive. Chargers managed only five boundaries in the first nine overs, before a straight six by White off Murali Kartik in the tenth over gave the Warriors a sign of things to come.

It was as if the Chargers began on a fresh slate. The run-rate began creeping over six after the 12th over, the point from which Chargers took control. The 15th over was Sangakkara's turning

Virender Sehwag plays towards the leg side against Rajasthan Royals at Jaipur.

point in this tournament as he smashed four boundaries off Samuels. He lofted inside out over extra cover, edged to third man, smashed one over the bowler's head and swept past short fine leg.

Sangakkara brought up his fifty the following over with a chip to short fine leg after which he pumped his fists. Sourav Ganguly, who had conceded 15 off two overs, brought himself back on to stem the runs but it turned out to be a tactical blunder as his meaty offerings cost the Warriors 25 runs.

White slogged three consecutive sixes over the on side before clipping one to fine leg for four, in the process outscoring Sangakkara.

Sangakkara then took on Nehra, showing the confidence to innovate by shuffling at the crease and fetching four boundaries, including two sixes.

Attempted yorkers turned into friendly full tosses, which Sangakkara pounded over the leg side.

Chargers ransacked 50 off two overs before the pair fell off successive deliveries. They smashed 95 off the last six overs and gave themselves a shot at beating the Warriors for the second time.

The Warriors too dubiously lost a wicket off the first ball of the innings the first such occurance in the IPL. After Manish Pandey tamely chipped Ankit Sharma to mid-on, Ganguly walked in, ahead of Steve Smith, as if taking a cue from the Chargers to have two experienced players in the face of a big task.

The start was still encouraging for the Warriors as Ganguly and Clarke unsettled Dale Steyn, hammering 17 off his second over. Ganguly fetched a four over cover at

the start, before Clarke fetched three consecutive fours consisting of a flick and two cuts square on the off side. The bowler who had figures of 2 for 10 in four overs against Mumbai Indians a few nights back, ended with figures 4-0-46-0.

Delhi Daredevils beat Rajasthan Royals Delhi Daredevils 144 for 4 (Sehwag 73) beat Rajasthan Royals 141 for 6 (Dravid 57, Negi 4-18) by six wickets. A gamechanging spell from leftarm spinner Pawan Negi followed by a fifth consecutive half-century from Virender Sehwag overwhelmed Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur and helped Delhi Daredevils strengthen their hold on the No. 1 position. The six-wicket victory, achieved with 28 balls to spare, was Daredevils' fourth consecutive win this season and gave them 16 points after ten games, while Kolkata Knight Riders are second with 13 after ten. One more win in six remaining games will assure Daredevils a place in the playoffs.

The previous game between these sides, two days ago at the Kotla, had been decided by a one-run margin, with Daredevils stealing victory from a dire situation. Royals looked like stretching Daredevils on Tuesday as well, until Negi began to spin through the top order.

After replacing Ajit Agarkar in Daredevils' XI, Negi began his spell when Royals were 56 for 0 in six overs. By the time he finished they had slumped to 93 for 5 after 13, and were eventually restricted to 141.

Oz push India to 4th position in Test rankings Australia has pushed India to fourth place in the ICC Test championship table after winning the threematch series against the West Indies 2-0.

Australia had entered the series on equal points with India at 111, but was below the latter when the ratings were calculated beyond the decimal point, The Nation reports.

The Windies series win gave it one rating point more than India. England (116) leads the Test Championship table, followed by South Africa (116), which is fraction of a point behind Andrew Strauss's side. Meanwhile,

West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul has become the World No 1 Test batsmen after smashing two half-centuries in the Dominica Test.

No Indian batsmen feature in the top-20 list, while Zaheer Khan (12) and

Pragyan Ojha (20) have maintained their rankings in the bowlers' list.

Australian opener David Warner has climbed two places to 43rd spot, while Cowan has jumped six places to 60th position.

West Indies' Kemar

Roach has gained two more places and is now on a career-best 16th position, West Indies off-spinner Shane Shillingford has rocketed 21 places to 46th place, while Australia captain Michael Clarke is at 75th spot.

Indian Premier League 2012 Points Table (01 / 05 / 2012) Teams Match Won Lost Tied Delhi Daredevils 10 8 2 0 Kolkata Knight Riders 10 6 3 0 Mumbai Indians 9 5 4 0 Chennai Super Kings 10 4 5 0 Royal Challengers Bangalore 9 4 4 0 Rajasthan Royals 10 4 6 0 Pune Warriors 10 4 6 0 Kings XI Punjab 9 4 5 0 Deccan Chargers 9 2 6 0

N/R 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 1

Points 16 13 10 9 9 8 8 8 5

Net RR +1.037 +0.632 -0.187 -0.029 -0.462 -0.061 -0.127 -0.347 -0.545