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VOL 39. ISSUE 27

Let noble thoughts come to us from every side

80p

Lord Paul quits while Baroness Uddin “forgets” to declare £20,000 gift Lord Swaraj Paul after the extensive controversy of expenses claims has resigned on Tuesday as the Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords.

Lord Paul said, although he had “reservations” about the decision to suspend him, he had accepted it in keeping with the traditions of parliamentary practice and decided to step down as Deputy Speaker in order to uphold “parliamentary conventions and proprieties”.

In a letter to the Speaker, Lord Paul said, “I have decided to resign despite the fact that the Committee for Privileges and Conduct and, indeed the House itself, has cleared me of any dishonesty and bad faith. Although I have several reservations, I have accepted the suspension imposed upon me in keeping with the traditions of parliamentary practice.”

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Asian Voice wishes everybody a Happy Diwali & Prosperous New Year.

For more stories about Diwali celebrations in the UK please see page 6, 14 & 30.

Our paid subscribers will receive our Diwali special magazine along with their newspapers this week.

It is for the Diwali festival that our offices will remain closed from 4th till 9th November and there will be no Asian Voice publication for the 13th November issue.

7 Indian Americans in the poll fray

Lord Swaraj Paul

Baroness Pola Uddin

The mid term Congressional polls saw a record number of Indian Americans in the fray, more than half a dozen.

The outcome of the polls will be something that the Indian American community will be watching with

keen interest, as barring one, all are Democrats.

The community also is hoping that the House of Representatives will have more than one person from amongst them.

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2

UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 6th November 2010

British MPs take diabetes test British Parliament was the setting for the first ever Ethnic Minority Diabetes Day whose aim is to raise awareness in the British Asian Community of the danger of undiagnosed diabetes. The Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg MP, the new Opposition Leader Ed Miliband MP, Cabinet Secretary Eric Pickles MP along with Vijay Mallya MP who represented the Indian Parliament joined 75 British MPs and hundreds of community members for the occasion. The event was part of the Diwali at Westminster celebration and marked the start of the Silver Star MPs Health Challenge.

Keith Vaz MP, founder patron of the Silver Star said: “I hope that Ethnic Minority Diabetes Day will be repeated in Parliaments all over the world in order to alert the Asian community of the danger of undiagnosed diabetes. The message from Parliament was ‘take the test now’.”

As part of the Health Challenge, MPs were issued with a Silver Star

tered charity campaigning to provide diabetes awareness whose Patrons include Amitabh Bachchan and Shilpa Shetty.

The Charity runs Mobile Diabetes Units (MDU) that carry out important diabetes testing and promote culturally sensitive healthcare, with particular regard to the high prevalence of diabetes in the major towns and cities of Britain.

The Units travel Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg MP to local community centres, Pedometer that will measschools, work places and ure the amount of steps other organisations. taken over 50 The NHS spends 1 Parliamentary Days. The million an hour on diapublic can keep track of betes related illnesses and the MPs’ positions on the it is estimated that more Silver Star website and than 1 million people in the winner of the 50 days the UK may have diabetes challenge will be without knowing it and announced in February another 2.8 million people 2011. have already been diagLaunched in January nosed with Type 2 dia2007, Silver Star is a regisbetes.

Women of Indian origin seize centre stage for International development

First GOPIO International Women's Conference Inauguration on 27th October convened

by Lady Shruti Rana, Chairperson, GOPIO International Women's Council (GIWC)

The first GOPIO International Women’s Conference held recently in London emphatically propelled Women of Indian Origin to the centre of the international development stage. Lady Shruti Rana, Chairperson of GIWC, convened the conference.The proceedings were initiated by Her Holiness Guruma,with the traditional ritual lighting of the lamp and an inspirational invocation.

The GOPIO International Women’s Council (GIWC) launched a dazzling array of projects for 2011 encompassing books, films, skills training and health educa-

tion. In addition the WIO e-group is now set to expand to become a major pivotal and dynamic forum. The event also witnessed an historic collaboration through the cosigning of the MOU between two powerful bodies: FICCI Ladies Organisation (FLO) and GIWC. Delegates to the one day conference held in London witnessed an impressive array of authoritative speakers from around the globe introduce a range of stimulating and emotive discussions.

The first ever annual Shakti Award, was pre-

sented to Her Holiness Anadmurti Guruma. The conference was concluded with a Valedictory Address by her Holiness Anandmurti Gurumaa and a vote of thanks from Dr Pushpinder Chowdury. Mr Piyush agrawal chaired the concluding session.

Lady Rana summed up proceedings as ‘a new beginning’. She acknowledged the value of the learning and experience shared by the speakers and invited all present, to remain connected, forge networks and to continue the discussions and problem-solving viathe GIWC e-group, dialogues forums and practical projects.

UKFT targets booming Indian market Kartik.S.Raval The UK Fashion and Textile Association (UKFT) targeted the Indian fashion retail market in a seminar at its new home in London's Bloomsbury. The Indian retail market, with its GDP predicted to quadruple by 2020 present huge opportunity for fashion brands and designers all over the world and UK retail companies are hoping to grab a piece or two of this massive attractive pie.

Jamie Tunnicliffe of John Smedley, Asian specialist Peter Baker, Michael Pike, Director of International marketing agency Brandspoke and many others presented figures like

400 malls are expected to open in India by 2015 and the high standard of manufacturing available there through which company's can avoid high duty. Some of these data stunned the leaders of the UK market.

“If one understands the scope of development in the retail market sector in India, it can boggle the mind. But this scope is very complicated as in India a company needs to understand various needs and target these specific needs of highly diversified people and cannot afford to target one general taste” explains Jamie Prior, Export Manager at leading fashion brand in UK. Prior to Obama's visit to India,

Indian Planning Commission has given the green light to Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the retail sector stating it will have both a positive direct and indirect effect on the nation's economy.

However, the seminar rightly pointed out that though there is such an immense scope of development for companies, Indian market poses a set of challenges because of its intense diversity which needs to be assessed, understood and evaluated if at all a retail company wishes to go there, compete with other hundreds of thousands of brands already present and grab a major share of the market.

Lord Paul quits while Baroness Uddin “forgets” to declare £20,000 gift Continued from page 1 He said that the whole expenses affair was “inspired by the electoral politics of the media” and believed that he had been a victim of “media and political hostility”.

“I am far from alone in being unable to find any rationale for the House authorities to investigate certain members, while not investigating others similarly accused,” Lord Paul wrote adding, “To my mind this situation is fraught with gross injustice and violation of what I had come to believe are the norms of British fairness. It is with regret, therefore, that I feel that I can no longer play a role as Deputy Speaker in upholding the principle of parliamentary independence, at a time when that is needed more than ever.”

Lord Paul and two others - Baroness Pola Uddin and Lord Amir Bhatia were suspended last month on the recommendations of the House of Lords Committee for Privileges and Conduct which inquired into allegations that they wrongly claimed parliamentary expenses.

Lord Paul was suspended for four months, Baroness Uddin until Easter 2012 and Lord Bhatia for eight months.

On the other hand Baroness Uddin, the Labour peer now suspended from the House of Lords for cheating on her expenses, allegedly failed to declare a luxury BMW 4x4 vehicle that was given

to her in an extraordinary showroom deal.

She allegedly drove to a garage in a battered Honda worth 300 in part exchange and drove away in the two-year-old BMW X5, worth at least 20,000, without even opening her chequebook.

Uddin, 51, did not declare the vehicle worth 42,500 new as a gift on the register of Lords’ interests. It was only after The Sunday Times first reported on her expenses claims that she stumped up cash for the car.

Her critics are demanding a new inquiry into her financial dealings after it emerged that the man who gave her the car for practically nothing was awaiting trial on fraud charges.

He handed over the keys to the metallic darkblue BMW in 2007, a year after he had been charged with conspiracy to defraud an insurance company, and a year before he was convicted and sentenced to 18 months in prison.

The car dealer offering her the giveaway deal was Mohammed Ferdhaus, who used to run the Prestige Auto group in Walthamstow, east London. He also owns Channel S, a Bangladeshi television station broadcasting in Britain, as reported by The Sunday Times.

The decision to investigate the three peers was taken by the police after revelations in The Sunday Times had previously investigated four other

peers in a “cash for influence” scandal in 2008.

Lord Taylor of Blackburn and Lord Truscott, two Labour peers who offered to amend a bill in return for money, were subsequently suspended from parliament. Two others were cleared.

Ferdhaus, who also goes by the names of Mahee Ferdous Jalil and Mahee Ferdous Mahill, admitted last week that Uddin only produced the money for the car after The Sunday Times reported on the investigation by its Insight team into Uddin’s financial shortcomings in May 2009, as reported by The Sunday Times..

He said he had known the baroness for 20 years and she had been a guest speaker at his TV channel’s awards ceremony.

At the time of the gift, Ferdhaus was awaiting trial, accused of defrauding the AXA insurance group. He had been investigated by City of London police over a series of “crash-for-cash” bogus accidents. During the hearing at Croydon crown court, Mr Justice Macrae admonished him for being “dishonest” and having “a lack of awareness for what the truth is”. Ferdhaus was jailed for 18 months in August 2008.

In August of this year Ferdhaus appeared before a proceeds of crime hearing, and he was ordered to pay AXA 84,000.

Baroness Uddin was was unavailable for comment.

Asian Voice - Saturday 6th November 2010

COMMENT

Festival of Lights subdues forces of darkness The most loved of all Indian festivals is Diwali, when almost every home in the land lights the flame which symbolises the triumph of Good over Evil. The story told in the Ramayana, one of the two great Sanskrit epics – the other is the Mahabharata - has defined the essence of Indian civilisation. It tells the story of the hero Ram, who having defied exile, misfortune and myriad vicissitudes, returns home at last to reclaim his just inheritance. It is a story interwoven with religion and ethics, yet also incarnating the perennial philosophy - which is why it appeals to every community in the country, irrespective of caste and creed. The Ramayana's rich cast of of characters and its episodes have shaped the lives of the Indian people for over two millennia in written and oral form, in folk tradition, in song and dance and theatre and puppetry. The Ramayana has shed its light beyond India's shores to Java, Sumatra and Bali and the Khmer kingdoms straddling the South East Asian archipelago and much of its landmass, where Indian religion, art and culture found a second home.

The Ramayana taught people the right way of living, it emphasised the need for fortitude in the midst of adversity, it showed the limits of force and the transient nature of evil and injustice. In the final analysis goodness and justice would endure as permanent monuments to human achievement. This is the unifying theme of all the great Indian thinkers and reformers, from Shri Krishna, Gautama Buddha, the Jain Munis, Guru Nanak, Chaitanaya, Ramanuja, into the modern era with, Rammohun Roy, Shri Ramkrishna, Swami Vivekenanda and Mahatma Gandhi, among others.

This is not to argue that Indian society hasn't been plagued by its share of injustice and inhumanity, but appeals to the individual and collec-

tive conscience have played a significant role in ameliorating these through non-violent action, and sometimes through the use of force, when other means have failed. It is a tradition that has inspired later generations in their struggles. There is a lot here which reflect the whole human story.That said, it would be a mistake to interpret Indian restraint as weakness bred in fear. India cannot be afraid of its shadow, as VP Menon, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's principal aide, remarked memorably many decades ago. Those who wish India ill would do well to remember this.

In celebrating Diwali this weekend we remember all the good things that have befallen us individually and together. Those who have been less fortunate will learn to take adversity in their stride. As a nation, India counts its blessings. A land of many tongues, ethnicities, religions and ideologies, India respects diversity as a source of national strength and well-being. The Indian people have come through their many trials and tribulations with strengthened resolve. Against the odds and the predictions of doomsayers, democracy and the rule of law has survived, enabling millions of Indians to prosper and look to the future with growing confidence. The founding fathers of the nation wisely eschewed short cuts, such as dictatorship, accepting that the travails of the longer road would temper the national character. It would appear that the worst years are now behind us, that India, warts and all, is forging ahead.

Diwali is a time for reflection, a time to take stock. India's achievements are coming into greater focus. The Indian people have surprised themselves and the world. Another Diwali and New Year are surely promise of an even more rewarding future.

Great expectations of Obama visit The visit to India of US President Barack Obama is awaited with considerable interest by Indian leaders and people alike. It is a measure of India's standing in the contemporary world that two major Western leaders, British Prime Minister David Cameron, and now Mr Obama headed large delegations consisting senior cabinet members, business people, educationists and scientists. Both visitors are committed to an elevated relationship between their respective countries and India. Politics apart, Mr Cameron and Mr Obama see India as a dynamic nation reshaping itself to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

India's economy is surging ahead, driven by the entrepreneurial skills of its people, by the innovation and brain power of the country's scientists and engineers.

Mr Obama is keenly aware that India is on the cusp of seminal economic and social change, hence it would be a valuable partner for the United States in the emerging world order.

Surprisingly, The Economist in a preview of the Obama visit dismissed it as a “damp squib”. It

could be if it is poorly handled. But American and Indian diplomats are experienced hands; they know each other well and they know each other's territory. They are aware of the quicksands as they are of the firm ground. While the entire terrain is safe for private discussion, public pronouncements must of necessity be selective. Mr Obama knows the score and he is certain to keep faith with the script.

The moment to watch will be the curtain-raiser in Mumbai, when the US President addresses the US-India Business Council. The great and good of both countries will be present in force and Mr Obama will set the tone for rest of his stay.

The Indo-US agenda, in keeping with the times, is vast and ambitious. Trade, investment, education, scientific and cultural cooperation will form part of a rich and lively dialogue. At the end of the day, the presidential visit should be anything but “a damp squib” since Indo-US ties are no longer perceived as a zero sum game. But it is a long game.

The weekend will reveal more. Much more.

Serious action, not ritual breast-beating on terror, is needed The discovery of explosives cleverly concealed in air cargo from the Yemen, designated for the UK and US, has given rise to ritual breast-beating.

Thus far the West has been lucky. None of the recent terrorist attempts to bring death and destruction to the US and Europe has succeeded.

However, it needs only one terrorist to get through for massive damage to ensue. The security services cannot afford to fail even once. Such is the name of this particular game. Last Christmas a would-be Nigerian suicide bomber failed to destroy aircraft in US air space. Now, a tip-off from a renegade Saudi al Qaeda operative saved the UK and US from disaster. The incendiary packages were duly unearthed in Dubai and the English Midlands, being destined for Jewish synagogues in Chicago. Tougher screening and better intelligence are smart tactics, but we also need an effective strategy to tackle the terrorist scourge at source. Truth is the West, especially the US and

UK, lack this strategic vision. Washington and London bumble along, hoping for the best, fearful of the worst. They are trapped by self-deluding relationships with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, where global Islamist terror is incubated. Yemen and Somalia are mere transit or assembly points for the bomb makers.

Yet Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, even as they help their western partners, from time to time, are known covertly to aid the other side as well. What does Washington do? It signs a $67 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia, the biggest single defence deal ever, while the Pakistan military is the beneficiary of American largesse to the tune of an additional $2 billion. With friends like these who needs enemies? Such indulgence keeps the terrorist industry going. Until the US bites the bullet and does what it takes to bring Saudi Arabia and Pakistan to heel, America and its allies will live on borrowed time.

www.abplgroup.com

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Thought for the Week He has not learned the lesson of life who does not every day surmount a fear.

- Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

Alpesh Patel’s Political Sketchbook:

India, UK and US Elections As I write and put finger to keyboard the Americans are going to the polls, where the Democrats are expected to lose control of the Senate and the House.

Then President Obama will fly to India. Here’s my take: First, the Americans have only belatedly understood India. This is partly because of the Cold War. It’s partly because, as I discovered when I was a US Congressional Intern for Eliot Engel in 1994, the Indian Govt was spending $0 on lobbying the US Government. And whenever it received aid, the US Congressman who were anti-India (Pakistan spent millions on lobbying) such as Charles Wilson (remember the movie Charlie Wilson’s War) would make antiIndia speeches.

Second, the other problem was the lack of mobilisation by the Indians in the US. They hadn’t made their billions yet so hadn’t decided to co-ordinate and organise.

You may think Democrats are natural friends of India, more so than Republicans. Eliot was pro-India, he lobbied the White House when I was in Congress to have Pakistan declared a terrorist state – that you may think does not make him pro-India necessarily – but it was 1994 – the terrorism he was talking about was in Kashmir.

And how right Eliot was.

I hope by the time you read this, Eliot has been re-elected.

But don’t forget it was the Republicans who signed the Nuclear Treaty with India, although it was the Democrats and Kennedy who told China to stop trampling freely through an ill-prepared India. So how will Obama do in India and what does it mean for the UK. Well he will sign bigger arms deals than Britain did.

This is partly because the US makes a broader range of defence equipment

than the UK. But Obama will face the same problem as the UK in trying to get closer to post-Cold War India. Which is India evaluates words by how a country sits on the Pakistan-India security issue. India does not trust China because China funds Pakistan. India will not trust Obama, regardless of what he says because he will probably have lost the Senate and the House to Republicans, and he has impacted immigration from India, and he funds Pakistan.

India may say it supports US funding of antiterror efforts in Pakistan, but India knows, as when the US did it in 1979 against the Afghans via Pakistan, that the US jumped in with money and the ISI kept 90% and sent 10% to the Mujahidin.

Obama has already made clear the US believes it cannot secure Afghanistan without Pakistan, and so it has to live with the consequences. It can bring, as Clinton did, as many Americans of Indian origin on the delegation, but Indians don’t emigrate to make money anymore, so they aren’t impressed with that patronising effort.

All this works out well for Britain, because when Cameron was in India, he made clear Britain is not on the fence anymore between India and Pakistan, and he did not backtrack in front of Mr ten percent who landed in Britain asking for money a week later whilst his country drowned.

So what for India.

Well, things would be better for India if the US was even closer and ally. India has made clear it sees China as the major threat in the region, which is why the US can excuse sales of arms to India over Pakistani objections.

Anyway, I hope Eliot wins, or rather has won, by the time you read this.

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

YOUR VOICE

4

Asian Voice - Saturday 6th November 2010

How to Run Hospitals Successfully

Lord Paul brought shame to the Asian community

Harrow Council and the Labours

Dangers of strike on 5th November

A study was carried out by McKinsey and the London School of Economics [“Healthcare Management”, The Economist, 23rd Oct, p72] of almost 1200 hospital in seven rich countries [USA, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Sweden and Canada] to find out how the best hospitals always outperform the rest.

The researchers [Steven Dorgan and John Van Reenen] found 5 common characteristics: 1. competition where hotel managers could name more than 10 hospitals they competed with ferociously.

2. those with more than 1500 staff outperformed those that had 500 staff who in turn outperformed those that had 100 staff.

3. private ownership.

4. hospital Managers with clinical degrees.

5. hospitals that ranked best on a standardised measure of medical success; death rates among emergency patients experiencing heart attacks.

The score works across countries and cultures.

100 plus NHS hospitals and/or GP led consortiums are likely to be privatised. This will be an excellent investment opportunity.

Happy Diwali and a prosperous New Year to Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar readers.

Lord Swaraj Paul who is a strong supporter of the Congress party in India was banned for four months in the expenses scandal and ordered to repay nearly 42,000 for claiming that he did not understand the term 'main residence'.

Lord Paul is well known in the Asian community and he has got honorary degrees from universities and he is also the chancellor of one of the British universities. He was given a lordship because of his association with the labour party due to his generous donation to the party. He is the 95th richest man in Britain with the asset of more than 350 Million.

Recently the present and three former chief Ministers of Maharashtra all from the Congress party and some cabinet Ministers are involved in Adarsh Housing Society scam. All of them obtained flats at ridiculously low price for their relatives which are meant for the widows of war veterans.

Unfortunately Lord Paul was caught in the scam in Britain along with two other Asian peers. These peers are expected to set an example for their sincerity, integrality and honestly in the Asian community. On the contrary they brought disrepute to the entire Asian community.

It went rather unnoticed, but Harrow Council recently took home three prizes at the National Land and Property Gazeteer Exemplar Awards. These awards were for work the previous Conservative administration did with officers to improve Council services through the use of innovative and costsaving IT projects.

Two of the awards were for the already award-winning Waste Collection project – which utilises SatNav and new software to ensure more efficient and successful collections – while the other was for using barcodes to improve the accuracy of the Council’s mass mailings.

These projects have been and are expected to continue delivering improved services for Harrow residents, and are also saving the Council money; over the next ten years, the Waste Collection project will save at least £5.8 million. This is how IT projects in local government should work; initial investment translates into improved services and long-term savings. Unfortunately, Harrow’s Labour administration doesn’t appear to understand this principle.

Labour have now agreed to outsource the Council’s IT provision to Capita in a £50 million deal. However, far from saving the Council money, the new contract will cost around £6.7 million extra in its first five years – with unclear savings prospects for the future. Whether this outsourcing will actually improve the service is also a real matter for debate.

Having dubbed their plans to improve the Council ‘A Better Deal for Residents’, it’s hard to see how the people of Harrow are being provided with such a deal by Labour’s decision to spend substantial sums of money on something with questionable savings and limited impact on the day-to-day services they actually use.

I have urged the London Fire Brigade Union (FBU) to call-off their proposed strike on 5th November the bonfire night and in addition, this year, the night when London’s Hindu, Sikh and Jain communities will be celebrating Diwali with traditional fireworks with their families and friends. Bonfire nights usually have disproportionately high incidents of fire and with Diwali celebrations taking place on the same night this year there is a scope for even greater exposure to fires. To avoid anxiety right across the community and the very serious risk posed by the strike on 5th November I do sincerely hope that the FBU will reconsider their position and put minds of Londoners at rest by withdrawing their strike action on that day.

I also make this public appeal to everyone wishing to engage in fireworks celebrate on the 5th to make an extra effort for safety and not take any risks that would either injury individuals or put properties at risk.

The recent fire-fighter’s industrial unrest is unprecedented for London.

Strike action by FBU could have been averted had Brian Coleman AM, Chair of London Fire Emergency Planning Authority (LFEPA) showed leadership and acted in a spirit of cooperation rather than intimidation and arrogance. Boris Johnson the Mayor of London too has failed by not sacking the Chair of LFEPA and refusing to get round the table with FBU to try and work to avoid the current volatile and dangerous situation Londoners are faced with.

Cllr. Paul Osborn Pinner Ward

Reading Shri Khajuria’s letter, “Divide and rule” in last week’s AV, I feel we are living on a different planet. It has become fashionable to blame the West, in particular Britain and America. Yet none of us would like to live in Sudan, East Africa or even in India, except to escape for few months from our bitter cold and damp winter. A little bit of gratitude will go a long way in fostering the goodwill that we all need and deserve.

Whether it is Iran, Iraq or Sudan, our one track mind thinks of oil, although the Sudan’s oil reserves have already been cornered by China with its vast foreign currency reserves at the expense of West.

The threat will come not from Islam but from China who is the super power of the 21st century, buying up mineral wealth at the expense of sleep-walking West. China has already laid claims of huge part of India, Indo-China, numerous islands in China Sea and vast stretches of Indian Ocean. Yet US is in no position to challenge China, as it is a bankrupt nation, borrowing $2 billion a day, mainly from China and Japan.

