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VOL 39. ISSUE 35

80p

Political unstability hits Pakistan

Sharif’s conditional offer for Gilani survival, roll back of petroleum prices demanded

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani (L) listens to the leaders of Pakistan Muslim League Qaid-e-Azam (PML-Q) Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain (C) and Chaudhry Pervez Elahi (R) during a joint press conference after a meeting in Lahore on Monday.

says no to our demands, then I think it will be a very weak government.

'But we need a strong government, and I think for this, we may need the fresh mandate from the people,' he said.

Sharif’s demands

include reform of government departments and a 30-percent reduction in public spending that does not benefit the people of Pakistan.

The PML-N now holds the balance of power.

The PML-N is the

Air India promises resumption of London – Ahmedabad direct flight with the summer schedule A detailed report on page 25

largest opposition party with 91 seats in the 342member lower house of parliament, the National Assembly.

Gilani had been struggling to woo the main opposition groups to support him to save his coalition government.

On Monday he met leader of the main opposition party, Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N), Shahbaz Sharif, the chief minister of Punjab province, in the eastern city of Lahore and sought his support.

The PML-N called an emergency meeting of senior leaders on Tuesday to weigh options and reports said that the meeting decided not to dislodge the government.

The political crisis comes at a time when the United States has increased pressure on Pakistan to go after Islamist militant groups to help it turn around the faltering war in Afghanistan.

Continued on page 22

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8th January to 14th January 2011

39 British Asians honoured for their essential contribution in the UK Kartik.S.Raval The New Year Honours 2011, principally for the United Kingdom and also the Commonwealth Realms, were announced on 31 December 2010 to celebrate the year passed and mark the beginning of 2011.

British Asians like every year shined in the New Year Honours List.

The year 2010 saw British Asians playing some pivotal role in various walks of life and hence the number of honours rose to 39 as compared to 15 in the last year.

The recipients of honours were styled before their new honour, and arranged by the country whose ministers advised The Queen on the appointments, then by honour, with grades i.e.

Knight/Dame Grand Cross, Knight/Dame Commander etc.and then if appropriate, divisions (i.e. Military and Civil).

In total people were recommended to The Queen for the award. 74 per cent of the recipients are local heroes, who’ve undertaken outstanding work in their communities, while

CVO - Ashok Jivraj Rabheru for his work for The DOfE Award (UK)

the rest for their achievements in their professional fields and their service for the betterment of the society.

Charity supporter and IT Chief, Ashok Rabheru has been awarded a Commander of the Victorian Order (CVO) in the New Year Honours List. He has been given the prestigious award in recognition of his work for The Duke of Edinburgh's Award, where he served as a trustee from 2000 to December 2010 (See more on page 13).

Also, a Cardiff Hindu Businesswoman, Vimla Patel who has worked tirelessly for Cardiff's Continued on page 2

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Nawaz Sharif’s assurance of being not interested in bringing down Gilani led PPP government turned out to be short-lived relief for the Pakistan Prime Minister on Tuesday.

Pakistan Muslim League – N of Nawaz Sharif issued an ultimatum for Gilani within hours, asking him to agree to reforms, including a roll back in the petroleum prices or else be prepared to face a no confidence motion. The former prime minister has given just 72 hours for the PPP government to decide.

The series of events were triggered on Sunday after the MQM parted ways with the ruling coalition, primarily over the hike in the prices of petroleum products.

Nawaz Sharif decided to seek his pound of flesh after a meeting with senior leaders of his party.

Asked by reporters what would happen if the deadline were not met, he said: 'If the government

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UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 8th January 2011

39 British Asians honoured for their essential contribution in the UK Continued from page 1 Hindu community for more than a quarter of a century has been awarded an MBE. Vimla Patel, 58 went to Cardiff in 1972 after fleeing the Idi Amin regime in Uganda. Since then she and her husband worked endlessly to make ends meet and soon with the help of the people from her community formed Hindu Community Centre which helped in all the problems faced by Hindus.

Sarup Singh Dhandia, an artist whose list of awards and the letters of appreciation received from leaders of various countries says it all about his work. He has been awarded an MBE for his contribution to field of Arts. His paintings have gone from strength to strength with years and in the past he has received appreciation from Late Mrs Indira Gandhi, then Prime Minister of India, Syed Abdus Sultan, High Commissioner of Bangladesh and many more.

Mimi Harker has been awarded an OBE for her role in betterment of Chiltern District. In 1999, she became the first ever Indian Woman to be elected as a member of Chiltern District Council. She is an Ambassador for Peace with the Universal Peace

Federation, and until the last General Election, served as a Member of the Cross Party Task Force, set up by Harriet Harman MP to encourage more women from ethnic minority backgrounds into public life and politics. Mimi told Asian Voice, “Being a local councillor is fantastically rewarding, and I have gained a huge number of skills from my role in representing the community. The successes of the work I do locally and the national initiatives such as the BAME Task Force have been made easier with the support of some amazing, dedicated and talented people”.

Urmila Thakkar has been awarded an MBE for her services to the community in North West London. A member of UK Women's Association she has worked endlessly for their empowerment and also simultaneously been active in helping the elderly and joined Kingsbury Asian Elderly group. Mrs. Thakkar told Asian Voice “My keen interest was always to keep our culture alive amongst the younger generation and to provide help and counsel the women in our community.”

Dame Indira Patel is the only receiver of DBE award out of all the

OBE – Mimi harker, for her services to Women, particularly Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Women in the Public Sector

British Asians honoured this year. She has been honoured the Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire for her services to human rights. Dame Indira is instrumental in highlighting a broad spectrum of women’s issues at the UN –including widows rights, inheritance rights, enforced marriages, women in armed conflict, female infanticide, women’ roles in a peace process and crimes committed in the name of Honour.

Ratilal Shah, a solicitor has been awarded an MBE for his services to Indian community in London. In recognition of his humanitarian service, he has been given the Ambassador for Goodwill award by Lions

DBE - Indira Patel, for her services to Human Rights

MBE - Sarup Singh Dhandia, for his services to Art in Leicester

Club International, which is the highest award given to an individual by the organisation. He is a past president of the Brent Indian Association and his services to the local community were recognised by the local borough when they presented him with the Brent Citizenship award. Rati is also a past recipient of the Asian

MBE - Urmila Thakkar, for her services to the community in North West London

MBE - Ratilal Devchand Shah, for his services to the Indian community in London

Achievers Award for his contribution towards the community.

He has recently been admitted to the Freedom of the City of London.

No matter what the challenges the economic and political situation poses on the residents of the UK, the British Asians clearly know only

MBE – Vimla Patel, for her services to Asian and Hindu people in Cardiff

CBE - Dr Minaxi Sharad Desai, for her services to Women's Healthcare

one way forward- development. Though this is not the first time their contribution to the society has been recognised, their pace of development and the magnitude of growing contribution is surely making the limelight with every year they live in the UK.

New Year Honours List 2011 CB l Mrs Yasmin Diamond. Director of Communications, Home Office. (London, W4) ROYAL VICTORIAN ORDER CVO l Ashok Jivraj Rabheru. Formerly Trustee, The Duke of Edinburgh's Award (UK).

ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE, CIVIL DBE l Mrs Indira Patel, OBE. For services to Human Rights. (London, SW20) CBE l Ravi Parkash Chand, QPM. Head of Group Equality and Diversity, Home Office.

(Rushden, Northamptonshire) Dr Minaxi Sharad Desai. Consultant Cytopathologist and Clinical director, Manchester Royal Infirmary. For services to Women's Healthcare. (Altrincham, Greater Manchester) Ali Hadawi. Principal, Southend Adult Community College. For services to Vocational Education in Iraq and to Further Education. (London, BR2) Museji Ahmed Takolia. For services to Diversity and to Equal Opportunities. (Gloucestershire) ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE, CIVIL OBE l Mrs Charubala Ainscough. Founder and Chair, Sahara Project. For services to Black and Minority Ethnic People in Lancashire. (Preston, Lancashire) Councillor Nasim Ali. London Borough of Camden. For services to Local Government. (London, NW3) Mrs Mimi Harker. For services to Women, particularly Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Women in the Public Sector and to the community in Amersham, Buckinghamshire. (Amersham, Buckinghamshire) Ms Nargis Khan. Deputy Chair, Community Wellbeing Board, Local Government Association. For services to

Local Government. (London, N16) Mohammed Mossadaq. Equality Adviser, Hampshire County Council. For services to Local Government.

(Hampshire) Nirpal Singh Riat. For services to Charity and to Punjabi People. (Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire) Mrs Rehana Richens. Consultant Midwife and Honorary Lecturer, City University, Warwickshire. For services to Nursing and Midwifery.

Mrs Purnima Tanuku. Chief executive, National Day Nurseries Association. For services to Families.

(Blackburn, Lancashire) Ms Yasmin Waljee. For services to Disadvantaged Young Muslims. (London, N21) ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE, CIVIL MBE l Dr Tariq Abbasi. Director, Greenwich Islamic Centre.

For services to Community Cohesion in the London Boroughs of Greenwich and Bexley. (London, DA6) Jaswinder Bains. Chief executive, Ashram Housing Association. For services to Social Housing and to Community Cohesion in the West Midlands.

Dr Qadir Bakhsh. For services to Community Cohesion in the East of England. (Buckhurst Hill, Essex) Ms Shaben Begum. Director, Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance. For services to Healthcare. (Joppa, Edinburgh) Ms Zahida Chohan. Executive Officer, Jobcentre Plus, Department for Work and Pensions. (London, SW17) Gulam Mustafa Choudhury. For services to the Bangladeshi community in Greater Manchester.

(Gatley, Greater Manchester) Dharambir Singh Dhadyalla. Sitar Player and Teacher.

For services to Indian Music. (Leicestershire) Sarup Singh Dhandia. Indian Artist. For services to Art in Leicester. (Leicestershire) Mrs Surinder Kaur Dhillon. Director, Southwark Race Equality Council. For services to Community Relations.

(Coventry, West Midlands) Ms Lakshmi Holmstrom. Writer and Translator. For

services to Literature. (Norwich, Norfolk) Babubhai Patel. For services to the community in Tipton, West Midlands. (Sunderland, Tyne And Wear) Mrs Lina Patel. For services to Black and Minority Ethnic Carers.

(Ashton-Under-Lyne, Greater Manchester) Umeshchandra Babubhai Patel.

Community Pharmacist. For services to Healthcare in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear. (Sunderland, Tyne And Wear) Mrs Vimla Patel. For services to Asian and Hindu People in Cardiff. (Cardiff) Dr Ashok Pathak. For services to Medicine in the East Riding of Yorkshire and in India. (Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire) Mrs Sarita Day Perkins. For services to Chiverton Riding for the Disabled Association and to the community in Cornwall. (Falmouth, Cornwall) Adil Rajput. Executive Officer, Jobcentre Plus, Department for Work and Pensions. (Stockton-on-Tees, Durham) Chauhdry Mohammed Shafique. For services to Community Cohesion in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. (High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire) Ratilal Devchand Shah. For services to the Indian community in London. (London, HA9) Dr Satya Vrat Sharma. General Medical Practitioner, Wolverhampton, West Midlands. For services to Healthcare. (Wolverhampton, West Midlands) Mrs Urmila Thakkar. For services to the community in North West London. (London, HA6) Ms Pam Vedhara. South Tyneside Youth Offending Service manager. For services to Local Government.

(South Shields, Tyne and Wear) DIPLOMATIC SERVICE AND OVERSEAS LIST ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE MBE l Samarendra Nath Das. Formerly chief Opthalmic Surgeon. For services to ophthalmic work overseas, particularly the establishment of eye hospitals and clinics in India.

Asian Voice - Saturday 8th January 2011

COMMENT

Christmas tragedy in Cairo Whatever be our trials and tribulations in Britain, we live in a civilised society where diverse religious faiths and ethnicities co-exist, their way of life guaranteed by the rule of law and freedom of thought and expression. Yes, we are facing difficult times as the economy stumblers along, with few sure of the direction in which it is moving. The increase in VAT means goods will cost substantially more; rail fares are also set to increase. There is an air of gloom which is unlikely to lift anytime soon.

But we have the warmth and comfort of family and friends as a source of solace.

Consider those whose plight we dare not even imagine for ourselves. In Cairo, a suicide bomber blew up 21 Christian Copt worshippers in a church in the Egyptian capital. The Coptic community belong to the Eastern Orthodox confession; the Copts are the oldest and most numerous Christian minority in the Middle East. Their persons, homes and churches are under merciless attack by militant Islamists whose numbers are spreading throughout the Arab world and beyond.

The Egyptian government has expressed concern at the recent turn of events, but pieties and breast-beating and handwringing are hardly calculated to restore trust among the beleaguered fraternity. A London-based Coptic bishop referred drily to the Saudi petro-dollars that keep the pot boiling in distant parts. But Saudi Arabia is perceived as a 'moderate' Muslim state and therefore worth wooing by America and Britain through profligate arms deals. One must question the wisdom of people who have made the Saudi monarchy and the Pakistan generals vital props of Western policy in the region. Other favored powers such as Egypt are in varying states of political and economic stagnation. These woebegone regimes are going nowhere, they wait only for Godot, which for them is Uncle Sam. But

Uncle Sam is scarcely in a fit state to help out.

The bloody misadventures in Iraq and Afghanistan-Pakistan have taken their toll.

Things will only get worse before they get better. Meanwhile, the centre cannot hold.

As if the situation in Cairo isn't bad enough, the murderous assaults on Christian lives and properties in Iraq, particularly in Baghdad, seems to be getting out of control. It would appear that the West, long accustomed to human rights hotgospelling has run out of words and ideas. For long militant Islam has been indulged by Washington and London as part of a misguided statecraft to win the faithful to its side during the Cold War and after.

However, the barbarians are now knocking at the gates. Nine terror suspects are being held in a UK prison on terrorism charges. On the continent 26 were arrested in November on the grounds that they were planning a series of bombings in Germany, France, the Netherlands, Belgium and Spain. Among those held are Chechens, who seem to enjoy something akin to a privileged status in Britain.

Things are becoming combustible. In a desperate bid to stem the the flow of illegal immigration through Turkey, the Greek government taken the firtst steps tom errect a barrier along its common border with Turkey to keep mout these unwelcome guests. Such measures may not guarantee long-term success, but they are a means to head off mounting hostility at home to aliens seeking refuge in Greece.

YaleGlobal online has published a report entitled “Christians in Levant on the Brink of Extinction. It makes depressing reading. We return where we started: our problems are real and difficult, but they pale before the horrendous choices confronting the Christian communities of Egypt and Iraq and those of other Muslim lands.

Urn returns to England The urn with the Ashes – cricket's oldest and most hallowed trophy, reserved for Test match series between England Australia – will remain at Lord's until the two oldest cricketing rivals do battle again in England four years down the line.

England had reclaimed the Ashes in the English summer of 2009 and much was expected from the present contest in Australia, where every home team is quite a handful. After all, it was way back in 1986-87 that Mike Gatting's Englishmen last got the better of their Australian opponents.

It was a long time to wait, but England most definitely had the measure of their hosts, chalking up two thunderous victories vat Adelaide and Melbourne – each by an innings – so with an impregnable 2-1 lead, with only a match to complete at Sydney, the fabled Ashes will belong to England for another four years.

That said, the icing on the cake for England would surely be a victory in the current Test, enabling them to take the series 3-1. The visitors

have clearly been the better allround side. They have, for the most part, out-bowled, out-batted and out-fielded Australia. The Australian captaide8in Ricky Ponting, arguably his country's greatest batsman after the legendary Don Bradman, never camer to terms with the English attack and the humid conditions. His needless bust-up with Umpire Alim Dar exposed his frayed nerves. But this Australian side has been a shadow of the ones that humbled the best in every corner of the globe. The Shane Warnes, Glen McGraths, Matthew Haydens, the Waugh twins and Adam Gilchrist have disappeared into the shadows. It will be awhile before their likes are seen again.

It is England's turn to rejoice. This is a fine team under a hugely capable captain in Andrew Strauss. Cricket has brought much cheer to English homes. Cricket fans here have much to look forward to and celebrate. Roll on the ODI World Cup in the Indian subcontinent from February 19.

Winter of discontent beckons Public unrest has been visible in various parts of the European Union, from Greece to France and Portugal to Spain and Ireland, not to speak of the UK. The people's anger is rising as bankers stick to old habits of paying themselves scandalous bonuses, even as they dug a hole for their banks and the people at large. The Conservative Lib Dem coalition has hit choppy waters.

Government must be curtailed: how we go about the job is the problem. A slash and burn approach on finance may look good for auditors, yet without some leavening these measures m,ay exacerbate discontent. The increase in university tuition fees has given vent anger on the streets last seen in 1968.

The austerity measures include a hike in VAT, rises in rail fares, which in turn may lead to

a general price rise and higher inflation. If social discontent deepens it will not bode well for the country's general well-being. The Lib Dems face the most serious dilemma of all the mainstream parties. They won a considerable national following as the nation's non-socialist radical voice. There is disillusionment in their ranks.

The party could go the way of the old Liberals who suffered in the 1930s from their embrace of the Tories.

The holiday is over, the weather has been bleak and forbiddingly cold and people's spirits are low. New out-of-the-box thinking to tackle our economic and social problems is the need of the moment. Old remedies will only bring fresh groundswells of public protest. The government must act while there is time.

www.abplgroup.com

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Thought for the Week You see things that are and say 'Why?' But I dream of things that never were and say 'Why not?'

- George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950)

Sarah Teather MP Liberal Democrat MP for Brent Central

Are our children growing up too quickly?

We’ve all read the headlines about high street shops selling inappropriate products for children - from pencil cases to t-shirts - with sexual or other adult themes.

In my role as a MP I often hear from parents telling me that they are concerned about the effects of increased advertising and commercial pressure on family life.

Their concerns are backed up by a recent poll by the National Family and Parenting Institute, which found that 8 out of 10 parents thought that companies were targeting their children too much. This suggests that there is a growing anxiety among parents about the way businesses market their products to children.

This creates pressure on parents as well as children, who have to cope with their children pestering them for the latest clothes they’ve seen their favourite pop star wearing, or the newest product they’ve seen advertised on TV. To look into the solutions to some of these problems that families face, I have asked Reg Bailey, the Chief Executive of the Mothers’ Union charity, to conduct an independent review into the commercialisation and sexualisation of childhood. The review will assess the extent to which our children have inappropriate products targeted at them and will produce some recommendations on changes we can make to help support families.

I think it’s important that we help parents to support their children learn and

develop in the best possible way. Childhood is too important for the future wellbeing of each and every child for us to get it wrong.

The review starts by recognising that children can grow up too fast and that parents up and down the country are increasingly worried that this is happening.

Putting children under too much commercial pressure and introducing them to sexual material too early can mean that they lose the security and innocence that are an important part of any healthy childhood. We need a public debate about what as a country we think is ‘too much’ and ‘too early’ for our children in the 21st Century.

As part of the solution to these problems, I have asked Mr Bailey to look at whether we need to redefine the way businesses and families interact with each other. In particular, we need to look at ways to increase better understanding amongst businesses and parents about what is acceptable and what powers we can give parents have to take action if they think a product is inappropriate or is being marketed in an unacceptable way.

I want to make sure that everyone in Britain is playing their part in helping parents do the best job they can.

Stable families are the foundation of a strong and stable society and in a rapidly changing world we need to make sure we are giving parents the best possible support. If we don’t, it is our children that will pay the price.

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LeIcester VoIce

Asian Voice - Saturday 8th January 2011

India’s instability in electric supply targeted by UK company Intelligent Energy, a company which makes emission-free fuel for cars and motorcycles in the UK has turned its attention to generating electricity in India.

Based in Loughborough, the company claims its hydrogenpowered fuel cells offers a cheaper and cleaner way of supplying energy.

The company has now already set up an office in Bangalore and is looking further to collaborate with utility firms there.

According to Dr Henri Winand, Chief Executive of Intelligent Energy, there is a tremendous scope for growth in the India market as it is highly cost-effective and witnesses a strong demand.

He also said electricity

supply in parts of India was very inconsistent and said its fuel cells could act as a back-up to power stations.

Meanwhile, a joint project with Scottish and Southern Energy to create a fuel cell to provide heat and energy in homes has received a £3.7 million cash-injection from investors after successful testing of the technology.

Dr Winand said the company was on track for a growth surge after getting a new semi-automated production line, which is capable of making one fuel cell every minute, fully up and running.

The business relocated its base from L o u g h b o r o u g h University's innovation

centre to a new £8.5 million site at the nearby Holywell Park in the summer and it employs above 100 people at the site.

Turnover has grown seven-fold since Dr Winand, a former RollsRoyce high-flier, took over as chief executive in 2006.

Intelligent has also developed fuel cells for Suzuki, Peugeot and Boeing. A project led by Intelligent Energy to create an environment-friendly London black cabs won The Engineer magazine's prestigious Technology and Innovation Energy Award.

The company has also raised about £80 million in funding from investors over the past few years to fund the development of its power systems.

Peterborough working towards an eco village in India £11,500 has been raised by the socially active residents of Peterborough for the worthy cause of building a village for the underprivileged children in India.

HEAL UK, a citybased charity held and India Night Fundraiser at

the Cresset in Bretton which raised £6,500.

About 450 people participated in the cause and simultaneously enjoyed Indian entertainment and cuisine.

Peterborough City Council leader, Cllr Marco Cereste made his contri-

New campaign to tackle hate crime Eighteen new centres have been set up across Leicester for people to report hate crime. The new network of centres has been set up as part of a new campaign by the Safer Leicester Partnership focusing on hate crime in the city. The project has been funded by the Government's Regional Improvements and Efficiency Partnerships (RIEPs), and the centres cover eight different areas of the city, providing help for each of the city's wards. Staff at the centres will get additional training to ensure they are able to pass on vital information to the right support services as quickly as possible. Sergeant Julie Strong of Leicestershire Constabulary is based at Leicester City Council’s Anti-Social Behaviour Unit, and is leading the new project. She revealed “The campaign, launched by the Safer Leicester Partnership, aims to strengthen links between authorities and raise awareness of hate crime and similar incidents, and also encourage all victims and witnesses to report it.”

Hate crime consists of abuse or discrimination based on a person’s gender, age, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation and/or disability. Sergeant Strong adds “In partnership with the Victim Support service in Leicester, we will also be offering specialist support to those who are victims of hate incidents.”Leicester City Council's cabinet member for health and community safety, Councillor Wayne Naylor, claims "Leicester is becoming a safer city, but we don’t know the real picture regarding hate crime. It can have long-term effects both emotionally and physically to those who suffer this degrading crime, damaging both their health and well being. We need to learn the extent of this issue so that we can deal better with situations as they arrive."Mick Studley, the divisional manager of Victim Support Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland, said "We are really pleased to be working in partnership with Leicester City Council. We have the skills to help support victims of hate incidents and we believe the project will be very worthwhile to victims of hate incidents in Leicester."Daxa Pancholi, the city council's head of community safety added “We want to encourage residents to report hate crime and to trust that we will do everything we can to tackle it. We are aware that this campaign may encourage reporting to go up but we are prepared for this increase and have made sure that our staff are available to provide support whenever needed."

bution to the cause by making a personal donation of £5,000.

The money will go to the Paradise Village project, which is trying to build an eco-friendly village to support 1,000 orphaned children in India.

Leicester City Council set to shell out £30m for new headquarters Leicester City Council is likely to spend £30 million for a new city centre headquarters and are looking at various options to replace the crumbling New Walk Offices.

It is believed that the most popular and viable option is to move staff out of its New Walk headquarters and into another city centre building.

Engineers in their assessment of the New Walk offices stated it needed strengthening to ensure safety. If at all Leicester City Council have to demolish the present headquarters, Leicester Mercury offices, in St George Street could be a possibility.

However, this move will come with a huge cost and councillors are worried that it will leave them with no financial security.

Hence the Council is working out all the possible ways to minimize the cost and get a safer place for its staff to continue their work. There are some primary options that lie in front of the Council. The most costeffective option is to move their staff into

Leicester City Council HQ in New Walk

smaller council offices across the city rather than 1400 members of the staff working from a central base.

The Council can also opt to spend £30 million to refurbish and strengthen A block at New Walk and demolish or sell-off B block. At the same price the Council can buy a building in the city centre and with an extra £10 million, it can build new offices on the site of the Dover Street car park.

The most expensive

option will be to retain the site by strengthening and refurbishing A and B block of the New Walk offices. It can cost the Council more than £50m to keep their present work place.

The council has about £58 million available with them but the cost for a new headquarters is worrying a lot of members in the wake of cuts.

The report will be discussed and taken further by cabinet members in the coming weeks.

Christian Church transformed into Ganapathy Hindu temple in Scotland Former Wardlawhill Church in Rutherglen, Scotland is now Sri Sundara Ganapathy Temple Before the Temple organizers purchased it, Wardlawhill Church was affiliated to Church of Scotland like the majority church in Scotland, whose aim is “to worship God by following the teachings of Jesus Christ”.

It was then renovated and refurbished into a Hindu temple.

According to reports, on the opening day, following the Milk Abhishegam ritual for Lord Ganapathy, the deity was carried in a decorated palanquin on shoulders of several young men in a procession from the City Centre to the Temple hall through the Main Street with police escort, which included chanting and music.

A Hindu priest from London conducted the opening ceremony, which included various ancient rituals, prayers, bhajans to the accompaniment of drums and manjeeras, lamps lighting, etc. An auction of sarees was held for temple development fund.

Besides two area councilors, Consulate General of India, and others; Ian Duncan of the Church of Scotland and his wife Jean, who were married in the Church, also attended the inaugural ceremony.

Besides Hindus, many non-Hindus have also visited the temple.

Meanwhile, Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada, USA applauded efforts of tem-

ple-project leaders and Glasgow area community to realize this wonderful Hindu temple and cultural center.

Rajan Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, further said that it was important to pass on Hindu spirituality, concepts and traditions to coming generations amidst so many distractions in the consumerist society and hoped that this new temple complex would focus in this direction. Zed stressed that instead of running after materialism; we should focus on inner search and realization of self and work towards achieving moksha (liberation), which was the goal of

Hinduism.

