Indian Weekender 16 December 2016

16 DEC2016

RAJINIKANTH NEVER FORGOT HIS ROOTS

Vol. 8 • Issue 39

NZ’s only Kiwi-Indian weekly

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www.iwk.co.nz | 16 December 2016

Will English fit the bill and charm Kiwi-Indians?

Sandeep Singh

T

he nation’s wait for a new prime minister is over with the appointment of Bill English as the new leader of the nation and Paula Bennett his deputy on December 12.

The appointment was largely expected after all other initial aspirants chose to give way to Mr English and withdraw their names from the scheduled National Party caucus elections.

To what extent can this oneweek wait since last Monday be characterised as an anxious wait for the nation for their new prime minister will depend on how the news is received.

For many, especially the KiwiIndians, the anxiety begins after the appointment of Mr English as the prime minister.

The only reason being that Mr English will only be New Zealand’s third prime minister in the last 17 years—a period when almost twothird of all Kiwi-Indians currently in New Zealand have arrived in the country.

During the 2001 census, the population that identified themselves as Indian was 62,646, which surged to 159,333 in the 2013 and reaching to just around 200,000 in 2015.

A predominant majority of the Kiwi-Indian population in New Zealand has been accustomed to a strong, stable, and personality-driven leadership of the country under either Helen Clark or John Key. This is in contrast to the arrival of relatively quiet, poised but sharp and untested Mr English.

Adding to this will be the departure of the historic comfort of dealing with Auckland-based leaders as the country’s prime minister.

Without any sweeping generalisations, it can be argued to some extent that a large number of Indian-New Zealanders warm up to and connect with leaders who are more visible and approachable than who appears elusive or recluse.

Completely aligned to this above observation is the fact that Ms Clark and Mr Key both were based in Auckland and highly visible in the city public life to allow Kiwi-Indians developing a special fondness for both the leaders.

Unfortunately, as of now, Mr English does not fit into the leadership norms to which the Indian community in New Zealand has largely been accustomed.

Although, it does not limit him from any possible way to develop

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suggest their proximity towards everything that reflects urban-liberal rather than rural-conservative.

For some, Ms Bennett may allay some of these above-illustrated anxieties within the Indian community purely because of her perceived persona of friendliness and approachability along with her Auckland-based image—the key attributes that have connected the Indian community with the two previous popular prime ministers.

To that extent, it may be argued that Ms Bennett is just a deputy leader and not the prime minister to have an immediate impact on the Indian community’s anxieties.

Bill English

roads within the community and the community itself to get connected with the country’s new leadership.

Adding to this is another fault line between the community and the new prime minister, which also coincides with the larger fault line within the National Party itself—the divide between the urban-liberal and the rural-conservative.

With the departure of Mr Key and the arrival of Mr English, that fault line may also get some traction as Mr Key was an epitome of urbanliberal whereas Mr English is a proud owner of the image of “the farmer from Dipton.”

The demographic profile of the newly settled Kiwi-Indians might

In this regard, it is important to note that the new prime minister has already indicated his intentions to calm any anxiety arising from his personal opinions and intellectual leanings as manifested in making a U-turn on the same-sex marriage.

Still, it will take some more efforts and a little bit more time before the new prime minister and the Indian community in the New Zealand can start warming to each other.

For now, the anxiety begins.

NEW ZEALAND

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16 December 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

International students in NZ: increasingly feeling unwelcomed Sandeep Singh

C

urrently, international students and skilled migration system are at the heart of growing public disquiet around the current immigration levels in New Zealand.

The way this debate has been set in public eye appears to castigate the entire system as a sham. The allegation being put forward is that international education has become a backdoor route to immigration.

This way, serious questions have been raised about the quality of international students and the overall value they bring to the New Zealand society.

These seemingly correct questions are backed by facts, assertions, and individual experiences of a few.

Similarly, the government is rebutting these arguments on the basis of a few facts and their assertions.

Either way, both sides appears to be off target in finding ways to improve the system and enhancing the overall international education experience in New Zealand for those who chose to come to New Zealand.

Apparently, the main reason for this is that both sides–those who are thrashing the government and the government itself–have a gap in their accurate understanding of some of the main aspects of global international education environment and market specific behaviour.

This piece seeks to address some of the key stereotypes related to the Indian segment of the international education market.

A key stereotype gaining traction in public eyes is that most of the international students from India have poor English language skills and are as a rule seeking to escape from the torturous grill of poverty and corruptionridden life back home. Although not completely incorrect, it is still far removed from the reality and an accurate reading of Indian students’ global mobility and the Indian segment of the international education market.

The choice of international education and the destination of pursuing that international education, like migration, is a complex choice determined by multiple factors.

Any oversimplified understanding of factors determining international education choices of the prospective students, especially from India, has a potential to create complacency in shaping New Zealand’s responses to the international education market.

In a similar vein, another prominent stereotype getting much attention is the stories of seemingly rampant exploitation of Indian international students, largely by ethnic Indian employers.

These exploitation stories are being repeatedly linked with the quality of international students coming to New Zealand, their apparent lessprivileged situation back home, and are thereby contributing towards an u n w e l c o m e environment for As your new Labour MP, I thank the international students. you for your support and look In this regard, forward to being a strong voice for two points deserve some attention. our community.

First, the need To contact my office, please call for an urgent and stern action against 09 624 2278 or email: the unscrupulous michael.wood@parliament.govt.nz employers exploiting international students in a precarious work situation cannot be overemphasised.

This is not required as a

Thank you

Michael Wood

MP for Mt Roskill

Authorised by Michael Wood, Parliament Buildings, Wellington

mark of commitment to help international create more drama than urgent actions and students in distress. Instead, this is required policy responses to ameliorate the plight as a commitment to New Zealand’s value of people in distress. Above all, it creates a system and reputation as a fair place to live negative profile of all international students in and work. the country.

Secondly, it is important to note the fact that International student mobility is the current the life journey of a migrant is relatively tough reality of global politics, and India has emerged and is widely acknowledged in the realms of as the second largest source-destination driving international politics. this international student mobility market.

Migrants, regardless of their country of In 2015, India had sent 360,000 students origin, ethnicity, social and religious background overseas around the world with a 17.8% growth and the choice of dreamed destination, in the numbers from the previous year— the experience considerable challenges. second year in a row that India’s growth rate has been higher than China.

Even the Kiwis who choose to fly off to distant lands of London, Only 29,000 managed to A New York, and beyond do not come to New Zealand key stereotype always have a dream start to during this period, which gaining traction in their lives at their chosen is eight per cent share of public eyes is that most of destinations. the Indian market of the international students international students.

There are numerous from India have poor English stories of humble This clearly suggests language skills and are as a rule that there is still a vast beginnings and the seeking to escape from the poor run of many market out there waiting torturous grill of poverty prospective Kiwi migrants to be tapped by and corruption-ridden in those distant cherished New Zealand. life back home. destinations.

Also important to note is the Probably this is the reason fact that New Zealand’s recent why even United Nations prefers to success in penetrating the Indian student club migrants together with refugees and market is in part because of a rapid decline other people uprooted from their natural seen in the UK market. habitat either by force or by choice to create There has been a stupendous 49% increase in maximum global awareness about how best to the number of Indian students coming to New assist them.

Zealand in 2014 immediately after the UK chose Towards this goal, there is a need to unleash several “unfriendly” policies for the to create a socio-political environment international students. that makes a migrant’s life journey less At the end of the day, the UK’s revenue loss stressful and they are welcomed in their is New Zealand’s gain, and there is a need for dreamed destination. us to be less inclined to follow UK’s path in the New Zealand is no exception. In this regard, global education market. the temptation to create a poor man’s story out Tempering the urge to make a poor man’s of every international student’s personal misery image out of international students’ individual should be resisted. miserable situations would possibly be in Such frequent stories in public attention everyone’s best interests.

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NEW ZEALAND

www.iwk.co.nz | 16 December 2016

INZBC commits support to NZ High Commissioner designate to India

IWK Bureau

T

he India New Zealand Business Council (INZBC) has welcomed the new High Commissioner designate of New Zealand to India, Joanna Kempkers and promised all support and cooperation from the business community.

The appointment of Ms Kempkers has come at a crucial time when India-NZ bilateral relations are interestingly poised.

Apart from the much awaited Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between both the nations, several new sectors such as education, tourism, and goods sector are fast emerging.

Speaking with INZBC members and other members of the industry at a meeting at the Deloitte centre on December 13, Ms Kempkers acknowledged that a lot of good work has already been done on the ground and she shall endeavour to improve upon that.

“I am looking forward to working with the business community and the society at large from both countries, to build stronger ties between India and New Zealand,” Ms Kempkers said.

Ms Kempers comes from a long and illustrious background in diplomacy and international affairs and her last posting before her recent appointment was as the Chief of Protocol at Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

In that capacity, she has already been to India immediately before former Prime Minister John Key’s recent visit to India in October this year.

Acknowledging the importance of continuous engagement in any successful bilateral relationship, Ms Kempkers affirmed the need for a two-way dialogue between New Zealand and India.

“While the FTA would undoubtedly be a catalyst for growth in the bilateral trade and economic relationship there is more that could and should be done to advance our economic ties. NZ trades successfully with a number of countries without an FTA, and, We can with India too.

“We appreciate the work done by agencies [such as] INZBC, who act as a bridge between the government and the industry people. We look forward to working with them in the future,” Ms Kempkers said.

INZBC board member Sameer Handa also felicitated the new High Commissioner and presented her with a brochure of INZBC, with a summary of all events done in the past one year.

Sir Ken Stevens, Executive Chairman, Glidepath Group, was a special attendee at the event and delivered a brief presentation on his experiences of working within the Indian market.

Top: Mr. Wenceslaus Anthony adresses the gathering; Below: Joanna recieves INZBC brochure from board member, Sameer Handa; Bottom: Tony Martin,Regional Director - India, Middle East and Africa, NZTE addressing the gathering

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Wenceslaus Anthony, Head of Government Relations, INZBC, felicitated the new High Commissioner designate and reiterated that INZBC is committed to developing great ties between India and New Zealand, as it has been doing so for the past few decades.

Acknowledging the recent change of leadership in New Zealand Bhav Dhillon, INZBC treasurer, said that these are exciting times to have new impetus to the relationships.

We hope to work closely with the prime minister and the High Commissioner’s office, on the various policies and initiatives of the government, for bilateral trade,” Mr Dhillon said.

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NEW ZEALAND

16 December 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

Shearer leaves, by-elections likely Sandeep Singh

NZPP on hunt for suitable candidate

M

t Albert electorate has lost their second successive electorate MP to the lure of top United Nation (UN) job in a span of seven years.

This time, it is because the much-liked David Shearer has accepted the role of head of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) starting early next year.

Earlier it was Labour Leader Helen Clark’s exit as the administrator of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in 2009.

Labour has held this seat since it was created in 1946 and was Ms Clark’s stronghold between 1981 and 2009.

UNMISS is the UN’s third-largest peacekeeping mission, with 17,000 uniformed and almost 2,000 civilian personnel deployed in the mission. A recommendation for Mr Shearer’s appointment was put before the UN Security Council by outgoing UN SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki-moon.

This recommendation was based on his individual capacity, not requiring any official backing from the New Zealand government.

Nevertheless, the NZ Foreign Minister has fully extended its endorsement behind Mr Shearer’s new appointment as a UN administrator.

This is a senior position at the United Nations that would report directly to the Secretary-General.

Labour Leader Andrew Little confirmed that he had been kept informed of Mr Shearer’s involvement in the selection process and he was “very excited for him.”

“David will be the only New Zealander in charge of a UN peacekeeping mission. This is a very exciting opportunity for him to make a difference and help bring peace to a country of nine million people torn apart by civil war,” Mr Little said.

David Shearer

Mr Shearer has a short political career from 2009 to 2016 with many hits, misses, and regrets.

Undoubtedly, the high point of his political career was his leadership of the Labour Party from 2011 to 2013—a period when the party had maximum polling.

One of the regrets was the end of his time as Labour leader in 2013 without fighting an election.

“For me, the Labour leader was both a highlight, and obviously, ultimately a disappointment. Sadly, I think we were at our best at the end,” said Mr Shearer recalling his experience as the Labour leader in his final departing speech to the Parliament.

With this exit, the third self-propelled departure of former Labour leaders after Phil Goff and David Cunliffe has successfully completed.

Mr Goff had earlier left the Labour caucus

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for Auckland Mayoralty and Mr Cunliffe has declared that he would not be returning to Parliament in 2017, thus giving a clear run to the current Labour leader Andrew little.

Earlier this year, Mr Goff and Mr Shearer had threatened to cross the party line and vote against Labour caucus’ opposition to TransPacific Partnership (TPP).

Mr Goff has then escaped unscathed whereas Mr Shearer was threatened with a censure for not toeing the party line against TPP. It might be a possibility that Mr Shearer’s exit plan from Labour caucus might have been triggered as a post-TPP effect.

Meanwhile, Labour MP Jacinda Ardern has put up her hand up to stand for Labour in Mt Albert by-election.

The recent Mt Roskill by-election results have given the Labour Party the added confidence to retain the seat. Mt Albert is another traditional Labour stronghold seat where National Party had more party votes in 2014.

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NZPP leader Roshan Nauhria

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ew Zealand’s People Party (NZPP) is aggressively looking for a suitable candidate to stand for the Mt Albert byelection likely to be held after David Shearer’s departure from their party’s ticket.

NZPP, formed earlier this year in September, is the country’s first political party purely for ethnic immigrants.

Speaking with Indian Weekender, Roshan Nauhria the party’s founder and president, appeared undeterred with the results of the recently concluded Mt Roskill by-elections.

Mr Nauhria failed to make a mark on the byelection results.

“We are committed to building our party for the next 2017 elections.

“Mt Roskill was a good learning, and we are equally committed to Mt Albert electorate,” Mr Nauhria said.

Mr Nauhria was party’s candidate in the Mt Roskill by-elections.

Although this time, the party is eyeing on a candidate of Chinese descent for the Mt Albert by-elections, apparently to keep a balance between Indians and Asians—the key target constituency of the party.

On being probed further if the party has some credible aspirants for the Mt Albert seat, Mr Nauhria reiterated, “We will be able to announce our candidate in the next two or three days.”

NZPP is aiming to secure 10% votes in the 2017 general elections to get the balance of power in the government.

Mt Albert, like Mt Roskill, is also among one of the most ethnically diverse constituencies in New Zealand.

Heavy weights light up Papatoetoe Children’s Christmas

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unters Plaza—Papatoetoe’s premier shopping destination—played host to a group of heavy weights including professional boxer David Letele aka Brown Buttabean, The Grinch, Frozen stars and, last but not the least, Santa on Sunday, December 11.

Letele, famous for losing 90kg and inspiring thousands around the globe, was available to meet and greet with fans as well as sign autographs.

He talked about his Buttabean Motivation boot camps, which are being held at the Kolmar Papatoetoe Sport Centre.

Another massive draw card for the children was Santa’s Magical Christmas Show featuring The Grinch, Frozen stars Anna, Elsa and Olaf.

Monya van Wyk, Marketing Manager of Hunters Plaza says they are excited to be bring such a positive and community focused event to Hunters Plaza in the lead up to the festive season. “Children love the magic of Christmas,

and this show promised to deliver lots of fun and it did. David is such a positive role model for people, and we expect many to turn up to meet him and hear his messages around being healthy and reaching your goals,” says Monya.

NEW ZEALAND

www.iwk.co.nz | 16 December 2016

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Royal Business College Avondale FC- winners of Eid Cup 2016. Photo by Auckland Fiji Times

Eid Cup Sports Carnival concludes for 2016 Rizwan Mohammad

N

ew Zealand Muslim Sports Association (NZMSA) hosted a three-day sports carnival from Friday, December 9 to Sunday, December 11, at Centre Park in Mangere.

NZMSA in association with Federation of Islamic Association of New Zealand (FIANZ) host two community sports events every year, Unity Cup, which is held in March–April and Eid Cup, just after the Eid-ul-Adha festival.

The event brings more than 400 participants in different categories and sub-categories.

Since football is the biggest attraction for the community, participants are subdivided into three groups such as Mens’ teams, Kids Madrassa teams for players in U10 and U13 category, and Youth Soccer for players in U15 and U18 category.

The other two outdoor sports activities held are volleyball and cricket. Besides the main sports tournament, NZMSA also conducted Quran recitation, Oratory or Naat competitions, which took place on December 9 at Airport Mosque.

“The concept of the sports tournament is to unite the youth using sports as a medium. There is also a huge pool of talent in the community, and this is a platform for them to participate and showcase it,” Shaheen Rah’mani, Chairman of the Tournament said.

“The tournament, although organised by Muslim Sports Association, involves everyone in the community irrespective of their faith and beliefs,” he added.

The Men’s Soccer has 16 teams, four in each pool. Pool A has Ponsonby, Manukau, Botany, and Mt. Wellington teams. Pool B comprises teams from Avondale, Dannemora, Mangere, and Lynfield. West Gate, Takanini, Papatoetoe, and Waikato formed Pool C, and Pool D had Airport Oaks, Onehunga, Green Bay, and Otahuhu teams.

Airport Oaks and Westgate were the two new teams this year, and the Ponsonby team was defending their title for this year. Avondale defeated Dannemora in the final with a 1–0 score.

The Madrassa Soccer had nine teams in U13 and seven in U10 categories with seven players in each team. Ranui mosque, Maunatul Islam (Mangere), Waikato Islamic School, Park Ave, Al Noor (Papatoetoe), Al-Falah (Botany), Al Taqwa (Manukau), Al-Farouq (Otahuhu), New Lynn mosque participated.

Ranui Mosque teams defeated Waikato Islamic School in U13 and Maunatul Islam in U10 category.

The Youth Soccer had four teams participating—Onehunga, Ponsonby, Mangere and Ranui with 11 players in each team.

Ponsonby defeated Onehunga in U15 and Onehunga won against Mangere team in the U18 category.

The T20 cricket matches were held over two weekends with preliminary rounds on December 4 and finals on December 11. The Ponsonby team scored 230 runs in 20 overs, limiting Airport Oaks with only 180 runs.

Takanini mosque won the main Quran recitation competition followed by Airport Oaks. Raeesh and ShoaiB from Mosque Alnoor won the U13 and U10 Madrassa Quran recitation competition. Maunatul Islam team won the Naat (oratory) competition.

Hafiz Junaid from Al Noor Educational Trust in Papatoetoe, Feroz Patel, Dr Iqbal and Liaqat Ali from NZMA were the chief guests for the tournament, and they also represented FIANZ, the apex body of the Muslim community in New Zealand.

More than 2,500 people visited the three-day tournament that also had fun activities for the non-participating members of the community.

