KARISHMA DEO A CANADIAN BORN SINGER PERFORMS IN CALGARY, CANADA WITH NOTABLE BOLLYWOOD SINGER
SUNIDHI CHAUHAN PUBLISHED & EDITED by ARUN MAHARAJ—HAYWARD CALIFORNIA—USA 510—875 0568— indiafijitoday@gmail.com
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FIJI COMMUNITY IN CANADA COMMUNITY NEWS FROM FIJI COMMUNITY LIVING ABROAD...
KARISHMA DEO OF VANCOUVER CANADA PERFORMED WITH NOTABLE BOLLYWOOD SINGER SUNIDHI CHAUHAN IN CANADA A Canadian born singer—songwriter from Vancouver, Karishma is creating sensation by her singing talent. A student at Simon Fraser University, she is learning Indian classical singing from her guru ji—Sri Davinder Bhatti at the Krishna College of Music. Her favorite singers include Lata Mangeshkar, Shreya Ghoshal, Alicia Keys and Whitney Houston. Karishma recently got the opportunity to perform at the Sunidhi Chauhan Concert in Calgary, Canada. She also performed at KARISHMA the Sumeet Tappoo Concert in DEO Vancouver a few weeks ago. AT A Her performances and songs CONCERT can be found on her Facebook “Karishma Deo” as well as her youtube channel “Karishma Deo YTMelody”. I had the pleasure of meeting and having a brief chat with Karishma at her house in Surrey, Canada recently. She seemed very cheerful and obviously proud of her success of singing with Sunidhi Chauhan and excitement of performing with Sumeet Tappoo. Karishma has great values of Indian culture and tradition. She is highly respectful and simple in her nature. INDIA FIJI TODAY and personally, I wish her further success in her singing career.
PHOTO TAKEN BY ROSHNI DEO
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PUBLISHER’S PROFILE Arun Maharaj, the publisher and editor of INDIA FIJI TODAY, is a Past Co-Chairman of California Business Advisory Council and in that capacity he was invited to the United States President’s Dinner in Washington D.C. in 2003, during President George W. Bush’s Presidency. Being actively involved in community and leadership work, he is a California Jaycees Senator and Jaycees International Senator, the highest honor in Jaycees organization worldwide. He served as an Advisor of ‘Fiji Festival USA’ in Hayward, California.
ARUN MAHARAJ
While in Fiji he served as a President of Nasinu Jaycees and later after serving on various positions at the national level he became a National President of Fiji Jaycees. Among other community development work, he served as the Director of Nasinu Festival and an Advisor of ‘Valelevu Hospital’ Carnival, in Nasinu. As a teacher, by profession he taught at Vunimono High School in Nausori, D. A. V. College in Suva, Yat Sen School in Suva and Rishikul Sanatan College in Nasinu. His leadership activities in schools included—Patron of D.A.V. College ‘Interact Club’ and Advisor of Rishikul Sanatan College, ‘Students Council.’ He also served as the Secretary of ‘Rewa Secondary Schools’ Soccer Association’ and Secretary of the ‘Fiji Teachers’ Union’ - Credit Union. As a para/educator he worked at Tennyson High School in Hayward, California - USA.
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FIJI COMMUNITY IN CANADA COMMUNITY NEWS FROM FIJI COMMUNITY LIVING ABROAD...
KRISHNA JANAMASTHMI CELEBRATION AT MAHA KALI TEMPLE IN VANCOUVER, CANADA RECENTLY SRI KRISHN JANASTHMI was celebrated at the popular MAHA KALI TEMPLE in Vancouver, Canada recently. Devotees turned in good numbers and enjoyed the Program and took benefit of the holy preaching. The temple, one of the oldest Fiji temples in Vancouver, is owned by Pujari Raj Krishnan. He has been providing great service to the Fiji Community living in Vancouver.