Ganapathy Temple; whose aim is to “promote the ideals of Hinduism” and which is part of the South Indian Cultural Centre; reportedly plans to serve the religious, spiritual, cultural and social needs of the community.

Besides prayers, sermons, lectures by spiritual leaders, naming ceremonies, mundan, weddings, festivals etc.; it also plans to host Indian language-artdance-music-yoga-spirituality instruction, marriage counseling and matrimonial services, community gatherings, elderly socialization, etc. It is a member of Scottish Interfaith Council and Dr. N. V. Doraiswamy is the President.

Leicester 2nd best in country in tackling irresponsible sale of alcohol Leicester stood out as the second best in the country when it comes to tackling licensed premises that irresponsibly sell alcohol in the city. The figures, collated by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), show exactly how many alcohol license were revoked and suspended by Leicester City Council’s licensing committee, the results of which contributed to the overall ranking. Licensed premises continue to be a focus for the Safer

Leicester Partnership as part of the Government funded project TKAP (Tackling Knife and Serious Youth Crime Action Programme). Test purchase operations are regularly carried out by police officers in the city in order to prevent youngsters being able to purchase alcohol, a major cause of anti-social behaviour. Licensed premises which repeatedly fail these tests can be referred by the police to the council’s licensing committee for a review. Inspector Jason

Ross, the commander of the city centre policing unit, said “I am very proud of the city officers and the work we have done around licensing; it’s great to see that our work has been recognised at a national level. We work continuously hard to keep Leicester city centre a safe place and part of that is ensuring that licensed premises stick to the rules.”

He adds, “Since April we have carried out an increased number of test purchase operations in the

city, all funded through the Government project TKAP. Projects like this enable us to keep a focus on problem drinkers and alcohol related incidents, in particular underage drinkers." Leicester City Council's cabinet member for environment and sustainability, Councillor Sarah Russell, revealed "We work closely with partners and particularly the police to ensure people can enjoy a safe and enjoyable evening out in the city, and we take action to continually promote this.”

EDUCATION/UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 8th January 2011

New Government reforms of Free Schools under scrutiny by Parents The plans of Coalition to initiate an era of “free schools” took a back seat as a study by the National Union of Teachers (NUT) revealed only minority of parents were in support of the proposal.

Majority of the parents were not convinced by the idea while many were totally unaware that a free school was being planned in the local community.

According to the proposed plan, these free schools will be run by parents and private companies and it will work in total independence of local councils. They can be set up at unused office blocks or hospitals The disclosure prompted claims that the reforms were “not wanted or needed” and that the Government was attempting to hide them from local families. Free schools are

among the Coalition’s most controversial education reforms. Under this proposal, parents’ groups, charities, businesses and teachers can apply to open their own Governmentfunded school.

The schools will be given more freedom than ordinary state schools, including the power to hire teachers without formal teaching qualifications.

The first 25 free schools are scheduled to open across 22 local authorities from September 2011. But according to an NUT survey of more than 1,000 parents revealed that only 26 per cent actively support the plans. Proposals are opposed by 31 per cent while 29 per cent failed to give a preference.

The NUT also accused

the Government of lacking transparency after more than three quarters of parents who participated in the research said they were unaware a free school was planned in their area. Some 72 per cent also said they had had no opportunity to have their say on the matter.

However major criticism was laid on the allowance of non-qualified teachers to take up teaching roles at these schools.

Parents showed their concerns as the standard of education will surely fall in absence of professional academicians.

Some 78 per cent said children in such schools should only be taught by qualified teachers, while 72 per cent of parents thought free schools should follow the national curriculum.

Gang who battered pedestrian jailed for nearly 20 years

A gang of thugs who stabbed a pedestrian in a road rage attack, torturing him with a crowbar, hammer and broken bottle have been jailed for almost 20 years.

A 30-year-old man was subjected to a brutal attack after almost being run over by a car as he left a popular Indian restaurant in Whitechapel, east London.

When the pedestrian swore at the driver in anger, he was confronted by three thugs who got out of the convertible BMW and another car following behind.

Rashel Hussain, 20, and his friends, twin brothers Jubhare and Taharak Hussain, both aged 21, battered the victim with a crowbar, causing serious injury to his left hand.

Terrified, the man ran back to the restaurant regarded as one of the best

Taharak

Raheel

Indian restaurants in London - only to find himself trapped in the doorway as the doors had been locked by frightened staff.

Taharak knifed the man a number of times before running off with the others to get more weapons.

As the victim attempted to get help, stumbling towards the Royal London Hospital nearby, his attackers returned with a larger group of men who leapt on him.

Rashel Hussain battered him with a hammer, while another man, Shah

Alom, 22, slashed him with a glass bottle and two others, Jubhare Hussain and Shofiqul Islam, 21, rained down punches on the defenceless man leaving him with serious neck, arm and thigh

injuries.

The extraordinary onslaught of violence was caught on CCTV, which showed the bloodied victim desperately attempting to escape.

Horrified members of the public who witnessed the attack around 9pm on Sunday, May 30 last year called 999 for help.

Two police officers rushed to the scene and wrestled with the attackers, pulling them off the victim and saving his life.

Rashel Hussain was arrested at the scene while

the others fled. But detectives later rounded up the other members of the gang.

They were sentenced to a total of almost 20 years at Snaresbrook Crown Court.

Rashel Hussain, 20, was jailed for six years after pleading guilty to grievous bodily harm and violent disorder.

Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Constable Darcia Babb said: ‘This was an outrageous and prolonged attack on a defenceless victim by a gang of thugs.

‘Extreme violence of this nature is rare but when it does happen we will make sure those responsible are brought to justice.

‘The intervention of the two police officers, who were outnumbered and displayed great bravery, probably saved the man’s life.’

No red card for students, irrelevant of their behaviour Schools will no more have the rights to expel illbehaved children, according to the latest reforms proposed by the government. Once again, the policy has received criticism; this time from head teachers as they have claimed they will have no power to keep the check on their pupil's behavior.

Schools have claimed that the teachers could be undermined by new rules that require schools to provide a better education for

expelled pupils.

An Education Bill being published later this year will outline plans to stop schools abusing rules on exclusions by permanently barring too many pupils.

Schools themselves will be solely responsible for finding and funding alternative education for all expelled children. The duty is currently carried out by local authorities.

According to figures, alternative education in spe-

cialist behavior units can cost up to ? 25,000 per pupil every year – rising to ? 150,000 in residential accommodation.

This compares with around ?

5,500 in a normal school.

But head teachers branded the changes a “nightmare” and warned they would force many schools to keep the most unruly pupils in the classroom, undermining standards of discipline.

According to figures, 6,550 children were per-

manently expelled from state schools in England in 2008/9 – almost 35 for every day of the academic year.

This high figure has led the Coalition pledge to crack down on bad behavior in schools.

A recent White Paper, which will form a large part of the Government’s forthcoming Education Bill, said there was a need to balance schools’ authority “with clear responsibility for both the quality of

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Wall that crushed toddler was not checked by council for ten years A toddler was crushed to death during a storm by an ‘extremely badly’ built wall which hadn’t been checked by a council for ten years, a court heard yesterday.

Banker’s son Saurav Ghai, two, was killed when the unstable boundary wall collapsed as he walked home from playgroup with his nanny in January 2007.

Passers-by, including an off-duty fireman, desperately fought to save the boy after he was pulled from the rubble but Saurav died from multiple injuries an hour later.

His parents, £200,000-a-year City worker Vinay and investment analyst Desiree, both 40, sat in court on Monday to hear the catalogue of errors which killed their son just yards from their £1million home in Belsize Park, North London.

The London borough of Camden has already pleaded guilty to failing to maintain the 8ft 6in wall following a twoand-a-half year investigation brought by the Health and Safety Executive.

The local authority is now being sentenced to determine the full extent of culpability for Saurav’s tragic death.

Prosecutor James Ageros told Southwark Crown Court that the council’s failings stretched back 10 years to 1997, when the wall was first repaired by

Saurav Ghai

building contractors Chatterton’s.

Mr Ageros said there had been an ‘assumption’ that the work had been carried out properly but without any followup checks.

He said: ‘They did little or nothing to exercise control over the work.

‘The fact is that the work was done not in accordance with good practice.

‘The wall was built extremely badly.’

The court also heard how the brick wall – first built in the 1970s - was too thin for its height, making vulnerable of collapse in windy conditions.

It is also claimed that the council failed to implement a proper inspection regime to check the wall’s safety.

Camden Council admits a single charge of failing to discharge its duty under the Health and Safety Act by not inspecting, maintaining or repairing the wall.

The hearing continues, and is expected to last for three days.

Fire at cannabis factory in Edgware The first big fire in London this year was at a cannabis factory in Edgware.

Firefighters were called at around 9am on New Year's Day after residents saw plumes of smoke billowing out of the house in Edgware.

Firefighters took around an hour to get the flames under control but not before they completely destroyed the roof of the two-storey semi-detached property leaving a gaping hole visible from the street.

The blaze was the first

in London since the start of 2011 that required four fire engines and it also exposed a cannabis growing operation at the building, which is now being investigated by police.

Sadiq Hussain , 72, who lives on the road, told a local paper: “There were nearly four fire engines. I heard a noise and looked through the window and just saw the smoke coming through the roof...If it was a big fire it could have spread to the rest of the street. I was worried about my house.”

the education their excluded pupils receive and what they achieve”.

Under rules, primary and secondary must pay for any alternative education for expelled children until they reach 11 or 16.

The Government said it would shift funding for alternative provision from local councils to schools so they can pay for education to "best suit disruptive children".

Schools will also be forced to include pupils’ academic performance in official league table data, even if they have been permanently excluded for serious offenses.

According to the Government this move which will initially be introduced on a trial basis in some areas, would create a strong incentive for schools to avoid exclusion where possible.

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UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 8th January 2011

United we stand, divided we fall This should be the moto of said that Anni 'wasn’t herthe Dewani and Hindocha self' when the she called to family. Shrien Dewani is say: 'Dad, I have so much under scrutiny again. On to tell you. I'll be home on the one hand when his Tuesday and I'll have so innocence in the Pox much to tell you.'

Raghavjee case was The grieving father proven, the new year has said: 'She sounded worbegun with more quesried, she wasn't herself tions and open letters in when she said those the national media, asking words. I've known her for him to go back to South 28 years, so I know her Africa to prove his innotone of voice.' cence. To counter that ...However, in recent there have also been letweeks the 61-year-old has ters from Shrien's cousins spoken out to urge his daughter’s husband and friends trying to justify the breach of justice Shrien Dewani to return that Shrien could face in to South Africa in order to South Africa. Though the ‘face justice’ there." two families are strung by To all this Shrien's the commonality of an cousin Akta Raja and irreparable loss, a clear Andrew Jackson wrote an division of opinion, faith open letter in The Sunday and a smog of doubt is Telegraph (2nd Jan 2011), quite clearly present. pleading about Shrien's On the 31st December innocence. They wrote, The Sun published a letter "Prove it to us journalists. where Anni's very close Prove it to all of us. Put friends have urged Shrien the pieces together- they to look beyond himself are waiting to be found. and realise that the fight is Forget rent-a-quote rent not about him but it is boys and spurious lies; forget racial slurs and dubiabout justice for Anni, and a proper punishment for ous leaks. There is a prize the guilty. They have for you here, too. That raised questions like: why prize is truth. It is Shrien did the couple go to a Dewani's innocence and restaurant at such a dishis future. There is no tance, why was Shrien left greater prize than this." unharmed, why, also, is he In the same article using a publicist in the UK Akta has mentioned that and not going to South writing in South Africa's Africa to prove his innocence and much more.

We wonder, if these people realise that Shrien has lost his wife and a dream companion and a possible future of bliss. We also wonder if these friends realise that Shrien has to clear his name to fight for justice for his dead wife.

Conroversial Judge Hlophe It is not easy, while he himself is Times journalist Anton battling depression and Ferreira has painted a pictrying to seek solace. ture based on fact. She has Daily Mail has reportwritten "be afraid Shrien ed an outburst from Anni's Dewani, be very afraid. If father Vinodbhai you are extradited to Hindocha on 3rd January South Africa, the police 2011, who has allegedly will treat you like an aniclaimed to have heard a worried voice, few hours mal, cook up false evibefore she died. Daily Mail dence against you, and writes, "Vinod Hindocha then throw you into an

Shrien and Anni Dewani

overcrowded jail ruled by gangs where you will rot for the rest of your life."

This terrifying picture is lent weight by William Booth, chairman of the Criminal Law Committee of the Law Society of South Africa. He noted (as reported by Akta and Andrew), "It's been established in South Africa that there's been manipulation of evidence [in other criminal cases]- that goes to the heart not only of the police investigation, but of the prosecution...The overcrowding in prisons, [Shrien's] right to have medical treatment- there's very little medical treatment within prisons, we know that."

Shrien Dewani, 31, from Bristol, is next due to appear in a British court for a preliminary extradition hearing on January 20. His lawyers will argue that there is no proper evidence against him and that his case will be prejudiced in South Africa, where trials are conducted by a judge without a jury.

Britain's controversial extradition laws, brought in by the Labour Government in 2003, are currently under review amid growing fears they give little protection to

Redbridge doctor challenging colleagues A doctor who says King George Hospital saved his wife’s life, is challenging colleagues who back the closure of its A&E to “put their name down” and make their views public, reports the Ilford Recorder.

Dr David Shubhaker, pictured, said: “I have never heard a doctor working in Redbridge say they want it to close.”

Proposals to close the services have been approved but campaigners pledge to take their fight to the government.

Dr Shubhaker, who works at Barkingside

Medical Practice, Cranbrook Road, Barkingside, rallied colleagues in the summer to put their name to a petition in opposition to the closure threat.

He is contacting doctors again to start a sec-

ond petition.

Dr Shubhaker’s feelings have been strengthened after his wife, Dr Urmila Shubhaker, had a cardiac arrest after an asthma attack earlier this month. He is convinced she would not be alive had she not gone to her nearest hospital, King George.

A protest march has been organised by campaigner Wilson Chowdhry for January 29.

Protesters will march from Little Heath Green to Ilford Town Centre from noon.

British citizens who face politically motivated trials abroad.

The Dewani family believe the businessman, who owns a number of care homes, is being accused of orchestrating the killing in a staged carjacking to protect South Africa's lucrative tourism industry.

Judge Hlophe has been at the centre of a series of alleged controversies since being appointed president of the Western Cape High Court in 2000. In 2007, his behaviour was branded 'unacceptable' by the Judicial Services Commission, South Africa's legal watchdog, which investigated payments he had received from an asset management company without declaring them.

Judge Hlophe allegedly went on to give the company legal permission to sue a fellow judge for libel.

The Commission decided, however, there was insufficient evidence to proceed with a formal public hearing into gross misconduct.

The judge allegedly insisted he had 'oral consent' to receive the payments from a justice minister who had subsequently died.

and that plea bargain was The following year, the rushed through the courts judge was again investiwith unseemly haste." gated by the Judicial The extradition Services Commission after process is likely to be a two senior justices serving drawn out affair and could in the Constitutional take several months and Court, the highest in the land, claimed the Judge possibly much longer.

Hlophe had attempted to Should the British influence a corruption authorities give the go investigation involving ahead, Mr Dewani's legal Jacob Zuma, the South team, led by Clare African president.

Montgomery QC, is likely Mr Hlophe denied to lodge a series of appeals approaching that could end up in the the European Court of Human Constitutional Court Rights. members and warning A spokesman for them to rule in favour of South Africa's specialist Mr Zuma. He has branded crime unit dismissed the allegations 'utter rubclaims the case against Mr bish' and accused enemies Dewani is 'flimsy' and of plotting against him. insisted the businessman In August 2009, the would receive a fair trial.

JSC dropped its investiga'Satyameva Jayate'tion into the complaint against him made by the The truth alone will triConstitutional Court. umph. How much one In the latest embartries, nothing can hide the rassment, his son truth. The Dewani and Thuthuke was convicted Hindocha family and in September of six counts friends must realise this is of fraud, including buying not the time to fight a cold a BMW using a fraudulent war against each other. It is not a time to point fincheque. gers at Shrien or blame In the wake of the each other or not even the complaints, Judge Hlophe had taken a long leave of absence but returned to the bench and currently presides over the Dewani murder although whether he remains the trial judge should Mr Dewani be eventually extradited is unclear.

S o u t h Africa's national police commissioner General Bheki Cele has already branded Mr Dewani a 'monkey' who had deliberately come to the country to have his 28-year-old wife killed on Vinod Hindocha, Anni's father November 13. time to cry over spilt milk.

Paul Hoffman, a forIt is time stand together as mer High Court judge in a family, time to punish Western Cape and now Anni's guilty, it is time to head of South Africa's unearth facts, it is time to Institute for Accountability, said: "The find the person(s) who Dewani family has every turned a dream into a reason to be concerned. nightmare and it is time to "The case has certainly mend broken hearts. been handled unusually

Councillor cleared of false allegations A councillor who was suspended while under investigation by immigration officials has been cleared.

He is one of very few who have been able to establish his innocence against such a powerful institution.

Cllr Muhammed Javed, pictured, was the subject of an allegation over a letter in which he apparently deliberately gave false information to help a non-

UK citizen into the country.

Re d b r i d g e Council’s monitoring officer had been asked to probe the allegations, based on a letter apparently written by the councillor on July 30, 2009. But after immigration officials at the UK Border Agency looked into the case, they decided Cllr Javed did not have a case to answer.

Leader of the Labour

group, Cllr Bob Littlewood, said he was not happy about suspending the Clementswood ward councillor. He told a local paper: “The complaint was made by the UK Border Agency – a powerful organisation, following a reference made in a court case to a letter Cllr Javed had written to a constituent.

“I was not pleased about having to put in the suspension, but knew he would come out of the investigation fine.”

Asian Voice - Saturday 8th January 2011

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Asian Voice - Saturday 8th January 2011

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Let us make 2011 happier than last year for us all We’re richer, financially, than ever before but we’re still not happy. But, will we ever be?

According to Anthony Seldon of Wellington College in Berkshire, which has taught “happiness” to pupils for the past five years, ’there needs to be a realisation that contentment is about quality of life, not possessions’. This chimes with plans drawn up by David Cameron who recently asked the Office for National Statistics to gauge the population’s general happiness by creating a happiness index, making the UK one of the first countries to officially monitor happiness. Even Seldon’s new charity, Action for Happiness, which launches later this year, is founded on the premise that the increase in material wealth over the past generation has not made us happier.

A friend of mine once told me: God made man, man made money, money made man mad. But whilst money is an essential ingredient of life, our greed for it can often cause us to forget that life isn’t only about money.

But, the sad truth is, this realisation comes at a point in life when the clock cannot be turned back. And unfortunately, it usually takes a personal tragedy to bring with it the realisation that money really isn’t everything. Even then, some of us still don’t learn. As Pankajbhai Raval, priest at Southampton Hindu Temple, recently said at a peace vigil, “mankind is God’s worst creation on

Earth.”

Some consider good health as their wealth.

But with more medical conditions listed now than ever before, terminal or otherwise, so many of us are victim to the raft of remedies now available – thankfully. Again, ill health can bring with it realisation that money can only buy treatment.

But this soul awakening is short-lived, usually until we’ve fully recovered.

Then there’s those whose jobs have taken them far away, geographically, from their loved ones, often in their pursuit of wealth and career progression. Some see this as being ambitious.

The true test here is about level of satisfaction: Can we: (1) sustain our values and principles (2) ensure that the bonds with our loved ones and original social circles are not diluted, or broken (3) keep our ego at bay, and modesty on board.

It’s the quality, not quantity, of life that matters most, some say. But then, the latter is unknown to us all anyway. “Life is far too short”, as one millionaire GP from Birmingham who recently lost his wife Mohini to cancer recently told me. She was 42. And Mandeep, the mum-oftwo from Wolverhampton, who was killed suddenly in a horrific car crash. Separately, a promising overseas student who was murdered

by drunken youths in Coventry, just hours before his mother was due to arrive in the UK to see him. Some may put this down to fate. Would you?

We live in a society where so many of us are busy, “snowed under”, some may say. Yet, funnily enough, when we want to make time, we can.

Usually that’s when it suits us, which is proof of our selfishness. We’re so busy that even when death knocked on our door, we’d probably say ‘hang on, one more task to finish, come back later’ – if we had our way. Day in day out we hear of human tragedies, often about people we know, or know of. And whilst we are quick to offer our support and sympathy, naturally, we cannot feel the pain and loss as much as those who it affects directly. Thus, formality is one thing and reality, another. The truth is we realise only when it happens to us, be it a happy or sad experience.

One think-tank, the New Economics Foundation, which last month published a report

on how local government can make people happy, has come up with a fivepoint plan for contentment, as follows: connect (with family, friends and neighbours, and invest time in making relationships); be active (walk, run, garden, dance); take notice (be curious, notice the changing seasons); keep learning (try something new); give (do something for a friend or a neighbour, smile).

Scores of experts have been, and still are, trying to find solutions to create a happier society.

According to economist Lord Richard Laynard, “Britain has been infected with an unhealthy dose of individualism caught from our American cousins”.

He explained: “Under individualism, if you ask what is your main object in life it is to make you happy, not what you can contribute to others’ happiness. The greatest difference between happy people and unhappy people is whether they see other people as a threat or enjoyment.”

Let the start of this New Year be a jolly good reason for us all to rekindle broken relationships, wish all well, give credit where due and attempt to live life to the fullest, not at the expense of others, and embrace those who are genuinely less fortunate than we are. As they say, give to the world the best you have, and the best will come back to you.

Chief cop to hang up uniform Britain’s highest-ranking police officer of Indian origin, Anil Patani, is to retire next month. Mr Patani, pictured, who is Assistant Chief Constable of West Midlands Police, currently holds the security portfolio for the force, including the West Midlands counter terrorism unit.

Nationally, he is the UK lead for India on policing issues. He frequently visits India, most recently last month, in a bid to improve collaboration on policing issues between the two countries. His outstanding contribution to the force, his noble values, pride and principles, modesty, integrity, deep commitment and dedication to improving policing, his personal campaign for equality, fair-

known ever since he joined the force in 2003 from nearby Nottinghamshire Police where he was in command for the city of Nottingham. Mr Patani, who is the Chair of the

ness and justice for all, deserves full credit. He has gone the extra mile, always, to serve diverse communities, locally and nationally, putting the safety of the public ahead of his own. Recently, I was asked by the President of Birmingham Law Society, Dean Parnell, to name six selfless, genuine ambassadors and do-ers for our region. Top of my list was Mr Patani, whom I have

British Police Cricket Club, is son of Dwarkadas and Lilaben Patani, originally from Bhanvad in Gujarat, India, currently residing in Leicester. Saluting you, Anilbhai!

Qazi avoids jail for £18k fraud A former BBC Asian Network DJ, Lubna Qazi, pictured, who helped herself to more than £18,000 in a benefit fraud has been shown mercy by a judge because of her devotion to her paralysed husband.

Conditionally discharging her for 12 months Recorder Collingwood Thompson QC said Qazi’s was an “exceptional case” as she had nursed her husband “with devotion” after he suffered a massive stroke in 2002 which left him 75 per cent brain-damaged, paralysed and unable to speak. Qazi, 53, from Kings Heath, Birmingham, who earned almost £25 an hour, was ordered to pay £17,414 compensation.

News in Brief Brum to London in 49 mins Travellers will be able to go from Birmingham to London in just 49 minutes as part of the High Speed Rail 2, or HSR2, a new £33 billion rail link. The 250mph line is set to “transform” the region’s economy. A public consultation on the preferred route will start next month and construction is due to start in 2016.

Cop dog enters national contest A police dog has been nominated for a national award. German Shepherd dog, Major, aged 8, who has worked for Staffordshire Police since 2004, is in the running for the National Police Dog of the Year Award. Major has been nominated for his bravery in detaining a man firing a gun. He took hold of the man’s right upper arm, bringing him to the ground, enabling his handler to disarm and arrest the man. Major, who retired last month, will be living with his handler, PC Lance Stevenson, pictured, as a family pet.

Sad loss

Scores of mourners turned out last Thursday to pay their final respects to Mohanlal Bhimji Vaya (Pattni), one of Birmingham Hindu community’s most well-known faces. He was 87. Originally from the Kenyan capital Nairobi, Mr Pattni leaves behind three sons, two daughters, five grand-daughters, nine grandsons and two great-grandchildren.

Guard jailed for grooming schoolgirl A Midland security guard has been jailed for a year after he tried to groom a schoolgirl for sex. Preet Singh, 34, from Walsall, had encouraged the girl to drink alcohol and dance provocatively after meeting her when she was just 14 years of age, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard. Singh was convicted by a jury at the end of his trial of grooming the girl for sexual purposes and was further ordered by the judge to register as a sex offender for five years.

Legal award for Shareen A solicitor from the Student Loans Company has been honoured with a national award. Shareen Gault, 30, head of legal and compliance, was named young in-house lawyer of the year at the British Legal Awards 2010 at a ceremony in London.

Indian dance role model honoured An internationally-acclaimed Indian dancer has been recognised for her outstanding contribution to cultural diversity in Cheshire. Kajal Sharma, pictured, was presented with the special award by Cheshire Asian and Minority Communities Council at a glittering ceremony attended by UN diplomats. Mrs Sharma, 45, from Chester, is married to businessman Satish Sharma and the couple have two sons, Bharat, 16, and Gunchit, aged 12. To find out more visit www.kathakkajal.webs.com

D-Day This Tuesday (Jan 4) marked National Divorce Day. This period is traditionally the busiest time of the year for divorce lawyers. A poll of Britain’s top 100 divorce lawyers has revealed the number of clients reporting marriage breakdowns will be up by 40 per cent this year, with couples fighting to get the first legal appointment of the year.

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YOUR VOICE Obama in India

Shri A L Sharma makes a valid point in that the Indian government chose not to allow President Obama to celebrate Diwali in order to maintain its secular credentials. There are two problems why this happened, firstly India did not win independence through war, it was a case of Britain running away after becoming bankrupt at the end of WWII leaving many colonial oddities as law (many anti Hindu), secondly on partition of the British colony the muslims were handed an Islamic state and the Hindus got nothing.

