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VOL 41. ISSUE 31

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Let noble thoughts come to us from every side First & Foremost Asian Weekly in Europe

Immigration in the UK sees biggest fall in 20 years Think-tanks warn Coalition's "single-minded focus" on reducing net migration by 2015 could be creating “new enforcement problems in the future”

Mark Harper

“The government needs to be sure that it has the systems in place to deal with this.”

In 2011, as per the figures released, a total of 536,000 foreigners came to live in Britain, 42,000 less than the year before.

According to the newspaper Daily Mail, the drop was the biggest since immigration went down by 61,000 during the 1991 recession. system, scrapping of Tier 1 etc have resulted into many non European students or other immigrants choosing Australia or the US over the UK. The fall in international students have also resulted into a lower revenue generation (through tuition and visa fees), that would have been significantly helpful for the government during this financial turmoil.

Sarah Mulley, associate director of the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) thinktank, warned that the coalition's "single-minded focus" on reducing net

migration to the tens of thousands by 2015 could be creating “new enforcement problems in the future”.

She said: “‘Student visitors’ who come to the UK for less than 12 months do not count as migrants for the purposes of net migration figures, but are subject to less rigorous checks than those coming through the main student visa route.

“The number of student visitor visas issued is continuing to rise, perhaps because tough action on student visas aimed at meeting the target has led to a displacement effect.

Continued on page 6

Gujarat assembly poll: countdown begins Countdown for Gujarat Assembly Election 2012 has began. Parties are earnestly trying to woo the electorate with sops and big promises. There will be three-corner fight with BJP, Congress and Gujarat Parivartan Party trying their luck with the electorate. As per latest trends BJP under the leadership of chief minister Narendra Modi will easily get majority and form the next government. The Congress has not named any chief ministerial candidate. It is led in the assembly by Shaktisinh Gohil.

Gujarat Parivartan Party of Keshubhai Patel is the third front in the fray.

The first phase of the polling will take place on 13th of December and 2nd phase on 17th of December. The results will be announced on December 20. During the first phase, 87 of 182

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have announced that they are expecting their first baby after months of intense speculation by the whole world. Will and Kate were forced to share the news officially on Monday as the duchess was admitted to King Edward VII hospital in Central London, suffering from hyperemesis gravidarun- very acute morning sickness.

Continued on page 2

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assembly constituencies will go to the polls. The remaining 95 will go to the polls in the second phase on December 17.

A total of 44,496 polling stations will be set up in Gujarat for 3.78 crore voters.

Entire South Gujarat, Saurashtra, the districts of Valsad, N a v s a r i , Dang, Tapi, S u r a t , Bharuch, Narmada, B h a v n a g a r, A m r e l i , Junagadh, Jamnagar, Rajkot, P o r b a n d a r , Surendranagar and Ahmedabad district(only rural part) will go to polls in first phase. Central Gujarat, Ahmedabad city, North Gujarat and Kutch, the districts of Vaodara, Dahod, Panchmahal, Kheda, Anand, Gandhinagar, Mehsana, Sabarkantha, Banaskantha and Kutch will go to poll in second phase.

(More election stories on page 25, 26 & 27)

Royals celebrate as Wills & Kate expect a future King or QUEEN

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The recent figures have revealed that immigration in Britain has plunged by a quarter- the biggest in 20 years. A crack down on bogus colleges and fake visas have obviously resulted into this drastic fall in numbers, but it has also raised eye brows regarding the methods that are being implied to control immigration.

While the bogus students or workers have been rightfully eliminated through stricter rules, the removal of post work study scheme, a huge increase in international student tuition fees, a more complicated Tier 4

8th December to 14th December 2012

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Asian Voice - Saturday 8thDecember 2012

one to one

never change their mind and it’s not my job to try.

4) What are your proudest achievements?

Being the first everBritish comedian to perform in Pakistan, Kosovo, and Cambodia.

Performing at Glastonbury 5 times, meeting the Queen, and performing sell out tours of South East Asia, Europe and America. Also winning columnist of the year at the prestigious PPA Awards.

Keith Vaz MP with

Shazia Mirza Shazia Mirza is an award winning writer and comedian. She has appeared on CBS 60 Minutes, and Last Comic Standing in the US, and in the UK on BBC’s Have I Got News For You. She is a columnist for The Guardian and has written for The New Statesman and currently has a column on www.DAWN.com.

She is a regular on The Wright Stuff- Channel 5, and has recently performed on Meera Syal’s comedy night for BBC Radio and other Radio 4 Comedy shows such as The Now Show and Comic fringes and The Frank Skinner Radio show on Absolute Radio. Her documentary F**K off I’m a Hairy Woman was a big hit. You can find more information about Shazia here www.shaziamirza.com or follow her on twitter @shaziamirza1 1) Please tell us about the work you are currently doing?

I am writing material for my new tour show, “Cukooland” which starts in February 2013 in the UK. I am also touring abroad, mainly in the US, whilst continuing with my writing, my column for www.DAWN.com and doing TV and radio work.

2) Do you think being an Asian women made has made it more difficult to succeed on the stand up circuit?

I have certainly experienced prejudice. But I have never complained about it, because then people just say, “Oh you’re playing the race card, Oh you’re playing the sexism card” So I have just taken the prej-

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

The biggest influence, are the great comedians that have come before me. Like Richard Pryor, Chris Rock, Louis CK, Joan Rivers. They inspire me to carry on. udice and turned it into material, and worked as hard as I can to be the best that I can be. When you’re great at what you do, no one can argue with that, but I still have people saying to me, “You’re only where you are because you’re a woman, or you’re only where you are because you’re Asian”.

But in comedy if you don’t get the laughs, you don’t

Royals celebrate as 'Wills & Kate' expect a future King- or Queen Continued from page 1 Kate’s condition may indicate she is carrying twins as mums-to-be who suffer from hyperemesis gravidarun are three times more likely to have a multiple birth than other women.

Along with that came another great news as the government reached an agreement with all other Commonwealth countries to change the laws which put men ahead of women in the line of royal succession, after Prime Minister David Cameron agreed a deal to change the rules on the royal line of succession. This means male heirs will no longer be given priority and in the 15 other countries where the Queen is head of state, the rules must be changed.

The legislation will also remove the bar on anyone in the line of succession marrying a Roman Catholic. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's first child is therefore set to push Prince Harry into fourth place in the line of succession to the throne - even if they have a girl and not be subject to the centuries-old law of primogeniture.

Rt Hon Keith Vaz told Asian Voice, “I am delighted at the announcement that the Duchess of Cambridge is expecting a baby. It has been over a year since the Commonwealth Heads of Government agreed to change the laws of succession. I have long campaigned for a change in the law. In April 2011 I introduced a Bill to the Commons that would amend the law.

In September the New

Zealand Prime Minister, who is leading the group to reform the succession laws across the Commonwealth, wrote to me and outlined the timetable for change. But it is important that Britain leads this change.”

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said it should become law early next year and he was sure it would be widely welcomed.

The change needs to be legislated for in the Commonwealth nations of the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Jamaica, Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Grenada, Belize, St Christopher and Nevis, St Lucia, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Papua New Guinea. But this is regarded as assured.

Queen Elizabeth II, who celebrated 60 years on the throne this year, was only able to become queen because she did not have any brothers.

Government sources have stressed that the new rule will apply only to heirs born after October 2011.

Princess Anne, the Princess Royal, would still be placed below her two younger brothers, the Duke of York and the Earl of Wessex.

Kate is less than 12 weeks pregnant, but officials were forced to go public because of fears that her hospitalisation would fuel concerns over her health. The Queen, Prince Charles and other members of the Royal family were only told about the pregnancy on Monday.

get booked.

3) Do you think attitudes have changed since you first began stand up?

No. There are some people that will always have the same attitude, and it will never change. I have people say to me, “Women are not funny” “As an Asian woman it’s not respectable you do stand up”. Those people will

6) What is the best thing about your current role?

I get to travel the world and perform to people I would probably never meet if I was not doing this job. I have been to some amazing places – Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia, Kosovo, Pakistan, and India 7) And the worst?

We live in a society now where everyone is a critic; everyone can do your job better than you can, although none of these people can actually be bothered to do it.

Comedians get a lot of criticism and we are expected to take it because we’re in the public eye. But we are human and we get upset just like everyone else.

8) What are your longterm goals?

I would like to do stand up on TV, I would like my own sitcom and I want to do Hollywood films (Preferably with George Clooney) 9) If you were Prime Minister, what one thing would you change?

Equal wages for women!! This is 2012 not 1852!

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

Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, Mohammed Ali, Emily Pankhurst, Ghandi, Marie Curie. They all changed the world through their courage, their vision and their commitment to what they believed in.

Shrien Dewani may be well enough to face trial in summer 2013 Shrien Dewani may be well enough to travel to South Africa next year to face trial for the death of his wife, a court has heard this week, the Daily Telegraph reported.

While Dewani, a bright individual earlier, is now a "husk" of a man, who is too terrified to travel by car, but he should get well enough to face trial in South Africa, his lawyers told

the court. A ruling will not be made until next summer.

Dewani, 33, is wanted in South Africa for allegedly ordering a hit on his new bride Anni, 28, as the pair honeymooned in Cape Town in November 2010.

She was murdered as the pair took a taxi around the city.

Dewani's extradition was ordered in August last year but proceedings were temporarily

halted by the High Court in March on the grounds it would "unjust and oppressive" to extradite him immediately because of his health.

Westminster Magistrates Court has heard that his condition is improving - but it will be early summer next year before District Judge Howard Riddle can rule whether he is well enough to return to the country of the murder.

Householder hailed for showing incredible courage A householder was hailed a hero by police for single-handedly fighting off four armed robbers as they terrorised his wife and child at knifepoint.

Zahir Nabi, 41, had just arrived home from work when his wife Shamim, 33, answered a knock at the door and the gang of raiders forced their way in.

The builder dashed out of his bathroom to find one of the thugs holding a knife to Shamim’s neck and demanding cash as the couple's seven-yearold daughter Sumaiya looked on in terror.

Mr Nabi launched himself at the attackers, punching and kicking until they fled emptyhanded.

PC Mark Rigby said Mr Nabi 'showed both incredible bravery and strength to fight off four men who had invaded the sanctity of his home'.

Zahir Nabi with wife Shamim and daughter Sumaiya

Asian Voice - Saturday 8thDecember 2012

COMMENT

Leveson Report deserves serious thought All is not well with the British media. It took the tragedy of Milly Dowler and a can of worms to bring to light the scale of press intrusion into the life of a bereaved family and the private lives of a range of public figures including showbiz celebrities with power at their command. The inadequate police responses early on, the close relations between certain reporters and the police, not to speak of those between frontline politicians and high profile editors and media baron Rupert Murdoch and his presumptive heir, son James who, between them, are the face of an empire with tentacles in almost every corner of the globe.

There is scarcely any branch of the communications industry which lacks the Murdoch footprint.

Rupert Murdoch is cinema’s legendary and sinister Citizen Kane in the flesh, whose shadow is both long and dark. The public inquiry conducted by Lord Justice Leveson, released late last week, makes riveting reading just as the hearings over which he presided several months ago made riveting television. Millions of households across the UK were glued to their sets, as the Murdochs and others of the great of the great and the good were grilled before the House of Commons Select Committee.

Leveson clears the Cameron government of any wrongdoing in its dealings with Murdoch in his bid for a strategic slice of the British television industry. Culture Secretary Hunt has no stain on his honour. That said, Leveson found it improper and unbecoming that British governments past and present, Conservative and Labour, should have ingratiated themselves with Rupert Murdoch in an endeavour to win his favours which, in common parlance, meant the support of his newspapers, particularly the mass circulation tabloids, The Sun

and the now defunct News of the World. Storming into battles with supporting editorial broadsides for a party or leader would, it was believed, smooth the way to 10 Downing Street. Hence media barons and their minions needed the joys of political courtship.

In the corporate culture of our times, whether it be in Britain or, even more so, in the United States, the essence of democracy based on the hallowed separation of powers is sullied. The executive, legislature, judiciary and the fourth estate - each true to its prerogative, the whole in just balance - was once an article faith. The red lines are no longer inviolable. News is often undecipherable from opinion. Government and press lords march in step as a country goes to war, with scant regard for due process, as was the case in Iraq. The virus has taken hold, witness the absence of respect for the right to privacy of the individual citizen.

Leveson was right to highlight these violations of the private space. The Press Council, formed with the noble intent, has never been fit for purpose, and remains toothless. That being so, Leveson suggests the creation of a regulatory mechanism free of media and political influence, a watchdog for ethical conduct enforceable by law. It is widely accepted that a tighter regulatory regime might have prevented the present banking crisis that has laid Europe and America low. This would surely have ensured greater freedom for the customer and less licence for sharks and speculators.

To dismiss Leveson on the ground that its proposals would infringe our cherished freedoms is to be blind to the ugly reality that these are already diminished. To go on as we were before is to hide one’s head in the sand. We have to think outside the box. Sooner rather than later.

Something rotten in state of Indian democracy The riotous scenes that have besmirched proceedings in India’s Parliament are a living disgrace. The nation’s foremost debating chamber, where national and local issues ought to be discussed rationally and responsibly belong to the halcyon past when the country’s leaders were strong, self-confident and civilized, even as a fledgling India was finding its feet in an uncertain regional and international environment. An infinitely stronger India is represented by too many legislators whose disorderly conduct in the House forfeit their right to be there.

President Pranab Mukherjee, a veteran politician of longstanding, warned against the current drift of lawlessness in Parliament and the State Assemblies. Addressing the Tamil Nadu Assembly in Chennai, the President said: “The role and functions of an Assembly can be described as three Ds – debate, dissent and decision. The fourth “D,” that is, disruption should never be used as a strategy,” he said.

Meanwhile, India’s Supreme Court has taken up the case of two young women in Mumbai whose twittered remarks critical of the recently deceased Shiv Sena leader Bal Thackeray landed them in jail. The local police arrested the pair for no good reason since they were released without charge the next day. Their detention was clearly a violation of their constitutional right to free speech. In response to a writ petition the court sought a response from the government as to the reasons behind their arrest. A similar case involving a university professor who had lampooned Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee comes to mind. A public uproar resulted in a quick release for the man.

The fabric of the country’s civil society is under threat. An alert citizenry and judiciary as guardians of the people’s liberties must prevent the abuses from spreading any further, they have gone far enough already. Why?

Israel should take a risk for peace On November 29, the United Nations General Assembly elected Palestine to its ranks as a nonstate member with no voting rights.

There was a massive majority in favour of the Resolution, with a minority led by Israel and the United States voicing their opposition to the measure. The UK abstained, while India joined the majority in supporting the Resolution. Most EU members including France, did so too.

Sixty-five years ago to the day a majority of UN members voted for the Partition of Palestine into two sovereign states, one Arab, the other Jewish.

Britain abstained, while India opposed the plan in conjunction with all the Arab states. On May 15 1948, David Ben Gurion, as the country’s first prime minister, announced the establishment of the State of Israel. A coalition of its Arab neighbours responded with a formal declaration of war followed by an attack on the new polity, which they expected to destroy without much difficulty. It is mostly forgotten that the infusion of Soviet arms at a critical juncture of that conflict saw the fledgling state through its worst crisis. The Arab coalition was duly repulsed and subsequent Arab military challenges in June 1967 and October 1973, for example, ended in heavy Arab defeats. The Middle East has been a hot-bed of Arab-Israeli tension from then to now. The Arab states spurned peace

offers for many decades, the sole exception being Egypt under Anwar Sadat and Hosni Mubarak.

Other than that Arab political discourse has been grandiose and Incendiary. Arab leaders have displayed few skills in peace or war. Arab societies are politically, socially and economically remain backward. Hardly surprising since they have little science and scarcely any technology that is homegrown.

In contrast, Israel is democratic and modern. It has 10 Nobel laureates in the sciences to Egypt’s sole winner in literature. Israel showed wisdom and magnanimity in withdrawing from Gaza; Hamas, foolishly, responded with rocket-fire on Israeli towns and cities. There seems no end to this sterile conflict. Israel, as the regional superpower many times over, would do well to take another chance with peace by freezing Jewish settlements on the West Bank and starting talks with Palestinian leaders on a lasting two-state solution. Israel’s risk for peace will be in its enlightened self-interest. It is too far ahead in the game, has too many cards to be trampled under foot by its adversaries The cost of maintaining a standing army is prohibitive; also, martial values and a growing siege mentality inevitably seep back into society.

Israel will then be the loser in the long run and so, too, will the entire democratic world.

www.abplgroup.com

3

Thought for the Week

We either make ourselves miserable or we make ourselves strong.

The amount of work is the same - Carlos Castaneda (1925-1998)

“Our London” Navin Shah

GLA Member for Brent and Harrow

The life of Shri Jethalal Punjabhai Joshi.

An Inspiration for the Generations to come Shri Jethalal Punjabhai Jos hi, the founder of Pradip Sweet Mart in Kenton passed away on Friday 23rd November 2012 at the ripe age of 95 and the funeral took place on Tuesday 27th November. I want to share with you the powerful life story of Jethalalbhai depicting entrepreneurship based on hard work, family values, honesty and belief in providing top quality service.

After the First World War and the stock exchange crash life particularly in the Indian villages was dire. With the economic depression and famine people were facing starvation, thousand and thousands of young men mostly in their teens left their villages for nearby towns and beyond in order to survive and earn for themselves and their family. Among those young men was late Mr Jethalal Joshi, born in a small village in Majiwana (Saurashtra) in the year 1917. At the age of 16, without any education he left for Porbander to earn some money to support his family. With great difficulty he found a job of cleaning pots and pans in a small sweets and savouries shop. After a few years his parents arranged his marriage which meant an additional responsibility. Due to the lack of the medical facilities and high infant mortality rate he lost his first two children within the year of birth. Jethalalbhai soon realised that he needed a drastic move to raise a family and provide for their future. He was unstoppable, courageous and he decided during the Second World War to put his life at risk and set off for Africa in a wind pow-

Shri Jethalal Punjabhai Joshi

dered boat. He survived this deadly voyage and reached the shores of Mombassa.

He soon found life in Africa was not any better than India as a large number of people were dying of severe tropical diseases.

Lots of people were returning back to India.

Among them was his elder brother who advised him to return with him.

However, Mr Joshi persevered and the cooking experience helped him to find a job in a canteen. He got a cooking job in Nairobi but could not get the work permit as he did not have a deposit money and ended up at Jinja (Uganda) where he found work. After two years he moved to Kampala and where he worked day and night which in 1948 enabled him to be untied with his wife and a daughter. But, tragically the daughter died after a few months of arrival in Africa. In 1950 when Jethalalbhai’s 4th child, a daughter was born, the family prayed and took all the care they could for her survival. This was followed by birth of 3 sons and a daughter. The disaster struck again when the daughter died in a road accident.

Continued on page 6

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4

LEICESTER/MIDLAND VOICE

Asian Voice - Saturday 8thDecember 2012

Company director Abdulkadar Chokhandiwala in ÂŁ40k tax fraud caught A businessman has been sentenced for fraudulently claiming more than ÂŁ40,000 by submitting false VAT repayment claims.

A b d u l k a d a r Chokhandiwala (38) pictured, was the director and company secretary of KGN Supplies Ltd, which traded as Phone Bazzar. It was involved with the purchase of mobile phone handsets which it then exported to Dubai.

The business could have claimed back from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) the

VAT it had paid on the handsets it had exported.

But Chokhandiwala submitted false VAT returns to HMRC, supported by fake receipts, to claim back VAT he had never

actually paid in the first place. He was arrested on September 21 last year, and later pleaded guilty to three counts of fraud under the Value Added Tax Act 1994.

The defendant, of St Saviours Road, North Evington, Leicester, was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for 12 months. He was ordered to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work.

Gary Lampon, assistant director of criminal investigation for HMRC, said: "This action sends a firm message to anyone involved or considering

fraud against HMRC – your time is up. We are working relentlessly to combat those involved in tax evasion and fraud and bring them before the courts. With over £10 billion being stolen from UK finances each year by criminals involved in the hidden economy, it's a serious crime which we are determined to eradicate."

He urged anyone with information regarding tax evasion and fraud to contact the customs hotline on 0800 59 5000.

Free school plans go back to Government A second bid to create a Sikh free school in Leicester is being submitted to the Department for Education.

In July, proposals by nine temple leaders across the city were turned down because they were not deemed strong enough.

Now they are in the process of resubmitting plans to create a school by September 2014.

Free schools are set up by charities, parents or teachers outside local authority control, but paid for by the state. They do not have to follow the national curriculum, but must provide a broad and balanced education.

If it is given the goahead, the school will be called Falcon's Primary.

Although it will welcome children from all faiths, half of the places will be reserved for those from the Sikh faith. In addition, it will serve only vegetarian food.

Harminder Jagdev is project leader for the Sikh school steering group, as it is known. "Leicester is a very diverse city and we feel like we have a lot to offer the community through an educational facility. The school will teach the national curriculum, but be based on Sikh values, such as compassion and determination. Most importantly, we want our children to be independent thinkers, so we will develop the curriculum around that through the use of topics. The city also has a

Man charged with arson after blaze at Shisha cafe

Police have charged a 28year-old man with arson after a blaze at a roof top shisha cafe in Leicester.

The fire tore through the Cloud 9 shisha bar, which had been built on the roof of the Curzonia Knitwear factory, in Curzon Street. Smoke from the blaze, which happened in October, and could be seen from more than 10 miles away.

More than 60 firefighters were called to the scene as factory workers were evacuated.

No one was in the

shisha bar at the time.It was completely destroyed by the flames.

The man is due to appear at Leicester Magistrates' Court on January 9.

Sikh soldier in UK faces colleagues’ racial taunts The British army's first Sikh soldier allowed to wear a turban rather than a bearskin on ceremonial duties has suffered abuse from his colleagues over his headgear and his refusal to cut hair and his beard, a media report on Sunday said.

G u a r d s m a n Jatinderpal Singh Bhullar, 25, who joined the Scots guards this year, has been

permitted to wear a turban outside Buckingham Palace, breaking hundreds of years of tradition . The decision by army bosses has proved controversial with Bhullar's fellow soldiers.

"The army's Sikh chaplain has told The Mail on Sunday that Bhullar has endured taunts about his turban and his refusal to cut his hair and his beard,"

shortage of primary school places and we can help fill that gap. We want to be as inclusive as possible, and that's why the school will be called Falcon's Primary.

In the Sikh faith this represents freedom, so we thought it was perfect for highlighting that all religions will be free to come to our school and practise their faith" said Mr Jagdev.

Leicester City Council has predicted a shortage of primary school places in the city because of a growing birthrate and more people moving into the area.

Education bosses say the number of primary spaces needs to more than double in the future and 600 of these places will be required by 2015. A site for the school is being sought.

Mr Jagdev, who is also managing director of engineering firm Leicester Precision Components, said: "The Government is keen that free schools are set up in areas of deprivation so that whole community can receive the best type of education. We're having discussions with the city council about this and are considering a number of options in the Freemans, Abbey, Hamilton, and Humberstone wards. We don't expect to have any firm decisions until February on this but we're really excited about what the future could hold.

However, we will have to wait and see if we get permission from the Government first."

Swine flu victim died after paramedics refused to take her to hospital three times A swine flu victim died from complications after paramedics refused to take her to hospital three times in one night, an inquest heard.

Tragic Niyousha Haki, pictured, 28, was seen at her stepfather’s home on Studland Road, Hall Green, on three separate occasions after concerned relatives died 999. But despite having a “grossly abnormal� temperature and a high respiration and heart rate, they judged her symptoms to be ‘non-life threatening’. And instead of rushing her to hospital the medics advised her to remain at home in Birmingham, as per NHS guidance at the time of the swine flu outbreak two years’ ago.

A day later Niyousha, from London, was rushed from a local medical centre to Solihull Hospital, where she suffered a cardiac arrest and never regained consciousness.

Robert Jefferson, the first paramedic to see Niryousha, told an inquest at Sutton Coldfield Town Hall: “The standard advice was, swine flu patients should not be conveyed to hospital unless they were high risk.

the Daily Mail said in a report. Bhullar is based at Wellington Barracks in Birdcage Walk.

The base is used by soldiers from the Scots Guards' F Compan, who at present are responsible for public duties and guarding the Queen.

According to military sources, Bhullar, who is from Birmingham, is expected to parade for the first time next week.

When he marches with his collea gues he will become the first guardsman not wear a bearskin, the report said.

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Schoolboy guilty of killing Ponnuthurai Nimalaraja A teenager has been found guilty of the manslaughter of 41-year-old father-oftwo Ponnuthurai Nimalaraja.

A jury at Derby Crown Court returned their verdict on the 15-year-old from Leicester following a five-day trial.

The youth, who cannot be identified because of his age, had denied manslaughter, claiming he punched Mr Nimalaraja in self-defence.

The shopkeeper – known as Nimal – fell backwards and hit his head on a kerb after a confrontation with a gang of youths at Leicester Stores, in Gipsy Lane, Northfields, Leicester. He died in hospital a week later.

Mr Nimalaraja, 41, (pictured), lived nearby in Essex Road with wife Mathanika and children Diluxshan and Leyana.

He was a kitchen assistant at Barnsdale Hall Hotel, Rutland, as well as working at the shop.

On Monday, a 14-yearold pleaded guilty to affray in connection with the incident. He and the 15-

year-old will be sentenced on January 11.

D e t e c t i v e Superintendent Matt Hewson, who led the investigation, said: "The positive outcome is justice for Nimal and justice for his family left behind. I hope the family can now begin to rebuild their lives, moving on from the tragedy. This is an extremely sad case, where something that started from the misbehaviour of a group of teenagers ended up with the loss of a much-loved husband and father. This goes to show what damage one punch can do. Not only has this assault devastated a family, it has changed the lives of the defendants for ever."

Judge John Burgess thanked the jury and said: "This will be a very difficult case to sentence."

Comedian Hardeep Singh Kohli, pictured, appearing at Curve, made the order to test his Indian cookery skills against them.

The Glaswegian comic is touring the country with his act Indian Takeaway – an evening of comedy, cooking and curry.

Members of the audience arriving for the show were given a menu from the restaurant – which is across the road from Curve – and asked to pick a similar dish to the one the comic intended to cook.

The comic, a finalist on TV's Celebrity Masterchef, cooked lamb pepper curry with cabbage, leek and broccoli, tahka dhal with butternut squash, sweet potato and basmati rice during his act.

The restaurant's owner, Shaf Islam, had one of his chefs' special dishes harri massala ka gost, with lamb, spinach, mustard seeds, garlic, coriander and onions and the chef's "special" spices prepared. Then a handful of the audience were chosen to carry out the taste test. A draw, with half opting for the comedian's

dish, the others going for the restaurant's offering.

Chutney Ivy's owner Shaf Islam said: "When Hardeep asked us I was more than happy to oblige.

I was flattered."

Hardeep said: "This is sort of a celebration of the phenomenon of Indian food in this country. Every high street pretty much has an Indian restaurant, no matter how big or small. It's a very interactive show. They choose the dish we order and I cook something similar but not exactly the same.

And I have no other skills.

I'd never have had a girlfriend if I couldn't cook. I like to chat with the audience and the shows are never the same. It's a little bit like being in my kitchen with 500 mates waiting to be fed."

Hardeep Singh Kohli tests curry chefs

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Asian Voice - Saturday 8thDecember 2012

5

Daughter's memoir claim Edwina and Nehru shared ‘platonic love’ came over her mother," the Daily mail quoted Pamela.

"She was easy to get along with; a sense of well-being emanated from her.

"She found in Panditji (Nehru) the companionship and equality of spirit and intellect that she craved. Each helped overcome loneliness in the other," she wrote.

Mountbatten saw this too and let his wife get on with this new phase of her life. For him, Edwina's new interest was a relief. It got her off his back. "Her new-found happiness released him from her

Edwina Mountbatten, who rubbed shoulders with royalty and let young men not only fall at her feet but apparently into her bed as well, fell madly in love with India along with one of its new leaders - Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru - India's first Prime Minister after independence, the Times of India has reported.

On the surface, Edwina and her husband, Lord Louis Mountbatten, were the glitziest couple of their day but beneath the reality was separate beds, separate lives and a flurry of flings that left set tongues wagging.

However daughter Pamela Mountbatten, 83year-old wrote lovingly and forgivingly about a mother who partied, frolicked and fornicated with abandon – and often left her children

for some wild venture.

She said, from the start, there was a profound connection between Edwina and Nehru but Pamela saw more. "A peace

GPs and hospital doctors from European countries are free to work in Britain without facing any form of national checks on their competence or English speaking ability.

This is because Brussels claims that the tests would impede the “freedom of movement of labour” across the continent. But there are widespread concerns that this is costing patients’ lives.

Now MPs from the Health Select Committee say they are “disappointed” that the Government has not tried to change the law. A report by the committee warns “unsat-

isfactory” and “poses a potential risk to patients”, claims the Daily Mail. It adds: “We are disappointed that no substantive progress seems to have been made at European level in addressing the underlying issue of language testing of doctors.”

This could refer to the case of Ramani Ramaswamy, a Radiographer, who was sacked from his job at a UK cancer hospital after six years of complaints that he could not speak clear English, a charge which has been termed as “cooked up”.

relentless late-night recriminations, the constant accusations that he didn't understand her and was ignoring her."

In later years, Pamela would pore over Nehru's letters to her mother, "and I came to realize how deeply he and my mother loved each other". But Pamela is convinced that it was a spiritual and intellectual relationship, not a sexual one. "Neither had time to indulge in a physical affair, and anyway the very public nature of their lives meant they were rarely alone," she wrote.

Edwina Mountbatten with Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru

Foreign doctors must take tests to improve English

Brit-Indian boy appears in BBC series Pet School Tej Thakkar, son of Ashit Roy & Neha Thakkar was one of nine children chosen from around the country to appear in a 10 part bbc tv series. The programme is called Pet School and is to be aired on both bbc 1 and CBBC from Monday 3rd December - friday 14th December (excluding weekend ) at 4.30pm.

It has been a magnificent experience for Tej & has given him the opportunity of working with 51 pets and celebri-

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Tej Thakkar

ties including the winners of the popular tv programme Britain's Got talent - Ashley and Pudsey.