Bouncy castles and fun rides were arranged for the children along with food and henna stalls for the visitors.

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16 December 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

SOUTH LINE Career options in dairy explored at Lincoln’s Open Farm Day News-in-brief from South Island

Gaurav Sharma

T

here is no denying the fact that dairy is the backbone of New Zealand’s economy with the sector more and more reliant on migrants, who are willing to work on isolated rural farms.

Many, including from India, come from places where technology is not so advanced. For them, the Lincoln University (LU) Dairy Farm Open Day held in November in the South The annual Open Farm Day hosted by the Lincoln University provided an overview of opportunities in New Zealand’s single Island’s Selwyn district, provided largest industry an excellent opportunity to get to Zealand’s environment due to the 12,000 dairy farmers work with or Kumaraguru College of Technology know what actually goes inside increased nitrogen content in the employ another 30,000 people on (KCT), Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, a farm and maybe explore some ground, Jim Moir, senior lecturer in farm, thousands more are employed India, for its Motorsport Engineering career options. To aid this, all the Soil Fertility at the LU explained, in associated businesses and in dairy Systems Analysis programme in seven partner organisations—Lincoln “This farm’s objective is to ensure factories.

January 2017. This initiative is part University, DairyNZ, South Island that the average annual concentration Moreover, South Island dairy Dairy Farmers (represented by the of nitrate-N in drainage water from production is the fastest growing in of Ara’s ongoing efforts in developing mutually beneficial relationships with South Island Dairy Event (SIDE) below the plant root zone the country, representing 39 per cent institutions in India. network), Ravensdown Fertiliser remains below the of total New Zealand milk solids This So far, the Polytechnic has signed Cooperative Limited, critical value (16 mg production, from 23.8 per cent of farm’s MoUs with Jaipuria Institute of Plant & Food Research, N/L) specified in the country’s herds and 35.8 per objective is to ensure Livestock Improvement E n v i r o n m e n t cent of its cows. This provides huge Management, Rizvi College of Arts, that the average annual Corporation (LIC), C a n t e r b u r y ’s opportunities to those interested, they Science & Commerce, and Gujarat concentration of nitrate-N in Technological University, apart and AgResearch— p r o p o s e d added. drainage water from below the from KCT. Notably, the number of who are managing the regional rule. plant root zone remains below international students coming to Ara Ara will host Indian 186-hectare irrigated This is not to say the critical value (16 mg N/L) from India has steadily increased, property of which 160 that challenges students in January specified in Environment from 160 in 2014 to more than hectares is the milking are not there. But Canterbury’s proposed hristchurch-based Ara double this year. In 2016, of the total platform, were at hand we are working regional rule.

Institute of Canterbury— 1,017 full-time international students educating the gathering towards it.” formerly Christchurch studying at Ara, 365 are from India, about the options available.

The organisers also Polytechnic Institute of Technology— For those who are sceptical about noted that while New Zealand’s will be hosting 10 students from according to the figures provided by the institute. the harmful effects of diary to New

C

Christmas celebrated in style

Christchurch Kerala Association also launched a special loyalty card scheme for members as part of the festivities

Gaurav Sharma

E

stablished in 2005, Christchurch Kerala Association (CKA)—a non-profit organisation catering to the needs of the Malayalee community living in and around the Christchurch—organised its Christmas celebrations on December 10. More than160 people attended. Christchurch Central MP and Minister Nicky Wagner, and Canterbury District Manager for Maori, Pacific, and Ethnic Services, Inspector Hirone Waretini were the special invitees.

Aby Abraham, Secretary at CKA, informed, “Celebrations started at 6 p.m. with cake cutting and dinner.

This time, we organised few competitions, including the best Christmas tree and crib, as well as the best Christmas cake. Later, a

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small segment of Malayalee dance and music was presented with help from our local music director Justin James.”

Mr Abraham also informed that this year, the association has

tied up with nine sponsors for its newly-launched membership card loyalty scheme.

“All CKA members would be given the loyalty card in the next few months, which will entitle

them to up to 15 per cent discount from our partner organisations.

By Easter next year, we hope to secure at least 15 more partners to make CKA membership a very attractive option,” he concluded.

Canterbury Police: Avoid SH 7 during holidays Police is urging caution to those using the alternate inland route of State Highway 7, Lewis Pass, during holidays Gaurav Sharma

W

ith summer in full swing and the country looking forward to the holiday season, Canterbury Police is advising motorists to be cautious while driving through the State Highway 7—Lewis Pass/Murchison alternate highway.

This is because the route remains

the only one between Christchurch and Picton until the damaged State Highway 1 is cleared of all landslides.

The police and New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) have indicated that there will be increased traffic police patrols in the area, and members of the public should call *555 for non-urgent road-related matters.

Canterbury’s Highway Patrol Team Leader, Senior Sergeant Philip Dean, said, “The Lewis Pass route is more challenging than SH 1 and takes at least seven and a half hours. But with all the traffic being diverted to the only connecting road between Picton and Christchurch, holiday-makers should be prepared that it might take longer.”

To smooth matters at SH 7, though, NZTA will be upgrading road signage and markings, closely monitor the traffic patterns, construct additional slow vehicle bays, widen road at critical points, as well as increase the available space for parking of trucks in small towns along the route to leave more space on the roadside for other moving vehicles.

Portion of SH1 might open before Christmas This would bring the muchneeded relief for quake-hit Kaikoura with hopes that tourists from Christchurch will return Gaurav Sharma It was a week of some good news for earthquake-hit Kaikoura. First came the news that the Central Government has decided to extend the business wage subsidy package for quake-affected businesses in and around the region for a further eight weeks. Making this announcement was Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce when he visited the town on December 9.

The extension of the subsidy, which includes $500 gross per week for a full-time employee and $300 gross per week for a part-time employee, means that the government will cover a total of 16 weeks now for businesses facing a dramatic drop in their turnover, following the closure of State Highway 1. But for businesses in Hamner Springs, the package will be limited to only eight weeks, the minister added.

Another bit of good news for the tourist town came on December 12 when the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) expressed hope to reopen the southward-bound portion of State Highway 1—between Christchurch and Kaikoura—before Christmas. Of the 20-plus slips on the road, NZTA has managed to remove all but four until now.

Although in some places, the route will be single-lane for the time being, NZTA informed.

Meanwhile, relief and recovery efforts have gathered pace in North Canterbury and South Marlborough.

Authorities have received more than 60 requests for emergency housing till now, with 22 applicants already placed. Under New Zealand’s civil defence management plan, the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment finds emergency accommodation for people after the Ministry of Social Development made the assessment.

Efforts are also under way to address the spiked mental health needs of Kaikoura and Marlborough. The Central Government has announced that it will pay $1.76 million as part of a $3.76m support package of which the remaining $2m would help build the town’s new health centre.

The capital had its share of bad news, too, when it was announced by the Wellington City Council that the quake-damaged Reading Cinema carpark would be demolished. Work is scheduled to begin before Christmas and would likely take two months to complete.

Meanwhile, Wellington’s inner city residents have called on for government’s and council’s support to strengthen earthquake-prone buildings, which they say will incur substantial costs.

NEW ZEALAND

www.iwk.co.nz | 16 December 2016

9

The compassionate musical saint “Tasmad asaktah satatam karyam karma samacara asakto hy acaran karma param apnoti purusah”

Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji

-Chapter 3.19 Bhagavad Gita

Molly Palanieappan, Datta Yoga Centre NZ

T

he above verse was conveyed by Lord Krishna to a distraught Arjuna during the Kurukshetra war, in which he explains the concept of Karma yoga. It means ‘therefore, without being attached to the fruits of activities, one should act as a matter of duty, for by working without attachment, one attains the Supreme’.

However, how does this relate to us in the Kali Yuga? We are not in a middle of a war, so why would this verse be important to us?

This verse is important because it teaches one to do one’s duty and at the same time render selfless service to others without any expectations.

It should be noted that interdependence is a way of life. The labour of ‘other’ men or women, either on a physical, psychic, intellectual or spiritual plane, benefits us. No task is insignificant.

Lord Dattatreya has preached the essence of Universal Brotherhood.

This principle is one that Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji (Sri Swamiji) advocates. Sri Swamiji always emphasises that practising humanity should be our motto.

Thus, he has established a world-renowned institution for the social, Avadhoota Datta Peetham in Mysore and all over India. This institution or ashram runs various programs, activities and charities for the enrichment of human life.

One of the notable services that the ashram does other than spiritual activity is that they provide Annadanam (free food) to all the ashram visitors. And on a regular basis, food is also distributed to the needy.

Sri Swamiji has also launched a programme called ‘Share your Food’. This programme encourages devotees around the world to share their food with the needy, every Tuesdays.

Moreover, another most important activity that the ashram conducts is the Medical Service Camps (SGS Vaidya Seva). Dedicated professionals offer their services to the poor and needy regularly for free, especially in the village and slum areas. There have

been many speciality camps such as cancer detection, diabetes, women and child care,

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Sri Swamiji aims to remind people of their social responsibility towards others and to encourage them to engage in social welfare activities

being conducted simultaneously with the Medical Camps.

This is to promote health awareness and the benefits of prevention against the diseases.

Over the years, charitable hospitals have also been established around Mysore, Cochin, Hyderabad, Chennai and many other places.

Other than that, the Avadhoota Datta Peetham have also founded several homes such as the Ammavodi—a rehabilitation centre for the destitute women, old age homes and orphanages. Furthermore, Sri Swamiji has also founded several schools including schools for the disabled. The ashram has also established a volunteer group, Sri Datta Humane Service.

This group renders their services during major socio-religious-community events.

Several examples include service at flood affected areas or calamity areas, donation of cots (beds), stationary and nutritional food to the needy and poor.

Sri Swamiji also uses modern technology to spread spiritual awareness and moral values, especially in students through several means such as the monthly magazine Bhaktimala (which now can be accessed online), SGS Video MMS and Puttugam, where short and educational messages can be shared online, and Dattavani—a place where Swamiji’s speeches have been uploaded and can be read by everyone at any time.

Through all these, Sri Swamiji aims to remind people of their social responsibility towards others and to encourage them to engage in social welfare activities.

It will be a great opportunity to come along and witness this divine musical saint who is overflowing with compassion and love for one and all. Experience a unique event with this divine saint where you can go on a musical journey on the February 4, 2017 at Dorothy Winstone Theatre, Auckland.

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Full training will be provided to the new owner.

• The shop is not only a Kebab shop but also a fast food shop having a variety of several fast food items.

Due to the change in family circumstances owner wants to sell the business. With developments happening in the area and new train station coming to K’Rd, and new apartments being built this customer base is about to explode and there is a lot of potential to expand this business, this place will be a gem in coming years.

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16 December 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

Police working with people for safer communities

New Zealand Police works with the community to make New Zealand safe and secure for its citizens, and seeks to prevent crime, improve public security, and detect offenders. The unwavering commitment of NZ Police officers to provide service to the public helps in maintaining the law and order in the country. The NZ Police force is actively involved with the community to ensure that it addresses the grievances of the citizens.

that children get to spend time with both parents. ¡¡ Problems can be resolved without arguments. Take time out. If things become heated or stressful, go somewhere for a few hours to let things calm down. ¡¡ If you are feeling afraid or overwhelmed, talk to someone you trust. ¡¡ Most importantly, if you have any fears for your own or your children’s safety, contact the police immediately.

Addressing family violence

C Sergeant Gurpreet Arora District Ethnic Services Coordinator, Counties Manukau

Police in action

A

t about 2:20 p.m. on Friday, September 9, three men with their faces covered walked into a liquor store in Manurewa. At the time, there were two attendants present in the store.

One of the men pointed a weapon at one of the victims and demanded money, while another picked up liquor bottles off the shelves.

The men stole liquor and ran out of the store on foot. The case was broadcast on Police Ten-7 TV programme and one of the men was brought to the Manukau Police Station by his family member. Police investigation is ongoing to identify other two offenders.

hristmas holidays should be about peaceful time together but for some families the reality is quite different. Family violence is a crime, and unfortunately, this time of the year is one of the busiest for police dealing with family violence. Family violence incidents can range from verbal abuse to serious physical assaults, and in extreme cases, they can result in death. Sadly, the casualties are often children who are caught up in the violence, and through no fault of their own, end up having a terrible Christmas.

Counties Manukau Police gives some practical tips that will assist everyone to have a calm, happy, and safe family Christmas and New Year. ¡¡ Set aside money to cover bills in January and February. Don’t spend more on Christmas than you can afford.

Christmas can be about spending time together as a family and not about buying expensive presents. ¡¡ Moderate your alcohol consumption.

You don’t need to drink in excess to have a good time. Don’t drink and drive.

Arrange for transport to home prior to going out or appoint a sober driver. ¡¡ If you share custody of children, come to an agreement before Christmas so

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rom November 21, Netsafe has started to receive, assess, and investigate complaints of harm caused by digital communications under the Harmful Digital Communications Act. The highly anticipated free service is available to all New Zealand internet users experiencing online harassment, offering help and advice to resolve complaints.

Netsafe takes calls about cyberbullying, online abuse, and harassment. You can reach them by calling on 0508 NETSAFE (toll-free) or by visiting the website netsafe.org.nz.

Information and guides for staying safe online can be found on the website. You can contact Sergeant Gurpreet Arora on 021-191-0461.

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Police hunt offenders of twin crime in South Auckland Rizwan Mohammad

T

hree men attacked a petrol station in South Auckland at 1:30 a.m. on Wednesday, 14 December and took cash and cigarettes from the counter, the Counties Manukau Police reported.

The trio, armed with bricks and a crowbar, were clad in hooded jackets and had covered their face with a balaclava.

They approached the window of the petrol station and smashed it with bricks to gain entry.

The sole attendant at the counter activated the store’s fog machine and sought safety in a nearby room. The alleged entered the store and grabbed cash and cigarettes before evading in their Mitsubishi car.

The panic button pressed by the attendant alarmed the owner Bal Singh and the police, who rushed to the scene of the crime in a few minutes.

The attendant on duty during the burglary is shaken but safe.

Following enquiries, the police have determined that the vehicle was stolen earlier in the evening from Clover Park in Flatbush.

The police have appealed

to the public for any information that may lead to the identities of the offenders captured in the CCTV footage. Anyone with information about the incident should contact the Counties Manukau Major Crime Team hotline on 0508 422 443.

Armed burglaries and shoplifting have become rampant in South Auckland.

A dairy owner was robbed with a knife pointed on his neck on the morning of December 11. The offender is still at large.

Another armed robbery was reported at BP petrol station on London Street in Whanganui on Tuesday morning. Four men armed with knives entered the station at 3:30 a.m. robbing cash and cigarettes. The hunt for the offenders is still on.

Armed robbery in Otahuhu builds fear and scepticism Rizwan Mohammad

A

n aggravated robbery in broad daylight on Sunday, December 11, at a dairy in South Auckland, has shaken the community.

Mahesh Kumar, 47, a patient of asthma, was at his dairy on Avenue Road in Otahuhu when a man ran into the counter pointing a sharp knife on his neck demanding cash.

The incident happened between 7:30 a.m. and 8 a.m., and the offender has been described as a well-built man wearing a black jacket with a hood, balaclava, and gloves.

While resisting the knife attack Mr Patel received a deep cut on his left hand between the fingers and also suffered a cut on his neck.

“My neck bled as he pinched the knife on me.

Had he (the offender) pressed a little harder, I would have had deeper cut,” Mr Patel said.

Mr Patel opened the cash counter and pleaded to not be hurt further when the offender pushed him to the ground. He suffered minor injuries on the head as he hit the chair next to him.

Mr Patel quickly ran out to the flea market next to the store and alarmed the people nearby. In the meantime, the offender collected the cash and fled from the store.

Mr Patel’s 14-year-old son, who was assisting him at the shop, was inside the storeroom when the incident took place.

The owner ran back to the store to get his car keys from his son and chased the offender.

Back in the store, his son and the neighbours from the flea market called the police and emergency services.

“I drove towards the roundabout on the east of Avenue Road where the offender disappeared in his car,” Mr Patel said.

The police arrived at the scene around 8 a.m.

Mr Patel’s wife, Nayana Patel, 44, rushed to the scene from her Mt Albert home on receiving the news.

“We own this dairy shop for nine years now.

This area is prone to shoplifters, but this was the first time we faced an armed robbery,” Mrs Patel said.

There were no property damages, but the offender was successful in taking $802100 from the counter. The police is investigating the incident, and the offender is yet to be located.

“The robber was covered from top to bottom with a face mask and gloves, and he could not be identified even in the CCTV footage,” Mr Patel said.

The incident, which has been reported in media, has made Mr Patel sceptical. He says that the robbery might make the store more susceptible to such incidents in the future.

“I am sorry to say this but now every second person in the shop looks like a suspect,” “The incident has made me more fearful of the people around the store,” the dairy owner added.

Mr Patel received his treatment on Monday and is stable now.

NEW ZEALAND

www.iwk.co.nz | 16 December 2016

11

Kiwi-Indian duo’s rib-tickling videos storm Facebook Rizwan Mohammad

been positive. Our long-term goal is to create a community both online and in person where people can feel special and included.

At this stage, however, we are simply looking to impact people one video at a time positively.

IWK: There are hundreds of groups making YouTube/ FB videos (overseas). Any group/artiste you can relate your videos to?

R&R: We have drawn our inspiration from Superwoman (Lily Singh from Canada), JusReign and Zaid Ali’s videos. It’s about finding humour in day-to-day conversations. We feel like we are catering to a similar audience but still we make sure that our content is always original.

T

wo Hamiltonians of Indian descent are making waves with their comedy videos on YouTube and Facebook.

Reneel Singh and Rajneel Naickar, popularly known as Ren and Raj, are students of law at Waikato University and are using their sense of humour to entertain a bigger crowd via social media.

Reneel Singh frantically laughs in his recorded voicemail, an invitation that the caller is going for a crazy ride talking to him. The duo’s fun-loving nature has garnered them a fan base that is growing exponentially in New Zealand and Fiji. In a conversation with Indian Weekender, Ren and Raj talk about what motivated them to start producing videos .

IWK: Tell us a little about Reneel and Rajneel.

R&R: We are of Indian descent, born and brought up in New Zealand. We love acting, directing, making stories, and all other forms of entertainment. We were both studying business management and law at Waikato University when one day we decided to give in to our passion and decided to create Ren and Raj.

IWK: What kind of response have you had from your fans? Do you look forward to changing the genre or go bigger?

R&R: The response has been great. We have had several

personal messages on Facebook and have met people on the streets too. We are even planning to meet a fan who loves our work. He came from Fiji and is in New Zealand for a short time, so we are likely to be meeting him by the end of the week.

