India in New York - July 11, 2014

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VOL. XVIII NO. 3

India in New York A GUIDE TO EVENTS AND ENTERTAINMENT FROM INDIA ABROAD FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2014

CADET NEHA VALLURI

COURTESY: NEHA VALLURI

Oregon teen heads to West Point

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INDIA IN NEW YORK JULY 11, 2014

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Bappi Lahiri stars in Rajasthani convention

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Bappi Lahiri, center, at the event

SUMAN GUHA MOZUMDER

B

ollywood composer Bappi Lahiri’s concert was a highlight as the Rajasthan Association of North America celebrated its fourth international convention in Long Island over the weekend.

The three-day convention drew about between 600 and 1,000 people, with the maximum number turning up for Lahiri’s concert.

People had come from as far as Massachusetts for the annual conference that showcased Rajasthani culture through a variety of programs.

Those who addressed breakout sessions, including on the Indian economy, included Colombia University Professor Arvind Panagariya and D R Mehta, former chairman of the Securities and Exchange Board of India and a former deputy governor of the Reserve Bank of India. Both are Rajasthan natives.

Mehta, who founded an organization to popularize the Jaipur Foot, spoke at the conference on how best to help people who are physically challenged and asked for generous donations for the Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti, a nonprofit helping people with the Jaipur Foot/knee and limb.

RANA gave a check for $50,000 to Mehta.

New York consul general attends Malayalee convention India’s Consul General in New York, Ambassador Dnyaneshwar Mulay, was among the roughly 3,000 people who attended the fourth biennial convention of the Federation of Malayalee Associations of Americas, held June 26-29 in Pennsylvania.

Cover Story

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INDIA IN NEW YORK JULY 11, 2014

COURTESY: NEHA VALLURI

Cadet Neha Valluri Chaya Babu finds out what pushed an Oregon teen to the United States Military Academy at West Point

N

eha Valluri just graduated from Sunset High School in Portland, Oregon, taking a step that thousands of other seniors across the country took along with her in June.

But Valluri, 18, is a rare case in that she is one of the rare Indian-American woman pursuing her higher education at the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, where the graduating class of approximately 1,200 has been about 16 percent female since the institution first accepted women almost 40 years ago.

Though she plans to pursue Computer Science and Electrical Engineering as the focus of her studies — a choice well known for many Indian-origin students — a future in the military is a path much less traveled.

“I definitely feel like it is not the norm,” Valluri tells India in New York. “Even though I may be different in my background and experiences, all of that does not matter when we are all fighting for the same values and beliefs in which we stand for.”

“Along with going to a male-dominated institution, I also plan on majoring in engineering,” she continued. “I realize that I will be one of the very few women at West

Point to pursue a degree in engineering, but I would like to break barriers and serve as a role model to other females who are in the same position. I want to defy the stereotypes set against my race and my gender to prove that I am just as capable as any other cadet.”

West Point is a good fit for Valluri based on the core ideals she has come to uphold — living a life of discipline, both mental and physical fitness, and fighting to make the world a better place.

Knowing this compelled her to apply for the Academy’s Summer Leadership Experience during her junior year, a program that admits 500 applicants out of a pool of 11,000 applications and in which she was one of only 50 females and the only Indian woman.

Her week there, she said, opened her eyes to a post-high school option that she hadn’t considered, one that fit well with her sense of purpose. She emphasized that though her choice was a bit off the beaten path, her parents, both engineers, have been nothing but supportive and are proud to see her so deeply passionate and committed to something.

“Having been born in America but of Indian descent, it is difficult to imagine a life separate from the liberties

and securities offered here,” said Valluri, who lives with her family in the Bethany area of Northwest Portland. “I have lived in India and I have witnessed notions of poverty and corruption. As an Army officer I want to lose all ignorance of the fact that the blessings we enjoy in America are not granted by every government. Since an individual’s reality can be changed through experience, I want to be an example to others of what a democracy is capable of. This program is an avenue to one of the most honorable duties in American society, and I wish to be a part of it.”

West Point is one the most selective institutions in the US, and those who gain entrance not only have to meet the academic and extracurricular standards and proof of leadership abilities required of all elite universities, but they’re also required to pass a fitness exam and, most notably, be nominated by a member of Congress.

Valluri was nominated by Oregon Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden. When she was accepted, it was Senator

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Cover Story INDIA IN NEW YORK JULY 11, 2014

f PAGE 3 Merkely who notified her of the news.

“I couldn’t believe it was true,” she said. “I had to ask him again if he was sure he got the right person. It still feels surreal when I tell people that I’m attending one of the world’s most prestigious academies, but everything will settle in once I am physically at West Point.”

At Sunset High School, Valluri was an IB (International Baccalaureate) Diploma student. With her IB schedule for the past two years, she was able to balance academics, extracurricular pursuits, and time with her friends and family. She said her favorite subject is IB Physics, of which she has taken both the lower and higher levels and which has contributed to her desire to pursue the sciences in her career.

Outside of school, her participation in an array of impressive activities was likely a huge factor to her acceptance. Apart from her involvement in various clubs, like Mock Trial, Speech and Debate (former president), and Model United Nations (Committee Chair for the Pacific Northwest), which is now expected from high-achieving students, Valluri runs half marathons throughout the Portland area. All of the races raise money to be donated to social causes. She was a member of her school’s National

Honor Society and Key Club, and was on the Lego Robotics team in middle school, the year they made it to the state competition.

Classes begin in August at West Point, but Valluri will participate in Cadet Basic Training, which starts this month, and has been running and exercising daily in preparation. She mentioned the physically demanding aspect of her next few years to be the most daunting part of her choice. However, though this may be a tough addition to any college student’s schedule, she remains certain that it will only strengthen her, and that no matter what happens, she will be in a supportive environment of those with common ambitions and any adversity she faces alongside them will increase this bond.

Part of Valluri’s acceptance to the military academy, where she won’t pay tuition, means that she is obligated to five years of active duty in the US Army and three years in the reserves after graduation.

Specifically, along with pursuing an MBA, her hopes include branching into Cyber Command or Military Intelligence in the Army. Her intended double major, and possible minor in Russian or Arabic, will certainly be helpful to her somewhat unique goals.

“Everything still hasn’t sunk in yet,” she said. “All I can do now is sit tight and continue to work hard, finish school on a strong note, and keep preparing for what is to come.”

I realize that I will be one of the very few women at West Point to pursue a degree in engineering, but I would like to break barriers... I want to defy the stereotypes set against my race and my gender to prove that I am just as capable as any other cadet.

COURTESY: STAFF SGT VITO T BRYANT/ USMA PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Cadet Neha Valluri

New cadet candidates who reported to the United States Military Academy at West Point for Reception Day July 2. RDay marks the beginning of their 47-month experience at West Point which culminates with graduation and commissioning into the United States Army. The final official act of the day was the oath ceremony where the candidates took an oath of allegiance to the government of the United States of America.

Special

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INDIA IN NEW YORK JULY 11, 2014

‘Anything is possible in America’ US Attorney Preet Bharara welcomes 75 new citizens at a Naturalization Ceremony in New York. Chaya Babu reports

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t noon on a bright day in June a young man posed in front of the large stone plaque from the First Inaugural Day inside of Federal Hall National Memorial on Wall Street, the building where the First Congress wrote the Bill of Rights and where George Washington took his Presidential Oath in 1789, a year before the nation’s capital was moved from New York to Philadelphia. His wife snapped a shot of him with a smile, standing next to the historical relic.

The young man, brown-skinned and clutching a paper certificate with pride, came here three years ago from Bangladesh. He runs a small garment business and said that for him, the United States stood for opportunity and freedom. He was one of 75 individuals who took part in a Naturalization Ceremony that day, one of many held throughout the year and all over the country to honor immigrants who have officially become citizens.

Seated in rows in the center of the hall, surrounded by pleated American flag buntings hanging from the balcony railings, were a mix of faces representing 32 different countries.

‘I give a lot of speeches at a lot of occasions,’ said Preet Bharara, US Attorney for the Southern District of New York. ‘But the one thing I was looking forward to more than anything else today, more than a graduation ceremony or even a swearing in Assistant US Attorneys in my own office, was to be present when new Americans are being sworn in. If my parents hadn’t made the decision to come to America, I wouldn’t be where I am, and my brother wouldn’t be where he is. To me, this is one of the most touching things I’ve ever been a part of.’

Bharara gave the keynote address at the ceremony, speaking alongside Master of Ceremonies Maria Guerra, section manager, New York Field Office of US Citizenship and Immigration Services; Steve Laise, chief of cultural resources, National Parks Service; and Phyllis Coven, district director, New York District Office of USCIS, who also administered the Oath of Allegiance.

