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World: Al-Qaeda plotting Mumbai-style attack in UK Pg 12

Gambhir @ Rs 11 crore LD

IPL-IV AUCTION: HITs & mIssEs

GAUTAm Rs 11.04 cr

yUsUf Rs 9.66 cr

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Opener Gautam Gambhir today became the costliest cricketer in the IPL by fetching a whopping USD 2.4 million (approx Rs 11.04 crore) on the first day of the auctions where Indian players proved to be the biggest draw with three others going for more than USD two million.

In a high-profile auction, where Bollywood stars and corporate bigwigs were locked in a bidding war, Kolkata Knight Riders bought Gambhir for the mind-boggling sum, beating the previous high set by the English duo of Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff (USD 1.55 million) last season.

Shah Rukh Khan was not present in person but proved to be the big spender of the day by also buying hard-hitting allrounders Yusuf Pathan (Rs 9.66 crore) and Jacques Kallis (Rs

ROBIN Rs 9.2 cr

ROHIT Rs 8.74 cr

5.06 crore) for the fourth edition of event to be held from April 8 to May 20.

Gambhir, who was captain of the Delhi Daredevils last season, saw his price skyrocket 12 times from his base price of USD 200,000 (Rs 92 lakh) while three other Indian players — Yusuf (USD 2.1 million), Rohit Sharma (USD 2 million) and Robin

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PTI BANGALORE, JAN 8

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Yet tO finD a buYer GANGULy, LARA, BOUCHER & GAyLE

Uthappa (2.1 million) crossed the two million mark.

Yusuf ’s younger brother Irfan, who has not played any cricket this season, was taken by Delhi Daredevils for a surprisingly high amount of USD 1.9 (Rs 8.74 crore) million.

But there were some surprise names in the unsold list with former India and KKR captain Sourav Ganguly, West Indies bat-

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Goa’s Heartbeat: Work some fat off, Kareena’s way Pg 4

MBBS student caught copying

ting star Chris Gayle and the legendary Brian Lara failing to find a buyer.

There is still a slim chance of these players finding a team after their names come up again in the second round of bidding.

The bidding trend at the auction at times appeared to defy logic but what was certain was that the franchises were willing to spend big money on the Indian players. Mahela Jayawardene was the most expensive foreign player going to Kochi at USD 1.5 million (Rs 6.90 crore).

Cricket aside, Bollywood stars Preity Zinta and Shilpa Shetty provided the glamour quotient while liquor baron Vijay Mallya, his son Siddharth, Nita Ambani and Nusli Wadia added the corporate aura at the auction.

Cricketing brains such as Anil Kumble, Stephen Fleming, Geoff Lawson and Darren Lehmann, who have been roped in either as coaches or mentors by the franchises, helped them work out the bidding strategies.

As expected, big money was spent but the way it was spent

As if the medical paper leakage was not enough, Goa Medical College (GMC) on Saturday faced yet another embarassment when a final year MBBS student was caught copying.

The identity of the student was, however, not disclosed but sources say that the student was asked to discontinue answering exams pending inquiry.

“The paper chit has been seized by the examiner. The student was asked to stop writing his paper (Surgery I paper) and that he will be barred from answering other papers as well until the inquiry report is submitted”, said the source.

If found guilty, the student will be suspended from the GMC for one-year, the source added.

Incidentally, two question papers of the final year MBBS were leaked a week ago, which came

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HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JAN 8

Gudlar asked bribe for Bansal: Dudu’s sister HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JAN 8

The person behind the sting wherein police sub-inspector Sunil Gudlar was seen negotiating with two foreigner girls over the sale of drugs, has finally come out in open. Ayala Driham, the sister of jailed drug lord David Driham alias Dudu has alleged that Indian Police Service officer Veenu Bansal demanded bribe through Gudlar.

In her statement to Crime Branch, Ayala who shot Gudlar on spy-cam in a hotel room said Gudlar had approached her at the behest of Bansal.

“A senior officer which Gudlar is seen mentioning in the tapes is Superintendent of Police Veenu Bansal”, reads the statement to the Crime Branch on Saturday.

Ayala told the investigating team that she had to conduct the sting as the former ANC men including former ANC PSI

A senior officer which Gudlar is seen mentioning in the tapes is Superintendent of Police Veenu Bansal.

— Ayala’s statement to Crime Branch Gudlar falsely framed her brother in the drugs case.

“The probe in the drug nexus is underway. We are also carrying on the inquiry into Gudlar matter”, said a Crime Branch official.

Gudlar was caught on tape selling drugs to two foreigner girls and during a conversation, was also seen demanding bribes revealing that even his seniors were involved with him.

“Gudlar had told me that money is the only option to bail out Dudu. Also, Dudu was kept in a room next to Bansal’s cabin in the ANC office. If he was arrested, why was he not in the police lock-up”, she stated.

She claims to have necessary evidence to prove her allegations against both ANC officers. She has also handed over the entire sting footage to the Crime Branch.

A series of three tapes exposing fresh police-drug nexus was revealed through a local news channel. Even last year, seven policemen including a police inspector were suspended and arrested for corruption after their links with Dudu and another Israeli drug baron Yaniv Benaim alias Atala was exposed.

Atala’s jilted girlfriend had uploaded Atala’s confession on social websites wherein he bragged of links with Goa police. This resulted in their arrest in March 2010 while Dudu was earlier arrested in February 2010 with several kilograms of narcotics. Atala has jumped bail and reached Israel with Goa police still searching for him.

Adarsh: inquiry for overseas Indians soon panel named

CCTVs to watch rTo staff Life-long visa-free entry HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JAN 8

The Transport Department staff will now have to be wary of a third eye that will keep a constant watch on their behaviour and activities during office hours.

Transport Director Arun Desai said that all the RTO offices will now have Close Circuit Televi-

sion (CCTV) cameras installed which will grab frame by frame account of the staff and the people coming to the offices.

He said that these cameras would be in place within a fortnight which will help to keep a visual record of things happening in the RTO offices.

“The watch will be on both,

employees as well as public”, he said.

The Department will also connect all its border check posts to the main office in Panjim via Goa Broadband, an ambitious project launched in 2008 by Prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh.

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Lending a helping hand to the Indian diaspora, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today announced a special facility to enable them life-long visa-free entry into the country and participation in business and other activities here.

Singh said the government had decided to merge the Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) and the Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) cards into a single facility.

Addressing a gathering of Indian diaspora here, he pointed out that the Government had introduced the OCI and PIO cards to facilitate visa-free travel of NRIs and Indian Origin people to India as well as to provide them rights of residency and participation in business and educational activities.

“We have reviewed the functioning of these schemes, and have decided to merge the OCI and PIO cards into a single facility. We hope to iron out some of the problems that have arisen

REACHING OUT OCI, PIO cards to be merged into single facility.

Social Security Agreements with 12 countries.

Labour Mobility Partnerships with two others.

Generic arrangement with EU soon.

Indian Community Welfare Fund at all Indian Missions. in the implementation of these schemes”, he said.

Later, Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi said Government will only issue Overseas Citizen of India card which will be a kind of life-long visa.

“We have to finalise the nittygritty. But it has been decided that it will be OCI card and

International beach cricket doubtful?

HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JAN 8

Tourism Department’s ambitious International Beach Cricket Tournament scheduled later this month at Miramar is facing hurdles.

The Government is now finding it difficult to get sponsors in view of the forthcoming Cricket World Cup and the fourth edition of the IPL Twenty20.

With an eye on tourism, the Department had scheduled the

International beach cricket tournament from January 27-29. The World Cup is scheduled between Februar y and early April, whereas IPL-IV will begin immediately after the World Cup. With the given situation, the Department may now be compelled to defer its schedule if it is unable to find sponsors in time.

Confirming this, Director of Tourism, Swapnil Naik said they were indeed finding it difficult to get sponsors due to the World Cup and the IPL and as a result had not started advertising the event.

Expecting to attract a large number of tourists, the Department had engaged an advertising agency which was negotiating with companies for sponsorship.

The budget for the event is around Rs 3 crore whereas the Government investment will be limited to Rs 20-25 lakh.

India, Sri Lanka and New Zealand will participate in the (Continued on page 10)

holder of the card will have lifelong visa free entry into the country”, he said.

PIO cards are given to Indians who have migrated permanently to other countries in a bid to encourage them to visit and invest in the country of origin.

A PIO card holder does not require a visa to visit India and the card is valid for 15 years. A PIO card holder enjoys several economic and educational benefits.

On the other hand, the OCI card is a kind of life-long visa and any India origin person can apply for it if his host country allows dual citizenship.

Talking about the Indians who emigrate for work, Singh said their welfare is “a matter of special concern for us”.

To improve the conditions for migration, India has signed Social Security Agreements with 12 countries and finalized Labour Mobility Partnerships with two others, he said, adding a generic arrangement is also being negotiated with the European Union also.

PTI MUMBAI, JAN 8

Former Bombay High Court Judge J A Patil will head the Commission to probe alleged irregularities in Adarsh Housing Society scam that has seen the resignation of Ashok Chavan as Chief Minister.

The Commission will submit its report in three months, Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan told reporters here.

Former Maharashtra Chief Secretary P Subramanian will be the other member of the Commission. The decision to set up by the two-member judicial commission was announced by the Government during winter session of legislature last month.

“The inquiry Commission to probe irregularities in Adarsh would be headed by former Bombay High Court Judge J A Patil which will have former Chief Secretary P Subramanian as its second member”, Chavan said.

The Commission has been set up under the Inquiry Commis-

sion Act, 1952, he said.

“The Commission would look into the matter of land ownership of Adarsh society, if the land was reserved for Kargil war martyrs, reservation of flats, expansion of (nearby) Prakash Pethe Road, change in reservation of the BEST (civic) plot, violation of Coastal Regulation Zone norms and role of bureaucrats”, the Chief Minister said.

The Commission would also make recommendations to avoid any such cases in future, he said.

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GOA, SUNDAY, 9 JANUARY, 2011

CM assures to help NGOs working for street children

Chief Minister Digambar Kamat and Moulana Ibrahim of Quality Foods with street children at the Ravindra Bhavan, Margao.

Photo by Santosh Mirajkar HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JAN 8

Chief Minister Digambar Kamat on Saturday assured all out government support and assistance to NGOs working for the protection and welfare of street children in the state.

He was addressing a function organized by NGO El Shaddai street child rescue after launching a school bus donated by Moulana Ibrahim of Quality Food and Quality Exports at the Ravindra bhavan, Margao.

Saying that the children are the future pillars of the country, the Chief Minster underlined the need to groom the children in a conducive environment to ensure they don’t go astray. “The country is progressing at a fast pace, but it is sad that the gap between the rich and the poor

is also growing”, he said, while complimenting NGOs working with street children and special children in the state.

In his address, Moulana Ibrahim of Quality Foods suggested to the Chief Minister to grant 100 percent income tax exemption to businessmen donating for charities. “The government should explore the possibility of exempting the entire donations from Income Tax”, he said.

Saying that El Shaddai Charitable Trust is doing noble job for providing shelter for the homeless, health facilities and education for orphans, street children and children coming from underprivileged sections, Ibrahim appealed to the gathering to donate generously to the noble cause of El Shaddai

Charitable Trust and help them expand its wings to the nook and corner of the state and country.

“It is said that poverty is the parent of revolution and terrorism. If orphans and street children are left alone on the streets without care and love today, they would get into antisocial activities and become antisocial elements of tomorrow”, Ibrahim said.

Incidentally, Ibrahim had donated a van to El Shaddai charitable trust last year and has donated a Tata Winger to be used by the NGO as a school bus for the street children.

Margao Municipal Chairperson Sushila Naik also spoke, while co-founder of El Shaddai Charitable Trust Mathew Kurian also addressed the gathering.

2 held for Nepali labourer’s murder

Churchill sets Jan 31 deadline for Telaulim-Varca bridge completion

HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JAN 8

A breakthrough has been achieved in the murder case of a Nepali labourer as the Panjim police have arrested two persons who have confessed to the crime.

The accused have been identified as Rajendra Bhandari (52) of Central Nepal and Maktum Bharoti alias Babu (42) of Dharwad, Karnataka.

According to the police, the accused rag-pickers have confessed of killing Ramesh Lal Bahadur Dangui (31) with a stone on a footpath, early on Friday morning.

“Both accused have confessed to have committed the crime, which was a result of a physical fight between them under the influence of alcohol. They are habitual drunkards and they would often fight with each other over petty issues like grabbing food,” Inspector Sandesh Chodankar said.

Body of the 31-year-old daily wage labourer was found with his head smashed near the footbath, which is hardly meters away from the Panjim police headquarters. The victim’s head was smashed with a stone, which is used for a pillow.

The cause of death has confirmed ‘death due to head injury.’

The trio would spend their nights on the footpaths and wander about places during the day.

The investigating team is recording statements of witnesses in the case even as 10 suspects were rounded up for interrogation, late on Friday night. The accused have been remanded to 10-day police custody.

Even as the Special Leave Petition (SLP) filed by Raheja Corporation will come up for hearing in the Supreme Court on Monday, the SEZ Virodhi Manch has said it expects the Advocate General of the government of Goa to be present for the hearing in the Apex court on January 10.

“The absence of the Advocate General of the Goa Government for the hearing will only expose the government of Goa of its connivance with the SEZ promoters”, asserted SVM Convenor Charles Fernandes.

Raheja has filed the Special Leave Petition in the Supreme Court seeking interim relief from the high court Judgment dated November 26, 2010.

Members of the SEZ Virodhi Manch (SVM), which spearheaded a successful agitation against Special Economic Zone projects in Goa, had expressed satisfaction and rejoiced over the verdict of the High Court of Bombay at Goa on November 26, 2010 in the SEZ land case.

The court in its judgment quashed the allotments of land to the promoters of SEZ projects — Meditab Specialities at Kerim, Peninsula Pharma at Sancoale, and Raheja Corporation, Paradigm Logistics, Inox Mercantile, Planetview Mercantile and Maxgrowe Finlease at Verna.

Fernandes said the court passed strictures against the Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) Board for allotting approximately 39 lakh sq m of land “illegally and in undue haste”.

HERALD REPORTER VASCO, JAN 8

Rear Admiral R K Patnaik, flag officer commanding India’s western fleet and Rear Admiral Jean Louis Kerignard, commander of French Maritime Force at a joint press meet onboard ‘INS Viraat’.

Photo by M Prabhav

‘Godavari’ and ‘Ganga’ and a submarine ‘Shalki’ are participating,” said Patnaik.

“The Indian and the French Navy have been conducting such bilateral exercises since May

Pay up 5K or forfeit plots, GHB tells allottees HERALD CORRESPONDENT CANACONA, JAN 8

About 50 people who had booked a plot in the proposed Shristhal Housing Board at Mokhard in 1989 are in for a rude shock.

According to sources, they have received a letter dated December 20, 2010, from Goa Housing Board (GHB), asking them to pay a demand draft for Rs 5,000 drawn in favour of Goa Housing Board Margao within 25 days or else, they would forfeit their right to the plot.

Many residents in the taluka had deposited Rs 1,500 in 1989 as booking amount of a housing plot in the proposed Shristhal Housing Board.

Interestingly, the rates quoted by GHB for the plots are cited at Rs 1,700 per sq mtr and the size of plots ranges between 211 sq mtrs and 369 sq mtrs.

The letter further warns that non-payment of a DD for Rs 5,000 within the stipulated time will forfeit the right to own the housing plot.

The letter signed by GHB Managing Director Melvyn Vaz states that the balance cost amount

of the plots will be recovered after due deduction of the deposits of Rs 1,500 (applicant had made while booking the plots in 1989) and accrued interest of this deposit.

The area of the housing plot ranges between 211 sq mtrs and 369 sq mtrs.

Sources told Herald that other conditions have also been imposed by the GBA. Those with a maximum monthly income of Rs 12,600 and annual income of Rs 2 lakh are only eligible for the plots.

Sources further informed that the exorbitant rates and other restrictions have left several applicants in the lurch.

Said an applicant, who want to remain anonymous: “There were no conditions other than being a resident and the rates that were deemed reasonable in 1989 were never above the twofigure mark.”

“Even private plots in the area were recently sold at Rs 500 per sq mtr a year ago. A housing plot which is being sold for Rs 1,700 per sq mtr is beyond our imagination,” observed another applicant.

TN native killed in Dabolim mishap HERALD REPORTER VASCO, JAN 8

A 55-year-old native from Tamil Nadu but residing at Galinth-Bogmalo was killed on Saturday afternoon when a speeding car rammed his parked scooter along the Bogmalo road at Alto-Dabolim.

According to Vasco police, George Mayday had parked his scooter (GA-02-L-5348) along the Bogmalo road and was waiting for his child to receive him after school.

A speeding car Maruti Ritz (GA-06-D-2680), driven

by Rohit Prakash Pandey (18), rammed into the scooter from the rear and Mayday was killed on the spot.

An eye-witness to the incident said the car was at a high speed, when it rammed into the scooter.

“The man was flung to a distance of nearly 10 metres and banged his head on a stone. The car later went off the road,” said Dharamveer.

Srinagar native held for drugs possession HERALD CORRESPONDENT CALANGUTE, JAN 8

Anjuna Police arrested a native of Srinagar but residing at Calangute on charges of possessing drugs worth Rs 80,000 at Anjuna on Saturday.

Acting on a tip off, Anjuna Police arrested Mohammadar Ghulam Rasood (29) at Baga while he was waiting for prospective customers. The raid was carried out by Anjuna Police Inspector Manjunath Dessai and his team late Friday night.

After rounding up Rasood, Anjuna Police seized from him 802 grammes of Charas valued at Rs 80,000. Anjuna Police is investigating the case.

SVM hopes AG appears at Raheja’s SLP case

HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JAN 8

PWD Minister Churchill Alemao inspecting work on the Telaulim-Varca bridge over River Sal. Photo by Santosh Mirajkar HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JAN 8

PWD Minister, Churchill Alemao on Saturday inspected work on the Telaulim-Varca bridge under construction over River Sal and set January 31 as the deadline for the contractor to complete the ongoing works.

He later told newsmen that the PWD would go ahead with the construction of the Sinquetim-Benaulim once permission is received from the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests.

After inspecting the bridge

‘Indo-French naval exercise to help combat piracy’ The eleventh edition of the bilateral Indo-French naval exercise ‘Varuna’ would help combat global anti-piracy effectively and strengthen ties between both countries, claimed the commanding officers of the IndoFrench exercise.

Rear Admiral R K Patnaik, flag officer commanding India’s western fleet and Rear Admiral Jean Louis Kerignard, commander of the French Maritime Force stated that ‘Varun’ would strength the ties of both countries, creating a platform for officers and sailors of both navies to understand the operational capabilities of each other.

Addressing a joint press conference on board India’s only aircraft carrier ‘INS Viraat’ on Saturday, Rear Adm. Patnaik said over 300 officers and 1500 sailors are engaged in the exercise.

“For India, the ‘Viraat’, frigates

GOA

1993. Such exercises are in the long-term interest of both nations,” he added.

“The MG-29K will not be part of the exercise, but the Britishmade Sea Harrier fighter, fixed and rotary wing aircraft also participate in exercise.”

Rear Adm. Kerignard told reporters that the exercises include the entire gamut of maritime operations, ranging from aircraft carrier operations, anti-submarine warfare exercises and maritime interdiction operations exercises.

“Such exercises help during joint anti-piracy operations or humanitarian missions,” he added.

The naval exercises, which commenced from January 7 till January 14, are being conducted off Goa’s coast.

The French navy’s aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle is also participating in the exercise, along with the newly-inducted destroyer FNS Forbin.

“This is FNS Forbin’s first deployment. It has just been inducted into service,” Rear Adm Kerignard said.

Parrikar hits out at police for shameful role in drug peddling HERALD CORRESPONDENT CANACONA, JAN 8

Hitting out at the police force for stooping to such low levels in the police-drug peddler nexus, Opposition Leader Manohar Parrikar has said some of them were even capable of selling off their parents to earn money.

Addressing a massive rally during the concluding two-day IX Lokostav-2011 at AmoneCanacona, Parrikar also took a dig at some politicians involved in mining activities.

Parrikar was originally to preside over the concluding function, but ended up being the chief guest as Jarkhand Chief Minister Arjun Munda was reportedly preoccupied at the BJP’s national Guwahati convention and did not turn up.

In his inimitable style, Parrikar raked up the police-drug peddler nexus and miners-politicians nexus.

“Before reaching here, I attended a meeting of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), where the main issue was that of mining. I was devastated to see some of the then green mountains in Sanguem taluka now turned to red-hordes of mud,” said Parrikar.

“You Canconkars are lucky.

There are nine mining leases in Canacona, but there isn’t a single one operative in this part of the state. In North, even a Police inspector is engaged in operating trucks for mining activities,” he added.

“Sanguem, which was once

Goa state’s bowl-of-water is now turned into a mining reject yard.

Greed has made politicians more inclined to mining than miners themselves,” remarked the opposition leader.

Commenting on the police force, Parrikar said: “I feel ashamed to talk about the police now, as lately someone caught a PSI on camera selling drugs. I don’t know what they will do next. Some must have already sold even their parents to earn money.”

“Now, someone has come forward with a claim that Goa has gold reserves. I am told that a meeting was immediately chaired in the State, and at least 5-6 ministers/politicians are in a hurry to buy land. They are inquiring into the ‘gold reserves’ in the State, so that they can buy the land,” stated Parrikar.

Earlier, Dr Uday Gaonkar, environmentalist Rajendra Kerkar, local singer Sulaksha Velip and CMC Chairperson Ratnakar Dhuri were felicitated by Parrikar.

In his speech, Poinguinim MLA Ramesh Tawadkar claimed that Canacona could not longer be considered a backward area anymore.

“It is blessed with unmatched richness along its coast, hills and rivers. We are even more blessed because we have no mines in Canacona,” he said.

Sanguem MLA Vasudev Meng Gaonkar, Shiroda MLA Madhav Naik, ZP (Khola) Krishna Velip and Subhash Velingkar were also present as special invitees.

along with Principal Chief Engineer, J Rego and other senior officials, Alemao told the contractor that he would not tolerate any further delay in the completion of the works and want all work to be completed in all respect by January 31.

The PWD Minister further told the contractor to make provision for a pathway for the benefit of pedestrians.

W h e n n e w s m e n a s ke d him on the fate of the controversial Sinquetim-Benaulim bridge, Alemao said that work on the bridge

would commence once the PWD receives the necessary permission from the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests.

“Let me make it categorically clear that work on the Sinquetim-Benaulim would commence no sooner the green signal comes from the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests. I am confident the necessary permission from the Union Ministr y would come no sooner the PWD submits all the relevant details concerning the project”, he added.

GMC to host series of events to update medical knowledge HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JAN 8

Medical Education Cell (MEC) of the Goa Medical College (GMC) is slated to hold series of events at the medical institute premise.

The newly constituted MEC has planned out extensive academic activity for 2011 and 2012 in form of workshops and training by renowned visiting faculty.

“The visiting faculty will be from all over the country and will consist of stalwarts who have done pioneering work in respective specialty,” Continuing Medical Education (CME) coordinator and Head of (Orthopaedics) Department Dr S M Bandekar told media persons at

Cong playing politics on temple issue, says BJP HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JAN 8

The Navelim BJP Mandal has lashed out at the Congress for trying to make politics out of the Shri Swami Samarth Temple issue in the Rumdamol Housing Board.

In a press note issued on Saturday, the Mandal said that the Congress tried to make inroads in the BJP dominated Panchayat body by pressurizing government officials to direct the Panchayat body to issue demolition notice to the temple management.

The Mandal said that it is clearly evident that the Congress government tried to capitalize on the situation by again directing the Deputy Director of Panchayats to keep the matter in abeyance.

Asking the Congress party and the leaders not to make a political capital out of the religious issue, the BJP said that the party would regularize the temple once its government comes back to power in the state.

2 held for causing noise pollution HERALD CORRESPONDENT CALANGUTE, JAN 8

Two persons were arrested on charges of causing noise pollution on Friday.

A n j u n a Po l i c e a r re s t e d Prasad Sandip Chimulkar of M a z i l Va d d o , A n j u n a a n d Pradeep Colvalkar of Hudo Vaddo, Anjuna, and confiscated the musical instruments from their commercial premises on Friday. Both were later released on bail.

a press conference late on Friday night.

The faculty members will also conduct difficult surgeries and for this, the Cell is contemplating approaching the Indian Medical Association for eminent speakers.

“The series of events will update the knowledge of others including medical practitioners,” he said adding that they have already conducted a CME on critical care, recently.

The Cell has invited Dr Sunaina, attached to a renowned hospital in US to conduct a workshop on how to detect deafness in early childhood, on January 13.

This will be followed by another workshop on liver transplant by Dr Rahul Kakodkar, attached to Jupiter Hospital in Mumbai. Dr Rahul handled the sensational Nadia Torrado case, last year when she was shifted to Mumbai before being transported to Chennai hospital where she died from complications after consuming ratol.

GMC meanwhile, will be celebrating its golden jubilee year on March 12, 2012. GMC Dean Dr V N Jindal said that both these years will also be full of programs for the general public and doctors on various health related issues.

Belgaum kite festival to boost ties with Goa HERALD CORRESPONDENT BELGAUM, JAN 8

While colorful kites adorn the Belgaum skies, a new chapter in the history of the relationship between Belgaum and Goa would be scripted during the first Belgaum International Kite Festival, which is being held here on January 16 and 17.

Adept arrangements are made on war footing to host the festival, while Belgaum (South) MLA Abhay Patil who has organized this festival along with kite expert K V Rao, is leaving no stone unturned for the success of this festival.

A large numbers of foreign tourists from Goa have confirmed their visit to the festival.

Many kite enthusiasts from Goa and other parts of India are expected to take part in this festival which could be termed as the first venture of its kind officially connecting Belgaum and Goa. Speaking to reporters after launching the official website of the festival www.belgaumkitefest.com on Friday, MLA Abhay Patil said the festival is aimed at promoting the relationship between Belgaum and Goa. “This festival is aimed at promoting and strengthening the age-old bilateral relationship between Belgaum and Goa,” Patil said adding that Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) has extended full co-operation in the venture.