Nagindas Khajuria FCCA Via Email

Arun Vaidyanathan Via Email

Rich can help

Baroness Warsi and Muslim leaders

Harish Dave’s recommendation that rich can help to eliminate slum is impractical in today’s money minded world.

Rich have amassed wealth by challenging poverty to improve their lives. They did not get millions in a silver dish. Rich or religions will never get involved unless they make profit.

It is duty of civic authority to provide amenities fit for humans. These can act only if there is will of slum dwellers, and profitable schemes for businessmen and missionaries, who must undertake full responsibility to implement civic welfare of slums dwellers in return of profits and perks.

Multinational and local companies may be offered liberal concessions to set up cottage industries, multiplex cinemas, five star hotels, shopping malls etc for Mumbai residents and national clientele and employ slum dwellers. Cheap labour may motivate manufacturers to outsource jobs to slums. Better jobs away from slums may motivate slum dwellers to migrate.

Religious missionaries may be offered perks to build places of worship. Money spent by them abroad to preach rich can be diverted for human beings in slums, as humane exercise.

Businessmen and missionaries can profit from clearing slums and residents may improve their living standards.

I was very much impressed by the article "Baroness Warsi plays the Asian Card" by Mr.Vipul Ladwa published in Asian Voice in this week.There are many politicians they will say which suits them the most and Baroness Warsi has reflected that in her statement.

It is up to the people to react and warn her about the false statement or irresponsible statement which she is giving or will be giving to please her party, or people, who made her Baroness and gave her this position.

British Asians term was developed for the people coming from Indian Sub Continent to differentiate between people of African and Asian origin instead of putting them together under the title black or brown.This term was particularly created by East African Asians who were thrown out from East Africa because they were Asians and they were not recognised as Africans.

As some Muslim have supported extremism in this country therefore it will be better to put the blame where it lies than involving people from whole of Indian subcontinent.

I hope Muslim leaders and politicians in this country will act in a manner which will bring back the confidence and respect for them in the minds of all the British People.

Ramesh Jhalla Via Email

Dharam Sahdev Ilford

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Once again Sir Gulam Noon has been the target of the Sunday Times. It is a claim that he has paid 738,000 for peerage to the Labour party. His name has therefore been proposed to the Honours List for the House of Lords. It is true. Sir Gulam Noon has never hidden the fact, but he is not claiming non-dom status here. He is against extremism and has spoken globally about incurring wrath of extremist Islamists. Why periodically some Asians like Sir Gulam Noon are becoming target of some vested interests?

I am not defending Lord Paul, Baroness Uddin or Lord Bhatia here.

They deserve to be exposed. Asian Voice readers must raise their voice. For too long we have been least concerned about our fellow citizens. But here is the time to ponder.

Akhilesh Mehta Via Email

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

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5

Asian Voice - Saturday 6th November 2010

Leicester Voice

A plan for Hindu school in Leicester submitted to the Department for Education Hindu education charity Ifoundation is aiming for Leicester's first free school that will be independent of state control and as required the plan is now been formally submitted to the Department for Education A site in Evington has been chosen as the first choice location for the school and the negotiations are already under way as the charity hopes to finalise the details in the coming two months.Hindu education charity IFoundation, which is behind the new school, said it meant the search for a head teacher could start in the new year.

The school is aiming to provide highest standard of education through the national curriculum but also inculcate Hindu values in the blossoming generation. Details on educational vision, curriculum and five-year financial plan has been passed on to the Department for Education and if everything goes according to the plan, the school will open in September next year.

Capital funding for the school would come from

the Government. It would be funded via the Local Education Authority in the same way as most schools but money would go directly to the school.

The charity has recognized a need amongst the parents in the community that wants their young ones to have close links with Hindu culture while staying here in the UK. The School plan of the IFoundation aims to do just that by nurturing the kids with our traditional ethos.

The I-Foundation is one of 16 organisations in the country awaiting business approval for a free school. In its first year, the school would take 60 pupils in two classes – growing to 420 children, aged four to 11. 50 per cent of seats will be for pupils from the Hindu faith and the rest from the community regardless of religion or background.

In order to spread awareness of the hopeful Hindu School, IFoundation is holding public meetings and presentations at temples before and after Diwali,

Do you have any comments, news or photographs about Leicester? If you do, please send them to Leicester Voice at

leicester@abplgroup.com

Leicester councillor caught up littering rather than preserving

A penalty fine of £80 was issued to Housing chief Paul Westley for littering outside Leicester Town Hall. The city council cabinet member tossed a cigarette butt to the ground outside the building after a meeting. He was caught under the radar of city litter wardens for doing so and they did not have to think twice before issuing an on-the-spot fine.

The act is ironic as Paul Westley was one of the councillors who pushed for a litter crackdown in the city centre. As the rules on littering

Paul Westley looks on as he pledges not to make the same mistake again

applies to anyone and everyone, the Housing chief has paid the penalty and said it was a “fair cop” Paul Westley believes that the wardens have

kept a special lookout to see if they could catch an elected member littering as there is always a group of councillors who hang around the town hall before and after the meetings.

To the justification of his act, Westley who was also a Lord Mayor from 2006 to 2007 said that special bins for cigarette ends had recently been moved from the steps at the town hall which meant it was more difficult to dispose of his cigarette responsibly.

The £600,000-a-year

city warden scheme was set up in October 2008, when wardens were created for half of all city wards.

In June this year, the council's team of grimebusters was boosted from eight to 22 so that they could work in every ward in the city to tackle issues such as graffiti and litter.

In the past 12 months wardens have given out more than 250 fixed penalty notices for offenses such as littering, leaving bins on streets, unlicensed leafleting and dog fouling.

Children at work while Councillor adrift The youth of Leicester took part in Make a Difference Day to give something back to the town in which they live.

Children from Shepshed volunteered for the whole day to clear up litter and visit nursing homes to entertain pensioners. This voluntary act holds even more significance as it followed the penalty charge on Council Cabinet

Member Paul Westley for littering the Town Hall.

Make a Difference Day was organized by Angie Whitmore, from Shepshed Volunteer Centre, and her team of helpers. With the aim to show young people that volunteering can be fun and rewarding, the event was definitely worthwhile and the organizers were surprised by the enthusiasm that these

kids threw into the task.

Some 250 children from Shepshed High School, St Winefride's Roman Catholic Primary and Passion youth club got involved and the organizers wishes that they come back again in their free time, to share the same enthusiasm and further help the cause of making the town a better place to live in.

High school pupils sold cakes they had made to raise cash for good causes while the children visited three nursing homes to get to know the residents, play games with them and have a sing-along. It was surely a significant event as it is not too often when kids show the leaders the right path when they are caught up doing the wrong.

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Asian Voice - Saturday 6th November 2010

Kapil’s

Diwali celebrated in Trafalgar Square

By Rupanjana Dutta The wet weather in London could not wet the spirit of the Londoners.

Thousands gathered at the Trafalgar square as the

Lord Ganesha idol at the square

official 'Diwali in London' made a kick start with the Deputy Mayor of London Richard Barnes welcoming all the guests.

Organised by the Mayor of London in association with the Diwali in London Committee, and with support from Lycamobile and Zee TV, the free event featured a joyous mix of music, dancing and live performance, as well as displays and food stalls.

With the evening drawing to a close, the clouds cleared and as the dry spell continued more and more people poured in, dancing to the tune of Juggy D, Botown, Arjun and many more. The food stalls had a never ending queue as people waited to try some sumptuous dishes.

Deputy Mayor of London Richard Barnes said: 'London prides itself on being one of the most diverse, tolerant and mul-

ticultural cities in the world. London’s cultural dynamism is vital to its economic success and I take pride in the diversity of its multi-faceted communities. The Indian com-

has a fantastic time!'

The huge Lord Ganesha idol and the big Lotus near the National gallery looked spectacular with all the additional lights as the night dark-

Richard Barnes, Deputy Mayor giving inaugural speech

munity adds a unique and important dimension to the cultural vibrancy of London, hosting events such as Diwali, as well as live music, films, dance

ened. People picked up brochures, goody bags and walked around greeting each other Happy Diwali.

Though a week before the real Diwali, the evening

Dance performance at the Diwali in the Square

and other celebrations throughout the year. I hope that the Indian community will go from strength to strength and continue to excel in every field of influence and achievement. I look forward to attending the event and hope everyone

Deputy Mayor Richard Barnes at AV stall with our Sales Executive- Rovin George

indeed beamed with the spirit of happiness, festivity and joy. Overall it was a good event- definitely much better than 2009.

KHICHADI

by Kapil Dudakia - email: kapil@abplgroup.com The Stupidity of the Learned I have previously voiced my concern about the antics of one Arundhati Roy who it seems has finally lost all her marbles. It is sad to see someone call themselves Indian, yet go out of their way to create opportunities for terrorists to highjack Kashmir away from the India. Roy has shown herself for what she really is – an inept individual whose grasp of what it means to be Indian is sadly lacking.

Last week she shared the stage with the Kashmiri separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani. On stage she appeared to be advocating the so called ‘azadi’ for Kashmir. Ms Roy, are you a fool that you honestly believe that the true inhabitants of Kashmir actually want azadi from India? You have to be an utter nincompoop to think that people of Kashmir who have been terrorised by cross border acts from Pakistan would ever want to be left to the wolves.

This is an open challenge to Roy. Please go to Pakistan and make the same speech but instead ask for azadi for Kashmir that Pakistan stole. I suspect Roy will find some cowardly excuse. So I give her an alternative challenge – come to London and we will prepare a platform whereby you can ask for the separation of Kashmir from Pakistan. So Roy, are you full of yourself, or do you really have a message to give?

It never ceases to amaze me how these so called learned people in India are utterly stupid when it comes to worldly affairs. They live in a world of ‘fiction’, writing books on made up story lines and they think they can translate such nonsense to world level issues.

Kashmir is part of India. The people of Kashmir have been driven out of their homes by the terrorists. In particular the plight of the Kashmiri Pundits has to be understood before one can even begin to size what has happened on the ground.

Boris, his foot – Again!

In an incredible attack on David Cameron’s policy on housing benefit, the Mayor of London said he would not accept a "Kosovo style social cleansing" of London.

This got a huge press following, as well as commentary from politicians and pundits – but none had sufficient common sense to understand and appreciate that the terminology used was itself offensive.

The error began when media and politicians started using the term, ‘ethnic cleansing’ when describing the atrocities that took place in the Balkans. To say ethnic cleansing is to state that there is something ‘dirty’ and ‘horrid’ about someone’s ethnicity – such that they have to be ‘cleansed.’

The term indirectly makes it acceptable that you can refer to a whole population as unclean and requiring cleaning. Use of such terminology is not only wrong, but unacceptable.

Boris used it in the context of ‘social cleansing’ and this therefore suggests that there are social classes within Great Britain that are so dirty that they have to be cleaned. This therefore became the subtle media message transmitted into the psyche of everyone in the UK. So let’s get our terminology right. In the Balkans thousands were ‘murdered’, full stop. The Tory policy on housing has got the potential of unintended outcomes by displacing the poor and the vulnerable. This displacement can only happen to areas where housing is cheaper thus leaving behind empty properties of high net worth in London. One assumes the rich and the famous will flock to buy these properties at below market rates, re-develop the sites with posh up market town houses and apartments, and attract people of the same ilk. Mr Cameron may not have planned for such an outcome (I am being generous folks) but there is a serious possibility that the combination of the spending cuts and the state of the nation could make this a real possibility.

So Boris put his foot in it, again, by challenging his leader openly, again. He does however raise an important issue. Are we ready to see thousands of families displaced out of London and end up in a ghetto out of the city, out of mind and out of sight? We have to be sure that we do not sleep walk into the class led politics of the last two centuries which did so much damage, and from which we have still to recover.

EU, Success or Failure?

When I heard that our Prime Minister had managed to secure a deal such that the ‘increase’ in the EU budget was to be curtailed to 2.9% I somehow did not jump for joy. I have to say I was rather surprised that Mr Cameron came back with triumphant fists in the air.

However triumph over what was my question? To my knowledge almost every western economy is cutting down on spending. Some more than other – but, they are all cutting including us.

So the question that came to my mind was, ‘why should the EU budget go up at all?’ It seems illogical that the very leaders of the European countries who are cutting domestic spending suddenly decided that EU spending can actually go up. To those who want to know how some of our money will be spent, I suggest you take time and check out the EU website. It will spoil your Diwali, Christmas and the New Year.

Diwali – Deepavali I was reconciling my indulgence in KK and realised that I have now been writing this guest column for two years. The great bonus being that it gives me the opportunity to wish each and every one of you a superb Diwali. May the light that shines from the divine enlighten all your lives.

Nutun Varsh Abhinandan.

UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 6th November 2010

Meet the technology that will revolutionise the transport industry

By Rupanjana Dutta

technology which has huge commercial benefits for a range of sectors, especially the transport security industry. Our product allows liquids to be screened and checked to ensure they are safe on board.

This ability to quickly

Arnab Basu started his journey from Kolkata, India. After finishing his under-graduation in Physics from St Xavier's College, Kolkata, he worked at his father's engineering company for three years and moved to the UK to finish graduation at Northumbria University in mid 1990s.

He then secured a PhD in Physics from University of Durham in 2002 and carried on forming his own company, turning down an investment banker job in London. In Spring 2003, he started Kromek with just The single bottle scanner himself and now Kromek is an established, growing company and effectively categorise with nearly 50 employees. liquids means our technolAsking about Kromek ogy offers a solution to the at a press conference liquid ban currently in organised by IJA, Arnab place across airlines told the Asian Voice, "We worldwide. stand at the threshold of The product is currenttransforming from a ly being trialled worldwide research- and developin the airline security ment-focused business to industry - a platform that one which is forecasted to gives us an opportunity to generate a multi-million also go into other lucrative pound revenue within the markets such as medical next twelve months. We and industrial fields. have successfully generatThe next few years are ed a revolutionary x-ray extremely exciting for us.

Arnab Basu

We bring clarity. Like a clearer portal- next generation of detectors that will give better clarity- like high resolution detectors."

He added, "We are looking into future of baggage screening systems, medical industry, through colour xrays, that will make the difference, from improving life to making life easier. Use of this would not need additionally trained people. The bottle scanner will be in use from March 2011 in the UK. Travellers are becoming much more international for trade link. There are passengers go to America through Europe.

Liquid more than 100ml have to be allowed in the transit. This will revolutionise the security system in the airports."

Happy Diwali!

London’s East End companies turning into tomorrow's global giants The Tea Building in the heart of Shoreditch, East London, is a microcosm of the area. It is filled with new art galleries, trendy restaurants and exclusive private clubs. The block is also home to many of the technology fledgeling start-up firms and young entrepreneurs that have flooded the area in the past few years all with visions of becoming the next Google or Facebook.

One of the Tea Building’s residents is Ankur Shah, 30, pictured, a criminal barrister turned tech guru. He is the cofounder of Techlightenment, a threeyear-old company that, among other things, creates applications for social networking websites and mobile phones.

The local area has been dubbed “the Silicon Roundabout”, after the busy junction of Old

Street and City Road, near Hoxton Square and Shoreditch High Street. A recent estimate suggests that about 100 new technology and design companies have set up in the locality in the past five years.

It seems that Shoreditch is not just filled with the kind of cool kids who recently created a riot when they could not get into a sale held at a local American Apparel store. It is also where many young people dream of having the next big idea

International Calls for Life!

that could make them millions. While they are at it, these “pretty nerdy hardcore technologists”, as one company founder describes them, also enjoy mingling with the capital’s trendsetters in the most popular haunts in town.

Jeremy Hunt, the Culture Secretary, wrote in The Times this week that Government would encourage innovation to help “turn East London companies into tomorrow’s global giants”. Mr Hunt announced a “plan to create an ‘accelerator’ space in the Olympic Park for companies that grow out of Shoreditch and Old Street.

“By offering cheap and flexible office space, we will create the same type of life path that exists for Silicon Valley businesses that outgrow their San Francisco studios,” Mr Hunt said.

'Woman' accused of transgender Tube murder is actually a man undergoing a sex change A man accused of pushing a transgender human rights lawyer under a Tube train is in the process of becoming a woman, a court heard.

This is the first time since his arrest that it has been revealed Kanagasingham is actually a man. Mr

Burgess, 63, was struck by a train at King's Cross Underground station during evening rush-hour last Monday. Since Mr Burgess's death, it has emerged he offered his services on a website, where he advertised himself as a 'pre-op' transsex-

ual escort looking for paid encounters with men.

Kanagasingham was remanded in custody at Wandsworth men's prison for a plea and case management hearing on February 3 next year. No bail application was made.

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Dee Katwa

Asian Voice - Saturday 6th November 2010

Midland Voice

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

Team raise £65k for Hindu school An intrepid chiropractor has raised £3,500 for charity by climbing Africa’s highest mountain, Kilimanjaro.

Lalit Sodha, 46, from Harrow in London, was part of a 24-strong team – as was Yashubhai Shah from Peterborough – who took part in the gruelling challenge to raise funds for the Krishna-Avanti Primary, the UK’s first state-funded Hindu school. Collectively, the group, pictured, have so

far collected £65,000. The money will go towards the expansion of the London-based school and to buy new educational equipment. Mr Sodha praised, in particular, fellow participant Akhandadhi Das, expresident of the Hare Krishna Temple in Watford, for making the

Alcohol in Gurdwara

Police were called to a Sikh Gurdwara in High Street, Smethwick, Birmingham, last Sunday following an incident involving the alleged excessive consumption of alcohol by a group. Alcohol is prohibited in all Gurdwaras. Gurdwara president Tarsem Singh confirmed this “unfortunate incident” and told Asian Voice it was being investigated internally. West Midlands Police confirmed they were aware of this incident but said it was a matter for the Gurdwara as no criminal offence had been committed.

Cash for flood victims

A charity event led by the highestranking legal officer at Birmingham City Council, Dr Mirza Ahmad, pictured, has raised £53,000 for victims of the recent Pakistan floods. The chief guest at the fundraising event, held at Sutton Coldfield Town Hall, was Andrew Mitchell MP, the International Development Secretary.

End of an era For us all, life is a journey, death, the destination. My grandmother, Santokbaa, sadly passed away last month. She was 90. Only a week earlier we, as a family, had returned from India. Though physically frail, she was mentally still incredibly strong.

She loved her devotional song and dance, hence we gave her a vibrant send-off on Friday a fortnight ago, on Poonam, a holy day in the Hindu calendar.

The sound of the tabla and cymbals synchronised with mass singing alfresco created a spiritual, and fitting atmosphere, which flashed in my mind the vivid memory from 1986 of the funeral of Damjibhai Purshottam Makwana in East London.

Without the inspiration of Santokbaa, pictured, and that of my guru Mr CB Patel, this column would simply not be here. It was Santokbaa who had encouraged me to learn to read and write in Gujarati, my mothertongue, through Gujarat Samachar as an additional aid. And I remember how proud she was, as were my

News in Brief

Charity dinner and dance

OM, a youth group in Luton, have organised a charity dinner and dance event to mark its tenth anniversary. The evening event on Saturday 27 November in Dunstable will feature live performances and more. OM has a weekly radio show on Diverse 102.8 FM. For tickets, £20 for adults, £15 for children, telephone 07949 517790 or visit www.omyouth.com whole experience enlightening, vibrant and spiritual by encouraging all to

take part in a devotional song and dance on their mission.

Leader in PR

Rajan Lakhani, senior media relations manager at EDF Energy, has been named in a list of 29 most promising young professionals under the age of 29 in the PR industry for 2010. Rajan, 27, is at the forefront of the Team Green Britain initiative, which ties in with the energy firm’s involvement with London 2012 and aims to tackle issues such as responsible energy consumption.

The list is compiled by trade magazine PR Week, which held its annual awards last month. In 2006 I had challenged its editor, Danny Rogers, on the diversity of the 52 judges. All were white. Four years on we have a result: Of a total 62 judges, one was from an ethnic minority background.

Cops on the tweet

For one day only, Greater Manchester Police set up a new Twitter feed listing every single incident lodged with the force. Over a 24-hour period, the force posted 3,205 updates, including details of 341 arrests. The feed also shed light on the more curious incidents the force has to deal with on a daily basis – such as call 674: ‘Confused man reporting his TV not working.’ The force employs 8,042 police officers, of them 368 are from BME communities; and 5,171 staff, including PCSOs, of whom 232 are from BME communities.

Food for thought

More than a third of people in the West Midlands have a food intolerance, according to latest research commissioned by food firm Lactofree.

Time is money

Firms in the West Midlands are losing valuable contracts worth £30,000 on average because they do not respond quickly enough to potential customers, a survey claims. In the Midlands, a total of 31 per cent of businesses in the region have cancelled contracts in the last year due to slow responses to urgent communications, according to Vodafone, the global telecoms giant.

New homes for the needy

Punjabi Wolves, an Indian football club in the Midlands, is donating £25,000 for 30 new homes for vulnerable people in India. The group, which was set up in 1954, has more than 600 registered members. A few of its members, which include Andy Sahota, Pete Bassi, Raj Bains, Pete Khela, Kam Mahal and Richard Atwal, are due to fly out to India this month to supervise building work in the village of Rehana Kalan in the Punjab.

First prize in fashion

parents, when I passed my GCSE in Gujarati at the then age of nine. On behalf of the Katwa family, I thank everybody who has supported us, through various channels of communication, during our intensely difficult period.

Today, as we mark the end of an era, I’m privileged to be able to carry on Santokbaa’s legacy, also that of my grandfather Ravjibhai Bhoja who left this world in 1977. An experience I’d like to share with readers is this: We are far too busy to make time for our loved ones when they’re alive. Seldom, if ever, we visit them. Yet when they die, we are quick to congregate en masse, wail and weep profusely.

Is this really the disingenuous formality we have adopted and the sad society in which we live?

Congratulations to Ravinder Matharu who scooped first prize in the annual Midlands Young Fashion Designer Awards 2010. Rav, 23, from Hall Green in Birmingham impressed judges with his creative designs in menswear. He recently graduated with a first-class degree in fashion design from Derby University. Rav, pictured, praised the support of his family. “They have been a big influence and taught me to be hardworking in whatever I do.”t

Potential attack on Birmingham

Armed police patrols have been stepped up in Birmingham, and specialist marksmen called in, amid increasing concern that the city’s hotels could be the target of a terrorist attack.

Solicitor admits to child porn

A pervert trainee solicitor, Rajeev Grewal, who admitted child porn offences has been told he can expect a prison sentence, reports Birmingham Mail. Grewal, 28, from Erdington in Birmingham, pleaded guilty to making almost 4,000 sick pornographic images and movies of children. He will be sentenced later this month.

Pub to turn into mosque

Muslim leaders in Nottingham who plan to convert a pub into a mosque have appealed for help with fundraising. The former site of Jesters Inn was bought for £400,000 at an auction last year by community leaders behind the Jamia Masjid Sultania and Islamic Education Centre.