Bharara, in his typical candid and humorous fashion, said: ‘As was mentioned (by Coven), I’m a federal prosecutor, so usually when I find myself standing up at a podium, that means someone important has been arrested.

Fortunately, this is a happy occasion and that’s not true today. But, as was also mentioned, this was the site upon which the first president of the United States took his Oath of Office. The bad news is that the 75 of you who are being sworn in today can’t become President, like me. But absolutely everything else is on the table for you.’

Just like it was for him.

‘Let me tell you about my swearing in as US Attorney almost five years ago,’ he said. ‘You see, my whole life, my Indian father was fastidiously unemotional. But in the months leading up to my confirmation, he sometimes seemed a bit overwhelmed by the prospect of his son becoming the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York.’

‘Perhaps that was understandable for a man like my father, who was born 75 years ago, halfway across the world… and who was the first member of his family ever to go to college. He brought our family to this part of the

Preet Bharara, center, with his mother Jagdish and father Desh. world more than 40 years ago with only a few dollars in his pocket and a hope in his heart that he would have a better life in this country, and that his children might one day amount to something in America.’

So, he added, when someone like him — ‘who becomes a naturalized citizen as a child’ — goes on to become Chief Counsel to the United States Senate and is then nominated by the first African American President to become the first Asian American District Attorney in Manhattan, ‘you begin to believe that anything is possible in America.’

‘And when you watch your brother finally quit his job to start a small internet company with almost no capital and no customer base, and when you see him put into practice the simple lessons of hard and honest work taught to us by our immigrant parents, when you learn the news that he has grown the business so quickly and so successfully that Amazon has chosen to buy the company for the staggering sum of $545 million — when you’re father came from nothing and you have everything — then you know that anything is possible in America.

Bharara also shared a story close to his heart, of a young man and woman who stood at a similar naturalization ceremony in Freehold, New Jersey, 37 years ago.

CHAYA BABU

‘They came to America for a better life, just like you,’ he said. ‘And just like you, they had dreams and hopes for their children — they had two young sons, one eight and the other five. That man and woman are here today, and they are my mom and dad.’

Symbolic of the importance of the event, Bharara’s parents led the Pledge of Allegiance at the ceremony. he 75 new citizens took an oath that covered multifaceted responsibilities to their nation, which come along T with the privileges of their citizenship. They pledged to

support and defend the Constitution and laws of the US against all enemies, to bear arms on behalf of the US when required by law, to perform work of national importance under civilian direction, and more. Standing with right hands raised and small flags held against chests or waving in the air, all those being honored repeated the tenets of the oath in unison after Phyllis Coven.

The candidates received their certificates and a video presentation was shown with a brief message from President Barack Obama. They joined the more than 102,000 new citizens naturalized by the New York District in the past 12 months.

Aseem in New York

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INDIA IN NEW YORK JULY 11, 2014

Soccer mania in NYC I

have never been a big fan of soccer, but it is hard to ignore the sport or the World Cup when the entire world around you is focused on it.

Last week I was at the Loreley Restaurant and Biergarten to watch Germany play Algeria. More exciting was watching the US versus Belgium game at Houston Hall, a large warehouse type bar space on Houston Street, in the West Village.

I got there a tad late; the game had already started. The hall was packed with a couple of thousand people. And the energy was high with pro-US cheering — chants like “I believe we will win!” and just “USA! USA! USA!” The last time I heard those chants was on the night Osama bin Laden was killed and I went to Ground Zero with a group of friends.

I was at Houston Hall with some Indian friends — all supporting the US. The biggest supporter of the US team was a young Indian with a beard who had draped the American flag around him, as if he was the new Superman.

His “USA! USA!” chants were the loudest even at a point when the Americans were down 0-2.

The US did score one goal, but lost to Belgium, which ended its run in Brazil.

Later in the week, on Saturday, I watched Brazil play Colombia at a huge Uruguayan eatery, La Gran Uruguayan Café in Jackson Heights, Queens.

We were a group of six Indians and one American, split up supporting the two teams. My friend Sree Bhagwan was the most loyal and the loudest supporter of Brazil. And that seemed to please the Uruguayan owners of the café who told me that they usually did not associate much with Colombians.

Internal relationships between Latin American countries appear to be complicated.

It was a different Jackson Heights experience. Over beer, sangria, seafood paella and fried plantains, we watched Brazil beat Colombia. There was a lot of disappointment in the café. Only Sree and the owners of the café, who were a bit quieter, seemed thrilled.

L

ast Monday there was a press screening of a new indie American film, Boyhood — director Richard Linklater’s three hour-long family epic seen from a young boy’s point of view.

The Austin, TX-based Linklater has made the cult classic Dazed and Confused, and also the trilogy — Before Sunrise, Before Sunset and Before Midnight.

This time he did something that is new to cinema. He shot the film over a 12-year period with the same actors — Ethan Hawke, Patricia Arquette, Linklater’s daughter Lorelei and the film’s main protagonist Mason, played by Ellar Coltrane. The film starts when Coltrane is seven and ends when his character enters college at the age of 19.

A moving film in which nothing extraordinary happens other than regular lives are lived (Hawke was quoted in The New York Times as saying ‘The boy just grew up’). It is exceptionally beautiful to see the characters played by Coltrane and Lorelei, grow and experience life as children

Celebrations at Houston Hall when the US team scored a goal.

Colombian team supporters at La Gran Uruguayan Cafe in Jackson Heights.

and teenagers do in America, while their parents divorce and their mother goes through a series of bad marriages and relationships.

Boyhood is a heartwarming modern American classic that was celebrated at film festivals (Linklater won the Silver Bear for best director at the Berlin Film Festival) and by critics. It opens on July 11 and is a must see film.

T

he July 4 weekend is for barbecues and fireworks. I use the time to catch up with new films. The most exciting film to open this weekend is the documentary Life itself, based on the life, career and passion of the late Chicago Sun Times film critic Roger Ebert, who died last year after a prolonged struggle with cancer.

The film will make you laugh and cry. Most of all, it is a joyous and an honest celebration of Ebert, the man and the popular print and television critic.

Directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Steve James (Hoop Dreams), Life itself traces Ebert’s childhood, his early foray into journalism, his becoming a film critic, his rivalry and friendship with Chicago Tribune critic Gene Siskel and their hit television shows.

Life itself also captures the love in Ebert’s life — his marriage to Chaz and the stepchildren and grandchildren that came with it.

Finally the film focuses on the inevitable — Ebert’s struggle with cancer of the jaw, the months he lived with a partial face and no vocal cords, unable to eat, drink or speak like a normal person.

Until the end, Ebert stayed focused on films, communicating with his readers and supporters via his blog and his Tweets.

Life itself is a lovingly made documentary, and Ebert’s fans and other movie buffs should not miss it!

PHOTOGRAPHS: ASEEM CHHABRA

The young Indian, right, who was the loudest supporter of the US team at Houston Hall.

Bollywood

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INDIA IN NEW YORK JULY 11, 2014

V

idya Balan is perhaps the only actress in Bollywood, who doesn’t care about being in a film starring the Khans. For her, the most important cast member is... well,

herself!

Her film Bobby Jasoos, which released July 4, sees her play a detective, who excels in disguises.

Vidya chats about her penchant for unconventional roles.

Your last two films Ghanchakkar and Shaadi Ke Side Effects did not do well at the box office. Is there pressure for you to deliver a hit with Bobby Jasoos?

No. They are different films altogether.

In my career of nine years, I have understood that you can’t predict the fate of a film. You can only do your best and leave the rest to the audience.

I get involved with every film but for Bobby Jasoos, everyone has gone that extra mile. I hope people will embrace it with open arms.

They say in Bollywood an actor is as good as his or her last film…

This is true for newcomers, as they are trying to establish themselves. I have passed the stage where I feel the pressure to do certain things.

As an actor, I don’t have any insecurities. I am secure about the relationship with my work.

For established actors, I feel you could be as good as your last film in terms of bargaining power or price.

Every actor goes through successes and failures. Every film will not do the same kind of business so I don’t think it affects the credibility of an actor.

Apart from the films that you have done, is there any film or actress that has caught your attention by doing something different?

Kangna (Ranaut) has really caught my attention.

Unfortunately, I haven’t seen Queen but I heard she is unbelievable. I’ve always liked Kangna. She was incredible in Fashion. She is an extremely bold and brave person. It is interesting to see the kind of work she is doing.