“All the free arrangements, including five Volvo buses, have been made for the foreign tourists. We have also made free transport arrangements for Goans, who would like to witness the two-day extravaganza which is poised to strengthen the relationship between Belgaum and Goa,” MLA Patil ascertained.

“About 30 international kiteflying experts have confirmed their participation. Some kite

n This festival is aimed at promoting and strengthening the age-old bilateral relationship between Belgaum and Goa. Goa Tourism Development Corporation has extended full cooperation in the venture.

--- MLA Abhay Patil flyers from France and UK shall display their dexterity by flying a number of kites simultaneously with both the hands,” said Patil adding that about one lakh people from Belgaum, Goa and north Karnataka and other parts of India are expected to witness the festival.

Already, various teams across the country as also those of foreigners will be participating in the two-day festival.

Interestingly, flyers will fly the kites at night as well near Kote Kere (Fort Lake) at Belgaum Fort, which is a first of its kind experiment in the entire country.

Flying kites attached with lamps/lights during the night on January 16 will be the star attraction of the unique festival.

A number of stalls displaying the local products such as handloom sarees, sweets, food-stuffs, processed food products different types of kites including designer kites will be opened around the venue.

“We propose to take the visiting foreign tourists and dignitaries to the nearby tourism spots so that this shall automatically culminate in a regular annual feature of Belgaum city in the years to follow,” stated Patil urging people of Goa to take part in the festival in big numbers.

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Pg3 GOA, SUNDAY, 9 JANUARY, 2011

Civil rights activists to launch campaign for special status HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JAN 8

With meager 450 square kilometers disposable land left in Goa, the civil rights activists have decided to propel a movement demanding Special Status for the state by amending the Constitution of India. “It’s never late. The constitution was amended many times,� renowned social activist Mathany Saldanha told an informal meeting at Goa International Centre, Dona Paula on Saturday evening. “We welcome everyone to come here but don’t buy the land and make us stranger,� Saldanha said in his half an hour speech which led the discussion on the roadmap to move the state government give special status to Goa. The participating activists including Rui Da Gama, Florian Lobo, Yatish Naik, Julio D’Silva and others resolved that the state legislative assembly should pass a resolu-

tion pressing for the special status.

Saldanha said that the land in Goa is already under forest, agricultural, coastal belt and already utilized. “We are left with only 450 square kilometers of land which needs to be protected for future generations,� he said.

He said that soon after the liberation the Goans were either divided on the basis of caste and religion or also terrified after facing 450 years of Portuguese rule. “We never had guts to tell the central government what we want. That’s why we had to fight every time. May it be opinion poll or Konkani language agitation,� Saldanha, who also chairs National Fishermen’s Forum, said. “Then fathers of constitution did not feel it wise to give representation to Goa in the constitution. That’s why we are suffering now,� he said adding that there is lot of insecurity

M’rashtra man held with goddess idol HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JAN 8

The Margao police on Saturday arrested a native of Maharashtra

with an idol of goddess. Margao police said that Gajanan Suruse has been placed under arrest under section 41 of the IPC.

which has come in the fate of Goa. Saldanha has said that with no provision to protect the land, majority of it is being given for commercial activity. “This has resulted in large influx of people from outside.

Does Goa have capacity to contain this population?� he questioned.

He said that special status is the only thing which can protect the land of Goa. “People are feeling insecure. The special status will cease buying of any land in the state,� Saldanha said.

During the interaction, the activists reminded the assurance given by Congress President Sonia Gandhi during last assembly election to give special status to Goa. They recalled that even after the liberation, then prime minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru had promised that Goa’s special identity, language and culture would be protected.

Paper leak after-effect: GMC to tighten noose on docs License renewal to be made mandatory after every 5 years

HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JAN 8

After an embarrassing episode of the medical paper leak on Monday, Goa Medical College (GMC) in a fresh endeavor has decided for periodic renewal of the medical practitioners.

Speaking to reporters late on Friday night, GMC Dean Dr V N Jindal said that they will shortly implement registration of doctors every five years. “Goa Medical Council has made it mandatory for all medical practitioners to renew their registration every five years with the Council. The renewal will be possible after scrutinizing their overall performance during each period before renewal, medical care for their patients and other criteria will also be taken into account�, Jindal said.

To achieve the renewal, it is also mandatory for a practicing doctor to have at least 30 Continuing Medical Education (CME)

credits.

With this implementation, GMC would be the first medical institute in the country for having adopted this policy. All CMEs of the Medical Education Cell are accredited by the Council.

GMC comprises of 600 medical practitioners including resident doctors. Around 100 MBBS graduates and 84 post graduates pass out from the GMC every year.

GMC was in an embarrassing situation when Goa University had to cancel two of the final year MBBS papers after it was found to be leaked to the students prior to the exams on January 1.

Herald exposed the leak on Monday after which General Medicine I and II were cancelled.

While General Medicine II was cancelled minutes before the exam, General Medicine I which was already answered also stood cancelled.

Sources said that a faculty member had dictated the questions to a batch of 50 students and asked them to pass it on to the remaining 50 students.

Agassaim police are, meanwhile, carrying out investigation against six paper setters under the Goa Prevention of Malpractices Act University, Board and Other Specified Examinations Act 1991.

Govt to go ahead with uni-colour plan for buses HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JAN 8

Notwithstanding the opposition, the state government has decided to go ahead with plans for uni-colour to all private buses in the state.

State Transport Minister Ramkrishna Dhawalikar told Herald that the government is firm on its decision to have similar colour to all buses in the state. “The points raised by the private bus operators are meaningless‌they are afraid that their irregularities would be opened up,â€? Dhawalikar said adding that the concept of having uni-colour to all private buses will help in curbing up the increasing irregularities of the bus operators. “I receive several calls from the villagers who often complaints about non availability of bus on Sunday’s. These private buses which ply in most of the rural areas use their buses for picnics and other functions on

2 killed in Mollem mishap HERALD CORRESPONDENT COLLEM JAN 8

The driver and cleaner of a Karnataka-bound truck died in an accident when the truck fell into a valley along the Panjim-Belgaum highway near the Dudhsagar temple, about 8 kms from the Mollem outpost on Friday at about 9 pm.

According to Collem Police Inspector Monoj Mardolkar, the mishap took place as the truck (KA-25-B-9967) was proceeding from Mollem to Belgaum.

A s t h e t r u c k re a c h e d Dudhsagar, the driver lost control of the vehicle at a sharp curve, which is an accidentprone zone, and the truck fell into a valley. The driver Jagdish Gurrappa Godi (35) of Novalcond in Dhar wad-Karnataka and cleaner, Basavraj Maruthi Budnar, (32)from Anant Nagar in HubliKarnataka died on the spot.

weekends or on working days too making public to suffer,� he said.

The government as part of streamlining private bus service in the state had offered that all the private buses with All Goa Permits should have common colour.

The proposal which was forwarded by the transport minister has been unanimously objected by the private bus operators.

In their written objection to the government, the operators have claimed that passengers identify the buses based on their colours. “It’s a childish excuse‌.the literacy rate here is around 81 percent‌people can very well read the name plates,â€? minister said.

Dhawalikar today cleared that maximum Rs 15,000 per bus will be paid to the bus operators as subsidy to paint it. “They are free to colour their buses at any garage‌we will give them money and colour will be of our choice,â€? he added.

Chowgule Education Society’s St. Joseph’s Institute Primary Section Vasco-da-Gama, Baina Goa

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;Though the native of JalgaonMaharashtra has maintained that

he had purchased the idol from a scrap yard at Khareband, the police are investigating into all aspects and anglesâ&#x20AC;?, informed Margao PI

Santosh Desai. He said the police would be investigating the matter against the backdrop of the spate of temple thefts and burglaries.

OHERALDO

GOA

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GOA, SUNDAY, 9 JANUARY, 2011

s h o rt ta k e s ‘Just Girls’ excel at Vem Cantar

‘Faulty eating habits cause of ill health among youth’ HERALD NEWS BUREAU PANJIM, JAN 8

PANJIM(HND): ‘Just Girls’ of Our Lady of Rosary High School, Dona Paula recently secured the second place in Vem Cantarthe Portuguese singing competition organised by Rosary College of Commerce and Arts, Navelim together with Fundacao Oriente.

Ana Karina Diniz, Whitney Godinho, Darlene Fernandes and Shaina Rodrigues accompanied by Phil Marie Dos Santos on the keyboard and Nigel Dos Santos on the guitar, expanded their group to include Eamonne Dias, Jodanne Pereira, Sheena Britto, Sasha Rodrigues, Kimberly Gomes, Twyla Ferrao and Shannon D’Souza and enrolled for the three carol singing competitions organized by Goa 365, YMCA and Mapusa Merchants Association, they managed to secure second position in all three.

Just Girls and Nigel spread the Christmas cheer for the old when they visited Mae de Deus, an old age home for women and Christ Raj Bhavan, for men, both in Saligao and sang carols for them.

They also performed at the Clube Nacional Children’s Christmas party and had the little kids dancing and singing along with them. For Just Girls, it wasn’t the winning that was important, but just knowing that they had reached out and made this Christmas a memorable one for a lot of people, says a press release.

GPCC President Subhash Shirodkar welcomes Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee President Dr Rita Bahuguna Joshi to Congress House, Panjim. Also present are Gen Secretaries Artur Sequeira and Nitish Kavlekar and Mahila Congress President Monica Dias.

Blood donation camp held VALPOI(HC): Phoenix Socio-Cultural Association (PSCA), Valpoi, in collaboration with Dr Ashok Amshekar recently organised 28th annual blood donation camp at Dr Amshekar Hospital, Valpoi.

Besides association members, prominent people from Valpoi including VMC Vice Chairperson Fehmida Khan and Councillor Darmendra Salonke voluntarily donated blood.

About 50 units of blood were donated. The camp was successfully conducted under the supervision of Dr Clare D’Mello and other staff of GMC Blood Bank, which included Shashikant Bhosle, Daya Naik, Dhanashree Shirodker and Sunil Gaonker.

Director of Health Services Dr Rajnanda Desai has stated that faulty eating habits is a major cause of poor health among adolescents.

Dr Desai was addressing a gathering at the concluding function of the Nutrition Awareness Program (NAP) of Nestle India Limited organized at the Goa College of Home Science.

The NAP in Goa was jointly organized by Nestle India Limited in collaboration with Goa College of Home Science.

"Creating awareness about food habits and a healthy lifestyle is the need of the hour and such awareness programs will go a long way in combating the malnutrition scenario," said Dr Desai.

"Many adolescents have impaired nutritional status due to faulty food habits and anemia is widely prevalent among adolescent girls," she added.

Dr Desai said that making

good and informed food choices is vital for improving the nutritive value of the diet and nutritional status of the community.

She later distributed prizes to the winners of various competitions held during the NAP. Earlier, Rajal K Shinkre, principal of Goa College of Home Science introduced presented a brief report of the NAP in the State.

The NAP under the aegis of the Global Healthy Kids Program was launched by Nestle India Limited to create awareness of good nutritional practices, healthy lifestyle and greater physical activity amongst adolescent school girls in rural and semi-urban areas.

The NAP which consisted of 6 modules spread over 6 sessions each of 2 hours duration once a week, covered 1,020 students, from eight schools in Bicholim and Ponda.

In the beginning of the first session, folders (including pro-

Justice Britto retires HERALD CORRESPONDENT PORVORIM, JAN 8

Justice Nelson A Britto retired on Saturday after serving for nearly seven years as judge of the Bombay High Court.

A resident of Porvorim, Justice Britto (62) passed BA (Economics and Political Science) from Chowgule College, Margao, in 1969. He stood first in Constitutional Law in the first Year LLB from Poona University in 1970 and bagged the Dr Abhyankar Constitutional Law Prize.

In the third year LLB, he stood first in criminology in Bombay University in 1972. He joined the Bar on July 14, 1972. He stood first in the written and oral examinations held by Government for the post of Assistant Public Prosecutor (APP).

He joined as APP from August 3, 1973 and since then, he has worked as APP, Public Prosecutor and Government Pleader till joining judicial service in the State.

He began his judicial career as civil judge, (Junior Division) on January 7, 1982 and was promoted as C.J.S.D in August 1986.

He stood first in oral interviews for the post of Additional District Judge in December 1993 and was appointed as Additional District and Assistant Sessions Judge on March 3, 1994.

He was appointed as President of Administrative Tribunal from June 5, 1995 to August 30, 1997 and was appointed as Dis-

gram content) along with general guidelines were distributed to each participant. Pre-and post-programme evaluation was carried out with a pre-structured test to evaluate the knowledge increment of the participants.

During the programme, a number of competitions were organized for the participants.

Officials from Nestle India Limited who participated in the programme included Factory Manager (Ponda) Arun Pantheeradi,Factory Manager (Bicholim) Nirmala Shahapurkar and Corporate Affairs Manager Sanjay Bhandari.

Others present included Gauri Mishal, Zimaida D'Costa and Vandana Kakodkar, school representatives, participants of NAP and students and staff of Goa College of Home Science.

On the occasion, students of TYBSc Home Science (Food, Nutrition and Dietetics) performed a skit on Balanced Diet and Healthy Lifestyle.

HERALD CORRESPONDENT CANACONA, JAN 8

CHC Canacona recently conducted Information and Communication (IEC) programme at AmonePoinguinim to create awareness among the residents on upcoming survey by medical teams for ‘Early Detection and Management of Chronic Kidney Diseases’ project.

The kidney ailments detection project is being vigorously undertaken in the taluka by health authorities, as widespread chronic kidney ailments allegedly affecting taluka residents continue to take prominence in the State.

The health team consisting of Medical Officer Dr Vandana Dessai and health educator spoke to the people on kidney diseases and related problems and requested people to whole-heartedly cooperate by giving correct answers to the queries posed by visiting surveyors at their residences and localities.

Poinguinim Sarpanch Tejaswini Deikar requested the people to take benefits and subject themselves to the survey teams for their own health sake.

Absence of doctor at Corlim PHC angers locals HERALD CORRESPONDENT OLD GOA, JAN 8

trict and Sessions Judge on September 1, 1997.

He was later elevated as judge of the high court on March 15, 2004.

Speaking to Herald, Porvorim Residents Welfare Association Secretary Juino De Souza said: "Justice Britto had no airs, but only graces.

He is simple, unassuming and his valuable service to the State should continue."

Awareness on kidney diseases held at Canancona

Residents of Corlim and surrounding areas have been outraged over the absence of a doctor at the Primary Health Centre (PHC) in Corlim.

Since the past three days, there has been no doctor at the Corlim PHC and patients visiting the hospital have had to return home without availing of any treatment.

"I had gone to check my diabetes at the Corlim PHC on Thursday and I was surprised to know that there was not a single doctor in the hospital.

When I checked up with the staff, I was told that the doctor had gone out," complained Pandurang Parvatkar.

"I don't know what the health minister or the health department are doing in the matter.

Poor people like us are the worst affected," he added.

When contacted, Director of Health Services Dr Rajnanda Dessai informed that Dr Kedar Raikar has been given the duty at the Corlim PHC. "He should be taking charge any time now, but I can't comment on why there was not a single doctor on Wednesday or Thursday and I will look into the matter," said Dr Dessai.

Dr Dessai also stated that the Health Department is in the process of recruiting 15 new medical officers in different centres in the State.

Bal Anand Melava held at Mollem HERALD CORRESPONDENT COLLEM, JAN 8

Mollem School Complex recently organized its annual Bal Anand Melava at Satpal-Mollem.

Primary schools students from Mollem, Zambaulim, Dhat-Sangod, Suctolim, PalaskataKasavalim, Bondumal and students of Std 5 of Abhinav Vidya Mandir High School Mollem participated in the melava.

Mollem Sarpanch Govind Gaonkar, who was the chief

guest, garlanded the portrait of Pt Jawaharlal Nehru in the presence of Headmaster of Abhinav Vidya Mandir Sharadchandra Khandepar and others.

Speaking on the occasion, chief guest Gaonkar appealed the students to participate in various programmes and competitions for their all-round development. He also stressed on the importance of teacher’s role in the moulding the students.

About 200 students and 15

teachers participated in the melava. Forester Lambor explained the importance medical plants in the present age. He also showed some plants which are useful for various diseases like HIV/AIDS, Blood Pressure, etc.

During the melava, various competitions, entertainment games and programmes were organized.

Teachers Kiran, Sanam Gaonkar and Ranjita Maselkar taught the students dances songs and some entertainment games.

upcoming events ‘Kraftwork Nite’ at St Cruz PANJIM (HND): ‘Kraftwork Nite’ a traditional musical beat show will be held on January 26 from 7 pm onwards at St Agustinho Grounds, St Cruz. This show is being organised for the 22nd consecutive year by Jose Fernandes in memory of his late brother Anton Joao Fernandes.

Live music will be provided by Goa's leading bands - Status 4, Brothers-In-Arms, India, Open Highway, William Rodrigues (one-man-band). The show will be compered by Cedric and DJ Kelly Cruz will also rock the show.

This year the show is sponsored by Alor Grande, Candolim and Furtado's, Panjim. There will be lots of prizes and gift hampers from Alor Grande, Candolim.

Adequate security and parking will be arranged by the organisers for smooth running of the show. The sound and lights will be provided by Cas-ant Power. Information and details will also be released through advertisements in all the local dailies of Goa.

VHP meet at Farmagudi PANJIM (HND): Vishwa Hindu Parishad Gomantak will organise a public meeting on January 9 at 4.30 pm at Engineering College Ground Farmagudi, Ponda. International President of VHP Ashok Singhal, International General Secretary Dr Pravinbhai Togadia, and other Leaders of VHP will address the Meeting.

Konkani Musical Show PANJIM (HND): Goykaranchi Konkani Bhas Songit, Kala ani Sonskrutai Kendr, Merxe Goy, will organise a free Konkani Musical Show with Goa's top most Konkani singers of the stage and a comedy skit by Aniceto Lourenco and his Troupe on January 16 at 6.30 pm near Merces Church, on the occasion of Opinion Poll Day (Goychi Osmitai Dis) in memory of Father of the Opinion Poll, Dr Jack de Sequeira. The programme is supported by Tiatr Academy of Goa.

Miraculous Cross feast at Anjuna PANJIM (HND): The feast of Miraculous Cross at Anjuna Hill will be celebrated on January 10 at 4.30 pm with the Eucharistic celebration. This year, the feast will be celebrated by Placido Carvalho, Agnes Carvalho and Pearl Carvalho.

Get-together held at Ucassaim parish

Parish Priest Fr Ave Maria Afonso along with the chief guest Crispino Marcello, Benny Baretto and others.

PANJIM (HND): The Christmas Festivities were concluded with Parish get-together at St Elizabeth’s Church, Ucassaim.

Crispino Marcello was the chief guest and Benny Baretto, the guest of honour.

The highlight of the programme was the Bible Quiz competition, ‘Kaun Banega Povitr Pustokacho Premi’ which was won

by Agatha Vaz and Manuel Leitao.

Crispino Marcello lauded the efforts of the parishioners and

encouraged them to participate fully in such parish activities.

The Parish Priest Fr Ave Maria Afonso himself acted in a humorous play which was well received by the audience. After the cultural programme traditional rice, sambarachi koddi, melgor and vonn (sweet dish) were ser ved to about 400 parishioners. Prizes were given to the winners of the various competitions held during the week long Christmas season.

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GOA, SUNDAY, 9 JANUARY, 2011

People urged to interact with officials on govt schemes

Bicholim MLA Rajesh Patnekar distributes cheques to the beneficiaries under Rajiv Aavas scheme at Bicholim.

Photo by Vishant Vaze HERALD CORRESPONDENT MAYEM, JAN 8

Bicholim MLA Rajesh Patnekar has called upon the people and panch members to coordinate with the government officials to get knowledge of different government schemes.

He was addressing the gath-

ering during cheque distribution programme conducted by Social and Welfare Department under Rajiv Awas Yojna for the beneficiaries from Mayem, Bicholim and Pale at BMC Hall, Bicholim.

Mayem MLA Anant Shet, Pale MLA Pratap gawas, BMC Chairperson Anisha Vernekar, Deputy

Hot-mixing work on Mayem roads begin

Chairperson Shashikant Halarnkar and Vivek Naik were present on the occasion.

About 220 beneficiaries from all the three constituencies were given the cheques.

Mahadev Tirodkar compered the function and also proposed the vote of thanks.

Furtados planning to contest CCP polls

Curchorem school principal feted

Computers a necessity today: Naik the computers are used in banks, communications, business, medical science, education, media, travel and ticketing, weather predictions, sports, music and others. He complimented the College for organizing this workshop for the benefit of the teachers and

HERALD CORRESPONDENT CURCHOREM, JAN 8

Guardian Angel Higher Secondary School Curchorem Principal Fr Frank Mendes was recently felicitated at Kupamoddi Hoddar, Curchorem.

Social worker Nilesh Cabral felicitated Fr Mendes during a special function, which was a part of the three-day New Year celebrations organized by St Sebastian Sports and Cultural Club of Cupamoddi.

Sanvordem Parish Priest Fr James Torres E Silva, Club President Cajetan Fernandes and others were present on the occasion.

In his speech, Fernandes said Fr Mendes was felicitated in recognition of his 17 years of selfless and dedicated services to the villagers as priest of St Sebastian Chapel, Hoddar.

Earlier, Cabral inaugurated the three-day function in the presence of other dignitaries.

Various competitions were organized during the three-day programme.

Mathew D’Costa, Babajin Fernandes, Dnyaneshwar Naik and Datta Naik were the judges.

Home Minister Ravi Naik inaugurated a two-day computer awareness workshop on Friday organized by PES College of Education at Farmaguddi as part of the Silver Jubilee celebration.

HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, JAN 8

Home Minister Ravi Naik has said that a world without computers cannot be imagined.

Computer he said has become very important nowadays because it is accurate, fast and can accomplish many tasks easily. Otherwise to complete those tasks manually much more time is required. Moreover it can store huge amount

Saniya crowned Lions Queen

BY HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JAN 8

Mayem MLA Anant Shet inaugurates the hot mixing work at Kudchirem-Bicholim.

Photo by Vishant Vaze HERALD CORRESPONDENT MAYEM, JAN 8

Mayem MLA Anant Shet recently inaugurated the hot-mixing of 6-km stretch of road from Dhatwada to Kudchirem Temple and Poriem junction to Maulingem in Mayem constituency.

“The road will be hot mixed at a cost of about Rs 1.47 crore and it will be completed soon,” informed MLA Shet.

He further said that other sur-

rounding roads will also be hot mixed before the monsoon.

“Other infrastructure like power, water, etc, will be also made available to the people as early as possible,” said Shet.

PWD (roads) engineer Vellauddin, junior engineer Paryekar, Daji Warak, Rajan Usapkar, Shankar Chodankar, Gurudas Kerikar and Rajan Rane were present on the occasion.

Penha da Franca p’yat organises health camp

Dr Vinay Borkar examines a patient at a medical camp.

Photo by Anil Shankhwalkar HERALD CORRESPONDENT PORVORIM, JAN 8

The Penha da Franca panchayat recently conducted a six-day medical camp on ayurveda, naturopathy, accupressure and magnetotherapy at the Dhadeshwar Community hall at Britona.

Over 100 people attended the medical camp and magnetic equipment were given to the patients at concessional rates.

Dr Vinay Borkar examined the patients, while Pooja Naik assisted the doctor.

"Most patients who attended the camp were found suffering from diabetes, arthritis and acidity. They are suffering from these diseases because of the modern life style they have adopted. If

they consume nutritious food and exercise regularly, most of the diseases can be prevented," Dr Borkar told Herald.

"More people are slowly turning towards Magneto-therapy, which is based on nature's Law. The human body is made up of cells and tissues. Cells are magnetic units and high magnetic fluctuations take place in the human body and they stimulate the cells. Hence, a number of diseases can be treated with different magnetic equipment," said Dr Borkar.

Penha da Franca Eknath Borkar said the panchayat had decided to organise the camp for the benefit of a large numb e r o f p o o r p e o p l e f ro m Britona.

Computer literacy test HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, JAN 8

The computer literacy test of the candidates who have applied for the posts of Data Entry Operator in North Goa Collectorate, will be held from January 10 to 14 at the Goa Education Development Corporation, DIET hostel building, near Teacher Training College, Porvorim, from 10 am onwards. Interviews of short-listed candidates will be conducted later, the schedule of which will be informed by sending call letter and publication in newspaper. Those who have not received their call letter for computer literacy test may collect the duplicate copy from the Collectorate Office, Panjim.

The Corporation of the City of Panjim (CCP)corporator Surendra Furtado who fiercely fought against wrong doings of some of the ruling corporators during this term, is now planning to get into the corporation election scheduled in March with full force.

His wife Ruth Furtado is already a corporator representing ward 10, his entrepreneur son, Vladimir Furtado is also set to contest CCP election. He will contest from ward 11 that mostly covers Panjim market area.

When contacted Surendra Furtado said he has decided to field his son to have more hands to fight corruption in the CCP as he felt helpless before brute majority of the ruling panel which had on side 19 corporators.

Denying the charge that he wants to have dynastic rule by having wife and son in the corporation, he said, they want to do social service as he and his wife have done work in their respective wards and people will vouch for them.

Vladimir Furtado will be pitted against Kabir Pinto Makhija of Panjim City Corporation Development Front(PCCDF)-- the panel which has been floated

by Taleigao MLA Babush Monserrate.

While Furtado will be contesting for the fourth term and his wife, for the third term.

This corporation election this time is likely to become more than challenging for all the contestants involved due to change in power equations.

Ex-Mayor Ashok Naik who had wowed not to stand for corporation election again has change his stance. He is likely to contest from ward 14 against deputy mayor Yatin Parekh.

However, picture will be more clear once BJP announces its panel which it is likely to do immediately after reservation notification is released.

Taleigao MLA Babush Monserrate has already declared his panel and has also joined hands with St Cruz MLA, Victoria Fernandes.

of data in it.

Home Minister Ravi Naik was speaking after inaugurating a two-day computer awareness workshop organized by PES College of Education at Farmaguddi on Friday as part of Silver Jubilee of Ponda Education Society.

Speaking further, Naik said we also get information on different aspects using internet on our computer. Today he said,

HERALD CORRESPONDENT CANACONA, JAN 8

Saniya Fernandes was crowned Lions Queen at the Canacona Lions XI traditional New Year’s Dance at Molyma Resorts open hall.