What they got was a secular state.

Ask an average Indian what secular means and I am certain they will give a blank look, or the western educated few will proceed to explain how secularism was created by the French Republic to limit the role of the Catholic church in the French state.

This has no relevance to the vast ancient and incomparable Hindu history which could have been the source for the foundation of a new Bharat. So a foreign concept suited to keep the Catholic church at bay is used against the Hindus of India, one only has to read the excellent series on Mahabharata AV publishes to understand that Hindu Dharma is not a religion but an entire system and way of life so advanced, the West has yet to comprehend.

Jayesh A. Patel Via Email

Frozen Britain The snow which has fallen over Britain in two tranches in November and December reminds me of this nursery rhyme.

The Arctic wind blows and chaos ensues. Airports at a standstill, passengers stranded at Heathrow and Gatwick and long queues at St Pancras station.

People spending nights under aluminium sheets on airport terminals, cars skidding on the roads, jack-knifed lorries blocking major highways, people falling over and breaking their limbs and so on. A spate of flash snow falls and an advanced country like Britain grinds to a halt. The treacherous roads became impassable.

Cars skidded and even aeroplanes kidded off the runway. Local Councils did not grit the side roads and footpaths and they turned into ice rinks. One would have thought that after similar problems of last year, we would have learnt the lesson and be prepared for such a catastrophe, but no. Even in the 21st century, advanced countries are brought to their knees by mere snowflakes. We are not out of the woods yet. The communication and transport services and other infrastructure systems should run more efficiently. The country cannot just grid to a halt!

Dinesh Sheth Newbury Park, Ilford

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Asian Voice - Saturday 8th January 2011

Immigrants and their importance I read your article on the cap on migrants. The surprising factor is despite of being declared unlawful, Ms Theresa May does not seem to realise the worth of immigrants in this country. We are aware that there new changes that are coming up in April. I feel it is unfair scrap off the Tier 1 General.

Small and medium businesses which need skilled workers, do not always have money to organise a sponsor visa. They prefer their workers to have their own visa. But if the Tier 1 is scrapped off, it will be tough for those businesses to find skilled workers.

UK is in a bad economical shape. The government cannot blame the immigrants or make them pay the brunt for it.

The immigrants have only come and taken those jobs- which were never done by the natives. The reality is most of the natives drop out from schools, colleges, spend life on benefits. Or the capable ones emigrate to Australia. So the immigrants have helped this country to flourish. Just because there is an economical downturn, they cannot be removed!

The government must realise all immigrants are not unworthy. They have an enormous economic contribution.

Nazi-RSS comaprison

Inequality is unfair

It is outrageous on the part of a ignorant senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh to make comparison between RSS and Nazis. Mr. Singh should know that more than five million jews were killed by the atrocities committed by Nazis and Fascists. The comparison is an insult to millions of Jews who died in gas chambers. Sonia Gandhi who comes from Italy should know that Italians and the Pope were also responsible for sending millions of Jews to concentration camps and for gassing them to death.

RSS is aiming to protect the interests of Hindus who are in majority in India.

The present UPA government is run by the Muslims, Sikhs and Christians who represent less than 15 percent of the population and accuse Hindus (saffron brigade) for terrorist activities in India.

The present government is arresting innocent Hindus and their leaders as terrorists in order to appease Muslims for their political aims.

The sad thing is that Hindu leaders like Ravi Shankar, Swami Ramdev and other Hindu spiritual leaders do not defend Hindu religion unlike Christian and Muslim counterparts.

In America, between 1976 and 2007, the top 1percent of households' share of income grew from 8.9% to 23.5%.

The rich can afford to live in better neighbourhoods, can give their children the healthcare and nutrition that allow them to grow up healthily and can hire tutors and learning aids if their children fall behind.

Poor, less well-educated couples are more likely to break up, and when that happens the economic consequences are more severe than the well off: the cost of maintaining two establishments, shuttling children between two parents, and child care eat up a bigger fraction of poor parents' income, leaving less for other basic necessities, let alone counselling and remedial tuition to help devastated children cope with the breakup. [Fault Lines by Raghuram G Rajan, formerly Chief Economist, IMF].

The same is happening in England. A high price to pay by adopting American Ideology.

Arun Vaidyanathan Via Email

Anand Sinha London

Foreign students The education page of 25th December has a story about university education. I am a foreign student, who has settled in Britain now. I agree and disagree with your article. It is a pity that education has become so expensive in this country. But as an Indian, I cannot complain much. In India education is expensive too. I have studied at top most colleges in Delhi and paid bombshell for it. In the UK I have paid oodles to do my post graduation.

Private colleges so far has been not helpful as it deprives students of the PSW status of immigration. Now obviously this will not be an issue.

However I refuse to agree with the undertone of the article- that a course in Britain is expensive and is not worth the money. Education in the British universities gives a fantastic ambience that you will not find in any part of the world. The student life, the fantastic libraries/books, the exposure to a multicultural community- those are exclusive! Also the job guarantee (in any part of the world) that most of the students in professional course have- after passing out from a British University, cannot be undermined.

I think British universities offer much more than just a short tenure. It is an experience worth investing in.

Learn it from the jews I read the article written by Kartik "Learn it from the Jews" (AV 25th Dec, pg 4). Though the article says we must learn from the British Jews, but interestingly we have more representation in the House of Commons.

I do agree with Baroness Flather, who has said that parents from ethnic background do not encourage their children to become a councillor or a MP. That is probably because the financial security amongst us is much lower.

Also I think the British Jews have been in this country for longer. Whereas the bulk of Indians arrived from East Africa around 1950s and 60s, but the British Jews have been here since the 18th century or probably even before.

The Indians were only given freedom 60 years back. It is wrong to expect them to be as competent as the British Jews.

Whether it is nobel prize or any other achievements the Indians have not been in Britain for too long.

Lastly but leastly, Britain needs to encourage its ethnic community to take part in politics. The politics in Britain is still dominated by the Oxbridge graduates. British politics is yet to be meant for the middle class- that constitues most of British Indians.

I have been following the Shrien Dewani story quite closely. I refuse to believe Shrien has something to do with Anni's death. Vinodbhai has lost his daughter. He is grief stricken. Looking back now Vinodbhai might feel she sounded worried on the day of her death.

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

Be warned, be prepared With advancement in medical science and higher living standard, one in six Briton will live to celebrate their 100th birthday by the middle of this century that will create a dramatic demographic transformation.

Wonder drugs like aspirin, statin and beta-blocker has virtually halved the deaths due to heart failure, along with early diagnoses with the use of CT angiography and other advancement, both in detection and treatment has already raised our lifespan to well over 80 years.

With more than nine million centurions, longevity will create its own problems, raising worrying questions, making heavy demand on NHS and above all paying pensions for 35 years or more to some 40% of the population will bankrupt the nation. The only alternative is to raise the retirement age well above seventy and make every individual responsible for their financial wellbeing.

OAPs need support on many fronts, in housing, personal and medical care besides drawing pensions. All these measures need finance that we do not have. Perhaps compulsory savings with generous tax benefits and social housing, retirement homes for the elderly will go a long way in making life comfortable for the old and the fragile.

Sarita Sinha Petts Wood, Kent

Bhupendra M Gandhi Via Email

It’s just the way the mind works, especially when it is the victim’s father.

We do not know what happened actually. But that does not make Shrien a murderer. The court is yet to prove that.

Trusting the South African government or any of its evidence is absolutely misleading. They had claimed Shrien was involved in Pox Raghavjee's murder. But

he has been proven innocent. We can see that they would go any extra miles just to save their tourism industry. A deeper investigation is required to find the real guilty.

Vivek Singh London

Is Shrien really guilty?

Nagindas Khajuria Via Email

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

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

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

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Asian Voice - Saturday 8th January 2011

11

12

MEDIA WATCH

Asian Voice - Saturday 8th January 2011

Scrutator’s Chinese Premier Wen Jiaoibao's presence in India almost overlapped the arrival of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, the last leader of the five permanent members of the UN Security to have visited India in the past six months. Each visitor, from David Cameron to Barack Obama, Nicolas Sarkozy to Wen Jiaobao, underlined the the political and economic capital vested in the India relationship by their respective countries, but none has been as time-tested as the ties between India and the Russian Federation or its previous Soviet incarnation.

Following his oneto-one 90-minute talks with President Prime Medvedev, Minister Manmohan Singh told waiting reporters, that Russia had been a “time-tested friend of India, that it has stood by us in our time of need in the past...ours is a special and privileged strategic partnership. It is a partnership that has and will continue to (Right) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh develop independent of welcoming Russian President Dmitry Medvedev our relations with other countries.” (The Hindu December 22).

A number of far-reaching agreements were signed by the parties, of which the decision to cooperate in the design of the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft and to co-produce the warplane, the only one to match America's F-22 in speed and lethal fire power. Rajeev Sharma, a Delhi-based strategic analyst wrote (December 23): “This is the biggest ever defence programme in India's history....The total value of the entire project, involving the production between 250-300 aircraft (by each side) . will top the $30 billion mark....the aircraft will include stealth and super-cruise capabilities as well as enhanced situation awareness, internal carriage of weapons and network-centric warfare capabilities. The aircraft will be based on Russia's prototype fifth generation fighter....India and Russia will be jointly marketing it to third countries..... pitchforking India into the lucrative defence market.”

Describing Indo-Russian ties as “special” and not simply a “figure of speech”, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev assured India of every help in its war against terror on a visit to the Indian Institute of Technology in Mumbai, where he interacted with students and professors.

Other deals, GLONASS Other major deals, 30 in all, between India and Russia included the construction of Russian nuclear power plants, enhanced cooperation to exploit Russia's abundant reserves of oil and gas for mutual benefit, and in other areas such as IT and pharmaceuticals. Rajeev Sharma again: “Another very important Indo-Russian agreement.... is Russia's agreeing to provide GLONASS high-precision navigation signals to India. This can be a game changer in a war,” as it will direct missiles to their target. The US is unwilling to share its similar satellite Global Positioning Syatem (GPS) with any foreign power in wartime.

Sandeep Joshi covered the GLONASS item in The Hindu (December 22). He said the new Indian-Russian Science and Technology Centre would facilitate programmes of innovation and research in both countries and intensify their cooperative ventures in science and technology.

Russia signed up to a declaration condemning international terrorism and supported India's candidature for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council.

This contradicts the inaccurate

electoral success. Mr Aiyer writes: Many say that fast GDP growth has benefited only a few rich businessmen. That's simply false. The latest data and research that record GDP growth has benefited the masses and the poorest states.

Poverty has fallen sharply and the poorest states have increased growth amazingly.

That's one reason so many incumbent governments in poor states have been re-elected. For decades, anti-incumbency dominated elections, and three-quarters of incumbents governments lost. But the trend has reversed in the past few years: suddenly three-quarters of incumbents are winning.

“Congress was re-elected in the 2009 parliamentary elections. Several chief ministers were re-elected too. Nitish Kumar in Bihar is the latest example. Earlier examples were Orissa, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Chhatisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.....the BJP lost (in the Centre) in 2004 because neither growth nor poverty reduction improved significantly. The UPA was re-elected in in 2009 because both growth and poverty reduction improved hugely....Statistics reveal that economic growth skyrocketed between 2000-2004 to 20042009 from 4.5 per cent to 12. 4 per cent in Bihar, from 4.8 per cent to 10.2 per cent in Orissa,and from 6.1 per cent to 9.7 per cent in Chhatisgarh, while UP has moved from 3.3 per cent to 6.7 per cent.”

The explosive growth of poor states has raised overall national growth from 5.6 per cent under thev thje BJP to 8.5 per cent under Congress-led dispensation. Previously poverty (under the BJP) declined by 1 per cent, today the figure is 3.3 per cent. There is much food for thought here.

GSLV explodes Synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) on Christmas day (December 25) ended in a spectacular failure. About 47 seconds into its flight it veered off course and the flight was duly aborted.

Chairman ISRO K.Radhakrishnan told a press conference: “The controllability of the vehicle was lost after 47 seconds because we found that the command to control the vehicle failed to reach the actuator system in the first stage of the flight.....We suspect that a connector chord , which transmits the signal, has snapped.”

Director of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in

Prithvi-II flight-tested A Hindu report (December 23) told of the successful tests of “two nuclear-capable Prithvi-II missiles within an hour of each other.” According to a top Defence Research & Organisation Development (DRDO) official, “the advanced inertial navigation guidance system enabled the missiles to achieve precision. All the radars, electro-tracking systems and telemetry stations along the coast monitored the trajectory parameters of the vehicle.”

Nano excels

President Medvedev addressing an IIT audience in Mumbai

statement by Financial Times columnist, Philip Stephens, who claimed that Russia had joined China in opposing India's entry (FT December 18). A famous English journalist in years past had pronounced, that facts were sacred but comment was free.

Mr Stephens clearly has lowlier standards. Each to his own.

Fast growth, a game changer Swaminathan Ankleshwarya Aiyer produced a valuable thinkpiece on the Times of India's blog (December 26), which claimed that fast economic growth opened up new vistas of

According to the Hindu newspaper (December 23), Tata Morors reported that its Nano had received the good design award for 2010, by the Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies. The award for the Tata Nano is in the transportation category. The Tata Nano's design is such that it offers an incredibly spacious passenger compartment which can comfortably seat four adults.

With a length of 3.1 metres, width of 1.5 metres and height of 1.6 metres.MNano has the smallest exterior footprint for a car in India; it is 21 per cent more spacious than any car in its category. The company has announced a four-year warranty or 60,000 kilometres manufacturing warranty to woo customers. Tata Motors also announced a special financial scheme by which a customer will get within 48 hours, a loan for the Nano.(The Hindu December 23).

GSLV fails The launch of India's Geo-

Prithvi-II missiles successfully flight-tested

Thiruvanthapuram P.S. Veeraraghavan explained that the failure was located in was the connector, which failed to carry the signal. “So it was not basically a design problem but a problem of the connector snapping,” he said.

However, the previous GSLV test in April (2010) also failed., bring the number GSKV test failures to 4 out of 7 launch tests carried out. This is not a happy statistic (The Hindu December 26).

The launch operations were were guided by DRFDO scientists P. Venugopal, Director, DRD Laboratory, S.P.Dash Director, Integrated Test Range VLN Rao, Programme Director, D>S?Reddy and Adalat Ali, project directors oversaw operations.

Defence Minister A.K.Antony and Scientific Adviser to the Defence Minister S.K. Saraswat congratulated the scientists. Roll on, 2011.

UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 8th January 2011

National Hindu Students Forum (UK)

By Tejal Shah, Publications and Marketing

My Search For My Identity I write this article in the hope that I will inspire, relate too, or even simply encourage my fellow Hindu brothers and sisters to actively search for what it means to them to be a Hindu. As, for me, it was just this search which filled the missing gap in my identity.

Of course, being raised in a Hindu family has meant that Hindu values have been installed in me from a young age, and some may argue that that, in itself, was enough to form the basis of my identity. The rest was up to me. However, I still felt detached from my community and felt confused how to live as a Hindu in western society.

The importance of

my need to search deeper for my identity didn’t really hit me until I moved away from home to study at university.

Not being around my role models i.e my parents, forced me to have to make decisions that I would not have faced at home. The pressures of student life and the ease at which to conform to the typical student stereotype meant that temptation to make the wrong choice sometimes seemed the easier option. A way to fit in perhaps.

Luckily for me however, the aid which helped me in my search was a society dedicated to helping Hindu students promote, protect, practise and preserve their Hindu Dharma.

The National Hindu Students Forum UK (NHSF) is a society like no other. Holding a wide scale of events from a weekly arti, discussions and sporting activities, I was able to learn, question and meet people from all walks of life, each united with the willingness to search or preserve their Hindu Dharma. For me, the NHSF was my home away from home.

Someone once said to me why should you let change society change you, why can’t you change society? I believe this. Be who you want to be. Be true to yourself.

And in return, you will have the strength to make the right decisions on your journey to salvation.

Ashok J Rabheru Awarded CVO in New Year Honours List Charity supporter and IT chief, Ashok J Rabheru, has been awarded a CVO (Commander of the Victorian Order) in the New Year Honours List.

Ashok was given the prestigious award in recognition of his work for The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. He served as a Trustee of the DofE from 2000 until December 2010 and was a prominent member of the steering group for planning and raising funds for the 50th anniversary of the DofE in 2006.

Mr. Rabheru revealed, “I am flattered to receive this personal award. I am constantly humbled by the efforts that so many volunteers put in to enable the DofE Award (www.DofE.org) to function and grow. It has been a privilege to participate and I have enjoyed myself immensely. This honour may be undeserved, but is greatly appreciated”.

Although Ashok has retired as a Trustee he will continue to work as Chairman of the Joint Funding Board in relation to both the UK and International aspects of the DofE. He also sits on the Advisory Board of the DofE International Award Special Projects chaired

by HRH The Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex.

Mr Rabheru is an active supporter of several other charities including Combat Stress (www.combatstress.org.u k) and Debra (www.debra.org.uk). He is also closely involved in working with the Asian

community.

The Wiltshire-based adventurer, David Hempleman-Adams, a Trustee of the DofE, commented that Mr Rabheru was a deserved recipient of the special honour.

Mr HemplemanAdams said, "A Commander of the Victorian Order is a personal gift from the Queen and therefore is a uniquely special honour. Ashok and his family should be deservedly proud.”

"This is a wonderful recognition for someone who, for many years, has put in an immense amount of time and effort as a Trustee of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award.”

"Ashok's personal story is a true inspiration.

He came to this country as a young boy with very little and has gone on to give so much back to young people in the UK." Mr Rabheru was born in Morogoro, Tanzania in 1952 and emigrated to the UK at the age of 15. He gained a B Sc at the University College London followed by an M Phil in Applied Mathematics at The Royal Holloway College and a Post Graduate Diploma in Computing at London University.

Ashok is married to Harshida and they are parents to triplets: Rishi, Shayan and Nikita.

He started his career in the IT industry and went on to found the Genisys Group in 1985.

Since its modest beginnings, as a small five-person company, it has grown considerably and now has

offices in three continents and employs over 2,200 staff. Ashok accompanied Tony Blair on two business delegations; one to Bangalore in 2002 and, in 2005, to Beijing and New Delhi, at the EU-China and the EU-India Summits.

Ashok Rabheru started his entrepreneurial life by creating an award-winning franchise of Computerland. He then went on to start the first company in the Genisys Group, Genisys Enterprise, which is a leading UK reseller for HP, IBM, Cisco and Microsoft and other leading IT manufacturers. An extensive services arm has been built up to complement the reseller activity.

10 years later, Ashok Rabheru started Genisys Software. This company offers software and Business Process Outsourcing services and operates from the UK Head Office in Basingstoke, as well as from offices in the United States and Bangalore, India. This business has been very successful and has involved a major building programme in Bangalore, in India, to keep up with demand.

The latest addition to the group is our IT Consulting company, Genisys Consulting, which was created in 2006. Genisys Consulting complements the rest of the group by providing expertise in the IT lifecycle from feasibility studies through to the production of design specifications.

13

Alpesh Patel’s Political Sketchbook:

The Politics of Scandal There is a scene in the movie Casablanca when the local police officer storms the club and shuts it down claiming ‘imagine my horror to see there is gambling going on here’.

He does this as the Casino croupier hands him his winnings. The point is there is a time for all sheriffs when it makes more sense not to be part of the corruption but they can make even more money by closing it down.

Imagine with the telecoms scandal in India. Or the IPL. There gets a point when the regulators can and should turn around and say ‘imagine my horror there was impropriety in the issuance of licences’. And they revoke those licences. And maybe even resell them.

The governmental appropriation of licences is a lucrative business.

Any place there is a requirement for a licence there is room for the seller to make money – even if it is a telecoms licence. Heck if they could governments would sell licences for blue sky. But even better than selling a licence is to resell it.

Telenor the Norwegian Telecom’s company has warned the Indian Government that allegations of improper licence purchases some time after those licences were originally acquired does not bode well for the the Government.

Government’s to some extent can be like the mafia. Certainly the US Government believes that of the Russian Federation according to Wikileaks. The mafia will kill its own on two occasions. One is if anyone of its member gets too greedy and kills the market for everyone else. The second is if on its member gets to flashy. So you will hear governments sometimes talking about how ‘conspicuous consumption’ is bad. Bad because if you draw to much attention to yourself then the public may awaken and ask for a cleanup. Corrupt governments, like the mafia, don’t mind illicit gains, they do mind if those future gains are jeopardised because someone draws too much attention to them.

Someone drew atten-

tion to telecoms licence corruption – alleged or real. Someone did the same with IPL. It’s lucrative in the mafia for the mafia head to take a territory away from a family member. It needs some excuse of excessive greed or flashiness.

The politics of government corruption operates the same way. The big corruption scandals of 2011 for the Indian government will be the allocation of nuclear materials, oil and copper mining licences and construction and land licences as well as defence contracts and licences. How do I know this? Rumours, inside track from ‘well placed’ sources within the Indian government and from business leaders in the know? Well a journalist cannot reveal sources. But let’s also say it’s down to common sense. Follow the money. Where there is lots of money, and little time in office, prudence gives way to greed. No longer able to contain themselves – the politicians will be in an unholy messy rush.

Expect scandals galore in 2011.

PUBLIC MEMBER Applications are invited for three new public members of the PCC, the body that deals with complaints about the editorial content of UK newspapers and magazines and their websites (including audio-visual material). The appointment – which is made by the full Commission, following recommendations by the Nominations Committee of the PCC, in conjunction with an Independent Adviser, is for an initial term of three years. Membership – which comes with remuneration of £11.75k per annum – involves nine board meetings in central London each year (usually on a Wednesday afternoon), and occasional ado Committee work. In addition, Commission members are sent papers for consideration each week.

Applicants will need to demonstrate a number of criteria, including: a record of achievement in their own walk of life; an understanding of the principles of self regulation, and its legal and political context; an understanding of the problems faced by those caught up in the media spotlight, in particular vulnerable groups of people, and a commitment to the public service of helping them. A full list of criteria is available on www.pcc.org.uk.

Because of the importance of the Commission’s independence, applicants should not have been employed in the newspaper and magazine publishing industry – at management or editorial level – for the last ten years.

A job description, and information about the applications process, is available on the PCC’s website www.pcc.org.uk. Applications must take the form of a CV and covering letter (addressing specifically how the candidate can meet all of the stated criteria) to be made

by Tuesday February 1st 2011. Interviews of a shortlist of candidates are expected to take place in the weeks beginning 14th and 21st February. For those without access to the internet, a copy can be obtained from Kim Baxter, PCC, Halton House, 20/23 Holborn, London, EC1N 2JD.

14

communITy

Asian Voice - Saturday 8th January 2011

Pollute and Prosper:

The way forward for India?

- Kruti Buch

m e n t .

Blossom’s film shocked Asian Foundation for the audience Philanthropy (AFP) celwith images of ebrated its achievements ash laden at its annual dinner on crops and 9th December with volwaste from unteers and supporters. the factory As an organisation being emptied working to inspire social into the vilchange amongst the lage River British Asian communiAril. ty, it has successfully A vibrant mobilised individuals to discussion folgive something back lowed the whether through volunfilm. People teering their time, their were stunned skills or their resources. by what they The event, held at had just seen.

SAF restaurant in It raised the Shoreditch, was the perissue of pursufect environment to for Jyoti Singh (Society for ing economic AFP supporters to netAgro-Industrial Education) development work but also to launch and Blossom Carrasco without thinkAFP’s new project of Amarpurkashi in ing about the environGyaan Yatra (which Uttar Pradesh. There she mental impacts. As one means knowledge jourmade a film about the AFP Supporter noted, ney in Sanskrit). This pollication devastating “We talk about growth project involves a leaderthis village. “In the but this is also the reality ship programme for pas1970s, as founder of of growth. We need to sionate and motivated Society for Agromake sure progress it individuals who want to Industrial Education, inclusive for all.” The become ambassadors of Jyoti Singh, recounted in film certainly left an change in their local the film, “this village was impression on the audicommunities. They do beautiful but poor.” Jyoti ence who were keen to this through a year-long told of how villagers learn how to take further bespoke training proaction. A list of action points (available on AFP’s website) gave the audience options on what they could do next.

The buzz and excitement from this thoughtprovoking documentary was clear throughout the rest of the evening’s entertainment. Ashish Monga, founder of the READ Initiative, reflected on the event. “I found it insightful and inspiration. AFP is a wonderful The audience at the restaurant organisation. It provides could not afford to buy a connection for British gramme where they vegetables and there Asians to reconnect to learn about the issues of were few employment roots and give back. For poverty and develop opportunities apart from people like me who are their own skills in getagriculture for local peoborn in India, it’s great to ting others involved. ple. see second and third genThe main feature of This all changed erations willing to put the event was Blossom when a paper factory their time and effort into Carrasco’s, powerful opened up in the village. making change happen.” film, Pollute and This brought employIf you would like to Prosper. Development ment and money into the find out more informaAmbassador, Blossom, a village. But it also tion about Asian talented filmmaker by brought great environFoundation for profession, volunteered mental damage as a Philanthropy and its with AFP partner, result of the factory’s diverse projects please Society for Agronon-compliance with look at the website Industrial Education proper waste managewww.affp.org.uk based in the rural village

Travel Hub Limited awarded by Jet Airways Established in 2004, Travel Hub Ltd has been awarded the best seller of Jet Airways tickets on 17th November 2010 in London.

Travel hub received Best seller of Jet airways award three years in a row now.

Vikash Gupta M D said, "Our aim is to give a massive choice of travel products at a affordable price- from package holidays, tailor made itineraries, scheduled and charter flights, business travel, cruises, car hire, world-

Lydia Nazareth (Jet Air General Manager Sales UK & Ireland), Vikas Gupta, Sachin Gupta, Directors Travel Hub Ltd and , Raja Segran (Senior Vice president Europe)

wide hotels, and ferries.

We are specialised travel consultants to provide you

the right choice of holiday or flight at the lowest possible price."