Your character Bobby Jasoos has to prove herself to her parents. Was it the same with you when you told your parents that you wanted to become an actor?

My father has always supported me but my mother was a little hesitant. She wasn’t sure about it because we are not from this industry. But despite her reservations, she eventually supported me. She came to shoots just to ensure I was safe. Now, I can take care of myself.

Your choice of films has been

It’s the script, not big ticket stars, that drive her, says Vidya Balan.

Sonil Dedhia listens in

‘I have never looked for films where I can work with certain actors’

pretty unconventional.

I don’t understand the difference between conventional and unconventional. I am someone, who gets bored easily so I need to do different things.

An actor gets to live the life of a different person on screen. I have got the opportunity to do a variety of roles and I am picking up the best of the opportunities that are coming my way.

As an actress, I keep hunting for different roles.

Sanjeev Kumar is one of my favorite actors and he was so versatile.

Someone told me Sanjeev Kumar is the only actor who played as many as nine roles in Naya Din Nai Raat. To get nine different roles in one film... isn’t that amazing?

We don’t see other actresses doing out-of-the-box films like you…

Maybe they don’t get bored easily. May be their attention span is better (laughs). I just get very fidgety.

Do you get bored easily in your personal life? Does your husband (Siddharth Roy Kapur) complain about it?

No, he doesn’t (laughs). We don’t do the same things over and over again. But I do complain to him about the regular things.

It is said that a lot of things change after marriage.

What changes do you see in yourself ?

I don’t see any changes. I am living with Siddharth and it is beautiful.

I never imagined how it would be to live with another person as all my life I have lived with my parents.

He is a very chilled out person. So there is no surprise or shock for us. We both respect the passion that we have for what we do. We are not expecting to change anyone.

I feel blessed to have found a partner like Siddharth.

Which of your films is his favorite?

He is very proud and supportive of my career. He loves Kahaani and has watched it quite a few times.

Coincidentally, Parineeta was his first film as a producer with UTV and it was my first film as an actor.

We did not know each other then, but I guess we were destined to be together. The universe was already conspiring for us.

Bollywood has a sudden affinity for detective films.

There is Ranbir Kapoor’s Jagga Jasoos and Sushant Singh Rajput’s Detective Bymokesh Bakshi coming up…

That’s because there are too many scams (laughs).

The general mood is that people want accountability from politicians, using of right to information act, so they (people) want to unearth scams and wrongdoing, and so there is scope for detective films.

It is a genre that is tried from time to time, but it has not fascinated beyond a point.

How did you prepare for the detective role in Bobby Jasoos?

I watched some television shows and read books.

Those were the only references. The director had every possible information I needed about detectives.

I called up some detective agencies before I began shooting to ask them how they approach cases. I told them about a fake case and wanted to know what questions they would ask to solve the case.

Are you a big fan of detective stories?

No. I guess that is why I liked the story of Bobby Jasoos. Detective films are exciting and thrilling, but ours is a simple aspirational story. Unlike most detective films, Bobby Jasoos has fun elements, along with

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Bollywood INDIA IN NEW YORK JULY 11, 2014

‘I have never looked for films where I can work with certain actors’

Given a chance, who would you like to do jasoosi on?

I would love to spy on (Indian Prime Minister) Narendra Modi. I really want to know what’s going through his head after getting this kind of a majority. I want to know how he is planning to do all that he has promised for our country. How is he going to deliver all that and I want to be the first one to know.

I would also like to spy on Amitabh Bachchan. Despite being a public figure for more than 40 years, he has that aura of mystery about him. We are all fans of his work. I remember the promo of Sarkar where only his waving hand was shown. Even if I wasn’t told who the person was, I would have recognized him by that hand. We know everything about him, yet we don’t know so much about him. Since the time I was a child I was a fan of his. I want to know more about him.

Wouldn’t you like to spy on Siddharth?

Yes, I think I should spy on him. But since we stay together, I know everything about him.

Maybe I want to know how he is at work. We have not seen each other at work.

There are many actresses who aspire to work with the

f PAGE 7 the thrills. My character is a pataka (live wire) and is very vibrant.

Was it easy for you to shoot on the streets of Hyderabad as you were always disguised and no one would recognize you?

Yes, it was pretty easy. I remember once I was disguised as a maulvi (a Muslim scholar) and we were all standing

The many avatars of Vidya Balan in Bobby Jasoos.

outside with the film unit. A lot of people had gathered to watch the shoot. They became curious when they came to know that Vidya Balan was shooting and started asking when I would arrive, even though I was right there!

There was another incident when we troubled a crew member. I was disguised as a jyotish (astrologer) and the hair-dresser told the junior artiste that I was a theatre artiste who was Dia Mirza’s friend. So he gave me a day’s work and would often shout at me. When he realized that it was me, he was almost in tears. It was really fun to shoot for the film.

How did your family react when they saw the first look of the film?

My family couldn’t believe it, but they loved it. I remember the first photograph that came out of the film had me disguised as a beggar.

My family knew that I was shooting for Bobby Jasoos in Hyderabad but they knew nothing more. When the photograph came in the newspapers my father kept looking at it and felt he knew the person but couldn’t recognize me.

When he read my name in the caption, he was shocked.

Everyone in my family, including Siddharth, was pleasantly surprised seeing me look different.

Which was your toughest and easiest disguise?

The toughest one was the maulvi. It wasn’t really tough but I was a bit awkward because I had a prosthetic nose to make it look broad. There was a wig, beard and moustache too. There were too many things on me and I had to run a lot, which made me breathless. It was my most challenging look.

The most fun was of the jyotish. I was half bald, with moustache and dirty teeth. I enjoyed that because I kept looking at myself and laughing.

Khans. You haven’t worked with any of them. Do you feel you have missed out?

No. There has to be a script that has enough for me to do, it has to be exciting for me.

I have never looked for films where I can work with certain actors.

I have never planned my career I have only responded to scripts that came my way. I am very happy with the kind of work I am doing.

Were you ever offered a film with the Khans and you rejected it?

No, I have not really got offers and not in the past seven years.

But if you had a chance to do a film with the Khans, what kind of film would it be?

Honestly, I don’t see myself fitting into those kinds of films.

You mean the commercial masala entertainers?

Yes. I think there is nothing exciting for me to do in such films. It has to offer me something different and exciting.

I only think about myself and not who else is there in the film.

Bollywood

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INDIA IN NEW YORK JULY 11, 2014

INSIDE THE BOX OFFICE Joginder Tuteja looks at the top 10 hits of 2014 in a half-yearly report card

5. Humshakals

8. Heropanti

When Humshakals was released, it saw a strong backlash from most critics. It seemed that the film would meet a similar fate as Sajid Khan’s last directorial venture Himmatwala. However, the audience ensured a reasonably good opening week for the film. For Saif Ali Khan, the film comes as a respite after his previous flops Bullett Raja and Go Goa Gone, while Riteish Deshmukh has received all-round good feedback.

When Heropanti was launched, it was in the news for being Tiger Shroff ’s big debut film. The film’s first trailers garnered decent buzz, even though Shroff was targeted, especially on social networking. As it turned out, the audience at large was curious to see the new star kid on the block and returned suitably impressed with him as well as his costar, debutante Kriti Sanon. The film emerged as the highest grosser film for a solo lead.

6. Queen

The biggest surprise success of the year so far, Queen is also the highest grosser ever for a female-centric film, crossing even Sujoy Ghosh’s Kahaani. After it opened to a tepid response, no one expected Queen, a film that was waiting to be completed and picked up for a long time, to even break even, leave aside emerge as a success. However, word of mouth publicity made this Kangna Ranaut film a superhit.

1. Holiday

For Akshay Kumar, Holiday has come as a huge shot in the arm, as it is the biggest grosser of the year so far. The film started with reasonable business, and good word of mouth kept the audience engaged. Holiday, co-starring Sonakshi Sinha, is director A R Murugadoss’ second 100-crore film (Bollywood’s blockbuster benchmark) after Ghajini.

7. Main Tera Hero Everything went by the book for this David Dhawan film. It was designed as a light entertainer — some good songs, an entertaining story and the presence of beautiful ladies (Ileana D’Cruz and Nargis Fakhri) did the trick for Main Tera Hero.

The film — also starring Varun Dhawan — comfortably sailed past the halfcentury mark to emerge as a success.

2. Jai Ho

Expectations from Jai Ho were huge considering it starred Salman Khan and was his first film after more than a year (his previous film was the big hit Dabangg 2). It opened well too, though not on as euphoric a note as the previous Salman starrers. It did cross the century mark, but with a lot of effort. The film ended up being Salman’s sixth century in a row, a record for any Bollywood hero.