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FIJI TODAY
TRANSPORTATION OF CANE FROM RAKIRAKI CANE FARMS... As cane crushing season approaches, the non—operation of Penang Sugar Mill in Rakiraki, due to the damages caused by the recent cyclone, obviously becomes an issue. The mill catered for the entire Rakiraki area while it was in operation over the many years. The cane which was not very much affected by the cyclone, which hit Fiji in February, now would be of harvestable condiA BACK—YARD SITE tion. The question now would be the transIN NASINU—FIJI portation of the cane from Rakiraki area to the Ba Mill. Cane transporting by trucks may mean additional expenses to the farmers and probably the distance will mean more time required to transport. However, the harvestable cane in the farms has to be put to use regardless of the adverse conditions. Source—Online Fiji Times
CALL FOR RIGHTS OF DISABLED IN FIJI– SERVICE TO HUMANITY.. People with disabilities should have the same rights and privileges as normal people. The call from a ministry to recognize the rights of the disabled will mean a lot to the people with limitations. Many countries provide additional privilege and protection to people with disabilities beginning from schools. There are Special Education sections in schools here in the United States, that provide accommodations to the children with disA SITE ALONG QUEEN’S abilities. The introduction of the rights will HIGHWAY—FIJI mean a lot of further assistance to the people with disabilities in Fiji as they will be able to enjoy life better. This is definitely an issue of providing service to humanity which is a great cause and should attract attention from all 5
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FIJI TODAY
OPENING OF JETTY IN AN OUTER ISOLATED ISLAND OF FIJI… Fiji’s many remote islands have lots of natural resources which can put to good use. The opening of a jetty in an outer Island should provide good access to the ships and ferries to load and unload goods and materials. Transportation is a major problem for the remote islands as it is difficult to bring goods and farm materials to the coast from where they can be transported. Development in rural areas greatly facilitate the islands in linking to the major islands and centers where A SITE IN profitable business can be conducted. DENARAU ISLAND—FIJI Fiji has a long way to go towards development in its many remote areas in many of its resourceful islands. Source—Online Fiji Sun
YOGA IN SCHOOLS COULD BE HIGHLY BENEFICIAL PROGRAM Yoga awareness is international and many people are taking yoga seriously these days worldwide. The comments of the newly appointed Indian High Commissioner to Fiji, during a celebration of the International Day of Yoga in the North, could be greatly beneficial for students of Fiji. Yoga’s benefits is widely known world wide and if the program gets introduced in schools in Fiji it could have tremendous effect on the youth of today A SITE IN who will be future adults of the country. Any DENARAU ISLAND—FIJI program introduced in schools have a far reaching effect on the children and the country at large. Yoga is a very old practice which started in India in the ancient times and is benefiting the people globally today. Source—Online Fiji Times
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FIJI FEATURE ORPHANAGES AND CARE - HOMES PROVIDING SELFLESS SERVICE... Living your life for the happiness and well-being of others can be nothing but a true service to the almighty. We all live for ourselves, even the animals do but is it an achievement in itself or simply survival. Living for others, particularly needy children is a true and ultimate achievement of our lives. The ‘Care Homes’ have been serving the needy children for decades. The staff and volunteers provide selfless service to cater for the needs of the children who live there as one big family. Little support of any sort can be beneficial to the children of the ‘Care Homes.’ Fiji had the services of many voluntary, SOME CHILDREN WITH STAFF OF AN service organizations in the ORPHANAGE IN NASINU—FIJI past which greatly assisted in providing services to the needy. Not all of those organizations are in existence today.
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A LOOK AT FIJI’S PAST TAKING A JOURNEY BACK TO THE DAYS OF ...
Fiji’s Politicians of the Past! During the last over forty - years of Fiji’s independence from the British Empire, the country has seen numerous politicians and they are remembered for their actions and contributions. During the era of ‘The Alliance Party’ and the ‘National Federation Party’ which existed for about two decades many politicians outshined on communal levels and some on national level. The first and the foremost, was Fiji’s first prime minister, Ratu Sir K. Mara, who ruled Fiji from 1970—1987, when his ‘Alliance Government’ lost to the ‘NFP—Labor—Coalition Government’ and that saw the end of the ‘Alliance Government’ and its politicians. The Alliance Party also saw veteran leaders like Ratu Sir George Cakobau who was the first Governor General of Fiji after the independence and Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau became the first president of Fiji. On the ‘National Federation Party’ front, A. D. Patel stands out as the oldest leader followed by S. M. Koya, K. C. Ramrakkha, Irene J. Narayan, Harish Sharm, Jai Ram Reddy and others. Along with these notable leaders of both the parties there were many other politicians from both the parties who provided selfless service to their communities and went away and are remembered, like artists who put up their acts on stage and go away forever . There was also one politician who will go down in the history of Fiji politics, who was neither in the Alliance Party nor in the National Federation Party but was one of the most popular politicians of his time. He was Mr. Butadroka, the leader of the Nationalist Party who was widely known and extremely popular for his nationalist views. The Fiji Labor Party and the SVT which were in prominence in recent past are not in representation in the Fiji parliament today. As Fiji has gone away from communal voting system, it may be wise to pay tribute to the ‘politicians of the past’ whose FIJI’S OLD PARLIAMENT actions and contributions may have HOUSE—NASESE, SUVA contributed to the development and well—being of Fiji’s past.