Ashiana celebrates its 10th anniversary Deepa Popat On Sunday, 12 December 2010, Ashiana celebrated their 10th Anniversary at Cannons High School in Edgware. In attendance were some 250 people including, service users, their carers, volunteers from Ashiana, distinguished guests including the worshipful Mayor’s of both the London Boroughs of Harrow and Brent, the Deputy Lieutenant of Harrow and various Councillor’s.

The afternoon was packed with fun and dance, information and a lot of interaction. Jay Kumar, a well known Bollywood dance choreographer took to the stage to teach everyone what he knows best some great bhangra dance

moves.

Cllr Asad Omar said, "This is the second Ashiana event that I have attended… the Bollywood workshop was wonderful and it is a great way of bringing the people together..”

The next item on the agenda was a Brazilian workshop of Capoeira involving a presentation

by Katherine Lucarotti followed by a demonstration of the art form which combines elements of dance, play and ritualistic fighting by Aldo De Souza. When Aldo got out his “berimbau” which looks like an archer’s bow and started playing the sounds, many an amazed face, looked on with sheer surprise. The audience was encouraged to try the moves whist Aldo

played the berimbau and pandeiro. Initially there was apprehension about what appeared to be complex moves but within minutes the whole floor was filled with the audience eager to try the kicks, flicks and turns.

The afternoon finished off with a delicious Mexican meal consisting of nachos, salsa, spicy rice and tortilla rolls which was prepared by the Lions Club. The food and fairy cakes went down a treat for both young and old.

Taruna Mistry, from Metropolitan Police said, “I thoroughly enjoyed the event and it is really good to see so many service users and carers. There has been a lot of insight into the superb work that Ashiana do."

North London girls guide the way to business success

of London, Boris A group of entrepreJohnson in their bid to neurial girls from promote London North London tourist attractions Collegiate School suitable for teenagers (NLCS) in Edgware and young adults in snatched the 'Best time for the London Overall Company' Olympics 2012. "We trophy in the interim really want to promote competition of local businesses and Young Enterprise, so have spent hours West London, on scouring London for Tuesday 14th Hadia Tariq, Serena Patel, Priya Shah the real "hidden jewDecember 2010 at (bottom row) with others els" that our demoan event attended by The Alternative (NLCS) graphic would love to read the Mayor of Brent, Cllr with their 'Alternative about and we've invested a Harbhajan Singh and the Passport to London' tour Mayor of Harrow, Cllr lot of time reviewing venguide.

Participating Asad Omar.

Young ues, attractions and offers groups go on to national Enterprise is a charity that to really bring the and European finals as works with schools to 'Alternative Passport to well as completing the London' to life in an encourage entrepreneurfunding of their business uncomplicated and to-theship among young people plans and producing their point way", explained via a nationwide scheme. products within the 12Priya Shah (17), the comThe NLCS girls stormed month school time table. pany's Sales Director. to victory with their prodJoint Managing The company is now uct 'The Alternative Directors of The finalising promotional Passport to London', a Alternative, Serena Patel vouchers to be included in teenage tour guide to the (17) and Hadia Tariq (17) the guide and hopes to Capital. Judges described said "we are so thrilled to launch the 'Alternative their entry as an innovahave won the 'Best Overall Passport to London' early tive idea executed with Company' prize. The whole in 2011with a groundconsiderable professionalconcept of running a busibreaking photo competiism both in the presentaness is new to us and it was tion run on its website and tion of their business plan hard work overcoming and their trade stand.

Facebook page in the New many of the obstacles we Among the nine Year. encountered, like raising entrants in the Young The Young Enterprise sufficient start-up funds; Company has been runEnterprise West London developing a brand identity ning since 1963 and over 1 interim competition were: and marketing our guide to million young people have Purple Crown (Harrow businesses in the tourism participated in the proHigh School) selling conindustry". The company's gramme to date. Students sumer products, Finance Director, Woojung aged 15-19 gain practical 'Footprints on the Moon' Ko (17) paid tribute to experience of business and (NLCS) marketing a busiteacher Stephen Goward, enterprise through setting ness success book; Take their Young Enterprise up and running their own Note (NLCS) manufacturcoordinator, and external real company. In West ing organisational prodbusiness advisers, entrepreLondon more than 600 ucts; East West Fusion neurs Akash Soni and young people from more (Heathfield School) who Lopa Patel, saying that than 30 schools across the stage events; Sound "without the invaluable region set up almost 40 Dreamz (JFS) selling blueadvice of our business mentooth enabled sleep pilstart-up companies. The tors, we would have found lows; Rising Stars (The programme is typically run it difficult to progress Swaminarayan School) in Year 10 (14-15 year beyond the first obstacle we who developed a health olds) or Year 12 Students encountered which was the (16-17 year olds). chart for children, Imagine high cost of publishing!"

(Asian Voice will pub(Kingsbury High School) The Alternative, which lish an exclusive interwho made greetings cards; comprises twenty-three view with Serena Patel Pic'N'Mix (JFS) who mangirls, hopes to attract an from The Alternative in ufactured wallets out of endorsement from Mayor the coming issues.) discarded wrappers and

UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 8th January 2011

Cameron’s migration cap challenged David Cameron’s target of capping yearly net migration in the “tens of thousands” could be scuppered by the UK’s economic strength relative to some weaker neighbours, research suggests.

The Institute for Public Policy Research, a pro-immigration thinktank, argues that the number of net arrivals is unlikely to fall much below 200,000 in 2011, a similar figure to this year.

This raises questions about how the prime minister will be able to halve net migration within the life of this parliament, an important pledge by the government. Ministers are particularly concerned about a fresh wave of immigration from Ireland as it attempts to fix its banking crisis.

The Economic and Social Research Institute in Ireland published a paper in July which predicted that 120,000 Irish

PM David Cameron

nationals could leave the Republic in 2010 and 2011 – with the UK among the favoured destinations.

People from countries such as Greece, Spain and Portugal could also be attracted to the UK if the British jobs market remains more robust than their own.

The prime minister has promised to restrict the number of non-Europeans coming to work in the UK from April, but this only accounts for between 2 and 3 per cent of yearly arrivals. People within the European Union cannot be barred from coming to

Britain to seek work.While the wave of Polish immigration seen in the middle of the decade has come to an end in recent years, there is still a large number of people arriving from Lithuania and Latvia.

Furthermore, official statistics show that the number of Britons emigrating from the country has fallen to decade lows, largely because the economic troubles of Spain have made it a less attractive destination. This makes it even more difficult to reduce net migration – the number of arrivals minus the number of departures.

Nick Pearce, a director of the IPPR, said: “Bringing down the level of immigration , which has been high in recent years, is a legitimate policy goal.

But this should be done by making long-term and sustainable reforms to the structure of our economy

125th Anniversary of Foundation of The Indian National Congress celebrated in the UK The 125th Anniversary of Foundation of The Indian National Congress was celebrated at the Indian Gymkhana, Osterley, in the UK in great style on Tuesday. Jointly organised by the Indian Overseas Congress (London) UK, headed by D L Kalhan and the Indo-British All Party Parliamentary Group.

Chairman Virendra Sharma MP, the event was attended by members of the IOC from different parts of the UK such as Mohinder Mandair, President of the IOC Birmingham and his colleagues, Mr Kulvinder Singh Lal President IOC Leicester and Amitabh Sharma and others. And many Indian-origin Councillors. Several leading NRIs were also honoured on the occasion.

They included Col. Rajagopal Srikanth, Councillor Anjana Patel, Councillor Ranjana Patel, Dr Kamla Mohan Chandok and Narinder Pal Sagger. Among those on the top table were Cllr Jagdish Sharma, leader of the Hounslow Council, Cllr Ajmer Dhillon and Mohinder Mander. And among the prominent personalities present on the occasion were Hari Singh, leading solicitor and founder of H S Law Solicitors.

Virendra Sharma, MP, also

DL Kalhan and Virendra Sharma, MP

launched on the occasion a concise history of Indian National Congress (18852010), compiled, researched and written by Kalhan. Speaking on the occasion, Kalhan recalled the pivotal role played by the Indian National Congress during the freedom struggle.

The Organisation not only spearheaded the freedom movement, but after the country was liberated from the British rule, helped to build a modern nation. "At a time when nations around the globe are losing ground to extremism, India's tradition of tolerance and its management of a large and diverse society can be an important learning ground for the world. It is due to this spirit and vision of the leadership of the Congress for a democratic, multireligious and multi-ethnic society in India that secularism is come to be syn-

onymous to tolerance of all faiths."

Virendra Sharma, MP said "India is a global power. Everybody recognises that. All economic experts predicted that in the next 15 to 20 years, India would emerge as a major economic power. Twenty years ago nobody would have visualised it. But the change has now been brought about by Narasimha Rao and Dr Manmohan Singh." He also wanted the NRIs settled in the UK to make their contribution to the economic, social and political upliftment in this country. He added, "Today we have 8 Indianorigin MPs and 210 Indian-origin Councillors.

By 2015 there must be at least 80 Indian origin MPs and over 400 such Councillors.

We can achieve these because of our commitment to the democratic process and hard work."

and labour market.”

Critics of the cap on non-European Union workers argue that it will damage the economy while doing little to cut numbers.

Mr Pearce warned that “other hasty measures to reduce numbers artificially would be even more damaging”.

The government is planning to slash the number of students coming to the UK from outside the EU, which is by far the biggest component of immigration – arrivals are running at about 300,000.

Ministers say that this route is routinely abused, and plan to cut numbers by at least 40 per cent, although it might take time to implement the changes.

Colleges and universities have warned that too harsh a regime could damage a thriving British export business that is worth billions of pounds to the exchequer every year.

15

Nine men remanded over Christmas bombing Nine alleged terrorists plotted a Christmas bombing campaign targeting sites that included the London Stock Exchange and Big Ben, a court heard.

Police were said to have found a list of six sites, including the full postal address of the Stock Exchange, Boris Johnson’s London mayoral office and the US embassy.

Defendants were seen studying the tower of Big Ben, before inspecting Westminster Abbey, the London Eye and the Church of Scientology.

Al-Qaeda inspired books and leaflets, including instructions on making a pipe bomb, were also uncovered during the counter-terrorism operation.

Details of the alleged plot were outlined at City of Westminster magis-

trates’ court.

The defendants, aged 19 to 28, were charged with conspiracy to cause an explosion and conduct in preparation for acts of terrorism, having been arrested during earlymorning raids in Cardiff, London and Stoke-onTrent on Dec 20.

Piers Arnold, prosecuting, said the list of landmarks was found during police searches. “A handwritten note was found next to a computer with six contact details handwritten. They included the name, full address and post codes,” he said.

Among the details were the addresses of the Dean of St Paul’s Chapter House and of two rabbis at separate synagogues.

All nine men, who are of Bangladeshi origin, were remanded in custody and are due to appear at the Old Bailey on Jan 14.

Bollywood

16 Asian Voice Saturday 8th January 2011

Ajith warns his fans Ajith Kumar has issued a warning to the members of his fans organisation that he would not hesitate to disband fan clubs if they failed to listen to his words.

In a statement, the ‘Thala’ said that he had come to know about some ‘unwanted’ activities by a section of his fans, without proper permission from the headquarters.

“If this continues, I will disband my fan clubs. I am a man who would always bow to

love and would never succumb to pressure.

So I request my fans not to indulge in unwanted activities,” he said.

Shriya judges Miss India South contest Glam doll Shriya was one of the judges at the Pantaloons Femina Miss India South 2011, which took place in Hyderabad recently.

“I’m judging Femina Miss India.

Suggest me an interesting question to ask the finalist,” she tweeted before the contest.

Shweta Dolli won the PFMI South 2011 title, followed by First Runner up Apoorva Mittra. Nidhi Sunil grabbed the Second Runner up title.

Piaa Bajpai, Kamna Jethmalani, Ragini Dwivedi, Lakshmi Rai, Charmi and Baba

Sehgal enthralled the audience with their performances. The panel of judges comprised Southern siren Shriya Saran, actress Lakshmi Manchu, Rana Daggubatti, Bangalore fashion designer Manoviraj Khosla and Femina Editor Tanya Chaitanya.

Yuvan’s Hollywood dreams Guess what Yu v a n s h a n k a r Raja is dreaming to achieve in 2011?

The young music composer wants to make a Hollywood debut in the forthcoming year and is working towards that.

“I always love to dream big. My plan for the New Year is to step into the Hollywood. I am seriously working in that direction,” the Raja Junior, who is getting ready for his first live concert in Chennai, says. Happy about 2010, in which he enthused fans with chartbusters in films such as ‘Paiyaa’ and

‘Nan Mahan Alla’, Yuvan says, “it was a great year and I expect 2011 to be more exciting.”

Ask him how he would unwind himself, Yuvan says, “Simple, like anyone else, I relax by listening to music. I would listen to songs by appa (Ilayaraja) and from ‘Aadhavan’ by my good friend Harris Jayaraj.”

al complexion and there was an outrage with many a fans dubbing it as racism.

Rai is currently preoccupied with her father's illness but was rather shocked when she found out about the picture editing.

"Aishwarya's first reaction was disbelief," a source close to the actress said.

The source added that Ash believed that these things don't happen anymore.

"Not in this day and age when women are recognized for their merit, and not for the colour of their skin. She is currently verifying this skinwhitening allegation. If there is any proof of this, she might even take action."

Interestingly, this isn't the

first and only racist allegation against Elle magazine. The September issue of the magazine showed off a much lighter and paler complexion of African American actress Gabourey Sidibe and the difference in fact was hard to miss, even to the undiscerning.

When questioned on this, Elle magazine claimed that it had not whitened the Academy Award-nominated actress's skin any more than those of the other models (white) clicked along with her.

Ash has appeared on an international advertisement with Kate Winslet and Taiwanese model Chi-Ling Lin as well. Wonder how much her complexion was altered for that one!

A R Rahman to go into sabbatical after the flops AR Rahman will go into voluntary exile in 2011.

Nettled by all the flak for his disappointing work in 2010 (‘Robot,’ ‘Raavan,’ ‘Jhootha Hi Sahi,’ the Commonwealth themesong), A R Rahman has decided to take a sabbatical from film scores in 2011.

This prolonged period of rejuvenation might do a wealth of good to Rahman’s creativity. But it’s causing a panic attack among Rahman loyalists in Bollywood like Ashutosh Gowarikar, Mani Ratnam and Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, who work with the Oscar winner.

After waiting for Rahman’s nod for months, Gowarikar finally gave up and found a new music

composer, Sohail Sen, for his film. Mani Ratnam too is

Sunny wants to step into dad's shoes Sunny Deol, known as an action star in Bollywood, is eager to do the role in " Dharam Veer" essayed by his father, veteran actor Dharmendra.

"I want to do a role which is something like the ' G l a d i a t o r ' .

Something very close to what my father did in 'Dharam Veer'. I think if 'Yamla Pagla Deewana' works, producers might listen to me and we can make a film on these grounds," Sunny said. Releasing Jan 14, "Yamla Pagla Deewana" will see Dharmendra tickling funny bones of moviegoers with his sons Sunny and Bobby Deol.

caught in a dilemma. And Rakeysh, who is working on

‘Run Milkha Run,’ will shoot the film’s sequences without songs for now. He will only add songs and music once Rahman returns to recording. Says Rakeysh, “To me it is inconceivable to make films without songs and music. And to have music without Rahman is a bit of a contradiction for me. Unfortunately, Rahman is not doing any music scores this year.”

But explains Rakeysh, “Anyway, I never shoot sync-songs. No one sings in my cinema. The songs are always in the background.

So getting Rahman to do the songs later in Run Milkha Run is not an impossibility.”

Let’s hope this partnership creates its magic again.

Sallu, Hrithik friends again Yes Salman Khan can actually forgive! With the record of maximum enemies in film industry, Salman Khan has decided not to add another one to the list. The actor has reportedly buried the hatchet with Hrithik Roshan. Hrithik Roshan and Salman Khan had a fallout after Sallu took potshots at Sanjay Leela Bhansali's “Guzaarish” in which Hrithik Roshan starred. Hrithik, who generally keeps to himself came out and called Sallu pompous. The war didn't end there. Salman went ahead and decided to clash the release of his upcoming film ‘Ready’ with Hrithik's ‘Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara.’

But that was it. Hrithik Roshan was invited to Sohail's birthday bash, and then the unexpected happened. When Salman and Hrithik came face to face, Sallu immediately hugged him. Both of them had a long chat post the lovey dovey hug. If this was not enough, Salman even requested Hrithik to stay longer than he was planning to.

17

Flex FX triumph in Europe

Row over Ash’s ‘whitened’ face in Elle magazine

Aishwarya Rai is planning to sue the international fashion magazine Elle for making her face visibly fairer that its actual colour on its cover. The controversy started when Ash's f a n s noticed the glaring discrepanc y between the star's ' a i r brushed' and actu-

Asian Voice - Saturday 8th January 2011

The year 2010 was an incredibly successful year for Flex FX with the team that just returned from Glasgow, Scotland for the Commonwealth Games Handover Ceremony and touring their dance spectacular ‘Essence’ and recently from Oslo, performing at the largest arts festival in Norway, Summer Splash. A team of 25 dancers, along with Naz Choudhury, the director and choreographer, participated in tours. FLEX FX were there to bring their unique mixture of hip-hop, latin, contemporary, kathak and bhangra all within a Bollywood narrative structure to the expectant crowd of Oslo and Glasgow. The group’s diverse mixture of Asian and non-Asian dancers and varying dance styles went down as a storm in both Glasgow and Norway with the group picking up an unexpected fan base along the way, including Princess

of Norway, to mainstream media, international dancers and so much more.

Being a regular fixture at London’s Zee Carnival, Flex FX has gained acceptance over the years in the British Asian community, thanks to crowd pleasing performances of both modern hip-hop infused Bollywood as well as older more traditional folk type songs. The team is an eclectic mix of dancers specialising in a multitude of styles demonstrating the

multi-faceted approach that Flex takes to Bollywood with many of the songs used being westernised Hip-hop beats coupled with traditional Indian vocals to make a customised musicality by DJ Flex. Flex FX has always wowed the audiences with much praise being voiced for the talented group. Leena Patel the head choreographer reminds us however that it’s not all glitz and glamour,

‘We are a diverse group of talented and committed individuals that truly come alive on stage. Our unique range of modern and historic styles of dancing all come together, successfully making us stand out from the crowd. With hours of rehearsals, grit and determination we pull together as a team to produce the best shows.’

Naz Choudhury, founder of Flex FX Productions spent a lot of time in Norway and Scotland with all the artists and production team.

‘Both experience were great for me and an honour for my team, the talent level outside England is very high’ he said.

In 2011 Flex FX will be holding open auditions in January for skilled individuals and dancers to join the official dance team. More information about the Flex FX is available on www.flexfxproductions.com

Asin ‘marries’ Salman Khan!

The press in the South India is claiming that Asin has “married” Salman Khan recently in the presence of close friends.

According to these reports, her parents weren't invited and stormed into the wedding mid-way and tried to stop it. The actress sighs deeply when responding, "At last, the rumours are coming true. Salman and I are finally married.

It's a first for both of us."

Too bad, it is only in a movie (Anees Bazmee's ‘Ready’). But Salman can't stop joking about the "solemn" occasion. "Hey

guys, I've finally done it," Salman has been shouting across the location at Film City to anyone in hearing distance.

The "news" of Asin's wedding has reached her native place Kerala.

When a local paper announced Asin's "marriage" with Salman with photographic evidence, the actress was flooded with congratulatory messages, with her fan base and relatives in Kerala wondering why she chose to marry without inviting near and dear ones.

She laughs, "You know,

I'm quite enjoying the joke about my wedding. I've been in my bridal outfit taking the saat pheras, for a week now. I almost feel I'm really married. The family opposition that is being talked about is also part of the script."

Asin adds that she never knew that getting married was so much fun and adventure. She says, "I've gone through Malayali, Tamil and Telugu marriages. But this is my first Punjabi wedding. And I love it. I even danced at my sangeet to Laung Gawacha."

Anil Kapoor in two minds to go bald Bollywood star Anil Kapoor has appeared in different avatars in different movies in his more than two decade long career in the industry. He is one Bollywood hero, who has ruled in the industry as a lead hero in the 80s even with his signature moustaches.

He has not seen much experimenting with his looks and even with hairstyles.

Now, there was a buzz that the actor is planning to go bald for his role in Rajkumar Santoshi’s movie “Power,” which also stars Amitabh Bachchan. Anil is turning villain for this film and wanted to look very fierce villain like Amrish Puri’s ‘Mogambo’.

Anil was seen clean shaved in the film “Lamhe,” which showed him in teenage during the first half. He even got his chest shaved for the role but the veteran star is in two minds now when he is supposed to go bald for his character in “Power.”

The actor said that he was still thinking about other options to make his character look best. Well, Anil has come a long way in his Bollywood journey so it will not be

very risky if he experiments with bald head now! He has even got recognition in Hollywood following his appearance in the Academy Award winning film “Slumdog Millionaire.”

No One Killed Jessica Based on a real life incident, killing of a model by a spoilt brat, the social thriller is produced by Ronnie Screwvala under the banner of UTV Spot Boy. Murder of Jessica, a young attractive model happened in New Delhi, the capital of India.

The film in fact, brings out the grit and determination of two other young women – Jessica’s sister and a TV reporter.

Jessica, while trying her hand at bartending, is shot dead at a celebrity party! Her crime - refusing to serve a drink after closing hours! The culprit Manish, son of a prominent politician, inebriated by a deadly cocktail of alcohol and a sense of entitlement, pulls the trigger in a fit of rage.

With 300 of Delhi's cream of socialites set present at the party, many of whom are witnesses to the murder, Manish looks all set to go to the gallows. Except, that it doesn't quite turn out that way! Now, two women, Jessica's sister, Sabrina and the feisty TV reporter, Meera will have to drum up every resource at their disposal to outwit Manish at his own game, if the truth is to have any chance of prevailing over money and political clout.

The film is directed by Rajkumar Gupta, who also has written the screenplay and dialogues.

The leading cast consists of Rani Mukherjee, Vidya Balan, Neil Bhoopalam, Rajesh Sharma and Shireesh Sharma.

Amitabh Bhattacharya has penned the lyrics, while Music is scored by Amit Trivedi.

New Hindi movies releasing this week 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

In fact, both Asin and Salman have decided they will get married Punjabi style, if and when it happens. "It's a pact. It will be a big fat Punjabi wedding."

Ashoka The Hero Impatient Vivek No One Killed Jessica Vikalp Yeh Faasley

Top 4 Bollywood movies for the week No. 1 2 3 4

Film Tees Maar Khan Toonpur Ka Superrhero Band Baaja Baaraat Isi Life Mein

Katrina eager to win Filmfare award Katrina Kaif may be Bollywood’s reigning beauty, but till now she has not won a Filmfare award and is “dying” to get her hands on the “Black Lady.”

"I haven't won a Filmfare award till now and I am dying to win one. But I can never be a judge for myself whether I should get a Filmfare award as it for the audience to decide," said Katrina who was at a function to announce the 56th Idea Filmfare awards. The 26-year-old is also on the cover of Filmfare magazine's latest issue along with her 'Tees Maar Khan' co-star Akshay Kumar. The actress who is tipped to be in the race for a Filmfare trophy this year for her performance in the hit political drama 'Rajneeti', said that she is excited about the new wave of cinema in Bollywood.

"Look at the type of films being made nowadays. It’s really commendable. Films like 'No One Killed Jessica' is a classic example of this. I am amazed everyone is so excited about it including me," she said.

Last Week Total Weeks New 1 New 1 1 3 New 1

Amitabh to introduce Aamir’s ‘Delhi Belly’ Bollywood mega star Amitabh Bachchan will lend his baritone to the trailer of Aamir Khan's upcoming production “Delhi Belly.”

The trailer of the film will be out on January 21 and Aamir approached Big B to introduce the film to the audience through a narrative that has been written by the actor himself.

Earlier, Bachchan had lent his voice to Aamir's first production 'Lagaan' in 2001. Bachchan has already dubbed the introductory piece written by Aamir for “Delhi Belly.”

Directed by Abhinav Deo, the film stars Imran Khan, Kunal Roy Kapur and Vir Das.

18

Asian Voice - Saturday 8th January 2011

500,000 UK families will bear childcare cut costs Alpesh Patel Consultant Editor Financial Voice Dear Financial Voice Reader, 2011 will be a year of market party. I write to you from a flight back from Bangalore. A good time and place from which to write to you about trades for 2011. So let me tell you why I think the US markets will rise 20% in 2011.

I expect US growth to accelerate. Add to this global growth also accelerating. I say acceleration, because for stock prices to move up rapidly, growth has to exceed expectations. It has to be faster than trend, widely unpredicted. Only then can prices rise and not already incorporate expectations.

Beyond the US, the mature economies of Canada, Germany and UK will also rebound. Inflation will not be a problem in 2011 - because there is ample spare capacity after the credit crunch. I do not see European crisis unravelling because the Germans run the EU and have made it clear they will not let it go under.

The other global threat - Chinese inflation - will be managed by the Chinese and South Asian economies raising interest rates and engineering a soft-landing.

But with low interest rates continuing in the US, you can expect the developed markets to outperform the developing markets in 2011.

For commodities this global growth picture will see copper and oil prices remain at these or even higher levels. I am buying copper on www.alpeshpatelspreads.com.

I do expect dollar weakness despite US growth though. The balance of payments deficit will naturally unwind. Expect the £ to be $1.8 by year end.

But the biggest returns in 2011 for you will come from Copper, Oil, Soya and Platinum. The global consumption of these commodities simply can't mate supply.

Cotton and soyabeans will also jump. Some targets: Copper ($11,000); Cotton ($1.25); Soybeans ($14). Now that's a pretty simple trade.

In 2011 the world is going to love risk again. After the scares of the credit crunch, cutback in spending, benign anaemic growth, the world and its money is looking for returns. Big returns. And that means the smart money will move to commodities and the US markets. That will raise UK earnings to and also dividends from European stocks.

So what does it mean for you a pure simple resident of the UK? I don't necessarily expect property prices to soar. That markets depends on salaries and credit for that and neither will be freely available. But you will see consumer spending rise because we will have the wealth effect that comes from feeling better as jobs become more secure and stock prices rise and company earnings improve.

