Indian Weekender 29 April 2016

29 April, 2016 • Vol. 8 Issue 6 • www.iwk.co.nz

NZ’s first Kiwi-Indian weekly newspaper

The pulse of Kiwi-Indians

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CONTENTS

29 April 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

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New Zealand

Jamming in style at Jam Lounge

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India Modi is still the best bet for India

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Sports IPL: Mumbai beats Punjab for third win

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Kitchen

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Entertainment Film review: The Jungle Book

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Face of the Week A young achiever

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www.iwk.co.nz | 29 April 2016

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H.E. Pranab Mukherjee’s NZ visit:

time to strengthen Indo-Kiwi ties Kumar Suresh

The three-day state visit can mean a lot to the Indian community in New Zealand for the simple reason that this is easily the biggest ever official state visit from India to this country

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Indian President Pranab Mukherjee’s scheduled visit to New Zealand this week is nothing short of historic. It would be for the first time that an Indian president is on a state visit to New Zealand and thus, the number of possibilities that this could unfold are unimaginable. The President is accompanied by Minister of state for Agriculture Sanjeev Balyan and senior Congress Rajya Sabha MP Partap Singh Bajwa.

If one was to summarise the Indo-Kiwi relationship, it is probably nothing more than a small hole in a big wall through which all the diplomatic and economic issues need to squeeze themselves through. This state visit though has a potential to bulldoze that wall between the two countries and pave a way for important agreements and pacts to be signed. “This visit of the Indian president accompanied by the Agriculture Minister puts to

rest all speculation that the Free Trade Agreement between the two countries is not top priority,” says Robert Barker the Chairman of the India New Zealand Business Council (INZBC), an organisation that has been successfully lobbying both nations for improved trade relations for the more than 27 years.

President Mukherjee and his delegation arrive on April 30 for a series of events in Auckland, including an official welcome at Government House Auckland, a State dinner hosted by the Governor General Jerry Mateparae, and talks with Prime Minister John Key and Leader of Opposition Andrew Little.

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The highlight though would be the president’s meet with the KiwiIndian community.

The president will also visit AUT where an MoU between Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and the Faculty of Humanities of Victoria University, Wellington, will be signed on the continuation of the ICCR Chair of Indian Studies by the High Commissioner and Professor Windsor, Pro ViceChancellor Victoria University.

On this occasion, the Hon’ble Steven Joyce will also announce the Education Excellence Awards for Indian students.

The three-day state visit can mean a lot to the Indian community in New Zealand for the simple reason that this is easily the biggest ever official state visit from India to this country. The business community, in particular, will be keeping a close eye on this visit, as it has the potential to bring good news for them. It is therefore no surprise that INZBC, the Continued on Page 4

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lead organisation in this space, is hosting the president for a Business Leaders Meet with top 100 industry leaders on May 1.

External affairs spokesperson for India, Vikas Swaroop, while announcing the state visit said, “Several agreements are expected to be signed during the visit in the fields of economic cooperation, education and connectivity.

Both sides see prospects for cooperation in agriculture, dairy, food processing, education and skill development as well as high technology. The Indian diaspora of 175,000 helps to further cement our ties.”

It is clear from the statement that one of the most important agendas from the Indian delegation is to push for the direct flights between the two countries to improve the connectivity in the pacific region. In fact, INZBC has been lobbying at various levels for this alongside Nick McDonnell from Air New Zealand for nearly three years. This now seems to be sitting on the cusp of turning into a reality with the official announcement of a potential signing of the New ZealandIndia Air Services Agreement by Minister Bridges, Prime Minister Rt Hon John Key and the visiting Indian minister. This would potentially remove one of the major and the basic hurdles for the business community. It would also improve the commercial relationship and the people to people contact between the two countries.

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“Several agreements are expected to be signed during the visit in the fields of economic cooperation, education and connectivity.

Agriculture and science and technology are other sectors that the delegation will be keen to sign treaties on. With more than 25,000 students coming for higher education to this country from India every year, close cooperation between the two countries at the university level will also bring rich dividends.

New Zealand, on the other hand, has got more to gain from this visit if they can push for the free trade agreement, which has been pending for quite some time

From left to right: Indian President Pranab Mukherjee, MP Pratap Bajwa, Minister of State for Agriculture Sanjeev Balyan, Indian High Commissioner Sanjiv Kohli

now. Prime Minister John Key welcoming the delegation said, “It will be an opportunity to highlight our warm relationship, based on a shared Commonwealth heritage, commitment to democracy and the over 160,000 New Zealanders of Indian-origin, who make an important contribution to the business, cultural and sporting life in New Zealand.” He also spoke about economic gains that can be achieved by developing close economic ties with India. He added, “India is an increasingly important trade and economic partner for New Zealand. Our total trade in goods and services with India topped $2 billion last year, and more than 23,000 Indian students studied in New Zealand last year alone.”

With more than seven per cent of GDP growth per year, India along with China can be a parallel business partner to New Zealand’s economic aspirations. If this transpires, New Zealand will be the only country that can boast

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of having a free trade agreement with rival Asian economic giants.

Free trade agreements can open up a massive influx of importexport opportunities, which could actually be used as a yardstick to forming trade alliance with other countries as well.

The education sector, which attracts a massive income to the country, can further be increased to exponential numbers. It is, therefore, fitting that the president will be addressing students at AUT. This can also have a positive impact on the IT sector of New Zealand, which is facing acute shortage of manpower. The tourism industry in New Zealand, which many Indians can now afford, could be another selling point for the New Zealand government.

A coincidence?

If one were not to be over analysing, the recent appointment of a high-profile diplomat, Mr Sanjiv Kohli, at the helm of Indian

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Embassy in Wellington, should have been a good indication in itself of something big to follow.

The Indian president’s visit has proven just that. Speaking with Indian Weekender, an upbeat Mr Kohli said, “The visit of the Honourable President is truly a historic one. This visit will provide huge momentum to our growing and multi-faceted engagement with New Zealand.

Given convergence of views between our two countries on important regional and global issues, this visit will also set the tone for more structured and deeper coordination between our two countries in dealing with emerging challenges and opportunities.”

Mukherjee’s visit to New Zealand comes after the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s visit in 1986.

We at Indian Weekender sincerely hope that the delegation brings joy to the Indian diaspora in New Zealand.

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www.iwk.co.nz | 29 April 2016

Jamming in style

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usic aficionados in Auckland were treated to a rocking performance on March 23 at Green Bay High School Performing Arts Centre. It was not only the excellent track record of CFI events and the brain behind it—Ram Iyer, but also the reputation that precedes singers such as Ashish Ramakrishnan, Guncha Singh, Neel Patel and Akhila Puthiagae, which ensured a packed hall on the night.

Jam Lounge stood out for various reasons.

Conceptualised on the lines of Coke Studio or MTV Unplugged, the melodies were treated slightly differently and there was emphasis on the impromptu element. It also stood out because of the sheer talent of all the performers on the stage.

Ram Iyer has to be duly credited for bringing the four uniquely talented singers together along with an equally brilliant team on instruments led by Hemant Thaker on keyboards, Shivan Padayachi on bass guitar, Neel Ghosh on rhythm guitar, Joscel Alexander on drums and Kristifer Kumar on octapad.

Ashish Ramakrishnan presented the show and introduced the team to the audience. A renowned singer, Ramakrishnan has prestigious titles such as Zee TV Sa Re Ga Ma and Close-up Antakshari under his belt. He has performed in more than 500 concerts.

Guncha is another name that KiwiIndian music lovers are quite familiar with.

Trained in Hindustani classical music, she recently shared stage with popular Bollywood singer Amit Kumar.

Neel Patel has recently emerged on the country’s music scene, having won few music competitions.

Beautiful Akhila who is a trained opera singer and has won various music competitions since a young age is multitalented. Besides singing, she also plays the piano, bassoon and guitar.

The entire team had the audience mesmerised with one soulful melody after another. The beauty of the show was in the little changes done in the orchestration of the songs that made them sound different yet retained the soul of the melody.

Highlights of the show were renditions of Khwaja Mere Khwaja by Ashish and Neel, Abhi Mujh Me Kahi by Neel, Lut Gaye by Ashish, Kaisi Paheli Zindagani by Akhila, Beinteha tu pyaar kar by Guncha and Akhila and Kabhi jo badal barse by Guncha and Ashish.

The audience also loved the jamming on various songs performed completely unprepared by all the singers.

All in all a completely paisa vasool show.

Ram, we are looking out for the sequel of the show and it better be soon!

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INZBC and NZIRI co-host public lectures focussing on TPP

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ndia New Zealand Business Council (INZBC) and The New Zealand India Research Institute (NZIRI) co-hosted public lectures at Victoria University of Wellington on April 21. The lectures focused on Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and its impacts on New Zealand and India.

The first of these lectures was given by Dr Amitendu Palit from the National University of Singapore who was specially flown in to share his knowledge in the forum. The topic was ‘India, APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) and TPP (TransPacific Partnership): Navigating a Complex Landscape’.

In this lecture, Dr Palit described India’s trade policies in recent years to show that the “energy and robustness of India’s foreign policy has not been reflected in her trade policy”. India has been showing ambivalence with regards to APEC and more recently TPP. The TPP will certainly affect India’s export

Left: Mike Brown, Mark Hargreaves AJ Park and Jay Changlani, Head of Wellington INZBC Right: Jay Changlani, Head of Wellington INZBC (left) with Dr Shekar Bandyopadhyay, Head of School at Victoria University

market. The RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership) in which a number of TPP countries are participating could be an “answer” to India’s problems. But “early conclusion of RCEP”, he pointed out, is “difficult”.

Dr Palit is an economist specialising in international trade policies who has worked with the Indian government for several years in the Ministry of Finance.

He is a senior research fellow

and research lead at the Institute of South Asian Studies at the National University of Singapore.

The second lecture was given

by Mark Hargreaves and Michael Brown, partners at Wellington law firm AJ Park. The topic was ‘TPP in the New Zealand and Indian Contexts’.

Their lecture discussed the possible impact of the TPP on New Zealand’s intellectual property laws. They gave a detailed analysis of the intellectual property laws in

India and suggested strategies for New Zealand exporters to protect and exploit their intellectual property and technology in the Indian market.

The event witnessed great participation from the distinguished audience.

The chosen theme of the lecture touched upon different issues such as India’s bid for membership of APEC, India’s engagement in FTAs, impact of TPP on New Zealand’s IP laws, New Zealand’s

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trading relationship with India, India’s trade policy in the context of the TPP, and the impact of TPP on India.

“It was a very insightful evening highlighting, in particular, the impact of the TPP on trade relations in India and the relevant information pertaining to IP in India. Events [such as these] provide a subsequent networking opportunity to meet new people from various business fraternities and establish new networks. I look forward to attending the next event,” said Jeff Groenewald, General Manager, Jani-King (NZ) Ltd. Together the two lectures gave insights into India’s trade policies and the Indian government’s position vis-à-vis APEC and TPP, and the latter’s impact on the protection of intellectual property. These public lectures were a part of ongoing series by INZBC—India Unplugged. The series is specifically designed to equip Kiwi businesses with the knowledge to work better with the Indian market.

www.iwk.co.nz | 29 April 2016

Creating tomorrow’s tech wizards

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cratchpad, a tech education hub in St Lukes, hosted an exhibition on Thursday, April 21, where kids as young as 3 ½ years old performed a basic level of coding. Present at the exhibition was Labour MP David Shearer who witnessed kids coding and programming on the computer. The hub educates young minds in basic Labour MP David Shearer with one of the students at the Scratchpad exhibition and advanced computer coding MP David Shearer was thrilled with the and programming. tech attitude of the children.

Programming and coding, if deciphered “I am fascinated to see how their minds in a simple language, is nothing but logical work on the computers. They are so thinking. Programming breaks every engrossed with their thinking machines. It possible move into small parts to reach the is so evident that they are enjoying every ultimate desired result. minute of it,” said Mr Shearer.

All electronic devices need certain Students also put their minds together instructions on which they function, on robotics and coding applications making work easy for the end user, and and put them into practical use on the this is made possible with proper coding four-foot robot and other gadgets in the and programming. gadget room. The room gives students the Classes at Scratchpad are held after opportunity to use their coding abilities school hours and during school holiday on microprocessors, robots and different breaks. The enrolled students, who electronic devices such as Arduinos and are between the age group of five and Raspberry Pi. 16, perform coding depending on their Bayley Hughes, Centre Manager of individual abilities.

Scratchpad said, “We conceived the idea The students are taught and monitored of giving small children a kick-start to by supervisors at the centre. The spacious learn coding and programming because multicoloured hub has more than 70 they have a vigilant mind and can innovate students enrolled in after-school, weekend a lot of things at their very basic level and holiday programme courses in coding, robotics and electronics. of knowledge.”

Win-win opportunities for Indian community in Manurewa

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anurewa Health Expo 2016 is a youth-led initiative to help raise awareness about the health challenges our community is currently facing, and empowering our community to build a healthier future together. The Health Expo will have presentations and stalls from 12 different organisations including Heart Foundation, Diabetes NZ, Aged Concern and Burns Support Group.

The Indian community has a high rate of diabetes cases and higher rates of hospitalisation due to heart attack and stroke compared to the general New Zealand population. One study has found that Indian immigrants are becoming increasingly unhealthy the longer they are in New Zealand.

We have 12 organisations giving short presentations followed by healthy food and stalls for the people to ask questions.

Since prevention is better than cure, the Health Expo will be a great opportunity for the local Indian community to get some informative presentations and engage in the enlightening discussions at the stalls.

In addition to the above benefits, the attendees can also register themselves for free to be in the draw to win a voucher for 50% off a return ticket to India, thanks to Travel Globe. Further, there are more prizes and giveaways such as Westfield gift vouchers, movie passes and petrol vouchers. All you have to do is attend the

event and listen to the health messages that are being shared.

The Health Expo 2016 is being planned for the local Indian community, will be in an environment people are familiar with and in languages they can understand.

Senior citizens, as well as children from the local community, are showing a lot of interest in the Expo, and the Spoken Words Youth Group is extending invitation to all for attending the Health Expo at Gurdwara Nanaksar Community Hall, 102–104, Great South Road, Manurewa, Auckland on Saturday, April 30, from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The event is organised by Spoken Words—a youth group that aims to empower Indian youth so they can be an asset to their community. Since its establishment in 2014, the youth group has been actively involved in many community projects including Relay for Life for the last two years, Round the Bays, Clendon Beach Cleanup project and several other community benefit programmes.

The members have identified many challenges that our community is facing and are looking to address these.

Earlier this year, the group organised free culturally appropriated swimming sessions for members of our community with Auckland WaterSafe. They believe the water competency levels within our community are low.

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Azam Khan-led delegation visits Christchurch Gaurav Sharma

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he high-level Uttar Pradesh Commonwealth Parliamentary delegation led by the state’s Parliamentary Affairs and Urban Development Minister Azam Khan, and around 20 other legislators including UP’s Tourism Minister Om Prakash Singh, visited Christchurch recently.