3. 2 States

2 States is the real surprise of 2014 so far. Just like Ranbir Kapoor’s Barfi! and Farhan Akhtar’s Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, 2 States did not seem like a potential 100crore film; not even after the weekend of its release. Still, the film soared, with audience falling in love with the lead pair of Arjun Kapoor and Alia Bhatt. The film sustained really well and ended up with a century.

4. Gunday

The film’s launch was surrounded with reasonable buzz. After a brief lull during its making, word around Gunday strengthened when its first promo was released.

The songs went on to top charts, making the film a stronger contender for the 100-crore club. However, mixed reviews resulted in a relatively modest collection despite a strong opening.

9. Ragini MMS 2

Well, sex does sell. Sunny Leone has proved it with two successes to her credit. If her debut film Jism 2 boasted of a huge opening at the box office, Ragini MMS 2 worked because it was, among other things, a good product. With a powerhouse item number — Baby Doll — turning out to be a top chartbuster of the year, the film had everything going in its favor.

10. Ek Villain

For Ekta Kapoor and team, it has been an eventful year so far with three of her films in the Top 10 list already. In fact, Ek Villain set a record for breaking into the list in the opening weekend itself. * The report card is based on India collections.

Bollywood

10

INDIA IN NEW YORK JULY 11, 2014

INSIDE THE BOX OFFICE Joginder Tuteja looks at the top 10 flops of 2014 in a half-yearly report card

1. One By Two

9. Revolver Rani 6. Dishkiyaoon

With Abhay Deol helming this one as a producer, it was expected to be fresh in content and a box-office success story. The film suffered because of Deol’s stand against music company T-series, due to which it did not get a proper music release and promotion. The film’s release barely got noticed, making it the film with the lowest earnings in the year so far.

Many years in the making, Dishkiyaoon came as a comeback vehicle for actor Harman Baweja.

While it was marred in controversies, it eventually found its way to theatres. However, the audience wasn’t as enthusiastic about its release as producer Shilpa Shetty, as a result of which there were no takers. Even Sunny Deol’s presence didn’t work.

2. O Teri

Salman’s mere association with a film is expected to bring in the big bucks.

However, that didn’t quite work out in the case of O Teri. This mangled mess of Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron-inspired film was disappointing for lead actor Pulkit Samrat too.

How fortunes change every Friday! While Kangna Ranaut garnered a lot of praise for Queen, her follow-up film Revolver Rani was panned. The film received mixed response from the audience as well as critics.

3. Kaanchi

Audiences rejected Subhash Ghai’s Kaanchi in its opening weekend.

The film was ripped apart by most critics as well. Despite decent promotion and presence of veterans like Rishi Kapoor and Mithun Chakraborty, Kaanchi couldn’t generate any interest.

4. Mr Joe B Carvalho It opened to near-empty theatres. With Arshad Warsi as the leading man, the film was expected to be a decent entertainer, especially since he is famous for his impeccable comic outing. He did well too but the film as a whole didn’t quite cut it.

5. Filmistaan

This is one of the most unfortunate flops of the year. The promos, pre-release feedback, reviews and the word of mouth were terrific. Unfortunately, Filmistaan released on the same day as Akshay Kumar’s biggie Holiday, and that went against it.

7. Total Siyapaa

With a release delayed by almost a year, this Indo-Pak love story proved to be a yawn-inducing affair. Despite two very good looking people in the lead — Ali Zafar and Yami Gautam — Total Siyapaa just couldn’t entice the audience enough.

8. Youngistaan This marked Jackky Bhagnani’s first serious role and wasn’t half as bad. Releasing while the Lok Sabha elections were underway, the film’s subject was topical and a few songs worked their way up the charts too. But the audience gave it a cold shoulder anyway.

10. Bewakoofiyaan A little bit of more energy, effervescence, a few genuinely comic moments and Bewakoofiyaan could been a well-made romantic comedy.

However, the overall product didn’t fetch desired results.

* The report card is based on India collections.

Bollywood

11

INDIA IN NEW YORK JULY 11, 2014

The Kapoor clan gathers for the premiere of Lekar Hum Deewana Dil, the launch vehicle of their nephew Armaan Jain.

From left, Randhir Kapoor, Deeksha Seth, Rekha, Armaan Jain and his mother Reema Jain, Neetu Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor, Rajiv Kapoor.

ALL THAT GLITTERS

PHOTOGRAPHS: PRADEEP BANDEKAR

A PEEK INTO THE WEEK’S GLITZIEST TINSEL TOWN EVENTS Ranbir Kapoor dropped by to support his cousin Armaan and the latter’s co-star Deeksha Seth.

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, left, toasts Shah Rukh Khan after honoring him with the Knight of the Legion of Honour for his contribution to cultural diversity.

Shah Rukh Khan got emotional on receiving one of France’s highest honors, July 1. “It’s my mother’s birthday today,” he said. “If she was alive, apart from being extremely old, she would have been extremely happy.”

Created in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte, the Legion of Honour are the highest awards given by the France for outstanding service to the country, regardless of nationality.

Shah Rukh’s first major public appearance in France was in 2002, when he promoted his film Devdas at Cannes. He also visited the country for Veer-Zaara and Don, and was honored with the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres for his contribution to cinema in 2007.

SRK, the second Bollywood actor after Amitabh Bachchan to bestowed this honor, added, “I am accepting it on behalf of the entire film fraternity... This award has motivated me to take Indian cinema to the next level of acceptance, love and glory.”

HITESH HARISINGHANI

Also at the event were actresses Parineeti Chopra and Nargis Fakhri, composer A R Rahman, and filmmaker Karan Johar with his mother Hiroo.

12

India in New York July 11, 2014

India in New York July 11, 2014

13

14

Bollywood INDIA IN NEW YORK JULY 11, 2014

ALL THAT GLITTERS

A PEEK INTO THE WEEK’S GLITZIEST TINSEL TOWN EVENTS

PHOTOGRAPHS: PRADEEP BANDEKAR

Actor Anupam Kher at the launch of his new chat show, The Anupam Kher Show — Kucch Bhi Ho Sakta Hai. It is an extension of Kher’s autobiographical play Kuch Bhi Ho Sakta Hai where he has openly spoken about his failure and how he has manipulated his destiny.

Top, actors Shah Rukh Khan, left, and Salman Khan, second from right, at Mumbai politician Baba Siddiqui’s Iftar party. Siddiqui, center, had got the two rivals together at his Iftar party last year too.

Above left, actor-filmmker Arbaaz Khan and his father, famous Bollywood writer Salim Khan, arrive at the party.

Above right, actor Arjun Kapoor.

Left, actors Suniel Shetty and Salman Khan dine. Incidentally, Shah Rukh sat down for the meal next to Salman’s father Salim Khan.

Actors Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt at a song launch of their next film Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania. The two star kids had debuted together in Student Of The Year and this is their second film together.

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Special

16

INDIA IN NEW YORK JULY 11, 2014

‘Hope the Iraqis pay us’ A Ganesh Nadar speaks to one of the 46 Indian nurses back from the war-torn country

L

esima Jerose Monisha smiles, and it gives away nothing that indicates the unimaginable ordeal she has recently gone through. The young nurse from Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu, returned to India along with her 45 colleagues July 5 — after four-and-half months in Iraq.

Monisha remembers she was overjoyed when she got a job with the Iraqi government. Like 45 other nurses from Kerala, Monisha had joined the Government Hospital in

Tikrit in central Iraq. The company of a large number of South Indians at the hospital made her feel at home; and the Internet and mobile phones kept her in touch with her family back home. But all was not well — for the first three-and-half-months, none of the nurses received any salary.

The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria fighters marched into Tikrit June 12, and “everything changed overnight,” Monisha remembers.

“The Internet connection was the first to go and mobile towers functioned erratically,” she says. “Contacting home became a major problem.”

At that time, Monisha spoke to Rediff.com — India in New York’s parent company —over the phone and said

PAGE 17 g Salija Joseph, an Indian nurse back from Iraq, holds her child at the airport in Kochi, July 5.

Sherin, center, an Indian nurse who worked in Iraq, hugs her sister after arriving at the airport in Kochi, Kerala, July 5. Sherin was one of 46 nurses who had been holed up in a hospital in the Iraqi city of Tikrit.

Merina Jose, an Indian nurse back from Iraq, holds her daughter, in Kochi, July 5.

PHOTOGRAPHS: SIVARAM V/REUTERS

‘All we heard were gunshots and bombs’ VICKY NANJAPPA

“W

hen we were stranded in the hospital at Tikrit, it seemed like an impossible situation,” said Marina, one of the 46 Indian nurses who were held captive in Iraq by the militant group Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.