Although we create all sorts of different videos, friendship and happiness is the concept that we want to share with as many people as possible. We are therefore looking to go as big as humanly possible and spread our videos with the world.

IWK: Anything else that you would like to share with our readers?

R&R: If you’re ever feeling down or are looking to put yourself in a good mood, our videos are for you. Go and check out our YouTube or our Facebook Page. Our videos are sure to cheer you up and leave you feeling positive.

Our YouTube: Youtube.com/renandraj Our Facebook: facebook.com/RenandRaj

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IWK: What kind of videos/vines do you make?

R&R: We make short funny videos. Some of the videos we have created include funny, relatable scenarios depicting parents, friends, social media habits, Bollywood parodies, and even our take on Diwali. Some of our more popular videos show us using funny ways to get out of arranged marriages, and how parents can react when their kids are not home on time.

IWK: When did you start making these videos?

R&R: We started playing around with the camera back in 2012 and created several random projects. In August this year, we got a little more serious about our work and started working on social media. At that point, we decided it was time to start pushing the limits to see how far we can go with the videos, and now, we make and release at least one video every week.

IWK: Do you take any help in making and compiling the videos?

R&R: No, we are the directors, editors, actors, and even the camera crew for our videos. We place the camera on a tripod and press record, walk in front, and do our thing.

There have even been occasions where we have been holding the lighting equipment while acting.

It is challenging doing everything, so occasionally we drag our friend Nivikesh Krishna in to help us shoot when the shot requires movement.

IWK: What is the USP for your videos?

R&R: We often refer to ourselves as the two idiots with a camera. Neither do we have much equipment nor do we have a large crew. This is evident in our videos, and it is this quality that helps us create unique, relatable, and funny videos for the ordinary Westernised Indian. When you watch a Ren and Raj video, it will always be a fresh new concept. We also speak in English to ensure that everybody understands.

IWK: Where do you get ideas/inspirations for your videos?

R&R: Our inspiration comes from Indian people and Indian families. We get our ideas from the various situations and scenarios that take place in every Indian household.

The ideas, however, can strike anytime. There have even been times when we are simply sitting and talking with friends, and an idea will pop into our heads. Our friends often think we are quite odd when midway through a conversation we start frantically typing a video idea on our phone (so that we don’t forget).

IWK: What is your goal/aim going forward with video making?

R&R: At this stage, we are looking to extend our friendship with the world. We love making people feel happy and special, and so far, the feedback we have received has

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NEW ZEALAND

16 December 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

Community Karate school awards its students

Christmas celebrations begin in the community Rizwan Mohammad

I

A student receiving award from Hanshi Dennis May at the award ceremony

Rizwan Mohammad

T

he Lion Budokan Karate School in Auckland hosted its annual award ceremony on December 3 at New Windsor School Auditorium in New Windsor.

The Lion Budokan Karate International is a member of Karate New Zealand and New Zealand Martial Arts Institute and is run by Sensei, Syed Mohiuddin, Black Belt 4th Dan. Sixty students were presented with their grading certificates and 25 were awarded trophies in recognition of their performance during the year.

The awards were divided into 16 categories such as Bright Future Athletes, Newcomer of the Year, Fighter of the Year, Kick Athlete, Sportsmanship Award, Outstanding Effort, Volunteer of the Year, and Assistant Instructor of the Year.

In addition to excelling in the categories, the students must follow dojo rules (Training Hall rules) to be eligible for the awards. The dojo rules were to seek perfection of character, give ones’ best, refrain from violence, be faithful and honest, and be respectful.

President of Karate New Zealand Hanshi Dennis May was the chief guest at the award ceremony.

More than 70 students learn martial arts at the Lion Budokan Karate School from Sensei Syed Mohiuddin at three different branches in Central Auckland. The classes are held in the community halls of New Windsor Primary

school in New Windsor, Mt Roskill Intermediate School in Mt Roskill, and Bay Roskill Sports Club in Blockhouse Bay. Students as young as six years old to 58 years old have enrolled in the school.

Learning self-defence is an important aspect of life, and it is a sport that makes an individual stronger, both mentally and physically.

Martial arts has many benefits for an individual such as self-defence, improved focus, developing confidence and sportsmanship.

“Every student was encouraged and motivated by the chief guest, whether they won the trophy or not. We look forward to improving their training and prepare them for the next year awards ceremony,” Syed Mohiuddin, the teacher from the Karate School, said.

There are nine belts to attain before one can fight for the black belt. The students start with yellow belt progressing to green, orange, blue, purple, brown four stripes, brown three stripes, brown two stripes, brown one stripe then the black belt.

It takes four to five months to clear each stage up to brown four stripes, and from Brown three stripes and above, the duration to clear each stage becomes six months.

The event concluded with the speech of Hanshi Dennis May, President of Karate New Zealand.

He spoke about Karate being included in Olympic 2020 and the opportunity our Karate players would have to represent New Zealand on a global platform.

ndian Christians Life Centre (ICLC) hosted its annual event—Christmas Production— on Sunday, December 9 at ICLC Centre on Springs Road in Henderson.

The event, started by Pastor Moses, the head of ICLC, 19 years ago, continues to receive strong contributions from the community. This year, the event brought together more than 400 people.

December 9 saw the first part of the event— the second part takes place on December 16—that included different performances in Hindi such as drama, live music, short film productions, and dances.

The second part will see an English musical production.

“Christmas Production is an annual community event run by our team, and we cater to 400–­500 Indians and still growing with record-breaking attendance,” Pastor Moses’ son Joshua Singh said.

The programme on December 9 commenced with a live music followed by a skit performed by church kids group based on biblical chapters and themes.

The theme for 2016 was ‘Born to Save’.

Different performances depicted the birth of Jesus Christ to save humanity.

Sugar-Free, an independent skit group, also gave a stellar performance at the event.

“We have received positive feedbacks from people. They were impressed to see the inclusiveness we have at ICLC,” Mr Joshua said.

Jaggie Singh, a renowned singer, performed qawwali at the event with his team of musicians who played on the tabla and harmonium.

Pastor Moses started ICLC in 1997 with Alice Singh when they came to New Zealand after travelling around Asia Pacific. The church started with six people, and today, is one of the largest and strongest community churches in Auckland.

A performer at ICLC Christmas Productions event

In the last few years, ICLC has hosted major events such as featuring Johnny Lever in ASB Stadium that saw more than 2000 people and Ekk Life, a nationwide free to air TV show that reached out to many nations through relief and aid. Recently, ICLC also gave away $60,000 worth of products to Fiji to the cyclone-hit areas earlier this year.

“We wanted to create a community where people can serve and help one another; a community where we are all connected. We have seen many lives transformed and want to transform many more. We have a vision of a community where people come together for change,” Pastor Moses said.

Besides organising community events, ICLC also holds various programmes such as stress management, marriage seminar, parenting course, kids and youth programmes, business community programmes, health focus activities such as sports and healing meetings.

Police reminds drivers to be careful on roads this holiday season IWK Bureau

P

olice is cautioning drivers to be mindful of other road users this holiday season and return home safely.

Holiday season is always a big challenge for police to ensure road safety.

With seven more deaths this time than last year on the roads, the police are urging drivers to be mindful of others in the lead up to Christmas.

“This is a really high-risk time on our roads, with people rushing around stressed and over tired with their minds on other things,” Superintendent Steve Greally, National Manager, Road Policing said.

Fatigued minds and other distractions can lead to mistakes on the roads, so people need to adjust their driving to account for this.

So far, 307 people have lost their lives on New Zealand roads in this year.

In a press release issued to general public, the police is insisting people to ‘buckle up buttercup’ and to put away their phones to avoid distraction and eventually keeping everyone safe on the roads.

Christmas is the most unfortunate time for anyone to lose a family member and for the staff members dealing with such stressful news

during the festival season.

“So many families will be dealing with the grief of losing a loved one on our roads this Christmas, and that’s incredibly sad,” Mr Greally further said.

“It is important that people need to realise that it can happen to anyone regardless of how many years one has been behind the wheels.

Also to understand that people do make mistakes, and sometimes on road, it doesn’t matter who actually does the mistake.

In most cases, the driver’s speed determines the outcome of mistakes.

NZ Police will maintain a highly visible presence on the roads over summer and will be using a range of tactics.

This includes focusing on those who choose to drive above the speed limit, those not buckled up, and those driving while impaired.

Like previous summers, speed cameras are positioned in high-risk crash areas and are set to enforce a reduced speed threshold of 4km/h from December 1 until January 31, 2017.

At the end, it comes down to making good decisions such as choosing to drive as per the speed limit and the conditions, ensuring everyone is buckled up, and not driving while impaired.

NEW ZEALAND

www.iwk.co.nz | 16 December 2016

Classical music concert gets rave reviews Rizwan Mohammad

T

he annual concert of Sargam School of Music held on December 10 and 11 received an astounding response from the audience. More than 80 students from the school performed over the two-day concert that also saw a workshop from renowned musician from India Pt Salil Bhatt.

The show commenced with the prayer for the goddess of knowledge, Saraswati, based on raag Bhimplasi, presented by 20 students. It was followed by another group of singers presenting Swar Malika in raag Yaman—a composition where the singers in only sing the musical notes.

The event proceeded with a folk and classical song by the young students of the school. The sitar recital by Tiara Kelly and Sargam Madhur was one of the highlights of the evening. They were accompanied on the stage by eight other sitar players.

The first half of the programme was concluded by two group tabla recitals by 14 students in each group.

Pt Salil started his recital in raag Gawati in a traditional Indian classical music style with Alap, Jod, and Jhala. The very unique concept of his performance was that 4 tabla players accompanied him on the Tabla. The first session of the raag was accompanied by Basant Madhur and Prashant Kumar and second session by Akhil Madhur and Shamal Lal. The finale saw a performance by all tabla players, and the audience, mesmerised by their unique presentation, gave a standing ovation to Pt. Salil and the tabla players.

Pt. Salil delivered two folk melodies based on raag Kirwani and Mishar Pahadi and he was joined by two percussionists, Deepak Madhur on tabla & Ravi Nayaypati on dholak.

In the workshop conducted, Pt Salil, explained the different aspects of Indian music

13

Celebrate Makar Sankranti with Indian Kite Festival

The craze for the Indian Kite Festival is rapidly growing among various communities in Auckland

Swati Sharma

Young students play tabla at the concert

such as its origin, history, different type of string instruments in the world, and his own creation Satvik Veena.

He was later felicitated by a memento from Prof. Shuk Dev Madhur, the senior most teacher of Sargam School.

The second day of the concert was dedicated to the students, who performed in choirs. The event also saw group sitar and violin recitals, group tabla recitals, solo classical recitals, ghazals, and devotional songs.

Children as young as four and seven sang hymns and played harmonium and tabla.

“I see so proud to see my son playing the tabla and singing,” a parent of the performer said.

Pt Salil Bhatt, Basant Madhur, and a few musicians also gave a performance at the ‘East meets West’ musical event held on Monday, December 12 at Nivara Lounge in Hamilton.

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ontinuing the trend from last nine years, Vaishnav Parivar NZ Inc. (VPNZ) is bringing back the Indian Kite Festival, as part of the organisation’s cultural activities.

This year’s festival will be held on Sunday, January 15 at a new venue—Eastdale Reserve, Avondale, next to Avondale College on Rosebank Road.

With growing popularity year by year, the festival is also growing in numbers. This year about 9000 people attended the event, and the organisers are expecting even more next year.

While these people are mostly from the Indian subcontinent (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia and Fiji), more and more locals (Europeans, Maori and Chinese, and Pacific Islanders) are also increasingly joining and celebrating the festivities.

Significance of Kite Festival

M

akarsakranti or Uttarayan (falls on January 14) is the day when the sun starts travelling towards North marking the decline of winter (in Northern hemisphere), and the days become longer. It also marks the arrival

of spring season in India and is celebrated with kite flying in many parts of the country.

The fascination and the fun associated with the kite flying cuts across age groups and communities. It is a competitive fun sport where families enjoy, not only flying kite but also outdoing rival’s kite as well.

VPNZ imports kites and threads from India each year which are available for sale at the festival.

There will be various food and other stalls, and entertainment for children such as the kiddy castle and slide, merry go round, face painting, drawing and colouring competition and live performances.

There will also be a chance to buy raffle tickets to win a holiday package for two with five-day accommodation and other attractive prizes. The festival has indeed become a big day-out for families.

VPNZ is a charitable entity registered under the New Zealand Charities Act 2005 and operating from Blockhouse Bay in Auckland.

It has more than 250 registered members with core activities as religious, cultural and sports.

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NEW ZEALAND

16 December 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

Buddha Travel & Tours: New Plymouth’s only making your holiday memorable

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The advanced advantage—‘work smarter, not harder’ T his November, 115 New Zealand students were recognised for studying five or more years above their school grade level at the 2016 annual Kumon Advanced Student forum.

Over 200 primary and secondary school aged students, dressed in their best, attended the event at Auckland’s prestigious, waterfront Hilton Hotel, receiving medals for advanced study and plaques for completing Kumon programmes.

Speaking at the event was Shilpan Patel, a testament to the power of the advanced study. After completing the Kumon Maths Programme in 2011, Patel went on to study medicine at the University of Auckland. Not only did Patel gain entrance to the course of his pick, but his excellent command of mathematics meant that he did so with five scholarships up his sleeve.

How did he achieve this? Advanced learning meant that he had time on his side. ‘I would finish my homework in thirty minutes and realised that I had all this time on my hands, so why not practise some scholarship questions’.

The 22-year-old delivered a message that was simple yet powerful—”work regularly so that you can relax; work consistently so that you learn”, emphasising that being advanced comes with a “little bit each day” approach.

“You don’t win your cricket day on game day, you win it in the hours and hours spent practising beforehand,” said Patel in his address to some of Auckland’s brightest youth.

Islamic Centre opens

fter a year-long development, a new mosque has opened its doors to the community in New Plymouth.

The mosque on 185 Smart Road, Hillsborough will be used for prayer, community gatherings, and education of the Muslims in the region.

The mosque is the first fully-operational Islamic Centre in the Taranaki region.

Before the current mosque, the Muslim Association of Taranaki— a registered not-forprofit organisation in New Zealand established in 2006—rented a small property on 9 Cracroft Ave for prayers.

“For six years, we used a small house for holding our regular prayers, and it was essential that we secure a permanent place of worship for the community,” Yusuf Khan, Vice President of the Muslim Association said.

The Muslim Association of Taranaki purchased The Old Bowling Club property in July 2015 and received the final resource consent from the council on November 1 this year.

Initially, the neighbours of the property objected to the development of the Masjid citing traffic issues in the area. The association appealed to the council, and later the board granted the resource consent with 28 car parks onsite and seven overflow parking.

The mosque can accommodate 75 men in the male section and 25 women in the female section. It also has an acoustic fence built to keep the noise level below the council range.

“The plan was to acquire a property, which can be used as a hub for Ibadah (worship), Islamic learnings, and growth, for Dawah and a place where families can come together and foster a sense of community,” Adeel Baig, President of Muslim Association of Taranaki said.

The mosque hosted its formal open day on Sunday, December 11, between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. More than 80 people attended the opening

Kanwaljit Bakshi

T In the popular mind, medical students are often over-worked, under-slept, undernourished and caught in an endless cycle of exam cramming. Patel’s approach turns this on its head. “I’m a big believer in balance. I never used to do work regularly, but once I started I thought, ‘this is great! I do a little bit of work, and then I get the rest of the day off’”.

Kumon is world’s largest after-school education provider and has developed advanced students of English and maths in New Zealand for 21 years. As a step-by-step daily study programme, it isn’t surprising that one of its graduates is an advocate for ‘working smarter, not harder’.

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ceremony and interacted with the volunteers at the mosque.

Posters of the five pillars of Islam, different hadiths (teachings of Prophet Muhammad, pbuh) and Quran were on display, and light snacks were served to the visitors.

“Visitors were inquisitive about Islam [and] its teachings, and it was a very happy and friendly environment at the mosque,” Mr Baig said.

Peter Taylor and BJ Hetet, local Maori Iwi representatives, attended the ceremony on Sunday and expressed their joy at being a part of the event.

“We are quite impressed by the teachings mentioned in the Quran. It is very similar to ours,” Mr Hetet said.

Andrew Judd, New Plymouth’s former mayor, and Philip Richardson, Anglican Church Archbishop of New Zealand, also attended the opening ceremony of the mosque.

The mosque now holds regular prayers five times a day and Friday prayers as well.

Treasury forecasts solid growth and strong, stable public finances National List MP

Shilpan Patel

People praying inside the newly opened New Plymouth Mosque

he best-performing societies don’t get there by luck. Successful societies get there because of the hard work of individuals and families, backed by supportive governments which adopt policies to reward investment in job-creating enterprise, while championing programmes which strengthen social cohesion.

We were reminded of this again this week when the Treasury published its updated official forecasts for our economy and the Crown’s finances through until June 2021.

The department’s latest set of forecasts are significantly stronger than its last set prepared at the time of then Finance Minister Bill English’s 2016 Budget in May. And they are a ringing affirmation that we are headed in the right direction as a society, and as a nation. National’s policies and management will pay strong and growing dividends for New Zealanders.

In spite of the recent spate of earthquakes, our economy is on track to expand around 3 per

cent a year, every year, for the next five years.

This matters because it means stronger employment and income growth opportunities for New Zealanders. It matters because it means declining unemployment.

It is important because it means we have a strong basis from which to invest in the essential social services New Zealanders value, and to invest in the infrastructure our economy needs for productivity growth and still-higher living standards in the future.

Under the policy settings of the National-led government, Treasury expects another 150,000 jobs to be created, the average wage to increase by $7,500 to $66,000, and for Crown net debt to decline to 18.8 per cent of national income in 2020/21.

Net Crown debt levels are now past their peak as a share of national income.

We go into the Christmas 2016 period in a dramatically different place than what the Treasury had been forecasting for this time when National was first elected. Back then, Treasury expected ever-rising debt levels under the former Labour-led government’s policy settings.

National’s careful stewardship over the past eight years means we now have a lot more choices and options in the years ahead as a society.

Over the coming months, we will set out some of those options for 2017 and beyond.

NEW ZEALAND

www.iwk.co.nz | 16 December 2016

15

Why international education to skilled migration pathway is under scanner?

Sandeep Singh

Recently, the pathway available to international students to seek permanent residency in New Zealand through skilled migration category has come under public scanner. There have been some populist claims alleging that the presence of international students is distorting New Zealand’s labour market. Added to this are convenient interpretations of several systematic studies and reports previously recommended to the key decision makers within the government and now made available to the general public, which questions the sanctity of this pathway available to international students towards skilled migration in New Zealand.