The delegation, which also visited Auckland, came to the Garden City as part of its study tour of the South Island. After Christchurch’s Ara Institute of Canterbury,

formerly Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology, the legislators went to Queenstown’s Southern Institute of Technology as well. Manish Pandey, who works as an application developer, and attended the dinner organised by the Indian High Commission in Christchurch for the delegates, noted, “It was a wonderful evening of exchanging ideas and appreciating cultures of both the countries.”

Another attendee Surinder Tandon, a senior member of the Indian community in the city, added, “The ministers were

Christchurch rocks to its first-ever Bollywood musical

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eri Padosan PK, produced and directed by Shawn Thomas, owner of Bollywood Dreams, a Christchurch-based dance school, ran a packed house on Saturday, April 23.

The two-hour musical featuring 45 performers from the dance school and 45 Bollywood dance medleys including most from the 1968 classic-hit Padosan was attended by more than 700 people at the Aurora Centre.

“The performers were aged between five and 25, with the three central characters of the storyline played by two 10-year-olds Samarpreet Kaur and Ameya Raut, and

a 14-year-old boy Paraj Patel,” informed Thomas, who also performed a small dance piece as part of the event. The musical had supporting choreography direction from Zia Garcia and Supriya John, and the dialogues were written by Waleed Bukhari.

Buoyant by the success of the show, Bollywood Dreams is planning to make the ANZAC weekend event an annual affair.

Thomas, who sometimes also performs with the University of Canterbury’s Musical Theatre Society added, “Our entire team is grateful for the response the wider community of Christchurch gave us. While this was our first-ever show, we hope to treat the city to even bigger and better productions in future.”

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The Azam Khan-led delagation that visited Christchurch

especially interested in knowing how well [the] Indian diaspora is doing in New Zealand, and how we can be the bridge for more social, cultural, and economic exchanges between the two countries.

Ramayan Samelan by Christchurch TIV Sangam Gaurav Sharma

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t was a weekend of some spiritual and religious music in Christchurch.

The Christchurch TIV Sangam Ramayan Mandali organised the Ramayan Samelan where four mandalis performed for more than three hours.

The funds raised during the event are going towards the Fiji Winston Cyclone Appeal.

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the event noted, “Listening to different styles of singing (unique to every mandali) was a pleasure and privilege to attend.

“To top it all, it was all done for a noble cause.”

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“We also apprised Mr Azam Khan about our efforts of helping the new migrants from India, especially the students, settle in the land of long white cloud,” Tandon concluded.

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www.iwk.co.nz | 29 April 2016

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Calling all young entrepreneurs

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ime is running out to apply for IDEAStarter—a competition that backs young people to ‘dream, create and do’, and turn their energy and ideas into action.

How to enter All Aucklanders aged between 15 and 24 who have an idea for a new product or service can enter individually or as part of a team at the IDEAStarter website.

Prizes include iPads and sessions with an expert business mentor. Entries are due by May 2.

2015 winner—Janet Akai IDEAStarter 2015 winner Janet Akai, who came up with an idea for an app to teach children Pacific Island languages, describes the competition as an opportunity for young people to express themselves.

“My advice to young Aucklanders would be to have faith in yourself and give it a go.

You never know what’s going to happen, you never know whose life you’re going to affect because of that one idea,” she says.

Get your idea off the ground Patrick McVeigh, ATEED General Manager Business, Innovation & Skills, says IDEAStarter enables young people to showcase the initial stages of their entrepreneurial thinking, and then with help, get their business idea off the ground.

“IDEAStarter is for creative, enthusiastic young people who are eager to learn and turn their ideas—no matter how big or small—into their own business,” he says.

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29 April 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

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New Zealand signs historic climate deal A

historic global climate change agreement was signed on April 23 on behalf of New Zealand by Climate Change Minister Paula Bennett.

The Paris Agreement was concluded in December 2015 and is the first truly global deal to address climate change. 188 countries took part in the negotiations, covering more than 90 per cent of the world’s emissions.

New Zealand signed the deal on the first day it was open for signature at the United Nations in New York. The ceremony, held on Friday, April 22, Eastern Standard Time, was hosted by Secretary-General Ban-Ki Moon and coincides with Earth Day. More than 170 nations signed the agreement.

“This is a huge achievement for New Zealand and every nation that is committed to seeing the world transition to a low carbon future,” Mrs Bennett says.

“The Paris deal gives all countries, developed and still developing, a common platform to change our impact on our world.”

Mrs Bennett told delegates that the New Zealand government’s number

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Transport rules modernised for new technologies

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he government will overhaul small passenger services by removing outdated rules and bringing the sector into the 21st century, Transport Minister Simon Bridges and Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss have announced.

This follows a comprehensive review into whether the small passenger services sector is fit for purpose and flexible enough to accommodate new technologies.

“Ensuring an effective small passenger services sector has a range of wider benefits for New Zealand and its economy, including using the transport system more effectively and helping to reduce congestion.

With the existing rules for the sector being in place since 1989, a significant review is not before time,” Mr Bridges says. Currently there are separate categories and rules for taxis, private hire, shuttles, and rideshare operators. Under the changes, these services will be regulated under a single category of small passenger service, meaning one set of rules for all.

“New technologies [such as] smart phones and apps have changed the way the sector can operate. Modernising Top U.N. officials celebrate after envoys from 195 nations adopted historic accord to stop global warming in Paris, December 12, 2015 our rules will ensure they are flexible enough to one priority is economic growth and the acceptance, approval or accession. The accommodate new business models,” Mr Bridges says.

Agreement is the foundation of efforts agreement will enter into force when “The government has clearly stated our intention to to do that in a sustainable way for the joined by at least 55 countries, which encourage innovation and enable new kinds of services.

Freeing up the regulatory environment will allow planet. New Zealand’s 2030 target, together represent at least 55 per cent transport operators to compete on an even footing,” Mr tabled during the Paris negotiations, of global emissions.

Bridges says. Some rules that impose costs on operators, “The next step is for more of the opsees it commit to reducing emissions to but no longer provide any significant benefits, will erational details to be fleshed out so be removed.

30 per cent below 2005 levels.

“While I am incredibly confident we New Zealand can consider timing and “Removing outdated rules will allow a broader will meet our fair and ambitious target, the best way to ratify the agreement,” range of transport services to develop throughout New I am already thinking about what we Mrs Bennett says.

Zealand, giving consumers more choice,” Mr Foss says.

“Today is a huge milestone but have to do domestically to grow our “Retaining the need for drivers to have a Passenger economy with fewer emissions,” says this is by no means the end of the endorsement, which includes a police check, means Mrs Bennett. Countries will also need road. Implementation won’t be easy. consumers can feel safe no matter what option or to adopt the agreement within their I know New Zealanders are up for service they choose,” Mr Foss says.

“These changes will future-proof the small own legal systems through ratification, the challenge.” passenger services sector by enabling all New Zealanders and businesses in NZ—traditional or otherwise—to enjoy the benefits of new technology, while maintaining a strong focus on safety,” Mr Foss says. The changes will be considered by Parliament erosion, and forest cover is the best as part of the Land Transport Amendment Bill form of erosion control. Through the in 2016.

AGS, we aim to plant 15,000 hectares of new forest by 2020, and we are on track to meet this goal,” Mrs Goodhew says.

The first year of the AGS resulted inisters from across Australia and New in contracts of $3.77 million to plant Zealand will meet to discuss Trans-Tasman around 2,900 hectares of new forest. cooperation on topics from family violence “The AGS enables positive economic to natural disasters. outcomes for farmers and landowners, New Zealand will host the fifth meeting of the while also reducing some of the high Law, Crime and Community Safety Council (LCCSC) costs associated with marginal land, by in Queenstown from April 27 to 28. Justice Minister Amy Adams will chair the plenary session on Family increasing forest cover.

The AGS will also boost Violence and Community Safety. Police Minister Judith Collins and Civil Defence Minister Nikki Kaye will regional economies by taking chair sessions on Law Enforcement and Emergency currently underutilised land Management, respectively. and using it for economic and “The Council meeting is an important forum for environmental gain. discussing current justice sector and emergency issues “New forests enabled by facing NZ and Australia, by allowing our respective the AGS will improve land- jurisdictions to share ideas and experiences,” Ms Adams says. use productivity and regional The Council is an Australian and NZ ministerial economic development. It will council that helps maintain a national (Australian) and also deliver environmental Trans-Tasman focus on fighting crime and promoting benefits such as reducing soil best practice in law, criminal justice and community erosion, improving water safety. It’s made up of around 17 Attorneys General and quality, and absorbing around Ministers from across law and order and emergency 1.9 million tonnes of carbon management portfolios from NZ and all Australian jurisdictions, and meets twice each year. NZ is also every year,” Mrs Goodhew says. scheduled to host a second meeting in October 2016.

Applications for the The focus of the meeting will be in the areas of Afforestation Grants Scheme illegal firearms, unexplained wealth, domestic violence, will close on June 8 for planting compensation for child sexual abuse and national in winter 2017. disaster resilience strategy.

Afforestation Grant Scheme now open

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he second funding round for the Afforestation Growth Scheme (AGS) opened on

Wednesday, April 27 and comes at an important time for forestry, Associate Primary

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Jo

Goodhew announced.

“The goal of the AGS is to increase the planting of new forests and the rate of afforestation.

“Estimates suggest that 1.1 million hectares of land is at serious risk of

NZ hosts Trans-Tasman crime and safety meeting

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www.iwk.co.nz | 29 April 2016

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A home away from home for your kids Red IWK Bureau

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large number of community members from different ethnicities gathered at the opening ceremony of Cute Kids Homebased Childcare’s office in Glen Eden on April 23.

Managing Director of Cute Kids Mrs Arjeet Baweja has ensured the implementation of a system for creating a homely, nurturing and educational environment for children to enjoy a home-like atmosphere. Member of Parliament Mr Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi, in his speech before the ceremony, touched upon the importance of childcare and how it is significant to raise them to become better citizens.

He expressed his confidence in Cute Kids management team, including Malvinder Pal Singh, Financial Director in achieving their goal.

The childcare is open from Monday to Saturday and educators are going to be appointed Auckland wide. For more information, contact on 09-3904578 or check their website www.cutekids.co.nz.

Gurmat Parchar Kender celebrated Vaisakhi on April 17 where a quiz competition was hosted by Harpreet Singh. Around 20 children participated in the competition. Prizes, sponsored by Cute Kids, were awarded to the winners and participants on April 24 at Gurmat Parchar Kender, Glen Eden.

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29 April 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

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Complacency and cost-cutting poor response to crime Phil Goff

Labour MP

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he government is out of touch if it does not understand that there is increasing concern in the Indian community about law and order.

It was raised by Harshad Patel, President of the Indian Central Association at last weekend’s conference in Auckland—a week before members of the Indian community in Papatoetoe protested in the streets about the lack of adequate response to the threats that retailers in particular face.

Nobody is satisfied with the bland and complacent response from the government that crime is coming down.

If you are a victim of lawless teenagers stealing from and assaulting you in your shop, like Indy Purewal or Bharat Patel, it’s not an adequate answer. Last week,

the police said that after an attack by a disturbed individual at Counties-Manukau police station, they were looking to close down access by the public to many of their Auckland Police stations for health and safety reasons.

That’s not an option retailers have or for that matter those of us in electorate offices.

If the police believe that their civilian staff in their own police stations is not safe, where does that leave the rest of us?

Veer Khar of the Manukau Indian Association and I have organised a meeting this Friday to discuss the problem. We wanted the police and those in Youth Justice to talk with retailers and others representing ethnic and business groups to hear our concerns at first hand.

Dialogue is important. We need to know from authorities what they are able to do to tackle the problem and how we can best work with them.

I was told that I had to go through Ministers’ offices to invite them to attend and duly complied with that requirement.

To my astonishment, Ministers Judith Collins and Anne Tolley in the first instance refused to allow representatives of Police and Child, Youth and Family to attend to meet with us. No good reason was given. It seems that the decision was political.

In my view, there is no room for politicking when we are discussing the serious issue of safety of our communities.

Sure, we could organise a political protest. That’s not what we want. We wanted a joint effort by all of us to find ways of addressing the worsening problem of teenage offending and to better protect shopkeepers, international students and service station attendants who recently have been at the forefront of those who have become victims of crime.

It is a serious matter when kids as young as 12 and 13 are beating up victims and stealing their possessions. There is something fundamentally wrong with the families in which these kids are growing up for them to behave like there is no law and to bash and hurt their victims.

A declining proportion of police to population numbers, a $300 million cut to real police spending acknowledged by the police commissioner and cutting off access to the public to police stations doesn’t help the problem.

When the police are solving less than 10% of all burglaries, we know the system isn’t working. When responses to calls for help are met with police saying they are busy and can’t help, we know that too little priority is being given to law and order.

We also know that to solve crime we need to tackle it at its source. That’s the best way to stop people from becoming victims.

Having kids truant from school and roaming the streets and having them grow up in alcohol and drug addicted families, where violence is rife, is a recipe for social disaster.

These are important issues and I hope the police and justice officials are allowed to attend so we can hear what solutions they are putting forward to make our community safer.

Innovative, integrated and patient-centred health system is the future Parmjeet Parmar

National List MP

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here’s no doubt New Zealand’s health system faces some challenges.

That’s why the National-led government has just launched its updated Health Strategy placing an emphasis on delivering more services in the community, a stronger push on prevention, early intervention, and

new, innovative ways of reaching our most vulnerable. The strategy will help address issues facing our health system such as the growing burden of long-term conditions, an increasing number of older people who are living longer, and the need to keep up with new technologies and expensive drugs.

It is a key part of ensuring our health system is more efficient and sustainable but also because it requires closer collaboration with the wider health team, it means a better experience for patients.

Taking advantage of changes in technology is another priority of this new strategy. Increasing the number of Kiwis who can access their own health

information, expanding telehealth services so patients in remote areas can access the services they need, and a new National Enrolment service to provide faster, more accurate information on patient enrolment are all examples of how we’ve used technology to improve public health services for New Zealanders.

The strategy brings health in line with the government’s programme of developing integrated social services that better meet the needs of those most at risk. It is part of getting the best results from the government’s social spending, sitting alongside the introduction of national standards in schools, national

health targets, the investment approach in welfare, Better Public Services targets, and more recently the social housing reform programme.

By integrating social services we can use the data and expertise from across government departments to better understand people with complex needs and build services around them, rather than dictate what they will receive.

This new strategy does just that. It will lead the transformation to a more innovative, integrated and patient-centred approach to healthcare in New Zealand which ultimately means better services for you and your family.

Stopping our free-flowing water from being exploited

Winston Peters NZ First leader

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ater has become an issue that concerns many New Zealanders.

Many are disturbed to learn that New Zealand’s pure, clean water is being taken by overseas companies—Fiji Water, Coca-Cola, Suntory Holdings, Oravida—for a token fee. This is another of the serious inconsistencies of the government.

During the Panama Papers fiasco, the prime minister denied that New Zealand is being used as a tax haven for the wealthy and foreign money laundering criminals yet

experts said the opposite. He brushed aside revelations of foreign multi-nationals in New Zealand are paying a pittance in tax.

Earlier this year, it was confirmed that the Free Trade Agreement with China is skewed in favour of the Chinese and that

it has impacted negatively on, for example, the logging industry in New Zealand.