To provide the readers an extensive and exclusive coverage of Gujarat's forthcoming election (13th and 17th December. Result 20th December), the subscribers of Asian Voice in the coming two weeks (15th and 22nd December issues) will receive their newspapers on Saturdays instead of Thursdays.

62+/ $>DA#(IG D>!!#GA 0# <7AI99?AI- 0# .749I

6

UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 8thDecember 2012

The cola brands fight continues as Pepsi wins the naming rights to the IPL

By Spriha Srivastava

Salam India gets wonderful response SALAAM INDIA, a new play presented by Theatreworld, a Delhi based company had its UK premiere last night at Watermans and has opened with a warm and enthusiastic response from the audience.

The play inspired by Pavan Varma’s book, Being Indian is led by a cast of four actors: Shena Gamat; Ashish Paliwal; Andrew Hoffland and Lushin Dubey, who also directs -- features four interwoven stories set in Delhi that explore what it is to be an ‘Indian’ in a diverse country of over a billion people.

The actors played in an ensemble manner and the script by Nicholas Kharkongor uses humour and polemic to create sixteen characters, who run the whole gamut of Indians ranging from poor labourers to middle class urbanites, to politicians -- all supporting a range of ‘Indian accents’ from a Gujarati businessman, South Indian politician, Bengali bureaucrat -- that were greeted with much laughter and clapping from the audience who recognized such characters.

The first of the stories deals with friendship and support among the lower class labourers, and this section was performed in Hindi as a way of retaining authenticity of the ‘voice’ of the character.

The second story is about a Gujarati businessman married to a exercise crazy Belarusian woman and about to have his building demolished despite appeals to the corrupt politicians; while the third one is about the ensuing wedding of an older-middle class girl whose family is beset with requests for ‘gifts’ from the groom’s family; and the final one debates what is the Indian national dish – is it Tandoori chicken or Idli –sambhar? The stories

are bookend by dances.

The performance was followed by an after-show reception for the cast and guests at the Guru Tandoori restaurant at the Watermans, where guests included eminent members of the Asian and Indian media, and other local personalities such as Shay and Shani Grewal from BBC London, and their parents, The Grewals (Channel 4 The Family fame) – all who are part of Watermans language theatre community along with Mr. Rifat Shammin and Kiran Purohit, two stalwarts of the Urdu and

Gujarati theatre respectively. Other guests included singer and performer Devdutt Joshi, music promoter, Jay Visva Deva and Ashis Ray from The Times of India. Theatre designer, Sophia Lovell Smith and director, Rosamunde Hutt, were also among the guests.

The cast features, Shena Gamat, (Dev D, Band Baaja Baraat); Ashish Paliwal (theatre actor); Andrew Hoffland (teacher & theatre actor) and Lushin Dubey (stage and screen actor, Rangrez, Murder Unveiled for which she won a Gemini and Othello in Black and White which won a fringe first at Edinburgh).

Mofolactic creates a storm with HAA! Bhangra has been the product of India and the UK since its very beginnings; however it seems that Australia might be ready to leave an impression. The recent release of ‘Haa!’ by Melbourne based DJ and Producer Mofolactic has industry insiders talking.

The video for Haa! boldly pokes fun at the seldomdiscussed practice of ‘Ghost Production’, wherein individuals pay legitimate music producers sums of money and then pass off the finished

track as their own creation.

Disappointed with what he perceived to be a decline in the quality and creativity of Bhangra, Mofolactic says he wanted to shine a light on some of the show ‘ponying’ that is happening in the industry, and encourage some creativity back into the scene.

Mofolactic says: “A lot of the songs and videos we hear these days are essentially clones of one another and after a while it gets boring.”

Haa! was initially set to be on the sound track for an upcoming film that Mofolactic contributed to.

Entitled ‘Save Your Legs’, the Australian cricket comedy stars Pallavi Sharda who was most recently cast as the leading lady alongside Ranbir Kapoor in the upcoming Bollywood f i l m ‘Besharam’.

The track didn’t make it into the movie.

Mofolactic explains: “At the final edit one of the producers decided he didn’t think the vibe of the song suited that particular scene and so it was cut from the film. I was then left with this finished track that I’d been collaborating on with Dubai based producer G-Ta, and decided it would be a shame to waste it.”

Mofolactic says that the motivation for the video was not to point fingers or belittle anybody, but instead to encourage aspiring musicians to follow their passion and put in the effort rather than chase the fame.

“For this reason I thought I’d make a video that stayed in line with the lyrics but also had a bit of a laugh at some of the ridiculous behaviour we sometimes see in Bhangra videos”.

The video was shot and edited by Pav Dharia, and also features cameos from Dr Zeus and his protégé vocalist Zora.

Haa! was sung by Punjab based vocalist Amar Singh and will be released on iTunes and also as a free download from his FaceBook page from the 6th December 2012.

Let us know what you think.

Email Spriha at aveditorial@abplgroup.com

Mo Luthra Branding Consultant www.moluthra.com In the red corner we have Coca-Cola. Introduced to the world in 1886 as a medical drink created by John Pemberton, that went on to sell in 200 countries worldwide, with a staggering 1.7 billion servings consumed every day.

While in the blue corner we have Pepsi.

Similarly created in the 19th Century, it was also originally a medical drink that was designed to aide digestion and boost energy. Through aggressive

marketing, which has focused on the user of the drink and celebrities, Pepsi has been fighting tooth and nail in a fierce battle for supremacy.

Overall, Coke out sells Pepsi in the USA and almost every other territory they compete in; but where Pepsi over takes Coca-Cola is in terms of actual revenues.

The Pepsi Company (PepsiCo) owns a multitude of brands, significantly more than Coke does; making it the world’s second largest food and beverage business. These common brands include Walkers, Doritos and Quaker Oats.

How Pepsi and CocaCola strategically conduct themselves is really at the heart of great brand development. They diversify and create new brands or acquire brands to deal with different markets.

For example, to get a foothold in the Indian marketplace, Coco-Cola

acquired the market leader Thums Up, for what is now seen as a bargain of $60 million in 1993. Leaving Pepsi entrenched as the number two brand.

In an effort to push for top spot Pepsi has just this week paid, what many consider to be over the odds, for the naming rights to the Indian Premier League cricket; costing them $75 million over 5 years. Twice the amount the last deal went for.

This is quite a gamble as the IPL viewing figures have been consistently dropping.

India is a huge growth market and is certainly close to home for PepsiCo, as its current Chairman and CEO is Indra Nooyi. Born and educated in Chennai, she is one of the world’s most influential women and is desperate to see Pepsi succeed in India.

Whether the acquisition of IPL naming rights helps remains to be seen.

Immigration in the UK sees biggest fall in 20 years Continued from page 1 The numbers entering Britain were the lowest since 2004, when hundreds of thousands of Eastern European workers were allowed in. The number of non-EU migrants coming to the UK fell by 21,000 to 296,000 over the last year, the number of foreign students was down by 19,000 to 213,000 and the number of migrants who came for work-related reasons was down by 17,000 to 177,000.

The figures from Office for National Statistics also show that 183,000 more people arrived in the country than departed.

That represents a drop of 59,000 on the previous year’s influx of 242,000 — which means that ministers are well short of meeting their target of cutting net migration to below 100,000 before the next election.

The main reason for the fall though believed to be a decline in foreign students coming to the coun-

try with fewer arrivals from India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh but 15,000 more Chinese students arrived in 2011 than in 2010.

Other factors behind such decline, which the ONS statisticians described as “significant”, included an increase in net emigration of 17,000. More British citizens left the country, with last year’s departures totalling 151,000 — 10,000 more than in 2010.Other statistics in the report show that London has bucked the national trend with a slight increase in its overall influx of migrants. This added 51,000 people to the capital’s population last year, compared with a 48,000 boost in 2010.

Arrivals from Poland and the other East European countries continued to rise with a net influx of 35,000.

The largest number of arrivals however continued to be from India, which accounted for 61,000 immigrants last

year, followed by China with 44,000. Pakistan, Poland and Australia filled the other places in the top five. Overall net migration to the UK from countries outside the EU totalled 185,000.

Ministers hailed the drop in figures as a major step towards achieving the government's aim of reducing immigration to the levels of the 1990s.

Mark Harper, the immigration minister, welcomed the biggest drop in four years, saying the government’s tough policies were taking effect and ministers were “bringing immigration back under control”.

"This is the first government to comprehensively tackle abuse of the student route and we will continue to crack down on any abuse that comes to light," he said.

"We will refuse any student visit visa application if we have doubts about their motivation for coming to the UK to study or their intention to leave."

The life of Shri Jethalal Punjabhai Joshi.....

Continued from page 3 By 1956 Mr Joshi had gained enough experience and being entrepreneur he decided to have a business of his own when he acquired Pradip Sweet Mart. This was the beginning of setting high standards for providing best quality Indian sweets and savouries and establishing an excellent reputation. 1969 was the time for Mr Joshi to make another sacrifice for the family when he sold off his business and returned to India for his children’s higher education. But, in 1977 as the children were completing theirs studies, he realised it would be difficult for them to settle in India and the family migrated to

the UK. Jethalalbhai’s work was far from over as he helped his children to buy a house and once again resumed his fine art of making Indian sweets from his home in Wembley laying in 1987 the foundation of Pradip Sweet Mart in Kenton. As his three sons and their family took charge of the business he took a backseat but kept a keen eye on the business.

The life of this entrepreneur, spanning over the three continents, is over but the inspiration, the legacy of hard work, family values and quality goes on. Jethalalbhai’s life and dedication is the one to remember and celebrate.

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Asian Voice - Saturday 8thDecember 2012

Interfaith exhibition binds all in Coin street Indrani Thakurata Interfaith event that saw people from different religions converge in Coin street neighbourhood centre to highlighted social action work undertaken by faith communities under the Year of Service initiative. Apart from the exhibitions put up by Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, Jains, Zorastrians and Jews, there were informative speeches by various

speakers of importance.

Baroness Warsi, the highlight of the event spoke about various pertinent problems and the probable solution. "These projects and many more prove that faith motivates good works," said Baroness Warsi. "And today you have a government that doesn't deny that fact.

"You have a government that supports, cele-

brates and in my case shares that motivation. A government that does God. Because we know that people who 'do God' do good things up and down the country every single day."

She added: "I always argued that interfaith shouldn't just be tea in a draughty church hall or a samosa in the local mosque between the imam and the vicar. It shouldn't just be clergy to clergy: it should be con-

gregation to congregation."

Speaking about stronger communities, the minister said that she had her own theory on interfaith.

"It's that if you are stronger in your identity then you are more tolerant of others. Those who don't associate with people of other beliefs because they think it

somehow weakens theirs – they have got it the wrong way round.

Because if you're a person who unites with people of other faiths for a common goal – it doesn't make you less of a Muslim, less of a Hindu, less of a Jew – it makes you more of one.

In fact, there is no more powerful demonstration of one's security in one's identity.”

Elaborating, "Two things struck me that are as relevant to us as they are to Pakistan. First, it is a mistake to assume that you compromise your identity the more you try to understand others. The stronger your understanding of your neighbour, the stronger your own religious identity becomes."

She added further, "That's why I went to the Vatican earlier this year and argued that Europe should be stronger in its Christian identity. The Christian heritage of Britain is what has made me feel comfortable here in practising my faith."

Talking about the future, “Britain leads the

Baroness Warsi

world in its interfaith ethos. But I think we can build on the progress we’ve made since that conference in American back in 1893. I think that if we - people of all faiths and none - pull together, we can defeat the intolerance and bigotry faced by people of faith.”

“As I’ve said before, an attack on a mosque is an attack on a church; an attack on a gudwara is an attack on a synagogue.

In other words, an attack on one faith is an attack on all faiths,” she concludes.

Lord Raj Loomba granted award at the Forbes India Philanthropy Awards 2012 Lord Raj Loomba CBE, Founder and Chairman Trustee of The UN accredited Loomba Foundation, has been recognized at the prestigious Forbes India Philanthropy Awards 2012, and granted an award in the Distinguished NonResident philanthropist category.

The philanthropy awards were instituted by Forbes India to recognise the efforts of individuals who have given time, money, skill and expertise to solve some of the most pressing societal issues, to create model institutions and to inspire others.

The award was set to honour a non-resident Indian who has contributed significantly to a social cause in India, by giving wealth, time and expertise. Lord Loomba was nominated for his efforts in promoting the need for educating the kids of poor widows in India and establishing June 23 as International Widows’ Day by the United Nations.

The Loomba Foundation had been recently granted Special Consultative Status by the Economic

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Political Sketchbook www.PoliticalAnimal.me

Alpesh Patel’s Indian Entrepreneurs Saving India – one life at a time The salvation of India will be its entrepreneurs. I write from Chennai, before travelling to Hyderabad then Bangalore – where I will see the Akshaya Patra kitchens which feed school children – a charity backed by Indian entrepreneur Narayana Murthy of Infosys. In Chennai at the TiE (Indus Entrepreneurs) Conference I met social entrepreneurs solving problems like female sanitation.

Before I got here, I hosted tables as Co-Chairman of the Loomba Trust Advisory Board for widows and orphans in India, a charity formed by the entrepreneur and former ice cream salesman turned international businessman Lord Loomba. We raised at that our annual dinner and auction over gbp100,000.

As I write I am sorting meetings for a US Marine who has started TheBindiProject.org in India which is a charity I met in Ahmedabad teaching boys proper behaviour to women and earlier today, at her request, connected Bharti Tailor of President of Hindu Forum of Europe to Arpan, a charity helping the sufferers of sexual abuse in India founded by a social entrepreneur we at UnLtd of which I am a trustee funded. I met and heard from the founders of YASE (Yound Asian Social Entrepreneurs) too.

And that’s just one week’s work.

So it is the entrepreneurs who will be the modern freedom fighters and be the salvation of India. At the entrepreneurs conclave here in Chennai, the only standing ovation, went not to the billionaires, the millionaires, the ‘came with nothing, against the odds’ multi-national, no the only standing ovation went to the builder of eye hospitals for the poor. Imagine that. The rock stars are not the guys you see on Dragons Den or the Apprentice, the rock stars are not just entrepreneurs but are the ones who do it for others – the social entrepreneurs.

That’s the new rock and roll. So you know what’s cool?

Being an entrepreneur isn’t cool. Being a social entrepreneur is cool. And it’s those economic warriors, who will save India. I am an entrepreneur. I count myself such a freedom fighter. Come join us. There is money to be made, so don’t worry, your Indian genetics will be satisfied, but there is an adventure to be had, a purpose to be served. Sure, being an accountant, lawyer, doctor is good.

But bheta, bheti, fancy being a rich and cool rock star instead – real pride of your community – be a social entrepreneur.

So that it can be said, in the words of an Urdu poet, .'Raise your selfhood so high that before allotting his fate, God himself should ask the man, tell me what is your wish?'

Dharma Bhakti Manor celebrates Tulsi vivah

and Social Council of the United Nations during the Council’s July 2012 Substantive Session.

“Special Consultative Status” is conferred upon those non-governmental organisations that demonstrate a special competence in a select field of concern. This designation will allow the Foundation to send official representatives to participate in events and conferences at the United Nations.

Previous to the work of

The Loomba Foundation, no one had ever identified or addressed more than 700M widows and children who suffer in this way. During the awards ceremony held in Bangalore recently, Lord Loomba gave a moving speech on the plight of widows, the necessity of the cause and the major steps the foundation has taken to education the children of poor widows.

Lord Loomba also supports many other social

activities, including Barnardos in the UK. He has received many accolades and honours including the Priyadarshni Academy Global Award in 2006 and the NRI Institute of India Achievers Award in 2008, on behalf of The Loomba Foundation which was presented by the British High Commissioner and was also appointed as Ambassador of Global Partnerships Forum in 2011.

Shree Swaminarayan Temple – Dharma Bhakti Manor celebrated the grand wedding ceremony between Tulsi Mata and Bhagwan Shaligram on Sunday the 25th of November.

Like every year it was celebrated by many devotees attending and witnessing the wedding ceremony and more so by taking part in the Kanyadaan of Tulsimaa and Mahaprasad for all. Sant Mandal headed by Sadguru

This week paid subscribers of Asian Voice will receive a copy of 'Indian Property 2012' magazine with their newspapers

Laxmiprasad dasji Swami from Bhuj were also present. In addition, they also held two seminars on the day to raise awareness on Dementia and the effects it has on the elderly.

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UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 8thDecember 2012

HinduJourney invited to attend Interfaith Young Council at the House of Lords The HinduJourney Team were invited to attend the launch of the Interfaith Youth Council – Universal Peace Federation UK, at the House of Lords on Wednesday 28th November 2012. One of the main objectives of the interfaith youth council is to create a strong and passionate team of young adults and university students from different backgrounds and to reach a consultation status within the UN. They believe that through discussions and debates they could help enhance the understanding of faiths and cultures.

This new and upcoming body intends to discuss topical issues of inter-cultural and inter-religious concerns and find ways to build bridges between communities. The event was hosted by Lord King of West Bromwich, alongside members of the Youth Council; Christa

For more stories visit www.scribbledesk.com

Skelton - Part 2

Lord Popat giving a speech as Kishan Devani (on his left), founder of HinduJourney look on

to speak at the event. He raised many pertinent issues such as – What authority would the council hold in front of scholars, if any? Also how can one represent a diverse

People present to attend the launch

Kamga, Bandana Upadhya and Matthew Huish, alongside the youth of HinduJourney; Sidhant Mehta, Nimesh Kara and Rahul Haldania.

Kishan Devani the Founder of HinduJourney and an active member of the Conservative Party was asked

faith such as Hinduism on such a body? Or is it even possible to do so on such a council? These were some areas that were discussed, before Kishan Devani was asked to speak on Hinduism and interfaith relations. The talk centred around the

notion of ‘Vasudeva Kutambakam’ which looks at the entire creation being ‘one family’; and the idea of a global nation was raised. The necessity of interfaith dialogue and drawing on the similarities that faiths have in order to build bridges between communities, was very much at the heart of the talk.

Lord Popat, who was especially invited by Kishan Devani, highlighted the importance of interfaith activities, where he also drew on his own life experiences and spoke of how he himself has learnt from all religious traditions. He said, “today’s interfaith dialogue shows that the role of religion helps to bring us all closer together with mutual benefits for all.

I have always believed that no faith has a monopoly on the truth and that when we respect other faiths, we are in fact showing respect to our own faith which teaches us to respect others regardless of their background.” It was an inspirational evening with members of all major world traditions being present and sharing their ideas and views on various matters.

UKTA celebrates Diwali The multi-coloured atmosphere of Diwali was brought to life by United Kingdom Telugu Association's (UKTA) celebrations held on Sunday 25th November, at Swaminarayan temple (Neasden) London. An estimated 300 persons participated in the event. Speaking on the occasion, the chief guest, Performance at the UKTA

Rt.Hon.Virendra Sharma said that it was an honour and privilege to preside over such a function and the Telugus though small in number in UK, have contributed enormously to the British society. Mr. Pritam Lal, First Secretary (coordination), High Commission of India and Mr.M.Mahapatra, Regional Head, State Bank of India, spoke on the occasion and expressed their happiness that

Short Story

by Neha Garg

such a large number of Telugus should come forward to celebrate Diwali.

The programme had cultural events of a high professional order.

The prayer (Dolayam by Annamacharya) was rendered by Baby Shriya. Padmini Pasumathy played the Veena---Varanam in Abhogi Ragam, Kopal Vedam did Kutchipudi numbers----Shabdam and a Tarangam in Mohanam, Tilana in Brindavani, Shalini Shivankar, a noted Bharata Natyam dancer did a Padam in Husseini Ragam and Tilana in Kathanakutuhalam,Mounica Bojja sang a Telugu film song. Mr.Venkat explained the virtues of Laughter and how Yoga can be done. Suman Rudru rocked the audience with his break-dance. The programme was anchored by Bhanu Sistla.

The programme was inaugurated by Prabhakar Kaza, the managing Trustee, who requested the audience to become Life Members and join as friends on the Facebook for easier communication. The Vote of thanks was given

by Jaykumar Guntupalli who thanked all the artistes and sponsors for making the programme a grand success.

A grand fire-works display was organised for twelve minutes, by a Professional firm from Nottingham. The spectators went into raptures for being treated to a First class Fireworks programmes and could watch the same in such

Prabhakar Kaza giving a speech

Nearly a hundred years had passed since the McDougall family had realised that they and their nephew Skelton had all become ghosts, and Spooner Close had become almost unrecognizable.

The sun rose on the a very different scene. Where there were once neat hedges and brilliantly painted front doors, there now remained overgrown weedy gardens and crumbling walls. It crept into the living room, which was almost exactly as it was the day the bomb had fallen, except that there were now giant cobwebs hanging from the ceiling and a pile of rotting bones in a corner.

The old pictures on the walls and mantelpiece showed Mr McDougall, Madame McDougall and their son Trevor at the beach, at the cinema, accepting a prize. There was nothing to indicate that another boy had ever lived in the house.

Skelton, the McDougall’s nephew had been sent to them a week before the bomb fell. The orphanage where he had lived up till then had sent him with a note to say that they were closing down and will not be able to care for any children any longer. So grudgingly, the McDougalls had taken Skelton in.

After the bombing while everyone else became a regular grey, slightly transparent ghost, Skelton had turned into a pink and puffy ghost.

Once it had spread that Spooner Close was haunted, all the other residents in the area had left so the McDougalls had full run of the entire street. With time, a lot of walls from a lot of different homes had fallen through making Spooner Close one big playground for the McDougall ghosts.

‘Look at this place,’ shrieked Aunt Fiona, one morning. ‘No bats, no skulls and the cobwebs are all mouldy. How am I expected to host a death day party in a dump like this? Where is that good for nothing boy?’

Skelton sat up in his bedroom. His aunt’s voice had been so loud it had carried through the crumbling walls up to where Skelton slept.

‘Not again,’ he grumbled as he melted through the floor to appear in the living room.

‘There you are,’ snapped Aunt Fiona. ‘How many times do I have to tell you to go get some fresh skulls from the graveyard? And where are those bats we caught last night?’

‘I told you. They wouldn’t have stayed put,’ Skelton tried to explain. ‘Its not in their nature to hang around during the day.’

‘Well, you are just going to have to go catch a few more then, haven’t you?’ said Aunt Fiona, her eyes bulging. ‘And make sure the skulls you get are fresh.

I want everything perfect tonight.’

Skelton sighed - More skulls. Every time they had a party, thats what his aunt did, dig up new skulls. No wonder they never saw any new ghosts around here.

They were probably all out looking for their heads.

proximity. The programme ended with a traditional Andhra dinner.

Audience present to celebrate Diwali

UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 8thDecember 2012

Leading Lights

Rani Singh, Special Assignments Editor

Ravinder Ryan Deol, The young Indian sweet and snack box master Ravinder Ryan Deol, 19, is the MD of Indian Snack Box. He left school at 16 and his first job was working in a factory, doing general manual jobs. It wasn’t what he envisaged doing for the rest of his life but it certainly taught him a lot about the value of hard work. After a while, he did an apprenticeship before joining the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy to pursue his entrepreneurial vision.

Ravinder is a Virgin Media Pioneer, one of a large group of enterprising people brought together through an online community. He calls it “The Facebook for entrepreneurs. It allows enterprising people to gain access to a huge network of likeminded individuals as well as being exposed to some amazing opportunities, such as the Trade Mission to India.” A group of young entrepreneurs and businessman from the UK recently formed a UK-India trade delegation that accompanied Sir Richard Branson when he relaunched Virgin Atlantic flights to Mumbai.

Ravinder’s parents came to the UK from India in the 1970s, and have spent most of their lives in this country.

Ravinder has mostly lived in West Bromwich, just north of Birmingham.

Ravinder says that he got the idea to set up the Indian Snack Box company because though there is a clear market for Indian food within the UK (seen by the popularity of main curry dishes), the snacks and sweets market had not yet been fully exploited, in his opinion. “So the idea came about; allowing people to experience authentic Indian snacks and sweets in a convenient way, which is through subscription commerce.” And simultaneously, he makes sure there is good work happening alongside the business. “With every initial subscription package we sell, we donate an Indian Snack Box to a food bank.”

Ravinder had been brought up around Indian food, so, being familiar with the genre, it made sense for him to launch a business in this sector. He said that, as a child, “the Burfi range of

9

Ed Miliband reforms commitment to cultural, ethnic diversity

Rt Hon Ed Miliband and Mr Joginder Sanger with Bhavan students and teachers

Ravinder Ryan Deol with Peter Jones on graduating from the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy as National Ambassador

sweets was always my personal favorite simply because it’s a simple recipe and can be combined with a wide variety of flavors.” He believes that there is a favourite Indian sweet to satisfy every craving.

We raised with him the point that there were already many Indian sweet shops in the UK. He replied by telling us that these shops are mostly located in areas with high Asian populations. The wider communities were not really being served, in his opinion. Indian Snack Box aims to serve wider populations in a convenient way rather than through a bricks and mortar business model whilst having a positive social impact, through the donation of an Indian Snack Box for every initial subscription package sold.

I want to see my businesses thrive, and in turn create wealth and jobs Ravinder plans to grow his business organically, and include customization for the type of snacks and sweets people get delivered to them as well as a more varied range than usually found in shops. The longer term plan for growth is to include even more sweets customization, such as a pick and mix which will still be primarily based online but allow consumers to choose what they prefer

to eat.

Ravinder says that Virgin Media the Pioneers have been helpful “By creating a community of entrepreneurs!

The highlight definitely was that they allowed five pioneers to take part in a trade mission to India, which was an amazing experience, as we had the chance to experience business on an international scale.”

Indian Snack Box sweets are authentic.

Ravinder and his team avoid making changes to traditional recipes in order that their customers “experience a truly authentic taste.”

As with many Indian sweets, the main ingredients are generally milk, sugar and ghee.

Ravinder’s medium and long term ambitions are tempered because he says that his business plan, in common with many others, is always changing. “It’s important not to lose sight of your vision and, like many business owners, I want to see my businesses thrive, and in turn create wealth and jobs which are vital to economies. My ambitions are to venture into various industries with my businesses, with my ultimate ambition being to be a part of Formula 1.”

Well, Ravinder has networked himself to the right place, with Virgin Media Pioneers, for Sir Richard Branson himself has a stake in Formula 1, so Ravinder Ryan Deol may well achieve his goal!

Miliband’s own family had fled from Europe to Britain during World War Two. He therefore felt he had an affinity with many of those present, who had chosen to come to this country and settle. As the Olympics in London had demonstrated, the UK was a welcoming country and one which had a multicultural make-up.

He was proud of the fact that immigrants such as Mo Farah, son of refugees from Somalia, had represented Britain at the Games. He had also been pleased that Indian dance had been featured in the Game’s ceremonies.

Mr Miliband ended by wishing everyone a Happy Diwali.

Rt. Hon. Ed Miliband being welcomed in the traditional way in The evening’s presence of Rt Hon Mr Keith Vaz MP, programme conMr Joginder Sanger and Dr Nandakumara (L-R)

On the 26th November 2012, the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan UK held its annual Diwali Banquet. Chief Guest was The Rt. Hon. Ed Miliband MP, Leader of Her Majesty’s Opposition. The High Commissioner of India, His Excellency Dr Jaimini

Bhagwati was joint Chief Guest. The event took place at the Millennium Mayfair Hotel.

Mr Joginder Sanger, the Bhavan’s Chairman, welcomed those present, including members of both Houses of Parliament, the Mayor of Hammersmith and Fulham, as well as leading members of the Indian and UK business world.

Welcoming Mr Miliband and the Joint Chief Guest, His Excellency Dr Jaimini Bhagwati, Mr Sanger mentioned that both had had distinguished careers in economics.

Mr Miliband had worked for Gordon Brown at the Treasury and His Excellency had been a leading figure in the World Bank.

In his address, His Excellency, Dr Jaimini Bhagwati paid tribute to the valuable contribution made to the UK by the Indian community in Britain. He also outlined the significance of Diwali

as a triumph of light over darkness.

The Rt Hon Ed Miliband began by praising the valuable work done by the Bhavan throughout the country.

Mr Miliband went on to affirm his commitment to cultural and ethnic diver-

Lord Bagri, His Excellency Dr Jaimini Bhagwati, Dr Surekha Mehta and Mr Joginder Sanger

sity. He also praised the contribution made to the UK by members of the Indian community in Britain. The Bhavan’s Chairman, Mr Sanger, was an example of the success of immigrants to this country.

Mr

tained cultural items of music and dance which were very well received by those present.

The Bhavan’s FundRaising committee Chairman, Dr Surekha Mehta, gave the vote of thanks.

YOUR VOICE

10

Pros and Cons of Leveson Report While it is an absolute, overriding necessity to have a free and fair press in a democracy, it is equally vital to safeguard the interest of the State and the public from the press intrusion, intimidation and bullying that was in the forefront during the last few decades.

In so many respect, the “Free Media” is a myth created by a few, powerful Mogul Media Barons who own the majority of the press, thus able to appoint editors who reflect their political, social and financial thinking. So in reality these papers are no more than mouth piece of self-opinionated barons who were until now able to order even Prime Ministers to travel half the world to be present at their court!

Why these so called “Free Press” ignored the late Jimmy Seville and Cyril Smith during the height of their allegedly sexual exploitation of the young and venerable children? So often Hindus are maligned and slandered by the media without the right of reply, as Hindus do not have the political, social or financial clout due to lack of unity amongst themselves.

In our commercially oriented world, advertisers, not the readers hold the sway; influence the editorial to the detriment of the public at large. I must admit that Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar are the exception as they have forgo advertising revenue when venerable readers may be exploited by the so called “Faith Healers” playing on the fear and trauma in their personal life.

Leveson Report consists of some three thousand pages. It would be difficult to digest, analyse or understand, explain it in one letter, single article. The PM would be best advised to have a “Free Vote” in the HOC and let MPs decide. It would be suicide for the PM to impose his Government’s views that will come to haunt him at the next election.

Bhupendra M Gandhi Via Email

Systematic corruption We hear about corruption in India, in public as well as in the government offices. People like Anna Hajare and Arvind Kejariwal highlighted the problem under their ordinary leadership. The movement is now escalating nationwide and might lead to contest the forth-coming general election, if their Aam Aadmi party succeed in formation. It is a real challenge to present UPA government and main opposition BJP. The money laundering and illegal transactions are damaging the entire nation, which is on the other hand claiming a reasonably high GDP, sending space rockets and satisfactorily holding car racings. The Indian middle class are boosting their living standard with lavish weddings,luxurious cars and holidays abroad.