Therefore, it becomes easy for government bashers to use statistical data such as that international students now makes up nearly half of New Zealand’s skilled migrants—up from 17% in 2006 to 43 per cent last year to corner the government by suggesting that international education is diluting New Zealand’s skilled migration system.

This piece seeks to contest some seemingly convenient interpretations of figures and data bolstering public perceptions about the international education and pathway to skilled migration in New Zealand. The objective is to address some glaring gaps in mutual expectations of both New Zealand and international students.

There is no denial of the fact that New Zealand’s immigration system, including skilled migration system, should best serve the country’s interest. However, it is also important to note that New Zealand is not the only western, developed

country in the world that provides a pathway to international students towards emigrating through skilled migration category. It is a time-tested and widely acknowledged practice around the globe, especially in the Anglospheric world (Australia, Canada, the UK, the US, and New Zealand). Indeed, all around the world, this pathway from international education to skilled migration is treated as a recognition of a quality way of producing skilled and onshore trained workforce.

There is a reason that special points are assigned for education acquired onshore in the point-based immigration system. It serves a dual purpose. On the one hand, it brings revenue that accompanies with incoming international students. Simultaneously, it provides New Zealand with access to a skilled workforce that is trained onshore according to the needs and demands of the economy.

Contrary to convenient interpretations, the figures indicating a hike in the number of international students making New Zealand’s skilled migrants is a testimony to our success in creating an onshore trained skilled workforce.

The fact that today we are conveniently choosing to question the value of this onshore trained workforce is like shifting the goal post half way through.

Commonly, the pretext on which this pathway to skilled migration through international education is being questioned is based on some reports seeking to improve our skilled migration system. This again emanates from reports suggesting that low-level diploma education alone or followed by some questionable work experience in New Zealand are not enough to produce a skilled workforce. In this regard, it is submitted that this is a subjective assessment of the entire process and leaves much at the whims

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of individuals rather than creating a reasonable process of how best to prepare a skilled workforce. The fact that low-level diploma courses are not enough to graduate into a skilled workforce or that some unscrupulous employers are retorting to inflated job titles to support their worker’s residency application does not automatically shift the burden on the international students. So why question the pathway to skilled migration currently available to international students instead of improving our systems and processes.

It is not fair to international students who after spending thousands of dollars on their education and following the processes laid out to them well in advance much before they make their choices of overseas education destination to be told that the process they have followed is now redundant.

Make no mistake. The point being made here is not about individual cases but of about having a robust system in place much in advance before international students come onshore. The suggestion being made here is that delinking international education with skilled migration pathway entirely, or partly, without giving a fair chance to those who have acquired skills and competencies onshore to meet the benchmark set by the New Zealand government is neither desirable nor a fair outcome. It neither serves the interest of New Zealand nor is fair to students. Alternatively, if the intentions are to defunct this pathway progressively, then there should be valid reasons in the best interest of New Zealand and information clearly communicated to those who are most liable to be affected.

READERS SPEAK

What are your plans for this forthcoming Christmas holidays?

Editorial

Will 2017 be a year of change for New Zealand’s politics

T

here is no novelty in saying that John Key might have triggered a mass exodus of several cabinet ministers from the parliament.

Nor there would be any novelty in pointing that with David Shearer’s recent exit

Singhi Reddy, Mt Wellington I was really looking forward to the Christmas holidays this year. On the eve of Christmas, I will fly to Wellington for the Christmas party with my friends there. Next day, we are taking a road trip to Mt Taranaki and Taupo, we have planned to do bungee jumping and paragliding there. So one week, on the road, camping, walking and the daredevil activities.

from the Labour caucus, the party has got rid of three former leaders this year to give Andrew Little a clear run at the next general elections in 2017.

However, it could be asserted with some degree of confidence that the year 2016 has brought several changes in New Zealand politics that can at least make 2017 elections look interesting even if not produce any major change in the outcome.

Among several possible interesting outcomes of this year’s happenings on the next year’s general elections would be a relatively even contest between the National and the Labour Party – the two mainstream parties in our multi-party democracy.

Shahib Singh, Mt Roskill I am looking forward to having a quiet holiday at home, in Auckland. The plan is to stay home, watch some films, go out shopping with my girlfriend and evening parties. I don’t like travelling much, and I am lucky enough to have friends who have no plans for the Christmas. So all in all, a bit of work and then relax at home.

National Party with their new leader Bill English and the Labour with their ‘not so antiquated’ leader Andrew Little, would be relatively evenly poised in the 2017 elections.

This will give a fair chance to people to vote for the policies projected by these parties rather than be swayed in the last minute by the personality brand politics that has so dominated the JK era.

JK’s exit might have given Mr Little slightly better understanding of the political ‘centre’ – something which he was struggling to understand a couple of weeks before JK’s exit.

Though, it is not to suggest that JK’s departure might give him an unchallenged access to

Halekkul Jamal, Hamilton I have not made any concrete plans till now, but probably I will be in Rotorua. I have heard much about the mud fountains and the volcanic environment there so that should be good fun. If not Rotorua then I will drive to Raglan and other Coromandel beaches.

that political ‘centre.’

In fact, Bill English the new Prime Minister has not yet given away anything to hint a free run to Mr Little’ party to the voters who sit at fence till the last minute.

Mr English has already rolled back his opinion on the same-sex marriages to position himself towards the ‘centre.’

Surely, the changes that might become predominant in 2017 have its genesis in 2016.

Accompanied with this change, the other prominent change worth appreciating is the planned departure of several MPs such as Murray McCully, Sam Lotu-Liga, Craig Foss, Hekia Parata, David Shearer, David Cunliffe and few more, will bring some new faces to the parliament next year.

Prem Upadhyay, Mt Wellington My plan for Christmas is to party in Auckland itself.

I have some work pending as of now, which is making me stay until New Year in town. I have big plans for the New Year, my friends are having a get together in Queenstown, and I am flying there. It’s party time of the year and what better than with old friends.

In the end, since we are just on the cusp of new Prime Minister’s announcement of his cabinet and the reports that backbenchers may be given some representation in the new cabinet are gaining traction, it might be tempting to guess if any Indian-origin MP can get a promotion call.

Although superficially their individual progress reports do not suggest so, yet we will leave it for readers to make their assessments.

Indian Weekender : Volume 8 Issue 39 Publisher: Kiwi Media Publishing Limited

Bhupindra Singh, New Lynn I have work commitments and therefore I will be staying in Auckland and have made no big plans for Christmas. My friends are planning for two-day trekking in the Tongariro Alpine forests so I may probably join them but nothing big travel plans for me.

Managing Editor: Bhav Dhillon | bhav@indianweekender.co.nz Content Editor: Sandeep Singh | sandeep@indianweekender.co.nz Chief Reporter: Swati Sharma | swati@indianweekender.co.nz Reporter: Rizwan Mohammad | rizwan@indianweekender.co.nz Chief Reporter—South Island: Gaurav Sharma Chief Technical Officer: Rohan Desouza | rohan@indianweekender.co.nz Sr Graphics and Layout Designer: Mahesh Kumar | mahesh@indianweekender.co.nz Graphic Designer: Yashmin Chand | design@indianweekender.co.nz Accounts and Admin.: 09-2137335 | accounts@indianweekender.co.nz

Mohan Rao, Hamilton I have a road trip planned with my wife from Hamilton to northernmost tip of Auckland. The first three days my itinerary has five stops, Auckland, Whangarei Fall, sand mountains at Giant Te Paki, and the tip of Northland Cape Reinga. Eight hours drive back to Hamilton will rest for one full day Possibly, I might also drive from Hamilton to Wellington on my return from up-north.

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Printed at Horton Media, Auckland Copyright 2016. Kiwi Media Publishing Limited. All Rights Reserved.

“The dif fe re nce be t we e n a succe s sf ul pe rson and o t he rs is no t a lack of s t re ng t h, no t a lack of k no w le dge, bu t rat he r a lack of w ill .”

— Vince Lombardi

www.iwk.co.nz | 16 December 2016

OPINION/EDITORIAL

17

Demonetisation deed is done - now look ahead M Salim David

oney is a medium that lubricates the economic system. Without it the wheels creak, and turn slowly.

Make no mistake: the current cash crunch will last.

Let’s face it—we have just removed 86 per cent of our money. The mints weren’t built to replace so much in one go. It will take many months of suffering, scrimping and standing with outstretched hands in bank queues—unless we do something.

The only way out is to promote the use of digital money. More transactions with digital money will reduce the need and dependence on cash.

The good news is that most of the salaried class in urban India have converted—stores and e-commerce sites report a higher percentage of card usage vis-a-vis cash.

The bad news is that most others have not. Among the lower middleand lower-classes, which form the bulk of our population, digital money hasn’t made much headway.

Rural India, as a whole, is also bereft of card penetration, banks are always miles away, and few ATMs function Only if we convert these people to the use of digital money can we emerge from this cash crisis which threatens to stall our economic growth engine.

The lower middle and lower-classes normally don’t have smart phones and internet. Now, with technology, they can use their normal phones to make and receive payments.

Some are already doing this, but if we can quickly get the majority to adopt mobile money we can ease the requirement for cash and bolster spending. This is the challenge: to get everyone to use digital money for every purchase.

Here are some suggestions.

In order to induce the masses to get Paytm, freecharge, m-pesa, Airtel money, or any other mobile money on their normal phones, let the Centre give a one-time incentive of Rs 100 as a bonus for those who install it.

Everybody loves a freebie, and Rs 100 is a lot of money for most Indians (wages for half a day’s work).

If the communication and ease of installation is right, one can expect at least 50 per cent penetration across India—perhaps 20 crore connections (out of a population of 125 crore).

With 20 crore Indians keen to use their bonus money, shops and establishments will surely install the mobile money apps and ensure suppliers and customers can seamlessly be serviced with mobile money.

Once they use mobile money they will see the ease of it and be happy to accept mobile money payments, decreasing the need for cash. The rest will follow.

The penetration of mobile phones in India is 82 per cent and growing. It is not unreasonable to envisage that the penetration of mobile money will be over 50 per cent to start with, if the campaign is carried out right.

Farmers or farm labour who get paid by cheque will be able to easily transfer money from their account to their mobile with just a four-digit pin.

A variety of goods and services can be mandated to be paid by mobile money/digital transfer, further taking away the need for cash.

Let’s take a look at what it will cost.

If 20 crore people start using this it will cost the Centre Rs 2,000 crore as a one-time payment. This, however, goes directly to the people and will boost spending and the digital habit.

This amount is about 0.02 per cent of our GDP—not a big deal if it is to save us from a cash crunch. (And the government could likely sell the data and recover some money there.)

There are other benefits as well: completely transparent transactions, 100 per cent accountability for supplier and buyer.

If phone numbers are linked to Aadhar cards, then a useful data base can be generated as to which category of customer spends how much, and on what items.

If retail outlet bills are linked to customers, then brand-wise customer purchase data is possible and will be of great help to corporates who want to identify their customer profile, and get their customers mobile numbers in the bargain.

Are we saying—let’s try and make the best of a bad deal?

Maybe. But who doesn’t make mistakes? Let’s use the opportunity to achieve what we couldn’t in normal circumstances—try and get to a new normal. In the process, we must mitigate the pain and loss or the larger objective will be forsaken.

So let’s try and get as many people to embrace mobile money, especially among those who don’t have smartphones.

The key will be the ensuring of adequate call centre points to address the growing demand for clarifications 17 in vernacular languages.

As mentioned earlier, let’s try and add mobile money to 20 crore connections across India and hope we get digital money to cater to 67 per cent of transactions in value terms (India is currently at 32 per cent, the US is at 80 per cent and the UK at 89 per cent). Cash requirement would halve from the current level, and the wheels of the economy would turn easier.

Now that would be something.

(Salim David hung up his corporate boots a few years ago and farms roses and organic vegetables near Hyderabad.

Views expressed are personal)

Jayalalithaa presented alternate model of development Amit Kapoor

J

ayalalithaa was to Tamil Nadu what Narendra Modi was to Gujarat. Their respective states symbolise their legacy and present unique models of development that have fuelled the long-standing debate on economic growth and social progress.

Economists who feel that the government’s policy focus should be on boosting economic growth have cited the Gujarat model to argue that higher growth leads to better social outcomes.

On the other hand, the Kerela model is exemplified as evidence that investing more in social infrastructure can boost the productivity of people and thereby growth.

However, the comparison seems unfair as Kerela has had a historical advantage over Gujarat and social indicators of the former have been better than the latter since the time of independence. Also, the Kerela model is often criticised for doing well on the social front but not on the economic side.

Tamil Nadu, however, presents a fair counter-example. Unlike Kerala, the state had no historical advantage.

In fact, Gujarat was doing better in many indicators before the 1990s.

They also had almost similar Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) at the time.

Moreover, both states have almost similar geographical area, population size and access to the sea. They are as

similar as two different states can be and thus, all differences can be safely attributed to public policy.

Since the early 1990s, when India undertook economic liberalisation and Jayalalithaa first came to power in Tamil Nadu, both states have maintained consistently high economic growth rates. The average growth rate in the two decades following liberalisation was 7 per cent per annum for Tamil Nadu and 8.3 per cent for Gujarat. Even though Gujarat has grown slightly faster, the gap between the two has been consistently growing narrow.

Meanwhile, during this period, Tamil Nadu has outperformed Gujarat in many social indicators.

Between 1993-94 and 2011-12, the state reduced rural poverty by 34 percentage points as opposed to G u j a r a t ’s 2 2

percentage points; urban poverty by 27 against Gujarat’s 18; workforce illiteracy by 20 against latter’s 17; infant mortality by 33 against 11 percentage points

by Gujarat.

Inequality has almost remained the same in Tamil Nadu while it has gone up in Gujarat. Life expectancy is better in the former as well.

Apart from Gujarat, the state has outperformed the average Indian trend in numerous social and

Jayalalithaa passed away on December 6

economic indicators, an analysis

by Institute for Competitiveness has found.

Infant mortality in Tamil Nadu is the second lowest in the country, and fertility rates are the lowest. Similarly, crime rates against women and children are among India’s lowest.

On the economic front, it has the highest per capita income among India’s large states and also more factories than any other state in the country.

The reason behind Tamil Nadu’s stellar performance has been the state’s public services, most of which are universal in nature and among the best in the country.

On the healthcare front, the state has a clear commitment to free and universal healthcare covering a wide range of facilities and services. The state has also set up a computerised supply chain to ensure timely supply of free medicines in all governmentrun clinics.

Tamil Nadu was also the first state to introduce free and universal midday meals in primary schools, which became a model scheme for the entire country. The state’s PDS system, with timely distribution and lower corruption, also became a model for the country while significantly impacting rural poverty in the state.

The universalism of all public amenities and schemes has played a significant role in reducing leakages and enhancing impact. As a result, very few have been deprived of the basic amenities of life in the state.

The political focus on healthcare and education in Tamil Nadu is also evident from the state’s per capita expenditure in these areas, which is one of the highest in the country. It is also interesting to note that these issues feature in election campaigns in the state, in contrast with the rest of the country.

It is evident that Jayalalithaa is not solely responsible for all the reasons that Tamil Nadu is performing well. The positive social and economic outcomes of the state have to be attributed to an organised political pressure that arises within a healthy democracy.

Nevertheless, her initiatives like Amma canteens that significantly addressed issues of food insecurity require exceptional political will.

Jayalalithaa managed to carve out a model of development that inculcated the best of both the Gujarat and Kerala models. Issues of corruption might still be pending against her at the Supreme Court, but the good in her political career needs to be recognised and presented as an alternate model of development for the country as a whole.

The Tamil Nadu model shows that a middle ground between the Gujarat and Kerala models can be a better pathway to development.

(The article is co-authored with Chirag Yadav, a researcher at the Institute for Competitiveness, India, where Amit Kapoor is the Chair. The views expressed are personal.)

18

FIJI

16 December 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

Fiji calls for greater certainty for ACP countries in lead-up to Brexit T T he Fijian Minister for Industry, Trade and Tourism, Hon. Faiyaz Koya, has called for immediate discussions on the impact that the United Kingdom’s (UK) withdrawal from the European Union (EU) will have on relationships between the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP), the EU and the UK.

IMF commeds Fijian Govt’s cyclone recovery efforts

He made the call when speaking on behalf of Pacific ACP countries at the ACP Ministerial Trade Committee Meeting in Brussels.

“Neither the EU nor the UK have given clear positions on Brexit for the ACP group to thoroughly analyse and assess.

“We have only been able to speculate under the circumstances.

However, it remains an imperative

that ACP countries be able to conduct assessments to determine our most effective course of action in advancing our relationships with the EU and the UK,” he said.

Minister Koya added that the high dependence of some ACP countries, Fiji included, on UK and EU markets was a particular area of concern.

“Fiji is a case in point in this regard, as 45 per cent of our exports to the

EU were destined for the UK market in 2015. In 2014, the UK market accounted for an even higher 76 per cent of Fiji’s exports to the EU, down from a peak of 94 per cent in 2011.

So the UK market is very important to Fiji and for other Pacific Island countries,” he said. “O ur preference is that current trade and economic relationships are preserved as best as possible.”

Pooja in top 24 of Miss World pageant

M

iss World Fiji Pooja Priyanka’s project to build a sea wall at Qelekuro Village in Tailevu as part of her “Beauty with Purpose” campaign for the Miss World Pageant has landed her in the top 24 of the contest.

Miss World Fiji’s captivating video which highlighted the plight of Fijians, in particular the villagers f r o m Qelekuro who lost everything post-severe Tropical Cyclone Winston, left judges at the pageant emotional.

Miss World Fiji pageant director Andhy Blake said it was exciting news for Miss World Fiji to be recognised in the “Beauty with Purpose” category.

Mr Blake said the category was the most important category of the pageant as it carried 80 per cent of the total scores.

Speaking from Washington recently Miss World Fiji said she was happy her video was shortlisted for the final.

The final screening for all projects will take place this week and a winner will be announced during the live finals on December 19.

Get the latest buzz @ www. iwk.co.nz

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama with the EU President of the European Council, Donald Tusk. Photo: DEPTFO News

PM presses EU on Schengen visa status

P

rime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has raised Fiji’s lack of visa free access to Schengen countries amid a wide-ranging discussion with the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, on areas of mutual interest between Fiji and the European Union.

At the meeting, held in Brussels, Prime Minister Bainimarama

requested urgent action be taken to grant Fiji visa free access to the Schengen zone, given that Fiji has already met the requirements for visa free travel and had submitted a formal request to the EU in 2015.

He also cited the visa free status already granted to many other Pacific Island countries.

Prime Minister Bainimarama also briefed Mr Tusk on Fiji’s plans as

President of the 23rd session of the United Nations Conference of the Parties on Climate Change (COP23), and sought EU support for Fiji’s agenda.