Social media - warning

A third of Britons who use social networking sites are putting themselves at risk of burglary, insurer The Co-operative has warned. Seven out of ten adults use Facebook and Twitter, but many are revealing too much personal information. Two-thirds of people have posted pictures of themselves on the sites, 60 per cent have disclosed their marital status and 42 per cent shared their date of birth.

Jab concern

Valerie Vaz, Labour MP for Walsall South, is asking the government to instruct GPs to offer the normal flu vaccine separately from swine flu jabs. Leader of the Commons Sir George Young said he would pass her concerns to the Health Secretary.

Gays exposed

Express and Star reports that a Ugandan newspaper has published the names, addresses and photographs of the country’s leading gays and lesbians with the headline: “Hang Them.” The newspaper is called Rolling Stone. Just to make things absolutely clear, the gay newspaper Pink News explains that this Rolling Stone “has no connections to the US magazine of the same name.”

Asian Voice - Saturday 6th November 2010

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Asian Voice - Saturday 6th November 2010

Save the children through your 'Big Picture'

By Rupanjana Dutta ‘You are the Big Picture’ is Aviva’s first global brand campaign, demonstrating Aviva’s commitment to putting customers at the heart of its business.

Launched with large portraits taking over landmark buildings across six cities globally, the campaign will now give thousands of people around the world the chance to have their own moment of recognition by having their photo projected onto one of these buildings in the six participating cities - including Delhi and Mumbai. Projections are happening in Delhi at Statesman House and in Mumbai at Air India Headquarters – both from 15-21 November.

Asian Voice has interviewed Sally Shire, Global Development Brand Director at Aviva to know more about this unique project.

AV: How did Aviva come across the idea of 'You are the Big Picture' campaign?

You are the Big Picture is Aviva’s first ever global brand campaign and marks the latest chapter in our commitment to put customers at the heart of

ensure they are made aware of the importance of health, hygiene, childhood care and education.

Being a part of You Are the Big Picture couldn’t be easier. Anyone can upload a photo.

For the first 250,000 photos uploaded by members of the public, Aviva will donate 1 per image to Save the Children as part of its global Street to School programme.

AV: How does Aviva plan to keep a tab of whether the money raised has actually been utilised for the children's cause?

AV: How many pictures is each ex pat allowed to upload and what are the selection procedures for pictures?

our business. We wanted to create a campaign that truly recognises all the fantastic people that make up our business – our customers, employees, business partners and communities – by making their stories the very core of the campaign.

The stories highlight the lengths some of Aviva’s employees gave gone to in order to ensure our customers receive the care they deserve. The You are the Big Picture Campaign brings these stories to life through a range of innovative approaches including

wrapping landmark buildings and powerful public projections in cities around the world. To be a part of the campaign, Aviva is inviting members of the public to upload a photo at www.youarethebigpicture.com or via Facebook at www.facebook.com/aviva for a chance to be projected on a landmark building in Mumbai or Delhi (tens of thousands of people were also projected in London, Paris, Warsaw and Singapore in October).

AV: How simple is it to sign up for this campaign?

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Anyone can upload up to five pictures – whether a family photo or a favourite Facebook snap.

All photographs will be moderated before they are selected for projection to ensure, to the best of our ability, that no images which may cause offence are displayed. While we may not be able to project every picture submitted, the images are chosen at random. All images that successfully pass through moderation will feature in our online gallery at w w w. y o u a re t h e b i g p i c ture.com.

AV: Tell us more about Aviva.

Aviva is the sixthlargest insurance company in the world, operating in 28 countries and providing 53 million customers with insurance, savings and investment products.

Aviva is the UK’s largest insurer and one of Europe’s leading providers of insurance.

AV: How is Aviva going to help the children?

Sally Shire

It’s all part of Aviva’s global Street to School programme – a five year commitment to helping 500,000 children worldwide fulfil their potential and to raising awareness about the plight of street children who are largely unrecognised by society.

We are already supporting a number of existing and new projects across India and are in conversations with Save the Children about how we can extend our work to help more street children and their families.

Other examples of the projects Aviva is already supporting include a series of programmes targeting different at risk groups. We focus on very young children to prevent them from ending up on the streets by providing early years care and education. We also support programmes that target older children who are already living on the street and have missed out on education altogether.

In addition, we work with children’s parents to

India has among the highest prevalence of street children in the world and Save the Children, a key Street to School partner, has a very established presence in India so we knew this was a place where the money could make a big difference, to a lot of children, in a sustainable way.

We have controls and checks in place to ensure that the money going to Save the Children will indeed be used for our projects.

This is just the start of our campaign, and we’re in the process of working with Save the Children to identify what and where the projects will be. As the projects get underway, we’d be delighted to share updates on how they are ensuring even more street children gain their rights to education.

AV: How much of money or resources would Aviva spend to do this campaign and where is the source of fund?

The total cost of the international campaign is 20 million (this includes creative and media buying for all markets). To put this in context, we paid out over 1 billion to 750,000 annuity customers in the UK last year.

Cambridge will remember Noor Inayat Khan on Remembrance Day

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The riveting story of World War II heroine, Noor Inayat Khan - the “Spy Princess” - will be told by her biographer Shrabani Basu to mark Remembrance Day at Trinity College, Cambridge.

The talk will see the launch of the fund-raising drive for a memorial bust of Noor Inayat Khan to be installed in Gordon Square, London.

The bust will be the

Noor Inayat Khan

first Memorial to an Asian woman in Britain. It will also be the first Memorial to a Muslim in this country.

Noor Inayat Khan was a secret agent in the

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Second World War. A descendant of Tipu Sultan, the famous ruler of Mysore, Noor was infiltrated into occupied France under the code name of Madeleine. She was the first woman radio operator to be sent in the field. She was betrayed, captured, and executed at Dachau Concentration Camp. She was posthumously awarded Britain’s highest civilian honour, the George Cross. France awarded her the Croix de Guerre.

Cambridge M.P, Julian Huppert has welcomed the decision to kick off the fund-raiser for Noor from Trinity College.

Trinity College, Cambridge has a long association with the Indian sub-continent.

India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru was a student at Trinity. The talk will be at Winstanley Theatre, Trinity College, on 11 November at 6.30 p.m.

EDUCATION/COUNCIL

Asian Voice - Saturday 6th November 2010

Asians rock Harrow's Heroes Awards 2010

Dr. Krutika Pau takes charge of Children's and Families Department at Brent Council

By Kartic Raval

Rishi Samji (centre) awarded as young volunteer by the Mayor of Harrow, Asad Omar (right) and director of premier house banqueting(left)

In an event organized

by Harrow council at Premier House Banqueting Hall to recognize the work of hundreds of volunteers towards the betterment of the society, three Asians came out as winners out of the eight categories. Mayor of Harrow Asad Omar gave the awards away to the deserving candidates.

Rishi Samji grabbed the Young Volunteer of the Year Award for his six months intensive contribution to the Metropolitan Police as a Cadet Leader.

Sahida Mughal, winner of International Volunteer of the Year has been a committed voluntary member

of the Harrow Emergency Relief Action Group, which was set up up to help the victims of the earthquake in Pakistan in 2005. The group raised £60,000 which the building of an entirely new school of affected students. Another volunteer from an Asian background was Ghulam Rabbani who bagged Partnership Volunteer Award for building a coalition of faith leaders, politicians and community leaders along with Harrow Council and the local Police to show a united protest against race hatred.

School trips not Government's concern say MPs Although various MPs stated that school students are being entombed in their homes, they are not ready to guarantee school trips under the national curriculum.

Visits to museums, theaters and countryside is very essential for the development of the youth .But unfortunately the frequency of these visits have declined because of shortage of funding. The Commons Schools Select Committee recommended in April that the government should provide increased funding for school trips and make every pupil entitled to at least one outof-classroom visit per term.

But while ministers pledged to help cut the bureaucracy preventing teachers from leading school trips, this week they turned down any calls for increased funding, claiming schools should be free to manage their own teaching p r o g r a m s .

The Education Committee's damning report claimed that the chance of children having any access to green space had "halved in a generation" and called for serious funding increase.

It also recommended that the Department for Education monitor the number and range of trips provided by each school, and said all schools should have an explicit policy on learning outside the classroom as it holds significant importance in the learning

process of the pupils. But it seemed the ministers were not interested as a formal decline of the recommendation given by the Education committee was sealed as the ministers stated “We are not therefore able to accept those recommendations of the Committee which call for additional resources, governmental regulation, monitoring or guidance and we trust schools to make sensible and sensitive decisions about arrangements for visits .”

11

In an exclusive interview with Asian Voice, Dr Krutika Pau reveals how she aims to make a difference in the life of the youth by creating enough educational opportunities for them so that they make the right choice for their future.

Brent Council has undergone major restructuring to alter their traditional work-approach in order to imbibe a rather more work efficient technique to deliver the council's priorities as UK heads for a double dip into recession. The old system which saw lots of units working independently from other parts of the council is now replaced by eight new departments which are intended to keep the links between them tight and work as One Council.

Dr. Krutika Pau, elected as the Director of the Children's and Families Department explains the restructuring, “All the local councils across Britain are feeling the pinch of recession. But at Brent we have planned and restructured in a measured way so that we can efficiently deliver our services to the community in a cost effective manner, which indeed has become a necessity in the worsening economy.” Dr. Pau was working as an Assistant Director at Brent Council before taking up the new role and have been engaged in community service and education for more than 20 years, soon after her Doctorate in Race and Education in 1987.

When asked about the goals she has set for her department, Dr. Pau definitely had a long list to go through but in brief she says, “Our primary goal is to make sure there are sufficient places in schools for

Dr. Krutika Pau looks forward to nurture more education opportunities in the London Borough of Brent

children to develop. We also want to make sure the right amount of service is delivered to the most vulnerable children and the one's with special needs.

Primary education is of paramount importance in life and with the rising birth rate and inward immigration, we want to make sure there is no lack of o p p o r t u n i t y . ” While the days of tight financial condition still prevail, Dr. Pau further says she is aiming to lobby in the Central Government to receive funding for development in London Borough of Brent.

“We have more than 80 schools in Brent with about 72,000 students receiving education in these schools.

Brent Council closely works with each and every

school and this year we are planning to push up the number of children receiving education in these schools” Asian Voice learns as Dr. Pau explains her aims.

The restructuring has included more women than ever before in the history of Brent Council and being excited of this development, she states “There have always been a nice gender balance here but not at senior positions.

This is the first time we are going to see many women to take up these high-level positions and I am glad to be a part of it. Moreover, I feel women has the ability to bring in new and fresh perspective to the working of the Council and which can work to the benefit of the community we want to serve.”

She goes on to praise the vibrant voluntary section of the community and their selfless efforts that has played a huge part in the development of Brent over the years but at the same time wants more of such selfless natured people to come forward.

When asked about her appointment as the Director of Children's and Families Department, Dr. Krutika Pau exclaims “I am excited about the role that lies in front of me. I have

the right opportunity in hand to make a difference and a great impact on the massive diverse community of Brent.” There has also been inclusion of other four new directors namely, Andy Donald for Regeneration and Major Projects Department, Sue Harper for Environment and Neighborhood Services, Clive Heaphy for Finance and Corporate Resources and Fiona Ledden for Legal and Procurement Department.

The staff members at Brent Council will surely have to produce much higher efficiency rate as they are expected to fill in multiple roles and take various responsibilities on their shoulder but this is how the Council has planned to tackle recession. Chief Executive, Gareth Daniel, justifies this restructuring by stating "We feel Brent is now in a stronger position to face the tough times ahead.

Instead of waiting for government to hand out cuts we've acted first to streamline our organization, create more efficient working practices, operate as One Council, provide better value for money while, at the same time, protecting front line jobs and services."

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12

MEDIA WATCH

Asian Voice - Saturday 6th November 2010

Scrutator’s Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's three-day visit to Japan was a seminal event. It signalled the elevation of Indo-Japanese ties to an entirely new level. A tepid relationship encompassing little more than a moderate quantum of trade and Japanese investment in India will undergo an exponential transformation. The signs were promising – witness the remarkable Delhi Metro built with Japanese technology and financial aid – but the consummation has at last arrived.

increase in trade and investment flows between our two countries.”

Following his visit to Japan, the Indian Prime Minister went on to Malaysia and Vietnam as part of India's 'Look East' policy. India's relations with both countries, already strong, are reaching new heights.

Obama visit

Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan and Dr Manmohan Singh greet each other in Tokyo

“Three things changed the game,” commented the Hindustan Times (October 25). “One, Chinese bellicosity and Japanese economic decline helped seal a political consensus in Tokyo that for reasons either strategic or economic, India was an essential part of Japan's foreign partnering.Thus, when the present Democratic Party of Japan came to power, virtually their first action was to kick off the industrial corridor....Two, the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor, a $90 billion whopper that, when completed, will give India a state-of-the-art manufacturing and exporting base...Three, India Inc knocked the kimonos off Japan Inc by winning Alfred Denning Prizes.

Dennings are given for quality manufacturing. Over the past decade, unknown Indian auto-component firms began beating competitors, including Japan....Corporate Japan was convinced it [India] wasn't another grimy face.”

Japanese investment in India grew substantially between 2000-07. “Today, an average of 100 Japanese firms are moving here (India) every year....The soon-to-be-completed freetrade agreement will put in place the last missing piece: the drawing of India into the global supply chains of Japanese manufacturers....Last year, India and Japan signed a bilateral defence framework.A former Japanese defence official noted: 'Japan has only two other comparable agreements, with the US and Australia. And the Australia one is hazier than the one we have with you.' ” The nuclear deal between the two countries will complete the circle. The new Indo-Japanese relationship has been seeded in hard realities.

Japanese take The Japan Times ( published in English, October 25) reporter Masami Ito wrote: “Prime Minister Naoto Kan and visiting Indian leader Manmohan Singh agreed in Tokyo to activate an economic partnership agreement as soon as possible and to speed up talks on civilian nuclear cooperation. The deal to strengthen economic ties....comes at a time when Asian nations are becoming increasingly concerned about China's activities in the East China and South China seas.”

Prime Minister Naoto Kan told the joint press conference: “We were able to confirm and believe firmly in the deepening of the strategic global partnership between Japan and India.

We also confirmed that we will strengthen cooperation in the field of our security and economy.”

Prime Minister Singh said: “Our annual summits have set the pace and direction of this

partnership, which rests on the firm foundations of the shared values of democracy, rule of law, and respect for fundamental human freedom.”

New heights, endeavours The economic partnership agreement will be submitted to the Japanese Diet at the beginning of next year for ratification. Under this, the two countries will abolish a wide range of tariffs on products, from car components to and electronic goods to bonsai plants.

Broader than a free-trade agreement, the Indo-Japan partnership accord is more comprehensive on economic and trade cooperation that also includes investment.

Dr Manmohan Singh: “This is a historic achievement that signals the economic alignment of two of the largest economies in Asia. It will open up new business opportunities and lead to a quantum

need to see some things that are going to demonstrate that this relationship has payoffs.”

Nevertheless, the US has struggled to agree an investment treaty with India and US companies are wary of intellectual property abuses.

Cautious India The Economist (October 30) struck a cooler note. It accepted that Indo-US ties had undergone a sea-change since the frigid cold war days.

However, “India's government

ments, in case of an accident, for the entry of US companies seeking to enter the Indian market to build nuclear power plants. There the matter rests.

Cyber space Sify.com (October 19) reported that India's Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) was developing a “futuristic operating system to protect its sensitive data from cyber attacks, including hacking.

“We initiated the indige-

President Barack Obama's long awaited visit to India will begin at the weekend and at its end we should be able to gauge whether the hype surrounding it was justified or not. A pooled report by Edward Luce in Washington and James Lamont in New Delhi Times, (Financial October 29) averred that Mr Obama “will portray his state visit to India ....as a big net producer of jobs for the American economy, with several US companies expected to seal deals worth billions of dollars, say key officials. ” In background briefings, they said the Delhi Metro built with Japanese technology and financial aid presidential party would maintain a looks askance on Mr Obama's nous computing project in strong economic focus. “It is September and a road map is wider Asian strategy....pundits no accident that the first day being drawn to implement the in Delhi point to a $2 billion of the [three-day] trip will be programme,” DRDO Director package of military aid to devoted to US-India economic Pakistan....it also frowns on General V.K.Saraswat told ties,” said a senior administraMr Obama's efforts to improve reporters in Bangalore. tion official. “We want to ties with another Indian neighIt is to be located in highlight growing US exports bour and erstwhile enemy, Bangalore and New Delhi. to India, but also growing China. On a visit to Beijing “Though it will be a realinward Indian investments last year America's president time system with Windows into the US.” India is the securged it to play a greater role software, source code the ond-fastest growing investor architecture will be propriin South Asia. That appalled to America.” etary, giving us the the exclumany Indians concerned by sivity of owning a system China's close alliance with Economic deals Pakistan and perceived medunknown to foreign elements dling in Nepal, Sri Lanka and and protect our security sysMessers Luce and Lamont: other areas of traditional tem,” said Dr Saraswat, after “Almost 250 US chief execuIndian sway.” unveiling a training facility at tives and senior corporate offiApropos of “India's rich the Centre of for Artificial cials will travel to Mumbai for defence pickings,” the magaIntelligence and Robotics a business summit that Mr zine said: “Ron Somers, (CAIR), a defence laboratory Obama will address next located in Bangalore.

President of the US-India Saturday [November 6].It is The new operating system Business Council, says he the the largest contingent of will also reduce the organisaexpects India to spend $45 bilUS chief executives to accomlion on military goods and tion's vulnerability to cyber pany a president on a state American defence firms are attacks from the internet. The visit. Deals that expected to be hungry for a slice of that. Yet first of its kind, the initiative signed include a $5.8 billion they are currently stymied by will be used secure the defence sale by Boeing of C17 aircraft their own country's restricsystems in various research to the Indian governareas such as molecment. In addition, ular computing and either General Electric bio-molecular comor Caterpillar is puting, used by expected to win a $5.5 security formations, billion order to supply Dr Saraswat locomotives to Indian explained. “We have Railways. Cummings pooled 50 scientists and John Deere also from various have deals lined up. defence laboratories According to Ron in Bangalore and Somers, of the USNew Delhi to work India Business on this project,” he Council, the total said. The defence number of deals could laboratory had tied help create or sustain up with the Indian 100,000 jobs. US busiInstitute of Science nesses are eager to put Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa lighting a lamp (Bangalore), Indian commercial meat on a for the Toyota Kirloskar motor plant in Bangalore Institute of relationship unlocked Technology in by the Indo-US civil Chennai and other universitions on high-tech exports to nuclear deal in 2008.” ties. “We have also roped in India.”

Commented a US embassy private firms to develop the And India will not budge official in New Delhi: “We project,” Dr Saraswat added. from its compensation require-

EDUCATION/UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 6th November 2010

Ahimsa Day celebrated in the Parliament The 8th Ahimsa Day was celebrated in the House of Commons on 20th October. The theme for the evening was “The Relief of Poverty through Education”.

Members of Parliament came and went during the evening depending on when they had to speak or vote as an important bill was being discussed in the Parliament. The Institute of Jainology welcomed those who joined them, even for a little while. The evening began with recitation of namokar mantra, followed by short welcome speeches from the hosts of the event: Lady Dholakia, deputising for Lord Dholakia, on behalf of the Liberal Democrat Friends of India; Priti Patel MP, deputising for Stephen Hammond MP on behalf of Conservative Friends of India; and Barry Gardiner on behalf of Labour Friends of India. Dr Harshard Sanghrajka, trustee, Director and Secretary also formally welcomed guests on behalf of the Institute itself.

The guest speaker Professor Sugata Mitra, Professor of Educational Technology at Newcastle University, spoke of his inspiring work in education innovation, in India and the UK. His findings have revolutionised the

MoneyGram: An easier, faster but most importantly a reliable way of money transaction is here to serve

By Kartik.S.Raval

Professor Nalini Balbir receiving the Ahimsa Award

way in which educationalists think about the role of teachers, and his discovery of “self-organised learning units”. Following Professor Mitra’s speech, “Jain Tales”; a storybook designed for primary school students was launched.

Jaysukh Mehta, Director of the Institute and Co-ordinator of the Ahimsa Day event, then announced the name of Professor Nalini Balbir of Sorbonne Nouvelle, Paris University as the recipient of the Ahimsa Award for the year 2010 and outlined her achievements in the field of Jain learning.

Professor Balbir spoke of her longstanding scholarship and continual work in understanding and developing the academic study of Jainism and Jain scriptures. She spoke of

her involvement in the Jainpedia Project.

She was followed by Dr Mehool Sanghrajka who provided the progress report on Jainpedia and gave details of the current exhibitions being held the Victoria & Albert Museum and British Library. The evening finished with an opportunity for all the guests to mingle and to speak to Professor Mitra and Professor Balbir, as well as the hosts.

13

The time is gone when you have to think twice before handing in your money in order to send it across to your family or friend. The time is also gone when they have to wait hours or days to receive the money you have sent as now MoneyGram International provide simple solutions to all the complications that surrounded money transaction to various destinations across the globe.

With a transaction rate of just £4.99, money transacted in about 10 minutes and better exchange rates than the market surely makes MoneyGram a primary choice for money transaction. Moreover the reliability of a safe transaction is very high as they deal with government body like the Post Office and also National and International Banks. They have established a large

importantly a genuine value for their money”, Mark Perryman, Regional Director, UK & Ireland for MoneyGram tells Asian Voice.

On the Mark Perryman, Regional Director( UK & of Ireland) with Sapna Khosla, Corridor Specialist occasion D i w a l i , network in Gujarat and MoneyGram International every other part of India are setting up a stand at for the large Indian comTrafalgar square on 31 munity residing in the UK. October in order to celeRecipients in Gujarat can brate their successful jourcollect the money from ney with the Indian comPunjab National Bank, munity and also giving Central Bank of India, unaware people of the Corporation Bank, IDBI, community a chance to Muthoot Finance, Indian explore the quickest and Overseas Bank, the most reliable way of Manappuram Finance and money transfer.

Rajkot Nagarik Sahkari Though MoneyGram Bank.

International is leading “Our aim is to provide the way in quick time our customer with one of money transfer, they are the largest network for constantly trying to give their need of sending curtheir customers best value rency to different corners and service. of the world but most

£1 billion donation for Oxford University in record time Living in the world of recession and global meltdown, donation of £1 billion may seem fiction.

But it isn't so. Though the international fundraising campaign of Oxford University began in August 2004, the official launch of the campaign

was in May 2008 at which time 575 million pounds had already been raised.

Looking at the generosity of donors that made the campaign the

largest fundraising campaign in European university history, Oxford Vice-Chancellor Professor Andrew Hamilton called the generosity of donors "fundamental to Oxford's future" at a time of reduced government funding.

Potential. Realise yours here.

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14

ART & CULTURE

Asian Voice - Saturday 6th November 2010

By Radhika Madlani

Full Circle

By Spriha Srivastava

Ginger tea and vada pao?