This could be at the expense of some 300 millions exploited working class and people living under poverty line. Some of the

Asian Voice - Saturday 8thDecember 2012

Post Code Lottery

A healthy old age

Gujarat election 2012

Literacy standards in English schools are falling behind those in other countries, Ofsted’s chief inspector, Sir Michael Wilshaw, has warned. He said that progress in schools has stalled and one in five children do not achieve the expected literacy levels by the end of primary school, too many lessons are sluggish and boring. He has called for the introduction of a “no-excuses culture” to make improvements. The issue is tackled by a new Ofsted report, which found that standards in English are not high enough and there has been no overall improvement in primary pupils’ learning since 2008.

The Education Act of 1944 propounded by Lord Butler placed emphasis on the three R’s of reading, writing and arithmetic. But in these days of calculators and little attention to spelling and grammar, no wonder the standards are falling. This is more so in schools in run down areas like say, Newham, where the disruptive pupils would not let the more serious teachers to teach or the keener pupils to learn. So your choice of school for your child really depends on where you live, and in a way, the school offered to your child would depend on the post code of your residence. It is not just the schools that are not getting better, even the teachers need to be challenged and the examinations for a teaching qualification need to be much rigorous so that the teachers themselves are better qualified to teach. I must add that during my time at the Department of Education and Skills, I used to receive letters from secondary school teachers addressed to ministers and I must say that the spelling and grammar in their letters left a lot to be desired.

Dinesh Sheth Newbury Park, Ilford

Many of us want to live to a healthy old age, I personally believe it is possible to live to 90 years of age and not have to take any medication and be independent.

Hindus assume a normal life span is of 108 years old, divide into four stages or ashramas of 27 years each.

Bhramacharya (student life learning not just how to earn a living but about dharma), Grisastha (householder) then vanaprastha (retired) and finally Sannyasa (renounced a complete withdrawal from the world). My three favourite relatives all in their 90’s all do without medication and have no illness, one can hold an intelligent conversation with them as well. I studied their life styles, all vegetarians, teetotal, non smokers, rise at 5am, eat only home cooked meals, have never been to a restaurant and fast often, one has eaten only once a day most of her life. No gyms, fad diets or exercise programs as they do not speak English. Two lives in the UK and one in India. So when a BBC Horizon ran a documentary on how not to age I was keenly interested they mentioned all the above lifestyle choices but ended that the most influential human organ for longevity was the brain, specifically the human mind. A US study showed those who attended church regularly lived 10 years longer, they coped with the stresses of life better. When I checked my sample of three, all are devout life long worshipers, a Swaminarayan, a Shiv bhakt and a Brahma Kumari follower. I for one as a UK Pharmacist am at one with them on this, although it would not be PC for the Department of Health give such advice.

I feel Gujarat election in India is very important for the survival of Indian democracy. In Britain Indians, especially coming from Gujarat who have relatives in India have to play a very major role in making sure that Modi government gets elected with a big majority. There are several reasons for that.

There is a sustained propaganda by Christians and Muslims, NGOs here against Modi. Aditya Chakrabortty in his column in Guardian dated 20th November, calls Modi a 'modern-day Nero' and he equated Modi with Hitler, Milosevic, Pol Pot etc. He also said that he presided over one of the worst massacres of Muslims, independent India has even seen. He has however forgotten to mention that more Sikhs were killed during the assassination of Indira Gandhi and the Congress was the ruling party.

Similar type of anti-Modi propaganda is being carried out by the Congress party. One Congress leader called Modi as a ‘monkey’ and no action was taken against him. In the last state election Sonia Gandhi called the Gujarat government ‘as merchants of death’. In the internet pictures of starving children from Sri Lanka and other places were published by the Congress party suggesting they were from Gujarat.

Unfortunately some disgruntled upper caste Hindus especially have started their own party to oppose Modi and they are ex BJP. The Congress party is sending Ahmed Patel to woo the support of Patels and Gujarati Muslims and the party is distributing thousands of rupees to the electorates in the name of cash offer for people living below poverty line.

It is going to be tough challenge for the Modi government to get absolute majority in Gujarat election.

labourers are earning a paltry wages of less than a pound a day! Their children are neglected at the poorly managed state schools, have been kept under-nutrition and have virtually no future!

This is despite India’s own scheme through various programmes, such as Jawahar-yojana, Idira-Awaas and keeping reserved places in education and job opportunity for less privileged BC, ST, STC etc.

The fact that aids gets volatilised on its way, once a former PM Atulji quoted in his own admission “New Delhi released a rupee, only 10 paise reached to the target”. Now the British Government is also considering phasing out the funding commitments to India, Ad valorem tax, the Indian finance minister described the aid as “peanuts”. Wow! It may be true because their ordinary middle class is now handling crores.

Summarising on above counts, why on earth the British taxpayers flatter themselves towards their systematic corruption?

News about Kasab’s execution was astounding and pleasant. Justice was done so that righteousness can prevail.

Indians can heave sigh of collective relief.

Rapid execution denoted India’s firm resolve to respond to terrorism with death to perpetrators. Secrecy and speed of implementation is amazing when simple court cases drag on for more than 30 years. Execution was no surprise after verdict by Supreme Court and recommendation by Governor of Maharashtra, ex and incumbent Home Ministers. Only the date was kept secret.

Neither Prime Minister Manmohan Singh nor Sonia Gandhi knew about the date, which speaks volumes about cautious, stern and no nonsense character of the President Pranab Mukherji, showing that he is not tied to their apron strings.

He can reinforce this message by expediting execution of Afzal Guru and others seeking clemency.

The Gujarat Samachar editorial is totally wrong to suggest that intention and execution date must have been announced to the world. This would have

Lallubhai Patel Gloucester

Jayesh A Patel GPhC Wimbledon

Kasab’s execution

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

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

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

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

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

away five years from your life.

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

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been ideal but impracticable and self defeating. All anti India interests would have moved heaven and earth to bribe, blackmail, force, cajol or coerce India to procrastinate or reverse the decision.

Meddling might have come from Muslim countries, USA, Vatican, Human Right activists or hijackers, leading to Kandahar type of situation. At the most minimum, death sentence might have been reduced to full life sentence, jail for 25 years, with possibility pf early release.

Speculations abound doubting bona fide intentions of UPA government, in view of approaching elections.

Conspiracy theorists propound that Kasab was sick with dengue fever which would have entailed delay in execution; prolonged treatment, with no guarantee of cure. Therefore India saved face by rapid execution.

Ramesh Jhalla Via Email

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

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

1 Year 2 Years

Arun Vaidyanathan Via Email

!

EDUCATION / COUNCIL VOICE

Asian Voice - Saturday 8thDecember 2012

Pupils 'entered for GCSE English twice' Hundreds of state schools are entering pupils for two English GCSE-level qualifications at the same time in a bid to boost their grades, a report says.

The Times Educational Supplement (TES) says pupils are being entered for both GCSE and international GCSE (IGCSE) English exams, with only the better grade counting towards league tables.

The IGCSE has only counted in state school league tables since 2010.

Ministers branded the tactic "cynical".

The government is

yielded good results. He told the TES about 80% of member schools were entering some of their students for both the IGCSE and the regular GCSE. Sir John said the main aim was to ensure students achieved a good grade, but he added league tables were also a concern. "Most heads thought the IGCSE was just for independent schools and that it didn't count towards league tables, but we have studied it very carefully and we've found it can be very appropriate for some state school students," he said.

drawing up reforms to league tables in a bid to reduce the focus on GCSE floor targets.

The double-entry strategy is being promoted by a group called the PiXL Club, which aims to dramatically improve GCSE results among its members. About 400 secondary schools are part of the club, each paying a yearly fee to receive advice and tips on how to become more successful.

According to former head teacher Sir John Rowling, the chair of PiXL, the strategy has

Lord Bilimoria receives honorary doctorate from UWL The founder and chairman of Cobra Beer, Lord Karan Bilimoria, pictured has been awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of West London (UWL). The award, his sixth honorary doctorate, is in recognition of Lord Bilimoria’s five year service to the UWL’s predecessor, Thames Valley University, as Chancellor and his contribution to British business.

The University enjoys a strong relationship with Cobra Beer, the beer brand that Bilimoria founded, as it plays host to the ‘curry college’, at which the tra-

This prestigious course has now been rolled out internationally.

Cobra Beer was the sole beer selected to be served at the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Picnic and Concert this summer, and was served to the 10,000 people invited to attend the celebration at Buckingham Palace. In addition, the Head Chef of Buckingham Palace is an alumnus of the London School of Hospitality – part of the University of West London – as is Edward Griffiths, the Deputy Master of the Household.

ditional Indian cuisine that inspired Karan to develop Cobra is taught to aspiring chefs.

The University also has close links with Buckingham Palace, with whom the university has developed a butlering and valeting course, with its students gaining work experience in the Palace.

Three closures after inspectors smell a rat Two food businesses in Southall and a food manufacturer in Greenford were closed last month after the council’s food safety team found evidence of rat and mouse infestations.

Regulatory services officers visited the premises in November on routine inspections and found them to be filthy and infested with vermin.

A live mouse was seen in one of the premises during the inspection. All three were closed immediately and the owners ordered to make major improvements.

Punjabi Virsa, an Indian takeaway and restaurant at 37 Featherstone Road, Southall, was closed last month after inspectors found evidence of a major rat infestation and a poor standard of cleaning. The premises were allowed to reopen having made substantial improvements.

Officers were also forced to close down Universal General Store, a butcher shop, based at 21 King Street, Southall. On another routine inspection, officers uncovered a rat infestation, a lack of hot water and a poor overall standard of cleaning.

They also found that the owners had failed to act on the advice of their own pest control contractor in October 2012. The business was allowed to reopen following a raft of

with their appalling approach to cleanliness.

Food safety laws are there to protect consumers and most businesses do comply with them. However, we will always take swift action to protect the public when their health is put at risk.”

Council officers are now considering whether to pursue further legal action against all three businesses.

improvements.

Kaveri Express of Sudbury Heights Avenue, Greenford, was also closed after officers dropped in on them unannounced. Kaveri Express manufactures food and supplies it to restaurants.

Councillor Ranjit Dheer, cabinet member for community services and safety, said: “These businesses were gambling with the public’s health

UKBA 'failed to check' tip-offs they have "toughened the rules" on student visas.

Mr Vine, whose team examined work at three UKBA offices in Sheffield, Delhi and Beijing, said the agency had "no targets in place for responding to notifications made using the sponsor management system. As a result, notifications of changes to circumstances of students, details of students failing to enrol or attend classes, or curtailment of sponsorship were not being acted upon," he said.

Thousands of overseas students may have been allowed to stay in Britain illegally because UK Border Agency (UKBA) staff failed to check out tip-offs about them, a report has revealed.

When non-EU students do not enrol, stop attending courses or breach visa rules, colleges report them to the UKBA. Chief inspector of immigration John Vine said a backlog of 153,000 such reports had built up at one point. Ministers say

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University of Leicester team help find genes in bid to beat disease Researchers from the University of Leicester have helped to discover a range of genes that indicate a person might have a higher risk of suffering a heart attack.

The findings could pave the way to finding new treatments for coronary heart disease, which affects more than 10,000 city residents and kills more than 400 each year, and can be inherited from family members.

The international study – the biggest of its kind ever carried out – involved nearly 200,000 people from 14 countries in Europe, Asia and the Americas, including about 1,500 patients from Leicestershire. The team of researchers from the University of Leicester was led by Professor Nilesh Samani, pictured, British Heart Foundation Professor of cardiology

and heart consultant at Leicester's hospitals, who was one of the lead authors of the study.

He said: "We have been able to identify 15 new genetic areas linked with heart disease, bringing the total we now know about to 46. One of the important areas is that some genes play a part in causing inflammation, which can be a significant cause of heart attacks. By find-

ing these genes, I hope it will help pharmaceutical companies to develop drugs to damp down inflammation and reduce the risk of patients developing heart disease.

A team of analysts from the University of Leicester had the task of looking at the results from DNA in blood samples in all the centres and analysing them for the study.

University applications down by 8% The latest university application figures have fallen by 8% compared with the same point last year - and are the lowest for at least six years.

The head of the Million+ university group says "alarm bells should be ringing in government".

The Ucas admissions

figures up to midNovember show 13,000 fewer applications - down for both UK and overseas.

But Universities UK said that it was too early in the application cycle for an "accurate picture of final demand".

The introduction of higher tuition fees had

seen a drop in applications for autumn 2012 - but university leaders had anticipated that demand would recover.

These early figures from the application process for autumn 2013 ahead of the main deadline in January - show a further downward fall.

12

MEDIA WATCH

Asian Voice - Saturday 8thDecember 2012

Scrutator’s Indian politics is in the midst of its seasonal burlesque, baroquely burlesque, if you will, as the short winter session of Parliament gives way to the recess, the signal for many legislators to lapse into an accustomed hibernation.

There is the barest semblance of reasoned debate; bazaar-like chaos rules, as good manners and sobriety take flight. The long suffering Indian taxpayer is likely to wake up one of these days to the fraud perpetrated on democracy in his/ her name.

The issue exercising the public mind was the no-confidence motion tabled by Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress. Her cause was Foreign Direct Investment in multi-brand retail. No other party, whatever its FDI reservations, would join the Trinamool 19 MPs some with hooligan instincts - in this caper, leaving Ms Banerjee in a state of indecent exposure. Ms Bamerrjee would do well to consult a shrink to help her through her infantile disorders. Press Council of India Chairman Markandey Katju castigated the Chief Minister for her “intolerance” and her capricious ways. She might soon hit the rocks, he warned.

Meanwhile, the BJP’s time of trouble continues apace with the expulsion of its high profile talking head Ram Jethmalani for his sustained attack on Party President Nitin Gadkari.

To cap it all, human rights activist Arvind Kejriwal has launched his own political party, which promises to make his road show a compelling spectacle in the run-up to India’s next general election due in May/June 2014.

Rating agency Moody’s marked India’s economy as “stable” on the back of economic growth, robust household savings and a competitive private sector. But Moody’s warned against the large fiscal deficit and high inflationary pressures. The Sensex surged by 328.83 points, a 19 month high, buoyed by hopes of economic reforms.

Goldman Sachs predicted 6.5 per cent GDP growth for 2013.

However, India’s second quarter growth (July-September 2012) slipped to 5.3 per cent, but say economists, the decline may have bottomed out. More encouraging, core infrastructure grew by 7 per cent, a seventh month high, while investment increased by by 4.1 per cent against 0.75 per cent in the previous quarter (Economic Times December 1).

Johnson warning Before leaving for New Delhi, London Mayor Boris Johnson described UK immigration curbs on Indian students and business staff as “counterproductive” and called for a relaxation of the rules. His views were echoed by John Cridland, Director-General of the Confederation of British Industry, who is leading the CBI delegation in Mr Johnson’s party.

tribute to the economy.”

A policy that prevented the hiring of the best global talent in business and the brightest minds in education was bad for the British economy and the British image, he said.

Indian welcome Mr Johnson received a warm welcome in Delhi, as he presented Olympic and paralympic

Park in London as a symbol of Indo-British friendship.

Mocking a French minister for calling on Arcelor Mittal to leave France, Mr Johnson, with characteristic wit, said this showed that the “Sans-culottes”(the Parisian working class in the French Revolution of 1789) had “captured the Government of Paris and a French Minister has been so eccentric as to call for a massive investor to depart.” The charismatic Mayor captivates audiences wherever he goes.

Long may he prosper.

(Hindu November 17, 27, 28).

Successful interceptor India’s missile technology took a great leap forward with the successful test of its anti-ballistic interceptor, which knocked out a ‘hostile’ missile in mid-flight at

manage the technology needs and support services of the newly formed Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). Under its terms TCS will implement a programme to transform DBS by, among other things, introducing electronic applications and improving online services to enhance user experience.

As per the agreement, TCS will provide end-to-end process, technology and operations support for an initial period of five years. TCS will also build a new integrated case management system enabling seamless integration and information provision between disclosure and barring services (Hindu November 29).

GSK investment in Indian arm British drug giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is to invest around $941 million and increase its stake in its Indian consumer healthcare subsidiary GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare (GSKCH) to 75 per cent. This is among the largest MNC share-buy-backs in the recent past, and it surely signals GSK’s interest in a key growth area.

(Times of India, Telegraph November 27).

ing Rs 2000 crore in India over the next two years, said Olof Persson, company President and Chief Executive Officer at a press conference in Bangalore.

The investment would be channeled into product development, research and developing new facilities. With expectations that the Indian market would grow faster than other regions, the company was mulling the possibility of setting up an engine plant, a bus body plant, paint shop and test facility (Hindu November 16).

Cash transfer scheme “Game-changer” is how Finance Minister P.Chidambaram described the pioneering direct cash transfer scheme launched recently by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. It has enormous significance for the ordinary citizen. Initially, 29 welfare programmes – largely related to scholarships and old age and

Bullish Ford Interceptor missile flight

an altitude of 120 kilometres.

This was the seventh success of eight tests so far, the series beginning in December 2006.

The interceptor was launched from Wheeler Island off the Orissa coast, while the intercepted Prithvi missile was fired from Chandipur. The mission underscores India’s ability to launch multiple interceptors to destroy several incoming missiles from different directions.

The ballistic missile shield (BMD) is expected to be installed around Delhi sometime in 2014.

Carmaker Ford India has undergone a swift and painless transition at the top, with Michael Boneham handing over the reins as company President and Managing Director to Joginder Singh after a fruitful five-year stint in the country. Mr Singh promised to build on the legacy left by his predecessor. He said: “Our base plan has not changed.

It’s aggressive growth. I believe that it is on track with our $2 billion investment, and the coming launches of 8 new products by mid- decade mainly in the dominant segment.”

Growth having been driven by demand in Tier 2 and Tier 3

P. Chidambaram

disabled pensions – operated by different ministries will be transferred through Aadhar-enabled bank accounts in 61 districts spread over 16 states from January 1, 2013. By the end of 2013 the scheme should cover the entire country..

Explaining the benefits, Mr Chidambaram said the scheme would root out falsification and

Select group

London Mayor Boris Johnson attends a business meeting with Senior Business leaders at the FICCI in Delhi

Mayor Johnson was concerned that Whitehall’s stringent entry rules were hampering his efforts to woo Indian students and businessmen to London – the purpose of his weeklong visit to the India including Hyderabad and Mumbai.

Indians contribute substantially to the UK’s multi-billion pound higher education sector, he said.

London benefits Mr Johnson said: “We are a city that benefits from people who come here…..While we need a tough immigration policy to keep out illegal immigrants, what is not comprehensible is excluding people who will con-

copper petals to India in a brief function at the residence of the British High Commissioner Sir James Bevan.

The Acting President of the Indian Olympic Association Vijay Kumar Malhotra, in a return gesture, presented a silver lotus petal engraved with Lord Ganesha to the Mayor, a clear sign that his visit had begun on a propitious note

Boris on song Addressing business leaders at an FICCI meeting in New Delhi, Boris Johnson alluded to the 115-metre Arcelor Mittal steel tower, Orbit, at the Olympic

A delighted Dr V.K. Saraswat, Director General, Defence Research & Development Organization (DRDO) and Scientific Adviser to the Defence Minister, said: “This kind of mission has been done only by the US and Russia. We are probably the third country…..we have a robust system of interceptors, communications network, directional warheads, potent radio proximity fuses and seekers. All the major systems performed exceptionally well.” Dr Saraswat said the test marked the completion of Phase 1 of the programme. The development of more powerful interceptors for Phase 2 was moving head (Hindu, Times of India November 24).

Tata bags UK contract Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has won a multi-million pound Home Office contract to

Michael Boneham, outgoing President and MD, Ford India, with his successor, Joginder Singh

cities, customer services there were stronger than ever before.

“We believe in the India growth story. Per capita GDP and other indicators are good. Policy problems will always come up now and then and business will cope with them.” (Hindu November 27)

Volvo Group investment The Volvo Group will be invest-

duplication, bring “considerable savings” and increased efficiency to the system. The late Rajiv Gandhi was quoted as saying that, of every rupee of government aid only 15 paise reached the beneficiary. It will be the sum of its parts hereon.

“Subsidy delivery via direct cash transfer is an idea whose time has come” was the verdict of The Times of India editorial (November 30).

UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 8thDecember 2012

Charity donates Wheelchair to mark Diamond Jubilee Year 14 NHS Hospitals in East Regional of England have received from the charity Path to Success a generous donation of fourteen wheelchairs as part of a celebration to mark The Queen’s diamond jubilee year in an event hosted by Hon Rt Keith Vaz MP from Leicester East in Belgrave Neighborhood Centre on Friday 26th October (in Leicester).

Amongst the attendees was The Lord Mayor of Leicester Councillor Abdul Osman to support the work of Path to Success.

As a continuation to celebrate Her Majesty, The Queen’s many years of service, Path to Success has contributed in the lead up to this momentous year by running a campaign in her honour. Their flagship campaign “60 for 60” Wheelchair Appeal is to provide 60 wheelchairs for 60 NHS hospitals in England.

They have joined forces with Miriam Gonzalez Durántez, Chief Patron and spearheaded by founder Anita Choudhrie whose vast experience of the charity

What can Employers expect from Government’s recent Announcement for Proposals for Employees to have a Right to Request Flexible Working Arrangements?

By David Head, Employment Solicitor Advocate

Rt Hon Keith Vaz, MP, Anita Choudhrie, Lord Mayor of Leicester Councillor Abdul Osman and others

world led her to extend her vision of philanthropy in the UK. Chief Patron, Miriam Gonzalez Durántez said "I am honoured to have been asked to support the campaign ‘60 for 60’. The new wheelchairs will change the daily life of people across England, among them many children who face their disabilities with such impressive strength and courage”.

Anita Choudhrie, Founder of Path to Success said: “We are aware of the great work that the NHS is doing for patients’ requirements

and we wanted to collaborate with the Hospitals and help some of the patients by providing the wheelchairs.”

“Our philosophy is to help those who are so keen to turn their inability into ability. We hope the growth of Path to Success will help achieve a change in the destiny of a targeted society or a single individual.”

Path to Success has been able to donate 83 wheelchairs to 60 NHS Hospitals around England since January 2012. For more information about Path to Success, visit www.pathtosuccess.org.uk

India Association hosts Diwali charity fundraiser for United Kingdom Thalassaemia Society

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In November 2012, the Government issued its Response to its own Modern Wo r k p l a c e s Consultation, to extend the right to all employees (with a qualifying period of 26 weeks of employment) to apply to their employers for flexible working conditions. At the present time, the right applies to an estimated 3.8 million employees, who have child-care responsibilities for children up to the age of 17 years old and who care for certain adults (both subject to a qualifying period of 26 weeks of employment). In the Government’s Foreword to the Response, they state that they want employees to be able to manage their time, so that work fits in with their lives, rather than work taking over their lives. They state that such a philosophy will contribute to employees’ wellbeing, while at the same time assist employers to recruit, motivate and retain their workforce, leading to successful businesses and an increase in productivity.

It would appear from the Response that the Government are of the view that most employers take a negative view of non-qualifying employees, making requests for flexible working arrangements. If this is correct, at first glance, the Response appears to be a positive move forward to industrial well being, but in reality will it achieve its aims or will it lead to disputes? Only time will tell. A pessimistic observer would point out that in any event, it is open to all employees to make a flexible working request to their employers and to pursue it using the employers’ Grievance Procedure. Although this is true, the proposed changes are aimed at instigating more requests and will pro-

vide for a specific Statutory Code of Practice that places a duty on an employer to deal with a request in a reasonable manner and within a reasonable period of time.

In the modern workplace, within reason, it is feasible for employees to work at any time, from anywhere and on any working pattern. The problem is such varied working practices provide challenges to employers, who understandably struggle to adopt them and to release control of the established “9-to5” office based environment. If employers are able to focus on the perceived rewards, there is a real hope that proposals will catalyse a real change to flexible working arrangements.

As part of the proposals the Government wants to simplify the current procedures, where by qualifying employees can request flexible working arrangements. The current law is set out at section 80 F – I of the Employment Rights Act 1996 and is expanded in various Statutory Instruments. In order to implement this law, most employers have a Flexible Working Policy, which provides for meetings, written decisions and an appeal process. It is envisaged that if the proposals are implemented, these procedures will be replaced with simpler ones.

Employers can rest assured that they will not be forced to implement unreasonable flexible working requests.

Under the present law, on considering requests, employers can reject them for a wide variety of reasons, as per section 80G of the 1996 Act - these include reasons relating to a burden of additional costs, inability to recruit staff, and a detrimental impact on quality. It is envisaged that employers will continue to have a wide scope for rejecting unreasonable requests. If the thinking behind the proposals is correct, good employees with move to and/or be retained by employers, who are willing to accommodate reasonable requests and in turn who will flourish.

Offices across London inc: City of London Hackney Lewisham Southall India Association, (charity number 1094366), celebrated its annual Diwali function on Saturday 10th November at the Crown Conference Centre in South Ruislip with a dinner and dance in aid of the United Kingdom Thalassaemia Society (UKTS). Over 300 guests attended this event, which attracted major sponsors such as B4U and O2.

Barclays also sponsored the event by matching money raised by the evenings raffle on the night pound for pound.

The distinguished guest list included Steven Pound MP for Ealing North, Virendra Sharma MP for Ealing Southall, Dr Onkar Sahota member of the London Assembly, Mr C B Patel owner of “Asian Voice”, Professor Colin Green from the Northwick Park Research Hospital and Chris Sotirelis Trustee

Advisor for the UKTS together with the cream of our community.

Bobby Grewal, the India Association’s Chairman opened proceedings by welcoming guests and briefing about India Association’s history and great work they have done for the community and various charities over 25 years. This was followed by a complimentary and very humorous speech by the Steve Pound MP. Virendra Sharma MP gave an inspiring speech about the role of the India Association followed by Dr Onkar Sahota who spoke about the community’s lack of awareness regarding Thalassaemia.

Ajay Gandhi, Joint Secretary of the Association, talked about his own personal experience as a Thalassaemia sufferer and Chris Sotirelis from the UKTS introduced

a special presentation.

Many of the guests present had never heard about Thalassaemia before and the event served as an excellent platform from which to encourage the members of our community to understand this condition better and to emphasise the need for screening.

MC’s Bob Bajwa and Arun Sandhu of Desi Hits were instrumental in the success of the auction which included a cricket bat signed by the legendary Sunil Gavaskar, a Liverpool shirt signed by Steven Gerrard, a Manchester United shirt signed by Wayne Rooney, a Land Rover adventure, a Wedgwood Cornucopia 32 piece dinner & tea set and a bottle of House of Commons Whiskey signed by the Prime Minster Rt Hon David Cameron MP. A mobile photo studio

Harrow Islington Shepherd’s Bush Tooting

Tel: 020 7923 4020 - www.duncanlewis.com was set up by Amit Ghelani of Baby Doll Productions and henna artistry was provided by Saleha Mirza with both donating proceeds to the UKTS. Guests danced the night away to entertainment provided by Curious Events and had the renowned DJ Xfader brought in especially for this function before his winter residency at the Billionaire’s Club in Goa. The India Association is profoundly grateful to Mr Nick Smith of Barclays who at very short notice sent two of Barclay’s representatives, Gurpreet and Amit to assist with the raffle and auction sales together with the counting of money raised. A special thanks also goes out to the major sponsors of he

our guests from the UK Thalassaemia Society.

evening B4U and O2 as well as all the other businesses who advertised in the special brochure.

A cheque for £7,500 was presented by the Advisors and Executive Committee Members to

If any reader wants to donate to the UKTS then please contact Ajay Gandhi on 07939 246246 ajay_gandhi@hotmail.co.uk

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UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 8thDecember 2012

Zaman Imagine a day out for shopping in Oxford Street. After a tiring bargain and loads of hand picked, well thought of presents for the kith and kin, gastronomy delight cannot be ruled out as the ultimate pleasure.

Naturally dinning in Oxford Street, as appealing it is as an idea, gives that extra push to your wallet, which you will perhaps prefer to avoid in these times of economic uncertainities. But Zaman, brings you the excitement of dining in Central London, which is indeed ‘value for money’.

Right outside Marble Arch station, nestled below The Sportsman Casino, this restaurant brings forth a perfect blend of the West and the East. Not only the fusion menu of the Award winning chef Mahmud Zaman, the ambience reflects the fine refinements of European mannerism in perfect Ratings

Taste: Ambience: Location: Service: Décor: Value 4 Money:

WWWWW WWWWW WWWWW WWWWW WWWW WWWWW

harmony with Middle Eastern extravagance.

Gleaming in saffron, with attractive chandespreading lier, carpets, comfortable seats, the restaurant has a warm and cosy atmosphere, enhanced by the very polite, attentive and hospitable staff.

The food that ranges from soups, to salads to vegetarian dishes (with okra like bameieh) to mezze selection to non vegetarians like fish, seafood, meat and poultry, leaves you spoilt for choice. The list of wines and bubbly as well as the desserts make a splendid addition to the extensive and sought after appetisers and mains.

Whether you are a Biriyani lover or pasta or noodles, you won't go disappointed at Zaman. Anyone on a tight budget (eg university students) can happily enjoy a 2 course dinner at simply £12.95 or a 3 course with a glass of wine/beer at £19.95.

The food is tenderly cooked, with a unique and distinct or clear taste.

The quantity is pretty generous,

unlike many of its Central London contemporaries.

Zaman has all the facilities of a 'high end restaurant' but ensures to fit into every pocket, hence has some-

thing affordable for everyone. In a nutshell, open until late, this over 18’s venue, provides a perfect and pleasing end to an exciting day out in the very heart of our 'dear London'.

COMPETITION Answer the following simple question and the winner will receive a FREE threecourse dinner for two, including a glass of prosecco and a £10 chip to play at The Sportsman Casino (total value worth £110).

Q: What is the full name of Zaman's award winning chef? a. Mahmud Zaman b. Tariq Zaman c.Tariq Mahmud Please email your correct answer to aveditorial@abplgroup.com by 31st December 2012. The winner will be chosen on a lottery basis from the correct entries.