“We never thought we would get out of there. All we heard were gunshots and bombs and never actually understand what was happening.”

She added, “We did not understand what was happening when around eight people came and told us to get into the bus. Some of us tried to resist and realized it was not worth it. They just told us to get into the bus and not protest. But we were

surprised when they treated us well. They never spoke rudely. They asked if we wanted water and food. Whether I would return to Iraq is something I haven’t thought about yet. I will speak with my family about it.”

Other nurses echoed Marina’s sentiments.

“I never once thought that we will get out of this situation,” said a nurse. “We were safe and unharmed. Some sustained minor injuries during the transit from the hospital to the bus, but that was not intentional.”

Another nurse said, “The scenes were horrid but we were kept safe. When we realized that many from the hospital administration had gone missing, we lost all hope. Earlier, when clashes broke out,

we were told that we could leave but we had to take care of our safety. We decided to stay back and the members of the Iraq Red Crescent assured us that our government will get us out of there soon. We are so relieved and hope that the others who are stuck there will also return safe.”

She added, “We do not have any specific comments about the ISIS and would not want to comment on the situation there.

They did not harm us, and in fact, hurried us to get out of Tikrit as bombing had begun. As we got into the bus, a bomb exploded, and had we been late, there would have casualties.”

Most of the nurses said they do not want to return to Iraq.

“No one is harming Indians there specifically, but if such situation keeps occurring life is not safe,” said a nurse.

Special

17

INDIA IN NEW YORK JULY 11, 2014

Indian workers back from Iraq face dilemma’s other horn

Paramjit Kaur shows the photograph of her brother Kuljit Singh, who has been kidnapped in Iraq, in Amritsar, June 19. There was no news at press time of the 40 Indian construction workers kidnapped in Iraq’s second largest city of Mosul.

VICKY NANJAPPA

M

any Indian workers back from the war in Iraq are face another crisis — debt.

About 80 workers from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, who returned July 5, are struggling to repay debts of up to Rs 200,000 ($3,333).

Madaiah, a construction worker who was employed in Iraq’s northern oil city Kirkuk, has a loan of Rs 150,000 ($2,500). Working in Iraq for another three years was the best chance he had to clear the loan, he says.

“I have been in Iraq for six months and have not managed to clear a single rupee,” he says. “In the first three months, I received only half the salary as the other half went to the job placement agency. I am the only bread winner in the family and I have a wife and three kids to support.”

Madaiah is happy to be back with his family, which was worried sick about his safety. “But here another harsh reality stares me in the face,” Madaiah adds. “I am ready to work, but in India the salaries are not good enough. For me to clear my debt, I will need at least another 10 years here.”

Returning to Iraq is not an option.

“They (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria militants) do not target Indians, but anything can happen in a war zone,” Madaiah says. “With folded hands, I am seeking some help

MUNISH SHARMA/REUTERS

from the government to intervene and help us clear our debts.”

Krishnaiah, who also worked in Kirkuk, says, “I will die anyway. I see no hope. Had I stayed back in Iraq, I would have been killed, but coming back to India is no different.

Please provide us with some help so that we can earn a bit more and clear our loans.”

Krishnaiah has to repay Rs 100,000 ($1,666.6) and has managed to clear only Rs 10,000 ($166.6).

“In Iraq, it was becoming difficult to carry on,” he says. “We were not paid for a month and those whom we reported to had run away. We decided to stay on as we saw some hope.

Today that hope has faded. We were told that we had to return to India as our safety could not be guaranteed.”

India’s ministry of external affairs was making arrangements to rescue more Indians stranded in Iraq. About 2,200 Indians have indicated that they want to return.

Special arrangements are being made for those who have sought help from the embassy. The MEA has set up four mobile teams in Najaf, Karbala, Basra and Baghdad to speed up the process.

‘Hope the Iraqis pay us’ f PAGE 16 that there was nothing to fear. The invaders had left them alone to do their work. In fact, they had offered them jobs which none of them took up. They told the jihadists they just wanted to go home.

“The initial peace lasted barely a fortnight,” she says, “after which we realized that the roads were blocked and we could not leave at will.”

Meanwhile, the Iraqi government forces regrouped to reclaim Tikrit from the ISIS. Shelling, explosions and gunshots became commonplace.

“We thought we will die there,” Monisha says.

The ISIS officers ordered the nurses to come with them. “But we delayed them by saying that we needed the permission of the Indian embassy to leave the hospital,” Monisha says.

The next day ISIS soldiers again told them they had to leave. When the nurses repeated that they needed Indian embassy’s permission, they were clearly told that the next day they would be shifted whether they liked it or not.

The nurses immediately informed the Indian embassy and also Kerala Chief Minister Oomen Chandy, who was in constant touch with them.

Those who could get in touch with their families told them not to call for the next

two days as they would be shifting.

“We knew that the ISIS would not let us use our mobiles, so we took that precaution,” says Monisha.

The next day they were hurdled out amid heavy shelling all around.

“We boarded a bus which took us to Mosul, an ISIS stronghold. There were no bombs exploding there,” Monisha remembers.

The nurses stayed there overnight. The next day at 9 am, ISIS soldiers told them that they were being released. They were then taken to the border of Mosul and handed over to the Indian embassy staff, who were waiting for them.

“We laughed and cried in happiness.

Those whose phones were still working called up their elated relatives back home,” Monisha says. “The journey to home was like a dream.”

A huge crowd welcomed the nurses at Kochi airport.

Monisha reached Tuticorin late July 5 night. Her family and neighbors had stayed up to meet her.

“I was supposed to get a salary of Rs 50,000 ($833.3) per month,” Monisha rues. “I worked for four-and-half months, so the Iraq government owes me Rs 225,000 ($3,750). I have no idea whether I will ever see that money.”

A United Arab Emirates-based Indian has offered jobs to all the 46 nurses.

“The Kerala girls will take it up I think; I haven’t decided yet,” Monisha says.

An Indian nurse arrives in Kochi, July 5.

Monisha’s cousin chips in: “The Kerala nurses have also been offered government jobs in their state, they will not go.”

Monisha, who knows her family will not allow her to return, points out, “The salary is much higher there.”

The Punjab state government has said Punjabis in Iraq should just come back and it will compensate any losses they incur.

Kerala has given the returning nurses cash compensation, waived their education loans and offered them jobs.

Monisha still has to repay a Rs 450,000 ($7,500) loan she took from a state-run

SIVARAM V/REUTERS

bank to do her BSc (nursing).

“I will pay them back, hope the Iraqis pay us,” she says.

To land the job in Iraq, Monisha paid Rs 160,000 ($2,666.6) to the Global Agency in Mehrauli, Delhi, whose owner collected Rs 7,360,000 ($122,666.6) from the nurses to send them to Iraq.

“If he cannot get our salaries the least he can do is return the money he collected from us,” Monisha says. “The government, which has done an excellent job in rescuing the nurses, must now try to get our money back — from either the government of Iraq or the Global Agency in Delhi.”

Health

18

INDIA IN NEW YORK JULY 11, 2014

G

autam Rode is one of the hottest men on Indian television today and is probably the reason why you watch Saraswatichandra. Rode tells India in New York how is possible to get a physique like his with a vegetarian diet.

At what age did you start working out?

I started working out at the age of 16.

My cousin Farhad who is four years older to me, inspired me to hit the gym.

Could you tell us a little about your fitness routine?

Eating healthy and working out always goes a long way in keeping you fit.

I do 450 crunches for the lower abs, upper abs and sides without fail I keep an hour aside to go to the gym.

How to sculpt a body like these TV hotties

I’ve enrolled in a gym that has long hours so even if I am done with work late, I hit the gym without fail.

Since I have a very high rate of metabolism, I tend to lose muscle mass if I am not working out.

I normally concentrate on my favourite areas like shoulder, chest, biceps, and back.

I am not much of a cardio person, but every once in a while I run for about 45 minutes at a stretch.

How do you convert your free time into fun-time?

Working out is fun time so whenever I get any free time I just go to the gym and work out.

The fact is I simply enjoy exercising!

Working out is my hobby.

What is your diet like?

I have never been a foodie; as long as something is healthy, it works for me.

Things like chocolates, pastries (and any other high-calorie food) don’t tempt me.

I eat every two hours and my diet includes brown rice Poha (puffed rice), oats, muesli and low-sugar fruits like apples, pears, oranges and strawberries.

For protein, I have a good amount of Dal (lentils), chana (chickpeas), tofu and soya milk.