President Tusk commended Fiji’s rapid development, particularity the work undertaken to reform Fiji’s sugar industry, and assured the EU’s full support to Fiji through the EU representative in Fiji, Andrew Jacobs.

he Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Mr Tao Zhang, has praised the Fijian government’s reconstruction efforts following Cyclone Winston as “quick and admirable” following a meeting with AttorneyGeneral and Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed Tao Zhang Khaiyum.

Mr Zhang credited Fiji’s projected economic growth rate of nearly 3 per cent to government’s recovery and reconstruction policies that kept Fiji on the right track.

During his meeting with the Attorney-General, Mr Zhang was updated on the progress of Cyclone Winston rehabilitation and other ongoing efforts by government to diversify the Fijian economy.

At the meeting, held in Suva, the Attorney-General outlined potential investment opportunities in tourism-related activities in Fiji, such as recreational parks and highend shopping, along with in health, housing and ICT development.

The AG also called for more tailored training under IMF programmes in the Pacific.

He said the geographic and economic differences between Pacific and Asian countries should be considered, regardless of the fact that these countries fall under the same groupings within the IMF. Mr Zhang will also visit school reconstruction sites in Ba before leaving for Vanuatu.

Fiji has sugar at heart, says PM F iji will not give up on its sugar industry. A new action plan will be put together to identify what works, Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama told a major industry meeting in London.

While delivering remarks at the 50th Session of the International Sugar Organisation Council in London, Mr Bainimarama spoke about the resilience of the industry in the face of devastation by Category 5 Tropical Cyclone Winston.

“The Fijian industry is undertaking a review of its Sugar Action Plan 2013-2017 to identify what is working and what is not. To find out why certain targets haven’t been met and what needs to be done to meet them,” he said.

“And set new targets and time lines, plus new policy guidelines and investment plans, to take us forward.

All this will be included in a new successor plan for the industry for the next three to five years starting next year – 2017.”

He said Fiji does not intend to give up on sugar cane.

“On the contrary, we intend to continue with our programme to modernise the industry, to embrace new technology to improve our yields

Fiji PM Bainimarama acknowledged EU for assistance provided in rehabilitation post-Cylcone Winston

and give us the information we need to make better planning decisions,” the PM said.

“We must extract as much sugar as we can from a single plant and value add with new products and by-products. We must build our resilience to the threat to the industry posed by climate change.

“And we must constantly scan the horizon for new markets and work as hard as we can as an industry to give those markets what they require.”

Fiji’s aim, he said, was to reduce the cost of production, maximise revenue and ensure that the industry remains viable and sustainable.

“Because that is our ultimate duty to Fijian people and especially those who rely on sugar. That we provide the industry with the right leadership and all work as a team – one people, one industry – as we move forward together in challenging times.”

Special mention to European Union’s assistance to the industry Mr Bainimarama made special mention of the European Union for assistance provided post-Winston in rehabilitation efforts.

“I especially want to acknowledge the generosity of the European Union

and its member states in assisting our agriculture sector, including sugar.

The EU has provided Fiji—through direct budget support—the sum of 10 million Euros for rehabilitation and recovery.”

Mr Bainimarama will travel to Brussels for meetings this week with European officials—including the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk.

“As you all know, our preferential access to the European market for sugar draws to a close towards the end of the next year. And we also appreciate the assistance that the European Union is providing to Fiji to make that transition less painful.”

INDIA

www.iwk.co.nz | 16 December 2016

19

Congress dubs demonetisation ‘biggest scam’, Jaitley says look who’s talking

T

he Congress on Tuesday, December 13, stepped up its attack on the government over demonetisation, dubbing the move as the “biggest scam”.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the stand on the anti-graft measure taken by the opposition party with a “scandalous record” was not surprising.

The Congress launched a coordinated attack—with party leaders Rahul Gandhi in Uttar Pradesh and P. Chidambaram in Nagpur—against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s move to scrap high value currency notes.

Gandhi, addressing traders and commoners in Dadri in Uttar Pradesh near Delhi, said the real motive behind the demonetisation exercise was to enable the banks collect enough money so they could waive off the loans given to the big corporates and industrialists.

“The motive is to flush the banks with your money. These banks have given out loans to the tune of Rs 8 lakh crore to corporates and industrialists,” the Congress Vice President said.

Gandhi accused Modi of behaving “like kings who just want to speak”.

He said the Prime Minister had misled the nation by claiming that the economic crisis triggered by the spiking of 500- and 1,000-rupee

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley addressing the reporters in New Delhi

notes would be over in 50 days. “India will suffer because of this for several years.”

Former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram told reporters in Nagpur that the demonetisation was the “biggest scam of the year” and demanded a probe into how some people were getting loads of cash in new denomination of Rs 2,000 when the poor were scrambling for cash in serpentine queues outside banks and ATMs.

“I can’t get a Rs 2,000 note, yet crores in Rs 2,000 notes found their way to individuals being raided all over the country,” Chidambaram said.

He said the demonetisation was “thoughtless move” and the government was trivialising “a major blow to India’s economy” Jaitley shot back, saying the Congress’s tenures of government between 2004 and 2014 were mired in corruption and graft.

‘Read my lips’: Rahul says PM Modi is corrupt

A

fter threatening an earth-shattering disclosure on demonetisation earlier, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday, December 14, said he wanted to expose Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s personal complicity in corruption but “a terrified government” didn’t let him speak in Parliament.

Though the Prime Minister and his office didn’t react to the remarks, the government dismissed the “baseless allegations” as a “sign of desperation” by the Congress.

Gandhi didn’t make the proof public. He insisted he wanted to explode the bombshell in the Lok Sabha during the ongoing winter session that has been almost completely washed away in opposition protests against the government’s November 8 move to ban Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes to combat corruption and black money.

“Read my lips. The Prime Minister is personally terrified with the information that I have. I have information on the personal corruption of the Prime Minister,” Gandhi told reporters after the Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day without conducting any business— the way it has been since the session began on November 16.

“The session ends on Friday, December 16.

“If I speak, his (Modi’s) balloon will burst. He is scared. The government is scared of the information I have.

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi

Thus, they (the government) are not allowing me to speak in Parliament. Let us speak in the Lok Sabha. We will reveal everything.”

The Gandhi scion also dubbed demonetisation as Modi’s “personal decision ... taken against the poor of the country (that) has destroyed millions of lives”.

The Congress leader was joined by other opposition leaders, including Trinamool Congress’s Sudip Bandyopadhyay, Marxist P.

Karunakaran and Nationalist Congress Party’s Tariq Anwar, in cornering the government.

Gandhi last week said an “earthquake will come” if he was allowed to speak in the Lok Sabha “about the biggest scam committed by Narendra Modi single handedly” The BJP fielded an array of its leaders to counter the allegations.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister and senior BJP leader H.N. Ananth Kumar alleged that some Congress leaders were acting as “commission agent” to exchange old currency notes for new at the party headquarters.

Kumar was referring to a sting operation by a news channel showing some politicians, including those from the Congress, being involved in money laundering.

“Gandhi is making baseless allegations.

He should instead apologise to the nation,” said Kumar, accusing the opposition of “sabotaging” the entire winter session of Parliament.

He said that if the Congress had information to share with Parliament, Gandhi “could have done it” when the House was in session.

Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar said, “Rahulji, we want you to speak. When you do, you expose the Congress, so we want you to speak.

BJP spokesperson G.V.L. Narasimha Rao said that “Rahul Gandhi is making a joke of himself ” every time he speaks.

“From 2G scandal to coal block, AgustaWestland helicopter deal, each of the scandals, which is even today discussed in public space, belongs to that period.

'Given this scandalous record, it is not surprising that the Congress is extremely uncomfortable with the anti-corruption campaign our government has launched,” Jaitley said.

The Finance Minister said the government is “rapidly completing remonetisation exercise”.

“Everyday RBI is injecting a large amount of currency into the banking system. Significant amounts are going to be injected in next three weeks which are gradually bringing the pressure down.”

Citing the advantages of the move, Jaitley said the money operating as loose cash in the system had come into the banking system, and as future transactions would be substantially digital and would come in the tax net, it would ultimately help the government to make taxes “more reasonable”.

“When this is seen along with many other reforms the government is bringing about, particularly the proposed GST, the restrictions on cash spending subjected to PAN declaration, in itself is going to bring down the levels of corruption in society,” he said.

Cabinet approves agreement to improve rural development programmes

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he Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday, December 14, approved agreement between Ministry of Rural Development and Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) to improve the effectiveness of rural development programmes and to facilitate knowledge sharing.

“An inter-governmental MoU on Joint Technical and South-South Cooperation to provide a framework for collaboration will be signed between Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) and FAO,” said a cabinet communique.

The agreement will facilitate SouthSouth cooperation mechanisms around Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana—National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM)’s experience through exchange visits and dialogues, and establishment of a goodpractice Learning Centre.

“It will strengthen the vertical upscaling of the livelihoods of rural populations that are supported by DAY-NRLM, help to develop inclusive and sustainable value chains for key crops and agro-industrial products, employment diversification and skills development,” it added.

More than 93% of TCS shareholders oust Mistry as Director

M

ore than 93 per cent shareholders of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) voted to oust Cyrus Mistry as the Director of the company.

According to a regulatory filing with the stock exchanges, 93.11 per cent of TCS’ shareholders voted Mistry out of its board of directors in an extra-ordinary general meeting (EGM) held on Tuesday, December 13. However, the ousted Chairman of Tata

Sons termed the development as “a big moral victory”.

“Almost 20 per cent of shareholders of TCS that accounts for more than 70 per cent of non promoter shareholders supported Cyrus by voting against the resolution or abstained (expressing their disapproval of the promoter actions),” Mistry’s office said in a statement.

On November 10, TCS had appointed Ishaat Hussain as its new Chairman of the board of

directors of the company in place of Mistry.

Tata Sons had also issued a special notice under Section 169 (read with Section 115) of the Companies Act, 2013, and made a requisition for an EGM of shareholders to consider the removal of Mistry as the director of TCS. The ouster comes a day after Tata Industries removed Mistry from its board of directors.

The company had taken the decision at its EGM held on Monday, December 12.

Tata Industries is a non-listed subsidiary of Tata Sons. Several Tata companies, including Tata Motors, Tata Power and Tata Steel, hold equity in the firm.

Tata Sons had earlier asked Mistry to step down from the boards of Tata companies after it removed Mistry as its chairman on October 24 and appointed Ratan Tata as the interim Chairman.

20

INDIA

16 December 2016| www.iwk.co.nz

India ready to talk on D Indus waters issue

Delhi International Airport launches e-shopping platform

elhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) on Tuesday, December 13, said it has launched an airport e-shopping platform— www.shopflydel.in—to improve the experience of airport shopping among the domestic travellers. According to DIAL, travellers will have access to over 20 categories of products through this online shopping portal, such as beauty, confectionery, fashion, souvenirs, and pens, sold across Terminal 3 and Terminal 1 domestic outlets.

“Shopflydel.in creates a niche market for Delhi Airport in the e-commerce space,” said DIAL CEO I. Prabhakara Rao. The airport operator said travellers can book products upto 12 hours before their flight through this facility. “With this unique facility in place, one can book product(s) of his choice from 30 days upto 12 hours before his flight in three simple steps—Click-Pick-Fly,” it said in a statement. The airport operator has been actively promoting various digital initiatives at the Delhi Airport with an intention to leverage technology for passenger experience and operational efficiency, which include self check-in kiosks, self-bag drop facility, mobile app-flyDEL, flap gates and mobile data offloading facility.

I

ndia on Tuesday, December 13, said that it is ready to engage in further consultations on matters relating to the waters of the Indus river basin in relation to Pakistan after the World Bank took a decision that is seemingly in New Delhi’s favour.

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said that “India remains fully conscious of its international obligations and is ready to engage in further consultations on the matter of resolving current differences” regarding the Kishenganga and Ratle hydroelectric power projects.

The World Bank Group announced a pause in the separate processes initiated by India and Pakistan under the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty to allow the two countries to consider alternative ways to resolve their disagreements.

According to a statement issued by the World Bank, the announcement temporarily halts the appointment of a neutral expert, as requested

by India, and the chairman of the Court of Arbitration as requested by Pakistan, to resolve issues regarding the two power plants under construction by India along the Indus rivers system.

“We are announcing this pause to protect the Indus Waters Treaty and to help India and Pakistan consider alternative approaches to resolving conflicting interests under the Treaty and its application to two hydroelectric power plants,” said World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim.

Tata Sons hikes stake in Tata Motors

World Bank said the Indus Waters Treaty, 1960, is seen as one of the most successful international treaties and has withstood frequent tensions between India and Pakistan, including conflict

“This is an opportunity for the two countries to begin to resolve the issue in an amicable manner and in line with the spirit of the treaty rather than pursuing concurrent processes that could make the treaty unworkable over time. I would hope that the two countries will come to an agreement by the end of January,” he added.

The pause was announced by Kim in letters to the Finance Ministers of India and Pakistan, stressing that the Bank was acting to safeguard the treaty. Following the September 18 cross-border terror attack on an army base at Uri in Jammu and Kashmir that claimed the lives of 19 Indian soldiers, New Delhi said that it would consider revisiting the Indus Waters Treaty that was brokered by the World Bank. India has blamed the Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaishe-Mohammed for the Uri attack.

According to the agreement, India has control over three eastern rivers—Beas, Ravi and Sutlej—all flowing from Punjab.

Pakistan, as per the treaty, controls the western rivers of the Indus, Chenab and Jhelum that flow from Jammu and Kashmir. Jammu and Kashmir has been demanding a review of the treaty as it robs the state of its rights to use the water of the rivers.

The current processes under the treaty concern the Kishenganga (330 MW) and Ratle (850 MW) hydroelectric power plants, being built by India on the Kishenganga and Chenab rivers respectively.

The Indus Waters Treaty was seen as one of the most successful international treaties and has withstood frequent tensions between India and Pakistan, including conflict.

Cyclone Vardah leaves debris, damage in Tamil Nadu

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hennai residents woke up to uprooted trees/big branches blocking the roads, fallen name boards and hoardings, damaged walls and vehicles under fallen trees, power cuts and lack of milk supplies on Tuesday, December 13, a day after Cyclone Vardah ripped through the city and killed 16.

The cyclone also damaged over 7,000 huts and power infrastructure with Tamil Nadu government asking for Rs 1,000 crore for relief and reconstruction. While the cyclonehit residents have now become accustomed to closed ATMs, many hoteliers and shopkeepers declined to accept card payments citing nonworking point of sale terminals owing to network failure.

“There was no power at home and no milk. So we decided to go to a hotel and have brunch. However, the hotel said they are not accepting card payments as the swipe machine was not working. We had to come back home to have a home-cooked meal,” K. Muralidharan, a public sector employee said.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O.Panneerselvam in a late night statement said the cyclone killed 16 and announced a solatium of Rs 400,000 each to their families.

Cyclone Vardah leaves trail of destruction in Tamil Madu

He had also requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to release a sum of Rs.1,000 crore as “on account payment” from the National Disaster Response Fund for relief and reconstruction activities.

Panneerselvam told Modi that more than 10,000 electric poles have been mangled and more than 800 transformers damaged in Chennai, Kanchipuram and Thiruvallur districts. People in the residential localities after being awed by the damage caused by the cyclone started cleaning their compound of fallen trees, leaves and other muck that was blown by the cyclonic winds.

“It is as if we are in the midst of a forest,” quipped A. Viswanath, a businessman surveying the fallen trees in his locality.

Over 12,000 trees were felled by cyclone in Chennai and its suburbs.

In the Chennai city alone it was over 4,000 trees. According to citizens, the number could be much more if one takes into account the trees inside the residential compounds and the parks.

Around 200 students of Ramakrishna Mission Home in Chennai actively lent a helping hand to the residents of different localities by clearing the trees fallen on the roads.

The cyclone has affected power generation at North Chennai Thermal Power Station’s (NCTPS) 600 MW Unit 1, the Power System Operation Corporation Ltd (POSOCO) said.

Cyclone Vardah is the first natural disaster after O. Panneerselvam took over as the state Chief Minister and the administration seems to have passed the acid test, people felt.

T

ata Sons this week hiked its stake in automobile major Tata Motors.

According to information with stock exchanges, Tata Sons bought five crore shares worth Rs 486.13 per share.

At the end of the last quarter on September 30, Tata Sons held 26.98 per cent stake in the company, while the complete promoter group had a holding of 33.01 per cent in Tata Motors. The shares of Tata Motors on the BSE gained 3.48 per cent to close at Rs 470.35 from previous close of Rs 454.55. The consolidation in Tata Sons stake in its automobile subsidiary comes after Tata Motors called an extra-ordinary general meeting (EGM) on December 22 to decide whether or not to remove Tata Sons ousted Chairman Mistry as a Director from its board.

Tata Sons had earlier asked Mistry to follow his own assertions on corporate governance and step down from the boards of Tata companies

Banks told to incentive digital payments, transactions

A

s part of the Digital India campaign and to promote cashless transactions across the country, Union Electronics and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Tuesday, December 13, urged banks to incentivise digital payments. At a meeting in New Delhi, Prasad said, “The ministry is taking initiatives to offer better technology products and user friendliness to inform, educate and enable citizens on digital transactions.”

Exhorting state-run and private sector banks to become change agents of Digital India, the minister said uniform branding would help create awareness in the public on availability of digital transactions with merchants.

He also urged the banks to identify large mandis to encourage adoption of digital transactions in line with the government’s priority to promote digital payment transactions Electronics and IT Secretary Aruna Sundarajan who was also present said that banks should work towards making Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) a preferable and convenient mode of digital payments, especially for Jan-Dhan account holders

India, Indonesia seek to tie to ‘comprehensive strategic partnership’

F

ollowing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s talks with Indonesian President Joko Widodo, India and Indonesia have sought to elevate the bilateral relationship to a New Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, according to the Vision Document 2025, the details of which were released by the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi on Tuesday, December 13. It stated that in the 20th century, India and Indonesia were among the first nations to declare independence after World War II, initiated the Afro-Asian and Non-Aligned Movements, and actively promoted multilateralism, decolonisation, disarmament and North-South dialogue as well as South-South cooperation. Indonesia is among the largest of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) regional grouping, which is the focus of New Delhi’s Act East Policy.

The bid to elevate this relationship is significant following India elevating its relationship with another Southeast Asian nation, Vietnam, “Strategic Partnership” to “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership”, during Modi’s visit there in September this year.

Bathinda gets new airport, flight

B

athinda town in south-west Punjab on Sunday, December 11, became the latest place in the country to get air connectivity with the start of a new flight connecting it with New Delhi.

Union Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju inaugurated the newly built civil air terminal at Bathinda airport and the flight for DelhiBathinda-Delhi sector. The first flight, operated by Air India Regional, landed at the airport on Sunday. The flight was welcomed with fire engines spraying water on it.

Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal and Union Food Processing Industries Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal, who is the MP from Bathinda, were also present. Sukhbir Badal said that the Adampur airport had also been approved by the Union government and efforts were on to get the clearance for Ludhiana and Pathankot also.

He said that the Delhi-Amritsar-Birmingham flight has also been accorded sanction by the Union government which would provide a direct link from Amritsar to Britain. Bathinda is about 230 km from Chandigarh.

www.iwk.co.nz | 16 December 2016

Trump appoints PepsiCo CEO Indra

Nooyi to strategic, policy forum

“

Arul Louis

C

alling her one of the “pioneering CEOs,” President-elect Donald Trump appointed PepsiCo Chairman Indra Nooyi on Wednesday, December 14, to the President’s Strategic and Policy Forum that will consult with him on implementing his economic agenda.

“America has the most innovative and vibrant companies in the world, and the pioneering CEOs joining this Forum today are at the top of their fields,” Trump said.

“My administration is going to work together with the private sector to improve the business climate and make it attractive for firms to create new jobs across the United States from Silicon Valley to the heartland.”

The forum is headed by Stephen Schwarzman, the CEO of the

My administration is going to work together with the private sector to improve the business climate and make it attractive for firms to create new jobs across the United States from Silicon Valley to the heartland

Indra Nooyi

investment company Blackstone and includes Jack Welch, the former CEO of General Electric, and CEOs Elon

Musk of SpaceX and Tesla, Uber’s Travis Kalanick; Jamie Dimon of Chase and Mary Barra of General Motors. Trump’s transition team said that forum members will give Trump

their views on government policy, job-creation and productivity “in a frank, non-bureaucratic and nonpartisan manner.”

Nooyi heads a multinational with an annual revenue of $63 billion that employs 110,000 people.

A graduate of Madras Christian College in Chennai, she has management degrees from the Indian Institute of Management in Kolkata and Yale University.

Earlier Trump had appointed Shalabh Kumar, the chair of the Republican Hindu Coalition, to the transition finance and the inauguration teams. The finance team members review prospects for administration positions and make recommendations to Trump. The inauguration team organises the festivities for Trump’s swearing in as president on January 20.

Vancouver-based band to reveal ‘hidden world of bhangra’ in a documentary Natalia Ningthoujam

A

fter shooting a video in Mumbai’s Dharavi, considered Asia’s largest slum, Vancouver-based world music group Delhi 2 Dublin, that comprises a mix of Canadians and IndoCanadians, is set to put the spotlight on the “hidden world of bhangra” in their upcoming documentary.

The electronic pop-bhangra fusion band launched the official music video of We’re All Desi, shot with the local cast and crew in Dharavi slum earlier this year. Now, they are working on a documentary on bhangra—a genre of Punjabi dance and music.

“At the moment, we are shooting a documentary on the ‘hidden world of bhangra’. Trying to shed light on this subculture of Punjabi music in Vancouver that has such deep roots here (India), and also in the UK. We’ll be travelling to Punjab later this month,” Tarun Nayar, the band’s DJ and tabla player, said in an interview.

The band, which also consists of Sanjay Seran, Ravi Binning, James Hussain and Serena Eades, will show India in a good light. But generally, when international films—including Oscar-winner Slumdog Millionaire— choose India as a backdrop, the focus is on poverty or other social evils.

How does such representation of the country affect him? Nayar says that, as the children of Indian immigrants to North America, “we take issue with the systemic misrepresentation of Indian culture in mainstream western media”.

“It’s so annoying! We’re vocal about it both in our music and in our online and real-life personas.

And it’s not just Indian culture that is fetishised and exotified for easy consumption of the mainstream— it is all narratives outside the conventional white, straight-male perspective,” he said.

Talking about We’re All Desi, he said the video was the brainchild of

videographer Kedar Sonigra. So, any Bollywood dreams?

“We are working on a small Bollywood project. Loving it,” he said.

Right now, they are pumpedup about their Indian tour, which will conclude on December 17 in Bengaluru. “So excited. After our trip to India last year, which included SulaFest and Jaipur Lit fest, we just couldn’t wait to come back,” said Nayar.

And their fans in India must be overjoyed as Delhi 2 Dublin is not restricted to just one genre.

esearcher Minhajuddin Sirajuddin from the Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine (inStem) in Bengaluru has become the first scientist from India to join the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) Young Investigator Programme network, a statement said on Saturday, December 10.

“Minhajuddin Sirajuddin from Bengaluru is the first young life scientist to be nominated for the EMBO Young Investigator Programme,” EMBO said in a statement.

At a launch event in February 2016, European Molecular Biology Conference (EMBC), EMBO and India’s Department of Biotechnology signed a cooperation agreement, under which India became an

and jointly explore new ideas,” the EMBC Associate Member State. statement said.

“Nearly one year on, the partnership is picking EMBO announced the Nearly up momentum, with selection of 25 young one year on, the Indian scientists researchers as EMBO partnership is picking benefiting from Young Investigators. up momentum, with the full range The new Young Indian scientists benefiting of EMBO Investigators from the full range of EMBO programmes in programmes in order to forge represent 11 order to forge different countries, international collaborations inter national including India and jointly explore collaborations new ideas.

Members of Delhi 2 Dublin band based in Vancouver

“We’ve never been too concerned about fitting into a genre or getting radio or TV play. I guess, from the outset our music was so weird that those things weren’t an option for us.

“So we just make whatever music we like. Ranging from really folky to really electronic. And over the years, as we’ve grown, so too have our tastes and the music we represent.”

He says the band, which was formed 10 years ago, didn’t really strategically pick any form, but agrees they have a strong bhangra influence as “2.5 of our members are Punjabi”.

INDIA ABROAD

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Indian teens get $100K prizes in Siemens science contest

Identical twin sisters Adhya and Shriya Beesam

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ndian origin identical twin sisters and another teen got $100,000 grand prize scholarships in the 17th annual Siemens Math, Science and Technology Competition with their medical projects.

Adhya and Shriya Beesam shared the grand prize for teams in the competition finals on December 13 for their project developing a method for early diagnoses of schizophrenia using both brain scans and psychiatric evaluations. Both of them are 11th grade students in Plano, Texas.

Vineet Edupuganti took the individual grand prize with a biodegradable battery that can be used to power medical devices.

It is for use in devices that can be swallowed to diagnose and track conditions affecting internal organs. He is a final year high school student in Portland in Oregon state.

David Etzwiler, CEO of the Siemens Foundation, said the Beesam twins and Edupuganti “are poised to transform the lives of millions around the globe by helping us advance medical knowledge and technologies designed to diagnose and treat various diseases”.

Three Indian origin teens took other prizes in the individual category and two others shared a team prize.

In the individual category scholarship awards, high school final year students Manan Shah of Los Altos, California, received $50,000; Prateek Kalakuntla from Plano, Texas, got $30,000, and Pranav Sivakumar, of Tower Lakes, Illinois, picked up $20,000.

Nikhil Cheerla, a high school final year student, and Anika Cheerla, a tenth grade student, from Cupertino in California shared the $50,000 scholarship team prize.

In the competition sponsored by the Siemens Foundation, 2,146 school students participated with 1,600 projects.

Indian researcher nominated to European investigator programme R

for the first time. The programme provides support for researchers under forty years of age who have set up their first laboratories in the past four years.

During their three-year tenure, EMBO Young Investigators receive a range of benefits, including an award of 15,000 euros and the opportunity to apply for additional funds to support the establishment of their first independent laboratories.

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SPORTS

16 December 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

Pankaj Advani wins World

Billiards Championships title A

ce Indian cueist Pankaj Advani won his 11th World Billiards (150-Up format) Championships title by beating Peter Gilchrist of Singapore in the summit clash on Monday, December 12.

Advani beat multiple world champion Gilchrist by six games to three in a gripping final contest to wrap up his 16th world title overall.

Coming into the finals with right frame of mind after defeating Myanmar’s Aung Htay in the semifinals, Advani scripted a convincing victory over his Singapore-based British opponent.

The Indian champion beat Gilchrist 151 (98)-33, 150 (97)-95, 124-150, 101 (98)-150 (89), 150 (87)-50, 152-37, 86 (86)-150, 151 (110)-104, 150 (88)-15.

In contrast to his semifinal match, where he posted century break points in all the games, Advani was satisfied with going for short break points to put pressure on his rival.

Advani posted his only century break of 110 in the eighth game of the match, Advani which almost dashed the beat hopes of Gilchrist to win multiple world the title as he trailed 3-5 champion Gilchrist by against the Indian cueist. six games to three in a Advani began on a gripping final contest to strong note by pocketing wrap up his 16th world Ace Indian cueist Pankaj Advani won his 11th World Billiards (150-Up format) Championships title the first two games, 150 title overall points against 33 and 150 sixth game helped Advani to take a 4-2 lead hopes of Gilchrist by posting a thumping 150 against 95. over his opponent, but could not sustain it as he against 15 points, and laid claim to his eleventh However, Gilchrist bounced back lost the seventh game after Gilchrist broke twice world billiards championship. Earlier, Advani in the next two games by winning 150 points with 86 and 53 break points. had beaten Htay 5-0 in the morning to storm against 124 and 150 against 101, after he into the finals while Gilchrist defeated India’s Eighth and ninth games belonged to Advani, engineered 112 and 89 break points in third Dhvaj Haria 5-1 in another semi-final. especially the final one, as he shattered the and fourth games. The 79-break point in the

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Ronaldo wins his 4th Ballon d’Or

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eal Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo has been named as the winner of the 2016 Ballon d’Or for the fourth time, second only to five-time recipient Lionel Messi.

The Portuguese international’s first golden ball came in 2008, before Manchester United sold him to the Blancos for $132 million, EFE news reported.

Ronaldo scored 51 goals in 54 games this year while leading Real Madrid to their record 11th Champions League trophy and Portugal to its first European Championship.

The 31-year-old striker was not on hand for the ceremony held in Paris on December 12, as Real Madrid are in Japan this week for the semifinals of the Club World Cup. “This has been the best year of my career from both a team and individual level,” Ronaldo said in an interview recorded earlier at the Santiago Bernabeu. “To win the title for Portugal was what was left to achieve on my resume and it was one of the most important moments.”

“But to win Champions League as well with Real Madrid was huge,” he said, surrounded by the 11 trophies the team has won in Europe’s elite club competition. This is a dream come true and it is the fourth time. I feel very proud.

This win is for my teammates in both the club and the national team. It is incredible to earn this trophy again,” Ronaldo said.

Presented by the magazine France Football, the Ballon d’Or has been awarded every year since 1956.

Messi, whose Barça squad won La Liga and the Copa del Rey came second in the voting for the Ballon d’Or, followed by Antoine Griezmann of Champions League finalist Atletico Madrid.

FUN ZONE

www.iwk.co.nz | 16 December 2016

23

Answers to last week's puzzles

Sudoku

6 2 5 9 2

8

7

8 6 3

Animal Word Scamble Answer

4

1. Bird 2. Dog 3. Donkey 4. Giraffe 5. Alligator 6. Cat 7.Horse

7

1 5 3 6 1 9 4 6 1 9 4

8

Large print sudoku from largeprintpuzzles.com

Crossword

15. Dolphine 16. Gorilla 17. Mouse 18. Tiger 19. Rabbit 20. Rat

8. Lion 9.Monkey 10. bee 11. Duck 12. Frog 13. Elephant 14. Crocodile

Questions - Word Scramble 1. TROACR 2. IPE 3. TIURF 4. OCABN 5. EECHSE 6. LPPAE 7. EDARB

8. GBELTVEEA 9. NDCAY 10. RCIE 11. AAANNB 12. OOMTTA 13. TTCLUEE 14. NRCO

15. OAOTPT 16. TARYREBWSR 17. AHGRMRUBE 18. AOGERN 19. PAIZZ 20. UOPS

Riddles

Send us stories, drawings, poems and other contributions by your little ones along with their photographs for this page. E-mail us at reporter@ indianweekender. co.nz

Q: What has a foot but no legs?

A: A snail Q: Poor people have it. Rich people need it. If you eat it you die. What is it?

A: Nothing Q: What comes down but never goes up?

A: Rain Q: I'm tall when I'm young and I'm short when I'm old. What am I? A: A candle Q: Mary's father has 5 daughters – Nana, Nene, Nini, Nono. What is the fifth daughters name?

A: If you answered Nunu, you are wrong.

It's Mary!

Q: How can a pants pocket be empty and still have something in it?

A: It can have a hole in it.

Q: In a one-story pink house, there was a pink person, a pink cat, a pink fish, a pink computer, a pink chair, a pink table, a pink telephone, a pink shower– everything was pink! What colour were the stairs?

A: There weren't any stairs, it was a one story house!

Q: A dad and his son were riding their bikes and crashed. Two ambulances came and took them to different hospitals. The man's son was in the operating room and the doctor said, I can't operate on you. You're my son. How is that possible?

A: The doctor is his mom!

Q: What goes up when rain comes down?

A: An umbrella!

Q: What is the longest word in the dictionary?

A: Smiles, because there is a mile between each s Q: If I drink, I die. If i eat, I am fine. What am I? A: A fire!

Q: Throw away the outside and cook the inside, then eat the outside and throw away the inside. What is it?

A: Corn on the cob, because you throw away the husk, cook and eat the kernels, and throw away the cob.

Q: What word becomes shorter when you add two letters to it?

A: Short Q: What travels around the world but stays in one spot?

A: A stamp!

Q: What occurs once in a minute, twice in a moment and never in one thousand years?

A: The letter M Q: What has 4 eyes but can't see?

A: Mississippi

24

FEATURES

16 December 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

Scientific reasons for visiting temples Devika Rani | devika@e-puja.co.nz

V

isiting temples is customary for most Hindus. It is ingrained in our lifestyle.

In India, prolific temple building started more than 2,500 years ago. In South India alone, there are more than 108,000 temples. Visiting temples is not just to get divine blessings and to find peace; there are several other benefits, too.

Activation of the senses

T

here are several benefits and meanings for the various rituals conducted in temples.

Not only are the rituals established to offer prayers to the almighty but it also specifically activates the various senses or indriyas in the body.

the sense of sight. The idol also absorbs the heat and sharp aroma of the camphor flame.

Taking aarthi

Doing pradakshina

A

The location and structure

T

emples are built on vaasthu principles at a place where positive energy is available abundantly from the magnetic and electric waves of north and south poles. The idol of the deity is set in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple known as garbhagriha or moolasthanam where the Earth’s magnetic waves are extreme.

Walking barefoot inside the temple

Ringing the bell

B

efore entering the moolasthanam, where the main idol is placed, the ringing of the brass bell produces a sound that creates unity in the left and right parts of the brain.

The loud and high-pitched sound reverberates for a minimum of seven seconds. This sound is known to activate the seven fundamental or healing chakras in the body. The sound of the bell dispels negative thoughts from the human mind and is absorbed by the idol and vibrated for a certain amount of time.

Lighting of camphor

T

emples are known to project pure vibrations of magnetic and electric fields with positive energy. In the olden days, temples were built with stone floors. Devotees walked barefoot inside the temple so their bodies could absorb the positive vibrations from the temple through their feet.

T

he moolasthanam of ancient temples is often dark. You usually close your eyes to pray and when you open your eyes, you can see the camphor that was lit during the aarthi.

The bright light of the burning camphor seen in the dark surrounding activates

December 16 to 22 | By Manisha Koushik ¡¡ Aries (Mar 21-Apr 20) So much had been planned for implementing in the past few weeks but now you can start to have second thoughts because of the difficulties involved.

The best way to achieve your aim would be to hire expertise and delegate responsibilities. Someone in the family may desire to pursue some course or hobby that you are not exactly in favour of, but it will be in your interest to give in. Love and romance may pale if kept out in the cold for long, so do something about it.

is believed to cure sore throat, cold, cough, and respiratory problems as well as reduce the formation of kidney stones.

T

he priest brings the camphor to the devotees after the aarthi. You then take the deity’s blessings by placing your hands gently over the camphor. This makes your hands warm and then you touch your eyes. This activates your sense of touch.

Offering flowers to the deity

F

lowers produce a beautiful fragrance and are soft to touch. Only specific flowers are used for puja such as rose petals, jasmine, and marigold based on different factors, but the most important one is fragrance. The combined fragrance of the flower, camphor, and incense sticks has the strong essence to activate your sense of smell and also calm the mind.

Drinking theertham

T

he water used for theertham would usually contain tulsi leaves dipped in water and must be stored in a silver or a copper vessel.

According to Ayurveda, water stored in a copper vessel has the ability to balance all the three doshas in your body and does so by positively charging the water. By drinking theertham, the sense of taste is activated. Theertham

fter performing all the rituals, you have to walk around the idol in a clockwise direction for nine times. Pradakshina literary means the right side in Sanskrit.

The idol of the deity inside the garbhagriha absorbs all the energy from the rituals and radiates positive energy. When you do the pradakshina, you tend to absorb all these positive vibrations once the five senses are activated. It is advised to visit the temples often and follow the same rituals to get prolonged benefits to the body and mind.

Use of kumkum and tilak

O

ur scriptures tell us that the spot between the eyebrows has to be protected with a tilak or kumkum, as this is a major nerve point.

This helps to retain energy in the human body and control the various levels of concentration.

While applying kumkum, the points on the midbrow region and adnya-chakra are automatically pressed. This also facilitates the blood supply to the face muscles.

Offerings to the deity

I

t is recommended to use only bananas and coconuts during puja. These are considered pure and untainted, as they do not grow from seeds. The coconut tree grows from the sapling from a full coconut and the banana tree grows from an offshoot from the roots of the main tree. This is the reason why coconut and banana have an important place in all religious activities. Our ancestors had discovered these thousands of years ago and this system is still followed today.

Courtesy: e-puja.co.nz

Manisha Koushik is a practicing astrologer, tarot card reader, numerologist, vastu and fengshui consultant based in India with a global presence through the online channels. She is available for consultations online as well. E-mail her at support@askmanisha. com or contact at +91-11-26449898 Mobile/Whatsapp: +919015607139 • www.askmanisha.com

¡¡ Cancer (Jun 22-Jul 20) You are likely to gain popularity on the social front because of something unique that you have achieved. You can feel attracted to someone, and the good part is that this attraction will be mutual.

Some of you can plan a short break just to enjoy the season. A property is likely to be yours soon. Getting an old building renovated is possible. Efforts will be required, if you want to make your mark on the academic front. Don’t leave anything pending on the work front.

¡¡ Libra (Sep 24-Oct 23) A medical problem making life difficult for some is set to disappear through a new line of treatment. It is better to get certain things approved by higher ups before going ahead with a project on the professional front. Repayment of a loan can keep your financial position a bit tight, but you will get used to it. A relation or a family friend can come and stay with you for a few days. Those seeking love can get attracted to someone soon.