The Loomba Foundation partners with United Nations

By Lord Loomba, Founder and Chair of trustees The Loomba Foundation On 22nd November, the Loomba Foundation, set up to tackle the poverty and injustices faced by widows in India and around the world, signed a ground-breaking partnership agreement with UN Women (the United Nations body set up to fight for gender equality and the empowerment of women).

Ms. Lakshmi Puri, the Deputy Executive Director of UN Women, announced the three year partnership, which will fund projects across three continents, in India, Guatemala and Malawi. Ms. Puri, who flew in from New York for the announcement, said: “Through this partnership, we will work concretely on programmes that create a visible space for widows in their societies and give them the right tools to achieve economic independence.”

For too long, widows have become cast out from society, and are seen as having no place in an economic community. By empowering widows to become selfsufficient, and contributing economically to society, we can bring about a fundamental change to their lives. Most importantly, it will give them dignity, and self-respect.

These projects will build on the work that we have already been doing in India, for example with our sewing machine project. With the help of the state Governments of Delhi and Punjab, who have matched every penny we have raised, we have enabled 10,000 widows in those two regions to be given a sewing machine, and the necessary training with which to make garments. By selling these to their communities, they have been able to secure a future not only for themselves, but for their children, who they can now afford to support.

Next summer, on 23 June, we will be marking UN

International Widows Day, which was established by the Loomba Foundation in 2005, and adopted by the United Nations in 2010. By entering into this partnership agreement together, we intend to raise the profile of this issue. It is all too easy to ignore the plight of people who live abroad, particularly if you don’t know the problem exists Ms. Lakshmi Puri in the first place.

Around the world there are 245 million widows, with over 500 million children. Of these, 100 million live in poverty.

Together with their dependent children this is a crisis directly affecting some three quarters of a billion people. One and a half million children of poor widows will die before they reach the age of five.

In India, young widows are often ejected from the home where by tradition they lived with their late husband and his parents; they cannot return to their own family where they are considered to bring bad luck to

their siblings; and they are not allowed to remarry.

In Africa the problems of widowhood are magnified and exacerbated by conflict, genocide and HIV, but here too, the problem is more deep-rooted in traditions and so-called “customary laws”.

In Guatemala, during 36 years of internal armed conflict, sexual violence against women and children was widespread during the massacres that took place, and still now little progress has been made in securing the rule of law. Levels of violence have continued to increase during the last decade.

The British Government has now recognised the problems faced by widows abroad, and the double discrimination they face – firstly for being a woman, and secondly for being a widow. This is an important step, because the more we can get people talking about this issue, the more we can do about it.

For too long, this has been something that has remained invisible. When my mother became a widow in 1954, I was shocked and devastated at the treatment she faced from her own family and community.

This is why I set up the Loomba Foundation. I am determined that no widow should suffer in the same way as my mother. We have already made a difference, and by combining forces with the United Nations for these projects, we will continue to make a difference.

For further information please visit our website

www.theloombafoundation.org or contact Priti Patel at priti@theloombafoundation.org

UK

Asian voice - Saturday 8thDecember 2012

15

If you have any particular topics you would like covered on my page, please let me know.

MuSIC

Tanveer Mann Following the incredible success of their debut single ‘Sanu Teh Changa’, the talented duo Gin & Rees return with a mind blowing Bhangra dance-floor track for Christmas!

The new track “Dil Aj Nachan Nuh”, featuring the powerful voice of Jagdev, has an up beat, fast paced sound that is set to be a Christmas hit.

The duo, who hit the headlines and airwaves with their soulful debut track, say of the new single: “Our roots are in Bhangra and we wanted to save ‘Dil Aj Nachan Nuh’ for Christmas because it would be the perfect track for shaking dance floors, it's all about smiling and dancing the night away.”

‘Dil Aj Nachan Nuh’ shows off the duo’s amazing skill and range as producers who are able to tailor their tracks to the mood of audiences across the world.

Gin & Rees’s first track and video, which was launched on the Eros Now Music channel, managed to reach 100,000 views within the first two weeks of release. ‘Dil Aj Nachan Nuh’ is sure to follow and continue to build on the success and increasing

COMPETITION Chance to WIN £1,000 SPONSORSHIP DEAL WITH MUSICMAGPIE

global fan base of this talented duo.

Visit their website on: www.ginandrees.com, RNC Records: www.rncrecords.com, Watch the video trailer: http://youtu.be/KIvAdgw8wi0

Upcoming Upcoming EvEnTS EvEnTS Bombay Funkadelic Celebrate Christmas or simply kickstart your weekend partying at Bombay Funkadelic, on Saturday 15th December at City Hotel London, 12 Osborn Street, London.

Jingle your Bells at the hottest Bollywood party in London from 10pm – 3am. Tickets are £10 on guest list and £15 at door.

The party is set to be the biggest and buzziest party of the year. DJ Shai Guy will be playing an explosive mix of Bollywood, Desi beats and party anthems in a fantastic location.

Did you know..?

Indian food menu available to order. Reserve a seating area/booth for groups The tongue of a blue whale of 8+. Festive decor and exclusive Bollywood film and music related giveis as long as an elephant. aways on the night!

Dress code: smart/casual/glam (no trainers, caps or hoodies) Word of the Week: Under 21s may be asked for ID. For more info call 07811 186 139 or email bombayfunkadelic@gmail.com Septentrional: Northern regions; the north.

BOMBAY BLI

CHRISTMAS We’ve hit the month of December, which means jam-packed shops, busy high streets and hours surfing the net for the ideal gifts. Some times buying the perfect gift for loved ones can cause you more stress than it is worth, not forgetting the sky-high prices of “quality” items. Perhaps we should jump on the “Keep Calm” bandwagon and realise that Christmas shopping requires, what I call ”Xmas Strategy”. In simple terms, you need to assess the number of gifts you need to buy and place a budget for each of the gifts. That way, you’re not breaking your bank account and there’s some extra cash left over for that perfect Christmas outfit you’ve had your eye on for months!

I’ve come up with a list of great gifts for “Him & Her” all under £30. For more information, visit the online stores for each item.

1) Butterfly Polka Dot Mug, Paperchase – £6 2) Cutlery Recipe Book, Paperchase – £10 3) Safari Croc Leather Journals, www.aspinaloflondon.com - £22

4) Purple Haze Snuggy,

www.mysnuggiestore.com – £10

5) Atlas Mountain Rose Shower, Soften and Spritz Deluxe Set, Body Shop - £25 6) Owl Print Pyjamas, Next – £24

7) Estee Lauder Art of Gloss Set, Boots – £10 8) Jongleurs Comedy Pass for Two, www.lastminute.com - £15

9) Fleece-lined leather gloves for women, John Lewis - £22

10)Shower Gel Quattro, L’Occitane - £25

www.punjabeeblonde.wordpress.com tanveer.mann@abplgroup.com

MusicMagpie is given you the amazing opportunity to kick off the 2013/14 football season in style with a one year musicMagpie sponsorship deal for FREE! Not only will three teams win a musicMagpie branded, numbered and individually sized kit for up to 16 players complete with a shirt, shorts and socks but the winning clubs will also receive £1,000 cash to spend on equipment.

By bringing local communities together through football, musicMagpie’s Freekits campaign has already successfully kitted out teams from the UK and even Africa since it was launched by ex-England footballers Gordon Banks and Peter Shilton last year but this new opportunity will really help take three teams to another level.

To enter the musicMagpie ‘Get Sponsored’ competition, just fill out the quick and simple submission form found online at www.musicmagpie.co.uk/freekits and tell musicMagpie why you think your team should receive this fantastic sponsorship opportunity.

Ha Ha.....

He He.... :P How many cops does it take to screw in a light bulb? None. It turns itself in I keep trying to lose weight – but it keeps finding me.

The dresser and the kitchen unit had a race. Neither won, it ended in a drawer.

As our generation is becoming more and more gadget friendly and people, especially students, can download practically any book of their choice at a click of a finger, it leads us to question the fate of printed books in the next ten years. Evidently, with the introduction of the first Kindle two years ago, there was an escalation in the amount of books being read, as, people rushed to get their hands on the latest gadget to show off to their friends.

Yet two years on, studies have shown that people between the ages of 16-25 prefer reading a printed book, whilst it is the professionals that have fallen for the ‘power’ of the eBook.

According to the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project, 83% of people between the ages of 16 and 25 read a book in the past year. From that, 75% read a print book,

BOOKS

19% read an ebook, and 11% listened to an audiobook.

Surprising as it is, this may be due to the fact that students at university level are used to researching criticism from books and prefer the physicality of ‘reading’ a book.

It is the professionals that you see submerged into their kindles on the underground train bewitched by the eBook, which serves as the perfect substitute for carrying a heavy book around in their bags.

On many levels, eBooks are the perfect alternative to books and there are many pros to them, but I definitely see them as the ‘lazy’ alternative to reading a paperback. A paperback provides you with short breaks as you turn the page or reach the end of a chapter, so it is easier to digest what you have just read.

With eBooks, you tend to continue reading, as all the information is in front of you, which can lead to you forgetting previous important details.

Our generation is doing the right thing by not giving in to the ease of downloading eBooks. Although they may turn in to relics of nostalgia one day, let us hope we can keep printed books alive for a little while longer.

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Asian Voice - Saturday 8th December 2012

Amitabh to attend Chennai film fest

Vijay to shoot in Mumbai for his next

It's that time of the year again. Stage is set for Chennai International Film Festival (CIFF), where 160 films from 57 countries across the world will be screened. The film festival, organised every year by Indo Cine Appreciation Foundation, will begin on December 13, and will go on till December 30. Talking to media in Chennai, Thangaraj, a key member of the event's organising team, said that the government has sanctioned Rs 5000,000 for this year's festival. It was announced that top Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan would take part in the valedictory ceremony of CIFF.

Ilayathalapathy Vijay was seen in the streets of Mumbai in his film 'Thuppakki'. The actor supposedly spent a large part of the film's schedule in Mumbai along with Director AR Murugadoss. Now that the film has been declared a hit, the actor has started working on director AL Vijay's next untitled project opposite Amala Paul. Now, sources have confirmed that the team will indeed be visiting Mumbai for the shoot.

Vijay will be spending 40 days straight in Mumbai hoping to complete a large portion of the film quickly.

Director Vijay's usual crew has been roped in for the film, including cinematographer Nirav Shah and music director GV Prakash Kumar.

Asian Voice - Saturday 8th December 2012

Attired in more than 2 piece, Nayanthara is currently shooting for ‘Love Story’ with Nagarjuna. The hot news coming out from the film unit is that Nayan will be appearing in a 2 piece bikini.

Nayan fans may well remember that the last time she ‘bikinied’, they all went razy and catapulted her to the top of the populairty charts. This was in Ajith’s Billa in 2007.Nayan fans don’t have to wait for long, to know if this happens again, since “Love Story,” produced by D Siva Prasad Reddy is slated for a 2013 release.

Like Aamir, Arjun Rampal too experiments with his looks While most of the established actors think twice before changing their looks, there are some who constantly work towards experimenting with their looks. The two actors that have never failed to surprise us with their looks are Aamir Khan and Arjun Rampal. Aamir acquired six-pack in “Ghajini” and immediately lost the abs to play a student in “3 Idiots.” Arjun Rampal too has been constantly reviving his looks to suit the character he's playing.

He is seen relentlessly experimenting with his looks to suit the varied roles he plays. Rock In his next film D-Day, Arjun will be seen in yet another different avatar as he plays a raw agent and he dons a stylish stubble to suit the character.

Manisha Koirala To Leave For US For Treatment Actress Manisha Koirala, who was recently admitted to the Jaslok hospital for around three days before being discharged, will reportedly travel to US with her family to seek medical treatment. Though it was earlier reported that Manisha is suffering from cancer, the actress has reportedly chosen to not say anything about what is ailing her. It is also being said that she requested the hospital authorities to maintain confidentiality about whatever she is suffering from.

Koirala had been rushed to the hospital on November 28, after she fell unconsicious. Manisha, who made her acting debut with “Saudagar,” was last seen in Ram Gopal Varma's horror flick “Bhoot Returns,” where she played the role of a mother of two kids.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali bans cell phones from 'Ram Leela' sets Filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali banned cell phones on his sets after snapshots of Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone are leaked out. When he found out that sources from the “Ram Leela” sets were leaking out the working shots of his cast, including Ranveer and Deepika, he was very upset. In a fit of rage, he ordered everyone to quit using their cell phones and other gadgets while they were present at the shoot venue. The filmmaker has erected a huge set at Film City in Mumbai where locations from Gujarat have been recreated. Sources claim that a major portion of the film is being shot there and Bhansali was upset to see some of the important working stills being leaked out to the media. Now, even the actors on the sets are not allowed to use their phones and other gadgets.

Akshay Kumar pays tribute to R D Burman in ‘Khiladi 786’

Nayanthara in a 2 piece bikini again?

Hot Garam masala

‘Midnight’s Children’: Rushdie does an excellent job as narrator

“Midnight’s Children” is a movie based on Salman Rushdie’s Booker Prize-winning novel of the same name directed by Oscarnominated director Deepa Mehta. The Cast consist of Satya Bhabha, Shriya Saran, Siddharth Narayan, Ronit Roy, Shahana Goswami, Seema Biswas, Rahul Bose. The magic-realist narrative revolves around the lives of two children (Saleem Sinai and Shiva) born at the stroke of midnight on August 15, 1947 when India became independent from British rule and are therefore “handcuffed to history”. A nurse at the hospital (Biswas) tries to impress her revolutionary lover by switching the two children at birth in an attempt to “make the poor rich and the rich poor”.

While Saleem grows up in a rich Muslim environment, Shiva is destined to grow up on the streets with his street-singer father.

All the children born in the first hour of Indian independence have different supernatural powers and Saleem and Shiva who

17

are born at midnight are the central characters whose lives and destinies become inseparably intertwined with that of India. Given the world-wide popularity of the novel and the various plaudits received, it comes as no surprise that Rushdie could trust no one but himself with the mammoth task of adapting the 600-page novel to a two-hour screenplay.

Unfortunately, therein lies the movie’s greatest flaw.

Rushdie’s first outing as a screenplay writer does not quite hit off on the right note. The screenplay lacks fluidity and depth and feels more like several episodes from the novel strung together in an attempt to show the viewer the basic plot. As a result, one does not engage with the characters enough to feel for them or their destinies. While his screenplay-writing skill may be in question, Rushdie does an excellent job as the narrator of the movie with his witty tone and affable voice that loosely holds together an otherwise episodic narrative.

Rekha to play Sharman's Granny Sharman Joshi, who was last seen in Vidhu Vinod Chopra's film 'Ferrari Ki Sawari', is gearing up for his next project, which also features Bollywood diva Rekha. The actress will play Sharman's grandmother in the movie.

The film, produced and directed by Indra Kumar, is slated to go on the floors in early January. It will be shot in Mumbai and Dubai. The story has a social drama laced with comic elements. The actor plays a USreturned guy, who is extremely fond of his naani (Rekha). He stands up for her when she is ill-treated by the family.

Randhir Kapoor plays Sharman's grandfather." We hear Sharman is quite excited about the prospect of working with two veterans - Rekha and Randhir.

"I'm looking forward to working with her,” Sharman said.

A candid Rani Mukerji has confessed she has a soft corner for all three Khans of Bollywood - Salman, Shah Rukh and Aamir - with whom she worked at an impressionable age.

"I have a soft corner for Salman, Shah Rukh and Aamir because at an impressionable age, I worked with them. I was 17-18. At that age, you look up to some people and that always remains irrespective of whatever happens," the actress said in an interview.

"Your comfort level with them is such that you can't compare it with any other costar. The kind of love and support they showed towards me when I was a newcomer will stay with me for life," said the 34-year-old who acted with Shah Rukh Khan in “Kuch Kuch Hota Hai” and “Paheli.” With Salman, she featured in “Chori Chori” and “Baabul.”

She worked with Aamir in “Ghulam” and “Mangal Pandey” and now “Talaash” which was released on Nov 30.

"I always treated myself as a youngster or as a learner in front of two people - Aamir and Shah Rukh - as I started my career with them. So I do look up to them in a different way. I may not be shy in front of them any more, but I learn a lot from them. When they suggest anything to me, it's important for me to take their suggestion," she said.

"I would not want to be a part of any project that I feel would not work. An actor like me always wants to work to get appreciation of the audiences. And appreciation can only come if people will come to watch the film.”

Action hero Akshay Kumar will show his softer side in film “Khiladi 786” with a special tribute to legendary musician R D Burman in the form of the upbeat track ‘Balma.’ R D Burman was considered as one of the seminal music directors of the Indian film industry. ‘Pancham da’ as he was fondly referred to by industry insiders, served as an influence to the next generation of Indian music directors, and his songs continue to be popular in India even after his death.

The song ‘Balma’ in “Khiladi 786” is composed by Himesh Reshammiya and sung by Sreeram and Shreya Ghoshal. Cinemagoers will notice the iconic R.D. Burman not just in the video but also in the composition. As well as the poignant elements of the song, Akshay is also seen in the video with uber-hot Polish-German model Claudia Ciesla and South Indian beauty Asin, who he has reunited with after their last big screen outing in “Housefull 2.”

“Khiladi 786” marks Akshay’s return to the Khiladi franchise after 12 years. The all-action, stunt-laden film is produced by Akshay’s production company Hari Om Entertainment and Himesh Reshammiya’s company HR Musik. In the film Akshay teams with previous co-star Asin (Ghajini, Ready, Housefull 2) in this masala action-comedy film. Himesh Reshammiya, who has co-written the film’s script with Kushal Bakshi and Bunty Rathore as well as penning the musical score, also makes a special appearance in the film. Khiladi 786 is directed by debutant Ashish R Mohan who previously assisted Rohit Shetty with hits Golmaal, Golmaal Returns, All the Best: Fun Begins and Golmaal 3. “Khiladi 786” releases on 7th December 2012.

Bollywood actress Asin says it is unfair to call anyone, let alone a heroine, a prop in a male-oriented film. She says whatever the role may be, a heroine plays a part only she can essay in a movie. "I don't think anybody is a prop (in a film). You need a female protagonist and only she can do the role. So it is not fair to call anybody a prop," Asin said.

After making her mark in the southern film industry, Asin made her Bollywood debut with "Ghajini" in 2008.

Since then, she has been a part of many successful films like "Ready", "Bol Bachchan" and "Housefull 2". "I think I am satisfied with the roles which I have got. They have become hit also. It is not easy to come from south to the north. Both audiences want different (types of) heroines. So it is not an easy task. Otherwise, everyone would be doing it," she said.

Even if any of her films don't manage to do too well, Asin knows how to take it in her stride. "Only two of my films have had an ensemble cast. I am proud and happy that I did those films as I formed many professional relationships with many stars. I am sure that there are better films ahead," she added.

Mostly all her Hindi films have generated success at the box office. But she laughs it off and says her presence in a movie doesn't guarantee moolah.

Zeenat Aman returning Vidya Balan opts for a homely wedding to films next year Yesteryear actress Zeenat Aman says she has a few scripts in hand and she might return to the big screen next year. The 61year-old Bollywood beauty, who has starred in blockbusters like "Hare Rama Hare Krishna" and "Yaadon Ki Baraat", said she is waiting to return to movies. “There are a couple of scripts on hand and hopefully in 2013 I will have a few releases. I am waiting," said Zeenat on the sidelines of the India Resort Fashion Week. Zeenat says her personal style statement is to be comfortable. "My personal style statement is to be comfortable because if you are comfortable you are confident. You can be anywhere at any time. If you are uncomfortable you are always adjusting."

Vidya Balan will marry Siddharth Roy Kapur at a small, traditional ceremony on December 14 in the presence of family and only the closest friends.

The one-day affair will take place, not at any five-star destination, but at the sprawling Cuffe Parade apartment in Jolly Maker Towers, which belongs to SRK’s parents. For the uninitiated, SRK is Vidya's affectionate moniker for the UTV honcho. Like everything she does, there is a little story behind the wedding date as well. And this was revealed by one of Vidya's closest friends. "Vidya's sister Priya also got married on December 14. The closeknit family considers this date to be extremely auspicious," said the friend, adding, "From next year, this date will bring twice the happiness for the Balan family.

18

Asian Voice - Saturday 8th December 2012

London offers huge opportunity, Boris Johnson tells Indian firms

Dear Financial Voice Reader, I get about a hundred financial reports a week from various banks. The key is to distill the relevant and important from the detail and unimpactful. For me clarity is not a problem and here a dose of it for those who are confused.

As I asked President Clinton recently, and was reassured, the Fiscal Cliff in the US, which is where without US White House and US Congress agreement there will be sharp rises in taxes and cuts in spending leading to a likely recession, will be a problem that is avoided.

This tells me that American stocks will in the New Year rise because there prices have been depressed compared to the profits they are making. So I like US stocks.

When I look at specifics like Apple, I can with analysis work out it is 50% undervalued. That is, I expect to double my money over the coming couple of years with it. This is because it the waiting lists every time I enquire are huge. Yes, you can all make arguments about Samsung and Kindles – but the company is cheap.

What of the UK? We will avoid a triple recession and probably grow 1%. Not great, but not bad either. And if America is strong, UK stocks will be strong.

Europe – urgh. I don’t like those stocks on the whole. India? I expect the Rupee to appreciate from its 10 year low to the pound. Even if I am wrong and it gets worse first and goes to Rs100, it will go to Rs 75 again in the next year or so.

I only like Chinese stocks that are listed in America.

But even better would rather take a bet on America than a bet on any other part of the world.

The whole point of monetary easing is to make stocks and property more enticing. So when I get an excited Goldman Sachs broker telling me how the bank is putting money behind a new US property fund investing with Buffett on depressed US property – I see that it’s all coming to plan.

Indians in the US who used to buy foreclosed properties, are about to get rich again. Will the UK follow.

Not quite. I was at a property seminar in Leicester and we may get some rises, but really need more quality stock coming onto the market. Besides, I think the British are rediscovering living with parents and extended family, and enjoying it – the company, the workload sharing. Throw in a cleaner, ironing person, and you have a pretty good set up for many.

So overall I’m pretty optimistic for 2013. Oh, and gold – all the bets are saying Dollar will fall in value and so gold prices rise. Good for the Indians at least – unless you plan on marrying in 2013!

India's manufacturing output at five-month high in November

India's manufacturing sector beat the expectations of economists to grow at its fastest pace in five months in November, boosted by strong export orders and a surge in output, a business survey showed on Monday.

The HSBC manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI), which gauges the business activity of India's factories but not its utilities, rose to 53.7 in November from 52.9 in October.

Readings above 50 denote growth, and economists had forecast a rise to 53.1 in November.

Although India's factory activity has now expanded for over three-and-a-half years, it is a long way from the robust growth seen before the onset of the financial crisis in 2007.

Asia's third-largest economy grew 5.3 per cent from a year earlier in the quarter to September, provisional government data showed last week, extending its long slowdown. It is now headed for its weakest full year growth in a decade.

"The manufacturing

sector gained momentum thanks to a strong pick up in new orders, which lifted output growth," said Leif Eskesen, economist at HSBC. The new export orders sub-index rose to a sixmonth high of 55.9 in November, giving thrust to overall orders and factory output, both of which expanded at their fastest pace since July.

While there is strong overseas demand for Indian goods, a looming fiscal crisis in the United States could put the brakes on exports if lawmakers fail to agree a fix, as happened between July and October 2011, when the US last hit a legal debt ceiling.

The survey also showed both input and output prices rose sharply in November, after rising at a slower pace in October.

That could put renewed pressure on India's headline inflation rate which at 7.5 per cent in October, is well above the Reserve Bank of India's commonly perceived comfort zone around 5 per cent.

Two of India’s fastest growing financial services companies, Axis Bank and Indiabulls Financial Services will be setting up offices in London soon. The news came as the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, visited the Bombay Stock Exchange, where he invited Indian businesses to come to London and capitalise on the huge opportunities it offers to growing companies.

The banks' arrival in London follows the lead of other major Indian firms, including Union Bank, Punjab National Bank and ICICI Bank. Already home to more than 300 international banks, London is the perfect destination for Indian financial firms. For ambitious Indian companies, the London Stock Exchange is another huge draw, with 73 Indian companies currently listed in the world's premier financial market, more than on any other exchange outside India. This gives them access to innovative and cost-effective borrowing solutions to grow and

Boris Johnson at Amity University, south of Delhi.

compete. Those already listed in London raised almost $3 billion in 2010 and 2011 compared with $53 million on the NASDAQ and NYSE combined in the same period.

As part of his five-day trip to India to encourage investment in the capital, the Mayor urged Indian government to cut the red tape that severely restricts both its private and state owned companies from listing on overseas stock exchanges like that of London. In the case of state owned companies it makes them more dependent on state resources which could be directed

into other government programmes such as regeneration and infrastructure improvements at home. If more companies list on the London exchange the cost of capital in the market reduces helping to generate growth in both countries’ economies.

Johnson said: “Our city offers enormous opportunity for Indian companies to prosper and it's great to see two more top Indian names setting up shop in London. I believe the time is ripe for India to deregulate and free up its successful public and private sector com-

panies so they too can benefit from London's financial capacity and expertise.

The Mayor met with senior business figures at the Stock Exchange to discuss trade with London and launched the Bombay Stock Exchange Low Carbon Index. The BSE Carbonex, one of the first of its kind amongst the emerging economies, is an excellent example of UKIndia collaboration. It builds on lessons learned from the UK experience with an approach suited to the Indian context. It should also help to accelerate corporate reporting on emissions and climate strategies, within the context of India’s commitment to low carbon growth. The launch demonstrates how sharing expertise can benefit both our economies.

Axis Bank will open its London office, the first subsidiary outside of Asia, early next year. Founded in 1994 it has emerged as one of India’s leading banks providing wholesale and retail banking services across India.

JLR drives in new Range Rover in India Tata Motors-owned Jaguar Land Rover launched its all new version of sports utility vehicle Range Rover with price starting from Rs 17.2 million (ex-showroom Delhi).

The company, which is looking to strengthen its presence in the Indian market also said it would look at launching smaller luxury SUVs to compete with the likes of BMW's X1 and Audi's Q3. "The new Range Rover is one of the most iconic vehicles from the JLR portfolio.

The global reveal of the vehicle took place in September this year. As India is our priority market, now we are introducing the model here," Global Range Rover Brand

Manager Scott Dicken told reporters.

Depending on specifications and variants, the price of the new Range Rover can up to Rs 19 million. The vehicle will be available in both petrol and diesel options. While the petrol version will be powered by a 5 litre V8 engine, the diesel one will have a 4.4 litre V8 engine.

Commenting on the company's plans for India, JLR India Vice-President Rohit Suri said: "We are looking at smaller categories of vehicles and products are at initial planning stages."

He said the segment, where BMW, Audi and Mercedes are significant players, is where prices start from Rs 2500,000

and above. "It is a very important and dominant segment and we are considering entering that segment," Suri said but declined to comment on any details. Dicken said: "When the industry is gradually downsizing in terms of vehicle's powertrain and other specification, we cannot avoid it and we are looking at all options."

When asked about possibility of assembling more models in India to have price advantage, Suri said: "We are looking at more models to be assembled in India. We are conducting a study to find which model will make a business sense for us but nothing has been decided yet." Suri further

said Evoque is also one of the models being considered for assembly in India.

At present, JLR assembles only the Freelander in India at Tata Motors' Pimpri plant. Dicken said in the last 12 months, JLR has sold over a lakh units of the Evoque globally. He further said the Indian market continues to be a strategic one for the company although JLR has recently announced a JV in China with Chery Automobile Co with plans to invest 10.9 billion RMB. Suri said JLR would expand its dealership network to 25 by the end of 2013-14 from the current 15 with a focus on tier II cities like Chandigarh and Bhubaneswar.

Osborne to give his views on the outlook of economy

Chancellor George Osborne delivers his autumn statement against the backdrop of an economy still struggling to recover from the longest and deepest recession in generations. The statement is one of two major statements the Treasury has to give to parliament every year, and has grown in importance during the recent difficult economic times. Mr Osborne will give his views on the outlook for the UK economy, the state of the public finances and what that means for the government's spending plans and programme of austerity measures. So what can we expect?

Slower growth: It is almost certain to down-

grade its forecasts for economic growth. In the Budget in March, the OBR forecast 0.8% growth this year, 2% next year and 3% growth by 2015.

The failure of the economy to recover means that forecast looks extremely optimistic.

Missing targets: The news will have significant implications for the government's plans to cut the budget deficit, the gap between what it receives in tax revenue and what it spends. In other words the amount it is in the red every year.

Eliminating what is termed the structural current deficit over the next five years.

The deficit is reduced by bringing in more tax rev-

enue and/or cutting spending. So as the economy grows and the government receives more tax revenue from expanding businesses and has to pay less out in benefits, the overall deficit will fall. The structural deficit is the bit of the deficit which is left when the economy recovers.

Ensure that total government debt, as a proportion of economic output (GDP), starts to fall by 2015-2016. The first rule doesn't involve a specific date. The government has pledged to bring down the structural deficit at the end of a rolling five-year period.

Because of this, the government added the second rule, with a specific timetable, to try to stop it being accused of kicking

the problem down the road.

If the growth figures from the OBR are as bad as many expect, the chancellor could miss his targets. On Sunday, Mr Osborne himself admitted that cutting the deficit is "taking longer" than planned.

Duty increases on cigarettes, alcohol, again normally reserved for the main Budget in the spring.

The result is that if the chancellor wants to meet his targets he will need to impose more spending cuts or tax increases, on top of the austerity measures already announced.

Most observers believe the chancellor will announce an extension to the current austerity programme for another year.

FINANCIAL VOICE

Asian Voice - Saturday 8thDecember 2012

19

Horses For Courses

Suresh Vagjiani Sow & Reap A Property Investment Company

As a firm we are concentrating on "Joint Ventures" more now, than sourcing properties. This decision has come about purely driven by profits, for both the clients and us.

Very simply the higher up you go in the price of the property the less people there are to purchase them. It's like a pyramid, at the base there are more buyers. Typically this would be in the range of £300k to £500k, so at this level it’s difficult to get a bargain in the Central London property market; even in auctions where one would expect to find bargains, finding one at these levels has become a rarity.

The main reason is decades ago the owner-occupier would not purchase at auctions. Auction houses were the place for professional property traders and investors. Now the line between investors and owneroccupiers has blurred. At times when you look at the prices some properties have been sold for in auctions they are even higher than what agents are able to achieve in the locality. When this happens you know this was not an investment purchase but an emotional one, thereby indicating this is an end use purchase.