But such is Mr Key’s double standards he expects New Zealanders to accept all this. With regard to water, Mr Key said his government, as had earlier governments, operated under a principle (in a nearly 50year old law), that water did not belong to anyone, and could not be sold by the Crown. However, the government did exactly that when they partly privatised the power companies.

Now it is trying to sidestep the question.

What if the water is being sent overseas for foreign-owned companies to fill their pockets with profits? And now confusion on this issue, excuse the pun, reigns. Other countries eye our water resource enviously.

An example of how things are overseas: in the United States, California’s explosive growth in the 20th century was fuelled by the Hoover dam and its bounties of water and electrical power. But today, the dam is

short of water. Californians must cut water use by 25 per cent; major cities that depend on Hoover dam water such as Phoenix and Las Vegas have strict water controls.

California, Arizona and Nevada are not alone. There are global signs that clean water could become more valuable than oil.

Overseas companies know this and are locking up their supplies of this resource.

It’s plain stupid to give these foreign companies open access to New Zealand’s water resource. The PM’s comment, “No one owns water,’’ is like saying: “No one owns oil; no-one owns coal.” Could New Zealanders go offshore and help themselves to something out of the ground for free?

New Zealand First says water exporters should pay a royalty to the Crown with part of the royalty returned to the region from where the water is extracted. It is fair to the regions and common sense for New Zealand.

NEW ZEALAND

www.iwk.co.nz | 29 April 2016

Big wins from government’s commitment to trade

Stepping up to the challenge of climate change

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ast week, 170 countries formally signed the agreement to protect the world from dangerous climate change that was agreed in Paris last December. Now all countries, especially the richer nations such as New Zealand, need to take action.

New Zealand government set a target of reducing our emissions by 11% below 1990 levels. An international comparison has shown this to be “inadequate” as a contribution to preventing climate chaos. Already millions of people around the world are suffering from droughts, floods, cyclones and other climate-related disasters, including Fiji which experienced severe damage recently.

New Zealand needs to become part of the solution to combat dangerous climate change, rather than continuing to be part of the problem.

All countries need to play their part in reducing their greenhouse gas emissions.

The Paris Agreement calls on the rich nations with high emissions per person to do more. New Zealand is one of the highest emitters of greenhouse gases, at around 17 tonnes per person.

By contrast, India emits around three tonnes per person and 450 million people in India use virtually no fossil fuels. It is

RR DEERAACCTKT ND N U U NTTREEEEK O N WW CCO12SNTD

Barry Coates is establishing a Sustainability Programme at the University of Auckland Business School. He is next on the list of Green Party candidates to get into Parliament.

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t’s been a big year for trade in New Zealand.

In February, we hosted the signing of the TPP, New Zealand’s largest trade agreement, worth $2.7 billion a year to our GDP by 2030. We have also agreed with the EU, our third largest trading partner, to start the process to work towards the negotiation of an FTA. Now, Kiwi businesses have achieved big wins in the lucrative Chinese market.

Our red meat producers have gained a huge competitive advantage thanks to China recognising our halal regulation and certification regime. Having been the first Western country to sign an FTA with China, New Zealand will now be the first country to have its halal regulatory regime recognised by China. This is a big win in a market that bought 33 per cent of our total halal-certified meat in the year to September 2015.

We have also opened doors for our agriculture businesses in China by signing the Agricultural Growth Partnership. The partnership is about sharing New Zealand’s agricultural expertise and creating more commercial opportunities in areas such as livestock technology, animal health and

Barry Coates Green Party

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National List MP

encouraging to see the Indian government investing in solar power, but disturbing to see the New Zealand government continuing to support the polluters, for example by giving subsidies to oil and gas producers, rather than encouraging solar energy.

A new report last week showed that the government had allowed polluters to benefit from fraud and corruption in international offsets under the discredited Emissions Trading Scheme.

The Green Party has a plan that would significantly reduce New Zealand’s emissions by far more than the government target. It relies on investment in trains, buses, walking and cycling, financed by less spending on roads; faster growth of solar power and electric vehicles; reduced emissions from farming; and more tree planting to absorb greenhouse gases.

Planting more trees got an endorsement this week by research that shows significant potential benefits for the economy from planting trees on marginal land.

Progressive business is coming on board.

Sustainability is high on the agenda of many of the world’s leading companies—those that continue polluting will be left behind.

Economic growth and jobs are coming from the clean technology, low emissions companies, and the Green Party would encourage our New Zealand companies to be at the forefront internationally. We need to be part of a cleaner, greener and smarter future. It is good for the climate, but also for our economy.

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Kanwaljit Bakshi

disease control. Additionally, three Kiwi businesses achieved significant access to lucrative Chinese markets.

Fonterra celebrated its partnership with Beingmate through an environmental cooperation project and the development of the Anmum brand in China. Alliance meanwhile will have exclusivity of supply for branded products into several highend Chinese hotels, supermarkets and restaurants. Zespri also celebrated the start of the new kiwifruit season in China and its new status as importer of record in China.

In 2018, our economy will be boosted by $50 million thanks to a successful bid

by Tourism New Zealand to bring 10,000 Amway China executives to holiday in Queenstown under its corporate rewards scheme. The tourists will arrive during Autumn 2018, bringing a steady flow of income to Queenstown over four consecutive months.

This sends a strong message that we can be a big player in the incentives market and it’s another chance to show off the great tourist locations New Zealand has to offer.

China is already our second-largest and fastest growing tourism market, generating $1.5 billion in 2015. This contract will grow that market.

New Zealand continues to foster strong global trade relationships, which will grow our economy. It’s crucial we remain an open and confident country that backs itself on the world stage. And that’s exactly what this government is working hard to achieve.

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29 April 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

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PM to share Fiji’s experience at UN meet in Turkey

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iji’s bid for the Presidency of the 71st Session of the United Nations General Assembly was discussed between the newly-appointed non-resident Canadian High Commissioner to Fiji—Mario Bot and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola.

This happened when Mr Bot paid a courtesy call to Ratu Inoke.

They also discussed issues of international concerns.

Mr Bot expressed his condolences and sympathies for the loss of lives during the recent Tropical Cyclone Winston.

He told Ratu Inoke that the Canadian government had assisted with relief efforts via the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund and the Red Cross.

Mr Bot also assured Ratu Inoke that fundraising initiatives were ongoing in Canada with the large Fijian diaspora there.

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P Hon. Minister for Foreign Affairs Ratu Inoke Kubuabola with the new non-resident Canadian High Commissioner to Fiji H.E. Mario Bot

Ratu Inoke updated Mr Bot on Cyclone Winston relief efforts and expressed thanks to Fiji’s development partners for their enormous efforts in assisting Fiji.

He also recommended if the Canadian Government would look favourably on the ‘Adopt a School Programme’ that was recently launched by Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama.

Responding to this, Mr Bot said the new Canadian government was looking very seriously at climate change and he would be working on getting allocated funding into the region to assist with adaption efforts.

Mr Bot also hoped to strengthen trade and capacity building initiatives with Fiji.

rime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama will share Fiji’s experience and commitment to climate change as he joins world leaders at a high level World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul, Turkey next month.

This was confirmed by the assistant secretary general of UN’s Humanitarian Affairs, Kyung-wha Kang at the New York meet last week. Kang says Climate Change and natural disasters will top the two-day discussions.

“We hope that all the world leaders will meet in Istanbul to stand up for our chained commitment to humanity as is outlined in the SG’s report. That will be the basis of discussions in Istanbul and a big part of that is

how we deliver better for people who are faced with high risks of natural disaster and climate change related disasters.”

Kang says Fiji’s message at the signing of the Paris agreement on climate change in New York will be reinforced and carried forward to the summit.

The summit will be held on May 23 and 24.

Schools receive 12 containers of furniture from Auckland Ana Ravulo

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welve containers of school furniture from Auckland was distributed last week to schools

that were affected by Cyclone Winston.

Lodhia said the other 10 containers

College, Kamil College, Ba Sanatan School

Fiji Consul in Auckland, Harish Lodhia

were distributed to schools from Ba to

and Ba Muslim Primary School. Lodhia

said two containers were taken to Ovalau

Rakiraki. He added that some of the

said the containers contained bookshelves,

to Saint John’s College.

schools were Ra Public School, Tavua

blackboards, desks and chairs.

Left: Ba Sanatan College in Fiji Below: Fiji Consul in Auckland Harish Lodhia

Kumar leads Fijian battalion to Sinai

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or the first time, an IndoFijian will command a Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) battalion on international peacekeeping duties.

Lieutenant-Colonel Avinish Kumar has been appointed Commanding Officer 2FIR, to lead the Fijian battalion serving in the increasingly volatile Sinai.

The 37-year-old recently attained a Masters in International Security from Massey University in New Zealand, a course which was under the New Zealand Defence Force Staff and Command College.

The former Suva Grammar School student first attained his training to become an officer with the RFMF at the New Zealand Defence Force Officer Cadet School in 1999.

Source: Fiji Sun

“I am privileged to be given this opportunity, to lead more than 300 Fijian troops in Sinai. It is an honour, but at the same it comes with challenges; this will boost my career as well.

“Every peacekeeping duties come with different experiences and it also depends on the role bestowed upon you and the situation in that particular country,” he said.

Lieutenant-Colonel Kumar’s first deployment for tour on duty (TOD) was in East Timor where he was the platoon commander in 2000.

“I was deployed to East Timor after graduating from the New Zealand Defence Force Officers Cadet School; this was an opportunity to actually practice what I have learnt as a junior officer that time.

Lt Colonel Avihish Kumar with his mother Nand Kumar at their home

“I held various positions within the RFMF for the past years; with the assistance of my senior officers and training I was able to successfully move up the ranks within the Fijian military,” he said.

He also served in Iraq, Syria and was deployed two times to East Timor. This will be his second deployment to Sinai.

“In the past when I was deployed to Syria part of the first

battalion for UNDOF where I was the operations officer it was the most challenging experience; this is where most challenges emerged during that one year TOD. “There were lot of tough situations we encounter, but basically relying on the experience of our soldiers and advice of the command; we were able to get out the best out of the battalion.

“It was a unique experience especially where the blue helmet or wearing the United Nations helmet.

“You are working in an environment [with] the threat level is high and you have to be alert at all times to know what to expect next,” he said.

Lieutenant-Colonel Kumar advised RFMF soldiers serving in Sinai that their duty was to fulfill their mission given to them from

the RFMF Commander and the Fijian government. LieutenantColonel Kumar has also attained military training from Australia, India, Bangladesh and Malaysia.

Lieutenant-Colonel Kumar thanked his mother for being the mentor behind all his achievements in life.

“My father died when I was just three months old. It is my mother who has been the pillar of our family’s success, we endured the struggles with challenges and our humble upbringing from our mother. We were able to conquer it all.

“I want to thank the Almighty for his guidance; leading me to a path to where I am today and also the RFMF senior officers and subordinates for putting trusting me to lead our Fijian troops in Sinai,” he said.

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www.iwk.co.nz | 29 April 2016

Fiji marks ANZAC Day dawn service

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IJI joined countries around the world to commemorate Anzac Day with a solemn dawn service.

Anzac Day marks the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces more than a century ago in Gallipoli, Turkey, during the World War I. It has since become a day to remember the servicemen and servicewoman of Australia and New Zealand who made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of their countries.

“Today is a day when we remember not only Australian and New Zealand servicemen and women, but all those who have suffered, or continue to suffer, through

war,” Australian High Commissioner Margaret Twomey said.

She acknowledged that men and women of both countries continued to serve together, saying they worked alongside Republic of Fiji Military Forces soldiers and sappers during emergency response and recovery efforts following Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston.

The dawn service this year was hosted by the Australian High Commission and attendees included members of the RFMF, veterans, members of the diplomatic corps and the Australian and New Zealand defence forces.

President Major-General (Ret’d) Jioji Konrote places a wreath to commemorate ANZAC Day at the Suva Military Cemetery

We will remember them

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he words ‘We will remember them’ echoed at the Suva Military Cemetery during the ANZAC Day dawn service in Suva.

ANZAC Day is a national day of commemoration for the Australians and New Zealanders who had served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations.

Australian High Commissioner Margaret Twomey said ANZAC Day was a time to reflect on the servicemen and servicewomen who had displayed courage and selfsacrifice while serving their countries.

Ms Twomey said Australians and New Zealanders would continue to serve together across the world, including Fiji, where they worked alongside the Republic of Fiji Military Forces to provide emergency response to the devastation caused by Tropical Cyclone Winston.

The President, Major-General (Ret’d) Jioji Konrote, was first to lay a wreath in their memory and he was followed by the others who were present at the service.

The commemoration service was attended by veterans of the Fijian, Australian and New Zealand defence forces, members of the Diplomatic Corps with representatives of the Fijian gvernment and RFMF senior officers.

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he domestic vegetable market is beginning to stabilise but the export sector continues to face challenges in its bid to stabilise, says West senior agricultural officer Vinesh Kumar.

He said rehabilitation programmes were carried out immediately after Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston and the recent floods were starting to reap some rewards.

“On the domestic scene, we have seen vegetables [such as] okra stabilising,” Mr Kumar said.

“We are still having issues with chillies and eggplant but quantity and quality is improving. Heaps that used to sell for $4 are now down to $2 and the sizes of heaps are also slowly returning to normal.

“Getting seeds and seedlings out to farmers as soon as possible has delivered a good outcome and this is expected to improve even further over the next few weeks.

“However, we are still having issues with the supply of root crops and we hope to see improvements over the next few months in this area.”

Mr Kumar added supply for the export sector remained a challenge in terms of supply and quantity.

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INDIANEW ZEALAND

Thought of the week

We all die. The goal isn’t to live forever, the goal is to create something that will.

— Chuck Palahniuk

Editorial

From the desk of the Managing Editor

“

If you were to lay a piece of paper down on the asphalt on a hot summer day, nothing would happen to it, but if you held a magnifying glass between the piece of paper and the sun, the paper would catch on fire.

Why? Because focus is literally power. Sunlight focused enough creates enough

energy to set a piece of paper on fire. Water focused enough, or streamlined enough, can cut through steel. The Magnification Principle of Focus simply states one of life’s most important truths, that Focus Is Power.” ~Rory Vaden from Take the Stairs Further on, Rory also tells us that we should not dilute or diffuse our focus by getting too distracted. Sometimes life throws us situations or even people in our environment that manage to distract us to an extent that we lose focus. It is important to let our guard down and remain focussed on our objective.

This is going to be an exciting week with the President of India making his maiden voyage to the land of the long white cloud. It will indeed be history and we will all be fortunate to be a part of it. Let’s hope this visit also opens up many new avenues for

Pick of the week

better business and people to people contact between the two countries.

We have a story on the many engagements that the President will be at and will be bringing you details of all his engagements in our next issue.

This week, we also start our new column called Picture Perfect, which is supported

by Studio 81. This will be a quick course in photography for all the photography enthusiasts out there. Going forward there will also be an opportunity to critique pictures that you may want expert opinions on. So send us your photographs/clicks and enjoy our new addition.

You would have noticed that we have also now started bringing you reviews of the best releases for the week. We had featured our first one last week with Fan and this week, we have The Jungle Book. We hope our readers are enjoying it.