Have you ever had a cup of tea and some vada pao in a nice and cosy dhaba (stall) in the corner of a road? And especially in winter time? Well, just the thought takes me back to my college days in India when my friends and I would spend hours and hours just gossiping over innumerable cups of tea and samosas.

Those were the days and ever since I came to London I yearned for it even more, till I discovered Chaiwalas at Barbican.

Indians have a long lasting affair with chai.

As Chaiwalas rightly say on their website, “The history of the Chaiwala dates back over many thousands of years.

Playing a prominent part in the daily life of the local community a Chaiwala is a specialist brewer of tea and coffee.

Our aim is not only to brew the perfect daily cup for our customers but also to cater delicious food and treats with an authentic twist.

We are a small family business with an aim to create a truly authentic tea and coffee house based on quality, convenience and ancient customs.”

I had heard about this place couple of times from friends and thus decided to visit it one day. And ever since my first visit, I have become a regular customer of that place. It is very similar to the small little stalls that they have in colleges in India, just that this is a little more sophisticated.

Located right on Goswell Road near City University, Chaiwalas has something to offer to everyone. On a nice evening you can sit out-

side on the chairs and smoke a hookah, enjoy the fresh air and treat yourself to the yummy vada pao and samosas.

They also have a great collection of chai. Not only d you get the regular milk tea but there is also the ginger tea, cardamom tea, masala tea among others. The size of tea cups is not the “Tall, Grande and Venti” but it is “Nanu” for small, “Motu” for medium and “Jadu” for large.

to food. One can sense it in the warmth of those serving. A warm welcome with a smile, followed by How are you, how was your day makes it a wonderful experience for those visiting.

When I went the first time I was a little lost in terms of what to eat since the menu is quite tempting. The staff at the shop was extremely helpful in suggesting a cup of ginger tea and a plate of vada pao which I

Originally from the Gujarati language the uniqueness of the place attracts you immediately and you want to come back again and again.

In terms of food, you can get a range of Indian recipes in roti wraps, pau burgers, desi baguettes, all served with personal care and consideration.

And trust me, you will not stop at one.

And all of this comes for a very affordable price. If you are meeting a friend and you want to spend hours chatting and catching up then this is the place. A “motu” cup of tea along with one or two plates of vada pao is enough to keep the chit chat go on for at least an hour if not more.

Rumour has it that the owner of the shop, Urvish Patel is an exbanker who started this venture to provide an authentic Indian experience to all. And the authentic Indian experience is not just limited

relished.

Another very interesting thing about the place was its decor. It looks like a small little cafe but there is a very comfortable couch along with some board games and cards kept in the corner for you to engage yourself. If only the place was a bit more spacious from inside, but then the original chaiwalas are not supposed to be spacious. These are small little cafes where you pick up a cup of tea and sit outside with friends. And Urvish Patel has brought the concept to London.

The only unfortunate thing is that this placed opened a year after I graduated from City University. But I am sure it is very popular among Indian students who miss the concept of a little chaiwala in the corner. Perhaps this is another step in bringing India closer to the British Indian population.

Let us know what you think.

Email Spriha at spriha@abplgroup.com

Carrot that looks like a Hindu god Coventry man Siva Srithar of Whitmore Park (pictured), says he has discovered a vegetable that looks just like the Hindu god Ganesh. The sacred snack is one of six unusual carrots that Siva recently dug from his back garden, in Beake Avenue.

Dad-of-two Siva said: “As soon as I saw it I realised it looked just like the god Ganesh.

“I’ve still got it now and I pray to it every day.”

The sacred carrot

emerged from his back garden on October 15. As well as digging up the Ganesh-shaped vegetable Siva also discovered another one shaped like

the god Sivan Trishla.

He added: “I plan to take all the carrots to the big temple in Birmingham to give as many people as possible the chance to see them.

“It’s nearly festival time too, so I’m hoping many people will come together to see this miracle.”

Siva, a keen gardener, grows a wide variety of vegetables in his back garden.

My daughter is now 12 months old and as she starts to take her first few steps alone, I was helping her hold on to the walker she received as a first birthday gift.

She loves it of course, holding on to the red plastic arms and ‘waddling’ across the floor with her new found freedom!

Occasionally turning slightly to check her safety net is still there in the form of my arms ready to catch her as she loses her balance, I feel overwhelmed with emotion of how this young life depends on me for her growth and development. In contrast, I recall an old woman I saw at the station last week, navigating her way through the busy streets of London with her walking frame and an attachment to the frame where she had

placed two bags of her shopping. Busy suits and corporate types were whizzing past her, occasionally brushing past, leaving the old lady quite nervous and focused on each step she took towards her destination.

Although I felt proud of the lady’s independence, I felt even prouder to be an Indian – our grandparents are catered for so differently as they turn full circle in life and again need our help to get on with day to day tasks. Admittedly, my grandmother (my only grandparent) lives in an Indian Nursing home where she enjoys the company of friends her age and an Indian surrounding where she gets to sing religious songs, listen to Indian songs and visit local sights with the help and support of her nursing home nurses. I do feel sorry

for those whose family desert them in their time of need and forget the old hands that once helped them take their first steps in life.

As I reflect on these two incidents in life, I wonder whether my ageing hands will receive the support I need when my life turns full circle and I get older? The saying ‘what goes around comes around’ could not be more apt here. Be kind to your elders as they age, before we know it, our time will come too and we can only hope that we will have someone to catch us if we stumble.

“Age does not matter if the matter does not age” – Carlos Pena Romulo Should you have any comments or want to get in touch with me you can email on avmamaria@gmail.com

60,000 people light up Brent with Diwali on the doorstep Wembley witnessed a spectacular night of Diwali celebration on Saturday as more than 60,000 people flooded the streets to see beautifully lit floats, costumed dancers and musicians make their way in a parade from Ealing Road to Barham Park.

But once again the night was painted in colours with the stunning fireworks and laser show finale. However the celebrations were on since morning at the new Shri Sanatan Hindu Mandir where about 13 dance groups performed traditional Indian dance like Kathak, Bharatnatyam and Kuchipudi.

Mayor of Brent, Councillor Harbhajan Singh said: "Brent Council and the community have been organising Brent Diwali celebrations for eighteen years. Each year the celebrations go from strength to strength and it's great to see that 60,000 people from Brent and across London recognise this.

UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 6th November 2010

15

Britain and Glasgow in a chase of Tipu Sultan's Golden Throne Finial

By Kartik Raval With a shape of a tiger's head, the Finial is made from Indian gold encrusted with gems and diamonds and was part of the throne created for the use of Sultan Fatih Ali Khan Tipu, popularly known as Tipu Sahib or Tipu Sultan who ruled Mysore during the late 18th Century. It was created along with its stand in the royal workshops at Seringapatam in Mysore and was brought to the UK by Thomas Wallace, 1st Baron Wallace of Knarsdale, in 1843 and has been in the country ever since.

With the temporary export ban expiring on 15th November 2010, time is running out for the Art-lovers to keep the outstanding Throne Finial in the UK. Against the asking rate of £398,600 to acquire this gold studded Finial, Sir William Burrell's Trust and The Art Fund have given funds of £125,000 each while Glasgow Museums have supplied with another £30,000. But with the deadline in next two weeks, they are still short of another £110,000 and are calling for all the ancient-art admirers and museums to help keeping it in the UK. If not, the rare 18th century Indian treasure

will be up for sale on the International market.

The beautiful Finial represents the life of Tipu Sultan, his majestic kingdom, administration and his brave battles with British East India Company army. Four Anglo-Mysore wars were fought and in the last one Tipu Sultan lost his life and also the kingdom. tiger also represents the society of the Kingdom of Mysore, where Hindus – the majority of the population – lived in harmony with the

Tipu Sultan’s Throne Finial is in the shape of a jeweled gold tiger’s head, made of hammered gold sheet set with foiled polished cabochon rubies and emeralds and foiled table-cut diamonds. It is decorated with engraved outlines and punch-work into the gold sheet. The gems are spread out symmetrically over the tiger’s head defining his eyes, eyebrows, nose, whiskers, teeth, tongue, stripes, and neck-collar. The finial’s core is filled with lac, a natural tree resin.The tiger’s head is 6.9 cm high and 338g in weight.

minority ruling Muslims. Tipu Sultan’s Mysore was known for its social stability and economic.

The Golden Tiger Head which is preserved at Bonhams in London is recognized the British by Government as being of outstanding significance and is listed in an 1843 inventory of the contents of Featherstone Castle, the family seat. Lord Wallace was a prominent politician and a Member of Parliament. Hhad a close association with India through a number of senior official posts he held, was related to the British administration of India, and also used to trade with the Subcontinent and with the British East India Company.

If the required money is raised then this Tiger Finial would be displayed at The Burrell Collection in Glasgow.

Working continuously to achieve this target, Noorah Al-Gailani, Curator of Islamic

Civilisations at The Burrell Collections reveals “ If we don’t raise the last of the money, there’s a chance this great treasure will be lost by the nation forever. Sir William Burrell devoted his life in collecting great works

and rare items and artefacts from across the world. In the most selfless of acts, he gifted them to the people of Glasgow. We are now looking for an individual, trust or company who will follow his example and secure this Finial for Glasgow and Britain.”

The value of this rare Indian treasure is clear from the amount of work done and money that is being invested. Moreover the magnitude of attention received by this 18thcentury stunning Golden Indian Tiger reflects its high significance in the UK. When asked about the relevance of this Finial, Stephen Deuchar, Director of the Art Fund, said: “This is an outstanding artefact which tells all kinds of stories of a bygone era. This golden tiger captures the wealth and power of Tipu Sultan, but it also reminds us of the impact of the British Empire on colonized countries. We hope that the final amount will be raised in time to keep this gem in public collections, so that it can illuminate the past for many more visitors, years to come.”

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BOLLYWOOD

16 Asian Voice Saturday 6th November 2010

Vivek Oberoi weds Priyanka Alva Rajinikanth’s ‘Sultan’ rechristened ‘Hara’ S u p e r s t a r Rajinikanth’s next film “Sultan – The Warrior” has been rechristened “Hara,” which is one of the names of Lord Shiva.

The animated historical drama film is written, produced, and designed by S o u n d a r y a Rajinikanth. “ W h i l e Soundarya will take care of the animation part, Ravikumar will wield the megaphone for some crucial scenes in which fans would get to see the real Rajini in action.

Hara will be a real treat for the audience”, sources say. A few portions of Rajini for this film will be shot by ace director K S Ravikumar. Interestingly, this is not the first time for the superstar to act in a film that has Lord Shiva’s name as the title. The earlier films were Annamalai and Arunachalam and both were blockbusters in the 1990s.

Bollywood actor Vivek Oberoi married Priyanka Alva, daughter of late Karnataka political leader Jeevraj Alva, in Bangalore on last Friday. The 28-year-old Priyanka is a Business Management graduate from Britain.

Her mother Nandini is a well known classical dancer. Jeevraj Alva, a Janata Dal-United leader and a minister in the Ramakrishna Hegde ministry in Karnataka, passed away in 2001.

The wedding, both in Karnataka and Punjabi style, took place at the sprawling farm house of Alvas in north Bangalore. The Oberois father Suresh Oberoi was also a leading Hindi film actor. The pre-wedding ceremonies began on Thursday and continued till Friday evening when the barat reached Alva's house.

It was love within 20 minutes: Vivek Earlier when asked whether the marriage was arranged or love, Vivek Oberoi promptly replied that it was love within 20 minutes! Though their parents first brought them together, the couple realized they were in love in their very first meeting.

Vivek Oberoi says that he not only shares a lovely relationship with Priyanka but also with her parents.

In fact, the Alvas were to known to them for a fairly long time and have been family friends since Vivek's

childhood years.

Who's who attend wedding reception The wedding reception of the newly-wed in Mumbai on Sunday night saw a mix of film industry celebrities and political party leaders.

The reception at a suburban five star hotel in Mumbai saw political

I am spiritual, not religious:

Bipasha

Bollywood actress Bipasha Basu may be known for being health conscious and a fitness freak but during festivals she goes all out and indulges herself. The actor who admits to having a sweet tooth says, "I love sweets and festivals are the best time to gorge on them. Every year, I eat a lot of sweets during Durga Puja and Ganesh Chaturthi."

Though she denies being an atheist, Bipasha isn't a huge believer in God either. "I am spiritual and I do believe in God but it is not like I go to a temple and pray regularly.

But I do attend all the pujas and religious functions my mom keeps on organising."

Ask her who is more religious - actor beau John Abraham or her and she squeals, "I am definitely more religious amongst the two of us but we would rather call ourselves spiritual or God fearing."

Though the actress doesn't pray or worship any idol in particular, Bipasha makes sure that she visits all her friends during festivals. "I have a lot of friends and we celebrate all festivals together. I pay them a visit and mithai's are something I love gorging on during this time."

One must be assuming that once the festivities end, the actor would starve herself to get back in shape but she coolly admits, "I am a big havrat (hog). I like my food and I can't dream of not eating all that I like. Sometimes it is good to eat," she chuckles.

Bipasha, who is a Bengali, celebrates Durga Puja but also joins in the celebrations during Christmas and Eid. "My best friend is Catholic so I have practically grown up going to the church and celebrating Christmas. Festivals for me are about getting together and having fun," she says.

And what is she praying for this time? "I am at my happiest best. I thank God for that all that he has given me," she says.

guests like Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj, senior BJP leader L K Advani, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, civil aviation minister Praful Patel, Congress MP Sanjay Nirupam in attendance to wish the newly weds.

Adi and Parmeshwar Godrej represented the corporate sector.

Former cricketer Kiran More and Namal Rajpakshe, son of Sri Lanka president Mahinda Rajpakshe were among other guests.

Askhay Kumar, Jackie Shroff, Tabu, Gulshan Grover, Ritesh Deshmukh, Ramesh Sippy, Sajid Khan, Farah Khan, Genelia D'Souza, Fardeen Khan, Shakti Kapoor, David Dhawan, Zoya Akhtar, Salim Khan, Ram Gopal Verma, Vishal Bharadwaj, Ken Ghosh, Shatrughan Sinha were prominent guests from the film industry. But the prominent absentees were the Bachchans.

Katrina finally admits split with Salman Katrina Kaif has never admitted to her relationship with Salman Khan in the last eight years. Although they acted together and she was a permanent fixture at his home, she had maintained they were only friends.

But recently in an interview, she admitted that she'd split from the “Dabangg” actor.

Earlier, it was reported how the actress was preparing to announce her relationship with Ranbir Kapoor to the world. So one can assume that the first step towards accepting she is seeing RK, is declaring that she is no longer with SK. An industry source reveals, "recently, an article in a newspaper carried quotes of an old interview of Kat, in which she'd spoken about Salman and her closeness to him. This upset the actress, who has been trying to maintain a strictly professional relationship with her ex."

The actress called up the higher-ups in the organisation and told them that she wanted to clear the air about Salman. The following day, her interview admitting to her split was flashed in the front page of a city tabloid under the heading: For The First Time.

So the question is: Why

did Katrina finally come clean about Sallu? Says an insider, "That interview made matters embarrassing for her. She is seeing Ranbir now, and the Kapoor khandaan have welcomed her into their fold. How would she explain an interview gushing about Salman being a '4 am friend'?"

A source close to the actress adds, "When Kat read an article about Salman and her closeness, she was extremely upset. She doesn't want to send out the wrong signals to Ranbir and his family. She is not with Salman anymore.

Last month, at a press conference for a foreign airlines she endorsed, she'd vaguely hinted at Salman's bachelor status."

The source continues, "Though Salman and Kat broke up long ago they continue to be friends. She appreciates all that he has done for her, and they will always be there for each other. After the Being Human show recently, he even asked her to party with him and his friends but she refused as she had an early morning flight. Though Salman and she still keep in touch they are not romantically involved anymore and she wants to dispel that wrong impression."

Asian Voice - Saturday 6th November 2010

Ang Lee casts unknown Delhi boy to lead role in ‘Life of Pi’ Suraj Sharma, a 17-yearold Delhi student with no previous acting experience, will play the lead role in “Life of Pi Patel,” a film from director Ang Lee. The son of two mathematicians, he was chosen after the film-makers spent months scouring India for talent.

He will play Pi Patel, a boy who survives a shipwreck and is cast adrift in a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger for company.

Yann Martel's fantastical tale won the Booker Prize in 2002 and has sold more than seven million copies worldwide.

Lee, the Oscar-winning director of “Brokeback Mountain” and “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” said: "We

Ang Lee (left) and Suraj Sharma

searched throughout India for a young man who had the innocence to capture our attention, the depth of character to break our hearts, and the physicality needed to embody Pi on his journey.

"Suraj is Pi. During his

Hrithik Roshan to romance US beauty American a c t r e s s K r i s t e n Stewart is reportedly stepping into Bollywood domain. And if reports are to be believed, the ' Tw i l i g h t ' lass will be romancing none other than heartthrob Hrithik Roshan in the upcoming Shekhar Kapur film “Paani.”

So after his much talked-about chemistry with Spanish actress Barbara Mori, Hrithik Roshan will next set the screen on fire with American Kristen Stewart.

According to sources associated with the film, Paani is inspired from the Romeo and Juliet theme of Shakespeare. The Shekhar Kapur film tells the story about a poor boy, portrayed by Hrithik Roshan, who lives in the slum areas of Mumbai. A rebel at heart, the boy comes across a rich girl, played by Kristen Stewart, and the two fall in love.

“Paani” has been in the production stage for some time now and while Hrithik Roshan had already been finalized for the male lead, Shekhar Kapur was on the lookout for somebody tall and fair to play the part of the contemporary Juliet. The grapevine has it that Shekhar Kapur approached Kristen Stewart directly for being a part of his upcoming venture, and since the actress has always been a fan of his works, she said yes without giving it a second thought.

The audience though is eager to see the Hrithik – Kristen chemistry.

audition, he filled the room with emotion, much of which he conveyed simply through his eyes. His natural ability to believe and stay in the world of the story is a rare treasure."

The project has been in development for years and

Lee said it was a daunting prospect to bring such a "mind-boggling" story to the screen.

"A little boy adrift at sea with a tiger – it's a hard one to crack."

The film will be shot in 3D, combining live action with computer-generated imagery. Filming will take place in India and Taiwan, beginning in January, and the release date is set for December 2012.

Martel said he was thrilled at the prospect of the film. "Ang is a brilliant, versatile director with a stunning visual sensibility.

He can capture the most intimate emotion as well as the most dynamic action.

He's the perfect film-maker to bring Pi's epic journey to the screen."

17

Ash turns 37, spends birthday with family Bollywood queen bee Aishwarya Rai turned 37 on Monday and the Bachchan bahu spent her big day celebrating with her family. Her birthday was brought in with a family dinner on Sunday night at the Taj Hotel after an awards function attended by Amitabh Bachchan, husband Abhishek, mother-in-law Jaya and sister-in-law Shweta.

"Family dinner at Chinese in Taj where function was held... and brought in Aishwarya Birthday... good feel about the day...(sic)," Big B posted on Twitter.

Birthday wishes started flowing in at midnight while Aishwarya was on her way back home from the hotel. "It nears past midnight as we stroll out of the Hotel Taj and the wishes for Aishwarya start. Happy birthday daughter-in-law and may you achieve and get all that you so desire," Bachchan senior wrote on his blog. Her husband posted a loving picture of the pair on Twitter, showing Aishwarya dressed in blue with mehendi on her hands, as Abhishek looked dapper in a bow-tie and tuxedo. "There she is, as promised, the birthday girl..." the actor wrote.

‘Action Replayy’ takes audiences on a psychedelic tour of the seventies!

Akshay Kumar and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan light up cinema screens with the blockbuster release for Diwali, ‘Action Replayy’. Vipul Shah’s eagerly anticipated film is releasing in cinemas across UK and worldwide on 5th November 2010.

Inspired by the seminal classics of Mumbai in the 70’s, the movie masterpiece-to-be will appeal to the full spectrum

of cinemagoers: youngsters will find it fascinating, couples will be inspired, and elders will watch with a twinkle in their eyes.

‘Action Replayy’ encapsulates the evergreen mood of 70’s Bollywood and the zeitgeist – the innocence of romance, the unforgettable love songs, stolen kisses behind the rose bushes, the sacredness of

In Cinema

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marriage, the boufons and bell bottoms, and legendary fight scenes that defied the laws of gravity.

The film is complemented by an invigorating and charttopping musical score by Pritam, featuring an unforgettable ensemble of songs spanning disco and classic retro to bewitching romance and Holi party numbers.

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18

Asian Voice - Saturday 6th November 2010

Alpesh Patel Consultant Editor Financial Voice Dear Financial Voice Reader, Many people, if not most, find the markets confusing.

Share prices often go down after good news and go up after bad company news. Some people often think the markets ‘are out to get them’. They complain that as soon as they buy a stock, its share price drops. Other complain that whatever they read in the papers does not translate into expected share price moves.

Little wonder private investors often seek alternative methods for evaluating their investment decisions.

That’s why I am looking forward to speaking at the World Money Show in London on 12th November of which this paper is a media partner. In particular I will be on the CNBC panel where I can answer some of the questions on exactly how what CNBC or the other media outlets say, links into how the markets move. (http://www.moneyshow.com/events/World_MoneySh ows.asp) In particular I enjoy speaking about understanding the stock market using price charts. Many people don’t know that huge funds don’t ever use the media or a company’s accounts, or meet a company’s management, but instead simply look at a historic price chart of how a stock is moving in order to calculate whether it is worth investing. This is actually my favourite way of investing. Thanks to software like Sharescope and websites this is quite easy to do.

Many investors don’t see the benefit of this being to remove personal emotional investing. You see in reading a price chart and following rules of interpretation you should, the theory goes, be more objective.

And being objective is critical to good investing. You should also be able to examine more companies than if you were reading all their annual reports and investment magazines.

One of the critical and most important parts of investing is keeping it efficient, and this is also where price charts come in. For instance did you know, even while a share price is rising you can anticipate it is going to turn direction by how slowly it rises? All these things help the investor make decisions more objectively and quickly and evaluate their existing positions more quickly without having to get second opinions or pray their stock is mentioned by someone on TV. Being your own analyst is therefore vital and that is why I enjoy teaching the subject. I believe people should not only read what ‘experts’ say but learn how to do it themselves. That’s why in 2004 when I created some investing software based on how I select stocks I was not surprised when the company that created the software told me the stock picks from the software have produced an average 18.5% per annum return since 2004. That’s not bad given the stock market is up about 1% per annum on average since then.

How does software work, well it takes things one step further for the investor because instead of them learning how to do things the way I do, it does it for them and tells you stock names! How simple is that.

The bottom line is it is easy to understand how to invest and the media like CNBC – you just need a to know a few simple things. Which is why I hope to see you at the World Money Show on November 12th!

Alpesh.patel@tradermind.com

British Airways reports profits after two years British Airways, reporting better than expected results, has recorded a half yearly profit of £158 m.