H owe ve r th e basic principle is the higher yo u go in property value there are less peo ple to purchase, an d the amou nt of disc ount s on the properties increase .

So in short, the more money you have to invest the easier it is to get a deal, though it goes against many novice investors' sentiments - they would like to try a small amount first to test the market. The fact is it's easier to make money with a bigger lump than a smaller one and in Central London the lump needs to be bigger than in other parts in the UK, due the stronger demand in this region your funds will be more secure here. The way we make this happen is by working with people who want to pool their funds together to achieve this common aim, this could be with their friends, colleagues or family members.

Nonetheless, there still exist clients whose only aim is to purchase a property to provide a steady stream of income from day one.

Buying and selling means your gain is bigger but lumpy in nature, therefore you may not earn for six months and then get a lump sum in month seven.

This suits some people, however remember you also you have to fund any mortgage payments and other expenses from your own pocket during the period of refurbishment. Some will find this an added strain on their current cash flow. Another reason for purchasing income producing property could be that they wish to utilise their partner's lack of income, for someone who has zero income purchasing a property in their name means they could have an income of over £10,000 tax free.

If you’re about to retire and require a monthly amount then a property like this would be more suitable. There exist a variety of reasons as to why some clients would prefer to have a steady income from a BTL property despite the greater percentage gain from a lumpier investment.

So buying to hold f or income still make s sense for ce rtain individuals d epend ent on t heir circu mstances. It is important to id entify t he type of property investment wh ich will suit you r situation . Many peo ple have a vagu e ide a t hat they wish to invest in prope rty but oft en have not t hough t abou t exactl y what shape th is should be in. Part o f o ur ro le is to help you to iden tify this.

The Real Deal Cambridge Garden, London, NW6 Purchase Price: £650,000 n n n n n n

n

Off market opportunity Consisting of ground and lower ground premises Long lease of 100 years plus Approx. 2000 sq ft area Resale value after renovation expected to be around £1m This is based on planning granted for back to residential and splitting into two flats Previously was used as a health clinic with residential above

Call us now to find out more!

Last week we agreed a couple of deals for our buy and hold clients.

One was a couple purchasing for long term growth, the income from day one was just an added bonus which will serve them well post retirement.

The second client was much younger, he didn’t need the income but wanted to develop another source of income besides his, whilst doing a job that he doesn’t really like but ended up in because he thought it was a good career and he spent several years in university studying for it!

Regarding the couple, they were concerned about their lack of savings for retirement, they knew they should be doing something about this and had been toying with the idea for a long while. Finally they were prompted into action and signed up to our sourcing service, a couple of weeks later we were able to agree a deal for them. The property is a two bedroom on the Little Venice canal, a very pretty part of London which is more reminiscent of Rome, hence the name Little Venice.

The primary aim is not to purchase an income producing asset, in this scenario the location and condition of the property will ensure it increases in value more strongly than properties in a similar price bracket.

Here we were able to secure the property for £310k from an original asking price of £350k, the reason being the sellers were buying another property and needed quick movement. We were positioned by the agent as strong buyers and therefore the preferred choice for a quick and guaranteed sale buy the vendor. The property was owner occupied for several years, this means the property has been lived in as a home rather than a BTL property being traded on. Often properties which have been used as BTL properties have cheap laminate or thin carpets and have been done up very poorly, as the aim is to spend the least amount of money required for the property to be rentable.

Consequently many of them are in poor condition and will continue to have small niggling problems in the future. This property having been used as a home has meant it has been beautifully maintained and done with quality. The property has a homely feel and requires no refurbishment at all, it is ready to rent straight away and my opinion is it will go very quickly.

With Christmas around the corner it is important to ensure completion does not take place around the holiday period, as this would mean the property will stay vacant and the purchaser is liable for the mortgage. This may suit the seller, but perhaps not the buyer!

The other deal that we agreed is a studio which was a bank probate sale which we secured for £211,000. This property took us about three months to secure, often we have to track bank sales for months.

Sometimes they are put on and off the market during the period of sale, any offers received have to be advertised and require multiple sign offs from the bank's end. Getting an offer agreed means you have to know everything going on with the sale from having a good relationship with the agent to the politics within their own office.

We provide a turnkey solution. Contact us now:

Specialists in Central London Property Sourcing

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

Tips of the Week l When investing in property one needs to take a few things into account: income, growth, rentability & sale-ability, and all these depend upon LOCATION, LOCATION & LOCATION! l Central London property prices are higher than the rest of the country, however they’re always in high demand and price drops are a rare occurrence. So if your intention is to flip a property at a higher price, Central London will help serve this. There is always a strong demand and liquid market.

20

financial voIce

Asian Voice - Saturday 8th December 2012

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

The Art of Reinvention

maria@abplgroup.com

Maria Fernandes

Sponsor licences: Punitive rather than conciliatory

At present there appears to be a flurry of activity on Sponsor Licences with unannounced visits and threats to downgrade or terminate licences. When the scheme began, the emphasis was on helping applicants to obtain licenses.

Numerous employers were granted licences after making online applications even though representatives were advising caution.

Now after concerns about abuse (unbelievably this was not assessed adequately in advance) and the need to cut down on numbers the process has become punitive rather than conciliatory. The process is much more cumbersome, typically taking around 6 months to process, consists of unannounced visits (which unlike the immigration raids carried out by officers do not need a reason

to visit). The officers are quite robust and require instant gratification in terms of what they want to see.

Applicants are advised to keep their documents in a way that suits them yet if they do not demonstrate it in an way which the Officers are used to seeing they are very keen on downgrading applicants and collecting a £1000 fee to create a non existent plan. It certainly is one way of making money for the Government and the evidence suggests that it is a lucrative area.

A pleasant and reasonable officer may make the process bearable but the indications that are coming through in relation to the small businesses in particular is that officers are increasingly bad tempered about any shortcomings and unwilling to give Sponsors a chance to

put things right. Although a requirement for a Sponsor to speak good English is not (yet) part of the requirements, it is usually likely to count against an Applicant. It always surprises me that there is a belief that it you can speak English then you must be thick. At least this is the case at the lower end of the market. Those who bring in funds, such as Investors with a £1 million do not need to meet the English test and the English test for Entrepreneurs has gone down on level following some rule changes.

Maria Fernandes has been in practice exclusively in immigration for the past 25 years. Fernandes Vaz is based at 87 Wembley Hill Road Wembley in Wembley and can be contacted by telephone on 02087330123, by email on info@fernandesvaz.com.

ArcelorMittal, French government reach agreement on steel plant The French government has withdrawn its threat to nationalise a steelworks, saying it secured promises from the owner, ArcelorMittal, to invest and avoid any forced layoffs at the site where the company has idled two blast furnaces. Workers at the plant said the announcement fell well short of what they had hoped from a government that won power in May on promises to combat industrial decline and mass job losses in Europe's secondlargest economy.

Prime Minister JeanMarc Ayrault said ArcelorMittal, under fire for mothballing the site 18 months ago, would invest 180 million euros ($234 million) and had promised there would be no forced layoffs among some 630 workers there. Ayrault said the two furnaces in Florange, a small town of some 11,000 people near the border with Germany, would not be restarted for now, given weak European steel demand.

tions that emissions from the site had caused an environmental "disaster."

Labour leaders from the Florange site responded angrily and vowed to fight on to make sure that what concessions had been wrung out of ArcelorMittal was respected.

"We've been betrayed," said Martin Edouard, a member of the CFDT union at the Florange furnaces, said. "This is unbelievable, if that's what politics is about, what a joke," said Walter Broccoli of the FO union. The European steel industry is struggling with overcapacity at a time of recession in the euro area and cheap competition in emerging markets.

Florange, located in France's former industrial heartland, has become symbolic of the country's long industrial decline and a test case for whether Socialist President Francois Hollande can make good on a vow to reverse a relentless surge in unemployment.

ArcelorMittal would keep them in working order, however, for future use in a test project for environmentally friendly steel production.

"The government decided against the idea of a temporary nationalisation that was floated in recent days," Ayrault told reporters, three hours before a midnight deadline to strike a deal. "It ruled that option out given the commitments secured from ArcelorMittal."

Ayrault said the investment would reinforce coldsteel and packaging operations at Florange and secure jobs in those areas.

ArcelorMittal had pledged its investment in Florange would not come at the expense of other sites in France.

The deal, the result of months of talks, came as the Italian Cabinet was meeting to approve a rescue plan for ILVA, Europe's largest steel plant, which has 20,000 workers and is threatened with closure after accusa-

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In 2012, I wrote about the appointment of Stephen Elop as CEO of Nokia. I wrote, ‘Until the 10th September, every CEO has been a Finnish national, every one of them working their way up the ladder and every time being replaced by someone who vowed to continue to follow the same successful formula which has seen Nokia become the largest manufacturer of mobile phones in the world. Firing a CEO is not the norm at Nokia and if that seemed uncharacteristic, hiring a nonFinn could almost be tantamount to treason.’

The move, while seismic in scale, was necessary. Nokia had fallen far behind its competitors and was in real danger of becoming irrelevant in the market. Elop admitted as much when he joined in his now infamous memo to Nokia staff in which he described the Company’s position as akin to ‘standing on a burning platform...’ and stated that the Company ‘had to change’.

So, two years later have Nokia managed to get off that burning platform?

In my article I wrote

that there are ‘three steps to reinvention – Imagine.

Visualise.

Create.

Kallasvuo knew the changes that needed to be made, he saw that applications and downloads in phones would be in demand, however, he failed to create them. He did not master the art of reinvention.’

Elop came in and the first thing he did was to integrate Nokia phones with Microsoft’s mobile operating system. He introduced the new and improved Lumia range of phones and hoped that this would convince customers that Nokia could indeed be as good as Apple and Samsung. To be fair this was a credible effort and the fact that Nokia is still trading goes indicates that he has had some success. The key reason is that Elop has been able to create his vision, although whether or not he is able to complete the reinvention of Nokia remains to be seen.

But it does put into perspective the achievements of Steve Jobs when he reinvented Apple.

Reinvention is some-

By Amit Patel

thing which everyone has to do. Why? Because despite most people not professing to like change, the fact is they still demand it in the things they buy.

Maintaining ones’ brand, or rather, standing still is not good enough. Just look at Microsoft, the Company who only just released their own tablet a few years after their competitors.

However, the person with the toughest challenge is actually Tim Cook. Because the time will come when people will demand something different to what Apple have been offering. In order to reinvent Apple, he will have to do what his Company asks others to do, he will have to think different.

Amit Patel has over 15 years experience in the field of Personal Development and Human Resource Management. He provides consultancy services on Leadership, People Management and Development. To contact Amit, email amitpatelmail @gmail.com

India’s GDP growth dips to 5.3% in Q2 India's economy grew at an alarmingly slow 5.3% during the July-September quarter, putting the country on track for its worst financial year since the drought and dot com bust of 2002-03.

Growth during the quarter was far lower than the corresponding period a year earlier and also represented a slowdown from the April-June quarter. To attain even a 6% growth for the financial year to March, the economy will have to grow at an average of 6.6% over the next six months, unlikely in the face of poor investment sentiment and low consumer confidence.

"Overall, the growth rate is below our expectations," the finance ministry said in a statement.

Ever since it slumped to a 4% growth in 200203, India's Gross Domestic Product (the value of all goods and services pro-

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Air India starts Delhi-Dhaka flight

duced in the country) has consistently topped the 6% mark, even approaching 10% in 2006-07.

The latest data raised questions about optimistic forecasts put out by global think-tanks which have flagged a turnaround in the economy and sparked a rally on Indian stock markets.

Recently investment bank Goldman Sachs had said that the economy would grow by 6.5% in 2013 and gather pace over the next two years spurred by domestic structural reforms and a possible turnaround in external demand. Credit ratings agency Moody's had said the outlook for India's investment grade credit rating was stable.

But with the latest growth figure, and no prospect of an easing in inflation, months of economic uncertainty may be ahead.

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Air India linked Dhaka with the Indian capital Delhi with a direct daily flight from Monday, fulfilling a long-standing aspiration of the people of the two neighbouring countries, the national carrier said in a statement. Air India will operate Airbus 320 aircraft on this sector.

Air India further said this new route would also expand its transit passenger business, as onwards flights from Delhi will be available. "To those arriving in Delhi from Dhaka, the convenient flight schedule will offer direct onward connections from Delhi to London, Paris and Frankfurt besides direct flights to the US and Gulf."

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financial VOICE

Asian Voice - Saturday 8thDecember 2012

21

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

Democrats and Republicans clash at the cliff Having seen strong gains during the preceding week, a combination of factors has consolidated, and extended the euroâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s strength last week.

Beginning the week, Greece received the third tranche of bailout funds that it so heavily yearned for. News also broke of a Greek bond buy-back scheme, enabling the country to write-off chunks of its debt. Such a movement would alleviate the financial burden the troubled nation carries and as such has provided support for the shared currency.

A completely unexpected development early this week saw Spain request a â&#x201A;Ź39.5bn bank bail-out, to recapitalise its struggling banks. This is not the much hankered for state bailout that is likely to be the next big euro zone saga, however speculators will hope that this is the first step in the drawn out process.

Across the pond investor confidence remains intact. Even throughout the European developments, attention was focused on the US fiscal cliff, and though nothing has been agreed, the

perceived progress on the matter has instilled confidence that congress will be able to avoid plunging the US into recession.

Set to initiate on 1st January 2013, the $607bn of tax cut expiries, tax rises and spending cuts would threaten to extinguish the improving American outlook. Keen to avoid this, congress are locked in debate as to how it can eradicate this threat.

Buoyed by this combative approach, investors are happy chasing returns in slightly riskier currencies, simultaneously causing dollar weakness.

It appears that though discussions are advancing, they are also becoming pricklier, as the disparities between Democrat and Republican stances make themselves apparent.

Obamaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s proposal for higher tax rates was, as expected, rebuffed by Republican leaders, with John Boehner submitting a counteroffer which was substantially focused on slashing the presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s prize achievements thus far, Medicare and social spending.

Despite current belief, these

Weekly Currencies As of Tuesday 4th December 2012 @ 2pm GBP - INR = 88.17 USD - INR = 54.67 EUR - INR = 71.60 GBP - USD = 1.61 GBP - EUR = 1.23 EUR - USD = 1.31 GBP - AED = 5.92 GBP - CAD = 1.60 GBP - NZD = 1.95 GBP - AUD = 1.54

political differences are fierce, and may cause a standoff. The marketâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fickle nature means that a single negative comment from influential members could prompt deviations from the current trend. Investors getting cold feet may cause a mini-exodus from the euro into the dollar.

Despite these disagreements, the widespread consensus remains that the US will find a solution. As such the

0 8 0 8

$ 0 4 5

overall trend may be one of dollar weakness. Once the fiscal cliff is sidestepped, we may see investors reassess the real state of the global economy, which looking forward will be fairly unimpressive.

Recession in Europe, stagnation in the UK and uninspiring growth in America may lead investors to take comfort in the safe havens, prompting dollar strength against its peers in the New Year.

GBP - ZAR = 14.22 GBP - HUF = 347.66

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 areâ&#x20AC;&#x201A;the commercial foreign exchange rates provided by RationalFX. For a live quote or to find out more about how RationalFXâ&#x20AC;&#x201A;can help you, call us on 0207 220 8181.

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Asian Voice - Saturday 8th December 2012

Will take action if India provides evidence against Hafiz Saeed: Hina Rabbani Khar

Islamabad: Pakistan will take action against LeT founder Hafiz Saeed - the mastermind of the Mumbai attacks - if India provides evidence against him that stands in court, foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar said on Saturday.

"Hafiz Saeed was in custody and the evidence against him could not hold in a court of law. We have said even now that we will be happy to look at any evidence against him that holds in a court of law," Khar told a TV news channel.

Asked if Pakistan will act if India provides evidence against Saeed, she replied, "Yes, there will definitely (be action). He was already in custody. The evidence against him was not enough and he was released from custody for this reason."

Saeed, who now heads the Jamaat-ud-Dawah, was placed under house arrest for less than six months after the UN Security Council declared the JuD a front for the LeT in the aftermath of the Mumbai attacks in

Two Pak-American brothers arrested on terrorism charges in US

Hafiz Saeed

November 2008.

He was freed on the orders of the Lahore high court. The LeT founder was subsequently detained for incidents that occurred in Pakistan but let off again.

Though the US offered a 10-million-dollar bounty for him earlier in 2012, Saeed lives openly in Lahore and has organised a series of rallies and gathering at which he has spoken out against the US and India.

During the interview, Khar said that the "environment with India became very bad" after the Mumbai terror attacks.

"We passed through a difficult phase," she acknowledged. However, the Pakistan government had "improved

that environment in a massive way," Khar said.

"We tried to build trust.

We made a policy decision, which no one had made in 40 years, to begin moving on the track of trade normalisation."

Khar noted that the move to normalise trade had been a "very good confidence-building measure."

India and Pakistan had helped each other in securing non-permanent seats in the UN Security Council while Delhi had given a waiver at the WTO to trade concessions granted to Pakistan by the European Union, she said.

Noting that regional groupings were driving economic development around the world, Khar asked: "In this region, should be we only backing fighting, quarrels, divisions and terrorism?"

A beginning could be made if India and Pakistan began to trust each other "a little" because "total trust will take lot of time," she said.

The two sides would have to start by working on "less divisive issues" before taking

Fatima Bhutto rubbishes reports of launching political career

up issues like the Kashmir problem, she added.

"We could not solve it (the Kashmir issue) militarily in 60 years. Hostility and animosity and hatred couldn't solve it. Can't we give peace a real chance and can't we try and create the circumstances, opportunities, atmospherics and environment to try and settle all these issues at the dialogue table?" she asked.

Asked about the possibility of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visiting Pakistan, Khar sought to play down the issue and said Islamabad should not be defensive about making a goodwill gesture such as inviting Singh for a visit.

The Indian side had repeatedly said that Singh was "keen to come" and that it was his "personal desire" to visit Pakistan, she said.

Asked if the visit would take place before the Pakistan People's Party-led government completes its tenure in March, Khar replied: "Let's hope so."

Pak, US officials discuss the regional security

Washington: Two American brothers of Pakistani descent have been arrested in Florida for plotting to provide material support to terrorists and to use a weapon of mass destruction within the US. Arrested in Fort Lauderdale in Florida the two brothers - Raees Alam Qazi, 20, and Sheheryar Alam Qazi, 30 - who are naturalized American citizens from Pakistan were produced before a court, the US authorities said.

The charge of conspiring to provide material support to terrorists carries a maximum potential sentence of 15 years in prison; while that of conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction carries a maximum potential sentence of life in prison.

Islamabad: The granddaughter of former Pakistan premier Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and daughter of the late Murtaza Bhutto has dismissed media reports about her advent into politics for the upcoming elections.

"Tribune story exists only in the galloping imagination of the author. It is obviously, wildly untrue," The Express Tribune quoted Fatima Bhutto, as saying in microblogging website Twitter.

Earlier, the paper had quoted her mother, Ghinwa Bhutto, as saying that Fatima has decided to put long-standing speculations to rest and embark on a political career.

"Pakistan People's PartyShaheed Bhutto (PPP-SB) Chairperson Ghinwa Bhutto announced that Fatima granddaughter of former premier Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and

daughter of the late Murtaza Bhutto - will compete in the upcoming elections from Liaquatpur town of Liaqatpur tehsil in Rahim Yar Khan district of Punjab for the NA-192 seat," the paper had earlier reported.

Fatima, who has published a deeply controversial book on the life and times for her late father, has been a vocal critic of the current government run by her estranged relatives. She has, for years, rubbished the chances of entering politics.

Islamabad: Senior US and Pakistani defence and military officials met in the garrison city of Rawalpindi to discuss the regional security environment and the situation along the PakistanAfghanistan border.

The meeting of the Pakistan-US Defence Consultative Group, held at the ministry of defence, is part of efforts by the two countries to place their relationship on an even keel after a strong of crises, including the unilateral American raid that killed Osama bin Laden and the killing of 24 Pakistani soldiers in a cross-border Nato air strike last year. The two-day meet reviewed defence cooperation between the two countries and progress on decisions made at earlier meetings.

Islamabad: Pakistan and Afghanistan began negotiations on a Strategic Partnership Agreement even as Kabul called on Islamabad to take more steps, including the release of Taliban detainees, to push forward the troubled peace process in the war-torn country.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar presented a draft of the Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) to her Afghan counterpart Zalmai Rassoul during a meeting at the Foreign Office.

Both ministers told a news conference after their talks that they would like the pact to be signed as soon as possible though Rassoul made it clear that such an agreement required "full trust" between the two sides.

"The issue is that you cannot sign a SPA where there is not full trust and confidence between the two countries. I

think you are reaching that grade now," he said in response to a question about conditions set by President Hamid Karzai for the pact.

Rassoul said his discussions with Khar marked the "first step" in paving the way for signing the agreement.

Khar said that both sides had started the journey towards finalising the agreement, which was first suggested by Karzai during a trilateral meeting with the US in September.

Karzai had angered Pakistan in October by demanding that it should stop backing terrorists as a condition for negotiating the SPA. At that time, the Foreign Office had described Karzai's comments as "entirely misplaced and without any basis".

During the news conference, Rassoul acknowledged that a list of Afghan Taliban

detainees whose release has been sought by Kabul had figured in his talks with Khar.

However, he did not give details.

Referring to the release of about a dozen mid-ranking Taliban detainees by Pakistan earlier this month, Rassoul said: "This is a time for continued action. Therefore I hope that we will continue with implementing other concrete measures in a timely manner in pushing the peace process forward as outlined in the peace process roadmap we have shared with the government of Pakistan".

He said that "all those who can help advance the peace process (should) go free" so that the "Afghan government and Taliban can engage".

While Kabul will continue working with all its allies to facilitate reconciliation, the peace process must be led by

the Afghans, Rassoul said.

"The peace process should be Afghan-led and Afghan-owned. If not, there is no peace," he asserted.

Khar reiterated Pakistan's position that it is committed to backing an Afghan-led process.

"There is no doubt that Pakistan is walking the talk of supporting at all costs an Afghan-led, Afghan-driven and Afghan-owned process of peace and reconciliation," she said.

Issues like the release of prisoners, safe passage for those participating in the peace process, facilitation of contacts by Pakistan were "discussed thoroughly", she said.

Elaborating on Pakistan's role, Khar said Islamabad could not "be more than" a facilitator to "whatever future the Afghans choose for themselves".

Fatima Bhutto

Pak, Afghan start talks for Strategic Partnership Agreement

In Focus Afghan girl's throat slit over refusal to wed

Kundaz: Two men have been arrested for slitting the throat of a 15-year-old Afghan girl after her family refused a marriage proposal.

The girl was carrying water from a river to her village home in northern Kunduz province when she was murdered. The two men who attacked were arrested and are in police custody. One of the suspects had proposed marriage to the girl but her family had rejected the offer. Extreme violence against women and girls remains a major problem in the conservative Muslim nation more than a decade.

Bilawal condemns attacks on minorities in Pakistan

Islamabad: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has condemned the attacks on minorities in Pakistan.

Bilawal said the attacks on temples, graveyards, properties and lives of minorities were "attacks on Jinnah's vision of Pakistan", and added that these attacks posed a threat to the country. Bilawal, through his twitter account, appealed to people to rise up and defend Pakistan. "Our forefathers did not give their lives for an intolerant, extremist, sectarian and authoritarian Pakistan," Bilawal tweeted.

Ex-Sri Lankan president says inequality breeds 'terrorism'

Lagos: Sri Lanka's former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga warned that inequality can fuel "terrorism in Nigeria, a country grappling with a deadly Islamist insurgency. "Poverty, socio-political injustices cause frustration and anger among the marginalised groups," said the Sri Lankan leader, who led the south Asian nation from 1994 to 2005. "The continued existence of inequality gives rise to violence.

She urged Nigeria, roughly split between Muslims and Christians and with some 250 ethnic groups, to "celebrate" diversity.

Over 50 killed in Afghan violence

Kabul: More than 50 people, most of them militants, have been killed in Afghanistan.

Fourteen people were killed when Taliban carried out multiple suicide bombings and armed attack against an Afghan-NATO military base located in a local airport in Nangarhar province's Jalalabad city. "Nine anti-government militants, three Afghan security members and two civilians were killed in attack against Jalalabad airport," a local government statement said. Up to 11 Afghan soldiers and three civilians were also wounded in the blasts.

Pak builder razes temple, sparks row

Amritsar: A century-old Hindu temple has been demolished in Karachi sparking off an outcry from Hindu organizations and politicians in Pakistan. Sri Rama Pir Mandir was situated in Soldier Bazaar of Karachi and demolished allegedly at the behest of a real estate builder. Pakistan's former minister for human rights Ansar Burney condemned the demolition of the temple and demanded action against the builder.

Sikh family looted in Pakistan

Islamabad: A Sikh family on a pilgrimage in Pakistan was looted of cash and valuables.

But prompt police action led to the recovery of the money and the arrest of the criminals.

The family of Hardiyal Singh was travelling to Lahore after praying at Nankana Sahib, the birthplace of Guru Nanak, when they were waylaid by a gang. Their taxi was intercepted near the Pipalwala bypass in Punjab province. Its driver confessed to his involvement in the crime.

Top Pakistani Taliban commander hurt in blast

Dera Ismail Khan: A bomb blast wounded a senior Taliban commander and killed four people last week in a market in a northwestern Pakistani region on the Afghan border, police and security officials said. Maulvi Nazir Wazir, also known as Mullah Nazir, was wounded in the attack at the main market of Wana, the capital of the South Waziristan region. It was not immediately clear who was behind the attack or the extent of Nazir's wounds. "The bomber was a boy aged 13 or 14. Five to seven people were wounded, including Mullah Nazir.

World 23

Asian Voice - Saturday 8th December 2012

In Focus

World embraces Palestine; snubs US, Israel

Egypt's Supreme Council of Justice to supervise constitution referendum

Washington: The United States and its ally Israel were isolated and humiliated on world stage last week after the international community overwhelmingly voted to upgrade Palestine to a nonmember observer state in the United Nations.

Canada, Panama, the Czech Republic and four tiny Pacific island states were the only ones in the 193-member UN General Assembly that backed the Washington-Tel Aviv axis in the crushing 9138 defeat, with 41 abstentions. Allies and friends abandoned the United States and Israel in droves, fracturing a facade of western unity that Washington had long engineered.

India voted for the upgrade in keeping with its long-standing support for the Palestinian cause, showing that its strategic ties with the United States

Cairo: Egyptian Supreme Council of Justice has announced that it will delegate its judges and prosecution members to supervise the constitution referendum scheduled on Dec. 15, state-run Nile TV reported. The council's move came one day after the Egyptian Judges' Club agreed on boycotting the supervision on the constitution referendum, protesting the constitutional declaration issued by President Mohamed Morsi last month. During a meeting on Saturday at the Cairo International Conference Center with the 85 members of the beleaguered Constituent Assembly, which approved the draft constitution after a 17-hour marathon vote, Morsi called Egyptians to cast their votes in the coming constitution referendum. Morsi issued on Nov. 22 a new constitutional declaration which rules that all laws, decrees and constitutional declarations issued by the president since he came into office on June 30 are final and unchallengeable by any body.

4 Tibetans set themselves on fire, 3 die Beijing: The number of self-immolation cases by protesting Tibetans has reached a record level of 21 in the month of November with four more people setting themselves on fire. Three of them have died. Overseas human rights groups said the suicidal moves were accompanied by protests by students in a medical college in Qinghai in northwest China indicating that the unrest, which initially begun with monks, is spreading among students. The total number of self-immolation cases in Tibetan speaking areas of Tibet, Sichuan, Gansu and Qinghai provinces has risen to 80.

Blind PIO named to top US agency for the disabled Washington: US President Barack Obama named a visually impaired Indian-American to an independent US agency devoted to easing the hard life for people with disabilities, continuing a half-century old American drive to improve nation-wide access for the physically challenged. The White House notified that Sachin Dev Pavithran, programme director of the Utah Assistive Technology Programme at Utah State Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Center for Persons with Disabilities, will soon become a member of the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board.

Typhoon hits south Philippines, 40 dead or missing Manila: The strongest typhoon to hit the Philippines this year pounded the southern island of Mindanao on Tuesday and about 40 people were dead or missing, media said, after the storm destroyed homes and brought down power and communication lines.

Typhoon Bopha, with wind gusts of up to 195 kph (121 mph), made landfall at dawn, uprooting trees and tearing off roofs. About 40 people were killed or missing in flash floods and landslides near a mining area on Mindanao, ABS-CBN television reported.

Syria says 34 killed in Damascus bombings Beirut: At least 34 people were killed in explosions which struck the eastern Damascus district of Jaramana, state television said, quoting a source at the Interior Ministry. It said 10 bags containing the remains of unidentified victims had also been collected. Eighty-three people were seriously wounded, it said.

Russian kids find lion cub, take it to school Moscow: Children from village in southern Russia got to play with a lion cub. Children in the Rostov region found the 5-month old cub on the steppe and brought it to their teacher, who kept it in the school gym.

While waiting for police, children petted and played with the cub, named Barsik. One boy even tried to ride it like a horse while it mewled and swiped at the air. The cub had escaped from a car on the way to a zoo in Dagestan in the North Caucasus

and intense defence cooperation with Israel will hardly inhibit it from making an independent call.

But the real shock for the US and Israel came from Europe, which, with the exception of the Czech Republic, deserted the duo.

France led the European revolt, and it was joined by Germany, Italy, Spain, Norway, and Denmark as the 27-member European Union put behind its historic sympathy for Jewish state in the face

UN endorses Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Aakash outreach

Washington: India's push to digitally empower millions of its poor students with lowcost, government-subsidized, internet-enabled tablets won UN endorsement despite raging controversy and misgivings on the provenance and pricing of the device.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon personally approved the Indian effort at the UN Headquarters where dozens of envoys from across the world gathered for a peek at the Aakash II device that its makers (British-CanadianIndian company Datawind) and chief patron (Government of India) say will revolutionize education and commerce.

"I know that in Hindi, 'Aakash' means sky," Ban Kimoon said in brief remarks.