Saniya emerged winner from among several other girls who attended the New Year’s dance

party and participated in the Lions Queen contest.

Shamanta Larina Gracias was the runner-up, while Saniya (16) was crowned by Canacona Lions first lady Fransquinha Fernandes in the presence of President Motesino Fernandes, Treasurer Lawrence Barretto and other senior lion members.

15x3

The Lion Queens contest was anchored by Tony Martins, while Richard was the mood-setter for the annual lions New Year dance as ‘Music Waves’ and ‘Sensation’ were the two bands in attendance.

According to Martins, the answer provided by Saniya in explaining the inner beauty of a person did the trick for netting maximum marks from the bench of three judges.

The Canacona Lions XI traditional New Year’s dance is the only one a year fund-raising activity of the Lions Club of Canacona.

Canacona Lions President Fernandes said: “We do one fundraising activity annually, but conduct several people-oriented programmes which include health camps and other activities for the needy strata of the society.”

urged the teachers to impart knowledge they acquire with the students.

Earlier, Principal of PES College of Education Geeta Iyer welcomed the gathering while Lecturer Udesh proposed a vote of thanks. Kumari Vidhya Shikerkar compered the function.

OHERALDO

Pg 6 GOA, SUNDAY 9 JANUARY, 2011

INDIA

Army, IAF chiefs to appear before PAC the supply chain management of rations by CSD. The Defence Ministry, which received the communication, advised the service chiefs to appear before the PAC apparently to underline the committee's immense significance at a time when the government is seeking to project it as a body as important as the Joint Parliamentary Committee in the 2G spectrum issue, the sources said.

Accordingly, the PAC has been informed that army chief General V K Singh and Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal P V Naik would be appearing before it, they said.

This would be the first time that the chiefs of armed forces would appear before the PAC as usually the defence secretary attends such meetings of the parliamentary committees along with vice chiefs of the Services.

However, soon after the Defence

Ministry received the PAC letter, army sources had said that the service chiefs were unlikely to appear before the committee and instead vice chiefs and quarter master general equivalents would represent their forces.

The army chief had also wondered if there was any “extra requirement” for the chiefs to appear before the PAC. Highlighting the irregularities in the CSD, the CAG had said, “The existing procedure for provisioning of dry rations failed to assess the requirement realistically. The failure was mainly due to systemic deficiencies due to which different quantities were worked out at different echelons applying different parameters...”

The report had said that the risk of existence of “cartels” affecting the quantity and quality of rations is too serious to be ig-

nored.

“The Ministry of Defence should set clear targets regarding expansion of vendor base and progress should be closely monitored. The list of vendors should be put on the website of the army service corps,” it had said.

General Singh said on Thursday that he had no problem in appearing before PAC if the ministr y wanted it even as he wondered "if there is an extra requirement" for the Chiefs to go before the Committee.

“There are two-three issues raised by the CAG on which the PAC wants to ask or clarify various points. It depends on what the ministry wants from us. If it wants us to go and clarify, we have got no problem in doing that,” he said when asked if he would appear before the PAC.

Left resent ban on roadside meetings

Central Excise official caught taking bribe

Govt’s stubborn stance will cost it dearly: BJP

PTI NEW DELHI, JAN 8

In an unprecedented development, chiefs of the army and the Air Force will appear before parliament's public accounts committee (PAC) on Wednesday in connection with alleged irregularities in the canteen stores department (CSD) supplies.

Naval chief Admiral Nirmal Verma, who has also been called along with his counterparts of the army and the Air Force to appear before the PAC, would, however, be represented

by Vice Chief Vice Admiral D K Deewan as he will be traveling to Indonesia on a “pre-scheduled” four-day visit beginning tomorrow, sources said today.

The PAC had called the chiefs of the three defence services for a hearing on January 12 based on a CAG report which has pointed out irregularities in

PTI THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, JAN 8

Left parties in Kerala have resented the Supreme Court order upholding the state High Court''s ban on organising road-side public meetings and rallies, arguing it would amount infringing on Constitutional rights.

The court order amounted to “breach” of democratic and constitutional privileges like freedom of expression, the CPI-M, which heads the ruling LDF, said.

The party wanted the government to convene an all-party meet to consider legal options, including a legislation, to restore the rights.

The apex court on Thursday upheld last year's High Court order banning public meetings on road sides on a petition by an individual who contended that road side meetings caused severe inconvenience to public and constricted traffic.

A statement issued by CPI-M State Secretariat here yesterday said the Court order not only ignored the specific features of Kerala but also transgressed the rights of the executive and legislature.

CPI State Secretary C K Chandrappan said the order did not go well with the spirit of democracy and banning way-side public meetings would amount to shackling the freedom of expression.

Considering the geographical peculiarities of Kerala, it had been a long practice for all parties to organise public meetings on road sides, he said.

If the court order was meant to curb difficulties posed by such meetings to the public it would have been taken as sensible. Imposing a blanket ban on all sorts of roadside meetings would not be practical in a State like Kerala, the CPI leader said

PTI PUNE, JAN 8

An official of the Central Excise and Customs department was arrested while taking a bribe of Rs one crore from a businessman here, a top CBI official said today.

“Acting on a tip-off, a trap was laid and K B Mahadik, a superintendent in the Central Excise and Customs department, was caught while accepting the bribe from the businessman yesterday," CBI Joint Director Rishiraj Singh said.

About Rs 6.8 lakh cash, United States dollars 800, a revolver and 80 files pertaining to Mahadik's property deals were recovered during searches at his residence, Singh said.

The businessman is associated with a steel rolling mill, he said, adding the investigating agency was working on the case for the last two months.

PTI GUWAHATI, JAN 8

Dubbing the 2-G spectrum issue as the mother of all scams, BJP President Nitin Gadkari today warned that the government's “stubborn and confrontationist” approach to the “legitimate” demand for a JPC probe will cost it dearly.

“If the prime Minister is so very confident that he is not guilty, why should he be so stubborn in opposing the legitimate demand of JPC? This stubbornness is reminiscent of the pre-emergency days. BJP condemns this approach,” Gadkari said in his presidential add re s s a t t h e B J P n a t i o n a l executive meet here, the first since the 2-G scam surfaced.

Alleging that the huge loss to the exchequer due to this “mother of all scams” is almost equal to the budget outlay of some states, he warned the government that such a “stubborn and confrontationist” approach will cost the UPA “extremely dear”.

“It is the stubbornness that

Sikh devotee spits fire as he performs during a religious procession taken out by community members ahead of the birth anniversary of the tenth Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh, in the northern Indian city of Jammu,on Saturday, Guru Gobind Singh Ji was the last Sikh Guru who initiated the special order or sect of the Sikhs called the 'Khalsa Panth.'

Sibal didn’t read report properly, says Joshi PTI GUWAHATI, JAN 8

Senior BJP leader and PAC Chairman Murli Manohar Joshi today criticised Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal for debunking CAG estimates of losses of Rs 1.76 lakh crore on account of 2G spectrum allocation, saying it was "improper" and demonstrated his "very casual" approach.

Joshi said Telecom Secretary R Chandrashekhar had appeared before the PAC but never questioned the CAG''s projection of presumptive losses.

"In my opinion, it is highly improper. The CAG has never said that it is the exact amount.

Mr Sibal should have read the report carefully," Joshi said here while reacting to the Telecom

Minister''s contention that the presumptive losses projected by the CAG was "erroneous".

Joshi noted that the CAG has always maintained that the loss figures were presumptive and never said the figure of Rs 1.76 lakh crore was final.

The CAG had given three limits of the presumptive loss to the exchequer in its report and Sibal''s attack on it showed that "he has been very casual and ill beholds of the Minister to talk ill of the CAG, the PAC Chairman said.

Joshi, who is here to attend BJP''s National Executive meet, pointed out that the Telecom Secretary "was examined by the PAC" and "he never said that this (the loss figure) was erroneous."

He said it was not proper for

the Minister to say such things when the PAC inquiry into the report is underway and "Whatever he wants to say, his Secretary can come and say (before PAC)."

Joshi said Sibal''s party, Congress, or its representatives could have also come and presented their views before the PAC. Sibal had yesterday rejected CAG estimates of losses of Rs 1.76 lakh crore on account of allocation of 2G spectrum to telecom operators saying it "had no basis and was utterly erroneous".

The CAG in its 77-page report of CAG, tabled in Parliament in November last year, had said that due diligence was not followed and even the recommen-

dations of the telecom regulator TRAI were "not followed in spirit".

The report said the "presumptive" loss caused to the exchequer through spectrum allocation to 122 licensees and 35 dual technology licences in 2007-08 was Rs 1,76,645 crore. It arrived at the figure on the basis of 3G auction held earlier this year in which the government mopped up over Rs 67,000 crore.

The 2G scam has become a major political issue with the opposition demanding a joint parliament committee to probe the issue. The demand, however, was rejected by the government leading to disruption of almost the entire winter session of parliament.

100 trains run late as fog hits traffic services PTI NEW DELHI, JAN 8

Origins of Surrealism

The dictionary definition of the word ‘surreal’ is having the disorienting, hallucinatory quality of a dream; unreal; fantastic. The art style, surrealism, follows this definition fairly closely.

Surrealism is a cultural movement and artistic style that was founded in 1924

by André Breton. Surrealism style uses visual imagery from the subconscious mind to create art without the intention of logical comprehensibility.

Figure at the Window

The movement was begun primarily in Europe, centered in Paris, and attracted many of the members of the Dada community. Influenced by the psychoanalytical work of Freud and Jung, there are similarities between the Surrealist movement and the Symbolist movement of the late 19th century.

Some of the greatest artists of the 20th century became involved in the Surrealist movement, and the group included Giorgio de Chirico, Man Ray, René Magritte, and many others.

Art The Twisted Art of Salvador Dali

Born on May 11, 1904, Salvador Dali i Domenech would become one of the world’s most recognized surrealist artists. Raised by his lawyer/notary father and a mother who encouraged her artistic son, Nature Morte Vivante Dali grew up in Figueres, Catalonia, Spain, having been told by his parents that he was the reincarnation of his older brother, Salvador, who died just nine months before Dali’s birth.

In 1921, Dali moved to the student residences at the School of Fine Arts in Madrid. He spent several years studying there and then shortly before his graduation, he was exThe Temptation of St. Anthony pelled for declaring that no one on the faculty of the The Surrealist movement school was competent enough to eventually spread across examine him. the globe, and has influenced artistic endeavBy 1931, Dali had colors from painting and laborated on a short sculpture to pop film with surrealist dimusic and film directrector Luis Bunuel; iling. lustrated a book called “The Witches of Liers”, The greatest a poem written by his known Surrealist friend and classmate artist is the world faCarles Fages de Climent; The Persistence of Memory mous Salvador Dali.

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met his muse and future wife Gala; and painted arguably his most famous work The Persistence of Memory.

In 1940, Dali and Gala moved to the United States, and it was during this time that Dali reclaimed his Catholic faith.

In the late 1940’s, Dali and Gala returned to Spain. Dali continued a prolific career in art, being one of the first artists to use holography and taking great inspiration from his Catholic faith and the events of the day.

From this time period, two of Dali’s most famous works, Hallucinogenic Toreador and La Gare de Perpignan were created.

King Juan Carlos of Spain bestowed upon Dali the title Marquis of Pubol in 1982. By this time, Dali was seriously ill, and on January 23, 1989, Salvador Dali died from heart failure. He is buried in a crypt at his Teatro Museo de Figueres, just steps from his childhood home.

Comments or queries? Bouquets or brickbats? Talk to us!

Email Junior Herald at junior@herald-goa.com or join our Facebook fan page. Our readers are invited to rave, rant, chat or even contribute. No message will go unanswered!

Heavy fog across north India today threw train traffic out of gear with 100 trains running late and five of them being rescheduled.

Northern Railway officials said in view of the dense fog in many areas of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, train traffic has been disrupted.

The Lucknow Shatabdi has been cancelled from both sides while five trains have been rescheduled including the North East Express and Puri Express.

At least 100 trains are running late.

All trains are running at a snail's pace and a speed restriction on running of trains has come into force in some sections between Delhi and Kanpur, they said.

38 children rescued from UP food joints PTI LUCKNOW, Jan 8

Thirty-eight child labourers were rescued from various food joints here during a drive launchedby the Labour Department and Childline.

The department carried out a drive with an aim to rescue children working as labourers in restaurants and food joints in different parts of the city, including Vikas Nagar, Aliganj and Rajajipuram, officials said.

The raids were carried out in a phased manner from December 29, they said, adding that legal notices have been issued to the restaurants and food joint owners from where these children were rescued.

Eight fined for cow slaughter

MUZAFFARNAGAR: A fast track court here has convicted eight persons and sentenced them to five years of imprisonment for cow slaughtering, police said.

The Fast Track Court Judge Shukla also imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 on each of the accused identified as Hashim, Shahid, Meharban, Sajid , Hanif, Mehdi, Israil and Hasan after holding them guilty yesterday, they said.

Eight persons were arrested when police recovered cow meat and skin from their possession at Khawajanpur village in the district on November 7, 2004. (PTI)

A police personnel on duty at the Central Park at Cannaught Place on a chilling foggy morning in New Delhi on Saturday.

Uneasy calm in Netai after 8 killed PTI JHARGRAM (WB), JAN 8

Uneasy calm prevailed at Netai village in Lalgarh police station area of West Midnapore district today where eight persons were killed and 18 others injured in firing by suspected CPI(M) armed cadre.

The joint security forces were on patrol in the village yesterday when CPI(M) armed cadre staying at party leader Ranjit Dandapat's house allegedly opened fire on villagers when they refused to receive arms training and act as night guards.

Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, who rushed to Midnapore town yesterday evening and visited the injured

in hospital, will take out a procession with the bodies of those killed in Lalgarh in the afternoon.

Condemning the killings, Governor M K Narayanan had last night said that it was a day of sorrow and shame for the State.

“No democracy can allow such violence: no civilized society can accept such mindless discord ... a decisive stage has been reached for the government to act, before it becomes a point of no return.”

Home Secretary Gyan Dutta Goutama, however, had said that the killing was the result of a political clash between the Trinamool Congress and the CPIM.

Youth sings for 93 hours, hospitalised PTI NAGPUR, JAN 8

A local singer Sunil Waghmare, who achieved a rare feat by singing for 93 hours and 20 minutes, thereby creating a new non-stop singing record, was hospitalised here following exhaustion.

Waghmare had set a target of 101 hours of continuous singing but was forced to stop after doctors attending on him found him unfit for further singing yesterday, as his physical condition deteriorated.

He was immediately rushed in a waiting ambulance to a private nursing home last evening where he is recovering, the organisers claimed here.

During his four-day recital, Waghmare did not suffer from any ailment except that he was completed exhausted following his singing was cut short

abruptly.

Waghmare's singing event was earlier inaugurated by former MP Banwarilal Purohit and senior scribe Umesh Choube on January 3.

He rendered all popular songs of late legendary singer Mohammad Rafi. Now his feat and video recordings will be sent to Guinness Book of World Records for their approval and entry into the book, organisers added.

Home Minister P Chidambaram had yesterday written yet another letter to Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee asking him to “reschedule all appointments and visit Delhi immediately.”

Describing the violence in Lalgarh as a “grave incident”, Chidambaram had said he had received information that eight people were killed in the firing and 18 others were injured.

“I have written a letter to the chief minister and drawn his attention to this grave incident and requested him to kindly reschedule all (his) appointments and visit Delhi immediately,” he had told reporters in Delhi.

Three held for kidnapping boy PTI LUCKNOW, JAN 8

Three persons were arrested for allegedly kidnapping a 13-yearold son of a city transporter, who was later rescued by the police from Kakori area, officials said here.

Mohd Asif alias Talib, a class eighth student at Bright Career Convent School, went missing from New Haiderganj in Thakurganj locality while he had gone for some work on Thursday evening, they said.

Later his father Chand Babu received a ransom call demanding from an unidentified person, who demanded Rs 50 lakh for his son's safe release.

Police said that the kidnappers called the Chand Babu to deliver the amount near Bhuwar Suraj Kundan road in Kakori.

A police team followed Chand Babu and nabbed Jamal, who came to collect the ransom money.

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opinionated IAF to induct Tejas aircraft soon PTI BANGALORE, JAN 8

The annual state of mind Adv Cleofato Almeida Coutinho

C

hristmas is just over! The festival celebrated around the globe, though inherently a Christian festival for centuries, over the period from 25 to 31 December has evolved into a season of festivities and has become a tradition in itself. The manner in which people around the world have been involved with the festivities of Christmas during the last week of December leading to New Year, from generation to generation has made Christmas a social tradition.

The greeting ‘Merry Christmas’ is exchanged among all communities and the entire Christmas season is now an extended festival of goodwill and greetings. Greeting ‘Merry Christmas’ does not offend non-Christians because, with the passage of time this greeting has got the approval of the society. There is no denying that the Christian flavour and the tradition of celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, is getting diluted due to commercialisation of the festival. Christmas and New Year celebrations have grown and the season has seen a commercial boom even in countries like India, where the Christian population is in a miniscule minority. Japan, with less than one per cent Christian population, is full of Christmas trees, Christmas buntings and illuminations this season. Even if it is said that all religious festivities have now come to have non religious traditions and that anyone can adopt without affecting the religious sentiment, Christmas and the season connected with it, has travelled beyond the normal expected change. This is not to deny the religious origin – the day that is traditionally celebrated as the birthday of Jesus Christ.

The entire second half of December is big business. The commercialisation of Christmas began in the 20th century with religious traditions mingling with non religious ones. In the US, the ‘Thanks Giving’ day, (which otherwise serves as a prelude to the greatest shopping weekend of the year) was moved in 1939, by President Roosevelt, the date of thanks giving back to the third Thursday of November to increase the Christmas shopping season as different business houses depended on the ‘Christmas economy’. That was bound to happen as the consumerist society was hungry for such a direction. That commercial exploitation would happen is a different matter all together.

The season is now used as the pious based, commercial expansion, with huge spending on Christmas and New Year gifts, which by itself has become a secular/social tradition that has attained the ‘spirit of giving’. ‘The spirit of giving’ has given a new dimension to the Christmas season. Gifts to children, gifts to their teachers, gifts to postmen, gifts to the milk vendor, gifts to neighbours… has also contributed to this new tradition which has evolved over the centuries.

This great tradition of giving gifts in keeping with the ‘spirit of giving’, has contributed to business and commerce in a big way. With hundreds of millions (in whichever currency) spent in stores and malls, it is the new age Christmas of today. It may be said that it is no longer about Jesus anymore. It is more about Santa. It is no longer being holy but about fun, not about the church but about the mall.

Whichever way we look at it ‘Christmas waves a magic wand over the world’ and as Mary Ellen Chase said it, ‘Christmas is not a date; it’s a state of mind’. Christmas is a great mixture of Pragmatism and being holy, the latter providing reason and meaning and the former providing the vibrancy to the reason and meaning.

These traditions that have evolved over centuries would be good in a number of ways. It boosts the economy – both national and international and commerce flourishes. A flourishing economy would be good for development of countries and the people.

The second half of December gets filled with the spirit of Christmas and the eagerness to step in the New Year. The sight of colourful Christmas decorations adorning houses all over provides a feeling of festivity and fun. Everybody waits for the year end holidays and those who claim to be agnostics may prefer to wish ‘happy holidays’ but all enjoy the year end. It is the time for fun, joy and laughter.

From the beginning of December one cannot forget that Christmas is approaching and the year end, too, is nearing. The streets, the shops, the houses are lit with colourful decorative lamps and ‘Joy to the World’, ‘Silent Night’ or ‘Holy Night’ fill the air heralding the arrival of the spirit of Christmas. It offends nobody. The warmth and joy of Christmas and New Year brings friends and family together. It is a time to connect with those who are near to our heart and are yet far away.

Christmas and New Year cards (Christmas cards were manufactured in large numbers in the second half of the 19th century when Britain came out with the concept of unsealed envelope for half price of ordinary letter) kept friendships alive. The sending of cards one lists new friends and also writes to those whom one otherwise misses.

The year end Christmas season also provides a family bonding time which could be a stress buster after the hard and tiring work throughout the year. For the children who have grown up with Santa, knowing all about them and that their good deeds would be rewarded with good gifts provide incentive to do more good. There is a great tradition of feasting with friends and family. It is a time to rejoice, enjoy and have fun. It could be argued that it is part of the hospitality business but the religious angle could be, Jesus loved to share his meals with those whom he loved. Therefore, Christmas is all about giving and sharing.

Tradition may change from country to country and differ in custom and societal standards. The evolution of Christmas as a year end festival is here to stay with no turning back. Christmas and New Year celebrations can never stop now on (the attack on the festival between 16th and 18th centuries has been overcome in a big way). The state of mind that looks forward to cheer, happiness and goodwill to all must flourish eternally. The secular credentials of this festive season should be nourished by one and all.

Posts official suspended PTI SALEM, JAN 8

A sub-post master in the district has been suspended after a complaint that he had misappropriated Rs 26,000 from the postal savings account of a retired teacher, officials said today.

Senior Superintendent of Pot C Sundararajan said the retired teacher had lodged a complaint stating that Rs 26,000 had been withdrawn from his savings account without his knowledge.

After preliminary inquiry, Kalian (55), sub-postmaster of Sitheri in Thalaivasal was suspended.

In a major milestone, light combat aircraft Tejas is all set to attain initial operational clearance on January 10, taking its last step before induction into the Air Force.

“This is the first time that an indigenously designed and developed military fighter aircraft would be certified for Air Force operations," a Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) release said here.

Defence Minister A K Antony will hand over a formal Release to Service Certificate of Tejas aircraft to the Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal P V Naik at a function here on January 10.

The occasion marks a very

important achievement in the design and development of Tejas in particular and military aviation in the country on the whole as Tejas aircraft will be available for use by Air Force Pilots.

There is a likelihood of delivering altogether seven squadrons of Tejas aircraft to the IAF, the release said.

Meanwhile in Pune, Air Chief Marshal P V Naik said he would visit Bangalore tomorrow in connection with the initial operative clearance of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA).

“By June, the first LCA will be available," he told a press conference at the Air Force station.

To a question, Naik said Mig21 fighter jets would be phased out by the next year and noted that pilots graduating on Hawk,

Order CBI probe into Kesri murder: Sushil PTI PATNA, JAN 8

Under attack from the opposition for allegedly influencing the probe into the murder of Purnia MLA Raj Kishore Keshri, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi today urged Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to order a CBI inquiry into the case.

“Though the Bihar police is competent enough to carry forward the investigation, it will be better to hand it over to CBI," Modi said in a letter to Kumar before leaving for Guwahati to attend the national executive meeting of the BJP. Both Modi and the slain legislator Keshri belong to BJP, while Kumar, who holds the home department, is from JD(U) in the coalition government.

‘It (CBI probe) is also the demand of BJP and the family members of Keshri," he said.

‘I know it well that Bihar police is more competent than the CBI to probe the case, but since

an advanced aircraft, would be better prepared.

Naik said Pune Air Force station was an important IAF base and it would be upgraded in terms of infrastructure and avionics.

To a query, he said Pune airport, jointly used by the Air Force and civil sector, needed an improved coordination and he had conveyed this to Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel.

“We are encouraging creation of a separate civil airport at Chakan near the city.’

On a proposal sent to Defence Ministry about flying batting legend Sachin Tendulkar who is also brand ambassador

APPOINTMENTS

of the Air Force - in supersonic Sukhoi aircraft, Naik said “Sachin at present is busy scoring centuries. We plan to put him in a sortie after the World Cup when he would be little relaxed.”

Earlier, President Pratibha Patil witnessed a ceremonial parade at the Air Force station and also an air show displaying formations of Sukhoi 30 fighter jets.

She awarded the Presidential Standard to 31 Squadron and Colours to 9 Base Repair Depot (BRD) and also released a postal stamp on the recipients, in acknowledgement of their loyalty and courage.

APPOINTMENTS

Keshri is from the ruling party, the opposition will continue to raise fingers against the fair and independent probe by Bihar police,” Modi pointed out in his letter.

Alleging that his political opponents were engaging in his character assassination, Modi said "concocted allegations are being levelled by them against Keshri who is not alive to give a befitting reply".

"The family members of the slain legislator now also feel that the case should be handed over to the CBI," he said.

Chief Opposition RJD-LJP, besides Congress and left parties have accused Modi of influencing the course of the police investigation and called for a CBI probe.

Modi's letter to the chief minister is being seen as an attempt

APPOINTMENTS

Teacher held for removing student’s veil PTI RANCHI, JAN 8

A college teacher was today arrested for allegedly removing the veil covering the face of a girl student, sparking strong protests here.

Trouble started when a local newspaper published the photographs in sequence showing how the teacher removed the girl's veil to identify her during a students' protest on Friday demanding that they be allowed to fill up forms for intermediate examinations.

The photos sparked off protests on the arterial Main Road here following which police forces were rushed to maintain law and order.

Senior Superintendent of Police Praveen Kumar Singh too rushed to the spot to control the situation. When contacted, the college authorities refused to make any comments but said the media had played up the matter.

APPOINTMENTS

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WORLD

US to provide more military aid to Pak, says report PTI WASHINGTON, JAN 8

The US will provide Pakistan with more military, intelligence and economic aid; even though top officials of the Obama administration feel that the country is not doing enough to crack down on terror havens in its tribal belt.

Vice-president Joseph Biden will deliver the message outlining the new aid package when he visits Pakistan next week, The ‘Washington Post’ reported today.

Biden’s visit, the paper said, is considered significant as Washington feels frustrated over delay by Pakistan army in mounting operations in North Waziristan, the area which American security agencies feel is hotbed of al-Qaeda, Tal-

iban, Haqqani network and other radical Islamic groups confronting NATO forces in Afghanistan.

The vice-president, during his visit, is expected to meet the powerful Pakistan Army chief Gen Ashfaq Kayani and top government leaders.

“Biden will challenge the Pakistanis to articulate their long term strategy for the region and indicate exactly what assistance is needed for them to move against Taliban sanctuaries in areas bordering Afghanistan,” the Post said. US aid to Pakistan is projected to total more than USD 3 billion by 2011, though Islamabad had been complaining that Washington is slow on request for military equipments including helicopter gunships.