Gautam Rode and Mohit Mallik share their fitness secrets with Rajul Hegde

M

ohit Mallik of Doli Armaan Ki is so passionate about fitness that he never misses his gym schedule. Like his inspiration, Bollywood star Akshay Kumar, he doesn’t smoke or drink and the results show.

What’s your fitness secret?

I work out everyday for minimum 45 minutes and there is no rest day for me. I wake up in the morning, have a cup of coffee and go for a 30-minute jog. After pack up I come home, freshen up and straight away head to the gym at 10 pm.

I have a personal trainer and I mainly focus on one body part each day: Legs, shoulder, chest or back and repeat.

At times due to late night shoots if I cannot work out then I take my building’s steps. I live on the seventh floor.

I start the lift and try to reach the seventh floor before the lift reaches. I do this at least 10 times.

I do functional training like skipping or running on the road in in Mumbai.

I used to play cricket a lot earlier, but now I don’t get the time due to hectic shooting schedules.

Tell us about your diet.

My basic rule is to avoid fried foods and sugar. I am not completely off sugar, but I avoid additional intake.

Sometimes I gorge on dark chocolates or cheese, but I burn it out.

I am very particular about my meals and eat healthy. I

have dinner before 8 pm. I eat every two hours and in right proportions.

Eat on time, after every two hours (ideally) as it keeps your BMR (basal metabolic rate) high.

Breakfast: Between 7.30 and 8 am egg is a must in my diet. I eat 2 slices of toasted brown/multi grain bread with an omelette made of 6 egg whites.

Carrot or pomegranate juice and two dates are compulsory because this combination is a powerhouse package with much-needed minerals and energy to help you stay fit and healthy.

Snacks: After 2 hours I eat oats with handful of protein powder and nuts. At noon I have any kind of fruit and green tea.

Lunch: Around 2 pm I have brown rice, Dal, Sabzi (a vegetable dish) and four boiled egg whites.

Snack: At 5 pm I have one vegetarian or chicken sandwich.

Dinner: I avoid intake of carbohydrates after sunset. I have only salads and soups for dinner. If I have to do nightshift then I make an exception to this rule.

Anyone you look up to as your inspiration?

Actor Akshay Kumar is fit and follows a great routine rises early and got to bed on time. He doesn’t smoke or drink and has a great body for his age. That’s what I want to be like.

I also make sure to have lots of green vegetables and drink at least six cups of green tea every day.

This is what my daily eating pattern is like: I wake up at 7 am and start my day with a cup of green tea.

After 30 minutes, for breakfast I have skimmed milk, 6 almonds, sunflower and flax seeds, oats/muesli mixture of everything in a bowl and a protein shake.

Seeds are terrific at maintaining cholesterol levels and keeping the blood pressure in check.

After two hours, I have a fruit and a green tea Lunch is at 1 pm and it usually consists of brown rice, Dal or Chhole (chickpea), Sabzi (vegetable dish) and salads.

My evening snack mainly consists of brown rice Poha made in olive oil tossed with veggies like broccoli, baby corn, cabbage and capsicum with a cup of green tea.

Before sunset, I have an apple along with another cup of green tea.

Dinner is usually light and includes boiled sprouts with lemon juice, onions and tomatoes, or tossed vegetables and tofu and sometimes a soup.

India in New York July 11, 2014

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20

The Week That Was INDIA IN NEW YORK JULY 11, 2014

Fatwa, Shariat court have no legal sanction: Court The Indian Supreme Court said July 7 that a Shariat court issuing a fatwa and order had no sanction of law and no legal status. The apex court added that in some cases the orders being passed by such courts violated human rights and punished innocents.

The All India Personal Law Board had earlier submitted that a fatwa was not binding and was just an opinion of a cleric who had no power or authority to implement it.

The way into the Valley’s heart?

Budget Session starts on a tempestuous note The Budget Session of the Lok Sabha started July 7 on a tempestuous note with members of several Opposition parties storming the well, protesting against inflation and hike in rail fares and prices of petrol, diesel and LPG. The Modi government unveiled its Railway Budget July 8 and was to present Budget 2014 July 10.

LeT making terror recruits learn from Kasab’s mistakes A special ‘Kasab class’ is part of Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Tayiba’s training module for its new recruits during which they are told about the mistakes committed by Ajmal Kasab during the deadly Mumbai terror attack.

This emerged during interrogation of LeT terrorist Mohammad Naveed Jutt alias Abu Hanzala, a resident of Multan in Pakistan, who was arrested in South Kashmir.

Kumaraswamy accused of demanding bribe Janata Dal-Secular chief and former Karnataka chief minister H D Kumaraswamy had allegedly demanded a bribe of Rs 400 million ($6.68 million) to nominate a candidate to the state Legislative Council from his party, audio clips released by the MLC aspirant have revealed.

Kumaraswamy has rejected the allegation claiming that he took no bribe, further defending himself by saying such things happen in every political party.

Teacher raped, videographed in Muzaffarnagar A teacher, 23, was allegedly raped by a youth at a village in Muzaffarnagar, which was videographed by two of his associates and all of them blackmailed her, police said.

The victim was door-to-door canvassing for getting enrolment of children for the private school she was working for when she was held by one of the youths. The three youths, all college students, have been arrested and remanded to judicial custody.

In another case, a 7-year-old boy was allegedly sodomised by a youth at Vahelna village in Muzaffarnagar, police said. A case has been registered against the absconding accused, police said.

UMAR GAINE

Indian Prime Minister Narendra flags off the Udhampur Katra train service, linking the pilgrimage town of Katra with rest of the country. He said he would win the hearts of the people of Jammu and Kashmir through peace and development.

Major General removed for using touch to ‘cleanse soul’ Physical touch is unnecessary for cleansing the soul, an Armed Forces Tribunal said, upholding the conviction by a court martial of Major General Arun Kumar Lal for inappropriately touching a junior officer to ‘activate her chakras’ during two meditation sessions.

The bench, however, modified the sentence of dismissal to deemed removal, saying it would be harsh if he was required to forfeit his retirement dues.

Poverty line redrawn, 3 in 10 Indians are poor: Report Nearly one in three Indians was poor in 2011-2012, according to a new report commissioned following criticism two years ago that the government grossly underestimated the number of poor in the country by choosing an unrealistic poverty line for such estimates.

The panel, headed by former Reserve Bank of India governor C Rangarajan, estimates there were 363 million people, or 29.5 percent of India’s 1.2 billion population, who lived in poverty in 2011-2012.

This is significantly higher than the official estimate of 269 million because the Rangarajan panel considers people living on less than Rs 32 a day in rural areas and Rs 47 a day in urban areas as poor. In contrast, the official estimate defines people living on less than Rs 27 a day rural areas and Rs 33 a day in urban areas as poor.

Row over Sunanda Pushkar’s autopsy

Indian Army chief meets Chinese military brass

Indian Army Chief General Bikram Singh, right, and People’s Liberation Army Chief of General Staff Fang Fenghui.

ndian Army Chief General Bikram Singh visited Beijing to hold talks with People’s Liberation Army Chief of General Staff Fang Fenghui.

IGeneral Singh also met Vice Chairman of China’s Military Commission Genenral

Fan Changlong, the all powerful body headed by President Xi Jinping which controls all wings of the armed forces; Vice President Li Yuanchao and Vice Executive Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui. He addressed cadets of the National Defence University in Beijing; and traveled to Shanghai to visit a Chinese naval ship.

The head of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences’ forensic department claimed that former federal health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad had pressured him to manipulate the post mortem report of lawmaker Shashi Tharoor’s wife Sunanda Pushkar.

Sunanda, 52, was found dead in a 5-star hotel in Delhi January 17, a day after a Twitter spat with Pakistani journalist Mehr Tarar over an alleged affair with Tharoor.

The autopsy report mentioned more than a dozen injury marks on Sunanda’s hands and an abrasion on her cheek which suggests a ‘use of blunt force,’ besides a ‘deep teeth bite’ on the edge of her left palm.

Viscera samples were preserved after the autopsy at AIIMS and sent for further testing, which hinted at drug poisoning. The latter findings were not conclusive enough to file a case, according to the police.

Indian Mujahideen terrorist arrested in Kolkata Zahid Hussain, an Indian Mujahideen terrorist suspected to be involved in the German Bakery blast in Pune in 2010, has been arrested in Kolkata July 2, the police said.

12 years on, Gujarat riots probe panel gets 22nd extension The Gujarat government June 30 granted yet another extension, the 22nd, to the Justice Nanavati commission, which is probing the 2002 post-Godhra riots. The extension is valid up to August 31.