The Hall of Fame Awards is approaching. We have received many worthy nominations and we can clearly see that the jury will face a tough challenge this year.

However, I do want to urge everyone to keep these nominations coming in. The three categories are currently open, but will be closing on May 6. So if you know anyone that you think fits our categories, please send in their nominations.

A baby boy, named Saw Jet Star, was delivered onboard JetStar by a team of doctors and the crew after the flight landed in Yangon on Friday, April 22. It was the first baby to be delivered on a Jetstar Asia flight and the airline contributed SGD 1,000 worth of baby supplies to the family. Luckily for the mother, her family name is Star, and hence to show her gratitude towards the flight crew manager Saw Ler Htu and the airline, she named the child Saw Jet Star.

We hope you continue to enjoy reading the Indian Weekender.

Until next time.

Giri Gupta

Indian Weekender : Volume 8 Issue 6 Publisher: Kiwi Media Group Limited Managing Editor: Giri Gupta | girigupta@xtra.co.nz Editor: Annu Sharma | editor@indianweekender.co.nz Chief Reporter: Swati Sharma | reporter@indianweekender.co.nz Reporter: Rizwan Mohammad | iwk.rizwan@gmail.com Reporter: Esha Chanda | iwk.eshac@gmail.com Chief Technical Officer: Rohan Desouza | rohan@indianweekender.co.nz Sr Graphics and Layout Designer: Mahesh Kumar | mahesh@indianweekender.co.nz Graphic Designer: Yashmin Chand | designer@indianweekender.co.nz Accounts and Admin.: Farah Khan | accounts@indianweekender.co.nz Sales, Marketing & Distribution: 022 3251630 / mahesh.iwk@gmail.com Views expressed in the publication are not necessarily of the publisher and the publisher is not responsible for advertisers’ claims as appearing in the publication Views expressed in the articles are solely of the authors and do not in any way represent the views of the team at the Indian Weekender Published by Kiwi Media Group, 98 Great South Road, Auckland • T. +64 09 213 7335 Printed at Horton Media, Auckland Copyright 2016. Kiwi Media Group. All Rights Reserved.

Word: Piker

Meaning: A person who gives up when things get difficult Usage: Come on mate, don’t be such a piker.

Tip from the trenches Remedies for sensitive teeth • •

• •

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Change your toothpaste and opt for one that is designed to help people with sensitive teeth Change your brushing habits. Using a hard toothbrush and scrubbing your teeth vigorously can increase the senstivity in your teeth.

Avoid acidic food such as pickles that can be the cause of enamel loss.

Don’t use at-home whitening treatments, as it contain ingredients that cause pain and increase tooth sensitivity, especially if used regularly Rinse your mouth with a fluoride rinse after brushing

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Modi is still the best bet for India E

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Amulya Ganguli

ven if Narendra Modi hasn’t lived up to the expectations which he aroused two years ago, he is still the best person for turning India into a modern and economically advanced country.

The claim about modernity may seem odd considering that the medievalists of the saffron brotherhood constitute an influential section of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and their affiliates like the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP)—not to mention the abusive “Internet Hindus”.

Moreover, the hope that Modi will restrain them hasn’t been fulfilled. There are still elements who call for beheading those who do not chant a slogan, which is used by the saffronites to check a person’s patriotism.

Besides, the Sangh Parivar’s familiar aversion to beef is still in place, although the unavoidable modernistic trends have compelled some of the BJP-run state governments such as Goa to allow the consumption of the forbidden meat.

If, notwithstanding these negative points, Modi is ahead of other leaders in the popularity stakes, as seen in an Economic Times-TNSA survey, the reason is his outlook, which is in sync with the 21st century.

Fortunately for the BJP, this evidence of belonging to the present times cannot be found in some of the others.

Consider, for instance, the credentials of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who wants to lead an anti-BJP combine at the national level to replicate the success of the mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) in his state.

Yet, the retrogressive nature of his ideas shows that he cannot look beyond

There is little doubt that Modi has shown greater interest than any other politician in recent years in India’s industrial development.

Hence his emphasis on projects such as Make in India and entrepreneurial endeavours such as Start Up India, Skill India and Digital India.

the familiar obsession of the Hindi-belt politicians with caste. Not only does he want his caste brethren to find employment in the private sector through quotas, thereby reducing this sole successful segment of the economy to another version of the loss-making public sector, Nitish Kumar is also in favour of expanding the ambit of reservations beyond the 50 per cent limit set by the Supreme Court.

Inextricably related to this desire to boost the quota system is the Janata DalUnited chief’s conviction that catering for the backward castes on the plea of social justice is a sure-fire way to enable his party to win elections and for him to gain popularity.

He is not bothered about job creation via industrial expansion, but wants only to enable the backward castes, the main support base of the mahagathbandhan, to secure government employment via the reservation system, which looks at birth and not educational certificates.

If Nitish Kumar’s ideas are implemented, India can say farewell to economic or educational progress. While the quotabased entries into official service will squeeze out the meritorious, the educational system will see a preponderance of those for whom caste is the route to a degree and not a devotion to studies.

If Nitish Kumar had endorsed the elimination of the wealthy “creamy layer” from the beneficiaries of quotas, it would have at least shown that he is not wholly focussed on electoral success and has some interest in taking everyone along, including the upper castes, in the task of ensuring the country’s progress. But he apparently thinks that such a demonstration of reasonableness will be detrimental to his position as a backward caste leader because it will make him vulnerable to the machinations of Lau Prasad and other votaries of caste-based affirmative action.

There is not a word, therefore, from him on industries, infrastructure, educational advancement, health facilities and so on. It is only about caste.

This is where Modi is different. Although he belongs to a backward caste himself— he is a ghanchi or teli—Modi almost never talks in terms of caste. Nor of Hindus like others in the Hindutva brigade who want to give the community a status above all others in the country. Indeed, Modi has distanced himself from the saffronites to such an extent that he is the only one among them to have described Islam as a religion of peace, a concept which is anathema to the Sangh parivar.

There is little doubt that Modi has shown greater interest than any other politician in recent years in India’s industrial development. Hence his emphasis on projects such as Make in India and entrepreneurial endeavours such as Start Up India, Stand Up India, Skill India and Digital India.

His predecessor, Manmohan Singh, also favoured market-oriented economic reforms and succeeded in effecting the fastest ever reduction in overall poverty between 2005 and 2006 and 2011 and 2012, according to the Modi government’s chief economic adviser, Arvind Subramanian.

But Manmohan Singh was stopped in his tracks by Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who feared that the “accidental” prime minister’s economic success will make him a hero and put her son Rahul Gandhi in the shade.

Modi has picked up from where the gentle sardar had left off and, ironically, facing resistance from none other than Sonia Gandhi, who has threatened to stall the goods and services tax, one of the key components of the economic reforms.

But the middle class, one of Modi’s major bases of support, is aware that only he can make the growth rate cross eight per cent, as Subramanian expects, and ensure a significant erosion in the levels of poverty.

South Asian integration: more actionable steps needed Amit Kapoor and Sankalp Sharma

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ne of the positives of the present dispensation in Delhi is described as its pursuit of an active foreign policy. Some also describe this as all too proactive. However, for all the criticism, India has done well overall in its foreign policy engagements, the most recent visits of Prime Minister Narendra Modi being to Belgium, the US and Saudi Arabia.

A crucial part of the foreign policy is driven by foreign trade and geography, and this is where India is looking at its neighbourhood for development. A recent publication from Observer Research Foundation (ORF) titled Neighbourhood First: Navigating Ties under Modi brings together critical thinking on both foreign policy and geo-economics and issues about development to the fore.

The geographic expanse covers the seven SAARC nations, Afghanistan to the west and Myanmar to the east. The narrative at present is driven by concerns of development and trade over expansionism, which is where some would argue India is trying to use its benign power status to look for development reforms.

South Asia is one of the fastest growing regions in the world today with GDP growth of 6.9 per cent in 2013. The only other region growing at that rate is East Asia, also at 6.9 per cent according to IMF’s Regional Economic Outlook for April 2015. The

growth is expected to rise to 7.4 per cent by 2016 that will make South Asia the fastest growing region in the world.

Regardless of the growth, there are profound problems facing the region.

South Asia is home to 23 per cent of the world’s population and yet accounts for less than 3.5 per cent of the global GDP. A part of what explains this is the political and economic choices that leaders of different nations within the region have individually and collectively made over the decades.

Political strife, intra-regional conflicts, security problems, lack of trust, and thereby less trade integration, have all contributed to South Asia being one of the most autarkic regions for international trade.

Both inter-regional and intra-regional trade remains a key impediment to not only economic development and social progress but also explains conflict within the region.

These

cannot be corrected immediately. All this will take time, but the direction should be positive.

Trade as a percentage of GDP (in 2014) is not even high for countries as small as the Maldives (76 per cent) and Sri Lanka (74 per cent), which has small overall GDP. Contrast this with some of the East Asian and ASEAN economies such as Singapore (252 per cent), Hong Kong (252 per cent), Vietnam (160 per cent) and Malaysia (135 per cent). The results are in the open for all to see.

This is where India and its neighbourhood can look at the development experience of other regions for greater growth and prosperity.

The open model of trade growth first demonstrated by Japan and later by South Korea and China has helped move millions

of people out of poverty and expand their choices in life. A similar if not the same model can be adopted in the South Asian countries. The ORF report in this context becomes important and brings to the fore the thinking behind such an endeavour and the likely consequence that follow. It would start by being more open to ideas, trade and movement of people both within and outside the region.

Along with this, more transparent and accountable institutions and greater P2P (people to people), B2B (business to business) and G2G (government to government) linkages will make these geographically close countries even more proximate.

It could start with year-round interactions of people, businesses, and governments within the region. The idea of establishing a South Asian University was a great first step to understanding and gaining from each other’s ideas, cultures, and traditions. More such measures and initiatives are needed for a greater intraregional cooperation.

In the years ahead, a proactive political, social and economic consensus is needed for greater integration with the region. The governments of the individual countries will do well to initiate the dream of a prosperous and more open South Asia.

It will start with the present thinking being concretised into actionable steps and execution over the longer time frame.

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29 April 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

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Indo-UK Institute of Health to come up in Hyderabad

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ndo-UK Institute of Healthcare (IUIH) has come forward to set up 1,000bed multi-speciality hospital in Hyderabad.

A delegation from IUIH led by its chairman Mike Parker called on Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, who assured all help from the government to set up the hospital, according to a statement from the chief minister’s office on Monday, April 25. This will be one of the 11 institutes of health planned by IUIH, a consortium of Indian and British promoters.

Rao assured of allocating land near Outer Ring Road (ORR) for the facility. An MoU for the project will be signed after identifying the land. The hospital will be set up with foreign direct investment and it will have the world-class infrastructure. The delegation included UIH CEO Ajay Ranjan and British Deputy

A delegation of Indo-UK Institute of Health (IUIH) led by Prof Mike Parker calls on the Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao in Hyderabad on April 25

High Commissioner in India, Mike Nithavriankais.

Last year, Healthcare UK, a joint initiative of the Department of Health (DH), UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) and NHS England, had announced supporting Indo-UK Healthcare, a consortium of UK and Indiabased promoters to develop a chain of 11 Indo-UK Institutes of Health across India. This was announced during Prime

Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Britain in November last year. An agreement was also signed on the occasion to set up first institute in New Chandigarh.

These institutes are expected to bring 1 billion pounds investment into India’s healthcare system, accompanied by strategic clinical and training partnerships with Britain’s finest NHS organisation, universities and private sector companies.

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Developed nations must mobilise $100 bn to implement Paris climate deal: India

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ndia has urged developed nations to announce their “enhanced” pre-2020 climate action plans and undertake the “urgent” task of mobilising $100 billion, lack of which will hamper implementation of nationally determined contributions of developing countries.

“The developed world needs to immediately ratify the Kyoto Protocol and should present enhanced pre-2020 actions. The second urgent task to be done is mobilisation of $100 billion.

Without this crucial mobilisation, many of the developing countries cannot implement their nationally determined contributions,” Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said.

Hailing the Paris Climate Agreement as ‘a historical achievement’, Javadekar insisted that early fulfilment of $100 billion per year mobilisation by developed countries is important because “without means of implementation, many countries’ contributions will not be fructified.” He also said that India needs time to implement the Paris climate agreement, asserting

Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Prakash Javadekar addresses during the Major Economics Forum on Energy and Climate Change in New York

“it should not be done in haste and all countries should be allowed to follow their national processes”.

“A debate about early entry into force of the Paris Agreement is unfortunate. Early ratification can be understood, but it will take time as per the national processes of approval,” Javadekar said.

“We should not make haste because the Paris Agreement is to be implemented post 2020. There is enough time for ratification and all countries should be allowed to follow their national processes,” he added.

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Parliament passes gurdwara amendment bill

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arliament passed a bill amending the gurdwara act on Monday, April 25, paving the way to bar Sehajdhari or unbaptised Sikhs from voting in elections to the community’s religious bodies, including the powerful SGPC, with the Lok Sabha’s nod to the measure after a heated debate.

“SGPC office-bearers and members have been demanding that those who are not Sikhs should not be given the voting rights (in elections to elect members of the board and committees constituted under the 1925 act). The SPGC general assembly in 2001 passed a resolution on the issue,” Home Minister Rajnath Singh said in the Lok Sabha after the debate involving Akali Dal, Congress and Aam Aadmi Party members.

The Sikh Gurdwara (Amendment) Bill, 2016 was approved unanimously after Congress members, mostly from Punjab, did not press for amendments. It had been passed by the Rajya Sabha on March 16.

In Monday’s debate, Congress and AAP members alleged the law’s passage will further increase the control of the Akali leadership on the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee, called the “miniparliament” of the Sikhs.

Terming it partisan, Congress’ Ravneet Singh Bittu said, “Sikh Gurdwaras Act should now be renamed as the Badal Gurdwara Act.” In response, Akali members told the Congress not to play politics on a sensitive matter. Responding to members’ concerns, Rajnath Singh said the bill was necessi‑tated following a Punjab and Haryana High Court directive and requested the members to pass the bill unanimously, like the Rajya Sabha. During the discussion, acrimonious scenes were repeatedly witnessed as Akali members, led by Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal, exchanged heated words with Congress and AAP members. “This is a bill about the Sikhs,” she said, adding, “It is for the Sikhs to decide who should vote for their gurdwaras and who should not. If anybody has an objection, I do not think non-Sikhs are in a position that they should decide who is a Sikh and who is not.”

She was repeatedly countered by Congress members, including Jalandhar MP Santokh Singh Chaudhary, who said the Akali leadership had maintained a “monopolistic” control over the SGPC, and the bill will deprive more than 70 lakh people, who also believe in Sikhism, from participating in its management. He was supported by AAP’s Bhagwant Mann,

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member from Sangrur, who argued with Harsimrat Badal more than once, saying he vehemently opposed the bill which will only tighten Akali Dal’s as also the Badal family’s control over the Sikh body. “Inhonetheka le rakhahaid haramka, gurdwareka (They have usurped the right to speak on Sikh religious matters),” said Mann, who also clashed with Akali Dal’s Prem Singh Chandumajra.