This is the first profit for the British flag carrier after two years.

The carrier also has more good news, as Iberia of Spain has also reported good profits – Euros53m for a nine month period.

Iberia is to be merged with BA in coming months.

Revenues were up 8.4% to £4.4bn, thanks to a particularly strong 39% rise in cargo revenues, according to the airlines official release.

Costs were cut by 1.5%. The company said that cost control was something that it continued to focus on.

Performance was much stronger during the latter half of the sixmonth reporting period.

Pre-tax profits in the three months to September - which was free of strikes and ash were £322m.

The half-year results mark a complete turnaround from the £292m loss that BA made during the same period in 2009, at the depth of the recession.

RPI inflation eats away into the values of cash deposits in UK Veritas Global Equity Income Fund offers an attractive option with 5% yields; it has exposure to Asia, the US, Europe and the UK It is perhaps a cliché to say that the markets remain ‘unpredictable’ and ‘uncertain’. If ever they were the opposite, life would be a lot easier.

However, never have financial markets been harder to predict, simply because there are other factors at work that we have not normally had to account for. One obvious example is government policy – how will the forthcoming budget cuts impact on the UK economy? Central banks are also making life difficult.

In the US, Europe and UK, Central Banks have been buying their own sovereign debt in order to hold down short term interest rates – how does this distort consumer behaviour and will we become addicted to low interest rates? The recent Basel III proposals affecting banks requires them to hold a higher level of capi-

bank, at the current inflation rate of 4.7%, the buying power of your money will have fallen to £39,740.80, in just five years’ time.

The conclusion therefore is that money needs to grow just to help offset the expensive effects of inflation. So where are the areas of financial markets that represent good value?

In Fixed Interest, many fund managers like

This ratio, based on income as opposed to capital gains, relates the yield on gilts to the yield on equities. It helps to determine the more attractive investment option – bonds or equities.

When the yield on equities is higher than the yield on gilts, advocates of the ratio say you get a clear buy signal. Currently the ten-year gilt yield is around 2.88%, while the FTSE All Share Index dividend yield is about 3.08% (prospective yield). That's a ratio of about 0.935 (2.88/3.08). (Figures from Bloomberg).

To reinforce how unusual this is, consider the fact that for the past 50 years the GEYR has averaged nearer to 2 than 1.

The chart below shows the relationship over the past

tal adequacy i.e. to have more core capital which they must build up. Does this mean they will have less money to lend whilst they are busy building capital reserves? Regulation and government intervention are two new factors to consider when making investment decisions.

These increased uncertainties are causing many investors to continue to sit on the side-lines – many in cash deposits earning little in the way of interest (whilst banks continue to charge 4% or above mortgage rates...)

With RPI inflation in the UK currently running at 4.7% on an annual basis, the real value of cash deposits are being eroded.

Inflation is a silent risk that quietly erodes the value of cash deposits. For example, £249,600 today buys the same amount of goods and services that £24,000 bought in 1972.

Put another way, if you have £50,000 earning 0% interest in cash at the

Philip Gibbs at Jupiter believe that certain bank debt still offers attractive yields. As a branch we would highlight the Lloyds 7.5884% ECN which continues to trade below par at around 95 and offers an attractive 8.43% gross redemption yield and the Nationwide 7.971% Permanent Interest Bearing shares yields 7.85% on a gross redemption basis by trading close to par. Both offerings are eligible for ISAs. Please note that credit risk may result in a total loss of capital in the event the underlying company issuing the bond was to default on the debt. Interest rate risk, i.e. the risk that interest rates may rise in UK may lead to a fall in the value of bonds.

In Equities, the ratio of 10 year UK government bond yield to the FTSE All Share Equity market dividend yield, the Gilt-Equity Yield Ratio (GEYR), is commonly used by analysts in the UK as a means of determining the cheapness of equities relative to gilts.

6 years. On this basis equities are cheaper than they were at the lows in 2003.

Indeed, they have only been cheaper on this measure in March 2009 – just before the market began its last huge surge. The ratio will rise as investors sell gilts and reinvest in equities (simultaneously pushing share prices up and dividend yields down).

Buying pressure pushes prices up and yields down.

That's where the GEYR comes in. Over the long term the Barclays Equity Gilt study reveals that equities hugely outperform gilts. So when sellers have forced prices down to the point where the yield beats that on gilts, shares look very cheap.

Source: Bloomberg We continue to believe that global companies will become even more competitive and stronger as a result of the credit crunch.

The bond markets remain very cheap areas for multinational companies to raise funds, to finance both mergers and acquisi-

Shelain Lakhani

tions, or to buy back shares.

IBM, BAE Systems, Sanofi Aventis and WPP have all recently announced large acquisitions. McDonald’s has recently sold bonds at the lowest interest rate of any US company in the last 15 years. The money raised will be used to buy back shares and boost dividends.

The Veritas Global Equity Income Fund is well positioned to take advantage of these sorts of developments. It has exposure to Asia, the US, Europe and the UK and yields 5%.

Each underlying investment is analysed on the basis of its business model, competitive advantages, management quality and various quantitative factors. These factors include balance sheet strength and earnings quality, cash generation, growth rates and valuation. A stock’s long term dividend prospects are also a consideration.

N.B The fund is however still exposed to the UK equity market and may be prone to short term weakness driven by international investors’ negative stance towards UK equity markets.

The fund may also lag equity markets when they are rising rapidly because of the allocation held in higher yielding equities or bonds. The fund also has the ability to hold futures, options, CFDs and equity swaps.

We continue to believe that value remains within many emerging and Asian markets.

Brazil and China look particularly attractive at present and on a historical basis, an investment in these areas over the longer term has also beaten inflation.

At the Richmond branch, as dull as it sounds, we continue to believe that a balanced, highly diversified portfolio with exposure to several different asset classes is the best way to prepare for the coming years – and to beat inflation.

It’s important to state that past performance is not a guarantee of future performance and that advice should be sought before investing in any of the mentioned securities. * Data & Figures provided by Financial & General For more information contact Shelain Lakhani on 020 8948 5076 or email Shelain.Lakhani@killik.com

FINANCIAL VOICE

Asian Voice - Saturday 6th November 2010

19

Property Focus Suresh Vagjiani Managing Director of Sow & Reap, a Property Investment & Financing company.

Exploit The UK Property Downturn

POPULAR SAGAR – SANAND Last week I wrote about a new project that we are launching. Here are some more details on this opportunity. l Integrated Township with 2 and 3 Bedroom apartments with Penthouses, Showrooms, Shops and Offices l POPULAR SAGAR is just 4 kms away from Sanand Industrial Zone where Major Multi Nationals are coming up Tata Nano is already there l This guarantees future demand for property in the area l You’re entering right at the beginning, at the cheapest rate – THE BEST TIME TO ENTER IN A DEVELOPMENT l As usual we have thoroughly checked this development out before bringing it to you l If you have been delaying investing in India , this is a good project to dip your toe into, being modestly priced and in the earliest stage of growth l Sarkhej Chokdi is 8 km away from this development l The unique location means the property is just outside of Ahmedabad on the borders of Sanand, just outside the AUDA boundary

The three most important points in investing in property is Location, Location Location…

The position of this development is its strongest growth factor!

Gujarat is said to be the growth engine of India, and Ahmedabad in turn is the engine of Gujarat, and within Ahmedabad Sanand is the most exciting area…and within Sanand this development is in the primest location to take advantage of this growth.

Integrated town ship in Sanand Scheme Name Developers Site Location

POPULAR SAGAR SAGAR DEVELOPERS Ahmedabad – Viramgam Highway Sanand Sarkhej Road Sanand Architect Jignesh Patel (Creative Designs) Structural Consultant Sarjan Consultants Total Plot Area 24000 Sq. Yd Apox.

No. of Blocks 12 Blocks 8 Blocks of 2 BHK: 145 Sq.yd (S.B.A) 4 Blocks of 3 BHK: 195 Sq.yd (S.B.A) Apartments 2 BHK 256 Apartments Apartments 3 BHK 128 Apartments Floors of Blocks Apartments Basement + Hollow Plinth +8 Floors Apt. per Floor 4 Apartments per floor Pent Houses 16 Pent Houses There are also 48 Commerical shops and Show Rooms available.

Specifications Fully Loaded Club House with all Indoor Board Games Mini Home TheaterLibraryBadminton Court Children’s Play Area Ample Recreational Activity Areas Huge Common Multipurpose Plot in the Centre Green & Beautiful Landscaped Garden, Walking Paths/ Jogging Track Internal RCC Roads, Dust Free Environment Ample Parking Space C.C T.V Camera at Security Cabin, Security Staff This is an excellent opportunity so call us now for more details on 0203 384 5323 or email info@sowandreapdesi.com. We are planning seminars for this development towards the end of November. To book a place please contact us.

Last week I wrote about our first UK Property Seminar that we held recently and I mentioned we provide a turnkey solution meaning: We source a property for you We arrange finance We fully rent and manage the property This article continues from last week’s article. We also have an in house rental management service run by an ARLA qualified member of Sow & Reap. What this means is that we find the tenant for you, and we also take care of the management. This means we keep an eye on the rents every month and will spot it immediately if it is late. If there is a maintenance issue, we will sort it out. Basically we will take the strain out of the process for you.

You can sit back and enjoy your passive income which is what property investment should be. You can work for your money by running your own business or working for someone. A property should work for you. Whilst you’re sleeping or engaging in your hobby the property will be ticking away earning for you, this is the important distinction of investing in property.

As we progress as a company we always pride ourselves on getting sharper in our personal knowledge and the level of service we provide. This is why we have chosen to spend time and money on training and getting ALRA registration – so that we can provide the best service to you. In the same way you’re dealing with an FSA regulated firm when getting finance we want you to have the same reassurance when dealing with the management aspect to ensure you have a truly hands free investment.

If money was made by following the sheep, the sheep would be rich. There exists a window of opportunity which exists and will not be open for long. If you have been thinking in starting a property portfolio, now is the time to act.

Many commercial investors are starting to hurt now as the banks tighten the screw on the lending they have given to them. They bought in risings markets, they bought in short because everyone was buying. The idea was that when they buy they can then resell and make a profit as people were still buying and the prices were still rising. This strategy is fine as long as prices keep going up. The issue is when the market turns and you are left with stock which is going down in value.

In those days I remember a Barclays’ lot being sold for a 2.9% yield. The interest rates at that time were between 4%-5% so it seemed ridiculous to purchase this at this level of yield, but sold it was. This is

not ridiculous if as mentioned it can be sold on for a lesser yield, meaning a higher price.

The lesson to draw from this is following the herd is not the way to invest. A simple technique is to go against the herd.

This does not mean to invest simply on this basis alone. The investment must be scrutinised thoroughly as well.

At the moment there is a lot of nervousness in the market. This is precisely why you have to go against the flow.

Behavioural finance says we measure loss a lot more heavily on an emotional level than a gain. For those reason we react in a corresponding way.

Therefore if we are facing a downturn people will react like a tortoise and just withdraw from doing anything at all, in short, in this environment they will revert to being inert. Meaning the loss will freeze people into inaction to a greater degree than if the media was promoting a rising market. Because of this there is an abundance of property deals on the market to choose from. This is less so in central London, what is happening is you do not have to look as hard as previously to find deals worth investing in.

The types of deals we are presenting are of two kinds: One type is yield based.

Many examples of what we have been giving over the last few weeks. Even if we consider Looking at things in a very pessimistic way, in property there are two ways to make money, yield and capital growth. The price of the property only comes into play at the point of sale.

Therefore if we take a five year plan the property price will come into play at the end of the five year period. In the interim, these types of properties will only yield a strong rate of return. In other words these are cash cows that will yield you milk day in day out.

The second type is capital growth based. There the yield may be low, or even non existent – however the capital growth should be strong.

In our coming presentations you will hear about the background of the firm, the services we provide, which areas we focus on and why. There is a lot of misunderstanding regarding what Sow & Reap do.

The presentation irons out exactly what we do and why.

We will be holding more seminars regarding UK property and what we offer, so if you would like to attend or if you would like more information about how we can help you please call us on 0207 706 0187 or email info@sowandreap.co.uk

n Mortgages n Commercial Finance n Property Sourcing n Gujarat Properties - Sale & Resale T: 0207 706 0187 F: 0203 014 8484

E: info@sowandreap.co.uk W: www.sowandreap.co.uk

31 Southwick Street, Paddington, W2 1JQ Registered in England No. 05083823

20

FINANCIAL VOICE

Asian Voice - Saturday 6th November 2010

Leadership Matters

Time to Ring the Bells?

Maria Fernandes maria@abplgroup.com Tier 1 changes The UKBA have expressed concern that a large proportion of Tier 1 applicants enter into low skilled work. This was announced shortly after we were told that the limit for Tier 1 for October has been reached. Could there be plans afoot to introduce more change?

Fees There was a proposal to increase fees as of the 1st November 2010. The UKBA have notified advisers that the increases for in country applications will not immediately take effect yet.

No date has been given for the changes yet.

Those able to make applications before the increase should do so as soon as possible.

Cases Human rights: There were two recent cases.

A recent case decided that requiring a person with limited leave to remain to travel to a third country to spend time with his wife who is under 21 is a sufficiently serious interference with the right to respect for family life to require justification.

However the interference is in accordance with the law as it complies with Immigration Rules that were publicly available at the material time even if the appellant

did not know of them.

In another case it was not considered to be a violation of Article 8 ECHR to remove the appellant to Jamaica given that she married her BOT citizen husband from Montserrat when she was here without leave, substantially failed to comply with the Immigration Rules, had no UK born children and strong family connections in Jamaica, including three children one still a minor. This was despite the fact that the settled husband was in receipt of invalidity benefit.

This case is an illustration of the importance of providing strong medical evidence where it is available to back up a claim.

Stake for Tata Global in US Beverage brand ‘Activate’ Tata Global Beverages recently bought a minority stake in The Rising Beverage Company that owns Activate brand of energy and vitamin drinks.

The quantum of stake has not been disclosed. It

is an interesting move, as two year ago, Tata Global Beverages sold off 30% stake in Energy Brands to Coca-Cola. Activate markets drinks in various fruit flavours like grape, passion fruit, lime and orange.

Tata Global Beverages (formerly known as Tata Tea) has made this investment through its UK subsidiary and said that the overseas arm has an option to increase its stake over the next 12 months.

On November 5th 1942, after over three years of brutal fighting, Allied forces achieved their first victory of World War 2 at the battle of El Alamein in Egypt. Thousands of miles away in London, the British Prime Minister Winston Churchill ordered that every church bell in the country be rung in celebration. He realised this was a great opportunity to raise the banner and stir his embattled nation.

This Friday will be the 68th anniversary of the victory at El Alamein. 68 years ago the newspapers were full of cautious optimism that the first victory was near; in a striking coincidence, this past week there has been significant positive economic news. The week began with the news that the UK economy had grown more than expected, the rate of Spanish unemployment fell (if you don’t know the significance of this, you should), and to cap it all off, British Airways announced its first profit in two years.

So while Churchill used good news to motivate, how did our current leaders react? David Cameron let George Osborne take the limelight and George was quick to suggest that the news was "a vote of confidence in the new government's economic policies"– (for today, lets pretend the public sector does not exist). Ed Miliband obviously tried to get everyone to focus on the housing benefit caps as he feels this is more important than the UK economy (at least that’s what his memo told him to do). Vince Cable cancelled a visit to Oxford on Police advice that there was a threat of trouble by disgruntled students (there were unsubstantiated reports that Bob Crow was seen in the vicinity).

One group who were celebrating, and who it seems have actually been celebrating for quite a while now, are the chief executives at the FTSE 100 companies.

A Thomson- Reuters survey reported that their annu-

Gujarat based Elecon acquires Benzlers-Radicon Elecon Engineering, a Gujarat based heavy Engineering company last week acquired UK’s Benzlers-Radicon Group (BR group) from David Brown Gear System in a deal worth £21.41 mn.

Two companies from the Elecon group, Elecon Engineering Co. Ltd. and Power Build Limited have jointly made the acquisition.

Elecon Engineering has acquired the UK company’s European, North American and Swedish businesses and PBL has acquired the Asian business.

With this acquisition, the Vallabh Vidhyanagar (Anand district) based company aims to achieve higher volumes with Radicon range of products, improve market

reach for Elecon products through BR Gears and benefit from the BR brand name and pursue and penetrate deeper into newer markets like South America, Russia, South Africa and Australia in future.

Prayasvin Patel, chairman and managing director, Elecon Engineering Group said, “This is our first international acquisition and yet another milestone in our company’s long-term growth strategy.

The combination of strong brands, clear growth plans and a world-class supplychain will enhance compelling value-added growth potential for Elecon. The BR Group’s business complements our product portfolio and will strengthen our presence in the global market.”

By Amit Patel

al salaries had risen by up to 55% over the past year.

Crisis – what crisis?

After the war, Churchill remarked "Before Alamein we never had a victory, after Alamein we never had a defeat."

Today, just as it was then, there is still along way to go and many hardships to face. So David Cameron is right not to get too carried away with this news.

But judging by the actions of some other political and business leaders, perhaps it is time to ring the bells – their alarm clock bells.

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

World’s largest diamond bourse opened in Mumbai Mumbai, the commercial capital of India recently added another feather to its crown recently, as Bharat Diamond Bourse (BDB), world’s largest diamond trade centre was opened last month.

Anand Sharma, India’s minister for commerce and industry inaugurated the bourse. “Export of diamonds in this industry from Mumbai is Rs. 610 billion and I am hopeful that within a year, this bourse will achieve a turnover of over Rs. 1,000 bn,” he said. The BDB has an area of 20 acres, with 18 lakh square feet of built-up area. There is a 10-lakh sq.ft. Office space is spread across nine towers of nine floors each, each tower connecting from the second to sixth floor by a 1.5-km link.

Vedanta’s Cairn India deal may fall through ONGC appears keen to buy Cairn’s stake in Rajasthan block The deal between two UK companies – Cairn Energy and Vedanta Resources for Cairn India’s stake in the its joint venture with ONGC seems likely to be scrapped, as ONGC appears keen to buyout Cairn’s stake in the Rajasthan oil block. That is the mainstay property for Cairn and if that is cut out of the deal, nothing much remains.

ONGC on its part is looking at the liability of paying up the statutory levies on the entire production even though it holds only 30% of the

stake there.

Vedanta is prepared to pay a very high price to Cairn purely on the basis of exemption that the later enjoys in payment of levies, including 20 per cent royalty and also possibly an oil cess of Rs. 2,500 per ton.

There liabilities make Rajasthan block a losing proposition for ONGC. ONGC on October 21 wrote to Cairn Energy, saying it had preemption rights and asked for value of each of the 10 assets held by the British firm’s Indian unit so as to enable

it to “decide on the future course of action,” an official said.

Cairn may not have put a separate value to each of the 10 properties and it, like in the past, is likely to dispute ONGC’s claim for preemption rights on grounds that the deal with Vedanta was more a corporate transaction.

But unless this jurisdiction issue was sorted out, the oil ministry was unlikely to begin processing Cairn’s application for governmental nod to the deal.

FINANCIAL VOICE

Asian Voice - Saturday 6th November 2010

21

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

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

Good GDP figures, could it mean the start of the recovery?

Last week the main indicator of UK growth, GDP figures were unleashed into the markets, showing a very healthy and much better than expected 0.8% growth between July and September, twice as fast as forecasts, according to official data. Standard and Poor's later revised its outlook on the UK economy to "stable" from "negative" another reason to believe that this government’s economic policies are being treated as positive for recovery.

The agency also affirmed its top AAA credit rating for Britain. Sterling surged 1.68 cents against the dollar to $1.5891 just before noon and the pound was worth EUR 1.1392 up from EUR 1.1256.

S&P said the government's spending review last week reduced the risks to the implementation of its fiscal consolidation programme announced in June and that agency’s view of the UK’s wealthy and diversified economy, flexible and relatively adaptable product and labour market.

Analysts also said the strong reading cooled expectations that the Bank of England may buy more UK assets from

the market in an attempt to flood the system with cash to stimulate the economy, a move that is seen as being negative for the pound.

The GDP figure followed a 1.2pc expansion between April and June, suggesting the economy is relatively robust as the government prepares to implement wide-ranging austerity measures announced two weeks ago.

The BoE's Monetary Policy Committee holds its next regular policy meeting next week. ‘’The strong GDP seriously weakens the case for more QE. Plans for fiscal consolidation have come out, but on the whole the economy is doing OK," said Raghav Subbarao, currency strategist at Barclays Capital.

Sterling has risen against the dollar since September on the back of broad selling of the US currency on speculation of more quantitative easing by the Federal Reserve. At the same time, the pound has suffered against other currencies, pushing its trade-weighed index to a five-month low on Monday, on speculation the BoE may also inject more cash

Weekly Currencies As of Tuesday 2nd November 2010 @ 11.35am GBP - INR = 70.93 USD - INR = 44.48 EUR - INR = 62.01 GBP - USD = 1.5973 GBP - EUR = 1.433 EUR - USD = 1.3969 GBP - AED = 5.8759 GBP - CAD = 1.6157 GBP - NZD = 2.0787 GBP - AUD = 1.5996 GBP - ZAR = 11.113 GBP - HUF = 309.33

into the market to help boost the economy.

Could it be that maybe too many people have been too bearish about the ability of our current Government to avoid the double-dip recession. It is probably too soon to say for sure but early indications seem to show we are on the right

track.

Other analysts have however argued that while the GDP data may help to push back further talk of QE, growth will keep slowing as negative headwinds pick up from ongoing credit restrictions, public sector job losses, benefit cuts and higher taxes.

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

INDIA

Obama skips visit to Golden Temple, Taj Mahal Barack Obama will not be visiting Amritsar or Golden Temple. He will also not be going to Agra to see the Taj Mahal, one of the eight wonders of the world and a must visit tourist attraction globally in India.

The White House has cited of paucity of time for the decision.

"Anybody that would go to (India), would love to... spend a lot more time there," White House press secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters Monday when asked why Obama is not visiting the Sikhs' holiest shrine or the famed

Taj Mahal.

"We are in India for three days. There's - you could spend a lot longer than that, and obviously anybody would. We picked our schedule based on what we wanted to get accomplished, and that focus was on New Delhi and Mumbai, and that's going to be the focus of our trip."

Obama would be arriving in Mumbai on November 6, a day after Diwali. After spending two days in Mumbai, he would reach New Delhi on seventh evening for a private dinner with Prime Minister.

Asian Voice - Saturday 6th November 2010

Gujarat tops all states in 20 point programme Congress ruled states make a poor show, very few in top 10 list Continuing trail blazing performance, the BJP government in Gujarat has emerged at a topper in implementation of the 20 point programme, a flagship welfare scheme of Congress that was conceived by late Indira Gandhi and revised later by subsequent Congress governments at centre.

What puts the Congress in poor light is that the party led Maharashtra government just next door is virtually among the bottom rung states in implementation of this programme. Even

more shocking and surprising is the fact that more non-Congress governments are there in the top 10 list, including Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal, Jharkhand, Punjab, Kerala and Uttar Pradesh.