PAGE 21

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The Week That Was

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INDIA IN NEW YORK JULY 11, 2014

Modi wave in the Capitol

‘Rahul not a ruler by temperament’

Senator John McCain, second from left, after his meeting with India’s Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj in New Delhi, July 2.

The next day he met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who expressed a desire to take the relationship to a new level.

McCain told Modi that the United States had high expectations about a new momentum of India’s economic growth under the new government and conveyed the keen desire in the US to work with him to revitalise the India-US strategic partnership.

The visit could not escape the row over reports that the National Security Agency was authorized to spy on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in 2010. India reacted strongly by summoning a US diplomat in New Delhi and sought an assurance from the US that it would not happen again. State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki told reporters that the US hoped the surveillance would not have an adverse impact on the bilateral relationship between the two countries: ‘I can confirm that diplomats from our embassy have met with their Ministry of External Affairs counterparts on this issue, but I am not going to get into the substance of our private conversations.’

A controversy erupted June 28 as Congress party General Secretary Digvijay Singh said party Vice President Rahul Gandhi did not have the temperament of a ruler and felt that he should have taken up the responsibility of leader of the party in the Lok Sabha.

‘He is not a ruler by temperament. By temperament he is a person, who wants to fight injustice,’ he told a television channel.

List of VIPs receiving security cover to be cut soon The National Democratic Alliance government will review the security provided to more than 150 VIPs by the previous United Progressive Alliance regime following the Budget session of Parliament.

The threat perception to all these VIPs will be reviewed and it is likely that the list would be pruned, a Home Ministry official said.

Year after blasts, Bodh Gaya to host conclave A year after Bodh Gaya in Bihar was rocked by serial bomb blasts, the city is gearing up for the three-day International Buddhist Conclave in which scholars, historians and Buddhists from across the world will participate. The conclave will be held in September.

RSS man will head historical research body Yellapragada Sudershan Rao, the new chairperson of the Indian Council of Historical Research, is a member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s Akhil Bharatiya Itihas Sankalan Yojana and heads its Andhra Pradesh chapter. A retired history professor, he has written articles arguing that stories from the Ramayan and the Mahabharat are truthful accounts of events that took place.

Sheila Dixit had 31 ACs, 15 coolers and 25 heaters as Delhi chief minister!

A

ADNAN ABIDI/REUTERS

fter Senator John McCain and Congressman Ed Royce, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Congressmen Brad Sherman, Ted Poe and Eni Faleomavaega have asked the Congressional leadership to invite Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address a joint session of the US Congress when he visits Washington, DC in late September to attend the annual United Nations General Assembly session.

‘We have an opportunity to build on the US-India strategic partnership to the benefit of both our nations. India is a growing economic power in a strategically important region of the world.

New Delhi plays a critical role in regional peace and security,’ they wrote in the letter. ‘In each of the last three decades, a Prime Minister of India has addressed a Joint Session of Congress, and the upcoming visit of Prime Minister Modi will allow us to continue that tradition.’

f PAGE 20

Goa lawmaker seeks ban on girls in pubs and bikinis Goa minister Sudin Dhavalikar triggered a controversy June 30 saying, ‘Young girls going to pubs in short dresses does not fit in our culture... The scantily dressed girls visiting pubs project wrong culture and this should be stopped.’

He followed it up July 1 by adding, ‘Wearing bikinis should be banned on Goa’s beaches.’

Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar ruled out banning bikinis on the state’s beaches July 2, but said drinking of liquor in public places would be prohibited.

Meanwhile, An uproar after the CM approved a government-sponsored trip to Brazil for four Goan lawmakers to watch the World Cup didn’t stop the lawmakers from going on the junket, but they were asked to reimburse the money spent on them after their return.

AgustaWestland: Laundering case against ex-IAF chief The Enforcement Directorate slapped a money laundering case July 4 against former Indian Air Force chief S P Tyagi and 20 others in the multibillion-dollar AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal to probe alleged kickbacks.

A response to a Right to Information query revealed that 31 air conditioners, 15 coolers, 25 heaters, 16 air purifiers, 12 geysers, among others, were installed in Sheila Dikshit’s official bungalow when she was Delhi chief minister.

An expense of Rs 1.68 million ($28,000) was incurred on the electrical renovation of the bungalow.

Chennai building collapse: Death toll 61 Seven days after an 11-storeyed under construction building collapsed in Chennai, rescuers called off their massive non-stop operations July 4 with the death toll put at 61.

Twenty seven persons were pulled out alive — with one man surviving 72 hours under the debris — after the building collapsed June 28.

Shah exempted from appearing in court, again

A special Central Bureau of Investigation court yet again exempted Bharatiya Janata Party leader Amit Shah from appearing before it July 4 in the alleged fake encounter cases of Tulsiram Prajapati and Sohrabuddin Sheikh.

Last time, June 20, Judge Loya’s predecessor Judge J T Utpat had reprimanded Shah’s counsel for seeking exemption without assigning any reason. He was transferred June 25.

No decision yet on Leader of Opposition status to Congress Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan steered clear of the issue of grant of Leader of Opposition status in the House to the Congress despite the party appearing to raise the pitch for it July 5. She had earlier said she would decide on the issue before the Budget session of Parliament after consulting constitutional experts and ‘experienced’ persons.

Gandhi statue to be installed in London’s Parliament Square British Foreign Minister William Hague and Chancellor of Exchequer George Osborne announced plans for a statue of Mahatma Gandhi to be installed in Parliament Square in London.

The memorial, which will stand alongside those of other international leaders like Abraham Lincoln and Nelson Mandela, will be in place early next year. It will provide a focal point for commemoration next summer of the 100th anniversary of Gandhi’s return to India from South Africa to start the struggle for self-rule.

Sports

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INDIA IN NEW YORK JULY 11, 2014

Oh Maria!

R

Sachin Tendulkar

B

STEFAN WERMUTH/REUTERS

ussian tennis icon Maria Sharapova served up a storm last week when she said she didn’t know who Sachin Tendulkar is.

Considering that Tendulkar, over the last few years has been a regular visitor at Wimbledon, and a good friend of Swiss tennis ace Roger Federer, it comes as a surprise that the Russian star, who has five Grand Slam titles to her name, is ignorant about the man who has broken almost every batting record in cricket.

Tendulkar was in the Royal Box at Wimbledon with former England cricket captain Andrew Strauss June 28. There were other sporting legends too, including

soccer legends David Beckham and Sir Bobby Charlton, and golfer Ian Poulter.

When Sharapova was asked at her postmatch press conference whether she knew that a cricket icon had come to watch her play, the she replied that she had met Beckham a few times but wasn’t familiar with Tendulkar.

Tennis World reports that Sharapova was told: ‘Sachin Tendulkar was the other person who came in at the same time as David. Do you know who Sachin is?’

The French Open winner flatly replied: ‘I don’t!’

Tendulkar’s fans were not amused, and an estimated 50,000 messages were posted on Sharapova’s Facebook page, memes made, and someone reportedly even managed to edit the tennis star’s Wikipedia entry.

Maria Sharapova

TOBY MELVILLE/REUTERS

Dhoni’s secrets

eing instinctive is seen as Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s best attributes but the man who has captained India to unprecedented highs in the last seven years reveals that his often-talked-about gut feeling is backed by cold logic.

In a candid interview to the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s bcci.tv, Dhoni, who July 7 turned 33, recollected the time he was made captain before the World Twenty20 in 2007, his ways of dealing with senTalking about the experience of leading a young team, ior players, his leadership style and shouldering the Dhoni said, ‘Right now the situation is very different. responsibility of leading the team of a cricket-crazy Although I am leading a young team, I don’t like to nation. give a plan that the bowler is not comfortable impleAt the outset, Dhoni revealed that his strength lies in menting. So I let the bowlers start off with their own his experience. He said that it was that that helped him plan and own fields and encourage them to think for guide India to the No.1 Test spot, the 2011 World Cup themselves.’ victory, the 2007 World Twenty20 and most recently He is one of biggest of names in world cricket but the Champions Trophy last year. seven seasons ago not many would have thought that ‘I don’t plan a lot and go by my gut feel,’ Dhoni told the wicketkeeper-batsman would achieve what he has bcci.tv. ‘But what many people don’t understand is that and possibly there is more to come with the 50-over to have that gut feel, you have to have experienced that World Cup early next year. thing before. For instance, you don’t know anything Dhoni admitted he was surprised at his elevation and about bikes. I open one of my bike engines and keep it said Tendulkar played a role in it. in front of you and ask you “which model does your gut ‘It did (surprise me), because I was never really aimfeeling say this engine belongs to,” you will be clueless.