What if you are a saver? Well you won't make money from money in the bank because interest rates won't rise, but you will make money from dividends from shares and from owning bank stock. Bank stocks will improve in line with all stocks but also because their profitability will improve from reduced defaults as economic conditions improve.

All in all you have a lot of reasons to celebrate for 2011. Not so in 2012.

That's when you will have the grandmother of all hangovers from this party.

But that's another story for this column in 12 months.

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London residents face loss of an average £600 a year The spending cuts moves of the government are likely to cost 500,000 UK families an average of £426 a year from April, 2011.

While about 50,000 London families stand to bear the highest loss of £600, some might have to take a high hit of as much as £1,300 as per an analysis by the Resolution Foundation, an independent think-tank.

London families stand to take the maximum hit as childcare costs here are highest. The region with the lowest impact was the south-west, where families would still lose an average

of £370 each.

The Resolution report is based on Revenue & Customs’ own figures and, for the first time, lays out the regional impact of the changes to the working tax credit, currently claimed by 450,000 relatively low-income households. Working parents will from April be able to claim 70 per cent of childcare costs, down from 80 per cent under the previous scheme.

Gavin Kelly, chief executive of the foundation, said a survey by Computershare Voucher Services found one in

three working parents had considered giving up their jobs because of rising childcare costs. The price of a nursery place has risen by 20 per cent in real terms since 2002 and typically costs about £700 a month.

“For working mums on low-to-middle incomes, losses like these will be hard to bear. Many parents find support with childcare costs essential to staying in work, and the big worry is some will now find that work doesn’t pay,” he said.

“With other workrelated costs, such as train fares, also rising, these

cuts couldn’t come at a worse time for families.”

The government’s plans to cut the childcare element of the working tax credit will save taxpayers £270m next year, rising to £385m in 2014-15. The policy is one of several deficit reduction measures that will hit families, including an end to the £250 child trust fund for new babies.

The Treasury said: “This report ignores the government’s wider tax and welfare reforms. We’ve had to tackle a record peacetime budget deficit, as fairly as possible.”

sell off by RBS of non-core assets as it looks to decrease the size of its operation in the wake of the multi-billion pound taxpayer bailout in 2008.

RBS bought the Grosvenor in 2001, when it paid £1.25bn for 12 Le Meridien hotels as part of a sale-and-lease-back deal.

The acquisition was put together by financier Guy

Hands, then working for J a p a n e s e investment bank Nomura.

The Park Lane hotel is currently managed by Marriot, which took over the operation after Le Meridien collapsed into administration in 2003.

The new owner, Sahara, said it planned to manage the hotel on a joint basis with Marriot.

The company also said it planned to add restaurants, a business centre, a night club and other facilities to the property.

The acquisition is expected to lead to a further push into the luxury hotel sector by Sahara.

Grosvenor House has 420 rooms, 74 suites and 27 meeting rooms. In the past the hotel was linked with possible purchasers including some of the biggest Middle Eastern royal families.

The Grosvenor House dates back to the early 19th century as the seat of the Grosvenor family, better known as the Dukes of Westminster. The current building was constructed after the First World War when the house was sold by the family.

Sahara seals the Grosvenor House Hotel deal for £470m

One of the most coveted landmark hotels of London, the venue of some of the city’s largest award ceremonies is now a property owned by the Indian business house, Sahara India. The group bought Grosvenor House Hotel for £470 million from the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS).

For RBS, though the deal is quite on the lower side, as the state owned bank was expecting around £600 to £700, but it could not find a buyer at the price after efforts in 2007 and 2008.

The sale of the Grosvenor is part of wider

International design award for Tata’s small car ‘Nano’

Tata Motors recently announced that its small car 'Nano' has received the good design award for 2010, by the Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design with the European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.

The award for the Tata Nano has come in the category of transportation, Tata Motors said in a statement.

The Tata Nano's design is such that it offers an incredibly spacious passenger compartment which can comfortably seat four adults. With a length of just 3.1 metres, width of 1.5 metres and height of 1.6 metres, Nano has the smallest exterior footprint for a car in India but is 21 per cent more spacious than the smallest car available today, it said.

FINANCIAL VOICE

Asian Voice - Saturday 8th January 2011

19

This Week’s Case Study How would you have liked 70% gross p rofit per annu m year on year for 5 years?

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

I wrote about a property a while back which was a 10 bedroom freehold property in Ivor Place, Gloucester Rd, equidistance from both Baker Street and Marylebone stations, both being minutes away.

The property had gained planning permission for a residential dwelling. The value of the residential dwelling is estimated at £1.4m minimum.

The property was sourced by us for our client in 9th December 2005 for £700,000. The property was generating £63,000 at the time. The property was fully on the market with several agents. Unfortunately for many people the test of whether a property is a good deal or not or at least a big factor in their decision making is to see if the property is ‘offmarket’ or not. If it’s off market it acquires an air of exclusivity and is perceived to be more of a bargain.

Off market means it is not on the market. But is a slightly nonsense term as if it is being sold, even be it through one person, it is on the market, except to a limited degree.

This property was fully on the market for all to see and I was surprised that it had not gone. When one looks at the figures it does not make sense why something like this is still on the market. At the time Paragon mortgages were offering an 85% deal at around the 5.39% mark. This means only £105,000 is required in cash. The rest of the £595,000 would cost £32,000. This means a positive cash flow of £33,000. A return of over 30% on money put in.

G ear ing mean s you only need a small portion of the pr op erty pric e, typically 25% for a buy to let.

G ear ing is w ha t ma kes bu ying property very pr ofita ble One of the reasons the property remained unsold was it had just been on the market too long. It had a couple of sales fallen through and another perception which a property acquires when it remains on the market for too long is ‘there must be something wrong’ with the property otherwise it would have gone by now.

This always looked like a jewel to me, simply you cannot get freehold properties in this location for this price. The yield involved merely compounds the deal.

After gaining planning permission and achieving several offers the property has been exchanged for £1.035m well over the asking price of £1m.

This means our client has made £300,000 on an injection of £150,000 a 200% profit over a 5 year period. This is on the capital appre-

New Opportunity For 2011

If you ha ve been thinking about investing into proper ty for years, but never got around to it, why not make it a resolution to start this year This well proportioned three bedroom flat in a purpose built block is conveniently located between Paddington and Bayswater. The accommodation comprises of two double bedrooms, a good sized single bedroom with built in wardrobes, living room, bathroom separate w/c and kitchen. The flat benefits from south facing views across green communal gardens, a rarity in central London.

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Tips of the Week Get a formal mortgage offer - this will allow you to purchase at auctions - offer less as you can complete in days Ask why someone is selling - this will give clues on how to play the sale when buying a new build find out when the builder year end is - they will often discount their prices coming close to this date

20

fiNANciAl voice

Asian Voice - Saturday 8th January 2011

Leadership Matters

Gujarat emerging as a Global Business Hub

A New Beginning?

The state is hosting global investors’ summit next week to fulfill the dreams of millions of Indians who want to own a car-The TATA Nano to the fastest mass transportation system-the metro coaches of Bombardier. From one of the world’s Biggest Multi purpose dam to the longest water canal to lakhs of small water harvesting structures and micro irrigation systems.

From the longest state wide gas grid to CNG for auto rikshaws to 24X7 electricity in rural areas.

From the biggest power producing facilities to renewable energy in wind and solar.

From Expressways to total rural road connectivity. From the biggest companies of the world to a large number of MSMEs. From IIM and IIT to enrollment of girlchild in schools in remotest villages. From thrice the national average of growth in agriculture to all pervasive rural prosperity. These are some of the indicators on the basis of which Gujarat is now poised to position itself as the Global Hub. Building Blocks of the Global Hub Among the building blocks of this global hub are the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summits. This was started as an organised effort to enhance the pride and creativity among the people, to highlight the potential of the State and attract investments. This Summit is now fully institutionalized and grown up from a state level event to a Global one. It has also changed its scope from an investment promotion event to a knowledge and technology exchange platform. The last event, which was held in 2009, saw the participation of 47 countries, with the heads and representatives of various countries. This was in addition to a large number of national and international delegations from varied sectors. This event, which was held in the backdrop of a global recession, surprised everyone with investment agreements of US Dollars 240 billion. These events have further ignited the enterprising spirit of the people of Gujarat. But instead of resting here, the effort is to further widen the scope of the event.

Rightly, Gujarat calls itself to be the Growth Engine of India. It has substance.

India’s rise in the Global economy has mainly started after the liberalisation of the economy. It is now recognised as a robust economy mainly because of the rising exports, better infrastructure, better human capital and better market capitalisation.

Gujarat was among the very first States to take steps in the direction of liberalising the economy and dismantling the barriers. Not only that, it took advantage of the situation by enacting a legal framework for Public Private Partnership in infrastructure and setting up Global standards. Gujarat has grown at a double digit growth rate in the last decade. Its growth rate in Industry has been around 13% for a decade. Gujarat contributes to 30% of the India’s stock market capitalisation, 22% of exports and 16% of industrial production.

Gujarat has some of the world’s largest manufacturing and processing facilities (like Reliance in petroleum refining). Some of the leading global industries (like the General Motors & Bombardier) are housed here. However, the real strength of Gujarat lies in the medium and small industries. It houses 43% of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises of India. It is now also emerging as an automobile hub, with the addition of Nano car project. Gujarat is also emerging as a global player in the Cement industry.

These are the indicators on the basis of which India’s ascendance is recognised.

And it’s clear that Gujarat’s contribution is substantial. That is why it is rightly called the ‘Growth Engine of India’.

Gujarat has added substantial capacity in electricity generation and reduced its T & D losses.

Similar is the case in designing and perfecting the PPP model for infrastructure development.

Gujarat is not only the pioneer in it but the State is now recognised as the ‘Most Admired PPP Enabler’.

Now, it is turning as a Global Hub From the cheapest car-

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This time, the Government of Gujarat has invited the Indian States as well as other countries to make use of this platform. Gujarat has offered them to help them to use the platform for business and technology tie ups and agreements for their respective locations.

Yet another building block is the upcoming SIRs. Fom industrial clusters, Industrial estates and SEZs, Gujarat is now moving towards Special Investment Regions, popularly known as SIRs. These SIRs are going to be very big in size and scale.

They will be developed as ‘Global Hubs of economic activity alongwith world class infrastructure, civic amenities and exemplary policy framework’. The development of these SIRs is in line with the development of the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor. These SIRs are going to become one of the biggest planned urban developments of the world. The Chief Minister claims that the SIRs would be ‘a new Gujarat within Gujarat’.

Gujarat’s efforts in Good Governance have been applauded the world over. It has received around 200 national and international awards in the last eight years. More importantly, the awards given are in recognition of excellence in a variety. In fact, the Government of Gujarat is now ghetting such awards on a weekly basis. This year, the office of its Chief Minister got the prestigious United Nation’s Public Service Award for improving the ‘effectiveness, efficiency and quality of public service’. However, in the words of Gujarat’s Chief Minister himself “Gujarat treats these awards as just milestones in our journey.

They are indicators that we are in the right direction. Our aim is very high.

Our aim is: • A Gujarat which is a global hub • A Gujarat whose name itself becomes a global benchmark; • A Gujarat with whom your association itself becomes your trade mark” It is clear, Gujarat’s claim is deserved and its aim is well positioned.

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By Amit Patel

T.S. Eliot wrote, "For last year's words belong to last year's language. And next year's words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning.” I am sure that by now many of you will have seen, heard and read countless reviews of 2010.

It was in many ways an intriguing year – yet was it really any different to the year before? Every year we look back and reflect on what has been before casting an eye to the coming year with hope and optimism.

Every year we resolve to be better, to avoid repeating past mistakes and to make a difference in our lives.

In the world of leadership, 2010, like every year, was certainly eventful.

In politics we saw Rahul Gandhi continue his rise to relevance; a stark contrast to the dramatic, but expected, decline of Gordon Brown’s political career.

Barack Obama continued his version of ‘much ado about nothing’, while George Osborne is still struggling to convince people that he is actually Robin Hood in disguise.

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

Meanwhile Apple’s share price overtook Microsoft to become the ‘biggest’ tech company.

Finally, the Ambani brothers finally agreed to set aside their personal feud, perhaps inspired by the Cameron-Clegg partnership – if two leaders who detest each other could behave like brothers, then surely two brothers who detest each other could behave like leaders.

So as we enter 2011 the economic recovery is still just that – a recovery; but with the increase in VAT, fuel duty and unemployment it does not seem like the end is near, in which case according to Elliot, perhaps it is not quite the new beginning we are hoping for.

Tourism in Gujarat on a phenomenal rise The state has something to offer for all: from business to heritage lovers There is a rapid rise in the numbers of tourists flocking to Gujarat. The State has witnessed a phenomenal 50% growth, from 8 million tourists in 200304, to over 16 million tourists visiting in the year 2009-10.

The number of international tourists grew at 45% during the same period. International Tourists are mainly from: UK, USA, France, Australia, Germany, Japan, Canada and Singapore.

Business is drawing in the greatest proportion of tourists, with Gujarat being a global brand for investments. The bi-annual Vibrant Gujarat Summits have attracted investment proposals totalling more than 370 billion USD. Spiritual tourism is a core driver with Ambaji, Dwarka and Somnath being the most important tourism destinations.

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The Government of Gujarat has supported the tourism industry with world-class infrastructure and attractive policies: Gujarat's supportive environment is realising a dramatic growth in the Tourism Sector.

Investments in hotels are multiplying and the total number of hotel rooms has grown by 24% from 28,000 (2004) to 37,000 (2007).

Investment potential has been estimated at Rs. 600 million for apartment hotels, 60 million for motels/cottages along the coastal belt and 550 million for resorts at the main tourist hubs, 4,200 million for star- hotels in the major cities.

Larger scale investment projects are being planned with Airports being proposed for 6 more cities and helicopter services planned at 6 popular tourist routes.

Gujarat has sites for all interests. The state boasts of 4 national parks; wildlife sanctuaries and India's first marine national park at gulf of Kutch. It is the only home of Asiatic Lion, Indian wild Ass and also home to other beautiful animals and birds.

World-class hospitals at Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Karamsad, Nadiad are a boon for patients from all over the world for highquality and low-cost treatment. Jamnagar is a centre for Ayurvedic studies.

For heritage, culture and art lovers, Gujarat has a world heritage site at Champaner, Indus Valley Civilisation sites.

The state also offers a rich variety of handicrafts and colourful communities and hosts annual festivals - Rannotsav, Navratri, International Kite Festival that are popular globally.

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A ‘new’ political strategy emerged; rather than making promises which you never intend to keep (something Indian Aviation minister Praful Patel may be familiar with), it is better not to make any specific commitments at all. This way no one can ever say you went back on your word as you never actually gave it in the first place (Nick Clegg and the Lib Dems should take note).

Not to be undone, the Labour party went in a new direction too, by giving Ed Miliband the leadership (complete with notes on how to perform during prime ministers question time).

In business, Willie Walsh beat the unions in the cabin crew saga while Bob Crow demonstrated his amazing trick of keeping a straight face when suggesting that train drivers (not commuters) are vulnerable to exploitation and harassment and this can only be resolved by more pay and vacation. Nokia decided to go the Microsoft way by appointing exMicrosoft head of business vice president Stephen Elop as it CEO (and yes he is not

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FINANCIAL VOICE

Asian Voice - Saturday 8th January 2011

21

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

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

How will VAT increase affect the UK? Happy New year to everyone!

With the VAT increase coming into play on January 4th, we need to look past the additional costs it will cause us and look at how it will actually affect the economy. George Osborne has labelled it a “powerful weapon to tackle debt” as it would recoup around £13 billion per year. On the other side you have opposition to the VAT increase stating it is often unfair because it hits the poor proportionately more than the rich and Ed Milliband's main criticism, that it could stall the recovery. This may look rich with Labour increasing VAT back from 15% to 17.5% last year after it was cut in the middle of the financial crisis, however this was done when the economy was gaining momentum and we were enjoying a strong bounce back from the recession, now this momentum has slowed and the VAT increase will take money out of people’s pockets just as the public spending cuts take hold. The other question is how it will affect inflation in the UK, however most of the committee of the BOE seem more worried

about the weakness in recovery than what they believe will be a short term blip in inflation.

The positives for the VAT increase; we will recoup £13bn a year through the rise which would be hard to gain elsewhere in the economy, rising inflation is positive for our currency in one way as it would bring a case

for raising interest rates, which would see sterling strengthen. In the long term there is no doubt it will be positive for the UK regaining a lot of money, in the short term however there will definitely be a downside.

The negatives for the VAT increase; it has been indicated

by Mr Milliband that it could

cost the average household an extra £389 a week, it could cost the nation 250,000 job losses and it could stall the recovery.

The CBI have predicted that in the first three months of this year we could see the economy grow by just 0.2% compared to last year, however there is still only a small risk of slipping back into a recession as it is believed the recovery will pick up again later in the year. It seems although there may be some casualties the economy as a whole will benefit.

It is generally expected that inflation will remain above the key 2% level as the increase in VAT takes hold and it is likely to come back down in Q1 2012. If inflation rises too sharply however the BOE will need to look at interest rates and whether to raise them or not, if this happens it will put a squeeze on average people, however it will make our economy a more attractive place to invest in.

As with all tax increases there are positives and negatives and it will become apparent over the next 12 -18months whether rising VAT was a good thing or not.

Weekly Currencies As of Tuesday 4th January 2011 @ 2pm GBP - INR = 70.33 USD - INR = 45.52 EUR - INR = 60.39 GBP - USD = 1.5616 GBP - EUR = 1.1656 EUR - USD = 1.3418 GBP - AED = 5.733 GBP - CAD = 1.5505 GBP - NZD = 2.0337 GBP - AUD = 1.5471 GBP - ZAR = 10.376 GBP - HUF = 332.06

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

22

Pakistan-Bangladesh-Sri Lanka

In fOcuS Pakistan to defend ISI chief in US suits

Islamabad: Pakistan has said that it would contest the two US lawsuits that link ISI and its chief Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha to the deadly 26/11 attacks in Mumbai. A foreign ministry statement said, "Pakistan will fully and properly' defend ISI chief Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha against the accusations." The statement shows how sensitive Islamabad is to allegations that its intelligence services were involved in the assault that killed 166 people in Mumbai. Prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has already said that Pasha cannot be made to testify in the New York civil lawsuits. He wants the cases dismissed.

The plaintiffs include relatives of the victims who are seeking financial damages. Experts say such cases rarely succeed beyond being symbolic. Many international defendants claim immunity or don't bother to respond.

Four wives beat Bangladeshi man to death

Dhaka: A man in Bangladesh who kept his four wives in the dark about his multiple marriages was beaten to death, allegedly by all of them, a media report said last week. Yunus Bepari, 46, an autorickshaw driver, went to a village fair with two wives where he was confronted by his third wife. When the women exchanged information, they found that he had a fourth wife too. The three women learnt that Yunus' fourth wife was living in another village. The three women then took him to the residence of his fourth wife at Kabirpur where the four women together beat him up mercilessly, New Age newspaper reported, quoting local villagers. He was taken in a critical condition to Faridpur Medical College Hospital where he died. Islamic Shariah allows a man to take up to four wives, but that should be with the consent of his existing wives, the newspaper said.

Hindu spiritual leader kidnapped in Pak

Islamabad: A leading Hindu spiritual leader of Pakistan was kidnapped at gunpoint in Balochistan province while he was on his way to officiate a wedding recently.

Eighty-two-year-old Lakki Chand Garji, who is the ‘maharaja’ of the Kali Mata Mandir in Kalat town, is considered to be one of Pakistan's most revered Hindu spiritual leaders. As the news of his abduction spread, hundreds of Hindu community members blocked the key highway that links Karachi and Quetta, bringing traffic to a halt for several hours. Hindus demanded that the government secure the immediate release of their spiritual leader.

Repeal of blasphemy law in Pak ruled out

Islamabad: Pakistan government last week ruled out revocation of the country's controversial blasphemy law amid a groundswell of opinion among the civil rights groups against it. The conviction of a Christian woman under the law recently provoked outrage across the country with a member of the ruling party and former minister Sherry Rehman introducing a bill in Pakistan's parliament for its revocation.

Benazir killing planned in Pak officer's home: Report

Islamabad: The plot to assassinate Pakistan's former prime minister Benazir Bhutto was hatched at the official residence of an army brigadier, according to a report published on Friday in ‘The Express Tribune’ newspaper.

The latest inquiry into the December 27, 2007 attack on an election rally that killed Bhutto, conducted by the home ministry, reveals the involvement of nine people, one of them a brigadier, described as a key architect. The report is said to be in the possession of interior minister Rehman Malik and has only been shown to president Asif Ali Zardari, Bhutto's widower. Malik described the report as "concocted and false".

Journalists' deaths highest in Pakistan

Brussels: At least 94 journalists died in violence this year, the International Federation of Journalists said recently, adding that Pakistan was the most dangerous place in 2010 for media workers."Journalists and media personnel remain prime targets for political extremists, gangsters and terrorists," the Brussels-based organization said in a report, adding that another three died in accidents over the past 12 months.

Political unstability again strikes Pak Continued from page 1 It also adds to the Pakistani government's problems at home as it struggles to avoid economic collapse and meet demands placed on it by the International Monetary Fund in return for an $11 billion loan.

While anger over fuel prices was the immediate provocation, the MQM has also been complaining for months that the government was not doing enough to improve security in its home base of Karachi, Pakistan's financial capital and biggest city. Karachi's so-called targeted killings, often blamed on supporters of the MQM and its rival party the Awami National Party, have risen to their highest levels in 15 years. Drive-by shootings, drug wars, extortion rackets and land grabbing are deepening chaos in Karachi, which officials say contributes 68 per cent of the government's total revenue and 25 per cent of gross domestic product.

Asian Voice - Saturday 8th January 2011

Pak Punjab province governor shot dead His stance against blasphemy laws may have led to his killing Islamabad: The governor of Pakistan's powerful Punjab province, Salman Taseer, was shot dead on Tuesday by one of his guards in the Pakistani capital, apparently because he had spoken out against the country's controversial blasphemy laws, officials said.

The killing of Salman Taseer was the most highprofile assassination of a political figure in Pakistan since the slaying of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto in December 2007, and it rattled a country already dealing with crises ranging from a potential collapse of the government to Islamist militancy.

Salman Taseer

The suspected killer, Malik Mumtaz Hussain Qadri, was taken into custody, and there were conflicting reports as to whether he was wounded.

Taseer was a member of Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party and a close associate of president Asif Ali Zardari, Bhutto's widower. The governor was vocal on a range of sub-

jects, and frequently used Twitter to get across his views.

In recent days, as the People's Party has faced the loss of its coalition partners, the 56-year-old Taseer has insisted that the government will survive. But it was his stance against the blasphemy laws that apparently led to his killing.

Interior Minister Rahman Malik told reporters that the suspect in the case had surrendered to police and told them he killed Taseer because "the governor described the blasphemy laws as a black law."

"He was the most

courageous voice after Benazir Bhutto on the rights of women and religious minorities," said a crying Farahnaz Ispahani, an aide to Zardari and friend of Taseer. "God, we will miss him."

Pakistan's blasphemy law has come under greater scrutiny in recent days after a Christian woman was sentenced to death for allegedly insulting Islam's Prophet Muhammad.

Under pressure from Islamist parties, the People's Party said recently it would not pursue changes to the law, which has long vexed human rights activists.

Sri Lanka likely to scrap ‘On arrival’ visa for tourists Island nation also contemplating a ban on ‘Mini skirts’ Colombo: Aimed at scrapping the ‘on arrival’ visa facility for tourists, Sri Lanka has decided to try online visa as an alternative. A pilot project for the online visa facility will be launched this month itself and will be in place for three months, before the government takes a final decision of changing the system. The government is also planning to impose a ban on ‘Mini skirts’ after representations from various quarters. They argue that the Sri Lankan culture is getting corrupted due to skimpy dresses being popular among women in public places.

Nalaka Godahewa,

chairman of the tourism authority, said that during the test phase for the online visa scheme, visitors can apply for and get visas through the internet, no fee would be charged.

Sri Lanka’s tourism industry has raised alarm over the new scheme fearing it could deter visitors at a time when arrivals are surging after the end of the island's 30-year ethnic war in May 2009.

The country recorded arrivals of more than 600,000 tourists in 2010 and aims to attract 700,000 this year.

Ban on mini skirts also under consideration A ban on mini-skirts is

under consideration of the government following complaints. The government has set up a panel to prepare a dress code for public places in the conservative country, officials and a media reports indicate.

The cultural ministry was considering public petitions calling for a ban on mini skirts which have raised the ire of ultra conservative sections of society, officials said.

The Cultural Ministry forwarded the petitions to a committee to study the requests and come up with a dress code for public places.

Ministry Secretary

‘Ceylon’ to be erased from Sri Lanka Country to conduct complete census after three decades

Colombo: Sri Lanka is set to cut-off all links with the colonial era, as the government has decided to erase ‘Ceylon’, the old name of the country during the British rule. Any reference about ‘Ceylon’ will be changed as soon as possible.

Sri Lanka became a republic in 1972 and Queen Elizabeth II ceased to be the head of the state.

Since then, Ceylon has been replaced with Sri Lanka. Yet, Ceylon is still widely present in many a name. Though, the colonial name will be allowed to stay as the tea label.

Industry officials said it is

a brand of quality for the country's most famous export.

Census Sri Lanka is set to conduct a comprehensive census covering the entire country for the first time in 30 years following the end of the bloody ethnic conflict, officials said on Sunday.

Due to the civil war that lasted over three decades, conducting of a national census covering the entire country was not possible, officials of the census and statistics department said.

"Sri Lanka conducted census in 1991 and 2001

but was not able to cover the entire island as the war was going on," officials said, adding "So this year's census would be the first national census since 1981".

The Census will be conducted in the third quarter of 2011, according to the department.

The last census was only able to cover 18 districts out of a total of 22 administrative districts in the country.

This year's census will be conducted in three parts of demarcating the district and divisional boundaries followed by buildings survey.