Trial of 7 Mumbai suspects adjourned till Jan 22 PTI ISLAMABAD, JAN 8

The trial of seven Pakistani suspects charged with involvement in the Mumbai terror attacks was today adjourned for a fortnight after the prosecution sought more time to withdraw a petition filed in a higher court to declare Ajmal Kasab and Fahim Ansari as fugitives.

Prosecution lawyers informed Judge Rana Nisar Ahmed of the Rawalpindi-based anti-terrorism court that they needed more time to withdraw the petition as it was yet to be listed by the Lahore High Court.

The judge accepted the request and adjourned the case till January 22.

Seven suspects, including Lashker-e-Taiba commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, have been charged with planning, facilitating and financing the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.

Legal experts have contended that the issue of the petition in the Lahore High Court must be settled before proceedings in

the anti-terrorism court can move forward.

The lawyers of the Federal Investigation Agency had approached the Lahore High Court last year after the anti-terrorism court rejected a petition for Kasab and Ansari to be declared proclaimed offenders or fugitives.

Pakistani national Kasab, the lone surviving attacker, was sentenced to death by a court in Mumbai for his role in the attacks on India’s financial hub that killed 166 people in November 2008.

Ansari, an Indian national, was acquitted by the same court but he continues to be in custody in connection with other cases.

In another development, defence lawyer Shahbaz Rajput today submitted testimonials on the authenticity of his law degree in response to allegations by prosecutors that he possessed a fake degree and should be barred from appearing in court.

12 Yemeni soldiers killed in ambush REUTERS ADEN, JAN 8

Al Qaeda militants attacked a military convoy in south Yemen in an ambush, killing 12 soldiers and wounding three, a regional security official said.

The army patrol cars yesterday carrying water supplies to a military camp were targeted in the city of Lawdar in the southern province of Abyan, where several military raids were carried out against suspected al Qaeda militants last year.

In November, a day after the state kicked off a regional soccer

cup; a roadside bomb in Lawdar killed one soldier and wounded two others riding in a military vehicle. Abyan’s capital Zinjibar was hosting the 20th Gulf Cup along with the neighbouring coastal province of Aden and the government had put in place heavy sec u r i t y, d e p l o y i n g t e n s o f thousands of troops to prevent any violence.

Yemen is trying to quell a resurgent wing of al Qaeda that has stepped up attacks on Western and regional targets in the poor Arabian Peninsula state, a neighbour of oil giant Saudi Arabia.

WikiLeaks: US demanding Twitter account info AP LONDON, JAN 8

WikiLeaks’ Twitter account details have been subpoenaed

by US officials, the secret-spilling site announced today, adding that it suspected other American Internet companies were also being asked to hand over information about its activities.

In an e-mail statement, WikiLeaks said that US investigators had gone to the San Francisco-based Twitter Inc to demand the private messages, contact information, and other personal details of founder Julian Assange and three people associated with the secret-spilling website.

WikiLeaks blasted the court order, saying it amounted to harassment.

“If the Iranian government was to attempt to coercively obtain this information from journalists and activists of foreign nations, human rights groups around the world would speak out,” Assange said in a statement.

A copy of the court order, dated Dec 14 and posted to Salon.com, said that the information sought was “relevant to an ongoing criminal investigation” and ordered Twitter not to disclose its existence to Assange or any of the others targeted.

The order was unsealed “thanks to legal action by Twitter,” WikiLeaks said in its statement. Twitter has declined comment on the claim, saying only that its policy is to notify its users, where possible, of government requests for information.

Washington Post did not outline what further US arms assistance to Pakistan would be.

Besides, helicopter Americans have been supplying night fighting equipments as well as intelligence tools.

The decision to double down on Pakistan represents the administration’s attempt to call the bluff of Pakistani officials who have long complained that the United States has failed to understand their security priorities or provide adequate support.

The strategy, determined in last month’s White House A f g h a n i s t a n w a r r e v i e w, amounts to an intensifying of existing efforts to overcome widespread suspicion and antiAmerican sentiment in Pakistan, and build trust and stability, the

Post said.

President Barack Obama and his top national security aides rejected proposals, made by some military commanders and intelligence officials who have lost patience with Pakistan, to allow US ground forces to conduct targeted raids against insurgent safe havens, officials said.

They concluded that the US can ill afford to threaten or further alienate a precarious, nuclear-armed country whose cooperation is essential to the administration on several fronts.

The plan to boost up military, intelligence and economic support to Pakistan was also decided at the review of the Afghan situation where plans were cleared to intensify efforts to forge a regional peace.

FROM PAGE 1 Gambhir @ Rs 11 crore

on some players was baffling. Robin Uthappa, who has been out of national reckoning for quite some time, was bought for an astounding USD 2.1 million (Rs 9.66 crore) by Sahara Pune Warriors who opened their account by buying Yuvraj Singh for USD 1.8 million (Rs 8.28 crore approx).

Pune got Yuvraj, the icon player of Kings XI Punjab till last season, after beating Team Kochi and the batsman’s former team in the bid.

Even Rohit Sharma’s price of USD 2 million (Rs 9.2 crore), which Mumbai Indians paid, came as a surprise in an auction where proven T20 specialists such as Jesse Ryder, Herschelle Gibbs, Mark Boucher and Graeme Swann went unsold.

There was intense bidding for Gambhir, who was the first player under the hammer, from Pune and Mumbai before KKR joined the fray after it crossed the million dollar mark.

Kings XI Punjab also lost the bid of Sri Lankan Mahela Jayawardene who was bought by Kochi for USD 1.5 million.

The Royal Challengers Bangalore bought Zaheer Khan for USD 900,000 and dashing Lankan opener Tillakaratne Dilshan for USD 650,000.

However, the Vijay Mallya-owned franchise had a prize catch in talented South African AB de Villiers, buying him for USD 1.1 million (Rs 5.06 crore). They also got New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori for only USD 550,000.

The Rajasthan Royals bought New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor for USD 1 million (Rs 4.6 crore). But what turned out to be a surprise was South African off-spinner Johan Botha being bought after a lot of bidding for USD 950,000.

However, Kevin Pietersen, who was one of the most sought after players in the second and third edition, was bought by Deccan Chargers for USD 650,000 much less than his million dollar price in the earlier years.

Andrew Symonds, who was one of the costliest players during season one, was bought for USD 850,000 by Mumbai Indians.

After the first two rounds, Team Kochi had bought the maximum five players (Mahela Jayawardene, Brendon McCullum, VVS Laxman, S Sreesanth and Rudra Pratap Singh).

Kochi were quite lucky to buy McCullum for as low a price as USD 475,000 considering his reputation as a T20 dasher.

Sahara Pune Warriors were also a gainer as they got South African captain Graeme Smith for USD 500,000 only.

Kings XI Punjab who lost all their key players including the Lankan duo of Kumar Sangakkara (bought by Deccan Chargers for USD 650,000) and Jayawardene (USD 1.5 million for Kochi) and Yuvraj to Pune finally had something to cheer when they successfully bid for former Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist for USD 900,000.

After the lunch break, there were some more surprises with the young Saurabh Tiwary bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore for USD 1.6 million (Rs 7.36 crore). Punjab also spent USD 1.4 million (approx Rs 6.34 crore) on Australian David Hussey.

South African speedster Dale Steyn, who made life difficult for Indian batsmen during the recent drawn Test series, was bought

by Deccan Chargers for USD 1.2 million (Rs 5.5 crore).

Australia’s injury-plagued speedster Brett Lee went for his base price of USD 400,000 to Kolkata after failing to invite a bid for quite a while in the auction.

South Africans were hot picks at the auction with Steyn’s pace partner Morne Morkel going to Delhi at USD 475,000.

The run-up to the auction was marred by legal wrangling between the BCCI and two franchises — Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab — both of whom were initially booted out of the event over ownership issues before coming back through court orders.

Student caught copying

to light after Herald exposed it in Monday’s edition.

Goa University had to abandon General Medicine I and II papers and re-scheduled it to January 13 and 14, respectively.

Sources said that there is a high possibility that Surgery paper may also have been leaked as the student caught copying had the chit of answer, question of which appeared in the original set of paper.

No GMC officials were available for comments until late Saturday night.

CCTVs to watch RTO staff

Desai said that this connectivity will help to maintain online record of the revenue collected on the border check posts. The Department also expects to curb the revenue leakages on its border after the connectivity is in place.

Also, the border check posts will have CCTV cameras so that all the vehicles entering and exiting the State will be recorded on it.

“The entire system would be connected to the head office”, he said Bringing discipline in RTO offices, the Department has also decided to start bar coding system within a fortnight for the staff.

They will have to give their thumb impression every time they enter and move out of the office.

The Department will also implement file management system so that the status of the file could be known at just a click of a button.

Beach cricket doubtful?

tournament. However, the Department is still in the dark as to which players will be in action.

“World Cup winning veteran Sanath Jayasuriya is likely to participate while on Indian side, many ex-cricketers will form the team as most of the present lot are already committed to World Cup and other events”, Naik said.

There will be 2-3 matches every day which will be held in the evening. This is the first time an International beach cricket tournament is scheduled to be held in Goa.

OHERALDO

12 GOA, SUNDAY, 9 JANUARY 2011

Al-Qaeda plotting Mumbai-style attack in UK PTI LONDON, JAN 8

The al-Qaeda may be plotting a terror attack on a major British airport or other aviation-related targets in a threat which has been described as "credible".

British security agencies are also monitoring all planes flying through the UK to destinations to the US and mainland Europe as part of the terrorist threat, media report said.

The warning of an impending al-Qaeda attack was delivered in a letter sent to aviation chiefs, BBC and Daily Telegraph newspaper re-

N Korea urges talks with South within weeks

ported, adding that following this the security had been upgraded at all major UK airports and transport hubs as a precautionary measure.

The plot by the terror outfit believed to be based in Pakistan's tribal belt may come in the form of car-bomb, suicide attacks or Mumbai-style carnage, the daily said, as it was designed to cause "large number of casualties".

The document warned that al-Qaeda planned for "one or more attacks" against Europe, including the UK aimed at highprofile targets.

The terror alert has been sounded, BBC said, after increased "chatter" was noticed among terror suspects under surveillance of the intelligence agencies.

Quoting UK government security officials, the BBC said the overall national threat level was at "severe", which meant a terrorist attack is highly likely.

The British home office said if there was any intelligence of an imminent threat or a plot underway, the treat level would be raised to the highest level "critical".

The BBC said it had seen a

copy of the letter sent from the Home Department to transport and aviation officers, explaining the increase in the threat level to the industry.

"The letter says there are indications al-Qaeda may be considering an attack against a UK airport or aviation sector target," BBC said, describing the report as "credible".

Britain's move comes after France and Germany have also beefed up security following intelligence warnings that terrorists were plotting a Mumbai-style attack on a European city.

Gillard pledges help for Queensland

AFP SEOUL, JAN 8

North Korea took further steps to mend ties with the South, suggesting talks within weeks and reopening an office to encourage cooperation on the fractured peninsula.

The latest offer from Pyongyang on Saturday followed an apparent easing in tensions, which have soared since the North shelled the South's frontline Yeonpyeong Island on November 23, killing four people.

Pyongyang's Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland "formally" proposed an "unconditional and early opening" of talks between the two governments.

"The level of the talks and their venue and the date of their opening may be decided under a bilateral agreement," it said.

The committee, the official agency in charge of exchanges between the two, said in its statement that there is "neither conditionality in the North's proposal for dialogue nor need to cast any doubt about its real intention".

"The South Korean authorities should discard any unnecessary misgiving, open their hearts and positively respond to the North's proposal," it said.

South Korea said the offer, which comes after Beijing said it would "support and welcome" any dialogue between the North and South, was more concrete than a call by Pyongyang earlier in the week for "unconditional" talks.

"The government is now analysing the background and intention of this overture," Unification Ministry spokeswoman Lee Jong-Joo told AFP.

Australia's Prime Minister Julia Gillard flies in a Black Hawk helicopter as she views flooding near the nor thern Australian city of Rockhampton, on Saturday.

REUTERS SYDNEY, JAN 8

Prime Minister Julia Gillard pledged financial support for Australia's flood-hit northeast on Saturday during a tour of the most heavily inundated parts of Queensland State, but warned the recovery would be slow.

In a series of visits by military helicopter, Gillard went to towns whose streets have been turned into waterways by a Christmas deluge that left an area the size of France and Germany combined under water.

The floods have swamped coal mines and hit agriculture hard, washed away roads and railways, killed four, and brought the country's $50 billion coal export industry to a near standstill.

Some river levels have hit records and some are still rising with further rain forecast for this weekend. Months more wet weather is predicted, brought by the La Nina weather phenomenon.

"The scale of the floodwaters, the sheer size of this is best ap-

preciated from the air and we are talking about huge areas, lots of water, a lot of it still very fast moving and so it's going to be a long time back," Gillard told a news conference in the flooded town of Rockhampton, 600 km north of the state capital Brisbane.

Asked how much it would cost Australia's federal government, she said: "I've been very clear that we are talking about hundreds and hundreds of millions of dollars."

Thousands have been evacuated from their homes, and in many towns locals and relief workers have taken to getting around the streets in boats. Authorities say around 200,000 people have been affected.

Gillard pledged funding to help improve flood protection for Rockhampton, a town of around 75,000 situated near the mouth of the Fitzroy River which p e a ke d a t 9 . 2 m e t e r s o n Wednesday. On Saturday, it was still at 9.15 meters and predicted to stay above 8.5 meters until next Friday.

Key ally rejoins Pak coalition AGENCIES ISLAMABAD, JAN 8

The Pakistani government's reversal of a controversial economic measure won back the support of the second-largest party in its coalition Friday and staved off a possible collapse, but it also increased tensions with the United States and other international donors.

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement's return, which restored the ruling coalition's parliamentary majority, came a day after Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani announced that the government would capitulate to the party's key demand by canceling a recent increase in fuel prices.

That decision drew stern criticism from U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

While the MQM's move resolved the latest political crisis to rock the volatile, US-backed nation, it also highlighted how beholden President Asif Ali Zardari's ruling Pakistan People's Party is to its coalition partners.

Gillani said the government would also drop a proposal for an expanded sales tax that it had promised to the Interna-

tional Monetary Fund and that the United States had also encouraged. That proposal, too, was opposed by the MQM and opposition parties.

Clinton called the fuel price reversal a mistake that would damage Pakistan's efforts to shore up its anemic economy.

U.S. officials fear further destabilization in a country battling rising Islamist extremism and a powerful Taliban insurgency.

The MQM pulled out of the coalition Sunday, several days after a similar defection by a smaller religious party.

On Friday, the MQM said it welcomed the government's decisions, with Raza Haroon, a senior MQM leader, declaring that the reunited coalition would "steer the country out of this storm." However, the party said it wanted to see other changes, including an end to government corruption, before its two federal ministers would return to the cabinet.

Other parties, including the main opposition party, the Pakistan Muslim League-N, had echoed the demand for a roll-

Gates to meet with Chinese military AGENCIES WASHINGTON, JAN 8

When Secretary of Defence Robert M Gates arrives in China on Sunday, he will discover a Chinese military that has significantly changed in the 31/2 years since he last visited Beijing.

It's not so much that the People's Liberation Army has achieved stunning successes since Gates met with its officers in 2007 - although, despite significant problems, the military's modernization has continued apace.

More than anything, the PLA

European security and police agencies have been jittery in recent weeks after Iraqi officials claimed last month that captured militants had told them of terrorists plot of hitting targets in Europe in Christmas season.

BBC said officials were stressing that there was no threat of an imminent attack but precautionary measures were being taken.

"But what we can expect to see is a greater police presence, particularly at airports and large railway stations," BBC said quoting officials.

has taken on a different tone.

Emboldened by the notion that China's rise is unstoppable, its military has shed its traditional secrecy to become a brash, even boisterous interest group that openly advocates for policies, brandishes its new equipment and makes other claims like never before.

"Over the years, the Chinese military doctrine was 'hide and bide' - hide your resources and bide your time," Vice Adm. David J "Jack" Dorsett, director of US naval intelligence, told reporters this week.

back of the fuel price increase.

On Tuesday, it gave the government six days to accept several stipulations or risk a no-confidence vote in Parliament. That could have led to Gillani's ouster or early elections.

Rendering some highways flood-proof would be a priority, she said, after the state's major rail and road links were seriously disrupted and in some cases washed away.

Earlier in the flooded town of St George, 450 km west of the state capital Brisbane, Gillard said A$4 million ($4 million) in emergency payments had already been paid and more was on the way to help "families who are doing it tough."

Gillard pledged to work with state Premier Anna Bligh to "help Queensland through." The Balonne River in St George was forecast to peak at near 13.4 meters over the weekend.

On Saturday a fourth person was confirmed dead in the latest flooding, a 55-year-old truck driver whose truck veered off a road while transporting water to the inundated town of Condamine. The scale of the disaster has prompted fears of disease in the largely tropical areas affected, and in some areas drinking water has been in short supply.

5 killed in Moscow fire AGENCIES MOSCOW, JAN 8

Five people died early Saturday after a fire broke out in a deserted downtown residence building in Moscow, police said.

Fire-fighters received an emergency call at around 0:40 a.m. local time (2140 GMT Friday), and extinguished the blaze one hour later, according to a police spokesman.

"Fire-fighters discovered the bodies of five people who are believed to have been suffocated by smoke," the spokesman told local press, adding that the dead apparently were homeless people taking shelter in the twostoreyed building.

The accident appeared to be caused by mishandling, but investigators are still trying to find the exact cause.

SPORTS

Pg 13 Salgaocar clinch 7-goal thriller GOA, Sunday, 9 January, 2011

HERALD CORRESPONDENT MARGAO, JAN 8

Salgaocar Sports Club inflicted a 4-3 defeat on Churchill Brothers as they put a halt to their winning streak in a seventh round match of AIFF’s I-League at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda on Saturday. Salgaocar were leading 4-2 at half time.

R E S U LT S Salgaocar 4 Churchill 3 Man-of-the match: Ryuji Sueoka (Salgaocar) AIFF XI 1 Dempo 1 Man of the Match: Deepak Devrani (AIFF XI) E Bengal 1 Pune FC 0 Man-of-the match: Tolgey Ozbey (E Bengal) Mumbai FC 2 Viva Kerala 0 Man-of-the match : Ebi Sukore (Mumbai FC) Salgaocar went into the attack and maintained the momentum right through.

Ghanaian veteran striker Yakubu Yusif and Japanese import Ryuji Sueoka combined well with midfielders Tomba Singh, Francis Fernandes, Rocus Lamare and Gilbert Oliveira. The Salgaocar defence marshaled by captain Luciano Sabrosa and Jaspal Parmar showed fine anticipation and alertness as they came up with some timely tackles to frustrate Churchill’s strikers Odafe Okolie and Kayne Vincent. They were unable to break free from the Salgaocar defence. In contrast, Churchill were a harried lot as Salgaocar attacked relentlessly.

Salgaocar were the first to settle down and came close in surging ahead when Gilbert Oliveira’s floater from the flanks was headed towards Yakubu Yusif who fumbled at the crucial moment in front of the rival goal. Ten minutes later, goalkeeper Lalit Thapa’s goal kick landed into five yards zone, stopper back Rowilson Rodrigues failed to clear the ball and lurking Yakubu Yusif made a mess of it.

Churchill suffered their first jolt in the 16th minute when Odafe Okolie suffered a thigh injury when Salgaoar striker and man-of-the-match Ryuji Sueoka tried to use a sliding tackle but

it hit Odafe’s thigh following a free kick taken by Luciano Sabrosa.

Salgaocar’s first goal came in the 18th minute through Kayne Vincent after a Robert L cross from the left was controlled by striker Vincent who unleashed a stiff shot that beat the Salgoacar custodian all ends up.

The setback brought the match alive with Salgaocar going all out for the equaliser. Their hard work paid off in the 27th minute through Jaspal Parmar.

Following a foul on a Salgaocar player, the referee awarded the free kick. Off Rocus Lamare’s low free kick, Jasmal Parmar’s snap shot deflected from Churchill’s defence wall and also eluded the keeper.

Spurred by the equaliser, Salgaocar piled on the pressure and made it 2-1 in the 30th minute through captain Luciano after a flag kick taken by Ryuji Sueoka. Captain Luciano leapt high and nodded in keeping the rival keeper dazed.

Stunned by the lead, Churchill attacked and restored parity in the 32nd minute through substitute Durga Boro who came in place of Odafe. Midfielder Zakeer M found striker Durga Boro free and the last named turned around and slotted past the rival keeper with a clinical finish.

After the equaliser, Salgaocar’s Ryuji Sueoka flicked the

ball in style off Francis Fernandes’ cross from the right and muffed a golden opportunity to increase their tally when Yakubu Yusif was brought down by Churchill’s defender Raju Y inside the rival penalty area and the spot kick taken by Rocus Lamare was blocked by Churchill keeper Lalit Thapa.

In injury time, Rowilson Rodrigues handled the ball inside the box off Ryuji Sueoka, resulting in a penalty. Ryuji made no mistake in beating the rival keeper.

Salgaocar continued in the same vein and had scoring chances but Yakubu Yusif was the culprit as he blasted wide from close range. In the 69th minute, Churchill reduced the margin, thanks to Karanjit Singh’s lapses. Following a floater from Robert L from the left inside the rival penalty box, goalkeeper Karanjit Singh came out unnecessarily and striker Kayne Vincent nodded in.

Salgaocar moved to second spot with 18 points while Churchill Brothers who succumbed to their first defeat, continue to remain on 13 points.

Salgaocar’s coach, Karim Bencherifa dedicated his team’s 4-3 win against Churchill Brothers to his boys, boss, son Adam, daughter Rania and his wife Vanessa. “This was a great win and I thank God. It was a personal win for me and I dedicate it to my dear ones. It was a great performance. I knew they would do their best and they did a great job. We are fully satisfied with the result,” Bencherifa stated.

When asked whether he was surprised with the outcome, he said, “I felt that it would be a tough match. But the manner in which the team performed was excellent. This is one of our best wins and it was great to come against Churchill Broth-

Dempo rally to hold AIFF XI AGENCIES GURGAON, JAN 8

AIFF XI put up some impressive display to hold defending champions Dempo to a 1-1 draw in Round VIII I-League match, here, Saturday.

The Delhi-based youngsters, who lost 0-6 against Churchill Brothers on Monday, did not allow Dempo to play their free-flowing passing game and split points in the match at Tau Devi Lal Stadium, Gurgaon.

Shilton D'Silva scored for AIFF in the ninth minute while Dempo captain Ranty Martins equalised in the 29th minute.

Martins, however, failed to convert a penalty at the stroke of half time after AIFF XI player Subodh Kumar handled the ball inside the box.

Dempo players were denied space and ball possession by the more agile AIFF XI players who are a mixture of National under-19 and U-23 players.

Armando Colaco's charges were apparently affected by the cold winter conditions here, much different from that in Goa and they started very slowly.

AIFF XI took full advantage of favourable conditions and put pressure on Dempo defence immediately after start of play.

The Dempo defence allowed D'Silva a solo run into their box and a slow reacting John Dias made a desperate bid to clear the ball which only hit the AIFF midfielder's leg and rolled into the net with goalkeeper Laxmikant Kattimani beaten all ends up.

Jolted by the goal, Dempo regrouped and found the equaliser with Martins finding the target off a fine pass from Joaquim Abranches just before the halfhour mark.

The AIFF defence led by captain Raju Gaikwad did a fine job throughout the match. Gaikwad's partner at the AIFF central defence, Deepak Devrani was

named man-of-the-match. Devrani gave little space to dangerous Martins who was mediocre today.

At the stroke of half-time, AIFF goalkeeper Jagroop Singh dived to his right to block a Martin's feeble kick from the spot.

E Bengal pip Pune AGENCIES KOLKATA, JAN 8

Tolgay Ozbey struck in the second half to help East Bengal to a 1-0 victory over Pune FC in an eighth round match of the ILeague at Yuba Bharati Krirangan, here, today.

East Bengal faced a tough first-half struggling to find the goal before their Australian star striker brought in the matchwinner in the 62nd minute.

Mumbai win AGENCIES KOLHAPUR, JAN 8

Mumbai FC comfortably defeated Viva Kerala 2-0 in their round eight tie of I-league at Sahu Maharaj ground in Kolhapur on Saturday. But the day surely belonged to Mumbai FC’s 27-year-old Nigerian midfielder Ebi Sukore as he scored both goals and was named man-ofthe match.

After a goalless first half momentum gradually shifted towards Mumbai FC as they dominated the field. The first goal for them came in the 65th minute.

Finally, it was Mumbai FC’s Sukore who scored the second goal in extra time via a spot kick.

Fr. Agnelo Youth inter-village soccer quarters: Rossman SC, Nagoa, Verna v. Dicarpalim SC, panchayat ground, Avedem, Paroda, 4.30 p.m.

All-Goa 5-a-side soccer organised by Fr Agnel SC, Fr Agnel ground, Dabal.

GFA U-16: United Club of Nerul v. Clube Athletico de Parra, Candolim ground; St Domnic Savio SC v. BAFF, Calvim ground; Don Bosco Oratory, Panjim v.

Piedade YA, Don Bosco ground.

Kick off 4 p.m.

All-Chinchinim Peter Afonso inter-ward football finals: St Cruz Tolleaband v. Dandeavaddo United, Chinchinim ground, 4 p.m.

Arlem soccer: Parish Youth, Nuvem v. Verna SC, Raia Panchayat ground, 4.30 p.m.

Exhibition soccer: Saligao CCCP Boys v. Sirlim Sports Club, Sirlim ground, 4.30 p.m.

ers,” Bemcherifa went on to add.

Churchill Alemao could be in trouble after berating the supervising officials after the match. He entered the dressing room after the final whistle and allegedly abused the officials. He questioned the wisdom of the referee in awarding the penalty against his team and not awarding the spot kick to them in similar situations. “You are finishing our team where we spent a lot of money to build it and you are demoralising our boys,” is what Churchill told the referee.

East Bengal 22 points, Salgaocar 18, Churchill 13 (11 goal difference), Dempo 13 (4 goal difference), Mumbai 13 (-1 goal

F I XT U R E S JCT v. ONGC M Bagan v. Chirag Air India v. HAL

difference), Pune 8 (-2 goal difference), AIFF 8 (-14 goal difference), Viva Kerala 7.