Worst performers include Jammu and Kashmir, West Bengal, Bihar and Chhattisgarh.

At the review meeting of the Twenty Point Programme-2006, Minister of State for Statistics and P r o g r a m m e Implementation Sriprakash Jaiswal said,

"Out of 19 parameters monitored on the monthly basis, except a few, the performance of most of them have been very good."

Calling upon the nodal Central ministries to provide all support to states for improvement in the performance in these schemes, the minister complimented Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Uttarakhand for working hard to achieve the targets.

The Twenty Point Programme was started in 1975 by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

The objective of the programme has been to improve the living standard of the poor and down-trodden sections of the society.

The programme has been restructured thrice since its inception in 1975 primarily because of introduction of new schemes and programmes by the government.

The first revision was held in 1982 and the second in 1986. The third and last revision took place in 2006. The restructured programme is called Twenty Point Programme 2006.

Sankara Eye Hospitals: Super speciality, yet affordable to all From a humble beginning in 1977 to being a national role model for community eye care, Sankara Eye Care Institutions (SECI) today stands for super specialty eye care affordable to all. It all started with Dr Ramani, the founder and managing trustee wanting to provide free service to the local people who could not afford medical treatment in Coimbatore. Dr Ramani together with his wife Dr Radha and a few friends started a part time surgery from a room provided free of charge in the grounds of a local temple.

As the word spread amongst their friend circle about the charitable work, several of Dr Ramani's friends offered their time to run the surgery. Soon they had enough doctors volunteering their services free of charge to be able to run a full time surgery.

After a few years a local philanthropist donated 5 acres of land to them and with the help and support of local businessmen they built the first hospital in Coimbatore. After a lot of

deliberations, it was decided to specialise in eye care.

Sankara Eye Foundation USA was established in 1998 in San Jose California. It is run almost entirely by a group of energetic volunteers to support the charitable eye care work at Sankara Eye Hospitals in India.

Sankara Eye Foundation Europe (SEFE), a UK based registered charity that works in partnership with its parent organisation SECI was launched in 2004. SEFE is run entirely by a group of committed volunteers.

The aim is to support the activities of SECI and spread awareness of about the organisation and to bring like minded people together in order to help eradicate preventable and curable blindness in India.

At Sankara Eye Care Institutions, the endeavor is to provide quality healthcare to all, regardless of socio-economic considerations and more importantly, to do this with empathy. Over the years, they have tried to

become an institution that is known for affordable, super-specialty eye care, while firmly believing that increased accessibility to such services is the key to eliminating needless blindness in India.

There are 45 million people in India who are visually handicapped, out of which 12 million are totally blind. 80% of these people are needlessly blind since their blindness is either preventable or curable. Hence SECI vision is to work towards freedom from preventable and curable blindness. Their mission is to provide unmatched eye care through a strong service orientated team and the goal is to create replicable and sustainable models of Sankara eye hospitals & establish one in every state of India with the ultimate objective of achieving vision 20:20 (perfect vision) for all by the year 2020.

SECI builds state of the art hospitals and employs the best Doctors.

We pay our staff slightly

higher rates then the going rate and ensure we retain our staff who take pride in their work, share our vision and deliver excellence. They in fact become part of the Sankara family.

We work on an 80:20 model, whereby the cost of 80% of the beneficiaries who receive free treatment is borne by the 20% fee paying patients. Therefore typically in a 225 bed hospital whilst 200 beds are used for patients who receive free treatment 25 are reserved for the private patients.

We do not compromise on quality - the patients who receive free treatment receive the same quality of care and treatment as the fee paying patients. They are operated upon by the same surgeons using the same equipment. The only difference is that the private patient gets a private room with its associated facilities while the other is cared for in a general ward.

With our state of the art hospitals and our top quality Doctors together

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with competitive pricing for operations we are able to attract enough fee paying patients. Over a period of time (between 3-5 years) the revenue generated from the private patients is sufficient to cover the running cost of the hospital. Hence the hospital becomes self financing. This is a tried and tested model which can be replicated.

When we build a hospital in a new location, we always recruit staff from the local areas. So we create jobs for the local population. The new recruits undergo a one and a half year training course at our hospital in Coimbatore during which time they are paid a salary.

The location of all new hospitals is carefully chosen, based on the local needs. We actively seek out the poor people in need of treatment from within a 3 to 4 hundred kilometers radius of the hospital. Our volunteers visit villages within this area and work with local organisations to identify the visually handicapped.

A simple eye test card is given to school children to take home to their elderly relatives. Those that cannot read/see beyond a cer-

tain point are asked to attend an eye test. Our doctors then visit these patients and examine their eyes. Those who need surgical treatment are then given an appointment.

Our bus then picks up all the patients from their homes and brings them to the hospital where they undergo the necessary surgical treatment and after a couple of days recovery, they are transported back home with their medication. A month after their operation our doctors return back to the villages for a follow up and to assess the outcome of their treatment.

For this reason Sankara Eye Care Institutions won the FICCI Health Excellence Award for the Best Community Driven Healthcare Programme in 2009.

Sankara also offers opportunities for medical and ophthalmic students to volunteer in one of our hospitals in India.

Volunteering opportunities are available for people from other backgrounds too. For further information please contact: Sankara Eye Foundation Europe via – www.giftofvision.org.uk

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Asian Voice - Saturday 6th November 2010

23

WPO announces January launch of Punjab Parliamentary Forum in Delhi Vince Cable calls for stronger economic ties between India and Britain Vince Cable MP, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills has said the British Coalition Government is determined to strengthen the economic ties between India and Britain.

He was speaking as guest of honour at the 10th anniversary celebrations of the World Punjabi Organisation (European Division) at the Intercontinental, Park Lane.

He told his audience about his long-standing personal links with India and commended the enterprise of the Punjabi community. The celebrations took place last month.

Maharani Preenet Kaur, India’s Minister of State for External Affairs, noted that President Pratibha Patil''s visit to the UK and British Prime

of the country by building up businesses in the private sector.

Welcoming the guests Ranjit Baxi, President of the WPO (European Division), spoke of the members’ achievements over the past decade but said much still needed to be done particularly at a time of economic difficulty when everyone had to work together.

He said Punjabis in Britain were ready to help support the growth and prosperity of the country.

Vikramjit Singh Sahney, International President of WPO, said the organisation would launch a Punjab Parliamentary Forum in Delhi on January 10 and Prime Minister Singh has already given his support to the Forum.

Maharani Preenet Kaur presenting the Punjab Ratan to the Arora Brothers of Arora Hotel Group

Minister David Cameron's tour to India have "surely enhanced the bilateral relations and elevated the partnership to a new level."

Andrew Feldman, Co-

Chairman of the Conservative Party brought greetings and congratulations from the Prime Minister, David Cameron.

Mr Feldman said he

was saddened by missed opportunities to work more closely with India over recent years and he called on the Punjabi community to help contribute to the economic recovery

More than four hundred guests were present at the event. Speakers included leaders from India and Canada. Dr Ruby Dhalla who said the Asian community was making great strides in the country’s public and corporate life.

During the evening, the prestigious Punjab Ratan – (Jewel of Punjab) awards were presented.

Sardar Tarlochan Singh, Vice President of the Indian Olympic Association, was conferred with 'The Jewel of Punjab' award - life-time achievement award - for his services to the Punjabi community.

Subash and Surinder Arora, of The Arora Group of Hotels, were also given the Punjab Jewel award for Excellence in Business and their charitable work.

Amarinder to lead Punjab Cong, Rita retained in UP As Punjab is going for assembly elections next year, Congress has handed over the reins of the state party to Captain Amrinder Singh, effecting a change of guard. Rita Bahuguna Joshi will continue head the UP Pradesh Congress even though there is strong opposition to her.

The party has retained Manas Bhunia in West Bengal, JP Aggarwal in Delhi, Bhubaneshwar Kalita in Assam, Kaul

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Singh Thakur in HP, Ramesh Chennithala in Kerala, AV Subramaniam in Puducherry and BB Bahl in Chandigarh.

Karnataka High Court upholds disqualification of 11 BJP MLAs

B S Yeddyurappa

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The Karnataka High Court on Friday upheld the disqualification of 11 rebel lawmakers of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from the state legislative assembly by Speaker K G Bopaiah.

Justice V G Sabhahit upheld the speaker's Oct 11 decision under part 2(1)(a) of the 10th schedule of the Constitution, pertaining to the antidefection law.

Justice Sabhahit is the third judge who heard the

disqualification case after a division bench of Chief Justice J S Khehar and Justice N Kumar delivered a split verdict on Oct 18.

The speaker disqualified the rebel legislators on an Oct 8 petition of the ruling party after they submitted a letter to state Governor H R Bhardwaj on Oct 6, withdrawing support to the first BJP government and for expressing lack of confidence in the leadership of Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa. Along with the 11 legislators, five Independents were also disqualified on the same grounds after the speaker served show-cause notice on Oct 8 and gave them time till Oct 10 to explain why they should not be disqualified for indulging in anti-party activities.

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24

Asian Voice - Saturday 6th November 2010

Gujarat Chamber supports the demand for Ahmedabad – London direct flight

In divine light

By Rajen Vakil

Diwali, the festival of lighting the inner lamp of wisdom In our last article, we saw that we are bound in the prison of our attitudes, habits, moods, desires, and attachments; the energy that frees us from this prison is called Durga.

The process of creation needed shakti (energy) and this was called ‘Adhya’ shakti or the first energy. This Adhya Shakti then took on three forms, each for a function. These three are called as Mahalaxmi, Mahakali and Mahasaraswati. These three energies are worshipped after navratri; the period towards the new moon. Mahalaxmi is worshipped on ‘Dhanteras’ or the thirteenth day, Mahakali on ‘Kalichaudas’ or the fourteenth day and Mahasaraswati on ‘Diwali’ or the new moon day.

The word Laxmi comes from the Sanskrit ‘laksya’ or aim. The word ‘aks’ means eyes; holistically meaning to set eyes upon a goal.

Through the eyes travels the light of observation, which we call as attention.

Hence, Laxmi means one-pointed attention upon our goal.

She is worshipped on Dhanteras. Here the word ‘dhan’ means wealth. Mahalaxmi being worshipped on the day of Dhanteras means focusing all our attention on the acquisition of ‘dhan’ or wealth; the meaning of dhan changing from person to person. Everyone worships Mahalaxmi for good fortune and prosperity.

Some interpret wealth as money and prosperity, some good fortune; for the spiritual seeker the only meaning of wealth is the experience of the divine. The great saint Meerabai expressed the meaning of the word dhan beautifully in her devotional song “Maine Ramratan dhan payo” translated as “I have acquired the wealth studded with the jewels of the divine.”

The ancient sages were interested in going into the depth of the process of seeing or ‘darshan’. They saw that this process involved three things, the seer, the seen, and the process itself. When we see something we are focused on what we see.

We never ask ourselves what is it that sees, not

as a name, not as a body, but in reality. If, for a moment, we can penetrate to our inner depths and have a feeling of that which is seeing, we experience what is Mahalaxmi, the divine sitting within us.

The next form of energy is Mahakali or the great Time. The word ‘kala’ means time and also means darkness or blackness. When attention, which we called as Mahalaxmi, flows out of the five senses to experience the world, it gives birth to time. For light to reach an object, it takes time; attention being the inner light. When we gaze upon a distant star, we actually see that star as it was many years ago; since it takes time for the light of that star to reach us, which could sometimes be thousands of years. It is this form of Shakti that becomes Durga and battles the demon of negativity over nine days. It is interesting to note that whenever the ancient seers or rishis talk about time, they call it as kali or kala, also meaning black. An important question to ask is ‘Why time is always represented black?’ Is it because there is really nothing like time and we are still bound to it like slaves?

Are they saying that what you are seeing is just a reflection and is reality is the darkness of the energy beyond?

The third form of the original energy that is worshipped on the new moon or the Diwali day is called as Mahasaraswati.

The word ‘saras’ means to flow and the word ‘wati’ means to hold, it also means female.

Mahasaraswati hence, means the one who holds the flow or possesses the flow. Now here lies one of the deepest secrets possible. When anything moves, it moves in time.

Every movement gives rise to a feeling or a sensitivity of that movement.

If we are standing in a flowing river, there is a lovely feeling of the movement of water as it touches our body.

Similarly but at a very subtle level, when light or attention flows out of our eyes on to an object

outside, there is a feeling or sensitivity of this movement of attention or inner light. A student has to work hard on his level of sensitivity for a long period to experience this flow. This attention falls upon an object, which in a certain way is reflecting light; that is it reflects attention and we have the experience of seeing the object. Thus, the process of seeing or ‘darshan’ involves the flowing out of attention and it being reflected back. This flowing out and back in is called as ‘saras’ and the one who has experienced and understood this, is the one who possesses ‘saras’, that is Saraswati. She is depicted as a female because to undergo this experience a deep level of receptivity is required, a characteristic only of a female.

In a nutshell, we experience three different sensitivities, (1) Mahalaxmi or the flow of attention from our eyes to the object, (2) Mahakali, the feeling of time or reflection, (3) Mahasaraswati, the feeling of the flow returning and the experience of the seer within.

With this experience the inner lamp of ‘buddhi’ or wisdom is lit. This is the true symbolism of Diwali or the lighting of lamps.

That is why Mahasaraswati is worshipped on Diwali day.

She is the Goddess of wisdom and learning.

Learning not as in gathering information but that learning which comes from the flow of the fountain of knowledge that lies untapped within all of us.

For the student who has realised this highest knowledge, that of ‘darshan’ or what is seeing and who is the seer within, his life is filled with celebration.

Wherever he goes, his inner light enlightens many others.

With this hope and purpose in mind, on behalf of Asian Voice and all on the spiritual path, we would like to wish all our readers a very Happy Diwali, in the true sense of it.

(Edited by Chintu Gandhi)

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

G u j a r a t Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), the premier body representing trade and industry in the state has assured support for the demand of resumption of Ahmedabad – London direct flight by Air India.

The body has also said it will actively participate in the campaign alongwith other organisations.

GCCI executive director Dr. VV Ramsubba Rao conveyed the support during his meeting with Kamlesh Amin, chief executive director of ABP (India) Pvt. Ltd., the BPO for Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar in Ahmedabad.

Kamlesh Amin visited GCCI and briefed GCCI official about the demand and

feelings of British Gujaratis for the resumption of the direct flight.

Dr. Rao agreed that a direct flight between Ahmedabad and London will also be a boon to Gujarat’s trade and industry. Demand for more direct connectivity to global destinations is only logical as Ahmedabad’s growth story has also been reflected by a reputed business publication like Forbes.

Kamlesh Amin said in days to come, support from more trade and business bodies of Gujarat will also be enlisted for the direct flight campaign.

Traders from across the border – Pakistan last week enjoyed the warm and friendly treatment from their Indian hosts in Chandigarh and were all praise for their Punjabi and Indian hosts.

Confederation of Indian Industries had organized a Chandigarh Fair. 85 companies from Pakistan participated with their offerings ranging from music to cuisines and so on.

Bowled over by the hospitality of Indians, businessmen from Pakistan believe if the trade and business ties grow between the two

countries, it will also help improve the relations between them.

“Whenever we travel to India, we don’t feel that we are in any different country. The feeling which we get here of oneness and being among your own is something we cannot get anywhere else," Kausar Barlas of Pak World Trade and Expo Centre told.

She said that trade and business ties between the two countries should grow and people-to-people contact should be encouraged.

"It will also help in improving relations

Singapore Airlines upgrades plane for Ahmedabad flight Singapore Airlines, one of the premier carriers globally announced upgrading the Ahmedabad – Singapore flight with the introduction of a new A330 300 aircraft to commemorate its 40th anniversary. The new aircraft made its maiden journey to Ahmedabad on Tuesday, 2nd November.

The airline currently operates two flights per week on this sector.

General Manager of Singapore Airlines C W Foo also said the airline will introduce an additional flight every week for the peak season period of December and January.

If demand is found, the flight could be extended.

The airline has 15 aircrafts of A330 300 in its fleet. It has 30 business class and 255 economy class seats.

Pak traders all praise for Punjabis, India between the two neighbours," she opined.

Shahzad Ali from Karachi, said "The people here are very warm and affectionate. I found that citizens are law abiding and well-educated".

Live shows by Pakistani singers and Pak cuisines also regaled the people there.

Chairman of CII Northern Region R M Khanna said, "We are very happy with this huge participation of Pakistan. We share a special bond with them and this event is the perfect platform to promote Punjabiyat of both sides of the borders".

7 Indian Americans in the poll fray Continued from page 1 The 2.8 mn plus strong community has only one candidate – Penssylvania Democrat candidate Manan Trivedi who openly proclaims himself as a Hindu. Though race may not be an important factor, religion still looks to be some sort of obstacle in the path of representing the American electorate.

The five Democrats fighting the polls are – Manan Trivedi from Pennsylvania, Ami Bera from California, Raj Goyle from Kansas, Ravi Sangisetty from Louisiana and Surya Yalamanchili from Ohio.

Bobby Jindal, Republican Governor of Louisiana is a born Hindu and converted to Christianity and Nikki Haley, a born Sikh and a convert following her marriage are the two names well known hitherto.

Nikki (born Nimrata (Nikki) Randhawa to Sikh immigrant parents from Amritsar), is the Republican candidate for Governor of South Carolina, while Kamala Harris, a Democrat is seeking to become California’s next Attorney

General, is a Baptist.

Ami Bera, aiming for the House of Representatives from California, is a Unitarian, while Ravi Sangisetty, from Louisiana, is Catholic.

At one level, observers of these elections have pointed out that this may well reflect the diverse nature of India itself. But, there is also the factor of a Hindu candidate not being as acceptable by the mainstream.

In fact, in 2008, Indian-American Democrat Ashwin Madia, a Jain and an Iraq war veteran, narrowly lost to his Republican rival following jibes that he was “not one of us.”

But the trend also highlights that latest census figures show that when it comes to religious self-identification among adults, the number of those declaring themselves to be Hindus has dropped by nearly a quarter since 2001.

Hedge fund lawyer Reshma Saujani lost in her primary challenge to nineterm Represenative Carolyn Maloney in New York, but has vowed to run again in 2012.

The others face uphill general election bids in districts in California, Kansas, Louisiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Amerish “Ami” Bera, 45, a physican and medical school administrator in California has raised more money than sitting Republican Congressman Dan Lungren. But he still faces a tough race ahead.

Lawyer and State Representative, Raj Goyle, 35, of Wichita, Kansas Raj Goyle is running in an open seat against Republican Mike Pompeo.

Attorney Ravi Sangisetty, 28, of Houma, Louisiana, is running in an open seat against Republican Jeff Landry of New Iberia.

Manan Trivedi, a former Navy surgeon who served in the Iraq war as an officer is giving a tough challenge to four time Representative Jim Gerlach in Pennsylvania’s 6th District.

And Surya Yalamanchili, 28, a Procter & Gamble marketing executive in eastern Cincinnati, is challenging Republican Jean Schmidt seeking her third full term in Congress.

25

Asian Voice - Saturday 6th November 2010

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Pakistan - Africa

IN FOCUS Pak gets three more F-16 jets from US Islamabad: The United States has delivered three more F-16 C/D Block 52 aircraft to Pakistan at its PAF Base, Shahbaz (Jacobabad) on Saturday, and will send two more during the next week. Brigadier General Michael Nagata, Deputy Commander, Office of Defence Representative in Pakistan handed over the aircraft on behalf of the US government to Air Marshal Muhammad Hasan, Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (Operations), the Daily Times reported. In 200506, Pakistan had signed a contract with the US government for the acquisition of 18 F-16 C/D Block 52 aircraft. Under this arrangement, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) would receive these state-of-the-art aircraft from the US in staggered batches. While the first batch of three aircraft arrived in Pakistan in May 2010, the deliveries of the rest of the aircraft would be completed by December 2010. The F-16 C/D aircraft is a high tech fighter aircraft equipped with state-of-the-art avionics suite and latest weapons with Night Precision Attack capability. These aircraft are part of the bid by PAF to modernise and enhance its air defence capabilities.

Japanese consulate vehicle fired at in Karachi

Islamabad: A security guard was injured when unidentified attackers opened fire at a vehicle belonging to the Japanese consulate in Pakistan's port city of Karachi last week when it was returning from a bank, police said. Police officials said that it was 'apparently an incident of car snatching and the attackers managed to run away with $2400 and 27,000 Pakistani rupees', media reports said. 'All three men in the vehicle were Pakistani staff of the consulate,' the officials added.

Pakistan population now 184 mn

Islamabad: The population of Pakistan has gone up to 184 million this year from 119 million in 1990, a report said. The latest report of the State Bank of Pakistan said the country's population has increased to 184 million this year with an annual growth rate of more than two per cent. Pakistan makes up over twoand-a-half per cent of the world's population.

According to the report, the country's contribution towards world's population increased from 2.25 per cent in 1990 to 2.69 per cent in 2010.

Kidnapped Indian woman released in Nigeria

Abuja: An Indian principal of a school run by an oil company, who was kidnapped in Nigeria on October 13, has been released, Xinhua reported. Lakshmi Tombush, a principal of Exxon Mobil Pegasus Schools in Eket city in southeast Nigeria's Akwa Ibom state, was freed on Thursday night, security sources said. She was abducted from her car by unidentified gunmen in Eket, the report said. Tombush manages Pegasus Schools, funded by Mobil Producing Nigeria, for staff children and some members of its host community.

Somali pirates capture 120 Indian sailors

Mogadishu: In the biggest ever hijacking, Somali pirates have taken 120 Indian sailors as hostages after capturing 8 boats. The sailors were on their way from Somalia to Dubai. The relatives of the sailors said that they have appealed to the Indian government for help in securing their release. Meanwhile, sources said that the hijacked Indian vessels have been traced near Seychelles. The sailors belong to the Saurashtra and Kutch regions of Gujarat. They had anchored last in the rebel territory of Kismayo in Somalia where they loaded cargo into their boats. But moments after leaving the port, pirates captured them.

So far, the pirates have not asked for any ransom.

Sources in the Indian Navy have confirmed the news of the hijack and have said efforts are on in full swing to contact the pirates and get the Indians back safely.

Uganda paper restrained from publishing names of gays

Kampala: A judge in Uganda has ordered the local Rolling Stone newspaper to stop publishing the names and photographs of people it says are homosexual. The judge granted a request by gay rights group Sexual Minorities Uganda (Smug). The group says some homosexual people were attacked after a previous issue. Homosexual acts are illegal in Uganda but last year an MP introduced a bill which would mean some gay people could face the death penalty.

Giles Muhame, editor of Rolling Stone paper, said that he would defy the ban. "We will publish more pictures but in a diplomatic way, so that we can dodge the law," he said. He says he is trying to protect Ugandans from those seeking to "recruit children to homosexuality".

On Monday, it published a further 14 names and photographs, after saying last month it would reveal 100 homosexual Ugandans.