Nimal Rubashinghe said no firm stand was taken in respect of the skimpy clothing by women, but the Lakbima News daily said the government was contemplating banning mini skirts.

"There are individuals and groups representing religious and cultural interests, who have written to us raising concerns that this kind of (mini) dress would corrupt our culture," Minister T. B. Ekanayake was quoted as saying by the Lakbima news daily.

"They say with the arrival of tourists, this situation would worsen," the minister added.

19 Pak girls cram into small car, set world record Karachi: As many as 19 Pakistani school girls crammed into a small car and entered into the Guinness Book of World Records. The event took place recently at a club in the presence of a jury, Dawn reported. The girl's group was led by Aymen Saleem Yousuf. The girls got into the car, called the Smart Car, one after the other and shattered the record set by the Climb Fit Team of Australia. The previous record holders were 18 Australian students who had got into a Smart Car in Sydney in January 25, 2010.

Over 100 Hindu families in Pak want to migrate to India Islamabad: Over 100 Hindu families in Pakistan’s Balochistan province are making efforts to migrate to India after becoming the target of a campaign of kidnappings and extortion, according to a media report.

The Hindus of southwestern Balochistan have been hit hardest by incidents of abduction for ransom and extortion, with the records of the province’s home department showing that a large number of the 291 people abducted last

year were Hindus, The Express Tribune newspaper reported. Five Hindu families have already migrated from Balochistan’s Mastung district to India and six more families are trying to seek asylum elsewhere or to shift to other parts of Pakistan, the daily quoted Hindu elders as saying.

Vijay Kumar, a 33year-old chemist, claimed that over 100 Hindu families of Balochistan are making efforts to migrate to India because of the campaign of kidnappings

and extortion.

“Our relatives are there in India, thus we Hindus prefer to settle in India,” he told the daily.

Suresh Kumar, 31, who runs a grocery shop in Mastung district south of Quetta, wants to migrate though his family has lived in Balochistan for almost a century.

“Most of the people are trying to migrate to India or other areas of Pakistan because of the deteriorating law and order situation,” Mr Kumar said.

“Kumar is not alone in this desire. Frightened by the rise in kidnappings in which their community is being targeted, many Hindus want to leave the country at the first opportunity,” the report said.

In provincial capital Quetta alone, four of eight persons kidnapped last year belonged to the Hindu community.

The situation was worse in Naseerabad district, where half the 28 people kidnapped in 2010 were from the minority community.

world

Asian Voice - Saturday 8th January 2011

23

Bobby Jindal is the most popular US governor In focUS Washington: Indian-origin Louisiana leader Bobby Jindal is the most popular serving governor in the United States, an opinion poll has said.

Jindal has an approval rating of 58 per cent, along with 34 per cent disapproving of his job, shows a survey by Public Policy Polling.

One of the top ranking Republican leaders of the country, Jindal is seeking re-election next year.

Jindal is closely followed by Jodi Rell of Connecticut, who has an

Bobby Jindal

approval rating of 55 per cent.

California's Arnold Schwarzenegger is the

least popular governor in the country with an approval rating of just 25 per cent.

Meanwhile in his remarks, Jindal said the massive oil spill off the state's coast would continue to be a challenge into 2011 and beyond.

"As I reflect on the oil spill I keep getting the question, Is Louisiana going to be OK? You've been through four hurricanes and an oil spill in the past few years. What's wrong with you people down there? Are you wait-

ing for locusts?” Jindal said.

At 36, Jindal in 2007 became the first elected non-white governor of Louisiana and also the first ever IndianAmerican governor of an American State.

Since then he has been ranked as one of the most popular governors of the country and a rising star of the Republican Party.

He is also considered to be aspiring presidential candidate for the party, though he has himself denied this.

Oz floods submerge towns, force people to leave homes Gracemere (Australia): Military aircraft ferried supplies to an Australian town slowly sinking beneath swollen rivers on Monday, as record flooding in the country's northeast severed roads and ports, curtailing coal exports and devastating farmland.

Floods submerged the Capricorn Highway, the major traffic artery through Queensland state, and poured into homes in the sinking town of Rockhampton, sending furniture and refrigerators cascading down torrents of floodwater.

Rockhampton, a community of 77,000 just off the Pacific coast and 600 km north of the state capital Brisbane, was accessi-

Houses in the town of Theodore, about 410 km north west of Brisbane, are partially submerged by flood waters

ble mainly by emergency services boats.

Rescue workers escorted stranded patients out of hospitals, police ordered reluctant residents to leave their homes, and electricity company teams made their way up to abandoned homes to ensure power was

switched off.

Snakes slithered their way across the waterlogged highway a few km outside the devastated town.

Resident Reg Wilson said police gave him little choice but to leave his home.

Flooding covering a

vast area has caused more than A$1 billion ($980 million) in damage, forced some 200,000 residents from their homes and hit commodity exports that are a mainstay of the Australian economy.

Coal is Australia's number one export earner, accounting for $55 billion dollars of export revenue each year.

"This is a major natural disaster and recovery will take a significant amount of time," Prime Minister Julia Gillard said while announcing financial aid for flood victims.

"The extent of flooding being experienced by Queensland is unprecedented and requires a national and united response," she added.

Indians refuse settlement proposal in Sharjah murder case Dubai: A proposal to settle the case involving 17 Indians, who have appealed the death penalty for killing a Pakistani in Sharjah has been refused, according to the lawyer representing the defendants.

Bindu Suresh Chettur said the family of the Pakistani man told the court that they were ready to accept compensation

including blood money but we refused because justice is on our side.

"The prosecution has failed to establish the relationship between the offence, weapon with which crime was committed and the scene of the crime. No evidence has yet been brought before us," she said after a hearing.

According to her, evidence cannot be accepted

in the light that no weapon has yet been presented before the court as evidence.

"It is the duty of the prosecution to establish that the weapon which was used to commit the crime is present before the court. That hasn't happened despite several hearings," she said. The court has fixed February 17 as the next date for

hearing during which more witnesses have been asked to remain present.

In January 2009, a bootlegging dispute between an Indian and Pakistani group reportedly over territorial rights had led to the death of a Pakistani national Misri Nazir Khan near a Sharjah labour camp. Seventeen Indians were arrested and sentenced to death.

11 Indians arrested in SA for possessing fake documents

Johannesburg: Eleven Indian nationals have been arrested for possession of illegal asylum documents after a raid on a house in the mainly Indian suburb of Fordsburg recently. Officials said the arrested persons would be produced before court "soon". Home affairs spokesman Ronnie Mamoepa said the documents found in their possession originated from the ministry, but it was not clear how they had obtained them. It is believed that the house that was raided served as a safe haven for illegal migrants until they received their South African identity documents and passports at huge 'fees' charged by agents working in collaboration with home affairs officials. The raids followed the arrest of three officials of the home affairs ministry last week for their role in a Pakistani-led syndicate which specialised in getting false South Africa identity documents and passports for illegal migrants.

Bomb blast at Egypt church, 21 killed

Cairo: At least 21 people were killed and many others were injured when a car exploded in front of a Coptic Christian church as worshippers emerged from a New Year's mass in the Egyptian city of Alexandria early on Saturday. After the blast, enraged Christians clashed with police and stormed a nearby mosque, prompting fights and volleys of stone throwing with Muslims, police and witnesses said, a sign of the sectarian anger that has been arising with greater frequency in Egypt.

Nearly 1,000 Christians were attending the mass, said a priest at the church, Father Mena Adel. The service had just ended, and worshippers were leaving the building when the blast took place, he added.

Former Israeli president Katsav convicted of rape

Jerusalem: An Israeli court has recently convicted former president Moshe Katsav on two counts of rape. The conviction means Katsav will face a minimum of four years in prison. The verdict marks the climax of a fourand-a-half year saga that has riveted the nation as it watched its top citizen face the most serious charges ever levelled toward an Israeli public official. The 65year-old Katsav is also facing charges of lesser sex crimes involving two other former employees. Israel's presidency is a largely ceremonial position. But the allegations roiled the country by portraying the man supposed to be Israel's moral compass as a predatory boss who forced himself on female employees. Katsav resigned in 2007 and was replaced by Shimon Peres.

Rousseff becomes 1st woman to lead Brazil Brasilia: Dilma Rousseff became Brazil's first female president on Saturday and promised to build on an unprecedented run of economic success achieved by her popular predecessor and mentor, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Thousands of admirers braved a driving rain and cheered as Rousseff rode to her inauguration by an all-female security detail. The former guerilla, who evolved over time into a pragmatic civil servant, vowed during her inaugural speech to focus on tax reform and other steps she said should help eradicate extreme poverty in the next decade. "Many things have improved in Brazil, but this is just the beginning of a new era," said Rousseff, who briefly choked up with emotion during the address to Congress.

UN declares ‘International Widows Day’ on June 23 Loomba Foundation’s campaign finally brings the plight of Widows on the global platform

New York: The spotlight shines on the plight of some 245 million widows around the world, many of them poor and destitute, following unanimous passage in the UN General Assembly of a resolution in December, 2010 declaring June 23rd International Widows Day. The efforts of Loomba Foundation, UK were successful with the support of Central African nation Gabon and the first lady of the country, Sylvia Bongo Ondimba.

Loomba Foundation President Cherie Blair and Founder and Chairman Raj Loomba CBE, congratulated and thanked Gabon, a member of the United Nations Security

Council, and Sylvia Bongo Ondimba for sponsorship of the Resolution and their tireless support and championing of the cause.

This rare designation of an international day of recognition by the UN follows independent verification of shocking levels of violence and deprivation faced by hundreds of millions of widows worldwide. The resolution, approved by the 192 representatives of the Third Committee of the General Assembly, was a passionate personal initiative of Madame Bongo. The Loomba Foundation has spearheaded the advocacy for widows globally since its inception in 1997.

H.E. Mr. Emmanuel

Issoze-Ngondet, Permanent Representative of Gabon to the United Nations, introduced the resolution following publication of “Invisible Forgotten Sufferers,” a report issued by the Loomba Foundation, which found that almost 60 million widows live in extreme poverty where basic needs go unmet.

Widowhood precipitates a host of other social ills such as malnutrition, deteriorating health, starvation and physical insecurity, such as rape and risk of HIV/AIDS. “Widows are everywhere in the world, yet in many countries, they are nowhere to be seen or heard. They are hidden in

the shadows, denied their basic rights and dignity.

This resolution aims to shine a light on these women and their children, and put moral pressure on the guardians of the retrograde traditions that oppress them,” said Madame Ondimba.

“We are so very grateful to our dear friends President Ali Bongo Ondimba and his wife Sylvia Bongo Ondimba of Gabon for their leadership in actively pushing the issue of widows within the UN agenda,” said Mrs. Blair. “None of this would have been possible without their unfailing support. We take so much of our quality of life for granted. For poor widows,

recognition of basic legal and human rights can make all the difference to a life of abject misery.”

Mr. Loomba was elated regarding the passage of the resolution, “I saw my own mother suffer after my father died of tuberculosis. As soon as my father stopped breathing my mother also stopped being an individual. My grandmother ordered my mother—who was still a young woman--to remove her jewelry and bindi (a sign for married women on their forehead) and only wear white clothes. She was belittled and ostracized. She lived in this shadow for 37 years until her death,” said Mr. Loomba. “I started this

charity and began this journey in honor of my mother, and with the passage of International Widows Day we can help widows worldwide so that they do not suffer the injustices my mother had inflicted upon her.” He added “The dream of my life has come true.”

The Loomba Foundation was established by Raj Loomba CBE and his wife Veena in the UK in 1997. It promotes fundamental freedoms and human rights of widows and their children around the world by raising awareness of the gross injustices widows face and seeking to remove stigmas associated with widowhood.

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Asian Voice - Saturday 8th January 2011

Gujarat setting up Asia’s first solar park State has mega plans to tap solar energy in various fields Asia’s first solar energy park is coming up in Patan district, in the north Gujarat region. The foundation stone was laid by chief minister Narendra Modi last week. To be set up on a sprawling 2000 hectors of land, 16 companies will be having their projects there, designed for generation of 176 MW of electricity.

International Finance Corporation (IFC), an arm of the World Bank has also said it is willing to support solar power projects in Gujarat.

IFC has already sanctioned investment support worth $1 billion to various infrastructure projects in Gujarat, Anita George, director of infrastructure said.

She added that Gujarat has taken the lead in promoting solar energy and use of solar technology.

Narendra Modi said at the foundation laying ceremony that the cost of project is around Rs 12.87 bn. In addition, establishment of 500 MW by private companies would

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi attentively hears an official about the details of the Solar Park in Patan district at the foundation laying ceremony last week.

bring more than Rs 7,500 crore investment on the government wasteland located in Santalpur taluka, said Modi.

The state government plans to set up solar power manufacturing, assembling, research & development related facilities, he said, adding that a manpower training institute has also been envisaged to train local people and create job opportunities for them.

Gujarat Power Corporation Limited (GPCL) has been appointed the nodal agency to establish, operate and maintain the park. With a

view to transmit power generated from the upcoming solar units, Gujarat Energy and Transmission Corporation (GETCO) has already initiated a site activity.

According to sources, at the location of the park, more than 330 sunny days will be available for solar power generation. High solar radiation ranging from 5.5 to 6 KW per sq mt per day will be available, which is best to generate solar power.

The chief minister also inaugurated a power exhibition, displaying the models of the upcoming park.

Dr. Gifty Immanuel of India wins World Award for medical innovation JCI honours ten people globally every year for community services in various categories

trol and management A dentist and physician of emerging and refrom Tuticorin (Tamil emerging infections Nadu), India, Dr. Gifty like HIV/AIDS, hepaImmanuel has been hontitis-B and other comoured by the Junior municable diseases.

Chamber International Dr Immanuel said, (JCI) with the 2010 "Coming from a counWorld Award for his medtry which has been the ical innovation that helps birth place of several the society.

Dr. Immanuel is tak- A file photo of Dr. Gifty Immanuel religions, it was always ing a Master's pro- receiving a previous award in the my desire to underyear 2000 stand religious tolergramme offered by the ance and harmony.

Woolf Institute in conImmanuel with the prestiThe programme projunction with the gious international prize vides a deeper underUniversity of Cambridge, in recognition of his standing of the concept of studying Jewish-Christian contribution to public dialogue and reconciliaRelations programme via health and the use of innotion. Inter-faith peacee-learning. vative medical knowledge making efforts learnt from Each year the awards to serve global communithis programme could be are presented to ten peoties. Dr Immanuel was applied to real world sceple in various categories brought up in India, Africa narios". around the world under and Arabia and is qualiEarlier, in the year the age of 40 who provide fied in dentistry, medicine 2000 he received the extraordinary service to and public health. He has Vijayshree National their communities, a unia range of further academAward for best biomedical versity release said. ic qualifications from variresearch in India, as the The JCI, which works ous universities including Director, Center for AIDS in partnership with the Harvard. & Anti-Viral Research.

UN, awarded Dr He is engaged in con-

Voting method for NRIs not decided yet

The method and the procedure for exercise the voting right by the NRIs is yet to be evolved, Indian minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi said last week.

"Two rounds of discussions have been held with the election commission and external affairs ministry. Both agreed to enroll the NRIs but how to enroll them is the issue," Ravi said.

The Indian embassies

and high commission will be the most important institutions in the enrolment and verification of NRI voters and the agencies are working out how they should go about the task.

"We are sorting it out.

This should happen soon.

The election commission has to decide the modus operandi," he added.

In August, parliament passed the Representation of the People

(Amendment) Act, 2010 giving voting rights to NRIs. The bill provides that every Indian citizen - who has not acquired the citizenship of any other country and is not in India due to conditions like employment and education - shall be entitled to have his name registered in the electoral rolls of the constituency in which his place of residence is mentioned in his passport.

In divine light

By Rajen Vakil

When the law giver is punished There was once a rishi called Mandavya. He was well versed in the scriptures and always immersed in meditation.

He spent his time in deep austerity, standing with one hand raised, under a tree outside the entrance to his ashram. He stood in this posture a few years.

Once a group of thieves, along with the treasure they had stolen, arrived at his ashram. The king’s soldiers, following them, arrived shortly. The robbers sensed the danger and left their bag of treasure in his ashram and hid nearby. The soldiers entered the rishi’s ashram and observed that he was deep in meditation. With respect they asked him whether he could tell them in which direction the robbers had fled. But the rishi did not hear what they said and gave no answer and so the soldiers searched his ashram and found not only the stolen goods but also the thieves hiding there. Their suspicions fell on the rishi and they bound him alongside the thieves and brought all of them to the king. The king immediately pronounced the death sentence upon the rishi, together with the thieves. The soldiers of the king then took the rishi, pierced him with a long spear, and dug the spear in the ground with the rishi pierced on top.

He remained pierced on the pole for a very long time but did not die.

The rishi held his prana and continued to remain in a meditative state atop the spear. On hearing of the incident, many rishis came to him in the form of birds, trying to reason why he was enduring so much pain.

Many months passed, the soldiers noticed that the rishi had yet not died and informed the king of the same. The king realising the greatness of the rishi came to him and asked for forgiveness. The rishi forgave the king, who then ordered his soldiers to bring the rishi down.

The soldiers did so but try as hard as they would, they could not remove the point of the spear from the rishi’s stomach so they cut the spear, leaving the point inside. The rishi then engaged in heavy austerity and rose to great heights. Because the point was still in his stomach, he was now known as ‘Animandavya’, ani

meaning point.

Once in his meditation, he reached the abode of Dharma, the law giver or the god of death.

Dharma was sitting on his throne and the rishi scorned him asking what kind of sin he had committed to be accorded such painful punishment.

The god of Law then told the rishi that as a young child he had pierced the wings of a butterfly with a small pointed twig. That small act magnified and he had to go through a similar cycle of pain.

The rishi got very angry on the god for giving him such a harsh punishment for a small act of his, that too done unknowingly. He said that till a child is twelve years old any act he does cannot be punished heavily. It could not be called a sin as he has no knowledge of the scriptures. For giving him such a heavy punishment in return for a small act, the rishi Animandavya cursed Dharma to be born in the world of men, and that also in a house of a low caste. Thus, Dharma was born as the wise Vidura from the womb of a maid but the son of Vyasa and so he is the half brother of the blind king Dhritarashtra.

The whole effort of sadhana or waking up is to free one’s consciousness from its continuous habit of complaining, calculating, and comparing.

Every moment in our inner chatter, we compare and account and when not satisfied, complain.

The rishi went through years of hard austerity but he was not free of the above three. He had achieved great powers

that he could even curse Dharmaraja to be born in the world of men, but his consciousness was still bound by his lower psychic nature. He went through tremendous pain and suffering but he could not use it to free his consciousness. When he heard that Dharmaraja had punished him for such small an act, he became negative and complained and his consciousness fell. In every student’s journey, a point in time comes when he can be totally free of the lower psychic nature. If he uses this moment correctly, then at that moment his consciousness rises and he experiences total freedom.

We complain about everything and always calculate how badly life has treated us. We compare by saying how well life is for others. Life can be very cruel and unpleasant, but we always expect it to be a bed of roses. When our expectations are not met, our lower nature reveals itself and we fall in consciousness by complaining. In this story, however hard the soldiers tried they could not remove the point of the spear.

Sometimes, a small hurt left in our consciousness leads to a tornado of inner chatter and abuse. That is why his name changed and ‘Ani’ was added, meaning he held on to this wound deep in his psychic nature. We hold on to so much; only if we let go, can we rise.

In this wonderful painting by Salvador Dali, he shows Jesus on the cross. There is no blood even though he is pierced by nails. The artist is telling us that Jesus was in pain but no blood signifies that he was free of complaining, there was no negativity. The cross is vertical and the body angled. We have two dimensions within us, one that rises is the cross and one that falls is the body.

Here the artist is saying that Jesus had separated those two within himself.

In our story, the rishi despite deep austerities could not separate the two; with his complaining, that which would have risen also falls to the ground.

(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

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Asian Voice - Saturday 8th January 2011

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London – Ahmedabad direct flight: hopes still alive Air India makes a promise for inclusion in summer schedule As the year 2010 ended on a positive note for Air India, chairman Arvind Jadhav of the Indian flag carrier has promised that Ahmedabad – London direct flight will be restored from the summer schedule. In a chat with office bearers of the Gujarat Chamer of Commerce as well as representatives of travels and tourism business in Ahmedabad early last week, he said Air India will now focus on four states – Gujarat, Punjab, Tamil Nadu and Kerala as they have the maximum business potential. The airline is also back to financial health, having reported a huge cash profit of more than Rs. 217 million in November.

The airline has already announced that the direct flight from Ahmedabad to New Jersey via Frankfurt is being restarted from January 10th. This has been made possible with a larger aircraft being

deployed for the route. It will be routed via Mumbai, but passengers will not have to change the plane, as the same aircraft will fly onwards.

Later, on 30th December, the airline got a big boost as the cabinet committee on economic affairs (CCEA) cleared infusion of Rs. 12 billion to help the troubled airline.

At Ahmedabad, Jadhav said Air India would be introducing 40-seater planes on routes within states. The airline could also take in state governments as equity partners for regional services.

"Efficiency and marketing will be key factors for a turnaround," Jadhav said.

The Air India chairman has sought for details of preferred international and domestic routes along with the weekly potential of passenger and cargo load.

The airline was keen to inter-connect Ahmedabad, Surat, Jamnagar, B h a v n a g a r, Rajkot, Surat, Bhuj and Kandla, Jadhav said, adding state governments of M a d h y a Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh h a v e approached him for intra-state connectivity. He said he would Important issues for Gujarat in the field of civil aviation were discussed at seek relief in fuel taxes from a meeting between Air India officials and office bearers of Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) as well as representatives of i n t e r e s t e d travel and tourism sectors. The meeting was attended by Air India states. chairman Arvind Jadhav, General manager, Western region of the airline K "Gujarat is D Rao, Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar publisher and editor C B Patel, w i t n e s s i n g Air India manager for Gujarat Melvin D’Silva, GCCI president Mahendra increase in the Patel, hon. treasurer Pratap Chandan, Himanshu Vyas and Kamlesh Amin.

Karan Singh says no China friendship award

Senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Dr Karan Singh has refused to accept the first ever China-India friendship award. The awards were announced on the occasion of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao’s recent visit to India for promoting and nurturing ties between the two nations. The awards honoured nine people, including Left leader Sitaram Yechury. It is learnt that he felt it might be inappropriate to receive such an honour lest it betrayed a bias towards any country. Since he turned down the honour, only nine persons were finally conferred with the award. Singh is president of the Indian Council for

Cultural Relations (ICCR) as well as chairman of the Congress Foreign Affairs cell.

Conferring the awards, Premier Wen said they were an indicator of the increasing reach and depth of Sino-Indian ties.

Saying that China deeply valued its relationship with India, he hoped more people would work to strengthen the ties between the people of the two nations. Premier Wen congratulated the awardees for the contribution to foster Sino-India ties and noted the relationship dated to ancient times.

Recalling the beginning of this exchange with Chinese scholars Huen Tsang and Fa Hein,

Premier Wen said that even in modern times the ties between the two nations were progressing in the desired direction.

Recalling the 1924 visit of Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore to China, he noted the important role it had in reaffirming Sino-India relations as well as the contribution of Mahatma Gandhi. Speaking on behalf of the awardees, Sitaram Yechury thanked the Government of China for the honour. Yechury said that in the modern era, it was China’s five principles of co-existence and India’s Panchsheel mantra which helped direct the Sino-India relationship.

Big gain for BJP in Karnataka local bodies’ poll

The ruling BJP in Karnataka on Tuesday bagged 12 zilla panchayats and the opposition Congress and JD-S captured four each, while the verdict for the remaining 10 such bodies was fractured.

BJP also secured majority in around 70 taluk panchayats, while Congress and JD-S bagged around 30 taluk panchayats each. In more than 40 others, the verdict was fractured.

BJP, which had bagged

B S Yeddyurappa

only one zila panchayat (Bellary) in 2005, had expected at least 20 zila panchayats in its kitty this time.

"We have achieved considerable success (in the local body elections)", state BJP president K S

Eshwarappa said.

Karnataka Pradesh Congress chief G Parameshwara, however, described the results as a "setback" to the BJP. He indicated that Congress might have a post-poll tie-up with JD-S to secure power in zila panchayats and taluk panchayats where no party has gained majority by saying, "We have to come to some decision (on tieup with JDS). We will discuss the issue with senior leaders."

number of tourists. Business activities are rising and tourist destinations (like Rann of Kutch and Gir Forests) too are getting popular. It is viable to start intra-state air service in cities like Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara , Jamnagar, Bhavnagar, Kandla, Bhuj and Porbandar," said Sanjeev Chhajer, vice president of Cox & Kings (India).

C B Patel, Editor and Publisher of Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar was also present at the meeting. He briefed the Air India officials about the campaign launched by British Gujaratis for resumption of the direct flight between London and Ahmedabad.

Later, Asian Voice-Gujarat Samachar got in touch with those who attended the meeting with Jadhav at the Gujarat Chamber to find out what all was demanded and what the Air India chief promised.

Mahendra Patel, Senior Vice President of the GCCI said they had demanded that Ahmedabad should also be given a direct flight to Chicago via Delhi, with no changeover of the plane required. Further, as the number of Gujarati traveling to eastern holiday destinations is getting bigger, Ahmedabad should also be given direct flights to Bangkok and Singapore.

Dr. VVR Subba Rao, Executive Director of the chamber said Gujarat should get more intra-state and inter state flights, connecting to various cities such as Kolkata, DR VVR Hyderabad, Goa, Bangalore and Chennai. Subba Rao Gujarat cities of Surat, Vadodara, Jamnagar, Rajkot, Bhavnagar, Porbander, Bhuj, Kandla and Diu should also be given air connectivity.

Rakesh Shah, Chairman and Managing Director of Gujarat State Export Corporation Limited made a strong case for Air India to increase their cargo capacity from Rakesh Ahmedabad. He said curShah rently, the city dispatches around 45 tonns of cargo daily and is likely to reach around 60 to 70 tonns in near future. Air India should also get into direct competition with other airlines for its share in the cargo business.