Pg 14 GOA, Sunday, 9 January, 2011

INTER CLUB TRANSFERS STARTS FROM 16th JANUARY COMEDIAN SALLY SIGNS GOA’S TOPMOST PLAYERS FOR

Pg 15 GOA, Sunday, 9 January, 2011

fter enterrttaining in GOLMAAL 3 Aft Now Watch him perform live in Goa.

TAINMENT 100% ENTERTA NOT TO BE MISSED.

TA AILS & ENTRY RY PA PASSES FOR DET MARGAO : Damu, Gomant Vidya Niketan.

Ph.: 9881337847 : Jack, Ravindra ra Bhavan, Ph.: 9404757132 PANAJI : Runda, Kala Academy, PA Ph.: 9823564931 MAPUSA : Rohan, Hanuman Theatre, Ph.: 9226456457/ 2262743 PONDA : Derick, Dollphy Bar, Ph.: 9767112677/9049050148 VASCO : Natalia Store VA res, Ph.: 2501016 SANVORDEM : Chandra rakant, Te Tea Centre, Ph.: 9850472408 NAV AVELIM : Roy Dias, The CHILLIES NEST, T, Ph.: 9970617061 AQUEM ALT LTO : Peter Gomes, Ph.: 9822167717

Mrr. Digamber Kamat Kamat Mr. Hon’ble Chief Minister

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Revenue Minister

Interested contractors may contact 9823070906 / 9822181646 for booking of Food Stalls inside the venue.

pg 16:Layout 1 1/9/2011 12:21 AM Page 1

Pg16

GOA, SUNDAY, 9 JANUARY, 2011

Contact us on: sports@herald-goa.com

www.oheraldo.in

71 go under hammer today

RCB, Kings XI battle it out for Tiwary PTI BANGALORE, JAN 8

The IPL players' auction for the fourth edition saw its first controversy today when Kings XI Punjab made a very last moment bidding for Saurabh Tiwary, who was by then almost snapped up by the Royal Challengers Bangalore for a whopping USD 1.4 million.

Although, ultimately Tiwary was bought by the Bangaloreoutfit itself but it was not before they had to raise the bid to USD 1.6 million.

The whole drama started when the young left-handed batsman was already declared

Includes 18 Indians, 53 overseas players PTI BANGALORE, JAN 8

A total of 18 Indian and 53 overseas players will be up for grabs on the second day of the Indian Premier League players' auction here tomorrow.

On the second day, the franchises will have a remaining cumulative salary cap of USD 19.5 million to be used both in the auction room and to sign uncapped Indian players after the day's proceedings.

This effectively means that a maximum of 71 players, if all franchises do take their full allocation of overseas players, will be up for sale in the second round of bidding at the ITC Gardenia hotel, according to a BCCI statement.

After the first day of bidding, five of the franchises have retained a total of 12 players (seven Indians and five overseas players) in advance of the auc-

tion. The total salary cap available across all the 10 franchises at the start of the day was USD 72.3 million.

In the fourth edition of the T20 league, each team will play seven matches at home, and seven away. Each side has nine opponents and will play five of those at home and away and will play two at home only, and will play the remaining two away only. This will produce a total of seventy league matches.

There will be one league table, as in previous years, and the top four teams at the end of the league stage will qualify for the play-off matches. There will be four play-off matches.

Which team plays which opponents (home and away/home only /away only) will be determined by a random draw that will take place tomorrow before the start of day two of the auction.

Wawrinka to face Malisse in final Agencies CHENNAI, JAN 8

Last year finalist and third seeded Stanislaus Wawrinka of Switzerland stunned top seed and world number six Tomas Berdych of Cezch Republic here today to set up a title clash against seventh seed Xavier Malisse of Switzerland in the ATP Chennai Open tennis tournament.

While Wawrinka easily overcame Berdych 6-4 6-1 in the second semi-final, 2007 champion Malisse had to sweat it out for 97 minutes to oust sixth seeded Serbian Janko Tipsarevic 3-6 6-3 6-2 in the first last four match of the USD 450,00 event at the Nungambakkam Tennis stadium.

Beredych, billed to start the new season with a title win here, did not play to his potential and favourite tag and succumbed to the pressures brought about by

MPT draw with Signals

a consistent Wawrinka.

Wawrinka, who decided to skip this event earlier and then sought a wild card, played a marvelous game bringing in variety and winning each of the vital points throughout the match.

Earlier in the day, former champion Malisse fought his way into the final with a come-from-behind win over Tipsarevic.

Malissse was slow to start with as Tipsarevic, who made it to the last four stage without much ado, broke the Belgian as early as in the second game to pocket the first set with ease in 28 minutes.

In the decider, last year's semifinalist Tipsarevic was no match for the world number 60, Malisee who broke the Serbian twice to march into tomorrow's summit clash.

HERALD SPORTS REPORTER PANJIM, JAN 8

Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) and Corps of Signals drew 1-1 in GFA’s First Division League at Tilak Maidan, Vasco on Saturday.

Though MPT had better ball possession and a power-packed shot from Rekson Fernandes struck the poll and went off in the first few minutes.

Corps of Signals were quick to utilise a rare opportunity when they scored in the 27th minute after Pankaj Ghorka struck from outside the box.

After change of ends, MPT equalised in the 57th minute as hardworking Rekson Fernandes netted.

Following are the committees approved by the Executive Committee of GFA headed by Shrinivas V Dempo at its meeting on December 31.

The committees contain several new names, few additions and delitions with some changes with the chairmen and vicechairmen being retained from the old list as strongly desired

by Dempo, who did not take kindly to the reports appearing in Herald earlier.

Referees and assistant referees: Benjamin Silva (chairman), Benjamin Silva (deputy chairman), Gregorio Estrocio, Blair Rodrigues, Diago Diniz, Gokuld a s N a g v e n ka r, M a u r i c i o Almeida, Shankar Kalangutkar and Anthony John D’Costa.

Arbitration tribunal: Albino Valles, Francis D’Sousa, Mahesh Rao, G D Kamat.

Youth development: Lavinio

HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, JAN 8

Portais Sporting Club thumped Fr Agnelo Youth Centre, Pilar 40 in GFA U-14 League Ilhas Zone qualifier at Don Bosco ground here on Saturday.

Portais Sporting took the second place behind Don Bosco Oratory, Panjim who finished first.

Jawahar Club, Ponda came third and Brasil FA fourth. Fr Agnelo finished last.

Saish Naik, Prajat Mondal, Devendra Murgaonkar and Salu Santos netted for Portais.

sold by the auctioneer Richard Madeley to Vijay Mallya-owned RCB for USD 1.4 million at the high-profile auction for the fourth edition of the Twenty20 league.

But, just as the hammer was coming down, Madeley saw from the corner of his eyes that Preity Zinta-led Kings X1 had raised their bid for the Jharkhand batsman dubbed as the junior Dhoni.

Madeley, admitting that the bid for the USD 1.5 million from Punjab had come very late, allowed it to stand and re-opened the bidding. Madeley said it was

Amin assures English players participation PTI BANGALORE, JAN 8

Putting to rest speculations about their participation in the fourth edition of the Indian Premier League, IPL Commissioner Chirayu Amin today said the fact that English cricketers were included in the players' auction means they are available for the tournament.

"There is no issue at all, otherwise they would not have been included in the auction," said Amin on the sidelines of the first day of the players auction here today.

"There is no question that English players will play. The fact that the franchises have bought them (English players) means they have decided to play

them and would now look to fit them into the team composition," he added.

There were reports that English players would need a 'no ob-

jection certificate' (NOC) from the England and Wales Cricket Board to participate in the mega-event starting April 8 as the ECB did not want to overburden its players because the IPL starts just five days after the World Cup. England are touring Australia since November, where they have already played the Ashes series, and will now be seen in action in the Twenty20s and an ODIs. Interestingly, when asked Amin why BCCI Secretary N Srinivasan, who is a de facto owner of the CSK, was sitting along with him and Rajiv Shukla instead of his franchisee members during the auction today, the IPL chief played down the issue, saying, "He sat there as one of the members of the governing council.”

at the discretion of the auctioneer to reconsider the bid or not.

The decision to reopen the bidding process made Mallyas e x t re m e l y u n h a p p y, w h o claimed the auctioneer had looked around comprehensively before hitting the hammer in their favour.

Even junior Mallya -- Siddharth walked up to Kings XI co-owner Zinta to express his displeasure. Later, during a break, Zinta went to Vijay Mallya and had a word with him.

Eventually RCB purchased the 21-year-old Tiwary, who had played for Mumbai Indians in

PTI DURBAN, JAN 8

Leaving behind their impressive performance in the justconcluded Test series, India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni today said his side will come out all guns blazing in the oneoff Twenty20 International against South Africa here tomorrow.

On a high after their maiden drawn Test series on African soil, Dhoni said it would be difficult to shift gear for the limited overs version but promised that the visitors will give their best shot in the match.

"Of course, it will be difficult because more often than not there is just one odd T20 game.

So, it becomes very difficult to get into the groove and then come out of that and play the ODIs. But we will go out there and give our 100 per cent. We have got players of the ODI squad and there are T20 specialists in the side," Dhoni said on the eve of the match.

"It's quite a difficult thing to do because the nature of the red ball is very different compared to the white ball. The demand of the format is very different. So it is important to

use the break in between in the best possible manner," he said.

"We will take the match very seriously though one may consider it as warm-up game before the five ODIs. We would look to go there and enjoy," he added.

The match will be played at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, which hosted the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the India skipper said his side's experience of playing in small New Zealand grounds would be of great help tomorrow.

"You may say the experience

Rebello (chairman), Alberto Colaco (dy chairman), Sandip Jacques, Alirio Lobo, Uday Lingudkar, Minguel Gonsalves, Camilo Gonsalves, Raymond Carvalho, Soccoro Vaz, Oscar D’C o s t a , Fa b i a n o D ’ S o u s a , Agostinho Antao, Domingos Barretto, Lector Mascarenhas, Blaize D’Cruz, Jose A. Botelho, Savio Messias, Severino Fernandes, Diniz Sardinha, Angelo Albuquerque, Gavin Araujo, Lawrence Gomes.

Disciplinary: Antonio Peres Cardozo (chairman), Ashwin Naik (dy chairman), Milton Fernandes, Dr. Bharat Deshpande, Mauricio Alphonso, Mauro Menezes, Juliao Rodrigues.

Official competitions: Schubert Furtado (chairman), Welwin Menezes (dy chairman), Sanjeev Nagvekar, Lawrence Gomes, Anthony Pango, Babli Mandrekar, Gajanand Kerkar, Angelo Albuquerque.

Planning and developement:

GOA DIARY

Hard ball cricket at St Cruz

PANJIM (HSD) – M L Diamond Sports Club, Bandh, Santa Cruz will organise their 12th invitational all-Goa hard ball cricket tournament on January 23 and 26 at GMC ground, Bambolim. Details may be obtained on 9225902072, 9225906711 or 9881228242.

5th Reira Cup soccer

CALANGUTE (HC) – Saligao Sporting Club will organise their 5th Reira Cup inter-village football tournament at Sporting ground,

Shrinivas V Dempo (chairman), Francis Fernandes (dy chairman), Raj Gomes, Tulio D’Sousa, Benjamin Silva, Salim Sayed, Nilkanth Naik, Benedito Bishut Themudo.

Players status: Francisco Lume Pereira (chairman), Henry Britto (dy chairman), Savio Messias, Eustaquio Pereira, Irineu Gonsalves, Joy D’Silva, Oscar Rebello.

Sports medical: Dr G Mardolkar (chairman), Dr Rufino Monteiro (dy chairman), Dr Nisha Alvares, Dr Shekar Shivaikar, Dr Mahendra Kudchadkar, Dr Pedro Bravo Da Costa, Dr Ulhas Saokar, Dr Jawaharlal Henriques and Cyril Andrade.

Technical and coaching: Brahmanad Shankwalkar (chairman), Armando Colaco (dy chairman), Bruno Coutinho, Mariano Dias, Baptista Fernandes, Savio Medeira, Peter Valles, Alex Alvares, Pascoal Pereira, Vincent Subramanian.

Women’s football and competitions: Dr Susana De Sousa (chairperson), Nelly Rodrigues

(dy chairperson ), Juliana Gurjao e Colaco, Komal Pereira, Maymol Ro c k y, O s w a l d D ’ C o s t a , Lawrence Gomes, Victor Gonsalves, Hector Trinidade, Anthony Pereira, Xisto Pais.

Appeals: Valmiki Menezes (chairman), Cleofato Coutinho (dy chaiman), Fortunato Braganza, Fortunato Franco, Selwyn Botelho, John Dias, John Lobo.

Media, marketing, TV advisory: Marcus Mergulhao (chairman), Sudhakar Shanbag (dy chairman), Jaju Fernandes, Nikhil Prabhu, Kanzil Rodrigues, Anthony Fernandes, Sharad Naik, Charles D’Sousa, Elvis Rodrigues, Edward Noronha, Fr Eremita Coutinho.

Finance: Shivanand Salgaocar (chairman), P K Mukherjee (dy chairman), Peter Vaz, Vinod Parkot, Prakash Naik, Sandip Jacques.

Internal audit: Ashish Prabhu Verlekar (chairman), Sharmila Prabhu (dy chairman), Victor Fernandes, Darrel Frank, Paulo Fernandes.

Saligao from January 10. Nerul Sports Club will lock horns with Sai Avtaar, Anjuna in the inaugural match.

The other participating teams include Curtorim Gymkhana, Siolim Sodiem Sports and Cultural Association, Nagoa Sporting Club, Adarsh Yuvak Sangh, Nagoa Verna Sports Club, Clube Sao Minguel de Taleigao, Ambelim Sports Club, Calangute Association, Dicaparle Sports Club, Penha de Franca, Sangolda Lightning, Sirsaim Tivim Sporting Club, United Club of Nerul and Saligao Sporting Club.

The winners and runners-up will take home Rs 25,000 and Rs 20,000 respectively. All matches will kick off at 4.45 p.m.

Asad, Misbah lift Pakistan AGENCIES HAMILTON, JAN 8

The participants at mini-marathon race for boys and girls U-10, U-14 organised by Panjim Sports and Cultural Association alongwith C S de Araujo, Dr Clovis Pinto, coach Celwyn and others. Meredita Botelho won Rs 2000, Sonali Bhanker Rs 1000, Kulsum Shaikh Rs 600 in girls section. Velroy F Araujo won Rs 2000, Malcoln Fernandes Rs 1000 and Kamal B K Rs 600 for boys. Rachel Ranjit of Chimbel got Rs 200 in U10 girls. The 6-day football camp concluded on Wednesday

Asad Shafiq and Misbah ul-Haq shared an unbroken partnership of 128 to lift Pakistan to 235-4 at stumps on Saturday's second day of the first test, 40 behind New Zealand's total.

Shafiq posted 74, the highest score of the match so far, and Misbah reached 50 as Pakistan ground towards a first innings lead on a day on which only seven wickets fell.

After resuming at 260-7, New Zealand lost its last three wickets for 15 runs in 7.5 overs. Pakistan then slipped to 107-4 before Shafiq, on debut, and Misbah, its captain, stuck together for more than three hours to put the visitors on top.

last year's IPL, for USD 1.6 million after Punjab declined to push further.

When asked to comment on the episode, Zinta sought to downplay the issue by saying that there wasn't actually any animated conversation between her and Siddharth.

"Kings let the bid go as it had already gone in the favour of RCB. When the auctioning is happening, you are not actually looking into it. There are lots of numbers that need to be looked into. You are always looking at numbers. So there was nothing and I just want to say

that all is well that ends well," the Bollywood actress said.

Meanwhile, on being queried about Yuvraj Singh's USD 1.8 million buy by Sahara Pune Warriors, Zinta said, "Kings also let go Sri Lankan Mahela Jayawardene and our very own Irfan Pathan" "If somebody outbids you and your budget exceeds your limitation, tell me what would you do?" she asked.

"Let's take Lara who went unsold. When coaches give you the list you have to follow it. If somebody is not in your game plan, it's very difficult (to pick)," the 35-year-old actress said.

Uthappa worth his price: Pune PTI BANGALORE, JAN 8

A whopping Rs 9.66 crore bid for Robin Uthappa was one of the surprises of today's Indian Premier League players' auction but his buyer Pune Sahara Warriors justified the spending saying the stumper-batsman is worth the huge amount.

"Uthappa is a great Twenty20 player and he can also keep wickets. We also thought of his utility as a batsman and that is why we bid that money on him," Pune team CEO Sushanto Roy told reporters.

Uthappa, who played for Royal Challengers Bangalore last season, came for USD 2.1 million (Rs 9.66 crore) in today's auction.

In fact, Uthappa came at a higher price for Pune than even the swashbuckling but out-ofform Yuvraj Singh (Rs 8.16 crore) and South African captain Graeme Smith (Rs 2.30 crore).

We’ll give our best in T20: Dhoni

GFA committees announced

HERALD REPORTER VASCO, JAN 8

Portais rout Fr Agnelo

SPORTS

Salgaocar clinch 7-goal thriller Pg 13

we have of playing in New Zealand will come into effect.

Of course, the sides will be pretty small compared to the long front boundaries. We haven't seen the ground yet. Before the match, we will play a bit of football there and have a fielding session. It looks really different from the outside, but very similar to a football stadium," Dhoni said.

Tomorrow's T20 encounter will be an emotional affair for the South Africans as pacer Makhaya Ntini would be playing his last international cricket match.

Tolleaband move into finals HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, JAN 8

St Cruz Tolleaband got the better of Fatima Baida A via the tiebreaker after a goalless draw in All-Chinchinim inter-ward football tournament organised by Dandeavaddo Boys in memory of Peter Afonso on Friday. They moved into the finals.

Urbano worked hard for Fatima Baida A. Goalkeeper Mario Rebello was adjudged man-ofthe-match.

Co-owner of Rajasthan Royals cricket team Shilpa Shetty walks with her husband Raj Kundra as they arrive to take part in The IPL player auction in Bangalore on Saturday.

China finish strongly REUTERS DOHA, JAN 8

Second-half goals from defender Zhang Linpeng and midfielder Deng Zhuoxiang gave China the perfect start to their Asian Cup campaign as they beat highly-rated Kuwait 2-0 at the Al Gharafa Stadium on Saturday.

The more experienced Kuwaitis, who won both the West Asian Championship and the Gulf Cup last year, started as the stronger side against the youthful but more muscular Chinese, but the dismissal of defender Mesad Nada after 36 minutes left them exposed at the back and changed the balance of the match.

However, they were unfortunate not to be awarded a penalty after 12 minutes when China skipper Du Wei hacked down striker Bader Al Mutwa in the

box and were also denied a goal when the ball appeared to cross the goalline just after halftime, but the Australian officials waved play on.

China scored their opening goal in the 58th minute after weathering a period of Kuwait pressure.

Linpeng’s sweetly struck shot with the outside of his left boot from the edge of the box took a deflection off a defender leaving Yaqoub Al Taher stranded in goal.

Zhuoxiang doubled the lead with a well-struck inswigning free-kick nine minutes later.

Hosts Qatar made the worst possible start to the Asian Cup on Friday when they were beaten 2-0 by Uzbekistan who hardly had to raise their game above walking pace to secure a comfortable victory at the Khalifa Stadium.

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Sunday, 9 Jan 2011

Disrespecting the President?

BY CHRISTINA VIEGAS HERALD FEATURES published photograph of President, Pratibha Patil, relaxing on a beach in Goa, surrounded by men and women clad in beach wear, angered officials which engendered in the three local photojournos being questioned by the cops. Listening to a handful of opinions, at the onset, I almost believed that the media was being irresponsible in portraying the President in bad light. But wait a minute! The photo-journos were just doing their job and yes the paper was highlighting something very important – lapse in security.

Let us start with DSP Umesh Gaonkar who said that the photographers had been specifically asked to remain away from the President as she was on a private visit. A vital point here: these photographers are journalists; people on a constant mission to enlighten people through their pictures.

So, what could just be a private visit for a cop is a very important occasion for a journo to scoop out anything of significance. And that is exactly what they did! Like people have said, the camera lens pointing at the President could very well have been someone’s gun pointing at her.

If journos were people who would have listened to someone saying just stay away, we would have been content in some 9 to 6 job, with regular meals and sleep timings and gone home for a lovely evening with family or friends. Why would we be insane in slogging at all odd hours to churn out the latest news? Often, risking our relationships with our family members and friends! Why would we die, waiting for hours under trying climates and circumstances for that one important picture, story or interview? Why would we take the risk of accepting an invitation for an interview into someone’s hotel room? She/he might be a celebrity, but is still a stranger to us. Or amidst drunken revelers on/in a casino or pub? Or get crushed amidst a rebellious crowd?

Or walk the talk with a personality when she/he is in her/his worst mood? Yes, because we are here for a mission and no one should dictate to us how we need to operate. Least of all cops or politicians! We have our own peers to guide us on that.

Now coming to the many people who say that she was on a private visit and is entitled to her personal space: Personal space on a public beach? And that too, a last minute whim? Besides, the media has also brought to light an interesting fact: Where else in the country would you find the President sitting so relaxed on a beach amidst so many people? This is the USP of Goa. People from all over the world come here to relax and they feel comfortable as they don’t get people ogling at them.

They can be themselves. The ones who want to feast their eyes on half nude bodies, are the people who come in from

A

out. For us in Goa, it is normal to see foreigners, clad in beachwear, enjoying themselves.

Coming to the argument that the President was portrayed in bad light by the media: the President had suddenly tweaked her schedule to arrive at the Taj Exotica. And obviously, the hotel could not ask the guests to keep off the beach. These are people coming from far and paying a hefty sum to enjoy a slice of paradise on the Goan beaches. So, the photograph only revealed reality!

Former President, APJ Abdul Kalam was a people’s leader. He was constantly seen circulating with the common people and patting shoulders of the youth, farmers, etc. So, with due respect to President Patil, when it was her intention to enjoy the beaches of Goa, it is also a fact that there will be people in beach wear. I mean, go to a swimming pool at any hotel or sports club; people are bound to be in swimwear. There is nothing wrong in this. Just because the President is going to enjoy some sun and sand, you cannot ask people to surf the waves in saris.

So, any kind of anger shown over the photograph in the papers, only speaks of hypocrisy. Perhaps, the authorities should have taken the President to check out our orphanages, religious monuments, and other places where people dress in accordance.

For the last 35 years, our very Government and private parties have garnered in the tourists by showcasing our sun-kissed beaches. Why no objection then? I mean, if the President wanted to visit Khajuraho temples, would the authorities have gotten the statues in the temples to dress up?

Unfortunately as always, we also had headlines splashed by other national media and websites like ‘Inefficient cops fail to protect President from Paparazzi’. ‘Paparazzi’? So much for the slog put in by our local journos! This is nothing but an attempt to malign anything Goan. So be it if it happens to be the Goan media. At the international film festival in Goa, haven’t we always encountered those ‘high and mighty types’ from the national media who look down on the local media and condescendingly say, “Oh we know you Goan journos!”

Assange to be Book-ed Soon!

J

ulian Assange, the founder of the WikiLeaks website, recently said he had signed a book deal to tell his life story and expressed hope it would be “one of the unifying documents of our generation”.

Edinburgh-based Canongate Books said it had acquired world rights - apart from North America where the publisher will be Alfred A Knopf - to the whistleblower's autobiography. It will be published in Britain in April.

Assange, who is on bail in Britain facing extradition proceedings to Sweden on charges of sexual assault, has overseen the release of thousands of US diplomatic cables on the WikiLeaks website. The publishers said the 39-year-old Australian would use the book to discuss his philosophies.

Assange said, “I hope this book will become one of the unifying documents of our generation. In this highly personal work, I explain our global struggle to force a new relationship between the people and their governments."

The deals for the autobiography were worth more than one million pounds (1.2 million euros, 1.5 million dollars). He said the money would help him defend himself against the allegations of sexual assault made by two women in Sweden. Assange denies the women's claims and says Sweden's attempts to secure his extradition are politically motivated. “I don't want to write this book, but I have to,” he said. “I have already spent 200,000 pounds for legal costs and I need to defend myself and to keep WikiLeaks afloat,” he added.

The release of the cables has infuriated Washington, which claims they have put diplomats' lives at risk. US officials are believed to be examining how to indict Assange for espionage.

(Courtesy: AFP)

Goan Delicacies for the Delhi Palate

Diplomatic Delhi plays host to many embassies and also has guest houses of various Indian states, including Goa. The Goa Niwas at the capital city has a truly Goan restaurant called ‘Viva o Viva’ which is authentic to the core, giving every Delhite the Goan delight

BY JANICE RODRIGUES HERALD FEATURES eing a diplomat or a business man requires you to move out of the state quite often, and being a true Goan, you will definitely miss the sea, sand and more prominently, the ‘xitt-koddi’ that is synonymous to the Goan food. You have to bear up with the homesickness while you are away from home in most cases, but you need not worry about it when you are in the country’s capital.

Goa Niwas and the Goan restaurant Viva o Viva will surely transport any person to the land of ‘sanna’ and ‘sorpotel’.

Delhi plays host to political and diplomatic delegates from all across the country and the world. Each state has its own guesthouses in the capital and Goa is no different, with a Goa Niwas in the Chanakyapuri area of Delhi, the state has a really swank restaurant to boast about. Viva o Viva, run by Delhi-based chef Patrick Barretto will treat anyone who steps into the restaurant.

“The government has put up a tender notice for anyone to set up a Goan restaurant in Delhi and I got the tender,” says Chef Barretto about the beginning of the restaurant. Patrick, a chef and kitchen consultant, has worked nationally as well as internationally, having set up projects in places like Scotland, Germany and the US. Though born into a family of musicians, he spent most of the time in the kitchen learning the art of cooking from his mother. “Another person who showed me authentic Goan food is Churchill Alemao’s mother,” says the chef.

The foodies who have a yearning for Goan food in the capital have a reason to rejoice as Viva o Viva has a menu that will transport the reader to a Goan beach, with the ambience adding to

B

Ritem aidon sodanch chodd vazta - Anonymous

email us at: goasheartbeat@herald-goa.com

Journalism can never be silent: that is its greatest virtue and its greatest fault. It must speak, while the echoes of wonder, the claims of triumph and the signs of horror are still in the air - Henry Anatole

India's Traditional Magicians: striving Hard not to disappear

P

rakash Mavinkurve is an unlikely magician. He works as a hospital anaesthesiologist in Mumbai - and uses his breaks to hone his magic skills, stage routine and one-liners.