¡¡ Capricorn (Dec 22-Jan 21) Romantic thoughts and longing for a partner may make you focus on love. There is a possibility of taking a short break by travelling to someplace exotic. Those planning to buy property are likely to get a good bargain. A hectic social event may leave you tired and fatigued. There will be mistakes galore in an assignment submitted by you at work.

Performance on the academic front can remain below expectations. It may be difficult to get your money back from someone you had loaned to.

Lucky number: 11 / Lucky colour: Lavender

Lucky number: 17 / Lucky colour: Gray

Lucky number: 5 / Lucky colour: Sea green

¡¡Taurus (Apr 21-May 20) This is a good period to take a step forward on the professional front. Your style of functioning is likely to impress those who matter. Someone may be instrumental in opening new avenues for earning for you. A malady that had posed problems for you on the health front is likely to disappear for good.

You may seek out someone special on the romantic front. This is a good time to visit someone who can be of help to you in the future.

¡¡ Leo (Jul 21-Aug 22) This is a good time to take up some physical activity if you want to achieve total fitness. A financial bonanza can come your way. Meeting and planning something with friends or cousins is on the cards for some. You may be sought out for something special on the social front. A regular dose of romance promises to keep you chirpy and rejuvenated. A ride to the countryside will help some unwind.

Refurbishing the house may be topmost on your mind this week.

¡¡ Scorpio (Oct 24-Nov 22) You will manage to free yourself from all ailments and lead a happy and healthy life. Your concern about the current financial situation will be unfounded as money flows in. At work, you are likely to give a good account of yourself through your efficiency and dedication. It is best to keep away from the gossip mill on the social front as it can rebind on you. Some of you can get hard pressed for time on the romantic front and cut short your meeting with the lover.

Lucky number: 15 / Lucky colour: Brown

Lucky number: 11 / Lucky colour: Light blue

Lucky number: 1 / Lucky colour: Pink

¡¡ Aquarius (Jan 22-Feb 19) Someone is likely to hurt your feelings, but it will not be deliberate, so take it in your stride. A lot of legwork will be required to get an approval or a sanction on the business front, but you will manage it. Plans for buying a second vehicle may put some in the saving mode. You will be able to maintain your popularity on the social front. Someone may be taking an inordinate interest in you, so decide whether you want to get romantically involved or not.

¡¡ Gemini (May 21-Jun 21) You may find it difficult to shed old grudges against people, even if you have taken them on someone’s behalf. Strong likes and dislikes are likely to narrow down your social front and may even get you sidelined. Some of you can fall in and out of love and lead an unstable romantic life. Someone can force you to accompany him or her to a place you are reluctant to go. A property is likely to come into your name.

¡¡ Virgo (Aug 23-Sep 23) Certain steps may have to be taken before you become totally comfortable with a project or a task on the professional front. You will have to be sweet, but firm, in saying no to someone asking for monetary help as his or her need appears unjustified.

Someone who used to like you may deliberately try to avoid you, so find out why. Self-control and an active life are likely to have positive fallout on your health. Make your love life exciting.

¡¡ Sagittarius (Nov 23-Dec 21) You are likely to get a chance to share your innermost feelings with someone you feel close to.

The discovery that someone loves and admires you can get you all excited on the romantic front. Your blunt ways may spoil chances on the job front. You can lose money through sheer carelessness towards the end of this week. Something you eat outside may not agree with your system, so stick to homemade food. Those using the road should remain alert as stars don’t seem favourable.

¡¡ Pisces (Feb 20-Mar 20) Visiting someone close is likely to give you a sense of immense fulfilment. You will manage to convert an official trip into leisure trip and enjoy your heart out. Taking possession of a flat is likely for some. A cash crunch may force you to redraw the budget, but it will be a temporary phase. Remaining irregular in workouts may begin telling on your health soon. Tiff with a senior on the work front is possible. Someone may try to malign you on the social front.

Lucky number: 4 / Lucky colour: Dark turquoise

Lucky number: 8 / Lucky colour: Forest green

Lucky number: 3 / Lucky colour: Lemon

Lucky number: 6 / Lucky colour: Yellow

Lucky number: 22 / Lucky colour: Off white

Lucky number: 18 / Lucky colour: Rose

FEATURES

www.iwk.co.nz | 16 December 2016

Chicken 3.7: 3.7 Saag Chicken Succulent chicken cooked in a spiced spinach gravy

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• • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Features • • •

Preparation time: 30 minutes (plus marination time: 6 hours or ideally overnight) Cooking time: 45 minutes Serves/makes: 6 Tastes (on icon of spice meter) (mild/ medium/spicy/hot): Medium

Ingredients

For the marinade •

• • • •

1kg boneless chicken, skin removed and cut into bite-sized pieces ½ cup thick plain yoghurt or Greek yoghurt 1 tsp. coriander powder (dhania powder) 1 tsp. cumin powder (jeera powder) ½ tsp. red chilli powder

Add ginger and garlic paste, and stir and sauté for another 2–3 minutes.

Add red chilli powder, turmeric powder, coriander powder, garam masala powder, salt to taste (note we have already added salt in the marinade), and yoghurt.

Do not stir immediately, as yoghurt will curdle. Cook gently on low heat for 3–4 minutes or until the oil has separated.

Add spinach purée to the onion masala, cover, and cook for 3–4 minutes until it comes to the boil.

Add chicken and cook on high heat for 4–5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until any excess water has evaporated, the oil surfaces and the chicken pieces are well coated with the spinach gravy.

Serve with roti or tandoori roti.

½ tsp. garam masala powder 1 tsp. ginger paste 1 tsp. garlic paste ½ tsp. salt

For the spinach gravy

popular dish in the North Indian cuisine, chicken is cooked until tender and simmered with spices in a nutritious spinach gravy. Saag can mean just spinach leaves or a mix of spinach and mustard leaves. Although a variety of spices are used, their carefully balanced proportions accentuate the flavour of the spinach.

•

• • • •

• •

260g spinach 1 cup water 2–3 green chillies 2 large black cardamom seeds 1 clove 2 large onions, chopped 2 tsp. garlic paste 2 tsp. ginger paste ½ tsp. red chilli powder ½ tsp. turmeric powder 1 tsp. coriander powder 1 tsp. garam masala powder Salt to taste ½ cup plain thick yoghurt Greek yoghurt 2 tbsp. butter 2 tbsp. oil

25

For the spinach gravy or

Method

For the marinade In a large bowl, whisk the yoghurt, then add all the spices, salt, ginger, and garlic paste. Stir to combine well. Add chicken and mix well to coat evenly. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for at least six hours or ideally overnight.

Boil spinach until cooked. Process it into a puree with a hand mixer or blender, and keep aside.

Heat oil in a heavy-bottomed pan on medium heat. Cook the chicken pieces, along with its marinade, for around 5–6 minutes each side or until tender.

Take the chicken out of the pan and keep aside.

In the same pan, melt butter on low heat.

Add cardamom and clove and stir. Add onions, stir and sauté until it turns light brown.

Ruby’s tip The chicken pieces are meant to be well-coated with the spinach gravy. The consistency of this preparation is thick.

The chicken can be marinated overnight and refrigerated.

The spinach puree can also be made the day before. This way, cooking time can be halved on the day.

Things not to eat before going to bed

O

ne should eat carefully to stay fit and fabulous but keeping a check on your diet before going to bed needs extra attention as some food items have the tendency to disturb your sleep if taken regulalry.

Sonia Narang, nutrition expert, Oriflame India, lists products that shouldn’t be consumed at night

•

Nut Butter: Nut butter is a healthy source of fat. Also, it may help in losing weight but fats digest slow and may remain present in your stomach all night if consumed in large quantities, hence, may lead to disturbed sleep. So keep high fat foods like (nuts, cheese, cream sauces) relatively low at night.

•

•

• •

Chocolate: Dark chocolates are considered as a healthy food that contains magnesium and antioxidants, but it also contains caffeine, which could keep you awake. So you should avoid it specially during night time as it may create hindrance in your sound sleep.

Chilies and spicy foods: Chilies are healthy if made with the right mix of ingredients, but they are spicy, and may end up causing heartburn, if consumed late in the night and may result in killing your sound sleep. So heavy spiced foods should be avoided during night because if your sleep is disturbed, your health will deteriorate.

•

•

Greasy or fat-filled foods like pizza: Greasy, heavy, fatty foods would make your stomach overwork throughout night, resulting in disturbed sleep and making you sluggish next morning. So foods like

fast food, nuts, ice cream, or super cheesy foods should be avoided before bed.

Chinese Food: This is another food item that is important to avoid during night as the MSG (Monosodium Glutamateflavour enhancer) found in Chinese food does what the caffeine would do to your body, making it really difficult to fall asleep.

M i l k : Though we consider milk to be a rich source of protein and calcium, it may kill your sleep if you drink it before bed because of its lactose content that can create digestive issues in many individuals. Especially if you are lactose intolerant, you should definitely avoid it.

Red meat and other non-veg items: Eating red meats and other non-veg

•

•

items in large amounts at night will remain in your digestive system for long time and it will make it hard for you to get sound sleep while you’re d i g e s t i n g.

So red meat and eating a large portion of chicken or pork may affect you the worst leading to troubled sleep along with weight gain.

Celery: Celery is a vegetable that act as a d i u re t i c in the body, h e n c e results in making you pee a lot.

Hence you should avoid taking celery at night.

Rice: If large amounts of rice are taken at night, it encourages your body to store excess fat that it doesn’t need and make it harder to lose weight. It can also lead to water retention.

26

FEATURES

16 December 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

Depression drug cuts joint pain for women with breast cancer

A

drug typically used to treat depression and anxiety can significantly reduce joint pain in postmenopausal women being treated for early stage breast cancer, says a study.

The researchers conducted a trial to test whether duloxetine, a depression and anxiety drug, could alleviate pain caused by aromatase inhibitors, a common breast cancer treatment that’s particularly effective with postmenopausal women.

“We’ve shown that this treatment is a potential option for women,” said N. Lynn Henry, a SWOG investigator from Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah in the US. SWOG is the international cancer clinical trials network funded by the US National Cancer Institute (NCI).

women each year are treated with aromatase inhibitors (AIs), pills that stop the production of oestrogen and essentially starve hormone receptorpositive breast cancer cells.

Many women—as many as 50 per cent—experience joint pain and stiffness as a side effect of the therapy.Henry said The some women stop pain can really taking their interfere with daily life. medication to And this is a big problem.

The length of treatment with get relief.

“A lot of AIs can be five to 10 years, so 6 0 -yearwe’re asking a lot of women old women to manage significant “Taking this drug may help report feeling discomfort for a very them tolerate their breast cancer like they’re 80,” long period of treatment. And it’s important Henry said. time. for their health that they stick with “The pain can their treatment,” Henry noted. Tens really interfere with daily life. And of thousands of postmenopausal

this is a big problem. The length of treatment with AIs can be five to 10 years, so we’re asking a lot of women to manage significant discomfort for a very long period of time,” Henry noted.

Results of the trial involving nearly 300 women showed that patients taking duloxetine saw their average pain drop on the scale from 5.5 to about three.

Improvement was rapid, and relief persisted through the end of the 12-week trial. Improvement in pain was also seen in the placebo arm of the trial, suggesting a robust placebo effect.

The findings were presented at a special plenary presentation at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium in the US.

Bacterium in undercooked chicken causes paralysis: Study

U

S researchers have identified a bacterium, commonly found in undercooked chicken, that may cause GuillainBarre Syndrome (GBS).

GBS is an autoimmune disorder and is the world’s leading cause of acute neuromuscular paralysis in humans.

The research showed that if chicken isn’t cooked to the proper minimum internal temperature, bacteria—Campylobacter jejuni— which still exist in the food can trigger GBS. “The study showed that it takes a certain genetic makeup combined with a Campylobacter (bacteria) strain to cause this disease,” said lead author Linda Mansfield, Professor at the Michigan State University, in the US. Further, most of the bacteria strains were found to be antibioticresistant, with some causing more harm than good.

Use of certain antibiotics aggravated neurological signs,

lesions and the number of immune antibodies that can mistakenly attack a patient’s own organs and tissues.

The exact cause of this autoimmune disease is still uncertain, although some studies

You earn extra 4kg along with a college degree

C

ompleting a four-year degree course is likely to add more than 4.5 kg to your body weight, along with the associated health risks, a study says.

“Our study shows that there is concerning weight gain among college students that happens over all four years they are in college,” said the study’s lead author Lizzy Pope, Assistant Professor at University of Vermont in the US. The study measured student weight and body-mass-index at the beginning and end of students’ first and second semesters and again at the end of their senior year.

At the beginning of their college careers, the mean weight of the students in the study was about 147 pounds (66.6 kg). By the end of

senior year, it had increased to about 157 pounds (71 kg). The extra weight translates to increased health risk, according to the study.

Twenty-three percent of the students in the study were overweight or obese as they were starting college.

By the end of senior year, 41 percent were in that category, a 78 per cent increase, published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior. Obese young adults are at risk for a variety of health conditions, including diabetes, hypertension, polycystic ovarian syndrome and psycho-social distress, Pope said.

“This study and earlier ones suggest that college students are prone to weight gain that can impact their health in the present and even more significantly in the future,” Pope pointed out.

have linked GBS with the Zika virus, the researchers said.

Campylobacter jejuni is also known to trigger other autoimmune disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease and Reiter’s arthritis.

In the study, the researchers successfully produced three preclinical models of GBS that represent two different forms of the syndrome seen in humans.

Many patients with GBS are critically ill and cannot participate in clinical trials.

Thus, the models hold great potential for discovery of new treatments for this paralysis.

“Our models now provide a unique opportunity to understand how your personal genetic type may make you more susceptible to certain forms of GBS,” Mansfield added.

Mansfield now wants to move forward quickly to test drugs against GBS in her models.

“Of course, new treatments would be wonderful, but therapeutics to prevent GBS from developing in the first place would be the best strategy so that people don’t have to suffer with paralysis,” she said.

The study was published in the Journal of Autoimmunity.

Suffering from mental illness?

Adopt a pet

F

or individuals suffering from various mental illness, pets can provide them with unconditional support as well as help manage stigma, a research suggests.

The study found that the consistent presence and close physical proximity of their pets can provide an immediate source of calm and therapeutic benefit for people with mental health conditions.

“The people we spoke to through the course of this study felt their pet played a range of positive roles such as helping them to manage stigma associated with their mental health by providing acceptance without judgement,” said lead author Helen Brooks from University of Manchester in Britain. For 60 per cent of study participants, pets played a central role in the social networks of people managing a longterm mental health problem.

According to the participants, one reason for this was that their pet helped by distracting them from symptoms and upsetting experiences such as hearing voices or suicidal thoughts. Participants from the study were quoted as saying, “I felt in a sense that my cat was familiar, in that he understood or was an extension of my thoughts.”

However, despite the identified benefits of pet ownership, pets were neither considered nor incorporated into the individual care plans for people with mental conditions, the researchers said, suggesting that pets should be considered a main source of support in the management of long-term mental health problems.

For the research, published in the journal BMC Psychiatry, the team interviewed 54 participants, aged 18 and above, who were under the care of community-based mental health services and had been diagnosed with a severe mental illness.

Chemotherapy may cause heart damage in diabetic patients

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ancer patients who also suffer from diabetes also risk heart damage because of chemotherapy, a study has found.

The study found that cardiotoxicity induced by chemotherapy with anthracyclines is being increasingly reported, mainly because a smaller proportion of patients now die from cancer.

“In the coming years this cardiotoxicity looks set to increase the burden of heart failure in cancer survivors,” said Ana Catarina

Gomes, cardiologist in training at the Hospital Garcia de Orta in Almada, Portugal.

“The good news is that cardiotoxicity can be reversible in the early stages before overt heart failure develops.

Surveillance programmes are hugely beneficial, particularly in the first year of treatment when up to 80 per cent of the systolic dysfunction develops,” Gomes added.

The research investigated factors that could affect the likelihood of patients having heart damage after treatment with anthracyclines.

Of 83 patients included in the surveillance programme, 54 had breast cancer, 20 had lymphoma and nine had gastric cancer.

“Patients with diabetes had a significantly greater decrease in global longitudinal strain during treatment, despite having baseline levels similar to non-diabetics,” the research noted.

According to Gomes, sub-clinical reduction in global longitudinal strain is an early predictor of heart failure and was particularly pronounced in patients with diabetes.

“It is possible that the trend for greater reduction in patients with hypertension might become statistically significant in a larger study,” Gomes added.

The researchers hypothesised that cancers themselves could have direct cardio-toxic effects induced by cytokines.

The cardio-toxic effects may vary with the type of cancer, study noted.

Researchers suggested that cancer patients should strictly control cardiovascular risk factors with lifestyle changes and, if necessary, with medication.

The findings were presented at EuroEcho-Imaging 2016 in Leipzig, Germany.

ENTERTAINMENT FEATURES

www.iwk.co.nz | 16 December 2016

Rajinikanth never forgot

where he came from: Daughter Subhash K. Jha

H

e worked as a bus conductor.

And worked his way to be idolised in the country as a megastar. Actor Rajinikanth, who turned 66 on December 12, has not forgotten his roots and that helps him to be as down-to-earth as he is, says his daughter Soundarya. Excerpts from the interview: Q. How does Rajinikanth ji remain so down-to-earth?

He is a very simple human being.

He never forgot where he came from.

As his children, my sister Aishwarya and I learnt this from him—to never forget our roots. With our dad, there are no two faces.

What you see is what he is.

Whether it’s a fan or a producer, he treats them all the same. He has been down to earth all his life. He will never change. We, as his children, try to emulate that trait of our dad.

Q. Rajinikanth ji’s last release Kabali broke box office records.

Was there some anxiety in the family about it? Critics and fans were surprised by the subtle but sudden sartorial and image changes in Kabali.

I think what attracted by dad to the role was the whole idea of playing a don in Malaysia. The changes that you’re talking about came about with the role. He was a little apprehensive about the part because he had to play someone close to his age. Also, there was a message on the downtrodden.

He also had concerns about the lack of comedy element in the script.

But by God’s grace, it’s all turned out really well. The bottom-line is, my father liked the director Ranjith and he liked the subject that Ranjith came up with. They instinctively took to one another.

Q. Was there a sense of dismay when Rajinikanth ji’s last two films didn’t do well?

Of course it makes a difference to the artiste when his film doesn’t do well. Just like a successful film makes a difference to everyone concerned,

a failure affects everyone too. But my dad is not the kind to mope around wondering what went wrong. After he completes a film, he moves on, whether it is a hit or a flop. He is always wondering what to do next.