Asian Voice - Saturday 6th November 2010

Clerics refuse to issue â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;fatwasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; against terror Islamabad: With fatwas (legal pronouncements in Islam) playing an important role in Muslim countries, it is questionable why most prominent clerics and muftis in Pakistan refuse to issue them against terrorist organisations and suicide bombings, which are responsible for killings of over thousands of innocent Muslims.

"Rehman Malik and the Interior Ministry have tried their best to seek fatwas from influential Deobandi and Ahl-eHadith clerics but they simply refuse to give out fatwas," the Daily Times quoted a top Interior

Ministry official, as saying.

While in Islamabad, under the government's supervision, major Sunni Muslim scholars, academicians, thinkers and political leaders publicly condemned suicide bombings and universally agreed that suicide bombing is anathema, antithetical and abhorrent to Islam, they have shied away so far from issuing any fatwa in this regard.

"Not good enough. They are considered sell-offs the legit clerics would never give out fatwas or even talk openly against suicide bombings because that would ruin there reputation within the respected sect and they can be

killed," an intelligence chief pointed out. It is noteworthy that Mufti Taqiuddin Usmani, the former 'grand mufti' of Pakistan and the vice chairman of the PIC's Islamic Fiqh Council, who has a huge clout over the Deoband sect and even Ahl-e-Hadith seminaries and followers, to this date has not signed the fatwa forbidding suicide attacks in Pakistan despite repeated efforts by the government, the paper said.

He did not come out openly to condemn the recent attacks on Sufi shrines, and even refused to speak on the subject, it added.

An Interior

Ministry official said, "Taqi Usmani is a key man who can save a lot of lives by giving out one single statement." "Even Osama Bin Laden needs fatwas," said a well-informed diplomatic source, adding, after all, it was an operational fatwa issued by an Egyptian leader of the Gama'ah Islamiya, Sheikh Omar Abd al-Rahman that resulted in the assassination of president Sadat and the first attack on the World Trade Centre in 1993. In Pakistan, we have many Sheikh Omar Abd al-Rahmans."

Over 400 people have so far been killed in suicide attacks in Pakistan alone.

Zardari agrees to do more to tackle terror Washington: Days after the US-Pak strategic dialogue, the Presidents of both the nations, during a telephonic conversation, agreed to do more in combating threats posed by terrorists in Pakistan.

US President Barack Obama last week called up his Pakistani counterpart Asif Ali Zardari to discuss the results of the third round of strategic dialogue, held between the two countries in Washington earlier.

"Both President Obama and President Zardari acknowledged that more work needed to

Asif Ali Zardari

be done to address the direct threat to our countries posed by terrorist groups in Pakistan," a White House statement said.

"They also agreed that the US and Pakistan have worked hard to build an

atmosphere of trust and cooperation, and committed to ongoing efforts to build a stronger, strategic, and more collaborative US-Pakistan relationship," the statement said.

Obama emphasised US' commitment and support for democracy and transparency in Pakistan, highlighting Washington and Islamabad share an interest in ensuring democratic traditions in Pakistan are strengthened, it stated.

"He also acknowledged Pakistan's economic difficulties, and encouraged President Zardari to work to pass key economic

reforms, such as tax reform and containing energy subsidies," White House said, adding that Obama concluded the call by conveying his intention to visit Pakistan in 2011 and personally welcomed Zardari to visit the US in the coming year.

The White House said the call was made by Obama to consult with Zardari on the progress made during the recent US-Pakistan strategic dialogue, and to reinforce Washington's commitment to partner with Pakistan on economic, development, and governance priorities.

Mysterious disease hits Uganda Kampala: A disease whose progression and symptoms seem straight out of a horror movie killed at least 20 Ugandans and sickened more than 20,000 in just two months.

Jiggers, small insects which look like fleas, are the culprits in the epidemic which causes parts of the body to rot. They often enter the body through the feet. Once inside a person's body, they suck the blood, grow and breed, multiplying by the hundreds. Affected body parts - buttocks, lips, even eyelids - rot away. James Kakooza, Uganda's minister of state for primary health care, said jiggers

can easily kill young children by sucking their blood and can cause early deaths in grown-ups who have other diseases. Most of those infected, especially the elderly, cannot walk or work.

"It is an epidemic which we are fighting against and I am sure over time we will eradicate the jiggers," Kakooza said.

The insects breed in dirty, dusty places. The medical name for the parasitic disease is tungiasis, which is caused by the female sand fly burrowing into the skin. It exists in parts of Latin America and the Caribbean, besides sub-Saharan Africa.

Kakooza said health workers are telling residents of the 12 affected districts in Uganda that jiggers thrive amid poor hygienic conditions.

"We are also telling them to use medicated soap. They can apply petrol and paraffin in places infested by jiggers and they die," Kakooza said. The most affected part of Uganda is the Busoga region in the east, 150 km from Kampala, Uganda's capital. Some cases have been reported in the central region which has led to fears the whole country might be affected.

Some think jiggers whose scientific name is

Tunga penetrans - were brought to Uganda and other east African countries by migrants from India who constructed the railway from Mombasa, the Kenyan seaport, to Kampala in the 19th century. Others say they came to Africa aboard a British ship that sailed from Brazil.

Some affected people in rural Uganda think they are bewitched and simply wait to die instead of trying to remove the insects.

"It is common to find graves of whole families wiped away by jiggers," said Simon Wanjala, a ministry of health official in eastern Uganda.

Zuma reshuffles cabinet, sacks 7 ministers Pretoria: South African President Jacob Zuma sacked seven ministers on Sunday in a major cabinet reshuffle aimed at strengthening the government and seen as making some concessions to the left.

Zuma told a news conference that the reshuffle the biggest change in the government since he became president in May 2009 - was aimed at boosting government ministries, and improving basic services and the lives of the poor.

"Given the fact that we

still face serious challenges of unemployment, poverty and inequality in the country, government has to work at a faster pace to change the lives of the poor," Zuma said.

The government's leftist allies in labour federation COSATU and the South African Communist Party have piled pressure on Zuma to create more jobs and lift economic growth in Africa's biggest economy.

Relations between the ruling ANC and COSATU have soured over a public sector strike which was

Jacob Zuma

settled in October with a 7.5 percent wage increase -- double that of the rate of inflation.

The government said last week it aimed to create 5 million jobs over the next decade.

The change was one of

the most radical overhauls of the South African cabinet in several years and some of the changes could be due to Zuma making a concession to his leftist labour and communist allies, said Nel Marais, analyst at Executive Research Associates.

He cited the replacement of Public Enterprises Minister Barbara Hogan responsible for state entities like power utility Eskom and rail and logistics group Transnet - who has been criticised by labour federation COSATU.

Asian Voice - Saturday 6th November 2010

27

28

UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 6th November 2010

On the eve of the auspicious festival of Diwali CB Live will present two very interesting group of people. Rikhil Raithatha, a 15 years old student of the Swaminarayan Hindu School will present his perception of Diwali and render relevant songs, prayers and play instrumental music.

Dhruv Patel, Pratik Dattani and Bijna Dasani, young professionals in the city and City Hindu Network shall exchange their thoughts and perceptions of Diwali.

Sneh Joshi - 020 8518 5500

If you do not have a tv, go to www.tvunetworks.com and watch CB Live on TVU Player Channel 75203

To ask questions please call on: 020 8963 1001

Don't miss !!!

For more information e-mail: cblive_matv@yahoo.co.uk

Only on CB Live - MATV Sky 793 - Thursday 7:00pm to 8:00pm

O2 and Zee TV launches Indian Soap Star O2 is in hunt of a soapstar to have a speaking part in the international award winning Zee TV show Pavitra Rishta that has over 60 million viewers across the globe while celebrating the launch of its new international calling tariff International Favorites.

With this scheme O2 is now providing 3,000 international minutes jut for 10.

O2’s Indian Soap Star audition teams will be touring the UK starting in Glasgow, Manchester and Brent Cross on the 11

November, followed by Birmingham, Leicester, Slough and Croydon.

There will be a regional winner from each location, and judges representing Zee TV and O2 will decide the winner in December. The winner will not only get a shot at stardum but also a totally paid round trip to India.

Farm producing the most expensive milk opens at Temple At £3 a litre, this is the most expensive milk in the UK. However, demand is already outstripping supply. Hailed as a blue-print for the future of farming, the cows at the New Gokul project have been described as living in the “Hilton of farms”.

The care received by the 44 cows and bulls, mostly dairy Short Horns and Meuse-Rhine-Yssel is unparalleled . For example, relaxing music is played to the cows as they are hand-milked, and they are allowed to live their full natural life-span.

“This premium milk will offer consumers the chance to avoid buying from an industry which is based around slaughter

and suffering, and instead buy from a fresh, new and compassionate alternative,” said Sita Rama das, Director of the Lotus Trust.

The milk has been commercially branded Ahimsa Milk, meaning milk produced without harm to any living being.

On Saturday 6th November, from 10am, the opening of a £2.5 million fully sustainable farm project will be performed by thirty saffron clad priests who will be chanting 5000 year old Vedic mantras . New Gokul, a farm on which no animal will be killed or harmed, stands as an iconic venture which protects both the animals and the environment.

Editor: CB Patel Associate Editor: Rupanjana Dutta Tel: 020 7749 4098 - Email: rupanjana.dutta@abplgroup.com Senior News Editor: Dhiren Katwa 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 Advertising Managers: Alka Shah Tel: 020 7749 4002 - Mobile: 07944 151 893 Email: alka.shah@abplgroup.com Kishor Parmar Tel: 020 7749 4095 - Mobile: 07875 229 088 Email: kishor.parmar@abplgroup.com Advertising Sales Executive: Rovin John Goerge - Email: rovin.george@abplgroup.com Tel: 020 7749 4097 - Mobile: 07875 229 219 Business Development Managers: Urja Patel - Email: urja.patel@abplgroup.com Liji George Tel: 020 7749 4013 - Email: george@abplgroup.com Nikhil Gor - Email: nikhil.gor@abplgroup.com Tel: 020 7749 4009 - Mobile: 07875 229 200 Design and Layout: Harish Dahya & Ajay Kumar Tel: 020 7749 4086 Email: graphics@abplgroup.com Customer Service: Saroj Patel Tel: 020 7749 4080 - Email: support@abplgroup.com (BPO) AB Publication (India) Pvt. Ltd. 207 Shalibhadra Complex, Opp. Jain Derasar, Nr. Nehru Nagar Circle, Ambawadi, Ahmedabad Tel: +9179 2646 Fax: +9179 6061 Chief Executive Director: Kamlesh Amin Tel: +91 922 710 4308

The focus is on finances this week, but that doesn’t mean you should worry yourself sick.

Rather, it is about finding new and improved ways to boost your earnings potential. Don’t let nebulous tendencies interfere with your plans. It’s fine to consider several options but don’t get caught up in indecision.

Schedule networking opportunities later this week.

ARIES Mar 21 - Apr 20

Coming Events l Mon 8th Nov 6:30pm. The Dance of Life and the Kaleidoscope of time, India Russell l Tuesday 9 Nov, 6:15pm Five crores and fifty lakhs by Vish Vishvanath l Wed 10th Nov, 6:30pm Travels in Kashmir- Henry Dalal l Thu 11 Nov, 6:30pm, The Dance of Shiva- Shashikala Ravi l Fri 12 Nov, 6:30pm, The Journal of Health and happiness- Vijay Rana l Sun 14 Nov, 2pm, Children's Fun Day- Din Chaudry and Vera Loewengart l Mon 15 Nov, 6:30, Book Launch/Discussion: Diversity and Change in Modern IndiaAnthony F Heath & Roger Jeffrey l Tue 16 Nov, 7pm santoor and tabla: Sadhana Nehru Centre, 8 South Audley Street, London W1K 1HF, Contact: 020 7491 3567 l Lions Club of London Kingsbury organising Kal Ki Yaadein Live Music by Bankim Pathak Anila & Daksha Gohil on 14th November 2010 at Premier House Banqueting , Harrow .

Contact Nick Parmar 07956 224 932, l The riveting story of World War II heroine, Noor Inayat Khan -- the “Spy Princess” will be told by her biographer Shrabani Basu to mark Remembrance Day at Trinity College, Cambridge.

Thursday 11 Nov, 6:30pm.

Winstanley Lecture Theatre, Contact: John Marais 01223 338 488

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You can expect everything to run smoothly and luck to attend your efforts. However, underneath this positive surface you may be plagued by a feeling of restlessness, an uneasy feeling that something is not quite right. Try to srike a balance between material and emotional affairs !

TAURUS Apr 21 - May 21

GEMINI May 22 - June 22 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.

Long-term partnerships are reinvigorated.

Whether you’re single or attached you’ll have a busy time ahead of you. Business partnerships are tested and the more you live up to your own set of principles the more cash you’ll pull in. At work you will experience a relaxed atmosphere and this will promote unity.

CANCER Jun 22 - Jul 22

This promises to be very romantic week where some of you might even tie the knot with your loved one.

This is a good time to buy or sell property or to renovate existing ones. The atmosphere at home will be calm and amiable with everyone at their best behaviour. Time to join the gym and start a new fitness regime.

LEO Jul 23 - Aug 23

VIRGO Aug 24 - Sep 23 Your communication sector is all-abuzz with planetary energies firing you up preventing you from sleeping properly. Give yourself plenty of physical outlets to drain off some of the excess mental stimulation. You should try to settle into a more grounded and steady routine instead of letting your schedule run you.

Your horizons are most certainly expanding. Your philosophical thoughts will make your mind run wild.

With Jupiter transiting your work sector, there will be many opportunities. Your financial affairs are looking up. Do not miss out on ways to better yourself in the coming weeks.

LIBRA Sep 24 - Oct 23

SCORPIO Oct 24- Nov 22 Jupiter, the planet of abundance, is transiting your solar 5th house. You have plenty of romantic options. Financially you are still not out of the woods, so do not be hasty when buying At work you will experience a relaxed atmosphere and this will help you to get on with everyone around you.

SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 - Dec 21 At home, be at your diplomatic best and try not to tread on anyone's toes. Passions will run from hot to cold, and relationships may suffer.

Even the most strong-willed Sagittarians will be more open to compromise to keep the peace. Plan your spending and set sensible budgets to reach your financial goals.

CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan 20 With Jupiter riding high in your 11th house leisure and creativity, you should enjoy a very popular phase in your life where everyone wants to invite you to parties. This will give you a chance to meet people of your own calibre and pursue any romantic liaisons that might present themselves.

AQUARIUS Jan 21 - Feb 19 Much enthusiasm goes into professional ambitions right now, but you need to be your own boss in many ways. Circumstances will make you more determined to place your lifestyle on a foundation of greater security. Far-reaching change begins to gather momentum.

PISCES Feb 20 - Mar 20 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.

TIME

Asian Voice - Saturday 6th November 2010

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SCRAMBLE - 67 How to play

Now arrange the letters in the circles to form the answer to the riddle or to fill in the missing word as indicated

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Solution of Crossword-111

Rearrange the letters in the four word jumbles, one letter to each square/circle, to make four ordinary words CERED URGES

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The end of labor is to gain _______. - Aristotle (7) Solution of Scramble - 66 Words: Races, ruler, button, mutiny.

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SPELLATHON -112

as a market researcher, he dhepherds his flocks in the ways of utility and comfort.

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Today’s Ratings: 05-average | 06-good | 07-outstanding How many words of four or more letters can you make from the letters shown in L today’s puzzle? In making a word, each N O letter may be used once only. Each word must contain the central letter. There G G G should be at least one seven-letter word.

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WHATZIT? - 112 Find the familiar phrase, saying or name in this arrangement of letters.

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LOOP THE LOOP - 67 Rules Connect adjacent dots with vertical or horizontal lines, creating a single loop.

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DIWALI COMING EVENTS

Asian Voice - Saturday 6th November 2010

Dhanteras - Dhan Pujan (worship of wealth) on Wednesday, 3/11/2010 Kalichaudas – Thursday, 4/11/2010 Diwali – Sharda Pujan (Worshop of Goddess Sharda) on Friday, 5/11/2010 New Year – Saturday, 6/11/2010

Shri Navyug Jain Pragati Mandal UK has organised a New Year Get-together on Sunday 7/11 from 8 to 10 pm at St. Mathius Church Hall, Rasgrow Avenue, Colindale NW9 6QY. Contact: 020 8202 0469.

BAPS Diwali celebration programmes: Neasden – 105-119, Brentfield Road, London NW10 8LD. Chopda Pujan (worship of Accounts books) on Diwali day – 5/11 at 6.00 pm and fireworks at 8.45 pm. Annkut Darshan on Saturday, 6/11 from 12 noon to 9.00 pm. Rajbhog Aarti at 12 noon and later at every hourly interval till 9.00 pm.

For security reasons, bags and cameras not allowed inside the temple premises.

Free parking facilities arranged at Wembley Stadium Green Car Park.

Special shuttle bus services from there to the temple; also from Neasden Station to the temple special Diwali bus services will be available. Regular services of bus no.

206 and PR2 are also available.

Programmes at other BAPS temples are – Ashton: Saturday, 6/11 from 12 noon to 7.00 pm; Birmingham: Saturday, 6/11 from 12 noon to 8.00 pm; Coventry: Saturday, 6/11 from 12 noon to 6.00 pm; Havent: Sunday, 7/11 from 4.00 to 7.00 pm; Leicester: Sunday, 7/11 from 12.30 to 7.30 pm; Loughborough: Saturday, 6/11 from 12 noon to 6.00 pm; Luton: Saturday, 6/11 from 12 noon to 7.00 pm; Nottingham: Saturday, 6/11 from 1.00 to 9.00 pm; Preston: Saturday, 6/11 from 10.30 am to 6.30 pm; Southend On Sea: Saturday, 6/11 from 12 noon to 7.00 pm and Wellingborough: Saturday, 6/11 from 11.00 am to 7.00 pm.

For more information and timings, please visit the website: www.mandir.org or contact phone no. 020 8965 2651.

Various programmes by Shri Jalaram Prarthana Mandal, Narborough Road, Leicester LE3 0LF. Friday, 5/11 Evening Aarti and thereafter group Chopda Pujan. Annkut Darshan on Saturday, 6/11 from 6 am to 12.30 pm.

Annkut Prasad after Aarti. Contact: 0116 254 0117.

Shri Swaminarayan Temple ISSO programmes: Willsden Shri Swaminarayan Temple, 220-222, Willsden Lane: Hanuman Pujan on Kalichaudas – Friday, 5/11 at 7 pm and Laxmi Pujan at 7.30 pm. Annkut Darshan on Saturday, 6/11 from 8.00 am to 7.00 pm, Aarti at 11.00 am and Mahaprasad thereafter. New year and Bhai Bij Aarti on Sunday, 7/11 at 9.30 am and 4.30 pm.

Bolton Shri Kutch Satsang Swaminarayan Temple programmes: Hanuman Pujan on Kalichaudas – Friday, 5/11 at 6.30 pm and Laxmi Pujan at 7.30, fireworks at 8.00 pm. Annkut Aarti – Saturday, 6.11 at 10.30 am and Mahaprasad after 12 noon. New Year Aarti – Sunday, 7/11 at 9.15 am and 5.30 pm.

East London Shri Kutch Satsang Swaminarayan Temple programmes: Hanuman Pujan on Kalichaudas – Friday, 5/11 at 7.00 pm and Laxmi Pujan at 8.00, fireworks from 8.00 to 9.00 pm. Annkut Aarti – Saturday, 6.11 from 8.00 am to 8.00 pm. New Year Aarti – Sunday, 7/11 at 9.00 am and 6.00 pm.

Cardiff Shri Swaminarayan Temple programmes: Hanuman Pujan and Laxmi Pujan on Kalichaudas – Friday, 5/11 at 7.00 pm.

Annkut Aarti – Saturday, 6.11 at 11 am and 12 noon as well as at 5.30 pm.

Mahaprasad at 12.30 noon. Raas for Ladies at 4.00 pm , Annkut Prasad at 7.00 pm and Fireworks at 8.00 pm. New Year Aarti – Sunday, 7/11 at 6.30 am and 6.00 pm.

Harrow Shri Kutch Satsang Swaminarayan Temple programmes:

Hanuman Pujan on Kalichaudas – Friday, 5/11 at 7.30 pm and Laxmi Pujan from 7 to 8 pm. Annkut Aarti – Saturday, 6.11 at 11.00 am and every hour till 4.00 pm.

New Year Aarti – Sunday, 7/11 at 9.30 am and 5 pm.

Stanmore Shri Swaminarayan Temple, Dharma Bhakti Manor, Wood lane, HA7 4LF. Programmes: Hanuman Pujan on Kalichaudas – Friday, 5/11 at 7.30 pm and Laxmi Pujan at 8.00 pm, Maha Aarti at 8.30 pm and fireworks at 9.00 pm.

Annkut Darshan on Saturday, 6/11 from 8.00 am to 7.00 pm. First Aarti at 8 am thereafter every hour till 7.00 pm. New Year Aarti – Sunday, 7/11 at 9.30 am and 6.30 pm.

South East London Shri Kutch Satsang Swaminarayan Temple. For programmes, contact the temple.

Gurjar Hindu Union, Sanatan Temple, Ifield Avenue, Crawley. Chopda Pujan on Friday, 5/11 from 8 to 9.30 pm. Contact Chandubhai on 01293 519 130. A special Diwali Extravaganza show organised on Saturday, 13/11 for invitees only, at The Hoth Theatre, Hoth Avenue, Crawley RH10 6YZ from 6.30 to 10 pm. Contact: 07833 252 551.

Anupam Mission, Brahm Jyoti, The Lee, Western Avenue, Denham UB9 4NA. Wednesday, 3/11 from 7 to 8.30 pm Laxmi Pujan. Friday, 5/11 Sharda Pujan from 7 to 8.30 pm. New Year Meet on Saturday, 6/11 from 5 to 7 pm. AnnKut Darshan and Bhai Beej Meet on Sunday, 7/11 from 11 am to 1 pm. First AnnKut Thal and Aarti on Sunday at 1 pm and thereafter every half an hour, till 4 pm.

Mahaprasad on all days. Contact: 01895 832 709.

Bhakti Vedant Manor. AnnKut Darshan on Saturday, 6/11 at 7.30 pm.

Sunday, 7/11 Entertainment programme at 2.00 pm, Fireworks and AnnKut at 6.30 pm. Contact: 01923 851 003.

Gujarat Hindu Society at South Madolane, Preston PR1 8JN. Dhan Pujan on Dhan Teras, Wednesday, 3/11 at 8.30 am and 8.30 pm. Chopda Pujan and Fireworks on Friday, 5/11 at 8.45 pm. Contact: 01772 253 901.

Oldham Shri Swaminarayan Temple programmes: Aarti daily at 9.15 am and 5.30 pm.

Hanuman Aarti on Kalichaudas – Friday, 5/11 at 6.30 pm and Laxmi Pujan at 7.30, fireworks at 8.00 pm. Annkut Aarti – Saturday, 6/11 first at 9.15 am, Annkut Aarti at 10.30 am and Mahaprasad after 12 noon.