Medical colleagues and a captive audience of patients provide a perfect stage for coin or card tricks, which can not only put nervous children at ease but also relieve the tensions of a high-pressure job.

“There's always a group of nurses that keeps changing, so every day I can find a new guinea pig,” said the 58-year-old with a smile.

But like so much else in modern India, magic and magicians are changing, as the country's growing middle classes find other forms of entertainment.

“There are a lot of magicians in Mumbai who use the vernacular language - Hindi or Marathi,” said Mavinkurve, who counts the bumbling, fez-wearing British comic and magician Tommy Cooper as a hero.

“But there are very few that use good English. Magic is declining in popularity in English because English-speakers have more access to television, DVDs and so on. They have their own priorities... Now a magician has to compete,” he added. Magicians around the world owe a lot to India, where magic or ‘jaadu’ in Hindi has a rich history, even in ancient mythology.

Variations on the Indian balls and cup routine or basket trick, where swords apparently pass through an assistant inside a basket, have become mainstays of many stage acts.

And Western audiences and magicians continue to be fascinated by the Great Indian Rope Trick, in which a small boy shins up a long, rigid rope and then disappears.

Colonies of wandering street magicians, among whom such tricks have been passed down through the generations, still exist although their numbers are dwindling.

“Traditional Indian magic may be dying,” said Mandar Patil, who with his wife runs Patil's House of Magic and Entertainment in Mumbai, a treasure trove of tricks and props from selftying shoelaces to hand-chopping guillotines.

“There are very few of those street magicians’ colonies left. To earn your livelihood and survive just by performing magic is difficult, “he said.

Patil is a past president of the Society of Indian Magicians and developed a love for magic from his father, who performed at Indian festivals when the family lived in Toronto, Canada.

The organisation, established in 1932, is one of India's oldest, although membership only runs into the low hundreds.

The Internet and television shows have opened up the previously secret world of magicians, allowing newcomers to learn tricks.

Specialised magic academies have also been

set up, dedicated to preserving traditions and teaching would-be magicians.

“For the common man, it is good entertainment,” said Patil. “There has been a lot of exposure on television and people have come to know the different types of magic from close-up and conjuring to illusion.”

But Patil and Mavinkurve say Indian performers have to adapt, as audiences become more exposed to the likes of big name overseas artistes such as US illusionists David Blaine, Criss Angel or David Copperfield.

“We have copied Western culture. It's more westernised in India now. Magicians are not doing traditional tricks in daily shows, birthday parties and all that. They are doing more Western magic,” said Patil.

“There's not much creation (in India),” added K S Ramesh, an actor-magician and president of the Magic Academy in the southern city of Bangalore, saying fee-paying audiences now expected elaborate, Las Vegas-style presentation.

For the self-taught Mavinkurve, who became hooked on magic after a colleague performed a trick at a medical conference over 30 years ago; such influences have made life more difficult for those who rely on simple sleight of hand.

“The magic that the audience sees is coming from overseas. It's very high-tech. Many people will compare it when I perform,” he said.

Nevertheless, the magicians said they believed the ancient art of trickery and illusion still has a place in modern India and there is still a demand among customers who are prepared to be amazed.

“When the magic happens in that nanosecond, it's the same whether it's an Indian street magician or David Copperfield. The thrill and feel for the audience at that moment: that's why magic will always be there,” said Ramesh.

(Courtesy: AFP)

the Goan touch. With dishes like Prawn Peri Peri, Pork Sorpotel and Chiken Xacuti, the restaurant serves all Goan delicacies.

Apart from the main course, the restaurant also serves some desserts and snacks that are inherent to the Goan dining table, including bebinca, dodol and the very popular, ‘Alle Pelle’ or ‘Alle Belle’. “The ‘alle pelle’ are a real hit here in Delhi,” says Patrick who started his career as a caterer in 1986.

Although Delhi is surrounded by land and has no access to the sea, Patrick manages to source out the freshest of the seafood.

“I get fish like ‘bombils’, mullets and ‘mudoshi’, and sometimes Pomfret and King fish, all coming from Gujarat; they are all fresh fish,” says Patrick. When questioned whether he faces any problems sourcing the pork, as Delhi is a largely Hindu dominated place, he replies, “Not at all”, explaining further, “the North Eastern guest houses serve pork too, and we get our pork from the English farms, so there is not much of a hassle.” Of course, the other non-perishable ingredients are stocked up from Goa. “Vinegar, kokum, the Goan black jaggery, and the ‘ausande’ beans are all brought from Goa,” says Chef.

Viva o Viva was inaugurated by Sonia Gandhi on June 11, 2010, but hasn’t yet been open to the public, the only reason being the lack of chairs and tables. “I have been waiting for the Government of Goa to provide me the furnishing but they haven’t done so yet,” sighs Patrick. Despite this, the restaurant has an ever growing list of visitors. “We had just a select crowd here first, then the word got around,” explains Patrick. And even though he has difficulty accommodating the guests, he concludes in true Goan hospitality, “Everyone is welcome.”

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Sunday, 9 Jan 2011

WHAT’S UP IN GOA??

Painting Exhibition organised by Architecture Autonomous will be held at the Kala Academy Art Gallery, Kala Academy, Panjim till January 12. Call 2420452.

The 16th Goa Yuva Mahotsav, will be held on January 15 at 9am and January 16 at 8pm, at MIBK School Complex, Khandepar Ponda, Goa. Call 9422058590 or 2750585.

‘One Foreign Love’, a painting exhibition, organised by Sunaparanta – Goa Centre for the Arts is underway till January 21 at Sunaparanta, Altinho, Panjim. Call 2421311.

The Children’s Tiatr Festival, organised

by Tiatr Academy of Goa is underway till January 13 at Goa State Museum, Patto, Panjim.

‘The Trap’, an exhibition of paintings by upcoming Mumbai artist Somnath Mane at Gallery Attic till January 14.

Portuguese Basic Course organised by the Xavier Centre of Historical Research, Alto Porvorim is underway till March 20, 2011, from 6pm to 8pm. It will take place every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. For further details contact 2417772.

Lokotsav is underway at the Kala Academy till January 16 from 10 am to 7:30pm. It has a wide variety of products for sale. For details call 2420452.

The Belgaum International Kite Festival 2011 to be held on January 16 and 17 at Nanawadi, Belgaum. It is open to all. Kite lovers who want to participate, contact 09844044199 or 09480188877.

Kayaking expeditions, organised by the Goa Kayaking is underway till January 13, in the Calangute, Baga and Candolim areas. Call: 9422056037 or 2541715, v i s i t www.goakayaking.com.

Parenting

Pg2

HOROSCOPE E - m a i l goakayaking@gmail.com Beat Root Blues Band will perform on January 15 at 8pm at Goa Chitra, Benaulim, Goa. Portuguese language classes for basic and elementary levels is organised by the Centre for Portuguese Language and Culture (CPLC) of Chowgule College in collaboration with Instituto Camoes, Panjim. The course will begin on Monday, January 17, 2011 and will be conducted at the college premises.

Inner Engineering-The Peak Of Well Being Spiritual, a seven day inner engineering program is organised

by Isha Foundation at Lingayat Hall near Adarsh V V High School, Margao from January 12 to January 18. Free introductory lecture at 6pm. Contact 9822100305 Singing Competition (solo) of patriotic songs is organised for senior citizens and high school students on January 25 at 5pm at Senior Citizens Recreation Centre Pedda, Margao. One prize each for students from Std V to VIII, Std IX to X and for Senior Citizen. Contact 2700886 by January 20.

Elevator to the Gallows (Ascenseur pour l’échafaud), will be screened at Sunaparanta – Goa Centre fort he Arts, Altinho, Panjim on January 10 at 6.30pm. The film will have English sub-titles. Call 2421311.

A card-making workshop is underway till January 15 at Blue Lemon. The method taught will be eye to eye iris folding card making. For further details call 9881696445.

Techfest, the Annual International Science and Technology Festival of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Mumbai is underway till January 9. Plenty of Goan participants are part of this fest. E-mail ronniephilip1991 @gmail.com. Call 9969688761.

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If you're looking Gemini for wise input, rely on the friends and associates you 21 May - 20 Jun trust. You are having a tough time understanding a friend or family member's requests, but don't give up. In fact, you should redouble your efforts to get at what they really mean deep down.

Use all of your good memory to retain the names of the folks you meet 22 Jun - 23 Jul t o d a y. Yo u r philosophical leanings are out in force today, so make sure that you can find some way to make the most of them.

Your great energy should give you the relaxed confidence you need to pull it off.

Someone may change your mind about a basic value. Be 24 Jul - 23 Aug o p e n t o n e w ideas. People are reacting emotionally to stress today, and it's all too easy for you to follow suit. Do whatever you can to just chill out and take life in stride -- as you usually do -- and maybe you can set a good example.

Major movements are happening in your life today -- and 23 Aug - 22 Sep new ideas will result. Everyone is entitled to an opinion - and it doesn't have to be yours! It's a good day to hear people out and see if you can learn anything from their perspectives. Don't make any big decisions until then.

Thinking about relationships is not possible today.

23 Sept - 22 Oct Work on yourself. Today's big projects come first -anything new or long-term needs to wait until you've got the time and energy to handle it. You may have a hard time putting people off, but it's vital.

Scorpio Let the memories of the help you've been given inspire 23 Oct - 22 Nov you to help othe r s t o d a y.

You've been holding back at work or in your love life -- but now is the time to show people what you are really made of.

See if you can get your friends to back you up as you amaze the world!

Sagittarius There is going

Capricorn The delicate balance between your family and ca22 Dec - 20 Jan reer is getting easier to manage. You might not usually see yourself as artistically inclined, but on a day like today, you should find that things are much clearer in that regard Create something beautiful or just soak it all in.

Aquarius Get as active as you can as soon as you can today, and 21 Jan - 19 Feb keep yourself hopping! You need to put yourself first today, even if that feels overwhelmingly selfish. It's one of those days when your own issues are just easier to deal with, and you can go ahead and save the world tomorrow.

You're like a giant sponge t o d a y, o b sessed with 20 Feb - 20 Mar a b s o r p t i o n !

Satisfy your curiosity. Today is full of good energy -- for you, anyway.

See if you can spread it around somewhat if you want to become more popular, or just use it for your own awesome projects and chores.

Aries

Libra

to be lots of masculine energy around, 23 Nov - 20 Dec and it will inspire you today.

It's one of those days when you need to open doors and try new possibilities. You're sure to find that people are more likely to respond well when you're moving in the direction that feels right to you.

WORD OF THE DAY

Cancer

Leo

Virgo

Pisces

DID YOU KNOW? The lions and their prides

katzenjammer Pronunciation KAT-suhn-jam-er Function Noun Meaning 1: the discomfort and illness experienced as the aftereffects of excessive drinking; hangover 2; uneasiness; anguish; distress Example Sentence Andy hated partying all night because of the katzenjammer and headache he would end up with.

LAFFS

Unlike other wild cats, lions are unusually social and live in groups called prides. A pride of lions consists of related females and offspring and a small number of adult males. Lions manifest two types of social organisation. Some are residents, living in groups, called prides. The pride usually consists of five or six related females, their cubs of both sexes, and one or two males. Even extremely large prides, consisting of up to 30 individuals, have been observed. The number of adult males in a coalition is usually two, but may increase to four and decrease again over time. Male cubs are excluded from their maternal pride when they reach maturity. The second organisational behaviour is labeled nomads, who range widely and move about sporadically, either singularly or in pairs. Pairs are more frequent among related males who have been excluded from their birth pride.

WIZARD OF ID

Funny Quote

“Formula for success: rise early, work hard, strike oil.”

– J Paul Getty

DAILY GROOK PAY....WAY!

by Francis Rodrigues newspapers no longer can attract so why don't you, put tabloids online and charge for...paper view!

GARFIELD

MIND BENDERS

SUN MOON TIDES

Tongue Twister Sunday 32° C | 19° C Dawn 06:41

Sunrise 07:04

Cedar shingles should be shaved and saved

Clear Sunset Dark 18:20 18:43

Riddle Me This

Moon rise 10:14 - Moon set 22:31 High 01:45

21:00 Sarfarosh

10:30 12:35 14:50 16:50 18:50 21:00 23:20

What looks like a horse, moves like a horse, and is as big as a horse, but weighs nothing?

TIDES Low High Low High 08:02 13:34 19:32 —

D Tide timings are for Mormugao Harbour. For Panjim/Calangute add 20 mins. For Colva add 30 mins

Franklyn The Touch Aeon Flux The Longest Yard A Lot Like Love Pandorum Australia

08:30 11:30 15:00 19:00 22:30

Last ‘Riddle Me This’ Answer: You stand back to back

14:25 16:15 19:00 21:10

09:00 13:30 15:00 16:30 20:00 21:30 23:00

House Full Gulaal Kushti Hamari Devrani Do Dooni Chaar Mann Kee Awaaz Pratigya

Veer-Zaara Jubilee Comedy Circus Jubilee Comedy Circus C.I.D Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa Adaalat

09:30 Khana Khazana

Apna Sapna Money Money IPL Player Aucition 2011 Sooryavansham Satyamev Jayate

10:10 The Death and Life of Bobby Z 12:10 The Pursuit of Happyness

08:00 12:00 16:00 20:00

13:00 De Dana Dan 17:40 Welcome

13:00 16:00 17:30 20:00 21:00 23:30

National Security Point Break FA Cup 2010/11 Black Book

Bhoot Unkle Shikhar Viruddh Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam Homeward Bound 07:00 10:00 19:00 22:05

09:00 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix 12:00 G.I. Joe 14:45 Anacondas Trail of Blood 16:30 The Shepherd 18:15 He's Just Not That Into You 21:00 Case 39 23:30 Starship Troopers 3

10:00 Jhansi Ki Rani 12:00 Dance India Dance Doubles 19:00 Sanjog Se Bani Sangini 20:00 Ajooba

10:00 Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta Chashma 15:30 Ring Wrong Ring 17:00 Gili Gili Gappa 18:00 Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta Chashma 20:00 Aaye Din Bahar Ke 23:00 Sajan Re Jhoot Mat Bolo

10:30 11:30 12:30 3:00 16:30 17:30

Koffee with Karan Koffee with Karan Superstar Buzz Fashion Geet Pyaar Kii Ye Ek Kahaani

SUDOKU 753

Khal Nayak God Tussi Great Ho Muqaddar Ka Sikander Gadar

19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00 22:00

Bollywood This Week Ring a Star Gorbatschow Face off Club Mix Punaah

10:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00

Chuck Fear Factor Criss Angel Mindfreak Top 20 Countdown Wipeout Wipeout Fear Factor Criss Angel Mindfreak Top 20 Countdown Wipeout Wipeout Nacho Libre

10:00 11:00 12:00 12:30 13:00 13:30 14:00

Warehouse 13 The Bachelor Two And A Half Men Two And A Half Men The Simpsons The Simpsons Friends

14:30 15:00 16:00 17:30 18:00 19:00 20:00 20:30 21:00 22:00

Friends Koffee With Karan RIPping The Decade The Simpsons The Bachelor The Bachelor How I Met Your Mother How I Met Your Mother Koffee With Karan Royal Pains

IDIOT BOX 18:30 Yeh Ishq Haaye!!

19:30 Geet 20:00 Dhoond Legi Manzil Humein 21:00 Do Dooni Chaar 23:30 Dhoond Legi Manzil Humein

10:00 12:00 14:30 17:00 20:00 23:00

10:21 11:00 11:30 11:55 12:00 14:00

Na Aana Iss Des Laado Bigg Boss Dilwalon Ki Diwali Golmaal Returns Umang Bigg Boss

Let'z Go! Zoom Box Fit in 15 Red Carpet Top 30 2010 The Times 50 Most Desirable people 2010 19:00 Planet Bollywood

10:00 Barclays Premier League 12:00 Best of Australian Open Tennis H/ls 13:00 Best of Australian Open Tennis H/ls 14:00 Hot Water 15:00 Australian Open 18:00 Brisbane International 20:00 Hitz 20:30 Game 21:00 India Edition 22:00 Australian Open

10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 13:58 14:00 15:00 15:58 16:00 17:00 18:00 18:30 19:00 21:30

India Edition Epic Encounters India Edition Epic Encounters Sportscenter Weekend India Edition Epic Encounters Sportscenter Weekend India Edition Epic Encounters Best of the Best AFC Asian Cup Best of the Best AFC Asian Cup

10:00 12:00 16:00 17:00 23:00

NBA ATP 250 Series WWE: NXT Aircel Chennai Open WWE: NXT

10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 13:28 16:30 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00

Capturing the Cup Capturing the Cup Capturing the Cup Road to the Final KFC Twenty20 Big Bash Best of the Best Epic Encounters Epic Encounters We Captured the Cup Epic Encounters

08:30 Royal Trophy 2010 14:00 NPower Championship 16:00 UEFA Champions League 2010/11 H/ls : Day 5 16:55 Italian Serie A 2010/11 19:00 FIFA: Futbol Mundial 19:25 Italian Serie A 2010/11 21:30 Royal Trophy H/ls 22:30 Countdown to Kick Off 23:25 La Liga 2010/11

07:00 2010 India tour of South Africa H/ls : 2nd Test Day 1 05:00 Straight Drive 06:00 2010 India tour of South Africa : T20 21:30 Straight Drive 22:00 Talking Cricket : Waqar Younis 22:30 Talking Cricket : Dilip

Vengsarkar 11:30 South Africa vs. India T20 H/ls

10:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00

Nat Geo Amazing!

Nat Geo Women's Hour Hunter Hunted India Cheating Death True Stories Monkey Thieves Nat Geo Amazing!

The Decade Nat Geo Amazing!

Jailed Abroad Nat Geo Specials

07:00 07:30 08:00 09:00 09:30 10:00 11:00 11:30 12:00 12:30

Kids Club Flavors English News Success Mantra Fashion Show English News HCN Smash Hits Tatoo Flavors Konkani Palkachim Noketram 13:00 English News 14:00 Great Fantacia 15:00 Konkani Movie 16:00 Sunday Mass 17:00 Kids Club 17:30 Konkani Palkachim Noketram 18:00 English News 19:00 HCN Smash Hits 19:30 Musical Show 20:00 English News 21:00 Bengali Film Festival 21:30 HCN Finetunes 22:00 English News 23:00 Sunday Mass 00:00 Framebox Animation 00:30 Health Watch 01:00 Art of living 01:30 Talking Talkies 02:00 Kids Club 02:30 Flavors 03:00 HCN Smash Hits 03:30 Tatoo 04:00 Flavors 04:30 Konkani Palkachim Noketram 05:00 English News Note: Subject to change

Instructions for Sudoku 9 x 9 letter: To solve a Sudoku puzzle, every number from 1 to 9 must appear in each of the nine vertical columns, in each of the nine horizontal rows and in each of the nine boxes

SUDOKU SOL 752

HERALD CROSSWORD - 753 Across 1- Rodeo horse; 6- Blueprint detail; 10- Studies; 14- Competitor; 15- He sang about Alice; 16- Gorillas, chimpanzees and orangutans; 17- 1836 siege site; 18Colorado resort; 19- Cover; 20Renowned; 22- Cookbook amts.; 23- Nota ___; 24- Call out; 26Implicit meaning; 30- Majestic; 34- Bendable twig, usually of a willow tree; 35- Monetary unit of Lesotho; 36- Cry ___ River; 37Litter's littlest; 38- Category; 40Scorch; 41- Graffiti; 42- Burmese, Manx, and Scottish Fold; 43Praying figure; 44- Drunk; 46Strong green liqueur; 48- Loser to DDE; 49- Midge; 50- Punch; 53He literally knows the ropes; 59___ sow, so shall...; 60- Chamber; 61- Declaim; 62- Sorts; 63- Morales of "NYPD Blue"; 64- Atlas feature; 65- Internet writing system that popularized "pwn3d" and "n00b"; 66Dog star; 67- Prescribed amounts; Down 1- Bric-a-___; 2- Anger; 3- Egg-shaped; 4- Appoint; 5- Trounce; 6- Scholar; 7- Babble; 8"Night" author Wiesel; 9- Slices of prepared meats; 10- Finger; 11- Epic narrative poem; 12Tide type; 13- Grounded fleet; 21- Latin king; 25Baseball stat; 26- Arranges in groups; 27- Customary; 28- Number game of chance; 29- Hanoi holiday; 30- Brillo rival; 31- That is to say...; 32Had in mind; 33- 71% is under water; 35- ___ Cruces; 38- Roman capital of Palestine; 39- Old Ford; 40- Hindu title; 42- Friend of Fidel; 43Bonelike; 45- Most secure; 46- Hemoglobin deficiency; 47- ___-relief; 49- Brag; 50- Remove water from a boat; 51- Archipelago part; 52- Bag-

shaped fish trap; 54- Big cheese; 55- Florence's river; 56- Aggregate; 57- To ___ (perfectly); 58Devices for fishing;

SOLUTION - 752

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Parenting

Pg3

KA’s One Act Play Competition Results declared

T

HERALD FEATURES he results of the One Act Play Competition organised by the Kala Academy have been declared.

The Competition was held at the high school level.

‘Ghumche Katar Ghum’ staged by Mahila Nutan English High School, Margao and ‘Changatam’ staged by G S Amonkar Vidya Mandir, Mapusa have bagged the first prize in the Konkani and Marathi Section, respectively.

The competition was held in the month of December

2010 at the Dinanath Mangeshkar Kala Mandir, Kala Academy, Panjim.

Six plays in Konkani and seven plays in Marathi were staged in the competition. The competition was judged

by Dnyaneshwar Parsekar, Hemchandra Tari and Trupti Kerkar. After evaluating the performances the judges provided the detailed results.

Kala Academy has congratulated all the prize winners.

The prizes will be awarded in a special function to be organised at a later stage.

WINNERS

WINNERS

D As per the results, ‘Tit for Tat’ presented by Nirakar Vidhyalay, Mashem, Canacona and ‘Uzvadachi Vatt’ by Government High School, Morlem, Sattari bagged the second and third prize, respectively.

D Viresh Naik for his performance in ‘Tit for Tat’ and Vidhesh Padiyar for his in ‘Ghumche Katar Ghum’ have bagged the first and second prize respectively for acting (Male). Merit certificates for acting have been awarded to Francis Dias (‘Babu Amcho Ghat Friend’), Tanmai Raikar (‘Ghumche Katar Ghum’), Suraj Gawas, (‘Uzvadachi Vat’) and Niraj Pagi (‘Tit for Tat’).

In the female category, the first and second prize for acting have been awarded to Shruta Pai (‘Ghumche Katar Ghum’) and Pooja Nayak (‘Devalem Ful’), respectively.

Sema Kholkar (‘Babu Amcho Ghat Friend’), Kriti Kharangate (‘Ghumche Katar Ghum’), Shreya Abhisheki (‘Devalem Ful’) and Pallavi Thakur (‘Uzvadachi Vat’) have been selected for merit certificates for acting.

D The first, second and third prize for direction have been given to Shweta Prabhudesai (‘Ghumche Katar Ghum’), Urvi Phaldesai (‘Tit for Tat’) and Zilu Gaonkar (‘Uzvadachi Vat’).

D The prize for best setting was secured by Santosh Tawadkar (‘Tit for Tat’) while the merit certificates were handed over to Rukma (‘Ghumche Katar Ghum’).

D The prize for best light effects went to Rajesh Chari (‘Tit for Tat’) while the merit certificates were handed to Damodar Borkar (‘Ghumche Katar Ghum’).

D The prize for best background music went to Manjusha Talaulikar (‘Ghumche Katar Ghum’).

D The first prize for scriptwriting has been given to Kavindra Phaldesai (‘Tit for Tat’) and the second prize to Mangala Karapurkar (‘Ghumche Katar Ghum’).

D In the Marathi Section ‘The Ring Again’ presented by Peoples High School, Panjim and ‘Kovali Pane’ by the Indirabai Dhavlikar High School, Dhavli, Ponda have bagged the second and third prize, respectively.

D The first and second prize for acting (Male) have been given to Soham Lawande (‘Changatam’) and Harshal Desai (‘The Ring Again’) while the merit certificates in this category have been given to Saish Bansode (‘Smriti Prityartha’), Ishan Abhisheki (‘Ghoda’), Prakash Kasle (‘Changatam’) and Anish Bhave (‘Ghoda’).

The first and second prize in the female category has been awarded to Asawari Gurav (‘The Ring Again’) and Shivani Naik (‘Changatam), respectively.

Merit certificates for acting have been awarded to Madhura Gaonkar (‘Kovali Pane’), Rutuja Lotlikar (‘Ashi Hi Ek Kahani’), Shambhavi Deshpande (‘Smriti Prityartha’), Diksha Shetye (‘Sarnar Kadhi Tam’), Vruksha Karmali and Chaitra Pai Phondekar (‘Ashi Hi Ek Kahani’) and Saidnya Patil (‘Kovali Pane’).

D The first prize for direction is awarded to Ajaysingh Kogvale (‘Changatam’) whereas the second and third prize has been awarded to Nilesh Mahale (‘The Ring Again’) and Pooja Sangaonkar (‘Kovali Pane’).

D The prize for best setting went to Laxmikant Chari (‘Changatam’) while the merit certificates for setting to Anil Pilankar (‘The Ring Again’).

D The best lights effects prize went to Sunil Bandekar (‘Changatam’) and the merit certificates to Sanjay Mandrekar (‘The Ring Again’) D The prize for the best background music went to Avdhoot Chari (‘Changatam’) and the merit certificates to Kedar Manerikar (‘Kovali Pane’).

D The first and second prize for scriptwriting has been awarded to Prashanti Azgaonkar (‘Smriti Prityartha’) and Siddhesh Borkar (‘Kovali Pane), respectively.

MARATHI CATEGORY

KONKANI CATEGORY

Lokutsav: Coming together of Cultures HERALD FEATURES ndia has a variety of culture from North to South and East to West, and when the various cultures come together, the outcome is a splash of energy, colour and thrill. Traditional folk dances from across the nation joined hands to present an exuberant concoction of their representative states.