Even after the response to the last two films, he moved on quickly. Sure, there was minor dip in the graph. But these things happen in every artiste’s life.

Q. There are serious questions being asked about Rajinikanth ji’s health. Would you clarify?

I’d like to say once and for all that my dad is in fine health. But for the first time in a very long time, he was shooting two back-to-back films— Kabali and 2.0. As you know, 2.0 is a sci-fi film with lots of costumes and action scenes. Dad was shooting round-the-clock. Kabali required a lot of night shooting. And my dad doesn’t normally shoot at nights.

The physical strain was getting to be too much for him. So we whisked him away for a holiday.

Q. Wasn’t it odd that he wasn’t here for the release of Kabali?

It wasn’t planned that way. It just happened. My sister and I took him away because he needed to be on his own, away from the limelight and

only makes you better: Esha

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Aamir Khan returns as singer after 18 years

B

ollywood superstar Aamir Khan, who showcased his singing talent with the song Aati kya khandala from the 1998 film Ghulam, will return as a singer after 18 years. The actor has recorded his version of the song Dhaakad from his upcoming film Dangal.

Aamir has recorded a video for the song, which will be aired for the first time during the Lux Golden Rose Awards, set to be telecast on December 18 on Zee TV, read a statement. Actor Arjun Kapoor, who will be hosting the event alongside Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan and filmmaker Karan Johar, will unveil the video. Dressed like a rapper, the 51-year-old can be seen talking about women empowerment and introducing Fatima Sana Shaikh and Sanya Malhotra, who play his onscreen daughters in Dangal.

Dhaakad, which originally has been sung by rapper Raftaar, is the second song of Dangal after Haanikaarak bapu.

Dangal, directed by Nitesh Tiwari, is slated to release on December 23.

Madhur Bhandarkar settles on Indu Sarkar script

Working with strong actors ctress Esha Gupta, who will be seen sharing screen space with Ajay Devgn and Emraan Hashmi in forthcoming movie Baadshaho, said working with powerful actors enhances one’s acting ability.

“Working with strong actors only makes you better, rather than being over-shadowed.

“If they are doing such a good job and you are not able to deliver a good performance, then you won’t be there.

“You get to learn the little nuances they are doing.

“Ajay Devgn or Akshay Kumar are confident actors and they only make you better in the craft,” Esha said in an interview in Mumbai.

The 31-year-old actress was last seen playing a character with grey

27

shades in Akshay Kumar starrer Rustom. Baadshaho is directed by Milan Luthria.

Talking about working with Emraan and Ajay, Esha said, “As I have worked with Emraan before (Jannat 2 and Raaz 3D), so we have good chemistry.

People liked us in our first two films and even in the single (Main rahoon ya na rahoon) we did. I am glad to work with him again.”

“Ajay is a cool person. He is a great actor. Honestly, I had a fan moment because I will never forget Zakhm.

“I have seen that film.

“He is a very knowledgeable and intelligent actor.”

Baadshaho also features Ileana D’Cruz and Vidyut Jammwal. It is slated to release May 12, 2017.

needed to rest and get his energy levels up.

Q. Would we see him play more socially relevant roles?

My dad never made any career plans. He goes by the subject. As of now he is only doing 2.0.

Q. Why do we only get to see Rajinikanth ji in dubbed films?

Why hasn’t he done a Hindi film for so long?

The Robot sequel will have an independent Hindi edition. The language is a cultural mindset. The language should not make any difference. Having said that, I must admit dad has not done a Hindi film in a long time. If he gets the right project in Hindi, he will do it. At the end of the day, he is aware of what his fans want from him.

And he works in the films that he feels will please his fans.

Q. Do you think Rajinikanth ji needs to take it easy?

He has cut down on action scenes. Before he did Kabali and 2.0 simultaneously, he was doing only one film at a time. The family is very conscious of his health. We are making sure he doesn’t strain himself.

After 2.0, he won’t do two films at the same time. We are aware that he is as precious to his fans as to his family.

F

ilmmaker Madhu Bhandarkar has finished scripting his upcoming film Indu Sarkar.

Bhandarkar, who has helmed films like Fashion, Page 3 and Heroine, tweeted on Monday, December 12: “After months of research and meeting politicians, journalists, photographers, authors and common man from the emergency era finally... The script Indu Sarkar.” The movie is reportedly based on the Emergency era, a 21-month long period from 1975 to 1977, when Prime Minister Indira Gandhi unilaterally had declared a state of Emergency across the country.

The details about the film’s cast and story are still under wraps.

I don’t depend on films for my bread and butter: Gul Panag

A

ctress Gul Panag, who loves travel and adventure, says she no longer depends on films to earn her bread and butter.

She has been missing from the Hindi film scene for long.

Asked about it, Gul said, “It’s not that I don’t do films. Of course, I am doing them, but it’s just that I no longer depend on films for my bread and butter... I haven’t (been dependent on films) for a very long time.”

“I am an entrepreneur for the last seven to eight years and I have realised that the kind of films that I want to do, it cannot be for bread and butter. I am still happy to do films but they are the ones that I should really like,” she added. Gul, a former beauty queen, started her acting career in 2003 with the film Dhoop, and later went on to films like Dor, Manorama Six Feet Under, Rann, Turning 30 and Fatso!. Is she happy with the kind of scripts that she is being offered these days?

“I am busy these days. And every now and then, I keep getting some scripts. I recently did a Punjabi film (Ambarsariya) that I really enjoyed doing. Whenever I find some challenging scripts, I will do it,” she added.

Gul has always been vocal about her opinion on vital issues of the society, and specifically about women equality. She feels that as far as remuneration disparity between men and women is concerned, it’s not just restricted to the film world.

“I think there are people who are speaking up adequately on that. It’s not just about Bollywood. I am also an entrepreneur, so it’s not just in Bollywood. I see this outside Bollywood as well,” the 37-year-old said.

Fitness, success interconnected: Hrithik Roshan

B

ollywood actor Hrithik Roshan thinks fitness and success are interconnected, and have a lot to do with one’s mind.

Hrithik, who recently launched fitness blog ‘Risque On Fitness Food & Fashion’ by renowned columnist Shobhaa De’s daughter Anindita in Mumbai, said, “Fitness and success both are interconnected and it all has to deal with the mind. That’s where it starts.

“If you apply your mind on fitness, you achieve success. If you use your concentration on anything that will definitely bring you success.”

On the professional front, Hrithik is gearing up for his next release Kaabil.

The action thriller, directed by Sanjay Gupta and produced by Rakesh Roshan, also features Yami Gautam.

Kaabil will release on January 25, 2017, hitting the screens alongside Shah Rukh Khan’s Raees.

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FEATURES ENTERTAINMENT

16 December 2016 | www.iwk.co.nz

Befikre: Too much candy floss with little substance A Rajesh Krishnamurthy

ditya Chopra was best known for his unintended epic DDLJ (Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge) in 1995.

He followed this up with Mohabbatain (2000) and Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi (2008). All three were classic romance films. However, this time he tries to reach out to post Y2K generation.

Befikre, as the name suggests, is about two free-spirited people—Dharam Gulati (Ranveer Singh) and Shyra Gill (Vaani Kapoor). They meet in Paris (where else?), a city known for its romantic passion.

They quickly lock lips and get in between the sheets for what is essentially a one night stand.

However, things heat up from there on, as they get “involved” with each other while jumping in and out of bed with others in the name of ‘love’.

The funny thing is that while they are doing this, they continue to sing praises of the institution of marriage.

I guess while Bollywood is changing and tackling more mature themes, this is Chopra’s way of keeping a wide range of his audience happy.

The story line is not original, but the treatment in many ways is (for Bollywood, that is). In Befikre, Chopra skims the surface of complicated relationships. It would have been nice if he had fleshed his characters a bit more.

Ranveer Singh as a typical ‘macho’ guy from Delhi’s heartland, Karol Bagh, is a fine example of the loud mouthed crass guy that would make you cringe in normal social settings.

He carries the typical Dilli-wala role with aplomb. Vaani Kapoor as the bindaas, modern-day lover does a pretty

Always wanted to be an entertainer: Ranveer

good job. However, she has the range and depth that is not fully exploited in Befikre.

Hopefully, we see more of her in future.

The shadow of DDLJ looms on Befikre in its constant reference to the movie.

The scene between Shyra and her mother feels like a refreshed and remixed version of Kajol’s scene with Farida Jalal.

On the music front, the background score

by Mikey Mcleary is adequate. The hit duo Vishal-Shekhar composed the music for the film.

All in all, the lead actors do a good job, the music is okay, yet the soul of the movie is missing. Befikre is too much candy floss with little substance.

Rating: 3/5 stars Cast: Ranveer Singh, Vaani Kapoor Director: Aditya Chopra Banner: Yash Raj Films Rajesh Krishnamurthy is a Financial Wellness Coach, Columnist and Film Critic.

The 31-year-old says he chatted along with superstar Aamir Khan about the craft of acting.

“A special six years of Ranveer Singh celebration! Chatted about the craft of acting at length with one of my screen idols—Aamir Khan. Day well spent,” Ranveer said.

He also watched his latest film Befikre, helmed by Aditya Chopra, with a “live audience”.

“And now for the best part of it all!

Watching Befikre with a live audience!

What a feeling! Truly blessed,” Ranveer, popular for his “infectious energy”, said.

Mahira Khan not to promote Raees, SRK tells Raj Thackeray

A

ctor Ranveer Singh, known for his live wire acts, says that he always wanted to be an entertainer and has thanked his fans for making it possible for him to live his dream.

Ranveer completed his six-year journey in Bollywood on December 10. He made his acting debut in 2010 with the romantic comedy Band Baaja Baaraat, directed by debutant Maneesh Sharma.

In his six-year long journey in Bollywood, Ranveer starred in blockbusters like Lootera, Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela, Dil Dhadakne Do, Bajirao Mastani and Befikre.

He is currently busy shooting for filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmavati.

“All I ever wanted to be, was an entertainer. Your love and support has made it possible for me to live my dream. Thank you,” Ranveer tweeted.

B

IWK Reviews

ollywood megastar Shah Rukh Khan has assured Maharashtra Navnirman Sena President Raj Thackeray that Mahira Khan, a Pakistani actress in his forthcoming release Raees will not come to India for promoting the film, a party official said in Mumbai.

“Shah Rukh Khan met Thackeray at his residence r ecently and gave this

assurance. He has also committed to not engaging any Pakistani actors in any of his future film ventures,” MNS Chitrapat Sena chief Ameya Khopkar said.

The superstar was concerned by rumours floating on social media networks that his co-star in Raees Mahira Khan was likely to come to India next month for promoting the film and joining its premiere.

However, Shah Rukh put all rumours to rest and personally called on Thackeray to apprise him of the real situation, Khopkar said.

In view of his clarifications, the MNS will not oppose the January 25 release or screening of Raees in cinema halls, he added.

After September 18 Uri attack that left 19 Indian soldiers dead and the September 28 surgical strikes by India on Pakistan terror camps, the MNS had strongly protested against hiring of Pakistani actors by Indian film-makers.

Thackeray had vowed to stop release of a few films in which Pakistani actors are playing roles, including Karan Johar’s recent Ae Dil Hai Mushkil featuring Pakistani actor Fawad Khan and SRK’s Raees which has cast Mahira Khan.

MNS had staged dramatic protests prior to the release of Ae Dil Hai Mushkil but finally relented after Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis brokered peace with MNS, Johar and the Film & Television Producers Guild of India.

This paved the way for the film’s peaceful release and exhibition across Maharashtra on October 28.

In 2013, SRK’s Chennai Express had run into trouble with the MNS after it allegedly threatened to yank off Marathi films to accommodate its shows in singlescreen cinemas.

Prior to that, SRK’s blockbuster

My Name Is Khan had run into trouble with the Shiv Sena but the issue was later amicably sorted out.

Don’t believe in awards: Kangana

A

ctress Kangana Ranaut says she doesn’t believe in awards and doesn’t attend award functions.

“I don’t go to award functions

and I don’t believe in awards,” said Kangana who walked the ramp for designer Manish Arora at the Blenders Pride fashion show in Mumbai on December 10.

Asked to choose between Alia Bhatt and Sonam Kapoor for the most deserving actress to win the best actor award, she said, “I am not an awarding jury.

It’s not my job to decide who should win. I don’t believe in awards, then why should I bother? I don’t care who wins.”

Kangana however, praised Alia. “Alia is one of those people I reach out to. I have a very beautiful equation with her. It’s very sweet that she wants to know my whereabouts. “ The Queen actress who was looking stunning in a neon pink lehenga and green crop top worn with an embellished jacket, expressed her happiness as the first actress to walk for the designer.

“As I have no release this year, walking for Manish is a great achievement for me.

Manish is my favourite Indian designer and I am the first actress who has walked for him.

This is the highest point of 2016,” she said.

Kangana will be next seen in Vishal Bharadwaj’s Rangoon which is slated to release February 24, 2017.

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Vidya Balan: I’m no longer trying to be superwoman Durga Chakravarty

“No. Those things are sacrosanct... I’ll be home for my anniversary, birthday and New ersatile actress Vidya Balan, who Year. clocked four years of marital bliss That is sacrosanct,” added the actress, who with producer Siddharth Roy Kapur has carved a niche in Bollywood with pathon Wednesday, December 14, says she finds breaking roles in films like The Dirty Picture, balancing life between home and work an Ishqiya, Kahaani, Paa and No One Killed Jessica. “overrated” concept, and that she is no longer Does she get tired of people associating her trying to be “superwoman”. with women-centric themes?

Asked how does she juggle work and home, “No, because I’m enjoying the kind of work Vidya said, “I don’t juggle. I’m no longer trying I am doing. to be superwoman.

“People ask me ‘Why call it women-centric “I am a woman who when I’m working, I’m films, why can’t you just call it film?’ I say working, when I’m home, I’m home, when I’m ‘because all these years and decades you’ve had chilling, I’m chilling. Sometimes, when I don’t men at the centre of the plot’,” she said. feel like doing anything, I don’t do anything.

That is changing, said Vidya, who admits “So, I think this balancing is really she gets “drawn to such stories where overrated because women are Maybe the woman is at the centre”. constantly asked to balance home a man wouldn’t “Someday, when there are and work and it’s unfair,” she feel the same way equal number of films of men added. because you take it and women at the centre of Having said that, the for granted that a man actress, who was recently seen sometimes can’t make it to the plot, then people will stop saying ‘women-centric films’. on the big screen in Kahaani certain special occasions So far it isn’t a norm, 2, said when she is away because they are which is why they say that and, from home and is not there working therefore, people ask me, ‘Oh, for a special occasion with her you are doing a women-centric family or her husband, she does film’,” she added. feel “guilty”.

The actress has been part of the industry for “Maybe I feel guilty because I am a girl.

11 years and says her journey in Bollywood has “Maybe a man wouldn’t feel the same way been “full of ups and downs”. because you take it for granted that a man “It’s been dramatic. That’s because I think sometimes can’t make it to certain special I’m an intense person and I don’t think I take occasions because they are working. anything lightly in that sense. But I don’t think “We (women) still feel that we should work I would want to have it another way,” she said. and be there (for occasions too).

“I have learnt so much, I have enjoyed “But I think these unrealistic expectations myself. are slowly shedding,” she added.

“I have lived every moment like I have given Vidya also turns a year older next month. it my all. It’s been very fulfilling and been a Will it be a working anniversary and birthday beautiful journey,” she said. for Vidya

V

DATTA YOGA CENTRE New Zealand presents for the first time in New Zealand

Meditation and Healing Music Concert

by His Holiness Dr.Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji accompanied by His Celestial Music Troupe Concert at Auckland: 4th February 2017, 6.00 pm - 8.30 pm Dorothy Winstone Centre, 16 Howe St, Freemans Bay Tickets: $100, $50, $30

Christmas Productions

by ICLC

Date: Sunday, December 18 Time: 6 p.m. onwards Venue: Indian Christian Life Centre at 8/23 Springs Road, East Tamaki Indian Christian Life Centre presents “BORN TO SAVE” our 2016 Christmas Production. This event is family friendly, there is free entry and dinner is provided. Come on down to Life Centre at 8/23 Springs Road, East Tamaki, Auckland on Sunday 18th of December at 6pm for a night of musical performances in English.

Christmas at the Lake

Other programmes at Auckland Datta Kriya Yoga: 28th-29th January 2017 Fickling Convention Centre Hillsborough Room, Three Kings

Sri Chakra Puja: 5th February 2017, 5.00 pm - 8.30 pm Sri Shirdi Sai Mandir, Onehunga We welcome you to take part and benefit from this unique Spiritual experience For further details, contact: Govardhan Mallela - 0211455708 Pravin Patel - 0211646468 Nagaraj Ambale - 0211498523 Valli Nagaraj - 0278388754 Email: enquiry.dycnz@gmail.com Website: dycnz.org Facebook: @dycnz

Date: Saturday, December 17 Time: 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Venue: Innes Common, Lake Crescent, Lake Rotorua, Hamilton Christmas season party is a free family friendly event.

Two live bands will be playing popular sing-along songs and six dance groups will be performing a variety of dances from many ethnicities. The Dance groups consist of adults, children and youth from our community. We also have Santa Claus; free Face painting for the children and ethnic food stalls.

Children and Youth Summer Camp 2017

Date: January 9 to 13 Time: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Venue: Mt Roskill War Memorial Hall, May Road, Mt Roskill

Bhartiya Samaj Charitable Trust is organising the annual Summer Camp’ 2017 for children aged 6 to 14 years.The summer camp is aimed at translating cultural values into everyday activities for children and to promote emotional development and enrichment of the young minds. The focus will be on imparting skills like personality development, leadership, community involvement and tolerance/understanding of multiple culture and ethnicity, at an early age.

The multiple activities which will include writing, sports, draw/colouring/paint, craft, music, playing on wheels, planting and other fun-filled amusement activities, will polish and groom the children. For more information and enrolment,contact Jeet Suchdev on 0212221020 or Ruchika Agarwal on 620 0579 / 021 08881461or drop off an email at bsct1995@gmail.com

Vipassana Meditation Centre Open Day

Date: Sunday, February 5, 2017 Time: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Venue: 153 Burnside Road, Makarau, Kaukapakapa, Near Auckland Vipassana Centre near Auckland has been operating for more than 25 years, offering 10 day residential courses in Vipassana Meditation as taught by Mr. S.N. Goenka.Vipassana Technique is a practical technique which enables one to lead a more positive,balanced and happy life and has nothing to do with any organised religion. Vipassana Trust is a charitable organization. All expenses are met by donations from students who have benefited from a 10 day meditation course. info@medini.dhamma.org, website: www.medini.dhamma.org

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