At one point, Biju Janata Dal’s Tathagatha Satpathy stood up in support of the bill but hastened to add that any attempt being made to create exclusivity and divisions among communities was unwarranted. Terming Harsimrat Badal a valiant debater, he said, “I am surrendering before her,” leading to the house erupting in laughter, while Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajiv Pratap Rudy did his best more than once to cool tempers. The amendment comes after a government notification on October 8, 2003, seeking to bar Sehajdhari Sikhs from voting in SGPC and gurdwara management committee elections as allowed to them in a 1944 exception, was quashed on December 201, 2011 by the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which said that only parliament is competent to decide on the act’s amendment.

Following Sikhism but without being Amritdharis or baptised or refraining from cutting their hair and trimming their beards, Sehajdhari Sikhs are those born in Sikh, Hindu or families professing other religions, but follow the Guru Granth Sahib’s teachings, can perform ceremonies according to Sikh rites, do not consume tobacco or halal meat, and have not been excommunicated for religious transgressions.

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Lok Sabha passes biotech centre bill

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he Lok Sabha on Monday, April 25, passed a bill that seeks to give legislative backing to the Regional Centre for Biotechnology and empower it to award Master’s and PhD degrees.

Introduced in March in the Lok Sabha, the Regional Centre for Biotechnology Bill, 2016, says the objectives of the regional centre will include disseminating knowledge by providing teaching and research facilities in biotechnology and related fields, facilitating transfer of technology and knowledge in the SAARC region and generally Asia, creating a hub of biotechnology expertise, and promoting cooperation at the international level. The legislation would enable the institution

to chalk out its own syllabus, as per the changing requirements of the sector, Science and Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan said.

The centre, located in Faridabad in Haryana, will be a state-of-the-art institute and a regional hub for interdisciplinary education, training and research in biotechnology, Harsh Vardhan said.

Meanwhile, the government on Monday placed copies of the proclamation of President’s Rule in Uttarakhand in the lower house.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajiv Pratap Rudy also laid a copy of the Uttarakhand Appropriation (Vote on Account) Ordinance.

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Panic button must for mobile handsets from next year

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n a bid to make a mobile phone handset an effective tool for self-protection, especially for women, the government has said no such device will be sold from next year without a single key panic button to connect the nearest redressal agency.

This follows a similar move for one emergency ‘112’ number for availing services of police, ambulance and fire department.

“Technology is solely meant to make human life better and what better than using it for the security of women,” Communications and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said on Monday, April 25.

“I have taken a decision that from January 1, 2017, no cell phone can be sold without a provision for panic button, and from January 1, 2018, mobile sets should also have Global Positioning System inbuilt,” Prasad said.

The notification did not specify which agency would connect the number, but sources in the ministry said the decision will be taken soon. The Gazette of India notification said from January 1, 2017, no mobile phone handset manufacturing

company shall sell in India: “The feature phones without the facility of panic button by pressing ‘numeric key—5’ or ‘numeric key—9’ to invoke emergency call.”

It also said, “Smartphones without the facility of emergency call button by pressing the same for long time to invoke emergency call or the use of existing power on or off

Kejriwal re-elected AAP convenor

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he Aam Aadmi Party’s national executive has re-elected Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal as the party convenor.

Apart from electing the new Political Affairs Committee (PAC), the national executive also elected Pankaj Gupta as the party’s national secretary and Raghav Chadha as the national treasurer, a party statement said on Wednesday, April 27.

The members elected in the PAC include Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, Sanjay Singh, Kumar Vishwas, Gopal Rai, Sadhu Singh, Ashutosh, Durgesh

Pathak, Atishi Marlena and Amantullah Khan.

“Pankaj Gupta and Raghav Chadha will be ex-officio members of the PAC,” the statement said.

Ashutosh, Durgesh Pathak, Atishi Marlena, Sadhu Singh and Amantullah Khan are the new faces in the PAC. For the first time, the AAP included a woman (Marlena) in its PAC. Earlier in the day, the AAP National Council in its annual meeting elected the national executive of the party comprising 25 members and five ex-officio members.

button, when short pressed thrice in quick succession.” The notification added, “With effect from January 1, 2018, no mobile phone handset manufacturing company shall sell the new mobile phone handset in India without the facility of identifying the location through satellite-based GPS.” The notification defined a feature phone as one that can access the Internet and play music but lacks provisions of an operating system feature of a personal computer.

Smartphone, on the other hand, has all features of a personal computer system.

Some of the leading smartphone makers such as Vivo, Xiaomi and Karbonn declined to comment on the notification as of now.

In March this year, the government had proposed that people will have to just dial 112 for emergency help from police, ambulance or the fire department.

The telecom watchdog had proposed that all existing emergency numbers—such as 100, 101, 102 and 108—be retained as secondary numbers, which would then be re-routed to the single emergency number 112.

Cabinet approves solar plant in National Seeds Corporation land

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he union cabinet has approved utilising 400 hectares of uncultivable farm land at Jetsar in Rajasthan’s Sri Ganganagar district for setting up a solar power plant of capacity exceeding 200 MW. “The land is presently in possession of National Seeds Corporation (NSC), a central public sector enterprise (CPSE) under the administrative control of the ministry of agriculture and farmers welfare. The solar power plant will be set up by a CPSE, which

would be selected through negotiation,” said a cabinet communique on Wednesday, April 27.

The CPSE will bear installation costs of the solar power plant and has to do a tariff based competitive bidding for the project.

The CPSE will utilise the land for a period of 25 years, which may extend on mutually agreed terms while the entire plant will be surrendered to NSC on as is basis after completing the land use agreement, the statement added.

Jayalalithaa’s assets Red Black croreOrange down by Rs.3 from 2015

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amil Nadu Chief Minister J.Jayalalithaa owns movable and immovable property worth over Rs.113.73 crore, as per the affidavit filed along with her nomination for the May 16 assembly elections, a decline of Rs.3.4 crore compared to the value of her assets declared while contesting the bypoll last year.

However over a five-year period, Jayalalithaa’s asset value has seen two-fold growth.

According to the affidavit filed on Monday, April 25, with her nomination papers for the Radhakrishnan Nagar constituency, Jayalalithaa owns movable assets worth Rs.41.63 crore and immovable assets Rs.72.09 crore.

She said that as gold articles weighing 21,280.300 grams has been seized by police and are lying in the Karnataka treasury and not in her possession, their exact value could not be ascertained.

Her total liabilities is around Rs.2.04 crore. During the 2011 assembly elections Jayalalithaa had declared a total assets worth Rs.51.4 crore.

Lok Sabha passes railways’ demand for grants

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n Tuesday, April 26, Lok Sabha passed, by voice vote, the demand for grants by railways for 2016–17

fiscal, after a spirited discussion during which the opposition Congress demanding more rationalisation in the functioning of the Indian Railways.

Responding to the debate, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu said moves were on to restructure the Indian Railways, which will bring about more efficiency, but stressed that it cannot be achieved without cooperation from all. He said the theme of this year’s rail budget was to bring the railways back on track and assured that the government was taking steps regarding the safety aspect.

The Congress criticised the government for what it said was indulging in gimmicks and said more rationalisation in the railways functioning was needed. Congress leader in

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Moreover, he said, a study by IIM– Ahmedabad said the bullet train can be

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British speaker Subhash Chandra gets award from Canada-India Foundation honours Indian icons

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ee TV and Essel Group chairman Subhash Chandra on Saturday, April 23, received the $50,000 Global Indian Award from the Canada-India Foundation.

The award was presented by Canada’s Investment Minister Navdeep Bains at a glittering gala attended by top leaders.

In his acceptance speech, Chandra said it was “really a humbling experience”.

He said he was accepting this award from the Indian diaspora despite his decision 10 years ago to reject the Indian government’s Padma award for promoting Indian culture worldwide.

The TV mogul said, “I was just doing my duty to my motherland to take Indian culture around the globe.”

He said “Vasudhaiva kutumbakam—the world is one family” was his motto behind promoting Indian culture by launching channels to cater to Arabic, Russian, German, Portuguese, French and Spanish

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P Zee TV and Essel Group chairman Subhash Chandra gets award from Canada-India Foundation

speakers around the world.

Welcoming Chandra to Canada, Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne said the Canadian award for him was an indication of deepening ties between the two countries.

Canada-India Foundation chairman Ajit Someshward said, “This award is open to any Indian who has made us global Indians proud. Subhash Chandra has made us proud by taking Indian culture globally through his

TV network.” The Canada-India Foundation, which promotes participation by Indian-Canadians in public policy and politics, has given this award in the past to late former Indian president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, telecom pioneer Sam Pitroda, Ratan Tata and Deepak Chopra.

Chandra donated his award money to Eklavya schools, which provide education to India’s poor in far-flung areas of the country.

arliament Speaker John Bercow urged the Indian diaspora in Britain to engage more with mainstream politics and get proper representation in parliament.

“The community makes a huge contribution to British life, and I hope its members will continue to build on its successes, both in terms of representation in Parliament and more widely across our national life,” the Asian Lite daily quoted Bercow as saying.

He made the speech last week while presenting the Asian Lite Pranam Awards to seven prominent members of the British Indian community.

The award recipients were economist Lord Meghnad Desai, British-Indian politician Shreela Flather, BBC’s former sports editor Mihir Bose, refugeeturned-multi-millionaire Rami

Ranger, Bharatiya Vidhya Bhavan Executive Director Mattur N. Nandakumara, rights activist and writer Zerbanoo Gifford, and T. Ramachandran, CEO and MD of Bristol Laboratories.

The event, held at Bharatiya Vidhya Bhavan, was attended by several prominent members of the Indian community and British MPs including Bob Blackman.

The Pranam Awards were instituted by the Asian Lite daily to honour members of the Indian community for their contribution to British culture, economy, business, media and sport sectors.

Seven members of the third generation British Asians— poetess Divya Mathur, media personality Rafeek Ravuther, London junior chamber former president Nahas Abdul Jaleel, Here and Now 365 MD Manish Tiwari, and journalists Dhiren Katwa and Navdeep Singh—paid tributes to the award winners.

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IPL: Mumbai beat Punjab by 25 runs for third win

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umbai Indians defeated Kings XI Punjab by 25 runs to bag their third victory in the Indian Premier League (IPL) at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium on Monday, April 25.

Mumbai rode on strong batting performances by Parthiv Patel (81) and Ambati Rayudu (65) to post 189/6 in 20 overs. The duo added 136 runs between them for the second wicket to lay the foundation for a big total.

In reply, Punjab were lifted by an 89-run third wicket stand between Shaun Marsh (48) and Glenn Maxwell (56). But at the end, the combined brilliance of Mumbai pace trio—Jasprit Bumrah (3/26), Mitchell McClanaghan (3/32) and Tim Southee (2/28)—ensured that Punjab fall short by 25 runs, scoring 164/7.

It was Mumbai’s second win in last five matches that takes them

Mumbai Indians celebrate after defeating Kings XI Punjab on Monday, April 25

to the fifth spot in the points table, while Punjab succumbed to their hat-trick of losses and remained at the bottom. In a match between two struggling sides, Punjab captain David Miller won the toss and asked Mumbai to bat. Mumbai

had a shaky start as skipper Rohit Sharma lasted all of two balls before edging a Sandeep Sharma in swinger to the wicketkeeper.

That was the only piece of celebration the Punjab players and their home crowd could indulge in

for a considerable period of time as Patel and Rayudu proceeded to hit the bowlers to all parts of the ground.

Opening the batting along with skipper Rohit, Parthiv batted almost till the end of the innings.

The discarded India wicketkeeper showcased some superb batting form to plunder 81 runs off just 58 deliveries. He smashed 10 boundaries and a couple of sixes to notch up his highest ever IPL score before falling to a well directed bouncer from veteran Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson.

Parhiv’s entertaining stroke play was well-matched by Rayudu at the other end. The 30-year-old right-hander slammed 65 runs off 37 deliveries with the help of four boundaries and an equal number of sixes.

Rayudu finally fell to some poor shot selection as an attempted sweep off Axar Patel travelled

Leicester forward Mahrez named PFA Player of the Year

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eicester City forward Riyad Mahrez has won the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) Player of the Year award for scoring 17 goals and 11 assists in 34 English Premier League (EPL) games.

The Algerian held off competition from West Ham United midfielder Dimitri Payet, Tottenham Hotspur forward Harry Kane, Arsenal playmaker Mesut Ozil and fellow Leicester men Jamie Vardy and N’Golo Kante to win.

Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli, 20, was named PFA Young Player of the Year, while Manchester City forward Izzy Christiansen won the Women’s Player of the Year award.

Sunderland striker Beth Mead, 20, was named Women’s Young Player of the Year.

Mahrez has been instrumental in driving Leicester to the cusp of their maiden title. The 25-year-old now joins a glittering list of former winners that includes Kenny Dalglish, Dennis Bergkamp, Thierry Henry, Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale.

Some bookmakers had Leicester at 5000/1 to be crowned champions at the start of the season, but, with three games left, they stand on the brink of arguably the greatest shock in English football history.

Mahrez dedicated the success to his teammates. “All the credit i s for them, seriously,” Mahrez told PFA website. “And for my manager and the staff. Without them I wouldn’t receive this award and I wouldn’t score. It’s the team spirit, and I want to dedicate it to them.

“I’m very grateful to receive this award,

it’s a pleasure. It’s extra special because if the players vote for me it’s because they’ve seen I’ve been great this year, so I’m happy.

“But it’s more team things. Without my teammates I wouldn’t get this award.”

Mahrez was flown down by helicopter to the ceremony from the King Power Stadium, where Claudio Ranieri’s side had earlier thrashed Swansea 4–0 to move eight points clear at the top of the table.

“The secret has been team spirit,” Mahrez said.

“We work so hard for each other. We are like brothers, it’s everywhere on the pitch. That’s our strength.

“If sometimes we are not good, we know we are going to run and make the effort for our teammates. That is the secret of our success.”

Alli was named the PFA Young Player of the Year after registering 10 goals and 12 assists in his debut campaign in the EPL. The 20-year-old beat teammate Kane to the prize, as well as Stoke goalkeeper Jack Butland, Liverpool midfielder Philippe Coutinho and Everton duo Romelu Lukaku and Ross Barkley.

Alli was unable to collect the award in person, with Spurs hosting W e s t Bromwich Albion on M o n d a y , April 25 but Ossie Ardiles picked it up on his behalf.

Leicester City forward Riyad Mahrez

straight to Manan Vohra at deep midwicket. Jos Buttler (24) walked in to play a fast paced innings full of innovative shots, hitting three boundaries and a massive six over long-on off Pardeep Sahu in his 12-ball stint. He was bowled by a slow, incoming delivery from Mohit Sharma while attempting another big hit.

That triggered a flurry of late wickets as the Punjab bowlers staged a late comeback. But by the time Johnson finally managed to send Parthiv back to the pavilion, Mumbai were well on their way to a big total.

Mohit Sharma was the most successful among the Punjab bowlers. The medium-pacer was a bit expensive in a wicketless first spell, but did better in his second spell to return figures of 3/38.

Sandeep Sharma (1/20), Axar patel (1/41) and Johnson (1/43) claimed a wicket each.

Kane Williamson has been confirmed as the Blackcaps captain in all three formats.