Besides this entertainment on display are handicrafts from all the states of the country. It is creativity to the max.

The programme will be on till January 16 at Darya Sangam in Kala Academy, Panjim.

I

Saluting Voluntary Service T

HERALD FEATURES he Goa Sudharop Awards were held recently in the state. Every year, the Goa Sudharop, a non-profit organisation that works for the betterment of the state, awards people for their contributions in various spheres. This year, the organisation focused on voluntary services where various Goan people were felicitated for their voluntary works. The awardees of the ‘Goa Sudharop Volunteer Service Icon Award’ were Ramesh Gauns, Akshata Bandekar, Geraldine Fernandes, Anthony D’Silva, Swati Kerkar and the very elusive JoeGoaUK. The organisation also announced two scholarships for the year: Cleofina Furtado, Chinchinim, for MBBS studies at Goa Medical College; and Charlotte D’Silva for engineering, degree course studies at Government Engineering College, Farmagudi.

Geraldina Fernandes

MUSIC REVIEW

BY COLIN SAVIO COELHO colin.coelho@gmail.com

Time to Groove Again

W

Swati Kerkar Anthony D'silva

Ramesh Gauns

Akshata Bandekar

Photos by Herald Features and Shammiullah Sayyed

Photos by Herald Features

e have heard three of their very popular albums before; they were hits among the people of Goa. They have now come up with one more album that holds a lot of promise. Goa’s most popular band, Lynx, has come back to treat their fans again. With Lets Groove they have brought about an album which, quite literally, lives up to its name.

The album has a good number of songs that are absolutely original.

It all begins with Sing and Dance, a song that catches one’s imagination almost instantly. It would actually make you do what it promises in the title. This would be described as a song dedicated to entertainment; something Lynx is very good at doing. Even the social aspects have been considered by the band in this album. Their song Goa Sambauchem says it all in music.

The romance is brought on by Tuzo Saganth.

While the upbeat mood is ensured at all times with songs like Move Your Body and the album’s title track Lets Groove. My Mind is another of those creative songs that the band has presented.

Besides this, Lynx has also remixed their Goan Medley to include great tracks. The medley includes their hit song of the last album Kednam. Mog Tuze Kitlom Axelom, a song by Wilfie Rebimbus from Mangalore, has been well remixed by Lynx with a variant beat while O Marialina originally by H Briton, has a new touch. The song from Daman Barra de Damäo, now more popularly known as Maria Pitache also finds a place in the Lynx repertoire for Lets Groove.

The music for the album is all arranged by Lynx. The masterminds behind it are Terry (lead guitar), Assumption (drums and

percussions), Anthony (bass and vocals), Frazer (Keyboard, percussions and vocals) and Sandy (vocals).

This album is a great inspiration to those in Goa who would like to make their own music. Lynx has shown the way and many would do well to follow.

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Pg4

Brad Pitt in talks to play John Lennon?

Work some Fat off, Kareena’s Way

H

ollywood superstar Brad Pitt is in talks to produce and star in a biopic on the life of legendary singer-songwriter John Lennon. The 47year-old actor is believed to have met with Yoko Ono, the widow of the late Beatle member, to discuss playing the role and she was impressed by his plans to learn to sing and master the Liverpool accent, consequently giving the project her support.

“Brad already has a writer working on the script.

And Yoko has given the project her blessing so long as it’s true to John’s life. Brad wants to do all the singing himself and plans to take voice lessons. If he can’t pull it off they’ll use John’s own voice,” said a source.

Although Pitt reportedly wants to produce and star in the film, no possible director has been named for the project based on the Imagine hitmaker, who was shot in 1980 in New York by crazed fan Mark Chapman.

There is also no mention of a timescale for the project, although it is unlikely he will be able to film in 2011 due to prior commitments to Cogan’s Trade, which shoots in March, and zombie movie World War Z. If made it would not be the first film to be made about Lennon’s life Kick-Ass star Aaron Johnson portrayed the singer in his younger years in 2009’s Nowhere Boy.

K

areena Kapoor believes in the two F’s very strongly, friendship and fitness. She will fly down from Switzerland to Mumbai for the launch of her dietician’s new book: Women and the Weight Loss Tamasha on January 15.

Rujuta, a fitness professional, had earlier written Don’t Lose Your Mind Lose Your Weight, which had also been launched by Kareena.

For the new book, Women and the Weight Loss Tamasha, Kareena has not just lent her voice to the narration of the complementary audio-book which comes with the book has also managed to write a personal note for each copy.

The book is a comprehensive one on women, food and everything between puberty and marriage to pregnancy and menopause.

“Kareena insisted that she be part of the whole process much more than just coming to launch it. Kareena believes fitness is food for the soul. According to her, healthy body leads to a healthy mind,” a source close to Kareena said.

T

here’s sex, drugs and infidelity. Priyanka Chopra gets intimate with her seven on-screen husbands, including John Abraham. No wonder then, that Vishal Bhardwaj’s upcoming flick, 7 Khoon Maaf has been given an ‘A’ certificate by the Censor Board. But no one is complaining, as it means the film releases on February 18, without any cuts.

“Neither Priyanka nor John was awkward during the intimate scenes.

They are both very professional,” says a source from the film unit. “This is John Abraham’s boldest role, ever. He plays a hedonistic character. He is seen bedding multiple partners, and even wears noodle strap tops and satin bows in bed,” adds the source.

“We knew right from the beginning that we are making an adult film.

The audience is mature, and it is not about specific scenes in the film,” says Vikas Bahl of UTV, the movie’s producers.

The film’s director, Bhardwaj, too, doesn’t mind the ‘A’ certificate. “I am happy with the ‘A’ certificate. The film has already been chosen for the Panorama section of the Berlin International Film Festival, and that is a matter of pride.”

Eminem to return to Movies

E

cho singer Eminem is planning to return to big screen with crime thriller Random Acts of Violence. The rapper, who sealed his musical comeback last year with the best-selling album of the year 2010, Recovery, is looking to make his mark on the silver screen once more, almost a decade after his debut role in 2002’s 8 Mile.

The film called Random Acts of Violence will be produced by Eminem’s Shady Films associates Paul Rosenbery and Stuart Parr. Directed by David Von Ancken, the script, which has been inspired by Grand Theft Auto, is reportedly being compared to films such as The Town and The Departed.

It focuses on a guy who has just been released from prison and who is trying to resist the temptations of rejoining his old gang, while the FBI tries to use him to catch criminals.

But the film will see the ex-con use the two against each other so that he can carry out his revenge on the people who put him in prison in the first place.

John Abraham’s ‘Boldest Film ever’ gets ‘A’ Certificate

A Car Radio that makes Calls, connects to GPS and finds Online Music

A

Carrots make People more Attractive

T

hose who eat fruit and vegetables such as carrots and plums are considered more attractive, say scientists. Their research has shown that men and women whose skin has a yellow glow are thought to be particularly attractive and healthy – and yellow pigments called carotenoids, found in certain fruit and vegetables play a key role in giving the skin that hue.

Carrots are regarded as the 'herbal healer' of skin diseases as they promote the repair of skin tissue. Carrots are a valuable source of Vitamin A, which is a major vitamin for skin health. They are rich in antioxidants, including phytochemicals, vitamins and minerals, which protect, nourish and moisturise the skin. Nutrition received from carrots helps to reduce photosensitivity to promote skin renewal and protect the skin from sun damage.

The study ’s co -author Ian Stephen said that just two months of increased consumption could produce visible results.

It could lead to new strategies for encouraging the young to eat more fruit and vegetables, he said.

“Telling people they might have a heart attack in 40 years’ time if they don’t eat more healthily is one thing,” he said.

“What we can do is say, ‘This is what you could look in a couple of months if you increased your fruit and veg intake’,” he added.

As part of the study by St Andrews and Bristol universities, 40 volunteers rated 51 Scottish Caucasian faces for healthiness and attractiveness.

Editor –in-chief: R F Fernandes. Editor: Ashwin Tombat. Chief Editor-Features: Christina Viegas.

Parenting

new smart car radio called Parrot’s Asteroid lets drivers make calls, find music with voice activation, and connects to GPS or the Internet – all in one.

You can play music from a number of music players or phones, a USB, or an SD card that slides in behind the faceplate of the Android OS-operating radio.

It contains an amplifier and equaliser, but also contains outputs for a 6xRCA preamp and a subwoofer.

So if you are driving and you want an MJ track, just say the name and the Asteroid will find the song. If there is a 3G connection, the player can also stream radio from online.

It also automatically synchronises to the phone book and saved voice-recognition settings of a mobile device the first time it connects via Bluetooth.

The Asteroid is expected in the market by the end of March, in Europe, with a US version to follow in the next quarter.

Youngsters prefer Self-esteem over Sex, Money

A

study has found that college students prefer self-esteem over sex, money and other indulgent activities like food and alcohol. “It is somewhat surprising how this desire to feel worthy and valuable trumps almost any other pleasant activity you can imagine,” said Brad Bushman, professor of communication and psychology at the Ohio State University, who led the study.

Bushman conducted the research with Scott Moeller of Brookhaven National Lab and Jennifer Crocker, professor of psychology at Ohio State University, according to its statement.

In two separate studies, researchers asked college students how much they wanted and liked various pleasant activities, including sex, their favourite food or seeing a best friend, reports the Journal of Personality.

They were asked to rate how much they wanted and liked each activity on a scale of 1 (not at all) to 5 (extremely). One of the items they were asked about was self-esteem building experiences, such as receiving a good grade or receiving a compliment.

“We found that self-esteem trumped all other rewards in the minds of these college students,” Bushman said.

“American society seems to believe that self-esteem is the cure all for every social ill, from bad grades to teen pregnancies to violence,” he said.

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s ’ ld

a r He Sunday, 9 Jan 2011

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WEEKEND r u o d n e l Sp

From Goa’s Soil Adam Fruits and Mimusops

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Grandma’s Kitchen

BOOKWORM

Croquettes

A Woman’s Best Friend

Gonsalves Brothers: Taking Goa to the World A brother duo who recently won the Dr Jack Sequeira award for promoting Goan culture and language, Tony Gonsalves and Felix Gonsalves are motivated to spread the culture of Goa’s art forms not just to Goans but even those who show interest in Konkani and tiatrs abroad

BY DOLCY D’CRUZ HERALD FEATURES asually dressed in tee-shirts and trousers, anyone’s guess would be that Tony Gonsalves and Felix Gonsalves, two brothers who have settled in the UK, are down on holidays in Goa. But beware, they are not just mingling with people but on a deeper level, they are finding out the true hidden talent in musicians and tiartrists. A cool and calm duo, they are Goans to the core and promoting Konkani to Konkani mogi is their mission. The Gonsalves brothers originally from Divar, want to take Goa, the culture and language, to the world. What started out as a simple initiative has now taken bold steps of taking tiatrs and Konkani musical shows to Goans in the UK, Canada, Europe and the Gulf countries like Qatar, Bahrain and UAE. Calling themselves Wembly Goans UK, they have been at it for the past eight years, organising tiatrs and musical shows in different parts of the world.

Thirteen years ago, Gonsalves lived in Divar managing his sports goods business and enjoying Goan lifestyle, until he applied for a Portuguese passport. In 1996, he went to London to find it interesting but expensive. He ended his business here and moved to Wembley with wife, Rosaria and three children. Felix joined him in Wembley. The brothers have been inseparable right from their childhood, watching tiatrs along with their mother who instilled the love of Konkani in them.

When asked about what bonds them with Konkani that they have taken up the cause of promoting it, the brothers are quick to respond. “I was born and brought up in Goa and then shifted to the UK. There is a very overwhelming feeling when you are in a foreign country and you find a Goan speaking in Konkani. You really can’t express that feeling as you feel home away from home. I want Goans to speak Konkani and to teach the younger generation who are living abroad to do the same.

The younger generations should keep the traditions alive. This motivated me to take tiatrs to different cities where Goans live so that they get a reason to speak in Konkani. Usually, they have to wait for their holidays to watch a tiatr. We present them with the opportunity to watch a Goan tiatr with a Goan cast right in their city,” says Tony, elder brother of Felix.

Felix adds, “I still vividly remember when I was young my mom, Catherina used to hold my hand and take me to watch tiatrs from Divar to Panjim. At that time, there were no ferries in Divar and yet she would take the trouble of crossing the river with boats just to watch tiatrs which taught us to respect this art form. Now when I think of promoting Konkani, I can imagine parents bringing their children for the shows abroad which bring back those memories.

I want every Goan child to remember that tiatrs are their own culture.”

It wasn’t a piece of cake to organise tiatrs and musical shows in a foreign land without learning about the Goans there. Tony and Felix had to do a lot of research to get their contacts and to find out about the Goan population in the region. For six years, they gathered information about the Goan population in the UK and neighbouring countries. By 2002, they founded the club and called it Wembley Goans UK. It began with organising Goan cultural programs and then moved on to shows and tiatrs with entire Goan cast and crew from Goa. “We come down to Goa in every three to four months and watch various tiatrs to see which is the topmost tiatr of the season in terms of the good cast, music and crowd pulling tiatrs.

After all, they will be heading to cities which rarely get to see tiatrs and we don’t want to disappoint anyone. We organise the venues and offer the entire cast and crew of the tiatr troupe by sponsoring entertainment visas which are valid for six months, travelling, baggage charges, accommodation, medicals and even their fees. They have to just come there and perform for a few shows. The maximum number of shows till date is four shows,” says Tony

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Gonsalves, who was awarded the Dr Jack Sequeira award for promoting Goan Culture and Language in 2008.

Through their club, several Goan tiatrists like Antonnette de Calangute, Junior Chico, Kenny, Francis de Tuem and Luis Bachchan went abroad. Their first show was Lorna’s Musical tour to Europe and Canada in 2002. The group travelled with Ben Evangelisto, Comedian Domnic and Norman Cardozo and toured London, Paris, Lisbon and Canada. “Lorna sang a song about visiting Lisboa but I made it possible for her to see the place of her dreams.

She was thrilled and personalities like Keith Vaz, Member of Parliament for Leicester East attended the show even without being personally invited. He came forward after the show and hugged Lorna and was excited to see her perform. It was also a hit with spectators flying to London from South Africa and Kenya,” reminisces Tony.

...contd on page 4

Stage-craft needs More Attention

On the Tiatr

Stage

BY TOMAZINHO CARDOZO

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f we desire to make the performance of a tiatr effective and meaningful then we cannot overlook the importance of Stage-craft or Stage Setting. The imagination of the script writer and the vision of the director can well be translated into reality by making use of an appropriate Stage Setting. Hence one needs a Set designer to plan the Stage Setting which must be done in co-ordination with the director of the Tiatr.

Types of stages Set Designing will depend on the type of stage we are going to use for the performance. Hence here is some information about the types of stages we have. There are three types of stages such as (a) Traditional Stage, (b) Thrust Stage and (c) Arena Stage.

Traditional Stage It is the most common stage we had in the past and it is also widely used in the present times. Most of the halls constructed in the schools and theatres in Goa have traditional stage. It has a rectangular or a square shape having a front curtain and side wings. For example, in Panjim, Kala Akademy’s DMK Auditorium or in Margao, Ravindra Bhavan’s Pai Tiatrist auditorium and for that matter, stages temporarily erected in villages, are all traditional stages.

Thrust Stage It is slightly different from the Traditional stage. In Thrust stage, the audience can witness a performance, from different angles as almost 75% of the stage area is exposed to them. Kala Akademy’s Open Air Theatre has a Thrust Stage.

Arena Stage It is yet another type of stage in which the audience sits at different levels on all sides and the performance takes place on the stage placed at the centre of the auditorium. Goa does not have an Arena type stage so far.

Designing a Set

As there are different types of stages, the designer of the set will have to take the type of stage into consideration while designing the stage setting. While designing a stage set, some of the things that we should keep in mind are:

The Stage Set must be as simple as possible.

It should express the vision of the director and create a befitting atmosphere for the play.

Each and every prop displayed in the setting must be used during the performance.

In other words, only the things required for the performance should form the property of the setting.

As the tiatr is performed on stages of different sizes, the set designer should keep this aspect also in mind so that he can make use of the same set on different stages.

No importance However, talking about the tiatr and its Stage Sets, I must confess, even the most popular tiatr directors do not give much importance to this aspect. Take for example any tiatr in Goa, which has even completed 200 performances. In every village where it was performed, must have had different Stage Settings. Same attitude towards stagecraft continues. Many a times the director does not even know the colour of the sets because it is arranged by the contractor of the Tiatr.

Economic viability Some of the directors of well known dramatic troupes make an appropriate Stage Set for their tiatrs but this set is used only in the cities and not in the villages. If one asks them the reason for not using the same set in the villages, they will say that it is not economically viable. This happens only on the tiatr stage. No other drama stages, be it in Marathi, Hindi, English, etc give such a treatment to their performances. I am reminded here of only two great directors of the tiatr stage, i.e. late Shri J P Souzalino and Shri Prem Kumar, who always saw that a special stage set was made for each tiatr and the tiatr was performed in all the corners of Goa by using the same stage set.

It is high time that our tiatr directors make efforts to make use of the same stage set for all their performances of a particular tiatr, because it will add professionalism to their performances on one hand and the audience, ie, the tiatr lovers, will feel that they do not miss anything even if they see the tiatr in a small village, on the other hand.

(Email your feedback to: tomazinho.goa@gmail.com)

WEEKEND Splendour

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Sunday, 9 Jan 2011

GOA’S FIRST AND ONLY GIP A Feni-licious Fill of Goan Spirit

The GI Certificate and the Stakeholders Association

BY CHRISTINA VIEGAS HERALD FEATURES nother week, another opportunity to notate on the great Goan spirit: the fabulous ‘Feni’.

Yes, there are volumes that can be jotted down on this potent drink of Goa. While distilling the spirit and bottling it to sell to the residents of the state and tourists, runs in the very DNA of the Goans, a lot of awareness is required on the Geographical Indication front. For starters, most of the ‘bhaticars’ need to know that we have an association that represents them – The All Goa Cashew Feni Distillers and Bottlers Association. Any problems within the trade should be brought to the notice of the working committee of the association and it is the duty of those heading the association to approach authorities and resolve issues.

Now, this association was formed and then registered under the Societies of Registration Act on July 2, 2006 and the members claim that it was the Goa Chamber of Commerce who helped them form the association. Incidentally, this was during the period when the ‘Feni’ stakeholders were working towards protecting ‘Feni’ through the procuring of the GI. And to ensure that the interest of every stakeholder and that of the brand equity of ‘Feni’ was protected, it was decided in a meeting chaired by the then Development Commissioner to apply for the GI jointly as GI is not given to any one individual. And to strictly ensure that there would be no monopoly of any kind on part of the big boys of ‘Feni’, the government stepped in through the involvement of the Department of Science, Technology and Environment. And thus we have both parties as joint holders of the GI. The application made jointly was signed by Mr Michael D’ Souza, Director of Department of Science, Technology and Environment, Mr Mac Vaz, President of The Goa Cashew Feni Distillers and Bottlers Association and Mr Gurudatta Bhakta, Secretary of

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the association.

Important details from the GI certificate, a copy which is in my possession reads: Geographical Indication No: 120 Certificated No: 105 Certified that the Geographical Indication (of which a representation is annexed hereto) has been registered in the register in the name of Goa Cashew Feni Manufacturers and Bottlers Association, D3/26, Tivim Industrial Estate, Karaswado, Mapusa, Gao – 403507 and Department of Science, Technology & Enviromnment (DST&E), Government of Goa, Opposite Saligao Seminary, Saligao, Bardez, Goa – 403511, in class 33, under no 120, as of the date 19.12.2007, sealed at my direction this 05th day of March 2009 at Chennai.

Signed by Mr P H Kurian Registrar of Georaphical Indications Entry made in Part-A of the Register – Feni That the Goa Cashew Feni Manufacturers and Bottlers Association D3/26, Tivim Industrial Estate, Karaswado, Mapusa, Gao – 403507 and Department of Science, Technology & Enviromnment (DST&E), Government of Goa, Opposite Saligao Seminary, Saligao, Bardez, Goa – 403511, India are the Registered Proprietors of the GI of Feni.

Dated: 05-03-09 Place: Chennai Signed by Mr P H Kurian Registrar of Georaphical Indications It is high time, we the people of Goa, got to see the association getting active in taking up issues like responsible drinking of ‘Feni’, working towards cracking down on selling of spurious ‘Feni’ and a hoard of other steps in working towards churning out a standardised qualitative product for the consumer. Besides, they need to work towards perhaps giving awards for the stakeholders who excel in packaging and coming out with novel ideas like making spiced ‘Feni’, various other flavoured ‘Feni’ and matured ‘Feni’.

Versatality of Feni demonstrated by cocktail maestro, Shawn D’ Souza

FENIRITA 45ml Cashew Feni 15ml Liqueur 15ml Lime Juice 10ml Sugar Syrup Method: Blend all ingredients in a blender and pour in a salt rimmed margarita glass Strain and pour into a Champagne flute.

Glass: Margarita Garnish: Lime

oil S s ’ oa G From

BEAUTY & brains

BY DR NANDKUMAR M KAMAT

Romancing the Stones

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s a child I was fond of collecting various types of pebbles, rocks, stones. My mother used to shout at me when I used to empty a sack full of colourful stones in the house. “throw these out” she used to yell.

But I was expert in hiding the collection. My romance and adventure with stones, rocks, soils continues. When I visited Chandigarh, I brought samples from Punjab’s sacred soil-where my vedic/Indo-European ancestors had lived.

When I travelled from Thiruvananthpuram to Kanyakumari early morning to catch the glimpses of the rising sun on an unique marine horizon – I bought the packaged samples of sand from three coasts. There is a profound spiritual dimension to many of my discoveries. The vision comes first followed by the discovery. It is a divine gift which I knew I had possessed when I was a school going kid. I had been ridiculed, humiliated and punished for being different.

People are more interested in useless questions like, “How rest of the world missed it?,” “How only you could discover gold?” Some went to the extent of questioning my qualifications to do research in Geomicrobiology. Fortunately, I have not been asked to show my degree in Journalism or creative writing which might have qualified me to write this column. Three months back I dreamt of an indecipherable metallic inscription excavated from bottom strata of Indus civilisation in Mohenjodoro. That provided the seed for my science fiction story in Marathi published in the Divali special issue of Daily ‘Gomantak’ last year. After emphatic discovery of ancient Gold formed by microbial action at a depth of 65 metres, suddenly the seed of my science fiction story came to my mind. I have profound respect for mother earth.

On several occasions her shear beauty and mystery has brought spontaneous tears to my eyes. Having established a superior, unique and subliminal connection to the

planet of my creation and existence, discoveries like microbiogenic or bacterioform gold come like scientific visions.

‘Look at this,” I had told my project assistant. Undoubtedly, I said “this is pure gold particle.” The particle was shaped like the Christmas star-the star of Bethlehem. The day was December 24th. The time was a few hours before the Christmas night. I am not a superstitious or dogmatic person.

But a Christmas star shape was the first shape among thousands of pure gold particles which I had later examined minutely. Earth reveals herself in myriad forms and speaks in countless tongues. Why I relate to stones and soils? Why do I get drawn towards interesting rocks and rock formations? There could be a biochemical reason. All the elements which make my mortal body are ultimately forms, exudates of these stones and rocks. My friend, young, creative and passionate Konkani writer Prakash Porienkar has written a wonderful book in Konkani- a collection of essays on Mahadayi river.

One full chapter has been dedicated to rocks and rock formations which he found in the Mahadayi river basin, from her source to downstream region. I am writing preface to this book which would be published by Directorate of Art and Culture this year. Prakash was magnetised , almost possessed by the elemental beauty and mystery of the rocks.

He talks so animatedly about them that I forget that he is not a geologist but a writer. He comes from a hard working farmer’s family and possesses a wealth of traditional knowledge. I feel myself ignorant and illiterate when he talks about the culture, ecology and traditions of Mahadayi river basin. I salute him because he has identified himself completely with the ecological, biological and cultural ethos of the river. We are all parcels of biological dust. As I was studying different soil samples, I could go back to my own history.

When I lifted small pebbles excavated from different depths, they were telling me interesting stories-geological, ecological and biological. To me, rocks and soils are like Earth’s mysterious time capsules. Earth throws a challenge to usDiscover me, my secrets. Romancing with stones gave me a holistic perspective in science. Combined with unique and scientifically inexplicable visions, rich insights were possible. I have stopped kicking stones. I respect them.

Once upon a time they were a part of me and after I depart I would be among them - formless, as useless as dust.

(Email your feedback to: nandkamat@gmail.com)

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BY MIGUEL BRAGANZA

Adam Fruits and Mimusops

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ast week, this column dealt with the Devil’s Tree, Alstonia scholaris. Readers called to thank me for identifying the source of the fragrance of the night that bedeviled them as no flowering plants were in sight to justify the fragrance. Today, my son Colin is receiving an award from the Goa Agriculture Officers’ Association for scholarliness that has nothing to do with Alstonia: he scored the highest marks for SSC among the children of its members. At 91% aggregate, he has bettered the record of his parents and siblings. The Association is also the first publisher of my articles and books on Agriculture in Goa since 1985. While starting the option of “Life Membership” during my term as its Secretary in 1987, little did I think that my association with it would continue so long.

It has. While you read this, the members will celebrate this association with their families.

Some readers would like this column to continue featuring flowering and fragrant trees while others want to know about plants with edible fruits. It is possible to satisfy both with the plant that lends it name to the Konkani music programme on AIR, “Kanddlam, Vonvlam”.

Goans going to the mangroves and ‘Kirni’ jungles near Nerul bridge may have responded to a question as to where they had gone and said “Kanddlini” [a forgotten childhood word that I was reminded of by Ms Snehlata Aravind Bhatikar, while crossing the Mandovi by ferry boat from Sarmanas-St Estevao to Piligao late last year] and given rise to the name “Candolim” for the beach area made famous by the MV ‘River Princess’. Today we will find a little more about the ‘Vonvlam’ or ‘Omvllam’ or Mimusops elengi and the Adam’s Fruit or Mimusops kauki that has a closer link with the Chickoo tree than the Botanists had realised before. Obviously, all Botany researchers do not strike gold in Sunaparant.