"I want to encourage partners around the world to work with the United Nations to help young people reach for the sky and meet their dreams."

India's ambassador to the UN, Hardip Singh Puri, took the opportunity of India's rotational chairing of the UN Presidency to project New Delhi's digital push, with Datawind CEO Suneet Singh Tuli also in attendance. Both men strenuously contested reports in the Indian media that the Aakash II is primari-

ly a Madein-China device with marginal value addition in India. ''It was a very poor attempt at orchestrating a controversy when you realize that this Aakash II was going to be showcased in New York at the UN," Puri claimed, maintaining that the Government of India had floated a global tender that did not stipulate the device had to be manufactured in India.

China's Ambassador to the UN Li Baodong also attended the event and heard Ban Kimoon rave about India being a "superpower on the information superhighway." "India is a critical player on security issues ... but you are also a leader in development and technology ," Ban said. "There is a reason places like Hyderabad are called Cyberabad."

In several interviews on the margins of the event, Datawind CEO Tuli contested reports that his company was merely channeling a Chinamanufactured device into India , saying value-addition and indigenization is a gradual process and only initial expediency had led to the import of devices that were largely kitted in China even though the final assembly and programming was done in India.

of what many see as growing atrocities on the Palestinian people. Such is the change of mood in the international community that even the United States lackeys such as Australia and Singapore abstained, leaving Washington and Tel Aviv isolated.

Philippines, a virtual client state of the US, voted in favour of Palestine.

Thursday's vote falls well short an independent Palestinian nation, the eventual goal of the Palestinian people. As a nonmember observer state, instead of an "entity" or "territory", Palestine will now be on a diplomatic par with the Vatican, the only other nonmember state. It will also be eligible for membership in UN institutions.

Much of the Israeli and US opposition stemmed from the fear that with its upgrad-

ed status, Palestine will now seek to join institutions such as the International Criminal Court in The Hague, a move which will enable it to lobby for war crime charges to be brought against Tel Aviv.

US and Israel reacted angrily to the Palestinian victory, threatening to cut off assistance and access to ragtag state that has its own internal power struggle between the Palestinian Authority that rules the West bank and Hamas that controls Gaza. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, for whom the defeat comes as a parting shock given that she is on her way out, described the vote as "unfortunate and counterproductive... because it places further obstacles in the path to peace". She said only direct negotiations between the two parties could lead to lasting peace.

David Headley, Rana to be sentenced in January

Tahawwur Rana

London: Pakistani American David Coleman Headley, a key plotter in the 2008 Mumbai terror attack, will be sentenced Jan 17, it was reported.

Headley pleaded guilty to checking out targets for the Mumbai attack that left 166 Indians and foreigners dead, a US judge has ruled. He entered a guilty plea on 12 counts in a Chicago court in 2010. The sentencing of co-accused, Tahawwur Rana, who was convicted of aiding Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, has been scheduled for Jan 15.

Headley had initially denied the charges but changed his plea to avoid the death penalty or extradition to India.

Nine of the 10 terrorists from Pakistan who sneaked into Mumbai were also killed while the tenth, Ajmal Amir Kasab, was arrested. He was hanged this month.

In pleading guilty, Headley

David Headley

admitted that he attended training camps in Pakistan operated by Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), a designated foreign terrorist organisation, on five separate occasions between 2002 and 2005.

Prosecutors said in late 2005, Headley received instructions from three members of LeT to travel to India to conduct surveillance.

Son of a Pakistani father and an American mother, he changed his name from Daood Gilani in 2006 to visit India five times to scout targets for the Nov 26 Mumbai attacks.

Headley, prosecutors said, has cooperated with the government since he was arrested Oct 3, 2009, and the plea agreement states that he "has provided substantial assistance to the criminal investigation, and also has provided information of significant intelligence value".

Norway child abuse row: Indian couple convicted Oslo: An Oslo court on Tuesday convicted the Indian couple from Andhra Pradesh who were facing charges of child abuse. The father was sentenced to 18 months and the mother to 15 months in jail by the court after being convicted of burning and hitting their seven-year-old son with belt. The family of the couple said that they would appeal against the conviction in a higher court.

The Norway police on Monday had claimed that the couple from Hyderabad physically abused their sevenyear-old son. Oslo police official Kurt Lir said that the charges against the

Vallabhanenis are from 2007 to March 2012. Lir also added that the child has burn marks and scars on his body.

According to the informa-

tion with the Indian Embassy in Oslo, Chandrashekar Vallabhaneni, software professional, and his wife Anupama were taken into

custody by the police in Oslo last week. The police arrested the TCS employee nine months after the child complained to his school teachers that his parents were threatening to send him back to India for his acts, Chandrasekhar's nephew V Sailender, who is in Hyderabad, claimed.

The boy was found wetting his pants in the school bus which was reported to his father, who in turn "threatened" the child that he would be sent back to India if he repeated that again, Sailender said, adding the boy was also found bringing toys from school.

24

INDIA

Asian Voice - Saturday 8th December 2012

Govt eases visa norms for tourists

The government has eased restrictions on tourist visas which had mandated a two-month gap between consecutive visits by foreign nationals.However, nationals of Afghanistan, China, Iran, Pakistan, Iraq, Sudan, Bangladesh, foreigners of Pakistani and Bangladeshi origin and "stateless persons" will continue to come under the 60-day gap rule. The move is likely to breathe fresh life into the tourism industry and comes just ahead of the peak tourist season. India's share of international tourist arrivals in 2011 was a mere 0.64%.

The tourist visa restriction, which was relaxed was introduced in November 2009 in the aftermath of the Mumbai terror attacks when it was found that PakistaniAmerican David Coleman Headley had succeeded in breaching security norms to visit India several times

over a period of 3-4 years.

A decision to review the visa restrictions was taken by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) in January 2012 after concerns were raised by the tourism ministry that the negative perception following the move had affected flow of tourists to India.

The PMO had asked the ministries of home and external affairs to review the restrictions, including the possibility of bringing in more countries under the visa-on-arrival scheme and improving conditions at major airports.

The order dated November 23 issued by the ministry of home affairs said, "The provision

relating to the two-month gap between two visits of a foreign national to India on a tourist visa has been reviewed by the government. It has now been decided... to lift the restriction of two-month gap on re-entry of foreign nationals coming to India.''

According to latest data, foreign tourist arrivals this year till October showed a marginal increase of 6.2% compared to last year. Tourist arrivals till October were 52.19 lakh.

Foreign exchange earnings from January 2012 to October 2012 were Rs 74,215 crore with a growth of 22.1% over last year when earnings were Rs 60,780 crore. Industry watchers are hoping that lifting of the 60-day restriction will encourage foreign tourists to visit India and use it as a hub while visiting southeast Asia and neighbouring countries.

Kejriwal launches party in Maharashtra, seeks irrigation 'scam' probe Arvind Kejriwal launched his Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) Maharashtra unit with a rally from Mumbai to Roha in Raigad district.

Kejriwal also released a "black paper on irrigation" to counter the white paper released by the government, which gave a clean chit to Nationalist Congress Party leader and former Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar in allegations of irregularities worth `20,000 crore in irrigation projects in the state.

Pawar was also irrigation minister during 1999-2009.

The rally is being held in Roha, the hometown and stronghold of current Irrigation Minister Sunil Tatkare, who is also allegedly involved in financial irregularities in irrigation projects.

The "black paper" claimed that the cost per hectare for bringing land under irrigation in Maharashtra is the highest in the country and probably in the world.

"The gross irrigated area has increased by a mere 8.9 percent in spite of an annual expenditure of `7,000 crore, amounting to a staggering `70,000 crore.

That means expenditure of `21.67 lakh per hectare, which is in gross violation as the limit mandated by

the Central Water Commission of `1.5 lakh to `2.5 lakh per hectare," said Kejriwal's "black paper".

It claims to expose the modus operandi of irregularities in land irrigation and the politician-bureaucrat-contractor nexus.

Kejriwal also said that the white paper was a complete eyewash and was meant only to absolve the guilty. He also alleged that every political party was in collusion in looting the nation.

The "black paper" demanded immediate resignation of Tatkare and that a Special Investigation Team be set up to investigate the irregularities.

It also demanded that all dam projects in the state where there have been "violations" and where rehabilitation and resettlement has not been completed be

halted immediately.

The rally had left Mumbai Sunday afternoon with a huge number of vehicles including buses and cars.

Thousands gathered to support Kejriwal in Mumbai and in Roha. He was accompanied by Prashant Bhushan, Mayank Gandhi, Anjali Damania, Dharam Rajya Paksh leader Rajan Raje and other activists.

With an aim to set the agenda for AAP in Maharashtra, the rally took on issues that are plaguing farmers, tribals, fishermen, labourers and the poor.

"Issues faced by farmers are important and should be dealt with. Country's biggest irrigation scam has taken place here (in Maharashtra).

Farmers are being deprived of their lands, and now water," Kejriwal said.

He said AAP's first rally in the state was to address farmers' issues and that they should stand up for their rights.

"Unless all political parties are thrown out, farmers' demands will not be met unless a common man's party acts in the matter. Farmers will not be given their rights unless they are a part of the system," he said.

Gujral cremated with full state honours Former Prime Minister I K Gujral, who headed a rickety coalition government in the late 1990s, died on Friday after a brief illness.

Gujral, 92, breathed his last at 3.27pm in a private hospital after a multiorgan failure. He was admitted to the hospital on November 19 with a lung infection. The former Prime Minister, who was ventilator support, had been unwell for sometime.

He was on dialysis for over a year and suffered a serious chest infection some days ago. Gujral, who migrated from Pakistan after partition, rose to become the Prime Minister with a big slice of luck after he came up through the ranks - starting as vice-president in NDMC in the '50s to later become a Union minister and then India's ambassador to the USSR.

In divine light

By Rajen Vakil

The Symbology of the Story of Creation Yudhishthira tells rishi Markandeya, “You have seen the birth and death of the Universe.” Within all of us is something divine.

This is our presence. In everything we do, we are in a state of hypnosis and so our presence is not there. After years of practice, we learn to hold our presence in all of life’s activities. This presence is divine and is never born nor dies, and that is why it is free of time. This presence which is in all of us is symbolised by the rishi having witnessed Creation.

Markandeya finds himself swimming in a great ocean. The ocean represents our emotions. It is these emotions which hypnotise or make us identify to the events of life. The raw material for emotions is affection. In Gujarati, we call affection ‘lagni’, or that which attaches or sticks.

Yes, our affection sticks to the objects and people we like or dislike. From this arises possessiveness, which leads to expectations from those we love, and when these expectations are not met, we become angry and react.

Markandeya swimming across the ocean is symbolic of his freeing himself

from this cycle of emotions that we cling to. When we are able to cross the ocean or transform the emotional energy from affection that sticks to a higher emotion, we are able to see and perceive free of all prejudices. That is, our vision opens up and we can see the truth of life.

This is depicted by Markandeya seeing the young child sitting on the tree as soon as he crosses the ocean. The young child is none other than Lord Vishnu, who is sitting in all of us. We cannot see Him because our vision is clouded by the attachments of life. Yoga aims to awaken this young child lying dormant in all of us.

Within the young child’s belly, Markandeya is able to see the whole Universe again.

When Shankaracharya attained that high level of consciousness and awakening called moksha, he uttered the words “Aham Brahmasmi” I am the Universe. This ultimate experience is so overpowering that at that moment, the yogi feels he is the cause of this whole Universe.

At our bellies, in what yoga calls the Manipur chakra, lies our whole experiential history. Not only of life on earth as human beings, but the experiential history of all the emotions we possess.

On reaching an inner state where we are like a young child, this whole centre opens up. We are then able to see and understand how all the emotions that are now in man have passed through so many stages of evolution, from plant to animal to man.

This whole inner awakening is depicted in the story of Markandaya.

Next week, we will take a look at a new story.

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

Anna Hazare to campaign only for Kejriwal's party Social activist Anna Hazare said he will campaign only for candidates put up by Arvind Kejriwal and ruled out the possibility of supporting people from other parties.

"I will campaign only for Kejriwal's candidates," Hazare told reporters.

"There may be good people in other parties but who has the control?"Criticizing other political parties for indulgingin politics in the name of caste and communities, the 75-year-old activist also accused them of practicing unfair means to collect donations.

He said other political parties collected huge donations from vested interests and corporates but break them into amounts less than Rs.20,000 to hide the identities of the donors.

He also accused political parties of being controlled by individuals.

"I know Kejriwal. He has not done anything for himself. He is doing everything for the country," Hazare said, reiterating that he will however examine the candidates and back them only the deserving ones.

"I will check them. If they are found to be good, if they are proper candidates, I will campaign for

those candidates," he said.

The India Against Corruption founder is on a three-day Odisha visit. He addressed students, farmers and others.We don't need foreign companies, they are plundering our money, says Anna Hazare India can create adequate employment opportunities for its people and there is no need to invite foreign companies, social activist Anna Hazare said in Odisha Referring to South Korean steel major Posco, which is setting up a 12 million tonnes per annum mega steel plant in the state, 75-year-old Hazare said: "Not only Posco, there should be a brake on all foreign companies."

"They are taking away our land, water, and polluting our air. They are plundering our money and taking it away," Hazare said while addressing a farmers' meeting at the coastal town of Jagatsinghpur, 100

km from here, where the Posco project is being planned.

Hazare also criticised Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for saying that foreign companies would provide employment in the country.

Citing an example of job opportunities created in his own village, the septuagenarian activist said he would launch a massive agitation to protect the interest of farmers.

Accusing the government of not providing right prices to farmers for their products, Hazare questioned why farmers should not be allowed to quote their own prices when private companies are fixing high prices of their products.

The India Against Corruption founder is on a three-day Odisha visit since Thursday. He would be addressing students, farmers and a cross-section of people.

Gujarat assembly Polls 2012

Asian Voice - Saturday 8th December 2012

No. Constituency 1. Abdasa 2. Mandvi 3. Bhuj 4. Anjar 5. Gandhidham(Sc) 6. Rapar 7. Vav 8. Tharad 9. Dhanera 10. Danta(SC) 11. Vadgam (SC) 12. Palanpur 13. Deesa 14. Deodar 15. Kankrej 16. Radhanpur 17. Chanasma 18 Patan 19. Sidhpur 20. Kheralu 21. Unjha 22. Visnagar 23. Becharaji 24. Kadi(SC) 25. Mehsana 26. Vijapur 27. Himmatnagar 28. Idar(SC) 29. Khedbrahma(ST) 30. Bhiloda(ST) 31. Modasa 32. Bayad 33. Prantij 34. Dehgam 35. Gandhinagar(S) 36. Gandhinagar(N) 37. Mansa 38. Kalol 39. Viramgam 40. Sanand 41. Ghatlodia 42. Vejalpur 43. Vatva 44. Ellisbridge 45. Naranpura 46. Nikol 47. Naroda 48. Thakkarbapa Nagar 49. Bapunagar 50. Amraiwadi 51. Dariapur 52. Jamalpur-Khadia 53. Maninagar 54. Danilimada(SC) 55. Sabarmati 56. Asarwa(SC) 57. Daskroi 58. Dholka 59. Dhandhuka 60. Dasada(SC) 61. Limbdi 62. Wadhvan 63. Chotila 64. Dhangadhra 65. Morbi 66. Tankara 67. Wankaner 68. Rajkot-East 69. Rajkot-West 70. Rajkot-South 71. Rajkot-Rural(Sc) 72. Jasdan 73. Gondal 74. Jetpur 75. Dhoraji 76. Kalavad(SC) 77. Jamnagar(Rural) 78. Jamnagar(N) 79. Jamnagar(S) 80. Jamjodhpur 81. Khambaliya 82. Dwarka 83. Porbandar 84. Kutiyana 85. Malavadar 86. Junagadh 87. Visavadar 88. Keshod 89. Mangrol 90. Somnath 91. Talala 92. Kodinar(SC) 93. Una 94. Dhari 95. Amreli 96. Lathi 97. Savarkundla 98. Rajula

BJP Jayanti Bhanushali Tarachand Chheda Dr. Neema Acharya Vasan Ahir Ramesh Maheshwari Vaghaji Patel Shankar Chaudhary Parbat Patel Vasant Purohit Gamaji Kharadi Fakir Vaghela Govind Prajapati Liladhar Vaghela Keshaji Chauhan Kiritsinh Vaghela Nagarji Thakor Dilipsinh Thakor Ranchhod Rabari Jaynarayan Vyas Bharatsinh Dabhi Naran Patel Rushikesh Patel Rajanibhai Patel Hitu N Konodiya Nitin Patel Kantilal Patel Praful Patel Ramanlal Vora Bhoja Makwana Nilaben Modaya Dilipsinh Parmar Undesinh Zala Jaysinh Chauhan Rohitji Thakor Shambhujii Thakor Ashok Patel D.D. Patel Dr. Atul Patel Pragjibhai Patel * Kamabhai Rathod* Anandiben Patel Kishore Chauhan Pradipsinh Jadeja Rakesh Shah Amit A. Shah Jagdish Panchal Dr. Nirmala Vadhvani Vallabh Kakadia Jagrupsinh Rajput Hasmukh Patel Bharat Barot Bhusan Bhatt Narendra Modi Girish Parmar Arvind Patel R.M. PAtel Babu Jamna Patel Bhupendrasinh M.Chudasma Laljibhai Mer Punambhai Makwana Kiritsinh Rana Varshaben Doshi Samji Chauhan Jayantibhai Kavadiya Kantibhai Amrutiya Mohanbhai Kundariya Jitibhai Somani Kashyapbhai Shukla Vajubhai Vala Govind Patel Bhanuben Babriya Bharatbhai Bodhra Jayrajsinh Jadeja Jasumatiben S. Korat Haribhai Patel Meghajibhai Chavda R.C. Faldu Mulu Bera Vasuben Trivedi Chimanbhai D. Sapariya Punamben Madam Pabubhai Manek Babubhai Bokhiria Karsan Odedara Ratibhai Sureja Mahendra L.Mashru Kanu Bhalana Arvind Ladani Rajesh Chudasma Rajshi Jotva Govind Parmar J.D. Solanki K. C. Rathod Mansukh Bhuva Dilipbhai Sanghani Valji Khokhriya Vallabhbhai Vadhasiya Hirabhai Solanki

Congress Chhabildas N. Patel Kishorsinh R. Parmar Amir Lodhia V K. Himbal Jayshree Chavda Babulal Shah Ashok Chaudhry (NCP) Mavji Patel Joitabhai K.Paetl Kantikhardadi Mani Vaghela Mahesh Patel Rajendra Joshi Gova Rabari Dharsi Khanpura Bhavsinh Rathod Dinesh Thakor Jodhari Thakor Bhalvantsinh Rajput Babuji Thakore Ashaben D. Patel Maganji Master (NCP) Rajendrasinh Darbar Ramesh Chavda Natwarlal Patel PI Patel Raju Chavda Rambhai Solanki Ashsin Kotval Dr.Anil Joshiyara Rajendra Thakore Mahendrasinh Vaghela Mahendrasinh Baraiya Kaminiben Rathore Jugaji Thakore Suresh Patel Amit H. Chaudhary Baldevji Thakore Dr.Teshwiniben Patel Kamsi Koli Ramesh Dudhwala Murtuzakhan Pathan Atul Patel Kamlesh Shah Dr.Jitubhai Patel Narsinh Kanani Bhagwan Bharvad Gita Patel Dhiru Dudhawala Bipin Gadhvi Gyasuddhin Shaikh Samir Khan Sipai Shweta Bhatta Shailesh Parmar Bharat Patel Mangal Surajkar Laxmansinh Thakore Pradhumansinh Chavda Mahendra Shah Manhar Makwana Somabhai Patel Himanshu Vyas Devji Fatepura Jayeshbhai H. Patel Brijesh Merja Maganbhai Vadaviya Mohd.Javed Peerjada Indranil Rajguru Atulbhai Rajani Mitul Donga Lakhabhai Sagthiya Bhola Gohil Chandu Vaghasiya(NCP) Jayesh Raddiya Vitthalbhai Radriya Dr.Dinesh Parmar Raghavji Patel Dharmendrasinh Jadeja Jitendra Lal Hardasbhai Khava Abhabhai Karmur Mulu Kandoria Arjun Modhvadia Kandhal Jadeja (NCP) Jawahar Chavda Bhikhu Joshi Harshad Ribadiya Maganbhai Kotdiya Dr.Chandrika Chudasma Jasha Barad Jashu Barad Mohan Vala Punja Vansh Kokilaben Kakdiya Paresh Dhanani Bavku Udhad Prabhat Dudhat Babubhai Ram

G.P.P. Mahesh Sodha Vijaydan Gandhvi Arun Vachhrajani Mavadi Dedhiya Premkumar Danger Dinesh Vaviya Ashok Bhunthar Ashwin Muli Naveen Goreiya Manu Vyas Ajmal Thakore Velabhai Choudhri Ishwar Desai Mamebhai Choudhri Mohan Patel Vasram Patel Pravin Patel Shivam Patel Maganji Master Kirit Patel Amrut Senma P.M. Patel Bhimsing Chauhan Dhirubhai Amin Chhagan Solanki Jayesh Gamit Anant Patel Prakash Patel Nikhil Patel Amitbhai Amin M.R Patel Amrut Patel Gopalji Thakore NA Dharmendra Patel Chirag Patel Dipak bhai Joshi Vinu Patel Jagruti Pandya Dr.Vasant Patel Pankaj Sonpal Bhupat Sangani Mukesh Pattani Vishnu Patel Bhimraj Dantaniya Brajesh Bhatt Devendra Makwana Bipin Panchal Chandravadan Parmar Rajesh Gajera Rajesh Patel Bharat Desai Suresh Gohil Pravinsinh Solanki Ishwar Patel Hakka Nathia Dhirubhai Dalvadi Manoj Panara Dhirubhai Bhimani Parsottambhai Bavdva Pravinbhai Aambliya Jaydeep Makdiya Rashmibhai Kancha Girishbhai Parmar Devsibhai Tadhani Gordhan Zadfiya Rameshbhai Baldha Jagdish Dhaduk Girdhar Vaghela Pranjivan Kundariya Pravin Nakum Tulsi Sabhaya Pravinbhai Tala Lalji Nakum Jayanti Sonagara Rajesh Pandya Hari Rabari Dr.Dinesh Kachat Laliti Suhagiya Keshubhai Patel Meraman Chudasama Hasmuk Kalathiya Balubhai Vaja Nathu Kamaliya Digant Vadhel Parsottambhai Thunmar Nalin Kotdiya Pragjibhai Hirpara Harjibhai Narola Mahesbhai Sudani Ravjibhai Parmar

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Constituency Mahuva Talaja Gariadhar Palitana Bhavnagr(Rural) Bhavnagar(East) Bhavnagar(West) Gadhda(SC) Botad Khambhat Borsad Anklav Umreth Anand Petlad Sojitra Matar Nadiad Mehmdabad Mahudha Thasra Kapadwanj Balasinor Lunawada Santampur (ST) Shehra Morva Hadaf(ST) Godhara Kalol Halol Fatepura (ST) Jhalod (ST) Limkheda(ST) Dahod (ST) Garbada (ST) Devgadhbaria Savli Vaghodia Chhota Udepur(ST) Jetpurpavi (ST) Sankheda (ST) Dabhoi Vadodara Citu(SC) Sayajigunj Akota Raopura Manjalpur Padra Karjan Nandod(ST) Dediyapad(ST) Jambusar Vagra Jaghdiya(ST) Bharuch Ankleshwar Olpad Mangrol(ST) Mandvi(ST) Kamrej Surat-East Surat-North Varachha Road Karanj Limbayat Udhna Majura Katargam Surat-West Choyashri Bardoli(SC) Mahuva(ST) Vyara (ST) Nizar (ST) Dangs (ST) Jalalpor Navsari Gandevi (ST) Bansda (ST) Dharpur(ST) Valsad Pardi Kaprada(ST) Umargam(ST)

BJP Bhavnaben Makwana Dr.Bhartiben Shiyal Keshu Nakrani Mahendrasinh Sarvaiya Parsottam Solanki Vibhavariben Dave Jitubhai Vaghani Aatmaram Parmar Dr.T.D.Maniya Sanjay Patel Naina Solanki Jaswantsinh Chauhan Govind Parmar Dilip . M Patel Dipak Patel Vipul Patel Devusinh Chauhan Pankaj Desai Sundarsinh Chauhan Khumansinh Sodha Pratikshaben Parmar Kanu Dabhi Rajesh Pathak Kalubhai Malivad Mansing Bhamat Jetha Ahird Valabhai Damor Pravinsinh Chauhan Arvindsinh Chauhan Jaydrathsinh Parmar Ramesh Katara B D Vaghela Jashwantsinh Bhabhor Nagarsinh Palas Mohindraben Rathod Bachu Khabad Upendrasinh Gohil Madhu Srivastav Gullsinh Rathwa Jayanti Rathwa Abhesinh Tadvi Balkrishna Patel Manishaben Valik Jitu Sukhadiua Saurabh Patel Rajesh Trivedi Yogesh Patel Dinu Patel Satish Patel Shabdsharan B. Tadvi Motibhai P. Vasava Chatrasinh Mori Arunsinh A. Rana Narendrabhai Vasava Dushyantbhai Patel Ishwar Patel Mukesh Patel Ganpat Vasava Hemlata Vasava Praful Panseriya Ranjit Gilitvala Ajay Chokshi Kumar Kanani Janak Kachhadiya Sangita Patil Narottam Patel Harsh Sanghvi Nanu Vanani Kishor Vankavala Raju Patel Ishwar Parmar Mohan Dhholiya Pratapbhai Gamit Kantibhai Gamit Vijay Patel R. C. Patel Piyushbhai Desai Mangubhai Patel Naresh Patel Sumitraben Chaudhri Bharat Patel Kanu Desai Prakash Patel Raman Patkar

Congress Raj Mehta Sanjaysinh Sarvaiya Babu Mangukiya Pravin Rathod Shaktisinh Gohil Rajesh Joshi Dr.R.M.Kanani Pravin Maru Kunvarji Bavliya Sandeepsing Chudasma Rajendrasinh Parmar Amitkumar Chavda Jayant Patel (NCP) Niranjan P Patel Niranjan Patel Poonambhai Parmar Sanjay Patel Jitendra S.Patel Gautam Chauhan Natwarsinh Thakore Ramsinh Parmar Shankarsinh Vaghela Mansinh Chauhan Hirabhai Patel Gendalbhai Damor Radhu Bharwad (NCP) Savita Khant C.K. Raulji Rajendrasinh Jadav Rajendrasinh Patel Dita Machhaar Dr.Mitesh Garasiya Punjabhai Baria Vajesinh Panada Chandrika Baria Khumansinh Chauhan Dr. Jayesh Patel Mohansinh Rathwa Sukhram Rathwa Dhiru Bhil Siddharth Patel Jayshree Solanki Kirit Joshi Lalit Patel (NCP) Jayesh Thakkar Chinnam Gandhi Jashpalsinh Padhiyar Akshay Patel Haresh J. Vasava Amarsinh Vasava Kirankumar Makvana Iqbal Patel Babubhai Vasava Surjeetsinh Mangrola Maganbhai Patel Jayesh Patel Tejas Chaudhri Prabhu Vasava Bhagirath Pithvadivala Kadir Pirzada Dinesh Kurchhbudin Dhirubhai Gajera Jaisukh Jalavadiya Suresh Sonavane Dhansukh Rajput Dhanpal Jain Nandlal Pandav Ushaben Patel Satish Patel Nitin Rana Ishwar Vahiya Punabhai Gamit Paresh Vasava Mangal Gavit Ranjit Panchal A.P. Patel Bharti Patel Chhana Chaudhri Ishwar Patel Dharmesh Patel Hemant Desai Jitu Chaudhri Govind Patel

G.P.P. Haresh Mehta Herraj Bareiya Kanu Kalsaria (Sadhavna) Rasik Bhingradiya Keshubhai Bhagat Girdharbhai Makwana Mahavirsinh Harisinh Dhanji Parmar Vinubhai Dalani Chandrakant Patel Kanti Patel Gordhanbhai Kashyap Ashwin Patel Bipin Patel Ghanshyam Parmar Kalpit Patel Rakesh Rao Nalin Barot Dolatsinha Dabhi Ravji Vaghela Pratapsinh Chavda Prakashsinh Chauhan Pradeepsinh Thakore Prabhodhkant Pandya Bharatbhai Dindor Ranjit Bagi Bariya Madhubhai Girwatsinha Solanki Fatesinh Chauhan Ramanbhai Chunilal Satpot Tikubhai Parmar Vestabhai Kamod Chimanbhai Parmar G.K. Parmar Juvansinh Rathwa Bhailal Chauhan Mangalsinha Gohil Shankar Radhawa Amit Rathwa Somabhai Bhil Sukhdev Bariya Bhanubhai Parmar Ramansinha Solanki Haresh Prajapati Shantilal Soni Hasumati Karkar Kamlesh Patel Ajaysinh Atalia Shantilal Tadvi Shantibhai Vasva Kamleshbhai Patel Jaswant Gohil Rakesh Vasava Gijubhai Chauhan Rajnikant Bhuta Shantibhai.Patel Rameshbhai Kathodiya Vimlesh Patel Dalsukh Chovtiya Dipak Kashiram Rana Hemant Gayvara Hirabhai Gangani Dahyabhai Dabhariya Devraj Nimaje Jaysukh Kathriya Dharmeshbhai Batlawala Ghanshyambhai Itadiya Jayesh Patel Rajesh Patel Champaben Onawala Rajnikant Rajvadi Khansinh Chaudhry Vasantbhai Gamit Yogeshbhai Bhoye Chandrakant Rana Thakorbhai Desai Nareshbhai Patel Ravindra Garasiya NA Minesh Patel Kalpesh Patel Meghraj Gataka Ashok Kola

GPP gets to retain cricket bat symbol

Gujarat Parivartan Party (GPP), led by BJP rebel and former chief minister Keshubhai Patel, will contest the upcoming Assembly elections on symbol of cricket bat.

In a major relief to the new entrant in the election fray, the Election Commission (EC) rejected BJP’s complaint for disal-

lowing GPP from using this symbol.

“The ECI has rejected BJP’s complaint against GPP to disallow the party from using the symbol of cricket bat,” additional chief electoral officer Ashok Manek said.