Shreeram Patel, chairman of the Gujarat Chapter of Travel Agents Association of India said Air India has already announced resumption of the New Jersey direct Shreeram flight, while we have made Patel a case for resumption of direct flight to London and introduction of a direct flight to Bangkok (Thailand).

The airline has promised to look into the two demands.

K H Patel, chairman of the NRG (Non resident Gujaratis) committee of the GCCI and former Indian High Commissioner to Uganda, also ambassador K H Patel to Rwanda and Burundi said a strong case has also been made out for a direct flight from Ahmedabad to Nairobi (Kenya), and if possible to other East African countries. Kenya has a population of around 70 thousand Gujaratis, while Tanzania has 45 thousand and Uganda has 50 thousand. That apart, resumption of Ahmedabad – London direct flight was also a major demand and Air India chairman has promised to include that in the summer schedule.

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Asian Voice - Saturday 8th January 2011

Gujarat lauded for linkages with NRGs

Students important for development of the state, feel experts Experts from various fields underlined the role of students for overall development of Gujarat.

At the three day international conference on “Celebrating 50th Year of Swarnim Gujarat: The Role of Gujarati Diaspora”, speakers lauded the linkages for NRGs developed by Gujarat government and said still a lot more needs to be done.

The inaugural function of the conference, which took place at Saffrony college on AhmedabadMehsana Highway, saw several dignitaries like joint secretary of University Grants Commission (UGC), New Delhi, Dev Swarup, former secretary of union ministry of external affairs, JC Sharma, renowned space scientist and technology expert from US Dr Kamlesh Lulla, and Patricia Lee Dorff, editorial director of Council on Foreign Relations, New York.

The event was jointly organised by The UGC Area Study Centre for Indian Diaspora and Cultural Studies and NRG Foundation, Government of Gujarat, Gandhinagar.

Sharma, the guest of honour at the function, stressed on the importance of students in the development of Gujarat.

He said that to ensure all round development of the state, reforms in the education, health and environment sectors are necessary. He also crowned the NRGs with the title of

ing Gujarat Chief minister Narendra Modi for the post Godhra riots.

Now, as per reports of the Supreme Court SIT also, Modi has not been found involved with the violence in any manner.

He also underlined the fact that Gujaratis are firm believers in peace and unity.

A keen media watcher in the USA, Ms. Gayatri Pandey rued the fact that unlike in UK, there is not tangible developDeligates at the International conference on “Celebrating 50th ment of Gujarati journalism in the USA. Year of Swarnim Gujarat: The Role of Gujarati Diaspora” Media plays a key role are forced to migrate. brand ambassadors of the in conservation of values Gujaratis have migrated in state. Swarup, during his among any community. search of wealth, business speech, emphasised on She made a special meninternational collaboraand adventure. The comtion of ‘Gujarat Samachar’ tion in the field of higher munity induces vibrancy, and said British Gujaratis education and called on energy and wealth to their and Indians are lucky that NRGs to help in this fellows, neighbours. they have a C B Patel to regard. Dr Lulla called on Speaking in the seslook after their interests. all well-wishers of sion “Media, Gujarati Dorff held the audiGujarati Society, includOrganisations and Social ence in rapt attention as ing policy designers, manNetworking, Social she described the Indo-US agement gurus, scientists, Sciences”, he said made a relationship in the context technocrats, professionals special mention of the fact of Indian Diaspora. and the government to that among the migrant She recommended work together for state communities in UK, starting a Gujarati growth.

Gujaratis have a record of Diaspora fellowship to Asian Voice and the lowest crime rate, as help NRGs in need of the community is always Gujarat Samachar Editor, assistance. open to grasping the good Publisher C B Patel also Deepak Trivedi, direcvirtues from everywhere, addressed the gathering. tor, Council on Foreign He said such meetings while it also has a deep Relations, US, delivered give us an idea of what all sense of social prestige. the keynote address in should we conserve, what Passing a bit of a sarwhich he highlighted the all should be maintained, castic remark at the US need for improvement in what should be disposed delegates in the meeting, higher education and off and what should we C B said Gujarat commuhealthcare programmes. think. nity believes in co-exisWhile lauding Gujarat He also pointed that tence and co-operation. government for setting up the word ‘Diaspora’ being He said as a British linkages with NRGs used for NRGs is wrong.

Gujarati, he would like to across the borders, he said Diaspora actually relates call upon the American “much still needs to be to those communities who Gujaratis to stop criticisdone”.

Knee replacement surgery with a difference: need of physio almost eliminated Dr. K C Mehta of Ahmedabad is a specialist treating patients only for all knee problems Dilip D. Trivedi A knee super specialist with a difference, Dr. K C Mehta of Ahmedabad offers some unique solutions to knee problems, giving a lot more comfort and the least of pain to patients going for knee surgeries.

Using his varied experience and training that he has gained while working with various UK and London hosipitals, Dr. Mehta uses of state of art technology and procedures. Thus his patients face almost minimal risk of infection, rarely need blood transfusion if preoperative haemoglobin level is normal and the most striking advantage – the need for services of a physiotherapist is almost eliminated.

In a chat with Asian Voice, Dr. Mehta said, in case of damaged joints for patients younger than 45 years of age (damage for reasons other than normal, age related wear and tear), he has acquired spe-

cialised skills for of pain, time and money.

Autologus Dr. Mehta has Cartilage Cell been regularly Implantation. invited as a Under this prospeaker to various cedure, the natural joints of the international patients are meets, which restored to their includes the Asia normal health Pacific meet held without the at Shanghai in Dr. K C Mehta replacement surJune 2010 and in gery. Further, as he doesn’t New Delhi in September make the use of diathermy, 2010. He was invited as a he has been able to elimikeynote speaker at the nate the chances of the Asia Pacific Meet held patient getting infected to Hanoi in October 2010. In almost hundred per cent all, he has presented more in his more than 1,000 than 1000 cases. On the cases after coming back to number of surgeries, he India. said on an average, he perWith his intensive forms 700 to 1000 operatraining and experience tions a year.

When asked about the for about more than 10 possibilities of precautions years in various hospitals in UK, he has perfected if any, that can help avoid the surgery procedure to knee problems, Dr. Mehta such an extent that almost said the physical condiall of his patients do not tions that necessitate knee need the services of a joint replacement are a physiotherapist for comresult of normal wear and fortable walking and good tear, it is not a disease. range of movements of the Hence, in most of the knee post surgery. With case, at the best it can be this special advantage, delayed but not avoidable patients can be saved a lot altogether. Yet, depending

upon the conditions, patients can benefit from injection of lubricant or by going for some medicines; particularly tablets that can help push back the need of surgery. These tablets are very safe and not pain killers.

Dr. Mehta also said people should avoid sitting down on the floor cross legged, squatting, climbing up or down the stairs, walking on rough and uneven surfaces to reduce the wear and tear of joints. It is also advised that Indian style toilets should not be used.

At present, Dr. Mehta is attending to patients at his Chandra Knee Clinic in Ahmedabad and in Africa. He has plans to soon make himself available to at least two more countries in Africa Tanzania and Kenya. He is also about to have a tie-up with some hospital or facility in London soon. In India, he plans to have tieups at Mumbai and Jaipur in Rajasthan in near future.

Indian wedding for Angelina – Brad Pitt!!

After Elizabeth HurleyArun Nayar and Katy Perry-Russell Brand, now it seems the Hollywood first couple of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are going to have an Indian wedding.

They are set to tie the knot amid the chanting of mantras at an ashram in Rajasthan for their Hindu wedding ceremony, sources say.

"Jolie, 35, and Pitt, 46, will marry in the new year and Siddha Guru Ram Lalji Siyag of Bikaner will conduct the ceremony," a source close to the guru said.

He said though the date has so far not been finalised, chances are the wedding will take place in the ashram known as Adhyatma Vigyan Satsang Kendra of Guru Siyag, 83.

It is situated in Chopsani area of Jodhpur.

"Guruji was asked to perform the rituals in a five star hotel situated in

the city, but he refused to hold the ceremony there and suggested it could take place in his ashram," he said the guests of the celebrities can stay in a resort near the ashram.

"We are waiting for a reply from the couple on this," he added.

According to the source, Guru Siyag has been helping the couple find inner peace and harmony and strengthening their nearly five-year relationship by making them practice Siddha yoga together.

In October 2006, Angelina and Brad had visited Jodhpur and stayed at Umaid Bhawan Palace.

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hiSTory

Asian Voice - Saturday 8th January 2011

Three Finalists Shortlisted for Chance to Star in Bollywood Soap O2 announced that Purvi Jhalla from Slough in Berkshire, Priya Rupal from Sutton Coldfield in Birmingham and Zubair Ali from Sale in Manchester have been picked out of thousands of aspiring actors to take part in the national final of O2 Indian Soap Priya Rupal Purvi Jhalla Star, the nationwide competition to win a rehearsing the script I took it very walk on role in ZEE TV’s hit Indian seriously and my goal was to learn it soap, Pavrita Rishta. off by heart! I rehearsed with my dad The Indian Soap Star roadshow and tried to understand what emohas been touring the UK since the tions the character was feeling at the 11th November and has seen more time. I think if you want to be an than 1,800 people step in front of the actor/actress you should take audicamera for their chance to win a part tions seriously, and you need to be in Pavitra Rishta, one of India’s professional and I think I did exactbiggest soaps watched by over 500 ly that! million globally.

The roadshow, which visited ● Tell us a little more about yourGlasgow, Manchester, Brent, self, what you do, your family etc.

Leicester, Birmingham, Croydon and Slough throughout November, has Zubair: I originally come from brought together people from all Bhopal in India but have been workages and backgrounds to show off ing abroad soon after completing my their acting skills for their chance at MBA. I head up Finance dept at fame.

Procter & Gamble in Manchester.

The three finalists spoke to asian For past ten years well settled in UK Voice about their achievements. with two kids (Arousa and Adil) and Lisa my wife. I did a lot of dramas ● How do you feel about being one and plays at school and university in of the three finalists?

India and always dreamt of taking acting as a career but due to finanZubair: Oh it feels absolutely cial situation at home then opted for fantastic! The feeling you get when a full time regular job with a multiyou are falling in love! It feels like I national organization. Now I have am getting very close to fulfilling my the flexibility to fully concentrate on dream of going back to acting and things that I ever wanted to do in my proving my talent! life!

Purvi: Just being one of the three finalists is a massive achievement for me, especially now that I know how many people actually auditioned, 2,000 is a lot of people! No matter what happens, I’m still happy with where I have got to. Another audition is another experience for me.

Priya: I was so excited when I got the phone call from O2 it was like a dream and I screamed with excitement I feel very proud of myself and I just couldn’t wait to tell my parents. My dad is really proud of me! ● Why do you think you won the regional competition?

Zubair: I believe I was natural and convincing in the role of a father trying to persuade his daughter not to marry Raj! I literally had five minutes to prepare for the audition as we were shopping at the Trafford centre in Manchester and O2 team invited me to try the audition. How much can one prepare in just five minutes so my audition attempt was all flowing naturally in front of the camera!

Purvi: That's something you'd have to ask the judges! Because from the videos I have seen on YouTube there are so many talented people out there in Slough. Maybe the judges were after a certain something, or maybe they could see how much I do really want this.

Priya: My father told me about the auditions he saw the advert on Zee TV. He loves Bollywood and Indian soaps and has always told me to try and get into Bollywood!

As soon as my dad told me I went online and downloaded "Smithas" script. I spent two weeks

Purvi: I have recently graduated from Reading University with a Film, Theatre and TV degree, so going in to the entertainment business is exactly what I want to do. Ever since year 3 at school I have always wanted to perform, and always participated in school productions. I am also a supporting artiste and often do work for the BBC's production of Holby City, where I met one of my idol's Laila Rouass and one day would love to have the type of career she has had. I have recently finished a shoot for a Magnetic man music video who is a massive artist in the dub step scene. ● Have you ever Mumbai/India before?

been

to

Zubair: Oh yes, I was actually born in Mumbai and then we moved to Bhopal, we still have friends and relatives there so regularly visit Mumbai.

Purvi: I've been very fortunate to be able to go to India quite frequently; I visit Ahmedabad and Bhavnagar which are in Gujarat as I have a lot of my mum's family there. I've been to Mumbai but I was quite young, so I do remember little bits from it, but Mumbai is an up and coming city I'm sure it has transformed so much since the last time I saw it.

Priya: I have only been to India twice once when I was a baby and the second time was when I was 15.

I love India! I would like the opportunity to go to Mumbai I think it would be a lovely experience! ● Why do you think you are perfect for the role in Pavitra Rishta?

Zubair: I believe the serial

27

History Matters

By Dr Anil Mehta

The abolition of slavery

Zubair Ali

Pavitra Rishta is all about relationships, feelings and the social set up in India. I come from a middle class struggling family who has worked his way up successfully so playing any role in this serial would simply come naturally to me as I have literally lived through many such situations as portrayed in the serial and also importantly acting has been my passion and forte! Also as Pavitra Rishta is an Indian TV serial which has a powerful script in Hindi/Urdu language. My fluency in these languages will make me a perfect choice!

Purvi: Pavitra Rishta is essentially a drama that focuses on the emotional bond daughters have with their mothers, and I feel I have a very close bond with my mother, this could help portray characters that are in the show. I also believe that I could also be a good British Indian female to represent what we are like; I have the drive and ambition to achieve, and most importantly the right attitude. But obviously, when the judges are doing their thing, they can only tell you why I am perfect for the role if I am successful in this competition.

Priya: I would love the opportunity to star in Pavitra Rishta I have a lot to give and I think if I had the chance I would definitely do myself very proud. I think it would be nice for the audience of Pavitra Rishta to see a young actress from the UK starring in the soap I think I could be a role model for the younger viewers. In particular with "Smithas" character I engaged with the script and empathised with her dilemma and given the opportunity to star in the soap I think I would encompass all the requirements that are demanded by the role. ● If you win, who are you planning on taking with you to Mumbai and why?

Zubair: My wife as she encouraged me to audition that day!

Purvi: It would be a really hard decision I have to be honest, but my family have been very fortunate to travel to India on numerous occasions, so this time I’d be taking my two best friends. The reason being, when we lived together at university, they'd always ask me questions about what India was like and I’d say to them, "when I’m successful in whatever I do, I’ll take you" and obviously if I am successful in this then I will stick to my word. I'd love to show the girls my heritage and my roots.

Priya: I would take my parents with me because. I love acting and I take it seriously when I was 18 decided to do a degree in acting my parents have always been very supportive and have always wanted me to follow my dream!

Slavery is a social curse.

It has existed in one form or the other from the dawn of history to the modern times.

Throughout ancient civilization (Roman, Egyptian, Islamic) it was an accepted way of life, often an established feature to the economy and society. Slaves were viewed by their owners as property and were bought and sold accordingly. They were denied basic human rights and were often subjected to a brutal treatment by their owners. Slaves were obtained in a number of ways such as mass kidnapping, captured as prisoners of war, or payment for a debt.

In modern times one of the most significant periods of slavery was the use of African slave labour in the plantations of the Caribbean and the southern states of the USA. Since the mid 16th century European traders (English, French, Dutch, Portuguese) had operated a terrible trade in human cargo to provide this labour. The first African slaves in North America arrived in English colony of Virginia in 1619. The English were then developing highly profitable plantations in the Caribbean (sugar) and North America (tobacco and later cotton). These crops demanded hard labour in a hot climate.

As the plantations grew, so did the demand for cheap labour. An elaborate network known as the triangular trade or Atlantic triangle was set up between the Caribbean, British, and West African ports.

Ships from Britain packed with textile, guns, and whiskey sailed to West Africa where these items were exchanged for slaves captured by local slave traders. Slaves were crammed into ships, chained to the lower decks and transported in appalling conditions across the Atlantic to the Caribbean (many died during the journey), and sold at considerable profit as labour for the plantations of West Indies and America. The ships retuned loaded with sugar, rum, and tobacco to be sold for yet more profit in Britain and Europe.

The slave trade was the integral part of British colonial system.

British ships carried some three million African slaves between end of 17th century to

early 19th, making London, Bristol, Liverpool, and Glasgow prosperous. Meanwhile Arab traders in North Africa were busy shipping slaves taken from Central Africa to markets in Arabia and Iran.

As the Enlightenment (intellectual awareness) grew in Europe during the 18th century, moral abhorrence to slavery began to spread.

William Wilberforce (17591833), a humanitarian, social reformer, and an MP from Yorkshire was one of the most influential campaigners for the abolition of slavery in this country. He became the abolitionist movement’s chief spokesman in parliament.

Abolitionists fervently believed that slavery was inhuman and immoral.

They raised public awareness of their cause with pamphlets, books, rallies, and petitions.

The campaign was an uphill struggle. There was a strong opposition to it by the slave owners, traders, and slave-trading ports (Bristol, Liverpool) as they had no intention of giving up their lucrative business; but the abolitionists’ persistence paid off. In 1807, the slave trade was finally abolished. However, this was only half the battle, since the law did not free those who were already slaves.

So, the campaign to abolish slavery itself (as distinct from the slave trade) began in earnest in 1823, when the Anti-Slavery Society was formed of which Wilberforce was a member.

It was not until 1833 that an act was passed giving freedom to all slaves in the British Empire, finally destroying the evil practice that had been at the heart of British economy for more than 200 years. A vast sum of 20 million pounds was paid by government in compensation to the colonial slave owners.

It was a long and hard-fought campaign.

By then Wilberforce had led the battle against slavery for half a century.

He was failing in health and no more an MP. Just three days before his death he was thrilled to hear that slavery abolition bill had passed through the Commons – the culmination of his life’s work. It became law one month after his death. In the US slavery was ended at the end of the Civil War in 1865 (Emancipation Proclamation of 1865).

Fashion 2011

28

Asian Voice - Saturday 8th January 2011

The tale of

Be a Fashionista, Be You! If you have any questions or a story or a new style to share with us, please write to Rupanjana at

rupanjana.dutta@abplgroup.com

Paithani: the pride of Maharashtra - Rupanjana Dutta

It must 'Suit' you well Men's formals and suits in vogue Men's fashion trends are rarely talked about in ethnic media. But let me tell you, men can be more fashion conscious than women! However taste is something unique to everybody.

Men's fashion trends are greatly different to women's. Often their styles are apparent through the kind of suits they choose to buy or wear.

A good suit means it needs to be masculine in nature. It is very difficult to describe such masculinity. It is actually all in the cuts. It's about that cut of a suit which makes you, the wearer, feel more masculine and more confident. And feeling really is key. To some people the masculine element will be a suit that is clean cut, with few flourishes, to others it's means a suit full of extra details that it takes a certain attitude to pull off well. One of the key elements of the trends in suits this year is the skinny fit, which obviously looks more appealing.

The three key masculine silhouette elements are: ● broad shoulders ● a slim waist ● slim trousers

Single breasted suits We come across the single breasted suits by default. The cut of the single breasted suit has evolved for 2011 / 2012 to have two dominant styles: a. The sleek cut b.The confidence cut

When it comes to ontrend double breasted suits, it's also this season's dominant cut.

Double breasted suits were originally designed

ing the right fabric will also play a big factor in whether you buy an investment piece or a one season wonder.

Patterns

to do: hide a plump figure. Instead they're now designed to accent and to heighten the perfect masculine shape: the Vshaped, well worked body.

Incidentally, if you're still in possession of a double breasted suit from an earlier era, take it off to your tailor to refresh its life.

Suits for 2011 and 2012 are all about a cut that broadens the shoulders and slims the waist.

Three-piece suits

The waistcoat has been out of fashion for mostly all. But this season it's back. The three piece in 2011/12 is all about cohesion. The return of the three-piece means that the waistcoat has to be cohesive and, thus, in the same fabric as the suit's other two pieces.

For those looking to invest in a suit that isn't made in a solid colour, the following are classic suit patterns perfect for 2011: a. Glen plaid: A mixture of checks, the Glen plaid (or Glen Urquhart plaid) has risen to become the most fashionable of all suit fabric patterns. b. Damier check: The damier check wasn't invented by Louis Vuitton but has certainly been popularised by the fashion house as a menswear offering all the same. c. Herringbone: Herringbone has become something of the third place pattern in men's suiting; solid colours take out first place and pinstripes second. While the fashionable fabric for 2011/2012 is a Glen plaid, herringbone remains something of the more conservative choice. d. Pinstripe: Easiest to wear in a black with grey/white pinstripe, look to a navy or grey cloth with a

The Fabric/Suit Cloth

The fabric you buy your suit in will be on of the biggest factors in the price you pay, but select-

white pinstripe to differentiate yourself from everyone else. Do not, however, attempt a lighter cloth with a darker pinstripe. A pinstripe cloth also provides a great visual trick of making the wearer look taller, so is a must for those men after such an affect. e.Rope-stripe: The rope stripe is the pinstripe's bolder cousin. If the rope stripe does appeal to you, you might also consider a chalk stripe.

Paithani sarees are the pride of Maharashtrian art of saree weaving. The history of Paithani saree is over 2000 years old. It finds mention of the Paithani fabrics in the Rig Veda and in the ancient Greek texts. These majestic silk sarees are noted for their richly ornate zari or gold pallav and border.

The best weavers of Maharashtra are employed in the weaving of these gorgeous sarees. The simplest Paithani saree takes about a month to be completed, whereas the sarees with elaborate brocade designs could take over 6 months to be completed.

Individual varieties of Paithani sarees derive their name from the motifs adorning them. For instance, sarees with the parrot motif are known as tota-maina Paithani. The peacock and bangle designed sarees are called bangdi-mor paithani. Sarees with the flower and vine designs are called asavali Paithani and sarees with coconut motifs are known as narli Paithani.

Although pure gold were used in the zari brocade of the paithani in olden times but to make the saree more affordable gold has been replaced by silver. The Paithani saree is known the world over for its uniqueness. It is one of the most beautiful sarees. Artistically crafted with an exquisite zari border, this saree is truly a poem in silk. The Paithani saree is chosen by brides to wear on their special day, especially in Gujarati and Maharashtrian families.

The Paithani sarees are mostly woven in Paithan region of Maharashtra.

Yeola, Pune, Nasik and Malegaon in Maharashtra are the other centres where weaving of Paithani sarees is undertaken.

These sarees were initially woven specially for queens and other members of the royal family by weavers in the palaces.

However, with the passage of time, these sarees are now easily available both in India and internationally.

In an original Paithani saree, pure silk is used in the weaving of the body and pure gold and silver zari is used in

the pallu and the border.

The zari used in the preparation of the saree is specially procured from Surat in Gujarat. The process of preparation of a Paithani saree can be from a month to years. It

is because of these reasons that this saree is rather expensive. To bring down the price of these sarees, weavers are using silver instead of gold and silk in place of silver.

Traditionally, Paithanis used to have a plain body with a heavy golden border and a large pallu. However, with the passage of time, various motifs began to be used in these sarees.

Though modern-day weavers are trying to develop newer and innovative motifs, usually traditional motifs are used in Paithani sarees. The most commonly used motifs in the body of these sarees are 'kamal' (lotus flower), 'hans' (swan), 'asharfi' (coin), 'asawalli' (flowering vine), 'Bangadi mor' (peacock in bangle), 'rui phool' (cotton flower), circles, stars and clusters of leaves. In the pallu of such sarees, certain motifs are very commonly found.

Some of them are 'Asawali', 'Panja' (a flower in a geometrical shape), 'Muthada' (a geometrical shape), and 'mor' (peacock).

Paithani sarees are woven in a number of colors. These colors can be pure or be created using a blend of different colored yarns. The colors that are typically used in these sarees are 'kaali chandrakala' (black), 'uddani' (lighter black), 'pophali' (yellow), 'neeligungi' (blue), 'pasila' (a combination of green, red and pink), 'pheroze' (a blend of green, white and red), 'samprus' (a mixture of green and red) and 'kusumbi' (a purple and red combination).

Artisans in Paithan have been practicing the art of weaving the Paithani saree for centuries, and this tradition has been passed on from one generation to another.

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Fashion & health Watch

Asian Voice - Saturday 8th January 2011

29

Various types of sleep disorders (Continued from December 18, 2010 issue) • Obstructive sleep apnoea – this is the most common form of sleep disorder which may usually be ignored as excessive snoring. Sleep apnoea is a disorder of disrupted breathing during sleep.

The throat muscles relax during deep sleep. In persons with sleep apnoea, the muscles relax so much that they cause obstruction to the windpipe making breathing difficult. In some cases, the breathing may actually stop for sometime. The patient may wake up at this time but does not remember it afterwards.

The symptoms of sleep apnoea include heavy snoring, drowsiness during the day due to disturbed sleep, headaches on waking up, decrease in muscle coordination and in the long run, mood changes and depression.

The sleep apnoea syndrome is one of the commonest causes of excess daytime drowsiness. When the patient tends to fall asleep inappropriately eg. during conferences, while talking, while eating or while driving. If such a patient also gives a history of loud and heavy snoring and is obese in weight, clinical suspicion of sleep apnoea is very high. A sleep test called polysomnography is usually done to diagnose sleep apnoea. A polysomnograph measures eye movement, heart rate, breathing rate, brain waves and muscle tension. The test is not painful.

Sleep apnoea syndrome is diagnosed if there are at least 7 episodes of apnoea (stoppage of breathing associated with fall in blood oxygen) per hour of sleep, Sleep apnoea syndrome tends to cause Hypertension, heart disease, heart attack and strokes. Besides it may lead to accidents if patients persist in driving.

Treatment - Some changes in the sleeping position may bring about relief from the symptoms.

Sleeping on the side instead of the back and reducing weight if obese may help to alleviate the condition. Many such patients also have low thyroid function and this should be looked for and corrected. In the past sleep apnoea was treated by doing a tracheostomy or making an opening in the lower part of the wind pipe so that even if the upper airway obstructs, breathing continues.

Sometimes surgery was done to increase the area of the air passage. Now we believe that if air is given at high pressure into the

back of the nose it will prevent the air passage being occluded. This is done by putting the patient on a machine (BIPAP), which delivers air at pressure into a mask fitted snugly on the nose.

This is used each night.

Patients definitely become more active after using the machine.