The 25-year-old has been a member of the Blackcaps since 2010 and has already led the side in 36 shortform games.

IPL: Pune beat Hyderabad to end losing streak

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ising Pune Supergiants ended their four-match losing streak in the Indian Premier League (IPL) with a 34-run win via D/L method over Sunrisers Hyderabad on Tuesday, April 26.

The foundation of the big win for Pune in the rain-marred contest was set up by medium pacers Ashok Dinda (3/23) and Mitchell Marsh (2/14) as Sunrisers Hyderabad were restricted to 118/8 in 20 overs.

In a match marred by delayed start, half of the Hyderabad team was back in the dug-out by the ninth over with only 32 runs on the board. But a 47-run stand between Shikhar Dhawan (56 not out) and Naman Ojha (18) came to Hyderabad’s rescue as it ensured that the team crossed the 100-run mark.

Dhawan was the only bright spot for Hyderbad as the lefthander scored his second Faf du Plessis of Rising Pune Supergiants

consecutive fifty. With the help of two fours and a six, he made 56 off 53 deliveries.

Bhuvneshawar Kumar’s brisk cameo of eight-ball 21 lifted them to 118/8.

In reply, Steve Smith (46 not out) and Faf du Plessis (30 off 21 deliveries) put Pune in strong position to overhaul the target. Pune lost Ajnikya Rahane (0) early but South African du Plessis and Australian Smith forged an 80-run stand for the second wicket to put the chase in commanding position.

They were cruising at 94/3 in 11 overs when rain halted play, forcing the umpires to decide the match Duckworth/Lewis method through, which Pune were declared triumphant by 34 runs.

This was Pune’s second win; they won the opening match, while Hyderabad suffered a loss after hat-trick of wins and overall, third defeat in six outings.

KIDS ZONE

www.iwk.co.nz | 29 April 2016

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Poem

Fun with knowledge

Winter Jewels

A million little diamonds Twinkled on the trees; And all the little children cried, A jewel, if you please!

But while they held their hands outstretched To catch the diamonds gay, A million little sunbeams came And stole them all away.

The Melody I fall deep in a melody It pulls me in through its octaves Until I reeach a point of no return I see the big gates If I can open the gates I could explore its secrets But I would not do that Because I would rather explore This world with you

Shashank Meenakshi, 8

tterflies FascBu inatin g Facts

Butterflies colour A grou

There are around 24,000 Fascinating Facts species There are ofaroundbutterfly. The 24,000 species of largerbuttof erfly.the The m is the Queen largest of them is Alexan 's Birdwing found in the dra Queen Alexandra’s NewBird Gui nea. Itd inhas wingspan wing foun Guinea. It has of 30aNew cen tim 30 es. wingspan ofetr

p of butterflies – A group of but togeter ther flie is called a “flutter”. s together is called a flutter.

Butterflies are cold blooded and need the heat from the – Butterflies are sun incol orde dr that bloode they can d and fly need the heat from the sun in order tha t they can fly.

centimetres.

Solutions to last week's Bird word match up Eagle Emu Blackbird Ostrich Sparrow Parrot Chicken Falcon Pigeon Kiwi Starling Vulture Cuckoo Blubird Send us stories, drawings, poems and other contributions by your little ones along with their photographs for this page. E-mail us at editor@indianweekender.co.nz

The space boy and the space dragon www.kidspuzzlesand

By Advaiith Umashankar

games.co.uk

One day while Finiks and the dragon went on their journey, they saw a huge and terrible iniks was a little space boy. He was a space monster. Finikis' friend dragon said, "I super traveller. He spent every single had seen many space monsters however, I day and night researching all around hadn't see a terrible monster like this in my the universe. life." Courageous Finiks One day while researching on his said, "I can't give up. I will large spaceship, he saw a bright light definitely battle with it shining on his spaceship. face to face." After some That was a space dragon. Finiks time, the space dragon said, "Oh! a space dragon! Cool!" with courage, stood up.

However he was afraid of it. It came They together fought to him and said, "Please be my friend the war. After a big war as I am a good dragon." they finally succeed Finiks believed that the dragon their mission. was saying truth and they became MORAL: Friendship is the friends ever after. most awesome reward in the huge world

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ASTROLOGY

29 April 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

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Weekly forecast: April 29 to May 5 ARIES

TAURUS

GEMINI

CANCER

Special efforts may be required by some to bring happiness back into their family life. Your style and confidence are likely to win some admirers on the work front. Good networking is likely to get a good deal for some traders.

Some of you may have to sharpen your communication skills to make your mark in your field of expertise. Mental tensions will be countered successfully to achieve peace of mind.

A comfortable financial situation will prompt you to think beyond daily needs. An ugly development on the romantic front can give you the jitters. You will be able to make much progress on lagging projects at work. A good time with family is foreseen as you enjoy bliss and togetherness. Your deft handling of a case will help defuse an explosive situation. Those spiritually inclined will find mental solace in religious activities.

This is a good time to buy property or go in for renovation. You fare well in an inter-departmental competition or a promotion exam. Lovers will manage to meet and enjoy themselves. A changed diet plan suits you well and will keep you in the best of health and spirits. Be cautious of a distant relation who can sow the seeds of discord in the family. Comfortable travel is assured towards the end of the week.

Writers and editors are likely to be burdened with additional work. A comfortable travel is foreseen for those embarking on a long journey. An outing with friends and family can prove disappointing unless you do something about it. Your fervent wish to turn a long-term friendship into romance will need to be tackled carefully. A recently concluded deal may not be as lucrative as it had seemed at the outset.

Lucky No.: 2 Lucky Colour: Turquoise

Lucky No.: 1 Lucky Colour: Light yellow

(March 21-April 20)

Lucky No.: 5 Lucky Colour: Royal blue

(April 21-May 20)

Lucky No.: 6 Lucky Colour: Coffee

LIBRA

LEO

VIRGO

The week opens on a positive note as you give a good account of yourself at work. The burden of loan is taken off from your shoulders as you pay the last instalment. Your enthusiasm to lend a helping hand on the domestic front will be appreciated. Don’t neglect to strengthen your romantic ties with the one you love.

Marriage is likely to be fixed for the eligible in the family.

Your romantic endeavours will be rewarded in full measure. The professional front seems quite rosy as you score over your competitors.

You will manage to plan your expenditure accurately and keep within the budget.

Domestic front can find you in the exciting company of friends and relations. A journey to a distant location will prove to be refreshing and rejuvenating. This is the right time to inculcate a healthy habit to remain fit.

(July 23-August 23)

Lucky No.: 15 Lucky Colour: Sea green

(June 22-July 20)

(May 21-June 21)

(August 24-Sep 23)

Lucky No.: 11 Lucky Colour: Baby pink

(Sep 24-October 23) The bright mornings are ample indication of how this week for you will be turn out to be. You excel on the professional front and make steady progress up the corporate ladder. Those into real estate can strike it rich. A perfect period to start for those who have resolved to get back in shape. Some of you are likely to initiate a venture that will prove profitable in the long run.

SCORPIO

(Oct 24-November 22) This week, you will be favourably placed, both personally and professionally. An important presentation is likely to go well, as you are at your impressive best! A windfall by way of inheritance or gift cannot be ruled out for some.

Newlyweds can expect blissful togetherness.

It is best to nip a minor ailment in the bud by taking preventive measures. You get the strength to stand up for your rights.

Lucky No.: 17 Lucky Colour: Forest green

Lucky No.: 6 Lucky Colour: Peach

CAPRICORN

SAGITTARIUS

(Nov 23-December 11) The week holds much promise, but efforts will be required to grab opportunities. Body aches and pains troubling you for the last few days will disappear. Things may not go your way at work if you don’t regain control of the workplace situation. Some of you can get stuck with a bad expensive purchase, but will manage to exchange it after much persuasion. Wasteful expenditure will need to be curbed.

Lucky No.: 3 Lucky Colour: Rosy brown

(Dec 22-January 21) Facelift and painting of house may have to be shelved because of a cash crunch. You are likely to lead the pack in a competitive environment and manage to stay on top. Good decisions can bring you to the notice of higher ups. A half-hearted attempt at mending fences with spouse will just not work in your favour.

Developments on the romantic front may not be to your liking.

Lucky No.: 2 Lucky Colour: Dark grey

AQUARIUS

PISCES

A venture that you have initiated holds much promise. Your performance will put to rest a senior’s apprehension about your professional competence. A business trip will prove immensely successful and bring new opportunities. Speculation and stocks can give good returns. You are likely to be richly rewarded for going out of the way to help someone. A home remedy may prove effective in curing an old ailment. A change will be refreshing.

This week, stars suggest you to gracefully accept the invitation with family, if you are invited somewhere you haven’t been before. Avoid overspending on entertainment and luxuries especially in the first half of the week. Love life brings immense romantic pleasure. Yoga and meditation would help in keeping in shape and mentally agile. Travelling with kids can be a challenge, try to reduce the stress. Preparations are must before you plan for a new house. It will certainly be a wonderful week to contact people who share the common dreams.

Lucky No.: 1 Lucky Colour: White

Luck Colour: Maroon Lucky Number: 1

(Jan 22-February 19)

(Feb 20-March 20)

By Manisha Koushik Manisha Koushik is the talented daughter and associate of world renowned celebrity astrologer Dr Prem Kumar Sharma. She is gifted with strong intuitions and clairvoyance right from the childhood. A practicing astrologer, tarot card reader, numerologist, vastu and fengshui consultant is based in India but maintains a global presence through the online channels. She is available for consultations online as well. Reach out to her to explore what the future holds for you. Let her tarot cards do the magic and numbers make you understand which choices in life will be best for you!

E-mail: support@askmanisha.com | Website: www.askmanisha.com Contact: +91-11-26449898, 26489899 | Mobile/Whatsapp: +919716145644

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E-cigarettes may do more benefit Video game addiction an escape route from than harm: Experts depression A

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team of international tobacco control experts has found that the use of e-cigarettes can reduce overall smoking as well as potentially decrease the mortality rates particularly arising out of cigarette smoking.

The findings showed that e-cigarettes have the potential to counteract health risks and may do more benefit than harm.

The evidence suggests a strong potential for e-cigarettes use to improve population health by reducing or displacing cigarette use in countries where cigarette prevalence is still high and smokers are interested in quitting.

“While e-cigarettes may act as a gateway to smoking, much of the evidence indicates that e-cigarette use encourages cessation from cigarettes by those people who would have otherwise smoked with or without e-cigarettes,” said lead researcher David Levy, professor at Georgetown University in the US. However, the experts’ estimated that exclusive e-cigarette use is associated with about five per cent of the mortality risks of smoking.

Research shows that cigarette smoking rates have fallen more in the last two years than they

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have in the previous four or five years in the US, Canada and England, and that this trend has coincided with the increase in e-cigarette use.

“We believe that the discussion to date has been slanted against e-cigarettes, which is unfortunate because the big picture tells us that these products appear to be used mostly by people who already are or who are likely to become cigarette smokers,” Levy added.

In the study, published online in the journal Addiction, seven top international tobacco control experts have prompted regulators at the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to have a broad “open-minded” perspective when it comes to regulating vaporised nicotine products, especially e-cigarettes.

The team synthesised much of

the evidence published to date on e-cigarettes to suggest that use of these products can lead to reduced cigarette smoking overall with a potential reduction in deaths from cigarette smoking.

The team also warned that heavy regulation and taxation of e-cigarettes will counteract the benefit that these products can provide.

“We don’t want to encourage e-cigarette use by youth and young adults who would not have otherwise smoked. However, the primary aim of tobacco control policy should be to discourage cigarette use while providing the means for smokers to more easily quit smoking, even if that means switching for some time to e-cigarettes rather than quitting all nicotine use,” the researchers noted.

oung adults are getting hooked to video gaming to escape from medical conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obsessive-compulsive disorder and depression, new research has revealed.

Excessively engaging in gaming may function as an escape mechanism for, or coping with, underlying psychiatric disorders in attempt to alleviate unpleasant feelings and to calm restless bodies, researchers report.

“Video game addiction is more prevalent among younger men and among those not being in a current relationship than others,” said Cecilie Schou Andreassen, clinical psychologist specialist at University of Bergen (UiB) in Norway. Andreassen carried out a study with more than 20,000 participants who answered questions related to videogame addiction. The study showed that video game addiction appears to be associated with ADHD and depression.

According to Andreassen, the study shows some clear tendencies as to which people develop addictive use of social media.

“The study implies that younger with some of these characteristics

Know your money personality I Varun Jani

n today’s busy world, money has a crucial role to play in our life, from a medium of exchange to the well being of a person. The response towards money can indicate a person’s money personality. In the financial planning process, it is vital to know the money personality of an individual.

Measuring the money personality or attitude towards money can indicate the comfort level of a person with various investment options. It is a psychological tool to identify risk profile to understand the money attitude. The discipline that has been developed is known as psychometrics. Risk profiling systems have gained an international recognition as the world’s best practice to establish the risk profile of an individual.

It provides an individual’s risk tolerance and one such example is Finametrica—an Australian solution.

There are four money personalities: spenders, savers, shoppers and flyers, and investors. Your money personality is dependent on many factors. While it may not be easy to change attitudes, the way you react to money matters can help understand your approach towards spending, saving, and investing. In the financial planning process, it is vital to

pleasure. So it can be a challenge to accumulate enough to meet the long-term financial goals.

If you fall in this category, you need to consult your financial adviser and explore longterm goals.

The money savers Money savers are the exact opposite of money spenders because they always believe in price comparison. They find a good deal while shopping and rarely make purchases with credit

Measuring the money personality or attitude towards money can indicate the comfort level of a person with various investment options

know the money personality of a person.

The money spenders Money spenders always spend more money than they should.

They actually don’t care how much they spend or on who they

spend.

They always prefer the present situation and are willing to spend money to make life more enjoyable. They usually spend first and think later. For this category, saving money is a difficult task, as they always think to buy products and services for immediate

cards. This type generally has no debts and they are not concerned about following the latest trend in the market. They are more conservative as far as investment is concerned. If you fall in this category, you have to consult your financial adviser to grow your money. Develop an attitude to put your money to work for you.

could be targeted regarding preventing development of an unhealthy gaming pattern,” the doctor noted.

The study, published in the journal Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, also showed that addiction related to videogames and computer activities shows sex differences.

“Men seem generally more likely to become addicted to online gaming, gambling, and cyber-pornography, while women to social media, texting, and online shopping,” Andreassen added.

The study used various criteria to identify video game addiction where gaming experiences last six months are scored on a scale from ‘never’ to ‘very often’.

“However, most people have a relaxed relationship to video games and fairly good control,” Andreassen noted.

The shoppers and flyers The shoppers derive satisfaction from spending money in the shopping mall. They always seek new things or services to get comfort and pleasure in life. They look for bargain and search for a good deal every time. They are least bothered about investing money or making financial plans for their life. Sometimes, they invest a lump sum and may even invest a portion of a windfall such as bonuses from company or inheritance money. Sometimes, the shoppers and flyers become money avoiders.

If you fall in this category, try to learn the philosophy from the financial adviser strategies for successful saving plans.

The investor This category is well aware about the money. They believe in budgeting, saving and investing.

They are keen to learn money concepts. They are aware about their current financial situations.