BJP had approached the election watchdog against GPP for “violat-

25

ing” the pre-conditions set by it in allotting the symbol.

Reacting to BJP’s charge, GPP senior vice president Suresh Mehta alleged that the ruling party was “pressurizing” returning officers (ROs) to reject nomination papers of the party candidates.

26

gujarat assembly polls 2012

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi Sunday launched an attack on the Congress, accusing it of having an "anti-Gujarat mindset" and opposing his developmental programmes. Addressing a series of election meetings at Rajpipla, Jambusar and Dhandhuka, Modi said the Congress "for the last 12 years, has done only one thing - to use all sorts of abusive terms from the dictionary for Modi".

"The people of Gujarat will never accept the negative politics of the Congress," he said.

Taking a dig at the infighting in the Congress, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief minister said: "How can those who can-

Narendra Modi

not even win the trust of their workers win the trust of the people of Gujarat?"

The chief minister, who has been described by senior party colleague Sushma Swaraj as "fit" for the top job of prime minister, accused the Congress of opposing his programmes, including the

Swarnim Gujarat celebration and obstructing construction of gates on the Sardar Sarovar Dam. "The Congress has always shown an antiGujarat mindset."

In his tweets as well as in his speeches, Modi said the Congress has failed in Gujarat while it was in power and has also failed as an opposition party.

"This will be the reason for their historic defeat in the election," he said.

Gujarat goes to assembly polls on Dec 13 and 17. The BJP chief minister is largely expected to win, which will make it his third consecutive win.

He tweeted: "Guj is the land of Sardar Patel! No force can overcome or buy

Asian Voice - Saturday 8th December 2012

us. If Congress dreams to do so, they are highly mistaken!

"Six crore Gujaratis are united against injustice of UPA & unanimous for development! We have worked not only for present but also for future!"

Maninagar seat, will lock horns with Congress candidate Shweta Bhatt.

Shweta Bhatt is the wife of suspended IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt, who is best known for alleging that the chief minister had asked the state police to go slow against rioters in the 2002 Gujarat riots. Maninagar is a Modi stronghold and he has held this seat since 2002. In 2007, he defeated the Congress candidate by around 75,000 votes.

bjp promises 5000,000 homes, 3000,000 jobs Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi released BJP's election manifesto promising 50 lakh homes and 30 lakh jobs in the next five years. Leader of the opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley and state BJP leaders Purshottam Rupala and RC Faldu were among those who were present when the manifesto was released. Rattled by the Congress campaign of 'Ghar nu Ghar', which promises 27 lakh homes to the urban poor, the BJP manifesto delivered a counter populist measure.

According to BJP manifesto, if BJP is re-elected, the Modi government will provide cheap housing to 50 lakh urban and rural families. The BJP also used the new term 'neomiddle class' in the manifesto for whom the houses are promised. "Promising is easy. There have been many parties who have

Congress frames 'charges' against Modi govt Revolt-ridden Congress issued a list of charges against chief minister Narendra Modi, blaming his government of complete collapse of the law and order situation in Gujarat.

"In the last five years, the number of people, especially children gone missing, has increased significantly.

Modi government has violated constitutional provisions and failed to protect women, tribals and dalits," said Arjun Modhwadia , state Congress president .

Modhwadia was joined by senior national leaders like B K Hariprasad and Ashok Tanw a r i n re l e a s i n g t h e chargesheet. He alleged that the Gujarat was far behind in human development compared to most other states and was ranked ninth as far as anemia cases were concerned. The GPCC president, however, refused to comment on the rebellion led by Narhari Amin "I don't want to comment over this issue," he said to a volley of questions.

promised homes but we will fulfill our promises", Modi said. The Congress campaign in August had become immensely popular and newspapers had captured even BJP workers queuing up for forms which promised them houses ranging for between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 3 lakh for homeless families in the rural areas.

Also countering Congress's poll promise of health insurance to Gujaratis, the CM said each of the six crore Gujarati will be provided life insurance.

The BJP manifesto especially targeted youth and women amongst whom Modi is especially popular. "Thirty lakh youth will be given employment in the next five years. A youth-led skill development movement will be initiated through Skill Development University.

CM Scholarship Yojana will be implemented", said the manifesto.

In a bid to placate the farmers, the BJP manifesto says that government will pay the interest component of the loans taken by farmers. Other poll promises include power and drinking water to reach every village, eligibility for government jobs to be raised to 30 years and stamp duty relaxation.

Earlier, BJP veteran Lal Krishna Advani hailed Modi for his administrative skills, and described the latter as 'a role model for chief ministers of other states on how to rule, govern and take care of even the poorest'. Addressing a rally in poll-bound Gujarat, Advani cited that Modi's administrative skills had given a prominent spot to the state on the global map."Modi is undertaking great development work in Gujarat. He

is a role model for chief ministers of other states on how to rule, govern and take care of even the poorest," Advani said.

The words of praise for Modi from Advani came just days after Sushma Swaraj openly endorsed him as a potential prime ministerial candidate.

Modi, who is looking at a third consecutive term at the helm in Gujarat, is contesting from Ahmedabad's Maninagar seat. Maninagar is a Modi stronghold and he has held this seat since 2002. In 2007, he defeated the Congress candidate by around 75,000 votes. The Congress has fielded Suspended IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt's wife Shweta Bhatt against Modi from Maninagar this time.

Gujarat will go to the polls in two phases on December 13 and 17. The counting of votes will take place on December 20.

parties slug it out in the virtual world to woo youth

By AV Correspondent The electoral battles are drawn and so are the battle lines in the virtual world. If advertisements on the Facebook and Youtube have drawn the attention of the youth, even the faux pas have drawn the attention and they have gone viral.

In an election year when parties are well aware that the youth comprises a quarter of the 37.8 million registered voters of Gujarat, none want to miss out on this initiative.

Realising the growing dependence on the apparels and the networking sites, parties are concentrating with figures, visuals, and catchy jingles.

Rajika Kacheria of the BJP IT Cell who has been in the party’s IT cell even in the previous elections in 2007, says that this time around the number of online voters are 2.5 million and that is a number one cant ignore. “The youth log

on the social networking sites like the Facebook and that change is seen in this elections,’’ said Kacheria.

She claims in the last 25 days there have been 46,00 new people who have joined the Facebook page of BJP and there are three lakh new people who have liked the page concentrating on the CM. The Congress too has realised the potential in the virtual world and the advertising agency Adosphere which is taking care of the Congress campaign entitled `Join For Change’ too has designed the advertisements in a way that it is packed with figures, catchy tunes and jingles that attract the attention of the youth.

“The jingles have been tuned in a manner which is foot tapping and at the same time is satirical but they are all packed with facts and figures which the youth believe in,’’ said an official of Adosphere. He

said that though all age groups have been clicking on the page but the maximum viewers are between the age group of 25 and 35.

“The views have increased in the last few weeks and we are hopeful that as the dates of the elections draw near there will be more views and hence the agency was created new jingles to keep the youth addicted to these campaigns,’’ said the official.

Kacheria said that since this election was focussed totally on development and being treated as a benchmark for the national elections, so the concentration on new initiatives was more which also included the 3D images of the CM in a recent initiative. “There are people who view the election rallies on Youtube as they are busy and yet want to feel involved and informed so all the rally speeches especially of the CM are uploaded immediately so people can view and hear him,’’ said Kacheria.

Congress promises free laptops, tablets The Congress roped in Sheila Dikshit, its threetime Delhi Chief Minister, as star campaigner for the crucial Gujarat assembly polls and unveiled its manifesto with a series of promises, including free laptops and tablets to students. Releasing the manifesto, Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee chief Arjun Modhwadia slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government for ignoring farmers, minorities, healthcare facilities and small-scale industries during its rule in the state. The Congress promised it would provide free laptops and tablets to students, reduce their fees and grant scholarships to minorities. The party said if voted to power, it will also implement the Sachar Committee report which advocates granting more facilities to Muslims to bring them into the mainstream.

Dikshit, who led the Congress to a record three successive victories in Delhi assembly elections, slammed the Narendra Modi-led government in Gujarat for its "misrule".

"We never make promises which can't be fulfilled. Our manifestos are based on basic requirements of the people and it includes every section of society," she said.

Modhwadia, who read out the manifesto, said the Congress government in Gujarat would provide better irrigation facilities,

Shaktisinh Gohil

construct more dams (both small and medium), provide VAT-free fertilisers to farmers and ensure regular supply of electricity to them.

"They (BJP) made promises which were never fulfilled. Some of their promises figure in every election manifesto," he said, describing the BJP's poll manifesto as a "document full of lies".The Congress manifesto also promises to make diesel, petrol and LPG cheaper, implement the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations, right to education to all, set up fishing harbours and provide insurance coverage to fishermen.It also promises to revive small-scale industries and set up more industries in backward areas where 85 percent employees will be recruited from local population and strictly implement the labour laws.The manifesto promises to provide free life-saving drugs, pure drinking water to all and complete the Narmada dam.

Congress finds no respite from revolts The season of dissidence for Congress appears unending. Adding to the spate of resignations, city Congress president Pankaj Shah and several others resigned en masse from their posts to protest the denial of ticket to Narhari Amin. Along with Shah, 12 corporators, 40 ward presidents and 25 women cell ward presidents also resigned.

"The party earlier promised him (Amin) a ticket. But fell back on its words at the last moment.

This didn't go down well with many city leaders who felt that the entire unit should resign," Shah said. It was a day of high drama with the party leaders promising former mayor Himmatsinh Patel a ticket for his family member from Bapunagar. Later, however, the mandate was given to Dhirubhai Dudhwala.

Members of Chhipa community took to streets and pelted stones on buses in Astodia after their leader and sitting MLA Sabir Khedawala alias Kabliwala was denied the ticket. Congress gave the mandate to a young lawyer

Narhari Amin

Samir Khan, son of a Congressman Wazir Khan.

They have also given a bandh call in Jamalpur on Saturday. Khedawala filed nomination as an independent candidate for the newly formed KhadiaJamalpur seat. Meanwhile, Congress kept the list of candidates for the second phase under close wraps till 5 pm on Friday, the last day of filing nominations.

In Rajkot, city Congress women's cell president Sonal Sapovadia also shifted loyalties to BJP. This was the second setback for Congress in the city after former mayor Ashok Dangar went into the saffron fold on being denied a ticket for Rajkot East seat.

INDIA

Asian Voice - Saturday 8th December 2012

Narendra Modi and Shweta Bhatt in direct contest

Shweta Bhatt

GPP withdraws Pravin Patel from Maninagar, and Jayanta Patel from Naranpura where Congress’ Jitendra Patel will face Amit Shah.

The Gujarat Parivartan Party may have been founded to avenge the humiliation of BJP leaders including former chief minister Keshubhai Patel at the hands of Chief Minister Narendra Modi. But on Monday they decided to avoid direct confrontation with Modi, bowing to the Congress candidate’s appeal to withdraw its candidate to fight “the common enemy”. The withdrawal of the candidate, Pravin Patel, follows aninitial failure to field a strong party candidate in Modi’s ‘fiefdom’.

“We are withdrawing our candidate from Maninagar Assembly constituency in favour of Congress candidate Shweta Bhatt so that there is a direct fight between Modi and Shweta, wife of suspended IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt, in Maninagar.

She will have our complete support,” said Suresh Mehta, senior vice-president of GPP. Patel withdrew his nomination on Monday at 2.15 pm.

The move comes following Shweta Bhatt's personal appeal to GPP to

withdraw its candidate for Maninagar.

“I appeal to all the political parties which oppose BJP to support me in my battle against the Gujarat CM. I appeal to GPP chief Keshubhai Patel to withdraw his candidate,” Shweta said on Sunday.

Apart from Modi and Bhatt, the others contesting from Maninagar include BSP’s Siddharth Kashyap, CPI’s Vinod Brahmabhatt, Bharatiya Janata Dal’s Amarsinh Chavda, Democratic Bharatiya Samaj Party’s Jeevan Parmar, Navin Bharat Nirman Manch’s Dr Dinesh Patel, Samajwadi Party’s Jagdip Merchant and two independent candidates-Paresh Shukla and Pavan Makan.

Meanwhile, GPP’s Jayanta Kumar Patel also withdrew his nomination from Naranpura.

“Considering the popularity of Dr Jitendra Patel in Naranpura, I have decided to withdraw my nomination,” he stated.

Now,it will beCongress’ Dr Jitendra Patel versus BJP’s former minister Amit Shah in Naranpura, a newly formed constituency.

178 CANDIDATES A total of 820 candidates including 178 from Ahmedabad district will contest in the 2nd phase of Gujarat Assembly Election for 95 seats spread across 12 districts - Kutch, Banaskantha, Patan, Mehsana, Sabarkantha, Gandhinagar, Ahmedabad, Anand, Kheda, the Panchamahals, Dahod and Vadodara.

Modi fit to be PM: Sushma Swaraj How significant is BJP leader Sushma Swaraj’s statement that Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi is a fit candidate for the Prime Minister’s post?

The statement is being read, not entirely unfairly, as the first public endorsement of Modi for the top job by someone who herself is considered a contender for the post in the event that the BJP, or rather the NDA that it heads, returns to power. This is perhaps the first time that she has gone even halfways towards ‘endorsing’ Modi’s name, which is significant in itself. On previous occasions, when the subject did come up, she – and other BJP leaders in Delhi – took refuge in non-committal statements such as that there were many contenders within the BJP for the Prime Minister’s post.But when you parse Sushma Swaraj’s statement in Vadodara even just a bit, it doesn’t come across as quite the ringing endorsement of Modi that it is being projected as. Sushma Swaraj’s statement is not without significance, even if it isn’t quite a ringing endorsement of Modi.

The circumstances in

Sushma Swaraj

which Sushma Swaraj gave expression to that sentiment provide the political context in which it ought to be read. For instance, her comment wasn’t an open-hearted endorsement of Modi that she made pro-actively with no prompting – for instance, in her public speech. It was a measured response to a question from newspersons on the sidelines of the Vadodara rally on what she thought of the chatter surrounding Modi’s candidacy as a Prime Minister.

When Sushma Swaraj, a national leader of the BJP who is also the Leader of the Opposition, is in Gujarat on a campaign tour, less than month ahead of the Assembly election in a state that Modi literally owns in a political sense.

27

By Kunjan Deepak Panchal

A glimpse of Sardar’s life A

few days ago, I happened to read the book named “Sardar Saheb: Mari Najare” written by Swami Sacchidanand. It is written in Gujarati and gives us an insight into the life of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, one of the greatest political leaders of India.

The life of Sardar Patel is very inspiring, even today.

December 15th, 2012 is the 62nd death anniversary of Sardar Patel. Let us remember him and pay tribute to this legendary hero of our nation.

Sardar Patel was born on 31st October, 1875 in Nadiad, Gujarat. In those days, most people and their families depended on agriculture for their livelihood. Vallabhbhai was also involved in farming during his childhood. He attended primary school in Karamsad and high school in Petlad. His high school was 10 miles away from his home in Karamsad. Hence, he and his classmates walked 20 miles in total, every day. This shows the hardships that he had to face in his school days.

He got married when he was just 18 years of age. In 1897, he passed the Matriculation examination. He spent all these days in poverty. He wished to study abroad but was unable to go due to lack of available funds. Financial problems also prevented him from becoming a lawyer. Hence, he became a district pleader.

Vallabhbhai didn't have enough money even for his own home. So, he borrowed cheap utensils from the local market in Nadiad, that too in debt.

He set up his home using those utensils only. While he was struggling, he started taking cases in Borsad.

He used to take criminal cases and won most of the time. Soon, he started earning good money and again thought of going abroad to become a barrister. He had already made preparations but his elder brother Vitthalbhai told him to stay back and let him go instead.

Vallabhbhai agreed and sent his elder brother to London and even paid for

the expenses. The fact that he put his brother's wishes before his personal ambitions shows the greatness in Sardar Patel's character.

When Vitthalbhai returned as a barrister, he opened his office in Mumbai. Now, Vallabhbhai lived with his wife and gave more time to his married life.

When his wife suffered from an acute disease, she had to be admitted to a hospital in Mumbai. Her condition was deteriorating. At that time, Sardar was fighting a case where the accused person was innocent. It was his duty to protect him. Hence, even though it was hard for him to leave his wife behind, he took the train to Anand at night. He prepared for the case the whole night and the next day, fought the case. Whilst he was doing his duty in the court, he got the news of his wife's death. In spite of that, he continued. He duly performed his duty and protected his client. Sardar Patel was true to his word.

He did not let his emotions stop him from performing his duty. This shows Sardar's dedication to his work, which is a virtue and a sign of great people.

At the age of 36, Sardar went to England. He spent most of his time in the library and then walked 6 miles back to his home. He finished the 36-month course much earlier than his classmates and topped his class. The next day, he left England for India. He then settled in Ahmedabad and became one of the city's most successful barristers. He now wore European-style clothes and had urbane mannerisms.

He continued his practice for 17 more years and won many cases.

After several years, he started an active role in the Municipal Corporation.

He contributed in making Ahmedabad clean and also played an important role in the construction of Relief Road in Ahmedabad. He won the Municipal election and was subsequently elected as its President for the first time in 1922.

During those days, Gandhiji lived in his Ashram in Ahmedabad and pioneered the Nationalist Movement. He had organized a meeting of lawyers in

Ahmedabad. Sardar Patel attended the meeting too.

At first, he was not impressed by Gandhiji.

But slowly and steadily, Sardar appreciated his ideals and his respect for Gandhiji increased. Soon, both became admirers of each other and their friendship deepened.

In 1917, the district of Kheda suffered from excessive rainfall. Instead of letting off taxes during such a period, the government compulsorily imposed taxes on all farmers. Gandhiji fought this policy through Satyagraha and Sardar backed him.

Finally, the government gave up and freed the farmers from compulsorily paying taxes. In 1918, the government proposed the Rowlatt Act which gave special powers to the police and the government.

Gandhiji opposed this Act and Sardar played a key role in the peaceful protests. He also supported Gandhiji all the way in protesting the Simon Commission and in a civil disobedience movement named the 'Quit India' movement.

The national freedom movement was growing strong. In 1923, when Gandhiji was in prison, Sardar Patel was asked by the members of the Congress to lead the Satyagraha in Nagpur. It was against a law which banned the raising of the Indian flag. Sardar organized thousands of volunteers and people from all over the country marched in processions, hoisting the national flag. He negotiated a settlement with the government that released all the prisoners and allowed nationalists to hoist the flag in public.

Sardar Patel united the peasants of Kheda, Borsad and Bardoli in non-violent civil disobedience movements. He convinced them to protest against the oppressive policies imposed upon them by the British Raj. He rose to the leadership of the Indian National Congress and also was at the forefront of peaceful rebellions and political events. By now, Sardar had become a huge political figure on the national level. He had established himself as one of the most influential

leaders in India.

In 1946, during the election for the Congress presidency, Gandhiji asked all 16 state representatives and Congress to elect the right person.

Sardar Patel's name was proposed by 13 state representatives out of 16. But, Gandhiji wanted Sardar to become Home Minister and solve the problem of the unification of Princely States. He believed no one else could do this job. Hence, Sardar stepped down in favour of Nehru. Had he wished, he could easily have been the first Prime Minister of free India. But his decision of abiding Gandhiji shows his loyalty towards him.

As a Home Minister, Sardar was given the task to forge a united India from the British Colonial Provinces and 562 other self-governing princely states. Sardar successfully persuaded almost every princely state to accede to India. He is therefore rightfully regarded as the architect of modern India.

His services to the country earned him the title: "Iron Man of India".

He is dearly addressed as 'Sardar' which means 'Chief' in Hindi, Urdu, and Persian. Sardar Patel was also awarded honorary doctorates of law by Punjab University and Osmania University.

As the Deputy Prime Minister of India, Sardar organized relief for refugees in Punjab and Delhi. He also led efforts to restore peace across the nation. Sardar was also one of the earliest proponents of property rights and free enterprise in India.

In the summer of 1950, Sardar's health declined and he later began coughing blood. After suffering a second heart attack, he died on 15 December, 1950 at Birla House in Mumbai. He was cremated at Sonapur in Mumbai.

Kunjan Deepak Panchal is studying in TYBsc Bio Tech. and is interested in Sports and Music.

Patels clearly hold the key

Ever since former Congress chief minister Madhavsinh Solanki formulated KHAM - a political axis comprising kshatriyas, harijans, adivasis and Muslims - that helped Congress a record 149 seats in 1985 - Patels have steadily gravitated towards the BJP. The Congress has not tasted power in Gujarat after 1990 thanks

to rising Patel power.

In all, there are 148 Patel candidates in fray representing the three main players - BJP, Congress and GPP. Leuvas, a Patel sub-caste which Keshubhai Patel represents, dominate at least 40 out of the total 182 seats in Gujarat, mostly in Saurashtra, south and central Gujarat.

Leuva Patels constitute anything between 20% to 50% votes in these 40 seats. Kadva Patels are in large numbers in north Gujarat. With Keshubhai threatening to make a dent into BJP's vote share, mainly due to the clout he enjoys in his community, BJP has also fielded a large number of Patels. But BJP's Patel leaders like

Purshottam Rupala, Anandiben Patel and RC Faldu are no match to Keshubhai.

Modi tried his best to rope in Naresh Patel, a community leader who has become a rallying point for the economically powerful community, which now wants to re-gain its lost political glory by helping both the GPP and Congress.

28

TRAVEL & woMeN Purvi’s travel bag

By Purvi Apurva Shah

asian voice - Saturday 8th December 2012

women achievers rini vakil - A young designers at mind and heart By av correspondent

he Gravity Defying Palace of Lucknow, capital of the eastern region T of Uttar Pradesh, is known for its mystifying complex. This marvelous creation of 18th-century by the monarch Nawab Asaf-ud-Daula, is a blend of European and Arabic architecture. Bara Imambara’s superlative central arched hall is almost 50 meters long and about three stories high without any pillars or beams.

The main hall was constructed exclusively with interlocking brick-work and is famous for its mysterious architecture of “Bhulbhulaiya- a dense maze”. This labyrinth is made of more than 1,000 narrow staircase passages meant to prevent any possible intruders. One can roam around the clandestine maze; preferably with an official guide. And alongside one can also explore the adjacent mosque and stunning gardens.

It was the brainchild of 18th-century ruler Nawab Asaf-ud-Daula, who put nearly 22,000 city residents to work during a severe famine (struggling noblemen were rumored to have come in at night to avoid being identified among the crew).

Famed as the largest arch room without any pillars, Bara Imambara alias Asfai Imambara is an exciting combination of unfussiness of style, evenness and proportion. Built in the year 1784, Bara Imambara happens to be the most significant monument in Lucknow. The popular belief is that this colossal structure holds immense treasures inside it. It is also known as "Gravity Defying Palace'.

The central hall of the monument has gained much acclaim for its structural excellence and technical expertise. A large open space with 50m long and 15m width is constructed without any external support. The balcony in the hall is another lure since it echoes whispering sounds through out the main hall. A web called Bhool Bhullaiyya borders the main hall on the first floor and a step well connects the building to the river by tunnel.

Bara Imambara compound also houses the mausoleums of Asaf-ud-Daula and his family.

How To Reach

By Road/Bus: Lucknow is easily connected to all nearby cities by public transport buses. The city is well connected

with other major cities like Agra, Kanpur, Delhi, Allahabad and Dehradun by private tourist bus services.

By Air: The Lucknow airport is 14 km away from the heart of the city. Prepaid taxi services from airport charge about Rs 300 to Lucknow city center.

Lucknow is connected to airports in Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Jaipur and Mumbai by daily flights. Delhi International airport is 497 km away, which is well connected to all major cities in India and many cities abroad.

By Rail: Lucknow city centre is a major railway station in North India. It connects to all rail heads in India. It is directly connected to Trivandrum, Chennai, Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata.

Lucknow, the Nawabi city Lucknow, the Nawabi city of Uttar Pradesh, was founded in the 13th century AD. Though historians claim the city to have been a part of the ancient Suryavanshi dynasty, not much evidence has been collected.

During the year 1350 AD, the city was under the rule of the Delhi Sultanate which further went into the hands of the Mughals, the Nawabs of Awadh, the East India Company and finally the British.

The last Nawab of Oudh to have ruled the city was Nawab Asadf-uddaula. He made Lucknow his capital and constructed various monuments in order to modernize the look of the city. British gained control over Lucknow in 1854, under the generalship of Lord Dalhousie.

The city became the capital of the present day Uttar Pradesh after India’s independence in the year 1947.

The city is famous for its culture, cuisine and monumental heritage. Well manicured Palace is an important tourist attraction. Many monuments worth visiting are Bada and Chota Imambara, Aurangzeb’s mosque, State Museum, Chattar manzil and The Residency.

Lucknow is best visited during the winter months from October to February.

The weather is good this time making shopping an enjoyable experience. There are many zoological parks worth visiting.

Trying the lip smacking cuisine at various restaurants of Lucknow is an indulgence one should never miss.

The annual Lucknow Festival held during November-December is accompanied with colorful processions and is very attractive with traditional dramas, Kathak dances, kite flying and music recitals.

Best time to visit here is from October to March.

She might give a modern look but is an absolute Indian at heart and that speaks loud in her designs.

Rini Vakil in her twenties is now a promising young fashion designer who has learnt to bring in tradition with modern art in her designs.

A graduate from National Institute of Design, Gandhinagar, she grew up to explore the local art forms from the interiors of India that inspired her to create and launch her own label 'Rini Vakil' in 2011. She combines traditional woven fabrics like tussar silk from Bhagalpur or mashru from Patan with tribal arts like Madhubani, warli patterns, and applique work.

Through her designs, she is reviving fading art forms of Indian craftsmanship and blending them with contemporary sensibilities, giving them a chance for survival. Her

biggest inspiration till date has been the Rabari women who may have no money, but yet their clothing is intricate with Kutchi patchwork and mirrored ghagras with a lot of colours. "True designs come from scarcity of something. These women may hide a tattered part by stitching a patch on it, but even that looks so vibrant," she says. Thus one will never see even an inch of fabric go waste in her studio. Her latest collection includes sophisticated, structured kurtas to raw, flirty oodhnis with bespoke detailing. There is no such thing as a colour combination, so play with colours. But if you are going for a heavy top, your bottom should be simple.

Vakil has the advantage of being young and reading the young mind and that reflects in her work as well. Bright colours and design with traditions speaking loud especially

those in Gujarat are seen in her work. Vakil has been aspiring to be a designer from her childhood and is glad that she has been able to take up a career of her choice and follow a profession of her dreams.

Vakil is one of those young designers in Gujarat who has been hosting individual as well as group shows both in Ahmedabad and outside the state. She says she has a long way to go and wants to create her own niche which will bring out the best in her creativity. She believes in a lot of brightness and colour and that is one thing which she says makes her stand out from others.

A mix of tradition and ethinicity, she says is a strong point which has been her individualistic style and though there were now a lot of designers who believe in brightness but she says her strong point is the total connect with ethinicity.

Mamata becomes ‘intolerant and whimsical’: Justice Markandey Katju Press Council of India Chairman Markandey Katju has described West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as "intolerant and whimsical" and warned she would lose power if she did not change. In a letter to her, Katju sought action against policemen who arrested Jadavpur University professor Ambikesh Mahapatra and farmer Shiladitya Chowdhury, the first for circulating a cartoon of the Chief Minister and the second for questioning her policies.

The former Supreme Court judge also said that former Joint Commissioner of Police Damayanti Sen be Ghugni Ingredients: 2 cups of soaked white peas, ½ cup chopped onions, 1 chopped tomato, 1 tsp crushed garlic, 1 tsp ginger, ½ tsp cumin seed powder, ½ cup coriander powder, 1 tsp garam masala, ½ cup oil and salt to taste.

Method: Boil the soaked white peas until soft. Heat oil in a separate pan. Fry the onions, ginger and garlic on medium heat. Continue frying till the onion gets brown.

Add the tomatoes and stir it properly. Now mix this with the cooked peas.

Add the cumin seed powder as well as the coriander powder. Now allow this to come to a boil. Add the garam masala and adorn with coriander and chopped onion. You can also sprinkle some coriander leaves for garnishing.

Koraishutir kochuri Ingredients: flour,¼

restored to her earlier office, from which she was removed after she cracked a rape case on Park Street.

"We all make mistakes but a gentleman is one who realises his mistake and apologises. I request you to act against the policemen who ordered and implemented the arrest of Mahapatra and Chowdhury, you should

immediately withdraw the cases against them and apologise to them."

Katju said Mamata's ministers and bureaucrats "are afraid to speak out their minds fearlessly before you, and are terrorised by your unpredictable and whimsical behaviour".

Stating that her ways were "very unhealthy", he said Mamata "will not be able to remain Chief Minister for long unless she changed her ways and became more tolerant. It is still not too late if you listen to my advice and change your ways. I had praised you at one time.

But of late you seem to have become increasingly intolerant and whimsical."

Ghugni koraishutir kochuri

tsp salt, 3 tbsp ghee For the filling: ¼ kg peas, 1 inch ginger, 4 small chillies, 4 tsp saunf, ¼ tsp asafoetida, salt to taste and ghee to deep fry Method: Sift the flour with ¼ tsp salt. Mix in 2 tbsp of ghee and knead to soft dough. Grind the peas, ginger, green chillies and saunf to a fine paste.

Fry the asafoetida till light brown. Mix in the peas paste and salt. Fry well till the paste is thoroughly cooked. Take off from heat and let it cool.

Divide the dough into eight balls. Press each ball in the centre and fill it

with the pea mixture.

Close the opening well and flatten them. Roll out the puris. Heat up the ghee in a kadhai. Deep fry the puris on low heat up till golden brown.

Remove and serve hot.

Health benefits: This is a Bengali dish, full of proteins and filling to the stomach.

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Food poisoning: Five easy ways to get rid of symptoms With the festive season in full swing, it becomes extremely difficult to refrain from overindulgence in food. Festivities are an easy excuse for people to set aside their diet plan and gorge on delicacies that they otherwise tend to avoid. From roadside chat to home made puri kachori; relishing on boxes of sweets sent by friends and relatives and a cup of coffee with every guest dropping by – what more does one need to feel the cramps in stomach at the end of the day’s long celebration.

Unchecked and unhealthy eating habits during the festival season can, and in most cases do lead to food poisoning and disturbance in the bowels.

Vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain or stomach cramps, a low-grade fever, headaches, and muscle aches are symptoms that one experiences with food poisoning.

Here are the top five easy and quick home remedies to get instant relief from food poising: Ginger: Ginger is a well known remedy for various gastrointestinal distresses. Loaded with potent anti-inflammatory compounds ginger helps quell nausea and gastric distress. Chewing a piece of ginger tossed in honey helps relieve the severity of nausea. Ginger tea relieves stomach cramps and upset caused by food poisoning.

Cumin: Add a tablespoon of crushed cumin

To Our Readers We are publishing these items in good faith, kindly consult your Doctor before you try to implement it. We do not hold any responsibility for its efficacy...

seeds to the soup to soothe the inflammation in your stomach. Crushed cumin with fenugreek powder mixed with a glass of water or half a cup crud helps relive abdominal pain and vomiting. Cumin seeds are of great benefit to the digestive system as they help stimulate the secretion of pancreatic enzymes, compounds necessary for proper digestion and nutrient assimilation.

Basil: Basil is another excellent home remedy to cure stomach infection due to its anti-bacterial properties.

Taking juice of basil leaves with water empty stomach in the morning enhances digestive power. Basil juice helps stop vomiting immediately.

Strain the juice of a few basil leaves and add it to a tablespoon of honey to get instant relief.

Mix chopped basil leaves, sea salt and one shake of black pepper to three tablespoon of crud.

Take the mixture three times in a day till you are totally cured of food poisoning. It will also cure any cramps or gas problem associated with food poisoning.

Lemon: The acidity of the lemon juice kills the micro-organism and toxins in the gastrointestinal tract.

Squeeze juice of a lemon and add a pinch of sugar to it and drink, or you can even add lemon to your tea.

Since fluid intake is very important as one tends to lose more water through diarrhea taking lemon juice in short intervals helps you keep hydrated.

Peppermint tea: Peppermint oil helps relieve symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, including indigestion, dyspepsia, and colonic muscle spasms. It is extremely beneficial for people suffering from stomach spasms due to food poisoning. Add a few drops to your tea; your cramps will vanish in a couple of hours.

Dentist Umesh Sahgal's life is all about teeth. In his clinic, he takes care of their health; outside, he exhorts people to bare them - in laughter. Sahgal is the president of the Delhi Laughter Club. He has been running a laughter movement in the city for the past 10 years and has helped set up 25 laughter clubs in the NCR."I am a dentist who believes there is no laughter in medicine, but laughter has all the medicines," says the doctor, who is fast acquiring a reputation of being the laughter king in the city.

At the reception of his clinic in north Delhi, you see several booklets and pamphlets on the benefits of laughter in life. When you enter his cabin, he greets you with a few jokes and a broad smile. Sahgal turned a believer in the power of laughter when he met Dr Madan Kataria, the man credited with starting a laughter yoga movement in Mumbai and many other countries. "I first held a laughter camp in a neighbourhood park in north Delhi about 11 years back for some of my friends and neighbours who used to accompany me on morning walk. The benefits were soon visible.

All my companions felt more relaxed and energetic throughout the day. I felt a lot of people will benefit if I could spread the laughter

movement across in the city," Sahgal says, sitting in his clinic in Malka Ganj.

The dentist-cumlaughter yoga guru has held camps both in India and abroad, most recently in Sydney. "All we do at these camps is laugh like mad," says Sahgal, adding, "Those who attend our laughing sessions aren't morons. Most of them are doctors, engineers, businessman, lawyers, etc."

He has also organised laughter sessions in hospitals for mental health, corporate houses, old age homes, cancer hospitals.

What differentiates laughter yoga from yoga, he says, is that while the latter is a combination of the mind, body and a little bit of meditation, laughter yoga combines the mind, body and soul. "They say water, air and food are necessary for a healthy life, but I believe we need to add laughter to that list.

Laughter is a wonderful therapy. It gives you best results early in the morning. But one can also do it three or four hours after meals," he says.

Sahgal explains that this form of yoga keeps the lungs, heart , brain and digestive system in fine fettle. He also says that countries such as Japan, which has one of the highest suicide rates in the world, are conducting a lot of research on the benefits

of laughter on patients.

"The research has shown that patients, both in general wards and ICUs, for whom comedy films were regularly played, recovered much faster than those without such a facility," says Sahgal.

Some of the exercises performed at the laughter yoga club are named quite curiously: Sky laugh, boat rowing laugh, balloon laugh, giggling laugh, joker laugh, lion's laugh, greeting laugh, signifying the action, the expression and the position of the body during laughter yoga exercises.

"These are basically the derivatives of normal physical and yoga asans, which only take care of muscles and joints. When physical exercise is combined with uninhibited laughter, it leaves a positive feeling and flushes out negative thoughts. In fact, I have developed many of these exercises myself, including the sky and boat rowing laugh," says the 62-year-old.

Sahgal says that his laughter yoga movement in the city has received a huge fillip in the past couple of years. The laughter clubs have also given the dentist an insight into urban loneliness. Elderly people and rich housewives, he contends, are the most depressed. "Rich women often complain of emotional alienation within family.

Elderly complain how they are often left to fend for themselves in the company

of maids and peons."

So, what is the best way of tackling this growing stress and urban loneliness?

"Just let your woes drown in the din of your own laughter. Never bother about what will people think if you start laughing aloud all of a sudden," says Sahgal, with a boom of laughter.

But isn't the laughter evoked in such sessions artificial? Sahgal nods in affirmation, then says, "We believe in the dictum: fake it, fake it and fake it till you make it. And it works.

After the first few sessions, most people start laughing naturally."

Asparagus is latest weapon against diabetes Asparagus is latest weapon against diabetes.

Asparagus could be a powerful new culinary weapon in the fight against diabetes.

Scientists have found regular intake of the increasingly popular vegetable keeps blood sugar levels under control and boosts the body's production of insulin, the hormone that helps it to absorb glucose.

Britain's consumption of asparagus has soared in recent years to record levels of around 8,000 tonnes a year. As well as its delicate flavour, it now appears it could have a vital role to play in combating Britain's looming diabetes crisis. Type two diabetes, which accounts for 90 per cent of all diabetes cases, is emerging as a major health burden.

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Dacorum Indian society commemorates 40 years of Ugandan-Asian settlement in Hemel Hempstead Dacorum Indian Society organised an event on 7th October to commemorate 40 years of 30 Asian settlements in Hemel Hempstead and to raise over £2000 for Uganda children through UNICEF and local charities. The event was a great success with a full house and the guests appreciated the exhibition on Indian Culture.

A booklet was printed to give brief history of the experiences of the Uganda Asians who came to settle in Hemel Hempsted.

The invited dignitaries and speakers included C B Patel Publisher/Editor of Gujarat Samachar and Asian Voice, MP Mike

By nature you are a highly enterprising, gogetting type of person and these are qualities that will stand you in good stead in the coming weeks. Go easy on yourself though, especially if it's a question of financial loans. Don't be afraid to act forcefully if your instinct tells you it's time for change.

ARIES Mar 21 - Apr 20

TAURUS Apr 21 - May 21 Either you or your partner have been going through a phase of inner doubts and uncertainties, and perhaps the main source of tension has simply been the need for breathing space in your relationship and a need to look at things more objectively. Wait before going full steam ahead with grand actions and gestures.

CB Patel, Pushpa Patel, Mayor Herbert Chapman, Mayoress Shirley Champman, Nick Hollinghurst and others

Penning, Mayor Herbert Chapman, Mayoress Shirley Champman, Tring Mayor Nick Hollinghurst, Salvation Army Denis Huke,

Mark Mitchell, Chief Executive Dacourm Council of Voluntary Service, June Street ex Chief Executive.

The event concluded

with a dinner and dance.

The ladies of Hemel Hempstead also performed typical Gujarati Garba and traditional Indian dances.

Mostyn holds helluva party to celebrate Christmas in 'Indian' style It was a gala Christmas dinner on Friday 23rd November, at the Mostyn Hotel. The hotel's La Porte Des Indes restaurant (estb 1996) was decorated like a newly wed as the guests walked in, anticipating an exciting night ahead. The stairs to the lower floor of the Edwardian hall had candles burning on the sides, as the dim light effect added a perfect romantic tinge to the atmosphere.

The flowing mocktails, juices and drinks, the starry dance floor, the pristine plush white marble, the 40ft Mogul waterfall, beautiful wooden curvatures, the colourful, leafy and airy interior looked exciting as guests of all ethnicities poured in. The hotel's Chairman Kirit R Patel, wife Sulochana Patel, son Jignesh Patel, Manager Anup Sarin and Finance Director Janak Sampat personally greeted and socialised with all the invited gueststhat included family, friends,

colleagues and suppliers.

After a brief networking drinks with mouthwatering canapes, everybody was gracefully ushered into the upper floor (street level) of the restaurant premises, where people enjoyed their drinks and mains while they chatted with their kith and kin.

It was a paradise for food lovers. From vegetarian to non vegetarian there was a splash of extremely tasty Indian/Oriental dishes with a Gaelic twist, which were served in mini versions so that anybody could comfortably eat them while they stood enjoying the evening's entertainment.

While Circus performers played with fire and showed other awing tricks, the rooms filled with catchy music.

The present guests that included people from all across London, all ethnicities and age, reminded us of the 'Big Society' that PM Cameron has been

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trying to promote.

Helluva party Mostyn team, we will be waiting for the next one in 2013.

If you need more details on the hotel or restaurant, please see http://www.mostynhotel.co.uk

Coming Events l Arcola Theatrew, 24 Ashwin Street, dalston, E8 3DL. Contact: 020 7503 1646. -8th December, 3pmSpeed by Iman Qureshi/I killed my best friends' father. - Monday 10 December, Pickaninny by Nessah Muthy -Calcutta Kosher, 11-22 December 8pm

Competition Where is the restaurant Cinnamon Soho located?

The right answer is: c. Soho The 3 winners are Sanjay Joshi, Bina Patel and Nayan Patel (The winners will be contacted by the PR team of Cinnamon Soho to discuss the prize details)

GEMINI May 22 - June 22 This week you will make your best progress by focusing your mental and physical energies on what you want to achieve. Intense focus is what is needed now so do not let yourself be distracted by non-essentials. The underlying trend seems to be pulling you into a much wider social circle now.

CANCER Jun 22 - Jul 22 It is a great week for seeing real results. You can accomplish more than usual with a little elbow grease - the keyword here is discipline. Your social graces will serve you well careerwise. Mixing business with pleasure will bring you benefits. You will achieve great success by being responsible and diplomatic.

LEO Jul 23 - Aug 23 The prevailing pattern of planets gives you a marvellous opportunity. Take time out to strengthen close ties of affection, sort out emotional differences and proffer the olive branch to anyone who may have caused you pain in recent months.

Venus throws an easy light on affairs of the heart prime time for engagements and weddings.

VIRGO Aug 24 - Sep 23 There will be increased scope for varying your activities, widening your network of contacts and getting out and about. It is an excellent time for exercising your mental energies, clarifying your and other people's ideas and getting involved in discussion. Exercise caution when it comes to making financial decisions.

LIBRA Sep 24 - Oct 23 The pace of your life may be a bit hectic now, and if you're not used to it, this could also be a time of mental restlessness. You are more inclined to seek a broad understanding of people and of your immediate environment.

Concentrating on listening, connecting, communicating, and learning is your best bet now.

SCORPIO Oct 24- Nov 22 Relationships are experiencing major transformations - those with shaky foundations should be extra careful. Financially, you have everything going for you. A good time to put lucrative plans into action and reap the benefits of sound investments. Be prudent and do not fritter away your good fortune.

SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 - Dec 21

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It is essential that you adopt a very open attitude now for this is a time of lucky opportunity and a chance to greatly enrich your working life and at home. New windows on the world are about to open and this is bound to have a maturing effect on you from now into the future.

CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan 20 The pace of everyday life will gather momentum and there may be times when you find it hard to keep your act together. Any obstacles that have stood in the way should melt into the background soon. Your self-confidence will be extremely high and this will be helped by various encouraging events.

AQUARIUS Jan 21 - Feb 19 Social commitments are liable to increase considerably. At times this could lead to a conflict of loyalties and perhaps a degree of resentment that others are taking advantage of you. Make a very conscious attempt to stick to main priorities.

Organise your time so that it is not taken up entirely by the demands of other people.

PISCES Feb 20 - Mar 20

Career-wise you cannot go wrong provided you do not act in a way that threatens other people's egos. An ambition that you have been striving for over the past year is likely to come to fruition which could mean promotion and a boost in status and reputation soon. Play your cards right and you can pull strings in you favour.

SporT wOrld

Asian Voice - Saturday 8th December 2012

31

Action at a Glance The Indian cricket board (BCCI) said that it would stand by the under-pressure Sachin Tendulkar, whose poor form and possible retirement have become a topic of hot debate after India's humiliation by England in the Mumbai Test. Some BCCI sources had initially indicated that the board would take a call on Tendulkar if he failed in both the upcoming Tests against England, in Kolkata and Nagpur.

However, a top BCCI official told that the board is not reading too much into Tendulkar's recent string of failures. When asked what the board's stand would be if Tendulkar fails in both the Tests, the official said he was convinced "Sachin will come good" in the Kolkata Test staring on December 5.

"Tendulkar is a champion cricketer and there is no question of not supporting him when he going through a rough patch," the official said.

"He has always delivered

when his detractors have ruled him out," he added.

Tendulkar himself chose to stay away from the controversy, but his close friends said that the batting great had rebuffed reports that he has told chief selector Sandip Patil that the selectors could drop him if they felt he was not making runs and letting the team down.

"It was but obvious to ask him about what TV and newspapers were saying.

Sachin simply smiled and said, 'It's untrue. I have never

done such a thing (speak to selectors), so why would I do it now. My job is to try and give my best on the cricket field and that's what I intend to do'. I would always believe what he says rather than what the media says," a former teammate of Tendulkar, who met him said.

When BCCI secretary Sanjay Jagdale, who is also the convener of the selection committee, was asked to comment on media reports about Tendulkar's conversation with Patil, he simply

said: "I am not aware of it."

Tendulkar's close friends insisted that the batsman is unfazed by all the criticism surrounding him despite going this bad patch.

However, some BCCI officials conceded that the champion is under pressure.

"Tendulkar is under tremendous pressure and he knows that he has to score to survive at this level because there are others waiting in the wings," said an official.

The good news for Tendulkar is that Team India is with him, all the way. His teammates' logic is simple: The Mumbai defeat at the hands of the England was not because of Tendulkar alone.

"The entire batting unit failed to deliver. Singling out Tendulkar is not right. It is unfair," a player who did not wish to be named said. The player added that the senior players have taken full responsibility for not scoring 400-plus runs in home conditions in the team meeting.

International Olympic Committee suspends India

In a major embarrassment to India, the International Olympic Committee on Tuesday suspended the Indian Olympic Association.

This means that Indian athletes cannot participate in the Olympic Games under the national flag unless the suspension is revoked by the IOC. The alternative is for Indian athletes to participate in the Olympics under the IOC banner, if allowed.

Suspension also will lead to the Indian Olympic Association getting any IOC funding (it gets about Rs 80

million in 4 years).

The decision to suspend India was taken by the IOC executive board at a meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The IOC said that the IOA had been suspended due to the Indian government's

interference in the electoral process. Elections to the IOA were held as a part of the sports code framed by the Indian government which the international sports body had said was wrong.

The sanctions were imposed on IOA after the Indian Olympic Association did not comply with the IOC rules on the holding of elections.

The IOC had time and again told IOA to stick to the IOC's constitution and the Olympic Charter and not to the Indian government's

sports code.

Earlier, the IOC had refused to meet the IOA's two-member delegation before the executive board meeting began. The IOA wanted this meeting to explain its position and to clear the air over the election controversy.

The newly-elected IOA president Abhay Singh Chautala had asked acting president VK Malhotra to set up a two-member panel, consisting of NK Batra and RK Anand, to plead India's case with the IOC.

India, England teams return to practice for Kolkata Test The English and Indian team finally returned to practice session for the third Test which begins at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Wednesday. The Englishmen are in high spirits after defeating India in the second Test in Mumbai and levelling the four-match Test series 1-1.

The Englishmen had their first practice session at the Eden Gardens on Sunday.

England players arrived in two batches in the morning and had a long practice session under the strict supervision of director of coaching Andy Flower, batting coach Graham Gooch and bowling coach Mushtaq Ahmed.

Gooch had a special session with out-of form Jonathan Trott, who has managed only 17 runs in the three innings he has played so far. The former England captain and opening batsman closely monitored and advised Trott on the finer points of the game during a long throw down session with the No. 3 batsman. Trott, who spent the longest time in the middle, batted in all the three practice pitches made available to England on Sunday.

Monty Panesar, who played a key role in England’s victory in Mumbai, was among the early birds to hit

the nets and bowled uninterrupted alongside compatriot Stuart Broad. While Panesar looked to get into rhythm, Broad tried to maintain his line and length in a bid to rediscover his wicket-taking prowess. The right-am pacer, who went wicketless in the two Test matches, faces stiff competition from fellowpacer Steven Finn, who rejoined the side after coming through unscathed in the England Performance Programme (EPP) team’s match against a DY Patil Sports Academy XI in Mumbai earlier this week.

Eden pitch keeps Team India guessing: For the Indian teams, there was no warm-up session or the usual jogging around the park as the players made a beeline for the nets, with opener Virender Sehwag leading the way. It was serious stuff all

right as pacers Ishant Sharma, Ashok Dinda and off spinner R Ashwin took turns to bowl at one of the most destructive batsmen in contemporary world cricket.

Even as the rank and file was busy in the nets, Team India coach Duncan Fletcher quietly walked up to the middle of the park to have a close look at the 22-yard strip being readied for the match.

Fletcher was soon joined by skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, whose demand for a square turner was rejected and even ridiculed by Cricket Association of Bengal's octogenarian curator Prabir Mukherjee.

The skipper was seen kneeling down on the track, knocking on the surface to gauge its firmness. The two then stood in the middle and exchanged notes. The muchanticipated meeting between

Mukherjee and Dhoni did not materialise as both maintained their distance.

Harbhajan Singh, who is in line to play his 100th Test on his 'favourite' ground, had a long chat with Mukherjee before having a bowl in the nets. KKR skipper Gautam Gambhir, who has a fair knowledge of the Eden track, also had a chat with Mukherjee.

Interestingly, neither Dhoni nor Fletcher spoke to BCCI's East Zone curator Asish Bhowmick, who was rushed from Agartala to 'assist' Mukherjee. Bhowmick left the Eden much before the Indian contingent arrived.

There was no official comment from the Indian camp about the pitch.

Back in the nets, Fletcher paid special attention to Sachin Tendulkar, whose string of failures has been a major concern. Unlike the English team which had to make do with only two spinners from among the local net bowlers, India had the luxury of quite a few local young tweakers and all their batsmen enjoyed a lengthy session in the nets.

In contrast, the Indian pacers did not bowl much.

Zaheer, as is his wont, bowled the least. In fact, he batted longer than he bowled.

Andrew Flintoff makes victorious start in the ring

F o r m e r England cricket captain Andrew Flintoff came off the canvas to mark his professional boxing debut with a points win over American heavyweight Richard Dawson last week. The 34-year-old was floored in the second round of a lively affair but after dominating the other three rounds had his hand rightly raised in victory on a score of 39-38 on the referee’s scorecard.

It was a deserved win for the former England and Lancashire fast bowling allrounder who dropped three-and-a-half stone to weigh in at 15st 6lb for his first foray into boxing after a five-month training camp with former world featherweight champion Barry McGuigan. Flintoff, who was perceived as overweight during his days playing cricket, certainly took the training seriously for this as he looked in much better shape than his American opponent in the four-round clash.

The unbeaten Dawson did not have much more experience in the ring himself, with just two previous outings against opponents without wins, and he gave away five inches to the taller Flintoff while carrying in almost an extra two stone in weight.

India beat Australia in T20 for blind opener

They are visually impaired, but don't have a problem in 'seeing' or hearing the ball to hit it for a boundary or loft it for a six or running singles or twos between the wickets. In a dramatic opening match of the T20 World Cup for blind last week, India beat Australia by 215 runs in the 20-over format at the Central College grounds in Banagalore. In other three matches played during the day, Pakistan beat England by 167 runs; Sri Lanka defeated South Africa by seven wickets and Nepal beat Bangladesh by nine wickets.

Nine countries - Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, Nepal, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka and the West Indies - are playing in the 12-day tournament that will have two semi-finals on Dec 12 and a final on Dec 13 after 39 matches over the next 10 days. Though the rules of the game are the same as in the regular matches professional cricketers play, the pitch length is 50 yards instead of 70 and the 150 gm white ball is made of plastic mould with bearings inside for making rattling noise when flung towards the batsman.

India to issue 3,000 visas to Pakistan cricket fans

The Indian government is to issue a record 3,000 visas to Pakistani cricket fans attending a series of limited over matches beginning next month, an official in the interior ministry had said. "We will happily host 3,000 Pakistani cricket lovers for the matches. This is the first time that we have decided to issue so many visas in one go," the source added. India is to host Pakistan for two T20 internationals and three 50 over matches from December 25, beginning in Bangalore. Matches will also be held in Ahmedabad, Chennai, Kolkata and New Delhi which will host the last game on January 6. "One thousand Pakistanis will be able to watch the Delhi match and 500 will be allowed to attend each of the other games," said the official.

"The BCCI (Indian cricket board) will be given all the necessary instructions to speed up the visa process." Another interior ministry official said the Pakistani visitors would have to report to a designated police station immediately after their entry into India.

"Pakistani fans cannot crossover on foot in (the northern state of) Punjab. They can either choose to fly down or board the border train," the official said. As well as the Thar Express railway link between the two countries, Pakistan International Airlines flies from Lahore and Karachi to New Delhi and Mumbai.

32

Action at a Glance Bhupathi says 2013 would be his last year on tour

Indian doubles tennis ace Mahesh Bhupathi said 2013 would be his last year on tour as he has retirement in mind.

"I've had a great career. I don't enjoy leaving my baby alone and going for tours so much. I am happy to call it a day," Bhupathi, who has a career Grand Slam in mixed doubles, said. In Kolkata for a promotional programme, the 38-year-old said, "I've had the opportunity to play alongside many great players... "From Todd Woodbridge to Max Mirnyi to Leander Paes to Mary Pierce to Martina Hingis, it has been a great ride for me," he said. He also spoke about the Sachin Tendulkar and said the critics should leave the Little Master alone. "He does not need to prove anything to anybody. He has scored 100 centuries. The people in the media writing about him have no idea. He will take the right decision at the right time," Bhupathi said.

Inter Milan ready to enter India

The “Sleeping giant” of world football is showing signs of waking up with more and more European clubs keen on forging strategic alliances with Indian partners. After Manchester United and Barcelona FC, it’s now the turn of Italian giants Inter Milan to look for opportunities to expand in the subcontinent. The team which wears the famous blue and black jerseys is ready to test the Indian waters with the Inter Academy, the first of which came up in Abu Dhabi in 2008. Bangalore, Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai figure in the preliminary shortlist. Inter has also planned doing business in football tourism by exploring the market in the world’s second most populous country.

Also on the cards is the entry of Inter Campus. The social project founded by Inter president Massimo Moratti in 1996 provides support to under privileged kids. The programme is active in nearly 25 countries supporting more than 10,000 children. Speaking exclusively to TOI during her short trip to India, Barbara Biggi, the club’s international sales and marketing manager, said the Nerazzurris are scouting for partners to get the ball rolling.

“From our end, we are ready to start an academy tomorrow but it depends on our partners in India. We are looking at groups who have the infrastructure ready,” Barbara said.

India top Champions Trophy Pool A despite Germany loss

India squandered the lead twice to lose 2-3 to Olympic champions Germany in the last preliminary league match of the Champions Trophy in hockey, but still managed to top Pool A on the basis of goal difference. Both India and Germany finished with six points, but India's two previous victories with twogoal margins ensured them the top spot.

India finished with a goal difference of +3, while the German goal difference was -1.

England finished third with four points after being held to a 1-1 draw by New Zealand, for whom this was their only point in three outings. India opened the scoring in the sixth minute when Gurwinder Singh Chandi picked up the ball from Rupinder Pal Singh on top of the circle and sent a stinging shot into the boards. Germany equalised in the 14th minute through Oliver Korn, who capitalised on the shaky Indian defence on his second attempt after the first had rebounded off the right post.

India went ahead again in the 46th minute as Nitin Thimmiah deflected in Birendra Lakra's shot into the net following their first penalty corner. Lakra had picked up a rebound after V R Raghunath's penalty corner shot was blocked by the goalkeeper.

Asian Voice - Saturday 8th December 2012

South Africa crush Australia to clinch series

South Africa ruined Ricky Ponting's farewell with an emphatic 309-run victory over Australia in the third Test on Monday to clinch the three-match series 1-0 and cement their position at the top of the ICC Test rankings.

Ponting had been hoping to sign off in his 168th Test with a victory that would have allowed Australia to leapfrog the Proteas and return to the summit of the game they dominated for so much of his career.

Australia, 40-0 overnight, never looked getting anywhere near the winning target of 632 they had been set, however, and were bowled out for 322 in their second innings shortly before the scheduled close of play.

Appropriately, it was the South African bowling unit which sealed the victory after finally firing in Perth to turn the series around with a devastating spell on the morning of day two at the WACA. The hosts had had the better of day one as well as the drawn Tests in Brisbane and Adelaide but the South Africans struck back with a vengeance to become the first

team since West Indies in the 1980s and 1990s to win consecutive series Down Under.

They got the best possible start to the day on Monday with two early wickets which brought 37-year-old Ponting to the crease for his 287th and final Test innings.

Welcomed onto the field by a guard of honour of applauding South Africans, he lasted just 40 minutes and 23 balls before the same players were shaking his hand as he headed back to the pavilion with eight runs to his name.

Two fours, the first a vintage pull, closed his Test tally at 13,378 runs for an average of 51.85 from 168 matches the second highest run count

in the long history of the game.

Spinner Robin Peterson (3127) will go down in the record books as the last bowler to dismiss the Tasmanian, tempting Ponting into an attempted cut which ended up as an edge into the hands of Jacques Kallis in the slips.

The former Australian captain took off his helmet and raised his arms to accept the applause of the crowd before taking his leave from the field where he made his Test debut 17 years ago.

Opener Warner (29) lasted just two deliveries in the bright morning sunshine before edging the ball to Graeme Smith in the slips off the bowling of Vernon Philander.

Watson (25) was the next to depart with Smith again taking the catch after Morne Morkel had softened the all-rounder up with some short bowling.

Ed Cowan outlasted Ponting and had just reached his half century when he fell for 53, leaving Michael Clarke and Mike Hussey to try and build the sort of partnership they enjoyed when Australia were in the ascendancy in the first two Tests.

It was not to be, though, as Clarke (44) was stumped charging down the wicket to Peterson with Hussey (26) and Matthew Wade (10) soon following him back to the dressing room.

The tea break only delayed the departure of Mitchell Johnson (three) and John Hastings (20) but Mitchell Starc (68 not out) and Nathan Lyon wagged the tail with some vigour in a 10th wicket partnership of 87. Starc showed his top order how they should have been done and claimed his maiden half century in 32 balls, scoring nine fours and two sixes in a fluent innings before Lyon was caught by Smith off the bowling of Dale Steyn (3-72).

Ricky Ponting bows out after 17-year Test career

Despite a cheap dismissal on Monday, Ricky Ponting went out in style, leaving the game as Australia's all-time leading Test batsman after a poignant guard of honour from the South Africans.

Not long after the adoring crowd in Perth gave him a rousing sendoff, Australia's most successful captain was soon back in the pavilion with just eight runs as his side chased an improbable 632 to win the third Test.

But Ponting, who turns 38 this month, will be judged over the course of a stellar career that equalled Steve Waugh's mark of 168 Test matches - the most in the history of Australian cricket.

His South African opponents gave due recognition as he came out to bat on Monday, lining up to applaud him onto the pitch. But in truth Ponting had failed to fire in the current series, and admitted that his time was up.

The Tasmanian, who boasts 41 centuries, with only Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar scoring more, said ahead of the series decider in Perth that he knew retirement was imminent.

"Over the last couple of weeks my level of performance hasn't been good enough," he admitted.

"My passion and love for the game hasn't changed but at

the end of the day (the decision) was based on my results."

Ponting won more Tests as captain - 48 - than any other Australian and has the astonishing success rate of almost 72 per cent as the country's one-day leader, winning 164 of his 228 games.

He had already called a halt on his captaincy of the Test and one-day team in March last year, but continued as a player.

Despite skippering Australia in more than 300 Test and one-day matches, taking over from Waugh, his magnificent innings were blighted by three Ashes series losses as captain.

Nicknamed Punter by Shane Warne for his penchant for a bet (punt) on the greyhounds, Ponting amassed 13,378 runs in 168 Tests at

51.85, and 13,704 runs in 375 one-day internationals.

As captain, he oversaw a painful transition in Australian cricket following several high-profile retirements, including Warne, Glenn McGrath, Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer.

But even with such greats in the ranks, Ponting, as captain, lost the 2005 Ashes in England, and despite engineering a 5-0 revenge in the ensuing home series in 2006/07, he again lost in 2009 and 2010/11.

That last failure was badly received in Australia -- it was their first Ashes loss at home for 24 years and followed a series of defeats by Pontingled teams.

Born the eldest of four children in the working-class

Tasmanian suburb of Mowbray, Ricky Thomas Ponting was influenced to play cricket by his uncle Greg Campbell, who played Tests for Australia in 1989 and 1990.

Ponting went on to make his state debut at 17, the youngest to represent Tasmania in the domestic Sheffield Shield competition, before making his international one-day debut aged 20 in 1995.

He only scored one against South Africa in his first match but went on to become one of cricket's batting titans, with his Test debut coming 10 months later in December against Sri Lanka in Perth.

Ponting had a rocky beginning in the public eye and was banned for three matches in 1999 by Australian cricket chiefs following an early-morning brawl in a Sydney bar.

Married with two children, he is known as a campaigner against cancer and established The Ponting Foundation with wife Rianna to raise money for young Australians afflicted by the disease.

Cricket Australia chief James Sutherland described him as one of the best players to ever to pad up, and wants him to continue in the game in some capacity, although Ponting is yet to announce his future plans.