Leicester Shri Swaminarayan Temple programmes: Hanuman Pujan on Kalichaudas – Thursday, 4/11 from 6 to 8 pm. Laxmi Pujan, Chhopda Pujan - Friday, 5.11 at 8 pm. Annkut – Saturday, 6/11 from 12 noon to 7 pm. Satsang Sabha 5 to 7 pm.

Mahaprasad after 7 pm. New Year Darshan – Sunday, 7/11 from 6 am through – whole day.

Stratdham Shri Swaminarayan Temple, 72 Colmer Road, SW16 5JZ. Programmes: Hanuman Pujan on Kalichaudas – Thursday, 4/11 and Sharda Pujan on Diwali, Friday, 5/11 at 7.30. Annkut Darshan – Saturday, 6/11 from 10 am to 8 pm. First Aarti at 10 am and next at 8 pm. New Year on Sunday, 7/11.

Crawley – Gatwick Shri Satsang Swaminarayan Temple programmes: Hanuman Pujan on Kalichaudas – Thursday, 4/11 at 7 pm. Sharda Pujan on Diwali – Friday, 5/11 at 7.30 pm. Annkut Darshan – Saturday, 6/11 – First Aarti at 10 am and every hour thereafter till 8 pm. New Year on Sunday, 7/11.

Shri Ram Temple, Hillyard Road, Leicester LE4 5 GG. Chopda Pujan on Friday, 5/11 at Tilda Hall. AnnKut Darshan on New Year, Saturday, 6/11 at 3 pm, AnnKut Aarti at 5 pm. Contact: 0116 266 4642.

Om Shakti Day Centre has organised various programmes as a part of the Grand Diwali Party on 10/11 at the Bayran Hall of Harrow Laser Centre.

Programmes include a short laughter yoga, Ras Garba, Drama and Dance, Three course lunch, cookery competition and Aarti Competition, Rafael Draw.

Various stalls will be set up. Contact: Ranjanben Manek 07930 335 978.

Chak-89 Restaurant and Banqueting, Micham has organised a Diwali Dinner and Dance Party on Saturday, 6/11 from 6.30 pm. Bollywood, Garba, Bhangada, Three Course Meal, Cash Bar and Mood Lighting, Rafael Draw included. For table booking, contact: 020 8646 2177, email:info@chak89.com and ww.chak89.com.

UK Pushtimargiya Mahila Samaj has organised Bhai Beej celebrations on Saturday, 13/11 from 1 to 4 pm at St. Stephen Church Hall, 11 Warwick Road, Thornton Heath, Surrey CR7 7 HH. Coach arrangement from Kingsbury. Contact: Hansaben Patel 020 8660 9650.

Redbridge Asian Mandal has organised Diwali Utsav celebrations at Praba Banqueting Suits, 300-310 High Road,

Illford IG1 10W on 12/11 from 12.30 noon to 5.30 pm, for invitees only.

Contact: Shri Magudia 020 8590 9834.

Lohana Community of Coventry has organised Diwali and New Year celebrations at Welcome Banqueting Suits and Conference Hall, 30 Chromwell Street, FallsHill, Coventry CV6 5EZ on Saturday, 20/11 from 7 pm. Live music, DJ and Vegetarian meals. Contact: Prakash Modi 024 7641 4368.

Shri Jalaram Temple, Greenford Diwali programmes at 39-45 Oldfield Lane, UB6 9LB: Chopda Pujan and Aarti on Friday, 5/11 from 8 to 11 pm, AnnKut Darshan and New Year celebrations on Saturday, 6/11. Contact: 020 8578 8088.

Shri Jalaram Jyot and Lohana Mahajan Vadi has organised Diwali and New Year celebrations at Rapton Avenue, Sadbury HA0 3DW: Chopda Pujan on Diwali day, Friday, 5/11 from 8 to 10.30 pm, Prasadi from 6 to 8.30 pm. AnnKut on Saturday, 6/11 from 2 to 9 pm. First AnnKut Aarti at 2 pm, thereafter at 4.30 and 6.30 pm. Prasad at 6 pm. Contact: Kirit Vinda 07931 711 986.

Chaklasi Association UK has organised Diwali meet at Sattavis Patidar Centre, Forty Avenue, Wembley HA9 9PG on Saturday, 6/11. Songs, Music and Entertainment programmes included. All Chaklasi natives and married sisters, daughter are invited with their families.

Contact: Yashwantbhai 07973 408 096.

Shri Jalaram Seva Trust – Shri Jalaram Jhupadi, Hounslow has organised various Diwali programmes: Thursday, 4/11 on Kalichaudas 108 Hanuman chalisa from 11 am to 5 pm, Friday 5/11 on Diwali Sharda Pujan from 7 to 8 pm, Sunday, 7/11 New Year AnnKut Darshan and Wednesday, 10/11 Labh Pancham celebrations. Contact: 020 8569 5710.

Shri Swaminarayan Temple, 847 Finchley Road, Golders Green, NW11 8LX has organised various Diwali programmes. Friday, 5/11 Diwali Utsav from 7.30 pm to 9 pm. Saturday, 6/11 Sadguru Din and AnnKut Utsav from 8 am to 8 pm. Sunday, 7/11 from 5 to 7 pm New Year celebrations. Contact: 020 8458 4356.

City Pavilion has organised a grand dinner-dance programme for Diwali celebrations on Saturday, 6/11 from 7 pm to latenight. Veg and Non-veg three course dinner and live Bollywood music enjoyment. Special Diwali menu, Veg and Non-veg items prepared at different kitchens. Bar facility for drinks. Venue: City Pavilion, Colliers Row Road, Colliers Row, Romford, RM5 2BH. Contact: 020 8924 4000.

BrahmBandhu (UK) Trust has organised 40th Diwali meet on Saturday, 13/11 at 7 pm. Venue: Wandzworth Civic Suit.

Contact: Paresh Mehta 020 8241 0635 or 07411 585 662.

SPORT WORLD

Asian Voice - Saturday 6th November 2010

Sachin bags People’s Choice Asian Award in London AR Rahman, Big B, Ratan Tata, Vijay Mallya among a host of leaders honoured with ‘Lebara’ Awards The cricketing icon from India who has a global following, Sachin Tendulkar bagged the People’s Choice honour at the Lebara Asian Awards last week. A host of other Indian leaders in various fields were among the list of those honoured at a function at Grosvenor House Hotel.

Presenting the award to the iconic batsman, Ratheesan Yoganathan, CEO Lebara, said, “Tendulkar is one of the greatest cricketers of all time. Sachin is a hero and a role model to many young Indians. His skill on the pitch is remarkable, but his influence goes beyond just cricket — he has become an inspiration

Sachin Tandulkar receives the Award in London

for future generations.”

Tendulkar said getting popular choice awards is the ultimate honour. “To receive an accolade from your peers is one thing, but to receive acknowledg-

ment from the public is the ultimate honour.

Thank you to all those who voted for me,” he said.

The Asian Awards 2010 were presented by Lord Sebastian Coe, saw leaders in business, sports and the arts in attendance, including Yash Chopra, A R Rahman and Vijay Mallya alongside guests Jermaine Jackson, Nasser Hussain OBE, Gurinder Chadha, Christian Louboutin and singer Sonu Nigam.

Rahman won the award for outstanding achievement in music, while Yash Chopra received the outstanding achievement award in cin-

ema. Vijay Mallya was chosen as the ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ while telecom giant BhartiAirtel owner Sunil Mittal was named the ‘Philanthropist of the Year’. Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan got the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’.

Other recipients of the awards were: Ratan Tata (Business Leader of the Year), Zarin Patel (Public Servant of the Year), Prof.

Muhammad Yunus (Social Entrepreneur of the Year), Abu Jani & Sandeep Khosla (outstanding achievement in arts and design), George Alagiah OBE (outstanding achievement in television).

BCCI gives more time to Kochi The franchise to respond by 26 November

A meeting of the BCCI at Nagpur on Wednesday last week decided to serve a show cause notice to the IPL’s new franchise of Kochi, seeking their response as to why should the franchise not be terminated.

While cricket circles and even the Kochi members feel this a reprieve or breather for them, there is another view that BCCI has not given the franchise any extra time to solve their ownership issues, but taken a step further towards scrapping the deal with Rendezvous Sports.

The Kochi franchise has been in

the eye of the IPL storm that ultimate blew away Lalit Modi, the high flying former IPL Commissioner and two of the eight teams – Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab over ownership mess.

The Kochi controversy also dragged maestro Sunil Gavasker, as one of the members of the consortium said they will rope in Sunny as the franchise’s cricketing head.

Gavasker though clarified that till date, he did not have any stake in the team and will decide on association with them only after the BCCI

OZ mission pays for vandalism at CWG village Though authorities from the country denied it was vandalism in reaction to loss of their cricket team against India, the Australian mission in India recently paid damages for the losses caused by the actions of their athletes at the Commonwealth Games Village in New Delhi last month.

OZ athletes reportedly threw down a washing machine from their seventh floor apartment at the village after their cricket team lost the test series to India 2 – 0. The

alcohol-fuelled vandalism could have taken a fatal turn if the machine had struck someone and led to condemnation of the behaviour of Aussie athletes concerned though no formal complaint was lodged. The amount paid covers the cost of the washing machine. No fine was imposed.

Australian squad were involved in at least two other incidents of overly boisterous behaviour in the dining area and on one occasion were led away by their managers.

finally decides about Kochi’s fate.

Meanwhile, even as the case filed

by Rajasthan Royals before the Mumbai High Court was adjourned for second week this month, the other scrapped IPL franchise of Kings XI Punjab has also decided to give a legal fight against the BCCI decision of termination of the franchise.

The BCCI has also indicated that in case Kochi consortium doesn’t pass the test, they have alternative plans in place to ensure that IPL part 4 has atleast 8 teams.

Hyderabad’s sensational record of collapse in Ranji Trophy Rajasthan debutant Deepak sends the team packing in just 21 runs

For Deepak Chahar, the rookie pacer from Rajasthan, it was a sensational debut in the Ranji Trophy on Monday this week. Hyderabad, the team with big names like Azharuddin and VVS Laxman associated was demolished in less than 80 minutes and in just 93 balls, a new record for the lowest score in Ranji Trophy.

None of the Hyderabad batsmen could reached in double figures, while Deepak had a fantastic debut figures of 7.3 overs, 2 maidens, 10 runs and 8

wickets. He missed to better or equal the best Ranji Trophy debut record, which stands in the name of Vasant Ranjane from Mahrashtra.

Vasant’s record is of 9 wickets for 56 runs. It was more momentous as Monday was the opening day of the Ranji Trophy 2010-11 season.

The son of a retired air force man, Deepak has proved the selectors correct who spotted him in the Under-16 championships and chose for Ranji from the Under-19s team for which he has been playing for 4-5 years now.

Sachin’s bat earns `4.2mn at a sports auction Abhinav Bindra gave his Olympic gold winning rifle for charity Sachin Tendulkar’s bat topped the bids at a sports memorabilia auction in Mumbai last week, while India’s first individual Olympic gold medal winner rifle of Abhinav Bindra and Rahul Dravid’s bat were at the second spot, bringing in Rs. 2 million each. The auction was organised to help mobilise funds for actor Rahul Bose sponsored charity NGO, ‘The Foundation.

The glittering sports auction saw personal items donated by 25 top

sportspersons from the country and overseas go under the hammer.

The bat signed by all team members of the 1983 World Cup winning team and donated by former India skipper Sunil Gavaskar went under the hammer for Rs 1.75 mn.

Anil Kumble's jersey which he wore when he equalled Jim Laker's tenwicket in a Test innings record against Pakistan in New Delhi in 1999, and his Test cap that he wore between 2004 and 2006 went for Rs 1.15 mn.

Abhinav Bindra

Among the other items auctioned off were Swiss tennis legend Roger Federer's shoes, a bat donated by 1983 World

Cup winning skipper Kapil Dev with the autographs of all the team members and sports gear donated by Indian top racquet sports exponents - Shuttler Saina Nehwal and tennis player Sania Mirza. Doners Dravid, Kumble, tennis ace Leander Paes, national football captain Bhaichung Bhutia, 1974 hockey World Cup winning skipper Ajit Pal Singh, former hockey captain Viren Rasquinha and Bindra were present at the auction last night.

31

Zimbabwe cricket team gets Reebok as sponsors Sports goods maker Reebok has struck a deal with Zimbabwe Cricket to sponsor the national team and domestic league for three years. The deal is worth US$ 1 mn plus kit. Reebok has also signed kit deals with the Sri Lankan and the South African cricket teams.

The sponsorship deal augurs well as Zimbabwe is bidding its re-entry into the test playing club of the ICC. Zimbabwe Cricket has drawn up plans to renovate two of the main venues – Harare and Mutare Sports Club.

Zimbabwe Cricket has announced a US$1 millionplus kit sponsorship deal with sports goods manufacturer Reebok.

Saina Nehwal shines off the courts too Her glitter is now worth `10mn per deal Saina Nehwal, the hard working Indian badminton star is predictably the most popular sporting icon of the country after Sachin Tendlukar. Her recent conquests of three super series titles and the CWG gold have helped her climb the popularity ladder among sports fans. Her brand value has gone up tremendously, as she has signed endorsement deals worth Rs. Saina Nehwal 10 million per advertiser.

Only a few other cricketers like Dhoni and Sehwag are now worth more per deal than Saina, while the earlier star Sania Mirza is losing due to her poor performances and also partially to her marriage to Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik. While the badminton star used to command just around Rs. 1.5 mn around a year ago, it is now Sania Mirza being offered about Rs. 2.5 mn, down considerably.

Makhaya Ntini hangs his boot Will play last T20 for SA against India Veteran pacer Makhaya Ntini, the first black player to play cricket for South Africa has announced his retirement from international cricket. His decision come in with immediate effect, but has said he will play his last game in January, the T20 international at home against India. He will though continue to play for his province. The 33 year old is an inspiration for South Africans and the only one from his country to have captured a 10 wicket haul at Lords.

The 33-year-old Ntini, who last represented his country in December 2009, said "Today is the day that nobody wants to happen in their careers and say goodbye to cricket."

Cricket South Africa insisted Ntini "will say goodbye in Proteas colors" in a sendoff game.

Ntini played 101 tests and 173 ODIs in an 11-year international career. He leaves as South Africa's second highest wicket-taker in Tests with 390. He also holds the best bowling record for South Africa – 13 wickets for 132 runs against West Indies at Port of Spain, Trinadad in 2005.

EPL games this week

Saturday, 6 November Bolton v/s Tottenham Reebok Stadium Birmingham v/s West Ham St. Andrews Ground Blackburn v/s Wigan Ewood Park Blackpool v/s Everton Bloomfield Road Fulham v/s Aston Villa Craven Cottage Man Utd v/s Wolverhampton Old Trafford Sunderland v/s Stoke Stadium of Light Sunday, 7 November Arsenal v/s Newcastle Emirates Stadium West Brom v/s Man City The Hawthorns Liverpool v/s Chelsea Anfield Tuesday, 9 November Stoke v/s Birmingham Britannia Stadium Tottenham v/s Sunderland White Hart Land Wednesday, 10 November Aston Villa v/s Blackpool Villa Park Chelsea v/s Fulham Stamford Bridge Newcastle v/s Blackburn St. James Park West Ham v/s West Brom Boleyn Ground Wigan v/s Liverpool D W Stadium Everton v/s Bolton Goodison Park Man City v/s Man Utd City of Mcr. Stadium Wolverhampton v/s Arsenal Molineux

12:45 15:00 15:00 15:00 5:00 15:00 15:00 13:30 15:00 16:00 19:45 20:00 19:45 19:45 19:45 19:45 19:45 20:00 20:00 20:00

32

Asian Voice - Saturday 6th November 2010

Lanka crush OZ in T20

On Sunday, Australia’s woes continued after their painful India tour as Sri Lanka beat the home team with utter dominance in the only T20 of the series.

The Lankans achieved the target of 134 runs with more than 3 overs to spare, losing jut 3 wickets.

Tillakaratne Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara thrust the tourists to a commanding seven-wicket victory after the hosts’ bowlers were treated with disdain. First, the Sri Lankans overwhelmed the home team with a stunning bowling display.

Australians were reduced to 5 for 43 in the 11th over, yet they could manage to reach 8 for 133.

But, the explosive Lankan batting made the target look rather easy.

Dilshan guided the small chase with 41 off 34 balls while skipper Sangakkara registered a delightful 44 off 43. This

Sri Lankans pose with the KFC Trophy after beating Australia

was the fourth successive defeat for the home team in T20s.

Jayawardene and Dilshan raced to 35 in the fourth over and Dilshan kept up the pace when Jayawardene went for 24 off 16. Sangakkara joined Dilshan and they were rarely troubled as scored boundaries at will. Dilshan and Sangakkara thumped six each as the pair enjoyed tormenting the inexperi-

enced attack. Thisara Perera then arrived to finish the game off by thrashing Smith for a six, a four and another six over longon to finish the match.

Brad Haddin and Smith took charge of Australia’s rescue effort and put on a much-needed 66 in 7.2 overs. Haddin, playing his first international since the World T20 in May, scored 35 off 30 balls.

However Suraj Randiv

dismissed Haddin and Smith in the same over to cut short the Australian revival. Sri Lanka's attack was brilliant as it dominated on a surface offering some helpful bounce.

Randiv was impressive with 3 for 25 off his four overs. {Brief scores: SL 3 for 135 (Sangakkara 44*, Dilshan 41) beat OZ 8 for 133 (Haddin 35, Randiv 3-25) by 7 wickets}.

IPL replica announced in Australia Reports suggest two Indian corporates keen for a stake Mehta owns businesses in India and Africa, has wedded to Juhi Chawla, a Bollywood starlet.

Adani group is also keen buying a port in Australia.

'It will be an eightteam competition, six of which will be coming out of the cities that our current state teams play in.

They will be city-based

vate investment into these teams and taken a view that the board is amenable to that situation.

'It will, over the coming months, consider the terms under which that private investment may take place but the Board is certainly open to that.

At the moment our plans are for the competition to

8 teams to compete the Big Bash League T20 teams, not state-based teams and that will in turn be a real change in format. The two additional teams and the venues at which those two teams play will be decided in due course as we work through the process,' said Sutherland.

'The competition will be owned, controlled and managed by Cricket Australia.

Sutherland said the Board has also considered the position of pri-

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Cricket Australia has announced the launching of Big Bash League, a T20 competition very much on the lines of cash rich IPL that has already proved a hit globally.

CA chief executive officer James Sutherland said the league is to be launched in the 2011-12 season. While he said CA was open to private stake in teams, reports in Indian and Australian media have suggested that atleast two of Indian corporates already linked to the game are keen for a stake.

One is Gujarat based Adani group which is associated with Gujarat Cricket Association for more than a decade now.

The group had also participated in the bids for new IPL teams, though it could not succeed. The second name figured is that of Jay Mehta, who also has a stake in the KKR team in partnership with Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan. Jay

be played through the prime competition summer period in December and January. There are various models that we have talked about that could see an expansion of that competition over a longer period but in the short-term it will be played over a five to sixweek period through December, January and perhaps creeping into February in some years,' he said.

'Perhaps, in three,

four or five years' time expanding from an eightteam competition to a 10team competition. There are various models (for private ownership) on the table in terms of how that might work but the considerations and detail that needs to be worked through is quite considerable and complex in order to make sure it works for everyone,' he said.

Sutherland also said that the league will not be a competitor of the IPL (in terms of player earnings) and certainly the revenues that the Cricket Australia Big Bash League can generate.

'In a small market such as Australia it's not going to be the same as the Indian Premier league. But at the same time this league is on the international stage and the teams that play-off in the finals will qualify for the Champions League,' he said.

Razzaq roar brings cheer for Pakistan An unforgettable century stuns SA in a last ball thriller

Abdul Razzaq stunned the rivals as South Africa’s victory march was halted on Sunday at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Having lost both the T20 encounters and the first ODI, South Africa could have never expected such a close fight after they set up a 287 run target for Pakistan. In fact, even as the winner of the day, Razzaq was at the crease, it looked quite a difficult task. Pakistan needed 53 from 4 overs. It was over no. 47 that fetched 30 runs and the equation turned to 33 from 3 overs. Two more overs and Pakistan inched 14 required from the last over.

For almost 99 overs, Pakistan always looked like they were unlikely to win. After losing 4 wickets for just 70 and already in the 19th over, Afridi and Fawad Alam offered some resistance.

Razzaq began quietly while Alam got bogged down by his own inability to clear a field. But just as South Africa relaxed, the pair stuck at it. Alam suddenly got going and Razzaq smoked a couple more sixes. By the 40th

Butt, Amir suspension continues Appeals against their provisional suspension by Pakistan’s tainted duo of Salman Butt and Mohammad Amir have been rejected by ICC code of conduct commissioner Michael Beloff. Now, these two have to contest charges against them in the spot fixing scandal before an independent anti-corruption tribunal. Beloff said after the hearing at Dubai that suspension for the duo and Asif continues.

“Having considered every aspect of the case I dismiss their appeals and they remain suspended," Beloff told reporters outside ICC headquarters.

"The players have denied the charges, but they will remain suspended.

"It was not up to me to

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over, at 200 for 5, theoretically it looked possible - in this age of Twenty20 at least - even if, in reality, it didn't feel gettable.

But for once, Pakistan timed their Powerplay right and when Johan Botha was taken for 11 in the very first, a little tension crept in. Razzaq had decided at the fall of Alam that if the match was to be won, it would be by him alone.

For South Africa, Ingram slammed his second ODI ton. He never fully got hold of the spinners but neither did they really trouble him. {Brief scores: 2nd ODI – Pak 289 for 9 (Razzaq 109*, Afridi 49, Alam 48) beat SA 286 for 8 (Ingram 100, Amla 65, Duminy 54) by 1wicket. 1st ODI - SA 207 for 2 (Kallis 66 retd hurt, de Villiers 51) beat Pak 203 (Hafeez 68, Younis 54, Tsotsobe 4-27) by 8 wickets. 2nd T20 - SA 125 for 4 (Smith 38, Ingram 32, Duminy 20*) beat Pak 120 for 9 (Theron 4-27) by 6 wickets. 1st T20 – SA 120 for 4 (Ingram 46*, Duminy 41) beat Pak 119 (Tsotsobe 3-16, Botha 3-31) by 6 wickets}.

decide whether they committed any crime, the commission will establish their guilt and if they are found guilty then they will be given punishment as per the ICC code of conduct."

The ongoing criminal case against the players in the UK - where Scotland Yard has handed over evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service - is likely to factor into any decision on when the hearing happens. The PCB's legal adviser Taffazul Rizvi said the decision was within the ICC jurisdictions and will not affect the actual case itself.

Mohammad Asif, who chose to withdraw his appeal, also remained provisionally suspended, along with Butt and Amir, from all forms of cricket.

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