Often they explore various options for investment and make informed decisions on financial matters. Financially speaking, they are doing well and are keen to continue learning.

Varun Jani is the personal assistant to Michael Taylor AFA whose Disclosure Document can be found at www.strategicfp.co.nz/ This article is of a general nature and no substitute for personalised financial advice.

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FEATURES

29 April 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

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ast time we spoke about some of the benefits of eating avocado. We bring you some more in this issue. Just to recap—avocados are rich in potassium, magnesium, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K1, and vitamin B-6. With their high amounts of vitamins and minerals as well as phytonutrients, which are special nutrients from plants that help heal the body, they can actually help keep the doctor away.

There are some amazing avocado benefits for your health and appearance. In our last column, we mentioned five benefits. Below are five more benefits.

Osteoarthritis is a painful condition characterised by joint inflammation and soreness. While many common foods such as wheat, corn, milk and sugar are known to worsen symptoms, the anti-inflammatory avocado is one food that consistently reduces arthritic pain.

Their high levels ofmonounsaturated fats, phytosterols and antioxidants such as vitamin E, vitamin C and a variety of carotenoids can help reduce the inflammation that leads to arthritis.

Avocado for pregnant women Avocado is a particularly important food for women who are pregnant and those trying to be due to its high concentrations of folate (also known as folic acid).

This vitamin B is needed to prevent birth defects such as spina bifida and doctors advice women to get high amounts of folate both before and during pregnancy.

Avocados contain around 45 mcg of folate per half a cup, which is more than any other fruit, making them a great food source for moms to be.

Vitamin K is another valuable nutrient found in high concentrations in avocados that benefit women during pregnancy and their future babies.

Avocado for constipation Despite their creamy texture, avocados are actually a high fibre food, with eight grams of both soluble and insoluble fibre per cup of the fresh fruit.

This fibre is beneficial for improving digestion, encouraging regular bowel movements and well known to help prevent constipation. In fact, avocados are often recommended as a mild laxative for people having trouble going to the toilet.

If you’ve been having problems with elimination, whether constipation or diarrhoea, then getting more fibre-rich

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An avo a day actually keeps the doc away— Part 2 This improved nutritional intake resulted in a significantly lower body weight, body mass index and waist circumference in those that ate avocados. Good to know for those interested in using avocados to lose weight.

There was also a 50% lower ratio of metabolic disease, a strong precursor to diabetes and heart disease, in the group that enjoyed avocados regularly.

The researchers concluded that “avocado consumption is associated with improved

Choco Delight

Arthritis treatment

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That’s a science- backed recommendation to eat avocados more often for a slimmer waistline, a lower risk of metabolic disease and better overall health. foods such as avocados can definitely help keep you regular.

The fibre in avocados also helps lower your risk of colon cancer and can even assist in losing weight by making you feel more full and wanting to eat less.

Avocado benefits for weight loss Many people would be surprised that a food high in fat and calories such as avocado would be recommended for weight loss. However, research has shown that avocado’s monounsaturated fatty acids are much more likely to be used as slow burning energy than stored as body fat.

This steady energy and the feeling of satiety or satisfied fullness that you get from eating an avocado is one of the reasons they are so good at reducing hunger and appetite.

Better overall health An interesting study called ‘Avocado consumption is associated with better diet quality and nutrient intake, and lower metabolic syndrome risk in US adults’, found that avocado eaters had a higher intake of vitamins such as vitamin K and vitamin E, and minerals such as potassium and magnesium. Plus they also had more dietary fibre and healthy fats with a lower overall intake of sugar.

Prep Time: 15 minutes Ingredients: • 2 ripe avocados • 1/4 cup light coconut milk • 3 tbsp. unsweetened dark cocoa powder • 2 tbsp. honey • 1.5 ounces of dark chocolate (72% or higher), melted • 1 tsp. vanilla extract • 1/8 tsp. salt

For topping:

Whipped cream, coconut whipped cream, sprinkles, cocoa nibs

overall diet quality, nutrient intake, and reduced risk of metabolic syndrome”.

That’s a science-backed recommendation to eat avocados more often for a slimmer waistline, a lower risk of metabolic disease and better overall health.

That’s great reasons why avocado is so good for you and should give you more than enough motivation to eat them regularly.

Make sure you pick up a couple the next time you’re out shopping, and give the below recipes a try.

Method:

Remove avocados from the skin (and pit) and place in a food processor. Blend until combined and creamy. Add in all remaining ingredients, blending until pureed, scraping down the sides when needed to combine.

Taste and season/sweetened additionally if desired. Blend for a good 1–2 minutes until completely creamy, then serve with desired toppings.

Chickpea smash & avo sandwich Prep Time: 10 minutes Ingredients: • 400 gms chickpeas or garbanzo beans (soaked overnight and boiled) • 1 large ripe avocado • 1/4 cup fresh coriander, chopped • 2 tbsp. chopped green onion • Juice from 1 lime • Salt and pepper, to taste • Bread of your choice • Fresh spinach leaves or other sandwich toppings: lettuce, tomato slices, sprouts, etc.

Method: Rinse and drain the chickpeas.

Place on a paper towel and remove the outer skins. You can leave them on, but I like to remove them.

In a medium bowl, using a fork or potato masher, smash the chickpeas and avocado together. Add in cilantro, green onion, and lime juice. Season with salt and pepper. Spread salad on bread and top with your favourite sandwich toppings.

Avocado and egg breakfast pizza Prep Time: 15 minutes Ingredients:

• 1 large avocado • 1 tbsp. finely chopped cilantro • 1 1/2 tsp. lime juice • 1/8 tsp. salt • Whole-wheat flour kneaded as required for roti/paratha • 4 large eggs • 1 tbsp. vegetable oil • Hot sauce, for serving (optional)

Method:

Cut the avocado in half lengthwise, remove the pit and, with

a large spoon, scoop the flesh into a medium bowl.

Add the cilantro, lime juice and salt. Mash with a fork until smooth, with a few chunks of avocado. Taste and adjust seasoning (depending on the size of your avocado, you may need more salt or lime juice.)

Set aside. Divide the dough into four equal pieces.

Make four parathas or rotis as desired. Spread 1/4 of the avocado mixture onto each cooked piece of dough.

Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat. Fry eggs to desired doneness and place

each one on top of a pizza.

Serve immediately, with or without a drizzle of hot sauce.

FEATURES

www.iwk.co.nz | 29 April 2016

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Diversity • Empowerment • Celebrating womanhood

In association with

P R E S E N T S

Women inspiring Women

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LIVE LIFE IN

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EVENT SERIES HOW MANY OF US ARE NOT IN WITH THE LIFE WE LIVE? Annah is about to change the way you tackle your day to day.

Enjoy an elegant high tea with your friends. Support a great cause, receive an Annah Stretton goodie bag and be inspired to step-up to a new you!

Where: Saturday 30th April 11am to 1pm | Where: The Langham Auckland Early bird (first 75 tickets): $55 | Regular Tickets: $75 Tickets available via

Proceeds go to RAW www.eventfinda.co.nz/2016/live-life-in-colour-with-annah-stretton/auckland

Event supported by:

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ENTERTAINMENT

SRK keen to make another film like Ra.One

29 April 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

partnership with Privyplex. The 27-year-old batsman has been in sublime form of late, bagging the man of the tournament award in the recent World Twenty20 event and is currently the leading run scorer (367 runs) in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL). “Again the other two biopic, MS as well... his journey has been very different one. But there are lots of instances that you won’t understand in a cricketer’s life.

And the third one, Azharuddin as well, the instances that has happened in his life.

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ollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan says that he is “adamant and stubborn” about making another film like the 2011 science fiction superhero film Ra.One. Directed by Anubhav Sinha, Ra.One featured Shah Rukh as scientist Shekhar Subramanium and humanoid robot G.One. The film also starred Kareena Kapoor Khan and Arjun Rampal.

Despite being backed by SRK’s Red Chillies Entertainment banner, the film was a major let down at the box office and received mostly negative reviews from critics. However, the Chennai Express star says he will “give another shot” to a film like Ra.One. Asked whether he will make another superhero film yet again, Shah Rukh replied, “I would like to give another shot at Ra.One. I hope I am not too old to do it because I thought as a team it was a step forward in film-making.

“Lot of people may not think so, but I know film-making and perhaps it (Ra. One) didn’t go well, so I would like to give it another shot to win the hearts.

Shah Rukh said that though there is no storyline as such in his mind, but “we have vfx for sure”.

“Since I am adamant and stubborn I will make another Ra.One for sure,” he said.

Waiting to watch Tendulkar, Dhoni, Azhar biopic: Kohli

personally, since I was the new one, it was hard work, but I had a lot of fun doing this,” he said. Housefull 3, featuring a multiple star cast including Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh, Abhishek, Jacqueline Fernandez, Nargis Fakhri, and Lisa Haydon, is releasing on June 3.

Riteish and Abhishek, who have worked together in Bluff Master, will be seen together again. Talking about their collaboration, Riteish said, “I was waiting to work with Abhishek for a very long time.

When Sajid Nadiadwala called me for this film I was really happy that I will get to work with Abhishek again.”

Also present at the launch, Akshay Kumar, who is known for doing back-toback films, says it is no rocket science.

Asked how he manages to do this, he said, “It is no rocket science. It is very easy.

I shot for 38 days and finished shooting for Housefull 3. Everybody comes on time, we work hard; it was very fast. I read somewhere about Mission Impossible that the whole film was shot in 52 days. These days we all finish shooting in 60 days and maximum it goes on for 70 days.”

First look of Raman Raghav 2.0 unveiled

“So, they are explained properly. And also it is for people to see and learn from, in all the three biopic. So, I am looking forward to all three,” the Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper said.

Very nervous at doing Housefull 3, says Abhishek Bachchan

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ilm-maker Anurag Kashyap used the digital platform to reveal the first look of his forthcoming thriller Raman Raghav 2.0, featuring actors Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Vicky Kaushal, on Monday, April 25. In the poster, Nawazuddin, who will be essaying the role of a notorious serial killer, can be seen with red eyes with the backdrop of a metal tool drenched in blood while his entire portrait is coloured blue.

ctor Abhishek Bachchan, who will be seen in Sajid Nadiadwala’s much awaited Housefull 3, reveals he was nervous at being a part of this immensely successful franchise.

“I was very nervous... I had first worked with Sajid-Farhad in Bol Bachchan and they came and said they want me to do this film. Then Nadiadwala came and spoke to me about this.

“When you are working on a franchise, which so immensely successful, you don’t want to let down fans of Housefull. So I was nervous and we all worked very hard,” Abhishek told reporters at the film’s trailer launch on Sunday, April 24.

B “And here comes the first look of Raman Raghav 2.0,” Kashyap posted on Twitter.

Raman Raghav 2.0 will premiere at the Cannes International Film Festival’s ‘Directors Fortnight’ section this year. The film is set to release on June 24.

Cannes would have been a perfect platform for Sarbjit: Aishwarya “Boman Irani is my acting coach.

Every night he used to sit in my room and rehearse. Nadiadwala does a great job of packaging a film; it looks great. For me

Given the timeline, if it is possible, the team will look for the opportunity. But, however if there are too many deadlines to match regretfully, that chance may have to be cut off,” she said at the launch of the collection of renowned cosmetic line Loreal.

Being a regular face in Cannes, the former beauty queen will be walking on the red carpet as a brand ambassador of Loreal.

The 69th annual Cannes Film Festival is scheduled to be held from May 11 to 22 and Sarbjit is slated to release on May 20.

“We have to wait for the last 10 days to announce but that would have been the perfect platform to share the film. Somehow it is coinciding with the final week with Cannes,” she said. Directed by Omung Kumar, Sarbjit is based on the life of Indian farmer Sarabjit Singh, who strayed into Pakistan, was convicted of terrorism and spying in Pakistan and sentenced to death.

He was killed by fellow prisoners in jail.

Aishwarya will be seen playing Dalbir Kaur, Sarabjit’s sister, who suffered severe difficulties in trying to get her brother released, Randeep Hooda will be seen in the title role. Apart from Sarabjit, the actress will be seen in Ae Dil Hain Mushkil along with Ranbir Kapoor and Anushka Sharma.

I support Hrithik: Sussanne on ‘intimate’ photo leak with Kangana

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ndia’s star batsman Virat Kohli said on Monday, April 25, he is looking forward to watching the biopic of iconic Indian cricketers Sachin Tendulkar, Mohammad Azharuddin and Mahendra Singh Dhoni, which are scheduled to be released soon.

Batting legend Tendulkar has recently released on his social networking sites the teaser of his biopic, Sachin: A Billion Dreams, whereas Bollywood actor Emraan Hashmi plays the role of Azharuddin in movie named Azhar. Actor Sushant Singh Rajput plays Dhoni in a film named M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story.

“I am looking forward to watch all of them. Obviously, the one I am waiting for the most is Tendulkar’s. It is because I am connected with Tendulkar’s memories for such a long time, from when I was a child,” Kohli said.

“Actually to get into his head, as I have idolised him from the beginning. What has happened in his career will be portrayed in that. I am really looking forward to it,” Kohli said at the launch of Virat FanBox in

“I do not know if the team will be able Black Orange to make the opportunity possible on that platform as well because Cannes will be happening in the last week.

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ctress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, who will soon be seen in the Omung Kumar-directed Sarbjit, said she thinks Cannes is the best platform for showcasing of the biopic.

ollywood star Hrithik Roshan’s estranged wife Sussanne Khan has come forward to support him, condemning the leak of his “intimate” photograph with actress Kangana Ranaut.

She says the image is “photoshopped”.

The legal battle between the two stars took another turn when an image showing Hrithik embracing Kangana surfaced online.

Hrithik’s legal team had also slammed the leak of his “intimate” photograph, saying it did not tell the full story.

Sussanne, who separated from Hrithik in 2013, also shared an image that seems from the same party. The photograph shows the then couple holding each other closely.

She tweeted, “Pictures are photoshopped and untrue stories carry too much weight.

Another picture for the record. I support Hrithik in this”.

According to sources, the photographs are from a party in which Hrithik’s ex-wife Sussanne and many other common friends were also present and all were hugging each other and taking jovial group pictures.

ENTERTAINMENT

www.iwk.co.nz | 29 April 2016

29

Review: The Jungle Book

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SENDING YOU TO THE MOVIES Send money to India between 04 and 30 April and go in the draw to win one of 50 HOYTS double passes to see your favourite Bollywood movie plus receive a Western Union goodie bag.†

U. Prashanth Nayak

J

on Favreau’s The Jungle Book has a forest-full of expectations to live up to. 1967’s wonderfully animated version with its beautiful colours and endearing characters lives on despite the decades, and subsequent remakes including live-action ones, save for a unique anime version, have yet to match that level.

However, if the ebullient audience reaction from New Zealand to India to the USA is anything to go by, Disney appears to have hit the ball out of the Sylvan Park this time.

After enjoying an IMAX 3D version where occasionally fuzzy images are amply atone for by massive looming projections of characters foregrounded by this technology, I heartily concur. That alone would not have amounted to a hill of beans, but amidst all that CGI magnificence, Favreau ensures strong heartfelt storytelling and memorable characters that redeem the heart of this beloved classic.