• Narcolepsy – it is a disorder of abnormally increased sleep. People with narcolepsy have irresistible sleep attacks dur-

ing the day. These are different from “catnaps” that are voluntary naps taken by people. Narcoleptic attacks may occur anytime during the day even when the individual is engaged in some activity. These attacks last from less than a minute to more than half an hour. The sleep pattern during this time is also abnormal. The patient enters the REM stage of sleep prematurely. The duration of time spent in the stage of deep sleep is also less.

Other symptoms of a narcoleptic attack include muscle twitching and stiffness of muscles (cataplexy), sleep paralysis (involuntary numbness and immobility of limbs) and dream-like hallucinations while awake. The person may fall asleep while involved in an activity like driving which can be extremely dangerous.

Frequent attacks of narcolepsy generally indicate severe sleep deprivation.

(This disorder needs some more detailed information, which will be carried in the next issue) • Restless legs syndrome (RLS) – it is a less common disorder among the middle aged and elderly. Affected individuals experience a tingling and prickly feeling in their legs as they try to fall asleep.

The feeling is usually so intense that the person finds it difficult to sleep and has to move his legs to get rid of the feeling and he may have to move his legs, press them, tie bandages round them or walk up and down the room to get relief and move the legs about. On examination there is usually no abnormality but some cases of early nerve disease e.g. renal failure and alcoholic neuropathy may start as restless legs. Many patients with restless leg

have periodic leg movements even in sleep, which may disturb the partner.

The best treatment for restless legs is a small dose of L Dopa and Carbidopa (same drug used in Parkinson) or Clonazepan at bedtime. Results may not always be satisfactory.

• Insomnia - Insomnia is a condition where sleep is disturbed for prolonged periods and person takes long time to fall off to sleep or having fallen asleep wakes early. The person thus sleeps less than 4 hours and suffers effects of sleep deprivation and tries all sorts of drugs to get relief. The causes of insomnia are many and include • Psychiatric disorders including depression, anxiety, mania, agitation.

• Situational insomnia due to pain, discomfort, heart failure, or restless legs.

Arthritis patients and chronic bronchitis patients often have insomnia • Other sleep related illness like carpal tunnel syndrome causing tingling in the hands • Some drugs may disturb sleep such as fluoxitane, ciprofloxacin, theophyllin etc.

• Primary insomnia where none of these apply and people go long periods with insomnia.

• A rare new disease fatal familial insomnia.

Which is a rare disorder caused by abnormal genetic material a prion protein.

In the vast majority the cause is psychogenic and the situational ones easily diagnosed.

Besides these, children have a number of sleep related problems.

(Details of sleep related problems in children will also be carried in the next issue) What can be done about sleep disorders?

Most countries have specialised sleep clinics where people with sleep disorders are treated.

These clinics have specialised personnel and equipment to diagnose the condition and carry out rehabilitation of patients with incurable sleep disorders.

In India, there are not enough of specialised sleep clinics but facilities are increasing in the major cities. A patient can usually consult a neurologist for medical help.

Lifestyle changes like regularising sleep patterns, eating lighter meals, reducing weight and taking short frequent naps during the day may help.

However, a doctor’s opinion should always be sought in case such a condition is detected.

By Radhika Madlani

home and away Have you been stuck indoors during the recent snow in the UK? If like us, you have young children, you might well have had a dose of the winter blues. So, this holiday season, my husband and I decided to take an actual holiday to sunnier climes to beat our cabin fever.

We are fortunate that a lot of holiday resorts now cater for young children, at a small premium of course. My all time favourite holiday destination is Dubai so I started to look for good deals for Dubai. However, due to the snow at Heathrow, there were no available flights to Dubai so we decided to take Ria to explore the sights of Abu Dhabi instead. I am very fond of the Middle East because of its fusion of East and West, their impeccable hospitality, the facilities available to tourists and most importantly the safety in the UAE. A combination that makes the UAE a child friendly choice for a lot of Brits and Americans and Abu Dhabi was no exception.

I recommend the Freemont Bab Al Bahr, it is definitely a nice hideaway and a credible alternative to its neighbour, the Shangri-La. The week away gave us the chance to reflect on the quality of life we have in England and also talk about our pet hates with life in England. How many of you have talked

about whether England is a good place to raise your children?

And whether there are much better alternatives in the world? So, why is it that many of us still live the rat-race in the UK? My husband and I talked about how much better our moods were being in a sunnier clime and how the weather must make a big difference to the way we can raise our children. Not only would Ria be able to enjoy the fresh air and play outdoors, she would probably grow up healthier unaffected from winter viruses and nasty colds. After a lengthy debate on the academic standards and the variance in pay for similar jobs, we agreed it really did boil down to our family. All the hospitality in the world cannot tempt us away from the warmth and support of our family and friends. Of course, love conquers all distances but when you have a young child, it is important, well almost essential that they grow up surrounded by family and friends. I am sure people who choose to live away have friends to compensate for the lack of family but is it the same?

Isn’t human nature funny? When at home, we cannot wait to get away but when we eventually do get away, we realise what keeps us at home. Yes, I would like to bring Ria up in sun-

nier climes but when the temperature hits 50degrees in the summer, would I be as happy walking on the beach with her? Yes, the facilities I have seen are amazing but without the company of friends and family, are there places I would visit alone? Yes, the quality and pace of life is much better but how long would it be before we bore of the peace and quiet and miss the hustle and bustle of the city we live in?

Perhaps my mind is giving me assurances to support my choice to raise a family in England or there is some truth in my rationale. The grass always seems greener and the purpose of 5 star holiday resorts is to tempt you to stay away from home as long as possible but how long can you enjoy being away before you become home-sick? In my case, 7 nights is the answer!

After a week of soaking up the sunshine, swimming with Ria in the calm waters of Arabia, I start to miss my family, I start to miss my friends and most of all, I start to miss my home.

Wherever you spent your Christmas and New Year, I hope you are glad to be back at home. We are!

“When you are at home, you wish for an adventure and when you are on an adventure, you wish to be at home!”

– Thornton Wilder

Should you have any comments or want to get in touch with me you can email on avmamaria@gmail.com

A cup or two of coffee helps keep your heart healthy

A cup or two of hot coffee daily not just a helps people keeping themselves alert and energetic, it also has a positive effect on the health of the heart. It may also lead to a longer life.

A study by a group of researchers at the University of Athens has found that drinking a cup of coffee everyday improves elasticity of the arteries, which can stave off heart disease.

In fact, the researchers have based their findings on an analysis of 485 people with high blood pressure, according to a report in a British daily.

The subjects of the study were all aged between 65 and 100 and long term inhabitants of Greek island of Ikaria. It is known as the "land of longevity" and a

third of residents reach the age of 90.

Dr Christina Chrysohoou, who led the study, said there was conflicting evidence about the effect of coffee drinking on heart health, with some research showing it aggravated high blood pressure.

"Drinking coffee is a deeply embedded social tradition in Greek culture which made it imperative to probe on this island of 'high life-expectancy," she said.

In the study, the subjects' arteries were assessed for elasticity. The 56 per cent who were moderate coffee drinkers consuming between one and two cups a day, had best arterial health, with their blood vessels behaving like those found in younger people.

Their arteries were more elastic than those measured in people who drank little or no coffee.

Around one in 10 who drank three or more cups a day had the least elasticity.

Dr Chrysohoou said moderate coffee drinkers consumed 25-50ml of coffee a day. Typically they were drinking strong Greek coffee but other types might work as well.

She suggested that ingredients such as caffeine and antioxidants may partly improve arterial function by increasing the ability to take up nitric oxide, which is impaired in hypertensive patients.

The findings have been released at European Society of Cardiology Congress in Stockholm.

30

UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 8th January 2011

This week at CB Live, Manubhai Thakkar will talk about the importance of will and for Arun Patel will talk about meditation- the importance of it for heart, mind and soul.

Sneh Joshi - 020 8518 5500

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New Year's Eve in the UK: 'The best fireworks ever'

An estimated 250,000 people watched the eightminute firework display at the London Eye, while about 80,000 people attended the annual Hogmanay party in Edinburgh.

In the capital crowds gathered along the banks of the river Thames and spilled into Trafalgar Square to watch the fireworks, which for the first time were set to music, including Queen's We Will Rock You, The Beatles's Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, and Blur's Song 2.

In Edinburgh, fireworks lit up the sky above the castle before revellers joined in a mass rendition of Auld Lang Syne.

Around 5,000 people packed into Glasgow's George Square to see in 2011.

The celebrations continue in London with half a million people expected to watch the 25th New Year's Day parade in Westminster, involving

more than 10,000 musicians, cheerleaders and performers.

The Metropolitan police said 77 arrests were made overnight, 24 being for public order offences.

Sixteen people were arrested for assault and five for sexual offences.

The London Ambulance Service said this New Year's Eve had been its busiest night on record, with control room staff taking an average of almost 11 calls every minute in the hours after midnight.

By 4am operators had answered 2,639 emergency calls, the majority of which were alcohol-related.

At the busiest point of the night, 800 emergency calls were received an hour - an increase of 400% on an average night.

Emergency services in the West Midlands reported a busy night with lots of alcohol-related 999 calls, but no major incidents.

Coming Events l Saturday 8th January, 11:00 - 12:30: Gurubani Shabd Kirtan @ 42 Gorset Road, Park Royal, NW10 6LD l Sunday 9th January, 10:30 - 16:30: 108 Hanuman Chalisa MahaYagna @ Social Club hall, Northwick Park Hospital, Harrow, HA1 3UJ. Contact: 020 8459 5758 l Sunday 9th January, 15:00 - 17:30: Bhajan and Satsang @ Aadhyashakti Mandir, Cowley UB8 2DX. Contact: 07882 253 540 l Sunday 9th January and Monday 10th January: Govardhannath Haveli Patotsav Mahotsav.

Contact: 020 8908 6402 l Wednesday 26th January, 12:00 - 13:00: Indian Republic Day celebration @ Shri Jalaram Mandir, Greenford, UB6 9LB. COntact: 020 8578 8088 l All Thursdays 19:00 - 20:00: Jalaram Jyot @ Rapton Avenue, Sudbury HA0 3DW

TAURUS Apr 21 - May 21 There is an element of disruption or stress which may be hard to avoid, but it appears that there is a strong sense of purpose in the background. There is much to suggest that you are in tune with your inner self and in touch with those hidden forces which often seem to take a guiding hand in one's life.

GEMINI May 22 - June 22 By nature you are a highly enterprising, go-getting type of person and these are qualities that will stand you in good stead in the coming weeks. Go easy on yourself though, especially if it's a question of financial loans. Don't be afraid to act forcefully if your instinct tells you it's time for change.

CANCER Jun 22 - Jul 22

You are likely to experience some tension in close relationships - it may be a time to take careful stock of things, especially your own attitudes. You will continue to be in a restless mood for some time to come. This makes you impatient with restrictions and even more determined to cut your own path.

LEO Jul 23 - Aug 23

Career-wise you cannot go wrong provided you do not act in a way that threatens other people's egos. Play your cards right and you can pull strings in you favour.

This is also a time when you will develop fresh insights into other people. No matter how hard you are working, try to make time for relaxation.

VIRGO Aug 24 - Sep 23

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

" ! +) + ')+!

*+

% '& '&

The Sun illuminates your fifth house. You are feeling inspired creatively and romantically and you express your loving feelings quite openly now. At this time, you instinctively know how to place yourself in the best light in order to make a good impression on others.

LIBRA Sep 24 - Oct 23 Ego confrontations with family members are possible now, but the best way to handle this energy is to do your best to strengthen your relationship with your family and your home base.

Besides spending more time tending to domestic affairs, the focus can be on cultivating and nourishing your inner foundations, so to speak.

SCORPIO Oct 24- Nov 22 It is a great week for seeing real results. You can accomplish more than usual with a little elbow grease - the keyword here is discipline. Mixing business with pleasure will bring you benefits. You will achieve great success by being responsible and diplomatic. Romance will have its pleasant surprises.

Aastha channel is back on Sky EPG channel 849 Editor: CB Patel Associate Editor: Rupanjana Dutta Tel: 020 7749 4098 - Email: rupanjana.dutta@abplgroup.com Senior News Editor: Dhiren Katwa Editorial Executive: Kartik Raval Freelance Correspondent: Rudy Otter 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 Media Consultant: 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

The general pattern of things continues on a progressive and buoyant theme. You now have an excellent opportunity to sort out where things may be going wrong. The hard part is that you will have to be honest with yourself. Co-operative ventures are likely to generate financial success.

ARIES Mar 21 - Apr 20

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SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 - Dec 21 The powerful combination of planets in your chart throws a significant light on material concerns. The cash situation continues to be rather erratic. However, problems can be avoided if you can curtail extravagant impulses and keep everything well organised. Keep away from any emotional tensions with your partner.

The prevailing astrological trend indicates increasing vigour and stamina, both mentally and physically. At an ordinary everyday level you can expect this to be a pleasant time, indulging in the good things of life and taking a much needed break. This will urge you towards creating greater independence in your lifestyle.

CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan 20

AQUARIUS Jan 21 - Feb 19

If lately you have had all sorts of demands being placed on you from all sides, don't despair; take some time out to reflect. Try and work out where you want to make changes in your busy life. A tremendous amount of planetary activity in your chart signals a time of mixed emotions as well as personal issues to be dealt with.

PISCES Feb 20 - Mar 20 It’s time to use that brilliant imagination of yours to create grandeur in your life. Jupiter, the planet of expansion in your sign is creating a lot of opportunities for you. Your intuition is also spot on. Even so, don't get too carried away and lose sight of little things that mean a lot to you.

Sport worLd

Asian Voice - Saturday 8th January 2011

Yuvi, KP feature in a distinctive ‘top 10’ list Daily Telegraph picks up 10 sportspersons for their ‘ego’ Yuvraj Singh of India and Kevin Pietersen, former skipper of the England team are the two cricketers among a total of 10 sportspersons picked up British daily ‘Daily Telegraph’ as it has described them as ‘top 10 sporting egos’ of recent times.

The newspaper took a jibe at all of them last week. Pietersen got his name included after he

claimed that it was his resignation as England skipper that made the Ashes victory possible.

Yuvraj, who has failed to find a place in India's Test squad for some time, was described as a talented cricketer whose ego has been inflated by the huge money that he has earned from the Indian Premier League.

"The Twitter biography says it all, really:

'Cricketer, Celebrity, Entrepreneur, budding Philanthropist aka Yuvi'," Daily Telegraph said.

"Wonderfully talented teenager got lost in the 'tamasha' which accompanied the Indian Premier League. Ego, bank balance and waistline have all swollen in recent years, but his performance has deserted him.

"Switch hits and tattoos, Lamborghinis and

Liberty-X Kevin Pietersen is a very different type of English cricketer.

'The walking ego' is how Shane Warne described Pietersen earlier this winter.

Others in the list include boxing legend Muhammad Ali, current Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho, basketball great Michael Jordan and golf legend Nick Faldo.

Bhupathi, Paes team up again

A tennis match on water!!

Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi, the popular Indian players of Indian tennis decided last month to get together again as doubles partners for the year 2011. They have started well, winning the first round at the Chennai Open that is currently underway. They have plans to play the entire year together, but Paes is not prepared to commit himself for a long term. They have atleast decided that will play the Australian Open as partners.

Doha Bay in Qatar has a specially built court It was an unusual tennis experience at Doha Bay in Qatar. Top two tennis players of the world, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, played on a special water court ahead of the season opener in Qatar. It was an exhibition match between the two. The water court had been constructed in the waters of Doha Bay. The two are the top seeds at the Qatar Open that began on Monday.

Barclays Premier League trophy comes knocking on Karnataka’s biggest football fan Arsenal fan Suhas Sreedhara received the prize of a lifetime when he was visited by the Barclays Premier League trophy at his home in Mysore, Karnataka.

He became the winner of the 'Barclays Home Win' competition, which gives fans of the world's most popular domestic football tournament the chance to have the iconic Barclays Premier League trophy.

Suhas chose for the trophy to go to his home to be enjoyed by friends, family and neighbors in his apartment block, and then took the trophy down to Mysore Palace for some spectacular photography.

Suhas revealed "It was a great honour to host the Barclays Premier League trophy at my apartment with all my friends and family. To be one of only two Indian fans to win it makes me really proud."

Chelsea fan Yorrick Pinto from Mumbai was the first ever Indian to receive the trophy.

Barclays launched the 'Home Win' competition to celebrate the renewal of its title sponsorship of the Barclays Premier League from 2010 until 2013, and one fan from each Barclays Premier League club has won the privilege of owning the trophy, no matter where they are in the world.

The trophy made its first Indian Barclays Home Win visit in Mumbai a week before arriving at Suhas's doorstep. Having previously visited winners in the UK and USA, in 2011 it is due to head off to Indonesia, Singapore, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and New Zealand.

Now an IPL style hockey tourney planned in India IHF and Nimbus TV partners for the league, FIH has objections Indian Hockey Federation just announced plans to introduce an IPL style hockey tourney to bring the game back in limelight in the country, while the international body, FIH has said the body has objections. The dispute is that FIH has recognised Hockey India (HI), while the government of India is still not clear and seems to back IHF. The Indian Hockey Federation last week announced plans for a money-spinning World Series league towards the end of 2011.

Nimbus TV has joined hands with the IHF in the audacious venture. The move should ruffle the feathers of Hockey India,

which has the backing of FIH. By unveiling a grand plan for a lucrative league involving multinational stars, the IHF has aped the now defunct Indian Cricket League, the brainchild of the Zee TV boss, Subhash Chandra.

World Series has attracted the cream of

Indian hockey. Sardara Singh, who found a place on the allstar team at the Asian Games, and penalty corner expert S a ndee p Singh have jumped on the IHF bandwagon.

Mumbaibased goalkeeper Adrian D’Souza has also signed on the dotted line.

Clearly, the IHF has succeeded in selling a dream to India’s top players, who earn pitiable money in domestic tournaments.

Hockey India’s secretary Narendra Batra has

vowed to render the World Series a nonstarter.

HI looks at the IHF adventure as a desperate attempt to gain legitimacy. Given his cosy relationship with the FIH, Batra will ensure that foreign players aren’t available for the IHF-Nimbus venture. Hockey India may also threaten to exclude Indian players who have signed for the World Series from the national team.

After conducting three editions of the Premier Hockey League in collaboration with ESPN-STAR Sports, the IHF has roped in Nimbus as its partner for a new journey. As things stand now, the ride isn’t going to be smooth.

31

Sachin scores his 51st century Sachin Tendulkar steadied the Indian innings at Cape Town in the third and final test match against South Africa on Monday and carried the battle on well into the second session on Tuesday. He scored the 51st test century late in the afternoon even as other Indian batsmen could not bat long. Sachin lost Gautam Gambhir, Laxman, Pujara and Dhoni. Gambhir missed his ton by just seven runs.

EPL match this week There is only one match this week, on Wednesday, 12 January. It is Blackpool v/s Liverpool, at Bloomfield Road, 20:00.

Finger surgery for Ponting, to miss England T20s, ODIs Ricky Ponting, the skipper of the Australian, fighting for his captaincy even as there is a question mark on his career itself, has undergone a surgery on his broken finger on Tuesday. He is not playing the Sydney test and the surgery means he will miss the two T20s and the seven ODI series against the England at home. He had fractured the little finger on his left hand while fielding in Perth.

Ricky Ponting Though he played the Melbourne test with the injury, lack of proper recovery led physio Alex Kountouris to take a decision for the surgery. The struggling veteran though is considered to be a part of the Australian team for the World Cup starting next month.

Zimbabwean yoga teacher for Indian team in SA Former Zimbabwe allrounder Neil Johnson has been appointed as Team India's yoga instructor.

He is now a part of the support staff on India's current tour of South Africa. Team manager Ranjib Biswal confirmed Johnson's appointment but didn't allow him to Neil Johnson talk to media. India's South-African coach Gary Kirsten is trying to implement an ancient 'Indian' practice to keep the players fit for the World Cup next year. Johnson, who was a successful all-rounder during a short-lived career with Zimbabwe, is remembered for his three man-of-thematch awards in the 1999 World Cup in England.

Other than Johnson, the Indian support staff comprises of mental conditioning coach Paddy Upton and bowling consultant Eric Simons.

Kumble in a new role as Chief Mentor of RCB

‘Jumbo’ announced his retirement from all forms of cricket Anil Kumble, the leggie and former captain of Indian cricket team announced his retirement from the only tournament he was playing – IPL on Tuesday this week.

Vijay Mallya, owner of the Royal Challengers, Bangalore almost immediately appointed him as chief mentor of the team, a role Anil Kumble Kumble has accepted. It may be recalled that he had contested and won the Karnataka Cricket Association election and at present is the President of the state body.

According to information posted on the Royal Challenger Bangalore website, Kumble "will work closely with team owner Vijay Mallya" and with the other members of the team's management including the coach. Kumble cited business commitments, including his association with cricket and wildlife in various capacities as reasons for the withdrawal. It may be recalled that he recently won elections to After being named captain in IPL 2009 season, Kumble led his team to the final of the T20 extravaganza and then finished third in 2010. It was under Kumble's leadership that the team also qualified twice for the Champions League T20 tournament. Kumble has captured 45 wickets in the three IPL seasons that he has played.

32

Asian Voice - Saturday 8th January 2011

England’s triumph at Melbourne

India beat SA at Durban Series up for grabs at Cape Town

Ashes retained in OZ after 24 years

England ended the year 2010 on a high, beating arch rival Australia comprehensively at Melbourne with a day to spare and in the process ensured that the coveted ‘Ashes’ remained with them. The visitors dominated the 4th test match right from the first day, dismissing Australia in less than 100 runs. Ultimately, the visitors romped home with an innings and 157 runs, a huge victory and a record of retaining the ashes down under after a long gap of 24 years. England lead the 5 match series 2 – 1 and the last game is on at Sydney.

For Australia, it was a depressing end to the year, as their skipper Ricky Ponting, under pressure after poor show, also got into a duel with umpires

Andrew Strauss, Kevin Pietersen and Graeme Swann celebrate the moment of retaining the Ashes at Melbourne

and earned a huge fine for his on-field behaviour.

For the first time in history, Australia have lost two Tests in a home series by an innings, and the margin was their worst defeat in Australia in 98 years, and their eighthworst of all time.

Brad Haddin and Peter

Siddle gave some fight on Wednesday, 29th December.

They put together an 86-run partnership after the early loss of Mitchell Johnson, but it was only ever a matter of time for England.

Haddin scored an unbeaten 55, while Siddle posted his highest test

score (40). But after his departure, the end came in a rush with Hilfenhaus following Siddle in quick succession, and the injured Ryan Harris unable to bat.

"It's pretty hard to accept," Ponting said of the loss. “They showed us how to bat. We can still level the series, which has got to be the motivation for us. " After the past 18 months were all geared towards regaining the Ashes, Australia's future must involve some changes. {Brief scores: England 513 (Trott 168*, Prior 85, Cook 82, Strauss 69, Pietersen 51, Siddle 6-75) beat OZ 98 (Tremlett 426, Anderson 4-44) and 258 (Haddin 55*, Watson 54, Bresnan 4-50) by an innings and 157 runs}.

Reliance bags Indian football in a 15 year deal IMG Reliance to pay Rs 7 bn for all commercial rights Reliance Industries Ltd. (RIL) has struck yet another big deal in the sports arena last month.

In association with IMG Worldwide, Reliance has signed a 15 year deal with All India Football Federation (AIFF), securing all broadcast and commercial rights of the sport in the country for Rs. 7 billion. Earlier, in June 2010, the combine had moved forward to help develop-

ment of basketball, signing a 30 year deal.

In another major boost for football, steel company JSW has decided to takeover the two major football stadiums at Kolkata and Bangalore with the aim of rebuilding them into world class facilities. Agreement with AIFF includes all media rights - new programming and video content, sponsorship and advertising

rights, control of the Indian national team and the potential to develop a new national league.

IMG Worldwide CEO Ted Forstmann said: "(Soccer) is the second most popular sport in the country with a massive and passionate fan following.

With the cooperation and participation of the AIFF, IMG Reliance is committed to making football a commercially exciting and

successful sport in India."

JSW to develop two football stadiums In early December, the AIFF AGM entered into a tie-up with JSW Steel Limited to renovate Rabindra Sarovar stadium in Kolkata and Bangalore Football Stadium. They will be ready with permanent bucket seats, floodlights, media centre and such other world class facilities.

Sachin and Harbhajan celebrate India's victory

At Kingsmead in Durban, India demonstrated glimpses of their potential to the home team, showing that they are not the no. 1 Test team for nothing. The second test match was not expected to go into the fifth day anyway, but it was a bit miraculous that the visitors mopped up the South African innings a good 80 plus runs ahead of the target set for them.

On Wednesday, it was Sreesanth who dealt the early blows with Kallis facing a gem of an unplayable bouncer that resulted into a nick of the glove and into the hands of gully fielder.

The match was evenly poised at the start of the fourth day. The target for South Africa was to score 303 runs in the fourth innings for a victory and they had already made 111 for 3, with less than 200 needed. Kallis and AB de Villiers found scoring runs hard at the start of the day.

Indian bowlers barely sent down a bad ball in the morning session to gain a good grip of the game. A Sreesanth snorter to Jacques Kallis started South Africa's slide, before two lbws hurt them further. Ashwell Prince

tried to resist but India plugged away to remove the tail an hour into the second session and set up a decider in Cape Town next week.

The wayward, anticloving Sreesanth was missing in the morning as he sent down an accurate spell of sustained hostility.

The highlight was the seventh over of the day - an unplayable bouncer that reared up sharply and jagged in towards Kallis, who had no way of avoiding it. He jumped and arched his back in an attempt to get out of the way but could only glove it to gully. It was the snorter needed to remove the kingpin of South Africa's batting.

South Africa lost three more wickets in the first session. At 155 for 7, with lunch 45 minutes away, the game looked set for a quick finish. Prince and Paul Harris, however, resisted with some dour batting. For South Africa, it was their third straight defeat at Durban. {Brief scores: India 205 (Steyn 6-50) and 228 (Laxman 96) beat South Africa 131 (Harbhajan 410) and 215 (Sreesanth 335, Zaheer 3-57) by 87 runs}.