You won’t have a gut feeling because you don’t know ing for captaincy. For me, being a part of the team is anything about the object there. My gut feeling comes much more important than being the captain.’ from my past experiences of all the cricket I’ve played On Tendulkar’s role, he said, ‘I think it was more in my life and the situations I have faced. It’s not someabout the interactions that I had with them. For thing you just feel for a moment without any logic.’ instance, whenever Sachin came on to bowl — and The Indian captain faces one of the biggest challenges because he could bowl so many different deliveries — in his career when India take on England in the first of he would ask me what the best ball would be — seamfive Tests at Nottingham from July 9. up, leg-spin, off-spin — depending on the wicket and One could feel a lot of pressure as a leader in the the batsman. Perhaps the honest opinions I gave him at presence of seniors in the dressing room, something these points made him believe that I read the game Dhoni had to deal with when Sachin Tendulkar, V V S well.’

Laxman, Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly were How does he rate the big trophies India have won around. under his captaincy?

‘The best thing about the senior players was that with ‘I don’t think I will ever be able to pick one and say, their experience they had a lot of ideas and suggestions this is the closest to my heart. They all are,’ said Dhoni. to give me,’ Dhoni said. ‘But more importantly, if I didDhoni also divulged his post-retirement plans. n’t agree with some things they said, I could tell them ‘The good thing is that I do collect a lot of stumps but so. They were absolutely fine with it and after 10-15 the bad one is I don’t put a mark as to which match DINUKA LIYANAWATTE/REUTERS Mahendra Singh Dhoni minutes would again come up with a different idea or they were from. So, after I retire I’ll watch the videos of them without the fear of offending them. Because of them option and then leave it to me, give me a few deliveries to all my matches, look closely at the sponsors logos on the I was able to be myself and develop my own style of capthink about it and decide. That really gave me the comfort stumps and figure out which match a stump belongs to. It of knowing that I can be honest and straightforward with taincy.’ will be my post-cricket pastime!’

The India cricket team captain opens up to bcci.tv about his famed gut feel, advice from the likes of Tendulkar, and even post-retirement plans

Sports

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INDIA IN NEW YORK JULY 11, 2014

I

ndia captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was going to have to do some serious thinking about his team’s bowling combination in the first Test against England, in Nottingham, that began July 9.

The Indian attack led by the erratic Ishant Sharma gave away 831 runs in 197 overs, with only 11 wickets to show for their efforts, in the two tour games against English county sides Leicestershire and Derbyshire.

The experienced Ishant bowled 18 no-balls in the three innings!

While little-known Leicestershire batsmen Angus Robson (younger brother of Test opener Sam) and Greg Smith helped themselves to strokefilled centuries, Indians were able to register a five-wicket victory over Derbyshire. But the visitors were playing all 18 members of their squad and the action in the middle was rarely intense.

For the Indian team, the two warm-up games were a mixed Ishant Sharma bag. Their main focus was to give a run-in to all players in the touring party since the five-Test series is a back-to-back affair.

In that they were successful, even if some players got a little more playing time than others. It was perhaps a

Bowling still a worry for India pointer to the team selection for the first Test.

The batsmen gave a good account of themselves, fighting hard under cloudy skies at Leicester and then settling in at the placid square in Derby.

The No.7 spot holds the key to the eleven for the Nottingham Test and much will depend on the conditions once the team management gets there and assesses the pitch.

Earlier in the week, cricketerturned-commentator Ravi Shastri turned up the heat during the Test-series launch in London, egging the Indian bowlers to put pressure on England captain Alastair Cook, who has struggled for runs recently.

‘If you have the leader under ANTHONY PHELPS/REUTERS pressure always go for him,’ Shastri said. ‘You need to get stuck in. You have to make the game as tough as you can.

As an India player they will want this debate to continue.’

There have been serious doubts whether this Indian bowling unit is capable of getting 20 wickets.

Zaheer Khan reveals rare injury V

eteran pacer Zaheer Khan is eyeing a comeback to competitive cricket for Mumbai Indians during Champions League T20 in early October.

Zaheer, 35, was, however, non-committal about his chances of making it to the World Cup squad in 2015.

‘The World Cup is a special tournament and it is everyone’s dream to be part of the Indian team,’ Khan, who is recovering from a muscle injury, told ESPN Cricinfo.

‘But it is still a long way away. Right now, am I fit to bowl? I am not. Things will unfold for me. The Champions League T20 is the first step towards proving I am fit and on top of my game.’

The left-arm seamer revealed that he has sustained a rare injury.

‘I have a tear in the tendon in a lateral muscle on the left side,’ he explained.

‘Because it is a tendon injury it takes its own time to heal. I am told I am only the second bowler to get this kind of an injury.

I am right now working on recovering, strengthening and fitness. The timeline given to me was about ten to 12 weeks from the date of injury. Right now I have finished six weeks.’

The Mumbai pacer said it will take him at least another month before he starts bowling at the nets.

‘I have not held a ball after picking up the injury,’ he said. ‘I am still (going to

take) about four weeks before I start bowling. I have to see how my body is responding. It is about how I’m feeling in terms of my bowling — whether I am able to bowl exactly the way I want to bowl, whether I’m able to meet my expectations in terms of bowling.’

He did not hide his disappointment about missing the England tour.

‘I have been working towards this tour for the last year,’ he said. ‘I was focusing on Test matches. Even through the IPL (Indian Premier League), my routines

Zaheer Khan

Veteran pacer Zaheer Khan’s absence is also cause for concern. In his absence, Ishant is expected to spearhead the attack. He is the only bowler with experience of Test cricket in English conditions, having played 55 Tests in his six-and-a-half years’ international career. His individual tally is more than four times than that of other mediumpacers in the squad put together — Bhuvneshwar Kumar (6 Tests), Mohammad Shami (6 Tests), Varun Aaron (1 Test), Ishwar Pandey (yet to make debut) and Pankaj Singh (yet to make debut).But Ishant didn’t enjoy the best of starts to this tour; he was completely off-the-mark in Leicester, and bowled listlessly in the first innings at Derby. In the two innings, he bowled 21 overs, conceding 113 runs with only two wickets to his name, including 18 no-balls. He struggled to gain any rhythm and mixed his run-up so much so that the umpires in Derby stopped calling his no-balls at one point.

In the second innings there, he returned to bowl a decent seven-over spell (0-10) with only two no-balls.

In three innings then, Ishant bowled 28 overs. No other medium-pacer sent down more overs than him — Kumar (26 overs), Singh (25 overs), Shami (17 overs), Aaron (18 overs) and Pandey (16 overs).

Together they took seven wickets against the two county sides’ secondary batting line-up.

It doesn’t make for all-too-happy reading and Dhoni will certainly be pondering over will be his men to make the best use of the ‘Red Duke’ in what can turn out to be an eventful English summer.

were (related to) working towards the England tour. Considering all that, it was disappointing to miss out. I just hope that the Indian team does well on English soil.’

Zaheer refrained from reacting to his personal coach Sudhir Naik’s comment that the aging speedster will find it difficult to make an international comeback after the kind of injury he has sustained.

‘I respect his (Naik’s) opinion,’ the bowler said. ‘Right now I am in no position to say anything more. If you are 35, then obviously there will be more questions asked

DINUKA LIYANAWATT/REUTERS

than when you are 25 or 27. The important thing is to keep working on what you believe in. Ultimately, it is about performing; if you are able to match the expectations and fulfill the demands that come from playing at the highest level of cricket, then the rest should take care of itself.’

Zaheer also presented a dead bat when asked about his former captain Rahul Dravid’s opinion that he would ‘hate to see Zaheer Khan end his career bowling 120125 kph (kilometers per hour) and limp away from international cricket.’

‘I do not feel there is any need to respond,’ Khan said. ‘I know that even if you wake me up from my sleep, I am going to bowl in the 133kph range. There is a basic pace a bowler has and it is natural.

In terms of pace, since 2006, when I cut short my run-up, I have always focused on variations in terms of swing, and adding that element of surprise. Pace has never been the most important criteria for me.

Obviously, you cannot be bowling at 125kph, but if I am able to bowl at 135 with variations and have control over line and length it is equivalent to bowling as quick as 140kph. I have focused on speedup variations: If I am bowling at an average speed of 131-133kph, suddenly I spike it to 138kph. The odd ball has proved crucial.’

He added, ‘I have never been an outand-out fast bowler, at least after 2006. So there is no reason (that) I should be chasing the 140kph mark when I am 35 years old.’

24

India in New York July 11, 2014