The jungle (a word derived from Sanskrit), ostensibly an Indian sub-tropical forest, dense and forbidding by natural design, which Kipling based his story in, is vividly brought to life. Fascinating big and small fauna have anthropomorphic personalities with voices perfectly suited to their physiognomy. Mowgli—a “mancub”—is left in the forest as a baby, brought up by wolves and hunted by a particularly villainous tiger Shere Khan who swears revenge after being scarred by a human in the past. Justin Marks’ script retreads familiar territory, creates heartening new ground and almost always entwines itself in interesting terrain.

The honour of being the first CGI-perfect and roaring formidable tiger alas does not belong to Shere Khan. That award goes to the remarkable Richard Parker from Martel and Lee’s Life of Pi—a movie that Disney executive Alan Horn and director Favreau were looking up to. However, Shere Khan is an outstanding addition to this elite ilk. His body is dark and rather scrawny but his face is a rotund inferno of ferocity with any trace of prettiness obliterated by a burn scar.

A deadly beast flawlessly voiced by Idris Elba, Shere Khan prowls invisible amidst tall grasses, playing with wolf cubs and sparing their body while subtly poisoning their minds, and lunging lightning-speed at another dangerous carnivore tossed high off a peak in such a chilling flash that there remains no doubt he will brutally kill in front of us again, no matter that this is a kiddie flick.

The appeal of his personality is matched in different ways by other characters.

Bagheera, the panther, is rendered with a beautiful muscular bulk, which belies a softness tempered with noble steel. He often risks death but never abandons Mowgli’s guardianship. Baloo does not look as cute as in the ‘67s cartoon, but the script impressively segues this huge life-like bear from seeming opportunism to complete likeability. Raksha, the female wolf who rears Mowgli, is picturised in deeply

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moving shades of tenderness and courage.

The adult next to me was startled out of his seat by a sonic boom accompanying a sudden tiger attack. It was my turn to react and whip my 3D-spectacled face away as a spinning stick hurtles down a cliff straight at us. Not all parts of story resonate. The sequence with a giant orangutan king and rambling stone ruins is not as good as the nuttily groovy ‘60s version of jiving simians and shooting bananas. The runtime of 105 minutes, however, concludes just before ennui looms.

Neel Sethi who embodies Mowgli is undoubtedly endearing and consistently conveys gentleness and gumption, enhanced by a self-honed talent for mechanical engineering that his jungle pals see as “tricks”. He’s neatly made to look the part, with long hair, nice big eyes, flattened nose and a tiny vulnerable body all conveying an aww-so-cute appeal. Cribbing that I didn’t see enough wit to perk up this little boy’s portrayal, is unfair, isn’t it?

His Yankee accent shouldn’t jar too much considering that New York, from where Sethi hails, neighbours Vermont where the British Kipling birthed this Indian story.

The Jungle Book maintains its subtly eco-protective feeling beautifully at the end by marking a departure from endings of previously filmed versions. It does not preach yet manages to make us think— another of its major strengths. As CGI advances by the day and offers us dazzling hyper-realism, we may never again see the big-time return of the fondly remembered animation canvases conjured up for good ol’ Disney.

But as long as there is sensitivity and craftsmanship such as that showcased by Favreau and team, there is still reason to delight in what cartoons have become.

Rating: 4/5

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FEATURES

29 April 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

A young achiever

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Gaurav Sharma

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rissa born Ojas Mahapatraled Photonic Innovations featured among top three in New Zealand Awards 2016 Innovation category.

We aim to make the company a world leader in gas leak detection technology in the next five years, he said, adding that the company has recently launched its first gas leak detector Ammonia LD 4000.

Photonic Innovations was among the top three finalists in this year’s New Zealander of the Year Awards 2016 (Innovator of the Year category) and narrowly missed out to the eventual winner.

Ojas Mahapatra is a young achiever who moved to New Zealand from Orissa in 2010 for his Ph.D. from University of Canterbury and was appointed the CEO of Photonic Innovations in 2014.

He has been credited with the success of the company in the last two years, with recognition at the New Zealand Awards being the icing on the cake. We spoke to Mahapatra recently to know more about Photonic Innovations. Below are excerpts from the interview.

IWK: How did it feel to be among the top three most innovative companies in the country this year?

Mahapatra: Wonderful, really. It is a reflection of the effort and resources we have put in the last two years in the company’s R&D. IWK: What was the nomination for?

Mahapatra: It was for our patented innovative laser-based gas detection

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the New Zealand Government), and Otago Innovation Limited (of the University of Otago).

IWK: So how did this turnaround happen?

Ojas Mahapatra jurisdictions, with the patent application pending in Europe.

IWK: Tell us your company.

technology. Conventional gas leak detectors are electrochemical in nature and suffer from low accuracy and reliability as well as high maintenance costs.

With our laser spectroscopy-based technology, we offer unprecedented accuracy and reliability with zero maintenance costs.

There is no need to replace sensors, there are no false alarms and our detectors are completely calibrated.

We have patented this technology in New Zealand, Australia, US and Canada

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about

Mahapatra: Photonic Innovations manufactures laser-based gas leak detectors.

These devices are placed at hazardous gas-filled confined spaces and they alert employees when a toxic/inflammable gas’ concentration goes above the prescribed safety limits.

This facilitates early evacuation and a quick fix of the leak before a mishap happens. The company is a spin-out from University of Otago and was established in 2005.

The company became dormant after a few years of operation and was picked as a potential investment opportunity by Powerhouse Ventures in 2014. That is when I joined the company as well.

In the last two years, we have been successful in reviving the company and have recently launched our first gas leak detector Ammonia LD 4000 targeted at the food processing sector in New Zealand.

We have already sold two units to the Silver Fern Farm and the market is showing some healthy demand.

Equity-wise, our company has three stakeholders: Powerhouse Ventures, the New Zealand Venture Investment Fund (of

I Am Woman presents high-tea rendezvous Date: April 30, 2016 Time: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Venue: The Langham, Auckland I Am Woman presents High Tea Rendezvous, designed to engage women (and men) to be inspired to discover their inner potential, featuring Annah Stretton, live life in colour event series. How many of us are not in love with the life we live?

Annah is about to change the way you tackle your day to day. Enjoy an elegant high tea with your friends.

Support a great cause, receive an Annah Stretton goodie bag and be inspired to step-up to a new you!

Tickets: $75, early bird for the first 75 tickets: $55. Tickets available via eventfinda. All proceeds to RAW. For more information contact infor@ iamwoman.nz or iamwoman@xtra. co.nz

Open Streets 2016 ft.

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Date: Sunday, 1 May 2016 Time: 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Venue: Karangahape Road, Auckland CBD Join Open Streets 2016 on 1 May – a free, fabulous, fun-filled day on a vehicle-free K’Rd, featuring a vehiclefree Karangahape Road. For the first time in 10 years, Auckland’s famous Karangahape Road will be closed

Mahapatra: Before Powerhouse Ventures and I came on board, the company had a bulky laser-based portable hand-held gas detector, which was used to detect four gases. After the revamp, we decided to change the product to a sit-on-the-wall gas leak detector, which detected only one gas, Ammonia.

This was essentially a game-changer.

Moreover, a unique thing about our detectors is that by just changing the laser wavelength, we can modify the detectors to detect other gases, which gives us a huge competitive advantage.

IWK: Where is your company headquartered now, and where is the manufacturing set-up?

Mahapatra: We are currently based in Dunedin with some out-sourced manufacturing also done in Christchurch.

The final assembly of the product is done in Dunedin.

IWK: Finally, what are your future plans? Where do you see Photonic Innovations five years down the line?

Mahapatra: Currently, we are in the process of raising capital for the future expansion of the company. Once this cycle is over, we plan to hire more staff and scale up our manufacturing. Exploring international markets and seeking partners will come after that.

Overall, our vision for the next five years is to make Photonic Innovations a world leader in the gas leak detection business.

to traffic (from midday to 7pm) from Ponsonby Road to Queen Street.

Revel in the music, street dining, art installations, pop-up performances and so much more. Highlights of the event will be: Bike Auckland’s treasure hunt, plenty of interactive activities for the kids, cabaret impresario Mike Haka and his guests on a 360⁰ stage, the Auckland Street Choir will sing a mix of pop, soul, blues, R&B and folk and many more.

Free entry.

Free public lecture: Osteoporosis and Bone Disease: Big Steps Forward

Date: Wednesday, 25 May 2016 Time: 7 p.m. onwards Venue: Auckland Medical School AMRF is holding a free public lecture on Wednesday 27 May at the Auckland Medical School.

Distinguished Professor Ian Reid will discuss the impact and treatment of bone diseases, including osteoporosis and Paget’s disease. To register phone 923 1701 or email us at amrf@medicalresearch.org.nz

ARMS workshop for new migrants

Date and Time and Venue: Tuesday, 3 May 2016; 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at

ARMS offices, 532 Mt Albert Road, Auckland and Monday, 16 May 2016; 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at 82 St Lukes Road, Mt Albert, Auckland Auckland Regional Migrant Services is holding a special ‘LinkedIn Workshop for Beginners’ on Tuesday, 3 May. The workshop teaches migrant job seekers how to use the professional network to find employment.

ARMS is also holding a new workshop for migrants on 16 May which is designed to help newcomers understand where to go for specific services as well as recognise the emotional aspects of moving to a new country. Funded

by Albert Eden Local board, and working collaboratively with Auckland Libraries (Auckland Council) and the Citizens Advice Bureau, the part-day workshop will explain how migrants can access services to better assist their settlement in Auckland; understand the emotional aspects of migrating, and listen to stories from other migrants on how they settled in Auckland. For more information or to register for any of the workshops, please visit www.arms-mrc.org.nz or call ARMS on 09 625 2440 or email reception@arms-mrc.org.nz NOTE: Citizen Advice Bureau has now opened a branch at Botany Town Centre.

FEATURES

www.iwk.co.nz | 29 April 2016

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Take your photography to the next level Jeffery Chan

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igital photography has advanced so much that it has become part of our daily lives. Thanks to the advancement in social media, taking photos and sharing them have become a norm. Almost everyone carry some sort of camera with them, mostly their smartphones. Although the photo quality can be really good in the right hands, it is hard to beat the quality that you get from a DLSR camera or even a mirrorless

camera. Whichever camera you choose to shoot, remember that the best camera is the one that you have at any moment.

For the sake of this article, I shall be using a DLSR as reference.

Why might you want to use a DLSR when a smartphone camera can take decent photos? Well, there are much more features in a DLSR that you can use to control how you want to photograph. For example, try photographing your active kids using a smartphone.

Chances are that your photos will be blurry or you missed the shot.

But before we explore the fun features of a DLSR, it is good to learn a few important guides about photography. Although photography is an art and should be a form of self-expression, these guides are a starting point to take your photography to the next level.

The most important one is the rule of thirds. When you are framing your image, some cameras have the ability to display these guides, so check your manual. If they don’t, just imagine breaking an image down into thirds (both horizontally and vertically). As you can see from the image 1, you will have four intersections.

The idea is to place your subject

in one of these intersections like the example.

In both the images with the model, I have placed the intersection on her face. Just apply this rule and soon you will find that your photos start to look more interesting. Don’t be afraid of cropping out some parts, which leads us to the next guide, which is less is more.

In my next article, we shall discover about exposure.

How to expose an image will also be part of telling a story to your viewer.

Image 1

Photography is about telling a story and framing is one way of doing that. Sometimes hiding a part of an image is necessary in telling a story. Keeping it

simple and allowing the viewer to only see what you want them to see. This allows the viewer to imagine and that is what makes

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photo

interesting.

Jeffery is the owner and photographer at STUDIO81 photography located in Newmarket and East Tamaki. STUDIO81 is one of Auckland’s leading portrait photography studios and specialises in modern glamour transformation.

Jeffery is an award-winning photographer and has the title of Master of Photography by NZIPP.

www.donha.co.nz Top One Real Estate Limited

12 Osterley Way, Manukau 261 2555

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1 Arranmore Dr, Botany 265 0318

Licensed (REAA 2008)

Inviting nominations for Kiwi Indian Honours 2016 K IW

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The guidelines, which need to be adhered to, for nominations, are as follows:

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Established 2013

The Indian Weekender calls upon nominations for those who have built a road to glory for themselves and left a path for the coming generations to tread on; who have touched the lives of thousands and enriched the society with their being; who’ve brought fame and respect to New Zealand and the KiwiIndian community. The Indian Weekender invites nominations for such personalities from the community for getting inducted into the Kiwi Indian Hall of Fame 2016. We also invite nominations for Kiwi Indian Young Achiever of the Year and Kiwi Indian Unsung Hero of the Year 2016.

Nominate Online : http://bit.ly/1QZJcTO Last date for sending nominations : May 6, 2016

Entry Form: Form for nominating candidates for Kiwi Indian Honours 2016

Nominator Details

Nominee Details

Name of the Nominator

Name of the Nominee

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1. He/she needs to have an undisputable recognition in his or her field of work.

2. Nominated by a nominator of repute. Further, the nominator has to be in confirmation with the nominee.

3. The nominator has to provide their full contact details. No anonymous applications will be accepted.

4. All fields of work are welcome. For the purposes of this award, ‘field of work’ can be politics, business, sports, art, culture, or any profession.

5. The definition of Kiwi Indian, for the purposes of this award, hereby, is defined as follows: any person of Indian origin, from any part of the world, who has settled here in New Zealand. To be of Indian origin, at least one of the parents of the nominee have to be Indian, by blood. Thereby making the nominee of Indian lineage.

6. The nominee must have either a Permanent Residency (PR), or Citizenship of New Zealand to be eligible for consideration.

7. The nominee should have no prior convictions.

8. Age is no bar; for minors, under the age of 18, parental consent will be required.

9. The successful candidate will be required to attend the ceremony in person. In case a person is not able to attend, due to any unforeseen circumstances, the jury will use its discretion.

10. The jury’s decision will be final and binding; and cannot be challenged.

Please fill and post it to the address below

About the Nominee For how long have you known the Nominee?

Professional details of the Nominator

Age of Nominee Sex

Address & Contact number of Nominator *

Category

Why do you think the nominee qualifies for the honour?

Please state your reasons for nominating the above person. You may mention the achievements of the Nominee in his/her profession.

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F

Address & Contact number of Nominee *

Kiwi Indian Hall of Fame Kiwi Indian Young Achiever of the year (16 to 35 years only)

How according to you has the Nominee brought fame and respect to the Kiwi-Indian community?

Kiwi Indian Unsung Hero of the year

Declaration by Nominator I have received confirmation from the Nominee for this application.

Yes

No

Nominee has accepted to appear in person for the ceremony, if he/she gets accepted for the induction to Hall of Fame 2016.

Yes

No

I hereby declare that the above information is true to the best of my knowledge. I also allow Indian Weekender and the Jury to use the information provided for background checks and to contact either me or the Nominee for the purpose of getting any more information.

Signed:

What to do next?

Please take a print out of this form, sign and send to us at: Jury Panel, Kiwi Indian Honours 2015 98, Great South Road, Epsom, Auckland

(Add extra pages to this form if required.)

For details contact Indian Weekender on 09-2137335 or go to: www.indianweekender.co.nz