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INDIAN CINEMA ‘FILMFARE AWARDS’ FLASHBACK TRIBUTE TO THE ARTISTS OF THE PAST ‘THE ARTICLE IS A WRITER’S PERSPECTIVE ONLY, REFLECTING HIS VIEWS’
TAKING A JOURNEY BACK TO THE DAYS OF FILMFARE AWARD OF 1954….
Dilip Kumar and Meena Kumari Won the 1954 Filmfare Awards... The first Filmfare Award held in 1954, for the films released in 1953 had laid down a strong foundation for the prestigious award. The award has come a long way for the past over sixty—years. The award saw Dilip Kumar winning the Best Actor Award in Daag. A renowned actor of all time, was in his early years of acting at that time . He went along to act in numerous hit films over many decades, claiming a legendary title in the Indian Film Industry. He is regarded as one of the most outstanding actors of all time in Indian Cinema. Meena Kumari walked away with the Best Actress Award for Baiju Bawra. The film was a hit and is still well remembered today. Meena Kumari was a versatile actress, who went along and gave numerous hits in her film career. She is still remembered today for her acting capacity and her notable films including, the popular Paakiza, probably one of her last movies. She passed JUHU BEACH away in her early life. Do MUMBAI, INDIA Bigha Zamin was the Best Film for the year. The film was directed by notable director, Bimal Roy with lead artists, Balraj Shani, Nirupa Roy. source—https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1st_Filmfare_Awards
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INDIA TRAVEL Sugar Cane Farming in Uttar Pradesh Being basically an agricultural country farms are seen in most parts of India. This is a flourishing cane farm along roadside in remote Uttar Pradesh—largest Indian state.
ChandigarhPunjab and Hariyana Capital The city of Chandigarh houses the capital of Punjab and Hariyana states. The city with modern structure portrays a modern lifestyle. The picture below speaks about the lifestyle there. 14
INDIA FEATURE LIFE IN A VILLAGE IN INDIA Life in a small village is far from the sophisticated lifestyle of the busy cities like Delhi and Mumbai. There are many thousands of villages in India’s cast land and one of the things common to them is that their lifestyle has not changed much, unlike the large cities. Villagers share unique lifestyle, totally natural and simple living style. It seems life has remained the same for the past decades. Change is not something of their choice and moving out of the village and settling in cities is not appreciated by the families and fellow villages. Apart from the social differences to the modern cities, the A VILLAGE SCENE—NORTH INDIA village has a lot to offer. The village surrounding fill the atmosphere with ‘ peace’ as everything seems so natural as if nature is at its best showering its blessings on the people as they go along with their daily lives. Life goes on and on as generation after generation India’s villages remain much unchanged except supply of tap water and electricity which in some cases have been made available to villages.
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INDIA TRAVEL Downtown Mumbai The Film City The most populous city of India with a population of around twenty million it is one of the most populous cities of the world. The Film industry there makes it most popular city in India.
Sri Guru Gobind Singh College The college in Chandigarh was a popular choice of Fiji students studying abroad during the seventies. A lot of students graduated from this institute during that period.
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OBJECTIVES OF ‘INDIA FIJI TODAY’ ‘To highlight the activities within the Fiji Community in America and abroad’ ‘To give review on major happenings in Fiji—An opinion only’‘ - FIJI TODAY—To enlighten issues on Fiji—past & present’ ‘To entertain people by pictures of Fiji’ ‘Inform and entertain Fiji Community about India through articles and pictures’ ‘To recognize people in Fiji Community’
Disclaimer—Fiji Today/Fiji Feature FIJI TODAYis the editor’s REVIEW on the major happenings back in Fiji based on the information from - Online Fiji Times; Fiji Live, Fiji Village, Fiji Sun; visitors to and from Fiji and other Fiji publications. These are editor’s own views based on the information from those sources. FIJI COMMUNITY articles are news items created and compiled by the editor. Any error/s and or misinterpretation are regretted and the editor / publisher is not responsible for any such error/s and or further discussions and or any liability. India Feature is the sharing of the editor’s own experience on visits to India. INDIAN FILM WORLD is a researched article .The Publisher/Editor of India Fiji Today will not accept any LIABILITY, CRITICISM, ANNOYANCE or ADVERSE REACTION what so ever, to the contrary of its intention caused by any misinterpretation, miss-understanding or non-acceptance of the same.—Advertisements The claims made by the advertisers are entirely their own and the editor / publisher does not necessarily support or endorse these claims.
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