The Vonvlam, like those of Alstonia, are fragrant flowers which scent their surroundings with their

rich fragrance during the evening hours and fall to the ground in the morning. However, unlike the other, the Vonvlam retain their fragrance for many days after they fall. Women braid the honey-brown flowers and wear them in their hair. The flowers are also offered in temples and shrines in Goa and throughout India. In Indian mythology the Vonvlam are known as Vakula and in Marathi as well as in Bengali as Bakul.

Kalidas mentions the flower in his epic, Shakuntala, the lady who adorns the entrance plaza of the Mapusa Municipal Market, where the plants are sold on Fridays.

It is a lovely green small tree with its small shiny, narrow, pointed leaves on branches spreading from a straight trunk.

It is a prized tree because it provides a dense shade and during the months during the hot summer months from March to July and fills the night air with the delicious heady aroma of its tiny, star-shaped, cream colored flowers. Rinsing the mouth with water solution made with vonvlam flowers prevents bad breath and helps keep the gums healthy. The fruits of the Vonvlam tree are known as ‘Aan-ddodde’ The Fructa de Adao or Adam’s Fruit is related to the Vonvlam. However, Mimusops kauki as it was known scientifically, has hexamerous flowers (simply said, the flowers have everything in sixes) and is now known as Manilkara kauki. It is, thus, a close relative of the chickoo, Manilkara achras, formerly known to Botanists as Achras sapota. My house is surrounded by the Chickoo trees.

Manilkara is a group of trees or genus in the botanical family of Sapotaceae. Trees of this genus yield edible fruits that contain white latex or chicle, which gave its name to the popular brand of chewing gum. Only recently did I learn of the Thai connection to the rootstock, Khirni or Manilkara hexandra that we use for grafting chickoo in Goa. The flower of Khirni is the emblem of Prachuap Khiri Khan province of Thailand, where the tree is known as rayan as it is also known in Daman, Diu and Gujarat. The generic name, Manilkara, is derived from ‘manil-kara’, reportedly a vernacular name for it in Malayalam.

Perhaps, there was a sea trade connection between the Far East and the West Coast of India beyond the Goan ‘Mando’ and the Angkor Wat temple in Cambodia.

(Email your feedback to: braganza.miguel@gmail.com)

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Across Give it ___!

Hives Concorde, e.g.

Provoke Out 21st letter of the Greek alphabet Sweatbox Poisonous mushroom Actor Wallach Sudden assault Dog Steak order Person with new parents Fanatic New Zealand evergreen tree Anthology of artwork Little laugh Female bovine Anger Staggering Air-filled rubber hoop, become fatigued Charge Young boy or girl More adorable Writers of verse Dexterous Supple Mineral used as a gem Eskimo boat With the bow, in music Decoration at the top of a chair leg

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Centennial Wash lightly Joplin song Leases Heart chambers Chemical ending Brewer’s need Faithful Down Church recess 100 dinars Fair Sky light Dainty restaurant Free laces, say Crucifix 7th letter of the Greek alphabet Accomplished Like lighthouses Issue forth with force Directed a light São Paulo feature Pith helmet As a female, you could be queen or worker Sky color Oohed and ___ Shootout Middle Eastern coffee holder “Night” author Wiesel Boat spines Hackneyed Citizens collectively Hurler Hershiser

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Used to be Excuse me Big brass Food prep Variety of tobacco H.S. exam Ad ___ “Filthy” money That is to say...

Burn a bit Rendezvous Collective word for intellectual pursuits Bhutan’s continent Actual Born Gasteyer of “Saturday Night Live” How was ___ know?

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WEEKEND Splendour

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Sunday, 9 Jan 2011

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W E E K LY

attended a meeting of an organisation that brings successful businessmen and potential young entrepreneurs together. The talks ranged from management, how to make the existing fields better and how to find and keep customers, etc standard stuff that you can find in a business help group. I can think of fifty new areas of self employment that one could make a lot of money and get happiness, that have to do with animals and environment.

One of them is to start an institution, training service dogs for the disabled.

Autism is a difficult disorder to diagnose in the beginning. The child seems distracted, bad tempered, withdrawn, moody, etc. It is with a great deal of bewilderment that parents finally realise that their child is autistic. The disorder is not uncommon. In America it is one in nine children with the disorder. In India, every city has a special school for the autistic. When I was Minister for Social Justice, I paid for one in Chennai, which quickly filled up.

Autism is a severe disorder that affects the way a child sees and interacts with the rest of the world. It effects sensory, memory, motor and postural control. The child has virtually no social and communication skills and is soon isolated both within the family and with other people. Many autistic children display a tendency to run away in open spaces, making going to a public place almost impossible. Many autistic children also experience difficulty sleeping and suffer from insomnia.

Children with autism are often misunderstood because their brains process information differently. While they understand facts and numbers they cannot understand concepts or ideas at all. Their brains process information in a very detailed way - they take in major and minor stimuli all together, for instance, a car driving by, the smell of their clothing and the sound of a dog barking to make a decision.

Too many details cause them to become confused , frightened and angry. They express little or no attachment to humans, the concept of mother or brother is not immediately apparent to them.

Dogs have been proven to be an asset for children diagnosed with autism and their families. They provide a social ‘bridge’ for children who are often excluded by others because of their behavior or lack of social interaction. They provide comfort as well as calm autistic children down. Autistic children who run away and hide can also be quickly and easily found by assistance dogs that are trained to locate them.

Dogs have been used for many years by the blind. Abroad, most old age centres and some hospitals have dogs specially in the children’s wards because they have realised the benefits of the human-animal interaction. They have found that patients heal faster, the elderly suffer from fewer physical problems.

Now dogs are being trained to help those with autism. Families say they have seen marked improvement in their children. The support group Autism Speaks includes a list of dog-training groups. A person with autism is a person with a disability and

H O R O S C O P E

ANIMALWorld

Dogs to assist Autistic Children?

Mar 21 - Apr 19

At the start of the week, act on a spontaneous notion, take the initiative and watch your infectious enthusiasm catch on. From around Wednesday afternoon through the end of the workweek, your challenge is to put on the brakes and give your world some measured consideration. From Friday evening through the weekend, your charisma's seriously amped up.

You're very likely to make progress toward getting what you want.

Apr 20 - May 20

Relationships may go either spectacularly well at the beginning of the week, or may seem to implode. Be ready for extremes, and be ready to say how you really feel. From around Wednesday afternoon through the end of the workweek, harmony returns. When it comes to work, you might want to reexamine the motives of key parties. If you're looking to augment your income you may have a profitable new idea

a service animal is any dog or other animal individually trained to provide assistance to someone with a disability.

Guide dogs for the blind provide visual help, taking them through dangers invisible to the human. Guide dogs for the deaf are trained to alert their owner to important noises or other things requiring human intervention, such as a smoke alarm, a crying baby, a telephone ringing, a knock at the door. People with autism are easily confused by minor sights and smells and their brains become confused on which is important to deal with: the smell of a cloth, the car passing by, the sound of a bird – all these get equal attention and cause the brain to overstimulate and create panic and withdrawal. Autism service dogs are trained to help the human prioritise information and to take them through potentially dangerous situations. A normal dog will calm the child, divert him from harming himself, correct his balance, alert him to important sounds, steer around obstacles for instance.

Having a dog with an autistic child has many benefits : the child is safer and stops running away when frightened; the child’s social skills become better; the family can go out together safely and confidently; the child become calmer giving them an increased attention span and a greater aptitude for learning.

These dogs are companions that increase the safety of the child and reduce the stress level of the family.

These dogs are naturally interesting which often draws the attention of the autistic child as well as others. The child is drawn into social interaction. Dogs are taught to nudge a child that is performing repetitive behaviour, this touch is often all that is required to redirect the child from this behavior. Dogs can provide independence by allowing the child to walk with the dog as opposed to constantly holding the hand of a parent or adult. Autistic children are noticed to have an increase in vocabulary after being paired with a dog. The children seem to be more comfortable in speaking with the dog. Dogs provide a certain level of comfort that can often improve a child’s ability to sleep more throughout the night. Autistic children with dogs have been documented to feel less anger and experience less acts of aggression compared to the time before receiving an assistance dog. Assistance dogs are taught to track the child in the event that they run or go missing. This ability to locate the child quickly, greatly reduces the risk of serious harm A study by the University of Montreal shows that trained service dogs can actually reduce anxiety levels in autistic children. Forty-two children were measured for the amount of cortisol in their saliva – a hormone that is produced by the body in response to stress – after they were given dogs. The findings published in Psychoneuroendocrinology, showed that stress levels went down.

Five per cent of India suffers from disability. They have very little help. Training dogs for the disabled is very big business abroad. Why not start it here? Normal Indian dogs, from the roads, as it were, will get a new chance at life and so will the child and the family they protect.

In 1996, National Service Dogs for Children with Autism was created and they train organisations round the world. For more information on NSD, visit www.nsd.on.ca. If nothing else , think of it as a business opportunity.

May 22 - Jun 20

You may feel pushed at the beginning of the week, whether from external forces or your own amped-up drive, passion or ambition. Then from around Wednesday afternoon through the end of the workweek, you're likely feeling just plain good. If romance is a priority now, that can go your way too! More communication is required from Friday evening through the weekend, particularly before you make any big plans or big moves.

Talk it through.

Sept 22 - Oct 23

BY MANEKA GANDHI

Take a proactive approach to whatever you do at the beginning of the week; boldness will be rewarded. From around Wednesday afternoon through the end of the workweek, though, you'll want to downshift and go slow. Your personal path may have some twists and turns now, and concentration is key. Then, coming up with a revolutionary concept is a distinct possibility from Friday evening through the weekend.

Nov 22 - Dec 21

Oct 24 - Nov 21

It's best to set your own ambitions and any kind of aggressive approach aside at the beginning of the week. Nip conflict in the bud with charm and compromise. You'll likely be involved in some intense stuff from around Wednesday afternoon through the end of the workweek. Be courageous but don't bluff.

From Friday evening through the weekend, what seems to be a minor factor may actually be the crux of the matter.

Be happy through the weekend.

It's child's play for you at the beginning of the week. Enjoy yourself and improve your life!

From around Wednesday afternoon through the end of the workweek, you may be saddled with some unwanted chores or responsibilities, but what are you gonna do? Plow through and get some help if you can.

There's a lot going on from Friday evening through the weekend, and you'll need to set your priorities. Make one of them having fun.

(To join the animal welfare movement contact gandhim@nic.in)

Jun 21 - Jul 22

Your memory plays a key role at the beginning of the week. Understanding what's gone before and making the connections to what's happening now gives you a much clearer vision for your life's path. From around Wednesday afternoon through the end of the workweek, you can charm anyone and everyone. Projects this weekend demand a patient, step-by-step approach. Break the tension and kick up your heels!

Jul 23 - Aug 22

You're all heart and all kinds of fun as the week begins.

Learning something new or helping someone out feels extra good.

From around Wednesday afternoon through the end of the workweek, beware of extremes. Seek out the middle way, for yourself and in others. Then from Friday evening through the weekend, life's a party - though you'll love a fete with intriguing conversations and exciting ideas far more than a crazy blowout.

Dec 22 - Jan 19

Feeling secure is extra important at the beginning of the week.

Let loved ones know you need some support and make yourself indispensable at work. From around Wednesday afternoon through the end of the workweek happy stuff is coming your way, including the possibility of a hot romance! Enjoy the world's embrace. This weekend, in order to see a situation for what it is, disregard the fluff and noise and look to the core.

It's simpler than you might think.

Aug 23 - Sept 21

Jan 20 - Feb 18

Will you compromise or get combative at the beginning of the week? Finding a way to cooperate may still involve some conflict, but it's likely of the healthy, productive kind. From around Wednesday afternoon through the end of the workweek, you've got a stellar opportunity to go deeper. Your usual attention to detail may slip from Friday evening through the weekend, but maybe that's not such a bad thing.

Feb 19 - Mar 20

At the beginning of the week you make breakthroughs look easy.

Forge forth and discover all sorts of things. From around Wednesday afternoon through the end of the workweek, life may be a bit of a yawn by comparison. Spice it up by feeding your brain with a lecture, a book, the arts or whatever psychs you up. Then you're simply hot stuff from Friday evening through the weekend. Individuals fall at your feet, while you're the sizzling centre of any group.

At the beginning of the week get to the nitty-gritty and exercise some prudent caution.

From around Wednesday afternoon through the end of the workweek, you're a master of communication, and you're not too shabby when it comes to romantic matters, either. Consider letting your heart's desire be known. Settle down from Friday evening through the weekend; staying home may be a better idea than a big party or running errands all over town.

GRANDMA’S

Casa Moeda - The Mint at Panjim

A

BY SANJEEV SARDESAI

VIEW Finder

s one enters the Panjim City along the new Patto Bridge, you see a beautiful mansion to the left of the end of the bridge, between the GPO. The over architecture of this one-storied mansion is very har- t h e monious to the cityscape, with its lower floor decorated w o r l d .

The idenwith beautiful, semi circular arches.

Set in a precinct of the city which was once called tity of the curas the “Tobacco Square” (Largo da Estanco), this cute rency minted here was house has a very rich history. Primarily, it was a building Rupiya, Meio Pardau, Cinco Reis, Tanga, Meia Tanga. which housed the Portuguese Mint, which minted the While the Rupiya was minted in Silver, the remaining coins were of copcoins for a period per. of seven years, beThe year 2009 tween 1834 and was celebrated as 1841. It has to be the 175th year of noted that in this this mint, with mint, only metal seminars and precoins were minted. sentations organNo paper money ised by the was printed here. No present resident ruins of original edand owner of the ifice of the mint at place Dr Luis Old Goa is traceable.

Dias.

S e c o n d l y, t h e building has been the Dias family residence since 1904.

This was the residence of Dr. M. C Dias (9/7/1854 – Casa Moeda/Casa da Moeda 26/7/1936), who was the first Goan Dean Now residence of Dr Luis Dias of the Escola Medico de Cirurgico de Cidade de Goa or Goa Medical College. A statuette bust of Dr. Dias was shifted, in a cute garden opposite the GPO from the GMC Building to this square in memory of this great surgeon.

Initially, this mansion had its entrance facing the The quaint South; but later renovations created a stair cased entrance facing the West. A granite plaque fixed on the staircase of the outer wall of the verandah on the first floor denotes house a date of 1834. The mint in Goa or Casa Moeda was amongst the five established by the Portuguese all (E-mail your feedback to sanscritic@sify.com)

Kitchen

Goan Home-Style Snacks HERALD FEATURES he late Joyce Fernandes was a culinary wizard. Though no more, she has left behind a culinary legacy. According to Joyce, “Home style cuisine is all about a simple, economical and satisfying way to cook. The recipes in my book, Home Style Cuisine are endlessly varied, some invented, others gleaned from a variety of sources, but changed to give t h a t g re a t a p petite appeal.” She continues in her book, “High-sounding cuisine can come and go, but what most families like, is a good, hearty, oldfashioned fare.”

Her book boasts of more than a hundred ways to put the zing back into everyday cooking with easy-to-prepare snacks, main dish recipes, deserts etc, which will make family meals and casual weekend entertaining, extra special.

When it comes to the Goan palate, who does not want to bite into some crisp delicious croquettes as starters or snacks? Here are a couple of her recipes to cater to both the vegetarian and the nonvegetarian.

T

RICE CROQUETTES Ingredients 2 cups boiled rice 3 tbsp milk 2 tbsp butter 2 eggs (beaten) 1 tbsp chopped coriander leaves 2 green chillies (chopped)

½ tsp chilli powder 2 tbsp chopped onion Salt to taste Breadcrumbs Oil for deep frying Method Mix all the ingredients except the last two. Cook on very low flame till almost dry, stirring continuously. Cool, shape into 2” croquettes, roll in the breadcrumbs and deep fry in hot oil.

BEEF CROQUETTES ½ kg beef 1 tsp salt 2 tsp ginger-garlic paste 2 tsp spice powder 2 tbsp vinegar 2 onions (sliced) 1 large spicy sausage (boiled) Method Cut the meat into 2 inch cubes. Apply the next four ingredients and allow to stand for 10 minutes. Cook the meat till soft. Cool, grind the meat along with the next four ingredients. Mix the ground stuff with an egg, salt and vinegar to taste. Form into 2 inch rolls, roll in flour, dip in beaten egg and roll into breadcrumbs. Deep fry in hot oil.

2 green chillies 2 slices bread 2 eggs 1 cup flour Fine dry breadcrumbs Oil for deep frying

WEEKEND Splendour

email us at weekendsplendour@herald-goa.com

Pg4

Sunday, 9 Jan 2011

Dual Sims are in...

HERALD FEATURES ndian mobile companies are constantly LG KS660 The LG KS660 Dual-SIM mobile phone introducing new features to the mobile is a touchscreen triband GSM network phone to keep the novelty factor on ready phone which features a large 3.0the surface among its consumers, which inch 262K colours colour display, 5.0 MP of course shows positive results to the digital camera, powerful MP3 and media company’s pockets. player, integrated FM Radio with recordInnovative as they are, the dual SIM ing facility, memory expansion card slot phone was their introduction to the marand an option for Hindi language in SMS ket in the year 2007. In its initial years, and the system menu. The phone also it was limited to being manufactured by features a unique scratch-proof display desi companies alone. Upon the realisascreen and it boasts of capacity of contion of its value, mobile giants also took tinuous 15 hours of music playback. to it. Dual SIM phones are now very popular.

SAMSUNG D880 Referred to as do dilwale phones, these products tend to make life a lot easier Continuous 15 hours of music playback The Samsung D880 Dual SIM mobile phone sports a slider-up design and is a for the yuppie (young urban professional) Dual SIM capable tri-band GSM mobile and for whomever else needs them. You won’t have to go about with the weight of two phones in your phone. Its features include 256K colours display, integrated pocket or purse; instead within one you can have two different 3.15 Megapixel camera with 4x digital zoom and video recording, numbers. Why dual SIM phones are gaining in popularity is microSD memory their ability to separate slot, GPRS, EDGE, ones professional life MP3 Media Player from ones personal life and TV-Out Port with a phone number. for direct connection to home TV. SPICE D-1100 The phone offers The Spice D-1100 Can- tri-band GSM 900 dybar style India’s first / GSM 1800 / GSM Dual SIM Mobile Phone 1900 network in PDA is powered by SIM 1 and DualWindows mobile 6.0. band GSM 900 / Its features include 1800 MHz and is 256K colours TF T equipped with colour display, 2.0 l a r g e 2 . 3 - i n c h Powered by Windows mobile 6.0 Megapixel Digital Cam- 265K colours caera with 6x Zoom, in- pable, QVGA TFT TV-Out Port for direct connection to tegrated MP3 media player, GPRS and Bluetooth connection. screen having 240 home TV The phone allows in SIM-1 Tri-band GSM 900/1800/1900 MHz x 320 pixels screen and in SIM-2 Dual-band 900 / 1800 MHz network connection. resolution.

H.A.B.I.Ts

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B O

A Woman’s Best Friend

BY CYRIL D’CUNHA

O K W O R M

...CONTD FROM PAGE 1

Gonsalves Brothers: Taking Goa to the World Each year, the club organises at least one tiatr for the Goan Diaspora. Over the years, Tony and his brother, Felix, have organised tiatrs like Prince Jacob’s ‘Goenchim Xit Koddi’, Menin de Bandar’s ‘Americano Ghorkar’ which was attribute to the late Alfred Rose, Ben Evangelisto’s ‘Chondrim’, Agostinho’s ‘Police’, with the recent ones being Filipe Almeida and Janet Almeida’s ‘Soglim Khuxeal’ which was performed in over six cities in 2009 and Tony Dias’ ‘Mahanand Monis vo Soitan’ which was performed to full house audience in 2010 in Kuwait, Swindon and Wembley. “For the tiatr ‘Mahanand Monis Vo Soitan’ we had 24 cast and crew brought in from Goa. We also invited the Revenue Minister of Goa, Jose Philip D’Souza to be the Chief Guest for the function. Last year, we also celebrated the feast of St Francis Xavier in Swindon where nearly 2,000 people attended the Konkani mass with a Konkani choir and celebrations that followed.

“It takes a lot to organise these tiatrs. It is very hectic organising it in different countries and we don’t make any profit, instead we lose money from our own pocket. Yet, it is encouraging when the show is done and the audience approaches us to congratulate us for our efforts. Most of them, walk up to us and say try to bring this tiatr or these artists, we would love to see them on stage,” says Felix. Besides organising tiatrs, Tony and Felix came out with their first Konkani CD titled ‘Mog Tiatristancho’ which featured both the brothers singing together for the first time with songs by Soccoro de St Cruz and Tony de Ribandar. Felix also sang ‘Padri’ a song in Mathew Araujo’s Konkani CD, ‘Tu Goenkar Nhoi’.

“One thing I would like to point is that many CDs make

their way to UK but they are rarely up to the mark. The directors of these VCDs and CDs rate their CDs at £1 to £3 which is a huge amount considering the Indian price but they should deliver quality content and videos. The blank CDs which are used are also often of bad quality. At least give people value for their money. You might be able to cheat someone once but the second time you come to sell the CD no one will buy it.

We do not promote music CDs and VCDs,” says Felix.

Fortunately, Sarah Teather, a local MP, is very encouraging to the Gonsalves brothers. “She is very friendly and she supports Goans and our programmes. She helps us in getting our paper works done immediately and even attends tiatrs. She mixes around with the Indian Community in Wembley wearing an Indian sari,” says Tony. “I don’t approach any ministers for sponsorships or any monetary aid,” adds Tony.

Roseferns and his wife Soccurina are seen with Felix Gonsalves, promoter of Goan culture and language in United Kingdom and Maestro Agnelo Dias

The Iron Pillar - “Rust Proof”

BY SAVIO D’ SOUZA f you are ever in Delhi and you have a few hours to do some sightseeing, even if you do not see anything else, do not miss seeing the Iron Pillar of Delhi. This pillar has been a curiosity for archaeologists, metallurgists and historians from the world over. In fact there are those who even believe it was forged by alien technology.

The Iron Pillar is located in the courtyard of the Qutub Minar complex in Delhi. So what makes this pillar so amazing? The height of the pillar is 23 ft 8 inch of which 3 ft 8 inch is below the ground. The pillar’s lower diameter is 16 inches and this tapers to 12 inches at the top giving it a bell pattern. It weighs over 6 tons and is made up of 98% pure wrought iron. It is estimated to be 1,600 years old and despite being exposed to the rains, winds and temperature fluctuations, it has not rusted.

According to historians, the pillar was erected by Chandragupta Vikramaditya (375 AD – 414 AD ) of the Gupta dynasty. It served as a sun dial at Vishnupadagiri in Madhya Pradesh which was a centre for astronomical studies. The pillar has an Sanskrit inscription in Brahmi script which states that it was erected in honour of Lord Vishnu and it also praises the valour and qualities of a king referred to as Chandra identified by historians to be Chandragupta Vikramaditya. It was moved to Delhi about a 1000 years ago.

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P

eople may tend to underestimate the power of a chiseled and toned body which remain in the domain of a gym goddess. But aside from looking good, believe me, there is nothing better that can make you feel physically fit or happy. And that’s where the H.A.B.I.Ts steps in. Let us say it is a woman’s best friend, even after you finish arguing on whether it is worth it, ie, going through a moderately hard grind in workouts, and the tangential effects likely to be generated.

This 231-page hard-bound edition, which serves as a complete guide to a beautiful and healthy body by Norbert D’Souza, an ISSA certified fitness trainer, has been designed specifically for women who want to feel on top of the world and a lot hotter than before. H.A.B.I.Ts is all about some vital areas of bodily concerns, like the hips, abdominals, butt and inner thighs and acts as an easy guide designed to attract admiring glances and where age does not matter, says D’Souza. Illustrated with models showing you how it is all done, this glossy production is good enough to serve as a coffee table book, with exercises that are explained to work on abs or how to lose those telltale flabs and fat, specially around the thighs,

hips or arms. Starting from having the right diet which is critical to helping you on the course of chasing a dream of being a Sandra Bullock or a Pamela Anderson, you may be asked a question of whether you are willing to give up some things you like to do, including eating, in order to move on to those things you must do, like pumping light irons in the gymnasium under expert guidance at Norbert’s Fitness Studio and eating healthy.

And if you do not have the time or inclination to join the gym, don’t worry. Just follow the routines shown in the book in the comfort of your own home, says Norbert.

A commerce graduate and a former banker, Norbert leads by example. A scrawny youngster himself, he beat the odds and took to bodybuilding and powerlifting, winning accolades at state competitions, he says. His obsession for a healthy body is what inspired him to direct his attention also towards women with a mission to help them live healthy, even though pressed for time, and voila, H.A.B.I.Ts was born. There are tips not only on nutrition but also on workouts for that special Wedding Day and times of pregnancy, and force that latent beauty within your own system to show, reflecting an unquenchable zest for living. The book has been edited by Sheryl Afonso e D’Souza, photography by William Xavier and published

by Jojo’s Digital World.

People

TRAVEL

In a report published in the journal ‘Current Science’, R Balasubramaniam of the IIT, Kanpur explained how the pillar's resistance to corrosion is due to a passive protective film at the iron-rust interface. The presence of second phase particles (slag and unreduced iron oxides) in the microstructure of the iron, that of high amounts of phosphorus in the metal, and the alternate wetting and drying existing under atmospheric conditions, are the three main factors in the three-stages formation of that protective passive film.

There was a popular belief no doubt bolstered by Indian movies that it was considered good luck or your wishes would be granted if you could stand with your back to the pillar and make your hands meet behind it. A fence was been erected around the pillar in 1997 to protect it from damage that might be caused by visitors.

However, it now appears that the pillar has not corroded not because any metallurgical technique or alien technology, but because of the accidental formation of a “passive protective film”.

As they say “Truth is stranger than fiction.”

(The author organises educational tours for school students and colleges.

Comments welcome. Website : saviotours.com, email : sdcosta123@rediffmail.com)

Editor –in-chief: R F Fernandes. Editor: Ashwin Tombat. Chief Editor-Features: Christina Viegas. Regd Office: St Tome Road, Panjim, Goa. Tel: 6658512, 6658500, 2224202, 2228083. Fax: 2222475. Email: weekendsplendour@herald-goa.com.